مسلم في حومة الحرب أسر

قائدا من جيش كسرى ذا خطر

In the thick of battle, a Muslim captured

a commander of Kisra's army, a man of great standing.

قائد رب خداع ماكر

عجم الأيام ذئب غادر

A cunning commander, a master of deceit,

a treacherous wolf who had tested the days.

لم بعرف آسريه باسمه

أو يحدث أحدا عن وسمه

He did not tell his captors his name,

nor tell anyone of his identifying mark.

قال للآسر ياذا الكرم

آمنني ذاك شأن المسلم

He said to the captor, “O generous one,

grant me safety—that is a Muslim's way.”

وضع الجندي في الغمد الحسام

معلنا أن دمك اليوم حرام

The soldier placed the keen-edged sword in its sheath,

declaring, “Your blood is inviolable today.”

وخبت في الحرب نيران العجم

وهوى من آل ساسان العلم

And the Persians' fires died out in battle,

and the banner of the House of Sasan fell.

فإذا المأسور جابان الكبير

قائد في جند إيران أمير

And behold, the captive was the great Jaban,

a commander, an emir in Iran's army.

أقبل الجند بصوت قارع

يسأل القائد قتل الخادع

The troops came forward with a resounding cry,

asking the commander to have the deceiver killed.

بو عبيد قائد العرب الأبى

عزمه في الحرب عن جيش غنى

Abu Ubayd, the Arabs' indomitable commander,

whose resolve in war sufficed in place of an army,

قال يا قوم ألسنا المسلمين

نغمة واحدة في العالمين

said, “O my people, are we, the Muslims, not

a single melody throughout the worlds,

من أبى ذر علت أو حيدر

من بلال سمعت أو قنبر

whether it rose from Abu Dharr or Haydar,

whether it was heard from Bilal or Qanbar?

كل جندي أمين الملة

صلحه والحرب عهد الأمة

Every soldier is a trustee of the faith;

his peace and war are the community's covenant.

إن جابان عدو غشم

لكن الأمن حباه مسلم

Jaban is indeed a ruthless enemy,

but a Muslim has granted him safety.

دمه اليوم عليكم حرما

أمة المختار أوفوا الذمما

His blood is forbidden to you today.

O community of the Chosen One, honor your pledges!”