بمحمد صلوا عليه وسلموا

بمحمد صلوا عليه وسلموا

قد أشرق الكون البهيم المظلم

قد أشرق الكون البهيم المظلم

Through Muhammad—invoke blessings upon him and peace—

Pray upon Muhammad and greet him,

the pitch-black, darkened universe has shone.

The darkened universe shone bright.

ليل عليه الشرك مَدَّ رواقه

ليل عليه الشرك مَدَّ رواقه

فهوت به شُهُبٌ وخرت أَنجم

فهوت به شُهُبٌ وخرت أَنجم

A night over which idolatry had spread its canopy:

The night of polytheism spread its halls,

then meteors plunged through it and stars fell.

Shooting stars fell and stars collapsed.

هي كالنِّثار من الملائك للورى

هي كالنِّثار من الملائك للورى

فرحا به ولكل عات ترجم

فرحا به ولكل عات ترجم

They were like festive gifts scattered by angels for humankind,

They are like angels' sprinkling upon the earth,

in joy at him, and to pelt every rebel.

Rejoicing in him, interpreting for every admonisher.

وتقدمته من الخوارق جملة

وتقدمته من الخوارق جملة

شَدَه القُسوسُ لها وحار القيّم

شَدَه القُسوسُ لها وحار القيّم

A host of miracles preceded him,

And the miracles came forward to him in a group,

leaving the priests stunned and the overseer bewildered.

Testing the minds and confusing the critic.

نور الهدى كالصبح لاح فأُخمِدَت

نور الهدى كالصبح لاح فأُخمِدَت

نارُ المجوس ولم تعد تتضرم

نارُ المجوس ولم تعد تتضرم

The light of guidance shone like dawn, and out went

The light of guidance shone like the dawn, so the Magi's fire was extinguished,

the Magians' fire; it blazed no more.

It no longer flared up.

وتهاوتِ الأصنام من عليائها

وتهاوتِ الأصنام من عليائها

كادت لفرط سقوطها تتحطم

كادت لفرط سقوطها تتحطم

The idols tumbled from their lofty places,

The idols collapsed from their high places,

almost shattering from the sheer force of their fall.

They almost shattered from the intensity of their fall.

وكأنما الارهاص ينطق واعظا

وكأنما الارهاص ينطق واعظا

لو يفهم القولَ الأصمُّ الأبكم

لو يفهم القولَ الأصمُّ الأبكم

As though the prophetic portent spoke admonitions,

It was as if the glimmers spoke preaching,

if only the deaf-mute could understand the words.

If only the deaf mute could understand the saying.

ولدته آمنه أَغرا أَبلجا

ولدته آمنه أَغرا أَبلجا

بشرا بناموس النبوة يختم

بشرا بناموس النبوة يختم

Aminah bore him radiant and bright-faced,

His safe mother gave birth to him, white and pure,

a mortal, sealed with the sacred law of prophethood.

Announcing the seal of prophethood.

وعليه من سيما الكمال مخائل

وعليه من سيما الكمال مخائل

تُجلَى إذا ما شامها المتوسم

تُجلَى إذا ما شامها المتوسم

Upon him were signs of perfection,

And he had the marks of perfection upon him,

revealed whenever a discerning observer beheld them.

Appearing when stared at by the hopeful.

متميز جمع الفضائل كلها

متميز جمع الفضائل كلها

خُلُقَاً وخَلقَاً ذا لذاك متمم

خُلُقَاً وخَلقَاً ذا لذاك متمم

Distinguished, he gathered every virtue,

He combined all virtues,

in character and form, the one completing the other.

Morally and physically - the perfecter of that.

بُعِثَ النبي محمد في فترة

بُعِثَ النبي محمد في فترة

قد ساد فيها كاهن ومنجم

قد ساد فيها كاهن ومنجم

The Prophet Muhammad was sent in an interval between prophets,

The prophet Muhammad was sent in a time,

when soothsayers and astrologers held sway.

When soothsayers and astrologers prevailed.

لم يبق فوق اَلأرض إلا مشرك

لم يبق فوق اَلأرض إلا مشرك

أَو ملحد في تهيه يترجَّم

أَو ملحد في تهيه يترجَّم

None remained upon the earth but an idolater

There was none left on earth but polytheists,

or an atheist conjecturing in his bewilderment.

Or atheists lost in ravings.

وتُنُوسيَ الدينُ الحنيفُ وحرَّف ال

وتُنُوسيَ الدينُ الحنيفُ وحرَّف ال

كتبَ العتيقةَ راهب ومترجم

كتبَ العتيقةَ راهب ومترجم

The upright faith was forgotten, and distorted were the

The pure religion was vulgarised and the

ancient scriptures by a monk and a translator.

Ancient scriptures distorted by monks and translators.

فأَبيحت الحرمات والأرواح وال

فأَبيحت الحرمات والأرواح وال

أعراض إذ لم يبق ثَمَّ محرم

أعراض إذ لم يبق ثَمَّ محرم

So sanctities and lives were made fair game, as was

So violations, lives, and honors were permitted

honor, for nothing there remained forbidden.

When no prohibitor remained.

كسرى يعمُّ على المشارق ظلمه

كسرى يعمُّ على المشارق ظلمه

وهرقل منه في المغارب أظلم

وهرقل منه في المغارب أظلم

Kisra's oppression spread over the eastern lands,

Khosrow's injustice spread over the east,

and Heraclius was more oppressive than he in the western lands.

And Heraclius' was darker in the west.

والناس بين القيصرين كأنهم

والناس بين القيصرين كأنهم

غنم على تلك الذئاب تقسم

غنم على تلك الذئاب تقسم

Between the two emperors, the people were like

The people between the two Caesars were like

sheep divided among those wolves,

Sheep split between those wolves.

حتى تمنى الفرس عودة مُزدّك

حتى تمنى الفرس عودة مُزدّك

وتعوَّذَ البيت العتيق وزمزم

وتعوَّذَ البيت العتيق وزمزم

until the Persians wished for Mazdak's return,

Until the Persians wished for the return of Mazdak,

and the Ancient House and Zamzam sought refuge.

And the Ancient House and Zamzam sought refuge.

وفجاءَةً أَصغى حراءُ لرنة

وفجاءَةً أَصغى حراءُ لرنة

جبريل في أرجائه يتكلم

جبريل في أرجائه يتكلم

Suddenly Hira listened to a ringing sound:

Suddenly, Hira heard the chime,

Gabriel was speaking within its reaches.

Of Gabriel in its corners speaking.

غار غدا لهدى الوجود محارة

غار غدا لهدى الوجود محارة

يتفلّق الاصباح منه ويبسم

يتفلّق الاصباح منه ويبسم

A cave became an oyster-shell for creation's guidance;

The cave became, the next day, a cave of guidance,

from it dawn burst forth and smiled.

Dawn splitting from it, smiling.

في جوفه اضطجع الأمين مفكرا

في جوفه اضطجع الأمين مفكرا

أحقائق أم ما يراه توهم

أحقائق أم ما يراه توهم

Within it the Trustworthy One lay down, pondering:

The Trustworthy One lay inside, pondering -

Were these realities, or was what he saw an illusion?

Were these truths or hallucinations he saw?

فأتى خديجة دثروني زملوا

فأتى خديجة دثروني زملوا

مِن خوفه وهو الشجاع المعلم

مِن خوفه وهو الشجاع المعلم

He came to Khadijah: "Wrap me up! Cover me!"

So he went to Khadija, covering himself

in his fear, though he was renowned for courage.

From fear, though he was the courageous teacher.

وتضاحك القوم الطغاة لقوله

وتضاحك القوم الطغاة لقوله

إني رسول الله جئت إليكم

إني رسول الله جئت إليكم

The tyrannical people laughed at his words:

And the arrogant people laughed at his words,

"I am God's messenger; I have come to you

"I am God's Messenger, I have come to you.

أن لا إله سواه وهو بعرشه

أن لا إله سواه وهو بعرشه

اَلأَوّلُ المتأخر المتقدم

اَلأَوّلُ المتأخر المتقدم

to say there is no god but Him, and He, upon His throne,

That there is no god but Him, and He is on His Throne,

is the First, the One who comes after and comes before.

The First, the Last, the Apparent, the Hidden."

ومحمد هو عبده ورسوله

ومحمد هو عبده ورسوله

قد جاءَه منه الكتاب المحكم

قد جاءَه منه الكتاب المحكم

And Muhammad is His servant and His messenger;

And Muhammad is His slave and messenger,

from Him has come to him the firmly established Book.

The decisive Scripture has come to him from Him.

يا قوم لا تَدعُو إلهاً غيره

يا قوم لا تَدعُو إلهاً غيره

هل تعبدون حجارة لا تفهم

هل تعبدون حجارة لا تفهم

O my people, invoke no god but Him.

"O people, do not worship a god other than Him.

Do you worship stones that cannot understand?

Do you worship stones that do not understand?"

هذا كتاب الله في إعجازه

هذا كتاب الله في إعجازه

لن يأتينَّ بمثله متكلم

لن يأتينَّ بمثله متكلم

This is God's Book; in its inimitability,

This is God's Scripture in its inimitability,

no speaker will ever produce its equal."

No speaker can produce its like."

حارت عقولهم فقالوا إنه

حارت عقولهم فقالوا إنه

شعر بسحر اَلأولين مطلسم

شعر بسحر اَلأولين مطلسم

Their minds were bewildered, so they said, "It is

Their minds were confused, so they said he is

poetry, bewitched with the magic of the ancients."

A poet of ancient magic, spellbound.

قد عاندوه مكابرين وبالغوا

قد عاندوه مكابرين وبالغوا

حيث السفيه من الأكابر أحلم

حيث السفيه من الأكابر أحلم

They opposed him arrogantly and went to extremes,

They obstinately opposed him and went too far,

where a fool was more sensible than their grandees.

Where the foolish one of the elders is more forbearing.

هم كذبوه وعذبوا أتباعه

هم كذبوه وعذبوا أتباعه

فاستعذبوا فيه العذاب وصمموا

فاستعذبوا فيه العذاب وصمموا

They called him a liar and tortured his followers,

They belied him and tortured his followers,

who found sweetness in suffering for his sake and stood resolute.

So they found the torture sweet and insisted.

فتستروا زمنا وقد أخفاهم

فتستروا زمنا وقد أخفاهم

في داره وقت الصلاة الأرقم

في داره وقت الصلاة الأرقم

They kept hidden for a time, sheltered

They hid for a while, and he hid them

in his house at prayer-time by al-Arqam,

In his house at the time of the early prayer.

حتى أتاه اصدع بما تؤمر به

حتى أتاه اصدع بما تؤمر به

فبدوا برغم القوم لم يتكتموا

فبدوا برغم القوم لم يتكتموا

until there came to him: "Proclaim openly what you are commanded."

Until He came to him, "Proclaim what you are commanded",

They emerged despite the people, concealing themselves no longer.

So despite the people, they did not conceal.

لله من أَبناء قيلة معشر

لله من أَبناء قيلة معشر

قد بايعوه على الجهاد وأسلموا

قد بايعوه على الجهاد وأسلموا

Praise be to God for that band of Qaylah's sons,

To God, from the youth of Quraysh, a group

who pledged allegiance to him for jihad and embraced Islam.

Who pledged to him to strive and submit.

في غار ثور ثاني اثنين اختفى

في غار ثور ثاني اثنين اختفى

وكأنما الأعداءُ دونهما عموا

وكأنما الأعداءُ دونهما عموا

In Thawr's cave he hid, the second of two,

In the Cave of Thawr, the second of two hid,

as though the enemies before them both had gone blind.

As if the enemies around them were blind.

هي هجرةٌ بين الضلالة فيصلٌ

هي هجرةٌ بين الضلالة فيصلٌ

والهدي فاتضحَ السبيلُ الأقوم

والهدي فاتضحَ السبيلُ الأقوم

That migration was a dividing line between error

It was an emigration between misguidance, a separator,

and guidance, and the straightest path became clear.

And guidance, so the path became clear.

فبطيبة انبَثَقَ الضيا متألقاً

فبطيبة انبَثَقَ الضيا متألقاً

لمع الخليج به وضاءَ القلزم

لمع الخليج به وضاءَ القلزم

In Taybah the light burst forth radiantly,

In Medina, the light emerged radiantly,

the Gulf gleamed with it, and al-Qulzum shone.

Its bay shone and Qalzam glistened.

وإذا بأركان الضلالة والعمى

وإذا بأركان الضلالة والعمى

بقليب بدر بالمهانة تردم

بقليب بدر بالمهانة تردم

And behold, the pillars of error and blindness

And the pillars of misguidance and blindness

were buried in humiliation in Badr's well.

At Badr were brought down in disgrace.

وتوالت الغزوات حتى أصبحت

وتوالت الغزوات حتى أصبحت

كل الجزيرة للهدى تستسلم

كل الجزيرة للهدى تستسلم

Campaign followed campaign, until

The raids continued until all the peninsula

the whole Peninsula surrendered to guidance.

Submitted to the guidance.

وببرهة عم البسيطة كلها

وببرهة عم البسيطة كلها

دين لأحوال العباد منظم

دين لأحوال العباد منظم

Within a short while, the whole earth was pervaded

And in a moment, the whole plain

by a faith that ordered the affairs of humankind.

Became an organized religion for people's conditions.

صلوا وصوموا وادفعوا صدقاتكم

صلوا وصوموا وادفعوا صدقاتكم

وإليه بالحج المقدس أحرِموا

وإليه بالحج المقدس أحرِموا

Pray, fast, and pay your alms,

"Pray, fast, and give your charity,

and enter the consecrated state for the holy pilgrimage to Him.

And head to the sacred pilgrimage devoted to Him.

صلة العباد بربهم صلواتهم

صلة العباد بربهم صلواتهم

الفرد من مفروضها والتوأم

الفرد من مفروضها والتوأم

The servants' bond with their Lord is their prayers,

The contact of servants with their Lord is their prayers,

the odd and the paired among the obligatory ones.

The individual and the paired.

والصوم فيه صحة وتطوع

والصوم فيه صحة وتطوع

وبه الإرادة بالهوى تتحكم

وبه الإرادة بالهوى تتحكم

In fasting are health and voluntary devotion,

And fasting is health and voluntary,

and through it the will gains mastery over desire.

Through it desire is controlled.

ولو أننا نؤتي الزكاة بحقها

ولو أننا نؤتي الزكاة بحقها

ونصابها لم يبق فينا معدم

ونصابها لم يبق فينا معدم

If only we paid zakat as it is rightly due,

If we were to give the charity in its right,

and at its prescribed threshold, none among us would remain destitute.

No deprived one would remain among us.

والحج مؤتمر التعارف والولا

والحج مؤتمر التعارف والولا

للناس إن جَمَعَ الوفودَ الموسم

للناس إن جَمَعَ الوفودَ الموسم

Pilgrimage is a congress of mutual acquaintance and fellowship

And the pilgrimage is the conference of acquaintance and loyalty,

for people, if the season brings the delegations together.

When the delegations of the season gather."

لا فرق بين أعارب وأعاجم

لا فرق بين أعارب وأعاجم

من يتقي مولاه فهو الأكرم

من يتقي مولاه فهو الأكرم

There is no distinction between Arabs and non-Arabs;

There is no difference between Arab and non-Arab,

whoever fears his Lord is the most honored.

He who fears his Master is the most noble.

والنفس فيما قد جنته رهينة

والنفس فيما قد جنته رهينة

يوم القيامة إذ يجازى المجرم

يوم القيامة إذ يجازى المجرم

The soul is held in pledge for what it has earned,

And the self is hostage to what it has earned,

on Resurrection Day, when the offender is requited.

On Judgement Day when the sinner is punished.

دين يلائم كل شعب في الورى

دين يلائم كل شعب في الورى

وبكل قطر شاسع يتأقلم

وبكل قطر شاسع يتأقلم

A faith suited to every people in the world,

A religion fitting for every people on earth,

adapting to every far-flung land,

Adapting to every vast region.

يدعو إلى أسمى الكمال وأعدل

يدعو إلى أسمى الكمال وأعدل

التشريع لا ظلم ولا متظلم

التشريع لا ظلم ولا متظلم

calling to the loftiest perfection and the fairest

It calls to the highest perfection and most just

legislation—no injustice and no one aggrieved.

Legislation - no injustice or oppressed.

قد جاءَ يأمر بالعبادة والتقى

قد جاءَ يأمر بالعبادة والتقى

من غير رهبنة تميت وتعدم

من غير رهبنة تميت وتعدم

It came enjoining worship and piety,

It came commanding worship and piety,

without monasticism that kills and impoverishes.

Without monasticism that kills and nullifies.

للطيبات محلل يدعو إلى ال

للطيبات محلل يدعو إلى ال

قصد الوسيط وللخبيث محرم

قصد الوسيط وللخبيث محرم

Permitting wholesome things, it calls to the

Permitting normal pleasures, it calls to

moderate middle course, and forbids what is foul.

Moderation - and prohibits the wicked.

تتضاءل الأديان حول سموه

تتضاءل الأديان حول سموه

وبه يسود ولا يساد المسلم

وبه يسود ولا يساد المسلم

Religions dwindle beside its eminence,

Religions dwindle around its loftiness,

and through it the Muslim holds sway and is not ruled over.

And with it prevails, and none prevail over the Muslim.

لكننا خَلَفٌ خلفنا بعدهم

لكننا خَلَفٌ خلفنا بعدهم

ضاع التراث ووارِثُوهُ نُوَّم

ضاع التراث ووارِثُوهُ نُوَّم

But we are a later generation who succeeded them;

But we are a successor that came after them,

the inheritance is lost while its heirs sleep.

The heritage is lost and its inheritors are asleep.

المسلمون حياتهم في دينهم

المسلمون حياتهم في دينهم

ما أمسكوه وويلهم إن أحجموا

ما أمسكوه وويلهم إن أحجموا

The Muslims' life lies in their religion,

The lives of Muslims are in their religion,

so long as they hold it fast; woe to them if they draw back.

What they uphold, and woe to them if they refrain.