تمنّى الرّكب وجهك و الصباحا

تمنّى الرّكب وجهك و الصباحا

فجنّ اللّيل من فجرين لاحا

فجنّ اللّيل من فجرين لاحا

The caravan longed for your face and the morning;

The caravan longed for your face in the morning

The caravan longed for your face and the morning,

and night went mad at the two dawns that shone.

So the night blossomed with two dawns beaming

So the night went mad from two dawns that appeared.

وحنّ إلى ظلالك عبد شمس

وحنّ إلى ظلالك عبد شمس

يريح شجونه ظمأى طلاحا

يريح شجونه ظمأى طلاحا

And Abd Shams yearned for your shade,

A sun worshipper yearned for your shadows

And Abd Shams yearned for your shadow,

to rest his sorrows, thirsty and exhausted.

To rest his passions, my thirst quenching

To rest his sorrows, parched and weary.

حمى الله الكواكب من معدّ

حمى الله الكواكب من معدّ

وصانك بينها قمرا لياحا

وصانك بينها قمرا لياحا

May God guard the stars of Maʿadd,

May God protect the planets from an invader

May God protect the stars of Ma'add,

and preserve you among them, a radiant moon.

And keep you among them, a sailing moon

And safeguard you among them as a radiant moon.

و طمأن للجواري كلّ بحر

و طمأن للجواري كلّ بحر

و بلّغها السعادة و النجاحا

و بلّغها السعادة و النجاحا

And may He calm every sea for the ships,

And reassure every sea for the neighbors

And calm every sea for the sailing ships,

and bring them happiness and success.

And deliver them happiness and success

And grant them happiness and success.

بطاح القدس دنّسها مغير

بطاح القدس دنّسها مغير

فهل صانت كتائبنا البطاحا

فهل صانت كتائبنا البطاحا

An invader has defiled Jerusalem's plains;

The holy city, they defiled with oppressors

The plains of Jerusalem have been defiled by a raider,

have our battalions protected those plains?

Did our brigades protect the lowlands?

So have our battalions protected the plains?

و هل جبهت بحدّ السيف دعوى

و هل جبهت بحدّ السيف دعوى

كعرض القوم فاجرة وقاحا

كعرض القوم فاجرة وقاحا

And have they confronted, with the sword's edge, a claim

Did we draw swords against the unjust claim

And have they confronted with the sword's edge a claim

as wicked and shameless as that people's honor?

Of the indecent and arrogant crowds?

As wicked and brazen as the honor of those people?

و لم نغضب لها أيّام كانت

و لم نغضب لها أيّام كانت

حمى نهبا و شعبا مستباحا

حمى نهبا و شعبا مستباحا

We did not grow angry for her in the days when she was

We did not rage when it was a sanctuary

And we did not grow angry for it in the days when it was

a sanctuary plundered and a people violated.

For plunder, and a people free for all

A plundered sanctuary and a violated people.

و لا صدّت سرايانا عدوا

و لا صدّت سرايانا عدوا

و لا هاجت حمّيتنا كفاحا

و لا هاجت حمّيتنا كفاحا

Nor did our detachments repel an enemy,

Nor did our horsemen block an enemy

And our troops did not repel an enemy,

nor did our zeal flare into struggle,

Nor did our zealots rage with struggle

Nor did our zeal stir up a struggle,

و لا اهتزّت صوارمنا انتخاء

و لا اهتزّت صوارمنا انتخاء

و لا صهلت صوافننا مراحا

و لا صهلت صوافننا مراحا

nor did our keen swords stir with proud resolve,

Nor did our swords shake choosing their victims

And our swords did not shake out of pride,

nor did our poised steeds neigh in high spirits.

Nor did our purebreds neigh with joy

Nor did our horses neigh in exuberance.

نجابه باليهود دما و نارا

نجابه باليهود دما و نارا

فنغضي لا إباء و لا طماحا

فنغضي لا إباء و لا طماحا

We are met by the Jews with blood and fire,

We will engage the Jews with blood and fire

We are confronted by the Jews with blood and fire,

yet lower our eyes, without defiance or aspiration.

With no hesitation or lofty goals

Yet we lower our eyes, with neither pride nor ambition.

جلونا الفاتحين فلا غدوّا

جلونا الفاتحين فلا غدوّا

نرى للفاتحين و لا رواحا

نرى للفاتحين و لا رواحا

We drove out the conquerors; no morning march

We avoided the conquerors, so never again

We ousted the conquerors, so neither morning

nor evening march of conquerors do we see.

Will we see conquerors or wandering souls

Nor evening do we see for the conquerors.

إذا انفصفت أسنّتنا وصلنا

إذا انفصفت أسنّتنا وصلنا

بأيدينا الأسنّة الصفاحا

بأيدينا الأسنّة الصفاحا

When our spearheads splintered, we pieced together

If our tongues are silenced, we will connect

If our spearheads are shattered, we forge

the broad spearheads with our own hands.

With our hands the swords that articulate

With our own hands the broad blades.

إذا خرس الفصيح فقد لقينا

إذا خرس الفصيح فقد لقينا

من النيران ألسنة فصاحا

من النيران ألسنة فصاحا

When the eloquent fell silent, we encountered

If the eloquent are muted, we have found

If the eloquent is silenced, we have met

eloquent tongues of fire:

Fiery tongues in the cries that speak out

From the flames eloquent tongues,

زماجر دكّت الطّغيان دكّا

زماجر دكّت الطّغيان دكّا

و أخرست الزلازل و الرّياحا

و أخرست الزلازل و الرّياحا

roars that battered tyranny to rubble

Our roars subdued tyranny's thunder

Roars that crushed tyranny utterly,

and silenced the earthquakes and the winds.

And silenced quakes and gales outright

And silenced the earthquakes and the winds.

و تعرف هذه الحصباء منّا

و تعرف هذه الحصباء منّا

دما سكبا و هامات وراحا

دما سكبا و هامات وراحا

And these pebbles know, from us,

These pebbles recognize our blood spilt here

And these pebbles know from us

blood poured forth, heads, and hands,

And skulls and limbs that withered in the fight

Poured blood, and skulls, and palms,

و أشلاء مبعثرة تمنّت

و أشلاء مبعثرة تمنّت

على البيد الشقائق و الأقاحا

على البيد الشقائق و الأقاحا

and scattered limbs that longed

Severed parts the sands wished to shroud

And scattered remains that wished

for anemones and daisies across the wastes.

With poppies and sweet basil from Paradise

For anemones and daisies in the desert.

تتيه بها الرّمال و تصطفيها

تتيه بها الرّمال و تصطفيها

من الفردوس ريحانا و راحا

من الفردوس ريحانا و راحا

The sands glory in them and choose them

Blowing upon our hero's grave who fell

The sands take pride in them and choose them

as sweet basil and wine from Paradise.

Among the torrents with passions alight

From Paradise as sweet basil and wine.

يرفّ على خمائل غوطتيها

يرفّ على خمائل غوطتيها

هوى بطل على الغمرات طاحا

هوى بطل على الغمرات طاحا

Above the groves of her two Ghoutas flutters

So he glimpsed in the mirage a martyr's dream

Hovering over the thickets of its Ghouta,

the love of a hero who fell amid battle's perils.

Imagining, amid the chaos, clear water to invite

Is the passion of a hero who perished in the floods,

فألمح في السّراب منى شهيد

فألمح في السّراب منى شهيد

تخيّل في الوغى الماء القراحا

تخيّل في الوغى الماء القراحا

In the mirage I glimpse a martyr's wishes,

Never denied of Paradise's meadows

So I glimpse in the mirage the hopes of a martyr,

who imagined pure water amid the battle.

At dawn blanketed in peace and plight

Who imagined in the heat of battle the pure water.

فلا حرم الشهيد بروض عدن

فلا حرم الشهيد بروض عدن

على بردى غبوقا و اصطباحا

على بردى غبوقا و اصطباحا

May the martyr in Eden's garden never be denied

Protected the world of Umayyad glory

May the martyr in the gardens of Eden not be deprived

evening and morning draughts beside the Barada.

With strong roots the spears upright

Of an evening and morning drink by Barada.

حمى دنيا أميّة أريحيّ

حمى دنيا أميّة أريحيّ

متين الأسر قد فرع الرّماحا

متين الأسر قد فرع الرّماحا

A noble-hearted man has guarded Umayya's realm,

Abu Hassa, if calamities have raged

A generous soul protected the world of Umayya,

stout of frame, towering above the spears.

He challenged fate and resisted outright

Sturdy of build, towering above the spears.

أبو حسّان إن طغت الرزايا

أبو حسّان إن طغت الرزايا

تحدّى الدّهر و القدر المتاحا

تحدّى الدّهر و القدر المتاحا

Abu Hassan: when calamities overwhelm,

I smell the bright musk so pure

Abu Hassan, if calamities overflowed,

he defies Time and the fate allotted him.

As if dawn gleams on his cheeks so bright

Challenged fate and the destined decree.

أشمّ الأنف أبلج سمهريّ

أشمّ الأنف أبلج سمهريّ

كأنّ على محيّاه صباحا

كأنّ على محيّاه صباحا

Aquiline-nosed, radiant, straight as a spear,

Tested by afflictions, he never complained

Proud, bright-faced, straight as a spear,

as though dawn shone upon his face.

If not for his dignity, he may have wailed

As if a morning rested upon his face.

تمرّس بالخطوب فما شكاها

تمرّس بالخطوب فما شكاها

و لولا كبره لشكا وباحا

و لولا كبره لشكا وباحا

He grappled with calamities, yet never complained of them;

Remembering Damascus, your brother Saad

He wrestled with hardships but did not complain of them,

but for his pride, he would have complained and spoken out.

One cannot help but mention those held dear

And were it not for his pride, he would have complained and revealed all.

تذكّرت الشام أخاك سعدا

تذكّرت الشام أخاك سعدا

و من ذكر الحبيب فلا جناحا

و من ذكر الحبيب فلا جناحا

Syria remembered your brother Saad;

The most compassionate and natural of men

Damascus remembered your brother Saad,

whoever remembers a loved one bears no blame.

And fiercest against the tyrant upright

And for whoever remembers the beloved, there is no blame.

أرقّ النّاس عاطفة و طبعا

أرقّ النّاس عاطفة و طبعا

و أعنفهم على الطّاغي جماحا

و أعنفهم على الطّاغي جماحا

The tenderest of people in feeling and nature,

Never startled by death, he engages in battle

The gentlest of people in emotion and nature,

and the fiercest in defiance of the tyrant.

So if the villain defames, no need to take flight

And the fiercest of them in defiance against the tyrant.

ينافح ، لا تروّعه المنايا

ينافح ، لا تروّعه المنايا

فإن شتم اللئيم فلا نفاحا

فإن شتم اللئيم فلا نفاحا

He fights in defense, undaunted by death;

When Damascus wept for your brother Saad

He defends, undaunted by death,

but if a scoundrel reviles him, he does not spar.

She wept for valor and grace contrite

And if the wicked insults, he does not retaliate.

إذا بكت الشام أخاك سعدا

إذا بكت الشام أخاك سعدا

فقد بكت المروءة و السّماحا

فقد بكت المروءة و السّماحا

When Syria weeps for your brother Saad,

We carried its star on our wings

If Damascus wept for your brother Saad,

she weeps for chivalry and generosity.

And plucked its glory and passion outright

Then it wept for chivalry and generosity.

زحمنا النجم منه على جناح

زحمنا النجم منه على جناح

و فيّأنا مروءته و هوى صراحا

و فيّأنا مروءته و هوى صراحا

We jostled the stars upon a wing of his,

Wounds in your core now soothed

We crowded the stars through him upon a wing,

and he sheltered us with his chivalry and unalloyed love.

You have honored agony without losing sight

And we took shelter in his chivalry and pure affection.

جراح في سريرتك اطمأنّت

جراح في سريرتك اطمأنّت

لقد أكرمت بالصبر الجراحا

لقد أكرمت بالصبر الجراحا

Wounds have found peace in your inmost soul;

As if worry itself visits you, so it finds

Wounds in your innermost soul have settled,

you have indeed honored wounds with patience.

On your expression joy and respite

You have truly honored the wounds with patience.

كأنّ الهمّ ضيفك فهو يلقى

كأنّ الهمّ ضيفك فهو يلقى

على القسمات بشرا و ارتياحا

على القسمات بشرا و ارتياحا

As though sorrow were your guest, it finds

Never before have I seen worries so spoiled

As if sorrow were your guest, so it meets

cheerfulness and gladness upon your features.

And sorrows lavished with delight

Upon your features cheerfulness and comfort.

و قبلك ما رأت عيني هموما

و قبلك ما رأت عيني هموما

مدلّلة و أحزانا ملاحا

مدلّلة و أحزانا ملاحا

Before you, my eye had never seen cares

Worries themselves recoil from one so noble

And before you, my eyes had never seen sorrows

so pampered, nor sorrows so lovely.

To return from his cheer as cheerful sunlight

So pampered, nor griefs so beautiful.

و قد ترد الهموم على كريم

و قد ترد الهموم على كريم

فترجع من صباحته صباحا

فترجع من صباحته صباحا

And cares may come to a noble man,

O world of Umayyad don't disregard

And sorrows may descend upon a noble man,

then return from his radiant beauty as dawn.

Your youth overwhelming the vast respite

And turn from his bright face into a morning.

و يا دنيا أميّة لا تراعي

و يا دنيا أميّة لا تراعي

شبابك يغمر الرحب الفساحا

شبابك يغمر الرحب الفساحا

O realm of Umayya, have no fear;

You rose upon the ages a guiding light

And O world of Umayya, do not be dismayed,

your youth fills the broad, open expanse.

The morning you began your conquest outright

Your youth floods the vast expanses.

طلعت على العصور هدى و خيرا

طلعت على العصور هدى و خيرا

غداة طلعت غزوا و اقتتاحا

غداة طلعت غزوا و اقتتاحا

You rose upon the ages as guidance and goodness,

The worthy are not empowered over the meek

You rose upon the ages as guidance and goodness,

the morning you rose in campaigning and conquest.

Some disgrace, you mistake, as upright!

The morning you rose for conquest and opening.

و ما نبل الصّلاح على ضعيف

و ما نبل الصّلاح على ضعيف

فبعض الذلّ تحسبه صلاحا

فبعض الذلّ تحسبه صلاحا

Nor is virtue noble in the weak,

You taught civilization, it is the dawn

And the nobility of righteousness is not for the weak,

for some abasement you mistake for virtue.

That spills over the cosmos spreading twilight

For some humiliation you might mistake for righteousness.

و علّمت الحضارة فهي فجر

و علّمت الحضارة فهي فجر

على الأكوان ينساح انسياحا

على الأكوان ينساح انسياحا

And you taught civilization: it is a dawn

How civilization cleansed and refined

And you taught civilization, and it is a dawn

spreading far across the worlds.

Yet how civilization also bred those who blight

Flowing boundlessly across the universes.

و ربّ حضارة طهّرت و طابت

و ربّ حضارة طهّرت و طابت

و ربّ حضارة ولدت سفاحا

و ربّ حضارة ولدت سفاحا

Many a civilization was purified and grew wholesome,

You taught chivalry, it is a scent

And many a civilization was purified and wholesome,

and many a civilization was born of fornication.

Of Paradise that intoxicates us with its respite

And many a civilization was born of illicit union.

و علّمت المروءة فهي عطر

و علّمت المروءة فهي عطر

من الفردوس يسكرنا نفاحا

من الفردوس يسكرنا نفاحا

And you taught chivalry: it is a perfume

You taught Arabness, it is our honor

And you taught chivalry, and it is a perfume

from Paradise, intoxicating us with its wafting fragrance.

Never to be disgraced or profaned outright

From Paradise, whose fragrance intoxicates us.

و علّمت العروبة فهي عرض

و علّمت العروبة فهي عرض

لربك لن يهان و لن يباحا

لربك لن يهان و لن يباحا

And you taught Arab identity: it is an honor

Glory filled you, never to be

And you taught Arabism, and it is an honor

belonging to your Lord, never to be demeaned or violated.

For any but your youth, all hopes alight

By your Lord, it shall never be insulted nor violated.

أساح المجد حسبك لن تكوني

أساح المجد حسبك لن تكوني

لغير شبابك المأمول ساحا

لغير شبابك المأمول ساحا

O arena of glory, be content: you shall not be

Take whatever you wish, make requests

O courtyard of glory, it is enough that you will never be

an arena for any but your hoped-for youth.

Of the bounty in this life, bring to light

A courtyard for anyone but your hoped-for youth.

خذي ما شئت و اقترحي علينا

خذي ما شئت و اقترحي علينا

كرائم هذه الدنيا اقتراحا

كرائم هذه الدنيا اقتراحا

Take whatever you wish, and ask us for

Abu Hassa, noble friend, elevate

Take what you wish and demand from us

this world's choicest treasures—ask freely.

My praises, a pride and tribute outright

The finest things of this world as a demand.

أبا حسّان رفّ كريم ودّي

أبا حسّان رفّ كريم ودّي

على نعماك فخرا و امتداحا

على نعماك فخرا و امتداحا

O Abu Hassan, my noble love fluttered

My afflictions I have not relayed, and we

Abu Hassan, my noble affection fluttered

over your blessings in pride and praise.

Do not number them, though abundant in plight

Over your graces, in pride and praise.

بلائي ما شهدت و ليس منّا

بلائي ما شهدت و ليس منّا

إذ عدّدتها غررا و ضاحا

إذ عدّدتها غررا و ضاحا

My mettle is what you witnessed; it is no boast

When calamities crowd me, I gather

My trial is what you have witnessed, and it is no boast,

when I recount those deeds, shining and radiant.

My will, and will not waver in respite

When I recount them as bright and shining marks.

إذا زحمتني الجلّى بروع

إذا زحمتني الجلّى بروع

جمعت لها الإباء فلا براحا

جمعت لها الإباء فلا براحا

When great calamity assails me with terror,

If misfortunes pressed Thabeer when fires flared

When a great calamity crowded me with terror,

I muster defiance against it, with no retreat.

His pride would roar and seethe in spite

I gathered my pride to face it, and did not retreat.

و لو زحمت ثبيرا حين شدّت

و لو زحمت ثبيرا حين شدّت

عليّ لضجّ غاربه و زاحا

عليّ لضجّ غاربه و زاحا

Had it pressed upon Thabir as it bore down

More painful than misfortunes, a friend

And had it crowded Mount Thabir when it intensified

on me, its summit would have cried out and moved aside.

Whose jealousy defiles our dignity outright

Against me, its peak would have cried out and shifted.

و أوجع من مصائبها خليل

و أوجع من مصائبها خليل

أغار على المروءة و استباحا

أغار على المروءة و استباحا

More painful than its disasters is a close friend

He hides his hatred, embers and rage

And more painful than its afflictions is a friend

who raided chivalry and profaned it.

And listens to me, feigning empathy contrite

Who raided chivalry and violated it,

يكتّم بغضه حقدا و جمرا

يكتّم بغضه حقدا و جمرا

و يسمعني حنينا و التياحا

و يسمعني حنينا و التياحا

He hides his hatred, rancor and embers,

He claims his schemes are secretive guiles

Concealing his hatred as malice and embers,

yet lets me hear longing and yearning.

But time itself exposed him in broad daylight

While letting me hear yearning and devotion.

و يزعم كيده سرّا خفيّا

و يزعم كيده سرّا خفيّا

لقد جهر الزّمان به افتضاحا

لقد جهر الزّمان به افتضاحا

He claims his plotting is a hidden secret;

He denies yet if revealed, he would regret

And he claims his malice is a hidden secret,

Time has proclaimed it openly, to his shame.

Mocking freely and laughing with delight

Yet time has loudly proclaimed it in disgrace.

تنكر و هو لو كشّفت عنه

تنكر و هو لو كشّفت عنه

أسفّ مجانة و هوى مزاحا

أسفّ مجانة و هوى مزاحا

He disguised himself; yet if you unveiled him,

Debased, we do not call it malice

He denied it, yet if you uncovered him,

he would stoop to shamelessness and fall into farce.

And disgraced, we do not call it a fight

He stooped to shamelessness and fell into mockery.

و ذلّ فلا نسمّيه عداء

و ذلّ فلا نسمّيه عداء

و هان فلا نسمّيه نطاحا

و هان فلا نسمّيه نطاحا

He is abject, so we do not call it enmity;

If we wished, we would punish him, but to please

He became so lowly we do not call it enmity,

and contemptible, so we do not call it a clash of horns.

Our character, we pardon with respite

And so insignificant we do not call it a clash.

و لو شئنا جزيناه و نرضي

و لو شئنا جزيناه و نرضي

شمائلنا فنوسعه سماحا

شمائلنا فنوسعه سماحا

If we wished, we could repay him; yet we satisfy

Does Damascus disown me, when in my heart

And had we wished, we would have repaid him, satisfying

our own nature, lavishing generosity upon him.

I took its swords and spears without respite

Our noble traits by showering him with forgiveness.

أتنكرني الشام و في فؤادي

أتنكرني الشام و في فؤادي

تلقّيت الصوارم و الرماحا

تلقّيت الصوارم و الرماحا

Does Syria disown me, though in my heart

If I forget loyalty amid calamities

Does Damascus deny me, while in my heart

I took the keen swords and the spears?

They pardoned the glaring betrayal outright

I have received the cutting swords and spears?

إذا نسيت على الجلّى وفائي

إذا نسيت على الجلّى وفائي

فقد عذروا على الغدر الملاحا

فقد عذروا على الغدر الملاحا

If she forgets my loyalty in great calamity,

I sang of Damascus, its blood and revenge

If it forgot my loyalty in the face of great hardship,

then beauties have indeed been excused for betrayal.

With no complaints, though known is its plight

They have excused the beautiful ones for their betrayal.

و غنّيت الشام دما و ثأرا

و غنّيت الشام دما و ثأرا

فلا شكوى عرفت و لا نواحا

فلا شكوى عرفت و لا نواحا

And I sang to Syria of blood and vengeance;

Your auspicious era crowned my poetry

And I sang to Damascus of blood and vengeance,

I knew neither complaint nor wailing.

Adorning it with its gems so bright

So I knew neither complaint nor wailing.

و أكرم عهدك الميمون شعري

و أكرم عهدك الميمون شعري

فقلّده جواهري الصحاحا

فقلّده جواهري الصحاحا

And my poetry honored your auspicious era,

And my poetry honored your auspicious era,

and decked it with my flawless jewels.

And adorned it with my flawless jewels.