أَبى اللَهُ إِلّا أَن يُتِمَّمَ نورَهُ

أَبى اللَهُ إِلّا أَن يُتِمَّمَ نورَهُ

وَيُطفِىءَ نارَ الفاسِقينَ فَتَخمُدا

وَيُطفِىءَ نارَ الفاسِقينَ فَتَخمُدا

God refuses all but to perfect His light,

God would do nothing but perfect His light,

And to quench the transgressors’ fire until it dies;

and extinguish the transgressors' fire until it dies away,

وَيَظهَرَ أَهلَ الحَقِّ في كُلِّ مَوطِنٍ

وَيَظهَرَ أَهلَ الحَقِّ في كُلِّ مَوطِنٍ

وَيَعدِلَ وَقعَ السَيفِ مَن كانَ أَصيَدا

وَيَعدِلَ وَقعَ السَيفِ مَن كانَ أَصيَدا

And to make the people of truth prevail in every land,

and make the people of truth prevail in every place,

And let the sword’s stroke straighten whoever stands stiff-necked;

and let the sword's stroke straighten whoever was stiff-necked with pride,

وَيُنزِلَ ذُلّاً بِالعِراقِ وَأَهلِهِ

وَيُنزِلَ ذُلّاً بِالعِراقِ وَأَهلِهِ

لِما نَقَضوا العَهدَ الوَثيقَ المُؤَكَّدا

لِما نَقَضوا العَهدَ الوَثيقَ المُؤَكَّدا

And to clothe Iraq and its people in humiliation,

and bring humiliation upon Iraq and its people,

For they broke the solemn covenant, firmly confirmed;

for breaking the firm, solemnly confirmed covenant,

وَما أَحدَثوا مِن بِدعَةٍ وَعَظيمَةٍ

وَما أَحدَثوا مِن بِدعَةٍ وَعَظيمَةٍ

مِنَ القَولِ لَم تَصعَدَ إِلى اللَهِ مَصعَدا

مِنَ القَولِ لَم تَصعَدَ إِلى اللَهِ مَصعَدا

And for the innovation and enormity they devised—

and for the innovations and enormities they introduced

Words that found no path of ascent to God;

in speech that never ascended to God;

وَما نَكَثوا مِن بَيعَةٍ بَعدَ بَيعَةٍ

وَما نَكَثوا مِن بَيعَةٍ بَعدَ بَيعَةٍ

إِذا ضَمِنوها اليَومَ خاسوا بِها غَدا

إِذا ضَمِنوها اليَومَ خاسوا بِها غَدا

And because they repudiated pledge after pledge:

and for breaking pledge after pledge of allegiance:

If they make one today, tomorrow they betray it;

if they guaranteed one today, they broke faith with it tomorrow;

وَجُبناً حَشاهُ رَبُّهُم في قُلوبِهِم

وَجُبناً حَشاهُ رَبُّهُم في قُلوبِهِم

فَما يَقرَبونَ الناسَ إِلّا تَهَدُّدا

فَما يَقرَبونَ الناسَ إِلّا تَهَدُّدا

And because their Lord has stuffed cowardice into their hearts,

and for cowardice their Lord crammed into their hearts,

So that they approach others with nothing but threats.

so they approach people only with threats.

فَلا صِدقَ في قَولٍ وَلا صَبرَ عِندَهُم

فَلا صِدقَ في قَولٍ وَلا صَبرَ عِندَهُم

وَلَكِنَّ فَخراً فيهِمُ وَتَزَيُّدا

وَلَكِنَّ فَخراً فيهِمُ وَتَزَيُّدا

There is no truth in their speech, nor patience among them,

There is no truth in their speech, nor any steadfastness in them,

Only pride, vaunting, and boastful excess.

but among them are boasting and exaggeration.

فَكَيفَ رَأَيتَ اللَهَ فَرَّقَ جَمعَهُم

فَكَيفَ رَأَيتَ اللَهَ فَرَّقَ جَمعَهُم

وَمَزَّقَهُم عُرضَ البِلادَ وَشَرَّدا

وَمَزَّقَهُم عُرضَ البِلادَ وَشَرَّدا

Have you not seen how God split their host,

Have you seen, then, how God scattered their host,

Tore them across the breadth of the land, and scattered them?

tore them apart across the land, and drove them away?

فَقَتلاهُمُ قَتلى ضَلالٍ وَفِتنَةٍ

فَقَتلاهُمُ قَتلى ضَلالٍ وَفِتنَةٍ

وَحَيُّهُمُ أَمسى ذَليلاً مُطَرَّدا

وَحَيُّهُمُ أَمسى ذَليلاً مُطَرَّدا

Their slain are the slain of error and sedition,

Their slain are the slain of error and strife,

And those still living have become abject, hunted exiles.

and their survivors have become humiliated and driven out.

وَلَمّا زَحَفنا لِاِبنِ يوسُفَ غَدوَةً

وَلَمّا زَحَفنا لِاِبنِ يوسُفَ غَدوَةً

وَأَبرَقَ مِنّا العارِضانِ وَأَرعَدا

وَأَبرَقَ مِنّا العارِضانِ وَأَرعَدا

When one morning we advanced against Ibn Yusuf,

And when we advanced against Ibn Yusuf one morning,

Our two flanks flashed lightning and thundered;

and our two battle lines flashed lightning and thundered,

قَطَعنا إِلَيهِ الخَندَقَينِ وَإِنَّما

قَطَعنا إِلَيهِ الخَندَقَينِ وَإِنَّما

قَطَعنا وَأَفضَينا إِلى المَوتِ مُرصِدا

قَطَعنا وَأَفضَينا إِلى المَوتِ مُرصِدا

We crossed the two trenches toward him—though, in truth,

we crossed the two trenches toward him; we only

We crossed toward death, lying in ambush before us.

crossed and came upon death lying in wait.

فَكافَحَنا الحَجّاجُ دونَ صُفوفِنا

فَكافَحَنا الحَجّاجُ دونَ صُفوفِنا

كِفاحاً وَلَم يَضرِب لِذَلِكَ مَوعِدا

كِفاحاً وَلَم يَضرِب لِذَلِكَ مَوعِدا

And when we advanced against al-Hajjaj, our ranks before him,

Then al-Hajjaj confronted us before our ranks,

Face-to-face, in a battle for which no meeting-time had been set,

in close combat, without setting a time for it,

بِصَفٍّ كَأَنَّ البَرقَ في حَجَراتِهِ

بِصَفٍّ كَأَنَّ البَرقَ في حَجَراتِهِ

إِذا ما تَجَلّى بَيضُهُ وَتَوَقَّدا

إِذا ما تَجَلّى بَيضُهُ وَتَوَقَّدا

Against a battle line whose divisions seemed filled with lightning

with a battle line whose flanks seemed filled with lightning

Whenever its white blades flashed forth and blazed.

whenever its helmets shone forth and blazed.

دَلَفنا إِلَيهِ في صُفوفٍ كَأَنَّها

دَلَفنا إِلَيهِ في صُفوفٍ كَأَنَّها

جِبالُ شَرَورَي لَو تُعانُ فَتَنهَدا

جِبالُ شَرَورَي لَو تُعانُ فَتَنهَدا

We moved against him in ranks as though they were

We advanced toward him in ranks that seemed

The mountains of Sharawra, massing toward him and surging.

like the mountains of Sharawra, if helped to rise and advance.

فَما لَبِثَ الحَجّاجُ أَن سَلَّ سَيفَهُ

فَما لَبِثَ الحَجّاجُ أَن سَلَّ سَيفَهُ

عَلَينا فَوَلّى جَمعُنا وَتَبَدَّدا

عَلَينا فَوَلّى جَمعُنا وَتَبَدَّدا

Scarcely had al-Hajjaj drawn his sword

Al-Hajjaj did not delay in drawing his sword

Against us before our host turned, scattered, and dispersed.

against us, so our host fled and scattered.

وَما زاحَفَ الحَجّاجُ إِلّا رَأَيتَهُ

وَما زاحَفَ الحَجّاجُ إِلّا رَأَيتَهُ

مُعاناً مُلَقّىً لِلفُتوحُ مُعَوَّدا

مُعاناً مُلَقّىً لِلفُتوحُ مُعَوَّدا

Whenever al-Hajjaj advances, I see him

Whenever al-Hajjaj advanced to battle, you saw him

Aided, welcomed by victories, and accustomed to conquest.

aided, favored with conquests, and accustomed to them.

وَإِنَّ اِبنَ عباسٍ لَفي مُرجَحِنَّةٍ

وَإِنَّ اِبنَ عباسٍ لَفي مُرجَحِنَّةٍ

نُشَبِّهُها قِطعاً مِنَ اللَيلِ أَسوَدا

نُشَبِّهُها قِطعاً مِنَ اللَيلِ أَسوَدا

Ibn Abbas stood within a ponderous mass

And indeed Ibn Abbas was amid a massive host,

That we likened to fragments of the blackest night.

which we likened to a black stretch of night.

فَما شَرعوا رُمحاً وَلا جَرَّدوا يَداً

فَما شَرعوا رُمحاً وَلا جَرَّدوا يَداً

أَلا رُبَّما لا قى الجَبانُ فَجَرَّدا

أَلا رُبَّما لا قى الجَبانُ فَجَرَّدا

Yet they leveled no spear and bared no hand—

Yet they leveled no spear and bared no hand—

Though often a coward has met battle with naked steel.

indeed, sometimes even a coward meets a foe and draws his blade.

وَكَرَّت عَلَينا خَيلُ سُفيانَ كَرَّةً

وَكَرَّت عَلَينا خَيلُ سُفيانَ كَرَّةً

بِفُرسانِها وَالسَمهَرِيِّ مُقَصَّدا

بِفُرسانِها وَالسَمهَرِيِّ مُقَصَّدا

Then Sufyan’s cavalry wheeled against us in a charge,

And Sufyan's cavalry made a charge against us,

Its horsemen and straight Samharian spears aimed directly ahead.

with its horsemen and splintered, straight-shafted spears.

وَسُفيانُ يَهدِيها كَأَنَّ لِواءَهُ

وَسُفيانُ يَهدِيها كَأَنَّ لِواءَهُ

مِنَ الطَعنِ سِندٌ باتَ بِالصَبغِ مُجسَدا

مِنَ الطَعنِ سِندٌ باتَ بِالصَبغِ مُجسَدا

Sufyan led it, his standard seeming,

And Sufyan led it, as though his banner,

From all the thrusting, like Sindhi cloth steeped overnight in dye.

from the spear-thrusts, were a cloth of Sind steeped overnight in saffron dye.

كُهولٌ وَمُردٌ مِن قُضاعَةَ حَولَهُ

كُهولٌ وَمُردٌ مِن قُضاعَةَ حَولَهُ

مَساعيرُ أَبطالٌ إِذا النِكسُ عَرَّدا

مَساعيرُ أَبطالٌ إِذا النِكسُ عَرَّدا

Around him were mature men and beardless youths of Quda‘a,

Around him were mature men and beardless youths of Quda'a,

Firebrands and heroes whenever a coward turned in flight.

kindlers of battle, heroes when the coward fled.

إِذا قالَ شُدّوا شَدَّةً حَملوا مَعاً

إِذا قالَ شُدّوا شَدَّةً حَملوا مَعاً

فَأَنهَلَ خِرصانَ الرِماحِ وَأَورَدا

فَأَنهَلَ خِرصانَ الرِماحِ وَأَورَدا

When he cried, “Charge together!” they all charged as one,

When he said, 'Make a charge!' they charged together,

Then they gave him spearheads for his first drink and led him back to water—

so he gave the spearheads their first drink and brought them to water.

جُنودُ أَميرِ المُؤمِنينَ وَخَيلُهُ

جُنودُ أَميرِ المُؤمِنينَ وَخَيلُهُ

وَسُلطانُهُ أَمسى مُعاناً مُؤَيَّدا

وَسُلطانُهُ أَمسى مُعاناً مُؤَيَّدا

The Commander of the Faithful’s troops and cavalry—

The Commander of the Faithful's troops and his cavalry,

While his authority stood aided and confirmed.

and his authority, have become aided and upheld.

لِيَهنِئ أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ ظُهورُهُ

لِيَهنِئ أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ ظُهورُهُ

عَلى أُمَّةٍ كانوا بُغاةً وَحُسَّدا

عَلى أُمَّةٍ كانوا بُغاةً وَحُسَّدا

May his triumph gladden the Commander of the Faithful—

May the Commander of the Faithful rejoice in his victory

Triumph over a people who were rebels and envious.

over a people who were rebellious and envious.

نَزَوا يَشتَكونَ البَغيَ مِن أُمرائِهِم

نَزَوا يَشتَكونَ البَغيَ مِن أُمرائِهِم

وَكانوا هُمُ أَبغى البُغاةِ وَأَعنَدا

وَكانوا هُمُ أَبغى البُغاةِ وَأَعنَدا

They complained of oppression by their governors,

They sprang up, complaining of oppression from their rulers,

Though they themselves were the most oppressive and stubborn of all people.

yet they themselves were the worst of oppressors and the most obstinate.

وَجَدنا بَني مَروانَ خَيرَ أَئِمَّةٍ

وَجَدنا بَني مَروانَ خَيرَ أَئِمَّةٍ

وَأَفضَلَ هَذيِ الخَلقِ حِلماً وَسُؤدُدا

وَأَفضَلَ هَذيِ الخَلقِ حِلماً وَسُؤدُدا

We found the sons of Marwan the finest leaders,

We found the sons of Marwan the best of leaders,

The best among this people in forbearance and lordly honor;

and the finest of humankind in forbearance and nobility,

وَخَيرَ قُريشٍ في قُرَيشٍ أَرومَةٍ

وَخَيرَ قُريشٍ في قُرَيشٍ أَرومَةٍ

وَأَكرَمَهُم إِلّا النَبِيَّ مُحَمَّدا

وَأَكرَمَهُم إِلّا النَبِيَّ مُحَمَّدا

The deepest-rooted of Quraysh within Quraysh,

and, among Quraysh, the best of Quraysh in ancestral stock,

And the noblest among them, save Muhammad.

and their noblest, except for the Prophet Muhammad.

إِذا ما تَدابَرنا عَواقِبَ أَمرِهِ

إِذا ما تَدابَرنا عَواقِبَ أَمرِهِ

وَجدنا أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ مُسَدَّدا

وَجدنا أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ مُسَدَّدا

Whenever we carefully considered the outcome of his command,

Whenever we reviewed the outcomes of his course,

We found the Commander of the Faithful rightly guided.

we found the Commander of the Faithful rightly guided.

سَيَغلِبُ قَوماً غالَبوا اللَهَ مَن كانَ قَلبُهُ

سَيَغلِبُ قَوماً غالَبوا اللَهَ مَن كانَ قَلبُهُ

وَإِن كايَدوهُ كانَ أَقوى وَأَكيَدا

وَإِن كايَدوهُ كانَ أَقوى وَأَكيَدا

A people who contended against God will be defeated by one whose heart

He will overcome a people who contended with God—whoever's heart was ... [text incomplete].

When they scheme against him, proves stronger and firmer in resolve.

Even if they scheme against him, he is stronger and more cunning.

كَذاكَ يُضِلُّ اللَهُ مَن كانَ قَلبُهُ

كَذاكَ يُضِلُّ اللَهُ مَن كانَ قَلبُهُ

مَريضاً وَمَن والى النِفاقَ وَأَلحَدا

مَريضاً وَمَن والى النِفاقَ وَأَلحَدا

Thus does God lead astray the one whose heart

Thus God leads astray whoever's heart is

Is diseased, allied with hypocrisy and unbelief.

diseased, and whoever allies himself with hypocrisy and strays.

فَقَد تَرَكوا الأَهلينَ وَالمالَ خَلفَهُم

فَقَد تَرَكوا الأَهلينَ وَالمالَ خَلفَهُم

وَبيضاً عَلَيهِنَّ الجَلابيبُ خُرَّدا

وَبيضاً عَلَيهِنَّ الجَلابيبُ خُرَّدا

They have left their families and wealth behind,

For they left their families and wealth behind them,

And fair young women, cloistered and tender maidens,

and fair, bashful women covered with cloaks,

يُنادِيَهُم مُستَعبِراتٍ إِلَيهِمُ

يُنادِيَهُم مُستَعبِراتٍ إِلَيهِمُ

وَيُذرينَ دَمعاً في الخُدودِ وَإِثمِدا

وَيُذرينَ دَمعاً في الخُدودِ وَإِثمِدا

Calling after them while tears stream,

calling out to them, weeping for them,

Tears and kohl running together down their cheeks.

and shedding tears and kohl down their cheeks.

وَإِلّا تَناوَلهُنَّ مِنكَ بِرَحمَةٍ

وَإِلّا تَناوَلهُنَّ مِنكَ بِرَحمَةٍ

يَكُنَّ سَبايا وَالبُعولَةُ أَعبُدا

يَكُنَّ سَبايا وَالبُعولَةُ أَعبُدا

Unless your mercy reaches those women,

And unless you extend your mercy to them,

They will become captives, and their husbands slaves.

they will become captives, and their husbands slaves.

أَنَكثاً وَعِصياناً وَغَدراً وَذِلَّةً

أَنَكثاً وَعِصياناً وَغَدراً وَذِلَّةً

أَهانَ الإِلَهُ مَن أَهانَ وَأَبعَدا

أَهانَ الإِلَهُ مَن أَهانَ وَأَبعَدا

What broken pledges, disobedience, treachery, and abasement!

Oath-breaking, disobedience, treachery, and humiliation?

God has humbled whom He has humbled and driven them far away.

God abased those He abased, and cast them far away.

تَعَطَّف أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ عَلَيهِمُ

تَعَطَّف أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ عَلَيهِمُ

فَقَد تَرَكوا أَمرَ السَفاهَةِ وَالرَدى

فَقَد تَرَكوا أَمرَ السَفاهَةِ وَالرَدى

Show compassion toward them, Commander of the Faithful:

Have compassion on them, Commander of the Faithful,

They have abandoned the paths of folly and ruin.

for they have abandoned the course of folly and ruin.

لَعَلَّهُم أَن يُحدِثوا العامَ تَوبَةً

لَعَلَّهُم أَن يُحدِثوا العامَ تَوبَةً

وَتَعرِفُ نُصحاً مِنهُمُ وَتَوَدُّدا

وَتَعرِفُ نُصحاً مِنهُمُ وَتَوَدُّدا

Perhaps this year they will renew their repentance

Perhaps this year they will begin to repent,

And offer, on their part, sincere counsel and affection.

and you will recognize their sincerity and goodwill.

لَقَد شَأَمَ المِصرَينِ فَرخُ مَحَمَّدٍ

لَقَد شَأَمَ المِصرَينِ فَرخُ مَحَمَّدٍ

بِحَقٍّ وَما لاقى مِنَ الطَيرِ أَسعَدا

بِحَقٍّ وَما لاقى مِنَ الطَيرِ أَسعَدا

Muhammad’s fledgling has indeed brought ill fortune upon the two cities;

Muhammad's fledgling has indeed brought ill fortune to the two cities,

Truly, he encountered no bird of happier omen.

truly; he encountered no more auspicious bird,

كَما شَأَمَ اللَهُ النُجَيرَ وَأَهلَهُ

كَما شَأَمَ اللَهُ النُجَيرَ وَأَهلَهُ

بِجَدٍّ لَهُ قَد كانَ أَشقى وَأَنكَدا

بِجَدٍّ لَهُ قَد كانَ أَشقى وَأَنكَدا

Just as God made al-Nujayr and its people ill-starred,

just as God brought ill fortune to al-Nujayr and its people

Through a fledgling of his who was still more wretched and grim.

through a grandfather of his who had been still more wretched and ill-starred.