طَرِبَrejoiced الحَطيمُal-Hatim وَكَبَّرَand proclaimed God's greatness الحرَمانِthe two Sanctuaries
طَرِبَ الحَطيمُ وَكَبَّرَ الحرَمانِ
وَاِعتَزَّand gained might دينُthe faith اللَهِof God بَعدَafter هَوانِhumiliation
وَاِعتَزَّ دينُ اللَهِ بَعدَ هَوانِ
Al-Hatim rejoiced, and the two Sanctuaries proclaimed God's greatness.
The ruins rejoiced and deprivation glorified,
And God's faith gained might after humiliation.
And the religion of God was honored after humiliation.
قامَتrose سُيوفُthe swords الفاتِحينَof the conquerors بِنَصرِهِto its aid
قامَت سُيوفُ الفاتِحينَ بِنَصرِهِ
وَالنَصرُand victory بَينَbetween مُهَنَّدٍan Indian blade وَسِنانِand a spearhead
وَالنَصرُ بَينَ مُهَنَّدٍ وَسِنانِ
The conquerors' swords rose to its aid,
The swords of the conquerors rose to support it,
and victory lies between an Indian blade and a spearhead.
And victory lies between Muhannd and Sinan.
ظَمِئَتthirsted جَوانِحُهُits inner breast إِلىfor حَرِّthe heat الوَغىof battle
ظَمِئَت جَوانِحُهُ إِلى حَرِّ الوَغى
فَسَقَتهُso they gave it to drink شُؤبوبَa torrent النَجيعِof blood القانيcrimson
فَسَقَتهُ شُؤبوبَ النَجيعِ القاني
Its breast thirsted for the heat of battle,
Their souls thirsted for the heat of battle,
so they gave it a torrent of crimson blood to drink.
So the clouds of spears quenched them with heavy rain.
تَعدوassail الذِئابُthe wolves عَلىagainst مُمَنَّعِthe well-defended part غيلِهِof its thicket
تَعدو الذِئابُ عَلى مُمَنَّعِ غيلِهِ
وَالأُسدُand the lions غَضبىangry وَالسُيوفُand the swords عَوانِbattle-seasoned
وَالأُسدُ غَضبى وَالسُيوفُ عَوانِ
Wolves assail its well-defended thicket,
The wolves trespass on the sanctuary of his glory,
while the lions rage and the swords are battle-seasoned.
While the lion is wrathful and the swords are allies.
لاnot قُبَّةُthe dome الإِسلامِof Islam قائِمَةٌstanding وَلاnor
لا قُبَّةُ الإِسلامِ قائِمَةٌ وَلا
مُلكُthe dominion الخَلائِفِof the caliphs ثابِتُfirm الأَركانِin its foundations
مُلكُ الخَلائِفِ ثابِتُ الأَركانِ
Neither Islam's dome stands, nor
The dome of Islam no longer stands,
is the caliphs' dominion firmly founded.
Nor is the kingdom of the Caliphs firmly established.
يَمضيpasses away تُراثُthe heritage المُسلِمينَof the Muslims مُوَزَّعاًdivided
يَمضي تُراثُ المُسلِمينَ مُوَزَّعاً
وَالمُسلِمونَand the Muslims نَواكِسُhanging down الأَذقانِtheir chins
وَالمُسلِمونَ نَواكِسُ الأَذقانِ
The Muslims' heritage passes away, divided,
The heritage of the Muslims is divided,
while the Muslims hang their chins.
While the Muslims bow their heads in shame.
ماwhat lies بَينَbetween مِصرَEgypt إِلىto طَرابُلسٍTripoli إِلىto
ما بَينَ مِصرَ إِلى طَرابُلسٍ إِلى
عَدَنٍAden إِلىto القَوقازِthe Caucasus فَالبَلقانِthen the Balkans
عَدَنٍ إِلى القَوقازِ فَالبَلقانِ
From Egypt to Tripoli, on to
From Egypt to Tripoli, Aden, the Caucasus and Balkans -
Aden, to the Caucasus, then the Balkans.
The Cross attacked it with the strike of a hater,
كَرَّcharged الصَليبُthe Cross عَلَيهِagainst it كَرَّةَthe charge حانِقٍof a furious one
كَرَّ الصَليبُ عَلَيهِ كَرَّةَ حانِقٍ
ضَرِمَablaze العَداوَةِwith hostility ثائِرِseething الشَنآنِwith hatred
ضَرِمَ العَداوَةِ ثائِرِ الشَنآنِ
The Cross charged against it with a furious man's charge,
Kindling enmity, raging with vengeance.
ablaze with hostility, seething with hatred,
Leaping at it from behind and before,
مُتَوَثِّبٍspringing upon مِنfrom خَلفِهِbehind it وَأَمامِهِand before it
مُتَوَثِّبٍ مِن خَلفِهِ وَأَمامِهِ
مُتَأَلِّبٍmassing together يَلقاهُconfronting it كُلَّevery أَوانِhour
مُتَأَلِّبٍ يَلقاهُ كُلَّ أَوانِ
springing upon it from behind and before,
Assailing it at every moment.
massing against it at every hour.
It strikes it from above time and beneath it,
يَرميهِstrikes it مِنfrom فَوقِabove الزَمانِtime وَتَحتِهِand beneath it
يَرميهِ مِن فَوقِ الزَمانِ وَتَحتِهِ
وَيُريهِand shows it كَيفَhow يَدينُit submits لِلحِدثانِto fortune's blows
وَيُريهِ كَيفَ يَدينُ لِلحِدثانِ
It strikes it from above time and beneath it,
And shows it how the young turn to the aged.
and shows it how to submit to fortune's blows.
The Crescent tried in vain to rise,
حارَwas bewildered الهِلالُthe Crescent فَماso never يُحاوِلُattempts نَهضَةًa rising
حارَ الهِلالُ فَما يُحاوِلُ نَهضَةً
إِلّاexcept رَماهُstruck it مُحَلِّقُthe raiser aloft الصُلبانِof crosses
إِلّا رَماهُ مُحَلِّقُ الصُلبانِ
The Crescent was bewildered: whenever it attempted to rise,
Only for the hovering Crosses to shoot it down.
the raiser of crosses struck it.
The swords pass without pausing by a slaughter,
تَمضيadvance السُيوفُthe swords فَماso never تُجاوِرُapproach مَقتَلاًa killing ground
تَمضي السُيوفُ فَما تُجاوِرُ مَقتَلاً
إِلّاexcept حَماهُdefended it تَعَصُّبُthe fanaticism الجيرانِof the neighbors
إِلّا حَماهُ تَعَصُّبُ الجيرانِ
The swords advance, but never approach a killing ground
Except to be shielded by the zeal of neighbors.
without the neighbors' fanaticism defending it.
We acknowledge the facts though it pains us,
نُعطيwe give الوَقائِعَthe battles حَقَّهاtheir due وَيَسوءُناand grieves us
نُعطي الوَقائِعَ حَقَّها وَيَسوءُنا
حَنَقُthe fury الظُبىof the blades وَتَعَتُّبُand the reproaches الفُرسانِof the horsemen
حَنَقُ الظُبى وَتَعَتُّبُ الفُرسانِ
We grant battles their due, yet we are grieved by
Vexing the horsemen and saddening the knights.
the blades' fury and the horsemen's reproaches.
They claimed their civilization would destroy
زَعَمواthey claimed الحَضارَةَcivilization أَنthat يُبيدَshould annihilate طُغاتُهُمtheir tyrants
زَعَموا الحَضارَةَ أَن يُبيدَ طُغاتُهُم
دينَthe faith الحَياةِof life وَمِلَّةِand the creed العُمرانِof flourishing society
دينَ الحَياةِ وَمِلَّةِ العُمرانِ
They claimed civilization meant that their tyrants should annihilate
The religion of life and the nation of civilization.
the faith of life and the creed of flourishing society.
What frightens the oppressors while we have
ماذاwhat يَروعُfrightens الظالمينَthe oppressors وَبَينَناwhile among us
ماذا يَروعُ الظالمينَ وَبَينَنا
أَمنُsafety المَروعِfor the frightened وَنَجدَةُand aid اللَّهفانِfor the distressed
أَمنُ المَروعِ وَنَجدَةُ اللَّهفانِ
What frightens the oppressors, when among us are
The security of the frightened and aid of the passionate?
safety for the frightened and aid for the distressed?
We are the people of the Quran and the religion
إِنّاwe indeed بَنوchildren القُرآنِof the Quran وَالدينِand the faith الَّذيwhich
إِنّا بَنو القُرآنِ وَالدينِ الَّذي
صَدَعَshattered الشُكوكَthe doubts وَجاءَand brought بِالتِبيانِclear explanation
صَدَعَ الشُكوكَ وَجاءَ بِالتِبيانِ
We are children of the Quran and the faith that
That dispelled doubts and came with clear proof.
shattered doubts and brought clear explanation.
It restored the rights of both worlds,
ضاعَتwere lost حُقوقُthe rights العالَمينَof all peoples فَرَدَّهاso it restored them
ضاعَت حُقوقُ العالَمينَ فَرَدَّها
وَأَقامَهاand established them بِالقِسطِwith justice وَالميزانِand the balance
وَأَقامَها بِالقِسطِ وَالميزانِ
The rights of all peoples were lost; it restored them,
Establishing them with justice and balance.
and established them with justice and the balance.
It guided the unjust and humbled the arrogant,
ظَلَمَoppressed العَزيزُthe powerful one فَهَدَّهُso it crushed him وَأَهانَهُand humbled him
ظَلَمَ العَزيزُ فَهَدَّهُ وَأَهانَهُ
وَحَمىand protected الذَليلَthe lowly one فَباتَso he became غَيرَnot مُهانِhumiliated
وَحَمى الذَليلَ فَباتَ غَيرَ مُهانِ
The powerful man oppressed; it crushed and humbled him,
Protecting the weak who spent the night in tranquility.
and protected the lowly, who came to live without humiliation.
We pardon though the swords do not yearn,
نَعفوwe pardon وَماwhile not اِشتَفَتِsatisfied their vengeance السُيوفُthe swords وَلاnor هَفاstirred
نَعفو وَما اِشتَفَتِ السُيوفُ وَلا هَفا
بِصُدورِهاwithin their breasts شَوقٌa longing إِلىfor الأَجفانِthe sheaths
بِصُدورِها شَوقٌ إِلى الأَجفانِ
We pardon before the swords have satisfied their vengeance, and before
Nor have their breasts swelled with desire for sheaths.
any longing for their sheaths stirs within their breasts.
Time has treated us harshly, leaving us
عَصَفَstormed الزَمانُtime بِناagainst us فَكُنّاso we were بَينَهُمamong them
عَصَفَ الزَمانُ بِنا فَكُنّا بَينَهُم
كَالشاةِlike a sheep بَينَbetween مَخالِبِthe claws السِرحانِof the wolf
كَالشاةِ بَينَ مَخالِبِ السِرحانِ
Time stormed against us, leaving us among them
Like sheep among the claws of wolves.
like a sheep between a wolf's claws.
They tyrannized the weak, terrifying
جارواthey oppressed عَلىagainst المُستَضعَفينَthe weak وَرَوَّعواand terrorized
جاروا عَلى المُستَضعَفينَ وَرَوَّعوا
مَنthose who باتَlived فيin دَعَةٍease وَطيبِand pleasantness أَمانِof security
مَن باتَ في دَعَةٍ وَطيبِ أَمانِ
They oppressed the weak and terrorized
Those who spent the night in meekness and security.
those who lived in ease and pleasant security.
They granted the disgraced a disgraced life,
مَنّواvaunted their favors عَلَيهِمto them بِالحَياةِof life ذَليلَةًhumiliated
مَنّوا عَلَيهِم بِالحَياةِ ذَليلَةً
مَحياthe life الذَليلِof the lowly one وَمَوتُهُand his death سِيّانِare alike
مَحيا الذَليلِ وَمَوتُهُ سِيّانِ
They vaunted their gift of a humiliated life;
Since the life and death of the disgraced are equal.
the lowly one's life and death are alike.
They complain of the clamor of the dead, though to them
يَشكونthey complain حَشرَجَةَof the death-rattle القَتيلِof the slain وَعِندَهُمwhile in their view
يَشكون حَشرَجَةَ القَتيلِ وَعِندَهُم
أَنَّthat الحَياةَlife تَكونُcan be فيin الأَكفانِshrouds
أَنَّ الحَياةَ تَكونُ في الأَكفانِ
They complain of the slain man's death-rattle, yet believe
Life can only be found in shrouds.
that life can be lived in shrouds.
I have never seen an oppressor as unjust,
وَلَقَدand indeed رَأَيتُI have seen فَماbut never رَأَيتُhave I seen كَظالِمٍlike an oppressor
وَلَقَد رَأَيتُ فَما رَأَيتُ كَظالِمٍ
جَمِّabundant الشَكاةِin complaints وَقاتِلٍand a killer مَنّانِboasting of favors
جَمِّ الشَكاةِ وَقاتِلٍ مَنّانِ
I have seen much, but never seen the like of an oppressor
Silencing complaints and killing the outspoken.
full of complaints, or a killer who boasts of favors.
He prevented the Caliphate from being supported,
مَنَعَprevented الخِلافَةَthe caliphate أَنfrom تُضامَbeing wronged وَحاطَهاand guarded it
مَنَعَ الخِلافَةَ أَن تُضامَ وَحاطَها
حاميthe protector الحَجيجِof the pilgrims وَناصِرُand the champion القُرآنِof the Quran
حامي الحَجيجِ وَناصِرُ القُرآنِ
He prevented the caliphate from being wronged and guarded it:
While the guardian of pilgrims and helper of the Quran surrounded it.
the pilgrims' protector and the Quran's champion.
An army marched with the Prophet leading it,
جَيشٌan army يَسيرُleads بِهِit النَبِيُّthe Prophet وَحَولَهُand around it
جَيشٌ يَسيرُ بِهِ النَبِيُّ وَحَولَهُ
جُندُthe host المَلائِكِof angels بَينَهُamong it العُمَرانِthe two Umars
جُندُ المَلائِكِ بَينَهُ العُمَرانِ
An army led by the Prophet, surrounded by
The army of angels around it inhabiting it.
the angelic host; among it are the two Umars.
Amr trembles on the banner and Khalid
يَهتَزُّstirs عَمرٌوAmr فيbeneath اللِواءِthe banner وَخالِدٌand Khalid
يَهتَزُّ عَمرٌو في اللِواءِ وَخالِدٌ
وَيَمورُand surges حَيدَرَةٌHaydara بِكُلِّat every عِنانِrein
وَيَمورُ حَيدَرَةٌ بِكُلِّ عِنانِ
Amr and Khalid stir beneath the banner,
Storms with full might.
and Haydara surges at every rein.
They entered battles without flinching,
خاضَplunged into الحُروبَthe wars فَماand never تَدافَعَsurged لُجُّهاtheir deep
خاضَ الحُروبَ فَما تَدافَعَ لُجُّها
إِلّاexcept تَدافَعَit surged فيهِinto it يَلتَطِمانِthe two crashing together
إِلّا تَدافَعَ فيهِ يَلتَطِمانِ
It plunged into wars, and whenever their deep surged,
As two seas collide and crash into each other.
it surged into it, the two crashing together.
Floating on the blood when it spills
يَطفوfloats عَلىupon ثَبَجِthe crest الدِماءِof blood إِذاwhen هَوَتplunged
يَطفو عَلى ثَبَجِ الدِماءِ إِذا هَوَت
فيamong الهالِكينَthe slain رَواسِبُthe sinking ones الشُجعانِof the brave
في الهالِكينَ رَواسِبُ الشُجعانِ
It floats upon the crest of blood whenever
Are scum of the brave bubbling on the surface.
the sinking brave plunge among the slain.
The valiant do not care, when swords clash,
وَيَشُقُّand cleaves مُصطَفَقَthe crashing place العُبابِof the surge إِذاwhen طَغىit overflows
وَيَشُقُّ مُصطَفَقَ العُبابِ إِذا طَغى
يَرميstrikes عُبابَthe surge الشَرِّof evil وَالطُغيانِand tyranny
يَرمي عُبابَ الشَرِّ وَالطُغيانِ
And it cleaves the crashing surge when it overflows,
Which delicacy they are served, or which beauty embraces them.
striking the surge of evil and tyranny.
The bonds of loyalty grow between the loyal,
ماnot لِلجُنودِfor the troops الباسِلينَthe valiant وَإِنeven if عَلَواthey rise high
ما لِلجُنودِ الباسِلينَ وَإِن عَلَوا
بِجُنودِagainst the troops رَبِّof the Lord العالَمينَof all worlds يدانِpower
بِجُنودِ رَبِّ العالَمينَ يدانِ
The valiant troops, however high they rise, have no
As they cling to the rope of God, seeking refuge in Him.
power against the troops of the Lord of all worlds,
The Caliph’s sword and the many swords
الحافِظينَthose preserving عَلىfor الخِلافَةِthe caliphate عِزَّهاits might
الحافِظينَ عَلى الخِلافَةِ عِزَّها
الناصِرينَthose championing خَليفَةَthe caliph الرَحمَنِof the Most Merciful
الناصِرينَ خَليفَةَ الرَحمَنِ
who preserve the caliphate's might,
While the men strike and stab each other.
who champion the Most Merciful's caliph.
On ships and in battalions, when you advance
غَدَرَbetrayed العَدُوُّthe enemy فَعَلَّمَتهُso taught him سُيوفُهُمtheir swords
غَدَرَ العَدُوُّ فَعَلَّمَتهُ سُيوفُهُم
صِدقَfaithfulness العُهودِto pledges وَصِحَّةَand soundness الإيمانِof belief
صِدقَ العُهودِ وَصِحَّةَ الإيمانِ
The enemy betrayed; their swords taught him
Undaunted and not timid or cowardly.
faithfulness to pledges and soundness of belief.
A determination drives you that without which
السَيفُthe sword إِنجيلُthe gospel الهِدايَةِof guidance إِنif دَجاdarkened
السَيفُ إِنجيلُ الهِدايَةِ إِن دَجا
لَيلُthe night الضَلالِof error فَطاحَand swept away بِالعُميانِthe blind
لَيلُ الضَلالِ فَطاحَ بِالعُميانِ
The sword is the gospel of guidance when darkens
Eras would stand still and mountains tremble.
the night of error, sweeping away the blind.
When the Caliphate saw you it rejoiced,
يَجلوclears away عَماياتِthe blindness النُفوسِof souls بِأَسرِهاall of it
يَجلو عَماياتِ النُفوسِ بِأَسرِها
ماwhat فيهِit contains مِنof عِظَةٍadmonition وَحُسنِand fine بَيانِexpression
ما فيهِ مِن عِظَةٍ وَحُسنِ بَيانِ
All the blindness of souls is cleared away
And came to you willingly seeking your blessing.
by the admonition and eloquence it holds.
It shook off its chains and the tribes competed,
دينُthe faith اليَقينِof certainty لِكُلِّfor every شَعبٍpeople جاحِدٍdenying
دينُ اليَقينِ لِكُلِّ شَعبٍ جاحِدٍ
سَنَّestablished العُقوقَdisloyalty وَدانَand professed بِالعِصيانِrebellion
سَنَّ العُقوقَ وَدانَ بِالعِصيانِ
The faith of certainty for every denying people
Strutting after effort and travail.
that established disloyalty and professed rebellion.
It followed the advice of the tyrant and was betrayed
قَومٌa people إِذاwhen رَفَعواthey raise اللِواءَthe banner فَإِنَّهُthen it
قَومٌ إِذا رَفَعوا اللِواءَ فَإِنَّهُ
وَالنَصرُand victory بَينَamong سُيوفِهِمtheir swords أَخَوانِare brothers
وَالنَصرُ بَينَ سُيوفِهِم أَخَوانِ
A people who, when they raise the banner, make it
For an age where it endured his rule and suffered.
and victory brothers among their swords.
Oppression upon oppression and bad governance,
ماnever يَفتِآنِdo the two cease إِذاwhen الوَغىbattle جَمَعتُهُماbrings them together
ما يَفتِآنِ إِذا الوَغى جَمَعتُهُما
يَتَناجَيانِthey whisper together بِهاin it وَيَعتنقانِand embrace
يَتَناجَيانِ بِها وَيَعتنقانِ
Whenever battle brings the two together, they never cease
Corrupt management and procrastination.
whispering together in it and embracing.
When hearts diverge from their master,
بَينَamid الدَمِthe blood الجاريflowing نَديمَيtwo companions لذَّةٍin delight
بَينَ الدَمِ الجاري نَديمَي لذَّةٍ
إنif لَذَّتِdelights الصَهباءُthe tawny wine لِلنُدمانِthe drinking companions
إن لَذَّتِ الصَهباءُ لِلنُدمانِ
Amid flowing blood, two companions in delight,
No strength of bodies can avail him.
as tawny wine delights its drinking companions.
Dynasties collapse or stand but not through
يَنبَتُّis severed حَبلُthe bond الأَصفِياءِof faithful friends وَيَنطَويand is folded away
يَنبَتُّ حَبلُ الأَصفِياءِ وَيَنطَوي
وَهُماwhile the two بِحَبلِto the rope اللَهِof God مُعتَصِمانِhold fast
وَهُما بِحَبلِ اللَهِ مُعتَصِمانِ
The bond of faithful friends is severed and folded away,
Anything but the most secret thoughts.
while the two hold fast to God's rope.
Do not be fooled by the outward show of one feigning meekness
سَيفُthe sword الخَليفَةِof the caliph وَالسُيوفُwhile the swords كَثيرَةٌare many
سَيفُ الخَليفَةِ وَالسُيوفُ كَثيرَةٌ
وَالقَومُand the people بَينَamid تَضارُبٍexchanging blows وَطِعانِand spear-thrusts
وَالقَومُ بَينَ تَضارُبٍ وَطِعانِ
The caliph's sword—though swords are many,
Who silenced his complaints and concealed his agony.
and the people exchange blows and spear-thrusts.
If the throne of a tyrant stands firm,
ماnothing فيamong القَواضِبِthe cutting swords وَالكَتائِبِand battalions إِنif مَضىit advances
ما في القَواضِبِ وَالكَتائِبِ إِن مَضى
وَمَضَيتَand you advance غَيرَexcept مُفَلَّلٍa blunted blade وَجَبانِand a coward
وَمَضَيتَ غَيرَ مُفَلَّلٍ وَجَبانِ
Among cutting swords and battalions, when it advances
Its foundations rest upon a volcano.
and you advance, nothing remains but blunted blades and cowards.
When a man takes matters into his own hands,
تُمضيكَdrives you forward مِنهُfrom it عَزيمَةٌa resolve مِنbefore دونِهاwhich
تُمضيكَ مِنهُ عَزيمَةٌ مِن دونِها
يَقِفُstands still الزَمانُtime وَيَرجُفُand quake الثَقَلانِhumans and jinn
يَقِفُ الزَمانُ وَيَرجُفُ الثَقَلانِ
From it a resolve drives you forward, before which
They slip away and his feet falter.
time stands still and humans and jinn quake.
God saved His religion through a Caliph
لَمّاwhen أَطَلَّhe appeared عَلىover الخِلافَةِthe caliphate كَبَّرَتit proclaimed God's greatness
لَمّا أَطَلَّ عَلى الخِلافَةِ كَبَّرَت
وَمَشَتand walked إِلَيهِtoward him بِبَيعَةِwith the pledge الرِضوانِof Ridwan
وَمَشَت إِلَيهِ بِبَيعَةِ الرِضوانِ
When he appeared over the caliphate, it proclaimed God's greatness,
Of pure conscience and true faith.
and walked toward him with the Pledge of Ridwan.
He took the fight to the enemy with brave heroes
صَدَعَتshattered بِهِthrough him أَغلالَهاits shackles وَتَدافَعَتand surged forward
صَدَعَت بِهِ أَغلالَها وَتَدافَعَت
تَختالُstriding proudly بَعدَafter الجهدِhardship وَالرَسَفانِand shuffling in fetters
تَختالُ بَعدَ الجهدِ وَالرَسَفانِ
Through him it shattered its shackles and surged forward,
Whose battleground ran with blood.
striding proudly after hardship and shuffling in fetters.
The cowards’ empires shook with fear of him
أَخَذَتfollowed بِرَأيِthe counsel المُستَبِدِّof the despot وَغودِرَتand was left
أَخَذَت بِرَأيِ المُستَبِدِّ وَغودِرَت
زَمَناًfor a time تُعالِجُstruggling with حُكمَهُhis rule وَتُعانيand suffering
زَمَناً تُعالِجُ حُكمَهُ وَتُعاني
It had followed the despot's counsel and was left
And the foxes and wolves took flight.
for a time to struggle with his rule and suffer:
When the echo of his roar circulated,
ظُلمٌoppression عَلىupon ظُلمٍoppression وَسوءُand badness سِياسَةٍof governance
ظُلمٌ عَلى ظُلمٍ وَسوءُ سِياسَةٍ
وَفَسادُand corruption تَدبيرٍof management وَطولُand prolonged تَوانِneglect
وَفَسادُ تَدبيرٍ وَطولُ تَوانِ
oppression upon oppression, and bad governance,
The mountains of China and Japan trembled.
corrupt management and prolonged neglect.
In his claws, the citadels tumbled down,
وَإِذاand when القُلوبُthe hearts تَفَرَّقَتturn away عَنfrom مالِكٍa ruler
وَإِذا القُلوبُ تَفَرَّقَت عَن مالِكٍ
لَمnot يُغنِavails عَنهُhim تَمَلُّكُpossession الأَبدانِof bodies
لَم يُغنِ عَنهُ تَمَلُّكُ الأَبدانِ
When hearts turn away from a ruler,
Two fortresses for Islam, unconquerable.
possession of bodies will not avail him.
The enemy’s wounding of the Caliphate wounded it deeply,
تَهويfall الأَسِرَّةُthe thrones أَوor تَقومُrise وَماand not لَهاfor them
تَهوي الأَسِرَّةُ أَو تَقومُ وَما لَها
غَيرُother than السَرائِرِhidden thoughts هادِمٌa destroyer أَوor بانِa builder
غَيرُ السَرائِرِ هادِمٌ أَو بانِ
Thrones fall or rise, and they have
Two bloody gashes upon its heart.
no destroyer or builder but the hearts' hidden thoughts.
The Crescent and the State were both drowned in blood,
لاdo not يَخدَعَنَّكَlet deceive you ظاهِرٌan outward appearance مِنof مُحنِقٍan angry one
لا يَخدَعَنَّكَ ظاهِرٌ مِن مُحنِقٍ
خافَfeared الشَكاةَcomplaint فَلاذَso took refuge بِالكِتمانِin concealment
خافَ الشَكاةَ فَلاذَ بِالكِتمانِ
Let not the outward appearance of an angry man deceive you,
With religion and worldly matters engulfed together.
who feared complaint and took refuge in concealment.
The rule was defended by him and he held fast to it
إِنif قامَstands عَرشُthe throne المُستَبِدِّof the despot فَإِنَّماthen only
إِن قامَ عَرشُ المُستَبِدِّ فَإِنَّما
قامَتstand قَواعِدُهُits foundations عَلىupon بُركانِa volcano
قامَت قَواعِدُهُ عَلى بُركانِ
If the despot's throne stands, it is only because
With the strongest pact and guarantee.
its foundations stand upon a volcano.
They tested the Caliphate’s sword and trials revealed
وَالمَرءُand a man إِنif أَخَذَconducts الأُمورَaffairs بِرَأيِهِby his own judgment
وَالمَرءُ إِن أَخَذَ الأُمورَ بِرَأيِهِ
طاشَتfaltered يَداهُhis two hands وَزَلَّتِand slipped القَدَمانِthe two feet
طاشَت يَداهُ وَزَلَّتِ القَدَمانِ
When a man conducts affairs by his own judgment alone,
The keenest steel and purest metal within.
his hands falter and his feet slip.
The best conquerors aided him,
اللَهُGod أَدرَكَrescued دينَهُHis faith بِخَليفَةٍthrough a caliph
اللَهُ أَدرَكَ دينَهُ بِخَليفَةٍ
بَرِّupright السَريرَةِin heart صادِقِsincere الإيمانِin belief
بَرِّ السَريرَةِ صادِقِ الإيمانِ
God rescued His faith through a caliph
The most loyal of companions and generous of friends.
upright in heart and sincere in belief.
They sought the youth of the kingdom and ransomed it
أَخَذbarred السَبيلَthe path عَلىagainst العَدُوِّthe enemy بِقَسوَرٍwith a lion
أَخَذ السَبيلَ عَلى العَدُوِّ بِقَسوَرٍ
داميbloody المَكَرِّin its charges مُخَضَّبِdyeing المَيدانِthe battlefield
دامي المَكَرِّ مُخَضَّبِ المَيدانِ
He barred the enemy's path with a lion,
With aged devotees and passionate youth.
bloody in its charges, dyeing the battlefield.
Souls soared to gain the blessing of God,
ريعَتwere terrified لهof it أُمَمُthe nations النِمالِof ants وَأَجفَلَتand fled
ريعَت له أُمَمُ النِمالِ وَأَجفَلَت
دُوَلُthe states الثَعالِبِof foxes مِنهُfrom it وَالذُؤبانِand wolves
دُوَلُ الثَعالِبِ مِنهُ وَالذُؤبانِ
The nations of ants were terrified of it, and fled
Shedding blood to erect its pillars.
the states of foxes and wolves.
The blood spilled was the greatest thing they built
لَمّاwhen تَرَدَّدَechoed فيin فَروقَFaruq زَئيرُهُits roar
لَمّا تَرَدَّدَ في فَروقَ زَئيرُهُ
رَجَفَتtrembled جِبالُthe mountains الصينِof China وَاليابانِand Japan
رَجَفَت جِبالُ الصينِ وَاليابانِ
When its roar echoed in Faruq,
And the noblest thing they established of monuments.
the mountains of China and Japan trembled.
At the Dardanelles and after it the Peninsula,
فيwithin مِخلَبَيهِits two claws إِذاwhen الحُصونُthe fortresses تَهَدَّمَتcollapse
في مِخلَبَيهِ إِذا الحُصونُ تَهَدَّمَت
حِصنانِtwo fortresses لِلإِسلامِfor Islam مُمتَنِعانِimpregnable
حِصنانِ لِلإِسلامِ مُمتَنِعانِ
Within its two claws, when fortresses collapse,
The horrors of water and awe of fire.
are two impregnable fortresses for Islam.
The shapes of death appeared completely,
جَرَحَwounded الأُلىthose who صَدَعواsplit الخِلافَةَthe caliphate فَاِشتَفىand so healed
جَرَحَ الأُلى صَدَعوا الخِلافَةَ فَاِشتَفى
جُرحانِtwo wounds فيwithin أَحشائِهاits entrails دَمِيانِbleeding
جُرحانِ في أَحشائِها دَمِيانِ
It wounded those who split the caliphate, and so healed
Of varied forms and abundant hues.
two bleeding wounds within its entrails.
Each surges with them while others stand still,
حَمَلاthe two bore الهِلالَthe Crescent عَلىupon عُبابٍa surge مِنof دَمٍblood
حَمَلا الهِلالَ عَلى عُبابٍ مِن دَمٍ
الدينُthe faith وَالدُنياand worldly life بِهِin it غَرِقانِboth drowning
الدينُ وَالدُنيا بِهِ غَرِقانِ
They had borne the Crescent upon a surge of blood
So war rages yet rests in tranquility.
in which faith and worldly life were drowning.
Two fires sparked in the battalions,
المُلكُthe realm مُعتَصِمٌtaking refuge بِهِin it مُستَمسِكٌholding fast
المُلكُ مُعتَصِمٌ بِهِ مُستَمسِكٌ
مِنهُfrom it بِأَوثَقِto the firmest ذِمَّةٍpledge وَضَمانِand guarantee
مِنهُ بِأَوثَقِ ذِمَّةٍ وَضَمانِ
The realm takes refuge in it, holding fast
Two conditions amidst the burning embers.
to its firmest pledge and guarantee.
One overflows from the ships, while the other
سَيفُthe sword الخِلافَةِof the caliphate جَرَّبوهُthey tested it فَكَشَّفَتand revealed
سَيفُ الخِلافَةِ جَرَّبوهُ فَكَشَّفَت
مِنهُin it التَجارِبُthe trials عَنabout أَغَرَّa shining blade يَمانِYemeni
مِنهُ التَجارِبُ عَن أَغَرَّ يَمانِ
They tested the caliphate's sword, and the trials revealed
Streams between plains and shepherds.
in it a shining Yemeni blade.
The sea opens its depths to the warships
خَيرُthe finest الغُزاةِof the warriors الفاتِحينَthe conquering أَعانَهُaided him
خَيرُ الغُزاةِ الفاتِحينَ أَعانَهُ
أَوفىthe most faithful الصِحابِof companions وَأَكرَمُand the noblest الأَخدانِof friends
أَوفى الصِحابِ وَأَكرَمُ الأَخدانِ
The finest conquering warrior was aided by
As they plunge in pairs and alone.
the most faithful companions and noblest friends.
The land’s passions are aflame, nursing
طَلَبواthey sought شَبابَthe youth المُلكِof the realm وَاِحتَسَبواand offered for divine reward الفِدىthe sacrifice
طَلَبوا شَبابَ المُلكِ وَاِحتَسَبوا الفِدى
فيfor اللَهِGod مِنamong شيبٍgray-haired men وَمِنand among شُبّانِyouths
في اللَهِ مِن شيبٍ وَمِن شُبّانِ
They sought the realm's renewed youth and offered their sacrifice
The bitterness of anger and agony of sorrow.
for God, both gray-haired men and youths.
They laid traps for the enemy, and between them
وَسَمَتand raised بِأَركانِthe pillars الخِلافَةِof the caliphate أَنفُسٌsouls
وَسَمَت بِأَركانِ الخِلافَةِ أَنفُسٌ
يَسموrises الأَمينُthe faithful one بِهاthrough them إِلىto رِضوانِdivine approval
يَسمو الأَمينُ بِها إِلى رِضوانِ
Souls raised the pillars of the caliphate,
Quaked the lover’s passion and the young man’s fervor.
through which the faithful one rises to divine approval.
Until cunning took hold of the cunning one,
كانَwas الدَمَthe blood المَسفوحَshed أَكبَرُthe greatest ماof what بَنواthey built
كانَ الدَمَ المَسفوحَ أَكبَرُ ما بَنوا
وأَجَلُّand the noblest ماof what دَعَمواthey strengthened مِنَamong الجُدرانِwalls
وأَجَلُّ ما دَعَموا مِنَ الجُدرانِ
The blood shed was the greatest thing they built,
Affliction befell him wherever he turned.
and the noblest wall they strengthened.
Their souls thirsted for the black drink of death,
فيat الدَردَنيلِthe Dardanelles وَفيand on الجَزيرَةِthe peninsula بَعدَهُafterward
في الدَردَنيلِ وَفي الجَزيرَةِ بَعدَهُ
رُعبُthe terror المِياهِof waters وَرَوعَةُand the horror النيرانِof fires
رُعبُ المِياهِ وَرَوعَةُ النيرانِ
At the Dardanelles, and on the peninsula afterward,
And death lapped the thirst of the thirsty.
were the terror of waters and the horror of fires.
They drank the red drafts of death, its surge
بَرَزَتappeared تَماثيلُthe embodiments المَنِيَّةِof death كُلُّهاall of them
بَرَزَت تَماثيلُ المَنِيَّةِ كُلُّها
شَتّىvaried الضُروبِin kinds كَثيرَةَmany الأَلوانِin colors
شَتّى الضُروبِ كَثيرَةَ الأَلوانِ
All the embodiments of death appeared,
Foaming amidst the green meadows and riverbanks.
of varied kinds and many colors.
Torrents casting it as shadows whose darkness
كُلٌّeverything يَموجُsurges بِهاthere وَكُلٌّand everything ساكِنٌis still
كُلٌّ يَموجُ بِها وَكُلٌّ ساكِنٌ
فَالحَربُthus war فيin قَلَقٍagitation وَفيand in اِطمِئنانِtranquility
فَالحَربُ في قَلَقٍ وَفي اِطمِئنانِ
Everything there surges, and everything is still;
Pours out like the flooding of the deluge.
thus war is both agitation and tranquility.
They ravaged the dreams of invaders, and events
نارانِtwo fires بَرَّحَsorely afflicted بِالكَتائِبِthe battalions مِنهُماfrom them
نارانِ بَرَّحَ بِالكَتائِبِ مِنهُما
حالانِtwo states فيin الهَيجاءِbattle مُختَلِفانِcontrasting
حالانِ في الهَيجاءِ مُختَلِفانِ
Two fires, from which the battalions were sorely afflicted by
There stagnated their dreams like statues.
two contrasting states in battle.
Do the lions in their lairs toss mice
هَذيthis one تَفيضُpours مِنَfrom البُروجِthe towers وَهَذِهِand this one
هَذي تَفيضُ مِنَ البُروجِ وَهَذِهِ
تَنسابُflows بَينَbetween أَباطِحٍgravelly plains وَرِعانِand heights
تَنسابُ بَينَ أَباطِحٍ وَرِعانِ
This one pours from the towers, while that one
And the eagle nation throw lizards?
flows between gravelly plains and heights.
The feeble-minded thought war was frivolous,
البحرُthe sea يَفتَحُopens لِلبَوارِجِfor the battleships جَوفَهُits belly
البحرُ يَفتَحُ لِلبَوارِجِ جَوفَهُ
فَتَغورُso they sink مِنin مَثنىًpairs وَمِنand in وُحدانِsingle ones
فَتَغورُ مِن مَثنىً وَمِن وُحدانِ
The sea opens its belly to the battleships,
Not realizing the price of Turks and Germans.
and they sink in pairs and singly.
Two swords never raced to destroy a kingdom
وَالبَرُّand the land مُلتَهِبُaflame الجَوانِحِwithin its breast مُضمِرٌconcealing
وَالبَرُّ مُلتَهِبُ الجَوانِحِ مُضمِرٌ
حَنَقَthe anger المَغيظِof the enraged وَلَوعَةَand the anguish الحَرّانِof the burning-hearted
حَنَقَ المَغيظِ وَلَوعَةَ الحَرّانِ
The land, aflame within its breast, conceals
Except the two inevitable moments raced them.
the anger of the enraged and the anguish of the burning-hearted.
God’s destiny unfolds between their two edges,
مَدَّstretched الشِراكَthe snares إِلىtoward العَدُوِّthe enemy وَبَينَهاand amid them
مَدَّ الشِراكَ إِلى العَدُوِّ وَبَينَها
طَرَبُthe delight المَشوقِof the yearning one وَهِزَّةُand the thrill الجَذلانِof the glad one
طَرَبُ المَشوقِ وَهِزَّةُ الجَذلانِ
It stretched snares toward the enemy, and amid them were
And between their two breasts roam the Angels of Death.
the yearning one's delight and the glad one's thrill.
Where are the deaths that swim bearing
حَتّىuntil إذاwhen أَخَذَseized الدَهاءُcunning بِلُبِّهِhis mind
حَتّى إذا أَخَذَ الدَهاءُ بِلُبِّهِ
أَخَذَclosed البَلاءُcalamity عَلَيهِupon him كُلَّevery مَكانِquarter
أَخَذَ البَلاءُ عَلَيهِ كُلَّ مَكانِ
Until, when cunning seized his mind,
The awe of the seas and wrath of the waves?
calamity closed upon him from every quarter.
Ships sank by the whale when it lunged,
ظَمِئَتthirsted إِلىfor وِردِthe watering place الأُسودِof lions نُفوسُهُمtheir souls
ظَمِئَت إِلى وِردِ الأُسودِ نُفوسُهُم
وَالمَوتُand death يَنقَعُquenches غُلَّةَthe burning thirst الظَمآنِof the thirsty one
وَالمَوتُ يَنقَعُ غُلَّةَ الظَمآنِ
Their souls thirsted for the lions' watering place,
Gliding between whale and crab.
and death quenches the thirsty one's burning thirst.
The work of the Most High surpassed minds,
شَرِبواthey drank المَناياthe deaths الحُمرَred يَسطَعُblazes مَوجُهاtheir wave
شَرِبوا المَنايا الحُمرَ يَسطَعُ مَوجُها
بَينَamong المُروجِthe meadows الخُضرِgreen وَالغُدرانِand pools
بَينَ المُروجِ الخُضرِ وَالغُدرانِ
They drank red deaths whose waves blazed
Transcending the realm of powers and possibilities.
among green meadows and pools.
They uncovered knowledge from its wraps and attained
تَرميcast forth بِهاthem لُجَجٌdeeps يَظَلُّcontinues شُواظُهاtheir flame
تَرمي بِها لُجَجٌ يَظَلُّ شُواظُها
مُتَدَفِّقاًpouring كَتَدَفُّقِlike the pouring الطوفانِof the flood
مُتَدَفِّقاً كَتَدَفُّقِ الطوفانِ
Deeps cast them forth, their flames continuing
The secret of superiority within it and advantage.
to pour like the pouring of the flood.
They commanded the elements so the obstinate obeyed,
عَصَفَتswept away بِأَحلامِthe dreams الغُزاةِof the invaders وَقائِعٌbattles
عَصَفَت بِأَحلامِ الغُزاةِ وَقائِعٌ
رَكَدَتsteadied بِأَحلامٍby minds هُناكَthere رِزانِsober
رَكَدَت بِأَحلامٍ هُناكَ رِزانِ
Battles swept away the invaders' dreams,
The difficult became easy and the far came near.
steadied there by sober minds.
Death swam at their command in the clouds
أَإِلىis it toward الأُسودِthe lions الغُلبِthick-necked فيin أَجماتِهاtheir thickets
أَإِلى الأُسودِ الغُلبِ في أَجماتِها
تَرميcast شِعابُthe ravines البيدِof deserts بِالجِرذانِrats
تَرمي شِعابُ البيدِ بِالجِرذانِ
Is it toward the thick-necked lions in their thickets
And death frolicked in the cradle of life.
that the desert's ravines cast rats?
So people became prey and the worlds a courtyard
غالواthey bid dearly بِمُلكِfor the realm الفاتِحينَof the conquerors وَأَيقَنواand became convinced
غالوا بِمُلكِ الفاتِحينَ وَأَيقَنوا
أَنَّthat النُفوسَlives رَخيصَةُcheap الأَثمانِin price
أَنَّ النُفوسَ رَخيصَةُ الأَثمانِ
They bid dearly for the conquerors' realm, convinced
For Azrael to freely wander.
that lives were cheap in price.
They roused the remarkable deaths and were roused by
تِلكَthose المَصارِعُkilling grounds ماnot تَكادُcan hardly مَنِيَّةٌdeath
تِلكَ المَصارِعُ ما تَكادُ مَنِيَّةٌ
تَجتازُcross جانِبَهاtheir edge بِلاwithout اِستِئذانِasking permission
تَجتازُ جانِبَها بِلا اِستِئذانِ
Those killing grounds—hardly can death
The greed of injustice and viciousness of pirates.
cross their edge without asking permission.
Generations were ruined though they were still
ماnot الجَيشُthe army مِنfrom نَصرِthe aid الإِلَهِof God وَفَتحِهِand His victory
ما الجَيشُ مِن نَصرِ الإِلَهِ وَفَتحِهِ
كَالجَيشِlike the army منfrom فَشَلٍfailure وَمِنand from خِذلانِabandonment
كَالجَيشِ من فَشَلٍ وَمِن خِذلانِ
An army born of God's aid and victory is not
Infants who never knew their wet nurses.
like an army born of failure and abandonment.
They were alarmed by the sorrows of ages
وَيحَwoe to الأُلىthose who زَعَمواclaimed الحُروبَwars دُعابَةًa jest
وَيحَ الأُلى زَعَموا الحُروبَ دُعابَةً
ماwhat غَرَّهُمdeluded them بِالتُركِabout the Turks وَالأَلمانِand Germans
ما غَرَّهُم بِالتُركِ وَالأَلمانِ
Woe to those who claimed wars were a jest!
And maddened by the length of garments and severity of adversities.
What deluded them about the Turks and Germans?
They were granted major miracles and were distinguished
سَيفانِtwo swords ماnever اِستَبَقاdid the two race toward مَقاتِلَthe vital parts دَولَةٍof a state
سَيفانِ ما اِستَبَقا مَقاتِلَ دَولَةٍ
إِلّاexcept مَضىrushed الأَجَلانِthe two appointed deaths يَستَبِقانِracing each other
إِلّا مَضى الأَجَلانِ يَستَبِقانِ
Two swords: whenever they race toward a state's vital parts,
By the wonders of perfection and excellence of composition.
two appointed deaths rush, racing each other.
Its treasuries opened to them with a dye
يَجريruns قَضاءُthe decree اللَهِof God فيthrough حَدَّيهِماtheir two edges
يَجري قَضاءُ اللَهِ في حَدَّيهِما
وَيَجولُand range فيwithin صَدرَيهِماtheir two breasts المَلكانِthe two angels
وَيَجولُ في صَدرَيهِما المَلكانِ
God's decree runs through their two edges,
That leaves nations rapidly shifting.
and two angels range within their breasts.
They manipulated realms and peoples with a policy
أَينَwhere المَناياthe deaths السابِحاتswimming حَوامِلاًcarrying
أَينَ المَنايا السابِحات حَوامِلاً
فَزَعَthe terror البِحارِof seas وَرَعدَةَand the trembling الخُلجانِof gulfs
فَزَعَ البِحارِ وَرَعدَةَ الخُلجانِ
Where are the swimming deaths that carried
That elevated the inanimate over the animate.
the seas' terror and the gulfs' trembling?
They subjected us to both injustices, leaving us
غَرَّتbeguiled جِرايَGrey فَجاءَهاthen came to them مِنfrom تَحتِهاbeneath them
غَرَّت جِرايَ فَجاءَها مِن تَحتِها
ماwhat لَمnot يَكُنwas لِجِرايَfor Grey فيin الحُسبانِthe reckoning
ما لَم يَكُن لِجِرايَ في الحُسبانِ
They beguiled Grey; then from beneath them came
To taste neither the sweetness of life nor the joy of knowledge.
what Grey had never reckoned with.
Poverty raises its banners among us
قَدَرٌa destiny جَرىran فيthrough الماءِthe water تَحتَbeneath سُكونِهِits stillness
قَدَرٌ جَرى في الماءِ تَحتَ سُكونِهِ
وَجَرىand ran الرَدىdeath فَاِستَرسَلَso sped together القَدَرانِthe two destinies
وَجَرى الرَدى فَاِستَرسَلَ القَدَرانِ
A destiny ran through the water beneath its stillness,
While ignorance strikes above us with clay.
and death ran on; the two destinies sped together.
They gnawed at our money with claws
سِرُّthe secret المَنِيَّةِof death جائِلٌcoursing فيwithin جَوفِهِits belly
سِرُّ المَنِيَّةِ جائِلٌ في جَوفِهِ
كَالروحِlike the soul حينَwhen تَجولُit courses فيthrough الجُثمانِthe body
كَالروحِ حينَ تَجولُ في الجُثمانِ
Death's secret courses within its belly,
That consumed Egypt and Sudan’s treasures.
like the soul when it courses through the body.
Tax collectors prey on the servants, sparing nothing,
سُفُنٌships هَوَتplunged بِالحوتِwith the whale حينَwhen تَبادَرَتthey raced
سُفُنٌ هَوَت بِالحوتِ حينَ تَبادَرَت
تَنسابُgliding بَينَbetween الحوتِthe whale وَالسَرَطانِand the crab
تَنسابُ بَينَ الحوتِ وَالسَرَطانِ
Ships plunged with the whale as they raced,
Not even the most delicate maid or precious slave.
gliding between the whale and the crab.
Sustenance is stripped away, along with clothing,
صُنعُthe work الأُلىof those who فاتواoutstripped العُقولَminds وَجاوَزواand surpassed
صُنعُ الأُلى فاتوا العُقولَ وَجاوَزوا
مَرمىthe reach القُوىof powers وَمَواقِعَand the bounds الإِمكانِof possibility
مَرمى القُوى وَمَواقِعَ الإِمكانِ
The work of those who outstripped minds and surpassed
And whatever the poor man’s house contained of fleeting possessions.
the reach of powers and the bounds of possibility.
The money is hoarded in their treasuries while
كَشَفواthey lifted عَنِfrom العِلمِscience الغِطاءَthe covering وَأَدرَكواand grasped
كَشَفوا عَنِ العِلمِ الغِطاءَ وَأَدرَكوا
سِرَّthe secret التَفَوُّقِof supremacy فيهِwithin it وَالرَجَحانِand preeminence
سِرَّ التَفَوُّقِ فيهِ وَالرَجَحانِ
They lifted the covering from science and grasped
Hunger kills us without mercy.
the secret of supremacy and preeminence within it.
You see the leader of the people extending his palm,
مَلَكواthey mastered العَناصِرَthe elements فَالعَصِيُّso the rebellious مُطاوِعٌis obedient
مَلَكوا العَناصِرَ فَالعَصِيُّ مُطاوِعٌ
وَالصَعبُand the difficult سَهلٌeasy وَالبَعيدُand the distant مُدانِbrought near
وَالصَعبُ سَهلٌ وَالبَعيدُ مُدانِ
They mastered the elements: the rebellious is obedient,
Begging aid from the charitable.
the difficult easy, and the distant brought near.
He who depleted the treasuries sleeps content,
المَوتُdeath يَسبَحُswims فيin الغِمارِthe depths بِأَمرِهِمat their command
المَوتُ يَسبَحُ في الغِمارِ بِأَمرِهِم
وَالمَوتُand death يَمرَحُfrolics فيin حِمىthe domain كيوانِof Saturn
وَالمَوتُ يَمرَحُ في حِمى كيوانِ
Death swims in the depths at their command,
While the father of children rests with eyes sealed shut.
and death frolics in Saturn's domain.
The palace floats in bounty while the houses
فَالناسُso people نَهبٌare prey وَالعَوالِمُand the worlds ساحَةٌan arena
فَالناسُ نَهبٌ وَالعَوالِمُ ساحَةٌ
عِزريلُAzrael فيهاin it دائِمُceaseless الجَوَلانِin roaming
عِزريلُ فيها دائِمُ الجَوَلانِ
People are prey, and the worlds an arena
Witness the death of inhabitants.
where Azrael roams ceaselessly.
Each day, a new tax and special levy
هاجواthey roused المَناياthe deaths الرائِعاتِterrifying وَهاجَهُمand roused them
هاجوا المَنايا الرائِعاتِ وَهاجَهُم
جَشَعُthe greed العِدىof the enemies وَتَأَلُّبُand the gathering القُرصانِof pirates
جَشَعُ العِدى وَتَأَلُّبُ القُرصانِ
They roused terrifying deaths, themselves roused by
That terrifies the far and near.
the enemies' greed and the pirates' gathering.
They prohibited our complaining, silencing
شابَتturned gray لَهاbecause of them الأَجيالُthe generations وَهيَwhile they أَجِنَّةٌwere embryos
شابَت لَها الأَجيالُ وَهيَ أَجِنَّةٌ
لَمnot تَدرِknew بَعدُyet مَراضِعَthe nurses الوِلدانِof children
لَم تَدرِ بَعدُ مَراضِعَ الوِلدانِ
Generations turned gray from them while still embryos,
Each mouth and tongue among us.
not yet knowing the nurses of children.
They shrugged off meekness, but could they shrug off
فَزِعَتtrembled بِأَحشاءِwithin the entrails الدُهورِof ages وَغالَهاand wore them down
فَزِعَت بِأَحشاءِ الدُهورِ وَغالَها
طولُprolonged الوُثوبِleaping وَشِدَّةُand intense النَزَوانِbounding
طولُ الوُثوبِ وَشِدَّةُ النَزَوانِ
They trembled within the entrails of ages, worn down by
The agonies from their own hearts?
long leaping and violent bounding.
They grew angry at the free in our homelands,
أُوتواthey were granted كِبارَmighty المُعجِزاتِmarvels وَمُيِّزواand distinguished
أُوتوا كِبارَ المُعجِزاتِ وَمُيِّزوا
بِرَوائِعِby wonders الإِحكامِof precision وَالإِتقانِand mastery
بِرَوائِعِ الإِحكامِ وَالإِتقانِ
They were granted mighty marvels and distinguished
Content with every fawning traitor.
by wonders of precision and mastery.
The worst sins and decadence to them
جذبواthey drew بِسِرِّthrough the secret الكيمياءِof chemistry عَدُوَّهُمtheir enemy
جذبوا بِسِرِّ الكيمياءِ عَدُوَّهُم
فَأَطاعَso he obeyed بَعدَafter شَراسَةٍferocity وَحِرانِand stubbornness
فَأَطاعَ بَعدَ شَراسَةٍ وَحِرانِ
Through chemistry's secret they drew their enemy,
Are the fragrance of musk and softness of cashmere.
who obeyed after ferocity and stubbornness.
Infidelity altogether loves one’s nation,
مَدَّturned العُيونَthe eyes إِلىtoward اللِواءِthe banner فَرَدَّهُso it sent him back
مَدَّ العُيونَ إِلى اللِواءِ فَرَدَّهُ
أَعمىblind وَأَطفَأَand quenched نارَهُhis fire بِدُخانِwith smoke
أَعمى وَأَطفَأَ نارَهُ بِدُخانِ
He turned his eyes toward the banner; it sent him back
While the free of conscience are faithful of soul.
blind, quenching his fire with smoke.
Death has never obsessed the vile as it has
ضَلَّwent astray المُلوكُthe kings فَجَدَّدواso they renewed لِشُعوبِهِمfor their peoples
ضَلَّ المُلوكُ فَجَدَّدوا لِشُعوبِهِم
دينَthe faith العَمىof blindness وَعِبادَةَand the worship الأَوثانِof idols
دينَ العَمى وَعِبادَةَ الأَوثانِ
The kings went astray and renewed for their peoples
A nation that hopes for life from its mortal enemy.
the faith of blindness and the worship of idols.
They came and caused such infighting between us
رَكِبواthey mounted العُقوقَdisloyalty فَتِلكَso that عُقبىis the outcome أَمرِهِمof their affair
رَكِبوا العُقوقَ فَتِلكَ عُقبى أَمرِهِم
إِنَّindeed العُقوقَdisloyalty مَطِيَّةُis the mount الخُسرانِof ruin
إِنَّ العُقوقَ مَطِيَّةُ الخُسرانِ
They mounted disloyalty: such is their affair's outcome;
We were like snarling dogs and snarling hyenas.
disloyalty is the mount of ruin.
When hearts turned hostile towards them
مَسَحَwiped away الأَذىharm وَمَحاand erased وَصِيَّةَthe testament بُطرِسٍof Peter
مَسَحَ الأَذى وَمَحا وَصِيَّةَ بُطرِسٍ
ماحيthe effacer العُروشِof thrones وَماسِحُand the wiper التيجانِof crowns
ماحي العُروشِ وَماسِحُ التيجانِ
He wiped away harm and erased Peter's testament,
They summoned against it an army of grudges.
the effacer of thrones and wiper of crowns.
They paved for us the path of enmity,
جَيشٌan army مِنَof النَصرِvictory المُبينِmanifest مَشىmarched لَهُtoward it
جَيشٌ مِنَ النَصرِ المُبينِ مَشى لَهُ
جَيشٌan army مِنَof التَضليلِdeception وَالهَذَيانِand delirium
جَيشٌ مِنَ التَضليلِ وَالهَذَيانِ
An army of manifest victory, toward which marched
Until the youth and his God opposed each other.
an army of deception and delirium.
Their chemistry has wondrous mysteries to them,
نُظِمَتwas composed فَماand never اِطَّرَدَflowed steadily الخَيالُthe imagination لِشاعِرٍof a poet
نُظِمَت فَما اِطَّرَدَ الخَيالُ لِشاعِرٍ
إِلّاexcept بِأَلفاظٍthrough words لَهاof its own وَمَعانِand meanings
إِلّا بِأَلفاظٍ لَها وَمَعانِ
It was composed, and no poet's imagination ever flowed
Revealing man’s superiority to him.
except through its words and meanings.
Its hidden vaults opened to them with a potion
هَدَّshattered الكَنائِسَthe churches ماwhat وَعَتcontained جُدرانُهاtheir walls
هَدَّ الكَنائِسَ ما وَعَت جُدرانُها
مِنof موبِقاتِthe deadly sins البَغيِof oppression وَالعُدوانِand aggression
مِن موبِقاتِ البَغيِ وَالعُدوانِ
The churches were shattered by what their walls contained
Leaving nations rapidly changing.
of the deadly sins of oppression and aggression.
They manipulated realms and peoples, raising
اَفَيُؤمِنونَdo they then believe بِقَولِin the words بُطرُسَof Peter أَمor لَهُمhave they
اَفَيُؤمِنونَ بِقَولِ بُطرُسَ أَم لَهُم
فيهِin them كِتابٌa scripture لِاِبنِfrom the son مَريَمَof Mary ثانِa second
فيهِ كِتابٌ لِاِبنِ مَريَمَ ثانِ
Do they believe in Peter's words, or have they
The inanimate over the living.
in them a second scripture from Mary's son?
They conquered us with both injustices, leaving us
لَيتَwould that القُبورَthe graves إِلىinto العَراءِthe open نَبَذنَهُcast him
لَيتَ القُبورَ إِلى العَراءِ نَبَذنَهُ
لِيَرىso he might see مَصيرَthe fate المُلكِof the realm رَأيَa seeing عَيانِwith his own eyes
لِيَرى مَصيرَ المُلكِ رَأيَ عَيانِ
Would that the graves cast him into the open,
To taste neither the sweetness of life nor the joy of knowledge.
to see the realm's fate with his own eyes.
Poverty raises its banners over us
مُلكٌa realm تَأَلَّفَassembled فيover عُصورٍages جَمَّةٍmany
مُلكٌ تَأَلَّفَ في عُصورٍ جَمَّةٍ
وَاِنحَلَّand dissolved بَينَwithin دَقائِقٍminutes وَثَوانِand seconds
وَاِنحَلَّ بَينَ دَقائِقٍ وَثَوانِ
A realm assembled over many ages
While ignorance strikes above us with bricks.
dissolved within minutes and seconds.
They gnawed at our money with claws
ياO آلَHouse رومانوفَof Romanov أَصبَحَbecame مُلكُكُمyour dominion
يا آلَ رومانوفَ أَصبَحَ مُلكُكُم
عِظَةَthe admonition الشُعوبِof peoples وَعِبرَةَand the lesson الأَزمانِof ages
عِظَةَ الشُعوبِ وَعِبرَةَ الأَزمانِ
O House of Romanov, your dominion has become
That exhausted Egypt and Sudan’s treasures.
the peoples' admonition and the ages' lesson.
Tax collectors assault the servants, sparing
ضَجَّcried out النُعاةُthe death-announcers فَماbut not بَكىwept حُلَفاؤُكُمyour allies
ضَجَّ النُعاةُ فَما بَكى حُلَفاؤُكُم
أَينَwhere الدُموعُthe tears وَكَيفَand how يَبكيcan weep الجانيthe culprit
أَينَ الدُموعُ وَكَيفَ يَبكي الجاني
The death-announcers cried out, but your allies did not weep.
Neither the delicate nor nurtured.
Where are the tears, and how can the culprit weep?
Daily sustenance is stripped away, along with clothing,
تَبكيweep الطُلولُthe ruins لَكُمfor you وَيَقضيand pays حَقَّكُمyour due
تَبكي الطُلولُ لَكُم وَيَقضي حَقَّكُم
عاويthe howling الذِئابِof wolves وَناعِقُand the cawing الغِربانِof ravens
عاوي الذِئابِ وَناعِقُ الغِربانِ
The ruins weep for you, and your due is paid by
And whatever the poor man’s house contained of fleeting possessions.
the howling wolves and cawing ravens.
The money is hoarded in treasuries while
اللَهُGod هَدَّshattered كِيانَكُمyour state بِكَتائِبٍwith battalions
اللَهُ هَدَّ كِيانَكُم بِكَتائِبٍ
يَرميHe hurls بِهاthem فَيَهُدَّand so shatters كُلَّevery كِيانِstate
يَرمي بِها فَيَهُدَّ كُلَّ كِيانِ
God shattered your state with battalions
Hunger kills us without mercy.
He hurls forth to shatter every state.
You see the leader of the people extend his palm,
لاdo not تَجزَعواgrieve لِلمُلكِfor dominion بَعدَafter ذَهابِهِits departure
لا تَجزَعوا لِلمُلكِ بَعدَ ذَهابِهِ
المُلكُdominion لِلَهِbelongs to God العَلِيِّexalted الشانِin majesty
المُلكُ لِلَهِ العَلِيِّ الشانِ
Do not grieve for dominion after its departure:
Seeking charity from the benevolent.
dominion belongs to God, exalted in majesty.
He who depleted the treasuries sleeps content,
سيناءُSinai تيهيexult بِالغُزاةِin the warriors وَفاخِريand boast
سيناءُ تيهي بِالغُزاةِ وَفاخِري
وَارويand tell الحَديثَthe tale لِسائِرِto all الرُكبانِthe riders
وَاروي الحَديثَ لِسائِرِ الرُكبانِ
Sinai, exult in the warriors and boast,
While the father of children rests with eyes shut tight.
and tell the tale to every passing rider.
The palace floats in bounty while the homes
ماذاwhat بَداappeared لَكِto you مِنof أَعاجيبِthe marvels الوَغىof battle
ماذا بَدا لَكِ مِن أَعاجيبِ الوَغى
وَشَهِدتِand you witnessed مِنof أَسَدٍlions وَمِنand of قِطعانِflocks
وَشَهِدتِ مِن أَسَدٍ وَمِن قِطعانِ
What marvels of battle appeared to you,
Witness the death of inhabitants.
and what lions and flocks did you witness?
Each day, a new tax and special levy
ماذاwhat رَأَيتِdid you see مِنَof البَواسِلِthe brave إِذwhen دَعاcalled
ماذا رَأَيتِ مِنَ البَواسِلِ إِذ دَعا
داعيthe caller العَوانِof renewed war فَطارَand took flight كُلُّevery جَنانِheart
داعي العَوانِ فَطارَ كُلُّ جَنانِ
What did you see of the brave when the caller
That terrifies the near and far.
of renewed war called, and every heart took flight?
They prohibited our complaints, gagging
أَرَأَيتِdid you see أَبطالَthe heroes الرِجالِamong men مُشيحَةًbattle-ready
أَرَأَيتِ أَبطالَ الرِجالِ مُشيحَةً
تَلهوsporting بِبيضِwith fair كَواعِبٍfull-breasted girls وَغَوانِand beauties
تَلهو بِبيضِ كَواعِبٍ وَغَوانِ
Did you see men's heroes, battle-ready,
Every mouth and tongue among us.
sporting with fair, full-breasted girls and beauties?
They shrugged off meekness, but could they shrug off
أَعلِمتِdid you learn مَنwho يَلقىmeets الحُتوفَdeaths إِذاwhen الْتَقىmeet
أَعلِمتِ مَن يَلقى الحُتوفَ إِذا الْتَقى
ضاريthe fierce one اللُيوثِamong lions وَناعِمُand the delicate one الغِزلانِamong gazelles
ضاري اللُيوثِ وَناعِمُ الغِزلانِ
Did you learn who meets death when there meet
The agonies from their own hearts?
the fierce lion and the delicate gazelle?
They were hostile to the free in our lands,
مَلَكواthey seized الشِعابَthe ravines عَلىagainst العَدُوِّthe enemy وَزاحَمواand vied with
مَلَكوا الشِعابَ عَلى العَدُوِّ وَزاحَموا
شَعبَthe people النُسورِof vultures وَأُمَّةَand the nation العِقبانِof eagles
شَعبَ النُسورِ وَأُمَّةَ العِقبانِ
They seized the ravines against the enemy and vied with
Satisfied with every fawning traitor.
the people of vultures and the nation of eagles.
The worst decadence and sins to them
الجَوُّthe air يَهتِفُacclaims لِلمَلائِكِthe angels خاشِعاًhumbly
الجَوُّ يَهتِفُ لِلمَلائِكِ خاشِعاً
وَالأَرضُand the earth تَشهَدُwitnesses صَولَةَthe assault الجِنّانِof the jinn
وَالأَرضُ تَشهَدُ صَولَةَ الجِنّانِ
The air acclaims the angels humbly,
Are the scent of musk and softness of cashmere.
and the earth witnesses the jinn's assault.
Infidelity altogether loves one’s nation,
رَكِبواthey rode العَزائِمَtheir resolves فَالرِياحُso the winds جَنائِبٌare led mounts
رَكِبوا العَزائِمَ فَالرِياحُ جَنائِبٌ
تَنقادُfollow طَيِّعَةًobediently بِلاwithout أَرسانِhalters
تَنقادُ طَيِّعَةً بِلا أَرسانِ
They rode their resolves: the winds were led mounts,
While the free of conscience have faithful souls.
following obediently without halters.
Death has never obsessed the vile as it has
وَالشُهبُand the meteors بَينَamong أَكُفِّهِمtheir hands مَقذوفَةٌhurled
وَالشُهبُ بَينَ أَكُفِّهِم مَقذوفَةٌ
حَمراءُred تَصبُغُdyeing خُضرَةَthe green القيعانِof the plains
حَمراءُ تَصبُغُ خُضرَةَ القيعانِ
Meteors are hurled from among their hands,
A nation that hopes for life from its mortal enemy.
red, dyeing the plains' green.
They came and caused such infighting between us
رُسُلٌmessengers يُشَيِّعُهاescorts them الرَدىdeath وَرَسائِلٌand messages
رُسُلٌ يُشَيِّعُها الرَدى وَرَسائِلٌ
يَرميhurls بِهاthem مَلَكٌan angel إِلىtoward شَيطانِa devil
يَرمي بِها مَلَكٌ إِلى شَيطانِ
Messengers escorted by death, and messages
We were like snarling dogs and snarling hyenas.
that an angel hurls toward a devil.
When hearts turned hostile towards them
أَمراقِصَwere they dance halls الفَتَياتِof maidens حينَwhen تَأَلَّبواthey banded together
أَمراقِصَ الفَتَياتِ حينَ تَأَلَّبوا
ظَنّواthey thought الوَغىwarfare وَملاعِبَand playgrounds الفِتيانِof young men
ظَنّوا الوَغى وَملاعِبَ الفِتيانِ
Did they, when they banded together, suppose maidens' dance halls
They summoned against it an army of grudges.
and young men's playgrounds were what warfare meant?
They paved for us the path of enmity,
هَمُّthe concern الفَوارِسِof the horsemen فيin القِتالِfighting وَهَمُّهُمand their concern
هَمُّ الفَوارِسِ في القِتالِ وَهَمُّهُم
فيin قَرعِclinking أَكوابٍcups وَعَزفِand the music قِيانِof singing girls
في قَرعِ أَكوابٍ وَعَزفِ قِيانِ
The horsemen's concern is fighting, while theirs lies
Until the youth and his God opposed each other.
in clinking cups and the music of singing girls.
Their chemistry has wondrous mysteries to them,
كانَتwas مِنَfrom الأَقوامِthe peoples نَشوَةَthe intoxication جاهِلٍof an ignorant one
كانَت مِنَ الأَقوامِ نَشوَةَ جاهِلٍ
وَالسَيفُand the sword يَكشِفُdispels غَمرَةَthe stupor النَشوانِof the drunken one
وَالسَيفُ يَكشِفُ غَمرَةَ النَشوانِ
It was the peoples' ignorant intoxication,
Revealing man’s superiority to him.
and the sword dispels the drunken one's stupor.
Its hidden vaults opened to them with a potion
ياO مِصرُEgypt إِنif رَجَعَturned back المَشوقُthe yearning one فَقَدthen indeed وَفىdid justice
يا مِصرُ إِن رَجَعَ المَشوقُ فَقَد وَفى
حُسنُthe excellence البَلاءِof valor بِحُسنِكِto your beauty الفَتّانِenchanting
حُسنُ البَلاءِ بِحُسنِكِ الفَتّانِ
O Egypt, if the yearning one turned back, justice was done
Leaving nations rapidly changing.
by splendid valor to your enchanting beauty.
They manipulated realms and peoples, raising
وَلّىturned away عَلىwith كُرهٍreluctance وَبَينَand within ضُلوعِهِhis ribs
وَلّى عَلى كُرهٍ وَبَينَ ضُلوعِهِ
وَجدٌa passion يُغالِبُهُresisting him عَلىover السُلوانِforgetting
وَجدٌ يُغالِبُهُ عَلى السُلوانِ
He turned away unwillingly, and within his ribs was
The inanimate over the living.
a passion resisting his attempt to forget.
They conquered us with both injustices, leaving us
كَمhow many فيin المَمالِكِthe kingdoms مِنof شَجِيٍّa sorrowful one مُغرَمٍin love
كَم في المَمالِكِ مِن شَجِيٍّ مُغرَمٍ
يَهفوyearns إِلَيكِtoward you وَشَيِّقٍand a longing one وَلهانِdistraught
يَهفو إِلَيكِ وَشَيِّقٍ وَلهانِ
How many sorrowful lovers in the kingdoms
To taste neither the sweetness of life nor the joy of knowledge.
yearn toward you, longing and distraught!
Poverty raises its banners over us
مايَشتَفيnever finds relief بِالوَصلِin union مِنكِwith you مُعَذَّبٌa tormented lover
مايَشتَفي بِالوَصلِ مِنكِ مُعَذَّبٌ
إِلّاexcept أَسَأتِyou hurt إِلَيهِhim بِالهِجرانِthrough abandonment
إِلّا أَسَأتِ إِلَيهِ بِالهِجرانِ
No tormented lover finds relief in union with you
While ignorance strikes above us with bricks.
without your hurting him through abandonment.
They gnawed at our money with claws
عَبَثَtoyed الهَوىlove بِالفُرسِwith the Persians فيكِover you هُنَيهَةًa little while
عَبَثَ الهَوى بِالفُرسِ فيكِ هُنَيهَةً
وَعَبَثتِand you toyed بِاليونانِwith the Greeks وَالرومانِand Romans
وَعَبَثتِ بِاليونانِ وَالرومانِ
Love toyed with the Persians over you a little while,
That exhausted Egypt and Sudan’s treasures.
and you toyed with the Greeks and Romans.
Tax collectors assault the servants, sparing
رَمسيسُRamesses يَعلَمُknows أَنَّthat بَرقَكِyour lightning خُلَّبٌbrings no rain
رَمسيسُ يَعلَمُ أَنَّ بَرقَكِ خُلَّبٌ
وَهَواكِand your love لَيسَdoes not يَدومُendure لِلخِلّانِfor friends
وَهَواكِ لَيسَ يَدومُ لِلخِلّانِ
Ramesses knows that your lightning brings no rain,
Neither the delicate nor nurtured.
and your love does not endure for friends.
Daily sustenance is stripped away, along with clothing,
عَقَدَbound الهَوىlove لَكِto you بَيعَةًa pledge يُدليoffering بِهاthrough it
عَقَدَ الهَوى لَكِ بَيعَةً يُدلي بِها
ماwhatever شِئتِyou wished مِنof زُلفىcloseness وَمِنand of قُربانِofferings
ما شِئتِ مِن زُلفى وَمِن قُربانِ
Love pledged allegiance to you, offering through it
And whatever the poor man’s house contained of fleeting possessions.
whatever closeness and offerings you wished.
The money is hoarded in treasuries while
ضَمَّclasped الضُلوعَthe ribs عَلىaround هَواكِyour love وَضَمَّهُand enclosed him
ضَمَّ الضُلوعَ عَلى هَواكِ وَضَمَّهُ
بَيتُthe house الشُموسِof suns وَمَجمَعُand the gathering place الكُهّانِof priests
بَيتُ الشُموسِ وَمَجمَعُ الكُهّانِ
He clasped your love within his ribs, and he was enclosed by
Hunger kills us without mercy.
the house of suns and the gathering place of priests.
You see the leader of the people extend his palm,
يَهذيraves بِحُبِّكِof your love وَالهَياكِلُwhile the temples خُشَّعٌbow
يَهذي بِحُبِّكِ وَالهَياكِلُ خُشَّعٌ
وَالشَعبُand the people يَسجُدُprostrate themselves وَالشُموسُand the suns رَوانِgaze on
وَالشَعبُ يَسجُدُ وَالشُموسُ رَوانِ
He raves of your love while the temples bow,
Seeking charity from the benevolent.
the people prostrate themselves, and the suns gaze on.
He who depleted the treasuries sleeps content,
وَالجُندُand the troops مِنfrom حَولِaround المَواكِبِthe processions واقِفٌstanding
وَالجُندُ مِن حَولِ المَواكِبِ واقِفٌ
صَفَّينِin two rows مِنfrom حَولَيهِماaround the two صَفّانِtwo rows
صَفَّينِ مِن حَولَيهِما صَفّانِ
The troops stand around the processions,
While the father of children rests with eyes shut tight.
in two rows, with two rows surrounding them.
The palace floats in bounty while the homes
تَحتَbeneath البُنودِthe banners الخافِقاتِfluttering يَزينُهاadorns them
تَحتَ البُنودِ الخافِقاتِ يَزينُها
غاليcostly الحَريرِsilk وَخالِصُand pure العِقيانِgold
غالي الحَريرِ وَخالِصُ العِقيانِ
Beneath fluttering banners adorned by
Witness the death of inhabitants.
costly silk and pure gold.
Each day, a new tax and special levy
وَكَأَنَّand as though أَعناقَthe necks الجِيادِof horses مَزاهِرٌwere lutes
وَكَأَنَّ أَعناقَ الجِيادِ مَزاهِرٌ
وَكَأَنَّand as though تَردادَthe repetition الصَهيلِof neighing أَغانِwere songs
وَكَأَنَّ تَردادَ الصَهيلِ أَغانِ
The horses' necks seem like lutes,
That terrifies the near and far.
and their repeated neighing like songs.
They prohibited our complaints, gagging
تَرميcast بِأَعيُنِهاtheir eyes الفِجاجَalong the broad roads كَأَنَّماas though
تَرمي بِأَعيُنِها الفِجاجَ كَأَنَّما
جُلِبَتwere brought صَوافِنُهاtheir poised steeds لِيَومِfor a day رِهانِof racing
جُلِبَت صَوافِنُها لِيَومِ رِهانِ
They cast their eyes along the broad roads, as though
Every mouth and tongue among us.
their poised steeds had been brought for a racing day.
They shrugged off meekness, but could they shrug off
لَمnot تُنصِفيهِdid you treat him fairly وَلاnor ذَكَرتِremembered عُهودَهُhis pledges
لَم تُنصِفيهِ وَلا ذَكَرتِ عُهودَهُ
بَينَamid الوُلوعِdevotion الجَمِّgreat وَالهَيَمانِand passionate wandering
بَينَ الوُلوعِ الجَمِّ وَالهَيَمانِ
You did not treat him fairly or remember his pledges
The agonies from their own hearts?
amid his great devotion and passionate wandering.
They were hostile to the free in our lands,
لاdo not تُنكريdeny عِظَةًa lesson يُريكِshows you سُطورَهاits lines
لا تُنكري عِظَةً يُريكِ سُطورَها
زاهيsplendid النُقوشِin inscriptions وَشامِخُand towering البُنيانِin buildings
زاهي النُقوشِ وَشامِخُ البُنيانِ
Do not deny a lesson whose lines are shown to you by
Satisfied with every fawning traitor.
splendid inscriptions and towering buildings.
The worst decadence and sins to them
عِظَةٌa lesson تُشيرُpointing إِلىto الدُهورِthe ages وَكُلُّهاand each of them
عِظَةٌ تُشيرُ إِلى الدُهورِ وَكُلُّها
قَلبٌa heart يُشيرُpointing إِلَيكِtoward you بِالخَفَقانِwith its beating
قَلبٌ يُشيرُ إِلَيكِ بِالخَفَقانِ
A lesson pointing to the ages, each of which
Are the scent of musk and softness of cashmere.
is a heart pointing toward you with its beating.
Infidelity altogether loves one’s nation,
الدَهرُtime كَأسُكِis your cup وَالمَمالِكُand the kingdoms كُلُّهاall of them
الدَهرُ كَأسُكِ وَالمَمالِكُ كُلُّها
ظَمآىthirsty إِلَيكِfor you وَأَنتِwhile you بِنتُthe daughter الحانِof the tavern
ظَمآى إِلَيكِ وَأَنتِ بِنتُ الحانِ
Time is your cup, and all the kingdoms
While the free of conscience have faithful souls.
thirst for you, while you are the tavern's daughter.
Death has never obsessed the vile as it has
طوفيpass around بِكَأسِكِyour cup فيamong النَدامىthe drinking companions وَاِصرَعيand strike down
طوفي بِكَأسِكِ في النَدامى وَاِصرَعي
ماwhatever شِئتِyou wish مِنof أُمَمٍnations وَمِنand of بُلدانِcountries
ما شِئتِ مِن أُمَمٍ وَمِن بُلدانِ
Pass your cup among the drinking companions and strike down
A nation that hopes for life from its mortal enemy.
whatever nations and countries you wish.
They came and caused such infighting between us
مُدّواstretch بَنيsons التاميزِof the Thames مِنsome of أَبصارِكُمyour sight
مُدّوا بَني التاميزِ مِن أَبصارِكُم
وَخُذواand take أصابِعَكُمyour fingers عَنِfrom الآذانِthe ears
وَخُذوا أصابِعَكُم عَنِ الآذانِ
Sons of the Thames, stretch your sight,
We were like snarling dogs and snarling hyenas.
and take your fingers from your ears.
When hearts turned hostile towards them
وَاِستَقبِلواand face سودَthe black الصَحائِفِpages وَاِعلَمواand know
وَاِستَقبِلوا سودَ الصَحائِفِ وَاِعلَموا
أَنَّthat الكِنانَةَal-Kinana (Egypt) أَوَّلُthe first العُنوانِheading
أَنَّ الكِنانَةَ أَوَّلُ العُنوانِ
Face the black pages, and know
They summoned against it an army of grudges.
that al-Kinana is the first heading.
They paved for us the path of enmity,
آذَيتُموناyou harmed us مُدمِنينَpersistently فَجَرِّبواso experience
آذَيتُمونا مُدمِنينَ فَجَرِّبوا
عُقبىthe outcome الأَذىof harm وَمَغَبَّةَand the consequences الإِدمانِof persistence
عُقبى الأَذى وَمَغَبَّةَ الإِدمانِ
You harmed us persistently; now experience
Until the youth and his God opposed each other.
harm's outcome and persistence's consequences.
Their chemistry has wondrous mysteries to them,
كُنتُمyou were ضُيوفَthe guests الدَهرِof time ماnot لِجَلائِكُمfor your departure
كُنتُم ضُيوفَ الدَهرِ ما لِجَلائِكُم
عَنfrom مِصرَEgypt مِنany أَجَلٍdeadline وَلاnor إِبّانِappointed season
عَن مِصرَ مِن أَجَلٍ وَلا إِبّانِ
You were time's guests, with no deadline for your departure
Revealing man’s superiority to him.
from Egypt, nor any appointed season.
Its hidden vaults opened to them with a potion
هَلwas كانَwas صَوتُthe voice الحَقِّof truth غَيرَanything but سَحابَةٍa cloud
هَل كانَ صَوتُ الحَقِّ غَيرَ سَحابَةٍ
زالَتvanished غَواشيهاits veils عَنِfrom الأَذهانِminds
زالَت غَواشيها عَنِ الأَذهانِ
Was the voice of truth only a cloud
Leaving nations rapidly changing.
whose veils have vanished from minds?
They manipulated realms and peoples, raising
هَلwas كانَwas صِدقُfaithfulness العَهدِto the pledge غَيرَanything but دُعابَةًa jest
هَل كانَ صِدقُ العَهدِ غَيرَ دُعابَةً
هَلwas كانَwas عَدلُthe justice الحُكمِof government غَيرَanything but دِهانِdissimulation
هَل كانَ عَدلُ الحُكمِ غَيرَ دِهانِ
Was faithfulness to pledges only a jest?
The inanimate over the living.
Was just government only dissimulation?
They conquered us with both injustices, leaving us
رُمناwe sought حَياةَthe life العامِلينَof working people فَلَمbut not نَجِدdid we find
رُمنا حَياةَ العامِلينَ فَلَم نَجِد
مِنany ناصِرٍchampion فيكُمamong you وَلاnor مِعوانِhelper
مِن ناصِرٍ فيكُم وَلا مِعوانِ
We sought the life of working people, but found
To taste neither the sweetness of life nor the joy of knowledge.
no champion among you, nor any helper.
Poverty raises its banners over us
حارَبتُمُyou warred against الأَخلاقَmorals حَربَthe war مُناجِزٍof one bent on decisive combat
حارَبتُمُ الأَخلاقَ حَربَ مُناجِزٍ
يَرميhurling بِزاخِرَةِwith an overflowing العُبابِsurge عَوانِa renewed war
يَرمي بِزاخِرَةِ العُبابِ عَوانِ
You waged on morals the war of one bent on a decisive fight,
While ignorance strikes above us with bricks.
hurling a renewed war with an overflowing surge.
They gnawed at our money with claws
شَرُّthe worst الجَرائِرِcrimes وَالمَساويand faults عِندَكُمin your eyes
شَرُّ الجَرائِرِ وَالمَساوي عِندَكُم
شَمَمُthe pride الأَبِيِّof the defiant one وَنَخوَةُand the honor الغَيرانِof the zealous one
شَمَمُ الأَبِيِّ وَنَخوَةُ الغَيرانِ
The worst crimes and faults, in your eyes, are
That exhausted Egypt and Sudan’s treasures.
the defiant one's pride and the zealous one's honor.
Tax collectors assault the servants, sparing
وَالكُفرُand unbelief أَجمَعُin its entirety أَنthat يُحِبَّshould love بِلادَهُhis country
وَالكُفرُ أَجمَعُ أَن يُحِبَّ بِلادَهُ
حُرُّone free السَريرَةِin heart مُؤمِنُfaithful الوُجدانِin conscience
حُرُّ السَريرَةِ مُؤمِنُ الوُجدانِ
And utter unbelief is that his country should be loved by
Neither the delicate nor nurtured.
one free in heart and faithful in conscience.
Daily sustenance is stripped away, along with clothing,
ماhow أَولَعَeager المَوتَdeath الزُؤامَdeadly بِأُمَّةٍfor a people
ما أَولَعَ المَوتَ الزُؤامَ بِأُمَّةٍ
تَرجوhoping for الحَياةَlife مِنَfrom العَدُوِّthe enemy الشانيhateful
تَرجو الحَياةَ مِنَ العَدُوِّ الشاني
How eager is deadly death for a people
And whatever the poor man’s house contained of fleeting possessions.
that hopes for life from a hateful enemy!
The money is hoarded in treasuries while
جاءواthey came فَكانَso there was مِنَof التَناحُرِmutual slaughter بَينَناamong us
جاءوا فَكانَ مِنَ التَناحُرِ بَينَنا
ماwhat كانَoccurred مِنamong عَبسٍAbs وَمِنand among ذُبيانِDhubyan
ما كانَ مِن عَبسٍ وَمِن ذُبيانِ
They came, and among us arose mutual slaughter
Hunger kills us without mercy.
like that of Abs and Dhubyan.
You see the leader of the people extend his palm,
لَمّاwhen تَأَلَّبَتِbanded together القُلوبُthe hearts حِيالَهُمagainst them
لَمّا تَأَلَّبَتِ القُلوبُ حِيالَهُم
حَشَدواthey mustered لَهاagainst them جَيشاًan army مِنَof الأَضغانِgrudges
حَشَدوا لَها جَيشاً مِنَ الأَضغانِ
When hearts banded together against them,
Seeking charity from the benevolent.
they mustered against them an army of grudges.
He who depleted the treasuries sleeps content,
شَرَعواthey opened لَناfor us سُبُلَpaths العَداوَةِof hostility بَينَناamong us
شَرَعوا لَنا سُبُلَ العَداوَةِ بَينَنا
حَتّىuntil الفَتىa man وَإِلَهُهُand his God خَصمانِwere adversaries
حَتّى الفَتى وَإِلَهُهُ خَصمانِ
They opened paths of hostility among us,
While the father of children rests with eyes shut tight.
until a man and his God became adversaries.
The palace floats in bounty while the homes
لِلكيمياءِfor chemistry مِنَamong العَجائِبِthe marvels عِندَهُمthey possess
لِلكيمياءِ مِنَ العَجائِبِ عِندَهُم
سِرٌّa secret يُريكَshowing you تَفَوُّقَthe superiority الإِنسانِof humanity
سِرٌّ يُريكَ تَفَوُّقَ الإِنسانِ
Among their chemistry's marvels is
Witness the death of inhabitants.
a secret showing you humanity's superiority.
Each day, a new tax and special levy
فَتَحتَopened خَزائِنُهاits treasuries لَهُمfor them عَنrevealing صِبغَةٍa dye
فَتَحتَ خَزائِنُها لَهُم عَن صِبغَةٍ
تَدَعُleaves الشُعوبَthe peoples سَريعَةَquick الذَوَبانِto dissolve
تَدَعُ الشُعوبَ سَريعَةَ الذَوَبانِ
Its treasuries opened for them, revealing a dye
That terrifies the near and far.
that leaves peoples quick to dissolve.
They prohibited our complaints, gagging
ساسواthey governed المَمالِكَthe kingdoms وَالشُعوبَand peoples سِياسَةًby a policy
ساسوا المَمالِكَ وَالشُعوبَ سِياسَةً
رَفَعواthey raised الجَمادَdead matter بِهاthrough it عَلىabove الحَيَوانِliving creatures
رَفَعوا الجَمادَ بِها عَلى الحَيَوانِ
They governed kingdoms and peoples by a policy
Every mouth and tongue among us.
that raised dead matter above living creatures.
They shrugged off meekness, but could they shrug off
مَلَكواthey controlled عَلَيناfor us البُغيَتَينِthe two aspirations فَلَمso not نَذُقdid we taste
مَلَكوا عَلَينا البُغيَتَينِ فَلَم نَذُق
طَعمَthe savor الحَياةِof life وَلَذَّةَand the pleasure العِرفانِof knowledge
طَعمَ الحَياةِ وَلَذَّةَ العِرفانِ
They controlled our two aspirations, so we never tasted
The agonies from their own hearts?
the savor of life or the pleasure of knowledge.
They were hostile to the free in our lands,
الفَقرُpoverty يَرفَعُraises بَينَناamong us أَعلامَهُits banners
الفَقرُ يَرفَعُ بَينَنا أَعلامَهُ
وَالجَهلُand ignorance يَضرِبُpresses down فَوقَناover us بِجِرانِwith a heavy neck
وَالجَهلُ يَضرِبُ فَوقَنا بِجِرانِ
Poverty raises its banners among us,
Satisfied with every fawning traitor.
and ignorance presses its heavy neck over us.
The worst decadence and sins to them
عَضّواthey bit down عَلىupon أَموالِناour wealth بِنَواجِذٍwith molars
عَضّوا عَلى أَموالِنا بِنَواجِذٍ
أَكَلَتdevoured خَزائِنَthe treasuries مِصرَof Egypt وَالسودانِand Sudan
أَكَلَت خَزائِنَ مِصرَ وَالسودانِ
They bit down upon our wealth with molars
Are the scent of musk and softness of cashmere.
that devoured the treasuries of Egypt and Sudan.
Infidelity altogether loves one’s nation,
تَهميrain المُكوسُthe taxes عَلىupon العِبادِthe people فَلاso not يَفيcan match
تَهمي المُكوسُ عَلى العِبادِ فَلا يَفي
صَوبُa shower النُضارِof gold بِصَوبِهاtheir shower الهَتّانِpouring
صَوبُ النُضارِ بِصَوبِها الهَتّانِ
Taxes rain upon the people, and not even
While the free of conscience have faithful souls.
a shower of gold can match their pouring deluge.
Death has never obsessed the vile as it has
تُجبىare collected لِساداتِfor the masters البِلادِof the country وَبَينَهاand amid them
تُجبى لِساداتِ البِلادِ وَبَينَها
مُهَجُthe lifeblood الإِماءِof bondwomen وَأَنفُسُand the souls العِبدانِof bondsmen
مُهَجُ الإِماءِ وَأَنفُسُ العِبدانِ
They are collected for the country's masters, and amid them lie
A nation that hopes for life from its mortal enemy.
the lifeblood of bondwomen and the souls of bondsmen.
They came and caused such infighting between us
القوتُfood يُسلَبُis stolen وَاللِباسُand clothing وَماand what حَوَتcontains
القوتُ يُسلَبُ وَاللِباسُ وَما حَوَت
دارُthe house الفَقيرِof the poor man مِنَof المَتاعِpossessions الفانيperishable
دارُ الفَقيرِ مِنَ المَتاعِ الفاني
Food is stolen, and clothing, and whatever
We were like snarling dogs and snarling hyenas.
perishable possessions the poor man's house contains.
When hearts turned hostile towards them
المالُwealth جَمٌّabundant فيin الخَزائِنِthe treasuries عِندَهُمthey possess
المالُ جَمٌّ في الخَزائِنِ عِندَهُم
وَالجوعُand hunger يَقتُلُناkills us بِغَيرِwithout حَنانِmercy
وَالجوعُ يَقتُلُنا بِغَيرِ حَنانِ
Wealth abounds in their treasuries,
They summoned against it an army of grudges.
while hunger kills us without mercy.
They paved for us the path of enmity,
وَتَرىand you see عَميدَthe chief القَومِof the people يَبسُطُstretching out كَفَّهُhis palm
وَتَرى عَميدَ القَومِ يَبسُطُ كَفَّهُ
يَرجوhoping for المَعونَةَhelp فيamong ذَويthose possessing الإِحسانِcharity
يَرجو المَعونَةَ في ذَوي الإِحسانِ
You see the people's chief stretching out his palm,
Until the youth and his God opposed each other.
hoping for help from the charitable.
Their chemistry has wondrous mysteries to them,
نامَslept الَّذيhe whose أَفنىexhausted الخَزائِنَthe treasuries ظُلمُهُhis oppression
نامَ الَّذي أَفنى الخَزائِنَ ظُلمُهُ
وَأَبوand the father البَنينَof children مُسَهَّدُsleepless الأجفانِin his eyelids
وَأَبو البَنينَ مُسَهَّدُ الأجفانِ
He whose oppression exhausted the treasuries sleeps,
Revealing man’s superiority to him.
while the father of children lies sleepless.
Its hidden vaults opened to them with a potion
القصرthe palace يسبحُswims فيin النعيمِluxury بربِّهِwith its lord
القصر يسبحُ في النعيمِ بربِّهِ
والدارand the house تشهدُwitnesses مَصرَعَthe deaths السُكّانِof the inhabitants
والدار تشهدُ مَصرَعَ السُكّانِ
The palace swims in luxury with its lord,
Leaving nations rapidly changing.
while the house witnesses its inhabitants' deaths.
They manipulated realms and peoples, raising
فيon كُلِّevery يَومٍday مَغرَمٌa penalty وَإِتاوَةٌand a tribute
في كُلِّ يَومٍ مَغرَمٌ وَإِتاوَةٌ
يَتَفَزَّعُis frightened القاصيthe distant one لَهاby it وَالدانيand the near one
يَتَفَزَّعُ القاصي لَها وَالداني
Every day brings a penalty and a tribute
The inanimate over the living.
that frighten those far and near.
They conquered us with both injustices, leaving us
نَقِمواthey resented الشَكاةَcomplaint عَلىfrom الحَزينِthe sorrowful one فَأَمسَكواso they seized
نَقِموا الشَكاةَ عَلى الحَزينِ فَأَمسَكوا
مِنّاamong us بِكُلِّevery فَمٍmouth وَكُلِّand every لِسانِtongue
مِنّا بِكُلِّ فَمٍ وَكُلِّ لِسانِ
They resented the sorrowful one's complaint and seized
To taste neither the sweetness of life nor the joy of knowledge.
every mouth and every tongue among us.
Poverty raises its banners over us
نَفَضواthey emptied الكِنانَةَal-Kinana (Egypt) مِنof ذَخائِرِهاits treasures فَهَلbut did they
نَفَضوا الكِنانَةَ مِن ذَخائِرِها فَهَل
نَفَضواempty جَوانِحَهاits breast مِنَof الأَحزانِsorrows
نَفَضوا جَوانِحَها مِنَ الأَحزانِ
They emptied al-Kinana of its treasures; but did they
While ignorance strikes above us with bricks.
empty its breast of sorrows?
They gnawed at our money with claws
غَضِبواthey raged عَلىat الأَحرارِfree people فيin أَوطانِهِمtheir homelands
غَضِبوا عَلى الأَحرارِ في أَوطانِهِم
وَرَضواand approved بِكُلِّevery مُداهِنٍflatterer خَوّانِtreacherous
وَرَضوا بِكُلِّ مُداهِنٍ خَوّانِ
They raged at free people in their homelands,
That exhausted Egypt and Sudan’s treasures.
and approved every treacherous flatterer.
Tax collectors assault the servants, sparing
أَسرٌcaptivity وَتَشريدٌand banishment وَضَربٌand beating موجِعٌpainful
أَسرٌ وَتَشريدٌ وَضَربٌ موجِعٌ
وَأَذىًand harm يُبَرِّحُtormenting بِالبَريءِthe innocent العانيsufferer
وَأَذىً يُبَرِّحُ بِالبَريءِ العاني
Captivity, banishment, painful beating,
Neither the delicate nor nurtured.
and harm that torments the innocent sufferer.
Daily sustenance is stripped away, along with clothing,
هُمthey قَدَّمواadvanced القَومَthe people الطَغامَbase وَأَخَّرواand pushed back
هُم قَدَّموا القَومَ الطَغامَ وَأَخَّروا
مَلَأَthe company السُراةِof nobles وَمَعشَرَand the assembly الأَعيانِof notables
مَلَأَ السُراةِ وَمَعشَرَ الأَعيانِ
They advanced the base rabble and pushed back
And whatever the poor man’s house contained of fleeting possessions.
the company of nobles and the assembly of notables.
The money is hoarded in treasuries while
نُبِّئتُI was told ماwhat زَعَمَclaimed الشَريفُthe Sharif وَقَومُهُand his people
نُبِّئتُ ما زَعَمَ الشَريفُ وَقَومُهُ
فَسَمِعتُso I heard ماwhat لَمnot تَسمَعِhad heard الأُذنانِthe two ears
فَسَمِعتُ ما لَم تَسمَعِ الأُذنانِ
I was told what the Sharif and his people claimed,
Hunger kills us without mercy.
and heard what ears had never heard.
You see the leader of the people extend his palm,
وَرَأَيتُand I saw ماwhat زانَadorned المُلوكَkings فَلَمbut not أَجِدdid I find
وَرَأَيتُ ما زانَ المُلوكَ فَلَم أَجِد
كَطِرازِlike the ornament مُلكٍof a realm بِاِسمِهِwith his name مُزدانِadorned
كَطِرازِ مُلكٍ بِاِسمِهِ مُزدانِ
I saw what adorned kings, but found nothing
Seeking charity from the benevolent.
like the ornament of a realm adorned with his name.
خَدَعوهُthey deceived him إِذwhen ضاقَnarrowed السَبيلُthe way بِمَكرِهِمthrough their scheming
خَدَعوهُ إِذ ضاقَ السَبيلُ بِمَكرِهِم
وَرَمواand cast بِآمالٍhopes إِلَيهِtoward him حِسانِfair
وَرَموا بِآمالٍ إِلَيهِ حِسانِ
They deceived him when their scheming narrowed the way,
and cast fair hopes toward him.
فَأَباحَso he laid open ماwhat مَنَعَتdefended فَوارِسُthe horsemen هاشِمٍof Hashim
فَأَباحَ ما مَنَعَت فَوارِسُ هاشِمٍ
وَحَمَتand protected وُلاةُthe custodians البَيتِof the House منfrom عدنانِAdnan
وَحَمَت وُلاةُ البَيتِ من عدنانِ
So he laid open what Hashim's horsemen had defended,
and the House's custodians from Adnan had protected.
ياO ذاpossessor الجَلالَةِof Majesty لاmay not سَعِدتَyou be happy بِتاجِهِwith its crown
يا ذا الجَلالَةِ لا سَعِدتَ بِتاجِهِ
مُلكاًa realm سِواكَanother than you بِهِthrough it السَعيدُthe happy one الهانيthe contented one
مُلكاً سِواكَ بِهِ السَعيدُ الهاني
O Majesty, may its crown bring you no happiness—
a realm through which another, not you, is happy and content.
أَمَلَكتَhave you gained ماwhat lies بَينَbetween البَقيعِal-Baqi فَجُدَّةٍand Jeddah
أَمَلَكتَ ما بَينَ البَقيعِ فَجُدَّةٍ
وَأَبَحتَand opened to جَيشَكَyour army ماwhat lies وَراءَbeyond مَعانِMa'an
وَأَبَحتَ جَيشَكَ ما وَراءَ مَعانِ
Have you gained all between al-Baqi and Jeddah,
and opened to your army what lies beyond Ma'an?
وَبَصَرتَand have you seen بِالوُزراءِthe ministers حَولَكَaround you خُشَّعاًhumbled
وَبَصَرتَ بِالوُزراءِ حَولَكَ خُشَّعاً
تُمضيyou conduct أُمورَthe affairs المُلكِof the realm فيin الإيوانِthe hall
تُمضي أُمورَ المُلكِ في الإيوانِ
And have you seen ministers around you, humbled,
as you conduct the realm's affairs in the hall?
يُجبىis collected إِلَيكَfor you مِنَfrom البِلادِthe lands خَراجُهاtheir revenue
يُجبى إِلَيكَ مِنَ البِلادِ خَراجُها
ماwhat lies بَينَbetween ذيDhu سَلَمٍSalam إِلىto عُسفانِUsfan
ما بَينَ ذي سَلَمٍ إِلى عُسفانِ
The lands' revenues are collected for you,
from Dhu Salam to Usfan.
مُلكٌa realm أَمَدَّكَsupplied you مِنfrom خَزائِنِهِits treasuries بِماwith what
مُلكٌ أَمَدَّكَ مِن خَزائِنِهِ بِما
أَعياexhausted الجُباةَthe collectors وَناءَand weighed down بِالخُزّانِthe treasurers
أَعيا الجُباةَ وَناءَ بِالخُزّانِ
A realm supplied you from its treasuries with what
exhausted collectors and weighed down treasurers.
الجُندُthe army مَعقودُbound اللِواءِin its banner لِفَيصَلٍfor Faisal
الجُندُ مَعقودُ اللِواءِ لِفَيصَلٍ
بَينَamid الظُبىthe blades وَعَوامِلِand the heads المُرّانِof pliant spears
بَينَ الظُبى وَعَوامِلِ المُرّانِ
The army's banner is bound for Faisal,
amid blades and the heads of pliant spears.
يَلقىhe meets النَبِيَّthe Prophet مُدَجَّجاًfully armed فيamong جُندِهِhis troops
يَلقى النَبِيَّ مُدَجَّجاً في جُندِهِ
وَبَنوand the sons أَبيهِof his father عَلىover اللِواءِthe banner حَوانِbending protectively
وَبَنو أَبيهِ عَلى اللِواءِ حَوانِ
He meets the Prophet fully armed among his troops,
and his father's sons bend protectively over the banner.
أَيَقودُdoes he lead جَيشَكَyour army أَمor يَقودُleads عُيَينَةٌUyayna
أَيَقودُ جَيشَكَ أَم يَقودُ عُيَينَةٌ
شُمَّthe proud الفَوارِسِhorsemen مِنfrom بَنيBanu غَطفانِGhatafan
شُمَّ الفَوارِسِ مِن بَني غَطفانِ
Does he lead your army, or does Uyayna lead
the proud horsemen of Banu Ghatafan?
سَلَبواthey stole اللِقاحَthe milch camels وَإِنَّyet indeed دينَthe faith مُحَمَّدٍof Muhammad
سَلَبوا اللِقاحَ وَإِنَّ دينَ مُحَمَّدٍ
لَأَعَزُّis surely dearer مِنthan إِبلٍcamels عَلَيهِto him وَضانِand sheep
لَأَعَزُّ مِن إِبلٍ عَلَيهِ وَضانِ
They stole the milch camels, yet Muhammad's faith
is dearer to him than camels and sheep.
أَهدىhe bestowed إِلَيكَon you مِنَof المَفاخِرِglories مِثلَthe like ماof what
أَهدى إِلَيكَ مِنَ المَفاخِرِ مِثلَ ما
أَهدىbestowed يَزيدُYazid إِلىon بَنيBanu شَيبانِShayban
أَهدى يَزيدُ إِلى بَني شَيبانِ
He bestowed on you such glories as
Yazid bestowed on Banu Shayban.
فَتَحَhe conquered الحِجازَthe Hijaz رِمالَهُits sands وَصُخورَهُand its rocks
فَتَحَ الحِجازَ رِمالَهُ وَصُخورَهُ
وَأَتىand brought إِلَيكَto you بِرَندِهِits laurel وَالبانِand moringa trees
وَأَتى إِلَيكَ بِرَندِهِ وَالبانِ
He conquered the Hijaz, its sands and rocks,
and brought you its laurel and moringa trees.
اعذُرforgive شُعوبَthe peoples المُسلِمينَof the Muslims إِذاif هَفَتthey falter
اعذُر شُعوبَ المُسلِمينَ إِذا هَفَت
إِنّيI indeed أَرىsee الحَرَمَينِthe two Sanctuaries يَنتَفِضانِshaking
إِنّي أَرى الحَرَمَينِ يَنتَفِضانِ
Forgive the Muslim peoples if they falter:
I see the two Sanctuaries shaking.
وَلَئِنand if indeed جَرَتstreamed حَولَaround النَبِيِّthe Prophet عُيونُهاtheir eyes
وَلَئِن جَرَت حَولَ النَبِيِّ عُيونُها
فَلَقَدthen indeed رَأَتthey saw عَينَيهِhis two eyes تَنهَمِلانِstreaming
فَلَقَد رَأَت عَينَيهِ تَنهَمِلانِ
And if their eyes streamed about the Prophet,
they had indeed seen his two eyes streaming.
تَمحوerase السُيوفُthe swords وَلِلحَقائِقِand realities have حُكمُهاtheir judgment
تَمحو السُيوفُ وَلِلحَقائِقِ حُكمُها
مُلكَthe kingdom الخَيالِof fantasy وَدَولَةَand the state الصِبيانِof children
مُلكَ الخَيالِ وَدَولَةَ الصِبيانِ
The swords erase—and realities have their judgment—
the kingdom of fantasy and the state of children.
ماnot المُلكُthe realm مِنfrom عِزٍّmight وَبَأسٍand valor صادِقٍgenuine
ما المُلكُ مِن عِزٍّ وَبَأسٍ صادِقٍ
كَالمُلكِlike the realm مِنfrom كَذِبٍlies وَمِنand from بُهتانِslander
كَالمُلكِ مِن كَذِبٍ وَمِن بُهتانِ
A realm born of might and genuine valor is not
like a realm born of lies and slander.
صونواprotect بَنيsons الأَعرابِof the desert Arabs مِنfrom عَوراتِهاits shameful exposures
صونوا بَني الأَعرابِ مِن عَوراتِها
دَعوىa claim لَعَمرِby the life اللَهِof God غَيرَnot حَصانِchaste
دَعوى لَعَمرِ اللَهِ غَيرَ حَصانِ
O sons of the desert Arabs, shield from its shameful exposure
a claim that, by God's life, is unchaste.
غَشّىshrouded عَلىover أَبصارِكُمyour eyes وَقُلوبِكُمand your hearts
غَشّى عَلى أَبصارِكُم وَقُلوبِكُم
كَاللَيلِlike the night مِنwith حُجُبٍcurtains وَمِنand with أَكنانِcoverings
كَاللَيلِ مِن حُجُبٍ وَمِن أَكنانِ
There shrouded your eyes and hearts
curtains and coverings like the night.
أَنَسيتُمُhave you forgotten الآياتِthe signs بالِغَةًoverwhelming فَماyet not
أَنَسيتُمُ الآياتِ بالِغَةً فَما
بِصَحائِفِin the pages التاريخِof history مِنany نِسيانِforgetfulness
بِصَحائِفِ التاريخِ مِن نِسيانِ
Have you forgotten the overwhelming signs? There is no
forgetfulness in history's pages.
التُركُthe Turks جُندُthe troops اللَهِof God لَولاwere it not for بَأسُهُمtheir valor
التُركُ جُندُ اللَهِ لَولا بَأسُهُم
لَمnot يَبقَwould remain فيin الدُنياthe world مُقيمُone proclaiming أَذانِthe call to prayer
لَم يَبقَ في الدُنيا مُقيمُ أَذانِ
The Turks are God's troops; without their valor,
no caller to prayer would remain in the world.
خُلَفاؤُهُHis caliphs الأَبرارُthe righteous نَزَّهَHe purified حُبَّهُمtheir love
خُلَفاؤُهُ الأَبرارُ نَزَّهَ حُبَّهُم
فيهِfor Him وَطَهَّرَهُمand cleansed them مِنَof الأَدرانِstains
فيهِ وَطَهَّرَهُم مِنَ الأَدرانِ
His righteous caliphs: He purified their love
for Him, and cleansed them of stains.
لَمnot يَخذُلوهُdid they abandon Him وَلاnor أَضاعواneglected حَقَّهُHis due
لَم يَخذُلوهُ وَلا أَضاعوا حَقَّهُ
فيin شِدَّةٍhardship مِنof أَمرِهِمtheir affairs وَلَيانِand ease
في شِدَّةٍ مِن أَمرِهِم وَلَيانِ
They did not abandon Him or neglect His due,
whether their affairs were hard or easy.
صانواthey protected بِحَدِّwith the edge السَيفِof the sword حَوزَةَthe bounds مُلكِهِمof their realm
صانوا بِحَدِّ السَيفِ حَوزَةَ مُلكِهِم
وَحِفاظَand the loyal zeal كُلِّof every مُشَيَّعٍfearless warrior صَلَتانِvigorous
وَحِفاظَ كُلِّ مُشَيَّعٍ صَلَتانِ
They protected their realm's bounds with the sword's edge,
and the loyal zeal of every fearless, vigorous warrior.
يَأتَمُّfollows فيهِin it خَليفَةٌa caliph بِخَليفَةٍa caliph
يَأتَمُّ فيهِ خَليفَةٌ بِخَليفَةٍ
وَيَزيدُand surpasses خاقانٌa khagan عَلىover خاقانِa khagan
وَيَزيدُ خاقانٌ عَلى خاقانِ
In it, caliph follows caliph,
and khagan surpasses khagan.
بِالمَغرِبَينِin the two Wests مَمالِكٌkingdoms أَودىbrought to ruin بِهاthem
بِالمَغرِبَينِ مَمالِكٌ أَودى بِها
عَبَثُthe frivolity الخَلائِفِof the caliphs مِنfrom بَنيBanu قَحطانِQahtan
عَبَثُ الخَلائِفِ مِن بَني قَحطانِ
In the two Wests were kingdoms brought to ruin by
the frivolity of caliphs from Banu Qahtan.
أَودىbrought to ruin بِهاthem عَبدُAbd العَزيزِal-Aziz وَقَومُهُand his people
أَودى بِها عَبدُ العَزيزِ وَقَومُهُ
قَومُthe people الخَليعِof the libertine وَشيعَةُand the followers السَكرانِof the drunkard
قَومُ الخَليعِ وَشيعَةُ السَكرانِ
Abd al-Aziz and his people brought them to ruin:
the libertine's people and the drunkard's followers.
تَشقىsuffer رَعِيَّتُهُhis subjects وَيَظمَأُand thirsts مُلكُهُhis realm
تَشقى رَعِيَّتُهُ وَيَظمَأُ مُلكُهُ
فَيَلوذُwhile he seeks refuge مِنهُfrom it بِناعِمٍwith a pampered one رَيّانِwell-watered
فَيَلوذُ مِنهُ بِناعِمٍ رَيّانِ
His subjects suffer and his realm thirsts,
while he seeks refuge from it with one pampered and well-watered.
ذَعَرَfrightened الجَآذِرَthe gazelle fawns وَالظِباءَand gazelles فَماand not وَفَتsufficed
ذَعَرَ الجَآذِرَ وَالظِباءَ فَما وَفَت
أَفياءُthe shades مِصرَof Egypt وَلاnor رُبىthe hills لُبنانِof Lebanon
أَفياءُ مِصرَ وَلا رُبى لُبنانِ
He frightened the gazelle fawns and gazelles, and neither
Egypt's shade nor Lebanon's hills sufficed.
مَلِكٌa king أَحاطَsurrounded بِتاجِهِhis crown وَسَريرِهِand his throne
مَلِكٌ أَحاطَ بِتاجِهِ وَسَريرِهِ
جَيشُan army القِيانِof singing girls وَعَسكَرُand a host الغِلمانِof boys
جَيشُ القِيانِ وَعَسكَرُ الغِلمانِ
A king whose crown and throne were surrounded by
an army of singing girls and a host of boys.
تَحميthey defend حِماهُhis domain بِصافِناتِwith the poised steeds كُؤوسِهاof their cups
تَحمي حِماهُ بِصافِناتِ كُؤوسِها
وَتَصونُهُand protect him بِصَوارِمِwith the sharp swords الأَلحانِof melodies
وَتَصونُهُ بِصَوارِمِ الأَلحانِ
They defend his domain with the poised steeds of their cups,
and protect him with the sharp swords of melodies.
عَصَفَتswept بِأَندَلُسٍthrough al-Andalus رِياحُwinds جَهالَةٍof ignorance
عَصَفَت بِأَندَلُسٍ رِياحُ جَهالَةٍ
مادَتswayed لَهاbecause of them الدُنياthe world مِنَfrom الرَجفانِtrembling
مادَت لَها الدُنيا مِنَ الرَجفانِ
Winds of ignorance swept through al-Andalus,
making the world sway with trembling.
صَدَعَتshattered قُوىthe strength الإِسلامِof Islam بَينَamong مُلوكِهاits kings
صَدَعَت قُوى الإِسلامِ بَينَ مُلوكِها
وَرَمَتand struck بَنيهِits children بِأَبرَحِwith the fiercest الأَشجانِsorrows
وَرَمَت بَنيهِ بِأَبرَحِ الأَشجانِ
They shattered Islam's strength among its kings,
and struck its children with the fiercest sorrows.
راحواthey went on يُديرونَstirring الشِقاقَdiscord وَحَولَهُمwhile around them
راحوا يُديرونَ الشِقاقَ وَحَولَهُم
عَينُthe eye المُغيرِof the raider تَدورُroves كَالثُعبانِlike a snake
عَينُ المُغيرِ تَدورُ كَالثُعبانِ
They went on stirring discord, while around them
the raider's eye roved like a snake.
يَتَنازَعونَthey contest رِداءَthe robe مُلكٍof a realm مونِقٍsplendid
يَتَنازَعونَ رِداءَ مُلكٍ مونِقٍ
خَضِلِfresh الحَواشيat the fringes مُذهَبِgolden الأَردانِat the sleeves
خَضِلِ الحَواشي مُذهَبِ الأَردانِ
They contested the robe of a splendid realm,
fresh at its fringes, golden at its sleeves.
لَبِسَwore العَدُوُّthe enemy ظِلالَهُits shade وَتَكَشَّفواwhile they were stripped
لَبِسَ العَدُوُّ ظِلالَهُ وَتَكَشَّفوا
لِبَنيbefore the children الزَمانِof time تَكَشُّفَthe nakedness العُريانِof the unclothed
لِبَني الزَمانِ تَكَشُّفَ العُريانِ
The enemy clothed himself in its shade, while they were stripped
before the children of time, naked as the unclothed.
صَدَّturned away النَبِيُّthe Prophet مِنَfrom الحَياءِshame بِوَجهِهِhis face
صَدَّ النَبِيُّ مِنَ الحَياءِ بِوَجهِهِ
وَلَوَتand turned away أُمَيَّةُUmayya صَفحَةَthe face الخِزيانِof the shame-stricken
وَلَوَت أُمَيَّةُ صَفحَةَ الخِزيانِ
The Prophet turned his face away in shame,
and Umayya turned away a shame-stricken face.
وَأَهَلَّand cried out موسىMusa فيin القُبورِthe graves وَطارِقٌand Tariq
وَأَهَلَّ موسى في القُبورِ وَطارِقٌ
يَتَفَجَّعانِthe two lament مَعاًtogether وَيَنتَحِبانِand sob
يَتَفَجَّعانِ مَعاً وَيَنتَحِبانِ
Musa and Tariq cried out in their graves,
lamenting together and sobbing.
خَطبٌa calamity تَباعَدَgrew distant حينُهُits time وَإِخالُهُyet I deem it
خَطبٌ تَباعَدَ حينُهُ وَإِخالُهُ
أَدنىthe nearest الخُطوبِof calamities وَأَقرَبَand the closest الأَحيانِof moments
أَدنى الخُطوبِ وَأَقرَبَ الأَحيانِ
A calamity whose time lies far away, yet I deem it
the nearest calamity and the closest moment.
أَبكيI weep وَرُزءُand the loss المُسلِمينَof the Muslims وَماand what لَقواthey suffered
أَبكي وَرُزءُ المُسلِمينَ وَما لَقوا
فيin العالَمينَthe world أَشَدُّthe greatest ماof what أَبكانيmade me weep
في العالَمينَ أَشَدُّ ما أَبكاني
I weep; the Muslims' loss, and what they suffered
in the world, are what have made me weep most.
أَبكيI weep لِدامِيَةِfor her bloodied الجَوانِحِbreast هاجَهاstirred her
أَبكي لِدامِيَةِ الجَوانِحِ هاجَها
ماwhat هاجَنيstirred me مِنof دائِهاher affliction وَشَجانيand grieved me
ما هاجَني مِن دائِها وَشَجاني
I weep for her bloodied breast, stirred
by what in her affliction stirred me and grieved me.
الدَهرُtime أَندَلُسٌis al-Andalus وَكُلٌّand everything ذِكرُهاher remembrance
الدَهرُ أَندَلُسٌ وَكُلٌّ ذِكرُها
وَعُهودُand the eras سُكّانٍof inhabitants لَهاof hers وَمَغانيand dwellings
وَعُهودُ سُكّانٍ لَها وَمَغاني
Time is al-Andalus, and everything is her remembrance,
the eras of her inhabitants and her dwellings.
وَالكائِناتُand all existence قَصيدَةٌa poem تَرويrecounting لَناto us
وَالكائِناتُ قَصيدَةٌ تَروي لَنا
عَنهاabout her فُنونَthe many forms الوَجدِof passion وَالتَوَقانِand yearning
عَنها فُنونَ الوَجدِ وَالتَوَقانِ
All existence is a poem recounting to us
the many forms of passion and yearning for her.
اللَيلُnight فيهاwithin her وَالنَهارُand day كَلاهماboth of them
اللَيلُ فيها وَالنَهارُ كَلاهما
بَيتانِtwo verses طولَthroughout الدَهرِtime يَبتَدِرانِracing each other
بَيتانِ طولَ الدَهرِ يَبتَدِرانِ
Night and day within her are both
two verses racing each other for all time.
فَهُماso the two رَسولاهاher two messengers إِلىto أَهلِthe people الهَوىof love
فَهُما رَسولاها إِلى أَهلِ الهَوى
وَهُماand the two الهَوىlove وَالشَوقُand longing يَتَّصِلانِjoined together
وَهُما الهَوى وَالشَوقُ يَتَّصِلانِ
They are her two messengers to the people of love,
and they are love and longing, joined together.
مُلكٌa realm هَوىfell بَينَamong الكُؤوسِthe cups جَنازَةًa funeral procession
مُلكٌ هَوى بَينَ الكُؤوسِ جَنازَةً
وَمَضىand passed عَلىupon نَعشٍa bier مِنَof الرَيحانِsweet basil
وَمَضى عَلى نَعشٍ مِنَ الرَيحانِ
A realm fell among the cups, a funeral procession,
and passed upon a bier of sweet basil.
Partial English translation: 361 of 454 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1