آلَت أُمورُ الشِركِ شَرَّ مَآلِ

وَأَقَرَّ بَعدَ تَخَمُّطٍ وَصِيالِ

The affairs of polytheism ended in the worst outcome,

The schemes of Polytheism met a vile end,

And settled down after much turmoil and wailing.

Quelled and subdued after their violent trend.

غَضِبَ الخَليفَةُ لِلخِلافَةِ غَضبَةً

رَخُصَت لَها المُهجاتُ وَهيَ غَوالي

The caliph was enraged regarding the caliphate with great rage,

The Caliph’s wrath for the Caliphate arose,

The cities were made easy prey for him while he assaulted them.

Spending dear souls as cheap to crush his foes.

لَمّا اِنتَضى جَهلَ السُيوفِ لِبابَكٍ

أَغمَدنَ عَنهُ جَهالَةَ الجُهّالِ

When the ignorance of the swords rose up against Babak,

When he drew the swords’ blind fury against Babak’s might,

It sheathed its blade from him out of ignorance of the ignorant.

They sheathed the ignorance of fools in endless night.

فَلِأَذرَبيجانَ اِختِيالٌ بَعدَما

كانَت مُعَرَّسَ عَبرَةٍ وَنَكالِ

So Azerbaijan has become arrogant after it

Now Azerbaijan struts in robes of pride,

Had been a lesson and example of destruction and suffering.

Where once only anguish and torment did abide.

سَمُجَت وَنَبَّهَنا عَلى اِستِسماجِها

ما حَولَها مِن نَضرَةٍ وَجَمالِ

It intoxicated us and alerted us to its intoxication

It had grown foul, yet we only knew its blight

Due to its blossoming and beauty all around it.

By the contrasting bloom of beauty and light.

وَكَذاكَ لَم تُفرِط كَآبَةُ عاطِلٍ

حَتّى يُجاوِرَها الزَمانُ بِحالي

Neither did the gloom of a jobless person continue

Just as a bare neck seems not so stark and bare

Until time joined it in the same state.

Until a jeweled throat comes to neighbor there.

أَطلَقتَها مِن كَيدِهِ وَكَأَنَّما

كانَت بِهِ مَعقولَةً بِعِقالِ

You saved it from his plot as if

You freed the land from his plotting and his snare,

It had been tied down by reason and intellect.

As though it were hobbled by a rope of despair.

خُرُقٌ مِنَ الأَيّامِ مَدَّ بِضَبعِهِ

صُعُداً وَأَعطاهُ بِغَيرِ سُؤالِ

A breach of days extended its paws

A fool of fortune stretched his arm up high,

And it gave him gifts without asking.

Granted gifts by Fate without a questioning sigh.

خافَ العَزيزُ بِهِ الذَليلَ وَغودِرَت

نَبَعاتُ نَجدٍ سُجَّداً لِلضالِ

The mighty feared the lowly because of it and

Through him the mighty came to fear the low,

The springs of Nejd bowed down to the lost.

And noble cedars bowed to weeds in woe.

قَد أُترِعَت مِنهُ الجَوانِحُ رَهبَةً

بَطَلَت لَدَيها سَورَةُ الأَبطالِ

The wild beasts were frightened of it to the point

Hearts were filled to the brim with dread and fright,

That the chapter of heroes was rendered futile before it.

Quelling the hero’s surge and martial might.

لَو لَم يُزاحِفهُم لَزاحَفَهُم لَهُ

ما في صُدورِهِمُ مِنَ الأَوجالِ

If he did not make them give allegiance they would have given allegiance,

Had he not marched, the terrors in their breast

Due to what was in their breasts of burdens.

Would have marched for him at his behest.

بَحرٌ مِنَ المَكروهِ عَبَّ عُبابُهُ

وَلَقَد بَدا وَشَلاً مِنَ الأَوشالِ

A sea of hated things, its billows overflowed,

A sea of loathing whose waves rose high and steep,

And it certainly appeared weak and failing from the eddies.

Yet seemed a mere trickle to the ocean deep.

جَفَّت بِهِ النِعَمُ النَواعِمُ وَاِنثَنَت

سُرُجُ الهُدى فيهِ بِغَيرِ ذُبالِ

The gentle blessings dried up because of it and

Soft graces withered in his arid wake,

The lamp of guidance in it was extinguished without a wick.

And lamps of guidance failed, for darkness' sake.

وَأَباحَ نَصلَ السَيفِ كُلَّ مُرَشَّحٍ

لَم يَحمَرِر دَمُهُ مِنَ الأَطفالِ

And it permitted the blades of swords against every fighter

He fed the sword-blade every budding life,

Whose blood had not been shed since childhood.

Babes whose blood had yet to know the knife.

ما حَلَّ في الدُنيا فُواقَ بَكِيَّةٍ

حَتّى دَعاهُ السَيفُ بِالتَرحالِ

Nothing in the world was long-lasting except sorrow

He tarried not a moment’s breath or space

Until the sword summoned it to travel.

Before the sword-edge called him from his place.

رُعباً أَراهُ أَنَّهُ لَم يَقتُلِ الآ

سادَ مَن أَبقى عَلى الأَشبالِ

I saw that its killing did not kill except

Terror taught him he had not slain the pride,

Those who remained of the youth.

But spared the cubs who in the lair abide.

لَو عايَنَ الدَجّالُ بَعضَ فَعالِهِ

لَاِنهَلَّ دَمعُ الأَعوَرِ الدَجّالِ

If the Antichrist were to witness some of its deeds

Had the Antichrist but seen his wicked art,

The tear of the one-eyed Antichrist would flow.

Tears would flow from that one-eyed monster's heart.

أَعطى أَميرُ المُؤمِنينَ سُيوفَهُ

فيهِ الرِضا وَحُكومَةَ المُقتالِ

The Commander of the Faithful gave his swords

The Commander of the Faithful gave his steel

Both contentment and authority to kill.

Full reign to judge and make the rebel kneel.

مُستَيقِناً أَن سَوفَ يَمحوَ قَتلُهُ

ما كانَ مِن سَهوٍ وَمِن إِغفالِ

Certain that its killing would erase

Certain that his death would wash away

Whatever mistakes and oversights there were.

The negligence and errors of yesterday.

مِثلُ الصَلاةِ إِذا أُقيمَت أَصلَحَت

ما قَبلَها مِن سائِرِ الأَعمالِ

Like the prayer, if it is established it corrects

Like prayer, when offered true and rites are said,

Whatever deeds preceded it from all acts.

Redeems the past and sanctifies the dead.

فَرَماهُ بِالأَفشينِ بِالنَجمِ الَّذي

صَدَعَ الدُجى صَدعَ الرِداءِ البالي

So he threw at him the virtuous with the star that

He cast Afshin against him like a star

Split the darkness, split the worn-out cloak.

That rends the dark as tattered garments are.

لاقاهُ بِالكاوي العَنيفِ بِدائِهِ

لَمّا رَآهُ لَم يُفِق بِالطالي

He met him with the burning spearhead with his affliction,

He met the sickness with a brand of fire;

When he saw that he did not regain consciousness after being wrapped.

No gentle spell could check that fever dire.

يا يَومَ أَرشَقَ كُنتَ رَشقَ مَنِيَّةٍ

لِلخُرَّمِيَّةِ صائِبِ الآجالِ

O day you shone, you were the death shroud

O Day of Arshaq, you were Death’s own dart,

For the vile one, the fated one of death.

Striking the Khurramites within the heart.

قَد شَمَّروا عَن سوقِهِم في ساعَةٍ

أَمَرَت إِزارَ الحَربِ بِالإِسبالِ

They rolled up their sleeves in an hour

They bared their shins for flight in desperate hour,

When the command ordered pulling up the waist wrapper.

When War let down her skirts with heavy power.

وَكَذاكَ ما تَنجَرُّ أَذيالُ الوَغى

إِلّا غَداةَ تَشَمُّرِ الأَذيالِ

Just as the train of commotion is never dragged

For the robes of battle trail upon the ground

Except on the morning of tucking up the trains.

Only when tucked-up garments flee the sound.

لَمّا رَآهُم بابَكٌ دونَ المُنى

هَجَرَ الغَوايَةَ بَعدَ طولِ وِصالِ

When Babak saw them close to destruction

When Babak saw his hopes had turned to dust,

He renounced misguidance after a long association.

He left the error he had held in trust.

تَخِذَ الفِرارَ أَخاً وَأَيقَنَ أَنَّهُ

صِرِّيُّ عَزمٍ مِن أَبي سَمّالِ

He took flight as a brother and was certain that he

He took flight for a brother, knowing well

Was resolute, from Abu Sammal.

That firm resolve had rung his final knell.

قَد كانَ حُزنُ الخَطبِ في أَحزانِهِ

فَدَعاهُ داعي الحَينِ لِلإِسهالِ

The worry of misfortune was part of his worries

His strength lay in the rugged mountain steep,

So the caller of the time called him for diarrhea.

But Death called him to valleys low and deep.

لَبِسَت لَهُ خُدَعُ الحُروبِ زَخارِفاً

فَرَّقنَ بَينَ الهَضبِ وَالأَوعالِ

The tricks of wars adorned it with vain things

War’s stratagems put on a gilded guise,

That separated between the plateau and valleys.

To sever ibex from the hills they prize.

وَوَرَدنَ موقاناً عَلَيهِ شَوازِباً

شُعثاً بِشُعثٍ كَالقَطا الأَرسالِ

And they advanced toward him with straightened gray hair,

They reached Muqan, lean steeds of dusty hue,

Disheveled with dishevelment like unleashed cats.

Like flocks of sandgrouse when the dawn is new.

يَحمِلنَ كُلَّ مُدَجَّجٍ سُمرُ القَنا

بِإِهابِهِ أَولى مِنَ السِربالِ

Each armed man carries the reddish dye of henna,

Bearing armored men whose tawny spears

More appropriate on him than the overlapping garment.

Cling closer than the shirts the warrior wears.

خَلَطَ الشَجاعَةَ بِالحَياءِ فَأَصبَحا

كَالحُسنِ شيبَ لِمُغرَمٍ بِدَلالِ

It mixed courage with shame so they became

He blended valor with a modest air,

Like beauty - white hair for one passionately in love.

Like beauty mixed with coyness in the fair.

فَنَجا وَلَو يَثقَفنَهُ لَتَرَكنَهُ

بِالقاعِ غَيرَ مُوَصَّلِ الأَوصالِ

So he escaped, and if they had found him they would have left him

He fled—had they but caught him in that chase,

On the ground with severed limbs.

They’d left his severed limbs upon the place.

وَاِنصاعَ عَن موقانَ وَهيَ لِجُندِهِ

وَلَهُ أَبٌ بَرٌّ وَأُمُّ عِيالِ

He escaped from Mauqan while its army

From Muqan he retreated, though it stood

Had a righteous father and a family dependent on him.

As father, mother, to his soldier brood.

كَم أَرضَعَتهُ الرِسلَ لَو أَنَّ القَنا

تَرَكَ الرِضاعَ لَهُ بِغَيرِ فِضالِ

How many letters would have suckled him if the spear

How often it had nursed him at its breast!

Had left suckling him without further merit.

Had spears not weaned him from that place of rest.

هَيهاتَ رُوِّعَ روعُهُ بِفَوارِسٍ

في الحَربِ لا كُشُفٍ وَلا أَميالِ

Alas - his spirit was frightened by horsemen

Alas! His heart was struck by knights of fame,

In war, without disclosure or milestones.

Who in the fray expose no flank to shame.

جَعَلوا القَنا الدَرَجاتِ لِلكَذَجاتِ ذا

تِ الغيلِ وَالحَرَجاتِ وَالأَدحالِ

They made the spear the stairways for the stupid, those

They made their spears a ladder to the height,

With filth, roughness, and meanness.

Through thicket, cave, and fortress in the night.

فَأُولاكَ هُم قَد أَصبَحوا وَشُروبُهُم

يَتَنادَمونَ كُؤوسَ سوءِ الحالِ

So those have become in the morning whilst their drinking

Now they and all their comrades drain the cup

Makes them regret the cups of bad state.

Of bitter fortune that the Fates fill up.

ما طالَ بَغيٌ قَطُّ إِلّا غادَرَت

غُلَواؤُهُ الأَعمارَ غَيرَ طِوالِ

No oppression ever became prolonged

No tyranny endures for long, but brings

Except that its darkness outlived ages without end.

A swift and sudden end to tyrant kings.

وَبِهَضبَتَي أَبرَشتَويمَ وَدَروَذٍ

لَقِحتِ لَقاحَ النَصرِ بَعدَ حِيالِ

And by the plateaus of Abarshtauim and Darauz

At Abrashtawim and Darwadh’s steep terrain,

It was pollinated with the pollen of victory after despair.

Victory was conceived after barren pain.

يَومٌ أَضاءَ بِهِ الزَمانُ وَفَتَّحَت

فيهِ الأَسِنَّةُ زَهرَةَ الآمالِ

A day in which time shone and

A day that made the very age shine bright,

Tongues opened the flower of hopes in it.

Where spear-points opened blossoms of delight.

لَولا الظَلامُ وَقُلَّةٌ عَلِقوا بِها

باتَت رِقابُهُمُ بِغَيرِ قِلالِ

If not for the darkness and scarcity they attached themselves to

But for the dark and crags where they could flee,

Their necks would have remained without necklaces.

Their severed heads would keep no company.

فَليَشكُروا جُنحَ الظَلامِ وَدَروَذاً

فَهُمُ لِدَروَذَ وَالظَلامِ مَوالي

So let them thank the wing of darkness and Darauz

Let them give thanks to Darwadh and the night,

For they are loyal to Darauz and the darkness.

To whom they owe the saving of their plight.

وَسَرَوا بِقارِعَةِ البَياتِ فَزُحزِحوا

بِقِراعِ لا صَلِفٍ وَلا مُختالِ

And they were elated at nightfall which drove them away

They launched a night raid in their desperate path,

By a knocking with no slenderness or pretentiousness.

But met a steady stroke that quelled their wrath.

مَهَرَ البَياتَ الصَبرَ في مُتَعَطَّفٍ

الصَبرُ والٍ فيهِ فَوقَ الوالي

Patience taught nightfall the meaning of patience in a gentle way,

He met the raid with patience as its dower,

Patience in it is above the guardian.

A patience ruling with sovereign power.

ما كانَ ذاكَ الهَولُ أَجمَعُ عِندَهُ

مَعَ عَزمِهِ إِلّا طُروقَ خَيالِ

That terror was not altogether in his view,

That gathered terror, faced with his resolve,

Along with his resolve, except fantasies.

Seemed but a phantom ready to dissolve.

وَعَشِيَّةُ التَلَّ الَّذي نَعَشَ الهُدى

أُصُلٌ لَها فَخمٌ مِنَ الآصالِ

And the evening of that rise which gave life to guidance

The evening of that Hill revived the Right,

Has noble, magnificent origins.

A noble root for every coming night.

نَزَلَت مَلائِكَةُ السَماءِ عَلَيهِمُ

لَمّا تَداعى المُسلِمونَ نَزالِ

The angels of heaven descended upon them

The angels of the heavens then came down

When the Muslims flocked to the descent.

When Muslims cried for battle and renown.

لَم يُكسَ شَخصٌ فَيئَهُ حَتّى رَمى

وَقتُ الزَوالِ نَعيمَهُم بِزَوالِ

No person wore his finery until

Before a man could wear his shadow’s length,

The time of decline eradicated their bliss by declining.

The noon had stripped them of their joy and strength.

بَرَزَت بِهِم هَفَواتُ عِلجِهِمُ وَقَد

يُردي الجِمالَ تَعَسُّفُ الجَمّالِ

Their buried shortcomings appeared because of it, and

Their leader’s errors led them to the grave;

Trespassing the beauty spoils the beautiful.

A rough hand kills the camels it should save.

فَكَأَنَّما اِحتالَت عَلَيهِ نَفسُهُ

إِذ لَم تَنَلهُ حيلَةُ المُحتالِ

It is as if his soul schemed against him

It seemed his very soul plotted his fall,

Since the tricks of the schemer did not reach him.

When other tricks had failed to breach the wall.

فَالبَذُّ أَغبَرُ دارِسُ الأَطلالِ

لِيَدِ الرَدى أُكُلٌ مِنَ الآكالِ

So shame on the one who destroys ruins!

Now Al-Badh lies in dust, a ruined heap,

He is food for the hands of time from the gluttons.

Where Destruction’s hand has harvested so deep.

أَلوَت بِهِ يَومَ الخَميسِ كَتائِبٌ

أَرسَلنَهُ مَثَلاً مِنَ الأَمثالِ

Squadrons that made him an example

On Thursday, squadrons swept it from the land,

Defeated him on Thursday.

Making a proverb of its shifting sand.

مَحوٌ مِنَ البيضِ الرِقاقِ أَصابَهُ

فَعَفاهُ لا مَحوٌ مِنَ الأَحوالِ

It erased him with an erasure from ivory parchments that

Erased by fine white swords and martial storm,

No erasure of conditions relieved him.

Not by the weathering of time’s slow form.

ريحانِ مِن صَبرٍ وَنَصرٍ أَبلَيا

رَبعَيهِ لا ريحا صَباً وَشَمالِ

A garden of patience and victory enveloped

Two winds—of patience and of victory—

Its plains without any east or west winds blowing.

Wore down its walls, not gales from off the sea.

لَفَحَت سَمومُ المَشرَفِيَّةِ وَسطَهُ

وَهَجاً وَكُنَّ سَوابِغَ الأَظلالِ

The poisons of Mashrifeh pierced his middle

The scorching wind of swords blew through its square,

With love and they were void of shade.

Though casting long and deadly shadows there.

كَم صارِمٍ عَضبٍ أَنافَ عَلى فَتىً

مِنهُم لِأَعباءِ الوَغى حَمّالِ

How many sharp, angry swords have burdened

How many sharp blades towered o’er a knight

The burden of a lad from them with commotion.

Who once bore heavy burdens in the fight!

سَبَقَ المَشيبَ إِلَيهِ حَتّى اِبتَزَّهُ

وَطَنُ النُهى مِن مَفرِقٍ وَقَذالِ

Old age had outrun him until it tested him,

It beat the gray hair to his youthful head,

And the effeminacy of parting and separation disgraced him.

And snatched the mind before the youth was dead.

كُرّامَةٍ وَسطَ المَنِيَّةِ وَحدَها

لُوّامَةِ الأَعمامِ وَالأَخوالِ

It was noble in the midst of death and lonely in and of itself

A noble death amidst the fray alone,

The in-laws and paternal uncles’ disgrace.

Reproaching kin who left him on his own.

قاسى حَياةَ الكَلبِ إِلّا أَنَّهُ

قَد ماتَ صَبراً ميتَةَ الرِئبالِ

He suffered the life of a dog except that

He lived a dog’s life, base and lacking pride,

He died of patience with the death of beasts of prey.

Yet steadfast as a lion when he died.

أُبنا بِكُلِّ خَريدَةٍ قَد أَنجَزَت

فيها عِداتُ الدَهرِ بَعدَ مِطالِ

Every wicked has built it, after hope

We came back with young maidens, fair and bright,

The treacheries of time have fulfilled after [being] long.

Fulfilling Time’s promise after long night.

خاضَت مَحاسِنَها مَخاوِفُ غادَرَت

ماءَ الصَبا وَالحُسنِ غَيرَ زُلالِ

Its beauty waded through the fears of traitorous

Fear waded through their beauty, and it left

Water of youth and beauty without turbidity.

The spring of youth murky and bereft.

أُعجِلنَ عَن شَدِّ الإِزارِ وَرُبَّما

عُوِّدنَ أَن يَمشِينَ غَيرَ عِجالِ

They were quick to tighten the waistband and sometimes

Rushed from their chambers ere they tied their dress,

They were accustomed to walking without rushing.

Who once walked slow in ease and gentleness.

بُدِّلنَ طولَ إِذالَةٍ بِصِيانَةٍ

وَكُسورَ خيمٍ مِن كُسورِ حِجالِ

They exchanged days of humiliation for chastity

They traded guarding for a shame profound,

And torn tents for the torn remainder.

And curtained rooms for tents upon the ground.

وَنَجا اِبنُ خائِنَةِ البُعولَةِ لَو نَجا

بِمُهَفهَفِ الكَشحَينِ وَالآطالِ

And the son of the traitorous wife escaped, if he escaped,

The son of the unfaithful wife has fled,

With the swooning of giddiness and exhaustion.

Escaping with his life by slender thread.

خَلّى الأَحِبَّةَ سالِماً لا ناسِياً

عُذرُ النَسِيِّ خِلافُ عُذرِ السالي

He left the loved ones unharmed, not forgetful,

He left his loved ones—safe, but not forgetting;

The excuse of the forgetful is contrary to the excuse of the safe.

A flight distinct from careless sun-setting.

هَتَكَت عَجاجَتَهُ القَنا عَن وامِقٍ

أَهدى الطِعانُ لَهُ خَليقَةَ قالِ

His virility that the spear stripped from formidable

The spears tore through the dust to find a lover,

The obedient gifted him with a fitting mood.

But hatred was the gift they did uncover.

إِنَّ الرِماحَ إِذا غُرِسنَ بِمَشهَدٍ

فَجَنى العَوالي في ذَراهُ مَعالِ

Indeed when the spears are planted in a witnessing place

For when the spears are planted in the field,

The most high gather fruit in its branches.

Their high points make the highest honors yield.

لَمّا قَضى رَمَضانُ مِنهُ قَضاءَهُ

شالَت بِهِ الأَيّامُ في شَوّالِ

When Ramadan fulfilled its duty toward him

When Ramadan had judged him by its law,

The days carried him in Shawwal.

The days uplifted him in month Shawwal.

ما زالَ مَغلولَ العَزيمَةِ سادِراً

حَتّى غَدا في القَيدِ وَالأَغلالِ

He did not cease to be bound, departing,

His will was shackled while he roamed confused,

Until morning found him in chains and shackles,

Until by iron chains he was abused.

مُستَسبِلاً لِلبَأسِ طَوقاً مِن دَمٍ

لَمّا اِستَبانَ فَظاظَةَ الخَلخالِ

Seeking permission for heroism, a collar of blood,

He wore a collar of his own red blood

When the monstrosity of the anklets became clear.

When iron anklets stemmed the walking flood.

ما نيلَ حَتّى طارَ مِن خَوفِ الرَدى

كُلَّ المَطارِ وَجالَ كُلَّ مَجالِ

There was no escape until all the fugitives fled

Not caught until he flew in fear of death

And every course moved and roamed.

To every corner, gasping out his breath.

وَالنَحرُ أَصلَحُ لِلشَرودِ وَما شَفى

مِنهُ كَنَحرٍ بَعدَ طولِ كَلالِ

And slaughter is more fitting for perversion, and not healed

Slaughter befits the beast that runs away;

From it like the throat after prolonged emaciation.

Only the knife could heal that long delay.

لاقى الحِمامَ بِسُرَّ مَن راءَ الَّتي

شَهِدَت لِمَصرَعِهِ بِصِدقِ الفالِ

He met the neck at the secret of the one who envisaged

He met his doom in Surra Man Ra’a,

That her vision testified to his death truthfully.

Where names proved true in a prophetic way.

قُطِعَت بِهِ أَسبابُهُ لَمّا رَمى

بِالطَرفِ بَينَ الفيلِ وَالفَيّالِ

His means were cut off when he threw

His ropes were severed when he cast his eye

With a glance between the elephant and the lead horses.

Between the elephant and keeper nigh.

أَهدى لِمَتنِ الجِذعِ مَتنَيهِ كَذا

مَن عافَ مَتنَ الأَسمَرِ العَسّالِ

He gifted the succulent body their succulent bodies, thus

He gave his back unto the wooden stake,

He who refrains from the brown of the sweet honey maker.

Who shunned the spear for his own safety’s sake.

لا كَعبَ أَسفَلُ مَوضِعاً مِن كَعبِهِ

مَعَ أَنَّهُ عَن كُلِّ كَعبٍ عالِ

Not every this succulent lower than a succulent place from him

No heel is lower than his heel in worth,

While he is loftier than every succulent place.

Though he is raised above the heels of earth.

سامٍ كَأَنَّ العِزَّ يَجذِبُ ضَبعَهُ

وَسُمُوُّهُ مِن ذِلَّةٍ وَسَفالِ

Elevated as if honor pulls its limb

High up, as if by Glory raised on high,

And his loftiness from meagerness and lowness.

Yet low and abject in the public eye.

مُتَفَرِّغٌ أَبَداً وَلَيسَ بِفارِغٍ

مَن لا سَبيلَ لَهُ إِلى الأَشغالِ

Always preoccupied and not without occupation

Forever idle, yet not at his ease,

Is he who has no way to distractions.

Barred from all work and life’s activities.

فَاِسلَم أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ لِأُمَّةٍ

أَبدَلتَها الإِمراعَ بِالإِمحالِ

So surrender the Commander of the Faithful to a nation

Live long, Commander of the Faithful, save

That habituation replaced with inability.

The realm to which new fertile life you gave.

أَمسى بِكَ الإِسلامُ بَدراً بَعدَ ما

مُحِقَت بَشاشَتُهُ مُحاقَ هِلالِ

Through you, Islam became full after what

Through you, Islam is now a full moon bright,

Its cheerfulness was erased with erasure of the crescent.

After the waning of its crescent light.

أَكمَلتَ مِنهُ بَعدَ نَقصٍ كُلَّ ما

نَقَصَتهُ أَيدي الكُفرِ بَعدَ كَمالِ

You completed from it after deficiency whatever

You made complete what had been reft away

The hands of disbelief diminished after perfection.

By Unbelief’s dark hands in their decay.

أَلبَستَهُ أَيّامَكَ الغُرَّ الَّتي

أَيّامُ غَيرِكَ عِندَهُنَّ لَيالي

You clothed it with your pleasant days that

You robed it in your days of radiant white;

The days of others with them are nights.

All other days, to yours, are black as night.

وَعَزائِماً في الرَوعِ مُعتَصِمِيَّةً

مَيمونَةَ الإِدبارِ وَالإِقبالِ

And resolves steadfast in fright

With Mu’tasim’s resolve in war’s alarms,

Blessed in retreat and advance.

Blessed in retreat and in the clash of arms.

فَتَعَمُّقُ الوُزَراءِ يَطفو فَوقَها

طَفوَ القَذى وَتَعَقُّبُ العُذّالِ

So the deep thoughts of ministers float above it

The depth of viziers floats like foam above

Like the floating of motes and the pursuits of blamers.

Your deep resolve that critics cannot move.

وَالسَيفُ ما لَم يُلفَ فيهِ صَيقَلٌ

مِن طَبعِهِ لَم يَنتَفِع بِصِقالِ

And the sword, if polish is not wound around it,

For if the steel lacks temper in the grain,

Does not benefit from burning.

The polisher will ply his craft in vain.