ما بالهُ وَاِبنهُ لَم

ما بالهُ وَاِبنهُ لَم

يزَّوَجا عَرَبيَّهْ

يزَّوَجا عَرَبيَّهْ

Why have he and his son not

What ails him and his son, that they

married an Arab woman,

Did not marry an Arab woman?

وَلا أَبوهُ عَلى ما

وَلا أَبوهُ عَلى ما

بِهِم مِنَ العَصَبِيَّهْ

بِهِم مِنَ العَصَبِيَّهْ

nor his father, despite

Nor did his father, for all

all their tribal pride?

Their clannishness, do this thing.

لكِنَّهُم حينَ صاروا

لكِنَّهُم حينَ صاروا

إِلى الأُمورِ السَنِيَّهْ

إِلى الأُمورِ السَنِيَّهْ

But when they rose

But when they came of age

to lofty offices,

For mature affairs,

قَد أَبعَدوا في التمَنِّي

قَد أَبعَدوا في التمَنِّي

وَأرغبوا في العَطِيَّهْ

وَأرغبوا في العَطِيَّهْ

they went far in their wishes

They indulged their whims

and coveted gifts.

And sought only self-interest.

فَلا جَزى اللَّهُ عجلاً

فَلا جَزى اللَّهُ عجلاً

وَالعُصبَةَ الدُلفِيَّهْ

وَالعُصبَةَ الدُلفِيَّهْ

So may God not reward ʿIjl

May God not bless the hasty

and the Dulafite band

And the cliquishness of Dulfiyah

خَيراً وَلا تَركَ الْل

خَيراً وَلا تَركَ الْل

هُ فيهم مِن بَقِيَّهْ

هُ فيهم مِن بَقِيَّهْ

with good, nor may God leave

With good, nor leave any remnant of them.

any remnant among them.

Say to us, O fair-faced ones, say honestly,

قولوا لَنا يا بَني ال

قولوا لَنا يا بَني ال

حسنِ قَولَةً مُستَوِيَّهْ

حسنِ قَولَةً مُستَوِيَّهْ

Tell us, O sons of

How do you explain staying clear

al-Hasan, a straightforward word:

Of the shame of this calamity?

ماذا إِلَيهِ اِنصَرَفتُم

ماذا إِلَيهِ اِنصَرَفتُم

عَن خزيِ هذي البَلِيَّهْ

عَن خزيِ هذي البَلِيَّهْ

What have you turned to

For we have seen no standard for you

to escape the shame of this calamity?

In front of the cavalry,

فَما رَأَينا لِواءً

فَما رَأَينا لِواءً

لَكُم أَمامَ السَرِيَّهْ

لَكُم أَمامَ السَرِيَّهْ

For we have seen no banner

Nor seen any leader of you

of yours ahead of the raiding party,

Commanding the army,

وَلا رَأَينا أَميراً

وَلا رَأَينا أَميراً

مِنكُم عَلى العشرِيَّهْ

مِنكُم عَلى العشرِيَّهْ

nor have we seen a commander

Nor seen steeds being led,

from among you over a troop of ten,

Every evening,

وَلا رَأَينا جِياداً

وَلا رَأَينا جِياداً

تقادُ كُلَّ عَشِيَّهْ

تقادُ كُلَّ عَشِيَّهْ

nor have we seen fine horses

Nor hoped you would hold

being led each evening,

An everlasting administration,

وَلا طَمعنا لَكُم في

وَلا طَمعنا لَكُم في

وِلايَةٍ خلدِيَّهْ

وِلايَةٍ خلدِيَّهْ

nor have we hoped for you

Nor heard you give judgment on the Day of Judgment.

a lasting governorship,

Is it not to tavern and wine

وَلا سَمِعنا لكم في الْ

وَلا سَمِعنا لكم في الْ

قُضاةِ يَومَ القَضِيَّهْ

قُضاةِ يَومَ القَضِيَّهْ

nor have we heard of you among

And all this cruelties?

the judges on the day of a trial.

أَما إِلى مِجَن

أَما إِلى مِجَن

وَكُلّ هذا قِسِيَّهْ

وَكُلّ هذا قِسِيَّهْ

Is it not toward a shield,

and all these are his bows?