مَنازِلُ المَجدِ مِن سُكّانِها دُثُرُ

مَنازِلُ المَجدِ مِن سُكّانِها دُثُرُ

قَد عَثَّرَتهُم صُروفٌ بِالفَتى عُثُرُ

قَد عَثَّرَتهُم صُروفٌ بِالفَتى عُثُرُ

The abodes of glory lie deserted, bereft of their inhabitants.

The abodes of glory are shrouded by their dwellers

Turns of fortune that trip a young man have indeed made them stumble.

Misfortunes made them stumble over the youth’s stumbling

هَبِ الدِيانَةَ لا تُرعى فَما لَهُمُ

هَبِ الدِيانَةَ لا تُرعى فَما لَهُمُ

حَقَّ المُروءَةِ لَم يَرعَوا وَإِن كَثُروا

حَقَّ المُروءَةِ لَم يَرعَوا وَإِن كَثُروا

Suppose religion is not observed—what ails them,

They neglected religion, so they have no right

That they have not upheld the duty of noble conduct, though they are many?

To chivalry, though numerous they are

لا يَحلِبونَ لِضَيفٍ طارِقٍ غُمُراً

لا يَحلِبونَ لِضَيفٍ طارِقٍ غُمُراً

إِلّا وَثَمَّ نُفوسٌ لِلقِرى خُثُرُ

إِلّا وَثَمَّ نُفوسٌ لِلقِرى خُثُرُ

They milk no small cupful for a guest arriving by night

They give no guest seeking refuge a filled cup

Without there being souls reluctant to offer hospitality.

Unless stains taint the souls of settlements

أَنَحنُ أَفضَلُ أَم أَشياءُ جامِدَةٌ

أَنَحنُ أَفضَلُ أَم أَشياءُ جامِدَةٌ

أَضحَت سَواءً لَدَيها العَينُ وَالأَثَرُ

أَضحَت سَواءً لَدَيها العَينُ وَالأَثَرُ

Are we better, or lifeless things

Are we superior or are inanimate things

To which the thing itself and its trace have become alike?

That deem the eye and trace as equal?

ما هَزَّ سَيفَكَ تيهٌ بَل مُقَلَّدُهُ

ما هَزَّ سَيفَكَ تيهٌ بَل مُقَلَّدُهُ

لَمّا أَنارَ لَهُ التَأثيرُ وَالأُثُرُ

لَمّا أَنارَ لَهُ التَأثيرُ وَالأُثُرُ

It was not arrogance that brandished your sword, but its bearer,

It was not confusion that shook your sword

When its cutting power and watered pattern shone clear to him.

But its influence and impact gave it light