أَهلاًWelcome بمنto him whom نَصَرَaided الإِلهُGod وأَيَّدَاand upheld
أَهلاً بمن نَصَرَ الإِلهُ وأَيَّدَا
وحمىand protected منfrom الإِشراكِpolytheism أُمَّةَthe community of أَحْمَدَاAhmad
وحمى من الإِشراكِ أُمَّةَ أَحْمَدَا
Welcome to him whom God has aided and upheld,
Greetings to the one whom God granted victory and support,
and who protected Ahmad's community from polytheism;
And who protected the nation of Ahmad from polytheism,
وسَخاand was generous لأَطرافِto the points of الرِّماحِthe spears بنفسِهِwith his own life
وسَخا لأَطرافِ الرِّماحِ بنفسِهِ
شُحَّاًout of jealous care وإِشفاقاًand concern علfor دينِthe faith of الهُدىright guidance
شُحَّاً وإِشفاقاً عل دينِ الهُدى
who freely offered his own life to the spearheads,
And who was generous with his life on the tips of spears,
out of jealous care and concern for the faith of right guidance.
Stingy and protective of the religion of guidance,
وبمَنْand to him who حَمىprotected التوحيدَGod's oneness مِمَّنْfrom those who سامَهُsubjected it to
وبمَنْ حَمى التوحيدَ مِمَّنْ سامَهُ
خَسْفاًhumiliation فأَصبَحَand so became فِيin المعالِيlofty honors أَوْحَدَاpeerless
خَسْفاً فأَصبَحَ فِي المعالِي أَوْحَدَا
And to him who defended God's oneness from those who subjected it
And the one who protected monotheism from those who poisoned it
to humiliation, becoming peerless in lofty honors,
With lies, so he made it prominent and unmatched,
حَتَّىuntil أَعادَrestored الدِّينَthe faith أَبيضَwhite مُشْرِقاًradiant
حَتَّى أَعادَ الدِّينَ أَبيضَ مُشْرِقاً
بسيوفِهِwith his swords والكُفْرَand unbelief أدْهَمَdusky أَسْوَدَاblack
بسيوفِهِ والكُفْرَ أدْهَمَ أَسْوَدَا
until he restored the faith, white and radiant,
Until he returned the religion shining white
with his swords, and made unbelief dusky and black.
While disbelief became gloomy and blackened,
بَسَطَspread الإِلهُGod بِسَيْفِهِwith his sword وبرُمْحِهِand with his spear
بَسَطَ الإِلهُ بِسَيْفِهِ وبرُمْحِهِ
ظِلّاًa shade عَلَىover الدِّينِthe faith الحنيفِupright مُمَدَّداoutstretched
ظِلّاً عَلَى الدِّينِ الحنيفِ مُمَدَّدا
Through his sword and spear, God spread
God expanded the shade of the pure religion with his sword and spear
an outstretched shade over the upright faith,
Stretching far and wide,
بمكارِمٍwith noble deeds شهدَتْtestified عَلَيْهِof him بأَنَّهُthat he was
بمكارِمٍ شهدَتْ عَلَيْهِ بأَنَّهُ
أَنْدىthe most generous of الورىmankind كَفَّاًin hand وأَطيَبُand finest مَحْتِداin lineage
أَنْدى الورى كَفَّاً وأَطيَبُ مَحْتِدا
with noble deeds that testified of him that he was
With virtues that testify he is
mankind's most generous of hand and finest in lineage;
The most generous and finest man of his time,
وشمائِلٍand qualities لَوْif شامَhe sheathed رَهْبَةَthe terror of سَيْفِهِhis sword
وشمائِلٍ لَوْ شامَ رَهْبَةَ سَيْفِهِ
لَغَداthen would become لِرِقَّتِهاbecause of their tenderness الورىmankind مُسْتَعْبَدَاenslaved
لَغَدا لِرِقَّتِها الورى مُسْتَعْبَدَا
and qualities—were he to sheath the terror of his sword—
And with qualities that if the terror of his sword sensed,
whose tenderness would enslave all mankind.
The world would become enslaved by their gentleness,
منone who أَحرَزَattained الغاياتِthe furthest goals أَدْنىthe shortest of شأْوِهِhis course
من أَحرَزَ الغاياتِ أَدْنى شأْوِهِ
حَتَّىuntil تقاصَرَfell short عنof مساعِيهِhis endeavors المَدىthe farthest reach
حَتَّى تقاصَرَ عن مساعِيهِ المَدى
He whose shortest course attained the furthest goals,
He attained the lowest of his lofty goals
until the farthest reach fell short of his endeavors;
Until the horizons fell short of his efforts,
وسطاand struck عَلَىagainst الأَعداءِthe enemies حَتَّىuntil لاغتدَتْindeed became
وسطا عَلَى الأَعداءِ حَتَّى لاغتدَتْ
عَنْقَاءُthe Anqa bird مُغْرِبُfar-flying فِيin البلادِthe lands منَamong العِدىthe enemies
عَنْقَاءُ مُغْرِبُ فِي البلادِ منَ العِدى
who struck his enemies until they became
And assaulted the enemies fiercely until
like the fabled Anqa Mughrib throughout the land,
The necks of the west submitted to him,
بعزائِمٍwith resolves فِيin الرَّوْعِbattle's terror قحطانِيَّةٍQahtani
بعزائِمٍ فِي الرَّوْعِ قحطانِيَّةٍ
تركَتْleft ديارَthe abodes of الشِّرْكِpolytheism قاعاًa level plain فَدْفَدَاvast and barren
تركَتْ ديارَ الشِّرْكِ قاعاً فَدْفَدَا
with Qahtani resolves amid battle's terror
With resolves during battle like those of Qahtan
that left polytheism's abodes a vast, level wasteland.
That left the lands of polytheism desolate and destroyed,
ياO حاجِباًchamberlain وَرِثَinherited الرِّياسَةَleadership والعُلاand eminence
يا حاجِباً وَرِثَ الرِّياسَةَ والعُلا
والملكَand kingship والإِعظامَand reverence أَمْجَدَmost illustrious أمْجَدَاmost illustrious
والملكَ والإِعظامَ أَمْجَدَ أمْجَدَا
O chamberlain who inherited leadership and eminence,
O the veiled one, who inherited leadership, glory,
and kingship and reverence—most illustrious heir to the most illustrious!
Kingship and greatness, most glorious!
والقائِدَand the commander الميمونَauspicious والقمرَand the moon الَّذِيwhich
والقائِدَ الميمونَ والقمرَ الَّذِي
يجلُوdispels بغُرَّتِهِwith its radiant brow الظلامَthe darkness إِذَاwhen بَدَاit appears
يجلُو بغُرَّتِهِ الظلامَ إِذَا بَدَا
And auspicious commander, and moon that
And the blessed leader, the moon that
dispels darkness with its radiant brow when it appears;
Dispels the darkness when it appears,
والأَزْهَرَand the radiant one الوضَّاحَresplendent والمَلِكَand the king الَّذِيwho
والأَزْهَرَ الوضَّاحَ والمَلِكَ الَّذِي
لبِسَdonned الندىgenerosity والبأْسَand valor ثَوْباًas a garment وارتدىand donned a mantle
لبِسَ الندى والبأْسَ ثَوْباً وارتدى
and radiant, resplendent one, and king who
The bright flower, the king who
donned generosity and valor as his garment and mantle.
Wore dew and valor like clothes,
إِنْif يُكْنَare named عنwith reference to بعضِsome of النجومِthe stars بأَسْعُدٍas auspicious stars
إِنْ يُكْنَ عن بعضِ النجومِ بأَسْعُدٍ
فلقدthen indeed تَجَلَّتْshone forth كُلُّهاall of them لَكَfor you أَسْعُدَاauspicious
فلقد تَجَلَّتْ كُلُّها لَكَ أَسْعُدَا
If some stars are called auspicious,
If he surpasses some stars in good fortune,
all have surely shone auspiciously for you.
They have all submitted to him, most fortunate!
فَخْراًglory لمصدرِكَto your return الَّذِيwhich لَمْdid not يَتَّرِكْleave
فَخْراً لمصدرِكَ الَّذِي لَمْ يَتَّرِكْ
لِظُبَىfor the edges of الصوارِمِkeen swords فِيamong الأَعاجِمِthe non-Arabs مَوْرِداa watering-place
لِظُبَى الصوارِمِ فِي الأَعاجِمِ مَوْرِدا
Glory to your return, which left no
Pride of your source that did not leave
watering-place for keen sword-edges among the non-Arabs.
For the swords of the non-Arabs a place to strike,
للهِfor God فِيagainst الإِشراكِpolytheism منكfrom you وقائعٌbattles
للهِ فِي الإِشراكِ منك وقائعٌ
أَرْبَتْsurpassed عَلَىbeyond حَرْبِthe battle of الذَّنائِبِal-Dhana'ib مَشْهَدَاin spectacle
أَرْبَتْ عَلَى حَرْبِ الذَّنائِبِ مَشْهَدَا
For God, you fought battles against polytheism
God has, because of you, events against polytheism
that surpassed the battle of al-Dhana'ib in spectacle.
That presented war against evils spectacularly,
لاno مثْلَequal to بَرْبَدِّيلBarbaddil يومon the day حَوَيْتَهاyou captured it
لا مثْلَ بَرْبَدِّيل يوم حَوَيْتَها
فَخْراًa glory أَغارَraided عَلَىagainst الزمانِtime وأَنْجَدَاand rose to the heights
فَخْراً أَغارَ عَلَى الزمانِ وأَنْجَدَا
Nothing equaled Barbaddil on the day you captured it—
No battle like Barbastro when you besieged it,
a glory that raided time and climbed its heights.
Pride that raged against time and helped,
جَرَّدْتَunsheathed للإِسلامِfor Islam فِيهَاin it صارِماًa keen sword
جَرَّدْتَ للإِسلامِ فِيهَا صارِماً
عَوَّدْتَهُyou trained it ضَرْبَto strike الطُّلىnecks فَتَعَوَّدَاso it grew accustomed
عَوَّدْتَهُ ضَرْبَ الطُّلى فَتَعَوَّدَا
There, for Islam, you unsheathed a keen sword,
You mobilized against polytheism in it a deadly sword
trained it to strike necks, and it learned the habit.
That you trained to strike skulls so it grew accustomed,
وسلَلْتَهُand drew it للهِfor God فِيهَاin it سَلَّةًan unsheathing
وسلَلْتَهُ للهِ فِيهَا سَلَّةً
مَنَعَتْprevented صليباًa cross بعدهاafter it أَنfrom يُعْبَداbeing worshiped
مَنَعَتْ صليباً بعدها أَن يُعْبَدا
And there, for God, you drew it forth so
And you unleashed it for God in it as plunder
that no cross could thereafter be worshiped.
That thereafter prevented a cross from being worshipped,
ووقَفْتَand stood دونَbefore الدَّيْرِthe monastery فِيهَاin it وَقَفْةًa stand
ووقَفْتَ دونَ الدَّيْرِ فِيهَا وَقَفْةً
كَانَتْwas لنصرِfor the victory of اللهِGod فِيهَاin it مَوْعِدَاan appointed time
كَانَتْ لنصرِ اللهِ فِيهَا مَوْعِدَا
And there you took a stand before the monastery,
And you stood at the monastery in it with a stand
a stand that marked the appointed hour for God's victory there.
That was an appointment to support God in it,
وand قُلُنْيَةٌQuluniyya أَنشأْتَyou raised فِيهَاin it عارِضاًa storm-cloud
و قُلُنْيَةٌ أَنشأْتَ فِيهَا عارِضاً
للحربِfor war أَبْرَقَflashed lightning بالحتوفِwith deaths وأرعداand thundered
للحربِ أَبْرَقَ بالحتوفِ وأرعدا
And at Quluniyya you raised a storm-cloud
And Cuñela where you contended with an opponent
of war that flashed with death and thundered.
Whose warfare sparked with violent thunderclaps,
وَبِرَأْيand with the sight of عَيْنِيmy eye يومَon the day خُضْتَyou waded لِفَتْحِهاto conquer it
وَبِرَأْي عَيْنِي يومَ خُضْتَ لِفَتْحِها
بحراًa sea منof البيضِbright الصَّوَارِمِkeen swords مُزْبِداfoaming
بحراً من البيضِ الصَّوَارِمِ مُزْبِدا
And before my very eyes, on the day you waded to conquer it
And by my eyewitness on the day you battled to conquer it
through a foaming sea of bright, keen swords,
A sea of bright swords raging,
فرأَيْتُthen I saw مَاwhat اسْتَنْزَلْتُI called down منof نجمٍa star هَوَىthat fell
فرأَيْتُ مَا اسْتَنْزَلْتُ من نجمٍ هَوَى
وشهِدْتُand I witnessed مَاwhat حُدِّثتُI was told عَنْabout لَيْثٍa lion عَدَاthat charged
وشهِدْتُ مَا حُدِّثتُ عَنْ لَيْثٍ عَدَا
I saw what I had called down: a falling star,
So I saw what stars you made fall
and witnessed what I had been told of: a charging lion.
And witnessed what was told of a lion pouncing,
والحربُand the battle قائِمَةٌraging تَغَصُّchokes بِنَقْعِهاwith its dust
والحربُ قائِمَةٌ تَغَصُّ بِنَقْعِها
لَمحاًthe gaze بنارِwith the fire of المشرَفِيَّةِMashrafi swords مُوقَداset ablaze
لَمحاً بنارِ المشرَفِيَّةِ مُوقَدا
While battle raged, choking with its dust
With war raging and its sparks
a gaze set ablaze by the fire of Mashrafi swords,
Lighting up the Almohad fires,
والشمسُand the sun حَيْرَىbewildered فِيin السماءِthe sky كَأَنَّهاas though it
والشمسُ حَيْرَى فِي السماءِ كَأَنَّها
ترنُوgazes إِلَىat الدُّنياthe world بمُقلَةِwith the eye of أَرْمَدَاone with sore eyes
ترنُو إِلَى الدُّنيا بمُقلَةِ أَرْمَدَا
and the sun, bewildered in the sky, seemed
The confused sun in the sky as if
to gaze upon the world with an inflamed eye;
Blinking at the world with bleary eyes,
والخيلand the horses تستلِمُtouch الصَّعيدَthe ground كَأَنَّماas though
والخيل تستلِمُ الصَّعيدَ كَأَنَّما
تبغِيseek إِلَىup to الجَوزاءِal-Jawza' منهاfrom it مَصْعَدَاa way upward
تبغِي إِلَى الجَوزاءِ منها مَصْعَدَا
and the horses touched the ground as though
Horses taking the ground as if
seeking a way up from it to al-Jawza'.
Seeking ascent to Canopus from it,
ماnot إِنindeed ترىyou see إِلّاexcept خُفُوقَthe flicker of مهنَّدٍan Indian-forged sword
ما إِن ترى إِلّا خُفُوقَ مهنَّدٍ
كالبرقِlike lightning يقرعُstriking فِيin المَكَرِّthe charge مُهَنَّدَاan Indian-forged sword
كالبرقِ يقرعُ فِي المَكَرِّ مُهَنَّدَا
You see nothing but an Indian sword's flicker,
You see only the flashing of polished swords
like lightning, striking another Indian sword in the charge,
Striking in the battle like lightning,
وثُقُوبَand the piercing brilliance of أَزْهَرَa gleaming spear كالشهابِlike a meteor مُثَقَّفٍstraightened
وثُقُوبَ أَزْهَرَ كالشهابِ مُثَقَّفٍ
يُهْدَىis delivered إِلَىinto ظُلَمthe darkness of النُّفوسِsouls بِهِwith it الرَّدَىdeath
يُهْدَى إِلَى ظُلَم النُّفوسِ بِهِ الرَّدَى
and the piercing brilliance of a bright, straightened spear, like a meteor,
And the glitter of bright flowers like meteors
with which death is delivered into the darkness of souls.
That guide the lost souls away from darkness,
فغداthen set out إِلَيْهاagainst it منكَfrom you لَيْثُa lion of خَفِيَّةٍKhafiyya
فغدا إِلَيْها منكَ لَيْثُ خَفِيَّةٍ
مَاnever راحwent at evening إِلّاexcept للفخارِfor glory ولاnor غَدَاwent at dawn
مَا راح إِلّا للفخارِ ولا غَدَا
Then, from you, a lion of Khafiyya advanced against it,
So a stealthy lion from you went forth at it
never setting out at evening or dawn except for glory.
Not resting except for glory, never withdrawing,
لاnot تَرْتَضِيare you content للسيفِfor the sword سَلَّةَan unsheathing of ساعَةٍan hour
لا تَرْتَضِي للسيفِ سَلَّةَ ساعَةٍ
حَتَّىuntil تراهُyou see it فِيin الكواهِلِshoulders مُغْمَداsheathed
حَتَّى تراهُ فِي الكواهِلِ مُغْمَدا
You are not content with an hour's unsheathing of the sword
Refusing to sheathe the sword even for an hour
until you see it sheathed in shoulders.
Until he sees it back in the scabbards,
وتركتand you left شَنْتَShant اشْتِيبناًIshtiban وكأَنَّماand as though
وتركت شَنْتَ اشْتِيبناً وكأَنَّما
حَطَّتْbrought down سيوفُكَyour swords منfrom among عِداهاits foes الفَرْقَدَاal-Farqad
حَطَّتْ سيوفُكَ من عِداها الفَرْقَدَا
And you left Shant Ishtiban as though
You left Murcia as if your swords
your swords had brought down al-Farqad from among its foes.
Had torn it to pieces and shreds,
فَقَصَرْتَso you shortened مُدَّتَهاits span بوقفةِwith a stand of ساعَةٍan hour
فَقَصَرْتَ مُدَّتَها بوقفةِ ساعَةٍ
أَبْقَتْpreserved لَكَfor you الفخرَglory الجليلَlofty مُخلَّداeverlasting
أَبْقَتْ لَكَ الفخرَ الجليلَ مُخلَّدا
Thus you cut short its span with an hour's stand,
You shortened its existence with but a hour's stand
which preserved your lofty glory forever.
Keeping great and eternal glory for you,
شَيَّدْتَyou built عزَّthe might of المسلمينَthe Muslims بهَدْمِby demolishing مَاwhat
شَيَّدْتَ عزَّ المسلمينَ بهَدْمِ مَا
قَدْalready كَانَhad عِزُّthe might of الكفرِunbelief منهاfrom it شَيَّدَاbuilt
قَدْ كَانَ عِزُّ الكفرِ منها شَيَّدَا
You built the Muslims' might by demolishing what
You built the honor of Muslims by destroying what
unbelief's might had once built there.
Had been the honor of disbelief you demolished,
وتَرَكْتَand you left غَرْسيَةًGharsiya بنقمةِin retribution for غَدْرِهِhis treachery
وتَرَكْتَ غَرْسيَةً بنقمةِ غَدْرِهِ
بالرَّوْعِby terror فِيin الأَرضِthe land الفضاءِopen مُقَيَّدَاfettered
بالرَّوْعِ فِي الأَرضِ الفضاءِ مُقَيَّدَا
And in retribution for his treachery you left Gharsiya
And you left Orihuela with the anger for its betrayal
fettered by terror in the open land,
Terrified and chained in the open desert,
لهفانَdistraught يجتابُpasses through النهارَthe day مُروَّعاًterrified
لهفانَ يجتابُ النهارَ مُروَّعاً
بظباكَby your sword-edges والليلَand the night التمامَentire مُسَهَّداsleepless
بظباكَ والليلَ التمامَ مُسَهَّدا
distraught, passing the day terrified
Raiding its day in fear with your soldiers
by your sword-edges, and the whole night sleepless,
And its night in terror with your horsemen,
خزيانَdisgraced قَدْindeed أَوْسَعْتَyou overwhelmed حُرَّthe choicest of بلادِهِhis lands
خزيانَ قَدْ أَوْسَعْتَ حُرَّ بلادِهِ
وديارِهِand his dwellings لَهَبَthe flame of السعيرِthe inferno المُوقَدَاkindled
وديارِهِ لَهَبَ السعيرِ المُوقَدَا
disgraced: you overwhelmed his choicest lands
You widened the free lands of his towns
and dwellings with the flame of a blazing inferno.
And homes with the burning flames you ignited,
قَدْindeed غَرَّhe deceived أحزابَthe bands of الكُماةِarmored warriors وَمَاand did not حَمَىprotect
قَدْ غَرَّ أحزابَ الكُماةِ وَمَا حَمَى
وأَضَلَّand led astray أَشياعَthe followers of الضَّلالِerror وَمَاand did not هَدَىguide
وأَضَلَّ أَشياعَ الضَّلالِ وَمَا هَدَى
He deceived the bands of armored warriors but did not protect them,
You led astray the tribes of infidels and their allies
and led astray the followers of error but did not guide them.
And misguided the followers of misguidance, not guiding them!
إِيهاًOnward! بنيsons of المنصورِal-Mansur أَنْفُسُناour lives لكُمْfor you
إِيهاً بني المنصورِ أَنْفُسُنا لكُمْ
ونفوسُand the lives of مَنْthose who فِيin الشَّرْقِthe East والغربِand the West الفِداransom
ونفوسُ مَنْ فِي الشَّرْقِ والغربِ الفِدا
Onward, sons of al-Mansur! Our lives are yours,
Come O sons of al-Mansur, our souls are for you
and the lives of all in East and West are your ransom.
And the souls of those in East and West are ransoms,
اليومَtoday أَنْسىmade forgotten فتحُكُمْyour conquest مَاwhat قبلَهُpreceded it
اليومَ أَنْسى فتحُكُمْ مَا قبلَهُ
عِظَماًin greatness كَمَاjust as نَسَّاmade forgotten لِفَتْحِكُمُfor your conquest غَداtomorrow
عِظَماً كَمَا نَسَّا لِفَتْحِكُمُ غَدا
Today your conquest has made all before it forgotten
Today your conquest makes me forget all before it
in its greatness, as tomorrow too is forgotten before your conquest.
Just as your conquest tomorrow will make me forget today!
Sol 6.1