يا عَبلَ إِن كانَ ظِلُّ القَسطَلِ الحَلِكِ

يا عَبلَ إِن كانَ ظِلُّ القَسطَلِ الحَلِكِ

أَخفى عَلَيكِ قِتالي يَومَ مُعتَرَكي

أَخفى عَلَيكِ قِتالي يَومَ مُعتَرَكي

O Abla, if the shadow of the pitch-dark battle dust

O young camel, though the shadow of the tall castle obscured from you my fighting on the day of battle,

hid my fighting from you on the day of my battle,

Ask my steed - did I ever let it loose except against a throng dark as night intertwined?

فَسائِلي فَرَسي هَل كُنتُ أُطلِقُهُ

فَسائِلي فَرَسي هَل كُنتُ أُطلِقُهُ

إِلّا عَلى مَوكِبٍ كَاللَيلِ مُحتَبِكِ

إِلّا عَلى مَوكِبٍ كَاللَيلِ مُحتَبِكِ

then ask my horse: did I ever let him loose

Ask my sword about me - did I ever strike with it on a day of war anything but the coronet of a king?

except against a host densely woven as night?

Ask my spear about me - did I ever stab with it anything but a mailed warrior between throat and palate?

وَسائِلي السَيفَ عَنّي هَل ضَرَبتُ بِهِ

وَسائِلي السَيفَ عَنّي هَل ضَرَبتُ بِهِ

يَومَ الكَريهَةِ إِلّا هامَةَ المَلِكِ

يَومَ الكَريهَةِ إِلّا هامَةَ المَلِكِ

And ask the sword about me: did I strike with it

I give drink to the sword and give drink to the spear their fill, and I follow the standard and fear no mishap.

on the day of battle anything but the king's head?

How many a cutting blow with the edge of a sharp sword, and stabbing thrust that cracked the corselet in the links!

وَسائِلي الرُمحَ عَنّي هَل طَعَنتُ بِهِ

وَسائِلي الرُمحَ عَنّي هَل طَعَنتُ بِهِ

إِلّا المُدَرَّعَ بَينَ النَحرِ وَالحَنَكِ

إِلّا المُدَرَّعَ بَينَ النَحرِ وَالحَنَكِ

And ask the spear about me: did I pierce with it

Were it not for Him whom the angels dread in their awe, I would have made my charger's back the dome of heaven.

anyone but the armored warrior, between breast and jaw?

أَسقي الحُسامَ وَأَسقي الرُمحَ نَهلَتَهُ

أَسقي الحُسامَ وَأَسقي الرُمحَ نَهلَتَهُ

وَأَتبَعُ القِرنَ لا أَخشى مِنَ الدَرَكِ

وَأَتبَعُ القِرنَ لا أَخشى مِنَ الدَرَكِ

I give the keen sword drink, and give the spear its draught,

and pursue my adversary, unafraid of being overtaken.

كَم ضَربَةٍ لي بِحَدِّ السَيفِ قاطِعَةٍ

كَم ضَربَةٍ لي بِحَدِّ السَيفِ قاطِعَةٍ

وَطَعنَةٍ شَكَّتِ القَربوسَ بِالكَرِكِ

وَطَعنَةٍ شَكَّتِ القَربوسَ بِالكَرِكِ

How many a cleaving blow I've dealt with the sword's edge,

and a thrust that pinned the saddlebow to the chest!

لَولا الَّذي تَرهَبُ الأَملاكُ قُدرَتُهُ

لَولا الَّذي تَرهَبُ الأَملاكُ قُدرَتُهُ

جَعَلتُ مَتنَ جَوادي قُبَّةَ الفَلَكِ

جَعَلتُ مَتنَ جَوادي قُبَّةَ الفَلَكِ

Were it not for Him whose power kings dread,

I would have made my steed's back the dome of the heavens.