ياO ليلةnight تفضلsurpasses الأعوامthe years والحقباand the ages
يا ليلة تفضل الأعوام والحقبا
هيجتyou stirred للقلبfor the heart ذكرىa memory فاغتداso it became لهباa flame
هيجت للقلب ذكرى فاغتدا لهبا
O night that surpasses the years and ages,
O night of power preferred over ages and epochs
O night that excels all years and epochs past,
you stirred a memory in the heart, and it became a flame.
You stirred memories in the heart so it flared up in flames
You stirred a memory in the heart, turning it to flame.
وكيفand how لاnot يغتديbecomes ناراa fire تطيحsweeps away بهwith it
وكيف لا يغتدي نارا تطيح به
قلبa heart يرىsees هرمthe pyramid of الاسلامIslam منقلباoverturned
قلب يرى هرم الاسلام منقلبا
And how could it not become a fire that sweeps it away—
And how would it not flare up in fire that knocks it down
How could a heart not turn to a consuming fire,
a heart that sees Islam's pyramid overturned?
A heart that sees the edifice of Islam overturned
When it sees the pyramid of Islam overturned?
يرىsees شعائرthe rites of دينthe religion of اللهGod هاربةfleeing
يرى شعائر دين الله هاربة
يسفهاsweeps them along النوءthe rainstorm تمضيthey move on حيثماwherever ذهباit went
يسفها النوء تمضي حيثما ذهبا
It sees the rites of God's religion fleeing,
It sees the rituals of Allah's religion fleeing
It sees the rites of God's faith fleeing away,
swept along by the rainstorm, going wherever it goes.
Defiled by adversity going wherever it went
Blasted by storms, drifting wherever the wind may blow.
أينwhere العنانthe reins الذيthat تلويهtwists it عاصفةa tempest
أين العنان الذي تلويه عاصفة
ماwhat (context unclear) فاتحينconquerors يرونthey see الموتdeath مطلباa goal
ما فاتحين يرون الموت مطلبا
Where are the reins twisted by a tempest?
Where is the restraint which the storm twists
Where are the reins twisted by the gale?
What of the conquerors who see death as their goal?
Those who open their eyes see death as their desire
Where are the conquerors who sought death as a prize?
للرغوfor the foam حولaround شدوقthe jaws of الخيلthe horses وسوسةa whisper
للرغو حول شدوق الخيل وسوسة
والنقعand the dust يذريscatters لثاماa face-veil قنعshrouded السحباthe clouds
والنقع يذري لثاما قنع السحبا
The foam around the horses' jaws has a whisper,
Because of the neighing around the flanks of horses and the temptation
The foam whispers around the jowls of steeds,
and the dust scatters a face-veil that shrouds the clouds,
Of spears that rip through the veils like clouds' attire
And dust scatters the veil that masked the clouds.
منfrom كلevery محتسبone seeking divine reward باللهin God متكلrelying
من كل محتسب بالله متكل
عليهon Him يفريcleaves ضلوعthe ribs of البغيoppression انif ضرباhe struck
عليه يفري ضلوع البغي ان ضربا
from every man seeking God's reward, relying
Each self-righteous hypocrite
From every soul relying on God, seeking His reward,
on Him, cleaving oppression's ribs when he strikes.
Striking the ribs of the oppressed if he was hit
Who cleaves the ribs of tyranny when he strikes.
كأنas though أسيافهمtheir swords فيin كلevery معمعةbattle's tumult
كأن أسيافهم في كل معمعة
جسرa bridge الىto جنةthe garden of الفردوسParadise قدalready نصباwas erected
جسر الى جنة الفردوس قد نصبا
As though their swords, in every battle's tumult,
As if their swords raised at each spark
As if their swords, in the heat of every fray,
were a bridge already erected to the Garden of Paradise.
Were a bridge to Gardens of Paradise they built
Were a bridge erected to the highest Paradise.
ياO ليلةnight القدرof Power ياO ظلاa shade تلوذyou seek refuge بهin it
يا ليلة القدر يا ظلا تلوذ به
انif مسناtouches us جاحمblazing heat الرمضاءthe sun-scorched ground ملتهاablaze (apparently truncated)
ان مسنا جاحم الرمضاء ملتها
O Night of Power, O shade in which to seek refuge,
O night of Qadr, O shade we take refuge in
O Night of Power, O shade wherein we seek refuge,
if the scorching earth's blaze touches us, aflame.
If the heat wave of summer afflicted us
When the scorching heat touches us with its blaze.
ذكراكyour memory فيin كلevery عامyear صبيحةa morning عبرتcrossed
ذكراك في كل عام صبيحة عبرت
منfrom عالمthe realm of الغيبthe unseen تدعوcalls الفتيةthe young men العرباArab
من عالم الغيب تدعو الفتية العربا
Each year your memory is a morning that has crossed
The memory of you every year at dawn has made me weep
Your memory crosses every year like a morning,
from the realm of the unseen, summoning the Arab youths:
Calling from the world of the unseen the Arab youth
From the unseen world, calling out to Arab youth.
أقومare the people of…? أحمدAhmad مضروبstruck علىupon يدهمtheir hand
أقوم أحمد مضروب على يدهم
بالذلwith humiliation منfrom هولthe terror of ذاكthat الفتحconquest واعجباand oh, how strange!
بالذل من هول ذاك الفتح واعجبا
Are Ahmad's people struck upon their hands
I stand praising the struck hands
The people of Ahmad are stamped with humiliation,
with humiliation from the terror of that conquest—and oh, how strange!
For the humiliation from the enormity of that conquest and its marvel
From the horror of that conquest—oh, what a wonder!
تفرقواthey split apart شيعاinto factions فيin كلevery حاضرةcity
تفرقوا شيعا في كل حاضرة
قومa people يقيمونthey erect منfrom أغلالهمtheir shackles نصباidols
قوم يقيمون من أغلالهم نصبا
They split into factions; in every city,
They dispersed in every city in groups
They scattered into factions in every city,
people erect idols from their shackles.
Appointing from their shackles monuments
A people erecting monuments from their very chains.
لولاwere it not for بقاياremnants منof الثوارthe revolutionaries صامدةsteadfast
لولا بقايا من الثوار صامدة
فيin ظلthe shade of وهرانOran تسقيmakes drink خصمهاits foe العطباruin
في ظل وهران تسقي خصمها العطبا
Were it not for a steadfast remnant of revolutionaries
Were it not for the remaining rebels standing firm
Were it not for a remnant of rebels standing firm,
in Oran's shade, making their foe drink ruin—
In the shadow of Oran quenching the thirst of their enemy
In the shadow of Oran, serving destruction to their foe,
تكونyou/she would be (context unclear) ولىturned away فراراin flight منfrom جحافلهاits legions
تكون ولى فرارا من جحافلها
والرعبand terror مماat what تصكstrikes الظالمthe oppressor ارتعباwas terrified
والرعب مما تصك الظالم ارتعبا
he turned and fled before their legions [opening word unclear],
It would flee from their armies
Turning in flight from their mighty legions,
and terror itself was terrified by the blows they dealt the oppressor—
Frightened by the injustice the oppressor did
While terror struck the oppressor with trembling fear,
لقلتI would have said واضعيةalas for the loss of الاسلامIslam فيin بلدa land
لقلت واضعية الاسلام في بلد
بالأمسyesterday أعلىraised منارthe beacon of الحقtruth ثمthen خباwent out
بالأمس أعلى منار الحق ثم خبا
I would have said, 'Alas for Islam's loss in a land
I would say the state of Islam in a country
I would have said: Alas for Islam in a land
that yesterday raised truth's beacon, which then went out!'
Was at its highest minaret then it faded
That yesterday raised Truth's beacon, only to see it fade.
ياO ليلةnight القدرof Power أعليraise قدرthe standing of أمتناour nation
يا ليلة القدر أعلي قدر أمتنا
شهمa gallant man تعالىrose high علىabove الشيطينthe devils (nonstandard spelling) وانتصباand stood tall
شهم تعالى على الشيطين وانتصبا
O Night of Power, raise our nation's standing!
O night of Qadr, raise our nation's worth
O Night of Power, exalt the destiny of our nation,
A gallant man rose above the devils and stood tall:
Fiercely attack the devils and rise up
Through a gallant hero who rose above the devils and stood tall.
عبدservant (in Abd al-Karim) الكريمof the Generous One (in the name) الذيwhom جادgave generously الكريمthe Generous One بهwith him
عبد الكريم الذي جاد الكريم به
أقالlifted up منfrom عثرةa stumble شعباa people بماthrough what وهباhe gave
أقال من عثرة شعبا بما وهبا
Abd al-Karim, whom the Generous One bestowed,
Abdelkrim, the generous one, who the Generous granted
Abd al-Karim, whom the Generous One bestowed,
lifted a people from a stumble through what he gave.
Relieved a people of their stumbling with what He gave
Lifted a people from their stumble by what he gave.
ماnot كانwould يرغبturn away عنfrom أنوالرthe lights (apparent misspelling) ثورتهhis revolution
ما كان يرغب عن أنوالر ثورته
الاexcept الخفافيشthe bats ساءتwas wretched تلكthose منقلباin outcome
الا الخفافيش ساءت تلك منقلبا
None would turn away from the lights of his revolution
The only ones who disliked his revolutionary treasures
None turned away from the lights of his revolution
except the bats—wretched was their end!
Were the repugnant bats, ruined is what they overturned
Save for the bats—how evil a fate became theirs.
هوواthey plunged الىto قاعthe bottom of بئرa well قرارa bed لهاfor it
هووا الى قاع بئر قرار لها
مستمسكينclinging بحبلto a rope منwith دمblood خضباwas stained
مستمسكين بحبل من دم خضبا
They plunged to the bottom of a well, down to its bed,
They plunged into the depths of a pit for them
They plummeted into the bottom of a bottomless well,
clinging to a rope stained with blood.
Clinging to a blood-stained rope
Clinging to a rope dyed deep with blood.
حبلa rope تشدpulls taut يدthe hand of الشيطانthe devil أولهits first end
حبل تشد يد الشيطان أوله
ويجذبand pulls الفوضويthe anarchist الخائنthe treacherous one الذنباthe tail
ويجذب الفوضوي الخائن الذنبا
A rope whose first end the devil's hand pulls taut,
A rope which the devil holds one end of
A rope whose beginning is pulled by Satan's hand,
while the treacherous anarchist pulls its tail.
And the treacherous anarchist pulls the guilty end
While the traitorous anarchist tugs at its tail.
كمhow many جيدa neck عذراءof a maiden دقbroke الحبلthe rope أتلعهits long, graceful part
كم جيد عذراء دق الحبل أتلعه
وكمand how many ذراعan arm لطفلof a child قصcut off واجتذباand tore away
وكم ذراع لطفل قص واجتذبا
How many a maiden's long, proud neck the rope snapped,
How many chaste virgins their rope tore
How many virgin necks has the rope crushed?
and how many a child's arm it cut off and tore away!
And how many children's arms were cut and pulled
How many child's arms were severed and torn away?
ياليلةO night القدرof Power نوراa light أضاءilluminated لناfor us
ياليلة القدر نورا أضاء لنا
قاعthe floor of السماءheaven فأبصرناso we saw مدىan expanse عجباwondrous
قاع السماء فأبصرنا مدى عجبا
O Night of Power, a light that illuminated for us
O night of Qadr, a light you illuminated for us
O Night of Power, a light that illumined for us
the floor of heaven, so we beheld a wondrous expanse!
The ceiling of the sky, so we saw the extent of its marvel
The depths of the sky, revealing a wondrous expanse.
تترلdescended (apparent misspelling) الروحthe Spirit رفافاfluttering بأجنحةwith wings
تترل الروح رفافا بأجنحة
بيضwhite علىover الكونthe universe أرخاهنhe lowered them أوor سحباdrew along
بيض على الكون أرخاهن أو سحبا
The Spirit descended, fluttering on wings,
The soul descends gently on wings
The Spirit descends, fluttering with white wings,
white, which he let fall over the universe or drew along.
White over the universe it deployed or clouds
Spread gently over the universe or trailing behind.
عطفthe tenderness of الأمومةmotherhood فيin عينيهhis two eyes متقدburning
عطف الأمومة في عينيه متقد
وانand even if يكنhe is للتقاةto the pious المحسنينthe doers of good أباa father
وان يكن للتقاة المحسنين أبا
Motherhood's tenderness burns in his eyes,
Motherly affection burns in his eyes
The compassion of motherhood glows in his eyes,
even if he is a father to the pious doers of good.
And he may be to the righteous a father
Though he be a father to the righteous and good.
وللملائكand for the angels تسحpraise (apparently truncated) وزغردةand ululation
وللملائك تسح وزغردة
تكادalmost رناتهاits peals أنto تذهلbewilder الشهباthe shooting stars
تكاد رناتها أن تذهل الشهبا
And the angels have hymns of praise and ululation,
And for the angels a touch and singing
The angels offer praise and joyful chants,
whose peals almost bewilder the shooting stars.
Their ringing nearly dazzles meteors
Their resonance nearly stunning the shooting stars.
ومنand from دماءthe blood of الضحاياthe victims فيin جوانبهhis sides
ومن دماء الضحايا في جوانبه
نارa fire تمدextends اللسانthe tongue المغلقsealed الذرباsharp and eloquent
نار تمد اللسان المغلق الذربا
And from the victims' blood within his sides,
And from the blood of victims on its sides
Yet from the blood of victims on its sides,
a fire thrusts out the sealed, sharp tongue.
A fire stretching out its closed intense tongue
A fire extends a sharp, unspoken tongue.
يشكوhe complains الىto اللهGod ذرىscattered عقاربهhis scorpions
يشكو الى الله ذرى عقاربه
فأنبتthen made sprout زهراflowers منfrom سمهاtheir venom أشباtangled
فأنبت زهرا من سمها أشبا
He complains to God of him who scattered his scorpions,
It complains to God of its scorpions' stings
Complaining to God of the sting of its scorpions,
and so made tangled flowers sprout from their venom,
So He grew flowers from its poison, more beautiful
Until flowers grew thick from their very poison.
ومنand whoever هوتplunged تقطعcuts through الأضلاعthe ribs مديتهhis knife
ومن هوت تقطع الأضلاع مديته
وساقand drove ظلماunjustly الىto الجلادthe executioner منwhoever هرباfled
وساق ظلما الى الجلاد من هربا
and of him whose knife plunged, slicing through ribs,
And for whoever injustice dragged to the executioner
And he whose knife struck down to sever ribs,
and unjustly drove those who fled to the executioner.
After fleeing the carved up ribs and bitterness
And unjustly drove the fugitive to the executioner.
ذكرىa memory تعودreturns كأنas though الغدرtreachery يبعثهاresurrects it
ذكرى تعود كأن الغدر يبعثها
منfrom كهفthe cave of أمسyesterday الذيwhich ولىpassed away بماwith what كسباit earned
من كهف أمس الذي ولى بما كسبا
A memory returns, as though treachery resurrects it
A memory returns as if betrayal resurrects it
A memory returns, as if resurrected by treachery,
from the cave of yesterday, which passed away with what it earned.
From the cave of yesterday which ended with what it earned
From the cave of yesterday, gone with all it wrought.
أمسyesterday الذيwhose انif غفلناwe grew heedless عادreturned جاحمهits blaze
أمس الذي ان غفلنا عاد جاحمه
فاقتصthen took revenge ممنon whoever يحبloves اللهGod والعرباand the Arabs
فاقتص ممن يحب الله والعربا
Yesterday, whose blaze returns if we grow heedless,
Yesterday, if we forget, its blazing will return
The yesterday whose hellfire returns if we forget,
then takes revenge on those who love God and the Arabs.
To take revenge on those who love God and the Arabs
To take vengeance on those who love God and the Arabs.
لاno صلحtruce بينbetween الهدىright guidance والبغيand oppression لاno سنةdrowsiness
لا صلح بين الهدى والبغي لا سنة
تعميblinds النواظرthe eyes عمنto whoever سامناinflicted on us العطباruin
تعمي النواظر عمن سامنا العطبا
No truce between right guidance and oppression; no drowsiness
There is no peace between the right way and oppression, no tradition
There is no peace between guidance and tyranny, nor slumber
that blinds our eyes to those who inflicted ruin on us.
That will blind sight from those who quenched our thirst
To blind our eyes to those who sought our ruin.
Sol 6.1