ذَكَرتُ مُحَمَّداً بِقَتلِ مُحَمَّدِ

ذَكَرتُ مُحَمَّداً بِقَتلِ مُحَمَّدِ

وَقَحطَبَةً ذِكراً طَويلَ البَلابِلِ

وَقَحطَبَةً ذِكراً طَويلَ البَلابِلِ

I remembered Muhammad at Muhammad’s slaying,

I recalled Muhammad in killing Muhammad,

and Qahtaba—a remembrance of enduring anguish.

And Qahtaba, a long recollection of misfortunes,

وَكانَ الأَسى قَد آلَ فيهِ إِلى الحَشا

وَكانَ الأَسى قَد آلَ فيهِ إِلى الحَشا

فَلَمّا اِستَجَرّاهُ جَرى في المَفاصِلِ

فَلَمّا اِستَجَرّاهُ جَرى في المَفاصِلِ

Grief had already settled deep within the heart;

And grief had ended up as wont in him,

then, when drawn forth, it coursed through the joints,

So when they drew him out, it flowed in the joints,

كَماءِ الغَديرِ اِمتَدَّ بَعدَ وُقوعِهِ

كَماءِ الغَديرِ اِمتَدَّ بَعدَ وُقوعِهِ

بِما هاجَ مِن فَيضِ التِلاع القَوابِلِ

بِما هاجَ مِن فَيضِ التِلاع القَوابِلِ

like a pool’s water, spreading after it had settled,

Like water of ponds spreading after its falling,

with the surging overflow of water-receiving gullies.

With what overflowed from the flood of destinies,

ثَوَوا في الثَرى مِن بَعدِما سُربِلوا العُلا

ثَوَوا في الثَرى مِن بَعدِما سُربِلوا العُلا

وَمِن بَعدِما سُمّوا نُجومَ المَحافِلِ

وَمِن بَعدِما سُمّوا نُجومَ المَحافِلِ

They rested in the earth after being robed in glory,

They rested in the dust after they were clad with glory,

and after being named the stars of gatherings.

And after they were named the stars of assemblies.

مَصارِعُ لَم تورِث شَناراً وَإِنَّها

مَصارِعُ لَم تورِث شَناراً وَإِنَّها

لَيَرتَعُ فيها شامِتٌ عِندَ جاهِلِ

لَيَرتَعُ فيها شامِتٌ عِندَ جاهِلِ

Deaths that brought no disgrace, though

Their resting places did not leave disgrace, though

a gloater surely revels in them before a fool.

A gloating ignorant one grazes there.

لَعَمرُكَ ما كانوا ثَلاثَةَ أُخوَةٍ

لَعَمرُكَ ما كانوا ثَلاثَةَ أُخوَةٍ

وَلَكِنَّهُم كانوا ثَلاثَ قَبائِلِ

وَلَكِنَّهُم كانوا ثَلاثَ قَبائِلِ

By your life, they were not three brothers,

By your life! They were not three brothers,

but they were three tribes.

But they were three tribes.