ما هاجَ مِن مَنزِلٍ بِذي عَلَمِ

ما هاجَ مِن مَنزِلٍ بِذي عَلَمِ

بَينَ لِوى المَنجَنونِ فَالثَلَمِ

بَينَ لِوى المَنجَنونِ فَالثَلَمِ

What longing a dwelling at Dhu 'Alam has stirred,

None has departed from an abode with a banner,

between the sand-bend of al-Manjanun and al-Thalam,

Between the twists of Al-Manjanoun, so straight and upright,

فَبِئرُ قَوٍّ عَفَت مَعارِفَ مَب

فَبِئرُ قَوٍّ عَفَت مَعارِفَ مَب

داكِ بِها الغادِياتُ بِالرِهَمِ

داكِ بِها الغادِياتُ بِالرِهَمِ

and the well of Qaww—effaced are the traces of your camp-

The well of Qaww has been deprived of the water of knowledge.

site there by morning clouds bearing gentle rain.

Those passing by used to be guided by it through the wilderness.

لَم تُبقِ مِنها الرِياحُ مَعلَمَةً

لَم تُبقِ مِنها الرِياحُ مَعلَمَةً

إِلّا بَقايا الثُمامِ وَالحُمَمِ

إِلّا بَقايا الثُمامِ وَالحُمَمِ

The winds have left no landmark of it,

The winds have left no landmarks standing

save remnants of thumam grass and charcoal.

Except remnants of pillars and tent pegs.

وَقَفتُ بِالدارِ ما أُبَيِّنُها

وَقَفتُ بِالدارِ ما أُبَيِّنُها

إِلّا اِدِّكاراً تَوَهُّمَ الحُلُمِ

إِلّا اِدِّكاراً تَوَهُّمَ الحُلُمِ

I stood at the dwelling, unable to make it out,

I stood at the abode, unable to discern it,

save through remembrance, like the imagining of a dream.

Except through memories that conjure up dreams.

بادَت وَأَقوَت مِنَ الأَنيسِ كَما

بادَت وَأَقوَت مِنَ الأَنيسِ كَما

أَقوَت مَحاريبُ دارِسِ الأُمَمِ

أَقوَت مَحاريبُ دارِسِ الأُمَمِ

It vanished, emptied of human company, just as

It has perished and lost all its dear inhabitants,

the sanctuaries of bygone peoples lay deserted.

Just as the sanctuaries of persecuted nations perished.

وَاِستَبدَلَ الحَيُّ بَعدَها إِضَماً

وَاِستَبدَلَ الحَيُّ بَعدَها إِضَماً

هَيهاتَ غَمرُ الفُراتِ مِن إِضَمِ

هَيهاتَ غَمرُ الفُراتِ مِن إِضَمِ

And afterward the tribe took Idam in its stead;

After it, the living replaced delight with gloom -

how far are the Euphrates' deep waters from Idam!

Alas! The flooding of the Euphrates cannot make up for gloom.

دارٌ بِدارٍ وَجيرَةٌ حَدُثوا

دارٌ بِدارٍ وَجيرَةٌ حَدُثوا

وَاللَهُ يَقضي فَضائِلَ الطِعَمِ

وَاللَهُ يَقضي فَضائِلَ الطِعَمِ

An abode for an abode, and neighbors newly come;

House after house - neighbors have told tales,

and God decrees the greater shares of sustenance.

Yet God decides the superiority of food.

أَحَلَّكَ اللَهُ وَالخَليفَةُ بِال

أَحَلَّكَ اللَهُ وَالخَليفَةُ بِال

غوطَةِ داراً بِها بَنو الحَكَمِ

غوطَةِ داراً بِها بَنو الحَكَمِ

God and the caliph have settled you in the

May God and the Caliph grant you Ghouta as abode -

Ghutah, in a dwelling where live the sons of al-Hakam.

In it live the clan of Hakam.

المانِعو الجارَ أَن يُضامَ فَما

المانِعو الجارَ أَن يُضامَ فَما

جارٌ دَعا فيهِمُ بِمُهتَضَمِ

جارٌ دَعا فيهِمُ بِمُهتَضَمِ

Those who keep their neighbor from being wronged; so no

They prevent harm to a neighbor; thus no

neighbor calling on them is oppressed.

Complaining neighbor calls out among them.

وَالوارِثو مِنبَرَ الخِلافَةِ وَال

وَالوارِثو مِنبَرَ الخِلافَةِ وَال

موفونَ عِندَ العُهودِ بِالذِمَمِ

موفونَ عِندَ العُهودِ بِالذِمَمِ

And heirs to the pulpit of the caliphate, and the

They are heirs of the Caliphate’s pulpit yet remain

keepers of obligations when covenants are made.

Trustworthy, loyal to their covenants.

وَالجابِرو كَسرَ مَن أَرادوا وَما ال

وَالجابِرو كَسرَ مَن أَرادوا وَما ال

كَسرُ الَّذي أَوهَنوا بِمُلتَإِمِ

كَسرُ الَّذي أَوهَنوا بِمُلتَإِمِ

And menders of the fractures of whomever they wish; yet the

They break the resistance of those they want;

fracture they inflict cannot be healed.

never has resistance weakened their firm resolve.

فَهُم إِذا جَلَّلَت مُدَجِّيَّةٌ

فَهُم إِذا جَلَّلَت مُدَجِّيَّةٌ

نُجومُ لَيلٍ تُنيرُ في الظُلَمِ

نُجومُ لَيلٍ تُنيرُ في الظُلَمِ

So when a dark pall enshrouds all, they are

When the starry night adorns itself with its diadem,

stars of night, shining amid the darkness.

The stars illuminate the darkness.

الكاشِفو غَمرَةً إِذا نَزَلَت

الكاشِفو غَمرَةً إِذا نَزَلَت

بِالناسِ إِحدى الجَوائِحِ العُظَمِ

بِالناسِ إِحدى الجَوائِحِ العُظَمِ

Those who lift distress whenever there descends

They dispel any gloom that befalls the people -

upon the people one of the great calamities.

One of the great calamities -

لَيسوا يَمُنّونَ فَضلَهُم وَلَهُم

لَيسوا يَمُنّونَ فَضلَهُم وَلَهُم

فَضلٌ عَلَينا بِأَحسَنِ النِعَمِ

فَضلٌ عَلَينا بِأَحسَنِ النِعَمِ

They do not vaunt their favors, though they have

They do not boast of their virtues, yet virtues they have

favored us with the finest blessings.

Over us, with the best of blessings.

تُحِبُّهُم عُوَّذُ النِساءِ إِذا

تُحِبُّهُم عُوَّذُ النِساءِ إِذا

أَبدى العَذارى مَواضِعَ الخَدَمِ

أَبدى العَذارى مَواضِعَ الخَدَمِ

Women newly delivered love them when

The chaste women love them, when

maidens bare the places of their anklets,

The virgins reveal places of piercing beauty.

وَأَنكَرَ الكَلبُ أَهلَهُ وَبَدَت

وَأَنكَرَ الكَلبُ أَهلَهُ وَبَدَت

حَربٌ عَوانٌ تُشَبُّ بِالضَرَمِ

حَربٌ عَوانٌ تُشَبُّ بِالضَرَمِ

and the dog fails to recognize its household, and there appears

Even the dog disowns its people, and

a renewed war, stoked with blazing fuel.

Bitter war flares up, fueled with embers.

مِنهُم إِمامُ الهُدى لَهُ نِعَمٌ

مِنهُم إِمامُ الهُدى لَهُ نِعَمٌ

عِندي وَأَيدٍ تَصوبُ بِالدِيَمِ

عِندي وَأَيدٍ تَصوبُ بِالدِيَمِ

Among them is the imam of guidance, with blessings

Among them is the Imam of Guidance - favors he has

for me, and benefactions pouring down in steady rains.

That I treasure, and hands that hurl blood.

خَليفَةٌ يُقتَدى بِسُنَّتِهِ

خَليفَةٌ يُقتَدى بِسُنَّتِهِ

في إِرثِ مَجدِ الثَراءِ وَالكَرَمِ

في إِرثِ مَجدِ الثَراءِ وَالكَرَمِ

A caliph whose example is followed

A Caliph to be followed in the ways

in inheriting the glory of wealth and generosity.

Of inheriting the glory of wealth and generosity.

وَالغُرُّ مِن قَومِهِم إِذا ذُكِرَت

وَالغُرُّ مِن قَومِهِم إِذا ذُكِرَت

أَيّامُهُم في الغَناءِ وَالقُدُمِ

أَيّامُهُم في الغَناءِ وَالقُدُمِ

And the illustrious of their people, when mention is made

Pride overwhelms their people when

of their days of achievement and bold advance.

Their days are recalled, in song and history.

أَنتَ البِطاحِيُّ مِن أُمَيَّةَ في ال

أَنتَ البِطاحِيُّ مِن أُمَيَّةَ في ال

بَيتِ الَّذي عَزَّ ساكِنَ الحَرَمِ

بَيتِ الَّذي عَزَّ ساكِنَ الحَرَمِ

You are the man of al-Bitah, of Umayyah, in the

You are of the Bani Umayyah, in a house

house that prevailed over the dwellers of the Sanctuary.

Whose dweller sanctified the Sacred House.

لَمّا رَأَوا بَغيَ قَومِهِم لَهُمُ

لَمّا رَأَوا بَغيَ قَومِهِم لَهُمُ

إِذ قَطَعوا مِن شَوابِكِ الرَحِمِ

إِذ قَطَعوا مِن شَوابِكِ الرَحِمِ

When they saw their people's aggression against them,

When they saw the transgression of their people against them

as they severed some of the intertwined bonds of kinship,

As they severed ties of kinship,

كانَت حُصوناً لَهُم سُيوفُهُمُ

كانَت حُصوناً لَهُم سُيوفُهُمُ

وَكُلُّ حامي الحِفاظِ مُستَلِمِ

وَكُلُّ حامي الحِفاظِ مُستَلِمِ

their swords became fortresses for them,

Their swords became fortresses for them.

and every armored defender of honor.

And every protector of sanctuaries took hold of them.

كُلُّ فَتى مِرَّةٍ تُشَبِّهُهُ

كُلُّ فَتى مِرَّةٍ تُشَبِّهُهُ

بِالقَرمِ وَسطَ الهَجائِنِ القَطِمِ

بِالقَرمِ وَسطَ الهَجائِنِ القَطِمِ

Each youth of strength, whom you would liken

Every strong young man resembling

to a rutting camel-stallion amid purebred she-camels,

A speckled stallion amidst charging steeds.

ضَرّابِ بَيضِ المُدَجَّجينَ إِذا ال

ضَرّابِ بَيضِ المُدَجَّجينَ إِذا ال

فُرسانُ هابوا مَواقِفَ البُهَمِ

فُرسانُ هابوا مَواقِفَ البُهَمِ

a smiter of armored warriors' helmets, when the

Vanquisher of the armored horses when the

horsemen dread facing formidable champions.

Horsemen shrink from the arenas of courage.

بَيتا مَعَدٍّ تَكَنَّفاكَ إِلى

بَيتا مَعَدٍّ تَكَنَّفاكَ إِلى

ذُروَةِ مَجدٍ مُشَرَّفٍ سَنِمِ

ذُروَةِ مَجدٍ مُشَرَّفٍ سَنِمِ

The two houses of Ma'add have flanked you all the way to

The house of Ma’add surrounds you, up

a summit of glory, lofty and towering.

To the peak of glorious honor most sublime.

الواهِبُ البيضَ كَالظِباءِ عَلَي

الواهِبُ البيضَ كَالظِباءِ عَلَي

ها الرَيطُ وَالشاحِياتِ في اللُجُمِ

ها الرَيطُ وَالشاحِياتِ في اللُجُمِ

The giver of fair women like gazelles, clothed

Bestowing white steeds like the mountain gazelles, upon

in fine robes, and of horses with mouths agape in their bridles,

Which the winds blow and the does wander in the thickets.

وَالمِئَةَ المُصطَفاةَ يَحفِزُها ال

وَالمِئَةَ المُصطَفاةَ يَحفِزُها ال

راعي وَبِالفَحلِ وَسطَها السَدِمِ

راعي وَبِالفَحلِ وَسطَها السَدِمِ

and a hundred chosen camels, driven onward by the

And the selected hundred spurred by the

herdsman, with a lusty camel-stallion in their midst.

Herdsman amidst them is the muscular stallion.

أَمسى عِيالاً لَهُ البَرِيَّةُ في

أَمسى عِيالاً لَهُ البَرِيَّةُ في

أَكنافِ لا ضَيِّقٍ وَلا بَرِمِ

أَكنافِ لا ضَيِّقٍ وَلا بَرِمِ

All creation has become his dependents, in

The wilderness has become his dependents,

the shelter of one neither tightfisted nor impatient.

In vast plains of no confinement or limitation.

يَرُبُّ مَعروفَهُ الجَزيلَ فَلا

يَرُبُّ مَعروفَهُ الجَزيلَ فَلا

يَنقُصُهُ بَعدَ قُوَّةِ الوَذَمِ

يَنقُصُهُ بَعدَ قُوَّةِ الوَذَمِ

He nurtures his abundant bounty, and does not

He nurtures his abundant goodness, never

diminish it once the bucket-straps have been made strong.

Decreasing after reaching the peak of glory.

نَفسي فِداءٌ لَهُ وَما عَظُمَت

نَفسي فِداءٌ لَهُ وَما عَظُمَت

مِن فاجِعاتِ الحُتوفِ وَالسَقَمِ

مِن فاجِعاتِ الحُتوفِ وَالسَقَمِ

My soul be his ransom, however great

My soul is ransomed for him, though no

the calamities of death and sickness may be.

Misfortunes of loss and disease have befallen me.

مَنِ الَّذي بَعدَهُ يَعِزُّ بِهِ

مَنِ الَّذي بَعدَهُ يَعِزُّ بِهِ

ضامِنُ حاجاتِنا وَمِن عَدَمِ

ضامِنُ حاجاتِنا وَمِن عَدَمِ

Who after him will be a source of strength,

After him, who can bring us pride?

a guarantor of our needs, a safeguard against want,

Who can secure our needs in times of adversity?

في شِدَّةِ العَيشِ وَالزَمانِ وَما

في شِدَّةِ العَيشِ وَالزَمانِ وَما

يَأتي بِهِ دَهرُنا مِنَ القُحَمِ

يَأتي بِهِ دَهرُنا مِنَ القُحَمِ

amid the hardships of life and time, and whatever

In the hardship of life and times, and what

perils our age may bring?

Our age brings of ruin and decay.

وَأَنتَ لِلصَيدِ مِن مُلوكِهِمُ ال

وَأَنتَ لِلصَيدِ مِن مُلوكِهِمُ ال

بانينَ لِلمَجدِ ثابِتَ الدِعَمِ

بانينَ لِلمَجدِ ثابِتَ الدِعَمِ

And you belong to the proud among their kings, the

You are, among their kings, one steadfast

builders of glory with firmly founded pillars.

In building glory on solid foundations.