فتوحُكyour conquests رَدَّتْrestored بَهجةَthe splendor of المُلكِsovereignty سَرمَدَاforever
فتوحُك رَدَّتْ بَهجةَ المُلكِ سَرمَدَا
وأنتَand you حُسامُthe sword of اللهِGod فَلَّHe shattered بِكَthrough you العِداthe foes
وأنتَ حُسامُ اللهِ فَلَّ بِكَ العِدا
Your conquests restored the splendor of sovereignty forever.
Your conquests restored the joy of eternal rule,
And you are God's sword: through you He shattered the foes.
You are God's sword, so ruin befell the foe.
يُحدِّثُspeaks عنكَof you المَشرَفيُّthe Mashrafī sword مجرَّداًunsheathed
يُحدِّثُ عنكَ المَشرَفيُّ مجرَّداً
ويُثنيand speaks praise عليكof you السَّمهريُّthe Samharī spear مُسَدَّداaimed straight
ويُثني عليك السَّمهريُّ مُسَدَّدا
The Mashrafī sword speaks of you, unsheathed,
Al-Musharrifi extols you with eloquence unleashed,
and the Samharī spear praises you, aimed straight.
And Al-Samhari praises you in verses straightforward.
أعادَrepeated وأبدىand revealed الفتحُvictory منكin you مُعوَّداًone seasoned in
أعادَ وأبدى الفتحُ منك مُعوَّداً
قِراعَclashing with العِداthe foes جارٍproceeding علىaccording to ماwhat تعوَّداhe was accustomed to
قِراعَ العِدا جارٍ على ما تعوَّدا
Victory has revealed in you, time and again, one seasoned
The opening revealed in you its wonted marvels,
in clashing with foes, pursuing his accustomed course;
The clashing of arms proceeding as was customary.
ومُمطرُand a rain-bringer to أرضِthe land of الرُّومِthe Byzantines منfrom دَمِthe blood of أهلِهاits people
ومُمطرُ أرضِ الرُّومِ من دَمِ أهلِها
سَحاباًa cloud إذاwhenever رَوَّىdrenched الثَّرىthe soil منهfrom it أحمدَاearned praise
سَحاباً إذا رَوَّى الثَّرى منه أحمدَا
and one who showers Byzantine land with its people's blood,
It rained on Roman land blood of its people,
a cloud praised whenever its rain drenches the soil.
A cloud which when it watered the ground yielded praise.
تخالفَworked differently فعلُthe action of الغَيثِthe rain منهfrom him فكلَّماso whenever
تخالفَ فعلُ الغَيثِ منه فكلَّما
بَداappeared العُودُthe bough مُخْضرّاًgreen ثناهhe turned it مُورَدَّاrose-red
بَدا العُودُ مُخْضرّاً ثناه مُورَدَّا
The working of his rain is contrary: whenever
Unlike the rain, whenever the stake showed green,
a bough appears green, he turns it rose-red.
It bent it, giving it a glancing blow.
سَرىjourneyed by night مُخلِقاًwearing out فيfor the sake of اللهِGod دِيباجَthe brocade of وجهِهhis face
سَرى مُخلِقاً في اللهِ دِيباجَ وجهِه
فذبَّso he defended عنon behalf of الإسلامِIslam حتىuntil تجدَّداit was renewed
فذبَّ عن الإسلامِ حتى تجدَّدا
He journeyed by night, wearing out his face's brocade for God's sake,
You attacked with a faith in God that incited fervor,
and defended Islam until it was renewed.
Guarding Islam until you were revived.
يُفلِّقُsplits بالضَّربِwith blows التَّريكَhelmets وماand what حَوىthey contain
يُفلِّقُ بالضَّربِ التَّريكَ وما حَوى
ويَخرُقُand pierces بالطَّعْنِِwith thrusts الدَّلاصَsmooth mail المُسرَّداinterlinked
ويَخرُقُ بالطَّعْنِِ الدَّلاصَ المُسرَّدا
He splits helmets and what they contain with his blows,
You split the ample breastplates and what they contained,
and pierces smooth, interlinked mail with his thrusts.
And you tore through the linked coats of mail.
فياso, ah لكَfor you منof a يومٍday أحرَّmore scorching عليهِمُupon them
فيا لكَ من يومٍ أحرَّ عليهِمُ
وأندَىand more dewy علىfor الدِّينِthe faith الحنيفِupright وأبرَداand cooler
وأندَى على الدِّينِ الحنيفِ وأبرَدا
Ah, what a day, so scorching upon them,
What a day on which you made them burn,
yet so dewy and cool for the upright faith!
Refreshing the true faith, cooling and chilling!
وربَّand many a مُحلًّىadorned بالكواكبِwith stars شاخصٍtowering
وربَّ مُحلًّى بالكواكبِ شاخصٍ
شخَصْتَyou advanced إليهtoward it فانمحىso it was effaced وتأبَّداand became desolate
شخَصْتَ إليه فانمحى وتأبَّدا
And many a towering stronghold adorned with stars—
Many a bejeweled palace you charged on horseback,
you advanced against it, and it vanished, becoming desolate.
So it vanished - you made it disappear for good!
فأعطاكso it gave you ماwhat تَهوىyou desire وقَلَّدَand entrusted أمرَهits fate
فأعطاك ما تَهوى وقَلَّدَ أمرَه
نجومَthe stars of قَنَاًspearshafts أضحىit became بهنَّwith them مُقلَّداwearing a necklace
نجومَ قَنَاً أضحى بهنَّ مُقلَّدا
It gave you what you desired and entrusted its fate
He gave you what you wished and commissioned you
to the stars of lances, which it came to wear as a necklace.
To rule, like stars set in a necklace.
مثَلْتَyou appeared لهbefore it فيin مِثلِthe likeness of أركانِthe pillars of طَوْدِهِits mountain
مثَلْتَ له في مِثلِ أركانِ طَوْدِهِ
وأسطَرْتَand laid in rows فيهwithin it الجَلْمَدَthe rock الصَّلْدَsolid جَلمَداa stone
وأسطَرْتَ فيه الجَلْمَدَ الصَّلْدَ جَلمَدا
You stood before it in ranks like the pillars of its mountain,
You exemplified for Him pillars of His mansion,
and laid out hard, solid rock within it, stone by stone.
And you implanted in it rugged immobile mountains.
وَصَدْرٍand a breast وراءَbehind السَّابريِّfine Sābirī cloth خَرَقْتَهyou pierced it
وَصَدْرٍ وراءَ السَّابريِّ خَرَقْتَه
فكانso it became ثِقافَa straightening clamp for الرُّمحِthe lance لمَّاwhen تأوَّداit bent
فكان ثِقافَ الرُّمحِ لمَّا تأوَّدا
And many a breast behind Sābirī cloth you pierced,
A chest behind the cuirasses you cleaved,
so it became the lance's straightening clamp when it bent.
So the spear-thrust made them shake when they clashed.
وأبيضَand a white host رَقراقِshimmering السَّوابغِcoats of mail أرهجَتْraised dust
وأبيضَ رَقراقِ السَّوابغِ أرهجَتْ
سَنابِكُهits hooves حتىuntil ثَناit turned الجوَّthe air أَربداash-gray
سَنابِكُه حتى ثَنا الجوَّ أَربدا
And a gleaming host in rippling mail—dust rose
The white slit coats of mail, their openings
from its hooves until it turned the air ash-gray.
Gleamed until the atmosphere turned cold.
تَتابعَadvanced in succession يَهفُوflutters فوقَهabove it كلُّevery طائرٍbird
تَتابعَ يَهفُو فوقَه كلُّ طائرٍ
إذاwhenever صافَحَتْهshook hands with it راحةُthe palm of الرَّاحِthe wind غرَّداit sang
إذا صافَحَتْه راحةُ الرَّاحِ غرَّدا
It advanced in succession; every bird fluttered above it,
Every bird in succession warbles above it
singing whenever the wind's palm shook hands with it.
When the palm-branches caress it, trilling.
وأشرقَand shone فيin رَأْدِthe beginning of الضُّحىforenoon فكأنماso, as though
وأشرقَ في رَأْدِ الضُّحى فكأنما
تُلاعِبُplays with منهfrom it الشَّمسُthe sun صَرْحاًa palace ممرَّداpolished
تُلاعِبُ منه الشَّمسُ صَرْحاً ممرَّدا
It shone in the first light of forenoon, as though
In the sheen of dawn it shone, as though
the sun were playing with a polished palace within it.
The sun sported with a towering palace.
يَزُفُّescorts نجوماًstars ليسَnot يمنعُprevents ضوءَهاtheir light
يَزُفُّ نجوماً ليسَ يمنعُ ضوءَها
تكاثُفُthe thickening of ليلِthe night of النَّقْعِbattle-dust أنto يتوقَّداblaze
تكاثُفُ ليلِ النَّقْعِ أن يتوقَّدا
It escorts stars whose light cannot be kept
It pours stars whose light is not prevented
from blazing by the thickening night of battle-dust.
By the gloom of black night from glowing red.
إذاwhen ماemphatic particle رأتْهُنَّsaw them البَطارقُthe patricians أنحُساًill-omened
إذا ما رأتْهُنَّ البَطارقُ أنحُساً
رآهنَّhe saw them مُجْتاحُthe ravager of البطارقِthe patricians أسعُداauspicious
رآهنَّ مُجْتاحُ البطارقِ أسعُدا
When the patricians see them as ill-omened,
When the Patarics saw it they deemed it baleful,
the ravager of patricians sees them as auspicious.
But the Pataric conqueror saw it as auspicious.
صَدَعْتَyou cleft ببرقِwith the lightning of البِيضِbright swords صَدرَthe breast of عَجاجَةٍa dust-cloud
صَدَعْتَ ببرقِ البِيضِ صَدرَ عَجاجَةٍ
وقدand already أبرقَflashed lightning المِقدارُfate فيهwithin it وأرعَداand thundered
وقد أبرقَ المِقدارُ فيه وأرعَدا
You cleft a dust-cloud's breast with the lightning of bright swords,
With the lightning of white blades you split the chest
while fate flashed and thundered within it.
Of a raven, and destiny flashed and rumbled within it.
وأُبتَand you returned وقدand already أشرَبْتَyou soaked ساحتَهits ground دماًblood
وأُبتَ وقد أشرَبْتَ ساحتَه دماً
كأنكas though you أشرقْتَmade shine الأسِنَّةَthe spearheads عَسْجَداgold
كأنك أشرقْتَ الأسِنَّةَ عَسْجَدا
You returned, having soaked its ground with blood,
You refused though you had dyed its courtyard blood,
as though you had made the spearheads gleam as gold.
As if you caused the flames of hell to blaze.
لقدindeed لَبِسَdonned الإسلامُIslam شَرقاًeastward ومغرِباًand westward
لقد لَبِسَ الإسلامُ شَرقاً ومغرِباً
بسيفِthrough the sword of ابنِthe son of عبدِʿAbd (servant of) اللهِAllāh (God) ظِلاًّa shade مُمدَّداoutspread
بسيفِ ابنِ عبدِ اللهِ ظِلاًّ مُمدَّدا
Indeed, Islam has donned, in East and West,
The East and West were clad by the sword
through Ibn ʿAbd Allāh's sword, a far-stretching shade.
Of Ibn Abdallah in an extended shadow.
ثَنىhe turned الخَيلَthe horses عنaway from ماءِthe water of الفُراتِthe Euphrates صَوادراًdeparting after drinking
ثَنى الخَيلَ عن ماءِ الفُراتِ صَوادراً
فكانso it became لهاfor them وِردُthe watering at الخَليجَيْنِthe two gulfs مَوْرِداa watering-place
فكان لها وِردُ الخَليجَيْنِ مَوْرِدا
He turned the horses from the Euphrates' water, departing after drinking,
It swung the horses from Euphrates water thirstily,
and the waters of the two gulfs became their watering-place.
So it was as if they made the two gulfs their watering place.
يَطيرُfly علىover أرباضِthe outskirts of خَرْشنةٍKharshana بهاby means of them
يَطيرُ على أرباضِ خَرْشنةٍ بها
لوافحُscorching flames يَهتِكْنَthey rend المُنيفَthe lofty edifice المشيَّداtowering
لوافحُ يَهتِكْنَ المُنيفَ المشيَّدا
Over Kharshana's outskirts, borne on them, fly
It flies over the litters of Khurasan in them
scorching flames that rend the lofty, towering edifice,
Passionate women rending cloaks that clothe them.
حَريقاًa blaze يُغَشِّيenveloping الجُدْرَthe walls حتَّىuntil كأنماas though
حَريقاً يُغَشِّي الجُدْرَ حتَّى كأنما
لبِسْنَthey wore حَبيرَrich cloth of الوَشْيِembroidery مَثْنىًtwo by two ومَوحِداand singly
لبِسْنَ حَبيرَ الوَشْيِ مَثْنىً ومَوحِدا
a blaze shrouding the walls, until they seem
A conflagration overwhelming the abodes until
clad in rich embroidered cloth, two by two and singly.
They seemed to wear the chestnut dye doubly or singly.
إذاwhen الغَرَضُthe target المنصوبُset upright باتَspent the night مُعَصفراًsafflower-dyed
إذا الغَرَضُ المنصوبُ باتَ مُعَصفراً
بطائرِby a flying سهمٍarrow منهfrom him أصبحَbecame by morning أسوَداblack
بطائرِ سهمٍ منه أصبحَ أسوَدا
When the upraised target spends the night safflower-dyed
When the target set up spent the night yellowed
by a flying arrow of his, it is black by morning.
By the birds of arrows from it, it woke up blackened.
فباتَso he spent the night علىon البُرجِthe tower المُطِلِّoverlooking كأنَّماas though
فباتَ على البُرجِ المُطِلِّ كأنَّما
يُلاحِظُhe watches منهfrom it فَرْقداًa Farqad star ثمَّthen فرقداa Farqad star
يُلاحِظُ منه فَرْقداً ثمَّ فرقدا
He spent the night on the overlooking tower, as though
It passed the night overlooking the lofty tower
eyeing from it one Farqad star, then another.
As if observing the Pleiades appear then disappear.
وبثَّand scattered السَّراياraiding parties حولهاaround it فتفرَّقَتْso they dispersed
وبثَّ السَّرايا حولها فتفرَّقَتْ
كماas بثَّتِscattered الرِّيحُthe wind الحَياrain فتبدَّداso it dispersed
كما بثَّتِ الرِّيحُ الحَيا فتبدَّدا
He scattered raiding parties around it, and they dispersed
It dispatched cavalry around it, so they scattered
as the wind scatters rain until it is dispersed.
As the wind disperses clouds turning them to shreds.
فباتَso he spent the night مُغِذَاًhurrying فيin السِّلاحِarms ومُوجِفاًand galloping
فباتَ مُغِذَاً في السِّلاحِ ومُوجِفاً
مُغِيراًraiding عليهمagainst them فيin البلادِthe lands ومُنجِداand ascending highlands
مُغِيراً عليهم في البلادِ ومُنجِدا
He spent the night pressing forward in arms and galloping,
It passed the night provisioning arms, inciting,
raiding them throughout the land and climbing the highlands.
Raiding the lands, and aiding the beleaguered.
يؤانِسُbefriends منهمamong them كلَّevery ليثِlion of حَفيظَةٍfierce zeal
يؤانِسُ منهم كلَّ ليثِ حَفيظَةٍ
علىon الطِّرفِthe noble steed وحشيَّwild in الشَّمائلِbearing أغيَداsupple
على الطِّرفِ وحشيَّ الشَّمائلِ أغيَدا
He befriends each lion of fierce pride among them,
Every fierce lion with piercing eyes keeps it company
on a noble steed, wild in bearing and supple.
Baring its teeth, glowering, awesome.
كأنَّas though رماحَthe spears of الخَطِّal-Khaṭṭ حولَaround بيوتِهِمtheir homes
كأنَّ رماحَ الخَطِّ حولَ بيوتِهِم
علىupon صَهَواتِthe backs of الخيلِthe horses دُرّاًpearls مُبَدَّداscattered
على صَهَواتِ الخيلِ دُرّاً مُبَدَّدا
It was as though the spears of al-Khaṭṭ around their homes,
As though the shafts of writing were rose bushes around their homes
upon the horses' backs, were scattered pearls.
On the plains of horses scattered about.
عَرَضْتَyou presented علىto الِبيضِthe bright blades الرِّقاقِthin أُسُودَهمtheir lions
عَرَضْتَ على الِبيضِ الرِّقاقِ أُسُودَهم
وسُقْتَand you drove المَهاthe oryxes حُوّاًdark-lipped إليهاtoward them وسُهَّداand sleepless
وسُقْتَ المَها حُوّاً إليها وسُهَّدا
You presented their lions to the thin, bright blades,
You paraded their dark ones before the white slender ones
and drove the oryxes toward them, dark-lipped and sleepless.
And you brought the wave roaring to them insistently.
وقوَّمْتَand you straightened منهمamong them جانباًa flank لظُهورِهمfor their backs
وقوَّمْتَ منهم جانباً لظُهورِهم
وأشرَفْتَهمand you exalted them بالمشرفيَّةِwith Mashrafī swords مُنشِداcalling aloud
وأشرَفْتَهم بالمشرفيَّةِ مُنشِدا
You set a flank among them straight for their backs,
You straightened some of them into beating their flanks
and exalted them with Mashrafī swords, calling aloud.
And you ennobled them with al-Musharrafiyyah chanting.
وأوردْتَand you brought حَدَّthe edge of السَّيفِthe sword قِمَّةَthe crown of لاوُنٍLeon
وأوردْتَ حَدَّ السَّيفِ قِمَّةَ لاوُنٍ
لتمزُجَto mingle فيهin him سُورةَthe fury of البأسِbattle بالنَّدىwith generosity
لتمزُجَ فيه سُورةَ البأسِ بالنَّدى
You brought the sword's edge to the crown of Leon's head,
You brought the sword’s edge to the summit of Lu’lu’
to mingle in him the fury of battle with generosity.
To mix in it the surah “Strife” with softness.
أتاكَhe came to you يَهُزُّshakes الرَّوعُterror أعضاءَthe limbs of جِسمهِhis body
أتاكَ يَهُزُّ الرَّوعُ أعضاءَ جِسمهِ
كماas هزَّhe brandished بالأمسِyesterday الحُسامَthe sword المُهنَّداof Indian steel
كما هزَّ بالأمسِ الحُسامَ المُهنَّدا
He came to you with terror shaking his body's limbs,
Terror shaking his body parts comes to you
as he had brandished the Indian-steel sword yesterday.
As it shook the unsheathed sword yesterday.
يَغُضُّlowers لدَيكَbefore you الرُّعْبُterror أجفانَthe lids of عَيْنِهhis eye
يَغُضُّ لدَيكَ الرُّعْبُ أجفانَ عَيْنِه
فإنْso if هَمَّhe attempts أنto يستغرِقَextend fully اللَّحْظَthe gaze أرعدَاhe trembles
فإنْ هَمَّ أن يستغرِقَ اللَّحْظَ أرعدَا
Terror lowers his eyelids before you;
Fear lowers its eyelids before you,
if he tries to let his gaze range fully, he trembles.
And if it tries to dart a glance, it thunders.
وربَّand many a حديدِsharp in اللَّفظِspeech واللَّحظِand gaze منهمُamong them
وربَّ حديدِ اللَّفظِ واللَّحظِ منهمُ
مثَلْتَyou appeared لهbefore him فارتدَّso he recoiled أخرسَmute أرمَداsore-eyed
مثَلْتَ له فارتدَّ أخرسَ أرمَدا
And many a man among them, sharp of speech and gaze—
By the Lord of steely discourse and glances,
you appeared before him, and he recoiled mute and sore-eyed.
You exemplified it, so it recoiled mute and blind.
ذَعَرْتَهُمُyou terrified them غَزواًwith raids دِراكاًin swift succession فأصبحواso they became
ذَعَرْتَهُمُ غَزواً دِراكاً فأصبحوا
علىat البُعْدِa distance خَفَّاقَfluttering in الحشاthe heart ومُسهَّداand sleepless
على البُعْدِ خَفَّاقَ الحشا ومُسهَّدا
You terrified them with raids in swift succession, leaving them
You routed them in a sudden raid, so they became
even far away, with hearts pounding and sleep denied.
Far off, the dove of aridity and prostrate.
يَظُنُّونَthey suppose غَربيَّthe western part of السحابِthe clouds كتيبةًa battalion
يَظُنُّونَ غَربيَّ السحابِ كتيبةً
تُشَرِّقُmarching east والبرقَand the lightning الشآميَّSyrian مِطْرَداa lance
تُشَرِّقُ والبرقَ الشآميَّ مِطْرَدا
They mistake the western clouds for a battalion
They supposed the western clouds to be a troop
marching eastward, and Syrian lightning for a lance.
Flashing while the eastern lightning bolted.
إذاif الدولةُthe state الغَرَّاءُradiant سمَّتْكَnamed you سيفَهاits sword
إذا الدولةُ الغَرَّاءُ سمَّتْكَ سيفَها
لتُبْهَجَso you may be gladdened سمَّاكَnamed you الهُدىGuidance ناصرَthe champion of الهُدىGuidance
لتُبْهَجَ سمَّاكَ الهُدى ناصرَ الهُدى
If the radiant state has named you its sword,
When the Radiant State named you its sword,
to gladden you, Guidance named you the Champion of Guidance.
To delight, your summoner to right guidance named you.
ليَهْنِكَmay it delight you أنَّthat الرومَthe Byzantines ذَلَّwas humbled عزيزُهاits mighty one
ليَهْنِكَ أنَّ الرومَ ذَلَّ عزيزُها
فصارتْso became مواليهاits masters بِعزِّكَthrough your might أعبُداslaves
فصارتْ مواليها بِعزِّكَ أعبُدا
May you rejoice that the Byzantines' mighty one is humbled,
So the Romans' pride was humbled,
so their masters have become slaves through your might.
And its subjects through your might became more loyal.
إذاwhen قيلَit is said سيفُthe Sword of الدولةِthe State اهتزَّshook عرشُهاits throne
إذا قيلَ سيفُ الدولةِ اهتزَّ عرشُها
وخَرَّتْand it fell رُكوعاًbowing عندَat ذاكَthat وسُجَّداand prostrating
وخَرَّتْ رُكوعاً عندَ ذاكَ وسُجَّدا
When 'Sayf al-Dawla' is uttered, their throne trembles,
When it is said "the State's sword," her throne quaked,
and at that they fall, bowing and prostrating.
And before that it knelt in worship and prostration.
Sol 6.1