أَلاَ يا سَلمَ عُوجِى تُخبِرِينَا

أَلاَ يا سَلمَ عُوجِى تُخبِرِينَا

مَتَى تُمضِينَ وَعدَكِ وَاصدُقِينَا

مَتَى تُمضِينَ وَعدَكِ وَاصدُقِينَا

Ah, Salmā, turn aside and tell us:

O Peace! Slanted peace! Tell us when you will fulfill your promise and speak the truth to us

when will you fulfill your promise? Be truthful with us.

And if you slight me, then for the sake of connection when you are stoned with doubts

وَإِن صَرَّمتِنِى فَلِمثلِ وَصلِى

وَإِن صَرَّمتِنِى فَلِمثلِ وَصلِى

إِذا رَجَّمتُ بِالغَيبِ الظُّنونَا

إِذا رَجَّمتُ بِالغَيبِ الظُّنونَا

And if you cut me off, then for a bond like mine—

I am trustworthy with your secret, lest I suffer from what you entrusted me, distressed

when I cast conjectures into the unseen—

So there is none like me excused with wishes, nor quenched with a cup of the heedless

أَمِيناً عِندَ سِرِّكِ أَن يُعَانَى

أَمِيناً عِندَ سِرِّكِ أَن يُعَانَى

بِما استَودَعتِنى حَصِراً ضَنِينَا

بِما استَودَعتِنى حَصِراً ضَنِينَا

trustworthy with your secret, lest it be pried into,

And none like me who agrees with a friend, if his affection were skills

tight-lipped and guarded with what you entrusted me.

Except my peace like a gazelle of the sand, except for its buttocks and what adorned the innocent

فَلا مِثلِى يُعَلَّلُ بِالأَمانِى

فَلا مِثلِى يُعَلَّلُ بِالأَمانِى

وَلا يُسقَى بِكأسِ المُترَفِينَا

وَلا يُسقَى بِكأسِ المُترَفِينَا

One like me is not put off with hopes,

And a branch raised in the meadows from it, and the beauty of supple and sturdy ankles

nor given drink from the cup of the pampered.

A horse of flank not nursed as an infant at its teats, and did not carry a fetus

وَلاَ مِثلِى يُوَافِقُهُ خَلِيلٌ

وَلاَ مِثلِى يُوَافِقُهُ خَلِيلٌ

إذا كانَت مَوَدَّتُهُ فُنُونَا

إذا كانَت مَوَدَّتُهُ فُنُونَا

No friend suits one like me

And no strained honey in a glass is as delightful in taste to the drinkers

when his affection takes changing forms.

Than the saliva of Peace when the wine skins are tied by the revelers

فَسَلمَى مِثلُ شاء الرّملِ إِلاّ

فَسَلمَى مِثلُ شاء الرّملِ إِلاّ

ذَوَائِبَها وما حُلِىَ البُرِينَا

ذَوَائِبَها وما حُلِىَ البُرِينَا

Salmā resembles the antelope of the sands, except for

Without knowledge of it except yearning, privately gazing upon the wishers

her tresses and what is adorned with rings,

Lo! O you arrogant with pride! Come! Lo! Let me tell you the certainty!

وَدِعصاً رابِياً فِى المِرطِ مِنها

وَدِعصاً رابِياً فِى المِرطِ مِنها

وحُسنَ الدَّلِّ وَالكَعبَ الدَّفِينَا

وحُسنَ الدَّلِّ وَالكَعبَ الدَّفِينَا

and her swelling sand-dune beneath her wrap,

For if you are arrogant and do not believe your words an indication to the askers

her lovely coyness and her buried anklebone.

And if you are arrogant without reason with which you refute the words of the nullifiers

حَصَانُ الجَنبِ لَم تُرضِع صَبِيَّا

حَصَانُ الجَنبِ لَم تُرضِع صَبِيَّا

بِثَديَيهَا وَلَم تَحمِل جَنِينَا

بِثَديَيهَا وَلَم تَحمِل جَنِينَا

Chaste of flank, she has never suckled a child

Then Khath'am has signs of blessing, guides to guidance, a clear light

with her breasts, nor carried a fetus.

And of the signs of your Lord that you see us satisfied with the dwellings of the tribes

وَمَا عَسَلٌ مُصَفّىً فِى زُجَاجٍ

وَمَا عَسَلٌ مُصَفّىً فِى زُجَاجٍ

بِرَاحٍ لَذَّةٍ لِلشَّاربِينَا

بِرَاحٍ لَذَّةٍ لِلشَّاربِينَا

No honey, filtered clear in glass,

And if you see among us a poor man, guesting the wealth of other tribes

with wine, a delight to drinkers,

And that the neighbor sprouts in our midst, and we hasten to the dwellings for the arrivers

بِاَطيَبَ مَوهِناً مِن رِيقِ سَلمَى

بِاَطيَبَ مَوهِناً مِن رِيقِ سَلمَى

إِذا عَصَبَ الكَرَى بِالسَّامِرينَأ

إِذا عَصَبَ الكَرَى بِالسَّامِرينَأ

is sweeter late at night than Salmā's saliva,

And we will not accompany a traveling group of a people, nor companions of prisons ever living

when sleep has bound the evening talkers,

And they would mix with us, except we parted from them, preferring graciousness

بِلا عِلمٍ بِهِ إِلاّ افتِياقا

بِلا عِلمٍ بِهِ إِلاّ افتِياقا

خَلاءً مَنظَرَ المُتَأَمِّلِينَا

خَلاءً مَنظَرَ المُتَأَمِّلِينَا

with no one aware of it, save on awakening,

And of the signs of your Lord decisive ones, what we studied and what we forgot

in seclusion, beyond the watchers' gaze.

Caves from knights and dogs, and Amr who admits and complains to us

أَلاَ يا أَيُّها المُعتَدُّ فَخراً

أَلاَ يا أَيُّها المُعتَدُّ فَخراً

هَلُمَّ أَلاَ أُخَبِّرُكَ اليَقينَا

هَلُمَّ أَلاَ أُخَبِّرُكَ اليَقينَا

Listen, you who lay claim to glory:

That Al-Hayy deserted them for a bit, their limit confusing the confused

come, let me tell you the certain truth.

Nights alive, grinding dogs with effort, yet they are not terminating

فَإِنَّكَ إِن فَخَرتَ وَلَم تُصَدِّق

فَإِنَّكَ إِن فَخَرتَ وَلَم تُصَدِّق

حَدِيثَكَ آيةً لِلسَّائِلِينَا

حَدِيثَكَ آيةً لِلسَّائِلِينَا

For if you boast but do not substantiate

And it was playing until we met, so it was stern and we were the players

your account with proof for those who ask,

And it deserted us, its knights and footmen, with the blowing wind, not pillowed

وِإنَّكَ إِن فَخَرتَ بِغَيرِ شَيءٍ

وِإنَّكَ إِن فَخَرتَ بِغَيرِ شَيءٍ

تَرُدُّ بِهِ حَديثَ المُبطِلِينَا

تَرُدُّ بِهِ حَديثَ المُبطِلِينَا

and if you boast without anything

While we remain above a trace, with the rapacious birds contending

with which to refute the talk of liars—

As if on its cheek and plaited hair were from the comets poured a draught

فَإِنَّ لِخَثعَمٍ آياتِ نُعمَى

فَإِنَّ لِخَثعَمٍ آياتِ نُعمَى

أَماراتِ الهُدَى نوراً مُبينَا

أَماراتِ الهُدَى نوراً مُبينَا

then Khathʿam has signs of bounty,

As if the birds were stationed over them, an army of the blacks' gloom

tokens of guidance, a clear light.

While we hold back the steeds, they bolted with the youths of morn, forewarning

وَمِن آياتِ رَبِّك أَن تَرَانَأ

وَمِن آياتِ رَبِّك أَن تَرَانَأ

بِمَسكَنَةِ القَبائِلِ مارَضِينَأ

بِمَسكَنَةِ القَبائِلِ مارَضِينَأ

Among your Lord's signs is that you see us

From the confronting handle, theirs is Mars, to the two water-bearers water-pouring

unwilling to accept the tribes' abasement.

So we reached the fog, and they had wished meeting us, desiring

وَإِنَّكَ إِن تَرَى منّا فَقيراً

وَإِنَّكَ إِن تَرَى منّا فَقيراً

يُضيفُ غِنىَّ قَومٍ آخَرِينا

يُضيفُ غِنىَّ قَومٍ آخَرِينا

And if you see a poor man among us,

They lead the looting, so our knights deserted them like the outstretched arms

he hosts a wealthy man from another people.

We missed the steeds stumbling in their channels, frowning like the wheezing, newly bridled

وَإِنَّ الجَارَ يَنبُتُ فى ثَرَانَا

وَإِنَّ الجَارَ يَنبُتُ فى ثَرَانَا

ونُعجِلُ بالقِرَى لِلنَّازِلِينا

ونُعجِلُ بالقِرَى لِلنَّازِلِينا

Our neighbor takes root in our soil,

Traversing `Amir until we took the people of As-Sudayf at dawn

and we hasten hospitality for those who alight.

At At-Tahina as if the eggs amongst it were stars of night or pores of floods

وِإنّا لَن نُصاحِبَ رَكبَ قَومٍ

وِإنّا لَن نُصاحِبَ رَكبَ قَومٍ

وَلاَ أَصحابَ سِجنٍ ما حَيِينَأ

وَلاَ أَصحابَ سِجنٍ ما حَيِينَأ

We never accompany a people's caravan,

With the striking of Jimar's lightening, striking and stabbing, windows

nor fellow prisoners, so long as we live,

From the impregnable castles, so we camped with them until we cut

فَيَختلِطُوا بِنا إِلاّ افتَرَقنَا

فَيَختلِطُوا بِنا إِلاّ افتَرَقنَا

عَلَيهِم بِالسَّماحَةِ مُفضِلينَا

عَلَيهِم بِالسَّماحَةِ مُفضِلينَا

and mingle with them without our parting

Their tent ropes, which we had reached, a spring

having surpassed them in generosity.

Three months until the tribes of Hawazin altogether submitted

وَمِن آياتِ رَبِّكَ مُحكَماتٍ

وَمِن آياتِ رَبِّكَ مُحكَماتٍ

مَواثِلَ مَادَرَسنَ وَما نَسِينَا

مَواثِلَ مَادَرَسنَ وَما نَسِينَا

Among your Lord's signs are firm ones,

To the hiddenness of their abode, striking and looting, voracious, not doubling over

standing evident, neither effaced nor forgotten by us:

We left `Amir and the two sons of Shutayr, and Shaghala busy with the swords, confused

مَغَاوِرُ مِن فَوارِسَ مِن كِلابٍ

مَغَاوِرُ مِن فَوارِسَ مِن كِلابٍ

وَعَمرٍو يَعتَرِفنَ وَيَشتَكِينَا

وَعَمرٍو يَعتَرِفنَ وَيَشتَكِينَا

raiding bands of horsemen from Kilāb

And we killed Hazzan the gambler, and left the son of Huzaah humbled

and ʿAmr acknowledge it and complain

And al-`Abbas the brother of Ru'ayl whose hand we cut

بِأَنَّ الحَىَّ خَثعَمَ غادَرَتهُم

بِأَنَّ الحَىَّ خَثعَمَ غادَرَتهُم

كَلِيلاً حَدُّهُم مُتَضَعضِعِينا

كَلِيلاً حَدُّهُم مُتَضَعضِعِينا

that the tribe of Khathʿam left them

With the white sword of Lahzam from it the sparks flew

their edge blunted, their strength broken.

And in Anas is resistance and another fled from Umm Hamat, her affairs distracted

لَيالِيَ عامرٌ تَلحَى كِلاباً

لَيالِيَ عامرٌ تَلحَى كِلاباً

عَلَى جَهدٍ وَلَيسُوا مُؤتَلِينَا

عَلَى جَهدٍ وَلَيسُوا مُؤتَلِينَا

In the nights when ʿĀmir reproached Kilāb

And they were patient with the channel and steeds until they climbed it honorably, excusing

amid hardship, though they spared no effort,

While we strike with every anger guiding the white and the ringed fortress

وكانَ مُلاعِباً حَتَّى التقَينَا

وكانَ مُلاعِباً حَتَّى التقَينَا

فَجَدَّ بِهِ وَكُنَّا اللاّعِبِينَا

فَجَدَّ بِهِ وَكُنَّا اللاّعِبِينَا

he had been playing until we met;

With the whip of Ukhtrub striking, we left Shanu'ah thereafter submissive

then matters grew earnest for him, while we were the players.

And the knights of Thaqif came to give victory then

وَغادرَنا فَوارِسَهُ وَرِعلاً

وَغادرَنا فَوارِسَهُ وَرِعلاً

بِفَيفِ الرِّيحِ غَيرَ مُوَسَّدِينَا

بِفَيفِ الرِّيحِ غَيرَ مُوَسَّدِينَا

We left his horsemen, and Riʿl,

When they faced us, they surrendered them and fled to a side from it quickly

at Fayf al-Rīḥ, with no pillows beneath them.

And we orphaned Rabi'ah from his father, and with ash-Shadakh we cried the eyes

وَنَحنُ التّارِكُونَ عَلَى سَلِيلٍ

وَنَحنُ التّارِكُونَ عَلَى سَلِيلٍ

مَعَ الطَّيرِ الخَوامِعَ يَعتَرِينَا

مَعَ الطَّيرِ الخَوامِعَ يَعتَرِينَا

We are those who left upon Salīl

And we killed Sarah of Bani Jihash, and burdened their women with children

limping hyenas, coming with the birds,

And the two Akhnas together we struck with the white of every bone quaking

كأَنَّ بِخَدِّهِ وَالجِيدِ مَنهُ

كأَنَّ بِخَدِّهِ وَالجِيدِ مَنهُ

مِن الجِريالِ مَحلُوباً رَقِينَا

مِن الجِريالِ مَحلُوباً رَقِينَا

as though upon his cheek and neck

So we left them as meat over which the returning eagles circle and meet

lay freshly drawn crimson dye.

And we pursued the channel regarding the two sons of Dukhan, and they had presented themselves peaceably to us

كأنَّ الطَّيرَ عاكِفَةً عَلَيهِم

كأنَّ الطَّيرَ عاكِفَةً عَلَيهِم

جُنُودٌ مِن سَوادِ الأَعجَمِينَا

جُنُودٌ مِن سَوادِ الأَعجَمِينَا

As though the birds gathered over them

And regarding their extremities until we returned with it bloodied, rolling

were troops from the dark ranks of foreigners.

So the day of Al-Qarn, a thousand of Qays had positioned themselves, thirty

وَنَحنُ الوازِعُونَ الخَيلَ تَردَى

وَنَحنُ الوازِعُونَ الخَيلَ تَردَى

بِفِتيانِ الصَّباحِ المُعلِمِينَا

بِفِتيانِ الصَّباحِ المُعلِمِينَا

We hold the horses in check as they gallop

They held out, then departed regretting

bearing the marked young warriors of dawn,

And the people counted their killed, and they were over what we counted, multiplying

مِنَ السَّندِ المُقَابِلِ ذَا مُرَيخٍ

مِنَ السَّندِ المُقَابِلِ ذَا مُرَيخٍ

إِلَى السّاقَينِ ساقَى ذِى قِضِينَا

إِلَى السّاقَينِ ساقَى ذِى قِضِينَا

from the hillside facing Dhū Muraykh

And of them is Khalid whose hands fell, and Hamat of Jabir when we were active

to al-Sāqayn, the two branches of Dhū Qiḍīn.

And Abraha the son of Sabbah whose companions we gathered, the tyrannizing

فَأَدرَكنَا الضِّبابَ وَقَد تَمَنَّوا

فَأَدرَكنَا الضِّبابَ وَقَد تَمَنَّوا

لِقاءَ الجَمعِ مِنّا مُشتَهِينَا

لِقاءَ الجَمعِ مِنّا مُشتَهِينَا

We overtook al-Ḍibāb, who had longed

And of their killed were Qatan and Ghanyy in shackles contorting

to meet our host, eager for it.

And we saved tribes who used to be compelled, taking from them brown and grey camels

يَسُوقُونَ النِّهابَ فَغَادَرَتهُم

يَسُوقُونَ النِّهابَ فَغَادَرَتهُم

فَوَارِسُنا كَشَختِ العَاضِدِينَا

فَوَارِسُنا كَشَختِ العَاضِدِينَا

They were driving off the plunder; then

And we hastened to `Amr of Bani Zubayd, so Najah the fugitive saved him

our horsemen left them like woodcutters' thin brushwood.

And we led his mother until we paired her to two ranks from Juhyan hating

فَقُدنا الخَيلَ تَعثُرُ فى قَناها

فَقُدنا الخَيلَ تَعثُرُ فى قَناها

عَوَابِسَ كَالسَّعالِى قَد وجِينَا

عَوَابِسَ كَالسَّعالِى قَد وجِينَا

We led the horses, stumbling among their spear-shafts,

To the necks, then they disputed her, dragging her fetus

grim-faced as she-ghouls, already footsore,

And the day of Al-Qa' we came from Saffan, Bakil and Hashid assembling

تَخَطَّى عامراً حَتَّى أَصَبنَا

تَخَطَّى عامراً حَتَّى أَصَبنَا

بِهِ أَهلَ السّديفِ مُبصَبِّحِينَا

بِهِ أَهلَ السّديفِ مُبصَبِّحِينَا

passing beyond ʿĀmir until we struck,

And we came in the vanguard of Tahoon for it ringing that deafens the hearers

with it, the camel-fat folk, raiding at dawn,

As if the neighing of our camel-loads upon them were the neighing of fire igniting the thickets

بِطاحِنةٍ كأَنَّ البِيضَ فيها

بِطاحِنةٍ كأَنَّ البِيضَ فيها

نُجُومُ اللَّيلِ أَو نقب البِلينَا

نُجُومُ اللَّيلِ أَو نقب البِلينَا

with a grinding host whose white helmets seemed

Their zeal for the white castles poured, and we follow them until they withdraw

like stars of night, or holes in worn cloth.

With polished swords the jinn wetted, with their hands refining the steel

بِبُرقَةِ جامرٍ ضَرباً وطَعناً

بِبُرقَةِ جامرٍ ضَرباً وطَعناً

نَوَافِذَ مِن حُصُونِ الدَّارِعِينَا

نَوَافِذَ مِن حُصُونِ الدَّارِعِينَا

At Burqat Jāmir, with blows and thrusts

And from he who transgressed the Law, when he trespassed, we tore the crown of the transgressors

piercing the strongholds of armored men,

So we clothed his body in coarse wool, from the Indian twisted for years

فَعَسكَرنا بِهِم حَتَّى قَطَعنا

فَعَسكَرنا بِهِم حَتَّى قَطَعنا

عَدامِلَ قَد وَرَدناها مَعينَا

عَدامِلَ قَد وَرَدناها مَعينَا

we encamped among them until we cut off

And the tribes learnt of us in Ma'add and Yemen the curing of the unjust

old wells we had reached while they flowed—

That we are the aggressors when angry, and we are the preferrers when content

ثَلاثَةَ أَشهُرٍ حَتّى استَجَبنا

ثَلاثَةَ أَشهُرٍ حَتّى استَجَبنا

شُعُوباً مِن هَوازِنَ أَجمَعِينَا

شُعُوباً مِن هَوازِنَ أَجمَعِينَا

for three months, until we won a response from

That we do not die, even if we are overcome, upon the high-ground, except advancing

all the branches of Hawāzin,

And that we are truthful when we boast, extravagant above the boast of the boasters

بِسُرَّةِ دَارِهِم ضَرباً وَنَهباً

بِسُرَّةِ دَارِهِم ضَرباً وَنَهباً

جَوَانِحَ ما ثَأرنَ وَلا ثُنِينَا

جَوَانِحَ ما ثَأرنَ وَلا ثُنِينَا

in the heart of their homeland, by blows and plunder,

With a legacy the truth clarifies from it, and invalidates the lies of the embellishers

leaning in; they took no vengeance, nor were we turned back.

It encompassed what is between the coast of the extremity of Qays, to the edges except the circling

تَرَكنا عامِراً وابنَى شُتَيرٍ

تَرَكنا عامِراً وابنَى شُتَيرٍ

وَشَغلَى بِالسُّيُوفِ مُرَعبَلِينا

وَشَغلَى بِالسُّيُوفِ مُرَعبَلِينا

We left ʿĀmir and the two sons of Shutayr,

For it are brigades, if we assaulted with their zeal all the multitudes together and even the jinn unwillingly deserted them for the first bout against them quaking

and Shaghlā, shredded by swords.

The Age of Idolatry until the Messenger of God established among us, honest and trustworthy

وَهَزّانَ المقامر قَد قَتلَنا

وَهَزّانَ المقامر قَد قَتلَنا

وَغادَرنا ابنَ هُوذَةَ مُستَكِينَا

وَغادَرنا ابنَ هُوذَةَ مُستَكِينَا

We killed Hazzān the gambler,

So when the religion of Truth became mighty among us, we turned its sharpness to the disbelievers

and left the son of Hūdha subdued.

And we killed the kings of Rome until we lived where they lived

وعبّاساً أخا رعلٍ قَطَعنا

وعبّاساً أخا رعلٍ قَطَعنا

بِأَبيَضَ لَهذَمٍ مِنهُ الوَتِينَا

بِأَبيَضَ لَهذَمٍ مِنهُ الوَتِينَا

And ʿAbbās, brother of Riʿl—we severed

And we sent its brigades so it ransacked the strongholds of polytheism and the polytheists

his aorta with a keen white blade.

وَفِى أَنَسٍ معانِدَةٌ وَأُخرَى

وَفِى أَنَسٍ معانِدَةٌ وَأُخرَى

فَرَت عَن أُمَّ هامَتِهِ الشُّؤُونَا

فَرَت عَن أُمَّ هامَتِهِ الشُّؤُونَا

In Anas was one oblique wound, and another

that tore the skull's sutures away from his brain.

وَقَد صَبَرُوا القَنا والخَيلَ حَتَّى

وَقَد صَبَرُوا القَنا والخَيلَ حَتَّى

عَلَوناها كِرَاماً مُعذِرِينَا

عَلَوناها كِرَاماً مُعذِرِينَا

They held firm against spears and horses until

we overran them, noble men doing our utmost.

وَنَحنُ الضَّارِبُونَ بِكُلِّ عَضبٍ

وَنَحنُ الضَّارِبُونَ بِكُلِّ عَضبٍ

يَقُدُّ الَبيضَ وَالحَلَقَ الحَصِينَا

يَقُدُّ الَبيضَ وَالحَلَقَ الحَصِينَا

We strike with every sharp sword

that cleaves helmets and protective mail-rings.

بِشَطَّى أَخرُبٍ ضَرباً تَرَكنا

بِشَطَّى أَخرُبٍ ضَرباً تَرَكنا

شَنُوءَةَ بَعدَهُ مُتَخَشِّعِينَا

شَنُوءَةَ بَعدَهُ مُتَخَشِّعِينَا

On both banks of Akhrub we dealt blows that left

Shanūʾa humbled afterward.

وَأَقبَلَتِ الفَوَارِسُ مِن ثَقِيفٍ

وَأَقبَلَتِ الفَوَارِسُ مِن ثَقِيفٍ

لِنَصرٍ عِندَ ذَلِكَ مُجلِبِينَا

لِنَصرٍ عِندَ ذَلِكَ مُجلِبِينَا

The horsemen of Thaqīf came forward

to help then, clamoring,

فَلمَّا واجَهُونا أَسلَمُوهُم

فَلمَّا واجَهُونا أَسلَمُوهُم

وَهَابُوا جانِباً مِنها زَبُونَا

وَهَابُوا جانِباً مِنها زَبُونَا

but when they faced us, they abandoned them

and feared its fiercely repelling flank.

وأَيتَمنَا رَبِيعَةَ مِن أَبيهِ

وأَيتَمنَا رَبِيعَةَ مِن أَبيهِ

وَبِالشَّدّاخِ بَكَينَا العُيُونَا

وَبِالشَّدّاخِ بَكَينَا العُيُونَا

We orphaned Rabīʿa of his father,

and made eyes weep for al-Shaddākh.

وَقَتَّلنَا سَرَاةَ بَنِى جِحَاشِ

وَقَتَّلنَا سَرَاةَ بَنِى جِحَاشِ

وَأَثكَلنَا نِسَاءَهُمُ البَنِينَا

وَأَثكَلنَا نِسَاءَهُمُ البَنِينَا

We slew the chiefs of Banū Jiḥāsh,

and bereaved their women of their sons.

وَهَامَ الأَخنَسَينِ مَعاً ضَرَبنَا

وَهَامَ الأَخنَسَينِ مَعاً ضَرَبنَا

بِبِيضِ كُلِّ عَظمٍ يَختَلِينَا

بِبِيضِ كُلِّ عَظمٍ يَختَلِينَا

We struck the heads of both Akhnases together

with white blades that slice through every bone.

فَغَادَرناهُمُ لَحماً عَلَيهِ

فَغَادَرناهُمُ لَحماً عَلَيهِ

عَوَائِدُ يَختَلِفنَ ويَلتَقِينَا

عَوَائِدُ يَختَلِفنَ ويَلتَقِينَا

We left them flesh, upon which

returning scavengers came and went, meeting there.

وَأَتبَعنَا القَنَا فِى ابنَى دُخَانٍ

وَأَتبَعنَا القَنَا فِى ابنَى دُخَانٍ

وقَد عَرَضُوا لَنَا مُستَلئِمِينَا

وقَد عَرَضُوا لَنَا مُستَلئِمِينَا

We drove the spears into the two sons of Dukhān,

who had faced us clad in armor,

وَفِى أَشيَاعِهِم حَتَّى انثَنَينَا

وَفِى أَشيَاعِهِم حَتَّى انثَنَينَا

بِعَالِيهِنَّ مَخضُوباً دَهِينَا

بِعَالِيهِنَّ مَخضُوباً دَهِينَا

and into their followers, until we turned away

with their spear-tips dyed and greasy.

فَيَومَ القَرنِ نَصَّت أَلفَ قَيسٍ

فَيَومَ القَرنِ نَصَّت أَلفَ قَيسٍ

ثَلاثُونَا فأَجلَوا نَادِمِيناَ

ثَلاثُونَا فأَجلَوا نَادِمِيناَ

On the day of al-Qarn, Qays's thousand were pressed hard

by thirty; they withdrew in remorse.

وَعَدَّ النَّاسُ قَتلاَهُم وَكانُوا

وَعَدَّ النَّاسُ قَتلاَهُم وَكانُوا

عَلَى مَا عُدَّ مِنَّا مُضعِفِينَا

عَلَى مَا عُدَّ مِنَّا مُضعِفِينَا

People counted their dead, and they were

twice as many as those counted among us.

وَمِنهُم خَالِدٌ طاحَت يَدَاهُ

وَمِنهُم خَالِدٌ طاحَت يَدَاهُ

وَهَامَةُ جَابِرٍ لَمّا انتُضِينَا

وَهَامَةُ جَابِرٍ لَمّا انتُضِينَا

Among them was Khālid, whose two hands fell away,

and Jābir's head, when the swords were drawn.

وَأَبرَهَةُ بنُ صَبّاحٍ فَجَعنَا

وَأَبرَهَةُ بنُ صَبّاحٍ فَجَعنَا

بِهِ أَصحَابَهُ المُتَجَبِّرِينَا

بِهِ أَصحَابَهُ المُتَجَبِّرِينَا

And Abraha son of Ṣabbāḥ—we brought grief

through him to his overbearing companions.

وَمِن قَتَلاهُمُ قَطَنٌ وَمِنهُم

وَمِن قَتَلاهُمُ قَطَنٌ وَمِنهُم

غَنِىٌّ فِى كُماةٍ مُقعَصِينَا

غَنِىٌّ فِى كُماةٍ مُقعَصِينَا

Among their slain was Qaṭan, and among them

Ghaniyy, amid champions killed outright.

وأَنقَذنا قَبائلَ كان يجَبِى

وأَنقَذنا قَبائلَ كان يجَبِى

يُحابِرُ مِنهُمُ حُمراً وَجُونَا

يُحابِرُ مِنهُمُ حُمراً وَجُونَا

We rescued tribes from which tribute was collected

by Yuḥābir—red and black livestock.

وَأَسرَعنا لَعَمرِو بَنِى زُبَيدٍ

وَأَسرَعنا لَعَمرِو بَنِى زُبَيدٍ

فأَحرَزَهُ نَجاءُ الهارِبِينا

فأَحرَزَهُ نَجاءُ الهارِبِينا

We rushed upon ʿAmr of Banū Zubayd,

but the fugitives' swift escape protected him.

وَقُدنا أُمَّهُ حَتَّى قَرَنّا

وَقُدنا أُمَّهُ حَتَّى قَرَنّا

بِها صَفَّينِ مِن حِزَقٍ حَوِينَا

بِها صَفَّينِ مِن حِزَقٍ حَوِينَا

We led away his mother until we bound

to her two ranks of bands we had captured,

إِلَى الأَعناقِ ثُمَّ تَنازَعاهَا

إِلَى الأَعناقِ ثُمَّ تَنازَعاهَا

بِرجلَيها يَجُرَّانِ الجَنِينَا

بِرجلَيها يَجُرَّانِ الجَنِينَا

at the necks; then the two tugged her between them

by her legs, dragging out the fetus.

وَيَومَ القاعِ مِن سَفّانَ جاءَت

وَيَومَ القاعِ مِن سَفّانَ جاءَت

بَكِيلُ وحاشِدٌ مُتَأَلِّبِينَا

بَكِيلُ وحاشِدٌ مُتَأَلِّبِينَا

On the day of al-Qāʿ, from Saffān came

Bakīl and Ḥāshid, massed together.

وَجِئنا فِى مُقَدَّمَةٍ طَحُونٍ

وَجِئنا فِى مُقَدَّمَةٍ طَحُونٍ

لها زَجَلٌ يُصِمُّ السّامِعِينَأ

لها زَجَلٌ يُصِمُّ السّامِعِينَأ

We came in a grinding vanguard,

whose clamor deafened all who heard.

كأَنَّ هَرِيرَ حَملَتِنا عَلَيهِم

كأَنَّ هَرِيرَ حَملَتِنا عَلَيهِم

هَرِيرُ النّارِ أَشعَلَت العَرِينَا

هَرِيرُ النّارِ أَشعَلَت العَرِينَا

As though the roar of our charge against them

were the roar of fire setting the thicket ablaze.

تَطَايَحُ هامُهُم بالبِيضِ شَتَّى

تَطَايَحُ هامُهُم بالبِيضِ شَتَّى

وُنتبِعُهُنَّ حَتَّى يَنثَنِينَا

وُنتبِعُهُنَّ حَتَّى يَنثَنِينَا

Their heads flew apart beneath the white blades,

and we follow them up until they bend back,

بِأَسيافٍ سَقَتهَا الجِنُّ مَلساً

بِأَسيافٍ سَقَتهَا الجِنُّ مَلساً

بأَيدِيها وَأَخلَصَتِ المُتُونَا

بأَيدِيها وَأَخلَصَتِ المُتُونَا

with swords that the jinn tempered smooth

with their hands, purifying the blade-faces.

وَعَن ذِى مهدَمِ لَمَّا تَعَدَّى

وَعَن ذِى مهدَمِ لَمَّا تَعَدَّى

مَزَقنا تاجَ مُلكِ المُعتَدِينا

مَزَقنا تاجَ مُلكِ المُعتَدِينا

And from Dhū Mahdam, when he overstepped,

we tore the crown of the aggressors' rule.

فأَشعَرنا حَشاهُ زَعبِيّاً

فأَشعَرنا حَشاهُ زَعبِيّاً

مِنَ الهِندىِّ مَطرُوراً سَننِينَا

مِنَ الهِندىِّ مَطرُوراً سَننِينَا

We drove into his entrails a Zaʿbī spear,

of Indian steel, sharpened and honed.

وَقَد علِمَ القَبائِلُ مِن مَعَدٍّ

وَقَد علِمَ القَبائِلُ مِن مَعَدٍّ

وَذِى يَمَنٍ شِفاءِ الجائِرِينَا

وَذِى يَمَنٍ شِفاءِ الجائِرِينَا

The tribes of Maʿadd have come to know,

and Yemen's people, the remedy for oppressors:

بِأَنّا المُعتَدُونَ إِذا غَضِبنا

بِأَنّا المُعتَدُونَ إِذا غَضِبنا

وأنّا المُفضِلُونَ إِذا رَضِينَا

وأنّا المُفضِلُونَ إِذا رَضِينَا

that we are aggressors when angered,

and generous when content;

وأَنّا لا نَمُوتُ وَلَوغُشِينَا

وأَنّا لا نَمُوتُ وَلَوغُشِينَا

عَلَى العِلاّتِ إِلاّ مُقبِلِينَا

عَلَى العِلاّتِ إِلاّ مُقبِلِينَا

and that we do not die, even if overwhelmed,

despite all hardships, except facing forward;

وَأَنَّا صادِقُونَ إِذا فَخَرنَا

وَأَنَّا صادِقُونَ إِذا فَخَرنَا

بَذَخنا فَوقَ بَذخِ البَاذِخِينا

بَذَخنا فَوقَ بَذخِ البَاذِخِينا

and that we speak truly when we boast:

we tower above the pride of the proud,

بِمَأَثَرَةٍ يُبِينَ الصِّدقُ عَنها

بِمَأَثَرَةٍ يُبِينَ الصِّدقُ عَنها

وَيُبطِلُ بِدعَةَ المُتَأَشِّبِينَا

وَيُبطِلُ بِدعَةَ المُتَأَشِّبِينَا

through a glorious deed that truth makes clear

and refutes the invention of the motley rabble.

حَمَت ما بَينَ حَرَّةِ فَرعِ قَيسٍ

حَمَت ما بَينَ حَرَّةِ فَرعِ قَيسٍ

إِلَى الأًفراطِ إِلاّ الصّائِفِينَا

إِلَى الأًفراطِ إِلاّ الصّائِفِينَا

It guarded the land from the lava-field of Farʿ Qays

to al-Afrāṭ, against all but summer visitors.

لَها مِنها كَتائِبُ لَو رَمَينَا

لَها مِنها كَتائِبُ لَو رَمَينَا

بِطَمحَتِها جُمُوعَ العَالَمِينا

بِطَمحَتِها جُمُوعَ العَالَمِينا

It has battalions of its own; if we hurled

its onrush against the hosts of all the worlds,

معاً وَالجِنَّ طَوعاً غادَرَتهُم

معاً وَالجِنَّ طَوعاً غادَرَتهُم

لأَوَّلِ وَقعَةٍ مِنهُم طَحِينَا

لأَوَّلِ وَقعَةٍ مِنهُم طَحِينَا

all together, and the jinn, it would readily leave them

ground to flour at their very first clash.

زَمانَ الشِّركِ حَتَّى قامَ فِينَا

زَمانَ الشِّركِ حَتَّى قامَ فِينَا

رَسُولُ اللهِ مَرضِيّا أَمِينَا

رَسُولُ اللهِ مَرضِيّا أَمِينَا

In the age of idolatry, until there arose among us

God's Messenger, approved and trustworthy.

فَلمّا عَزَّ دِينُ الحَقِّ فِينَا

فَلمّا عَزَّ دِينُ الحَقِّ فِينَا

صَرَفنا حَدَّها لِلكافِرينَا

صَرَفنا حَدَّها لِلكافِرينَا

When the religion of truth grew strong among us,

we turned its edge against the unbelievers.

وَقَتَّلنا مُلُوكَ الرُّومِ حَتَّى

وَقَتَّلنا مُلُوكَ الرُّومِ حَتَّى

سَكَنّا حَيثُ كانُوا يَسكُنُونَا

سَكَنّا حَيثُ كانُوا يَسكُنُونَا

We slew the kings of the Rūm until

we dwelt where they used to dwell.

وَقَدَّمنا كَتائِبَها فَجَاسَت

وَقَدَّمنا كَتائِبَها فَجَاسَت

مَواخِيرَ الفُجُورِ المُشركينَا

مَواخِيرَ الفُجُورِ المُشركينَا

We sent its battalions ahead, and they ranged through

the idolaters' dens of debauchery.