نَحا فارِسُ الشَهباءِ وَالخَيلُ جُنَّحٌ

نَحا فارِسُ الشَهباءِ وَالخَيلُ جُنَّحٌ

عَلى فارِسٍ بَينَ الأَسِنَّةِ مُقصَدِ

عَلى فارِسٍ بَينَ الأَسِنَّةِ مُقصَدِ

The rider of the grey mare bore down, the horses leaning forward,

The knight of shooting stars rode on, his horse a winged creature,

on a rider struck down amid the spearheads.

Towards a rider mid the glittering swords, his goal.

وَلَولا يَدٌ نالَتهُ مِنّا لَأَصبَحَت

وَلَولا يَدٌ نالَتهُ مِنّا لَأَصبَحَت

سِباعٌ تَهادى شِلوَهُ غَيرَ مُسنَدِ

سِباعٌ تَهادى شِلوَهُ غَيرَ مُسنَدِ

And but for a helping hand from us that reached him, there would have been

Had not a hand reached him from us, he would have been

wild beasts passing his unprotected remains among themselves.

Wolves quarrying over his body, no longer supported.

فَلا تَكفُرِ النُعمى وَأَثنِ بِفَضلِها

فَلا تَكفُرِ النُعمى وَأَثنِ بِفَضلِها

وَلا تَأمَنَن ما يُحدِثُ اللَهُ في غَدِ

وَلا تَأمَنَن ما يُحدِثُ اللَهُ في غَدِ

So do not be ungrateful for the favor, and praise its merit;

So do not deny blessings, but give thanks for their grace,

and never feel safe from what God brings about tomorrow.

And feel no security from what Allah unfolds tomorrow.

فَإِن يَكُ عَبدُ اللَهِ لاقى فَوارِساً

فَإِن يَكُ عَبدُ اللَهِ لاقى فَوارِساً

يَرُدّونَ خالَ العارِضِ المُتَوَقِّدِ

يَرُدّونَ خالَ العارِضِ المُتَوَقِّدِ

For if ʿAbd Allāh has met horsemen

For if Abdullah’s servant meets knights

who turn back the lightning of the blazing storm-cloud,

Driving back the shameful attacker aflame,

فَقَد أَمكَنَت مِنكَ الأَسِنَّةُ عانِياً

فَقَد أَمكَنَت مِنكَ الأَسِنَّةُ عانِياً

فَلَم تَجزِ إِذ تَسعى قَتيلاً بِمَعبَدِ

فَلَم تَجزِ إِذ تَسعى قَتيلاً بِمَعبَدِ

yet the spearheads had you at their mercy, a captive,

The swords have enabled you, though suffering,

so when you strove, you gave no slain man in requital for Maʿbad.

You did not succeed, though striving, a victim at Maʿbad.