دارُ الجهادِ حِمى الآسادِ فُرسانا

دارُ الجهادِ حِمى الآسادِ فُرسانا

أَضحَت قَواعِدُها للنصرِ أركانا

أَضحَت قَواعِدُها للنصرِ أركانا

The House of Jihad, a sanctuary for lion-hearted horsemen—

The house of jihad, the protected domain of lions

its foundations have become pillars of victory.

Its foundations have become pillars of victory

تَمّت كَأحسنِ ما عاينت لابسةً

تَمّت كَأحسنِ ما عاينت لابسةً

مِن مُحكم الصنعِ وَالإتقانِ أَلوانا

مِن مُحكم الصنعِ وَالإتقانِ أَلوانا

It was completed, like the finest I have seen, clothed

It was completed in the best form I have seen

in hues of masterful craftsmanship and perfection.

Wearing the garb of solid construction and skillful perfection

فيها يقولُ الحكيمُ الحبرُ لَستُ أرى

فيها يقولُ الحكيمُ الحبرُ لَستُ أرى

هُنا لأبدع ممّا كانَ إِمكانا

هُنا لأبدع ممّا كانَ إِمكانا

Within it the learned sage says, “I see no

In it the wise scholar says: I do not see

possibility here for anything more wondrous than what exists.”

A place here to surpass what was possible before

لِم لا وَقد رُسِمَت قبلاً لها صورٌ

لِم لا وَقد رُسِمَت قبلاً لها صورٌ

لَم يولِ هندسةً فيها وإتقانا

لَم يولِ هندسةً فيها وإتقانا

Why not, when designs had been drawn for it beforehand?

Why not, when forms were designed for it beforehand

No engineering or precision had been bestowed upon it;

That left geometry and perfection behind

وَاِختارَ مِن بَينها ما أنت ناظرهُ

وَاِختارَ مِن بَينها ما أنت ناظرهُ

رأيُ المؤيّد مُولينا وَمَولانا

رأيُ المؤيّد مُولينا وَمَولانا

and what you behold was chosen from among them

And from among them our supporter, provider chose

by the judgment of al-Mu'ayyad, our benefactor and lord.

What you see, by the counsel of our patron and master

ما شادَها أحمدُ الباشا لمنتزهٍ

ما شادَها أحمدُ الباشا لمنتزهٍ

إلّا لِيَشحَنها بيضاً وَخُرصانا

إلّا لِيَشحَنها بيضاً وَخُرصانا

Ahmad Pasha built it not as a pleasure ground,

Ahmed Pasha built it as a resort

but to fill it with gleaming swords and spears.

Only to fill it with whites and chestnuts

أَلا لِيأوي آسادُ الكماةِ لها

أَلا لِيأوي آسادُ الكماةِ لها

يومَ الكريهةِ مُستَمطين عقبانا

يومَ الكريهةِ مُستَمطين عقبانا

Indeed, so that the lions among armored warriors might shelter there

So the lions of valor may take refuge

on the day of battle, riding eagles.

On a day of hardship, gathering their hawks

تَرى لَهم كلّ يومٍ مِن مدرّبهم

تَرى لَهم كلّ يومٍ مِن مدرّبهم

بِخدمةِ الحربِ تَجريباً وإمعانا

بِخدمةِ الحربِ تَجريباً وإمعانا

Each day you see them receive from their trainer

They train each day with their trainer

testing and intensive practice in the service of war.

In the service of war, trying and striving

لا زالَ يرفعُ مَولانا المشيرُ بها

لا زالَ يرفعُ مَولانا المشيرُ بها

لِوا المَفاخرِ أَعصاراً وأزمانا

لِوا المَفاخرِ أَعصاراً وأزمانا

May our lord the marshal ever raise through it

Our master the general still raises it

the banner of glory for ages and eras.

As a source of pride through eras and times

وَلا تزالُ حِمىً في ظلّ دولتهِ

وَلا تزالُ حِمىً في ظلّ دولتهِ

تُطاولُ الدهرَ بَهراماً وكيوانا

تُطاولُ الدهرَ بَهراماً وكيوانا

And may it remain a sanctuary beneath the shade of his rule,

It will remain protected in his state’s shadow

vying through the ages with Bahram and Kaywan.

Rivaling time itself, like Bahram and Kai Ka'us

وَلا تَزالُ كَما أَمست مؤرّخةً

وَلا تَزالُ كَما أَمست مؤرّخةً

دارُ الجهادِ حِمى الآساد فرسانا

دارُ الجهادِ حِمى الآساد فرسانا

And may it remain as it now stands, bearing this chronogram:

It will remain recorded as it became

“The House of Jihad, a sanctuary for lion-hearted horsemen.”

The house of jihad, the protected domain of lions