ألقيت عبأك في مدى الميدانِ

ألقيت عبأك في مدى الميدانِ

وبلغت خير مقاصد الإنسانِ

وبلغت خير مقاصد الإنسانِ

You laid down your burden in the field's expanse,

You bore your burden in the expanse of the field,

And attained the finest aims of humankind.

And attained the best of human goals.

وقضيت في الدنيا حياتك عاملاً

وقضيت في الدنيا حياتك عاملاً

للذكر والعمر الطويل الثاني

للذكر والعمر الطويل الثاني

You spent your life in this world working

You spent your life in this world working

For remembrance and a second, enduring life.

For remembrance and a long second life.

ووفيت بالعهد الكريم لواثق

ووفيت بالعهد الكريم لواثق

كان الوفاء له من الإيمان

كان الوفاء له من الإيمان

You kept the noble pledge to one who trusted you,

You were loyal to the noble covenant of the confident one

For whom faithfulness was part of faith.

For whom loyalty was part of faith.

حملتْ أمانة مصر دهراً ذمةٌ

حملتْ أمانة مصر دهراً ذمةٌ

لك عن قواعد مصر والأركان

لك عن قواعد مصر والأركان

A conscience long bore Egypt's trust—

Egypt's trust was a safekeeping for ages, a conscience

Yours, answerable for Egypt's foundations and pillars.

For Egypt's foundations and pillars.

أخفيتها حياً بقومك رحمة

أخفيتها حياً بقومك رحمة

وجعلت موتك موعد الإعلان

وجعلت موتك موعد الإعلان

In life you concealed it out of mercy for your people,

You kept it secretly alive among your people out of mercy

And made your death the appointed time for disclosure.

And made your death the time for its declaration.

باحت بسرك وهو سر الدهر في

باحت بسرك وهو سر الدهر في

هذا المصير رسائل الإخوان

هذا المصير رسائل الإخوان

Your secret—the age's secret—was divulged at

Your secret, the secret of time, was revealed in

This passing, by letters from your friends.

This fate, messages of the brethren.

هل للحقيقة كل ما قالوا ولل

هل للحقيقة كل ما قالوا ولل

تاريخ أم لإثارة الأشجان

تاريخ أم لإثارة الأشجان

Was all they said for truth and for

Was everything they said about truth? And about

History, or to stir up sorrows?

History? Or to stir sorrows?

ذكروا برزئك رزء مصر وأهلها

ذكروا برزئك رزء مصر وأهلها

في سيرة وكرامة وكيان

في سيرة وكرامة وكيان

Through your loss they recalled the loss to Egypt and her people

They mentioned your calamity as Egypt's and her people's

In conduct, dignity, and very being.

In conduct, honor, and entity.

وتناقلوا عنك الحديث وهم على

وتناقلوا عنك الحديث وهم على

آفاق مصر وأنت في الأكفان

آفاق مصر وأنت في الأكفان

They circulated accounts of you, while they stood upon

And they transmitted speeches about you while

Egypt's horizons, and you lay in shrouds.

Contemplating Egypt's horizons as you lay in your shroud.

كل يزكّي في المآزق صنعه

كل يزكّي في المآزق صنعه

بدليله الماضي وبالبرهان

بدليله الماضي وبالبرهان

Each vindicates his deeds in times of crisis

Each sanctifies with evidence from the past and proof

With evidence from his past and with proof.

His own making in tribulations.

ولكل راوٍ عذره في واقع

ولكل راوٍ عذره في واقع

ما كان بُدُّ منه في الإمكان

ما كان بُدُّ منه في الإمكان

Every narrator has his excuse for an event

And each narrator has his excuse in the reality

That could not possibly have been avoided.

That was unavoidable in possibility.

ذكرى تسوء وشر ما يؤذي الفتى

ذكرى تسوء وشر ما يؤذي الفتى

قلق الضمير وحيرة الوجدان

قلق الضمير وحيرة الوجدان

A grievous memory; and the worst that hurts a man

A memory that harms, and the worst that hurts a young man,

Is an anxious conscience and a bewildered heart.

Is the disquiet of conscience and confusion of sentiment.

حانت محاسبة الرجال من الحمى

حانت محاسبة الرجال من الحمى

وكفى به من حاسبٍ ديّان

وكفى به من حاسبٍ ديّان

The time has come for the homeland to call men to account,

The time came to judge men with zeal

And it suffices as reckoner and requiting judge.

And that was enough judging for the Judge.

وتدافعت بالحاسبين ظنونهم

وتدافعت بالحاسبين ظنونهم

من كل ناحية وكل مكان

من كل ناحية وكل مكان

And the reckoners were swept along by their suspicions,

Their conjectures clashed among the judges

From every quarter and every place.

From every side and every place.

يتساءلون عن اليقين يريحهم

يتساءلون عن اليقين يريحهم

وأمامك الفئتان تحتكمان

وأمامك الفئتان تحتكمان

They ask one another for certainty to ease them,

They ask about the certainty that gives them rest,

And before you both parties seek judgment.

While you have the two parties appealing to you.

ما خان مولاه الوزير وإنما

ما خان مولاه الوزير وإنما

خانته أمس مودة الألمان

خانته أمس مودة الألمان

The minister did not betray his master; rather,

The minister did not betray his master; rather,

Friendship with the Germans betrayed him yesterday.

The friendship of the Germans betrayed him yesterday.

ملك مضى وأتى سواه موفقاً

ملك مضى وأتى سواه موفقاً

لبلاده فهُما له سيان

لبلاده فهُما له سيان

A king departed; another came, blessed with success

A king passed away and another succeeded,

For his country; to him, the two were alike.

Favored for his country, so both are the same to him.

إن لم يكن عم الأمير بديله

إن لم يكن عم الأمير بديله

فمن الأحق بذلك السلطان

فمن الأحق بذلك السلطان

If the prince's uncle were not his successor,

If the king's uncle was not his substitute,

Who had greater right to that sovereignty?

Then who was more deserving of that, O Sultan?

ما كان من ذهب الزمان بتاجه

ما كان من ذهب الزمان بتاجه

هو وحده من فاقدي التيجان

هو وحده من فاقدي التيجان

He whose crown time swept away was not

What was of the gold of time with its crown

The only one among those who lost their crowns.

He alone of the uncrowned was deprived.

إن الزمان وما رأينا قوة

إن الزمان وما رأينا قوة

للحق فيه هو الأثيم الجاني

للحق فيه هو الأثيم الجاني

Indeed, time—we have seen no power

Truly, time and what we saw had no

For justice in it—is the sinful wrongdoer.

Power of truth, it is the sinful villain.

هل كان يمتلك اختيار مصيره

هل كان يمتلك اختيار مصيره

مَن سخطه ورضاه يستويان

مَن سخطه ورضاه يستويان

Could he control the choice of his own fate,

Could he determine his fate

He whose displeasure and consent came to the same?

When his wrath and pleasure were equal?

ولو استطعنا الأمر ما كنّا عدىً

ولو استطعنا الأمر ما كنّا عدىً

للقوم من أهلٍ ومن جيران

للقوم من أهلٍ ومن جيران

Had the matter been in our power, we would not have been enemies

Had we been able, we would not have oppressed

To those people, our kin and neighbors.

The people, neither kith nor kin.

تصليهم النيران أيدينا وفي

تصليهم النيران أيدينا وفي

أكبادنا نجوى وطول حنان

أكبادنا نجوى وطول حنان

Our hands consign them to the fires, while in

May fire burn their hands, yet fondness and

Our hearts are secret whispers and enduring tenderness.

Longing stir in our hearts.

لم ندر هل كانوا الغزاه لمصر أم

لم ندر هل كانوا الغزاه لمصر أم

حُراسها وحماتها لأوان

حُراسها وحماتها لأوان

We did not know whether they were Egypt's invaders or

We did not know if they were Egypt's invaders or

Her guards and protectors for a time.

Its guards and protectors for a time.

أيّ الفريقين الوفيُّ بوعده

أيّ الفريقين الوفيُّ بوعده

وكلاهما وعد بغير ضمان

وكلاهما وعد بغير ضمان

Which of the two parties kept its promise,

Which of the two parties was loyal to its promise

When both had promised without any guarantee?

When both promised without guarantee?

ولطالما حرم الضعيف نصيبه

ولطالما حرم الضعيف نصيبه

حول الغنائم أقدر الأقران

حول الغنائم أقدر الأقران

How often has the weak been denied his share

Often the weak were denied their share

In the contest over spoils, by the strongest of his peers.

Among the spoils by the most able peers.

كانت غنيمتنا النجاة ولم يكن

كانت غنيمتنا النجاة ولم يكن

طلب النجاة سجية الشجعان

طلب النجاة سجية الشجعان

Our spoil was survival, and it was never

Our booty was survival; seeking survival

The brave man's nature to seek survival.

Was not the nature of the brave.

وهم الذين يرون كل وثيقة

وهم الذين يرون كل وثيقة

من خادع شراً من العدوان

من خادع شراً من العدوان

They are the ones who judge every covenant

They who consider each pact

From a deceiver worse than aggression,

From the deceiver to be evil aggression,

ويرون مبذول العطاء إذا أتى

ويرون مبذول العطاء إذا أتى

بمذلة أدهى من الحرمان

بمذلة أدهى من الحرمان

And regard proffered bounty, when it comes

And giving freely if it comes

With humiliation, as more grievous than deprivation.

With disgrace worse than deprivation.

والمستعين على تناول حقه

والمستعين على تناول حقه

بيدي سواه أحق بالخذلان

بيدي سواه أحق بالخذلان

And whoever seeks help in obtaining his right

And the one helped to attain his due

Through another's hands is more deserving of abandonment.

By other hands is most deserving of abandonment.

حملت حوادث أمس مصر وأين ما

حملت حوادث أمس مصر وأين ما

صنع الرجال لحاضر الحدثان

صنع الرجال لحاضر الحدثان

Yesterday's events carried Egypt along; where is what

The events of yesterday's Egypt bore off, and where are

Men have done for the events of the present?

The deeds of men for the present events?

وعلى شروطهم أصرَّ القوم أم

وعلى شروطهم أصرَّ القوم أم

جاءوا بأمر ليس في الحسبان

جاءوا بأمر ليس في الحسبان

Did the people insist upon their terms, or

Did the party insist on their terms

Did they bring something unforeseen?

Or bring in an order unforeseen?

وأناة مرتقب السوانح ما أرى

وأناة مرتقب السوانح ما أرى

أم حيرة المتردد المتواني

أم حيرة المتردد المتواني

And is what I see the patience of one awaiting favorable chances,

The deliberation of one anticipating tribulations - do I see it

Or the bewilderment of one hesitant and slow to act?

Or the hesitation of the wavering weakling?

إن كان ما أفضى غريمهمُ به

إن كان ما أفضى غريمهمُ به

خيراً فما هي حكمة الكتمان

خيراً فما هي حكمة الكتمان

If what their adversary disclosed

If what their enemy disclosed through it

Was good, then what is the wisdom of concealment?

Was good, what then is the wisdom of concealment?

ولعله المطل الذي شاءت به

ولعله المطل الذي شاءت به

فينا السياسة عادة الكتمان

فينا السياسة عادة الكتمان

Perhaps it is the stalling by which politics has chosen

Perhaps it was the respite the politics willed for us

To make concealment a habit among us.

The habit of concealment.

في مصر يطلب أهل مصر الحق أم

في مصر يطلب أهل مصر الحق أم

في لندن العظمى وفي لوزان

في لندن العظمى وفي لوزان

Is it in Egypt that Egyptians seek their rights, or

In Egypt the people of Egypt seek right, or

In mighty London and in Lausanne?

In mighty London and in Lausanne,

الأرض سائرة إلى الأمدين من

الأرض سائرة إلى الأمدين من

حرية قصوى ومن عمران

حرية قصوى ومن عمران

The earth is advancing toward the two horizons of

The earth moves toward the two eternities

Utmost freedom and flourishing civilization.

Of utmost freedom and prosperity.

فممالك تهتز بعد سكونها

فممالك تهتز بعد سكونها

وممالك تعتز بعد هوان

وممالك تعتز بعد هوان

Kingdoms stir after their stillness,

So kingdoms shake after their calm

And kingdoms grow proud after humiliation.

And kingdoms become honored after humiliation.

قد كنت بالطوفان أول منذر

قد كنت بالطوفان أول منذر

وأنا النذير بعودة الطوفان

وأنا النذير بعودة الطوفان

You were the first to warn of the flood,

I was the first warner with the flood

And I warn of the flood's return.

And I am the warner of the flood's return.

أين الدعاة المخلصون لمصر في

أين الدعاة المخلصون لمصر في

كل الشعوب وسائر البلدان

كل الشعوب وسائر البلدان

Where are Egypt's sincere advocates among

Where are the sincere advocates in Egypt

All peoples and throughout the lands,

Among all the peoples and the countries,

يروون عن آمالها غير الذي

يروون عن آمالها غير الذي

يرويه أهل الإفك والبهتان

يرويه أهل الإفك والبهتان

Who tell of her hopes something other than what

Who recount her hopes, not what

The people of falsehood and slander tell?

The people of slander and calumny recount?

لو كان ما أنا مرتجيه نافذاً

لو كان ما أنا مرتجيه نافذاً

في الأرض كان لها ضمان أمان

في الأرض كان لها ضمان أمان

If what I hope for could prevail

If what I aspire to prevailed

On earth, she would have a guarantee of safety.

In the land, it would have the safeguard of security.

وأقام كلٌّ في ظلال السلم لا

وأقام كلٌّ في ظلال السلم لا

في عهدة الفولاذ والنيران

في عهدة الفولاذ والنيران

And everyone would dwell in the shade of peace, not

And each would live under the shade of peace, not

In the keeping of steel and fire.

Under arms and fire.

والدين في الدنيا المعاملة التي

والدين في الدنيا المعاملة التي

هي كل ما يرجى من الأديان

هي كل ما يرجى من الأديان

And religion in this world is the treatment of others, which

Religion in this world is the treatment which

Is all that is hoped for from religions.

Is all that can be hoped for from faiths.

يا صاحب الشورى وذا الرأي الذي

يا صاحب الشورى وذا الرأي الذي

أغنى عن المقياس والميزان

أغنى عن المقياس والميزان

O man of counsel and possessor of judgment that

O master of counsel, whose view

Dispensed with measuring rod and balance,

Made the scale and measure needless,

ومجاهد الشرقية المثني على

ومجاهد الشرقية المثني على

آثاره الشرقان والغربان

آثاره الشرقان والغربان

And champion of al-Sharqiyya, whose

And fighter of the east praised

Deeds the two Easts and the two Wests extol,

By east and west,

شيخ العشيرة كنت أم شيخ الحمى

شيخ العشيرة كنت أم شيخ الحمى

وابن البلاد أم الأب المتفاني

وابن البلاد أم الأب المتفاني

Were you elder of the clan, or elder of the homeland,

Sheikh of the clan, were you sheikh of the zeal

The country's son, or its selfless father?

Or son of the countries, self-sacrificing father?

شقت على الدستور بعد قيامه

شقت على الدستور بعد قيامه

عنه نواك وأنت أول باني

عنه نواك وأنت أول باني

Hard upon the constitution, after its establishment,

You split partnership after its rise,

Was your parting from it—you, its first builder.

It distressed you though you were its first builder.

وبكاك في نوابه وشيوخه

وبكاك في نوابه وشيوخه

ورثاك في النبلاء والأعيان

ورثاك في النبلاء والأعيان

It wept for you through its deputies and senators,

You wept over its deputies and sheikhs

And mourned you among the nobles and notables.

And you were eulogized among nobles and notables.

وتفقد البطل الذي هو قدوة

وتفقد البطل الذي هو قدوة

للشيب صالحة وللشبان

للشيب صالحة وللشبان

And it missed the hero who is an example,

And the hero who was a model

A worthy one for the gray-haired and the young.

For venerable age and youth was missed.

يا تارك الوادي وقلبك مشفق

يا تارك الوادي وقلبك مشفق

فيه على هذا الأسير العاني

فيه على هذا الأسير العاني

O you who leave the valley, your heart anxious

O you who left the valley while your heart

There for this suffering captive,

Was anxious about this suffering prisoner,

ماذا بنفسك بعد ما فارقته

ماذا بنفسك بعد ما فارقته

غير الذي قدمت من إحسان

غير الذي قدمت من إحسان

What remains in your soul after you have left it,

What of your soul after you left it

Apart from the kindness you bestowed?

Other than what you offered in kindness?

أولى بها وقد اكتفت شغلاً به

أولى بها وقد اكتفت شغلاً به

أن تستريح إليه بعد الآن

أن تستريح إليه بعد الآن

Your soul, having had its fill of care for it, deserves

It deserved, having been sufficiently occupied,

To find repose in that goodness from now on.

To rest in peace afterward.

أوليتني الود القديم فصنته

أوليتني الود القديم فصنته

لك في الفؤاد فكان من أعواني

لك في الفؤاد فكان من أعواني

You bestowed on me a long-standing affection, and I preserved it

You granted me the old affection so I protected it

For you within my heart; it became one of my allies.

For you in my heart, and it became one of my helpers.

وأخذت من أولى صحائفك التي

وأخذت من أولى صحائفك التي

للخير أول مبدئي وبياني

للخير أول مبدئي وبياني

And I drew from the earliest of your pages, those

And I took from the first of your pages

Devoted to goodness, my first principles and words.

Which faced good, my first principles and manifesto.

أنطقتني بعد السكوت ليالياً

أنطقتني بعد السكوت ليالياً

حبست جناني قبل حبس لساني

حبست جناني قبل حبس لساني

You made me speak after nights of silence

You gave me speech after silence, nights

That had imprisoned my heart before imprisoning my tongue.

When my soul was confined before my tongue was confined.

مضنى كلانا في البلاد وما الضنى

مضنى كلانا في البلاد وما الضنى

أنساك واجبها ولا أنساني

أنساك واجبها ولا أنساني

We are both ailing in the land, but illness

Both of us were burdened in the countries, and no burden

Did not make you forget your duty to it, nor me mine.

Made me forget its duty or humanity.

وأجل من ملك النفوس رعاية

وأجل من ملك النفوس رعاية

من قام بالمعروف والعرفان

من قام بالمعروف والعرفان

And noblest of those who have won souls through care

And the greatest care of souls was to care

Is he who has practiced kindness and gratitude.

For who stood for virtue and grace.

الحق فوق الشيعتين أردته

الحق فوق الشيعتين أردته

غير الذي قدمت من قربان

غير الذي قدمت من قربان

Truth stands above both factions; I sought it,

The truth above both parties I wanted it

Beyond the offering I have presented.

Other than what you offered in sacrifice.

هل لي مكان في السماء لعلني

هل لي مكان في السماء لعلني

ألقى رفاقي غير أهل زماني

ألقى رفاقي غير أهل زماني

Is there a place for me in heaven, where perhaps

Do I have a place in the sky that I may

I may meet my companions, not the people of my age,

Meet my companions unlike the people of my time?

وأفر من مستكبرين تجاهلوا

وأفر من مستكبرين تجاهلوا

ذكري وعادوا ينكرون عياني

ذكري وعادوا ينكرون عياني

And flee the arrogant, who ignored

And escape the arrogant who ignored

My name, then began denying my very presence?

My memory and resumed denying my presence?

أعليّ يجني من إليه مودتي

أعليّ يجني من إليه مودتي

ويزيد همي من به سلواني

ويزيد همي من به سلواني

Does one to whom my love is given wrong me,

He from whom I want love profits me

And one in whom I find solace increase my sorrow?

And he by whom I am troubled increases my worries.

أنا غاضب للشعب والوادي فمن

أنا غاضب للشعب والوادي فمن

أرضاهما يوماً فقد أرضاني

أرضاهما يوماً فقد أرضاني

I am angry for the people and the valley; whoever

I was angry for the people and the valley, so whoever

Has ever pleased them both has pleased me.

Once pleased them pleased me.