أَلا يا صَفِيَّ الملكِ هَل أَنتَ سامِعٌ

أَلا يا صَفِيَّ الملكِ هَل أَنتَ سامِعٌ

نِداءً عَلَيهِ لِلحَفيظَةِ مِيسَمُ

نِداءً عَلَيهِ لِلحَفيظَةِ مِيسَمُ

Listen, O Safiyy al-Mulk—do you hear

O you who serves the king faithfully, are you listening

A cry bearing the brand of indignation?

To a call sounding your praises from Umayyah's youth

دَعاكَ غُلامٌ مِن أُمَيَّةَ يَرتَدي

دَعاكَ غُلامٌ مِن أُمَيَّةَ يَرتَدي

بِظِلِّكَ فانظُر مَن أَتاكَ وَمَن هُمُ

بِظِلِّكَ فانظُر مَن أَتاكَ وَمَن هُمُ

A youth of Umayya has called to you, clothing himself

Seeking your protection - look who comes to you and who they are

In your shade; consider who has come to you, and who his kin are.

As the sun's heat makes his neck perspire

وَقَد لفَّتِ الشُمُّ الغَطاريفُ عِرقَهُ

وَقَد لفَّتِ الشُمُّ الغَطاريفُ عِرقَهُ

بِعِرقِكَ وَالأَرحامُ تُرعى وَتُكرَمُ

بِعِرقِكَ وَالأَرحامُ تُرعى وَتُكرَمُ

And indeed, the proud noble chiefs have entwined his lineage

With your sweat - and wombs are honored and respected

With yours; and ties of kinship are cherished and honored.

Should I be cast aside in the wilds and pass by

أُيُنبَذُ مِثلي بِالعَراءِ وَمارِني

أُيُنبَذُ مِثلي بِالعَراءِ وَمارِني

بِما أَتَوَقَّاهُ مِنَ الذُلِّ يُخْطَمُ

بِما أَتَوَقَّاهُ مِنَ الذُلِّ يُخْطَمُ

Is one like me cast out in the open, while the tip of my nose

All I fear of humiliation and wounding of pride?

Is haltered by the humiliation I seek to avoid?

And he who milks wealth's udder with begging

وَمَن يَحتَلِبْ دَرَّ الغِنى بِضَراعَةٍ

وَمَن يَحتَلِبْ دَرَّ الغِنى بِضَراعَةٍ

فَلِلمَجدِ أَسعى حينَ يُحتَلَبُ الدَّمُ

فَلِلمَجدِ أَسعى حينَ يُحتَلَبُ الدَّمُ

And if others milk wealth's yield through abasement,

For glory I strive when blood is milked

I strive for glory when blood is milked.

So have you thanks that speak to one in oath

فَهَلْ لَكَ في شُكرٍ يُحَدِّثُ مُعرِقاً

فَهَلْ لَكَ في شُكرٍ يُحَدِّثُ مُعرِقاً

بِما راقَ مِن أَلفاظِهِ الغُرِّ مُشئِمُ

بِما راقَ مِن أَلفاظِهِ الغُرِّ مُشئِمُ

So would you welcome grateful praise, recounted to an Iraq-bound traveler

Of the distaste in his words' allure, ominous and bleak

By a Syria-bound traveler, in its pleasing, radiant words?

And were it not for fame's height, wealth would not be sought

وَلَولا اِرتِفاعُ الصِّيتِ لَم يَطلُبِ الغِنَى

وَلَولا اِرتِفاعُ الصِّيتِ لَم يَطلُبِ الغِنَى

وَأَنتَ بِما يُبقي لَكَ الذِّكرُ أَعلَمُ

وَأَنتَ بِما يُبقي لَكَ الذِّكرُ أَعلَمُ

And were it not for rising renown, none would seek wealth;

While you know best what keeps your name alive

And you know best what remembrance preserves for you.