حَتّى مَتى نَحنُ عَلى فَترَةٍ

حَتّى مَتى نَحنُ عَلى فَترَةٍ

يا هاشِمٌ وَالقومُ في جَحفَلِ

يا هاشِمٌ وَالقومُ في جَحفَلِ

How long shall we remain in inaction,

How long shall we remain inactive,

O Hashim, while the people are gathered in a great host?

O Hashim, while the people are in turmoil,

يَدعونَ بِالخَيلِ لَدى رَقبَةٍ

يَدعونَ بِالخَيلِ لَدى رَقبَةٍ

مِنّا لَدى الخَوفِ وَفي مَعزلِ

مِنّا لَدى الخَوفِ وَفي مَعزلِ

They summon the cavalry, in apprehension

Calling for horses by the neck,

Of us, in fear and in a place apart;

While we remain fearful and isolated?

كَالرِجلَةِ السَوداءِ تَغلو بِها

كَالرِجلَةِ السَوداءِ تَغلو بِها

سَرعانُها في سَبسَبٍ مَجهَلِ

سَرعانُها في سَبسَبٍ مَجهَلِ

Like a black locust-swarm, sped onward

Like a black camel that wanders blindly

By its swiftest across a vast, trackless plain.

And soon gets lost in confusing terrain,

عَلَيهِمُ التَركُ عَلى رَعلَةٍ

عَلَيهِمُ التَركُ عَلى رَعلَةٍ

مِثلَ القَطا القارِبِ لِلمَنهَلِ

مِثلَ القَطا القارِبِ لِلمَنهَلِ

Helmets upon them, riding in a cavalry troop,

The Turks attack in raging madness

Like sandgrouse making for the watering place.

Like a wild cat approaching a watering hole,

يا قَومُ ذودوا عَن جَماهيرِكُم

يا قَومُ ذودوا عَن جَماهيرِكُم

بِكُلِّ مِقصالٍ عَلى مُسبِلِ

بِكُلِّ مِقصالٍ عَلى مُسبِلِ

O my people, defend your multitudes

O people, defend your community

With every cleaving sword, astride a long-tailed steed:

With every sharp blade on its sheath,

حَديدِ خَمسٍ لَهزٌ حَدُّهُ

حَديدِ خَمسٍ لَهزٌ حَدُّهُ

مَآرِثُ الأَفضَلِ لِلأَفضَلِ

مَآرِثُ الأَفضَلِ لِلأَفضَلِ

Keen-edged, measuring five [units], its edge a piercing thrust—

Five span swords that slice as they strike,

Heirlooms of the noblest, passed to the noblest.

Inheritance of the finest from the finest,

عَريضِ سِتٍّ لَهَبٌ حُضرُهُ

عَريضِ سِتٍّ لَهَبٌ حُضرُهُ

يُصانُ بِالتَذليقِ في مجدَلِ

يُصانُ بِالتَذليقِ في مجدَلِ

Broad, measuring six [units], its gallop a flame,

Six span wide swords that blaze as they slash,

Kept fit through conditioning within a fortress.

Honed to a polish in the whetstone,

فَكَم شَهِدتُ الحَربَ في فِتيَةٍ

فَكَم شَهِدتُ الحَربَ في فِتيَةٍ

عِندَ الوَغى في عِثيَرِ القَسطَلِ

عِندَ الوَغى في عِثيَرِ القَسطَلِ

For how often I have been at war among young men,

How many wars have I seen among noble youth

Amid battle's din, in the swirling dust-cloud,

In the chaos and dust of the battlefield,

وَلا مُتَنَحينَ إِذا جِئتَهُم

وَلا مُتَنَحينَ إِذا جِئتَهُم

وَفي هِياجِ الحَربِ كَالأَشبُلِ

وَفي هِياجِ الحَربِ كَالأَشبُلِ

Who never drew aside when you came to them,

Never flinching when you meet them,

And in war's tumult were like young lions.

And in the fury of war like lion cubs.