أَبى اللَهُ إِلّا ما تَرونَ فَما لَكُم

عِتابٌ عَلى الأَقدارِ يا آلَ طالِبِ

Fate willed naught but what you see; why then

Reproach the turns of Fortune, O ye House of Talib?

تَرَكناكُمُ حيناً فَهَلّا أَخَذتُمُ

تُراثَ النَبِيِّ بِالقَنا وَالقَواضِبِ

We left you for a while, why did you not take

The Prophet's heritage with lances and skiffs?

زَمانَ بَني حَربٍ وَمَروانَ مُمسِكو

أَعِنَّةِ مُلكٍ جائِرِ الحُكمِ غاصِبِ

In days of Marwan's sons and Bani Harb's reign,

Who held the power - despots - tyrannous - usurping,

أَلا رُبَّ يَومٍ قَد كَسَوكُم عَمائِماً

مِنَ الضَربِ في الهاماتِ حُمرُ الذَوائِبِ

Full oft a day they clothed you in cerements

With stripes that poured down blood beneath your raiment.

فَلَمّا أَراقوا بِالسُيوفِ دِماءَكُم

أَبَينا وَلَم نَملِك حَنينَ الأَقارِبِ

When they had shed your blood they put to shame

Our love, for we possessed nor rage nor longing.

فَحينَ أَخَذنا ثَأرَكُم مِن عَدوِّكُم

قَعَدتُم لَنا تُورونَ نارَ الحُباحِبِ

But when we had avenged you on your foes,

You turned on us and shot at us love's arrows.

وَحُزنا الَّتي أَعيَتكُمُ قَد عَلِمتُمُ

فَما ذَنبُنا هَل قاتِلٌ مِثلُ سالِبِ

The griefs that once distressed you, you know

We shared. What is our crime? Unless he is criminal who wounds or shackles.

عَطِيَّةُ مَلكٍ قَد حَبانا بِفَضلِهِ

وَقَدَّرَهُ رَبٌّ جَزيلُ المَواهِبِ

A royal gift is ours by his grace

Who destined it, a Lord munificent in boons.

وَلَيسَ يُريدُ الناسُ أَن تَملِكوهُمُ

فَلا تَثِبوا فيهِم وُثوبَ الجَنادِبِ

The folk desire no kingdom you should hold,

So tilt not at them, like a jinn-maddened camel.

وَإِيّاكُمُ إِيّاكُمُ وَحَذارِ مِن

ضَراغِمَةٍ في الغابِ حُمرِ المَخالِبِ

Beware, beware of wronging

A sharp-clawed beast lurking in the jungle.

أَلا إِنَّها الحَربُ الَّتي قَد عَلِمتُمُ

وَجَرَّبتُمُ وَالعِلمُ عِندَ التَجارُبِ

Know it is war that you have learned and known.

By experience learnt, and knowledge follows trial.