لَكَto you البُشْرَىglad tidings ودُمْتَand may you remain قريرَdelighted of عَيْنِeye
لَكَ البُشْرَى ودُمْتَ قريرَ عَيْنِ
بشأْوَيْat the two attainments of كوكَبَيْكَyour two stars النَّاقِبَيْنِthe two piercing ones
بشأْوَيْ كوكَبَيْكَ النَّاقِبَيْنِ
Glad tidings to you; may your eyes remain delighted
You have good tidings as long as your two bright stars remain delightful to the eye,
at the achievements of your two piercing stars:
The two kings of Kindah who grew up and came of age wearing the crowns of glory,
مليكَيْthe two kings of حِمْيَرٍHimyar نَشَآboth grew up وشَبَّاand both matured
مليكَيْ حِمْيَرٍ نَشَآ وشَبَّا
بتيجانِwith diadems of السَّناءِradiance مُتَوَّجَيْنِboth crowned
بتيجانِ السَّناءِ مُتَوَّجَيْنِ
Himyar's two kings, who grew and came of age
My two pure bred steeds on whom the diseases of Ma'add did not grow,
crowned with diadems of radiance;
And my two swords of Kindah unsheathed on the two sublime summits,
صَفِيَّيthe two choicest of مَاwhat نَمَتْreared عُلْيَاthe nobility of مَعَدٍّMa'add
صَفِيَّي مَا نَمَتْ عُلْيَا مَعَدٍّ
وسِبطَيْand the two scions of يَعْرُبٍYa'rub فِيupon الذِّرْوَتَيْنِthe two summits
وسِبطَيْ يَعْرُبٍ فِي الذِّرْوَتَيْنِ
the choicest two that noble Ma'add has reared,
My two polished Indian swords on your two valiant shoulders,
and Ya'rub's two scions upon the twin summits;
And my two towering spears, your two objects of pride,
وسَيْفَيْand the two swords of عاتِقَيْكَyour two shoulders الصَّارِمَيْنِthe two keen-edged ones
وسَيْفَيْ عاتِقَيْكَ الصَّارِمَيْنِ
وطودَيْand the two mountains of مفخَرَيْكَyour two sources of pride الشامِخَيْنِboth towering
وطودَيْ مفخَرَيْكَ الشامِخَيْنِ
the two keen swords upon your shoulders,
Both of them the pillars of religion and life,
the two towering mountains of your pride.
Equal in their dark hair and sidelocks on both temples,
هُماthe two للدينِfor the faith والدنياand worldly life مَحَلّاًin station
هُما للدينِ والدنيا مَحَلّاً
سُوَيْدَاوَاهُماtheir two dark pupils فِيwithin المُقْلَتَيْنِthe two eyes
سُوَيْدَاوَاهُما فِي المُقْلَتَيْنِ
For faith and worldly life, their station is
You have devoted them to the defense of Allah’s religion,
that of their dark pupils within the two eyes.
So they kept their vow, fully committed,
نَذَرْتَهُماyou vowed them both لدينِfor the faith of اللهِGod نَصْراًas support
نَذَرْتَهُما لدينِ اللهِ نَصْراً
فَقَدْand indeed قاماboth rose لنَذْرِكَto your vow وَافِيَيْنِboth fulfilling it
فَقَدْ قاما لنَذْرِكَ وَافِيَيْنِ
You vowed them as support for the faith of God;
And they still are - and will always be - shouldering the burdens of the caliphate,
and they have faithfully fulfilled your vow.
You initiated laws and they kept listening and working diligently,
وَمَاand not زالاhave they both ceased لَدَيْكَbeside you ولَنْand never will يَزَالاthey both cease
وَمَا زالا لَدَيْكَ ولَنْ يَزَالا
بأَعباءِwith the burdens of الخلافَةِthe caliphate ناهِضَيْنِboth shouldering them
بأَعباءِ الخلافَةِ ناهِضَيْنِ
They have always been beside you, and will ever be,
They rose like two lights in the sky of your glory,
bearing the burdens of the caliphate.
Like the shining rise of two brilliant stars,
شَرَائِعُordinances كُنْتَyou were مُبْدِعَهاtheir originator وَكَانَاand they both were
شَرَائِعُ كُنْتَ مُبْدِعَها وَكَانَا
عَلَىalong مسعاكَyour course فِيهَاin them دائِبَيْنِboth tireless
عَلَى مسعاكَ فِيهَا دائِبَيْنِ
Ordinances you established—and they
So the kingdom gained the strongest of fortresses,
have tirelessly followed your course therein.
And the faith gained the most impregnable of strongholds,
وقاماand both stood فِيin سماءِthe heaven of عُلاكَyour exalted rank نُوراًas light
وقاما فِي سماءِ عُلاكَ نُوراً
وإِشْرَاقاًand radiance مقامَin the station of النَّيِّرَيْنِthe two luminaries
وإِشْرَاقاً مقامَ النَّيِّرَيْنِ
In the heaven of your exalted rank they stood, in light
With the Hashimite sun of the state of Abd Shams,
and radiance, where the two luminaries stand.
And the Sword of Allah among them in both hands,
فحاطَso guarded الملكَthe kingdom أَكْلأُthe most watchful of حائِطَيْنِtwo guardians
فحاطَ الملكَ أَكْلأُ حائِطَيْنِ
وحَلَّand dwelt الدينُthe faith أَمنَعَthe most impregnable of مَعْقِلَيْنِtwo strongholds
وحَلَّ الدينُ أَمنَعَ مَعْقِلَيْنِ
Thus the two most watchful guardians protected the kingdom,
And its supporter who guaranteed protection over its highest frontiers,
and faith lodged in the two most impregnable strongholds:
You nurtured them on wars’ milk until you made them intimate with it,
بحاجِبِin the chamberlain to شَمْسِthe sun of دَوْلَةِthe dynasty of عبدِ'Abd شَمْسٍShams
بحاجِبِ شَمْسِ دَوْلَةِ عبدِ شَمْسٍ
وسيفِand the sword of اللهِGod منهاfrom it فِيin اليَدَيْنِthe two hands
وسيفِ اللهِ منها فِي اليَدَيْنِ
in the chamberlain to the sun of 'Abd Shams's dynasty,
And they still are its suckling babies, adolescents and youths.
and its sword of God, held in both hands;
So your hopes did not prove false when they came forward
وناصِرِهاand its champion الَّذِيwho ضَمِنَتْguaranteed ظُباهُhis blade-edges
وناصِرِها الَّذِي ضَمِنَتْ ظُباهُ
حِمىthe protection of الثَّغْرَيْنِthe two frontiers منهاof it الأَعْلَيَيْنِthe two highest
حِمى الثَّغْرَيْنِ منها الأَعْلَيَيْنِ
and its champion, whose blade-edges have secured
Competing for the farthest extent of glories.
the defense of its two loftiest frontiers.
Nor were your wishes unfulfilled when they towered
غَذَوْتَهُماyou fed them both لِبانَthe milk of الحربِwar حَتَّىuntil
غَذَوْتَهُما لِبانَ الحربِ حَتَّى
تَرَكْتَهُماyou left them both إِلَيْهاwith her آنِسَيْنِboth at ease
تَرَكْتَهُما إِلَيْها آنِسَيْنِ
You fed them the milk of war until
Over the highest ranks of loftiness,
you left them wholly at home with her.
Without forgetting the covenants of the two Harithas,
وَمَاand not زالاhave they both ceased being رَضِيعَيْهاher two sucklings عَوَاناًseasoned in battle
وَمَا زالا رَضِيعَيْها عَوَاناً
وبِكْراًand maiden ناشئَيْنِas growing boys ويافِعَيْنِand as adolescent youths
وبِكْراً ناشئَيْنِ ويافِعَيْنِ
They have always been her sucklings, whether seasoned
Or losing track of Mundhir’s last wishes,
or maiden, as growing boys and youths.
Without disgracing Dhu Kala's exploits,
فماso not كَذَبَتْproved false ظنونُكَyour expectations يومَon the day جاءاthey both came
فما كَذَبَتْ ظنونُكَ يومَ جاءا
إِلَىto أَمَدِthe farthest goal of المكارِمِnoble deeds سابقَيْنِboth outstripping others
إِلَى أَمَدِ المكارِمِ سابقَيْنِ
Your expectations proved no lie when they came
Or Kulaib and Rabi’a’s women forgetting the two Ru’yns.
foremost to the farthest goal of noble deeds.
And when Islam cried out for help,
ولاnor خابَتْfailed مُناكَyour hopes وَقَدْwhen indeed أَنافاboth rose above
ولا خابَتْ مُناكَ وَقَدْ أَنافا
عَلَىabove رُتَبِthe ranks of المعاليhigh honors سامِيَيْنِboth soaring
عَلَى رُتَبِ المعالي سامِيَيْنِ
Nor did your hopes fail, when they rose
To its ancient customs you promptly responded,
soaring above the ranks of high distinction.
As you did in its early days when you personally
ولاnor نُسِيَتْwere forgotten عهودُthe covenants of الحارِثَيْنِthe two Hariths
ولا نُسِيَتْ عهودُ الحارِثَيْنِ
ولاnor ضَاعَتْwere lost وصاياthe counsels of المُنْذِرَيْنِthe two Mundhirs
ولا ضَاعَتْ وصايا المُنْذِرَيْنِ
Nor were the covenants of the two Hariths forgotten,
Received the swords of its enemies with your palms,
nor the counsels of the two Mundhirs lost,
An inherited honour you snatched decisively
ولاnor خَزِيَتْwere disgraced مآثِرُthe glorious deeds of ذِيDhu كَلاعٍKala'
ولا خَزِيَتْ مآثِرُ ذِي كَلاعٍ
ولاnor أَخْوَتْwere left desolate كواعِبُthe full-breasted maidens of ذِيDhu رُعَيْنِRu'ayn
ولا أَخْوَتْ كواعِبُ ذِي رُعَيْنِ
nor the glorious deeds of Dhu Kala' disgraced,
From your cousins in the battle of Hunayn,
nor Dhu Ru'ayn's full-breasted maidens left desolate.
And you held its reins carefully and wisely,
ولمَّاand when اسْتَصرَخَcried for help الإِسلامُIslam طاعاboth obeyed willingly
ولمَّا اسْتَصرَخَ الإِسلامُ طاعا
إِلَىfollowing العاداتِthe customary ways منكَfrom you مُلَبِّيَيْنِboth answering the call
إِلَى العاداتِ منكَ مُلَبِّيَيْنِ
When Islam cried for aid, they willingly obeyed,
Handing it over to your first two grandsons.
answering in the customary ways learned from you,
Oh glory of guidance when they took over, independently
كماjust as لَبَّيْتَهُyou answered its call أَيَّامَin the days when تلقَىyou met
كما لَبَّيْتَهُ أَيَّامَ تلقَى
سيوفَthe swords of عُداتِهِits enemies بالرَّاحَتَيْنِwith both palms
سيوفَ عُداتِهِ بالرَّاحَتَيْنِ
as you answered its call in days when you met
The party of God, unreliant on others!
the swords of its enemies with your two palms.
And oh disgrace of enemies when they confronted them
تراثٌa heritage حزتَyou won مفخَرَهُits glory نِزاعاًin emulation
تراثٌ حزتَ مفخَرَهُ نِزاعاً
إِلَىtoward أَبناءِthe sons of عَمِّكَyour paternal uncle فِيat حُنَيْنِHunayn
إِلَى أَبناءِ عَمِّكَ فِي حُنَيْنِ
A heritage whose glory you won, aspiring
As army commanders with their regiments!
to the example of your cousins at Hunayn;
Good omens foretold their coming,
وقدتَand you led زمامَهُits reins حِفْظاًin safeguarding ورَعْياًand tending
وقدتَ زمامَهُ حِفْظاً ورَعْياً
إِلَىto سِبْطَيْthe two scions of عُلاكَyour exalted rank الأَوَّلَيْنِthe first two
إِلَى سِبْطَيْ عُلاكَ الأَوَّلَيْنِ
and you guided its reins, guarding and tending it,
And the luckiest stars rose to assist them.
to the first two scions of your exalted rank.
The troops of victory marched in abundance
فياO then عِزَّmight of الهُدىtrue guidance يومَon the day اسْتَقَلّاboth set forth
فيا عِزَّ الهُدى يومَ اسْتَقَلّا
لحزبِfor the host of اللهِGod غَيْرَwithout مُوَاكِلَيْنِeither leaving the task to the other
لحزبِ اللهِ غَيْرَ مُوَاكِلَيْنِ
Oh, the might of guidance when they set forth
Seeking shade under the banner of honour.
for God's host, neither leaving the task to the other!
Battalions thronged like the wings of night,
وياand O خِزْيَshame of العدىthe enemies لماwhen استَتَمَّاboth pressed onward
ويا خِزْيَ العدى لما استَتَمَّا
إِلَيْهِمْagainst them بالكتائِبِwith the battalions قائِدَيْنِboth as commanders
إِلَيْهِمْ بالكتائِبِ قائِدَيْنِ
And oh, the enemies' shame when they pressed onward
Lodging over the full moon with their darkness,
against them, leading the battalions!
With every creepy crawly thing makingmoves,
وَقَدْand indeed نَهَدَاboth set out بأَيمَنِwith the most auspicious of طائِرَيْنِtwo bird-omens
وَقَدْ نَهَدَا بأَيمَنِ طائِرَيْنِ
وَقَدْand indeed طَلَعَاboth rose بأَسْعَدِwith the most fortunate of طالِعَيْنِtwo ascendants
وَقَدْ طَلَعَا بأَسْعَدِ طالِعَيْنِ
They set out with the two most auspicious bird-omens,
As if wearing a coat of two frayed patches.
and rose with the two most fortunate ascendants.
A warrior the lofty summits gave birth to,
وَقَدْand indeed جاءَتْcame جُنودُthe armies of النصرِvictory زحفاًadvancing
وَقَدْ جاءَتْ جُنودُ النصرِ زحفاً
تلوذُseek shelter بظلِّbeneath the shade of أَكرمِthe noblest of رايتَيْنِtwo banners
تلوذُ بظلِّ أَكرمِ رايتَيْنِ
The armies of victory came advancing,
And the carpet-weaver of death bore his twin,
seeking shelter beneath the two noblest banners:
As if his teeth were the swords of a transgressing army
كتائِبُbattalions مثلlike جُنحِthe dark wing of الليلِnight تَبْأَىboast
كتائِبُ مثل جُنحِ الليلِ تَبْأَى
عَلَىover بدرِthe full moon of الظلامِdarkness بِغُرَّتَيْنِwith two radiant brows
عَلَى بدرِ الظلامِ بِغُرَّتَيْنِ
battalions like the dark wing of night, proudly rivaling
Storming wildly with Al-Hussein’s blood,
the full moon in darkness with two radiant brows;
And every rough-edged Indian scimitar,
بكُلِّwith every مُقَضْقِضِcrusher of الأَقرانِmatched opponents ماضٍresolute
بكُلِّ مُقَضْقِضِ الأَقرانِ ماضٍ
كَأَنَّas though بثوبِهِwithin his robe ذاone endowed with لِبْدَتَيْنِtwo manes
كَأَنَّ بثوبِهِ ذا لِبْدَتَيْنِ
with every resolute crusher of his peers,
And polished double-edged sword.
as though a two-maned lion dwelt within his robe;
As though they and the night of war cloaking in darkness
فتىًa youth وَلَدَتْهُbore him أَطرافُthe points of العَوَالِيthe tall lances
فتىً وَلَدَتْهُ أَطرافُ العَوَالِي
ومُقْعِصَةُand the instantly slaying one among المناياdeaths تَوْأَمَيْنِas twins
ومُقْعِصَةُ المنايا تَوْأَمَيْنِ
a youth whom the points of tall lances bore,
Were two flickering lights within it.
twin-born with death that kills outright;
But when they shone illuminated
كَأَنَّas though سِنَانَهُhis spearhead شِيعيُّa Shi'i partisan بَغْيٍrebellion
كَأَنَّ سِنَانَهُ شِيعيُّ بَغْيٍ
تَقَحَّمَplunged in ثائِراًavenging بِدَمِthe blood of الحُسَيْنِHusayn
تَقَحَّمَ ثائِراً بِدَمِ الحُسَيْنِ
as though his spearhead were a Shi'i rebel,
By the glow of the two shining moons,
plunging in to avenge Husayn's blood.
They wreaked freely havoc and destruction
وكُلِّand every أَصَمَّsolid lance عَرَّاصِquivering in التَّثَنِّيbending
وكُلِّ أَصَمَّ عَرَّاصِ التَّثَنِّي
وذِيand one bearing شُطَبٍblade-grooves رقيقِfine of الشَّفْرَتَيْنِthe two edges
وذِي شُطَبٍ رقيقِ الشَّفْرَتَيْنِ
And every solid lance, quivering as it bends,
Upon the settlements of the unbelievers.
and every grooved sword with two fine edges,
The armies of death writhed among them
كَأَنَّهُماas though the two وليلُwhile the night of الحربِwar داجٍis dark
كَأَنَّهُما وليلُ الحربِ داجٍ
سَناthe gleam of بَرْقَيْنِtwo lightning flashes فِيهَاwithin it خاطِفَيْنِboth darting
سَنا بَرْقَيْنِ فِيهَا خاطِفَيْنِ
as though the two, while war's night darkens,
In awful horror, more terrifying than two monsters.
were the gleam of two lightning flashes darting through it.
As if the orbit of planets surrounded them
أَمَاindeed وسَناهُماby their radiance يومَon the day اسْتَناراboth shone
أَمَا وسَناهُما يومَ اسْتَنارا
بنورِwith the light of الأَبلَجَيْنِthe two bright-faced ones الأَزهرينِthe two resplendent ones
بنورِ الأَبلَجَيْنِ الأَزهرينِ
Indeed, by their radiance on the day they shone
Toting them in between the two dog stars.
with the light of the two bright, resplendent ones,
The mounts of polytheists were led away from it
وراحَاand both went forth بالمناياbearing deaths فاسْتَباحاand both overran
وراحَا بالمنايا فاسْتَباحا
ديارَthe lands of لَمِيقُLamiq غيرَwithout مُعَرِّدَيْنِeither turning back
ديارَ لَمِيقُ غيرَ مُعَرِّدَيْنِ
and went forth bearing deaths, and overran
To exile as they became the guides.
the lands of Lamiq, neither turning back;
They cried out in blood over its dwellings
وَقَدْwhile indeed جاشَتْsurged جُيوشُthe armies of الموتِdeath فِيهَاwithin them
وَقَدْ جاشَتْ جُيوشُ الموتِ فِيهَا
بأَهْوَلَwith something more dreadful منthan توافيthe convergence of الأَيْهَمَيْنِthe two dread powers
بأَهْوَلَ من توافي الأَيْهَمَيْنِ
while the armies of death surged within them
A life for the religion, the bellow of two cattle-raids.
with terror greater than the meeting of the two dread powers;
With willpower supported and aim guided straight,
كَأَنَّas though مَجَرَّةَthe Milky Way of الأَفلاكِthe celestial spheres حَفَّتْencircled
كَأَنَّ مَجَرَّةَ الأَفلاكِ حَفَّتْ
بِهَاaround them محفوفَةًitself surrounded بالشِّعْرَيَيْنِby the two Shi'ra stars
بِهَا محفوفَةً بالشِّعْرَيَيْنِ
as though the Milky Way of the heavens encircled
And might helped and bestowed with victory.
them, itself flanked by the two Shi'ra stars;
Thus the fortresses of security were transformed
وَقَدْand already زُمَّتْwere bridled رِكابُthe riding-camels of الشِّرْكِpolytheism منهاfrom there
وَقَدْ زُمَّتْ رِكابُ الشِّرْكِ منها
إِلَىfor سَفَرٍa journey وَكَانَاand they both were الحادِيَيْنِthe two camel-drivers
إِلَى سَفَرٍ وَكَانَا الحادِيَيْنِ
and the mounts of polytheism there were bridled
Into deathbeds for every insolent transgressor.
for a journey, with those two as camel-drivers;
Therein a treacherous sword of betrayal was unsheathed
وناءاand both rose rain-bearing بالدماءِwith blood عَلَىupon رُباهاits hilltops
وناءا بالدماءِ عَلَى رُباها
حَياًa life-giving rain للدِّينِfor the faith نَوْءَlike the rain of المِرْزَمَيْنِthe two Mirzam stars
حَياً للدِّينِ نَوْءَ المِرْزَمَيْنِ
and they rained blood upon its hilltops,
As the crow croaked on the day of Bayn.
a life-giving shower for faith, like the two Mirzam stars' rain.
So it became as a second haunt
لعزمsurely the resolve of موفَّقينtwo favored men مسدَّدَيْنِboth rightly directed
لعزم موفَّقين مسدَّدَيْنِ
وبأسand the valor of مؤيدينtwo strengthened men مظفَّرَيْنِboth granted victory
وبأس مؤيدين مظفَّرَيْنِ
Surely, such resolve belongs to two favored, well-directed men,
And a third home for the two hyenas.
such valor to two strengthened, victorious men!
The allies there invoke: “Would that between me and you
وَقَدْand indeed خَسَفاboth laid low كُرُنَّةَKurunna بالعَوَالِيwith the tall lances
وَقَدْ خَسَفا كُرُنَّةَ بالعَوَالِي
وand بُوغَةَBugha بادِئَيْنِboth striking first وعائِدَيْنِand both returning
و بُوغَةَ بادِئَيْنِ وعائِدَيْنِ
They laid Kurunna low with their tall lances,
Was the breadth of the two horizons beforehand!”
and Bugha, striking first and striking again.
Had you found him more ominous than ill fortune,
لقدindeed زَجَرَread bird-omens الهُدىtrue guidance يومَon the day استطاراboth flew forth
لقد زَجَرَ الهُدى يومَ استطارا
إِلَىtoward الأَعداءِthe enemies أَيْمَنَthe most auspicious of سانِحَيْنِtwo passing omen-birds
إِلَى الأَعداءِ أَيْمَنَ سانِحَيْنِ
Indeed, guidance read bird-omens when they flew
You would deem him more disastrous than Hunayn.
toward the enemy—the two most auspicious passing birds.
Losing the kingdom, all hopes are shattered,
وشامَand watched the lightning الكفرُunbelief يومَon the day تَيَمَّمَاهُboth made for it
وشامَ الكفرُ يومَ تَيَمَّمَاهُ
بجندِwith the army of الحَقِّtruth أَشْأَمَthe most ill-omened of بارِقَيْنِtwo lightning flashes
بجندِ الحَقِّ أَشْأَمَ بارِقَيْنِ
And unbelief watched, when they made for it
And failing might one of the two deathblows.
with truth's army, the two most ominous lightning flashes.
If rogues were to feel its dread,
فتلكَso those مصانِعُstrongholds of الأَمنِsafety اسْتَحالَتْbecame transformed
فتلكَ مصانِعُ الأَمنِ اسْتَحالَتْ
مصارِعَdeathgrounds for كُلِّevery ذيpossessor of خَتْرٍtreachery ومَيْنِand falsehood
مصارِعَ كُلِّ ذي خَتْرٍ ومَيْنِ
Those strongholds of safety were transformed
Wolves would flee with the two bellies.
into deathgrounds for every treacherous liar,
Every deceiver of you did not deceive
لغاوٍfor a wayward rebel سَلَّwho drew سيفَthe sword of النَّكْثُoath-breaking فِيهَاwithin them
لغاوٍ سَلَّ سيفَ النَّكْثُ فِيهَا
كماas نَعَبَcroaked الغرابُthe raven بيومِon a day of بَيْنِparting
كما نَعَبَ الغرابُ بيومِ بَيْنِ
for a rebel who drew the sword of oath-breaking within them,
The swords that fatally strike with both edges.
as a raven croaks upon a day of parting.
Their schemes collapsed into the most disgraceful abyss
فأَضْحَتْso they became منهbecause of him ثانِيَةًa second لِحَزْوىto Hazwa
فأَضْحَتْ منه ثانِيَةً لِحَزْوى
ووَلَّىand he departed ثالِثاًa third للقارِظَيْنِto the two acacia-bark gatherers
ووَلَّى ثالِثاً للقارِظَيْنِ
So through him they became a second Hazwa,
Of the lowliest stream of everlasting humiliation.
and he vanished, a third to the two qaraz-gatherers.
With a sword whose sharpness souls cannot endure
تنادِيهِcall out to him المعاهِدُthe familiar haunts لَيْتَwould that بَيْنِيbetween me
تنادِيهِ المعاهِدُ لَيْتَ بَيْنِي
وبينَكَand you قَبْلُbeforehand بُعْدَthe distance of المَشْرِقَيْنِthe two easts
وبينَكَ قَبْلُ بُعْدَ المَشْرِقَيْنِ
The familiar haunts call out to him: 'Would that between me
Appearing from behind the two steel blades.
and you, long before, lay the distance between the two easts!'
Your enemy thereupon fell, deceived of hopes
لئِنْif indeed وَجَدَتْهُthey found him أَشْأَمَmore ill-omened منthan قُدارٍQudar
لئِنْ وَجَدَتْهُ أَشْأَمَ من قُدارٍ
لقدindeed عَدِمَتْهُthey lost him أَخْيَبَmore disappointed منthan حُنَيْنِHunayn
لقد عَدِمَتْهُ أَخْيَبَ من حُنَيْنِ
If they found him more ill-omened than Qudar,
And life itself, suffering twofold disappointment.
they lost him more disappointed than Hunayn:
Thus polytheism gets both the two disgraces
سَليبَstripped of المُلْكِsovereignty مُنْبَتَّcut off in الأَمانِيhopes
سَليبَ المُلْكِ مُنْبَتَّ الأَمانِي
وفَقْدُand the loss of العِزِّhonor إِحْدىone of المِيتَتَيْنِthe two deaths
وفَقْدُ العِزِّ إِحْدى المِيتَتَيْنِ
stripped of sovereignty, his hopes cut off—
While Islam gets one of the two beauties.
and loss of honor is one of the two deaths.
Spoils that only the records of the two guard angels can compass,
طريدَa fugitive from الرَّوْعِterror لَوْif حَسِبَhe thought الزُّبانىal-Zubana
طريدَ الرَّوْعِ لَوْ حَسِبَ الزُّبانى
تلاحِظُهُwas watching him لَغارَhe would surely vanish معwith البُطَيْنِal-Butayn
تلاحِظُهُ لَغارَ مع البُطَيْنِ
A fugitive from terror, if he thought al-Zubana
As if the land had gently come to us walking
was watching him, he would vanish with al-Butayn.
With the mounts of Wajrah or the two slopes of Shi'b,
وكلُّand every مُخادِعٍdeceiver لَكَof you لمdid not يُخَادِعْdeceive
وكلُّ مُخادِعٍ لَكَ لم يُخَادِعْ
حُسامَكَyour keen sword منهfrom him حَسْمُthe severing of الأَخْدَعَيْنِthe two neck-veins
حُسامَكَ منه حَسْمُ الأَخْدَعَيْنِ
Every deceiver of you failed to deceive
Adorned with the highest and proudest of necks bent over
your sword, which severed his two neck-veins.
With arms bound as captives between two banners.
هَوَتْplunged بِهِمُwith them مَوَاطِئُthe footholds of كُلِّevery غَدْرٍtreachery
هَوَتْ بِهِمُ مَوَاطِئُ كُلِّ غَدْرٍ
إِلَىinto أَخْزىthe most disgraceful موارِدِwatering-places of كُلِّevery حَيْنِdoom
إِلَى أَخْزى موارِدِ كُلِّ حَيْنِ
The footholds of every treachery cast them down
Royal tents whose ropes your sword has loosened
to the most shameful watering-places of doom,
From their fixings out of energy and pride.
لسيفٍbefore a sword لاnot تَقِيspare حَدَّاهُits two edges نَفْساًa soul
لسيفٍ لا تَقِي حَدَّاهُ نَفْساً
تَرَاءىthat appears منfrom وراءِbehind الصَّفْحَتَيْنِthe two flat sides
تَرَاءى من وراءِ الصَّفْحَتَيْنِ
before a sword whose two edges spare no soul
Oh joy of spears and pride between two swords on day of might!
that appears behind its two flat sides.
And oh iron rod who pierces the thickness of the two armours!
فباءَso returned عِداكَyour enemies منfrom خُلفِthe failure of الأَمانِيhopes
فباءَ عِداكَ من خُلفِ الأَمانِي
ومنand from فَقْدِloss of الحياةِlife بِخَيْبَتَيْنِwith two disappointments
ومن فَقْدِ الحياةِ بِخَيْبَتَيْنِ
So your enemies returned, their hopes unfulfilled,
With the stabbing of two most generous and bountiful,
and their lives lost—with two disappointments.
And the striking of two most glorious and perfect.
فللإِشراكِso polytheism has كِلْتاboth of الخِزْيَتَيْنِthe two disgraces
فللإِشراكِ كِلْتا الخِزْيَتَيْنِ
وللإِسلامِand Islam has إِحْدىone of الحُسْنَيَيْنِthe two finest outcomes
وللإِسلامِ إِحْدى الحُسْنَيَيْنِ
Thus both disgraces belong to polytheism,
To God belong the pulpits when a conquest comes
and to Islam, one of the two fairest outcomes.
After the two glad tidings!
مغانِمُspoils لاnot يُحيطُcan encompass بِهِنَّthem إِلّاexcept
مغانِمُ لا يُحيطُ بِهِنَّ إِلّا
حسابُthe reckoning of الكاتِبَيْنِthe two scribes الحافِظَيْنِthe two guardians
حسابُ الكاتِبَيْنِ الحافِظَيْنِ
Spoils that none can encompass
If "Fath" (conquest) is its name, then "Tamam" (fulfilment)
except the reckoning of the two guardian scribes.
Is its title, completing the two bounties.
كَأَنَّas though الأَرضَthe earth جاءَتْنَاcame to us تَهادىswaying gracefully
كَأَنَّ الأَرضَ جاءَتْنَا تَهادى
بِوَجْرَةَbearing Wajra أَوْor بِشِعْبَيْbearing the two ravines of رَامَتَيْنِRamatayn
بِوَجْرَةَ أَوْ بِشِعْبَيْ رَامَتَيْنِ
As though the earth came swaying toward us,
A conquest that covered the whole world in darkness,
bearing Wajra, or the two ravines of Ramatayn,
Beneath it bowed the necks of the people of the two scriptures.
بكُلِّwith every أَغَرَّbright-browed one سامِيlofty in الطَّرْفِgaze غُلَّتْwere fettered
بكُلِّ أَغَرَّ سامِي الطَّرْفِ غُلَّتْ
يداهُhis two hands للإِسارِfor captivity بيارِقَيْنِwith two bracelets
يداهُ للإِسارِ بيارِقَيْنِ
with every bright-browed, lofty-eyed captive, whose
Everywhere the cross fell dead,
hands were fettered for captivity in two bracelets;
Lying slain on its face and palms.
وأَغْيَدَand a supple youth أَذْهَلَتْdistracted سَيفاكَyour two swords عَنهُfrom him
وأَغْيَدَ أَذْهَلَتْ سَيفاكَ عَنهُ
هَرِيتَwide of الشِّدْقِmouth عَبْلَthick of السَّاعِدَيْنِthe two forearms
هَرِيتَ الشِّدْقِ عَبْلَ السَّاعِدَيْنِ
and a supple youth from whom your two swords distracted
The exploits of two wealthy ones have prevailed, flourishing In the spheres of glories.
the wide-mouthed warrior, thick of forearms.
Ambitions that compete racing
فياO then سُمْرَbrown shafts of القَناthe lances زَهْواًin pride وفخراًand glory
فيا سُمْرَ القَنا زَهْواً وفخراً
بَيْنَbetween الجَحْفَلَيْنِthe two great armies
بَيْنَ الجَحْفَلَيْنِ
O brown spear-shafts—what pride and glory
For the inheritance of Mundhir and Hujr’s realm,
between the two great armies!
Two suns showing superiority and pride over all glory,
وياand O قُضُبَblades of الحديدِiron خَلاَكِhas left you ذَمٌّblame
ويا قُضُبَ الحديدِ خَلاَكِ ذَمٌّ
بماfor what أَحْرَزْتِyou have won منof قَصَبِreeds of اللُّجَيْنِsilver
بما أَحْرَزْتِ من قَصَبِ اللُّجَيْنِ
And O blades of iron, no blame attaches to you
So renounce praising them and the west!
for the reeds of silver you have won,
Two seas of generosity, lions against every opponent,
بطَعْنِthrough the thrusting of الأَكرَمَيْنِthe two noblest الأَجْوَدَيْنِthe two most generous
بطَعْنِ الأَكرَمَيْنِ الأَجْوَدَيْنِ
وضربِand the striking of الأَمجَدَيْنِthe two most glorious الأَنْجَدَيْنِthe two most valiant
وضربِ الأَمجَدَيْنِ الأَنْجَدَيْنِ
through the thrusts of the two noblest, most generous men,
Thus ban your two enemies from visiting the two cattle enclosures!
and the blows of the two most glorious, most valiant.
And oh Qutb of Glory, you have bestowed bounty
فلِلَّهِso to God belong المنابِرُthe pulpits يومَon the day تَبأَىthey boast
فلِلَّهِ المنابِرُ يومَ تَبأَى
بفتحٍof a conquest جاءَthat came يتلُوfollowing البُشْرَيَيْنِthe two glad tidings
بفتحٍ جاءَ يتلُو البُشْرَيَيْنِ
God's are the pulpits when they boast
That you have completed through the two sweet basils!
of a conquest that came following the two glad tidings.
May the two delightful ones you gave birth to
لئِنْif indeed كَانَwas اسمُهُits name فِيon الأَرضِearth فَتْحاًConquest
لئِنْ كَانَ اسمُهُ فِي الأَرضِ فَتْحاً
فَكُنْيَتُهُthen its byname تمامُthe completion of النِّعمتَيْنِthe two blessings
فَكُنْيَتُهُ تمامُ النِّعمتَيْنِ
If its name on earth is 'Conquest,'
Always remain joy to the eyes of Islam!
its byname is 'The Fulfillment of Both Blessings.'
فتوحٌconquests عَمَّتِoverspread الدنياthe world وذَلَّتْand bowed low
فتوحٌ عَمَّتِ الدنيا وذَلَّتْ
لَهُنَّbefore them رقابُthe necks of أَهلِthe people of الخافِقَيْنِthe two horizons
لَهُنَّ رقابُ أَهلِ الخافِقَيْنِ
Conquests that overspread the world, and before them
the necks of the people of both horizons bowed low.
وخَرَّand fell لَهَاbefore them الصليبُthe cross بكلِّin every أَرضٍland
وخَرَّ لَهَا الصليبُ بكلِّ أَرضٍ
صريعاًprostrate للجبينِupon its brow ولِلْيَدَيْنِand upon its two hands
صريعاً للجبينِ ولِلْيَدَيْنِ
And before them the cross, in every land, fell
prostrate upon its brow and hands.
مآثِرُglorious deeds of عامِرِيَّينِtwo 'Amirids اسْتَبَدَّاboth held sole sway
مآثِرُ عامِرِيَّينِ اسْتَبَدَّا
لساحاتِover the fields of المكارِمِnoble deeds عامِرَيْنِboth making them flourish
لساحاتِ المكارِمِ عامِرَيْنِ
Feats of two 'Amirids, who held sole sway,
making the fields of noble deeds flourish;
وهِمَّاتٌand high ambitions تَنازَعُcontending سابِقاتٍracing ahead
وهِمَّاتٌ تَنازَعُ سابِقاتٍ
إِلَىtoward ميراثِthe inheritance of مُلْكِthe sovereignty of التُّبَّعَيْنِthe two Tubba' kings
إِلَى ميراثِ مُلْكِ التُّبَّعَيْنِ
and ambitions contending, racing onward
to inherit the sovereignty of the two Tubba' kings.
هماthey are شمساthe two suns of مفارِقِthe crowns of كلِّevery فخْرٍglory
هما شمسا مفارِقِ كلِّ فخْرٍ
فَخَلِّso leave سَناهُماtheir radiance والمَغْرِبَيْنِand the two wests
فَخَلِّ سَناهُما والمَغْرِبَيْنِ
They are two suns upon the crowns of every glory;
so leave their radiance to the two wests.
وبحرَاand the two seas of الجودِbounty ليثاthe two lions of كلِّevery غابٍthicket
وبحرَا الجودِ ليثا كلِّ غابٍ
فَكِلْso measure عَدْوَيْهِمَاtheir two onrushes بالعُدْوَتَيْنِby the two shores
فَكِلْ عَدْوَيْهِمَا بالعُدْوَتَيْنِ
Two seas of bounty, two lions of every thicket;
so measure their two onrushes by the two shores.
وياand O قُطْبَpole of العُلاexalted rank مُلِّيتَmay you long enjoy نُعْمىa blessing
ويا قُطْبَ العُلا مُلِّيتَ نُعْمى
تَمَلّاهاthat you savor fully بقُرْبِnear الفَرْقَدَيْنِthe two Farqad stars
تَمَلّاها بقُرْبِ الفَرْقَدَيْنِ
O pole of exalted rank, may you long enjoy a blessing
that you savor near the two Farqad stars.
فَقُرَّةُfor the delight of أَعيُنِthe eyes of الإِسلامِIslam أَلّاis that you never
فَقُرَّةُ أَعيُنِ الإِسلامِ أَلّا
تزالَcease to be بمَنْthrough those whom وَلَدْتَyou have fathered قَريرَdelighted of عَيْنِeye
تزالَ بمَنْ وَلَدْتَ قَريرَ عَيْنِ
For the delight of Islam's eyes is that you never
cease to delight in those you have fathered.
Partial English translation: 125 of 142 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1