مَنالُ العُلى إِلّا عَلَيكَ مُحَرَّمُ

مَنالُ العُلى إِلّا عَلَيكَ مُحَرَّمُ

وَكُلُّ مَديحٍ في سِواكَ يُذَمَّمُ

وَكُلُّ مَديحٍ في سِواكَ يُذَمَّمُ

Attaining the heights is forbidden to all but you.

The heights of glory are forbidden to all but you,

The reach of glory is forbidden to all but you,

And every praise bestowed on anyone but you is censured.

And all praise of others is deplored.

And every praise bestowed on another is but blame.

وَلا مَجدَ إِلّا قَد حَوَيتَ أَجَلَّهُ

وَلا مَجدَ إِلّا قَد حَوَيتَ أَجَلَّهُ

وَلا فَضلَ إِلّا أَنتَ فيهِ المُقَدَّمُ

وَلا فَضلَ إِلّا أَنتَ فيهِ المُقَدَّمُ

There is no glory whose noblest part you have not attained,

There is no glory but what you have comprehended,

There is no glory of which you have not encompassed the greatest part,

and no excellence in which you are not foremost.

No merit but you are foremost in it.

Nor any virtue in which you do not stand foremost.

وَمَن يَعتَقِد غَيرَ الذي جاءَ نَصُّهُ

وَمَن يَعتَقِد غَيرَ الذي جاءَ نَصُّهُ

لَكُم في كِتابِ اللَهِ لا شَكَّ يَأثَمُ

لَكُم في كِتابِ اللَهِ لا شَكَّ يَأثَمُ

Whoever believes otherwise than what the explicit text declares

Whoever believes other than what His scripture dictates,

Whoever believes other than what the text has revealed

for you in God's Book undoubtedly sins.

You have no doubt they sin.

Regarding your status in God's Book, surely commits a sin.

أَلَستُم أَقمتُم مَيلَ نَهجِ مُحمدٍ

أَلَستُم أَقمتُم مَيلَ نَهجِ مُحمدٍ

وَقَد كادَ يَعفو أَو يَبيدُ وَيَهرمُ

وَقَد كادَ يَعفو أَو يَبيدُ وَيَهرمُ

Was it not you who straightened the crookedness of Muhammad's path,

Have you not followed the path of Muhammad?

Did you not straighten the curvature in Muhammad’s path

when it had almost faded away, or perished and grown decrepit?

Though it has nearly faded and perished and crumbled.

When it had well-nigh faded, perished, or grown old?

سَيَأتي قَتيلُ الطَفِّ في الحَشرِ شاهِداً

سَيَأتي قَتيلُ الطَفِّ في الحَشرِ شاهِداً

بِهذا وَحِجرٌ وَالمَقامُ وَزَمزَمُ

بِهذا وَحِجرٌ وَالمَقامُ وَزَمزَمُ

The slain one of al-Taff will come at the Resurrection to bear witness

The martyred infant will come on Judgement Day

The slain martyr of Al-Taff shall come at the Gathering to witness

to this, as will the Hijr, the Station, and Zamzam.

As a witness, by this stone, this station, and Zamzam.

To this truth—along with the Stone, the Station, and Zamzam.

غَداةَ كَسَوتُم كَعبَةَ اللَهِ وَاِعتَلى

غَداةَ كَسَوتُم كَعبَةَ اللَهِ وَاِعتَلى

بِأَبطَحِها الدينُ القَويمُ المُعَظَّمُ

بِأَبطَحِها الدينُ القَويمُ المُعَظَّمُ

On the morning you clothed God's Kaaba, there rose

Tomorrow you adorned the House of God, as

The morning you draped God's Kaaba, and the True Religion

upon its pebbled plain the upright, exalted faith.

The true, revered, mighty faith ascended its stones.

Rose high within its valley, upright and magnified.

وَلَم يَبقَ فيها قُبَّةٌ أَو ذَريعَةٌ

وَلَم يَبقَ فيها قُبَّةٌ أَو ذَريعَةٌ

إِلى الشِركِ إِلّا وَهيَ تُمحى وَتُهدَمُ

إِلى الشِركِ إِلّا وَهيَ تُمحى وَتُهدَمُ

Not a dome or a means remained there

No shrine or path to polytheism remains

No dome remained therein, nor any pretext

leading to idolatry without being effaced and demolished.

But it is erased and demolished.

Leading to idolatry, but that it was erased and destroyed.

مَعالٍ مَتى تُذكَر تَصاغَرَ عِندَها

مَعالٍ مَتى تُذكَر تَصاغَرَ عِندَها

مَعالي مُلوكٍ أُخِّروا أَو تَقَدَّموا

مَعالي مُلوكٍ أُخِّروا أَو تَقَدَّموا

Noble achievements which, whenever recalled, dwarf

What great deeds, when mentioned, humble

Noble deeds which, when recounted, make small

the achievements of kings who came later or earlier.

The glories of passed or future kings!

The exploits of all kings, be they of times past or to come.

فَلا مَجدَ إِلّا خَشيَةُ اللَهِ وَالتُقى

فَلا مَجدَ إِلّا خَشيَةُ اللَهِ وَالتُقى

وَلا فَخرَ إِلّا الشَرعُ فيهِ المُقَدَّمُ

وَلا فَخرَ إِلّا الشَرعُ فيهِ المُقَدَّمُ

For there is no glory but fear of God and piety,

There is no glory but fearing God and piety,

For there is no glory save in the fear of God and piety,

and no rightful boast unless sacred law holds first place in it.

No pride but the Law wherein you excel.

And no pride save that in which the Sacred Law stands foremost.

لِيَهنِكَ يا عَبدَ العَزيزِ بنَ فَيصَلٍ

لِيَهنِكَ يا عَبدَ العَزيزِ بنَ فَيصَلٍ

مَغانِمُ تُدعى وَهيَ في الأَجرِ مَغنَمُ

مَغانِمُ تُدعى وَهيَ في الأَجرِ مَغنَمُ

May you rejoice, O Abd al-Aziz son of Faisal,

So take comfort, Abd al-Aziz ibn Faysal,

Congratulations to you, O Abdulaziz bin Faisal,

in what are called spoils, yet are also a gain in reward.

In spoils called and which in reward are a prize.

For spoils that are named as such, yet in divine reward are true gain.

إِذا شَقَّ أَمرَ المُسلِمينَ مُضَلِّلٌ

إِذا شَقَّ أَمرَ المُسلِمينَ مُضَلِّلٌ

فَأَنتَ لَهُ المَوتُ الزُؤامُ المُحَتَّمُ

فَأَنتَ لَهُ المَوتُ الزُؤامُ المُحَتَّمُ

If a misleader divides the Muslims' cause,

When a misguided soul rends the Muslims,

Whenever a deceiver seeks to fracture the unity of the Muslims,

you are to him swift, inevitable death.

You are death, ruin, his destined doom.

You become to him a sudden, inevitable death.

دَلَفتَ لَهُ قَبلَ الشُروقِ بِفَيلَقٍ

دَلَفتَ لَهُ قَبلَ الشُروقِ بِفَيلَقٍ

أَحَمَّ الرَحى فيهِ المَنايا تُقَسَّمُ

أَحَمَّ الرَحى فيهِ المَنايا تُقَسَّمُ

You advanced against him before sunrise with a legion

You rode out to meet him at dawn with regiments

You advanced upon him before the sunrise with a legion,

whose battle-mill was black, where deaths were apportioned.

In which death's arrows were randomly loosed.

A dark grinding mill of war, wherein dooms are distributed.

فَأَسقَيتَهُم سُمّاً زُعافاً يَشوبُهُ

فَأَسقَيتَهُم سُمّاً زُعافاً يَشوبُهُ

بِأَفواهِهِم بِالمَوتِ صابٌ وَعَلقَمُ

بِأَفواهِهِم بِالمَوتِ صابٌ وَعَلقَمُ

So you made them drink a deadly poison, mingled

You gave them a lethal, bitter drink mixed

You gave them a draught of lethal poison, mingled

in their mouths with death, bitter sap, and colocynth.

With death and venom in their mouths.

In their mouths with death, bitterness, and gall.

تَظَلُّ بِهِ غُرثُ السِباعِ نَواهِلاً

تَظَلُّ بِهِ غُرثُ السِباعِ نَواهِلاً

وَعِقبانُهُ مِنها وُقوعٌ وَحُوَّمُ

وَعِقبانُهُ مِنها وُقوعٌ وَحُوَّمُ

There hungry beasts of prey keep drinking their fill,

Their corpses became food for wild beasts,

By which the hungry beasts of prey remain slaked,

and of its eagles, some alight and some circle.

And their bones piles for vultures.

And the eagles thereof are either landing to feed or hovering.

كَما قَد جَرى يَوماً عَلى أَهلِ حائِلٍ

كَما قَد جَرى يَوماً عَلى أَهلِ حائِلٍ

وَقَد صُرِفوا عَن مَنهَجِ الرُشدِ أَو عَموا

وَقَد صُرِفوا عَن مَنهَجِ الرُشدِ أَو عَموا

As once befell the people of Ha'il,

As it was with the people of Hail one day,

Just as it befell, on a certain day, the people of Hail,

when they had been turned from the path of right guidance, or had gone blind.

When they strayed from the path of righteousness, or were blind,

When they were diverted from the path of rectitude, or went blind.

وَظَنّوا بِأَنَّ الدارَ كَالإِسمِ حائِلٌ

وَظَنّوا بِأَنَّ الدارَ كَالإِسمِ حائِلٌ

نَفورٌ عَنِ الأَزواجِ جَدّاءُ مُصرِم

نَفورٌ عَنِ الأَزواجِ جَدّاءُ مُصرِم

They thought the town, like its name, was not with young,

Thinking the name Hail meant estrangement -

They thought their city was true to its name—a barrier—

shunning mates, dry-uddered and milkless.

Aloof from wives, hostile, unbending.

Averting itself from suitors, barren, and severed from reach.

فَأَنكَحتَها صُمَّ الرِماحِ فَأَصبَحَت

فَأَنكَحتَها صُمَّ الرِماحِ فَأَصبَحَت

كِشافاً بُعيدَ الحَملِ بِالشَرِّ تُتئِمُ

كِشافاً بُعيدَ الحَملِ بِالشَرِّ تُتئِمُ

So you wedded her to hard spears, and she became

So you married them to the deaf spears, and they awoke

But you wedded her to the hard spears, and she became

repeatedly bred, bearing twin evils soon after conceiving.

Brides revealing, far from conception, evil conforming.

Pregnant with calamity, birthing twins of evil in rapid succession.

فَكَم كاعِبٍ حَسناَ تَلطِمُ وَجهَها

فَكَم كاعِبٍ حَسناَ تَلطِمُ وَجهَها

وَأُخرى تَشُقُّ الجَيبَ بِالثُكلِ أَيِّمُ

وَأُخرى تَشُقُّ الجَيبَ بِالثُكلِ أَيِّمُ

How many a lovely, budding-breasted maiden slapped her face,

How a maiden's face was marred by slaps!

How many a fair maiden now strikes her face in grief,

and another, widowed by bereavement, tore her neckline.

Another rends her clothes in bitter lamentation.

And another tears her garment in bereavement, widowed.

وَكَم نَصَحوا لَو كانَ لِلنُّصحِ مَوضِعٌ

وَكَم نَصَحوا لَو كانَ لِلنُّصحِ مَوضِعٌ

وَكَم عَذَلوا لَو كانَ فيهِم مُحَلَّمُ

وَكَم عَذَلوا لَو كانَ فيهِم مُحَلَّمُ

And how often they gave counsel—if only counsel had a place!

How much they were advised, had advice been heard!

How often were they advised, had there been a place for counsel?

And how often they reproached—if only there were a discerning man among them!

How much they were forewarned, had any been reasonable!

How often warned, had there been a prudent man among them?

وَلكِن أَبَوا إِلّا الشِقاقَ فَلَم يَكُن

وَلكِن أَبَوا إِلّا الشِقاقَ فَلَم يَكُن

لَهُم وَزَرٌ إِلّا حُسامٌ وَلَهذمُ

لَهُم وَزَرٌ إِلّا حُسامٌ وَلَهذمُ

But they insisted on nothing but discord, so there was

But they insisted on dissent, so they had

But they refused all save defiance, so they found

no refuge for them except a keen sword and a sharp spear.

No tools but swords and daggers.

No refuge awaiting them but the sword and the sharp lance.

وَقالَ زَعيمُ القَومِ لا بَل شَقيُّهُم

وَقالَ زَعيمُ القَومِ لا بَل شَقيُّهُم

إِلى اِبنِ طَلالٍ أَرسِلوا فَهوَ أَحزَمُ

إِلى اِبنِ طَلالٍ أَرسِلوا فَهوَ أَحزَمُ

Their people's chief said—no, rather their wretched one—

Their leader said "No! Worse than them,

Then spoke the leader of the people—nay, their most wretched one—

'Send for Ibn Talal, for he is more resolute.'

Send to Ibn Talal - he is most wise."

"Send word to Ibn Talal, for he is more resolute."

فَلَمّا أَتاهُم زادَهُم مَع خَبالِهِم

فَلَمّا أَتاهُم زادَهُم مَع خَبالِهِم

خَبالاً وَعُقبى ما أَتَوهُ الَتَنَدُّمُ

خَبالاً وَعُقبى ما أَتَوهُ الَتَنَدُّمُ

But when he came to them, he added to their madness

But when he came, he increased their madness

But when he came to them, he only added ruin to their ruin,

more madness; the outcome of what they did was regret.

And they reaped the fruits of their misdeeds, regretting naught.

A compounding of loss; and the outcome of their deed was regret.

وَظَنّوا بِأَنَّ اللَهَ يُخلِفُ وَعدَهُ

وَظَنّوا بِأَنَّ اللَهَ يُخلِفُ وَعدَهُ

وَهَيهاتَ وَعدُ الصادِقِ الوَعدِ أَحكَمُ

وَهَيهاتَ وَعدُ الصادِقِ الوَعدِ أَحكَمُ

They thought that God would break His promise,

They thought God would break His promise -

They imagined that God would fail in His promise;

but far from it! The promise of the One true to His word is firmer.

Never! The promise of the Truthful is most binding.

Far from it! The promise of the True One is most sure.

وَقَد قالَ جُندي غالِبٌ لا مَحالَةٌ

وَقَد قالَ جُندي غالِبٌ لا مَحالَةٌ

بِذاكَ قَضائي في البَرِيَّةِ مُبرَمُ

بِذاكَ قَضائي في البَرِيَّةِ مُبرَمُ

And He has said: 'My host shall prevail, without doubt;

A conquering soldier said "It is inevitable -

For He has said, "My host shall surely be victorious,"

My decree concerning creation is irrevocably fixed on this.'

My judgement in the wilderness is decided."

"With this, My decree over creation is sealed."

أَطَلَّ عَلَيهِم واحِدٌ في كَمالِهِ

أَطَلَّ عَلَيهِم واحِدٌ في كَمالِهِ

وَلكِنَّهُ في البَأسِ جَيشٌ عَرَمرَمُ

وَلكِنَّهُ في البَأسِ جَيشٌ عَرَمرَمُ

One man appeared before them, complete in his excellence,

Alone in his perfection he approached them,

One man appeared upon them, singular in his perfection,

yet in battle he was a vast army.

But in war an army, intrepid and ruthless.

Yet in valor, he was a vast, overwhelming army.

بِفِتيانِ صِدقٍ في اللِقاءِ أَعِزَّةٍ

بِفِتيانِ صِدقٍ في اللِقاءِ أَعِزَّةٍ

لَهُم نَسَبٌ ما شابَهُ قَطُّ أَعجَمُ

لَهُم نَسَبٌ ما شابَهُ قَطُّ أَعجَمُ

With true-hearted young men, mighty in the encounter,

With sincere youths in battle most honoured,

Accompanied by youths of truth, mighty in the encounter,

whose lineage no non-Arab had ever mingled with.

Of a lineage never tainted by non-Arabs.

Possessing a lineage never tainted by foreign blood.

عَلى ضُمَّرٍ بَينَ الوَجيهِ وَلاحِقٍ

عَلى ضُمَّرٍ بَينَ الوَجيهِ وَلاحِقٍ

تُعارِضُ ما أَبقى الجَديلُ وَشَدقَمُ

تُعارِضُ ما أَبقى الجَديلُ وَشَدقَمُ

On lean steeds of al-Wajih's and Lahiq's stock,

Pressing on firmly between steadfast and pursuer,

Mounted on lean steeds, akin to Al-Wajih and Lahiq,

rivaling the offspring al-Jadil and Shadqam left behind.

Racing what the swift camels and she-camels outpaced.

Rivaling the remnants of the lines of Al-Jadil and Shadqam.

أُولاكَ بَنو الإِسلامِ حَيَّ هَلاً بِهِم

أُولاكَ بَنو الإِسلامِ حَيَّ هَلاً بِهِم

وَأَكرِم بِهِم أَكرِم بِهِم حَيثُ يُمَّموا

وَأَكرِم بِهِم أَكرِم بِهِم حَيثُ يُمَّموا

Those are the sons of Islam—welcome to them!

Those are the sons of Islam - hail to them!

Those are the sons of Islam—hail and welcome to them!

How noble they are, how noble, wherever they are directed!

Most honoured wherever they gather!

How noble they are! How noble, wherever they turn their course!

هُمُ عَرَفوا حَقَّ الإِلهِ وَرُسلِهِ

هُمُ عَرَفوا حَقَّ الإِلهِ وَرُسلِهِ

وَحَقَّ وُلاةِ المُسلِمينَ وَعَظَّموا

وَحَقَّ وُلاةِ المُسلِمينَ وَعَظَّموا

They knew the due of God and His messengers,

They knew the right of God and His messengers,

They recognized the right of God and His messengers,

and the due of the Muslims' rulers, and honored them.

And the right of the Muslim leaders they revered.

And the right of the rulers of the Muslims, which they revered.

رَأَوا أَنَّهُ لا دينَ إِلّا بِطاعَةٍ

رَأَوا أَنَّهُ لا دينَ إِلّا بِطاعَةٍ

لِمَن هُوَ بِالديِ الحَنيفِيِّ قَيِّم

لِمَن هُوَ بِالديِ الحَنيفِيِّ قَيِّم

They held that no faith exists except through obedience

They saw obedience was the only religion

They perceived that there is no faith without obedience

to the one who upholds the upright religion.

To the one upright in the true Hanifi creed.

To the one who stands as guardian of the True Faith.

وَذاكَ أَميرُ المُؤمِنينَ بنُ فَيصَلٍ

وَذاكَ أَميرُ المُؤمِنينَ بنُ فَيصَلٍ

إِمامُ الهُدى لِلمَكرُماتِ مُتَمِّمُ

إِمامُ الهُدى لِلمَكرُماتِ مُتَمِّمُ

That is the Commander of the Faithful, the son of Faisal,

That is the Commander of the Faithful ibn Faysal,

And that is the Commander of the Faithful, Ibn Faisal,

the imam of guidance, perfecter of noble deeds.

Leader of guidance, perfecter of glorious deeds.

The Imam of Guidance, the perfecter of noble virtues.

فَلَمّا رَأوا حِزبَ الإِلهِ يَقودُهُ

فَلَمّا رَأوا حِزبَ الإِلهِ يَقودُهُ

إِلَيهِم رَبيطُ الجَأشِ في الهَولِ مُقدِمُ

إِلَيهِم رَبيطُ الجَأشِ في الهَولِ مُقدِمُ

When they saw God's party being led

When they saw the party of God led by

When the enemy saw the Party of God led towards them

toward them by one steadfast of heart, bold amid terror,

The fearless lion amidst terror approaching,

By one steadfast of heart, advancing through the terror,

تَوَلَّوا سِراعاً وَالسُيوفُ شَوارِعٌ

تَوَلَّوا سِراعاً وَالسُيوفُ شَوارِعٌ

بِأَكتافِهِم وَالسَمهَرِيُّ تُحَطِّمُ

بِأَكتافِهِم وَالسَمهَرِيُّ تُحَطِّمُ

they turned and fled swiftly, while swords were leveled

They fled quickly, swords bared,

They turned in hasty flight, while swords were drawn

at their shoulders, and hard spears shattered them.

And the Hindu swords decapitating.

At their shoulders, and Samhari spears were shattering.

وَمَن قَد نَجا مِنهُم إِذا سَمِعَ النِدا

وَمَن قَد نَجا مِنهُم إِذا سَمِعَ النِدا

يُراعُ وَبِالأَمواتِ في اللَيلِ يَحلُمُ

يُراعُ وَبِالأَمواتِ في اللَيلِ يَحلُمُ

Whoever among them escaped, whenever he hears a call,

Who survived of them, when he hears a call,

And he who survived among them, upon hearing a call,

is terrified, and dreams of the dead at night.

Cowers, and dreams of the dead in the night.

Is struck with terror, and dreams of the dead in the night.

إِلَيكَ إِمامَ المُسلِمينَ تَواهَقَت

إِلَيكَ إِمامَ المُسلِمينَ تَواهَقَت

بِها ضُمَّرٌ تَطوي المَهامِهَ عَيهَمُ

بِها ضُمَّرٌ تَطوي المَهامِهَ عَيهَمُ

Toward you, imam of the Muslims, have raced in rivalry

To you, Leader of the Muslims, Dummar came bounding,

Towards you, O Imam of the Muslims, they hastened,

lean, hardy mounts bearing it, folding away the trackless wastes.

Her sorrows folded, stumbling in gloom.

Lean mounts crossing the wastelands, swift and strong.

تَعومُ إِذا اِشتَدَّ الهَجيرُ كَأَنَّها

تَعومُ إِذا اِشتَدَّ الهَجيرُ كَأَنَّها

مَعَ الدَوِّ مُحمَرُّ الظَنابيبِ أَصلَمُ

مَعَ الدَوِّ مُحمَرُّ الظَنابيبِ أَصلَمُ

They swim along when the midday heat grows fierce, as though they were

She sails when the winds blow strong as if

Floating through the shimmering midday heat, as if

a red-shanked, earless ostrich amid the open desert,

With the downpour, red canyons churning.

They were red-shinned ostriches traversing the empty plain,

تَذَكَّرُ أَفراخاً بِبَيداءَ حَردَةٍ

تَذَكَّرُ أَفراخاً بِبَيداءَ حَردَةٍ

وَلِلرّيحِ نَئّآجٌ وَلِلغَيثِ مَسجَمُ

وَلِلرّيحِ نَئّآجٌ وَلِلغَيثِ مَسجَمُ

remembering chicks in a barren wilderness,

Remembering chicks in the wasteland of Hardah

Remembering chicks left in a desolate waste,

while the wind roars and the rain pours down.

With bleating winds and pouring rain.

While the wind howls and the rain pours down.

فَظَلَّ يُناجي النَفسَ أَينَ مَراحُهُ

فَظَلَّ يُناجي النَفسَ أَينَ مَراحُهُ

وَلا عَلَمٌ يَهديهِ وَاللَيلُ مُظلِمُ

وَلا عَلَمٌ يَهديهِ وَاللَيلُ مُظلِمُ

So it kept whispering to itself, asking where its roost lay,

She remained conversing with herself - where is relief?

Asking the soul in whispers: where is the resting place,

with no landmark to guide it, and the night dark.

No guide shows the way and the night is dark.

With no landmark to guide, and the night pitch dark?

تُبَلِّغُكُم مِنّي أَلوكَةَ صادِقٍ

تُبَلِّغُكُم مِنّي أَلوكَةَ صادِقٍ

لَكُم مُخلِصٍ في الوُدِّ لا مُتَبَرِّمُ

لَكُم مُخلِصٍ في الوُدِّ لا مُتَبَرِّمُ

They bring you from me a truthful man's message,

She sends you the devotion of a true friend,

Conveying to you from me the message of a truthful man,

sincere to you in affection, never discontented.

Yours loyally, never discontent.

Sincere in his affection for you, unwavering and content.

فَحُبُّكُمُ عِندَ المَهَيمِنِ قُربَةٌ

فَحُبُّكُمُ عِندَ المَهَيمِنِ قُربَةٌ

وَنُصحُكُمُ فَرضٌ علَينا مُحَقَّمُ

وَنُصحُكُمُ فَرضٌ علَينا مُحَقَّمُ

For love of you is, in the Guardian's sight, a means of drawing near,

For love of you is closeness to the Guardian,

For loving you is an act of devotion before the Guardian,

and sincere counsel to you is a binding obligation upon us.

And advising you an obligation we fulfill.

And counseling you is a binding duty upon us.

وَمَن لا يَراهُ فَهوَ إِمّا مُغَفَّلٌ

وَمَن لا يَراهُ فَهوَ إِمّا مُغَفَّلٌ

وَإِمّا عَلى تَكذيبِهِ الوَحيَ مُقدِمُ

وَإِمّا عَلى تَكذيبِهِ الوَحيَ مُقدِمُ

Whoever does not see this is either heedless

Who does not see this is either heedless

Whoever does not see this is either a fool,

or boldly undertakes to deny revelation.

Or puts lies before the revelation.

Or one who dares to deny the Divine Revelation.

وَما أَنسَ لا أَنسَ بنَ سُلطانَ فَيصَلاً

وَما أَنسَ لا أَنسَ بنَ سُلطانَ فَيصَلاً

لَهُ ما بَقي مِنّي الثَناءُ المُنَمنَمُ

لَهُ ما بَقي مِنّي الثَناءُ المُنَمنَمُ

And whatever I forget, I shall not forget Faisal son of Sultan;

I will not forget praise for Faysal ibn Sultan -

And I shall not forget—nay, never forget—Faisal bin Sultan,

as long as I remain, richly embroidered praise from me is his.

What remains of my eulogy will perpetuate his name.

To whom belongs my remaining, embellished praise.

أَخا الحَربِ إِن عَضَّت بِهِ الحَربُ لَم يَكُن

أَخا الحَربِ إِن عَضَّت بِهِ الحَربُ لَم يَكُن

جَزوعاً وَلا مِن مَسِّها يَتَأَلَّمُ

جَزوعاً وَلا مِن مَسِّها يَتَأَلَّمُ

A brother of war: if war bites him, he is not

Brother of war - if war bites him he will not waver

A brother of war; when war bites hard, he is not

panic-stricken, nor does its touch cause him pain.

Or feel any pain from its bite.

Panicked, nor does he flinch from its touch.

وَزيرَ إِمامِ المُسلِمينَ الذي لهُ

وَزيرَ إِمامِ المُسلِمينَ الذي لهُ

مَشاهدُ فيها مَعطِسُ الفِسقِ يُرغَمُ

مَشاهدُ فيها مَعطِسُ الفِسقِ يُرغَمُ

Minister to the imam of the Muslims, who has

Minister of the Leader of the Muslims, who for him

The vizier of the Imam of the Muslims, who possesses

battle-scenes where wickedness's nose is rubbed in the dust.

Oppressors in it are subjugated and muzzled.

Battle-records wherein the nose of wickedness is rubbed in the dust.

إِذا ناكِثٌ أَو مارِقٌ مَرَقَت بِهِ

إِذا ناكِثٌ أَو مارِقٌ مَرَقَت بِهِ

عَنِ الدينِ نَفسٌ لِلشَّقاوَةِ تَرأَمُ

عَنِ الدينِ نَفسٌ لِلشَّقاوَةِ تَرأَمُ

When an oath-breaker or renegade is carried

If a traitor or apostate renounces

Whenever a traitor or renegade is led astray

from the faith by a soul that fondly embraces misery,

His religion for wickedness sown,

By a soul that clings to misery, departing from the Faith,

سَما مُشمَعِلّاً فَيصَلٌ نَحوَ دارِهِ

سَما مُشمَعِلّاً فَيصَلٌ نَحوَ دارِهِ

يَخوضُ بِحاراً بَعضُ خُلجانِها دَمُ

يَخوضُ بِحاراً بَعضُ خُلجانِها دَمُ

Faisal rises, hastening toward his dwelling,

Faysal heads with flames kindled to his abode,

Faisal rises swiftly towards his abode,

wading through seas whose inlets are in part blood,

Sailing a sea part raging blood.

Wading through seas where the very gulfs are blood.

بِأَمرِ إِمامِ المُسلِمينَ وَرَأيِهِ

بِأَمرِ إِمامِ المُسلِمينَ وَرَأيِهِ

وَلا عِزَّ إِلّا بِالإِمامَةِ يُعصَمُ

وَلا عِزَّ إِلّا بِالإِمامَةِ يُعصَمُ

at the command and counsel of the imam of the Muslims;

By order of the Leader of the Muslims, by his opinion -

Acting by the command and counsel of the Imam of the Muslims,

no might is safeguarded except through the imamate.

There is no might but by the Imamate protected.

For there is no might safeguarded save through the Imamate.

وَإِخوانُهُ في اللَهِ لا تَنسَ فَضلَهُم

وَإِخوانُهُ في اللَهِ لا تَنسَ فَضلَهُم

هُمُ نُصرَةُ الإِسلامِ وَاللَهُ يَعلَمُ

هُمُ نُصرَةُ الإِسلامِ وَاللَهُ يَعلَمُ

And his brothers in God—do not forget their merit;

And his brothers in God - do not forget their merit!

And forget not the merit of his brethren in God,

they are Islam's support, and God knows.

They are the aid of Islam, and God knows best.

They are the succor of Islam, and God knows it well.

قَبائِلُ فيها مِن رِجالِ عُتَيبَةٍ

قَبائِلُ فيها مِن رِجالِ عُتَيبَةٍ

أُسودٌ إِذا حَميَ الوَطيسُ تَقَحَّموا

أُسودٌ إِذا حَميَ الوَطيسُ تَقَحَّموا

Tribes among whom are men of Utaybah,

Tribes among whom are Utayba's men -

Tribes that include, among the men of Otaibah,

lions who charge in when the furnace of battle blazes.

Lions, when the fray intensifies they plunge in.

Lions who charge headlong when the battle-furnace blazes.

يَسومونَ في الهَيجا نُفوساً عَزيزَةً

يَسومونَ في الهَيجا نُفوساً عَزيزَةً

وَلكِنَّها بِالقَتلِ في اللَهِ تُكرَمُ

وَلكِنَّها بِالقَتلِ في اللَهِ تُكرَمُ

They offer up precious souls in the tumult of battle,

They risk precious souls in the fray,

Offering up precious souls in the midst of the fray,

yet those souls are honored by being slain for God.

But by dying for God they are honoured.

Yet through death for God’s sake, they are honored.

وَفي الحَربِ مِن حَرب لُيوثٌ ضَراغِمٌ

وَفي الحَربِ مِن حَرب لُيوثٌ ضَراغِمٌ

أَشِدّا عَلى الباغينَ في اللَهِ رُحَّمُ

أَشِدّا عَلى الباغينَ في اللَهِ رُحَّمُ

And in war, from Harb, are lions, mighty lions,

In war, they are ferocious, relentless warriors,

And in the war, from the tribe of Harb, are fierce lions,

fierce toward aggressors, merciful for God's sake.

Harsher on transgressors for God, compassionate.

Harsh against the oppressors, yet merciful for the sake of God.

وَلَم أَترُكِ الباقينَ جَهلاً بِحَقِّهِم

وَلَم أَترُكِ الباقينَ جَهلاً بِحَقِّهِم

وَلا أَنَّني في فَضلِهِم مُتَلَعثِمُ

وَلا أَنَّني في فَضلِهِم مُتَلَعثِمُ

I did not omit the rest through ignorance of their due,

I did not omit the rest out of ignorance of their right,

I have not omitted the others out of ignorance of their due,

nor because I falter in speaking of their merit;

Nor inability to articulate their merit.

Nor because I falter in acknowledging their merit,

وَلكِنَّما الأَسماءُ كانَت تَغُرُّني

وَلكِنَّما الأَسماءُ كانَت تَغُرُّني

وَلَم يَكُ عِندي مَن بِذاكَ يُفهِم

وَلَم يَكُ عِندي مَن بِذاكَ يُفهِم

but it was only the names that misled me,

But the names distracted me,

But the sheer number of names overwhelmed me,

and I had no one with me to make them clear.

And I had none to clarify them.

And I had no one at hand to list them all.

جُنودُ إِمامِ المُسلِمينَ الذي لَهُم

جُنودُ إِمامِ المُسلِمينَ الذي لَهُم

إِلى كُلِّ مَعروفٍ مِنَ الخَيرِ سُلَّمُ

إِلى كُلِّ مَعروفٍ مِنَ الخَيرِ سُلَّمُ

Soldiers of the imam of the Muslims, who is for them

The Leader of the Muslims' soldiers, who have

The soldiers of the Imam of the Muslims, who possess

a ladder to every recognized act of goodness.

The means for every good and righteous deed.

A ladder ascending to every known virtue.

وَصَلِّ إِلهي كُلَّما ناضَ بارِقٌ

وَصَلِّ إِلهي كُلَّما ناضَ بارِقٌ

وَما طَلَعَت شَمسٌ وَما لاحَ مِرزَمُ

وَما طَلَعَت شَمسٌ وَما لاحَ مِرزَمُ

And send blessings, my God, whenever lightning flashes,

And pray, my God, whenever dawn gleams

And send blessings, my God, as long as lightning flashes,

whenever the sun rises and Mirzam shines,

And a sun rises or a constellation appears,

And as long as the sun rises or the star Mirzam appears,

عَلى سَيِّدِ الساداتِ نَفسي فِداؤُهُ

عَلى سَيِّدِ الساداتِ نَفسي فِداؤُهُ

أُصَلّي عَلَيهِ مُدَّتي وَأُسلِمُ

أُصَلّي عَلَيهِ مُدَّتي وَأُسلِمُ

upon the lord of lords—may my soul be his ransom;

Upon the Master of Masters, my soul his ransom,

Upon the Master of Masters—may my soul be his ransom—

I invoke blessings on him all my life and send him peace.

I pray for him perpetually and submit,

Upon whom I pray and send peace for all my days.

كَذا آلِهِ الغُرِّ الكِرامِ وَصَحبِهِ

كَذا آلِهِ الغُرِّ الكِرامِ وَصَحبِهِ

هُمُ صُفوَةُ الرَحمنِ مِنّا هُمُ هُمُ

هُمُ صُفوَةُ الرَحمنِ مِنّا هُمُ هُمُ

And likewise upon his radiant, noble family and his companions;

And so his family, of such high station, and his companions -

Likewise upon his noble family and his companions,

they are the Most Merciful's elect among us—they, indeed they!

The elect of the Merciful - they, they!

For they are the Merciful’s chosen elite among us; truly, it is they.