بَينَ العُلى وَالقَنا وَالمشرَ في نَسَبُ

وَصِدقُ عَزمِ الفَتى في ذلِكَ السَبَبُ

Between doom and spear and honored lineage

Between glory, the spear, and the sword, there is a kinship,

And the resolve of the gallant youth in that cause

And the true resolve of a young man is the cause of that bond.

لا يَبلُغُ المَجدَ إِلّا مَن تَكونُ لَهُ

نَفسٌ تَتَوُقُ إِلى ما دونَهُ الشُهُبُ

None attains glory unless he possesses

None attains glory save for the one who possesses

A soul yearning for what old age makes unattainable

A soul yearning for heights beneath which the stars fall short.

جوداً وَبَأساً وَعَفواً عِندَ مَقدِرَةٍ

وَخَفضَ جَأشٍ إِذا ما اِشتَدَّتِ النوَبُ

Generosity, valor, and pardon when able

With generosity, might, and forgiveness when holding power,

And humility when misfortune intensifies

And a steadfast calm when calamities grow severe.

وَجَحفَلاً تَستَخِفُّ الأَرضَ وَطأتُهُ

تَخُرُّ لِلخَيلِ فيهِ الأُكمُ وَالحَدَبُ

And a stallion who makes the earth seem small under his tread

And a vast army whose heavy tread shakes the earth,

Before whom the sandy hills and dunes bow down

Before whose cavalry the hills and ridges bow down.

لِلَّهِ سَعيُ إِمامِ المُسلِمينَ فَقَد

حَوى الخِصالَ الَّتي تَسمو بِها الرُتَب

To God is the effort of the Imam of Muslims

To God belongs the endeavor of the Imam of the Muslims, for he has

For he encompasses the traits that elevate ranks

Gathered the virtues by which all ranks ascend.

عَبدِ العَزيزِ الَّذي لَم تَبدُ طالِعَةً

شَمسٌ عَلى مِثلِهِ يَوماً وَلَم تَجِب

Abdul Aziz whom no rising sun matched

Abdulaziz, upon whose like the rising sun

On any day, nor will match throughout the eras

Has never shone, nor set upon his equal in any age.

ما قُلتُهُ قَطرَةٌ مِن بَحرِ هِمَّتِهِ

هَيهاتَ يُحصي ثَناهُ النَظمُ وَالخَطبُ

What I said is but a drop from the sea of his ambition

What I have said is but a drop from the ocean of his ambition;

Alas, verse and prose cannot enumerate his virtues

Far be it that poetry or prose could ever enumerate his praise.

مِنَ الأَولى جَدَّدوا لِلنّاسِ دينُهُمُ

بِالوَحيِ تَعضُدُهُ الهِندِيَّةُ القُضُبُ

From the beginning they renewed people's religion for them

He is of those who renewed the religion for the people,

With revelation, supported by Indian teak

Through Revelation, supported by sharp Indian swords.

قَفَوا أَبا بَكرٍ الصِديقَ ما وَهَنوا

لَمّا دَعا الناسَ وَالأَهواءُ تَضطَرِبُ

They stood by Abu Bakr the Truthful and did not waver

They followed the path of Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq, never wavering,

When people and passions were thrown into confusion

When he called the people while passions were in turmoil.

فَرَدَّهُم بِالقَنا مِن حَيثُ ما خَرجوا

وَقالَ أَدّوا الَّذي في شَرعِنا يَجِب

He repelled them with the spear from where they had come forth

He turned them back with spears to the fold they had fled,

And said, fulfill what is mandated in our canon

And commanded: "Fulfill what is obligatory in our Law."

وَأَنتُمُ حينَ لا بَدوٌ وَلا حَضَرٌ

إِلّا لَهُم نَحوَ ما يُرديهِمُ خَبَبُ

While you, whether Bedouin or settled folk

And you—when neither Bedouin nor city dweller remained

Are only inclined toward what will ruin you

But that they were trotting toward their own destruction—

هذا يَطوفُ بِرَبِّ القَبرِ يَندُبُهُ

يَرجو النَجاةَ إِذا ما اِشتَدَّتِ الكُرَبُ

This one circumambulates the Lord of the Grave bewailing Him

One circumambulating a tomb's occupant, wailing to him,

Hoping for salvation when hardship intensifies

Hoping for salvation when distress grows severe.

وَذا يُعَطِّلُ آياتِ الصِفاتِ وَذا

مُغرىً بِتَحريفِ ما جاءَت بِهِ الكُتُبُ

While that one invalidates the verses about God's attributes

Another denies the verses of Divine Attributes, and another

Deceived into distorting what the scriptures have brought

Is obsessed with distorting what the Scriptures revealed.

قُمتُم مَقاماً يَؤودُ القائِمينَ بِهِ

وَقَد رَمَتكُم بِقَوسِ البِغضَةِ العَرَبُ

You have taken a stance that would ruin those who take it

You stood in a station that burdens those who undertake it,

And the Arabs have assailed you with the bow of hatred

While the Arabs shot at you from the bow of hatred.

لكِنَّ مَن يَنصُرُ الرَحمنَ يَنصُرُهُ

جُندُ الإِلهِ بِهِم لَو قَلَّوا الغَلَبُ

But whoever helps the Merciful - He will help him

Yet whoever aids the Merciful, by Him shall be aided;

The army of God - though few they overcome many

The soldiers of God shall triumph, though they be few.

رَدَدتُموهُم إِلى الدينِ القَويمِ وَهُم

مِن قَبلِكُم عَن طَريقِ المُصطَفى نُكُبُ

You have returned them to the Straight Path, though before you

You returned them to the upright faith, while they,

They had deviated from the way of the Chosen One

Before your time, had deviated from the Chosen One's path.

نِعمَ الوَزيرُ لَكُم شَيخٌ مَقالَتُهُ

ما قالَهُ اللَهُ وَالمُختارُ وَالصَحَبُ

What an excellent minister you have, a shaykh whose words

How excellent a minister you have in the Sheikh whose doctrine

Are those of God, the Elect, and the Companions

Is but what God, the Chosen One, and the Companions said.

أَعطاهُ مَولاهُ نوراً فَاِستَضاءَ بِهِ

وَاللَهُ يَختارُ مَن يُعطي لِما يَهَبُ

His Master has given him light, by which he finds guidance

His Lord bestowed upon him a light by which he was guided,

And God apportions to whom He wills what He grants

And God selects the recipient for the gifts He bestows.

عِنايَةٌ شَمَلَت نَجداً وَساكِنَهُ

بِهِ وَفَخرٌ لَهُم ما اِمتَدَّتِ الحِقَبُ

A care that has encompassed Najd and its inhabitants

A divine care that encompassed Najd and its dwellers,

Through him, a source of pride for them throughout the ages

Through him, a source of pride for them as long as ages endure.

وَحينَ قَلَّصَ ظِلُّ الأَمنِ وَاِنقَشَعَت

مِن نَجدَ أَعلامُهُ وَاِستَفحَلَ الكَلبُ

And when the shadow of security diminished

And when the shadow of security receded, and vanished

And its banners departed from Najd and treachery spread

From Najd were its banners, and chaos reigned supreme,

أَتى بِكَ اللَهُ غَوثاً لِلعِبادِ وَلِلـ

ـبِلادِ غَيثاً هَنيئاً بَعْدَمَا جَدبوا

God brought you as a savior for the people and the lands

God brought you as a savior for His servants, and for the

A blessed rain after they had suffered drought

Lands a wholesome rain after they had suffered drought.

فَضَلتَ تَنسَخُ آياتِ الضَلالِ بِما

يَقضي بِهِ النَصُّ لا زورٌ وَلا كَذِبُ

You began erasing the verses of misguidance with what

You continued to erase the signs of error with that

The definitive texts decree - neither falsehood nor lies -

Which the Text decrees—neither falsehood nor fabrication.

حَتّى اِستَقامَت قَناةُ الدينِ وَاِعتَدَلَت

فَالحَمدُ لِلَّهِ لا رَيبٌ وَلا رِيَبُ

Until the channel of religion was set aright and straightened

Until the spear-shaft of the Faith was straightened and true,

So praise be to God - no doubt or suspicion

So praise be to God—without doubt or suspicion.

وَكَم مَكارِمِ أَخلاقٍ أَتَيتِ بِها

يَرضى بِها في الجُثى آباؤُكَ النُجُبُ

And how many noble traits of character you have brought

And how many noble virtues have you brought forth,

By which your noble forefathers would be pleased in their graves

With which your noble ancestors are pleased within their graves.

وَاِذكُر بَلاءَ بَني الإِسلامَ إِنَّهُمُ

نِعمَ الظَهيرُ لَهُ وَالناصِرُ الحَدِبُ

And remember the tribulation of the sons of Islam - they

And remember the valiant efforts of the sons of Islam, for they

Are excellent supporters and a fortress when the war flares up

Are the best of supporters for it, and compassionate allies.

قَومٌ شَرَوا في سَبيلِ اللَهِ أَنفُسَهُم

وَجاهَدوا طَلَباً لِلأَجرِ وَاِحتَسَبوا

A people who sacrificed themselves in God's cause

A people who sold their souls for the sake of God,

And strove seeking reward, purifying their intentions

And fought seeking only His reward, anticipating His favor.

قُم أَدنِ مِن ساهِماتِ العيسِ ناجِيَةً

أَدنى تَغشمُرِها الإِرقالُ وَالخَبَبُ

Stand near the arrows of the swift she-camel, addressing her

Arise and bring near a swift, lean camel,

As she is covered by the saddlecloth, shielded by armor

Whose slowest pace is a trot and a gallop.

كَأَنَّها خاضِبٌ يَحدو سَفَنَّجَةً

وَالدَوُّ شاسِعَةٌ وَالغَيثُ يَنسَكِبُ

She glances at the whip at times, startled

As if she were a male ostrich urging on a long-legged mate,

When she sees its shadow or it touches her hind leg

While the desert stretches vast and the rain pours down.

تَلاحِظُ السَوطَ أَحياناً وَيُزعِجُها

إِذا رَأَت ظِلَّهُ أَو مَسَّها عَقَبُ

Take her from the prosperous land, making

She eyes the whip at times, and is unsettled

Your steadfast grandfather your guide, lest landmarks confuse you

If she sees its shadow or feels the touch of a heel.

سُقها مِنَ البَلَدِ المَعمورِ مُتَّخِذاً

دَليلَكَ الجَديَ إِن لَم تَهدِكَ النُصبُ

Greet Faisal and mention his achievements

Drive her from the flourishing land, taking

And say to him: thus should the noble ones act

The Polestar as your guide if the landmarks fail you.

سَلِّم عَلى فَيصَلٍ وَاِذكُر مَآثِرَهُ

وَقُل لَهُ هكَذا فَلتَفعَلِ النُجُبُ

The Imam's sword which his hand grasps

Deliver peace to Faisal and recount his exploits,

Unfailing in battle - no jesting with its edge

And say to him: "Thus indeed should the noble act."

سَيفُ الإِمامِ الَّذي بِالكَفِّ قائِمُهُ

ماضي المَضارِبِ ما في حَدِّهِ لَعِبُ

When the Imam draws it for the encounter

The sword of the Imam, whose hilt rests in his hand,

It surges forth while the fire of war blazes

Sharp in its strikes, with no jest in its edge.

إِذا الإِمامُ اِنتَضاهُ في مُقارَعَةٍ

مَضى إِلَيها وَنارُ الحَربِ تَلتَهِبُ

The chief of the exalted ones - through the faith his glory

When the Imam unsheathes it in the clash of battle,

And through him the faith is exalted, lineage regardless

He charges forth while the fires of war blaze.

رَئيسُ عُلوى عَلا بِالدينِ مَجدُهُمُ

وَالدينُ يُعلى بِهِ لَو لَم يَكُن نَسَبُ

He who inhabits Dar al-Reaya that was built

The Chief of 'Ulwa, whose glory rose through the Faith—

On piety and guidance - the noblest of Arabs inhabit it

For religion exalts a man even without noble lineage.

وَمَن بَبَوَّأَ بِالدارِ الَّتي بُنِيَت

عَلى التُقى وَالهُدى أَكرِم بِهِم عَرَبُ

The people of Riyadh gave sincere counsel

And those who settled in the abode founded

For the religion, their advice sincere, without deceit

Upon piety and guidance—how noble are these Arabs!

الساكِنينَ بِأَرطاوِيَّةٍ نَصَحوا

لِلدّينِ بِالصِدقِ في نُصحِهِم خَلَبُ

So too their brothers - do not forget their merit -

The dwellers of Artawiyyah, who were sincere

Wherever they went, they were champions of truth

In their devotion to the Faith; their sincerity is captivating.

كَذاكَ إِخوانُهُم لا تَنسَ فَضلُهُمُ

هُم نُصرَةُ الحَقِّ صِدقاً أَينَما ذَهَبوا

I mean by them the partisans of Islam, who reside

Likewise their brethren—forget not their merit;

In Mubarraz, mobilizing for war on the apostates

They are the true supporters of Right wherever they go.

أَعني بِهِم عُصبَةَ الإِسلامِ مِن سَكَنوا

مُبايِضاً وَلِحَربِ المارِقِ اِنتَدَبوا

And mention the achievements of a people whose sole aim

I mean by them the League of Islam, those who dwelt

Was jihad against the deviants - not supererogatory acts or spoils

In Mubayid, and volunteered to fight the renegade.

وَاِذكُر مَآثِرَ قَومٍ جُلُّ قَصدِهِمُ

جِهادُ أَهلِ الرَدى لا النَفلُ وَالسَلَبُ

They are the people of the township, brethren who have a history

And recall the feats of a people whose sole intent

Of righteous deeds hoped to bring one close to God

Is Jihad against the wicked, not spoils or plunder.

هُم أَهلُ قَريَةَ إِخوانٌ لَهُم قَدَمٌ

في الصالِحاتِ الَّتي تُرجى بِها القُربُ

God unleashed upon the people of Kuwait through them

They are the people of the Village, brothers who possess standing

The whip of torment, in whose folds lies wrath

In righteous deeds by which closeness to God is sought.

صَبَّ الإِلهُ عَلى أَهلِ الكُوَيتِ بِهِم

سَوطَ العَذابِ الَّذي في طَيِّهِ الغَضَبُ

The beasts of prey gorged until sated, then other packs

Through them, God poured upon the people of Kuwait

Set upon them, one after another in succession

A scourge of torment, wrapped in divine wrath.

طَلَّت سِباعُ الفَلا تَفري تَرائِبَهُم

تَنوبُهُم عُصَبٌ مِن بَعدِها عُصَبُ

And the birds peck at the tops of their skulls

The beasts of the wild set upon tearing their chests,

As if a drinking-companion sipping the wine of death's rapture

Descending upon them in pack after pack.

وَالطَيرُ تَمكو عَلى أَعلى جَماجِمِه

كَأَنَّها شارِبٌ يَهفو بِهِ الطَرَبُ

How many bereaved women slap their cheeks crying:

And the birds shriek atop their skulls,

"Alas if battle could avail!"

Like a drunkard swaying with delight.

كَم عاتِقٍ تَلطِمُ الخَدَّينِ باكِيَةً

تَقولُ واحَربا لَو يَنفَعُ الحَرَبُ

In your accursed name they took ill omens

How many a young maiden slaps her cheeks in weeping,

When in your "salama" lay destruction

Crying "O Woe!"—if only lamentation could avail.

تَفاءَلوا بِاِسمِكَ المَنحوسِ طائِرُهُ

بِسالِمٍ فَإِذا في سالِمَ العَطَبُ

Such is the vengeance of the Imam of the Muslims upon you

They sought good omens in your name, though its augury was cursed,

Either repent, or progeny and ancestry will be obliterated

In "Salem" [Safe]—yet behold, in Salem lay destruction.

هذا نَكالُ إِمامِ المُسلِمينَ لَكُم

فَإِن رَجَعتُم وَإِلّا اِستُؤصِلَ العِقبُ

O people of religion and faith, I owe you

This is the chastisement of the Imam of the Muslims upon you,

A duty, I see, to advise you sincerely

So if you repent, [good]; otherwise, your very roots shall be severed.

يا شيعَةَ الدينِ وَالإيمانِ إِنَّ لَكُم

عَلَيَّ حَقّاً أَرى نُصحي لَكُم يَجِب

Hold fast to God's Book, follow the way

O party of the Faith and Belief, indeed you have

Of the Messenger, and let not passions seize you

A claim upon me; I deem my counsel to you a duty.

تَمَسَّكوا بِكِتابِ اللَهِ وَاِتَّبِعوا

هَديَ الرَسولِ وَلا تَأخُذكُمُ الشَعبُ

And advise the Guardian sincerely, for it is

Hold fast to the Book of God and follow

Incumbent upon you by verses in the Scripture

The Messenger's guidance, and let not diverging paths lead you astray.

وَأَخلِصوا نُصحَ والي الأَمرِ فَهوَ لَهُ

شَرطٌ عَلَيكُم بِآيِ الذِكرَ مُكتَتَبُ

The Prophet made their obedience obligatory by textual decree

And give sincere counsel to the Ruler, for this is

Even if they take wealth or strike you

A condition upon you, prescribed in the verses of the Scripture.

قَد أَوجَبَ المُصطَفى بِالنَصِّ طاعَتَهُم

لَو أَنَّهُم أَخَذوا لِلمالِ أَو ضَرَبوا

Unless their command is polytheism and disobedience

The Chosen One has mandated their obedience by text,

There obedience is required - otherwise it is not

Even if they seize wealth or strike [the back].

ما لَم يَكُن أَمرُهُم شِركاً وَمَعصِيَةً

هُناكَ طاعَتُهُم في ذاكَ لا تَجِبُ

But when they aim at reform and make effort

Provided their command is not idolatry or sin;

And neither motive nor cause is clear to us

In such a case, obedience to them is not required.

أَمّا إِذا قَصَدوا الإِصلاحَ وَاِجتَهَدوا

وَلا اِستَبانَ لَنا الدّاعي وَلا السَبَبُ

Then objection or defiance are not warranted

But if they intend reform and strive diligently,

The definitive texts of truth have come urging accord

Even if the motive or cause is not clear to us,

فَما يَسوغُ اِعتِراضٌ أَو مُنابَذَةٌ

بِذاكَ جاءَت نُصوصُ الحَقِّ تَأتَلِبُ

Then, blessings upon the Guide and his partisans

Then neither objection nor rebellion is permissible;

And his Companions, as long as the clouds pour rain

With this, the texts of Truth have come in unison.

ثُمَّ الصَلاةُ على الهادي وَشيعَتِهِ

وَصَحبِهِ ما هَمى بِالوابِلِ السُحُبُ

Then blessings be upon the Guide and his followers,

And his Companions, as long as clouds pour forth heavy rain.