يوم الجزيرة أنت يوم الوادي

يوم الجزيرة أنت يوم الوادي

دار الزمان وعدت خير ميعادِ

دار الزمان وعدت خير ميعادِ

O Day of the Island, you are the Valley’s day

O day of al-Jazira, you are the Valley's day.

Time has completed its circuit, and you have returned—the best appointed day

Time has turned, and you have returned at the finest appointed hour.

وممثلاً أرض الحمى وسماءه

وممثلاً أرض الحمى وسماءه

في ذات أطناب وذات عماد

في ذات أطناب وذات عماد

Your counterparts are the homeland’s earth and sky

And representing the homeland's earth and sky,

Amid taut tent ropes and towering pillars

In structures with tent ropes and structures with pillars.

فئة من الأسواق فيك عظيمة

فئة من الأسواق فيك عظيمة

أم فيك طائفة من الأعياد

أم فيك طائفة من الأعياد

Do you contain one mighty fair,

Is yours a mighty gathering of markets,

Or a whole constellation of festivals?

Or is yours a company of festivals?

حيتك ألوية السلام منيفة

حيتك ألوية السلام منيفة

وسقتك طهر روائح وغوادي

وسقتك طهر روائح وغوادي

The banners of peace saluted you from on high,

Lofty banners of peace have greeted you,

And purity watered you with evening and morning rains

And pure evening and morning rainclouds have watered you.

وبدت عياناً فيك حجة أمة

وبدت عياناً فيك حجة أمة

مصدوقة الأعيان والإشهاد

مصدوقة الأعيان والإشهاد

In you a nation’s proof appeared in plain sight,

And in you a nation's claim appeared plainly,

Attested by its eminent men and by witnesses

Confirmed by tangible evidence and testimony.

وأقر ماطلها الغريم بكل ما

وأقر ماطلها الغريم بكل ما

شاءت من الحق الصحيح البادي

شاءت من الحق الصحيح البادي

Its dilatory debtor conceded everything

And the adversary who had stalled her acknowledged all

That manifest, forthright right demanded

She desired of her true and manifest right.

ورأى لمصر الغربُ بعد تنازع

ورأى لمصر الغربُ بعد تنازع

عهدَ الرفاق وواجب الأنداد

عهدَ الرفاق وواجب الأنداد

After contention, the West saw that Egypt’s welfare lay

And after contention, the West recognized for Egypt

In the covenant of comrades and the duty of equals

The pact of comrades and the obligation owed to equals.

بلغت مدى استقلالها من بعد ما

بلغت مدى استقلالها من بعد ما

خرجت من الأغلال والأصفاد

خرجت من الأغلال والأصفاد

She attained the full extent of independence after

She attained the full reach of her independence after

Emerging from shackles and fetters

Emerging from shackles and fetters.

وتريد سلماً أن تنال من العلا

وتريد سلماً أن تنال من العلا

ما لا يُنال بقوة الأجناد

ما لا يُنال بقوة الأجناد

Through peace she seeks to attain heights

And seeks in peace to attain of eminence

Beyond the power of armies to attain

What cannot be attained by the strength of armies.

لطف القضاء وهان فيك فلم يكن

لطف القضاء وهان فيك فلم يكن

ذاك الضرام سوى المنار الهادي

ذاك الضرام سوى المنار الهادي

Fate dealt gently, and what befell you was light: that blaze was nothing

Fate was kind and gentle with you, so

But a beacon showing the way

That blaze was only a guiding beacon.

وتجاوز الركب الطريق ولم يصب

وتجاوز الركب الطريق ولم يصب

خطبُ الحريق سوى رداء الحادي

خطبُ الحريق سوى رداء الحادي

The caravan passed along the road, and the calamity of fire struck

And the caravan traversed the road, and nothing was struck

Nothing but the caravan-leader’s cloak

By the fire's calamity except the camel-driver's cloak.

من نار نورك ذلك المقدور لا

من نار نورك ذلك المقدور لا

من غيظ حسّادٍ وكيد أعادي

من غيظ حسّادٍ وكيد أعادي

That destined event came from the fire of your light—not

That destined event came from the fire of your light, not

From the malice of enviers or scheming foes

From the fury of enviers and the scheming of foes.

عادت سلاماً فاطمأنت أنفسٌ

عادت سلاماً فاطمأنت أنفسٌ

فزعت من الإبراق والإرعاد

فزعت من الإبراق والإرعاد

It turned to peace, and souls grew calm,

It became peace, and souls grew reassured

Stripped of lightning flashes and thunderous threats

That had been frightened by lightning and thunder.

إن راح بعضك للجميع فدىً فقد

إن راح بعضك للجميع فدىً فقد

رد الزمان إليك ذاك الفادي

رد الزمان إليك ذاك الفادي

If part of you went as ransom for all,

If part of you was lost as ransom for the whole, then

Time restored that redeemer to you

Time has restored to you that self-sacrificing part.

ولئن بعدت ليالياً عشراً فقد

ولئن بعدت ليالياً عشراً فقد

قرَّبتَ آلافاً من الآماد

قرَّبتَ آلافاً من الآماد

Though you remained distant for ten nights,

And though you were absent for ten nights, you have

You brought thousands of far horizons near

Drawn thousands of far-off reaches near.

وسعَ الذي استودعته ميل وما

وسعَ الذي استودعته ميل وما

تحويه ملء حواضر وبوادي

تحويه ملء حواضر وبوادي

A single mile contained what you entrusted to it, though all

A mile contained what was entrusted to you, yet what

It held would fill cities and open country

You hold would fill cities and countrysides.

لو قُدِّرت هذي النفائس لم تدع

لو قُدِّرت هذي النفائس لم تدع

جيلاً يضيق بأزمةٍ وكساد

جيلاً يضيق بأزمةٍ وكساد

Had these treasures been truly valued, they would have left no

If these treasures were duly valued, they would not leave

Generation constricted by crises and stagnation

A generation distressed by crisis and stagnation.

طافت بها زُمَرُ الوفود كأنما

طافت بها زُمَرُ الوفود كأنما

جبريل فيها بالخلود ينادي

جبريل فيها بالخلود ينادي

Delegations circled around them as though

Groups of delegations circled them, as though

Gabriel were proclaiming immortality there

Gabriel were proclaiming immortality among them.

وكأنما من كل فاكهة دنت

وكأنما من كل فاكهة دنت

شِبع وما قطفت من الأعواد

شِبع وما قطفت من الأعواد

As though fruit of every kind hung low,

And as though from every fruit there came within reach

Enough to sate, though none was plucked from the boughs

A satisfying portion, though none was plucked from the boughs.

وكأن كل مشاهد مما رأى

وكأن كل مشاهد مما رأى

ظفرت يداه بمطلب ومراد

ظفرت يداه بمطلب ومراد

As though every spectator, from all he saw,

And as though every spectator, from what he saw,

Had achieved his wish and won his desire

Had laid his hands on what he sought and desired.

وكأن نوحاً عاد فيك بفلكه

وكأن نوحاً عاد فيك بفلكه

ضخمَ المراسي ثابتَ الأوتاد

ضخمَ المراسي ثابتَ الأوتاد

As though Noah returned to you in his ark,

And as though Noah had returned in you with his ark,

Vast at its moorings, its stakes made fast

With mighty anchors and firmly set stakes.

يا حبذا مرح السوائم وهي في

يا حبذا مرح السوائم وهي في

دعة الألوف وطاعة المنقاد

دعة الألوف وطاعة المنقاد

How delightful the livestock’s frolicking as they enjoy

How lovely the frolicking of grazing beasts, living in

The ease of the tame and obedience to the hand that leads

The repose of the tame and obedience of the docile.

لو لم يرضْ هذا النعيم طباعها

لو لم يرضْ هذا النعيم طباعها

لغدت لقوَّتها من الآساد

لغدت لقوَّتها من الآساد

Had this bliss not appeased their natures,

Had this comfort not tamed their natures,

Their strength would have made them lions

Their strength would have placed them among the lions.

والطير بين الدوح بين ثماره

والطير بين الدوح بين ثماره

لترنُّم ولزينة ولزاد

لترنُّم ولزينة ولزاد

And the birds amid the trees and their fruits are there

And birds amid the great trees, amid their fruits,

For song, adornment, and increase

For song, for ornament, and for food.

في نهضة الزراع والصناع ما

في نهضة الزراع والصناع ما

ضمن العلوَّ لأمتي وبلادي

ضمن العلوَّ لأمتي وبلادي

In the rise of farmers and craftsmen lies

In the rise of farmers and artisans lies what

The guarantee of eminence for my nation and my land

Has secured eminence for my nation and my land.

القائمين بباهر الأعمال في

القائمين بباهر الأعمال في

نور العقول وصحة الأجساد

نور العقول وصحة الأجساد

Those who fashion radiant works, with

Those carrying out splendid works in

Enlightened minds and healthy bodies

The light of minds and the health of bodies.

أبقى وأفضل من أداة محاربٍ

أبقى وأفضل من أداة محاربٍ

في كل دهر آلةُ الحصَّاد

في كل دهر آلةُ الحصَّاد

More enduring and excellent than a warrior’s weapon

More enduring and better than a warrior's equipment,

In every age is the implement of harvest

In every age, is the reaper's tool.

وصناعة المحراث خير ممهدٍ

وصناعة المحراث خير ممهدٍ

لصناعة الطرّاد والمنطاد

لصناعة الطرّاد والمنطاد

And making the plow is the best preparation

And the making of the plough is the best preparation

For making warships and airships

For the making of the cruiser and the airship.

وأحبُّ من مجرى السوابق جدول

وأحبُّ من مجرى السوابق جدول

ينساب بين متالع ووهاد

ينساب بين متالع ووهاد

Dearer than thoroughbreds upon the racecourse is a stream

And dearer than the racecourse is a stream

Flowing between uplands and hollows

Flowing between uplands and hollows.

أيدي البناة لهائل الأهرام أم

أيدي البناة لهائل الأهرام أم

أيدي بناة المعرض الأمجاد

أيدي بناة المعرض الأمجاد

Were these the builders’ hands that raised the awesome pyramids, or

Are these the hands that built the mighty pyramids, or

The glorious hands that built the exhibition?

The hands of the exhibition's illustrious builders?

بلغوا به في كل فنٍّ غايةً

بلغوا به في كل فنٍّ غايةً

وكذا يكون مصير كل جهاد

وكذا يكون مصير كل جهاد

In every craft they brought it to perfection,

Through it they reached a pinnacle in every art,

And thus should every endeavor end

And such is the outcome of every striving.

وهم استغلوا كل نبتٍ في الثرى

وهم استغلوا كل نبتٍ في الثرى

واستخدموا في الأرض كل جماد

واستخدموا في الأرض كل جماد

They put every plant in the soil to use,

And they put every plant in the soil to use,

And enlisted every inanimate thing upon the earth

And employed every inanimate thing in the earth.

من كل موجود مثالٌ شاهد

من كل موجود مثالٌ شاهد

بتأهُّبٍ للشعب واستعداد

بتأهُّبٍ للشعب واستعداد

Of every created thing, a model bears witness

Of everything that exists, an example bears witness

To the people’s readiness and preparation

To the people's preparedness and readiness.

يا بهجة الوادي وراحة أهله

يا بهجة الوادي وراحة أهله

بعد اطِّراد حوادث وعوادي

بعد اطِّراد حوادث وعوادي

O delight of the Valley and comfort of its people,

O joy of the Valley and comfort of its people,

After an unbroken succession of disasters and assaults

After a succession of calamities and adversities.

ما فيك شيء للغريب سوى الذي

ما فيك شيء للغريب سوى الذي

للوافد المطري وللمرتاد

للوافد المطري وللمرتاد

Nothing in you is reserved for the foreigner beyond what is offered

There is nothing in you for the stranger except what

To the Egyptian visitor and every seeker

Is for the visiting admirer and the explorer.

فسرت تاريخ البلاد مقدساً

فسرت تاريخ البلاد مقدساً

ضخم الرواية محكم الإسناد

ضخم الرواية محكم الإسناد

You expounded the country’s history as something sacred,

You expounded the country's history as sacred,

Vast in narration and sound in transmission

Vast in narrative, firm in its chain of testimony.

وشرحت للشعب الكريم فنونه

وشرحت للشعب الكريم فنونه

شرح النقيب الحاسب النقّاد

شرح النقيب الحاسب النقّاد

And explained its arts to the noble people

And explained to the noble people their arts,

Like a discerning examiner, calculating and critical

With the exposition of an overseer, reckoner, and discerning critic.

إن لم تكن سبباً لرهبة معتد

إن لم تكن سبباً لرهبة معتد

كنت السبيل إلى رضى ووداد

كنت السبيل إلى رضى ووداد

If you do not make an aggressor afraid,

If you did not inspire an aggressor's fear,

You are the path to contentment and amity

You were the path to satisfaction and affection.

جمعية أم تلك مملكة علت

جمعية أم تلك مملكة علت

برعاية الملك الكريم فؤاد

برعاية الملك الكريم فؤاد

Is this a cooperative society, or a kingdom risen high

Is that a society, or a kingdom risen high

Under the care of the gracious King Fuad?

Under the patronage of the noble King Fuad?

قام الحسين بها لمصر فأصبحت

قام الحسين بها لمصر فأصبحت

بيدي كمال الدين خير عتاد

بيدي كمال الدين خير عتاد

Husayn arose there for Egypt, and it became

Al-Husayn undertook it for Egypt, and it became

In Kamal al-Din’s hands, the finest equipment

In Kamal al-Din's hands the finest provision.

لا تطمئن إلى الزمان جماعة

لا تطمئن إلى الزمان جماعة

إلا بفضل تعاون الأفراد

إلا بفضل تعاون الأفراد

No community can feel secure against time

No community can rest secure in the face of time

Except through the virtue of its members’ cooperation

Except through the cooperation of individuals.

الشعب يعمل والبقاع خصيبة

الشعب يعمل والبقاع خصيبة

والنيل فيها فائض متمادي

والنيل فيها فائض متمادي

The people labor and the tracts are fertile,

The people work, and the lands are fertile,

And through them the Nile overflows without end

And through them the Nile overflows and flows on.

يا معرض الوادي ومظهر عزه

يا معرض الوادي ومظهر عزه

وجهاده المتتابع المتمادي

وجهاده المتتابع المتمادي

O Exhibition of the Valley, display of its pride

O exhibition of the Valley, display of its glory

And of its continuous, far-reaching striving

And of its successive, unceasing striving,

صبّحت مصر لقاء مؤتمر بها

صبّحت مصر لقاء مؤتمر بها

فخم فكنت طليعة الإمداد

فخم فكنت طليعة الإمداد

You greeted Egypt there at the meeting of a congress,

You greeted Egypt in the morning as a congress met within her,

Magnificent—and you stood at the forefront of support

A grand congress; you were the vanguard of support.

جمع الصفوف لكل أمر بعد ما

جمع الصفوف لكل أمر بعد ما

حسم النزاع وماضيَ الأحقاد

حسم النزاع وماضيَ الأحقاد

It united the ranks for every undertaking after

It united the ranks for every undertaking after

Ending conflict and old rancor

Ending disputes and old resentments.

وغدا شفيع الدهر بعد وقائع

وغدا شفيع الدهر بعد وقائع

هوج على البلد الأمين شداد

هوج على البلد الأمين شداد

Time became an intercessor after fierce events,

And became time's intercessor after upheavals

Violent and harsh against the secure land

Wild and harsh upon the secure land.

وأتاح للشعب القضاء لنفسه

وأتاح للشعب القضاء لنفسه

بالعدل بعد الوعد والإيعاد

بالعدل بعد الوعد والإيعاد

It granted the people judgment for themselves,

And enabled the people to judge for themselves

With justice, after promises and threats

With justice, after promises and threats.

وأتت من الأرض الجديدة نفحة

وأتت من الأرض الجديدة نفحة

جلت مآثرها عن التعداد

جلت مآثرها عن التعداد

And from the new land came a benefaction

And from the new land came a breath of generosity,

Whose noble deeds transcend all counting

Whose benefactions were beyond counting.

هبة الكريم لمجد مصر قديمه

هبة الكريم لمجد مصر قديمه

وحديثه ولطارف وتلاد

وحديثه ولطارف وتلاد

The generous one’s gift to Egypt’s glory, old

A generous man's gift to Egypt's glory, both ancient

And new—to what was newly won and long inherited

And modern, and to its new and inherited treasures.

حيّا بها آثار مصر مكرِّماً

حيّا بها آثار مصر مكرِّماً

فضل الجدود وعزة الأحفاد

فضل الجدود وعزة الأحفاد

Through it he revived Egypt’s monuments, honoring

With it he saluted Egypt's monuments, honoring

The ancestors’ merit and the descendants’ pride

The merit of the forefathers and the glory of their descendants.

جاءت وفي الوادي شواغل جمة

جاءت وفي الوادي شواغل جمة

برء القلوب وراحة الأكباد

برء القلوب وراحة الأكباد

It came while the Valley had countless cares,

It came when the Valley had many cares,

As balm for hearts and solace for troubled breasts

A healing for hearts and relief for livers.

ذكرت فأَوَّلها الحسود وفصلت

ذكرت فأَوَّلها الحسود وفصلت

فقضت على عنت له وعناد

فقضت على عنت له وعناد

It was spoken of; the envious man first interpreted and elaborated it,

It was mentioned, and the envious man misconstrued it; it was explained,

But it put an end to his vexation and stubbornness

So it put an end to his obstruction and obstinacy.

للذكر والتاريخ هذا المال لا

للذكر والتاريخ هذا المال لا

لتجارةٍ وهوىً ولا لنفاد

لتجارةٍ وهوىً ولا لنفاد

This wealth is for remembrance and history, not

This money is for remembrance and history, not

For commerce, caprice, or depletion

For commerce or caprice, nor to be exhausted.

دين لمصر على الشعوب قضاه من

دين لمصر على الشعوب قضاه من

دان الشعوب مرافقاً وأيادي

دان الشعوب مرافقاً وأيادي

A debt owed to Egypt, whose repayment is incumbent upon the nations—

A debt owed to Egypt by the peoples, repaid by one who

Public works and benefactions have left those nations indebted

Had made the peoples indebted through benefits and favors.

لم يشترط في الجود غير قبوله

لم يشترط في الجود غير قبوله

ورضا بلاد برة وعباد

ورضا بلاد برة وعباد

In generosity, he stipulated nothing but that it be accepted,

He stipulated no condition on his generosity except its acceptance

And win the goodwill of lands, their countryside, and their people

And the satisfaction of a virtuous land and its people.

أغنى ملوك المال أعدَلُهُمْ يداً

أغنى ملوك المال أعدَلُهُمْ يداً

في البذل بين قرابة وبعاد

في البذل بين قرابة وبعاد

Of wealthy kings, the richest is the most even-handed

The richest of wealth's kings is he whose hand is fairest

In giving among kindred and strangers

In giving to kin and strangers.

دين المروءة عنده المرعيُّ لا

دين المروءة عنده المرعيُّ لا

دين الغلاة ومذهب العبّاد

دين الغلاة ومذهب العبّاد

For him, the honored creed is magnanimity—not

With him, the creed of magnanimity is the one observed, not

The sect of zealots or the doctrine of mere worshipers

The creed of zealots and the doctrine of devout worshippers.

تبقى خزائن مصر وهي لأهلها

تبقى خزائن مصر وهي لأهلها

عجب الوجود وثروة الآباد

عجب الوجود وثروة الآباد

Egypt’s treasuries endure, and for her people they are

Egypt's treasure houses endure; for her people they are

The marvel of existence and the wealth of ages

The marvel of existence and the wealth of ages.

العلم ميدان الشعوب وإنما

العلم ميدان الشعوب وإنما

للنافعين مكانة القواد

للنافعين مكانة القواد

Knowledge is the arena of nations, and none

Knowledge is the arena of peoples, and only

Hold the rank of leaders but those who benefit others

Those who benefit others hold the rank of leaders.

والبغي بين الناس ليس طبيعة

والبغي بين الناس ليس طبيعة

لو كان في الإنسان بعض رشاد

لو كان في الإنسان بعض رشاد

Oppression among peoples is no natural law,

And oppression among people would not be natural

If humankind possesses any sound judgment

If humankind had any sound judgment.

ليس القلوب بمستطاع ملكها

ليس القلوب بمستطاع ملكها

وإن استُطيعَ تملُّكُ الأجياد

وإن استُطيعَ تملُّكُ الأجياد

Hearts cannot be possessed,

Hearts cannot be possessed,

Even if fine steeds can be possessed

Even if necks can be owned.

وطني المقدس عرضيَ الغالي وما

وطني المقدس عرضيَ الغالي وما

لتحكُّمٍ عرضي ولا استعباد

لتحكُّمٍ عرضي ولا استعباد

My sacred homeland is my precious honor, and there shall be

My sacred homeland is my precious honor, and not

No sovereign over my honor, no enslavement

For domination or enslavement is my honor.

حريتي ولو اغتديت ودونها

حريتي ولو اغتديت ودونها

ملقى صِفاحٍ واشتباكَ صعاد

ملقى صِفاحٍ واشتباكَ صعاد

My freedom—even if behind it lurk

My freedom—even if I set out at dawn to find before it

Humbled blades and clashing spears

Clashing sword blades and interlocked spears.

يا أمة الوادي تحية مخلص

يا أمة الوادي تحية مخلص

بحياته للمخلصين جواد

بحياته للمخلصين جواد

O nation of the Valley, accept a sincere man’s greeting,

O nation of the Valley, a sincere man's greeting,

From one who lavishes his life for every sincere soul

One who gives his life freely to the sincere.

واسيتِ بالنعمى دمشق ونبَّهتْ

واسيتِ بالنعمى دمشق ونبَّهتْ

دعواتُكِ الكبرى بني بغداد

دعواتُكِ الكبرى بني بغداد

Share your blessings with Damascus and her notables,

You consoled Damascus with bounty, and awakened

And your highest prayers with the sons of Baghdad

By your great appeals were the sons of Baghdad.

كلُّ الأمور إلى حماك مصيرها

كلُّ الأمور إلى حماك مصيرها

وأنا الكفيل بصادق الميعاد

وأنا الكفيل بصادق الميعاد

All affairs find their destiny in your sanctuary,

All affairs find their destination in your sanctuary,

And I guarantee that the sincere promise will be fulfilled

And I am the guarantor of the true promise.