تَتَبَيَّنُrecognizes شَمْلُthe ranks الدِّينِof faith أَنَّكَthat you ناظِمُهْits unifier
تَتَبَيَّنُ شَمْلُ الدِّينِ أَنَّكَ ناظِمُهْ
وأَيْقَنَand knew with certainty حِزْبُthe party الشِّرْكِof polytheism أَنَّكَthat you قاصِمُهْits destroyer
وأَيْقَنَ حِزْبُ الشِّرْكِ أَنَّكَ قاصِمُهْ
Faith's ranks recognize that you knit them together,
and the party of polytheism knows that you shatter it.
لقدindeed شَدَّدَstrengthened الرحمنُthe Merciful أَرْكانَthe pillars دِينِهِof His faith
لقد شَدَّدَ الرحمنُ أَرْكانَ دِينِهِ
فَأُيِّدَso was supported بانِيهits builder وهُدِّمَand was demolished هادِمُهْits destroyer
فَأُيِّدَ بانِيه وهُدِّمَ هادِمُهْ
The Merciful has strengthened the pillars of His faith:
its builder was supported, and its destroyer demolished.
وعَدَّىand carried onward بِهِwith it عَمَّنْpast whoever يُوالِيbefriends عَدُوَّهُits enemy
وعَدَّى بِهِ عَمَّنْ يُوالِي عَدُوَّهُ
ووَلّاهُand entrusted it منto whoever والاهُwas loyal to it فَهْوَso he is مُلازِمُهْinseparable from it
ووَلّاهُ من والاهُ فَهْوَ مُلازِمُهْ
He carried it past whoever befriended its enemy,
and entrusted it to one loyal to it, who never leaves it,
ومَنْand one whose مُلْكُهُhis sovereignty إِنْif جَلَّgrew grave خَطْبٌa calamity مِلاكُهُits mainstay
ومَنْ مُلْكُهُ إِنْ جَلَّ خَطْبٌ مِلاكُهُ
وأَعلامُهُand his banners إِنْif رابَcaused unease دَهْرٌan age مَعالِمُهْits guideposts
وأَعلامُهُ إِنْ رابَ دَهْرٌ مَعالِمُهْ
whose sovereignty, when disaster looms, is its mainstay,
and whose banners are its guideposts when time brings doubt.
فَسَمَّاهُso He named him منصوراًMansur (Victorious) مُصَدِّقَconfirming جَدِّهِhis good fortune
فَسَمَّاهُ منصوراً مُصَدِّقَ جَدِّهِ
وَمَاand what صَدَّقَتْconfirmed أَرماحُهُhis spears وصوارِمُهْand his keen swords
وَمَا صَدَّقَتْ أَرماحُهُ وصوارِمُهْ
So He named him Mansur, confirming his good fortune
and what his spears and keen swords had proven.
وتَوَّجَهُand crowned him مَثْنىtwofold الرِّياسَةِleadership مُعْلِناًproclaiming
وتَوَّجَهُ مَثْنى الرِّياسَةِ مُعْلِناً
بماof what هُوHe منof غَيْبِthe unseen السَّرَائِرِsecrets عالِمُهْthe one who knows it
بما هُو من غَيْبِ السَّرَائِرِ عالِمُهْ
He crowned him with twofold leadership, proclaiming
what He knows of the secrets hidden within.
فَتىًa youth وَلَدَتْهُbore him الحربُwar واسْتُرْضِعَتْand were engaged as wet nurses لَهُfor him
فَتىً وَلَدَتْهُ الحربُ واسْتُرْضِعَتْ لَهُ
وقائِعُthe battles مَنْof whoever أَحْمىprotected الهُدىguidance ومَلاحِمُهْand his pitched combats
وقائِعُ مَنْ أَحْمى الهُدى ومَلاحِمُهْ
A youth whom war bore, and for whom were engaged as wet nurses
the battles and pitched combats of guidance's defender.
مُفَدَّىًransomed with others' lives وَمَاand not غيرُanything but السُّروجِsaddles مِهادُهْhis cradle
مُفَدَّىً وَمَا غيرُ السُّروجِ مِهادُهْ
مُوَقَّىًprotected وَمَاand not غيرُanything but السيوفِswords تمائِمُهْhis talismans
مُوَقَّىً وَمَا غيرُ السيوفِ تمائِمُهْ
Ransomed with others' lives, his cradle is nothing but saddles;
protected, his talismans are nothing but swords.
مُجَدِّدُa renewer مُلْكٍof a kingdom أَحرَزَتْهُwon it جُدُودُهُhis forefathers
مُجَدِّدُ مُلْكٍ أَحرَزَتْهُ جُدُودُهُ
أَعِزَّةُthe mighty أَمْلاكِkings الهُدىof guidance وأَكَارِمُهْand its noblest men
أَعِزَّةُ أَمْلاكِ الهُدى وأَكَارِمُهْ
He renews a kingdom won by his forefathers,
the mighty kings of guidance and its noblest men.
فَأَعْرَبَso he gave expression عَنْto أَيامِthe days يَعْرُبَof Ya'rub واقْتَدىand followed
فَأَعْرَبَ عَنْ أَيامِ يَعْرُبَ واقْتَدى
بِماthat by which عَظُمَتْgrew great أَذْوَاؤُهُhis titled lords وأَعاظِمُهْand his magnates
بِما عَظُمَتْ أَذْوَاؤُهُ وأَعاظِمُهْ
He gave expression to the days of Ya'rub and followed
the deeds that made his titled lords and magnates great.
وأَنْجَبهُand nobly begot him لِلطَّعْنِfor spear-thrusts وَالضَّرْبِand sword-strokes عَمْرُهُhis Amr
وأَنْجَبهُ لِلطَّعْنِ وَالضَّرْبِ عَمْرُهُ
وأَخْلَصَهُand made him pure لِلْجُودِfor generosity والحَمْدِand praise حَاتِمُهْhis Hatim
وأَخْلَصَهُ لِلْجُودِ والحَمْدِ حَاتِمُهْ
His Amr nobly begot him for spear-thrusts and sword-strokes,
and his Hatim made him pure for generosity and praise.
شُجاعٌbrave ولَكِنَّbut الجِيادَnoble steeds حُصُونُهُhis fortresses
شُجاعٌ ولَكِنَّ الجِيادَ حُصُونُهُ
كَرِيمٌgenerous ولكِنَّbut المَعَاليlofty achievements كَرَائِمُهْhis prized possessions
كَرِيمٌ ولكِنَّ المَعَالي كَرَائِمُهْ
Brave, yet noble steeds are his fortresses;
generous, yet lofty achievements are his prized possessions.
تَلاقَتْgathered عَلَيْهِaround him الخَيْلُthe horses والبِيضُand bright blades والقَناand lances
تَلاقَتْ عَلَيْهِ الخَيْلُ والبِيضُ والقَنا
قِياماًstanding ready لِمَنْfor one whom لاno سَعْيُeffort ساعٍof a striver يُقاوِمُهْcan rival him
قِياماً لِمَنْ لا سَعْيُ ساعٍ يُقاوِمُهْ
Horses, bright blades, and lances gathered about him,
standing ready for one no striver's efforts can rival.
وَخَلَّتْand withdrew لهfor him الأَمْلاكُthe kings عَنْfrom سُبُلِthe paths الهُدىof guidance
وَخَلَّتْ له الأَمْلاكُ عَنْ سُبُلِ الهُدى
فَلَيْسَso there is not سِوىanything but طِيبِthe sweetness الثَّناءِof praise يُزَاحِمُهْpressing close to him
فَلَيْسَ سِوى طِيبِ الثَّناءِ يُزَاحِمُهْ
Kings withdrew for him from the paths of guidance,
and nothing but sweet praise presses close to him.
مُقَسِّمُa distributor مَاof what يَحْوِيهِhe possesses فِيalong سُبُلِthe paths النَّدىof generosity
مُقَسِّمُ مَا يَحْوِيهِ فِي سُبُلِ النَّدى
وإِنْeven though كَانَwas قَدْalready حَابَاهُfavored him فِيin الحَظِّhis share قاسِمُهْits allotter
وإِنْ كَانَ قَدْ حَابَاهُ فِي الحَظِّ قاسِمُهْ
He shares out what he possesses along the paths of generosity,
though fortune's allotter has favored him in his share.
فماso no خابَwas disappointed فِيon يومِthe day النَّدَىof bounty منwhoever يَنُوؤُهُburdens him
فما خابَ فِي يومِ النَّدَى من يَنُوؤُهُ
ولاnor فازَprevailed فِيon يومthe day الوَغىof battle مَنْwhoever يُحاكِمُهْcontests him
ولا فازَ فِي يوم الوَغى مَنْ يُحاكِمُهْ
No one who burdens him on a day of bounty is disappointed,
nor does anyone who contests him prevail on a day of battle.
ولاnor ادُّعِيَتْwere claimed by others فِيin المَأْثُرَاتِglorious deeds حُقُوقُهُhis rightful shares
ولا ادُّعِيَتْ فِي المَأْثُرَاتِ حُقُوقُهُ
ولَوْeven if أَقبلَتْcame forward زُهْرُthe brilliant ones النجومِof the stars تُخاصِمُهْto dispute with him
ولَوْ أَقبلَتْ زُهْرُ النجومِ تُخاصِمُهْ
No rival has claimed his rightful share of glorious deeds,
even if the brilliant stars come forward to dispute with him.
ودَعْوىand a claim النُّهىto wisdom والحِلْمِand forbearance فِيin غَيْرِanyone but مُنْذِرٍMundhir
ودَعْوى النُّهى والحِلْمِ فِي غَيْرِ مُنْذِرٍ
خيالٌa phantom منof الأَحْلامِdreams أَضْغَثَmuddled حَالِمُهْits dreamer
خيالٌ من الأَحْلامِ أَضْغَثَ حَالِمُهْ
A claim to wisdom and forbearance in anyone but Mundhir
is a phantom of dreams, muddled by its dreamer.
فَمَنْwho then ذَاis that الَّذِيwho يَرْجُوhopes منfrom المُلْكِkingship غِرَّةًan unguarded moment
فَمَنْ ذَا الَّذِي يَرْجُو من المُلْكِ غِرَّةً
وَمَاwhen not حَوَّمَتْhovered إِلّاexcept عَلَيْكَabove you حَوَائِمُهْits circling birds
وَمَا حَوَّمَتْ إِلّا عَلَيْكَ حَوَائِمُهْ
Who, then, hopes to catch kingship unawares,
when its circling birds have hovered only over you,
ولاand not رُفِعَتْwere raised إِلّاexcept إِلَيْكَtoward you عُيُونُهُits eyes
ولا رُفِعَتْ إِلّا إِلَيْكَ عُيُونُهُ
ولاand not ظَأَرَتْturned affectionately إِلّاexcept عَلَيْكَtoward you روائِمُهْits tender dams
ولا ظَأَرَتْ إِلّا عَلَيْكَ روائِمُهْ
and its eyes have been raised only toward you,
and its tender dams have turned lovingly only to you,
ولاand not راقَshone splendidly إِلّاexcept فِيupon جَبينِكَyour brow تاجُهُits crown
ولا راقَ إِلّا فِي جَبينِكَ تاجُهُ
ولاand not قَرَّrested إِلّاexcept فِيin يمينِكَyour right hand خَاتِمُهْits signet
ولا قَرَّ إِلّا فِي يمينِكَ خَاتِمُهْ
and its crown has shone splendidly only upon your brow,
and its signet has rested only in your right hand?
فكيفَwhat then بِذِيof a man of جَهْلٍignorance تَعَسَّفَblundered through مَجْهلاًa trackless waste
فكيفَ بِذِي جَهْلٍ تَعَسَّفَ مَجْهلاً
يُبَرِّحُbodes ill واقِيهِits omen-bird ويَحْتِمُand decrees doom حاتِمُهْits doom-foretelling raven
يُبَرِّحُ واقِيهِ ويَحْتِمُ حاتِمُهْ
What, then, of an ignorant man blundering into trackless waste,
where its omen-bird bodes ill and its raven decrees doom?
فَغالَتهso it destroyed him فِيin غَوْلِthe treachery المَهامِهِof the trackless wastes غُولُهُits ghoul
فَغالَته فِي غَوْلِ المَهامِهِ غُولُهُ
وهامَتْand wandered بِهِwith him فِيthrough التُّرَّهَاتِfalse paths هَوَائِمُهْits wandering phantoms
وهامَتْ بِهِ فِي التُّرَّهَاتِ هَوَائِمُهْ
Its ghoul destroyed him in the wastes' treacherous depths,
and its wandering phantoms led him astray through false paths.
أَباحَlaid open حِمىthe protected domain الإِسْلامِof Islam لِلْشِّرْكِto polytheism مَغْنَماًas booty
أَباحَ حِمى الإِسْلامِ لِلْشِّرْكِ مَغْنَماً
لِتُقْسمَso might be divided بَيْنَamong النَّاهِبِينَthe plunderers مَغانِمُهْits spoils
لِتُقْسمَ بَيْنَ النَّاهِبِينَ مَغانِمُهْ
He laid Islam's protected domain open to polytheism as booty,
so that its spoils might be divided among the plunderers.
وفَضَّand broke open خِتامَthe seal اللهِof God عنfrom حُرُماتِهِHis sanctities
وفَضَّ خِتامَ اللهِ عن حُرُماتِهِ
ليُفْتَضَّso it might be broken open عَمَّاfrom what تَحْتَويهِthey contain it خَواتِمُهْHis seals
ليُفْتَضَّ عَمَّا تَحْتَويهِ خَواتِمُهْ
He broke God's seal upon His sanctities,
so that what His seals enclosed might be laid bare.
وَعَدَّand reckoned دِماءَthe blood المُسْلِمِينَof Muslims مُدَامَةًwine
وَعَدَّ دِماءَ المُسْلِمِينَ مُدَامَةً
فَبَرَّحَso far surpassed فِيamong الأَعْداءِthe enemies عَمَّنْbeyond whoever يُنادِمُهْdrinks with him
فَبَرَّحَ فِي الأَعْداءِ عَمَّنْ يُنادِمُهْ
He reckoned Muslims' blood as wine,
and outdid his drinking companions among the enemies.
فإِنْso if أَلْقَحَmade fertile الحَرْبَwar العَوَانَthe long-fought فَحَسْبُهُthen enough for him
فإِنْ أَلْقَحَ الحَرْبَ العَوَانَ فَحَسْبُهُ
فَوَاقِرُspine-breaking calamities مَاof what شَالَتْit raised بِهِwith him وأَشائِمُهْand its ill omens
فَوَاقِرُ مَا شَالَتْ بِهِ وأَشائِمُهْ
If he has made the long-fought war fertile, enough for him
are the crushing calamities it has raised against him and its ill omens.
وإِنْand if زُجَّhe was thrust فِيinto جَفْنِthe eyelid الرَّدىof death فَلِحَيْنِهِthen for his doom
وإِنْ زُجَّ فِي جَفْنِ الرَّدى فَلِحَيْنِهِ
تَخَازَرَlooked askance ساجِيهِits languid eye وأُوقِظَand was awakened نائِمُهْits sleeping eye
تَخَازَرَ ساجِيهِ وأُوقِظَ نائِمُهْ
And if he is thrust into death's eyelid, then to his doom
its languid eye turns askance and its sleeping eye awakens.
غَدَاةَon the morning دعاكَcalled you الدِّينُfaith مِنْfrom أَسْرِcaptivity فَعْلَةٍto a crime
غَدَاةَ دعاكَ الدِّينُ مِنْ أَسْرِ فَعْلَةٍ
وَقَدْwhen already أَوْشَكَتْwere on the verge أَنْof تُسْتَباحَbeing violated مَحارِمُهْits sanctities
وَقَدْ أَوْشَكَتْ أَنْ تُسْتَباحَ مَحارِمُهْ
That morning faith called to you, held captive by a crime,
when its sanctities were nearly violated.
فلَبَّيْتَهاso you answered it فانْجَابَand cleared away عَنْهاfrom it ظَلامُهُhis darkness
فلَبَّيْتَها فانْجَابَ عَنْها ظَلامُهُ
ووافَيْتَهاand you came to it فَاسْتَنْكَرَتْهاso they found it unfamiliar مَظَالِمُهْhis oppressions
ووافَيْتَها فَاسْتَنْكَرَتْها مَظَالِمُهْ
You answered that call, and his darkness cleared from it;
you came to it, and his oppressions found it unfamiliar.
وجاءَكَand came to you مَدُّreinforcement اللهِfrom God منfrom كُلِّevery ناصِرٍsupporter
وجاءَكَ مَدُّ اللهِ من كُلِّ ناصِرٍ
عَلَىupon الحَقِّthe truth مَهْدِيّاًguided إِلَيْكَtoward you مَقَادِمُهْhis vanguards
عَلَى الحَقِّ مَهْدِيّاً إِلَيْكَ مَقَادِمُهْ
God's reinforcements came to you from every supporter,
their vanguards guided toward you upon the truth.
ونادىand summoned أَبوAbu مَسْعُودٍMasud النَّصْرَvictory مُسْعِداًsupporting
ونادى أَبو مَسْعُودٍ النَّصْرَ مُسْعِداً
عزائِمَكَyour resolves اللاتِيwhich تَلِيهاfollow them عزائِمُهْhis resolves
عزائِمَكَ اللاتِي تَلِيها عزائِمُهْ
Abu Masud summoned victory, supporting
your resolves, which his own resolves follow,
بِوُدٍّwith affection كماءِlike the water الغَيْثِof rain يَسْقِيwatering رِياضَهُhis gardens
بِوُدٍّ كماءِ الغَيْثِ يَسْقِي رِياضَهُ
وبَأْسٍand with might كَحَرِّlike the heat النَّارِof fire يُضْرَمُis kindled جاحِمُهْits blaze
وبَأْسٍ كَحَرِّ النَّارِ يُضْرَمُ جاحِمُهْ
with love like rainwater watering his gardens,
and might like fire's heat, its blaze kindled.
عَلَىagainst كُلِّeveryone مَنْwhom حارَبْتَyou fought فَهْوَthen he is مُحارِبٌa fighter
عَلَى كُلِّ مَنْ حارَبْتَ فَهْوَ مُحارِبٌ
كِفاحاًface to face ومنand whoever سالَمْتَyou made peace with فَهْوَthen he is مُسالِمُهْat peace with him
كِفاحاً ومن سالَمْتَ فَهْوَ مُسالِمُهْ
Against everyone you fight, he fights
face to face; with everyone you make peace with, he is at peace.
وأَعْصَمَand sought refuge بالإِشْرَاكِin polytheism قائِدُthe leader بَغْيِهاof its rebellion
وأَعْصَمَ بالإِشْرَاكِ قائِدُ بَغْيِها
إِلَىagainst مَلِكٍa king رَبُّthe Lord السَّمواتِof the heavens عاصِمُهْhis protector
إِلَى مَلِكٍ رَبُّ السَّمواتِ عاصِمُهْ
The leader of its rebellion sought refuge in polytheism,
against a king protected by the Lord of the heavens.
فَماso never رَكَضُواthey spurred طِرْفاًa noble steed إِلَيْكَtoward you لِغارَةٍfor a raid
فَما رَكَضُوا طِرْفاً إِلَيْكَ لِغارَةٍ
وأَسْهَلَand entered level ground إِلّاexcept that أَسْلَمْتَهُabandoned it قوائِمُهْits legs
وأَسْهَلَ إِلّا أَسْلَمْتَهُ قوائِمُهْ
Never did they spur a noble steed toward you for a raid
and reach level ground without its legs abandoning it.
ولاnor أَصْلَتُواthey unsheathed سَيْفاًa sword وأَنْحَوْكَand aimed at you حَدَّهُits edge
ولا أَصْلَتُوا سَيْفاً وأَنْحَوْكَ حَدَّهُ
فَعَرَّجَand then veered aside عَنْfrom مَثْنىthe crook يَمِينِكَof your right arm قائِمُهْits hilt
فَعَرَّجَ عَنْ مَثْنى يَمِينِكَ قائِمُهْ
Nor did they unsheathe a sword and aim its edge at you
and have its hilt veer away from the crook of your right arm.
ولاnor أَشَّبُواthey fortified حِصْناًa fortress يَرُدُّكَto repel you عَنْهُمُfrom them
ولا أَشَّبُوا حِصْناً يَرُدُّكَ عَنْهُمُ
وقابَلْتَهُand you faced it إِلّاexcept that تَدَاعَتْcollapsed دَعَائِمُهْits supports
وقابَلْتَهُ إِلّا تَدَاعَتْ دَعَائِمُهْ
Nor did they fortify a fortress to keep you from them
that you faced without its supports collapsing.
وإِنْeven if أَحْرَزُواthey secured فِيin قُطْرِthe land شَنْجٍof Shanj نُفُوسَهُمْtheir lives
وإِنْ أَحْرَزُوا فِي قُطْرِ شَنْجٍ نُفُوسَهُمْ
فغانِمُthen the winner مَاof what لاnot يَحْفَظُprotects اللهُGod غارِمُهْis its loser
فغانِمُ مَا لا يَحْفَظُ اللهُ غارِمُهْ
Even if they secured their lives in the land of Shanj,
whoever gains what God does not protect must lose it.
فكَمْhow many قُدْتَyou led فِيthrough أَكْنافِهاits reaches منa مُقَنَّعٍhelmeted warrior
فكَمْ قُدْتَ فِي أَكْنافِها من مُقَنَّعٍ
نُفُوسُthe souls الأَعادِيof enemies شُرْبُهُhis drink ومطاعِمُهْand his food
نُفُوسُ الأَعادِي شُرْبُهُ ومطاعِمُهْ
How many a helmeted warrior you led through its reaches,
whose drink and food are the souls of enemies!
خَمِيسٌan army لِجُنْحِbeneath the wing اللَّيْلِof night مِنْfrom أَنْجُمِthe stars الدُّجىof darkness
خَمِيسٌ لِجُنْحِ اللَّيْلِ مِنْ أَنْجُمِ الدُّجى
حُلاهُits ornaments ومنand from شَمْسِthe sun النهارِof day عمائِمُهْits turbans
حُلاهُ ومن شَمْسِ النهارِ عمائِمُهْ
A host: beneath night's wing, from the stars of darkness
come its ornaments, and from the sun of day its turbans.
كَأَنَّas though شعاعَthe radiance الشمسِof the sun تَحْتَbeneath عَجَاجِهِits dust-cloud
كَأَنَّ شعاعَ الشمسِ تَحْتَ عَجَاجِهِ
إِذَاwhen مَاindeed الْتَقَىmet الجمعانِthe two armies سِرٌّa secret وكاتِمُهْand its keeper
إِذَا مَا الْتَقَى الجمعانِ سِرٌّ وكاتِمُهْ
As though the sun's radiance beneath its dust-cloud,
when the two armies meet, were a secret with its keeper.
تَجِيشُsurge بِوَدْقٍwith a shower منof جَنىthe fruit النَّبْعِof nab' bow-wood صائِبٍunerring
تَجِيشُ بِوَدْقٍ من جَنى النَّبْعِ صائِبٍ
أَساوِدُهُits black serpents نَحْوَtoward العِدىthe foes وأَرَاقِمُهْand its speckled vipers
أَساوِدُهُ نَحْوَ العِدى وأَرَاقِمُهْ
With an unerring shower of nab'-wood's fruit surge
its black serpents and speckled vipers toward the foes,
كَمَاjust as حَمَلَتْbore رَحْلَthe caravan الدَّباof young locusts عاصِفُthe gale الصَّباof the east wind
كَمَا حَمَلَتْ رَحْلَ الدَّبا عاصِفُ الصَّبا
أَوِor انْهَلَّpoured down بالوَبْلِwith a deluge الأَجَشِّroaring غَمَائِمُهْits clouds
أَوِ انْهَلَّ بالوَبْلِ الأَجَشِّ غَمَائِمُهْ
as the stormy east wind bears a caravan of young locusts,
or its clouds pour down a roaring deluge.
وهَدَّand shattered هَوَاءَthe air الجَوِّof the sky نَحْوَtoward بِنائِهاits structure
وهَدَّ هَوَاءَ الجَوِّ نَحْوَ بِنائِها
هُوِيَّa plunging سِلامٍof stones حانَwas doomed مَنْwhoever لاnot تُسَالِمُهْyou make peace with him
هُوِيَّ سِلامٍ حانَ مَنْ لا تُسَالِمُهْ
And it rent the open air toward its walls,
with plunging stones—doomed is whoever you do not make peace with.
ولَوْand if لَمْnot تُصَادِمْهُyou crashed against him بِطَوْدٍwith a mountain مِنَof القَناspears
ولَوْ لَمْ تُصَادِمْهُ بِطَوْدٍ مِنَ القَنا
لأَقْبَلَthen would advance أَطْوَادُthe great masses الجِبالِof mountains تُصَادِمُهْto crash against him
لأَقْبَلَ أَطْوَادُ الجِبالِ تُصَادِمُهْ
Had you not crashed against him with a mountain of spears,
the mountains' great masses would have advanced to crash against him.
ولَوْand if لَمْnot تُزَاحِمْهُpressed against him المَجانِيقُthe catapults لانْبَرَتْthen would rush
ولَوْ لَمْ تُزَاحِمْهُ المَجانِيقُ لانْبَرَتْ
عَلَيْهِagainst him نُجُومُthe stars القَذْفِof bombardment عَنْكَon your behalf تُزَاحِمُهْto press against him
عَلَيْهِ نُجُومُ القَذْفِ عَنْكَ تُزَاحِمُهْ
Had the catapults not pressed against him, there would have rushed
the pelting stars upon him, pressing him on your behalf.
وَلَيْسَnor are ولَوْeven if سامىrivaled السَّماءَthe sky بِمُعْجِزٍbeyond reach
وَلَيْسَ ولَوْ سامى السَّماءَ بِمُعْجِزٍ
مِنَof المَشْرَفِيِّthe Mashrafi blade وَالعَوَالِيand lofty lances سَلالِمُهْhis ladders
مِنَ المَشْرَفِيِّ وَالعَوَالِي سَلالِمُهْ
Nor could his ladders escape, even if they rivaled the sky,
the Mashrafi blade and towering lances.
فَسَرْعَانَhow swiftly مَاindeed أَقوىbecame deserted الشَّرىal-Shara منof ضِباعِهِits hyenas
فَسَرْعَانَ مَا أَقوى الشَّرى من ضِباعِهِ
وبَرْبَرَand roared فِيin ذَاكَthat العَرِينِlair ضَرَاغِمُهْits lions
وبَرْبَرَ فِي ذَاكَ العَرِينِ ضَرَاغِمُهْ
How swiftly al-Shara was emptied of its hyenas,
and its lions roared in that lair!
وطُيِّرَand were driven flying عنfrom لَيْلِthe night الأَباطِيلِof falsehoods بُومُهُits owls
وطُيِّرَ عن لَيْلِ الأَباطِيلِ بُومُهُ
وشُرِّدَand were driven away عنfrom بَيْضِthe eggs النفاقِof hypocrisy نعائِمُهْits ostriches
وشُرِّدَ عن بَيْضِ النفاقِ نعائِمُهْ
Its owls were driven flying from the night of falsehood,
and its ostriches driven away from hypocrisy's eggs.
وبَدَّلْتَand you substituted حُكْمَthe judgment اللهِof God منfor حُكْمِthe rule غَيِّهِof his error
وبَدَّلْتَ حُكْمَ اللهِ من حُكْمِ غَيِّهِ
فأَنْفَذَso enforced حُكْمُthe judgment اللهِof God مَاwhat أَنتَyou حاكِمُهْdecree it
فأَنْفَذَ حُكْمُ اللهِ مَا أَنتَ حاكِمُهْ
You replaced his errant rule with God's judgment,
and God's judgment enforced what you decreed.
فياoh then رُبَّhow many أَنفٍa nose للنفاقِof hypocrisy جَدَعْتَهُyou severed it
فيا رُبَّ أَنفٍ للنفاقِ جَدَعْتَهُ
بِهَاtherein وابْنُwhile Ibn شَنْجٍShanj صاغِرُhumbled الأَنْفِin the nose راغِمُهْwith it in the dust
بِهَا وابْنُ شَنْجٍ صاغِرُ الأَنْفِ راغِمُهْ
How many a nose of hypocrisy you severed
there, while Ibn Shanj's nose was abased and rubbed in dust!
غداةَon the morning أَطارَdrove away العقلَreason عنهfrom him ونَفْسَهُand his soul
غداةَ أَطارَ العقلَ عنه ونَفْسَهُ
بسيفِكَwith your sword يومٌa day راكِدُunmoving الهَوْلِin terror جاثِمُهْits crouching terror
بسيفِكَ يومٌ راكِدُ الهَوْلِ جاثِمُهْ
That morning his reason and his soul were driven from him
by your sword: a day whose terror crouched unmoving.
فماand not يَرتُقُstitches together الأَرْوَاحَsouls إِلّاexcept رِياحُهُits winds
فما يَرتُقُ الأَرْوَاحَ إِلّا رِياحُهُ
ولاand not يَفْتُقُrends الغَمَّاءَthe dark distress إِلّاexcept غَماغِمُهْits muffled roars
ولا يَفْتُقُ الغَمَّاءَ إِلّا غَماغِمُهْ
Only its winds stitch souls together,
and only its muffled roars rend the dark distress.
فلاso no نُطْقَspeech إِلّاexcept أَنthat يُفَدِّيكَoffers his life for yours صارِخٌa shrieker
فلا نُطْقَ إِلّا أَن يُفَدِّيكَ صارِخٌ
ويدعُوكَand call on you بالبُقْيَاfor mercy عليهاfor them أَعاجِمُهْits foreign speakers
ويدعُوكَ بالبُقْيَا عليها أَعاجِمُهْ
No speech but a shrieker offering his life for yours,
and its foreign speakers begging you to spare those souls.
فَأَبْرِحْhow dreadful بيومٍa day أَنتَyou بالنَّصْرِwith victory مُقْدِمٌadvancing
فَأَبْرِحْ بيومٍ أَنتَ بالنَّصْرِ مُقْدِمٌ
وأَفْرِحْand how joyous بيومٍa day أنتyou بالفَتْحِwith conquest قادِمُهْcoming to it
وأَفْرِحْ بيومٍ أنت بالفَتْحِ قادِمُهْ
How dreadful a day on which you advance with victory,
and how joyous a day to which you come with conquest!
ومَنْزِلِand many a dwelling مَفْلُولٍof a routed foe نَزَلْتَyou entered وخيلُناwhile our horses
ومَنْزِلِ مَفْلُولٍ نَزَلْتَ وخيلُنا
مرابِطُهاtheir tethering grounds أَجسادُهُhis corpses وجَمَاجِمُهْand his skulls
مرابِطُها أَجسادُهُ وجَمَاجِمُهْ
And many a routed foe's lodging you entered, while our horses
had his corpses and skulls for their tethering grounds.
ومُعْتَرِفٍand a confessor بالذَّنْبِof his sin مُبْتَئِسٍdistressed بِهِby it
ومُعْتَرِفٍ بالذَّنْبِ مُبْتَئِسٍ بِهِ
دعاكَcalled you وَقَدْwhen already قامَتْhad gathered عَلَيْهِover him مآتِمُهْhis mourning assemblies
دعاكَ وَقَدْ قامَتْ عَلَيْهِ مآتِمُهْ
And many a man confessing his sin, miserable with it,
called on you, while his mourning assemblies had gathered over him.
إِذَاwhen صَدَّهُturned him away الموتُdeath الَّذِيwhich سامَhe sought نَفْسَهُfor himself
إِذَا صَدَّهُ الموتُ الَّذِي سامَ نَفْسَهُ
يكُرُّbrings back بِهِhim العَيْشُlife الَّذِيwhich هُوَhe سائِمُهْis seeking it
يكُرُّ بِهِ العَيْشُ الَّذِي هُوَ سائِمُهْ
When the death he had sought for himself turned him away,
the life he sought brought him charging back.
فتَلْقَاهُso meet him أَطرافُthe tips القَناof spears وَهْوَwhile he is نُصْبُهاtheir target
فتَلْقَاهُ أَطرافُ القَنا وَهْوَ نُصْبُها
ويَصْعَقُهُand stuns him بَرْقُthe lightning الرَّدىof death وَهْوَwhile he is شائِمُهْwatching for it
ويَصْعَقُهُ بَرْقُ الرَّدى وَهْوَ شائِمُهْ
The spearpoints meet him while he stands their target,
and death's lightning stuns him while he watches for it.
إِذَاwhen كادَalmost يقضيfulfilled بالأَسىin grief نَحْبَهhis life's term قَضَتdecreed
إِذَا كادَ يقضي بالأَسى نَحْبَه قَضَت
لَهُfor him الرَّحِمُkinship الدُّنْياthe closest بأَنَّكَthat you راحِمُهْwould pity him
لَهُ الرَّحِمُ الدُّنْيا بأَنَّكَ راحِمُهْ
When he nearly breathed his last in grief, it was decreed
for him by close kinship that you would show him mercy.
فلمand never أَرَI saw أَمْضَىmore decisive مِنْكَthan you حكْماًin judgment تَحَكَّمَتْheld sway
فلم أَرَ أَمْضَى مِنْكَ حكْماً تَحَكَّمَتْ
عَلَىover سيفِهِhis sword يَوْمَon the day الحِفَاظِof defending honor مكارِمُهْhis noble virtues
عَلَى سيفِهِ يَوْمَ الحِفَاظِ مكارِمُهْ
I have seen none more decisive in judgment than you, whose
noble virtues ruled his sword on the day of defending honor.
ولاnor مِثْلَanything like حِلْمٍforbearance أَنْتَyou لِلْغَيْظِagainst wrath لابِسٌwearing
ولا مِثْلَ حِلْمٍ أَنْتَ لِلْغَيْظِ لابِسٌ
ولاnor مِثْلَanything like غَيْظٍwrath أَنتَyou بالحِلْمِwith forbearance كاظِمُهْrestraining it
ولا مِثْلَ غَيْظٍ أَنتَ بالحِلْمِ كاظِمُهْ
Nor forbearance like that you wear against anger,
nor anger like that you restrain with forbearance.
فأَوْسَعْتَهُso you granted him حُكْمَthe judgment النَّضِيرِof al-Nadir وَقَدْalthough already حَكىhad resembled
فأَوْسَعْتَهُ حُكْمَ النَّضِيرِ وَقَدْ حَكى
قُرَيظَةَQurayza منهin him غِلُّهُhis rancor وَجَرائِمُهْand his crimes
قُرَيظَةَ منه غِلُّهُ وَجَرائِمُهْ
You granted him the judgment of al-Nadir, though
his rancor and crimes resembled Qurayza's.
فَوَلّىso he turned away وَقَدْwhile already وَلّاكَentrusted you with ذُوthe Lord العَرْشِof the Throne عَرْشَهُhis throne
فَوَلّى وَقَدْ وَلّاكَ ذُو العَرْشِ عَرْشَهُ
وطارَand he flew وَقَدْwhile already طارَتْflew إِلَيْكَto you قوادِمُهْhis foremost wing-feathers
وطارَ وَقَدْ طارَتْ إِلَيْكَ قوادِمُهْ
He turned away, while the Lord of the Throne entrusted his throne to you;
he flew away, while his foremost wing-feathers flew to you.
وأُبْتَand you returned وَقَدْwhile already لاحَتْshone سُعُودُكَyour lucky stars بالمُنىwith hopes
وأُبْتَ وَقَدْ لاحَتْ سُعُودُكَ بالمُنى
وغارَتْand sank بِهِwith him فِيamong الأَخْسَريْنَthe greatest losers عَوَاتِمُهْhis dark stars
وغارَتْ بِهِ فِي الأَخْسَريْنَ عَوَاتِمُهْ
You returned, your lucky stars shining with hopes,
while his dark stars sank with him among the greatest losers.
تُغَنِّيsing لَكَto you الرُّكْبانُthe riders بالفَتْحِof conquest قافِلاًreturning home
تُغَنِّي لَكَ الرُّكْبانُ بالفَتْحِ قافِلاً
وتبكِيand weep عَلَيْهِover him بالحِمَامِfor his death حَمَائِمُهْhis doves
وتبكِي عَلَيْهِ بالحِمَامِ حَمَائِمُهْ
The riders sing to you of conquest as you return home,
while his doves weep over him for his death.
فَمَنْso whomever يَنْصُرِsupports الرَّحمنُthe Merciful هَذِيthese عَزَائِمُهْare his resolves
فَمَنْ يَنْصُرِ الرَّحمنُ هَذِي عَزَائِمُهْ
ومنand whomever يَخْذُلِabandons الرحمنُthe Merciful هذِيthese هَزَائِمُهْare his defeats
ومن يَخْذُلِ الرحمنُ هذِي هَزَائِمُهْ
Whomever the Merciful supports—these are his resolves;
and whomever the Merciful abandons—these are his defeats.
Sol 6.1