بَنِي المُلَوَّحِ لا حَامٍ ولا واقِ

بَنِي المُلَوَّحِ لا حَامٍ ولا واقِ

طَافَ الرَّدَى وتَلاقَى الشَّرْبُ والسَّاقِي

طَافَ الرَّدَى وتَلاقَى الشَّرْبُ والسَّاقِي

O sons of al-Mulawwah, there is no protector and no defender.

Sons of al-Mulawwah, there is no protector, no defender.

Death has made its rounds; drinkers and cupbearer have met.

Death has made its rounds; drinkers and cupbearer have met.

أتتكُمُ المرهفاتُ البِيضُ زائرةً

أتتكُمُ المرهفاتُ البِيضُ زائرةً

فاستقبلوها بهاماتٍ وأعناقِ

فاستقبلوها بهاماتٍ وأعناقِ

The keen white blades have come to visit you—

The keen white swords have come to visit you;

so welcome them with heads and necks.

so receive them with heads and necks.

مشى بها غالبٌ في غيرِ ما وَهَنٍ

مشى بها غالبٌ في غيرِ ما وَهَنٍ

يَلُفُّ للحربِ آفاقاً بآفاقِ

يَلُفُّ للحربِ آفاقاً بآفاقِ

Ghalib marched with them, untouched by weakness,

Ghalib advanced with them without a trace of weakness,

gathering horizon upon horizon for war.

folding horizon upon horizon for war.

رَمَتْ به هِمَمُ الإيمانِ مُمعنةً

رَمَتْ به هِمَمُ الإيمانِ مُمعنةً

فالشِّرْكُ يَرجُفُ من خوفٍ وإشفاقِ

فالشِّرْكُ يَرجُفُ من خوفٍ وإشفاقِ

Faith’s high resolves cast him forth, obedient,

Faith's high resolves hurled him relentlessly onward,

while paganism trembles in fear and dread.

so idolatry trembles with fear and dread.

ما خطبُ هذا الذي لاقَتْ فوارسُهُ

ما خطبُ هذا الذي لاقَتْ فوارسُهُ

عِندَ القديدِ أيَمضِي غير مُعتاقِ

عِندَ القديدِ أيَمضِي غير مُعتاقِ

What of this man whom his own horsemen encountered

What of this man whom his horsemen encountered

at al-Qudayd—will he proceed unhindered?

at al-Qudayd—shall he pass on undetained?

كلا فإن يَكُ حقّاً ما يقولُ فما

كلا فإن يَكُ حقّاً ما يقولُ فما

فيما يُريدُونَ من ظُلمٍ وإرهاقِ

فيما يُريدُونَ من ظُلمٍ وإرهاقِ

No indeed. If what he says is true, then there is

No! If what he says is true, there is no

no injustice or oppression in what they seek.

injustice or oppression in what they intend.

يُقيمُ حتى يَعودوا ثم يَصحبُهُم

يُقيمُ حتى يَعودوا ثم يَصحبُهُم

إلى الرسولِ على عهدٍ وميثاقِ

إلى الرسولِ على عهدٍ وميثاقِ

He will remain until they return; then he will accompany them

He shall remain until they return, then accompany them

to the Messenger, under solemn pledge and covenant.

to the Messenger, under a pledge and covenant.

وإن يكن كاذباً فالسَّيفُ صاحبُهُ

وإن يكن كاذباً فالسَّيفُ صاحبُهُ

والسَّيفُ صاحبُ صدقٍ غيرِ مَذَّاقِ

والسَّيفُ صاحبُ صدقٍ غيرِ مَذَّاقِ

But if he is lying, the sword shall be his companion;

And if he is lying, the sword shall be his companion;

and the sword is a faithful companion, no mere dabbler.

and the sword is a faithful companion, never false.

جاءوا الكَدِيدَ فما يَغْفَى رَبِيئَتُهُم

جاءوا الكَدِيدَ فما يَغْفَى رَبِيئَتُهُم

والنّومُ يلهو بأجفانٍ وأحداقِ

والنّومُ يلهو بأجفانٍ وأحداقِ

They came to al-Kadid while their sentinel did not doze,

They reached al-Kadid; their lookout did not doze,

though sleep toyed with eyelids and eyes.

while sleep toyed with eyelids and eyes.

ولاح باللّيلِ فوقَ التَّلِّ مَنظرُهُ

ولاح باللّيلِ فوقَ التَّلِّ مَنظرُهُ

لساهرٍ قام من ذُعرٍ على سَاقِ

لساهرٍ قام من ذُعرٍ على سَاقِ

By night his figure appeared above the hill

And his form appeared by night above the hill,

to a wakeful watcher who sprang up in terror.

to a wakeful man who sprang to his feet in fright.

رَمَى بِسهمَيْنِ لم يُخْطِئ له نَظَرٌ

رَمَى بِسهمَيْنِ لم يُخْطِئ له نَظَرٌ

ولم يُجاوِزْهُ في نَزْعٍ وإغراقِ

ولم يُجاوِزْهُ في نَزْعٍ وإغراقِ

He loosed two arrows; neither missed him in its aim,

He shot two arrows, his aim unerring,

nor passed beyond him when the bow was drawn and fully stretched.

nor did he overshoot him as he drew the bow to the full.

انْزَعْهُما ابنَ مكيثٍ لا تَكُنْ جَزِعاً

انْزَعْهُما ابنَ مكيثٍ لا تَكُنْ جَزِعاً

ولا تُرَعْ لِدَمٍ في اللهِ مُهرَاقِ

ولا تُرَعْ لِدَمٍ في اللهِ مُهرَاقِ

Pull them out, Ibn Makith; do not be afraid,

Pull them both out, son of Makith; do not be distraught,

nor fear blood shed in the cause of God.

and do not be alarmed at blood shed in God's cause.

ويا سيوفَ رَسولِ اللهِ لا تَدَعِي

ويا سيوفَ رَسولِ اللهِ لا تَدَعِي

للعاكِفينَ على الأصنامِ من بَاقِ

للعاكِفينَ على الأصنامِ من بَاقِ

O swords of God’s Messenger, leave

And O swords of God's Messenger, do not leave

no survivor among those devoted to idols—

a single survivor among those devoted to idols—

النّازِلينَ وَراءَ الحقِّ منزلةً

النّازِلينَ وَراءَ الحقِّ منزلةً

ما اختارَها غيرُ فُجّارٍ وَفُسّاقِ

ما اختارَها غيرُ فُجّارٍ وَفُسّاقِ

those who have taken their station behind the truth,

who have taken up a station outside the truth,

a station chosen only by the wicked and depraved.

chosen by none but the wicked and ungodly.

ما يُنكِرُونَ من الدِّينِ الذي كرهوا

ما يُنكِرُونَ من الدِّينِ الذي كرهوا

هل جاءَ إلا بآدابٍ وأخلاقِ

هل جاءَ إلا بآدابٍ وأخلاقِ

What do they reject in the faith they hate?

What do they reject in the religion they abhor?

Has it brought anything but refinement and noble character?

Has it brought anything but good manners and morals?

دِينُ السجايا العُلَى تَمضِي بهم صُعُداً

دِينُ السجايا العُلَى تَمضِي بهم صُعُداً

ما تستطِيعُ مَدَاها هِمَّةُ الرّاقِي

ما تستطِيعُ مَدَاها هِمَّةُ الرّاقِي

A faith of lofty virtues that carries its followers upward

A faith of lofty virtues that bear them ever upward,

to heights no climber’s ambition can attain;

to heights no climber's ambition can attain.

دِينٌ هو الغُلُّ يَنْهَى كلَّ مُبَتدِعٍ

دِينٌ هو الغُلُّ يَنْهَى كلَّ مُبَتدِعٍ

يرمي النُّفُوسَ بأغلالٍ وأطواقِ

يرمي النُّفُوسَ بأغلالٍ وأطواقِ

a faith that is a fetter, deterring every transgressor,

A faith that is the fetter restraining every innovator

casting souls into shackles and collars.

who loads souls with shackles and collars.

لا يَحبسُ النَّفسَ إلا حينَ يُطلقُها

لا يَحبسُ النَّفسَ إلا حينَ يُطلقُها

وليس يَظلِم في حَبْسٍ وإطلاقِ

وليس يَظلِم في حَبْسٍ وإطلاقِ

It restrains the soul only when it thereby sets it free,

It confines the soul only when it sets it free,

and does no injustice in restraint or release.

and does no wrong in confinement or release.

بَنِي الملوَّحِ رُدُّوا مِن غَوايَتِكم

بَنِي الملوَّحِ رُدُّوا مِن غَوايَتِكم

فالحقُّ ذُو وَضَحٍ بادٍ وإشراقِ

فالحقُّ ذُو وَضَحٍ بادٍ وإشراقِ

Sons of al-Mulawwah, turn back from your error:

Sons of al-Mulawwah, turn back from your error;

truth has evident brightness, manifest and radiant.

for truth has manifest brightness and radiance.

هو الشِّفَاءُ لأداوءِ النّفوسِ إذا

هو الشِّفَاءُ لأداوءِ النّفوسِ إذا

حَارَ الطبيبُ وأَمْسَى رَهْنَ إخفاقِ

حَارَ الطبيبُ وأَمْسَى رَهْنَ إخفاقِ

It is the cure for the soul’s diseases when

It is the cure for the ailments of souls when

the physician is baffled and ends a hostage to failure.

the physician is baffled and left captive to failure.

أتَصْدِفُونَ عَنِ المُثلى وقد هَتَفَتْ

أتَصْدِفُونَ عَنِ المُثلى وقد هَتَفَتْ

بها الدُّعاةُ فَلَبَّى كلُّ سَبَّاقِ

بها الدُّعاةُ فَلَبَّى كلُّ سَبَّاقِ

Do you turn away from the noblest path, though

Do you turn from the best way, though it has been proclaimed

its heralds have called and every swift forerunner answered?

by its heralds, and every eager forerunner has answered?

لولا العَمَى مَا اقْتَدَيْتُمْ في ضَلاَلَتِكُم

لولا العَمَى مَا اقْتَدَيْتُمْ في ضَلاَلَتِكُم

بمعشرٍ من قُريشٍ غيرِ حُذّاقِ

بمعشرٍ من قُريشٍ غيرِ حُذّاقِ

Were it not for blindness, you would not, in your error, have followed

But for blindness, you would not, in your error, have followed

a band of Quraysh devoid of discernment.

a band of Quraysh without discernment.

والنّاسُ من زُعماءِ السُّوءِ في خَبَلٍ

والنّاسُ من زُعماءِ السُّوءِ في خَبَلٍ

يُؤذِي الطبيبَ ويُعيي حِكمةَ الرَّاقِي

يُؤذِي الطبيبَ ويُعيي حِكمةَ الرَّاقِي

People, because of leaders of evil, are lost in madness;

And people, through evil leaders, suffer a madness

it harms the physician and defeats the healer’s art.

that troubles the physician and baffles the incantation-healer's wisdom.

يا وَيْلَكُم إن رَضِيْتُمْ جَوْفَ مُظلِمَةٍ

يا وَيْلَكُم إن رَضِيْتُمْ جَوْفَ مُظلِمَةٍ

مَسْجُورةٍ ذاتِ أطواءٍ وأعماقِ

مَسْجُورةٍ ذاتِ أطواءٍ وأعماقِ

Woe to you if you are content with the heart of a darkness,

Woe to you if you accept the heart of a dark pit,

filled with fire, with fold upon fold and depths beneath depths.

ablaze, with winding recesses and depths.

ماذا صنعتم بخيلِ اللهِ حين دعا

ماذا صنعتم بخيلِ اللهِ حين دعا

يَسْتَصرِخُ الحيَّ منكم كلُّ نَعَّاقِ

يَسْتَصرِخُ الحيَّ منكم كلُّ نَعَّاقِ

What did you do to God’s cavalry when

What did you do against God's cavalry when the cry went up,

every clamorous crier among you called the tribe for aid?

every shouter among you begging the clan for aid?

طارت بكم غارةٌ حَرَّى فأطفأها

طارت بكم غارةٌ حَرَّى فأطفأها

وَادي قَدِيدٍ بِسَيْلٍ منه دَفَّاقِ

وَادي قَدِيدٍ بِسَيْلٍ منه دَفَّاقِ

A scorching raid swept upon you, but it was quenched

A fiery raid swept you onward, but it was quenched

by Qudayd’s valley with a torrent pouring forth.

by the valley of Qudayd, with a torrent gushing from it.

لا تنكروا وقضاءُ اللهِ يُرسِلُهُ

لا تنكروا وقضاءُ اللهِ يُرسِلُهُ

ما كانَ من دَهَشٍ جَمٍّ وإطراقِ

ما كانَ من دَهَشٍ جَمٍّ وإطراقِ

Do not deny it: God’s decree sends

Do not deny—as God's decree sends it forth—

the utter bewilderment and downcast silence that befell you.

the great bewilderment and bowed heads that followed.

أعظِمْ بها آيةً لولا جَهالَتُكُمْ

أعظِمْ بها آيةً لولا جَهالَتُكُمْ

كانت لخيرِ البرايا خيرَ مِصدَاقِ

كانت لخيرِ البرايا خيرَ مِصدَاقِ

How mighty a sign it was! But for your ignorance,

How mighty a sign! But for your ignorance,

it would have been the finest proof of the best of creation.

it would have been the finest confirmation of the best of creation.

سيقتْ لِنُصْرَتِهِ الأقدارُ تَمنَعُكُم

سيقتْ لِنُصْرَتِهِ الأقدارُ تَمنَعُكُم

أن تُدرِكُوا جُنْدَهُ من كلِّ مُنْساقِ

أن تُدرِكُوا جُنْدَهُ من كلِّ مُنْساقِ

The decrees of fate were marshaled to his aid, preventing you

Fate's decrees were driven to his aid, preventing you

from overtaking his army by any route of march.

from overtaking his army by any route.

وأنتَ يا أيّها المُزْجي مَطِيَّتهُ

وأنتَ يا أيّها المُزْجي مَطِيَّتهُ

إلى الرسولِ يُوالي سَيْرَ مُشتاقِ

إلى الرسولِ يُوالي سَيْرَ مُشتاقِ

And you, O you who urge your mount onward

And you, O man urging his mount onward

toward the Messenger, pressing on at a yearning man’s pace—

toward the Messenger, continuing the journey of one who yearns—

أصبتَ من نِعمةِ الإسلامِ كَنْزَ هُدَىً

أصبتَ من نِعمةِ الإسلامِ كَنْزَ هُدَىً

أغناكَ ربُّكَ منه بَعْدَ إملاقِ

أغناكَ ربُّكَ منه بَعْدَ إملاقِ

through Islam’s blessing you attained a treasure of guidance,

You have gained, through Islam's blessing, a treasure of guidance;

with which your Lord enriched you after poverty.

with it your Lord enriched you after destitution.

فَاسْعَدْ برزقِكَ وَاشْكُرْ مَن حَبَاكَ به

فَاسْعَدْ برزقِكَ وَاشْكُرْ مَن حَبَاكَ به

سُبحانَهُ مِن عظيمِ الفَضْلِ رزَّاقِ

سُبحانَهُ مِن عظيمِ الفَضْلِ رزَّاقِ

Rejoice in your provision, and thank Him who bestowed it on you:

So rejoice in your provision, and thank Him who bestowed it on you.

glory be to Him, the Provider from His immense bounty.

Glory be to Him—what a Provider of immense bounty!

أصبتَ من نِعمةِ الإسلامِ كَنْزَ هُدَىً

أصبتَ من نِعمةِ الإسلامِ كَنْزَ هُدَىً

أغناكَ ربُّكَ منه بَعْدَ إملاقِ

أغناكَ ربُّكَ منه بَعْدَ إملاقِ

Through Islam’s blessing you attained a treasure of guidance,

You have gained, through Islam's blessing, a treasure of guidance;

with which your Lord enriched you after poverty.

with it your Lord enriched you after destitution.

فَاسْعَدْ برزقِكَ وَاشْكُرْ مَن حَبَاكَ به

فَاسْعَدْ برزقِكَ وَاشْكُرْ مَن حَبَاكَ به

سُبحانَهُ مِن عظيمِ الفَضْلِ رزَّاقِ

سُبحانَهُ مِن عظيمِ الفَضْلِ رزَّاقِ

Rejoice in your provision, and thank Him who bestowed it on you:

So rejoice in your provision, and thank Him who bestowed it on you.

glory be to Him, the Provider from His immense bounty.

Glory be to Him—what a Provider of immense bounty!