مَضَتِswept forward السُّيُوفُthe swords وولَّتِand fled الأربَابُthe gods
مَضَتِ السُّيُوفُ وولَّتِ الأربَابُ
فإلىso toward الهزيمةِdefeat أيّهاO you الأحزابُconfederates
فإلى الهزيمةِ أيّها الأحزابُ
The swords swept forward, and the gods fled.
The swords have passed and the nobles have retreated,
So onward to defeat, O confederates!
To defeat, O parties!
لاnot اللاتُal-Lat نافعةٌhelpful ولاnor أَخَوَاتُهاher sisters
لا اللاتُ نافعةٌ ولا أَخَوَاتُها
كلُّeach بلاءٌa calamity واقعٌbefalling وعذابُand torment
كلُّ بلاءٌ واقعٌ وعذابُ
Neither al-Lat is any help, nor her sisters;
Neither Lat nor her sisters are beneficial,
Each is a calamity that befalls, and a torment.
Every affliction has befallen and punishment.
فيat السّفحِthe foot منof سَلعٍSalʿ قضاءٌa doom رابضٌcrouching
في السّفحِ من سَلعٍ قضاءٌ رابضٌ
والويلُand woe حينwhen يَثُورُit rises أوor يَنسابُglides forth
والويلُ حين يَثُورُ أو يَنسابُ
At the foot of Salʿ, a doom crouches in wait,
In the valley's slope, fate lies waiting,
And woe when it rises or glides forth!
And woe when it rages or flows.
يَبْغِيit seeks الفريسةَthe prey والمنيَّةُand death مخلبٌa claw
يَبْغِي الفريسةَ والمنيَّةُ مخلبٌ
وَيَصُولُand it pounces والأجلُand the appointed death المعجَّلُhastened نابُa fang
وَيَصُولُ والأجلُ المعجَّلُ نابُ
It seeks its prey, with death for a claw,
Seeking prey, death's claw,
And pounces, with hastened death for a fang.
Prowling, and impending doom with bared fang.
هوit is ياO ابنson of حربٍHarb ماwhat عَلِمتَyou knew وجَرَّبواand they experienced
هو يا ابن حربٍ ما عَلِمتَ وجَرَّبوا
الغِيلُthe thicket بَسْلٌfearsome واللّيوثُand the lions غِضَابُenraged
الغِيلُ بَسْلٌ واللّيوثُ غِضَابُ
It is, O son of Harb, what you knew and they experienced:
This, O son of war, you have not known or tried:
The thicket is fearsome, and the lions are enraged.
Treachery is stagnant water, lions are raging seas.
أَشْفَىdid ... assuage سليطٌSulayt وابنُand the son of عَوفٍʿAwf ضِغنَكمyour rancor
أَشْفَى سليطٌ وابنُ عَوفٍ ضِغنَكم
أمor ثَمَّthere is ضِغْنٌrancor وَاغِرٌseething وضبابُand hidden grudges
أم ثَمَّ ضِغْنٌ وَاغِرٌ وضبابُ
Did Sulayt and Ibn ʿAwf assuage your rancor,
Ashfa more potent, and Ibn 'Awf's blow,
Or is there still seething rancor and hidden malice?
Or is there more strength and fierceness and tumult?
لاmay not بُورِكتْbe blessed تلكthose السُّيوفُswords فإنّهاfor they
لا بُورِكتْ تلك السُّيوفُ فإنّها
لَتُصيبُsurely strike منsome of أعدائِهاtheir enemies فَتُصابُthen are struck
لَتُصيبُ من أعدائِها فَتُصابُ
May those swords never be blessed, for they
May those swords not be blessed, for they
Surely strike some of their enemies, then are struck themselves.
Strike their enemies, only to be struck.
كلُّall الذيthat which نِلتمyou took ونالتْand they took منof دمٍblood
كلُّ الذي نِلتم ونالتْ من دمٍ
عَطَبٌdestruction يُتَاحُis allotted لكمto you معاًtogether وتَبابُand ruin
عَطَبٌ يُتَاحُ لكم معاً وتَبابُ
All the blood you have drawn, and they have drawn,
All the blood you have shed and spilled
Is destruction allotted to you together, and ruin.
Is forbidden to you both and filth.
زَيدٌZayd وَسَعدٌand Saʿd فيamong الفوارسِthe horsemen فانظُرواso look
زَيدٌ وَسَعدٌ في الفوارسِ فانظُروا
إنwhether كانis يَصدقُis truthful with نفسَهhimself المُرتابُthe doubter
إن كان يَصدقُ نفسَه المُرتابُ
Zayd and Saʿd are among the horsemen; see, then,
Zayd and Sa'd among the horsemen - look
Whether the doubter is truthful with himself.
If he who doubts himself is right.
اللَّهُGod أكبرُgreatest كلُّevery شيءٍthing دونهbeneath Him
اللَّهُ أكبرُ كلُّ شيءٍ دونه
صَدَقَproved true الذينthose whom دعاهُمُHe called them فأجابواand they answered
صَدَقَ الذين دعاهُمُ فأجابوا
God is greatest; everything is beneath Him.
God is greatest! All things beneath Him
Those whom He called, and who answered, proved true.
True are those who, when He called them, answered.
ثُوبواreturn to your senses جُموعَhordes of المشركينَthe idolaters فإنّماfor only
ثُوبوا جُموعَ المشركينَ فإنّما
غَرَّتكمُdeceived you الأوثانُthe idols والأنصابُand the sacred stones
غَرَّتكمُ الأوثانُ والأنصابُ
Come to your senses, hordes of idolaters; it was only
Turn back the crowds of pagans, for only
The idols and sacred stones that deceived you.
Idols and icons have deluded you.
لاnot يُعجبنَّmust delight بَنيthe sons of قريظَةَQurayza غَدرُهمtheir treachery
لا يُعجبنَّ بَني قريظَةَ غَدرُهم
فَمُحَمَّدٌfor Muhammad لِلغادرِينَagainst the treacherous عُقابُan eagle
فَمُحَمَّدٌ لِلغادرِينَ عُقابُ
Let their treachery not delight the Banu Qurayza;
Let not Banu Qurayza be pleased with their treason,
For Muhammad is an eagle against the treacherous.
For Muhammad has punishment for traitors.
هبَّrose up ابنson of أخطبAkhtab فاستزلand led astray بمكرهby his cunning
هبَّ ابن أخطب فاستزل بمكره
كعباًKaʿb وأمرand the conduct of الجاهلينthe ignorant عجابastonishing
كعباً وأمر الجاهلين عجاب
Ibn Akhtab rose and, by his cunning, led astray
Ibn Akhtab stirred up Ka'b with his scheming,
Kaʿb; the conduct of the ignorant is astonishing.
And the acts of the ignorant are amazing.
ياalas للصحيفةِfor the document إذas يُمزِّقُهاhe tears it أماdoes not ...?
يا للصحيفةِ إذ يُمزِّقُها أما
ينهاهrestrain him عنfrom خطأthe error of الغُواةthe misguided صَوَابُsound judgment
ينهاه عن خطأ الغُواة صَوَابُ
Alas for the document as he tears it! Does no
O treaty, when he tore you! Did not
Sound judgment restrain him from the error of the misguided?
Wisdom forbid the error of the misguided?
خَطَرَswaggered الفحولُthe stallions فأينso where تذهبُgo فِتيةٌyouths
خَطَرَ الفحولُ فأين تذهبُ فِتيةٌ
مُلْدُsupple السواعِدِthe forearms والسُّيوفِand the swords رِطَابُtender
مُلْدُ السواعِدِ والسُّيوفِ رِطَابُ
The stallions swagger; where, then, can youths go,
The warriors set out - so where are the youths
With supple forearms and swords still tender?
With calloused palms and sharpened swords?
قالsaid النبيُّthe Prophet دعواleave القِتَالَthe fighting لمعشرٍto a company
قال النبيُّ دعوا القِتَالَ لمعشرٍ
بَلغواhave reached النِّصَابَmaturity فللقتالِfor fighting has نِصابُa required age
بَلغوا النِّصَابَ فللقتالِ نِصابُ
The Prophet said: 'Leave the fighting to a company
The Prophet said: “Leave off fighting, company
Who have reached maturity; fighting has its required age.
Who have reached puberty, for fighting has rules."
إنif تذهبواyou depart نَاجينَsafe منfrom غَمَراتِهِits perils
إن تذهبوا نَاجينَ من غَمَراتِهِ
فَلَكُمْthen you have إليهto it مَرجِعٌa return ومآبُand a coming back
فَلَكُمْ إليه مَرجِعٌ ومآبُ
If you depart safely from its perils,
If you go safely from its tumults,
You will have a return and a coming back to it.
To Him you will return and take refuge.
لنwill not تُحرَمواyou be denied فيin the cause of اللَّهِGod أجْرَthe reward of جهادكمyour striving
لن تُحرَموا في اللَّهِ أجْرَ جهادكم
إذas تَعملونَyou labor ويَعملُand labor الأصحابُthe Companions
إذ تَعملونَ ويَعملُ الأصحابُ
You will not be denied, in God's cause, the reward of your striving,
You will not be deprived of the reward for your jihad
As you labor and the Companions labor.
When you act and the Companions act.
عُنُقُthe neck of المجاهدِthe striving warrior ليسis not يُغمَطُdenied حَقُّهhis due
عُنُقُ المجاهدِ ليس يُغمَطُ حَقُّه
سِيَّانِequal سَيْفٌa sword قاطِعٌcutting وتُرابُand earth
سِيَّانِ سَيْفٌ قاطِعٌ وتُرابُ
The striving warrior's neck is not denied its due;
The neck of the warrior - his right is not denied -
A cutting sword and earth are equal.
Whether a cutting sword or dust.
الخَندقُthe trench الهيجاwarfare حملتمyou bore عِبْئَهاits burden
الخَندقُ الهيجا حملتم عِبْئَها
والأمرُand the matter جِدٌّgrave والخطوبُand the ordeals صِعابُhard
والأمرُ جِدٌّ والخطوبُ صِعابُ
The trench is warfare; you have borne its burden,
The trench boiled up; you bore its burden,
And the matter is grave, the ordeals hard.
And the matter is serious, the tribulations dire.
هَاتِيكَthat yonder خيلُthe cavalry of ابنِthe son of الوليدِal-Walid وَصَحْبِهِand his companions
هَاتِيكَ خيلُ ابنِ الوليدِ وَصَحْبِهِ
تدنوdraws near فَتطمعُthen grows hopeful تارةًat times وتَهابُand fears
تدنو فَتطمعُ تارةً وتَهابُ
Yonder is the cavalry of Ibn al-Walid and his companions,
There the horses of Ibn al-Walid and his comrades,
Drawing near, now hopeful, now afraid.
Drawing near, coveting at times, recoiling at others.
بابٌa gate منof الهيجاءِbattle لمnot تَرَyou have seen مِثلَهُits like
بابٌ من الهيجاءِ لم تَرَ مِثلَهُ
فيماas تُسَدُّare shut وتُفتحُand are opened الأبوابُthe gates
فيما تُسَدُّ وتُفتحُ الأبوابُ
A gate of battle whose like you have never seen,
A gate never seen before in siege or storming -
As gates are shut and opened.
The horsemen were terrified in their saddles
ذُعِرَwere terrified الفوارسُthe horsemen فيon مُتونِthe backs of جيادِهمtheir steeds
ذُعِرَ الفوارسُ في مُتونِ جيادِهم
لمَّاwhen تردَّىfell الفارسُthe rider الوثّابُthe leaping one
لمَّا تردَّى الفارسُ الوثّابُ
The horsemen took fright upon their steeds' backs,
When the nimble horseman charged.
When the leaping rider fell.
They saw in Nufail's death tribulation
نظرواthey looked فكانand there was لهمfor them بمصرعِat the fall of نوفلٍNawfal
نظروا فكان لهم بمصرعِ نوفلٍ
خَطبٌa calamity تطيشُare unhinged لهولِهِby its terror الألبابُthe minds
خَطبٌ تطيشُ لهولِهِ الألبابُ
They looked, and in Nawfal's fall there was for them
That convulsed all minds.
A calamity whose terror unhinged their minds.
The air was aflame, its fires blazing,
الجوُّthe air مُستعِرٌablaze يَشُبُّflares أُوارُهُits scorching heat
الجوُّ مُستعِرٌ يَشُبُّ أُوارُهُ
وَيَعُبُّand surges فيهwithin it منof اللَهِيبِflame عُبابُa billowing surge
وَيَعُبُّ فيه من اللَهِيبِ عُبابُ
The air is ablaze; its scorching heat flares,
And its sparks whirling through it like motes.
And a billowing surge of flame swells within it.
Arrows poured, their impact melting them,
جَرَتِstreamed النِّبالُthe arrows بِهِthrough it يُذيبُmelts وَطيسُهاtheir furnace
جَرَتِ النِّبالُ بِهِ يُذيبُ وَطيسُها
بأسَthe valor of الأُلىthose who لولاbut for الرجاءُhope لذابواthey would have melted
بأسَ الأُلى لولا الرجاءُ لذابوا
Arrows streamed through it; their furnace melts
But the burning desire for battle kept them from perishing.
The valor of those who, but for hope, would have melted away.
What will they do after pride, and what did they find
ماذاwhat لهمfor them بعدafter الغُرورِdelusion وماand what لَقُواthey suffered
ماذا لهم بعد الغُرورِ وما لَقُوا
فيin الحربِwar إنif كذبَproved false الرجاءُhope وخابواand they were disappointed
في الحربِ إن كذبَ الرجاءُ وخابوا
What remains for them after delusion and what they suffered
In war, if hope lied and they failed?
In war, if hope proves false and they are disappointed?
They spurred their steeds, and 'Amr shouted a cry
دَفَعُواthey drove forward الجيادَthe steeds وصاحand cried out عمروٌʿAmr صَيحةًa cry
دَفَعُوا الجيادَ وصاح عمروٌ صَيحةً
هَاجَraged الهزبرُthe lion لهاat it ومَاجَand surged الغابُthe forest
هَاجَ الهزبرُ لها ومَاجَ الغابُ
They drove their steeds forward, and ʿAmr let out a cry
That stirred the courageous and bewildered the ignorant.
At which the lion raged and the forest surged.
An old man who chose death for himself,
شيخٌan old man قَضَىdecreed فيamong الغالِبينَthe victors لنفسهِfor himself
شيخٌ قَضَى في الغالِبينَ لنفسهِ
فَقَضىthen decreed عليهagainst him الأشوسُthe fierce warrior الغلابُthe mighty conqueror
فَقَضى عليه الأشوسُ الغلابُ
An old man who had decreed himself among the victors,
But defeat chose him, and death was his lot.
Then the fierce conqueror decreed his doom.
O ‘Amr take from ‘Ali a blow
ياO عمروʿAmr خُذهاtake it منfrom عليٍّʿAli ضربةًa blow
يا عمرو خُذها من عليٍّ ضربةً
هِيَit إنif سألتَyou ask عنabout الجحيمِHell جوابُan answer
هِيَ إن سألتَ عن الجحيمِ جوابُ
O ʿAmr, take this blow from ʿAli:
That will, if you ask, tell you of Hell.
If you ask about Hell, it is your answer.
No greetings to your hands, if they were not liberal,
حِبَّانHibban لاmay not سَلِمَتْbe spared يَدَاكَyour two hands ولاand may no سَقَىwater
حِبَّان لا سَلِمَتْ يَدَاكَ ولا سَقَى
أحياءَthe clans of قومكَyour people ماas long as حَييتَyou live سَحابُa cloud
أحياءَ قومكَ ما حَييتَ سَحابُ
Hibban, may your hands never be spared, and may no
Nor did they give drink to your people while you lived.
Cloud water your people's clans as long as you live.
You shot him an arrow that thunders with its horror,
أرسلتَهُyou loosed it سهماًas an arrow تَضجُّcry out لِهَوْلِهِat its horror
أرسلتَهُ سهماً تَضجُّ لِهَوْلِهِ
أُمَمُthe peoples of الكتابِthe Book وتَفزعُand quake الأحقابُthe ages
أُمَمُ الكتابِ وتَفزعُ الأحقابُ
You loosed it—an arrow whose horror makes
Shaking the nations of the Book and eras.
The peoples of the Book cry out, and the ages quake.
Whom have you shot? Your Lord shot you the one
مَنwhom ذاis it that رَميتَyou shot رَماكَmay ... strike you ربُّكَyour Lord بالتيwith that which
مَن ذا رَميتَ رَماكَ ربُّكَ بالتي
تَنهدُّare shattered مِنby صَدَمَاتِهَاits blows الأصلابُthe backbones
تَنهدُّ مِن صَدَمَاتِهَا الأصلابُ
Whom have you shot? May your Lord strike you with that which
That convulses ribs with its blows.
Shatters backbones with its blows.
You have disgraced your mother - never again
أخزيتَyou disgraced أُمَّكَyour mother لاdo not تُحَدِّثْspeak بَعدَهاafter that
أخزيتَ أُمَّكَ لا تُحَدِّثْ بَعدَها
عنof طِيبِthe fragrance of أُمِّكَyour mother هاbehold هناhere الأطيابُthe perfumes
عن طِيبِ أُمِّكَ ها هنا الأطيابُ
You have disgraced your mother; speak no more, after this,
Speak of your mother's honor! Here are honors.
Of your mother's fragrance; here are the perfumes.
The blood of the one you wounded, though you do not know where he is
دَمُthe blood of مَنthe one whom جَرحتَyou wounded وإِنْthough جَهِلتَyou do not know مَكَانَهُhis standing
دَمُ مَن جَرحتَ وإِنْ جَهِلتَ مَكَانَهُ
فيamong القومِthe people مِسكٌmusk ساطِعٌwafting ومَلابُand an aromatic perfume
في القومِ مِسكٌ ساطِعٌ ومَلابُ
The blood of the man you wounded, though you do not know his standing
Among the people, is fragrant musk and affliction.
Among his people, is wafting musk and malab perfume.
Sa'd the chief, and his band around him
سَعدُSaʿd العشيرةِof the clan والكتيبةُand the battalion حولهaround him
سَعدُ العشيرةِ والكتيبةُ حوله
أُسْدُlions of العرينِthe lair تَزِيْنُهاadorn them الأحسابُnoble lineages
أُسْدُ العرينِ تَزِيْنُها الأحسابُ
Saʿd of the clan, with the battalion around him—
The lion of the lair adorned with noble traits.
Lions of the lair, adorned by noble lineages.
The trusted horseman leads his people
الفارسُthe horseman المرجوُّin whom hope is placed يَقْدِمُleads قومَهُhis people
الفارسُ المرجوُّ يَقْدِمُ قومَهُ
عِندَat الوغَىbattle والسَّيِّدُand the chief المنتابُwho is sought out
عِندَ الوغَى والسَّيِّدُ المنتابُ
The horseman in whom hope is placed, who leads his people
In the fray, the chosen master.
In battle, and the chief whom people seek out.
If war intensifies, then he is impetuous,
إنif جدَّgrows earnest جِدُّthe intensity of الضربِthe striking فهوthen he is مُهَنَّدٌan Indian-forged sword
إن جدَّ جِدُّ الضربِ فهو مُهَنَّدٌ
أوor جَنَّdescends ليلُthe night of الخطبِcalamity فهوthen he is شِهابُa shooting star
أو جَنَّ ليلُ الخطبِ فهو شِهابُ
When the blows grow truly fierce, he is an Indian-forged sword;
If the night of calamity grows dark, then he is a flame.
Or when the night of calamity descends, he is a shooting star.
Greed made Uyaynah and Ibn 'Awf hope
أغرىenticed عُيينةَʿUyayna وَابْنَand the son of عَوفٍʿAwf مَطمعٌa coveted prize
أغرى عُيينةَ وَابْنَ عَوفٍ مَطمعٌ
يَعْيَاare baffled بأَيْسَرِby the simplest أمرِهِof its requirements الطُّلابُthe seekers
يَعْيَا بأَيْسَرِ أمرِهِ الطُّلابُ
A coveted prize enticed ʿUyayna and Ibn ʿAwf,
To lead their requesters with the easiest of their affairs.
Whose easiest requirement defeats those who seek it.
They left Abu Sufyan in his heedlessness
تَرَكاthe two left أباAbu سُفيانَSufyan فيin غَفَلاَتِهِhis lapses of attention
تَرَكا أبا سُفيانَ في غَفَلاَتِهِ
وكأنّماand as though يُلقَىwere cast عليهover him حِجابُa veil
وكأنّما يُلقَى عليه حِجابُ
They left Abu Sufyan in his heedlessness,
As though a veil were cast over him.
As though a veil were cast over him.
The two wolves did not see, as they sneaked about,
لمdid not يُبصرِhe see الذئبينِthe two wolves حينwhen تَسلّلاthe two slipped away
لم يُبصرِ الذئبينِ حين تَسلّلا
ومنand among الرجالِmen ثعالبٌfoxes وذئابُand wolves
ومن الرجالِ ثعالبٌ وذئابُ
He did not see the two wolves as they slipped away;
That among the men were foxes and wolves.
Among men there are foxes and wolves.
They said: “We accept peace to satiate our people
قالاthe two said رَضيناwe accept السّلمَpeace يُشبعُsatisfies قَومَناour people
قالا رَضينا السّلمَ يُشبعُ قَومَنا
تمراًwith dates ورَاضِيand one accepting السّلمِpeace ليسis not يُعابُblamed
تمراً ورَاضِي السّلمِ ليس يُعابُ
They said: 'We accept peace that will fill our people's bellies
With dates.” And the peaceable cannot be blamed.
With dates; one who accepts peace is not to be blamed.
“Half the dates of Medina, if we get them,
تَمْرٌthe dates of المدينةِMedina إنif أصبناwe obtain نِصفَهُhalf of them
تَمْرٌ المدينةِ إن أصبنا نِصفَهُ
فلكمthen you have عليناbinding on us ذِمَّةٌa pledge وكتابُand a written pact
فلكم علينا ذِمَّةٌ وكتابُ
The dates of Medina—if we obtain half of them,
And for us there is pact and treaty.”
Then we owe you a pledge and a written pact.
“We will leave off fighting, though our allies refuse.”
نَدَعُwe leave off القتالَfighting وإنeven if أبَىrefuse حُلفَاؤُناour allies
نَدَعُ القتالَ وإن أبَى حُلفَاؤُنا
فَاشْتَدَّand grew fierce لَوْمٌreproach واستحرَّand grew heated عِتابُrebuke
فَاشْتَدَّ لَوْمٌ واستحرَّ عِتابُ
We shall leave off fighting, even if our allies refuse,
Then strong blame occurred and harsh rebukes.
And reproach grows fierce and rebuke burns hot.
“Let them taste the bitterness! We are fed
لهمُtheirs is الكَرِيهةُthe hateful battle يُطعَمونَthey are fed سُمُومَهاits poisons
لهمُ الكَرِيهةُ يُطعَمونَ سُمُومَها
ولناand ours is طعامٌfood سائِغٌpalatable وشَرابُand drink
ولنا طعامٌ سائِغٌ وشَرابُ
The hateful battle is theirs; they are fed its poisons,
Sweet food and drink.” And the peaceful are not attacked.
While ours are palatable food and drink.'
The two Sa'ds were enraged: a burst of anger
هَاجَاthe two stirred منin السَّعْدَيْنِthe two Saʿds سَوْرَةَa surge of غضبةٍanger
هَاجَا من السَّعْدَيْنِ سَوْرَةَ غضبةٍ
هِيَit للضراغِمِfor lions شِيمَةٌa trait أوْor دابُa habit
هِيَ للضراغِمِ شِيمَةٌ أوْ دابُ
The two stirred in the two Saʿds a surge of anger,
That is the mark of villains or beasts.
Such as is a trait of lions, or their habit.
They refused to devise an opinion in war's rage;
أَبَيَاthe two refused اصطناعَto devise الرأيa plan فيin وَهَجِthe blaze of الوَغَىbattle
أَبَيَا اصطناعَ الرأي في وَهَجِ الوَغَى
لمnot تصطنعهhad fashioned it قواضبٌcutting swords وحرابand spears
لم تصطنعه قواضبٌ وحراب
The two refused to adopt a plan in the blaze of battle
It is not devised by dams or well-ropes.
That cutting swords and spears had not fashioned.
They disputed an opinion that horrifies and words
وتنازعاand the two exchanged نظراًlooks يهولthat terrify ومنطقاًand speech
وتنازعا نظراً يهول ومنطقاً
يُوهِيweakens القُلُوبَthe hearts الصُّمَّunyielding وَهْيَthough they are صِلابُhard
يُوهِي القُلُوبَ الصُّمَّ وَهْيَ صِلابُ
And they exchanged fearsome looks and speech
That make the deaf hearts and rigid souls quake.
That weakens unyielding hearts, hard though they are.
Who is more fitting to arbitrate over us
مَنْwho هُمْare they أيجملُis it seemly أنthat يقالَit be said تَحكَّمواthey ruled
مَنْ هُمْ أيجملُ أن يقالَ تَحكَّموا
فيناover us ونحنwhile we are السَّادَةُthe lords الأقطابُthe leaders
فينا ونحن السَّادَةُ الأقطابُ
'Who are they? Is it seemly to say they rule
When we are the masters and pillars?
Over us, when we are the leading lords?
We protect our city and keep its palms
نَحمِيwe protect مَدِينَتَنَاour city ونَمنعُand defend نخلَهاits palms
نَحمِي مَدِينَتَنَا ونَمنعُ نخلَها
مِنfrom أنthat يَحُومَhover علىover جَنَاهُtheir fruit ذُبَابُa fly
مِن أن يَحُومَ على جَنَاهُ ذُبَابُ
We protect our city and defend its palms
From flies swarming over their trunks.
From even a fly hovering over their fruit.'
The Prophet said: “The hidden has appeared, so return,
قالsaid النَّبيُّthe Prophet بَدَاhas appeared المُغيَّبُwhat was hidden فارجعاso you two return
قال النَّبيُّ بَدَا المُغيَّبُ فارجعا
ولكلِّand for every نفسٍsoul مَوعِدٌan appointed time وحِسابُand a reckoning
ولكلِّ نفسٍ مَوعِدٌ وحِسابُ
The Prophet said: 'What was hidden has appeared; you two, return.
And for each soul is an appointed time and reckoning.”
Every soul has its appointed time and reckoning.
Victory is from God; He will make it ours,
النّصرُvictory عِندَrests with اللَّهِGod يَجعلُهُHe grants it لناto us
النّصرُ عِندَ اللَّهِ يَجعلُهُ لنا
إنif شاءَHe wills وهوand He is المُنعمُthe gracious Bestower الوهّابُthe generous Giver
إن شاءَ وهو المُنعمُ الوهّابُ
Victory rests with God; He grants it to us
If He wills, and He is the Bestower, the Giver.
If He wills, and He is the gracious, generous Giver.
Be patient with the heat of battle, for it
صبراًbe patient علىwith حَرِّthe heat of القتالِbattle فإنهfor it is
صبراً على حَرِّ القتالِ فإنه
خَطبٌa calamity يَزولُthat passes وَغَمرةٌand an engulfing ordeal تَنجابُthat clears
خَطبٌ يَزولُ وَغَمرةٌ تَنجابُ
Bear patiently the heat of battle, for it is
Is an affair that will pass, a surge that subsides.
A calamity that passes, an engulfing ordeal that clears.
Fighting distracted from prayer, though it
شَغَلَdistracted القتالُthe fighting عنfrom الصلاةِprayer وإنّهاthough it is
شَغَلَ القتالُ عن الصلاةِ وإنّها
سَكَنٌa solace لناfor us منfrom ربِّناour Lord وثوابُand a reward
سَكَنٌ لنا من ربِّنا وثوابُ
Battle kept us from prayer, though it is
Is tranquility for us from our Lord and reward.
A solace and a reward for us from our Lord.
Rise, O Bilal, calling us to perform it!
قُمْrise ياO بِلالُBilal مُؤَذِّناًcalling to prayer لِنُقِيمَهاthat we may perform it
قُمْ يا بِلالُ مُؤَذِّناً لِنُقِيمَها
سَكَنَhas quieted القِتالُthe fighting وزالتِand have gone الأسبابُthe hindering causes
سَكَنَ القِتالُ وزالتِ الأسبابُ
Rise, Bilal, and call to prayer, that we may perform it.
Fighting has ceased and the causes have gone.
The fighting has quieted, and the hindrances are gone.
Lord, fill their homes and graves with fire,
رَبِّmy Lord ارْمِهِمْstrike them بالنَّارِwith fire مِلءَfilling بُيوتهمtheir homes
رَبِّ ارْمِهِمْ بالنَّارِ مِلءَ بُيوتهم
وقُبورِهمand their graves فلوfor had اتَّقوكَthey feared You لتابواthey would have repented
وقُبورِهم فلو اتَّقوكَ لتابوا
My Lord, strike them with fire that fills their homes
If they had feared You, they would have repented.
And their graves; had they feared You, they would have repented.
With Your might, give us victory and shake their crowds!
وببأسكand by Your might انْصُرْناgrant us victory وزَلْزِلْand shake جَمْعَهمtheir host
وببأسك انْصُرْنا وزَلْزِلْ جَمْعَهم
تَزُلِwill vanish الهمومُworries وتَذهبِand will depart الأوصابُafflictions
تَزُلِ الهمومُ وتَذهبِ الأوصابُ
And by Your might grant us victory, and shake their host,
Anxieties disappear and sorrows vanish.
So worries pass away and afflictions depart.'
Partial English translation: 113 of 114 Arabic lines translated.