أَلا هَلْ أتى غَسّانَ عنّا ودونَهُمْ

أَلا هَلْ أتى غَسّانَ عنّا ودونَهُمْ

مِنَ الأَرضِ خَرْقٌ سَيْرُهُ مُتَنعْنِعُ

مِنَ الأَرضِ خَرْقٌ سَيْرُهُ مُتَنعْنِعُ

Has word of us reached Ghassan, though between them and us

Ah, has word of us reached Ghassan—though between us lies

lies a trackless waste, its passage wavering and slow—

a vast tract of land whose crossing stretches far,

صَحَارٍ وأَعلامٌ كأنَّ قَتَامَهَا

صَحَارٍ وأَعلامٌ كأنَّ قَتَامَهَا

مِنَ البُعدِ نَقْعٌ هَامِدٌ مُتَقطّعُ

مِنَ البُعدِ نَقْعٌ هَامِدٌ مُتَقطّعُ

deserts and landmarks whose haze of dust seems

deserts and landmark heights whose dust-haze seems

from afar a settled cloud, broken apart?

from afar a still, broken cloud of dust;

تَظَلُّ بهِ البُزْلُ العَرَامِيسُ رُزَّحاً

تَظَلُّ بهِ البُزْلُ العَرَامِيسُ رُزَّحاً

ويَخْلُو بهِ غَيْثُ السّنينَ فَيُمْرِعُ

ويَخْلُو بهِ غَيْثُ السّنينَ فَيُمْرِعُ

There the full-grown, massive camels remain worn thin,

there full-grown, sturdy camels remain exhausted,

though the rain of fertile years may pass over it and make it lush.

and the years' rains have free rein there, bringing lush growth;

بِهِ جِيَفُ الحَسْري يَلُوحُ صَلِيبُهَا

بِهِ جِيَفُ الحَسْري يَلُوحُ صَلِيبُهَا

كما لاَحَ كتّانُ التِّجَارِ الموَضَّعُ

كما لاَحَ كتّانُ التِّجَارِ الموَضَّعُ

There lie carcasses of the travel-worn, their bleached bones gleaming

there lie carcasses of spent beasts, their fat gleaming

like merchants’ linen spread out on display.

like merchants' linen laid out;

بهِ العِينُ والآرَامُ يَمْشِينَ خِلْفةً

بهِ العِينُ والآرَامُ يَمْشِينَ خِلْفةً

وَبَيْضُ نَعَامٍ قَيْضُه يَتَقَلَّعُ

وَبَيْضُ نَعَامٍ قَيْضُه يَتَقَلَّعُ

There wild cows and white gazelles walk one behind another,

there wild cattle and white gazelles wander to and fro,

and ostrich eggs lie with their shells peeling away.

and ostrich eggs have shells that break away—

مُجالدَنَا عَنْ دِينِنَا كُلُّ فَخْمَةٍ

مُجالدَنَا عَنْ دِينِنَا كُلُّ فَخْمَةٍ

مُذَرَّبةٍ فيها القَوَانِسُ تَلْمَعُ

مُذَرَّبةٍ فيها القَوَانِسُ تَلْمَعُ

Defending our faith with us is every mighty host,

our fighting for our faith against every mighty host,

seasoned in war, with helmets flashing within it,

keenly armed, with helmet-crests gleaming within it,

وكلُّ صَمُوتٍ في الصّوانِ كأَنَّها

وكلُّ صَمُوتٍ في الصّوانِ كأَنَّها

إذا لُبِسَتْ نَهيٌّ من الماءِ مُتْرَعُ

إذا لُبِسَتْ نَهيٌّ من الماءِ مُتْرَعُ

and every silent coat of mail in its casing, as though,

and every coat of mail, silent in its casing, as though,

once donned, it were a brimming pool of water.

when worn, it were a pool brimful of water?

ولكنْ بِبَدْرٍ سَائِلوا مَنْ لَقِيتُمُ

ولكنْ بِبَدْرٍ سَائِلوا مَنْ لَقِيتُمُ

مِنَ النّاسِ والأنبَاءُ بالغَيْبِ تَنْفَعُ

مِنَ النّاسِ والأنبَاءُ بالغَيْبِ تَنْفَعُ

But ask at Badr whomever you meet

But about Badr ask whomever you meet

among the people—for reports of what was unseen can profit.

among the people; reports of things unseen are useful.

وإنّا بِأَرْضِ الخَوفِ لَو كَانَ أهْلُهَا

وإنّا بِأَرْضِ الخَوفِ لَو كَانَ أهْلُهَا

سِوَانَا لقد أَجْلُوا بِلَيْلٍ فأقشَعُوا

سِوَانَا لقد أَجْلُوا بِلَيْلٍ فأقشَعُوا

We dwell in a land of fear; had its people

And we are in a land of fear; were its people

been anyone but us, they would have left by night and cleared away.

anyone but us, they would have fled by night and dispersed.

إذا جَاءَ منّا رَاكبٌ كانَ قولُهُ

إذا جَاءَ منّا رَاكبٌ كانَ قولُهُ

أَعِدّوا لِما يُزْجي ابنُ حرْبٍ ويجمعُ

أَعِدّوا لِما يُزْجي ابنُ حرْبٍ ويجمعُ

Whenever a rider came to us, his word was:

Whenever a rider from us comes, his words are:

“Prepare for what Ibn Harb is driving forward and mustering.”

Prepare for what Ibn Harb drives forward and gathers.

فَمَهْمَا يُهِمُّ النّاسَ ممّا يكيدُنَا

فَمَهْمَا يُهِمُّ النّاسَ ممّا يكيدُنَا

فَنَحْنُ لَهُ من سَائِرِ النّاس أوسعُ

فَنَحْنُ لَهُ من سَائِرِ النّاس أوسعُ

Whatever troubles the people among the plots against us,

Whatever troubles people in the schemes against us,

we have more breadth to meet it than all other men.

we are better able to face it than all other people.

فلو غيرُنَا كَانَتْ جيمعاً تَكِيدُهُ

فلو غيرُنَا كَانَتْ جيمعاً تَكِيدُهُ

البريّةُ قد أَعْطَوْا يداً وَتَوَرَّعُوا

البريّةُ قد أَعْطَوْا يداً وَتَوَرَّعُوا

Had it been another people, with all creation plotting against them,

Were it anyone but us whom all were plotting against—

they would have yielded their hand and drawn back.

all mankind—they would have yielded and shrunk back.

نُجَالِدُ لا تبقى عَلَيْنَا قَبِيلَةٌ

نُجَالِدُ لا تبقى عَلَيْنَا قَبِيلَةٌ

من النّاسِ إلاّ أَنْ يَهابوا ويفظعوا

من النّاسِ إلاّ أَنْ يَهابوا ويفظعوا

We keep fighting until no tribe of men remains

We fight; no tribe stands against us

without standing in awe of us and recoiling.

among mankind without fearing us and feeling dread.

ولمّا ابتَنَوا بالعِرْضِ قَالَ سَرَاتُنَا

ولمّا ابتَنَوا بالعِرْضِ قَالَ سَرَاتُنَا

عَلاَمَ إذا لَمْ نمنَعِ العِرْضَ نزرَعُ

عَلاَمَ إذا لَمْ نمنَعِ العِرْضَ نزرَعُ

When they built upon the land, our chiefs said:

When they made camp at al-ʿIrd, our chiefs said:

“Why should we sow if we cannot defend our domain?”

Why sow, if we do not defend al-ʿIrd?

وَفِينَا رسولُ اللهِ نَتْبَعُ أمْرَهُ

وَفِينَا رسولُ اللهِ نَتْبَعُ أمْرَهُ

إذا قالَ فِينَا القولَ لا نَتَطَلَّعُ

إذا قالَ فِينَا القولَ لا نَتَطَلَّعُ

Among us is God’s Messenger; we follow his command—

God's Messenger is among us; we follow his command.

when he speaks among us, we do not look beyond it.

When he speaks among us, we do not look elsewhere.

تَدَلَّى عليهِ الرّوحُ مِنْ عند ربّهِ

تَدَلَّى عليهِ الرّوحُ مِنْ عند ربّهِ

يُنزَّلُ من جوِّ السماءِ ويُرفَعُ

يُنزَّلُ من جوِّ السماءِ ويُرفَعُ

The Spirit descends upon him from his Lord,

The Spirit descended upon him from his Lord,

sent down from the heart of heaven, then raised again.

sent down from the expanse of heaven and raised again.

وقالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ لَمّا بَدَوا لنا

وقالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ لَمّا بَدَوا لنا

إذا مَا اشْتَهَى أَنّا نُطِيعُ ونسْمعُ

إذا مَا اشْتَهَى أَنّا نُطِيعُ ونسْمعُ

And God’s Messenger said, when they came into view:

God's Messenger said, when they appeared before us—

“Whenever he wills it, we obey and hear.

whenever he desires, we obey and listen—

وكُونُوا كَمَنْ يَشْرِي الحياةَ تَقرّباً

وكُونُوا كَمَنْ يَشْرِي الحياةَ تَقرّباً

إلى ملِكٍ يُحيَا لَدَيْهِ ويُرجَعُ

إلى ملِكٍ يُحيَا لَدَيْهِ ويُرجَعُ

Be like one who sells his life to draw near

Be like one who sells his life, seeking nearness

to a King with whom one lives, and to whom one returns.

to a King in whose presence one is given life and to whom one is returned.

ولكنْ خُذوا أَسْيَافَكُمْ وَتَوَكَّلُوا

ولكنْ خُذوا أَسْيَافَكُمْ وَتَوَكَّلُوا

على اللهِ إنَّ الأمْرَ للهِ أجمعُ

على اللهِ إنَّ الأمْرَ للهِ أجمعُ

But take up your swords and put your trust

But take up your swords and put your trust

in God: the whole affair belongs to God.”

in God; the whole affair belongs to God.

فَسِرْنَا إليهِمْ جَهْرَةً في رِحالِهِمْ

فَسِرْنَا إليهِمْ جَهْرَةً في رِحالِهِمْ

ضُحيّاً عَلَيْنَا البيضُ لا نتخشَّعُ

ضُحيّاً عَلَيْنَا البيضُ لا نتخشَّعُ

So we marched on them openly, into their camp,

So we marched openly upon them in their camps,

at high morning, white helmets upon us—we would not bow—

at midmorning, bright helmets upon us, without cowering,

بمَلْمُومَةٍ فيها السَّنَوَّرُ والقَنَا

بمَلْمُومَةٍ فيها السَّنَوَّرُ والقَنَا

إذا ضَرَبُوا أَقْدَامَها لا تورّعُ

إذا ضَرَبُوا أَقْدَامَها لا تورّعُ

in a close-packed host, with coats of mail and spears,

with a compact host bearing armor and spears;

which, when they struck at its forelegs, never flinched.

when they strike its front ranks, it does not recoil.

فجئنَا إلى هَوجٍ من البحرِ وَسْطَهُ

فجئنَا إلى هَوجٍ من البحرِ وَسْطَهُ

أحابيشُ منهمْ حَاسِرٌ ومقنّعُ

أحابيشُ منهمْ حَاسِرٌ ومقنّعُ

We came upon a surging sea, in whose midst

We came against a raging sea-surge, at whose heart

were their confederates, some bareheaded and some helmeted:

were the Ahabish, some bareheaded and some helmeted:

ثلاثةُ آلافٍ وَنَحْنُ نَصِيَّةٌ

ثلاثةُ آلافٍ وَنَحْنُ نَصِيَّةٌ

ثَلاَثُ مِئينٍ إنْ كَثُرْنَا وأَرْبعُ

ثَلاَثُ مِئينٍ إنْ كَثُرْنَا وأَرْبعُ

three thousand, while we were only a vanguard—

three thousand, while we were a picked band,

three hundred, or four if we counted ourselves many.

three hundred—four hundred at most.

نُغَوِرُهُم تجري المنيّةُ بَيْنَنَا

نُغَوِرُهُم تجري المنيّةُ بَيْنَنَا

نُشارِعُهُمْ حوضَ المَنَايا ونَشْرَعُ

نُشارِعُهُمْ حوضَ المَنَايا ونَشْرَعُ

We raided them as death ran between us;

We raid them while death courses between us;

we vied with them at death’s pool and plunged in.

we join them at the pool of deaths, and wade in.

تَهَادَى قِسِيُّ النبعِ فينا وفيهِمُ

تَهَادَى قِسِيُّ النبعِ فينا وفيهِمُ

وَمَا هو إلاَّ اليَثْرِبيُّ المُقَطَّعُ

وَمَا هو إلاَّ اليَثْرِبيُّ المُقَطَّعُ

Bows of nabʿ wood swayed among us and among them;

Bows of nabʿ wood exchange gifts among us and them,

there was nothing but Yathribi shafts, cut and notched.

and it is only the trimmed Yathribi shaft,

ومَنْجُوفةٌ جِرْمِيَّةٌ صَاعِديَّةٌ

ومَنْجُوفةٌ جِرْمِيَّةٌ صَاعِديَّةٌ

يُذَرُّ عليها السّمُّ سَاعةَ تَصْنَعُ

يُذَرُّ عليها السّمُّ سَاعةَ تَصْنَعُ

And hollowed Jarmī, Ṣāʿidī arrows,

and a hollowed arrowhead, Jirmi and Ṣāʿidi,

dusted with poison at the hour they are made,

with poison sprinkled upon it the moment you make it.

تَصُوبُ بأَبْدَانِ الرّجَالِ وَتَارَةً

تَصُوبُ بأَبْدَانِ الرّجَالِ وَتَارَةً

تمرُّ بأَعراضِ البَصَارِ تَقَعْقَعُ

تمرُّ بأَعراضِ البَصَارِ تَقَعْقَعُ

striking true into men’s bodies, and at times

It plunges into men's bodies, and at times

passing by the edges of eyes with a rattle.

glances across the faces of shields, rattling.

وَخَيْلٌ تَرَاها بالفَضَاءِ كأَنَّها

وَخَيْلٌ تَرَاها بالفَضَاءِ كأَنَّها

جَراُ صَباً في قَرَّةٍ يتريَّعُ

جَراُ صَباً في قَرَّةٍ يتريَّعُ

And horses—you would see them on the open plain as though

And horses you see in the open, as though they were

a blast of east wind were coursing through the biting cold.

the rush of an east wind eddying in the cold.

فلمّا تَلاَقَيْنَا وَدَارَتْ بنَا الرَّحى

فلمّا تَلاَقَيْنَا وَدَارَتْ بنَا الرَّحى

وليسَ لأمرٍ حَمَّهُ اللهُ مَدفَعُ

وليسَ لأمرٍ حَمَّهُ اللهُ مَدفَعُ

When we met and the millstone turned upon us,

When we met and the millstone turned around us—

there was no repelling a matter God had decreed.

and nothing can avert a matter God has decreed—

ضَرَبْنَاهُمُ حتّى تَرَكْنَا سَراتَهُمْ

ضَرَبْنَاهُمُ حتّى تَرَكْنَا سَراتَهُمْ

كأَنَّهُمُ بالقَاعِ خُشْبٌ مُصرّعُ

كأَنَّهُمُ بالقَاعِ خُشْبٌ مُصرّعُ

We struck them until we left their chiefs

we struck them until we left their chiefs

like timbers felled upon the level ground,

like felled timber on the flat ground.

لَدُنْ غُدوةً حتّى استَفَقْنَا عشيّةً

لَدُنْ غُدوةً حتّى استَفَقْنَا عشيّةً

كأنّ ذَكَانَا حَرُّ نَارٍ تلفَّعُ

كأنّ ذَكَانَا حَرُّ نَارٍ تلفَّعُ

from early morning until we came to ourselves at evening,

From morning until we came to our senses at evening,

as though the heat of our battle were a mantling fire.

our ardor was like the heat of a fire blazing all around.

وَرَاحُوا سِرَاعاً مُوجِفِينَ كأَنَّهُمْ

وَرَاحُوا سِرَاعاً مُوجِفِينَ كأَنَّهُمْ

جَهامٌ هَرَاقتْ ماءَه الرّيحْ مُقْلعُ

جَهامٌ هَرَاقتْ ماءَه الرّيحْ مُقْلعُ

They departed swiftly, spurring hard, as though

They went off swiftly, hastening, as though they were

a rainless cloud whose water the wind had spilled were lifting away.

a receding rainless cloud whose water the wind had spilled.

وَرُحْنَا وأُخْرَانَا بِطَاءٌ كأنَّنَا

وَرُحْنَا وأُخْرَانَا بِطَاءٌ كأنَّنَا

أُسُودٌ على لَحْمٍ بِبِيشةَ ظُلَّعُ

أُسُودٌ على لَحْمٍ بِبِيشةَ ظُلَّعُ

We returned, our rear ranks slow, as though we were

And we went off, our rear ranks slow, as though we were

lions over flesh at Bīsha, limping from the feast.

limping lions over meat at Bisha.

فَنِلْنا وَنَالَ القَوْمُ مِنَّا وربَّما

فَنِلْنا وَنَالَ القَوْمُ مِنَّا وربَّما

فَعَلْنَا ولكنْ ما لَدَى اللِ أوسعُ

فَعَلْنَا ولكنْ ما لَدَى اللِ أوسعُ

We prevailed, and the foe took toll of us as well—many a time

We struck them, and the foe struck us; many a time

have we done the like—but what lies with God is vaster.

we have done so, but what is with God is more abundant.

ودارتْ رَحَانَا واستَدَارَتْ رَحَاهُمُ

ودارتْ رَحَانَا واستَدَارَتْ رَحَاهُمُ

وَقَدْ جَعَلُوا كُلٌّ مِنَ الشَّرِّ يَشْبَعُ

وَقَدْ جَعَلُوا كُلٌّ مِنَ الشَّرِّ يَشْبَعُ

Our millstone turned, and theirs turned too,

Our millstone turned, and their millstone turned in return,

and each had begun to take its fill of evil.

and they began, each one, to have his fill of suffering.

وَنَحْنُ أُناس لا نَرَى القَتْلَ سُبّةً

وَنَحْنُ أُناس لا نَرَى القَتْلَ سُبّةً

عَلَى كُلِّ من يحمي الذِّمارَ ويمنَعُ

عَلَى كُلِّ من يحمي الذِّمارَ ويمنَعُ

We are a people who see no disgrace in death

We are a people who do not deem being killed a disgrace

for anyone who guards sacred honor and defends it.

for anyone who protects and defends what must be guarded.

ولكنَّنَا نَقْلِي الفَرارَ ولا نرى الْ

ولكنَّنَا نَقْلِي الفَرارَ ولا نرى الْ

فَرارَ لِمَنْ يرجُو العَوَاقبَ يَنْفَعُ

فَرارَ لِمَنْ يرجُو العَوَاقبَ يَنْفَعُ

But we loathe flight, and do not think

But we hate flight, and do not believe

that flight profits one who hopes for the outcome.

flight benefits anyone who hopes for good outcomes.

جِلادٌ على رَيْبِ الحَوَادِثِ لا تَرَى

جِلادٌ على رَيْبِ الحَوَادِثِ لا تَرَى

عَلَى هَالِكٍ عَيْناً لَنَا الدّهرَ تَدْمَعُ

عَلَى هَالِكٍ عَيْناً لَنَا الدّهرَ تَدْمَعُ

Staunch in the face of fortune’s uncertainties—you will never see

Hardy against fate's uncertainties, you will never see

an eye of ours weeping forever over one who perished.

an eye of ours weep over one who perishes, through all time.

بَنُو الحربِ لا نَعيَا بِشَيء نَقُولُهُ

بَنُو الحربِ لا نَعيَا بِشَيء نَقُولُهُ

ولا نَحْنُ مِمّا جَرَّتِ الحَرْبُ نجزَعُ

ولا نَحْنُ مِمّا جَرَّتِ الحَرْبُ نجزَعُ

Sons of war, we are never at a loss for what we say,

Sons of war, we do not falter in anything we say,

nor do we panic at what war has brought.

nor do we panic at what war has brought.

بَنُو الحَرْبِ إنْ نظفرْ فَلَسْنَا بفُحَّشِ

بَنُو الحَرْبِ إنْ نظفرْ فَلَسْنَا بفُحَّشِ

ولا نَحْنُ مِمّا جَرَّتِ الحَرْبُ نجزَعُ

ولا نَحْنُ مِمّا جَرَّتِ الحَرْبُ نجزَعُ

Sons of war: if we triumph, we are not wanton,

Sons of war: if we prevail, we are not abusive,

nor do we panic at what war has brought.

nor do we panic at what war has brought.

بَنُو الحَرْبِ إنْ نظفرْ فَلَسْنَا بفُحَّشِ

بَنُو الحَرْبِ إنْ نظفرْ فَلَسْنَا بفُحَّشِ

ولا نَحْنُ مِنْ أَظْفَارِهَا نَتَوَجَّعُ

ولا نَحْنُ مِنْ أَظْفَارِهَا نَتَوَجَّعُ

Sons of war: if we triumph, we are not wanton,

Sons of war: if we prevail, we are not abusive,

nor do we wince beneath its claws.

nor do we complain of pain from its claws.

وكنّا شِهَاباً يتّقي النّاسُ حَرَّهُ

وكنّا شِهَاباً يتّقي النّاسُ حَرَّهُ

ويَفرُجُ عَنْهُ من يَليهِ يُسْفَعُ

ويَفرُجُ عَنْهُ من يَليهِ يُسْفَعُ

We were a shooting star whose heat men guarded against,

We were a firebrand whose heat people avoided,

and whoever stood near it drew away, scorched.

and whoever came near drew away from it, singed.

فَخَرْتَ عليَّ ابنَ الزّبَعْري قد سَرَى

فَخَرْتَ عليَّ ابنَ الزّبَعْري قد سَرَى

لَكُمْ طَلَبٌ من آخرِ اللّيلِ مُتْبعُ

لَكُمْ طَلَبٌ من آخرِ اللّيلِ مُتْبعُ

You boasted against me, Ibn al-Zibaʿrā—yet

You boasted over me, Ibn al-Zibaʿra; already there had set out

a pursuing quest came upon you in the last watch of night.

a relentless pursuit of you in the last hours of night.

فَسَلْ عَنْكَ في عُلْيَا مَعَدٍّ وغيرهَا

فَسَلْ عَنْكَ في عُلْيَا مَعَدٍّ وغيرهَا

من النّاسِ مَنْ أخزى مُقَاماً وأشنعُ

من النّاسِ مَنْ أخزى مُقَاماً وأشنعُ

Ask, then, among the nobility of Maʿadd and all others:

So ask about yourself among the noblest of Maʿadd and others

who among men stood in the most shameful, ugliest plight?

of mankind: whose stand was more disgraceful and shameful?

وَمَنْ هُو لَمْ تَتْرُكْ لَهُ الحَرْبُ مَفْخَراً

وَمَنْ هُو لَمْ تَتْرُكْ لَهُ الحَرْبُ مَفْخَراً

وَمَنْ خدُّهُ يومَ الكَرِيهَةِ أضرعُ

وَمَنْ خدُّهُ يومَ الكَرِيهَةِ أضرعُ

Who was it whom war left no glory,

And who is it to whom war left no cause for pride,

and whose cheek was most abased on the day of battle?

and whose cheek is more humbled on the day of battle?

شَدَدْنَا بِحَوْلِ اللهِ والنّصْرِ شَدَّةً

شَدَدْنَا بِحَوْلِ اللهِ والنّصْرِ شَدَّةً

عَلَيْكُمْ وأطرافُ الأَسِنَّةِ شُرَّعُ

عَلَيْكُمْ وأطرافُ الأَسِنَّةِ شُرَّعُ

We charged, by God’s might and victory, a charge

By God's might and aid we launched a charge

against you, with spearheads leveled.

against you, with spearhead points leveled.

تَكُرُّ القَنَا فيكُمْ كأنَّ فُروغَهَا

تَكُرُّ القَنَا فيكُمْ كأنَّ فُروغَهَا

عَزالْ مَزَادٍ ماؤُهَا يَتَهزَّعُ

عَزالْ مَزَادٍ ماؤُهَا يَتَهزَّعُ

The lances wheeled among you, their gushes as though

The spears strike you repeatedly, as though the openings they make

spouts of waterskins whose water bursts and spills.

were waterskin spouts, their water spurting out.

عَمَدْنَا إلى أهْلِ اللّواءِ وَمَنْ يَطِرْ

عَمَدْنَا إلى أهْلِ اللّواءِ وَمَنْ يَطِرْ

بِذِكْرِ اللّواءِ فهوَ في الحَمْدِ أسْرَعُ

بِذِكْرِ اللّواءِ فهوَ في الحَمْدِ أسْرَعُ

We made for the bearers of the banner; whoever soars

We made for the banner-bearers; whoever soars

through mention of the banner is swiftest into praise.

through the banner's renown is swiftest to earn praise.

فَخَانُوا وَقَدْ أَعْطُوا يداً وَتَخَاذَلُوا

فَخَانُوا وَقَدْ أَعْطُوا يداً وَتَخَاذَلُوا

أبى اللهُ إلاّ أمرَهُ وَهْوَ أصْنعُ

أبى اللهُ إلاّ أمرَهُ وَهْوَ أصْنعُ

They betrayed, though they had pledged their hand, and failed one another;

So they broke faith, though they had given their hand, and deserted one another;

God willed none but His command—and He is surest in bringing it to pass.

God would have nothing but His decree; He is the most skillful.