أَلَم تَرَ أنّي وَالحَوادِثُ جَمَّةٌ

أَلَم تَرَ أنّي وَالحَوادِثُ جَمَّةٌ

لَهُنَّ صُروفٌ بِالفَتى تَتَصَرَّفُ

لَهُنَّ صُروفٌ بِالفَتى تَتَصَرَّفُ

Have you not seen that I—calamities being many,

Have you not seen how I and misfortunes are closely bound,

with turns that work their changes upon a man—

With changes in fortune that sway the youth back and forth?

تَبَدَّلتُ بِالمِصر السَوادَ فَلَم يَكُن

تَبَدَّلتُ بِالمِصر السَوادَ فَلَم يَكُن

بِهِ بَدَلاً أَعتاضُ عَنهُ وَأُخلَفُ

بِهِ بَدَلاً أَعتاضُ عَنهُ وَأُخلَفُ

exchanged the city for al-Sawad, but there was no

I exchanged the darkness of Egypt, but in it

replacement there to compensate me for it and make good my loss.

There was no substitute I approved or knew well.

يُراطِنُني أَنباطهُ مِن كَلامِها

يُراطِنُني أَنباطهُ مِن كَلامِها

بِما لَيسَ مِنهُ ما أَبينُ وَأَعرِفُ

بِما لَيسَ مِنهُ ما أَبينُ وَأَعرِفُ

Its Nabataeans address me in their tongue,

Its people speak to me in words

with nothing I can distinguish or recognize.

Part of which I do not approve or recognize.

وَلا يَعرِفونَ القَولَ مِنّي كَأَنَّني

وَلا يَعرِفونَ القَولَ مِنّي كَأَنَّني

أُحاوِلُ أَعيارَ السُيوفِ وَتَكرِفُ

أُحاوِلُ أَعيارَ السُيوفِ وَتَكرِفُ

Nor do they understand my speech, as though I

And they do not understand my words, as though I

were dealing with the asses of the shores, sniffing away.

Were wielding the blades of swords clumsily.

إِذا شِئتَ أَن تَلقى اِمرَءاً ناكَ أمَّهُ

إِذا شِئتَ أَن تَلقى اِمرَءاً ناكَ أمَّهُ

وَيَزعمُ جَهلاً أَنَّ ذَلِكَ أَشرَفُ

وَيَزعمُ جَهلاً أَنَّ ذَلِكَ أَشرَفُ

If you wish to meet a man who fucked his mother,

If you wish to encounter a man whose mother did not nurture him well

and ignorantly claims that this is nobler,

And he ignorantly claims that lack of nurture ennobles him,

وَمُعتَصِمٍ لَم يَعرِفِ اللَّهَ قَلبُهُ

وَمُعتَصِمٍ لَم يَعرِفِ اللَّهَ قَلبُهُ

وَيُظهِرُ قَومٌ أَنَّهُ مُتَحَنِّفُ

وَيُظهِرُ قَومٌ أَنَّهُ مُتَحَنِّفُ

and one seeking refuge whose heart has never known God,

And whose heart does not know God though he acts piously,

though people proclaim that he professes the true faith—

While a group pretends that he is most scrupulous,

تَعَرَّوا مِنَ الأَخلاقِ إِلّا سِعايَةً

تَعَرَّوا مِنَ الأَخلاقِ إِلّا سِعايَةً

فَكُلُّهُم فيها يَخُبُّ وَيوجِفُ

فَكُلُّهُم فيها يَخُبُّ وَيوجِفُ

they have shed all virtues except malicious informing;

They have stripped themselves of all virtues except greed;

at that they all trot and gallop.

In that they all fail and transgress.

وَأَصدَقُهُم في القَولِ مَن هُوَ كاذِبٌ

وَأَصدَقُهُم في القَولِ مَن هُوَ كاذِبٌ

وَأَوفاهُمُ بِالوَعدِ مَن هُوَ مُخلِفُ

وَأَوفاهُمُ بِالوَعدِ مَن هُوَ مُخلِفُ

The most truthful among them is a liar,

The truest of them in speech is a liar,

and the most faithful to promises is a promise-breaker.

And the most faithful of them to a promise is one who breaks it.

فَلا قَدَّسَ اللَهُ الزَمانَ مَحَلّهُ

فَلا قَدَّسَ اللَهُ الزَمانَ مَحَلّهُ

وَلا زالَ عَنهُ نافِعُ الغَيثِ يُصرَفُ

وَلا زالَ عَنهُ نافِعُ الغَيثِ يُصرَفُ

So may God never, through all time, bless its abode,

God has not blessed the times with prosperity,

and may beneficial rain forever be turned away from it.

Nor has the rain's Benefactor ceased being deflected from them.

بِلادٌ يُضَرُّ الحُرُّ فيها بِنَفسِهِ

بِلادٌ يُضَرُّ الحُرُّ فيها بِنَفسِهِ

وَيُعتَبُ فيها المُسلِمُ المُتَعَفِّفُ

وَيُعتَبُ فيها المُسلِمُ المُتَعَفِّفُ

A land where the freeborn man is harmed in his own person,

It is a land that harms the free man in it

and the self-restrained Muslim is reproached.

And censures the moderate, restrained Muslim.

فَمِنها النَّجا ثُمَّ النَّجا نَحوَ بَلدَةٍ

فَمِنها النَّجا ثُمَّ النَّجا نَحوَ بَلدَةٍ

تُكَرَّمُ فيها ما أَتَيتَ وَتُتحَفُ

تُكَرَّمُ فيها ما أَتَيتَ وَتُتحَفُ

So escape it—escape again—toward a town

So escape from it, again and again, to a town

where, whenever you come, you are honored and given gifts.

Where what you bring is honored and you are treated hospitably,

بِها مِن مَواليكَ الأَقارِبِ عُصبَةٌ

بِها مِن مَواليكَ الأَقارِبِ عُصبَةٌ

تُحَدِّبُها قُربى عَلَيكَ وَتعطِفُ

تُحَدِّبُها قُربى عَلَيكَ وَتعطِفُ

There is a band of your closely related allies,

With a band of your loyal kinfolk nearby

whom kinship makes tender toward you and inclines to you.

Brought close to you through kinship and made sympathetic.

إِذا سامَكَ المَرءُ العَزيزُ ظُلامَةً

إِذا سامَكَ المَرءُ العَزيزُ ظُلامَةً

أَبَت ذاكَ أَسيافٌ وَسُمرٌ تَثَقَّفُ

أَبَت ذاكَ أَسيافٌ وَسُمرٌ تَثَقَّفُ

If a powerful man subjects you to injustice,

When a powerful man wrongs you through injustice,

swords and straightened brown spears refuse it.

That is refused by swords and poisoned blades unsheathed.

إِلى اللَّهِ أَشكو ما لَنا مِن ظُلامَةٍ

إِلى اللَّهِ أَشكو ما لَنا مِن ظُلامَةٍ

وَفي اللَّهِ لِلمَظلومِ كافٍ وَمُنصِفُ

وَفي اللَّهِ لِلمَظلومِ كافٍ وَمُنصِفُ

To God I complain of the injustice we suffer;

To God I complain of the darkness we suffer,

in God the wronged have sufficient help and a just defender.

And in God there is enough to avenge the wronged and bring justice.

تَحَيَّفنا العُمّالُ مِن كُلِّ جانِبٍ

تَحَيَّفنا العُمّالُ مِن كُلِّ جانِبٍ

وَلا يُستَطاعُ العامِلُ المُتَحَيِّفُ

وَلا يُستَطاعُ العامِلُ المُتَحَيِّفُ

The officials have encroached upon us from every side,

The governors have defrauded us from every side,

and the oppressive official cannot be resisted.

While the fraudulent official cannot be opposed.

بِكوفَتِنا والٍ عَلى صَلَواتِنا

بِكوفَتِنا والٍ عَلى صَلَواتِنا

ظَلومٌ غَشومٌ ظاهِرُ الفِسقِ مُترَفُ

ظَلومٌ غَشومٌ ظاهِرُ الفِسقِ مُترَفُ

In our Kufa there is a governor over our prayers,

In Kufa we have a ruler of our prayers

oppressive, brutal, openly sinful, steeped in luxury.

Oppressive, tyrannical, manifestly corrupt.

وَقاضٍ ضَعيفُ الحِلمِ وَالعَقلِ جاهِلٌ

وَقاضٍ ضَعيفُ الحِلمِ وَالعَقلِ جاهِلٌ

يَصُدُّ عَنِ الحَقِّ المُبينِ وَيَجنَفُ

يَصُدُّ عَنِ الحَقِّ المُبينِ وَيَجنَفُ

And an ignorant judge, weak in forbearance and reason,

And a judge weak in patience and sense, ignorant,

who bars clear truth and swerves from justice.

Who blocks the clear truth and swerves.

يُغيرُ عَلى أَموالِنا وَضِياعِنا

يُغيرُ عَلى أَموالِنا وَضِياعِنا

فَيُسعِدُهُ القاضي عَلَيها وَيَكنُفُ

فَيُسعِدُهُ القاضي عَلَيها وَيَكنُفُ

He raids our wealth and our estates,

He raids our money and estates,

and the judge backs his assaults upon them and shields him.

And the judge makes him happy with them and shelters him.

فَإِن لَفَّفَ الوالي عَلَينا شُهودَهُ

فَإِن لَفَّفَ الوالي عَلَينا شُهودَهُ

زَكا عِندَ قاضينا الشَهيدُ المُلَفَّفُ

زَكا عِندَ قاضينا الشَهيدُ المُلَفَّفُ

If the governor cobbles together his witnesses against us,

So if the governor has lined up false witnesses against us,

the cobbled-together witness is deemed upright by our judge.

They are deemed honest by our judge, manufactured as they are.

وَحُجَّتُنا لا تُقبَلُ الدَهرَ عِندَهُ

وَحُجَّتُنا لا تُقبَلُ الدَهرَ عِندَهُ

وَشاهِدُنا عَن عَمدِ عَينٍ مُوَقَّفُ

وَشاهِدُنا عَن عَمدِ عَينٍ مُوَقَّفُ

Our evidence is never accepted before him,

Our proof is never accepted by him,

and our witness is knowingly and deliberately held back.

While our witness is deliberately rendered useless.

فَرَرنا إِلى القاضي مَخافَةَ غَيرِهِ

فَرَرنا إِلى القاضي مَخافَةَ غَيرِهِ

فَكانَ مِنَ القاضي التي هِيَ أَخوَفُ

فَكانَ مِنَ القاضي التي هِيَ أَخوَفُ

We fled to the judge for fear of another,

We fled to the judge out of fear of others,

but from the judge came something more fearsome still.

But the fear of the judge turned out to be greater.

وَأَضحى عَلَينا عامِلانِ بِبابِلٍ

وَأَضحى عَلَينا عامِلانِ بِبابِلٍ

أَخو ذَنَبٍ لا خَيرَ فيهِ وَأَقلَفُ

أَخو ذَنَبٍ لا خَيرَ فيهِ وَأَقلَفُ

And two officials in Babylon have come to rule over us:

And over us in Babylon are two governors;

one with a tail and no good in him, and an uncircumcised man.

Partners in crime, no good in them, base.

فَما فيهِما إِلّا مُوارٍ خِزايَةً

فَما فيهِما إِلّا مُوارٍ خِزايَةً

هِيَ السَوأَةُ السَوآءُ إِن لَم يُكَشّفُ

هِيَ السَوأَةُ السَوآءُ إِن لَم يُكَشّفُ

Neither is anything but a man concealing a disgrace,

There is nothing in them but the bringing of disgrace—

the vilest shame, if he is not exposed.

The worst, whether revealed or concealed.

يَسيرانِ فينا سيرَةً ما أَتى بِها

يَسيرانِ فينا سيرَةً ما أَتى بِها

رَسولٌ وَلا وَحيٌ مِنَ اللَهِ يُعرَفُ

رَسولٌ وَلا وَحيٌ مِنَ اللَهِ يُعرَفُ

They deal with us in a manner never brought

They treat us in a way no messenger brought

by a messenger, nor known in revelation from God.

Or revelation from God recognized.

وَلَم يَكُ في عَهد الأَميرِ إِلَيهِما

وَلَم يَكُ في عَهد الأَميرِ إِلَيهِما

أَميرُكَ أَتقى لِلإِلَهِ وَأَنصَفُ

أَميرُكَ أَتقى لِلإِلَهِ وَأَنصَفُ

Nor was this among the prince's instructions to them;

Nor did the Commander of the Faithful instruct them,

your prince is more God-fearing and more just.

For your deputy fears God more and is more just.

وَلا اِمتَثَلا فينا سِوى بُخت نَصَّرٍ

وَلا اِمتَثَلا فينا سِوى بُخت نَصَّرٍ

فَإِنَّهُما مِنهُ لِأَعتى وَأَعسَفُ

فَإِنَّهُما مِنهُ لِأَعتى وَأَعسَفُ

Nor did they follow with us anyone but Nebuchadnezzar,

They follow none but the rebellion of Bukht Nasr;

for they are more tyrannical and oppressive even than he.

Indeed they have both relapsed into their original wickedness.

فَظاظَةَ هَذا نَشتَكيها وَعُنفهُ

فَظاظَةَ هَذا نَشتَكيها وَعُنفهُ

وَها ذاكَ مِن هَذا أَفَظُّ وَأَعنَفُ

وَها ذاكَ مِن هَذا أَفَظُّ وَأَعنَفُ

We complain of this one's harshness and violence,

Am I to wonder at 'Amr, that he became the governor,

yet that one is harsher and more violent than this.

When the latter is more wondrous in Ibn al-Nabitah's son?

أَتَعجَبُ مِن عَمرٍو لِأَن كانَ والِياً

أَتَعجَبُ مِن عَمرٍو لِأَن كانَ والِياً

وَذَلِكَ مِن اِبنِ النَبيطَةِ أَطرَفُ

وَذَلِكَ مِن اِبنِ النَبيطَةِ أَطرَفُ

Do you marvel that Amr became a governor?

There is nothing in them but a return to the wickedness of their origin,

It is stranger still in the Nabataean woman's son.

Nothing in them but swearing by it as they relapse.

وَما مِنهُما إِلّا اِرتَدى لُؤمَ أَصلِهِ

وَما مِنهُما إِلّا اِرتَدى لُؤمَ أَصلِهِ

وَما مِنهُما إِلّا بِهِ مُتَحَلِّفُ

وَما مِنهُما إِلّا بِهِ مُتَحَلِّفُ

Each has clothed himself in the meanness of his origins,

So who will convey to the Commander a message for me,

and each is bound to it by oath.

As finely constructed as speech can be arranged?

فَمَن مُبلِغٌ عَنّي الأَميرَ رِسالَةً

فَمَن مُبلِغٌ عَنّي الأَميرَ رِسالَةً

كَأَحسَنِ ما يُبنى الكَلامُ وَيُرصَفُ

كَأَحسَنِ ما يُبنى الكَلامُ وَيُرصَفُ

Who will convey from me a message to the prince,

That the two governors have done what, had you known it,

as finely built and fitted as speech can be,

Would have made you recoil from the two governors in condemnation:

بِأَن قَد أَتى العِلجانُ ما لَو عَلِمتَهُ

بِأَن قَد أَتى العِلجانُ ما لَو عَلِمتَهُ

لَنَكَّلَ بِالعِلجَينِ عِندَكَ مَوقِفُ

لَنَكَّلَ بِالعِلجَينِ عِندَكَ مَوقِفُ

that the two foreign brutes have done things which, had you known,

They have burdened the people of the estates with unbearable costs

a hearing before you would have made examples of those two brutes?

Encompassing the yields of the estates and sweeping them away.

لَقَد أَلزَما أَهلَ الضّياعِ مَؤونَةً

لَقَد أَلزَما أَهلَ الضّياعِ مَؤونَةً

تُحيطُ بِغَلّاتِ الضّياعِ وَتُجحِفُ

تُحيطُ بِغَلّاتِ الضّياعِ وَتُجحِفُ

They have imposed upon the estate-owners a burden

Transgressors of evil—evil has bound itself to them—

that consumes the estates' yields and ruins them.

As the waterskin is bound up full by the straps.

نَواصِبُ سوءٍ أَلَّفَ السّوءُ بَينَها

نَواصِبُ سوءٍ أَلَّفَ السّوءُ بَينَها

كَما ضُمَّ بِالشَعبِ الإِناءُ المُؤَلَّفُ

كَما ضُمَّ بِالشَعبِ الإِناءُ المُؤَلَّفُ

Hostile men of evil, whom evil has united,

Whenever they descend upon a village, its good fortune departs,

as a pieced-together vessel is joined by mending.

And its day darkens like an eclipsed planet.

إِذا نَزَلا في قَريَةٍ غابَ سَعدُها

إِذا نَزَلا في قَريَةٍ غابَ سَعدُها

وَيَومُها بادي الكَواكِب أَكسَفُ

وَيَومُها بادي الكَواكِب أَكسَفُ

When those two descend upon a village, its good fortune vanishes,

And a gang of thugs—God protect us from them!—

and its day is eclipsed, the stars showing.

Roam about our yields acting as they please.

وَدَبّابَةٍ لا أَحسَنَ اللَهُ حِفظَها

وَدَبّابَةٍ لا أَحسَنَ اللَهُ حِفظَها

تَظَلُّ عَلى غَلّاتِنا تَتَطَوَّفُ

تَظَلُّ عَلى غَلّاتِنا تَتَطَوَّفُ

And a crawling creature—may God never keep it safe—

Whenever they try to wring out a dirham from its place,

keeps prowling around our harvests.

A tour of duty is imposed on arms and hollow backs.

إِذا ما اِستَثارَت دِرهَماً مِن مَكانِهِ

إِذا ما اِستَثارَت دِرهَماً مِن مَكانِهِ

تَضَمَّنَهُ سَيرٌ عَلى العَضدِ أَجوَفُ

تَضَمَّنَهُ سَيرٌ عَلى العَضدِ أَجوَفُ

Whenever it stirs a dirham from its place,

And a tax collector who has already lived off our rightful due

a hollow strap upon the upper arm holds it.

Is imposed upon our wealth and given extra.

وَمُستَخلِفٍ قَد عاشَ مِن قَبلِ حَقِّهِ

وَمُستَخلِفٍ قَد عاشَ مِن قَبلِ حَقِّهِ

يُدانُ عَلى أَموالِنا وَيُسَلّفُ

يُدانُ عَلى أَموالِنا وَيُسَلّفُ

And one appointing a deputy, who has lived on his dues before their time,

When the yields approach, he can be seen

is lent money against our wealth and given advances.

Beating the faces of the peasants and exposing them.

إِذا حاوَلَ الأَرزاقُ مِنها رَأَيتَهُ

إِذا حاوَلَ الأَرزاقُ مِنها رَأَيتَهُ

يُضَرِّبُ أَبشارَ العُلوجِ وَيَكشِفُ

يُضَرِّبُ أَبشارَ العُلوجِ وَيَكشِفُ

When he seeks the stipends from it, you see him

And he deliberately angers himself so we'll fear him,

beating the foreigners' skins and baring them.

And we appeasers circle around him soothing and soothing.

وَيُغضِبُ عَمداً نَفسَهُ كَي نَخافَهُ

وَيُغضِبُ عَمداً نَفسَهُ كَي نَخافَهُ

فَنَحنُ حَوالَيهِ نُفَدّي وَنُلطِفُ

فَنَحنُ حَوالَيهِ نُفَدّي وَنُلطِفُ

He deliberately works himself into anger so that we fear him,

But appeasement will not work without a bribe

so we surround him, offering ourselves as ransom and flattering him.

That wards off some of what we are behind on.

وَلَن يَنفَعَ الإِلطافُ إِلّا بِصُرَّةٍ

وَلَن يَنفَعَ الإِلطافُ إِلّا بِصُرَّةٍ

تُدافِعُ عَنّا بَعضَ ما نَتَخَلَّفُ

تُدافِعُ عَنّا بَعضَ ما نَتَخَلَّفُ

But courting favor will avail nothing except with a purse

For the rations of the governors of districts are a sunna upon us—

that fends off some of what we lag behind in paying.

What we fear—every month of the year.

فَأَرزاقُ عَمّالِ الرَساتيقِ سُنَّةٌ

فَأَرزاقُ عَمّالِ الرَساتيقِ سُنَّةٌ

عَلَينا شُهورَ الحَولِ ما نَتَخَوَّفُ

عَلَينا شُهورَ الحَولِ ما نَتَخَوَّفُ

The stipends of the rural officials are an established levy

If they descend upon us one day, our chickens

upon us through the year's months—a thing we dread.

Are slaughtered in haste, force-fed as they are.

فَإِن نَزَلوا يَوماً بِنا فَجِداؤُنا

فَإِن نَزَلوا يَوماً بِنا فَجِداؤُنا

تُعاجَل ذَبحاً وَالدَجاجُ المُعَلَّفُ

تُعاجَل ذَبحاً وَالدَجاجُ المُعَلَّفُ

If they descend upon us one day, our goat-kids

And our sorcerers come forth from us by daybreak,

are hurried to slaughter, along with the fattened chickens.

And the two dirhams of each known man are exacted by oath.

وَيَخرُجُ مِنّا الأَشتَيامونَ سُحرَةً

وَيَخرُجُ مِنّا الأَشتَيامونَ سُحرَةً

وَيَعرِفُ ظُلماً دِرهَمَيهِ المُحَلَّفُ

وَيَعرِفُ ظُلماً دِرهَمَيهِ المُحَلَّفُ

The ashtiyam overseers depart from us at dawn,

The butcher has standards for slaughtering,

and the sworn man unjustly claims his two dirhams.

So let not his status be envied for what he refrains from.

وَلِلحازِرِ الخَرّاصِ في الحَزرِ عِفَّةٌ

وَلِلحازِرِ الخَرّاصِ في الحَزرِ عِفَّةٌ

فَلا تَهنَ لِلحَزّارِ ما يَتَعَفَّفُ

فَلا تَهنَ لِلحَزّارِ ما يَتَعَفَّفُ

The estimator, the crop-assessor, shows restraint in estimating;

And in opening the doors of the threshing floors there is mutilation

so do not weaken before the estimator while he practices restraint.

Imposed on us—and injustice from what is imposed.

وَفي فَتحِ أَبوابِ البَيادِرِ مُثلَةٌ

وَفي فَتحِ أَبوابِ البَيادِرِ مُثلَةٌ

يُكَلَّفُها وَالظُلم مِمّا يُكَلَّفُ

يُكَلَّفُها وَالظُلم مِمّا يُكَلَّفُ

There is punishment in opening the threshing-floor gates,

And no band of extortionists has left us;

which he is made to bear; oppression is among his burdens.

They attack us with torture and violence.

وَما فارَقَتنا في الدِياسِ عِصابَةٌ

وَما فارَقَتنا في الدِياسِ عِصابَةٌ

تَلُجُّ عَلَينا بِالعَذابِ وَتَعنُفُ

تَلُجُّ عَلَينا بِالعَذابِ وَتَعنُفُ

Throughout the threshing, a gang never leaves us,

And when the yields arrived, our hearts said:

persisting in tormenting us and treating us harshly.

We are sick to death of the yields and their squandering.

وَلَمّا أَتى الغَلّات قالَت قُلوبُنا

وَلَمّا أَتى الغَلّات قالَت قُلوبُنا

كُلومٌ مِنَ الغَلّاتِ ما تَتَهَرَّفُ

كُلومٌ مِنَ الغَلّاتِ ما تَتَهَرَّفُ

And when he came for the harvests, our hearts said:

They divided our food with fraudulent measures,

'Wounds from the harvests!'—no ignorant babbling.

And their bushel within was a folded-up basket.

وَقَد قَسَموا بِالتُرَّهاتِ طَعامَنا

وَقَد قَسَموا بِالتُرَّهاتِ طَعامَنا

وَكَيلُهُمُ في القَلبِ سَردٌ مُطَفَّفُ

وَكَيلُهُمُ في القَلبِ سَردٌ مُطَفَّفُ

They have apportioned our grain by empty pretexts,

Then they came back at us taking deductions,

and, in the heart, their measuring is a chain of short measures.

So look, you who saw our vineyards, how they are leveled!

وَعادوا عَلَينا آخِذينَ نَقائِصاً

وَعادوا عَلَينا آخِذينَ نَقائِصاً

فَيا مَن رَأى كَرماتِنا كَيفَ تُنسَفُ

فَيا مَن رَأى كَرماتِنا كَيفَ تُنسَفُ

They return against us, taking deductions;

The measurer took many times his wage

O you who have seen how our vines are uprooted!

Except for some chaff that was on the ground, which was doubled.

وَقَد أَخَذَ الكَيّالُ أَضعافَ أَجرِهِ

وَقَد أَخَذَ الكَيّالُ أَضعافَ أَجرِهِ

سِوى بَهمَةٍ كانَت عَلى الأَرضِ تَضعُفُ

سِوى بَهمَةٍ كانَت عَلى الأَرضِ تَضعُفُ

The measurer has taken many times his wage,

So nothing remains for the farmer but bits of straw—

besides a lamb that was growing weak upon the ground.

He keeps standing over it moaning with longing.

فَلَم يَبقَ لِلحَرّاثِ إِلّا حُثالَةٌ

فَلَم يَبقَ لِلحَرّاثِ إِلّا حُثالَةٌ

يَظَلُّ لَدَيها قائِماً يَتَلَهَّفُ

يَظَلُّ لَدَيها قائِماً يَتَلَهَّفُ

Nothing remains for the plowman but dregs;

And a produce collector who is given his contracted portion of the bushel,

he keeps standing beside them, lamenting.

Else the document is thrown in his face.

وَمُستَخرِجٍ يُعطى مِنَ الكَيلِ شَرطَهُ

وَمُستَخرِجٍ يُعطى مِنَ الكَيلِ شَرطَهُ

وَإِلّا فَإِنَّ الصَكَّ في الوَجهِ يُقذَفُ

وَإِلّا فَإِنَّ الصَكَّ في الوَجهِ يُقذَفُ

And a tax collector is given his stipulated share of the measured grain;

And for the money-changing scoundrel there are seventy-five in thousands—

otherwise a blow is hurled into one's face.

Willful exactions piled up on us.

وَلِلجَهبَذِ الصَرّافِ لِلأَلفِ خَمسَةٌ

وَلِلجَهبَذِ الصَرّافِ لِلأَلفِ خَمسَةٌ

وَسَبعونَ مِنّا وافِياتٌ وَنَيَّفُ

وَسَبعونَ مِنّا وافِياتٌ وَنَيَّفُ

And the assayer, the money-changer, gets for each thousand five

And corrupt scribes—if you ask them to account

and seventy full-weight coins from us, and more.

And do not proffer the filth of your money, they delay.

وَكُتّابِ سوءٍ إِن سَأَلتَ حِسابَهُم

وَكُتّابِ سوءٍ إِن سَأَلتَ حِسابَهُم

وَلَم تُرِهِم أَوساخَ نَقدِكَ سَوَّفوا

وَلَم تُرِهِم أَوساخَ نَقدِكَ سَوَّفوا

And evil scribes—if you ask for their accounts

The governor of Futuh's conquests levies taxes on us,

without showing them the filth of your money, they stall.

Upbraiding late payment and using violence.

وَوالي فُتوحٍ يَجتَبينا ضَرائِباً

وَوالي فُتوحٍ يَجتَبينا ضَرائِباً

يُؤَنِّبُ في إِبطائِها وَيُعَنِّفُ

يُؤَنِّبُ في إِبطائِها وَيُعَنِّفُ

And a governor over the conquests extracts taxes from us,

When we pay the tax due him,

rebuking their delay and treating us harshly.

He returns to demand another, doubling it.

إِذا نَحنُ أَدَّينا إِلَيهِ ضَريبَةً

إِذا نَحنُ أَدَّينا إِلَيهِ ضَريبَةً

يَعودُ لِأُخرى يَقتَضيها فَيُلحِفُ

يَعودُ لِأُخرى يَقتَضيها فَيُلحِفُ

When we pay him a tax,

We are nothing but a pack animal to Ibn al-Fath,

he returns for another, demanding it insistently.

Loaded with the burdens of vile men and branded.

فَما نَحنُ لِاِبنِ الفَتحِ إِلّا حَمولَةٌ

فَما نَحنُ لِاِبنِ الفَتحِ إِلّا حَمولَةٌ

تُحَمَّلُ أَعباءَ الصَغارِ وَتوكَفُ

تُحَمَّلُ أَعباءَ الصَغارِ وَتوكَفُ

To Ibn al-Fath we are nothing but beasts of burden,

The governor of the environs collects our alms tax

loaded with the burdens of humiliation and saddled.

While among the riffraff are those unknown.

وَوالي حَوالى يَجتَبي صَدَقاتِنا

وَوالي حَوالى يَجتَبي صَدَقاتِنا

لَدَيهِ مِنَ النَكراءِ ما لَيسَ يُعرَفُ

لَدَيهِ مِنَ النَكراءِ ما لَيسَ يُعرَفُ

And a governor of the surrounding districts collects our alms-tax;

He gives alms to the unbelievers in God—a sunna

he commits unheard-of abominations.

Violating what a messenger and scripture prescribe.

يُصَدّقُ أَهلَ الكُفرِ بِاللَهِ سُنَّةً

يُصَدّقُ أَهلَ الكُفرِ بِاللَهِ سُنَّةً

يُخالِفُهُ فيها رَسولٌ وَمُصحَفُ

يُخالِفُهُ فيها رَسولٌ وَمُصحَفُ

He levies alms-tax on those who disbelieve in God, as a custom

And he imposes the jizya tax on those who do not deny God,

in which the Messenger and the Qur'an oppose him.

Which is manifest, evident oppression.

وَيُلزِمُ مَن لَم يَكفُرِ اللَّهَ جِزيَةً

وَيُلزِمُ مَن لَم يَكفُرِ اللَّهَ جِزيَةً

وَذَلِكَ ظُلمٌ ظاهِرٌ مُتَكَشِّفُ

وَذَلِكَ ظُلمٌ ظاهِرٌ مُتَكَشِّفُ

He imposes a poll-tax on those who have not disbelieved in God,

His only excuse is his reliance for judgment

and that is manifest, plainly exposed injustice.

On partisan affairs driving him into transgression.

وَلا عُذرَ إِلّا مِن أُمورٍ مَعونة

وَلا عُذرَ إِلّا مِن أُمورٍ مَعونة

عَلى الخَصمِ في أَحكامِهِ يَتَعَجرَفُ

عَلى الخَصمِ في أَحكامِهِ يَتَعَجرَفُ

And no excuse, save matters of assistance

You see him in his shop shifting about

against the litigant; in his judgments he acts arrogantly.

Spying on whoever comes to him and taking note.

تَراهُ عَلى دُكّانِهِ مُتَقَلِّباً

تَراهُ عَلى دُكّانِهِ مُتَقَلِّباً

يُراصِدُ مَن يَسعى إِلَيهِ وَيَعرِفُ

يُراصِدُ مَن يَسعى إِلَيهِ وَيَعرِفُ

You see him shifting about upon his dais,

A clown—when there is quarreling between us

watching those who hasten to him and recognizing them.

And in our peace binding up his belly fat.

بَطينٌ إِذا كانَ التَّشاحُنُ بَينَنا

بَطينٌ إِذا كانَ التَّشاحُنُ بَينَنا

وَفي سِلمِنا طاوي الخَواصِرِ أَهيَفُ

وَفي سِلمِنا طاوي الخَواصِرِ أَهيَفُ

He is big-bellied when there is strife among us,

He judges without knowing, rules without knowing,

but in our peace, hollow-flanked and slender.

Like the blind at night groping randomly.

يُصيبُ وَما يَدري وَيُخطي وَما دَرى

يُصيبُ وَما يَدري وَيُخطي وَما دَرى

كَما تَخبِطُ العَشواءُ وَاللَيلُ مُسدِفُ

كَما تَخبِطُ العَشواءُ وَاللَيلُ مُسدِفُ

He gets it right without knowing, and errs without realizing,

When he raises the banners and his shadow shakes,

as the dim-sighted she-camel blunders when night is dark.

And the vast land quakes with him,

إِذا نَشَرَ الأَعلامَ وَاِرتَجَّ ظِلُّهُ

إِذا نَشَرَ الأَعلامَ وَاِرتَجَّ ظِلُّهُ

وَظَلَّت بِهِ الأَرضُ العَريضَةُ تَرجُفُ

وَظَلَّت بِهِ الأَرضُ العَريضَةُ تَرجُفُ

When he unfurls the banners and his shadow shakes,

The caravans of Bakr ibn Wa'il are miserable,

and the broad earth keeps trembling beneath him,

Drenched by the stirring ladle of thick pouring.

فَقَد شَقِيت رُكبانُ بَكرِ بنِ وائِلٍ

فَقَد شَقِيت رُكبانُ بَكرِ بنِ وائِلٍ

وَصُبَّ عَلَيهِنَّ الجُرافُ المُجَرَّفُ

وَصُبَّ عَلَيهِنَّ الجُرافُ المُجَرَّفُ

the riders of Bakr ibn Wa'il have suffered misery,

No one who descended on them did God spare,

and the sweeping, devastating torrent is poured upon them.

Their practice being not to slaughter but to fatten.

فَما سَلَّمَ اللَهُ اِمرءاً نَزَلوا بِهِ

فَما سَلَّمَ اللَهُ اِمرءاً نَزَلوا بِهِ

وَلا حَسبُهُم أَن يَذبَحوا ثُمَّ يَعلِفوا

وَلا حَسبُهُم أَن يَذبَحوا ثُمَّ يَعلِفوا

God has kept no man safe when they descend upon him,

Rather they have a stroll in the wide yard of the house

nor is it enough for them to slaughter and then provide fodder.

That weighs down its budget however lightened.

وَلَكِن لَهُم في عَرصَةِ الدارِ جَولَةٌ

وَلَكِن لَهُم في عَرصَةِ الدارِ جَولَةٌ

يُثَقَّلُ مِنها خُرجُهُ المُتَخَفِّفُ

يُثَقَّلُ مِنها خُرجُهُ المُتَخَفِّفُ

They also make a round through the house's courtyard,

Nothing remains in the larder after it is emptied

by which his once-light saddlebag is weighed down.

Of food but dry crumbs clutched tight.

وَلَم يَبقَ في الطُسّوجِ بَعدَ فراغِهِ

وَلَم يَبقَ في الطُسّوجِ بَعدَ فراغِهِ

مِنَ العَيشِ إِلّا يابِسٌ مُتَكَفِّفُ

مِنَ العَيشِ إِلّا يابِسٌ مُتَكَفِّفُ

And when he is done, nothing remains in the district

It cries out to the Commander of the Faithful for help

of life but a withered man begging,

Against wrong, aggression—while tears flow.

يُنادي أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ اِستَغاثَةً

يُنادي أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ اِستَغاثَةً

مِنَ الظُّلمِ وَالعُدوانِ وَالعَينُ تَذرِفُ

مِنَ الظُّلمِ وَالعُدوانِ وَالعَينُ تَذرِفُ

calling upon the Commander of the Faithful for help

Though the Commander of the Faithful is far away,

against oppression and aggression, his eye shedding tears.

His deputy Isaac—my soul his ransom—is near enough to embrace and shelter us.

فَإِنَّ أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ وَإِن نَأى

فَإِنَّ أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ وَإِن نَأى

فَبِالقُربِ مِنّا مَن يَحوطُ وَيَكنفُ

فَبِالقُربِ مِنّا مَن يَحوطُ وَيَكنفُ

For though the Commander of the Faithful is far away,

May God let you rescue from us a remainder

near us is someone who guards and shelters:

Nearly finished off by woes and hardship.

خَليفَتُهُ إِسحاقُ نَفسي فِداؤُهُ

خَليفَتُهُ إِسحاقُ نَفسي فِداؤُهُ

هُوَ المُشتَكي مِن بَعد وَالمُتَنَصِّفُ

هُوَ المُشتَكي مِن بَعد وَالمُتَنَصِّفُ

his deputy Ishaq—may my life be his ransom.

And do not let our governors escape punishment

He is the one to appeal to thereafter, the one who secures redress.

Or return what they have plundered and embezzled.

تَدارَك هَداكَ اللَّهُ مِنّا بقِيَّةً

تَدارَك هَداكَ اللَّهُ مِنّا بقِيَّةً

تَكادُ مِنَ الضَرّاءِ وَالجَهدِ تُتلَفُ

تَكادُ مِنَ الضَرّاءِ وَالجَهدِ تُتلَفُ

Rescue—may God guide you—a remnant of us

For the Merciful has judged the likes of them

almost destroyed by suffering and hardship.

And the Book's clarifying verses have distinguished it:

وَلا تُفلِتَن عُمّالَنا مِن عُقوبَةٍ

وَلا تُفلِتَن عُمّالَنا مِن عُقوبَةٍ

وَإِغرامِهِم ما أَغرَموا وَتَصَرَّفوا

وَإِغرامِهِم ما أَغرَموا وَتَصَرَّفوا

Do not let our officials escape punishment

That they be killed, crucified, or dismembered;

and repayment of what they exacted and disposed of.

Acting contrarily, exiled in the land to be made examples.

فَقَد حَكَمَ الرَّحمَنُ في نُظَرائِهِم

فَقَد حَكَمَ الرَّحمَنُ في نُظَرائِهِم

وَبَيَّنَهُ آيُ الكِتابِ المُصَرّفُ

وَبَيَّنَهُ آيُ الكِتابِ المُصَرّفُ

For the All-Merciful has decreed concerning their counterparts,

That is disgrace in life and thereafter,

and the Book's verses, variously expounded, have made it plain:

Lasting mighty torment, ever unrelieved.

بِأَن يُقتَلوا أَو يُصلَبوا أَو يُقَطَّعوا

بِأَن يُقتَلوا أَو يُصلَبوا أَو يُقَطَّعوا

خِلافاً وَيُنفَوا في البِلادِ لِيُعرَفوا

خِلافاً وَيُنفَوا في البِلادِ لِيُعرَفوا

that they be killed, crucified, or have limbs cut off

on opposite sides, and be banished through the lands to be recognized.

وَذَلِكَ خِزيٌ في الحَياةِ وَبَعدَها

وَذَلِكَ خِزيٌ في الحَياةِ وَبَعدَها

عَذابٌ عَظيمٌ دائِمٌ لا يُخَفَّفُ

عَذابٌ عَظيمٌ دائِمٌ لا يُخَفَّفُ

That is disgrace in this life, and after it

a mighty, lasting torment that is not alleviated.