خذوا من جفوني ماءَها فهي ذُرَّفُ

خذوا من جفوني ماءَها فهي ذُرَّفُ

فَما لكُمُ إلّا الجَوى والتّلَهُّفُ

فَما لكُمُ إلّا الجَوى والتّلَهُّفُ

Take from my eyelids their water, for they weep profusely;

Take the water from my eyelids, for they are overflowing,

For you have only heartache and anguished longing.

So you have nothing left but agony and yearning.

وإنْ أنتما اِستوقفتما عن مَسيلها

وإنْ أنتما اِستوقفتما عن مَسيلها

غُروبَ مآقينا فما هنّ وُقَّفُ

غُروبَ مآقينا فما هنّ وُقَّفُ

And if you two try to halt the flow

And if you two stop its flow,

Of our eye-corners' streams, they cannot be halted.

Our sunsets of sorrows will never cease.

كأنّ عيوناً كنّ زَوْراً عن البكا

كأنّ عيوناً كنّ زَوْراً عن البكا

غصونٌ مَطيراتُ الذُّرا فهي وُكَّفُ

غصونٌ مَطيراتُ الذُّرا فهي وُكَّفُ

It is as though eyes once turned away from weeping

It is as if the eyes were falsely weeping,

Are branches with rain-drenched crowns, dripping steadily.

Branches shedding rain water, so they are held back.

دعَا العَذْلَ والتّعنيفَ في الحزن والأسى

دعَا العَذْلَ والتّعنيفَ في الحزن والأسى

فَما هجر الأحزانَ إلّا المعنّفُ

فَما هجر الأحزانَ إلّا المعنّفُ

Leave off, you two, blame and rebuke in grief and sorrow;

He called upon grace and reproach in sorrow and grief,

For only the rebuker has abandoned sorrows.

But nothing abandons sorrows except the reproached one.

تَقولونَ لِي صبراً جميلاً وليس لِي

تَقولونَ لِي صبراً جميلاً وليس لِي

على الصّبرِ إلّا حسرةٌ وتَلَهُّفُ

على الصّبرِ إلّا حسرةٌ وتَلَهُّفُ

You tell me, 'Gracious patience!' But for me

You tell me to have beautiful patience, but I have

Patience brings only regret and anguished longing.

Nothing regarding patience except sorrow and yearning.

وَكيفَ أُطيقُ الصّبرَ والحزنُ كلّما

وَكيفَ أُطيقُ الصّبرَ والحزنُ كلّما

عَنُفْتُ به يقوى عليَّ وأضعُفُ

عَنُفْتُ به يقوى عليَّ وأضعُفُ

And how can I bear patience, when grief, whenever

And how can I endure patience when grief, whenever

I treat it harshly, grows stronger against me, while I weaken?

I resist it, overcomes me and I weaken?

ذكرتُ بيومِ الطَّفِّ أوتاد أرضِهِ

ذكرتُ بيومِ الطَّفِّ أوتاد أرضِهِ

تهُبُّ بهمْ للموت نكباءُ حَرْجفُ

تهُبُّ بهمْ للموت نكباءُ حَرْجفُ

I recalled, on al-Taff's day, the stakes of its earth,

I remembered the day of al-Taff, the pegs of its land

As a bitter crosswind swept them toward death.

Swaying with them towards death, the stumbling of Ḥarjuf.

كرامٌ سُقوا ماءَ الخديعَةِ واِرتَوَوْا

كرامٌ سُقوا ماءَ الخديعَةِ واِرتَوَوْا

وسيقوا إلى الموت الزُّؤام فأوجفوا

وسيقوا إلى الموت الزُّؤام فأوجفوا

Noble men were given deceit's water and drank their fill;

Noble ones who drank the water of deception and quenched their thirst

And driven to swift, deadly death, they hurried on.

And were led to sudden death grimly frowning.

فكم مُرْهَفٍ فيهمْ ألمَّ بحدِّهِ

فكم مُرْهَفٍ فيهمْ ألمَّ بحدِّهِ

هنالك مسنونُ الغِرارين مُرْهَفُ

هنالك مسنونُ الغِرارين مُرْهَفُ

How many a slender one among them was met by the edge

So how many smooth-cheeked ones among them

There, of a keen blade sharpened on both edges;

Pain afflicted with its edge there.

ومعتدلٍ مثلِ القناةِ مثقّفٍ

ومعتدلٍ مثلِ القناةِ مثقّفٍ

لواه إلى الموتِ الطويلُ المثقّفُ

لواه إلى الموتِ الطويلُ المثقّفُ

And many a well-formed, refined man, like a spear-shaft,

The slender, straight like a spear, long and elegant,

Was bent toward death by the long, straightened spear.

Was taken by death, the long and elegant one.

قَضَوْا بعد أن قضّوا مُنىً من عدوّهمْ

قَضَوْا بعد أن قضّوا مُنىً من عدوّهمْ

ولم ينكلوا يوم الطّعانِ ويضعفوا

ولم ينكلوا يوم الطّعانِ ويضعفوا

They died after fulfilling their aims against their enemy,

They fulfilled after they had fulfilled their purpose against their enemy

And did not shrink back or weaken on the day of spear-fighting.

And did not waver on the day of spears and weaken.

وراحوا كما شاءتْ لهمْ أَرْيَحِيّةٌ

وراحوا كما شاءتْ لهمْ أَرْيَحِيّةٌ

ودَوْحَةُ عزٍّ فرعُها متعطِّفُ

ودَوْحَةُ عزٍّ فرعُها متعطِّفُ

And they departed as noble generosity willed for them,

And they went as the meadows of 'Arayhiyya pleased them

And a spreading tree of glory, its branch bending tenderly.

And an oasis of glory whose branches meander.

فَإِنْ تَرَهمْ في القاع نَثراً فشملهمْ

فَإِنْ تَرَهمْ في القاع نَثراً فشملهمْ

بجنّاتِ عَدْنٍ جامعٌ متألّفُ

بجنّاتِ عَدْنٍ جامعٌ متألّفُ

So if you see them scattered upon the plain, their company

So if you see them in the plain scattered,

Is gathered and united in the Gardens of Eden.

Embrace them with the gardens of Eden, brought together.

إِذا ما ثنوا تلك الوسائد مُيَّلاً

إِذا ما ثنوا تلك الوسائد مُيَّلاً

أُدِيرَتْ عليهمْ في الزّجاجةِ قَرْقَفُ

أُدِيرَتْ عليهمْ في الزّجاجةِ قَرْقَفُ

When they fold those cushions, reclining,

When they are covered with those pillows slanted,

Wine is passed around to them in a glass vessel.

Vases are placed over them in glass and pour forth.

وأحواضُهم مورودةٌ فعدوّهم

وأحواضُهم مورودةٌ فعدوّهم

يُحَلّا وأصحابُ الولايةِ تَرْشُفُ

يُحَلّا وأصحابُ الولايةِ تَرْشُفُ

Their pools are visited for drinking, but their enemy

And their basins are well-watered while their enemy

Is driven away, while loyal adherents sip.

Is left thirsty and the masters of devotion drink their fill.

فلو أنّنِي شاهدتهمْ أو شَهِدْتُهمْ

فلو أنّنِي شاهدتهمْ أو شَهِدْتُهمْ

هُناك وأنيابُ المنيّةِ تَصْرِفُ

هُناك وأنيابُ المنيّةِ تَصْرِفُ

So had I seen them, or been present with them,

If only I had seen them or witnessed them

There, while death's fangs were grinding,

There while the fangs of death rove about.

لدافعتُ عنهمْ واهباً دونهمْ دمي

لدافعتُ عنهمْ واهباً دونهمْ دمي

وَمن وهب النّفسَ الكريمةَ مُنصفُ

وَمن وهب النّفسَ الكريمةَ مُنصفُ

I would have defended them, giving my blood to shield them;

I would have defended them, sacrificing my blood for theirs,

And whoever gives his noble life does justice.

And whoever sacrifices a precious soul is equitable.

ولم يكُ يخلو من ضرابي وطعنتي

ولم يكُ يخلو من ضرابي وطعنتي

حسامٌ ثليمٌ أو سِنانٌ مُقَصَّفُ

حسامٌ ثليمٌ أو سِنانٌ مُقَصَّفُ

Nor would my blows and thrusts have spared

Neither polished sword nor sharpened spearhead

A notched sword or a shattered spearhead.

Would be without my blows and stabs.

فيا حاسديهمْ فضلَهمْ وهو باهرٌ

فيا حاسديهمْ فضلَهمْ وهو باهرٌ

وكم حسد الأقوامُ فضلاً وأسرفوا

وكم حسد الأقوامُ فضلاً وأسرفوا

So, you who envy them their merit, though it shines,

So O envious ones of their superiority which is manifest

How often peoples have envied merit and gone too far!

And how much have people envied conspicuous superiority and transgressed!

دعوا حَلَباتِ السَّبقِ تمرح خيلُها

دعوا حَلَباتِ السَّبقِ تمرح خيلُها

وتغدو على مضمارها تَتَغَطْرَفُ

وتغدو على مضمارها تَتَغَطْرَفُ

Leave the racing arenas for their horses to frolic,

Leave the racetrack for their horses to frolic

And go forth at dawn, prancing proudly on their course.

And race on its course leaping playfully.

ولا تزحفوا زَحْفَ الكسير إلى العُلا

ولا تزحفوا زَحْفَ الكسير إلى العُلا

فلن تلحقوا وللصّلالِ التَّزَحُّفُ

فلن تلحقوا وللصّلالِ التَّزَحُّفُ

Do not crawl toward high rank like the maimed,

And do not crawl with the crawling of the broken

For you will never catch up; creeping belongs to vipers.

To the heights, for you will not catch up and crawling is only for the lowly.

وخلّوا التكاليفَ الّتي لا تُفيدكمْ

وخلّوا التكاليفَ الّتي لا تُفيدكمْ

فَما يَستوي طَبعٌ نبا وتكلُّفُ

فَما يَستوي طَبعٌ نبا وتكلُّفُ

And abandon the forced efforts that bring you no benefit;

And leave aside the burdens that do not benefit you,

For a lofty natural disposition and affectation are not alike.

For innate disposition and affectation are not equal.

فَقَد دامَ إِلْطاطٌ بهمْ في حقوقهمْ

فَقَد دامَ إِلْطاطٌ بهمْ في حقوقهمْ

وأعْوَزَ إنصافٌ وطال تحيُّفُ

وأعْوَزَ إنصافٌ وطال تحيُّفُ

For stubborn denial of their rights has long persisted,

Oppression against them has lasted regarding their rights

Fairness has been lacking, and injustice prolonged.

And fairness is lame and skewing has been prolonged.

تناسيتُمُ ما قال فيهمْ نبيُّكُمْ

تناسيتُمُ ما قال فيهمْ نبيُّكُمْ

كأنّ مقالاً قال فيهمْ مُحَرَّفُ

كأنّ مقالاً قال فيهمْ مُحَرَّفُ

You deliberately forgot what your prophet said about them,

You forgot what your prophet said about them

As though his words about them were distorted.

As if he related something distorted about them.

فَكَم لِرسول اللَّهِ في الطَّفِّ من دمٍ

فَكَم لِرسول اللَّهِ في الطَّفِّ من دمٍ

يُراق ومن نفسٍ تُماتُ وتُتْلَفُ

يُراق ومن نفسٍ تُماتُ وتُتْلَفُ

How much blood belonging to God's Messenger, at al-Taff,

So how much blood of the Messenger of Allah is shed in al-Taff

Is spilled, and how many a life is killed and destroyed!

And souls slain and brought together!

ومِن ولدٍ كالعينِ منه كرامةً

ومِن ولدٍ كالعينِ منه كرامةً

يُقاد بأيدي النّاكثين ويُعْسَفُ

يُقاد بأيدي النّاكثين ويُعْسَفُ

And how many a child, as precious to him as his eye,

And children just like his eyes in esteem

Is led by oath-breakers' hands and harshly treated!

Are led by the hands of oath breakers and abused!

عزيزٌ عليه أن تُباع نساؤُهُ

عزيزٌ عليه أن تُباع نساؤُهُ

كما بيع قِطْعٌ في عُكاظَ وقَرْطَفُ

كما بيع قِطْعٌ في عُكاظَ وقَرْطَفُ

It grieves him that his women should be sold,

It is difficult for him that his wives are sold

As a saddlecloth and shaggy cloak were sold at Ukaz.

Just like fabrics sold in 'Ukadh and Qarṭaf.

يُذَدْنَ عن الماءِ الرِّواءِ وتَرْتوِي

يُذَدْنَ عن الماءِ الرِّواءِ وتَرْتوِي

من الماءِ أجمالٌ لهْم لا تُكَفْكَفُ

من الماءِ أجمالٌ لهْم لا تُكَفْكَفُ

They are driven from refreshing water, while

They are prevented from drinking fresh water and beauties

Their camels drink their fill, never restrained.

Drink water instead of them which are not pushed away.

فيا لعيونٍ جائراتٍ عن الهدى

فيا لعيونٍ جائراتٍ عن الهدى

ويا لقلوبٍ ضِغنُها مُتَضَعِّفُ

ويا لقلوبٍ ضِغنُها مُتَضَعِّفُ

Alas for eyes that stray from guidance,

So O eyes that have deviated from guidance

And alas for hearts whose rancor is redoubled!

And O hearts whose grudges have multiplied!

لكمْ أم لهمْ بيتٌ بناه على التُّقى

لكمْ أم لهمْ بيتٌ بناه على التُّقى

وبيتٌ له ذاك السّتارُ المُسَجَّفُ

وبيتٌ له ذاك السّتارُ المُسَجَّفُ

Is yours, or theirs, the house he built upon piety,

Do you or do they have a house built upon piety

And the house with that draped curtain,

With a curtained enclosure for it?

به كلَّ يومٍ من قريشٍ وغيرها

به كلَّ يومٍ من قريشٍ وغيرها

جهيرٌ مُلَبٍّ أو سريعٌ مطوِّفُ

جهيرٌ مُلَبٍّ أو سريعٌ مطوِّفُ

Where every day, from Quraysh and other peoples,

To it each day come processions

A loud-voiced pilgrim chants, or a swift one circles;

Of pilgrims from Quraysh and others circumambulating.

إذا زارَهُ يوماً دَلوحٌ بذنبِهِ

إذا زارَهُ يوماً دَلوحٌ بذنبِهِ

مضى وهو عُريانُ الفِرا متكشِّفُ

مضى وهو عُريانُ الفِرا متكشِّفُ

If one burdened with his sin visits it some day,

Whenever a requestor comes to it with his sin one day

He departs stripped of his skins, laid bare;

He leaves barefoot with sins exposed.

وزَمْزَمُ والرّكبُ الّذي يَمسحونه

وزَمْزَمُ والرّكبُ الّذي يَمسحونه

وَأَيمانُهمْ مِن رَحمة اللَّه تَنطِفُ

وَأَيمانُهمْ مِن رَحمة اللَّه تَنطِفُ

And Zamzam, and the pilgrim caravan that touches it,

And Zamzam and the caravans who wipe it

Their right hands dripping with the mercy of God;

And their oaths by Allah’s mercy dripping.

ووادي مِنىً تُهدى إليه نحائرٌ

ووادي مِنىً تُهدى إليه نحائرٌ

تُكَبُّ على الأذقانِ قسراً فتُحْتَفُ

تُكَبُّ على الأذقانِ قسراً فتُحْتَفُ

And Mina's valley, to which sacrificial beasts are brought,

And the valley of Mina, to which sacrificial animals are gifted,

Thrown forcibly onto their chins, and slain;

Forcibly rolling in the dust upon their cheeks.

وَجمعٌ وما جمعٌ لمن ساف تُربهُ

وَجمعٌ وما جمعٌ لمن ساف تُربهُ

ومِن قبلِهِ يومُ الوقوفِ المعَرَّفُ

ومِن قبلِهِ يومُ الوقوفِ المعَرَّفُ

And Jam'—what a place is Jam' for one who has smelled its soil!—

And a crowd—what a crowd for one who honored his soil!

And before it, the well-known day of standing?

And before it is the known day of standing still.

وأنتمْ نصرتُمْ أم هُمُ يومَ خَيْبَرٍ

وأنتمْ نصرتُمْ أم هُمُ يومَ خَيْبَرٍ

نبيَّكُمُ حيث الأسنّةُ تَرعُفُ

نبيَّكُمُ حيث الأسنّةُ تَرعُفُ

Was it you, or they, who supported, on Khaybar's day,

Did you or did they support your prophet on the day of Khaybar

Your prophet, where the spearheads bled?

When tongues were parched?

فررتمْ وما فرّوا وحِدْتُمْ عن الرّدى

فررتمْ وما فرّوا وحِدْتُمْ عن الرّدى

وما عنه منهم حائدٌ مُتَحَرِّفُ

وما عنه منهم حائدٌ مُتَحَرِّفُ

You fled, but they did not; you turned aside from death,

You fled while they did not,

But none among them turned from it or swerved.

And you deviated from righteousness while none of them were deviants.

فحصنٌ مشيدٌ بالسّيوف مهدّمٌ

فحصنٌ مشيدٌ بالسّيوف مهدّمٌ

وبابٌ منيعٌ بالأنامل يُقْذَفُ

وبابٌ منيعٌ بالأنامل يُقْذَفُ

So a lofty fortress was demolished by swords,

So a fortified fortress demolished with swords

And an impregnable gate was hurled away by fingertips.

And an impenetrable door torn down with fingers.

توقّفتُمُ خَوف الرّدى عن مواقفٍ

توقّفتُمُ خَوف الرّدى عن مواقفٍ

وما فيهمُ من خِيفةٍ يتوقَّفُ

وما فيهمُ من خِيفةٍ يتوقَّفُ

You held back from battle stations for fear of death,

You stopped out of fear of harm in situations

While none among them holds back out of fear.

While they had no fear that made them stop.

لهم دونكمْ في يوم بَدْرٍ وبعدها

لهم دونكمْ في يوم بَدْرٍ وبعدها

بيوم حُنَيْنٍ كلّما لا يُزَحْلَفُ

بيوم حُنَيْنٍ كلّما لا يُزَحْلَفُ

Theirs, not yours, on the day of Badr and afterward,

They had, more than you, victory on the day of Badr and after it

On Hunayn's day, is all that cannot be dislodged.

On the day of Ḥunayn, about which there is no doubt.

فقل لبنِي حرْبٍ وإنْ كان بيننا

فقل لبنِي حرْبٍ وإنْ كان بيننا

من النَّسَبِ الدّاني مَرائِرُ تُحْصَفُ

من النَّسَبِ الدّاني مَرائِرُ تُحْصَفُ

So tell Banu Harb, though between us

Then say to the clan of Ḥarb, even if there is

Are tightly twisted cords of close kinship:

Enmity between us of ancient pedigree:

أفي الحقّ أنّا مُخرجوكم إلى الهدى

أفي الحقّ أنّا مُخرجوكم إلى الهدى

وأنتمْ بلا نهجٍ إلى الحقّ يعْرَفُ

وأنتمْ بلا نهجٍ إلى الحقّ يعْرَفُ

Is this justice: we brought you to guidance,

Is it true that we guided you to righteousness

While you had no known path to truth;

While you had no path to truth that was known?

وإِنّا شَبَبْنا في عِراصِ دياركمْ

وإِنّا شَبَبْنا في عِراصِ دياركمْ

ضياءً وليلُ الكفر فيهنّ مُسْدَفُ

ضياءً وليلُ الكفر فيهنّ مُسْدَفُ

And we kindled in the open spaces of your dwellings

And we grew up in the shelters of your lands

A light, while unbelief's night lay dark within them;

A light, while the night of disbelief in them was gloomy.

وإنّا رَفَعناكمْ فَأشرف منكُمُ

وإنّا رَفَعناكمْ فَأشرف منكُمُ

بنا فوق هاماتِ الأعزّةِ مُشرِفُ

بنا فوق هاماتِ الأعزّةِ مُشرِفُ

And we raised you, so that from among you rose,

And we raised you above the greatest heights

Through us, one towering above the heads of the mighty;

While we were above the noble foreheads exalted.

وها أنتُمُ ترموننا بجنادلٍ

وها أنتُمُ ترموننا بجنادلٍ

لها سُحُبٌ ظلماؤها لا تَكشّفُ

لها سُحُبٌ ظلماؤها لا تَكشّفُ

Yet here you are pelting us with boulders,

Yet here you are accusing us with polished arrowheads

With clouds whose darkness never clears.

Whose darkness is not uncovered.

لنا منكُمُ في كلّ يومٍ وليلةٍ

لنا منكُمُ في كلّ يومٍ وليلةٍ

قتيلٌ صريعٌ أو شريدٌ مخوَّفُ

قتيلٌ صريعٌ أو شريدٌ مخوَّفُ

Every day and night, at your hands, we have

Every day and night you kill some of us,

One slain and fallen, or a fugitive terrorized.

Either slain and motionless or banished and scared.

فخرتمْ بما مُلِّكتُمُوه وإِنّكمْ

فخرتمْ بما مُلِّكتُمُوه وإِنّكمْ

سِمانٌ من الأموال إذْ نحن شُسَّفُ

سِمانٌ من الأموال إذْ نحن شُسَّفُ

You boasted of what you were given to possess, and you

You took pride in what you possess while you are

Are fat with wealth, while we are gaunt.

Thirsty for wealth while we remain parched.

وما الفخر يا مَنْ يجهل الفخر للفتى

وما الفخر يا مَنْ يجهل الفخر للفتى

قَميصٌ مُوشّىً أو رداءٌ مُفَوَّفُ

قَميصٌ مُوشّىً أو رداءٌ مُفَوَّفُ

And pride, you who do not know pride, is not for a man

Boastfulness is not pride, O ignorant one of pride,

An embroidered shirt or a striped cloak.

In a adorned shirt or cloak with trimming.

وَما فَخرنا إلّا الّذي هَبَطَتْ به ال

وَما فَخرنا إلّا الّذي هَبَطَتْ به ال

ملائك أو ما قد حوى منه مُصْحَفُ

ملائك أو ما قد حوى منه مُصْحَفُ

And our pride is only what was brought down by the

We only take pride in what the angels brought down

Angels, or what a scriptural codex has contained of it.

Or what is contained in the protected book.

يُقِرُّ به من لا يُطيق دفاعَه

يُقِرُّ به من لا يُطيق دفاعَه

ويعرفه في القوم من يتعرَّفُ

ويعرفه في القوم من يتعرَّفُ

Those who cannot refute it acknowledge it,

It establishes for one unable to defend it

And among the people, those who seek to know recognize it.

And the knowledgeable among the people recognize it.

ولمّا ركبنا ما ركبنا من الذُّرا

ولمّا ركبنا ما ركبنا من الذُّرا

وليس لكمْ في موضع الرِّدفِ مَرْدَفُ

وليس لكمْ في موضع الرِّدفِ مَرْدَفُ

And when we mounted the heights we mounted,

And when we rode what we rode of misfortune

With no seat for you even where a follower rides,

While you have no companion in the saddle.

تيقّنتُمُ أنّا بما قد حويتُمُ

تيقّنتُمُ أنّا بما قد حويتُمُ

أحقُّ وأولى في الأنامِ وأعرفُ

أحقُّ وأولى في الأنامِ وأعرفُ

You became certain that, to what you had acquired, we

You became certain that in what you contained

Had greater right and claim among humankind, and greater knowledge.

We are more deserving and take precedence among people.

ولكنّ أمراً حاد عنه محصِّلٌ

ولكنّ أمراً حاد عنه محصِّلٌ

وأهوى إليه خابطٌ متعسِّفُ

وأهوى إليه خابطٌ متعسِّفُ

Yet it was a matter from which a discerning man turned aside,

But something deviated the implementer

While a stumbling, reckless man plunged toward it.

And a transgressor was inclined to it.

وكم من عتيقٍ قد نبا بيمينِهِ

وكم من عتيقٍ قد نبا بيمينِهِ

حسامٌ وكم قطّ الضّريبةَ مُقرَفُ

حسامٌ وكم قطّ الضّريبةَ مُقرَفُ

How many a noble-born man has had, in his right hand,

How many bonds have been severed by the swords

A sword rebound, while many a man of mixed lineage has cleft the target!

And many a collector of taxes had his neck severed!

فلا تركبوا أعوادَنا فركوبُها

فلا تركبوا أعوادَنا فركوبُها

لمن يركبُ اليومَ العَبوسَ فيوجِفُ

لمن يركبُ اليومَ العَبوسَ فيوجِفُ

So do not mount our pulpits; mounting them

So do not mount our steeds, for riding them

Is for one who rides the grim day and gallops onward.

Is for one who rides the frowning day frowning.

ولا تَسكنوا أَوطانَنا فعِراصُنا

ولا تَسكنوا أَوطانَنا فعِراصُنا

تميل بكمْ شوقاً إلينا وترجِفُ

تميل بكمْ شوقاً إلينا وترجِفُ

Do not settle in our homelands, for our open spaces

And do not settle in our lands, for our homesteads

Sway beneath you, yearning for us, and tremble.

Incline to us in longing and quiver.

ولا تكشفوا ما بيننا من حقائدٍ

ولا تكشفوا ما بيننا من حقائدٍ

طواها الرّجالُ الحازمون ولفّفوا

طواها الرّجالُ الحازمون ولفّفوا

Do not uncover the grudges between us,

And do not uncover what hatreds are between us

Which resolute men have folded away and wrapped up.

Which resolute men have concealed and wrapped up.

وكونوا لنا إمّا عدوّاً مجاملاً

وكونوا لنا إمّا عدوّاً مجاملاً

وإمّا صديقاً دهرَه يتلطّفُ

وإمّا صديقاً دهرَه يتلطّفُ

Be toward us either a courteous enemy

Either be an enemy who is courteous

Or a friend who shows kindness all his days.

Or a lifelong friend of gentle disposition.

فللخيرِ إنْ آثَرْتُمُ الخيرَ موضعٌ

فللخيرِ إنْ آثَرْتُمُ الخيرَ موضعٌ

وللشَّرِّ إنْ أحببتُمُ الشّرَّ موقفُ

وللشَّرِّ إنْ أحببتُمُ الشّرَّ موقفُ

For good, if you choose good, there is a place,

If you have chosen goodness, there is a place for goodness,

And for evil, if you love evil, a station.

And for evil, if you love evil, a standing place.

عكفنا على ما تعلمون من التُّقى

عكفنا على ما تعلمون من التُّقى

وأنتمْ على ما يعلمُ اللّهُ عُكَّفُ

وأنتمْ على ما يعلمُ اللّهُ عُكَّفُ

We have devoted ourselves to the piety you know,

We busied ourselves with what you know of piety

While you are devoted to what God knows.

While you busied yourselves with what Allah knows.

لكمْ كلُّ موقوذٍ بِكظَّةِ بطنِهِ

لكمْ كلُّ موقوذٍ بِكظَّةِ بطنِهِ

وَليسَ لنا إلّا الهضيمُ المخفّفُ

وَليسَ لنا إلّا الهضيمُ المخفّفُ

Yours is every man stupefied by his belly's surfeit,

For you are every glutton with his bulging belly

While ours is only the hollow-bellied, lightly burdened man.

While we have nothing but light digestible food.

إلى كمْ أداري مَن أُداري من العِدا

إلى كمْ أداري مَن أُداري من العِدا

وأهدُن قوماً بالجميل وألطُفُ

وأهدُن قوماً بالجميل وألطُفُ

How long must I placate the foes I placate,

How long will I coddle those I coddle among the enemies

And make peace with people through kindness and gentleness?

And gently guide a people with kindness and gentleness!

تلاعَبُ بِي أيدي الرّجالِ وليس لِي

تلاعَبُ بِي أيدي الرّجالِ وليس لِي

مِنَ الجورِ مُنجٍ لا ولا الظّلمِ مُنصفُ

مِنَ الجورِ مُنجٍ لا ولا الظّلمِ مُنصفُ

Men's hands toy with me, and I have

The hands of men play games with me and I have

No rescuer from injustice, no—nor anyone to redress oppression.

No protector from injustice or justice from oppression.

وحشو ضلوعي كلُّ نَجلاءَ ثَرَّةٍ

وحشو ضلوعي كلُّ نَجلاءَ ثَرَّةٍ

متى ألَّفوها أقْسَمَتْ لا تألَّفُ

متى ألَّفوها أقْسَمَتْ لا تألَّفُ

Within my ribs is every gaping, freely bleeding wound;

And they stuff my chest with every polished arrowhead,

Whenever they knit it together, it swears never to join.

Which, whenever brought together, swears it will not reconcile.

فظاهرها بادي السّريرةِ فاغرٌ

فظاهرها بادي السّريرةِ فاغرٌ

وباطنها خاوي الدّخيلةِ أجوفُ

وباطنها خاوي الدّخيلةِ أجوفُ

Its surface exposes its hidden depths, gaping wide,

Its exterior is obvious, its interior empty,

And its inside is empty at the core, hollow.

Its outside gaping, its inside hollow and void.

إذا قلتُ يوماً قد تلاءم جُرحُها

إذا قلتُ يوماً قد تلاءم جُرحُها

تَحَكَّكُ بالأيدي عليَّ وتَقْرِفُ

تَحَكَّكُ بالأيدي عليَّ وتَقْرِفُ

If ever I say, 'Its wound has now healed,'

If one day I say its wounds have healed,

Hands chafe it against me, and it peels open.

It scratches at me with hands and tears viciously.

فكم ذا أُلاقِي منهُمُ كلَّ رابحٍ

فكم ذا أُلاقِي منهُمُ كلَّ رابحٍ

وَما أَنا إلّا أَعزلُ الكفِّ أكشفُ

وَما أَنا إلّا أَعزلُ الكفِّ أكشفُ

How often must I face every victor among them,

So how many from them I meet, every winner,

While I am only unarmed of hand and shieldless!

While I have nothing but the empty palm exposed!

وَكَم أَنا فيهم خاضعٌ ذو اِستكانةٍ

وَكَم أَنا فيهم خاضعٌ ذو اِستكانةٍ

كأنِّيَ ما بين الأصحّاءِ مُدْنَفُ

كأنِّيَ ما بين الأصحّاءِ مُدْنَفُ

How often am I among them submissive and abject,

And how I am among them submitting with resignation

As though among the healthy I were gravely ill!

As if I am not considered among the healthy!

أُقادُ كأنّي بالزّمامِ مُجَلَّبٌ

أُقادُ كأنّي بالزّمامِ مُجَلَّبٌ

بطيءُ الخُطا عاري الأضالعِ أعجفُ

بطيءُ الخُطا عاري الأضالعِ أعجفُ

I am led as though a beast driven to market by the halter,

I am led as if bound by the halter,

Slow of step, ribs laid bare, emaciated.

Slow of pace, ribs exposed, frail.

وأَرسفُ في قيدٍ من الحزمِ عنوةً

وأَرسفُ في قيدٍ من الحزمِ عنوةً

ومن ذيدَ عن بسط الخُطا فهو يَرسُفُ

ومن ذيدَ عن بسط الخُطا فهو يَرسُفُ

And I shuffle, forcibly, in a fetter of prudence;

And I am pulled by force in a bond of resolve

Whoever is denied a full stride must shuffle.

And whoever holds back from taking steps, it is he who takes far steps.

ويَلْصَقُ بي من ليس يدري كَلالةً

ويَلْصَقُ بي من ليس يدري كَلالةً

وأُحْسَبُ مضعوفاً وغيري المضعَّفُ

وأُحْسَبُ مضعوفاً وغيري المضعَّفُ

And one who knows no weariness clings to me,

And one who does not know weariness clings to me

And I am deemed weak, though another is the weakened one.

While I am considered weak and others are the weakened ones.

وعُدنا بما مِنّا عيونٌ كثيرةٌ

وعُدنا بما مِنّا عيونٌ كثيرةٌ

شُخوصٌ إلى إدراكه ليس تَطرِفُ

شُخوصٌ إلى إدراكه ليس تَطرِفُ

We were promised what many eyes among us

And we were promised what many eyes long for—

Stare toward attaining, never blinking.

Elderly ones whose eyes will not see it carried out.

وقيل لنا حان المَدا فتوكّفوا

وقيل لنا حان المَدا فتوكّفوا

فَيا حُججاً للّهِ طال التَّوَكُّفُ

فَيا حُججاً للّهِ طال التَّوَكُّفُ

We were told, 'The appointed time has come; wait expectantly.'

And we were told the time is up, so hold back,

O proofs of God, the waiting has been long!

For O signs of Allah, the holding back has been prolonged!

فَحَاشَا لنا من رِيبةٍ بمقالكمْ

فَحَاشَا لنا من رِيبةٍ بمقالكمْ

وحاشا لكمْ من أن تقولوا فتُخلِفوا

وحاشا لكمْ من أن تقولوا فتُخلِفوا

Far be it from us to doubt your words,

Far be it from us to doubt your words

And far be it from you to speak and fail your promise.

And far be it from you to say and then fail to fulfill!

وَلَم أَخشَ إلّا من معاجلةِ الرّدى

وَلَم أَخشَ إلّا من معاجلةِ الرّدى

فأُصرفُ عن ذاك الزّمان وأُصدَفُ

فأُصرفُ عن ذاك الزّمان وأُصدَفُ

And I have feared only death's coming too soon,

I feared nothing but encountering harm

Lest I be turned from that time and kept away.

So I turn away from that time and block my ears.