1. واللّه لا اشراً قنا ولا بطراً

    لا لا ولا طلبا ملكاً وعدواناً

    By God, [we rose?] neither in insolence nor in wanton pride,

    No, no, nor in pursuit of kingship and aggression.

  2. لكن كقدوتنا بالعدل إذ نبذب

    آيات خالقنا والحق قد بانا

    But like our exemplar, in justice, while we [defend?]

    Our Creator's signs, and the truth has become clear.

  3. شكراً لخالقنا إذ ليس نحن كمن

    ضل السبيل ورام الملك طغيانا

    Thanks to our Creator, for we are not like one

    Who lost the way and sought kingship through tyranny.

  4. إن الاله هدانا جل جل إلى

    أهدى الهداية والعرفان عرفانا

    Indeed, God has guided us—exalted, exalted is He—to

    The surest guidance, and knowledge—true knowledge.

  5. إنا نقول بحكم اللّه قد شهدت

    كل البرية في التحكيم قتلانا

    Indeed, we proclaim God's judgment; witness has been borne

    By all creation to our slain over arbitration.

  6. إنا على بصر من ديننا وعلى

    قصد السبيل أخو العدوان يلقانا

    Indeed, we have insight into our religion and stand upon

    The straight path; the brother of aggression confronts us.

  7. إِنا نحث على مرضاة خالقنا

    ديناً ونخلع من قد رام عصيانا

    Indeed, we urge pursuit of our Creator's pleasure,

    As a religious duty, and disavow whoever has sought disobedience.

  8. إنا نميز ما بين الولي وما

    بين العدو كما قد قال مولانا

    Indeed, we distinguish between the ally and

    The enemy, just as our Lord has said.

  9. لم يرض أو لنا قدماً مداهنة

    في دينهم وكذا لم نرض ادهانا

    Our forebears [probable reading] did not accept compromise of old

    In their religion; likewise, we have not accepted accommodation.

  10. لو أن آدم لم يندم لزلته

    صلوا عليه لقلنا مات خسرانا

    If Adam had not regretted his lapse,

    (Send blessings upon him!) We would have said he died a loser.

  11. لكن نقول لقابيل الشقي مضى

    نجل الصفي إلى النيران سكرانا

    But of wretched Qabil we say: he went,

    The chosen one's son, to the fires, drunken.

  12. أيضاً ويونس لولا تاب مات كما

    فرعون في ظلمات البحر شر قانا

    And Yunus too: had he not repented, he would have died like

    Pharaoh, choking in the darkness of the sea.

  13. والعبد إن سبقت فينا ديانته

    بالقضل أصبح بالتقديم أولانا

    And if a slave surpasses us in his devotion,

    Through merit [probable reading], he becomes most worthy of precedence.

  14. ليس الشريف لدينا غير متبع

    بعد العفافة للرحمان رضوانا

    The noble among us is none but one who seeks,

    After chastity, the approval of the All-Merciful.

  15. حتى القيامة هذا ما تعبدنا

    رب السماء به نصاً وتبيانا

    Until the Resurrection, this is what has been enjoined upon us

    By the Lord of heaven, through explicit text and explanation.

  16. واللّه أكرمنا بالعلم منه كما

    فضل الجهاد وحسن الصبر أعطانا

    And God honored us with knowledge from Him, just as

    He gave us the merit of striving and the beauty of patience.

  17. نحن الحماة لدين اللّه ما طلعت

    شمس وما غربت رجلاً وفرسانا

    We are the defenders of God's religion, as long as there rises

    A sun, and as long as it sets—foot soldiers and horsemen.

  18. نحن القليل وفي القرآن مشتهر

    مدح القليل فسل إن كنت حيرانا

    We are the few, and in the Qur'an well known is

    The praise of the few; ask, if you are bewildered.

  19. نحن الجماعة والاجماع معترف

    للعادلين ولو قد كان إنسانا

    We are the community, and consensus is acknowledged

    For the just, even if there is only one person.

  20. نحن الشراة فهل من أعصر سلفت

    إلا نقيم بها للّه سلطانا

    We are the Shurat; has any age gone by

    In which we did not establish authority for God?

  21. لسنا نخيف سبيل العالمين ولا

    أيضاً ننبه غير الضد يغشانا

    We do not make the people's road unsafe, nor

    Do we rouse anyone but the foe who comes against us.

  22. لسنا نسائل خلق اللّه مالهم

    حرصاً ولسنا نولي الأمر خوانا

    We do not ask God's creatures for their wealth

    Out of greed, nor entrust authority to a habitual traitor.

  23. لسنا نرد لأهل الذنب معذرة

    من تاب من كفره أو فعله كانا

    We do not reject a sinner's plea for pardon—

    Whoever repents of his unbelief or of the deed he had done.

  24. لسنا نقاتل من يبغى مفاوضة

    قبل الدعاء ولا من قبل يبدانا

    We do not fight one who seeks negotiation

    Before the summons, nor before he initiates hostilities against us.

  25. لسنا نحرم ما قد حل من دمه

    حتى يفيء إلى ذي العرش اذعانا

    We do not forbid shedding his blood once it has become lawful,

    Until he returns submissively to the Lord of the Throne.

  26. لا نستحل له مالاً ولا ولداً

    كالمشركين ولا نكسوه ايمانا

    We do not deem his wealth or offspring lawful to take,

    As with polytheists; nor do we clothe him in faith.

  27. من شاء يعلم ما كانت أوائلنا

    فيه فسيرتنا تكفيه برهانا

    Whoever wishes to know what our forebears stood

    For—our conduct is proof enough for him.

  28. هذا الخليل امام المسلمين حكت

    أنوار سيرته في العدل نيرانا

    This is al-Khalil, imam of the Muslims; like

    Fires were the lights of his conduct in justice.

  29. يأيها العلم العدل الذي كملت

    له الخصال مروات وايمانا

    O just beacon, for whom were perfected

    The virtues of manly honor and faith.

  30. إني أحبك والرحمن يعلمه

    حب احتساب إلى ذي الطول قربانا

    Indeed, I love you, and the All-Merciful knows it,

    A love seeking divine reward, an offering to the Lord of bounty.

  31. إذ صرت مشتهراً بالفضل أنت ولي

    قلب يحب بدين اللّه من دانا

    For you became renowned for excellence; you are the friend of

    A heart that loves whoever professes God's religion.

  32. حتى عبرت إليك البحر منتصراً

    أيام عدت بما أوليت جذلانا

    Until I crossed the sea to you, seeking aid,

    In the days when I returned with what you bestowed, joyful.

  33. سل عن أخيك أذاق النوم مغتمضاً

    إذ ذاك أحزنه أم شد أم لانا

    Ask about your brother: did he taste sleep, with eyes closed,

    When that grieved him—or did he stand firm or yield?

  34. أم خان عند عتو المبطلين بها

    عن نصر خالقه إذا كان مجانا

    Or did he betray, when the followers of falsehood grew insolent there,

    Forsaking his Creator's cause, when support was free of cost?

  35. كلا لقد زهرت بالعدل عقوته

    باللّه جل فلا للّه كفرانا

    No! His precinct has indeed blossomed with justice,

    Through God, exalted is He; let there be no ingratitude to God.

  36. وانصر أخاك فإن الحرب قائمة

    والحق يطلب من أهليه أركانا

    And support your brother, for the war is under way,

    And truth seeks pillars among its own people.

  37. واعلم بأنك قد أثرت مأثرة

    فارفع لها شرفاً فالأمر قد هانا

    And know that you have left a noble achievement,

    So raise its honor high, for the task has become easy.

  38. إن الذي غمرت صنعاء دولته

    بالفسق أصبح من مولاي فزعانا

    Indeed, he whose rule engulfed Sana'a

    With wickedness has become terrified of my lord.

  39. أضحت مخالفة أرض اليماني له

    لما رأتك له حصناً ومعوانا

    The land of al-Yamani has come to oppose him,

    When it saw you as a fortress and a helper for him.

  40. فاحفدهم فهم يدعون ربهم

    جهراً لتملكهم سراً واعلانا

    So serve them diligently, for they call upon their Lord

    Aloud, that you may rule them, secretly and openly.

  41. لكن لديك ضعيف كاشح وهن

    أبدالنا ولكم في الناس أضغانا

    But near you is a weak, spiteful man who has weakened

    Our substitutes; and how many grudges there are among people!

  42. والشحر لو نظرت خلقاً تحاربه

    أضحت عليه رجال الشحر أعوانا

    And if al-Shihr saw someone you were fighting,

    The men of al-Shihr would become helpers against him.

  43. قد كان أرسل منشوراً لعقوتنا

    قصد البغاة وأموالاً وإِخدانا

    He had sent a proclamation to our precinct,

    With the rebels' intent, and money and companions.

  44. ينوي انتصار بني العباس قدوته

    في زعمه فغفرنا ذاك كتمانا

    Intending to aid Banu al-Abbas, his exemplar,

    So he claimed; we pardoned that, keeping it concealed.

  45. حتى أتى بفعال ليس يفعلها

    إلا البوارج حسداً منه ايانا

    Until he committed deeds that none would do

    Except the Bawarij, out of his envy of us.

  46. جهلاً بحقك قد خان الذين مضوا

    من ستر دارك أخزى اللّه من خانا

    In ignorance of your right, he betrayed those who had gone

    From the shelter of your house; may God disgrace whoever betrays.

  47. فهو البغيض فلا تغض لفعلته

    إن البغيض يرى الاحسان امهانا

    He is the hateful one, so do not avert your eyes from his deed;

    Indeed, the hateful one sees kindness as humiliation.

  48. انظر إليه بعين البغض إن له

    قلباً يصير لدى ذكراك حرانا

    Look at him with the eye of hatred, for he has

    A heart that grows burning-hot at the mention of you.

  49. أغضب لربك إن اللّه يغضبه

    ظلم الظلوم وقد أحسبك غضبانا

    Be angry for your Lord; indeed, God is angered by

    The oppression of the oppressor, and I reckon you already angry.

  50. اجعله أول ما تحيي البلاد به

    إنا نؤمل جيشاً منك يغشانا

    Make him your first concern in reviving the land;

    Indeed, we hope for an army from you to come to us.

  51. للّه جل جلالاً جده وعلا

    سبحانه قدساً سبحان سبحانا

    To God be praise: exalted in majesty is His greatness, and high.

    Glory to Him in holiness—glory, glory!

  52. ثم الصلاة على الأمي أحمد ما

    سح الغمام لديه الودق هتانا

    Then blessings upon the unlettered Ahmad, as long as

    The cloud pours forth the rain it bears, in torrents.