هذا الدفاعُ وهذه الأجنادُ

هذا الدفاعُ وهذه الأجنادُ

أَأَمِنتَ أن تتوثَّبَ الآسادُ

أَأَمِنتَ أن تتوثَّبَ الآسادُ

This is defense, and these are the troops.

This defense and these armies,

Have you thought yourself safe from the lions' leap?

Did you feel secure that the lions would leap?

مِصرُ الطريدةُ هبَّ من أعلامها

مِصرُ الطريدةُ هبَّ من أعلامها

بطلٌ هوادتُه وغىً وطِرادُ

بطلٌ هوادتُه وغىً وطِرادُ

Egypt, the hunted prey—from among her great men arose

Egypt the pursued, her banners fluttered,

A hero whose truce is warfare and pursuit.

A hero whose stillness is clamor and chase.

مِن جانبِ الغيلِ المنيعِ تتابعت

مِن جانبِ الغيلِ المنيعِ تتابعت

وَثَباتُه وتجاوب الإرعادُ

وَثَباتُه وتجاوب الإرعادُ

From the side of the impregnable lion-thicket came in succession

From the side of the strong army followed

His leaps, and peals of thunder answered one another.

His leaps and the rumbling of thunder.

شَرَع التقدُّمَ بالفيالقِ قومُه

شَرَع التقدُّمَ بالفيالقِ قومُه

فتعلّم الأبطالُ والقُوّادُ

فتعلّم الأبطالُ والقُوّادُ

His people made advancing with legions the rule,

The vanguards advanced with his troops

So heroes and commanders learned it.

So the heroes and leaders learned.

قومٌ إذا لَمعتْ مَفاخرُ بيتِهم

قومٌ إذا لَمعتْ مَفاخرُ بيتِهم

لمعت سيوفٌ في الجهادِ حِدادُ

لمعت سيوفٌ في الجهادِ حِدادُ

A people—when their house's glories shone,

A people when the glories of their house shone

Keen swords shone in the struggle.

Swords in holy war shined.

كشفوا الظّلامَ فهم نُجومُ هدايةٍ

كشفوا الظّلامَ فهم نُجومُ هدايةٍ

وَرَستْ جوانبُهم فهم أطوادُ

وَرَستْ جوانبُهم فهم أطوادُ

They dispelled the darkness: they are stars of guidance;

They uncovered the darkness, they are guiding stars

Their flanks stood firm: they are lofty mountains.

Their sides anchored, they are pillars.

لِلشُّمِّ ميعادٌ يجيءُ وهذه

لِلشُّمِّ ميعادٌ يجيءُ وهذه

ملء الحوادثِ ما لها ميعادُ

ملء الحوادثِ ما لها ميعادُ

For lofty mountains an appointed time comes; yet these

For the suns there is an appointed time that comes

Fill the course of events, with no appointed time.

And events are full, they have no appointed time.

تَطغَى الزّلازلُ حولَها وتُريدُها

تَطغَى الزّلازلُ حولَها وتُريدُها

فإذا السماواتُ العُلىَ أسنادُ

فإذا السماواتُ العُلىَ أسنادُ

Earthquakes rage around them and seek them out,

Earthquakes overflowed around her and wanted her

And behold, the high heavens are their supports.

But the highest heavens were supporters.

هم في الكنانة آلُ بدرٍ ما لهم

هم في الكنانة آلُ بدرٍ ما لهم

إلا الشّهادةُ مطلبٌ ومُرادُ

إلا الشّهادةُ مطلبٌ ومُرادُ

In Kinana they are the family of Badr, with no

They of the house of Badr, what have they

Aim or desire but martyrdom.

Except martyrdom, their request and purpose?

إن صال منهم في الكريهةِ مُقدِمٌ

إن صال منهم في الكريهةِ مُقدِمٌ

صالَ الزُّبَيرُ وأقدم المقدادُ

صالَ الزُّبَيرُ وأقدم المقدادُ

If a bold man among them charges into battle,

If one of them goes forth into battle

Al-Zubayr charges, and al-Miqdad advances.

Al-Zubayr went forth and the first, Al-Miqdad.

وُلِدُوا حياةً للبلادِ فبوركتْ

وُلِدُوا حياةً للبلادِ فبوركتْ

تلك البطونُ وبورك الميلادُ

تلك البطونُ وبورك الميلادُ

They were born as life for the land; so blessed be

They were born life for the countries so they were blessed

Those wombs, and blessed be their birth.

Those wombs and the births were blessed.

دَرَجوا على الإيمانِ أبيضَ ساطعاً

دَرَجوا على الإيمانِ أبيضَ ساطعاً

لا الكفرُ شيبَ به ولا الإلحادُ

لا الكفرُ شيبَ به ولا الإلحادُ

They grew up on faith, white and radiant,

They progressed on pure, shining faith

With neither unbelief nor atheism mingled into it.

Neither unbelief whitened it nor atheism.

الأُمّهاتُ المجدُ حين ولدنهم

الأُمّهاتُ المجدُ حين ولدنهم

والسُّؤددُ الآباءُ والأجدادُ

والسُّؤددُ الآباءُ والأجدادُ

Their mothers were glory when they bore them,

The mothers are glory when they birthed them

And eminence their fathers and forefathers.

And the fathers and forefathers are happiness.

طَوِيَتْ على أحشاءِ مِصرَ ضُلوعُهم

طَوِيَتْ على أحشاءِ مِصرَ ضُلوعُهم

فالقومُ وِجدانٌ لها وفُؤادُ

فالقومُ وِجدانٌ لها وفُؤادُ

Their ribs enfolded Egypt's innards;

Their ribs were folded over Egypt’s belly

So they are her feeling and her heart.

So the people found in her warmth and heart.

عُنوانُها والحادثاتُ هَوادةٌ

عُنوانُها والحادثاتُ هَوادةٌ

ومثالُها والحادثاتُ جِلادُ

ومثالُها والحادثاتُ جِلادُ

Her emblem when events bring peace,

Its title and events are stillness

And her image when events are combat.

And its ideal and events are determination.

ولقد أراهم والحياةُ بأسرها

ولقد أراهم والحياةُ بأسرها

والدَّهرُ أجمعُ مأتمٌ وحِدادُ

والدَّهرُ أجمعُ مأتمٌ وحِدادُ

Indeed, I see them, while life in its entirety

And I saw them, and all of life

And all of time are a funeral gathering and mourning.

And time in its entirety grief and mourning.

وأرى بِدارِي من عليٍّ دمعةً

وأرى بِدارِي من عليٍّ دمعةً

هي للعيونِ الباكياتِ عَتَادُ

هي للعيونِ الباكياتِ عَتَادُ

And in my home I see a tear from Ali,

And I see in my house a tear from Ali

It is provision for weeping eyes.

That is usual for crying eyes.

هاجَتْهُ مصرُ تُضامُ وهي عزيزةٌ

هاجَتْهُ مصرُ تُضامُ وهي عزيزةٌ

وتُسامُ خَسْفاً والحُماةُ شِدادُ

وتُسامُ خَسْفاً والحُماةُ شِدادُ

Egypt stirred him, wronged though she was mighty,

Egypt raged, gathering and noble

And subjected to abasement, though her defenders were strong.

And enduring, sinking, and the protectors firm.

قصفوا بأيديهم سِلاحَ جُنودِها

قصفوا بأيديهم سِلاحَ جُنودِها

فَهَوى لها عَلَمٌ وخرَّ عِمادُ

فَهَوى لها عَلَمٌ وخرَّ عِمادُ

They shattered her soldiers' weapons with their own hands,

They bombed its army’s weapons with their hands

So a banner of hers fell, and a pillar collapsed.

So a flag fell for it and pillar collapsed.

فإذا المعاقلُ والحُصونُ مَصارعٌ

فإذا المعاقلُ والحُصونُ مَصارعٌ

وإذا الأسِنَّةُ والظُّبيَ أصفادُ

وإذا الأسِنَّةُ والظُّبيَ أصفادُ

Then behold: strongholds and fortresses are killing grounds,

Then the strongholds and citadels are places of death

And behold: spearheads and sword-edges are shackles.

And the blades and lions are bound.

حَسرَاتُ حُرٍّ لا تُفارِقُ نفسَه

حَسرَاتُ حُرٍّ لا تُفارِقُ نفسَه

حتّى يُفارقَ قومَهُ اسْتِعبادُ

حتّى يُفارقَ قومَهُ اسْتِعبادُ

A free man's sorrows never leave his soul

The regrets of a freeman never leave himself

Until enslavement leaves his people.

Until the enslavement of his people leaves.

أَتُرابُ شعبٍ أم تريكةُ ناقفٍ

أَتُرابُ شعبٍ أم تريكةُ ناقفٍ

عَصفتْ بها الأحداثُ فَهْيَ رمادُ

عَصفتْ بها الأحداثُ فَهْيَ رمادُ

Is this a people's dust, or a shell abandoned by a hatchling,

Is it the dust of a people or ashes of dried thorns

Upon which calamities have raged, leaving it ash?

That events blew upon so it is embers?

ما الشّعبُ فوضى لا يُصان له حِمىً

ما الشّعبُ فوضى لا يُصان له حِمىً

إلا ذُبابٌ هالكٌ وجرادُ

إلا ذُبابٌ هالكٌ وجرادُ

A people in anarchy, with no defended sanctuary, are nothing

What are the people, chaos with no protected sanctuary

But doomed flies and locusts.

Except vanishing insects and locusts?

أَسَفِي على الوادِي ينامُ حُماتُه

أَسَفِي على الوادِي ينامُ حُماتُه

ويَعيثُ في جَنَباتهِ المُرتادُ

ويَعيثُ في جَنَباتهِ المُرتادُ

Alas for the valley: its defenders sleep,

I grieve over the valley, its protectors sleep

While the prowler ravages its flanks.

And the assailants riot in its flanks.

رزقُ الذّئابِ أبيحَ غير مُكدَّرٍ

رزقُ الذّئابِ أبيحَ غير مُكدَّرٍ

ومن الشُّعوبِ ضراغمٌ ونِقادُ

ومن الشُّعوبِ ضراغمٌ ونِقادُ

The wolves' sustenance is made freely available, unhindered,

The wolves were permitted sustenance untroubled

And among peoples are fierce lions and little sheep.

And of the peoples are muzzled dogs and chained.

الصيدُ من نُسُكِ الحياةِ لِمُتَّقٍ

الصيدُ من نُسُكِ الحياةِ لِمُتَّقٍ

يخشَى عذابَ الهُونِ حين يُصادُ

يخشَى عذابَ الهُونِ حين يُصادُ

Hunting is one of life's rites for a pious man

Hunting is of the rituals of life for God-fearing

Who fears the torment of humiliation when he is hunted.

Who dread the disgrace of humiliation when hunted.

فإذا الأُلى زَهدوا كأن لم يُؤمنوا

فإذا الأُلى زَهدوا كأن لم يُؤمنوا

وإذا الغُزاةُ كأنّهم زُهّادُ

وإذا الغُزاةُ كأنّهم زُهّادُ

Then behold: those who renounced the world seem never to have believed,

So when the vile became ascetics as though they never believed

And behold: the raiders seem to be ascetics.

And the invaders are like ascetics.

دينٌ تتابعَ بالهدايةِ رسلُهُ

دينٌ تتابعَ بالهدايةِ رسلُهُ

والأنبياءُ الجُلَّةُ الأمجادُ

والأنبياءُ الجُلَّةُ الأمجادُ

A religion whose messengers came in succession with guidance,

A religion its successive messengers guide

And its prophets, eminent and glorious.

And the succession of noble prophets.

أحكامُه الجُرْدُ الصّوافِنُ تَرتمي

أحكامُه الجُرْدُ الصّوافِنُ تَرتمي

وَحُدودُه الأسيافُ والأجنادُ

وَحُدودُه الأسيافُ والأجنادُ

Its decrees are sleek, poised steeds hurling themselves forward,

Its rulings polished swords unsheathed

And its bounds are swords and troops.

And its limits swords and armies.

والقاذفاتُ من الجحيم صواعقاً

والقاذفاتُ من الجحيم صواعقاً

هي للممالكِ والشُّعوبُ حصادُ

هي للممالكِ والشُّعوبُ حصادُ

And the guns hurling thunderbolts from hell

Those who fling from Hell lightning bolts

Reap a harvest of kingdoms and peoples.

For the kingdoms and peoples are harvest.

والسّابحاتُ على الغمارِ كأنّها

والسّابحاتُ على الغمارِ كأنّها

للجنِّ في الحدثِ الجليل مَصادُ

للجنِّ في الحدثِ الجليل مَصادُ

And those swimming upon the deeps, as though they were

Those who swim upon the clouds as though

A hunting ground for jinn in the mighty encounter.

For jinn in the momentous event are catchers.

والرّاصداتُ لها تَبِيتُ عُيونُها

والرّاصداتُ لها تَبِيتُ عُيونُها

يَقظَى إذا أخذ البِحارَ رُقادُ

يَقظَى إذا أخذ البِحارَ رُقادُ

And those keeping watch for them—their eyes spend the night

Those who for it their eyes keep vigil awake

Wakeful when slumber overtakes the seas.

When the seas take slumber and rest.

والطائراتُ تفوتُ كلَّ مُحلِّقٍ

والطائراتُ تفوتُ كلَّ مُحلِّقٍ

وتظلُّ ناهضةَ القوى تنطادُ

وتظلُّ ناهضةَ القوى تنطادُ

And the aircraft outstrip every soaring creature,

Those who surpass every soarer in flight

And keep soaring aloft, their powers rising.

Remaining vigilant, prowling to prey.

تلك الحياةُ جرت إلى غاياتها

تلك الحياةُ جرت إلى غاياتها

فاللُّج سُبْلٌ والرّياحُ جيادُ

فاللُّج سُبْلٌ والرّياحُ جيادُ

Such is life: it has run toward its goals;

That life flowed to its purposes

The deep is roads, and the winds are steeds.

So the seas are paths and the winds steeds.

وإذا سألتَ عن الصِّعابِ وحكمِها

وإذا سألتَ عن الصِّعابِ وحكمِها

فالعلمُ للصَّعبِ الأبيِّ قيادُ

فالعلمُ للصَّعبِ الأبيِّ قيادُ

And if you ask about difficulties and their mastery,

And if you asked about the difficulties and their rule

Science is a rein for defiant difficulty.

Then knowledge for the steep ascent is guide.

جَدَّ الدّفاعُ فللكنانةِ حَقُّها

جَدَّ الدّفاعُ فللكنانةِ حَقُّها

والحقُّ يُؤخذُ عنوةً ويُعادُ

والحقُّ يُؤخذُ عنوةً ويُعادُ

Defense has grown earnest: Kinana has her right,

Defense was serious so for the defenders their right

And that right is taken by force and restored.

And right taken forcibly and restored.

إنّ الرجالَ مُجاهدٌ لبلادهِ

إنّ الرجالَ مُجاهدٌ لبلادهِ

فادٍ يذود عن الحمَى ويُذادُ

فادٍ يذود عن الحمَى ويُذادُ

Men include the fighter for his country,

Men are indeed striving for their country

Self-sacrificing, defending the homeland and himself driven back;

Protecting sanctuary and shielding.

وفتىً ضنينٌ في الجهادِ بنفسِه

وفتىً ضنينٌ في الجهادِ بنفسِه

سَمحٌ بآلافِ النُّفوسِ جَوادُ

سَمحٌ بآلافِ النُّفوسِ جَوادُ

And a youth who grudges his own life in the struggle,

And a lad ardent in holy war himself

Yet is generous with thousands of lives, open-handed.

Openhanded with thousands of souls, generous.

آلَ الشّهيدِ وما دعوتُ سوى الأُلَى

آلَ الشّهيدِ وما دعوتُ سوى الأُلَى

هم للبلادِ القادةُ الأنجادُ

هم للبلادِ القادةُ الأنجادُ

O family of the martyr! I have called on none but those

The martyr’s family, and I called none but the exalted

Who are the land's leaders and valiant champions.

They for the countries are leaders most splendid.

أنتم أولو الحقِّ المقدَّمِ فانهضوا

أنتم أولو الحقِّ المقدَّمِ فانهضوا

بالأمرِ تَنهضُ أمّةٌ وبلادُ

بالأمرِ تَنهضُ أمّةٌ وبلادُ

You possess the foremost right, so rise

You are the foremost in truth so arise

To the task; a nation and a country will rise.

With the matter - a nation and countries arise!

مِيثاقُكم مَجدٌ لِمصرَ وسُؤددٌ

مِيثاقُكم مَجدٌ لِمصرَ وسُؤددٌ

وسبيلكم فيها هُدىً ورشادُ

وسبيلكم فيها هُدىً ورشادُ

Your covenant is glory and eminence for Egypt,

Your pact is glory for Egypt and joy

And your path within her is guidance and rectitude.

And your way in her guidance and integrity.

علّمتمُ النّاسَ الجهادَ أذلّةً

علّمتمُ النّاسَ الجهادَ أذلّةً

والعزُّ بأسٌ صادقٌ وجهادُ

والعزُّ بأسٌ صادقٌ وجهادُ

You taught the people to struggle, abased as they were,

You taught people valor in humiliation

And honor is true valor and struggle.

And honor with honest holy war and strife.

لولا مَواقِفُكم وصِدقُ بلائِكم

لولا مَواقِفُكم وصِدقُ بلائِكم

تحمونَ أبناءَ البلادِ لبادوا

تحمونَ أبناءَ البلادِ لبادوا

But for your stands and your truly valiant service

Were it not for your stands and your ordeal’s sincerity

Protecting the land's sons, they would have perished,

You protect the country’s children or they would perish

أيّامَ يحمي السُّبْلَ ذو جَبَريّةٍ

أيّامَ يحمي السُّبْلَ ذو جَبَريّةٍ

جَمُّ الصَّواعقِ مُبرِقٌ مِرعادُ

جَمُّ الصَّواعقِ مُبرِقٌ مِرعادُ

In the days when a tyrant guarded the roads,

Days when the roads are protected by one tyrannical

Abounding in thunderbolts, flashing lightning and roaring thunder.

Thunderbolts striking, lightning in torrents.

يَقضِي على مِصرَ القضاءَ سَبيلُه

يَقضِي على مِصرَ القضاءَ سَبيلُه

عَسْفٌ وملءُ كِتابهِ اسْتعبادُ

عَسْفٌ وملءُ كِتابهِ اسْتعبادُ

Decreeing Egypt's doom; his way was

He decides for Egypt a way his whim

Oppression, and his book was filled with enslavement.

Oppression and his book’s entirety enslavement.

لمّا رَميتُمْ تَفتحونَ فِجاجَها

لمّا رَميتُمْ تَفتحونَ فِجاجَها

هَوَتِ الصُّروحُ وزالتِ الأسدادُ

هَوَتِ الصُّروحُ وزالتِ الأسدادُ

When you struck, opening her broad passes,

When you shot you opened its straits

The lofty edifices fell, and the barriers vanished.

The edifices collapsed and the dams vanished.

فإذا الوقائعُ ما بهنّ مُكذَّبٌ

فإذا الوقائعُ ما بهنّ مُكذَّبٌ

وإذا الفيالقُ ما لهنّ عِدادُ

وإذا الفيالقُ ما لهنّ عِدادُ

Then behold the battles, with nothing in them that can be denied,

Then the events there is no doubting them

And behold the legions, beyond counting.

And the armies have no counting.

وإذا الفتوحُ تحار فيها جِلَّقٌ

وإذا الفتوحُ تحار فيها جِلَّقٌ

وتغار من أنبائها بغدادُ

وتغار من أنبائها بغدادُ

And behold conquests that leave Jilliq bewildered,

And the openings leaves scrutinizers baffled

And whose tidings make Baghdad envious.

And Baghdad envious of its news.

سكنت رُبَى الوادي المُروَّعِ وانجلى

سكنت رُبَى الوادي المُروَّعِ وانجلى

فَزَعُ النُّفوسِ وما انجلى الجلّادُ

فَزَعُ النُّفوسِ وما انجلى الجلّادُ

The heights of the terror-stricken valley grew calm, and vanished

The terrors of the frightened valley calmed and cleared

The souls' terror; yet the executioner did not depart.

The souls’ alarm and the tormentor did not clear.

أَمِنَ الحُتوفِ لِذي المخافةِ مأمنٌ

أَمِنَ الحُتوفِ لِذي المخافةِ مأمنٌ

ومن الأسنَّةِ مَضجعٌ وَوِسادُ

ومن الأسنَّةِ مَضجعٌ وَوِسادُ

Is there refuge from death for the fearful,

From the oppressors one who fears has safe refuge

And from spearheads, a bed and pillow?

And from the blades resting place and pillow.

باتت عيونُ الجاهلين قَريرةً

باتت عيونُ الجاهلين قَريرةً

والعيشُ هَمٌّ ناصبٌ وسُهادُ

والعيشُ هَمٌّ ناصبٌ وسُهادُ

The eyes of the ignorant spent the night at ease,

The eyes of the ignorant overnighted gratified

While life was wearisome worry and sleeplessness.

And living is grief lying in ambush and sleep.

إنّ الأُلى تركوا البلادَ ذَليلةً

إنّ الأُلى تركوا البلادَ ذَليلةً

لَهُمُ الأُلىَ ملكوا الرِّقابَ وسادوا

لَهُمُ الأُلىَ ملكوا الرِّقابَ وسادوا

Indeed, those who left the land abased

The exalted left the country humiliated

Are the very ones who owned men's necks and ruled.

To them the exalted owned the necks and ruled

ألِكلِّ طائفةٍ زعيمٌ صالحٌ

ألِكلِّ طائفةٍ زعيمٌ صالحٌ

وبكلِّ ناحيةٍ أذىً وفسادُ

وبكلِّ ناحيةٍ أذىً وفسادُ

Does every faction have a worthy leader,

For each faction is there an upright leader?

While every region holds harm and corruption?

In each region harm and corruption abound.

يا أُمّةَ الوادي تَموجُ ذِئابُه

يا أُمّةَ الوادي تَموجُ ذِئابُه

ويُجلِّلُ السّارين فيه سَوادُ

ويُجلِّلُ السّارين فيه سَوادُ

O nation of the valley—its wolves surge,

O people of the valley, its wolves surge

And darkness shrouds those traveling through it by night.

And the symptoms of evil in it proliferate.

هذا إمامُكِ فاسلكي سُبلَ الهُدى

هذا إمامُكِ فاسلكي سُبلَ الهُدى

نِعمَ الإمامُ الكوكبُ الوقّادُ

نِعمَ الإمامُ الكوكبُ الوقّادُ

This is your leader, so follow the paths of guidance;

This is your imam so follow the ways of guidance

How excellent a leader is the blazing star!

Good is the imam, star that gives guidance.

سيري على السَّنَنِ السويِّ فإنّه

سيري على السَّنَنِ السويِّ فإنّه

نورُ الشَّهيد على المدى يزدادُ

نورُ الشَّهيد على المدى يزدادُ

Walk the straight and level path, for indeed

Walk the balanced ways for he

The martyr's light grows brighter with time.

Is the martyr's light that far extends.

ثِقةٌ وإيمانٌ وصِدقُ عزيمةٍ

ثِقةٌ وإيمانٌ وصِدقُ عزيمةٍ

تلك الذخائرُ ما لَهُنَّ نَفادُ

تلك الذخائرُ ما لَهُنَّ نَفادُ

Trust, faith, and sincerity of resolve—

Trust and faith and honesty of resolve

Those are treasures that never run out.

Such treasures have no diminishing.