نَزيلَO guest النيلِof the Nile أَينَwhere تَرَكتَyou left مُلكاًa kingdom
نَزيلَ النيلِ أَينَ تَرَكتَ مُلكاً
أَلَمَّcame calling بِبابِكَat your gate العاليlofty نَزيلاas a guest
أَلَمَّ بِبابِكَ العالي نَزيلا
O guest of the Nile, where have you left a kingdom
O visitor of the Nile, where did you leave a kingdom
That came as a guest to your lofty gate?
That knocked on your high door as a visitor?
وَأَينَand where التاجُthe crown يُرفَعُis raised فيin دِمَشقٍDamascus
وَأَينَ التاجُ يُرفَعُ في دِمَشقٍ
فَيَصدَعُso it cleaves هامَةَthe head الجَوزاءِof al-Jawza طولاin height
فَيَصدَعُ هامَةَ الجَوزاءِ طولا
And where is the crown raised in Damascus,
And where is the crown raised in Damascus
So high it cleaves the head of al-Jawza?
That would crack the obstinacy of Capricorn?
وَأَينَand where الجُندُthe army حَولَكَaround you تَزدَهيهِmake it proud
وَأَينَ الجُندُ حَولَكَ تَزدَهيهِ
مَواكِبُprocessions تَحمِلُbear الخَطَرَprestige الجَليلاlofty
مَواكِبُ تَحمِلُ الخَطَرَ الجَليلا
And where is the army around you, made proud
And where are the troops around you flourishing
By processions bearing lofty prestige?
With processions carrying the momentous peril?
وَأَينَand where الفَتحُconquest تُنميهِadvance it المَواضيthe keen blades
وَأَينَ الفَتحُ تُنميهِ المَواضي
وَجُردُand the sleek ones الخَيلِof the horses تَبعَثُهاyou send them forth فُحولاas stallions
وَجُردُ الخَيلِ تَبعَثُها فُحولا
And where is conquest, advanced by keen blades,
And where is the conquest you nurture in the meadows
And sleek horses you send forth as stallions?
And the cavalries you dispatch with warriors?
أَثارَتthey stirred وَجدَthe anguish أَحمَدَof Ahmad حينَwhen مَرَّتthey passed
أَثارَت وَجدَ أَحمَدَ حينَ مَرَّت
بِمَضجَعِهِby his resting place وَرَوَّعَتِand terrified الخَليلاal-Khalil (the Friend)
بِمَضجَعِهِ وَرَوَّعَتِ الخَليلا
They stirred Ahmad's anguish when they passed
Your path aroused Ahmad's passion when it passed
By his resting place, and terrified al-Khalil.
By his dwelling and startled the friend.
وَهاجَتand roused مِنfrom أُمَيَّةَUmayya فيin دِمَشقٍDamascus
وَهاجَت مِن أُمَيَّةَ في دِمَشقٍ
لَواعِجَburning pangs تَبعَثُawaken الداءَthe sickness الدَخيلاinward
لَواعِجَ تَبعَثُ الداءَ الدَخيلا
And roused from Umayya in Damascus
And it enraged Umayyah in Damascus
Burning pangs that awaken the inward sickness.
Whose tumults unleash the creeping disease.
نَزَلتَyou lodged عَلىwith صَلاحِSalah الدينِal-Din ضَيفاًas a guest
نَزَلتَ عَلى صَلاحِ الدينِ ضَيفاً
فَلَمyet did not تَرضَyou feel content with المُقامَstaying وَلاnor الرَحيلاdeparture
فَلَم تَرضَ المُقامَ وَلا الرَحيلا
You lodged with Salah al-Din as a guest,
You descended upon Saladin as a guest
Yet were content neither to stay nor to depart.
But did not accept the stay nor the departure.
أَحَقّاًtruly? كُنتَyou were رَبَّmaster التاجِof the crown فيهاin it
أَحَقّاً كُنتَ رَبَّ التاجِ فيها
وَكُنتَand you were الشَعبَthe people وَالملكَand the king النَبيلاnoble
وَكُنتَ الشَعبَ وَالملكَ النَبيلا
Were you truly master of the crown there,
Indeed you were the lord of the crown therein
And were the people and the noble king?
You were the people and the noble king.
دَعِleave aside النُعمانَal-Nu'man أَنتَyou أَجَلُّgreater مُلكاًin kingship
دَعِ النُعمانَ أَنتَ أَجَلُّ مُلكاً
وَأَمنَعُand more impregnable جانِباًof flank وَأَعَزُّand mightier غيلاin thicket
وَأَمنَعُ جانِباً وَأَعَزُّ غيلا
Leave al-Nu'man aside—you are greater in kingship,
Leave Nu'man! You are more majestic a king
More impregnable of flank, and mightier in your thicket.
And sturdier of side and mightier of lineage.
وَمالَكَand you have no فيamong بَنيthe sons of غَسّانَGhassan كُفءٌequal
وَمالَكَ في بَني غَسّانَ كُفءٌ
إِذاwhen ذَكَرواthey mention العِمارَةَthe clan وَالقَبيلاand the tribe
إِذا ذَكَروا العِمارَةَ وَالقَبيلا
And among the sons of Ghassan you have no equal,
And Maalik among the Banu Ghassan matches you
When they speak of clan and tribe.
When they mention architecture and lineage.
أَلَستَare you not لِهاشِمٍof Hashim وَبَنيand the sons أَبيهِof his father
أَلَستَ لِهاشِمٍ وَبَني أَبيهِ
إِذاwhen اِنتَسَبَtraces his lineage الفَتىthe youth لِأَبٍto a father سَليلاa scion
إِذا اِنتَسَبَ الفَتى لِأَبٍ سَليلا
Are you not of Hashim and his father's sons,
Are you not of Hashim and the sons of his father
A scion, when a youth traces his lineage to a father?
When the youth claims descent from a noble ancestor?
بِرَبِّكَby your Lord هَلshall يَدومُendure أَسىًsorrow وَوَجدٌand anguish
بِرَبِّكَ هَل يَدومُ أَسىً وَوَجدٌ
لِمُلكٍfor a kingdom لَمdid not يَدُمendure إِلّاexcept قَليلاbriefly
لِمُلكٍ لَم يَدُم إِلّا قَليلا
By your Lord, shall sorrow and anguish endure
By your Lord! Does sorrow and passion persist
For a kingdom that endured but briefly?
For a kingdom that lasted only briefly?
لَئِنif indeed تَكُhas هاشِمٌHashim أَسِفَتgrieved عَلَيهِover it
لَئِن تَكُ هاشِمٌ أَسِفَت عَلَيهِ
لَقَدsurely كَرِهَتhated أُمَيَّةُUmayya أَنthat يَزولاit should vanish
لَقَد كَرِهَت أُمَيَّةُ أَن يَزولا
If Hashim has indeed grieved over it,
If Hashim grieves for it, Umayyah would hate
Umayya surely hated that it should vanish.
For it to disappear.
عَزاءًtake comfort إِنَّindeed لِلأَقدارِfor destiny حُكماًa ruling
عَزاءً إِنَّ لِلأَقدارِ حُكماً
وَإِنَّand indeed قَضاءَthe decree رَبِّكَof your Lord لَنwill not يَحولاchange
وَإِنَّ قَضاءَ رَبِّكَ لَن يَحولا
Take comfort: fate has its ruling,
Comfort! The destinies surely have a decree
And your Lord's decree will never change.
And your Lord's ordainment will not change.
وَقُلand say لِأَبيكَto your father وَالحَسَراتُwhile regrets تَهفوflutter
وَقُل لِأَبيكَ وَالحَسَراتُ تَهفو
بِمَعقِدِat the fastening تاجِهِof his crown صَبراًpatience جَميلاgracious
بِمَعقِدِ تاجِهِ صَبراً جَميلا
And tell your father, while regrets flutter
And say to your father though regrets rage
At the fastening of his crown: 'Have gracious patience.'
With the band of his crown: patience is beautiful!
وَماand not تَعصىdefy خُطوبُthe calamities الدَهرِof time حُرّاًa noble man
وَما تَعصى خُطوبُ الدَهرِ حُرّاً
أَطاعَobeyed اللَهَGod مِثلَكَlike you وَالرَسولاand the Messenger
أَطاعَ اللَهَ مِثلَكَ وَالرَسولا
Nor do time's calamities defy a noble man
None defy the strikes of fate courageously
Who, like you, obeyed God and the Messenger.
Like you who obeyed God and the Messenger.
سَأَرحَمُI shall pity بَعدَafter قَصرِكَyour palace كُلَّevery قَصرٍpalace
سَأَرحَمُ بَعدَ قَصرِكَ كُلَّ قَصرٍ
وَأَحسُدُand I envy بَعدَكَafter you الطَلَلَthe ruin المَحيلاdesolate
وَأَحسُدُ بَعدَكَ الطَلَلَ المَحيلا
After your palace, I shall pity every palace,
After your palace, I will pity every palace
And after you, envy the desolate ruin.
And envy after you the barren ruins!
وَأَبكيand I weep for الشَرقَthe East حيناًtime بَعدَafter حينٍtime
وَأَبكي الشَرقَ حيناً بَعدَ حينٍ
وَأَندُبُand I lament فيin مَمالِكِهِits kingdoms العُقولاthe minds
وَأَندُبُ في مَمالِكِهِ العُقولا
And weep for the East time after time,
And I will weep for the East time after time
And mourn the minds within its kingdoms.
And lament its realms of intellect.
وَلَيسَand is not بِعاقِلٍsensible مَنone who رامَsought شَيئاًa thing
وَلَيسَ بِعاقِلٍ مَن رامَ شَيئاً
يَراهُhe sees it إِذاwhen تَأَمَّلَhe reflects مُستَحيلاimpossible
يَراهُ إِذا تَأَمَّلَ مُستَحيلا
Nor is he sensible who seeks a thing
Whoever desires a thing he sees is impossible
He sees, upon reflection, to be impossible.
When contemplated, is no sage.
لَعَمرُكَby your life ماnot الحَياةُlife سِوىexcept صِيالٍcombat
لَعَمرُكَ ما الحَياةُ سِوى صِيالٍ
وَلَيسَand is not الرَأيُsound judgment إِلّاexcept أَنthat تَصولاyou charge
وَلَيسَ الرَأيُ إِلّا أَن تَصولا
By your life, life is nothing but combat,
By your life! Existence is but an illusion
And the only wise course is for you to charge.
And opinion is but to rave deliriously!
مَتىwhen رَفَعَraised الرَجاءُhope بِناءَthe edifice of مُلكٍa kingdom
مَتى رَفَعَ الرَجاءُ بِناءَ مُلكٍ
وَكانَand was عِمادُهُits mainstay قالاًtalk وَقيلاand hearsay
وَكانَ عِمادُهُ قالاً وَقيلا
When has hope raised the edifice of a kingdom
When did raising the edifice of a kingdom
Whose mainstay was mere talk and hearsay?
With chatter and say as its pillar, endure?
نُريدُwe want الراحِمينَthe merciful وَأَيُّand what شَعبٍnation
نُريدُ الراحِمينَ وَأَيُّ شَعبٍ
عَزيزٍmighty يَرحَمُshows mercy to الشَعبَthe nation الذَليلاabject
عَزيزٍ يَرحَمُ الشَعبَ الذَليلا
We seek the merciful—but what nation,
We want the merciful, and which mighty
Strong and proud, will show mercy to an abject nation?
And dear people have mercy for the disgraced?
أَتَعجَبُdo you marvel أَنthat تَرىyou see قَنَصَthe quarry الضَواريof predators
أَتَعجَبُ أَن تَرى قَنَصَ الضَواري
وَتَغضَبُand you grow angry أَنthat يَكونَit should be لَهاfor them أَكيلاfood
وَتَغضَبُ أَن يَكونَ لَها أَكيلا
Do you marvel to see the predators' quarry,
Do you wonder to see the beasts of prey
And grow angry that it should become their food?
And get angry for it to have a morsel?
فَثِقso trust بِاللَهِin God وَاِنظُرand look كَيفَhow يَهديHe guides
فَثِق بِاللَهِ وَاِنظُر كَيفَ يَهدي
شُعوبَthe peoples الشَرقِof the East إِذwhen ضَلّواthey lost السَبيلاthe way
شُعوبَ الشَرقِ إِذ ضَلّوا السَبيلا
So trust in God, and see how He guides
So trust in God and see how He guides
The peoples of the East, when they have lost the way.
The peoples of the East when they lost the path.
أَظَلَّovershadowed جُموعَهُمtheir multitudes حَدَثٌa calamity مَهولٌdreadful
أَظَلَّ جُموعَهُم حَدَثٌ مَهولٌ
لِيَكشِفَto lift عَنهُمُfrom them الحَدَثَthe calamity المَهولاdreadful
لِيَكشِفَ عَنهُمُ الحَدَثَ المَهولا
A dreadful calamity has overshadowed their multitudes,
A momentous event shadowed their throngs
To lift from them the dreadful calamity.
To uncover from them the momentous event.
وَماand not شَقَّwas burdensome الدَواءُthe medicine عَلىto مَريضٍa patient
وَما شَقَّ الدَواءُ عَلى مَريضٍ
إِذاwhen ما(emphasis) اِستَأصَلَrooted out الداءَthe disease الوَبيلاpernicious
إِذا ما اِستَأصَلَ الداءَ الوَبيلا
Nor is medicine a hardship to a patient
No cure was harsh to an ailing one
When it roots out the pernicious disease.
When it thoroughly eliminated the creeping disease.
قُلِsay اللَهُمَّO God غَفّارَever-forgiving الخَطاياof sins
قُلِ اللَهُمَّ غَفّارَ الخَطايا
إِلَيكَto You نَتوبُwe repent فَاِرزُقناso grant us القُبولاacceptance
إِلَيكَ نَتوبُ فَاِرزُقنا القُبولا
Say: 'O God, ever-forgiving of sins,
Say: O God, Forgiver of sins
To You we repent, so grant us acceptance.
To You we repent, so grant us acceptance!
عَرَفناwe came to know الحَقَّthe truth بَعدَafter الجَهلِignorance إِنّاindeed we
عَرَفنا الحَقَّ بَعدَ الجَهلِ إِنّا
وَجَدناwe found الجَهلَignorance لِلأَقوامِfor nations غولاa ghoul
وَجَدنا الجَهلَ لِلأَقوامِ غولا
We came to know the truth after ignorance; indeed,
We knew the truth after ignorance, we
We found ignorance a ghoul for nations.'
Found ignorance makes people tyrannical.