قُلsay لِلدِيارِto the dwellings سَقىmay water أَطلالَكَyour ruins المَطَرُthe rain
قُل لِلدِيارِ سَقى أَطلالَكَ المَطَرُ
قَدindeed هِجتِyou stirred شَوقاًlonging وَماذاand what تَنفَعُavail الذِكَرُmemories
قَد هِجتِ شَوقاً وَماذا تَنفَعُ الذِكَرُ
Say to the dwellings: may rain water your ruins!
Tell the dwellings rain has watered your ruins,
You have stirred longing—but what use are memories?
I yearned and what use is memory?
أُسقيتِmay you be watered مُحتَفِلاًa brimming raincloud يَستَنُّraces onward وابِلُهُits downpour
أُسقيتِ مُحتَفِلاً يَستَنُّ وابِلُهُ
أَوor هاطِلاًpouring مُرثَعِناًswollen with rain صَوبُهُits rainfall دِرَرُcopious streams
أَو هاطِلاً مُرثَعِناً صَوبُهُ دِرَرُ
May you be watered by a brimming cloud whose downpour races onward,
You watered celebrating, hoping for downpour,
or a swollen, pouring cloud, its rain streaming abundantly.
Or pouring, opening its bounty generously.
إِذِwhen الزَمانُthe age زَمانٌan age لاnot يُقارِبُهُapproaches it
إِذِ الزَمانُ زَمانٌ لا يُقارِبُهُ
هَذاthis الزَمانُage وَإِذand when فيamong وَحشِهِits wild creatures غِرَرُwhite-browed ones
هَذا الزَمانُ وَإِذ في وَحشِهِ غِرَرُ
When the age was an age that
When time is a time you cannot compare
this age cannot approach, and among its wild creatures were white-browed ones.
To this time, though in its wilderness are treasures.
إِنَّindeed الفُؤادَthe heart مَعَwith الظُعنِthe traveling women الَّتيwho بَكَرَتdeparted at dawn
إِنَّ الفُؤادَ مَعَ الظُعنِ الَّتي بَكَرَت
مِنfrom ذيDhu طُلوحٍTuluh وَحالَتand intervened دونَهاbefore them البُصَرُstony ground
مِن ذي طُلوحٍ وَحالَت دونَها البُصَرُ
My heart is with the women who departed at dawn
Indeed the heart with the stabs of early morning
from Dhu Tuluh, with stony ground barring the way to them.
From a towering ascent, sights were cut off from it.
قالواthey said لَعَلَّكَperhaps you مَحزونٌgrieving فَقُلتُso I said لَهُمto them
قالوا لَعَلَّكَ مَحزونٌ فَقُلتُ لَهُم
خَلّواleave off المَلامَةَblame لاno شَكوىcomplaint وَلاand no عِذَرُexcuses
خَلّوا المَلامَةَ لا شَكوى وَلا عِذَرُ
They said, 'Perhaps you are grieving.' I told them,
They said: maybe you are sad, so I said to them:
'Leave off blame: no complaint, and no excuses.'
Leave blame, no complaining and no excuse.
إِنَّindeed الخَليطَthe fellow dwellers أَجَدَّmade final الَبَينَthe parting يَومَon the day غَدَواthey set out early
إِنَّ الخَليطَ أَجَدَّ الَبَينَ يَومَ غَدَوا
مِنfrom دارَةِDarat الجَأبِal-Ja'b إِذwhen أَحداجُهُمtheir camel litters زُمَرُgroups
مِن دارَةِ الجَأبِ إِذ أَحداجُهُم زُمَرُ
Our fellow dwellers made the parting final when they set out
The mixture was most malicious the day they went forth
from Darat al-Ja'b, their camel litters in clusters.
From Darat Al Ji’b as their mob approached.
لَمّاwhen تَرَفَّعَrose مِنfrom هَيجِthe stirring of الجَنوبِthe south wind لَهُمfor them
لَمّا تَرَفَّعَ مِن هَيجِ الجَنوبِ لَهُم
رَدّواthey redirected الجِمالَthe camels لِإِصعادٍto go upland وَماand not اِنحَدَرواthey descended
رَدّوا الجِمالَ لِإِصعادٍ وَما اِنحَدَروا
When the south wind's stirred-up dust rose before them,
When the noon heat subsided for them
they turned the camels upland, and did not descend.
They returned the camels for ascent and did not descend.
مِنof كُلِّevery أَصهَبَtawny camel أَسرىcoursed by night فيthrough عَقيقَتِهِits birth-coat
مِن كُلِّ أَصهَبَ أَسرى في عَقيقَتِهِ
نَسقٌa succession مِنَof الرَوضِmeadow pastures حَتّىuntil طُيِّرَwas shed الوَبَرُthe downy camel hair
نَسقٌ مِنَ الرَوضِ حَتّى طُيِّرَ الوَبَرُ
Each a tawny camel, through whose birth-coat had coursed by night
From every grayish chestnut taken captive in its anklet
a succession of meadow pastures, until its down was shed.
A drink from the meadow until the furrows overflowed.
بُزلٌmature camels كَأَنَّas though الكُحَيلَliquid pitch الصِرفَpure ضَرَّجَهاstained them
بُزلٌ كَأَنَّ الكُحَيلَ الصِرفَ ضَرَّجَها
حَيثُwhere المَناكِبُthe shoulders يَلقىmeets رَجعَهاtheir rear parts القَصَرُthe neck-bases
حَيثُ المَناكِبُ يَلقى رَجعَها القَصَرُ
Mature camels, as though pure liquid pitch had stained them
Young she camels as if the reddish hide dyed them
where the neck-bases meet the backs of the shoulders.
Wherever the shoulders meet its highland is restored.
أَبصَرنَthey saw أَنَّthat ظُهورَthe uplands of الأَرضِthe earth هائِجَةٌdrying out
أَبصَرنَ أَنَّ ظُهورَ الأَرضِ هائِجَةٌ
وَقَلَّصَand dwindled الرَطبُfresh herbage إِلّاexcept أَنthat يُرىare seen سِرَرُfertile hollows
وَقَلَّصَ الرَطبُ إِلّا أَن يُرى سِرَرُ
They saw the earth's uplands drying out,
They saw the earth’s backs raging,
and fresh growth dwindling, save where fertile hollows appeared.
And the grass shrinks unless ribs are seen.
هَلdo تُبصِرانِyou two see حُمولَthe laden camels of الحَيِّthe tribe إِذwhen رُفِعَتwere urged onward
هَل تُبصِرانِ حُمولَ الحَيِّ إِذ رُفِعَت
حَيٌّa tribe بِغَيرِunder other than عَباءِthe cloaks of المَوصِلِMosul اِختَدَرواthey secluded themselves
حَيٌّ بِغَيرِ عَباءِ المَوصِلِ اِختَدَروا
Do you two see the tribe's laden camels, now urged onward?
Do you see the living’s loads when they were lifted?
A people secluded behind coverings other than Mosul cloaks.
The living without the garb of alliance came shivering.
قالواthey said نَرىwe see الآلَthe mirage يَزهىlifts up الدَومَthe doum palms أَوor ظُعُناًwomen in litters
قالوا نَرى الآلَ يَزهى الدَومَ أَو ظُعُناً
ياoh بُعدَremoteness مَنظَرِهِمtheir view ذاكَthat الَّذيwhich نَظَرواthey saw
يا بُعدَ مَنظَرِهِم ذاكَ الَّذي نَظَروا
They said, 'We see the mirage lifting doum palms—or women in litters.'
They said: we see the houses overcoming the abodes or the mountain passes -
How distant was that sight they gazed upon!
Oh far are their sights which they saw.
ماذاwhat يَهيجُكَstirs you مِنin دارٍa dwelling وَمَنزِلَةٍand a campsite
ماذا يَهيجُكَ مِن دارٍ وَمَنزِلَةٍ
أَمor ماwhat بُكاؤُكَyour weeping إِذwhen جيرانُكَyour neighbors اِبتَكَرواthey departed at dawn
أَم ما بُكاؤُكَ إِذ جيرانُكَ اِبتَكَروا
What stirs you in a dwelling and a campsite?
What enrages you about a house and dwellings?
Or why do you weep when your neighbors depart at dawn?
Or what makes you weep when your neighbors became wretched?
نادىcalled المُناديthe herald بِبَينِfor the departure of الحَيِّthe tribe فَاِبتَكَرواso they departed at dawn
نادى المُنادي بِبَينِ الحَيِّ فَاِبتَكَروا
مِنّاfrom us بُكوراًearly فَماso not اِرتابواthey doubted وَماand not اِنتَظَرواthey waited
مِنّا بُكوراً فَما اِرتابوا وَما اِنتَظَروا
The herald called for the tribe's departure, and they left at dawn,
The caller called amidst the living, so they wretched
leaving us early, with neither doubt nor delay.
Some of us early, without hesitation or wait.
حاذَرتُI dreaded بَينَهُمُtheir parting بِالأَمسِyesterday إِذwhen بَكَرواthey departed at dawn
حاذَرتُ بَينَهُمُ بِالأَمسِ إِذ بَكَروا
مِنّاfrom us وَماand what يَنفَعُavails الإِشفاقُanxiety وَالحَذَرُand caution
مِنّا وَما يَنفَعُ الإِشفاقُ وَالحَذَرُ
I dreaded their parting yesterday, when they departed at dawn
I was wary of them yesterday when they came early
from us—but what use are anxiety and caution?
From us – and vigilance and caution are of no use.
كَمhow many دونَهُمbetween us and them مِنof ذُرىheights تيهٍtrackless desert مُخَفِّقَةٍwind-swept
كَم دونَهُم مِن ذُرى تيهٍ مُخَفِّقَةٍ
يَكادُalmost يَنشَقُّsplits عَنto reveal مَجهولِهاtheir unknown reaches البَصَرُthe eye
يَكادُ يَنشَقُّ عَن مَجهولِها البَصَرُ
How many wind-swept heights of trackless desert lie between us and them,
How many scattered parties lost below them
the eye nearly splitting to pierce their unknown reaches!
Almost splits the sight from its unknown.
إِنّاindeed we بِطِخفَةَat Tikhfah أَوor أَيّامِin the days of ذيDhu نَجَبٍNajab
إِنّا بِطِخفَةَ أَو أَيّامِ ذي نَجَبٍ
نِعمَexcellent are الفَوارِسُthe horsemen لَمّاwhen اِلتَفَّتِbecame tangled العُذَرُthe bridle-straps
نِعمَ الفَوارِسُ لَمّا اِلتَفَّتِ العُذَرُ
Indeed, at Tikhfah, or in the days of Dhu Najab, we were
We chose the meadows of glory vast,
splendid horsemen when the bridle-straps tangled.
From an inviolate sanctity mixed with no shame.
لَمdid not يُخزِdisgrace أَوَّلَthe forebears of يَربوعٍYarbu' فَوارِسُهُمtheir horsemen
لَم يُخزِ أَوَّلَ يَربوعٍ فَوارِسُهُم
وَلاnor يُقالُis said لَهُمto them كَلّاno indeed إِذاwhen اِفتَخَرواthey boast
وَلا يُقالُ لَهُم كَلّا إِذا اِفتَخَروا
Their horsemen never shamed the forebears of Yarbu',
I and your mother – our darkness is not hoped for
nor are they told 'No!' when they boast.
By the protectors, and no defect is in our bone.
سائِلask تَميماًTamim وَبَكراًand Bakr عَنabout فَوارِسِناour horsemen
سائِل تَميماً وَبَكراً عَن فَوارِسِنا
حينَwhen اِلتَقىgathered بِإِيادِat the flank of القُلَّةِthe peak الكَدَرُthe turmoil
حينَ اِلتَقى بِإِيادِ القُلَّةِ الكَدَرُ
Ask Tamim and Bakr about our horsemen,
Meet Tameem when their pots are stirred
when turmoil gathered at the mountain's flank.
And become a torrent they traverse.
لَولاwere it not for فَوارِسُthe horsemen of يَربوعٍYarbu' بِذيat Dhu نَجبٍNajab
لَولا فَوارِسُ يَربوعٍ بِذي نَجبٍ
ضاقَwould narrow الطَريقُthe road وَعَيَّand would fail الوِردُapproaching water وَالصَدَرُand returning from water
ضاقَ الطَريقُ وَعَيَّ الوِردُ وَالصَدَرُ
Had it not been for Yarbu's horsemen at Dhu Najab,
Do you know our knights in Zee Buhad?
the road would have narrowed, and going to water and returning been thwarted.
On the day of Huthayl when the people were vanquished.
إِنif طارَدواthey pursue الخَيلَthe cavalry لَمdo not يُشوُواmerely wound فَوارِسَهاits riders
إِن طارَدوا الخَيلَ لَم يُشوُوا فَوارِسَها
أَوor واقَفواthey stand to fight عانَقواthey grapple with الأَبطالَthe champions فَاِهتُصِرواand were crushed
أَو واقَفوا عانَقوا الأَبطالَ فَاِهتُصِروا
If they pursue the cavalry, they do not merely wound its riders;
The strikers when the horses were dyed by them
or, standing to fight, grapple with champions, who are crushed.
And the striking of spears met above them the dust.
نَحنُwe اِجتَبَيناhave chosen حِياضَthe pools of المَجدِglory مُترَعَةًbrimful
نَحنُ اِجتَبَينا حِياضَ المَجدِ مُترَعَةً
مِنfrom حَومَةٍa deep expanse لَمdid not يُخالِطmingle with صَفوَهاits clarity كَدَرُmurk
مِن حَومَةٍ لَم يُخالِط صَفوَها كَدَرُ
We have chosen brimful pools of glory
Indeed Huthayl in Zee Buhad saved him
from a deep expanse whose clarity no murk has touched.
A lion when victory stretched its fingers.
إِنّاindeed we وَأُمُّكَand your mother ماnot تُرجىis hoped for ظُلامَتُناour being wronged
إِنّا وَأُمُّكَ ما تُرجى ظُلامَتُنا
عِندَwhen defending الحِفاظِhonor وَماand no فيin عَظمِناour bones خَوَرُweakness
عِندَ الحِفاظِ وَما في عَظمِنا خَوَرُ
We and your mother are not people one hopes to wrong
I hope for victory though their affairs are hidden
when honor must be defended; there is no weakness in our bones.
That the matter they conspired not be blessed.
تَلقىyou find تَميماًTamim إِذاwhen خاضَتplunge قُرومُهُمُtheir chiefs
تَلقى تَميماً إِذا خاضَت قُرومُهُمُ
حَومَthe depths of البُحورِthe seas وَكانَتand were غَمرَةًoverwhelming waters جُسرواthey were bold
حَومَ البُحورِ وَكانَت غَمرَةً جُسروا
You find Tamim, when their mighty chiefs plunge
Thaqif failed when their scout went astray
into the depths of seas, bold even when the waters overwhelm.
From the meadow of glories, indeed glory is missed early.
هَلdo تَعرِفونَyou recognize بِذيat Dhu بَهدىBahda فَوارِسَناour horsemen
هَل تَعرِفونَ بِذي بَهدى فَوارِسَنا
يَومَon the day الهُذَيلِal-Hudhayl بِأَيديin the hands of القَومِthe men مُقتَسَرُforcibly captured
يَومَ الهُذَيلِ بِأَيدي القَومِ مُقتَسَرُ
Do you recognize our horsemen at Dhu Bahda,
The assailers of the blind, if they assail,
on the day al-Hudhayl was held captive in the men's hands?
And the askers openly – what news?
الضارِبينَthose who strike إِذاwhen ما(emphasis) الخَيلُthe horses ضَرَّجَهاbloodied them
الضارِبينَ إِذا ما الخَيلُ ضَرَّجَها
وَقعُthe impact of القَناthe spears وَاِلتَقىand gathered مِنfrom فَوقِهاabove them الغَبَرُdust clouds
وَقعُ القَنا وَاِلتَقى مِن فَوقِها الغَبَرُ
Those who strike when the horses are bloodied
You would not accept bodies burned by fire
by the impact of spears, and dust gathers above them.
When hell had incinerated their spirits.
إِنَّindeed الهُذَيلَal-Hudhayl بِذيat Dhu بَهدىBahda تَدارَكَهُovertook him
إِنَّ الهُذَيلَ بِذي بَهدى تَدارَكَهُ
لَيثٌa lion إِذاwhen شَدَّhe charges مِنamong نَجداتِهِhis feats of valor الظَفَرُvictory
لَيثٌ إِذا شَدَّ مِن نَجداتِهِ الظَفَرُ
At Dhu Bahda, al-Hudhayl was overtaken
The eaters of rotten provision by themselves
by a lion who, when he charges, counts victory among his feats.
And descend when intoxicated by wine.
أَرجوI hope لِتَغلِبَfor Taghlib إِذwhen غَبَّتran their course أُمورُهُمُtheir affairs
أَرجو لِتَغلِبَ إِذ غَبَّت أُمورُهُمُ
أَلّاthat not يُبارِكَHe bless فيin الأَمرِthe plan الَّذيwhich اِئتَمَرواthey plotted together
أَلّا يُبارِكَ في الأَمرِ الَّذي اِئتَمَروا
I hope for Taghlib, now that their affairs have run their course,
The faces the rain is watered in Batha protect me
that no blessing be granted to the plan they devised.
Those are the faces it rains upon.
خابَتfailed بَنوthe sons of تَغلِبٍTaghlib إِذwhen ضَلَّmissed فارِطُهُمtheir advance water-seeker
خابَت بَنو تَغلِبٍ إِذ ضَلَّ فارِطُهُم
حَوضَthe pool of المَكارِمِnoble deeds إِنَّindeed المَجدَglory مُبتَدَرُraced for
حَوضَ المَكارِمِ إِنَّ المَجدَ مُبتَدَرُ
Taghlib's sons failed when their advance water-seeker missed
They gave Khuzaymah and the Helpers their rule
the pool of noble deeds: glory is something to race for.
And God elevated by the Helpers those who gave victory.
الظاعِنونَthose who journey عَلىin العَمياءِblindness إِنif ظَعَنواthey journey
الظاعِنونَ عَلى العَمياءِ إِن ظَعَنوا
وَالسائِلونَand those asking بِظَهرِfrom behind الغَيبِthe unseen ماwhat الخَبَرُthe news
وَالسائِلونَ بِظَهرِ الغَيبِ ما الخَبَرُ
They journey blindly whenever they journey,
I saw you, by God the truth is wrathful,
and ask, from out of sight, 'What is the news?'
You resent the ravenous or snarling being mentioned.
وَماand what رَضيتُمyou deemed fit لِأَجسادٍfor bodies تُحَرِّقُهُمit burns them
وَما رَضيتُم لِأَجسادٍ تُحَرِّقُهُم
فيin النارِthe fire إِذwhen حَرَّقَتburned أَرواحَهُمtheir souls سَقَرُSaqar
في النارِ إِذ حَرَّقَت أَرواحَهُم سَقَرُ
And what have you deemed fit for bodies being burned
A people who return the truce of a people violently,
in the fire, when Saqar has burned their souls?
Disheveled forelocks when the militias are expelled.
الآكِلونَthose eating خَبيثَfoul الزادِprovisions وَحدَهُمُby themselves
الآكِلونَ خَبيثَ الزادِ وَحدَهُمُ
وَالنازِلونَand those who camp إِذاwhen واراهُمُconceals them الخَمَرُthickets
وَالنازِلونَ إِذا واراهُمُ الخَمَرُ
Those who devour foul provisions by themselves,
The Ukhaydir is a pig wandered by
and camp when thickets conceal them.
One of the abysses feared and expected.
يَحميdefend الَّذينَthose who بِبَطحاوَيin the two gravelly valleys of مِنىًMina حَسَبيmy ancestral honor
يَحمي الَّذينَ بِبَطحاوَي مِنىً حَسَبي
تِلكَthose الوُجوهُfaces الَّتيwhich يُسقىis bestowed بِهاthrough them المَطَرُrain
تِلكَ الوُجوهُ الَّتي يُسقى بِها المَطَرُ
Those in Mina's two gravelly valleys defend my ancestral honor,
They brought to you the horses’ chests trained
those faces for whose sake rain is bestowed.
To cover the stabbing, and in their sides there is fraud.
أَعطواgive, you all خُزَيمَةَKhuzaymah وَالأَنصارَand the Ansar حُكمَهُمُtheir say
أَعطوا خُزَيمَةَ وَالأَنصارَ حُكمَهُمُ
وَاللَهُand God عَزَّزَstrengthened بِالأَنصارِthrough the Ansar مَنthose whom نَصَرواthey supported
وَاللَهُ عَزَّزَ بِالأَنصارِ مَن نَصَروا
Give Khuzaymah and the Ansar their say;
The events, we said, will not be seen ever
and God strengthened, through the Ansar, those they supported.
From Thaqif after them, neither eye nor trace.
إِنّيindeed I رَئيتُكُمُsaw you وَالحَقُّand the truth مَغضَبَةٌa cause of anger
إِنّي رَئيتُكُمُ وَالحَقُّ مَغضَبَةٌ
تَخزَونَyou are ashamed أَنthat يُذكَرَbe mentioned الجَحّافُal-Jahhaf أَوor زُفَرُZufar
تَخزَونَ أَن يُذكَرَ الجَحّافُ أَو زُفَرُ
I have seen you—and the truth provokes anger—
Until I heard of a pig that lamented
ashamed to hear al-Jahhaf or Zufar mentioned.
So I said: I see the dead have been brought back to life.
قَوماًmen يُرَدّونَbring back سَرحَthe grazing herds of القَومِthe people عادِيَةًraiding horses
قَوماً يُرَدّونَ سَرحَ القَومِ عادِيَةً
شُعثَtousled النَواصيin their forelocks إِذاwhen ما(emphasis) يُطرَدُare driven off العَكَرُthe camel herds
شُعثَ النَواصي إِذا ما يُطرَدُ العَكَرُ
Men who bring back the people's grazing herds on raiding horses,
Their living are the worst of lives
with tousled forelocks, when the camel herds are driven off.
And the earth vomits their dead when buried.
إِنَّindeed الأُخَيطِلَal-Ukhaytil خِنزيرٌa pig أَطافَcircled بِهِaround him
إِنَّ الأُخَيطِلَ خِنزيرٌ أَطافَ بِهِ
إِحدىone of الدَواهيthe calamities الَّتيwhich تُخشىare feared وَتُنتَظَرُand awaited
إِحدى الدَواهي الَّتي تُخشى وَتُنتَظَرُ
Al-Ukhaytil is a pig encircled
Filth they will be when they pray, their call to prayer
by one of those calamities feared and awaited.
The clanging of bells – they know not what hymns.
قادواthey drove إِلَيكُمtoward you صُدورَthe chests of الخَيلِthe horses مُعلِمَةًbearing battle-marks
قادوا إِلَيكُم صُدورَ الخَيلِ مُعلِمَةً
تَغشىplunge into الطِعانَspear-fighting وَفيand in أَعطافِهاtheir flanks زَوَرُa bend
تَغشى الطِعانَ وَفي أَعطافِها زَوَرُ
They drove the chests of battle-marked horses toward you,
Why did you not restrain on the morn of good news your women?
plunging into spearplay, their flanks curved.
Nor be patient towards Qais as they were patient?
كانَتthere were وَقائِعُbattles قُلناwe said لَنwill never تُرىbe seen أَبَداًever
كانَت وَقائِعُ قُلنا لَن تُرى أَبَداً
مِنof تَغلِبٍTaghlib بَعدَهاafter them عَينٌa living soul وَلاnor أَثَرُa trace
مِن تَغلِبٍ بَعدَها عَينٌ وَلا أَثَرُ
There were battles after which we said, 'Never again will be seen
You surrendered every perverted outcast his cloak
a living soul of Taghlib, nor any trace.'
And every greened little lizard is ripped open.
حَتّىuntil سَمِعتُI heard بِخِنزيرٍof a pig ضَغاsquealed جَزَعاًin terror
حَتّى سَمِعتُ بِخِنزيرٍ ضَغا جَزَعاً
مِنهُمone of them فَقُلتُso I said أَرىI see الأَمواتَthe dead قَدhave indeed نُشِرواbeen raised
مِنهُم فَقُلتُ أَرى الأَمواتَ قَد نُشِروا
Until I heard a pig squealing in terror,
Will you not settle so some of your evil may be hidden
one of them, and said, 'I see the dead have been raised!'
When none shall change your killing but He?
أَحيائُهُمtheir living شَرُّthe worst of أَحياءٍthe living وَأَلأَمُهُand its basest
أَحيائُهُم شَرُّ أَحياءٍ وَأَلأَمُهُ
وَالأَرضُand the earth تَلفُظُspits out مَوتاهُمtheir dead إِذاwhen قُبِرواthey are buried
وَالأَرضُ تَلفُظُ مَوتاهُم إِذا قُبِروا
Their living are the worst and basest of the living,
Oh son of a wicked one! By whom were we shamed
and the earth spits out their dead when they are buried.
Or who made you equal to Qais when they were warned?
رِجسٌdefilement يَكونُis إِذاwhen صَلّواthey pray أَذانُهُمُtheir call to prayer
رِجسٌ يَكونُ إِذا صَلّوا أَذانُهُمُ
قَرعُthe striking of النَواقيسِthe bells لاnot يَدرونَthey know ماwhat السُوَرُthe surahs
قَرعُ النَواقيسِ لا يَدرونَ ما السُوَرُ
Their call to prayer, when they pray, is defilement:
Qais and Khandif are the people of glory before you
the ringing of bells; they do not know what surahs are.
You are not to them and nor are you their concern.
فَماand not مَنَعتُمyou protected غَداةَon the morning of البِشرِal-Bishr نِسوَتَكُمyour women
فَما مَنَعتُم غَداةَ البِشرِ نِسوَتَكُم
وَلاnor صَبَرتُمyou stood firm لِقَيسٍagainst Qays مِثلَlike ماhow صَبَرواthey stood firm
وَلا صَبَرتُم لِقَيسٍ مِثلَ ما صَبَروا
You did not protect your women on the morning at al-Bishr,
Die of woe in sadness upon your island
nor stand firm against Qays as they stood firm.
Murr did not cut a valley’s belly except it had Murr.
أَسلَمتُمُyou abandoned كُلَّevery مُجتابٍwearer of عَباءَتَهُhis cloak
أَسلَمتُمُ كُلَّ مُجتابٍ عَباءَتَهُ
وَكُلَّand every مُخضَرَةِgreen-marked woman القُربَينِon both flanks تُبتَقَرُbeing disemboweled
وَكُلَّ مُخضَرَةِ القُربَينِ تُبتَقَرُ
You abandoned every man clad in his cloak,
You vilify Qais though their tails have stripped you
and every woman with green-marked flanks, being disemboweled.
Until Aus and Namir brought esteem to their coasts.
هَلّاwhy not سَكَنتُمyou kept quiet فَيُخفيso it conceals بَعضَsome of سَوأَتِكُمyour shame
هَلّا سَكَنتُم فَيُخفي بَعضَ سَوأَتِكُم
إِذsince لاnot يُغَيَّرُis paid as compensation فيfor قَتلاكُمُyour slain غِيَرُblood-money
إِذ لا يُغَيَّرُ في قَتلاكُمُ غِيَرُ
Why not keep quiet, so it might conceal some of your shame,
I have exiled you from Najd yet Najd is not yours
since no blood-money is paid for your slain?
Nor is Najd or any of its rocks yours.
ياO اِبنَson of الخَبيثَةِthe foul woman ريحاًin smell مَنwhom عَدَلتَyou equated بِناwith us
يا اِبنَ الخَبيثَةِ ريحاً مَن عَدَلتَ بِنا
أَمor مَنwhom جَعَلتَyou placed إِلىbeside قَيسٍQays إِذاwhen ذَخَرواthey stored up honors
أَم مَن جَعَلتَ إِلى قَيسٍ إِذا ذَخَروا
You son of a foul-smelling woman—whom have you equated with us,
Meet Ukhaydir in a troop whose lights
or whom have you ranked beside Qays when they stored up honors?
Flash – they did not honor pilgrimage nor perform umrah.
قَيسٌQays وَخِندِفُand Khindif أَهلُpossessors of المَجدِglory قَبلَكُمُbefore you
قَيسٌ وَخِندِفُ أَهلُ المَجدِ قَبلَكُمُ
لَستُمyou are not إِلَيهِمof their rank وَلاnor أَنتُمyou لَهُمto them خَطَرُan equal in worth
لَستُم إِلَيهِم وَلا أَنتُم لَهُم خَطَرُ
Qays and Khindif possessed glory before you;
Those laughing towards the pig, its craving
you are not of their rank, nor are you their equals.
Oh how ugly those mouths are when they grin.
موتواdie مِنَfrom الغَيظِrage غَمّاًin grief فيin جَزيرَتِكُمyour Jazirah
موتوا مِنَ الغَيظِ غَمّاً في جَزيرَتِكُم
لَمhave not يَقطَعواthey crossed بَطنَthe floor of وادٍa valley دونَهُbarring it مُضَرُMudar
لَم يَقطَعوا بَطنَ وادٍ دونَهُ مُضَرُ
Die of rage and grief in your Jazirah!
And those gambling on the pig, their luck
They have crossed no valley floor with Mudar barring the way.
Evil are clerics and evil the people when they gambled.
ماno عُدَّwas reckoned قَومٌa people وَإِنeven if عَزّواthey are mighty وَإِنeven if كَرَمواthey are noble
ما عُدَّ قَومٌ وَإِن عَزّوا وَإِن كَرَموا
إِلّاexcept that اِفتَخَرناwe boasted بِحَقٍّrightfully فَوقَabove ماwhat اِفتَخَرواthey boasted
إِلّا اِفتَخَرنا بِحَقٍّ فَوقَ ما اِفتَخَروا
No people have been reckoned, however mighty and noble,
The Thaqafi is wicked when the dawn overwhelms him
without our rightfully boasting above what they boasted.
And the Thaqafi is wicked when tested.
نَرضىwe are pleased عَنِwith اللَهِGod أَنَّthat الناسَthe people قَدalready عَلِمواhave known
نَرضى عَنِ اللَهِ أَنَّ الناسَ قَد عَلِموا
أَنthat لَنwill never يُفاخِرَناrival us in glory مِنamong خَلقِهِHis creatures بَشَرُany human
أَن لَن يُفاخِرَنا مِن خَلقِهِ بَشَرُ
We are pleased with God, for people have come to know
And the Thaqafi when his leadership is complete
that no human among His creatures will rival us in glory.
A slave driving the people’s mounts, hired.
وَماand not لِتَغلِبَfor Taghlib إِنif عَدَّتit counts مَساعيهاits achievements
وَما لِتَغلِبَ إِن عَدَّت مَساعيها
نَجمٌa star يُضيءُshines وَلاnor شَمسٌa sun وَلاnor قَمَرُa moon
نَجمٌ يُضيءُ وَلا شَمسٌ وَلا قَمَرُ
And Taghlib, if it counts its achievements, has no
The women of Thaqif – no patience or lineage,
shining star, nor sun, nor moon.
No beauty, religion or veil.
كانَتwere بَنوthe sons of تَغلِبٍTaghlib لاnot يَعلُrises جَدُّهُمُtheir fortune
كانَت بَنو تَغلِبٍ لا يَعلُ جَدُّهُمُ
كَالمُهلَكينَlike those destroyed بِذيin the land of الأَحقافِal-Ahqaf إِذwhen دَمَرواthey perished
كَالمُهلَكينَ بِذي الأَحقافِ إِذ دَمَروا
Taghlib's sons were men whose fortune never rose,
The Messenger would not accept their religion
like those destroyed in the land of al-Ahqaf when they perished.
Nor the two good ones, Abu Bakr or Umar.
صُبَّتwas poured عَلَيهِمupon them عَقيمٌa barren wind ماnot تُناظِرُهُمgrants them respite
صُبَّت عَلَيهِم عَقيمٌ ما تُناظِرُهُم
حَتّىuntil أَصابَهُمُstruck them بِالحاصِبِwith a stone-hurling storm القَدَرُfate
حَتّى أَصابَهُمُ بِالحاصِبِ القَدَرُ
A barren wind was poured upon them, giving them no respite,
The Messenger came with the religion of truth, but they recoiled,
until fate struck them with a stone-hurling storm.
Will the Messenger of God be harmed if they disbelieved?
تَهجونَyou satirize قَيساًQays وَقَدand already جَذّواthey cut off دَوابِرَكُمyour last remnants
تَهجونَ قَيساً وَقَد جَذّوا دَوابِرَكُم
حَتّىuntil أَعَزَّstrengthened حَصاكَyour numbers الأَوسُal-Aws وَالنَمِرُand al-Namir
حَتّى أَعَزَّ حَصاكَ الأَوسُ وَالنَمِرُ
You satirize Qays, though they have cut off your last remnants,
Oh Khazraj of Thaqif - betrayal has befallen you
until al-Aws and al-Namir strengthened your numbers.
As long as oil flows in Mardeen and is extracted.
إِنّيindeed I نَفَيتُكَbanished you عَنfrom نَجدٍNajd فَماso no لَكُمُfor you
إِنّي نَفَيتُكَ عَن نَجدٍ فَما لَكُمُ
نَجدٌNajd وَمالَكَand you have no مِنof غورِيِّهِits lowlands حَجَرُa stone
نَجدٌ وَمالَكَ مِن غورِيِّهِ حَجَرُ
I have banished you from Najd, so you have no
You wore betrayal intrinsically formed from their hides
Najd, and not a stone of its lowlands is yours.
Then you wore the clothes of betrayal and wrapped them.
تَلقىyou encounter الأُخَيطِلَal-Ukhaytil فيamong رَكبٍriders مَطارِفُهُمtheir fine mantles
تَلقى الأُخَيطِلَ في رَكبٍ مَطارِفُهُم
بَرقُthe striped kind of العَباءِcoarse cloaks وَماand not حَجّواthey made Hajj وَماand not اِعتَمَرواthey made Umrah
بَرقُ العَباءِ وَما حَجّوا وَما اِعتَمَروا
You meet al-Ukhaytil among riders whose fine mantles
Those insulting Bakr when their bellies filled
are striped woolen cloaks; they have made neither Hajj nor Umrah.
And those inclining to Bakr when they became needy.
الضاحِكينَthose grinning إِلىtoward الخِنزيرِthe pig شَهوَتَهُcraving it
الضاحِكينَ إِلى الخِنزيرِ شَهوَتَهُ
ياoh قُبِّحَتmay be disgraced تِلكَthose أَفواهاًmouths إِذاwhen اِكتَشَرواthey bare their teeth
يا قُبِّحَت تِلكَ أَفواهاً إِذا اِكتَشَروا
Those who grin toward the pig, craving it.
The Thaqafi is wicked when the dawn overwhelms him
Oh, accursed be those mouths when they bare their teeth!
And the Thaqafi is wicked when tested.
وَالمُقرِعينَand those drawing lots عَلىover الخِنزيرِthe pig مَيسِرَهُمtheir gambling game
وَالمُقرِعينَ عَلى الخِنزيرِ مَيسِرَهُم
بِئسَwretched is الجَزورُthe slaughter-beast وَبِئسَand wretched are القَومُthe people إِذwhen يَسَرواthey gamble
بِئسَ الجَزورُ وَبِئسَ القَومُ إِذ يَسَروا
And those who draw their gambling lots over a pig:
And the Thaqafi when his leadership is complete
a wretched slaughter-beast, and wretched folk when they gamble!
A slave driving the people’s mounts, hired.
وَالتَغلِبِيُّand the Taghlibi لَئيمٌbase حينَwhen تَجهَرُهُyou see him plainly
وَالتَغلِبِيُّ لَئيمٌ حينَ تَجهَرُهُ
وَالتَغلِبِيُّand the Taghlibi لَئيمٌbase حينَwhen يُختَبَرُhe is tested
وَالتَغلِبِيُّ لَئيمٌ حينَ يُختَبَرُ
A Taghlibi is base when you see him plainly,
The women of Thaqif – no intelligence or lineage
and a Taghlibi is base when he is put to the test.
No beauty, religion or veil.
وَالتَغلَبِيُّand the Taghlibi إِذاwhen تَمَّتis perfected مُروأَتُهُhis manly virtue
وَالتَغلَبِيُّ إِذا تَمَّت مُروأَتُهُ
عَبدٌa slave يَسوقُdrives رِكابَthe riding camels of القَومِthe people مُؤتَجَرُhired
عَبدٌ يَسوقُ رِكابَ القَومِ مُؤتَجَرُ
And a Taghlibi, when his manly virtue reaches perfection,
What the Messenger of God would not accept is their religion
is a hired slave driving the people's riding camels.
Nor the two good ones, Abu Bakr or Umar.
نِسوانُthe women of تَغلِبَTaghlib لاno حِلمٌgood sense وَلاand no حَسَبٌancestral honor
نِسوانُ تَغلِبَ لا حِلمٌ وَلا حَسَبٌ
وَلاand no جَمالٌbeauty وَلاand no دينٌreligion وَلاand no خَفَرُmodesty
وَلا جَمالٌ وَلا دينٌ وَلا خَفَرُ
Taghlib's women have neither good sense nor ancestral honor,
The Messenger came with the religion of truth, but they recoiled,
nor beauty, nor religion, nor modesty.
Will the Messenger of God be harmed that they disbelieved?
ماnot كانَwas يَرضىapprove رَسولُthe Messenger of اللَهِGod دينَهُمُtheir religion
ما كانَ يَرضى رَسولُ اللَهِ دينَهُمُ
وَالطَيِّبانِand the two virtuous men أَبوAbu بَكرٍBakr وَلاnor عُمَرُUmar
وَالطَيِّبانِ أَبو بَكرٍ وَلا عُمَرُ
God's Messenger did not approve their religion,
Oh pigs of Thaqif - betrayal has allied with you
nor did the two virtuous men, Abu Bakr and Umar.
As long as oil flows in Mardeen and is extracted.
جاءَcame الرَسولُthe Messenger بِدينِwith the religion of الحَقِّtruth فَاِنتَكَثواso they broke faith
جاءَ الرَسولُ بِدينِ الحَقِّ فَاِنتَكَثوا
وَهَلand does يَضيرُharm رَسولَthe Messenger of اللَهِGod أَنthat كَفَرواthey disbelieved
وَهَل يَضيرُ رَسولَ اللَهِ أَن كَفَروا
The Messenger came with the religion of truth, but they broke faith;
You wore betrayal intrinsically formed from their hides
and does their disbelief harm God's Messenger?
Then you wore the clothes of betrayal and wrapped them.
ياO خُزرَsquint-eyed men of تَغلِبَTaghlib إِنَّindeed اللُؤمَbaseness حالَفَكُمhas allied with you
يا خُزرَ تَغلِبَ إِنَّ اللُؤمَ حالَفَكُم
ماas long as دامَcontinues فيin مارِدينَMardin الزَيتُoil يَعتَصَرُis pressed
ما دامَ في مارِدينَ الزَيتُ يَعتَصَرُ
O squint-eyed men of Taghlib, baseness has allied itself with you
Those insulting Bani Bakr when they are satiated
as long as oil is pressed in Mardin.
And those leaning on Bakr when they become needy.
تَسَربَلواthey clothed themselves in اللُؤمَbaseness خَلقاًfashioned مِنfrom جُلودِهِمُtheir skins
تَسَربَلوا اللُؤمَ خَلقاً مِن جُلودِهِمُ
ثُمَّthen اِرتَدواthey draped themselves بِثِيابِin the robes of اللُؤمِbaseness وَاِتَّزَرواand girded their waists
ثُمَّ اِرتَدوا بِثِيابِ اللُؤمِ وَاِتَّزَروا
They clothed themselves in baseness, fashioned from their own skins,
then draped themselves in robes of baseness and girded their waists with it;
الشاتِمينَthose reviling بَنيthe sons of بَكرٍBakr إِذاwhen بَطِنواtheir bellies are full
الشاتِمينَ بَني بَكرٍ إِذا بَطِنوا
وَالجانِحينَand those turning إِلىto بَكرٍBakr إِذاwhen اِفتَقَرواthey become poor
وَالجانِحينَ إِلى بَكرٍ إِذا اِفتَقَروا
those who revile Bakr's sons when their bellies are full,
and turn to Bakr when they grow poor.
Partial English translation: 128 of 132 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1