يا مُنْكِراً هَدْمَ الحُصُونِ إذَا اعْتَصَتْ

يا مُنْكِراً هَدْمَ الحُصُونِ إذَا اعْتَصَتْ

بِدعائِمِ التَّأسِيسِ والتَّشهِيقِ

بِدعائِمِ التَّأسِيسِ والتَّشهِيقِ

O you who deny that fortresses can be demolished when secured

O you who deny the destruction of fortresses when they are supported

by the supports of firm foundations and lofty construction,

By the pillars of foundation and cheers,

أَرِنَا البُنَاةَ لَهَا أدَامُوا أمْ رُمُوا

أَرِنَا البُنَاةَ لَهَا أدَامُوا أمْ رُمُوا

بِمطيحِ ضَخْمِ السَّبقِ عَالي النِّيقِ

بِمطيحِ ضَخْمِ السَّبقِ عَالي النِّيقِ

Show us their builders: did they endure, or were they struck down

Show us the builders - did they last or perish

by what fells men of great preeminence and lofty summit?

By the blow of mighty precedence, highest prestige?

فهُمُ بحَيثُ تَرَى الصَّعيدَ وإنْ سَمَا

فهُمُ بحَيثُ تَرَى الصَّعيدَ وإنْ سَمَا

بِهِمُ الصُّعُود لمِسْبَحِ العَيُّوقِ

بِهِمُ الصُّعُود لمِسْبَحِ العَيُّوقِ

There they lie, where you see the soil, though borne aloft

For they are where you see the ground, and if they ascended

by ascent to where Capella swims.

With them the ascent to the horizon of the steep place,

كُلٌّ أَعَارَ الأرْضَ صَفْحةَ مُلْطِمٍ

كُلٌّ أَعَارَ الأرْضَ صَفْحةَ مُلْطِمٍ

حُرٍّ يَذِلُّ لَهُ النُّضَارُ عَتيقِ

حُرٍّ يَذِلُّ لَهُ النُّضَارُ عَتيقِ

Each lent the earth the surface of a cheek,

Each lent the earth the face of a crusher,

noble and fine, before which pure gold is humbled.

A free man who humiliates the delicate ancient one,

وَفَرَى البِلَى شَبَحاً لَو أنَّكَ سُمْتَهُ

وَفَرَى البِلَى شَبَحاً لَو أنَّكَ سُمْتَهُ

حَمْلَ الهِضَابِ لجَاءَهَا بمُطيقِ

حَمْلَ الهِضَابِ لجَاءَهَا بمُطيقِ

And decay rent a body which, had you charged it

And saw decay a ghost - if you called it

to bear the hills, would have proved a capable bearer;

The bearing of plateaus, it would come with a carrier,

ورَحيبِ صَدْرٍ لَو حَكَمتَ عَليهِ أنْ

ورَحيبِ صَدْرٍ لَو حَكَمتَ عَليهِ أنْ

يَسَعَ البِلادَ لما اتَّقَاكَ بضِيقِ

يَسَعَ البِلادَ لما اتَّقَاكَ بضِيقِ

And one broad of breast who, had you decreed that he should

And a chest so broad that if you judged it

encompass the lands, would not have pleaded lack of room.

To contain the countries, it would not avoid you for narrowness,

وبَنِيَّةُ الخَلاّقِ إنْ تُهدَمْ فَلاَ

وبَنِيَّةُ الخَلاّقِ إنْ تُهدَمْ فَلاَ

تَعْجَبْ لِهَدْمِ بَنِيَّةِ المَخْلُوقِ

تَعْجَبْ لِهَدْمِ بَنِيَّةِ المَخْلُوقِ

And if the Creator’s edifice is demolished, do not

And the structure of the Creator - if it collapses, then do not

marvel at the demolition of the creature’s edifice.

Be surprised at the collapse of the structure of the created.