رتل البلبل الطروب لحونه — Saleh Al Sharnoubi

رتل البلبل الطروب لحونَه

شاديا يسمع الغناء غصونه

The rapturous nightingale intoned its melodies,

singing, letting its branches hear the song.

يملأ البشر وجهه الغضّ حسنا

ويزين الضياء منه جبينه

Joy fills its tender face with beauty,

and radiance adorns its brow.

وتسير الجآذر الغيد سكرى

من حواليه والقنابر دونه

And graceful young gazelles wander, intoxicated,

from around it, and larks below it.

والندى من مدامع الغيب مسكو

ب على هامة الخيال الحنونه

And dew from the tears of the unseen is poured

upon the tender crown of imagination.

والشعاع الرطيب يسبح في الكو

ن وروح الإلهام فيه كمينه

And the dewy ray swims through the universe,

and the spirit of inspiration lies hidden within it.

هزني الشوق للملاحن والشع

ر وأنغامه العذاب الرصينه

Longing for melodies and poetry stirred me,

and for its sweet, stately strains.

قلت يا بلبل الرياض أجبني

ما الذي هاج من هواك دفينه

I said: 'O nightingale of the gardens, answer me:

what has stirred the buried part of your love?

قد سمعنا الغناء والشدو والنجو

ى وصبّ الترنيم فينا فنونه

We have heard the song, the warbling, and the whispers,

and chanting has poured its arts into us.

فاروِ من شرفة القرون أحاديثك

وارحم منّا الدموع السخينه

So tell your tales from the balcony of the centuries,

and have mercy on our hot tears.'

قال حقّا لقد شغلت عن الضو

ء وعمّيت سحره وفتونه

It said: 'Truly, you have been distracted from the light

and obscured its magic and its allure.

ما ترى ذلك الجمال الذي قدّسه

الله ثم زكى معينه

You do not see that beauty, sanctified

by God, who then purified its spring.

أي نور جلا الغزالة في رأ

د ضحاها بمثل نور المدينه

What light has unveiled the sun at the height

of its morning like the light of Medina?

إنها هجرة الرسول وما أرو

ع ذكر الرسول لو تعلمونه

It is the Messenger's migration—and how wondrous

is the remembrance of the Messenger, if only you knew it!

ها هي اليوم تملأ الكون نوراً

فجرّ اللَه في السماء عيونه

Here it is today, filling the universe with light;

so God drew forth its springs in the sky.

ماتت اللات وانقضت دولة العزى

وخرت مناة ولهى حزينه

Al-Lat has died, and al-Uzza's dominion has ended,

and Manat has fallen, distraught and sorrowful,

تندب المجد بعد أن ضعضع

الحق هواها فما تزال سجينه

lamenting glory after her passion was shaken

by truth; she still remains a captive.

سل سيف الإسلام من غمده البا

لي تروى الدماء منه جفونه

The sword of Islam was drawn from its worn sheath;

blood from it drenches its scabbards.

مقصد لا يزيله الصارم العضب

ولا تمنع الحوادث دونه

An aim no keen, cutting sword can dislodge,

nor can vicissitudes bar the way to it;

ورسول يرى النعيم على الذل

جحيما فليس يرضى سكونه

and a Messenger who sees bliss in humiliation

as hell, and will not consent to its repose.

جعلوا المال طيعا في يديه

وأتوه بملكهم يفتنونه

They placed wealth at his disposal,

and offered him their kingship to tempt him,

ويقولون يا محمد دع عنك

سفاه الشيطان واترك مجونه

saying: “O Muhammad, cast off

Satan's folly, and abandon his wantonness.

واهجر الدعوة الجريئة واصنع

مثل آبائنا وما يصنعونه

And abandon the bold summons, and act

like our fathers, doing what they do.

واعبدوا مثلنا الحجارة فالنف

ع لديها وخير ما تأملونه

And worship stones as we do, for benefit

lies with them, and the best of what you hope for.

ولئن شئت ملك كسرى أنوشروان

فاهنأ بما ترى أن تكونه

And if you desire the realm of Khosrow Anushirvan,

then enjoy what you envision becoming.

وترى المال كالجبال على الأرض

فترضى أهواءك المفتونه

And you shall see wealth like mountains upon the earth,

so your bewitched desires will be satisfied.”

كبرت تلك نزوة يا أبا جهل

أبالمصطفى تريد المشينه

How monstrous that whim, O Abu Jahl!

Do you seek to disgrace the Chosen One?

لعن الله كل من يشهد الحق جليا

ولا يرى أن يصونه

May God curse all who plainly witness truth

yet see no need to protect it.

هل ترى في الكنوز والملك والجاه

خداعا ترجونه أن يلينه

Do you see in treasures, kingship, and prestige

a deception you hope will soften him?

علم اللَه أنها دعوة الحق ستفرى

بالسيف ما تفترونه

God knew it was the call of truth, which will cleave

with the sword the lies you fabricate.

جنة الله ربحه وروضا الله مناه

فمن يناضل دينه

God's paradise is his gain, and God's two gardens his desire;

who, then, can contend against his faith?

سار جيش الإسلام في مهمة الكف

ر فسوى سهوله وحزونه

The army of Islam marched through the wilderness of unbelief,

leveling its plains and rugged ground.

ومضى للخلود ينصره الل

ه بجند مسومين مصونه

And it pressed on toward immortality, aided by God

with marked troops, kept safe.

وسرى الصادق الأمين ينادي

أن هلموا فهاجروا للمدينه

And the truthful, trustworthy one journeyed by night, calling:

“Come, and migrate to Medina!

وانشروا الدين في سكون إلى أن

يظهر الحق بعدما تكتمونه

And spread the faith quietly, until

truth appears after you have concealed it.

رب حم القضاء فانصر رجالي

واسكب الصبر والهدى والسكينة

Lord, the decree is fixed; grant my men victory,

and pour forth patience, guidance, and serenity.

إن أنصار البواسل قل

وخميس العدو ملء المدينه

Indeed, the supporters of the brave are few,

while the enemy's army fills Medina.”

خفقة زلزلت بروج النصارى

فهي بالهدم والسقوط رهينه

A pulse shook the Christians' towers,

so they are hostage to demolition and collapse.

قبض النور من ربوعك يا

مكة فابقى يتيمة مسكينه

The light was taken from your dwellings, O

Mecca; remain orphaned and forlorn.

واطربي يا مدينة اليوم بالها

دي وهاتي من المدائن زينه

And rejoice today, O Medina, in the Guide,

and bring finery from the cities.

وانثرى الزهر والرياحين والجل

سان في كل مجمع ترتضينه

And scatter flowers, fragrant herbs, and roses

in every gathering you favor.

إن دين الرسول فيك مقيم

أو يزيل الرسول عنه دجونه

The Messenger's faith abides in you,

until the Messenger dispels its gloom.

سوف يزهو بعد النضال على

الدنيا وتبقى الشريعة المأمونه

After the struggle, it shall shine over

the world, and the trusted Law shall endure,

كالحديد المصهور يزداد حسنا

بعد أن يصقل الجحيم سنونه

like molten iron, growing more beautiful

after the inferno polishes its teeth.'

يا رسول السلام والعدل هذي

صيحة من المجنونه

O Messenger of peace and justice, this is

a cry from the madwoman.

أقف اليوم والخطوب جسام

لأرى الركب قد أضلوا السفينه

I stand today while calamities loom immense,

to see the travelers have led the ship astray.

نشروا في الزعازع الهوج أعلا

م الخطايا لغير شط أمينه

They unfurled amid raging tempests the banners

of sins, toward an unsafe shore.

وأضاعوا دينا ظللت تذود الكف

ر عنه كالليث يحمى عرينه

And they squandered a faith from which you kept repelling unbelief,

like a lion defending his den.

فانفث القوة الفتية في النا

س وشد العزائم الموهونه

So breathe youthful strength into the people,

and fortify the weakened resolves.

يا أسود الشرى وأشبال طه

ها هو الغرب يبتغي أن يهينه

O lions of al-Shara and cubs of Taha,

here is the West, seeking to humiliate him.

فاجمعوا شملكم وهبوا صفوفا

واحفظوا شرعة الرسول المبينه

So gather your company and rise in ranks,

and guard the Messenger's manifest law.

فحياة الجمود نوع من المو

ت وعزّ الذي يرى الحق دينه

For a stagnant life is a kind of death,

and mighty is he who holds truth as his faith.