أَلاAh ياO اِسلَميbe well ياO هِندُHind هِندَHind بَنيsons of بَدرِBadr
أَلا يا اِسلَمي يا هِندُ هِندَ بَني بَدرِ
وَإِنand though كانَwere حَيّاناour two clans عِدىًenemies آخِرَto the end of الدَهرِtime
وَإِن كانَ حَيّانا عِدىً آخِرَ الدَهرِ
Ah, be well, O Hind, Hind of Banu Badr,
though our two clans remain enemies to the end of time.
وَإِنand though كُنتِyou were قَدalready أَصمَيتِنيyou killed me outright إِذwhen رَمَيتِنيyou shot me
وَإِن كُنتِ قَد أَصمَيتِني إِذ رَمَيتِني
بِسَهمِكِwith your arrow فَالراميfor the archer يَصيدُcatches prey وَلاand not يَدريknows
بِسَهمِكِ فَالرامي يَصيدُ وَلا يَدري
Even though you struck me dead when you shot me
with your arrow—for an archer catches prey without knowing.
أَسيلَةُsmooth مَجرىthe course of الدَمعِtears أَمّاas for وِشاحُهاher sash
أَسيلَةُ مَجرى الدَمعِ أَمّا وِشاحُها
فَيَجريso it moves freely وَأَمّاand as for الحِجلُthe anklet مِنهاon her فَلاthen not يَجريmoves
فَيَجري وَأَمّا الحِجلُ مِنها فَلا يَجري
Smooth is the path of her tears; as for her sash,
it moves freely, while the anklet upon her does not.
وَكُنتُمand you used to إِذاwhen تَدنونَdraw near مِنّاto us تَعَرَّضَتappeared
وَكُنتُم إِذا تَدنونَ مِنّا تَعَرَّضَت
خَيالاتُكُمyour phantom images أَوor بِتُّI spent the night مِنكُمof you عَلىin ذُكرِremembrance
خَيالاتُكُم أَو بِتُّ مِنكُم عَلى ذُكرِ
And whenever you drew near us, there appeared
your phantom images; or I spent the night remembering you.
لَقَدindeed حَمَلَتmade ride قَيسَQays بنَson of عَيلانَAylan حَربُناour war
لَقَد حَمَلَت قَيسَ بنَ عَيلانَ حَربُنا
عَلىon يابِسِdry السيساءِthe backbone مُحدَودِبِhunched الظَهرِthe back
عَلى يابِسِ السيساءِ مُحدَودِبِ الظَهرِ
Our war has indeed mounted Qays ibn Aylan
on a dry-spined, humpbacked beast,
رَكوبٍa mount عَلىfor السَوآتِdisgraces قَدalready شَرَمَsplit اِستَهُits anus
رَكوبٍ عَلى السَوآتِ قَد شَرَمَ اِستَهُ
مُزاحَمَةُjostling by الأَعداءِthe enemies وَالنَخسُand prodding فيin الدُبرِthe rear
مُزاحَمَةُ الأَعداءِ وَالنَخسُ في الدُبرِ
a mount for disgrace, its anus split
by the jostling of enemies and prodding in the rear.
وَطارواand they scattered شِقاقاًin division لِاِثنَتَينِinto two فَعامِرٌas for Amir
وَطاروا شِقاقاً لِاِثنَتَينِ فَعامِرٌ
تَبيعُsells بَنيهاits sons بِالخِصافِfor palm-leaf baskets وَبِالتَمرِand for dates
تَبيعُ بَنيها بِالخِصافِ وَبِالتَمرِ
They scattered, split in two: Amir
sells its sons for palm-leaf baskets and dates.
وَأَمّاand as for سُلَيمٌSulaym فَاِستَعاذَتso it sought refuge حِذارَناfor fear of us
وَأَمّا سُلَيمٌ فَاِستَعاذَت حِذارَنا
بِحَرَّتِهاin its lava-field السَوداءِblack وَالجَبَلِand the mountain الوَعرِrugged
بِحَرَّتِها السَوداءِ وَالجَبَلِ الوَعرِ
As for Sulaym, it sought refuge, fearing us,
in its black lava-field and rugged mountain.
تَنِقُّcroak بِلاwithout شَيءٍanything شُيوخُelders of مُحارِبٍMuharib
تَنِقُّ بِلا شَيءٍ شُيوخُ مُحارِبٍ
وَماand not خِلتُهاI thought it كانَتit was تَريشُfeathering arrows وَلاnor تَبريwhittling shafts
وَما خِلتُها كانَت تَريشُ وَلا تَبري
Muharib's elders croak to no purpose;
nor did I think it ever feathered arrows or whittled shafts.
ضَفادِعُfrogs فيin ظَلماءِthe darkness of لَيلٍnight تَجاوَبَتanswered one another
ضَفادِعُ في ظَلماءِ لَيلٍ تَجاوَبَت
فَدَلَّso guided عَلَيهاto them صَوتُهاtheir sound حَيَّةَthe snake of البَحرِthe water
فَدَلَّ عَلَيها صَوتُها حَيَّةَ البَحرِ
Frogs answered one another in the darkness of night,
and their sound guided the water-snake to them.
وَنَحنُand we رَفَعناraised عَنaway from سَلولٍSalul رِماحَناour spears
وَنَحنُ رَفَعنا عَن سَلولٍ رِماحَنا
وَعَمداًand deliberately رَغِبناturned away عَنfrom دِماءِthe blood of بَنيsons of نَصرِNasr
وَعَمداً رَغِبنا عَن دِماءِ بَني نَصرِ
We lifted our spears away from Salul,
and deliberately disdained the blood of Banu Nasr.
وَلَوand if بِبَنيwith the sons of ذُبيانَDhubyan بَلَّتwere wetted رِماحُناour spears
وَلَو بِبَني ذُبيانَ بَلَّت رِماحُنا
لَقَرَّتwould be gladdened بِهِمby them عَينيmy eye وَباءَand be requited بِهاthrough them وِتريmy blood-claim
لَقَرَّت بِهِم عَيني وَباءَ بِها وِتري
Had our spears been wetted with Banu Dhubyan's blood,
they would have gladdened my eye and satisfied my blood-claim.
شَفىhealed النَفسَthe soul قَتلىslain men مِنfrom سُلَيمٍSulaym وَعامِرٍand Amir
شَفى النَفسَ قَتلى مِن سُلَيمٍ وَعامِرٍ
وَلَمand did not تَشفِهاheal it قَتلىslain men of غَنِيٍّGhani وَلاnor جَسرِJasr
وَلَم تَشفِها قَتلى غَنِيٍّ وَلا جَسرِ
The slain of Sulaym and Amir healed my soul,
but the slain of Ghani did not heal it, nor those of Jasr,
وَلاnor جُشَمٍJusham شَرِّthe worst of القَبائِلِthe tribes إِنَّهاindeed they
وَلا جُشَمٍ شَرِّ القَبائِلِ إِنَّها
كَبَيضِlike eggs of القَطاsandgrouse لَيسواthey are not بِسودٍblack وَلاnor حُمرِred
كَبَيضِ القَطا لَيسوا بِسودٍ وَلا حُمرِ
nor Jusham, the worst of tribes: they are
like sandgrouse eggs, neither black nor red.
وَماand not تَرَكَتleft أَسيافُناour swords حينَwhen جُرِّدَتwere unsheathed
وَما تَرَكَت أَسيافُنا حينَ جُرِّدَت
لِأَعدائِناfor our enemies قَيسِQays بنِson of عَيلانَAylan مِنany وِترِblood-debt
لِأَعدائِنا قَيسِ بنِ عَيلانَ مِن وِترِ
Our swords, when drawn, left
no blood-debt outstanding with our enemies, Qays ibn Aylan.
وَقَدand indeed عَرَكَتcrushed بِاِبنَيupon the two sons of دُخانٍDukhan فَأَصبَحاso the two became
وَقَد عَرَكَت بِاِبنَي دُخانٍ فَأَصبَحا
إِذاwhen ماever اِحزَأَلّاthe two draw themselves up مِثلَlike باقِيَةِthe remnant of البَظرِthe clitoris
إِذا ما اِحزَأَلّا مِثلَ باقِيَةِ البَظرِ
They crushed the two sons of Dukhan, who became,
whenever they draw themselves up, like a clitoral stump.
وَأَدرَكَand ascertained عِلميmy knowledge فيconcerning سُواءَةَSuwa'ah أَنَّهاthat it
وَأَدرَكَ عِلمي في سُواءَةَ أَنَّها
تُقيمُremains عَلىwith الأَوتارِunavenged blood-debts وَالمَشرَبِand the drinking-place الكَدرِmuddy
تُقيمُ عَلى الأَوتارِ وَالمَشرَبِ الكَدرِ
I have learned concerning Suwa'ah that it
lives with unavenged blood-debts and a muddied drinking-place.
وَقَدand indeed سَرَّنيdelighted me مِنconcerning قَيسِQays عَيلانَAylan أَنَّنيthat I
وَقَد سَرَّني مِن قَيسِ عَيلانَ أَنَّني
رَأَيتُI saw بَنيsons of العَجلانِal-Ajlan سادواlorded over بَنيsons of بَدرِBadr
رَأَيتُ بَني العَجلانِ سادوا بَني بَدرِ
And it has pleased me, concerning Qays Aylan, that I
have seen Banu al-Ajlan lord it over Banu Badr.
وَقَدand indeed غَبَرَlived on العَجلانُal-Ajlan حيناًfor a time إِذاwhenever بَكىhe cried
وَقَد غَبَرَ العَجلانُ حيناً إِذا بَكى
عَلىfor الزادِfood أَلقَتهُshe pelted him الوَليدَةُthe slave girl بِالكِسرِwith bread scraps
عَلى الزادِ أَلقَتهُ الوَليدَةُ بِالكِسرِ
Al-Ajlan once lived through a time when, if he cried
for food, the slave girl pelted him with bread scraps.
فَيُصبِحُthen he would rise كَالخُفّاشِlike a bat يَدلُكُrubbing عَينَهُhis eye
فَيُصبِحُ كَالخُفّاشِ يَدلُكُ عَينَهُ
فَقُبِّحتَso be you accursed مِنas وَجهٍa face لَئيمٍvile وَمِنand as حَجرِa maternal lap
فَقُبِّحتَ مِن وَجهٍ لَئيمٍ وَمِن حَجرِ
Then he would rise like a bat, rubbing his eye—
accursed be you, vile of face and birth!
وَكُنتُمand you were بَنيsons of العَجلانِal-Ajlan أَلأَمَbaser عِندَناin our eyes
وَكُنتُم بَني العَجلانِ أَلأَمَ عِندَنا
وَأَحقَرَand more contemptible مِنthan أَنto تَشهَدواwitness عالِيَthe lofty part of الأَمرِaffairs
وَأَحقَرَ مِن أَن تَشهَدوا عالِيَ الأَمرِ
You, Banu al-Ajlan, were in our eyes too base
and too contemptible to witness great affairs.
بَنيsons of كُلِّevery دَسماءِgrease-stained woman الثِيابِin clothes كَأَنَّماas though
بَني كُلِّ دَسماءِ الثِيابِ كَأَنَّما
طَلاهاsmeared her بَنوsons of العَجلانِal-Ajlan مِنfrom حُمَمِthe soot of القِدرِthe cooking-pot
طَلاها بَنو العَجلانِ مِن حُمَمِ القِدرِ
Sons of every woman with greasy clothes, as though
Banu al-Ajlan had smeared her with soot from the pot.
تَرىyou see كَعبَهاher ankle قَدalready زالَshifted مِنfrom طولِthe long duration of رَعيِهاher herding
تَرى كَعبَها قَد زالَ مِن طولِ رَعيِها
وَقاحَhard الذُنابىat the tailbone بِالسَوِيَّةِwith a saddlecloth وَالزِفرِand a large waterskin
وَقاحَ الذُنابى بِالسَوِيَّةِ وَالزِفرِ
You see her ankle displaced from her long tending
hard-rumped beasts, with saddlecloth and waterskin.
وَشارَكَتِand shared with العَجلانُal-Ajlan كَعباًKa'b وَلَمand did not تَكُنbe
وَشارَكَتِ العَجلانُ كَعباً وَلَم تَكُن
تُشارِكُshare with كَعباًKa'b فيin وَفاءٍloyalty وَلاnor غَدرِtreachery
تُشارِكُ كَعباً في وَفاءٍ وَلا غَدرِ
Al-Ajlan shared kinship with Ka'b, yet never
shared with Ka'b in loyalty or treachery.
وَنَجّىand saved اِبنُthe son of بَدرٍBadr رَكضُهُhis galloping مِنfrom رِماحِناour spears
وَنَجّى اِبنُ بَدرٍ رَكضُهُ مِن رِماحِنا
وَنَضّاخَةُand sweat-streaming الأَعطافِat the flanks مُلهِبَةُblazing الحُضرِin galloping
وَنَضّاخَةُ الأَعطافِ مُلهِبَةُ الحُضرِ
His galloping saved Ibn Badr from our spears,
and a mare with sweat-streaming flanks and a blazing gallop.
إِذاwhenever قُلتُI said نالَتهُreached him العَواليthe spearpoints تَقاذَفَتbounded
إِذا قُلتُ نالَتهُ العَوالي تَقاذَفَت
بِهِwith him سَوحَقُlong الرِجلَينِin both legs صائِبَةُstraight الصَدرِin the chest
بِهِ سَوحَقُ الرِجلَينِ صائِبَةُ الصَدرِ
Whenever I said, 'The spearpoints have reached him,' she bounded
away with him, long-legged and straight-chested.
كَأَنَّهُماas though the two وَالآلُwhile the mirage يَنجابُparts عَنهُماaway from them both
كَأَنَّهُما وَالآلُ يَنجابُ عَنهُما
إِذاwhen اِنغَمَساthe two plunged فيهِinto it يَعومانِthe two swim فيin غَمرِdeep water
إِذا اِنغَمَسا فيهِ يَعومانِ في غَمرِ
As though the two, with the mirage parting around them,
when they plunged into it, were swimming in deep water.
يُسِرُّhe whispers إِلَيهاto her وَالرِماحُwhile the spears تَنوشُهُreach for him
يُسِرُّ إِلَيها وَالرِماحُ تَنوشُهُ
فِدىًa ransom لَكِfor you أُمّيmy mother إِنif دَأَبتِyou persevere إِلىuntil العَصرِthe afternoon
فِدىً لَكِ أُمّي إِن دَأَبتِ إِلى العَصرِ
He whispered to her as the spears reached for him:
'My mother be your ransom, if you press on until afternoon!'
فَظَلَّso he kept يُفَدّيهاpledging ransom for her وَظَلَّتand she remained كَأَنَّهاas though she were
فَظَلَّ يُفَدّيها وَظَلَّت كَأَنَّها
عُقابٌan eagle دَعاهاsummoned it جِنحُthe onset of لَيلٍnight إِلىto وَكرِa nest
عُقابٌ دَعاها جِنحُ لَيلٍ إِلى وَكرِ
He kept pledging ransom for her, while she seemed
an eagle summoned to its nest by the falling night.
كَأَنَّas though بِطُبيَيهاat her two teats وَمَجرىand the course of حِزامِهاher girth
كَأَنَّ بِطُبيَيها وَمَجرى حِزامِها
أَداوىwaterskins تَسُحُّpour out الماءَwater مِنof حَوَرٍleather hides وُفرِwhole
أَداوى تَسُحُّ الماءَ مِن حَوَرٍ وُفرِ
As though at her two teats and along her girth
were waterskins of whole hides, pouring out water.
وَظَلَّand kept يَجيشُsurging الماءَwater مِنfrom مُتَفَصِّدٍan opened vein
وَظَلَّ يَجيشُ الماءَ مِن مُتَفَصِّدٍ
عَلىin كُلِّevery حالٍstate مِنfrom مَذاهِبِهِits channels يَجريflowing
عَلى كُلِّ حالٍ مِن مَذاهِبِهِ يَجري
And water kept surging from an opened vein,
flowing from its channels in every state.
فَأُقسِمُso I swear لَوif أَدرَكنَهُthey had overtaken him لَقَذَفنَهُthey would have hurled him
فَأُقسِمُ لَو أَدرَكنَهُ لَقَذَفنَهُ
إِلىinto صَعبَةِrough الأَرجاءِin sides مُظلِمَةِdark القَعرِin depth
إِلى صَعبَةِ الأَرجاءِ مُظلِمَةِ القَعرِ
I swear, had they overtaken him, they would have hurled him
into a rough-sided pit, dark in its depths;
فَوُسِّدَthen he would be pillowed فيهاin it كَفَّهُhis palm أَوor لَحَجَّلَتwould have capered
فَوُسِّدَ فيها كَفَّهُ أَو لَحَجَّلَت
ضِباعُhyenas of الصَحارىthe deserts حَولَهُaround him غَيرَnot ذيhaving قَبرِa grave
ضِباعُ الصَحارى حَولَهُ غَيرَ ذي قَبرِ
his palm would be his pillow there—or there would have capered
desert hyenas around him, left without a grave.
لَعَمريby my life لَقَدindeed لاقَتencountered سُلَيمٌSulaym وَعامِرٌand Amir
لَعَمري لَقَد لاقَت سُلَيمٌ وَعامِرٌ
عَلىon جانِبِthe bank of الثَرثارِal-Tharthar راغِيَةَthe bellow of البَكرِthe young camel
عَلى جانِبِ الثَرثارِ راغِيَةَ البَكرِ
By my life, Sulaym and Amir have indeed encountered,
on al-Tharthar's bank, the bellow of the young camel.
أَعِنّيhelp me أَميرَCommander of المُؤمِنينَthe Faithful بِنائِلٍwith bounty
أَعِنّي أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ بِنائِلٍ
وَحُسنِand fine عَطاءٍgiving لَيسَnot بِالرَيِّثِtardy النَزرِscanty
وَحُسنِ عَطاءٍ لَيسَ بِالرَيِّثِ النَزرِ
Help me, Commander of the Faithful, with bounty
and generous giving, neither tardy nor scant.
وَأَنتَand you أَميرُCommander of المُؤمِنينَthe Faithful وَماand no بِناin us
وَأَنتَ أَميرُ المُؤمِنينَ وَما بِنا
إِلىfor صُلحِpeace with قَيسٍQays ياO اِبنَson of مَروانَMarwan مِنany فَقرِneed
إِلى صُلحِ قَيسٍ يا اِبنَ مَروانَ مِن فَقرِ
And you are Commander of the Faithful, and we have no
need for peace with Qays, O son of Marwan.
فَإِنso if تَكُbe قَيسٌQays ياO اِبنَson of مَروانَMarwan بايَعَتpledged allegiance
فَإِن تَكُ قَيسٌ يا اِبنَ مَروانَ بايَعَت
فَقَدthen indeed وَهِلَتfled in fear قَيسٌQays إِلَيكَto you مِنَout of الذُعرِterror
فَقَد وَهِلَت قَيسٌ إِلَيكَ مِنَ الذُعرِ
So if Qays, O son of Marwan, has sworn allegiance,
then Qays has fled to you out of terror,
عَلىwith غَيرِno إِسلامٍsubmission وَلاnor عَنfrom بَصيرَةٍclear conviction
عَلى غَيرِ إِسلامٍ وَلا عَن بَصيرَةٍ
وَلَكِنَّهُمbut they سيقواwere driven إِلَيكَto you عَلىin صُغرِhumiliation
وَلَكِنَّهُم سيقوا إِلَيكَ عَلى صُغرِ
with neither submission nor clear conviction;
rather, they were driven to you in humiliation.
وَلَمّاand when تَبَيَّنّاwe discerned ضَلالَةَthe error of مُصعَبٍMus'ab
وَلَمّا تَبَيَّنّا ضَلالَةَ مُصعَبٍ
فَتَحناwe opened لِأَهلِfor the people of الشامِal-Sham باباًa gate مِنَof النَصرِvictory
فَتَحنا لِأَهلِ الشامِ باباً مِنَ النَصرِ
And when we perceived Mus'ab's error,
we opened for the people of al-Sham a gate to victory.
فَقَدso indeed أَصبَحَتhas become مِنّاbecause of us هَوازِنُHawazin كُلُّهاall of it
فَقَد أَصبَحَت مِنّا هَوازِنُ كُلُّها
كَواهيlike one weak in السُلامىthe joints زيدَwas added وَقراًa burden عَلىupon وَقرِa burden
كَواهي السُلامى زيدَ وَقراً عَلى وَقرِ
All Hawazin, because of us, has become
like one weak in the joints, burden heaped upon burden.
سَمَوناwe advanced بِعِرنينٍwith a vanguard أَشَمَّproud وَعارِضٍand a cloudlike host
سَمَونا بِعِرنينٍ أَشَمَّ وَعارِضٍ
لِنَمنَعَto defend ماwhat lies بَينَbetween العِراقِIraq إِلىto البِشرِal-Bishr
لِنَمنَعَ ما بَينَ العِراقِ إِلى البِشرِ
We advanced with a proud vanguard and a cloudlike host,
to defend the land from Iraq to al-Bishr.
فَأَصبَحَso became ماwhat lies بَينَbetween العِراقِIraq وَمَنبِجٍand Manbij
فَأَصبَحَ ما بَينَ العِراقِ وَمَنبِجٍ
لِتَغلِبَfor Taghlib تَرديgalloping بِالرُدَينِيَّةِwith Rudayni spears السُمرِbrown
لِتَغلِبَ تَردي بِالرُدَينِيَّةِ السُمرِ
Now all between Iraq and Manbij
belongs to Taghlib, charging with brown Rudayni spears.
إِلَيكَto you أَميرَCommander of المُؤمِنينَthe Faithful نَسيرُهاwe drive them onward
إِلَيكَ أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ نَسيرُها
تَخُبُّtrot المَطاياthe mounts بِالعَرانينِcarrying the chieftains مِنof بَكرِBakr
تَخُبُّ المَطايا بِالعَرانينِ مِن بَكرِ
To you, Commander of the Faithful, we drive them,
the mounts trotting with the chieftains of Bakr,
بِرَأسِwith the head of اِمرِئٍa man دَلّىlured سُلَيماًSulaym وَعامِراًand Amir
بِرَأسِ اِمرِئٍ دَلّى سُلَيماً وَعامِراً
وَأَورَدَand brought قَيساًQays لُجَّthe depths of ذيhaving حَدَبٍswelling waves غَمرِdeep water
وَأَورَدَ قَيساً لُجَّ ذي حَدَبٍ غَمرِ
bearing the head of a man who lured Sulaym and Amir,
and brought Qays into the depths of a swelling, engulfing sea.
فَأَسرَينَso they traveled by night خَمساًfive nights ثُمَّthen أَصبَحنَthey reached morning غَدوَةًat daybreak
فَأَسرَينَ خَمساً ثُمَّ أَصبَحنَ غَدوَةً
يُخَبِّرنَthey tell أَخباراًtidings أَلَذَّsweeter مِنَthan الخَمرِwine
يُخَبِّرنَ أَخباراً أَلَذَّ مِنَ الخَمرِ
They traveled by night for five nights; then at daybreak
they told tidings sweeter than wine,
يُخَبِّرنَناthey tell us أَنَّthat الأَراقِمَal-Araqim فَلَّقواsplit open
يُخَبِّرنَنا أَنَّ الأَراقِمَ فَلَّقوا
جَماجِمَskulls of قَيسٍQays بَينَbetween راذانَRadhan فَالحَضرِand al-Hadr
جَماجِمَ قَيسٍ بَينَ راذانَ فَالحَضرِ
telling us that al-Araqim had split
the skulls of Qays between Radhan and al-Hadr—
جَماجِمَskulls of قَومٍa people لَمdid not يَعافواspurn ظُلامَةًinjustice
جَماجِمَ قَومٍ لَم يَعافوا ظُلامَةً
وَلَمand did not يَعلَمواknow أَينَwhere الوَفاءُfaithfulness مِنَfrom الغَدرِtreachery
وَلَم يَعلَموا أَينَ الوَفاءُ مِنَ الغَدرِ
the skulls of people who did not spurn injustice,
and did not know faithfulness from treachery.
Sol 6.1