نَبَذَ الهَوى وَصَحا مِنَ الأَحلامِ

نَبَذَ الهَوى وَصَحا مِنَ الأَحلامِ

شَرقٌ تَنَبَّهَ بَعدَ طولِ مَنامِ

شَرقٌ تَنَبَّهَ بَعدَ طولِ مَنامِ

He cast passion aside and awoke from dreams—

It cast off passion and awoke from dreams—

an East awakened after a long sleep.

an East roused after a long sleep.

ثابَت سَلامَتُهُ وَأَقبَلَ صَحوُهُ

ثابَت سَلامَتُهُ وَأَقبَلَ صَحوُهُ

إِلا بَقايا فَترَةٍ وَسَقامِ

إِلا بَقايا فَترَةٍ وَسَقامِ

Its health returned, and wakefulness came upon it,

Its health returned, and wakefulness dawned,

save for remnants of languor and sickness.

save for remnants of languor and sickness.

صاحَت بِهِ الآجامُ هُنتَ فَلَم يَنَم

صاحَت بِهِ الآجامُ هُنتَ فَلَم يَنَم

أَعَلى الهَوانِ يُنامُ في الآجامِ

أَعَلى الهَوانِ يُنامُ في الآجامِ

The thickets cried to it, “You have been brought low—do not sleep!”

The thickets cried to it, 'You have been abased!' and it did not sleep.

Can one sleep under humiliation in the thickets?

Does one sleep in the thickets amid humiliation?

أُمَمٌ وَراءَ الكَهفِ جُهدُ حَياتِهِم

أُمَمٌ وَراءَ الكَهفِ جُهدُ حَياتِهِم

حَرَكاتُ عَيشٍ في سُكونِ حِمامِ

حَرَكاتُ عَيشٍ في سُكونِ حِمامِ

Nations beyond the cave, whose utmost life consists of

Nations beyond the cave, the whole striving of their lives—

the movement of the living amid the stillness of death,

stirrings of life amid the stillness of death.

نَفَضوا العُيونَ مِنَ الكَرى وَاِستَأنَفوا

نَفَضوا العُيونَ مِنَ الكَرى وَاِستَأنَفوا

سَفَرَ الحَياةِ وَرِحلَةَ الأَيّامِ

سَفَرَ الحَياةِ وَرِحلَةَ الأَيّامِ

shook slumber from their eyes and resumed

They shook slumber from their eyes and resumed

the voyage of life and the journey of days.

life's journey and the voyage of days.

مَن لَيسَ في رَكبِ الزَمانِ مُغَبِّراً

مَن لَيسَ في رَكبِ الزَمانِ مُغَبِّراً

فَاِعدُدهُ بَينَ غَوابِرِ الأَقوامِ

فَاِعدُدهُ بَينَ غَوابِرِ الأَقوامِ

Whoever raises no dust in the caravan of time—

Whoever is not raising dust in time's caravan,

count him among the peoples long gone.

count him among the remnants of bygone peoples.

في كُلِّ حاضِرَةٍ وَكُلِّ قَبيلَةٍ

في كُلِّ حاضِرَةٍ وَكُلِّ قَبيلَةٍ

هِمَمٌ ذَهَبنَ يَرُمنَ كُلَّ مَرامِ

هِمَمٌ ذَهَبنَ يَرُمنَ كُلَّ مَرامِ

In every city and every tribe,

In every city and every tribe,

bright aspirations have set forth, seeking every goal—

resolves have set forth, seeking every goal,

مِن كُلِّ مُمتَنِعٍ عَلى أَرسانِهِ

مِن كُلِّ مُمتَنِعٍ عَلى أَرسانِهِ

أَو جامِحٍ يَعدو بِنِصفِ لِجامِ

أَو جامِحٍ يَعدو بِنِصفِ لِجامِ

from every armored rider holding his reins,

from every one resisting his halters,

or every headstrong steed racing with half a bridle.

or a bolter running with half a bridle.

يا مِصرُ أَنتِ كِنانَةُ اللَهِ الَّتي

يا مِصرُ أَنتِ كِنانَةُ اللَهِ الَّتي

لا تُستَباحُ وَلِلكِنانَةِ حامِ

لا تُستَباحُ وَلِلكِنانَةِ حامِ

O Egypt, you are God’s quiver, which

O Egypt, you are God's quiver, which

shall not be violated—for the quiver has a protector.

cannot be violated; the quiver has a guardian.

اِستَقبِلي الآمالَ في غاياتِها

اِستَقبِلي الآمالَ في غاياتِها

وَتَأَمَّلي الدُنيا بِطَرفٍ سامِ

وَتَأَمَّلي الدُنيا بِطَرفٍ سامِ

Welcome hopes at their furthest goals,

Welcome hopes at their utmost reach,

and contemplate the world with a lofty gaze.

and contemplate the world with a lofty gaze.

وَخُذي طَريفَ المَجدِ بَعدَ تَليدِهِ

وَخُذي طَريفَ المَجدِ بَعدَ تَليدِهِ

مِن راحَتَي مَلِكٍ أَغَرَّ هُمامِ

مِن راحَتَي مَلِكٍ أَغَرَّ هُمامِ

Take the newest glory after its ancient heritage

And take glory newly won after glory inherited,

from the hands of a proud and valiant king,

from the two palms of an illustrious, valiant king.

يُعنى بِسُؤدُدِ قَومِهِ وَحُقوقِهِم

يُعنى بِسُؤدُدِ قَومِهِ وَحُقوقِهِم

وَيَذودُ حياضَهُم وَيُحامي

وَيَذودُ حياضَهُم وَيُحامي

who tends the sovereignty and rights of his people,

He cares for his people's eminence and their rights,

defends their watering places, and protects them.

and guards their watering pools and champions them.

ما تاجُكِ العالي وَلا نُوّابُهُ

ما تاجُكِ العالي وَلا نُوّابُهُ

بِالحانِثينَ إِلَيكِ في الإِقسامِ

بِالحانِثينَ إِلَيكِ في الإِقسامِ

Neither your exalted crown nor its deputies

Neither your lofty crown nor its deputies

will break the oaths they have sworn to you.

are false to you in their sworn oaths.

جَرَّبتِ نُعمى الحادِثاتِ وَبُؤسَها

جَرَّبتِ نُعمى الحادِثاتِ وَبُؤسَها

أَعَلِمتِ حالاً آذَنَت بِدَوامِ

أَعَلِمتِ حالاً آذَنَت بِدَوامِ

You have known events in prosperity and misery;

You have experienced the blessings of events and their misery;

have you ever known a state that promised permanence?

have you known a state that promised permanence?

عَبَسَت إِلَينا الحادِثاتُ وَطالَما

عَبَسَت إِلَينا الحادِثاتُ وَطالَما

نَزَلَت فَلَم تُغلَب عَلى الأَحلامِ

نَزَلَت فَلَم تُغلَب عَلى الأَحلامِ

Events scowled upon us, and how often

Misfortunes frowned upon us, and often

they descended—yet they never conquered our dreams.

descended, yet sound judgment was not overcome.

وَثَبَت بِقَومٍ يَضمِدونَ جِراحَهُم

وَثَبَت بِقَومٍ يَضمِدونَ جِراحَهُم

وَيُرَقِّدونَ نَوازِيَ الآلامِ

وَيُرَقِّدونَ نَوازِيَ الآلامِ

They sprang upon a people who bound their wounds

They pounced upon a people binding their wounds

and lulled their surging pains to sleep.

and lulling the throbbings of pain to sleep.

الحَقُّ كُلُّ سِلاحِهِم وَكِفاحِهِم

الحَقُّ كُلُّ سِلاحِهِم وَكِفاحِهِم

وَالحَقُّ نِعمَ مُثَبِّتُ الأَقدامِ

وَالحَقُّ نِعمَ مُثَبِّتُ الأَقدامِ

Truth is their whole weapon and their struggle;

Right is all their weaponry and their struggle;

and truth—what an excellent steadier of feet!

and how well right steadies the feet!

يَبنونَ حائِطَ مُلكِهِم في هُدنَةٍ

يَبنونَ حائِطَ مُلكِهِم في هُدنَةٍ

وَعَلى عَواقِبِ شِحنَةٍ وَخِصامِ

وَعَلى عَواقِبِ شِحنَةٍ وَخِصامِ

They build the wall of their sovereignty in peace,

They build the wall of their realm during a truce,

prepared for the consequences of rancor and conflict.

and in the aftermath of rancor and strife.

قُل لِلحَوادِثِ أَقدِمي أَو أَحجِمي

قُل لِلحَوادِثِ أَقدِمي أَو أَحجِمي

إِنّا بَنو الإِقدامِ وَالإِحجامِ

إِنّا بَنو الإِقدامِ وَالإِحجامِ

Say to events: advance or draw back—

Tell misfortunes: advance or hold back!

we are the children of advance and restraint.

We are sons of advance and restraint.

نَحنُ النِيامُ إِذا اللَيالي سالَمَت

نَحنُ النِيامُ إِذا اللَيالي سالَمَت

فَإِذا وَثَبنَ فَنَحنُ غَيرُ نِيامِ

فَإِذا وَثَبنَ فَنَحنُ غَيرُ نِيامِ

We sleep when the nights make peace;

We are sleepers when the nights make peace,

but when they spring upon us, we are not asleep.

but when they pounce, we are no sleepers.

فينا مِنَ الصَبرِ الجَميلِ بَقِيَّةٌ

فينا مِنَ الصَبرِ الجَميلِ بَقِيَّةٌ

لِحَوادِثٍ خَلفَ العُيوبِ جِسامِ

لِحَوادِثٍ خَلفَ العُيوبِ جِسامِ

Within us remains a store of noble patience

In us a remnant of noble patience remains

for grave events concealed beyond the unseen.

for grievous misfortunes behind the flaws.

أَينَ الوُفودُ المُلتَقونَ عَلى القِرى

أَينَ الوُفودُ المُلتَقونَ عَلى القِرى

المُنزَلونَ مَنازِلَ الأَكرامِ

المُنزَلونَ مَنازِلَ الأَكرامِ

Where are the delegations assembled around hospitality,

Where are the delegations, welcomed with hospitality,

lodged in dwellings of honor—

lodged in the dwellings of the noble,

الوارِثونَ القُدسَ عَن أَحبارِهِ

الوارِثونَ القُدسَ عَن أَحبارِهِ

وَالخالِفونَ أُمَيَّةً في الشامِ

وَالخالِفونَ أُمَيَّةً في الشامِ

the heirs of Jerusalem from its learned doctors,

who inherited Jerusalem from its rabbis,

and the successors of the Umayyads in Syria;

and succeeded Umayya in Syria,

الحامِلو الفُصحى وَنورِ بَيانِها

الحامِلو الفُصحى وَنورِ بَيانِها

يَبنونَ فيهِ حَضارَةَ الإِسلامِ

يَبنونَ فيهِ حَضارَةَ الإِسلامِ

the bearers of classical Arabic and the light of its expression,

bearers of eloquent Arabic and the light of its expression,

building within it the civilization of Islam;

building within it the civilization of Islam,

وَيُؤَلِّفونَ الشَرقَ في بُرهانِها

وَيُؤَلِّفونَ الشَرقَ في بُرهانِها

لَمَّ الضِياءُ حَواشِيَ الإِظلامِ

لَمَّ الضِياءُ حَواشِيَ الإِظلامِ

uniting the East through the force of its proof,

and uniting the East through its proof,

as light gathers up the fringes of darkness?

as light gathers the fringes of darkness?

تاقوا إِلى أَوطانِهِم فَتَحَمَّلوا

تاقوا إِلى أَوطانِهِم فَتَحَمَّلوا

وَهَوى الدِيارِ وَراءَ كُلِّ غَرامِ

وَهَوى الدِيارِ وَراءَ كُلِّ غَرامِ

They yearned for their homelands, yet endured,

They longed for their homelands and departed;

for love of home surpasses every passion.

and love of home lies beyond every passion.

ما ضَرَّ لَو حَبَسوا الرَكائِبَ ساعَةً

ما ضَرَّ لَو حَبَسوا الرَكائِبَ ساعَةً

وَثَنوا إِلى الفُسطاطِ فَضلَ زِمامِ

وَثَنوا إِلى الفُسطاطِ فَضلَ زِمامِ

What harm if they detained their mounts an hour

What harm if they had held their mounts for an hour

and turned the reins toward Fustat,

and turned the slack of a rein toward Fustat,

لِيُضيفَ شاهِدُهُم إِلى أَيّامِهِ

لِيُضيفَ شاهِدُهُم إِلى أَيّامِهِ

يَوماً أَغَرَّ مُلَمَّحَ الأَعلامِ

يَوماً أَغَرَّ مُلَمَّحَ الأَعلامِ

so that their witness might add to his days

so that one present among them might add to his days

a radiant day, distinguished by its banners;

a radiant day with gleaming banners,

وَيَرى وَيَسمَعُ كَيفَ عادَ حَقيقَةً

وَيَرى وَيَسمَعُ كَيفَ عادَ حَقيقَةً

ما كانَ مُمتَنِعاً عَلى الأَوهامِ

ما كانَ مُمتَنِعاً عَلى الأَوهامِ

and might see and hear how reality was made

and see and hear how it became reality—

of what imagination had deemed impossible—

what had been beyond imagination—

مِن هِمَّةِ المَحكومِ وَهوَ مُكَبَّلٌ

مِن هِمَّةِ المَحكومِ وَهوَ مُكَبَّلٌ

بِالقَيدِ لا مِن هِمَّةِ الحُكّامِ

بِالقَيدِ لا مِن هِمَّةِ الحُكّامِ

through the resolve of the governed man, shackled

through the resolve of the governed, though shackled

in chains—not through the resolve of rulers.

in chains, not through the resolve of rulers?

مِصرُ اِلتَقَت في مِهرَجانِ مُحَمَّدٍ

مِصرُ اِلتَقَت في مِهرَجانِ مُحَمَّدٍ

وَتَجَمَّعَت لِتَحِيَّةٍ وَسَلامِ

وَتَجَمَّعَت لِتَحِيَّةٍ وَسَلامِ

Egypt assembled at Muhammad’s festival

Egypt met at Muhammad's festival,

and gathered in greeting and salutation.

and gathered in greeting and salutation.

هَزَّت مَناكِبَها لَهُ فَكَأَنَّهُ

هَزَّت مَناكِبَها لَهُ فَكَأَنَّهُ

عُرسُ البَيانِ وَمَوكِبُ الأَقلامِ

عُرسُ البَيانِ وَمَوكِبُ الأَقلامِ

She shook her shoulders for him, as though it were

She shook her shoulders for him, as though it were

a wedding of eloquence and a procession of pens.

a wedding of eloquence and a procession of pens.

وَكَأَنَّهُ في الفَتحِ عَمّورِيَّةٌ

وَكَأَنَّهُ في الفَتحِ عَمّورِيَّةٌ

وَكَأَنَّني فيهِ أَبو تَمّامِ

وَكَأَنَّني فيهِ أَبو تَمّامِ

In triumph, it was as though she were Amorium,

And as though, in conquest, it were Amorium,

and as though I were Abu Tammam there.

and as though I were Abu Tammam there.

أَسِمُ العُصورَ بِحُسنِهِ وأَنا الَّذي

أَسِمُ العُصورَ بِحُسنِهِ وأَنا الَّذي

يَروي فَيَنتَظِمُ العُصورَ كَلامي

يَروي فَيَنتَظِمُ العُصورَ كَلامي

I stamp the ages with its beauty—I, whose

I mark the ages with its beauty, and I am the one

words are recited, setting the ages into order.

who recounts, so my words string the ages together.

شَرَفاً مُحَمَّدُ هَكَذا تُبنى العُلا

شَرَفاً مُحَمَّدُ هَكَذا تُبنى العُلا

بِالصَبرِ آوِنَةً وَبِالإِقدامِ

بِالصَبرِ آوِنَةً وَبِالإِقدامِ

Honor to you, Muhammad! Thus are heights built:

Honor to you, Muhammad! Thus are heights of glory built:

at times through patience, and at times through boldness.

by patience at times, and by bold action.

هِمَمُ الرِجالِ إِذا مَضَتَ لَم يَثنِها

هِمَمُ الرِجالِ إِذا مَضَتَ لَم يَثنِها

خِدَعُ الثَناءِ وَلا عَوادي الذامِ

خِدَعُ الثَناءِ وَلا عَوادي الذامِ

When the resolves of men go forth, they are turned back neither by

Men's resolves, once they advance, are not turned aside

the blandishments of praise nor the assaults of blame.

by the deceits of praise or the onslaughts of blame.

وَتَمامُ فَضلِكَ أَن يَعيبَكَ حُسَّدٌ

وَتَمامُ فَضلِكَ أَن يَعيبَكَ حُسَّدٌ

يَجِدونَ نَقصاً عِندَ كُلِّ تَمامِ

يَجِدونَ نَقصاً عِندَ كُلِّ تَمامِ

The perfection of your merit is that envious men fault you,

And your excellence is complete when enviers fault you,

finding a defect wherever there is perfection.

finding a flaw in every perfection.

المالُ في الدُنيا مَنازِلُ نُقلَةٍ

المالُ في الدُنيا مَنازِلُ نُقلَةٍ

مِن أَينَ جِئتَ لَهُ بِدارِ مُقامِ

مِن أَينَ جِئتَ لَهُ بِدارِ مُقامِ

The wealth of this life has only waystations of passage;

Wealth has only passing lodgings in this world;

how did you provide it with a lasting home?

from where did you bring it a permanent home?

فَرَفَعتَ إيواناً كَرُكنِ النَجمِ لَم

فَرَفَعتَ إيواناً كَرُكنِ النَجمِ لَم

يُضرَب عَلى كِسرى وَلا بَهرامِ

يُضرَب عَلى كِسرى وَلا بَهرامِ

You raised a palace like a pillar of the stars, such as

So you raised a palace hall like a star's pillar, never

was never erected for Khosrow or Bahram.

erected over Chosroes or Bahram.

صَيَّرتَ طينَتَهُ الخُلودَ وَجِئتَ مِن

صَيَّرتَ طينَتَهُ الخُلودَ وَجِئتَ مِن

وادي المُلوكِ بِجَندَلٍ وَرَغامِ

وادي المُلوكِ بِجَندَلٍ وَرَغامِ

You made its clay immortal, and brought from

You made immortality its clay, and brought from

the Valley of the Kings its boulders and dust.

the Valley of the Kings stone and dust.

هَذا البِناءُ العَبقَرِيُّ أَتى بِهِ

هَذا البِناءُ العَبقَرِيُّ أَتى بِهِ

بَيتٌ لَهُ فَضلٌ وَحَقُّ ذِمامِ

بَيتٌ لَهُ فَضلٌ وَحَقُّ ذِمامِ

This inspired structure was brought forth by

This masterly building was brought forth by

a house possessing merit and an inviolable claim.

a house of merit, with a rightful claim to loyalty.

كانَت بِهِ الأَرقامُ تُدرَكُ حِسبَةً

كانَت بِهِ الأَرقامُ تُدرَكُ حِسبَةً

وَاليَومَ جاوَزَ حِسبَةَ الأَرقامِ

وَاليَومَ جاوَزَ حِسبَةَ الأَرقامِ

Through it, numbers once could be grasped by reckoning;

Within it, figures were once grasped through reckoning;

today it has passed beyond the reckoning of numbers.

today it has surpassed the reckoning of figures.

يا طالَما شَغَفَ الظُنونَ وَطالَما

يا طالَما شَغَفَ الظُنونَ وَطالَما

كَثُرَ الرَجاءُ عَلَيهِ في الإِلمامِ

كَثُرَ الرَجاءُ عَلَيهِ في الإِلمامِ

How often conjecture became enamored of it, and how often

Oh, how often it enthralled speculation, and how often

hope and close attention multiplied around it.

hope in it grew with every visit!

ما زِلتَ أَنتَ وَصاحِباكَ بِرُكنِهِ

ما زِلتَ أَنتَ وَصاحِباكَ بِرُكنِهِ

حَتّى اِستَقامَ عَلى أَعَزِّ دِعامِ

حَتّى اِستَقامَ عَلى أَعَزِّ دِعامِ

You and your two companions never left its pillar

You and your two companions stayed by its pillar,

until it stood upon the strongest support.

until it stood firm on the strongest supports.

أَسَّستُمو بِالحاسِدينَ جِدارَهُ

أَسَّستُمو بِالحاسِدينَ جِدارَهُ

وَبَنَيتُمو بِمَعاوِلِ الهَدّامِ

وَبَنَيتُمو بِمَعاوِلِ الهَدّامِ

You founded its wall with the envious

You laid its wall's foundation with the envious,

and built it with the demolition-workers’ picks.

and built it with the wrecker's pickaxes.

شَرِكاتُكَ الدُنيا العَريضَةُ لَم تُنَل

شَرِكاتُكَ الدُنيا العَريضَةُ لَم تُنَل

إِلّا بِطولِ رِعايَةٍ وَقِيامِ

إِلّا بِطولِ رِعايَةٍ وَقِيامِ

Your vast, world-spanning enterprise was not attained

Your companies—that vast world—were not won

except through long care and constant labor.

except through long care and stewardship.

اللَهُ سَخَّرَ لِلكِنانَةِ خازِناً

اللَهُ سَخَّرَ لِلكِنانَةِ خازِناً

أَخَذَ الأَمانَ لَها مِنَ الأَعوامِ

أَخَذَ الأَمانَ لَها مِنَ الأَعوامِ

God appointed for Egypt a treasurer

God placed a treasurer at the quiver's service,

who secured her against the passing years.

who secured its safety against the years.

وَكَأَنَّ عَهدَكَ عَهدَ يوسُفَ كُلُّهُ

وَكَأَنَّ عَهدَكَ عَهدَ يوسُفَ كُلُّهُ

ظِلٌّ وَسُنبُلَةٌ وَقَطرُ غَمامِ

ظِلٌّ وَسُنبُلَةٌ وَقَطرُ غَمامِ

Your era seems wholly like the era of Joseph:

And your era seems to be Joseph's era, all of it

shade, an ear of grain, and rain from a cloud.

shade, an ear of grain, and rain from clouds.

وَكَأَنَّ مالَ المودِعينَ وَزَرعَهُم

وَكَأَنَّ مالَ المودِعينَ وَزَرعَهُم

في راحَتَيكَ وَدائِعُ الأَيتامِ

في راحَتَيكَ وَدائِعُ الأَيتامِ

The depositors’ wealth and their harvests seem

And the depositors' wealth and their crops seem

in your hands like the entrusted property of orphans.

like orphans' trusts in your two palms.

ما زِلتَ تَبني رُكنَ كُلِّ عَظيمَةٍ

ما زِلتَ تَبني رُكنَ كُلِّ عَظيمَةٍ

حَتّى أَتَيتَ بِرابِعِ الأَهرامِ

حَتّى أَتَيتَ بِرابِعِ الأَهرامِ

You continued building the pillar of every great achievement

You kept building the pillar of every great endeavor

until you brought forth a fourth pyramid.

until you brought forth a fourth pyramid.