سبحان من لم تحوه أقطار — Ibn Abd Rabbih

سُبحانَ مَن لم تَحوِه أَقطارُ

ولم تكنْ تُدركُهُ الأَبصارُ

Glory to Him whom no regions contain,

and whom eyes cannot perceive;

وَمن عَنت لوجهه الوجوهُ

فما له نِدٌّ ولا شَبيهُ

to Him before whose face all faces bow,

who has no equal and no likeness.

سبحانَه مِن خالقٍ قديرِ

وعالمٍ بِخلْقهِ بَصيرِ

Glory to Him, a mighty Creator,

knowing His creation, all-seeing;

وأَوَّلٍ ليس له ابتداءُ

وآخِرٍ ليس له انتهاءُ

the First, who has no beginning,

the Last, who has no end.

أَوْسَعنا إحسانُه وفضلُهُ

وعَزَّ أَن يكونَ شيءٌ مثلُهُ

His kindness and bounty have embraced us;

nothing can possibly be like Him.

وجَلَّ أَنْ تُدْركَهٌ العُيونُ

أَو يَحْوياه الوَهم والظُّنونُ

He is too exalted for eyes to perceive,

or imagination and conjectures to encompass.

لكنَّه يُدرَك بالقَريحَه

والعَقلِ والأَبْنيةِ الصَّحيحَه

Yet He is apprehended through understanding,

through reason and sound constructions.

وهذه مِن أثبتِ المعارفْ

في الأَوْجهِ الغامضَةِ اللَّطائفْ

This is among the surest kinds of knowledge

in obscure aspects and subtle matters.

مَعْرفةُ العَقْل من الإنسانِ

أثبتُ من مَعرفةِ العِيانِ

A person's knowledge through reason

is firmer than knowledge through direct sight.

فالحمْدُ للَّهِ على نَعْمائِهِ

حمداً جزيلاً وعلى آلائِهِ

So praise belongs to God for His blessings,

abundant praise, and for His favors.

وبعدَ حَمْدِ اللَّه والتَّمجيدِ

وبعد شُكرِ المُبدئِ المُعيدِ

After praising God and glorifying Him,

after thanking the Originator and Restorer,

أقولُ في أَيامِ خيرِ الناسِ

ومَن تحلَّى بالنَّدى والباسِ

I speak of the days of the finest man,

adorned with generosity and valor;

ومن أبادَ الكُفرَ والنِّفاقا

وشَرَّد الفتْنة والشِّقاقا

of him who annihilated unbelief and hypocrisy,

and drove away turmoil and discord.

ونحنُ في حَنادسٍ كاللّيلِ

وفتنةٍ مثلِ غُثاءِ السَّيلِ

We were amid darkness like the night,

and turmoil like a torrent's scum,

حتى تولَّى عابدُ الرحمنِ

ذاكَ الأَغرُّ من بني مروانِ

until the worshipper of the All-Merciful took power,

that radiant man of the sons of Marwan.

مُؤيَّدٌ حَكّمَ في عُداتِه

سيفاً يَسيلُ الموتُ من ظُباتِهِ

Divinely supported, he appointed over his enemies

a sword whose edges stream with death.

وصَبَّحَ المُلكَ معَ الهلالِ

فأصبحَا نِدَّيْنِ في الجمالِ

He greeted kingship at dawn with the crescent,

and the two became rivals in beauty.

واحتملَ التَّقوى على جَبينهِ

والدينَ والدُّنيا على يمينهِ

He bore piety upon his brow,

and religion and worldly dominion upon his right hand.

قد أَشرقتْ بنُورهِ البلادُ

وانقطعَ التَّشغيبُ والفسادُ

The lands shone with his light,

and agitation and corruption ceased.

هذا على حينَ طغَى النِّفاقُ

واستفحلَ النُّكّاثُ والمُرَّاقُ

This was when hypocrisy had overflowed,

and oath-breakers and renegades had grown formidable;

وضاقتِ الأَرضُ على سُكانِها

وأذْكتِ الحربُ لظَى نيرانِها

the earth narrowed upon its inhabitants,

and war kindled its fires' blaze.

ونحنُ في عَشواءَ مُدلهمَّهْ

وظُلمةٍ ما مثلُها مِن ظُلمهْ

We were in blind, oppressive darkness,

a darkness unlike any other darkness.

تأخذُنا الصَّيحةُ كُلَّ يومِ

فما تَلذُّ مُقْلةٌ بنَوْمِ

The alarm seized us every day,

and no eye delighted in sleep.

وقد نُصلِّي العيدَ بالنواظِرِ

مخافةً من العدوَّ الثائِرِ

We performed the Eid prayer with watchful eyes,

for fear of the rebellious enemy,

حتى أتانا الغوثُ من ضِياءِ

طَبَّقَ بينَ الأَرْضِ والسماءِ

until relief came to us from a radiance

that filled the space between earth and heaven:

خَليفةُ اللَّهِ الَّذي اصطفاهُ

على جميع الخَلقِ واجْتباهُ

God's caliph, whom He had chosen

above all creation and selected,

من مَعدنِ الوحيِ وبَيْتِ الحكمَهْ

وخيْرِ منسوبٍ إلى الأئمَّهْ

from revelation's source and wisdom's house,

the finest descended from the imams.

تَكِلُّ عن مَعروفهِ الجنائبُ

وتَسْتحي من جُوده السَّحائبُ

Riding beasts tire beneath his benefactions,

and clouds blush before his generosity.

في وجههِ من نُورهِ برهانُ

وكفُّه تقْبيلُها قُرْبانُ

His face bears proof of his light,

and kissing his palm is an offering.

أَحْيا الّذي ماتَ منَ المَكارِمِ

من عَهدِ كعْبٍ وزمانِ حاتِمِ

He revived the noble virtues that had died

since Ka'b's age and Hatim's time:

مَكارمٌ يَقصُرُ عنها الوَصْفُ

وغُرَّةٌ يَحْسرُ عنها الطَّرفُ

virtues that description cannot reach,

a radiant countenance before which sight grows weary;

وشِيمةٌ كالصَّابِ أَو كالماءِ

وهِمَّةٌ ترقَى إِلى السَّماءِ

a temper like bitter sap or like water,

and an ambition ascending to heaven.

وانظرْ إلى الرفيعِ من بُنيانِهِ

يُريكَ بِدْعاً من عَظيم شَانِهِ

Look at his lofty buildings:

they show you wonders of his greatness.

لو خايل البحرُ نَدَى يَديهِ

إذا لجَت عُفاتُهُ إليهِ

If the sea rivaled his hands' bounty,

when his petitioners pressed toward him,

لغاضَ أَو لكادَ أَن يَغِيضا

ولاسْتَحى من بعدُ أَنْ يَفيضا

it would recede, or nearly recede,

and afterward be ashamed to overflow.

مَن أَسبغَ النُّعمى وكانتْ مَحْقَا

وفتَّق الدُّنيا وكانتْ رَتْقا

He lavished blessings when they had dwindled,

and opened the world when it was sealed.

هو الذي جمَّع شَمْلَ الأُمَّهْ

وجابَ عنها دامِساتِ الظُّلمَهْ

He united the scattered community,

and cleared its enveloping darkness.

وجَدَّدَ المُلكَ الذي قد أَخْلَقا

حتى رَسَت أَوتادُهُ واسْتَوسقا

He renewed kingship that had grown worn,

until its stakes stood firm and it flourished.

وجَمَّعَ العُدَّةَ والعَدِيدا

وكَثَّفَ الأَجْنادَ والحُشودا

He gathered equipment and manpower,

and massed armies and assembled forces.

ثم انتحَى جَيَّانَ في غَزاتهِ

بِعَسْكرٍ يَسْعرُ مِن حُماتِهِ

Then he made for Jayyan on his campaign,

with an army blazing with its defenders.

فاستنزلَ الوحشَ مِنَ الهضابِ

كأَنَّما حُطَّتْ منَ السَّحابِ

He brought the wild beasts down from the hills,

as though they were lowered from the clouds.

فأَذعنتْ مُرَّاقُها سِراعَا

وأَقبلتْ حُصونُها تَداعَى

Its renegades submitted swiftly,

and its fortresses began collapsing.

لمَّا رماها بسُيوفِ العَزْمِ

مَشْحوذةٍ على دُروعِ الحَزْمِ

When he struck them with swords of resolve,

sharpened upon the armor of prudence,

كادتْ لها أَنفُسُهُمْ تَجودُ

وكادتِ الأَرضُ بهم تَميدُ

their souls nearly yielded themselves,

and the earth nearly swayed beneath them.

لولا الإِلهُ زُلزلتْ زِلزالَها

وأَخْرَجتْ من رَهْبةٍ أَثقالَها

But for God, it would have shaken mightily,

and brought forth its burdens in terror.

فأَنزلَ الناسَ إلى البَسيطِ

وقَطَّعَ البَيْنَ منَ الخَليطِ

He brought the people down to the plain,

and ended separation among the mingled people.

وافتَتَحَ الحُصونَ حِصناً حِصنا

وأَوْسعَ الناسَ جميعاً أَمْنا

He captured the fortresses one by one,

and granted everyone abundant security.

ولم يَزلْ حتى انْتَحى جَيَّانا

فلم يَدَعْ بأَرْضِها شَيطانا

He persisted until he reached Jayyan,

leaving no devil in its land.

فأصبحَ الناسُ جميعاً أُمَّه

قد عقَد الإِلَّ لهم والذِّمَّه

All the people became one community,

for whom he established covenant and protection.

ثم انتَحى من فَورهِ إِلْبيرَهْ

وهي بِكلَّ آفةٍ مَشهورَهْ

Then immediately he made for Ilbira,

notorious for every calamity.

فداسَها بِخَيلهِ ورَجْلهِ

حتى تَوطَّا خَدَّها بِنَعْلهِ

He trampled it with cavalry and infantry,

until his sandal trod upon its cheek.

ولم يَدَعْ من جِنِّها مَرِيدا

بِها ولا من إِنسها عَنيدا

He left no rebellious spirit among its jinn,

nor any obstinate one among its humans,

إِلا كَساهُ الذُّلَّ والصَّغارا

وعَمَّهُ وأَهلهُ دَمارا

without clothing him in humiliation and abasement,

and encompassing him and his household with ruin.

فما رأيتُ مثلَ ذاكَ العامِ

ومثلَ صُنعِ اللَّه للإِسلامِ

I never saw anything like that year,

or like God's work for Islam.

فانصرفَ الأميرُ من غَزاتِهِ

وقد شَفاهُ اللَّهُ من عُداتهِ

The emir returned from his campaign,

God having relieved him of his enemies.

وقبلَها ما خَضعتْ وأذعنتْ

إِستِجةُ وطالما قد صَنعتْ

Before it, how Istija had bowed and submitted,

though it had long done as it pleased!

وبعدها مدينة الشِّنِّيلِ

ما أَذعنتْ للصَّارمِ الصَّقيلِ

Afterward came the city of al-Shinnil:

how it yielded to the polished, cutting sword,

لما غَزاها قائدُ الأَميرِ

باليُمنِ في لِوائهِ المنْصورِ

when the emir's commander attacked it,

with good fortune beneath his victorious banner.

فأسلمتْ ولم تكنْ بالمُسلمةْ

وزالَ عنها أَحمدُ بنُ مَسْلمهْ

It surrendered, though it had not been submissive,

and Ahmad ibn Maslama departed from it.

وبعدَها في آخرِ الشُّهورِ

من ذلك العامِ الزَّكيِّ النُّورِ

Afterward, in the final months

of that year of pure radiance,

أَرْجفتِ القِلاعُ والحُصونُ

كأَنَّما ساوَرَها المَنُونُ

the strongholds and fortresses trembled,

as though death had assailed them.

وأقبلتْ رجالُها وُفودا

تبْغِي لدَى إِمامها السُّعودا

Their men came in delegations,

seeking good fortune with their imam.

وليسَ مِن ذِي عزَّة وشدَّه

إلا توافَوا عندَ بابِ السُّدَّه

No man of strength and might remained

without their gathering at the palace gate.

قلُوبُهمْ باخعَةٌ بالطَّاعهْ

قد أَجْمعوا الدُّخولَ في الجَماعَهْ

Their hearts were submissive in obedience;

they resolved to enter the united community.

ثم غزا في عُقبِ عامٍ قابلِ

فجالَ في شَذُونةٍ والسَّاحلِ

Then he campaigned in the following year,

and ranged through Shadhuna and the coast.

ولو يَدَعْ رُيَّةَ والجزيرَهْ

حتى كوَى أَكلبَها الهريرَهْ

And even if he left Ruyya and al-Jazira,

it was after branding their snarling dogs.

حتى أناخ في ذُرى قرْمونَه

بكَلْكلٍ كَمُدْرهِ الطَّاحُونَه

Then he settled upon Qarmuna's heights,

with a crushing breast like a millstone,

على الذي خالفَ فيها وانتزَى

يُعْزَى إلى سَوادةٍ إذا اعتزَى

against the man who opposed him there and rebelled,

claiming descent from Sawada when naming his lineage.

فسالَ أن يُمهلَهُ شُهورا

ثم يكونُ عبدهَ المأمُورا

He asked to be granted several months,

then to become his obedient servant.

فأَسعفَ الأميرُ منهُ ما سألْ

وعادَ بالفَضْلِ عليهِ وقَفلْ

The emir granted what he requested,

bestowed favor upon him, and returned.

كانَ بها القُفولُ عندَ الجيَّه

من غَزْو إِحدى وثلثميَّه

The return there came at the arrival

from the campaign of three hundred and one.

فلم يَكنْ يُدرَكُ في باقيها

غزْوٌ ولا بَعْثٌ يكونُ فيها

There was no opportunity in its remainder

for a campaign or an expedition within it.

ثُمَّتَ أغزى في الثلاثِ عَمَّهْ

وقد كساهُ عَزْمَه وحزْمهْ

Then in year three he sent his uncle campaigning,

clothing him in his own resolve and prudence.

فسارَ في جَيْشٍ شديدِ الباسِ

وقائدُ الجيْش أَبو العبَّاسِ

He marched with an army of fierce valor,

its commander being Abu al-Abbas,

حتى تَرقَّى بذُرى بُبَشْتَر

وجالَ في ساحاتها بالعسكرْ

until he ascended Bubashtar's heights,

and ranged through its grounds with the army.

فلم يَدَع زَرْعاً ولا ثمارا

لهم ولا عِلقاً ولا عُقارَا

He left them neither crops nor fruit,

neither precious possessions nor estates.

وقطَّع الكُرومَ منها والشجرْ

ولم يُبايع عِلجُها ولا ظهَرْ

He cut down its vineyards and trees;

its foreign foe neither pledged allegiance nor appeared.

ثم انثنى من بعدِ ذاكَ قافلا

وقد أَبادَ الزَّرعَ والمآكِلا

Then he turned back, returning home,

having destroyed the crops and food supplies.

فأيقنَ الخِنزيرُ عِنْدَ ذاكا

أَنْ لا بقاءَ يُرتَجى هُناكا

The swine then became certain

that no survival could be hoped for there.

فكاتَبَ الإمامَ بالإِجابَه

والسَّمْعِ والطَّاعةِ والإنابَه

He wrote to the imam accepting his summons,

with submission, obedience, and repentance.

فأخْمدَ اللَّهُ شِهابَ الفِتْنه

وأَصْبحَ الناسُ معاً في هُدْنه

God extinguished turmoil's flaming brand,

and everyone together entered a truce.

وارتعتِ الشاةُ معاً والذِّيبُ

إِذْ وَضعتْ أوزارَها الحرُوبُ

The sheep and wolf grazed together,

when the wars laid down their burdens.

وبعدها كانتْ غَزاةُ أَرْبعِ

فأيَّ صُنْعٍ ربُّنا لم يَصْنَعِ

Afterward came the campaign of year four:

what deed did our Lord leave undone

فيها ببَسْطِ المَلِك الأَوَّاه

كِلتْا يَديه في سَبيلِ اللّهِ

in it, through the devout king's extending

both his hands in God's cause?

هذا إلى الثَّغرِ وما يليهِ

على عدوِّ الشِّركِ أو ذويهِ

One toward the frontier and its surroundings,

against the foe of polytheism and its adherents;

وذا إلى شُمِّ الرُّبا من مُرْسِيَه

وما مَضى جرى إلى بَلَنسيَه

the other toward Mursiya's lofty hills,

and onward as far as Balansiya.

فكانَ مَن وَجَّهه للساحلِ

القرشيُّ القائدُ القنابلِ

The man he dispatched to the coast

was al-Qurashi, commander of the squadrons;

وابنُ أَبي عَبْدةَ نحوَ الشِّرْكِ

في خَيْرِ ما تَعبيةٍ وشكِّ

Ibn Abi Abda went against polytheism,

with the finest battle array and equipment.

فأقبلا بكُلِّ فَتْحٍ شاملِ

وكُلِّ ثكلٍ للعدوِّ ثاكلِ

Both returned with comprehensive conquests,

and every bereavement that bereaved the enemy.

وبعدَ هذي الغَزوةِ الغَرَّاءِ

كانَ افتتاحُ لَبْلةَ الحَمْراءِ

After this radiant campaign

came the conquest of red Labla.

أغزَى بجُندٍ نحوَها مَولاهُ

في عُقبِ هذا العامِ لا سواهُ

He sent his client toward it with troops,

at the close of this very year,

بَدراً فضمَّ جانبَيْها ضمَّه

وغَمَّها حتَّى أجابتْ حُكمَه

Badr, who tightly embraced its two sides,

and oppressed it until it accepted his judgment.

وأسْلمتْ صاحبَها مَقهورا

حتى أتى بدرٌ به مَأسُورا

It surrendered its defeated master,

and Badr brought him back a captive.

وبعدَها كانتْ غَزاةُ خَمْسِ

إلى السَّوَاديِّ عقيدِ النَّحْسِ

Afterward came the campaign of year five,

against al-Sawadi, bound to ill fortune,

لما طَغى وجاوزَ الحُدودا

ونَقضَ الميثاقَ والعُهودا

when he became tyrannical and exceeded bounds,

and broke the covenant and pledges.

ونابذَ السُّلطانَ مِن شَقائهِ

ومِن تَعدِّيه وسُوءِ رائِهِ

He challenged the sovereign through his wretchedness,

his transgression and his evil judgment.

أَغزى إِليه القُرشيَّ القائدا

إذ صارَ عن قَصْدِ السبيلِ حائدا

He sent al-Qurashi, the commander, against him,

when he had strayed from the straight path.

ثُمَّتَ شَدَّ أَزرَهُ ببَدْرِ

فكانَ كالشَّفعِ لهذا الوتْرِ

Then he strengthened his support with Badr,

making a pair of this solitary one.

أحذَقَها بالخيلِ والرِّجالِ

مُشمِّراً وجدَّ في القتالِ

He handled it skillfully with cavalry and infantry,

girding himself and pressing the fighting.

فنازلَ الحِصْنَ العظيمَ الشانِ

بالرَّجلِ والرُّماةِ والفُرسانِ

He besieged the imposing fortress

with infantry, archers, and horsemen.

فلم يَزل بدرٌ بها محاصرا

كذا على قِتاله مُثابرَا

Badr continued besieging it,

persisting likewise in his fighting.

والكلبُ في تهوُّرٍ قدِ انغمَسْ

وضُيِّقَ الحَلْقُ عليهِ والنَّفَسْ

The dog had plunged into recklessness,

and his throat and breathing were constricted.

فافترقَ الأصحابُ عن لوائهِ

وَفَتحوا الأبوابَ دونَ رائهِ

His companions deserted his banner,

and opened the gates against his judgment.

واقتحم العَسكرُ في المدينَه

وهُو بها كهيْئةِ الظعينَهْ

The army stormed into the city,

where he was like a woman carried in a litter,

مُسْتسلماً للذُّلِّ والصَّغارِ

ومُلقِياً يَديهِ للإسارِ

submitting to humiliation and abasement,

and offering his hands for captivity.

فنزَعَ الحاجبُ تاجَ مُلْكِهِ

وقادَه مُكَتَّفاً لِهُلْكِهِ

The chamberlain stripped off his royal crown,

and led him bound toward his destruction.

وكانَ في آخِرِ هذا العامِ

نَكْبُ أَبي العبَّاسِ بالإسلامِ

At the end of that year came

Abu al-Abbas's calamity for Islam.

غَزا وكانَ أَنجدَ الأَنجادِ

وقائداً من أَفحلِ القُوَّادِ

He campaigned, the bravest of the brave,

a commander among the mightiest commanders.

فسارَ في غيْرِ رجالِ الحَرْبِ

الضَّاربينَ عند وَقْتِ الضَّربِ

He marched with men unlike warriors,

those who strike when striking is required,

مُحارباً في غيرِ ما مُحاربِ

والحشَمُ الجُمهورُ عندَ الحاجبِ

fighting among men who were no fighters,

while the mass of retainers stayed with the chamberlain.

واجتمعتْ إِليه أَخلاطُ الكُوَرْ

وغابَ ذو التَّحصيلِ عنهُ والنَّظرْ

The provinces' mixed multitudes gathered around him,

but discerning, thoughtful men were absent.

حتى إذا أَوْغلَ في العَدُوِّ

فكانَ بينَ البُعدِ والدُّنوِّ

When he penetrated deep among the enemy,

between remoteness and nearness,

أَسلمهُ أهلُ القُلوبِ القاسِيهْ

وأَفْردوهُ للكِلابِ العاويهْ

the hard-hearted abandoned him,

and left him alone to the howling dogs.

فاستُشهدَ القائدُ في أَبْرارِ

قد وَهَبوا نُفوسَهم للبارِي

The commander was martyred among righteous men

who had given their lives to the Creator,

في غير تَأخيرٍ ولا فِرارِ

إلا شديدَ الضَّربِ للكُفّارِ

without hesitation or flight,

only striking the unbelievers fiercely.

ثم أَقادَ اللَّهُ من أعْدائهِ

وأَحْكَم النصرَ لأوْليائهِ

Then God exacted vengeance upon His enemies,

and firmly established victory for His allies.

في مَبدأ العامِ الذي مِن قابلِ

أَزْهقَ فيهِ الحقُّ نَفْسَ الباطلِ

At the beginning of the following year,

truth extinguished falsehood's very life.

فكان مِن رأيِ الإمامِ الماجدِ

وخَيْرِ مَولودٍ وخَيْرِ والدِ

The glorious imam resolved,

the finest son and finest father,

أَنِ احتَمى بالواحِدِ القهَّارِ

وفاضَ مِن غَيظٍ على الكُفَّارِ

to seek shelter with the One, the All-Subduing,

and overflow with wrath against the unbelievers.

فجمَّعَ الأجنادَ والحُشودَا

ونَفَّرَ السَّيِّدَ والمَسودَا

He assembled armies and forces,

and summoned masters and those they ruled.

وحَشَرَ الأطرافَ والثُّغورَا

ورَفضَ اللَّذاتِ والحُبورَا

He mustered the outlying regions and frontiers,

and renounced pleasures and rejoicing.

حتَّى إذا ما وَفتِ الجنُودُ

واجتمَعَ الحُشَّادُ والحُشودُ

When the troops had all arrived,

and musterers and mustered forces assembled,

قَوَّدَ بدراً أمرَ تلك الطائفَهْ

وكانتِ النَّفسُ عليه خائفَهْ

he entrusted Badr with command of that host,

while hearts feared for him.

فسارَ في كَتائبٍ كالسَّيلِ

وعَسكَرٍ مِثلِ سَوادِ اللَّيلِ

He marched with battalions like a torrent,

an army like night's blackness,

حتَّى إذا حَلَّ على مُطْنيَه

وكانَ فيها أخبثُ البريَّهْ

until he descended upon Mutniya,

where the foulest of creation dwelt.

ناصبَهم حرباً لها شَرارُ

كأنَّما أُضرِمَ فيها النارُ

He waged against them a war with sparks,

as though fire had been kindled in it.

وجدَّ من بينهِمُ القتالُ

وأحْدقتْ حولَهمُ الرجالُ

The fighting between them intensified,

and men encircled them.

فحاربُوا يومَهمُ وباتُوا

وقد نَفتْ نومَهمُ الرُّماةُ

They fought through their day and spent the night,

the archers having driven away their sleep.

فهم طَوالَ الليلِ كالطَّلائحِ

جراحُهم تَنْغل في الجوارحِ

All night they were like exhausted beasts,

their wounds festering in their limbs.

ثمَّ مَضَوْا في حَرْبهم أيّاما

حتَّى بدا الموتُ لهم زُؤاما

They continued their warfare for days,

until death appeared to them swift and deadly.

لمّا رأَوا سحائبَ المَنيَّه

تُمطِرُهم صَواعِق البليّه

When they saw the clouds of death

raining calamity's thunderbolts upon them,

تَغَلْغَلَ العُجمُ بأرضِ العُجمِ

وانحشَدوا مِن تحتِ كُلِّ نجمِ

the foreigners penetrated foreign lands,

and gathered from beneath every star.

فأقبلَ العِلْجُ لهم مُغِيثَا

يومَ الخَمِيسِ مُسْرعاً حَثِيثا

The foreign foe came to their relief

on Thursday, hurrying with all speed.

بين يديهِ الرَّجلُ والفَوارسُ

وحولَهُ الصُّلبانُ والنَّواقسُ

Before him were infantry and horsemen,

and around him crosses and bells.

وكان يَرجُو أنْ يُزيل العَسْكرا

عن جانبِ الحِصْن الذِي قد دُمِّرا

He hoped to remove the army

from beside the fortress already devastated.

فاعتاقَه بدرٌ بمن لَديهِ

مُستبصِراً في زَحْفِهِ إِليهِ

Badr intercepted him with his own forces,

clear-sighted in advancing against him.

حتى التَقتْ مَيْمنةٌ بمَيْسرَه

واعتنَّتِ الأرْواحُ عندَ الحنْجره

Right wing met left wing,

and souls rose to the throats.

ففازَ حِزْبُ اللَّهِ بالعِلْجانِ

وانهزمتْ بِطانةُ الشَّيطانِ

God's party triumphed over the foreign foes,

and Satan's intimates were routed.

فقُتِّلوا قتلاً ذَرِيعاً فاشيا

وأَدبر العِلْجُ ذَمِيماً خازيا

They were slain in widespread, grievous slaughter,

and the foreign foe fled disgraced and shamed.

وانصَرفَ الناسُ إلى القُلَيعَه

فصبّحوا العَدوَّ يومَ الجُمعه

The men returned to the little fortress,

and attacked the enemy at dawn on Friday.

ثم التقى العِلْجانِ في الطَّريق

البَنْبلونيُّ مع الجِلِّيقي

Then the two foreign foes met on the road,

the Pamplonan with the Galician.

فأعقَدا على انتهابِ العَسكرِ

وأَن يَموتا قبلَ ذاكَ المحْضرِ

They pledged themselves to plundering the army,

or dying before that encounter.

وأَقْسما بالجبْتِ والطَّاغوتِ

لايُهْزَما دونَ لِقاءِ الموْتِ

They swore by false idols and tyranny

not to be defeated before meeting death.

فأَقبلوا بأَعظم الطُّغيانِ

قد جَلَّلوا الجِبالَ بالفُرسانِ

They advanced in utmost arrogance,

covering the mountains with horsemen.

حتى تَداعى الناسُ يومَ السبتِ

فكانَ وقتاً يا لَهُ من وقْتِ

The men called one another forth on Saturday:

what a moment that was!

فأُشرعتْ بَينهمُ الرِّماحُ

وقد علا التَّكبيرُ والصِّياحُ

Spears were leveled between them,

and cries of 'God is greatest' and shouting rose.

وفارقتْ أَغمادَها السُّيوفُ

وفَغرتْ أفواهَا الحتُوفُ

Swords left their scabbards,

and deaths opened their mouths.

والتقتِ الرِّجالُ بالرِّجالِ

وانغمَسوا في غَمْرةِ القتالِ

Men met men,

and plunged into the tumult of battle,

في مَوْقفٍ زاغتْ به الأبصارُ

وقَصُرت في طُولهِ الأَعمارُ

at a stand where eyes swerved in terror,

and lives shortened throughout its length.

وهبّ أهلُ الصَّبرِ والبَصائرِ

فأوعَقوا على العدوِّ الكافرِ

Men of endurance and insight sprang up,

and bore down upon the unbelieving enemy.

حتى بدتْ هزيمةُ البَشكنسِ

كأَنَّهُ مُخْتضبٌ بالوَرْسِ

Then the Basques' defeat became apparent,

as though they were stained with yellow dye.

فانقضَّتِ العقبانُ والسَّلالقهْ

زَعْقاً على مُقدَّم الجلالِقهْ

The eagles and hounds swooped down,

screaming against the Galicians' commander:

عِقبانُ موتٍ تخطفُ الأرواحا

وتُشبعُ السيوفَ والرِّماحا

eagles of death snatching souls,

and feeding swords and spears.

فانهزمَ الخِنزيرُ عندَ ذاكا

وانكشفتْ عَورتُه هناكا

The swine fled at that moment,

and his vulnerability was exposed there.

فقُتِّلوا في بَطنِ كلِّ وادِي

وجاءتِ الرُّؤوسُ في الأعْوادِ

They were slaughtered in every valley's hollow,

and heads arrived upon wooden poles.

وقَدَّم القائدُ ألفَ راسِ

مِن الجَلاليق ذَوي العمَاسِ

The commander presented a thousand heads

of fierce Galicians.

فتمَّ صُنعُ اللَّهِ للإسلامِ

وعَمَّنا سرورُ ذاكَ العامِ

God's work for Islam was completed,

and that year's joy embraced us.

وخيرُ ما فيهِ من السُّرورِ

موتُ ابن حَفْصونَ به الخنزيرِ

The finest of its joys

was the death of Ibn Hafsun, the swine.

فاتَّصلَ الفتحُ بفتحٍ ثانِ

والنَّصرُ بالنَّصرِ من الرحمنِ

Conquest joined a second conquest,

and victory joined victory from the All-Merciful.

وهذه الغزاةُ تُدعى القاضِيَه

وقد أتَتهمْ بعد ذاك الدَّاهِيه

This campaign is called the Decisive;

after it, disaster came upon them.

وبعدها كانت غزاةُ بَلده

وهِي التي أوْدَتْ بأهلِ الرِّدَّه

Afterward came the campaign of Balda,

which destroyed the apostates.

وبَدْؤها أَنَّ الإمامَ المصطفى

أصدقَ أهلِ الأرضِ عدلاً ووَفَا

It began when the chosen imam,

the earth's truest in justice and fidelity,

لما أَتتْهُ ميتةُ الخِنْزيرِ

وأَنه صارَ إلى السَّعيرِ

received news of the swine's death

and his passage into the blazing fire.

كاتَبَه أَولادُه بالطاعَهْ

وبالدُّخولِ مَدْخلَ الجماعه

His sons wrote to him pledging obedience

and entry into the united community,

وأنْ يُقِرَّهم على الولايَهْ

على دُرورِ الخَرْجِ والجِبايَهْ

asking that he confirm them in office,

provided tribute and revenue flowed.

فاختارَ ذلك الإمامُ المُفْضِلُ

ولم يَزَل مِن رأيهِ التفضُّلُ

The generous imam chose this course,

for generosity had always been his policy.

ثمَّ لَوى الشَّيطانُ رأسَ جَعفرِ

وصارَ منهُ نافخاً في المُنخُرِ

Then Satan twisted Ja'far's head,

and began blowing into his nostril.

فَنقَضَ العُهودَ والميثاقا

واستعملَ التَّشْغِيبَ والنِّفاقا

He broke pledges and covenant,

and practiced agitation and hypocrisy.

وضَمَّ أهلَ النُّكْث والخلافِ

من غيرِ ما كافٍ وغيرِ وافِ

He gathered oath-breakers and dissenters,

neither capable nor faithful.

فاعتاقه الخليفةُ المُؤيَّدُ

وهو الذي يُشقَى به ويُسْعَدُ

The divinely supported caliph checked him,

he through whom misery and happiness come,

ومَنَ عليهِ مِن عُيونِ اللَّهِ

حوافظٌ من كُلِّ أمرٍ داهي

over whom, among God's watchful eyes,

are guardians against every devastating matter.

فَجَنَّدَ الجُنودَ والكتَائبا

وقَوَّدَ القُوَّادَ والمقَانبا

He raised troops and battalions,

and appointed commanders over cavalry squadrons.

ثم غَزا في أَكثرِ العديدِ

مُسْتَصحبَاً بالنَّصرِ والتَّأييدِ

Then he campaigned with the greatest numbers,

accompanied by victory and divine support.

حتَّى إذا مَرَّ بِحصْنِ بَلدَه

خَلَّفَ فيهِ قائداً في عِدَّهْ

When he passed Balda's fortress,

he left a commander there with a force,

يَمنعُهم مِن انتشارِ خَيلهمْ

وحارساً في يَومِهم ولَيلهِمْ

to prevent their cavalry from spreading out,

guarding them by day and night.

ثمَّ مَضى يستنزِلُ الحُصونا

ويَبعثُ الطِّلاعَ والعُيونا

Then he continued bringing fortresses to submission,

and dispatching scouts and spies.

حتى أَتاهُ باشِرٌ من بَلَدَهْ

يعدو برأَسِ رأسِها في صَعدَهْ

A bearer of good news came from Balda,

running with its leader's head upon a spear.

فقدَّمَ الخيْلَ إليها مُسرعاً

واحتلَّها مِن يومهِ تَسرُّعا

He swiftly sent the cavalry ahead toward it,

and occupied it that very day without delay.

فحفَّها بالخيْلِ والرُّماةِ

وجُملةِ الحُماةِ والكُماةِ

He encircled it with cavalry and archers,

and all the defenders and armored warriors.

فاطَّلعَ الرَّجْلُ على أَنْقابها

واقتحمَ الجُنْدُ على أَبوابِها

The infantry climbed to its breaches,

and the troops stormed its gates.

فأَذَعنتْ ولم تَكُن بمُذعِنَهْ

واسْتسلمتْ كافرةٌ لمؤمنَهْ

It submitted, though it had not been submissive,

and an unbelieving city surrendered to a believing one.

فقُدِّمتْ كُفّارُها للسَّيفِ

وقُتِّلوا بالحَقِّ لا بالحَيفِ

Its unbelievers were brought forward to the sword,

and slain justly, not wrongfully.

وذاكَ منْ يُمنِ الإمام المُرتَضَى

وخيرِ مَنْ بَقي وَخَيرِ مَنْ مَضَى

That came from the favored imam's good fortune,

the finest of those living and those departed.

ثمّ انتَمى مِن فَورِهِ بِبُشتَرا

فلم يدعْ بها قضيباً أخضرا

Then immediately he made for Bubashtar,

leaving no green branch there.

وحَطَّمَ النَّباتَ والزُّروعا

وهَتكَ الرِّباع والرُّبوعا

He shattered plants and crops,

and violated dwellings and settlements.

فإِذْ رأى الكلبُ الذي رآهُ

من عَزْمهِ في قَطْع مُنْتواهُ

When the dog saw what he saw

of his resolve to cut off his stronghold,

أَلقَى إليهِ باليدين ضارعا

وسالَ أَن يُبْقى عليهِ وادِعا

he offered both hands in humble submission,

and asked to be spared and left in peace,

وأَنْ يكونَ عاملاً في طاعتِهْ

على دُرورِ الخَرْجِ مِن جِبايتِهِ

to serve as a governor in his obedience,

with tribute flowing from his collections.

فَوَثَّقَ الإمامُ من رِهانِهْ

كيلا يكونَ في عمىً من شانِهْ

The imam secured his hostages,

so he would not remain ignorant of his affairs.

وقَبِلَ الإمام ذاكَ مِنْهُ

فضلاً وإحساناً وسارَ عنهُ

The imam accepted this from him,

in bounty and kindness, and departed.

ثمَّ غزا الإمامُ دارَ الحَرْبِ

فكانَ خَطباً يا لهُ من خَطبِ

Then the imam invaded the land of war:

what a tremendous event it was!

فحُشِّدت إليهِ أَعلامُ الكُوَرْ

ومَن لَهُ في النَّاسِ ذِكرٌ وخطَرْ

The provinces' eminent men were mustered to him,

and everyone of renown and standing,

إلى ذَوي الدِّيوانِ والرَّاياتِ

وكُلِّ مَنْسوبٍ إلى الشَّاماتِ

along with the registered troops and banner-bearers,

and everyone connected with the Syrian lands;

وكُلِّ مَن أَخلصَ للرّحمنِ

بطاعةٍ في السرِّ والإعلانِ

everyone devoted to the All-Merciful

in obedience, secretly and openly;

وكُلّ من طاوعَ في الجهادِ

أَو ضمَّهُ سَرْجٌ على الجيادِ

everyone volunteering for holy war,

or embraced by a saddle upon fine horses.

فكانَ حشداً يا لهُ من حَشدِ

من كل حُرٍّ عندنا وعبدِ

What a mighty muster it was,

of every free man and slave among us!

فتحسبُ النَّاسَ جراداً منتشرْ

كما يقولُ ربُّنا فيمن حُشِرْ

You would think the people scattered locusts,

as our Lord says of those assembled.

ثم مَضى المُظَفَّرُ المنصورُ

على جَبِينه الهدى والنُّورُ

Then the triumphant, victorious ruler advanced,

guidance and light upon his brow.

أَمامَهُ جُندٌ من الملائكهْ

آخذةٌ لربِّها وتاركهْ

Before him was a host of angels,

taking and leaving for their Lord.

حتَّى إذا فَوَّزَ في العَدوِّ

جنَّبهُ الرحمنُ كُلَّ سَوِّ

When he penetrated far among the enemy,

the All-Merciful kept every evil from him.

وأَنزلَ الجزيةَ والدَّواهِي

على الذينَ أَشركوا باللّهِ

He imposed tribute and calamities

upon those who associated partners with God.

فزُلزلتْ أَقدامُهم بالرُّعبِ

واستُنْفِروا مِن خَوفِ نارِ الحَرْبِ

Their feet were shaken with terror,

and they were driven forth by fear of war's fire.

واقَتَحموا الشِّعابَ والمَكامِنا

وأَسْلموا الحُصونَ والمَدائِنا

They rushed into ravines and hiding places,

and surrendered fortresses and cities.

فما بقي من جَنَباتِ دُورِ

مِن بَيعةٍ لراهبٍ أو دَيْرِ

No building remained in the surrounding settlements,

no monk's church or monastery,

إِلا وقد صَيَّرها هَباءَ

كالنَّارِ إذ وافَقتِ الآباءَ

without his turning it to dust,

like fire when it encounters reeds.

وزَعزعتْ كتائبُ السلطانِ

لكُلِّ ما فِيها منَ البُنْيانِ

The sovereign's battalions shook apart

every structure within them.

فكانَ مِن أَوَّلِ حصْنٍ زعْزعُوا

ومَن بهِ من العدوِّ أَوْقعُوا

Among the first fortresses they shook,

striking down the enemies within it,

مَدينةٌ مَعْرُوفةٌ بوخْشَمَهْ

فغادَروها فَحمةً مُسخَّمهْ

was a city known as Wukhshama.

They left it a soot-blackened coal.

ثمَّ ارتقَوا منها إلى حَواضرِ

فغادروها مثلَ أَمسِ الدَّابرِ

Then they ascended from it to other towns,

and left them like vanished yesterday.

ثمَّ مَضَوْا والعِلجُ يَحْتذيهِمُ

بجيْشهِ يَخشى ويَقْتفيهمُ

Then they advanced, the foreign foe following them

with his army, afraid and tracking them,

حتى أتوا تَوّاً لوادِي دَيِّ

ففيهِ عفَّى الرُّشدُ سُبْلَ الغَيِّ

until they came directly to Wadi Dayy.

There right guidance erased error's paths.

لما التقَوْا بمَجمعِ الجَوْزينِ

واجتمعتْ كتائبُ العِلْجينِ

When they met at al-Jawzayn's meeting-place,

the two foreign foes' battalions gathered,

مِن أَهل ألْيون وبَنبلونَهْ

وأَهلِ أَرنيط وبَرْشلُونَهْ

from the people of Alyun and Pamplona,

and the people of Arnit and Barcelona.

تضافرَ الكُفرُ معَ الإلحادِ

واجتمعوا مِن سائرِ البلادِ

Unbelief joined forces with impiety,

and they gathered from every land.

فاضطربوا في سَفحِ طَوْدٍ عالِ

وصَفَّفوا تَعبيةَ القتالِ

They moved about at a lofty mountain's foot,

and arranged their battle formations.

فبادرتْ إليهمُ المُقدِّمَهْ

ساميةً في خَيلها المُسوَّمهْ

The vanguard hastened toward them,

rising proudly upon its marked horses.

ورِدُّها مُتَّصلٌ برِدِّ

يُمدُّه بحرٌ عظيمُ المَدِّ

Its wave followed another wave,

supplied by a sea of mighty surge.

فانهزمَ العِلجانِ في عِلاجِ

ولَبسوا ثوباً من العَجاجِ

The two foreign foes fled amid struggle,

and clothed themselves in dust.

كلاهما يَنظُرُ حيناً خَلفَهُ

فهو يَرى في كُلِّ وَجْهٍ حتْفَهُ

Each looked behind him from time to time,

seeing his death in every direction.

والبِيضُ في إِثرِهم والسُّمرُ

والقَتْلُ ماضٍ فيهمُ والأَسْرُ

Bright swords and brown spears pursued them,

while slaughter and capture continued among them.

فلم يكُن للنَّاسِ مِنْ بَراحِ

وجاءَتِ الرُّؤوسُ في الرِّماحِ

There was no escape for the men,

and heads arrived upon spears.

فأمرَ الأَميرُ بالتَّفْويضِ

وأَسْرعَ العَسكَرُ في النُّهوضِ

The emir ordered authority delegated,

and the army hastened to advance.

فصادفُوا الجُمهورَ لما هُزمُوا

وعايَنوا قُوَّادَهم تُخُرّمُوا

They encountered the multitude after its defeat,

having seen their commanders cut down.

فدخَلوا حَديقَةً للموتِ

إذ طَمِعوا في حصْنها بالفَوتِ

They entered a garden of death,

hoping its enclosure would afford escape.

فيا لَها حديقةً ويا لَها

وافتْ بها نفوسُهم آجالَها

What a garden it was, what a garden!

Within it their souls met their appointed ends.

تحصَّنوا إِذ عايَنوا الأَهْوالا

لمَعقلٍ كان لهم عِقالا

Seeing the terrors, they fortified themselves

in a stronghold that became their fetter,

وصَخرةٍ كانت عليهم صَيْلما

وانقلبوا منها إلى جَهنَّما

and on a rock that became their destruction.

From it they passed into hell.

تَساقطوا يَستطعمونَ الماءَ

فأُخرجتْ أرواحُهم ظِماءَ

They fell, begging for water,

and their souls were taken out thirsty.

فَكَم لِسَيفِ اللَّهِ من جَزُورِ

في مَأدبِ الغرْبانِ والنُّسورِ

How many beasts God's sword slaughtered

at the banquet of ravens and vultures!

وكم به قَتلى منَ القساوسِ

تندبُ للصُّلبانِ والنُّواقسِ

How many priests lay slain there,

lamented by crosses and bells!

ثمَّ ثَنى عنانَهُ الأَميرُ

وحولهُ التهليلُ والتَّكبيرُ

Then the emir turned his reins,

surrounded by declarations of God's oneness and greatness,

مُصمِّماً بحرْبِ دارِ الحربِ

قُدَّامَهُ كتائبٌ من عُرْبِ

resolved upon fighting the land of war,

with battalions of Arabs before him.

فداسَها وسامَها بالخسْفِ

والهتْكِ والسَّفكِ لها والنَّسْفِ

He trampled it and subjected it to humiliation,

violation, bloodshed, and destruction.

فحرَّقوا ومَزَّقوا الحُصونا

وأسْخنوا من أَهلها العُيونَا

They burned and tore apart the fortresses,

and brought tears to their inhabitants' eyes.

فانظرُ عنِ اليمينِ واليسارِ

فما تَرى إلَّا لهيبَ النَّارِ

Look to the right and left:

you see nothing but flames of fire.

وأصبحتْ ديارُهم بلاقعا

فما نَرى إلَّا دُخاناً ساطِعا

Their dwellings became wastelands,

and we saw only rising smoke.

ونُصر الإمامُ فيها المُصطفى

وقد شَفى من العدوِّ واشتَفى

The chosen imam was granted victory there,

having avenged himself upon the enemy and found relief.

وبعدها كانت غَزاةُ طُرَّشْ

سَما إليها جيشهُ لم يُنْهَش

Afterward came the campaign of Turrash.

His army rose against it, unbitten.

وأَحدقتْ بحِصْنها الأَفاعي

وكُلُّ صِلٍّ أَسْودٍ شُجاعِ

Vipers surrounded its fortress,

and every black, formidable serpent.

ثمَّ بَنى حِصْناً عليها راتبا

يَعْتَوِرُ القُوَّادَ فيهِ دائبا

Then he built a permanent fortress against it,

where commanders took turns continually,

حتّى أَنابتْ عَنوةً جِنانُها

وغابَ عن يافوخِها شيطانُها

until its hearts submitted by force,

and its devil vanished from its crown.

فأَذْعنتْ لسيَّدِ السَّاداتِ

وأكرمِ الأحياءِ والأمواتِ

It yielded to the lord of lords,

the noblest of the living and dead,

خليفةِ اللَّه على عِبادِهِ

وخيرِ مَنْ يَحكم في بلادِهِ

God's caliph over His servants,

the finest ruler in His lands.

وكانَ موتُ بدرٍ بنِ أَحمدِ

بعدَ قُفولِ المَلكِ المُؤيَّدِ

Badr ibn Ahmad died

after the divinely supported king's return.

واستحجبَ الإمامُ خيْرَ حاجبِ

وخيْرَ مَصحوبٍ وخَيرَ صاحبِ

The imam appointed the finest chamberlain,

the finest man accompanied and finest companion:

مُوسى الأَغرَّ من بني حُدَيرِ

عَقيدَ كُلِّ رأفةٍ وخَيرِ

radiant Musa of the sons of Hudayr,

bound to every kindness and good.

وبعدها غَزاةُ عَشْرِ غَزْوَه

بها افتتاحُ منتلون عَنوَهْ

Afterward came the campaign of year ten,

in which Mantlun was taken by force.

غزا الإمامُ في ذوي السُّلطانِ

يَؤُمُّ أَهلَ النُّكْثِ والطُّغيانِ

The imam campaigned among men of authority,

aiming at oath-breakers and tyrants.

فاحتلَّ حِصْنَ منتلونَ قاطعا

أَسبابَ منَ أَصبح فيه خالعا

He occupied Mantlun's fortress, cutting off

the means of those who had rebelled within it.

سارَ إليهِ وبَنَى عليهِ

حتّى أتاهُ مُلقياً يديهِ

He marched against it and built siegeworks,

until its master came offering both hands.

ثمَّ انثنى عنه إلى شَذُونَهْ

فعاضَها سَهلاً من الحُزونَهْ

Then he turned from it toward Shadhuna,

exchanging its ruggedness for ease.

وساقَها بالأهلِ والولدانِ

إلى لُزومِ قُبَّةِ الإيمانِ

He led it, families and children together,

to remain beneath faith's canopy.

ولم يدَعْ صَعْباً ولا مَنيعا

إِلَّا وقد أَذلَّهمْ جميعا

He left no stubborn or impregnable foe

without humbling them all.

ثم انثنَى بأطيبِ القفُولِ

كما مَضى بأَحسنِ الفُضُولِ

Then he returned in the happiest homecoming,

as he had departed with the finest favors.

وبعدها غزاةُ إحدَى عشَرَهْ

كم نَبَّهتْ من نائمٍ في سَكْرَهْ

Afterward came the campaign of year eleven:

how many sleepers in stupor it awakened!

غزا الإمامُ يَنْتحي بِبُشْتَرا

في عسْكرٍ أَعظمْ بذاكَ عَسْكرا

The imam campaigned toward Bubashtar,

with an army—what an immense army!

فاحتلَّ مِن بُبَشْتَرا ذَراها

وجالَ في شاطٍ وفي سواها

He occupied Bubashtar's heights,

and ranged through Shat and elsewhere.

فخرَّب العُمرانَ من بُبشْتَرِ

وأذعنتْ شاطٌ لربِّ العَسكرِ

He devastated Bubashtar's inhabited places,

and Shat submitted to the army's master.

فأدخلَ العُدَّةَ والعديدا

فيها ولم يَتركْ بها عَنِيدا

He brought equipment and manpower

into it, leaving no obstinate foe there.

ثمَّ انتَحى بعدُ حُصونَ العُجْمِ

فداسها بالقَضْمِ بعدَ الخضْمِ

Then he made for the foreigners' fortresses,

and trampled them, gnawing after devouring,

ما كانَ من سواحِلِ البُحورِ

منها وفي الغاباتِ والوعُورِ

those upon the seas' coasts,

and those in forests and rugged places.

وأَدخلَ الطاعةَ في مكان

لم يدْرِ قطُّ طاعةَ السُّلطانِ

He established obedience in a place

that had never known obedience to the sovereign.

ثمَّ رَمى الثَّغرَ بخيرِ قائدِ

وزادهم عنه بخيرِ ذائدِ

Then he sent the finest commander to the frontier,

and added for them, on his behalf, the finest defender.

به قَما اللَّهُ ذوي الإشراكِ

وأنقذَ الثَّغرَ من الهلاكِ

Through him God humbled the polytheists,

and rescued the frontier from destruction.

وانتاشَ من مَهْواتِها تُطيله

وقد جَرت دماؤُها مَطلُولَهْ

He snatched Tutila from its abysses,

its blood having flowed unavenged.

وطَهَّرَ الثَّغرَ وما يَليهِ

من شِيعةِ الكُفر ومن ذَويهِ

He purified the frontier and its surroundings

of unbelief's faction and its adherents.

ثمَّ انثَنى بالفَتحِ والنَّجاحِ

قد غيَّرَ الفسادَ بالصَّلاحِ

Then he returned with conquest and success,

having replaced corruption with righteousness.

وبعدها غَزاةُ اِثْنتَيْ عَشَرَهْ

وكم بها من حَسْرَةٍ وعِبرَهْ

Afterward came the campaign of year twelve:

how much sorrow and warning it contained!

غزا الإمامُ حولَه كتائبُه

كالبدْرِ محفوفاً به كواكبُه

The imam campaigned, his battalions around him,

like the full moon surrounded by its stars.

غزا وسيفُ النَّصر في يَمينهِ

وطالعُ السَّعدِ على جَبينهِ

He campaigned with victory's sword in his right hand,

and fortune's ascendant upon his brow.

وصاحبُ العسكرِ والتَّدبيرِ

موسى الأغرُّ حاجبُ الأميرِ

The master of the army and its planning

was radiant Musa, the emir's chamberlain.

فدمَّر الحُصونَ من تدْميرِ

واستنزلَ الوحشَ من الصَّخورِ

He destroyed the fortresses of Tudmir,

and brought the wild beasts down from the rocks.

فاجتمعتْ عليهِ كُلُّ الأمّة

وبايعتْهُ أُمَراءُ الفِتْنهْ

The whole community gathered around him,

and the leaders of turmoil pledged allegiance.

حتّى إذا أَوعبَ من حُصونها

وجَمَّلَ الحقَّ على مُتونِها

When he had taken all its fortresses,

and adorned their backs with truth,

مَضى وسارَ في ظلالِ العَسكَرِ

تحتَ لواءِ الأسدِ الغَضَنْفَرِ

he advanced, and beneath the army's shade marched,

under the mighty lion's banner,

رجالُ تُدميرٍ ومَن يَليهمُ

من كلِّ صِنفٍ يُعتزى إليهمُ

the men of Tudmir and their neighbors,

every group claiming connection with them.

حتّى إذا حَلَّ على تُطيلَهْ

بكتْ على دمائِها المَطْلولَهْ

When he descended upon Tutila,

it wept for its unavenged blood,

وعظْمِ ما لاقَتْ من العدوِّ

والحربِ في الرَّواحِ والغُدوِّ

and the enormity of what it suffered from the enemy,

and war morning and evening.

فهمَّ أَن يُديخَ دار الحربِ

وأَن تكونَ رِدْأَهُ في الدَّرْبِ

He intended to subdue the land of war,

and make it his support along the pass.

ثمَّ استشارَ ذا النُّهى والحِجْرِ

من صَحْبه ومِن رجالِ الثَّغْرِ

Then he consulted men of reason and judgment

among his companions and the frontier's men.

فكُلُّهم أَشارَ أَنْ لا يُدْرِبا

ولا يجوزَ الجبلَ المُؤشَّبا

They all advised against entering the pass,

or crossing the wooded mountain,

لأَنّه في عسكرٍ قدِ انخرَمْ

بِنَدْبِ كلِّ العُرفاءِ والحشَمْ

because his army had been depleted

by detaching all the officers and retainers.

وشَنَّعوا أَنَّ وَراءَ الفَجِّ

خمسينَ ألفاً من رجالِ العِلْجِ

They spread alarming reports that beyond the pass

were fifty thousand of the foreign foe's men.

فقالَ لا بُدَّ من الدُّخولِ

وما إلى حاشاهُ من سبيلِ

He said, 'We must enter;

there is no way of avoiding it,

وأن أُديخَ أرضَ بَنْبلونَهْ

وساحةَ المدينةِ الملْعُونَهْ

and I must subdue Pamplona's land

and the precincts of the accursed city.'

وكانَ رأياً لم يكُنْ من صاحبِ

ساعدَهُ عليهِ غير الحاجبِ

It was a plan no companion

supported except the chamberlain.

فاسْتَنصرَ اللَّهَ وعَبَّى ودَخَلْ

فكان فتحاً لم يكنْ لهُ مَثَلْ

He sought God's victory, arrayed his troops, and entered:

a conquest without equal.

وعاذَ بالرَّغْبةِ والدُّعاءِ

واستنزلَ النَّصرَ مِنَ السّماءِ

He sought refuge in supplication and prayer,

and called victory down from heaven.

فقدَّم القُوَّادَ بالحُشودِ

وأَتْبعَ الحدودَ بالحُدودِ

He sent the commanders ahead with their forces,

and followed division with division.

فانهزمَ العِلجُ وكانتْ مَلْحَمهْ

جاوزَ فيها الساقةُ المُقدَّمهْ

The foreign foe fled in a slaughter

where the rear guard overtook the vanguard.

فَقُتِّلوا مَقْتلَةَ الفَناءِ

فارتوتِ البِيضُ منَ الدِّماءِ

They were slain in annihilating slaughter,

and bright swords drank their fill of blood.

ثمَّ أمالَ نحوَ بَنْبلونَه

واقتحمَ العسكرُ في المدينَهْ

Then he turned toward Pamplona,

and the army stormed into the city.

حتى إذا جَاسُوا خلالَ دورِها

وأَسرع الخرابُ في مَعْمورها

When they searched through its dwellings,

and ruin hastened through its inhabited quarters,

بلتَ على ما فاتَها النّواظِرُ

إذْ جَعلتْ تَدُقُّها الحوافِرُ

eyes grew wet for what it had lost,

as hooves began pounding it:

لِفَقْدِ من قتَّلَ مِن رِجالِها

وذُّلِّ من أَيْتَمَ من أطفالها

for the men he had slain,

and the humiliation of the children he had orphaned.

فكم بها وحولها من أغلفِ

تَهمي عليه الدمعَ عينُ الأَسْقفِ

How many uncircumcised men lay there and around it,

over whom the bishop's eye poured tears!

وكم بها حَقَّرَ من كنائسِ

بدَّلتِ الآذانَ بالنّواقِسِ

How many churches he humbled there,

which had exchanged the call to prayer for bells!

يَبكي لها النَّاقُوسُ والصَّليبُ

كلاهما فرضٌ لهُ النَّحيبُ

Bell and cross wept for them,

each bound to lamentation.

وانصرفَ الإمامُ بالنَّجاحِ

والنصرِ والتّأييدِ والفَلاحِ

The imam departed with success,

victory, divine support, and prosperity.

ثمَّ ثَنى الراياتِ في طريقهِ

إلى بني ذي النونِ من توفيقهِ

Then he turned the banners along his route

toward the sons of Dhu al-Nun, through his good fortune.

فأصبحُوا من بَسطهم في قَبْضِ

قد ألصقت خدودُهم بالأرضِ

Their former freedom became constraint,

their cheeks pressed against the earth,

حتى بَدَوْا إليه بالبرهانِ

من أكبرِ الآباءِ والوِلْدانِ

until they appeared before him with proofs,

from the greatest fathers and sons.

فالحمدُ للَّهِ على تأييده

حمداً كثيراً وعلى تسديدهِ

Praise belongs to God for His support,

abundant praise, and for His right guidance.

ثمَّ غَزا بيُمنهِ أشُونَا

وقد أشادُوا حولها حُصونا

Then, with his good fortune, he attacked Ashuna,

around which they had raised fortresses.

وحَفَّها بالخيلِ والرّجالِ

وقاتَلوهُم أبلغَ القِتالِ

He surrounded it with cavalry and infantry,

and they fought them with utmost fighting.

حتى إذا ما عاينُوا الهلاكا

تَبادروا بالطَّوعِ حينذاكا

When they saw destruction,

they hastened then to obedience.

وأَسلمُوا حِصْنَهُمُ المَنيعا

وسَمحوا بِخَرجِهم خُضوعا

They surrendered their impregnable fortress,

and yielded their tribute submissively.

وقبلَهم في هذه الغَزاةِ

قد هُدِّمتْ مَعاقلُ العُصاةِ

Before them, in this campaign,

the rebels' strongholds had been demolished.

وأحكم الإمامُ في تدبيرهِ

على بني هابلَ في مَسيرهِ

The imam made firm arrangements

against the sons of Habil along his march.

إذ حُبسوا مراقباً عليهم

حتى أَتَوا بكلِّ ما لديهمُ

They were confined under watch

until they brought everything they had:

من البَنين والعِيالِ والحشمْ

وكُلِّ من لاذَ بهمْ من الخَدَمْ

sons, dependents, and retainers,

and every servant who sought their protection.

فَهبَطُوا من أَجمَعِ البُلدانِ

وأُسكنُوا مدينةَ السّلطانِ

They descended from all the towns,

and were settled in the sovereign's city.

فكانَ في آخرِ هذا العامِ

بعد خُضوعِ الكُفرِ للإِسلامِ

At the end of that year,

after unbelief had submitted to Islam,

مَشاهدٌ من أَعظمِ المَشاهِدِ

عَلى يَدَي عبد الحميدِ القائدِ

came encounters among the greatest encounters,

at the hands of the commander Abd al-Hamid,

لمّا غَزا إلى بني ذي النُّونِ

فكانَ فتحا ًلم يَكُن بالدُّونِ

when he campaigned against the sons of Dhu al-Nun:

a conquest that was no small thing.

إذ جَاوزوا في الظُّلْمِ والطُّغيانِ

بقَتْلهم لعامِلِ السُّلطانِ

They had exceeded bounds in injustice and tyranny

by killing the sovereign's governor.

وحاولُوا الدُّخولَ في الأَذيَّه

حَتى غَزاهُمْ أَنجدُ البريَّه

They attempted to embark upon harm,

until the bravest of creation attacked them.

فعاقَهُم عَنْ كلَّ ما رَجَوْهُ

بنَقْضه كُلَّ الذي بَنَوْهُ

He prevented all they hoped for

by undoing everything they had built,

وضَبْطِهِ الحِصْنَ العَظيمَ الشّانِ

أَشتبينَ بالرَّجْل وبالفُرسانِ

and securing the imposing fortress

of Ashtabin with infantry and horsemen.

ثمّ مَضى اللّيثُ إليهم زحفاً

يَختطِفُ الأَرواحَ منْهم خَطْفا

Then the lion advanced against them,

snatching their souls away.

فَانهزموا هزيمةً لم تُرْفَدَا

وَأَسْلموا صِنْوَهُمُ مُحمّدا

They suffered a defeat without relief,

and abandoned their kinsman Muhammad,

وغَيرَهُ مِن أَوْجُهِ الفُرسانِ

مُغرَّب في مأتمِ الغِرْبانِ

and others among the foremost horsemen,

cast away at the ravens' funeral,

مُقطَّعَ الأَوصالِ بالسَّنابِكِ

من بعدِ ما مُزّقٍ بالنَّيازِكِ

their limbs severed by hooves,

after being torn apart by short spears.

ثمّ لجُوا إلى طِلاب الأَمنِ

وبَذْلهم ودَائعاً من رَهْنِ

Then they pressed toward seeking security,

offering pledges as hostages.

فَقُبضتْ رِهانُهُمْ وأُمِّنوا

وأَنْفَضوا رُؤوسَهُم وأَذْعُنوا

Their hostages were received and they were granted safety;

they shook their heads and submitted.

ثمّ مَضى القائدُ بالتأييدِ

والنَّصر في ذِي العَرْش والتَّسديدِ

Then the commander advanced with divine support,

victory through the Lord of the Throne, and guidance,

حتى أتى حِصْنَ بني عِمارَهْ

والحرْبُ بالتَّدْبير والإدَارَهْ

until he reached the sons of Imara's fortress:

war depends upon planning and management.

فافتتحَ الحِصْنَ وخَلَّى صاحِبهْ

وأَمَّنَ النَّاسَ جميعاً جانِبَهْ

He captured the fortress and released its master,

and made everyone safe from his quarter.

لم يَغْزُ فيها وغَزَتْ قُوَّادُهُ

واعتَوَرت بِبُشترا أجنادُهُ

He did not campaign that year; his commanders did,

and his armies attacked Bubashtar in succession.

فكلُّهم أَبلَى وأَغنَى واكتَفى

وكُلُّهم شَفَى الصُّدورَ واشْتَفى

Each fought valiantly, rendered service, and sufficed;

each relieved hearts and found relief.

ثمّ تلاهُمْ بعدُ ليثُ الغيلِ

عبدُ الحميد من بني بسيلِ

Then the lion of the thicket followed them,

Abd al-Hamid of the sons of Basil.

هو الَّذِي قامَ مقامَ الضَّيغَمِ

وجاءَ في غَزاتِهِ بالصَّيلَمِ

He took the mighty lion's place,

and brought devastation from his campaign:

برأسِ جالوتِ النِّفاقِ وَالحَسدْ

مَن جُمِّع الخِنزيرُ فيه والأَسدْ

the head of hypocrisy and envy's Goliath,

in whom swine and lion were combined.

فهاكَهُ مع صَحبهِ في عِدَّه

مُصلَّبين عند بابِ السُّدَّه

There he is, with a company of his companions,

crucified at the palace gate.

قَدِ امتطى مَطيّةً لا تَبرحُ

صائمةً قائمةً لا تَرْمَحُ

He has mounted a beast that never moves,

fasting, standing, never kicking;

مطيَّةً إنْ يَعْرُها انْكسارُ

يُطِبُّها النَّجَّارُ لا البيطارُ

a beast which, if it suffers a break,

the carpenter treats, not the veterinarian.

كأَنَّه من فَوقها أسْوَارُ

عيناهُ في كِلتيهما مِسمارُ

Upon it he resembles a mounted warrior,

a nail in each of his eyes,

مباشِراً للشَّمسِ والرِّياحِ

على جودٍ غير ذي جِماحِ

exposed directly to sun and winds,

upon a steed with no unruliness.

يقولُ للخاطرِ بالطَّريقِ

قولَ مُحبٍّ ناصِحٍ شَفِيقِ

He says to the passerby on the road

what a loving, sincere, compassionate adviser says:

هذا مقامُ خادمِ الشّيطانِ

ومَن عَصى خليفَةَ الرحمنِ

'This is the station of Satan's servant,

and of whoever disobeys the All-Merciful's caliph.'

فما رأينا واعظاً لا يَنْطِقُ

أصدقَ منه في الّذِي لا يَصدقُ

We have seen no preacher who does not speak

more truthful than he in what is hard to believe.

فقُلْ لمن غُرَّ بسُوءِ رائِهِ

يَمُتْ إذا شاءَ بمثلِ دائِهِ

Tell whoever is deceived by his evil judgment:

let him die, if he wishes, of a similar disease.

كم مارقٍ مضَى وكمْ مُنافِقِ

قدِ ارتقى في مِثلِ ذاكَ الحالِقِ

How many renegades departed, how many hypocrites

ascended a height like that one,

وعادَ وهوَ في العَصا مُصلَّبُ

ورأَسُهُ في جِذْعهِ مُركَّبُ

and returned crucified upon a pole,

their heads mounted upon its trunk!

فكيفَ لا يَعتبرُ المخالفُ

بحالِ من تَطلبهُ الخلائفُ

How does the dissenter fail to take warning

from the condition of those pursued by caliphs?

أما تَراهُ في هَوانٍ يرتَعُ

معتبراً لمن يرى ويسمعُ

Do you not see him dwelling in humiliation,

a warning to whoever sees and hears?

فيها غَزا مُعتزماً بِبُشترا

فجالَ في ساحَتها ودمَّرا

That year he resolutely attacked Bubashtar,

ranged through its grounds, and devastated it.

ثمَّ غزا طَلْجيرةً إليها

وهي الشجَى من بين أَخدعَيْها

Then he campaigned toward Taljaira,

the choking thorn between its two neck-veins.

وامتدَّها بابنِ السَّليم راتبا

مشمِّراً عن ساقهِ مُحاربا

He reinforced it with Ibn al-Salim stationed there,

baring his leg and making war,

حتّى رأى حَفْصٌ سبيلَ رُشدِهِ

بعد بُلوغِ غايةٍ من جُهدِهِ

until Hafs saw the path of right guidance,

after reaching the limit of his exertion.

فدانَ لِلإمام قصداً خاضعاً

وأَسلَم الحِصنَ إليه طائعا

He deliberately submitted to the imam, humbly,

and willingly surrendered the fortress to him.

لم يَغْزُ فيها وانتحَى بِبُشترا

فَرمَّها بما رأى ودبّرا

He did not campaign that year, but made for Bubashtar,

repairing it as he judged and planned.

واحتلَّها بالعزِّ والتَّمكِينِ

ومحْوِ آثارِ بني حَفْصونِ

He occupied it with might and firm establishment,

erasing the traces of the sons of Hafsun.

وعاضَها الإصلاحَ من فسادهمْ

وطَهَّرَ القبورَ من أجسادِهمْ

He replaced their corruption with reform,

and cleansed the graves of their bodies,

حتّى خَلا مَلْحودُ كلِّ قبرِ

مِن كلِّ مُرتَدٍّ عظيمِ الكُفْرِ

until every grave's niche was emptied

of every apostate of immense unbelief:

عصابةٌ مِن شيعةِ الشَّيطانِ

عدوَّةٌ ِللَّهِ والسّلطانِ

a band belonging to Satan's faction,

hostile to God and the sovereign.

فَخُرِّمَتْ أجسادُها تخرُّما

وأصليتْ أرواحُهم جَهنَّما

Their bodies were utterly torn apart,

and their souls consigned to hell.

ووجَّه الإمامُ في ذا العام

عبد الحميدِ وهو كالضِّرغامِ

That year the imam dispatched

Abd al-Hamid, who was like a lion,

إلى ابن داودَ الّذِي تَقلَّعا

في جَبلَيْ شَذُونَةٍ تمنَّعا

against Ibn Dawud, who had fortified himself

in Shadhuna's two mountains, seeking protection.

فحطَّه منها إلى البسيطِ

كطائرٍ آذنَ بالسُّقوطِ

He brought him down from them to the plain,

like a bird announcing its fall.

ثمَّ أتى بِهِ إلى الإمامِ

إلى وفيِّ العَهدِ والذِّمامِ

Then he brought him to the imam,

faithful to covenant and protection.

وبعد سَبع عَشرةٍ وفيها

غزا بَطَلْيُوسَ وما يليها

After seventeen—and during it—

he attacked Batalyus and its surroundings.

فلم يزَلْ يَسومُها بالخسْفِ

ويَنْتحيها بسُيوفِ الحَتْفِ

He continued subjecting it to humiliation,

and assailing it with swords of death,

حتى إذا ما ضَمَّ جانِبَيْها

مُحاصِراً ثم بنَى علَيْها

until he had enclosed its two sides,

besieging it, then building against it.

خلَّى ابنَ إِسحاقٍ عليها راتبا

مُثابراً في حَرْبهِ مُواظِبا

He left Ibn Ishaq permanently stationed over it,

persistent and constant in his warfare.

ومَرَّ يَسْتَقصي حُصونَ الغَرْبِ

ويَبتليها بوَبيلِ الحَرْبِ

He went on examining the western fortresses,

trying them with war's grievous force,

حتّى قَضَى مِنهُنَّ كُلَّ حاجَهْ

وافتُتحَتْ أَكْشُونَبه وباجّه

until he accomplished every purpose concerning them,

and Akshunuba and Baja were conquered.

وبعد فتْح الغَرْبِ واستِقصائهِ

وحَسْمِه الأدواءَ من أَعدائِهِ

After conquering and thoroughly exploring the west,

and cutting away his enemies' maladies,

لجَّت بَطلْيوسُ على نِفاقِها

وغَرَّها اللَّجاجُ من مُرَّاقِها

Batalyus persisted in its hypocrisy,

deceived by its renegades' obstinacy.

حتّى إذا شَافَهَتِ الحُتوفا

وشامَتِ الرِّماحَ و السُّيوفا

When it faced deaths directly,

and beheld the spears and swords,

دعا ابنُ مَروان إلى السُّلطانِ

وجاءَه بالعَهْدِ والأمانِ

Ibn Marwan called for the sovereign,

who came to him with covenant and security.

فصارَ في تَوسِعةِ الإمامِ

وساكناً في قُبَّةِ الإسلامِ

He entered the imam's generous protection,

dwelling beneath Islam's canopy.

فيها غَزا بِعْزمِهِ طُلَيْطلَهْ

وامتنعوا بمَعْقلٍ لا مِثلَ لَهْ

That year he resolutely attacked Tulaytula,

whose people sheltered in a matchless stronghold,

حتى بَنى جرنكشه بجَنبها

حِصْناً منيعاً كافلاً بحَرْبها

until he built Jarnakasha beside it,

an impregnable fortress ensuring war against it.

وشدَّها بابن سَليمٍ قائدا

مُجالداً لأَهلها مُجاهدا

He tightened pressure with Ibn Salim as commander,

fighting its people and striving in holy war.

فجاسَها في طُولِ ذاكَ العامِ

بالخسْفِ والنَّسفِ وضَرْبِ الهامِ

He ranged through it throughout that year,

with humiliation, destruction, and blows to heads.

ثمّ أتى رِدْفاً له دُرِّيُّ

في عسكرٍ قضاؤهُ مَقْضيُّ

Then Durri came as his reinforcement,

with an army whose outcome was decreed.

فحاصروها عامَ تسعَ عشْرَهْ

بكلِّ مَحْبُوكِ القُوى ذي مرَّه

They besieged it in year nineteen,

with every strongly built, powerful warrior.

ثمّ أَتاهم بعدُ بالرِّجالِ

فقاتلوهم أَبلغَ القِتالِ

Then he came afterward with more men,

and they fought them with utmost fighting.

حتّى إذا ما سَلفت شُهورُ

من عامِ عشْرينَ لها ثُبورُ

When months had passed

of year twenty, bringing its ruin,

ألقَتْ يدَيها للإمامِ طائعَهْ

واستَسلَمَت قَسراً إليه باخِعَه

it willingly offered both hands to the imam,

and surrendered to him forcibly, submissively.

فَأَذعَنَتْ وقَبلَها لم تُذْعنِ

ولم تَقُد منْ نَفْسها وتُمكنِ

It yielded, though previously it had not yielded,

nor submitted of its own accord and granted control,

ولم تَدِنْ لربِّها بِدِينِ

سبعاً وسَبعين منَ السِّنينِ

nor obeyed its lord in allegiance,

for seventy-seven years.

ومُبتدى عشرينَ مات الحاجبْ

مُوسى الذي كانَ الشهابَ الثاقبْ

At the beginning of year twenty, the chamberlain died:

Musa, who had been the piercing meteor.

وبَرزَ الإمامُ بالتأييدِ

في عُدَّةٍ منهُ وفي عَديدِ

The imam marched out with divine support,

equipped and accompanied by numerous men,

صَمْداً إلى المدينةِ اللعينَه

أتعسَها الرّحمنُ من مَدينَه

aiming straight for the accursed city:

may the All-Merciful make it most wretched!

مدينةُ الشِّقاق والنِّفاقِ

وموئِلِ الفُسَّاق والمُرَّاقِ

The city of discord and hypocrisy,

the refuge of sinners and renegades.

حتّى إذا ما كانَ مِنها بالأمم

وقد ذَكا حَرُّ الهَجير واحتدَمُ

When he came within easy reach of it,

and the midday heat blazed fiercely,

أتاهُ واليها وأَشياخُ البَلدْ

مُسْتَسلمين للإمام المُعتمدْ

its governor and the town's elders approached,

submitting to the trusted imam.

فَوافَقُوا الرَّحبَ من الإمامِ

وأُنزلوا في البِرِّ والإكرامِ

They encountered the imam's welcome,

and were received with kindness and honor.

ووجَّه الإمامُ في الظَّهيرَه

خَيلاً لكي تدخلَ في الجَزِيرَه

At midday the imam dispatched

cavalry to enter the island:

جَريدةٌ قائِدُها دريُّ

يَلمعُ في مُتونِها الماذِيُّ

a light detachment commanded by Durri,

polished armor gleaming upon its backs,

جريدةٌ في وَعْرِها وسَهلها

وذاكَ حينَ غفلةٍ من أَهلها

a detachment through its rough and level ground,

while its inhabitants were heedless.

ولم يكُن للقومِ من دفاعِ

بخَيلِ درّيٍّ ولا امتناعِ

The people had no means of defense

against Durri's cavalry, nor resistance.

وقوَّضَ الإمام عند ذلكا

وقلبُه صَبٌّ بما هُنالكا

The imam broke camp at that moment,

his heart eager for what lay there.

حتى إذا ما حَلَّ في المدينَه

وأهلُها ذليلةٌ مَهينَهْ

When he entered the city,

its people abased and humiliated,

أقْمَعها بالخيل والرّجالِ

من غيرِ ما حربٍ ولا قِتالِ

he subdued it with cavalry and infantry,

without war or fighting.

وكان من أوَّل شيءٍ نظرا

فيه وما رَوى له ودبّرا

Among the first things he considered,

reflected upon, and planned,

تَهدُّمٌ لِبابِها والسُّورِ

وكانَ ذاك أحسنَ التّدبيرِ

was demolishing its gate and wall:

that was the finest planning.

حتّى إذا صيَّرها بَراحا

وعاينوا حريمَها مُباحا

When he had made it open ground,

and they saw its precincts exposed,

أقرَّ بالتَّشييدِ والتَّأسيسِ

في الجبَلِ النَّامي إلى عَمروسِ

he ordered construction and foundations

on the hill associated with Amrus.

حتّى استوى فيا بناءٌ مُحكمُ

فحَلَّه عاملُه والحشمُ

When it stood complete—what a sturdy building!—

his governor and retainers occupied it.

فعِندَ ذاكَ أَسلَمَت واستسلمت

مدينةُ الدِّماء بعدما عَنَتْ

Then it yielded and surrendered,

the city of blood, after being humbled.

فيها مَضى عبدُ الحميد مُلتئمْ

في أهبةٍ وعُدَّةٍ من الحَشَمْ

That year Abd al-Hamid advanced fully assembled,

with readiness and a force of retainers,

حتّى أتى الحصنَ الّذي تقلَّعا

يحيى بن ذي النُّون به وامتنعا

until he reached the fortress where

Yahya ibn Dhu al-Nun had fortified himself and resisted.

فحطَّه من هَضَباتِ ولبِ

من غيرِ تعْنيتٍ وغيرِ حَرْبِ

He brought him down from Walb's heights,

without hardship or warfare,

إلَّا بتَرْغيبٍ له في الطاعَهْ

وفي الدخولِ مَدْخلَ الجماعَهْ

only encouraging him toward obedience

and entry into the united community,

حتّى أتى بهِ الإمامَ راغبا

في الصَّفح عن ذُنوبهِ وتائبا

until he brought him to the imam, desiring

pardon for his sins and repenting.

فصفحَ الإمامُ عن جنايتِهْ

وقَبِلَ المبذولَ من إنابتِهْ

The imam pardoned his offense,

and accepted the repentance he offered.

وردَّه إلى الحُصونِ ثانياً

مُسجّلاً له علَيها والِيا

He sent him back again to the fortresses,

formally appointing him their governor.

ثمَّ غزا الإمامُ ذو المَجدَينِ

في مُبتدا عشرينَ واثنتينِ

Then the imam of two glories campaigned

at the beginning of twenty-two,

في فَيلقٍ مُجمهَرٍ لُهامِ

مُدَكدِكِ الرّؤوسِ والأكامِ

with a vast, massed army,

crushing heads and hillocks.

حافُ الرُّبى لزَحْفِه تَجيشُ

تَجيشُ في حافاتهِ الجيوشُ

The hills' edges surged at its advance;

armies surged along its flanks.

كأَنَّهم جِنٌّ على سَعالي

وكُلُّهم أمضَى منَ الرِّئبالِ

They seemed like jinn riding she-demons,

each more formidable than a lion.

فاقتحموا مُلوندةً ورومَهْ

ومن حَواليها حصونُ حيمه

They stormed Mulunda and Ruma,

and the fortresses of Hima around them,

حتَّى أتاهُ المَارقُ التّجيبي

مُستجدياً كالتائِب المُنيبِ

until the Tujibi renegade approached him,

seeking favor like a repentant penitent.

فخصَّه الإمامُ بالتّرحيبِ

والصَّفحِ والغُفرانِ للذُّنوبِ

The imam singled him out for welcome,

pardon, and forgiveness of sins.

ثمّ حَباهُ وكَساهُ ووَصَلْ

بشاحجٍ وصاهلٍ لا يُمْتَثلْ

Then he bestowed gifts, clothing, and bounty,

a braying mule and neighing horse without equal,

كلاهُما من مَرْكبِ الخَلائفِ

في حِلْيةٍ تُعْجِزُ وصفَ الواصفِ

both from the caliphs' own mounts,

in adornment beyond a describer's description.

وقال كُن منَّا وأوطنْ قُرْطبه

نُدنيكَ فيها من أجلِّ مَرْتبه

He said, 'Join us and settle in Qurtuba;

we will bring you to the highest rank there.

تكنْ وزيراً أَعظمَ الناسِ خَطَرْ

وقائداً تَجبي لنا هذا الثَّغَرْ

Become a minister of the greatest standing,

and a commander collecting this frontier's revenue for us.'

فقال أنّي ناقِهٌ من عِلَّتي

وقد تَرى تغيُّري وصُفْرتي

He said, 'I am recovering from my illness,

and you see my altered appearance and pallor.

فإن رأيتَ سيّدي إمْهالي

حتّى أرمَّ من صَلاحِ حالي

If you think fit, my lord, grant me time

until I restore my condition to health.

ثمَّ أُوافيكَ على استِعجالِ

بالأهلِ والأَولادِ والعِيالِ

Then I will come to you swiftly,

with family, children, and dependents.'

وأَوثَقَ الإمامَ بالعهودِ

وجَعَلَ اللَّهَ منَ الشُّهودِ

He bound himself to the imam with pledges,

and made God one of the witnesses.

فَقبِلَ الإمامُ من أَيمانِهِ

وردَّه عفواً إلى مكانِهِ

The imam accepted his oaths,

and pardoned him, returning him to his place.

ثم أَتتهُ ربَّةُ البَشاقصِ

تُدْلي إِليه بالودادِ الخالصِ

Then the lady of the Bashaqis came to him,

offering sincere affection,

وأَنّها مُرْسلةٌ من عنده

وجَدّها متّصلٌ بجَدِّهِ

saying she had been sent from his presence,

and her grandfather was connected with his.

واكتفلتْ بكُلِّ بَنْبلوني

وأَطلقت أَسرى بني ذي النُّونِ

She stood surety for every Pamplonan,

and released the sons of Dhu al-Nun's captives.

فأَوعدَ الإِمامُ في تَأمينها

ونَكَّبَ العسكرَ عن حُصونها

The imam pledged her security,

and diverted the army from her fortresses.

ثمّ مَضَى بالعزِّ والتَّمكينِ

وناصراً لأهلِ هذا الدِّينِ

Then he advanced with might and firm dominion,

championing the people of this religion,

في جُملة الرّاياتِ والعساكرِ

وفي رِجال الصَّبرِ والبَصائرِ

amid the banners and armies,

and men of endurance and insight,

إِلى عِدَى اللّهِ منَ الجلالِقِ

وعابدِي المَخلوقِ دونَ الخالقِ

against God's enemies among the Galicians,

worshippers of the created rather than the Creator.

فدمَّروا السُّهولَ والقِلاعا

وهَتكوا الرُّبوعَ والرِّباعا

They devastated plains and strongholds,

and violated settlements and dwellings.

وخَرَّبوا الحُصونَ والمَدائِنا

وأَقفروا من أهلها المَساكِنا

They ruined fortresses and cities,

and emptied homes of their inhabitants.

فليسَ في الدِّيارِ من ديّارِ

ولا بها من نافخٍ للنَّارِ

No inhabitant remained in the dwellings,

nor anyone there to blow upon a fire.

فغادروا عُمْرانَها خرابا

وبَدَّلوا رُبوعها يَبابا

They left its inhabited places ruined,

and turned its settlements into wasteland.

وبالقِلاعِ أَحْرقوا الحُصونا

وأَسْخَنوا من أَهلها العيونا

In the strongholds they burned the fortresses,

and brought tears to their inhabitants' eyes.

ثمّ ثنى الإمامُ من عِنانِهِ

وقد شَفى الشَّجيَّ من أشجانِهِ

Then the imam turned his reins,

having relieved the sorrowful of their sorrows.

وأمَّنَ القفارَ من أنجاسها

وطَهَّرَ البلادَ من أرْجاسِها

He secured the deserts against their impurities,

and cleansed the lands of their defilements.