إِلى حَيثُ أَلقَت يا زَمانَ المَظالِمِ

وَلا عُدتَ يا عَهدَ الشَقا المُتَقادِمِ

To where tyranny's been cast away, time of yore

Be gone to where things are cast away, O time of injustice, and never return, O epoch of ancient misery.

And ne'er returned, days of misery and woe

You have departed with no mourners; for how could a blind man weep upon suddenly seeing lights fill the universe?

ذَهَبتَ فَلا باكٍ وَأَنّى بَكى العَمى

كَفيفٌ رَأى الأَضواءَ مِلءَ العَوالِمِ

You're gone, none weeps, how should the blind man weep

I marvel not that there is no wailing among the people, but rather it is strange to see anyone not smiling.

When lights the worlds with radiance overflow?

You descended upon the Easterner and his status plummeted, though he was once brimming with pride and fresh with noble virtues.

وَما عَجَبتُ أَن لَيسَ في القَومِ نادِبٌ

وَلَكِن عَجيبٌ أَن أَرى غَيرَ باسِمِ

No wonder none lament amongst the tribe

You sowed division until nothing but division remained, and you incited conflict until there was nothing but strife.

But strange I see none smile, or laughter show

You lingered, forcing the people to abandon their kin and country, scattering to every pass, both fertile and barren.

نَزَلتَ عَلى الشَرقِيِّ فَاِنحَطَّ شَأنُهُ

وَقَد كانَ غَصَّ الفَخرِ غِضَّ المَكارِمِ

You came on East in its zenith glory-clad

They departed, suppressing their rage to avoid malicious joy, seeking no justice for fear of censure.

When it with pride of all that’s good did glow

Had they wished, they would have chosen violence as a vessel, for resentments were filling their very chests.

فَفَرَّقتَ حَتّى لَيسَ غَيرَ مُفَرِّقٍ

وَخاصَمتَ حَتّى لَيسَ غَيرَ التَخاصُمِ

So you did part, none now unites but parts

We endured your company for thirty years, not out of fear, but due to worldly circumstances and the weakening of our will.

And stirred dissent till only strife they know

That was never out of love, for you possess no lovable trait, nor are we ones to be seduced by sin.

أَقَمتَ فَخَلّى أَهلُهُ وَبِلادِهِ

إِلى كُلِّ فَجٍّ مِن خَصيبٍ وَقاحِمِ

You stayed, so they left home and land in droves

You existed, and ignorance became our closest companion, while saving the truth became a rare spoil of war.

To every lush and arid valley go

You reigned while every youth among us slumbered in inaction, and every authority figure was a tyrant.

نَأى كاظِماً لِلغَيظِ خَوفَ شَماتَةٍ

وَلَم يَطلُبِ الإِنصافَ خِفيَةَ لائِمِ

Enduring, wrath supressing, shaming fearing

Thirty years with calamities hovering above us, pitching their tents like dark, ominous clouds.

Nor justice seeking, cowering, laying low

Knowledge was not respected, truth had no power, and nothing was held sacred save for money.

وَلَو شاءَ لَم يَختَر سِوى الشَرَّ مَركَباً

فَقَد كانَتِ الأَحقادُ مِلءَ الحَيازِمِ

Had he but wished, none but the worst he’d choose

There was nothing but tyranny, injustice, and harm; may you be accursed, O era of abundant malice.

For grudges filled minds with fires that glow

Begone, may you serve eternal misery, unbidden farewell by the people save with the edges of sharp swords.

صَحِبناكَ لا خَوفاً ثَلازينَ حِجَّةً

وَلَكِنَّها الدُنيا وَضَعفُ العَزائِمِ

We walked with you, not craven, many the pleas

By God, no nation of men accepts your chains unless they have been reduced to the level of beasts.

But weaker souls when lured by worldly woe

O Constitution, welcome and greetings to you, arriving on auspicious wings, O best of visitors.

وَما ذاكَ عَن حُبٍّ فَما فيكَ شيمَةٌ

تُحَبُّ وَلَسنا مِن غُواةِ المَآثِمِ

Not out of love, for you no virtues own

You rose upon us as a star that never sets, at a time when the East was like the eye of a bewildered wanderer.

That one could love, we are no sinners tho’

Eyes that were once weary found rest, and in their joy, they generously poured forth flowing tears.

فَكُنتَ وَكانَ الجَهلُ أَحسَنَ خِلَّةٍ

لَنا وَنَجاةَ الحَقِّ إِحدى الغَنائِمِ

So you remained, and ignorance better ties

Mankind, both East and West, erupted in a clamor that roused every sleeper from their slumber.

For us, the truth’s survival a chance windblow

You called out, and injustice fled across the land, while every oppressor bowed his head in shame.

وَكُنتَ وَما فينا فَتىً غَيرُ نائِمٍ

عَلَيكَ وَلا ذو سُلطَةٍ غَيرِ غاشِمِ

While none awake or wielding power but cruel

A smile overflowed upon the lips of the sorrowful, proclaiming that grief is not everlasting.

Oppressed us thirty years, capsized our boat

The pens were set free after their captivity, making the universe hear a song like the cooing of doves.

ثَلاثونَ عاماً وَالنَوائِبُ فَوقَنا

مُخَيِّمَةٌ مِثلُ الغُيومِ القَواتِمِ

No knowledge held aloft, no truth upheld

No captive remained whose bonds were not loosed, and no offender remained who did not receive mercy.

No sanctity observed, but greed for dough

We once deemed sorrow to be our inevitable fate, but now we see joy as our necessary destiny.

فَلا العِلمُ مَرموقٌ وَلا الحَقُّ نافِذٌ

وَلا حُرمَةٌ تُرعى لِغَيرِ الدَراهِمِ

Naught but injustice, tyranny, and harm

Some imagined that the East was delusional, and that you, O Constitution, were merely the confused dreams of a sleeper.

You ugly in an age of manner low

Others conjectured that this was but a deception; we sought refuge in the Lord of Mankind from all who cast such doubts.

وَما ثَمَّ غَيرُ البَغيِ وَالظُلمِ وَالأَذى

فَقُبِّحتَ مِن عَصرٍ كَثيرِ السَخائِمِ

So stranger leave, no farewells but with spears

You revealed your glory, and some faces turned black with shame while others shone with light, and every debtor became a victor.

And blades from folk you brought so low

You did not return until the spears nearly clashed for your sake—and truly, the spear is the most just of judges.

فَاِغرُب شُقيتَ الدَهرِ غَيرَ مُوَدِّعٍ

مِنَ القَومِ إِلا بِالظُبى وَالصَوارِمِ

By God, none but the beasts your bonds will bear

And in the hand of every proud man, every sword and sharp blade was poised to strike.

Of all mankind, should they but know

The army insisted on being your supporter, and you would accept nothing less than the support of a sound army.

فَوَاللَهِ ما تَرضى قُيودَكَ أُمَّةٌ

مِنَ الناسِ إِلّا أَصبَحَت في البَهائِمِ

O constitution, welcome to the auspicious bird

Blessed are you both, the arm and the sword, despite every pessimistic, rogue traitor.

The best that came, greetings free and fair

May the sons of the East never cease to sing the praises of the free men with pride, in every village and capital.

وَيا أَيُّها الدُستورُ أَهلاً وَمَرحَباً

عَلى الطائِرِ المَيمونِ يا خَيرَ قادِمِ

You rose on us an eveless star that shone

Men who wear the guise of ordinary men, yet within their bodies dwell the souls of lions.

While East in gloom and darkness bowed in prayer

They bound us with their kindness and generosity, while releasing us from the shackles of oppression.

طَلَعتَ عَلَينا كَوكَباً غَيرُ آفِلٍ

عَلى حينِ أَنَّ الشَرقَ مُقلَةُ هائِمِ

Eyes that tears flowed down smiled now unbidden

So there remains among us no ruler who is unjust, and no just man who does not rule.

Speaking that sadness is not fixed, nor despair

فَقَرَّت عُيونٌ قَبلُ كانَت حَسيرَةً

وَجادَت سُروراً بِالدُموعِ السَواجِنِ

Pens released now sing the song of love

And bring to ears of worlds the ringdoves coo

وَضَجَّ الوَرى وَالشَرقُ وَالغَربُ ضَجَّةً

أَفاقَ لَها مُستَيقِظاً كُلُّ نائِمِ

No more slaves unfree, bonds all cut away

No more oppressed remain that Justice bare

أَهَبتَ فَفَرَّ الظُلمُ بِالأَرضِ هارِباً

وَنَكَّسَ خِزياً رَأسَهُ كُلُّ ظالِمِ

And on sad lips smiles lit with radiance

Speaking griefs and frowns do not always wear

وَفاضَت عَلى ثَغرتِ الحَزينِ اِبتِسامَةٌ

تُخبِرُ أَنَّ الحُزنَ لَيسَ بِدائِمِ

We saw sorrows strike, calamity, setback

Now we see joys embrace, blessing to share

وَأُطلِقَتِ الأَقلامُ بَعدَ اِعتِقالِها

فَأَسمَعَتِ الأَكوانَ سَجعَ الحَمائِمِ

Some assumed the East raving, lost its mind

You, constitution, but mad dreamers snare

وَلَم يَبقَ عانٍ لَم يُفَكَّ إِسارُهُ

وَلَم يَبقَ جانٍ لَم يَفُز بِالمَراحِمِ

Others claimed deceit, so our Lord we seek

From the stones thrown by every false accuser there

وَكُنّا نَرى الأَحزانَ ضَربَةَ لازِبٍ

فَصِرنا نَرى الأَفراحَ ضَربَةَ لازِمِ

You appeared, faces blackened, faces lit up

And losers all their winnings now did share

تَوَهَّمَ قَومٌ أَنَّما الشَرقُ واهِمٌ

وَأَنَّكَ يا دُستورُ أَضغاثَ حالِمِ

You'd barely come when scholars clashed on you

The Kadi famed, most just of judges fair

وَرَجَّمَ قَومٌ أَنَّما تِلكَ خِدعَةٌ

فَعُذنا بِرَبِّ الناسِ مِن كُلِّ راجِمِ

And nearly shook with fervor every arm

Of each patriot, sword and blade laid bare

تَجَلَّيتَ فَاِسوَدَّت وُجوهٌ وَأَسفَرَت

وُجوهٌ وَأَمسى غانِماً كُلُّ غارِمِ

The army only helpful course approved

And naught but harm in any army flare

وَما عُدتَ حَتّى كافدَ يَشتَجِرُ القَنا

لِأَجلِكَ وَالخَطي أَعدَلُ حاكِمِ

So blessings upon soldier and leader alike

Despite the schemers spreading doom and scare

وَأَوشَكَ أَن يَهتَزَّ في كُلِّ ساعِدٍ

لِكُلِّ أَبِيٍّ كُلُّ سَيفٍ وَصارِمِ

Still the free sing their praise throughout the lands

The Eastern men pride and joy beyond compare

أَبى الجَيشُ إِلّا أَن يَكونَ مُؤَيَّداً

وَتَأبى سِوى تَأيِيدِ جَيشٍ سالِمِ

Men of mettle, though bodies housed therein

Souls of fiercest lions, kings of mighty lair

فَبورِكتُما مِن ساعِدٍ وَمُهَنَّدٍ

بِرَغمِ خَأونٍ مارِقٍ مُتَشائِمِ

With courtesy and zeal they us unchained

And from greed’s shackles freed us; evil snare

وَلا بَرَحَ الأَحرارُ يَشدو بِذِكرِهِم

بَنو الشَرقِ فَخراً في القُرى وَالعَواصِمِ

No unjust ruler left, no judge but just

None here judging unless justice he declare

رِجالٌ لَهُم زِيُّ الرِجالِ وَإِنَّما

جُسومُهُم فيها نُفوسُ ضَراغِمِ

هُم قَيَّدونا بِالعَوارِفِ وَالنَدى

وَهُم أَطلَقونا مِن عِقالِ المَغارِمِ

فَلَم يَبقَ فينا حاكِمٌ غَيرُ عادِلِ

وَلَم يَبقَ فينا عادِلٌ غَيرُ حاكِمِ