حَنانيكِ ما ذا الهجرُ يا أُمَّ قاسِمٍ

حَنانيكِ ما ذا الهجرُ يا أُمَّ قاسِمٍ

فَرِفقاً بِوَلهانِ الفُؤادِ وَهائمِ

فَرِفقاً بِوَلهانِ الفُؤادِ وَهائمِ

Have mercy—what is this estrangement, O Umm Qasim?

Mercy, mercy! What is this estrangement, O Umm Qasim?

Be gentle with a heart-distraught man, bewildered and wandering.

So be gentle with one distraught of heart and lost in love.

وَليني عَلى الوَلهانِ ذي الوَجدِ وَالجوى

وَليني عَلى الوَلهانِ ذي الوَجدِ وَالجوى

فُؤاداً قَسا كَالصّخرِ لَيسَ براحمِ

فُؤاداً قَسا كَالصّخرِ لَيسَ براحمِ

Be tender to the love-lorn man possessed by passion and torment;

And soften, toward the lovelorn man of yearning and heartache,

soften a heart grown hard as rock, a heart without mercy.

A heart grown hard as rock, devoid of mercy.

فَما بالُهُ تَجفينَهُ وَهوَ سيّدٌ

فَما بالُهُ تَجفينَهُ وَهوَ سيّدٌ

كَريمٌ مِنَ الأَمجادِ عين الأكارمِ

كَريمٌ مِنَ الأَمجادِ عين الأكارمِ

Why do you shun him, when he is a lord,

Why do you shun him, when he is a lord,

noble in his glories, the choicest of the noble?

Noble, among the illustrious, the choicest of the noblest?

نَسيبٌ عَريقُ الأَصلِ طابَ نِجارُهُ

نَسيبٌ عَريقُ الأَصلِ طابَ نِجارُهُ

بُنَيُّ كِرامٍ في الورى وكرائمِ

بُنَيُّ كِرامٍ في الورى وكرائمِ

High-born and deep-rooted, of excellent stock,

Nobly descended, of deep-rooted ancestry, his stock is pure;

a son of noble men and noble women among humankind.

A young son of noble men and noble women among humankind.

وَجيهٌ جَليلٌ في العُيونِ مُوقَّر

وَجيهٌ جَليلٌ في العُيونِ مُوقَّر

جَميلٌ وَسيمُ الوَجهِ لَيسَ بِجاهمِ

جَميلٌ وَسيمُ الوَجهِ لَيسَ بِجاهمِ

Eminent, august, revered in every eye,

Distinguished, exalted in men's eyes, revered;

handsome, fair-faced, never grim.

Handsome, fair of face, never grim-faced.

شُجاعٌ تَربّى في الوَغى وَهوَ ضَيغم

شُجاعٌ تَربّى في الوَغى وَهوَ ضَيغم

تَذِلُّ لَهُ خَوفاً أُنوفَ الضّياغمِ

تَذِلُّ لَهُ خَوفاً أُنوفَ الضّياغمِ

Brave, raised amid battle, a lion,

Brave, reared amid battle, he is a lion;

before whom, in fear, the very noses of lions bow.

The noses of lions are humbled before him in fear.

يكرُّ عَلى الآسادِ لا يرهبُ الرّدى

يكرُّ عَلى الآسادِ لا يرهبُ الرّدى

وَيَسطو قَسيَّ القَلبِ سَطوةَ ظالِمِ

وَيَسطو قَسيَّ القَلبِ سَطوةَ ظالِمِ

He charges lions, never fearing death,

He charges the lions, never fearing death,

and strikes, hard-hearted, with a tyrant’s violence.

And strikes, hardhearted, with a tyrant's onslaught.

يَظنُّ إِذا ما كَرَّ أَن لَيسَ خلفهُ

يَظنُّ إِذا ما كَرَّ أَن لَيسَ خلفهُ

طَريقٌ بِهِ يَبدو مفرّ لِهاجِمِ

طَريقٌ بِهِ يَبدو مفرّ لِهاجِمِ

When he charges, he thinks there is behind him

Whenever he charges, he thinks that behind him there is no

no road by which an assailant might flee.

Path offering a charging warrior a way to flee.

وَيَنقَضُّ كالعقبانِ عندَ اِنقِضاضِها

وَيَنقَضُّ كالعقبانِ عندَ اِنقِضاضِها

فَيَرفَعُ كَفّيهِ بِأخذِ الجَماجِمِ

فَيَرفَعُ كَفّيهِ بِأخذِ الجَماجِمِ

He swoops like eagles at the moment of their descent,

He swoops like eagles when they swoop,

raising both hands to seize skulls.

Then raises his two hands, clutching skulls.

يُعادِلُ آسادَ الوَغى لَو تَجَمّعوا

يُعادِلُ آسادَ الوَغى لَو تَجَمّعوا

بِلا الأَسَدِ الرّئبالِ مُردي الهَياضمِ

بِلا الأَسَدِ الرّئبالِ مُردي الهَياضمِ

He would equal all the lions of battle, were they gathered—

He matches the lions of battle, were they all gathered,

all but the fierce lion that fells the stoutest warriors.

Except the mighty lion, slayer of massive lions,

أَبي العِزِّ خدنِ المَجدِ فَخرُ بَني العُلى

أَبي العِزِّ خدنِ المَجدِ فَخرُ بَني العُلى

عَلِيّ السّجايا بَعضها جود حاتِمِ

عَلِيّ السّجايا بَعضها جود حاتِمِ

Proud in honor, companion of glory, pride of exalted sons,

Abu al-Izz, glory's companion, pride of the sons of eminence,

lofty in character—some of it the generosity of Hatim.

Lofty in character, with Hatim's generosity among his virtues.

فَذاكَ هِزَبرٌ راجِحٌ لَو وَزَنتَهُ

فَذاكَ هِزَبرٌ راجِحٌ لَو وَزَنتَهُ

مَدى الدّهرِ في الدّنيا بِكلِّ الضّياثمِ

مَدى الدّهرِ في الدّنيا بِكلِّ الضّياثمِ

That is a lion of such weight that, were you to weigh him

For that lion would outweigh, if you weighed him,

throughout all time in this world, he would outweigh every lion.

Throughout all time in this world, all the fierce lions.

هَصور مهيب يَقصِمُ الظّهرَ صيتهُ

هَصور مهيب يَقصِمُ الظّهرَ صيتهُ

وَما كلُّ صيتٍ لِلظهورِ بِقاصِمِ

وَما كلُّ صيتٍ لِلظهورِ بِقاصِمِ

A fierce, awe-inspiring one whose renown breaks backs;

A crushing, fearsome lion: his renown breaks backs,

not every renown, merely heard, can break a back.

And not every renown is a breaker of backs.

تَخافُ بِهِ الأَطفالُ وَهيَ بِمَهدِها

تَخافُ بِهِ الأَطفالُ وَهيَ بِمَهدِها

وَتهلكُ مِن ذكراهُ حمسُ الجَهاضِمِ

وَتهلكُ مِن ذكراهُ حمسُ الجَهاضِمِ

Children fear him even in their cradles,

Children are frightened by him while still in their cradle,

and stout warriors perish at the mere remembrance of him.

And the fiercest massive lions perish at his mention.

فَيا سَعدَ مَن وافاهُ وَهوَ مُسالِمٌ

فَيا سَعدَ مَن وافاهُ وَهوَ مُسالِمٌ

وَيا تَعس مَن وافاهُ غَير مُسالِمِ

وَيا تَعس مَن وافاهُ غَير مُسالِمِ

Blessed is the one he meets while at peace;

So how fortunate the man who meets him at peace,

wretched the one he meets as an enemy.

And how wretched the man who meets him otherwise!

يَسيرُ عَلى أَقدامِهِ نَحوَ حَتفِهِ

يَسيرُ عَلى أَقدامِهِ نَحوَ حَتفِهِ

وَلَيسَ مِنَ الهَيجا يَعودُ بِسالِمِ

وَلَيسَ مِنَ الهَيجا يَعودُ بِسالِمِ

The latter walks on his own feet toward his death,

He walks on his own feet toward his death,

and none returns safe from battle with him.

Nor does he return safe from battle.

تَراهُ إِذا قَد رامَ حَربَ عِداتهِ

تَراهُ إِذا قَد رامَ حَربَ عِداتهِ

يَقومُ وثوباً مِثلَ وَثبِ الضراغمِ

يَقومُ وثوباً مِثلَ وَثبِ الضراغمِ

When you see him resolve to fight his foes,

You see him, when he intends war against his enemies,

he springs like the pounce of lions.

Rise with a leap like the leaping of lions.

وَيَنهَضُ ذا جدٍّ لأخذِ سلاحِهِ

وَيَنهَضُ ذا جدٍّ لأخذِ سلاحِهِ

بِجَزمِ أَخي عَزمٍ بِهمَّةِ حازمِ

بِجَزمِ أَخي عَزمٍ بِهمَّةِ حازمِ

In sober earnest he rises to take up his weapons,

He springs up in earnest to take his weapons,

with the resolve of a man of purpose and the mettle of the firm.

With a determined man's resolve and a resolute man's zeal.

وَيَلبَسُ دِرعاً مُحكَماً صنع نَسجها

وَيَلبَسُ دِرعاً مُحكَماً صنع نَسجها

وَمَغفرهُ المُزري بِلبسِ العَمائِمِ

وَمَغفرهُ المُزري بِلبسِ العَمائِمِ

He puts on tightly wrought armor,

He dons a coat of mail, its weave expertly crafted,

and a helmet that makes turbans seem paltry.

And his mail hood, which puts the wearing of turbans to shame.

فَيُصبِحُ في حِصنٍ حصينٍ فَما بِهِ

فَيُصبِحُ في حِصنٍ حصينٍ فَما بِهِ

يُؤثّر مِن رمحٍ وَقُضبٍ قَواصمِ

يُؤثّر مِن رمحٍ وَقُضبٍ قَواصمِ

Thus he enters an impregnable fortress, where

Thus he stands in an impregnable fortress, and nothing

neither spear nor shattering blade can touch him.

Of spear or cleaving swords leaves any mark upon him.

وَيَحمِلُ أَنواعَ الرّماحِ جَميعِها

وَيَحمِلُ أَنواعَ الرّماحِ جَميعِها

فَمِن حَربةٍ تُسقى بِسُمِّ الأَراقمِ

فَمِن حَربةٍ تُسقى بِسُمِّ الأَراقمِ

He bears every kind of spear:

He carries every kind of spear,

a lance steeped in the venom of serpents,

Among them a javelin steeped in vipers' venom,

وَسُمرٍ عَوالٍ ثمّ لُدنٍ عَوارتٍ

وَسُمرٍ عَوالٍ ثمّ لُدنٍ عَوارتٍ

يَقلُّ لَعمري مثلها في اللّهاذِمِ

يَقلُّ لَعمري مثلها في اللّهاذِمِ

tall brown shafts, then supple, slender ones—

And tall brown shafts, then supple, piercing lances,

by my life, their like is rare among spearheads.

Whose like, by my life, is rare among keen lances.

وَجُعبَتُه ما إِن تعدّ سِهامها

وَجُعبَتُه ما إِن تعدّ سِهامها

وَما نَصلُها غير القُلوبِ بِطاعِمِ

وَما نَصلُها غير القُلوبِ بِطاعِمِ

His quiver—its arrows cannot even be counted,

His quiver's arrows cannot be counted,

and their points feed on nothing but hearts.

And their points feed on nothing but hearts.

وَيَحمِلُ أَصنافَ السّيوفِ جَميعها

وَيَحمِلُ أَصنافَ السّيوفِ جَميعها

فَمِن مُرهَفٍ ماضٍ رسوبٍ وَحاسمِ

فَمِن مُرهَفٍ ماضٍ رسوبٍ وَحاسمِ

He bears every kind of sword:

He carries every sort of sword:

keen, penetrating blades, decisive and severing;

Fine-edged, keen, deep-cutting, severing blades;

وَمِن هندوانيٍّ وَعَضبٍ مُهنّدٍ

وَمِن هندوانيٍّ وَعَضبٍ مُهنّدٍ

وإِصليتِ قُرضابٍ وَأَمضى الصّوارِمِ

وإِصليتِ قُرضابٍ وَأَمضى الصّوارِمِ

Indian steel, a cutting, finely forged sword,

Indian swords, sharp blades of Indian steel,

an Islit blade, a cleaver, the keenest of swords.

And gleaming, hewing blades, the keenest of cutting swords.

يَخوضُ إِلى الهَيجاءِ بَحرَ كَريهَةٍ

يَخوضُ إِلى الهَيجاءِ بَحرَ كَريهَةٍ

بِمُعترك الأَبطالِ عِندَ التّصادُمِ

بِمُعترك الأَبطالِ عِندَ التّصادُمِ

He wades into the battle’s dreadful sea,

He wades toward battle through a sea of deadly strife,

into the melee where champions crash together.

In the heroes' battleground at the clash,

يَموجُ بِفُرسانٍ لُيوثٍ كَواسرٍ

يَموجُ بِفُرسانٍ لُيوثٍ كَواسرٍ

وَما مِثلُهُ بِالمَوجِ مِن مُتَلاطِمِ

وَما مِثلُهُ بِالمَوجِ مِن مُتَلاطِمِ

It surges with knights like ravening lions,

Seething with horsemen, lions that rend,

yet no wave within it is more turbulent than he.

With none contending in its waves to equal him.

يَصولُ على طِرفٍ أَصيلٍ مُشذَّبٍ

يَصولُ على طِرفٍ أَصيلٍ مُشذَّبٍ

مِنَ الرّيحِ مَخلوق مقودِ الشّكائِمِ

مِنَ الرّيحِ مَخلوق مقودِ الشّكائِمِ

He charges on a noble, lean, purebred steed,

He charges upon a noble, lean-limbed steed,

fashioned from the wind, responsive to the reins.

Fashioned from the wind, guided by the bridle-bits.

فَإِنْ يَعدُ شمتَ الريحَ مَسبوقةً بهِ

فَإِنْ يَعدُ شمتَ الريحَ مَسبوقةً بهِ

وَما غَيرُهُ قَد نالَ سَبقَ النَّسائِمِ

وَما غَيرُهُ قَد نالَ سَبقَ النَّسائِمِ

If it runs, you see the wind itself outstripped by it;

If it runs, you see the wind outstripped by it,

none but it has ever outraced the breezes.

And no other has ever gained the lead over the breezes.

وَما خَيلُهُ إِلّا جيادُ أَصائِلٍ

وَما خَيلُهُ إِلّا جيادُ أَصائِلٍ

صَوافن غرٍّ مِن هِجانٍ كَرائِمِ

صَوافن غرٍّ مِن هِجانٍ كَرائِمِ

His horses are none but purebred coursers,

His horses are nothing but purebred steeds,

clean and bright, born of noble mares.

Standing with a hoof raised, white-blazed, of noble pure stock.

فَمِن أَشهَبٍ صافٍ وَأحمَر رائقٍ

فَمِن أَشهَبٍ صافٍ وَأحمَر رائقٍ

بِعَرفٍ كَمثلِ الذّيلِ أَسودَ فاحمِ

بِعَرفٍ كَمثلِ الذّيلِ أَسودَ فاحمِ

Among them are a pure gray and a gleaming red,

Among them a pure gray and a splendid red horse,

with a mane like a long, black tail;

With a mane, like its tail, black as coal.

وَثيج وَعُنجوج شَديدٍ وصلدمٍ

وَثيج وَعُنجوج شَديدٍ وصلدمٍ

كَحيلٍ كريمٍ مِن جيادِ الصّلادِمِ

كَحيلٍ كريمٍ مِن جيادِ الصّلادِمِ

a robust, long-bodied, powerful, solid horse,

Stout-built, long-necked, strong and sturdy,

dark-eyed and noble, from the finest hard-running stock;

Kohl-eyed and noble, among the finest sturdy steeds.

كَبيرٍ ثَلاث واسِع لِثلاثةٍ

كَبيرٍ ثَلاث واسِع لِثلاثةٍ

بِطولُ ثَلاثٍ مِنهُ طولُ القَوائِمِ

بِطولُ ثَلاثٍ مِنهُ طولُ القَوائِمِ

large in three parts and broad in three,

Large in three parts, broad in three,

long in three—the legs among its lengths;

With three long parts, among them its long legs;

قَصيرُ ثَلاثٍ لا ذنوب وَسَمحَجٍ

قَصيرُ ثَلاثٍ لا ذنوب وَسَمحَجٍ

ذَريع وَسَهب سَلهب لم يصادمِ

ذَريع وَسَهب سَلهب لم يصادمِ

short in three, with no trailing tail, broad-backed,

Short in three parts, not long-tailed, and long-bodied,

swift, far-striding, tall, and never bested.

Fleet, wide-striding, tall and slender, never checked in a clash.

أَغَرّ بِتَحجيلٍ بِغَيرِ يَمينِهِ

أَغَرّ بِتَحجيلٍ بِغَيرِ يَمينِهِ

بِحُسنِ تَقاطيعٍ بِأَسنى المَياسِمِ

بِحُسنِ تَقاطيعٍ بِأَسنى المَياسِمِ

White-blazed, with white stockings except on its right foreleg,

White-blazed, with white stockings except on its right foreleg,

finely proportioned and marked with the noblest signs;

Beautifully proportioned, bearing the finest markings.

بِسيّالَةٍ إِن يُسقَ تَشربْ بشربِهِ

بِسيّالَةٍ إِن يُسقَ تَشربْ بشربِهِ

بِثَغرٍ ظَريفٍ وَهوَ حلو المَباسِمِ

بِثَغرٍ ظَريفٍ وَهوَ حلو المَباسِمِ

with a flowing lip that, when given water, drinks its fill,

With a flowing blaze that drinks with him when he is watered,

and a graceful mouth, sweet in its smile;

With a delicate mouth, sweet in its smiles.

بِحُسنِ نَياشينٍ لَها اليمنُ صاحِبٌ

بِحُسنِ نَياشينٍ لَها اليمنُ صاحِبٌ

بِها السّعدُ مَقرونٌ بِخَيرٍ مُلازِمِ

بِها السّعدُ مَقرونٌ بِخَيرٍ مُلازِمِ

with fair markings whose companion is good omen,

With beautiful markings, attended by good fortune,

good fortune joined to them, inseparably blessed.

Luck joined to them, with goodness ever at hand.

إَذا أَفلتَ الخطّيَّ في القوم طاعناً

إَذا أَفلتَ الخطّيَّ في القوم طاعناً

تَراهُ إِذن يَنسابُ مِثلَ الأراقمِ

تَراهُ إِذن يَنسابُ مِثلَ الأراقمِ

When he lets the Khattian spear fly, thrusting amid the host,

When he looses the Khatti spear, thrusting among the host,

you see it glide like serpents.

You then see it glide like vipers.

لَوِ اِصطَفَّ أَلفٌ واحداً خَلفَ واحِدٍ

لَوِ اِصطَفَّ أَلفٌ واحداً خَلفَ واحِدٍ

وَأَفلَتَ ذاكَ الرّمح لَيسَ بِراحِمِ

وَأَفلَتَ ذاكَ الرّمح لَيسَ بِراحِمِ

If a thousand men stood in line, one behind another,

If a thousand lined up, one behind another,

and he launched that merciless spear,

And he loosed that spear without mercy,

لَأخرجَ ذاكَ الرّمحَ مِنهم جَميعهم

لَأخرجَ ذاكَ الرّمحَ مِنهم جَميعهم

وَصَيَّرَهم لِلوَحشِ أَهنى الوَلائِمِ

وَصَيَّرَهم لِلوَحشِ أَهنى الوَلائِمِ

it would pass out through every one of them

He would drive that spear clean through them all,

and leave them to the beasts as the choicest feast.

And make them the sweetest feasts for wild beasts.

وَلَو أَنّ ذاكَ الألف قَد دارَ حَلقَةً

وَلَو أَنّ ذاكَ الألف قَد دارَ حَلقَةً

وَمَدَّ لَهُ زنداً بأبيض صارِمِ

وَمَدَّ لَهُ زنداً بأبيض صارِمِ

If those thousand instead formed a ring

And if that thousand had formed a circle,

and he stretched out his arm with a white, sharp sword,

And he stretched his forearm toward them with a bright, cleaving sword,

لَشِمتَ رُؤوسَ الألفِ منهُ بِضَربَةٍ

لَشِمتَ رُؤوسَ الألفِ منهُ بِضَربَةٍ

تَطيرُ عَنِ الأَعناقِ نَحوَ النّعائمِ

تَطيرُ عَنِ الأَعناقِ نَحوَ النّعائمِ

you would see their thousand heads, with a single stroke,

You would see the thousand heads, with one stroke from him,

fly from their necks toward the ostriches.

Fly from their necks toward the Na'a'im stars.

وَإِنْ يَرمِهمْ بِالنَّبلِ كانَت سِهامُهُ

وَإِنْ يَرمِهمْ بِالنَّبلِ كانَت سِهامُهُ

تَصبُّ عَلَيهم مِثل وَبلِ الغمائِمِ

تَصبُّ عَلَيهم مِثل وَبلِ الغمائِمِ

And if he shot them with arrows, his shafts

And if he shoots at them with arrows, his shafts

would pour upon them like a raincloud’s deluge.

Pour upon them like the clouds' downpour.

وَلَو ضَربت كفّاهُ مِن غَيرِ آلةٍ

وَلَو ضَربت كفّاهُ مِن غَيرِ آلةٍ

رُؤوسَ العِدى بِالخبطِ فَوقَ العَمائِمِ

رُؤوسَ العِدى بِالخبطِ فَوقَ العَمائِمِ

If his two hands struck without any weapon,

And if his two hands struck without a weapon,

battering his enemies’ heads above their turbans,

The enemies' heads, pounding above their turbans,

لَأَصبَحَ مِن أَقدامِهم نَحوَ سفلها

لَأَصبَحَ مِن أَقدامِهم نَحوَ سفلها

يُريكَ بِلا رَيبٍ خُروجَ الجَماجِمِ

يُريكَ بِلا رَيبٍ خُروجَ الجَماجِمِ

their skulls would be driven down past their feet—

He would then, from their feet and out below,

you would plainly see the skulls burst out.

Show you, without doubt, the skulls emerging.

كَذاكَ لَعَمري فَليَكُن كلّ فارِس

كَذاكَ لَعَمري فَليَكُن كلّ فارِس

وَكُلّ شجاعٍ في الحروبِ مصادمِ

وَكُلّ شجاعٍ في الحروبِ مصادمِ

Thus, by my life, should every horseman be,

Such, by my life, let every horseman be,

and every valiant man who clashes in war.

And every brave man who clashes in war.

وَلَكِنّه قَد قَلَّ في الدّهرِ مثلهُ

وَلَكِنّه قَد قَلَّ في الدّهرِ مثلهُ

وَقَد قَلَّ في الدّنيا وُجودُ الضّياغِمِ

وَقَد قَلَّ في الدّنيا وُجودُ الضّياغِمِ

But in all time, his like has been rare;

Yet through all time his like has grown rare,

in this world, lions such as he are few.

And the presence of lions has grown rare in this world.

فَيا أَيّها اللّيثُ الهمامُ أَبو العلى

فَيا أَيّها اللّيثُ الهمامُ أَبو العلى

وَيا مَن لَهُ العَلياءُ أَدونُ خادمِ

وَيا مَن لَهُ العَلياءُ أَدونُ خادمِ

O lion, valiant hero, Abu al-Ula,

So, O valiant lion, Abu al-Ula,

O you before whom even sublimity is a humble servant:

And O you whose lowliest servant is high glory,

إِلَيكَ رَعاكَ اللَّه بِنتَ حماسَةٍ

إِلَيكَ رَعاكَ اللَّه بِنتَ حماسَةٍ

لَعمريَ مِثلي مثلها غير ناظِمِ

لَعمريَ مِثلي مثلها غير ناظِمِ

To you—may God preserve you—comes a daughter of valor,

To you—may God guard you—I offer a daughter of valor,

whose like, by my life, no one like me has composed.

By my life, one like me cannot compose her equal.

تَذوبُ حَشا الأَعداءِ عندَ سَماعِها

تَذوبُ حَشا الأَعداءِ عندَ سَماعِها

لِذِكراك فيها يا وَجيهَ الأَعاظمِ

لِذِكراك فيها يا وَجيهَ الأَعاظمِ

The innards of enemies melt when they hear it,

The enemies' entrails melt when they hear her,

for the remembrance of you within it, O eminent one of the great.

For your mention within her, O eminent among the greatest.

وَتَصفَرُّ مِنهم حينَ تتلى أَنامِل

وَتَصفَرُّ مِنهم حينَ تتلى أَنامِل

وَتحضر فيهِم أُمّهاتُ القَشاعِمِ

وَتحضر فيهِم أُمّهاتُ القَشاعِمِ

Their fingertips turn yellow when it is recited,

Their fingertips turn yellow when she is recited,

and the mothers of vultures come among them.

And the mothers of Qash'am (death) appear among them.

فَمُرْ إِن ترُمْ حَربَ الأَعادي بِشَدوِها

فَمُرْ إِن ترُمْ حَربَ الأَعادي بِشَدوِها

فَلا تَطلب الأَعداء غَير الهَزائمِ

فَلا تَطلب الأَعداء غَير الهَزائمِ

So if you seek war with your foes, command that it be chanted;

So order her sung, if you seek war against the enemies,

then expect from the enemy nothing but defeat.

Then the enemies will seek nothing but rout.

يُوَلّونَ أَدباراً يَضلّونَ في الفَلا

يُوَلّونَ أَدباراً يَضلّونَ في الفَلا

وَقَد شدَّ حبل الضّيقِ فَوقَ الحَلاقِمِ

وَقَد شدَّ حبل الضّيقِ فَوقَ الحَلاقِمِ

They will turn their backs, wandering lost in the wilderness,

They turn their backs and wander lost in the wilderness,

while the cord of distress tightens above their throats.

The rope of distress already drawn tight over their throats.

يَضيقُ بِهم ضيق السوارِ بِمِعصَمٍ

يَضيقُ بِهم ضيق السوارِ بِمِعصَمٍ

يَضيقُ بِهِم ضيقَ البَنانِ بِخاتَمِ

يَضيقُ بِهِم ضيقَ البَنانِ بِخاتَمِ

It constricts them as a bracelet clasps a wrist,

It tightens upon them like a bracelet upon a wrist,

as a ring constricts the finger.

It tightens upon them like fingers confined within a ring.

وَضَعها عَلى حِصنٍ وَلَو غير مانِع

وَضَعها عَلى حِصنٍ وَلَو غير مانِع

فَتِلكَ لِدَفعِ القَومِ أَسنى التمائِمِ

فَتِلكَ لِدَفعِ القَومِ أَسنى التمائِمِ

Set it upon a fortress, even one otherwise undefended:

And place her upon a fortress, even one that offers no defense:

it is the finest of amulets for repelling a host.

She is the finest talisman for repelling the host.

وَدُم بِأَمانِ اللَّه في كَهفِ حِفظِهِ

وَدُم بِأَمانِ اللَّه في كَهفِ حِفظِهِ

مَعاناً بِعونِ اللَّه رَبِّ العَوالِمِ

مَعاناً بِعونِ اللَّه رَبِّ العَوالِمِ

Remain in God’s safety, within the shelter of His protection,

And remain in God's safety, in the cave of His protection,

aided by the help of God, Lord of all worlds,

Aided by the help of God, Lord of the worlds,

مَدى الدّهر ما هَبَّت نَسيمٌ من الصَّبا

مَدى الدّهر ما هَبَّت نَسيمٌ من الصَّبا

وَدامَ عَلى الأَغصانِ شَدوَ الحَمائِمِ

وَدامَ عَلى الأَغصانِ شَدوَ الحَمائِمِ

for all time, while the zephyr’s breeze blows

For all time, as long as a breeze blows from the east wind,

and the doves’ song endures among the branches.

And the song of doves endures upon the boughs.