هَلْdo تَعْرِفyou recognize الدارَthe dwelling عَفَتwere effaced أَنْدابُهاits traces
هَلْ تَعْرِف الدارَ عَفَت أَنْدابُها
فَهَاجَand so stirred شَوْقاًlonging شائِقاًheart-enthralling ذَهابُهاits disappearance
فَهَاجَ شَوْقاً شائِقاً ذَهابُها
Do you recognize the dwelling, its traces effaced?
Do you know the house whose traces have been effaced,
Its passing stirred a heart-enthralling longing.
So that longing for it makes the yearner waste away in desire?
فَدَمْعُand the tears of عَيْنِيmy eye لَاnot يَنِيceases تَسْكَابُهَاits outpouring
فَدَمْعُ عَيْنِي لَا يَنِي تَسْكَابُهَا
ذَكَّرَهَاrecalled it مِنْthrough طَرَبٍyearning أَطْرابُهاits fits of rapture
ذَكَّرَهَا مِنْ طَرَبٍ أَطْرابُها
And my eye's tears never cease their pouring.
My tears flow without cease for the memory of it;
Its delights recalled it through yearning.
It recalls to me its days of joy and pleasure.
وَالبِيضُand the fair women حَيْثwhere أَرِجَتgrew fragrant أَطْبابُهاtheir garment-strips
وَالبِيضُ حَيْث أَرِجَت أَطْبابُها
ذَكِيَّsweet-scented مِسْكٍmusk شَبَهٍresembling ملابُهاtheir saffron perfume
ذَكِيَّ مِسْكٍ شَبَهٍ ملابُها
And the fair women, where their garment-strips grew fragrant,
The whiteness there where its tent-pegs were struck;
Their saffron perfume like sweet-scented musk.
The sweet perfume of musk that filled its rooms.
كَأَنَّهَاas though it مِنْfrom طُولِthe length of مَاwhat يَنْتَابُهاvisits it
كَأَنَّهَا مِنْ طُولِ مَا يَنْتَابُها
إِنْجِيلa Gospel أَحْبارٍlearned clerics وَحَىinscribed كُتَّابُهاits scribes
إِنْجِيل أَحْبارٍ وَحَى كُتَّابُها
As though, from all that has long visited it,
As if from its long standing the manuscripts within
It were a Gospel of learned clerics, inscribed by its scribes.
Were the Bible, written by Jewish scribes of the Torah.
وَقَدْand once تُريyou see مُؤْتَلِفاgathered together أَتْرابُهاher age-mates
وَقَدْ تُري مُؤْتَلِفا أَتْرابُها
أَزْمانdays أَرْوَيArwa رُؤْدَةٌtender شَبَابُهاher youth
أَزْمان أَرْوَي رُؤْدَةٌ شَبَابُها
And once you could see her age-mates gathered together,
You can see there a tribe united in fellowship;
In Arwa's days, when her youth was tender.
A time when its fresh saplings grew tall.
مَهَاةُan oryx خُنْسٍsnub-nosed oryxes عَذْبَةٌsweet رُضَابُهَاher saliva
مَهَاةُ خُنْسٍ عَذْبَةٌ رُضَابُهَا
يُلْقَىare encountered بِعِطْفَيْon both sides of شارِعa thoroughfare أَخْطَابُهَاher suitors
يُلْقَى بِعِطْفَيْ شارِع أَخْطَابُهَا
An oryx among the snub-nosed herd, her saliva sweet,
A resting-place smooth and joyous for the roe-deer;
Her suitors encountered on either side of a thoroughfare.
Where it lays its cheek down, dreaming, on the path.
مَزْؤُودَةٌfrightened لَاnot يَنْجلِيfades away غُرَابُهَاher raven-black hair
مَزْؤُودَةٌ لَا يَنْجلِي غُرَابُهَا
فَقَدْfor already مَضَىpassed مِنْof حِججyears أَحْقَابُهَاits long ages
فَقَدْ مَضَى مِنْ حِجج أَحْقَابُهَا
Timid, her raven-black hair never paling.
A star that keeps its brightness though clouds cover it;
For long ages of years have passed over it.
Its curtain has dropped down over its dwelling-place.
وَبَلْدَةٍand a land مُغْبَرَّةdust-covered أَقْرابُهَاits flanks
وَبَلْدَةٍ مُغْبَرَّة أَقْرابُهَا
لَمَّاعَةٍshimmering مَوْصُولَةٍcontinuous سِهابُهَاits broad plains
لَمَّاعَةٍ مَوْصُولَةٍ سِهابُهَا
And a land whose flanks are dust-grey,
A tribe that yielded, though pressed sore by disaster,
Shimmering, its broad plains stretching unbroken,
Until its booty spilled from its ravaged coat of mail.
بِأَرْضِin a land of حَرٍّheat قَذَفٍfar-flung يبَابُهَاits wasteland
بِأَرْضِ حَرٍّ قَذَفٍ يبَابُهَا
يَجْرِيflows بضَحْضَاحِin the shallows of الضُحَىmorning light سَرَابُهاits mirage
يَجْرِي بضَحْضَاحِ الضُحَى سَرَابُها
In a land of heat, its wasteland far-flung,
Many a milch-camel there driven off as prey,
Its mirage flows through the shallows of morning light.
When the tribe was thrown into confusion at the raid.
إِذاwhen عُلاَةa rocky height أَطْرَدَتْextended successively حِدَابُهاits ridges
إِذا عُلاَة أَطْرَدَتْ حِدَابُها
تَعْوِيhowl بِسِقْطَيْat both margins of مُقْفِرٍa wilderness ذِئَابُهاits wolves
تَعْوِي بِسِقْطَيْ مُقْفِرٍ ذِئَابُها
When a rocky height's ridges extend in succession,
And bit savagely with its sharp teeth.
Its wolves howl on both margins of a wilderness.
Terror of our onslaught kept its clamor still.
يَحْبُوcreeps بِحَابٍthrough a creeping mirage ضَفِرdense أَصْلاَبُهاits ridges
يَحْبُو بِحَابٍ ضَفِر أَصْلاَبُها
إِلَىtoward نِعَافٍfoothill slopes جُنَّحleaning أَنْصَابُهاtheir standing stones
إِلَى نِعَافٍ جُنَّح أَنْصَابُها
Its ridges creep through a dense, crawling mirage,
When the Tamīm tribe rose their necks were bowed;
Toward slopes whose standing stones lean aside.
It dragged prone the necks of the foe without effort.
تَعَسَّفَتْهَاcrossed it without guidance قُلُصٌyoung she-camels تَجْتَابُهاtraverse it
تَعَسَّفَتْهَا قُلُصٌ تَجْتَابُها
إِلَىtoward دِفَانٍburied wells سُدُمchoked أَشْرابُهاtheir water-shares
إِلَى دِفَانٍ سُدُم أَشْرابُها
Young she-camels struck across it, cutting through,
Breaking their necks, taking captive and plundering,
Toward buried wells whose water-shares are choked.
Hobbling and goring the enemy’s riding-beasts.
عَلَيْهِupon it مِنْfrom رِيشfeathers القَطَاsandgrouse أَزْغابُهَاtheir down
عَلَيْهِ مِنْ رِيش القَطَا أَزْغابُهَا
إِذَاwhen المَهَارِيthe Mahri camels دَمِيَتbled أَنْقابُهاtheir worn footpads
إِذَا المَهَارِي دَمِيَت أَنْقابُها
Upon it lies down from the feathers of sandgrouse,
Its booty poured forth from them like the trailing skirts
When the Mahri camels' worn footpads bleed,
Of a bride on her wedding-night – no mere boast!
فِيalong سُبُلٍroads ضَحَّاكَةٍsmiling broadly نِقَابُهاtheir passes
فِي سُبُلٍ ضَحَّاكَةٍ نِقَابُها
وَقَدْand sometimes يُلِذُّdelights رائِداًa pasture-scout جَنَابُهَاits environs
وَقَدْ يُلِذُّ رائِداً جَنَابُهَا
Along roads whose passes smile wide.
When requested, in time of need they lent aid.
Yet its environs may delight a pasture-scout,
Though some spoke against us and their false words spread.
يَحْلِيgrow sweet بِنَضّاحwith splashes of النَدَىdew أَعْشَابُهاits grasses
يَحْلِي بِنَضّاح النَدَى أَعْشَابُها
تَرَاوَحَتْهاvisited it in turn خُلَّجtugging أَهْوَابُهاits gusts
تَرَاوَحَتْها خُلَّج أَهْوَابُها
Its grasses grow sweet with splashing dew.
Tamīm are free of all fault that is imputed;
Tugging gusts have visited it in turn,
To them cling only fine qualities that all men praise.
فَلَاand so not تَنِيceases سَارِيةٌa night-traveling rain-cloud تَنْتَابُهاvisits it
فَلَا تَنِي سَارِيةٌ تَنْتَابُها
وَغادِيَاتand morning clouds سُحَّجscouring أَهْبابُهاtheir blasts
وَغادِيَات سُحَّج أَهْبابُها
And a night-cloud never ceases to visit it,
Not one of the People of the Camel bears them malice
And morning clouds whose blasts scour the ground,
That he should garble their name or speak slander of them.
وَدَجْنُand the gloom of غَيْنٍcloud-cover حَرِجٍdensely crowded ذِهَابُهاits showers
وَدَجْنُ غَيْنٍ حَرِجٍ ذِهَابُها
يَنْهَضُrises مِنْfrom عَوْرَتِهِits gap سَحَابُهاits clouds
يَنْهَضُ مِنْ عَوْرَتِهِ سَحَابُها
And dark cloud-cover, its showers closely crowded.
Tamīm came in truth, their dove returned;
Its clouds rise through a gap in the covering,
With humility they obeyed and bowed their necks.
تَبْرَقُflashes lightning حِينَwhen يَسْتَوِيlies level رَبَابُهاits low clouds
تَبْرَقُ حِينَ يَسْتَوِي رَبَابُها
مِنْfrom حَوْمِcircling masses of غَيْنٍclouds سَرِبstreaming أَسْرَابُهاtheir flocks
مِنْ حَوْمِ غَيْنٍ سَرِب أَسْرَابُها
Lightning flashes when its low clouds lie level,
To Him whose origin was their origin;
From circling cloud-masses whose flocks stream onward,
From the dust of Whose land comes their dust.
فِيin دِيَمٍsteady rains تَسَاقَطَتfell in succession أَهْدَابُهاtheir fringes
فِي دِيَمٍ تَسَاقَطَت أَهْدَابُها
وَقَدْand indeed تَرَيyou see حَرّاًhot رَكَاماًheaped up لاَبُهاits lava-fields
وَقَدْ تَرَي حَرّاً رَكَاماً لاَبُها
In steady rains whose fringes fall.
In the cords of Whose causes lie the cords of their causes
And you may see its lava-fields piled hot
Till they arrive at Adam's lineage through ages long past.
بِهَاthere وَأَنْضَاداًand layered heaps رَسَتْstood firmly هِضَابُهاtheir heights
بِهَا وَأَنْضَاداً رَسَتْ هِضَابُها
وَالخَيْلُand the horses تَعْدُوrace القَفَزَىin leaping strides عِرَابُهاtheir purebreds
وَالخَيْلُ تَعْدُو القَفَزَى عِرَابُها
There, and layered masses whose heights stand firm.
They will plunge down a mighty descent to reach their destination:
And the purebred horses race in leaping strides,
God's vicegerent – may they attain to his neighborhood! –
بِأُسْدِbearing lions of غابa forest يُتَّقَىis feared تَوْثَابُهاtheir pouncing
بِأُسْدِ غاب يُتَّقَى تَوْثَابُها
تَضْبِرُspring with gathered legs حِينَwhen يُبْتَلَىis tested ضِرابُهاtheir fighting
تَضْبِرُ حِينَ يُبْتَلَى ضِرابُها
Bearing forest lions whose pounces are feared.
When their sumpter-beasts flounder down the precipice
They spring when their fighting is put to the test,
Or get stuck in some slough, pawing the mire.
فِيin أَجَمٍthickets مِنof الرِّماحِspears غابُهاtheir forest
فِي أَجَمٍ مِن الرِّماحِ غابُها
وَقُلْتُand I spoke جِدّاًearnestly يَرْتَمِيdarts forth إِعْتَابُهاtheir correction
وَقُلْتُ جِدّاً يَرْتَمِي إِعْتَابُها
In thickets whose forest is made of spears.
As the torrent carries along foam-flakes on its eddies,
And I spoke in earnest, their corrective force darting forth,
Dashing them into bits as its plunge grows wilder.
فِيin كُلِّevery نَحْوِdirection يَنْتَحِيtakes aim جَوَابُهاtheir answer
فِي كُلِّ نَحْوِ يَنْتَحِي جَوَابُها
إِذَاwhen القَوَافِيthe rhymes أَسْمَحyielded readily اقْتِضَابُهاtheir improvisation
إِذَا القَوَافِي أَسْمَح اقْتِضَابُها
Their answer taking aim in every direction.
To a broad hollow its sides extend;
When the rhymes yield readily to improvisation,
The bucket-ropes water and are watered by its pools.
سامَحyielded freely أَوْor يَنْتَحِبstrives hard انْتِحَابُهاtheir exertion
سامَح أَوْ يَنْتَحِب انْتِحَابُها
مِنْfrom نُجُبٍnoble stock عَادِيَّةancient أَحْسَابُهاtheir pedigrees
مِنْ نُجُبٍ عَادِيَّة أَحْسَابُها
It yields freely, or strains with their strenuous effort,
How many a pregnant domestic-ass runs loose there,
From noble stock with ancient pedigrees.
When the stallions are roused and begin to stampede!
وَغارَةٍand a raid مُسْتَوْعِبٍall-encompassing إِيعَابُهاits sweep
وَغارَةٍ مُسْتَوْعِبٍ إِيعَابُها
فِيamid فِتْنَةٍstrife يَلْتَهِبُblazes الْتِهَابُهاits flaming
فِي فِتْنَةٍ يَلْتَهِبُ الْتِهَابُها
And a raid whose sweep encompasses all,
Silence hushes the clamor we rouse,
Amid strife whose blaze flames up,
And down from their eyries drop its kites and vultures.
شَهْبَاءَdust-grey فِيin مُسْتَوْقِدٍa kindled blaze شِهَابُهَاits firebrand
شَهْبَاءَ فِي مُسْتَوْقِدٍ شِهَابُهَا
تَحْمِيgrows fierce إِذَاwhen تَحَزَّبتrallied أَحْزَابُهاits factions
تَحْمِي إِذَا تَحَزَّبت أَحْزَابُها
Dust-grey, its firebrand in a kindled blaze,
When the situation is examined, falsehood falls away from our claim,
Growing fierce when its factions rally.
Although sometimes the course of events wounds us painfully.
قُمْنَاwe stood بِهَاagainst it حَتَّىuntil خَبَاdied down أَجْلاَبُهاits clamorous mustering
قُمْنَا بِهَا حَتَّى خَبَا أَجْلاَبُها
وَاجْتَحَرتْand burrowed مِنْfrom خَوْفِنَاfear of us أَحْضابهاits serpents
وَاجْتَحَرتْ مِنْ خَوْفِنَا أَحْضابها
We faced it until its clamorous mustering died down,
We do not turn back until men's minds regain balance
And its serpents burrowed in fear of us.
And the cloud their thoughts obscure rolls completely away.
وَطارَand flew فِيin طَيَّارِهِits headlong flight ضَبابُهاits lizards
وَطارَ فِي طَيَّارِهِ ضَبابُها
عَنَّاaway from us وَقَدand indeed أَرْهَبَهَاterrified it إِرْهابُهاits terror
عَنَّا وَقَد أَرْهَبَهَا إِرْهابُها
And its lizards flew off in that headlong flight,
If we are opposed, passion entangles opposition
Away from us, terrified by its own terror.
And conflict plunges them deep in its dark abyss.
وَقَدْand indeed عَلِمْنَاwe knew أَنَّنَاthat we أَصْحابُهاits masters
وَقَدْ عَلِمْنَا أَنَّنَا أَصْحابُها
لَمَّاwhen عَوَتْhowled مِنْfrom كَلَبٍrabid rage كِلاَبُهاits dogs
لَمَّا عَوَتْ مِنْ كَلَبٍ كِلاَبُها
And we knew indeed that we were its masters,
When the two armies close, conflict is kindled,
When its dogs howled with rabid rage.
Its spark flashing forth from the clash of spears.
كَانَwas عَلَيْنَاupon us بِالشَبَاwith sharp blades عِقَابُهاits punishment
كَانَ عَلَيْنَا بِالشَبَا عِقَابُها
وَحُسَّدٌand envious foes لَمْdid not يَنْكِنَاwound us تِكْذَابُهاtheir lies
وَحُسَّدٌ لَمْ يَنْكِنَا تِكْذَابُها
It fell to us to punish it with sharp blades.
Their cavalry turns back from charging us,
And envious foes—their lies did not wound us.
And down from the hillside plunge its twisting paths.
إِنَّindeed تَمِيماًTamim بَرِئَتْwas free عِتَابُهاits reproach
إِنَّ تَمِيماً بَرِئَتْ عِتَابُها
مِنْfrom كُلِّevery عَيْبٍfault مُعْتَبset right أَعْيَابُهاits faults
مِنْ كُلِّ عَيْبٍ مُعْتَب أَعْيَابُها
Indeed, Tamim is free of reproach,
Of every blemish, its faults set right.
وَصَارand became أَهْلَpeople of عَيْبَةٍblame عُيَّابُهَاits fault-finders
وَصَار أَهْلَ عَيْبَةٍ عُيَّابُهَا
لَمْdid not يَلْتَبِسْbecome sullied بَقَذْرَةٍwith filth ثِيابُهاits garments
لَمْ يَلْتَبِسْ بَقَذْرَةٍ ثِيابُها
Its detractors themselves became blameworthy.
Its garments were not sullied with filth,
وَأَكْذَبَتْand proved false بِالْغَيْبِin its absence مَنْwhoever يَغْتَابُهاslanders it
وَأَكْذَبَتْ بِالْغَيْبِ مَنْ يَغْتَابُها
جَاءَتْcame تَمِيمٌTamim وَاقِعاًsettled غُرَابُهاits raven
جَاءَتْ تَمِيمٌ وَاقِعاً غُرَابُها
And it belied those who slandered it in its absence.
Tamim came with its raven settled,
بِطاعَةٍin obedience لَيِّنَةٍyielding رِقَابُهاits necks
بِطاعَةٍ لَيِّنَةٍ رِقَابُها
إِلَىto الَّذِيthe one who مِنfrom أَصْلِهِhis root نِصَابُهاits stock
إِلَى الَّذِي مِن أَصْلِهِ نِصَابُها
In obedience, its necks yielding,
To him from whose root its stock springs.
وَمِنْand from تُرَابthe soil of أَرْضِهِhis land تُرَابُهَاits soil
وَمِنْ تُرَاب أَرْضِهِ تُرَابُهَا
وَفِيand in عُرَىthe loops of أَسْبَابِهhis bonds أَسْبَابُهاits bonds
وَفِي عُرَى أَسْبَابِه أَسْبَابُها
And its soil comes from the soil of his land,
And its ties lie within the loops of his ties,
حَتَّىuntil يَنَالَreaches آدَمَAdam انْتِسابُهاits lineage
حَتَّى يَنَالَ آدَمَ انْتِسابُها
يَهْوِيhastens حِيَالtoward أَوْبِهِhis return مَآبُهاits return
يَهْوِي حِيَال أَوْبِهِ مَآبُها
Until its lineage reaches Adam.
Its returning course hastens toward his return.
خَلِيفَةُthe caliph of اللَّهِGod الَّذِيthe one whom إِجْلابُهاits clamorous mustering
خَلِيفَةُ اللَّهِ الَّذِي إِجْلابُها
إِلَيْهِtoward him حِينَwhen يَرْتَمِيrushes forth عُبابُهاits surging tide
إِلَيْهِ حِينَ يَرْتَمِي عُبابُها
God's caliph, to whom its clamorous forces rally,
Toward him when its surging tide rushes forth,
أَوor حَفَشْتْgathered مِنْfrom ثَغَبٍa rocky pool ثِغابُهاits pools
أَو حَفَشْتْ مِنْ ثَغَبٍ ثِغابُها
بِالسَّيْلِwith the flood حَتَّىuntil اسْتَجْمَعَتْgathered fully رِغابُهاits capacious hollows
بِالسَّيْلِ حَتَّى اسْتَجْمَعَتْ رِغابُها
Or its pools gather their waters from a rocky pool,
With the flood, until its broad hollows fill together.
دَوَالِقاًas overflowing torrents يَنْثَعِبُgushes انْثِغابُهاits outpouring
دَوَالِقاً يَنْثَعِبُ انْثِغابُها
إِلَىinto جَبىًreservoirs وَاسِعَةٍspacious رِحابُهاtheir expanses
إِلَى جَبىً وَاسِعَةٍ رِحابُها
In overflowing torrents, its outpouring gushes
Into reservoirs with spacious expanses.
تَسْقِيgive water وَتُسْقَىand are watered الدِفِقَىin rapid pours ذِنَابُهاits buckets
تَسْقِي وَتُسْقَى الدِفِقَى ذِنَابُها
كَمْhow many مِنْof عِديًenemies مَذْرُوبَةsharpened أَذْرابُهاtheir sharp edges
كَمْ مِنْ عِديً مَذْرُوبَة أَذْرابُها
Its buckets pour and are filled in swift streams.
How many foes, their sharp edges honed,
إِذَاwhen القُرُومُthe mighty camel-stallions اصْطَخَبَclamored اصْطِخابُهاtheir clamor
إِذَا القُرُومُ اصْطَخَبَ اصْطِخابُها
وَأَصْلَقَتْand gnashed مِنْfrom حَرَدrage أَنْيَابُهاtheir fangs
وَأَصْلَقَتْ مِنْ حَرَد أَنْيَابُها
When the mighty camel-stallions raise their din,
And their fangs gnash with rage—
أَسْكَتَsilenced خَوْفَfear of رَدِّنَاour counterstroke قَبْقابُهاtheir clattering
أَسْكَتَ خَوْفَ رَدِّنَا قَبْقابُها
وَإِنْand if تَمِيمٌTamim بَذِخَتrose proudly صِعَابُهاits untamed camels
وَإِنْ تَمِيمٌ بَذِخَت صِعَابُها
Fear of our counterstroke silenced their clatter.
And when Tamim's untamed camels rise in pride,
أَذَلَّhumbled أَعْناقthe necks of العِدَىthe enemies جِذابُهاits tugging
أَذَلَّ أَعْناق العِدَى جِذابُها
بِالحَصْدwith mowing blows أَوْor مُخْتَنِقٍa choking grip سِآبُهاits reins
بِالحَصْد أَوْ مُخْتَنِقٍ سِآبُها
Their tugging humbles the necks of foes,
With mowing blows or the choke of their reins,
وَكَسْرُهاand its breaking of الأَعْناقَnecks وَاعْتِصابُهاand its binding fast
وَكَسْرُها الأَعْناقَ وَاعْتِصابُها
عَرْساًpinning down وَهَرْساًand crushing مَعِكاًrubbing hard جِرابُهاits belly
عَرْساً وَهَرْساً مَعِكاً جِرابُها
And their neck-breaking and binding fast,
Pinning and crushing, its belly grinding down.
يَنْفَلُّscatters مِنْfrom قَارِفِهاwhoever engages it ذِنابُهاits lesser followers
يَنْفَلُّ مِنْ قَارِفِها ذِنابُها
وَغَلَبَتْand prevailed فِيin نَائِبٍa calamity يَنْتَابُهاthat visits it
وَغَلَبَتْ فِي نَائِبٍ يَنْتَابُها
Its lesser followers scatter from whoever engages it.
And it prevailed when a calamity visited it,
وَأُمَّةٍand a people تَحَزَّبَتjoined forces أَحْزَابُهاits factions
وَأُمَّةٍ تَحَزَّبَت أَحْزَابُها
مِنْfrom ساسَةrulers of النَّاسِthe people وَمَنand those who أَرْبابُهاtheir lords
مِنْ ساسَة النَّاسِ وَمَن أَرْبابُها
And against a people whose factions banded together,
From rulers of the people and those who are their lords.
إِذَاwhen الحُدُودthe blades اعْتُلِبَتwere scarred أَعْلابُهاtheir notches
إِذَا الحُدُود اعْتُلِبَت أَعْلابُها
لَمْdid not يَلْتَبِسْbecome confused بِحَقِّناwith our right مُرْتَابُهاits doubter
لَمْ يَلْتَبِسْ بِحَقِّنا مُرْتَابُها
When the blades were scarred with notches,
Its doubters could not confound our right.
وَإِنْand if قُرَيْشٌQuraysh نَابَacted as deputy مُسْتَنَابُهاits appointed deputy
وَإِنْ قُرَيْشٌ نَابَ مُسْتَنَابُها
أَوْor عَصَّبَتrallied أَوْor ثَأَرَتْsought vengeance عِصَابُهاits bands
أَوْ عَصَّبَت أَوْ ثَأَرَتْ عِصَابُها
And when Quraysh's appointed deputy acts in its place,
Or its bands rally or seek vengeance,
وَرَابَهَاand troubled it بِاللَّهِby God وَارْتِيَابُهاand its doubt
وَرَابَهَا بِاللَّهِ وَارْتِيَابُها
تَنْمِيrise بِهthrough him إِلَىto العُلاthe heights أَحْسَابُهاits noble lineages
تَنْمِي بِه إِلَى العُلا أَحْسَابُها
And, by God, its doubt troubles it,
Through him its noble lineages rise to the heights.
وَمَكْرُماتٌand noble deeds وَاجِبٌfirmly settled مُنْجَابُهاtheir open expanse
وَمَكْرُماتٌ وَاجِبٌ مُنْجَابُها
مَاnothing فَوْقَabove حَيْثُwhere يُبْتَنَىis built منابُهاtheir station
مَا فَوْقَ حَيْثُ يُبْتَنَى منابُها
And noble deeds, their open expanse firmly set—
Above the place where their station is built is nothing
اِلَّاexcept سَماءthe sky of اللَّهِGod أَوْor حِجَابُهاits veil
اِلَّا سَماء اللَّهِ أَوْ حِجَابُها
أَوْتَادُهَاtheir stakes إِذْwhen مَدَّهَاstretched them أَطْنَابُهاtheir tent-ropes
أَوْتَادُهَا إِذْ مَدَّهَا أَطْنَابُها
Except God's sky or its veil.
Their stakes, when their tent-ropes stretch them out,
فِيin خالِداتٍenduring rocks رُسَّبdeeply sunk أَرْسابُهاtheir anchors
فِي خالِداتٍ رُسَّب أَرْسابُها
وَالحَرْبُand war حِينَwhen اشْتَغَبَgrew turbulent اشتِغابُهاits tumult
وَالحَرْبُ حِينَ اشْتَغَبَ اشتِغابُها
Stand in enduring rocks, their anchors deeply sunk.
And war, when its tumult breaks out,
وَخَفَقَتْand fluttered فِيamid حَصِدٍa dense host عُقَابُهاits eagle-standard
وَخَفَقَتْ فِي حَصِدٍ عُقَابُها
نَرُدُّهَاwe drive it back مُفَلَّلاblunted أَنْيَابُهاits fangs
نَرُدُّهَا مُفَلَّلا أَنْيَابُها
And its eagle-standard flutters amid a dense host,
We turn it back with its fangs blunted,
إِذَاwhen الأُمُورaffairs عَلِمَتknew أَطبَابُهاtheir experts
إِذَا الأُمُور عَلِمَت أَطبَابُها
وَطَاحَand fell away عَنْfrom مُصْدَقِنَاour trusted truth-teller تِكْذَابُهاits lies
وَطَاحَ عَنْ مُصْدَقِنَا تِكْذَابُها
When the experts in affairs understand them,
And its lies fall away from our trusted speaker.
وَإِنْand if جَرَىran فِيin غِيَّةٍerror آلاَبُهاits bands
وَإِنْ جَرَى فِي غِيَّةٍ آلاَبُها
لَمْdid not نَغْوِgo astray حَتَّىuntil رَجَعَتreturned أَلْبابُهاits senses
لَمْ نَغْوِ حَتَّى رَجَعَت أَلْبابُها
And if its bands run headlong into error,
We do not stray until its senses return.
وَإِنْand if عُصِينَاwe are disobeyed كَبَّهَاcast it headlong كَبَابُهاits collapse
وَإِنْ عُصِينَا كَبَّهَا كَبَابُها
وَتَلَّهَاand threw it down فِيinto تِبَّةٍdestruction تَبَابُهاits ruin
وَتَلَّهَا فِي تِبَّةٍ تَبَابُها
And if we are disobeyed, its collapse casts it headlong,
And its ruin flings it into destruction.
وَالحَرْبُand war حِينَwhen يَلْتَقِيmeet آشَابُهاits motley bands
وَالحَرْبُ حِينَ يَلْتَقِي آشَابُها
وَسَمُّهَاand its venom شَعْشَاعُهُits diluted draught لُعَابُهاits spittle
وَسَمُّهَا شَعْشَاعُهُ لُعَابُها
And war, when its mingled bands meet—
Its spittle is the diluted draught of its venom—
تَزِلُّslip away عَنْfrom هَضْبَتِنَاour massif شِعَابُهاits ravines
تَزِلُّ عَنْ هَضْبَتِنَا شِعَابُها
وَعَنْand from جِبَالٍmountains صَعْبَةٍrugged شِقَابُهاits clefts
وَعَنْ جِبَالٍ صَعْبَةٍ شِقَابُها
Its ravines slip away from our massif,
And its clefts from rugged mountains.
Partial English translation: 60 of 116 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1