نَجاsurvived وَتَماثَلَand recovered رُبّانُهاher captain
نَجا وَتَماثَلَ رُبّانُها
وَدَقَّand sounded البَشائِرَthe glad tidings رُكبانُهاher passengers
وَدَقَّ البَشائِرَ رُكبانُها
Her captain survived and recovered,
and her passengers sounded the glad tidings.
وَهَلَّلَand proclaimed God's oneness فيin الجَوِّthe air قَيدومُهاher prow
وَهَلَّلَ في الجَوِّ قَيدومُها
وَكَبَّرَand proclaimed God's greatness فيin الماءِthe water سُكّانُهاher rudder
وَكَبَّرَ في الماءِ سُكّانُها
Her prow cried 'There is no god but God' in the air,
and her rudder cried 'God is greatest' in the water.
تَحَوَّلَturned away عَنهاfrom her الأَذىharm وَاِنثَنىand receded
تَحَوَّلَ عَنها الأَذى وَاِنثَنى
عُبابُthe surge of الخُطوبِcalamities وَطوفانُهاand their deluge
عُبابُ الخُطوبِ وَطوفانُها
Harm turned away from her, and receded
the surge of calamities and their deluge.
نَجاescaped نوحُهاher Noah مِنfrom يَدِthe hand of المُعتَديthe aggressor
نَجا نوحُها مِن يَدِ المُعتَدي
وَضَلَّand missed المُقاتِلَthe vital spots عُدوانُهاthe aggression against her
وَضَلَّ المُقاتِلَ عُدوانُها
Her Noah escaped the aggressor's hand,
and the assault on her missed the vital spots.
يَدٌa favor لِلعِنايَةِfrom Providence لاnot يَنقَضيcomes to an end
يَدٌ لِلعِنايَةِ لا يَنقَضي
وَإِنand even if نَفَدَis spent العُمرُlife شُكرانُهاgratitude for it
وَإِن نَفَدَ العُمرُ شُكرانُها
A hand of Providence: never shall cease,
though life be spent, the gratitude due to it.
وَقىprotected الأَرضَthe earth شَرَّthe evil of مَقاديرِهِHis decrees
وَقى الأَرضَ شَرَّ مَقاديرِهِ
لَطيفُthe Gracious One of السَماءِheaven وَرَحمانُهاand its All-Merciful
لَطيفُ السَماءِ وَرَحمانُها
The earth was shielded from the evil of His decrees
by heaven's Gracious One, its All-Merciful.
وَنَجّىand delivered الكِنانَةَKinana (Egypt) مِنfrom فِتنَةٍa strife
وَنَجّى الكِنانَةَ مِن فِتنَةٍ
تَهَدَّدَتِthreatened النيلَthe Nile نيرانُهاits fires
تَهَدَّدَتِ النيلَ نيرانُها
He delivered Kinana from a strife
whose fires threatened the Nile;
يَسيلُflows عَلىalong قَرنِthe horn of شَيطانِهاits devil
يَسيلُ عَلى قَرنِ شَيطانِها
عَقيقُthe carnelian of الدِماءِblood وَعِقيانِهاand her pure gold
عَقيقُ الدِماءِ وَعِقيانِها
along its devil's horn flow
the carnelian of blood and her pure gold.
فَياso O سَعدُSaad جُرحُكَyour wound ساءَgrieved الرِجالَmen
فَيا سَعدُ جُرحُكَ ساءَ الرِجالَ
فَلاso may not جُرِحَتbe wounded فيكَin you أَوطانُهاtheir homelands
فَلا جُرِحَت فيكَ أَوطانُها
O Saad, your wound grieved men;
so may their homelands never be wounded in you.
وَقَتكَprotected you العِنايَةُProvidence بِالراحَتَينِwith both palms
وَقَتكَ العِنايَةُ بِالراحَتَينِ
وَطَوَّقَand encircled جيدَكَyour neck إِحسانُهاits bounty
وَطَوَّقَ جيدَكَ إِحسانُها
Providence shielded you with both palms,
and its bounty garlanded your neck.
مَناياdeadly fates أَبىrefused اللَهُGod إِذwhen ساوَرَتكَthey assailed you
مَنايا أَبى اللَهُ إِذ ساوَرَتكَ
فَلَمso did not يَلقَfind نابَيهِits two fangs ثُعبانُهاtheir serpent
فَلَم يَلقَ نابَيهِ ثُعبانُها
Deadly fates—God refused them when they assailed you,
so their serpent did not find its two fangs.
حَوَتheld دَمَكَyour blood الأَرضُthe earth فيin أَنفِهاher nose
حَوَت دَمَكَ الأَرضُ في أَنفِها
زَكِيّاًfragrant كَأَنَّكَas though you were عُثمانُهاher Uthman
زَكِيّاً كَأَنَّكَ عُثمانُها
The earth held your blood in her nostrils,
fragrant, as though you were her Uthman.
وَرَقَّتand was moved لِآثارِهِby its traces فيon القَميصِthe shirt
وَرَقَّت لِآثارِهِ في القَميصِ
كَأَنَّas though قَميصَكَyour shirt قُرآنُهاher Quran
كَأَنَّ قَميصَكَ قُرآنُها
She was moved by its traces on the shirt,
as though your shirt were her Quran.
وَريعَتand were alarmed كَماjust as ريعَتِwas alarmed الأَرضُthe earth فيكَfor you
وَريعَت كَما ريعَتِ الأَرضُ فيكَ
نَواحيthe regions of السَماءِheaven وَأَعنانُهاand its heights
نَواحي السَماءِ وَأَعنانُها
And, as earth was alarmed for you, so were
heaven's regions and its heights.
وَلَوand had زُلتَyou departed غُيَّبَwould have been lost عَمرُوthe Amr of الأُمورِstatecraft
وَلَو زُلتَ غُيَّبَ عَمرُو الأُمورِ
وَأَخلىand would have emptied المَنابِرَthe pulpits سَحبانُهاits Sahban
وَأَخلى المَنابِرَ سَحبانُها
Had you departed, the Amr of statecraft would have been lost,
and its Sahban would have left the pulpits empty.
رَماكَshot you عَلىat غِرَّةٍan unguarded moment يافِعٌa youth
رَماكَ عَلى غِرَّةٍ يافِعٌ
مُثارُagitated in السَريرَةِthe inner self غَضبانُهاenraged within it
مُثارُ السَريرَةِ غَضبانُها
A youth shot you unawares,
agitated and enraged in his inmost heart.
وَقِدماًand from of old أَحاطَتsurrounded بِأَهلِthose in charge of الأُمورِaffairs
وَقِدماً أَحاطَت بِأَهلِ الأُمورِ
مُيولُthe inclinations of النُفوسِsouls وَأَضغانُهاand their rancors
مُيولُ النُفوسِ وَأَضغانُها
Long have those who govern been beset
by souls' inclinations and their rancors.
تَلَمَّسَsought نَفسَكَyour life بَينَamong الصُفوفِthe ranks
تَلَمَّسَ نَفسَكَ بَينَ الصُفوفِ
وَمِنand from دونِbefore نَفسِكَyour soul إيمانُهاits faith
وَمِن دونِ نَفسِكَ إيمانُها
He sought your life among the ranks,
but your soul's faith stood in its defense.
يُريدُhe wants الأُمورَaffairs كَماas شاءَهاhe wished them
يُريدُ الأُمورَ كَما شاءَها
وَتَأبىbut refuse الأُمورُaffairs وَسُلطانُهاand their Sovereign
وَتَأبى الأُمورُ وَسُلطانُها
He wants affairs to be as he wishes them,
but affairs and their Sovereign refuse.
وَعِندَand with الَّذيHim who قَهَرَsubdued القَيصَرَينِthe two Caesars
وَعِندَ الَّذي قَهَرَ القَيصَرَينِ
مَصيرُthe outcome of الأُمورِaffairs وَأَحيانُهاand their appointed times
مَصيرُ الأُمورِ وَأَحيانُها
And with Him who subdued the two Caesars
lie the outcome of affairs and their appointed times.
وَلَوand had لَمnot يُسابِقraced ahead of دُروسَthe lessons of الحَياةِlife
وَلَو لَم يُسابِق دُروسَ الحَياةِ
لَبَصَّرَهُwould have shown him الرُشدَsound judgment لُقمانُهاits Luqman
لَبَصَّرَهُ الرُشدَ لُقمانُها
Had he not raced ahead of life's lessons,
its Luqman would have shown him sound judgment.
فَإِنَّfor indeed اللَياليthe nights عَلَيهاthrough them يَحولُchanges
فَإِنَّ اللَيالي عَلَيها يَحولُ
شُعورُthe feelings of النُفوسِsouls وَوُجدانُهاand their inner awareness
شُعورُ النُفوسِ وَوُجدانُها
For as the nights pass, there change
the feelings of souls and their inner awareness.
وَيَختَلِفُand changes الدَهرُtime حَتّىuntil يَبينَare distinguished
وَيَختَلِفُ الدَهرُ حَتّى يَبينَ
رُعاةُthe keepers of العُهودِcovenants وَخُوّانُهاand their betrayers
رُعاةُ العُهودِ وَخُوّانُها
And time changes until there stand revealed
the keepers of covenants and their betrayers.
أَرىI see مِصرَEgypt يَلهوtoy بِحَدِّwith the edge of السِلاحِweapons
أَرى مِصرَ يَلهو بِحَدِّ السِلاحِ
وَيَلعَبُand play بِالنارِwith fire وِلدانُهاher children
وَيَلعَبُ بِالنارِ وِلدانُها
I see Egypt: toying with weapons' edges
and playing with fire are her children.
وَراحَand began بِغَيرِoutside مَجالِthe bounds of العُقولِminds
وَراحَ بِغَيرِ مَجالِ العُقولِ
يُجيلُmaneuver السِياسَةَpolitics غُلمانُهاher boys
يُجيلُ السِياسَةَ غُلمانُها
And outside the bounds of reason,
her boys have taken to maneuvering politics.
وَماand not القَتلُkilling تَحياlives عَلَيهِon it البِلادُthe country
وَما القَتلُ تَحيا عَلَيهِ البِلادُ
وَلاnor هِمَّةُthe fervor of القَولِspeech عُمرانُهاits prosperity
وَلا هِمَّةُ القَولِ عُمرانُها
Killing is not what keeps a country alive,
nor does fervor in speech build it up.
وَلاnor الحُكمُgovernance أَنthat تَنقَضيpasses away دَولَةٌa regime
وَلا الحُكمُ أَن تَنقَضي دَولَةٌ
وَتُقبِلَand arrives أُخرىanother وَأَعوانُهاand its supporters
وَتُقبِلَ أُخرى وَأَعوانُها
Nor is governance one regime's passing
and another's arrival with its supporters.
وَلَكِنbut عَلىthrough الجَيشِthe army تَقوىgrows strong البِلادُthe country
وَلَكِن عَلى الجَيشِ تَقوى البِلادُ
وَبِالعِلمِand through knowledge تَشتَدُّgrow firm أَركانُهاits pillars
وَبِالعِلمِ تَشتَدُّ أَركانُها
Rather, through the army the country grows strong,
and through knowledge its pillars grow firm.
فَأَينَso where النُبوغُgenius وَأَينَand where العُلومُthe sciences
فَأَينَ النُبوغُ وَأَينَ العُلومُ
وَأَينَand where الفُنونُthe arts وَإِتقانُهاand their mastery
وَأَينَ الفُنونُ وَإِتقانُها
Where, then, is genius, and where are the sciences?
And where are the arts and their mastery?
وَأَينَand where مِنof الخُلقِvirtue حَظُّthe share of البِلادِthe country
وَأَينَ مِن الخُلقِ حَظُّ البِلادِ
إِذاif قَتَلَkill الشيبَthe gray-haired شُبّانُهاits young men
إِذا قَتَلَ الشيبَ شُبّانُها
And what share of virtue has the country
if its young men kill the gray-haired?
وَأَينَand where مِنَof الرِبحِgain قِسطُthe share of الرِجالِmen
وَأَينَ مِنَ الرِبحِ قِسطُ الرِجالِ
إِذاif كانَis فيin الخُلقِcharacter خُسرانُهاtheir loss
إِذا كانَ في الخُلقِ خُسرانُها
And where is men's share of gain
if their loss lies in character?
وَأَينَand where المُعَلِّمُthe teacher ماwhat خَطبُهُhis plight
وَأَينَ المُعَلِّمُ ما خَطبُهُ
وَأَينَand where المَدارِسُthe schools ماwhat شَأنُهاtheir condition
وَأَينَ المَدارِسُ ما شَأنُها
And where is the teacher—what has befallen him?
And where are the schools—what is their condition?
لَقَدindeed عَبَثَتtrifled بِالنِياقِwith the she-camels الحُداةُthe camel-drivers
لَقَد عَبَثَت بِالنِياقِ الحُداةُ
وَنامَand slept عَنِneglecting الإِبلِthe camels رُعيانُهاtheir herdsmen
وَنامَ عَنِ الإِبلِ رُعيانُها
Indeed, the camel-drivers have trifled with the she-camels,
and their herdsmen have slept, neglecting the camels.
إِلىto الخُلقِcharacter أَنظُرُI look فيماin what أَقولُI say
إِلى الخُلقِ أَنظُرُ فيما أَقولُ
وَتَأخُذُand seize نَفسِيَmy soul أَشجانُهاher sorrows
وَتَأخُذُ نَفسِيَ أَشجانُها
It is character I look to in what I say,
and her sorrows seize my soul.
وَياand O سَعدُSaad أَنتَyou أَمينُthe trusted guardian of البِلادِthe country
وَيا سَعدُ أَنتَ أَمينُ البِلادِ
قَدِindeed اِمتَلَأَتhave been filled مِنكَwith you أَيمانُهاher right hands
قَدِ اِمتَلَأَت مِنكَ أَيمانُها
O Saad, you are the country's trusted guardian;
her right hands are filled with you.
وَلَنand never will تَرتَضيyou consent أَنthat تُقَدَّbe split القَناةُthe spear-shaft
وَلَن تَرتَضي أَن تُقَدَّ القَناةُ
وَيُبتَرَand be severed مِنfrom مِصرَEgypt سودانُهاher Sudan
وَيُبتَرَ مِن مِصرَ سودانُها
You will never consent to the spear-shaft being split,
or her Sudan being severed from Egypt.
وَحُجَّتُناand our case فيهِماconcerning them both كَالصَباحِlike morning
وَحُجَّتُنا فيهِما كَالصَباحِ
وَلَيسَand is not بِمُعييكَwearisome to you تِبيانُهاexplaining it
وَلَيسَ بِمُعييكَ تِبيانُها
Our case concerning the two is clear as morning,
and explaining it will not weary you.
فَمِصرُfor Egypt الرِياضُthe gardens وَسودانُهاand her Sudan
فَمِصرُ الرِياضُ وَسودانُها
عُيونُthe springs of الرِياضِthe gardens وَخُلجانُهاand their channels
عُيونُ الرِياضِ وَخُلجانُها
For Egypt is the gardens, and her Sudan
the gardens' springs and channels.
وَماand not هُوَit ماءٌwater وَلَكِنَّهُbut it is
وَما هُوَ ماءٌ وَلَكِنَّهُ
وَريدُthe vein of الحَياةِlife وَشِريانُهاand its artery
وَريدُ الحَياةِ وَشِريانُها
It is not mere water, but
life's vein and its artery.
تُتَمِّمُcomplete مِصرَEgypt يَنابيعُهُits springs
تُتَمِّمُ مِصرَ يَنابيعُهُ
كَماjust as تَمَّمَcompleted العَينَthe eye إِنسانُهاits pupil
كَما تَمَّمَ العَينَ إِنسانُها
Its springs complete Egypt,
as its pupil completes the eye.
وَأَهلوهُand its people مُنذُsince جَرىflowed عَذبُهُits sweet water
وَأَهلوهُ مُنذُ جَرى عَذبُهُ
عَشيرَةُthe kin of مِصرَEgypt وَجيرانُهاand her neighbors
عَشيرَةُ مِصرَ وَجيرانُها
And its people, since its sweet water flowed,
have been Egypt's kin and neighbors.
وَأَمّاand as for الشَريكُthe partner فَعِلّاتُهُthen his motives
وَأَمّا الشَريكُ فَعِلّاتُهُ
هِيَthey are الشَرِكاتُthe companies وَأَقطانُهاand their cotton
هِيَ الشَرِكاتُ وَأَقطانُها
As for the partner, his motives
are the companies and their cotton,
وَحَربٌand a war مَضَتhas passed نَحنُwe أَوزارُهاits arms
وَحَربٌ مَضَت نَحنُ أَوزارُها
وَخَيلٌand steeds خَلَتare gone نَحنُwe فُرسانُهاtheir riders
وَخَيلٌ خَلَت نَحنُ فُرسانُها
and a war gone by, whose arms we were,
and steeds long gone, whose riders we were.
وَكَمand how many مَنa person who أَتاكَcame to you بِمَجموعَةٍwith a collection
وَكَم مَن أَتاكَ بِمَجموعَةٍ
مِنَof الباطِلِfalsehood الحَقُّtruth عُنوانُهاits title
مِنَ الباطِلِ الحَقُّ عُنوانُها
How many have brought you a collection
of falsehood with 'Truth' as its title!
فَأَينَso where مِنَfrom المَنشِthe English Channel بَحرُthe River of الغَزالِthe Gazelle
فَأَينَ مِنَ المَنشِ بَحرُ الغَزالِ
وَفَيضُand the flood of نِيانزاNyanza وَتَهتانُهاand its downpours
وَفَيضُ نِيانزا وَتَهتانُها
So what has the English Channel to do with Bahr al-Ghazal
and Nyanza's flood and its downpours?
وَأَينَand where التَماسيحُcrocodiles مِنfrom لُجَّةٍa deep sea
وَأَينَ التَماسيحُ مِن لُجَّةٍ
يَموتُdie مِنَfrom البَردِthe cold حيتانُهاits whales
يَموتُ مِنَ البَردِ حيتانُها
And what have crocodiles to do with a deep sea
whose whales die of cold?
وَلَكِنbut رُؤوسٌcapital sums لِأَموالِهِمfor their wealth
وَلَكِن رُؤوسٌ لِأَموالِهِم
يُحَرِّكُshakes قَرنَيهِhis two horns شَيطانُهاits devil
يُحَرِّكُ قَرنَيهِ شَيطانُها
But it is their capital,
whose devil shakes his two horns.
وَدَعوىand the claim of القَوِيِّthe strong كَدَعوىlike the claim of السِباعِbeasts of prey
وَدَعوى القَوِيِّ كَدَعوى السِباعِ
مِنَfrom النابِthe fang وَالظُفرِand the claw بُرهانُهاits proof
مِنَ النابِ وَالظُفرِ بُرهانُها
The strong man's claim is like the claim of beasts of prey:
its proof lies in fang and claw.
Sol 6.1