يا سعْدُ هلْ عن أهَيْل النجدِ أخبار

يا سعْدُ هلْ عن أهَيْل النجدِ أخبار

فللأحاديث إقبالٌ وإدبارُ

فللأحاديث إقبالٌ وإدبارُ

O Sa'd, is there news of the dear folk of Najd?

O Saad! Do you have news of the people of Najd?

For tidings have their coming and their going.

For stories come and go.

حَدّث عليَّ بما قالوا لتطربني

حَدّث عليَّ بما قالوا لتطربني

فقد رضَيتُ بما قالوا وإن جاروا

فقد رضَيتُ بما قالوا وإن جاروا

Tell me what they said, to delight me.

Tell me what they said to delight me,

For I am content with what they said, even if they were unjust.

Though I’m content with whatever they say, be it pleasant or harsh.

هُمُ الأحبّةُ إن شطوا وإن قربوا

هُمُ الأحبّةُ إن شطوا وإن قربوا

لانهم لبقاعِ الأرضِ أنوْارُ

لانهم لبقاعِ الأرضِ أنوْارُ

They are the beloved, whether they go far away or draw near.

They are loved ones, whether they draw near or keep their distance,

For they are lights to the regions of the earth.

For they are the lights of the earth’s regions.

أن يذكرونا كذكرانا لهم فلقد

أن يذكرونا كذكرانا لهم فلقد

حَلوا القلوبَ وسَارتْ حيثُ مَا ساروا

حَلوا القلوبَ وسَارتْ حيثُ مَا ساروا

That they remember us as we remember them—for indeed

That they mention us as we mention them - their hearts are sweetened

they have dwelt in hearts, which journeyed wherever they went.

Wherever they roamed.

انْ قربونا فبالتقريب قد عُرِفُوا

انْ قربونا فبالتقريب قد عُرِفُوا

أو آثرونا فشَرطُ القومِ إيثارُ

أو آثرونا فشَرطُ القومِ إيثارُ

If they bring us close, they are already known for bringing others close.

If they draw near, it’s by drawing near they’re known,

Or if they put us first, putting others first is these people's rule.

Or if they prefer us, preference is the mark of the people.

يا سَعْدُ يا سَعد أذّن بالرحيل وقل

يا سَعْدُ يا سَعد أذّن بالرحيل وقل

أنّ المحبَ لمنْ يهواه زَوَّارُ

أنّ المحبَ لمنْ يهواه زَوَّارُ

O Sa'd, O Sa'd, announce departure, and say

O Saad, O Saad, announce our departure and say

that the lover is a frequent visitor to the one he loves.

The lover is wont to visit whom he adores.

وأنت يا حادي الأظعَان غنِّ لنا

وأنت يا حادي الأظعَان غنِّ لنا

لنقطعَ البيدَ والسّمَّارُ سُمَّارُ

لنقطعَ البيدَ والسّمَّارُ سُمَّارُ

And you, O driver of the camel litters, sing for us,

And you, O guide of the camels, sing to us

so we may cross the wastelands, while the night companions are at their nightly talk.

So we may leave the waste behind, a desolate expanse.

حَتّى إذا شاهدت شطى عواجة قف

حَتّى إذا شاهدت شطى عواجة قف

وانزل بها فبهالله أسرارُ

وانزل بها فبهالله أسرارُ

Until, when you see the two banks of 'Awajah, stop,

Until, when you see the winding valleys of Awaqa, stop

and alight there, for God has mysteries within it.

And descend, for secrets lie therein.

وَطُفْ سُبوعاً وكَررْ في شوارعها

وَطُفْ سُبوعاً وكَررْ في شوارعها

كيلا تمسك فيها النار والعارُ

كيلا تمسك فيها النار والعارُ

And make seven circuits, and go repeatedly through its streets,

Circle a week, going through its streets

lest fire and disgrace touch you there.

Lest fire and shame cling to them.

ونادِ يا ابنَ الحسين يا أخا خَضِر

ونادِ يا ابنَ الحسين يا أخا خَضِر

إنّا لكم دون كلّ الناسِ أنوارُ

إنّا لكم دون كلّ الناسِ أنوارُ

And call out: O son of al-Husayn, O brother of Khadir,

Call out, "O son of Hussein, O green brother,

indeed, we are lights for you, to the exclusion of all other people.

We are your lights above all people."

وَمِل إلى سِرّ توحيد الآله وقف

وَمِل إلى سِرّ توحيد الآله وقف

عند القبورِ ودمعُ العين مدرارُ

عند القبورِ ودمعُ العين مدرارُ

And turn toward the mystery of God's oneness, and stand

Incline to the secret of divine oneness and stop

beside the graves, with the eye's tears pouring down.

At the tombs with tears flowing freely.

اسْتَنْقذونا فانا غَرسُ نعمتكم

اسْتَنْقذونا فانا غَرسُ نعمتكم

إنّ الممكَّن نَهّاءٌ وَأمَّارُ

إنّ الممكَّن نَهّاءٌ وَأمَّارُ

Rescue us, for we are the planting of your bounty.

Save us, for we are the shoots of your bounty.

Indeed, the one vested with power is ever forbidding and commanding.

The empowered despot is tyrannous and bitter.