خُلُقُthe character of العُروبةِArabhood أنto تَجدَّstrive وتَدأباand persevere
خُلُقُ العُروبةِ أن تَجدَّ وتَدأبا
وسَجِيَّةُand the disposition of الإسلامIslam أنto يتغلّباprevail
وسَجِيَّةُ الإسلام أن يتغلّبا
Arabhood's nature is to strive and persevere,
The trait of Arabness is to be steadfast and diligent
and Islam's disposition is to prevail.
And the nature of Islam is to prevail
لاneither تِلكَthe former تَخفِضُlowers مِنof جَناحَيْهاher two wings ولاnor
لا تِلكَ تَخفِضُ مِن جَناحَيْها ولا
هذاthe latter يُريدseeks سِوَىother than التفوُّقِpreeminence مطلباan aim
هذا يُريد سِوَى التفوُّقِ مطلبا
The former never lowers her wings, nor
The former does not lower its wings
does the latter seek any goal but preeminence.
Nor does the latter desire anything but supremacy
رَفَعraised النُّفوسَsouls عنabove الصَّغارِabasement وصَانَهاand protected them
رَفَع النُّفوسَ عن الصَّغارِ وصَانَها
عنfrom أنthat تَخافَthey should fear عَدُوَّهُits enemy أوor ترهباfeel terror
عن أن تَخافَ عَدُوَّهُ أو ترهبا
It raised souls above abasement and shielded them
It raised souls above pettiness and protected them
from fearing its enemy or feeling terror.
From fearing or dreading their enemy
دينُthe faith of الفُتوَّةِyouthful valor والمروءةِand chivalry ماnever طغتْsurged
دينُ الفُتوَّةِ والمروءةِ ما طغتْ
لُجَجُthe surging seas of المناياdeath حَوْلَهُaround it فَتَهيَّباand so it quailed
لُجَجُ المنايا حَوْلَهُ فَتَهيَّبا
A faith of valor and chivalry: never have
The religion of chivalry and manliness has not been eroded
death's surging seas surrounded it and made it cower.
By the raging floods of death, so as to be intimidated
المؤمنونَbelievers علىin the face of الحَوادثِcalamities أُخوةٌbrothers
المؤمنونَ على الحَوادثِ أُخوةٌ
لاnot يعرفونthey acknowledge سِوَىother than الكتابِthe Book لهمfor them أباa father
لا يعرفون سِوَى الكتابِ لهم أبا
Believers are brothers in the face of calamities,
The faithful in ordeals are brothers
acknowledging no father but the Book.
Who recognize none but the Book as their father
سَلْهُمْask them عَلىby شرَفِthe honor of الأُبُوَّةِfatherhood هَلْwhether رَعَوْاthey observed
سَلْهُمْ عَلى شرَفِ الأُبُوَّةِ هَلْ رَعَوْا
مَاwhat سنَّit prescribed مِنof أدبthe conduct of الحياةِlife وأوجباand made binding
مَا سنَّ مِن أدب الحياةِ وأوجبا
Ask them, by the honor of fatherhood, whether they have observed
Ask them, by the honor of fatherhood, whether they observed
the conduct of life it prescribed and made binding.
What the ethics of life made obligatory and necessary
بَيْتٌa household تفرّقَscattered فيacross البلادthe lands وأُسرةٌand a family
بَيْتٌ تفرّقَ في البلاد وأُسرةٌ
صَدَعfractured الزّمانُTime كِيانَهاits fabric فتشعّباso it split apart
صَدَع الزّمانُ كِيانَها فتشعّبا
A household scattered through the lands, and a family
A home dispersed in the countries and a family
whose fabric Time fractured until it split apart.
Whose entity was cracked by time, so it branched out
وَهَنَgrew weak البِناءُthe edifice فَعاثَso rampaged فيthrough فَجواتِهits gaps
وَهَنَ البِناءُ فَعاثَ في فَجواتِه
عَادِيthe marauder of الفسادِcorruption مُدَمِّراًdestroying ومُخَرِّباand laying waste
عَادِي الفسادِ مُدَمِّراً ومُخَرِّبا
The edifice weakened; through its gaps rampaged
And the building weakened, so havoc wreaked
marauding corruption, destroying and laying waste.
Its gaps, destroying and devastating
لَبَّيْكَat your service ياO وَطنَhomeland of الجهادِstruggle ومرحباًand welcome
لَبَّيْكَ يا وَطنَ الجهادِ ومرحباً
لَبَّيْكَat your call مِنas a داعٍcaller أَهابَsummoned وَثَوَّباand sounded the alarm
لَبَّيْكَ مِن داعٍ أَهابَ وَثَوَّبا
At your service, O homeland of struggle, and welcome!
The seriousness of time and its course refused to let us play
At your call, you who summoned and sounded the alarm!
Who sees his blood as more honorable
لَبَّيْكَat your call إذwhen بلغpeaked البلاءُaffliction وإذand when أَبىrefused
لَبَّيْكَ إذ بلغ البلاءُ وإذ أَبى
جِدُّthe sternness of الزمانِTime وصَرفُهand its vicissitudes أنthat نلعباwe should play
جِدُّ الزمانِ وصَرفُه أن نلعبا
At your call, now that affliction has peaked, and now that
Than to dye the rubbled earth of Palestine?
Time's sternness and vicissitudes forbid us to play.
I exalted when loyalty survived and did not survive
مَنْwho ذاis it that يرىdeems دَمَهُhis blood أعزَّmore precious مكانةًin worth
مَنْ ذا يرى دَمَهُ أعزَّ مكانةً
منthan أنto يُخضِّبَredden منof فلسطينَPalestine الرُّبَىthe hills
من أن يُخضِّبَ من فلسطينَ الرُّبَى
Who deems his blood too precious
In its land the trace of Al-Buraq or the cave
to crimson the hills of Palestine?
I see the Ascension in His Majesty
كَبَّرتُI cried 'God is greatest!' حِينَwhen عفاfaded الوفاءُloyalty وماyet not عفاbecame effaced
كَبَّرتُ حِينَ عفا الوفاءُ وما عفا
فيon أرضِهاher soil أَثَرُthe trace of البُراقِal-Buraq ولاnor خباdimmed
في أرضِها أَثَرُ البُراقِ ولا خبا
I cried 'God is greatest!' when loyalty faded; yet never effaced
And I see the Prophet and his companions and procession
upon her soil was al-Buraq's trace, nor had it dimmed.
A tortured homeland and an afflicted nation
إنّيindeed I أرىbehold المعراجَthe Ascension عندin جلالهِits majesty
إنّي أرى المعراجَ عند جلالهِ
وأرىand I see النبيَّthe Prophet وصحَبهُand his companions والموكِباand the procession
وأرى النبيَّ وصحَبهُ والموكِبا
I behold the Ascension in its majesty,
Too proud for us to be stricken and defeated
and see the Prophet, his companions, and the procession.
In our free hearts and in our bosoms
وَطنٌa homeland يُعذَّبُis tormented فيin الجحيمِhell وأُمَّةٌand a nation
وَطنٌ يُعذَّبُ في الجحيمِ وأُمَّةٌ
أَعْزِزْhow grievous عليناfor us أنthat تُصابَshe should be stricken وتُنكَباand afflicted
أَعْزِزْ علينا أن تُصابَ وتُنكَبا
A homeland tormented in hell, and a nation—
Lie embers of its burning sorrows
how grievous to us that she should be stricken and afflicted!
And we have enough pain to relieve it
بقلوبناin our hearts الحَرَّيburning وفيand in أحشائِناour entrails
بقلوبنا الحَرَّي وفي أحشائِنا
ماwhat شبَّflared منof أشجانِهاher sorrows وتلهّباand blazed
ما شبَّ من أشجانِها وتلهّبا
Within our burning hearts and in our entrails
And I see what we are bound to endure is harder and tougher
is the grief of hers that has flared and blazed.
We endure afflictions and clad ourselves in sorrow
وبناand in us مِنof الأَلمِpain المبرِّحِexcruciating ماwhat بهاis in her
وبنا مِن الأَلمِ المبرِّحِ ما بها
وأرىand I find الذيwhat نَلْقَىwe endure أشدَّharsher وأصعباand harder
وأرى الذي نَلْقَى أشدَّ وأصعبا
And we bear the same excruciating pain she bears,
We herd our closest kin
and I find what we endure harsher and harder.
We know well that he who eats their flesh
نَتَجرّعُwe drink down البلوَىaffliction ونَدَّرِعُand we wear as armor الأسَىsorrow
نَتَجرّعُ البلوَى ونَدَّرِعُ الأسَى
نَرْعَىwe uphold لإِخوتناtoward our brothers الذِّمامَthe bond of duty الأقرباthe closest
نَرْعَى لإِخوتنا الذِّمامَ الأقربا
We drink down affliction and don sorrow as armor;
Will wade in our blood to drink it
we uphold the closest bond of duty to our brothers.
They made the struggle for Arabism their livelihood
إنّاindeed we لَنعلمُsurely know أَنَّthat آكِلَthe devourer of لحمِهمtheir flesh
إنّا لَنعلمُ أَنَّ آكِلَ لحمِهم
سيخوضُwill wade منّاamong us فيthrough الدِّماءِblood ليَشْرباto drink
سيخوضُ منّا في الدِّماءِ ليَشْربا
We surely know that whoever devours their flesh
And tended it so it became a good livelihood
will wade through our blood to drink.
They irrigate what they planted with blood in fertile soil
جعلواthey made الكِفاحَthe struggle عنin defense of العروبةِArabhood حرثَهمtheir crop
جعلوا الكِفاحَ عن العروبةِ حرثَهم
وتعهدّوهand they tended it فكانso it became حرثاًa crop طيّباgoodly
وتعهدّوه فكان حرثاً طيّبا
They made the defense of Arabhood their crop,
Without shedding blood it would become barren
and tended it, and it became a goodly crop.
The house is elated by the moaning of their wounded
يَسْقُونthey water ماwhat زَرَعُواthey sowed دماًwith blood فيin مُخصِبٍfertile ground
يَسْقُون ما زَرَعُوا دماً في مُخصِبٍ
لولاbut for الدّمُthe blood الجارِيflowing لأَصبحَit would have become مُجدِباbarren
لولا الدّمُ الجارِي لأَصبحَ مُجدِبا
They water what they sowed with blood on fertile ground,
Have you ever seen such enchanting moaning in life?
which, but for flowing blood, would have become barren.
He who claimed that peace was his objective
البيتُthe house يَطْرَبُdelights منat أنينِthe groaning of جَريحِهمtheir wounded man
البيتُ يَطْرَبُ من أنينِ جَريحِهم
أَرأيتَhave you seen فيin الدّنياthe world أنيناًa groan مُطرِباdelightful
أَرأيتَ في الدّنيا أنيناً مُطرِبا
The house delights in their wounded man's groans;
Made blood his path and vehicle
have you seen in this world a groan that brings delight?
If he has inundated the times and its people with
إنّindeed الذيthe one who زعمclaimed السّلامَpeace مُرادَهُhis desire
إنّ الذي زعم السّلامَ مُرادَهُ
جَعلَmade الدّماءَblood سَبيلَهُhis road والمركَبَاand the mount
جَعلَ الدّماءَ سَبيلَهُ والمركَبَا
The man who claimed that peace was his desire
Lies, it is of his traits to lie
made blood his road and his mount.
He rode the winds to tame the strong
إنif كانhe has قدalready غَمَرflooded الزّمانَthe age وأهلَهand its people
إن كان قد غَمَر الزّمانَ وأهلَه
كَذِباًwith lies فَمِنthen among عاداتِهhis habits أنto يكذباlie
كَذِباً فَمِن عاداتِه أن يكذبا
If he has flooded the age and its people
Fierce, turning his fangs and claws
with lies, lying is one of his habits.
The winds carried him while his heart panicked
رَكِبَhe rode الرّياحَthe winds إلىto القويِّthe strong one يَروضُهto tame him
رَكِبَ الرّياحَ إلى القويِّ يَروضُه
شَرِساًfierce يُقلِّبُbrandishing نابهhis fang والمِخْلباand the claw
شَرِساً يُقلِّبُ نابه والمِخْلبا
He rode the winds to the strong one, to tame him,
Seeking doom and a way out
savage, brandishing his fang and claw.
Have you seen him shedding copious tears
طارتthey flew بِهwith him وفؤادُهand his heart فيin رَوْعَةٍterror
طارت بِه وفؤادُه في رَوْعَةٍ
يتلمَّسُgroping for المَهْوَىthe place of descent ويبغِيand seeking المهرباan escape
يتلمَّسُ المَهْوَى ويبغِي المهربا
They bore him aloft, his heart in terror,
That shame prevents likes of him from spilling
groping for a way down and seeking escape.
Feigning sympathy for the weak as he sheds them
أَرَأيتَdid you see إذwhen سكبhe shed الدُّموعَtears غزيرةًcopious
أَرَأيتَ إذ سكب الدُّموعَ غزيرةً
يأبىrefuses الحياءdecency لِمثلِهاfor their like أنto يُسْكَباbe shed
يأبى الحياء لِمثلِها أن يُسْكَبا
Did you see him as he shed copious tears—
When he is the one who left the weak tortured
tears whose like decency will not allow to be shed?
His prayers would be more sincere had he
مُتصنِّعٌa pretender باسْمِin the name of الضّعيفِthe weak man يُريقُهاhe sheds them
مُتصنِّعٌ باسْمِ الضّعيفِ يُريقُها
وهوwhile he الذيthe one who تركleft الضّعيفَthe weak man مُعذَّباtormented
وهو الذي ترك الضّعيفَ مُعذَّبا
A pretender, he sheds them in the weak man's name,
Pitied the innocent rather than coddle the guilty
though he is the one who left the weak man tormented.
He raves about justice in his prayers
ماhow كانwould have been أصدقَsincere نُسكَهُhis piety لوif أنَّهُthat he
ما كان أصدقَ نُسكَهُ لو أنَّهُ
رَحِمَhad shown mercy to البريءthe innocent ولمand had not يُحابِfavored المذنباthe guilty
رَحِمَ البريء ولم يُحابِ المذنبا
How sincere his piety would have been, if he
Have you seen justice blood stained?
had shown mercy to the innocent and not favored the guilty!
You messengers of Arabism, did you ask about its wound
يهذيhe babbles بِذكرِwith talk of العَدْلِjustice فيin صَلَواتِهhis prayers
يهذي بِذكرِ العَدْلِ في صَلَواتِه
أَرَأَيْتَhave you seen عَدْلاًjustice بالدّماءِwith blood مُخَضَّباdyed
أَرَأَيْتَ عَدْلاً بالدّماءِ مُخَضَّبا
He babbles of justice in his prayers;
Why it persisted and what it led to?
have you seen justice dyed in blood?
A wound whose era elapsed and whose
رُسُلَO envoys of العروبةِArabhood هلhave سأَلتُمyou asked جُرْحَهاher wound
رُسُلَ العروبةِ هل سأَلتُم جُرْحَها
ماwhat بَالُهُis wrong with it اسْتَعْصَىit resisted healing وماذاand what أعقباdid it bring about
ما بَالُهُ اسْتَعْصَى وماذا أعقبا
Envoys of Arabhood, have you asked her wound
Mouths opened calling out to past sorrows
why it has resisted healing, and what it has brought about?
You are the sorrow of the wound so make
جُرْحٌa wound تقادَمَhas grown old عَهْدُهits age وتفتَّحتْand opened wide
جُرْحٌ تقادَمَ عَهْدُه وتفتَّحتْ
أفواهُهُits mouths تدعوcall for الأُساةَthe healers الغُيَّباabsent
أفواهُهُ تدعو الأُساةَ الغُيَّبا
A wound grown old; wide open
What your elders’ healers tried its remedy
are its mouths, calling for the absent healers.
He prescribed the cure for you and left you his knowledge
أنتمyou أُساةُthe healers of الجُرحِthe wound فاتَّخِذُواso take لهfor it
أنتم أُساةُ الجُرحِ فاتَّخِذُوا له
منfrom طِبِّthe medicine of شيخِthe chief of أُساتِكمyour healers ماwhat جَرَّباhe tested
من طِبِّ شيخِ أُساتِكم ما جَرَّبا
You are the wound's healers; take for it
So where does he want from you he who refused?
from your chief healer's medicine what he has tested.
O people you are not weak so take the plunge
وَصَفَhe prescribed الدّواءَthe remedy لكمfor you وخَلَّفَand left behind عِلْمَهُhis knowledge
وَصَفَ الدّواءَ لكم وخَلَّفَ عِلْمَهُ
فيكمamong you فأينso where يُريدُdoes he intend منكمamong you منwhoever أَبَىrefuses
فيكم فأين يُريدُ منكم من أَبَى
He prescribed the remedy for you and left his knowledge
And claim your demands, hastening and determined
among you; where, then, would a dissenter among you turn?
Does the strength your faith gathered and rallied
ياO قومُpeople لستمyou are not بالضِّعافِweak فغامِرواso venture
يا قومُ لستم بالضِّعافِ فغامِروا
وخُذواand seize مطالِبَكُمyour demands سِراعاًswiftly وُثَّباleaping
وخُذوا مطالِبَكُم سِراعاً وُثَّبا
O people, you are not weak, so venture forth,
Not suffice you?
and seize what you demand, swift and leaping.
O descendants of Yarab show me a Khaled
أفماhas not, then كفاكمsufficed you قُوّةًas strength منfrom دينكمyour religion
أفما كفاكم قُوّةً من دينكم
ماwhat جَمَّعَgathered الإِيمانُfaith فيهwithin it وأَلَّباand rallied
ما جَمَّعَ الإِيمانُ فيه وأَلَّبا
Has not your religion given you strength enough—
Who charges at al-Khamis and prods it?
all that faith has gathered and rallied within it?
Whoever among you so desires let him emulate him and say not
ياO آلَhouse of يعربَYa'rub منwho يُرينيwill show me خالداًa Khalid
يا آلَ يعربَ من يُريني خالداً
يُزجِيdriving forward الخميسَthe army ويستحثُّand spurring on المِقْنَباthe cavalry troop
يُزجِي الخميسَ ويستحثُّ المِقْنَبا
O house of Ya'rub, who will show me a Khalid
The old is gone, it shall not go
driving the army forward and spurring on the cavalry troop?
The secret remains and time renews
منwhoever شَاءَwishes منكمamong you فَلْيكُنْهthen let him be him ولاand let him not يَقُلْsay
من شَاءَ منكم فَلْيكُنْه ولا يَقُلْ
ذهبhas gone القديمُthe old فإِنّهfor indeed it لنwill not يذهباpass away
ذهب القديمُ فإِنّه لن يذهبا
Let whoever among you wishes be him, and let him not say:
And the sword has not lost its sharpness or blaze
'The old is gone,' for it will never pass away.
Restore the injustices against the sanctities of a nation
السرُّthe secret باقٍenduring والزّمانُand Time مُجدّدٌa renewer
السرُّ باقٍ والزّمانُ مُجدّدٌ
والسّيفُand the sword مافَقَدَhas not lost المضاءَkeenness ولاnor نباgrown blunt
والسّيفُ مافَقَدَ المضاءَ ولا نبا
The secret endures, and Time brings renewal;
That returned the delusions of the ignorant disappointed
and the sword has not lost its edge or grown blunt.
Those who aspired to have the homelands of Arabism
رُدُّواrepel المَظالِمَinjustices عنfrom محارِمِthe sanctities of أُمّةٍa nation
رُدُّوا المَظالِمَ عن محارِمِ أُمّةٍ
رَدَّتْsent back ظُنونَthe expectations of ذويpeople of الجهالةِignorance خُيَّباdisappointed
رَدَّتْ ظُنونَ ذوي الجهالةِ خُيَّبا
Ward off injustices from the sanctities of a nation
Sold or granted did not give it its due
that dashed the expectations of the ignorant.
لمdid not يُعْطِgive أوطانَthe homelands of العُروبةِArabhood حَقَّهاtheir due
لم يُعْطِ أوطانَ العُروبةِ حَقَّها
منwhoever كانwas يَطْمَعُhoping أنthat تُباعَthey be sold وتُوهَباand given away
من كان يَطْمَعُ أن تُباعَ وتُوهَبا
He has not given the Arab homelands their due
who hoped they would be sold and given away.
Partial English translation: 77 of 80 Arabic lines translated.