أَمِن تَذَكُّرِ دَهرٍ غَيرِ مَأمونِ
أَصبَحتَ مُكتَئِباً تَبكي كَمَحزونِ
Is it from recalling an age not to be trusted
Is it from recalling an uncertain past,
that you have become dejected, weeping like one grief-stricken?
That you've become depressed, crying like one in agony?
أَم مِن تَذَكُّرِ أَقوامٍ ذَوي سَفَهٍ
يَغشونَ بِالظُلمِ مَن يَدعو إِلى الدينِ
Or from recalling foolish folk
Or is it from remembering ignorant folk,
who assail with injustice whoever calls to the faith?
Who oppress with injustice those who invite to the faith?
لا يَنتَهونَ عَنِ الفَحشاءِ ما أُمِروا
وَالغَدرُ فيهِم سَبيلٌ غَيرُ مَأمونِ
They do not desist from wickedness when ordered to,
They do not cease from lewdness when commanded,
and treachery among them is a path not to be trusted.
And treachery in them is a path that cannot be trusted.
أَلا يَرَونَ أَذَلَّ اللَهُ جَمعَهُمُ
أَنّا غَضِبنا لِعُثمانَ بنِ مَظعونِ
Do they not see—may God abase their company—
Do they not see how God has humiliated their gathering?
that we have grown angry for Uthman ibn Maz'un?
For we were angry for Uthman ibn Maz'un.
إِذا يَلطِمونَ وَلا يَخشَونَ مُقلَتَهُ
طَعناً دِراكاً وَضَرباً غَيرَ مَرهونِ
When they slap him, showing no concern for his eye—
When they insult without fearing the consequences,
thrust upon thrust, and blows not held back.
With stabbing, striking, and unbound beating.
فَسَوفَ نَجزيهمُ إِن لَم يَمُت عَجِلاً
كَيلاً بِكَيلٍ جَزاءً غَيرَ مَغبونِ
So we shall repay them, if he does not die soon,
So we will repay them, unless he dies soon,
measure for measure, an undiminished requital.
With full measure, undeceived recompense.
أَو يَنتَهونَ عَنِ الأَمرِ الَّذي وَقَفوا
فيهِ وَيَرضَونَ مِنّا بَعدُ بِالدونِ
Or they must desist from the matter they have taken their stand
Or they desist from the matter they have undertaken,
on, and thereafter be content with less from us.
And accept from us afterwards, the lesser due.
وَنَمنَعُ الضَيمَ مَن يَبغِي مَضامَتَنا
بِكُلِّ مُطَّرِدٍ في الكَفِّ مَسنونِ
And we shall prevent whoever seeks our humiliation from wronging us,
And we prevent injustice from one who seeks to wrong us,
with every straight, sharpened spear in hand,
With every banished fist, bound tight.
وَمُرهَفاتٍ كَأَنَّ المِلحَ خالطَها
يُشفى بِها الداءُ مِن هامِ المَجانينِ
and keen-edged swords, as though salt were mingled with them,
And caustic words, as if salt mixed in,
with which sickness is purged from the heads of madmen,
With which the malady is cured, away from the insane.
حَتّى تُقِرَّ رِجالٌ لا حُلومَ لَها
بَعدَ الصُعوبَةِ بِالإِسماحِ وَاللينِ
until men devoid of sound judgment submit,
Until unyielding men are content,
after stubborn resistance, with willing compliance and gentleness,
After hardship, with gentleness and softness.
أَو يُؤمِنوا بِكتابٍ مُنزَلٍ عَجَبٍ
عَلى نَبِيٍّ كَموسى أَو كَذي النونِ
or believe in a wondrous book sent down
Or they believe in a wondrous, revealed scripture,
to a prophet like Moses or like the Man of the Fish,
Sent down upon a prophet like Moses or Jonah.
يَأَتي بِأَمرٍ جَلِيٍّ غَيرِ ذو عِوَجٍ
كَما تَبَيَّنَ في آياتِ ياسينِ
who brings a clear command, free of crookedness,
Which comes with a clear command, without crookedness,
as has become clear in the verses of Ya-Sin.
As is evident in the signs of Ya Sin.
Sol 6.1