هَلّاwhy not وَأَنتَand you الجَوهَرُthe jewel المُختارُthe chosen
هَلّا وَأَنتَ الجَوهَرُ المُختارُ
عَنfrom نَيلِattaining مِهلِكَyour respite تَصبِرُrefrain الأَقدارُthe fates
عَن نَيلِ مِهلِكَ تَصبِرُ الأَقدارُ
Could not—since you are the chosen jewel—
Come now, you who are the chosen essence,
the fates hold back from claiming your respite?
Remaining patient in the face of fate's deadly cup,
وَتَكونَand you be عَنfrom دارِthe abode of العُلىexaltation مُتَأَخِّراًdelayed
وَتَكونَ عَن دارِ العُلى مُتَأَخِّراً
وَإِلىand toward العَلاءِexaltation لَكَfor you السِباقُracing شِعارُa watchword
وَإِلى العَلاءِ لَكَ السِباقُ شِعارُ
And could you delay your arrival at the abode of glory,
Though you may lag behind from the abode on high,
when racing toward the heights is your watchword?
Racing to the heights has long been your motto.
سابَقتَyou raced فيin الدُنياthis world إِلىtoward ماwhat بَعدِهاlies beyond it
سابَقتَ في الدُنيا إِلى ما بَعدِها
وَكَذاand likewise الفَناءُperishing إِلىtoward البَقاeternity مِضمارُa racecourse
وَكَذا الفَناءُ إِلى البَقا مِضمارُ
You raced in this world toward what lies beyond it;
You were first to the afterlife before this life,
thus mortality is a racecourse leading to eternity.
Just as annihilation comes before perpetuity.
أَبَقيتُyou preserved مِنfrom غُرَرِthe finest of الفِعالِdeeds مَآثِراًlasting achievements
أَبَقيتُ مِن غُرَرِ الفِعالِ مَآثِراً
اليَومَtoday هُنَّthey بِراحَتَيكَin your two palms مَنارُa beacon
اليَومَ هُنَّ بِراحَتَيكَ مَنارُ
You left lasting achievements from the finest deeds;
You left behind the jewels of great deeds as ruins;
today they are beacons in your hands.
Today they shine as beacons with your repose.
وَتَرَكتَand you left مِنfrom ظُلمِthe darkness of الحَياةِlife لَيالِياًnights
وَتَرَكتَ مِن ظُلمِ الحَياةِ لَيالِياً
هِيَthey عِندَwith رَبِّكَyour Lord كُلِّهاall of them أَسحارُpre-dawn hours
هِيَ عِندَ رَبِّكَ كُلِّها أَسحارُ
And you left behind nights of life's darkness
You left behind nights of life's darkness
that, with your Lord, are all hours before dawn.
That now seem like dawn with your Lord.
إِلّاif not تَكُنbe تِلكَthat الحَياةُlife طَويلَةٌlong
إِلّا تَكُن تِلكَ الحَياةُ طَويلَةٌ
فَلَقَدthen surely يُساويequals العامَa year مِنكَof yours نَهارُa day
فَلَقَد يُساوي العامَ مِنكَ نَهارُ
If that life was not long,
Unless that life was overly long,
a single day of yours surely equals a year.
A single day for you would equal a year.
أَوor كُنتَyou had وَدَّعتَbade farewell to الأَحِبَّةَthe loved ones عَبطَةًprematurely
أَو كُنتَ وَدَّعتَ الأَحِبَّةَ عَبطَةً
بَكراًwhile young فَعَمرُكَthen your life وَحدَهُit alone أَعمارُlifetimes
بَكراً فَعَمرُكَ وَحدَهُ أَعمارُ
Or if you bade your loved ones farewell prematurely,
Or you bid farewell to loved ones too soon
while young, your life alone held many lifetimes.
In the morn, so your life alone held lifetimes.
كَمhow much فيin الشَبابِyouth الغَضِّtender مِنكَof yours كُهولَةًmaturity
كَم في الشَبابِ الغَضِّ مِنكَ كُهولَةً
وَعَلَيهِand upon it مِنfrom دونِapart from المَشيبِgray hair وَقارُdignity
وَعَلَيهِ مِن دونِ المَشيبِ وَقارُ
How much maturity there was in your tender youth,
How much in your exuberant youth seemed old age,
and what dignity it bore without gray hair!
And on it, without graying, was dignity.
سُرعانَhow swiftly ماthat اِختَرتَyou chose الرَحيلَdeparture أَشَدَّmost intensely ماwhen
سُرعانَ ما اِختَرتَ الرَحيلَ أَشَدَّ ما
اِحتاجَتhad need لَكَof you الأَوطانُthe homelands وَالأَوطارُand cherished aims
اِحتاجَت لَكَ الأَوطانُ وَالأَوطارُ
How swiftly you chose departure, just when
You chose departure when your homelands
the homelands and cherished aims needed you most.
Most needed you, in all their regions.
لَوif لَمnot نَكُنwe were نَدريto know وَفاكَyour loyalty وَإِنَّهُand that it
لَو لَم نَكُن نَدري وَفاكَ وَإِنَّهُ
أَجَلٌan appointed end لَقُلناwe would have said جَفوَةًestrangement وَنِفارُand aversion
أَجَلٌ لَقُلنا جَفوَةً وَنِفارُ
Had we not known your loyalty, and that this
Had we not known your loyalty, we would have said
was your appointed end, we would have called it estrangement and aversion.
"Indifference" and "estrangement," but this was fate.
لِبَيتٍyou answered مِنfrom مَلَأthe host of المَلائِكِthe angels داعِياa caller
لِبَيتٍ مِن مَلَأ المَلائِكِ داعِيا
فَوراًat once وَشَأنَكَand your way فيin الأُمورِaffairs بِدارُpromptness
فَوراً وَشَأنَكَ في الأُمورِ بِدارُ
You answered a caller from the host of angels
You sped to a house of angels, calling,
at once—your way in every matter was prompt action.
And your way is swift in matters, even there.
وَجَدوكَthey found you أَجدَرَmore deserving بِالجَنانِof paradise وَشاقَهُمand made them yearn
وَجَدوكَ أَجدَرَ بِالجَنانِ وَشاقَهُم
يَومَthe day تُجاوِرُهُمyou dwell beside them وَنِعمَand excellent is الجارُthe neighbor
يَومَ تُجاوِرُهُم وَنِعمَ الجارُ
They found you more deserving of paradise, and longed for
They found you more deserving of Heaven, though it pained them
the day you would dwell beside them—an excellent neighbor!
The day you became their neighbor; what a fine neighbor!
غارَتgrew jealous مِنَof الأَرضِthe earth السَماءِheaven نَفاسَةًout of covetousness
غارَت مِنَ الأَرضِ السَماءِ نَفاسَةً
بِكَof you وَالضَرائِرَand co-wives بَعضَهُنَّsome of them يَغارُgrow jealous
بِكَ وَالضَرائِرَ بَعضَهُنَّ يَغارُ
Heaven envied earth in its desire
The heavens envied the earth for your sake
for you; co-wives grow jealous of one another.
And some of its brides wept for you.
فازَتwon بِكَyou as its prize الخَضراthe green sky لِذاغَبراؤُناtherefore our dust-gray earth
فازَت بِكَ الخَضرا لِذاغَبراؤُنا
تَبكيweeps نَواكَyour departure وَدَمعَهاand its tears أَنهارُrivers
تَبكي نَواكَ وَدَمعَها أَنهارُ
The green sky won you; therefore our dust-gray earth
The verdure won you from our dusty grayness
weeps for your departure, its tears rivers.
That cries your loss, its tears rivers.
لاno غَروَwonder أَنthat نَرزاwe are stricken بِفَقدِكَby your loss ماجِداًnoble one
لا غَروَ أَن نَرزا بِفَقدِكَ ماجِداً
فَبِكُلِّfor against every مَجدٍglory لِلمَنِيِّةِdeath has ثارُa vendetta
فَبِكُلِّ مَجدٍ لِلمَنِيِّةِ ثارُ
No wonder we are stricken by losing you, noble one;
No wonder we grieve your noble loss,
for death has a vendetta against every glory.
For death takes all glory as booty.
أَوor أَنthat تَكونَyou be لِسَهمِto the arrow of دَهرِكَyour age مُعرِضاًexposed
أَو أَن تَكونَ لِسَهمِ دَهرِكَ مُعرِضاً
هَدَفاًa target فَأَغراضُfor the targets of الكِبارِthe great كِبارُgreat
هَدَفاً فَأَغراضُ الكِبارِ كِبارُ
Or that you should stand exposed to your age's arrow,
Or that you fell to the arrows of fate,
a target—for great ones make great targets.
Since the targets of great men are great.
ماnot كانَwas خَطبُكَyour calamity سَيِّداًa lord قَدalready غابَvanished بَلbut rather
ما كانَ خَطبُكَ سَيِّداً قَد غابَ بَل
جَمعاًa multitude يَضيعُis lost وَجانِباًand a flank يَنهارُcollapses
جَمعاً يَضيعُ وَجانِباً يَنهارُ
Your loss was not merely a lord gone missing, but
Your plight was no personal loss, but rather
a multitude lost, a supporting flank collapsing.
A group that scatters and a side that crumbles.
قَدindeed كُنتَyou were فيin الأَوطانِthe homelands قِبلَةًa direction of prayer مَعشَرٌa people
قَد كُنتَ في الأَوطانِ قِبلَةً مَعشَرٌ
يَهدونَthey followed هَديَكَyour guidance إِنif سَرواthey traveled by night أَوor سارواthey traveled
يَهدونَ هَديَكَ إِن سَروا أَو ساروا
In the homelands you were a qibla for a people;
You were a beacon for your folk; a group
they followed your guidance, whether traveling by night or going on their way.
Guided by your guidance, if they went or stayed.
كانواthey were إِذاwhen ماever أَبصَروكَthey saw you أَمامَهُمbefore them
كانوا إِذا ما أَبصَروكَ أَمامَهُم
رَشَدواthey found the right way وَإِنand if ضَلّواthey lost سَبيلكَyour path حارواthey were bewildered
رَشَدوا وَإِن ضَلّوا سَبيلكَ حاروا
Whenever they saw you before them,
Whenever they saw you before them,
they found the right way; if they lost your path, they were bewildered.
They followed the right path, and if misguided, sought your path.
ذَكَرواthey recalled مَكانَthe standing of أَبيكَyour father فيin أَيّامِهِhis days
ذَكَروا مَكانَ أَبيكَ في أَيّامِهِ
عِلماًa distinguished figure إِلَيهِto him بِالبَنانِwith the fingertips يُشارُis pointed out
عِلماً إِلَيهِ بِالبَنانِ يُشارُ
They recalled your father's standing in his day,
They recalled your father's place in his day
a distinguished figure pointed out with fingertips.
As a monument among monuments.
فَحَذَوتُso you followed حَذوَthe example of أَبيكَyour father بَلrather جاوَزتَهُyou surpassed him
فَحَذَوتُ حَذوَ أَبيكَ بَل جاوَزتَهُ
إِنَّindeed البَنينَsons لِأَهلِهِمfor their families أَسرارُsecrets
إِنَّ البَنينَ لِأَهلِهِم أَسرارُ
You followed your father's example—indeed, surpassed him;
But you surpassed your father - sons are their fathers' secrets -
sons are their families' hidden secrets.
Not content that word of your glory was enough,
لَمnot تَجتَزِئyou contented yourself بِتَليدِwith the inherited part of مَجدِكَyour glory عالَماًknowing
لَم تَجتَزِئ بِتَليدِ مَجدِكَ عالَماً
أَنَّthat الرِجالَmen إِذاwhen مَضَتthey pass away أَخبارُstories
أَنَّ الرِجالَ إِذا مَضَت أَخبارُ
You did not content yourself with inherited glory, knowing
That when men pass on, their legends pass too;
that when men are gone, they become stories.
So you rose to the sublime through your spirit,
فَنَهَضتُso you rose لِلعَلياto the heights بِنَفسِكَby your own efforts طالِعاًascending
فَنَهَضتُ لِلعَليا بِنَفسِكَ طالِعاً
أَنجادِهاtheir uplands وَالفَضلُand merit لَيسَis not يُعارُlent
أَنجادِها وَالفَضلُ لَيسَ يُعارُ
So you rose to the heights by your own strength, climbing
Since excellence cannot be diminished.
their uplands; merit cannot be borrowed.
You became a beacon for the noble Arabs
أَمسَيتَyou became فيamong العُربِthe Arabs الكِرامِnoble مَنارَةًa beacon
أَمسَيتَ في العُربِ الكِرامِ مَنارَةً
تَعشوseek light لِضَوئِكَtoward your light يَعرُبَYa'rub وَنِزارُand Nizar
تَعشو لِضَوئِكَ يَعرُبَ وَنِزارُ
You became a beacon among the noble Arabs;
Lit by your glow, whether settlers or nomads.
Ya'rub and Nizar sought your light.
With resolute, deep-rooted gallantry
بِعَزائِمَwith resolves مَشبوبَةًablaze وَمَكارِمٌand noble deeds
بِعَزائِمَ مَشبوبَةً وَمَكارِمٌ
عَنهُنَّshort of them بيعانِthe arm-spans of الكِرامِthe noble قِصارُshort
عَنهُنَّ بيعانِ الكِرامِ قِصارُ
With blazing resolves and noble deeds
Beside which the gallantry of the noble pales.
which even noble men's reach fell short of.
Your traits among the people were singular -
كانَتwere خِلالَكَyour qualities فيamong الأَنامِmankind فَريدَةًunique
كانَت خِلالَكَ في الأَنامِ فَريدَةً
بِنَظيرِهاfor their like تَستَطرِفُare found delightful الأَشعارُpoems
بِنَظيرِها تَستَطرِفُ الأَشعارُ
Your qualities were unmatched among mankind;
Poetry itself stands in awe.
poems are prized for describing their like.
Eulogists could not do you justice;
لَمnot يَقصِرِfell short المِداحَthe praisers فيكَconcerning you وَرُبَّماand sometimes
لَم يَقصِرِ المِداحَ فيكَ وَرُبَّما
سَكَتِfell silent اللِسانَthe tongue وَقالَتِand spoke الآثارُthe deeds
سَكَتِ اللِسانَ وَقالَتِ الآثارُ
Those who praised you did not fall short; yet sometimes
Sometimes the tongue falls silent and relics speak.
the tongue fell silent, and your deeds spoke.
Beneath it the soul cowers, crouching
الهِمَّةُresolve القَعساءُindomitable يَربِضُcrouches تَحتَهاbeneath it
الهِمَّةُ القَعساءُ يَربِضُ تَحتَها
جَأشَa heart بِركَنٍin a stronghold ذَراهُits heights لَيسَnot يُطارُare flown to
جَأشَ بِركَنٍ ذَراهُ لَيسَ يُطارُ
Beneath your indomitable resolve crouched
At a butte it sees as unassailable.
a heart in a bastion whose heights no flight could reach.
It faces tribulations with the heart of a hero;
تَلقىyou face الخُطوبُcalamities بِقَلبِwith the heart of شَهمٍa valiant man عِندَهُin its view
تَلقى الخُطوبُ بِقَلبِ شَهمٍ عِندَهُ
أَبداalways كِبارَthe greatest of الحادِثاتِdisasters صِغارُsmall
أَبدا كِبارَ الحادِثاتِ صِغارُ
You faced calamities with a valiant heart, to which
Ever deeming the greatest events as small.
the greatest disasters were always small.
It made your country forbidden to a single tyrant -
حَرَمَتwas deprived بِلادَكَyour country فيin مَصابِكَyour loss واحِداًone man
حَرَمَت بِلادَكَ في مَصابِكَ واحِداً
هُوَhe فيin الحَقيقَةِtruth جَحفَلٌan army جَرّارُvast
هُوَ في الحَقيقَةِ جَحفَلٌ جَرّارُ
Your country, through your loss, was deprived of one man
In truth, a belligerent, fierce transgressor.
who was, in truth, an army, vast and mighty.
I imagine the horizons without you now empty,
أَتَخَيَّلُI imagine الأَرجاءَthe regions بَدَكَafter you قَدalready خَلَتare empty
أَتَخَيَّلُ الأَرجاءَ بَدَكَ قَد خَلَت
فَكَأَنَّماas though تِلكَthose الرُبوعُdwelling places قِفارُwildernesses
فَكَأَنَّما تِلكَ الرُبوعُ قِفارُ
I imagine the regions empty after you,
As if those plains have become deserts.
as though those dwellings were barren wilderness.
No coast is a coast when you left its sands
لاnot الثَغرُthe port ثَغرٌa port إِذsince غَدَوتَyou became بِرَملِهِin its sand
لا الثَغرُ ثَغرٌ إِذ غَدَوتَ بِرَملِهِ
رَهنَa hostage of الضَريحِthe tomb وَلاnor الدِيارُthe homes دِيارُhomes
رَهنَ الضَريحِ وَلا الدِيارُ دِيارُ
The port is no port, now that in its sands you lie
Captive to the tomb - no home still home.
a hostage of the tomb; nor are the homes still homes.
Dear uncle Amin, it pains me that
أَعزِزhow grievous عَلَيَّto me أَباfather of أَمينٍAmin أَنَّهُthat it
أَعزِز عَلَيَّ أَبا أَمينٍ أَنَّهُ
أَمَليmy hope بِقُربِكَof nearness to you عادَbecame وَهوَand it is بَوارُruin
أَمَلي بِقُربِكَ عادَ وَهوَ بَوارُ
How grievous to me, Abu Amin, that
My hopes of your proximity are gone, vanished.
my hope of nearness to you has turned to ruin.
I had hoped to see you, but instead,
قَدindeed كُنتُI was أَرجوhoping اَنthat أَراكَI see you وَإِذand behold بِهِthere it was
قَد كُنتُ أَرجو اَن أَراكَ وَإِذ بِهِ
ماno بَعدَafter ذِياكَthat العَشىtwilight عَرارُan ostrich's cry
ما بَعدَ ذِياكَ العَشى عَرارُ
I had hoped to see you, but behold—
No evening remains after your loss.
after that twilight, there is no ostrich's cry.
Throughout your long absence you were the focus
قَدindeed كُنتَyou were طولَthroughout البُعدِthe separation نَصبَbefore نَواظِريmy eyes
قَد كُنتَ طولَ البُعدِ نَصبَ نَواظِري
وَيَرىand sees الفُؤادَthe heart وَلاand not تَرىsee الأَبصارُthe eyes
وَيَرى الفُؤادَ وَلا تَرى الأَبصارُ
Throughout our separation you stood before my eyes;
Of my sight though not seen, the heart's sight.
the heart sees though the eyes cannot.
Forever I conversed with your spirit as if
أَبداalways أُطارِحَكَI exchange with you النَجيconfidences كَأَنَّناas though we
أَبدا أُطارِحَكَ النَجي كَأَنَّنا
رُغمَdespite المَساوِفِthe distances كُلِّهاall of them سَمّارُnighttime companions
رُغمَ المَساوِفِ كُلِّها سَمّارُ
I always exchanged confidences with you, as though we were,
We scorned the passage of all time.
despite all the distances, companions conversing by night.
No thought of Beirut crossed the mind
ماnot مَرَّpassed عَنconcerning بَيروتَBeirut سانِحٌa passing خاطِرٌthought
ما مَرَّ عَن بَيروتَ سانِحٌ خاطِرٌ
إِلّاexcept وَمَثَّلَand pictured شَخصَكَyour person التَذكارُremembrance
إِلّا وَمَثَّلَ شَخصَكَ التَذكارُ
No passing thought of Beirut ever crossed my mind
Without your image arising in memory.
without remembrance bringing your person before me.
Could it be otherwise when you were its pillar
أَولاand would not تَكونَyou be كَذاthus وَأَنتَand you بِأَرضِهاin its land
أَولا تَكونَ كَذا وَأَنتَ بِأَرضِها
قُطبَthe pivot of الرَحىthe millstone وَعَلىand on القُطوبِthe pivots يُدارُit is turned
قُطبَ الرَحى وَعَلى القُطوبِ يُدارُ
How could it be otherwise, when on its soil you were
And the world turns upon its poles?
the millstone's pivot—and mills revolve on pivots?
Dear uncle Amin, I grieve you in verse
أَعزِزhow grievous عَلَيَّto me أَباfather of أَمينٍAmin أَنَّنيthat I
أَعزِز عَلَيَّ أَبا أَمينٍ أَنَّني
أَرثيكَI elegize you نَظماًin verse وَالدُموعُand the tears نِثارُscattered drops
أَرثيكَ نَظماً وَالدُموعُ نِثارُ
How grievous to me, Abu Amin, that I
While my tears flow freely like pearls tossed.
mourn you in verse while tears scatter.
Weeping has blinded me, so my eyes
سَدَّكَclung fast البُكاءُweeping بِمُقلَتَيَّto my two eyes فَأَدمُعيso my tears
سَدَّكَ البُكاءُ بِمُقلَتَيَّ فَأَدمُعي
بِهِماin them both غِزارٌplentiful وَالرُقادُand sleep غِرارُscant
بِهِما غِزارٌ وَالرُقادُ غِرارُ
Weeping clung to my eyes; my tears
Pour copious, streaming tears.
flow plentifully in them, while sleep is scant.
Dear uncle, it pains me that you passed
أَعزِزhow grievous عَلَيَّto me بِأَنat the fact that مَضَيتَyou departed وَلَمand not تَزَلhad ceased
أَعزِز عَلَيَّ بِأَن مَضَيتَ وَلَم تَزَل
تِلكَthose المُنىhopes وَفَنيقِهِنَّand their prize camel حُوارُa camel calf
تِلكَ المُنى وَفَنيقِهِنَّ حُوارُ
How grievous to me that you departed while
While Phoenicia and its maidens still gleam.
those hopes remained, their prize camel still a calf.
And the people curse intermittent flashes
وَالناسُand the people شائِمَةٌwatching for lightning بِوارِقٍlightning flashes لَمَّعاًflickering
وَالناسُ شائِمَةٌ بِوارِقٍ لَمَّعاً
تَخبوdie down وَتومِضُand flash وَالقُلوبَand the hearts حِرارُburning
تَخبو وَتومِضُ وَالقُلوبَ حِرارُ
And the people watch the flickering lightning,
That glow and fade while hearts burn.
fading and flashing, their hearts burning.
They recall you at each and every ordeal -
يَتَذَكَّرونَكَthey remember you كُلَّevery حَزَّةٍmoment مَأزِقٌof crisis
يَتَذَكَّرونَكَ كُلَّ حَزَّةٍ مَأزِقٌ
وَلَدَيَّand amid الحَنادِسَpitch darkness تُنشِدُare sought الأَقمارُthe moons
وَلَدَيَّ الحَنادِسَ تُنشِدُ الأَقمارُ
They remember you at every moment of crisis;
At my side history sings like planets.
and amid deep darkness, moons are sought.
For your view in tribulations was a piercing sword,
إِذfor سَيفٌa sword رَأيُكَyour judgment فيamid الحَوادِثِcrises فَيصَلُdecisive
إِذ سَيفٌ رَأيُكَ في الحَوادِثِ فَيصَلُ
وَنَدىand bounty يَمينُكَyour right hand ديمَةًa steady rain مِدرارُabundantly pouring
وَنَدى يَمينُكَ ديمَةً مِدرارُ
For your judgment amid crises was a decisive sword,
And the dew of your hand a flowing stream.
and your right hand's bounty a steady, abundant rain.
You were the refuge and fortress of hearts,
وَمِنَand from القُلوبِhearts مَعاصِمٌrefuges وَمَعاقِلُand strongholds
وَمِنَ القُلوبِ مَعاصِمٌ وَمَعاقِلُ
وَمِنَand from العُقولِminds أَسِنَّةٍspearheads وَشِفارُand blades
وَمِنَ العُقولِ أَسِنَّةٍ وَشِفارُ
And from hearts came refuges and strongholds,
The blade and edge of minds.
and from minds came spearheads and blades.
Your pact with your comrades was to recall
قَدindeed كانَwas عَهدُكَyour charge لِلرِفاقِto the companions تَذكارواremember
قَد كانَ عَهدُكَ لِلرِفاقِ تَذكاروا
حَقَّthe right of البِلادِthe homeland وَأَنَّكُمand that you أَحرارُare free
حَقَّ البِلادِ وَأَنَّكُم أَحرارُ
Your charge to your companions was: remember
The nation's right and that you are all free.
the homeland's right, and that you are free.
The nation's right is to fully possess
حَقُّthe right of البِلادِthe homeland بِأَنis that تَكونَit be لِأَهلِهاfor its people
حَقُّ البِلادِ بِأَن تَكونَ لِأَهلِها
مَلِكاًa possession صَريحاًunambiguous ماnot عَلَيهِupon it غُبارُdust
مَلِكاً صَريحاً ما عَلَيهِ غُبارُ
The homeland's right is that it should be, for its people,
Its land, overtly, without obscurity.
an unquestioned possession, without a speck of doubt.
Either our soil is purely our own
أَوhome- (word fragment) طانُنا-lands of ours (word fragment) فيon الأَرضِthe earth خالِصَةًexclusive لَناto us
أَو طانُنا في الأَرضِ خالِصَةً لَنا
نَحنُwe الطُيورُthe birds وَهَذِهِand these الأَوكارُthe nests
نَحنُ الطُيورُ وَهَذِهِ الأَوكارُ
Our homelands on earth belong to us alone;
Since we are its birds and this is our nest.
we are the birds, and these are the nests.
Depart not, Ahmad, for if you are gone
لاnot تَبعِدَنever be far away فَإِنfor if تَغِبyou disappear ياO أَحمَدَAhmad
لا تَبعِدَن فَإِن تَغِب يا أَحمَدَ
تَحتَbeneath الثَرىthe earth فَلِأَحمَدٍthen Ahmad has أَنصارُsupporters
تَحتَ الثَرى فَلِأَحمَدٍ أَنصارُ
Be not far from us! Though you disappear, Ahmad,
Beneath the earth, Ahmad still has partisans.
beneath the earth, Ahmad still has supporters.
Gleams of salvation loom - dawn breaks
لاحَتappeared تَباشيرُthe first signs of الخَلاصِdeliverance وَإِنَّماand indeed
لاحَت تَباشيرُ الخَلاصِ وَإِنَّما
يَبدوappears الصَباحُthe morning وَقَبلَهُand before it الإِسفارُthe brightening of dawn
يَبدو الصَباحُ وَقَبلَهُ الإِسفارُ
The first signs of deliverance have appeared; indeed,
After the darkness - and the dawn comes fast.
morning comes, preceded by the brightening of dawn.
The misguided deemed our country as plunder;
ضَلَّwent astray الأَلىىthose who حَسِبواreckoned البِلادَthe homelands غَنائِماًspoils
ضَلَّ الأَلىى حَسِبوا البِلادَ غَنائِماً
تِلكَthose الجِنانِgardens جِنانُthe gardens of جَلَّقُJilliq نارُfire
تِلكَ الجِنانِ جِنانُ جَلَّقُ نارُ
Misguided were those who reckoned the homelands as spoils;
Those infernos kindle Hell's blaze.
those gardens—the gardens of Jilliq—are fire.
Those with sights on the Euphrates and Tigris -
وَالطامِحونَand those aspiring إِلىtoward الفُراتِthe Euphrates وَدِجلَةَand the Tigris
وَالطامِحونَ إِلى الفُراتِ وَدِجلَةَ
مَجرىthe course of الفُراتِthe Euphrates وَدِجلَةَand the Tigris تَيّارُa torrent
مَجرى الفُراتِ وَدِجلَةَ تَيّارُ
And those aspiring to the Euphrates and the Tigris—
The course of the great rivers is torrential.
the course of the Euphrates and Tigris is a torrent.
Those peddling Jerusalem are money-changers -
وَالبائِعونَand those selling القُدسَJerusalem رَهطُa band of صَيارِفٍmoney changers
وَالبائِعونَ القُدسَ رَهطُ صَيارِفٍ
ماnot لِلصَيارِفِfor the money changers عِندَناamong us دينارُa dinar
ما لِلصَيارِفِ عِندَنا دينارُ
And those selling Jerusalem are a band of money changers;
In our realm, money-changers have no dinars.
the money changers have not a dinar among us.
Their forefathers made our forefathers' lands
قَدindeed كانَhad أُمَّmade for بِلادِناour homelands أَباؤُهُمtheir forefathers
قَد كانَ أُمَّ بِلادِنا أَباؤُهُم
أُمَماًas nations فَلاقىthen met ريحُهُمtheir wind إِعصارُa hurricane
أُمَماً فَلاقى ريحُهُم إِعصارُ
Their forefathers once advanced upon our homelands,
Nations, so their winds met hurricanes.
nation after nation—and their wind met a hurricane.
If they recalled past events,
لَوif يَذكُرونَthey remembered مِنَof الحَوادِثِevents ماضِياًwhat is past
لَو يَذكُرونَ مِنَ الحَوادِثِ ماضِياً
ماnot غَرَّهُمwould have deceived them لِمَقامِناfor our standing اِستِحقارُcontempt
ما غَرَّهُم لِمَقامِنا اِستِحقارُ
Had they remembered the events of the past,
They would not scorn our abode.
contempt for our standing would not have deluded them.
But they deemed time to be secure, as if
لَكِنَّهُمbut they أَمِنواfelt safe from الزَمانَtime كَأَنَّماas though
لَكِنَّهُم أَمِنوا الزَمانَ كَأَنَّما
بَينَbetween الزَمانِtime وَبَينَهُمand them آصارُbinding covenants
بَينَ الزَمانِ وَبَينَهُم آصارُ
But they felt secure against time, as though
Between them and time were barriers.
binding covenants lay between time and them.
And imagined those eras were gone, never to return -
وَتَوَهَّمواand they imagined تِلكَthose العُصورُages وَقَدand already خَلَتhad passed
وَتَوَهَّموا تِلكَ العُصورُ وَقَد خَلَت
لَيسَتare not تُعادُrepeated وَماand not لَهاfor them تِكرارُrecurrence
لَيسَت تُعادُ وَما لَها تِكرارُ
And they imagined those ages, now gone,
No repetition, no echo.
would not return, nor ever recur.
Nay, by your Lord, their reckoning went astray!
كَلّاno indeed وَرَبُّكَby your Lord ماnot أَصابَwas right حِسابَهُمtheir reckoning
كَلّا وَرَبُّكَ ما أَصابَ حِسابَهُم
وَلِكُلِّand for every قَومٍpeople نَهضَةًa rise وَعِثارُand a stumble
وَلِكُلِّ قَومٍ نَهضَةً وَعِثارُ
No, by your Lord, their reckoning was not right:
For each people there is rise and fall.
every people has its rise and its stumbling.
Time is ever-turning, ever the same,
إِنَّindeed الزَمانَtime هُوَitself الزَمانُtime تَقَلُّباًin its changeability
إِنَّ الزَمانَ هُوَ الزَمانُ تَقَلُّباً
ماnot دامَendures إِلّاexcept الواحِدُthe One القَهّارُthe All-Subduing
ما دامَ إِلّا الواحِدُ القَهّارُ
Time is time, ever changeable;
As long as only the One Firm lasts.
none endures but the One, the All-Subduing.
Partial English translation: 117 of 118 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1