نَحنُ صَبَحناهُم غَداةَ مُحَجَّرٍ

نَحنُ صَبَحناهُم غَداةَ مُحَجَّرٍ

بِالخَيلِ مُحقَبَةً عَلى الأَبدانِ

بِالخَيلِ مُحقَبَةً عَلى الأَبدانِ

We raided them at daybreak at Muḥajjar,

We charged at them one morn, armored steeds

with horses girt about their bodies,

Bristling with blades, riders poised to strike

تَرجى المَطِيَّ مَنعَلاً أَخفافُهُ

تَرجى المَطِيَّ مَنعَلاً أَخفافُهُ

وَالجُردُ مُرسَلَةً بِلا أَرسانِ

وَالجُردُ مُرسَلَةً بِلا أَرسانِ

outstripping the riding camels, their padded feet shod,

The nimble mounts sought battle, unfettered,

and the sleek steeds let loose without halters,

With flowing manes and unbound reins alike.

حَتّى وَقَعنا في سُلَيمٍ وَقعَةً

حَتّى وَقَعنا في سُلَيمٍ وَقعَةً

في شَرِّ ما يُخشى مِنَ الحَدَثانِ

في شَرِّ ما يُخشى مِنَ الحَدَثانِ

until we fell upon Sulaym in an onslaught,

Until we clashed at Suleim, a fierce fray

among the worst calamities one dreads from fate.

Where youths will fear the worse of two-edged fights.

فَاِسأَل غُرابَ بَني فَزارَةَ عَنهُمُ

فَاِسأَل غُرابَ بَني فَزارَةَ عَنهُمُ

وَاِسأَل بِنا الأَحلافَ مِن غَطَفانِ

وَاِسأَل بِنا الأَحلافَ مِن غَطَفانِ

So ask Ghurāb of Banū Fazārah about them,

Ask then the ravens of Banu Fazara about them,

and ask the confederates of Ghaṭafān about us;

Ask the oath-sworn clans of Gaṭafan as well.

وَاِسأَل غَنِيّاً يَومَ نَعفُ مُحَجَّرٍ

وَاِسأَل غَنِيّاً يَومَ نَعفُ مُحَجَّرٍ

وَاِسأَل كُلاباً عَن بَني نَبهانِ

وَاِسأَل كُلاباً عَن بَني نَبهانِ

and ask Ghaniyy about the day at Muḥajjar's slope,

Ask the hyena on the day Na’f lies still,

and ask Kulāb about Banū Nabhān.

Ask the hounds about the tribe of Nabhan.

نَرمي بِهِنَّ بِغَمرَةٍ مَكروهَةٍ

نَرمي بِهِنَّ بِغَمرَةٍ مَكروهَةٍ

حَتّى يَغِبنَ بِنا إِلى الأَذقانِ

حَتّى يَغِبنَ بِنا إِلى الأَذقانِ

We hurl them into a dreaded maelstrom,

We pelt them with loathsome arrows in throngs

until they sink with us up to our chins.

Till they flee our onslaught without fail.