مَنازِلُ الحَيِّ مِن غُمدانَ فَالنَضَدِ

مَنازِلُ الحَيِّ مِن غُمدانَ فَالنَضَدِ

فَمَأرِبٍ فَظَفارِ المُلكِ فَالجَنَدِ

فَمَأرِبٍ فَظَفارِ المُلكِ فَالجَنَدِ

The tribe’s dwellings, from Ghumdan to al-Nadad,

The abodes of the living, from Ghumdan to Fāl,

then Ma’rib, royal Zafar, and al-Janad—

Then Ma'rib, then Ẓafār, the realm, and then Janad,

أَرضُ التَبابِعِ وَالأَقيالِ مِن يَمَنٍ

أَرضُ التَبابِعِ وَالأَقيالِ مِن يَمَنٍ

أَهلِ الجِيادِ وَأَهلِ البَيضِ وَالزَرَدِ

أَهلِ الجِيادِ وَأَهلِ البَيضِ وَالزَرَدِ

the land of the Tubbaʿ kings and the princes of Yemen,

The land of claws and fetters, from Yemen,

men of fine steeds, and men of helmets and chain mail.

The people of steeds, the people of white robes and coats of mail,

ما دَخَلوا قَريَةً إِلّا وَقَد كَتَبوا

ما دَخَلوا قَريَةً إِلّا وَقَد كَتَبوا

بِها كِتاباً فَلَم يَدرُس وَلَم يَبِدِ

بِها كِتاباً فَلَم يَدرُس وَلَم يَبِدِ

They entered no town without writing

They did not enter a town but they inscribed

there an inscription that neither faded nor vanished.

In it a writ that neither crumbled nor disappeared,

بِالقَيرَوانِ وَبابِ الصينِ قَد زَبَروا

بِالقَيرَوانِ وَبابِ الصينِ قَد زَبَروا

وَبابِ مَروٍ وَبابِ الهِندِ وَالصُغَدِ

وَبابِ مَروٍ وَبابِ الهِندِ وَالصُغَدِ

At Qayrawan and China’s gate they inscribed,

In Qayrawān and the Gate of China they brandished swords,

and at Merv’s gate, and the gate of India and Sogdiana.

And the Gate of Merv, and the Gate of India and Soghd.