أَبْلِغْtell قُرَيشاًQuraysh وخَيْرُand the best القولِof speech أصْدَقُهُits truest
أَبْلِغْ قُرَيشاً وخَيْرُ القولِ أصْدَقُهُ
والصّدْقُand truth عندَamong ذَويpossessors of الألْبَابِunderstanding مَقْبُولُaccepted
والصّدْقُ عندَ ذَوي الألْبَابِ مَقْبُولُ
Tell Quraysh—and the best speech is the truest,
Deliver to Quraysh and the best word is the most truthful
And truth is accepted by those of understanding—
And truthfulness is accepted by those of reason
أنْthat قَدْindeed قَتَلْنَاwe killed بقَتْلاَنَاfor our slain سَرَاتَكُمُyour chiefs
أنْ قَدْ قَتَلْنَا بقَتْلاَنَا سَرَاتَكُمُ
أهلَbearers of اللواءِthe banner فَفيمَso why يكثرُincreases القِيلُtalk
أهلَ اللواءِ فَفيمَ يكثرُ القِيلُ
That we have slain your chiefs in return for our slain,
That we have killed your elite with our killing
The bearers of the banner; why, then, so much talk?
So why is there so much talk?
ويومَand on the day of بَدْرٍBadr لَقِينَاكُمْwe met you لَنَاfor us مَدَدٌreinforcements
ويومَ بَدْرٍ لَقِينَاكُمْ لَنَا مَدَدٌ
فيهِin it مَعَwith النّصْرِvictory مِيكَالٌMikal وجِبْرِيلُand Jibril
فيهِ مَعَ النّصْرِ مِيكَالٌ وجِبْرِيلُ
And on the day of Badr we met you; we had reinforcements,
And on the day of Badr we met you, we had support
There, along with victory: Mikal and Jibril.
With victory, Michael and Gabriel were with us
إِنْif تَقْتُلُونَاyou kill us فَدِينُthen the faith of الحقِّtruth فِطْرَتُنَاour innate nature
إِنْ تَقْتُلُونَا فَدِينُ الحقِّ فِطْرَتُنَا
والقَتْلُand being slain فيfor الحقِّtruth عِنْدَin the sight of اللهِGod تفضيلُdistinction
والقَتْلُ في الحقِّ عِنْدَ اللهِ تفضيلُ
If you kill us, the faith of truth is our innate nature,
If you kill us, our religion is our true nature
And being slain for truth is a distinction in God's sight.
And being killed for truth, with God is virtue
وإِنand if تَرَواyou consider أمرَناour cause فيin رَأيكُمْyour opinion سَفَهاًfoolishness
وإِن تَرَوا أمرَنا في رَأيكُمْ سَفَهاً
فَرَأيُthen the judgment of مَنْwhoever خَالَفَopposes الإسْلاَمَIslam تَضليلُmisguidance
فَرَأيُ مَنْ خَالَفَ الإسْلاَمَ تَضليلُ
And if, in your opinion, you deem our cause foolishness,
And if you see our matter as foolishness in your view
Then the judgment of whoever opposes Islam leads astray.
Then the view of those against Islam is misguidance
فلاso do not تَمنُّواwish for لِقَاحَthe conception of الحَرْبِwar واقتَعِدُواand sit back
فلا تَمنُّوا لِقَاحَ الحَرْبِ واقتَعِدُوا
إنَّindeed أَخَاa brother of الحَرْبِwar أصْدَىrust-dark اللّونِin hue مَشْعُولُdisheveled
إنَّ أَخَا الحَرْبِ أصْدَى اللّونِ مَشْعُولُ
So do not wish for war's conception, and sit back.
So do not wish for the meeting of war, and refrain
For war's brother is rust-dark in hue and disheveled.
For war's brother's complexion is fiery and somber
إنَّindeed لَكُمْfor you عِنْدَناwith us ضَرْباًblows تَرَاحُrejoice لهاat them
إنَّ لَكُمْ عِنْدَنا ضَرْباً تَرَاحُ لها
عُرْجُlimping الضِّبَاعِhyenas لَهُit has خَذْمٌsevered scraps رَعَابِيلُtatters
عُرْجُ الضِّبَاعِ لَهُ خَذْمٌ رَعَابِيلُ
We have blows in store for you that delight
With us for you is a strike the hyenas quiver from
The limping hyenas, leaving severed scraps and tatters.
The hump of the camels has an owner, a herder
إنّاindeed we are بَنُوsons of الحَرْبِwar نُمْرِيهاwe milk her وَنُنْتِجُهَاand deliver her offspring
إنّا بَنُو الحَرْبِ نُمْرِيها وَنُنْتِجُهَا
وعِنْدَناand with us لِذَويfor bearers of الأضْغَانِgrudges تَنْكيلُexemplary punishment
وعِنْدَنا لِذَوي الأضْغَانِ تَنْكيلُ
We are war's sons: we milk her and deliver her offspring.
We are the people of war, we initiate it and produce it
And for those who bear grudges, we have exemplary punishment.
And with us for people of grudges there is vengeance
إنif يُنْجُescapes منهاfrom her ابنُthe son of حَرْبٍHarb بَعْدَمَاafter بَلَغَتْshe reached
إن يُنْجُ منها ابنُ حَرْبٍ بَعْدَمَا بَلَغَتْ
مِنْهُof him التّراقيthe collarbones وأمرُand the command of اللهِGod مَفْعُولُfulfilled
مِنْهُ التّراقي وأمرُ اللهِ مَفْعُولُ
If Ibn Harb escapes her after she has reached
If the son of war survives after what has transpired
His collarbones—and God's command is fulfilled—
Of skirmishing, by God's command fulfilled
فَقَدْthen indeed أفَادَتْshe imparted لَهُto him حِلْماًprudence وَمَوْعِظَةًand an admonition
فَقَدْ أفَادَتْ لَهُ حِلْماً وَمَوْعِظَةً
لِمَنْfor whoever يَكُونُthere is لَهُfor him لُبٌّintellect ومَعْقُولُand understanding
لِمَنْ يَكُونُ لَهُ لُبٌّ ومَعْقُولُ
Then she has given him prudence, and an admonition
Then it has given him wisdom and advice
For anyone possessed of intellect and understanding.
For one who has a heart and intellect
وَلَوand if هَبَطْتُمْyou descended بِبَطْنِinto the bed of السّيلِthe torrent كَافَحَكُمْwould confront you
وَلَو هَبَطْتُمْ بِبَطْنِ السّيلِ كَافَحَكُمْ
ضَرْبٌblows بِشَاكِلَةِalong the flank of البَطْحَاءِthe gravel plain تَرْعِيلُrending
ضَرْبٌ بِشَاكِلَةِ البَطْحَاءِ تَرْعِيلُ
And if you descended into the torrent-bed, you would be met head-on
And if you descended to the valley's flooding depths
By rending blows along the gravel plain's flank.
A strike with the staffs of Al-Baṭḥā’ would herd you
تَلْقَاكُمُmeet you عُصَبٌbands حَوْلَaround النّبيّthe Prophet لَهُمْthey have
تَلْقَاكُمُ عُصَبٌ حَوْلَ النّبيّ لَهُمْ
مِمّاamong what يعدُّونَthey prepare للهَيْجَاfor battle سَرَابيلُcoats of mail
مِمّا يعدُّونَ للهَيْجَا سَرَابيلُ
Bands around the Prophet meet you; they have
A band around the Prophet would meet you
Coats of mail among what they prepare for battle.
With what they prepare for fighting, attires
مِنْfrom جِذْمِthe stock of غَسَّانَGhassan مُسْتَرخٍhanging loose حَمَائِلُهُمْtheir sword-straps
مِنْ جِذْمِ غَسَّانَ مُسْتَرخٍ حَمَائِلُهُمْ
لاnot جُبَنَاءُcowards وَلاَnor مِيلٍunsteady riders مَعَازِيلُunarmed men
لا جُبَنَاءُ وَلاَ مِيلٍ مَعَازِيلُ
Of Ghassan's stock, their sword-straps hanging loose,
From the army of Ghassan relaxed, their protectors
Neither cowards, nor unsteady, unarmed men.
Neither cowards nor wavering weaklings
يَمْشُونَthey march نَحْوَtoward عمايَاتِthe blind confusion of القِتَالِbattle كَمَاas
يَمْشُونَ نَحْوَ عمايَاتِ القِتَالِ كَمَا
تَمْشِيstride المَصَاعِبَةُunbroken bull camels الأدْمُwhite المراسيلُfree-striding
تَمْشِي المَصَاعِبَةُ الأدْمُ المراسيلُ
They march toward the blind confusion of battle, as
They walk towards the darkness of battle
The unbroken white bull camels stride freely.
As the surefooted walk, untied camels
أوor مثلَlike مَشْيِthe gait of أُسُودِlions الظّلِّof the shade ألثَقَهاdrenched them
أو مثلَ مَشْيِ أُسُودِ الظّلِّ ألثَقَها
يَوْمُa day of زَذَاذٍdrizzle (apparently رذاذ) منَfrom الجَوْزَاءِal-Jawzaʾ مَشْمُولُswept by the north wind
يَوْمُ زَذَاذٍ منَ الجَوْزَاءِ مَشْمُولُ
Or like the gait of lions of the shade, drenched
Or like the gait of dark lions whose manes
By a drizzly day from al-Jawzaʾ, swept by the north wind.
Were ruffled one day at Al-Jawzā’, clumped
فيin كُلِّevery سَابِغَةٍample coat of mail كالنّهيِّlike a still pool مُحْكَمَةٍwell wrought
في كُلِّ سَابِغَةٍ كالنّهيِّ مُحْكَمَةٍ
قِيَامُهاits wearer فَلَجٌbroad-built كالسَّيْفِlike a sword بُهلُولُa noble champion
قِيَامُها فَلَجٌ كالسَّيْفِ بُهلُولُ
In each well-wrought, ample coat of mail, like a still pool,
In every hardened coat of mail like an edict
Stands a broad-built, sword-like, noble champion.
Their stance cleaves like the sword blades polished
تَرُدُّit repels حَدَّthe points of قِرَانِpairs of النّبْلِarrows خَاسِئةًrepulsed
تَرُدُّ حَدَّ قِرَانِ النّبْلِ خَاسِئةً
وَيرْجعُand returns السّيفُthe sword عنهاfrom it وهوwhile it is مَفْلُولُchipped
وَيرْجعُ السّيفُ عنها وهو مَفْلُولُ
It repels the points of paired arrows, driving them back,
Repelling the blows of spears blunted
And the sword recoils from it, its edge chipped.
And the sword bounces back from them bent
وَلَوْand even if قَذَفْتُمْyou cast بِسَلْعٍSalʿ عَنْaway from ظهورِكُمُyour backs
وَلَوْ قَذَفْتُمْ بِسَلْعٍ عَنْ ظهورِكُمُ
وللحَيَاةِand for life وَدَفْعِand warding off المَوْتِdeath تَأْجِيلُa respite
وللحَيَاةِ وَدَفْعِ المَوْتِ تَأْجِيلُ
And even if you cast Salʿ behind your backs,
And if you tossed away your goods from your backs
And life and the warding off of death have a respite,
For life, and deferring death there is hope
ماnot زَالَceased فيamong القَوْمِthe people وَتْرٌa slain man to avenge مِنْكُمُone of you أبداًever
ما زَالَ في القَوْمِ وَتْرٌ مِنْكُمُ أبداً
تَعْفُوefface السِّلامُstones عليهِover him وَهْوَwhile he is مَطْلُولُunavenged
تَعْفُو السِّلامُ عليهِ وَهْوَ مَطْلُولُ
There would always remain among the people a slain man of yours,
There would always remain among the people a bond from you
With stones effacing his traces, his blood unavenged.
Peace unto it though it be despoiled
عبدٌa slave وَحُرٌّand a freeman كَرِيمٌnoble مُوثِقٌbound fast (contextual reading) قَنَصاًas prey
عبدٌ وَحُرٌّ كَرِيمٌ مُوثِقٌ قَنَصاً
شَطْرَtoward المَدِينَةِMedina مَأْسُورٌcaptive وَمَقْتُولُand slain
شَطْرَ المَدِينَةِ مَأْسُورٌ وَمَقْتُولُ
Slave and noble freeman, bound as hunted prey,
A slave and freeman, dignified, pledged
Toward Medina—captives and slain.
Half the city captive and slain
كُنّاwe were نُؤَمّلُhoping for أُخْرَاكُمْyour rear ranks فأعجَلَكُمْthen hurried you
كُنّا نُؤَمّلُ أُخْرَاكُمْ فأعجَلَكُمْ
مِنَّاfrom among us فَوَارِسُhorsemen لاnot عُزْلٌunarmed ولاnor مِيلُunsteady in the saddle
مِنَّا فَوَارِسُ لا عُزْلٌ ولا مِيلُ
We had hoped for your rear ranks; then you were hurried away
We hoped for your remnants but you hurried
By horsemen from among us, neither unarmed nor unsteady in the saddle.
Against us so horsemen without retreat or sway
إذاwhen جَنَىcommits an offense فِيهمُamong them الجَانيthe offender فَقَدْthen indeed عَلِمُواthey know
إذا جَنَى فِيهمُ الجَاني فَقَدْ عَلِمُوا
حَقّاًtruly بأنَّthat الذيwhat قدalready جَرَّhe incurred مَحْمُولُborne
حَقّاً بأنَّ الذي قد جَرَّ مَحْمُولُ
When an offender among them commits a wrong, they know
When the transgressor attacks them, they know truly
For certain that what he has incurred will be borne.
That the one who crossed was destined to be carried
ماwhatever يَجْنِhe commits لاnot يجْنِhe commits منof إثْمٍsin مُجَاهَرَةًopenly
ما يَجْنِ لا يجْنِ من إثْمٍ مُجَاهَرَةً
ولاnor مَلُومٌblamed ولاnor فيin الغُرْمِfinancial liability مَخْذُولُabandoned
ولا مَلُومٌ ولا في الغُرْمِ مَخْذُولُ
Whatever he commits, he does not commit sin openly,
What is crossed cannot be crossed openly sinning
Nor is he blamed, nor abandoned in paying the damages,
Nor blamed nor in debt neglected
يوماًon a day تَظَلُّcontinue حِدَابُthe ridges of الأَرْضِthe earth تَرْفَعُهَاraise them
يوماً تَظَلُّ حِدَابُ الأَرْضِ تَرْفَعُهَا
مِنَfrom اللَّوامِعِthe shimmering mirages تَخْلِيطٌa mingling وتَزْيِيلُand a sundering
مِنَ اللَّوامِعِ تَخْلِيطٌ وتَزْيِيلُ
On a day when the earth's ridges are continually lifted
A day the ridges of earth loom over it
By the mingling and sundering of shimmering mirages.
With gleaming unsheathed swords mixed and scattered
Sol 6.1