بَغْدادُ قَدْ صارَ خَيْرُها شَرّا

بَغْدادُ قَدْ صارَ خَيْرُها شَرّا

صَيَّرَها اللهُ مِثْلَ سَامَرّا

صَيَّرَها اللهُ مِثْلَ سَامَرّا

Baghdad—its good has turned to evil;

Baghdad—its good has turned to evil.

May God make it like Samarra.

May God make it like Samarra.

أُطْلُبْ وفَتِّشْ واحْرِصْ فَلَسْتَ تَرى

أُطْلُبْ وفَتِّشْ واحْرِصْ فَلَسْتَ تَرى

في أَهْلِها حُرَّةٌ ولا حُرّا

في أَهْلِها حُرَّةٌ ولا حُرّا

Seek, search, and strive—for you will not find

Seek, search, and strive, for you will not see

among its people a free woman or a free man.

Among its people a noble woman or a noble man.