أَلنِّيلُthe Nile عَبْدُكَyour slave وَالمِيَاهُand the waters جَوَارِيmaidservants
أَلنِّيلُ عَبْدُكَ وَالمِيَاهُ جَوَارِي
بِاليُمْنِwith good fortune وَالبَرَكَاتِand blessings فِيهِwithin it جَوَارِflowing
بِاليُمْنِ وَالبَرَكَاتِ فِيهِ جَوَارِ
The Nile is your slave, and its waters are maidservants,
Flowing within it with good fortune and blessings.
أَمَّنتَهُyou secured it بِمَعَاقِلٍwith strongholds وَجَوَارِيand warships
أَمَّنتَهُ بِمَعَاقِلٍ وَجَوَارِي
وَجَعَلْتَهُand you made it مُلْكاًa realm عَزِيزَmighty in جِوَارِprotection
وَجَعَلْتَهُ مُلْكاً عَزِيزَ جِوَارِ
You secured it with strongholds and warships,
And made it a realm with mighty protection.
أُنْظُرْbehold سَفَائِنَكَyour ships الَّتِيwhich سَيَّرْتَهَاyou sent sailing
أُنْظُرْ سَفَائِنَكَ الَّتِي سَيَّرْتَهَا
فِيهِupon it كَأَطْوَادٍlike mountains عَلَىon التَّيارِthe current
فِيهِ كَأَطْوَادٍ عَلَى التَّيارِ
Behold your ships, which you sent sailing
Upon it like mountains riding the current.
وَانْظُرْand behold جُنُودَكَyour soldiers فِيin الفَلاَةِthe wilderness تحَمَّلُواthey undertook
وَانْظُرْ جُنُودَكَ فِي الفَلاَةِ تحَمَّلُوا
شَرَّthe worst of العِقَابِpunishment لأُمَّةfor a nation of أَشْرَارِevildoers
شَرَّ العِقَابِ لأُمَّة أَشْرَارِ
And behold your soldiers in the wilderness, who undertook
The harshest punishment of a nation of evildoers.
حَصَرُواthey besieged العَدُوَّthe enemy فَمَاso not وَقَتْهُshielded him حُصُونُهُhis fortresses
حَصَرُوا العَدُوَّ فَمَا وَقَتْهُ حُصُونُهُ
مِنْfrom بَأْسِهِمْtheir might وَكَثَافَةُand the thickness of الأَسْوَارِthe walls
مِنْ بَأْسِهِمْ وَكَثَافَةُ الأَسْوَارِ
They besieged the enemy; his fortresses could not shield him
From their might, nor could the thickness of his walls.
يَفْنَىhe perishes بِمَقْذُوفَاتِهِمْby their projectiles حَرْقاًby burning كَمَاjust as
يَفْنَى بِمَقْذُوفَاتِهِمْ حَرْقاً كَمَا
تَفْنَىperish الفَرَائِسُthe prey وَالسِّباعُand the beasts ضَوَارِravenous
تَفْنَى الفَرَائِسُ وَالسِّباعُ ضَوَارِ
He perishes, burned by their projectiles, just as
Prey perish when the beasts are ravenous.
وَيُدَمِّرُand destroys النَّسافُthe blaster شُمَّthe towering قِلاَعِهِhis citadels
وَيُدَمِّرُ النَّسافُ شُمَّ قِلاَعِهِ
فَيُثِيرُهَاso it sends them flying منْثُورَةًscattered كَغُبارِlike dust
فَيُثِيرُهَا منْثُورَةً كَغُبارِ
And the blaster destroys his towering citadels,
Sending them flying, scattered like dust.
وَيَدُكُّand it crushes مِنْof شُوسِthe fierce ones among الرِّجَالِthe men مَعَاقِلاًstrongholds
وَيَدُكُّ مِنْ شُوسِ الرِّجَالِ مَعَاقِلاً
فَيَظَلُّso remains شَكْلُthe shape of المَوْتِdeath شَكْلَthe shape of دَمَارِdevastation
فَيَظَلُّ شَكْلُ المَوْتِ شَكْلَ دَمَارِ
And crushes the strongholds of fierce warriors,
So death's shape remains the shape of devastation.
مَنْwhoever لَمْnot يُبَدْis annihilated بِالسَّيْفِby the sword مِنْهُمْamong them وَالقَنَاand the spears
مَنْ لَمْ يُبَدْ بِالسَّيْفِ مِنْهُمْ وَالقَنَا
فَهَلاَكُهُthen his doom بِالمَاءِby water أَوْor بِالنَّارِby fire
فَهَلاَكُهُ بِالمَاءِ أَوْ بِالنَّارِ
Whoever among them is not destroyed by sword and spear,
His doom comes by water or by fire.
قوْمٌa people بَغوْاthey transgressed فَجَنَوْاand so they reaped ثِمَارَthe fruits of فَسَادِهِمْtheir corruption
قوْمٌ بَغوْا فَجَنَوْا ثِمَارَ فَسَادِهِمْ
بِالمُوبِقَاتِin ruinous calamities وَتِلْكand those شَرُّthe worst of ثِمَارِfruits
بِالمُوبِقَاتِ وَتِلْك شَرُّ ثِمَارِ
A people who transgressed, then reaped the fruits of their corruption
In ruinous calamities—and those are the worst of fruits.
وَلَوِand if الزَّمَانTime أَرَادَwilled عَادُواthey would return خُضَّعاًsubmissive
وَلَوِ الزَّمَان أَرَادَ عَادُوا خُضَّعاً
لِجَمِيلِto the graciousness of رَأْيِكَyour judgment عَوْدَa return of الاسْتِغْفَارِseeking forgiveness
لِجَمِيلِ رَأْيِكَ عَوْدَ الاسْتِغْفَارِ
Had Time so willed, they would have returned submissively
To your gracious judgment, returning to seek forgiveness.
لَكِنْbut أَبَىit refused لَكَfor you أَنْthat تَفُوزَyou triumph مُسَالِماًpeacefully
لَكِنْ أَبَى لَكَ أَنْ تَفُوزَ مُسَالِماً
وَقَضَتْand decreed بِذلِكَto that effect حِكْمَةُthe wisdom of الأَقْدَارِthe fates
وَقَضَتْ بِذلِكَ حِكْمَةُ الأَقْدَارِ
But it refused to let you triumph peacefully,
And the wisdom of fate decreed it so.
فسَقَيْتَso you gave drink to صَادِئَةَthe rusted ones of النِّصالِthe blades دِمَاءَهُمْtheir blood
فسَقَيْتَ صَادِئَةَ النِّصالِ دِمَاءَهُمْ
وَكَفيْتَand you spared خَيْلَكyour horses دَاءَthe sickness of الاسْتِقْرَارِstanding idle
وَكَفيْتَ خَيْلَك دَاءَ الاسْتِقْرَارِ
So you made the rusted blades drink their blood,
And spared your horses the sickness of standing idle.
بِالأَمْسِyesterday كَانُواthey were دَوْلَةًa state مَعْدُودَةًof consequence
بِالأَمْسِ كَانُوا دَوْلَةً مَعْدُودَةً
وَاليَوْمَand today هُمْthey خَبَرٌa tale مِنَamong الأَخْبَارِthe tales
وَاليَوْمَ هُمْ خَبَرٌ مِنَ الأَخْبَارِ
Yesterday they were a power to be reckoned with;
And today they are but a tale among tales.
بِالأَمْسِyesterday كَانُواthey were سَادَةًmasters وَاليَوْمَand today هُمْthey
بِالأَمْسِ كَانُوا سَادَةً وَاليَوْمَ هُمْ
بَعْضُsome of العَبِيدِthe slaves بِصُورَةِin the guise of الأَحْرَارِfree men
بَعْضُ العَبِيدِ بِصُورَةِ الأَحْرَارِ
Yesterday they were masters, and today they are
Merely slaves in the guise of free men.
بِالأَمْسِyesterday يَمْلِكrules فِيover الرِّقَابِthe necks أَمِيرُهُمْtheir prince
بِالأَمْسِ يَمْلِك فِي الرِّقَابِ أَمِيرُهُمْ
وَاليوْمَand today يَمْلِكُowns نَفْسَهُhimself بِفِرَارِthrough flight
وَاليوْمَ يَمْلِكُ نَفْسَهُ بِفِرَارِ
Yesterday their prince held sway over necks;
And today he owns himself only through flight.
صَغُرُواthey grew small لَدِيْكَto you فَلَمْso not تَسِرْyou marched لِقِتَالِهِمْto fight them
صَغُرُوا لَدِيْكَ فَلَمْ تَسِرْ لِقِتَالِهِمْ
وَهُمُthough they were الكِبَارُthe mighty رَمَيْتَهُمْyou assailed them بِكِبَارِwith mighty men
وَهُمُ الكِبَارُ رَمَيْتَهُمْ بِكِبَارِ
They grew small in your eyes, so you did not march to fight them;
Though they were mighty, you hurled mighty men against them.
وَمضَيْتَand you went on تَمْلِكُholding in your power أَمِيرُهُمْtheir prince مِنْfrom قَبْلمَاbefore
وَمضَيْتَ تَمْلِكُ أَمِيرُهُمْ مِنْ قَبْلمَا
شَبَّflared النَّزَالُbattle وَآذَنُواand they signaled بِبَوَارِof ruin
شَبَّ النَّزَالُ وَآذَنُوا بِبَوَارِ
And you went on, holding their prince in your power, before
Battle flared and they signaled their doom.
تَجْرِيsails بِسَيِّدِwith the lord of مِصْرَEgypt فُلكٌa ship ضَمَّهاenclosed it
تَجْرِي بِسَيِّدِ مِصْرَ فُلكٌ ضَمَّها
فُلكٌa sphere مِنَof الدَّأْمَاءِthe deep sea غَيْرُnot مُدَارِset revolving
فُلكٌ مِنَ الدَّأْمَاءِ غَيْرُ مُدَارِ
A ship carries the lord of Egypt, enclosed within
A sphere of deep water that does not revolve.
سَيَّارَةٌtraveling جُنْحَunder cover of الظَّلاَمِdarkness مُنِيرَةٌshining
سَيَّارَةٌ جُنْحَ الظَّلاَمِ مُنِيرَةٌ
فِيon الأُفقِthe horizon مِثْلَlike الكوْكَبِthe star السَّيَّارِwandering
فِي الأُفقِ مِثْلَ الكوْكَبِ السَّيَّارِ
Traveling under cover of darkness, shining
On the horizon like a wandering star.
أَوْor يَسْتَقِلُّbears بِهِhim مُغَيرٌa lowland rover مُنْجِدٌa highland rover
أَوْ يَسْتَقِلُّ بِهِ مُغَيرٌ مُنْجِدٌ
جَوَّابُa traverser of آفَاقٍhorizons كَبَرْقٍlike lightning وَارِيblazing
جَوَّابُ آفَاقٍ كَبَرْقٍ وَارِي
Or a rover of lowlands and heights bears him,
Traversing horizons like blazing lightning.
تَتَقَذَّفَspurt forth النِّيرَانُfires مِنْهُfrom it كَأَنَّهُas though it were
تَتَقَذَّفَ النِّيرَانُ مِنْهُ كَأَنَّهُ
أَسَدٌa lion مُثَارٌroused فِيin طِلاَبِةِpursuit of ثَارِvengeance
أَسَدٌ مُثَارٌ فِي طِلاَبِةِ ثَارِ
Fires spurt from it, as though it were
A lion roused in pursuit of vengeance.
سِرْtravel كَيْفَas شِئْتَyou wish لَكَfor you القُلُوبُhearts مَنَازِلٌdwellings
سِرْ كَيْفَ شِئْتَ لَكَ القُلُوبُ مَنَازِلٌ
أَنَّىwherever انْتَقَلْتَyou travel فَمِصْرُthen Egypt فِيamong الأَمْصَارِthe cities
أَنَّى انْتَقَلْتَ فَمِصْرُ فِي الأَمْصَارِ
Travel as you wish: hearts are your dwellings;
Wherever you go, Egypt is there among the cities.
واطْوِand traverse المَغَارِبَthe western lands خَافِياًunseen لَوْif أَنَّهَاthat they
واطْوِ المَغَارِبَ خَافِياً لَوْ أَنَّهَا
تُخْفِيconceal عُلاَكَyour eminence مَطَالِعُthe rising places of الأَنْوَارِlights
تُخْفِي عُلاَكَ مَطَالِعُ الأَنْوَارِ
And cross the western lands unseen—if they could
Conceal your eminence, those rising places of light.
وَتَلَقَّand receive فِيin دَارِthe abode of الخِلاَفَةِthe caliphate مُشْرِفاًexalted
وَتَلَقَّ فِي دَارِ الخِلاَفَةِ مُشْرِفاً
مَاwhatever شِئْتَyou wish مِنْof شَرَفٍhonor وَمِنْand of إِكْبَارِreverence
مَا شِئْتَ مِنْ شَرَفٍ وَمِنْ إِكْبَارِ
And receive, exalted in the seat of the caliphate,
Whatever honor and reverence you desire.
وَارْجِعْand return إِلَىto الدَّارِthe home الَّتِيwhich أَوْحشْتَهَاyou left desolate
وَارْجِعْ إِلَى الدَّارِ الَّتِي أَوْحشْتَهَا
عَوْدَlike the return of الرَّبِيعِspring إِلَىto رُبُوعِthe abodes of الدَّارِthe home
عَوْدَ الرَّبِيعِ إِلَى رُبُوعِ الدَّارِ
And return to the home you left desolate,
As spring returns to the home's abodes.
وَاهْنَأْand rejoice بِأَبْهَجِin the happiest مُلْتَقىwelcome مِنْfrom أُمَّةٍa nation
وَاهْنَأْ بِأَبْهَجِ مُلْتَقى مِنْ أُمَّةٍ
تهْوَاكloves you فِيin الإِعْلاَنِopenness وَالإِسْرارِand secrecy
تهْوَاك فِي الإِعْلاَنِ وَالإِسْرارِ
And rejoice in the happiest welcome from a nation
That loves you openly and in secret.
حَلَّتْdwelt in سَرَائِرُهُمْtheir inmost feelings سَوَادَthe blackness of عُيُونِهِمْtheir eyes
حَلَّتْ سَرَائِرُهُمْ سَوَادَ عُيُونِهِمْ
شَوْقاًin longing إِليْكَfor you فَثِرْنَand so they stirred فِيin الأَبْصَارِthe eyes
شَوْقاً إِليْكَ فَثِرْنَ فِي الأَبْصَارِ
Their inmost feelings dwelt in the black of their eyes,
Longing for you, then stirred within their gazes.
أَهْلاًwelcome بِرَبّto the lord of النِّيلِthe Nile وَالوَادِيand the valley بِمَاwith whatever
أَهْلاً بِرَبّ النِّيلِ وَالوَادِي بِمَا
فِيهِis in it مِنَof الأَرْيَافِthe countryside وَالأَقْطَارِand the regions
فِيهِ مِنَ الأَرْيَافِ وَالأَقْطَارِ
Welcome to the lord of the Nile and the valley, with all
Its countryside and regions;
بِالعَازِمِto the resolute one العزمَاتِresolutions وَهيَand they are صَوَادِقٌtrue
بِالعَازِمِ العزمَاتِ وَهيَ صَوَادِقٌ
وَمُعَاقِبِand the punisher of الظُّلمَاتِdarkness بِالأَسْحَارِwith dawns
وَمُعَاقِبِ الظُّلمَاتِ بِالأَسْحَارِ
To him whose firm resolves are true,
And to him who punishes darkness with dawns;
بِالفاتِحِto the conqueror البَانِيthe builder لِمِصْرَfor Egypt مِنَout of العُلَىglory
بِالفاتِحِ البَانِي لِمِصْرَ مِنَ العُلَى
صَرْحاًan edifice يُزَكِّيconfirms شَاهِدَthe testimony of الآثَارِthe monuments
صَرْحاً يُزَكِّي شَاهِدَ الآثَارِ
To the conqueror who builds for Egypt, out of glory,
An edifice that confirms the monuments' testimony;
وَمُعَقِّبand the one who follows up الفَخْرِglory التَّليدِinherited بِطَارِفٍwith newly won glory
وَمُعَقِّب الفَخْرِ التَّليدِ بِطَارِفٍ
لَوْلاَهُbut for it كَادَit almost يَكُونَwould become سُبَّةa disgrace عَارِshame
لَوْلاَهُ كَادَ يَكُونَ سُبَّة عَارِ
And to him who follows inherited glory with newly won glory,
Without which it would almost become a mark of shame.
فَخْرٌglory تَحَوَّلَturned مَهْدُهُits cradle لَحْداًinto a tomb لَهُfor it
فَخْرٌ تَحَوَّلَ مَهْدُهُ لَحْداً لَهُ
زَمَناًfor a time وعادَand became again اليَوْمtoday مَهْدَa cradle of فَخارِglory
زَمَناً وعادَ اليَوْم مَهْدَ فَخارِ
Glory whose cradle had become its tomb
For a time—today it is a cradle of glory again.
Sol 6.1