الحق يعلو والصلاح يعمر

والزور يمحق والفساد يدمر

Truth rises, and righteousness builds.

Falsehood is effaced, and corruption destroys.

والبغي مصرعه ذميم لم يزل

آتيه عرضة كل سوء يثبر

Oppression's downfall has ever been disgraceful;

its perpetrator is prey to every ruinous evil.

والوغد تبطره من النعم التي

يغنى بها الحرّ الكريم ويشكر

The base man is made insolent by those blessings

that enrich the free, noble man, who gives thanks.

طغت الطغاة الروس لما غرَّهم

في الأرض كثر سوادهم وتجبروا

The Russian tyrants grew oppressive when they were deceived

by their vast numbers upon the earth, and became arrogant.

كادوا ويرجع كيدهم في نحرهم

فطُلاهم دون القواضب ينحر

They plotted, but their plotting rebounds upon their throats;

their necks are slaughtered without even the keen blades.

المعتدون ولا نهى تنهاهم

الظالمون القاسطون الفجّر

Aggressors, with no reason to restrain them,

oppressors, unjust men, evildoers.

نقضوا العهود وكان ذلك دأبهم

لؤماً وللعدوان بغياً أضمروا

They broke their covenants, as was their habit,

in baseness, and harbored unjust aggression.

حتى أرى بعض المآثر رأسُهم

بخس الحقوق وساء من يستأثر

Their chief even numbered among glorious deeds

the withholding of rights; evil is he who takes all for himself.

أيظن أن الدولة العليا السويد

وإنّه هو بطرس المتأخر

Does he think the Sublime State is Sweden,

and that he is a latter-day Peter?

كلاّ ليرتدعنَّ ثم ليعلمنّ

أن ربَّها من يبتغيها يثأر

No! He shall surely be checked, and then shall know

that its lord takes vengeance on whoever seeks to seize it.

يا مسلمون تثبّتوا إن جاءكم

نبأ عن الروس العدى وتبصّروا

Muslims, ascertain the truth if there reaches you

news of the hostile Russians, and discern clearly.

لا يغررنَّكم كثير جموعهم

فالحق ليس يضيره المستكثر

Do not let their many hosts deceive you:

truth is not harmed by one who amasses numbers.

يا مؤمنون هو الجهاد فبادروا

متطوعين إليه حتى تؤجروا

Believers, this is jihad: hasten

to it willingly, that you may be rewarded.

هذا جهاد الله يحمي عرضكم

فاسخوا عليه بكل علق يُدخر

This is God's jihad, protecting your honor;

give generously for it every treasured possession.

في لَنْ تنالوا البر حتى تنفقوا

مّما تُحبون الدليل الأظهر

In 'You shall not attain righteousness until you spend

of what you love' lies the clearest proof.

وتمسكوا بالعروة الوثقى من ال

صبر الجميل على القتال وذمّروا

And hold fast to the firmest bond of

beautiful patience in battle, and urge one another on.

يغنيكم التكبير والتهليل عن

أن تعملوا فيهم سلاحاً يبتر

Proclaiming God's greatness and oneness suffices you instead of

wielding against them a weapon that severs.

فالقوهم بهما كفاحاً تظفروا

وعليهم صولوا وطولوا وانفروا

Meet them face to face with both, and you shall triumph;

charge them, overpower them, and march forth.

واغزوهم بحراً وبراً واحشدوا

ركباً وفرسانا ونسرهم انسروا

Attack them by sea and land, and muster

riders and horsemen; tear apart their eagle.

لو لم يكن منكم سوى نفر لما

غلبوا فكيف بكم وأنتم أكثر

Were there only a handful of you, they would not

have prevailed; how then against you, who outnumber

من كل فتاك إذا اعترضت له

يوماً شعوب ... يُدمر

every deadly fighter who, if confronted

one day by Death ... is destroyed?

انتم عباد الله حقاً فاعبدوا

للدّين فهو بكم يعزّ ويجبر

You are truly God's servants, so serve

the faith, which through you grows mighty and is strengthened.

واحموا حقيقتكم فحفظ ذماركم

فرض عليكم ليس عنه تأخر

Defend your sacred honor, for guarding what you must protect

is your duty, admitting no delay.

غاروا على الإسلام حتى ترفعوا

أعلامه فلكم به أن تفخروا

Stand zealously for Islam until you raise

its banners; you have cause to take pride in it.

لا تسمع الأجراس في أوطانكم

بدل النداء ولا ينجس منبر

Let no bells be heard in your homelands

instead of the call to prayer, nor let a pulpit be defiled.

وليسمعن اليوم في أرجائكم

قرع القوانس بالظبى أو تخدروا

Let there be heard today throughout your lands

the clash of helmets against blades—or will you remain numb?

فلذاك أشجى من غناء مطرّب

بمسامع القوم الذين به ضروا

For that is more stirring than a singer's song

in the ears of men accustomed to it.

لكن يد الله القوية معكم

توليكم أيداً فلن تتقهقروا

But God's mighty hand is with you,

granting you strength, so you shall not retreat.

ما أن يقاويكم بهم من عسكر

لو أن ملء الأرض طراً عسكر

No army of theirs can match your strength,

even were the whole earth filled with troops.

قد قال في الذكر المفصل ربكم

حقاً علينا نصرهم فتذكروا

Your Lord has said in the clearly expounded Revelation:

'Their victory is incumbent upon Us'—so remember.

ما الله مخلف وعده لعباده

إن هم بعصمته اتقوا واستنصروا

God does not break His promise to His servants

if, under His protection, they are reverent and seek His aid.

قد كان مولاكم وهاهو لم يزل

وزراً لكم أيّان كنتم يخفر

He has been your protector, and here He remains,

a refuge for you, guarding you wherever you are.

ولربما شرعوا الرماح عليكم

لكن على إنفاذها لن يقدروا

They may level their spears against you,

but they will not be able to drive them through.

لن يعمل البتّار إلا أن يشا

ءالله ما شيء سواه مؤثر

The cleaving blade acts only by the will

of God; nothing beside Him has any effect.

والنار منهم إن يُرد إطفاؤها

برد فلا تلظى ولا تتسعّر

Their fire, if He wills its extinguishing,

is coolness: it neither blazes nor flares.

وإذا يشاء يثلّ عرشهم فلن

يستقدموا عنه ولن يستأخروا

If He wills to topple their throne, they shall neither

hasten that moment nor delay it.

غاروا على حرم مخدرة لكم

قد طالما أُحْصنَّ عمن يعهر

Defend zealously your secluded women,

so long safeguarded from the lecher.

أيقودهن اليوم علج فاجر

وسيوفكم بدمائهم لا تقطر

Shall a debauched barbarian lead them away today,

while your swords do not drip with their blood?

ولئن يكن نجسا ورجساً مسها

فبخوضها قد حلّ أن تتطهروا

Even if touching it be foulness and defilement,

by plunging into it you may now purify yourselves.

الصبر محمود ولكن حين تن

تهك المحارم لا أرى أن تصبروا

Patience is praiseworthy, but when

sacred bounds are violated, I see no cause for patience.

لا خير في عيش يقارف ذلّة

حاشاكم أن تفشلوا أو تدبروا

There is no good in a life that embraces humiliation;

far be it from you to falter or turn your backs.

شهد الإله بأنه مولاكم

ونصيركم فبحمده فاستظهروا

God has borne witness that He is your protector

and helper; praising Him, seek strength.

والله قد وعد المجاهد منكم

فتحاً مبيناً في الكتاب فأبشروا

God has promised the warrior among you

a clear victory in the Book, so rejoice.

ويبوّئ الشهداء خير مبوّإِ

جنات عدن ملكها لا يغبر

He settles the martyrs in the finest abode:

gardens of Eden, whose dominion never fades.

الحرب بينكم سجال فاثبتوا

والنصر عقبى أمركم فاستبشروا

War between you brings alternating fortunes, so stand firm;

victory is your final outcome, so take heart.

في أهل بدر عبرة لكم ألاَ

يا قوم فليتذكر المتذكر

In the people of Badr there is a lesson for you—heed it!

O people, let whoever reflects take warning.

أبْلُوا ليرضى ربكم عنكم فمن

أبلى فعند اللائمية يعذر

Show valor, that your Lord may be pleased with you; whoever

shows valor is excused in the face of blame.

كم بين من يأتي القتال تطوعاً

ومسخر كرها عليه يجبر

What a gulf between one who enters battle willingly

and a conscript compelled to it against his will!

يقتاده ويسوقه مولى له

فظ زنيم غاشم متغشمر

A master leads and drives him,

harsh, base-born, unjust, and domineering.

ويبيعه لو شاء للنخاس مع

ولد له وبزوجه يتسرّر

If he wishes, he sells him to the slave dealer, along with

his child, and makes a concubine of his wife.

لا عرض يمنعهم ولا كرم لهم

يثنيهم في الناس عن أن يفجروا

No honor restrains them, nor have they nobility

to deter them from wickedness among mankind.

يتترعون إلى الفواحش حيث مع

أهل المحامد فاتهم أن يذكروا

They rush headlong into obscenities, because among

the praiseworthy they have failed to win mention.

وكذا الطغَّام إذا عدتهم مدحة

ودّوا بأية شهرة أن يشهروا

So too the rabble, when praise passes them by,

long to be known through any notoriety.

سعدوا ولكن ربَّ سعد ذابح

للفائزين به إذا لم يشكروا

They prospered, but many a fortune is a slayer

of those who win it, if they give no thanks.

ولعل نسرهم المدوم واقع

فمن الهلال علاه ضوء يبهر

Perhaps their circling eagle will fall:

a dazzling light from the crescent has risen above it.

لن يفلح العاثون ما عاشوا ولا ال

عاتون ما رغدوا ولن يتيسروا

The ravagers shall never prosper while they live, nor the

arrogant while they revel; nor shall they find ease.

أو لم يعوا ما جاءهم عمن طغى

من قبلهم بطراً وأنى دُمروا

Have they not understood the tidings of those who tyrannized

before them in insolence, and how they were destroyed?

أم يعجزون الله إذ يملي لهم

عن أن يغار لقومه أن ينصروا

Or can they prevent God, while He grants them respite,

from zealously defending His people and granting them victory,

أو أن يمدهم بجند لا ترى

وبمنشئات مُخَّرٍ لا تبحر

or reinforcing them with unseen troops

and towering, wave-cleaving vessels that do not sail?

لو أن تخرمهم وهم مرحون في

أمن رخيو البال ريح صرصر

What if they were swept away, rejoicing in

security, carefree, by a shrieking wind?

أو يرسل الطير الأبابيل التي

قد أهلكت أمثالهم لا كُثِّروا

Or He sent the birds in flocks that

destroyed their like—may their numbers not grow!

ما كان عبّاد البعيم ليغلبوا

قوما على "إيّاك نعبد" تحشر

The worshippers of the brute could never overcome

a people mustered around 'You alone we worship.'

من كان يُرضي الله خالص سعيه

في الناس فهو بكل خير يجدر

He whose sincere striving pleases God

among mankind deserves every good.

من لم يصخ أذناً لنصح وليّه

ركب الضلال ولم يُفده المنذر

He who lends no ear to his well-wisher's counsel

takes the path of error, and the warner does him no good.

من أبطرته نعمة المولى عتا

عسفاً وغشمرة يَمِينُ ويغدر

He whom his Lord's bounty makes insolent rebels,

oppressive and overbearing, lying and betraying.

من لم تكن تغنيه قسمة رزقه

فإذا اشرأب إلى الزيادة يخسر

He whom his allotted livelihood does not content,

when he cranes after more, will lose.

من يتكل سفها على جند له

دون الإله يحق به ما يحذر

He who foolishly trusts in his army

instead of God will meet the very thing he fears.

من ظن أن يقوى بقوة بأسه

وسلاحه وذويه فهو مغرَّر

He who thinks to gain strength through his own might,

his weapons and his kin, is deluded.

من غالب القهار عاد مخشيا

مستضعفاً وكلا يُذل ويقهر

He who contends with the All-Subduer returns fear-stricken,

weakened, a burden, humbled and subdued.

من سرَّه في يومه كفرانه

وافاه في غده العذاب الأكبر

He who delights today in his ingratitude

will meet the greater torment tomorrow.

من كان يوماً راغباً في عاجل

عن آجل أودي به ما يؤثر

He who ever desires what is immediate

over what is deferred is ruined by what he prefers.

من كان من بين الورى سلطانه

عبد المجيد فإنه لمظفر

He whose sovereign, among all mankind, is

Abd al-Majid is surely victorious.

سلطاننا الأسمى الذي سعدت به

أيامنا وزهت فدته الأعصر

Our most exalted sultan, through whom

our days rejoice and shine—may all ages ransom him!

نشر العدالة في البلاد فكلنا

مستأمن في ظله مستبشر

He spread justice throughout the lands, so we are all

secure beneath his shade and full of gladness.

ولكلّ جيل في ممالكه يد

منه وآلاء تعمّ وتغمر

For every people in his kingdoms there is a favor

from him, and blessings that spread and overflow.

ما أن عداهم عدله وأمانه

سيان هم إن أعسروا أو أيسروا

His justice and protection have passed none of them by;

they are alike, whether impoverished or prosperous.

إنا إذا أتخذ العدى طاغوتهم

ربَّاً لنأتمر الذي هو يأمر

If our enemies take their idol

as a lord, we surely carry out what our sovereign commands.

لسنا نروم بغير طاعته إلى ال

رحمن من زلفى ولا نتخير

We seek no way, save obedience to him, to the

All-Merciful's favor, nor choose another course.

كلاّ ولا في غير خدمتنا له

عرض وإخلاص لنا وتبرّر

No! Outside our service to him, there is no

honor for us, nor sincerity, nor righteousness.

كفر المبايع غيره والمعتدى

بغياً وطغياناً عليه أكفر

He who pledges allegiance to another is an unbeliever; the aggressor

against him in insolence and tyranny is more unbelieving still.

من ذا يحاكيه عُلىً ومناقبا

ومن الذي فَضْلى حلاه ينكر

Who can match him in eminence and virtues?

And who denies the excellence of his qualities?

لو أنه اقترح الوجود تحكماً

ما زاد فيها غير ما نتنظر

Were he to command existence as he pleased,

he would add nothing to his qualities beyond what we expect.

من جوهر الإخلاص صوّر ذاته

رب قدير كيف شاء يصور

From the substance of sincerity, his essence was shaped

by an almighty Lord, who shapes as He wills.

ولاه أمر الدين والدنيا معاً

فهو الإمام الحاكم المتأمر

He entrusted him with both faith and worldly affairs;

he is the imam, the ruler, the sovereign.

وهو الذي بين الملوك مقامه ال

أعلى يكرم هيبة ويوقر

Among kings, it is he whose station is the

highest, honored in awe and held in reverence.

وهو الذي بين العباد محبب

ومعظم ومبجل ومعزر

Among God's servants, it is he who is beloved,

magnified, honored, and revered.

يستدفعون الضر فيهم باسمه

وعلى المنابر حمده المتكرّر

They ward off harm among themselves through his name;

upon the pulpits his praise is repeated.

إن قال لم يستثن مما قاله

أحد وإن يفعله فهو مخيَّر

If he speaks, no exception to his words is made by

anyone; and if he acts, he is free to choose.

ليس الفرنج مشايعي أعدائه

ما هم لهم حزب ولاهم معشر

The Franks are not supporters of his enemies;

they are no party of theirs, nor their company.

أفمن يكون على هدى من ربه

كغوي استهواه جبت منكر

Is one guided by his Lord

like a wayward man seduced by a vile idol?

أم من له الخلق الكريم يقاس بال

نكد اللئيم جبلة وينظَّر

Or is a man of noble character compared to the

ill-natured man, base by nature, and held his equal?

أم يستوي في العرف والإمكان من

يهب الجزيل ومن يشح ويضمر

Or can custom and possibility deem equal one who

gives abundantly and one who is miserly and conceals?

أيه أمير المؤمنين ومن دعا

أيه أمير المؤمنين فقد سرُوا

Hail, Commander of the Faithful! Whoever cries,

'Hail, Commander of the Faithful!' has attained nobility.

سد بالمعالي فائقاً كل الورى

مجدا وشانئك البغيض الأبتر

Reign through lofty deeds, surpassing all mankind

in glory; your hateful enemy is cut off.

وسعت عوارفك العميمة سؤلنا ال

أقصى وما بالبال منا يخطر

Your all-embracing favors encompass our furthest

desires and all that passes through our minds,

حتى لقد كلّت خواطرنا بما

اقترحت وأنت منفّل لا تضجر

until our thoughts have grown weary of all

they have requested, while you lavish gifts and never tire.

نطق العيي بفرض مدحك مفصحاً

حتى الجماد يكاد عنه يعبرّ

The tongue-tied speaks eloquently in the duty of praising you;

even lifeless things almost give it voice.

ولقد أضاء الكون مجدك كله

حتى استوى في العمي والمبصر

Your glory has illuminated the whole universe,

until the blind and the seeing share it equally.

نظر الطغاة إليك نظرة حاسد

فتجرعوا مضضاً بها وتحسروا

The tyrants looked upon you with an envious gaze,

and swallowed its bitterness and lamented.

إن يجلبوا فالله ما حق جيشهم

أو يمكروا فالمكر ربك أكبر

If they muster troops, God annihilates their army;

if they scheme, your Lord is mightier in scheming.

إن المحال من المحال إذا جرى

بخلاف طيّته وحق مقدر

Mighty scheming is impossible when it runs

counter to His purpose and a decreed truth.

ما كان جمعهم سوى كسف هبت

والشمس ليست بالهباء تستر

Their gathering was only drifting cloudbanks;

the sun cannot be veiled by dust.

ليست فروق لغير عرشك وهي ما

بقيت على الفرقان ليست تقفر

Furuq belongs to no throne but yours; so long as it

holds to the Criterion, it will not fall desolate.

أنت الذي بمديح وصفك تنجلي

عنا الهموم وأفقنا يتعطر

You are the one whose praised virtues dispel

our cares and perfume our horizon.

وتصحّ أحلام الأماني في غد ال

لاّهي بها والدهر أنكد أعسر

Dreams of hope come true tomorrow for the

one who delights in them, though time is harsher and harder.

ما إن يفي نظم اللآلئ مدحة

لك باللهى من سحب كفك تنثر

No stringing of pearls in praise

can match the gifts scattered from the clouds of your hand.

لم يبق ما بين الورى من ناطق

إلاّ وعن آلاء فضلك يخبر

There remains among mankind no speaker

who does not tell of the blessings of your bounty.

حرس الإله جنابك الأعلى ولا

زالت عبادك في حماه تخفر

May God guard your most exalted presence, and may

your subjects ever be sheltered under His protection.

وأدام دولتك العلية ما سرى

نجم وما زخرت كجودك أبحر

May He preserve your sublime state as long as

stars travel and seas swell like your bounty.

أنشدت تاريخين هجريّين في

ختمي مديحك وهو حظي الأوفر

I have recited two Hijri chronograms in

closing your praise—my most abundant good fortune:

عبد المجيد الله أركى ضده

سلطاننا خير بجد ينصر

Abd al-Majid—God has cast down his adversary;

our excellent sultan is granted victory by good fortune.