فَدَيْنَاكَwe would ransom you سَيْفاًa sword لَمْdid not تَخُنْهُbetray it مَضَارِبُهْits striking edges
فَدَيْنَاكَ سَيْفاً لَمْ تَخُنْهُ مَضَارِبُهْ
وبحرَand an ocean عَطَاءٍgiving مَاnever تَغِيضُdiminish مواهِبُهْits gifts
وبحرَ عَطَاءٍ مَا تَغِيضُ مواهِبُهْ
We would ransom you—a sword whose edges never betrayed it,
We ransomed you with a sword whose strikes never failed,
And an ocean of giving whose gifts never diminish,
And an ocean of generosity whose gifts never ebbed,
وبدراًand a full moon تجَلَّىshone forth فِيin سماءٍa sky رياسةٍleadership
وبدراً تجَلَّى فِي سماءٍ رياسةٍ
كواكبُهاits stars آثارُهُhis deeds وَمَنَاقِبُهْand his virtues
كواكبُها آثارُهُ وَمَنَاقِبُهْ
And a full moon shining forth in the sky of leadership,
And a full moon that shone in a leadership sky,
Whose stars are his deeds and his virtues.
Its stars are its traces and virtues.
تقلَّدَgirded himself with سيفَthe sword of اللهِGod وَالتَحَفَand cloaked himself in النَّدىgenerosity
تقلَّدَ سيفَ اللهِ وَالتَحَفَ النَّدى
فَسَدَّدَso aimed rightly رَاجيهِthe one hoping in him وَأعْذَرَand had good reason هائِبُهْthe one fearing him
فَسَدَّدَ رَاجيهِ وَأعْذَرَ هائِبُهْ
He girded on God's sword and cloaked himself in generosity;
You took up the sword of Allah and donned the dew,
So those who hoped in him chose rightly, and those who feared him had good reason.
Securing those who hoped in you and excusing those who fled from you.
فهاso behold هوhe ذاthis one فيin كلِّevery قلبٍheart ممثَّلٌportrayed
فها هو ذا في كلِّ قلبٍ ممثَّلٌ
وهاتيكand those there عندbeside الفرقدينthe two Farqad stars مراتبُهْhis ranks
وهاتيك عند الفرقدين مراتبُهْ
So behold him, portrayed in every heart,
So here he is, embodied in every heart,
And there, beside the two Farqad stars, are his ranks.
And there his ranks are at the two lofty abodes.
فَمَاso no عَرَّجَتْturned aside عنهfrom him سبيلٌroad لِطَالِبٍfor a seeker
فَمَا عَرَّجَتْ عنه سبيلٌ لِطَالِبٍ
ولاnor رَحُبَتْwas spacious أرضٌland بِمَنْfor one whom هوhe طَالِبُهْpursuing him
ولا رَحُبَتْ أرضٌ بِمَنْ هو طَالِبُهْ
No seeker's road has ever turned away from him,
No path has swerved from it for one who seeks it,
Nor has any land been wide enough for one he pursues.
Nor has any land been spacious for one who seeks it.
خلائِقُcharacter traits مِنْfrom مَاءِthe water of الحياةِlife وطَالَمَاand how often
خلائِقُ مِنْ مَاءِ الحياةِ وطَالَمَا
يَغَصُّchokes بِهِon it يومon the day of الكريهةِbattle شارِبُهْits drinker
يَغَصُّ بِهِ يوم الكريهةِ شارِبُهْ
Traits drawn from the water of life—and how often
Creatures are from the water of life, and it often
Its drinker chokes on it on the day of battle!
Chokes on a day of hatred its drinker.
أَمُلْبِسَنَاO you who clothe us النُّعْمىbliss أَلاَbehold رُبَّmany a مَلْبَسٍgarment
أَمُلْبِسَنَا النُّعْمى أَلاَ رُبَّ مَلْبَسٍ
سَنِيٍّsplendid وتاجٍand a crown لِلْعُلاof glory أَنتyou سَالِبُهْits despoiler
سَنِيٍّ وتاجٍ لِلْعُلا أَنت سَالِبُهْ
O you who clothe us in bliss, how many a garment
Shall we be clothed in bliss? Nay, many a garment,
Of splendor, and crown of glory, have you stripped away!
Aged crown for the eminent, you have stripped.
وَلَيْلٍand a night كريعانِlike the prime of الشبابyouth قَذَفْتَهُyou assailed it
وَلَيْلٍ كريعانِ الشباب قَذَفْتَهُ
بِهَوْلِwith the terror of السُّرىnight travel حَتَّىuntil أُشِيبَتْwere turned gray ذَوَائِبُهْits locks
بِهَوْلِ السُّرى حَتَّى أُشِيبَتْ ذَوَائِبُهْ
And many a night, like youth in its prime, you assailed
And a night, like the prime of youth, you have cast
With the terror of night travel, until its locks turned gray.
Into the tumult of fates, until its pleasures have grayed.
وَصَلْتَyou joined بِهِto it يوماًa day أَغَرَّradiant صَحِبْتَهُyou accompanied it
وَصَلْتَ بِهِ يوماً أَغَرَّ صَحِبْتَهُ
غُلاماًas a boy إِلَىuntil أَنْthat طَرَّsprouted باللَّيْلِwith the night شَارِبُهْits mustache
غُلاماً إِلَى أَنْ طَرَّ باللَّيْلِ شَارِبُهْ
You joined to it a radiant day, keeping it company
And you have linked him one day, seducing his company
As a boy, until its mustache sprouted with the night,
As a lad, until his drinking mate roams at night.
بِكُلِّwith every مُذَلٍّtamed steed كَرَّمَتْهُennobled it جُدُودُهُits forebears
بِكُلِّ مُذَلٍّ كَرَّمَتْهُ جُدُودُهُ
وَكُلِّand every كمِيٍّarmored warrior أَحْكَمَتْهُseasoned him تَجَارِبُهْhis experiences
وَكُلِّ كمِيٍّ أَحْكَمَتْهُ تَجَارِبُهْ
With every tamed steed ennobled by its forebears,
With every disgrace his ancestors have honored him
And every armored warrior seasoned by his trials,
And every paucity has proven his experiences.
وَعَضْبٍand a keen blade يَمَانٍYemeni قَدْindeed تَعَرَّفْتَyou came to know يُمْنَهُits good fortune
وَعَضْبٍ يَمَانٍ قَدْ تَعَرَّفْتَ يُمْنَهُ
وإِنْand if يَنْتَسِبْclaims descent تَعْطِفْturn عَلَيْكَtoward you مَنَاسِبُهْits ancestral ties
وإِنْ يَنْتَسِبْ تَعْطِفْ عَلَيْكَ مَنَاسِبُهْ
And a keen Yemeni blade whose good fortune you have learned;
And Yemeni ginger you have recognized its right
And if it declares its lineage, its kinship turns toward you.
Even if its claimant appeals to you as a relative.
وسُمْرٍand brown spears لِدَانٍsupple كالكواكبlike the stars سُقْتَهَاyou drove them
وسُمْرٍ لِدَانٍ كالكواكب سُقْتَهَا
ليومٍfor a day منamong الأَعداءِthe enemies بَادٍvisible كَواكِبُهْits stars
ليومٍ من الأَعداءِ بَادٍ كَواكِبُهْ
And supple brown spears, like stars, that you drove
And stallions for mares you have led them
For a day among the foes, its stars in plain sight.
As stars for a day with the enemies wandering astray.
صليتَyou braved the fire ونارُwhile the fire of الحربِwar يَذْكُوblazes سَعِيرُهَاits blaze
صليتَ ونارُ الحربِ يَذْكُو سَعِيرُهَا
وَخَضْتَand you plunged in وَمَوْجُwhile the waves of الموتِdeath تَطْفُوrise afloat غَوَارِبُهْits crests
وَخَضْتَ وَمَوْجُ الموتِ تَطْفُو غَوَارِبُهْ
You braved the heat while war's fire burned fiercely,
You have prayed and the fire of war kindles its blaze
And plunged in while death's waves lifted their crests.
And you have plunged while the wave of death foams its ships.
ولاand none مثلَlike يومٍa day نحوtoward لُونَةَLuna سِرْتَهُyou marched through it
ولا مثلَ يومٍ نحو لُونَةَ سِرْتَهُ
وقدwhen already قَنَّعَتveiled شَمْسَthe sun of النهارِdaytime غَيَاهِبُهْits deep darkness
وقد قَنَّعَت شَمْسَ النهارِ غَيَاهِبُهْ
No day was like the day you marched toward Luna,
And there is no day like the day of Lunah you have famed,
When its deep darkness had veiled the sun of day.
When the sun of day has masked its clouds.
رَفَعْتَyou raised لَهَاagainst it فِيin عارِضِthe cloud of النَّقْعِbattle dust بَارِقاًa lightning flash
رَفَعْتَ لَهَا فِي عارِضِ النَّقْعِ بَارِقاً
تَسِحُّpour down شآبيبَshowers of المناياdeadly fates سَحَائِبُهْits clouds
تَسِحُّ شآبيبَ المنايا سَحَائِبُهْ
You raised against it a lightning flash in the cloud of dust,
You have raised for it in the cheek of firmness a flashing
Whose clouds poured down showers of death.
Whose drippings wipe away the clouds of death.
وَعَذْرَاءَand a virgin لَمْdid not يأَتِcome الزمانُtime بِكُفْئِهَاwith her equal
وَعَذْرَاءَ لَمْ يأَتِ الزمانُ بِكُفْئِهَا
ولاnor رامهاsought her بَعْلٌa husband وإِنْeven if عَزَّwas mighty جانِبُهْhis power
ولا رامها بَعْلٌ وإِنْ عَزَّ جانِبُهْ
And a virgin whose equal Time had never brought forth,
And a maiden time has not brought her equal
Nor had a husband sought her, however mighty his power;
Nor has a husband coveted her, though her aspect is dear.
معوَّذةٍprotected by charms لَمْdid not يَسْرِtravel by night خطبٌa calamity بِأَرْضِهَاthrough her land
معوَّذةٍ لَمْ يَسْرِ خطبٌ بِأَرْضِهَا
ولاnor عَرَفَتْhad known بالدَّهْرِthroughout time كَيْفَhow نوائِبُهْits misfortunes
ولا عَرَفَتْ بالدَّهْرِ كَيْفَ نوائِبُهْ
Guarded by charms, no calamity had passed by night through her land,
Protected, no suitors have asked for her land
Nor had she ever learned what Time's misfortunes were.
Nor has she known through time how his calamities twist and turn.
ثَوَتْshe dwelt بَيْنَamid أَحْشَاءِthe entrails of الضَّلالِerror وَأُشْرِعتْand were leveled
ثَوَتْ بَيْنَ أَحْشَاءِ الضَّلالِ وَأُشْرِعتْ
أَسِنَّتُهُits spearheads مِنْfrom دُونِهَاbefore her وَقَواضِبُهْand its keen swords
أَسِنَّتُهُ مِنْ دُونِهَا وَقَواضِبُهْ
She dwelt within the entrails of error, and leveled were
She has set firm between the entrails of misguidance
Its spearheads and keen blades in her defense.
And its tongues, apart from her, chatter and prate.
وأَصْبَحْتَand you became يَاO عبدservant of المليكِthe Sovereign مَليكَهَاher king
وأَصْبَحْتَ يَا عبد المليكِ مَليكَهَا
وَأَنْجَحَand the most successful سَاعٍseeker جَاءَcame والسَّيفُwhile the sword خاطِبُهْhis spokesman in courtship
وَأَنْجَحَ سَاعٍ جَاءَ والسَّيفُ خاطِبُهْ
And you became, O Abd al-Malik, her king,
And you have become, O servant of King al-Mu'ayyad her king,
And the most successful suitor to come, with the sword pleading his suit.
And most successful of men came asking her hand in marriage with sword as matchmaker.
وَسُقْتَand you brought لَهَاto her صِدْقَsteadfastness in اللقاءِbattle مُعَجَّلاًpaid at once
وَسُقْتَ لَهَا صِدْقَ اللقاءِ مُعَجَّلاً
صَدَاقاًas a dowry إِذَاwhen مَاemphatic particle هَلْهَلَmade feeble الضَّرْبَthe blows كاذِبُهْthe one feigning it
صَدَاقاً إِذَا مَا هَلْهَلَ الضَّرْبَ كاذِبُهْ
And you brought her steadfastness in battle, paid at once,
And you have presented to her the truth of meeting hastily
As a dowry, when a pretender's blows fell feebly.
As a dowry if the striking of the blades speaks falsely.
وجيشٍand an army أَضاءَilluminated الخافِقَيْنِeast and west رِمَاحُهُits spears
وجيشٍ أَضاءَ الخافِقَيْنِ رِمَاحُهُ
وفاضتand overflowed عَلَىover رَحْبِthe broad expanse of البِلادِthe lands كتائِبُهْits battalions
وفاضت عَلَى رَحْبِ البِلادِ كتائِبُهْ
And an army whose spears illuminated east and west,
And an army whose spears have illuminated the horizons
And whose battalions flooded the broad expanse of the lands.
And its battalions have overflowed the land in width.
وقدand already ضَمَّهَاenclosed them فِيin نَفْنَفِthe lofty expanse of الجوِّthe air مَعْقِلٌa stronghold
وقد ضَمَّهَا فِي نَفْنَفِ الجوِّ مَعْقِلٌ
عَسِيرٌdifficult عَلَىfor عُصْمِwhite-legged الوُعُولِibexes مَرَاقِبُهْits watchposts
عَسِيرٌ عَلَى عُصْمِ الوُعُولِ مَرَاقِبُهْ
A stronghold had enclosed them in the heights of the air,
And it has fortified her in the blowing wind's stronghold,
Its watchposts hard even for white-legged ibexes to reach.
Impregnable to the eyes of spies are its watchers.
بَعَثْتَyou sent forth عليهاagainst them منكَfrom you دَعْوَةَa prayer واثقٍof one confident
بَعَثْتَ عليها منكَ دَعْوَةَ واثقٍ
صَفَاwas pure شاهِدُthe visible aspect of الإِخْلاصِsincerity منهin him وغَائِبُهْand its hidden aspect
صَفَا شاهِدُ الإِخْلاصِ منه وغَائِبُهْ
You sent against them your prayer as one assured,
You have sent to it from you the call of the confident,
Whose sincerity was pure, both manifest and hidden.
Pure in loyalty to him present and absent.
فسَرْعَانَso how swiftly مَاthat أَقْوىbecame deserted الشّرىal-Shara منof أُسودِهِits lions
فسَرْعَانَ مَا أَقْوى الشّرى من أُسودِهِ
وأُبرِزَand were brought out منfrom حُرِّthe finest of الحِجَالِbridal chambers كواعِبُهْits nubile maidens
وأُبرِزَ من حُرِّ الحِجَالِ كواعِبُهْ
How swiftly al-Shara lay empty of its lions,
So swiftly the fairest of them brought out its lions,
And its nubile maidens were brought out from the finest bridal chambers.
And the freest of them released from the heat of battle its beauties.
ثَلاثَةُthree آلافٍthousand حِسَاباًby count وَمِثْلُهَاand as many again
ثَلاثَةُ آلافٍ حِسَاباً وَمِثْلُهَا
وَقَدْthough already غَلَّwithheld dishonestly عَازِيهِits reporter وأَسَأَرَand left a remainder حَاسِبُهْits counter
وَقَدْ غَلَّ عَازِيهِ وأَسَأَرَ حَاسِبُهْ
Three thousand by count, and as many again,
Three thousand in number and the like of them
Though its reporter had withheld some, and its counter left some uncounted.
When companies retreat and the counter flees.
فياso oh لَيْتَif only قُوطاًQut حينwhen شادَraised بِناءَهُits structure
فيا لَيْتَ قُوطاً حين شادَ بِناءَهُ
رآهhad seen it وَقَدْwhen already خَرَّتْhad fallen إِلَيْكَto you جَوانِبُهْits sides
رآه وَقَدْ خَرَّتْ إِلَيْكَ جَوانِبُهْ
If only Qut, when he raised its structure,
Would that Qutuz had seen when he built his structure,
Had seen it, its sides fallen before you!
Its sides have crumbled before you.
وياand oh ليتwould that إِذْwhen سَمَّاهُhe called it بَدْراًa full moon مُعَظَّماًexalted
ويا ليت إِذْ سَمَّاهُ بَدْراً مُعَظَّماً
رآهhad seen it وَفِيwhile in كِسْفِthe masses of العَجَاجِswirling dust مَغَارِبُهْits settings
رآه وَفِي كِسْفِ العَجَاجِ مَغَارِبُهْ
And would that, when he called it an exalted full moon,
Would that when he named it Badr, revered,
He had seen it, setting amid the banks of swirling dust!
He had seen it and in the darkness of dust its setting.
فَيَعْلَمَso he would know أَنthat الحقَّthe truth دَافِعُrepels كَيْدِهِhis schemes
فَيَعْلَمَ أَن الحقَّ دَافِعُ كَيْدِهِ
وَأَنَّكَand that you حِزْبَthe host of اللهِGod لاno شَكَّdoubt غَالِبُهْhis conqueror
وَأَنَّكَ حِزْبَ اللهِ لا شَكَّ غَالِبُهْ
Then he would know that Truth repels his schemes,
He would know that truth repels his plot,
And that you, God's host, are undoubtedly his conqueror.
And you are God's party; no doubt you are its victor.
فلاso may not خُذِلَbe forsaken الدِّينُthe faith الَّذِيwhich أَنتyou سَيْفُهُits sword
فلا خُذِلَ الدِّينُ الَّذِي أَنت سَيْفُهُ
ولاnor may أَوْحَشَgrow desolate المُلْكُthe kingdom الَّذِيwhich أَنتyou حَاجِبُهْits chamberlain
ولا أَوْحَشَ المُلْكُ الَّذِي أَنت حَاجِبُهْ
So may the faith whose sword you are never be forsaken,
So neither has the religion you are its sword been abandoned,
Nor may the kingdom whose chamberlain you are ever be desolate.
Nor the kingdom you are its chamberlain been frightened.
Sol 6.1