عَفَا مِنْ سُلَيْمَى ذُو كُلافٍ فَمُنْكِفُ

عَفَا مِنْ سُلَيْمَى ذُو كُلافٍ فَمُنْكِفُ

مَبَادِي الجَمِيعِ القَيْظُ والمُتَصَيَّفُ

مَبَادِي الجَمِيعِ القَيْظُ والمُتَصَيَّفُ

Dhū Kulāf, then Munkif, lie desolate, emptied of Sulaymā—

The summer heat and winter's cold alike

the tribe’s desert stations, its hot-season and summer camps.

Have driven all people from Suleima's ruins.

وأَقْفَرَ مِنْها بَعْدَ مَا قَدْ تَحُلُّهُ

وأَقْفَرَ مِنْها بَعْدَ مَا قَدْ تَحُلُّهُ

مَدَافِعُ أَحْرَاضٍ ومَا كَانَ يُخْلِفُ

مَدَافِعُ أَحْرَاضٍ ومَا كَانَ يُخْلِفُ

And, deserted of her after she once inhabited them, stand

After the tents were struck, only the wild beasts

the watercourses of Aḥrāḍ and all that once put forth fresh growth.

Remained behind, there where the flocks were folded.

رَآهاً فُؤَادِي أُمَّ خِشْفٍ خَلاَلَهَا

رَآهاً فُؤَادِي أُمَّ خِشْفٍ خَلاَلَهَا

بِقُورِ الوِرَاقَيْنِ السَّرَاءُ المُصَنِّفُ

بِقُورِ الوِرَاقَيْنِ السَّرَاءُ المُصَنِّفُ

My heart saw her as a doe with a fawn; around her,

My heart, O Umm Khishf, when I see

on al-Wirāqayn’s hills, stood partly leafed sarāʾ trees.

Among the scrolls of scholars bright,

رَعَتْ بِرَحَايَا في الخَرِيفِ وعَادَةٌ

رَعَتْ بِرَحَايَا في الخَرِيفِ وعَادَةٌ

لَهَا بِرَحَايَا كُلَّ شَعْبَانَ تُخْرَفُ

لَهَا بِرَحَايَا كُلَّ شَعْبَانَ تُخْرَفُ

She grazed at Raḥāyā in autumn; it was her custom

Your grazing beasts each autumn take delight

to be given autumn pasture at Raḥāyā every Shaʿbān.

In meadows - and they graze each Sha'ban too.

زَجَرْنَا بَنِي كَعْبٍ فَأَمَّا خِيَارُهُمْ

زَجَرْنَا بَنِي كَعْبٍ فَأَمَّا خِيَارُهُمْ

فَصَدُّوا ولَلْمَعْرُوفُ في النَّاسِ أَعْرَفُ

فَصَدُّوا ولَلْمَعْرُوفُ في النَّاسِ أَعْرَفُ

We checked the sons of Kaʿb; as for their best men,

We warned the tribe of Ka'b; and the best of them

they desisted—and good conduct is better known among people.

Swerved from their course, for good deeds they were known.

وأَمَّا أُنَاسٌ فَاسْتَعَارُوا بَعِيرَنَا

وأَمَّا أُنَاسٌ فَاسْتَعَارُوا بَعِيرَنَا

فَقِيدَ لَهُمْ بَادٍ بِهِ العُرُّ أَخْشَفُ

فَقِيدَ لَهُمْ بَادٍ بِهِ العُرُّ أَخْشَفُ

But some men borrowed our camel,

Yet some men borrowed camels without our consent -

so a rough-skinned one was led to them, its mange plainly visible.

So suffer them: baldness disfigures their heads.

لهُ خَدُّ مَيْمُونٍ وأَشْأَمُ سَاحِقٌ

لهُ خَدُّ مَيْمُونٍ وأَشْأَمُ سَاحِقٌ

فَأَيَّهُمَا مَا شِئْتُمُ فَتَعَيَّفُوا

فَأَيَّهُمَا مَا شِئْتُمُ فَتَعَيَّفُوا

It has an auspicious cheek and an ill-omened, ruinous one;

With cheeks like Maymoun's, and a brand like Saheeq's

take your omens from whichever of the two you wish.

Choose whichever sign you wish by which to know them.

فَإِنَّا أُنَاسٌ عُودُنَا عُودُ نَبْعَةٍ

فَإِنَّا أُنَاسٌ عُودُنَا عُودُ نَبْعَةٍ

بِهِ أَوَدٌ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْهُ المُثَقِّفُ

بِهِ أَوَدٌ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْهُ المُثَقِّفُ

For we are a people whose timber is the timber of a nabʿ tree,

We are a people whose nature is like a Nab'ah tree's;

with a bend no shaft-straightener could overcome.

None can bend us, though skilled at timber work.

لَنَا عَكَرٌ حَوْمٌ وعِزُّ عَرَنْدَسٌ

لَنَا عَكَرٌ حَوْمٌ وعِزُّ عَرَنْدَسٌ

فَنَمْضي إِذَا شِئْنَا ونَأْبَى فَنَزْحَفُ

فَنَمْضي إِذَا شِئْنَا ونَأْبَى فَنَزْحَفُ

We have great, thronging herds and formidable might;

Our glory is Ukarh, Hawm, and noble 'Arnadas;

we go forth when we wish, refuse to yield, then advance.

We march or halt at will, with none to hinder.

وبِيضٌ مِنَ المَاذِيِّ حَامٍٍ قَتِيرُهَا

وبِيضٌ مِنَ المَاذِيِّ حَامٍٍ قَتِيرُهَا

حَرَابِيُّهَا كَالقَطْرِ أَوْ هِيَ أَلْطَفُ

حَرَابِيُّهَا كَالقَطْرِ أَوْ هِيَ أَلْطَفُ

And gleaming coats of supple mail, their rivets hot,

We have white she-camels, daughters of a Mahri sire;

their studs like raindrops, or finer still.

Their females are gentler than drops of rain.

وشَهْبَاءُ تَنْبُو النَّبْلُ عَنْهَا كَأَنَّهَا

وشَهْبَاءُ تَنْبُو النَّبْلُ عَنْهَا كَأَنَّهَا

صَفاً زَلَّ عَنْ أَرْكَانِهِ المُتَزَحْلِفُ

صَفاً زَلَّ عَنْ أَرْكَانِهِ المُتَزَحْلِفُ

And an iron-gray host from which arrows glance, as though it were

Shahba, who makes the arrows miss as though

a smooth rock, off whose sides the scrambling man slips.

They slipped from a quiver with its straps unfastened;

لَنَا كَلْكَلٌ أَعْيَا عَلَى كلِّ غَامِزٍ

لَنَا كَلْكَلٌ أَعْيَا عَلَى كلِّ غَامِزٍ

بِهِ زَوَرٌ بَادٍ مِنَ العِزِّ أَجْنَفُ

بِهِ زَوَرٌ بَادٍ مِنَ العِزِّ أَجْنَفُ

We have a breast that proved too much for every assailant,

We have a Kulkal, who tires every foe

with a visible slant born of might, leaning to one side.

And renders vain their blows with might and pride;

وجُرْدٌ جَعَلْنَاهَا ذَحِيلَ كَرَامَةٍ

وجُرْدٌ جَعَلْنَاهَا ذَحِيلَ كَرَامَةٍ

تُبَاشِرُ أَلْبَانَ اللِّقَاحِ وتُلْحَفُ

تُبَاشِرُ أَلْبَانَ اللِّقَاحِ وتُلْحَفُ

And sleek horses we have made a cherished reserve of honor,

And a Jurth kept for its valor's sake, that goes

drinking the milch camels’ milk and covered with blankets.

To meet the stallions, yearning for their scent;

نَزَعْنَا لَهَا الحَوْذَانَ حَوْلَ سُوَيْقَةٍ

نَزَعْنَا لَهَا الحَوْذَانَ حَوْلَ سُوَيْقَةٍ

فَقَدْ جَعَلَتْ أَفْوَاهُهُنَّ تَوَسَّفُ

فَقَدْ جَعَلَتْ أَفْوَاهُهُنَّ تَوَسَّفُ

We pulled up buttercups for them around Suwayqa;

We removed their nose-rings after Sawayqah

their mouths have begun to peel.

Until their mouths could scarcely grasp the grass;

دَعَاهُنَّ دَاعِ بِالْبُكَاءِ فَسُرِّحَتْ

دَعَاهُنَّ دَاعِ بِالْبُكَاءِ فَسُرِّحَتْ

أَدِيمَ الضُّحَى تُنْضَى إِلَيْهِ وتُسْنَفُ

أَدِيمَ الضُّحَى تُنْضَى إِلَيْهِ وتُسْنَفُ

A caller summoned them with weeping, and they were sent forth

They were called at dawn with weeping, and set loose,

in the bright forenoon, ridden hard toward him and girth-strapped.

While the tents were folded, hastening to their call;

عَلَى كُلِّ مِلْوَاحٍ يَجُولُ بَرِيمُهَا

عَلَى كُلِّ مِلْوَاحٍ يَجُولُ بَرِيمُهَا

تُبَارِي اللِّجَامَ الفَارِسيَّ وتَصْدِفُ

تُبَارِي اللِّجَامَ الفَارِسيَّ وتَصْدِفُ

On each lean mare, her two-colored cord swings,

Around each pasturing camel they roam,

as she contests the Persian bridle and swerves aside.

Challenging the Persian' bridle with their pace;

وَأَهْوَجَ مُسْتَرْخِي الحِزَامِ تَمَرَّسَتْ

وَأَهْوَجَ مُسْتَرْخِي الحِزَامِ تَمَرَّسَتْ

بِهِ الحَرْبُ حَتَّى جسمُهُ مُتَحَرِّفُ

بِهِ الحَرْبُ حَتَّى جسمُهُ مُتَحَرِّفُ

And on a headstrong mount with a loosened girth, whom

With the twisted girth-strap of a worn-out saddle

war has wrestled with until his body is wasted.

Clinging to their sides where the skin hangs slack.

لَهُنَّ بِشُبَّاكِ الحَدِيدِ زَوَافِرٌ

لَهُنَّ بِشُبَّاكِ الحَدِيدِ زَوَافِرٌ

دَوَابِرُهَا بِالجَنْدَلِ الصُّمِّ تُقْذَفُ

دَوَابِرُهَا بِالجَنْدَلِ الصُّمِّ تُقْذَفُ

Their sturdy frames are within iron latticework;

Their clanking fetters as the iron rings are loosed

their rear hooves are hurled against hard stones.

Are scattered by the silent, gathering gloom.

لَدُنْ غُدْوَةً حَتَّى نَزَعْنَ عَشِيَّةً

لَدُنْ غُدْوَةً حَتَّى نَزَعْنَ عَشِيَّةً

وقَدْ مَاتَ شَطْرُ الشَّمْسِ والشَّطْرُ مُدْنَفُ

وقَدْ مَاتَ شَطْرُ الشَّمْسِ والشَّطْرُ مُدْنَفُ

From morning until they drew away at evening,

From dawn until nightfall they are let loose,

when half the sun had died and the other half was failing.

While half the day is gone and half remains.

رَأَوْنَا بِبَقْعَاءِ المَسَالِحِ دُونَنَا

رَأَوْنَا بِبَقْعَاءِ المَسَالِحِ دُونَنَا

مِنَ المَوْتِ جُوْنٌ ذُو غَوَارِبَ أَكْلَفُ

مِنَ المَوْتِ جُوْنٌ ذُو غَوَارِبَ أَكْلَفُ

They saw us at Baqʿāʾ al-Masāliḥ; before us stood

We have seen by the patches on the coats of mail

a dark, mottled surge of death, with towering crests,

Death always near, though clad in various garb.

وقَوْمٌ بِأَيْدِيهِمْ رِمَاحُ رُدَيْنَةٍ

وقَوْمٌ بِأَيْدِيهِمْ رِمَاحُ رُدَيْنَةٍ

شَوَارِعُ تَسْتَأْنِي دَماً أُوْ تَسْلَّفُ

شَوَارِعُ تَسْتَأْنِي دَماً أُوْ تَسْلَّفُ

and men with Rudayna’s spears in their hands,

And a people with the spears of Rudainah

outstretched, awaiting blood or taking it in advance.

Whose streets grow calm after shedding blood,

بِجَمعٍ رَأَتْهُ الجِنُّ فَاخْتَشَعَتْ لَهُ

بِجَمعٍ رَأَتْهُ الجِنُّ فَاخْتَشَعَتْ لَهُ

ولَلشَّمْسُ أَدْنضى لِلْخُسُوفِ وأَكْسَفُ

ولَلشَّمْسُ أَدْنضى لِلْخُسُوفِ وأَكْسَفُ

With a host the jinn saw and cowered before,

With a host the jinn saw and shuddered,

even the sun was nearer eclipse and more darkened.

While the paling sun at the eclipse grew dark.

وجُرْثُومَةٍ لاَ يَنْزِعُ الذُّلُّ أَصْلَهَا

وجُرْثُومَةٍ لاَ يَنْزِعُ الذُّلُّ أَصْلَهَا

يُطِيفُ بِهَا المَحْرُوبُ والمُتَضَيِّفُ

يُطِيفُ بِهَا المَحْرُوبُ والمُتَضَيِّفُ

And a rooted stock whose base humiliation cannot wrench out,

A tribe whose glory time cannot destroy,

around which gather the plundered and those seeking hospitality.

Bringing low the vanquished and humbling the proud;

تُعَيِّرُنَا كَعْبٌ كِلاَباً وقَتْلَهَا

تُعَيِّرُنَا كَعْبٌ كِلاَباً وقَتْلَهَا

ويُقْتَلُ أَدْنَى مِنْ كِلاَبٍ وأَضْعَفُ

ويُقْتَلُ أَدْنَى مِنْ كِلاَبٍ وأَضْعَفُ

Kaʿb taunts us with Kilāb and their slaughter,

Ka'b's hounds insult us and kill their own kind,

yet men lower and weaker than Kilāb are killed.

Yet the meanest dog is better than their best.

وتَتْرُكُ قَتْلَى قد عَلِمْنَا مَكَانَهَا

وتَتْرُكُ قَتْلَى قد عَلِمْنَا مَكَانَهَا

وتَعْفُو جِرَاحٌ عَنْ دَمٍ فَتَقَرَّفُ

وتَعْفُو جِرَاحٌ عَنْ دَمٍ فَتَقَرَّفُ

And it leaves dead men whose whereabouts we know;

They leave their dead for us to recognize

wounds close over blood, then shed their crust.

While their wounds allow the blood to flow afresh.

وقَدْ نَازَعتْنَا مِنْ كِلاَبٍ قَبَائلٌ

وقَدْ نَازَعتْنَا مِنْ كِلاَبٍ قَبَائلٌ

مَحَاجِمُ مِنْهَا مَا يَفِيضُ ويَنْطِفُ

مَحَاجِمُ مِنْهَا مَا يَفِيضُ ويَنْطِفُ

Tribes of Kilāb have contended with us,

Worthless tribes have contested with us the right

their bloodletting wounds—some gushing, others dripping.

To guardianship, overflowing with folly.

قَتَلْنَا وأَبْكَيْنَا حَمِيمَ بْنَ جَعْفَرٍ

قَتَلْنَا وأَبْكَيْنَا حَمِيمَ بْنَ جَعْفَرٍ

عَلَى مَشْهَدٍ مِنْ قَوْمِهِ وهْوَ مُرْدَفُ

عَلَى مَشْهَدٍ مِنْ قَوْمِهِ وهْوَ مُرْدَفُ

We killed, and made Ḥamīm ibn Jaʿfar weep,

We slew Humaym son of Ja'far

before a gathering of his people, while he rode pillion.

As he rode surrounded by a group of his clan.

جَمَعْنَا أبَا أَدَّى وأَدَّى بِطَعْنَةٍ

جَمَعْنَا أبَا أَدَّى وأَدَّى بِطَعْنَةٍ

فَظَلَّ بَقِيُّ فِيهِمَا مُتَقَصِّفُ

فَظَلَّ بَقِيُّ فِيهِمَا مُتَقَصِّفُ

We joined Abū Addā and Addā with a single thrust,

We gathered Abu Adad who gathered his kin

and a splintered remnant remained in them both.

With a single thrust, leaving the rest distraught.

طَعَنَّاً حُبَيْشاً طَعْنَةً ظَلَّ بَعْدَهَا

طَعَنَّاً حُبَيْشاً طَعْنَةً ظَلَّ بَعْدَهَا

يَنُوءُ حُبَيْشُ لِلْيَدَيْنِ ويُنْزَفُ

يَنُوءُ حُبَيْشُ لِلْيَدَيْنِ ويُنْزَفُ

We stabbed Ḥubaysh with a thrust after which

We stabbed Hubaysh with one stroke after which

Ḥubaysh struggled to rise on his hands, drained of blood.

Hubaysh still swayed helplessly from side to side.

فَمَهْمَا تَعَضَّ الحَرْبُ مِنَّا فَإِنَّهَا

فَمَهْمَا تَعَضَّ الحَرْبُ مِنَّا فَإِنَّهَا

تَعَضُّ بِأَثْبَاجِ سِوَانَا فَتَكْتِفُ

تَعَضُّ بِأَثْبَاجِ سِوَانَا فَتَكْتِفُ

Whatever war bites away from us,

So whenever war bites deep from us

it bites into others’ backs and mauls their shoulders.

It will bite on bones that quickly mend.

لَنَا ضَالَةٌ يَنْجُو المُكَاسِرخ دُونَهَا

لَنَا ضَالَةٌ يَنْجُو المُكَاسِرخ دُونَهَا

إِذَا رَحِمَتْهُ أَوْ يُلِحُّ فَيَتْلَفُ

إِذَا رَحِمَتْهُ أَوْ يُلِحُّ فَيَتْلَفُ

We have a wild lote tree: its challenger escapes before it

We have a straggling herd that saves the fugitive

if it spares him—or he persists and perishes.

If they take pity on him or he persists.

وَكَانَ لَنَا عِنْدَ المُلوكِ مَشَاهِدٌ

وَكَانَ لَنَا عِنْدَ المُلوكِ مَشَاهِدٌ

مَقَامٌ وبُرْهَانٌ قَدِيمٌ ومَوْقِفُ

مَقَامٌ وبُرْهَانٌ قَدِيمٌ ومَوْقِفُ

We have had assemblies before kings:

And we had a position of honor with kings -

a standing, an ancient proof of worth, and a place.

Established of old, and still unchanged.

ومَا قَدَعَتْنَا مِنْ مَعَدًّ قَبِيلَةٌ

ومَا قَدَعَتْنَا مِنْ مَعَدًّ قَبِيلَةٌ

ونَقْدَعُ مَنْ شِئْنَا ولاَ نَتَكَلَّفُ

ونَقْدَعُ مَنْ شِئْنَا ولاَ نَتَكَلَّفُ

No tribe of Maʿadd has ever checked us;

No tribe has ever split us, though we split

we check whomever we wish, without straining.

Whom we desire, without the least fatigue.

دَعَانِي كُلَيْبٌ بِالمَدِينَةِ دَعْوةً

دَعَانِي كُلَيْبٌ بِالمَدِينَةِ دَعْوةً

وأَفْنَاءُ قَيْسٍ شَاهِدُونَ وخِنْدِفُ

وأَفْنَاءُ قَيْسٍ شَاهِدُونَ وخِنْدِفُ

Kulayb challenged me in Medina,

Kulayb summoned me to his abode in Medina

with the branches of Qays and Khindif looking on.

While the open spaces of Qays stand witness.

فَكَانَ جَوَابِي أَنْ حَزَزْتَ أَخَاهُمُ

فَكَانَ جَوَابِي أَنْ حَزَزْتَ أَخَاهُمُ

جِهَاراً وأَنْيَابِي مِنَ الحِرْبِ تَصْرِفُ

جِهَاراً وأَنْيَابِي مِنَ الحِرْبِ تَصْرِفُ

My answer was to slit their brother’s throat

So my reply was that his brother you wronged

openly, my fangs grinding with rage.

Openly, and my fangs in war are bared.

وقَالَ كُلَيْبٌ اخْضِبُوا لِيَ لحْيَتِي

وقَالَ كُلَيْبٌ اخْضِبُوا لِيَ لحْيَتِي

لَوَ أَنِّي غُدُوٍّاً عِنْدَ مَرْوَانَ أَعْرِفُ

لَوَ أَنِّي غُدُوٍّاً عِنْدَ مَرْوَانَ أَعْرِفُ

Kulayb said, “Dye my beard for me—

And Kulayb said: “Go dye my beard for me;

if only I might be recognized at Marwān’s in the morning!”

Would I were at Marwan's court this morning!"

فَلَمَّا دَنَا لِلْبَابِ أَشْبَهَ أُمَّهُ

فَلَمَّا دَنَا لِلْبَابِ أَشْبَهَ أُمَّهُ

وقَالَتْ لَهُمْ نَفْسُ المَذَلَّةِ أَزْحِفُوا

وقَالَتْ لَهُمْ نَفْسُ المَذَلَّةِ أَزْحِفُوا

But when he neared the gate, he resembled his mother,

But when he came to the gate his mother resembled him

and the spirit of abasement told them, “Crawl forward!”

And said: “Back, you disgraced one full of shame!"

فَإِنْ يَكُ في بُعْرَانَ قَيْسٍ مَعُوَنةٌ

فَإِنْ يَكُ في بُعْرَانَ قَيْسٍ مَعُوَنةٌ

يَكُنْ لِبَني العَجْلاَنِ في الضَّرْبِ مِخْشَفُ

يَكُنْ لِبَني العَجْلاَنِ في الضَّرْبِ مِخْشَفُ

If there is help in the camels of Qays,

For if the dwellings of Qays in Bu'ran can grant

the sons of al-ʿAjlān have a keen blade for striking.

Succour, the 'Udran have boldness in striking.

جَزَيْتُ ابْنَ أَرْوَى بِالمَدِينَةِ قَرْضَهُ

جَزَيْتُ ابْنَ أَرْوَى بِالمَدِينَةِ قَرْضَهُ

وقُلْتُ لِشُفَّاعِ المَدِينَةِ أَوْجِفُوا

وقُلْتُ لِشُفَّاعِ المَدِينَةِ أَوْجِفُوا

I repaid Ibn Arwā his loan in Medina,

I paid Ibn Arwa in Medina his due;

and told Medina’s intercessors, “Hurry on!”

And said to those who sought gifts in Medina: “Begone!"

وإِنَّا لَنَزَّالُونْ تَغْشَى نِعَالَنَا

وإِنَّا لَنَزَّالُونْ تَغْشَى نِعَالَنَا

سَوَابِغُ مِنْ أَصْنَافِ رَيْطٍ ورَفْرَفُ

سَوَابِغُ مِنْ أَصْنَافِ رَيْطٍ ورَفْرَفُ

We are indeed fighters who dismount, our sandals covered

Soon our sandals shall tread your courts

by ample robes of varied cloth and trailing hems.

In diverse layers of fancy stitching.

مَكَارِيمُ لِلْجِيرَانِ بَادٍ هَوَانُنَا

مَكَارِيمُ لِلْجِيرَانِ بَادٍ هَوَانُنَا

ذَوَاتَ الذُّرَى مِنْهَا سَمِينٌ وأَعْجَفُ

ذَوَاتَ الذُّرَى مِنْهَا سَمِينٌ وأَعْجَفُ

Choice gifts for our neighbors—plain is how lightly we value

Fine steeds we lend to neighbors for free,

the humped beasts, among them the fat and the lean.

Though some are lean and some too short of leg.

خِلاَلَ بُيُوتِ الحَيِّ مِنْهَا مُذَرَّعٌ

خِلاَلَ بُيُوتِ الحَيِّ مِنْهَا مُذَرَّعٌ

بِطَعْنٍ ومِنْهَا عَاتِبٌ مُتَسَيَّفُ

بِطَعْنٍ ومِنْهَا عَاتِبٌ مُتَسَيَّفُ

Among the tribe’s tents, some are wounded in the foreleg

Through the tribe's homes are smooth-cheeked youths

by thrusts, and others limp, struck by swords,

With lance or flashing blade held close at hand.

إِذَا الطَّيْرُ أَمْسَتْ وهْيَ عُبْسٌ جوَانِحٌ

إِذَا الطَّيْرُ أَمْسَتْ وهْيَ عُبْسٌ جوَانِحٌ

فُوَيْقَ بُيُوتِ الحَيِّ تَهْفُو وتَخْطَفُ

فُوَيْقَ بُيُوتِ الحَيِّ تَهْفُو وتَخْطَفُ

when the birds at dusk are dark, their wings tilted,

When the birds flock home in the evening gloom

just above the tribe’s tents, fluttering and snatching.

Our homes resound with their cries and flap of wings.

ونَحْنُ بَنُو أُمٍّ نَشَأْنَا ثَلاَثةً

ونَحْنُ بَنُو أُمٍّ نَشَأْنَا ثَلاَثةً

نَقُومُ بِأَبْوَابِ المُلُوكِ فَنُعْرَفُ

نَقُومُ بِأَبْوَابِ المُلُوكِ فَنُعْرَفُ

We are three sons of one mother, brought up together;

We are three brothers born of a single mother,

we stand at kings’ gates and are recognized.

Who attend the kings' courts and there are known -

بَنُو أُمِّكُمْ إِنْ تَعْرِفُوا الحَقَّ يَعْرِفُوا

بَنُو أُمِّكُمْ إِنْ تَعْرِفُوا الحَقَّ يَعْرِفُوا

وإِنْ تَنْسِفُوا يَوْماً عَنِ الحَقِّ يَنْسِفُوا

وإِنْ تَنْسِفُوا يَوْماً عَنِ الحَقِّ يَنْسِفُوا

Your mother’s sons, if you acknowledge right, acknowledge it;

Sons of your mother; if you know the truth, know them!

and if one day you turn from right, they turn away too.

Support them always and do not abandon them!

فَلاَ أَعْرِفَنْ شَيْخاً لَهُ أُمُّ سَبْعَةٍ

فَلاَ أَعْرِفَنْ شَيْخاً لَهُ أُمُّ سَبْعَةٍ

يُمَارِسُنَا يَوْماً إِذَا النَّاسُ أَجْحَفُوا

يُمَارِسُنَا يَوْماً إِذَا النَّاسُ أَجْحَفُوا

Let me never find an elder whose mother bore seven

I know of no elder of a mother sevenfold

contending with us one day when people are reduced to want.

Who rivals us, if men have gone too far.