قُمrise نادِcall أَنقَرَةًAnkara وَقُلand say يَهنيكِmay it gladden you
قُم نادِ أَنقَرَةً وَقُل يَهنيكِ
مُلكٌa realm بَنَيتِyou built عَلىupon سُيوفِthe swords بَنيكِyour sons
مُلكٌ بَنَيتِ عَلى سُيوفِ بَنيكِ
Rise, call to Ankara, and say: May it bring you joy—
a realm you built upon your sons’ swords.
أَعطَيتِهِyou gave it ذَودَthe defense اللُباةِthe lionesses عَنِin defense of الشَرىthe thicket
أَعطَيتِهِ ذَودَ اللُباةِ عَنِ الشَرى
فَأَخَأتِهِand you took it (unclear form) حُرّاًfree بِغَيرِwithout شَريكِa partner
فَأَخَأتِهِ حُرّاً بِغَيرِ شَريكِ
You gave it the lionesses’ defense of their thicket,
and [took] it free, with none to share it.
وَأَقَمتِand you raised بِالدَمِwith blood جانِبَيهِits two sides وَلَمand not تَزَلceased
وَأَقَمتِ بِالدَمِ جانِبَيهِ وَلَم تَزَل
تُبنىare built المَمالِكُkingdoms بِالدَمِwith blood المَسفوكِspilled
تُبنى المَمالِكُ بِالدَمِ المَسفوكِ
You raised its two sides with blood, and still
kingdoms are built with blood spilled.
فَعَقَدتِso you fashioned تاجَكِyour crown مِنfrom ظُبىًblades مَسلولَةًunsheathed
فَعَقَدتِ تاجَكِ مِن ظُبىً مَسلولَةً
وَحَلَلتِand you occupied عَرشَكِyour throne مِنfrom قَناًspears مَشبوكِinterlaced
وَحَلَلتِ عَرشَكِ مِن قَناً مَشبوكِ
Thus you fashioned your crown from unsheathed blades,
and occupied your throne of interlaced spears.
تاجٌa crown تَرىyou see فيهِin it إِذاwhen قَلَّبتُهُI turn it over
تاجٌ تَرى فيهِ إِذا قَلَّبتُهُ
جَهدَthe effort الشَريفِthe nobleman وَهِمَّةَand the resolve الصُعلوكِthe pauper
جَهدَ الشَريفِ وَهِمَّةَ الصُعلوكِ
A crown in which you see, when I turn it over,
the nobleman’s effort and the pauper’s resolve.
وَتَرىand you see الضَحاياthe victims مِنamong مَعاقِدَthe knots غارِهِits laurel
وَتَرى الضَحايا مِن مَعاقِدَ غارِهِ
وَعَلىand upon جَوانِبِthe sides تِبرِهِits gold المَسبوكِcast
وَعَلى جَوانِبِ تِبرِهِ المَسبوكِ
And you see the fallen among the knots of its laurel
and along the sides of its cast gold.
وَتَراهُand you see it فيamid صَخَبِthe din الحَوادِثِevents صامِتاًsilent
وَتَراهُ في صَخَبِ الحَوادِثِ صامِتاً
كَالصَخرِlike rock فيin عَصفِthe raging الرِياحِthe winds النوكِsenseless
كَالصَخرِ في عَصفِ الرِياحِ النوكِ
You see it silent amid the din of events,
like rock amid the raging of senseless winds.
خَرزاتُهُits beads دَمُthe blood أُمَّةٍa nation مَهضومَةٍwronged
خَرزاتُهُ دَمُ أُمَّةٍ مَهضومَةٍ
وَجُهودُand the efforts شَعبٍa people مُجهَدٍexhausted مَنهوكِworn out
وَجُهودُ شَعبٍ مُجهَدٍ مَنهوكِ
Its beads are the blood of a wronged nation
and the efforts of an exhausted, worn-out people.
بِالواجِبِthrough duty اِلتَمَسَit sought الحُقوقَrights وَخابَand failed مَنwhoever
بِالواجِبِ اِلتَمَسَ الحُقوقَ وَخابَ مَن
طَلَبَsought الحُقوقَrights بِواجِبٍwith a duty مَتروكِabandoned
طَلَبَ الحُقوقَ بِواجِبٍ مَتروكِ
Through duty it sought its rights; failure befell whoever
sought rights while leaving duty undone.
لاneither الفَردُthe autocrat مَسَّtouched جَبينَكِyour brow العاليlofty وَلاnor
لا الفَردُ مَسَّ جَبينَكِ العالي وَلا
أَعوانُهُhis henchmen بِأَكُفِّهِمwith their palms لَمَسوكِtouched you
أَعوانُهُ بِأَكُفِّهِم لَمَسوكِ
No autocrat touched your lofty brow, nor
did his henchmen touch you with their palms.
لَمّاwhen نَفَرتِyou went forth إِلىto القِتالِbattle جَماعَةًall together
لَمّا نَفَرتِ إِلى القِتالِ جَماعَةً
أَصلَوكِthey made you burn نارَthe fire تَلَصُّصٍbrigandage وَفُتوكِand treacherous killings
أَصلَوكِ نارَ تَلَصُّصٍ وَفُتوكِ
When you went forth together to battle,
they made you burn in the fire of brigandage and treacherous killing.
هَدَرواthey declared forfeit دِماءَthe blood الأُسدِthe lions فيin آجامِهاtheir thickets
هَدَروا دِماءَ الأُسدِ في آجامِها
وَالأُسدُand the lions شارِعَةُleveling القَناthe spears تَحميكِdefending you
وَالأُسدُ شارِعَةُ القَنا تَحميكِ
They declared the lions’ blood forfeit in their thickets,
while the lions defended you with leveled spears.
ياO بِنتَdaughter طوروسَTaurus المُمَرَّدِtowering طَأطَأَتbowed low
يا بِنتَ طوروسَ المُمَرَّدِ طَأطَأَت
شُمُّthe lofty ones الجِبالِthe mountains رُؤوسَهاtheir heads لِأَبيكِbefore your father
شُمُّ الجِبالِ رُؤوسَها لِأَبيكِ
O daughter of towering Taurus, low have bowed
the lofty mountains’ heads before your father.
أَمعَنتُماyou both advanced far فيin العِزِّglory وَاِستَعصَمتُماand you both sought refuge
أَمعَنتُما في العِزِّ وَاِستَعصَمتُما
هُوَhe فيin السَحابِthe clouds وَأَنتِand you فيamong أَهليكِyour people
هُوَ في السَحابِ وَأَنتِ في أَهليكِ
You both reached far into glory and found refuge:
he in the clouds, and you among your people.
نَحَتَcarved الشُعوبُthe peoples مِنَfrom الجِبالِthe mountains دِيارَهُمtheir homes
نَحَتَ الشُعوبُ مِنَ الجِبالِ دِيارَهُم
وَالقَومُand the people مِنfrom أَخلاقِهِمtheir virtues نَحَتوكِcarved you
وَالقَومُ مِن أَخلاقِهِم نَحَتوكِ
Peoples carved their homes from mountains,
but your people carved you from their virtues.
فَلَوَso if اَنَّthat أَخلاقَthe virtues الرِجالِmen تَصَوَّرَتtook form
فَلَوَ اَنَّ أَخلاقَ الرِجالِ تَصَوَّرَت
لَرَأَيتِyou would have seen صَخرَتَهاtheir rock أَساساًas a foundation فيكِwithin you
لَرَأَيتِ صَخرَتَها أَساساً فيكِ
For if men’s virtues could take form,
you would see their rock as your foundation.
إِنَّindeed الَّذينَthose who بَنَوكِbuilt you أَشبَهُmost akin نِيَّةًin resolve
إِنَّ الَّذينَ بَنَوكِ أَشبَهُ نِيَّةً
بِشَبابِto the youths خَيبَرَKhaybar أَوor كُهولِthe mature men تَبوكِTabuk
بِشَبابِ خَيبَرَ أَو كُهولِ تَبوكِ
Those who built you were closest in resolve
to the youths of Khaybar or the mature men of Tabuk.
حَلَفواthey swore عَلىupon الميثاقِthe covenant لاnot طَعِمواthey would taste الكَرىsleep
حَلَفوا عَلى الميثاقِ لا طَعِموا الكَرى
حَتّىuntil تَذوقيyou taste النَصرَvictory هَلdid نَصَروكِthey bring you victory
حَتّى تَذوقي النَصرَ هَل نَصَروكِ
They swore upon the covenant to taste no sleep
until you tasted victory—did they bring you victory?
زَعَمواthey claimed الفَرَنسِيَّthe Frenchman المُحَجَّلَwhite-fetlocked صورَةًa likeness
زَعَموا الفَرَنسِيَّ المُحَجَّلَ صورَةً
فيin حَلبَةِthe arena الفُرسانِthe knights مِنof حاميكِyour defender
في حَلبَةِ الفُرسانِ مِن حاميكِ
They deemed the white-fetlocked Frenchman a likeness,
in the knights’ arena, of your defender.
النَسرُthe eagle سَلَّdrew السَيفَthe sword يَبنيto build نَفسَهُhimself
النَسرُ سَلَّ السَيفَ يَبني نَفسَهُ
وَفَتاكِand your young hero سَلَّdrew حُسامَهُhis sharp sword يَبنيكِto build you
وَفَتاكِ سَلَّ حُسامَهُ يَبنيكِ
The eagle drew his sword to build himself,
and your young hero drew his blade to build you.
وَالنَسرُand the eagle مَملوكٌenslaved لِسُلطانِto the dominion الهَوىpassion
وَالنَسرُ مَملوكٌ لِسُلطانِ الهَوى
وَوَجَدتُand I found نَسرَكِyour eagle لَيسَnot بِالمَملوكِenslaved
وَوَجَدتُ نَسرَكِ لَيسَ بِالمَملوكِ
The eagle is enslaved to passion’s dominion,
but I found your eagle no slave.
ياO دَولَةَstate الخُلُقِvirtue الَّتيwhich تاهَتvaunted itself عَلىabove
يا دَولَةَ الخُلُقِ الَّتي تاهَت عَلى
رُكنِthe pillar السِماكِal-Simak بِرُكنِهاwith its pillar المَسموكِraised high
رُكنِ السِماكِ بِرُكنِها المَسموكِ
O state of virtue, which vaunted itself above
al-Simak’s pillar with its own lofty pillar.
بَينيbetween me وَبَينَكِand between you مِلَّةٌa faith وَكِتابُهاand its scripture
بَيني وَبَينَكِ مِلَّةٌ وَكِتابُها
وَالشَرقُand the East يَنمينيgives me my lineage كَماas يَنميكِgives you your lineage
وَالشَرقُ يَنميني كَما يَنميكِ
A faith and its scripture stand between you and me;
the East gives me my lineage, as it gives you yours.
قَدindeed ظَنَّنيthought me اللاحيthe censurer نَطَقتُI spoke عَنِfrom الهَوىpartiality
قَد ظَنَّني اللاحي نَطَقتُ عَنِ الهَوى
وَرَكِبتُand I rode مَتنَthe back الجَهلِignorance إِذwhen أَطريكِI extol you
وَرَكِبتُ مَتنَ الجَهلِ إِذ أَطريكِ
My censurer thought I had spoken from partiality
and ridden ignorance’s back in extolling you.
لَمnot يُنقِذِsaved الإِسلامَIslam أَوor يَرفَعraised لَهُfor it
لَم يُنقِذِ الإِسلامَ أَو يَرفَع لَهُ
رَأساًa head سِوىexcept النَفَرِthe men الأُلىwho رَفَعوكِraised you
رَأساً سِوى النَفَرِ الأُلى رَفَعوكِ
None saved Islam or held its
head high but the men who raised you.
رَدّواthey turned الخَيالَimagination حَقيقَةًinto reality وَتَطَلَّعواand emerged
رَدّوا الخَيالَ حَقيقَةً وَتَطَلَّعوا
كَالحَقِّlike truth حَصحَصَbecame clear مِنfrom وَراءِbehind شُكوكِdoubts
كَالحَقِّ حَصحَصَ مِن وَراءِ شُكوكِ
They turned imagination into reality and emerged
like truth made clear from behind doubts.
لَمnot أَكذِبِI belied التاريخَhistory حينَwhen جَعَلتُهُمI made them
لَم أَكذِبِ التاريخَ حينَ جَعَلتُهُم
رُهبانَmonks نُسكٍdevotion لاnot عُجولَcalves نَسيكِa devotee
رُهبانَ نُسكٍ لا عُجولَ نَسيكِ
I did not belie history when I made them
monks of devotion, not a devotee’s calves.
لَمnot تَرضَنيwould accept me ذَنباًas a tail لِنَجمِكِto your star هِمَّتيmy ambition
لَم تَرضَني ذَنباً لِنَجمِكِ هِمَّتي
إِنَّindeed البَيانَeloquence بِنَجمِهِthrough its star يُنبيكِinforms you
إِنَّ البَيانَ بِنَجمِهِ يُنبيكِ
My ambition would not have me a tail to your star;
eloquence speaks to you through its own star.
قَلَميmy pen وَإِنand though جَهِلَwas ignorant of الغَبِيُّthe fool مَكانَهُits worth
قَلَمي وَإِن جَهِلَ الغَبِيُّ مَكانَهُ
أَبقىmore enduring عَلىthrough الأَحقابِthe ages مِنthan ماضيكِyour keen blade
أَبقى عَلى الأَحقابِ مِن ماضيكِ
My pen, though the fool knows not its worth,
will endure through the ages longer than your keen blade.
ظَفَرَتtriumphed بِيونانَover Greece القَديمَةِancient حِكمَتيmy wisdom
ظَفَرَت بِيونانَ القَديمَةِ حِكمَتي
وَغَزاand invaded الحَديثَةَthe modern one ظافِراًvictoriously غازيكِyour warrior
وَغَزا الحَديثَةَ ظافِراً غازيكِ
My wisdom triumphed over ancient Greece,
and your warrior victoriously invaded modern Greece.
مِنّيfrom me لِعَهدِكِto your era ياO فُروقُFuruq تَحِيَّةٌa greeting
مِنّي لِعَهدِكِ يا فُروقُ تَحِيَّةٌ
كَعُيونِlike the springs مائِكِyour waters أَوor رُبىthe hills واديكِyour valley
كَعُيونِ مائِكِ أَو رُبى واديكِ
From me a greeting to your age, O Furuq,
like your water’s springs or your valley’s hills,
أَوor كَالنَسيمِlike the breeze غَداcame at dawn عَلَيكِupon you وَراحَand came at dusk مِنfrom
أَو كَالنَسيمِ غَدا عَلَيكِ وَراحَ مِن
فوفِthe fine cloth الرِياضِthe gardens وَوَشيِهاand their embroidery المَحبوكِclosely woven
فوفِ الرِياضِ وَوَشيِها المَحبوكِ
or like the breeze that visits you at dawn and comes at dusk from
the gardens’ fine cloth and their close-woven embroidery.
أَوor كَالأَصيلِlike late afternoon جَرىflowed عَلَيكِover you عَقيقُهُits carnelian
أَو كَالأَصيلِ جَرى عَلَيكِ عَقيقُهُ
أَوor سالَflowed مِنfrom عِقيانِهِits pure gold شاطيكِyour shore
أَو سالَ مِن عِقيانِهِ شاطيكِ
Or like late afternoon, whose carnelian flowed over you,
or your shore flowed molten from its pure gold.
تِلكَthose الخَمائِلُthe groves وَالعُيونُand the springs اِختارَهاchose them
تِلكَ الخَمائِلُ وَالعُيونُ اِختارَها
لَكِfor you مِنfrom رُبىthe hills جَنّاتِهِHis gardens باريكِyour Maker
لَكِ مِن رُبى جَنّاتِهِ باريكِ
Those groves and springs were chosen
for you, from the hills of His gardens, by your Maker.
قَدindeed أَفرَغَتpoured out فيكِinto you الطَبيعَةُnature سِحرَهاher magic
قَد أَفرَغَت فيكِ الطَبيعَةُ سِحرَها
مَنwho ذاthat one الَّذيwho مِنfrom سِحرِهاher magic يَرقيكِcan charm you
مَن ذا الَّذي مِن سِحرِها يَرقيكِ
Nature has poured her magic into you;
who can charm you free of her enchantment?
خَلَعَتshe bestowed عَلَيكِupon you جَمالَهاher beauty وَتَأَمَّلَتand gazed
خَلَعَت عَلَيكِ جَمالَها وَتَأَمَّلَت
فَإِذاand behold جَمالُكِyour beauty فَوقَabove ماwhat تَكسوكِshe clothes you in
فَإِذا جَمالُكِ فَوقَ ما تَكسوكِ
She clothed you in her beauty and gazed,
and behold, your beauty surpassed what she clothed you in.
تَاللَهِby God ماnothing فَتَنَbewitched العُيونَthe eyes وَلَذَّهاand delighted them
تَاللَهِ ما فَتَنَ العُيونَ وَلَذَّها
كَقَلائِدِlike the necklaces الخُلجانِthe bays فيupon هاديكِyour neck
كَقَلائِدِ الخُلجانِ في هاديكِ
By God, nothing bewitched the eyes or delighted them
like the necklaces of bays upon your neck.
عَنfrom جيدِكِyour neck الحاليadorned تَلَفَّتَتِturned to look الرُبىthe hills
عَن جيدِكِ الحالي تَلَفَّتَتِ الرُبى
وَاِستَضحَكَتand laughed حورُthe houris الجِنانِParadise بِفيكِthrough your mouth
وَاِستَضحَكَت حورُ الجِنانِ بِفيكِ
The hills peered out from your adorned neck,
and Paradise’s houris laughed through your mouth.
إِنif أَنسَI forget لاnot أَنسَI forget الشَبيبَةَyouth وَالهَوىand love
إِن أَنسَ لا أَنسَ الشَبيبَةَ وَالهَوى
وَسَوالِفَand bygone times اللَذّاتِthe pleasures فيin ناديكِyour assembly
وَسَوالِفَ اللَذّاتِ في ناديكِ
If I forget, I shall not forget youth and love,
and the pleasures of old in your assembly,
وَلَيالِياًand nights لَمnot تَدرِyou could tell أَينَwhere عِشاؤُهاtheir evening
وَلَيالِياً لَم تَدرِ أَينَ عِشاؤُها
مِنfrom فَجرِهاtheir dawn لَولاbut for صِياحُthe crowing الديكِthe rooster
مِن فَجرِها لَولا صِياحُ الديكِ
and nights whose evening you could not distinguish
from their dawn, but for the rooster’s crow,
وَصَبوحَناand our morning draught مِنfrom بَندِلارَBandilar وَشَرشَرٍand Sharshar
وَصَبوحَنا مِن بَندِلارَ وَشَرشَرٍ
وَغَبوقَناand our evening draught بِتَرابِياat Tarabya وَبُيوكِand Buyuk
وَغَبوقَنا بِتَرابِيا وَبُيوكِ
and our morning draughts from Bandilar and Sharshar,
and our evening draughts at Tarabya and Buyuk.
لَوif أَنَّthat سُلطانَthe sovereignty الجَمالِbeauty مُخَلَّدٌeverlasting
لَو أَنَّ سُلطانَ الجَمالِ مُخَلَّدٌ
لِمَليحَةٍfor a lovely woman لَعَذَلتُI would have reproached مَنthose who عَذَلوكِreproached you
لِمَليحَةٍ لَعَذَلتُ مَن عَذَلوكِ
Had beauty’s sovereignty been everlasting
for a lovely woman, I would have blamed those who blamed you.
خَلَعوكِthey deposed you مِنfrom سُلطانِهِمtheir sultanate فَسَليهِمُso ask them
خَلَعوكِ مِن سُلطانِهِم فَسَليهِمُ
أَمِنَwas it from القُلوبِhearts وَمُلكِهاand their dominion خَلَعوكِthey deposed you
أَمِنَ القُلوبِ وَمُلكِها خَلَعوكِ
They deposed you from their sultanate; ask them:
did they depose you from hearts and their dominion?
لاnot يَحزُنَنَّكِlet it grieve you مِنfrom حُماتِكِyour defenders خِطَّةٌa decision
لا يَحزُنَنَّكِ مِن حُماتِكِ خِطَّةٌ
كانَتwas هِيَit المُثلىthe best وَإِنand though ساؤوكِthey hurt you
كانَت هِيَ المُثلى وَإِن ساؤوكِ
Let no decision by your defenders grieve you;
it was the best, even if they hurt you.
أَيُقالُcan it be said فِتيانُthe youths الحِمىthe homeland بِكِtoward you قَصَّرواfell short
أَيُقالُ فِتيانُ الحِمى بِكِ قَصَّروا
أَمor ضَيَّعواneglected الحُرُماتِthe sacred trusts أَمor خانوكِbetrayed you
أَم ضَيَّعوا الحُرُماتِ أَم خانوكِ
Can it be said the homeland’s youths failed you,
or neglected sacred trusts, or betrayed you?
وَهُمُand they الخِفافُthe swift ones إِلَيكِto you كَالأَنصارِlike the Ansar إِذwhen
وَهُمُ الخِفافُ إِلَيكِ كَالأَنصارِ إِذ
قَلَّgrew few النَصيرُthe helper وَعَزَّand grew scarce مَنwhoever يَفديكِwould ransom you
قَلَّ النَصيرُ وَعَزَّ مَن يَفديكِ
They who sped to you like the Ansar, when
supporters were few and those who would ransom you were scarce;
المُشتَروكِthose who bought you بِمالِهِمwith their wealth وَدِمائِهِمand their blood
المُشتَروكِ بِمالِهِم وَدِمائِهِم
حينَwhen الشُيوخُthe elders بِجُبَّةٍfor a robe باعوكِsold you
حينَ الشُيوخُ بِجُبَّةٍ باعوكِ
who bought you with their wealth and blood,
when the elders sold you for a robe.
هَدَرواthey declared forfeit دِماءَthe blood الذائِدينَthe defenders عَنِin defense of الحِمىthe homeland
هَدَروا دِماءَ الذائِدينَ عَنِ الحِمى
بِلِسانِthrough the tongue مُفتيthe mufti النارِHell لاnot مُفتيكِyour mufti
بِلِسانِ مُفتي النارِ لا مُفتيكِ
They declared the blood of the homeland’s defenders forfeit
through the tongue of Hell’s mufti, not your mufti.
شَرِبواthey drank عَلىto سِرِّthe secret designs العَدُوِّthe enemy وَغَرَّدواand sang
شَرِبوا عَلى سِرِّ العَدُوِّ وَغَرَّدوا
كَالبومِlike owls خَلفَbehind جِدارِكِyour wall المَدكوكِdemolished
كَالبومِ خَلفَ جِدارِكِ المَدكوكِ
They drank to the enemy’s secret designs and sang
like owls behind your shattered wall.
لَوif كُنتِyou were مَكَّةَMecca عِندَهُمto them لَرَأَيتِهِمyou would see them
لَو كُنتِ مَكَّةَ عِندَهُم لَرَأَيتِهِم
كَمُحَمَّدٍlike Muhammad وَرَفيقِهِand his companion هَجَروكِthey emigrated from you
كَمُحَمَّدٍ وَرَفيقِهِ هَجَروكِ
Had you been Mecca to them, you would have seen them
emigrate from you, like Muhammad and his companion.
ياO راكِبَrider الطاميthe swelling sea يَجوبُtraversing لَجاجَهُits depths
يا راكِبَ الطامي يَجوبُ لَجاجَهُ
مِنof كُلِّevery نَيِّرَةٍa radiant one وَذاتِand one possessing حُلوكِdeep darkness
مِن كُلِّ نَيِّرَةٍ وَذاتِ حُلوكِ
O voyager on the swelling sea, cleaving its depths,
aboard every radiant vessel and every dark one:
إِنif جِئتَyou came to مَرمَرَةًMarmara تَحُثُّurging on الفُلكَthe ships فيamid
إِن جِئتَ مَرمَرَةً تَحُثُّ الفُلكَ في
بَهجٍsplendor كَآفاقِlike the horizons النَعيمِbliss ضَحوكِsmiling
بَهجٍ كَآفاقِ النَعيمِ ضَحوكِ
if you reach Marmara, urging the ships through
smiling splendor like the horizons of bliss,
وَأَتَيتَand you reached قَرنَthe Horn التِبرَgold ثَمَّthere تَحُفُّهُsurrounding it
وَأَتَيتَ قَرنَ التِبرَ ثَمَّ تَحُفُّهُ
تُحَفُthe treasures الضُحىthe morning مِنof جَوهَرٍjewels وَسُلوكِand strands
تُحَفُ الضُحى مِن جَوهَرٍ وَسُلوكِ
and come to the Golden Horn, there encircled
by morning’s treasures of gems and jewel-strands,
فَاِطلَعthen look عَلىupon دارِthe Abode السَعادَةِFelicity وَاِبتَهِلand pray
فَاِطلَع عَلى دارِ السَعادَةِ وَاِبتَهِل
فيat بابِهاits gate العاليlofty وَأَدِّand deliver أَلوكيmy message
في بابِها العالي وَأَدِّ أَلوكي
then look upon the Abode of Felicity and pray
at its Sublime Porte, and deliver my message.
قُلsay لِلخِلافَةِto the Caliphate قَولَthe words باكٍone mourning شَمسَهاits sun
قُل لِلخِلافَةِ قَولَ باكٍ شَمسَها
باِلأَمسِyesterday لَمّاwhen آذَنَتit heralded بِدُلوكِa setting
باِلأَمسِ لَمّا آذَنَت بِدُلوكِ
Tell the Caliphate the words of one mourning its sun
yesterday, when it announced its setting:
ياO جَذوَةَember التَوحيدِGod’s oneness هَلis there لَكَfor you مُطفِئٌan extinguisher
يا جَذوَةَ التَوحيدِ هَل لَكَ مُطفِئٌ
وَاللَهُand God جَلَّexalted is جَلالُهُHis majesty مُذكيكِyour kindler
وَاللَهُ جَلَّ جَلالُهُ مُذكيكِ
O ember of monotheism, is there one to quench you,
when God—exalted be His majesty—kindles you?
خَلَتِpassed القُرونُthe centuries وَأَنتِwhile you حَربُat war with مَمالِكٍkingdoms
خَلَتِ القُرونُ وَأَنتِ حَربُ مَمالِكٍ
لَمnot يَغفِdozed ضِدُّكِyour foe أَيthat is يَنَمslept شانيكِyour hater
لَم يَغفِ ضِدُّكِ أَي يَنَم شانيكِ
Centuries have passed with you at war with kingdoms;
your foe never dozed—that is, your hater never slept.
يَرميكِassails you بِالأُمَمِwith nations الزَمانُTime وَتارَةًand sometimes
يَرميكِ بِالأُمَمِ الزَمانُ وَتارَةً
بِالفَردِwith the autocrat وَاِستِبدادِهِand his tyranny يَرميكِit assails you
بِالفَردِ وَاِستِبدادِهِ يَرميكِ
Time assails you with nations, and sometimes
assails you with the autocrat and his tyranny.
عوديreturn إِلىto ماwhat كُنتِyou were فيat فَجرِthe dawn الهُدىguidance
عودي إِلى ما كُنتِ في فَجرِ الهُدى
عُمَرٌUmar يَسوسُكِgoverns you وَالعَتيقُand al-Atiq يَليكِrules you
عُمَرٌ يَسوسُكِ وَالعَتيقُ يَليكِ
Return to what you were at the dawn of guidance,
with Umar governing you and al-Atiq ruling you.
إِنَّindeed الَّذينَthose who تَوارَثوكِinherited you عَلىaccording to الهَوىwhim
إِنَّ الَّذينَ تَوارَثوكِ عَلى الهَوى
بَعدَafter اِبنِthe son هِندٍHind طالَماso often كَذَبوكِlied to you
بَعدَ اِبنِ هِندٍ طالَما كَذَبوكِ
Those who inherited you according to whim
after the son of Hind so often lied to you.
لَمnot يَلبِسواthey put on بُردَthe mantle النَبِيِّthe Prophet وَإِنَّماbut rather
لَم يَلبِسوا بُردَ النَبِيِّ وَإِنَّما
لَبِسواthey wore طُقوسَthe rites الرومِthe Romans إِذwhen لَبِسوكِthey wore you
لَبِسوا طُقوسَ الرومِ إِذ لَبِسوكِ
They did not put on the Prophet’s mantle; rather,
they wore the Romans’ rites when they wore you.
إِنّيindeed I أُعيذُكِseek refuge for you أَنlest تُرىyou be seen جَبّارَةًtyrannical
إِنّي أُعيذُكِ أَن تُرى جَبّارَةً
كَالبابَوِيَّةِlike the papacy فيin يَدَيthe two hands رُدريكِRudrik
كَالبابَوِيَّةِ في يَدَي رُدريكِ
I seek refuge for you from being seen as a tyrant,
like the papacy in Rudrik’s hands;
أَوor أَنthat تَزُفَّbring as bridegroom لَكِto you الوِراثَةُheredity فاسِقاًa libertine
أَو أَن تَزُفَّ لَكِ الوِراثَةُ فاسِقاً
كَيَزيدَlike Yazid أَوor كَالحاكِمِlike al-Hakim المَأفوكِdeluded
كَيَزيدَ أَو كَالحاكِمِ المَأفوكِ
or from heredity bringing you a libertine as bridegroom,
like Yazid or the deluded al-Hakim.
فُضّيshatter نُيوبَthe fangs الفَردِthe autocrat ثُمَّthen خَذيaccept بِهِhim
فُضّي نُيوبَ الفَردِ ثُمَّ خَذي بِهِ
فيin أَيِّwhichever ثَوبَيهِhis two garbs بِهِwith him جاؤوكِthey came to you
في أَيِّ ثَوبَيهِ بِهِ جاؤوكِ
Shatter the autocrat’s fangs, then accept him
in whichever of his two garbs they bring him to you.
لاno فَرقَdifference بَينَbetween مُسَلَّطٍa despot مُتَتَوِّجٍcrowned
لا فَرقَ بَينَ مُسَلَّطٍ مُتَتَوِّجٍ
وَمُسَلَّطٍand a despot فيin غَيرِother than ثَوبِthe garb مَليكِa king
وَمُسَلَّطٍ في غَيرِ ثَوبِ مَليكِ
There is no difference between a crowned despot
and a despot not dressed as a king.
إِنّيindeed I أَرىsee الشورىconsultation الَّتيwhich اِعتَصَمواthey held fast بِهاto it
إِنّي أَرى الشورى الَّتي اِعتَصَموا بِها
هِيَit حَبلُthe rope رَبِّكِyour Lord أَوor زِمامُthe rein نَبيكِyour Prophet
هِيَ حَبلُ رَبِّكِ أَو زِمامُ نَبيكِ
I see the consultation to which they hold fast
as your Lord’s rope, or your Prophet’s rein.
Sol 6.1