وَسْوَاسُthe whispering of حَلْيِكِyour jewelry أمْor هُمُthey الرُّقَبَاءُthe watchers
وَسْوَاسُ حَلْيِكِ أمْ هُمُ الرُّقَبَاءُ
لِلْقَلْبِfor the heart نَحْوَtoward حَدِيثِهمْtheir talk إِصْغَاءُattentive listening
لِلْقَلْبِ نَحْوَ حَدِيثِهمْ إِصْغَاءُ
Is that your jewelry's whisper, or the watchers?
The heart listens closely to their talk.
وَوَمِيضُand the flash of ثَغْرِكِyour mouth أمor تَأَلُّقُthe gleaming of بَارِقٍa lightning flash
وَوَمِيضُ ثَغْرِكِ أم تَأَلُّقُ بَارِقٍ
وَشِهَابُand the meteor of شُنْفِكِyour earring ذَاthis أَمِor الْجَوْزَاءُOrion
وَشِهَابُ شُنْفِكِ ذَا أَمِ الْجَوْزَاءُ
And is that your smile's flash, or lightning's gleam?
And is that your earring's meteor, or Orion?
يَاO بَانَةًa bān tree وَرَقُthe foliage of الشَّبَابِyouth ظِلاَلُهَاits shade
يَا بَانَةً وَرَقُ الشَّبَابِ ظِلاَلُهَا
وَكَأَنَّand as though قَلْبِيmy heart بَيْنَهَاamid it وَرْقَاءُa gray dove
وَكَأَنَّ قَلْبِي بَيْنَهَا وَرْقَاءُ
O bān tree, whose shade is the foliage of youth,
As though my heart within it were a gray dove.
يَاO بَدْرَmoon of تِمَّfullness يَهْتَدِيis guided بِضِيَائِهِby its light
يَا بَدْرَ تِمَّ يَهْتَدِي بِضِيَائِهِ
سَاريthe night traveler of الفَلاَةِthe desert وَلَيْلَتِيand my night لَيْلاَءُpitch-dark
سَاري الفَلاَةِ وَلَيْلَتِي لَيْلاَءُ
O full moon, by whose light is guided
The desert's night traveler, while my night is pitch-dark.
أَشْكُوكِshall I complain of you أَمْor أَشْكُوshall I complain إِلَيْكِto you صَبَابَتِيmy ardent longing
أَشْكُوكِ أَمْ أَشْكُو إِلَيْكِ صَبَابَتِي
أَنْتِyou الدَّوَاءُthe cure وَمِنْكِand from you كَانَcame الدَّاءُthe ailment
أَنْتِ الدَّوَاءُ وَمِنْكِ كَانَ الدَّاءُ
Shall I complain of you, or complain to you of my longing?
You are the cure, and from you came the ailment.
مَاno لَجَّpersisted دَاءٌdisease أَوْor تَفَاقَمَgrew worse مُعْضِلٌan intractable malady
مَا لَجَّ دَاءٌ أَوْ تَفَاقَمَ مُعْضِلٌ
إلاَّexcept وَفِيand in يُمْنَىthe right of يَدَيْهِhis two hands شِفَاءُa cure
إلاَّ وَفِي يُمْنَى يَدَيْهِ شِفَاءُ
No disease persisted, nor did any baffling malady worsen,
But a cure lay in his right hand.
إِنْif رَامَhe sought بِالْتَدْبِيرِthrough treatment حِيلَةَa means of بُرْئِهَاtheir recovery
إِنْ رَامَ بِالْتَدْبِيرِ حِيلَةَ بُرْئِهَا
أُبْدَتْrevealed مَنَافِعَهَاtheir uses لَهُto him الأَعْضَاءُthe organs
أُبْدَتْ مَنَافِعَهَا لَهُ الأَعْضَاءُ
If he sought through treatment a means of curing them,
The organs revealed their uses to him.
حَتَّىuntil إَذَاwhen سَئِمْتْgrew weary نُفُوسُهُمُtheir souls الرَّدَىdeath
حَتَّى إَذَا سَئِمْتْ نُفُوسُهُمُ الرَّدَى
وَاعْتَاضَand accepted a substitute مُصْطَبَرٌone enduring patiently وَعَزَّand grew scarce عَزَاءُconsolation
وَاعْتَاضَ مُصْطَبَرٌ وَعَزَّ عَزَاءُ
Until, when their souls grew weary of death,
And the steadfast accepted an alternative, and solace grew scarce,
وَافَوْاthey arrived وَقَدْand already جَعَلُواthey had made الدُّرُوعَarmor ضَرَاعَةًsupplication
وَافَوْا وَقَدْ جَعَلُوا الدُّرُوعَ ضَرَاعَةً
إذاwhen لمnot يكنwas غيرother than الخضوعsubmission وفاءloyalty
إذا لم يكن غير الخضوع وفاء
They arrived, having turned armor into supplication,
When only submission counted as loyalty.
وتبوأواand took as their dwelling دارthe abode of الخلافةthe caliphate ملجأًas a refuge
وتبوأوا دار الخلافة ملجأً
فَلَهُمْso for them بِعَقْوَةِin the forecourt of بَابِهاits gate اسْتِجْدَاءُbegging
فَلَهُمْ بِعَقْوَةِ بَابِها اسْتِجْدَاءُ
And took the caliphate's abode as a refuge,
So they begged in the forecourt of its gate.
فَعُيُونُهُمْso their eyes صُورٌaverted وَوَقْعُand the sound of حَدِيْثِهِمْtheir talk
فَعُيُونُهُمْ صُورٌ وَوَقْعُ حَدِيْثِهِمْ
هَمْسٌa whisper وَرَجْعُand the response of كَلاَمِهِمْtheir speech إِيمَاءُgestures
هَمْسٌ وَرَجْعُ كَلاَمِهِمْ إِيمَاءُ
Their eyes were averted, and the sound of their talk
Was a whisper; their answering speech was gestures.
رَهَباًin fear فَعَافٍso a suppliant شَاقَهُdrew him بَذْلُthe giving of النَّدَىbounty
رَهَباً فَعَافٍ شَاقَهُ بَذْلُ النَّدَى
رَاجٍhopeful وَطَاغٍand a transgressor سَاقَهُdrove him اسْتِعْفَاءُseeking pardon
رَاجٍ وَطَاغٍ سَاقَهُ اسْتِعْفَاءُ
In dread: a suppliant drawn by bounty freely given,
Hopeful, and a transgressor driven to seek pardon.
عَلِمُواthey knew مَوَاقِعthe measure of ذَنْبِهِمْtheir guilt مِنْfrom عَفْوِهِhis pardon
عَلِمُوا مَوَاقِع ذَنْبِهِمْ مِنْ عَفْوِهِ
فَاسْتَشْعَرُواso they sensed الإِحْسَانَkindness حِينَwhen أَسَاءُواthey did wrong
فَاسْتَشْعَرُوا الإِحْسَانَ حِينَ أَسَاءُوا
They gauged their guilt by his pardon,
So they sensed kindness even as they did wrong.
لاlet not يَحْسَبَنَّever suppose الرُّومُthe Romans سِلْمَكَyour peace رَهْبَةًfear
لا يَحْسَبَنَّ الرُّومُ سِلْمَكَ رَهْبَةً
فَالزِّنْدُfor the fire-stick لِلنِّيرَانِfor flames فِيهِwithin it ثَوَاءُa dwelling
فَالزِّنْدُ لِلنِّيرَانِ فِيهِ ثَوَاءُ
Let the Romans never think your peace is fear:
For flames have their dwelling in the fire-stick.
لَمْnot تُغْمَدِwere sheathed الأَسْيَافُthe swords مِنْbecause of وَهَنٍweakness بِهَاin them
لَمْ تُغْمَدِ الأَسْيَافُ مِنْ وَهَنٍ بِهَا
لِكِنْbut نُفُوسٌlives أُجِّلَتْwere granted respite وَدِمَاءُand blood
لِكِنْ نُفُوسٌ أُجِّلَتْ وَدِمَاءُ
The swords were not sheathed for any weakness in them,
Rather, lives and blood were granted respite.
نَامَتْthey slept عَلَىupon شِبَعٍsatiety وَقَدْand already سَالَمْتَهُمْyou made peace with them
نَامَتْ عَلَى شِبَعٍ وَقَدْ سَالَمْتَهُمْ
وَعِلاَجُand the cure for فَرْطِexcessive البِطْنَةِfullness الإِغْفَاءُdozing
وَعِلاَجُ فَرْطِ البِطْنَةِ الإِغْفَاءُ
They slept, sated, once you had made peace with them;
And sleep is the cure for overfullness.
يَاO نَيِّراًa luminary لَوْلاَbut for تَوُقُّدُthe blazing of نُورِهِits light
يَا نَيِّراً لَوْلاَ تَوُقُّدُ نُورِهِ
هَفَتِfaltered الحُلُومُminds وَفَالَتِand failed الآرَاءُjudgments
هَفَتِ الحُلُومُ وَفَالَتِ الآرَاءُ
O luminary, but for whose blazing light,
Minds would falter and judgments fail.
لَوْif أَنَّthat بَأْسَكَyour might وَالْجُمُوعُand the armies زَوَاحِفٌadvancing
لَوْ أَنَّ بَأْسَكَ وَالْجُمُوعُ زَوَاحِفٌ
فِيat مَجْمَعِthe meeting of البَحْرَيْنِthe two seas غِيضَwould be drained الْمَاءُthe water
فِي مَجْمَعِ البَحْرَيْنِ غِيضَ الْمَاءُ
Were your might, with the armies advancing,
At the meeting of the two seas, the waters would drain away.
لَوْif أَنَّthat مِنْfrom مُسْتَنِّthe swift course of عَزْمِكَyour resolve هَبَّةًa gust
لَوْ أَنَّ مِنْ مُسْتَنِّ عَزْمِكَ هَبَّةً
فِيin الرِّيْحِthe wind مَاnot نُسِبَتْwould be ascribed لَهُنَّto them رُخَاءُgentleness
فِي الرِّيْحِ مَا نُسِبَتْ لَهُنَّ رُخَاءُ
Were a gust from your resolve's swift course
Among the winds, none could be called gentle.
لِلَّهِto God سَيْفُكَyour sword وَالْقُلُوبُand hearts بَوَالِغٌreaching
لِلَّهِ سَيْفُكَ وَالْقُلُوبُ بَوَالِغٌ
ثُغَرَthe openings of الحَنَاجِرِthe throats والنُّفُوسُand souls ظِمَاءُthirsty
ثُغَرَ الحَنَاجِرِ والنُّفُوسُ ظِمَاءُ
God be praised for your sword, when hearts reach
The openings of throats, and souls are thirsty!
تَتَزَاحَمُjostle الأَرْوَاحُsouls دُونَbefore وُرُودِهِdrinking from it
تَتَزَاحَمُ الأَرْوَاحُ دُونَ وُرُودِهِ
فَكَأَنَّمَاso as though هُوَit نُطْفَةٌa drop of water زَرْقَاءُblue
فَكَأَنَّمَا هُوَ نُطْفَةٌ زَرْقَاءُ
Souls jostle before reaching it to drink,
As though it were a blue drop of water.
لِلَّهِto God قَوْمُكَyour people آلُthe House of نَصْرٍNasr وَالْقَنَاand the spears
لِلَّهِ قَوْمُكَ آلُ نَصْرٍ وَالْقَنَا
قِصَدٌsplinters وَأَجْسَامُand the bodies of العِدَىthe enemies أَشْلاَءُsevered limbs
قِصَدٌ وَأَجْسَامُ العِدَى أَشْلاَءُ
God be praised for your people, the House of Nasr, when spears
Lie splintered, and enemy bodies lie dismembered.
الطَّاعِنُونَthose who spear الْخَيْلَthe cavalry يَوْمَthe day of المُلْتَقَىencounter
الطَّاعِنُونَ الْخَيْلَ يَوْمَ المُلْتَقَى
وَالْمُطْعِمُونَand those who feed إِذَاwhen عَدَتْassails شَهْبَاءُa gray famine-year
وَالْمُطْعِمُونَ إِذَا عَدَتْ شَهْبَاءُ
Who spear the cavalry on the day of battle,
And feed others when a gray famine-year strikes.
سِيمَاهُمُtheir mark التَّقْوَىpiety أَشِدَّاءٌstern عَلىtoward الْthe
سِيمَاهُمُ التَّقْوَى أَشِدَّاءٌ عَلى الْ
كُفَّرِunbelievers فِيمَاin what is بَيْنَهمرُحَمَاءُbetween them, merciful
كُفَّرِ فِيمَا بَيْنَهمرُحَمَاءُ
Their mark is piety; they are stern toward the
Unbelievers, merciful among themselves.
نَصَرُواthey aided الْجَزِيرَةَthe peninsula أَوَّلاًat first وَنَصِيرُهَاand its defender
نَصَرُوا الْجَزِيرَةَ أَوَّلاً وَنَصِيرُهَا
ضَاقَتْgrew narrow عَلَيْهِaround him بِرَحْبِهَاdespite its breadth الأَنْحَاءُthe regions
ضَاقَتْ عَلَيْهِ بِرَحْبِهَا الأَنْحَاءُ
They first aided the peninsula, while its defender
Found its regions closing in on him, for all their breadth.
وَأَتَوْاand they came وَدِينُwhile the religion of اللهِGod لَيْسَwas not بِأَهْلِهِamong its people
وَأَتَوْا وَدِينُ اللهِ لَيْسَ بِأَهْلِهِ
إِلاَّexcept أَلِيلٌa moan خَافِتٌfaint وَذَمَاءُand a remnant of life
إِلاَّ أَلِيلٌ خَافِتٌ وَذَمَاءُ
And they came when God's religion, among its people, was
Only a faint moan and a remnant of life.
قَمَعُواthey subdued بِهَاin it الأَعْدَاءَthe enemies حَتَّىuntil أَذْعَنُواthey yielded
قَمَعُوا بِهَا الأَعْدَاءَ حَتَّى أَذْعَنُوا
وَالْبِيضُand the white swords مِنْfrom عَلَقِclots of النَّجيعِfresh blood رِوَاءُsated
وَالْبِيضُ مِنْ عَلَقِ النَّجيعِ رِوَاءُ
There they subdued the enemies until they yielded,
And the white swords were sated with clots of fresh blood.
فَكَأَنَّمَاso as though حُمْرُthe red ones of البُنُوْدِthe banners خَوَافِقاًfluttering
فَكَأَنَّمَا حُمْرُ البُنُوْدِ خَوَافِقاً
مِنْهَاamong them قُلُوبٌhearts شَفَّهُنَّwore them thin عَنَاءُanguish
مِنْهَا قُلُوبٌ شَفَّهُنَّ عَنَاءُ
So the red banners, fluttering, seemed
Like hearts among them, worn thin by anguish.
لَمْnot يَأْمَنُواdid they feel safe from مَكْرَthe stratagem of الإِلاَهِGod وَإِنَّمَاand only
لَمْ يَأْمَنُوا مَكْرَ الإِلاَهِ وَإِنَّمَا
إِمْهَالُهُمْtheir reprieve عَنْfrom وِرْدِهِencountering it إِمْلاَءُa granting of time
إِمْهَالُهُمْ عَنْ وِرْدِهِ إِمْلاَءُ
They have not felt safe from God's stratagem; rather,
Their respite from encountering it is only time allowed.
إِنْif أَبْرَمُواthey firmly resolved أَمْراًa plan فَرَبُّكَthen your Lord مُبْرَمٌfirmly resolves
إِنْ أَبْرَمُوا أَمْراً فَرَبُّكَ مُبْرَمٌ
أمْراًa plan وَإِنَّهُمْand indeed they هُمُthey themselves السُّفَهَاءُthe fools
أمْراً وَإِنَّهُمْ هُمُ السُّفَهَاءُ
If they have settled on a plan, your Lord is settling
A plan; they themselves are surely the fools.
وَاللهُand God جَلَّexalted اسْماًin name لِمُلْكِكَfor your kingdom حزبهits ally
وَاللهُ جَلَّ اسْماً لِمُلْكِكَ حزبه
وَاللهُand God فِيهِin Him كِفَايَةٌsufficiency وَكِفَاءُand an equal match
وَاللهُ فِيهِ كِفَايَةٌ وَكِفَاءُ
And God—exalted be His name—is your kingdom's ally;
And God suffices, a match for every foe.
فَمَنِso who المُدَافِعُcan resist والمَلاَئِكُwhile the angels حِزْبُهُare its host
فَمَنِ المُدَافِعُ والمَلاَئِكُ حِزْبُهُ
وَاللهُand God رِدْءٌa support وَالْجُنُودُand the armies قَضَاءُdestiny
وَاللهُ رِدْءٌ وَالْجُنُودُ قَضَاءُ
Who can resist, when the angels are its host,
God its support, and its armies destiny?
وَإِذاand if هُمُthey عَادُواreturn لِمَاto what عَنْهُfrom it نُهُواthey were forbidden
وَإِذا هُمُ عَادُوا لِمَا عَنْهُ نُهُوا
فَغِرَارُthen the edge of سَيْفِكَyour sword لِلْعُصَاةِfor the rebellious جَزَاءُrecompense
فَغِرَارُ سَيْفِكَ لِلْعُصَاةِ جَزَاءُ
And if they return to what they were forbidden,
Your sword's keen edge is the rebels' recompense.
مَزِّقْtear away جُفُونَthe eyelids of الْبِيضِthe white swords عَنْfrom أَلْحَاظِهَاtheir glances
مَزِّقْ جُفُونَ الْبِيضِ عَنْ أَلْحَاظِهَا
لِتَسِيْلَso that may flow فَوقَover شِفَارِهَاtheir edges الحَوْبَاءُthe lifeblood
لِتَسِيْلَ فَوقَ شِفَارِهَا الحَوْبَاءُ
Tear the white swords' eyelids away from their glances,
So that lifeblood flows over their edges.
وَاهْزُرْand shake غُصُونَthe branches of السُّمْرِthe brown spears وَهْيَwhile they are ذَوَابِلٌwithered
وَاهْزُرْ غُصُونَ السُّمْرِ وَهْيَ ذَوَابِلٌ
تَسْقُطْwill fall عَلَيْكَupon you الْعِزَّةُglory القَعْسَاءُunassailable
تَسْقُطْ عَلَيْكَ الْعِزَّةُ القَعْسَاءُ
And shake the brown spears' branches, though withered,
Unassailable glory will fall upon you.
يَاO أَيُّهَاyou الْمَلِكُthe king الَّذِيwho مِنْfrom رَأْيِهِhis judgment
يَا أَيُّهَا الْمَلِكُ الَّذِي مِنْ رَأْيِهِ
جُنْدٌan army لَهُfor it النَّصْرُvictory العَزِيزُmighty لِوَاءُa banner
جُنْدٌ لَهُ النَّصْرُ العَزِيزُ لِوَاءُ
O king, from whose judgment comes
An army with mighty victory for its banner,
يَهْنِيْكَmay gladden you أَسْعَدُthe happiest وَافِدٍvisitor مَاnot تَنْقَضِيcome to an end
يَهْنِيْكَ أَسْعَدُ وَافِدٍ مَا تَنْقَضِي
أَيَّامُهُits days وَسَعَادَةٌand happiness وَبَقَاءُand enduring life
أَيَّامُهُ وَسَعَادَةٌ وَبَقَاءُ
May the happiest visitor gladden you, with no end
To its days, and with happiness and enduring life:
عِيدٌa feast أَعَدْتَyou made again الدّهْرَTime فِيهِin it يَافِعَاًyouthful
عِيدٌ أَعَدْتَ الدّهْرَ فِيهِ يَافِعَاً
طَلْقَاًradiant تَلُوحُshines بِوَجْهِهِupon his face السَّرَّاءُjoy
طَلْقَاً تَلُوحُ بِوَجْهِهِ السَّرَّاءُ
A feast in which you made Time youthful again,
Radiant, with joy shining upon his face.
لَمَّاwhen بَرَزْتَyou went forth إلَىto المُصَلَّىthe prayer ground مَاشِياًon foot
لَمَّا بَرَزْتَ إلَى المُصَلَّى مَاشِياً
وَدَّتْwished خَدُودٌcheeks أَنَّهَاthat they were حَصْبَاءُpebbles
وَدَّتْ خَدُودٌ أَنَّهَا حَصْبَاءُ
When you went forth on foot to the prayer ground,
Cheeks wished that they were pebbles.
وَسَمَتْand rose إلَىto لُقْيَاكَmeeting you أَبْصَارُthe eyes of الوَرىhumanity
وَسَمَتْ إلَى لُقْيَاكَ أَبْصَارُ الوَرى
حَتَّىuntil كَأَنَّas though جَمِيعَهُمْall of them حِرْبَاءُa chameleon
حَتَّى كَأَنَّ جَمِيعَهُمْ حِرْبَاءُ
And humanity's eyes rose to meet you,
Until they all seemed chameleons.
حَتَّىuntil إذَاwhen اصْطَفُّواthey stood in ranks وَأَنْتَand you وَسِيلَةٌa means of approach
حَتَّى إذَا اصْطَفُّوا وَأَنْتَ وَسِيلَةٌ
وَسَمَاand rose إلَىto مَرْقَىthe height of الْقَبُولِacceptance دُعَاءُa prayer
وَسَمَا إلَى مَرْقَى الْقَبُولِ دُعَاءُ
Until, when they stood in ranks, with you their means of approach,
And prayer rose to the height of acceptance,
مُلِئَتْwere filled صُدُورُthe breasts of المُسْلِمِينَthe Muslims سَكِينَةًwith tranquility
مُلِئَتْ صُدُورُ المُسْلِمِينَ سَكِينَةً
إذْat ذَاكَthat moment وانْتَاشَand rescued القُلُوبَthe hearts رَجَاءُhope
إذْ ذَاكَ وانْتَاشَ القُلُوبَ رَجَاءُ
The Muslims' breasts were filled with tranquility
At that moment, and hope rescued their hearts.
وَتَيَقَّنُواand they were certain of الغُفْرَانَforgiveness فِيfor زَلاَّتِهِمْtheir lapses
وَتَيَقَّنُوا الغُفْرَانَ فِي زَلاَّتِهِمْ
مِمَّنْfrom Him who لَدَيْهِwith Him الْخَلْقُcreation وَالإنْشَاءُand origination
مِمَّنْ لَدَيْهِ الْخَلْقُ وَالإنْشَاءُ
And they were certain of forgiveness for their lapses,
From Him to whom belong creation and origination.
قَسَماًan oath بِرَبِّby the Lord of البُزْلِthe mature camels وَهْيَwhile they are طَلاَئِحٌexhausted
قَسَماً بِرَبِّ البُزْلِ وَهْيَ طَلاَئِحٌ
نَحَتَتْhas worn away مَنَاسِمَthe footpads of سُوقِهَاtheir legs الْبَيْدَاءُthe desert
نَحَتَتْ مَنَاسِمَ سُوقِهَا الْبَيْدَاءُ
I swear by the Lord of the full-grown camels, worn out,
Whose footpads the desert has worn away,
مِنْfrom كُلِّevery نِضْوِwasted beast of الآلِthe mirage يَسْتَفُّdevours الفَلاَthe desert
مِنْ كُلِّ نِضْوِ الآلِ يَسْتَفُّ الفَلاَ
سَيْراًin travel تَقَلَّصُshrink دُونَهُbefore it الأَرْجَاءُthe expanses
سَيْراً تَقَلَّصُ دُونَهُ الأَرْجَاءُ
Each a mirage-wasted beast, devouring the desert
In travel before which the wide horizons shrink,
عُوجاًbent كَأَمْثَالِlike the shapes of القِسِيِّbows ضَوَامِراًlean
عُوجاً كَأَمْثَالِ القِسِيِّ ضَوَامِراً
أَغْرَاضُهُنَّtheir goals الرُّكْنُthe Corner وَالْبَطْحَاءُand al-Batha
أَغْرَاضُهُنَّ الرُّكْنُ وَالْبَطْحَاءُ
Bent like bows, lean,
Their goals the Corner and al-Batha.
يَحْمِلْنَthey carry كُلَّevery مَسَهَّدٍsleepless one أَضْلاَعُهُhis ribs
يَحْمِلْنَ كُلَّ مَسَهَّدٍ أَضْلاَعُهُ
صًيْفٌsummer وَفِيand in الآمَاقِthe eye-corners مِنْهُof him شِتَاءُwinter
صًيْفٌ وَفِي الآمَاقِ مِنْهُ شِتَاءُ
They carry every sleepless one, whose ribs
Are summer, while winter fills his eye-corners.
لَرَفَعْتَyou have indeed raised ظِلَّthe shade of الأَمْنِِsecurity خَفَّاقاًfluttering فَقَدْfor already
لَرَفَعْتَ ظِلَّ الأَمْنِِ خَفَّاقاً فَقَدْ
كَادَتْalmost تَسِيرُwalk مَعَwith الذِّئَابِthe wolves الشَّاءُthe sheep
كَادَتْ تَسِيرُ مَعَ الذِّئَابِ الشَّاءُ
You have raised security's fluttering shade; indeed,
The sheep all but walk among the wolves.
وَكَفَفَتْand you restrained كَفَّthe hand of الجَوْرِoppression فِيin أَرْجَائِهَاits regions
وَكَفَفَتْ كَفَّ الجَوْرِ فِي أَرْجَائِهَا
وَعَمرْتَand you restored رَبْعَthe dwelling of العَدْلِjustice وَهْوَwhile it was خَلاَءُdeserted
وَعَمرْتَ رَبْعَ العَدْلِ وَهْوَ خَلاَءُ
And you restrained oppression's hand throughout its regions,
And restored justice's dwelling when it lay deserted.
وَعَفَفْتَand you remained chaste حَتَّىeven عَنْfrom خَيَالٍa phantom طَارِقٍvisiting by night
وَعَفَفْتَ حَتَّى عَنْ خَيَالٍ طَارِقٍ
وَوَهَبْتَand you gave حَتَّىuntil أَعْذَرَdid its utmost اسْتِجْدَاءُbegging
وَوَهَبْتَ حَتَّى أَعْذَرَ اسْتِجْدَاءُ
And kept yourself chaste even from a night-visiting phantom,
And gave until begging itself had done its utmost.
قَسَماًan oath لأَنْتَsurely you مَلاَذthe refuge from كُلِّevery رَعِيبَةٍterror
قَسَماً لأَنْتَ مَلاَذ كُلِّ رَعِيبَةٍ
وَمَأَمَّand the resort of مَنْwhoever ضَاقَتْgrew narrow بِهِaround him الغَبْراءُthe dusty earth
وَمَأَمَّ مَنْ ضَاقَتْ بِهِ الغَبْراءُ
I swear, you are the refuge from every terror,
And the resort of those for whom the dusty earth grows narrow.
وَلأَنْتَand surely you ظِلُّthe shade of اللهِGod بَيْنَamong عِبَادِهِHis servants
وَلأَنْتَ ظِلُّ اللهِ بَيْنَ عِبَادِهِ
وَبِلاَدِهِand His lands إِنْif عُدِّدَare counted الأَفْيَاءُthe shades
وَبِلاَدِهِ إِنْ عُدِّدَ الأَفْيَاءُ
And you are surely God's shade among His servants
And His lands, if shades are to be counted.
أَمُؤَمَّلَO hope of الإسْلاَمِIslam إِنَّindeed وَسَائِليmy means of approach
أَمُؤَمَّلَ الإسْلاَمِ إِنَّ وَسَائِلي
هُنَّthey الشُّمُوسُthe suns فَمَاso no بِهِنَّin them خَفَاءُobscurity
هُنَّ الشُّمُوسُ فَمَا بِهِنَّ خَفَاءُ
O hope of Islam, my claims to your favor
Are suns, with nothing obscure in them.
مَاnot لِيfor me سِوَىother than حُبِّيmy love لِمُلْكِكَfor your reign مَذْهَبٌa path
مَا لِي سِوَى حُبِّي لِمُلْكِكَ مَذْهَبٌ
وَلَرُبَّمَاand often تَتَحَالَفُform alliances الأَهْوَاءُpassions
وَلَرُبَّمَا تَتَحَالَفُ الأَهْوَاءُ
I have no path but love for your reign,
And often passions make common cause.
Sol 6.1