سر يا أُسامةُ ما لجيشكَ هَازِمُ

سر يا أُسامةُ ما لجيشكَ هَازِمُ

أنت الأميرُ وإن تعتَّب وَاهِمُ

أنت الأميرُ وإن تعتَّب وَاهِمُ

March, O Usama; no one can defeat your army.

Go slowly, O Usama, what ails your defeated army?

You are the commander, even if a deluded man complains.

You are the prince, even if the blamers reproach.

قالوا غلامٌ للكتائبِ قائدٌ

قالوا غلامٌ للكتائبِ قائدٌ

وفتىً على الصَّيدِ الخضارمِ حَاكمُ

وفتىً على الصَّيدِ الخضارمِ حَاكمُ

They said, ‘A youth commands the battalions,

They said a lad leads the battalions,

And a young man rules over proud, magnanimous nobles!’

And a youth rules the green hunt.

غَضِبَ النبيُّ وقال إنّي بالذي

غَضِبَ النبيُّ وقال إنّي بالذي

جَهِلَ الغِضابُ السّاخطونَ لعالِمُ

جَهِلَ الغِضابُ السّاخطونَ لعالِمُ

The Prophet grew angry and said, ‘I surely know what

The Prophet grew angry and said: It is I

The angry, resentful men do not know.

Whom the angry blamers in their ignorance blame.

إن يجهلوهُ فقد عَرفتُ مَكانَهُ

إن يجهلوهُ فقد عَرفتُ مَكانَهُ

والعدلُ عِندي لا محالةَ قائِمُ

والعدلُ عِندي لا محالةَ قائِمُ

If they do not know him, I know his worth,

If they are ignorant of him, I have known his place,

And with me justice stands without fail.

And justice is firmly established with me.

ولئن رموه بما يسوءُ فقد رموا

ولئن رموه بما يسوءُ فقد رموا

مِن قبلُ والدَه ولَجَّ النّاقِمُ

مِن قبلُ والدَه ولَجَّ النّاقِمُ

And if they assailed him with hurtful charges, they assailed

And if they cast at him what does ill, they had

His father before him, while the resentful man persisted.

Cast before at his father, and the avenger took note.

نقموا الإمارَةَ فيهما وهُما لها

نقموا الإمارَةَ فيهما وهُما لها

أهلٌ فكلٌّ أحوذِيٌّ حازِمُ

أهلٌ فكلٌّ أحوذِيٌّ حازِمُ

They resented command in them both, yet both were

They resented authority in them, yet they are worthy of it.

Worthy of it, for each is resourceful and resolute.

Each is cautious, resolute, and decisive.

الخيرُ فيه وفي أبيهِ فآمِنوا

الخيرُ فيه وفي أبيهِ فآمِنوا

يا قومُ وَانْطلِقوا لما أنا عازِمُ

يا قومُ وَانْطلِقوا لما أنا عازِمُ

There is goodness in him and in his father, so believe,

Good is in him and in his father, so trust,

O people, and set out for what I intend.’

O people, and set out toward what I have resolved.

ساروا وظَلَّ مع النبيِّ خَليلُه

ساروا وظَلَّ مع النبيِّ خَليلُه

والخطبُ بينهما مُقِيمٌ جاثِمُ

والخطبُ بينهما مُقِيمٌ جاثِمُ

They marched, and his close friend stayed with the Prophet,

They marched off, and his bosom friend remained with the Prophet,

And calamity crouched between them, fixed and heavy.

And worry stood between them, crouching,

يَنتابُ مَضجَعَهُ وينظرُ ما الذي

يَنتابُ مَضجَعَهُ وينظرُ ما الذي

صنعَ القضاءُ فَهَمُّه مُتراكِمُ

صنعَ القضاءُ فَهَمُّه مُتراكِمُ

He keeps visiting his bedside and watching what

Assailing his couch, and he looked to see what

Fate has wrought, his anxiety mounting.

Fate had done, and his cares accumulated,

مَرضُ النبيِّ طَغَى عليه فَقلبُه

مَرضُ النبيِّ طَغَى عليه فَقلبُه

يَغشاهُ مَوجٌ للأسى مُتلاطِمُ

يَغشاهُ مَوجٌ للأسى مُتلاطِمُ

The Prophet's illness overwhelmed him; his heart

The sickness of the Prophet grew strong over him, so his heart

Is engulfed by a surging wave of sorrow.

Was inundated by a surge of grief, churning,

ودَرَى أسامةُ فانثنَى في جيشهِ

ودَرَى أسامةُ فانثنَى في جيشهِ

والحزنُ طامٍ والدُّموعُ سَواجِمُ

والحزنُ طامٍ والدُّموعُ سَواجِمُ

And Usama learned of it, then turned back amid his army,

And Usama saw, so he folded up with his army,

While sorrow overflowed and tears poured down.

While sorrow was overwhelming, and the tears unstoppable.

مات الرّسولُ المجتبى ماتَ الذي

مات الرّسولُ المجتبى ماتَ الذي

أحيا نُفُوسَ الناسِ وَهْيَ رَمائِمُ

أحيا نُفُوسَ الناسِ وَهْيَ رَمائِمُ

The chosen Messenger died; he died who

The chosen Prophet died. Dead is he who

Revived people's souls when they were decaying remains.

Gave life to people's souls when they were decaying.

مات الرسولُ فكلُّ أُفقٍ عابسٌ

مات الرسولُ فكلُّ أُفقٍ عابسٌ

أسفاً عليه وكلُّ جَوٍّ قَاتِمُ

أسفاً عليه وكلُّ جَوٍّ قَاتِمُ

The Messenger died; every horizon is frowning

The Prophet died! So every horizon frowned,

In grief for him, and every sky is dark.

Grieving for him, and every atmosphere turned gloomy.

مات الذي شَرَعَ الحياةَ كريمةً

مات الذي شَرَعَ الحياةَ كريمةً

والنّاسُ شرٌّ والحياةُ مآثِمُ

والنّاسُ شرٌّ والحياةُ مآثِمُ

He died who ordained a noble life

Dead is he who prescribed life honorable,

While people were evil and life was sin.

While people are evil and life blameworthy.

مات الذي كانت عجائبُ طِبّهِ

مات الذي كانت عجائبُ طِبّهِ

تَشفِي العُقولَ وداؤُها مُتفاقِمُ

تَشفِي العُقولَ وداؤُها مُتفاقِمُ

He died whose wondrous medicine

Dead is he whose wonders of goodness

Healed minds while their illness grew worse.

Healed minds and their chronic illnesses grew worse.

طَاشتْ لمصرعِهِ عُقولٌ رُجَّحٌ

طَاشتْ لمصرعِهِ عُقولٌ رُجَّحٌ

وَوَهَتْ قُوىً مشدودةٌ وعَزائِمُ

وَوَهَتْ قُوىً مشدودةٌ وعَزائِمُ

At his death, well-balanced minds reeled,

For his death, minds inclined to justice lost balance

And firmly braced strength and resolve grew weak.

And powers drawn taut went limp.

دنيا الممالكِ بعد عصرِ مُحمّدٍ

دنيا الممالكِ بعد عصرِ مُحمّدٍ

حُزْنٌ يُجدَّدُ والعصورُ مَآتِمُ

حُزْنٌ يُجدَّدُ والعصورُ مَآتِمُ

The world of kingdoms, after Muhammad's age,

After Muhammad's era the world of kingdoms is

Is sorrow renewed, and the ages are mourning gatherings.

Renewed sorrow and the eras gloomy.

صلّى عليكَ اللَّهُ إنّ قضاءَهْ

صلّى عليكَ اللَّهُ إنّ قضاءَهْ

حَتْمٌ وإنْ زَعَمَ المزاعِمَ حَالِمُ

حَتْمٌ وإنْ زَعَمَ المزاعِمَ حَالِمُ

May God bless you; surely His decree

May God pray upon you! His decree, though blamers claim,

Is inevitable, even if a dreamer makes his claims.

Is certain, be they stubborn.

عادَ ابنُ زيدٍ بالكتائبِ ما لوَى

عادَ ابنُ زيدٍ بالكتائبِ ما لوَى

من عزمِهِ الحَدَثُ الجليلُ العَارِمُ

من عزمِهِ الحَدَثُ الجليلُ العَارِمُ

The son of Zayd returned with the battalions, unshaken

Ibn Zayd returned with the battalions, their resolve not weakened

In his resolve by the great, overwhelming calamity.

By the momentous event, overwhelming and devastating.

يَمشِي الخليفةُ لائذاً بركابِهِ

يَمشِي الخليفةُ لائذاً بركابِهِ

وكأنَّما هو سائِقٌ أو خادِمُ

وكأنَّما هو سائِقٌ أو خادِمُ

The caliph walks close beside his stirrup,

The Caliph walked clinging to his stirrup

As though he were a driver or a servant.

As if he were a driver or servant.

وأبى الأميرُ فقال دُونَكَ مَركبي

وأبى الأميرُ فقال دُونَكَ مَركبي

لا تَمْشِ إنّي إن فعلتَ لَغانِمُ

لا تَمْشِ إنّي إن فعلتَ لَغانِمُ

The commander objected, saying, ‘Take my mount.

But the Prince refused, saying: Below you is my conveyance.

Do not walk; if you ride, I shall surely gain.

Do not walk! If you do, I will be ungenerous.

ولئن أبيتَ لأنزلَنَّ كَرامةً

ولئن أبيتَ لأنزلَنَّ كَرامةً

لكَ فاقْضِ أمرَكَ لا نَبَا لَكَ صَارِمُ

لكَ فاقْضِ أمرَكَ لا نَبَا لَكَ صَارِمُ

And if you refuse, I shall surely dismount in honor

And if you refuse, I will dismount out of respect,

Of you; decide your course—may no keen sword fail you.’

So decide your command—no strong opponent thwarts you.

قال الخليفةُ ما أراكَ بِمُنْصِفي

قال الخليفةُ ما أراكَ بِمُنْصِفي

دَعْنِي فللإسلامِ حَقٌّ لازِمُ

دَعْنِي فللإسلامِ حَقٌّ لازِمُ

The caliph said, ‘I do not see you treating me fairly.

The Caliph said: I do not see you as fair.

Let me be, for Islam has a binding claim.

Let me be! For the Islam has an enduring right.

أنا من جُنودِكَ لو ملكت رأيتني

أنا من جُنودِكَ لو ملكت رأيتني

تحت اللّواءِ فهالكٌ أو سالمُ

تحت اللّواءِ فهالكٌ أو سالمُ

I am one of your soldiers; had I my choice, you would see me

I am one of your soldiers—if I ruled I would be beneath the banner.

Beneath the banner, either fallen or safe.’

Ruined or safe, whichever He wills.

قُضِيَ الوَداعُ وعادَ مَشكورَ الخُطَى

قُضِيَ الوَداعُ وعادَ مَشكورَ الخُطَى

يَرعاهُ للإسلامِ رَبٌّ راحِمُ

يَرعاهُ للإسلامِ رَبٌّ راحِمُ

The farewell was done, and he returned, his steps praised;

The farewell was decided, and he returned retracing noble steps,

A merciful Lord watches over him for Islam's sake.

Guarded for Islam by a Merciful Lord.

سِرْ يا أُسامةُ فالقواضِبُ لم تَمُتْ

سِرْ يا أُسامةُ فالقواضِبُ لم تَمُتْ

هِيَ ما ترى وَهْوَ الجهادُ الدّائِمُ

هِيَ ما ترى وَهْوَ الجهادُ الدّائِمُ

March, O Usama, for the keen swords have not died.

Go slowly, O Usama! The war mares did not die.

They are as you see them; this is the unceasing struggle.

They are what you see, and holy war is eternal.

وإذا البواتِرُ واللهاذِمُ أعوزَتْ

وإذا البواتِرُ واللهاذِمُ أعوزَتْ

فالمسلمونَ بواترٌ ولهاذِمُ

فالمسلمونَ بواترٌ ولهاذِمُ

And if the cleaving swords and keen spears are lacking,

When the skinny horses and chargers grow weak,

Then Muslims are cleaving swords and keen spears.

The Muslims are skinny horses and chargers.

يا لاثِمَ القمرِ المنيرِ مُودّعاً

يا لاثِمَ القمرِ المنيرِ مُودّعاً

هل كان قبلكَ للكواكبِ لاثمُ

هل كان قبلكَ للكواكبِ لاثمُ

O you who kissed the radiant moon in farewell,

O shameless reproacher of the brilliant moon, farewell!

Did anyone before you kiss the stars?

Did any reproacher kiss the stars before you?

هِيَ يا أخا الشّوقِ المبرِّحِ قُبْلَةً

هِيَ يا أخا الشّوقِ المبرِّحِ قُبْلَةً

ما ذَاقَ لذَّتَها مَشُوقٌ هائِمُ

ما ذَاقَ لذَّتَها مَشُوقٌ هائِمُ

It is, O brother of tormenting longing, a kiss

It is, O brother of yearning that makes glad, a kiss

Whose delight no yearning, love-stricken soul has tasted.

Whose pleasure no longing wanderer has tasted.

ولقد تكونُ وفي حلاوتها أسىً

ولقد تكونُ وفي حلاوتها أسىً

مُرٌّ مَذاقتُه ووجْدٌ جاحِمُ

مُرٌّ مَذاقتُه ووجْدٌ جاحِمُ

And it may hold, within its sweetness, sorrow

It may be—and in its sweetness there is agony—

Bitter to taste, and a blazing longing.

Bitter in taste, though ecstasy burns.

زلْزِلْ جُنودَ الرُّومِ وَاهْدِمْ مُلكَهُمْ

زلْزِلْ جُنودَ الرُّومِ وَاهْدِمْ مُلكَهُمْ

في عزّهِ العالي فنِعمَ الهادِمُ

في عزّهِ العالي فنِعمَ الهادِمُ

Shake the Roman armies and tear down their kingdom

Shake the Roman hordes, destroy their kingdom

At the height of its glory—what a fine destroyer you are!

In its lofty glory! Excellent destroyer!

قتلوا أباك فلا تَدَعْهُمْ وَاعْتَصِمْ

قتلوا أباك فلا تَدَعْهُمْ وَاعْتَصِمْ

منهم بربّك إنّه لكَ عاصِمُ

منهم بربّك إنّه لكَ عاصِمُ

They killed your father; do not leave them be, and seek refuge

They killed your father, so do not leave them be or seek refuge

From them in your Lord; He is indeed your protector.

From them but in your Lord. He will protect you.

ولقد هَزمتَ جُموعَهم فتفرَّقوا

ولقد هَزمتَ جُموعَهم فتفرَّقوا

وشَفاكَ منهم جَيْشُكَ المُتلاحِمُ

وشَفاكَ منهم جَيْشُكَ المُتلاحِمُ

Indeed, you defeated their hosts, and they scattered,

You routed their masses, and they scattered.

And your closely knit army healed your hurt at their hands.

Your cohesive army healed you of them.

وأجَلْتَ خيلكَ في عِراصِ دِيارِهم

وأجَلْتَ خيلكَ في عِراصِ دِيارِهم

وفعلتَ فِعلكَ والأُنوفُ رَواغِمُ

وفعلتَ فِعلكَ والأُنوفُ رَواغِمُ

And you sent your horses ranging through their dwellings' courtyards,

You held back your horses in the meadows of their land,

And you did your deed, while noses were rubbed in the dust.

Did your deed, while they bit their fingers in chagrin,

قتلٌ وأسرٌ هَدَّ من عَزَماتِهم

قتلٌ وأسرٌ هَدَّ من عَزَماتِهم

وأذلَّهم وكذاكَ يُجزَى الظّالِمُ

وأذلَّهم وكذاكَ يُجزَى الظّالِمُ

Killing and capture sapped their resolve

Killing and capturing undermined their resolve,

And humbled them; thus is the wrongdoer repaid.

Humiliated and disgraced them—thus the wrongdoer is punished.

ولَئِنْ أزلتَ دِيارَهُم ونَخيلَهم

ولَئِنْ أزلتَ دِيارَهُم ونَخيلَهم

من بَعدِ ما ظلموا فما لكَ لائِمُ

من بَعدِ ما ظلموا فما لكَ لائِمُ

And even if you destroyed their dwellings and their date palms,

If you plundered their lands and date palms

After they did wrong, there is none to blame you.

After they did wrong, you have no blamer.

عُدْ يا ابنَ زيدٍ باللّواءِ مُظفَّراً

عُدْ يا ابنَ زيدٍ باللّواءِ مُظفَّراً

وَانْعَمْ فَبالُ مُحمّدٍ بكَ ناعِمُ

وَانْعَمْ فَبالُ مُحمّدٍ بكَ ناعِمُ

Return, O son of Zayd, victorious with the banner,

Return, O Son of Zayd, victorious with the banner,

And rejoice, for Muhammad's mind is at ease because of you.

And enjoy—Muhammad's camel is haltered for you.

هذا أبو بكرٍ مَشَى في صحبِهِ

هذا أبو بكرٍ مَشَى في صحبِهِ

يلقاكَ مُبتهِجاً ورَكبُكَ قادِمُ

يلقاكَ مُبتهِجاً ورَكبُكَ قادِمُ

Here is Abu Bakr, who walked among his companions

This is Abu Bakr walking in his company,

To meet you joyfully as your mounted company arrives.

Approaching you joyfully as your conveyance arrives.

هُمْ هنَّؤوكَ وأنت أهلٌ للذي

هُمْ هنَّؤوكَ وأنت أهلٌ للذي

صنعوا وحَسْبُكَ أن يُفيقَ النّائمُ

صنعوا وحَسْبُكَ أن يُفيقَ النّائمُ

They congratulated you, and you are worthy of what

They congratulated you, and you deserve what

They did; it is enough for you that the sleeper awakens.

They did, and it suffices that the sleeper awaken.

اشْكُرْ صَنيعَ اللَّهِ يا شيخَ الوغَى

اشْكُرْ صَنيعَ اللَّهِ يا شيخَ الوغَى

إنّ الذي عابَ الغُلامَ لنادِمُ

إنّ الذي عابَ الغُلامَ لنادِمُ

Give thanks for God's handiwork, O elder of the fray;

Thank the favor of God, O Sheikh of turmoil!

He who criticized the youth is surely regretful.

He who blamed the lad will regret it.

حِبَّ الرسولِ لكَ البِشارةُ إنّه

حِبَّ الرسولِ لكَ البِشارةُ إنّه

شَرَفٌ له فوقَ النُّجومِ دَعائِمُ

شَرَفٌ له فوقَ النُّجومِ دَعائِمُ

O beloved of the Messenger, glad tidings are yours; indeed, it is

Love of the Prophet—good tidings! For him it is

An honor whose pillars stand above the stars.

Glory above the stars' supports.

ماذا يقولُ ذَوُو الحفيظةِ بعد ما

ماذا يقولُ ذَوُو الحفيظةِ بعد ما

شكَرْت أُميّةُ ما صَنَعْتَ وهاشِمُ

شكَرْت أُميّةُ ما صَنَعْتَ وهاشِمُ

What will those full of resentment say, now that

What will the spiteful now say after

Umayya and Hashim have praised what you did?

Umayya thanked you for what you did, and Hashim?

عفواً فَتِلكَ حَمِيَّةٌ عَربِيَّةٌ

عفواً فَتِلكَ حَمِيَّةٌ عَربِيَّةٌ

أعيا الأوائلَ عَهدُها المُتقادِمُ

أعيا الأوائلَ عَهدُها المُتقادِمُ

Pardon me—for that is Arab zeal,

Excuse them—that is old Arab zeal

Whose age-old tradition wearied the ancients.

That exhausted the ancients in eras long past.

للمرءِ من نُورِ الحقائقِ ما يَرى

للمرءِ من نُورِ الحقائقِ ما يَرى

لا ما تُرِيهِ وساوِسٌ ومَزاعِمُ

لا ما تُرِيهِ وساوِسٌ ومَزاعِمُ

A person has, of the light of truths, what he sees,

Man sees of the light of truths what he sees,

Not what whisperings and claims show him.

Not what illusions and claims show him.

والنّاسُ عِندَ فِعالِهم إنْ يفعلوا

والنّاسُ عِندَ فِعالِهم إنْ يفعلوا

خَيراً فأحرارُ النّفوسِ أعاظِمُ

خَيراً فأحرارُ النّفوسِ أعاظِمُ

And people are judged by their deeds; if they do

And people, when they act, if they do

Good, then the free in spirit are the great ones.

Good, the nobler souls are greatest.

لا حُكْمَ للأنسابِ أو للسنِّ في

لا حُكْمَ للأنسابِ أو للسنِّ في

ما قالَ فِيهمِ مادحٌ أو واصِمُ

ما قالَ فِيهمِ مادحٌ أو واصِمُ

Neither lineage nor age has a say in

Lineage and age have no sway in

What a praiser or a detractor says of them.

What praiser or critic says about them.