لك من تحيات القلوب مواكبُ

لك من تحيات القلوب مواكبُ

ومن القوافي المُشرقاتِ كواكِبُ

ومن القوافي المُشرقاتِ كواكِبُ

For you come processions of greetings from hearts,

You have the greetings of hearts accompanying you,

and stars from radiant rhymes.

And of the radiant rhymes stars accompanying you,

الأرضُ حولك مَعرِضٌ لك جانبٌ

الأرضُ حولك مَعرِضٌ لك جانبٌ

منه وللأدبِ المُفضَّلِ جانِبُ

منه وللأدبِ المُفضَّلِ جانِبُ

The earth around you is an exhibition: one part is yours,

The land around you is inclined to you on one side,

and another belongs to esteemed literature.

And on the other side is the preferred literature,

صُوَرٌ تَخطَّفها البيانُ فشاعرٌ

صُوَرٌ تَخطَّفها البيانُ فشاعرٌ

يُغرِي بها وحيَ القريضِ وكاتِبُ

يُغرِي بها وحيَ القريضِ وكاتِبُ

Images snatched up by eloquence: a poet

Images that eloquence snatched so the poet was tempted by them

woos poetic inspiration with them, and a writer too.

And the revelation of poetry and the writer were tempted,

تَتنافسُ الأقلامُ في أوصافها

تَتنافسُ الأقلامُ في أوصافها

فَمُقَصِّرٌ نائي المدى ومُقاربُ

فَمُقَصِّرٌ نائي المدى ومُقاربُ

Pens compete in describing them:

The pens compete in describing them

one falls far short of the goal, another comes close.

So the inadequate and the matching compete,

ويظلُّ آخرُ بَيْنَ بينَ فدافعٌ

ويظلُّ آخرُ بَيْنَ بينَ فدافعٌ

يعتاقه عما يُريد وجاذبُ

يعتاقه عما يُريد وجاذبُ

Another remains in between: a repelling force

And the last remains halfway so there is a motive

holds him back from what he wants, and an attracting force.

That liberates him from what he wants and what pulls him,

ناجيتَها فترنّمتْ وأجبتَها

ناجيتَها فترنّمتْ وأجبتَها

فطوى البلادَ رَنينُها المتجاوبُ

فطوى البلادَ رَنينُها المتجاوبُ

You confided in her; she sang, and you answered her,

You whispered to it so it chanted and you answered it

and her echoing chime swept across the land.

So its echo spreading through the countries responded,

ووصفتها فتمثّلت في روعةٍ

ووصفتها فتمثّلت في روعةٍ

للسّحرِ فيها أخذُه المتعاقِبُ

للسّحرِ فيها أخذُه المتعاقِبُ

You described her, and she took form in splendor,

And you described it so it appeared in splendor

where enchantment casts its spell again and again.

To magic in it its alternating captivator belonged,

زِينَتْ محاسنُها وَزِيدتْ فتنةً

زِينَتْ محاسنُها وَزِيدتْ فتنةً

فشدا بها الشّاني وغنّى الصّاحبُ

فشدا بها الشّاني وغنّى الصّاحبُ

Her beauties were adorned, her allure increased,

Its beauty was adorned and its charm was increased

so her hater sang of her, and her friend sang too.

So the critic was fascinated and the companion sang,

أرأيتَ إذ رستِ السّفينةُ هل خلا

أرأيتَ إذ رستِ السّفينةُ هل خلا

مَتْنُ العُبابِ وموجه المتراكِبُ

مَتْنُ العُبابِ وموجه المتراكِبُ

Did you see, when the ship anchored, whether

Have you seen that when the ship landed was its

the surging sea's surface and its piled-up waves were empty?

Hold empty and its accumulating wave vacant?

أفضى الأُجاجُ إلى الفراتِ بقادمٍ

أفضى الأُجاجُ إلى الفراتِ بقادمٍ

ساغ الأُجاجُ به فعبّ الشَّاربُ

ساغ الأُجاجُ به فعبّ الشَّاربُ

The salt sea brought a newcomer to the fresh waters;

The floods poured into the Euphrates with an arrival

through him the brine became palatable, and the drinker drank deep.

That made the floods tasty so the drinker was satiated,

النّاسُ بين يديه ما لجموعهم

النّاسُ بين يديه ما لجموعهم

عَدٌّ وإن بلغَ النّهايَة حاسبُ

عَدٌّ وإن بلغَ النّهايَة حاسبُ

The people stand before him; for their multitudes there is no

The people before it, their crowds have no

count, though a reckoner reach the utmost limit.

Number even if the endpoint reaches the counter,

تهتزُّ أفئدة لهم وجوانحٌ

تهتزُّ أفئدة لهم وجوانحٌ

وتموجُ منهم أعينٌ ومَناكبُ

وتموجُ منهم أعينٌ ومَناكبُ

Their hearts and ribs tremble,

Their hearts tremble for them and chests

and their eyes and shoulders surge.

Surge and from them eyes undulate and eyelids,

ينأَى على حبِّ البلادِ وعهدِها

ينأَى على حبِّ البلادِ وعهدِها

ويَؤوبُ أحسنَ ما يؤوبُ الغائبُ

ويَؤوبُ أحسنَ ما يؤوبُ الغائبُ

He goes away loving the country and keeping his pledge to her,

He avoids the love of the countries and their covenant

and returns as splendidly as an absent man can.

And returns the best return of the absent,

هِيَ أوبةُ الغازي المظفَّرِ أقبلت

هِيَ أوبةُ الغازي المظفَّرِ أقبلت

بالنّصر أعلامٌ له وكتائبُ

بالنّصر أعلامٌ له وكتائبُ

It is the return of the victorious warrior; there came

It is the return of the victorious invader, its

his banners and battalions, bringing victory.

Flags and battalions came with victory,

ردَّ الأخيذةَ ساقها مذعورةً

ردَّ الأخيذةَ ساقها مذعورةً

ونجا بمهجته الزعيم الخائبُ

ونجا بمهجته الزعيم الخائبُ

He brought the captive back, driving her along in terror,

He repelled it frightened rear

and the failed leader escaped with his life.

And the leader escaped with his defective scheme,

ثَقُلَتْ على مصرَ القيودُ فهزَّها

ثَقُلَتْ على مصرَ القيودُ فهزَّها

حتّى هوى منها العَضُوضُ النَّاشبُ

حتّى هوى منها العَضُوضُ النَّاشبُ

The chains weighed heavily on Egypt, so he shook them

The shackles weighed heavily on Egypt so he shook them

until the biting, embedded fetter fell away from her.

Until the tight one fell from it collapsed,

لم يبقَ إلا أن يُقَالَ لها انهضي

لم يبقَ إلا أن يُقَالَ لها انهضي

فإذا الزمانُ مسالكٌ ومساربُ

فإذا الزمانُ مسالكٌ ومساربُ

Nothing remained but to tell her, 'Rise!'

Nothing remains but to say to it arise

And behold, time was roads and pathways,

For the time has paths and highways,

وإذا المضائقُ والدُّروبُ أمامها

وإذا المضائقُ والدُّروبُ أمامها

وكأنّهنّ مَفاوزٌ وسباسبُ

وكأنّهنّ مَفاوزٌ وسباسبُ

and the narrows and tracks before her

And the straits and roads are before it

seemed like desert expanses and broad plains.

As if they are expanses and plains,

ماذا عليها وهي في أعراسها

ماذا عليها وهي في أعراسها

إن أرجَف النّاعي وضجَّ النّاعبُ

إن أرجَف النّاعي وضجَّ النّاعبُ

What does it matter to her, amid her wedding feasts,

What about it while it is in its weddings

if the death-announcer spreads alarm and the crow clamors?

If the wailer clamored and the weeping companion lamented?

خُذْ ما استطعت من المطالب وارتقب

خُذْ ما استطعت من المطالب وارتقب

عُقبى الأمور فللأمور عواقبُ

عُقبى الأمور فللأمور عواقبُ

Take what you can of your demands, and await

Take what you can of demands and expect

the outcome of affairs, for affairs have consequences.

The outcomes of matters for matters have consequences,

الدّهرُ لا يُعطيك إلا كارهاً

الدّهرُ لا يُعطيك إلا كارهاً

فإذا أبيتَ فإِنَّ رأيك عازبُ

فإذا أبيتَ فإِنَّ رأيك عازبُ

Time gives to you only grudgingly;

Time does not give you except unwillingly

if you refuse, your judgment has gone astray.

So if you refuse your opinion is single,

وإذا اضطلعتَ بأمر جيلِك كُلِّه

وإذا اضطلعتَ بأمر جيلِك كُلِّه

وقضيتَ حاجَتهُ فما لك عاتبُ

وقضيتَ حاجَتهُ فما لك عاتبُ

If you shoulder the affairs of your entire generation

And if you take on your whole generation’s matter

and fulfill its need, no one reproaches you.

And fulfill its need then you have no blame,

يبني الفتى يوماً ويبني غيرُه

يبني الفتى يوماً ويبني غيرُه

فإذا البناءُ على الحوادث دائبُ

فإذا البناءُ على الحوادث دائبُ

A young man builds one day, and another builds,

One day the young man builds and another builds

and so the building continues despite calamities.

So the building over events is continual,

أرأيتَ أظلمَ من أُناسٍ أُولِعُوا

أرأيتَ أظلمَ من أُناسٍ أُولِعُوا

بالعاملين فهادمٌ ومشاغبُ

بالعاملين فهادمٌ ومشاغبُ

Have you seen anyone more unjust than people obsessed

Have you seen darker than people who

with those who work—one a destroyer, another a troublemaker?

Destroy and make mischief, the demolisher and the troublemaker?

سُبحانَ مَن رزق النُّفوسَ خِلالَها

سُبحانَ مَن رزق النُّفوسَ خِلالَها

فمناقبٌ مأثورةٌ ومثالبُ

فمناقبٌ مأثورةٌ ومثالبُ

Glory to Him who endowed souls with their qualities:

Glory to the One Who granted souls their traits

renowned virtues, and faults.

So there are renowned virtues and blemishes,

وَفِّ الرجالَ إذا حكمتَ حُقوقَهم

وَفِّ الرجالَ إذا حكمتَ حُقوقَهم

إنّ الرّجالَ منازلٌ ومراتبُ

إنّ الرّجالَ منازلٌ ومراتبُ

Give men their full rights when you judge,

Do justice to men when you judge their rights

for men have stations and ranks.

For men have positions and degrees,

وَدَعِ الهوى للجاهلين فإنّه

وَدَعِ الهوى للجاهلين فإنّه

نارٌ مؤجّجَةٌ وهمٌّ ناصبُ

نارٌ مؤجّجَةٌ وهمٌّ ناصبُ

Leave caprice to the ignorant, for it is

And leave passion to the ignorant for it

a blazing fire and wearisome distress.

Is a flaming fire and harbored rancor,

وخُذِ السّبيلَ هُدىً ونوراً ساطعاً

وخُذِ السّبيلَ هُدىً ونوراً ساطعاً

إنّ ابن محمودٍ لَنجمٌ ثاقبُ

إنّ ابن محمودٍ لَنجمٌ ثاقبُ

And follow the path of guidance and radiant light;

And take the path as guidance and shining light

Ibn Mahmoud is indeed a piercing star.

For the son of Mahmoud is a penetrating star,

أملٌ تَلوذُ به الكنانةُ صادقٌ

أملٌ تَلوذُ به الكنانةُ صادقٌ

إن راحتِ الآمالُ وهي كواذبُ

إن راحتِ الآمالُ وهي كواذبُ

A true hope in whom Kinana seeks refuge,

A hope that sincerity takes refuge in, truthful

when other hopes depart, proving false.

Even if hopes became exhausted and lying,

نرضى حكومته ونحمدُ صُنعَه

نرضى حكومته ونحمدُ صُنعَه

ونذمُّ ما صنع الغبيُّ الغاضبُ

ونذمُّ ما صنع الغبيُّ الغاضبُ

We approve his government and praise his work,

We accept his rule and praise his making

and condemn what the angry fool has done.

And condemn what the foolish angry one did,

لولا صرامتُه وحِكمةُ رأيهِ

لولا صرامتُه وحِكمةُ رأيهِ

ما ذاق طعمَ الجِدّ شعبُ لاعبُ

ما ذاق طعمَ الجِدّ شعبُ لاعبُ

Were it not for his firmness and wise judgment,

Were it not for his firmness and wisdom of opinion

a frivolous people would never have tasted earnestness.

A frivolous nation would not taste seriousness,

والشّعبُ ليس بِمُهتَدٍ في سعيهِ

والشّعبُ ليس بِمُهتَدٍ في سعيهِ

حتّى يبين له السّبيلُ اللَّاحبُ

حتّى يبين له السّبيلُ اللَّاحبُ

The people do not find their way in their striving

And the nation is not guided in its endeavor

until the well-marked road becomes clear to them.

Until the clear path shows it,

مَن لا يرى أنّ البلاد تجارةٌ

مَن لا يرى أنّ البلاد تجارةٌ

وهوى البلادِ مغانمٌ ومناصبُ

وهوى البلادِ مغانمٌ ومناصبُ

He who does not regard the country as commerce,

Whoever does not see that the countries are business

and love of country as spoils and offices—

And the love of countries are spoils and positions,

ما ذنبُه والحكمُ يطلبُهُ إذا

ما ذنبُه والحكمُ يطلبُهُ إذا

حُرِمَ الضَّنينُ به وخاب الطّالبُ

حُرِمَ الضَّنينُ به وخاب الطّالبُ

what fault is his, when power seeks him out, if

What is his guilt when governance seeks him

the one who clings to it is deprived, and the seeker fails?

If the complainant is deprived of him and the seeker fails?

فتن الغُواةَ فللعقول مصارعٌ

فتن الغُواةَ فللعقول مصارعٌ

عن جانبيه وللوجوه مَساحبُ

عن جانبيه وللوجوه مَساحبُ

It has bewitched the misguided; minds have their places of downfall

The tumults of the transgressors, and for the minds there are battlefields

on either side of it, and faces their dragging grounds.

Beside them, and for the faces there are fields,

صَفَتِ الحياةُ فلا بلاءٌ شاملٌ

صَفَتِ الحياةُ فلا بلاءٌ شاملٌ

يُؤذِي النُّفوسَ ولا عذاب واصبُ

يُؤذِي النُّفوسَ ولا عذاب واصبُ

Life has grown serene; no all-encompassing affliction

Life has cleared so there is no inclusive affliction

hurts souls, nor any unrelenting torment.

That hurts the souls, nor prevalent torture,

لكَ يا محمدُ عند كلِّ موفّقٍ

لكَ يا محمدُ عند كلِّ موفّقٍ

عهدٌ يُعظِّمه وحقٌّ واجبُ

عهدٌ يُعظِّمه وحقٌّ واجبُ

You, O Muhammad, have with every man blessed with success

For you, O Muhammad, with every empowered one

a pledge he honors, and a binding right.

There is a covenant he venerates and a duty he obliges,

أنت الزعيمُ الحقُّ ما بك رِيبةٌ

أنت الزعيمُ الحقُّ ما بك رِيبةٌ

والحقُّ للخَصمِ المُناجِزِ غالبُ

والحقُّ للخَصمِ المُناجِزِ غالبُ

You are the true leader, with no cause for doubt,

You are the leader, truly there is no doubt in you

and truth prevails over the adversary who joins battle.

And the truth for the conclusive adversary is triumphant,

تُعطي البلادَ إذا تنمَّرَ آخذٌ

تُعطي البلادَ إذا تنمَّرَ آخذٌ

وتُفيدُها ما يستفيدُ السَّالبُ

وتُفيدُها ما يستفيدُ السَّالبُ

You give to the country when a taker turns fierce,

You give the countries if a transgressor acts impudently

and enrich her with what the plunderer gains.

And benefit them what the retriever benefits,

وتُضيمُ نفسَكَ وَهْيَ جِدُّ عزيزَةٍ

وتُضيمُ نفسَكَ وَهْيَ جِدُّ عزيزَةٍ

تحمي الحقيقة إن تحَفَّز واثبُ

تحمي الحقيقة إن تحَفَّز واثبُ

You wrong your own soul, though it is most precious,

And you wrong yourself though it is a precious soul

defending truth when an assailant readies himself to leap.

That protects the truth even if the capricious one jumped,

نفسٌ سمت أعراقُها وخلالُها

نفسٌ سمت أعراقُها وخلالُها

ومن النُّفوسِ ذخائرٌ ومواهبُ

ومن النُّفوسِ ذخائرٌ ومواهبُ

A soul of exalted lineage and qualities;

A soul whose roots and traits have soared

among souls are treasures and gifts.

And from souls there are treasures and talents,

ومن الرجال الصّالحين لقومهم

ومن الرجال الصّالحين لقومهم

عند الجهادِ أسنَّةٌ وقواضبُ

عند الجهادِ أسنَّةٌ وقواضبُ

And among the men who serve their people well

And from righteous men for their people

are spearheads and keen swords in the struggle.

In jihad there are sharp blades and toilers,

المسجدُ الأقصى لسانٌ صارخٌ

المسجدُ الأقصى لسانٌ صارخٌ

يُهدِي تحيّتَهُ وقلبٌ واجبُ

يُهدِي تحيّتَهُ وقلبٌ واجبُ

Al-Aqsa Mosque is a tongue crying out,

The Aqsa Mosque is a screaming tongue

offering its greeting, and a throbbing heart.

Sending its greetings and an obliging heart,

أمّا فلسطينُ الثكولُ فإِنَّها

أمّا فلسطينُ الثكولُ فإِنَّها

تُطرِي صنيعَك والدُّموعُ سواكبُ

تُطرِي صنيعَك والدُّموعُ سواكبُ

As for bereaved Palestine, she

As for woeful Palestine, it

praises your deed as tears pour down.

Circles your making and the tears are planets,

لم تَنْسَها والظلمُ مُنتصِرٌ بها

لم تَنْسَها والظلمُ مُنتصِرٌ بها

والعدل مُنهزمُ الفيالقِِ هاربُ

والعدل مُنهزمُ الفيالقِِ هاربُ

You did not forget her while oppression triumphed there,

You have not forgotten it while injustice triumphs in it

and justice fled, its legions routed.

And justice defeated retreats and flees,

والنّارُ تأخذُ أهلَها فمُعذَّبٌ

والنّارُ تأخذُ أهلَها فمُعذَّبٌ

يُشوَى على أيدي الطُغاةِ وذائبُ

يُشوَى على أيدي الطُغاةِ وذائبُ

Fire seizes her people: one tortured man

And the fire takes its people so the tortured one

is roasted at the tyrants' hands, and another melts away.

Is scorched by the hands of tyrants and wolves,

ما للشيّوخِ ولا العذارى عِصمةٌ

ما للشيّوخِ ولا العذارى عِصمةٌ

الهَوْلُ طامٍ والرَّدَى مُتكالبُ

الهَوْلُ طامٍ والرَّدَى مُتكالبُ

Neither the elders nor the maidens have protection;

The elders and the virgins have no protection,

terror overflows, and death is ravenous.

Horror is overwhelming and havoc is struggling,

موسى على أسفٍ وعيسى ناقمٌ

موسى على أسفٍ وعيسى ناقمٌ

ومحمدٌ جَهْمُ المُحيَّا شاحبُ

ومحمدٌ جَهْمُ المُحيَّا شاحبُ

Moses grieves, and Jesus is indignant,

Moses is in anguish, Jesus is indignant

and Muhammad is grim-faced and pale.

And Muhammad the effacer of extinction is pale,

أمِن الجرائمِ أن يُزحزَحَ غاصبٌ

أمِن الجرائمِ أن يُزحزَحَ غاصبٌ

ويُرَدَّ عن حقِّ الممالكِ ناهبُ

ويُرَدَّ عن حقِّ الممالكِ ناهبُ

Is it a crime for a usurper to be dislodged

Is it safe from crimes that a usurper be removed

and a plunderer kept from the rights of kingdoms?

And a plunderer of the rights of kingdoms repelled?

المجرمُ الوَرعُ الذي يَدَعُ الحمى

المجرمُ الوَرعُ الذي يَدَعُ الحمى

حَذَر الجريمةِ والأثيمُ التّائبُ

حَذَر الجريمةِ والأثيمُ التّائبُ

The criminal is the devout man who abandons the sanctuary

The pious criminal who leaves the sanctuary

for fear of crime; the sinner is the penitent.

Fearing the crime, and the sinner who repents,

أُمَمُ العروبةِ أكبرت لك نجدةً

أُمَمُ العروبةِ أكبرت لك نجدةً

رَضِيَ اللّهيفُ بها وكَفَّ العاتِبُ

رَضِيَ اللّهيفُ بها وكَفَّ العاتِبُ

The nations of Arabdom acclaimed your aid;

The Arab nations magnified aid to you

the distressed were pleased with it, and the reproacher fell silent.

The complainer was pleased with it and the blamer relented,

وَاسْتروحَ الإِسلامُ من نَفَحاتِها

وَاسْتروحَ الإِسلامُ من نَفَحاتِها

رِيحَ الأُلىَ اخترم الزّمانُ الذاهبُ

رِيحَ الأُلىَ اخترم الزّمانُ الذاهبُ

Islam breathed in, from its fragrant breezes,

And Islam breathed easily from its breaths

the scent of those whom bygone time had carried off.

The wind of fragrance while time departing withered,

حُرٌّ من النَّفرِ الكِرامِ يَهزُّهُ

حُرٌّ من النَّفرِ الكِرامِ يَهزُّهُ

عِرقُ إلى السَّلفِ المُطهَّرِ ضاربُ

عِرقُ إلى السَّلفِ المُطهَّرِ ضاربُ

A free man among the noble company, stirred

Free of the generous people, shaking him

by a root reaching back to the purified forebears.

Is a lineage to the purified ancestors that hits,

مُتأهِّبٌ والنّازلاتُ كتائبٌ

مُتأهِّبٌ والنّازلاتُ كتائبٌ

مُتَبلِّجٌ والحادثات غياهبُ

مُتَبلِّجٌ والحادثات غياهبُ

Ready, though calamities come as battalions;

Prepared while tribulations are battalions

radiant, though misfortunes are deep darkness.

Radiant while events are unknown,

الله أكبرُ يا سُلالةَ يَعْرُبٍ

الله أكبرُ يا سُلالةَ يَعْرُبٍ

بالت على حَرَمِ الأُسودِ ثعالبُ

بالت على حَرَمِ الأُسودِ ثعالبُ

God is greatest, O descendant of Ya'rub!

God is Great, O descendants of Ya’rub

Foxes have urinated on the lions' sacred ground.

Foxes have urinated on the sanctuary of the black stone,

اعمل وجاهد يا مُحمّدُ إنّها

اعمل وجاهد يا مُحمّدُ إنّها

دُنيا يموتُ بها الجبانُ الهائبُ

دُنيا يموتُ بها الجبانُ الهائبُ

Work and strive, O Muhammad, for this is

Work and strive O Muhammad, it is

a world in which the fearful coward dies.

A world where the coward frightened one dies,

لِلمُلكِ أوتادٌ تُقامُ وأنتَ من

لِلمُلكِ أوتادٌ تُقامُ وأنتَ من

أوتادهِ إن جدَّ أمرٌ حازبُ

أوتادهِ إن جدَّ أمرٌ حازبُ

Sovereignty has stakes set firm, and you are among

For the kingdom there are pegs that are stood

its stakes when a grave crisis arises.

And you are of its pegs when a defiant matter intensifies,

ما المُلكُ إلا ذو غوارِبَ زاخرٌ

ما المُلكُ إلا ذو غوارِبَ زاخرٌ

يشقى به الطّافي فكيف الرّاسبُ

يشقى به الطّافي فكيف الرّاسبُ

Sovereignty is but a surging sea with towering wave crests;

For kingdom is nothing but a possessor of overflowing

even one who floats suffers in it—what of one who sinks?

Struggles that make the tall miserable, so how about the failing?