أشَاقَكَ أن تمشي على الهَامِ والدِمَّا

أشَاقَكَ أن تمشي على الهَامِ والدِمَّا

وراعك أن تبكِيْ وأَن تتألما

وراعك أن تبكِيْ وأَن تتألما

Did it entice you to walk upon heads and blood,

You yearned to walk proudly and shed tears,

and did it frighten you to weep and suffer?

And you feared to weep and suffer.

عذيرُكَ هذا الدمعُ لو أنّ في البُكا

عذيرُكَ هذا الدمعُ لو أنّ في البُكا

سِوى الذلِّ فاربَأْ أن تَذِلَّ لتُرحَما

سِوى الذلِّ فاربَأْ أن تَذِلَّ لتُرحَما

These tears might excuse you, if weeping held

These tears would be your excuse, if crying

anything but humiliation; disdain being humbled to win pity.

Were anything but humiliation—so refuse to be abased in hopes of mercy.

صُنِ التاجَ من ذلّ الدموع فإنني

صُنِ التاجَ من ذلّ الدموع فإنني

رأيتُ إباءَ النفسِ للتاج أكرَمَا

رأيتُ إباءَ النفسِ للتاج أكرَمَا

Guard the crown against the shame of tears, for I

Guard the crown from the disgrace of tears, for I

have found self-respect more honorable for the crown.

Saw that a soul's dignity honors the crown.

ومِن نَكَدِ العرشِ الذي أَنت تاركٌ

ومِن نَكَدِ العرشِ الذي أَنت تاركٌ

على الرَّغمِ أن تبكِي وأن تتظلّما

على الرَّغمِ أن تبكِي وأن تتظلّما

And among the miseries of the throne you are leaving

And scorn the grief of a throne you've abandoned,

against your will are your weeping and complaints of injustice.

Though you weep and complain against your will.

أصاب رَشَاشُ الدمع والدّمُ قبلَه

أصاب رَشَاشُ الدمع والدّمُ قبلَه

ذُراه فسالت بالدموع وبالدما

ذُراه فسالت بالدموع وبالدما

A spray of tears struck—and blood before it—

The downpour of tears and blood struck it before you.

its heights, which streamed with tears and blood.

Its towers streamed with tears and blood.

فغادرتَهُ يَندَى بدمعك جانبٌ

فغادرتَهُ يَندَى بدمعك جانبٌ

ويقطر جنبٌ من ضحاياك عَندَما

ويقطر جنبٌ من ضحاياك عَندَما

You left it with one side damp with your tears,

You left one side crying your tears

and another dripping crimson blood from your victims.

While the other wept your victims' blood, whenever—

بكى ذِلةً عبدُ الحميد وراعَهُ

بكى ذِلةً عبدُ الحميد وراعَهُ

خَيَالُ الردى في خالِعِيه مجسَّما

خَيَالُ الردى في خالِعِيه مجسَّما

Abd al-Hamid wept in humiliation, and was terrified by

‘Abd al-Hamid wept from humiliation, and he dreaded

the specter of death embodied in those who deposed him.

The specter of ruin in his abdication embodied.

وهَزَّته خوفَ الموت رعشهُ قاتلٍ

وهَزَّته خوفَ الموت رعشهُ قاتلٍ

رأى شبحَ المقتولِ منه تقدّما

رأى شبحَ المقتولِ منه تقدّما

A murderer's tremor shook him for fear of death,

The fear of lethal fate shook him, a killer's

who saw the ghost of the man he had killed advance.

Dread, when he saw the ghost of his victim approach.

فأَطبق عينيه مخافةَ أنْ يرى

فأَطبق عينيه مخافةَ أنْ يرى

وقال ليُخفي نَزوة القلب فيهما

وقال ليُخفي نَزوة القلب فيهما

He closed his eyes for fear of seeing,

So he closed his eyes, fearing to see,

and spoke to hide in them his heart's convulsion.

And feigned indifference to his heart's caprice.

عجِبت له أن يعرِفَ الخوفَ قلبُه

عجِبت له أن يعرِفَ الخوفَ قلبُه

ويا قلبَهُ ما أَنت لحماً ولا دَما

ويا قلبَهُ ما أَنت لحماً ولا دَما

I marveled that his heart should know fear;

I marvel that his heart knows fear,

O heart of his, you are neither flesh nor blood.

O his heart, it is neither flesh nor blood!

جرتْ دمعةٌ في مقلتيه وما جرى

جرتْ دمعةٌ في مقلتيه وما جرى

سوى ذوبانٍ من فؤادٍ تضرما

سوى ذوبانٍ من فؤادٍ تضرما

A tear ran in his eyes, yet nothing flowed

A teardrop flowed in his eyelid—nothing more

but molten matter from a heart ablaze:

Than a melting stream from a fiery core,

صَدَا عن حديدِ ذاب بين ضلوعه

صَدَا عن حديدِ ذاب بين ضلوعه

وسالَ إلى عينيه كالدَّمع مُسْجَما

وسالَ إلى عينيه كالدَّمع مُسْجَما

rust from iron that melted between his ribs,

Blocked from the iron dissolving in his breast,

and streamed into his eyes like pouring tears.

And pouring like tears to his eyes, repressed.

فقيلَ بكى عبدُ الحميد بكى بكى

فقيلَ بكى عبدُ الحميد بكى بكى

فلم ينسكب دمع أذلَّ وأَلأَما

فلم ينسكب دمع أذلَّ وأَلأَما

Then it was said: 'Abd al-Hamid wept—he wept, he wept!'

They said, “‘Abd al-Hamid wept, he wept!”

No more abject or baser tears were ever shed.

But no tear ever flowed so base and pained.

فيا لجلالِ الملك بالدمع ضائعاً

فيا لجلالِ الملك بالدمع ضائعاً

ويا لسناءِ التاج بالذُّل مُوصَما

ويا لسناءِ التاج بالذُّل مُوصَما

Alas for the majesty of kingship, squandered in tears!

Oh, what glory lies in the king's tears shed

Alas for the crown's splendor, branded with humiliation!

And fame in a crown branded by disgrace!

نظرتُ إليه في الخلافة رابِضاً

نظرتُ إليه في الخلافة رابِضاً

فأغضَيتُ طرفي خاشِعاً متوجّما

فأغضَيتُ طرفي خاشِعاً متوجّما

I looked upon him crouching in the caliphate,

I looked on him enthroned in the caliphate

and lowered my eyes, reverent, somber and silent.

And cast down my eyes, silently aggrieved.

وأكبرتُه أن يَلْمُسَ الوهمُ ذاتَه

وأكبرتُه أن يَلْمُسَ الوهمُ ذاتَه

فردَّ جلالُ الملكِ عنه التوهُّما

فردَّ جلالُ الملكِ عنه التوهُّما

I deemed him too exalted for imagination to touch his person;

I honored him too much to let fancy touch him,

the majesty of kingship drove conjecture away from him.

So the glory of kingship dispelled the fancy.

يقولون ظِلُّ الله في أرضِهِ وَلَوْ

يقولون ظِلُّ الله في أرضِهِ وَلَوْ

أَرادَ يقولا فوقَ ذاكَ وأَعظما

أَرادَ يقولا فوقَ ذاكَ وأَعظما

They call him God's shadow on His earth; and if

They say, “God's shadow on earth”—and even if

he wished, they would say something higher and greater.

They wanted to say more, that would suffice.

فيا أَيُّها الظِلُّ الذي كان دائماً

فيا أَيُّها الظِلُّ الذي كان دائماً

خفِياً عن الأبصار لكن منَّجما

خفِياً عن الأبصار لكن منَّجما

O shadow that was always

O shadow that always hid from sight,

hidden from sight, yet glimpsed at intervals!

Though charted by the stars' predictiveness,

تحجّبْ كما تَهْوَى وصُلْ واحتكم ولا

تحجّبْ كما تَهْوَى وصُلْ واحتكم ولا

تحاذرْ بَلاءً واغنَمِ العيشَ منعَما

تحاذرْ بَلاءً واغنَمِ العيشَ منعَما

Veil yourself as you wish; lash out and command, and do not

Veil yourself as you wish, draw near and judge; fear no

fear calamity; take your fill of life in luxury.

Ordeal, but enjoy a blissful life.

فما هي إلا فرصة ثم تنقضي

فما هي إلا فرصة ثم تنقضي

ولذة دهرٍ ثم تصبحُ عَلقَما

ولذة دهرٍ ثم تصبحُ عَلقَما

It is only an opportunity, and then it passes,

For it is only an occasion, then gone,

a spell of pleasure, which then becomes bitter colocynth.

A worldly joy, then bitter aloes.

إذا حَجبَ العزُّ المنَّعُ عاتياً

إذا حَجبَ العزُّ المنَّعُ عاتياً

عن الناس لم يحجُبْهُ عَنْ غَضَبِ السما

عن الناس لم يحجُبْهُ عَنْ غَضَبِ السما

If impregnable might shields a tyrant

When mighty pride defiantly hides

from the people, it does not shield him from heaven's wrath.

From people, it does not hide from heaven's wrath.

جرى قدَرُ الأيام فيه فلا العُلى

جرى قدَرُ الأيام فيه فلا العُلى

وقَتْ عرشَهُ السامي ولا جندهُ حمى

وقَتْ عرشَهُ السامي ولا جندهُ حمى

The fate of days ran its course in him; neither eminence

Fate took its course, so neither height

protected his lofty throne, nor did his troops defend him.

Nor its lofty throne or troops kept it safe.

هوى من سماهُ بالدموع مضرَّجاً

هوى من سماهُ بالدموع مضرَّجاً

كما انحطَّ نَسْرٌ من عُلاه مُكَلَّما

كما انحطَّ نَسْرٌ من عُلاه مُكَلَّما

He fell from his heaven, drenched in tears,

It fell, blood-spattered with tears, from its summit,

like an eagle dropping wounded from its height.

Like a wounded eagle plummeting, its wings clipped.

فما هان ذو عرشِ كما هان صاغراً

فما هان ذو عرشِ كما هان صاغراً

ولا ذَلَّ عاتٍ كان أقسى وأظلما

ولا ذَلَّ عاتٍ كان أقسى وأظلما

No throne-holder was so abased as he, brought low,

No throne fell so low as it fell humbled,

nor was any humbled tyrant harsher or more unjust.

No rebel's pride was harder or darker.

بكى فبكى بِرّاً به نجلُه الفتى

بكى فبكى بِرّاً به نجلُه الفتى

فيا لشقاءِ ابنٍ عليه تألمّا

فيا لشقاءِ ابنٍ عليه تألمّا

He wept, and his young son wept out of devotion to him.

The noble youth, its son, wept for it—

Alas for the misery of a son who suffered over him!

Oh what misery for a son to grieve it!

فتىً كملاكِ الوَحْيِ لم يعرِف الأسى

فتىً كملاكِ الوَحْيِ لم يعرِف الأسى

ولم يتعوَّدْ غيرَ أن يتنعّما

ولم يتعوَّدْ غيرَ أن يتنعّما

A youth like the angel of revelation, who had never known sorrow,

An angel-like boy who never knew sorrow

and had grown accustomed only to luxury.

And was used to nothing but bliss.

ترفّه حتى لم يمَسَّ جبينَه

ترفّه حتى لم يمَسَّ جبينَه

نسيمٌ ولم تلمح له الشمسُ مَبْسِمَا

نسيمٌ ولم تلمح له الشمسُ مَبْسِمَا

He lived so luxuriously that his brow had never been touched

He was pampered until no breeze touched his brow

by a breeze, nor had the sun glimpsed his smile.

Or sun smiled at him, however it beamed.

إذا نَفَحاتُ الزهر راعت فؤادَهُ

إذا نَفَحاتُ الزهر راعت فؤادَهُ

بطيب شذاهُ عُوقِبَ الزهرُ مجرِما

بطيب شذاهُ عُوقِبَ الزهرُ مجرِما

If the flowers' breath alarmed his heart

When wafts of flowers delighted his heart

with its sweet fragrance, the flowers were punished as criminals.

With their fragrance, the flowers were blamed as criminal.

أحبَّ أَباه والفتى غيرُ واجدٍ

أحبَّ أَباه والفتى غيرُ واجدٍ

أَبرّ فؤاداً من أَبيه وأرحما

أَبرّ فؤاداً من أَبيه وأرحما

He loved his father, and the youth could find no one

He loved his father, and that boy had never known

more loving at heart than his father, or more merciful.

A kinder heart or more tender core.

رُويدَك يا عبدَ الرحيمِ ولا تكُنْ

رُويدَك يا عبدَ الرحيمِ ولا تكُنْ

جَزوعاً وحاذِرْ أن ترقَّ وترحما

جَزوعاً وحاذِرْ أن ترقَّ وترحما

Steady yourself, Abd al-Rahim, and do not be

Gently, ‘Abd al-Rahim! Don't despair,

distraught; beware of softening and taking pity.

And beware of melting into tears.

أبوك جنى والشعب عاقبه على

أبوك جنى والشعب عاقبه على

جناياته فليلقَ عدلاً عقابَ ما

جناياته فليلقَ عدلاً عقابَ ما

Your father committed crimes, and the people punished him for

Your father did wrong, and the people punished

his crimes; let him justly face some punishment.

His crimes. Let him face justice and pay for them.

أبوك أهان الملك فاقرأ حياته

أبوك أهان الملك فاقرأ حياته

تجد مِلأَها ويلاً وظلماً ومغرما

تجد مِلأَها ويلاً وظلماً ومغرما

Your father dishonored kingship; read his life,

Your father disgraced the crown—read his life's history:

and you will find it filled with woe, injustice, and ruinous loss.

Nothing but woe, injustice, profligacy.

أبوك أذلّ العرش فانظر لعرشه

أبوك أذلّ العرش فانظر لعرشه

تجدْه كما شاء الشقاء مهدما

تجدْه كما شاء الشقاء مهدما

Your father debased the throne; look at his throne,

Your father debased the throne—look at his throne:

and you will find it demolished, as misery willed.

However fate willed, it was toppled and ruined.

أبوك بلى هذا أبوك وهذه

أبوك بلى هذا أبوك وهذه

معاصيه فامسح من دموعك ما همى

معاصيه فامسح من دموعك ما همى

Your father—yes, this is your father, and these

Yes, that was your father, those were his sins,

are his sins; wipe away your streaming tears.

So wipe away the tears that burn for him.

وقل يا أبي الملك لله وحده

وقل يا أبي الملك لله وحده

وللشَّعب هذا العرش فاخلَعه مرغَما

وللشَّعب هذا العرش فاخلَعه مرغَما

And say: Father, sovereignty belongs to God alone,

Say: O father, the kingdom belongs to God alone

and this throne to the people; relinquish it under compulsion.

And this throne to the people. Abdicate, compelled.

أعِدْ تاج عُثمانٍ لرأس محمدٍ

أعِدْ تاج عُثمانٍ لرأس محمدٍ

يَعُدْ مجدُه البالي أجلَّ وأفخما

يَعُدْ مجدُه البالي أجلَّ وأفخما

Return Uthman's crown to Muhammad's head,

Return Uthman's crown to Muhammad's head;

and its faded glory will return, nobler and grander.

His faded glory will shine brighter than gems.

ورُدَّ له سيفَ الخلافَةِ إنني

ورُدَّ له سيفَ الخلافَةِ إنني

رأيتُ أَخاك الحُرَّ أَمضى وأحزما

رأيتُ أَخاك الحُرَّ أَمضى وأحزما

And restore to him the caliphate's sword, for I

Give back to him the sword of caliphate, for I

have found your free brother keener and more resolute.

Saw your noble brother more steadfast and bold.

إذا أنتَ لمْ تحفظ لعرشك مجدَهُ

إذا أنتَ لمْ تحفظ لعرشك مجدَهُ

فأهوِنْ بهذا العرش أن يتحطما

فأهوِنْ بهذا العرش أن يتحطما

If you have not preserved your throne's glory,

If you don't preserve your throne's glory yourself,

then think little of this throne's being shattered.

Think little of a throne that shatters and falls.

أمُستَرخِصَ الدمعِ العَصيّ أإتئد

أمُستَرخِصَ الدمعِ العَصيّ أإتئد

فما عصِيَ الدمعُ الطغاةَ فُتعصَما

فما عصِيَ الدمعُ الطغاةَ فُتعصَما

O you who cheapen tears so hard to summon, be deliberate;

Do you think rebel tears come cheap? Will suppressed

tears have never resisted tyrants, so you cannot be spared.

Tears never defy tyrants? Will they go unshed?

يَهونُ على العرشِ الدماءُ التي جرت

يَهونُ على العرشِ الدماءُ التي جرت

فلا تبتدِعْ خُلقاً جديداً مذمَّما

فلا تبتدِعْ خُلقاً جديداً مذمَّما

The blood that has flowed weighs lightly on the throne;

For the throne, blood spilled was cheaper than tears.

do not invent a new, blameworthy trait.

So don't innovate a new cursed norm.

ولا تمتلئْ عيناكَ بالدمع إنني

ولا تمتلئْ عيناكَ بالدمع إنني

أُحاذرُ أن يغشَى البُكا نَاظِرَيهما

أُحاذرُ أن يغشَى البُكا نَاظِرَيهما

And do not let your eyes fill with tears, for I

Don't fill your eyes with tears—I'm anxious tears

fear that weeping will veil their pupils.

Won't flood the vision when you look at me.

أجِلْ نظرةً تُبصرْ بقايا ممالكٍ

أجِلْ نظرةً تُبصرْ بقايا ممالكٍ

خَلاءً أَثارَ الظلمُ فيها جهنّما

خَلاءً أَثارَ الظلمُ فيها جهنّما

Let your glance roam: you will see the remains of kingdoms,

Imagine gazing on the ruins of kingdoms

desolate, where tyranny stirred up hell.

Laid waste, hellish traces of injustice on them.

ولا تنسَ عَهداً في ثلاثين حِجةً

ولا تنسَ عَهداً في ثلاثين حِجةً

سيحفَظُهُ التاريخُ أكمدَ أقتما

سيحفَظُهُ التاريخُ أكمدَ أقتما

And do not forget a reign of thirty years,

Don't forget the epoch of thirty pilgrimages

which history will preserve as gloomy and pitch-black.

Whose history eternity will preserve, branded.

فلا أنتَ أرضيتَ النبيَّ محمداً

فلا أنتَ أرضيتَ النبيَّ محمداً

ولا مجدَ عثمانٍ حفظت مكرَّما

ولا مجدَ عثمانٍ حفظت مكرَّما

You neither pleased the Prophet Muhammad,

You pleased neither the Prophet Muhammad

nor preserved Uthman's glory in honor.

Nor kept the glory of Uthman honoured.

أَفَرْقانِ في دينٍ وفي مجدِ أمةٍ

أَفَرْقانِ في دينٍ وفي مجدِ أمةٍ

فعوقِبتَ تُركياً وعوقِبتَ مُسلِما

فعوقِبتَ تُركياً وعوقِبتَ مُسلِما

Two breaches—in the faith and in a nation's glory?

You tore religions and a nation's glory apart,

So you were punished as a Turk, and punished as a Muslim.

So Turkey was punished—and Muslims with it.

أَطِلَّ على تايخِ غرناطةٍ تجد

أَطِلَّ على تايخِ غرناطةٍ تجد

مَليكاً لَهَا عن ملكه فتهدّما

مَليكاً لَهَا عن ملكه فتهدّما

Look upon the history of Granada, and you will find

Look on Granada's history and you'll find

a king who neglected his kingdom and so came to ruin.

A king who, for his reign, was toppled and destroyed.

فيا عاتياً لم يتّعظ بالُأَلى قضَوا

فيا عاتياً لم يتّعظ بالُأَلى قضَوا

تَسلَّلْ بأنْ تأسى وأن تتندّما

تَسلَّلْ بأنْ تأسى وأن تتندّما

O tyrant who took no lesson from those who perished,

O you tyrant, who refuses to learn from anguish,

slink away in sorrow and remorse.

Take care to grieve and regret what you did!