رياض نجد بكم جنان

فضية نورها حسان

The gardens of Najd, with their silver lights

And sweet-scented herbs and flowers

وَترب واديكم بنجد

مسك وَحصباؤه جمان

The valleys of your land are filled with musk

And saffron flowers bright

وَالروح من شعبكم عَبير

وَالزهر ورد وَزَعفران

Your neighbor in your land is held with honor

And the free man keeps his rights

وَالجار في ربعكم عزيز

وَالحر في أَرضكم يصان

How I've shed my blood and tears for you

Though vengeance lies with the killer, not the slain

فكم سفكتم دمي وَدمعي

أَما عَلى القاتل الضمان

How my heart yearns to see you again

Though between us lie ravines and shepherds' plains

كَم حن قَلبي الى لقاكم

وَدوننا الغور وَالرعان

I almost hid my love and tears

So intense was the fire within me, beyond restrain

وَكدت أَخفي الهوى وَدَمعي

من شدة الوجد ترجمان

O you who blame me, be gentle I implore

Have mercy on a heart so full of pain

يا لائمين اقصر واملامي

رفقا بمن قلبه ملان

Do not mention the traitors before me

For I and they are not the same

لا تذكروا الظاعنين عندي

فَلي وَللظاعنين شان

They said: "You care for them too much"

I said: "The covenants of love have passed away"

قالوا هو أَهم عليحتم

قلت عهود الهوى رزات

They said: "Then stop writing poems of longing"

I said: "The meaning itself leads me astray"

قالوا فكم تكتب المَعاني

قلت المعنى بهم معان

They said: "Then leave them be" I said: "Never!

Perhaps time was harsh and led them astray"

قالوا فدعهم فقلت كلا

لعل دهرا قسا فَلانوا

They said: "They've left you and the homeland"

I said: "People are where they choose to stay"

قالوا فقد فارقوك ربعا

قلت هم الناس حيث كانوا

If only the morning breeze would carry

News from the dwellings where they used to stay

ليت الصبا الحاجري ينبي

عَن جيرة البان يوم باتوا

Is their covenant with Najd still binding

Or did they break their oath and go astray?

هَل عهدهم عهدهم بنجد

باق أَم استؤمنوا فَخانوا

O you who judged well the nature of time

You did not know what time will do one day

يا محسنا بالزَمان ظنا

لم تدر ما يفعل الزَمان

Do not let desire lead you in passion

For following desire leads to decay

لا تتبع النفس في هَواها

ان اتباع الهوى هوان

And I am shamed by the rebuke of my Lord

If He should say: "O man, you went astray!"

واخجلتي من عتاب ربي

انقالَ اسرفت يا فلان

How long will you persist in sin

With the reins loose and passions held sway?

الى مَتى أَنتَ في المَعاصي

تسير مرخى لك العنان

Neither old age nor my envoy deterred you

Nor even the Glorious Quran, Nay!

لَم ينهك الشيب عَن حدودي

وَلا رَسولي وَلا القران

If fear of my wrath in hellfire gripped you

It would make the gardens your heart's doorway

لَو خوفتك الجحيم بطشي

لشوقت قلبك الجنان

Brave you are in committing sins

Yet from obeying me you shy away

أَنتَ شجاع عَلى المَعاصي

وَأَنتَ عَن طاعَتي جبان

I offer you peace but you take the sword

Gathering armies in disarray

عندي لك الصلح وَهو يرى

وَعندك السيف وَالسنان

Content that the nights keep passing by

While your war on truth lingers midway

تَرضى بأن تنقضي الليالي

وَما اِنقضت حربك العوان

So feel shame before the noble scribe

Who records each deed and word you say

فاِستَحي من كاتب كَريم

يحصى به الفعل وَاللسان

And feel shame before the grey hair you see

Imprisoned and disgraced in hell's doorway

واستَحي من شيبة تَراها

في لنار مسجونة تهان

When will you repent? After hope is gone?

Is that the time for repentance, Nay!

أيّ أوان تتوب فيه

هَل بعد قطع الرجا أَوان

You chose others above me, but

Man will be judged by the path he fray

آثرت غيري عليّ لكن

كَما يدين الفتى يدان

My Lord, these are my sins

And You are the source of might I say

يا سَيدي هذه عيوبي

وانت في الخطب مستعان

O You who has mercy for sinners

And whose nature is gentleness alway

يا من له في العصاة شأن

وَشأنه العطف وَالحنان

O You whose grace all corners fills

Whose kindness has no decay

يا من ملابره النواحي

لَم يخل من بره مكان

Forgive, for I am prisoner of sin

Do not let hope be lost, I pray

عفوا فاني رهين ذنب

حاشاك أَن يغلق الرهان

Forgive this fearful servant, be kind

Who has no shelter where he can stay

فاغفر لعبد الرَحيم وَالطف

بخائف ماله أَمان

Absolve all people of their sins

By which we will be tried on Judgment Day

وَسامح الكل في ذنوب

غدا بها تشهد البنان

Bestow your peace and blessings upon

The best of messengers sent our way

وَصل يا ذا العلا وَسلم

عَلى من اخلاقه حسان

Muhammad, to whom You revealed

Ta-Ha and Tasin without delay

محمد من عليه أنزل

طه وَطس وَالدخان