تحر أساس العدل إن كنت شائدا

تحر أساس العدل إن كنت شائدا

فما كان طاغ قائم الركن سائدا

فما كان طاغ قائم الركن سائدا

Seek a foundation of justice if you would build;

If you are a witness, investigate the basis of justice

Investigate the foundation of justice if you are building,

For no tyrant ever ruled on a firm foundation.

For no oppression can stand while justice prevails

For no tyrant, though his pillars stand tall, ever prevails.

تنفس فجر الحق حولك صادقا

تنفس فجر الحق حولك صادقا

أغر فما غر العيون الرواقدا؟

أغر فما غر العيون الرواقدا؟

Truth's dawn has breathed around you, true,

Breathe the dawn of truth around you, truthfully

The dawn of truth breathes around you faithfully,

Radiant—what, then, has deceived the slumbering eyes?

Does the eye of the sleeper see when tempted?

Blazing bright—so what has deceived the sleeping eyes?

وما بال أفناء الحضارة أقفرت

وما بال أفناء الحضارة أقفرت

من الانس واكتضت وحوشا أوابدا

من الانس واكتضت وحوشا أوابدا

And why have civilization's precincts grown desolate

Why are the streets of civilization deserted

Why have the courtyards of civilization become desolate

Of human company, and filled with untamed beasts?

Of people and overrun by wild beasts?

Of humanity, and crowded instead with wild, roaming beasts?

وما بال ورقاء الحمى مستطارة

وما بال ورقاء الحمى مستطارة

يطاردها نيف وسبعون صائدا؟

يطاردها نيف وسبعون صائدا؟

And why is the sanctuary's gray dove panic-stricken,

Why are the meadows of protection set ablaze

And what ails the dove of the sanctuary, flying in terror,

With seventy-odd hunters pursuing her?

With seventy hunters chasing them?

Chased by some seventy hunters?

على أنها بين النبال سليمة

على أنها بين النبال سليمة

فما عدمت عنها من الله ذائدا

فما عدمت عنها من الله ذائدا

Yet she remains unharmed amid the arrows,

Yet it is safe from arrows

Yet amidst the arrows she remains unharmed,

For she has not lacked a defender from God.

For God protects it from all harm

For she has never lacked a defender sent by God.

أرى غلمة تذكي من النار فتنة

أرى غلمة تذكي من النار فتنة

وتسدى شباكا للأذى ومكائدا

وتسدى شباكا للأذى ومكائدا

I see youths kindling fiery discord,

I see an igniting strife like embers

I see youths stoking sedition from the fire,

And weaving nets for harm and plots;

Setting traps of harm and conspiracies

Weaving nets for harm and setting schemes,

وجوا من الغارات أغبر عاصفا

وجوا من الغارات أغبر عاصفا

بكل جناح بارق السحب راعدا

بكل جناح بارق السحب راعدا

And a sky of raids, dust-dark and stormy,

Raids come raging like a dusty storm

And an atmosphere of raids, dusty and stormy,

On every side, its clouds flashing and thundering.

With lightning flashing from every wing

With every cloud-wing flashing lightning and thunder.

وفي كل مغنى رنة ومناحة

وفي كل مغنى رنة ومناحة

وشكوى بلا جدوى تذيب الجلامدا

وشكوى بلا جدوى تذيب الجلامدا

And in every dwelling, wailing and mourning,

In every valley, there is singing and groaning

In every dwelling there is wailing and lamentation,

And fruitless complaint that melts the hardest rocks.

And fruitless complaints that melt the ice

And futile complaints that could melt solid rock.

وأفجر أعداء البلاد خصومة

وأفجر أعداء البلاد خصومة

أقارب تستعدي عليها الأباعدا

أقارب تستعدي عليها الأباعدا

And the country's most vicious enemies in their hostility

The enemies of the nation provoke a feud

The most wicked enemies of the country in a dispute

Are kinsmen who enlist outsiders against her.

Turning even kinsmen into strangers

Are relatives inciting outsiders against it.

غذيري من ذي عادة وثنية

غذيري من ذي عادة وثنية

يحيل على الإسلام فيها الشواهدا

يحيل على الإسلام فيها الشواهدا

Who will defend me against one with a pagan custom,

Clouds of pagan custom that try

Bear with me regarding one with pagan habits,

Who invokes Islam for evidence in its support?

To find proof in Islam for their ways

Who twists the evidence against Islam therein.

هلم إلينا أيها الخصم نحتكم

هلم إلينا أيها الخصم نحتكم

إليه ونستعرض عليه العوائدا

إليه ونستعرض عليه العوائدا

Come to us, adversary; let us appeal

Come to us, oh adversary, let us appeal

Come to us, O adversary, let us seek judgment

To it for judgment, and lay our customs before it.

To it and examine traditions

Before Him, and review the customs together.

فما كان منها سنة كان صالحا

فما كان منها سنة كان صالحا

وما كان منها بدعة كان فاسدا

وما كان منها بدعة كان فاسدا

Whatever among them is Sunnah is sound,

What was a Sunnah was righteous

Whatever is of the Tradition is righteous,

And whatever among them is innovation is corrupt.

And what was an innovation was corrupt

And whatever is an innovation is corrupt.

أضلك ليل من هوى بت ترتمى

أضلك ليل من هوى بت ترتمى

مصادر في ظلمائه ومواردا

مصادر في ظلمائه ومواردا

Desire's night has led you astray; all night you fling yourself

You were misguided by a night of passion

A night of passion has misled you; you spend the night tossed about,

Through ways out and ways in, amid its darkness.

Rushing into its darkness and channels

Entering and leaving through its darkness.

ولا صبح إلا سنة نبوية

ولا صبح إلا سنة نبوية

فمحص بها الآراء واجل المقاصدا

فمحص بها الآراء واجل المقاصدا

And no dawn exists save the Prophet's Sunnah;

Until the dawn of the Prophetic Sunnah

There is no morning save the Prophetic Way,

So sift opinions by it, and make intentions clear.

By which to refine ideas and achieve goals

So examine opinions by it and clarify your aims.

وحولك أسياف لها وأسنة

وحولك أسياف لها وأسنة

تقارع عنها المحدثات الزوائدا

تقارع عنها المحدثات الزوائدا

And around you are swords and spearheads in its service,

Around you are swords and tongues

Around you are swords drawn for it, and spearheads,

Battling in its defense against superfluous innovations:

To defend it from heretical additions

Battling away the superfluous innovations.

رجالات إخلاص لها ومبرة

رجالات إخلاص لها ومبرة

بها وذوو عزم يدك الشدائدا

بها وذوو عزم يدك الشدائدا

Stalwart men of devotion to it and dutiful care

Sincere and righteous men of principle

Men of sincerity towards it and devotion,

For it, and of resolve that crushes hardships.

Who can endure hardships

Possessing resolve that crushes hardships.

يريدون وجه الله فيما تسننوا

يريدون وجه الله فيما تسننوا

به لا يريدودن الرشى والفوائدا

به لا يريدودن الرشى والفوائدا

They seek God's countenance in what they have taken

Seeking only God's approval in what they practice

They desire the face of God in what they follow,

As their practice; they seek neither bribes nor gains.

Not desiring bribes or rewards

Through it, they seek neither bribes nor benefits.

وما الناس إلا كالنقود فزنهم

وما الناس إلا كالنقود فزنهم

بنياتهم إن كنت للناس ناقدا

بنياتهم إن كنت للناس ناقدا

And people are only like coins, so weigh them

People are but as coins, so weigh them

People are but like coins, so weigh them

By their intentions, if you would assay humankind.

By their intentions if you assay them

By their intentions, if you are a critic of men.

وحسبك من سعى ابن آدم كاشف

وحسبك من سعى ابن آدم كاشف

عن القصد مهما كان للقصد جاحدا

عن القصد مهما كان للقصد جاحدا

And the son of Adam's striving suffices to reveal to you

It suffices that the efforts of man reveal

It suffices you that a man’s striving reveals

His purpose, however much he may deny it.

Their aims regardless of their denial

His intent, even if he denies that intent.

أفدني فما تعيى الحقيقة جاهلا

أفدني فما تعيى الحقيقة جاهلا

يحاول تمحيص الحقيقة جاهدا

يحاول تمحيص الحقيقة جاهدا

Enlighten me, for truth does not baffle an ignorant person

So enlighten me, for the truth is not wearied

Inform me—for truth does not baffle the ignorant one

Who strives earnestly to sift the truth.

By the ignorant who diligently seek it

Who attempts to examine the truth diligently—

أفدني برأي في النيابات هل حوت

أفدني برأي في النيابات هل حوت

أساود في قاعاتها أم وسائدا؟

أساود في قاعاتها أم وسائدا؟

Give me your view of the representative councils: do they house

Enlighten me with your view on parliaments

Inform me your view on the parliaments: do they contain

Black serpents in their halls, or cushions?

Do they contain lions or foxes?

Vipers in their halls, or merely cushions?

وإلا فما تلك السموم التي سرت

وإلا فما تلك السموم التي سرت

فمن ذاق منها طأطأ الرأس هامدا؟

فمن ذاق منها طأطأ الرأس هامدا؟

And if not, what are those poisons that have spread,

Or else what are those poisons that have spread

Otherwise, what are these poisons that have spread,

So that whoever tasted them bowed his head, lifeless?

Such that those who taste them bow their heads?

So that whoever tastes them bows his head, lifeless?

ألم يأتها أن المعابد حجرت

ألم يأتها أن المعابد حجرت

على الذاكرين العامرين المعابدا؟

على الذاكرين العامرين المعابدا؟

Has word not reached them that places of worship are barred

Is it not time for the places of worship

Has news not reached them that temples were barred

To those who remember God and keep the sanctuaries full?

To open for those remembering and worshipping?

Against the worshippers who populate the shrines?

وكم من مئاو أو مكاتب عطلت

وكم من مئاو أو مكاتب عطلت

على أنها تهدى البنين المراشدا

على أنها تهدى البنين المراشدا

And how many shelters or schools have been closed,

And how many schools or offices are closed

How many shelters or schools have been shut down,

Though they guide boys toward the right paths.

Though supposedly guiding youth?

Even though they guide the sons to right paths?

فيا نائبا ناب البلاد بحادث

فيا نائبا ناب البلاد بحادث

وخلف شعبا قائما فيه قاعدا

وخلف شعبا قائما فيه قاعدا

So, O deputy, who brought disaster upon the country,

So parliamentarian who represents the nation

O deputy who afflicted the country with a calamity,

And left a people standing while you sat idle among them:

And presides over a people with a chief

Leaving a people standing amidst it, yet idle,

على أي ظهر كنت سوطك منزلا

على أي ظهر كنت سوطك منزلا

وفي أي نحر كنت سيفك غامدا

وفي أي نحر كنت سيفك غامدا

On whose back were you bringing down your whip,

On which back did you place your whip

Upon whose back were you bringing down your whip?

And in whose throat were you sheathing your sword?

And in which neck did you sheathe your sword?

And into whose throat were you sheathing your sword?

ومالك ترغي في النيابة موعدا

ومالك ترغي في النيابة موعدا

ألم تك من قبل النيابة واعدا

ألم تك من قبل النيابة واعدا

And why do you foam with threats in office?

Why do you long for a term in parliament

Why do you froth at the mouth in parliament with threats?

Were you not making promises before taking office?

Were you not before that coveting it?

Were you not, before becoming a deputy, full of promises?

ويا مجلس النواب إنك قاطع

ويا مجلس النواب إنك قاطع

يدا كنت منها لو تبينت ساعدا

يدا كنت منها لو تبينت ساعدا

O assembly of deputies, you are cutting off

And assembly of representatives indeed you have

O Parliament, you are severing

A hand whose forearm you were—if only you understood.

Cut off a hand you could have helped with

A hand of which—if you realized—you were the forearm.

فويحك ما هذا الجفاء الذي طغى

فويحك ما هذا الجفاء الذي طغى

عليك فلم تنفك كالصخرجامدا

عليك فلم تنفك كالصخرجامدا

Woe to you! What is this callousness that has overwhelmed

Woe to you, what is this disdain that has prevailed

Woe to you! What is this harshness that has overwhelmed you,

You, so that you have remained rigid as rock?

Upon you so that you remained rigid as a rock?

So you remain unyielding, like solid rock?

تلمس فيك العون شعبك حائرا

تلمس فيك العون شعبك حائرا

ولما تزل عن عون شعبك حائدا

ولما تزل عن عون شعبك حائدا

Your people sought your help, bewildered,

Your people seek your aid in confusion

Your people sought help in you, bewildered,

Yet still you turn away from helping your people.

Yet you stray from aiding your people

Yet you cease not to deviate from aiding your people.

دعا واستعان ابن البلاد فليته

دعا واستعان ابن البلاد فليته

دعا مستجيبا واستعان مساعدا

دعا مستجيبا واستعان مساعدا

The son of the land called and sought help—if only he

The son of the nation calls and seeks help

The son of the land called out and sought help; would that he

Had called one who answered, and sought aid from a helper!

If only he called one responding and sought one helping!

Had called a responder and sought help from a helper.

ويا دولة سادت على الأرض حقبة

ويا دولة سادت على الأرض حقبة

وشادت على أس الاخاء المحامدا

وشادت على أس الاخاء المحامدا

O state that held sway on earth for an age,

And O exalted state that ruled an era

O State that held sovereignty over the earth for an era,

And built its glories on the foundation of brotherhood:

And built the highest brotherly praise

And built praiseworthy deeds upon the foundation of brotherhood,

عهدناك قدما دولة لائكية

عهدناك قدما دولة لائكية

فكيف حرمت المسلمين المساجدا؟

فكيف حرمت المسلمين المساجدا؟

We knew you of old as a secular state;

We knew you once as a secular state

We knew you of old as a secular state,

How, then, have you barred Muslims from the mosques?

So why deprive Muslims of mosques?

But how did you come to forbid Muslims the mosques?

ولا تنكري حول الإدارات أنة

ولا تنكري حول الإدارات أنة

وعتبا وشعبا بين ذلك واجدا

وعتبا وشعبا بين ذلك واجدا

And do not deny the groaning around the administrative offices,

Do not deny that there is blaming and reproaching

Do not deny the groans around the administrations,

And reproach, and a people amid it all aggrieved.

And people finding fault with this

And the blame, and a people amidst that, full of grief.

وردي علينا الذكر في كل مسجد

وردي علينا الذكر في كل مسجد

 فما زال فرضا في المساجد آكدا

فما زال فرضا في المساجد آكدا

And restore to us the remembrance of God in every mosque;

Return to us the licit in every mosque

Return the Remembrance to us in every mosque,

For it remains a most binding duty in the mosques.

For that is still a confirmed duty in mosques

For it remains a confirmed obligation within the mosques.

ثقي أن بيت الله ما دام معبدا

ثقي أن بيت الله ما دام معبدا

لنا تحت حكم الله ما دام واحدا

لنا تحت حكم الله ما دام واحدا

Be sure that God's house, so long as it remains a place of worship,

Trust that as long as God's house is a place of worship

Trust that the House of God, as long as it is worshipped in,

Is ours under God's rule, so long as He is One.

Under God’s rule as long as He is One

Is ours under God's rule, as long as He is One.

ويا أيها الداعي إلى الله لا تهن

ويا أيها الداعي إلى الله لا تهن

ولا يك في البأساء صبرك نافدا

ولا يك في البأساء صبرك نافدا

O you who call to God, do not weaken,

And O you who call to God, do not despair

O you who call to God, do not weaken,

Nor let your patience be exhausted in hardship.

Nor let your patience in woes be exhausted

And let not your patience run dry in adversity.

تعز بوفد اليسر بعد فإنني

تعز بوفد اليسر بعد فإنني

أرى اليسر بعد العسر لا شك وافدا

أرى اليسر بعد العسر لا شك وافدا

Take comfort in ease's coming afterward, for I

Be gladdened that ease comes after hardship

Take comfort in the arrival of ease hereafter, for I

See ease arriving after hardship, beyond all doubt.

For I see ease coming after hardship no doubt

See ease coming after hardship, without doubt.

وفي سبل الدنيا زبى ومصاعد

وفي سبل الدنيا زبى ومصاعد

فسر حيث لا تلقى الزبى والمصائدا

فسر حيث لا تلقى الزبى والمصائدا

And on the world's paths lie pitfalls and ascents;

And in the ways of life are downs and ups

In the paths of the world are pitfalls and ascents,

So walk where you encounter neither pits nor snares.

So go where you will not meet downs or traps

So walk where you do not encounter the pitfalls and traps.

تصادف إقبالا من الشعب رائجا

تصادف إقبالا من الشعب رائجا

وتصحب توفيقا من الله زائدا

وتصحب توفيقا من الله زائدا

You will meet with widespread support from the people,

You will find a thriving acceptance from the people

You will meet widespread welcome from the people,

And be accompanied by ever-growing success from God.

And accompanying success from God even more

And be accompanied by increasing success from God.

ويا أيها الشعب اتخذ لك أعينا

ويا أيها الشعب اتخذ لك أعينا

من الحزم واستشرف حقوقك ناشدا

من الحزم واستشرف حقوقك ناشدا

And O people, give yourself eyes

And O people, take wisdom as your eyes

O people, acquire for yourselves eyes

Of prudence, and look toward your rights, seeking them.

And ascertain your rights directly

Of determination, and look out for your rights, seeking them.

ومن أخذل الخذلان أنك فاقد

ومن أخذل الخذلان أنك فاقد

ولاءك مزهو بكونك فاقدا

ولاءك مزهو بكونك فاقدا

And among the most abject failures is that you have lost

Whoever forfeits his allegiance boasts

It is the most shameful of failures that you are losing

Your allegiance, yet are proud to be without it.

Of losing it and being forfeited

Your loyalty, while proud of being lost.

تناس أو انس الحقد وامش سوية

تناس أو انس الحقد وامش سوية

على المهل لا تعتص عليه معاندا

على المهل لا تعتص عليه معاندا

Forget rancor, in pretense or in truth, and walk straight,

Forget and make others forget hatred

Forget or ignore malice, and walk straight,

At a measured pace; do not stubbornly defy it.

And walk straight without stubborn resistance

Deliberately; do not stubbornly rebel against it.

وكن حيث كان الحق تخلد خلوده

وكن حيث كان الحق تخلد خلوده

وما كان غير الحق في الأرض خالدا

وما كان غير الحق في الأرض خالدا

And stand wherever truth stands; you will last as it lasts,

And be where truth eternally dwells

And be where the Truth is, you will be immortalized with its eternity,

For nothing but truth is everlasting on earth.

While falsehood endures not on earth

For nothing on earth is immortal other than the Truth.