عليُّ لا زِلْتَ تقيكَ الرَّدى

عليُّ لا زِلْتَ تقيكَ الرَّدى

منَّا نفوسٌ لك إِخلاصُها

منَّا نفوسٌ لك إِخلاصُها

Ali, may you always be shielded from death

O Ali, you still protect them from harm

by souls among us whose devotion is yours.

We have souls loyal to you

إِنَّ شجاعاً كيف مثَّلته

إِنَّ شجاعاً كيف مثَّلته

دُرَّةَ بحرٍ أنت غَوَّاصُها

دُرَّةَ بحرٍ أنت غَوَّاصُها

Indeed, Shujaʿ—however you have portrayed him,

You exemplified a brave man

as a pearl of the sea whose diver you are,

You are the diver of the sea pearl

أو نبعةً في النيقِ مُعتاصةً

أو نبعةً في النيقِ مُعتاصةً

ما انقادَ إِلاَّ لكَ مُعتاصها

ما انقادَ إِلاَّ لكَ مُعتاصها

or a hard-to-reach nabʿ tree upon the mountain peak,

Or an impregnable spring

whose resistance yielded to you alone—

Nothing but you can control it

قَنَصْتَهُ عزّاً وقد حُطْتَهُ

قَنَصْتَهُ عزّاً وقد حُطْتَهُ

كما يحوطُ الوحشَ قَنَّاصُها

كما يحوطُ الوحشَ قَنَّاصُها

you captured him in triumph and have guarded him,

You hunted him with honor and lowered him

as a hunter guards his wild quarry.

As the hunter encloses the wild animal

وأكرمُ الطيرِ التي تُقتَنى

وأكرمُ الطيرِ التي تُقتَنى

هيَ التي تُحْكمُ أَقْفاصُها

هيَ التي تُحْكمُ أَقْفاصُها

And the noblest birds that are kept

And the most generous bird that can be captured

are those whose cages are made secure.

Is the one who strengthens its own cage