أَتنامُdoes sleep? عَينُكَyour eye والعُيونُand the eyes سُهادُsleepless
أَتنامُ عَينُكَ والعُيونُ سُهادُ
ويقَرُّand rests جنبُكَyour side والجُنوبُand the sides قَتادُthorn bushes
ويقَرُّ جنبُكَ والجُنوبُ قَتادُ
Does your eye sleep while other eyes are sleepless?
Do your eyes sleep while eyes around you slumber?
And does your side rest at ease while other sides lie on thorns?
Does your side rest while sides around you wander?
قُمْrise للدّفاعِfor defense فماfor no لقومكَfor your people مُنْصِفٌa just man
قُمْ للدّفاعِ فما لقومكَ مُنْصِفٌ
يُرجَىis hoped for ليومِfor a day of ظَلامةٍinjustice ويُرادُand is sought
يُرجَى ليومِ ظَلامةٍ ويُرادُ
Rise to defend, for your people have no just man
Rise to defend, for your people have no justice.
To be hoped for and sought on a day of injustice.
On a day of darkness, none can be hoped or expected.
الحقُّright بعدكafter you مأتمٌa mourning assembly يُطوَىis folded away بهin it
الحقُّ بعدك مأتمٌ يُطوَى به
عِلمُknowledge الشرّيعةِsacred law والقضاءُand the judiciary حِدادُmourning
عِلمُ الشرّيعةِ والقضاءُ حِدادُ
Right, after you, is a wake at which is laid away
After you, truth is mourning, shrouded by it.
The learning of sacred law; the judiciary is in mourning.
Knowledge of sacred law and justice are grieving.
والعدلُand justice سارٍa night traveler لاnot يُضيءُilluminates سبيلَهits path
والعدلُ سارٍ لا يُضيءُ سبيلَه
نورٌlight ولاand not ينجابُdisperses عنهfrom it سوادُdarkness
نورٌ ولا ينجابُ عنه سوادُ
And justice is a night traveler whose path is not lit by
Justice travels unveiled, no light shows its path,
Any light, nor does the darkness lift from it.
Nor any darkness overshadows its track.
وَمِنَand from المدارهِthe advocates للقُضاةِfor the judges إذاwhen التَوَتْbecame tangled
وَمِنَ المدارهِ للقُضاةِ إذا التَوَتْ
سُبلُpaths الظنونِconjecture بهمaround them هُدىًguidance ورشادُand sound judgment
سُبلُ الظنونِ بهم هُدىً ورشادُ
And from advocates, for judges, when tangled are
When judges go astray, conjectures about them
The paths of conjecture around them, come guidance and sound judgment.
Become guidance and counsel, rightly or wrongly.
ضجّتcried out لمصرعكat your death الكنانةُEgypt (the Quiver) ضجّةًa cry
ضجّت لمصرعك الكنانةُ ضجّةً
كادتnearly تميدswayed لهولهاat its terror الأطوادُthe mighty mountains
كادت تميد لهولها الأطوادُ
Al-Kinana cried out at your death with a cry
At your death the keening of women was such
At whose terror the mighty mountains almost swayed.
It nearly demolished their huts as they wailed.
لمّاwhen نُعِيتَyour death was announced إلىto الممالكِthe kingdoms أَجفلتْrecoiled
لمّا نُعِيتَ إلى الممالكِ أَجفلتْ
أمُّMother القُرىof Towns (Mecca) وتفزّعتْand was terrified بغدادُBaghdad
أمُّ القُرى وتفزّعتْ بغدادُ
When your death was announced to the kingdoms, there recoiled
When word reached nations, Mecca was shaken
Umm al-Qura, and Baghdad was terrified.
And Baghdad was in chaos, distraught and bewildered
حملواthey carried علىupon الأعوادِthe bier's planks منكof you بقيّةًa remainder
حملوا على الأعوادِ منك بقيّةً
خَشعتْbowed humbly لفرطِat the immensity of جلالهاits majesty الأعوادُthe planks
خَشعتْ لفرطِ جلالها الأعوادُ
They bore upon the bier's planks what remained of you;
They carried your remains on biers bowed down
The planks bowed before its overwhelming majesty.
By the glory and splendor too great for their wood.
ومضواand they departed بعهدٍwith an age للمُروءةof noble character صالحٍvirtuous
ومضوا بعهدٍ للمُروءة صالحٍ
ألوَىswept away بِنَضرتهِits freshness بِلىًdecay ونفادُand depletion
ألوَى بِنَضرتهِ بِلىً ونفادُ
And they bore away a virtuous age of noble character,
They swore a just covenant, its new leaves
Whose freshness decay and depletion had swept away.
Healing decay and making waste flourish anew.
فإذاand behold العَتادُthe armament الضَّخمُthe mighty لوعةُanguish جازعٍa distraught mourner
فإذا العَتادُ الضَّخمُ لوعةُ جازعٍ
وإذاand behold الذَّخيرةُthe treasure حُفرةٌa pit ورَمادُand ashes
وإذا الذَّخيرةُ حُفرةٌ ورَمادُ
And now the mighty armament is a grieving mourner's anguish,
But see, your huge armory lies dejected,
And now the treasure is a pit and ashes.
Your arsenal now a pit with cold ashes.
مَنwho للبريءِfor the innocent إذاwhen تَوثَّبَsprang up ظالمٌa tyrant
مَن للبريءِ إذا تَوثَّبَ ظالمٌ
يبغيseeks الفريسةَthe prey وانبرَىand came forth يرتادُhunts
يبغي الفريسةَ وانبرَى يرتادُ
Who will stand for the innocent when a tyrant springs up,
Who protects the innocent when oppressors attack,
Seeking prey, and comes forth to hunt?
Seeking victims, resolved to strike without hesitation?
وطغَىand flooded علىover الواديthe valley فأصبحتِso became الرُّبَىthe hills
وطغَى على الوادي فأصبحتِ الرُّبَى
وكأنَّهاand as though they تحتbeneath العُبابِthe surging flood وِهادُlowlands
وكأنَّها تحت العُبابِ وِهادُ
And floods the valley, so that its hills become
When bullies roam the valley, once pasture for sheep
As though beneath the surging waters they were lowlands?
It becomes, under clouds, a desolate wasteland.
مَنwho يدفعِrepels الطُّوفانَthe deluge لاnot يعتاقُهhinders it
مَن يدفعِ الطُّوفانَ لا يعتاقُه
سُورٌa wall ولاand not يُعْدَىis enlisted as aid عليهagainst it مَصادُa mountain refuge
سُورٌ ولا يُعْدَى عليه مَصادُ
Who will repel the deluge, which cannot be checked by
Who wards off floods when no dams can restrain them,
A wall, nor resisted with the aid of a mountain refuge?
When no weapons or armies stand in their way?
مَنwho للبلادِfor the land إذاwhen الخطوبُthe calamities تألّبتْjoined forces
مَن للبلادِ إذا الخطوبُ تألّبتْ
وتفرّقتْand scattered منfrom حولهاaround her الأجنادُthe armies
وتفرّقتْ من حولها الأجنادُ
Who will stand for the land when calamities join forces,
Who defends our land when perils surround it,
And the armies scatter from around her?
And armies in panic scatter in disarray?
وأبىand refused الحماةُthe protectors فماso no يُصانُis guarded لهاfor her حِمىًa sanctuary
وأبى الحماةُ فما يُصانُ لها حِمىً
تحتamid العَجاجِthe battle-dust ولاand not يُصابُis found عَتادُarmament
تحت العَجاجِ ولا يُصابُ عَتادُ
And the protectors refuse, so no sanctuary is guarded for her
Protectors who flee leave no refuge secure,
Amid the battle-dust, nor can armament be found?
No forts to be manned, no camps to be made.
أينwhere الكتائبُthe battalions فيin البلادِthe land مُغيرةًraiding
أين الكتائبُ في البلادِ مُغيرةً
ماno للفتوحِfor the conquests وماand no لهنَّfor them عِدادُa count
ما للفتوحِ وما لهنَّ عِدادُ
Where are the battalions raiding through the land,
Where are the brigades who alarmed our foes,
With conquests beyond counting, and themselves beyond numbering?
When conquest awaited and glory pervaded?
ولِمَنand whose نُفوسٌsouls رِيعَwas frightened منby صَعَقاتهاtheir shrieks
ولِمَن نُفوسٌ رِيعَ من صَعَقاتها
عِزريلُAzrael مُنطلقاًsetting forth بهاwith them ينطادُsoars aloft
عِزريلُ مُنطلقاً بها ينطادُ
And whose are the souls at whose shrieks was frightened
Who now has the souls the executioner severs,
Azrael, soaring aloft as he bore them away?
Which Azrael releases for slaughter each day?
بكرset out early التِّجارُthe merchants بهاwith them فماso not سطعshone الضُّحىthe forenoon
بكر التِّجارُ بها فما سطع الضُّحى
حتّىuntil اشتراهاbought them منهمُfrom them الجلّادُthe executioner
حتّى اشتراها منهمُ الجلّادُ
The merchants brought them out early; the morning had not brightened
Traders sell them cheaply at dawn, and by dusk
Before the executioner bought them from those merchants.
The torturer has purchased them all, I would say.
كسدتwent unsold علىat أيديthe hands of الدُّعاةِthe campaigners وماand no بهاin them
كسدت على أيدي الدُّعاةِ وما بها
لولاbut for مُساومةُbargaining الدُّعاةِthe campaigners كسادُstagnation
لولا مُساومةُ الدُّعاةِ كسادُ
They went unsold at the campaigners' hands, yet they would have known no
These who call to God get no price for their work,
Stagnation, but for the campaigners' bargaining.
Their trade prospers only through pleas and through bribes.
لمnot أدرِI knew أهْيَis it? بِضاعةٌmerchandise مجلوبةٌimported
لم أدرِ أهْيَ بِضاعةٌ مجلوبةٌ
أمor أمّةٌa nation محروبةٌplundered وبلادُand a land
أم أمّةٌ محروبةٌ وبلادُ
I could not tell: is it imported merchandise,
Are these captured spoils or an oppressed people?
Or a plundered nation and a land?
Are these foreign goods or our plundered tribes?
داءُthe sickness of الممالكِthe kingdoms أنthat تُصابَbe afflicted بقادةٍwith leaders
داءُ الممالكِ أن تُصابَ بقادةٍ
تُزْجَىis driven along علىaccording to حُكمthe rule of الهوىwhim وتُقادُand is led
تُزْجَى على حُكم الهوى وتُقادُ
The sickness of kingdoms is to be afflicted with leaders,
The flaw of a nation led by those who are tempted
To be driven along and led by the dictates of whim.
To rule by their whims, by the fancies that swayed.
انظُرْlook إلىto عُقبىthe outcome of الأمورaffairs وماand what جَنىreaped
انظُرْ إلى عُقبى الأمور وما جَنى
قومٌa people سياستُهمtheir policy أذىًharm وفسادُand corruption
قومٌ سياستُهم أذىً وفسادُ
Look to the outcome of affairs, and what was reaped by
Consider the outcome when leaders play games —
A people whose policy is harm and corruption.
No people so ruled shall have comfort or aid.
وسَلِand ask الكنانةَEgypt (the Quiver) هلwhether قَنعتِyou were content بماwith what ارتضَىaccepted
وسَلِ الكنانةَ هل قَنعتِ بما ارتضَى
بعدafter الإِباءِdefiance حُماتُكِyour protectors الزُّهّادُthe ascetics
بعد الإِباءِ حُماتُكِ الزُّهّادُ
And ask Al-Kinana: "Have you been content with what was accepted,
Ask the nobles: are they content without
After defiance, by your ascetic protectors?"
The integrity shown by their virtuous kin?
حُرّيَةُfreedom الدُّستورِthe constitution رَوَّعَterrified سربَهاits flock
حُرّيَةُ الدُّستورِ رَوَّعَ سربَها
عَسَفٌoppression وأرهقand burdened حزبَهاits party استعبادُenslavement
عَسَفٌ وأرهق حزبَها استعبادُ
Constitutional freedom—its flock was terrified by
Freedom of law startled and scattered its flock,
Oppression, and enslavement burdened its party.
Oppressed its own partisans, made justice decline.
لاnot يهتفُproclaims الدّاعِيthe advocate بحقّfor the right of بلادهِhis country
لا يهتفُ الدّاعِي بحقّ بلادهِ
إلاexcept طغىran rampant صَلَفٌarrogance ولجَّand persisted عِنادُobstinacy
إلا طغى صَلَفٌ ولجَّ عِنادُ
No advocate proclaims his country's right
No voice dares to speak for the rights of our land
But arrogance runs rampant and obstinacy persists.
But is silenced by tyrants obsessed with their pride.
وكأنّماand as though السّودانُSudan فيin أسماعهمtheir hearing
وكأنّما السّودانُ في أسماعهم
خَطبٌa calamity تذوبُmelt لذكرِهat its mention الأكبادُthe livers
خَطبٌ تذوبُ لذكرِه الأكبادُ
It is as though Sudan, in their hearing,
The Sudan's to them but vain words without meaning,
Were a calamity whose mention melts their livers.
Though minds melt like wax when that name is cried.
أخذواthey took الحديثَthe talk فزخرفوهso they embellished it وعندهمand in their view
أخذوا الحديثَ فزخرفوه وعندهم
أنّthat الحديثَthe discussion مضَىwas past فليسso it is not يُعادُrepeated
أنّ الحديثَ مضَى فليس يُعادُ
They took the talk and embellished it, holding
They took fine words and adorned them, but to them
That the discussion was over and would not be repeated.
What is said is done, not to be reused.
النّيلُthe Nile مُشتركُshared المرافقِthe benefits بينناbetween us
النّيلُ مُشتركُ المرافقِ بيننا
والقومُand those people لاno شَططٌexcess ولاand no استبدادُdespotism
والقومُ لا شَططٌ ولا استبدادُ
The Nile's benefits are shared between us
The Nile is a resource shared by us together,
And those people: no excess and no despotism.
No excess or injustice was asked or excused.
نحنwe الضّعافُthe weak فهلso has? تَورّعَshown restraint غالبٌa conqueror
نحن الضّعافُ فهل تَورّعَ غالبٌ
وَانْقادَand yielded للعانيto the captive الضَّعيفِthe weak مُرادa wished-for goal
وَانْقادَ للعاني الضَّعيفِ مُراد
We are the weak: has a conqueror ever shown restraint,
Though we are the weak, did the mighty show care,
And has a wished-for goal ever yielded to a weak captive?
Bowing to the truth that our feeble voice carried?
ملكواthey ruled بنيthe sons of الدنياthe world فلولاso but for عَدْلُهمtheir justice
ملكوا بني الدنيا فلولا عَدْلُهم
ذهبواthey would have vanished كماas ذَهبتْvanished ثمودُThamud وعادُand Ad
ذهبوا كما ذَهبتْ ثمودُ وعادُ
They ruled the sons of this world; but for their justice,
They own all the riches of life, their justice
They would have gone as Thamud and Ad went.
Alone stays their hand from the fate of `Aad's ruins.
لاdo not يطمعِhope المغرورُthe deluded one ماno لِثوائهمfor their stay
لا يطمعِ المغرورُ ما لِثوائهم
أَجَلٌa term ولاand no لجلائهمfor their departure ميعادُan appointed time
أَجَلٌ ولا لجلائهم ميعادُ
Let the deluded man harbor no hope: their stay has no
Let no fool think their feast is open to all.
Term, nor is there an appointed time for their departure.
No deadline awaits their oasis of ease.
تلكthat الوُصاةُthe counsel فهلso is there? لمنfor one who يَبغيseeks الهُدَىguidance
تلك الوُصاةُ فهل لمن يَبغي الهُدَى
فيin مِصرَEgypt سَمْعٌhearing صادقٌsincere وفُؤادُand a heart
في مِصرَ سَمْعٌ صادقٌ وفُؤادُ
That is the counsel; does anyone who seeks guidance
Are those their advisors? Does one seeking guidance
In Egypt have a sincere ear and a heart?
Find in Egypt an ear that is open and pure?
منwho ليfor me بأحمدَwith Ahmad فيin العظائمِgreat ordeals مُقدِماًadvancing
من لي بأحمدَ في العظائمِ مُقدِماً
يَرِدُenters الغِمارَthe deep waters تعافُهاshun them الوُرّادُthe water-seekers
يَرِدُ الغِمارَ تعافُها الوُرّادُ
Who can give me Ahmad, advancing amid great ordeals,
Where is Ahmad when perils surround us,
Entering deep waters that water-seekers shun?
To dispel the clouds, whom sharp swords cannot endure?
هلwhether كانhe was إلاexcept للكِنانةِfor Egypt (the Quiver) نجدةًa rescue
هل كان إلا للكِنانةِ نجدةً
إنif صيحَa cry was raised أينwhere حماتُهاher protectors الأنجادُthe valiant ones
إن صيحَ أين حماتُها الأنجادُ
Was he anything but a rescue for Al-Kinana,
To whom but his people did the hero bring glory,
Whenever the cry rose: "Where are her valiant defenders?"
If they call, where are kin to rush forth with their aid?
شيخُthe elder النيابةِthe prosecution حالintervened بينهماbetween the two of them الأُلىthose who
شيخُ النيابةِ حال بينهما الأُلى
دَسُّواthey planted الدَّسائِسَintrigues للرّجالِfor men وكادواand schemed
دَسُّوا الدَّسائِسَ للرّجالِ وكادوا
The elder of the prosecution—between the two stood those
Though elders stood between you, intrigues undermined,
Who laid intrigues for men and schemed.
They spun webs to entrap men of honor, undone.
عقدواthey knotted العُهودَthe covenants عُرىًbonds كواذِبُهاtheir falsehoods الأَذىharm
عقدوا العُهودَ عُرىً كواذِبُها الأَذى
وحِبالُهاand their cords الأضغانُresentments والأحقادُand hatreds
وحِبالُها الأضغانُ والأحقادُ
They knotted covenants into bonds, their falsehoods harm,
Their treaties were ropes made of malice and lies,
And their cords rancor and hatred.
Their cords were of hates and of burdens unfair.
جُرْحٌa wound بأحشاءِin the entrails of الكِنانةِEgypt (the Quiver) ماno لهfor it
جُرْحٌ بأحشاءِ الكِنانةِ ما له
أبداًever سِوَىother than كَفَنِthe shroud of الجَريحِthe wounded one ضِمادُa dressing
أبداً سِوَى كَفَنِ الجَريحِ ضِمادُ
A wound in Al-Kinana's entrails, with no
No balm exists for the deep wounds they gave
Dressing ever but the wounded one's shroud.
Except the martyr's shroud to cover his cares.
صَدَقspoke truly المُخادِعُthe deceiver ماno لأحمدَfor Ahmad فيamong الأُلىthose who
صَدَق المُخادِعُ ما لأحمدَ في الأُلى
أخذواtook الأرائكَthe seats خِلْسَةًby stealth أندادُpeers
أخذوا الأرائكَ خِلْسَةً أندادُ
The deceiver spoke truly: Ahmad has, among those
The deceiver spoke truly: Ahmad was not helped
Who seized the seats by stealth, no peers.
By his comrades who stole all the thrones for their lair.
لولاbut for حميّتُهhis proud zeal لكانwould have been محَلُّهُhis place
لولا حميّتُه لكان محَلُّهُ
فيهمamong them محلَّthe place of اللَّيْثِthe lion حيثُwhere يُصادُis hunted
فيهم محلَّ اللَّيْثِ حيثُ يُصادُ
But for his proud zeal, his place would have been
But for his defiance he too would have been
Among them that of a lion where it is hunted.
Hunted down like a lion pursued in its layer.
أرأريتَdid you see? إذwhen تُلقَىare cast aside السُّيوفُthe swords بواتراًkeen-cutting
أرأريتَ إذ تُلقَى السُّيوفُ بواتراً
عندat اللقاءِthe encounter وتُحمَلُand are carried الأغمادُthe scabbards
عند اللقاءِ وتُحمَلُ الأغمادُ
Have you seen keen-cutting swords thrown aside
Have you seen when swords flashes and scabbards sway
At the encounter, while the scabbards are borne?
As warriors close in and blood debt is to be paid?
وشَهِدتَand did you witness حينwhen جَرىtook its course القَضاءُthe judgment فأصبحتso they became
وشَهِدتَ حين جَرى القَضاءُ فأصبحت
تُقْصَىare banished الكُماةُthe champions عنfrom الوغَىbattle وتُذادُand are driven away
تُقْصَى الكُماةُ عن الوغَى وتُذادُ
And did you witness, when the judgment took its course, how
Have you seen justice pour forth till the violent yield,
The champions were excluded from battle and driven away?
And regret their rash deeds and wild disarray?
إنّindeed الذيhe who زرعَsowed الإِباءَdefiance لقومهِfor his people
إنّ الذي زرعَ الإِباءَ لقومهِ
أودىbrought ruin بهupon him قبلbefore الأوانِthe proper season حَصادُa harvest
أودى به قبل الأوانِ حَصادُ
Indeed, the man who sowed defiance for his people
He who planted courage was felled before harvest.
Was destroyed by a harvest before its season.
When goodness sprouts here, soon sickles appear.
أَوَand must it be? كلّماwhenever نَبتَsprouted الصّلاحُgoodness بأرضِناin our land
أَوَ كلّما نَبتَ الصّلاحُ بأرضِنا
نَبتتْsprouted مَناجلُsickles للفسادِfor corruption حِدادُsharp
نَبتتْ مَناجلُ للفسادِ حِدادُ
And must it be, whenever goodness sprouts in our land,
Say to elders: sheathe swords, prepare yourselves now,
That sharp sickles for corruption spring up?
True men are arming, and conflict is near.
قُلْtell للأُلىto those who وَضعواlaid down السِّلاحَthe arms تأهَّبواprepare yourselves
قُلْ للأُلى وَضعوا السِّلاحَ تأهَّبوا
إنّindeed الرِّجالَmen تأهُّبٌreadiness فجهادُthen struggle
إنّ الرِّجالَ تأهُّبٌ فجهادُ
Tell those who laid down their arms: "Make ready;
You shunned battle while archers stood ready.
For manhood is readiness, then struggle."
The warriors advanced, though you cowered in fear.
لستُمyou are not كمنlike those who جَدَّpressed on الرُّماةُthe archers فأعرضواso they turned away
لستُم كمن جَدَّ الرُّماةُ فأعرضوا
ومضىand advanced الكُماةُthe champions مُغامرِينventuring boldly فحادواso they swerved away
ومضى الكُماةُ مُغامرِين فحادوا
You are not like those who turned away when the archers pressed on,
The Nile watches for where its leaders have gone.
And swerved aside while the champions ventured forth.
Did you shield it or flee, or were you unclear?
النّيلُthe Nile ينظرُlooks أينwhere قَادَتُهits leaders الأُلىthose who
النّيلُ ينظرُ أين قَادَتُه الأُلى
مَنعواdefended الحِمَىthe sanctuary أَتفرَّقواhave they scattered? أمor بادواperished
مَنعوا الحِمَى أَتفرَّقوا أم بادوا
The Nile looks: where are its leaders, those who
Now it seems you defended it not, your alleged
Defended the sanctuary—have they scattered or perished?
Stout blows and stabs were but empty and vain.
أَمْسَىhas become كأنas though لمnot يمنعوهُthey defended it ولمand not يكنthere was
أَمْسَى كأن لم يمنعوهُ ولم يكن
ضَرْبٌstriking وطَعْنٌand thrusting صادقٌtelling وجِلادُand sword-fighting
ضَرْبٌ وطَعْنٌ صادقٌ وجِلادُ
It now seems as though they never defended it, nor had there been
When the trusted took power, and then were deposed,
Sword-blows, telling thrusts, and sword-fighting.
The lion's den crumbled; its cubs wandered, distressed.
لماwhen استقلَّdeparted أولوthe possessors of الحِفاظِsteadfast honor فغُيِّبواand were hidden away
لما استقلَّ أولو الحِفاظِ فغُيِّبوا
نُكِبَwas stricken العَرينُthe lions' den وريعتِand were terrified الآسادُthe lions
نُكِبَ العَرينُ وريعتِ الآسادُ
When the guardians of honor departed and were hidden away,
The Nile Valley was ravaged, its serenity gone,
The den was stricken, and the lions terrified.
Usurpers exulting, their dominance plain.
وتُنوزِعَand was contested الواديthe valley فذَلَّso were abased قطينُهits inhabitants
وتُنوزِعَ الوادي فذَلَّ قطينُه
واعتزَّand grew mighty فيهin it الغاصِبونَthe usurpers وسادواand ruled
واعتزَّ فيه الغاصِبونَ وسادوا
And the valley was contested, so its inhabitants were abased,
While prisoners languish in chains and in woe,
While the usurpers grew mighty there and ruled.
Their chains and their shackles protest and complain.
يلهوtoys المُصفَّدُthe shackled one بالقُيودِwith the chains وقدthough already بَكَتْwept
يلهو المُصفَّدُ بالقُيودِ وقد بَكَتْ
منهbecause of him القُيودُthe chains وضجّتِand cried out الأصفادُthe fetters
منه القُيودُ وضجّتِ الأصفادُ
The shackled man toys with his chains, though they have wept—
Is this calamity final, or can our nation
Those chains, because of him—and the fetters have cried out.
Regain its lost way, have its honor again?
تلكthat البليَّةُthe calamity أوunless يكونَthere should be لقومِناfor our people
تلك البليَّةُ أو يكونَ لقومِنا
بعدafter الغَوايةِstraying مرجعٌa return ومَعادُand a homecoming
بعد الغَوايةِ مرجعٌ ومَعادُ
That is the calamity—unless there should be for our people
After straying, a return and a homecoming.
Partial English translation: 100 of 102 Arabic lines translated.