مِنَfrom اَيِّwhich الثَناياthe mountain passes طالَعَتناappeared before us النَوائِبُcalamities
مِنَ اَيِّ الثَنايا طالَعَتنا النَوائِبُ
وَأَيُّand which حِمىًsanctuary مِنّاof ours رَعَتهُrespected it المَصائِبُmisfortunes
وَأَيُّ حِمىً مِنّا رَعَتهُ المَصائِبُ
From which mountain passes have calamities appeared before us?
And what sanctuary of ours have misfortunes spared?
خَطَونَthey stepped over إِلَيناtoward us الخَيلُthe horses وَالبيضُand the white swords وَالقَناand the spears
خَطَونَ إِلَينا الخَيلُ وَالبيضُ وَالقَنا
فَماyet not مَنَعَتkept away عَنّاfrom us القَناthe spears وَالقَواضِبُand the cutting blades
فَما مَنَعَت عَنّا القَنا وَالقَواضِبُ
They strode toward us over horses, white swords, and spears,
and neither spears nor cutting blades kept them from us.
وَضَلَّand strayed بِناwith us قَصدُthe straight course الطَريقِof the road كَأَنَّماas though
وَضَلَّ بِنا قَصدُ الطَريقِ كَأَنَّما
تَؤُمُّhead toward المَناياdeath لاnot النَجاءُdeliverance الرَكائِبُthe riding mounts
تَؤُمُّ المَنايا لا النَجاءُ الرَكائِبُ
The road's straight course led us astray, as though
our mounts were heading for death, not deliverance.
نَروغُwe dodge كَماas راغَdodged الطَرائِدُthe hunted beasts دونَهاbefore them
نَروغُ كَما راغَ الطَرائِدُ دونَها
وَتَجلُبُناand herd us عوداًback again إِلَيهاto them الجَوالِبُthe driving forces
وَتَجلُبُنا عوداً إِلَيها الجَوالِبُ
We dodge like hunted beasts fleeing before them,
yet the driving forces herd us back to them.
طِوالُlong رِماحٍspears لاnot تَقيprotect وَعَقائِلٌand prized mares
طِوالُ رِماحٍ لا تَقي وَعَقائِلٌ
مِنَamong الجُردِthe sleek steeds لاnot يَنجوescapes عَلَيهِنَّon them هارِبُa fugitive
مِنَ الجُردِ لا يَنجو عَلَيهِنَّ هارِبُ
Long spears cannot protect, and prized mares
among the sleek steeds bring no fugitive to safety.
فَأَينَso where النُفوسُthe souls الآبِياتُthe defiant مُليحَةًturning away
فَأَينَ النُفوسُ الآبِياتُ مُليحَةً
مِنَfrom الضَيمِhumiliation وَالأَيديand the hands الطِوالُthe long الغَوالِبُthe conquering
مِنَ الضَيمِ وَالأَيدي الطِوالُ الغَوالِبُ
Where are the defiant souls, turning away
from humiliation, and the long, conquering hands?
وَأَينَand where الطِعانُthe spear-thrusting الشَزرُthe sidelong يُثنىare turned back بِمِثلِهِby its like
وَأَينَ الطِعانُ الشَزرُ يُثنى بِمِثلِهِ
رِقابُthe necks الأَعاديof the enemies دونَناaway from us وَالكَتائِبُand the battalions
رِقابُ الأَعادي دونَنا وَالكَتائِبُ
And where the sidelong thrusts whose like turn back
the necks of our foes and their battalions from us?
إِذاif لَمnot يُعِنكَhelps you اللَهُGod يَوماًone day بِنُصرَةٍwith victory
إِذا لَم يُعِنكَ اللَهُ يَوماً بِنُصرَةٍ
فَأَكبَرُthen the greatest أَعوانٍallies عَلَيكَagainst you الأَقارِبُthe kinsmen
فَأَكبَرُ أَعوانٍ عَلَيكَ الأَقارِبُ
If God does not help you with victory one day,
your kinsmen are the strongest allies against you.
وَإِنand if هُوَHe لَمnot يُعصِمكَshields you مِنهُfrom Himself بِجِنَّةٍwith a shield
وَإِن هُوَ لَم يُعصِمكَ مِنهُ بِجِنَّةٍ
فَقَدthen indeed أُكثِبَتhave been brought near لِلضارِبينَto the strikers المَضارِبُthe targets for blows
فَقَد أُكثِبَت لِلضارِبينَ المَضارِبُ
And if He does not shield you from Himself with a defense,
the targets for blows lie within the strikers' reach.
تَناهىbring to an end بِناwith us الآجالُthe allotted deaths عَنshort of كُلِّevery مُدَّةٍspan
تَناهى بِنا الآجالُ عَن كُلِّ مُدَّةٍ
وَماand not تَنتَهيcome to an end بِالطالِبينَfor the seekers المَطالِبُthe pursuits
وَما تَنتَهي بِالطالِبينَ المَطالِبُ
Our allotted deaths cut us short of every further span,
yet the seekers' pursuits never reach an end.
نُغَرُّwe are deluded بِإيعادِabout the threat of الرَدىdeath وَهوَwhile it صادِقٌis truthful
نُغَرُّ بِإيعادِ الرَدى وَهوَ صادِقٌ
وَنَطمَعُand we put hope فيin وَعدِthe promise of المُنىdesires وَهوَwhile it كاذِبُis false
وَنَطمَعُ في وَعدِ المُنى وَهوَ كاذِبُ
We are deluded about death's threat, though it is true,
and trust in desire's promise, though it is false.
أَفيmust on كُلِّevery يَومٍday ليfor me صَديقٌa friend مُصادِقٌsincere
أَفي كُلِّ يَومٍ لي صَديقٌ مُصادِقٌ
يُجيبُanswers المَناياdeath أَوor قَريبٌa kinsman مُقارِبُclose
يُجيبُ المَنايا أَو قَريبٌ مُقارِبُ
Must every day a sincere friend of mine
answer death, or a kinsman close to me?
لَعَمريby my life لَقَدindeed أَبقىhe has left عَلَيَّupon me بِيَومِهِthrough his fatal day
لَعَمري لَقَد أَبقى عَلَيَّ بِيَومِهِ
لَواعِجَburning griefs تُمليهاdictate them عَلَيَّto me العَواقِبُthe aftermaths
لَواعِجَ تُمليها عَلَيَّ العَواقِبُ
By my life, his fatal day has left me
burning griefs that the aftermath dictates to me.
رَماهُshot him الرَدىdeath عَنfrom قَوسِهِits bow فَأَصابَهُand struck him
رَماهُ الرَدى عَن قَوسِهِ فَأَصابَهُ
وَلَمand not يُغنِناavailed us إِنthough دَرَّعَتناhad armored us التَجارِبُexperience
وَلَم يُغنِنا إِن دَرَّعَتنا التَجارِبُ
Death shot him from its bow and struck him,
nor did it help us that experience had armored us.
هُوَit الوالِجُthe intruder العاديthe aggressor الَّذيwho لاnot يَروعُهُdaunts it
هُوَ الوالِجُ العادي الَّذي لا يَروعُهُ
مِنَfrom البابِthe door بَيّابٌa doorkeeper عَلَيهِover it وَحاجِبُand a chamberlain
مِنَ البابِ بَيّابٌ عَلَيهِ وَحاجِبُ
It is the invading intruder, undaunted
by any doorkeeper or chamberlain at the gate,
وَلاnor ناصِرٌa helper سِيّانِalike مَنwhoever هُوَhe حاضِرٌis present
وَلا ناصِرٌ سِيّانِ مَن هُوَ حاضِرٌ
إِذاwhen ماever دَعاit calls مِنّاamong us وَمَنand whoever هُوَhe غائِبُis absent
إِذا ما دَعا مِنّا وَمَن هُوَ غائِبُ
or any helper; alike are those present
among us when it calls, and those absent.
نَسيرُwe journey وَلِلآجالِand for the allotted deaths فَوقَabove رُؤوسِناour heads
نَسيرُ وَلِلآجالِ فَوقَ رُؤوسِنا
تَهَزُّمُthe rumbling نَوءٍof a rainstorm بِالمَقاديرِwith fate's decrees صائِبُstriking true
تَهَزُّمُ نَوءٍ بِالمَقاديرِ صائِبُ
We journey, while above our heads our allotted deaths
rumble like a rainstorm, striking true with fate's decrees.
وَماand not يَعلَمُknows الإِنسانُa human فيin أَيَّwhich جانِبٍregion
وَما يَعلَمُ الإِنسانُ في أَيَّ جانِبٍ
مِنَof الأَرضِthe earth يَأويwill rest مِنهُof him فيin التُربِthe dust جانِبُa part
مِنَ الأَرضِ يَأوي مِنهُ في التُربِ جانِبُ
No human knows in which region
of the earth some part of him will rest in the dust.
مُصابٌa calamity رَمىstruck مِنof هاشِمٍHashim فيin صَميمِهاits very heart
مُصابٌ رَمى مِن هاشِمٍ في صَميمِها
فَأَمسَتand so became دُراهاits summits خُشَّعاًbowed low وَالغَوارِبُand the lofty shoulders
فَأَمسَت دُراها خُشَّعاً وَالغَوارِبُ
A calamity struck Hashim at its very heart,
and its summits and lofty shoulders bowed low.
وَأَطلَقَand loosened مِنfrom وَجدٍanguish حُباهاits knee-binding straps وَلَمand not تَكُنhad there been
وَأَطلَقَ مِن وَجدٍ حُباها وَلَم تَكُن
لِهاشِمَfor Hashim لَولاهُbut for it العُقولُthe minds العَوازِبُthe wandering
لِهاشِمَ لَولاهُ العُقولُ العَوازِبُ
In anguish it loosed their knee-bands; never would
Hashim's minds have strayed, had it not been for this.
وَزالَتand slipped لَهُbecause of it الأَقدامُthe feet عَنfrom مُستَقَرِّهاtheir resting place
وَزالَت لَهُ الأَقدامُ عَن مُستَقَرِّها
كَماas مالَleaned لِلبَركِto kneel المَطِيُّthe riding camels اللَواغِبُthe exhausted
كَما مالَ لِلبَركِ المَطِيُّ اللَواغِبُ
Because of it, feet slipped from their resting places,
as weary riding camels lean down to kneel.
أَطالَprolonged بِهِfor him الشُبّانُthe young men لَطمَthe slapping of خُدودِهِمtheir cheeks
أَطالَ بِهِ الشُبّانُ لَطمَ خُدودِهِم
وَصُكَّand were struck لَهُfor him غُرُّthe radiant الوُجوهِfaces الأَشايِبُthe gray-haired
وَصُكَّ لَهُ غُرُّ الوُجوهِ الأَشايِبُ
For him the young men long slapped their cheeks,
and the radiant faces of gray-haired elders were struck.
يَعَضّونَthey bite مِنهُbecause of him بِالأَكُفِّon the palms وَإِنَّماwhereas only
يَعَضّونَ مِنهُ بِالأَكُفِّ وَإِنَّما
تُعَضُّare bitten بِأَطرافِwith the tips of البَنانِthe fingers العَجائِبُwonders
تُعَضُّ بِأَطرافِ البَنانِ العَجائِبُ
They bite their palms for him, though ordinarily
at wonders only the fingertips are bitten.
مَضىhe departed أَملَسَspotless in الأَثوابِhis robes لَمnot يُخزَwas shamed مادِحٌa praiser
مَضى أَملَسَ الأَثوابِ لَم يُخزَ مادِحٌ
بِإِطنابِهِby his lavish praise فيهِof him وَلَمand not يُزرَcould disparage عائِبُa fault-finder
بِإِطنابِهِ فيهِ وَلَم يُزرَ عائِبُ
He departed with spotless robes; no praiser was shamed
for lavishing praise on him, nor could a critic diminish him.
وَخَلّىand left فِجاجاًgaps لاnot تُسَدُّare filled بِمِثلِهِby his like
وَخَلّى فِجاجاً لا تُسَدُّ بِمِثلِهِ
وَتِلكَand those صُدوعٌare rifts أَعوَزَتهاwere lacking for them الشَواعِبُthe menders
وَتِلكَ صُدوعٌ أَعوَزَتها الشَواعِبُ
He left gaps that no equal of his could fill,
rifts for which no menders can be found.
لَقَدindeed هَزَّshook أَحشاءَthe innermost parts of البَعيدِthe distant man مُصابُهُhis loss
لَقَد هَزَّ أَحشاءَ البَعيدِ مُصابُهُ
فَكَيفَthen how المُدانيthe nearby وَالقَريبُand the kinsman المُصاقِبُthe closely neighboring
فَكَيفَ المُداني وَالقَريبُ المُصاقِبُ
His loss shook the hearts of distant men;
what then of those nearby, of close and neighboring kin?
وَلَمand not أَنسَهُhave I forgotten him غادٍgoing forth at dawn وَقَدwhile already أَحدَقَتhad surrounded بِهِhim
وَلَم أَنسَهُ غادٍ وَقَد أَحدَقَت بِهِ
أَدانٍclose ones تُرَوّيdrench نَعشَهُhis bier وَأَقارِبُand kinsmen
أَدانٍ تُرَوّي نَعشَهُ وَأَقارِبُ
I have not forgotten him going forth at dawn, surrounded
by loved ones and kinsmen drenching his bier.
يَحِسّونَthey feel مِنthrough أَعوادِهِits wooden poles ثِقلَthe weight of وَطئِهِhis tread
يَحِسّونَ مِن أَعوادِهِ ثِقلَ وَطئِهِ
وَماand nothing أَثقَلَweighed down الأَعناقَthe necks إِلّاexcept المَناقِبُthe virtues
وَما أَثقَلَ الأَعناقَ إِلّا المَناقِبُ
Through its wooden poles they feel the weight of his tread,
yet nothing weighed their necks down but his virtues.
كَأَنّاas though we عَرَضناlaid out زاعِبِيَّاًa Zaʿibi spear مُثَقَّفاًstraightened
كَأَنّا عَرَضنا زاعِبِيَّاً مُثَقَّفاً
عَلىupon نَعشِهِhis bier قَدalready جَرَّبَتهُhad tested it المَقانِبُthe cavalry squadrons
عَلى نَعشِهِ قَد جَرَّبَتهُ المَقانِبُ
It was as though we had laid out a straightened Zaʿibi spear
upon his bier, one tested by cavalry squadrons.
تَعَلَّقتُI clung مِنfrom وَجديmy grief بِفَضلِto the trailing hem of رِدائِهِhis cloak
تَعَلَّقتُ مِن وَجدي بِفَضلِ رِدائِهِ
وَهَلand does ذاكَthat مُغنٍavail وَالمَناياwhile death الجَواذِبُpulls away
وَهَل ذاكَ مُغنٍ وَالمَنايا الجَواذِبُ
In my grief I clung to the hem of his cloak,
but could that avail, when death was pulling him away?
وَقارَعَنيand contended with me دَهريmy Time عَلَيهِfor him فَحازَهُand won him
وَقارَعَني دَهري عَلَيهِ فَحازَهُ
أَلاbehold إِنَّindeed أَقرانَthe champions of اللَياليthe nights غَوالِبُare overpowering
أَلا إِنَّ أَقرانَ اللَيالي غَوالِبُ
My Time contended with me for him, and won him;
indeed, the nights' champions are ever victorious.
وَكُنتُand I used to بِهِwith him أَلقىface الحُروبَwars وَأَتَّقيand shield myself
وَكُنتُ بِهِ أَلقى الحُروبَ وَأَتَّقي
فَجاءَthen came مِنَfrom الأَقدارِfate's decrees ماwhat لاnot أُحارِبُI fight
فَجاءَ مِنَ الأَقدارِ ما لا أُحارِبُ
With him I used to face wars and shield myself,
but fate brought what I cannot fight.
تَعاقَدَclasped hands حاثوthose scattering تُربِهِhis grave-earth أَيَّwhat نَجدَةٍvalor
تَعاقَدَ حاثو تُربِهِ أَيَّ نَجدَةٍ
تَلاقَتmet عَليهاover it بِالتُرابِwith earth الرَواجِبُthe knuckles
تَلاقَت عَليها بِالتُرابِ الرَواجِبُ
Those heaping his grave-earth clasped hands—what valor
their knuckles met over as they cast the earth!
كَأَنَّهُمُas though they أَدلَواlowered إِلىinto القَبرِthe grave ضَيغَماًa lion
كَأَنَّهُمُ أَدلَوا إِلى القَبرِ ضَيغَماً
يَنوءُstrains to rise وَتَثنيهِand hold him down الأَكُفُّthe hands الحَواصِبُthat pelt earth
يَنوءُ وَتَثنيهِ الأَكُفُّ الحَواصِبُ
As though they had lowered a lion into the grave,
straining to rise, held down by earth-pelting hands.
وَأَيَّand what حُسامٍa cutting sword أَغمَدواthey sheathed فيin ضَريحِهِhis tomb
وَأَيَّ حُسامٍ أَغمَدوا في ضَريحِهِ
كَهَمَّكَlike your resolve لاnot يَعصىis thwarted بِهِwith it اليَومَtoday ضارِبُa striker
كَهَمَّكَ لا يَعصى بِهِ اليَومَ ضارِبُ
And what a cutting sword they sheathed in his tomb!
Like your resolve, no man wielding it is thwarted today.
فَآثارُهُso its marks مُحمَرَّةٌare reddened فيon عَدُوِّهِhis enemy
فَآثارُهُ مُحمَرَّةٌ في عَدُوِّهِ
وَمِنهُand of him وَراءَbeyond التُربِthe earth أَبيضُa white blade قاضِبُcleaving
وَمِنهُ وَراءَ التُربِ أَبيضُ قاضِبُ
Its marks are red upon his enemy,
while beneath the earth he remains a white, cleaving blade.
وَماand not كانَwas it إِلّاexcept بُرهَةًa short while ثُمَّthen أَسفَرَتbrightened
وَما كانَ إِلّا بُرهَةً ثُمَّ أَسفَرَت
نُزوعاًwithdrawing عَنِfrom الوَجدِgrief الوُجوهُthe faces الشَواحِبُthe pallid
نُزوعاً عَنِ الوَجدِ الوُجوهُ الشَواحِبُ
It was only a little while before
the pallid faces brightened, withdrawing from grief.
وَجَفَّتand dried عُيونُthe eyes of الباكِياتِthe weeping women وَأُنسِيَتand were forgotten
وَجَفَّت عُيونُ الباكِياتِ وَأُنسِيَت
مِنَfrom الغَدِthe morrow ماwhat كانَتused to تَقولُsay النَوادِبُthe women lamenters
مِنَ الغَدِ ما كانَت تَقولُ النَوادِبُ
The weeping women's eyes grew dry, and forgotten
by the morrow were the lamenters' words.
تَسَلَّواthey found consolation وَلَولاand but for اليَأسُdespair ماnot كُنتُwould I have been سالِياًconsoled
تَسَلَّوا وَلَولا اليَأسُ ما كُنتُ سالِياً
وَقَدand indeed يَصبِرُcan endure العَطشانُthe thirsty one وَالوِردُwhile the watering place ناضِبُis dried up
وَقَد يَصبِرُ العَطشانُ وَالوِردُ ناضِبُ
They found consolation; but for despair I would not be consoled,
though the thirsty may endure when the watering place is dry.
أَلَسناare we not بَنيsons of الأَعمامِpaternal uncles دُنياnear in kinship تَمازَجَتintermingled
أَلَسنا بَني الأَعمامِ دُنيا تَمازَجَت
بِأَخلاقِهِمwith their characters أَخلاقُناour characters وَالضَرائِبُand temperaments
بِأَخلاقِهِم أَخلاقُنا وَالضَرائِبُ
Are we not close cousins, with intermingled
characters and temperaments—ours with theirs?
جَميعاًall together نَماناraised us فيon رُبىthe heights of المَجدِglory هاشِمٌHashim
جَميعاً نَمانا في رُبى المَجدِ هاشِمٌ
وَأَنجَبَand nobly begot عِرقَيناour two bloodlines لُؤَيٌّLuʾayy وَغالِبُand Ghalib
وَأَنجَبَ عِرقَينا لُؤَيٌّ وَغالِبُ
Hashim raised us all upon the heights of glory,
and Luʾayy and Ghalib nobly begot our two bloodlines.
إِذاwhen عُمَّمواthey are turbaned بِالمَجدِwith glory لاwound around (first fragment) ثَتwound around (final fragment) بِهامِناaround our heads
إِذا عُمَّموا بِالمَجدِ لا ثَت بِهامِنا
عَمائِمُهُمtheir turbans أَعراقُناour bloodlines وَالمَناسِبُand kinships
عَمائِمُهُم أَعراقُنا وَالمَناسِبُ
When they are turbaned with glory, around our heads are wound
their turbans, by our bloodlines and our kinship.
نَرىwe see الشُمَّthe high-set مِنof آنافِناour noses فيin وُجوهِهِمtheir faces
نَرى الشُمَّ مِن آنافِنا في وُجوهِهِم
وَأَعناقُناand our necks طالَتrose high بِهِنَّthrough them المَناصِبُthe noble ranks
وَأَعناقُنا طالَت بِهِنَّ المَناصِبُ
In their faces we see our own high noses,
and through our necks our noble ranks have risen high.
وَكَمand many an داخِلٍinterloper ماwhat lies بَينَناbetween us بِنَميمَةٍwith slander
وَكَم داخِلٍ ما بَينَنا بِنَميمَةٍ
تَقَطَّرَfell headlong لَمّاwhen زاحَمَتهُcrowded him المَصاعِبُthe unbroken camels
تَقَطَّرَ لَمّا زاحَمَتهُ المَصاعِبُ
How many an interloper has come between us with slander,
only to fall headlong when the unbroken camels crowded him!
سِوىexcept هَبَواتٍmotes of dust شابَتِclouded الوُدَّaffection بَينَناbetween us
سِوى هَبَواتٍ شابَتِ الوُدَّ بَينَنا
وَأَيُّand what وَدادٍaffection لَمnot تَشُبهُhave clouded it الشَوائِبُimpurities
وَأَيُّ وَدادٍ لَم تَشُبهُ الشَوائِبُ
Only a few motes have clouded the love between us,
and what affection has not been clouded by impurities?
لَناours is الدَوحَةُthe great tree العُلياthe lofty الَّتيwhich نَزَعَتstretched لَهاfor it
لَنا الدَوحَةُ العُليا الَّتي نَزَعَت لَها
إِلىtoward المَجدِglory أَغصانُthe branches of الجُدودِthe forefathers الأَطايِبُthe noble
إِلى المَجدِ أَغصانُ الجُدودِ الأَطايِبُ
Ours is the lofty tree, whose boughs stretched
toward glory—the boughs of noble forefathers.
إِذاif كانَare فيin جَوِّthe vault of السَماءِheaven عُروقُهاits roots
إِذا كانَ في جَوِّ السَماءِ عُروقُها
فَأَينَthen where أَعاليهاits upper reaches وَأَينَand where الذَوائِبُthe topmost boughs
فَأَينَ أَعاليها وَأَينَ الذَوائِبُ
If its roots are in the vault of heaven,
where are its heights, and where its topmost boughs?
عَلوناwe ascended إِلىto أَثباجِهاits broad upper parts وَلِغَيرِناwhile for others
عَلونا إِلى أَثباجِها وَلِغَيرِنا
عَنِfrom المَنكِبِthe shoulder العاليthe lofty إِذاwhen رامَhe aspires ناكِبُa deflecting obstacle
عَنِ المَنكِبِ العالي إِذا رامَ ناكِبُ
We climbed to its broad upper reaches, while for others
a hindrance bars that lofty shoulder whenever they aspire.
فَماso what حَمَلَbore الآباءُthe fathers مِنّاof us وَساقَطَتand brought forth
فَما حَمَلَ الآباءُ مِنّا وَساقَطَت
إِلىto الأَرضِthe earth مِنّاof us المُنجِباتُthe fertile mothers النَجائِبُthe noble women
إِلى الأَرضِ مِنّا المُنجِباتُ النَجائِبُ
What our fathers bore of us, and what
our noble, fertile mothers delivered to earth,
سُيودٌwolves عَلىagainst الأَعداءِthe enemies تَمضيgo forth نُفوسُهاtheir souls
سُيودٌ عَلى الأَعداءِ تَمضي نُفوسُها
وَلَمand not تَتَبَدَّلهُنَّexchanged them أَيدٍhands ضَوارِبُstriking
وَلَم تَتَبَدَّلهُنَّ أَيدٍ ضَوارِبُ
are wolves against their foes; their spirits go forth,
never exchanged by the hands that strike.
فَإِنso if تَرَyou see فيناin us صَولَةًan onslaught عَجرَفِيَةًhaughty and headstrong
فَإِن تَرَ فينا صَولَةً عَجرَفِيَةً
فَقَدthen indeed عُرِفَتhave been recognized فيناin us الجُدودُthe forefathers الأَعارِبُthe true Arabs
فَقَد عُرِفَت فينا الجُدودُ الأَعارِبُ
If you see in us a haughty, headstrong fierceness,
our true Arab forefathers have made themselves known in us.
فَصَبراًso show patience جَميلاًbeautiful إِنَّماonly هِيَit is نَومَةٌa sleep
فَصَبراً جَميلاً إِنَّما هِيَ نَومَةٌ
وَتُلحِقُناand will join us بِالأَوَّلينَto those gone before النَوائِبُcalamities
وَتُلحِقُنا بِالأَوَّلينَ النَوائِبُ
So bear it with beautiful patience: it is only a sleep,
and calamities will join us to those gone before.
وَلَيسَand there is no لِمَنfor one whom لَمnot يَمنَعِprotects اللَهُGod مانِعٌa protector
وَلَيسَ لِمَن لَم يَمنَعِ اللَهُ مانِعٌ
وَلاnor لِقَضاءِagainst the decree of اللَهِGod فيon الأَرضِearth غالِبُany victor
وَلا لِقَضاءِ اللَهِ في الأَرضِ غالِبُ
No one has a protector whom God does not protect,
and none on earth can overcome God's decree.
وَلَوand if رَدَّcould bring back مَيتاًa dead person وَجدُthe grief of ذيone possessing الوَجدِgrief بَعدَهafter him
وَلَو رَدَّ مَيتاً وَجدُ ذي الوَجدِ بَعدَه
لِرَدِّكَwould bring you back وَجديmy grief وَالدُموعُand the tears السَوارِبُstreaming
لِرَدِّكَ وَجدي وَالدُموعُ السَوارِبُ
If a mourner's grief could bring back the dead after their passing,
my grief and streaming tears would bring you back.
سَيُعطيwill give رِجالٌmen ماwhat مَنَعتَyou withheld وَيَشتَفيand will find satisfaction
سَيُعطي رِجالٌ ما مَنَعتَ وَيَشتَفي
مِنَagainst الأَقرِباءِthe kinsmen الأَبعَدونَthe distant ones الأَجانِبُthe strangers
مِنَ الأَقرِباءِ الأَبعَدونَ الأَجانِبُ
Men will give what you withheld, and
distant strangers will sate their vengeance on your kin.
لَناwe have فيكَfor you عِندَagainst الدَهرِTime ثَأرُa blood-claim for نَزيعَةٍone snatched away
لَنا فيكَ عِندَ الدَهرِ ثَأرُ نَزيعَةٍ
وَإِنّيand I لِثاراتِfor vengeance against المَقاديرِfate's decrees طالِبُam a seeker
وَإِنّي لِثاراتِ المَقاديرِ طالِبُ
For you, we hold against Time a blood-claim for one torn away,
and I shall seek vengeance for fate's wrongs.
أَدَرَّتmay pour plentifully عَلَيكَupon you السارِياتُthe night-traveling clouds وَرَقرَقَتand may ripple
أَدَرَّت عَلَيكَ السارِياتُ وَرَقرَقَت
عَلىover ذَلِكَthat القَبرِgrave الرِياحُthe winds الغَرائِبُthe wandering
عَلى ذَلِكَ القَبرِ الرِياحُ الغَرائِبُ
May the night-traveling clouds pour upon you, and may there ripple
over that grave the wandering winds.
وَلاand may not زالَdepart عَنfrom ذاكَthat الضَريحِtomb مُنَوِّرٌa flowering growth
وَلا زالَ عَن ذاكَ الضَريحِ مُنَوِّرٌ
مِنَof الرَوضِthe meadow تَفليهِcombs it الصَباthe east wind وَالجَنائِبُand the southerly breezes
مِنَ الرَوضِ تَفليهِ الصَبا وَالجَنائِبُ
May that tomb never lack a blossoming stretch
of meadow, combed by east and southerly winds.
وَلاand no بَلrather سَقَيناكَwe water you الدُموعَwith tears وَإِنَّناand indeed we
وَلا بَل سَقَيناكَ الدُموعَ وَإِنَّنا
لَنَأنَفُwe surely disdain إِنif قُلناwe say سَقَتكَmay water you السَحائِبُthe clouds
لَنَأنَفُ إِن قُلنا سَقَتكَ السَحائِبُ
No, rather, we water you with tears; indeed,
we would disdain to say, "May the clouds water you."
Sol 6.1