وَكَيفَ يُقهَرُ مَن لِلَّهِ يَنصُرُ مِن

وَكَيفَ يُقهَرُ مَن لِلَّهِ يَنصُرُ مِن

دونِ الوَرى وَبِعِزِّ اللَهِ يَعتَصِمُ

دونِ الوَرى وَبِعِزِّ اللَهِ يَعتَصِمُ

How could he be vanquished—he who champions God’s cause,

And how can he be vanquished who champions God rather than

apart from all mankind, and holds fast to God’s might?

mankind, and takes refuge in God's might?

إِن سارَ سارَ لِواءُ الحَمدِ يَقدُمُهُ

إِن سارَ سارَ لِواءُ الحَمدِ يَقدُمُهُ

أَو حَلّ حلّ بِهِ الأَقبالُ وَالكَرَمُ

أَو حَلّ حلّ بِهِ الأَقبالُ وَالكَرَمُ

When he marches, the Banner of Praise marches before him;

If he marches, the banner of praise marches before him;

wherever he alights, good fortune and generosity alight with him.

or if he settles, good fortune and generosity settle with him.

يَلقى العِدى بِجُيوشٍ لا يُقاوِمَها

يَلقى العِدى بِجُيوشٍ لا يُقاوِمَها

كُثرُ العَساكِرِ إِلا أنَّها هِمَمُ

كُثرُ العَساكِرِ إِلا أنَّها هِمَمُ

He meets his foes with armies that no

He meets his foes with armies that cannot be withstood

multitude of troops can withstand—though they are only mighty resolves.

by multitudes of troops—yet they are lofty resolves.

لَمّا سَقى البيضَ رَيّاً وَهيَ ظامِئَةٌ

لَمّا سَقى البيضَ رَيّاً وَهيَ ظامِئَةٌ

مِنَ الدِماءِ وَحُكمُ المَوتِ يَحتَكِمُ

مِنَ الدِماءِ وَحُكمُ المَوتِ يَحتَكِمُ

When he gave the white blades their fill, while they thirsted

When he gave the thirsty, gleaming swords their fill

for blood, and death’s decree sat in judgment,

of blood, while death's decree held sway,

سَقَت سَحائِبُ كَفَّيهِ بِصَيِّبِها

سَقَت سَحائِبُ كَفَّيهِ بِصَيِّبِها

دِيارُ بَكرٍ فَهانَت عِندَها الدِيَمُ

دِيارُ بَكرٍ فَهانَت عِندَها الدِيَمُ

the clouds of his two palms poured down their showers

the clouds of his two palms watered with their downpour

upon Bakr’s lands, till lasting rains seemed paltry beside them.

Diyar Bakr; beside those clouds, the steady rains seemed paltry.