عَسى البارِقُ الشامِيُّ يَهمِيَ سَحابُهُ

عَسى البارِقُ الشامِيُّ يَهمِيَ سَحابُهُ

فَتَخضَلَّ أَثباجُ الحِمى وَرِحابُهُ

فَتَخضَلَّ أَثباجُ الحِمى وَرِحابُهُ

May the Syrian lightning's cloud pour down,

May the Syrian lightning flash and its clouds rumble,

So the protected grounds' central reaches and broad spaces grow moist;

So the fortresses of heat and their expanses wither,

وَتَسري الصَبا في جانِبَيهِ عَليلَةً

وَتَسري الصَبا في جانِبَيهِ عَليلَةً

كَما فُتِقَت مِن حَضرَمِيٍّ عِيابُهُ

كَما فُتِقَت مِن حَضرَمِيٍّ عِيابُهُ

And the east wind steals languidly along their two sides,

And the morning breeze blows gently on both its sides,

As when a Hadrami's clothing chests are opened.

As if it was let loose from a Hadhrami cloak and its wraps.

خَليليَّ مالي بِالجَزيرَةِ لا أَرى

خَليليَّ مالي بِالجَزيرَةِ لا أَرى

لِلَمياءَ طَيفاً يَزدَهيني عِتابُهُ

لِلَمياءَ طَيفاً يَزدَهيني عِتابُهُ

My two friends, why, in al-Jazira, do I not see

My friend, I have nothing to do with the peninsula, I do not see

A phantom of Lamya whose reproach captivates me?

Any phantom of water that would please me with its reproach.

فَيا مَن لِراجٍ أَن تَبيتَ مُغِذَّةً

فَيا مَن لِراجٍ أَن تَبيتَ مُغِذَّةً

بِبَيداءَ دونَ الماطِرونَ رِكابُهُ

بِبَيداءَ دونَ الماطِرونَ رِكابُهُ

Who, then, will aid one hoping for a night of swift travel

So one who hopes to spend the night as a guest,

For his riding camels, in a wilderness this side of al-Matirun?

In the plateau without the downpours of its rain,

إِذا جَبَلُ الرَيّانِ لاحَت قِبابهُ

إِذا جَبَلُ الرَيّانِ لاحَت قِبابهُ

لِعَيني وَلاحَت مِن سَنيرٍ هِضابُهُ

لِعَيني وَلاحَت مِن سَنيرٍ هِضابُهُ

When Mount al-Rayyan's domes appeared

When the mountains of Rayyan appear, their domes shine,

Before my eyes, and Sanir's heights came into view,

To my eyes, and their plateaus on Sanir shine.

وَهَبَّت لَنا ريحٌ أَتَتنا مِنَ الحِمى

وَهَبَّت لَنا ريحٌ أَتَتنا مِنَ الحِمى

تحَدّثُ عَمّا حَمَّلَتها قِبابُهُ

تحَدّثُ عَمّا حَمَّلَتها قِبابُهُ

And a wind blew toward us, reaching us from the protected grounds,

And a wind blew to us, coming from the heat,

Telling what their domes had entrusted to it,

Talking about what its wraps had carried.

وَقامَت جِبالُ الثَلجِ زُهراً كَأَنَّها

وَقامَت جِبالُ الثَلجِ زُهراً كَأَنَّها

بَقِيَّةُ شَيبٍ قَد تَلاشى خِضابُهُ

بَقِيَّةُ شَيبٍ قَد تَلاشى خِضابُهُ

And the snowy mountains stood gleaming white, as though they were

And the snow-capped mountains bloomed like flowers, as if

A remnant of gray hair whose dye had faded,

They are remnants of white hair faded from henna.

وَلاحَت قُصورُ الغوطَتَينِ كَأَنَّها

وَلاحَت قُصورُ الغوطَتَينِ كَأَنَّها

سَفائِنُ في بَحرٍ يَعُبُّ عُبابُهُ

سَفائِنُ في بَحرٍ يَعُبُّ عُبابُهُ

And the palaces of the two Ghoutas appeared, as though they were

And the palaces of the Gouta appeared as if they were

Ships on a sea whose billows surged,

Ships on a sea whose foam was turbulent.

وَأَعرَضَ نِسرٌ لِلمُصَلّى غَدِيَّةً

وَأَعرَضَ نِسرٌ لِلمُصَلّى غَدِيَّةً

كَما اِنجابَ عَن ضَوءِ النَهارِ ضَبابُهُ

كَما اِنجابَ عَن ضَوءِ النَهارِ ضَبابُهُ

And Nisr showed its broad face to al-Musalla one morning,

And an eagle turned away from the praying-place in the morning

As its mist drew back from the light of day,

As clouds turned away the light of day.

لَثمتُ الثَرى مُستَشفِياً بِتُرابِهِ

لَثمتُ الثَرى مُستَشفِياً بِتُرابِهِ

وَمَن لي بِأَن يَشفي غَليلي تُرابُهُ

وَمَن لي بِأَن يَشفي غَليلي تُرابُهُ

I kissed the earth, seeking healing in its dust.

I kissed the ground seeking remedy in its soil,

Yet who can assure me its dust will quench my burning thirst?

But who do I have to cure my sickness with his soil?

وَمُستَخبِرٍ عَنّا وَما مِن جَهالَةٍ

وَمُستَخبِرٍ عَنّا وَما مِن جَهالَةٍ

كَشَفتُ الغِطا عَنهُ فَزالَ اِرتِيابُهُ

كَشَفتُ الغِطا عَنهُ فَزالَ اِرتِيابُهُ

And one who asked about us—not out of ignorance—

And asking about us - no ignorance remains

I lifted the veil from him, and his doubt vanished.

Which I uncovered, so its doubts disappeared.

وَأَذكَرتُهُ أَيّامَ دِمياط بَينَنا

وَأَذكَرتُهُ أَيّامَ دِمياط بَينَنا

وَبَينَ العدى وَالمَوتُ تَهوي عُقابُهُ

وَبَينَ العدى وَالمَوتُ تَهوي عُقابُهُ

And I reminded him of the days at Damietta, between us

And I remembered the days of Damietta between us

And the foes, while Death's eagle swooped down;

And the enemy, while its stakes plummeted.

وَجَيشاً خَلَطناهُ رِحابٌ صُدورُهُ

وَجَيشاً خَلَطناهُ رِحابٌ صُدورُهُ

بِجَيشٍ مِنَ الأَعداءِ غُلبٍ رِقابُهُ

بِجَيشٍ مِنَ الأَعداءِ غُلبٍ رِقابُهُ

And a broad-chested army that we mingled

And an army whose chests mixed with our chests,

With an enemy army whose necks were thick,

With an army of enemies defeated and subdued.

وَقَد شَرقَت زرقُ الأَسِنَّةِ بِالدما

وَقَد شَرقَت زرقُ الأَسِنَّةِ بِالدما

وَأَنكَرَ حَدَّ المَشرَفيِّ قِرابُهُ

وَأَنكَرَ حَدَّ المَشرَفيِّ قِرابُهُ

While the blue spearheads choked on blood,

The tips of the spears were darkened with blood,

And the Mashrafi sword's sheath failed to recognize its edge.

And the noble one was unrecognized by his kin.

وَعَرَّدَ إِلّا كُلَّ ذمرٍ مغامِسٍ

وَعَرَّدَ إِلّا كُلَّ ذمرٍ مغامِسٍ

وَنَكَّبَ إِلّا كُلَّ زاكٍ نِصابُهُ

وَنَكَّبَ إِلّا كُلَّ زاكٍ نِصابُهُ

And all fled but each bold warrior who plunged into battle,

We routed every attacker and every coward recoiled,

And all turned aside except those of noble stock.

We left them in the land and sea as flesh

تَرَكناهُم في البَحرِ وَالبَرِّ لُحمَةً

تَرَكناهُم في البَحرِ وَالبَرِّ لُحمَةً

تُقاسِمُهُم حيتانُهُ وَذِئابُهُ

تُقاسِمُهُم حيتانُهُ وَذِئابُهُ

We left them, on sea and land, as flesh

Shared by its whales and wolves.

For the sea's fish and the land's wolves to share.

And a day at Qaimoon, its waves swelled with

وَيَوماً عَلى القيمونِ ماجَت مُتونُهُ

وَيَوماً عَلى القيمونِ ماجَت مُتونُهُ

بِزرقِ أَعاديهِ وَغَصَّت شِعابُهُ

بِزرقِ أَعاديهِ وَغَصَّت شِعابُهُ

And a day at al-Qaymun, when its ridges swarmed

The blue of its enemies, and its path narrowed.

With its blue-eyed foes, and its ravines were choked:

We scattered the honored heads in the valley,

نَثرنا عَلى الوادي رُؤوساً أَعزَّةً

نَثرنا عَلى الوادي رُؤوساً أَعزَّةً

لِكُلِّ أَخي بَأسٍ مَنيعٍ جِنابُهُ

لِكُلِّ أَخي بَأسٍ مَنيعٍ جِنابُهُ

We scattered noble heads across the valley,

For each brother of terrible might and strong build.

Of every man of valor whose domain had been unassailable.

We pleased the kings of the earth with loot and spears,

وَرَضنا مُلوكَ الأَرضِ بِالبيضِ وَالقَنا

وَرَضنا مُلوكَ الأَرضِ بِالبيضِ وَالقَنا

فَذَلَّ لَنا مِن كُلِّ قطرٍ صِعابُهُ

فَذَلَّ لَنا مِن كُلِّ قطرٍ صِعابُهُ

And we tamed the earth's kings with bright swords and lances,

So those from every region submitted to us.

So the unruly in every land bowed before us.

How many young men did the swords mark their necks,

فَكَم أَمردٍ خَطَّ الحُسامُ عذارَهُ

فَكَم أَمردٍ خَطَّ الحُسامُ عذارَهُ

وَكَم أَشيبٍ كانَ النَجيعَ خِضابُهُ

وَكَم أَشيبٍ كانَ النَجيعَ خِضابُهُ

How many a beardless youth had his sideburns traced by the sword,

And how many gray-haired men did henna color?

And how many a gray-haired man had gore for his dye.

And how many times did we raid the land of honored tribes,

وَكَم قَد نَزَلنا ثُغرَ قَومٍ أَعزَّةٍ

وَكَم قَد نَزَلنا ثُغرَ قَومٍ أَعزَّةٍ

فَلَم نَرتَحِل حَتّى تَداعى خرابُهُ

فَلَم نَرتَحِل حَتّى تَداعى خرابُهُ

And how often we encamped at a mighty people's frontier stronghold,

Not departing until their buildings collapsed!

And did not depart until it crumbled into ruin.

And how many days of horror, our space narrowed,

وَكَم يَوم هولٍ ضاقَ فيهِ مَجالُنا

وَكَم يَوم هولٍ ضاقَ فيهِ مَجالُنا

صَبَرنا لَهُ وَالمَوتُ يُحرقُ نابُهُ

صَبَرنا لَهُ وَالمَوتُ يُحرقُ نابُهُ

And how many a day of terror, when our room to maneuver shrank,

We stayed patient, while death burned its fangs!

We endured, while Death gnashed its fang.

Walking under the banner with a praised one,

يَسيرُ بِنا تَحتَ اللِواءِ مُمَدَّحٌ

يَسيرُ بِنا تَحتَ اللِواءِ مُمَدَّحٌ

كَريمُ السَجايا طاهِراتٌ ثِيابُهُ

كَريمُ السَجايا طاهِراتٌ ثِيابُهُ

A much-praised man leads us beneath the banner,

Noble, pure are his clothes.

Noble in character, his garments pure;

Noble like the chest of Samahri, polished are

نَجيبٌ كَصَدرِ السَمهَرِيِّ مُنَجَّحَ الـ

نَجيبٌ كَصَدرِ السَمهَرِيِّ مُنَجَّحَ الـ

ـسَرايا كَريمُ الطَبعِ صافٍ لُبابُهُ

ـسَرايا كَريمُ الطَبعِ صافٍ لُبابُهُ

Noble as a Samhari spear's point, with victorious

His quarters, good natured, pure his inner essence.

Raiding parties; noble by nature, pure at his core.

From the people, warrior of calamities, glorious,

مِنَ القَومِ وَضّاح الأَسِرَّةِ ماجِدٌ

مِنَ القَومِ وَضّاح الأَسِرَّةِ ماجِدٌ

إِلى آلِ أَيّوبَ الكِرامِ اِنتِسابُهُ

إِلى آلِ أَيّوبَ الكِرامِ اِنتِسابُهُ

One of the clan, radiant-browed and illustrious,

Traced back in lineage to the generous Ayyubs.

His lineage is of the noble house of Ayyub.

He relieved the straits of the people through his spears,

فَفَرَّجَ ضيقَ القَومِ عَنّا طعانُهُ

فَفَرَّجَ ضيقَ القَومِ عَنّا طعانُهُ

وَشَتَّتَ شَملَ الكُفرِ عَنّا ضِرابُهُ

وَشَتَّتَ شَملَ الكُفرِ عَنّا ضِرابُهُ

So his spear-thrusts freed us from the enemy host's pressure,

And scattered the unity of disbelief through his attacks.

And his sword-strokes scattered unbelief's ranks away from us.

And the face of religion after its gloominess

وَأَصبَحَ وَجهُ الدينِ بَعدَ عَبوسِهِ

وَأَصبَحَ وَجهُ الدينِ بَعدَ عَبوسِهِ

طَليقاً وَلَولاهُ لَطالَ اِكتِئابُهُ

طَليقاً وَلَولاهُ لَطالَ اِكتِئابُهُ

And the face of the faith, after its frowning, became

Became serene, without him, its depression would have prolonged.

Cheerful; but for him its gloom would have lasted long.

A jihad for the sake of God, supporting His religion,

جِهادٌ لِوَجهِ اللَهِ في نَصرِ دينِهِ

جِهادٌ لِوَجهِ اللَهِ في نَصرِ دينِهِ

وَفي طاعَةِ اللَهِ العَزيزِ اِحتِسابُهُ

وَفي طاعَةِ اللَهِ العَزيزِ اِحتِسابُهُ

A struggle for God's sake, in support of His faith,

And in obedience to God Almighty, seeking His reward.

And he seeks reward in obedience to God, the Almighty.

I protected the sanctuary of Islam, so religion is safe,

حَمَيت حِمى الإِسلامِ فَالدينُ آمِنٌ

حَمَيت حِمى الإِسلامِ فَالدينُ آمِنٌ

تُذادُ أَقاصيهِ وَيُخشى جِنابُهُ

تُذادُ أَقاصيهِ وَيُخشى جِنابُهُ

You have defended Islam's sanctuary, so the faith is secure;

Repelling its extremities, fearing its side.

Its farthest reaches are defended, and its domain is feared.

I wanted none but your wellbeing,

وَما بغيَتي إِلّا بَقاؤُكَ سالِماً

وَما بغيَتي إِلّا بَقاؤُكَ سالِماً

لِذا الدينِ لا مالٌ جَزيلٌ أُثابُهُ

لِذا الدينِ لا مالٌ جَزيلٌ أُثابُهُ

And I seek nothing but that you remain unharmed

For the sake of this religion, not abundant wealth as its reward.

For this faith—not abundant wealth awarded to me.