وَقَيتُ بِنَفسي خَيرَ مَن وَطِئَ الحَصى

وَقَيتُ بِنَفسي خَيرَ مَن وَطِئَ الحَصى

وَمَن طافَ بِالبَيتِ العَتيقِ وَبِالحَجَرِ

وَمَن طافَ بِالبَيتِ العَتيقِ وَبِالحَجَرِ

With my own life I shielded the best of those who trod the pebbles,

I protected myself, better than one who walked on pebbles

I shielded with my life the best of those who ever trod upon the pebbles,

And of those who circled the Ancient House and the Stone:

And circumambulated the Ancient House and the Stone

And the one who circumambulated the Ancient House and the Stone;

مُحَمَّدُ لَمّا خافَ أَن يَمكُروا بِهِ

مُحَمَّدُ لَمّا خافَ أَن يَمكُروا بِهِ

فَوَقّاهُ رَبّي ذو الجَلالِ مِنَ المَكرِ

فَوَقّاهُ رَبّي ذو الجَلالِ مِنَ المَكرِ

Muhammad, when he feared that they would plot against him.

Muhammad, when he feared they would plot against him

Muhammad, when he feared that they were plotting against him,

So my Lord, possessor of majesty, shielded him from plotting.

My Lord, of Majesty, protected him from their plot

So my Lord, Possessor of Majesty, preserved him from their treachery.

وَبِتُّ أُراعيهِم مَتى يَنشُرونَني

وَبِتُّ أُراعيهِم مَتى يَنشُرونَني

وَقَد وَطَّنتُ نَفسي عَلى القَتلِ وَالأَسرِ

وَقَد وَطَّنتُ نَفسي عَلى القَتلِ وَالأَسرِ

And I spent the night watching them: when would they saw me apart?

I spend the night watching for when they will try to kill me

I passed the night watching them, waiting for when they would cut me down,

And I had steeled myself for being slain and for captivity.

And I have accustomed my soul to being killed and imprisoned

Having steeled my soul for slaughter and captivity,

وَباتَ رَسولُ اللَهِ في الغارِ آمِناً

وَباتَ رَسولُ اللَهِ في الغارِ آمِناً

هُناكَ وَفي حِفظِ الإِلَهِ وَفي سِترِ

هُناكَ وَفي حِفظِ الإِلَهِ وَفي سِترِ

And God's Messenger spent the night safe in the cave,

The Messenger of God spent the night in the cave safely

While the Messenger of God passed the night secure within the cave,

There, in God's keeping and in concealment.

There, in God's protection and concealment

There, under the protection of the Divine and in His concealment.

أَقامَ ثَلاثاً ثُمَّ زَمَّت قَلائِصُ

أَقامَ ثَلاثاً ثُمَّ زَمَّت قَلائِصُ

قَلائِصُ يَفرينَ الحَصى أَينَما يَفري

قَلائِصُ يَفرينَ الحَصى أَينَما يَفري

He stayed three nights; then young she-camels were bridled—

He stayed three nights, then search parties

He remained three nights, then the she-camels were bridled—

Young she-camels cleaving the pebbles wherever he cut his way.

Search parties scattering pebbles wherever they go

Mounts that tear through the pebbles wherever they tread.

أَرَدتُ بِهِ نَصرَ الإِلَهِ تَبَتُّلاً

أَرَدتُ بِهِ نَصرَ الإِلَهِ تَبَتُّلاً

وَأَضمَرتُهُ حَتّى أَوَسَّدَ في قَبري

وَأَضمَرتُهُ حَتّى أَوَسَّدَ في قَبري

Through this I sought to aid God, in complete devotion,

I wanted, through him, the victory of God, piously

I sought by this the aid of God, in sincere devotion,

And I held that resolve within me until I should be laid in my grave.

And I concealed it until it was lodged in my grave

And I shall harbor this intent until I am pillowed in my grave.