ماnot مُرتَقاكَyour lofty height عَلىfor مَنwhoever رامَهُsought it أَمَمُwithin easy reach
ما مُرتَقاكَ عَلى مَن رامَهُ أَمَمُ
فَلتَسلُso let abandon hope عَنof نَيلِattaining ماwhat أوتيتَهُyou were granted الأُمَمُthe nations
فَلتَسلُ عَن نَيلِ ما أوتيتَهُ الأُمَمُ
Your lofty height is no easy reach for anyone who seeks it.
No matter who aspires to reach your heights, nations,
Let the nations abandon hope of attaining what you have been granted.
Then let him seek to attain what you have been granted, O nations!
وَليَيأَسواand let them despair رَمَّةًall together كانَتhad been مُؤَهَّلَةًreserved
وَليَيأَسوا رَمَّةً كانَت مُؤَهَّلَةً
لِهِمَّةٍfor a resolve ماnot اِهتَدَتfound the way فيin طُرقِهاits pathways الهِمَمُother resolves
لِهِمَّةٍ ما اِهتَدَت في طُرقِها الهِمَمُ
And let them despair, one and all: it had been reserved
And let them despair of a goal that was once so hopeful
for a resolve whose pathways other resolves never found.
For an aspiration that could not find its way, O resolves!
فَماfor not تَحُطُّunload مَطاياthe mounts of المَجدِglory أَرحُلَهاtheir saddles
فَما تَحُطُّ مَطايا المَجدِ أَرحُلَها
إِلّاexcept بِحَيثُwhere أَناخَknelt البَأسُcourage وَالكَرَمُand generosity
إِلّا بِحَيثُ أَناخَ البَأسُ وَالكَرَمُ
The mounts of glory do not unload their saddles
For the steeds of glory rein in nowhere
except where courage and generosity have knelt.
But where valor and generosity have camped, O resolve!
وَإِنَّand indeed أَولىmost entitled الوَرىmankind بِالأَمرِto rule أَوفَرُهُمthe fullest of them
وَإِنَّ أَولى الوَرى بِالأَمرِ أَوفَرُهُم
قِسماًin share إِذاwhen ظَلَّتِcontinued الأَخطارُhonors تُقتَسَمُto be apportioned
قِسماً إِذا ظَلَّتِ الأَخطارُ تُقتَسَمُ
And mankind's most rightful ruler is the one with the fullest
And the one most right to rule is he who has the greatest share
share when honors are apportioned.
When dangers are apportioned, though he remains humble.
وَمَنand who أَحَقُّmore entitled بِمُلكِto rule الأَرضِthe earth مِنthan مَلِكٍa king
وَمَن أَحَقُّ بِمُلكِ الأَرضِ مِن مَلِكٍ
بِسَيفِهِby his sword اِنكَشَفَتwere dispelled عَنfrom أَهلِهاits people الغُمَمُsorrows
بِسَيفِهِ اِنكَشَفَت عَن أَهلِها الغُمَمُ
Who has more right to rule the earth than a king
Who more deserves to rule the land than a king
whose sword cleared sorrows from its people?
With whose sword its people were freed from sorrows, O resolve!
عَدلَjustice القَضِيَّةِthe judgment يُمضيhe enforces وَهوَwhile he مُطَّرِحٌcasts off
عَدلَ القَضِيَّةِ يُمضي وَهوَ مُطَّرِحٌ
ثَوبَthe garment of الحَياءِmodesty وَيَندىand gives freely وَهوَwhile he مُحتَشِمُis modest
ثَوبَ الحَياءِ وَيَندى وَهوَ مُحتَشِمُ
He enforces a just judgment, having cast off
He passes just judgment though he discards
the garment of modesty; yet gives freely while remaining modest.
The garment of modesty and shows humility,
أَغَرُّa radiant nobleman لَوif وَهَبَhe gave الدُنياthe world بِأَجمَعِهاin its entirety
أَغَرُّ لَو وَهَبَ الدُنيا بِأَجمَعِها
لَماwould not تَتَبَّعَهاfollow it مَنٌّreproach for favors وَلاnor نَدَمُregret
لَما تَتَبَّعَها مَنٌّ وَلا نَدَمُ
A radiant nobleman: were he to give away the entire world,
He would disdain, though granted the whole world,
no reproach for his gift nor regret would follow it.
To be followed by blame or regret, O resolve!
وَرُبَّand many a عَفوٍpardon إِذاwhen لاذَsought refuge الجُناةُwrongdoers بِهِin it
وَرُبَّ عَفوٍ إِذا لاذَ الجُناةُ بِهِ
أَنساهُمُmade them forget بِجَميلِthrough gracious الصَفحِforgiveness ماwhat اِجتَرَمواthey committed
أَنساهُمُ بِجَميلِ الصَفحِ ما اِجتَرَموا
How often a pardon, when wrongdoers sought refuge in it,
And how often has a pardon, when criminals flock to it,
made them forget their crimes through gracious forgiveness.
Made them forget the beauty of amnesty their crimes!
وَذيand one possessing يَدٍa hand تَلِدُgives birth to النُعمىblessings فَإِنbut if قَصَدَتit seeks
وَذي يَدٍ تَلِدُ النُعمى فَإِن قَصَدَت
كَيدَthwarting العَدُوِّthe enemy فَمِنthen among أَولادِهاits offspring الرَقِمُspeckled serpents
كَيدَ العَدُوِّ فَمِن أَولادِها الرَقِمُ
And one whose hand gives birth to blessings; yet if it seeks
And a hand that gives birth to blessings - if it aims
to thwart the enemy, speckled serpents are among its offspring.
To foil the enemy, will bear no fruit but loss!
سَيفَO Sword الإِمامِof the Imam بِكَthrough you اِزدادَincreased الهُدىguidance وَضَحاًin brightness
سَيفَ الإِمامِ بِكَ اِزدادَ الهُدى وَضَحاً
وَفيكَand in you كادَتَnearly تُغَطّيveiled نورَهاits light الظُلَمُdarkness
وَفيكَ كادَتَ تُغَطّي نورَها الظُلَمُ
O Sword of the Imam, through you guidance grew brighter,
By your sword the right path shone ever brighter
and in you darkness nearly veiled its light.
And in you, its light almost dispelled the darkness, O resolve!
وَمُذand since دَعاكَcalled you إِمامُthe Imam of العَصرِthe age عُدَّتَهُhis mainstay
وَمُذ دَعاكَ إِمامُ العَصرِ عُدَّتَهُ
ذَلَّwere humbled العِدىthe foes فَأَزالَso swept away الحَقُّtruth إِفكَهُمُtheir falsehood
ذَلَّ العِدى فَأَزالَ الحَقُّ إِفكَهُمُ
Since the Imam of the age called you his mainstay,
Since the imam of the age appointed you his strength,
the foes were humbled, and truth swept away their falsehood.
Deceit yielded, and truth removed their fabrications, O resolve!
قَدindeed كانَhad been مُتَّهَماًaccused صَرفُthe vicissitudes of الزَمانِtime وَمُذand since
قَد كانَ مُتَّهَماً صَرفُ الزَمانِ وَمُذ
وَفىit kept faith بِقُربِكَby bringing you near لَمnot تَعلَقclung بِهِto it التُهَمُaccusations
وَفى بِقُربِكَ لَم تَعلَق بِهِ التُهَمُ
The turns of time had been accused; but since
The turning of time was long suspect, but since
time kept faith by bringing you near, no accusations have clung to it.
Your nearness proved true, no blame clings to it, O resolve!
وَغَيرُand not مُستَوجِبٍdeserving ذَمَّthe blame of الوَرىmankind زَمَنٌan age
وَغَيرُ مُستَوجِبٍ ذَمَّ الوَرى زَمَنٌ
أَيّامُهُits days لَكَfor you فيماin whatever تَشتَهيyou desire خَدَمُare servants
أَيّامُهُ لَكَ فيما تَشتَهي خَدَمُ
No age deserves mankind's blame
No time undeserving of the world's blame when its days
whose days serve you in whatever you desire.
Are at your service, as you desire, O resolve!
ثَبَّتَّyou made firm وَطأَةَthe footing of دينِthe religion of اللَهِGod مُعتَصِماًseeking protection
ثَبَّتَّ وَطأَةَ دينِ اللَهِ مُعتَصِماً
بِاللَهِin God مِنfrom بَعدِafter ماwhen زَلَّتslipped بِهِbeneath it القَدَمُthe foot
بِاللَهِ مِن بَعدِ ما زَلَّت بِهِ القَدَمُ
You made firm the footing of God's religion, seeking protection
Upholding the weight of God's religion, taking your stand,
in God, after its foot had slipped.
By God, when feet had slipped - and how they had slipped, O resolve!
لَقَدindeed نَهَضتَyou rose بِعِبءٍwith a burden فيin حِمايَتِهِdefending it
لَقَد نَهَضتَ بِعِبءٍ في حِمايَتِهِ
لاnot يَستَقِلُّcan bear unaided بِهِunder it رَضوىRadwa وَلاnor إِضَمُIdam
لا يَستَقِلُّ بِهِ رَضوى وَلا إِضَمُ
You have indeed shouldered a burden in defending it
You have shouldered a burden whose protection
that neither Radwa nor Idam could bear.
Would exhaust the acceptable and the unwilling, O resolve!
بِهِمَّةٍwith a resolve لَوif أَرادَsought العُصمَthe ibex صاحِبُهاits possessor
بِهِمَّةٍ لَو أَرادَ العُصمَ صاحِبُها
لَمnot يَحمِهاwould protect them فيon ذُرىthe summits of الأَطوادِtowering mountains مُعتَصِمُa refuge
لَم يَحمِها في ذُرى الأَطوادِ مُعتَصِمُ
With a resolve whose possessor, if he sought the ibex,
With a determination - had its author wished for invincibility -
would leave them no shelter on the summits of towering mountains.
No walls would have protected him on high, O protected one!
وَعَزمَةٍand a determination مُذsince أَلَمَّتalighted بِالشَآمِin al-Sham بَنَتbuilt
وَعَزمَةٍ مُذ أَلَمَّت بِالشَآمِ بَنَت
دونَin defense of الخِلافَةِthe caliphate سوراًa wall لَيسَnot يَنهَدِمُcrumbles
دونَ الخِلافَةِ سوراً لَيسَ يَنهَدِمُ
And a determination that, since it alighted in al-Sham, built
A resolve that when it gripped Syria did build,
in defense of the caliphate a wall that never crumbles.
Before the caliphate, a wall no treachery could breach, O resolve!
وَطالَماand how often عَرَّسَتencamped فيin أَرضِهِits land فِتَنٌturmoils
وَطالَما عَرَّسَت في أَرضِهِ فِتَنٌ
تَشيبُturn gray مِنهاfrom them قُلوبُthe hearts of الخَلقِpeople لاnot اللِمَمُhair-locks
تَشيبُ مِنها قُلوبُ الخَلقِ لا اللِمَمُ
How often turmoil encamped upon its soil,
How often did seditions take root in its land,
turning people's hearts gray, not their locks.
Turning the hearts of people gray, but not the resolves!
وَرُبَّand many an جَيشٍarmy إِذاwhen سالَflowed الفَضاءُthe open expanse بِهِwith it
وَرُبَّ جَيشٍ إِذا سالَ الفَضاءُ بِهِ
رَأَيتَyou saw فيهِin it جِبالَthe mountains of الأَرضِthe earth تَصطَدِمُcolliding
رَأَيتَ فيهِ جِبالَ الأَرضِ تَصطَدِمُ
And many an army, when the open expanse flowed with it,
And how often, when an army flooded the desert,
showed you the earth's mountains colliding within it.
Did you see in it mountains collide, O resolve!
بَحرٌa sea فَإِنand if عَسَلَتswayed فيهِwithin it الرِماحُthe spears أَرَتshowed
بَحرٌ فَإِن عَسَلَت فيهِ الرِماحُ أَرَت
أَمواجَthe waves of بَحرِthe sea of المَناياdeath كَيفَhow تَلتَطِمُcrash together
أَمواجَ بَحرِ المَنايا كَيفَ تَلتَطِمُ
A sea: when the spears swayed within it, they showed
A sea - when the lances clashed in it you would see
how the waves of the sea of death crash together.
The billows of the death-sea - how they seethed and foamed!
لِخَيلِfor the horses of فُرسانِهِits knights مِنfrom طَعنِthe thrusts of ماwhat لَقِيَتthey encountered
لِخَيلِ فُرسانِهِ مِن طَعنِ ما لَقِيَت
بَراقِعٌface-veils وَلَهُمand for them مِنfrom نَقعِهاtheir dust لُثُمُmouth-veils
بَراقِعٌ وَلَهُم مِن نَقعِها لُثُمُ
The horses of its knights had, from the thrusts they met,
For the steeds of its horsemen, the thrusts they suffered
face-veils; the knights had mouth-veils from their horses' dust.
Left shields rent, and their rips bloodied, O resolve!
ثَناهُturned it back بَأسُكَyour prowess فَاِنصاعَتso yielded كَتائِبُهُits battalions
ثَناهُ بَأسُكَ فَاِنصاعَت كَتائِبُهُ
كَأَنَّas though آسادَهُits lions مِنfrom ذِلَّةٍhumiliation نَعَمُwere livestock
كَأَنَّ آسادَهُ مِن ذِلَّةٍ نَعَمُ
Your prowess turned it back, and its battalions gave way,
Your might bent its battalions, so they bowed down
as though its lions, through humiliation, were livestock.
As if their joints were loosened by humiliation, O calm one!
عَنَتbowed حُماةُthe defenders of بُيوتِtents of الشَعرِhair راغِمَةًunwillingly
عَنَت حُماةُ بُيوتِ الشَعرِ راغِمَةً
مُذsince طُنِّبَتwere guyed لَكَfor you فيin أَوطانِهاtheir homelands الخِيَمُthe tents
مُذ طُنِّبَت لَكَ في أَوطانِها الخِيَمُ
The defenders of hair-tents bowed unwillingly
The starry anchors of the houses of poetry - forcibly
since tents were guyed for you in their homelands.
They wept, once encamped against them in their lands were your tents, O resolve!
وَكَمand how many لَهُمfor them مَوقِفٌa battle-stand جالَroamed الحِمامُdeath بِهِthrough it
وَكَم لَهُم مَوقِفٌ جالَ الحِمامُ بِهِ
لَوif كانَhad been غَيرُكَsomeone other than you فيهِthere الخَصمَthe opponent ماnot خُصِمواthey were defeated
لَو كانَ غَيرُكَ فيهِ الخَصمَ ما خُصِموا
How many a stand they made where death roamed!
And how many a stance, when the battle was aflame,
Had anyone but you opposed them there, they would not have been defeated.
Had you been their opponent, they would not have contended!
وَكَمand how often لَقواthey faced فيكَthrough you يَوماًa day أَيوَماًdire خَلَقَتcreated
وَكَم لَقوا فيكَ يَوماً أَيوَماً خَلَقَت
فيهِin it السَنابِكُthe hooves لَيلاًa night جَنَّهُshrouded it الخَدَمُthe anklets
فيهِ السَنابِكُ لَيلاً جَنَّهُ الخَدَمُ
How often they faced through you a dire day, when there was raised
And how many a day they met in you - days that revealed
by hooves a night that the anklets shrouded.
By night the darkness lit up by your lamps' gleam, O resolve!
لَيلاًa night إِذاwhen غَطَّتِcovered الأَبصارَthe eyes ظُلمَتُهُits darkness
لَيلاً إِذا غَطَّتِ الأَبصارَ ظُلمَتُهُ
كانَتwere مَصابيحَكَyour lamps الهِندِيَّةُthe Indian swords الخُذُمُkeen-cutting
كانَت مَصابيحَكَ الهِندِيَّةُ الخُذُمُ
A night whose darkness, when it covered the eyes,
By night, when its darkness enveloped all sights,
made the keen-cutting Indian swords your lamps.
Your Indian lanterns were flickering flames, O resolve!
مَنَعتَyou denied آسادَهُمtheir lions قَسراًby force فَرائِسَهاtheir prey
مَنَعتَ آسادَهُم قَسراً فَرائِسَها
فَلَيسَso it is not يُنكَرُsurprising أَنthat تَنبوrecoil بِهاfrom them الأَجَمُthe thickets
فَلَيسَ يُنكَرُ أَن تَنبو بِها الأَجَمُ
You forcibly denied their lions their prey,
You kept their lions, by force, from their lairs,
so it is no wonder the thickets cast them out.
So it is no wonder if by them death is heralded, O resolve!
وَماand not تَظَلُّremains قَناةُthe spear-shaft of العِزِّglory قائِمَةًupright
وَما تَظَلُّ قَناةُ العِزِّ قائِمَةً
إِلّاexcept بِحَيثُwhere القَناthe spears الخَطِّيُّKhatti يَنحَطِمُare shattered
إِلّا بِحَيثُ القَنا الخَطِّيُّ يَنحَطِمُ
The spear-shaft of glory remains upright
The canal of glory remains not standing
only where Khatti spears are shattered.
But where the pen is shattered, O resolve!
وَإِنand even if تَكُنhas been نارُthe fire of تِلكَthat الحَربِwar قَدalready خَمَدَتextinguished
وَإِن تَكُن نارُ تِلكَ الحَربِ قَد خَمَدَت
فَإِنَّهاyet it فيin قُلوبِthe hearts of القَومِthe people تَضطَرِمُblazes
فَإِنَّها في قُلوبِ القَومِ تَضطَرِمُ
And though the fire of that war has died down,
And if the fire of that war has died out
it blazes in the people's hearts,
In their hearts it still blazes, O resolve!
عَنbecause of هَيبَةٍawe سَكَنَتsettled in أَحشاءَهُمtheir entrails فَقَضَتand decreed
عَن هَيبَةٍ سَكَنَت أَحشاءَهُم فَقَضَت
أَنthat يَقفِلَreturn الجَيشُthe army عَنهُمaway from them وَهوَwhile it عِندَهُمُis among them
أَن يَقفِلَ الجَيشُ عَنهُم وَهوَ عِندَهُمُ
from awe that settled in their entrails and decreed
Out of awe that dwelled in their breasts and decreed
that the army depart from them while remaining among them.
The army retreat from them, though still able, O resolve!
عَضَّتbit رُؤوسَهُمُtheir heads بَعدَafter الجِماحِdefiance ظُبىًblade-edges
عَضَّت رُؤوسَهُمُ بَعدَ الجِماحِ ظُبىً
عَلىupon المَوارِنِsoft nose-tips مِنfrom آثارِهاtheir marks حِكَمُbridles
عَلى المَوارِنِ مِن آثارِها حِكَمُ
Sword-edges bit their heads after their defiance;
After the struggle, it left their heads ringingly sore,
their marks were bridles upon the soft tips of their noses.
White scars on the Maronites from its traces, O wise one!
بيضٌbright blades إِذاwhen فارَقَتleave فيon يَومِa day of مَعرَكَةٍbattle
بيضٌ إِذا فارَقَت في يَومِ مَعرَكَةٍ
أَغمادَهاtheir sheaths فارَقَتleave أَجسادَهاtheir bodies القِمَمُheads
أَغمادَها فارَقَت أَجسادَها القِمَمُ
Bright blades that, when on a day of battle they leave
Blades - when on a day of battle they left
their sheaths, heads leave their bodies.
Their sheaths, they left bodies headless, O resolve!
وَلَوand if تَوَخَّيتَyou intended إِعناتَdistressing المُذِمِّthe giver of protection لَهُمto them
وَلَو تَوَخَّيتَ إِعناتَ المُذِمِّ لَهُم
لَمnot يَرضَwould be content سَيفُكَyour sword حَتّىuntil تُخفَرَwere broken الذِمَمُpledges of protection
لَم يَرضَ سَيفُكَ حَتّى تُخفَرَ الذِمَمُ
Had you sought to harry the one who pledged them protection,
Had you sought to aid those who blamed you,
your sword would not have been content until those pledges were broken.
Your sword would not have rested until the blamers were subdued!
لَوَif اِنَّهُمthat they جاوَزواpassed beyond الجَوزاءَGemini ماnot اِمتَنَعواwould escape
لَوَ اِنَّهُم جاوَزوا الجَوزاءَ ما اِمتَنَعوا
مِنfrom ذيthe lord of العِتاقِthoroughbreds المَذاكيfully mature أَنthat تَدوسَهُمُtrample them
مِن ذي العِتاقِ المَذاكي أَن تَدوسَهُمُ
Even had they passed beyond Gemini, they would not have escaped
Had they crossed the mountain ridges, they would not have escaped
the lord whose seasoned thoroughbreds would trample them.
Being trampled under the noble horseman's hooves!
ذَرهُمleave them وَنُصرَةَand the aid of مَنhim who لاذواsought refuge بِعَقوَتِهِin his precinct
ذَرهُم وَنُصرَةَ مَن لاذوا بِعَقوَتِهِ
فَقَدfor indeed وَهَتweakened عَرَبٌArabs بِالرومِin the Romans تَعتَصِمُseek protection
فَقَد وَهَت عَرَبٌ بِالرومِ تَعتَصِمُ
Leave them to the aid of him whose precinct they sought;
Leave them, and leave aiding those who sought the refuge
the Arabs who seek the Romans' protection have grown weak.
Of perversity - many an Arab has thus sought Rome's protection, O resolute one!
أَرىI see لَيالِيَthe nights of مَنthose whom أَدنَيتَهُyou drew near زُهُراًbright
أَرى لَيالِيَ مَن أَدنَيتَهُ زُهُراً
كَماjust as لَيالِيَthe nights of مَنthose whom أَقصَيتَهُyou kept distant سُحُمُblack
كَما لَيالِيَ مَن أَقصَيتَهُ سُحُمُ
I see the nights of those you have brought close shining,
I see the nights of those brought near by you are blossoms,
just as the nights of those you have kept far are black.
While the nights of those kept far are clouds, O resolve!
إِنif لَمnot تَكُنexists بَينَهُمbetween them قُربىkinship فَبَينَهُمُthen between them
إِن لَم تَكُن بَينَهُم قُربى فَبَينَهُمُ
مِنَfrom المُساواةِequality فيin خَوفِfear of الرَدىdeath رَحِمُa bond of kinship
مِنَ المُساواةِ في خَوفِ الرَدى رَحِمُ
If no blood-kinship binds them, there lies between them
If they are not bound by blood, then between them
a kinship born of equal fear of death.
There is the kinship of equality in fear of harm, O womb!
غاضَتreceded دِماؤُهُمُtheir blood خَوفاًfrom fear فَلَوso if شَرَعَتwere leveled
غاضَت دِماؤُهُمُ خَوفاً فَلَو شَرَعَت
فيهِمat them رِماحُكَyour spears لَمnot يَعلَقwould cling بِهِنَّto them دَمُblood
فيهِم رِماحُكَ لَم يَعلَق بِهِنَّ دَمُ
Their blood receded from fear; so if
Their blood ran cold from fear - had your lances
your spears were leveled at them, no blood would cling to them.
Then gored them, no blood would have stuck to them, O blood!
وَلَوand if أَرَدتَyou wished لَأَغرَيتَyou would incite التُرابَthe soil بِهِمagainst them
وَلَو أَرَدتَ لَأَغرَيتَ التُرابَ بِهِم
فَلَمso not يَكُنwould exist لَهُمُfor them فيon الأَرضِthe earth مُنهَزَمُa place of escape
فَلَم يَكُن لَهُمُ في الأَرضِ مُنهَزَمُ
Had you wished, you would have roused the earth against them,
Had you wished, you could have covered them with dust,
and they would have had no place to flee on earth.
And none upon earth could have fled them, O resolute one!
لَكِنbut جَرَيتَyou proceeded عَلىaccording to رَسمٍa custom ظَلِلتَyou continued بِهِby it
لَكِن جَرَيتَ عَلى رَسمٍ ظَلِلتَ بِهِ
فيin العَفوِpardon مُلتَزِماًundertaking ماwhat لَيسَnot يُلتَزَمُis required
في العَفوِ مُلتَزِماً ما لَيسَ يُلتَزَمُ
But you kept to a practice under which you remained
But you followed a pattern you used to shade
bound, in forgiveness, to what no one is bound to do.
Pardoning though unbound to - nothing is really binding, O resolve!
وَمُذand since رَأَيتُكَI saw you توليgrant العَفوَpardon كافِرَهُone ungrateful for it
وَمُذ رَأَيتُكَ تولي العَفوَ كافِرَهُ
عَلِمتُI knew أَنَّكَthat you بِالإِنعامِthrough beneficence تَنتَقِمُtake revenge
عَلِمتُ أَنَّكَ بِالإِنعامِ تَنتَقِمُ
Since I saw you grant pardon to one ungrateful for it,
And since I saw you favor pardoning the unbeliever,
I knew that you take vengeance through kindness.
I knew you were taking vengeance through kindness, O resolve!
عِلماًknowing بِأَنَّthat الَّذيHe whose عُوِّدتَyou were accustomed to نُصرَتَهُHis support
عِلماً بِأَنَّ الَّذي عُوِّدتَ نُصرَتَهُ
يُحيقُwill bring down بِالكافِريupon the deniers of نُعماكَyour blessings كُفرَهُمُtheir ingratitude
يُحيقُ بِالكافِري نُعماكَ كُفرَهُمُ
Knowing that He whose aid you have grown accustomed to
Knowing that he whom you were used to aiding -
will turn their ingratitude against those who deny your blessings.
Your favors will be bound to shame the ungrateful for their ingratitude, O resolve!
وَالرومُand the Romans قَدalready أَيقَنواare certain لاno شَكَّdoubt أَنَّهُمُthat they
وَالرومُ قَد أَيقَنوا لا شَكَّ أَنَّهُمُ
لَوif ساهَموكَdrew lots against you بِسَهمٍwith a lot-arrow فيamong الوَرىmankind سُهِمواwould lose the draw
لَو ساهَموكَ بِسَهمٍ في الوَرى سُهِموا
And the Romans know, beyond all doubt, that they,
The Romans, without a doubt, are certain that had
if they drew an arrow-lot against you among mankind, would lose.
They met you in battle on earth, they would have been doomed, O resolve!
وَكَيفَand how تَطمَحُaspire نَحوَtoward الحَربِwar أَعيُنُهُمtheir eyes
وَكَيفَ تَطمَحُ نَحوَ الحَربِ أَعيُنُهُم
وَذِكرُwhile mention of بَأسِكَyour prowess فيin أَفواهِهِمtheir mouths لُجُمُis bridles
وَذِكرُ بَأسِكَ في أَفواهِهِم لُجُمُ
How can their eyes aspire toward war,
How can their eyes still look with longing to battle
with the mention of your prowess as bridles in their mouths?
When tales of your might are on their tongues, silenced dumb, O resolve!
وَلَوand if أَعَرتَهُمُyou lent them أَلبابَهُمtheir wits لَدَرَواthey would know
وَلَو أَعَرتَهُمُ أَلبابَهُم لَدَرَوا
أَنَّthat الَّذيwhat جَهِلواthey did not know أَضعافَmany times ماwhat عَلِمواthey knew
أَنَّ الَّذي جَهِلوا أَضعافَ ما عَلِموا
Had you lent them their own wits, they would have known
Had you unveiled their minds, they would have known
that what they did not know was many times what they knew.
That what they were ignorant of was manifold what they knew, O resolve!
إِنَّindeed المُظَفَّرَthe victorious one مَنhe who ماnever حَلَّsettled فيin بَلَدٍa land
إِنَّ المُظَفَّرَ مَن ما حَلَّ في بَلَدٍ
إِلّاexcept that تَحَمَّلَdeparted عَنهُfrom it الخَوفُfear وَالعَدَمُand destitution
إِلّا تَحَمَّلَ عَنهُ الخَوفُ وَالعَدَمُ
The victorious man is he who never settles in a land
He who conquers is one who, residing in a country,
without fear and destitution departing from it.
Bore its fears and disasters, O resolve!
وَكَيفَand how تُظلَمُcan be darkened أَرضٌa land أَنتَyou ساكِنُهاits inhabitant
وَكَيفَ تُظلَمُ أَرضٌ أَنتَ ساكِنُها
نوراًas a light تَساوَتbecame equal بِهِthrough it الأَظهارُnoondays وَالعَتَمُand nightfalls
نوراً تَساوَت بِهِ الأَظهارُ وَالعَتَمُ
How can a land be dark when you inhabit it
How can a land you dwell in be darkened
as a light through which noon and nightfall become equal?
When by you the horizons and gloom are equal in light, O resolve!
أَوor تَشتَكيcomplain of الناسُpeople إِمحالاًdrought وَقَدwhen already فَعَلَتhas done
أَو تَشتَكي الناسُ إِمحالاً وَقَد فَعَلَت
فيهِمfor them يَمينُكَyour right hand ماwhat لاnot تَفعَلُcan do الدِيَمُsteady rains
فيهِم يَمينُكَ ما لا تَفعَلُ الدِيَمُ
Or can people complain of drought, when already
Or how can people complain of injustice when your right hand
your right hand has done for them what steady rains cannot do?
Has done for them what no blood-money can do, O resolve!
وَأَينَand where مِنكَbeside you حَياًa rain يَحياcomes alive التُرابُthe soil بِهِthrough it
وَأَينَ مِنكَ حَياً يَحيا التُرابُ بِهِ
أَنّىhow could that be وَأَنتَwhen you حَياًare rain يَحياlive بِهِthrough it النَسَمُliving souls
أَنّى وَأَنتَ حَياً يَحيا بِهِ النَسَمُ
What is rain beside you, rain that gives life to soil?
Where in relation to you is an enlivened soil
How could it compare, when you are rain that gives life to souls?
When you are the life by which breath lives, O soft one!
خَلائِقٌvirtues عَمَّتِfilled الدُنياthe world بِماwith what نَسَلَتthey begot
خَلائِقٌ عَمَّتِ الدُنيا بِما نَسَلَت
مِنَof العَطاياgifts وَأُمّاتُwhile the mothers of النَدىbounty عُقُمُare barren
مِنَ العَطايا وَأُمّاتُ النَدى عُقُمُ
Virtues that filled the world with their offspring
Creations whose ample gifts have spread through the world -
of gifts, while the mothers of bounty are barren.
Though the nations are dumb, they praise it in deeds, O resolve!
يُثنيpraises بِآلائِهاfor their blessings مَنthose who فيin الحَياةِlife وَلَوand if
يُثني بِآلائِها مَن في الحَياةِ وَلَو
تَسطيعُcould نُطقاًspeech إِذاًthen أَثنَتwould praise بِهاfor them الرِمَمُdecayed remains
تَسطيعُ نُطقاً إِذاً أَثنَت بِها الرِمَمُ
The living praise their blessings; and if
And what meteors of glory sincerely appeared
the decayed remains could speak, they too would praise them.
But I perceived them, O resolves of men!
وَأَيُّand what بارِقَةٍlightning-flash لِلمَجدِof glory صادِقَةٍtrue
وَأَيُّ بارِقَةٍ لِلمَجدِ صادِقَةٍ
لاحَتhas shone وَلَمّاwithout yet تَشِمهاwatching it for rain هَذِهِthese الشِيَمُvirtues
لاحَت وَلَمّا تَشِمها هَذِهِ الشِيَمُ
What truthful lightning-flash of glory
Can your equals be possessions of those gone and those to come
has shone without these virtues watching for its rain?
Whose names are drowned in your famed name, O resolve!
وَهَلand can تُساويكَequal you أَملاكٌkings مَضَواdeparted وَبَقواand remain
وَهَل تُساويكَ أَملاكٌ مَضَوا وَبَقوا
أَسماؤُهُمtheir names فيin اِسمِكَyour name المَشهورِcelebrated مُدَّغَمُare merged
أَسماؤُهُم في اِسمِكَ المَشهورِ مُدَّغَمُ
Can kings, those departed and those remaining, equal you,
Virtues beyond counting - their pride belongs
their names merged into your celebrated name?
To your father's clan, and they encompass all humankind, O resolve!
مَناقِبٌmerits لَيسَnot تُحصىcan be counted خَصَّsingled out مَفخَرُهاtheir glory
مَناقِبٌ لَيسَ تُحصى خَصَّ مَفخَرُها
بَنيthe sons of أَبيكَyour father وَعَمَّand embraced الناسَpeople كُلَّهُمُall of them
بَني أَبيكَ وَعَمَّ الناسَ كُلَّهُمُ
Countless merits, whose glory singled out
So no Arab is without a boast
the sons of your father, yet embraced all people.
Of the one of lofty deeds - though foreigners boast of it too, O resolve!
فَماso no خَلاwas without عَرَبِيٌّArab مِنof مُفاخَرَةٍboasting
فَما خَلا عَرَبِيٌّ مِن مُفاخَرَةٍ
بِذيof the possessor of المَعاليlofty deeds وَإِنeven if خُصَّتwere singled out بِهاwith them العَجَمُnon-Arabs
بِذي المَعالي وَإِن خُصَّت بِها العَجَمُ
No Arab has been without a boast
O you who have with great deeds often plunged
of the lord of lofty deeds, though non-Arabs were singled out for them.
Into depths no fears can fathom, O resolve!
فَاِعلُso rise above الوَرىmankind بِمَساعٍthrough endeavors طالَماthat have often اِقتَحَمَتplunged into
فَاِعلُ الوَرى بِمَساعٍ طالَما اِقتَحَمَت
إِلىtoward العُلىthe heights غَمَراتٍperils لَيسَnot تُقتَحَمُcan be braved
إِلى العُلى غَمَراتٍ لَيسَ تُقتَحَمُ
Rise above mankind through endeavors that have often plunged
Listen to a judge residing powerfully in the heart
toward the heights through perils none can brave.
No less potent than what Zuhair's creation heard, O old one!
وَاِسمَعand listen لِحاكِمَةٍto a commanding utterance فيin القَلبِthe heart مُحكَمَةٍfirmly established
وَاِسمَع لِحاكِمَةٍ في القَلبِ مُحكَمَةٍ
لَمnot يَستَمِعheard مِنfrom زُهَيرٍZuhayr مِثلَهاits like هَرِمُHarim
لَم يَستَمِع مِن زُهَيرٍ مِثلَها هَرِمُ
And hear a commanding utterance, firmly set in the heart,
And I am rightful to speak at length should I one day
the like of which Harim never heard from Zuhayr.
Guide a crown whose pearls are words, O resolve!
وَإِنَّنيand indeed I لَجَديرٌam surely worthy أَنto أَطولَrise above others إِذاwhen
وَإِنَّني لَجَديرٌ أَن أَطولَ إِذا
أَصبَحتُI have become مُهدِيَthe giver of تاجٍa crown دُرُّهُwhose pearls الكَلِمُare words
أَصبَحتُ مُهدِيَ تاجٍ دُرُّهُ الكَلِمُ
I am indeed worthy to rise above others when
Words that exceed the limits of glory - neither
I become the giver of a crown whose pearls are words.
Strings nor melody can add to their beauty, O resolve!
قَولٌan utterance يُجاوِزُsurpasses غاياتِthe limits of البَهاءِsplendor فَماso not
قَولٌ يُجاوِزُ غاياتِ البَهاءِ فَما
تَزيدُadd فيto حُسنِهِits beauty الأَوتارُstrings وَالنَغَمُand melodies
تَزيدُ في حُسنِهِ الأَوتارُ وَالنَغَمُ
An utterance surpassing the utmost splendor, so that
Hard to lead, if you lend them an ear,
strings and melodies add nothing to its beauty.
You will know I am but a tongue, and time is the mouth, O resolve!
صَعبُhard القِيادِto rein إِذاwhen أَرعَيتَهُyou lent it أُذُناًan ear
صَعبُ القِيادِ إِذا أَرعَيتَهُ أُذُناً
عَلِمتَyou knew أَنّيthat I لِسانٌam a tongue وَالزَمانُand time فَمُis a mouth
عَلِمتَ أَنّي لِسانٌ وَالزَمانُ فَمُ
Hard to rein: if you lend it an ear,
What ambition is there I will not attain
you will know that I am a tongue and time a mouth.
When this position is as I aspire, O resolve!
وَأَيُّماand what بُغيَةٍgoal تَنأىlies far away عَلىbeyond أَمَليmy hope
وَأَيُّما بُغيَةٍ تَنأى عَلى أَمَلي
وَذاwhen this المَقامُstation إِلىto ماwhat أَبتَغيI seek لَقَمُis a broad highway
وَذا المَقامُ إِلى ما أَبتَغي لَقَمُ
What goal could lie beyond my hopes,
Our days in you are holidays, and our months,
when this station is a broad highway to what I seek?
For their ample safety, inviolable months, O resolve!
أَيّامُناour days بِكَthrough you أَعيادٌare festivals وَأَشهُرُناand our months
أَيّامُنا بِكَ أَعيادٌ وَأَشهُرُنا
مِنfrom كَثرَةِthe abundance of الأَمنِsafety فيهاwithin them أَشهُرٌare months حُرُمُsacred
مِن كَثرَةِ الأَمنِ فيها أَشهُرٌ حُرُمُ
Through you our days are festivals, and our months,
So may God, mighty, answer the prayers of one
from the abundance of safety within them, are sacred months.
Whose sanctuary encompasses those praying in your security, O resolve!
فَاللَهُso God عَزَّis exalted مُجيباًas an answerer فيكَconcerning you مُستَمِعٌhears
فَاللَهُ عَزَّ مُجيباً فيكَ مُستَمِعٌ
دُعاءَthe prayer of مَنone whom ضَمَّهُhas enfolded him فيin أَمنِكَyour protection الحَرَمُthe sanctuary
دُعاءَ مَن ضَمَّهُ في أَمنِكَ الحَرَمُ
So God, mighty in answering, hears concerning you
The hopes of Muslims in you were not dashed, so by your power
the prayer of one the sanctuary has enfolded in your protection.
Their world and religion were restored, protected in might, O resolve!
لاmay not خابَfail فيكَin you رَجاءُthe hope of المُسلِمينَMuslims فَقَدfor indeed
لا خابَ فيكَ رَجاءُ المُسلِمينَ فَقَد
صَحَّتbecame sound بِعِزِّكَthrough your might دُنياهُمtheir worldly life وَدينُهُمُand their faith
صَحَّت بِعِزِّكَ دُنياهُم وَدينُهُمُ
May the Muslims' hope in you never fail, for
And may your abode remain populous, and never
through your might their worldly life and faith have become sound.
Cease your blessings upon you, made perfect through you, O resolve!
وَدامَand may remain رَبعُكَyour dwelling مَأهولاًinhabited وَلاand may not بَرِحَتcease
وَدامَ رَبعُكَ مَأهولاً وَلا بَرِحَت
وَقفاًreserved عَلَيكَfor you كَماjust as تَمَّتwere perfected بِكَthrough you النِعَمُblessings
وَقفاً عَلَيكَ كَما تَمَّت بِكَ النِعَمُ
May your dwelling remain inhabited, and may there always be
blessings reserved for you, as through you they were perfected.
Partial English translation: 128 of 130 Arabic lines translated.