هتفَrang out النعيُّthe death announcement فماand so not ملكتُI controlled بيانيmy speech
هتفَ النعيُّ فما ملكتُ بياني
ليتif only النعيَّthe death announcement إلىto الإِمامthe Imam نعانيhad announced my death
ليت النعيَّ إلى الإِمام نعاني
The death announcement rang out, and I lost command of speech.
The dirge called out, but I could not express my sorrow,
Would that the announcement had told the Imam of my death.
Would that my dirge were for the Imam and his supporters!
ذَعرterrified الحطيمَthe Hatim وراعand alarmed يثربَYathrib عاصفٌa tempest
ذَعر الحطيمَ وراع يثربَ عاصفٌ
للموتof death ضجّcried out لهولهat its horror الحرمانِthe two sanctuaries
للموت ضجّ لهوله الحرمانِ
A tempest terrified the Hatim and struck Yathrib with dread—
A storm startled the dwellings and terrified Yathrib,
a tempest of death; at its horror the two sanctuaries cried out.
Death bellowed horribly, depriving us.
سهمٌan arrow أصابَstruck المسلمينَthe Muslims وجالand coursed فيinto
سهمٌ أصابَ المسلمينَ وجال في
كبدِthe liver, or vital core, of الهُدَىguidance وحُشاشةِand the last life-breath of الإيمانِfaith
كبدِ الهُدَى وحُشاشةِ الإيمانِ
An arrow struck the Muslims and drove deep into
An arrow struck the Muslims and pierced
the very heart of guidance and the last life-breath of faith.
The core of guidance and the shields of faith.
جَرحَwounded الأئمّةَthe imams واستمرَّand continued فماand did not ارعوىhold back
جَرحَ الأئمّةَ واستمرَّ فما ارعوى
حتّىuntil استباحravaged مقاتلَthe vital parts of الفُرسانِthe horsemen
حتّى استباح مقاتلَ الفُرسانِ
It wounded the imams and kept on, never holding back,
It wounded the Imams, leaving an unhealed sore
until it ravaged the horsemen’s vital parts.
Until the warriors were ravaged without restraint.
ذهبَwent forth الإِمامُthe Imam يُقيمُto build حائطَthe rampart of دينهِhis faith
ذهبَ الإِمامُ يُقيمُ حائطَ دينهِ
ويراهand he deemed it أنفعَmost beneficial ماwhat يُقيمُbuilds البانيthe builder
ويراه أنفعَ ما يُقيمُ الباني
The Imam went forth to build the rampart of his faith,
The Imam left to fortify the faith
deeming it the most useful thing a builder could raise.
Seeing that as most beneficial for the builder.
ذهبwent forth المجاهدُthe warrior يشتريto purchase لبلادهِfor his homeland
ذهب المجاهدُ يشتري لبلادهِ
عِزَّthe dignity of الحياةِlife بأشرفِat the noblest of الأثمانِprices
عِزَّ الحياةِ بأشرفِ الأثمانِ
The warrior went forth to purchase for his homeland
The warrior left to buy honor for his land
the dignity of life at the noblest of prices:
With the most noble of prices – his soul.
بالنّفسwith his soul تَستبقُracing to meet الحتوفَdeath كريمةًnoble
بالنّفس تَستبقُ الحتوفَ كريمةً
بينamid السُّيوفِthe swords وبالنّجيعand with shed blood القانيdeep-crimson
بين السُّيوفِ وبالنّجيع القاني
with his noble soul, racing to meet death
With their souls the virtuous vie
amid the swords, and with deep-crimson blood.
Between swords and spears wielded in battle.
إنif كنتَyou are تجهلُunaware of فيin الكريهةِbattle بأسَهُhis valor
إن كنتَ تجهلُ في الكريهةِ بأسَهُ
فالعلمthen the knowledge عندlies with كتائبِthe battalions of الطلّيانِthe Italians
فالعلم عند كتائبِ الطلّيانِ
If you do not know his valor in battle,
If you do not know the extent of his valor in war
that knowledge lies with the Italian battalions.
Ask the regiments of the coated armor.
قذفhurled الغرورُarrogance بهاthem إلىinto أوطانِهhis homelands
قذف الغرورُ بها إلى أوطانِه
بطلاًa hero يصونُguarding محارمَthe sacred bounds of الأوطانِthe homelands
بطلاً يصونُ محارمَ الأوطانِ
Arrogance hurled them into his homeland—
Arrogance cast him back to his lands
against a hero guarding the homelands’ sacred bounds,
A hero preserving the sanctity of homelands.
عَجلَswift المغارِto raid إذاwhen يُؤامرُconsults نَفسَهُhimself
عَجلَ المغارِ إذا يُؤامرُ نَفسَهُ
أَيُقيمُdoes he stay أمor يمضيgo الضّعيفُthe weak man الوانيthe weary one
أَيُقيمُ أم يمضي الضّعيفُ الواني
swift to raid when one debates with oneself:
The weak wavered. Should he remain
will the weak, weary man stay or go?
Or depart, the frail and wavering one?
يأبىdenies علىto البَطِرِthe insolent man المُدِلِّthe boastful one ببأسِهof his might
يأبى على البَطِرِ المُدِلِّ ببأسِه
ماwhat استنَّhe instituted منof عَنَتِoppression ومنand of عُدوانِaggression
ما استنَّ من عَنَتِ ومن عُدوانِ
He denied the insolent man, boastful of his might,
He disdains, with his might, the submissive lowlands,
the oppression and aggression he had instituted.
Undeterred by obstinacy or transgression.
نزلdescended البلاءُcalamity بقومهupon his people فإذاand behold الحمىthe protected land
نزل البلاءُ بقومه فإذا الحمى
بيدin the hand of المغيرthe invader يُسامُis subjected to كلَّevery هَوانِhumiliation
بيد المغير يُسامُ كلَّ هَوانِ
Calamity descended on his people, and behold, their protected land,
Affliction befell his people, so immediately
in the invader’s hands, was subjected to every humiliation.
The contagion was in the foreigner's hand, abasing all.
أخذseized البلادَthe country فَرُوِّعتand so were terrified أقطارُهاits regions
أخذ البلادَ فَرُوِّعت أقطارُها
ورمىand bombarded الفضاءَthe sky فلمand so not يَبِتْspent the night بأمانِin safety
ورمى الفضاءَ فلم يَبِتْ بأمانِ
He seized the country, and all its regions were terror-stricken;
He seized the lands and their regions trembled,
he bombarded the sky, which knew no night of safety.
Pelting the horizons where no safety could be found.
البحرُthe sea أحمرُred يستطيرflares up شُواظُهits flame
البحرُ أحمرُ يستطير شُواظُه
والبرُّand the land أغبرُdust-gray دائمُunceasing الرَّجَفانِtrembling
والبرُّ أغبرُ دائمُ الرَّجَفانِ
The sea was red, its flames leaping high,
The Red Sea roared with its billows
and the land dust-gray, trembling without cease.
And the land quaked with constant tremors.
والموتُand death بينamid بُروقِهits lightning ورُعودِهِand its thunder
والموتُ بين بُروقِه ورُعودِهِ
يرمىpelts البقاعَthe lands بوابلٍwith a downpour هتّانِpouring heavily
يرمى البقاعَ بوابلٍ هتّانِ
And death, amid its lightning and its thunder,
And death, amid its lightning and thunder
pelted the lands with a pouring torrent.
Struck the plains with a fierce torrent.
ملكَruled البسيطةَthe earth والعُبابَand the surging sea ولمand did not يَدَعْspare
ملكَ البسيطةَ والعُبابَ ولم يَدَعْ
مَسرىthe flight-path of النُّسورِthe vultures ومسرحَand the roaming ground of العِقبانِthe eagles
مَسرى النُّسورِ ومسرحَ العِقبانِ
It ruled the earth and the surging sea, and did not spare
He claimed the wilderness and wastelands, leaving
the vultures’ flight-path or the eagles’ roaming ground.
No refuge for eagles or haunt for falcons.
ماnot عفَّrefrained عنfrom harming ذاتِthe woman wearing القناعِthe veil ولاnor رعَىrespected
ما عفَّ عن ذاتِ القناعِ ولا رعَى
حقَّthe right of الرّضيعِthe infant ولاnor الكبيرِthe elder الفانيwasting away
حقَّ الرّضيعِ ولا الكبيرِ الفاني
It showed no restraint toward the veiled woman, nor respected
Showing no mercy to the meek soul
the infant’s rights, nor those of the frail elder.
Or respecting the rights of child or aged.
هاجواthey roused الإمامَthe Imam فهاجهاso he kindled it قُرشيَّةًQurayshi
هاجوا الإمامَ فهاجها قُرشيَّةً
يختالُstrides proudly فيin غَمراتِهاits raging depths العُمرانِthe two Umars
يختالُ في غَمراتِها العُمرانِ
They roused the Imam, and he kindled a Qurayshi battle,
They attacked the Imam, so he opposed them fiercely
through whose raging depths the two Umars strode proudly.
Settled in their dense settlements.
هاجتstirred لناwithin us ذكرىthe memory of وقائعَbattles سمحةٍnoble
هاجت لنا ذكرى وقائعَ سمحةٍ
مأثورةٍhanded down لابنof Ibn الوليدِal-Walid حِسانِglorious
مأثورةٍ لابن الوليدِ حِسانِ
It stirred in us the memory of noble battles,
The memory of glorious deeds aroused in us
glorious and renowned, fought by Ibn al-Walid.
Traditions of the son of Walid, Hassan.
جندُthe soldiers of النبيِّthe Prophet يسيرmarch حولaround لوائِهhis banner
جندُ النبيِّ يسير حول لوائِه
وقواضبُand the keen swords of اللهGod العليِّexalted الشّانِin majesty
وقواضبُ الله العليِّ الشّانِ
The Prophet’s host marches around his banner,
The Prophet's army marched under his banner
and the keen swords of God, exalted in majesty.
And God's fiercely valiant warriors.
التركُthe Turks والعربُand the Arabs الأُباةُrefusing abasement أنوفُهمtheir noses
التركُ والعربُ الأُباةُ أنوفُهم
سيفانtwo swords فيin لُجَجِthe surging seas of الوَغىbattle غَرِقانِboth submerged
سيفان في لُجَجِ الوَغى غَرِقانِ
The Turks and the Arabs, their noses proud and unyielding,
The defiant Arabs and Turks
are two swords submerged in the surging seas of war:
Two swords plunged in the depths of turmoil.
آناًat one time بمُلْتَطَمِamid the clashing waves of الدّماءِblood وتارةًand at another time
آناً بمُلْتَطَمِ الدّماءِ وتارةً
فيin جَوْفِthe heart of مُحتدَمٍa raging mass منof النّيرانِflames
في جَوْفِ مُحتدَمٍ من النّيرانِ
at times amid the clashing waves of blood, at others
Now in the crashing surf of blood
within a raging mass of flames.
And then in the seething flames.
اللهGod ألّفَunited بينهمthem together فهمُand they علىamid
الله ألّفَ بينهم فهمُ على
نُعمَىthe bliss of الحياةِlife وبُؤسِهاand its misery أَخَوانِtwo brothers
نُعمَى الحياةِ وبُؤسِها أَخَوانِ
God united them, and they were, in
God united them, so in good and ill
life’s bliss and its misery, two brothers.
They are brothers.
سببانtwo bonds منfrom دُنياthe worldly life of الشُّعوبِthe peoples ودينهمand their faith
سببان من دُنيا الشُّعوبِ ودينهم
تتفرَّقُdisperses البلوىaffliction ويفترقانِand the two part
تتفرَّقُ البلوى ويفترقانِ
Two bonds, from the peoples’ worldly life and their faith:
Reasons from the world of nations and their faith
affliction disperses, and the two are parted.
Sowed disunity, dividing them.
ماnot زالتِceased الأحداثُevents تعصِفُblows fiercely ريحُهاtheir wind
ما زالتِ الأحداثُ تعصِفُ ريحُها
حتّىuntil الْتَوَىtwisted وتقطَّعand broke apart السّببانِthe two bonds
حتّى الْتَوَى وتقطَّع السّببانِ
Events kept blowing their storm-winds
Events blew, their winds relentless
until the two bonds twisted and broke.
Until they ended and the reasons split.
وَارَحمتاalas للمسلمينَfor the Muslims تفرّقواthey scattered
وَارَحمتا للمسلمينَ تفرّقوا
وتباعدواand they grew far apart فيacross الأرضِthe earth بعدafter تَدانِcloseness
وتباعدوا في الأرضِ بعد تَدانِ
Alas for the Muslims: they have scattered
Have mercy! The Muslims grew divided
and drawn far apart across the earth after closeness!
And separated across the earth after unity!
فلئنand if indeed بكيتُI wept فقدthen indeed وجدتُI felt مُصابَهمtheir affliction
فلئن بكيتُ فقد وجدتُ مُصابَهم
فيin مَنكِبيmy shoulder وجوانحيand my ribs وجَنانيand my heart
في مَنكِبي وجوانحي وجَناني
And if I weep, I have indeed felt their affliction
If I weep it is because I feel their pain
in my shoulder, my ribs, and my heart.
In my shoulders, chest and soul.
ماnot بالدّموعin the tears المُستهلَّةِstreaming رِيبةٌdoubt
ما بالدّموع المُستهلَّةِ رِيبةٌ
هِيَthey فيin الجُفونِthe eyelids عُصارةُthe distilled essence of الوِجدانِfeeling
هِيَ في الجُفونِ عُصارةُ الوِجدانِ
There is nothing suspect in these streaming tears;
My streaming tears bespeak no doubt
within the eyelids, they are the distilled essence of feeling.
For they are the essence of my spirit’s fervor.
مَنwhoever كانhad أبصرَseen خطبَهمtheir plight فأناthen I الذيthe one who
مَن كان أبصرَ خطبَهم فأنا الذي
مارستُهI experienced it ولمستُهand I touched it بِبنانيwith my fingertips
مارستُه ولمستُه بِبناني
If anyone has seen their plight, I am the one
I who saw their plight most clearly
who has lived it and touched it with my fingertips.
Am he who probed and grasped it in my fingertips.
ماnot زلتُceased أجمعُI gather بالقريضِwith poetry شَتاتَهمtheir scattered ranks
ما زلتُ أجمعُ بالقريضِ شَتاتَهم
حتّىuntil انقضىended أدبيmy literary work وضاعand was wasted زمانيmy time
حتّى انقضى أدبي وضاع زماني
I kept gathering their scattered ranks with poetry,
I continued to gather their fragments in verse
until my literary labor was spent and my time wasted.
Until my craft expired and my time elapsed.
انظرْlook إلىat البانيthe builder المُهدَّمِbrought to ruin واعتبرْand take heed
انظرْ إلى الباني المُهدَّمِ واعتبرْ
بالدّهرِfrom time يصدعُsplits شامخَthe towering البُنيانِedifice
بالدّهرِ يصدعُ شامخَ البُنيانِ
Look upon the ruined builder, and take warning
See how time destroys the towering builder.
from time, which splits the loftiest edifice.
Consider the lessons of fate!
ياO مأتمَmourning assembly of الإسلامِIslam باتlay through the night شهيدُهits martyr
يا مأتمَ الإسلامِ بات شهيدُه
عَبِقَfragrant الموسَّدِthe pillow طيِّبَsweet-scented الأكفانِthe shrouds
عَبِقَ الموسَّدِ طيِّبَ الأكفانِ
O mourning assembly of Islam, its martyr lies
O anguished state of Islam, your martyr
with a fragrant pillow and sweet-scented shrouds.
Scented his perfumed shroud, at rest.
هلis there للهدايةِfor guidance منكَfrom you لوعةُanguish جازعٍof one distraught
هل للهدايةِ منكَ لوعةُ جازعٍ
أمor للحَميَّةِfor zeal فيكin you لهفةُyearning عانِof a captive
أم للحَميَّةِ فيك لهفةُ عانِ
Has guidance, from you, a distraught mourner’s anguish,
Does guidance elicit your grieving sighs
or zeal, in you, a captive’s yearning?
Or zeal inflame in you a fiery breath?
وهلand have اكتستْdonned ثوبَthe robe of الحِدادِmourning لفقدهِfor his loss
وهل اكتستْ ثوبَ الحِدادِ لفقدهِ
أُمَمٌnations تَدينُlive بِمُحكَمِby the firm precepts of الفُرقانِthe Furqan
أُمَمٌ تَدينُ بِمُحكَمِ الفُرقانِ
And have they donned the robe of mourning for his loss—
Did nations who profess the Clear Book
the nations that live by the Furqan’s firm decrees?
Wear the raiment of mourning for his loss?
فَدحَweighed heavily المصابُthe calamity فلاso neither البكاءُweeping أراحَنيrelieved me
فَدحَ المصابُ فلا البكاءُ أراحَني
مّماof what لَقيتُI suffered ولاnor الرِّثاءُelegy شفانيhealed me
مّما لَقيتُ ولا الرِّثاءُ شفاني
The calamity is crushing: neither weeping has relieved me
The tragedy struck, yet tears brought no relief
of what I have suffered, nor elegy has healed me.
Nor elegy comfort from what I met.
منof حقِّthe due of أحمدَAhmad أنthat يكونshould be رثاءَهhis elegy
من حقِّ أحمدَ أن يكون رثاءَه
زَجَلُthe ringing chant of المُكِّبرthe proclaimer of God’s greatness عندat كلّevery أذانِcall to prayer
زَجَلُ المُكِّبر عند كلّ أذانِ
It is Ahmad’s due that his elegy should be
Ahmad merits the Call to Prayer as his elegy
the ringing cry of 'God is greatest' at every call to prayer.
At every call, from the minarets.
لوif زِيدwere added ركنٌa pillar فيin الصلاةِprayer علىby يديmy hand
لو زِيد ركنٌ في الصلاةِ على يدي
لجعلتُهI would make it منamong أَوثقthe firmest الأركانِpillars
لجعلتُه من أَوثق الأركانِ
If a pillar were added to prayer by my hand,
If a further pillar were added to the prayer through me
I would make it one of its firmest pillars.
I'd make it firmest of the pillars.
جارneighbor of النَّبيthe Prophet غَنِمْتَyou gained طيبَthe sweetness of جِوارِهhis nearness
جار النَّبي غَنِمْتَ طيبَ جِوارِه
وظَفِرْتَand you won منهfrom him بذمَّةٍa covenant of protection وضمانِand a guarantee
وظَفِرْتَ منه بذمَّةٍ وضمانِ
Neighbor of the Prophet, you have gained the sweetness of his nearness,
O neighbor of the Prophet! You gained his blessed company
and won from him a covenant of protection and a guarantee.
And enjoyed his guarantee and protection!
ونَزَلتَand you lodged منamong غُرَفِthe chambers of الجِنانParadise’s gardens بناضرٍin a radiant one
ونَزَلتَ من غُرَفِ الجِنان بناضرٍ
بَهِجِjoyful القطينِthe dwellers مُنَعَّمblissful الجيرانِthe neighbors
بَهِجِ القطينِ مُنَعَّم الجيرانِ
And you have settled in a radiant chamber of Paradise,
You came down from the chambers of Paradise, blissful,
its dwellers joyful, its neighbors living in bliss.
With cheerful, delighted neighbors.
انفُضْshake off أذىthe hurt of الدنياthe world ودَعْand forsake ماwhat زيّنتit made alluring
انفُضْ أذى الدنيا ودَعْ ما زيّنت
للنّاسِfor people منof زُورٍfalsehood ومنand of بُهتانِslander
للنّاسِ من زُورٍ ومن بُهتانِ
Shake off the world’s hurt, and forsake what it has made alluring
Leave behind the harm of life, leave the delusions
to people—falsehood and slander.
With which it adorns itself for people - lies and slanders!
واحْمَدْand give thanks for مكانكَyour place فيin النَّعيمِbliss وطيبهِand its sweetness
واحْمَدْ مكانكَ في النَّعيمِ وطيبهِ
إنّindeed الهمومَcares مَلأْنَhave filled كلevery مكانِplace
إنّ الهمومَ مَلأْنَ كل مكانِ
And give thanks for your place in bliss and its sweetness;
And, Ahmad, delight in your place of bounty and joy,
for cares have filled every place.
For anxiety has filled every space.
إنif جلّgrew grave خطبُthe plight of المسلمينthe Muslims فإنّهthen it is
إن جلّ خطبُ المسلمين فإنّه
دينُthe law of الزّمانِtime وسُنّةُand the way of الحَدَثانِfate’s vicissitudes
دينُ الزّمانِ وسُنّةُ الحَدَثانِ
If the Muslims’ plight is grave, it is
Indeed, the condition of Muslims, for it
the law of time and the way of fate.
Is the way of eras and law of events.
دُنياthe world of الشُّعوبِthe nations وللحياةِand to life belongs كِتابُهاits book
دُنيا الشُّعوبِ وللحياةِ كِتابُها
سَلَبُthe spoils of الكُماةِthe warriors ومغنمُand the booty of الشُّجعَانِthe brave
سَلَبُ الكُماةِ ومغنمُ الشُّجعَانِ
The world of nations—and life has its book—
The world of nations, and life has its own principles -
is the warriors’ spoil and the brave men’s prize.
Looting the helpless and spoils for the bold.
Sol 6.1