حَيِّsalute الشَآمَal-Sham مُهَنَّداan Indian-steel sword وَكِتاباand a book
حَيِّ الشَآمَ مُهَنَّدا وَكِتابا
وَالغوطَةَand Ghouta الخَضراءgreen وَالمِحراباand the prayer niche
وَالغوطَةَ الخَضراء وَالمِحرابا
Salute al-Sham, a tempered sword and a book,
O Damascus, the inspired and bookish,
Salute Damascus as a drawn sword and a holy book,
and green Ghouta and the prayer niche.
And the green Ghouta, and the prayer niche,
The verdant Ghouta and the sacred prayer niche.
لَيسَتare not قِباباًdomes ماwhat رَأَيتyou saw وَإِنَّماbut rather
لَيسَت قِباباً ما رَأَيت وَإِنَّما
عَزمٌresolve تَمَرَّدَrebelled فَاِستَطالَthen towered قِباباinto domes
عَزمٌ تَمَرَّدَ فَاِستَطالَ قِبابا
What you saw were not domes, but
It is not domes that I saw, but rather,
Those are not mere domes that meet your eye;
resolve that rebelled and towered into domes.
A will that rebelled, so domes rose high.
It is a rebellious resolve that soared high to become domes.
فَاِلثُمso kiss بِروحِكَwith your soul أَرضَهاher land تَلثُمyou will kiss عُصوراًages
فَاِلثُم بِروحِكَ أَرضَها تَلثُم عُصوراً
لِلعُلىof glory سَكَنَتdwelt حَصىin pebbles وَتُراباand dust
لِلعُلى سَكَنَت حَصى وَتُرابا
So kiss her land with your soul: you will kiss ages
With your spirit, kiss its land through the ages,
Kiss its soil with your very soul, and you kiss the ages,
of glory dwelling in pebbles and dust.
For the sublime resided in pebbles and dust.
Where glory has dwelt within the pebbles and the dust.
وَاِهبِطand descend عَلىto بَرَدىBarada يُصَفِّقُclapping ضاحِكاًlaughing
وَاِهبِط عَلى بَرَدى يُصَفِّقُ ضاحِكاً
يَستَعطِفُwooing التَلعاتthe hillocks وَالأَعشاباand the grasses
يَستَعطِفُ التَلعات وَالأَعشابا
And go down to Barada, clapping as it laughs,
And descend upon Barada clapping and laughing joyfully,
Descend to the Barada river, clapping in laughter,
wooing the hillocks and the grasses.
Begging saplings and grass to forgive it.
As it gently courts the hillsides and the meadows.
روحٌa spirit أَطَلَّlooked down مِنَfrom السَماءِheaven عَشِيَّةًone evening
روحٌ أَطَلَّ مِنَ السَماءِ عَشِيَّةً
فَرَأىthen saw الجَمالَbeauty هُناhere فَحَنَّthen yearned فَذاياthen melted away (likely intended)
فَرَأى الجَمالَ هُنا فَحَنَّ فَذايا
A spirit looked down from heaven one evening,
A spirit peered from the sky one evening,
It is a spirit that gazed down from heaven at eventide,
then saw beauty here, yearned, and melted away.
And saw the beauty here, so it yearned and faded away,
And seeing such beauty here, it yearned and melted away.
وَصَفاand grew clear وَشَفَّand became transparent فَأَوشَكَتso almost ضِفّاتُهُits banks
وَصَفا وَشَفَّ فَأَوشَكَت ضِفّاتُهُ
تَنسابُflow مِنfrom وَجدٍecstasy بِهِfor it مُنساباflowing
تَنسابُ مِن وَجدٍ بِهِ مُنسابا
And it grew clear and transparent; its banks almost
It described and healed, until its rivulets
It became so pure and translucent that its banks
flowed in ecstasy at its flowing.
Were about to pour from ecstasy overwhelming it.
Nearly flowed away themselves from their passion for it.
بَلrather أَدمُعٌtears حورُhouris الجِنانِof Paradise ذَرَفنَهاthey shed them
بَل أَدمُعٌ حورُ الجِنانِ ذَرَفنَها
شَوقاin longing وَلَمand did not تَملِكhave power لَهُنَّfor them إِياباa return
شَوقا وَلَم تَملِك لَهُنَّ إِيابا
Rather, tears shed by the houris of Paradise
Nay, but tears the maidens of heaven shed
Nay, it is but tears shed by the maidens of Paradise,
in longing, with no power to call them back.
Yearningly, unable to hold them back.
Wept in longing, tears they could never call back.
بَرَدىBarada ذَكَرتُكَI mentioned you لِلعَطاشىto the thirsty فَاِرتَوَواso they were quenched
بَرَدى ذَكَرتُكَ لِلعَطاشى فَاِرتَوَوا
وَبَنيand the sons of النُهىreason فَتَرَشَّفوكَso they sipped you رِضاباsweet saliva
وَبَني النُهى فَتَرَشَّفوكَ رِضابا
Barada, I spoke of you to the thirsty, and they were quenched,
O Barada, I remembered you to the thirsty, so they drank their fill,
O Barada, I spoke your name to the thirsty and they were quenched;
and to the sons of reason, who sipped you as the nectar of lips.
And the pious drank you in willingly.
And the people of wisdom sipped you like sweet nectar.
مَرَّتpassed بِكَby you الأَدهارُthe ages لَمdid not تَخبِثgrow foul وَلَمnor did
مَرَّت بِكَ الأَدهارُ لَم تَخبِث وَلَم
تَفسُدgrow corrupt وَكَمand how often خَبَثَgrew foul الزَمانtime وَطاباand grew wholesome
تَفسُد وَكَم خَبَثَ الزَمان وَطابا
Ages passed by you; you never grew foul, nor
The ages passed you by without corrupting you,
Ages have passed over you, yet you remained pure and uncorrupted,
corrupt—how often time has turned foul and sweet!
While how many times did time decay and fade.
While time itself has so often turned foul or fair.
بِأَبيmy father as ransom وَأُمّيand my mother فيin العَراءِthe open مُوَسَّدٌone pillowed
بِأَبي وَأُمّي في العَراءِ مُوَسَّدٌ
بَعَثَawakened الحَياةَlife مَطامِعاambitions وَرِغاباand longings
بَعَثَ الحَياةَ مَطامِعا وَرِغابا
My father and mother be his ransom, the man pillowed in the open,
With my father and mother as pillows in the wilderness,
May my father and mother be ransom for the one pillowed in the open wild,
who awakened life to ambitions and longings.
It awakened ambitions and desires.
Who breathed life into ambitions and high desires.
لَمّاwhen ثَوىlay at rest فيin مَيسَلونَMaysalun تَرَنَّحَتswayed
لَمّا ثَوى في مَيسَلونَ تَرَنَّحَت
هَضَباتُهاits highlands وَتَنَفَّسَتand breathed out أَطياباfragrances
هَضَباتُها وَتَنَفَّسَت أَطيابا
When he lay at Maysalun, they swayed—
When it lodged in Maysaloon, its plateaus sighed
When he fell to rest in Maysalun, its very hills staggered,
its highlands—and breathed out fragrances.
And its fragrances breathed out perfumes.
And the land exhaled a breath of perfume.
وَأَتىand reached النُجومَthe stars حَديثُهُhis story فَتَهافَتَتso they rushed
وَأَتى النُجومَ حَديثُهُ فَتَهافَتَت
لِتَقومَto stand حُرّاساًas guards لَهُfor him حُجّاباgatekeepers
لِتَقومَ حُرّاساً لَهُ حُجّابا
And his story reached the stars, and they rushed
And tales of it came to the stars, so they scrambled
The tale of his deeds reached the stars, and they tumbled down,
to stand as his guards and gatekeepers.
To stand guard over it as veiled watchwomen.
To stand as guards and gatekeepers over his grave.
ماnot كانَwas يوسُفُYusuf واحِداًone man بَلrather مَوكِباًa procession
ما كانَ يوسُفُ واحِداً بَل مَوكِباً
لِلنورِof light غَلغَلَpenetrated deeply فيinto الشُموسِthe suns فَغاباthen vanished
لِلنورِ غَلغَلَ في الشُموسِ فَغابا
Yusuf was not one man, but a procession
Joseph was not one, but a procession,
Yusuf was not a single man, but a vast procession
of light that penetrated the suns and vanished.
For light, cascading into the suns until hidden.
Of light that penetrated the suns and vanished within.
هَذاthis is he الَّذيwho اِشتاقَlonged for الكَرىsleep تَحتَbeneath الثَرىthe soil
هَذا الَّذي اِشتاقَ الكَرى تَحتَ الثَرى
كَيso that لاnot يَرىhe sees فيin جُلَّقِJilliq الأَغراباforeigners
كَي لا يَرى في جُلَّقِ الأَغرابا
This is he who longed for sleep beneath the soil
This one whom the soil yearned for beneath the sod,
It is he who longed for slumber beneath the soil,
so he would not see foreigners in Jilliq.
Lest he see the faces of strangers in death.
Only that he might not witness invaders in Damascus.
وَإِذاand if نَباgrew harsh العَيشُlife الكَريمُhonorable بِماجِدٍtoward a noble man
وَإِذا نَبا العَيشُ الكَريمُ بِماجِدٍ
حُرٍّfree رَأىhe deemed المَوتَdeath الكَريمَhonorable صَواباright
حُرٍّ رَأى المَوتَ الكَريمَ صَوابا
And if honorable life grows harsh toward a noble,
And if life's fertility comes through glorious deeds,
When a dignified life turns its back on a noble soul,
free man, he sees honorable death as right.
He sees noble death as the right course.
The free man deems a dignified death the only right path.
إِنّيindeed I لِأَزهىtruly take pride بِالفَتىin the young man وَأُحِبُّهُand love him
إِنّي لِأَزهى بِالفَتى وَأُحِبُّهُ
يَهوىhe loves الحَياةَlife مَشَقَّةtoil وَصِعاباand hardships
يَهوى الحَياةَ مَشَقَّة وَصِعابا
I indeed take pride in the young man and love him,
I take pride in the lad, loving him,
I truly exult in such a youth and hold him dear,
who loves life in its toil and hardships,
Who craves life with hardship and tribulation,
Who embraces life as a challenge and a struggle.
وَيُضَوِّعُand diffuses عِطراًfragrance كُلَّماwhenever شَدَّgripped الأَسىsorrow
وَيُضَوِّعُ عِطراً كُلَّما شَدَّ الأَسى
بِيَدَيهِwith its two hands يَعرُكُwrings قَلبَهُhis heart الوَثّاباbounding
بِيَدَيهِ يَعرُكُ قَلبَهُ الوَثّابا
and gives off fragrance whenever sorrow grips,
And gives off scent whenever grief tightens
He wafts fragrance whenever sorrow tightens its grip,
wringing his bounding heart with both hands.
Its hands to wrench at his tossing heart,
Rubbing his leaping heart between its hands.
وَيَسيلُand flows ماءًas water إِنحَواهُif it encloses him فَدفَدٌa barren waste
وَيَسيلُ ماءً إِنحَواهُ فَدفَدٌ
وَإِذاand if طَواهُenfolds him اللَيلُnight شَعَّshines شَهاباas a meteor
وَإِذا طَواهُ اللَيلُ شَعَّ شَهابا
And flows as water if a barren waste encloses him,
And pours forth water - if he inclines toward it, a flood,
He flows like water if the barren desert surrounds him,
and if night enfolds him, shines as a meteor.
And if night wraps it, a shooting star bursts forth.
And if the night enshrouds him, he blazes like a meteor.
وَإِذاand if العَواصِفُthe storms حَجَّبَتveiled وَجهَthe face of السَماthe sky
وَإِذا العَواصِفُ حَجَّبَت وَجهَ السَما
جَدَلَbraided العَواصِفَthe storms لِلسَماto the sky أَسباباropes
جَدَلَ العَواصِفَ لِلسَما أَسبابا
And if the storms veil the sky's face,
And when storms veil the face of the sky,
If tempests veil the face of the heavens,
he braids the storms into ropes to the sky.
He disputes with storms, supplying reasons for the sky.
He braids those very storms into ladders to the sky.
وَإِذاand if تَقَوَّضَcollapsed صَرحُan edifice of آمالٍhopes بَنىhe built
وَإِذا تَقَوَّضَ صَرحُ آمالٍ بَنى
أَمَلاًa hope جَديداًnew مِنfrom رَجاءٍan expectation خاباthat failed
أَمَلاً جَديداً مِن رَجاءٍ خابا
And if an edifice of hopes collapses, he builds
And if the castle of hopes is shattered,
And if the edifice of his hopes should collapse, he builds
a new hope from an expectation that failed.
He builds a new hope from hopes dashed.
A new hope from the very ruins of the one that failed.
فَاِبنُfor the son of الكَواكِبِthe stars كُلُّevery أُفقٍhorizon أُفقُهُhis horizon
فَاِبنُ الكَواكِبِ كُلُّ أُفقٍ أُفقُهُ
وَاِبنُand the son of الضَراغِمِlions لَيسَdoes not يَعدِمُlack غاباa forest
وَاِبنُ الضَراغِمِ لَيسَ يَعدِمُ غابا
For the son of the stars, every horizon is his horizon,
So the son of stars - every horizon is his horizon,
For the son of the stars claims every horizon as his own,
and the son of lions never lacks a forest.
And the son of afflictions - he does not lack for tests.
And the son of lions never lacks a forest to roam.
عَجَباًastonishment لِقَوميat my people وَالعَدُوِّwhile the enemy بِبابِهِمat their gate
عَجَباً لِقَومي وَالعَدُوِّ بِبابِهِم
كَيفَhow اِستَطابواthey found pleasing اللَهوamusement وَالأَلعاباand games
كَيفَ اِستَطابوا اللَهو وَالأَلعابا
I marvel at my people, with the enemy at their gate—
How strange are my people, with the enemy at their gate,
I marvel at my people: with the enemy at their very gates,
how did they find amusement and games so pleasing?
Content with diversion and frivolity!
How can they find sweetness in amusement and games?
وَتَخاذَلَتand faltered أَسيافُهُمtheir swords عَنfrom سَحقِهِcrushing him
وَتَخاذَلَت أَسيافُهُم عَن سَحقِهِ
فيat حينِa time when كانَwas النَصرُvictory مِنهُمfrom them قاباa short span away
في حينِ كانَ النَصرُ مِنهُم قابا
And their swords faltered before crushing him,
Their swords shirked from crushing him
Their swords hung back from crushing the foe,
when victory lay but a span away from them.
At a time when victory was near for them.
Even when victory was within their grasp.
تَرَكواthey abandoned الحُسامَthe sharp sword إِلىfor الكَلامِtalk تَعَلُّلاًseeking excuses
تَرَكوا الحُسامَ إِلى الكَلامِ تَعَلُّلاً
ياO سَيفُsword لَيتَكَif only you ماnot وَجَدتَhad found قِراباa sheath
يا سَيفُ لَيتَكَ ما وَجَدتَ قِرابا
They abandoned the sword for talk, seeking excuses.
They left the sword for rhetoric, on the pretext
They abandoned the sword for words, seeking excuses;
O sword, if only you had never found a sheath!
"O sword, would that you had not found a sheath!"
O sword, would that you had never found a scabbard!
دُنياكَyour world ياO وَطَنَhomeland of العُروبَةِArabhood غابَةٌa jungle
دُنياكَ يا وَطَنَ العُروبَةِ غابَةٌ
حَشَدَتhas massed عَلَيكَagainst you أَراقِماspeckled serpents وَذِئاباand wolves
حَشَدَت عَلَيكَ أَراقِما وَذِئابا
Your world, O homeland of Arabhood, is a jungle
O homeland of Arabism, your world is a jungle
Your world, O homeland of the Arabs, is a savage jungle
that has massed speckled serpents and wolves against you.
Crammed with wild beasts and creatures of prey.
That has amassed vipers and wolves against you.
فَاِلبِسso put on لَهاagainst her ماءَthe sheen الحَديدِof iron مَطارِقاًlayer upon layer
فَاِلبِس لَها ماءَ الحَديدِ مَطارِقاً
وَاِجعَلand make لِسانَكَyour tongue مَخلِباًa claw أَوor ناباa fang
وَاِجعَل لِسانَكَ مَخلِباً أَو نابا
So don iron's sheen against her, layer upon layer,
So don them the water of iron as pummeling hammers,
So clothe yourself in the essence of iron, forged into hammers,
and make your tongue a claw or a fang.
And make your tongue a claw or fang.
And let your tongue become a claw or a fang.
لاno شَرعَlaw فيin الغاباتِthe jungles إِلّاexcept شَرعَهاtheir law
لا شَرعَ في الغاباتِ إِلّا شَرعَها
فَدَعِso leave aside الكَلامَtalk شِكايَةcomplaint وَعِتاباand reproach
فَدَعِ الكَلامَ شِكايَة وَعِتابا
No law rules in jungles except their own,
The law of the jungle prevails in jungles -
For there is no law in the jungle but the law of the wild,
so leave words of complaint and reproach.
Leave off complaining and rebuke.
So abandon speech, complaint, and reproach.
هَذيthis هِيَis الدُنياthe world الَّتيthat أَحبَبتَهاyou loved her
هَذي هِيَ الدُنيا الَّتي أَحبَبتَها
وَسَقَيتَand gave to drink غَيرَكَothers besides you حُبَّهاlove for her أَكواباin cups
وَسَقَيتَ غَيرَكَ حُبَّها أَكوابا
This is the world you loved;
This is the life you loved,
This is the very world that you have loved,
and you poured others cups of love for her.
And made others drink its love in cups.
And whose love you poured out for others in brimming cups.
وَضَحِكتَand you laughed مَعَwith أَحلامِهاher dreams وَبَكَيتَand you wept فيamid
وَضَحِكتَ مَعَ أَحلامِها وَبَكَيتَ في
آلامِهاher pains وَجَرَعتَand you swallowed مَعَهاwith her الصاباbitter sap
آلامِها وَجَرَعتَ مَعَها الصابا
And you laughed with her dreams and wept amid
You laughed with its dreams and cried in
You laughed along with its dreams, and you wept
her pains, and drank bitter sap with her.
Its sorrows, and drank the treacherous wine with it.
Amidst its pains, and with it, you swallowed bitterness.
وَأَضَلَّand led astray روحُكَyour spirit فيduring السُرىnight travel وَأَضَلَّهاand misled it
وَأَضَلَّ روحُكَ في السُرى وَأَضَلَّها
ماwhat خِلتَهُyou took it for ماءًwater فَكانَbut proved to be سَراباa mirage
ما خِلتَهُ ماءً فَكانَ سَرابا
And your spirit led you astray by night, and was itself misled
Your soul went astray in the mirages, and misled them -
Your soul was led astray in the night journey, deceived
by what you took for water, which proved a mirage.
What you thought was water turned out a mirage.
By what you deemed water, but proved to be a mirage.
وَنَظَرتand you looked وَالأَوصابُwhile afflictions تَنهَشُgnawed قَلبَهاher heart
وَنَظَرت وَالأَوصابُ تَنهَشُ قَلبَها
فَرَأَيتَso you saw كُلَّevery لَذاذَةٍpleasure أَوصاباafflictions
فَرَأَيتَ كُلَّ لَذاذَةٍ أَوصابا
And you looked while afflictions gnawed her heart,
And you looked on as the predators tore its heart,
You gazed on while agonies gnawed at its heart,
and saw every pleasure as suffering.
So you saw every sweetness turn bitter.
Until you saw every pleasure turned into pain.
شاءَwilled الظَلومُthe tyrant خَرابَهاher ruin فَإِذاand behold الوَرىhumankind
شاءَ الظَلومُ خَرابَها فَإِذا الوَرى
لاnot يُبصِرونَthey see سِوىexcept نُهاهُhis reason خَراباruined
لا يُبصِرونَ سِوى نُهاهُ خَرابا
The tyrant willed her ruin; and behold, humankind
The oppressor willed its ruin - and so people
The tyrant willed its ruin; yet behold, the people
sees nothing ruined but his own reason.
See only desolation at its end.
See ruin only in his own designs.
دُنياa world تَأَلَّقَshone أَمسُهاher yesterday فيin يَومِهاher present day
دُنيا تَأَلَّقَ أَمسُها في يَومِها
فَاِستَجمَعَand gathered together الأَنسابlineages وَالأَحساباand ancestral honors
فَاِستَجمَعَ الأَنساب وَالأَحسابا
A world whose yesterday shone in her today,
A world whose yesterday shone in its time,
It is a world whose yesterday shone brightly in its today,
and brought together lineages and ancestral honors.
Bringing lineages and accounts together.
Gathering all lineages and noble virtues together.
وَسَرىand spread سَناءُthe radiance of الوَحيِrevelation مِنfrom آفاقِهاher horizons
وَسَرى سَناءُ الوَحيِ مِن آفاقِها
يَغشىenvelops العُصورthe ages وَيَغمِرُand floods الأَحقاباthe epochs
يَغشى العُصور وَيَغمِرُ الأَحقابا
And revelation's radiance spread from her horizons,
The luster of revelation spread from its horizons
The brilliance of revelation streamed from its horizons,
enveloping the ages and flooding the epochs.
Enveloping eras and inundating epochs.
Enveloping the ages and flooding the eras.
الحَقُّtruth ماwhat رَفَعَتshe raised بِهِwith it جُدرانُهاher walls
الحَقُّ ما رَفَعَت بِهِ جُدرانُها
وَالخَيرُand goodness ماwhat زانَتshe adorned بِهِwith it الأَبواباthe gates
وَالخَيرُ ما زانَت بِهِ الأَبوابا
Truth is what she raised her walls with,
True is what its walls elevated,
Truth is the foundation upon which its walls were raised,
and goodness what she adorned her gates with.
And good what adorned its gates.
And goodness is the ornament that graces its gates.
فَاِستِنطِقِso question التاريخَhistory هَلis there فيin سِفرِهِits book
فَاِستِنطِقِ التاريخَ هَل في سِفرِهِ
مَجدٌglory يُضاهيmatches مَجدَهاher glory الخَلّاباcaptivating
مَجدٌ يُضاهي مَجدَها الخَلّابا
So bid history speak: is there in its book
Question history - is there in its book
Ask History to speak: is there within its tome
a glory to match her captivating glory?
Glory equal to its most wondrous glory?
Any glory that rivals her captivating glory?
شابَتgrew old حَضاراتcivilizations وَدالَتand fell وَاِنطَوَتand vanished
شابَت حَضارات وَدالَت وَاِنطَوَت
أُمَمnations وَمَجدُwhile the glory of أُمَيَّةٍUmayya ماnot شاباgrew old
أُمَم وَمَجدُ أُمَيَّةٍ ما شابا
Civilizations aged and fell, and there vanished
Civilizations have withered and nations vanished,
Civilizations have grown old, withered, and faded away,
nations; yet Umayya's glory never aged.
Yet the glory of Umayyah remains unblemished.
Nations have vanished, yet the glory of the Umayyads has not grayed.
الأَمسُyesterday كانَwas لَهاhers وَإِنَّand indeed لَهاshe has غَداa tomorrow
الأَمسُ كانَ لَها وَإِنَّ لَها غَدا
تَتَلَفَّتُturns to look الدُنياthe world لَهُtoward it إِعجاباin admiration
تَتَلَفَّتُ الدُنيا لَهُ إِعجابا
Yesterday was hers, and she has a tomorrow
Yesterday was its, and tomorrow will still be its -
Yesterday belonged to her, and indeed, she holds a tomorrow
to which the world turns in admiration.
The world turns to it full of admiration.
Toward which the world turns in admiration.
غَنَّيتَyou sang مِنfrom قَبلُbefore المَحولَةbarrenness وَالعَرىand bare wastes
غَنَّيتَ مِن قَبلُ المَحولَة وَالعَرى
أَفَلاthen will you not تُغَنّيsing of الرَوضَةَthe garden المِخصاباrichly fertile
أَفَلا تُغَنّي الرَوضَةَ المِخصابا
You once sang of barrenness and bare wastes;
You sang of migration and the barren valley before -
You have sung before of barren lands and desolation;
will you not then sing of the richly fertile garden?
Will you not sing of the flowering garden?
Will you not now sing of the fertile, verdant garden?
عَطَفَتturned kindly لَيالِيَهاher nights عَلَيكَtoward you بَشاشَةًcheerfully
عَطَفَت لَيالِيَها عَلَيكَ بَشاشَةً
فَاِنسَso forget اللَياليthe nights غُربَةof exile وَعَذاباand torment
فَاِنسَ اللَيالي غُربَة وَعَذابا
Her nights turned toward you with a smile,
Its nights have shown you kindness,
Its nights have turned towards you with a cheerful smile,
so forget the nights of exile and torment.
So forget the nights of alienation and torment.
So forget those nights of exile and torment.
وَاِنشُرand spread جَناحَكَyour wing فَالفَضاءُfor the open air مُنَوِّرٌradiant
وَاِنشُر جَناحَكَ فَالفَضاءُ مُنَوِّرٌ
وَاِملَءand fill كوأُسَكَyour cups قَدindeed وَجَدتَyou have found شَراباdrink
وَاِملَء كوأُسَكَ قَد وَجَدتَ شَرابا
And spread your wing, for the open air is radiant,
Spread your wings - for the sky is luminous,
Spread wide your wings, for the heavens are illuminated,
and fill your cups: you have found drink.
And fill your cup - for you have found your drink.
And fill your cups, for you have found wine at last.
فَلِشَدوِso, for the song of مِثلَكَone like you كُوِّنَتshe was formed وَلِمِثلِهاand for one like her
فَلِشَدوِ مِثلَكَ كُوِّنَت وَلِمِثلِها
خَلَقَcreated الإِلَهُGod البُلبُلَthe nightingale المِطراباmelodious
خَلَقَ الإِلَهُ البُلبُلَ المِطرابا
For the song of one like you she was formed, and for one like her
For the rapture of one like you the nightingales were created,
For the song of one like you she was formed, and for one like her,
God created the melodious nightingale.
And for the like of it God created the singing bulboul.
God created the melodious nightingale.
لَيتَwould that الرِياضَthe gardens تُعيرُنيlend me أَلوانَهاtheir colors
لَيتَ الرِياضَ تُعيرُني أَلوانَها
لِأَصوغَso I may fashion مِنهاfrom them لِلرَئيسِfor the president خِطاباan address
لِأَصوغَ مِنها لِلرَئيسِ خِطابا
Would that the gardens lent me their colors,
Would that the gardens lend me their colors
Would that the gardens might lend me their colors,
to fashion from them an address for the president.
That I may fashion from them a speech for the president.
That I might craft from them an address to the President.
وَأَقولُand I say إِنّيindeed I عاجِزٌam powerless عَنto شُكرِهِthank him
وَأَقولُ إِنّي عاجِزٌ عَن شُكرِهِ
عَجزَthe helplessness of الأَنامِلِfingertips أَنto تَلُمgather عُباباsurging waters
عَجزَ الأَنامِلِ أَن تَلُم عُبابا
And I say: I am powerless to thank him,
And say that I cannot thank him enough -
And declare that I am helpless to offer him due thanks,
as fingertips are powerless to gather surging waters.
As the eloquence of fingers cannot gather clouds.
Just as fingertips are helpless to grasp the ocean waves.
أَشكوI lament إِلىto نَفسيmy soul العَياءَweariness فَتَشتَكيso she laments
أَشكو إِلى نَفسي العَياءَ فَتَشتَكي
مِثليlike me وَتَصمُتُand falls silent لاnot تَحيرُreturns جَواباan answer
مِثلي وَتَصمُتُ لا تَحيرُ جَوابا
I lament my weariness to my soul, and she laments
I complain to myself of incapacity, and it complains
I complain of weariness to my soul, and it complains back,
like me, and falls silent, offering no reply.
Like me, then falls silent, perplexed for an answer.
Just as I do, then falls silent, finding no answer.
فَلَقَدfor indeed رَأَيتُI saw البَحرَthe sea حينَwhen رَأَيتُهُI saw him
فَلَقَد رَأَيتُ البَحرَ حينَ رَأَيتُهُ
فَوَقَفتُso I stood مُضطَرِبَtroubled الرُأىthe visions هَيّاباawestruck
فَوَقَفتُ مُضطَرِبَ الرُأى هَيّابا
For I saw the sea when I saw him,
For I saw the sea when I saw it,
For I beheld the boundless sea when I beheld him,
so I stood, my visions shaken, awestruck.
And I stood there, my sight troubled and in awe.
And I stood with vision blurred, struck by awe.
أَعَميدَO leader of سُرِيّاSyria وَكاشِفَand dispeller of ضَرِّهاher distress
أَعَميدَ سُرِيّا وَكاشِفَ ضَرِّها
خَلَقَتcreated يَداكَyour two hands مِنَfrom الشُيوخِold men شَباباyoung men
خَلَقَت يَداكَ مِنَ الشُيوخِ شَبابا
O leader of Syria and dispeller of her distress,
The pillar of Syria and rescuer of its harm -
O Dean of Syria, you who lifted her distress,
your hands made young men from old men.
your hands created youth out of old men.
Your hands have fashioned youth from the very elders.
وَبَلابِلٌand nightingales كانَتwere تَإِنُّmoaning سَجينَةًimprisoned
وَبَلابِلٌ كانَت تَإِنُّ سَجينَةً
أَطلَقَتهاyou freed them عَلىupon (unclear here) أَطَرتَهاyou sent them flying أَسراباin flocks
أَطلَقَتها عَلى أَطَرتَها أَسرابا
And nightingales that moaned as prisoners—
And nightingales that once lamented captive
And nightingales that once groaned in captivity—
you set them free, sent them flying in flocks.
You set free over their nests in droves.
You released them, and sent them soaring in flocks.
ياO صاحِبَpossessor of الخَلقِcharacter المُصَفّىpurified كَالنَدىlike dew
يا صاحِبَ الخَلقِ المُصَفّى كَالنَدى
لَوif لَمnot تَكُنyou were بَشَراًhuman لَكُنتَthen you would be سَحاباa cloud
لَو لَم تَكُن بَشَراً لَكُنتَ سَحابا
O you whose character is as pure as dew,
O you of immaculate nature, like dew,
O you whose character is as pure as the dew,
if you were not human, you would be a cloud.
Had you not been human, you would have been a cloud.
Were you not a man, you would surely be a rain-giving cloud.
أَمَلُthe hope of الشَبيبَةِyouth فيin يَدَيكَyour two hands وَديعَةٌa trust
أَمَلُ الشَبيبَةِ في يَدَيكَ وَديعَةٌ
فَاِرفَعso elevate لَهاfor them الأَخلاقmorals وَالآداباand culture
فَاِرفَع لَها الأَخلاق وَالآدابا
The hope of youth is a trust in your hands,
The hope of the youth lies in your hands as a trust -
The hope of the youth is a sacred trust in your hands,
so elevate their morals and culture.
So teach them good morals and etiquette.
So elevate their morals and their culture.
فَالجَهلُfor ignorance أَنّىwherever كانَit is فَهوَthen it is عُقوبَةٌa punishment
فَالجَهلُ أَنّى كانَ فَهوَ عُقوبَةٌ
وَالعِلمُand knowledge أَنّىwherever كانَit is كانَis ثَواباa reward
وَالعِلمُ أَنّى كانَ كانَ ثَوابا
For ignorance, wherever it is, is punishment,
For ignorance, wherever it is found, is a punishment,
For ignorance, wherever it exists, is a punishment,
and knowledge, wherever it is, is reward.
And knowledge, wherever it is found, is a reward.
While knowledge, wherever it be found, is a reward.
ياO وَيحَalas for نَفسيmy soul كَمhow often تُطارِدُنيpursues me النَوىseparation
يا وَيحَ نَفسي كَم تُطارِدُني النَوى
وَتَهُدُّand shatters مِنّيwithin me القَلبthe heart وَالأَعصاباand the nerves
وَتَهُدُّ مِنّي القَلب وَالأَعصابا
Alas for my soul! How often separation pursues me
Oh woe to my soul, how the pangs pursue me
Woe to my soul, how exile relentlessly pursues me,
and shatters my heart and nerves.
And shake my heart and nerves.
Shattering my heart and fraying my nerves.
وَدَّعتُI bade farewell خَلفَbeyond البَحرِthe sea أَمسُyesterday أَحِبَّةًloved ones
وَدَّعتُ خَلفَ البَحرِ أَمسُ أَحِبَّةً
وَغَداًand tomorrow أُوَدِّعُI bid farewell هاهُناhere أَحباباloved ones
وَغَداً أُوَدِّعُ هاهُنا أَحبابا
Yesterday, beyond the sea, I bade loved ones farewell,
I left loved ones beyond the sea yesterday,
Yesterday, beyond the sea, I bade farewell to loved ones,
and tomorrow I shall bid loved ones farewell here.
And tomorrow I will bid farewell to loved ones here.
And tomorrow, I must bid farewell to loved ones here.
Sol 6.1