سِراعاًswiftly بَنيsons of أُمّيmy mother بِحَثِّby urging onward ظُعونِهاher caravans
سِراعاً بَني أُمّي بِحَثِّ ظُعونِها
فَماfor nothing حَرَّكَstirred الآلامَthe pains غَيرَexcept سُكونِهاtheir stillness
فَما حَرَّكَ الآلامَ غَيرَ سُكونِها
Hasten, sons of my mother, in urging her caravans onward;
For nothing has stirred these pains but their stillness.
وَماand not زالَceased فَريُthe rending الخَطبِof calamity تَحتَbeneath خِفافِهاtheir padded feet
وَما زالَ فَريُ الخَطبِ تَحتَ خِفافِها
وَشَرحُand the easing صُدورِof breasts الرَكبِof the riders فَوقَupon مُتونِهاtheir backs
وَشَرحُ صُدورِ الرَكبِ فَوقَ مُتونِها
The rending of calamity has ever lain beneath their padded feet,
And the easing of the riders' breasts upon their backs.
لَعَمرُby the life of المَعاليlofty honors ماnot عَدونَthey passed beyond دِيارَناour lands
لَعَمرُ المَعالي ما عَدونَ دِيارَنا
وَلاnor حُرِبَتwere despoiled إِلّاexcept بِطولِthrough the length of هُدونِهاtheir repose
وَلا حُرِبَت إِلّا بِطولِ هُدونِها
By the life of lofty honors, they have never left our lands,
Nor were our lands despoiled except through their long repose.
وَلاand not كانَwas ماwhat قَدalready آثَرتُI preferred مِنof فُتورِهاits languor
وَلا كانَ ما قَد آثَرتُ مِن فُتورِها
سِوىnothing but الأَصلُthe root فيماin what كابَدَتit endured مِنof فُتونِهاits trials
سِوى الأَصلُ فيما كابَدَت مِن فُتونِها
And the languor I had chosen for it was
Nothing but the root of the trials it endured.
يُعافونَthey shun مَورودَthe watering-place الصِعابِof hardships إِلىtoward العُلاthe heights
يُعافونَ مَورودَ الصِعابِ إِلى العُلا
وَلاand no مَجدَglory إِلّاexcept بِاِرتِقاءِby climbing حُزونِهاtheir rugged slopes
وَلا مَجدَ إِلّا بِاِرتِقاءِ حُزونِها
They shun hardship's watering-place on the way to the heights,
Yet glory comes only by climbing their rugged slopes.
فَمَنso whoever يَرِدُencounters الأَيّامَthe days بيضاًwhite فَلاthen not يَكُنlet him be
فَمَن يَرِدُ الأَيّامَ بيضاً فَلا يَكُن
جَزوعاًdismayed لِكَرّاتِat the repeated charges of اللَياليthe nights بِجَونِهاin their blackness
جَزوعاً لِكَرّاتِ اللَيالي بِجَونِها
Whoever encounters white days must not be
Dismayed by the nights' repeated onslaughts in their blackness.
رَكِبناwe rode ظُهورَthe backs of الصافِناتِthe poised steeds وَقَدand already ثَوَتhad lodged
رَكِبنا ظُهورَ الصافِناتِ وَقَد ثَوَت
بِأصلابِناin our loins فُرسانَthe horsemen ماwhat فيin بُطونِهاtheir wombs
بِأصلابِنا فُرسانَ ما في بُطونِها
We rode the backs of poised steeds, while already lodged
In our loins were the riders of what lay in their wombs.
وَقُلناand we said لَهاديناto our guide الفَلاةَthe wilderness فَإِنَّناfor indeed we
وَقُلنا لَهادينا الفَلاةَ فَإِنَّنا
رَجِعناwe returned إِلىto آبائِناour forefathers وَشُئونِهاand their ways
رَجِعنا إِلى آبائِنا وَشُئونِها
And we said to our guide, 'The wilderness! For we
Have returned to our forefathers and their ways.'
طَوواthey traversed شِقَقَthe expanses of البَيداءِthe desert شَرقاًeastward وَمَغرِباًand westward
طَووا شِقَقَ البَيداءِ شَرقاً وَمَغرِباً
أَلَمdid it not? يَكُbe مِنfrom ماءِthe water of الأَواليthe forebears وَطينَهاand their clay
أَلَم يَكُ مِن ماءِ الأَوالي وَطينَها
They traversed the desert's expanses eastward and westward;
Was it not from the forebears' water and clay?
وَماand no إِنindeed شَأيٍoutstripped بِالكَهرَباءَةِby electricity مَركَبِa conveyance
وَما إِن شَأيٍ بِالكَهرَباءَةِ مَركَبِ
بِشاحِطَةِin the remote reaches of الصَحراءِthe desert مَدَّthe long stride of هَجينَهاits riding camel
بِشاحِطَةِ الصَحراءِ مَدَّ هَجينَها
And no electrically powered conveyance has outstripped
The long stride of its riding camel in the remote desert.
فَإِنso if يَقطَعُcross القَومَthe people البِحارَthe seas فَعِندَناthen we have
فَإِن يَقطَعُ القَومَ البِحارَ فَعِندَنا
مَهامِهُtrackless wastes لاnot تَلقىyou encounter لَهُمfor them بِسَفينِهاaboard their ships
مَهامِهُ لا تَلقى لَهُم بِسَفينِها
So if those people cross the seas, we have
Trackless wastes where you will not meet them aboard their ships.
عَلىfor غَيرِno شَيءٍcause غَيرَexcept أَنّاthat we عِصابَةًa band
عَلى غَيرِ شَيءٍ غَيرَ أَنّا عِصابَةً
غِضابٌangry لَدَيناamong us المُسلِمينَthe Muslims وَدينَهاand their faith
غِضابٌ لَدَينا المُسلِمينَ وَدينَها
For no cause, save that we are a band
Indignant for the Muslims among us and their faith.
تَعدواthey overstep حُدودَthe bounds of الصَبرِpatience حيفاًunjustly بِأُمَّةًagainst a nation
تَعدوا حُدودَ الصَبرِ حيفاً بِأُمَّةً
غَدواthey became لَبِداًmassed together فيin عَزمِthe resolve to قَطعِsever وَتينِهاits aorta
غَدوا لَبِداً في عَزمِ قَطعِ وَتينِها
They overstep patience's bounds, wronging a nation;
They have massed together, resolved to sever its aorta.
وَقَدand indeed طالَماoften بِتناwe spent the night نُغالِطُwe deceive أَنفُساًourselves
وَقَد طالَما بِتنا نُغالِطُ أَنفُساً
وَنَبغيand we seek مِنَfrom الأَعلاجِthe barbarians سَلَّthe uprooting of ضُغونَهاtheir grudges
وَنَبغي مِنَ الأَعلاجِ سَلَّ ضُغونَها
How often we spent the night deceiving ourselves,
And sought to draw the grudges out of those barbarians,
إِلىuntil أَنthat تَجلىbecame manifest العَزمَthe resolve لاno حَجبَveils دونَهُbefore it
إِلى أَن تَجلى العَزمَ لا حَجبَ دونَهُ
وَقَصُرَand fell short بِالأَعذارِwith excuses نَصٌّan explicit statement مُبينَهاof their expositor
وَقَصُرَ بِالأَعذارِ نَصٌّ مُبينَها
Until their resolve stood revealed, with no veils before it,
And their expositor's explicit words left excuses wanting.
وَلَمand not يَبقَremained مِنany مُستَعجِمٍobscure thing فيin مُرادِهِمtheir intent
وَلَم يَبقَ مِن مُستَعجِمٍ في مُرادِهِم
بِأُمَّةٍtoward a nation صِدقَof sincerity أَمعَنَتit went far فيin رُكونِهاits trust
بِأُمَّةٍ صِدقَ أَمعَنَت في رُكونِها
Nothing remained obscure in their intent
Toward a sincere nation that had gone far in its trust.
فَقُلناso we said عَلَيكُمyou must take up بِالسُيوفِswords فإِنَّهاfor indeed they
فَقُلنا عَلَيكُم بِالسُيوفِ فإِنَّها
لِأَفصَحُsurely more eloquent مِنthan أَقلامِناour pens بِرَنينِهاthrough their ringing
لِأَفصَحُ مِن أَقلامِنا بِرَنينِها
So we said, 'Take up swords, for they
Speak more eloquently than our pens through their ringing.'
فَإِنso if يَخفِرِviolate الأَعداءَthe enemies عُهودَناour covenants
فَإِن يَخفِرِ الأَعداءَ عُهودَنا
فَعِندَthen in ذِمامِthe protection of البيضِthe bright blades رَدعُrestraint of خُؤونِهاtheir traitors
فَعِندَ ذِمامِ البيضِ رَدعُ خُؤونِها
If the enemies violate our covenants,
Then in the bright blades' protection lies restraint for their traitors.
أَلاlo شَدَّgreatly ماwhat قَدindeed أَصغَرَتit belittled مِنof مَقامِناour standing
أَلا شَدَّ ما قَد أَصغَرَت مِن مَقامِنا
وَماand what اِقتَحَمَتناit assailed us فيamong الغُزاةِthe invaders لِحينِهاto its doom
وَما اِقتَحَمَتنا في الغُزاةِ لِحينِها
Ah, how greatly it has belittled our standing;
Its assault upon us among invaders leads to its own doom.
تَناسَتit forgot سَريعاًquickly ماwhat مَضىpassed مِنof بَلائِناour prowess
تَناسَت سَريعاً ما مَضى مِن بَلائِنا
وَأَنّاand that we عَلَوناsurmounted عالِياتٍthe highest of قُرونَهاits horns
وَأَنّا عَلَونا عالِياتٍ قُرونَها
It quickly forgot our past prowess,
And that we had overtopped its highest horns.
وَظَنَّتand it thought عُروشُthe thrones الشَرقِof the East ماfirst fragment of 'tilted' لَتsecond fragment of 'tilted' وَأَصبَحَتand had become
وَظَنَّت عُروشُ الشَرقِ ما لَت وَأَصبَحَت
كَأَنas though لَمnot يَكُنhad existed بَينَbetween الصَفاal-Safa وَحُجونِهاand its Hajun
كَأَن لَم يَكُن بَينَ الصَفا وَحُجونِها
And it thought the thrones of the East had tilted and become
As though nothing had ever been between al-Safa and its Hajun;
وَأَنَّand that زَمانَthe time of الثَأرِrevenge وافىhad arrived فَأَوجَفَتso it rushed forward
وَأَنَّ زَمانَ الثَأرِ وافى فَأَوجَفَت
أَلاlo خابَfailed ماwhat قَدindeed قَدُمَتit had advanced مِنof ظُنونِهاits expectations
أَلا خابَ ما قَد قَدُمَت مِن ظُنونِها
And that the time for revenge had come, so it rushed forward.
Lo, the expectations it had advanced came to nothing.
فَلَمfor not يَزَلِceased to be الإِسلامُIslam غَضاًfresh بِأَهلِهِamong its people
فَلَم يَزَلِ الإِسلامُ غَضاً بِأَهلِهِ
وَنيرانِهِand its fires لَمnot تَنطَفِئwent out بِكُمونِهاthrough their concealment
وَنيرانِهِ لَم تَنطَفِئ بِكُمونِها
For Islam remains fresh among its people,
And its fires have not gone out in their concealment.
وَماand while رَقرَقَsets rippling القُرآنُthe Quran ماءَthe water طِباعِهاof their natures
وَما رَقرَقَ القُرآنُ ماءَ طِباعِها
فَهَيهاتَthen far be it يَخشىone fears مِنfrom نُضوبِthe drying up مُعينِهاof their flowing spring
فَهَيهاتَ يَخشى مِن نُضوبِ مُعينِها
And while the Quran sets their nature's water rippling,
Far be any fear of their flowing spring running dry.
فَلاso not يَغتَرِرlet be deceived قَومٌa people بِظاهِرٍby the outward appearance لينَناof our softness
فَلا يَغتَرِر قَومٌ بِظاهِرٍ لينَنا
فَماfor not الصَعدَةَthe spear shaft السَمراءَthe brown هَوناًweakness بِلينِهاthrough its suppleness
فَما الصَعدَةَ السَمراءَ هَوناً بِلينِها
Let no people be deceived by our outward softness,
For the brown spear is no weaker for its suppleness.
لَناwe have مِنamong بَنيthe sons of عُثمانَUthman كُلَّevery غَضَنفَرٍmighty lion
لَنا مِن بَني عُثمانَ كُلَّ غَضَنفَرٍ
تَخِرُّfall down لَهُbefore him أَبطالُهُمtheir champions لِذُقونِهاupon their chins
تَخِرُّ لَهُ أَبطالُهُم لِذُقونِها
We have among the sons of Uthman every mighty lion,
Before whom their champions fall upon their chins.
فَلَسناfor we are not نُباهيboasting أَنthat نَحَرناwe slaughtered سِخالَهاtheir lambs
فَلَسنا نُباهي أَن نَحَرنا سِخالَها
وَقبلاًand earlier صَرَعناwe felled أَسَدَهاtheir lion فيin عَرينِهاits den
وَقبلاً صَرَعنا أَسَدَها في عَرينِها
We do not boast that we slaughtered their lambs,
And before that we felled their lion in its den.
فَماfor not اِضطَلَعَتwere equal بِالسَيفِto the sword أَيديthe hands جُنودِهاof their soldiers
فَما اِضطَلَعَت بِالسَيفِ أَيدي جُنودِها
وَإِنand even though مَهَرَتwere skilled فيin الشَحذِsharpening أَيديthe hands قُيونِهاof their smiths
وَإِن مَهَرَت في الشَحذِ أَيدي قُيونِها
Their soldiers' hands have not been equal to the sword,
Though their smiths' hands are skilled at sharpening.
جَحافِلَhosts فيon سَيفِthe shores of البِحارِthe seas تَخالُهاyou would think them
جَحافِلَ في سَيفِ البِحارِ تَخالُها
مِنَfrom الذُعرِterror وَرقاًgray doves عُكَّفاًcrouched فيin وَكونِهاtheir nests
مِنَ الذُعرِ وَرقاً عُكَّفاً في وَكونِها
Hosts upon the seashore—you would think them
From terror, gray doves crouched in their nests.
وَلَولاَand were it not for الجَواريthe ships المُنشَآتِthe tall-built تَمُدُّهاsupplying them
وَلَولاَ الجَواري المُنشَآتِ تَمُدُّها
مِنَfrom اللُجِّthe deep زَجَتthey would have plunged فيinto the gullets of مَغاغِرِits fish نونِهاits fish
مِنَ اللُجِّ زَجَت في مَغاغِرِ نونِها
Were it not for the tall-built ships supplying them
From the deep, they would have plunged into its fishes' gullets.
لَئِنif indeed جَرَدَتهاit dispatched them رَومَةٌRome لِحِصارِناto besiege us
لَئِن جَرَدَتها رَومَةٌ لِحِصارِنا
لَقَدsurely أَودَعَتهاit lodged them عِندَناamong us بِسُجونِهاin their prisons
لَقَد أَودَعَتها عِندَنا بِسُجونِها
If Rome dispatched them to besiege us,
It has surely lodged them among us in their prisons.
وَفيand on كُلِّevery يَومٍday وَقعَةٍa battle لِجُيوشِهاfor their armies
وَفي كُلِّ يَومٍ وَقعَةٍ لِجُيوشِها
تَضيقُgrows cramped بِهاwith them بِطَحاؤِهاtheir broad plain بِدَفينِهاwith their buried dead
تَضيقُ بِها بِطَحاؤِها بِدَفينِها
And every day brings a battle for their armies;
Their broad plain grows cramped with their buried dead.
لَقَدindeed طَعَمَتit has tasted مِمّاof what جَنَتهُit reaped it وَضيعَةٌan ignoble one
لَقَد طَعَمَت مِمّا جَنَتهُ وَضيعَةٌ
تُخالِطُit mingles فيهاtherein جَبنَهاits cowardice بِجُنونِهاwith its madness
تُخالِطُ فيها جَبنَها بِجُنونِها
The ignoble one has tasted what it earned,
Mingling its cowardice therein with its madness.
قَدalready اِستَوقَدَتهاhas set it alight الحَربُwar نارَthe fire of شُكوكِهاits doubts
قَد اِستَوقَدَتها الحَربُ نارَ شُكوكِها
إِذاwhen العَرَبُthe Arabs وافَتهاmet it بِثَلجِwith the snow of يَقينِهاtheir certainty
إِذا العَرَبُ وافَتها بِثَلجِ يَقينِها
War has kindled in it the fire of its doubts,
When the Arabs met it with the snow of their certainty.
فَدونَكُموso take for yourselves ياO أَيُّهاyou العُربُArabs حَملَةًa charge
فَدونَكُمو يا أَيُّها العُربُ حَملَةً
نِزارِيَّةًof Nizar فَاِستَبسَلواso fight valiantly لِزَبونِهاin its fierce battle
نِزارِيَّةً فَاِستَبسَلوا لِزَبونِها
So take up, O Arabs, a charge
Of Nizar—fight valiantly in its fierce battle.
وَصونواand guard ذِمارَthe honor of المُلكِthe realm شَداًby tightening فَلَمfor not يُملِmakes tilt
وَصونوا ذِمارَ المُلكِ شَداً فَلَم يُملِ
سُروجَthe saddles of المَطاياthe mounts غَيرَexcept رَخوِthe slackness of وَضينِهاtheir girths
سُروجَ المَطايا غَيرَ رَخوِ وَضينِها
And guard the realm's honor: pull tight, for nothing tilts
The mounts' saddles but slackness in their girths.
وَهَذيand these طَلىthe necks of الطَليانِthe Italians تَهفوfall إِلَيكُموtoward you
وَهَذي طَلى الطَليانِ تَهفو إِلَيكُمو
سُقوطَlike the falling of ثِمارِthe fruits of الدَوحِthe great trees مِنfrom عَنoff غُصونِهاtheir branches
سُقوطَ ثِمارِ الدَوحِ مِن عَن غُصونِها
And these Italian necks fall toward you,
As fruits drop from off the great trees' boughs.
سَتَعلَمُwill know أَطرابِلسَTripoli أَنّاthat we صِحابَهاare its companions
سَتَعلَمُ أَطرابِلسَ أَنّا صِحابَها
وَبُرقَةًand Barqa لاnot نَرضىwe are content لَعَمريby my life بِدونِهاwithout it
وَبُرقَةً لا نَرضى لَعَمري بِدونِها
Tripoli will know that we are its companions,
And Barqa—by my life, we will not be content without it.
وَكُلُّand every ذِراعٍcubit عِندَناto us مِنof تُرابِهاits soil
وَكُلُّ ذِراعٍ عِندَنا مِن تُرابِها
كَخالِصَةِlike the choicest of الأَعلاقِthe treasures عِندَto ضَنينِهاtheir jealous keeper
كَخالِصَةِ الأَعلاقِ عِندَ ضَنينِها
Every cubit of its soil is to us
Like the choicest treasures to their jealous keeper.
سَلِمتَmay you be safe أَميرَCommander of المُؤمِنينَthe Faithful لِأُمَّةٍfor a nation
سَلِمتَ أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ لِأُمَّةٍ
مُحمَّدَof Muhammad طولَthroughout الدَهرِtime نورُthe light of عُيونِهاits eyes
مُحمَّدَ طولَ الدَهرِ نورُ عُيونِها
May you be safe, Commander of the Faithful, for the nation
Of Muhammad—you are the light of its eyes for all time.
تُقيمُyou uphold بِهاamong it فيin الحَقِّjustice حُكمَthe rule of أَميرِهاits emir
تُقيمُ بِها في الحَقِّ حُكمَ أَميرِها
وَتَرعىand you preserve لَهاfor it بِالرِفقِwith gentleness عَهدَthe covenant of أَمينِهاits trusted guardian
وَتَرعى لَها بِالرِفقِ عَهدَ أَمينِها
You uphold its emir's rule in justice,
And gently safeguard its trusted guardian's covenant.
وَمِنand among أُمراءِthe princes of الشَرقِthe East حَولَكَaround you عُصبَةًa band
وَمِن أُمراءِ الشَرقِ حَولَكَ عُصبَةً
سُطاكَyour might كَرسيهاits throne وَشَمُّand the lofty حُصونِهاits fortresses
سُطاكَ كَرسيها وَشَمُّ حُصونِها
Around you is a band of the East's princes;
Your might is its throne and its towering fortresses.
وَياand O سَيفَsword of نَصرٍvictory عامِلاًworking فيamong عِداتِهاits enemies
وَيا سَيفَ نَصرٍ عامِلاً في عِداتِها
وَقائِمَهُand its hilt لَمّاnot yet يَزَلceased to be فيin يَمينِهاits right hand
وَقائِمَهُ لَمّا يَزَل في يَمينِها
And O sword of victory, at work among its foes,
Its hilt still rests in the nation's right hand.
إِذاwhen اِعتَصَمَتit seeks refuge فيin رَوعِهاits terror مِنfrom مُحَمَّدٍMuhammad
إِذا اِعتَصَمَت في رَوعِها مِن مُحَمَّدٍ
بِصاحِبِهاin its companion مِنكَin you اِهتَدَتit was guided لِمُعينِهاto its helper
بِصاحِبِها مِنكَ اِهتَدَت لِمُعينِها
When in its terror it seeks shelter through Muhammad,
In you, its companion, it finds its helper.
وَإِنand if جَهَمَتهاscowl upon it الحادِثاتُcalamities فَلَمthen not يَزَلceased to be
وَإِن جَهَمَتها الحادِثاتُ فَلَم يَزَل
بِعَبّاسِهاthrough its Abbas بَسّامُsmiling نُورٍthe light of جَبينِهاits brow
بِعَبّاسِها بَسّامُ نُورٍ جَبينِها
And if calamities scowl upon it, still
Through its Abbas, the light on its brow smiles.
إِذاif عالَمُthe world of الإِسلامِIslam أَولاكَoffers you شُكرَهُits thanks
إِذا عالَمُ الإِسلامِ أَولاكَ شُكرَهُ
فَماthen what لِذُبابِhave flies بِلُغَةٍany attainment بِطَنينِهاthrough their buzzing
فَما لِذُبابِ بِلُغَةٍ بِطَنينِها
If the world of Islam offers you its thanks,
What can flies achieve through their buzzing?
تَحِنُّyearns إِلىfor ناديكَyour assembly مُهجَةُthe heart of غائِبٍan absent man
تَحِنُّ إِلى ناديكَ مُهجَةُ غائِبٍ
يُطَعُهاtears it apart (uncertain reading) فيin البُعدِdistance فَرطَthe excess of حَنينِهاits longing
يُطَعُها في البُعدِ فَرطَ حَنينِها
An absent man's heart yearns for your assembly;
Far away, its overwhelming longing tears it apart.
فَإِنso if تَكُit be آلَتsworn نَجدَةًaid لِقَبيلِهاfor its kin
فَإِن تَكُ آلَت نَجدَةً لِقَبيلِها
فَمِثلُكَthen one like you مَنis one who يَرضىapproves بِبِرِّthe fulfillment of يَمينِهاits oath
فَمِثلُكَ مَن يَرضى بِبِرِّ يَمينِها
And if it has sworn to aid its kin,
Then one like you approves its keeping that oath.
وَلَولاand were it not for الحُقوقُthe duties الواجِباتُthe binding لَماwould not نَبَتhave proved inhospitable
وَلَولا الحُقوقُ الواجِباتُ لَما نَبَت
أَماكِنَplaces مِنwithin أَوطانِهاits homelands بِمَكينِهاto their resident
أَماكِنَ مِن أَوطانِها بِمَكينِها
Were it not for binding duties, never would
Places in its homeland have proved inhospitable to their resident.
تَظَلُّremain الدَعاويthe claims فيto المَعاليgreatness كَثيرَةٌmany
تَظَلُّ الدَعاوي في المَعالي كَثيرَةٌ
وَماand not كُلُّevery باغٍseeker of وَصلَهاits embrace بِقَرينِهاits match
وَما كُلُّ باغٍ وَصلَها بِقَرينِها
Claims to greatness remain many;
Yet not every seeker of its embrace is its mate.
إِلىat مُلتَقىthe meeting of الجَمعَينِthe two hosts وَالسَيفُand the sword فاصِلٌis arbiter
إِلى مُلتَقى الجَمعَينِ وَالسَيفُ فاصِلٌ
هُنالِكَthere يَدريone knows غَثَّهاits lean مِنfrom سَمينِهاits fat
هُنالِكَ يَدري غَثَّها مِن سَمينِها
At the meeting of the two hosts, the sword is arbiter;
There one knows its lean from its fat.
هُناكَthere لَناwe have فيon جانِبِthe side of الغَربِthe West إِخوَةٌbrothers
هُناكَ لَنا في جانِبِ الغَربِ إِخوَةٌ
تَسومُهُمinflict on them البُؤسىmisery العِدىthe enemies بِفُنونِهاin its varieties
تَسومُهُم البُؤسى العِدى بِفُنونِها
There, on the western side, we have brothers
Whom the enemies afflict with misery in all its forms.
بَكَيناwe wept لَهاfor them نَحنُwe الأُلىwho ماnot تَعَوَّدَتwere accustomed
بَكَينا لَها نَحنُ الأُلى ما تَعَوَّدَت
مَدامِعُهُمtheir tearful eyes فيin الخَطبِcalamity بَذلُthe shedding of مُصونِهاtheir guarded tears
مَدامِعُهُم في الخَطبِ بَذلُ مُصونِها
We wept for them—we who were not accustomed
To our eyes yielding their guarded tears in calamity.
فَإشنso if (textual typo) نَحنُwe قارَرناacquiesced عَلىin ضَيمِthe oppression of أَهلِناour kin
فَإشن نَحنُ قارَرنا عَلى ضَيمِ أَهلِنا
فَهَيهاتَthen far be it نَرجوwe hope for العِزَّhonor مِنfrom بَعدِafter هَونِهاtheir humiliation
فَهَيهاتَ نَرجو العِزَّ مِن بَعدِ هَونِها
So if we acquiesce in the oppression of our kin,
Far be the hope of honor after their humiliation.
تَرىregards النَفسَthe soul دَيناًa debt وَقفَةًa stand فيin صُفوفِهاtheir ranks
تَرى النَفسَ دَيناً وَقفَةً في صُفوفِها
قَضاءٌa repayment عَنِfor الأَرحامِkindred بَعضَsome of دُيونِهاits debts
قَضاءٌ عَنِ الأَرحامِ بَعضَ دُيونِها
The soul deems a stand in their ranks a debt,
A repayment to kindred of some of its debts.
فَماfor not الشامُal-Sham وَالنيلُand the Nile السَعيدُthe blessed وَدِجلَةًand the Tigris
فَما الشامُ وَالنيلُ السَعيدُ وَدِجلَةً
سِواهاother than it لَدىamid أَفراحِهاits joys وَشُجونِهاand its sorrows
سِواها لَدى أَفراحِها وَشُجونِها
For al-Sham, the blessed Nile, and the Tigris
Are no different from it in its joys and sorrows.
وَوَاللَهِand by God لاnot أُعطيهI give him المَقادِthe reins لِظالِمٍto a tyrant
وَوَاللَهِ لا أُعطيه المَقادِ لِظالِمٍ
وَلَمّاand not yet أُرِدI reach (vocalization uncertain) بِالنَفسِwith my soul حَوضَthe pool of مُنونِهاits death
وَلَمّا أُرِد بِالنَفسِ حَوضَ مُنونِها
And by God, I will not yield the reins to a tyrant,
And have not yet reached, with my soul, the pool of its doom.
إِذاif باتَspend the night أَخواتيmy sisters بِبُرقَةٍin Barqa سُهَّداًsleepless
إِذا باتَ أَخواتي بِبُرقَةٍ سُهَّداً
فَكَيفَthen how تَنامُsleeps العَينُthe eye مِلءَto the fill of جُفونِهاits eyelids
فَكَيفَ تَنامُ العَينُ مِلءَ جُفونِها
If my sisters in Barqa spend the night sleepless,
How, then, can the eye sleep to its eyelids' fill?
Sol 6.1