هَذي الوَغى مَشبوبَةُ النيرانِ

هَذي الوَغى مَشبوبَةُ النيرانِ

مَشدودَةُ الأَسبابِ وَالأَقرانِ

مَشدودَةُ الأَسبابِ وَالأَقرانِ

This battle has its fires ablaze,

This raging storm, its fires are blazing,

This is war, its fires blazing high,

its cords and bonds drawn taut.

Its causes and peers stretched taut.

Its causes tight, its adversaries locked in combat.

شابَت مَفارِقُها وَكانَت طِفلَةً

شابَت مَفارِقُها وَكانَت طِفلَةً

عَذراءَ مُنذُ دَقائِقٍ وَثَوانِ

عَذراءَ مُنذُ دَقائِقٍ وَثَوانِ

Its hair-partings have grayed, though it was a girl,

Its youth has grayed, though it was but an infant,

Her hair turned gray though she was but a child,

a virgin only minutes and seconds ago.

A maiden, mere moments and hours ago.

A virgin only minutes and seconds ago.

طُوِيَ السَلامُ فَلَيسَ يُنشَرُ بَعدَها

طُوِيَ السَلامُ فَلَيسَ يُنشَرُ بَعدَها

أَو يُبعَثُ المَلحودُ في الأَكفانِ

أَو يُبعَثُ المَلحودُ في الأَكفانِ

Peace has been folded away, never to be unfurled again,

Peace is shrouded, never to be unfurled,

Peace has been folded away, never to be unfurled again,

unless the buried dead is raised in his shrouds.

Or the interred exhumed from their shrouds.

Unless the entombed are raised within their shrouds.

شُقّوا الطُروسَ وَحَطِّموا أَقلامَكُم

شُقّوا الطُروسَ وَحَطِّموا أَقلامَكُم

اليَومَ يَومُ شَواجِرِ المُرّانِ

اليَومَ يَومُ شَواجِرِ المُرّانِ

Tear up the sheets and smash your pens:

Break the lutes and smash your pens,

Tear up the parchments and smash your pens;

today is the day of clashing ashwood spears.

Today is a day for the clash of blades.

Today is the day for the clashing of spear-shafts.

هانَت عَلى الصَمصامِ كُلُّ يَراعَةٍ

هانَت عَلى الصَمصامِ كُلُّ يَراعَةٍ

ما لِليَراعَةِ في الحُروبِ يَدانِ

ما لِليَراعَةِ في الحُروبِ يَدانِ

Every reed pen is worthless before the keen sword;

All chivalry is worthless against swords,

Every reed pen is humbled before the sharp sword;

the reed pen has no hands in wars.

Chivalry has no place in wars.

The pen has no power within the realm of war.

يا صاحِبي لَيسَ الوَغى مِن مَذهَبي

يا صاحِبي لَيسَ الوَغى مِن مَذهَبي

هاتيكَ وَسوَسَةٌ مِنَ الشَيطانِ

هاتيكَ وَسوَسَةٌ مِنَ الشَيطانِ

My friend, warfare is not my creed;

My friend, this storm is not of my making,

O my friend, war is not of my creed;

that is a whispering from Satan.

These are the devil's evil whisperings.

That is but a dark whispering from Satan.

فَالناسُ إِخوانٌ وَلَيسَ مِنَ النُهى

فَالناسُ إِخوانٌ وَلَيسَ مِنَ النُهى

أَن يَفتِكَ الإِخوانُ بِالإِخوانِ

أَن يَفتِكَ الإِخوانُ بِالإِخوانِ

For people are brothers, and it is not wisdom

For people are brothers, it is not right

For mankind are brothers, and it is not wisdom

for brothers to slay brothers.

That brothers should destroy each other.

That brothers should slaughter their own kin.

لَو تَعقِلُ الأَجنادُ أَنَّ مُلوكَها

لَو تَعقِلُ الأَجنادُ أَنَّ مُلوكَها

أَعدائُها اِنقَلَبَت عَلى التيجانِ

أَعدائُها اِنقَلَبَت عَلى التيجانِ

If the troops understood that their kings

If armies understood their kings

If the soldiers but realized that their kings

are their enemies, they would revolt against the crowns.

Are their enemies, thrones would tumble.

Were their true enemies, they would overthrow the crowns.

قَومٌ إِذا شاؤوا الصُعودَ لِمَطلَبٍ

قَومٌ إِذا شاؤوا الصُعودَ لِمَطلَبٍ

تَخِذوا مَراقِيَهُم مِنَ الأَديانِ

تَخِذوا مَراقِيَهُم مِنَ الأَديانِ

A people who, when they wish to ascend toward a goal,

A people, when seeking to ascend,

Rulers who, when they desire to ascend to a goal,

make religions their ladders.

Take their steps upon religions.

Build their stairways out of religions.

أَو إِن كَرِهتَ الحَربَ كُنتَ يَراعَةً

أَو إِن كَرِهتَ الحَربَ كُنتَ يَراعَةً

وَإِذا قَتَلتَ أَخاكَ غَيرَ جَبانِ

وَإِذا قَتَلتَ أَخاكَ غَيرَ جَبانِ

Or are you a reed if you hate war,

If you abhor war, you are craven,

Yet if you loathe war, you are deemed a mere reed,

and no coward if you kill your brother?

Yet when you kill your brother, no coward.

But if you kill your brother, you are no coward.

إِن كانَ قَتلُ النَفسِ غَيرَ مُحَرَّمٍ

إِن كانَ قَتلُ النَفسِ غَيرَ مُحَرَّمٍ

ما الفَرقُ بَينَ المَرءِ وَالحَيَوانِ

ما الفَرقُ بَينَ المَرءِ وَالحَيَوانِ

If killing a soul is not forbidden,

If taking a soul is not forbidden,

If the killing of a soul is not forbidden,

what distinguishes a human being from an animal?

What distinguishes man from beast?

Then what distinguishes man from the beast?

الحَربُ مَجلَبَةُ الشَقاوَةِ لِلوَرى

الحَربُ مَجلَبَةُ الشَقاوَةِ لِلوَرى

وَالحَربُ يَعشَقُه بَنو الإِنسانِ

وَالحَربُ يَعشَقُه بَنو الإِنسانِ

War brings misery to humankind,

War brings misery unto the earth,

War is the bringer of misery to all creation,

and war is adored by the sons of man.

Yet man loves war.

Yet war is adored by the sons of men.

لِمَنِ الخَميسُ خَوافِقٌ راياتُهُ

لِمَنِ الخَميسُ خَوافِقٌ راياتُهُ

مُتَماسِكُ الأَجزاءِ كَالبُنيانِ

مُتَماسِكُ الأَجزاءِ كَالبُنيانِ

Whose is the army, its banners fluttering,

Whose is the army on Thursday, its banners

Whose is that vast army with fluttering banners,

its parts knit together like a building,

United as one building?

Its ranks held tight like a solid edifice?

مُتَأَلِّبٌ كَاللَيلِ جَنَّ سَوادُهُ

مُتَأَلِّبٌ كَاللَيلِ جَنَّ سَوادُهُ

مُستَوفِزٌ كَالقَدَرِ في الغَلَيانِ

مُستَوفِزٌ كَالقَدَرِ في الغَلَيانِ

massed like night whose darkness enshrouds,

As dark as night in its mass,

Gathering like the night when its darkness descends,

restless as a pot at the boil,

Seething like a boiling cauldron.

Restless as a cauldron reaching its boil.

مُتَدَفِّقٌ كَالسَيلِ في الغُدرانِ

مُتَدَفِّقٌ كَالسَيلِ في الغُدرانِ

مُتَدَفِّعٌ كَالعاصِفِ المِرنانِ

مُتَدَفِّعٌ كَالعاصِفِ المِرنانِ

pouring forth like a torrent into pools,

Coursing like a torrent in floods,

Surging forth like a torrent through the valleys,

surging like a resounding gale?

Thrusting like a howling gale.

Driving forward like a howling gale.

تَتَزَلزَلُ الأَطوادُ مِن صَدَماتِهِ

تَتَزَلزَلُ الأَطوادُ مِن صَدَماتِهِ

وَتَظَلُّ مِنهُ الأَرضُ في رَجَفانِ

وَتَظَلُّ مِنهُ الأَرضُ في رَجَفانِ

Mountains tremble at its blows,

The battalions shake from its blows

The great mountains quake from its impacts,

and the earth remains quaking because of it.

And the earth quakes in terror.

And the earth remains trembling in its wake.

عَجلانُ يَكتَسِحُ البِلادَ وَأَهلَها

عَجلانُ يَكتَسِحُ البِلادَ وَأَهلَها

إِنَّ الشَقِيَّ العاجِزُ المُتَواني

إِنَّ الشَقِيَّ العاجِزُ المُتَواني

Swift, it sweeps away the lands and their people;

A raging beast that ravages the land and its people,

Hasty to sweep away lands and their people;

truly wretched is the helpless laggard.

Wretched is the weak and hesitant man.

Truly wretched is the one who is helpless and slow.

في كُلِّ سَرجٍ ضَيغَمٌ مُتحَفِّزٌ

في كُلِّ سَرجٍ ضَيغَمٌ مُتحَفِّزٌ

في كَفِّهِ ماضي الشَباةِ يَمانِ

في كَفِّهِ ماضي الشَباةِ يَمانِ

In every saddle is a lion poised to spring,

In every saddle, an enraged lion

In every saddle sits a poised lion,

in his palm a keen-edged Yemeni blade.

In his grip, a sword that flashes like lightning.

In his hand, a sharp-edged Yemeni blade.

سَمحٌ إِذا ضَنَّ الجَبانُ بِروحِهِ

سَمحٌ إِذا ضَنَّ الجَبانُ بِروحِهِ

فَكَأَنَّما في جِسمِهِ روحانِ

فَكَأَنَّما في جِسمِهِ روحانِ

He is generous when the coward begrudges his life,

Open-handed, though the coward hoards his soul,

Generous with his life when the coward clings to his,

as though there were two souls within his body.

As if he had two souls in his body.

As though his body harbored two souls.

ما صانَ مُهجَتَهُ الَّتي في صَدرِهِ

ما صانَ مُهجَتَهُ الَّتي في صَدرِهِ

إِلّا لِيَبذُلَها بِيَومِ طِعانِ

إِلّا لِيَبذُلَها بِيَومِ طِعانِ

He has preserved the lifeblood within his breast

Nothing protected his brain, ensconced in his chest,

He guarded the life-blood within his chest

only to offer it up on a day of spear-fighting.

Except to expend it on a day of stabbing.

Only to spend it on the day of the thrusting spears.

لا شَيءَ يَومَ الرَوعِ أَجمَلُ عِندَهُ

لا شَيءَ يَومَ الرَوعِ أَجمَلُ عِندَهُ

مِن أَن يُرى وَالقِرنَ يَصطَرِعانِ

مِن أَن يُرى وَالقِرنَ يَصطَرِعانِ

Nothing, on the day of terror, is fairer to him

On the day of battle, nothing is more beautiful to him

Nothing on the day of terror is more beautiful to him

than to be seen wrestling with his adversary.

Than to be seen plunging his spear.

Than to be seen grappling with his foe.

يا رُبَّ مَعرَكَةٍ تَرَكَمَ نَقعُها

يا رُبَّ مَعرَكَةٍ تَرَكَمَ نَقعُها

حَتّى اِختَفى في ظِلِّها الجَيشانِ

حَتّى اِختَفى في ظِلِّها الجَيشانِ

Ah, how many a battle had its dust pile up

O Lord of a battle, its carnage so deep

Oh, how many battles have seen dust pile so high

until both armies vanished beneath its shade!

The two armies disappeared into its shadow.

That both armies vanished within its shadow.

باتَت صِقالُ الهِندِ في أَفيائِها

باتَت صِقالُ الهِندِ في أَفيائِها

كَالبَرقِ يَسطَعُ مِن خِلالِ دُخانِ

كَالبَرقِ يَسطَعُ مِن خِلالِ دُخانِ

The polished blades of India gleamed in its shadows,

Indian swords gleamed through its smoke

The polished Indian swords flashed in that gloom,

like lightning flashing through smoke.

Like lightning in the midst of thick clouds.

Like lightning tearing through the smoke.

وَالخَيلُ طائِرَةً عَلى أَرسانِها

وَالخَيلُ طائِرَةً عَلى أَرسانِها

تَهوى لَوِ اِنعَتَقَت مِنَ الأَرسانِ

تَهوى لَوِ اِنعَتَقَت مِنَ الأَرسانِ

And the horses, flying against their reins,

The horses flew atop their saddles

And horses flying against their reins,

longed to be freed from the reins.

As if yearning to be freed of their saddles.

Longing to break free from their tethers.

دَوَتِ المَدافِعُ كَالرُعودِ قَواصِفاً

دَوَتِ المَدافِعُ كَالرُعودِ قَواصِفاً

نَطَقَ الحَديدُ فَعِيَّ كُلُّ لِسانِ

نَطَقَ الحَديدُ فَعِيَّ كُلُّ لِسانِ

The cannons boomed, crashing like thunder;

The cannons roared like thunder, speaking out,

Cannons roared like thundering storms,

iron spoke, and every tongue fell mute.

Every tongue fell silent.

Iron spoke, and every human tongue fell mute.

تَرمي بِأَشباهِ الرُجومِ تَخالُها

تَرمي بِأَشباهِ الرُجومِ تَخالُها

حَمراءَ قَد صيغَت مِنَ المُرجانِ

حَمراءَ قَد صيغَت مِنَ المُرجانِ

They hurl things resembling meteors, which you would think

They cast forth projectiles that seemed like comets,

Hurling projectiles like meteors, which you would deem

red, fashioned out of coral.

Red, as if molded from coral.

To be red gems fashioned from coral.

ما إِن تَطيشُ وَإِن نَأَت أَغراضُها

ما إِن تَطيشُ وَإِن نَأَت أَغراضُها

وَلَكَم تَطيشُ قَذائِفُ البُركانِ

وَلَكَم تَطيشُ قَذائِفُ البُركانِ

They never miss, though their targets lie far away,

They swerve not from their targets,

They do not err, though their targets lie far,

yet how often a volcano's projectiles go astray!

Though volcanic bombs swerve often.

While often the volcano's rocks go wide.

صَخّابَةً تَذَرُ الحُصونَ بَلاقِعاً

صَخّابَةً تَذَرُ الحُصونَ بَلاقِعاً

وَتَدُكُّها دَكّاً إِلى الأَركانِ

وَتَدُكُّها دَكّاً إِلى الأَركانِ

Clamorous, they leave fortresses barren wastes,

Showering destruction, reducing forts to ruins

Screaming, they leave fortresses as barren wastelands,

and batter them down to their very pillars.

And pounding them into rubble and debris.

Pounding them down to their very foundations.

تَنقَضُّ وَالفُرسانُ في آثارِها

تَنقَضُّ وَالفُرسانُ في آثارِها

تَنقَضُّ مِثلَ كَواسِرِ العُقبانِ

تَنقَضُّ مِثلَ كَواسِرِ العُقبانِ

They swoop down, with horsemen in their wake,

Swooping down as the eagles do

They strike, with cavalry following in their wake,

swooping like predatory eagles.

Upon their prey.

Swooping down like predatory eagles.

هِيَ وَقعَةٌ ضَجَّت لَها الدُنيا كَما

هِيَ وَقعَةٌ ضَجَّت لَها الدُنيا كَما

ضَجَّت وَضَجَّ الناسُ في سيدانِ

ضَجَّت وَضَجَّ الناسُ في سيدانِ

It is a battle at which the world cried out, just as

A clash that shook the world as it did

It was a clash that made the world cry out, just as

it cried out, and people cried out, at Sedan.

And people shook in Saydan.

It cried out—and men cried out—at Sedan.

مَشَتِ المَنايا حاسِراتٍ عِندَها

مَشَتِ المَنايا حاسِراتٍ عِندَها

تَتَطَلَّبُ الأَرواحَ في الأَبدانِ

تَتَطَلَّبُ الأَرواحَ في الأَبدانِ

Deaths strode unveiled there,

Death marched destructive, taking lives

Death walked there with face unveiled,

seeking the souls within bodies.

Seeking souls in bodies.

Hunting for souls within the bodies.

فَعَلى أَديمِ الجَوِّ ثَوبٌ أَسوَدُ

فَعَلى أَديمِ الجَوِّ ثَوبٌ أَسوَدُ

وَعَلى أَديمِ الأَرضِ ثَوبٌ قانِ

وَعَلى أَديمِ الأَرضِ ثَوبٌ قانِ

Over the face of the sky lay a black garment,

Upon the sky's surface, a black robe,

Across the sky's skin lies a black shroud,

and over the face of the earth, a crimson garment.

Upon the earth's surface, a robe of blood.

And across the earth's skin, a crimson robe.

وَإِذا نَظَرتَ إِلى الجُسومِ عَلى الثَرى

وَإِذا نَظَرتَ إِلى الجُسومِ عَلى الثَرى

أَبصَرتَ كُثباناً عَلى كُثبانِ

أَبصَرتَ كُثباناً عَلى كُثبانِ

And if you looked at the bodies upon the soil,

And if you looked at the bodies on the ground,

If you were to gaze at the bodies on the ground,

you saw mound upon mound.

You saw dunes upon dunes.

You would see dunes piled upon dunes.

لَمّا رَأَوا بورغاسَ ضَرَّةَ مَكدَنٍ

لَمّا رَأَوا بورغاسَ ضَرَّةَ مَكدَنٍ

حَمَلوا عَلَيها حَملَةَ اليابانِ

حَمَلوا عَلَيها حَملَةَ اليابانِ

When they saw Burgas, the rival of Mukden,

When they saw Burgas bristling like a porcupine,

When they saw Burgas, that rival to Mukden,

they charged upon it with the charge of Japan.

They charged upon it with the fierceness of Japan.

They charged upon it with the ferocity of Japan.

وَقَدِ اِنجَلَت فَإِذا الهِلالُ مُنَكَّسَ

وَقَدِ اِنجَلَت فَإِذا الهِلالُ مُنَكَّسَ

عَلَمٌ طَوَتهُ رايَةُ الصُلبانِ

عَلَمٌ طَوَتهُ رايَةُ الصُلبانِ

And when it cleared, behold the crescent lowered:

When the crescent cleared, it was inverted,

When the smoke cleared, behold: the Crescent lowered,

a flag folded away by the banner of crosses.

A banner twisted, the cross's banner.

A banner folded away by the flags of the Cross.

رَجَحَت قِواهُم أَيَّما رُجحانِ

رَجَحَت قِواهُم أَيَّما رُجحانِ

فيها وَشالَ التُركُ في الميزانِ

فيها وَشالَ التُركُ في الميزانِ

Their forces weighed far heavier

Their strength prevailed decidedly,

Their forces tipped the scales with overwhelming weight;

in it, while the Turks' scale-pan rose.

And the Turks tilted in the scales.

There, the Turks rose light in the balance.

نَفَروا لَكَالحُمرِ الَّتي رَوَّعتَها

نَفَروا لَكَالحُمرِ الَّتي رَوَّعتَها

بِاِبنِ الشَرى المُتَجَهِّمِ الغَضبانِ

بِاِبنِ الشَرى المُتَجَهِّمِ الغَضبانِ

They bolted like asses you had terrified

They fled like the red horses frightened

They fled like wild asses startled

with al-Shara's son, scowling and enraged.

By the scowling, wrathful son of lu'ayy.

By the frowning, wrathful lion of the thicket.

وَقُلوبُهُم قَد أَسرَعَت ضَرَباتُها

وَقُلوبُهُم قَد أَسرَعَت ضَرَباتُها

وَطَظُنُّها وَقَفَت عَنِ الخَفَقانِ

وَطَظُنُّها وَقَفَت عَنِ الخَفَقانِ

And their hearts' beats had quickened,

Their hearts raced in their chests

Their hearts raced with such frantic beats,

yet you would think they had stopped beating.

And their arrogance ceased its beating.

You would think they had ceased to pulse at all.

مُتَلَفِّتينَ إِلى الوَراءِ بِأَعيُنٍ

مُتَلَفِّتينَ إِلى الوَراءِ بِأَعيُنٍ

تَتَخَيَّلُ الأَعداءَ في الأَجفانِ

تَتَخَيَّلُ الأَعداءَ في الأَجفانِ

Looking back with eyes

Looking behind with eyes that saw

Glancing backward with eyes that

that imagined enemies within their very eyelids,

Enemies in their eyelids.

Imagined enemies lurking in their very eyelids.

يَتَلَمَّسونَ مِنَ المَنِيَّةِ مَهرَباً

يَتَلَمَّسونَ مِنَ المَنِيَّةِ مَهرَباً

هَيهاتَ إِنَّ المَوتَ كُلَّ مَكانِ

هَيهاتَ إِنَّ المَوتَ كُلَّ مَكانِ

they groped for an escape from death.

Seeking escape from death's blow,

Groping for some escape from doom—

Impossible! Death is everywhere.

Alas, death is everywhere.

In vain! For death is in every place.

وَاللَهِ ما يَنجونَ مِن أَشراكِهِ

وَاللَهِ ما يَنجونَ مِن أَشراكِهِ

وَلَوِ اِستَعاروا أَرجُلَ الغُزلانِ

وَلَوِ اِستَعاروا أَرجُلَ الغُزلانِ

By God, they cannot escape his snares,

By God, they will not be saved from its traps,

By God, they shall not escape its snares,

even if they borrow the legs of gazelles.

Not even if lent the legs of gazelles.

Even if they borrowed the legs of gazelles.

أَسلابُهُم لِلظافِرينَ غَنيمَةٌ

أَسلابُهُم لِلظافِرينَ غَنيمَةٌ

وَجُسُمُهُم لِلحاجِلِ الغَرثانِ

وَجُسُمُهُم لِلحاجِلِ الغَرثانِ

Their stripped possessions are booty for the victors,

Their corpses are spoils for the victors

Their spoils are booty for the victors,

and their bodies for the famished, hopping crow.

And their bodies food for the scavenging hyenas.

And their bodies, a feast for the famished raven.

إِن يَأمَنو وَقعَ الأَسِنَّةِ وَالظُبى

إِن يَأمَنو وَقعَ الأَسِنَّةِ وَالظُبى

فَالذُعرُ طاعِنُهُم بِشَرِّ سِنانِ

فَالذُعرُ طاعِنُهُم بِشَرِّ سِنانِ

If they escape the impact of spearheads and sword-edges,

Whether saved from the swords and the lances,

Even if they survive the strike of spears and swords,

terror spears them with the worst of spearheads.

Terror pierced them with its sharp teeth.

Panic pierces them with the cruelest lance.

ما أَنسَ لا أَنسى عِصابَةَ خُرَّدٍ

ما أَنسَ لا أَنسى عِصابَةَ خُرَّدٍ

في اللَهِ مَسعاهُنَّ وَالإِحسانِ

في اللَهِ مَسعاهُنَّ وَالإِحسانِ

Whatever I forget, I shall not forget a band of bashful maidens,

Unforgettable are the wretches

I shall never forget that band of maidens,

whose striving is for God and kindness.

In God's grace was their endeavor and care.

Whose endeavor was for God and charity.

عِفنَ الوَثيرَ إِلى وَسائِدَ قَضَّةٍ

عِفنَ الوَثيرَ إِلى وَسائِدَ قَضَّةٍ

وَنَزَحنَ عَن أَهلٍ وَعَن أَوطانِ

وَنَزَحنَ عَن أَهلٍ وَعَن أَوطانِ

They spurned soft bedding for gritty pillows,

Who left their soft beds for harsh bedrolls

Forsaking soft beds for rough pillows,

and went far from family and homelands,

And their homelands and families behind.

They departed from kin and homeland alike.

وَوَقفنَ أَنفُسَهُنَّ في الدُنيا عَلى

وَوَقفنَ أَنفُسَهُنَّ في الدُنيا عَلى

تَأمينِ مُلتاعٍ وَنُصرَةِ عانِ

تَأمينِ مُلتاعٍ وَنُصرَةِ عانِ

and dedicated themselves in this world to

And stood themselves in this world upon

They dedicated their souls in this world

reassuring the anguished and helping the captive.

Providing aid and supporting the helpless.

To comforting the anguish and aiding the captive.

يَحمِلن أَلوِيَةَ السَلامِ إِلى الأُلى

يَحمِلن أَلوِيَةَ السَلامِ إِلى الأُلى

حَمَلوا لِواءَ الشَرِّ وَالعُدوانِ

حَمَلوا لِواءَ الشَرِّ وَالعُدوانِ

They carry the banners of peace to those

Bearing the flags of peace to the ravaged,

Bearing banners of peace to those who

who carried the banner of evil and aggression.

While they carried the flags of evil and injustice.

Bore the flags of evil and aggression.

كَم مِن جَريحٍ بِالنَجيعِ مُخَضَّبٍ

كَم مِن جَريحٍ بِالنَجيعِ مُخَضَّبٍ

في الأَرضِ لا يَحنو عَلَيهِ حانِ

في الأَرضِ لا يَحنو عَلَيهِ حانِ

How many a wounded man, stained with blood,

How many lie bloodied and moaning,

How many a wounded man, dyed in his own blood,

lay on the ground with none to show him compassion!

With none to care upon them.

Lay upon the earth with none to show him mercy,

ما راعَهُ طَيفُ المَنِيَّةِ مِثلَما

ما راعَهُ طَيفُ المَنِيَّةِ مِثلَما

راعَت حَشاهُ فُرقَةُ الخِلّانِ

راعَت حَشاهُ فُرقَةُ الخِلّانِ

The specter of death did not frighten him as much

Not wary of death like wary

Not even the specter of death terrified him

as separation from dear friends terrified his heart.

Of their comrades in villainy.

As much as the anguish of parting from friends.

فَلَهُ إِذا ذَكَرَ الدِيارَ وَأَهلَهُ

فَلَهُ إِذا ذَكَرَ الدِيارَ وَأَهلَهُ

آهُ الغَريبِ وَأَبَّةُ الثَكَلانِ

آهُ الغَريبِ وَأَبَّةُ الثَكَلانِ

When he remembered his home and his family, his were

For him, when remembering his home and family,

When he remembers his home and kin, he heaves

the stranger's sigh and the bereaved one's groan.

The stranger's sigh and the bereft man's lament.

The sigh of the stranger, the moan of the bereaved.

نَفَّسنَ مِن بُرَجائِهِ وَأَسَونَهُ

نَفَّسنَ مِن بُرَجائِهِ وَأَسَونَهُ

وَأَعَضنَهُ مِن خَوفِهِ بِأَمانِ

وَأَعَضنَهُ مِن خَوفِهِ بِأَمانِ

They eased his agonies and tended him,

They breathed life into his hopes and consoled him,

They relieved his distress and tended his wounds,

and replaced his fear with safety.

And secured him from his fears.

And exchanged his terror for safety.

ما حَبَّبَ الجَنّاتِ عِندِيَ أَنَّها

ما حَبَّبَ الجَنّاتِ عِندِيَ أَنَّها

مَثوى سَلامٍ مُستَقَرُّ حِسانِ

مَثوى سَلامٍ مُستَقَرُّ حِسانِ

What endears the gardens of Paradise to me is that they are

The gardens' allure for me is not

Nothing endeared Paradise to me save that it is

an abode of peace, a dwelling place of beauties.

That they are the abode of lasting peace and beauty.

A dwelling of peace, a home for the beautiful.

لَولا حَنانُ الغانِياتِ وَعَطفُها

لَولا حَنانُ الغانِياتِ وَعَطفُها

ما كانَتِ الدُنيا سِوى أَحزانِ

ما كانَتِ الدُنيا سِوى أَحزانِ

Were it not for beautiful women's tenderness and compassion,

Were it not for the affection of the gentle ladies,

Were it not for the tenderness and grace of women,

the world would be nothing but sorrows.

The world would be naught but sorrows.

This world would be nothing but sorrow.

مَن مُسمِعُ الأَيّامَ عَنّي نَبأَةً

مَن مُسمِعُ الأَيّامَ عَنّي نَبأَةً

يَرتاعُ مِنها كُلُّ ذي وُجدانِ

يَرتاعُ مِنها كُلُّ ذي وُجدانِ

Who will make the days hear a cry from me

Let the days not hear any news from me

Who will carry a message from me to the ages,

at which every person of feeling will shudder?

That would alarm every person of conscience.

At which every soul of conscience shall shudder?

إِنَّ الأُلى جَبُنوا أَمامَ عُداتِهِم

إِنَّ الأُلى جَبُنوا أَمامَ عُداتِهِم

شَجُعوا عَلى الأَطفالِ وَالنُسوانِ

شَجُعوا عَلى الأَطفالِ وَالنُسوانِ

Those who were cowards before their enemies

The ravaged showed cowardice before their enemies,

That those who cowered before their enemies

grew brave against children and women.

Showed courage against children and women.

Found courage only against children and women!

وَصَوارِماً قَد أُغمِدَت يَومَ الوَغى

وَصَوارِماً قَد أُغمِدَت يَومَ الوَغى

شُهِرَت عَلى الأَضيافِ وَالقُطّانِ

شُهِرَت عَلى الأَضيافِ وَالقُطّانِ

And keen swords that had been sheathed on the day of battle

And swords sheathed during the fury,

And swords that remained sheathed in the heat of war

were drawn against guests and residents.

Were brandished upon guests and cotton farmers.

Were drawn instead against guests and neighbors.

أَكَذا يُجازي الآمِنونَ بُدورِهِم

أَكَذا يُجازي الآمِنونَ بُدورِهِم

أَو هَكَذا قَد جاءَ في القُرآنِ

أَو هَكَذا قَد جاءَ في القُرآنِ

Is this how the safe repay their full moons,

Is this how the trusted reward their towns?

Is this how the peaceful are repaid for their shining ones?

or is this what has come in the Qur'an?

Or does the Quran thus decree?

Or is this what was revealed in the Quran?

أَخنى عَلى الأَتراكِ دَهرٌ حُوَّلٌ

أَخنى عَلى الأَتراكِ دَهرٌ حُوَّلٌ

أَخنى عَلى اليونانِ وَالرومانِ

أَخنى عَلى اليونانِ وَالرومانِ

An ever-changing age has laid the Turks low,

Time has betrayed the Ottomans,

A shifting fate has brought ruin upon the Turks,

as it laid low the Greeks and Romans.

Betrayed the Greeks and the Romans.

Just as it ruined the Greeks and Romans before.

وَطَوى مَحاسِنَ يَلدِزٍ قَدَرٌ طَوى

وَطَوى مَحاسِنَ يَلدِزٍ قَدَرٌ طَوى

رَبَّ السَديرِ وَصاحِبَ الإيوانِ

رَبَّ السَديرِ وَصاحِبَ الإيوانِ

And a fate folded away the splendors of Yildiz, as it folded away

And time has erased the virtues of Yildiz,

Destiny has folded away the splendors of Yildiz, just as it folded

the lord of al-Sadir and the master of the Iwan.

The palace of springs and the hall of fountains.

The Lord of Sadir and the Master of the Iwan.

فَاليَومَ لا أَستانَةُ أَستانَةٌ

فَاليَومَ لا أَستانَةُ أَستانَةٌ

تَزهو وَلا السُلطانُ بَِلسُلطانِ

تَزهو وَلا السُلطانُ بَِلسُلطانِ

So today Constantinople is no longer the Constantinople

Today no sublime capital remains sublime,

Today, the Capital is the Capital no more;

that glories, nor is the sultan truly sultan.

Nor does the Sultan rule a sultanate.

It does not bloom, and the Sultan is no true Sultan.

دارَت دَوائِرُهُ عَلَيها مِثلَما

دارَت دَوائِرُهُ عَلَيها مِثلَما

دارَت دَوائِرُهُ عَلى طَهرانِ

دارَت دَوائِرُهُ عَلى طَهرانِ

Its cycles of calamity turned upon her, just as

Its cycles turned against it as they did

Misfortune has circled upon it, just as

its cycles of calamity turned upon Tehran.

Against Tehran.

It circled upon the city of Tehran.

أَمُنَبِّهي الأَضغانَ كَيفَ هَجَعتُمُ

أَمُنَبِّهي الأَضغانَ كَيفَ هَجَعتُمُ

لَمّا تَنَبَّهَ نائِمُ الأَضغانِ

لَمّا تَنَبَّهَ نائِمُ الأَضغانِ

O awakeners of rancors, how did you fall asleep

Why, my slumbering people, as I cried out,

O you who awaken grudges: how could you sleep

when dormant rancor awoke?

Did you plug your ears as the sleeping awoke?

Once the sleeping hatreds were aroused?

وَحُكومَةَ الأَشياخِ وَيحَكِ ما الَّذي

وَحُكومَةَ الأَشياخِ وَيحَكِ ما الَّذي

خالَفتِ فيهِ عُصبَةَ الفِتيانِ

خالَفتِ فيهِ عُصبَةَ الفِتيانِ

And government of elders, woe to you! In what

The rule of elders - speak! What has it contravened

And you, Government of Elders—woe to you!—

did you differ from the band of young men?

Of the league of youths?

In what did you oppose the League of Youth?

قالوا لَنا المُلكُ العَريضُ وَجاهُهُ

قالوا لَنا المُلكُ العَريضُ وَجاهُهُ

كَذَبوا فَإِنَّ المُلكَ لِلرَحمَنِ

كَذَبوا فَإِنَّ المُلكَ لِلرَحمَنِ

They said, 'Ours are the vast dominion and its prestige.'

They told us the extensive kingdom and its grandeur,

They claimed, 'Ours is the vast dominion and its glory.'

They lied: dominion belongs to the Most Merciful.

They lied! For the kingdom belongs to the Merciful.

They lied; for dominion belongs only to the Merciful.

ما بالُ قَومي كُلَّما اِستَصرَختُم

ما بالُ قَومي كُلَّما اِستَصرَختُم

وَضَعوا أَصابِعَهُمُ عَلى الآذانِ

وَضَعوا أَصابِعَهُمُ عَلى الآذانِ

What ails my people that, whenever you call for help,

Why, my people, do you plug your ears

What ails my people? Whenever I cry out to them,

they place their fingers over their ears?

Whenever I cry out?

They press their fingers into their ears.

أَبناءَ سورِيّا الفَتاةِ تَضافَروا

أَبناءَ سورِيّا الفَتاةِ تَضافَروا

وَخُذوا مَثالَتُكُم عَنِ البَلقانِ

وَخُذوا مَثالَتُكُم عَنِ البَلقانِ

Sons of youthful Syria, join forces,

Syria's children united,

O sons of Young Syria, unite your strength;

and take your example from the Balkans.

And took your example from the Balkans.

And take your warning from the Balkans.

ما التُركُ أَهلٌ أَن يَسودوا فيكُمُ

ما التُركُ أَهلٌ أَن يَسودوا فيكُمُ

أَو رُحكَمُ الآسادُ بِالظُلمانِ

أَو رُحكَمُ الآسادُ بِالظُلمانِ

The Turks are not fit to lord it over you;

The Turks do not deserve to rule you,

The Turks are not fit to hold sovereignty over you,

or are lions ruled by ostriches?

Or for their lions to make your bed their den.

Nor for ostriches to govern lions.

هُم أُلبِسوا الشَرقِيَّ ثَوبَ غَضاضَةٍ

هُم أُلبِسوا الشَرقِيَّ ثَوبَ غَضاضَةٍ

وَسَقوهُ كَأسَي ذِلَّةٍ وَهَوانِ

وَسَقوهُ كَأسَي ذِلَّةٍ وَهَوانِ

They clothed the Easterner in a garment of abasement

They dressed the East in the garb of humiliation,

They have clothed the Easterner in a robe of shame,

and made him drink the twin cups of humiliation and disgrace.

And gave it the cup of disgrace and lowliness to drink.

And forced him to drink the cups of abasement and scorn.

فَإِذا جَرى ذِكرُ الشُعوبِ بِمَوضِعٍ

فَإِذا جَرى ذِكرُ الشُعوبِ بِمَوضِعٍ

شَمَخَت وَطَأطَأَ رَأسَهُ العُثماني

شَمَخَت وَطَأطَأَ رَأسَهُ العُثماني

So whenever the peoples are mentioned in some place,

So when the people are mentioned in any place,

So when the nations are named in any assembly,

they rise proudly, while the Ottoman lowers his head.

The Ottoman stands tall while the Eastern bows his head.

They stand tall, while the Ottoman bows his head.