وكُنَّاand we were بالخَلِيفَةِwith the caliph قَدalready عَقَدناwe tied
وكُنَّا بالخَلِيفَةِ قَد عَقَدنا
لِواءَbanner الأمرِrule فَانتَقَضَthen it came undone اللِّواءُthe banner
لِواءَ الأمرِ فَانتَقَضَ اللِّواءُ
And with the caliph we had tied
the banner of rule, but the banner came undone.
فَنَحنُso we رَعِيَّةٌsubjects; a flock هَلَكَتperished ضَيَاعاthrough neglect
فَنَحنُ رَعِيَّةٌ هَلَكَت ضَيَاعا
تَسُوقُdrive بِنَاwith us إلىtoward الفِتَنِstrife الرُّعَاءُthe shepherds
تَسُوقُ بِنَا إلى الفِتَنِ الرُّعَاءُ
So we are a flock that has perished through neglect;
The shepherds drive us into strife.