طالِع تَواريخَ مَن في الدَهر قَد وُجِدوا

طالِع تَواريخَ مَن في الدَهر قَد وُجِدوا

تَجِد خُطوباً تُسَلّي عَنكَ ما تَجِدُ

تَجِد خُطوباً تُسَلّي عَنكَ ما تَجِدُ

Study the histories of those who have lived through the ages;

Read the histories of those who have lived through the ages.

you will find calamities that console you for what you yourself suffer.

You will find calamities that ease your own suffering.

تَجِد أَكابِرَهُم قَد جُرِّعوا غُصَصاً

تَجِد أَكابِرَهُم قَد جُرِّعوا غُصَصاً

مِن الرَزايا بهاكم فُتِّتَت كَبِدُ

مِن الرَزايا بهاكم فُتِّتَت كَبِدُ

You will find their greatest men made to swallow choking anguish

You will find their great ones made to swallow choking griefs,

from calamities by which many an innermost heart was torn apart.

From calamities—how many a liver has been shattered by them!

عَزلٌ وَنَهبٌ وَضَربٌ بِالسياطِ وَحَب

عَزلٌ وَنَهبٌ وَضَربٌ بِالسياطِ وَحَب

سٌ ثُمَ قَتلٌ وَتَشريدٌ لِمَن وُلِدوا

سٌ ثُمَ قَتلٌ وَتَشريدٌ لِمَن وُلِدوا

Dismissal, plunder, beating with whips, and impris—

Dismissal, plunder, blows with whips, and imprison-

—onment, then killing and banishment for those who were born.

ment, then killing and banishment for those who were born.

وَإِن وُقِيتَ بِحَمدِ اللَهِ شَرَّتَهُم

وَإِن وُقِيتَ بِحَمدِ اللَهِ شَرَّتَهُم

فَلتحمد اللَهَ فَالعُقبى لِمَن حَمِدُوا

فَلتحمد اللَهَ فَالعُقبى لِمَن حَمِدُوا

And if, by God’s grace, you are spared their onslaught,

And if, praise be to God, you have been spared their harm,

then praise God; the blessed end belongs to those who have given thanks.

Then praise God, for the good outcome belongs to those who have given praise.