أينجو بنو بدر بمقتلِ مالكٍ

أينجو بنو بدر بمقتلِ مالكٍ

ويخذلنا في النائبات ربيع

ويخذلنا في النائبات ربيع

Will the sons of Badr go unpunished for Malik's killing,

Where are the sons of Badr in slaying Malik?

while Rabiʿ forsakes us in calamities?

And Rabi'a fails us in adversities,

وكان زيادٌ قبله يتقى به

وكان زيادٌ قبله يتقى به

من الدهر ان يوم المَّ فظيع

من الدهر ان يوم المَّ فظيع

And before him, Ziyad was relied upon for protection

And Ziyad used to be protected by him

against fate, if a dreadful day befell.

From the days of horror and terror,

فقل لربيعٍ يحتذي فعل شيخه

فقل لربيعٍ يحتذي فعل شيخه

وما الناس الا حافظ ومضيع

وما الناس الا حافظ ومضيع

So tell Rabiʿ to follow his elder's example;

So say to Rabi'a who imitates his chief's deeds,

and people are only those who safeguard and those who squander.

While people are but keepers and wasters,

والا فمالي في البلاد إقامة

والا فمالي في البلاد إقامة

وأمر بني بدر عليَّ جميع

وأمر بني بدر عليَّ جميع

Otherwise, there is no staying for me in the land,

Else, why should I stay in the country,

while the sons of Badr are united in purpose against me.

And the command of Badr's sons is binding on me.