ألَمْdid ... not? تَرَهاyou see her تَسْموshe rises لأشرَفِtoward the noblest غَايَةٍgoal
ألَمْ تَرَها تَسْمو لأشرَفِ غَايَةٍ
وتَسبِقُand she races ahead سَبْقlike the racing of المقرباتِpampered steeds الشَوازِبِlean
وتَسبِقُ سَبْق المقرباتِ الشَوازِبِ
Have you not seen her rise toward the noblest goal,
And race ahead like lean, pampered steeds?
إذاwhenever أصْدَرَتْsend forth غُبْرُdusty السّباسِبِplains وافِداًa delegate
إذا أصْدَرَتْ غُبْرُ السّباسِبِ وافِداً
لَهاto her أوْرَدَتْbring in شرْواهhis like خُضْرُgreen الغَوارِبِwave-crests
لَها أوْرَدَتْ شرْواه خُضْرُ الغَوارِبِ
Whenever the dusty plains send forth a delegate,
The green wave-crests bring her another like him.
سَعادَةُthe good fortune آفاقٍof realms بِهاthrough her شَقِيَmet misery العِدَىthe foes
سَعادَةُ آفاقٍ بِها شَقِيَ العِدَى
كبتwere laid low بمَجاريهاalong her courses مجرّthe mass الكَتائِبِof battalions
كبت بمَجاريها مجرّ الكَتائِبِ
A blessing to realms, through her the foes met misery;
Along her courses the massed battalions were laid low.
أَجابَتْshe answered نِداءthe call الحَقّof Truth تَبْغيseeking نَجاتَهاher salvation
أَجابَتْ نِداء الحَقّ تَبْغي نَجاتَها
فأَعْقَبَهاso it granted her التّوفيقُdivine aid حُسْنَthe goodness العَواقِبِof outcomes
فأَعْقَبَها التّوفيقُ حُسْنَ العَواقِبِ
She answered Truth's call, seeking her salvation,
So divine aid granted her happy outcomes.
وَكانَتْand she was عَلىagainst الكُفّارِthe unbelievers غَيرnot مُعانَةٍaided
وَكانَتْ عَلى الكُفّارِ غَير مُعانَةٍ
فَسُرعانso how swiftly ماemphatic particle قَدْindeed صُرّعواthey were felled بِالقَواضِبِby keen-edged swords
فَسُرعان ما قَدْ صُرّعوا بِالقَواضِبِ
Against the unbelievers she stood unaided,
Yet how swiftly they were felled by keen-edged swords!
هُوَthis is الزّمَنُthe time المَضروبُappointed للنّصْرِfor victory مَوْعِداًas an appointed hour
هُوَ الزّمَنُ المَضروبُ للنّصْرِ مَوْعِداً
ومازالَand has always been وَعْدُthe promise اللّهِof God ضَرْبَةَa stroke لازِبِinevitable
ومازالَ وَعْدُ اللّهِ ضَرْبَةَ لازِبِ
This is the time appointed as victory's hour;
God's promise has ever been an unalterable decree.
لَقَدindeed رَاقَبَتْshe awaited عامthe year الجَماعَةِof unity بُرْهَةًfor a time
لَقَد رَاقَبَتْ عام الجَماعَةِ بُرْهَةً
فَلَمْand did not يَعْدُهاpass her by إِقرارُthe gladdening عَيْنِof the eye المُراقِبِof the watcher
فَلَمْ يَعْدُها إِقرارُ عَيْنِ المُراقِبِ
For a time she awaited the year of unity,
And the watcher's joy did not pass her by.
هَنيئاًjoy لأَهلِto the people العُدْوَتَينِof the two shores عِدَادُهُمْtheir being numbered
هَنيئاً لأَهلِ العُدْوَتَينِ عِدَادُهُمْ
بإِخلاصِهِمthrough their sincerity فيamong المُخْلِصِينthe sincere الأطايِبِthe noble
بإِخلاصِهِم في المُخْلِصِين الأطايِبِ
Joy to the people of the two shores, for being numbered
Through their sincerity among the sincere and noble.
أَطاعُواthey obeyed الإِمامthe imam المُرْتَضَىthe chosen وَتَسابَقواand raced one another
أَطاعُوا الإِمام المُرْتَضَى وَتَسابَقوا
إلىtoward سَنَنٍa path يهديleading إِلىto الرُّشدright guidance لاحِبِclearly marked
إلى سَنَنٍ يهدي إِلى الرُّشد لاحِبِ
They obeyed the chosen imam and raced one another
Toward a clear path leading to right guidance,
إلىtoward مَذْهَبٍa course سنّتْهshe established it سبْتةُCeuta قاصِدٍupright
إلى مَذْهَبٍ سنّتْه سبْتةُ قاصِدٍ
بِهِby it عَدَلُواthey turned aside عَنْfrom زَائِعاتِerrant المَذاهِبِways
بِهِ عَدَلُوا عَنْ زَائِعاتِ المَذاهِبِ
Toward the upright course laid down by Ceuta,
By which they turned away from errant ways.
ألاbehold هَذِهthis is حِمْصٌHims تُناسِبُmatches طاعَةthe obedience
ألا هَذِه حِمْصٌ تُناسِبُ طاعَة
سِجلماسةof Sijilmasa فيin رَفْضِهاher rejection لِلمناصِبِof the adversary
سِجلماسة في رَفْضِها لِلمناصِبِ
Behold Hims, matching the obedience
Of Sijilmasa in her rejection of the adversary.
وَماand did not خالَفَتdiffer from غرْناطةٌGranada رَأيthe judgment رَيّةof Rayya
وَما خالَفَت غرْناطةٌ رَأي رَيّة
لتَشْمُلَso that ... may encompass أنْوارَthe lights الهُدىof guidance كُلevery جانِبِside
لتَشْمُلَ أنْوارَ الهُدى كُل جانِبِ
Granada did not differ from Rayya's judgment,
So that guidance's lights might encompass every side.
وَجَيّانُand Jaén لمdid not تَبْرحcease كشلْبٍlike Silves وطَنجَةٍand Tangier
وَجَيّانُ لم تَبْرح كشلْبٍ وطَنجَةٍ
مُبارِيةًvying with هُوجَthe raging blasts الصَباof the east wind والجَنائِبِand the south winds
مُبارِيةً هُوجَ الصَبا والجَنائِبِ
And Jaén, like Silves and Tangier, never ceased
Racing the raging east wind and the southerlies.
لتسْعدmay ... prosper بالرّضوانِthrough divine approval بَيْعاتُهاher pledges of allegiance التيwhich
لتسْعد بالرّضوانِ بَيْعاتُها التي
كَفىspares شَاهِدٌa visible sign مِنْهof it تَأمّلَcontemplating غَائِبِthe unseen
كَفى شَاهِدٌ مِنْه تَأمّلَ غَائِبِ
May her pledges of allegiance prosper through divine approval—those for which
A visible sign of it spares pondering the unseen.
وَهَلْand did ...? قَدَحتْget cast إلاexcept لِفَوْزٍfor victory قِداحُهاher lot-arrows
وَهَلْ قَدَحتْ إلا لِفَوْزٍ قِداحُها
فَلاso no غَرْوَwonder أنthat تَحظَىshe should obtain بِكُبرَىthe greatest of المَواهِبِgifts
فَلا غَرْوَ أن تَحظَى بِكُبرَى المَواهِبِ
Were her lot-arrows ever cast except for triumph?
No wonder she wins the greatest gifts.
كذاsuch are الخُلَفَاءُthe caliphs الأَكرَمونَthe noblest مَنَاسِباًin lineage
كذا الخُلَفَاءُ الأَكرَمونَ مَنَاسِباً
تُنالُare attained بِهِمthrough them عَفواًeffortlessly كِرامُnoble المَطالِبِaspirations
تُنالُ بِهِم عَفواً كِرامُ المَطالِبِ
Such are the caliphs, noblest in lineage:
Through them noble aspirations are attained effortlessly.
مَمَالِكُkingdoms ألْقَتyielded خُضّعاًsubmissively بِقِيادِهاtheir reins
مَمَالِكُ ألْقَت خُضّعاً بِقِيادِها
إلىto مَلِكٍa king فيin العِزِّglory ساميlofty الذّوائِبِin forelocks
إلى مَلِكٍ في العِزِّ سامي الذّوائِبِ
Kingdoms have yielded their reins in submission
To a king whose forelocks rise high in glory.
بهِin him اعْتَصَمَتْthey sought refuge مِمّاfrom what تَخافُthey fear عَلىdespite النَوىthe distance
بهِ اعْتَصَمَتْ مِمّا تَخافُ عَلى النَوى
فلَيْسَso ... is not مَرُوعاterrified سِرْبُهاtheir flock بالنّوائِبِby calamities
فلَيْسَ مَرُوعا سِرْبُها بالنّوائِبِ
In him they sought refuge from their fears, though far away;
Their flock is not terrified by calamities.
سَتَظْمأshall thirst مِنْfor وِرْدِthe draught الرّدىof death جَنَباتُهاtheir regions
سَتَظْمأ مِنْ وِرْدِ الرّدى جَنَباتُها
وإنْthough رويتْthey drank their fill قِدماof old بِصَوْبfrom the downpour المَصائِبِof calamities
وإنْ رويتْ قِدما بِصَوْب المَصائِبِ
Their regions shall thirst, denied the draught of death,
Though of old they drank their fill of calamity's downpour.
وَيَثْنِيand he turns back مُلوُكthe kings الرّومof Rum عمّاfrom what تَرُومُهthey seek it
وَيَثْنِي مُلوُك الرّوم عمّا تَرُومُه
بِعَزْمةwith the resolve رَاضof one content للدّيانةfor the faith غَاضِبِwrathful
بِعَزْمة رَاض للدّيانة غَاضِبِ
He turns the kings of Rum back from what they seek,
With the resolve of one content, yet wrathful for the faith.
وَمنand who يَرهَبُfears الجُلّىthe greatest calamity وَهَذاwhen this is جَلالُهhis majesty
وَمن يَرهَبُ الجُلّى وَهَذا جَلالُه
عَلىto الأَمْنِsafety مَحْمولٌis borne بِهِthrough him كُلevery راهِبِfearful soul
عَلى الأَمْنِ مَحْمولٌ بِهِ كُل راهِبِ
Who could fear great calamity, with such his majesty?
Through him every fearful soul is borne to safety.
لأندَلُسَto al-Andalus البُشرىglad tidings بِنَصْرِof the victory خَليفَةٍof a caliph
لأندَلُسَ البُشرى بِنَصْرِ خَليفَةٍ
ضَروبٍa mighty striker بِنصْلwith the blade السيفof the sword زاكيpure الضَرائِبِinborn traits
ضَروبٍ بِنصْل السيف زاكي الضَرائِبِ
Glad tidings to al-Andalus of a caliph's victory,
A mighty striker with the sword's blade, pure in nature.
قَريبٌnear at hand عَليهِfor him نيْلُattainment of كُلّevery مُحاوِلٍobject of endeavor
قَريبٌ عَليهِ نيْلُ كُلّ مُحاوِلٍ
وَلوeven if كانَit were بُعداًfar away فيin مَحَلّthe abode الكَواكِبِof the stars
وَلو كانَ بُعداً في مَحَلّ الكَواكِبِ
Every aim is easy for him to attain,
Even were it far off in the stars' abode.
تَعَوّدَhas grown accustomed to إمْلاءdictating النّوادِرِrare marvels بَأسُهhis valor
تَعَوّدَ إمْلاء النّوادِرِ بَأسُه
بِحَيثُwhere تَعِيهاthey retain them صارِخاتُthe shrieking النّوادِبِwomen mourners
بِحَيثُ تَعِيها صارِخاتُ النّوادِبِ
His valor has grown accustomed to dictating rare marvels
Where shrieking mourners learn them by heart:
غَرائِبُmarvels مِنof نَظْمِstringing together الكُماةِarmored champions بِنَثْرِهِby his scattering
غَرائِبُ مِن نَظْمِ الكُماةِ بِنَثْرِهِ
كُعُوبَthe joints القناof spears واهاًah! لتِلكfor those الضّرائِبِblows
كُعُوبَ القنا واهاً لتِلك الضّرائِبِ
Marvels of stringing armored champions together as he scatters
The joints of spears—ah, those blows!
وقامَand he rose بِحِزْبِwith the host اللّهِof God يَنْصُرُchampioning دينَهُHis faith
وقامَ بِحِزْبِ اللّهِ يَنْصُرُ دينَهُ
فلَمْso did not تَهَبِfear الدُّنياthe world طُروقاًa night visitation لِحازِبِof calamity
فلَمْ تَهَبِ الدُّنيا طُروقاً لِحازِبِ
He rose with God's host, defending His faith,
So the world feared no night visitation of calamity.
وَقَدْand indeed جَعلhe made الهَيْجاbattle رِياضاًgardens خِلالَهاamid them
وَقَدْ جَعل الهَيْجا رِياضاً خِلالَها
يُفجِّرhe makes gush forth أنْهارَrivers الدّماءof blood الصّوائِبِpouring
يُفجِّر أنْهارَ الدّماء الصّوائِبِ
He has made battle into gardens, through which
He makes rivers of streaming blood gush forth.
أمَدّhe supplied بِجدٍّwith good fortune صَاعِدٍrising جُرَعَdraughts الرّدىof death
أمَدّ بِجدٍّ صَاعِدٍ جُرَعَ الرّدى
عِدَاهhis foes فمَغْلُوبٌso is vanquished بِهِby him كُلُّevery غَالِبِconqueror
عِدَاه فمَغْلُوبٌ بِهِ كُلُّ غَالِبِ
With rising fortune he supplied draughts of death
To his foes; by him every conqueror is conquered.
ومَنand one who كانَis بالإحسانِin benevolence والعَدْلand justice قَائِماًsteadfast
ومَن كانَ بالإحسانِ والعَدْل قَائِماً
فلَيسَso does not يُقِرُّallow to remain العَضْبَthe keen sword فيin يَدthe hand غَاصِبِof a usurper
فلَيسَ يُقِرُّ العَضْبَ في يَد غَاصِبِ
One who upholds benevolence and justice
Will not let a keen sword rest in a usurper's hand.
بِمَطْلَعِat the rising يَحيىof Yahya غارsank from sight كلُّevery مخالِفadversary
بِمَطْلَعِ يَحيى غار كلُّ مخالِف
ومِنْهُand from him اسْتماحbegged السّلمَpeace كلُّevery مُحارِبِwarrior
ومِنْهُ اسْتماح السّلمَ كلُّ مُحارِبِ
At Yahya's rising, every adversary sank from sight,
And every warrior begged him for peace.
وكَمْand how often أظهَرَexpressed الماضونَthose of old شَوْقاًlonging لعصْرِهِfor his age
وكَمْ أظهَرَ الماضونَ شَوْقاً لعصْرِهِ
بِماthrough what خَبّروهthey recounted it فيin العُصورِthe ages الذّواهِبِgone by
بِما خَبّروه في العُصورِ الذّواهِبِ
How often those of old expressed longing for his age,
Through what they recounted in ages gone by.
إمَامَتُهُhis imamate أَلْوَتْswept away بِكُلّevery إِمَامةٍimamate
إمَامَتُهُ أَلْوَتْ بِكُلّ إِمَامةٍ
وَبِالصُّبْحِand through dawn وَضّاحاًradiant جَلاءُthe dispelling الغَياهِبِof deep darkness
وَبِالصُّبْحِ وَضّاحاً جَلاءُ الغَياهِبِ
His imamate has swept all other imamates away;
Through radiant dawn, deep darkness is dispelled.
هيَit is العُرْوَةthe handhold الوُثْقىthe firmest ومنْand whoever يعتصمclings بهاto it
هيَ العُرْوَة الوُثْقى ومنْ يعتصم بها
فلَيسَthen does not يُباليcare ناجِياًbeing safe بالمَعاطِبِabout deadly perils
فلَيسَ يُبالي ناجِياً بالمَعاطِبِ
It is the firmest handhold; whoever clings to it
Is safe, untroubled by deadly perils.
بنورِby the light هُداهاof its guidance يَقْتدِيis guided كُلُّevery تَائِهwanderer
بنورِ هُداها يَقْتدِي كُلُّ تَائِه
وَمَحْضَand unalloyed رِضاهاits favor يَقْتَنيacquires كُلُّevery تائِبِpenitent
وَمَحْضَ رِضاها يَقْتَني كُلُّ تائِبِ
Every wanderer follows the light of its guidance,
And every penitent wins its unalloyed favor.
أيَقْصُرwill he fall short? عنْof فَتْحconquering المشارِقthe eastern lands بعْدَماafter
أيَقْصُر عنْ فَتْح المشارِق بعْدَما
تَقاضىhe secured بِأَمْرِby the command اللّهِof God فَتْحthe conquest المَغارِبِof the western lands
تَقاضى بِأَمْرِ اللّهِ فَتْح المَغارِبِ
Will he fall short of conquering the eastern lands, after
He secured, by God's command, the conquest of the western lands?
وَسارَand he marched إِلَيهاtoward them فيamid المقانِبcavalry squadrons زاحِفاًadvancing
وَسارَ إِلَيها في المقانِب زاحِفاً
وَلَوand had شاءَhe wished لاسْتَغْنَىhe would have needed nothing more بِزُهْرِthan radiant المَناقِبِvirtues
وَلَو شاءَ لاسْتَغْنَى بِزُهْرِ المَناقِبِ
He marched toward them, advancing amid cavalry squadrons,
Though, had he wished, his radiant virtues alone would have sufficed.
يُضارِبhe fights فيfor ذاتِthe sake الإلَهِof God وَلَمand not يَكُنْcould it be
يُضارِب في ذاتِ الإلَهِ وَلَم يَكُنْ
لِيُخفِقَto fail فيthroughout الأيامِthe ages سَعْيُthe striving المُضارِبِof the fighter
لِيُخفِقَ في الأيامِ سَعْيُ المُضارِبِ
He fights for God's sake; never could
The fighter's striving fail through all the ages.
مَديدfar-reaching الغِنىwealth منfrom كَفِّهhis palm مُتقارِبٌnear at hand
مَديد الغِنى من كَفِّه مُتقارِبٌ
لِمُنْتَزَحٍto one far away عَنfrom بابِهِhis gate وَمُصاقِبِand one nearby
لِمُنْتَزَحٍ عَن بابِهِ وَمُصاقِبِ
His hand's far-reaching wealth lies close at hand
For one far from his gate and for a neighbor alike.
أجارَgave shelter منfrom الإظْلامِdarkness ثاقِبُthe piercing radiance نُورِهِof his light
أجارَ من الإظْلامِ ثاقِبُ نُورِهِ
فَلاso may he never زالَcease جاراًbeing a neighbor لِلنجومِto the stars الثّواقِبِpiercingly bright
فَلا زالَ جاراً لِلنجومِ الثّواقِبِ
His piercing light has given shelter from darkness;
May he forever remain a neighbor to the piercing stars.
Sol 6.1