سَلو قَلبي غَداةَ سَلا وَثابا

سَلو قَلبي غَداةَ سَلا وَثابا

لَعَلَّ عَلى الجَمالِ لَهُ عِتابا

لَعَلَّ عَلى الجَمالِ لَهُ عِتابا

Ask my heart the morning it found solace and returned;

My heart bid farewell at dawn to yearning,

Perhaps it has a reproach to make to beauty.

Perhaps it was blaming beauty.

وَيُسأَلُ في الحَوادِثِ ذو صَوابٍ

وَيُسأَلُ في الحَوادِثِ ذو صَوابٍ

فَهَل تَرَكَ الجَمالُ لَهُ صَوابا

فَهَل تَرَكَ الجَمالُ لَهُ صَوابا

And one of sound judgment is consulted in calamities;

In events, he who is wise is questioned.

But has beauty left it any sound judgment?

Did beauty leave any wisdom for it?

وَكُنتُ إِذا سَأَلتُ القَلبَ يَوماً

وَكُنتُ إِذا سَأَلتُ القَلبَ يَوماً

تَوَلّى الدَمعُ عَن قَلبي الجَوابا

تَوَلّى الدَمعُ عَن قَلبي الجَوابا

And whenever I questioned my heart on any day,

Whenever I asked my heart one day,

The tears undertook to answer for my heart.

Tears turned away answering my heart.

وَلي بَينَ الضُلوعِ دَمٌ وَلَحمٌ

وَلي بَينَ الضُلوعِ دَمٌ وَلَحمٌ

هُما الواهي الَّذي ثَكِلَ الشَبابا

هُما الواهي الَّذي ثَكِلَ الشَبابا

And between my ribs I have blood and flesh;

Within my ribs there is blood and flesh,

Together they are the frail one bereaved of youth.

The two weak ones who failed youth.

تَسَرَّبَ في الدُموعِ فَقُلتُ وَلّى

تَسَرَّبَ في الدُموعِ فَقُلتُ وَلّى

وَصَفَّقَ في الضُلوعِ فَقُلتُ ثابا

وَصَفَّقَ في الضُلوعِ فَقُلتُ ثابا

It seeped into the tears, so I said it had departed;

It seeped into tears, so I said it passed away,

And it beat within my ribs, so I said it had returned.

It throbbed in the ribs, so I said it came back.

وَلَو خُلِقَت قُلوبٌ مِن حَديدٍ

وَلَو خُلِقَت قُلوبٌ مِن حَديدٍ

لَما حَمَلَت كَما حَمَلَ العَذابا

لَما حَمَلَت كَما حَمَلَ العَذابا

Even if hearts had been fashioned from iron,

Had hearts been created from iron,

They could not have borne suffering as it has borne it.

They would not have borne as much agony.

وَأَحبابٍ سُقيتُ بِهِم سُلافاً

وَأَحبابٍ سُقيتُ بِهِم سُلافاً

وَكانَ الوَصلُ مِن قِصَرٍ حَبابا

وَكانَ الوَصلُ مِن قِصَرٍ حَبابا

And dear companions through whom I drank pure wine—

I was given to drink with loved ones a draft,

Our union, so brief, was only bubbles.

While the union was short out of caprice.

وَنادَمنا الشَبابَ عَلى بِساطٍ

وَنادَمنا الشَبابَ عَلى بِساطٍ

مِنَ اللَذاتِ مُختَلِفٍ شَرابا

مِنَ اللَذاتِ مُختَلِفٍ شَرابا

And we drank with youth upon a carpet

We had reveled our youth on a carpet

Of delights, varied in its draughts.

Spread with different drinks of joy.

وَكُلُّ بِساطِ عَيشٍ سَوفَ يُطوى

وَكُلُّ بِساطِ عَيشٍ سَوفَ يُطوى

وَإِن طالَ الزَمانُ بِهِ وَطابا

وَإِن طالَ الزَمانُ بِهِ وَطابا

And every carpet of life will be rolled up,

Every carpet of life will be rolled up,

Even if time upon it has been long and sweet.

No matter how long it lasted and was sweet.

كَأَنَّ القَلبَ بَعدَهُمُ غَريبٌ

كَأَنَّ القَلبَ بَعدَهُمُ غَريبٌ

إِذا عادَتهُ ذِكرى الأَهلِ ذابا

إِذا عادَتهُ ذِكرى الأَهلِ ذابا

After them, the heart is like a stranger;

It was as if my heart became a stranger

Whenever the memory of family visits it, it melts.

When memories of family came back to it.

وَلا يُنبيكَ عَن خُلُقِ اللَيالي

وَلا يُنبيكَ عَن خُلُقِ اللَيالي

كَمَن فَقَدَ الأَحِبَّةَ وَالصَحابا

كَمَن فَقَدَ الأَحِبَّةَ وَالصَحابا

And no one can tell you of the nights' nature

Let not the manners of nights distract you

Like one who has lost loved ones and companions.

Like one who lost loved ones and friends.

أَخا الدُنيا أَرى دُنياكَ أَفعى

أَخا الدُنيا أَرى دُنياكَ أَفعى

تُبَدِّلُ كُلَّ آوِنَةٍ إِهابا

تُبَدِّلُ كُلَّ آوِنَةٍ إِهابا

O brother of the world, I see your world as a viper,

Brother of this world, I see your world as a viper

Changing its skin at every turn.

Changing every moment to a different garment.

وَأَنَّ الرُقطَ أَيقَظُ هاجِعاتٍ

وَأَنَّ الرُقطَ أَيقَظُ هاجِعاتٍ

وَأَترَعُ في ظِلالِ السِلمِ تابا

وَأَترَعُ في ظِلالِ السِلمِ تابا

And spotted serpents are the most wakeful of sleepers,

I see the planets waking up sleepy ones

And most brimful of venom in the shade of peace.

And the stars wandering in the shadows of night.

وَمِن عَجَبٍ تُشَيِّبُ عاشِقيها

وَمِن عَجَبٍ تُشَيِّبُ عاشِقيها

وَتُفنيهِمِ وَما بَرَحَت كَعابا

وَتُفنيهِمِ وَما بَرَحَت كَعابا

And strangely, it turns its lovers gray,

Of wonders, it makes its lovers gray-haired

And destroys them, yet remains a nubile maiden.

And destroys them while it has not grown old.

فَمَن يَغتَرُّ بِالدُنيا فَإِنّي

فَمَن يَغتَرُّ بِالدُنيا فَإِنّي

لَبِستُ بِها فَأَبلَيتُ الثِيابا

لَبِستُ بِها فَأَبلَيتُ الثِيابا

So whoever is beguiled by the world—as for me,

So let not him who is deceived by the world be me,

I have worn clothes in it, and worn them out.

I wore it and it wore out my clothes.

لَها ضَحِكُ القِيانِ إِلى غَبِيٍّ

لَها ضَحِكُ القِيانِ إِلى غَبِيٍّ

وَلي ضَحِكُ اللَبيبِ إِذا تَغابى

وَلي ضَحِكُ اللَبيبِ إِذا تَغابى

Its smile is that of singing girls toward a fool;

It laughs at the foolish openly

Mine is the knowing man's smile when he feigns folly.

While I laugh at the wise secretly.

جَنَيتُ بِرَوضِها وَرداً وَشَوكاً

جَنَيتُ بِرَوضِها وَرداً وَشَوكاً

وَذُقتُ بِكَأسِها شُهداً وَصابا

وَذُقتُ بِكَأسِها شُهداً وَصابا

I gathered roses and thorns in its garden,

I reaped its garden roses and thorns

And tasted honey and bitter sap in its cup.

And tasted its cup honey and ashes.

فَلَم أَرَ غَيرَ حُكمِ اللَهِ حُكماً

فَلَم أَرَ غَيرَ حُكمِ اللَهِ حُكماً

وَلَم أَرَ دونَ بابِ اللَهِ بابا

وَلَم أَرَ دونَ بابِ اللَهِ بابا

Thus I have seen no judgment but God's judgment,

I have seen no rule but God's rule

And no door apart from God's door.

And no door but God's door.

وَلا عَظَّمتُ في الأَشياءِ إِلّا

وَلا عَظَّمتُ في الأَشياءِ إِلّا

صَحيحَ العِلمِ وَالأَدَبِ اللُبابا

صَحيحَ العِلمِ وَالأَدَبِ اللُبابا

Nor have I revered anything except

I have honored nothing among things

Sound knowledge and the purest refinement.

Except sound knowledge and refined manners.

وَلا كَرَّمتُ إِلّا وَجهَ حُرٍّ

وَلا كَرَّمتُ إِلّا وَجهَ حُرٍّ

يُقَلِّدُ قَومَهُ المِنَنَ الرَغابا

يُقَلِّدُ قَومَهُ المِنَنَ الرَغابا

Nor have I honored any face but that of a noble man

I have honored no free man

Who garlands his people with abundant favors.

Who does not bestow favors and gifts.

وَلَم أَرَ مِثلَ جَمعِ المالِ داءً

وَلَم أَرَ مِثلَ جَمعِ المالِ داءً

وَلا مِثلَ البَخيلِ بِهِ مُصابا

وَلا مِثلَ البَخيلِ بِهِ مُصابا

I have seen no sickness like the hoarding of wealth,

I have seen no evil like hoarding wealth,

Nor anyone so stricken as the miser clinging to it.

No wretched like the miser with it.

فَلا تَقتُلكَ شَهوَتُهُ وَزِنها

فَلا تَقتُلكَ شَهوَتُهُ وَزِنها

كَما تَزِنُ الطَعامَ أَوِ الشَرابا

كَما تَزِنُ الطَعامَ أَوِ الشَرابا

So do not let desire for it kill you; measure it

Let not its desire kill you by its weight

As you measure food or drink.

As food and drink are weighed.

وَخُذ لِبَنيكَ وَالأَيّامِ ذُخراً

وَخُذ لِبَنيكَ وَالأَيّامِ ذُخراً

وَأَعطِ اللَهَ حِصَّتَهُ اِحتِسابا

وَأَعطِ اللَهَ حِصَّتَهُ اِحتِسابا

And keep a reserve for your children and the days ahead,

Take provision for your children and days

And give God His share, seeking His reward.

And give God His rightful share.

فَلَو طالَعتَ أَحداثَ اللَيالي

فَلَو طالَعتَ أَحداثَ اللَيالي

وَجَدتَ الفَقرَ أَقرَبَها اِنتِيابا

وَجَدتَ الفَقرَ أَقرَبَها اِنتِيابا

For if you studied the happenings of the nights,

Had you observed the events of nights

You would find poverty the quickest of them to visit.

You would have found poverty closes in on them faster.

وَأَنَّ البِرَّ خَيرٌ في حَياةٍ

وَأَنَّ البِرَّ خَيرٌ في حَياةٍ

وَأَبقى بَعدَ صاحِبِهِ ثَوابا

وَأَبقى بَعدَ صاحِبِهِ ثَوابا

And righteousness is a good in life,

That righteousness is better in life

And more lasting in reward after its doer is gone.

And remains after its companion with reward.

وَأَنَّ الشَرَّ يَصدَعُ فاعِليهِ

وَأَنَّ الشَرَّ يَصدَعُ فاعِليهِ

وَلَم أَرَ خَيِّراً بِالشَرِّ آبا

وَلَم أَرَ خَيِّراً بِالشَرِّ آبا

And evil shatters those who do it;

That evil cracks its doers

And I have never seen a good man return bearing evil.

And I have seen no prosperous man through evil.

فَرِفقاً بِالبَنينِ إِذا اللَيالي

فَرِفقاً بِالبَنينِ إِذا اللَيالي

عَلى الأَعقابِ أَوقَعَتِ العِقابا

عَلى الأَعقابِ أَوقَعَتِ العِقابا

So have mercy on your children when the nights

So be gentle with the children when nights

Bring punishment down upon posterity,

Inflict them with their punishment.

وَلَم يَتَقَلَّدوا شُكرَ اليَتامى

وَلَم يَتَقَلَّدوا شُكرَ اليَتامى

وَلا اِدَّرَعوا الدُعاءَ المُستَجابا

وَلا اِدَّرَعوا الدُعاءَ المُستَجابا

And they have not garlanded themselves with orphans' thanks,

They have not worn gratitude's collar

Nor clad themselves in the armor of answered prayers.

Nor put on the dress of the answered prayer.

عَجِبتُ لِمَعشَرٍ صَلّوا وَصاموا

عَجِبتُ لِمَعشَرٍ صَلّوا وَصاموا

عَواهِرَ خِشيَةً وَتُقى كِذابا

عَواهِرَ خِشيَةً وَتُقى كِذابا

I marvel at a people who pray and fast,

I wondered at a group who prayed and fasted

Wantons in their reverence, with piety a lie.

Adulterously, fearing and pious pretentiously.

وَتُلفيهُمْ حِيالَ المالِ صُمّاً

وَتُلفيهُمْ حِيالَ المالِ صُمّاً

إِذا داعي الزَكاةِ بِهِم أَهابا

إِذا داعي الزَكاةِ بِهِم أَهابا

Yet you find them deaf where wealth is concerned,

Deaf when the summoner of alms called them,

When the caller to alms appeals to them.

As if they had not counted the minimum amount.

لَقَد كَتَموا نَصيبَ اللَهِ مِنهُ

لَقَد كَتَموا نَصيبَ اللَهِ مِنهُ

كَأَنَّ اللَهَ لَم يُحصِ النِصابا

كَأَنَّ اللَهَ لَم يُحصِ النِصابا

They have withheld God's share of it,

They concealed God's share from it

As though God had not reckoned the wealth subject to alms.

As if God had not counted amounts.

وَمَن يَعدِل بِحُبِّ اللَهِ شَيئاً

وَمَن يَعدِل بِحُبِّ اللَهِ شَيئاً

كَحُبِّ المالِ ضَلَّ هَوىً وَخابا

كَحُبِّ المالِ ضَلَّ هَوىً وَخابا

Whoever equates anything with love of God,

Whoever equals anything with loving God

Such as love of wealth, strays through desire and fails.

Has gone astray, desiring and failing.

أَرادَ اللَهُ بِالفُقَراءِ بِرّاً

أَرادَ اللَهُ بِالفُقَراءِ بِرّاً

وَبِالأَيتامِ حُبّاً وَاِرتِبابا

وَبِالأَيتامِ حُبّاً وَاِرتِبابا

God willed kindness toward the poor,

God wanted righteousness through the poor

And love and nurturing for the orphans.

And love and compassion through the orphans.

فَرُبَّ صَغيرِ قَومٍ عَلَّموهُ

فَرُبَّ صَغيرِ قَومٍ عَلَّموهُ

سَما وَحَمى المُسَوَّمَةَ العِرابا

سَما وَحَمى المُسَوَّمَةَ العِرابا

Many a child of a people, whom they educated,

How often has a small member of a tribe taught him

Rose high and defended the marked Arabian steeds,

The lofty principles they agreed upon,

وَكانَ لِقَومِهِ نَفعاً وَفَخراً

وَكانَ لِقَومِهِ نَفعاً وَفَخراً

وَلَو تَرَكوهُ كانَ أَذىً وَعابا

وَلَو تَرَكوهُ كانَ أَذىً وَعابا

And was a benefit and a glory to his people;

And he became beneficial and pride for his tribe

Had they abandoned him, he would have been harm and disgrace.

While, had they neglected him, he would have been harm and disgrace.

فَعَلِّم ما اِستَطَعتَ لَعَلَّ جيلاً

فَعَلِّم ما اِستَطَعتَ لَعَلَّ جيلاً

سَيَأتي يُحدِثُ العَجَبَ العُجابا

سَيَأتي يُحدِثُ العَجَبَ العُجابا

So teach as much as you can; perhaps a generation

Teach what you can, perhaps a generation

Will come and work the most astonishing wonders.

Will come bringing wondrous wonders.

وَلا تُرهِق شَبابَ الحَيِّ يَأساً

وَلا تُرهِق شَبابَ الحَيِّ يَأساً

فَإِنَّ اليَأسَ يَختَرِمُ الشَبابا

فَإِنَّ اليَأسَ يَختَرِمُ الشَبابا

Do not burden the community's youth with despair,

Do not burden the living youth with despair,

For despair cuts youth short.

For despair demolishes youth.

يُريدُ الخالِقُ الرِزقَ اِشتِراكاً

يُريدُ الخالِقُ الرِزقَ اِشتِراكاً

وَإِن يَكُ خَصَّ أَقواماً وَحابى

وَإِن يَكُ خَصَّ أَقواماً وَحابى

The Creator wills that livelihood be shared,

The Creator wants sustenance shared

Even if He has singled out some peoples and favored them.

Even if He singles some out and favors them.

فَما حَرَمَ المُجِدَّ جَنى يَدَيهِ

فَما حَرَمَ المُجِدَّ جَنى يَدَيهِ

وَلا نَسِيَ الشَقِيَّ وَلا المُصابا

وَلا نَسِيَ الشَقِيَّ وَلا المُصابا

He has not denied the diligent worker the fruit of his hands,

Neither has glory escaped its doers

Nor forgotten the wretched or the afflicted.

Nor has it forgotten the wretch or the struck.

وَلَولا البُخلُ لَم يَهلِك فَريقٌ

وَلَولا البُخلُ لَم يَهلِك فَريقٌ

عَلى الأَقدارِ تَلقاهُمُ غِضابا

عَلى الأَقدارِ تَلقاهُمُ غِضابا

Were it not for miserliness, no group would perish

Were it not for stinginess, no group would have perished,

Whom you find enraged against fate.

While fate had inflicted wrath on them.

تَعِبتُ بِأَهلِهِ لَوماً وَقَبلي

تَعِبتُ بِأَهلِهِ لَوماً وَقَبلي

دُعاةُ البِرِّ قَد سَئِموا الخِطابا

دُعاةُ البِرِّ قَد سَئِموا الخِطابا

I have wearied of reproaching its followers; before me,

I grew weary of blaming its people;

The advocates of kindness had tired of addressing them.

Before me, the preachers of righteousness grew weary of preaching.

وَلَو أَنّي خَطَبتُ عَلى جَمادٍ

وَلَو أَنّي خَطَبتُ عَلى جَمادٍ

فَجَرتُ بِهِ اليَنابيعَ العِذابا

فَجَرتُ بِهِ اليَنابيعَ العِذابا

Had I preached to lifeless matter,

Had I preached to inanimate matter,

I would have made sweet springs burst forth from it.

I would have made the springs of punishment flow from it.

أَلَم تَرَ لِلهَواءِ جَرى فَأَفضى

أَلَم تَرَ لِلهَواءِ جَرى فَأَفضى

إِلى الأَكواخِ وَاِختَرَقَ القِبابا

إِلى الأَكواخِ وَاِختَرَقَ القِبابا

Have you not seen the air flow, then find its way

Have you not seen the wind flow and pour

Into huts, and penetrate domes?

To huts and penetrate domes?

وَأَنَّ الشَمسَ في الآفاقِ تَغشى

وَأَنَّ الشَمسَ في الآفاقِ تَغشى

حِمى كِسرى كَما تَغشى اليَبابا

حِمى كِسرى كَما تَغشى اليَبابا

And the sun, across the horizons, covers

Have you not seen the sun covering in the horizons

Kisra's domain just as it covers the wasteland.

The sanctuary of Chosroes as it covers reptiles?

وَأَنَّ الماءَ تُروى الأُسدُ مِنهُ

وَأَنَّ الماءَ تُروى الأُسدُ مِنهُ

وَيَشفي مِن تَلَعلُعِها الكِلابا

وَيَشفي مِن تَلَعلُعِها الكِلابا

And water gives the lions their fill,

Have you not seen water give drink to lions

And relieves dogs of their panting.

And its disturbance cure dogs of rabies?

وَسَوّى اللَهُ بَينَكُمُ المَنايا

وَسَوّى اللَهُ بَينَكُمُ المَنايا

وَوَسَّدَكُم مَعَ الرُسلِ التُرابا

وَوَسَّدَكُم مَعَ الرُسلِ التُرابا

God has made you equal in death,

God has leveled death among you

And made dust your pillow alongside the messengers.

And will turn you into dust with the messengers.

وَأَرسَلَ عائِلاً مِنكُم يَتيماً

وَأَرسَلَ عائِلاً مِنكُم يَتيماً

دَنا مِن ذي الجَلالِ فَكانَ قابا

دَنا مِن ذي الجَلالِ فَكانَ قابا

And He sent a poor orphan from among you,

He sent an orphan of you near

Who drew near the Lord of Majesty, a bow's length away.

The Owner of Majesty, so he drew near.

نَبِيُّ البِرِّ بَيَّنَهُ سَبيلاً

نَبِيُّ البِرِّ بَيَّنَهُ سَبيلاً

وَسَنَّ خِلالَهُ وَهَدى الشِعابا

وَسَنَّ خِلالَهُ وَهَدى الشِعابا

The Prophet of righteousness made it plain as a path,

The prophet of righteousness made clear his path

And prescribed its virtues and showed the mountain paths.

And exemplified his ethics and guided ways.

تَفَرَّقَ بَعدَ عيسى الناسُ فيهِ

تَفَرَّقَ بَعدَ عيسى الناسُ فيهِ

فَلَمّا جاءَ كانَ لَهُم مَتابا

فَلَمّا جاءَ كانَ لَهُم مَتابا

After Jesus, people became divided over it;

After Jesus the people differed over him.

But when he came, he was their way to return.

So when Muhammad came he was decisive for them.

وَشافي النَفسِ مِن نَزَعاتِ شَرٍّ

وَشافي النَفسِ مِن نَزَعاتِ شَرٍّ

كَشافٍ مِن طَبائِعِها الذِئابا

كَشافٍ مِن طَبائِعِها الذِئابا

And he who heals the soul of evil impulses

A healer of the soul from the pulls of evil

Is like one who cures its nature of wolves.

Like a protector from its preying instincts.

وَكانَ بَيانُهُ لِلهَديِ سُبلاً

وَكانَ بَيانُهُ لِلهَديِ سُبلاً

وَكانَت خَيلُهُ لِلحَقِّ غابا

وَكانَت خَيلُهُ لِلحَقِّ غابا

His eloquence was a set of paths to guidance,

His eloquence in guidance was ways.

And his horses were a forest for truth.

His cavalry for truth were armies.

وَعَلَّمَنا بِناءَ المَجدِ حَتّى

وَعَلَّمَنا بِناءَ المَجدِ حَتّى

أَخَذنا إِمرَةَ الأَرضِ اِغتِصابا

أَخَذنا إِمرَةَ الأَرضِ اِغتِصابا

And he taught us to build glory, until

He taught us how to build glory until

We seized dominion over the earth by force.

We took the leadership of the land by force.

وَما نَيلُ المَطالِبِ بِالتَمَنّي

وَما نَيلُ المَطالِبِ بِالتَمَنّي

وَلَكِن تُؤخَذُ الدُنيا غِلابا

وَلَكِن تُؤخَذُ الدُنيا غِلابا

Goals are not attained by wishing,

Desires are not attained by wishing,

But the world is taken by force.

But the world is taken by force.

وَما اِستَعصى عَلى قَومٍ مَنالٌ

وَما اِستَعصى عَلى قَومٍ مَنالٌ

إِذا الإِقدامُ كانَ لَهُم رِكابا

إِذا الإِقدامُ كانَ لَهُم رِكابا

No goal has proved beyond a people

No goal eluded a people

When boldness is their mount.

When daring was their steed.

تَجَلّى مَولِدُ الهادي وَعَمَّت

تَجَلّى مَولِدُ الهادي وَعَمَّت

بَشائِرُهُ البَوادي وَالقِصابا

بَشائِرُهُ البَوادي وَالقِصابا

The Guide's birth shone forth, and everywhere spread

The guiding leader's birth shone radiantly,

Its glad tidings, through deserts and towns.

Its tidings spreading through the wilderness and hills.

وَأَسدَت لِلبَرِيَّةِ بِنتُ وَهبٍ

وَأَسدَت لِلبَرِيَّةِ بِنتُ وَهبٍ

يَداً بَيضاءَ طَوَّقَتِ الرِقابا

يَداً بَيضاءَ طَوَّقَتِ الرِقابا

And Wahb's daughter bestowed upon creation

To the desert Wahb's daughter freely gave

A white hand of bounty that encircled their necks.

A white hand that collared necks.

لَقَد وَضَعَتهُ وَهّاجاً مُنيراً

لَقَد وَضَعَتهُ وَهّاجاً مُنيراً

كَما تَلِدُ السَماواتُ الشِهابا

كَما تَلِدُ السَماواتُ الشِهابا

She brought him forth blazing and radiant,

She truly delivered him a glowing light

As the heavens give birth to a shooting star.

As the heavens deliver shooting stars.

فَقامَ عَلى سَماءِ البَيتِ نوراً

فَقامَ عَلى سَماءِ البَيتِ نوراً

يُضيءُ جِبالَ مَكَّةَ وَالنِقابا

يُضيءُ جِبالَ مَكَّةَ وَالنِقابا

Then he rose as a light in the sky above the house,

He stood over the Kaaba's heaven as a light

Illuminating Mecca's mountains and the passes.

Illuminating Mecca's mountains and passes.

وَضاعَت يَثرِبُ الفَيحاءُ مِسكاً

وَضاعَت يَثرِبُ الفَيحاءُ مِسكاً

وَفاحَ القاعُ أَرجاءً وَطابا

وَفاحَ القاعُ أَرجاءً وَطابا

And spacious Yathrib grew fragrant with musk,

Fragrant Yathrib spread musk

And the plain breathed fragrance in every quarter and grew sweet.

And the land smelled aromatic and was sweet.

أَبا الزَهراءِ قَد جاوَزتُ قَدري

أَبا الزَهراءِ قَد جاوَزتُ قَدري

بِمَدحِكَ بَيدَ أَنَّ لِيَ اِنتِسابا

بِمَدحِكَ بَيدَ أَنَّ لِيَ اِنتِسابا

O father of al-Zahra, I have gone beyond my station

Father of al-Zahra’, I have exceeded my ability

In praising you—yet I have a bond with you.

In praising you, though I claim affiliation.

فَما عَرَفَ البَلاغَةَ ذو بَيانٍ

فَما عَرَفَ البَلاغَةَ ذو بَيانٍ

إِذا لَم يَتَّخِذكَ لَهُ كِتابا

إِذا لَم يَتَّخِذكَ لَهُ كِتابا

No master of speech has known eloquence

No one of eloquence has known eloquence

If he has not taken you as his book.

If he does not take you as his composition.

مَدَحتُ المالِكينَ فَزِدتُ قَدراً

مَدَحتُ المالِكينَ فَزِدتُ قَدراً

فَحينَ مَدَحتُكَ اِقتَدتُ السَحابا

فَحينَ مَدَحتُكَ اِقتَدتُ السَحابا

I praised rulers, and rose in standing;

I praised rulers, thus increasing worth.

But when I praised you, I led the clouds.

But when I praised you, I emulated clouds.

سَأَلتُ اللَهَ في أَبناءِ ديني

سَأَلتُ اللَهَ في أَبناءِ ديني

فَإِن تَكُنِ الوَسيلَةَ لي أَجابا

فَإِن تَكُنِ الوَسيلَةَ لي أَجابا

I petitioned God for the children of my faith;

I asked God among the members of my faith,

If you are my means to Him, He will answer.

For if you are the means for me, then answer!

وَما لِلمُسلِمينَ سِواكَ حِصنٌ

وَما لِلمُسلِمينَ سِواكَ حِصنٌ

إِذا ما الضَرُّ مَسَّهُمُ وَنابا

إِذا ما الضَرُّ مَسَّهُمُ وَنابا

The Muslims have no fortress but you,

The Muslims have no fortress but you

Whenever harm touches and assails them.

When harm touched them and turned away.

كَأَنَّ النَحسَ حينَ جَرى عَلَيهِم

كَأَنَّ النَحسَ حينَ جَرى عَلَيهِم

أَطارَ بِكُلِّ مَملَكَةٍ غُرابا

أَطارَ بِكُلِّ مَملَكَةٍ غُرابا

It is as though ill fortune, when it swept over them,

It was as if misfortune when it afflicted them

Sent a crow flying through every kingdom.

Had sent a crow over every kingdom.

وَلَو حَفَظوا سَبيلَكَ كان نوراً

وَلَو حَفَظوا سَبيلَكَ كان نوراً

وَكانَ مِنَ النُحوسِ لَهُم حِجابا

وَكانَ مِنَ النُحوسِ لَهُم حِجابا

Had they kept to your path, it would have been a light,

Had they kept your way, it would have been light,

And a shield for them against misfortune.

And a barrier against misfortunes for them.

بَنَيتَ لَهُم مِنَ الأَخلاقِ رُكناً

بَنَيتَ لَهُم مِنَ الأَخلاقِ رُكناً

فَخانوا الرُكنَ فَاِنهَدَمَ اِضطِرابا

فَخانوا الرُكنَ فَاِنهَدَمَ اِضطِرابا

You built them a pillar of character;

You built for them a pillar of character.

They betrayed the pillar, and it crumbled in turmoil.

They betrayed the pillar, so it collapsed, shaken.

وَكانَ جَنابُهُم فيها مَهيباً

وَكانَ جَنابُهُم فيها مَهيباً

وَلَلأَخلاقِ أَجدَرُ أَن تُهابا

وَلَلأَخلاقِ أَجدَرُ أَن تُهابا

And through those morals their standing inspired awe;

Their manner in it was awe-inspiring.

And morals are more deserving of reverence.

Character more deserves to be revered.

فَلَولاها لَساوى اللَيثُ ذِئباً

فَلَولاها لَساوى اللَيثُ ذِئباً

وَساوى الصارِمُ الماضي قِرابا

وَساوى الصارِمُ الماضي قِرابا

Were it not for them, the lion would equal the wolf,

Without it, a lion would equal a wolf

And the sharp, cutting sword would equal its sheath.

And the decisive, attacking sword a carrion crow.

فَإِن قُرِنَت مَكارِمُها بِعِلمٍ

فَإِن قُرِنَت مَكارِمُها بِعِلمٍ

تَذَلَّلَتِ العُلا بِهِما صِعابا

تَذَلَّلَتِ العُلا بِهِما صِعابا

If their noble virtues are joined with knowledge,

If its noble traits are combined with knowledge,

The heights yield to both, however arduous.

Mountains will be humbled by both.

وَفي هَذا الزَمانِ مَسيحُ عِلمٍ

وَفي هَذا الزَمانِ مَسيحُ عِلمٍ

يَرُدُّ عَلى بَني الأُمَمِ الشَبابا

يَرُدُّ عَلى بَني الأُمَمِ الشَبابا

And in this age there is a messiah of science

In this age there is a Christ of knowledge

Who restores youth to the children of nations.

Bringing back to the sons of nations their youth.