إِلى حَيثُ أَلقَت يا زَمانَ المَظالِمِ

إِلى حَيثُ أَلقَت يا زَمانَ المَظالِمِ

وَلا عُدتَ يا عَهدَ الشَقا المُتَقادِمِ

وَلا عُدتَ يا عَهدَ الشَقا المُتَقادِمِ

Away to oblivion, O age of injustices!

To where tyranny's been cast away, time of yore

Be gone to where things are cast away, O time of injustice, and never return, O epoch of ancient misery.

And may you never return, O long-standing era of misery!

And ne'er returned, days of misery and woe

You have departed with no mourners; for how could a blind man weep upon suddenly seeing lights fill the universe?

ذَهَبتَ فَلا باكٍ وَأَنّى بَكى العَمى

ذَهَبتَ فَلا باكٍ وَأَنّى بَكى العَمى

كَفيفٌ رَأى الأَضواءَ مِلءَ العَوالِمِ

كَفيفٌ رَأى الأَضواءَ مِلءَ العَوالِمِ

You have gone, and none weeps; how could blindness be mourned

You're gone, none weeps, how should the blind man weep

I marvel not that there is no wailing among the people, but rather it is strange to see anyone not smiling.

by a blind man who saw lights filling the worlds?

When lights the worlds with radiance overflow?

You descended upon the Easterner and his status plummeted, though he was once brimming with pride and fresh with noble virtues.

وَما عَجَبتُ أَن لَيسَ في القَومِ نادِبٌ

وَما عَجَبتُ أَن لَيسَ في القَومِ نادِبٌ

وَلَكِن عَجيبٌ أَن أَرى غَيرَ باسِمِ

وَلَكِن عَجيبٌ أَن أَرى غَيرَ باسِمِ

I was not surprised that no one among the people mourned,

No wonder none lament amongst the tribe

You sowed division until nothing but division remained, and you incited conflict until there was nothing but strife.

but it is strange to see anyone not smiling.

But strange I see none smile, or laughter show

You lingered, forcing the people to abandon their kin and country, scattering to every pass, both fertile and barren.

نَزَلتَ عَلى الشَرقِيِّ فَاِنحَطَّ شَأنُهُ

نَزَلتَ عَلى الشَرقِيِّ فَاِنحَطَّ شَأنُهُ

وَقَد كانَ غَصَّ الفَخرِ غِضَّ المَكارِمِ

وَقَد كانَ غَصَّ الفَخرِ غِضَّ المَكارِمِ

You descended upon the man of the East, and his stature sank,

You came on East in its zenith glory-clad

They departed, suppressing their rage to avoid malicious joy, seeking no justice for fear of censure.

though once he brimmed with pride, his noble virtues fresh.

When it with pride of all that’s good did glow

Had they wished, they would have chosen violence as a vessel, for resentments were filling their very chests.

فَفَرَّقتَ حَتّى لَيسَ غَيرَ مُفَرِّقٍ

فَفَرَّقتَ حَتّى لَيسَ غَيرَ مُفَرِّقٍ

وَخاصَمتَ حَتّى لَيسَ غَيرَ التَخاصُمِ

وَخاصَمتَ حَتّى لَيسَ غَيرَ التَخاصُمِ

You sowed division until none but dividers remained,

So you did part, none now unites but parts

We endured your company for thirty years, not out of fear, but due to worldly circumstances and the weakening of our will.

and quarrelled until nothing remained but quarrelling.

And stirred dissent till only strife they know

That was never out of love, for you possess no lovable trait, nor are we ones to be seduced by sin.

أَقَمتَ فَخَلّى أَهلُهُ وَبِلادِهِ

أَقَمتَ فَخَلّى أَهلُهُ وَبِلادِهِ

إِلى كُلِّ فَجٍّ مِن خَصيبٍ وَقاحِمِ

إِلى كُلِّ فَجٍّ مِن خَصيبٍ وَقاحِمِ

You stayed, and he abandoned his family and his homeland,

You stayed, so they left home and land in droves

You existed, and ignorance became our closest companion, while saving the truth became a rare spoil of war.

for every pass, fertile or harsh.

To every lush and arid valley go

You reigned while every youth among us slumbered in inaction, and every authority figure was a tyrant.

نَأى كاظِماً لِلغَيظِ خَوفَ شَماتَةٍ

نَأى كاظِماً لِلغَيظِ خَوفَ شَماتَةٍ

وَلَم يَطلُبِ الإِنصافَ خِفيَةَ لائِمِ

وَلَم يَطلُبِ الإِنصافَ خِفيَةَ لائِمِ

He went far away, repressing his rage for fear of gloating,

Enduring, wrath supressing, shaming fearing

Thirty years with calamities hovering above us, pitching their tents like dark, ominous clouds.

nor sought redress, for fear of a reproacher.

Nor justice seeking, cowering, laying low

Knowledge was not respected, truth had no power, and nothing was held sacred save for money.

وَلَو شاءَ لَم يَختَر سِوى الشَرَّ مَركَباً

وَلَو شاءَ لَم يَختَر سِوى الشَرَّ مَركَباً

فَقَد كانَتِ الأَحقادُ مِلءَ الحَيازِمِ

فَقَد كانَتِ الأَحقادُ مِلءَ الحَيازِمِ

Had he wished, he would have chosen only evil as his mount,

Had he but wished, none but the worst he’d choose

There was nothing but tyranny, injustice, and harm; may you be accursed, O era of abundant malice.

for chests were brimming with hatred.

For grudges filled minds with fires that glow

Begone, may you serve eternal misery, unbidden farewell by the people save with the edges of sharp swords.

صَحِبناكَ لا خَوفاً ثَلازينَ حِجَّةً

صَحِبناكَ لا خَوفاً ثَلازينَ حِجَّةً

وَلَكِنَّها الدُنيا وَضَعفُ العَزائِمِ

وَلَكِنَّها الدُنيا وَضَعفُ العَزائِمِ

We kept your company for thirty years, not out of fear,

We walked with you, not craven, many the pleas

By God, no nation of men accepts your chains unless they have been reduced to the level of beasts.

but because of worldly life and weakness of resolve.

But weaker souls when lured by worldly woe

O Constitution, welcome and greetings to you, arriving on auspicious wings, O best of visitors.

وَما ذاكَ عَن حُبٍّ فَما فيكَ شيمَةٌ

وَما ذاكَ عَن حُبٍّ فَما فيكَ شيمَةٌ

تُحَبُّ وَلَسنا مِن غُواةِ المَآثِمِ

تُحَبُّ وَلَسنا مِن غُواةِ المَآثِمِ

That was not from love, for you have no trait

Not out of love, for you no virtues own

You rose upon us as a star that never sets, at a time when the East was like the eye of a bewildered wanderer.

to be loved; and we are not devotees of sin.

That one could love, we are no sinners tho’

Eyes that were once weary found rest, and in their joy, they generously poured forth flowing tears.

فَكُنتَ وَكانَ الجَهلُ أَحسَنَ خِلَّةٍ

فَكُنتَ وَكانَ الجَهلُ أَحسَنَ خِلَّةٍ

لَنا وَنَجاةَ الحَقِّ إِحدى الغَنائِمِ

لَنا وَنَجاةَ الحَقِّ إِحدى الغَنائِمِ

You held sway, and ignorance was the finest companion

So you remained, and ignorance better ties

Mankind, both East and West, erupted in a clamor that roused every sleeper from their slumber.

for us, and truth's survival was counted among the spoils.

For us, the truth’s survival a chance windblow

You called out, and injustice fled across the land, while every oppressor bowed his head in shame.

وَكُنتَ وَما فينا فَتىً غَيرُ نائِمٍ

وَكُنتَ وَما فينا فَتىً غَيرُ نائِمٍ

عَلَيكَ وَلا ذو سُلطَةٍ غَيرِ غاشِمِ

عَلَيكَ وَلا ذو سُلطَةٍ غَيرِ غاشِمِ

You reigned, and every young man among us lay asleep

While none awake or wielding power but cruel

A smile overflowed upon the lips of the sorrowful, proclaiming that grief is not everlasting.

under you, and every man in power was a tyrant.

Oppressed us thirty years, capsized our boat

The pens were set free after their captivity, making the universe hear a song like the cooing of doves.

ثَلاثونَ عاماً وَالنَوائِبُ فَوقَنا

ثَلاثونَ عاماً وَالنَوائِبُ فَوقَنا

مُخَيِّمَةٌ مِثلُ الغُيومِ القَواتِمِ

مُخَيِّمَةٌ مِثلُ الغُيومِ القَواتِمِ

Thirty years, with calamities above us,

No knowledge held aloft, no truth upheld

No captive remained whose bonds were not loosed, and no offender remained who did not receive mercy.

encamped like dark clouds.

No sanctity observed, but greed for dough

We once deemed sorrow to be our inevitable fate, but now we see joy as our necessary destiny.

فَلا العِلمُ مَرموقٌ وَلا الحَقُّ نافِذٌ

فَلا العِلمُ مَرموقٌ وَلا الحَقُّ نافِذٌ

وَلا حُرمَةٌ تُرعى لِغَيرِ الدَراهِمِ

وَلا حُرمَةٌ تُرعى لِغَيرِ الدَراهِمِ

So learning was not esteemed, nor was justice enforced,

Naught but injustice, tyranny, and harm

Some imagined that the East was delusional, and that you, O Constitution, were merely the confused dreams of a sleeper.

nor was anything held sacred except dirhams.

You ugly in an age of manner low

Others conjectured that this was but a deception; we sought refuge in the Lord of Mankind from all who cast such doubts.

وَما ثَمَّ غَيرُ البَغيِ وَالظُلمِ وَالأَذى

وَما ثَمَّ غَيرُ البَغيِ وَالظُلمِ وَالأَذى

فَقُبِّحتَ مِن عَصرٍ كَثيرِ السَخائِمِ

فَقُبِّحتَ مِن عَصرٍ كَثيرِ السَخائِمِ

There was nothing but aggression, oppression, and harm;

So stranger leave, no farewells but with spears

You revealed your glory, and some faces turned black with shame while others shone with light, and every debtor became a victor.

so accursed be you, an age full of malice!

And blades from folk you brought so low

You did not return until the spears nearly clashed for your sake—and truly, the spear is the most just of judges.

فَاِغرُب شُقيتَ الدَهرِ غَيرَ مُوَدِّعٍ

فَاِغرُب شُقيتَ الدَهرِ غَيرَ مُوَدِّعٍ

مِنَ القَومِ إِلا بِالظُبى وَالصَوارِمِ

مِنَ القَومِ إِلا بِالظُبى وَالصَوارِمِ

Then be gone—may you suffer forever—with no farewell

By God, none but the beasts your bonds will bear

And in the hand of every proud man, every sword and sharp blade was poised to strike.

from the people save with sword-edges and keen blades.

Of all mankind, should they but know

The army insisted on being your supporter, and you would accept nothing less than the support of a sound army.

فَوَاللَهِ ما تَرضى قُيودَكَ أُمَّةٌ

فَوَاللَهِ ما تَرضى قُيودَكَ أُمَّةٌ

مِنَ الناسِ إِلّا أَصبَحَت في البَهائِمِ

مِنَ الناسِ إِلّا أَصبَحَت في البَهائِمِ

By God, no nation accepts your chains

O constitution, welcome to the auspicious bird

Blessed are you both, the arm and the sword, despite every pessimistic, rogue traitor.

without passing from humankind into the ranks of beasts.

The best that came, greetings free and fair

May the sons of the East never cease to sing the praises of the free men with pride, in every village and capital.

وَيا أَيُّها الدُستورُ أَهلاً وَمَرحَباً

وَيا أَيُّها الدُستورُ أَهلاً وَمَرحَباً

عَلى الطائِرِ المَيمونِ يا خَيرَ قادِمِ

عَلى الطائِرِ المَيمونِ يا خَيرَ قادِمِ

And O Constitution, hail and welcome!

You rose on us an eveless star that shone

Men who wear the guise of ordinary men, yet within their bodies dwell the souls of lions.

With an auspicious omen, O best of newcomers!

While East in gloom and darkness bowed in prayer

They bound us with their kindness and generosity, while releasing us from the shackles of oppression.

طَلَعتَ عَلَينا كَوكَباً غَيرُ آفِلٍ

طَلَعتَ عَلَينا كَوكَباً غَيرُ آفِلٍ

عَلى حينِ أَنَّ الشَرقَ مُقلَةُ هائِمِ

عَلى حينِ أَنَّ الشَرقَ مُقلَةُ هائِمِ

You rose upon us, a star that never sets,

Eyes that tears flowed down smiled now unbidden

So there remains among us no ruler who is unjust, and no just man who does not rule.

when the East was a lovelorn man's eye.

Speaking that sadness is not fixed, nor despair

فَقَرَّت عُيونٌ قَبلُ كانَت حَسيرَةً

فَقَرَّت عُيونٌ قَبلُ كانَت حَسيرَةً

وَجادَت سُروراً بِالدُموعِ السَواجِنِ

وَجادَت سُروراً بِالدُموعِ السَواجِنِ

Then eyes once weary found comfort,

Pens released now sing the song of love

and shed, for joy, streaming tears.

And bring to ears of worlds the ringdoves coo

وَضَجَّ الوَرى وَالشَرقُ وَالغَربُ ضَجَّةً

وَضَجَّ الوَرى وَالشَرقُ وَالغَربُ ضَجَّةً

أَفاقَ لَها مُستَيقِظاً كُلُّ نائِمِ

أَفاقَ لَها مُستَيقِظاً كُلُّ نائِمِ

Humankind, East and West, raised a clamor

No more slaves unfree, bonds all cut away

at which every sleeper awoke, alert.

No more oppressed remain that Justice bare

أَهَبتَ فَفَرَّ الظُلمُ بِالأَرضِ هارِباً

أَهَبتَ فَفَرَّ الظُلمُ بِالأَرضِ هارِباً

وَنَكَّسَ خِزياً رَأسَهُ كُلُّ ظالِمِ

وَنَكَّسَ خِزياً رَأسَهُ كُلُّ ظالِمِ

You called out, and oppression fled across the earth,

And on sad lips smiles lit with radiance

and every oppressor lowered his head in shame.

Speaking griefs and frowns do not always wear

وَفاضَت عَلى ثَغرتِ الحَزينِ اِبتِسامَةٌ

وَفاضَت عَلى ثَغرتِ الحَزينِ اِبتِسامَةٌ

تُخبِرُ أَنَّ الحُزنَ لَيسَ بِدائِمِ

تُخبِرُ أَنَّ الحُزنَ لَيسَ بِدائِمِ

And a smile flowed across the sorrowful man's lips,

We saw sorrows strike, calamity, setback

declaring that sorrow is not everlasting.

Now we see joys embrace, blessing to share

وَأُطلِقَتِ الأَقلامُ بَعدَ اِعتِقالِها

وَأُطلِقَتِ الأَقلامُ بَعدَ اِعتِقالِها

فَأَسمَعَتِ الأَكوانَ سَجعَ الحَمائِمِ

فَأَسمَعَتِ الأَكوانَ سَجعَ الحَمائِمِ

And pens were freed after their imprisonment,

Some assumed the East raving, lost its mind

then made the worlds hear the cooing of doves.

You, constitution, but mad dreamers snare

وَلَم يَبقَ عانٍ لَم يُفَكَّ إِسارُهُ

وَلَم يَبقَ عانٍ لَم يُفَكَّ إِسارُهُ

وَلَم يَبقَ جانٍ لَم يَفُز بِالمَراحِمِ

وَلَم يَبقَ جانٍ لَم يَفُز بِالمَراحِمِ

No captive remained whose bonds were not undone,

Others claimed deceit, so our Lord we seek

nor any offender who had not won clemency.

From the stones thrown by every false accuser there

وَكُنّا نَرى الأَحزانَ ضَربَةَ لازِبٍ

وَكُنّا نَرى الأَحزانَ ضَربَةَ لازِبٍ

فَصِرنا نَرى الأَفراحَ ضَربَةَ لازِمِ

فَصِرنا نَرى الأَفراحَ ضَربَةَ لازِمِ

We used to see sorrows as our inescapable lot;

You appeared, faces blackened, faces lit up

now we see joys as our inevitable lot.

And losers all their winnings now did share

تَوَهَّمَ قَومٌ أَنَّما الشَرقُ واهِمٌ

تَوَهَّمَ قَومٌ أَنَّما الشَرقُ واهِمٌ

وَأَنَّكَ يا دُستورُ أَضغاثَ حالِمِ

وَأَنَّكَ يا دُستورُ أَضغاثَ حالِمِ

Some imagined that the East was merely deluded,

You'd barely come when scholars clashed on you

and that you, O Constitution, were a dreamer's tangled dreams.

The Kadi famed, most just of judges fair

وَرَجَّمَ قَومٌ أَنَّما تِلكَ خِدعَةٌ

وَرَجَّمَ قَومٌ أَنَّما تِلكَ خِدعَةٌ

فَعُذنا بِرَبِّ الناسِ مِن كُلِّ راجِمِ

فَعُذنا بِرَبِّ الناسِ مِن كُلِّ راجِمِ

And some cast conjectures that this was only a trick;

And nearly shook with fervor every arm

so we sought refuge in the Lord of humankind from every caster of conjectures.

Of each patriot, sword and blade laid bare

تَجَلَّيتَ فَاِسوَدَّت وُجوهٌ وَأَسفَرَت

تَجَلَّيتَ فَاِسوَدَّت وُجوهٌ وَأَسفَرَت

وُجوهٌ وَأَمسى غانِماً كُلُّ غارِمِ

وُجوهٌ وَأَمسى غانِماً كُلُّ غارِمِ

You shone forth: faces blackened, and radiant grew

The army only helpful course approved

other faces, and every debtor came away with gains.

And naught but harm in any army flare

وَما عُدتَ حَتّى كافدَ يَشتَجِرُ القَنا

وَما عُدتَ حَتّى كافدَ يَشتَجِرُ القَنا

لِأَجلِكَ وَالخَطي أَعدَلُ حاكِمِ

لِأَجلِكَ وَالخَطي أَعدَلُ حاكِمِ

You did not return until the lances all but clashed

So blessings upon soldier and leader alike

for your sake, with the Khatti spear the fairest judge.

Despite the schemers spreading doom and scare

وَأَوشَكَ أَن يَهتَزَّ في كُلِّ ساعِدٍ

وَأَوشَكَ أَن يَهتَزَّ في كُلِّ ساعِدٍ

لِكُلِّ أَبِيٍّ كُلُّ سَيفٍ وَصارِمِ

لِكُلِّ أَبِيٍّ كُلُّ سَيفٍ وَصارِمِ

And every arm was on the verge of brandishing

Still the free sing their praise throughout the lands

for every unbowed man, every sword and keen blade.

The Eastern men pride and joy beyond compare

أَبى الجَيشُ إِلّا أَن يَكونَ مُؤَيَّداً

أَبى الجَيشُ إِلّا أَن يَكونَ مُؤَيَّداً

وَتَأبى سِوى تَأيِيدِ جَيشٍ سالِمِ

وَتَأبى سِوى تَأيِيدِ جَيشٍ سالِمِ

The army insisted on being supported,

Men of mettle, though bodies housed therein

and you refuse all but the support of a sound army.

Souls of fiercest lions, kings of mighty lair

فَبورِكتُما مِن ساعِدٍ وَمُهَنَّدٍ

فَبورِكتُما مِن ساعِدٍ وَمُهَنَّدٍ

بِرَغمِ خَأونٍ مارِقٍ مُتَشائِمِ

بِرَغمِ خَأونٍ مارِقٍ مُتَشائِمِ

Blessed be you both, an arm and a blade of Indian steel,

With courtesy and zeal they us unchained

despite every treacherous, renegade pessimist.

And from greed’s shackles freed us; evil snare

وَلا بَرَحَ الأَحرارُ يَشدو بِذِكرِهِم

وَلا بَرَحَ الأَحرارُ يَشدو بِذِكرِهِم

بَنو الشَرقِ فَخراً في القُرى وَالعَواصِمِ

بَنو الشَرقِ فَخراً في القُرى وَالعَواصِمِ

May the free men never cease to be celebrated in song

No unjust ruler left, no judge but just

by the sons of the East, proudly, in villages and capitals.

None here judging unless justice he declare

رِجالٌ لَهُم زِيُّ الرِجالِ وَإِنَّما

رِجالٌ لَهُم زِيُّ الرِجالِ وَإِنَّما

جُسومُهُم فيها نُفوسُ ضَراغِمِ

جُسومُهُم فيها نُفوسُ ضَراغِمِ

Men who wear the garb of men, yet

their bodies hold within them the souls of lions.

هُم قَيَّدونا بِالعَوارِفِ وَالنَدى

هُم قَيَّدونا بِالعَوارِفِ وَالنَدى

وَهُم أَطلَقونا مِن عِقالِ المَغارِمِ

وَهُم أَطلَقونا مِن عِقالِ المَغارِمِ

They bound us with favors and bounty,

and freed us from the fetters of exactions.

فَلَم يَبقَ فينا حاكِمٌ غَيرُ عادِلِ

فَلَم يَبقَ فينا حاكِمٌ غَيرُ عادِلِ

وَلَم يَبقَ فينا عادِلٌ غَيرُ حاكِمِ

وَلَم يَبقَ فينا عادِلٌ غَيرُ حاكِمِ

So no ruler remained among us who was not just,

nor any just man among us who was not a ruler.