كأنّك بالأحبابِ قد جَدَّدوا العَهْدا

كأنّك بالأحبابِ قد جَدَّدوا العَهْدا

وأنجزَتِ الأيام من وَصْلِهم وَعْدا

وأنجزَتِ الأيام من وَصْلِهم وَعْدا

You might think the loved ones had renewed their pledge,

It is as if your loved ones have renewed their covenant,

and the days fulfilled a promise of reunion with them;

And the days have fulfilled their promise of reunion.

وعادوا إلى ما عَوّدُونا فأصبَحوا

وعادوا إلى ما عَوّدُونا فأصبَحوا

وقد أنعمَتْ نُعْمٌ وقد أسعَدتْ سُعْدى

وقد أنعمَتْ نُعْمٌ وقد أسعَدتْ سُعْدى

and they returned to their familiar ways with us, so now

They have returned to their familiar company,

Nu‘m has bestowed favors, and Su‘da has brought happiness.

Blessings have been bestowed, and joy abounds.

أمانِيَ لا تُدنِي نوى غيرَ أنها

أمانِيَ لا تُدنِي نوى غيرَ أنها

تُعللُ منا أنفُساً مُلئتْ وَجدا

تُعللُ منا أنفُساً مُلئتْ وَجدا

Wishes that cannot shorten separation, except that they

My hopes, though futile, torment my soul with yearning -

console souls within us filled with longing.

Like embers of desire, fanned by every sigh.

وجَمرةُ شَوقٍ كلما لام لائمٌ

وجَمرةُ شَوقٍ كلما لام لائمٌ

ورَدَّد من أنفاسِه زادَها وَقدا

ورَدَّد من أنفاسِه زادَها وَقدا

And an ember of longing—whenever a reproacher reproaches

I yearn for Layla though her home is near,

and repeats it with his breath, he adds to its blaze.

With the longing of one parted from a lifelong friend.

أحِنُ إلى ليلَى على قُرْبِ دارِها

أحِنُ إلى ليلَى على قُرْبِ دارِها

حَنينَ الذي يَشكو لأُلاَّفِه بُعدا

حَنينَ الذي يَشكو لأُلاَّفِه بُعدا

I yearn for Layla though her home is near,

My body sheds tears like drops of dew,

with the yearning of one who complains to his companions of distance.

Else I'd have adorned her neck with a pearl necklace.

ولي سِلْكُ جسم ماؤه درّ أدمُع

ولي سِلْكُ جسم ماؤه درّ أدمُع

فلولا العدا أمسَيْتُ في جِيدِها عِقدا

فلولا العدا أمسَيْتُ في جِيدِها عِقدا

My body is a thread, its moisture pearls of tears;

I conceal my fatal love for her though it destroys me,

were it not for enemies, I would be a necklace around her neck.

Like the hidden spark that sets alight the tinder.

أكتِّمُ جَهْدي حُبَّها وهو قاتلي

أكتِّمُ جَهْدي حُبَّها وهو قاتلي

وكامن نارِ الزَنْد لا يُحرِق الزّندا

وكامن نارِ الزَنْد لا يُحرِق الزّندا

With all my strength I conceal my love for her, though it kills me;

They are crescent moons, though we live far apart -

yet the fire hidden in a fire-stick does not burn the stick.

Is there a way to guide me to their encampment?

هلالِية قوماً وبُعْدَ منازلٍ

هلالِية قوماً وبُعْدَ منازلٍ

فهل من سناً منها إلى مقلةٍ يُهْدَى

فهل من سناً منها إلى مقلةٍ يُهْدَى

Hilali in tribe, crescent-like in her distant dwelling;

Gazelle-like maidens, when they show their faces -

can any radiance from her be brought to an eye?

Covered or bare, dark-eyed or rosy-cheeked.

غزاليّةٌ للناظِرينَ إذا بدَتْ

غزاليّةٌ للناظِرينَ إذا بدَتْ

إن انتقبَتْ عيْناً وإنْ سفَرتْ خدّا

إن انتقبَتْ عيْناً وإنْ سفَرتْ خدّا

Gazelle-like to those who gaze when she appears,

When I visit, warriors block my path with spears

in her eye when veiled, in her cheek when unveiled.

To guard her from all suitors' amorous pursuit.

إذا زُرْتُها جَرَّ الرماحَ فَوارسٌ

إذا زُرْتُها جَرَّ الرماحَ فَوارسٌ

لتَقْصيدها فيمَنْ يُريغ لها قَصدا

لتَقْصيدها فيمَنْ يُريغ لها قَصدا

When I visit her, horsemen drag their spears

They guard the castle's moat to bar my entry -

to splinter them against anyone seeking to approach her.

As bees defend their hive and stores of honey.

وحالُوا بأطرفِ القنا دونَ ثَغْرها

وحالُوا بأطرفِ القنا دونَ ثَغْرها

كما ثار يَحْمِي النَّحْلُ بالإبَرِ الشهدا

كما ثار يَحْمِي النَّحْلُ بالإبَرِ الشهدا

With spearpoints they bar the way to her mouth,

My last glimpse was at Marj Raqqah with her people -

as bees rise with their stings to guard the honey.

Their cheeks all henna-stained from recent weddings.

وآخِرُ عَهْدي يومَ جَرَعاء مالك

وآخِرُ عَهْدي يومَ جَرَعاء مالك

بمُنْعَرَجِ الوادي وأظعانُهم تُحْدى

بمُنْعَرَجِ الوادي وأظعانُهم تُحْدى

My last encounter was on the day at Jara'a Malik,

As she approached unveiled, her jealous kinsmen

at the valley's bend, while their camel litters were driven onward with song.

Seethed with rage though she drew near.

ولمّا دَنتْ والسِتْرُ مُرخىً ودونَها

ولمّا دَنتْ والسِتْرُ مُرخىً ودونَها

غَيارَى غدَتْ تَغْلِي صدورُهُم حِقدا

غَيارَى غدَتْ تَغْلِي صدورُهُم حِقدا

And when she drew near, her curtain lowered, while before her

I came to trade my soul for just one look

stood jealous men whose breasts boiled with rancor,

At her lithe form - how cheaply life is sold!

تَقدَّمْتُ أبِغي أن أبيعَ بنظرةٍ

تَقدَّمْتُ أبِغي أن أبيعَ بنظرةٍ

إلى سِجْفها روحي لقد رَخُصَتْ جِدّا

إلى سِجْفها روحي لقد رَخُصَتْ جِدّا

I stepped forward, seeking to sell for one glance

I mourn the loss of days shared with my beloveds,

toward her curtain my soul—how cheap it had become!

Though the bereaved have no power to reclaim the past.

أسِفْتُ على ماضي عهودِ أحبَّتي

أسِفْتُ على ماضي عهودِ أحبَّتي

وهل يَملِكُ المَحزونُ للفائتِ الرَدَا

وهل يَملِكُ المَحزونُ للفائتِ الرَدَا

I grieved for the bygone days of my loved ones;

When absent, the morning is spent in torment;

can the sorrowful bring back what has passed?

When present, their aloofness wounds all the more.

أبَوا أن يَبيتَ الصَّبُ إلا مُعذَّباً

أبَوا أن يَبيتَ الصَّبُ إلا مُعذَّباً

إذا بَعُدُوا شوقاً وإن قَربُوا صَدا

إذا بَعُدُوا شوقاً وإن قَربُوا صَدا

They refused to let the lovesick spend a night except in torment:

When they visit I find no joy in their company,

with longing when they went far, with rejection when they came near.

So deep the hurt of past desertion.

متى وَرَدوا بي مَنْهلا من وِصالهم

متى وَرَدوا بي مَنْهلا من وِصالهم

قضَى هَجْرُهم أن يسبق الصدر الوردا

قضَى هَجْرُهم أن يسبق الصدر الوردا

Whenever they brought me to a watering-place of union with them,

How often their nearness fails to fulfill me,

their estrangement decreed that departure precede arrival.

And how often their distance leaves me inconsolable!

فكم حاد بي أن لم أنل منهم مُنى

فكم حاد بي أن لم أنل منهم مُنى

وكم عاد بي أن لم أجِدْ منهمُ بُدّا

وكم عاد بي أن لم أجِدْ منهمُ بُدّا

How often my failure to win my wishes from them turned me away,

It was a mere glance from a Bedouin lass

and how often my finding no escape from them brought me back!

That pierced my heart - no intention to wound me.

وما قاتِلي إلا لواحظُ شادنٍ

وما قاتِلي إلا لواحظُ شادنٍ

منَ الرّاعياتِ القلبَ لا البانَ والرَّندا

منَ الرّاعياتِ القلبَ لا البانَ والرَّندا

Nothing kills me but the glances of a young gazelle,

I'm amazed that Layla, usually so demure,

one of those that graze on hearts, not on moringa and laurel.

Once felled the stoutest warrior in single combat.

لغَيري رمَى بالطَّرف لكن أصابَني

لغَيري رمَى بالطَّرف لكن أصابَني

ولا قَوَدٌ في الحُبِ ما لم يكنْ عَمدا

ولا قَوَدٌ في الحُبِ ما لم يكنْ عَمدا

It aimed its glance at another, yet struck me;

She wields her staff like a lioness hunting prey -

in love there is no blood-requital unless the deed was deliberate.

As if it were a cub she'd snatched from the mother's den!

عَجِبتُ لليَلى وهي جِدّ فَروقةٍ

عَجِبتُ لليَلى وهي جِدّ فَروقةٍ

وقد صرَعَتْ يومَ النَّقا فارساً نَجْدا

وقد صرَعَتْ يومَ النَّقا فارساً نَجْدا

I marvel at Layla, who is so timid,

Just rule has spread prosperity in Imam's realm,

yet on the day at al-Naqa she felled a valiant horseman.

So neither wolf nor lion stalk the grazing lambs.

كأنّ مَعاجَ العيسِ من بطنِ وَجْرةٍ

كأنّ مَعاجَ العيسِ من بطنِ وَجْرةٍ

وقد طَفِقتْ تَصطادُ غِزلانُه الأُسدا

وقد طَفِقتْ تَصطادُ غِزلانُه الأُسدا

As though the pale camels' turning-place in Wajra's valley—

A leader who shepherds his people for God

whose gazelles had begun to hunt lions—

Enabled his subjects to live in comfort and plenty.

أظَلَّتْه أيّامُ الإمامِ بعَدلِه

أظَلَّتْه أيّامُ الإمامِ بعَدلِه

فلم يَخْشَ ريمٌ أحورٌ أسَداً وَرْدا

فلم يَخْشَ ريمٌ أحورٌ أسَداً وَرْدا

were sheltered by the Imam's days and his justice,

Rightfully, God entrusted our affairs to his hands,

so no dark-eyed gazelle feared a tawny lion.

And he fulfilled his duty to God in guiding the faithful.

إمامٌ رعَى للهِ أمرَ عبادِه

إمامٌ رعَى للهِ أمرَ عبادِه

فعاش الورى في مُلْكِه عيشةً رَغْدا

فعاش الورى في مُلْكِه عيشةً رَغْدا

An Imam who tended, for God's sake, the affairs of His servants,

With his works he has graced the world,

so all people lived in ease under his reign.

Magnanimous himself, he taught others detachment.

بحَقٍ إليه اللهُ ألقَى أمورَنا

بحَقٍ إليه اللهُ ألقَى أمورَنا

وللهُ أوْفَى ناقدٍ للورى نَقدا

وللهُ أوْفَى ناقدٍ للورى نَقدا

Rightfully God entrusted our affairs to him;

He frets for his people, wanting them to feel safe -

and God is the truest assayer of humankind.

Should fate stir up turmoil, he would firmly guide them.

فقد زَيَّن الدّنيا بآثارِ كَفِّه

فقد زَيَّن الدّنيا بآثارِ كَفِّه

سَماحاً وخلاها لأبنائها زُهدا

سَماحاً وخلاها لأبنائها زُهدا

He has adorned the world with the traces of his hand

His enemies' hearts fear him like his own people's hearts love him -

through generosity, and left it to its children in renunciation.

His eyes watch over them as their own kin would guard them.

يُؤَرِّقُه خوفٌ عليهم ليأمَنوا

يُؤَرِّقُه خوفٌ عليهم ليأمَنوا

إذا الدّهرُ أزجَى نحوَهم حادِثاً إدّا

إذا الدّهرُ أزجَى نحوَهم حادِثاً إدّا

Fear for them keeps him sleepless so they may be safe

When sleepless worries besiege him by night

when time drives some terrible calamity toward them.

His sound judgment dispels them like the morning sun.

قلوبُ العِدا منه حِذاراً كقلْبِه

قلوبُ العِدا منه حِذاراً كقلْبِه

علينا وعَيْناهُ كأعيُنهم سهدا

علينا وعَيْناهُ كأعيُنهم سهدا

His enemies' hearts, in fear of him, are like his own

May he live long, best of rulers, a downpour of bounty -

in fear for us; his eyes are sleepless like theirs.

We know none to rival him in virtue and wisdom.

إذا ما الهمومُ المُسهِرات طَرقْنَه

إذا ما الهمومُ المُسهِرات طَرقْنَه

ضُيوفاً قرَاها جَمْعُهُ الجِدّ والجَدّا

ضُيوفاً قرَاها جَمْعُهُ الجِدّ والجَدّا

When cares that banish sleep come to him by night

You inherited your ancestor's integrity and generosity

as guests, he hosts them by joining resolve with good fortune.

Before the cold hand of death could snatch them away.

وكالصُّبحِ مُبْيْضاً له الرَّأيُ يُنتضَى

وكالصُّبحِ مُبْيْضاً له الرَّأيُ يُنتضَى

إذا ما أظَلَّ الخَطْبُ كاللّيلِ مُسوّدا

إذا ما أظَلَّ الخَطْبُ كاللّيلِ مُسوّدا

His counsel is unsheathed, white as dawn,

You took up the scepter like one worthy to wield it -

when calamity looms, black as night.

One whose decree won him honor and glory.

بمُستَرشدٍ باللهش مُستَخلَفٍ له

بمُستَرشدٍ باللهش مُستَخلَفٍ له

مليكٍ يُريكَ اللهُ طاعتَه رُشْدا

مليكٍ يُريكَ اللهُ طاعتَه رُشْدا

Through al-Mustarshid bi-llah, appointed God's vicegerent,

It was but to you that your nation's cause came -

a sovereign whom God shows you it is wise to obey.

You were the unique peerless one among them.

يحولُ حجابُ العِزِّ دون لقائه

يحولُ حجابُ العِزِّ دون لقائه

وإن كان لا يُعْيِي على طالبٍ رِفدا

وإن كان لا يُعْيِي على طالبٍ رِفدا

A veil of majesty bars the way to meeting him,

Divine mysteries are folded in God's decrees -

though no petitioner finds his gifts hard to obtain.

The learned may fathom them, but you are the most guided.

وتَنْهَى العُيونَ الشَّمس عنها إذا اعتلتْ

وتَنْهَى العُيونَ الشَّمس عنها إذا اعتلتْ

بُهوراً وإن كانتْ بأنوارِها تُهْدى

بُهوراً وإن كانتْ بأنوارِها تُهْدى

The sun forbids eyes to gaze at it when it rises,

When genius Arabs perceive them, their tongues

dazzling them, though its light gives guidance.

Become eloquent models for all orators.

فدُمْ للعُلا يا خيرَ من مطرَ الورى

فدُمْ للعُلا يا خيرَ من مطرَ الورى

نوالاً فلم نَعْرِفْ له في النّدى نِدّا

نوالاً فلم نَعْرِفْ له في النّدى نِدّا

Endure for high glory, O best of those who rain upon mankind

Did you not see the two sons of Nizār assume power -

gifts—we have known no equal to him in generosity.

One took the crimson dome, the other the sleek steed.

ورِثْتَ الذي قد ضمَّه البُرْدُ من تُقىً

ورِثْتَ الذي قد ضمَّه البُرْدُ من تُقىً

ومِن كرمٍ من قبلِ أن تَرِثَ البُردا

ومِن كرمٍ من قبلِ أن تَرِثَ البُردا

You inherited the piety enfolded by the mantle,

Each was clear proof of your authority to lead -

and its generosity, before inheriting the mantle itself.

God, Lord of the Throne, guided you best to guide.

ووُلِّيتَ من مُلْكِ القضيبِ شَبيه ما

ووُلِّيتَ من مُلْكِ القضيبِ شَبيه ما

تَولاّه مَنْ كان المُشيرُ به مَجدا

تَولاّه مَنْ كان المُشيرُ به مَجدا

You were entrusted with sovereignty under the scepter like that

We love you not out of habit, but sincerely -

held by him whose wielding of it was glory.

By that oath to God we solemnly pledged our devotion.

وما هو إلا أمْرُ أُمَتهِ الّذي

وما هو إلا أمْرُ أُمَتهِ الّذي

إليك انتهَى إذ كنتَ من بَينها الفَردا

إليك انتهَى إذ كنتَ من بَينها الفَردا

It is nothing but the governance of his community, which

We know of no greater duty to God

has come down to you, since you were its peerless one.

Than serving the Prophet's mission - that, we hold sacred.

سَرائرُ للهِ انطَوتْ في أمائرٍ

سَرائرُ للهِ انطَوتْ في أمائرٍ

أُولوُ العِلْمِ قد كانوا إلى فَهْمِها أهدى

أُولوُ العِلْمِ قد كانوا إلى فَهْمِها أهدى

Secrets of God's folded within signs,

Through your clan - the Abbasids - come all our blessings,

which the learned were better guided to understand.

The first to be lavished, the last to be taken away.

إذا لمَحتْها فِطْنةٌ عربيّةٌ

إذا لمَحتْها فِطْنةٌ عربيّةٌ

غدَتْ ألسُناً عند الحِجاجِ لكم لُدا

غدَتْ ألسُناً عند الحِجاجِ لكم لُدا

When an Arab discernment catches sight of them,

You ransomed the prisoner from unjust confinement -

they become tongues, fierce in argument on your behalf.

You freed him, earning all praise for your action.

ألم ترَ أنَّ ابنَيْ نِزارٍ تَملَّكا

ألم ترَ أنَّ ابنَيْ نِزارٍ تَملَّكا

له القُبّةَ الحمراءَ والفَرَسَ النَهدا

له القُبّةَ الحمراءَ والفَرَسَ النَهدا

Have you not seen that Nizar's two sons possessed

Can any house boast of purer motives than yours

for him the red pavilion and the powerful horse?

When they vaunt their merits? For you the clouds bow!

فكان لهذا بالسيادةِ حجّةً

فكان لهذا بالسيادةِ حجّةً

وهذا يَقودُ الخيلَ نحوَ الوغَى جُردا

وهذا يَقودُ الخيلَ نحوَ الوغَى جُردا

For this one it was proof of lordship,

Adam established your right to rule on this earth,

while that one led sleek horses toward battle:

And for your sake, did not despair when expelled from Paradise.

دليلانِ كلُّ منهما بُوضوحِه

دليلانِ كلُّ منهما بُوضوحِه

لكَ اللهُ رب العرشِ أهْدَى الّذي أهدى

لكَ اللهُ رب العرشِ أهْدَى الّذي أهدى

two proofs, each in its clarity—

Abraham's back served as a hiding place for your hands -

God be with you! The Lord of the Throne bestowed what He bestowed.

Thus the fire became cool when he entered its flames.

نُحِبك لا حُبّ اعتيادٍ وإنّما

نُحِبك لا حُبّ اعتيادٍ وإنّما

بِذاك علينا اللهُ قد أخَذ العَهدا

بِذاك علينا اللهُ قد أخَذ العَهدا

We love you, not with a love born of habit, but

Without you as vicegerents, no Judgment or Resurrection -

because God has taken our pledge to do so.

The universe would not exist, nor continue its course.

وما إن نَرى أجْراً على اللهِ واجباً

وما إن نَرى أجْراً على اللهِ واجباً

لمسْعَى رسولِ اللهِ إلا لك الودّا

لمسْعَى رسولِ اللهِ إلا لك الودّا

We deem no reward incumbent upon God

You superseded others so perfectly you became

for God's Messenger's striving, save love for you.

Twin pillars of divine guidance and human dominion.

بِكمُ آل عبّاسٍ يُعاذ ومنكمُ

بِكمُ آل عبّاسٍ يُعاذ ومنكمُ

يُعادُ لنا جَزْلُ العطاء كما يُبْدا

يُعادُ لنا جَزْلُ العطاء كما يُبْدا

Through you, House of Abbas, refuge is sought, and from you

You are the pinnacle of the religion of truth,

bountiful gifts are renewed for us as they were first bestowed.

Beyond you, none can climb to a higher summit.

وأنتم شفَعْتُم للحَيا عند حَبْسِه

وأنتم شفَعْتُم للحَيا عند حَبْسِه

فأطْلقْتُموه حائزِين له حَمْدا

فأطْلقْتُموه حائزِين له حَمْدا

You interceded for the rain when it was withheld,

You left the faithless bereft in every abode,

and set it free, earning praise for that.

God's sword razed their structures to the ground.

فهل غَيرُكم من آلِ بيتِ مكارمٍ

فهل غَيرُكم من آلِ بيتِ مكارمٍ

إذا افتخَروا كان الغَمامُ لهم عَبدا

إذا افتخَروا كان الغَمامُ لهم عَبدا

Is there any house of noble deeds besides yours

They mixed Islam with unbelief - a vile concoction!

that, when its members boast, has the clouds for a servant?

So by the sword's edge you decisively parted them.

لَكُم سَنَّ في الأرضِ الخلافة آدمٌ

لَكُم سَنَّ في الأرضِ الخلافة آدمٌ

ومِن أجلِكم لم يَأْسَ إذ فارق الخُلدا

ومِن أجلِكم لم يَأْسَ إذ فارق الخُلدا

For you Adam established the caliphate on earth,

Whenever grasping hands made a bid for your birthright,

and for your sake he did not grieve when he left the eternal abode.

You drew the sword without hesitation to defend it.

وفي ظَهْرِ إبراهيمَ كانتْ خَبيئةً

وفي ظَهْرِ إبراهيمَ كانتْ خَبيئةً

أكفُّكم حتّى غَدتْ نارهُ بَردا

أكفُّكم حتّى غَدتْ نارهُ بَردا

And concealed in Abraham's loins were

Whenever a tyrant turned from you in ignorance,

your hands, until his fire became cool.

His wicked neck inevitably fell to the blade.

ولولا الّذي أصبَحتُم خلفاءَهُ

ولولا الّذي أصبَحتُم خلفاءَهُ

لما كان في كَونٍ مَعادٌ ولا مَبْدا

لما كان في كَونٍ مَعادٌ ولا مَبْدا

Were it not for him whose successors you became,

No traitor defected and then returned in disgrace

there would be neither resurrection nor beginning in existence.

But religion itself barred all hope of return.

فلَمْ تُخلَفوا حتّى غدا وغَدوتُمُ

فلَمْ تُخلَفوا حتّى غدا وغَدوتُمُ

قَسيمَيْ عُلا عُدّا لِدينِ الهدى عَدّا

قَسيمَيْ عُلا عُدّا لِدينِ الهدى عَدّا

You were not made successors [wording uncertain] until he and you became

For ages you allowed no breach in religion's rampart,

two partners in glory, duly reckoned for the faith of guidance.

Placing your sword as a barrier before it.

وأنت لدينِ الحقِّ غايتُه التي

وأنت لدينِ الحقِّ غايتُه التي

تَناهَتْ فما عنها لذِي نُهيةٍ مَعْدى

تَناهَتْ فما عنها لذِي نُهيةٍ مَعْدى

You are the true faith's ultimate goal,

To you, Commander of the Faithful, we pilgrims have journeyed,

its furthest limit, beyond which no discerning mind can go.

Our mounts knelt before your court to be honored with gifts.

تركْتَ بني الإلحادِ في كُلِّ مَوطنٍ

تركْتَ بني الإلحادِ في كُلِّ مَوطنٍ

وقد هّدَّ سيفُ اللهِ بُنيانَهم هَدّا

وقد هّدَّ سيفُ اللهِ بُنيانَهم هَدّا

In every place you have left the people of heresy

With hennaed hands they would pat the cheeks of horses

with their edifice utterly shattered by the sword of God.

That raced with abandon to leave their mark.

هُمُ خَلَطوا الإسلامَ بالكُفْر خَلْطةً

هُمُ خَلَطوا الإسلامَ بالكُفْر خَلْطةً

فَصيّرتَ حّدَّ السيفِ بينهم الحَدّا

فَصيّرتَ حّدَّ السيفِ بينهم الحَدّا

They mingled Islam with unbelief in a single mixture,

I come to add my ancient allegiance in verse

so you made the sword's edge the boundary between them.

Though my poor talents hardly match your merit.

إذا الكفُّ أبدتْ باغتصابٍ إشارةً

إذا الكفُّ أبدتْ باغتصابٍ إشارةً

إلى حَقِّك المَوروثِ لم تَصْحبِ الزَندا

إلى حَقِّك المَوروثِ لم تَصْحبِ الزَندا

If a hand gestures usurpingly

No poetry suffices to pay your due -

toward your inherited right, it does not remain attached to the forearm.

But the weak strive to give what they are able.

إذا رأسُ طاغٍ مال عنك جَهالةً

إذا رأسُ طاغٍ مال عنك جَهالةً

أبَى حَيْنُه إلا القناةَ له قَدا

أبَى حَيْنُه إلا القناةَ له قَدا

If a tyrant's head turns ignorantly away from you,

Without religion's laws that you righteously championed,

his doom allows him only a spear for a body.

My mind's creations would roam unfettered.

وما ارتَدَّ مُنْحازٌ فَرُدَّ بذِلّةٍ

وما ارتَدَّ مُنْحازٌ فَرُدَّ بذِلّةٍ

إلا الدّينِ إلاّ سُرعةَ النَّفَسِ ارْتَدا

إلا الدّينِ إلاّ سُرعةَ النَّفَسِ ارْتَدا

No seceder turned away and was brought back in humiliation

I sacrifice myself, though a worthless slave,

to the faith—his return took only the span of a breath.

One like me, who can redeem? One like you, who needs redeeming?

بَقيتَ لدهرٍ لم تَدَعْ أهلَه سُدىً

بَقيتَ لدهرٍ لم تَدَعْ أهلَه سُدىً

ودينٍ جَعْلتَ السّيفَ من دُونهِ سُدّا

ودينٍ جَعْلتَ السّيفَ من دُونهِ سُدّا

May you endure for an age whose people you have not left neglected,

I pray to my Lord that you and your noble shade

and for a faith you have made the sword a rampart to defend.

Endure long, sheltering mankind, ever-expanding.

إليك أميرَ المؤمنين سَرتْ بنا

إليك أميرَ المؤمنين سَرتْ بنا

ركائبُ أدنَتْ من مَواقِفك الوَفدا

ركائبُ أدنَتْ من مَواقِفك الوَفدا

To you, Commander of the Faithful, we were carried

May you live graced with fortunes - feasting ever,

by riding-camels that brought the delegation close to your presence.

The zenith of glory your eternal vantage.

لطَمْنَ بأيديهِنَّ خَدّاً من الفلا

لطَمْنَ بأيديهِنَّ خَدّاً من الفلا

على عَجَلٍ حتّى تَرَكنَ به خَدّا

على عَجَلٍ حتّى تَرَكنَ به خَدّا

With their forefeet they slapped the desert's cheek

May you remain undimmed by time, immortal,

in haste, until they left a furrow upon it.

For no glory awaits a sword left sheathed in idleness!

وقد وفَدَ العبدُ القديمُ وَلاؤه

وقد وفَدَ العبدُ القديمُ وَلاؤه

لِيُتْبعَ طُرْفاً من مَدائحِكم تُلدا

لِيُتْبعَ طُرْفاً من مَدائحِكم تُلدا

The servant whose loyalty is long-standing has arrived,

to join fresh praises of you to those long held.

وما الشِعرُ قاضٍ واجباً من حُقوقِكم

وما الشِعرُ قاضٍ واجباً من حُقوقِكم

لديَّ ولكنْ من مُقِل غدا جُهدا

لديَّ ولكنْ من مُقِل غدا جُهدا

Poetry does not discharge any duty among the rights you hold

over me; it is merely a poor man's utmost effort.

ولولا مَناهِي دينِ جُودٍ شَرعْتَه

ولولا مَناهِي دينِ جُودٍ شَرعْتَه

عَممْتُ بناتِ الفكْرِ من أنَفٍ وأدا

عَممْتُ بناتِ الفكْرِ من أنَفٍ وأدا

Were it not for the prohibitions of the creed of generosity you ordained,

I would, out of pride, have buried every daughter of thought alive.

فِدىً لك نَفْسي في العبيد من الردى

فِدىً لك نَفْسي في العبيد من الردى

فمِثْليَ مَن يَفْدِي ومثْلُك مَن يُفدى

فمِثْليَ مَن يَفْدِي ومثْلُك مَن يُفدى

May my soul, among the servants, ransom you from death;

one like me gives the ransom, one like you is ransomed.

بَقاءَك أرجو اللهَ ربّي وظِلَّه

بَقاءَك أرجو اللهَ ربّي وظِلَّه

على الخَلْقِ طُرّاً أن يَمُدَّهما مَدّا

على الخَلْقِ طُرّاً أن يَمُدَّهما مَدّا

I ask God, my Lord, for your enduring life and His shade

over all creation: may He prolong them both.

تَصومُ على يُمنٍ وتُفْطِرُ دائماً

تَصومُ على يُمنٍ وتُفْطِرُ دائماً

وتَطلعُ في أفْقٍ العُلا أبداً سَعدا

وتَطلعُ في أفْقٍ العُلا أبداً سَعدا

May you always fast and break your fast in good fortune,

and rise forever, auspicious, on the horizon of high glory;

وتَبْقى إلى أن تُبْلِيَ الدَّهرَ خالداً

وتَبْقى إلى أن تُبْلِيَ الدَّهرَ خالداً

ولا شَرفٌ للسيفِ أن يُبْلِه الغِمدا

ولا شَرفٌ للسيفِ أن يُبْلِه الغِمدا

and live immortal until you wear out time—

for a sword has no honor in being worn out by its sheath.