لاNo وَالمَطاياby the riding-camels ذُلُلاًdocile فيupon البَرىthe earth
لا وَالمَطايا ذُلُلاً في البَرى
تَؤُمُّheading toward بِالرُكبانِwith the riders أُمَّthe Mother القُرىof Towns
تَؤُمُّ بِالرُكبانِ أُمَّ القُرى
No—by the camels, docile upon the earth,
No, by the camels gently treading,
heading with the riders toward the Mother of Towns.
That bring pilgrims to Mecca's shrine.
مِثلُlike الحَناياthe bows فَوَّقَتhave nocked أَسهُماًarrows
مِثلُ الحَنايا فَوَّقَت أَسهُماً
مِنfrom كُلِّevery شَهمٍgallant man أَشعَثٍdisheveled أَغبَراdust-covered
مِن كُلِّ شَهمٍ أَشعَثٍ أَغبَرا
Like bows, they have nocked as arrows
Like mourning women, humbly bowing,
each gallant man, disheveled and dust-covered.
Over tombs where heroes recline;
أَعنيI mean الَّتيthe one that فَضَّلَهاfavored it رَبُّهاits Lord
أَعني الَّتي فَضَّلَها رَبُّها
حَتّىso that إِذاwhen طافَhe circumambulated بِهاaround it اِستَعبَراhe wept
حَتّى إِذا طافَ بِها اِستَعبَرا
I mean the city so favored by its Lord
Those eyes that once with pleasure glittered
that when he circles it, he is moved to tears.
Have looked on change and wept in vain,
طافَhe circumambulated بِهاaround it سَبعاًseven times وَلَبّىand chanted 'Here I am' وَماand not
طافَ بِها سَبعاً وَلَبّى وَما
يَملِكُhe can رَدَّhold back الدَّمعِthe tears لماwhen جَرىflowed
يَملِكُ رَدَّ الدَّمعِ لما جَرى
He circles it seven times and cries 'Here I am,' and cannot
As round the sacred shrine they flitted,
hold back the tears when they flow.
The seven-fold circuit to maintain.
كَمhow many a غادَةٍgraceful maiden خارِقَةٍdefying عادَةًcustom
كَم غادَةٍ خارِقَةٍ عادَةً
مُسفِرَةٍunveiled كَالبَدرِlike the full moon إِذwhen أَسفَراit shone forth
مُسفِرَةٍ كَالبَدرِ إِذ أَسفَرا
How many a graceful maiden, defying custom,
What beauteous forms, like moons effulgent,
unveiled like the full moon when it shines forth,
Have vanished in death's endless night!
تَقولُshe says بِاللَهِby God انظُرواlook وَاِطلُبواand ask
تَقولُ بِاللَهِ انظُروا وَاِطلُبوا
مِنfrom رَبِّthe Lord of هَذاthis البَيتِthe House أَنto يَغفِراforgive
مِن رَبِّ هَذا البَيتِ أَن يَغفِرا
says, 'By God, look, and ask
"For God's sake take me to His dwelling,
the Lord of this House to forgive.'
That He may pardon all my plight!"
تَهُزُّshe sways فَوقَabove الدِّعصِthe sandhill غُصنَthe bough النَّقاof the sand dune
تَهُزُّ فَوقَ الدِّعصِ غُصنَ النَّقا
مُجاذِباًvying with مِنfrom لَحظِهاher glance خِنجَراa dagger
مُجاذِباً مِن لَحظِها خِنجَرا
She sways the dune's bough above a sandhill,
The branches of the lofty palm-trees wave
vying with a dagger from her glance.
As her sweet, tearful glances crave.
فَيُبهَتُso are dumbfounded الناسُthe people حَيارىbewildered إِذاwhen
فَيُبهَتُ الناسُ حَيارى إِذا
وافَتshe reaches مُنىًMina وَالرُّكنَand the Corner وَالمَشعَراand the Sacred Station
وافَت مُنىً وَالرُّكنَ وَالمَشعَرا
So people are dumbfounded and bewildered when
Men all amazed stand struck with wonder,
she reaches Mina, the Corner, and the Sacred Station.
When she draws near the hills called Al-Mash'ar.
ماnot نَظَرَتhave seen عَينايَmy eyes أَبهَىmore splendid وَلاnor
ما نَظَرَت عَينايَ أَبهَى وَلا
أَبهَجَmore delightful مِنthan مِصرٍEgypt وَلاnor أَنضَراmore radiant
أَبهَجَ مِن مِصرٍ وَلا أَنضَرا
My eyes have seen nothing more splendid, nor
No fairer scene mine eyes discover,
more delightful than Egypt, nor more radiant.
Nor greener spot where all is bare,
أَصبوI yearn إِلىfor القَصرَينِthe Two Palaces مِنfrom قَصرِthe palace of حَجHaj- (start of Hajjaj)
أَصبو إِلى القَصرَينِ مِن قَصرِ حَج
جاجٍ-jaj (completes Hajjaj) وَمنand whoever بَينَهُماbetween the two سَيَّراtraveled
جاجٍ وَمن بَينَهُما سَيَّرا
I yearn for the Two Palaces from the palace of
From Cairo's palace to Medina,
Hajjaj, and for whoever traveled between them.
Nor yet Damascus' gardens fair.
أَشتاقُI long for مِنfrom جَلَّقَJallaq مِصراًEgypt وَمِنand from
أَشتاقُ مِن جَلَّقَ مِصراً وَمِن
جَوبَرَJawbar أَرتاحُI yearn إِلىtoward جَوجَراJawjar
جَوبَرَ أَرتاحُ إِلى جَوجَرا
From Jallaq I long for Egypt, and from
Dear native Cairo claims my duty,
Jawbar I yearn for Jawjar.
But no abiding place is there;
عَدِّleave aside عَنِfrom النَيرَبِal-Nayrab وَالرَبوَةَand al-Rabwa الthe (continued next line)
عَدِّ عَنِ النَيرَبِ وَالرَبوَةَ ال
عَلياءِlofty وَالواديand the valley إِلىto دُمَّراDummar
عَلياءِ وَالوادي إِلى دُمَّرا
Leave aside al-Nayrab and al-Rabwa,
Damascus calls me—how I covet
the lofty one, and the valley leading to Dummar.
To see again her landscapes fair!
فَلَستُfor I do not أَختارُchoose دِمَشقاًDamascus عَلىover
فَلَستُ أَختارُ دِمَشقاً عَلى
مِصرٍEgypt وَلاnor مَيدانَهاits field الأَخضَراgreen
مِصرٍ وَلا مَيدانَها الأَخضَرا
For I do not prefer Damascus over
Leave Nayrab and Rabwah behind thee,
Egypt, nor its green field.
Press onward to Bosra's old walls,
دِيارُthe lands of مِصرٍEgypt جَنَّةٌa paradise زُخرِفَتwas adorned
دِيارُ مِصرٍ جَنَّةٌ زُخرِفَت
وَأُجريَand was made to flow النيلُthe Nile بِهاthrough it كَوثَراas Kawthar
وَأُجريَ النيلُ بِها كَوثَرا
The lands of Egypt are an adorned paradise,
Nor would I Damascene meadows choose
and the Nile was made to flow there as Kawthar.
In place of Egypt's shining malls.
لَكِنَّهاbut it مِنfrom بَعدِafter حُبّيmy beloved اِكتَسَتclothed itself
لَكِنَّها مِن بَعدِ حُبّي اِكتَسَت
لِباسَa garb of ذُلٍّhumiliation فيهِabout it لاnot يُمتَرىis doubted
لِباسَ ذُلٍّ فيهِ لا يُمتَرى
Yet after my beloved was gone, it put on
Though once the joy of every stranger,
a garb of humiliation about which there is no doubt.
How art thou now brought low and base!
وَزُلزِلَتand was shaken زِلزالَهاwith its earthquake بَعدَهُafter him
وَزُلزِلَت زِلزالَها بَعدَهُ
حَتّىuntil اِغتَدىbecame مَعروفُهاits goodness مُنكراevil
حَتّى اِغتَدى مَعروفُها مُنكرا
And after him it was shaken with its own earthquake,
Once justice dwelt within thy dwelling,
until its goodness became evil.
But tyrants now usurp her place.
ماnot سَكَنَdwelt الخَيرُgoodness بِهاin it مُذsince خَلَتbecame empty
ما سَكَنَ الخَيرُ بِها مُذ خَلَت
مِنof أَسَدِAsad (Lion) الدينِal-Din (of the Faith) سَراSara سُنقُراSunqur
مِن أَسَدِ الدينِ سَرا سُنقُرا
Goodness has not dwelt there since it became empty
When Saladin came, thou didst escape
of Asad al-Din Sara Sunqur.
The manners of the base and vile;
دِمَشقُDamascus لماwhen حَلَّهاhe settled in it اِستَعصَمَتsecured itself
دِمَشقُ لما حَلَّها اِستَعصَمَت
عَنِagainst العِداthe enemies إِذwhen فَرَّfled لَيثُthe lion الشَرىof al-Shara
عَنِ العِدا إِذ فَرَّ لَيثُ الشَرى
Damascus, when he settled there, found protection
With thousands only he could master
against enemies when the lion of al-Shara fled.
Ten thousand in a little while.
يَحمِلُhe charges فيinto آلافِهِمtheir thousands وَحدَهُalone
يَحمِلُ في آلافِهِم وَحدَهُ
وَيَنثَنيand turns back بِالنَّصرِwith victory مُستَبشِراrejoicing
وَيَنثَني بِالنَّصرِ مُستَبشِرا
He charges into their thousands alone
Like eagles stooping on their quarry,
and turns back rejoicing in victory.
His foes fell prone beneath his blows;
كَأَنَّهُas though he were البازُthe hawk مُطِلاًlooking down عَلىupon
كَأَنَّهُ البازُ مُطِلاً عَلى
سِربِa flock of القَطاthe sandgrouse الكُدرِيِّdusky إِذwhen صَرصَراit screeched
سِربِ القَطا الكُدرِيِّ إِذ صَرصَرا
He is like a hawk looking down upon
His fondest friends, when they surround him,
a flock of dusky sandgrouse, as the hawk screeches.
Rejoice aloud and yell "Allaho!"
يَعتَنِقُhe embraces الأَعداءَthe enemies مِثلَlike اِعتناembrace (word begins)
يَعتَنِقُ الأَعداءَ مِثلَ اِعتنا
قِcompletion of 'embrace' العاشِقِthe lover المَعشوقَthe beloved مُستَهتِراmadly infatuated
قِ العاشِقِ المَعشوقَ مُستَهتِرا
He embraces his enemies as
In Allah's name he puts to flight both
a lover embraces the beloved, madly infatuated.
The Roman and the Moorish band,
ذاكَthat عِناقٌan embrace يُفرِشُlays down القِرنَthe opponent فيat
ذاكَ عِناقٌ يُفرِشُ القِرنَ في
صَدرِthe breast of الحُسامِthe sword العَضبِkeen-edged ظَهرthe back of البَرىthe earth
صَدرِ الحُسامِ العَضبِ ظَهر البَرى
That embrace lays the opponent down, at
While rumor of his conquests ever
the keen sword's breast, on the earth's back.
O'erspreads the East and Western land;
يُرديhe fells الكُماةَthe armored warriors البيضَthe fair ones وَالسُمرَand the dark ones إِذwhen
يُردي الكُماةَ البيضَ وَالسُمرَ إِذ
يُجَرِّدُhe bares الأَبيَضَthe white sword وَالأَسمَراand the brown spear
يُجَرِّدُ الأَبيَضَ وَالأَسمَرا
He fells the fair and dark warriors when
He recked not of his earthly kingdom,
he bares the white sword and the brown spear.
Religion was his only care;
يَعودُturn back بِالتَّهليلِwith the declaration of God's oneness أَعداؤُهُhis enemies
يَعودُ بِالتَّهليلِ أَعداؤُهُ
إِذاwhen رَأَوهُthey see him فيin الوَغىbattle كَبَّراhe cries 'God is greatest'
إِذا رَأَوهُ في الوَغى كَبَّرا
His enemies turn back crying 'There is no god but God'
He left the throne of Cairo freely
when they see him cry 'God is greatest' in battle.
That he might to his faith prove true.
فَبِاسمِهِso by his name يستهزمُhe routs الرومَthe Romans وَالand the
فَبِاسمِهِ يستهزمُ الرومَ وَال
أَندَلُسَAndalus الإِفرنجَthe Franks وَالبَربَراand the Berbers
أَندَلُسَ الإِفرنجَ وَالبَربَرا
Thus, by his name, he routs the Romans and
No worldly grandeur turned his spirit,
al-Andalus, the Franks, and the Berbers.
No pride in him had any share;
وَذِكرُهُand his fame شَرقاًin the east وَغَرباًand in the west عَلاsurpassed
وَذِكرُهُ شَرقاً وَغَرباً عَلا
خاقانَKhaqan قِدماًlong ago وَعَلاand surpassed سَنجَراSanjar
خاقانَ قِدماً وَعَلا سَنجَرا
And his fame, in east and west, surpassed
The crescent moon obeys his order,
Khaqan long ago, and surpassed Sanjar.
The hawk upon his wrist doth fare;
لَمnot تثنِهِturned him aside دُنياهُhis worldly life عَنfrom دينِهِhis faith
لَم تثنِهِ دُنياهُ عَن دينِهِ
وَلَمand not يَكُنhe was فيamong الناسِthe people مُستَكبِراarrogant
وَلَم يَكُن في الناسِ مُستَكبِرا
His worldly life did not turn him from his faith,
Beneath the standards red as crimson
nor was he arrogant among people.
That o'er his troops unfurled display,
فارَقَhe forsook مُلكَdominion over الأَرضِthe earth فيin مِصرَEgypt كَيso that
فارَقَ مُلكَ الأَرضِ في مِصرَ كَي
لاnot يُهمِلَneglect العَهدَthe pledge وَلاnor يَغدُراact treacherously
لا يُهمِلَ العَهدَ وَلا يَغدُرا
He forsook earthly dominion in Egypt, so
The kings of earth might gaze in wonder
as not to neglect his pledge or act treacherously.
Upon their memorable day!
هَذاthis الوَفاءُloyalty المَحضُpure لاnot ماthat which بِهِby it الthe (name prefix)
هَذا الوَفاءُ المَحضُ لا ما بِهِ ال
سمَوءَلSamaw'al استَوجَبَearned the right أَنto يَفخَراboast
سمَوءَل استَوجَبَ أَن يَفخَرا
This is pure loyalty—not that for which
The flags that wave in festal glory
al-Samaw'al earned the right to boast.
Are dyed a deep and purple dye;
فَالطرفُso the steed لَيثٌa lion وَهوَand he صَقرa falcon وَفيand on الthe
فَالطرفُ لَيثٌ وَهوَ صَقر وَفي ال
رُمحِlance عُقابٌan eagle عانَقَتembraced أَسمَراa brown shaft
رُمحِ عُقابٌ عانَقَت أَسمَرا
Thus the steed is a lion, and he a falcon; on the
How many a coat of mail resplendent
lance, an eagle embraces a brown shaft.
His trenchant blade hath cleft in twain!
يَصدُرُhe returns بِالراياتِwith the banners حُمراًred إِذاwhen
يَصدُرُ بِالراياتِ حُمراً إِذا
وَرَدنَthey arrived صُفراًyellow أَحسَنَتwere lovely مَنظَراto behold
وَرَدنَ صُفراً أَحسَنَت مَنظَرا
He returns with the banners red, though
How many a hero's shining armor,
they arrived yellow, lovely to behold.
His mighty sword doth cut in vain!
وَماand not سَمِعناwe have heard مِثلَthe like of راياتِهِhis banners
وَما سَمِعنا مِثلَ راياتِهِ
بِجُلَّنارٍof pomegranate blossom كانَwas نَيلوفَراwater lily
بِجُلَّنارٍ كانَ نَيلوفَرا
Nor have we heard of anything like his banners:
O blade of Saladin, 'tis justly
pomegranate blossoms that once were water lilies.
That o'er thee flags should proud unfold!
فَكَمand how many an كَمِيٍّarmored warrior قَدَّهُsplit him سَيفُهُhis sword
فَكَم كَمِيٍّ قَدَّهُ سَيفُهُ
نِصفَينِinto two halves فَاِستافَand then sniffed الذُبابُthe sword-tip الثَرىthe soil
نِصفَينِ فَاِستافَ الذُبابُ الثَرى
How many an armored warrior his sword has split
His arrows reach the distant target,
in two, so that the sword-tip sniffed the soil,
However far his foes may hold.
مِنfrom بَعدِafter أَنthat قَدَّhe cut through بِهِwith it الدِرعَthe mail coat وَالand the
مِن بَعدِ أَن قَدَّ بِهِ الدِرعَ وَال
بيضَةَhelmet وَالقَونَصَand the helmet's crown وَالمغفراand the mail coif
بيضَةَ وَالقَونَصَ وَالمغفرا
after he had cut through with it the mail coat and the
O thou, whose bride my songs advise thee,
helmet, the helmet's crown, and the mail coif.
All beauteous things thy glances shame,
ياO سَيفَsword of سَيفِSaif (Sword) الدينِal-Din (of the Faith) يَومَthe day of الوَغىbattle
يا سَيفَ سَيفِ الدينِ يَومَ الوَغى
حُقَّتare rightfully due لَكَto you الأَعلامُthe banners أَنto تُنشَراbe unfurled
حُقَّت لَكَ الأَعلامُ أَن تُنشَرا
O sword of Saif al-Din on the day of battle,
On whomsoever looks thy beauty,
it is right that banners be unfurled for you.
His heart must yield to Cupid's flame!
ياO مُدرِكَexactor of الأَوتارِblood-debts; bowstrings مِنfrom خَصمِهِhis foe
يا مُدرِكَ الأَوتارِ مِن خَصمِهِ
إِنif خَطَفَhe snatches القَوسَthe bow وَإِنand if أَوتَراhe strings it
إِن خَطَفَ القَوسَ وَإِن أَوتَرا
O you who exact vengeance from your foe,
Thy servant, oh, relieve his sadness!
whether he snatches up the bow or strings it.
See how he wearies for thy sight!
خُذهاtake her عَروساًas a bride مِنfrom فَميmy mouth تُجتَلىshe is unveiled
خُذها عَروساً مِن فَمي تُجتَلى
عَلَيكَbefore you ياO أَحسَنَthe finest مَنof those فيamong الوَرىmankind
عَلَيكَ يا أَحسَنَ مَن في الوَرى
Take her as a bride from my mouth, unveiled
God grant that, spite of time's envious blight,
before you, O finest of all mankind.
You still may claim the poet's lay!
وَجُدand be generous عَلىto عَبدِكَyour servant إِنّيindeed I لَقَدsurely
وَجُد عَلى عَبدِكَ إِنّي لَقَد
أَمسَيتُI have become ماreinforcing particle بَينَamong الوَرىmankind مُعسِراdestitute
أَمسَيتُ ما بَينَ الوَرى مُعسِرا
And be generous to your servant: I have indeed
become destitute among mankind.
فاللَهُso may God يُبقيكَpreserve you مَدىfor the length of الدَهرِtime ماas long as
فاللَهُ يُبقيكَ مَدى الدَهرِ ما
حَنَّتsang plaintively حُداةُthe drivers of العيسِthe pale camels عِندَduring السُرىthe night journey
حَنَّت حُداةُ العيسِ عِندَ السُرى
So may God preserve you for all time, as long as
the drivers of pale camels sing plaintively on night journeys.
Partial English translation: 74 of 78 Arabic lines translated.