أَجِيبيanswer أُمَّmother of كُلثومٍKulthum أَجِيبيanswer
أَجِيبي أُمَّ كُلثومٍ أَجِيبي
تَرَامَتْspread afar دعوةُthe summons of الدَّاعِيthe caller المُهيبِawe-inspiring
تَرَامَتْ دعوةُ الدَّاعِي المُهيبِ
Answer, Umm Kulthum, answer!
Answer me, O mother of Kulthum, answer me
The awe-inspiring caller's summons has spread afar.
The call of the imploring supplicant has spread
لمَكَّةُsurely Mecca إذwhen يُضامُis oppressed الدِّينُthe faith فيهاwithin it
لمَكَّةُ إذ يُضامُ الدِّينُ فيها
أحقٌّmore fitting بكلِّfor every أفَّاكٍhabitual liar مُريبِsuspicion-rousing
أحقٌّ بكلِّ أفَّاكٍ مُريبِ
Surely Mecca, when faith is oppressed within it,
Mecca, where religion is being oppressed in it
is a fitter home for every liar who arouses suspicion.
Is more deserving of every unruly deceiver
خُذِيtake قَصْدَthe straight course of السَّبيلِthe road إلىtoward ديارٍabodes
خُذِي قَصْدَ السَّبيلِ إلى ديارٍ
مُحَبَّبَةِbeloved المسالِكِthe pathways والدُّروبِand the trails
مُحَبَّبَةِ المسالِكِ والدُّروبِ
Take the straight road toward abodes
Take the path straight to the abodes
with beloved pathways and trails.
With the beloved paths and roads
حِمَىthe sanctuary of الإسلامِIslam يَمنعُwards off كلَّevery عادٍaggressor
حِمَى الإسلامِ يَمنعُ كلَّ عادٍ
وغِيلُand the thicket of الحقِّtruth يَدفعُrepels كلَّevery ذِيبِwolf
وغِيلُ الحقِّ يَدفعُ كلَّ ذِيبِ
Islam's sanctuary wards off every aggressor,
The protection of Islam prevents every transgressor
and truth's thicket repels every wolf.
And the boiling of truth repels every slanderer
رَعاكِmay He guard you اللَّهُGod فَانْطَلِقِيso set forth وسِيريand journey
رَعاكِ اللَّهُ فَانْطَلِقِي وسِيري
ولاand do not تَهِنِيfalter علىthrough طُولِthe length of الدُّؤوبِunceasing toil
ولا تَهِنِي على طُولِ الدُّؤوبِ
May God guard you; set forth and journey,
May God protect you, so set forth and walk
and do not falter through long, unceasing toil.
And do not despair from the prolonged afflictions
أردتِyou desired الدِّينَthe faith مَعمورَflourishing in النَّواحِيthe regions
أردتِ الدِّينَ مَعمورَ النَّواحِي
فَخُوضِيso plunge into البِيدَthe deserts مُقْفِرَةًdesolate وَجُوبيand traverse
فَخُوضِي البِيدَ مُقْفِرَةً وَجُوبي
You wished the faith's realms to flourish;
If you wanted inhabited religion in all regions
so plunge into the desolate deserts and traverse them.
Then dive into the open desert and traverse it
تُطِيلينَyou prolong التَّلَفُّتَlooking back منfrom حذارٍfear
تُطِيلينَ التَّلَفُّتَ من حذارٍ
وَقَلبُكِand your heart لاdoes not يَقَرُّsettle منfrom الوَجِيبِpounding
وَقَلبُكِ لا يَقَرُّ من الوَجِيبِ
You keep looking back in fear,
You have prolonged hesitation out of caution
and your heart will not settle from its pounding.
While your heart does not settle from anguish
رُويدكِtake your time إنّindeed عينthe eye of اللَّهِGod تَرْعَىwatches over
رُويدكِ إنّ عين اللَّهِ تَرْعَى
خُطاكِyour steps فلنso it will not يَسَوءكِtrouble you أنto تَؤُوبيreturn
خُطاكِ فلن يَسَوءكِ أن تَؤُوبي
Be calm; God's eye watches over
Be steadfast, indeed the eye of God watches over
your steps, so returning will not trouble you.
Your steps so no harm will befall if you repent
أرىI see أَخَوَيْكِyour two brothers فيin أمرٍa situation مَريجٍconfused
أرى أَخَوَيْكِ في أمرٍ مَريجٍ
وَهَمٍّand anguish منfrom مُصابِهِمَاtheir calamity مُذِيبِmelting
وَهَمٍّ من مُصابِهِمَا مُذِيبِ
I see your two brothers in confusion
I see your two brothers in an alarming state
and anguish that melts them over their calamity.
And a care that melts them from their affliction
يَلُفُّenfolds حَشَاهُماtheir innermost being حُزنٌa sorrow عَجيبٌstrange
يَلُفُّ حَشَاهُما حُزنٌ عَجيبٌ
لِرَوْعَةِat the shock of ذلكَthat الحَدَثِevent العَجيبِastonishing
لِرَوْعَةِ ذلكَ الحَدَثِ العَجيبِ
A strange sorrow enfolds their hearts,
Their grief wraps them in strange sorrow
at the shock of that astonishing event.
For the awfulness of that strange event
لِكُلٍّfor each مِنهماof them both فيamong الحيِّthe clan عَيْنٌan eye
لِكُلٍّ مِنهما في الحيِّ عَيْنٌ
تَدورُroves كأنّهاas though it were عَينُthe eye of الحريبِone despoiled
تَدورُ كأنّها عَينُ الحريبِ
Each has, among the clan, an eye
Each of them has an eye that in life
that roves like the eye of one despoiled,
Spins as if it were the eye of a lost one
وَقَلبٌand a heart دائِمُunceasing in الخَفَقَانِbeating هَافٍfluttering
وَقَلبٌ دائِمُ الخَفَقَانِ هَافٍ
طَويلُprolonged in الوَجدِsorrow مُتَّصِلُunbroken in اللّهيبِflame
طَويلُ الوَجدِ مُتَّصِلُ اللّهيبِ
and a heart forever beating, fluttering,
And a heart constantly fluttering and burning
its sorrow prolonged, its flame unbroken.
Prolonged fervor continuously blazing
هُناhere كانتْshe was فأينَso where مَضَتْhas she gone وأنَّىand how
هُنا كانتْ فأينَ مَضَتْ وأنَّى
تُعاوِدُshe returns to خِدْرَهاher secluded chamber بعدَafter المغيبِthe absence
تُعاوِدُ خِدْرَها بعدَ المغيبِ
“Here she was; where has she gone, and how
She was here, so where did she go and where
will she return to her secluded chamber after her absence?
Will she return after disappearing?
أَماis there not عِندَwith ابْنِthe son of عَفَّانٍAffan شِفَاءٌa remedy
أَما عِندَ ابْنِ عَفَّانٍ شِفَاءٌ
فَيكشِفُso he may relieve كُرْبَةَthe anguish of العانِيthe sufferer الكَئِيبِsorrowful
فَيكشِفُ كُرْبَةَ العانِي الكَئِيبِ
Is there no remedy with Ibn Affan
But with Ibn 'Affan there is a cure
to relieve the anguish of the sorrowful sufferer?
That will relieve the worries of the despairing sorrowful one
أَتذهبُdoes she depart أُختُناour sister لاnot نحنُwe نَدرِيknow
أَتذهبُ أُختُنا لا نحنُ نَدرِي
ولاnor هُوَhe عِندَهُwith him عِلمُthe knowledge of اللّبيبِthe discerning
ولا هُوَ عِندَهُ عِلمُ اللّبيبِ
Can our sister depart while we know nothing,
Will our sister leave without us knowing
and he too lacks a discerning man's knowledge?
While he, there with him, has no knowledge of reason?
كَفَىenough ياO بِنتَdaughter of عُقْبَةَUqbah ماwhat لَقِيناwe endured
كَفَى يا بِنتَ عُقْبَةَ ما لَقِينا
مِنَof الأحداثِcalamities بَعدَكِafter you والخطوبِand adversities
مِنَ الأحداثِ بَعدَكِ والخطوبِ
Enough, daughter of Uqbah, of what we have endured
Enough O daughter of 'Uqbah, we have not faced
of calamities and hardships since you left!”
After you, such events and afflictions
قِفِيstop ياO أمَّmother of كُلثومٍKulthum فهذاfor this is
قِفِي يا أمَّ كُلثومٍ فهذا
مَحَطُّthe resting-place of الرَّحْلِthe saddle للنَّائِيfor the faraway الغريبِstranger
مَحَطُّ الرَّحْلِ للنَّائِي الغريبِ
Stop, Umm Kulthum, for this is
Stop, O mother of Kulthum, for this
where the far-wandering stranger lays down his saddle.
Is the place of rest for the far traveler
حَلَلْتِyou alighted بفضْلِby the grace of ربِّكِyour Lord خيرَthe best دارٍabode
حَلَلْتِ بفضْلِ ربِّكِ خيرَ دارٍ
بِطيبةَin Taybah فانعِميso be at ease نَفْساًin spirit وطِيبيand rejoice
بِطيبةَ فانعِمي نَفْساً وطِيبي
By your Lord's grace, you have reached the finest abode
You have arrived, by your Lord's grace, at the best abode
in Taybah; be at ease in spirit and rejoice.
In holy Medina, so delight yourself and purify
تلقَّاكِwelcomed you النبيُّthe Prophet فأيَّand what بشرٍgladness
تلقَّاكِ النبيُّ فأيَّ بشرٍ
رَعَتْgrazed upon عيناكِyour two eyes فيamid الكَرَمِgenerosity الخَصِيبِfertile
رَعَتْ عيناكِ في الكَرَمِ الخَصِيبِ
The Prophet welcomed you—what gladness
The Prophet will receive you, what good tidings
your eyes feasted upon amid fertile generosity!
Have delighted your eyes with bountiful grace
يُرَحِّبُhe welcomes ماas much as يرحِّبُhe welcomes ثمّthen يُضفيbestows
يُرَحِّبُ ما يرحِّبُ ثمّ يُضفي
عليكِupon you حَنانَthe tenderness of ذِيone with النَّسَبِkinship القريبِclose
عليكِ حَنانَ ذِي النَّسَبِ القريبِ
He welcomes you lavishly, then bestows
He welcomes with his welcome then confers
on you the tenderness of a close kinsman.
Upon you the affection of close kinship
وماand no نَسَبٌkinship بأقربَis closer منthan سبيلٍa path
وما نَسَبٌ بأقربَ من سبيلٍ
يُؤلِّفُunites بينamong أشتاتِthe scattered parts of القُلوبِhearts
يُؤلِّفُ بين أشتاتِ القُلوبِ
And no kinship is closer than a path
No lineage is closer than a way
that brings scattered hearts together.
That brings together the separated hearts
سَبيلُthe path of اللَّهِGod ليسthere is not لهfor it إذاwhen ماever (emphatic)
سَبيلُ اللَّهِ ليس له إذا ما
بلوتِyou have tested السُّبْلَthe paths أجمعَall of them منany ضريبِequal
بلوتِ السُّبْلَ أجمعَ من ضريبِ
God's path has nothing—once
The way of God, if you endure the paths
you have tested all paths—to rival it.
Has no levy, when tested fully
هُدَىguidance for السَّارِيthe night traveler يُسَدِّدُهُsets him straight فيمضيso he proceeds
هُدَى السَّارِي يُسَدِّدُهُ فيمضي
بِمُخْتَرَقِthrough the passage of السَّباسِبِwastelands والسُّهوبِand steppes
بِمُخْتَرَقِ السَّباسِبِ والسُّهوبِ
The night traveler's guide, it directs him as he proceeds
The guidance of the Guide makes him steadfast, so he goes
through the crossings of wastelands and steppes.
Penetrating the mountains and deserts
يَمُرُّhe passes بآخِرينَby others لهمthey have عُواءٌhowling
يَمُرُّ بآخِرينَ لهم عُواءٌ
يُشيَّعُis accompanied بالتوجُّعِby groaning والنَّحيبِand sobbing
يُشيَّعُ بالتوجُّعِ والنَّحيبِ
He passes others whose howling
He passes others who have malice
is accompanied by groaning and sobbing.
Circulating misery and lament
يَرىhe sees سُبُلَthe paths of النَّجاةِsalvation وكيفand how ضَلُّواthey strayed
يَرى سُبُلَ النَّجاةِ وكيف ضَلُّوا
فَيعجَبُso he marvels للمَصارِعِat the death-sites والجنُوبِand the flanks
فَيعجَبُ للمَصارِعِ والجنُوبِ
He sees the paths to salvation and how they strayed,
He sees the ways to salvation and how they were lost
and marvels at the death-sites and the flanks laid low.
So he wonders at the death sites and trenches
ويَحمدُand he praises فالِقَthe Cleaver of الإصباحِdaybreak حَمْداًwith praise
ويَحمدُ فالِقَ الإصباحِ حَمْداً
يَهُزُّshakes جَوَانِحَthe ribs of الواديthe valley الطَّرُوبِrapturous
يَهُزُّ جَوَانِحَ الوادي الطَّرُوبِ
And he praises the Cleaver of Dawn with praise
And he praises, at the breaking of dawn, in praise
that shakes the ribs of the rapturous valley.
That shakes the sides of the gentle valley
تَعَالَىexalted is اللَّهُGod يُنْزِلُlodges كلَّevery بَرٍّrighteous person
تَعَالَى اللَّهُ يُنْزِلُ كلَّ بَرٍّ
بِعالٍin a lofty one مِنamong منازِلِهِHis abodes رحيبِspacious
بِعالٍ مِن منازِلِهِ رحيبِ
Exalted is God, who lodges every righteous soul
God, High is He, sends down every righteousness
in a lofty, spacious dwelling among His abodes.
From a lofty place of His vast abodes
عُمَارَةُUmarah والوليدُand al-Walid ولاand no خَفَاءٌuncertainty
عُمَارَةُ والوليدُ ولا خَفَاءٌ
علىdespite فَرْطِthe excess of التجهُّمِscowling والشُّحوبِand pallor
على فَرْطِ التجهُّمِ والشُّحوبِ
Umarah and al-Walid—it is plain,
'Umar and Al-Walid, no secret
despite their fierce scowling and pallor—
From the intensity of their gloom and melancholy
هُماthe two عَرَفاknew السَّبيلَthe way فلاso no مُقامٌstaying
هُما عَرَفا السَّبيلَ فلا مُقامٌ
وكيفَand how مُقَامُthe staying of مُخْتَبَلٍone distraught سَلِيبِdespoiled
وكيفَ مُقَامُ مُخْتَبَلٍ سَلِيبِ
both knew the road; there was no staying,
They both recognized the path so there is no stay
and how could one distraught and despoiled remain?
And how can one stay who is shaken and feeble?
أهاباthey both appealed بالرَّسولِto the Messenger أعِدْreturn إليناto us
أهابا بالرَّسولِ أعِدْ إلينا
وَدِيعَتَنَاour entrusted charge فماfor there is no بِكَin you مِنany نُكوبِturning aside
وَدِيعَتَنَا فما بِكَ مِن نُكوبِ
They appealed to the Messenger: “Return to us
They implored the Messenger, return her to us
our entrusted charge; you are not one to turn aside.
Our trust, you have no failing in that
هُوَit is العهدُthe pledge الذيwhich أخذَتْexacted قُرَيْشٌQuraysh
هُوَ العهدُ الذي أخذَتْ قُرَيْشٌ
ومَالَكَand you have no غَيْرُother than نفسِكَyourself منany حسيبِreckoner
ومَالَكَ غَيْرُ نفسِكَ من حسيبِ
It is the pledge that Quraysh exacted,
It is the covenant Quraysh took
and none but yourself calls you to account.
And none but yourself are her guardian
سَجِيَّتُكَyour nature الوفاءُfaithfulness وماand not عَلِمْناwe have known
سَجِيَّتُكَ الوفاءُ وما عَلِمْنا
عليكَin you الدَّهْرَever منany خُلُقٍtrait مَعِيبِblameworthy
عليكَ الدَّهْرَ من خُلُقٍ مَعِيبِ
Faithfulness is your nature, and we have never known
Your way is faithfulness, we have not known
in you, through all time, any blameworthy trait.
Any shameful traits from you through time
برأيِكَby your judgment فَاقْضِso decide وَارْدُدْهاand send her back عليناto us
برأيِكَ فَاقْضِ وَارْدُدْها علينا
فإنّكfor you are أنتَyou yourself ذُوpossessor of الرأيِjudgment المُصِيبِsound
فإنّك أنتَ ذُو الرأيِ المُصِيبِ
Decide by your own judgment, and send her back to us,
Judge with your opinion and return her to us
for you are the one whose judgment is sound.”
You are the one with the right judgement
عَنَاهاtroubled her أَنْthat تُرَدَّshe be returned ولاand no ظَهِيرٌsupporter
عَنَاها أَنْ تُرَدَّ ولا ظَهِيرٌ
يَقِيهَاprotects her from ماwhat تخافُshe fears مِنَof الكُروبِafflictions
يَقِيهَا ما تخافُ مِنَ الكُروبِ
It troubled her that she might be sent back, with no protector
She feared to be returned and no protector
to shield her from the afflictions she feared.
Could protect her from what she fears of sorrows
فَصَاحتْso she cried إنّنيindeed I am امرأةٌa woman وماand no ليfor me
فَصَاحتْ إنّني امرأةٌ وما لي
عَلَىagainst المكروهِadversity منany عَزمٍresolve صليبِunyielding
عَلَى المكروهِ من عَزمٍ صليبِ
So she cried: “I am a woman, and I have no
She cried, I am but a woman, I have not
unyielding resolve to withstand adversity.
The resolve for adversity that is strong
بِرَبِّكَby your Lord ياO مُحَمَّدُMuhammad لاdo not تَدَعْنِيleave me
بِرَبِّكَ يا مُحَمَّدُ لا تَدَعْنِي
فَرِيْسَةَthe prey of كُلِّevery جَبَّارٍtyrant رَهيبِfearsome
فَرِيْسَةَ كُلِّ جَبَّارٍ رَهيبِ
By your Lord, O Muhammad, do not leave me
I implore you, O Muhammad, do not leave me
a prey to every fearsome tyrant,
Prey for every dreadful tyrant
يُعَذِّبُنِيhe tortures me لأتركَso that I abandon دِينَthe faith of رَبِّيmy Lord
يُعَذِّبُنِي لأتركَ دِينَ رَبِّي
إلىto دينِthe faith of المآثِمِtransgressions والذُّنوبِand sins
إلى دينِ المآثِمِ والذُّنوبِ
who tortures me to make me abandon my Lord's faith
Who will torture me to abandon the faith of my Lord
for the faith of transgressions and sins.
To the faith of sins and immoralities
أأرجعُam I to return ياO حِمَىrefuge of الضُّعفاءِthe weak وَلْهَىdistraught
أأرجعُ يا حِمَى الضُّعفاءِ وَلْهَى
وماand no ليfor me فيin ظِلالِكَyour shade مِنany نَصيبِshare
وما لي في ظِلالِكَ مِن نَصيبِ
Must I return distraught, O refuge of the weak,
Shall I return, O sanctuary of the weak, distracted
with no share for me beneath your shade?”
When I have no share in your shade?
أتىcame التنزيلُrevelation يَصدعُshatters كلَّevery شَكٍّdoubt
أتى التنزيلُ يَصدعُ كلَّ شَكٍّ
ويجلوand unveils ماwhat اسْتَكَنَّlay concealed منof الغُيوبِthe unseen
ويجلو ما اسْتَكَنَّ من الغُيوبِ
Revelation came, shattering every doubt
The revelation came, splitting every doubt
and unveiling what lay concealed in the unseen,
And clarifying what was obscured of the unknown
وَيَحْكُمُand pronounces حُكْمَهُits judgment عَدْلاًjustly وَبِرّاًand benevolently
وَيَحْكُمُ حُكْمَهُ عَدْلاً وَبِرّاً
فَيُلقِيso it delivers بالدّواءِwith the remedy إلىto الطبيبِthe physician
فَيُلقِي بالدّواءِ إلى الطبيبِ
pronouncing its judgment in justice and benevolence,
And decreeing its judgement with justice and righteousness
and delivering the remedy to the physician.
Casting the cure to the skilled physician
إذاwhen جاءَcome النساءُthe women مُهَاجِراتٍas emigrants
إذا جاءَ النساءُ مُهَاجِراتٍ
يُرِدْنَthey seek اللَّهَGod دَيَّانَthe Judge of الشُّعوبِpeoples
يُرِدْنَ اللَّهَ دَيَّانَ الشُّعوبِ
When women come as emigrants,
When the women came as emigrants
seeking God, the Judge of peoples,
Seeking God, Judge of the peoples
بَقِينَthey remain معwith النَّبيِّthe Prophet وإنand even if تَمَادَتْpersists
بَقِينَ مع النَّبيِّ وإن تَمَادَتْ
لَجَاجَةُthe obstinacy of كلِّevery عِرِّيضٍmeddler شَغُوبِquarrelsome
لَجَاجَةُ كلِّ عِرِّيضٍ شَغُوبِ
they remain with the Prophet, even if there persists
They remained with the Prophet though the stubbornness persisted
the obstinacy of every meddlesome troublemaker.
Of every unyielding tyrant
لِيَهْنِكِmay it gladden you أُمَّmother of كُلثومٍKulthum مُقامٌa stay
لِيَهْنِكِ أُمَّ كُلثومٍ مُقامٌ
كريمٌhonored عِندَbeside مَرْجُوٍّone looked to with hope مُثيبِreward-giving
كريمٌ عِندَ مَرْجُوٍّ مُثيبِ
May your stay gladden you, Umm Kulthum,
So mother of Kulthum may stay
honored beside one looked to with hope, a giver of rewards;
A noble stay with a rewarding Bestower
وزوجٌand a husband ذوwith مُحافَظةٍdevoted care نَجِيبٌnoble
وزوجٌ ذو مُحافَظةٍ نَجِيبٌ
يَفِيءُreturns إلىto ذُرَىthe heights of النَّسَبِlineage النَّجِيبِnoble
يَفِيءُ إلى ذُرَى النَّسَبِ النَّجِيبِ
and a noble husband, devoted in his care,
And a husband of virtuous faith who returns
who returns to the heights of noble lineage.
To the lineage of noble ancestry
يَفيءُreturns إلىto ذُرَىthe heights of الإسلامِIslam منهfrom him
يَفيءُ إلى ذُرَى الإسلامِ منه
فتىًa youth للسّلمِfor peace يُرجَىhoped for والحُروبِand wars
فتىً للسّلمِ يُرجَى والحُروبِ
In him, to the heights of Islam returns
He returns to the lineage of Islam in him
a youth looked to in peace and war.
A young man hoped for in times of war and peace
وماand not زيدُZayd بنُson of حارثةٍHarithah بِنِكْسٍa weakling
وما زيدُ بنُ حارثةٍ بِنِكْسٍ
إذاwhen التَقَتِmeet الكُماةُarmored warriors ولاnor هَيُوبِtimid
إذا التَقَتِ الكُماةُ ولا هَيُوبِ
And Zayd ibn Harithah is no weakling
Zayd son of Harithah is no disgrace
when armored warriors meet, nor is he timid.
When the brave meet with no fear or confusion
أخوbrother of المختارِthe Chosen One منfrom عُلياthe highest ranks of قريشٍQuraysh
أخو المختارِ من عُليا قريشٍ
ومَولاهُand his freedman الحبيبُbeloved أبوfather of الحبيبِthe beloved
ومَولاهُ الحبيبُ أبو الحبيبِ
Brother of the Chosen One from Quraysh's highest ranks,
Brother of Al-Mukhtar from the highest of Quraysh
and his beloved freedman, father of the beloved.
And his master is the Beloved of the Beloved
Claude 2 is inferred from the historical translator configuration. The original record does not identify its model.