وَعْداًa promise عَلَىbinding upon اللهِGod حَقَّاًtruly نَصْرُvictory for مَنْwhoever نَصَرَهْaided Him
وَعْداً عَلَى اللهِ حَقَّاً نَصْرُ مَنْ نَصَرَهْ
وحُكْمُand the judgment of سَيْفِكَyour sword فِيupon هاماتِthe heads of مَنْthose who كَفَرَهْdenied Him
وحُكْمُ سَيْفِكَ فِي هاماتِ مَنْ كَفَرَهْ
A promise truly binding upon God: victory for whoever aids Him,
A promise from God fulfilled, victory for those victorious,
and your sword's judgment upon the heads of those who deny Him.
And your sword's judgement on the neck of he who rejects belief.
رأسٌa head مُطِلُّoverlooking عَلَىabove بابَيْthe two gates of طُليْطِلَةٍToledo
رأسٌ مُطِلُّ عَلَى بابَيْ طُليْطِلَةٍ
يُوميgestures إلىtoward الكُفْرِunbelief هَذَاthis مَوْعِدُthe rendezvous of الكَفَرَهْthe unbelievers
يُومي إلى الكُفْرِ هَذَا مَوْعِدُ الكَفَرَهْ
A head looks down over Toledo's two gates,
A head peeking at the gate of Toledo,
signaling to unbelief: "This is the unbelievers' rendezvous."
Calling daily to unbelief, such is the tryst of the faithless one.
وهامَةٌand a head قَدْalready قَضَتْpaid نَحْبَthe debt of الحِمامِdeath ضُحىًin the forenoon
وهامَةٌ قَدْ قَضَتْ نَحْبَ الحِمامِ ضُحىً
وهامَةٌand a head فَوقَabove صَفْحَيthe two cheeks of شَنْجُShanj مُنْتَظِرَهْwaiting
وهامَةٌ فَوقَ صَفْحَي شَنْجُ مُنْتَظِرَهْ
And a head has paid its debt to death in the forenoon,
And a neck that finished off the doves at dawn
and a head above Shanj's two cheeks waits.
And a neck above the horizon awaiting its turn.
أوفىrose to overlook عَلَىover مَوْعِدٍan appointed meeting منهُfrom him تُراقِبُهُyou await it
أوفى عَلَى مَوْعِدٍ منهُ تُراقِبُهُ
تَدْعُوyou call هَلُمَّcome إلىto مُسْتَودَعِthe repository of الغَدَرَهْthe traitors
تَدْعُو هَلُمَّ إلى مُسْتَودَعِ الغَدَرَهْ
It overlooks a promised meeting with him that you await;
More loyal to his word than he who keeps watch over it,
you call, "Come to the repository of traitors!"
Inviting: come and enter the abode of betrayal.
وناخِراًand one snorting أمْسِyesterday فِيin البيداءthe desert منfrom عِظَمٍself-importance
وناخِراً أمْسِ فِي البيداء من عِظَمٍ
واليومَand today أصبَحَhas become فِيهَاin it أعْظُماًbones نَخِرَهْcrumbling
واليومَ أصبَحَ فِيهَا أعْظُماً نَخِرَهْ
And one who yesterday snorted in the desert out of pride,
And yesterday in the desert a colt of noble stock
and today has become crumbling bones there.
And today it has become the greatest of racers.
كمhow many منof سمِيٍّa namesake لهof his فيهاin it وذيand one with نسبٍkinship
كم من سمِيٍّ له فيها وذي نسبٍ
لمdid not يدخِّرْwithhold نابَهُhis fang عنهfrom him ولاnor ظُفُرَهْhis claw
لم يدخِّرْ نابَهُ عنه ولا ظُفُرَهْ
How many a namesake of his there, and a kinsman,
How many honorable and noble men
spared him neither fang nor claw,
Whose might and glory did not save them.
كأنَّماas though زارَvisited مُشتاقاًlonging ومُعْتَنِقاًand embracing
كأنَّما زارَ مُشتاقاً ومُعْتَنِقاً
فاعتامَand so chose منهُfrom him مكانَthe place of النَحْرِthe throat والقَصَرَهْand the nape
فاعتامَ منهُ مكانَ النَحْرِ والقَصَرَهْ
as though visiting him in longing and embrace,
As if he visited longing and embracing
then chose his throat and nape.
Then blinded himself to the place of slaughter and palaces.
ومُسْعِراًand one kindling لِضِرامِthe blaze of الحربِwar منfrom أشرِwanton pride
ومُسْعِراً لِضِرامِ الحربِ من أشرِ
فَلَمْyet could not يُطِقْendure منكَfrom you فِيin إضرامِهاits kindling شَرَرَهْa spark
فَلَمْ يُطِقْ منكَ فِي إضرامِها شَرَرَهْ
And one who, in wanton pride, kindled war's blaze,
And igniting the embers of war with evil
yet could not bear a spark from you as you set it ablaze.
But could not bear your ignition of its flames.
فإنْso if جَرىflowed دَمُهُhis blood فِيهَاin it فأطفأهاand then quenched it
فإنْ جَرى دَمُهُ فِيهَا فأطفأها
فإنَّthen indeed نَفْسَthe soul of ابنِthe son of شَنْجٍShanj منهُbecause of him مُسْتَعِرَهْis ablaze
فإنَّ نَفْسَ ابنِ شَنْجٍ منهُ مُسْتَعِرَهْ
So if his blood flowed in it and quenched it,
If his blood flows and extinguishes it
then Ibn Shanj's soul is ablaze because of him.
The soul of the son of Shanj is but fuel to the fire.
شَقيقُthe brother of مَفخَرِهِhis glory إنif قامَhe rose مُفْتَخِراًboasting
شَقيقُ مَفخَرِهِ إن قامَ مُفْتَخِراً
وشِقُّand half of مُهْجَتِهِhis lifeblood إنْif واتِرٌa blood-enemy وَتَرَهْbereaved him
وشِقُّ مُهْجَتِهِ إنْ واتِرٌ وَتَرَهْ
His brother in glory whenever he rose to boast,
The partner of his pride if he stands proud
and half his lifeblood if a blood-enemy bereaved him.
And the companion of his madness if confused and lost.
حُمَّwas decreed الحِمامُdeath لَهُfor him قَدْراًby fate فأفْرَدَهُso left him alone
حُمَّ الحِمامُ لَهُ قَدْراً فأفْرَدَهُ
يدعوhe calls for الحِمامَdeath لِرُزْءٍover a loss غالَconsumed مُصْطَبَرَهْhis endurance
يدعو الحِمامَ لِرُزْءٍ غالَ مُصْطَبَرَهْ
Death was decreed for him by fate, leaving the other alone,
The doves deemed him worthy and singled him out
calling for death over a loss that consumed his endurance.
Calling the doves to easy prey made available.
ماnot يَرْجِعُhe turns الطَرْفَthe gaze إلّاexcept وَهْوَwhile he ذاكِرُهُremembers him
ما يَرْجِعُ الطَرْفَ إلّا وَهْوَ ذاكِرُهُ
ولاnor يُحِسُّhe senses بنفسٍa breath كُلَّماwhenever ذَكَرَهْhe remembers him
ولا يُحِسُّ بنفسٍ كُلَّما ذَكَرَهْ
He never turns his gaze without remembering him,
His eyes do not return except remembering him
nor senses a breath whenever he remembers him.
And he feels no self whenever reminded of him.
ولاand not يَرُدُّwards off الرَّدىdeath عنهُfrom him سِوَىexcept دَلَهٍgrief-stricken bewilderment
ولا يَرُدُّ الرَّدى عنهُ سِوَى دَلَهٍ
وافىovertook المُصابَthe stricken man وَلَمْand did not يَعرِفْrecognize بِهِbecause of it قَدَرَهْits magnitude
وافى المُصابَ وَلَمْ يَعرِفْ بِهِ قَدَرَهْ
And nothing wards death off from him but grief-stricken bewilderment,
Only the deluge can drive away his loss from him
which overtook the stricken man, so he could not grasp the loss's extent.
And the calamity has come to him unknown.
وماnor القَناthe spears بالِغاتٌreaching منinto جوانِحهِhis breast
وما القَنا بالِغاتٌ من جوانِحهِ
بلوغَthe reach of ألسِنَةٍtongues أبْلَغْنَهُconveyed to him خَبَرَهْnews of him
بلوغَ ألسِنَةٍ أبْلَغْنَهُ خَبَرَهْ
Nor do spears reach into his breast
The cooing of the doves does not convey from their wings
as deeply as the tongues that brought him news of him.
What eloquent tongues have told of his news.
عَتادُهُhis arms للوغىfor battle إنif خافَhe feared طارِقَهاits sudden onset
عَتادُهُ للوغى إن خافَ طارِقَها
وذُخْرُهُand his reserve لِمُلِمِّagainst the onset of الخطبِcalamity إنif حَذِرَهْhe dreaded it
وذُخْرُهُ لِمُلِمِّ الخطبِ إن حَذِرَهْ
His arms for battle, if he feared its sudden onset,
His custom is to fear the approach of the night raid
and his reserve against calamity's onset, if he dreaded it.
And his reserve is for the decisive moment he dreads.
وسيفُهُand his sword وسيوفُwhile the swords of الهِنْدِIndia بارِقَةٌwere flashing
وسيفُهُ وسيوفُ الهِنْدِ بارِقَةٌ
ورُمْحُهُand his spear ورِماحُwhile the spears of الخَطِّal-Khatt مُشْتَجِرَهْwere intertwined
ورُمْحُهُ ورِماحُ الخَطِّ مُشْتَجِرَهْ
And his sword, when the swords of India flashed,
His sword and the Indian swords lightning flashes
and his spear, when al-Khatt's spears were intertwined.
And his lance and the lances of the cavalry locked in combat.
فَتْحٌa conquest تَقَدَّمْتَyou led the way فِيin اسْتِفْتاحِopening مُقْفَلِهِits locked gate
فَتْحٌ تَقَدَّمْتَ فِي اسْتِفْتاحِ مُقْفَلِهِ
بخافقاتِwith fluttering banners إلىtoward الأعداءِthe enemies مُبْتَدِرَهْrushing forward
بخافقاتِ إلى الأعداءِ مُبْتَدِرَهْ
A conquest whose locked gate you led the way in opening,
A conquest where you took the lead in opening its closed gates
with fluttering banners rushing toward the enemies,
With flags rushing towards the enemy and taking them by surprise.
فِيin دَعْوَةٍan invocation سَمِعَheard الرحمنُthe Merciful داعِيَهاits caller
فِي دَعْوَةٍ سَمِعَ الرحمنُ داعِيَها
لماwhen اسْتَهلَّhe began بأخرىwith the closing part of سُورَةِSurah البَقَرَهْal-Baqarah
لما اسْتَهلَّ بأخرى سُورَةِ البَقَرَهْ
with an invocation whose caller the Merciful heard,
With an invocation the Merciful heard its caller
when he began with the close of Surat al-Baqarah.
When you commenced with reciting the 'Cow' chapter.
هوَthis is الجِهادُthe jihad الَّذِيwhich بَرَّتْproved righteous مَشاهِدُهُits battles
هوَ الجِهادُ الَّذِي بَرَّتْ مَشاهِدُهُ
فَأُشهِدَتْهُso were made to witness it الكِرامُthe noble الصَّفْوَةُthe chosen البَرَرَهْthe righteous
فَأُشهِدَتْهُ الكِرامُ الصَّفْوَةُ البَرَرَهْ
This is the jihad whose battles proved righteous,
This is the holy war whose witnesses did vouch
so the noble, chosen, righteous ones were made to witness it.
And the angelic guardians bore witness to its righteousness.
ذَلَّلتَyou subdued فِيهِin it حِمىthe sanctuary of الإشراكِpolytheism مُقْتحِماًstorming in
ذَلَّلتَ فِيهِ حِمى الإشراكِ مُقْتحِماً
بالخيلِwith the horses رَائِحَةًgoing out at evening فِيهِthrough it ومَبْتَكِرَهْand setting out early
بالخيلِ رَائِحَةً فِيهِ ومَبْتَكِرَهْ
In it you subdued polytheism's sanctuary, storming in,
You subjugated therein the zeal of polytheism boldly sweeping in
with horses moving through it at evening and at dawn.
With horses sniffing the air and improvising.
فِيin كُلِّevery ضاحِيَةٍopen tract ألْبَسْتَهاyou clothed it كِسَفاًcloud-banks
فِي كُلِّ ضاحِيَةٍ ألْبَسْتَها كِسَفاً
غادَرْتَyou left شمسَthe sun of الضحىthe forenoon فيهِنَّamid them مُنْعَفِرَهْdust-covered
غادَرْتَ شمسَ الضحى فيهِنَّ مُنْعَفِرَهْ
In every open tract you clothed in cloud-banks,
In every plain you clad it in mourning garments
you left the forenoon sun dust-covered amid them.
Allowing the dawn sun upon them writhing in agony.
دونَbeneath السماءthe sky سماءُa sky of النَّقْعِdust أنْجُمُهاits stars
دونَ السماء سماءُ النَّقْعِ أنْجُمُها
زُرْقُblue-tipped الوشيجِspears عَلَىupon الأعداءِthe enemies مُنْكَدِرَهْplunging down
زُرْقُ الوشيجِ عَلَى الأعداءِ مُنْكَدِرَهْ
Beneath the sky is a sky of dust, whose stars
Beneath the sky is the starry sky of lances, their stars
are blue-tipped spears plunging down upon the enemies.
The green of the pond reeds to the enemies murky and gloomy.
وكُلِّand every مُزْدَحَمٍcrowded melee فيin جُنحِthe dark cover of مُرتَكمٍa piled-up mass
وكُلِّ مُزْدَحَمٍ في جُنحِ مُرتَكمٍ
لاnot نجمَهُits star يَرقبُsees الساريthe night traveler ولاnor قمرَهْits moon
لا نجمَهُ يَرقبُ الساري ولا قمرَهْ
And in every crowded melee beneath a piled-up pall,
And all who assemble on wing interlinked
the night traveler sees neither its star nor its moon,
Have neither star nor moon to gaze upon.
إلّاexcept جبينَكَyour brow يحدوdriving on صارِماًa keen sword ضَرِماًblazing
إلّا جبينَكَ يحدو صارِماً ضَرِماً
كالبدرِlike the full moon تحتَbeneath الدَّياجيthe deep darkness يَتبَعُfollowing الزُّهَرَهْVenus
كالبدرِ تحتَ الدَّياجي يَتبَعُ الزُّهَرَهْ
save your brow, driving on a keen, blazing sword,
Except your forehead proceeding cutting sharp
like the full moon beneath night's darkness, following Venus.
Like the moon beneath clouds pursuing Venus.
حتَّىuntil رَفَعْتَyou raised عَلَىabove أعلامِهمُtheir banners عَلَماًa banner
حتَّى رَفَعْتَ عَلَى أعلامِهمُ عَلَماً
يستنجزُseeks fulfillment from اللهGod فِيهَاin it وَعْدَthe promise to منwhoever نَصَرَهْaided Him
يستنجزُ الله فِيهَا وَعْدَ من نَصَرَهْ
Until you raised a banner above their banners,
Until you raised above their flags a flag
asking God there to fulfill His promise to whoever aids Him.
Where God fulfills His promise to those He supports.
عُقابُan eagle فَألٍof good omen بِعُقْبىthrough the outcome of رَفْعِraising أوَّلِهِits first vowel
عُقابُ فَألٍ بِعُقْبى رَفْعِ أوَّلِهِ
يجلُوreveals السعادَةَhappiness للإسلامِfor Islam والخِيَرَهْand good fortune
يجلُو السعادَةَ للإسلامِ والخِيَرَهْ
An auspicious eagle (ʿuqāb), through the effect of raising its first vowel,
Punishment for sin with consequence of raising first
reveals happiness and good fortune for Islam.
Which reveals happiness for Islam and benevolence.
وجَدُّand the fortune of شانيكَyour hater مَخفُوضٌis lowered فكانَso it became لَهُمْfor them
وجَدُّ شانيكَ مَخفُوضٌ فكانَ لَهُمْ
عِقابَpunishment خَسْفٍof abasement مُبِينِclearly showing الزَّجْرِbird augury والطِيَرَهْand ill omen
عِقابَ خَسْفٍ مُبِينِ الزَّجْرِ والطِيَرَهْ
But your hater's fortune is lowered, so for them it became
And your enemy confused so for them was
a punishment (ʿiqāb) of abasement, with clear augury and ill omen.
The exemplary punishment of pitiless subjugation.
سَعْيٌan endeavor تركْتَyou left بِهِthrough it أرضَthe land of العِدىthe enemies نَهَجاًan open road
سَعْيٌ تركْتَ بِهِ أرضَ العِدى نَهَجاً
لِمَنْfor whoever سَعىstrove فِيalong مداهُits course واقْتَفىand followed أثَرَهْits trail
لِمَنْ سَعى فِي مداهُ واقْتَفى أثَرَهْ
A campaign by which you left the enemy's land an open road,
An effort you expended thereby making enemy land
for whoever strove along its course and followed its trail.
A path for those who strive in its length and follow its tracks.
فَهَلْso is there لِنفسِfor the soul of ابنِthe son of شنْجٍShanj بعدَهاafter it عِوَضٌa replacement
فَهَلْ لِنفسِ ابنِ شنْجٍ بعدَها عِوَضٌ
مِنْfor لُبِّLubb لُبِّسَLubbis أوor منfor كافِرِthe unbeliever of الكَفَرَهْthe unbelievers
مِنْ لُبِّ لُبِّسَ أو من كافِرِ الكَفَرَهْ
So is there, for Ibn Shanj's soul after this, any replacement
What can now make up for the soul of the son of Shanj
for Lubb Lubbis or for the unbeliever of unbelievers?
From the essence of one clad or an infidel's disbelief?
صِنْواهُhis two counterparts فِيin حربِهِhis warfare أوor فِيin ضَلالَتِهِhis misguidance
صِنْواهُ فِي حربِهِ أو فِي ضَلالَتِهِ
قَدْindeed كانَwas ذاthis one سَمْعَهُhis hearing فِيهَاin it وذاand that one بَصَرَهْhis sight
قَدْ كانَ ذا سَمْعَهُ فِيهَا وذا بَصَرَهْ
His two counterparts in his warfare or his misguidance,
His end in war or in his misguidance
one had been his hearing therein, and the other his sight.
Had already seen and heard it.
وَفَتْpaid in full دِماؤُهُماthe blood of them both ثَأراًblood-vengeance فلمso did not يَدَعاthey both leave
وَفَتْ دِماؤُهُما ثَأراً فلم يَدَعا
للمسلمينَfor the Muslims عَلَىagainst حربِthe enemy host of الضَلالِmisguidance تِرَهْan unavenged wrong
للمسلمينَ عَلَى حربِ الضَلالِ تِرَهْ
The blood of both paid vengeance in full, so they left
Their blood avenged so it left not
the Muslims no unavenged wrong against the host of misguidance.
For the Muslims the evil of fighting misbelief.
فلْيَهْنِكَso may it gladden you اليومَtoday فَتحٌa conquest تقتفيهِwill follow it غَداًtomorrow
فلْيَهْنِكَ اليومَ فَتحٌ تقتفيهِ غَداً
عَوَائِدٌrecurring gifts منfrom فتوحِthe victories of اللهِGod مُنتَظِرَهْawaited
عَوَائِدٌ من فتوحِ اللهِ مُنتَظِرَهْ
So may today's conquest gladden you; tomorrow it will be followed by
Then congratulations on a conquest you will attain tomorrow
awaited, recurring gifts of God's victories.
With recurring victories from God awaiting you.
بضائِعٌwares لَكَof yours منof بأسٍvalor ومنand of كَرَمٍgenerosity
بضائِعٌ لَكَ من بأسٍ ومن كَرَمٍ
محفوظَةٌsafeguarded لكَfor you عندwith اللهِGod مُدَّخَرَهْstored up
محفوظَةٌ لكَ عند اللهِ مُدَّخَرَهْ
Your wares of valor and generosity,
Gains for you of might and nobility
kept safe for you with God, laid up in store.
Preserved for you by God and stored away.
سلَّمْتَهاyou handed them over فِيin سبيلِthe path of اللهِGod وافِيَةًin full
سلَّمْتَها فِي سبيلِ اللهِ وافِيَةً
فناجِزُso immediate النَّقْدِcash payment أوor مُستَقْرَبُdeemed near النَّظِرَهْthe deferment
فناجِزُ النَّقْدِ أو مُستَقْرَبُ النَّظِرَهْ
You handed them over in full in the path of God,
You delivered them in the way of God flawless
so cash payment is immediate, or the deferred term is near.
So the rewarder of cash or aproacher of deferred.
وابْشِرْand rejoice بِأُخْرىin another وأُخرىand another واعَدَتْmade a promise فَوَفَتْthen proved true
وابْشِرْ بِأُخْرى وأُخرى واعَدَتْ فَوَفَتْ
بوعدِto the promise of ذيthe Lord of العرشِthe Throne فِيconcerning نعماءِblessings for منwhoever شَكَرَهْthanked Him
بوعدِ ذي العرشِ فِي نعماءِ من شَكَرَهْ
And rejoice in another victory, and another, that promised and proved true
And rejoice in another and another promised and fulfilled
to the Lord of the Throne's promise of blessings for whoever thanks Him.
By the promise of the Lord of the Throne to those thankful.
Sol 6.1