والحَيَّةَ الحَتفَةَ الرَقشاءَ أَخرَجَها
مِن جُحرِها آمِناتُ اللَهِ والقَسَمُ
The venomous viper, curled up and stippled,
Was brought out by Allah’s faithful servants, as promised.
إِذا دَعا باِسمِها الإِنسانُ أَو سَمِعَت
ذَاتَ الآلهِ يُرى في سَعيِها رَزَمُ
When called by name by people or hearing
The name of Allah, her purpose could be seen
مِن خَلفِها حِمَةٌ لَولا الَّذي سَمِعتَ
قَد كانَ نِيَّتُها في جُحرِها الحِمَمُ
Behind her, a protective swarm. But for The One you heard,
Her intention in her lair would have been fiery flames—
نابٌ حَدِيدٌ وَكَفٌ غَيرُ وادِعَةٍ
والخَلقٌ مُختَلِفٌ والقَولُ وَالشِيَمُ
Iron fangs and an unforgiving grip.
Creation varies; so do words and morals.
إِذا دُعِينَ بِأَسماءٍ أَجَبنَ بِها
لِنافثٍ يَعتَريهِ اللَهُ والكَلِمُ
When called by names, she responds to them—
To the curses of Allah and fate upon breathers.
لولا مَخافَةُ رَبٍّ كانَ عَذَّبَها
عَرجاءَ تَظَلُع في أَنيابِها عَشَمُ
If not for fearing the Lord, she would have tortured
The lame, her canines sinking into their joints,
وقَد بَكَتهُ فَذاقَت بَعضَ مَصدَقِهِ
فَليسَ في سَمعِها مِن رَهبَةٍ صَمَمُ
And she made him cry, so she tasted some of his truth.
Now her hearing lacks any hint of deafness.
فَكَيفَ يأمَنُها أَم كَيفَ تأَلَفُهُ
ولَيسَ بَينَهُما قُربى ولا رَحِمُ
So how could he feel safe with her? Or she befriend him
When they share no kinship or womb relations?
عَرَفتُ أَن لَن يَفوتَ اللَهَ ذو قِدَمٍ
وأَنَهُ من عَبيدِ السوءِ يَنتَقِمُ
I knew the Eternal would not miss one with unfair intent,
And that He takes vengeance on evil servants.
المُسبِحُ الخُشبَ فَوقَ الماءِ سخَّرها
خِلالَ جَريَتِها كَأَنَّها عُوَمُ
He who glorifies appointed the wood to float atop the water
As it flows, as if it were a raft.
تَجري سَفينَةُ نَوحٍ في جَوانِبِهِ
بِكلِّ مَوجٍ مَعَ الأَرواحِ تَقتَحِمُ
Noah’s ship sails its sides
With each wave, the spirits plunging through.
مَشحونةً ودُخانُ المَوجِ يَدفَعُها
ملأَى وقَد صُرِعَت مِن حَولِها الأُمَم
Loaded up, the smoke of the waves pushes it
Filled up, and the nations around it knocked down
حَتّى تَسوَّت عَلى الجودِيِّ راسِيَةً
بِكُلِّ ما اِستودِعَت كأَنها أُطُمُ
Until it settled safely on Mount Judi,
Retaining all it was entrusted with, as if mute.
نودِيَ قُم واركَبنَ بأَهلِكَ إِن
اللَهَ مُوفِ للناسِ ما زَعِموا
A call: “Stand up and embark upon it with your family.
Allah fulfills His promise to the people,” as they claimed.
والبانِ والزَيتِ والسَمراءِ أَخرَجَها
هذا الدِهان وهذا النُقلُ والأُدمُ
This daub, transport, and shelter brought them out—
The maguey, grapes, and fodder.
تَلكُم طَروقَتُهُ واللَهُ يَرفَعُها
فِيها العَذاةُ وَفِيها يَنبُتُ العُتُمُ
Those were its expulsions. And Allah raises it up
Containing suffering and containing burgeoning blindness.
