اللَّيْلُthe night دَاجٍpitch-dark وَالنَّهَارُand the day ظَلَامُdarkness
اللَّيْلُ دَاجٍ وَالنَّهَارُ ظَلَامُ
وَالظُّلْمُand oppression عَاتٍrampant وَالْحَيَاةُand life حِمَامُdeath
وَالظُّلْمُ عَاتٍ وَالْحَيَاةُ حِمَامُ
The night is pitch-dark, and the day is darkness.
Oppression runs rampant, and life is death.
وَالْكُفْرُand disbelief يَغْشَىshrouds الْكَوْنَthe universe حَتَّىeven بَدْرُهُits full moon
وَالْكُفْرُ يَغْشَى الْكَوْنَ حَتَّى بَدْرُهُ
أَضْنَاهُhas exhausted it لَيْلٌa night مَاno بِهِin it أَحْلَامُdreams
أَضْنَاهُ لَيْلٌ مَا بِهِ أَحْلَامُ
Disbelief shrouds the universe; even its full moon
is exhausted by a night that holds no dreams.
وَالْأَرْضُand the earth تَجْأَرُcries out قَدْalready نَأَتْhas drawn away بِحُمُولِهَاwith its burdens
وَالْأَرْضُ تَجْأَرُ قَدْ نَأَتْ بِحُمُولِهَا
كُفْرٌdisbelief وَطُغْيَانٌand tyranny وَشَرٌّand evil تَامُutter
كُفْرٌ وَطُغْيَانٌ وَشَرٌّ تَامُ
The earth cries out, having drawn away with its burdens:
disbelief, tyranny, and utter evil.
وَكَأَنَّand as though هَذِيthis الْأَرْضَearth صَارَتْhas become غَابَةًa forest
وَكَأَنَّ هَذِي الْأَرْضَ صَارَتْ غَابَةً
أَشْجَارُهَاits trees كُفْرٌdisbelief أَسًىsorrow إِجْرَامُcrime
أَشْجَارُهَا كُفْرٌ أَسًى إِجْرَامُ
It is as though this earth has become a forest,
whose trees are disbelief, sorrow, and crime.
صَارَتْit began تَمَنَّىto wish لَوْthat تَزَلْزَلُit would quake بِالْوَرَىwith mankind
صَارَتْ تَمَنَّى لَوْ تَزَلْزَلُ بِالْوَرَى
فَتَرِيحَso it might bring relief مِنْfrom ذَاthis الْكُفْرِdisbelief وَهْيَwhile it is رِجَامُheaped stones
فَتَرِيحَ مِنْ ذَا الْكُفْرِ وَهْيَ رِجَامُ
It has come to wish it would quake beneath mankind,
bringing relief from this disbelief, though reduced to heaped stones.
وَالشَّمْسُand the sun تَحْتَرِقُburns – الْأَسَىsorrow وَدُعَاؤُهَاand its prayer
وَالشَّمْسُ تَحْتَرِقُ – الْأَسَى وَدُعَاؤُهَا
يَاoh لَيْتَwould that ضَوْئِيmy light إِذْwhen يُشَعُّis radiated ضِرَامُa blaze
يَا لَيْتَ ضَوْئِي إِذْ يُشَعُّ ضِرَامُ
The sun burns with sorrow, and its prayer is:
'Would that my light, when cast forth, were a blaze!'
أَنَّىhow could لِجِرْمٍfor a celestial body أَنْthat يُبِيدَeradicate ضِيَاؤُهُits radiance
أَنَّى لِجِرْمٍ أَنْ يُبِيدَ ضِيَاؤُهُ
ظُلُمَاتِthe darkness of كُفْرٍdisbelief وَالظَّلَامُwhile darkness يُشَامُis seen
ظُلُمَاتِ كُفْرٍ وَالظَّلَامُ يُشَامُ
How could a heavenly body's radiance wipe away
the darkness of disbelief, while darkness is still seen?
فَإِذَاthen behold بِرَبِّthe Lord of الْكَوْنِthe universe يُرْسِلُsends رَحْمَةًmercy
فَإِذَا بِرَبِّ الْكَوْنِ يُرْسِلُ رَحْمَةً
نُورًاa light يُبِيدُbanishes الظُّلْمَoppression ثُمَّthen يُدَامُis perpetuated
نُورًا يُبِيدُ الظُّلْمَ ثُمَّ يُدَامُ
Then behold, the Lord of the universe sends mercy:
a light that banishes oppression and is then made everlasting,
كَالْفَجْرِlike dawn يَخْرُجُemerges مِنْfrom ظَلَامٍdarkness دَامِسٍpitch-black
كَالْفَجْرِ يَخْرُجُ مِنْ ظَلَامٍ دَامِسٍ
كَالرُّوحِlike the spirit تُحْيِيrevives الْمَيْتَthe dead وَهْوَwhile he is رِمَامُcrumbled remains
كَالرُّوحِ تُحْيِي الْمَيْتَ وَهْوَ رِمَامُ
like dawn emerging from pitch-black darkness,
like the spirit reviving the dead, though crumbled to dust.
وُلِدَwas born السَّنَاradiance فَالْأَرْضُso the earth ضَاءَتْshone وَالسَّمَاand heaven
وُلِدَ السَّنَا فَالْأَرْضُ ضَاءَتْ وَالسَّمَا
وَالْكُفْرُand disbelief بَاكٍweeping قَدْindeed أَتَاهُhas come to it حِمَامُdeath
وَالْكُفْرُ بَاكٍ قَدْ أَتَاهُ حِمَامُ
Radiance was born, and earth and heaven shone;
disbelief weeps, for death has come to it.
وُلِدَwas born الْهُدَىguidance فَالْكَوْنُso the universe بُشِّرَwas given glad tidings بِالنَّدَىof dew
وُلِدَ الْهُدَى فَالْكَوْنُ بُشِّرَ بِالنَّدَى
وَالْحَقُّand truth بُشْرَاهُits glad tidings أَتَاهُcame to it غَمَامُa cloud
وَالْحَقُّ بُشْرَاهُ أَتَاهُ غَمَامُ
Guidance was born; the universe received glad tidings of dew,
and truth's glad tidings were a cloud that came to it.
وُلِدَwas born النَّصِيرُthe champion لِكُلِّfor all أَحْرَارِfree people of الْوَرَىmankind
وُلِدَ النَّصِيرُ لِكُلِّ أَحْرَارِ الْوَرَى
فَبِهِso through him عَلَاrose over رَأْسَthe head of الطُّغَاةِthe tyrants رَغَامُdust
فَبِهِ عَلَا رَأْسَ الطُّغَاةِ رَغَامُ
The champion of all free people was born;
through him, dust rose over the tyrants' heads.
وُلِدَwas born الْيَتِيمُthe orphan فَعَزَّand became honored وَصْفًاas a designation فِيamong الْوَرَىmankind
وُلِدَ الْيَتِيمُ فَعَزَّ وَصْفًا فِي الْوَرَى
فَلْيَفْخَرِso let ... take pride الْمِسْكِينُthe poor person وَالْأَيْتَامُand the orphans
فَلْيَفْخَرِ الْمِسْكِينُ وَالْأَيْتَامُ
The orphan was born, and that name gained honor among mankind;
so let the poor and the orphans take pride.
مَاhow أَسْعَدَhappy ... is الدُّنْيَاthe world تَعَاظَمَhas grown immense فَرْحُهَاits joy!
مَا أَسْعَدَ الدُّنْيَا تَعَاظَمَ فَرْحُهَا!
سَيَظَلُّwill continue to يَغْشَىcover وَجْهَهَاits face الْإِسْلَامُIslam
سَيَظَلُّ يَغْشَى وَجْهَهَا الْإِسْلَامُ
How happy the world is! Its joy has grown immense.
Islam will continue to spread across its face.
فِيon يَوْمِthe day of مَوْلِدِهِhis birth كَسَاclothed الدُّنْيَاthe world الْهَنَاhappiness
فِي يَوْمِ مَوْلِدِهِ كَسَا الدُّنْيَا الْهَنَا
وَتَوَعَّدَand threatened الْبُؤْسَmisery الْبَهِيمَpitch-black جَمَامُrepose
وَتَوَعَّدَ الْبُؤْسَ الْبَهِيمَ جَمَامُ
On the day of his birth, happiness clothed the world,
and repose threatened pitch-black misery.
وَتَوَقَّفَand paused التَّارِيخُhistory إِجْلَالًاin reverence لَهُfor him
وَتَوَقَّفَ التَّارِيخُ إِجْلَالًا لَهُ
تَارِيخُهُhis history اللَّحَظَاتُmoments لَاnot الْأَعْوَامُyears
تَارِيخُهُ اللَّحَظَاتُ لَا الْأَعْوَامُ
History paused in reverence before him;
his history is measured in moments, not years,
فِيin سِيرَةٍa life story مَلَأَfilled الْوُجُودَexistence أَرِيجُهَاits fragrance
فِي سِيرَةٍ مَلَأَ الْوُجُودَ أَرِيجُهَا
مِنْfrom نَهْرِهَاits river يَتَضَلَّعُdrink deeply الْأَعْلَامُthe learned
مِنْ نَهْرِهَا يَتَضَلَّعُ الْأَعْلَامُ
in a life whose fragrance filled existence;
from its river, the learned drink their fill.
وَدَّwished الزَّمَانُtime لَوِif only الْحَبِيبُthe beloved مُحَمَّدٌMuhammad
وَدَّ الزَّمَانُ لَوِ الْحَبِيبُ مُحَمَّدٌ
مَاno قَبْلَهُbefore him أَوْor بَعْدَهَafter him أَيَّامُdays
مَا قَبْلَهُ أَوْ بَعْدَهَ أَيَّامُ
Time wished that the beloved Muhammad
had no days before him or after him.
نَزَلَdescended الْأَمِينُthe Trustworthy One بِأَمْرٍwith a command "اقْرَأْread!" أَحْمَدٌAhmad
نَزَلَ الْأَمِينُ بِأَمْرٍ "اقْرَأْ" أَحْمَدٌ
حَرِّرْfree! عُقُولَthe minds of النَّاسِpeople أَنْتَyou إِمَامُa leader
حَرِّرْ عُقُولَ النَّاسِ أَنْتَ إِمَامُ
The Trustworthy One descended with a command: 'Read, Ahmad!
Free people's minds; you are a leader.
أَنْتَyou الرَّسُولُthe Messenger لِفَكِّto undo أَغْلَالِthe shackles of الْوَرَىmankind
أَنْتَ الرَّسُولُ لِفَكِّ أَغْلَالِ الْوَرَى
فَلْيَخْسَأِso let ... be abased الطُّغْيَانُtyranny وَالْأَصْنَامُand idols
فَلْيَخْسَأِ الطُّغْيَانُ وَالْأَصْنَامُ
You are the Messenger sent to break mankind's shackles;
so let tyranny and idols be abased.
اقْرَأْread! وَأَحْيِand revive! الْعِلْمَknowledge وَانْشُرْand spread! نُورَهُits light
اقْرَأْ وَأَحْيِ الْعِلْمَ وَانْشُرْ نُورَهُ
وَلْيَخْسَأِand let ... be abased الْكُفْرَانُdisbelief وَالْأَوْهَامُand delusions
وَلْيَخْسَأِ الْكُفْرَانُ وَالْأَوْهَامُ
Read, revive knowledge, and spread its light;
let disbelief and delusions be abased.
وَمَكَارِمُand noble qualities of الْأَخْلَاقِcharacter أَتْمِمْperfect! نُورَهَاtheir light
وَمَكَارِمُ الْأَخْلَاقِ أَتْمِمْ نُورَهَا
لِلدِّينِfor religion وَالْأَخْلَاقِand morals أَنْتَyou خِتَامُthe seal
لِلدِّينِ وَالْأَخْلَاقِ أَنْتَ خِتَامُ
Perfect the light of noble character;
you are the seal of religion and morals.'
هَبَّrose النَّبِيُّthe Prophet يُبَلِّغُto convey الْإِسْلَامَIslam مَنْwhoever
هَبَّ النَّبِيُّ يُبَلِّغُ الْإِسْلَامَ مَنْ
يُؤْمِنْbelieves بِهِin him فَلِجِسْمِهِthen for his body الْآلَامُpains
يُؤْمِنْ بِهِ فَلِجِسْمِهِ الْآلَامُ
The Prophet rose to proclaim Islam; whoever
believes in him faces bodily pain,
وَالْقَلْبُand the heart مَوْصُولٌis connected بِرَبٍّto a Lord مُنْعِمٍbountiful
وَالْقَلْبُ مَوْصُولٌ بِرَبٍّ مُنْعِمٍ
وَالرُّوحُand the soul فِيin رَوْحٍrepose غَشَاهُhas enveloped it سَلَامُpeace
وَالرُّوحُ فِي رَوْحٍ غَشَاهُ سَلَامُ
while the heart remains joined to a bountiful Lord,
and the soul is in repose, enveloped in peace.
إِنْif عَذَّبُواthey torture الْأَجْسَادَbodies يَاoh لَشَقَائِهِمْhow wretched they are!
إِنْ عَذَّبُوا الْأَجْسَادَ يَا لَشَقَائِهِمْ
فَالْقَلْبُthen the heart وَالْأَرْوَاحُand souls كَيْفَhow تُسَامُare afflicted؟!
فَالْقَلْبُ وَالْأَرْوَاحُ كَيْفَ تُسَامُ؟!
If they torture bodies—how wretched they are!
Yet how can the heart and souls be subjected to torment?
أَيُعَذَّبُare ... tortured? الْأَحْرَارُfree people لَوْif لَمْdid not يَسْجُدُواthey bow down
أَيُعَذَّبُ الْأَحْرَارُ لَوْ لَمْ يَسْجُدُوا
لِطُغَاتِهِمْto their tyrants وَالْحُرُّand a free person كَيْفَhow يُضَامُis wronged؟!
لِطُغَاتِهِمْ وَالْحُرُّ كَيْفَ يُضَامُ؟!
Are the free to be tortured if they do not bow
to their tyrants? How can a free person be wronged?
أَيُعَذَّبُis ... tortured? الْحُرُّthe free person الْأَبِيُّproud لِأَنَّهُbecause he
أَيُعَذَّبُ الْحُرُّ الْأَبِيُّ لِأَنَّهُ
لَمْdid not تَعْنُbow إِلَّاexcept لِلرَّحِيمِto the Merciful الْهَامُheads؟!
لَمْ تَعْنُ إِلَّا لِلرَّحِيمِ الْهَامُ؟!
Is the proud, free person tortured because
heads have bowed to none but the Merciful?
نَثَرُواthey showered الْعَذَابَtorture عَلَىupon الصَّحَابَةِthe Companions عَلَّهُhoping that it
نَثَرُوا الْعَذَابَ عَلَى الصَّحَابَةِ عَلَّهُ
يُرْدِيdestroys الْهُدَىguidance التَّعْذِيبُtorture وَالْإِرْغَامُand coercion
يُرْدِي الْهُدَى التَّعْذِيبُ وَالْإِرْغَامُ
They showered torture upon the Companions, hoping
that torture and coercion would destroy guidance.
كَمْhow greatly رَاعَهُمْalarmed them أَنَّthat الْأُبَاةَthe unbowed أَعِزَّةٌare mighty
كَمْ رَاعَهُمْ أَنَّ الْأُبَاةَ أَعِزَّةٌ
لَمْdid not يَثْنِbend عَزْمَهُمُtheir resolve أَسًىsorrow وَحِمَامُand death!
لَمْ يَثْنِ عَزْمَهُمُ أَسًى وَحِمَامُ!
How it alarmed them that the unbowed remained mighty!
Neither sorrow nor death bent their resolve.
وَتَقَدَّمَand went before الْأَحْرَارَthe free people سَيِّدُهُمْtheir leader فَنَاso ... befell (word continues)
وَتَقَدَّمَ الْأَحْرَارَ سَيِّدُهُمْ فَنَا
لَ(completes 'befell') الْمُصْطَفَىthe Chosen One مِنْfrom بَأْسِهِمْtheir violence إِجْرَامُcriminal acts
لَ الْمُصْطَفَى مِنْ بَأْسِهِمْ إِجْرَامُ
Their leader went before the free; thus there befell
the Chosen One crimes born of their violence.
يَاoh لَيْتَwould that شِعْرِيI knew كَيْفَhow لِلدُّنْيَاfor the world تَرَىto witness
يَا لَيْتَ شِعْرِي كَيْفَ لِلدُّنْيَا تَرَى
ذَاكَthat الْأَذَىharm بِالْمُصْطَفَىto the Chosen One وَتُقَامُand be kept standing؟!
ذَاكَ الْأَذَى بِالْمُصْطَفَى وَتُقَامُ؟!
Would that I knew how the world can witness
such harm to the Chosen One and still stand!
كَيْفَhow الْجِبَالُthe mountains تَحَمَّلَتْbore ذَاthis وَالسَّمَاand heaven؟!
كَيْفَ الْجِبَالُ تَحَمَّلَتْ ذَا وَالسَّمَا؟!
يُدْمِيmakes ... bleed الرَّسُولَthe Messenger وَيَزْدَرِيهِand scorns him طَغَامُbase rabble!
يُدْمِي الرَّسُولَ وَيَزْدَرِيهِ طَغَامُ!
How did the mountains and heaven bear this?
Base rabble make the Messenger bleed and scorn him!
رُحْمَاكَYour mercy! يَاO أللهُGod ذَاكَthat is الْمُصْطَفَىthe Chosen One
رُحْمَاكَ يَا أللهُ ذَاكَ الْمُصْطَفَى
يَشْكُوlaments تَجَبُّرَthe arrogance of مَنْthose who لِحِبِّكَagainst Your beloved ضَامُواthey wronged
يَشْكُو تَجَبُّرَ مَنْ لِحِبِّكَ ضَامُوا
Your mercy, O God! There is the Chosen One,
lamenting the arrogance of those who wronged Your beloved.
فَتَنَزَّلَتْthen descended رَحَمَاتُthe mercies of رَبِّيmy Lord مُؤْنِسًاbringing solace
فَتَنَزَّلَتْ رَحَمَاتُ رَبِّي مُؤْنِسًا
لِرَسُولِهِfor His Messenger نُعْمَىblessing لَهُfor him وَجَمَامُand repose
لِرَسُولِهِ نُعْمَى لَهُ وَجَمَامُ
Then my Lord's mercies descended, bringing solace
to His Messenger—blessing and repose for him.
أَسْرَىtook on a night journey بِهِhim الرَّحْمَنُthe All-Merciful يُشْهِدُto let ... behold عَيْنَهُhis eye
أَسْرَى بِهِ الرَّحْمَنُ يُشْهِدُ عَيْنَهُ
مَلَكُوتَهُHis dominion، هَلْis there بَعْدَbeyond ذَاthis إِنْعَامُany favor؟!
مَلَكُوتَهُ، هَلْ بَعْدَ ذَا إِنْعَامُ؟!
The All-Merciful took him by night to let his eyes behold
His dominion—could any favor surpass this?
فَمَلَائِكُso the angels of الرَّحْمَنِthe All-Merciful وَالرُّسْلُand the messengers الْكِرَاthe noble (word continues)
فَمَلَائِكُ الرَّحْمَنِ وَالرُّسْلُ الْكِرَا
مُ(completes 'the noble') صُفُوفُranks of تَقْوَىpiety وَالرَّسُولُand the Messenger إِمَامُan imam
مُ صُفُوفُ تَقْوَى وَالرَّسُولُ إِمَامُ
The All-Merciful's angels and the noble messengers
stood in ranks of piety, the Messenger their imam.
رَقِيَascended الرَّسُولُthe Messenger إِلَىto السَّمَاوَاتِthe heavens الْعُلَاhighest
رَقِيَ الرَّسُولُ إِلَى السَّمَاوَاتِ الْعُلَا
فَعَلَاso he rose مَقَامًاto a station لَمْnot يَصِلْهُhad reached it مَقَامُany station
فَعَلَا مَقَامًا لَمْ يَصِلْهُ مَقَامُ
The Messenger ascended to the highest heavens,
rising to a station no other station had reached.
مَاnothing لِلسَّمَاfor heaven إِلَّاexcept ضِيَاهُhis radiance وَسَعْدُهَاand its joy
مَا لِلسَّمَا إِلَّا ضِيَاهُ وَسَعْدُهَا
بُشْرَايَmy glad tidings! لَيْلَةَthe night of وَطْئِيَtreading upon me الْأَقْدَامُthe feet
بُشْرَايَ لَيْلَةَ وَطْئِيَ الْأَقْدَامُ
Heaven had only his radiance, and its joy proclaimed:
'Glad tidings for me, on the night those feet trod upon me!
كَمْhow often قَدْindeed غَبَطْتُI envied الْأَرْضَthe earth مَوْطِئَthe foothold of أَحْمَدٍAhmad
كَمْ قَدْ غَبَطْتُ الْأَرْضَ مَوْطِئَ أَحْمَدٍ
وَالْيَوْمَand today أَنْعَمُI am blessed إِذْsince لِيَmine is الْإِكْرَامُthe honor
وَالْيَوْمَ أَنْعَمُ إِذْ لِيَ الْإِكْرَامُ
How often I envied the earth, Ahmad's foothold;
today I am blessed, for the honor is mine.'
وَتَجَبَّرَand grew arrogant الطُّغْيَانُtyranny وَاشْتَدَّand intensified الْأَسَىsorrow
وَتَجَبَّرَ الطُّغْيَانُ وَاشْتَدَّ الْأَسَى
وَأُوَارُand the fierce heat of مَلْحَمَةِthe battle of النَّبِيِّthe Prophet ضِرَامُa blaze
وَأُوَارُ مَلْحَمَةِ النَّبِيِّ ضِرَامُ
Tyranny grew more arrogant, and sorrow deepened;
the heat of the Prophet's struggle was a blaze.
فَأَتَاهُthen came to him أَمْرُthe command of اللهِGod: هَاجِرْemigrate! وَاهْجُرَنْand surely leave!
فَأَتَاهُ أَمْرُ اللهِ: هَاجِرْ وَاهْجُرَنْ
وَطَنًاa homeland غَشَاهُshrouded it الْكُفْرُdisbelief وَالْآلَامُand pains
وَطَنًا غَشَاهُ الْكُفْرُ وَالْآلَامُ
Then God's command came to him: 'Emigrate, and leave behind
a homeland shrouded in disbelief and pain.'
وَطَنُthe homeland of الْكَرِيمِa noble person يَعِزُّhe is honored فِيهِin it بِدِينِهِthrough his faith
وَطَنُ الْكَرِيمِ يَعِزُّ فِيهِ بِدِينِهِ
لَاno طَغْيَtyranny فِيهِin it وَلَاand no عَزِيزَhonorable person يُضَامُis wronged
لَا طَغْيَ فِيهِ وَلَا عَزِيزَ يُضَامُ
A noble person's homeland is where his faith brings him honor,
where there is no tyranny and no honorable person is wronged.
بِمَدِينَةِin the City of الْأَنْوَارِLights قَامَتْarose دَوْلَةٌa state
بِمَدِينَةِ الْأَنْوَارِ قَامَتْ دَوْلَةٌ
لِلدِّينِfor religion وَالدُّنْيَاand worldly life أَتَىcame الْإِسْلَامُIslam
لِلدِّينِ وَالدُّنْيَا أَتَى الْإِسْلَامُ
In the City of Lights, a state arose;
Islam came for religion and worldly life.
لَمْnot يَشْهَدِhad witnessed التَّارِيخُhistory أَرْضًاa land مِثْلَهَاlike it
لَمْ يَشْهَدِ التَّارِيخُ أَرْضًا مِثْلَهَا
فِيهَاin it الْهُدَىguidance وَالْعَدْلُand justice وَالْأَعْلَامُand luminaries
فِيهَا الْهُدَى وَالْعَدْلُ وَالْأَعْلَامُ
History had never witnessed a land like it,
with guidance, justice, and luminaries.
هِيَit أُمَّةُthe community of الْقُرْآنِthe Qur'an عِزٌّan honor لِلْوَرَىfor mankind
هِيَ أُمَّةُ الْقُرْآنِ عِزٌّ لِلْوَرَى
تُرْدِيlays low الطُّغَاةَtyrants وَلِلْأَنَامِand for creation سَلَامُpeace
تُرْدِي الطُّغَاةَ وَلِلْأَنَامِ سَلَامُ
It is the community of the Qur'an, an honor to mankind;
it lays tyrants low and offers peace to creation.
صَارَتْit became كَشَمْسٍlike a sun أَهْدَتِgave الدُّنْيَاthe world الضِّيَاlight
صَارَتْ كَشَمْسٍ أَهْدَتِ الدُّنْيَا الضِّيَا
بِحَضَارَةٍthrough a civilization خُلُقُthe ethics of الْعُلُومِthe sciences ذِمَامُa binding trust
بِحَضَارَةٍ خُلُقُ الْعُلُومِ ذِمَامُ
It became like a sun that gave the world its light,
through a civilization where the ethics of science are a binding trust.
فَتَحَرَّرَso became free الْإِنْسَانُhumankind يَعْبُدُworshipping رَبَّهُhis Lord
فَتَحَرَّرَ الْإِنْسَانُ يَعْبُدُ رَبَّهُ
وَتَكَسَّرَand were shattered الْأَغْلَالُshackles وَالْإِجْرَامُand crime
وَتَكَسَّرَ الْأَغْلَالُ وَالْإِجْرَامُ
Humankind was freed to worship its Lord,
and shackles and crime were shattered.
مَاhow أَقْبَحَugly ... is الطَّاغُوتَthe tyrant أُلِّهَwas deified فِيamong الْوَرَىmankind!
مَا أَقْبَحَ الطَّاغُوتَ أُلِّهَ فِي الْوَرَى!
يُطْغِيهِmakes him more tyrannical عَفْوٌpardon وَالدَّوَاand the cure الصَّمْصَامُa keen sword
يُطْغِيهِ عَفْوٌ وَالدَّوَا الصَّمْصَامُ
How ugly is the tyrant made a god among mankind!
Pardon makes him more tyrannical; the cure is a keen sword.
لَمْnot يَرْضَwas content طَاغُوتٌa tyrant بِأَحْرَارِwith the free people of الْوَرَىmankind
لَمْ يَرْضَ طَاغُوتٌ بِأَحْرَارِ الْوَرَى
إِلَّاexcept إِذَاwhen مَا(emphatic particle) قَدْhas indeed عَلَاهrisen above him حُسَامُa sword
إِلَّا إِذَا مَا قَدْ عَلَاه حُسَامُ
No tyrant was content with the world's free people
unless a sword had risen above him.
وَتَنَزَّلَand descended الْقُرْآنُthe Qur'an يَبْنِيbuilding أُمَّةًa community
وَتَنَزَّلَ الْقُرْآنُ يَبْنِي أُمَّةً
حَتَّىuntil أُتِمَّwas perfected الدِّينُreligion وَالْإِنْعَامُand divine favor
حَتَّى أُتِمَّ الدِّينُ وَالْإِنْعَامُ
The Qur'an descended, building a community,
until religion and divine favor were perfected.
يَاO سَيِّدَmaster of الْأَحْرَارِthe free يَاO رَأْسَpinnacle of الْإِبَاnoble pride
يَا سَيِّدَ الْأَحْرَارِ يَا رَأْسَ الْإِبَا
يَاO رَحْمَةًa mercy لِلْعَالَمِينَto all worlds تُدَامُmade everlasting
يَا رَحْمَةً لِلْعَالَمِينَ تُدَامُ
O master of the free, O pinnacle of noble pride,
O mercy to all worlds, made everlasting,
أَدَّيْتَyou fulfilled أَمْرَthe command of اللهِGod وَحْدَكَby yourself حَامِلًاbearing
أَدَّيْتَ أَمْرَ اللهِ وَحْدَكَ حَامِلًا
أَمْرًاa charge تَنُوءُstagger بِحِمْلِهِunder its weight الْأَعْلَامُmountains؟!
أَمْرًا تَنُوءُ بِحِمْلِهِ الْأَعْلَامُ؟!
you fulfilled God's command, bearing alone
a charge whose weight makes mountains stagger.
بِأَبِيmy father be your ransom وَأُمِّيand my mother مَاno أَصَابَكَtouched you شَوْكَةٌa thorn
بِأَبِي وَأُمِّي مَا أَصَابَكَ شَوْكَةٌ
فَفِدَاكَso ... be your ransom رُوحِيmy soul سَعْدُهَاits joy الْإِقْدَامُcourageous action
فَفِدَاكَ رُوحِي سَعْدُهَا الْإِقْدَامُ
My father and mother be your ransom! May no thorn touch you;
so my soul be your ransom—courage is its joy.
وَأَصَابَand struck هَذَاthis الْكَوْنَuniverse أَعْظَمُthe greatest نَكْبَةٍcalamity
وَأَصَابَ هَذَا الْكَوْنَ أَعْظَمُ نَكْبَةٍ
حُرِمَwas deprived of النَّبِيَّthe Prophet، فَأَيُّso what كَرْبٍdistress طَامُoverwhelming؟!
حُرِمَ النَّبِيَّ، فَأَيُّ كَرْبٍ طَامُ؟!
The greatest calamity struck this universe:
it was bereft of the Prophet—what an overwhelming grief!
لَاno وَحْيَrevelation بَعْدَafter الْيَوْمِtoday لَكِنْbut نُورُهُits light
لَا وَحْيَ بَعْدَ الْيَوْمِ لَكِنْ نُورُهُ
هَدْيُthe guidance of النَّبِيِّthe Prophet وَذَاand this الطَّرِيقُpath أَمَامُahead
هَدْيُ النَّبِيِّ وَذَا الطَّرِيقُ أَمَامُ
No revelation after today, yet its light remains:
the Prophet's guidance; this path lies ahead.
كَمْhow many يَدَّعِيclaim حُبَّlove for النَّبِيِّthe Prophet مِنَamong الْوَرَىmankind!
كَمْ يَدَّعِي حُبَّ النَّبِيِّ مِنَ الْوَرَى!
لَمْnot يَصْدُقَنْhas truly been sincere إِلَّاexcept تَبِيعٌa follower تَامُwholehearted
لَمْ يَصْدُقَنْ إِلَّا تَبِيعٌ تَامُ
How many among mankind claim to love the Prophet!
None is sincere but a wholehearted follower.
قَدْindeed غَادَرَhe left الدُّنْيَاthe world وَلِلْحَقِّwhile truth has الْعُلَاthe heights
قَدْ غَادَرَ الدُّنْيَا وَلِلْحَقِّ الْعُلَا
وَتَزَلْزَلَand was shaken الطُّغْيَانُtyranny والظُّلَّامُand the oppressors
وَتَزَلْزَلَ الطُّغْيَانُ والظُّلَّامُ
He left this world while truth held the heights,
and tyranny and the oppressors were shaken.
يَاO مُصْطَفَىMustafa إِنَّاindeed we حُرِمْنَاwere deprived of صُحْبَةًcompanionship
يَا مُصْطَفَى إِنَّا حُرِمْنَا صُحْبَةً
وَلَنَاand for us رَجَاءٌhope؛ فِيin الْجِنَانِthe Gardens مُقَامُa dwelling
وَلَنَا رَجَاءٌ؛ فِي الْجِنَانِ مُقَامُ
O Mustafa, we were denied your companionship,
yet we have hope: a dwelling in the Gardens,
فِيin صُحْبَةٍcompanionship أَبَدِيَّةٍeverlasting تُنْسِيmakes ... forget الْأَسَىsorrow
فِي صُحْبَةٍ أَبَدِيَّةٍ تُنْسِي الْأَسَى
وَلَصُحْبَةُand surely companionship with الْهَدْيِguidance الْمُنِيرِradiant ذِمَامُa bond of protection
وَلَصُحْبَةُ الْهَدْيِ الْمُنِيرِ ذِمَامُ
in everlasting companionship that makes sorrow forgotten;
and companionship with radiant guidance is a bond of protection.
صَلَّىmay ... bless عَلَيْكَupon you اللهُGod يَاO نَهْرَriver of الْهُدَىguidance
صَلَّى عَلَيْكَ اللهُ يَا نَهْرَ الْهُدَى
فَلْتَرْوِso may you quench حِبًّاa lover قَدْindeed عَرَاهُhas seized him أُوَامُburning thirst
فَلْتَرْوِ حِبًّا قَدْ عَرَاهُ أُوَامُ
May God bless you, O river of guidance;
so quench a lover's thirst, for burning thirst has seized him.