أَسَلَّةُ سَيْفٍ أَمْ عَقِيقَةُ بَارِقِ

أَسَلَّةُ سَيْفٍ أَمْ عَقِيقَةُ بَارِقِ

أَضَاءَتْ لَنَا وَهْنَاً سَمَاوَةَ بَارِقِ

أَضَاءَتْ لَنَا وَهْنَاً سَمَاوَةَ بَارِقِ

Is it a sword's point, or a streak of lightning

Are they the gleaming blades of swords or the radiance of carnelian gems?

that lit for us, late at night, the sky of Bariq?

They shone gently for us, the serene brilliance of lightning.

لَوَى الرَّكْبُ أَعْنَاقَاً إِلَيْهَا خَوَاضِعَاً

لَوَى الرَّكْبُ أَعْنَاقَاً إِلَيْهَا خَوَاضِعَاً

بِزَفْرَةِ مَحْزُونٍ وَنَظْرَةِ وَامِقِ

بِزَفْرَةِ مَحْزُونٍ وَنَظْرَةِ وَامِقِ

The riders turned bowed necks toward it,

The travelers bowed their necks to it submissively,

with a grieving soul's sigh and a lover's gaze.

With the roar of a grieving lion and the piercing gaze of lightning.

وَفِي حَرَكَاتِ الْبَرقِ لِلشَّوْقِ آيَةٌ

وَفِي حَرَكَاتِ الْبَرقِ لِلشَّوْقِ آيَةٌ

تَدُلُّ عَلَى مَا جَنَّهُ كُلُّ عَاشِقِ

تَدُلُّ عَلَى مَا جَنَّهُ كُلُّ عَاشِقِ

And in lightning's movements there is a sign of longing

And in the flickering of lightning there is a sign for yearning -

that reveals what every lover has concealed.

It indicates what is hidden in the heart of every lover.

تَفُضُّ جُفُوناً عَنْ دُمُوعٍ سَوَائِلٍ

تَفُضُّ جُفُوناً عَنْ دُمُوعٍ سَوَائِلٍ

وَتَفْرِي صُدُورَاً عَنْ قُلُوبٍ خَوَافِقِ

وَتَفْرِي صُدُورَاً عَنْ قُلُوبٍ خَوَافِقِ

It parts eyelids to reveal streaming tears,

Eyelids overflow with cascading tears,

and cleaves breasts to reveal throbbing hearts.

And breasts reveal hearts that ache.

وَكَيْفَ يَعِي سِرَّ الْهَوَى غَيْرُ أَهْلِهِ

وَكَيْفَ يَعِي سِرَّ الْهَوَى غَيْرُ أَهْلِهِ

وَيَعْرِفُ مَعْنَى الشَّوْقِ مَنْ لَمْ يُفَارِقِ

وَيَعْرِفُ مَعْنَى الشَّوْقِ مَنْ لَمْ يُفَارِقِ

And how can anyone but love's own people grasp its secret,

How can anyone but the initiated understand the secret of passion,

and one who has never parted know the meaning of longing?

And recognize the meaning of longing unless they have experienced separation?

لَعَمْرُ الْهَوَى إِنِّي لَدُنْ شَفَّنِي النَّوَى

لَعَمْرُ الْهَوَى إِنِّي لَدُنْ شَفَّنِي النَّوَى

لَفِي وَلَهٍ مِنْ سَوْرَةِ الْوَجْدِ مَاحِقِ

لَفِي وَلَهٍ مِنْ سَوْرَةِ الْوَجْدِ مَاحِقِ

By the life of love, I—since separation wasted me—

By the passion that has tormented me since the bloom of youth faded,

am in a consuming frenzy from passion's surge.

I am lost in the intoxication of the first pangs of ardent love!

كَفَى بِمُقَامِي فِي سَرَنْدِيبَ غُرْبَةً

كَفَى بِمُقَامِي فِي سَرَنْدِيبَ غُرْبَةً

نَزَعْتُ بِهَا عَنِّي ثِيَابَ الْعَلائِقِ

نَزَعْتُ بِهَا عَنِّي ثِيَابَ الْعَلائِقِ

My sojourn in Serendib is exile enough;

My sojourn in exile in Sarandib is enough -

there I stripped from myself the garments of attachment.

I have cast off the garments of worldly attachments.

وَمَنْ رَامَ نَيْلَ الْعِزِّ فَلْيَصْطَبِرْ عَلَى

وَمَنْ رَامَ نَيْلَ الْعِزِّ فَلْيَصْطَبِرْ عَلَى

لِقَاءِ الْمَنَايَا وَاقْتِحَامِ الْمَضَايِقِ

لِقَاءِ الْمَنَايَا وَاقْتِحَامِ الْمَضَايِقِ

And whoever seeks to attain honor must endure

Whoever aspires to the glory of nobility must have patience

meeting death and plunging into narrow passes.

To face death and traverse perilous straits.

فَإِنْ تَكُنِ الأَيَّامُ رَنَّقْنَ مَشْرَبِي

فَإِنْ تَكُنِ الأَيَّامُ رَنَّقْنَ مَشْرَبِي

وَثَلَّمْنَ حَدِّي بِالْخُطُوبِ الطَّوَارِقِ

وَثَلَّمْنَ حَدِّي بِالْخُطُوبِ الطَّوَارِقِ

For if the days have muddied my draught

If days have choked my ambitions,

and nicked my edge with sudden calamities,

And misfortunes have assailed me with sudden calamities,

فَمَا غَيَّرَتْنِي مِحْنَةٌ عَنْ خَلِيقَتِي

فَمَا غَيَّرَتْنِي مِحْنَةٌ عَنْ خَلِيقَتِي

وَلا حَوَّلَتْنِي خُدْعَةٌ عَنْ طَرَائِقِي

وَلا حَوَّلَتْنِي خُدْعَةٌ عَنْ طَرَائِقِي

no ordeal has changed my nature,

No tribulation has changed my character,

nor has deceit diverted me from my ways.

Nor any deception turned me from my ways.

وَلَكِنَّنِي بَاقٍ عَلَى مَا يَسُرُّنِي

وَلَكِنَّنِي بَاقٍ عَلَى مَا يَسُرُّنِي

وَيُغْضِبُ أَعْدَائِي وَيُرْضِي أَصَادِقي

وَيُغْضِبُ أَعْدَائِي وَيُرْضِي أَصَادِقي

But I remain steadfast in what delights me,

Rather, I remain as I desire,

angers my enemies, and pleases my friends.

Which angers my enemies and gratifies my friends.

فَحَسْرَةُ بُعْدِي عَنْ حَبِيبٍ مُصَادِقٍ

فَحَسْرَةُ بُعْدِي عَنْ حَبِيبٍ مُصَادِقٍ

كَفَرْحَةِ بُعْدِي عَنْ عَدُوٍّ مُمَاذِقِ

كَفَرْحَةِ بُعْدِي عَنْ عَدُوٍّ مُمَاذِقِ

So my grief at being far from a faithful friend

So my sadness at separation from a beloved friend

matches my joy at being far from a dissembling foe.

Is like my joy at separation from a spiteful enemy.

فَتِلْكَ بِهَذِي وَالنَّجَاةُ غَنِيمَةٌ

فَتِلْكَ بِهَذِي وَالنَّجَاةُ غَنِيمَةٌ

مِنَ النَّاسِ وَالدُّنْيَا مَكِيدَةُ حَاذِقِ

مِنَ النَّاسِ وَالدُّنْيَا مَكِيدَةُ حَاذِقِ

The one offsets the other; escape is a gain

Such is the state I am in, and survival is a prize

from people, and the world is a cunning man's stratagem.

Snatched from deceitful people and the cunning world.

أَلا أَيُّهَا الزَّارِي عَلَيَّ بِجَهْلِهِ

أَلا أَيُّهَا الزَّارِي عَلَيَّ بِجَهْلِهِ

وَلَمْ يَدْرِ أَنِّي دُرَّةٌ فِي الْمَفَارِقِ

وَلَمْ يَدْرِ أَنِّي دُرَّةٌ فِي الْمَفَارِقِ

Listen, you who disparage me in your ignorance,

O you who reproach me in your ignorance

not knowing that I am a pearl upon the crowns of heads:

Not knowing I am a pearl to the discerning!

تَعَزَّ عَنِ الْعَلْيَاءِ بِاللُّؤْمِ وَاعْتَزِلْ

تَعَزَّ عَنِ الْعَلْيَاءِ بِاللُّؤْمِ وَاعْتَزِلْ

فَإِنَّ الْعُلا لَيْسَتْ بِلَغْوِ الْمَنَاطِقِ

فَإِنَّ الْعُلا لَيْسَتْ بِلَغْوِ الْمَنَاطِقِ

Console yourself with baseness for lost eminence, and withdraw;

Shun the vulgar and withdraw into solitude,

for greatness is not won by idle speech.

For nobility lies not in clever rhetoric.

فَمَا أَنَا مِمَّنْ تَقْبَلُ الضَّيْمَ نَفْسُهُ

فَمَا أَنَا مِمَّنْ تَقْبَلُ الضَّيْمَ نَفْسُهُ

وَيَرْضَى بِمَا يَرْضَى بِهِ كُلُّ مَائِقِ

وَيَرْضَى بِمَا يَرْضَى بِهِ كُلُّ مَائِقِ

For I am not one whose soul accepts oppression

I am not one whose spirit accepts humiliation

and is content with whatever every fool accepts.

Or is content with what satisfies all sycophants.

إِذَا الْمَرْءُ لَمْ يَنْهَضْ لِمَا فِيهِ مَجْدُهُ

إِذَا الْمَرْءُ لَمْ يَنْهَضْ لِمَا فِيهِ مَجْدُهُ

قَضَى وَهْوَ كَلٌّ فِي خُدُورِ الْعَوَاتِقِ

قَضَى وَهْوَ كَلٌّ فِي خُدُورِ الْعَوَاتِقِ

If a man does not rise to that wherein his glory lies,

When a man does not rise to what brings him glory,

he dies a burden in the secluded chambers of maidens.

He lives in futility among old maids.

وَأَيُّ حَيَاةٍ لاِمْرِئٍ إِنْ تَنَكَّرَتْ

وَأَيُّ حَيَاةٍ لاِمْرِئٍ إِنْ تَنَكَّرَتْ

لَهُ الْحَالُ لَمْ يَعْقِدْ سُيُورَ الْمَنَاطِقِ

لَهُ الْحَالُ لَمْ يَعْقِدْ سُيُورَ الْمَنَاطِقِ

And what life has a man who, if it turns hostile—

What life can one have if fate turns against him

his fortune—fails to fasten his girdle-straps?

And he does not take hold of the reins of destiny?

فَمَا قُذُفَاتُ الْعِزِّ إِلَّا لِمَاجِدٍ

فَمَا قُذُفَاتُ الْعِزِّ إِلَّا لِمَاجِدٍ

إِذَا هَمَّ جَلَّى عَزْمُهُ كُلَّ غَاسِقِ

إِذَا هَمَّ جَلَّى عَزْمُهُ كُلَّ غَاسِقِ

For the lofty crags of honor are only for a noble man

The laurels of glory are only for the valiant -

whose resolve, when he determines to act, dispels every darkness.

When resolved, their determination dispels all darkness.

يَقُولُ أُنَاسٌ إِنَّنِي ثُرْتُ خَالِعاً

يَقُولُ أُنَاسٌ إِنَّنِي ثُرْتُ خَالِعاً

وَتِلْكَ هَنَاتٌ لَمْ تَكُنْ مِنْ خَلائِقِي

وَتِلْكَ هَنَاتٌ لَمْ تَكُنْ مِنْ خَلائِقِي

Some people say that I rose in revolt, renouncing allegiance;

Some say I have rebelled and withdrawn,

but such failings were never among my traits.

But those are false accusations not in my nature.

وَلَكِنَّنِي نَادَيْتُ بِالْعَدْلِ طَالِبَاً

وَلَكِنَّنِي نَادَيْتُ بِالْعَدْلِ طَالِبَاً

رِضَا اللَّهِ وَاسْتَنْهَضْتُ أَهْلَ الْحَقَائِقِ

رِضَا اللَّهِ وَاسْتَنْهَضْتُ أَهْلَ الْحَقَائِقِ

But I called for justice, seeking

Rather, I called for justice seeking

God's approval, and rallied the people of truth.

God's pleasure, and roused people of principle.

أَمَرْتُ بِمَعْرُوفٍ وَأَنْكَرْتُ مُنْكَراً

أَمَرْتُ بِمَعْرُوفٍ وَأَنْكَرْتُ مُنْكَراً

وَذَلِكَ حُكْمٌ فِي رِقَابِ الْخَلائِقِ

وَذَلِكَ حُكْمٌ فِي رِقَابِ الْخَلائِقِ

I enjoined what is right and denounced what is wrong,

I commanded right and forbade wrong,

and that is a decree laid upon the necks of humankind.

Which is the duty over all mortal souls.

فَإِنْ كَانَ عِصْيَاناً قِيَامِي فَإِنَّنِي

فَإِنْ كَانَ عِصْيَاناً قِيَامِي فَإِنَّنِي

أَرَدْتُ بِعِصْيَانِي إِطَاعَةَ خَالِقِي

أَرَدْتُ بِعِصْيَانِي إِطَاعَةَ خَالِقِي

If my rising was disobedience, then I

If my disobedience was a sin, then my intention

intended by my disobedience to obey my Creator.

Was to obey my Creator in rebelling.

وَهَلْ دَعْوَةُ الشُّورَى عَلَيَّ غَضَاضَةٌ

وَهَلْ دَعْوَةُ الشُّورَى عَلَيَّ غَضَاضَةٌ

وَفِيهَا لِمَنْ يَبْغِي الْهُدَى كُلُّ فَارِقِ

وَفِيهَا لِمَنْ يَبْغِي الْهُدَى كُلُّ فَارِقِ

And is calling for consultation a disgrace to me,

How can advocating consultative rule be harmful to me

when it holds every means of discernment for whoever seeks guidance?

When it offers guidance to all who seek truth?

بَلَى إِنَّها فَرْضٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَاجِبٌ

بَلَى إِنَّها فَرْضٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَاجِبٌ

عَلَى كُلِّ حَيٍّ مِنْ مَسُوقٍ وَسَائِقِ

عَلَى كُلِّ حَيٍّ مِنْ مَسُوقٍ وَسَائِقِ

Indeed, it is a duty ordained by God,

Indeed, it is an obligatory command from God

binding on every living person, both those led and those who lead.

Binding on every living soul, driven or driving.

وَكَيْفَ يَكُونُ الْمَرْءُ حُرَّاً مُهَذَّباً

وَكَيْفَ يَكُونُ الْمَرْءُ حُرَّاً مُهَذَّباً

وَيَرْضَى بِمَا يَأْتِي بِهِ كُلُّ فَاسِقِ

وَيَرْضَى بِمَا يَأْتِي بِهِ كُلُّ فَاسِقِ

And how can a man be free and upright

How can one be truly free and refined

and accept whatever every evildoer does?

Yet accept whatever an evildoer decrees?

فَإِنْ نَافَقَ الأَقْوَامُ فِي الدِّينِ غَدْرَةً

فَإِنْ نَافَقَ الأَقْوَامُ فِي الدِّينِ غَدْرَةً

فَإِنِّي بِحَمْدِ اللَّهِ غَيْرُ مُنَافِقِ

فَإِنِّي بِحَمْدِ اللَّهِ غَيْرُ مُنَافِقِ

If people act hypocritically in religion out of treachery,

If the people deal treacherously with religion,

then I am, praise be to God, no hypocrite.

Then know I am not of the hypocrites.

عَلَى أَنَّنِي لَمْ آلُ نُصْحَاً لِمَعْشَرٍ

عَلَى أَنَّنِي لَمْ آلُ نُصْحَاً لِمَعْشَرٍ

أَبَى غَدْرُهُمْ أَنْ يَقْبَلُوا قَوْلَ صَادِقِ

أَبَى غَدْرُهُمْ أَنْ يَقْبَلُوا قَوْلَ صَادِقِ

Yet I spared no effort in advising a people

Though I did not cease to advise a people

whose treachery would not let them accept a truthful man's word.

Whose treachery refused to accept the words of an honest man.

رَأَوْا أَنْ يَسُوسُوا النَّاسَ قَهْرَاً فَأَسْرَعُوا

رَأَوْا أَنْ يَسُوسُوا النَّاسَ قَهْرَاً فَأَسْرَعُوا

إِلَى نَقْضِ مَا شَادَتْهُ أَيْدِي الْوَثَائِقِ

إِلَى نَقْضِ مَا شَادَتْهُ أَيْدِي الْوَثَائِقِ

They decided to govern the people by force, and hastened

They saw fit to tyrannize the people by force, so they rushed

to undo what the hands of covenants had built.

To violate what had been established by legal covenants.

فَلَمَّا اسْتَمَرَّ الظُّلْمُ قَامَتْ عِصَابَةٌ

فَلَمَّا اسْتَمَرَّ الظُّلْمُ قَامَتْ عِصَابَةٌ

مِنَ الْجُنْدِ تَسْعَى تَحْتَ ظِلِّ الْخَوَافِقِ

مِنَ الْجُنْدِ تَسْعَى تَحْتَ ظِلِّ الْخَوَافِقِ

When oppression persisted, a band arose

When an army faction arose pursuing shelter

of soldiers, advancing beneath the shade of fluttering banners.

Beneath the darkness of the clouds,

وَشَايَعَهُمْ أَهْلُ الْبِلادِ فَأَقْبَلُوا

وَشَايَعَهُمْ أَهْلُ الْبِلادِ فَأَقْبَلُوا

إِلَيْهِمْ سِرَاعاً بَيْنَ آتٍ وَلاحِقِ

إِلَيْهِمْ سِرَاعاً بَيْنَ آتٍ وَلاحِقِ

The country's people supported them and came

And the townspeople rallied around them, hastening

to them in haste, some arriving and others following,

To join them, coming and going,

يَرُومُونَ مِنْ مَوْلَى الْبِلادِ نَفَاذَ مَا

يَرُومُونَ مِنْ مَوْلَى الْبِلادِ نَفَاذَ مَا

تَأَلَّاهُ مِنْ وَعْدٍ إِلَى النَّاسِ صَادِقِ

تَأَلَّاهُ مِنْ وَعْدٍ إِلَى النَّاسِ صَادِقِ

seeking from the country's ruler the fulfillment of what

Seeking fulfillment from the kingdom's guardian

he had pledged on oath—a sincere promise to the people.

Of what he had promised the people with honesty,

فَلَمَّا أَبَى الْحُكَّامُ إِلَّا تَمَادِيَاً

فَلَمَّا أَبَى الْحُكَّامُ إِلَّا تَمَادِيَاً

وَحَالَ طِلابُ الْحَقِّ دُونَ التَّوَافُقِ

وَحَالَ طِلابُ الْحَقِّ دُونَ التَّوَافُقِ

When the rulers insisted on persisting,

But the rulers refused, persisting

and the pursuit of justice stood in the way of accord,

While the seekers of truth were hindered from agreement,

أُنَاسٌ شَرَوْا خِزْيَ الضَّلالَةِ بِالْهُدَى

أُنَاسٌ شَرَوْا خِزْيَ الضَّلالَةِ بِالْهُدَى

نِفَاقاً وَبَاعُوا الدِّينَ مِنْهُم بِدَانِقِ

نِفَاقاً وَبَاعُوا الدِّينَ مِنْهُم بِدَانِقِ

some men who bought the shame of error with guidance

Some people bartered the shame of misguidance for guidance,

in hypocrisy, and sold their own faith for a daniq,

Hypocritically selling their faith for a pittance.

فَجَاؤُوا إِلَيْهِمْ يَنْصُرُونَ ضَلالَهُمْ

فَجَاؤُوا إِلَيْهِمْ يَنْصُرُونَ ضَلالَهُمْ

بِخُدْعَةِ مُغْتَالٍ وَحِيلَةِ سَارِقِ

بِخُدْعَةِ مُغْتَالٍ وَحِيلَةِ سَارِقِ

came to them to support their error

So they came to support their misguidance

with an assassin's deceit and a thief's cunning.

With the deception of a betrayer and the cunning of a thief.

فَلَمَّا اطْمَأَنُّوا فِي الْبِلادِ وَأَيْقَنُوا

فَلَمَّا اطْمَأَنُّوا فِي الْبِلادِ وَأَيْقَنُوا

بِعَجْزِ الْمُحَامِي دُونَهَا وَالْموَاثِقِ

بِعَجْزِ الْمُحَامِي دُونَهَا وَالْموَاثِقِ

Then, once they felt secure in the country and were certain

When they felt secure in the land, and saw

of the weakness of its defender and its covenant-bound ally,

The inability of its lawyer to defend it and its covenants,

أَقَامُوا وَقَالُوا تِلْكَ يَا قَوْمُ أَرْضُنَا

أَقَامُوا وَقَالُوا تِلْكَ يَا قَوْمُ أَرْضُنَا

وَمَا أَحَدٌ مِنَّا لَهَا بِمُفَارِقِ

وَمَا أَحَدٌ مِنَّا لَهَا بِمُفَارِقِ

they stayed and said, 'People, that is our land,

They remained and said: “This, O people, is our land,

and not one of us will part from it.'

And none of us are foreign to it.”

وَعَاثُوا بِهَا يَنْفُونَ مَنْ خِيفَ بِأْسُهُ

وَعَاثُوا بِهَا يَنْفُونَ مَنْ خِيفَ بِأْسُهُ

عَلَيْهِمْ وَكَانَتْ تِلْكَ إِحْدَى الْبَوائِقِ

عَلَيْهِمْ وَكَانَتْ تِلْكَ إِحْدَى الْبَوائِقِ

They ravaged it, exiling anyone whose strength they feared

They pillaged it, expelling any who might resist them,

as a threat to them; and that was one of the calamities.

That was one of their terrible calamities.

وَأَصْبَحَ وَادِي النَّيلِ نَهْبَاً وَأَصْبَحَتْ

وَأَصْبَحَ وَادِي النَّيلِ نَهْبَاً وَأَصْبَحَتْ

إِمَارَتُهُ الْقَعْسَاءُ نُهْزَةَ مَارِقِ

إِمَارَتُهُ الْقَعْسَاءُ نُهْزَةَ مَارِقِ

The Nile Valley became plunder, and

The Nile Valley woke to pillage, and its

its mighty dominion became a renegade's prize.

Feeble Emirate became the jest of rebels.

فَهَذَا هُوَ الْحَقُّ الْمُبِينُ فَلا تَسَلْ

فَهَذَا هُوَ الْحَقُّ الْمُبِينُ فَلا تَسَلْ

سِوَايَ فَإِنِّي عَالِمٌ بِالْحَقَائِقِ

سِوَايَ فَإِنِّي عَالِمٌ بِالْحَقَائِقِ

This is the plain truth; do not ask

This is the plain truth, so do not ask

anyone but me, for I know the facts.

Anyone but me, for I know the facts.

فَيَا مِصْرُ مَدَّ اللهُ ظِلَّكِ وَارْتَوَى

فَيَا مِصْرُ مَدَّ اللهُ ظِلَّكِ وَارْتَوَى

ثَرَاكِ بِسَلْسَالٍ مِنَ النِّيلِ دَافِقِ

ثَرَاكِ بِسَلْسَالٍ مِنَ النِّيلِ دَافِقِ

O Egypt, may God extend your shade, and may

O Egypt, may God extend your shade, and may you be watered

your soil drink its fill of clear, rushing water from the Nile.

By the Nile in torrents ever bursting!

وَلا بَرِحَتْ تَمْتَارُ مِنْكِ يَدُ الصِّبَا

وَلا بَرِحَتْ تَمْتَارُ مِنْكِ يَدُ الصِّبَا

أَرِيجَاً يُدَاوِي عَرْفُهُ كُلَّ نَاشِقِ

أَرِيجَاً يُدَاوِي عَرْفُهُ كُلَّ نَاشِقِ

And may the east wind's hand never cease gathering from you

The hand of the north wind has never ceased

a fragrance whose scent heals everyone who breathes it.

To pluck your aromatic buds that soothe all who breathe.

فَأَنْتِ حِمَى قَوْمِي وَمَشْعَبُ أُسْرَتِي

فَأَنْتِ حِمَى قَوْمِي وَمَشْعَبُ أُسْرَتِي

وَمَلْعَبُ أَتْرَابِي وَمَجْرَى سَوَابِقِي

وَمَلْعَبُ أَتْرَابِي وَمَجْرَى سَوَابِقِي

For you are my people's refuge and my family's gathering-place,

You are the sanctuary of my people, the refuge of my clan,

my peers' playground and my swift steeds' racecourse.

And playground of my peers where feats are contended!

بِلادٌ بِهَا حَلَّ الشَّبَابُ تَمَائِمِي

بِلادٌ بِهَا حَلَّ الشَّبَابُ تَمَائِمِي

وَنَاطَ نِجَادَ الْمَشْرَفِيِّ بِعَاتِقِي

وَنَاطَ نِجَادَ الْمَشْرَفِيِّ بِعَاتِقِي

A land where youth unfastened my amulets

The place where my youth encamped, its banners unfurled,

and hung the Mashrafi sword's baldric upon my shoulder.

And where the glory of my ancestry took root.

إِذَا صَاغَهَا بَهْزَارُ فِكْرِي تَصَوَّرَتْ

إِذَا صَاغَهَا بَهْزَارُ فِكْرِي تَصَوَّرَتْ

لِعَيْنِي فِي زِيٍّ مِنَ الْحُسْنِ رَائِقِ

لِعَيْنِي فِي زِيٍّ مِنَ الْحُسْنِ رَائِقِ

When my thought's master craftsman shapes it, it appears

When the flights of my imagination take shape,

before my eyes in a delightful garb of beauty.

You appear to my eyes beautifully arrayed.

تَرَكْتُ بِهَا أَهْلاً كِرَاماً وَجِيرَةً

تَرَكْتُ بِهَا أَهْلاً كِرَاماً وَجِيرَةً

لَهُمْ جِيرَةٌ تَعْتَادُنِي كُلَّ شَارِقِ

لَهُمْ جِيرَةٌ تَعْتَادُنِي كُلَّ شَارِقِ

There I left noble kin and neighbors

I left behind honored and noble people,

whose neighborly fellowship visits me with every sunrise.

And a neighborhood whose dawn greeted me daily.

هَجَرْتُ لَذِيذَ الْعَيْشِ بَعْدَ فِراقِهِمْ

هَجَرْتُ لَذِيذَ الْعَيْشِ بَعْدَ فِراقِهِمْ

وَوَدَّعْتُ رَيْعَانَ الشَّبَابِ الْغُرانِقِ

وَوَدَّعْتُ رَيْعَانَ الشَّبَابِ الْغُرانِقِ

I forsook life's sweetness after parting from them,

I abandoned the sweetness of life after their loss,

and bade farewell to the prime of graceful youth.

And bid farewell to the prime of my exuberant youth.

فَهَلْ تَسْمَحُ الأَيَّامُ لِي بِلِقَائِهِمْ

فَهَلْ تَسْمَحُ الأَيَّامُ لِي بِلِقَائِهِمْ

وَيَسْعَدُ فِي الدُّنْيَا مَشُوقٌ بِشَائِقِ

وَيَسْعَدُ فِي الدُّنْيَا مَشُوقٌ بِشَائِقِ

Will the days permit me to meet them,

Will days allow me to meet them again,

and a longing lover find joy in this world with his beloved?

And in life, will an ardent lover reunite with the one he longs for?

لَعَمْرِي لَقَدْ طَالَ النَّوَى وَتَقَطَّعَتْ

لَعَمْرِي لَقَدْ طَالَ النَّوَى وَتَقَطَّعَتْ

وَسَائِلُ كَانَتْ قَبْلُ شَتَّى الْمَوَاثِقِ

وَسَائِلُ كَانَتْ قَبْلُ شَتَّى الْمَوَاثِقِ

By my life, separation has grown long indeed, and severed are

By my life, the pining has grown long, and ties

the ties that once had many bonds of trust.

That once held strong have been severed.

فَإِنْ تَكُنِ الأَيَّامُ سَاءَتْ صُرُوفُهَا

فَإِنْ تَكُنِ الأَيَّامُ سَاءَتْ صُرُوفُهَا

فَإِنِّي بِفَضْلِ اللهِ أَوَّلُ وَاثِقِ

فَإِنِّي بِفَضْلِ اللهِ أَوَّلُ وَاثِقِ

If the vicissitudes of the days have turned bitter,

If time has been unkind, though its fortunes shift,

then I am the first to trust in God's grace.

Then know I am the first to have faith.

فَقَدْ يَسْتَقِيمُ الأَمْرُ بَعْدَ اعْوِجَاجِهِ

فَقَدْ يَسْتَقِيمُ الأَمْرُ بَعْدَ اعْوِجَاجِهِ

وَيَرْجِعُ لِلأَوْطَانِ كُلُّ مُفَارِقِ

وَيَرْجِعُ لِلأَوْطَانِ كُلُّ مُفَارِقِ

For things may come right after going crooked,

Affairs may yet be set right after going astray,

and all who have departed may return to their homelands.

And every exile return to his homeland.