1. أَدأبُكَ أن تُريدَ المستحيلا

    تأمّلْ أيها المولى قليلا

    Is it your habit to desire the impossible?

    Reflect a little, my lord.

  2. لبثتَ تُعالج الداءَ الدخيلا

    وتُضمِرُ في جوانحك الغليلا

    You have long been treating the invading sickness,

    And harboring burning rancor within your breast,

  3. وما يُجديك لاعجهُ فتيلا

    أما تنفكُّ تذكر يومَ بدر

    Yet its burning avails you not a thread.

    Will you never cease recalling the day of Badr,

  4. وما عانيت من قتلٍ وأسرِ

    وَراءَك إنّها الأقدارُ تجري

    And what you suffered of slaughter and captivity?

    Stand back: the decrees of fate are unfolding,

  5. بنصرٍ للنبيّ وراءَ نصرِ

    وكان الله بالحسنى كفيلا

    With victory for the Prophet following victory,

    And God has guaranteed the good outcome.

  6. أبا سُفيانَ دّعْ صفوانَ يبكي

    وعكرمةً يُطيل من التشكّي

    Abu Sufyan, leave Safwan to weep,

    And Ikrima to prolong his lamenting.

  7. وقلْ للقومِ في بِرِّ ونُسكِ

    نَهيتُ النفسَ عن كفرٍ وشركِ

    Tell the people, in righteousness and devotion:

    I have forbidden my soul unbelief and idolatry,

  8. وآثرتُ المحجّةَ والسبيلا

    أراك أطعتَهم وأبيتَ إلّا

    And preferred the clear road and the path.

    I see you have obeyed them and refused all but

  9. سبيلَ السُّوءِ تسلكه مُدِلّا

    تريدُ مُحمداً وأراه بَسْلا

    The path of evil, which you tread arrogantly.

    You seek Muhammad, and I see him as a valiant warrior.

  10. رُويدك يا أبا سفيان هلّا

    أردت لقومك الحَسَن الجميلا

    Take your time, Abu Sufyan—why not

    Desire what is good and fair for your people?

  11. قُريشٌ لم تزل صَرْعَى هواها

    وعِيرُ الشؤمِ لم تَحلل عُراها

    Quraysh remains prostrate before its own desire,

    And the ill-omened caravan has not loosened its bonds.

  12. أجِلْ عينيك وانظر ما عساها

    تسوقُ من الجنودِ إلى وغاها

    Turn your eyes about and see what

    Troops it may drive into its battle;

  13. فقد حَملتْ لكم أسفاً طويلا

    دعا صفوانُ شاعِرَه فلبَّى

    It has brought you prolonged sorrow.

    Safwan summoned his poet, who answered,

  14. وكان يسومه شَططاً فيأبى

    أحلَّ له الهجاءَ وكان خِبَّا

    Though he had demanded excesses of him, and he refused.

    He permitted him invective, being a deceiver,

  15. أحبَّ من الخيانةِ ما أحبّا

    يُريدُ العَيشَ مُحتقَراً ذليلا

    Embracing whatever treachery he embraced,

    Wishing to live despised and abased.

  16. يذمُّ محمداً ويقول نُكْرا

    ولولا لؤمه لم يَألُ شكرا

    He disparages Muhammad and speaks abominations;

    But for his baseness, he would have spared no thanks.

  17. تغمَّد حقَه وجزاه شَرّا

    وأمسى عهدهُ كذباً وغدرا

    He buried his due and repaid him with evil,

    And his pledge became falsehood and betrayal.

  18. وإنّ له لمنقلباً وبيلا

    ألم يَمنُنْ عليه إذ الأُسارى

    Surely his return will be disastrous.

    Did he not show him mercy when the captives'

  19. تكاد نفوسُها تهوِي حذارا

    تطوفُ به مُولَّهةً حيارى

    Souls almost fell away from fear,

    Circling him, distraught and bewildered,

  20. تَودُّ لو اَنّها ملكت فرارا

    وهل يُعطَى عدوُّ اللهِ سُولا

    Wishing they possessed a means of escape?

    Should God's enemy be granted his wish?

  21. جُبَيْرُ أكان عمُّك حين أودى

    كعمّ محمدٍ شرفاً ومجدا

    Jubayr, was your uncle, when he perished,

    Like Muhammad's uncle in honor and glory?

  22. أحمزةُ أم طعيمةُ كان أهدى

    رُويدك يا جبير أتيت إدّا

    Was Hamza or Tuayma better guided?

    Take your time, Jubayr: you have done a monstrous thing,

  23. وإنّ قضاءَ ربّكِ لن يحولا

    أراد فما لِوَحْشِيٍّ مَحيدُ

    And your Lord's decree will never change.

    He has willed it: Wahshi has no escape,

  24. ولا لك مصرفٌ عما يُريدُ

    أليس لِحمزةَ البأسُ الشديدُ

    Nor have you any turning from what He wills.

    Does Hamza not possess formidable might?

  25. فما يُغني فتاك وما يُفيدُ

    تباركَ ربُّنا رباً جليلا

    What can your young man accomplish or avail?

    Blessed is our Lord, a majestic Lord.

  26. تَولَّوْا بالكتائبِ والسَّرايا

    وساروا بالحرائرِ والبغايا

    They set forth with battalions and raiding companies,

    And marched with freeborn women and prostitutes.

  27. منايا قومهم جَلبتْ منايا

    فسيري في سبيلك يا مطايا

    Their people's dooms summoned further dooms.

    Proceed along your way, you mounts,

  28. ولا تَدَعِي الرسيمَ ولا الذّميلا

    ويا خَيلُ اركضي بالقوم ركضا

    And abandon neither your swift gait nor your easy trot.

    Horses, gallop with the people at full gallop,

  29. وجوبي للوغى أرضاً فأرضا

    لعلّ الناقمَ الموتورَ يرضى

    And traverse land after land toward battle,

    Perhaps the resentful, bereaved avenger will be satisfied.

  30. نَشدتُكِ فانفضي البيداءَ نفضا

    وَوالي في جوانبها الصّهيلا

    I adjure you: shake the wilderness thoroughly,

    And keep your neighing ringing through its reaches.

  31. ويا هندُ اندبي القتلى ونوحي

    وزيدي ما بقومِكِ من جُروحِ

    Hind, lament the slain and wail,

    And increase the wounds your people bear.

  32. وراءَكِ كلُّ مُنصلِتٍ طَموحِ

    تُهيِّجُّ بأسَهُ رِيحُ الفتوحِ

    Behind you is every sword-drawn, aspiring warrior,

    Whose might the wind of victories stirs.

  33. وراءك فتيةٌ تأبى النّكولا

    وراءك نِسوةٌ للحرب تُزجَى

    Behind you are youths who refuse retreat.

    Behind you are women driven toward war,

  34. تَرُجُّ دفوفُها الأبطالَ رجّا

    وتلك خمورُ عسكركِ المرجَّى

    Their tambourines shaking the heroes mightily.

    Those are the wines of your much-hoped-for army;

  35. وكان الغيُّ بالجهلاءِ أحجى

    كذلك يطمسُ الجهلُ العقولا

    Error is more fitting for the ignorant.

    Thus ignorance effaces minds.

  36. رأيتِ الرأي شُؤماً أيَّ شؤمِ

    وما تدري يمينُك أين ترمي

    You have found your counsel ill-omened—how ill-omened!

    Your right hand does not know where it aims.

  37. لعمركِ إنه لَرسيسُ همِّ

    تغلغل منك بين دَمٍ ولحمِ

    By your life, it is a lingering root of grief,

    That has penetrated between your blood and flesh.

  38. فيا ابنةَ عُتبة اجتنبي الفُضولا

    أعنْ جَسدِ الرضيّةِ بنتِ وهبِ

    Daughter of Utba, avoid meddling.

    Is it for the body of the worthy daughter of Wahb

  39. تُشَقُّ القبرُ يا امرأةَ ابن حرب

    ويُقطَعُ بالمُدى في غير ذنب

    That the grave is opened, wife of Ibn Harb,

    And the body cut with knives, though guilty of no sin,

  40. ليُفدَى كلُّ مأسورٍ بإربِ

    فيا عجباً لقولٍ منكِ قيلا

    To ransom each captive with a limb?

    How astonishing a saying uttered by you!

  41. هي الهيجاءُ ليس لها مردُّ

    فمن يَكُ هازلاً فالأمرُ جِدُّ

    This is battle: there is no turning it back.

    Whoever may jest, the matter is serious.

  42. لَبأسُ اللهِ يا هندٌ أشدُّ

    له جندٌ وللكفّارِ جند

    God's might, Hind, is surely greater.

    He has an army, and the unbelievers have an army,

  43. وإنّ لجندهِ البطشَ المهولا

    سيوفُ محمدٍ أمضى السيوفِ

    And His army possesses terrifying force.

    Muhammad's swords are the keenest swords,

  44. وأجلبُ للمعاطبِ والحتوفِ

    إذا هوتِ الصفوفُ على الصفوفِ

    And the greatest bringers of destruction and death.

    When ranks fall upon ranks,

  45. وأعرضَ كلُّ جبارٍ مخوفِ

    مَضتْ مِلءَ الوغَى عَرضاً وطولا

    And every fearsome tyrant shows himself,

    They sweep the whole battle, across and along.

  46. أرى السَّعدَيْنِ قد دلفا وهذا

    عليٌّ بالحُسامِ العَضْبِ لاذا

    I see the two Sa'ds have advanced, and here

    Ali has taken hold of the keen sword.

  47. وحمزةُ جَدَّ مُعتزِماً فماذا

    وَمن للقومِ إن أمسوا جُذاذا

    Hamza presses on, resolved—what then?

    Who will aid the people if they become shattered fragments,

  48. وطار حُماتُهم فمضوا فلولا

    وفي الأبطالِ فِتيانٌ رِقاقُ

    Their defenders fly off, and they depart as broken remnants?

    Among the heroes are tender youths,

  49. بأنفسهم إلى الهيجا اشتياقُ

    لهم في الناهضين لها انطلاقُ

    Whose souls long for battle.

    They race among those rising to meet it.

  50. دعا داعي الجهادِ فما أطاقوا

    بدارِ السّلمِ مَثوىً أو مقيلا

    The caller to striving called, and they could not endure

    A lodging or a midday rest in the abode of peace.

  51. أعادهُم النبيُّ إلى العرينِ

    شُبولاً سوف تَصْلُبُ بعد لينِ

    The Prophet returned them to the den,

    As cubs that will grow strong after tenderness,

  52. يضنُّ بها إلى أجلٍ وحينِ

    رَعاكَ اللهُ من سَمْحٍ ضنين

    Sparing them until their appointed time.

    May God guard you, so generous yet so sparing,

  53. يَسوسُ الأمرَ يكرهُ أن يَعولا

    وَقيلَ لرافعٍ نعم الغلامُ

    Governing affairs, unwilling to act unjustly.

    Rafi was told: an excellent youth are you

  54. إذا انطلقتْ لغايتِها السّهامُ

    تقدم أيّها الرامي الهمامُ

    When arrows fly toward their mark.

    Advance, intrepid archer;

  55. إذا الهيجاءُ شبّ لها ضرامُ

    فأَمطِرْها سِهامَكَ والنُّصولا

    When battle's blaze flares up,

    Rain your arrows and their points upon it.

  56. ونادى سمرةٌ أيرُدُّ مثلي

    ويُقبلُ صاحبي وأنا المجلِّي

    Samura cried: should one like me be turned back,

    While my companion is accepted, though I am the winner?

  57. أُصارِعُه فإن أغلبْ فَسؤْلي

    وكيف أُذادُ عن حقٍّ وعدلِ

    I will wrestle him; if I prevail, grant my wish.

    How can I be barred from right and justice,

  58. وأُمْنَعُ أن أصولَ وأن أجولا

    وصَارعَهُ فكان أشدَّ أسرا

    And prevented from charging and ranging freely?

    He wrestled him and proved stronger in build,

  59. وأكثرَ في المجالِ الضّنكِ صبرا

    وقيل له صدقتَ فأنت أحرى

    And more enduring in the narrow contest.

    He was told: you spoke truly, and are more deserving

  60. بأن تردَ الوغى فتنالَ نصرا

    ألا أقبل فقد نِلتَ القبولا

    To enter battle and attain victory.

    Come forward: you have gained acceptance.

  61. أعبدَ اللهِ مالكَ من خَلاقِ

    فَعُدْ بالنّاكِثينَ ذوي النّفاقِ

    Abd Allah, you have no share of good.

    Return with the oath-breakers, the hypocrites.

  62. كفاكَ من المخافةِ ما تُلاقي

    ومالّك من قضاءِ اللهِ واقِ

    What you encounter of fear is enough for you,

    And nothing protects you from God's decree,

  63. وإن أمسيتَ للشّعرى نزيلا

    أبيتَ على ابن عمرٍو ما أرادا

    Even if you lodge on Sirius.

    You refused Ibn Amr what he wished,

  64. وشرُّ القومِ من يأبى الرشادا

    نهاكَ فلم تَزِدْ إلا عنادا

    And the worst of people is one who rejects right guidance.

    He forbade you, but you only grew more obstinate.

  65. ألم يَسمعْ فريقُكَ حين نادى

    أطيعوا الله واتّبعوا الرسولا

    Did your band not hear him when he called:

    Obey God and follow the Messenger?

  66. يقولُ نشدتُكم لا تخذلوهُ

    ومَوْثِقَ قومِكم لا تَنقضوهُ

    He says: I adjure you, do not abandon him,

    And do not break your people's covenant.

  67. رسولُ الله إلّا تنصروهُ

    فإنّ الحقَّ ينصرُهُ ذَووهُ

    If you do not support God's Messenger,

    Those who uphold the truth will support him.

  68. ألا بُعداً لمن يَبغِي الغُلولا

    تجلَّى نورُ ربّكَ ذي الجلالِ

    Away with whoever seeks treachery!

    The light of your majestic Lord shone forth,

  69. وهزّ الشِّعبَ صوتٌ من بِلالِ

    بلالُ الخيرِ أذَّنَ في الرجالِ

    And a voice from Bilal shook the mountain ravine.

    Good Bilal called to prayer among the men,

  70. فهبُّوا للصلاةِ من الرِحالِ

    وقاموا خلَف سيّدهم مُثولا

    And they sprang from their dwellings to prayer,

    Standing reverently behind their master.

  71. عَلاَ صَوتُ الأذينِ فأيُّ مَعنى

    لِمَنْ هو مُؤمنٌ أسمَى وأسنى

    The call to prayer rose—what meaning

    For a believer is loftier or more radiant?

  72. إلهُ النّاسِ فردٌ لا يُثنَّى

    تأمّلْ خلقه إنساً وجنّا

    The God of humankind is One, not made two.

    Contemplate His creation, humans and jinn;

  73. فلن تجدَ الشريكَ ولا المثيلا

    أَجلْ اللّهُ أكبرُ لا مِراءَ

    You will find neither partner nor equal.

    Yes, God is greatest—there is no dispute.

  74. فهل سَمِعَ الألى كفروا النّداءَ

    أظنُّ قلوبَهم طارت هَباءَ

    Did those who disbelieved hear the call?

    I think their hearts flew away as dust,

  75. فلا أرضاً تُطيقُ ولا سَماءَ

    جَلالُ الحقِّ أورثهم ذهُولا

    Unable to endure either earth or sky.

    The majesty of Truth left them bewildered.

  76. سرى الصّوتُ المردَّدُ في الصباحِ

    فضجَّ الكونُ حيَّ على الفلاحِ

    The repeated voice spread through the morning,

    And the universe cried: come to success!

  77. تلقَّى صيحةَ الحقِّ الصّراحِ

    فقام يَصيحُ من كلِّ النواحي

    It received the cry of unmistakable truth,

    Then rose to cry out from every quarter,

  78. يُسبِّحُ ربَّهُ غِبَّ ارتياحِ

    ويحمَدُه بألسنةٍ فِصاحِ

    Glorifying its Lord after its delight,

    And praising Him with eloquent tongues.

  79. تَعطّفتِ الجبالُ على البطاحِ

    وكبّرتِ المدائنُ والضواحي

    The mountains bent affectionately toward the plains,

    And the cities and outskirts proclaimed God's greatness.

  80. وأوَّبتِ البحارُ مع الرياحِ

    وصفَّقَ كلُّ طيرٍ بالجناحِ

    The seas echoed praise with the winds,

    And every bird beat its wings.

  81. كتابُ الحقِّ ما للحقِّ ماحِ

    يُرتَّلُ في الغُدوِّ وفي الرواحِ

    The Book of Truth—nothing can efface the Truth—

    Is recited at morning and evening.

  82. فَقُلْ للنّاسِ من ثَمِلٍ وصاحِ

    شريعةُ ربّكم ما من براحِ

    Tell the people, intoxicated and sober alike:

    There is no departing from your Lord's law.

  83. فَمنْ منكم يُريدُ بها بديلا

    ألا طابتْ صلاتُكَ إذ تُقامُ

    Who among you desires an alternative to it?

    How blessed your prayer is when performed,

  84. وطابَ القومُ إذ أنتَ الإمامُ

    أقمها يا محمدُ فَهْيَ لامُ

    And blessed the people when you are their imam.

    Establish it, Muhammad, for it is armor;

  85. تَساقَطُ حولها الجُنَنُ العِظامُ

    بها يُتخطَّفُ الجيشُ اللهّامُ

    Great shields fall away around it.

    Through it the vast army is snatched away,

  86. وليس كمثلِها جَيشٌ يُرامُ

    قضاها اللّهُ فَهْيَ له ذِمامُ

    And no army like it can be sought.

    God ordained it, and it is His pledge of protection.

  87. وذاك نِظامُها نِعمَ النّظامُ

    يوطِّد من بَنَى وهي الدّعامُ

    Such is its order—an excellent order!

    It strengthens whoever builds, for it is the supports,

  88. ويصعدُ بالذّرى وهي السّنامُ

    نَهضتَ لها وما هبَّ النيامُ

    And lifts the heights, for it is the crest.

    You rose for it while the sleepers did not stir,

  89. وبادرها الميامينُ الكرامُ

    مَقامٌ ما يُطاوله مَقامُ

    And the blessed, noble ones hastened to it.

    A station that no station can rival,

  90. ودينٌ من شعائِره السّلامُ

    يصونُ لواءَهُ جيلاً فجيلا

    And a faith whose rites include peace,

    Guarding its banner, generation after generation.

  91. هُدَى الأجيالِ يخطبُ في الهُداةِ

    ويأمُر بالجهادِ وبالصّلاةِ

    The guide of generations addresses the guides,

    Commanding striving and prayer,

  92. وبالأخلاقِ غُرّاً طيّباتِ

    مُلَقَّى الوحيِ والإلهامِ هاتِ

    And bright, wholesome virtues.

    Recipient of revelation and inspiration, bring forth

  93. وَصفْ للنّاسِ آدابَ الحياةِ

    وكيف تكونُ دُنيا الصّالحاتِ

    And describe to people the manners of life,

    And how a world of righteous deeds should be.

  94. وَخُذهم بالنّصائحِ والعظاتِ

    مُضيئاتِ المعالمِ مُشرِقاتِ

    Guide them with counsels and admonitions,

    Radiant, illuminating the landmarks.

  95. شُعوبُ الأرضِ من ماضٍ وآتِ

    عيالُكَ فاهْدِهم سُبُلَ النَّجاةِ

    The peoples of the earth, past and future,

    Are your dependents: guide them along the paths of deliverance.

  96. إذا ضلَّت دَهاقينُ الثّقاتِ

    وأمسى الناسُ أسرى التُّرَّهاتِ

    When the masters among the trusted went astray,

    And people became captives of absurdities,

  97. وخفّ ذَوُو الحلومِ الراسياتِ

    فأصبحتِ الممالكُ راجفاتِ

    And those of firmly rooted judgment grew flighty,

    So that the kingdoms began trembling,

  98. أقمتَ الأرضَ تكره أن تميلا

    ألا بَرَزَ الزُبَيْرُ فأيُّ وصفِ

    You set the earth upright, unwilling that it should tilt.

    Lo, al-Zubayr stepped forth—what description

  99. حَواريُّ الرسول يفي ويكفي

    برزتَ لخالدٍ حتفاً لحتفِ

    Of the Messenger's disciple can be adequate and sufficient?

    You stepped forth against Khalid, death against death,

  100. تصدُّ قواه عن كرٍّ وزحفِ

    وتَدفعهُ إذا ابتعثَ الرعيلا

    Checking his forces from charging and advancing,

    And repelling him when he dispatches the vanguard.

  101. ألم تَرَهُ وعكرمَة استعدَّا

    فأمَّا جدَّتِ الهيجاءُ جَدّا

    Did you not see him and Ikrima prepare?

    When battle grew earnest, both pressed hard.

  102. بنى لهما رسولُ الله سَدَّا

    ومثلك يُعجزُ الأبطالَ هدّا

    God's Messenger built a barrier against them,

    And one like you defeats heroes by crushing them,

  103. ويتركُ كلَّ مُمتنعٍ مَهيلا

    لِمَنْ يَرِثُ الممالكَ لا سِواهُ

    Leaving every stubborn stronghold a loose heap.

    For Him who inherits kingdoms, and none other,

  104. أعدَّ القائدُ الأعلى قُواهُ

    وبَثَّ الجيشَ أحسنَ ما تراهُ

    The supreme commander prepared his forces,

    And deployed the army in the finest array you could see.

  105. تعالى اللّهُ ليس لنا إلهُ

    سِواهُ فوالِهِ ودَعِ الجهولا

    Exalted is God: we have no god

    Besides Him; be loyal to Him and leave the ignorant.

  106. رُماةُ النَّبْلِ ما أمَرَ النبيُّ

    فَذلِك لا يكنْ منكم عَصِيُّ

    Archers, what the Prophet has commanded—

    Let none among you disobey that.

  107. إذا ما زالتِ الشُّمُّ الجِثيُّ

    وكان لها انطلاقٌ أو مُضِيُّ

    Even if the lofty, crouching mountains shift,

    And set off or move onward,

  108. فكونوا في أماكنكم حُلولا

    رُماةَ النَّبلِ رُدُّوا الخيلَ عنَّا

    Remain stationed in your places.

    Archers, drive the horses away from us.

  109. وإن نَهلتْ سيوفُ القومِ منَّا

    فلا تتزحزحوا فإذا أذنَّا

    Even if the people's swords drink from us,

    Do not shift; only when we permit you,

  110. فذلك إنّ للهيجاءِ فنَّا

    تُلقّنه الجهابذةَ الفُحولا

    Then do so: warfare has an art

    That you impart to the consummate masters.

  111. تَلقَّ أبا دُجانةَ باليمينِ

    حُسامَكَ من يَدِ الهادِي الأمينِ

    Receive, Abu Dujana, with your right hand,

    Your sword from the faithful guide's hand.

  112. وَخُذْهُ بحقِّه في غيرِ لينِ

    لِتنصُرَ في الكريهةِ خيرَ دينِ

    Take it according to its due, without softness,

    To support in grim battle the best of faiths,

  113. يَرِفُّ على الدُّنَى ظِلاًّ ظليلا

    نَصيبك نِلتَهُ من فضلِ ربِّ

    Spreading over the worlds as deep shade.

    Your portion you obtained from a Lord's bounty;

  114. قضاهُ لصادقِ النَّجدَاتِ ضَرْبِ

    تخطَّى القومَ من آلٍ وصحبِ

    He allotted it to one true in gallantry and striking.

    It passed over the people, both kin and companions,

  115. فكان عليك عضْباً فوق عَضْبِ

    تبخترْ وامضِ مسنوناً صَقيلا

    And became upon you a blade above a blade.

    Strut, and advance, sharpened and polished.

  116. أبا سُفيانَ لا يقتلْكَ همَّا

    ولا يذهبْ بحلمكَ أن تُذَمّا

    Abu Sufyan, do not let grief kill you,

    Nor let being reproached rob you of your composure.

  117. أحِينَ بَعثَتها شَرّاً وشُؤما

    أردتَ هَوادةً وطلبتَ سلما

    Was it when you unleashed it, evil and ill-omened,

    That you desired a truce and sought peace?

  118. مَكانك لا تكن مَذِلاً ملولا

    مَنِ الدّاعي يَصيِحُ على البعيرِ

    Hold your ground; do not be fretful and weary.

    Who is the challenger crying out upon the camel:

  119. أمالي في الفوارسِ من نظيرِ

    أروني همّةَ البطلِ المُغيرِ

    Have I no peer among the horsemen?

    Show me the mettle of the charging hero.

  120. إليَّ فما بِمثلي من نكيرِ

    أنا الأسدُ الذي يحمي الشُّبولا

    Come at me! How could one like me be denied?

    I am the lion who protects the cubs.

  121. تَحدّاهُ الزُّبَيْرُ وفي يَديْهِ

    قَضاءٌ خفَّ عاجِلُه إليْهِ

    Al-Zubayr challenged him, and in his hands

    Was a doom whose swift onset hastened toward him.

  122. رَمى ظهرَ البعيرِ بمنكبيهِ

    وجرَّعهُ منيَّته عليْهِ

    He struck the camel's back with the man's shoulders,

    And made him drink his death upon it.

  123. فأسلمَ نفسَهُ وهوَى قتيلا

    ألا بُعداً لِطلحةَ حين يهذي

    He yielded his soul and fell slain.

    Away with Talha when he raves,

  124. فيأخذُه عليٌّ شَرَّ أخذِ

    أُصِيبَ بِقسْوَرِيِّ البأسِ فذِّ

    And Ali seizes him with the harshest seizure!

    He was struck by one peerless in lionlike might,

  125. يُعَدُّ لكلِّ طاغِي النّفسِ مُؤذِ

    يُعالِجُ دَاءَهُ حتى يزولا

    Readied for every cruel, overbearing soul,

    Treating its sickness until it disappears.

  126. أمِنْ فَقدٍ إلى فقدٍ جَديدِ

    لقد أضحى اللّواءُ بلا عميدِ

    From one loss to another, new loss?

    The banner has indeed become leaderless.

  127. بِصارمِ حمزة البطلِ النّجيدِ

    هَوى عثمانُ إثرَ أخٍ فقيدِ

    By the sharp sword of Hamza, the valiant hero,

    Uthman fell after a departed brother.

  128. وأُمُّ الكُفرِ ما برحت ثَكولا

    أبَى شرُّ الثلاثةِ أن يَريعا

    The mother of unbelief remains bereaved.

    The worst of the three refused to retreat,

  129. فخرَّ على يَدَيْ سعدٍ صريعا

    ثلاثةُ إخوةٍ هلكوا جميعا

    And fell slain at Sa'd's hands.

    Three brothers perished together,

  130. وَراحَ مُسافِعٌ لهمُ تبيعا

    رَمتْ يَدُ عاصمٍ سُمّاً نقيعا

    And Musafi followed in their wake.

    Asim's hand shot potent poison;

  131. تَورَّدَ جوْفَهُ فجَرى نجيعا

    وجاء أخوهُ يلتمسُ القَريعا

    It entered his belly and flowed as blood.

    His brother came seeking the champion,

  132. فأورَدَ نفسَه وِرداً فظيعا

    أعاصِمُ أنت أحسنتَ الصّنيعا

    And brought himself to a dreadful watering place.

    Asim, you have acted well;

  133. فَعِندَ اللّهِ أجرُكَ لن يَضيعا

    وإنّ لربّكَ الفضلَ الجزيلا

    Your reward with God will not be lost,

    And your Lord possesses abundant bounty.

  134. رَمَيْتَهُما فظلّا يزحفانِ

    يَجُرَّانِ الجِراحَ ويَنْزِفانِ

    You shot them both, and they kept crawling,

    Dragging their wounds and bleeding,

  135. وخَلفهما من الدّمِ آيتانِ

    هما للكفرِ عنوانُ الهوانِ

    Leaving behind them two signs of blood.

    They are unbelief's emblem of humiliation.

  136. تَرى الرأسيْنِ مما يحملانِ

    على الحجرِ المذمَّمِ يُوضَعانِ

    You see the two heads, with all they bear,

    Laid upon the reviled lap.

  137. أمن ثَدْيَيْ سُلافة يرضعان

    تَقولُ وقلبُها حرّانُ عانِ

    Are they suckling at Sulafa's two breasts?

    She says, her heart burning and captive:

  138. عليَّ الجودُ بالمئةِ الهجانِ

    لمن يأتي بهامةِ مَن رماني

    I pledge the gift of a hundred white camels

    To whoever brings the head of the one who struck me.

  139. فوا ظَمَئي إلى بنتِ الدّنانِ

    تُدارُ بها عليَّ فودِّعاني

    Oh, my thirst for the daughter of wine-jars,

    Passed round to me in it—so bid me farewell,

  140. وَمُوتا إنّ للقتلى ذُحولا

    دُعَاةَ اللاتِ والعُزَّى أنيبوا

    And die, you two: the slain have blood-debts.

    Devotees of al-Lat and al-Uzza, repent.

  141. فليس لصائحٍ منكم مُجيبُ

    وليس لكم من الحسنى نصيبُ

    No caller among you has an answerer,

    And you have no share in the good outcome.

  142. لِربِّ النّاسِ داعٍ لا يخيبُ

    ودينُ الحقِّ يعرفهُ اللّبيبُ

    One who calls upon the Lord of humankind does not fail.

    The discerning know the religion of truth,

  143. وما يخفَى الصّوابُ ولا يَغيبُ

    رُويداً إنّ موعدكم قريبٌ

    And what is right is neither hidden nor absent.

    Wait a little: your appointed time is near.

  144. وكيف بمن يُصابُ ولا يُصيبُ

    سَليبُ النّفسِ يتبعه سليبُ

    What of one who is struck but never strikes?

    One robbed of life is followed by another.

  145. أما يفنى الطّعينُ ولا الضَّرِيبُ

    لِواءٌ ليس يحملهُ عَسِيبُ

    Do not the stabbed and the stricken perish?

    A banner not carried by a palm stalk—

  146. عليهِ مِن مناياكم رقيبُ

    كفاكم يا له حِملاً ثقيلا

    Over it watches one of your appointed deaths.

    Enough for you! What a heavy burden it is!

  147. رَمَى بالنّبلِ كلُّ فتىً عليمِ

    فردَّ الخيلَ داميةَ الشَّكيمِ

    Every skillful youth shot arrows,

    Driving back the horses with bloodied bits,

  148. بِنَضْحٍ مِثلِ شُؤْبوبِ الحميمِ

    يَصبُّ على فراعنةِ الجحيمِ

    With a spray like a downpour of scalding water,

    Poured upon the pharaohs of Hell.

  149. وصاحتْ هندُ في الجمعِ الأثيمِ

    تُحرِّضُ كلَّ شيطانٍ رجيمِ

    Hind cried out amid the sinful gathering,

    Inciting every accursed devil:

  150. ألا بطلٌ يَذُبُّ عنِ الحريم

    ويَضرِبُ بالمهنَّدِ في الصّميم

    Is there no hero to defend the women,

    And strike with the Indian blade into the heart?

  151. فهاجت كلَّ ذاتِ حشىً كليمِ

    تبثُّ الشجوَ في الهذَرِ الذميم

    She roused every woman whose heart was wounded,

    Pouring out sorrow in blameworthy babble,

  152. وتذكرُ طارقاً دَأْبَ المُلِيمِ

    يُسيءُ ويُدَّعَى لأبٍ كريمِ

    And invoking Tariq, as the blameworthy will,

    Doing evil while claiming a noble father.

  153. وأين مَكانهنَّ من النّعيمِ

    ومن جُرثومةِ الحسبِ القديمِ

    How far their station is from bliss,

    And from the root of ancient noble lineage!

  154. زعمنَ الشّركَ كالدّينِ القويمِ

    لهنَّ الويلُ من خطبٍ عميمِ

    They claimed idolatry was like the upright faith.

    Woe to them from an all-encompassing calamity,

  155. رمى الأبناءَ وانتظمَ البُعولا

    مَنِ البطلُ المُعصَّبُ يختليها

    That struck the sons and swept up the husbands.

    Who is the headbanded hero mowing them down—

  156. رِقاباً ما يَملُّ الضرب فيها

    بِأبيضَ تتقيهِ ويعتريها

    Necks he never wearies of striking—

    With a bright blade they fear, which assails them?

  157. وتكرهُ أن تراه وَيشتهيها

    لها من حَدّهِ والٍ يليها

    They hate to see it, while it craves them.

    From its edge they have a ruler to rule them,

  158. ويَنتزعُ الحكومةَ من ذويها

    بَررتَ أبا دُجانة إذ تُريها

    Wresting authority from those who possess it.

    You acted nobly, Abu Dujana, when you showed her

  159. وحِيَّ الموتِ تطعمه كريها

    صَددتَ عن السفيهةِ تزدريها

    Swift death, whose bitter taste you offer her.

    You turned away from the foolish woman, disdaining her,

  160. وتُكرِمُ سيفَكَ العفَّ النزيها

    تُولوِلُ للمنيّةِ تتّقيها

    And honoring your chaste, unsullied sword.

    She wails at death, fearing it.

  161. فإيهاً يا ابنةَ الهيجاءِ إيها

    نَجوتِ ولو رآكِ له شبيها

    Enough, daughter of battle, enough!

    You escaped; had he seen you as his equal,

  162. مَضى العَضْبُ المشطَّبُ ينتضيها

    حياةَ مُناجزٍ ما يبتغيها

    The grooved blade would have gone on to draw it out—

    The life of a combatant who does not seek to keep it,

  163. إذا شَهِدَ الكريهةَ يصطليها

    فأرسلها دماً وهوى تليلا

    Who, when present at grim battle, burns in its flames,

    Then spills it out as blood and falls cast down.