لِكُلِّ شَيءٍ إِذا ما تَمّ نُقصانُ

لِكُلِّ شَيءٍ إِذا ما تَمّ نُقصانُ

فَلا يُغَرَّ بِطيبِ العَيشِ إِنسانُ

فَلا يُغَرَّ بِطيبِ العَيشِ إِنسانُ

For everything, once complete, there is decline.

For everything, when complete, has loss

Everything decreases after it reaches perfection,

So let no one be deceived by life's pleasantness.

So let no man be deceived by a life of ease

So let no man be beguiled by the sweetness of living.

هِيَ الأُمُورُ كَما شاهَدتُها دُوَلٌ

هِيَ الأُمُورُ كَما شاهَدتُها دُوَلٌ

مَن سَرّهُ زَمَن ساءَتهُ أَزمانُ

مَن سَرّهُ زَمَن ساءَتهُ أَزمانُ

Affairs, as I have seen them, are turns of fortune:

Thus affairs revolve as I have seen

As I have witnessed, affairs are but shifting turns;

Whom one age delights, other ages grieve.

He whose time was joyous, times became miserable for him

Whoever is gladdened by a moment, ages shall grieve him.

وَهَذِهِ الدارُ لا تُبقي عَلى أَحَدٍ

وَهَذِهِ الدارُ لا تُبقي عَلى أَحَدٍ

وَلا يَدُومُ عَلى حالٍ لَها شانُ

وَلا يَدُومُ عَلى حالٍ لَها شانُ

And this abode spares no one,

This abode spares no one

This abode spares no one,

Nor do any of its affairs remain in one state.

No state within it endures

And no state within it ever endures.

يُمَزِّقُ الدَهرُ حَتماً كُلَّ سابِغَةٍ

يُمَزِّقُ الدَهرُ حَتماً كُلَّ سابِغَةٍ

إِذا نَبَت مَشرَفِيّات وَخرصانُ

إِذا نَبَت مَشرَفِيّات وَخرصانُ

Time inevitably rends every full coat of mail,

Time tears apart every delivered one

Fate inevitably shreds every coat of mail,

Even when Mashrafi swords and spears glance off.

When the lofty and the insignificant are sprouted

Even when fine swords and lance-tips glance off.

وَيَنتَضي كُلَّ سَيفٍ للفَناء وَلَو

وَيَنتَضي كُلَّ سَيفٍ للفَناء وَلَو

كانَ ابنَ ذي يَزَن وَالغِمد غمدانُ

كانَ ابنَ ذي يَزَن وَالغِمد غمدانُ

And it unsheathes every sword for destruction, even if

And every sword passes away, even if

It unsheathes every sword for destruction, even if

It were Ibn Dhi Yazan, with Ghumdan as its sheath.

It were Ibn Dhi Yazan’s, though sheathed twice over

It belonged to Ibn Dhi Yazan and the scabbard was Ghumdan.

أَينَ المُلوكُ ذَوي التيجانِ مِن يَمَنٍ

أَينَ المُلوكُ ذَوي التيجانِ مِن يَمَنٍ

وَأَينَ مِنهُم أَكالِيلٌ وَتيجَانُ

وَأَينَ مِنهُم أَكالِيلٌ وَتيجَانُ

Where are Yemen's crowned kings?

Where are the crowned kings of Yemen

Where are the crowned kings of Yemen?

And where are their diadems and crowns?

And where are their crowns and tiaras?

And where now are their diadems and crowns?

وَأَينَ ما شادَهُ شَدّادُ في إِرَمٍ

وَأَينَ ما شادَهُ شَدّادُ في إِرَمٍ

وَأينَ ما ساسَه في الفُرسِ ساسانُ

وَأينَ ما ساسَه في الفُرسِ ساسانُ

And where is what Shaddad built in Iram?

And where is what Shaddad built in Iram

Where is what Shaddad built in Iram?

And where is what Sasan ruled among the Persians?

And where is what was ruled in Persia by the Sassanids?

And where is the empire Sasan ruled among the Persians?

وَأَينَ ما حازَهُ قارونُ من ذَهَبٍ

وَأَينَ ما حازَهُ قارونُ من ذَهَبٍ

وَأَينَ عادٌ وَشدّادٌ وَقَحطانُ

وَأَينَ عادٌ وَشدّادٌ وَقَحطانُ

And where is the gold Qarun amassed?

And where is what Qarun amassed of gold?

Where is the gold Qarun amassed?

And where are 'Ad, Shaddad, and Qahtan?

And where are ‘Aad and Shaddad and Qahtan?

And where now are ‘Ad, and Shaddad, and Qahtan?

أَتى عَلى الكُلِّ أَمرٌ لا مَرَدّ لَهُ

أَتى عَلى الكُلِّ أَمرٌ لا مَرَدّ لَهُ

حَتّى قَضوا فَكَأنّ القَوم ما كانُوا

حَتّى قَضوا فَكَأنّ القَوم ما كانُوا

An irreversible decree came upon them all,

An irresistible command came upon them all

An irrevocable decree befell them all,

Until they perished, as though those people had never existed.

Until they passed away as though they never were

Until they perished as if they had never existed.

وَصارَ ما كانَ مِن مُلكٍ وَمِن مَلكٍ

وَصارَ ما كانَ مِن مُلكٍ وَمِن مَلكٍ

كَما حَكى عَن خَيالِ الطَيفِ وَسنانُ

كَما حَكى عَن خَيالِ الطَيفِ وَسنانُ

And all that once was—dominion and kings—became

And what was once a kingdom and a kingdom became

That kingdom and that king became

Like a drowsy man's tale of a dream's phantom.

Like tales of ghosts and idols

Like a story told by a sleeper about a fleeting dream.

دارَ الزَمانُ عَلى دارا وَقاتِلِهِ

دارَ الزَمانُ عَلى دارا وَقاتِلِهِ

وَأَمَّ كِسرى فَما آواهُ إِيوانُ

وَأَمَّ كِسرى فَما آواهُ إِيوانُ

Time turned against Dara and his slayer,

The ages turned against realms and their conquerors

Time turned against Darius and his slayer,

And sought out Kisra; no palace hall sheltered him.

And against Chosroes, though protected by his palace

And sought out Chosroes, whom no palace could shelter.

كَأَنَّما الصَعبُ لَم يَسهُل لَهُ سببٌ

كَأَنَّما الصَعبُ لَم يَسهُل لَهُ سببٌ

يَوماً وَلا مَلَكَ الدُنيا سُلَيمانُ

يَوماً وَلا مَلَكَ الدُنيا سُلَيمانُ

As though no path had become easy for al-Sa'b

As though the formidable one had no means made smooth

It is as if no difficulty was ever eased for him,

On any day, nor had Sulayman ruled the world.

Nor ruled the world one day like Solomon

And as if Solomon never ruled the world.

فَجائِعُ الدُهرِ أَنواعٌ مُنَوَّعَةٌ

فَجائِعُ الدُهرِ أَنواعٌ مُنَوَّعَةٌ

وَلِلزَمانِ مَسرّاتٌ وَأَحزانُ

وَلِلزَمانِ مَسرّاتٌ وَأَحزانُ

Time's calamities are of many varied kinds,

So the vicissitudes of fate are variegated

The calamities of fate are of many kinds;

And time has joys and sorrows.

And time has its joys and sorrows

And time holds both joys and sorrows.

وَلِلحَوادِثِ سلوانٌ يُهوّنُها

وَلِلحَوادِثِ سلوانٌ يُهوّنُها

وَما لِما حَلَّ بِالإِسلامِ سلوانُ

وَما لِما حَلَّ بِالإِسلامِ سلوانُ

For misfortunes there is solace that eases them,

And events have consolation that makes them easier

For other misfortunes there is consolation to ease the pain,

But there is no solace for what has befallen Islam.

But there is no consoling what has befallen Islam

But for what has befallen Islam, there is no solace.

دهى الجَزيرَة أَمرٌ لا عَزاءَ لَهُ

دهى الجَزيرَة أَمرٌ لا عَزاءَ لَهُ

هَوَى لَهُ أُحُدٌ وَاِنهَدَّ ثَهلانُ

هَوَى لَهُ أُحُدٌ وَاِنهَدَّ ثَهلانُ

A calamity beyond consolation struck the peninsula;

The Caliphate’s affair admits no comfort

A disaster has struck the Peninsula for which there is no comfort;

Because of it Uhud fell, and Thahlan collapsed.

Uhud slipped away from it and Thahlan collapsed

Mount Uhud would collapse for it, and Mount Thahlan crumble.

أَصابَها العينُ في الإِسلامِ فاِرتزَأت

أَصابَها العينُ في الإِسلامِ فاِرتزَأت

حَتّى خَلَت مِنهُ أَقطارٌ وَبُلدانُ

حَتّى خَلَت مِنهُ أَقطارٌ وَبُلدانُ

The evil eye struck it in its Muslim faith, and it suffered loss,

The evil eye struck it in Islam, so its regions

The evil eye has struck Islam within her, causing such loss

Until regions and towns lay empty of it.

And cities became empty of it, though flourishing in unbelief

That whole regions and lands are now void of the faith.

فاِسأل بَلَنسِيةً ما شَأنُ مرسِيَةٍ

فاِسأل بَلَنسِيةً ما شَأنُ مرسِيَةٍ

وَأَينَ شاطِبة أَم أَينَ جيّانُ

وَأَينَ شاطِبة أَم أَينَ جيّانُ

So ask Valencia what has become of Murcia,

Ask Valencia, what is the state of Murcia

Ask Valencia: What is the state of Murcia?

And where is Xativa, or where is Jaen?

And where is Jaén or where is Jayyan?

And where is Xàtiva now, or where is Jaén?

وَأَين قُرطُبة دارُ العُلُومِ فَكَم

وَأَين قُرطُبة دارُ العُلُومِ فَكَم

مِن عالِمٍ قَد سَما فِيها لَهُ شانُ

مِن عالِمٍ قَد سَما فِيها لَهُ شانُ

And where is Cordoba, home of learning? How many

And where is Cordoba, seat of knowledge? For how many

And where is Cordoba, the home of the sciences?

Scholars of renown rose to eminence there!

A scholar gained repute therein!

How many scholars once rose there to great renown?

وَأَينَ حمص وَما تَحويِهِ مِن نُزَهٍ

وَأَينَ حمص وَما تَحويِهِ مِن نُزَهٍ

وَنَهرُها العَذبُ فَيّاضٌ وَمَلآنُ

وَنَهرُها العَذبُ فَيّاضٌ وَمَلآنُ

And where is Hims, and the pleasure grounds it holds,

And where is Homs and the pleasures it contains

And where is Seville and the pleasures it contains,

And its sweet river, overflowing and full?

With its fresh flowing river, abundant and full?

And its sweet river, overflowing and full?

قَوَاعد كُنَّ أَركانَ البِلادِ فَما

قَوَاعد كُنَّ أَركانَ البِلادِ فَما

عَسى البَقاءُ إِذا لَم تَبقَ أَركانُ

عَسى البَقاءُ إِذا لَم تَبقَ أَركانُ

Strongholds that were the land's pillars—what

Foundations they were, pillars of the land - what

These capitals were the pillars of the land;

Hope is there of survival if no pillars remain?

Endurance when even the pillars do not endure?

What hope is there for survival when the pillars are gone?

تَبكِي الحَنيفِيَّةُ البَيضَاءُ مِن أَسَفٍ

تَبكِي الحَنيفِيَّةُ البَيضَاءُ مِن أَسَفٍ

كَما بَكى لِفِراقِ الإِلفِ هَيمَانُ

كَما بَكى لِفِراقِ الإِلفِ هَيمَانُ

The pure, upright faith weeps in grief,

Al-Hanafiyyah the White laments in sorrow

The pure faith of Islam weeps in sorrow,

As a lovesick man wept at parting from his beloved,

As Hayman wept at parting from his familiars

As a lover weeps for the parting of the beloved,

عَلى دِيارٍ منَ الإِسلامِ خالِيَةٍ

عَلى دِيارٍ منَ الإِسلامِ خالِيَةٍ

قَد أَقفَرَت وَلَها بالكُفرِ عُمرانُ

قَد أَقفَرَت وَلَها بالكُفرِ عُمرانُ

Over lands left empty of Islam,

Over countries of Islam now empty

Over dwellings emptied of Islam,

Now desolate, though thriving in unbelief.

Where churches thrive and of faith there is no sign

Now desolate of the faith and populated by unbelief.

حَيثُ المَساجِدُ قَد صارَت كَنائِس ما

حَيثُ المَساجِدُ قَد صارَت كَنائِس ما

فيهِنَّ إِلّا نَواقِيسٌ وصلبانُ

فيهِنَّ إِلّا نَواقِيسٌ وصلبانُ

Where mosques have become churches, with nothing

Where the mosques have become churches - in them

Where mosques have become churches,

In them but bells and crosses.

Only bells and crosses remain

Holding nothing now but bells and crosses.

حَتّى المَحاريبُ تَبكي وَهيَ جامِدَةٌ

حَتّى المَحاريبُ تَبكي وَهيَ جامِدَةٌ

حَتّى المَنابِرُ تَبكي وَهيَ عيدَانُ

حَتّى المَنابِرُ تَبكي وَهيَ عيدَانُ

Even the prayer niches weep, though they are inanimate;

Even the prayer niches weep though inanimate

Even the prayer niches weep though they are stone;

Even the pulpits weep, though they are pieces of wood.

Even the pulpits weep though they are but wood

Even the pulpits mourn though they are wood.

يا غافِلاً وَلَهُ في الدهرِ مَوعِظَةٌ

يا غافِلاً وَلَهُ في الدهرِ مَوعِظَةٌ

إِن كُنتَ في سنَةٍ فالدهرُ يَقظانُ

إِن كُنتَ في سنَةٍ فالدهرُ يَقظانُ

O heedless one, for whom time holds a warning,

O heedless one, though the ages warn

O you who remain heedless though fate offers a warning:

If you are slumbering, time is awake.

You sleep while time remains awake

If you are asleep, know that Time is awake.

وَماشِياً مَرِحاً يُلهِيهِ مَوطِنُهُ

وَماشِياً مَرِحاً يُلهِيهِ مَوطِنُهُ

أَبَعدَ حِمص تَغُرُّ المَرءَ أَوطانُ

أَبَعدَ حِمص تَغُرُّ المَرءَ أَوطانُ

And you who walk merrily, distracted by your homeland—

Living gaily, distracted by your lands

O you who walk joyfully, distracted by your homeland,

After Hims, can homelands still deceive a man?

Can lands distract when Homs is gone?

After Seville, can any land deceive a man?

تِلكَ المُصِيبَةُ أَنسَت ما تَقَدَّمَها

تِلكَ المُصِيبَةُ أَنسَت ما تَقَدَّمَها

وَما لَها مِن طِوَالِ المَهرِ نِسيانُ

وَما لَها مِن طِوَالِ المَهرِ نِسيانُ

That calamity caused all that preceded it to be forgotten,

That disaster made us forget what preceded it

This calamity has made us forget all that came before,

And through the long ages it will never be forgotten.

And its long tale cannot be forgotten

Yet it shall never be forgotten as long as time endures.

يا أَيُّها المَلكُ البَيضاءُ رايَتُهُ

يا أَيُّها المَلكُ البَيضاءُ رايَتُهُ

أَدرِك بِسَيفِكَ أَهلَ الكُفرِ لا كانوا

أَدرِك بِسَيفِكَ أَهلَ الكُفرِ لا كانوا

O king whose banner is white,

O king whose banner is white, grasp

O King who rides under a white banner:

Overtake the unbelievers with your sword—may they be no more!

The unbelievers with your sword, wherever they are

Overtake the unbelievers with your sword, that they may cease to be!

يا راكِبينَ عِتاق الخَيلِ ضامِرَةً

يا راكِبينَ عِتاق الخَيلِ ضامِرَةً

كَأَنَّها في مَجالِ السَبقِ عقبانُ

كَأَنَّها في مَجالِ السَبقِ عقبانُ

O riders of lean, noble-bred horses,

O riders of swift steeds as though

O you who ride noble, lean steeds,

Like eagles on the racing field,

In racecourse competition, they were she-hyenas

That race like eagles in the field;

وَحامِلينَ سُيُوفَ الهِندِ مُرهَفَةً

وَحامِلينَ سُيُوفَ الهِندِ مُرهَفَةً

كَأَنَّها في ظَلامِ النَقعِ نيرَانُ

كَأَنَّها في ظَلامِ النَقعِ نيرَانُ

And bearers of keen-edged Indian swords,

Bearing the sharp swords of India as though

And you who bear sharp swords of Hind,

Like fires in the darkness of battle-dust,

In the dark of war, they were fires

Gleaming like fires in the darkness of the dust clouds;

وَراتِعينَ وَراءَ البَحرِ في دعةٍ

وَراتِعينَ وَراءَ البَحرِ في دعةٍ

لَهُم بِأَوطانِهِم عِزٌّ وَسلطانُ

لَهُم بِأَوطانِهِم عِزٌّ وَسلطانُ

And you who revel beyond the sea in ease,

Encamping behind the sea at ease

And you who live in ease beyond the sea,

With honor and power in your homelands—

Mighty in their lands, possessing power

Enjoying glory and power in your homelands:

أَعِندكُم نَبَأ مِن أَهلِ أَندَلُسٍ

أَعِندكُم نَبَأ مِن أَهلِ أَندَلُسٍ

فَقَد سَرى بِحَدِيثِ القَومِ رُكبَانُ

فَقَد سَرى بِحَدِيثِ القَومِ رُكبَانُ

Have you news from the people of al-Andalus?

Do you have news of the people of Andalusia?

Have you any news of the people of Andalusia?

For riders have traveled by night with the people's tale.

For the people's affairs have spread

For riders have already carried forth their tale.

كَم يَستَغيثُ بِنا المُستَضعَفُونَ وَهُم

كَم يَستَغيثُ بِنا المُستَضعَفُونَ وَهُم

قَتلى وَأَسرى فَما يَهتَزَّ إِنسانُ

قَتلى وَأَسرى فَما يَهتَزَّ إِنسانُ

How often the oppressed cry to us for help, while they are

How the helpless cry out to us, while they

How often have the weak sought our aid, while being

Slain and captive, yet no one stirs!

Are slain and captive, yet no man stirs

Slaughtered and captured, yet no man stirs to help?

ماذا التَقاطعُ في الإِسلامِ بَينَكُمُ

ماذا التَقاطعُ في الإِسلامِ بَينَكُمُ

وَأَنتُم يا عِبَادَ اللَهِ إِخوَانُ

وَأَنتُم يا عِبَادَ اللَهِ إِخوَانُ

Why this estrangement among you within Islam,

What is this disunity among you, O servants of God,

What is this estrangement between you in Islam,

When you, O servants of God, are brothers?

Though you are, O people, brothers?

When you, O servants of God, are brothers?

أَلا نُفوسٌ أَبيّاتٌ لَها هِمَمٌ

أَلا نُفوسٌ أَبيّاتٌ لَها هِمَمٌ

أَما عَلى الخَيرِ أَنصارٌ وَأَعوانُ

أَما عَلى الخَيرِ أَنصارٌ وَأَعوانُ

Are there no unyielding souls with lofty resolve?

Do you not have defiant souls and resolve

Are there no proud souls with high ambitions?

Are there no champions and helpers for what is good?

To support and aid good?

Are there no supporters or helpers for the cause of good?

يا مَن لِذلَّةِ قَوم بَعدَ عِزّتهِم

يا مَن لِذلَّةِ قَوم بَعدَ عِزّتهِم

أَحالَ حالَهُم كفرٌ وَطُغيانُ

أَحالَ حالَهُم كفرٌ وَطُغيانُ

O who will aid a people humbled after their glory,

O you who rendered a people despised after their glory,

O who has seen the humiliation of a people who once were mighty,

Whose condition unbelief and tyranny have transformed?

Defiling their state, unbelief and tyranny,

Whose state has been overturned by unbelief and tyranny?

بِالأَمسِ كانُوا مُلُوكاً فِي مَنازِلهِم

بِالأَمسِ كانُوا مُلُوكاً فِي مَنازِلهِم

وَاليَومَ هُم في بِلادِ الكُفرِ عُبدانُ

وَاليَومَ هُم في بِلادِ الكُفرِ عُبدانُ

Yesterday they were kings in their homes,

Yesterday they were kings in their abodes

Yesterday they were kings in their own homes;

And today they are slaves in the lands of unbelief.

While today in the land of unbelief they are slaves

Today they are slaves in the land of the infidel.

فَلَو تَراهُم حَيارى لا دَلِيلَ لَهُم

فَلَو تَراهُم حَيارى لا دَلِيلَ لَهُم

عَلَيهِم من ثيابِ الذُلِّ أَلوانُ

عَلَيهِم من ثيابِ الذُلِّ أَلوانُ

If only you could see them bewildered, with no guide,

You would see them perplexed, no guide for them,

Were you to see them, bewildered and without a guide,

Wearing humiliation's garments in many colors;

Upon them the garments of humiliation of every color

Wearing the varied hues of humiliation's garb...

وَلَو رَأَيت بُكاهُم عِندَ بَيعهمُ

وَلَو رَأَيت بُكاهُم عِندَ بَيعهمُ

لَهالَكَ الأَمرُ وَاِستَهوَتكَ أَحزانُ

لَهالَكَ الأَمرُ وَاِستَهوَتكَ أَحزانُ

And if you saw their weeping when they were sold,

If you saw them weeping when sold

And were you to see their weeping as they are sold in markets,

The sight would appall you, and sorrows would overwhelm you.

You would be confounded and sorrows would shake you

The sight would appall you and sorrow would seize you.

يا رُبَّ أمٍّ وَطِفلٍ حيلَ بينهُما

يا رُبَّ أمٍّ وَطِفلٍ حيلَ بينهُما

كَما تُفَرَّقُ أَرواحٌ وَأَبدانُ

كَما تُفَرَّقُ أَرواحٌ وَأَبدانُ

Oh, many a mother and child were separated,

O Lord, a mother and child parted

Alas, how many mothers and children have been torn apart,

As souls and bodies are parted!

As souls and bodies are separated!

Just as souls are severed from bodies!

وَطفلَة مِثلَ حُسنِ الشَمسِ إِذ برزت

وَطفلَة مِثلَ حُسنِ الشَمسِ إِذ برزت

كَأَنَّما هيَ ياقُوتٌ وَمُرجانُ

كَأَنَّما هيَ ياقُوتٌ وَمُرجانُ

And a little girl, fair as the sun when it emerges,

A girl like the rising sun in her beauty

And many a maiden, fair as the rising sun,

As though she were ruby and coral,

As though she were ruby and coral

As delicate as ruby and coral...

يَقُودُها العِلجُ لِلمَكروهِ مُكرَهَةً

يَقُودُها العِلجُ لِلمَكروهِ مُكرَهَةً

وَالعَينُ باكِيَةٌ وَالقَلبُ حَيرانُ

وَالعَينُ باكِيَةٌ وَالقَلبُ حَيرانُ

The foreign brute leads her, against her will, to what she abhors,

Led away against her will by the bastard

Is dragged by a barbarian to a hateful fate against her will,

And her eye weeps, and her heart is bewildered.

Her eyes weeping, her heart confused

Her eye weeping and her heart distraught.

لِمثلِ هَذا يذوبُ القَلبُ مِن كَمَدٍ

لِمثلِ هَذا يذوبُ القَلبُ مِن كَمَدٍ

إِن كانَ في القَلبِ إِسلامٌ وَإِيمانُ

إِن كانَ في القَلبِ إِسلامٌ وَإِيمانُ

For the likes of this, the heart melts with anguish,

For this, the heart melts from anguish

For such things the heart melts with grief,

If there is Islam and faith within the heart.

If Islam and faith exist in the heart

If indeed there remains in the heart any Islam or faith.