يا ناقضَ العهدِ لا شَكْوَى ولا أَسَفُ

يا ناقضَ العهدِ لا شَكْوَى ولا أَسَفُ

اللَّهُ مُنتقِمٌ والسّيفُ مَنتصِفُ

اللَّهُ مُنتقِمٌ والسّيفُ مَنتصِفُ

O breaker of the covenant, no complaint and no regret!

O you who break covenants, there is no complaint or regret,

God exacts vengeance, and the sword exacts justice.

Allah is the avenger and the sword takes revenge.

تهجو النبيَّ وتُغرِي المُشرِكينَ بِهِ

تهجو النبيَّ وتُغرِي المُشرِكينَ بِهِ

مَهْلاً لكَ الويلُ ماذا أنتَ مُقترِفُ

مَهْلاً لكَ الويلُ ماذا أنتَ مُقترِفُ

You lampoon the Prophet and incite the polytheists against him.

You insult the Prophet and incite the polytheists against him,

Hold back! Woe to you—what are you perpetrating?

Woe to you, what sins are you committing?

كم جيفةٍ خرجتْ من فيكَ مُنكَرَةٍ

كم جيفةٍ خرجتْ من فيكَ مُنكَرَةٍ

لمّا تردَّتْ ببدرٍ تِلكمُ الجِيَفُ

لمّا تردَّتْ ببدرٍ تِلكمُ الجِيَفُ

How many an abominable carcass issued from your mouth

How many corpses emerged from your mouth, abhorrent

when those carcasses fell at Badr!

When they were thrown back at Badr - those corpses.

إنّ الوليمةَ أخزى اللّهُ صانِعَها

إنّ الوليمةَ أخزى اللّهُ صانِعَها

كانت ضِراراً فلا وُدٌّ ولا لَطَفُ

كانت ضِراراً فلا وُدٌّ ولا لَطَفُ

That feast—may God disgrace its maker—

Indeed Allah disgraced the host of that banquet,

was meant for harm, with neither affection nor kindness.

It was harmful, there was no affection or kindness.

أتحسَبونَ رسولَ اللَّهِ يَجهلُها

أتحسَبونَ رسولَ اللَّهِ يَجهلُها

مَكيدةً فَضَحَتْ أسرارَها السُّجُفُ

مَكيدةً فَضَحَتْ أسرارَها السُّجُفُ

Do you suppose God's Messenger is ignorant of it—

Do you think the Messenger of Allah does not know of it,

a plot whose very curtains exposed its secrets?

A plot which its secrets the caves exposed.

بل أظهرَ اللهُ ما تُخفونَ فانكشفتْ

بل أظهرَ اللهُ ما تُخفونَ فانكشفتْ

يا وَيلَكم أيُّ خافٍ ليس يَنكشِفُ

يا وَيلَكم أيُّ خافٍ ليس يَنكشِفُ

Rather, God revealed what you conceal, and it lay bare.

Rather Allah exposed what you conceal so it was uncovered,

Woe to you! What hidden thing is not uncovered?

Woe to you, which coward does not get exposed?

لقد هَممتُمْ بمن لا حَيَّ يَعدِلُه

لقد هَممتُمْ بمن لا حَيَّ يَعدِلُه

إن نُوزِعَ المجدُ بين النّاسِ والشَّرفُ

إن نُوزِعَ المجدُ بين النّاسِ والشَّرفُ

You intended harm to one whom no living person equals,

You dared to plot against the one none alive can equal,

if glory and honor are contested among people.

If glory among people and nobility is distributed.

يا ويلَ من ظنَّ أن اللَّهَ يَخذُلُه

يا ويلَ من ظنَّ أن اللَّهَ يَخذُلُه

وأنّهُ من يمينِ اللهِ يُخْتَطَفُ

وأنّهُ من يمينِ اللهِ يُخْتَطَفُ

Woe to whoever thought that God would forsake him

Woe to whoever thought Allah will forsake him,

and that he could be snatched from God's right hand!

And that he can snatch from the right hand of Allah.

يا كعب مالك تؤذيه وتنكره

يا كعب مالك تؤذيه وتنكره

وما الولوع بقول الزور والشغف

وما الولوع بقول الزور والشغف

O Ka'b, why do you harm him and deny him?

O Ka'b and Malik, you hurt him and deny him,

And why this obsession with speaking falsehood, this passion?

Why this obsession with lies and passion?

جلعت مالَكَ للأحبارِ مفسدةً

جلعت مالَكَ للأحبارِ مفسدةً

يُمتاحُ فيها الأذى حِيناً ويُغتَرفُ

يُمتاحُ فيها الأذى حِيناً ويُغتَرفُ

You made your wealth a source of corruption for the rabbis,

You made Malik a source of corruption for the rabbis,

where harm is sometimes drawn up and scooped out.

Wherein harm is accessible and can be drawn anytime.

رَمَوْكَ بالحقِّ لمّا رُحتَ تسألُهم

رَمَوْكَ بالحقِّ لمّا رُحتَ تسألُهم

وأعلنوا من يقينِ الأمرِ ما عَرَفوا

وأعلنوا من يقينِ الأمرِ ما عَرَفوا

They confronted you with the truth when you went to question them,

He rejected the truth when you came to ask him,

and declared what they knew with certainty of the matter.

And they declared the certainty of the matter they knew.

فقلتَ عُودوا فما عندِي لكم صِلَةٌ

فقلتَ عُودوا فما عندِي لكم صِلَةٌ

جَفَّ المَعِينُ فلا قَصْدٌ ولا سَرَفُ

جَفَّ المَعِينُ فلا قَصْدٌ ولا سَرَفُ

Then you said, "Go back; I have no gift for you.

So you said "return, I have no ties to you",

The flowing spring has dried: neither modest giving nor extravagance.

The spring ran dry, neither purpose nor excess.

حَسْبِي الحقوقُ فمالِي لا يجاوزُها

حَسْبِي الحقوقُ فمالِي لا يجاوزُها

إلى الفُضولِ وما عن ذاكَ مُنصرَفُ

إلى الفُضولِ وما عن ذاكَ مُنصرَفُ

My obligations suffice me; my wealth does not go beyond them

My rights are enough, I do not transgress them

to surplus gifts, and there is no turning away from that."

To superfluities, nor am I inclined to that.

عادوا يقولونَ ما أشقاهُ من رَجُلٍ

عادوا يقولونَ ما أشقاهُ من رَجُلٍ

لا يرتضِي القولَ إلا حينَ ينحرِفُ

لا يرتضِي القولَ إلا حينَ ينحرِفُ

They returned saying, "What a wretched man he is,

They returned saying "how stern is this man!

accepting speech only when it strays from truth!"

He does not accept words except if they are crooked".

ثم انثَنوْا ينطقونَ الزُّورَ فانقلبوا

ثم انثَنوْا ينطقونَ الزُّورَ فانقلبوا

بالمالِ يَصدِفُ عنه المعشرُ الأُنُفُ

بالمالِ يَصدِفُ عنه المعشرُ الأُنُفُ

Then they changed course, speaking falsehood, and returned

Then they inclined and spoke lies so they turned

with money that the proud company shuns.

With money you pour forth, from which the honorable recoil.

بِئسَ العطاءُ وبِئسَ القومُ أمرُهُم

بِئسَ العطاءُ وبِئسَ القومُ أمرُهُم

وأمرُ سيّدهم في الغَيِّ مُؤتلِفُ

وأمرُ سيّدهم في الغَيِّ مُؤتلِفُ

Wretched the gift, and wretched the people: their conduct

Evil is the gift and evil are those people,

and their master's conduct agree in error.

And the affair of their master in misguidance brought together.

هُمُ اليهودُ لَو اَنَّ المالَ لاح لهم

هُمُ اليهودُ لَو اَنَّ المالَ لاح لهم

في عَيْنِ مُوسى كليمِ اللهِ ما صَدَفوا

في عَيْنِ مُوسى كليمِ اللهِ ما صَدَفوا

They are the Jews; if money gleamed for them

They are the Jews, if money was made lawful to them

in the eye of Moses, God's interlocutor, they would not turn away.

In the eyes of Moses, the one who spoke to Allah, they would not have recoiled.

هبَّ ابنُ مسلمةٍ للحقِّ يَنصرُه

هبَّ ابنُ مسلمةٍ للحقِّ يَنصرُه

وللرسولِ يُريه كيفَ يَزدهِفُ

وللرسولِ يُريه كيفَ يَزدهِفُ

Ibn Maslamah rose to champion the truth,

The son of Maslama rose for the truth to support it

and for the Messenger, to show him how he would strike.

And for the Messenger to show him the way to storm.

فقال دُونكَ سعداً إن هممتَ بها

فقال دُونكَ سعداً إن هممتَ بها

شَاوِرْهُ فيها فَنِعمَ الحاذقُ الثَّقِفُ

شَاوِرْهُ فيها فَنِعمَ الحاذقُ الثَّقِفُ

He said, "Seek out Sa'd if you intend to undertake it;

So he said "Consult Sa'd about her if you intend to",

consult him about it: an excellent, skillful, clever man."

How excellent the advisor, the intelligent and perspicacious!

قَضى ثلاثةَ أيامٍ على سَغَبٍ

قَضى ثلاثةَ أيامٍ على سَغَبٍ

وللمجرِّبِ ذي التدبيرِ ما يَصِفُ

وللمجرِّبِ ذي التدبيرِ ما يَصِفُ

He spent three days in hunger,

He judged for three days with much reflection,

and the seasoned planner had something to recount.

And for the experienced, the prudent, what he describes!

وجاءَ في صحبِهِ يستأذنونَ على

وجاءَ في صحبِهِ يستأذنونَ على

تَقْوَى من اللهِ ما مالوا ولا جَنَفُوا

تَقْوَى من اللهِ ما مالوا ولا جَنَفُوا

And he came with his companions, seeking permission, with

And he came in his company asking permission

fear of God; they neither swerved nor strayed.

Of the Godfearing, they did not sway or deviate.

قال الرسولُ لكمُ في القومِ مأربُكم

قال الرسولُ لكمُ في القومِ مأربُكم

ماذا على الدُّرِّ ممّا يُوهِمُ الصَّدَفُ

ماذا على الدُّرِّ ممّا يُوهِمُ الصَّدَفُ

The Messenger said, "You may pursue your purpose among those people.

The Messenger said "you have your goal with the people,

What harm can the shell's misleading appearance do to the pearl?

What is the pearl to what makes one think it is nacre?"

هِيَ القلوبُ فإن طابتْ سَرائرُها

هِيَ القلوبُ فإن طابتْ سَرائرُها

فما بأفواهِكم عَيْبٌ ولا نَطَفُ

فما بأفواهِكم عَيْبٌ ولا نَطَفُ

It is the hearts that matter: if their hidden depths are pure,

They are the hearts, so if their secrets are pure,

there is no fault or taint in your mouths."

There is no fault in your words, no blemish.

مَضوْا فقالوا لكعبٍ أنتَ مَوئلُنا

مَضوْا فقالوا لكعبٍ أنتَ مَوئلُنا

أنت الحِمى المُرتجى في الأزْلِ والكَنَفُ

أنت الحِمى المُرتجى في الأزْلِ والكَنَفُ

They went and said to Ka'b, "You are our refuge,

They left and said to Ka'b "You are our refuge,

the shelter we hope for in hardship, our protection.

You are the protected hope in origin and all shelter".

أما ترانا جِياعاً لا طعامَ لنا

أما ترانا جِياعاً لا طعامَ لنا

حتّى لقد كادَ يَغْشَى أهلَنا التَّلَفُ

حتّى لقد كادَ يَغْشَى أهلَنا التَّلَفُ

Do you not see us hungry, with no food,

"Do you not see us starving, with no food for us,

until destruction has almost overtaken our families?

To the point that demise has almost overcome our people?"

لم يُبقِ صاحِبُنا شيئاً نَعيشُ بهِ

لم يُبقِ صاحِبُنا شيئاً نَعيشُ بهِ

فالزّادُ مُنتهِبٌ والمالُ مُجترفُ

فالزّادُ مُنتهِبٌ والمالُ مُجترفُ

Our companion has left us nothing to live on:

"Our companion did not leave anything we can live by,

our provisions are plundered, our wealth swept away.

The provisions ransacked and the money seized."

إن أنتَ أسلفتَنا ما نَستعيدُ به

إن أنتَ أسلفتَنا ما نَستعيدُ به

رُوحَ الحياةِ فَغَيْثٌ ودْقُهُ يَكفُ

رُوحَ الحياةِ فَغَيْثٌ ودْقُهُ يَكفُ

If you would lend us what could restore

"If you loan us what we can regain by

life's spirit, you would be rain whose drops fall."

The spirit of life, it will be a saving downpour."

قال الحلائلُ رَهْنٌ ولا طعامَ لكم

قال الحلائلُ رَهْنٌ ولا طعامَ لكم

إلا بهنّ فقالوا مَطلبٌ قُذُفُ

إلا بهنّ فقالوا مَطلبٌ قُذُفُ

He said, "Your wives as pledges; no food for you

The cunning one said "with collateral but no food for you

except in exchange for them." They said, "An outrageous demand!

Except through them". So they said "a demand cast off!"

تأبَى علينا سَجايانا ويمنعُنا

تأبَى علينا سَجايانا ويمنعُنا

هذا الجمالُ الذي أُوتيتَ والتَّرَفُ

هذا الجمالُ الذي أُوتيتَ والتَّرَفُ

Our natures refuse it, and we are restrained by

"Our brides have refused us and forbidden us

this beauty you have been given, and your luxurious life."

This beauty you were granted and luxury."

قال البنونَ فقالوا لا تَكُنْ عَسِراً

قال البنونَ فقالوا لا تَكُنْ عَسِراً

البؤسُ أهونُ ممّا رُمْتَ والشَّظَفُ

البؤسُ أهونُ ممّا رُمْتَ والشَّظَفُ

He said, "Your sons, then." They said, "Do not be harsh.

He said "the boys", so they said "do not be difficult!

Misery and privation are easier than what you seek.

Misery is easier than what you sought and dignity."

خُذِ السِّلاحَ وإن كَلَّفْتَنا شَططاً

خُذِ السِّلاحَ وإن كَلَّفْتَنا شَططاً

إنّ الشدائدَ فيها تَسْهُلُ الكُلَفُ

إنّ الشدائدَ فيها تَسْهُلُ الكُلَفُ

Take our weapons, though you burden us excessively;

"Take up arms even if you task us beyond limit,

in hardships, burdens become easy to bear."

Hardships through it become easy burdens."

لم يَدْرِ مأْرَبهم إذ يسخرونَ بهِ

لم يَدْرِ مأْرَبهم إذ يسخرونَ بهِ

وإذ يُريدونَها دَهماءَ تُلتحَفُ

وإذ يُريدونَها دَهماءَ تُلتحَفُ

He did not know their purpose as they mocked him,

He did not know their goal as they ridiculed him

and intended it as blackness to wrap themselves in.

And as they wished it an obscure plot.

قال ارتضيتُ فقالوا غُمَّةٌ ذَهبت

قال ارتضيتُ فقالوا غُمَّةٌ ذَهبت

عنّا غياهِبُها وَانْجابَتْ السُّدُفُ

عنّا غياهِبُها وَانْجابَتْ السُّدُفُ

He said, "I agree." They said, "A cloud of distress has lifted;

He said "I accept". They said "a gloom has departed

its deep darkness has left us, and the shadows have cleared."

From us, its darkness dispersed and the breastplate opened."

وأرجأوهُ إلى إبَّانِ مَوْرِدهِ

وأرجأوهُ إلى إبَّانِ مَوْرِدهِ

يَعُبُّ من سُمِّهِ المُردِي ويَرتشِفُ

يَعُبُّ من سُمِّهِ المُردِي ويَرتشِفُ

They deferred him until the appointed hour of his coming to drink,

And they put him off until the time of his arrival,

to gulp and sip his deadly poison.

When the deadly poison will drink and infiltrate.

جاءوه باللّيلِ مَسروراً بغرفته

جاءوه باللّيلِ مَسروراً بغرفته

وليس يُنجِي الفتى من حَتفِهِ الغُرَفُ

وليس يُنجِي الفتى من حَتفِهِ الغُرَفُ

They came to him at night while he was happy in his upper room;

They came to him at night, delighted at his room,

upper rooms do not save a man from his death.

And the cloak of the chamber cannot save the youth from his demise.

وَرَنَّ صَوتُ أخيهِ عندَ مضجعهِ

وَرَنَّ صَوتُ أخيهِ عندَ مضجعهِ

اُخرُجْ إلينا أما تَنْفَكُّ تَعْتَكِفُ

اُخرُجْ إلينا أما تَنْفَكُّ تَعْتَكِفُ

His brother's voice rang out beside his bed:

And the voice of his brother rang at his resting place:

"Come out to us! Will you never cease secluding yourself?"

"Come out to us! Do you not cease to be cloistered?"

فَهَبَّ يركضُ وَارْتاعتْ حَلِيلَتُه

فَهَبَّ يركضُ وَارْتاعتْ حَلِيلَتُه

مَهْلاً فإنّ فُؤادي خائِفٌ يَجِفُ

مَهْلاً فإنّ فُؤادي خائِفٌ يَجِفُ

He sprang up and ran, and his wife grew afraid:

So he sprang up running while his wife shuddered:

"Wait! My heart is afraid and pounding.

"Wait! My heart is fearful and trembling."

أنت امرؤٌ ذُو حروبٍ لا يُلائِمُه

أنت امرؤٌ ذُو حروبٍ لا يُلائِمُه

أن يستجيبَ ذَوِي الأضغانِ إن دَلفوا

أن يستجيبَ ذَوِي الأضغانِ إن دَلفوا

You are a man at war; it does not befit you

"You are a warrior, unsuited to respond

to answer men bearing grudges if they approach.

To the possessors of grudges if they come harassing."

إنّي لأسمعُ صَوْتاً لستُ آمنُهُ

إنّي لأسمعُ صَوْتاً لستُ آمنُهُ

كأنّه الدمُ يَجرِي أو هُوَ الجَدَفُ

كأنّه الدمُ يَجرِي أو هُوَ الجَدَفُ

I hear a voice I cannot trust,

"I hear a voice I do not feel safe from,

as though it were blood flowing, or death itself."

As if it is blood flowing or it is the paddle."

قالَ اسْكُتِي ودَعينِي إنّه لأخي

قالَ اسْكُتِي ودَعينِي إنّه لأخي

يَخْشَى عليَّ فَيرعاني وينعطِفُ

يَخْشَى عليَّ فَيرعاني وينعطِفُ

He said, "Be quiet and leave me; he is my brother.

He said "be silent and let me go, it is my brother,

He fears for me, watches over me, and shows affection."

Fearing for me, so he protects me and turns to me."

وراحَ يلقاهُ والإسلامُ مُبتسِمٌ

وراحَ يلقاهُ والإسلامُ مُبتسِمٌ

والشِّركُ مُتَّسِمٌ بالحزنِ مُرتجِفُ

والشِّركُ مُتَّسِمٌ بالحزنِ مُرتجِفُ

He went to meet him, while Islam smiled

And he went to meet him while Islam was smiling

and polytheism, marked by sorrow, trembled.

And polytheism frowning, trembling.

وافاهُ في صَحْبِهِ يُدنِي الخُطَى عَبِقاً

وافاهُ في صَحْبِهِ يُدنِي الخُطَى عَبِقاً

كأنّه ذاتُ دَلٍّ زَانها هَيَفُ

كأنّه ذاتُ دَلٍّ زَانها هَيَفُ

He met him among his companions, stepping closer and scented,

He met him in his company, taking slow steps gently,

like a coquettish woman graced with a slender waist.

As if she is a swaying branch adorned by the pendant.

قالوا أتمشِي إلى شِعبِ العجوزِ ففي

قالوا أتمشِي إلى شِعبِ العجوزِ ففي

هذا الخلاءِ جَنىً للنفسِ يُخْتَرَفُ

هذا الخلاءِ جَنىً للنفسِ يُخْتَرَفُ

They said, "Will you walk to the Old Woman's Ravine? For in

They said "will you walk to the cliff of the old woman? For in

this open space there is fruit for the soul to gather.

This solitude a gain for the soul to be seized."

وَانْظُرْ إلى القمرِ الزَّاهِي وبَهجتِهِ

وَانْظُرْ إلى القمرِ الزَّاهِي وبَهجتِهِ

وَاعْجَبْ له بعد هذا كيفَ يَنكسِفُ

وَاعْجَبْ له بعد هذا كيفَ يَنكسِفُ

And look at the radiant moon and its beauty,

"And look at the shining moon and its splendor,

and marvel at how, after this, it will be eclipsed."

And wonder at it after this - how can it eclipse?"

ساروا إلى الشِّعبِ والأقدارُ تَتبعُهم

ساروا إلى الشِّعبِ والأقدارُ تَتبعُهم

على هُدى اللهِ ما زَاغَتْ ولا اعْتَسَفُوا

على هُدى اللهِ ما زَاغَتْ ولا اعْتَسَفُوا

They walked to the ravine, with the decrees of fate following them,

They walked to the cliff and destinies pursued them,

under God's guidance: fate did not swerve, nor did they wander blindly.

Upon Allah's guidance, neither deviating nor transgressing.

حتّى إذا قعدوا ظَلَّتْ بموقفِها

حتّى إذا قعدوا ظَلَّتْ بموقفِها

وأقبلَ الموتُ عن أيمانِها يَقِفُ

وأقبلَ الموتُ عن أيمانِها يَقِفُ

Until, when they sat down, fate held its station,

Until when they sat, it remained in its position,

and Death approached from its right to take his stand.

And death approached from its right, waiting.

وتِلكَ كفُّ أخيهِ فَوْقَ مَفْرقِهِ

وتِلكَ كفُّ أخيهِ فَوْقَ مَفْرقِهِ

كأنّها من جَنيِّ الزّهرِ تَقْتَطِفُ

كأنّها من جَنيِّ الزّهرِ تَقْتَطِفُ

And there was his brother's hand above the parting of his hair,

And that is his brother's palm above his temple,

as though plucking from freshly gathered flowers.

As if it is plucking a blossom from the garden.

يَشُمُّها ويقولُ القولَ يَخَدَعُه

يَشُمُّها ويقولُ القولَ يَخَدَعُه

في الطِّيبِ وَهْوَ له من خلفهِ هَدَفُ

في الطِّيبِ وَهْوَ له من خلفهِ هَدَفُ

He sniffed it, speaking words to deceive him

He smells it and it deceives him with words

about the perfume, while targeting him from behind.

About the perfume while in truth behind him is the goal.

ظَلَّتْ سيوفُ رسولِ اللهِ تأْخذُهُ

ظَلَّتْ سيوفُ رسولِ اللهِ تأْخذُهُ

تَشُقُّ ما ضربتْ منه وتَنْتَقِفُ

تَشُقُّ ما ضربتْ منه وتَنْتَقِفُ

The swords of God's Messenger kept striking him,

The swords of Allah's Messenger remained striking him,

splitting what they struck of him and gouging it out.

Cleaving what they struck of him and harvesting.

يا حُسْنها صَيحةً من فيهِ يُرسِلُها

يا حُسْنها صَيحةً من فيهِ يُرسِلُها

كادتْ تَخِرُّ لها من دارِهِ السُّقُفُ

كادتْ تَخِرُّ لها من دارِهِ السُّقُفُ

How fine the cry he sent forth from his mouth!

O excellent is that scream he sends out from his mouth,

At it, the roofs of his house almost fell.

It almost tore down from his house the ceiling.

لم تستطع عِرسُهُ صَبْراً فَجاوبَها

لم تستطع عِرسُهُ صَبْراً فَجاوبَها

صَوْتٌ يُجلجِلُ أودَى السَّيِّدُ اللَّقِفُ

صَوْتٌ يُجلجِلُ أودَى السَّيِّدُ اللَّقِفُ

His wife could not endure it; the cry was answered by

His bride could not be patient so she answered him,

a thundering voice: "The quick-witted master has perished!

A voice raging as if the master builder collapsed.

بَني قَريظةَ هُبُّوا من مَضاجِعكم

بَني قَريظةَ هُبُّوا من مَضاجِعكم

بني النَّضيرِ انْفرُوا للثأرِ وَازْدَلِفُوا

بني النَّضيرِ انْفرُوا للثأرِ وَازْدَلِفُوا

Sons of Qurayzah, rise from your beds!

"O children of Qurayza, arise from your beds!

Sons of al-Nadir, rush out for vengeance and draw near!

O children of Nadir, rally for revenge and approach!"

عَدا الرجالُ على كعبٍ فوالهفا

عَدا الرجالُ على كعبٍ فوالهفا

أين الحماةُ وماذا يَصنعُ اللَّهَفُ

أين الحماةُ وماذا يَصنعُ اللَّهَفُ

The men have attacked Ka'b—alas, what grief!

The men charged at Ka'b so O whatdifference after his death

Where are the defenders, and what can grief accomplish?"

Except crying and except copious tears?

تَبكِي عليه وماذا بعدَ مصرعِهِ

تَبكِي عليه وماذا بعدَ مصرعِهِ

إلا البكاءُ وإلا الأدمعُ الذُرُفُ

إلا البكاءُ وإلا الأدمعُ الذُرُفُ

She weeps for him; after his death, what is there

The one who would bend his shoulder arrogantly

but weeping and streaming tears?

Has fallen dead, so neither pride nor arrogance.

إنّ الذي كان يَثْنِي عِطْفَهُ صَلَفاً

إنّ الذي كان يَثْنِي عِطْفَهُ صَلَفاً

أمسى صَريعاً فلا كِبْرٌ ولا صَلَفُ

أمسى صَريعاً فلا كِبْرٌ ولا صَلَفُ

He who used to turn his side away in arrogance

They returned with his scalp, thrown repulsively

lay slain by evening, with neither pride nor arrogance.

Before the Messenger, from him only aversion and refusal.

عادوا بهامتِهِ تُلْقَى مُذمَّمةً

عادوا بهامتِهِ تُلْقَى مُذمَّمةً

عِندَ الرسولِ ومنه الصَدُّ والنَّكَفُ

عِندَ الرسولِ ومنه الصَدُّ والنَّكَفُ

They returned with his head, cast down in disgrace

The Jews fled their traces but they could not

before the Messenger, who turned away in disdain.

Be reached, resolves that cast them into the winds.

طار اليهودُ على آثارهم فأبَتْ

طار اليهودُ على آثارهم فأبَتْ

أن يُدرَكوا هِمَمٌ تَرْمِي بهم عُصُفُ

أن يُدرَكوا هِمَمٌ تَرْمِي بهم عُصُفُ

The Jews flew in their tracks, but pursuit failed

Allah is Great and praise in abundance belongs to Him,

to catch them: storm-like resolves hurled them onward.

A new victory and grace from Him renewed.

اللَّهُ أكبرُ والحمدُ الجزيلُ له

اللَّهُ أكبرُ والحمدُ الجزيلُ له

نَصرٌ جديدٌ وفضلٌ منهُ مؤتَنَفُ

نَصرٌ جديدٌ وفضلٌ منهُ مؤتَنَفُ

God is greatest, and abundant praise is His:

The meek Jews returned seeking a pact,

a new victory, and fresh bounty from Him.

"Return O Jews, excellent is the covenant and pact."

رِيعَتْ يهودُ فجاءَتْ تَبتَغي حِلفاً

رِيعَتْ يهودُ فجاءَتْ تَبتَغي حِلفاً

عُودِيَ يَهودُ فنعمَ العهدُ والحلفُ

عُودِيَ يَهودُ فنعمَ العهدُ والحلفُ

The Jews were terrified and came seeking an alliance.

Far from you O Malik any covenant, even if

The Jews were met with enmity—fine indeed the covenant and alliance!

The plain of Bisya were filled with your scriptures!

هَيهاتَ مالكِ من عهدٍ ولو حَمَلَتْ

هَيهاتَ مالكِ من عهدٍ ولو حَمَلَتْ

مِلءَ البسيطةِ من أيْمانِكِ الصُّحفُ

مِلءَ البسيطةِ من أيْمانِكِ الصُّحفُ

Far from it! You have no covenant, even if pages carried

Servants of Allah, say that in poetry is a reminder,

enough of your oaths to fill the earth.

And the best of it is what the predecessors passed down.

عَبّادُ قُلْ إنّ في الأشعارِ تذكرةً

عَبّادُ قُلْ إنّ في الأشعارِ تذكرةً

وإنَّ أحسنَها ما أورثَ السَّلَفُ

وإنَّ أحسنَها ما أورثَ السَّلَفُ

'Abbad, say: "In poetry there is a reminder,

Sing, O friends, the revelation of truth I recite to you,

and its finest is what the forebears bequeathed."

The dispraiser has passed away and the senile poet perished.

غَنِّ الرِّفاقَ بِوَحيِ الحقِّ تُنشِدُهُ

غَنِّ الرِّفاقَ بِوَحيِ الحقِّ تُنشِدُهُ

مَضَى النعيبُ وأودَى الشاعِرُ الخَرِفُ

مَضَى النعيبُ وأودَى الشاعِرُ الخَرِفُ

Sing to the companions, reciting the inspiration of truth;

the cawing has passed, and the senile poet has perished.