نزلalighted المناهلthe watering places والربىand the hills آذارMarch
نزل المناهل والربى آذار
يحدوurges onward with song ربيعspring ركابهhis caravan النُّوارthe blossoms
يحدو ربيع ركابه النُّوار
March alighted at the watering places and hills;
The valleys and hills donned March’s attire,
Blossoms sing his springtime caravan onward.
As spring urged on its luminous steeds.
يختالstruts فيin وشىthe brocade of الرياضthe gardens وطِيبهاand their fragrance
يختال في وشى الرياض وطِيبها
وتزفهand escort him الربواتthe hills والأنهارand the rivers
وتزفه الربوات والأنهار
He struts in the gardens' brocade and fragrance,
It struts in the meadows’ fragrance and beauty,
And the hills and rivers escort him in procession.
While the hills and streams rush to greet it.
سمحgenerous البنانthe fingers بكلwith everything ماthat زانadorned الثرىthe earth
سمح البنان بكل ما زان الثرى
فالوشىso the brocade يوهبis bestowed والحلىّand the jewelry يعارis lent
فالوشى يوهب والحلىّ يعار
Generous of hand with all that adorns the earth,
Lebanon yielded all that adorned the land,
The brocade is bestowed, and the jewelry lent.
So the valleys grant and the ornaments are lent.
ملأfilled الخمائلthe thickets منwith تصاويرٍpictures كماjust as
ملأ الخمائل من تصاويرٍ كما
ملأfilled الرفارفthe shelves بالدُّمىwith figurines الحفارthe carver
ملأ الرفارف بالدُّمى الحفار
He filled the thickets with pictures, just as
The doves filled their corners with images,
The carver filled the shelves with figurines.
As the niches brimmed with bustling sparrows.
فيin كلevery دوحspreading tree دميةa figurine ومِنصةand a dais
في كل دوح دمية ومِنصة
وبكلand in every روضgarden صورةa picture وإطارand a frame
وبكل روض صورة وإطار
In every spreading tree, a figurine and a dais;
In each meadow a statue and frame,
And in every garden, a picture and a frame.
And in every garden an image and border.
حدجتهgazed intently at him بالبصرwith their gaze الحمائلthe groves مثلماjust as
حدجته بالبصر الحمائل مثلما
حدجتgazed intently بعينهاwith its eye العروسَthe bride الدارthe house
حدجت بعينها العروسَ الدار
The groves gazed intently at him, just as
The doves peered with their eyes, just as
The house gazed with its eye upon the bride.
The bride eyed the house longingly.
لبستput on لهfor him الآمالhopes بهجةthe radiance of شمسهاtheir sun
لبست له الآمال بهجة شمسها
وتزينتand adorned themselves للقائهto meet him الأسحارthe predawn hours
وتزينت للقائه الأسحار
For him, hopes put on the radiance of their sun,
The hopes dressed it in the radiance of its sun,
And the predawn hours adorned themselves to meet him.
And the dawns adorned themselves for its arrival.
حيتهgreeted him بالنغمwith melody الهواتفُthe calling voices فيin الضحىthe morning
حيته بالنغم الهواتفُ في الضحى
وترنمتand sang بثنائهin his praise الأوتارthe strings
وترنمت بثنائه الأوتار
The calling voices greeted him with melody in the morning,
The lutes greeted it at dawn with melody,
And the strings sang his praises.
And the strings sang its praises.
والماءand the water يطِفرleaps جدولاas a brook ويفيضand gushes منfrom
والماء يطِفر جدولا ويفيض من
عينa spring ويخبطand splashes about فيin القنىthe channels ويحارand wanders bewildered
عين ويخبط في القنى ويحار
Water leaps as a brook and gushes from
The water springs forth as a stream and surges from
A spring, splashes through the channels, and wanders bewildered.
A fountain, and bustles in the canal bewildered.
جَرّtrailed الإِزارَthe robe فكلso every روضgarden حاملbearing
جَرّ الإِزارَ فكل روض حامل
مسكاmusk وكلand every خميلةthicket معطارrichly perfumed
مسكا وكل خميلة معطار
He trailed his robe, so every garden bears
It dragged its gown, so every garden bears
Musk, and every thicket is richly perfumed.
Musk, and every dove is scented.
فيin كلevery ظلshade مِزهرa lute مترنمsinging
في كل ظل مِزهر مترنم
ووراءand behind كلevery نضارةfresh verdure مزمارa flute
ووراء كل نضارة مزمار
In every shade, a singing lute;
In every shade a flowering nightingale sings,
And behind all verdure, a flute.
And behind every sapling a flute stirs.
وعلىand on ذؤابةthe tip of كلevery غصنbranch قينةa songstress
وعلى ذؤابة كل غصن قينة
الصَّنجthe cymbals خلفbehind بنانهاher fingers والطارand the tambourine
الصَّنج خلف بنانها والطار
And on the tip of every branch, a songstress;
And on the branch of every bough a lass
The cymbals and tambourine follow her fingers.
Whose voice behind the pine trees flies.
والنيلand the Nile فيin الواديىthe valley نجاشىّa Negus مشىwalked
والنيل في الواديى نجاشىّ مشى
فيin ركبهhis retinue الرؤساءthe chiefs والأحبارand the priests
في ركبه الرؤساء والأحبار
And the Nile in the valley is a Negus; there walked
The Nile in the valley walked proudly
In his retinue the chiefs and priests.
With its chiefs and scholars in its procession.
سحبواthey trailed الطقوسthe rites ورتلواand chanted إنجيلهمtheir Gospel
سحبوا الطقوس ورتلوا إنجيلهم
فتعالتso rose الصلواتthe prayers والأذكارand the invocations
فتعالت الصلوات والأذكار
They trailed their rites and chanted their Gospel,
They brought out the crosses and chanted their gospel
So prayers and invocations rose.
So exaltations and prayers rose high.
نزلاءguests of مصرEgypt حللتموyou have lodged بفؤادهاin her heart
نزلاء مصر حللتمو بفؤادها
وحوتكموand have embraced you الأسماعthe ears والأبصارand the eyes
وحوتكمو الأسماع والأبصار
Guests of Egypt, you have lodged within her heart,
You descended upon Egypt’s heart,
And ears and eyes have embraced you.
And it embraced you and feasted its sights.
ضيفاas guests علىupon البلدthe land الكريمthe generous وطالماand how often
ضيفا على البلد الكريم وطالما
هتفacclaimed النزيلthe visitor بهin praise of it وغنىand sang الجارthe neighbor
هتف النزيل به وغنى الجار
As guests of this generous land—how often
A guest of the generous city, and many a time
The visitor has acclaimed it, and the neighbor sung!
Did the visitor exalt it and the neighbor sing of it.
تاجa crown كقرصlike the disk of الشمسthe sun ملءfilling إطارهits rim
تاج كقرص الشمس ملء إطاره
عتقancient nobility ومجدand glory تالدancestral وفخارand pride
عتق ومجد تالد وفخار
A crown like the sun's disk, its circle filled with
A crown like the disk of the sun, its frame filled
Ancient nobility, ancestral glory, and pride.
With freedom, ancient glory, and pride.
وكأنand as though كلتاboth صفحتيهits two faces منfrom السناradiance
وكأن كلتا صفحتيه من السنا
ومنand from التلبسbeing clothed بالشموسin suns نهارdaylight
ومن التلبس بالشموس نهار
And as though both its faces, through their radiance
As if both sides were of brilliance,
And their being clothed in suns, were daylight.
And of bathing in the rays of the sun by day.
نحنwe الكرامthe generous إذاwhen مشىwalked فيin أرضناour land
نحن الكرام إذا مشى في أرضنا
ضيفa guest ونحنand we بأرضناin our land أحرارfree
ضيف ونحن بأرضنا أحرار
We are generous when upon our land there walks
We are generous - if a guest walked upon our land,
A guest; and in our own land we are free.
While we in our land remain free.
مصرEgypt ثرىthe soil of الفنart الجميلthe beautiful ومهدهand its cradle
مصر ثرى الفن الجميل ومهده
تنبيكموtell you عنabout ذلكthat الآثارthe monuments
تنبيكمو عن ذلك الآثار
Egypt is the soil and cradle of beautiful art;
Egypt, womb of fine art and its cradle,
The monuments tell you of that.
Your relics proclaim this to you.
غُمرتwere flooded بموسيقىwith the music of الجمالbeauty تلالُهاher hills
غُمرت بموسيقى الجمال تلالُها
وتفجرتand gushed عنwith مائهits water الاحجارthe stones
وتفجرت عن مائه الاحجار
Her hills were flooded with beauty's music,
Its hills were drowned in the music of beauty,
And the stones gushed with its water.
And its rocks gushed with water.
وادa valley كحاشيةlike the fringe of النعيمParadise وأيكةand a grove
واد كحاشية النعيم وأيكة
ماno للبلابلfor the nightingales دونهاoutside it أوكارnests
ما للبلابل دونها أوكار
A valley like the fringe of Paradise, and a grove
A valley like the fringes of paradise, and what
Beyond which the nightingales have no nests.
Dens the nightingales have under them!
منsince عهدthe time of إسماعيلIsmail لمnot تخلhave been empty الربىthe hills
من عهد إسماعيل لم تخل الربى
منهاof them ولمand not تتعطلhave stood idle الأشجارthe trees
منها ولم تتعطل الأشجار
Since Ismail's time, the hills have never been empty
Since the days of Ishmael its hills
Of them, nor have the trees stood idle.
Have not been devoid of meadows nor its trees barren.
مماamong what يتيحgrants اللهGod جلexalted is جلالهHis majesty
مما يتيح الله جل جلاله
لعبادهto His servants وتسخَّرand are harnessed الأٌقدارthe fates
لعباده وتسخَّر الأٌقدار
Among what God—exalted is His majesty—grants
Of what God, most Glorious and Exalted,
His servants, with the fates made to serve,
Grants His servants and destines.
فيin كلevery جيلgeneration عبقريّa genius نابغoutstanding
في كل جيل عبقريّ نابغ
غردmelodious اللهاةthe uvula مفننa versatile artist سحارan enchanter
غرد اللهاة مفنن سحار
Is an outstanding genius in every generation,
In every generation, a brilliant genius -
Sweet-throated, a versatile artist, an enchanter.
The talents sang, an enchanting magician.
قضَّىspent علىupon الشوكthe thorns الحياةlife وكمand how often دعاinvited
قضَّى على الشوك الحياة وكم دعا
للسيرto walk فيamong الوردthe roses الرفاقَthe companions فسارواso they walked
للسير في الورد الرفاقَ فساروا
He spent his life upon thorns; how often he invited
Who overcame the woes of life, and how often he called
His companions to walk among roses, and they went!
To walk amongst the roses, so the friends marched on.
أماas for الغناءsinging فلذةthen the delight of الأممthe nations التيwhich
أما الغناء فلذة الأمم التي
طافواthey wandered عليهاaround it فيin الحياةlife ودارواand circled
طافوا عليها في الحياة وداروا
As for song, it is the nations' delight, around which
For song is the pleasure of nations
They have wandered and circled throughout life.
Who roamed through life and travelled.
ياah طالماhow often ارتاحواthey found solace إليهin it وطالماand how often
يا طالما ارتاحوا إليه وطالما
حمسواthey grew impassioned علىat النغمthe melody الشجىّthe plaintive وثارواand rose up
حمسوا على النغم الشجىّ وثاروا
Ah, how often they have found solace in it, and how often
O how often they relaxed to it, and how often
They have grown impassioned by plaintive melody and risen!
They were stirred to passion by its melancholic chords!
وترa string تعلقbecame attached فيin النعيمParadise بآدمto Adam
وتر تعلق في النعيم بآدم
غنىsang عليهto it بنوهhis sons والأصهارand the in-laws
غنى عليه بنوه والأصهار
A string that clung to Adam in Paradise;
The string clung to blissful Adam -
His sons and kinsmen by marriage sang to it.
His children and in-laws sang to it.
الخمرwine والسحرand magic المبينthe manifest وراءهbehind it
الخمر والسحر المبين وراءه
والشجوand sorrow والزفراتand sighs والتَّذكارand remembrance
والشجو والزفرات والتَّذكار
Behind it lie wine and manifest magic,
Wine, obvious sorcery behind it,
And sorrow, sighs, and remembrance.
And ardour, sighs, and remembrance.
وعلىand to تغنىthe singing of النفسthe soul فيin وجدانهاits inner feeling
وعلى تغنى النفس في وجدانها
خلتpassed العشىّthe evening hours ومرتand passed الأبكارthe mornings
خلت العشىّ ومرت الأبكار
And to the soul's singing in its depths,
The soul composes in its fervor,
Evenings have passed, and mornings gone by.
While the evening passes and the virgins circle.
ألحانthe melodies of كلevery جماعةcommunity وغناؤهمand their singing
ألحان كل جماعة وغناؤهم
لغةa language ونجوىand confidences بينهمamong them وحِوارand dialogue
لغة ونجوى بينهم وحِوار
The melodies of every community, and their singing,
Each people has its own melodies and singing -
Are a language, confidences, and dialogue among them.
A language and whispered conversation amongst them.
نغمthe melodies of الطبيعةnature فيin مغانيهمtheir dwelling places وماand what
نغم الطبيعة في مغانيهم وما
تملىdictate الرياضthe gardens وتنشئand compose الأزهارthe flowers
تملى الرياض وتنشئ الأزهار
Nature's melodies in their dwelling places, and what
The melody of nature in their odes - and whatever
The gardens dictate and the flowers compose.
The meadows inspire and the flowers originate.
لاdo not تعشقlove الآذانthe ears إلاexcept نغمةa melody
لا تعشق الآذان إلا نغمة
كانتwere عليهاto it فيin المهودthe cradles تدارrocked
كانت عليها في المهود تدار
Ears love no melody but one
The ears love only a melody
To which they were rocked in their cradles.
That circled them since the cradle days.
فرعونPharaoh فيin الواديthe valley وصاحبand the player of بوقهhis trumpet
فرعون في الوادي وصاحب بوقه
وقيانهand his singing girls والناىand the reed flute والقيثارand the lyre
وقيانه والناى والقيثار
Pharaoh in the valley, and his trumpeter,
Pharaoh in the valley and his bugle companion,
And his singing girls, the reed flute and the lyre,
His lyre, flute, and zither.
وترنماتand the songs of الشعبthe people حولaround ركابهhis caravan
وترنمات الشعب حول ركابه
وطلاسمand the spells of الكهنوتthe priesthood والأسرارand the mysteries
وطلاسم الكهنوت والأسرار
And the people's songs around his caravan,
And the hymns of the people around his procession,
And the priesthood's spells and mysteries—
And the occult spells and secrets.
لوif عادreturned ذلكthat كلهall of it لقىwould meet الهوىlove
لو عاد ذلك كله لقى الهوى
حتىso much so that كأنهas though it لمhad not تطوِهswept it away الأعصارthe ages
حتى كأنه لم تطوِه الأعصار
If all of that returned, it would meet with love,
If all this returned, passion would find
So that it would seem the ages had never swept it away.
Its object, as if the ages never wore it down.
عابدينAbdeen ركنكyour pillar موئلa refuge ومثابةand a place of return
عابدين ركنك موئل ومثابة
لاmay not زالcease يُستذرىbe sought for shelter بهin it ويزارand be visited
لا زال يُستذرى به ويزار
Abdeen, your pillar is a refuge and a place of return;
Abaseen, your sanctuary is a refuge and reward
May it ever be sought for shelter and visited.
That continues to be sought and visited.
ثبتتstood firm أواسىthe foundations of العرشthe throne فيin محرابهits sanctuary
ثبتت أواسى العرش في محرابه
وأوتand took refuge إليهin it أمةa nation وديارand lands
وأوت إليه أمة وديار
The foundations of the throne stood firm in its sanctuary,
The pillars of the throne stood firm in its shrine,
And a nation and lands took refuge in it.
And a nation and homes came to it.
وعلىand on مطالعةits rising places وفيand within هالاتهits halos
وعلى مطالعة وفي هالاته
بزغتrose شموسthe suns of العزglory والأقمارand the moons
بزغت شموس العز والأقمار
And upon its horizons and within its halos,
In its ascensions and in its halos
The suns and moons of glory dawned.
The suns of might and moons dawned.
للعلمfor learning منهfrom it وللثقافةand for culture حائطa wall
للعلم منه وللثقافة حائط
يؤوَىshelter is sought إليهat it وللفنونand for the arts جدارa rampart
يؤوَى إليه وللفنون جدار
It offers learning and culture a wall
Of knowledge it has a wall
To shelter against, and the arts a rampart.
That is sheltered and for the arts a pillar.
أنزلتI set down فيin ساحاتهits courtyards شعريmy poetry كماas
أنزلت في ساحاته شعري كما
نزلتalighted at رتاجthe great door of الكعبةthe Kaaba الأشعارthe poems
نزلت رتاج الكعبة الأشعار
I set down my poetry in its courts, as
I too revealed my poetry in its squares,
Poems alighted at the Kaaba's great door.
Just as the finest poems of Kaaba were revealed.
ونظمتand I composed فيهin it وفيand in وضاءةthe radiance of ليلهits night
ونظمت فيه وفي وضاءة ليله
مالمwhat has not تزلceased تجرىto circulate بهwith it الأسمارnighttime conversations
مالم تزل تجرى به الأسمار
And in it, in the radiance of its night, I composed
And I composed in it, in the glow of its night,
What nighttime conversations have never ceased to recount.
What the vigils continue to pass along.
ورحابكand your courts الربواتthe hills إلاexcept أنهاthat they are
ورحابك الربوات إلا أنها
أرضthe soil of الندَىbounty; dew وسماؤهand its sky المدرارabundantly raining
أرض الندَى وسماؤه المدرار
And your spacious courts are hills, except that they are
Its expanses are meadows, if only they were
The soil of bounty and its rain-lavishing sky.
The land of dew and its sky of downpour.
أفريقياAfrica فيin ظلكyour shade اجتمعتgathered علىin
أفريقيا في ظلك اجتمعت على
صفوharmony فلاso may not نزلتdescend بهاupon her الأكدارtroubles
صفو فلا نزلت بها الأكدار
Africa has gathered in your shade in
Africa in your shade gathered in
Harmony; may no troubles descend upon her.
Purity, so no misfortune befell it.
فيin المهرجانthe festival العبقريّthe brilliant تسايرتmarched side by side
في المهرجان العبقريّ تسايرت
أعلامهاher banners وتلاقتand met الأنوارthe lights
أعلامها وتلاقت الأنوار
At the brilliant festival, there marched side by side
At the genius convention, its icons
Her banners, and the lights came together.
Assembled, and the lights converged.
لماwhen دعاcalled داعىthe herald of المعزal-Muizz إلىto القِرىhospitality
لما دعا داعى المعز إلى القِرى
شدّتfastened صحارٍdeserts رحلهاtheir saddles وقفارand wastelands
شدّت صحارٍ رحلها وقفار
When al-Muizz's herald called to hospitality,
When the caller to glory called to the villages,
Deserts and wastelands strapped on their saddles.
Its nomads saddled up their camels from the deserts.
سفرa journey إلىto الواديthe valley السعيدthe happy وملكهand its king
سفر إلى الوادي السعيد وملكه
حسدتenvied عليهfor it وفودهاtheir delegations الأمصارthe cities
حسدت عليه وفودها الأمصار
A journey to the happy valley and its king,
A journey to the happy valley and its king -
For which the cities envied their delegations.
Its delegations envied it from all cities.
رفعواthey hoisted شراعthe sail of البحرthe sea يستبقونهracing to reach it
رفعوا شراع البحر يستبقونه
ولوand if أنهمthey ملكواpossessed الجناحwings لطارواthey would have flown
ولو أنهم ملكوا الجناح لطاروا
They hoisted sail at sea, racing to reach it;
They hoisted the sail of the sea racing him,
Had they possessed wings, they would have flown.
And if only they possessed wings, they would have flown!
أممnations منof الإسلامIslam يجمعunites بينناbetween us
أمم من الإسلام يجمع بيننا
ماضa past وأحداثand events خلونthat have passed كبارgreat
ماض وأحداث خلون كبار
Nations of Islam: what unites us is
Nations of Islam that unite us -
A past and great events that have gone by,
A past and momentous events.
وحضارةand the civilization of الفصحىclassical Arabic وروحand the spirit of بيانهاits eloquence
وحضارة الفصحى وروح بيانها
وقريشٌand Quraysh العالونthe exalted والأنصارand the Ansar
وقريشٌ العالون والأنصار
And the civilization of classical Arabic and the spirit of its eloquence,
And the civilization of eloquent Arabic and its spirit,
And exalted Quraysh and the Ansar,
The glorious Quraish and the Helpers.
وحوادثand events تجرىrun لغايتهاtoward their goal غداtomorrow
وحوادث تجرى لغايتها غدا
ولكلand for every جارthing in motion غايةa goal وقرارand a resting place
ولكل جار غاية وقرار
And events that run toward their goal tomorrow;
And events unfolding tomorrow
And everything in motion has a goal and a resting place.
With an aim for each neighbor and abode.
فيin معهدthe institute of الوادىthe valley ودارand the home of غنائهits singing
في معهد الوادى ودار غنائه
فرحjoy تسيرwill travel غداtomorrow بهwith it الأخبارthe news
فرح تسير غدا به الأخبار
In the valley's institute, the home of its song,
In the valley’s institute and house of song
There is joy that the news will spread tomorrow.
Joy progresses, as news will tell tomorrow.
بعثتsent بهto it الدنياthe world كرائمthe choicest of طيرهاits birds
بعثت به الدنيا كرائم طيرها
منfrom كلevery أيكgrove بلبلa bulbul وهَزارand a nightingale
من كل أيك بلبل وهَزار
The world sent its choicest birds to it:
The world at its prime sent its best
From every grove, a bulbul and a nightingale.
From every forest, a nightingale and dove.
وحوىand gathered النوابغthe geniuses فيهin it حولaround نوالهits bounty
وحوى النوابغ فيه حول نواله
شعبa people علىfor حرمthe sanctuary of الفنونthe arts يغارis zealous
شعب على حرم الفنون يغار
And the geniuses were gathered there around its bounty
The institute harbored the geniuses around its bliss -
By a people zealous for the arts' sanctuary.
A nation jealous for the sanctuary of arts.
جلبbrought السوابقthe champion steeds كلهاall of them فتسابقتand so they raced
جلب السوابق كلها فتسابقت
حتىuntil كأنas though المعهدthe institute المضمارthe racecourse
حتى كأن المعهد المضمار
It brought all the champion steeds, and they raced,
It attracted the highest talents, so they raced
Until the institute seemed a racecourse.
As if the institute were a racecourse.
إحسانIhsan مجبولinnately disposed علىto الإِحسانkindness لاnot
إحسان مجبول على الإِحسان لا
تحصىcan be counted صنائعهhis good deeds ولاnor الآثارthe effects
تحصى صنائعه ولا الآثار
Ihsan, innately disposed to kindness—neither
Ehsan, innately disposed to benevolence -
His good deeds nor their effects can be counted.
His masterpieces and relics are beyond count.
ياO شعبpeople of وادىthe valley of النيلthe Nile عشتmay you live ولاand may not يزلcease
يا شعب وادى النيل عشت ولا يزل
يجرىruns بيمنwith good fortune أموركyour affairs المقدارdestiny
يجرى بيمن أمورك المقدار
O people of the Nile valley, long may you live, and may
O Nile Valley people, you have lived and forever
Destiny ever run auspiciously through your affairs.
Flows the course of your affairs with blessings.
أنتyou الرشيدal-Rashid علىupon كريمthe noble بساطهhis carpet
أنت الرشيد على كريم بساطه
تستعرضyou review الآراءthe opinions والأفكارand the ideas
تستعرض الآراء والأفكار
You are al-Rashid upon his noble carpet,
You are rightly-guided over its generous setting,
Reviewing opinions and ideas.
Reviewing ideas and thoughts.