عارَضنَناthey crossed our path أُصُلاًat evening فَقُلناso we said الرَبرَبُa herd of oryx
عارَضنَنا أُصُلاً فَقُلنا الرَبرَبُ
حَتّىuntil أَضاءَshone الأُقحُوانُthe chrysanthemum الأَشنَبُcool and pearly
حَتّى أَضاءَ الأُقحُوانُ الأَشنَبُ
They crossed our path at evening, and we said, "A herd of oryx!"
We were confronted so we said, "Patience."
Until the cool, pearly chrysanthemum of their teeth shone.
Until the slender ones shone with elegance
وَاِخضَرَّand turned green مَوشِيُّthe embroidery البُرودِof the cloaks وَقَدand already بَداappeared
وَاِخضَرَّ مَوشِيُّ البُرودِ وَقَد بَدا
مِنهُنَّfrom them ديباجُthe brocade الخُدودِof cheeks المُذهَبُgilded
مِنهُنَّ ديباجُ الخُدودِ المُذهَبُ
And the embroidery of their cloaks turned green, while there appeared
And the clothing of youth turned green. From them
From them the gilded brocade of their cheeks.
Shone the brocade of rosy cheeks.
أَومَضنَthey flashed مِنfrom خَلَلِthe gaps الخُدورِthe curtained chambers فَراعَناand startled us
أَومَضنَ مِن خَلَلِ الخُدورِ فَراعَنا
بَرقانِtwo lightning flashes خالٌrain-promising ماnot يُنالُis reached وَخُلَّبُand rainless
بَرقانِ خالٌ ما يُنالُ وَخُلَّبُ
They flashed through gaps in the curtained chambers, startling us—
From behind the veils flashed sudden
Two flashes: one promising rain but beyond reach, the other rainless.
Lightning, unattainable and elusive.
وَلَوَand if اَنَّنيthat I أَنصَفتُI had been fair فيin حُكمِthe judgment الهَوىof love
وَلَوَ اَنَّني أَنصَفتُ في حُكمِ الهَوى
ماشِمتُI would not have watched for بارِقَةًa lightning flash وَرَأسيand my head أَشيَبُgray-haired
ماشِمتُ بارِقَةً وَرَأسي أَشيَبُ
And had I been fair in love's judgment,
Had I been just in judging passion
I would not have watched for lightning with my head grown gray.
My head would not have turned gray.
وَلَقَدand indeed نَهَيتُI forbade الدَمعَthe tears يَومَon the day سُوَيقَةٍof Suwayqa
وَلَقَد نَهَيتُ الدَمعَ يَومَ سُوَيقَةٍ
فَأَبَتbut refused غَوالِبُoverpowering surges عَبرَةٍof weeping ماتُغلَبُnot to be overcome
فَأَبَت غَوالِبُ عَبرَةٍ ماتُغلَبُ
And indeed I forbade my tears on the day at Suwayqa,
On the day of parting I forbade my tears
But overpowering surges of weeping refused, not to be overcome.
But tears of anguish are uncontrollable.
وَوَراءَand beyond تَسدِيَةِthe weaving of schemes الوُشاةِthe tale-bearers مَلِيَّةٌa richly endowed woman
وَوَراءَ تَسدِيَةِ الوُشاةِ مَلِيَّةٌ
بِالحُسنِin beauty تَملُحُshe is charming فيin القُلوبِthe hearts وَتَعذُبُand is sweet
بِالحُسنِ تَملُحُ في القُلوبِ وَتَعذُبُ
And beyond the tale-bearers' woven schemes is one rich
Behind the slanderers' corruption is a beauty
In beauty, charming to hearts and sweet.
That gleams in hearts and torments them.
كَالبَدرِlike the full moon إِلّاexcept أَنَّهاthat she لاnot تُجتَلىis beheld unveiled
كَالبَدرِ إِلّا أَنَّها لا تُجتَلى
وَالشَمسِand the sun إِلّاexcept أَنَّهاthat she لاnot تَغرُبُsets
وَالشَمسِ إِلّا أَنَّها لا تَغرُبُ
Like the full moon, save that she is not unveiled,
Like the full moon but it does not appear
And like the sun, save that she never sets.
And the sun but it does not set.
راحَتcame at evening لِأَربُعِكِto your dwellings الرِياحُthe winds مَريضَةًlanguid
راحَت لِأَربُعِكِ الرِياحُ مَريضَةً
وَأَصابَand reached مَغناكِyour abode الغَمامُthe cloud الصَيِّبُpouring rain
وَأَصابَ مَغناكِ الغَمامُ الصَيِّبُ
The winds came at evening to your dwellings, languid,
The winds have fallen ill for your sake
And the rain-pouring cloud reached your abode.
And clouds cry upon your singing voice.
سَأَعُدُّI shall recount ماwhat أَلقىI endure فَإِنand if كَذَّبتِنيyou call me a liar
سَأَعُدُّ ما أَلقى فَإِن كَذَّبتِني
فَسَليthen ask الدُموعَthe tears فَإِنَّهاfor indeed they لاnot تَكذِبُlie
فَسَلي الدُموعَ فَإِنَّها لا تَكذِبُ
I shall recount what I endure; if you call me a liar,
I will recount what I have experienced, and if you accuse me of lying,
Then ask my tears, for they do not lie.
Then ask my tears, for they do not lie.
أَعرَضتِyou turned away حَتّىuntil خِلتُI thought أَنّيthat I ظالِمٌunjust
أَعرَضتِ حَتّى خِلتُ أَنّي ظالِمٌ
وَعَتَبتِand you reproached me حَتّىuntil قُلتُI said أَنّيthat I مُذنِبُguilty
وَعَتَبتِ حَتّى قُلتُ أَنّي مُذنِبُ
You turned away until I thought myself unjust,
You were aloof until I thought myself unjust
And you reproached me until I said I was guilty.
And you blamed me until I confessed to sin.
عَجَباًhow strange لِهَجرِكِat your desertion قَبلَbefore تَشتيتِthe scattering النَوىseparation
عَجَباً لِهَجرِكِ قَبلَ تَشتيتِ النَوى
مِنّاof us وَوَصلُكِand your union فيin التَنائيmutual remoteness أَعجَبُstranger still
مِنّا وَوَصلُكِ في التَنائي أَعجَبُ
How strange your desertion before separation scattered
Strange that you shunned me before our love faded,
Us—and your joining me across the distance is stranger still.
Yet you were faithful though parted.
كَيفَhow اِهتَدَيتِdid you find your way وَماand not اِهتَدَيتِyou had found your way لِمُغمَدٍto one shrouded
كَيفَ اِهتَدَيتِ وَما اِهتَدَيتِ لِمُغمَدٍ
فيin لَيلِthe night عانَةَof 'Ana وَالثُرَيّاand the Pleiades تُجنَبُare borne southward
في لَيلِ عانَةَ وَالثُرَيّا تُجنَبُ
How did you find your way—when you had not—to one shrouded
How did you find your way when no guide
In the night at 'Ana, while the Pleiades were borne southward?
Could be found in the dark night of trial?
عَفَتِfaded الرُسومُthe traces وَماand not عَفَتwere cleared أَحشاؤُهُhis inward parts
عَفَتِ الرُسومُ وَما عَفَت أَحشاؤُهُ
مِنfrom عَهدِthe memory شَوقٍof longing ماnot يَحولُchanges فَيَذهَبُand so vanishes
مِن عَهدِ شَوقٍ ما يَحولُ فَيَذهَبُ
The traces faded, but his heart has not been emptied
Passion faded though its essence remains
Of the memory of longing that will not change and vanish.
An eternal longing that does not diminish.
أَتَرَكتِهِdid you leave him بِالحَبلِat al-Habl ثُمَّthen طَلَبتِهِyou sought him
أَتَرَكتِهِ بِالحَبلِ ثُمَّ طَلَبتِهِ
بِخَليجِat the channel بارِقَof Bariq حَيثُwhere عَزَّwas hard المَطلَبُthe search
بِخَليجِ بارِقَ حَيثُ عَزَّ المَطلَبُ
Did you leave him at al-Habl, then seek him
You left it tied then sought it
At the channel of Bariq, where finding him was hard,
In a vast sea where quests are fruitless.
مِنfrom بَعدِafter ماwhen خَلُقَwore threadbare الهَوىlove وَتَعَرَّضَتand intervened
مِن بَعدِ ما خَلُقَ الهَوى وَتَعَرَّضَت
دونَbarring اللِقاءِthe meeting مَسافَةٌa distance ماnot تَقرُبُdraws near
دونَ اللِقاءِ مَسافَةٌ ما تَقرُبُ
After love had worn threadbare, and there intervened
After passion was created and we were kept apart
Before a meeting a distance that would not shorten?
By a distance that will not come closer.
وَرَمَتand cast بِناus سَمتَtoward العِراقِIraq أَيانِقٌshe-camels
وَرَمَت بِنا سَمتَ العِراقِ أَيانِقٌ
سُحمُblack الخُدودِthe cheeks لُغامُهُنَّtheir mouth-foam الطُحلُبُthe water-moss
سُحمُ الخُدودِ لُغامُهُنَّ الطُحلُبُ
And she-camels flung us toward Iraq,
The beauties of Iraq cast at us glances
Black-cheeked, their mouth-foam like water-moss.
Of intoxicating eyes with dark lashes.
مِنof كُلِّevery طائِرَةٍflying one بِخَمسِwith five خَوافِقٍbeating appendages
مِن كُلِّ طائِرَةٍ بِخَمسِ خَوافِقٍ
دُعجٍdeep-black كَماjust as ذُعِرَwas startled الظَليمُthe male ostrich المُهذِبُswift-running
دُعجٍ كَما ذُعِرَ الظَليمُ المُهذِبُ
Each flying with five beating appendages,
Each lovely gazelle has five conquests -
Black, like a startled, swift-running male ostrich.
Charms to disturb even the refined.
يَحمِلنَthey carry كُلَّeach مُفَرَّقٍdistracted man فيin هِمَّةٍan ambition
يَحمِلنَ كُلَّ مُفَرَّقٍ في هِمَّةٍ
فُضُلٍboundless يَضيقُis too narrow بِهاfor it الفَضاءُthe open expanse السَبسَبُthe level wilderness
فُضُلٍ يَضيقُ بِها الفَضاءُ السَبسَبُ
They carry each man distracted by an ambition
Each bearing some charm with pride
So vast that the broad, level expanse is too narrow for it.
Too great for the vast, open space.
رَكِبواthey rode الفُراتَthe Euphrates إِلىto الفُراتِthe Euphrates وَأَمَّلواand hoped for
رَكِبوا الفُراتَ إِلى الفُراتِ وَأَمَّلوا
جَذلانَa joyful man يُبدِعُis inventive فيin السَماحِgenerosity وَيُغرِبُand astonishes
جَذلانَ يُبدِعُ في السَماحِ وَيُغرِبُ
They rode the Euphrates toward a Euphrates, hoping for
They rode the Euphrates to the Euphrates, hoping
A joyful man, inventive and astonishing in generosity.
For generosity that amazes and impresses.
فيat غايَةٍa summit طُلِبَتwas sought فَقَصَّرَbut fell short دونَهاof it
في غايَةٍ طُلِبَت فَقَصَّرَ دونَها
مَنwhoever رامَهاsought it فَكَأَنَّهاso as though it ماnot تُطلَبُis sought
مَن رامَها فَكَأَنَّها ما تُطلَبُ
At a height sought, but never attained
Seeking a goal none could attain,
By those who sought it, as though it had never been sought.
As if it could not be sought at all.
كَرَماًgenerosity يُرَجّىis hoped for مِنهُfrom it مالاwhat is not يُرتَجىhoped for
كَرَماً يُرَجّى مِنهُ مالا يُرتَجى
عُظماًfor sheer magnitude وَيوهَبُand is bestowed فيهِin it مالاwhat is not يوهَبُbestowed
عُظماً وَيوهَبُ فيهِ مالا يوهَبُ
A generosity from which men hope for gifts beyond all hope,
A generosity hoped for yet unexpected,
So immense—and through it gifts otherwise ungiven are bestowed.
Greatness bestowed though undeserved.
أَعطىhe gave فَقيلَso it was said أَحاتِمٌis this Hatim أَمor خالِدٌKhalid
أَعطى فَقيلَ أَحاتِمٌ أَم خالِدٌ
وَوَفىand he kept faith فَقيلَso it was said أَطَلحَةٌis this Talha أَمor مُصعَبُMus'ab
وَوَفى فَقيلَ أَطَلحَةٌ أَم مُصعَبُ
He gave, and they asked, "Is this Hatim or Khalid?"
He gave so it was said, "Hatim or Khalid?"
And he kept faith, and they asked, "Is this Talha or Mus'ab?"
He was true so it was said, "Talhah or Musab?"
شَيخانِtwo elders قَدindeed عَقَداthey both bound لِقائِمِfor the leader of هاشِمٍHashim
شَيخانِ قَد عَقَدا لِقائِمِ هاشِمٍ
عَقدَthe bond الخِلافَةِof the caliphate وَهيَwhile she بِكرٌa maiden تُخطَبُis wooed
عَقدَ الخِلافَةِ وَهيَ بِكرٌ تُخطَبُ
Two elders who bound, for the leader of Hashim's house,
Two elders who pledged the caliphate
The bond of the caliphate, while she was a maiden being wooed.
To the upright Hashimite though it was contested.
نَقَضاthey both undid بِرَأيِهِماwith their joint counsel الَّذيwhat سَدّىlaid the warp بِهِwith it
نَقَضا بِرَأيِهِما الَّذي سَدّى بِهِ
لِبَنيfor the sons of أُمَيِّةَUmayya ذوDhu (possessor of) الكَلاعِal-Kala' وَحَوشَبُand Hawshab
لِبَني أُمَيِّةَ ذو الكَلاعِ وَحَوشَبُ
By their counsel they unwove the scheme woven
With their opinion they nullified what
For Umayya's sons by Dhu al-Kala' and Hawshab.
Had gratified the sons of rabid Umayyah.
فَهُماso those two إِذاwhen خَذَلَforsakes الخَليلُthe friend خَليلَهُhis friend
فَهُما إِذا خَذَلَ الخَليلُ خَليلَهُ
عَضُدٌan upper arm لِمُلكِfor the rule of بَنيthe sons of الوَلِيِّthe protector وَمَنكِبُand a shoulder
عَضُدٌ لِمُلكِ بَني الوَلِيِّ وَمَنكِبُ
So when a friend forsakes his friend, those two are
Thus if the friend abandons his friend
An arm and shoulder for the rule of the protector's sons.
They support the rule of the Prophet's heirs.
وَعَلىand upon الأَميرِthe emir أَبيAbu (father of) الحُسَينِal-Husayn سَكينَةٌa calm
وَعَلى الأَميرِ أَبي الحُسَينِ سَكينَةٌ
فيamid الرَوعِterror يَسكُنُهاdwells in it الهِزَبرُthe mighty lion الأَغلَبُthick-necked
في الرَوعِ يَسكُنُها الهِزَبرُ الأَغلَبُ
And upon the emir Abu al-Husayn lies a calm
And the Prince Abu al-Husayn is serene
In terror, wherein the mighty, thick-necked lion rests.
When chaos makes hypocrites tremble in fear.
وَلِحَربَةِand for the spear of الإِسلامِIslam حينَwhen يَهُزُّهاhe brandishes it
وَلِحَربَةِ الإِسلامِ حينَ يَهُزُّها
هَولٌa terror يُراعُis frightened لَهُbefore it النِفاقُhypocrisy وَيَرهَبُand grows afraid
هَولٌ يُراعُ لَهُ النِفاقُ وَيَرهَبُ
And Islam's spear, when he brandishes it, has
And when the weapon of Islam is shaken
A terror before which hypocrisy is startled and afraid.
By terror, even traitors are awed.
تِلكَthose المُحَمِّرَةُthe Red-Clad الَّذينَwho تَهافَتواrushed headlong
تِلكَ المُحَمِّرَةُ الَّذينَ تَهافَتوا
فَمُشَرِّقٌso one heading east فيin غَيِّهِhis error وَمُغَرِّبُand one heading west
فَمُشَرِّقٌ في غَيِّهِ وَمُغَرِّبُ
Those Red-Clad men who rushed headlong—
Those reddened ones who scrambled
One eastward in his error, another westward;
East and west in their ignorance.
وَالخُرَّمِيَّةُand the Khurramiyya إِذwhen تَجَمَّعَgathered مِنهُمُfrom them
وَالخُرَّمِيَّةُ إِذ تَجَمَّعَ مِنهُمُ
بجِبالِin the mountains of قُرّانَQurran الحَصىthe pebbles وَالأَثلَبُand the rubble
بجِبالِ قُرّانَ الحَصى وَالأَثلَبُ
And the Khurramiyya, when their throngs massed
And the Kharijites when they gathered
Like pebbles and rubble in the mountains of Qurran,
Against him in the hills of stony Qarran.
جاشواthey surged فَذاكَand that الغَورُlowland مِنهُمwith them سائِلٌflowing
جاشوا فَذاكَ الغَورُ مِنهُم سائِلٌ
دُفَعاًin torrents وَذاكَand that النَجدُupland مِنهُمwith them مُعشِبُsprouting grass
دُفَعاً وَذاكَ النَجدُ مِنهُم مُعشِبُ
They surged, and the lowland ran with them
They seethed so that their vanguard
In torrents, while the upland sprouted thick with them.
Sought refuge while their Najd force took arms.
يَتَسَرَّعونَthey rush إِلىtoward الحُتوفِdeaths كَأَنَّهاas though they
يَتَسَرَّعونَ إِلى الحُتوفِ كَأَنَّها
وَفرٌabundant wealth بِأَرضِin the land of عَدُوِّهِمtheir enemy يُتَنَهَّبُis plundered
وَفرٌ بِأَرضِ عَدُوِّهِم يُتَنَهَّبُ
They rush toward deaths as though these were
They rushed to the battle as if it were
Abundant wealth in their enemy's land, to be plundered.
Plunder in their enemy's land to seize.
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen كادَتnearly مَصابيحُthe lamps الهُدىof guidance
حَتّى إِذا كادَت مَصابيحُ الهُدى
تَخبوgo out وَكادَand nearly مُمَرُّهُits tightly twisted cord يُتَقَضَّبُis severed
تَخبو وَكادَ مُمَرُّهُ يُتَقَضَّبُ
Until, when the lamps of guidance nearly
Until the lamps of true guidance neared
Went out, and its tightly twisted cord was nearly severed,
Extinction and their path grew dark.
ضَرَبَhe struck الجِبالَthe mountains بِمِثلِهاwith their like مِنfrom رَأيِهِhis resolve
ضَرَبَ الجِبالَ بِمِثلِها مِن رَأيِهِ
غَضبانُwrathful يَطعَنُhe thrusts بِالحِمامِwith death وَيَضرِبُand strikes
غَضبانُ يَطعَنُ بِالحِمامِ وَيَضرِبُ
He struck the mountains with mountains of his resolve,
In his rage he struck the mountains with his view
Wrathful, thrusting and striking with death.
Stabbing with resolve, striking with wrath.
أَوفىhe appeared on high فَظَنّواso they thought أَنَّهُthat he القَدَرُfate الَّذيwhich
أَوفى فَظَنّوا أَنَّهُ القَدَرُ الَّذي
سَمِعواthey heard بِهِof it فَمُصَدِّقٌso one believing وَمُكَذِّبُand one denying
سَمِعوا بِهِ فَمُصَدِّقٌ وَمُكَذِّبُ
He appeared on high, and they thought him the fate
He was true so they thought it was the fate
They had heard of—some believing, others denying.
They had heard of - some believed, some denied.
ناهَضتَهُمyou rose against them وَالبارِقاتُand the gleaming swords كَأَنَّهاas though they
ناهَضتَهُم وَالبارِقاتُ كَأَنَّها
شُعَلٌflames عَلىupon أَيديهُمُtheir hands تَتَلَهَّبُblaze
شُعَلٌ عَلى أَيديهُمُ تَتَلَهَّبُ
You rose against them, while the gleaming swords were like
You roused them and the flashing swords seemed
Flames blazing in their hands.
Torches blazing in their hands.
وَوَقَفتَand you stood مَشكورَpraised for المَكانِthe station كَريمَهُnoble in it
وَوَقَفتَ مَشكورَ المَكانِ كَريمَهُ
وَالبيضُand the white swords تَطفوfloat فيin الغُبارِthe dust وَتَرسُبُand sink
وَالبيضُ تَطفو في الغُبارِ وَتَرسُبُ
And you stood your ground, your stand praised and noble,
You stood gratefully in your rightful place
While the white blades floated in the dust and sank.
While the white blades floated in the dust then sank.
ماnot إِنat all تَرىyou see إِلّاexcept تَوَقُّدَthe blazing كَوكَبٍof a star
ما إِن تَرى إِلّا تَوَقُّدَ كَوكَبٍ
فيin قَونَسٍa helmet's crown قَدalready غارَhas sunk فيهِinto it كَوكَبُa star
في قَونَسٍ قَد غارَ فيهِ كَوكَبُ
You see nothing but the blazing of a star
Wherever you look a star seems to blaze
In a helmet's crown, where another star has sunk.
In a comet that hides another star.
فَمُجَدَّلٌso one felled وَمُرَمَّلٌand one blood-stained وَمُوَسَّدٌand one pillowed
فَمُجَدَّلٌ وَمُرَمَّلٌ وَمُوَسَّدٌ
وَمُضَرَّجٌand one blood-drenched وَمُضَمَّخٌand one blood-smeared وَمُخَضَّبُand one blood-dyed
وَمُضَرَّجٌ وَمُضَمَّخٌ وَمُخَضَّبُ
So one lies felled, one blood-stained, one pillowed,
So bloodstained, muddy, and smeared,
And one drenched, one smeared, one dyed with blood.
Drenched, smudged, and colored red.
سُلِبواthey were stripped وَأَشرَقَتِand shone الدِماءُthe blood عَلَيهِمُupon them
سُلِبوا وَأَشرَقَتِ الدِماءُ عَلَيهِمُ
مُحمَرَّةًcrimson فَكَأَنَّهُمso as though they لَمhad not يُسلَبواbeen stripped
مُحمَرَّةً فَكَأَنَّهُم لَم يُسلَبوا
They were stripped, while blood shone upon them,
They were defeated but the blood shining on them
Crimson, as though they had never been stripped.
Made it seem they were not plundered.
وَلَوَand even if اَنَّهُمthat they رَكِبواhad mounted الكَواكِبَthe stars لَمnot يَكُنwould be
وَلَوَ اَنَّهُم رَكِبوا الكَواكِبَ لَم يَكُن
لِمُجِدِّهِمfor their most determined one مِنfrom أَخذِthe grasp of بَأسِكَyour might مَهرَبُan escape
لِمُجِدِّهِم مِن أَخذِ بَأسِكَ مَهرَبُ
Even had they ridden the stars, there would have been
Had they mounted the stars, your might
No escape for their most determined man from your might's grasp.
Would have left them no escape.
وَشَدَدتَand you tightened عَقدَthe bond خِلافَتَينِof two caliphates خِلافَةًone caliphate
وَشَدَدتَ عَقدَ خِلافَتَينِ خِلافَةً
مِنfrom بَعدِafter أُخرىanother وَالخَلائِفُand the caliphs غُيَّبُabsent
مِن بَعدِ أُخرى وَالخَلائِفُ غُيَّبُ
And you tightened the bond of two caliphates, one caliphate
You tied two caliphates into one caliphate
After another, while the caliphs were absent.
After the other though the caliphs were gone.
حينَwhen التَوَتgrew tangled تِلكَthose الأُمورُaffairs وَرُجِّمَتand were blindly conjectured
حينَ التَوَت تِلكَ الأُمورُ وَرُجِّمَت
تِلكَthose الظُنونُconjectures وَماجَand surged ذاكَthat الغَيهَبُdeep darkness
تِلكَ الظُنونُ وَماجَ ذاكَ الغَيهَبُ
When those affairs grew tangled, and men hazarded
When those matters were distorted and
Those conjectures, and that deep darkness surged.
Those assumptions muddled and that ignorance spread.
وَتَجَمَّعَتand assembled بَغدادُBaghdad ثُمَّthen تَفَرَّقَتsplit apart
وَتَجَمَّعَت بَغدادُ ثُمَّ تَفَرَّقَت
شِيَعاًinto factions يُشَيِّعُهاescorts them الضَلالُerror المُصحِبُever-accompanying
شِيَعاً يُشَيِّعُها الضَلالُ المُصحِبُ
And Baghdad gathered together, then split
Baghdad gathered together then dispersed
Into factions escorted by ever-accompanying error.
In factions led astray by accompanying misguidance.
فَأَخَذتَso you secured بَيعَتَهُمtheir pledge of allegiance لِأَزكىfor the purest قائِمٍruler
فَأَخَذتَ بَيعَتَهُم لِأَزكى قائِمٍ
بِالسَيفِby the sword إِذwhen شَغِبواthey rioted عَلَيكَagainst you فَأَجلَبواand clamored
بِالسَيفِ إِذ شَغِبوا عَلَيكَ فَأَجلَبوا
So you secured their pledge of allegiance to the purest ruler
Then you pledged allegiance to the most worthy leader
By the sword, when they rioted against you and raised a clamor.
At the sword point when they rebelled against you.
وَاللَهُand God أَيَّدَكُمstrengthened you وَأَعلىand raised ذِكرَكُمyour renown
وَاللَهُ أَيَّدَكُم وَأَعلى ذِكرَكُم
بِالنَصرِthrough victory يُقرَأُis read فيin السَماءِheaven وَيُكتَبُand is written
بِالنَصرِ يُقرَأُ في السَماءِ وَيُكتَبُ
And God strengthened you and raised your renown
God supported you and exalted your name
Through victory: it is read and written in heaven.
With victory - recited in the heavens and recorded.
وَلَأَنتُمُand indeed you عُدَدُthe resources الخِلافَةِof the caliphate إِنif غَداsets out at dawn
وَلَأَنتُمُ عُدَدُ الخِلافَةِ إِن غَدا
أَوor راحَsets out at evening مِنهاfrom it مَجلِسٌan assembly أَوor مَوكِبُa procession
أَو راحَ مِنها مَجلِسٌ أَو مَوكِبُ
And you indeed are the caliphate's strength, whether at dawn
You are the pillars of the caliphate, whether tomorrow
Or dusk a council or procession sets out from it.
Departs or a council or procession.
وَالسابِقونَand the foremost إِلىto أَوائِلِthe beginnings دَعوَةٍof a cause
وَالسابِقونَ إِلى أَوائِلِ دَعوَةٍ
يَرضىis pleased لَهاfor it رَبُّthe Lord السَماءِof heaven وَيَغضَبُand is wrathful
يَرضى لَها رَبُّ السَماءِ وَيَغضَبُ
And the first to hasten to the beginnings of a cause
The first to call
For which the Lord of heaven is pleased and grows wrathful.
To what pleases the Lord of heaven and angers others.
وَمُظُفَّرونَand victorious men إِذاwhen اِستَقَلَّrises لِواءُهُمtheir banner
وَمُظُفَّرونَ إِذا اِستَقَلَّ لِواءُهُم
بِالعِزِّwith glory أَدرَكَattains رَبُّهُits master ماwhat يَطلُبُhe seeks
بِالعِزِّ أَدرَكَ رَبُّهُ ما يَطلُبُ
And men granted victory: when their banner rises
And the victorious ones when their banner
In glory, its master attains what he seeks.
Independently attains honor it seeks.
جَدٌّgood fortune يَفوتُoutstrips الريحَthe wind فيin دَرَكِattaining العُلاthe heights
جَدٌّ يَفوتُ الريحَ في دَرَكِ العُلا
سَبقاًin racing ahead إِذاwhen وَنَتِflag الجُدودُthe fortunes الخُيَّبُluckless
سَبقاً إِذا وَنَتِ الجُدودُ الخُيَّبُ
Good fortune that outruns the wind in reaching glory,
A grandfather who surpasses the winds in the abode of ascension,
Racing ahead when luckless fortunes falter.
Racing when honorable ancestors rest.
ماnot جُهِّزَتwere prepared راياتُكُمyour banners لِمُخالِفٍagainst an opponent
ما جُهِّزَت راياتُكُم لِمُخالِفٍ
إِلّاexcept تَهَدَّمَcollapsed كَهفُهُhis refuge المُستَصعَبُimpregnable
إِلّا تَهَدَّمَ كَهفُهُ المُستَصعَبُ
Never were your banners deployed against an opponent
Your banners are not prepared for opponents
But his impregnable refuge crumbled.
Except that their formidable caves collapse.
وَإِذاand when تَوَثَّبَleapt up خالِعٌa rebel فيin جانِبٍa quarter
وَإِذا تَوَثَّبَ خالِعٌ في جانِبٍ
ظَلَّتkept عَلَيهِupon him سُيوفُكُمyour swords تَتَوَثَّبُleaping
ظَلَّت عَلَيهِ سُيوفُكُم تَتَوَثَّبُ
And when a rebel leapt up in some quarter,
And when a dissenter leaps to the side
Your swords kept leaping upon him.
Your swords hover over him, poised to strike.
وَإِذاand when تَأَمَّلتُI pondered الزَمانَtime وَجَدتُهُI found it
وَإِذا تَأَمَّلتُ الزَمانَ وَجَدتُهُ
دُوَلاًcycles of fortune عَلىthrough أَيديكُمُyour hands تَتَقَلَّبُturning
دُوَلاً عَلى أَيديكُمُ تَتَقَلَّبُ
And whenever I pondered time, I found it
When I reflect on time I find it
Turns of fortune revolving through your hands.
Turning in your hands, shifting.
Sol 6.1