اللَهُ أَكبَرُ كَم في الفَتحِ مِن عَجَبٍ

اللَهُ أَكبَرُ كَم في الفَتحِ مِن عَجَبٍ

يا خالِدَ التُركِ جَدِّد خالِدَ العَرَبِ

يا خالِدَ التُركِ جَدِّد خالِدَ العَرَبِ

God is greatest! How many wonders there are in victory!

God is the Greatest! What wonders are there in this victory!

O Khalid of the Turks, revive the Khalid of the Arabs.

O Khalid, hero of the Turks, renew Khalid, hero of the Arabs!

صُلحٌ عَزيزٌ عَلى حَربٍ مُظَفَّرَةٍ

صُلحٌ عَزيزٌ عَلى حَربٍ مُظَفَّرَةٍ

فَالسَيفُ في غِمدِهِ وَالحَقُّ في النُصُبِ

فَالسَيفُ في غِمدِهِ وَالحَقُّ في النُصُبِ

A glorious peace founded upon a victorious war:

A precious peace after a triumphant war,

the sword is in its sheath, and justice stands aloft.

The sword back in its sheath and right in its proper place.

يا حُسنَ أُمنِيَّةٍ في السَيفِ ما كَذَبَت

يا حُسنَ أُمنِيَّةٍ في السَيفِ ما كَذَبَت

وَطيبَ أُمنِيَّةٍ في الرَأيِ لَم تَخِبِ

وَطيبَ أُمنِيَّةٍ في الرَأيِ لَم تَخِبِ

How beautiful a hope placed in the sword that proved true,

O beautiful wish through the sword not proved false,

and how sweet a hope placed in judgment that did not fail!

And good wish through resolve not led into disappointment!

خُطاكَ في الحَقِّ كانَت كُلُّها كَرَماً

خُطاكَ في الحَقِّ كانَت كُلُّها كَرَماً

وَأَنتَ أَكرَمُ في حَقنِ الدَمِ السَرِبِ

وَأَنتَ أَكرَمُ في حَقنِ الدَمِ السَرِبِ

Your steps in the cause of right were all noble,

Your steps in truth have all been generosity,

and you are nobler still in stanching flowing blood.

And you are most generous in staunching the shedding of blood.

حَذَوتَ حَربَ الصَلاحِيّينَ في زَمَنٍ

حَذَوتَ حَربَ الصَلاحِيّينَ في زَمَنٍ

فيهِ القِتالُ بِلا شَرعٍ وَلا أَدَبِ

فيهِ القِتالُ بِلا شَرعٍ وَلا أَدَبِ

You emulated the warfare of Saladin's followers in an age

You took up the war of the righteous in an age

when fighting knows neither law nor honor.

When fighting is without law, without manners.

لَم يَأتِ سَيفُكَ فَحشاءً وَلا هَتَكَت

لَم يَأتِ سَيفُكَ فَحشاءً وَلا هَتَكَت

قَناكَ مِن حُرمَةِ الرُهبانِ وَالصُلُبِ

قَناكَ مِن حُرمَةِ الرُهبانِ وَالصُلُبِ

Your sword committed no atrocity; no violation was made

Your sword came not to commit indecency nor tore away

by your lances of the sanctity of monks and crosses.

The sanctity of monks and crosses.

سُئِلتَ سِلماً عَلى نَصرٍ فَجُدتَ بِها

سُئِلتَ سِلماً عَلى نَصرٍ فَجُدتَ بِها

وَلَو سُئِلتَ بِغَيرِ النَصرِ لَم تُجِبِ

وَلَو سُئِلتَ بِغَيرِ النَصرِ لَم تُجِبِ

You were asked for peace upon victory, and generously granted it;

You were asked for peace through victory, so you responded,

had you been asked without victory, you would not have answered.

And had you been asked for aught but victory, you'd not have answered.

مَشيئَةٌ قَبِلَتها الخَيلُ عاتِبَةٌ

مَشيئَةٌ قَبِلَتها الخَيلُ عاتِبَةٌ

وَأَذعَنَ السَيفُ مَطوِيّاً عَلى عَضَبِ

وَأَذعَنَ السَيفُ مَطوِيّاً عَلى عَضَبِ

A decision the horses accepted reproachfully,

A desire which the horses accepted though piqued,

and the sword submitted, folded away in anger.

And the sword obeyed though sheathed and fretful.

أَتَيتَ ما يُشبِهُ التَقوى وَإِن خُلِقَت

أَتَيتَ ما يُشبِهُ التَقوى وَإِن خُلِقَت

سُيوفُ قَومِكَ لا تَرتاحُ لِلقُرُبِ

سُيوفُ قَومِكَ لا تَرتاحُ لِلقُرُبِ

You did what resembles piety, though fashioned

You did what resembles piety though your people's swords

were your people's swords, never content in sheaths.

Will not rest content with truces.

وَلا أَزيدُكَ بِالإِسلامِ مَعرِفَةً

وَلا أَزيدُكَ بِالإِسلامِ مَعرِفَةً

كُلُّ المُروءَةِ في الإِسلامِ وَالحَسَبِ

كُلُّ المُروءَةِ في الإِسلامِ وَالحَسَبِ

I need not add to your knowledge of Islam:

I'll not increase you in knowledge of Islam—

all nobility lies in Islam and ancestral honor.

All manliness is in Islam and good breeding.

مَنَحتَهُم هُدنَةٌ مِن سَيفِكَ اِلتُمِسَت

مَنَحتَهُم هُدنَةٌ مِن سَيفِكَ اِلتُمِسَت

فَهَب لَهُم هُدنَةٌ مِن رَأيِكَ الضَرِبِ

فَهَب لَهُم هُدنَةٌ مِن رَأيِكَ الضَرِبِ

You granted them a truce sought from your sword;

You granted them a truce from your sword, then do grant

now grant them a truce from your forceful judgment.

A truce of your resolve that lands blows.

أَتاهُمُ مِنكَ في لَوزانَ داهِيَةٌ

أَتاهُمُ مِنكَ في لَوزانَ داهِيَةٌ

جاءَت بِهِ الحَربُ مِن حَيّاتِها الرُقُبِ

جاءَت بِهِ الحَربُ مِن حَيّاتِها الرُقُبِ

From you there came to them in Lausanne a master strategist,

At Lausanne came to them your shrewdness

whom war brought forth from its thick-necked serpents.

Brought there by war from its pit of snakes.

أَصَمٌّ يَسمَعُ سِرَّ الكائِدينَ لَهُ

أَصَمٌّ يَسمَعُ سِرَّ الكائِدينَ لَهُ

وَلا يَضيقُ بِجَهرِ المُحنَقِ الصَخِبِ

وَلا يَضيقُ بِجَهرِ المُحنَقِ الصَخِبِ

A deaf man who hears the secrets of those plotting against him,

A deaf man who hears the plotting of those who conspire against him

and is not vexed by the angry loudmouth's clamor.

Yet is vexed not by the loud vain talk of the braggart.

لَم تَفتَرِق شَهَواتُ القَومِ في أَرَبٍ

لَم تَفتَرِق شَهَواتُ القَومِ في أَرَبٍ

إِلا قَضى وَطَراً مِن ذَلِكَ الأَرَبِ

إِلا قَضى وَطَراً مِن ذَلِكَ الأَرَبِ

Never did their desires diverge over an aim

The people's whims did not divide you into factions—

without his gaining some fulfillment of that aim.

Rather you cut across those whims however they cleaved.

تَدَرَّعَت لِلِقاءِ السِلمِ أَنقَرَةٌ

تَدَرَّعَت لِلِقاءِ السِلمِ أَنقَرَةٌ

وَمَهَّدَ السَيفُ في لوزانَ لِلخُطَبِ

وَمَهَّدَ السَيفُ في لوزانَ لِلخُطَبِ

Ankara armed itself to meet peace,

Ankara donned armor for the meeting of peace,

and the sword paved the way for speeches in Lausanne.

And at Lausanne the sword smoothed the path for discourse.

فَقُل لِبانٍ بِقَولٍ رُكنَ مَملَكَةٍ

فَقُل لِبانٍ بِقَولٍ رُكنَ مَملَكَةٍ

عَلى الكَتائِبِ يُبنى المُلكُ لا الكُتُبِ

عَلى الكَتائِبِ يُبنى المُلكُ لا الكُتُبِ

Tell one who builds a kingdom's pillar with words:

Say to Venizelos with words that buttress a kingdom:

rule is built upon battalions, not books.

On cohorts not books is sovereignty built.

لا تَلتَمِس غَلَباً لِلحَقِّ في أُمَمٍ

لا تَلتَمِس غَلَباً لِلحَقِّ في أُمَمٍ

الحَقُّ عِندَهُمُ مَعنىً مِنَ الغَلَبِ

الحَقُّ عِندَهُمُ مَعنىً مِنَ الغَلَبِ

Seek no triumph for right among nations

Seek not to conquer right among nations—

to whom right is merely an aspect of might.

To them right is but booty for the conqueror.

لا خَيرَ في مِنبَرٍ حَتّى يَكونَ لَهُ

لا خَيرَ في مِنبَرٍ حَتّى يَكونَ لَهُ

عودٌ مِنَ السُمرِ أَو عودٌ مِنَ القُضُبِ

عودٌ مِنَ السُمرِ أَو عودٌ مِنَ القُضُبِ

There is no good in a pulpit unless it has

No good in a pulpit unless it has a rod

a prop of dusky spears, or a prop of keen swords.

Of Syrian oak or else a branch of palm.

وَما السِلاحُ لِقَومٍ كُلُّ عُدَّتِهِم

وَما السِلاحُ لِقَومٍ كُلُّ عُدَّتِهِم

حَتّى يكونوا مِنَ الأَخلاقِ في أُهُبِ

حَتّى يكونوا مِنَ الأَخلاقِ في أُهُبِ

Nor are weapons a people's whole equipment

And arms are not for a people whose every implement

unless they are equipped with moral virtues.

Till their manners are of the finest mettle.

لَو كانَ في النابِ دونَ الخُلقِ مَنبَهَةٌ

لَو كانَ في النابِ دونَ الخُلقِ مَنبَهَةٌ

تَساوَتِ الأُسدُ وَالذُؤبانُ في الرُتَبِ

تَساوَتِ الأُسدُ وَالذُؤبانُ في الرُتَبِ

If fangs alone, without character, conferred distinction,

Were there in the leopard, apart from character, any glory,

lions and wolves would be equal in rank.

Then lions and jackals would be equal in rank.

لَم يُغنِ عَن قادَةِ اليونانَ ما حَشَدوا

لَم يُغنِ عَن قادَةِ اليونانَ ما حَشَدوا

مِنَ السِلاحِ وَما ساقوا مِنَ العُصَبِ

مِنَ السِلاحِ وَما ساقوا مِنَ العُصَبِ

The Greek leaders gained nothing from what they amassed

Of no avail to Greece's leaders was all they mobilized

of weapons, or the troop-bands they drove forward,

Of arms and all the allies they brought together.

وَتَركُهُم آسِيا الصُغرى مُدَجَّجَةً

وَتَركُهُم آسِيا الصُغرى مُدَجَّجَةً

كَثُكنَةِ النَحلِ أَو كَالقُنفُذِ الخَشَبِ

كَثُكنَةِ النَحلِ أَو كَالقُنفُذِ الخَشَبِ

or their leaving Asia Minor fully armed,

Leaving Asia Minor bristling,

like a colony of bees or a bristling hedgehog.

Like a hive of bees or a porcupine of quills.

لِلتُركِ ساعاتُ صَبرٍ يَومَ نَكبَتِهِم

لِلتُركِ ساعاتُ صَبرٍ يَومَ نَكبَتِهِم

كُتِبنَ في صُحُفِ الأَخلاقِ بِالذَهَبِ

كُتِبنَ في صُحُفِ الأَخلاقِ بِالذَهَبِ

The Turks had hours of patience on the day of their calamity,

The Turks have hours of patience in their adversity,

written in gold upon the pages of virtue.

Inscribed in the books of character in gold.

مَغارِمٌ وَضَحايا ما صَرَخنَ وَلا

مَغارِمٌ وَضَحايا ما صَرَخنَ وَلا

كُدِّرنَ بِالمَنِّ أَو أُفسِدنَ بِالكَذِبِ

كُدِّرنَ بِالمَنِّ أَو أُفسِدنَ بِالكَذِبِ

Costly burdens and sacrifices that never cried out, nor

Spoils and victims—they shrieked not nor

were sullied by reminders of favors or spoiled by lies.

Were led astray by flattery or corrupted by lies.

بِالفِعلِ وَالأَثَرِ المَحمودِ تَعرِفُها

بِالفِعلِ وَالأَثَرِ المَحمودِ تَعرِفُها

وَلَستَ تَعرِفُها بِاِسمٍ وَلا لَقَبِ

وَلَستَ تَعرِفُها بِاِسمٍ وَلا لَقَبِ

You know them by deeds and their praiseworthy effect,

By deed and praised effect you know them,

not by any name or title.

Not by any name or title.

جُمِعنَ في اِثنَينِ مِن دينٍ وَمِن وَطَنٍ

جُمِعنَ في اِثنَينِ مِن دينٍ وَمِن وَطَنٍ

جَمعَ الذَبائِحِ في اِسمِ اللَهِ وَالقُرَبِ

جَمعَ الذَبائِحِ في اِسمِ اللَهِ وَالقُرَبِ

They were united in two things: religion and homeland,

In two brought together—religion and nation—

as sacrificial offerings are gathered in God's name and devotion.

Like sacrifices gathered in God's name and brought near.

فيها حَياةٌ لِشَعبٍ لَم يَمُت خُلُقاً

فيها حَياةٌ لِشَعبٍ لَم يَمُت خُلُقاً

وَمَطمَعٌ لِقَبيلٍ ناهِضٍ أَرَبِ

وَمَطمَعٌ لِقَبيلٍ ناهِضٍ أَرَبِ

In them lies life for a people not dead in character,

In them a life for a people whose character died not,

and hope for a rising, resourceful people.

And hopes for a clan newly risen and growing.

لَم يَطعَمِ الغُمضَ جَفَنُ المُسلِمينَ لَها

لَم يَطعَمِ الغُمضَ جَفَنُ المُسلِمينَ لَها

حَتّى اِنجَلى لَيلُها عَن صُبحِهِ الشَنِبِ

حَتّى اِنجَلى لَيلُها عَن صُبحِهِ الشَنِبِ

For their sake, the Muslims' eyelids tasted no sleep

Sleep visited not the Muslims' eyes for them

until their night cleared to reveal its fresh, bright dawn.

Till the darkness of their night shone with the dawn.

كُنَّ الرَجاءَ وَكُنَّ اليَأسَ ثُمَّ مَحا

كُنَّ الرَجاءَ وَكُنَّ اليَأسَ ثُمَّ مَحا

نورُ اليَقينِ ظَلامَ الشَكِّ وَالرَيَبِ

نورُ اليَقينِ ظَلامَ الشَكِّ وَالرَيَبِ

They were hope and they were despair; then was erased

They were hope and they were despair, then the light

by certainty's light the darkness of doubt and misgivings.

Of certainty erased the shadows of doubt and fear.

تَلَمَّسَ التُركُ أَسباباً فَما وَجَدوا

تَلَمَّسَ التُركُ أَسباباً فَما وَجَدوا

كَالسَيفِ مِن سُلَّمٍ لِلعِزِّ أَو سَبَبِ

كَالسَيفِ مِن سُلَّمٍ لِلعِزِّ أَو سَبَبِ

The Turks sought means, but found none

The Turks felt out means, but found none

like the sword as a ladder to glory or a rope.

Like the sword, a ladder to glory or cause.

خاضوا العَوانَ رَجاءً أَن تُبَلِّغَهُم

خاضوا العَوانَ رَجاءً أَن تُبَلِّغَهُم

عَبرَ النَجاةِ فَكانَت صَخرَةَ العَطَبِ

عَبرَ النَجاةِ فَكانَت صَخرَةَ العَطَبِ

They plunged into war anew, hoping it would bring them

They braved the seas hopeful of reaching

to the shore of deliverance; yet it became a rock of ruin.

The far shore of salvation—but met only the rocks of denial.

سَفينَةُ اللَهِ لَم تُقهَر عَلى دُسُرٍ

سَفينَةُ اللَهِ لَم تُقهَر عَلى دُسُرٍ

في العاصِفاتِ وَلَم تُغلَب عَلى خُشُبِ

في العاصِفاتِ وَلَم تُغلَب عَلى خُشُبِ

God's ship was not overcome upon its fastenings

God's ship cannot be defeated though tossed

amid the storms, nor defeated upon its timbers.

By storms, nor overcome though its planks be shattered.

قَد أَمَّنَ اللَهُ مَجراها وَأَبدَلَها

قَد أَمَّنَ اللَهُ مَجراها وَأَبدَلَها

بِحُسنِ عاقِبَةٍ مِن سوءِ مُنقَلَبِ

بِحُسنِ عاقِبَةٍ مِن سوءِ مُنقَلَبِ

God made its course secure and gave it, instead

God secured her course and substituted

of an evil end, a fair outcome.

For an evil outcome a goodly conclusion.

وَاِختارَ رُبّانَها مِن أَهلِها فَنَجَت

وَاِختارَ رُبّانَها مِن أَهلِها فَنَجَت

مِن كَيدِ حامٍ وَمِن تَضليلِ مُنتَدَبِ

مِن كَيدِ حامٍ وَمِن تَضليلِ مُنتَدَبِ

He chose its captain from its own people, and it escaped

And chose as her captain one of her own, so she survived

the guile of a protector and the deception of a mandatary.

The schemes of envy and the wiles of duplicity.

ما كانَ ماءُ سَقارَيّا سِوى سَقَرٍ

ما كانَ ماءُ سَقارَيّا سِوى سَقَرٍ

طَغَت فَأَغرَقَتِ الإِغريقَ في اللَهَبِ

طَغَت فَأَغرَقَتِ الإِغريقَ في اللَهَبِ

The water of Sakarya was nothing but Saqar,

The waters of Smyrna were but hellfire

surging until it drowned the Greeks in flame.

Which drowned the Greeks in flame.

لَمّا اِنبَرَت نارُها تَبغيهُمُ حَطَباً

لَمّا اِنبَرَت نارُها تَبغيهُمُ حَطَباً

كانَت قِيادَتُهُم حَمّالَةَ الحَطَبِ

كانَت قِيادَتُهُم حَمّالَةَ الحَطَبِ

When its fire rose up, seeking them as firewood,

When its fire blazed seeking them for fuel,

their command became the firewood-bearer.

Their leadership was but bearers of kindling.

سَعَت بِهِم نَحوَكَ الآجالُ يَومَئِذٍ

سَعَت بِهِم نَحوَكَ الآجالُ يَومَئِذٍ

يا ضَلَّ ساعٍ بِداعي الحَينِ مُنجَذِبِ

يا ضَلَّ ساعٍ بِداعي الحَينِ مُنجَذِبِ

Their fated deaths hastened them toward you that day:

The appointed times led them towards you that day,

alas for a runner led astray, drawn by death's call!

O lost hour lured by the summons of fate!

مَدّوا الجُسورَ فَحَلَّ اللَهُ ما عَقَدوا

مَدّوا الجُسورَ فَحَلَّ اللَهُ ما عَقَدوا

إِلّا مَسالِكَ فِرعَونِيَّةَ السَرَبِ

إِلّا مَسالِكَ فِرعَونِيَّةَ السَرَبِ

They extended bridges, and God untied what they had tied,

They built bridges God undid what they tied,

save paths that followed Pharaoh's course.

Save the ways of Pharaoh, arrogant and unyielding.

كَربٌ تَغَشّاهُم مِن رَأيِ ساسَتِهِم

كَربٌ تَغَشّاهُم مِن رَأيِ ساسَتِهِم

وَأَشأَمُ الرَأيِ ما أَلقاكَ في الكُرَبِ

وَأَشأَمُ الرَأيِ ما أَلقاكَ في الكُرَبِ

Distress engulfed them through their rulers' counsel,

Ruin covered them from their leaders' schemes—

and the most ill-omened counsel casts you into distress.

And the unluckiest scheme was the one that led to you.

هُم حَسَّنوا لِلسَوادِ البُلهِ مَملَكَةً

هُم حَسَّنوا لِلسَوادِ البُلهِ مَملَكَةً

مِن لِبدَةِ اللَيثِ أَو مِن غيلِهِ الأَشِبِ

مِن لِبدَةِ اللَيثِ أَو مِن غيلِهِ الأَشِبِ

They made a kingdom seem fair to the foolish masses,

They considered sovereign for the mindless masses

from the lion's mane, or from its tangled thicket.

Some scraps from the lion's feast or a wolf's leftovers.

وَأَنشَئوا نُزهَةً لِلجَيشِ قاتِلَةً

وَأَنشَئوا نُزهَةً لِلجَيشِ قاتِلَةً

وَمَن تَنَزَّهَ في الآجامِ لَم يَؤُبِ

وَمَن تَنَزَّهَ في الآجامِ لَم يَؤُبِ

They devised a deadly outing for the army:

And founded a park of leisure for the army

whoever takes his leisure in the thickets does not return.

Bringing death—and none who strolled there returned.

ضَلَّ الأَميرُ كَما ضَلَّ الوَزيرُ بِهِم

ضَلَّ الأَميرُ كَما ضَلَّ الوَزيرُ بِهِم

كِلا السَرابَينِ أَظماهُم وَلَم يَصُبِ

كِلا السَرابَينِ أَظماهُم وَلَم يَصُبِ

The prince went astray with them, as did the minister;

Prince and vizier both went astray with them,

both mirages made them thirsty and yielded no rain.

Both mirages which they pursued but never reached.

تَجاذَباهُم كَما شاءا بِمُختَلِفٍ

تَجاذَباهُم كَما شاءا بِمُختَلِفٍ

مِنَ الأَمانِيِّ وَالأَحلامِ مُختَلِبِ

مِنَ الأَمانِيِّ وَالأَحلامِ مُختَلِبِ

The two pulled them to and fro as they pleased, with a variety

They dragged them to and fro arbitrarily

of beguiling wishes and dreams.

With their fickle dreams and fanciful hopes.

وَكَيفَ تَلقى نَجاحاً أُمَّةٌ ذَهَبَت

وَكَيفَ تَلقى نَجاحاً أُمَّةٌ ذَهَبَت

حِزبَينِ ضِدَّينِ عِندَ الحادِثِ الحَزِبِ

حِزبَينِ ضِدَّينِ عِندَ الحادِثِ الحَزِبِ

How can a nation find success when it has become

How can a nation torn apart in two rival factions

two opposing factions in the face of a grievous event?

Meet with success when disaster strikes?

زَحَفتَ زَحفَ أَتِيٍّ غَيرِ ذي شَفَقٍ

زَحَفتَ زَحفَ أَتِيٍّ غَيرِ ذي شَفَقٍ

عَلى الوِهادِ وَلا رِفقٍ عَلى الهِضَبِ

عَلى الوِهادِ وَلا رِفقٍ عَلى الهِضَبِ

You advanced like a rushing flood, showing no mercy

You marched like a relentless foe, without mercy

to the lowlands, nor gentleness to the hills.

Upon the plateau—no gentleness on the slopes.

قَذَفتَهُم بِالرِياحِ الهوجِ مُسرَجَةً

قَذَفتَهُم بِالرِياحِ الهوجِ مُسرَجَةً

يَحمِلنَ أُسدَ الشَرى في البَيضِ وَاليَلَبِ

يَحمِلنَ أُسدَ الشَرى في البَيضِ وَاليَلَبِ

You hurled against them saddled, raging winds,

You hurled them on raging winds bearing

bearing the lions of al-Shara in helmets and leather armor.

The lion of havoc in claws and fangs.

هَبَّت عَلَيهِم فَذابوا عَن مَعاقِلِهِم

هَبَّت عَلَيهِم فَذابوا عَن مَعاقِلِهِم

وَالثَلجُ في قُلَلِ الأَجبالِ لَم يَذُبِ

وَالثَلجُ في قُلَلِ الأَجبالِ لَم يَذُبِ

They blew upon them, and they melted away from their strongholds,

The winds bore down on them, and they melted from their fortresses,

while the snow upon the mountain summits had not melted.

While the snow on the mountain peaks did not melt.

لَمّا صَدَعتَ جَناحَيهِم وَقَلبَهُمُ

لَمّا صَدَعتَ جَناحَيهِم وَقَلبَهُمُ

طاروا بِأَجنِحَةٍ شَتّى مِنَ الرُعبِ

طاروا بِأَجنِحَةٍ شَتّى مِنَ الرُعبِ

When you shattered their two wings and their heart,

When you broke their wings and overturned them,

they flew with scattered wings from terror.

They fled in scattered feathers gripped by fear.

جَدَّ الفِرارُ فَأَلقى كُلُّ مُعتَقَلٍ

جَدَّ الفِرارُ فَأَلقى كُلُّ مُعتَقَلٍ

قَناتَهُ وَتَخَلى كُلُّ مُحتَقِبِ

قَناتَهُ وَتَخَلى كُلُّ مُحتَقِبِ

Flight grew frantic; every spear-holder cast away

Escape made haste, and every held-back place

his lance, and every pack-bearer shed his load.

Cast off its armor, and every ambush forsook its lair.

يا حُسنَ ما اِنسَحَبوا في مَنطِقٍ عَجَبٍ

يا حُسنَ ما اِنسَحَبوا في مَنطِقٍ عَجَبٍ

تُدعى الهَزيمَةُ فيهِ حُسنَ مُنسَحَبِ

تُدعى الهَزيمَةُ فيهِ حُسنَ مُنسَحَبِ

How fine their retreat—in a wondrous language

O lovely was their withdrawal in its astonishing logic!—

in which defeat is called a fine withdrawal!

Defeat called there a fine retreating maneuver.

لَم يَدرِ قائِدُهُم لَمّا أَحَطَّت بِهِ

لَم يَدرِ قائِدُهُم لَمّا أَحَطَّت بِهِ

هَبَطتَ مِن صُعُدٍ أَم جِئتَ مِن صَبَبِ

هَبَطتَ مِن صُعُدٍ أَم جِئتَ مِن صَبَبِ

Their commander did not know, when you surrounded him,

When you encircled their commander, he knew not

whether you had descended from the heights or come from the slopes.

If you descended from a mountain or came up from a lowland.

أَخَذتَهُ وَهوَ في تَدبيرِ خُطَّتِهِ

أَخَذتَهُ وَهوَ في تَدبيرِ خُطَّتِهِ

فَلَم تَتِمَّ وَكانَت خُطَّةَ الهَرَبِ

فَلَم تَتِمَّ وَكانَت خُطَّةَ الهَرَبِ

You captured him while he was devising his plan;

You seized him while planning his strategy—

it was never completed—and it was a plan of escape.

So it was not completed, and his plan was for flight.

تِلكَ الفَراسِخُ مِن سَهلٍ وَمِن جَبَلٍ

تِلكَ الفَراسِخُ مِن سَهلٍ وَمِن جَبَلٍ

قَرَّبتَ ما كانَ مِنها غَيرَ مُقتَرِبِ

قَرَّبتَ ما كانَ مِنها غَيرَ مُقتَرِبِ

Those leagues of plain and mountain:

Those leagues of plains and hills

you brought near what had been far away.

You brought near what had been distant and remote.

خَيلُ الرَسولِ مِنَ الفولاذِ مَعدِنُها

خَيلُ الرَسولِ مِنَ الفولاذِ مَعدِنُها

وَسائِرُ الخَيلِ مِن لَحمٍ وَمِن عَصَبِ

وَسائِرُ الخَيلِ مِن لَحمٍ وَمِن عَصَبِ

The Messenger's horses have steel for their substance,

The Prophet's horses, their origin is steel,

while other horses are made of flesh and sinew.

While other horses are of flesh and sinew.

أَفي لَيالٍ تَجوبُ الراسِياتُ بِها

أَفي لَيالٍ تَجوبُ الراسِياتُ بِها

وَتَقطَعُ الأَرضَ مِن قُطبٍ إِلى قُطُبِ

وَتَقطَعُ الأَرضَ مِن قُطبٍ إِلى قُطُبِ

In mere nights, can you traverse the steadfast mountains upon them,

On nights the steeds course them, crossing earth

and cross the earth from pole to pole?

From pole to pole—which forts have not been broached?

سَلِ الظَلامَ بِها أَيُّ المَعاقِلِ لَم

سَلِ الظَلامَ بِها أَيُّ المَعاقِلِ لَم

تَطفِر وَأَيُّ حُصونِ الرومِ لَم تَثِبِ

تَطفِر وَأَيُّ حُصونِ الرومِ لَم تَثِبِ

Ask the darkness about them: which strongholds did they not

Which of the Romans' bastions have not collapsed?—

leap, and which fortresses of the Rum did they not vault?

Resolved: if they come not to Izmir then nowhere do they camp,

آلَت لَئِن لَم تَرِد أَزميرَ لا نَزَلَت

آلَت لَئِن لَم تَرِد أَزميرَ لا نَزَلَت

ماءً سِواها وَلا حَلَّت عَلى عُشُبِ

ماءً سِواها وَلا حَلَّت عَلى عُشُبِ

They swore: unless they reached Izmir, they would alight at no

Nor settle except it and nowhere graze but it—

other water, nor settle upon grass.

And in them and their horsemen patience is their nature,

وَالصَبرُ فيها وَفي فُرسانِها خُلُقٌ

وَالصَبرُ فيها وَفي فُرسانِها خُلُقٌ

تَوارَثوهُ أَباً في الرَوعِ بَعدَ أَبِ

تَوارَثوهُ أَباً في الرَوعِ بَعدَ أَبِ

Endurance is a trait in them and in their riders,

Inherited father to son in frightful events

inherited, father after father, amid terror.

After father.

كَما وُلِدتُم عَلى أَعرافِها وُلِدَت

كَما وُلِدتُم عَلى أَعرافِها وُلِدَت

في ساحَةِ الحَربِ لا في باحَةِ الرَحَبِ

في ساحَةِ الحَربِ لا في باحَةِ الرَحَبِ

As you were born upon their manes, they were born

As you were born in its heights, so were they born

in the field of war, not in a spacious courtyard.

In war's arena, not in the courtyard of ease.

حَتّى طَلَعتَ عَلى أَزميرَ في فَلَكٍ

حَتّى طَلَعتَ عَلى أَزميرَ في فَلَكٍ

مِن نابِهِ الذِكرِ لَم يَسمُك عَلى الشُهُبِ

مِن نابِهِ الذِكرِ لَم يَسمُك عَلى الشُهُبِ

Until you rose over Izmir in an orbit

Till you rose over Izmir in an orbit

of exalted renown, not raised upon meteors,

Of memorable fame—its name not tamed upon the flames.

في مَوكِبٍ وَقَفَ التاريخُ يَعرِضُهُ

في مَوكِبٍ وَقَفَ التاريخُ يَعرِضُهُ

فَلَم يُكَذِّب وَلَم يَذمُم وَلَم يُرِبِ

فَلَم يُكَذِّب وَلَم يَذمُم وَلَم يُرِبِ

in a procession that history stood reviewing,

In a procession where history stopped to display it

neither denying, nor disparaging, nor casting doubt.

Yet neither falsified nor blemished nor found fault.

يَومٌ كَبَدرٍ فَخَيلُ الحَقِّ راقِصَةٌ

يَومٌ كَبَدرٍ فَخَيلُ الحَقِّ راقِصَةٌ

عَلى الصَعيدِ وَخَيلُ اللَهِ في السُحُبِ

عَلى الصَعيدِ وَخَيلُ اللَهِ في السُحُبِ

A day like Badr: the horses of right danced

A day like Badr—the steeds of truth exultant

upon the earth, while God's horses were in the clouds.

Upon the plain, and God's horses in the clouds.

غُرٌّ تُظَلِّلُها غَرّاءُ وارِفَةٌ

غُرٌّ تُظَلِّلُها غَرّاءُ وارِفَةٌ

بَدرِيَّةُ العودِ وَالديباجِ وَالعَذَبِ

بَدرِيَّةُ العودِ وَالديباجِ وَالعَذَبِ

White-blazed horses, shaded by a radiant, spreading banner,

A canopy shaded by the thick and spreading

Badr-like in its staff, brocade, and streamers.

date palms of victory and brocade and perfume.

نَشوى مِنَ الظَفَرِ العالي مُرَنَّحَةٌ

نَشوى مِنَ الظَفَرِ العالي مُرَنَّحَةٌ

مِن سَكرَةِ النَصرِ لا مِن سَكرَةِ النَصَبِ

مِن سَكرَةِ النَصرِ لا مِن سَكرَةِ النَصَبِ

Intoxicated with lofty triumph, swaying

Reeling from the lofty, overwhelming victory,

from victory's intoxication, not from exhaustion's stupor.

Intoxicated by the rapture of triumph, not fraud.

تُذَكِّرُ الأَرضُ ما لَم تَنسَ مِن زَبَدٍ

تُذَكِّرُ الأَرضُ ما لَم تَنسَ مِن زَبَدٍ

كَالمِسكِ مِن جَنَباتِ السَكبِ مُنسَكِبِ

كَالمِسكِ مِن جَنَباتِ السَكبِ مُنسَكِبِ

They remind the earth of foam it has never forgotten,

The ground is reminded what it has not forgotten

pouring like musk from the flanks of al-Sakb.

Of scum like musk dripping from the pouring vessels.

حَتّى تَعالى أَذانُ الفَتحِ فَاِتَّأَدَت

حَتّى تَعالى أَذانُ الفَتحِ فَاِتَّأَدَت

مَشيَ المُجَلّي إِذا اِستَولى عَلى القَصَبِ

مَشيَ المُجَلّي إِذا اِستَولى عَلى القَصَبِ

Until the call to prayer for victory rose, and they slowed

Until the call to prayer of opening was raised, and melted

to the winner's gait, once it has claimed the prize-reed.

The proud gait when seizure has descended on the reeds.

تَحِيَّةً أَيُّها الغازي وَتَهنِئَةً

تَحِيَّةً أَيُّها الغازي وَتَهنِئَةً

بِآيَةِ الفَتحِ تَبقى آيَةُ الحِقَبِ

بِآيَةِ الفَتحِ تَبقى آيَةُ الحِقَبِ

Greetings, O conqueror, and congratulations

Greetings and congratulations, O raider,

on a victory's wonder that will remain a wonder through the ages,

On the sign of opening which remains the sign of eras.

وَقَيِّماً مِن ثَناءٍ لا كِفاءَ لَهُ

وَقَيِّماً مِن ثَناءٍ لا كِفاءَ لَهُ

إِلّا التَعَجُّبُ مِن أَصحابِكَ النُجُبِ

إِلّا التَعَجُّبُ مِن أَصحابِكَ النُجُبِ

and a precious tribute of praise that has no equal

And praise beyond match except to marvel

except wonder at your noble companions:

At your esteemed companions.

الصابِرينَ إِذا حَلَّ البَلاءُ بِهِم

الصابِرينَ إِذا حَلَّ البَلاءُ بِهِم

كَاللَيثِ عَضَّ عَلى نابَيهِ في النُوَبِ

كَاللَيثِ عَضَّ عَلى نابَيهِ في النُوَبِ

those steadfast when affliction befalls them,

Steadfast when tested with adversity

like a lion gritting its fangs amid calamities;

Like lions biting down in the moment of assault.

وَالجاعِلينَ سُيوفَ الهِندِ أَلسِنَهُم

وَالجاعِلينَ سُيوفَ الهِندِ أَلسِنَهُم

وَالكاتِبينَ بِأَطرافِ القَنا السُلُبُ

وَالكاتِبينَ بِأَطرافِ القَنا السُلُبُ

those who make Indian swords their tongues,

Taking the Indian swords for their tongues

and write with the tips of long, slender lances.

And writing with the tips of their spears.

لا الصَعبُ عِندَهُمُ بِالصَعبِ مَركَبُهُ

لا الصَعبُ عِندَهُمُ بِالصَعبِ مَركَبُهُ

وَلا المُحالُ بِمُستَعصٍ عَلى الطَلَبِ

وَلا المُحالُ بِمُستَعصٍ عَلى الطَلَبِ

No difficult thing is difficult for them to ride,

Nothing is hard when with hardship interwoven,

nor is the impossible beyond their pursuit.

Nor impossible with the unassailable in quest.

وَلا المَصائِبُ إِذ يَرمي الرِجالُ بِها

وَلا المَصائِبُ إِذ يَرمي الرِجالُ بِها

بِقاتِلاتٍ إِذا الأَخلاقُ لَم تُصَبِ

بِقاتِلاتٍ إِذا الأَخلاقُ لَم تُصَبِ

Nor are calamities, when men are struck by them,

Nor strokes of fate when men hurl them

fatal if their character remains unhurt.

With slaying blows when their manners are unperturbed.

قُوّادُ مَعرَكَةٍ وُرّادُ مَهلَكَةٍ

قُوّادُ مَعرَكَةٍ وُرّادُ مَهلَكَةٍ

أَوتادُ مَملَكَةٍ آسادُ مُحتَرَبِ

أَوتادُ مَملَكَةٍ آسادُ مُحتَرَبِ

Commanders of battle, venturers into deadly peril,

Captains of battle, repellers of havoc,

the stakes of a kingdom, the lions of a battlefield.

Pillars of kingdom, rebuilders of ruins.

بَلَوتُهُم فَتَحَدَّث كَم شَدَدتَ بِهِم

بَلَوتُهُم فَتَحَدَّث كَم شَدَدتَ بِهِم

مِن مُضمَحِلٍّ وَكَم عَمَّرتَ مِن خُرَبِ

مِن مُضمَحِلٍّ وَكَم عَمَّرتَ مِن خُرَبِ

I have tested them; tell how much, through them, you strengthened

I tested them—speak of how you restored through them

of what was fading, and how many ruins you rebuilt!

What was in demise, and gave long life to many a wreck,

وَكَم ثَلَمتَ بِهِم مِن مَعقِلٍ أَشِبٍ

وَكَم ثَلَمتَ بِهِم مِن مَعقِلٍ أَشِبٍ

وَكَم هَزَمتَ بِهِم مِن جَحفَلٍ لَجِبِ

وَكَم هَزَمتَ بِهِم مِن جَحفَلٍ لَجِبِ

How many tangled strongholds you breached through them,

And how you cleft with them many an impregnable fortress,

and how many clamorous armies you routed through them!

And broke with them many a stubborn host.

وَكَم بَنَيتَ بِهِم مَجداً فَما نَسَبوا

وَكَم بَنَيتَ بِهِم مَجداً فَما نَسَبوا

في الهَدمِ ما لَيسَ في البُنيانِ مِن صَخَبِ

في الهَدمِ ما لَيسَ في البُنيانِ مِن صَخَبِ

How much glory you built through them! They ascribed no

And how you built through them a glory to which they laid

clamor to destruction that was absent from construction.

No claim of clamor unlike what is clamor in building.

مِن فَلِّ جَيشٍ وَمِن أَنقاضِ مَملَكَةٍ

مِن فَلِّ جَيشٍ وَمِن أَنقاضِ مَملَكَةٍ

وَمِن بَقِيَّةِ قَومٍ جِئتَ بِالعَجَبِ

وَمِن بَقِيَّةِ قَومٍ جِئتَ بِالعَجَبِ

From the routed remnants of an army and the wreckage of a kingdom,

From the refuse of an army and wreck of a kingdom,

and from the remnant of a people, you brought forth a wonder.

And remnant of a people you brought wonder.

أَخرَجتَ لِلناسِ مِن ذُلٍّ وَمِن فَشَلٍ

أَخرَجتَ لِلناسِ مِن ذُلٍّ وَمِن فَشَلٍ

شَعباً وَراءَ العَوالي غَيرَ مُنشَعِبِ

شَعباً وَراءَ العَوالي غَيرَ مُنشَعِبِ

You brought forth for mankind, from humiliation and failure,

You brought forth for the people from meanness and failure

a people united behind the lofty lance-points.

A folk behind high places without fissure.

لَمّا أَتَيتَ بِبَدرٍ مِن مَطالِعِها

لَمّا أَتَيتَ بِبَدرٍ مِن مَطالِعِها

تَلَفَّتَ البَيتُ في الأَستارِ وَالحُجُبِ

تَلَفَّتَ البَيتُ في الأَستارِ وَالحُجُبِ

When you brought a Badr from its places of rising,

When you brought victory from its first light,

the House turned to look within its curtains and veils.

The house turned in its veils and curtains,

وَهَشَّتِ الرَوضَةُ الفَيحاءُ ضاحِكَةً

وَهَشَّتِ الرَوضَةُ الفَيحاءُ ضاحِكَةً

إِنَّ المُنَوَّرَةَ المِسكِيَّةَ التُرُبِ

إِنَّ المُنَوَّرَةَ المِسكِيَّةَ التُرُبِ

The spacious, fragrant Garden welcomed it, smiling:

And the fragrant garden laughed gleefully—

indeed, Medina the Illumined, with its musk-scented soil.

The scented, musky, well-tended garden.

وَمَسَّتِ الدارُ أَزكى طيبِها وَأَتَت

وَمَسَّتِ الدارُ أَزكى طيبِها وَأَتَت

بابَ الرَسولِ فَمَسَّت أَشرَفَ العُتُبِ

بابَ الرَسولِ فَمَسَّت أَشرَفَ العُتُبِ

The abode applied its purest perfume and came

And the house touched its choicest perfume, and came

to the Messenger's door, touching the noblest thresholds.

To the Prophet's door where it kissed the noble threshold.

وَأَرَّجَ الفَتحُ أَرجاءَ الحِجازِ وَكَم

وَأَرَّجَ الفَتحُ أَرجاءَ الحِجازِ وَكَم

قَضى اللَيالِيَ لَم يَنعَم وَلَم يَطِبِ

قَضى اللَيالِيَ لَم يَنعَم وَلَم يَطِبِ

Victory perfumed the regions of the Hijaz—and how many

And victory perfumed the precincts of Hejaz, and how many

nights it had spent without comfort or joy!

Nights were not content though time passed them by!

وَاِزَّيَّنَت أُمَّهاتُ الشَرقِ وَاِستَبَقَت

وَاِزَّيَّنَت أُمَّهاتُ الشَرقِ وَاِستَبَقَت

مَهارِجُ الفَتحِ في المُؤشِيَّةِ القُشُبِ

مَهارِجُ الفَتحِ في المُؤشِيَّةِ القُشُبِ

The East's chief cities adorned themselves; there vied

And its maiden mother cities adorned themselves, vying

victory's festivals in fresh embroidered finery.

For the triumphs of victory in all their finery.

هَزَّت دِمَشقُ بَني أَيّوبَ فَاِنتَبِهوا

هَزَّت دِمَشقُ بَني أَيّوبَ فَاِنتَبِهوا

يَهنَئونَ بَني حَمدانَ في حَلَبِ

يَهنَئونَ بَني حَمدانَ في حَلَبِ

Damascus roused the sons of Ayyub, and they awoke

Damascus shook the sons of Ayyub awake—

to congratulate the sons of Hamdan in Aleppo.

Congratulations to the Hamdanids in Aleppo!

وَمُسلِمو الهِندِ وَالهِندوسُ في جَذَلٍ

وَمُسلِمو الهِندِ وَالهِندوسُ في جَذَلٍ

وَمُسلِموا مِصرَ وَالأَقباطُ في طَرَبِ

وَمُسلِموا مِصرَ وَالأَقباطُ في طَرَبِ

India's Muslims and Hindus rejoiced,

The Muslims of India, the Hindus in misery,

and Egypt's Muslims and Copts were glad.

The Muslims of Egypt, the Copts in torment.

مَمالِكٌ ضَمَّها الإِسلامُ في رَحِمٍ

مَمالِكٌ ضَمَّها الإِسلامُ في رَحِمٍ

وَشيجَةٍ وَحَواها الشَرقُ في نَسَبِ

وَشيجَةٍ وَحَواها الشَرقُ في نَسَبِ

Kingdoms that Islam united in a kinship

Kingdoms united by Islam in a single womb,

close-knit, and that the East embraced in a common lineage.

Gathered by the East in lineage and ancestry—

مِن كُلِّ ضاحِيَةٍ تَرمي بِمُكتَحَلٍ

مِن كُلِّ ضاحِيَةٍ تَرمي بِمُكتَحَلٍ

إِلى مَكانِكَ أَو تَرمي بِمُختَضَبِ

إِلى مَكانِكَ أَو تَرمي بِمُختَضَبِ

From every district, casting a kohl-lined eye

From every flourishing suburb they cast a passionate glance

toward your place, or gesturing with a henna-dyed hand,

Toward your place, or cast one darkened with kohl.

تَقولُ لَولا الفَتى التُركِيُّ حَلَّ بِنا

تَقولُ لَولا الفَتى التُركِيُّ حَلَّ بِنا

يَومٌ كَيَومِ يَهودٍ كانَ عَن كَثَبِ

يَومٌ كَيَومِ يَهودٍ كانَ عَن كَثَبِ

saying: 'Were it not for the Turkish youth, there would have befallen us

Saying: without the Turkish youth, a day would have befallen us

a day like the Jews' day, which was close at hand.'

Like the Jews' day right nearby them.