أَبى اللَهُ إِلّا أَن تَكونَ لَكَ العُقبى

أَبى اللَهُ إِلّا أَن تَكونَ لَكَ العُقبى

سَتَملِكُ شَرقَ الأرضِ بِاللَهِ وَالغَربا

سَتَملِكُ شَرقَ الأرضِ بِاللَهِ وَالغَربا

God has willed that the final triumph be yours;

God willed that you shall gain ascendancy,

God has decreed that the final triumph belongs to you alone,

through God, you shall rule the earth's east and west.

You will rule the East and West by God's decree,

Through God, you shall possess the earth from East to West.

أَرادَ بِكَ الأَعداءُ ما اللُ دافِعٌ

أَرادَ بِكَ الأَعداءُ ما اللُ دافِعٌ

كَفا كَهُمُ لَمّا رَضيتَ بهِ رَبّا

كَفا كَهُمُ لَمّا رَضيتَ بهِ رَبّا

Your enemies intended for you what God wards off;

Your enemies intended for you what God repelled,

The enemies plotted against you that which God repels;

He shielded you from them when you accepted Him as Lord.

It sufficed them when you were content with your Lord.

He sufficed you against them, for you were content with Him as Lord.

هُمُ بَدَّلوا نُعماكَ كَفراً وَبَوَّءوا

هُمُ بَدَّلوا نُعماكَ كَفراً وَبَوَّءوا

نُفوسَهُم دارَ البوارِ فَما أَغبى

نُفوسَهُم دارَ البوارِ فَما أَغبى

They repaid your favors with ingratitude and lodged

They replaced your blessings with disbelief, condemning

They exchanged your blessings for ingratitude and settled

their souls in the abode of ruin—how foolish!

Their souls to desolation - how foolish were they!

Their souls in the Abode of Ruin; how foolish they were!

بُغاثٌ تَصدَّت لِلصُّقورِ سَفاهَةً

بُغاثٌ تَصدَّت لِلصُّقورِ سَفاهَةً

فَأَضحَت جُزافاً في مَخالِبِها نَهبا

فَأَضحَت جُزافاً في مَخالِبِها نَهبا

Weak birds foolishly challenged the falcons,

A fledgling that foolishly confronted the falcons,

Weak birds confronted hawks in their folly,

and became plunder in their talons, taken wholesale.

Became easy prey, clutched in their talons.

Becoming mere plunder, seized within their talons.

أَرادوا شِقاقَ المُسلِمينَ شَقاوَةً

أَرادوا شِقاقَ المُسلِمينَ شَقاوَةً

فَصَبَّ الشَقا رَبّي عَلى أَهلِهِ صَبّا

فَصَبَّ الشَقا رَبّي عَلى أَهلِهِ صَبّا

They wickedly sought discord among the Muslims,

They intended to divide the Muslims out of malice,

In their wretchedness, they sought to divide the Muslims,

so my Lord poured misery in torrents upon those deserving it.

So my Lord poured discord upon them.

So my Lord poured down misery upon those who deserved it.

هُمُ أَضرَموا ناراً فَكانوا وَقودَها

هُمُ أَضرَموا ناراً فَكانوا وَقودَها

وَهُم جَرَّدوا سَيفاً فَكانوا بِهِ خَدبا

وَهُم جَرَّدوا سَيفاً فَكانوا بِهِ خَدبا

They kindled a fire and became its fuel;

They ignited a fire and became its fuel,

They kindled a fire, only to become its fuel,

and they drew a sword, only to be deeply gashed by it.

They brandished a sword and fell by it.

They unsheathed a sword, only to be struck down by it.

دَعاهُم إِلى الأَمرِ الرَشيدِ إِمامُهُم

دَعاهُم إِلى الأَمرِ الرَشيدِ إِمامُهُم

وَقالَ هَلُمّوا لِلكِتابِ وَلِلعُتبى

وَقالَ هَلُمّوا لِلكِتابِ وَلِلعُتبى

Their imam called them to the prudent course,

Their leader called them to righteousness,

Their Imam called them to the righteous path,

and said, "Come to the Book and to reconciliation."

Saying: come to the scripture and reproach.

Saying: "Come to the Book and to reconciliation."

وَما كانَ مِن وَهنٍ وَلكِن تَحَنُّناً

وَما كانَ مِن وَهنٍ وَلكِن تَحَنُّناً

عَلَيهِم رجا أَن تَمحو التَوبَةُ الذَنبا

عَلَيهِم رجا أَن تَمحو التَوبَةُ الذَنبا

It was not from weakness, but from compassion

It was not weakness but compassion,

This was not out of weakness, but born of compassion,

for them, hoping repentance would erase the sin.

Hoping repentance would erase their sins.

Hoping that repentance might wash away their sin.

وَما كانَ بِالنَزقِ العَجولِ وَإِنَّما

وَما كانَ بِالنَزقِ العَجولِ وَإِنَّما

يُدَبِّرُهُم تَدبيرَ مَن طَبَّ مَن حَبّا

يُدَبِّرُهُم تَدبيرَ مَن طَبَّ مَن حَبّا

He was no rash, impetuous man; rather,

Not hasty or reckless was he in managing them,

He was neither reckless nor hasty, but rather

he managed them as a healer tends one he loves.

But prudent like one who seeks the love of the beloved.

He managed them with the care of a healer tending to those he loves.

فَلَمَّا أَبَوا إِلّا الشِقاقَ وَأَصبَحوا

فَلَمَّا أَبَوا إِلّا الشِقاقَ وَأَصبَحوا

عَلى شيعَةِ الإِسلامِ في زَعمِهِم إِلبا

عَلى شيعَةِ الإِسلامِ في زَعمِهِم إِلبا

But when they would accept nothing but discord and became

Yet they insisted on discord and deemed

But when they refused all but defiance, and banded together

a united front against Islam's followers, in their own reckoning,

Themselves mighty warriors against Islam.

As a gathered force against the true followers of Islam,

تاهُم سَليلُ الغابِ يَصرُفُ نابُهُ

تاهُم سَليلُ الغابِ يَصرُفُ نابُهُ

زَماجِرُهُ قَبلَ اللِقا تُرعِبُ القَلبا

زَماجِرُهُ قَبلَ اللِقا تُرعِبُ القَلبا

the forest's scion came upon them, his fang gnashing;

The cub of the jungle turns to attack them,

The Lion of the Thicket came upon them, grinding his fangs,

his growls, before the encounter, terrify the heart.

His roar strikes fear before the clash.

His roaring striking terror into hearts before the clash.

لَهُ هِمَمٌ لا تَنتَهي دونَ قَصدِهِ

لَهُ هِمَمٌ لا تَنتَهي دونَ قَصدِهِ

وَلَو كانَ ما يُبقيهِ في نَفسِهِ صَعبا

وَلَو كانَ ما يُبقيهِ في نَفسِهِ صَعبا

His aspirations never stop short of his purpose,

His ambitions are endless unless his goal is met,

Possessing resolve that halts for nothing short of its goal,

even if what he harbors in his soul is hard to attain.

Though the task ahead seems formidable.

Even if the task he sets for himself be arduous.

بِجَيشٍ يَسوقُ الطَيرَ وَالوَحشَ زَجرُهُ

بِجَيشٍ يَسوقُ الطَيرَ وَالوَحشَ زَجرُهُ

فَلَم تَرَ وَكراً عامِراً لا وَلا سِرباً

فَلَم تَرَ وَكراً عامِراً لا وَلا سِرباً

With an army whose shouting drives off birds and beasts,

With an army driving beasts and birds before it,

With an army whose clamor drives forth birds and beasts,

you saw no inhabited nest, nor even a flock;

Not a bustling den remained nor a flock taking wing.

Leaving no nest inhabited, nor any flock undisturbed.

وَجُردٍ عَلَيها كُلُّ أَغلَبَ باسِلٍ

وَجُردٍ عَلَيها كُلُّ أَغلَبَ باسِلٍ

إِذا ما دُعي في مَعرَكٍ لِلقَنا لَبّى

إِذا ما دُعي في مَعرَكٍ لِلقَنا لَبّى

and sleek steeds, each bearing a mighty, valiant warrior,

And battalions of the most valiant warriors

And sleek steeds bearing every lion-hearted warrior,

who answers whenever called to the lances in battle.

Answering the call to arms at every battle.

Who answers instantly when called to the spears of battle.

فَعادَ غُبارُ الجَوِّ بِالنَقعِ قاتِماً

فَعادَ غُبارُ الجَوِّ بِالنَقعِ قاتِماً

تَظُنُّ اِشتِعالَ البيضِ في لَيلِهِ شُهبا

تَظُنُّ اِشتِعالَ البيضِ في لَيلِهِ شُهبا

The dusty air grew dark with the dust of battle;

The dust darkened the sky during the onslaught,

The air turned dark with the dust of the fray,

you would take the flare of bright swords in its night for shooting stars.

You would think the stars were falling in the night.

Until you mistook the flashing swords for shooting stars in the gloom.

وَأضحَوا هَدايا لِلسِّباعِ تَنوشُهُم

وَأضحَوا هَدايا لِلسِّباعِ تَنوشُهُم

تَنوبُهُمُ يَوماً وَتَعتادُهُم غِبّا

تَنوبُهُمُ يَوماً وَتَعتادُهُم غِبّا

They became gifts to beasts of prey that snatch at them,

They became carrion for beasts to devour,

They became gifts for the predators to snatch away,

visiting them in turn one day and returning every other day.

Preyed on one day, abandoned the next.

Feasting upon them day after day in constant rotation.

وَراحَتِ لِطَيرِ الجَوِّ عيشي وَنَقِّري

وَراحَتِ لِطَيرِ الجَوِّ عيشي وَنَقِّري

وَنادي وُحوشاً في مَكامِنِها سُغبا

وَنادي وُحوشاً في مَكامِنِها سُغبا

And they went to the birds of the air: "Live and peck,

The birds of the air gained lodging and food,

It was said to the birds of the air: "Feast and peck!"

and summon hungry beasts in their lairs."

And the beasts of the wild were summoned from their lairs.

And call forth the starving beasts from their lairs.

وَلَو لَم يُكَفكِف خَيلَهُ عَن شَريدِهِم

وَلَو لَم يُكَفكِف خَيلَهُ عَن شَريدِهِم

لَم آبَ مِنهُم مُخبِرٌ خَبَّ أَو دَبّا

لَم آبَ مِنهُم مُخبِرٌ خَبَّ أَو دَبّا

Had he not held back his cavalry from their fugitives,

Had he not reined in his steeds against the stragglers,

Had he not reined in his horses from pursuing their fugitives,

none of them would have returned with news, trotting or creeping.

None would have survived to relay the news.

Not a single soul would have returned to tell the tale, neither walking nor crawling.

فَقُل لِلبُغاةِ المُستَحِلّينَ جَهرَةً

فَقُل لِلبُغاةِ المُستَحِلّينَ جَهرَةً

دِماءَ بَني الإِسلامِ تَبّاً لَكُم تَبّا

دِماءَ بَني الإِسلامِ تَبّاً لَكُم تَبّا

So say to the rebels who openly deem lawful

Say to those rebels shedding the blood of Muslims:

So say to the transgressors who openly deem lawful

the blood of Islam's sons: "Ruin upon you, ruin!"

Shame on you, what an evil you have wrought!

The blood of the sons of Islam: "Ruin be upon you, ruin!"

نَبَذتُم كِتابَ اللَهِ حينَ دُعيتُمُ

نَبَذتُم كِتابَ اللَهِ حينَ دُعيتُمُ

إِلَيهِ وَقُلتُم بِالكِتابَينِ لا نَعبا

إِلَيهِ وَقُلتُم بِالكِتابَينِ لا نَعبا

You cast aside God's Book when you were summoned

You rejected God's book when called to it,

You cast aside the Book of God when you were summoned

to it, and said, "We care nothing for the two Books."

Saying: we shall not heed these two scriptures.

To it, declaring, "We care for neither Book nor Scripture."

وَقَلَّدتُمُ أَشقاكُمُ أَمرَ دينِكُم

وَقَلَّدتُمُ أَشقاكُمُ أَمرَ دينِكُم

فَأَصبَحتُمُ عَن شِرعَةِ المُصطَفى نُكبا

فَأَصبَحتُمُ عَن شِرعَةِ المُصطَفى نُكبا

You entrusted your religion's affairs to your most wretched man,

You handed control of your religion to dissidents,

You entrusted your faith to the most wretched among you,

and thus strayed from the law of the Chosen One.

Turning away from the path of Mustafa.

And so you deviated far from the law of the Chosen One.

نَعَم ثَبَّتَ اللَهُ الذينَ تَبَوَّءوا

نَعَم ثَبَّتَ اللَهُ الذينَ تَبَوَّءوا

مِنَ الدينِ وَالإيمانِ مَنزِلَةً رَحبا

مِنَ الدينِ وَالإيمانِ مَنزِلَةً رَحبا

Yes, God made steadfast those who took up

Yes, God strengthened those who established

Truly, God has strengthened those who have taken

a spacious station in religion and faith.

A lofty station in religion and faith.

A spacious and high station in religion and faith.

هُمُ حَفِظوا العَهدَ الذي خُنتُمُ به

هُمُ حَفِظوا العَهدَ الذي خُنتُمُ به

فَكانوا لِأَهلِ الدينِ مُذ هاجَروا صَحبا

فَكانوا لِأَهلِ الدينِ مُذ هاجَروا صَحبا

They kept the covenant that you betrayed,

They kept the covenant you betrayed,

They honored the covenant which you betrayed,

and have been companions of the faithful since they emigrated.

Remaining true friends since the migration.

Remaining true companions to the faithful since the Migration.

وَهُم صَدَقوا اللَهَ العُهودَ وَآمَنوا

وَهُم صَدَقوا اللَهَ العُهودَ وَآمَنوا

إِمامَهُمُ صِدقاً فَلا لا وَلا كِذبا

إِمامَهُمُ صِدقاً فَلا لا وَلا كِذبا

They were true to God in their covenants and reassured

They were honest with God in their oaths and had faith in their leader,

They kept their pledges to God, and believed

their imam sincerely—no refusal, and no falsehood.

No wavering, no lies.

Sincerely in their Imam, with neither denial nor falsehood.

إِمامَ الهُدى إِنَّ العَدُوَّ إِذا رَأى

إِمامَ الهُدى إِنَّ العَدُوَّ إِذا رَأى

لَهُ فُرصَةً في الدَهرِ يَنزو لَها وَثبا

لَهُ فُرصَةً في الدَهرِ يَنزو لَها وَثبا

Imam of guidance, when the enemy sees

O leader of guidance, the enemy lies in wait

O Imam of Guidance, when the enemy sees

an opportunity for himself in the course of time, he leaps at it.

For any chance to ambush and assault.

An opportunity in time, he leaps to seize it.

وَمَن أَلجَأَتهُ لِلصَّداقَةِ عِلَّةٌ

وَمَن أَلجَأَتهُ لِلصَّداقَةِ عِلَّةٌ

يَكُن سَلمَهُ مِن بَعدِ عِلَّتها حَربا

يَكُن سَلمَهُ مِن بَعدِ عِلَّتها حَربا

And whoever some cause has forced into friendship—

He whose friendship is bound by self-interest

He whom necessity forces into friendship

his peace turns to war once that cause has passed.

Will turn hostile when that interest disappears.

Will turn his peace into war once the necessity passes.

فَعاقِب وَعاتِب كُلَّ شَخصٍ بِذَنبِهِ

فَعاقِب وَعاتِب كُلَّ شَخصٍ بِذَنبِهِ

فَلَولا العُقوباتُ اِستَخَفَّ الوَرى الذَنبا

فَلَولا العُقوباتُ اِستَخَفَّ الوَرى الذَنبا

So punish and reproach each person for his sin;

So hold each person accountable for their crime,

So punish and rebuke each person according to their sin;

for without punishments, people would take sin lightly.

For without punishment, evil is taken lightly.

For without punishment, mankind would make light of transgression.

وَقَد رَتَّبَ اللَهُ الحُدودَ لِتَنتَهي

وَقَد رَتَّبَ اللَهُ الحُدودَ لِتَنتَهي

مَخافَتُها عَمّا بِهِ يُغضِبُ الرَبّا

مَخافَتُها عَمّا بِهِ يُغضِبُ الرَبّا

God has ordained the prescribed penalties so that you desist,

God ordained penalties to deter

God ordained the legal penalties so that fear of them

out of fear of them, from what angers the Lord.

Transgressions that would enrage the Lord.

Might deter men from what angers the Lord.

إِذا أَنتَ جازَيتَ المُسيءَ بِفِعلِهِ

إِذا أَنتَ جازَيتَ المُسيءَ بِفِعلِهِ

فَلا حَرجٌ فيما أَتَيتَ وَلا ذَنبا

فَلا حَرجٌ فيما أَتَيتَ وَلا ذَنبا

If you requite the wrongdoer for his deed,

If you punish the offender according to his deed,

If you repay the evildoer for his deed,

there is no blame in what you have done, nor sin.

You have done no wrong, no sin.

There is no blame in your action, nor any sin.

فَمَن سَلَّ سَيفَ البَغيِ فَاِجعَلهُ نُسكَهُ

فَمَن سَلَّ سَيفَ البَغيِ فَاِجعَلهُ نُسكَهُ

وَمَن شَبَّ ناراً فَاِرمِهِ وَسطَ ما شَبّا

وَمَن شَبَّ ناراً فَاِرمِهِ وَسطَ ما شَبّا

Whoever draws the sword of rebellion—make it the instrument of his sacrifice;

Let the sword of aggression be his sacrifice,

Whoever draws the sword of tyranny, make him the sacrifice of his own blade,

and whoever kindles a fire, cast him into the midst of what he kindled.

And cast into the fire he ignited.

And whoever kindles a fire, cast him into the midst of the flames he raised.

بِذا يَستَقيمُ الأَمرُ شَرعاً وَحِكمَةً

بِذا يَستَقيمُ الأَمرُ شَرعاً وَحِكمَةً

وَيَنزَجِرُ الباغي إِذا هَمَّ أَو هَبّا

وَيَنزَجِرُ الباغي إِذا هَمَّ أَو هَبّا

Thus affairs are set right in law and wisdom,

Thus order and wisdom are maintained,

Through this, the order is set right in law and wisdom,

and the rebel is checked when he intends or rises to act.

And the aggressor deterred from his intent.

And the oppressor is deterred whenever he plots or stirs.

وَمَن تابَ مِنهُم فَاِعفُ عَنهُ تَفَضُّلاً

وَمَن تابَ مِنهُم فَاِعفُ عَنهُ تَفَضُّلاً

فَحَسبُهُمُ ما قَد لَقوا مِنكُمُ حَسبا

فَحَسبُهُمُ ما قَد لَقوا مِنكُمُ حَسبا

But whoever among them repents, pardon him graciously;

Show mercy to those who repent,

But whoever among them repents, pardon him out of grace,

what they have already suffered at your hands is enough, quite enough.

For the suffering they endured was enough.

For sufficient is the suffering they have already met at your hands.

فَقَد حَمدوا في بَعضِ ما قَد مَضى لَهُم

فَقَد حَمدوا في بَعضِ ما قَد مَضى لَهُم

فَإِن رَجَعوا فَالعَودُ لِلذَّنبِ قَد جَبّا

فَإِن رَجَعوا فَالعَودُ لِلذَّنبِ قَد جَبّا

For they earned praise for some things in their past;

Some good they did acknowledge before,

They have shown gratitude in times past;

if they return, their return cuts away the sin.

But to relapse into sin again would be contemptible.

And if they return to the fold, their return severs the past sin.

فَرُبَّ كَبيرِ الذَنبِ في جَنبِ عَفوِكُم

فَرُبَّ كَبيرِ الذَنبِ في جَنبِ عَفوِكُم

صَغيرٌ وَلكِن إِن هُمُ طَلَبوا العُتبى

صَغيرٌ وَلكِن إِن هُمُ طَلَبوا العُتبى

For many a great sin, beside your pardon,

For your pardon makes great sins small,

For often a grave sin, when measured against your pardon,

is small—but only if they seek reconciliation.

Unless they continue to demand reprisal.

Appears small—provided they truly seek reconciliation.

وَمِثلُكَ لَم تُقرَع لِتَنبيهِهِ العَصا

وَمِثلُكَ لَم تُقرَع لِتَنبيهِهِ العَصا

عَرَفتَ نَصيحَ القَلبِ مِنهُمُ وَمَن خَبّا

عَرَفتَ نَصيحَ القَلبِ مِنهُمُ وَمَن خَبّا

One like you needs no staff tapped to rouse his attention;

You were not meant to use the rod for correction,

One such as you needs no striking of the staff to be alerted;

you know whose heart among them is sincere and who is deceitful.

You know the sincere from those with malice.

You discern the sincere of heart among them from the deceiver.

وَأَذكى صَلاةٍ مَع سَلامٍ عَلى الذي

وَأَذكى صَلاةٍ مَع سَلامٍ عَلى الذي

نَرى سُؤلَهُ مِنّا المَوَدَّةَ في القُربى

نَرى سُؤلَهُ مِنّا المَوَدَّةَ في القُربى

And the purest blessings, with peace, upon the one

And the finest prayer is peace upon the one

And the purest blessings and peace be upon the one

whose request of us we understand to be love for his kin.

Whose love and kinship we seek to honor.

Whose only request of us was love for his kin.