أطل على البرية بالسلام

أطل على البرية بالسلام

ولح باليمن يا شهرالصيام

ولح باليمن يا شهرالصيام

Rise over creation with peace,

I looked upon the wilderness with peace

Rise over creation with peace,

And shine with blessing, O month of fasting.

And the month of fasting rose in Yemen

And shine with auspicious blessing, O Month of Fasting,

وحل على بني الإسلام ضيفا

وحل على بني الإسلام ضيفا

كريما بين رعي واحترام

كريما بين رعي واحترام

Alight among the children of Islam as a guest,

It descended upon the children of Islam as a

And descend upon the children of Islam as a guest,

Noble, amid care and respect,

Noble guest, with care and respect

Noble and generous, amidst care and respect,

وعيدا باللطائف والهدايا

وعيدا باللطائف والهدايا

تعود عليهم في كل عام

تعود عليهم في كل عام

And as a festival, with kindnesses and gifts,

A feast with bounties and gifts

As a feast full of kindnesses and gifts,

You return to them each year.

That return to them every year

That returns to them with every passing year.

ألم ينزل اليهم فيك قدما

ألم ينزل اليهم فيك قدما

كلام الله بورك من كلام؟

كلام الله بورك من كلام؟

Did there not descend to them within you, long ago,

Did He not reveal to them in you formerly

Did not the Word of God descend within you,

The word of God—blessed among all words?

The words of Allah, blessed speech?

To them of old? Blessed be that Speech.

نفحت المسلمين بمثل ورد

نفحت المسلمين بمثل ورد

من القرآن مفتر الكمام

من القرآن مفتر الكمام

You perfumed the Muslims with something like roses

You breathed into the Muslims like rose petals

You breathed upon the Muslims like the scent of roses,

From the Qur'an, their calyxes unfolding.

From the Qur'an, parting veils

From the Quran, with buds unfolding open,

هززت قلوبهم هز الروابي

هززت قلوبهم هز الروابي

وسقت لها الهدى سوق الغمام

وسقت لها الهدى سوق الغمام

You stirred their hearts as hills are stirred,

You shook their hearts like shaking groves

You shook their hearts as the hills are shaken,

And drove guidance toward them as clouds are driven.

And brought them guidance like clouds’ trails

And drove guidance to them as clouds are driven.

فهم مهما قررت عينا

فهم مهما قررت عينا

ببر الشيخ منهم والغلام

ببر الشيخ منهم والغلام

So be enraptured, however much your eye is gladdened

So they fast - the old and the young - whenever

So they, as long as you remained, found their eyes cooled,

By the piety of their elders and youths.

You decree through the eye’s sight

By the piety of the elder among them and the youth,

وأمنت الخليقة وهي غرقى

وأمنت الخليقة وهي غرقى

تكابد كل دفع واصطدام

تكابد كل دفع واصطدام

You gave safety to creation as it lay drowning,

You carried for humanity, as it was drowning,

And creation felt secure, though it was drowning,

Struggling against every buffeting and collision.

A branch of olives like the carrier pigeons’ flight

Enduring every repulsion and collision.

حملت لها من الزيتون غصنا

حملت لها من الزيتون غصنا

كما حملته سالفة الحمام

كما حملته سالفة الحمام

You carried it an olive branch,

And facilitated accord for the lands

You bore for it a branch of olive,

As the dove of old had carried it.

Why then did they persist in their fight?

Just as the dove of ancient times once bore,

ويسرت التراضي للبرايا

ويسرت التراضي للبرايا

فما لهم تمادوا في الخصام؟

فما لهم تمادوا في الخصام؟

You made mutual accord easy for humankind;

You probed the sickness of their selves with healing

And you facilitated mutual contentment for all creatures,

Why, then, did they persist in quarreling?

But alas, your treatment did not cure their plight

So why have they persisted in their quarreling?

سبرت سقام أنفسهم علاجا

سبرت سقام أنفسهم علاجا

فما أجدى علاجك في السقام

فما أجدى علاجك في السقام

You probed the sickness of their souls to treat it,

You opened for them the gate of God

You probed the sickness of their souls as a cure,

Yet your treatment did not help against the sickness.

But they barred it, persisting in their blight

But your cure was of no avail against the sickness.

فتحت لهم سماء الله بابا

فتحت لهم سماء الله بابا

فصدوا مخلدين إلى الرغام

فصدوا مخلدين إلى الرغام

You opened for them a gate in God's heaven,

So woe to you who call to good, but refuses

You opened the heaven of God for them as a door,

But they turned away, clinging to the dust.

To answer your call other than the generous elite

But they turned away, clinging eternally to the dust.

فيا لك داعيا للخير يأبى

فيا لك داعيا للخير يأبى

إجابة صوته غير الكرام

إجابة صوته غير الكرام

O what a caller to goodness you are, whose voice

They spent your day with investigation

Oh, what a caller to goodness you are, whose voice refuses,

All but the noble refuse to answer.

Fasting, and your night upright in their devout rite

To be answered by any but the noble ones.

لقد قطعوا نهارك بالتحري

لقد قطعوا نهارك بالتحري

لصومهم وليلك بالقيام

لصومهم وليلك بالقيام

They spent your daylight carefully observing

They fasted from doubt, not only their food

They spent your days in striving,

Their fast, and your night standing in prayer.

Or drink, as one may surmise

For their fast, and your nights in standing prayer.

وقد صاموا عن الشبهات لا عن

وقد صاموا عن الشبهات لا عن

شرابهم فحسب أو الطعام

شرابهم فحسب أو الطعام

They fasted from doubtful matters, not from

They refrained from transgression’s proximity

They fasted from doubtful matters, not merely from,

Their drink or food alone.

And desisted from committing vice

Their drink alone or their food.

فعفوا عن مقاربة التعدي

فعفوا عن مقاربة التعدي

وكفوا عن مقارفة الأثام

وكفوا عن مقارفة الأثام

They shunned even approaching wrongdoing,

They intended their fast for God, so they prospered

They abstained from approaching transgression,

And refrained from committing sins.

And their seclusion was fragrant as incense light

And refrained from the committing of sins.

نووا لله صومهم فطابوا

نووا لله صومهم فطابوا

وطاب خلوفهم طيب البشام

وطاب خلوفهم طيب البشام

They intended their fast for God and became pure;

They are the ones whose fast is rewarded

They intended their fast for God, so they became pure,

Their fasting breath grew sweet as balsam.

Lifted by the angels in rapt delight

And the scent of their breath became as fragrant as the balsam tree.

أولائك صومهم بالأجر يحظى

أولائك صومهم بالأجر يحظى

وترفعه الملائك باهتمام

وترفعه الملائك باهتمام

It is their fasting that wins reward,

They saw the favors that lead to calamity

Those are the ones whose fasting wins the reward,

And the angels lift it up with care.

So chose the favors that have lasting might

And the angels raise it up with care.

رأوا نعم الفناء الى بلايا

رأوا نعم الفناء الى بلايا

تؤول فاثروا نعم الدوام

تؤول فاثروا نعم الدوام

They saw fleeting blessings turn into afflictions,

They fasted God’s month in piety to Him

They saw the pleasures of the transient world turning to calamities,

And so preferred the blessings that endure.

So He rewarded them with the home of peace

So they preferred the pleasures of eternity.

وصاموا شهر ربهم احتسابا

وصاموا شهر ربهم احتسابا

له فأثابهم دار السلام

له فأثابهم دار السلام

They fasted their Lord's month, seeking reward

He prepared for them therein abundant drink

They fasted the month of their Lord seeking His reward,

From Him; so He rewarded them with the Abode of Peace.

To admit them without mankind’s blight

So He rewarded them with the Abode of Peace.

أعد لهم بها (الريان) بابا

أعد لهم بها (الريان) بابا

ليدخلهم به دون الأنام

ليدخلهم به دون الأنام

There He prepared for them a gate named al-Rayyan,

So say to my oblivious brother today: rejoice

He prepared 'Al-Rayyan' therein as a gate for them,

To admit them through it to the exclusion of others.

For tomorrow you will praise the passing night

To enter through it, to the exclusion of all other people.

فقل لأخي الأوام اليوم أبشر

فقل لأخي الأوام اليوم أبشر

ستحمد في غد غب الأوام

ستحمد في غد غب الأوام

Tell the one enduring thirst today: rejoice!

You will drink it scintillating and pure

So say to the brother of thirst today: Rejoice,

Tomorrow you will praise the outcome of your thirst.

A lasting pleasure without equal or peer

Tomorrow you will praise the outcome of this thirst.

ستسقاها مشعشعة وصرفا

ستسقاها مشعشعة وصرفا

مداما لذة لا كالمدام

مداما لذة لا كالمدام

You will be given it to drink, diluted and pure:

No sorrow will hurt its drinkers

You will be given a drink, diluted and pure,

A delightful wine, unlike other wine.

Nor will disgrace cling to those who draw near

A wine delicious, unlike the wine of earth.

فليس تضر شاربها بغول

فليس تضر شاربها بغول

وليس تجر شاربها لذام

وليس تجر شاربها لذام

For it brings its drinker no harmful effects,

It will come to you time and again

It harms not its drinker with madness,

Nor draws its drinker into disgrace.

With reverence and modesty, never fear

Nor does it drag its drinker toward blame.

يطاف عليك من وقت لوقت

يطاف عليك من وقت لوقت

بها بين احتفاء واحتشام

بها بين احتفاء واحتشام

You will be waited upon from time to time

From each pitcher radiates its brilliance

It is circulated to you from time to time,

With it, amid welcome and reverence.

From each cup wafts its fragrance far and near

Amidst celebration and modest grace,

يشع بكل إبريق سناها

يشع بكل إبريق سناها

ويعبق طيبها من كل جام

ويعبق طيبها من كل جام

Its radiance shines from every pitcher,

Before you are the bounties of Paradise

Its brilliance shines from every pitcher,

And its fragrance wafts from every cup.

Tents that are made for you in splendor and cheer

And its fragrance wafts from every goblet.

وبين يديك خيرات حسان

وبين يديك خيرات حسان

قصرن عليك في أبهى الخيام

قصرن عليك في أبهى الخيام

Before you are virtuous, beautiful maidens,

So say what you wish of goodness, comfort

And before you are beautiful bounties,

Reserved for you in the most splendid tents.

And delight, give glad tidings and good cheer

Restricted to you in the most splendid tents.

فقل ما شئت في طيب وأنس

فقل ما شئت في طيب وأنس

وتفكهه وبشر وابتسام

وتفكهه وبشر وابتسام

Say what you will of delight and companionship,

Speak of the great reward that remains

So say what you wish in comfort and companionship,

And its merriment, joy, and smiles.

For those of ambition, valor and persevering tear

And jesting, joy, and smiling.

وقل ما شئت في أجر عظيم

وقل ما شئت في أجر عظيم

يفوز به ذوو الهمم العظام

يفوز به ذوو الهمم العظام

And say what you will of the mighty reward

The stations of men there are diverse

And say what you wish of a great reward,

Won by those of mighty resolve.

So choose nothing less than the highest sphere

Won by those of great and high ambitions.

مقامات الرجال هناك شتى

مقامات الرجال هناك شتى

فلا تختر سوى أعلى مقام

فلا تختر سوى أعلى مقام

The stations of men there are varied;

If the ambitious dreamed the impossible

The stations of men there are various,

Choose none but the highest station.

Nothing would be too hard for ambitious endear

So choose nothing but the highest station.

ولو هم الهمام بمستحيل

ولو هم الهمام بمستحيل

لما استعصى على هم الهمام

لما استعصى على هم الهمام

Were a resolute man to aspire to the impossible,

So raise your gaze above, you’ll find a palace

For if the resolute hero aimed for the impossible,

It would not defy the resolute man's resolve.

Like a star sparkling in the clouds appearing near

It would not resist the resolve of the hero.

فمد الطرف فوقك تلق قصرا

فمد الطرف فوقك تلق قصرا

كمثل النجم يلمع في الغمام

كمثل النجم يلمع في الغمام

Lift your gaze above you and you will find a palace,

It reigns over the fates, not the hills

So cast your gaze above you, and you will find a palace,

Like a star shining in the clouds.

It glows with light, not stones and veneer

Like a star shining within the clouds,

على الأقدار علي لا الروابي

على الأقدار علي لا الروابي

وبالأنوار حلي لا الرخام

وبالأنوار حلي لا الرخام

Raised high by rank, not by hills,

So decide and yearn for it with passion

High in destiny, not merely high like hills,

And adorned with light, not marble.

Hopefully to it you will draw and adhere

And adorned with lights, not with marble.

فمل وانزع اليه هوى وسعيا

فمل وانزع اليه هوى وسعيا

عساك إليه تحظى باستنام

عساك إليه تحظى باستنام

Turn and press toward it with longing and effort;

And anticipate the Night of Power - seize

So lean and yearn toward it with passion and effort,

Perhaps you may gain repose within it.

Its opportunity that you hold so dear

Perhaps you will attain rest therein.

وراقب ليلة القدر أغتناما

وراقب ليلة القدر أغتناما

لفرصتها الجديرة باغتنام

لفرصتها الجديرة باغتنام

Watch for the Night of Decree, seizing

For God has many gifts in it

And watch for the Night of Decree to seize it,

Its opportunity, so worthy of being seized.

Magnificent bounties and favors sincere

For its opportunity is worthy of being seized.

فكم لله فيها من عطايا

فكم لله فيها من عطايا

عظيمات ومن منن جسام

عظيمات ومن منن جسام

How many gifts God grants in it,

The voluntary deeds are selected

For how many gifts God has therein,

Great gifts, and mighty favors!

Sacred, blessed are their winds that blow and veer

Great gifts, and massive favors.

مفضلة النوافل مصطفاة

مفضلة النوافل مصطفاة

مقدسة مباركة النسام

مقدسة مباركة النسام

A chosen night, its voluntary devotions favored,

Its one night is better than a thousand months

It is preferred for voluntary deeds, chosen,

Sanctified, blessed in its breezes.

You are safe throughout until the break of dawn draws near

Sanctified, and blessed in its breezes.

وخير يومها من ألف شهر

وخير يومها من ألف شهر

وأمن كلها حتى التمام

وأمن كلها حتى التمام

The good of its day exceeds a thousand months,

God aims for a source therein

Its day is better than a thousand months,

And all of it is peace until its end.

Hopefully to it you will flow without fear

And it is all safety until its completion.

تيمم موردا لله فيها

تيمم موردا لله فيها

عساك اليه تخلص في الزحام

عساك اليه تخلص في الزحام

Make for a watering place of God within it;

And say to the soul: shame on you, do not slacken

Aim for a watering place for God therein,

Perhaps you may reach it through the throng.

Say to the eye: shame on you, do not sleep nor tire

Perhaps you will reach it through the crowd.

وقل للنفس ويحك لا تكلي

وقل للنفس ويحك لا تكلي

وقل للعين ويحك لا تنامي

وقل للعين ويحك لا تنامي

Tell your soul: woe to you, do not grow weary;

Farewell, for Ramadan calls

And say to the soul: Woe to you, do not tire!

And tell your eye: woe to you, do not sleep.

Above obligations, it rises most premiere

And say to the eye: Woe to you, do not sleep!

وداع إن أتى رمضان يدعو

وداع إن أتى رمضان يدعو

به فوق النواميس النوامي

به فوق النواميس النوامي

When Ramadan arrives, a caller calls

It says to the transgressor: desist

A caller, when Ramadan comes, calls out,

Within it, above the ever-growing laws.

And to the righteous: come forth and persevere

In it, above the growing laws of nature,

يقول به لباغي الشر أقصر

يقول به لباغي الشر أقصر

وباغي الخير أقبل للأمام

وباغي الخير أقبل للأمام

He says to the seeker of evil: desist,

So glad tidings to those who answer its call

He says in it to the seeker of evil: Desist!

And to the seeker of goodness: come forward.

For a downpour of mercy will flood without peer

And to the seeker of good: Come forward!

فبشرى للذي لباه بشرى

فبشرى للذي لباه بشرى

بهطال من الرحمات هامي

بهطال من الرحمات هامي

Glad tidings to whoever answers him—glad tidings

But woe to those who bar it - an outcast fate

So good tidings to the one who answers him, good tidings,

Of a downpour of mercies streaming down.

Awaits you, and shame and pain most severe

Of a pouring rain of mercies, flowing freely.

ويا من صد عنه شقيت حظا

ويا من صد عنه شقيت حظا

وبؤت بكل خزي وانتقام

وبؤت بكل خزي وانتقام

O you who turned away from him, wretched is your lot,

I see you followed misguidance in life

And O you who turned away from it, you have been wretched in luck,

And you have incurred every disgrace and retribution.

Terrible discord, evil and drear

And have incurred all disgrace and vengeance.

أراك تبعت في الدنيا فئاما

أراك تبعت في الدنيا فئاما

خوالف بئسما هم من فئام

خوالف بئسما هم من فئام

I see you followed in this world a host

How many secretly break their fast

I see you have followed crowds in this world,

Of laggards—what a wretched host they are!

Without faith, violated pledges they tear

Laggards—and how evil a group they are.

وكم من مفطر في القوم سرا

وكم من مفطر في القوم سرا

عديم الدين منهتك الذمام

عديم الدين منهتك الذمام

How many among the people secretly break the fast,

They hide their faces in the home’s corner

How many a person breaks the fast among the people secretly,

Devoid of religion, their honor violated,

Devouring food with gluttony most clear

Devoid of religion, violating the sacred trust.

يواري وجهه في ركن بيت

يواري وجهه في ركن بيت

ويزدرد المآكل بالتهام

ويزدرد المآكل بالتهام

Hiding their faces in a corner of a house,

Do they not know that Allah knows

He hides his face in the corner of a house,

And gulping down food voraciously.

The creeping of ants in darkness’ sphere?

And swallows food with gluttony.

ألم يعلم بأن الله يدري

ألم يعلم بأن الله يدري

دبيب النمل في جنح الظلام؟

دبيب النمل في جنح الظلام؟

Does such a person not know that God perceives

He decreed as He willed regarding creation

Does he not know that God knows,

The creeping of ants in the depths of darkness?

No injustice occurred in judgment severe

The crawling of ants in the covering of darkness?

قضى ما شاء في الخلق احتكاما

قضى ما شاء في الخلق احتكاما

فلم يجحف بحق في احتكام

فلم يجحف بحق في احتكام

He decreed what He willed for creation as its ruler,

He perfected everything made by Him

He decreed what He willed in creation with judgment,

And infringed no right in His judgment.

And proportioned all things - nothing left unclear

And was not unjust regarding any right in His judgment.

وأتقن كل شيء منه صنعا

وأتقن كل شيء منه صنعا

وقدر كل شيء بانتظام

وقدر كل شيء بانتظام

He perfected the workmanship of everything in it,

Man was not created complete

He perfected the making of everything He created,

And ordained everything in order.

Only to be left aimless without rein or steer

And measured all things with order.

فلم يستكمل الإنسان خلقا

فلم يستكمل الإنسان خلقا

ليتركه سدى طلق الزمام

ليتركه سدى طلق الزمام

He did not bring man's creation to completion

So observe the fast of the generous - it accrues

He did not complete man's creation,

To leave him aimless, with his reins let loose.

A bountiful reward - unlike the fast of those who leer

To leave him in vain, with loose reins.

فصم صوم الكرام يثبك أجرا

فصم صوم الكرام يثبك أجرا

كريما لا تصم صوم اللئام

كريما لا تصم صوم اللئام

Fast as the noble fast, and He will grant you a reward

When Ramadan comes they fall

So fast the fast of the noble, He will reward you,

Generous indeed; do not fast as the base do.

Upon their desires, passion’s slaves most dear

Generously; do not fast the fast of the base.

اذا ما جاءهم رمضان خروا

اذا ما جاءهم رمضان خروا

على شهواتهم صرعى غرام

على شهواتهم صرعى غرام

When Ramadan comes to them, they fall

Their fasting was cause for unity

When Ramadan comes to them, they fall down,

Upon their desires, struck down by passion.

But opposing it brought division and spear

Upon their desires, victims of passion.

وكان صيامهم سبب اتحاد

وكان صيامهم سبب اتحاد

فصار بخلفهم سبب انقسام

فصار بخلفهم سبب انقسام

Their fasting once brought unity,

One group fasted a day before another

Their fasting used to be a cause of unity,

But through their discord it became a cause of division.

They remained in conflict and hostility most drear

But became, through their disagreement, a cause of division.

فرهط صام يوما قبل رهط

فرهط صام يوما قبل رهط

وظلوا في جدال واحتدام

وظلوا في جدال واحتدام

One group fasted a day before another,

They saw the days of their fast as long

So a group fasted a day before another group,

And they remained in argument and heated strife.

So they wasted them in play or sleep’s caressing snare

And they remained in argument and heat.

رأوا أيام صومهم طوالا

رأوا أيام صومهم طوالا

فأفنوها بلغو أو منام

فأفنوها بلغو أو منام

They found their fasting days long,

The substance of their fast was thirst and hunger

They saw their fasting days as long,

And spent them away in idle talk or sleep.

They have nothing else that makes their fast sincere

So they wasted them in idle talk or sleep.

قوام صيامهم ظمأ وجوع

قوام صيامهم ظمأ وجوع

لهم ما غير ذلك من قوام

لهم ما غير ذلك من قوام

Thirst and hunger are the substance of their fast;

How many well-fed amongst them

The substance of their fasting is only thirst and hunger,

They have no substance beyond that.

Moan beside the starving whose form ghosts appear

For them, there is no other substance but that.

وكم من طاعم ريان منهم

وكم من طاعم ريان منهم

يئن بجنبه جوعان ظامي

يئن بجنبه جوعان ظامي

How many among them are well fed and well quenched,

Alas, the poor man's cries are lost to hunger

How many a well-fed, quenched one among them,

While beside them a hungry, thirsty man moans!

No protector amongst the throngs does he find near

While groaning at his side is a hungry, thirsty one.

فياويح الفقير يضيع جوعا

فياويح الفقير يضيع جوعا

وليس له من الأقوام حامي

وليس له من الأقوام حامي

Alas for the poor man, wasting away with hunger,

He circles the garbage, hoping for

So woe to the poor man, wasting away from hunger,

With no protector among the people.

Bread crumbs or pieces of bone that he holds so dear

With no protector for him among the people.

يطوف على المزابل حيث يرجو

يطوف على المزابل حيث يرجو

فتات الخبز أو قطع العظام

فتات الخبز أو قطع العظام

He roams the rubbish heaps, hoping for

If not for hunger, he would not dig through trash

He roams the garbage dumps hoping to find,

Crumbs of bread or fragments of bone.

Nor yearn for what filth and refuse appear

Crumbs of bread or pieces of bone.

ولولا الجوع لم ينبش قماما

ولولا الجوع لم ينبش قماما

ولم يشتق الى ما في القمام

ولم يشتق الى ما في القمام

But for hunger he would not dig through refuse,

He may roam the alleys begging

Were it not for hunger, he would not dig through trash,

Nor yearn for what lies in the rubbish.

Deprived of scraps by the masters of such sphere

And would not yearn for what is in the refuse.

وقد يطوى الأزقة مستميحا

وقد يطوى الأزقة مستميحا

فيحرمه الحطام ذوو الحطام

فيحرمه الحطام ذوو الحطام

He may traverse the alleys begging,

He may come to doors where they cower in fear

He may traverse the alleys begging,

And those with wealth deny him even scraps.

Like ostriches, from him the children steer

But the owners of worldly trifles deny him a pittance.

وقد يأتي البيوت بها فتخشى

وقد يأتي البيوت بها فتخشى

ذراريها وتجفل كالنعام

ذراريها وتجفل كالنعام

He may come to the houses there, and fright seizes

Given broth without bread

He may come to the houses, and there fear,

Their children, who scatter like ostriches.

Or bread without broth - no mercy draws near

Their children, fleeing like startled ostriches.

وقد يعطى الإدام بلا رغيف

وقد يعطى الإدام بلا رغيف

وقد يعطى الرغيف بلا ادام

وقد يعطى الرغيف بلا ادام

He may be given a relish without a loaf,

Afflictions like arrows were shot and silenced

He might be given sauce without bread,

And he may be given a loaf without any relish.

Lands like targets for arrows that veered

Or be given the bread without sauce.

مآس كالسهام رمت فأصمت

مآس كالسهام رمت فأصمت

بلادا مثل أهداف السهام

بلادا مثل أهداف السهام

Tragedies, like arrows, have struck and dealt death

And misery that leaves the guts

Tragedies like arrows, they shot and struck,

To lands like targets for arrows.

Shriveling in turmoil and fear

Lands that are like targets for the arrows.

وبؤس يترك الأحشاء منا

وبؤس يترك الأحشاء منا

جوائش في اضطراب واضطرام

جوائش في اضطراب واضطرام

And misery leaves our very entrails

Come to charity, my people, come

And misery that leaves our insides,

Heaving in turmoil and burning.

Through charity, your highest goals draw near

Agitated in turmoil and burning.

تعالوا للندى قومي تعالوا

تعالوا للندى قومي تعالوا

تنالوا بالندى أقصى المرام

تنالوا بالندى أقصى المرام

Come to generosity, my people, come!

Come aid the fallen and wounded

Come to generosity, my people, come,

Through generosity you will attain your highest aim.

Perhaps his wounds will begin to heal and clear

You will attain by generosity the utmost desire.

تعالوا نأس مطرحا جريحا

تعالوا نأس مطرحا جريحا

لعل لجرحه وشك التئام

لعل لجرحه وشك التئام

Come, let us heal a wounded man cast aside;

Meet through charity one near dead

Come, let us heal a wounded one cast aside,

Perhaps his wound may soon close.

As if his place is the grave that appeared

Perhaps his wound is close to healing.

تلافوا بالندى حيا كميت

تلافوا بالندى حيا كميت

كأن محله بعض الرجام

كأن محله بعض الرجام

Rescue through generosity a living man like the dead,

Help the poor - a lion, not a lamb

Rescue with generosity a living one who is like the dead,

As though his dwelling were one of the stone cairns.

Shield yourselves from all calamities severe

As if his place is among the gravestones.

ألا فتدرعوا من كل بلوى

ألا فتدرعوا من كل بلوى

بإسعاف الفقير أسد لام

بإسعاف الفقير أسد لام

Take heed: armor yourselves against every affliction

My brother in Islam, I make you my brother in faith

Oh, shield yourselves from every calamity,

By aiding the poor, the soundest armor.

Your fast therein is a pillar and tier

By aiding the poor with the strongest armor.

أخا الإسلام قد آخيت دينا

أخا الإسلام قد آخيت دينا

صيامك فيه رابعة الدعام

صيامك فيه رابعة الدعام

Brother in Islam, you have embraced a religion

Ramadan has come, the most venerated month

O brother of Islam, you have fraternized with a religion,

In which your fasting is the fourth pillar.

Stand in it firmly pulling the reins to steer

In which your fasting is the fourth pillar.

أتى رمضان وهو أجل شهر

أتى رمضان وهو أجل شهر

أقمه لكبح نفسك كاللجام

أقمه لكبح نفسك كاللجام

Ramadan has come, the noblest month;

Vice spreads within it, so fasting's acceptance

Ramadan has come, and it is the most glorious month,

Observe it as a bridle to curb your soul.

Hopes fade except with utmost care and fear

Establish it to curb your soul like a bridle.

تحام الفسق فيه فليس يرجى

تحام الفسق فيه فليس يرجى

قبول الصوم الا بالتحامي

قبول الصوم الا بالتحامي

Shun wrongdoing in it, for one cannot hope

When one of evil intends you evil

Avoid immorality in it, for there is no hope,

For acceptance of fasting except through such restraint.

To ignite enmity and feud most drear

Of the fast's acceptance except by avoidance of sin.

اذا راماك ذو سوء بسوء

اذا راماك ذو سوء بسوء

لإضرام العداء فلا ترام

لإضرام العداء فلا ترام

If an evil person assails you with evil

Do not oppress the poor with rebuke

If a person of evil targets you with evil,

To kindle enmity, do not retaliate.

Nor oppress the lowly with accusations severe

To kindle enmity, do not target him back.

ولا تظلم فقيرا بانتهار

ولا تظلم فقيرا بانتهار

ولا تظلم حقيرا باتهام

ولا تظلم حقيرا باتهام

Do not wrong a poor man with harsh rebukes,

I’ve seen the pain of people's contempt

Do not wrong a poor man by rebuking him,

Nor wrong a lowly man with accusations.

Worse upon them than death - the fate most blear

And do not wrong a lowly man with accusation.

رأيت أذى احتقار الناس أقسى

رأيت أذى احتقار الناس أقسى

عليهم من أذى الموت الزؤام

عليهم من أذى الموت الزؤام

I have found the pain of people's humiliation harsher

So be gentle to all people, kind

I have seen the pain of people's scorn as harsher,

For them than the pain of dreadful death.

Meek - do not be harsh and austere

Upon them than the pain of sudden death.

فكن هينا لكل الناس لينا

فكن هينا لكل الناس لينا

وديعا لا تكن صلب العرام

وديعا لا تكن صلب العرام

Be gentle and mild with everyone,

Meet every insult and slander

So be easy-going to all people, soft,

Meek; do not be hard and fierce.

From tongues like unsheathed swords that shear

Gentle; do not be hard and fierce.

وقابل بالتجمل كل قذف

وقابل بالتجمل كل قذف

وطعن من لسان كالحسام

وطعن من لسان كالحسام

Meet with gracious composure every slander

Grudges will be dispelled after a time

Meet with grace every insult,

And thrust from a tongue like a sword.

Hearts will yearn for accord and draw near

And every stab from a tongue sharp as a sword.

ستنجاب الضغائن بعد حين

ستنجاب الضغائن بعد حين

وتشتاق القلوب الى الوئام

وتشتاق القلوب الى الوئام

Rancor will lift after a while,

How can a gathering tending enmity

Grudges will clear away after a while,

And hearts will yearn for harmony.

Inclined to malice, hope for love sincere?

And hearts will yearn for harmony.

وكيف يميل للهجران جمع

وكيف يميل للهجران جمع

يهدد بالنوى أو الحمام؟

يهدد بالنوى أو الحمام؟

How can a people incline toward estrangement

Be patient a moment, endure a little

For how can a group incline toward abandonment,

When threatened by separation or death?

For all tribulations approach their end, 'tis clear

When threatened by separation or death?

تمهل برهة واصبر قليلا

تمهل برهة واصبر قليلا

فكل النائبات الى انهزام

فكل النائبات الى انهزام

Wait a moment and be patient a little;

The world is but a cradle of trials

Wait a moment and be patient a little,

Every calamity is bound to retreat.

For our souls, a field for endeavor most dear

For all calamities are destined for defeat.

وما الدنيا سوى مهد ابتلاء

وما الدنيا سوى مهد ابتلاء

لأنفسنا وميدان اقتحام

لأنفسنا وميدان اقتحام

This world is but a cradle of trials

We believers are its archers

The world is nothing but a cradle of trial,

For our souls, and a field of bold assault.

To noble goals, exalted tier

For our souls, and a field of storming battle.

ونحن المؤمنين بها رماة

ونحن المؤمنين بها رماة

الى قاص من الأهداف سامي

الى قاص من الأهداف سامي

And we believers are archers in it,

Our duty is seeking righteousness in it

And we, the believers in it, are archers,

Aiming at a distant, lofty target.

Our aim is a good end - this vision we spear

Aiming at a distant, lofty target.

مهمتنا التماس البر فيها

مهمتنا التماس البر فيها

وغايتنا بها حسن الختام

وغايتنا بها حسن الختام

Our task is to seek goodness within it,

Our mission is to seek righteousness within it,

Our goal in it is a good ending.

And our goal through it is a beautiful ending.