لبست التاج تاج الفخر كيما

لبست التاج تاج الفخر كيما

أري ان العمامة من شؤني

أري ان العمامة من شؤني

I donned the crown—the crown of pride—to show

I donned the crown, the crown of glory, so that

that the turban befits my station.

I might show that the turban is one of my concerns.

وأنشد قول من هزم السرايا

وأنشد قول من هزم السرايا

وخاض برمحه لج المنون

وخاض برمحه لج المنون

And I recite the words of him who routed the squadrons

And I recite the words of him who routed the war bands

and plunged with his spear into death’s abyss:

And plunged with his spear into the depths of death:

أنا ابن جلا وطلاع الثنايا

أنا ابن جلا وطلاع الثنايا

متى أضع العمامة تعرفوني

متى أضع العمامة تعرفوني

“I am Ibn Jalā, climber of the mountain passes;

"I am Ibn Jalā, and a scaler of mountain passes;

when I lay aside my turban, you will know me.”

When I lay aside the turban, you will recognize me."

فان العز معقود لواءاً

فان العز معقود لواءاً

على هام العمائم والحصون

على هام العمائم والحصون

For glory is a banner fastened

For honor is fastened as a banner

above the crowns of turbans and fortresses.

Upon the crowns of turbans and fortresses.

فهذي بقذفها دكت جبال

فهذي بقذفها دكت جبال

وتلك بطيها رفع السكون

وتلك بطيها رفع السكون

These fortresses, with their volleys, leveled mountains;

For these, with their bombardment, leveled mountains;

those turbans, by their wrapping, dispelled stagnation.

And by winding those, stillness was dispelled.

تعمم سيد الخلق المفدى

تعمم سيد الخلق المفدى

كذا الخلفاء في خير القرون

كذا الخلفاء في خير القرون

The cherished Lord of all creation wore a turban,

The lord of creation, for whom lives are pledged, wore a turban;

as did the caliphs in the best of ages.

Likewise the caliphs in the best of generations.

تعمم فاتح البوسفور قهراً

تعمم فاتح البوسفور قهراً

وحاكم مصر ذو العز المصون

وحاكم مصر ذو العز المصون

The conqueror of the Bosphorus donned one by force of arms,

He who conquered the Bosphorus by force wore a turban,

as did Egypt’s ruler, lord of inviolate glory.

And Egypt’s ruler, whose honor was safeguarded.

وحاكم تونس الخضراء لما

وحاكم تونس الخضراء لما

تعمم حاز سبقا في الفتون

تعمم حاز سبقا في الفتون

And when the ruler of verdant Tunisia

And the ruler of verdant Tunis, when

donned one, he took first place in captivating charm.

He donned the turban, won precedence in trials.

تعممنا فسُدنا كل قطر

تعممنا فسُدنا كل قطر

وبعد البر خضنا كل جون

وبعد البر خضنا كل جون

We donned turbans and ruled every land;

We donned turbans, so we ruled every land;

beyond the mainland, we crossed every dark sea.

And after the land, we plunged into every gulf.

تعممنا فأخضعنا عتاة

تعممنا فأخضعنا عتاة

طغاة طالما قالت ذروني

طغاة طالما قالت ذروني

We donned turbans and subdued insolent

We donned turbans, so we subdued the defiant—

tyrants who long had cried, “Leave me!”

Tyrants who so often said, "Leave me alone."

تعممنا فأمنا نفوساً

تعممنا فأمنا نفوساً

وراقبنا المعاند بالعيون

وراقبنا المعاند بالعيون

We donned turbans and brought souls safety,

We donned turbans, so we safeguarded souls,

and kept the defiant foe beneath our watchful eyes.

And kept watch on the adversary through spies.

تعممنا فأرهبنا أسوداً

تعممنا فأرهبنا أسوداً

بتشييد المعاقل والحصون

بتشييد المعاقل والحصون

We donned turbans and struck terror into lions

We donned turbans, so we terrified lions

by raising strongholds and fortresses.

By building strongholds and fortresses.

تعممنا فعلمنا أناساً

تعممنا فعلمنا أناساً

رأونا اليوم أعداء الفنون

رأونا اليوم أعداء الفنون

We donned turbans and taught a people

We donned turbans, so we taught people

who now regard us as enemies of the arts.

Who today see us as enemies of the arts.

تعممنا فنازلنا أوروبا

تعممنا فنازلنا أوروبا

بمركزها بجيش كالجنون

بمركزها بجيش كالجنون

We donned turbans and met Europe in battle

We donned turbans, so we engaged Europe in battle

at its very heart, with an army like madness.

At its center, with an army like madness.

تعممنا فتم الملك فينا

تعممنا فتم الملك فينا

وساد الدين في كل البطون

وساد الدين في كل البطون

We donned turbans, and kingship reached perfection among us;

We donned turbans, so sovereignty reached its fullness among us,

faith prevailed throughout every clan.

And religion prevailed among all the clans.

تعممنا فنلنا كل فخر

تعممنا فنلنا كل فخر

تطربشنا فهل نلنا أروني

تطربشنا فهل نلنا أروني

We donned turbans, and every glory was ours.

We donned turbans, so we won every honor;

We donned fezzes—what have we gained? Show me!

We donned fezzes—so have we gained anything? Show me!