سَأَلْتَyou asked نَجِيَّتِيmy confidante شَيْئاًsomething يُقَالُto be said
سَأَلْتَ نَجِيَّتِي شَيْئاً يُقَالُ
فَلَمْso not تَأْبَهُshe paid heed وَلَمْand not يُجَبِwas answered السُّؤَالُthe question
فَلَمْ تَأْبَهُ وَلَمْ يُجَبِ السُّؤَالُ
You asked my confidante for something to be said;
You asked my darling something to say
so she paid no heed, and the question went unanswered.
But she did not respond, nor was the question answered
مُخَدَّرَةٌa secluded maiden أَبَتْshe refused لاَnot عَنْout of دَلاَلٍcoyness
مُخَدَّرَةٌ أَبَتْ لاَ عَنْ دَلاَلٍ
وَلَوْand if فَعَلَتْshe had done so لَحَقِّwould be justified لَهَاfor her الدَّلاَلُcoyness
وَلَوْ فَعَلَتْ لَحَقِّ لَهَا الدَّلاَلُ
A secluded maiden, she refused—not out of coyness;
Numbed, she refused, not out of coyness
and had she done so, coyness would have been her right.
And had she done so, she would have rightly done so
وَلَكِنْand yet مَسَّهَاtouched her ضُرٌّan affliction عرَاَنِيbefell me
وَلَكِنْ مَسَّهَا ضُرٌّ عرَاَنِي
فَفِيهَاso in her مِنْfrom تَبَارِيِحيmy torments كَلاَلُweariness
فَفِيهَا مِنْ تَبَارِيِحي كَلاَلُ
But an affliction that befell me touched her too,
But she was hurt by my naked affliction
so she is weary from my torments.
Of which my laments to her are telling
إِذَاwhen مَاemphatic particle الدَّاءُillness أَقْعَدَlays low جِسْمَthe body of حَيٍّa living person
إِذَا مَا الدَّاءُ أَقْعَدَ جِسْمَ حَيٍّ
أَتَنْشَطُcan it stir? رُوحُهُhis spirit وَبِهَاand in it عِقَالُa shackle
أَتَنْشَطُ رُوحُهُ وَبِهَا عِقَالُ
When illness lays low a living person's body,
When an illness makes the body of one alive immobile
can his spirit stir while it too is shackled?
Does their spirit become lively while it has them incapacitated?
عَلَيَّupon me لِصَفْوَةٍto a chosen company نُجُبٍnoble people حُقُوقٌobligations
عَلَيَّ لِصَفْوَةٍ نُجُبٍ حُقُوقٌ
أَنوءُI stagger بِهَاunder them وَأَعْبَاءٌand burdens ثِقَالُheavy
أَنوءُ بِهَا وَأَعْبَاءٌ ثِقَالُ
I have obligations to a chosen company of nobles,
I have, for the elite and the noble, rights
I stagger beneath them, and beneath heavy burdens.
I stoop under, and burdens heavy to bear
لَقُونِيthey received me زَائِراًas a visitor وَلَقُواand they received صَدِيقِيmy friend
لَقُونِي زَائِراً وَلَقُوا صَدِيقِي
بِأُنْسٍwith warmth فَاقَsurpassed مَاwhat كُنْاwe were نَخَالُwe imagined
بِأُنْسٍ فَاقَ مَا كُنْا نَخَالُ
They welcomed me as a visitor, and welcomed my friend,
They found me a visitor, and found my friend
with a warmth surpassing what we had imagined.
With a warmth beyond what we were used to
وَأَولُوْنَاand they bestowed on us القَلاَئدَthe necklaces فِيin حِلاَهَاtheir adornments
وَأَولُوْنَا القَلاَئدَ فِي حِلاَهَا
تَنَافَسَvied الاِرْتِجَالُimprovisation وَالاِحْتِفَالُand careful preparation
تَنَافَسَ الاِرْتِجَالُ وَالاِحْتِفَالُ
And they bestowed necklaces upon us, in whose adornment
And we competed in praising them
improvisation and careful preparation vied.
Improvisation and celebration vied
فَمَاthen what أَنَاI فِيin الوَفَاءِrepaying kindness وَمَاand what رَفِيقِيmy companion
فَمَا أَنَا فِي الوَفَاءِ وَمَا رَفِيقِي
إِذَاwhen مَاemphatic particle أَعْجَزَrendered powerless الشُّكْرَgratitude النَّوَالُthe bounty
إِذَا مَا أَعْجَزَ الشُّكْرَ النَّوَالُ
What can I or my companion do in repayment,
So neither I in loyalty, nor my friend
when their bounty leaves gratitude powerless?
When gratitude fails to reward
قَضَىdischarged مَاwhat اسْطَاعَhe could يُوسُفُYusuf عَنْon behalf of أَخِيهِhis brother
قَضَى مَا اسْطَاعَ يُوسُفُ عَنْ أَخِيهِ
وَنِعْمَand excellent is العَوْنُthe helper يُوسُفُYusuf وَالثِّمَالِand the refuge
وَنِعْمَ العَوْنُ يُوسُفُ وَالثِّمَالِ
Yusuf discharged what he could on his brother's behalf;
Yusuf fulfilled what he could for his brother
and an excellent helper and refuge is Yusuf!
And excellent is Yusuf's support and worth
لَهُhe has بِمَوَدَّةِin affection for السُّودَانِSudan عَهْدٌa covenant
لَهُ بِمَوَدَّةِ السُّودَانِ عَهْدٌ
وَثِيقٌfirm لاَnot تَرِثُّwear thin لَهُits حِبَالُcords
وَثِيقٌ لاَ تَرِثُّ لَهُ حِبَالُ
He has a covenant of affection with Sudan,
He has, with the Sudanese's affection, a pact
a firm one, whose cords never wear thin.
Firm, not corroded by time
تَيَمَّمْنَاwe made for مَرَابِعَهُمْtheir dwelling places فَمَاذَاand what
تَيَمَّمْنَا مَرَابِعَهُمْ فَمَاذَا
جَلاَrevealed فِيهَاtherein لَنَاto us السِّحْرُthe magic الحَلاَلُlawful
جَلاَ فِيهَا لَنَا السِّحْرُ الحَلاَلُ
We made for their dwelling places—what wonders
We toured their dwellings, so what
lawful magic unveiled for us there!
Magic captivated us in them, pure and beautiful?
بِلادa land تَصْطَبِيbeguiles الأَحْلاَمَminds فيهَاtherein
بِلاد تَصْطَبِي الأَحْلاَمَ فيهَا
حَقِيقَتهَاits reality وَيَسْبِيهَاand captivates them الخَيَالُimagination
حَقِيقَتهَا وَيَسْبِيهَا الخَيَالُ
A land where minds are beguiled
A land where dreams in it
by its reality, and held captive by imagination.
Become reality, and imagination captures it
لِمَجْرَىfor the course of نِيلِهَاits Nile وَلضَفَّتَيْهِand for its two banks
لِمَجْرَى نِيلِهَا وَلضَفَّتَيْهِ
جَمَالٌa beauty لاَnot يُبَاهِيهِrivals it جَمَالُa beauty
جَمَالٌ لاَ يُبَاهِيهِ جَمَالُ
The course of its Nile and both its banks
For the course of its Nile and its two banks
have a beauty no other beauty can rival.
A beauty unmatched in splendor
وَلِلْبِيدِand for the deserts السْحِيقَةِfar-flung وَالرَّوَاسِيand the immovable mountains
وَلِلْبِيدِ السْحِيقَةِ وَالرَّوَاسِي
جَلاَلٌa majesty لاَnot يُضَاهِيهِmatches it جَلاَلُa majesty
جَلاَلٌ لاَ يُضَاهِيهِ جَلاَلُ
And its far-flung deserts and immovable mountains
And for its thick palms and meadows
have a majesty no other majesty can match.
A majesty unparalleled in grandeur
وَلَيْسَand there is no كَأَيْكِهَاlike its groves أَيْكٌa grove يُغَنِّيthat sings
وَلَيْسَ كَأَيْكِهَا أَيْكٌ يُغَنِّي
وَلاَnor كَدِحَالِهَاlike its lairs زَأَرَتْroared دِحَالُlairs
وَلاَ كَدِحَالِهَا زَأَرَتْ دِحَالُ
No grove sings like its groves,
And none of its maidens sing like another
nor have lairs roared like its lairs.
Nor roar as unique as its waterfalls
فَإِنْso if يَكُis شَعْبُهَاits people كَرَماًin generosity وَبَأْساًand valor
فَإِنْ يَكُ شَعْبُهَا كَرَماً وَبَأْساً
يُمَثِّلُهاrepresents it فَقَدْthen indeed رَاعَinspired awe المِثَالُthe likeness
يُمَثِّلُها فَقَدْ رَاعَ المِثَالُ
If its people, in generosity and valor,
So if its people represent valor and might
represent it, then the likeness is awe-inspiring.
Then the example has been observed
شَمَائِلُqualities حُلْوَةٌsweet طَابَتْwere delightful وُرُوداًto encounter
شَمَائِلُ حُلْوَةٌ طَابَتْ وُرُوداً
عَلَىthrough مَرِّthe passage of الزِّمَانِtime وَمَاand do not تَزَالُcease
عَلَى مَرِّ الزِّمَانِ وَمَا تَزَالُ
Sweet qualities, delightful to encounter,
Of beautiful traits, roses have thrived
through the passage of time, and still they are.
Despite the bitterness of time, and still thrive
وَإِقْدَامٌand boldness عَلَىin facing الجُلَّىthe gravest ordeal وَعَزْمٌand resolve
وَإِقْدَامٌ عَلَى الجُلَّى وَعَزْمٌ
لَهُit has إِنْif مَسَّهُtouches it الضَّيْمُoppression اشْتِعَالُa blaze
لَهُ إِنْ مَسَّهُ الضَّيْمُ اشْتِعَالُ
And courage to face the gravest trials, and a resolve
And boldness for family, and resolve
that bursts into flame if oppression touches it.
That flames if oppressed
بَنِيO sons of السُّودَانِSudan حَيَّاmay bless اللهGod قَوْماًa people
بَنِي السُّودَانِ حَيَّا الله قَوْماً
بِهِمْin whom هَذِيthese الفَضائِلُvirtues وَالخِصَالُand qualities
بِهِمْ هَذِي الفَضائِلُ وَالخِصَالُ
Sons of Sudan, may God bless a people
O people of Sudan, may God protect a people
in whom these virtues and qualities dwell.
In whom these virtues and merits exist
لَقَدْindeed عَبَرَتْpassed بِكَمْover you مِحَنٌordeals كِبَارٌgreat
لَقَدْ عَبَرَتْ بِكَمْ مِحَنٌ كِبَارٌ
بِهَاamid them أَبْطَالُكُمْyour heroes جَالُواmaneuvered وَصَالواand charged
بِهَا أَبْطَالُكُمْ جَالُوا وَصَالوا
Indeed, mighty ordeals have swept over you;
Many great tribulations your heroes have crossed
amid them your heroes maneuvered and charged.
They roamed and journeyed through them
وَأَعْقَبَهَاand followed them تِرَاكٌa truce لَمْdid not تَذِلُّواyou submitted
وَأَعْقَبَهَا تِرَاكٌ لَمْ تَذِلُّوا
لِحُكْمِto the rule of الدَّهْرtime فِيهِduring it وَلَمْand not تُذَالُواyou were abased
لِحُكْمِ الدَّهْر فِيهِ وَلَمْ تُذَالُوا
And a truce followed them; you did not bow
And periods of respite followed, in which you did not humiliate
to time's rule during it, nor were you abased.
Yourselves to the judges of fate in them, and were not weakened
فَأَمَّاbut as for فِيin الغَدَاةِthe morning وَقَدْand indeed نَهَضْتُمْyou have risen
فَأَمَّا فِي الغَدَاةِ وَقَدْ نَهَضْتُمْ
فَمَاthen there is no مِنْany عَثْرَةٍstumble إِلاَّbut تُقَالُis remedied
فَمَا مِنْ عَثْرَةٍ إِلاَّ تُقَالُ
But in the morning, now that you have risen,
And now as you rise in the morn
there is no stumble that cannot be remedied.
No stumbling block remains but is removed
شَبَابٌyoung men أَذْكِيَاءُintelligent تَلُوحُshine فِيهِمْin them
شَبَابٌ أَذْكِيَاءُ تَلُوحُ فِيهِمْ
لِكُلِّfor every عَظِيمَةٍgreat endeavor تُرْجَىhoped for خِلاَلُqualities
لِكُلِّ عَظِيمَةٍ تُرْجَى خِلاَلُ
Intelligent young men, in whom there shine
Sharp youths, in whom
the qualities for every hoped-for great endeavor;
Flashes of each lofty hope are seen
وَأَشْيَاخٌand elders مَيَامِينٌblessed حِصَافٌprudent
وَأَشْيَاخٌ مَيَامِينٌ حِصَافٌ
تُزَكِّيconfirm مَاwhat يَقُولُونَthey say الفِعَالُdeeds
تُزَكِّي مَا يَقُولُونَ الفِعَالُ
and blessed, prudent elders,
And wise elders, judicious
whose deeds confirm what they say.
Purifying what they say by action
فِهيَّاso onward! فِيinto نَوَاحِيthe realms of المَجْدِglory هَيَّاonward!
فِهيَّا فِي نَوَاحِي المَجْدِ هَيَّا
وَلاَand may not يَعْدَمْlack سَوَابِقَكُمْyour frontrunners مَجَالُan arena
وَلاَ يَعْدَمْ سَوَابِقَكُمْ مَجَالُ
So onward to the realms of glory, onward!
Onwards, to realms of glory onwards!
And may no arena lack your frontrunners.
Your precedents will not lack a domain
أَعِدُّواprepare لِلْحِمَىfor the homeland الغَالِيcherished حُمَاةًdefenders
أَعِدُّوا لِلْحِمَى الغَالِي حُمَاةً
إِذَاwhen قَالَsays الحِمَىthe homeland أَيْنَwhere الرِّجَالُthe men
إِذَا قَالَ الحِمَى أَيْنَ الرِّجَالُ
Prepare defenders for the cherished homeland,
Prepare for the precious zeal, defenders
when the homeland says, 'Where are the men?'
When zeal asks: where are the men?
بَنِيO sons of السُّودَانِSudan حَاجَةُthe need of كلِّevery قَوْمٍpeople
بَنِي السُّودَانِ حَاجَةُ كلِّ قَوْمٍ
لِيَعْلوso that it may rise شَأَنُهُمْtheir standing عِلْمٌknowledge وَمَالُand wealth
لِيَعْلو شَأَنُهُمْ عِلْمٌ وَمَالُ
Sons of Sudan, what every people needs
O people of Sudan, each people's need
to raise its standing is knowledge and wealth.
To raise their stature is knowledge and wealth
فَإِنْso if قَرِنَتْis joined شَجَاعَتُهُمْtheir courage بِقَصْدٍwith thrift
فَإِنْ قَرِنَتْ شَجَاعَتُهُمْ بِقَصْدٍ
وَتَثْقِيفٍand education فَقَدْthen indeed ضمِنَis assured المَآلُthe outcome
وَتَثْقِيفٍ فَقَدْ ضمِنَ المَآلُ
So if their courage is coupled with thrift
For if their courage combines with purpose
and education, the outcome is assured.
And education, then destiny is ensured
وَكُلُّand every مُحَاوِلٍone striving إِدْرَاكَto attain حَقٍa right
وَكُلُّ مُحَاوِلٍ إِدْرَاكَ حَقٍ
سُيدْرِكُهُwill attain it وَإِنْand even if طَالَis long المِطَالُthe delay
سُيدْرِكُهُ وَإِنْ طَالَ المِطَالُ
And everyone who strives to attain a right
And each attempter of attaining a right
will attain it, even if the delay is long.
Will attain it, though long the course
وَهَلْand can حَقّa right إِلَيْهِtoward it الشَّعْبُthe people يَسْعَىstrive
وَهَلْ حَقّ إِلَيْهِ الشَّعْبُ يَسْعَى
بِإِيمَانٍwith faith وَصَبْرٍand patience لاَnot يُنَالُis attained
بِإِيمَانٍ وَصَبْرٍ لاَ يُنَالُ
Can any right toward which the people strive
And does a people striving with faith and patience
with faith and patience remain unattained?
For their due seek what cannot be attained?
لَكمْyou have فِيin مِصْرَEgypt إِخْوَانٌbrothers ثِقَاتٌtrustworthy
لَكمْ فِي مِصْرَ إِخْوَانٌ ثِقَاتٌ
هَوَاهُمْtheir affection لاَnot تُغَيِّرُchanges مِنْهُany of it حَالُa circumstance
هَوَاهُمْ لاَ تُغَيِّرُ مِنْهُ حَالُ
In Egypt you have trustworthy brothers,
In Egypt, you have trusted brethren
whose love no circumstance can change.
Whose passion time does not change
وَبَيْنَكُمُand between you وَبَيْنَهُمُand between them قَدِيماًfrom long ago
وَبَيْنَكُمُ وَبَيْنَهُمُ قَدِيماً
وَشَائِجُties لَنْwill never يُلِمَّcome upon بِهَاthem انْحِلاَلُdissolution
وَشَائِجُ لَنْ يُلِمَّ بِهَا انْحِلاَلُ
And between you and them, from of old,
And between you and them, longstanding
are ties no dissolution will ever touch.
Are ties that will not fray with separation
فَمَاso no عَنْfrom أَمْرِكمْyour affairs بِهِمْamong them اشْتِغَالُpreoccupation
فَمَا عَنْ أَمْرِكمْ بِهِمْ اشْتِغَالُ
وَمَاand no عَنْfrom أَمْرِهِمْtheir affairs بِكُمْamong you اشْتِغَالُpreoccupation
وَمَا عَنْ أَمْرِهِمْ بِكُمْ اشْتِغَالُ
So no preoccupation distracts them from your affairs,
So they are not preoccupied with your affairs
nor does any preoccupation distract you from theirs.
Nor you with theirs preoccupied
وَلَيْسَand there is not لِمِصْرَfor Egypt وَالسُّودَانِand Sudan إِلاَّexcept
وَلَيْسَ لِمِصْرَ وَالسُّودَانِ إِلاَّ
وَرِيدٌa vein كَيْفَhow بَيْنَهُمَاbetween them both يُحَالُcan a barrier be set
وَرِيدٌ كَيْفَ بَيْنَهُمَا يُحَالُ
And Egypt and Sudan have but
Egypt and Sudan share only
one vein—how can a barrier be set between them?
A will for accord between them to endure
وَهَذَاand this النَّيلُNile نِيلُهُمَاthe Nile of them both جَمِيعاًboth together
وَهَذَا النَّيلُ نِيلُهُمَا جَمِيعاً
كَفَىsuffices سَبَباًas a reason لِيَخْلُدَto endure forever الاِتِّصَالُthe bond
كَفَى سَبَباً لِيَخْلُدَ الاِتِّصَالُ
And this Nile is the Nile of them both,
And this Nile is the Nile of both
reason enough for their bond to last forever.
Enough cause for the bond to be eternal
أَمَاis not? الوَادِيthe valley وَمَجَرَاهُand its channel جَنُوبٌsouth
أَمَا الوَادِي وَمَجَرَاهُ جَنُوبٌ
هُوَit is الوَادِيthe valley وَمَجْرَاهُand its channel شَمَالُnorth
هُوَ الوَادِي وَمَجْرَاهُ شَمَالُ
Is not the valley, with its channel in the south,
As for the valley and its channel, south
the same valley, with its channel in the north?
It is the valley and its channel, north
هُمَاthe two are دَارَانِtwo homes فِيin وَطَنٍa homeland عَزِيزٍcherished
هُمَا دَارَانِ فِي وَطَنٍ عَزِيزٍ
وَفِيand in الدَّارَيْنِthe two homes إِخْوانٌbrothers وَآلُand kin
وَفِي الدَّارَيْنِ إِخْوانٌ وَآلُ
They are two homes in one cherished homeland,
They are two lands in one dear homeland
and in both homes dwell brothers and kin.
And in the two lands, brethren and family
Sol 6.1