سقىmay water اللَهGod مصراًa city خفّdeparted أهلوهُits people منfrom مصرthe city
سقى اللَه مصراً خفّ أهلوهُ من مصر
وماذاand what الذيthat which يبقىremains علىin عقَبِthe wake الدهرof time
وماذا الذي يبقى على عقَبِ الدهر
May God water a city whose people have departed from it.
God watered Egypt, its people left it lightly
And what is there that remains in time's wake?
And what remains throughout time?
ولوand if كنتُI had been فيهin it إذwhen أبيحwas violated حريمُهُits sanctuary
ولو كنتُ فيه إذ أبيح حريمُهُ
لمُتُّI would have died كريماًhonorably أوor صدرتُI withdrew علىwith عُذرِa valid excuse
لمُتُّ كريماً أو صدرتُ على عُذرِ
And had I been there when its sanctuary was violated,
Had I been there when its sanctuary was violated
I would have died honorably, or withdrawn with a valid excuse.
I would have died nobly or found excuse
أبيحَit was sacked فلمso did not أملكI possess لهfor it غيرother than عَبرةٍa tear
أبيحَ فلم أملك له غير عَبرةٍ
تُهيبُcalls بهاfor it أنbecause حاردتceased to flow لوعةanguish الصدرِof the breast
تُهيبُ بها أن حاردت لوعة الصدرِ
It was sacked, so I had nothing for it but a tear,
It was ravaged, and I could do naught but weep
Which the breast's anguish calls forth because it has ceased to flow.
My tears reproach the torment in my breast
ونحنُand we ردَدناbrought back أهلهاits people إذwhen ترحّلواthey departed
ونحنُ ردَدنا أهلها إذ ترحّلوا
وقدwhile already نظمَتformed ranks خيلcavalry الأزارقof the Azariqa بالجسرat the bridge
وقد نظمَت خيل الأزارق بالجسر
And we brought its people back when they departed,
We turned away its people as they departed
While the Azariqa's cavalry had formed ranks at the bridge.
The horses of invaders massed at the bridge
ومنand whoever يخشَfears أطرافthe sharp edges المناياof death فإنّناthen indeed we
ومن يخشَ أطراف المنايا فإنّنا
لبسناwe donned لهنّagainst them السابغاتِthe full coats of mail منof الصبرpatience
لبسنا لهنّ السابغاتِ من الصبر
And whoever fears death's sharp edges—indeed, we
Would one fear death's shadow? For we have worn
Have donned against them patience's full coats of mail.
Patience's armor through sorrow and loss
فإنّfor indeed كريهَdreadful الموتdeath عذبٌsweet مذاقُهُits taste
فإنّ كريهَ الموت عذبٌ مذاقُهُ
إذاwhen ماan emphatic particle مزجناهُwe mix it بطيبٍwith sweetness منof الذكرrenown
إذا ما مزجناهُ بطيبٍ من الذكر
For dreadful death tastes sweet,
Though death is bitter, with remembrance made sweet
When we mix it with the sweetness of renown.
Let us mix its draught with prayers and reflection
وماand not رُزِقَhas been granted الإنسانُa human being مثلthe like of منيّةٍa death
وما رُزِقَ الإنسانُ مثل منيّةٍ
أراحتbrought relief منfrom الدنياthis world ولمand did not تخزِbring disgrace فيin القبرthe grave
أراحت من الدنيا ولم تخزِ في القبر
And no person has been granted anything like a death
No gift to man equals a noble death
That grants relief from this world and brings no shame in the grave.
Freeing from earthly woes with dignity intact
Sol 6.1