ياO أَيُّهَاyou (vocative) ذَاthis الوَطَنُthe homeland الْمُفَدَّىworthy of sacrifice
يا أَيُّهَا ذَا الوَطَنُ الْمُفَدَّى
تَلَقَّreceive بِشْراًgladness وَتَمَلَّand savor fully السَّعْدَاgood fortune
تَلَقَّ بِشْراً وَتَمَلَّ السَّعْدَا
O you, homeland worthy of sacrifice,
O you of the redeemed homeland
receive joy, and take your fill of good fortune.
Receive good tidings and enjoy prosperity
لَمْdid not يَرْجِعِreturn العِيدُthe feast مُرِيباًcausing suspicion إِنَّماrather
لَمْ يَرْجِعِ العِيدُ مُرِيباً إِنَّما
أَرَابَaroused suspicion قَوْمٌsome people مِنْكَfrom you ضَلُّواthey strayed from الْقَصْدَاthe right course
أَرَابَ قَوْمٌ مِنْكَ ضَلُّوا الْقَصْدَا
The feast has not returned with cause for doubt; rather,
The feast has not returned deceitful, but
some of your people have aroused suspicion, straying from the right path.
A group of you went astray from the right path
يَاO عِيدُfeast ذَكِّرْremind مَنْwhoever تَنَاسَىfeigned forgetfulness أَنَّنَاthat we
يَا عِيدُ ذَكِّرْ مَنْ تَنَاسَى أَنَّنَا
لَمْnot نكُwe were مِنْamong آبِقَةِrunaways العِبِدَّىthe slaves
لَمْ نكُ مِنْ آبِقَةِ العِبِدَّى
O feast, remind those who feign forgetfulness that we
O feast, remind those who have forgotten that we
were never among runaway slaves.
Were not part of the fleeing slaves
كُنَاwe were عَلَىdespite الأَصْفَادِthe fetters أَحْرَارَاًfree سِوَىexcept
كُنَا عَلَى الأَصْفَادِ أَحْرَارَاً سِوَى
أَنَّthat الرَّزَايَاcalamities أَلْزَمَتْنَاforced us to حَدَّاa limit
أَنَّ الرَّزَايَا أَلْزَمَتْنَا حَدَّا
Though shackled, we were free, except
We were free despite the shackles
that calamities confined us within bounds.
Except that troubles have restricted us
كُنَّاwe were نَجِيشُwe seethed مِنْfrom وَرَاءِbehind عَجْزِنَاour helplessness
كُنَّا نَجِيشُ مِنْ وَرَاءِ عَجْزِنَا
كَمُتَوَالِيlike a steady flow of الْمَاءِwater لاقَىmet سَدَّاa dam
كَمُتَوَالِي الْمَاءِ لاقَى سَدَّا
We seethed behind our helplessness,
We used to surge from behind our incapacity
like a steady flow of water meeting a dam,
Like successive waters meeting a dam
حَتَّىuntil تَدَفَّقْنَاwe surged forth إِلىtoward غَايَتِنَاour goal
حَتَّى تَدَفَّقْنَا إِلى غَايَتِنَا
تَدَفُّقَthe rushing of الأَتِيِّthe torrent أَوْor أَشَدَّاmore fiercely
تَدَفُّقَ الأَتِيِّ أَوْ أَشَدَّا
until we burst forth toward our goal,
Until we surged to our goal
with the rush of a torrent, or fiercer still.
With the surge of the coming flood or stronger
وَكُلُّand every شَعْبٍpeople كَاسرٍbreaking قيُودَهُits chains
وَكُلُّ شَعْبٍ كَاسرٍ قيُودَهُ
بِالْحَقِّrightfully مَاnot اعْتَدَىcommitted aggression وَلاَnor تَعَدَّىoverstepped
بِالْحَقِّ مَا اعْتَدَى وَلاَ تَعَدَّى
And every people breaking its chains
And every people breaking its chains
by right commits no aggression or transgression.
Rightfully did not transgress or exceed limits
فَلَمso not نَكُنْwe were إِلاَّexcept كِرَاماًnoble people ظُلِمُواwere wronged
فَلَم نَكُنْ إِلاَّ كِرَاماً ظُلِمُوا
فَاسْتَنْصَفُواand so sought redress وَلَمْand not نَطِشwe acted recklessly فَنَرْدَىand so perish
فَاسْتَنْصَفُوا وَلَمْ نَطِش فَنَرْدَى
We were nothing but noble people wronged,
We were only honorable people who were wronged
who sought redress; we did not act rashly and so perish.
So they sought justice and we did not oppress in retaliation
إِنِّيindeed I أُحِسُّfeel فِيin الصُّدُورِthe breasts حَرَجاًanguish
إِنِّي أُحِسُّ فِي الصُّدُورِ حَرَجاً
يُقِيمُهَاmakes them rise وَفِيand in الزَّفِيرِexhalation صَهْداscorching heat
يُقِيمُهَا وَفِي الزَّفِيرِ صَهْدا
I feel anguish within people's breasts,
I feel discomfort in the chests
that sets them heaving, and scorching heat in their sighs.
That makes them rigid and sighing
إِيَّاكُمُbeware, you all الْفِتْنَةَdiscord فَهْيَfor it لَوْif فَشَتْspread
إِيَّاكُمُ الْفِتْنَةَ فَهْيَ لَوْ فَشَتْ
فِيin أَجَمَاتِthickets of الأُسْدِlions تُفْنِيannihilates الأُسْدَاthe lions
فِي أَجَمَاتِ الأُسْدِ تُفْنِي الأُسْدَا
Beware discord: if it spreads
Beware of sedition for if it spreads
through the lions' thickets, it destroys the lions.
Among the lairs of lions, it destroys the lions
أَماdid ... not? رَأَيْتُمْyou see صَدَأَrust السَّيْفِthe sword وَقَدْand already
أَما رَأَيْتُمْ صَدَأَ السَّيْفِ وَقَدْ
غَالَravaged الفِرِنْدَthe blade's luster ثُمَّthen نَالَreached الْغِمْداthe sheath
غَالَ الفِرِنْدَ ثُمَّ نَالَ الْغِمْدا
Have you not seen rust upon a sword, how it
Have you not seen the rust of a sword when
ravaged the blade's luster, then reached its sheath?
The scabbard is expensive but takes the sheath
فَلاَso do not تَفَرَقُّواsplit apart وَلاَand do not تنازَعُواquarrel
فَلاَ تَفَرَقُّوا وَلاَ تنازَعُوا
أَعدَاؤُناour enemies شُوسٌfierce-eyed وَلَيسُواand they are not رُمْداsore-eyed
أَعدَاؤُنا شُوسٌ وَلَيسُوا رُمْدا
So do not split apart or quarrel:
So do not divide or dispute
our enemies are fierce-eyed, not bleary-eyed.
Our enemies are watchful, not sleepy
أَخَافُI fear أَنْthat نُمْكِنَكُمwe give you power مِنَّاover us بِمَاthrough what
أَخَافُ أَنْ نُمْكِنَكُم مِنَّا بِمَا
يَقْضِيsecures لَهُمfor them ثَأْراًvengeance وَيشْفِيand soothes حِقْدَاrancor
يَقْضِي لَهُم ثَأْراً وَيشْفِي حِقْدَا
I fear we may put ourselves in your power through what
I fear that we give them from us what
wins them vengeance and soothes their rancor,
Would avenge them and heal their hatred
أَوْor أَنْthat نُقِيمَwe establish حُجَجاًarguments دَوَامِغاًcrushing
أَوْ أَنْ نُقِيمَ حُجَجاً دَوَامِغاً
لَهُمْfor them عَلَيْنَاagainst us فَنَجِيءَand so we commit إِدَّاa monstrous deed
لَهُمْ عَلَيْنَا فَنَجِيءَ إِدَّا
or furnish crushing arguments
Or that we provide them lasting arguments against us
for them against us, and thus commit a monstrous deed.
So we bring permanent destruction
قَدْindeed زَعَمُواthey claimed الشُّورَىconsultation لَنَاfor us مَفْسَدَةًa source of corruption
قَدْ زَعَمُوا الشُّورَى لَنَا مَفْسَدَةً
عَلَىdespite صَلاَحِهَاits soundness أَقَالُواdid they speak? جدَّاin earnest
عَلَى صَلاَحِهَا أَقَالُوا جدَّا
They have claimed that consultation corrupts us,
The advocates of monopoly, if you do not stop
despite its soundness—did they speak in earnest?
And watch out, miserable will be the outcome
وَهَلْand did? أَزَلْنَاwe remove مُسْتَبِداًa tyrant واحِداًone
وَهَلْ أَزَلْنَا مُسْتَبِداً واحِداً
عَنَّاfrom us كَدَعْوَاهُمْas they claim لِنَسْتَبِدَّاso we may rule despotically
عَنَّا كَدَعْوَاهُمْ لِنَسْتَبِدَّا
And did we remove a single tyrant
With the sincerity of consultation we all advise
from over us, as they claim, to become tyrants ourselves?
For if we doubted, it would deliberately kill us
دُعاةَadvocates الاسْتِئْثَارِexclusive possession of power إِنْif لَمْnot تَنْتَهُواyou desist
دُعاةَ الاسْتِئْثَارِ إِنْ لَمْ تَنْتَهُوا
وَتَرْعَوُواand heed reason سَاءَbecame evil المَصِيرُthe outcome جِداًvery
وَتَرْعَوُوا سَاءَ المَصِيرُ جِداً
Advocates of exclusive power, if you do not desist
In every people, its ethnicities multiplied
and come to your senses, the outcome will be dire indeed.
Nothing like justice preserves the bond
بِصِحَّةِthrough the soundness of الشُّورىconsultation نَصِحُّwe thrive كُلُّنَاall of us
بِصِحَّةِ الشُّورى نَصِحُّ كُلُّنَا
فَإِنْbut if أَرَبْنَاwe arouse suspicion قَتَلَتْنَاit kills us عَمْدَاdeliberately
فَإِنْ أَرَبْنَا قَتَلَتْنَا عَمْدَا
Through sound consultation we all prosper;
Share in ruling and choose for it
but if we arouse suspicion, it will kill us deliberately.
The best of every doctrine that can be accepted
فِيin كُلِّevery شَعْبٍpeople كَثُرَتْbecame many أَجْنَاسُهُits races
فِي كُلِّ شَعْبٍ كَثُرَتْ أَجْنَاسُهُ
لاَno شَيْءَthing كَالْقِسْطِlike justice يَصُونُsafeguards العِقْدَthe necklace
لاَ شَيْءَ كَالْقِسْطِ يَصُونُ العِقْدَ
In every people made up of many races,
For the insightful might see in it readiness
nothing safeguards the necklace like justice.
That the far-sighted do not see from afar
تَشَارَكُواshare together فِيin الْحُكْمِgoverning وَاخْتَارُواand choose لَهُfor it
تَشَارَكُوا فِي الْحُكْمِ وَاخْتَارُوا لَهُ
خِيَارَthe best of كُلِّevery مِلَّةٍcreed يَستَدَّاit may be set right
خِيَارَ كُلِّ مِلَّةٍ يَستَدَّا
Share in governing, and choose for it
The lamp that accompanied it
the best of every creed, so it may be sound.
Is more radiant than the star, more well-guided
فَقَدْfor indeed يَرَىmay see الْبَصِيرُthe discerning person مِنْهَاfrom among them كَثَبَاnearby
فَقَدْ يَرَى الْبَصِيرُ مِنْهَا كَثَبَا
مضاwhat (apparently intended) لاَnot يَرَاهُsee it الاَبْصَرُونَthose with keener sight بُعْدَاfrom afar
مضا لاَ يَرَاهُ الاَبْصَرُونَ بُعْدَا
For a discerning man among them may see close at hand
Cooperate to rise high for if you conflict
what keener eyes cannot see from afar.
Over debris you will not achieve glory
إِنَّindeed السِّرَاجَthe lamp الَّذِيwhich جَاوَرَهُstands beside him
إِنَّ السِّرَاجَ الَّذِي جَاوَرَهُ
أَجْلَىclearer مِنَthan النَّجْمِthe star سَنىًin radiance وَأهْدَىand a surer guide
أَجْلَى مِنَ النَّجْمِ سَنىً وَأهْدَى
For the lamp beside him
The most precious inheritance in your hands so take care of it
shines more clearly than a star, and guides more surely.
He who estimated provision avoided loss
تَعَاوَنُواcooperate تَرْقَوْاyou will rise فَإِنْbut if تَنَافَرُواyou fall out
تَعَاوَنُوا تَرْقَوْا فَإِنْ تَنَافَرُوا
عَلَىover الحُطَامِworldly scraps لَمْnot تَصِيبُواyou attain مَجْدَاglory
عَلَى الحُطَامِ لَمْ تَصِيبُوا مَجْدَا
Help one another and rise; but if you fall out
Our state, our state, we mention it
over worldly scraps, you will attain no glory.
With souls that bleed for it passionately
أَغْلَىthe dearest تُرَاثٍinheritance فِيin يَدَيْكُمْyour hands فَاحْرِصُواso guard it
أَغْلَى تُرَاثٍ فِي يَدَيْكُمْ فَاحْرِصُوا
مِنْwhoever قَدَّرَvalued الذُّخَرstored treasures تَفَادَىavoided الفَقْدَاloss
مِنْ قَدَّرَ الذُّخَر تَفَادَى الفَقْدَا
The dearest inheritance is in your hands: guard it;
Mother who gives birth, who buys with wealth and hearts are redeemed
whoever values treasures takes care to avert their loss.
I fear orphanhood upon it, for I see
دَوْلَتُنَاour state دَوْلَتُنَاour state نَذْكُرُهَاwe remember her
دَوْلَتُنَا دَوْلَتُنَا نَذْكُرُهَا
بِأَنْفُسٍwith souls تَدْمَىbleed عَلَيْهَاfor her وَجْدَاin longing
بِأَنْفُسٍ تَدْمَى عَلَيْهَا وَجْدَا
Our state, our state—we remember her
The matter of orphanhood is sweeter than flowers
with souls that bleed for her in longing.
And you, my nation, I want you
أَلْحُرَّةُthe free woman المُنْجِبَةُbearing noble children الأُمُّthe mother الَّتِيwho
أَلْحُرَّةُ المُنْجِبَةُ الأُمُّ الَّتِي
بِالْمَالِwith wealth تُشْرَىis bought وَالْقُلُوبِand with hearts تُفْدَىis ransomed
بِالْمَالِ تُشْرَى وَالْقُلُوبِ تُفْدَى
The free mother, bearer of noble children, who
In my hope, wise and right-guided
is bought with wealth and ransomed with hearts.
My nation, through knowledge you rise high
إِخْشَوْاfear عَلَيْنَاfor us الْيُتْمَorphanhood مِنْهَاfrom losing her فَلَقَدْfor indeed
إِخْشَوْا عَلَيْنَا الْيُتْمَ مِنْهَا فَلَقَدْ
أَرَىI find أَمَرَّthe bitterest اليُتْمِorphanhood أَحْلَىsweeter وِرْدَاas a draught
أَرَى أَمَرَّ اليُتْمِ أَحْلَى وِرْدَا
Fear for us the orphanhood of losing her; for
And gain esteem and praise
I find the bitterest orphanhood a sweeter draught.
And through harmony you possess your command
وَأَنْتُمُand you يَاO أُمَّتِيmy nation أُرِيدُكُمْI want you
وَأَنْتُمُ يَا أُمَّتِي أُرِيدُكُمْ
عِنْدَat the level of رَجَائِيmy hopes حِكْمَةًin wisdom وَرُشْدَاand sound judgment
عِنْدَ رَجَائِي حِكْمَةً وَرُشْدَا
And you, my nation, I would have you
And gain a serene, comfortable living
meet my hopes with wisdom and sound judgment.
So whoever differs, be patient with him, he
يَاO أُمَّتِيmy nation بِالعِلْمِthrough knowledge تَرْقَوْنَyou ascend الْعُلَىthe heights
يَا أُمَّتِي بِالعِلْمِ تَرْقَوْنَ الْعُلَى
وَتَكْسِبُونَand you gain رِفْعَةًdistinction وَحَمْدَاand praise
وَتَكْسِبُونَ رِفْعَةً وَحَمْدَا
My nation, through knowledge you ascend the heights
Is bound to return, no doubt
and gain distinction and praise.
Is he not repentant to his life
وَبِالْوِفَاقِand through concord تَمْلِكُونَyou control أَمْرَكُمْyour affairs
وَبِالْوِفَاقِ تَمْلِكُونَ أَمْرَكُمْ
وَتَغْنَمُونَand you gain الْعَيْشَlife طَلْقَاًunfettered رَغْدَاabundant
وَتَغْنَمُونَ الْعَيْشَ طَلْقَاً رَغْدَا
Through concord you command your own affairs
Who glimpses misfortune that insisted
and win a life of freedom and plenty.
If a brother strays, gently reproach
فَمَنْso whoever يُخَالِفْdissents صَابِرُوهُbear patiently with him إِنَّهُindeed he
فَمَنْ يُخَالِفْ صَابِرُوهُ إِنَّهُ
لَذَاهِبٌwill surely depart فَرَاجِعٌthen will return لاَno بُدَّاescape
لَذَاهِبٌ فَرَاجِعٌ لاَ بُدَّا
Whoever dissents, bear with him patiently: he
Until his prohibition returns him back
will depart, then return, inevitably.
When will I see the easterner as one thing
أَلَيْسَis he not? تَائِباًturning back إِلىto حَيَاتِهِhis life
أَلَيْسَ تَائِباً إِلى حَيَاتِهِ
مَنْwhoever لَمَحَglimpsed الخَطْبَdanger بِهَاin it قَدْalready جَدَّاgrew grave
مَنْ لَمَحَ الخَطْبَ بِهَا قَدْ جَدَّا
Does he not turn back toward his life,
As I see the westerner as individual
who sees the danger to it turn grave?
When will we be a nation that agrees
فَإِنْso if غَوَىwent astray أَخُْوa possessor of نُهىًreason فَمُهْلَةًthen a respite
فَإِنْ غَوَى أَخُْو نُهىً فَمُهْلَةً
حَتَّىuntil يَرُدَّهُbrings him back نُهَاهُhis reason رَدَّاdecisively
حَتَّى يَرُدَّهُ نُهَاهُ رَدَّا
If a man of reason strays, grant him time
Without boredom, firmly holding on
until his reason brings him firmly back.
How many nations before us united
مَتَىwhen أَرَىshall I see الشَّرْقِيَّthe Easterner شَيْئاًa thing وَاحِداًone
مَتَى أَرَى الشَّرْقِيَّ شَيْئاً وَاحِداً
كَمَاjust as أَرَىI see الغَرْبِيَّthe Westerner شَيْئاًa thing فَرْدَاsingle
كَمَا أَرَى الغَرْبِيَّ شَيْئاً فَرْدَا
When shall I see the Eastern people as one,
And accomplished through it esteemed status
as I see the Western people a single whole?
Its children stood around it like pillars
مَتَىwhen أَرَانَاshall I see us أُمَّةًa nation تَوَافَقَتْin accord
مَتَى أَرَانَا أُمَّةً تَوَافَقَتْ
لاnot مِلَلاًsects مُمْتَسِكَاتٍclinging شَدَّاtightly
لا مِلَلاً مُمْتَسِكَاتٍ شَدَّا
When shall I see us a nation in accord,
So they spread its portico extending
not sects, each clinging fast?
It strove toward its goal with intention
كَمْhow many سَبَقَتْنَاoutstripped us أُمَّةٌa nation فَاتَّحَدَتْand so united
كَمْ سَبَقَتْنَا أُمَّةٌ فَاتَّحَدَتْ
وَأَدْركَتْand attained شَأْناًa stature بِهِby it مُعْتَدَّاreckoned highly
وَأَدْركَتْ شَأْناً بِهِ مُعْتَدَّا
How many a nation has outstripped us and united,
Of insistence, until it attained its purpose
and attained a stature to be reckoned with!
By your life, this is a tradition
قَامَstood بَنُوهَاits sons كَالعِمَادِlike tent poles حَوْلَهَاaround it
قَامَ بَنُوهَا كَالعِمَادِ حَوْلَهَا
فَبَسَطُواand so spread رُوَاقَهَاits canopy مُمْتَدَّاoutstretched
فَبَسَطُوا رُوَاقَهَا مُمْتَدَّا
Its sons stood around it like tent poles,
By which past nations were saved when they united
and spread its canopy far and wide.
So that our eagerness for survival would refuse
سَعَتْit strove إِلَىtoward غَايَتِهَاits goal قَصْداًpurposefully عَلىwith
سَعَتْ إِلَى غَايَتِهَا قَصْداً عَلى
تَثَبُّتٍdeliberation فَبَلَغَتْهَاand so reached it قَصْدَاdirectly
تَثَبُّتٍ فَبَلَغَتْهَا قَصْدَا
It strove toward its goal purposefully and with
That a condition comes upon us and we can't help
deliberation, and reached it by a straight course.
Like the remaining ruins upon its structures
بِلْكَthat (apparently intended) لَعَمْرِيby my life سُنَّةٌan established way نَجَاsurvived بِهاthrough it
بِلْكَ لَعَمْرِي سُنَّةٌ نَجَا بِها
مِنْfrom قَبْلُbefore أَقْوَامٌأَنَتَحَدَّىpeoples; shall we defy?
مِنْ قَبْلُ أَقْوَامٌأَنَتَحَدَّى
That, by my life, is a way by which
Neither inhabited nor furnished
peoples survived before—shall we defy it?
I composed my advice out of love for you
لِيَأْبَlet ... refuse حِرْصُنَاour eagerness عَلَىfor البَقَاءِsurvival أَنْthat
لِيَأْبَ حِرْصُنَا عَلَى البَقَاءِ أَنْ
جَدَّتْarose anew بِنَاfor us حَالٌa circumstance وَلاand not نَجِدَّاwe strive
جَدَّتْ بِنَا حَالٌ وَلا نَجِدَّا
Let our zeal for survival forbid that
And had I scattered it, it would not increase love
new circumstances arise for us while we fail to strive,
Its expressions are dewy with my tears
كَالطَّلَلِlike a ruin الْبَاقِيremaining عَلَىin إِقْوَائِهِits desolation
كَالطَّلَلِ الْبَاقِي عَلَى إِقْوَائِهِ
لاneither عَامِراًinhabited يُلْفَىfound وَلاnor منْهَدَّاcollapsed
لا عَامِراً يُلْفَى وَلا منْهَدَّا
like a ruin remaining in its desolation,
Over the rough and meanings more succulent
found neither inhabited nor collapsed.
I sent it with the conscience as it came
نَصِيحَتِيmy counsel نَظَمْتُهَاI versified it وَدَّاًout of love لَكُمْfor you
نَصِيحَتِي نَظَمْتُهَا وَدَّاً لَكُمْ
وَلَوْand even if نَثَرْتُI wrote prose لَمْnot أَزِدْهَاI added to it وُدَّاlove
وَلَوْ نَثَرْتُ لَمْ أَزِدْهَا وُدَّا
I cast my counsel into verse out of love for you;
And I did not strain myself in it out of effort
had I written prose, I could have added no more love.
I care about my homeland, I'm most truthful to it
أَلْفَاظُهَاits words نَدِيَّةٌmoist بِأَدْمُعِيwith my tears
أَلْفَاظُهَا نَدِيَّةٌ بِأَدْمُعِي
عَلَىdespite التَّلَظِّيthe blazing وَالْمَعَانيand the meanings أَنْدَىmoister
عَلَى التَّلَظِّي وَالْمَعَاني أَنْدَى
Its words are moist with my tears,
And I don't care about detractors' criticism
despite the blaze; its meanings are moister still.
أَرْسَلْتُهَاI sent it مَعَwith الضَّمِيرِthe conscience مِثْلَمَاjust as
أَرْسَلْتُهَا مَعَ الضَّمِيرِ مِثْلَمَا
جَاءَتْit came وَمَاand not أَفْرَغَتُI poured فِيهَاinto it تجُهْدَاeffort (apparently intended)
جَاءَتْ وَمَا أَفْرَغَتُ فِيهَا تجُهْدَا
I sent it forth with my conscience, just as
it came, and I poured no labor into it.
إِنِّيindeed I أُبَالِيcare for وَطَنِيmy homeland أَصْدُقُهُI tell it the truth
إِنِّي أُبَالِي وَطَنِي أَصْدُقُهُ
وَمَاand not أُبَالِيI care لِلْوُشَاةِfrom the slanderers نَقْدَاcriticism
وَمَا أُبَالِي لِلْوُشَاةِ نَقْدَا
I care for my homeland, and tell it the truth;
and I heed no criticism from slanderers.
Partial English translation: 85 of 90 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1