إِذاif دَنَوتِyou draw near لِشامٍto Syria أَوor مَرَرتِyou pass بِهِby it
إِذا دَنَوتِ لِشامٍ أَو مَرَرتِ بِهِ
فَنَكِّبيهِthen cast it aside وَراءَbehind الظَهرِthe back أَوor حيديturn aside
فَنَكِّبيهِ وَراءَ الظَهرِ أَو حيدي
If you draw near to Syria or pass by it,
Then cast it behind your back, or turn aside.
قَدindeed غَيَّرَhas changed الدَهرُtime مِنهُof it بعدَafter مُبتَهَجٍjoy
قَد غَيَّرَ الدَهرُ مِنهُ بعدَ مُبتَهَجٍ
وَأَلحَدَand turned impious السَيفُthe sword فيهِin it بَعدَafter تَوحيدِbelief in God's oneness
وَأَلحَدَ السَيفُ فيهِ بَعدَ تَوحيدِ
Time has indeed changed it since its days of joy,
And the sword has turned impious there after faith in God's oneness.
Sol 6.1