هُمْthey سَادَةُmasters الحربِof war منamong شِيبٍgray-haired elders وشُبّانِand young men
هُمْ سَادَةُ الحربِ من شِيبٍ وشُبّانِ
سارواthey marched سِراعاًswiftly فماso there is no فيamong القومِthe people منany وَانِlaggard
ساروا سِراعاً فما في القومِ من وَانِ
They are masters of war, gray-haired men and youths.
They are the masters of war, young and old,
They marched swiftly; not one among them lagged.
They marched quickly, there is no weakness among the people,
حِيديturn aside جُهَيْنَةُJuhaynah أوor بِيديperish مُذَمَّمةًdisgraced
حِيدي جُهَيْنَةُ أو بِيدي مُذَمَّمةً
حُمَّwas decreed القضاءُthe decree وخَفَّتْand hastened أُسْدُthe lions خفّانِof Khuffan
حُمَّ القضاءُ وخَفَّتْ أُسْدُ خفّانِ
Turn aside, Juhaynah, or perish disgraced.
Either my sword Juhaina or my spear Mudhammamah,
The decree was sealed, and the lions of Khuffan hastened.
Destiny has decided and the lions of Khuzaa have weakened,
سريّةُthe war-band اللهِof God ترميshoots عنfrom يَدَيْthe two hands of بطلٍa hero
سريّةُ اللهِ ترمي عن يَدَيْ بطلٍ
عاليhigh of اللواءِthe banner رفيعِexalted in القَدْرِrank والشّانِand renown
عالي اللواءِ رفيعِ القَدْرِ والشّانِ
God's war-band shoots from the hands of a hero,
An act of God throws in front of the hero,
high of banner, exalted in rank and renown.
Of high banners, of sublime rank and glory,
أباO Abu عُبيدَةَUbaydah أَوْرِدْهاbring it to water مُظَفَّرَةًvictorious
أبا عُبيدَةَ أَوْرِدْها مُظَفَّرَةً
مَوارِدَthe watering places of النّصرِvictory تَشفِيheals كلَّevery حَرّانِone burning with thirst
مَوارِدَ النّصرِ تَشفِي كلَّ حَرّانِ
O Abu Ubaydah, lead it victorious
O Abu Ubaydah make it a victorious thrust,
to victory's watering places, soothing all who burn with thirst.
The thrusts of victory heal every burning wound,
ماnothing للحفِيظَةِfor outraged honor إنif جاشَتْseethed مَراجِلُهاits cauldrons
ما للحفِيظَةِ إن جاشَتْ مَراجِلُها
إلاexcept القواضِبُkeen blades تُسقَىare watered بالدّمِwith blood القانيcrimson
إلا القواضِبُ تُسقَى بالدّمِ القاني
When the cauldrons of outraged honor seethe, nothing will do
What is left for the cursed ones when their cooking pots boil,
but keen blades, watered with crimson blood.
Except the ships that are watered with filthy blood,
خانتbetrayed قُريشُQuraysh وأمسىand became عَهدُهاits covenant كَذِباًa lie
خانت قُريشُ وأمسى عَهدُها كَذِباً
فَبَادِرِso hasten to intercept العيرَthe caravan وَاضْرِبْand strike كُلَّevery خَوَّانِhabitual traitor
فَبَادِرِ العيرَ وَاضْرِبْ كُلَّ خَوَّانِ
Quraysh betrayed, and its covenant became a lie.
Quraish betrayed and their covenant became a lie,
So hasten to intercept the caravan, and strike every traitor.
So attack the caravan and strike every traitor,
لاlet not يعجبنّbe surprised جُناةُperpetrators of الشرّevil إنif حَصَدواthey reap
لا يعجبنّ جُناةُ الشرّ إن حَصَدوا
ماwhat يزرعُsows الشُّؤْمُill fortune منof بَغْيٍoppression وعُدوانِand aggression
ما يزرعُ الشُّؤْمُ من بَغْيٍ وعُدوانِ
Let the perpetrators of evil not marvel if they reap
The sinners of evil should not be amazed if they reap,
the oppression and aggression that ill fortune sows.
What the evil of transgression and aggression planted,
لاdo not تبتئسْdespair بجرابِover the sack of التمرِdates يحملُهُcarries it
لا تبتئسْ بجرابِ التمرِ يحملُهُ
أولوmen of الحميَّةِzeal منamong صَحْبٍcompanions وإخوانِand brothers
أولو الحميَّةِ من صَحْبٍ وإخوانِ
Do not despair over the sack of dates carried
Do not be disheartened by the bag of dates carried,
by men of zeal among companions and brothers.
By the people of zeal from companions and brothers,
أُعجوبةٌa marvel ماnot لهاfor it فيin الدّهرِall time منany مَثَلٍequal
أُعجوبةٌ ما لها في الدّهرِ من مَثَلٍ
لكنَّbut ربَّكَyour Lord ذُوpossessor of فضلٍbounty وإحسانِand beneficence
لكنَّ ربَّكَ ذُو فضلٍ وإحسانِ
A marvel with no equal throughout time,
It is a wonder that has no parallel in time,
yet your Lord possesses bounty and beneficence.
But your Lord is of grace and beneficence,
إنif يَنفدِruns out الزّادُthe provisions أغناكمHe enriches you وزوّدكمand supplies you
إن يَنفدِ الزّادُ أغناكم وزوّدكم
ماwhat ليسdoes not يَنفدُrun out منof تقوىًpiety وإيمانِand faith
ما ليس يَنفدُ من تقوىً وإيمانِ
If provisions run out, He enriches and supplies you
If the provisions run out, He will make you self-sufficient and provide you,
with what never runs out: piety and faith.
With what does not run out of righteousness and faith,
كُلُواeat منof الخَبْطِthe beaten-down leaves نِعمَhow excellent الخَبْطُthe beaten-down leaves منas أُكُلٍfood
كُلُوا من الخَبْطِ نِعمَ الخَبْطُ من أُكُلٍ
لكلّfor every ذيone with سَغَبٍhunger فيfor the sake of اللهِGod طَيَّانِempty-bellied
لكلّ ذي سَغَبٍ في اللهِ طَيَّانِ
Eat the beaten-down leaves—how good a food they are—
Eat from al-Khabt, excellent is al-Khabt to eat,
for every hungry man, empty-bellied for God's sake.
For everyone with passion in the way of God a wanderer,
حيّاكُمُmay He salute you اللهُGod منamong صِيدٍproud men غَطَارِفَةٍnoble lords
حيّاكُمُ اللهُ من صِيدٍ غَطَارِفَةٍ
يلقونthey find فيin البؤسِhardship عيشَthe life of النّاعمِthe pampered الهانيthe carefree
يلقون في البؤسِ عيشَ النّاعمِ الهاني
May God salute you, proud and noble lords,
May God greet you from the prey of energetic hawks,
who find in hardship the life of the pampered and carefree.
Who find in misery the life of the soft and despised,
هِيَthey are النّفوسُthe souls بناهاbuilt them اللهُGod منof شَممٍlofty dignity
هِيَ النّفوسُ بناها اللهُ من شَممٍ
نِعمَhow excellent البناءُthe building وجَلَّتْand exalted is قدرةُthe power of البانيthe Builder
نِعمَ البناءُ وجَلَّتْ قدرةُ الباني
These are souls God built of lofty dignity;
They are the souls that God has created from ambition,
how excellent the building, how exalted the Builder's power!
Excellent is the creation and great is the ability of the Maker,
وأنتَand you ياO قيسُQays فانْحَرْهاthen slaughter them مُبَارَكةًblessed
وأنتَ يا قيسُ فانْحَرْها مُبَارَكةً
تَجنِيyou reap بهاthrough them الحَمْدَpraise يسْتَعلِيrises high بهthrough it الجانيthe reaper
تَجنِي بها الحَمْدَ يسْتَعلِي به الجاني
And you, Qays, slaughter them, blessed as they are,
And you, O Qays, so send it blessed,
reaping through them praise that lifts its reaper high.
You will gain praise by it and the exalted will rise,
أسديتَهاyou bestowed upon it ياO ابنَson of سعدٍSa'd خيرَthe finest عارفةٍbenefaction
أسديتَها يا ابنَ سعدٍ خيرَ عارفةٍ
جاءَتْcame علىaccording to قَدَرٍdecree فيat خيرِthe best إبّانِtime
جاءَتْ على قَدَرٍ في خيرِ إبّانِ
You bestowed upon it, O son of Sa'd, the finest kindness,
You gave it, O son of Sa’d, the best caretaker,
which came by decree at the most fitting time.
It came at the right measure at the best time,
ماthere is nothing فيin صَنيعِكَyour deed منof بِدْعٍnovelty ولاnor عَجَبٍsurprise
ما في صَنيعِكَ من بِدْعٍ ولا عَجَبٍ
قَيسٌQays ووالدُهُand his father فيin الجودِgenerosity سِيّانِare equals
قَيسٌ ووالدُهُ في الجودِ سِيّانِ
Nothing in your deed is unprecedented or surprising:
There is no innovation or wonder in your deed,
Qays and his father are equals in generosity.
Qays and his father are equal in generosity,
كِلاكُماboth of you وسيوفُand the swords of اللهِGod شاهدةٌbear witness
كِلاكُما وسيوفُ اللهِ شاهدةٌ
غَوْثُsuccor to اللّهيفِthe distressed وَروْحُand relief to البائِسِthe wretched العانيthe captive
غَوْثُ اللّهيفِ وَروْحُ البائِسِ العاني
Both of you—with God's swords bearing witness—
You both and the swords of God bear witness,
are succor to the distressed, relief to the wretched captive.
To helping the weak and comforting the suffering complainant,
ماhow أقربَclose الحقَّwhat is right ممّاto what يَبتغيseeks عُمَرٌUmar
ما أقربَ الحقَّ ممّا يَبتغي عُمَرٌ
لوif لمnot تكنْyou were لأبٍof a father للحقِّof rightful dues صَوَّانِa vigilant guardian
لو لم تكنْ لأبٍ للحقِّ صَوَّانِ
How close to right would be what Umar seeks,
Were it not for you deciding on,
were you not the son of a father who guards rightful dues,
Qays, Qays would have insisted, how you forbid me,
يَقضيهِhe pays it عنكَon your behalf وإنand even if أربيتَyou increase it تجعلُهُyou make it
يَقضيهِ عنكَ وإن أربيتَ تجعلُهُ
ماwhatever تحملُbears الأرضُthe earth منof إبْلٍcamels ومنand of ضَانِsheep
ما تحملُ الأرضُ من إبْلٍ ومن ضَانِ
who pays it for you, even if you increase it, making it
I am the son of Sa’d and Sa’d you know him,
all the camels and sheep the earth bears.
The guardian of the clan from Qaas and from Daan,
ماnot مِثلُequal to ماwhat قَدَّمَتْhas offered للهِto God منكfrom you يدٌa hand
ما مِثلُ ما قَدَّمَتْ للهِ منك يدٌ
ماwhat قَدَّمَhave offered النّاسُthe people منof هَدْيٍsacrificial animals وقُربانِand offerings
ما قَدَّمَ النّاسُ من هَدْيٍ وقُربانِ
What your hand has offered God is not equaled
It is enough for the concerned when the shoulders are too narrow for him,
by the sacrificial animals and offerings people have presented.
And he feeds people from the pair and the single,
أباO Abu عُبَيْدَةَUbaydah لولاwere it not أنthat عزمتَyou firmly enjoined علىupon
أبا عُبَيْدَةَ لولا أن عزمتَ على
قيسٍQays لأَمعنَwould have gone far قيسٌQays أيَّutmost إمعانِpersistence
قيسٍ لأَمعنَ قيسٌ أيَّ إمعانِ
O Abu Ubaydah, had you not laid your firm command upon
Shall I do the praiseworthy deed and be let down,
Qays, Qays would have carried on to the utmost.
By a father whom I see as better support for others?
يَقولُhe says إذwhen رُحتَyou set about تَنهاهُyou forbid him وتَمنعُهُand restrain him
يَقولُ إذ رُحتَ تَنهاهُ وتَمنعُهُ
أباO Abu عُبيدَةَUbaydah مَهْلاًgently كيفhow تنهانيdo you forbid me
أبا عُبيدَةَ مَهْلاً كيف تنهاني
He says, as you set about forbidding and restraining him,
God does not distance from him a caring father,
“O Abu Ubaydah, gently! How can you forbid me?
Of easy manners, he cared for him and cares for me,
أناI ابنُthe son of سعدٍSa'd وسعدٌand Sa'd أنتَyou تعرِفُهُknow him
أنا ابنُ سعدٍ وسعدٌ أنتَ تعرِفُهُ
مَوْلَىpatron of العشيرَةِthe clan منof قاصٍone far away ومنand of دانِone nearby
مَوْلَى العشيرَةِ من قاصٍ ومن دانِ
I am the son of Sa'd, and Sa'd you know:
O Qays, the Messenger of God bears witness to him,
the clan's patron, to those far away and those near.
So refrain yourself from description and explanation,
يَكفيhe handles المُهِمَّthe pressing task إذاwhen ضاقَwere hard pressed الكُفاةُthe capable men بهby it
يَكفي المُهِمَّ إذا ضاقَ الكُفاةُ به
ويُطعِمُand he feeds النّاسَthe people منin مَثْنَىًpairs وَوُحدَانِand single individuals
ويُطعِمُ النّاسَ من مَثْنَىً وَوُحدَانِ
He handles the urgent task when capable men are hard pressed by it,
Juhainah glanced with eyes of horror,
and feeds people, in pairs and singly.
But did not find anyone but heroes and horsemen,
أأصنعُshall I perform الصُّنْعَthe deed مَحموداًpraised فَيخذِلُنيthen forsakes me
أأصنعُ الصُّنْعَ مَحموداً فَيخذِلُني
أبٌa father أراهI see him لغيرِيto others besides me خيرَthe best مِعوانِhelper
أبٌ أراه لغيرِي خيرَ مِعوانِ
Shall I do a praiseworthy deed, only to be forsaken
It took refuge in its furthest burrows, and if it could,
by a father I see as the best helper of others?
It would have taken refuge from the hordes in burrows,
لاmay He not يُبعِدِtake away اللهُGod منهof him والداًa father حَدِباًaffectionate
لا يُبعِدِ اللهُ منه والداً حَدِباً
سمحَgenerous in الخلائِقِcharacter أرعاهُI care for him ويرعانيand he cares for me
سمحَ الخلائِقِ أرعاهُ ويرعاني
May God never take him away, such an affectionate father,
The caravan fled fearing it would be surrounded,
generous in character; I care for him, and he cares for me.”
By the horrors, they are its lords, every devil,
ياO قيسُQays إنّindeed رسولَthe Messenger of اللهِGod شاهِدُهُis his witness
يا قيسُ إنّ رسولَ اللهِ شاهِدُهُ
فَعَدِّso turn aside نَفسَكَyourself عنfrom وصفٍdescription وتبيانِand explanation
فَعَدِّ نَفسَكَ عن وصفٍ وتبيانِ
O Qays, God's Messenger bears witness to him;
What is enough for the people if they get angry?
so turn yourself away from description and explanation.
That they do not succeed with peers and equals,
رَمَتْcast جُهَيْنَةُJuhaynah بالأبْصَارِwith its eyes منfrom فَزَعٍfear
رَمَتْ جُهَيْنَةُ بالأبْصَارِ من فَزَعٍ
فلمand did not تَجِدْfind غيرَother than أبطالٍheroes وفُرسانِand horsemen
فلم تَجِدْ غيرَ أبطالٍ وفُرسانِ
Juhaynah cast its eyes about in terror,
They came in good and every group came,
and found none but heroes and horsemen.
Of the horrors, they disliked good things with loss,
لاذَتْsought refuge بأكنانِهاin its shelters القُصوىfurthest ولوand if قَدرتْit was able
لاذَتْ بأكنانِها القُصوى ولو قَدرتْ
لاذتْwould have taken refuge منfrom الزّاخرِthe surging tide الطّامِيoverflowing بأكنانِin shelters
لاذتْ من الزّاخرِ الطّامِي بأكنانِ
It sought refuge in its furthest shelters; had it been able,
Truth has its authority so let its denier come,
it would have taken refuge from the surging, overflowing tide.
If he can, with proof to rebut it,
وولّتِand fled العِيرُthe caravan يخشىfears أنthat يُحاطَbe encircled بهاaround it
وولّتِ العِيرُ يخشى أن يُحاطَ بها
منamong الأُلَىthose who هُمْthey ذَووهاare its owners كلُّevery شيطانِdevil
من الأُلَى هُمْ ذَووها كلُّ شيطانِ
And the caravan fled; fearing it would be surrounded
The proof of polytheism while the universe bears witness,
was every devil among those who owned it.
To the One Eternal Owner of kingdom, the Judge,
ماذاwhat علىagainst القَوْمِthe men يرضَىis pleased البأسُbattle إنif غَضبواthey rage
ماذا على القَوْمِ يرضَى البأسُ إن غَضبوا
أنthat لاnot يفوزواthey obtain بأكفاءٍworthy matches وأقرانِand peers
أن لا يفوزوا بأكفاءٍ وأقرانِ
What blame lies on men whose anger pleases battle,
Glory to Him, the ignorant will never attain,
if they find no equals or peers?
Throughout fanciful imagination, a second lord to Him,
آبواthey returned بخيرٍwith good وآبتْand returned كلُّevery طائفةٍband
آبوا بخيرٍ وآبتْ كلُّ طائفةٍ
منof الأُلىthose who كَرِهواhated الحُسْنَىgoodness بِخُسرانِwith loss
من الأُلى كَرِهوا الحُسْنَى بِخُسرانِ
They returned with good, while back came every band
An engulfing darkness came over them that does not clear,
of those who hated goodness, with loss.
And overwhelmed minds diseased and disturbed,
للحقِّfor truth سُلطانُهُits authority فليأتِso let him bring مُنكِرُهُits denier
للحقِّ سُلطانُهُ فليأتِ مُنكِرُهُ
إنِif اسْتَطاعَhe can لهagainst it رَدّاًa refutation بِسُلطَانِwith proof
إنِ اسْتَطاعَ له رَدّاً بِسُلطَانِ
Truth has its authority; let its denier bring,
These proofs appear every now and then,
if he can, a refutation backed by proof.
If the blind could benefit from proof,
ماwhat حُجَّةُthe proof of الشِّركِpolytheism والأكوانُwhile all creation شاهِدَةٌbears witness
ما حُجَّةُ الشِّركِ والأكوانُ شاهِدَةٌ
بواحدٍto One سَرمَدِيِّeternal in المُلكِdominion دَيّانِthe Judge
بواحدٍ سَرمَدِيِّ المُلكِ دَيّانِ
What proof has polytheism, when all creation bears witness
Brother of Juhainah, return in a delightful spectacle,
to One whose dominion is eternal, the Judge?
The return of a man cheerful of limbs, openhanded,
سُبحانهُglory be to Him لنwill not يُصيبَfind الجاهلونَthe ignorant علىdespite
سُبحانهُ لن يُصيبَ الجاهلونَ على
طُولِthe length of التَّوهُّمِfanciful imagining منany ربٍّlord لهمfor them ثانِsecond
طُولِ التَّوهُّمِ من ربٍّ لهم ثانِ
Glory be to Him! Never will the ignorant find,
Dates and clothes bestowed and a she-camel,
however long they imagine, a second lord for themselves.
Good tidings of the truthful and misery for the hostile detractor,
طاحَتْcast down بهمthem غَمرةٌbewilderment ماnever تَنجَليclears وطَغَتْand overwhelmed
طاحَتْ بهم غَمرةٌ ما تَنجَلي وطَغَتْ
علىover عُقولٍintellects لهمof theirs مَرْضَىailing وأذهانِand minds
على عُقولٍ لهم مَرْضَى وأذهانِ
A bewilderment that never clears has felled them and overwhelmed
You recognized Qays, a young man of glory and generosity,
their ailing intellects and minds.
You spoke the truth, you are of knowledge and discernment,
تلكthose البراهينُproofs تترىcome successively كلَّevery آونةٍmoment
تلك البراهينُ تترى كلَّ آونةٍ
لوif only كانwere ينتفعُbenefiting الأعمىthe blind بِبرهانِfrom a proof
لو كان ينتفعُ الأعمى بِبرهانِ
Those proofs follow one another at every moment,
Inform Juhainah and remind it of a hand that grew great,
if only the blind could benefit from a proof.
For there is no right that it be rewarded with forgetfulness,
أخاO brother of جُهَيْنَةَJuhaynah عُدْreturn فيin منظرٍan appearance بَهِجٍradiant
أخا جُهَيْنَةَ عُدْ في منظرٍ بَهِجٍ
عَوْدَthe return of امرئٍa man مَرِحِbuoyant of الأعطافِlimbs جَذلانِjubilant
عَوْدَ امرئٍ مَرِحِ الأعطافِ جَذلانِ
O brother of Juhaynah, return with a radiant air,
When a man's religion flows in his blood,
as a man returns, buoyant of limb and jubilant.
Its meanings joyfully course through soul and body,
تَمْرٌdates وكُسْوَةُand clothing from مِعطاءٍa generous giver وراحلةٌand a mount
تَمْرٌ وكُسْوَةُ مِعطاءٍ وراحلةٌ
بُشْرَىglad tidings for الصّديقِthe friend وبؤْسand misery for الحاسِدِthe envious الشّانيthe hater
بُشْرَى الصّديقِ وبؤْس الحاسِدِ الشّاني
Dates, clothing from a generous giver, and a mount—
No religion ordained of truthfulness and piety,
glad tidings for the friend, misery for the envious hater.
Like the religion ordained of lies and false accusations,
عَرَفَتyou recognized قيساًQays فتىa youth of مجدٍglory ومكرمةٍand noble deeds
عَرَفَت قيساً فتى مجدٍ ومكرمةٍ
صدقتَyou spoke truly إنَّكَindeed you ذوpossessor of علمٍknowledge وعرفانِand discernment
صدقتَ إنَّكَ ذو علمٍ وعرفانِ
You recognized Qays as a youth of glory and noble deeds;
you spoke truly: you possess knowledge and discernment.
نَبِّئْinform جُهَينَةَJuhaynah واذكرهاand remind it يداًa helping hand عظمتْthat was mighty
نَبِّئْ جُهَينَةَ واذكرها يداً عظمتْ
فليسfor it is not فيin الحقِّwhat is right أنthat تُجزَىit be repaid بنسيانِwith forgetfulness
فليس في الحقِّ أن تُجزَى بنسيانِ
Tell Juhaynah, and remind it of a mighty helping hand,
for it is not right that it be repaid with forgetfulness.
إذاwhen تدفَّقَflows دِينُthe faith of المرءِa man فيthrough دمِهِhis blood
إذا تدفَّقَ دِينُ المرءِ في دمِهِ
سَرَتْspread معانِيهِits meanings فيthrough رُوحٍa spirit وجُثمانِand a body
سَرَتْ معانِيهِ في رُوحٍ وجُثمانِ
When a man's faith flows through his blood,
its meanings spread through spirit and body.
ماnot الدينُreligion يُشرَعُis instituted منfrom صدقٍtruthfulness ومنand from وَرَعٍpiety
ما الدينُ يُشرَعُ من صدقٍ ومن وَرَعٍ
كالدينِlike religion يُشرَعُis instituted منfrom زورٍfalsehood وبُهتانِand slander
كالدينِ يُشرَعُ من زورٍ وبُهتانِ
Religion established upon truthfulness and piety is not
like religion established upon falsehood and slander.
Partial English translation: 78 of 86 Arabic lines translated.