أَرى فَساداً وَشَرّاً ضاعَ بَينَهُما

أَرى فَساداً وَشَرّاً ضاعَ بَينَهُما

أَمرُ العِبادِ فَلا دينٌ وَلا خُلُقُ

أَمرُ العِبادِ فَلا دينٌ وَلا خُلُقُ

I see corruption and evil, between which has been lost

I see corruption and evil, between which are lost

the people’s cause: there is neither faith nor moral character.

the people's affairs: neither religion nor moral character remains.

سَيلٌ تَدافَعَ بِالآثامِ زاخِرُهُ

سَيلٌ تَدافَعَ بِالآثامِ زاخِرُهُ

ما قُلتُ أَمسَكَ إِلّا اِنسابَ يَندَفِقُ

ما قُلتُ أَمسَكَ إِلّا اِنسابَ يَندَفِقُ

A flood surges, its swelling waters laden with sins;

A torrent whose swollen waters surge with sins;

whenever I say, “Hold back!” it only pours on, gushing.

no sooner do I say, 'It has stopped,' than it flows on, gushing.

نالَ النُفوسَ فَمُبتَلٌّ يُقالُ لَهُ

نالَ النُفوسَ فَمُبتَلٌّ يُقالُ لَهُ

ناجٍ وَآخَرُ في لُجّاتِهِ غَرِقُ

ناجٍ وَآخَرُ في لُجّاتِهِ غَرِقُ

It has reached the souls, and one sorely afflicted says of it:

It has overtaken souls: one drenched is called

“One survives, while another drowns in its depths.”

a survivor, while another lies drowned in its depths.

الدَهرُ مُغتَسِلٌ مِن ذَنبِهِ بِدَمٍ

الدَهرُ مُغتَسِلٌ مِن ذَنبِهِ بِدَمٍ

وَالأَرضُ بِالنارِ ذاتِ الهَولِ تَحتَرِقُ

وَالأَرضُ بِالنارِ ذاتِ الهَولِ تَحتَرِقُ

Time washes itself of its sin with blood,

Time washes itself clean of its sin with blood,

and the earth burns in a fire fraught with terror.

and the earth burns in a fire fraught with terror.

قَومٌ إِذا ما دَعا داعي الهُدى نَكَصوا

قَومٌ إِذا ما دَعا داعي الهُدى نَكَصوا

فَإِن أَهابَ بِهِم داعي العَمى اِستَبَقوا

فَإِن أَهابَ بِهِم داعي العَمى اِستَبَقوا

A people who, whenever the herald of guidance calls, recoil;

A people who, whenever the caller to guidance calls, retreat;

but when blindness’ herald summons them, they race ahead.

but if the caller to blindness summons them, they race ahead.

لَم يَبقَ مِن مُحكَمِ التَنزيلِ بَينَهُمو

لَم يَبقَ مِن مُحكَمِ التَنزيلِ بَينَهُمو

إِلّا المِدادُ تَراهُ العَينُ وَالوَرَقُ

إِلّا المِدادُ تَراهُ العَينُ وَالوَرَقُ

Nothing of the firmly wrought Revelation remains among them

Nothing remains among them of the perfected revelation

except ink that the eye sees upon paper.

but the ink the eye sees, and the paper.

ضاقَت بِهِم طُرُقُ المَعروفِ وَاِتَّسَعَت

ضاقَت بِهِم طُرُقُ المَعروفِ وَاِتَّسَعَت

ما بَينَ أَظهُرِهِم لِلمُنكَرِ الطُرُقُ

ما بَينَ أَظهُرِهِم لِلمُنكَرِ الطُرُقُ

The paths of righteousness have narrowed around them, while widening

The paths of goodness have narrowed for them, and widened

among them are the roads to wickedness.

in their midst are the paths of wrongdoing.

ضَجَّ الصَباحُ لِما لاقَت طَلائِعُهُ

ضَجَّ الصَباحُ لِما لاقَت طَلائِعُهُ

مِن سوءِ أَعمالِهِم وَاِستَعبَرَ الغَسَقُ

مِن سوءِ أَعمالِهِم وَاِستَعبَرَ الغَسَقُ

Morning cried out when its vanguard appeared,

Morning cried out at what its vanguard encountered

at the evil of their deeds—and twilight burst into tears.

of their evil deeds, and dusk shed tears.

لَم يَفسُقِ القَومُ غالَتهُم خَبائِثُهُم

لَم يَفسُقِ القَومُ غالَتهُم خَبائِثُهُم

في الذاهِبينَ مِنَ الأَقوامِ ما فَسَقوا

في الذاهِبينَ مِنَ الأَقوامِ ما فَسَقوا

No sooner do the people sin than their vices sweep them

No people ever sinned—may their foul deeds destroy them—

among the vanished nations, for all the evil they have done.

among the nations gone before, as these have sinned.

ماتوا مِنَ الجُبنِ وَاِشتَدَّت إِغارَتُهُم

ماتوا مِنَ الجُبنِ وَاِشتَدَّت إِغارَتُهُم

عَلى الإِلَهِ فَلا جُبنٌ وَلا فَرَقُ

عَلى الإِلَهِ فَلا جُبنٌ وَلا فَرَقُ

They died of cowardice, yet fierce grew their assault

They died of cowardice, yet their assault grew fierce

upon God—then there was neither cowardice nor fear.

against God, with neither cowardice nor fear.

هُم حارَبوهُ وَما خافوا عُقوبَتَهُ

هُم حارَبوهُ وَما خافوا عُقوبَتَهُ

حَتّى رَماهُم فَأَمسى القَومُ قَد صَعِقوا

حَتّى رَماهُم فَأَمسى القَومُ قَد صَعِقوا

They waged war against Him and did not fear His punishment,

They waged war on Him and did not fear His punishment,

until He struck them, and the people lay thunderstruck.

until He struck them, and the people were left thunderstruck.

أَذاقَهُم مَضَضَ البَلوى وَجَرَّعَهُم

أَذاقَهُم مَضَضَ البَلوى وَجَرَّعَهُم

مِنَ الهَوانِ ذَنوباً ماؤُهُ دَفِقُ

مِنَ الهَوانِ ذَنوباً ماؤُهُ دَفِقُ

He made them taste the bitterness of affliction and forced them to gulp

He made them taste affliction's anguish, and made them swallow

from humiliation a brimming bucket whose water overflowed.

a bucketful of humiliation, its water gushing forth.

يا لِلمَغارِمِ تَرمي كُلَّ ذي نَشَبٍ

يا لِلمَغارِمِ تَرمي كُلَّ ذي نَشَبٍ

بِفادِحٍ يَتَلَوّى تَحتَهُ العُنُقُ

بِفادِحٍ يَتَلَوّى تَحتَهُ العُنُقُ

Alas for the exactions! They strike every possessor of wealth

Oh, the levies that strike every owner of wealth

with a crushing burden beneath which the neck writhes;

with a crushing burden beneath which the neck writhes!

وَلِلمُكوسِ تِباعاً لا مَرَدَّ لَها

وَلِلمُكوسِ تِباعاً لا مَرَدَّ لَها

إِن خابَ مُزدَرعٌ أَو جَفَّ مُرتَزقُ

إِن خابَ مُزدَرعٌ أَو جَفَّ مُرتَزقُ

and taxes follow one upon another, with none to avert them,

And the taxes, one after another, that cannot be averted,

whether a farmer’s crop fails or a breadwinner’s livelihood dries up.

even if a sown field fails or a source of livelihood runs dry!

يَأتي الحَصادُ فَيَمضي الغاصِبونَ بِما

يَأتي الحَصادُ فَيَمضي الغاصِبونَ بِما

عافَ الجَرادُ وَأَبقى الدودُ وَالعَلَقُ

عافَ الجَرادُ وَأَبقى الدودُ وَالعَلَقُ

Harvest comes, and the usurpers depart with whatever

Harvest comes, and the usurpers depart with what

the locusts spared and the worms and leeches left.

the locusts spurned and the worms and leeches left behind.

راحوا بِطاناً وَباتَت مِصرُ طاوِيَةً

راحوا بِطاناً وَباتَت مِصرُ طاوِيَةً

غَرثى تُشَدُّ عَلى أَحشائِها النُطُقُ

غَرثى تُشَدُّ عَلى أَحشائِها النُطُقُ

They go away full-bellied, while Egypt spends the night famished,

They went off full-bellied, while Egypt spent the night empty-bellied,

starving, tightening her girdles around her entrails.

famished, with belts drawn tight around her entrails.

لَم يَبقَ مِنها وَإِن ظَنّوا الظُنونَ بِها

لَم يَبقَ مِنها وَإِن ظَنّوا الظُنونَ بِها

إِلّا الذَماءُ يُعاني المَوتَ وَالرَمَقُ

إِلّا الذَماءُ يُعاني المَوتَ وَالرَمَقُ

Nothing remains of her—whatever conjectures they make about her—

Nothing of her remained—whatever they supposed of her—

except life’s last spark, drawing near to death with only a faint breath.

but lingering life battling death, and a last breath.

عَجِبتُ لِلقوتِ يُعيي القَومَ تَحمِلُهُم

عَجِبتُ لِلقوتِ يُعيي القَومَ تَحمِلُهُم

أَرضٌ تَدَفَّقَ فيها النيلُ وَالعَرَقُ

أَرضٌ تَدَفَّقَ فيها النيلُ وَالعَرَقُ

I marvel that procuring daily bread exhausts the people

I marveled that food should elude a people sustained

in a land where the Nile and human sweat flow abundantly.

by a land where the Nile and sweat pour forth.

ما يَهدَأونَ وَما يَنفَكُّ كادِحُهُم

ما يَهدَأونَ وَما يَنفَكُّ كادِحُهُم

مُشَرَّداً في طِلابِ العَيشِ يَنطَلِقُ

مُشَرَّداً في طِلابِ العَيشِ يَنطَلِقُ

They never rest, and their laborer never ceases,

They never rest, and their toiler is forever

driven abroad, setting forth in quest of a livelihood.

driven from place to place, setting out in search of a living.

فِرعَونُ أَكرَمُ عَهداً في سِياسَتِهِ

فِرعَونُ أَكرَمُ عَهداً في سِياسَتِهِ

مِن مُستَبِدّينَ لَولا الظُلمُ ما خُلِقوا

مِن مُستَبِدّينَ لَولا الظُلمُ ما خُلِقوا

Pharaoh was more honorable in keeping his covenant throughout his rule

Pharaoh was more honorable in his pledges as a ruler

than despots who, but for oppression, would never have been created.

than despots who, but for oppression, would never have been created.

قالوا غَوَيتُم فَجِئناكُم لِنُرشِدَكُم

قالوا غَوَيتُم فَجِئناكُم لِنُرشِدَكُم

ثُمَّ الجَلاءُ فَما بَرّوا وَلا صَدَقوا

ثُمَّ الجَلاءُ فَما بَرّوا وَلا صَدَقوا

They said, “You went astray, so we came to you to guide you,”

They said, 'You have strayed, so we came to you to guide you;

then promised evacuation—yet neither kept faith nor spoke truth.

then we shall depart.' Yet they neither kept faith nor spoke truth.

صَوتُ الأَباطيلِ في أَفياءِ دَولَتِهِم

صَوتُ الأَباطيلِ في أَفياءِ دَولَتِهِم

عالٍ يَصيحُ وَصَوتُ الحَقِّ مُختَنِقُ

عالٍ يَصيحُ وَصَوتُ الحَقِّ مُختَنِقُ

The voice of falsehood in the mouths of their government

The voice of falsehood, in the shade of their dominion,

rings loud and clamorous, while the voice of truth is choked.

is loud, crying out, while the voice of truth is choked.

رَثَّ الجَديدانِ وَاِستَرخى لَهُم طِوَلٌ

رَثَّ الجَديدانِ وَاِستَرخى لَهُم طِوَلٌ

مِنَ المَظالِمِ لا رَثٌّ وَلا خَلَقُ

مِنَ المَظالِمِ لا رَثٌّ وَلا خَلَقُ

Day and night have grown threadbare, while a long span stretches before them

Day and night have grown threadbare, while their tether hangs slack,

of injustices neither frayed nor worn away.

a tether of injustices, neither threadbare nor worn.

ما يَنقَضي نَسَقٌ مِن سوءِ رِعيَتِهِم

ما يَنقَضي نَسَقٌ مِن سوءِ رِعيَتِهِم

إِلّا تَجَدَّدَ فينا بَعدَهُ نَسَقُ

إِلّا تَجَدَّدَ فينا بَعدَهُ نَسَقُ

No succession of the evils of their rule ever ends

No sequence of their misrule comes to an end

but another succession is renewed among us after it.

without a fresh sequence arising among us after it.

طالَ المُقامُ فَإِن بِتنا عَلى قَلَقٍ

طالَ المُقامُ فَإِن بِتنا عَلى قَلَقٍ

فَالدَهرُ مُضَّطرِبٌ مِن ظُلمِهِم قَلِقُ

فَالدَهرُ مُضَّطرِبٌ مِن ظُلمِهِم قَلِقُ

The occupation has lingered long; if we pass our nights in anxiety,

Their stay has grown long; if we spend the night uneasy,

time itself is troubled and restless from their oppression.

then Time is shaken, uneasy at their oppression.

ظَنّوا القُلوبَ تُواليهِم وَغَرَّهُمو

ظَنّوا القُلوبَ تُواليهِم وَغَرَّهُمو

رِضى الذَليلِ وَقَولُ الزورِ وَالمَلَقُ

رِضى الذَليلِ وَقَولُ الزورِ وَالمَلَقُ

They imagined that hearts were loyal to them, and were deceived by

They thought hearts were loyal to them, and they were deceived by

the base man’s acquiescence, false speech, and flattery.

the submissive man's approval, false speech, and flattery.

يا لَيتَ شِعري أَجُنُّ القَومُ أَم زَعَموا

يا لَيتَ شِعري أَجُنُّ القَومُ أَم زَعَموا

أَنَّ المَوَدَّةَ مِن أَسمائِها الحَنَقُ

أَنَّ المَوَدَّةَ مِن أَسمائِها الحَنَقُ

Would that I knew: have the people gone mad, or do they suppose

Would that I knew: are these people mad, or do they suppose

that folly is among the names of affection?

that rage is one of affection's names?

ما كُنتُ أَخشى لِأَهلِ الظُلمِ غائِلَةً

ما كُنتُ أَخشى لِأَهلِ الظُلمِ غائِلَةً

لَوِ اِتَّفَقنا وَلَكِن كَيفَ نَتَّفِقُ

لَوِ اِتَّفَقنا وَلَكِن كَيفَ نَتَّفِقُ

I would never fear a treacherous blow from the oppressors

I would fear no harm from the oppressors

if only we united—but how are we to unite?

if we united—but how can we unite?

مَتى أَرى الأَمرَ بَعدَ الصَدعِ مُلتَئِماً

مَتى أَرى الأَمرَ بَعدَ الصَدعِ مُلتَئِماً

وَالقَومَ لا شِيَعٌ شَتّى وَلا فِرَقُ

وَالقَومَ لا شِيَعٌ شَتّى وَلا فِرَقُ

When shall I see our common cause, after schism, made whole,

When shall I see affairs made whole after the rift,

the people no longer disparate factions or divided sects?

and the people neither scattered factions nor separate groups?

وَيحَ الكنانَةِ أَمسَت مِن تَفَرُّقِهِم

وَيحَ الكنانَةِ أَمسَت مِن تَفَرُّقِهِم

حَيرى الرَجاءِ فَما تَدري بِمَن تَثِقُ

حَيرى الرَجاءِ فَما تَدري بِمَن تَثِقُ

Woe to the Quiver—Egypt! Through their divisions she has become

Alas for al-Kinanah! Their division has left her

bewildered in hope, not knowing whom to trust.

bewildered in her hopes, not knowing whom to trust.

كُلٌّ لَهُ مَذهَبٌ يَرجو الفَلاحَ بِهِ

كُلٌّ لَهُ مَذهَبٌ يَرجو الفَلاحَ بِهِ

وَالحَقُّ يَعرِفُهُ ذو الفِطنَةِ اللَبِقُ

وَالحَقُّ يَعرِفُهُ ذو الفِطنَةِ اللَبِقُ

Each has a doctrine through which he hopes for success,

Each has a path by which he hopes for success,

but truth is known by the discerning and astute.

and the truth is known to the astute, discerning man.

سَيَعلَمُ القَومُ عُقبى الخائِنينَ وَما

سَيَعلَمُ القَومُ عُقبى الخائِنينَ وَما

جَنى الغُرورُ وَجَرَّ الجَهلُ وَالخَرَقُ

جَنى الغُرورُ وَجَرَّ الجَهلُ وَالخَرَقُ

The people shall learn the fate of traitors, and what

The people will learn the fate of traitors, and what

delusion has wrought, and ignorance and recklessness have brought.

delusion has wrought and ignorance and folly have brought.