بِكَthrough you اِهتَزَّswayed عِطفُshoulder الدينِfaith فيin حُلَلِrobes النَصرِvictory
بِكَ اِهتَزَّ عِطفُ الدينِ في حُلَلِ النَصرِ
وَرُدَّتand was driven back عَلىupon أَعقابِهاits heels مِلَّةُcreed الكُفرِunbelief
وَرُدَّت عَلى أَعقابِها مِلَّةُ الكُفرِ
Through you, faith's shoulder swayed in victory's robes,
With you, the side of religion shuddered in the garments of victory,
and the creed of unbelief was driven back upon its heels.
And the nation of unbelief was pushed back on its heels.
فَقَدfor indeed أَصبَحَتit has become وَالحَمدُand praise لِلَّهِto God نِعمَةًa blessing
فَقَد أَصبَحَت وَالحَمدُ لِلَّهِ نِعمَةً
يُقَصِّرُfalls short عَنهاof it قُدرَةُthe capacity الحَمدِof praise وَالشُكرِand thanksgiving
يُقَصِّرُ عَنها قُدرَةُ الحَمدِ وَالشُكرِ
For this has become—praise be to God—a blessing
So praise be to God, it has become a blessing,
beyond the capacity of praise and thanksgiving.
Beyond the ability of praise and thanks to encompass.
يَقِلُّis too little بِهاfor it بَذلُoffering النُفوسِlives بِشارَةًas a reward for glad tidings
يَقِلُّ بِها بَذلُ النُفوسِ بِشارَةً
وَيَصغُرُand seems small فيهاbeside it كُلُّevery شَيءٍthing مِنَof النَذرِvowed offerings
وَيَصغُرُ فيها كُلُّ شَيءٍ مِنَ النَذرِ
Even offering lives is a paltry reward for its glad tidings,
With it, the offering of souls decreased as good news,
and every vowed offering seems small beside it.
And everything became small next to it from vows.
أَلاlo فَليَقُلso let him say ماwhat شاءَhe wishes مَنwhoever هُوَhe قائِلٌa speaker
أَلا فَليَقُل ما شاءَ مَن هُوَ قائِلٌ
وَدونَكَand here you are هَذاthis مَوضِعُan occasion النَظمِverse وَالنَثرِand prose
وَدونَكَ هَذا مَوضِعُ النَظمِ وَالنَثرِ
Let whoever would speak say whatever he wishes;
So let whoever wishes to say whatever they want say,
here before you is an occasion for verse and prose.
And this is the place for prose and poetry about you.
وَجَدتُI found مَحَلّاًa place لِلمَقالَةِfor discourse قابِلاًreceptive
وَجَدتُ مَحَلّاً لِلمَقالَةِ قابِلاً
فَمالَكَso what have you إِنif قَصَّرتَyou fall short فيin ذاكَthat مِنany عُذرِexcuse
فَمالَكَ إِن قَصَّرتَ في ذاكَ مِن عُذرِ
I have found a place receptive to discourse;
I found an occasion for speech receptive,
what excuse have you, then, if you fall short in this?
So what fault is it of yours if I fall short in that from excuse?
لَكَfor you اللَهُGod مِنas a مَولىًlord إِذاwhen جادَhe gives generously أَوسَطاor strikes fiercely
لَكَ اللَهُ مِن مَولىً إِذا جادَ أَوسَطا
فَناهيكَthen sufficient for you مِنof عُرفٍkindness وَناهيكَand sufficient for you مِنof نُكرِseverity
فَناهيكَ مِن عُرفٍ وَناهيكَ مِن نُكرِ
God bless you—what a lord when he gives or strikes!
For you, God is a generous guardian when He is generous,
What matchless kindness, and what matchless severity!
So cease from familiarity and cease from estrangement.
تَميسُsways gracefully بِهِthrough him الأَيّامُthe days فيin حُلَلِrobes الصِباyouth
تَميسُ بِهِ الأَيّامُ في حُلَلِ الصِبا
وَتَرفُلُand trails proudly مِنهُthrough him فيin مَطارِفِهِhis bordered mantles الخُضرِgreen
وَتَرفُلُ مِنهُ في مَطارِفِهِ الخُضرِ
Through him the days sway in youth's robes,
The days don their garb of youth through it,
and through him trail proudly in his green mantles.
And from it they are adorned in their green splendor.
أَياديهِhis beneficent hands بيضٌwhite فيamong الوَرىhumankind موسَوِيَّةٌlike Moses'
أَياديهِ بيضٌ في الوَرى موسَوِيَّةٌ
وَلَكِنَّهاbut they تَسعىmove عَلىin قَدَمِthe footsteps الخِضرِal-Khidr
وَلَكِنَّها تَسعى عَلى قَدَمِ الخِضرِ
His beneficent hands are white among mankind, like Moses',
His hands are white in creation, Mosaic,
yet they move in al-Khidr's footsteps.
But they hasten at the pace of al-Khidhr.
وَمِنand for أَجلِهِhis sake أَضحىbecame المُقَطَّمُal-Muqattam شامِخاًlofty
وَمِن أَجلِهِ أَضحى المُقَطَّمُ شامِخاً
يُنافِسُrivals حَتّىeven طورَMount سيناءَSinai فيin القَدرِstature
يُنافِسُ حَتّى طورَ سيناءَ في القَدرِ
For his sake, al-Muqattam has risen lofty,
And through him the fragmented one became towering,
vying even with Mount Sinai in stature.
Rivaling even Mount Sinai in esteem.
تَدينُsubmit لَهُto him الأَملاكُthe kings بِالكُرهِunder compulsion وَالرِضىand by consent
تَدينُ لَهُ الأَملاكُ بِالكُرهِ وَالرِضى
وَتَخدُمُهُand serve him الأَفلاكُthe celestial spheres فيin النَهيِprohibition وَالأَمرِand command
وَتَخدُمُهُ الأَفلاكُ في النَهيِ وَالأَمرِ
Kings submit to him by compulsion and consent,
The angels are indebted to him willingly and unwillingly,
and the celestial spheres serve him in his prohibitions and commands.
And the celestial spheres serve him in prohibition and command.
فَياso O مَلِكاًking سامىrivaled المَلائِكَthe angels رِفعَةًin exaltation
فَيا مَلِكاً سامى المَلائِكَ رِفعَةً
فَفيfor in المَلَإِthe assembly الأَعلىhighest لَهُfor him أَطيَبُsweetest الذِكرِremembrance
فَفي المَلَإِ الأَعلى لَهُ أَطيَبُ الذِكرِ
O king who has rivaled the angels in exaltation,
So O king exalted above the angels in rank,
in the highest assembly his remembrance is sweetest.
In the highest company, his mention is the sweetest.
لِيَهنِئكَmay it gladden you ماwhat أَعطاكَgave you رَبُّكَyour Lord إِنَّهاindeed they are
لِيَهنِئكَ ما أَعطاكَ رَبُّكَ إِنَّها
مَواقِفُdeeds هُنَّthey الغُرُّradiant فيat مَوقِفِthe gathering الحَشرِResurrection
مَواقِفُ هُنَّ الغُرُّ في مَوقِفِ الحَشرِ
May what your Lord has given you bring you joy; these are
May it delight you what your Lord has given you, they are
deeds that stand radiant at the gathering of Resurrection.
Stations, they are the pride in the Station of the Gathering.
وَماand not فَرِحَتrejoiced مِصرٌEgypt بِذاat this الفَتحِvictory وَحدَهاby itself
وَما فَرِحَت مِصرٌ بِذا الفَتحِ وَحدَها
لَقَدindeed فَرِحَتrejoiced بَغدادُBaghdad أَكثَرَmore مِنthan مِصرِEgypt
لَقَد فَرِحَت بَغدادُ أَكثَرَ مِن مِصرِ
Egypt was not alone in rejoicing at this victory;
And not only Egypt rejoiced at this opening,
Baghdad rejoiced more than Egypt.
Baghdad rejoiced even more than Egypt.
فَلَوfor if لَمnot يَقُمstand firm بِاللَهِthrough God حَقَّthe full due قِيامِهِof his standing
فَلَو لَم يَقُم بِاللَهِ حَقَّ قِيامِهِ
لَماthen not سَلِمَتwould have been safe دارُthe Abode السَلامِof Peace مِنَfrom الذُعرِterror
لَما سَلِمَت دارُ السَلامِ مِنَ الذُعرِ
For had he not stood firm through God as he truly did,
For had he not stood for God as befits His standing,
the Abode of Peace would not have been spared terror.
The Abode of Peace would not have been safe from terror.
وَأُقسِمُand I swear لَولاbut for هِمَّةٌresolve كامِلِيَّةٌal-Kamil's
وَأُقسِمُ لَولا هِمَّةٌ كامِلِيَّةٌ
لَخافَتwould have feared رِجالٌmen بِالمَقامِat the Station وَبِالحَجرِand at the Stone
لَخافَت رِجالٌ بِالمَقامِ وَبِالحَجرِ
I swear: but for al-Kamil's resolve,
And I swear, were it not for a perfect ambition,
men at the Station and the Stone would have feared.
Men would have feared the sanctuary and the stones.
فَمَنso who مُبلِغٌwill convey هَذاthis الهَناءَglad tidings لِمَكَّةٍto Mecca
فَمَن مُبلِغٌ هَذا الهَناءَ لِمَكَّةٍ
وَيَثرِبَand Yathrib تُنهيهِit relays it إِلىto صاحِبِthe dweller القَبرِof the tomb
وَيَثرِبَ تُنهيهِ إِلى صاحِبِ القَبرِ
Who, then, will carry these glad tidings to Mecca
Three years you stayed, and months,
and Yathrib, so it may relay them to the dweller in the tomb?
Waging jihad in them, not with Zayd or ‘Amr.
فَقُلso tell لِرَسولِto the Messenger اللَهِof God إِنَّthat سَمِيَّهُhis namesake
فَقُل لِرَسولِ اللَهِ إِنَّ سَمِيَّهُ
حَمىprotected بَيضَةَthe core الإِسلامِof Islam مِنfrom نُوَبِcalamities الدَهرِof time
حَمى بَيضَةَ الإِسلامِ مِن نُوَبِ الدَهرِ
Tell God's Messenger that his namesake
You were patient until God sent down His victory,
has guarded Islam's core from time's calamities.
For that, you praised the outcome of patience.
هُوَhe الكامِلُal-Kamil المَولىthe lord الَّذيwho إِنif ذَكَرتَهُyou mention him
هُوَ الكامِلُ المَولى الَّذي إِن ذَكَرتَهُ
فَياthen O طَرَبَrapture الدُنياof the world وَياand O فَرَحَjoy العَصرِof the age
فَيا طَرَبَ الدُنيا وَيا فَرَحَ العَصرِ
He is al-Kamil, the lord—if you mention him,
And the night of invading the enemy was as if
oh, the world's rapture, and oh, the age's joy!
It was by the number of those you struck down, the Night of Immolation.
بِهِthrough him اِرتَجَعَتwas recovered دِمياطُDamietta قَهراًby force مِنَfrom العِدىthe foes
بِهِ اِرتَجَعَت دِمياطُ قَهراً مِنَ العِدى
وَطَهَّرَهاand he purified it بِالسَيفِwith the sword وَالمِلَّةِand the faith الطُهرِpure
وَطَهَّرَها بِالسَيفِ وَالمِلَّةِ الطُهرِ
Through him, Damietta was recovered by force from the foes,
So what a night God ennobled in its ordainment!
and he purified it with the sword and the pure faith.
And no wonder if I name it the Night of Value.
وَرَدَّand restored عَلىto المِحرابِthe prayer niche مِنهاin it صَلاتَهُits prayer
وَرَدَّ عَلى المِحرابِ مِنها صَلاتَهُ
وَكَمand how often باتَit spent the night مُشتاقاًlonging إِلىfor الشَفعِthe even-numbered prayer وَالوِترِand the odd-numbered prayer
وَكَم باتَ مُشتاقاً إِلى الشَفعِ وَالوِترِ
He restored prayer to its prayer niche;
You blocked their path by land and sea
how often it had spent the night longing for the even and odd prayers!
With ships sunk and ships burning.
وَأُقسِمُand I swear إِنif ذاقَتtaste بَنوthe sons of الأَصفَرِal-Asfar (the Yellow One) الكَرىsleep
وَأُقسِمُ إِن ذاقَت بَنو الأَصفَرِ الكَرى
فَلاthen not حَلِمَتthey dream إِلّاexcept بِأَعلامِهِof his banners الصُفرِyellow
فَلا حَلِمَت إِلّا بِأَعلامِهِ الصُفرِ
I swear: if the sons of al-Asfar taste sleep,
Fleets not in the legends of those gone by,
may they dream of nothing but his yellow banners!
With every crow that swooped to snatch away like a falcon.
عَجَبتُI marveled لِبَحرٍat a sea جاءَcame فيهِon it سَفينُهُمtheir ships
عَجَبتُ لِبَحرٍ جاءَ فيهِ سَفينُهُم
أَلَسناdo we not نَراهُsee him عِندَناamong us مَلِكَking الغَمرِof the deep
أَلَسنا نَراهُ عِندَنا مَلِكَ الغَمرِ
I marvel at a sea on which their ships came;
And an army like the night in its awesomeness and dread,
do we not see him among us as king of the deep?
Though it was adorned by the stars among it shining bright.
أَلاlo إِنَّهاindeed it is مِنof فِعلِهِits doing لَكَبيرَةٍsurely a grave offense
أَلا إِنَّها مِن فِعلِهِ لَكَبيرَةٍ
سَيَطلُبُit will seek مِنهاfor it عَفوَpardon حِلمِكَyour forbearance وَاليُسرِand leniency
سَيَطلُبُ مِنها عَفوَ حِلمِكَ وَاليُسرِ
Surely this is a grave offense on the sea's part;
And every steed the like of which was never
for this, it will seek pardon from your forbearance and leniency.
For the Family of Zuheyr, nor for the Clan of Badr.
ثَلاثَةَthree أَعوامٍyears أَقَمتَyou stayed وَأَشهُراًand months
ثَلاثَةَ أَعوامٍ أَقَمتَ وَأَشهُراً
تُجاهِدُyou fight فيهِمthroughout them لاnot بِزَيدٍthrough Zayd وَلاnor عَمرِوAmr
تُجاهِدُ فيهِم لا بِزَيدٍ وَلا عَمرِو
You remained three years and months besides,
And God's soldiers spent the night atop the ridges
fighting throughout them, not through Zayd or Amr.
With their torches providing light for the scouts instead of dawn.
صَبَرتَyou endured إِلىuntil أَنthat أَنزَلَsent down اللَهُGod نَصرَهُHis victory
صَبَرتَ إِلى أَن أَنزَلَ اللَهُ نَصرَهُ
لِذَلِكَfor that قَدindeed أَحمَدتَyou found praiseworthy عاقِبَةَthe outcome الصَبرِof patience
لِذَلِكَ قَد أَحمَدتَ عاقِبَةَ الصَبرِ
You endured until God sent down His victory;
You did not stop until God supported His party,
thus you found patience's outcome praiseworthy.
And the face of the earth smiled, radiant with victory.
وَلَيلَةِand a night غَزوٍof raiding لِلعَدوِّagainst the enemy كَأَنَّهاas though it were
وَلَيلَةِ غَزوٍ لِلعَدوِّ كَأَنَّها
بِكَثرَةِwith the great number مَنof those whom أَردَيتَهُyou struck him down لَيلَةُthe night النَحرِof sacrifice
بِكَثرَةِ مَن أَردَيتَهُ لَيلَةُ النَحرِ
And a night of raiding the enemy seemed,
You sated from them the thirsty swords and spears,
with so many you struck down, the Night of Sacrifice.
And satisfied from them the gaping wolves and eagles.
فَياso O لَيلَةًa night قَدindeed شَرَّفَennobled اللَهُGod قَدرَهاits worth
فَيا لَيلَةً قَد شَرَّفَ اللَهُ قَدرَها
وَلاand no غَروَwonder إِنif سَمَّيتُهاI call it لَيلَةَthe Night القَدرِof Decree
وَلا غَروَ إِن سَمَّيتُها لَيلَةَ القَدرِ
Oh, what a night—God has ennobled its worth!
And the kings of Rome came to you submissive,
No wonder if I call it the Night of Decree.
Dragging the tails of humiliation and smallness.
سَدَدتَyou blocked سَبيلَthe route البَرِّof land وَالبَحرِand sea عَنهُمُfrom them
سَدَدتَ سَبيلَ البَرِّ وَالبَحرِ عَنهُمُ
بِسابِحَةٍwith swimming ships دُهمٍdark وَسابِحَةٍand coursing steeds غُرِّwhite-blazed
بِسابِحَةٍ دُهمٍ وَسابِحَةٍ غُرِّ
You barred their routes by land and sea
They came to a king whose place is above the clouds,
with dark swimmers and white-blazed coursers:
So from his generosity is that cloud which flows.
أَساطيلُfleets لَيسَتnot found فيin أَساطيرِlegends مَنof those who مَضىhave passed
أَساطيلُ لَيسَت في أَساطيرِ مَن مَضى
بِكُلِّwith every غُرابٍcrow-galley راحَbecame أَفتَكَdeadlier مِنthan صَقرِa falcon
بِكُلِّ غُرابٍ راحَ أَفتَكَ مِن صَقرِ
fleets unknown in the legends of men long gone,
He bestowed safety upon them graciously
each crow-galley proving deadlier than a falcon;
Despite the white flashes of swords and reddened spears.
وَجَيشٍand an army كَمِثلِlike اللَيلِthe night هَولاًin terror وَهَيبَةًand majesty
وَجَيشٍ كَمِثلِ اللَيلِ هَولاً وَهَيبَةً
وَإِنand though زانَهُadorned it ماwhat فيهِis in it مِنof أَنجُمٍstars زُهرِbrilliant
وَإِن زانَهُ ما فيهِ مِن أَنجُمٍ زُهرِ
and an army like the night in terror and majesty,
God sufficed Damietta of tribulations, it is
though adorned by the brilliant stars within it;
From the direction of Islam's prayers in the place of ritual slaughter.
وَكُلِّand every جَوادٍsteed لَمnot يَكُنexist قَطُّever مِثلُهُits like
وَكُلِّ جَوادٍ لَم يَكُن قَطُّ مِثلُهُ
لَآلِfor the house of زُهَيرٍZuhayr لاno وَلاnor لِبَنيfor the sons of بَدرِBadr
لَآلِ زُهَيرٍ لا وَلا لِبَني بَدرِ
and every steed, whose like had never belonged
And the Nile's water was not sweet except that it
to Zuhayr's house—no, nor to the sons of Badr.
Took the place of saliva from that gaping mouth.
وَباتَتand spent the night جُنودُtroops اللَهِof God فَوقَupon ضَوامِرٍlean steeds
وَباتَت جُنودُ اللَهِ فَوقَ ضَوامِرٍ
بِأَوضاحِهاby their white blazes تُغنيspare السُراةَnight travelers عَنِthe need for الفَجرِdawn
بِأَوضاحِها تُغني السُراةَ عَنِ الفَجرِ
God's troops spent the night upon lean steeds,
So to God belongs the day of the Opening, the day it entered,
whose white blazes made dawn needless for night riders.
With standards flying above it in domination.
فَماso not زِلتَyou ceased حَتّىuntil أَيَّدَstrengthened اللَهُGod حِزبَهُHis party
فَما زِلتَ حَتّى أَيَّدَ اللَهُ حِزبَهُ
وَأَشرَقَand shone وَجهُthe face الأَرضِof the earth جَذلانَjubilant بِالنَصرِin victory
وَأَشرَقَ وَجهُ الأَرضِ جَذلانَ بِالنَصرِ
You did not cease until God strengthened His party,
It surpassed all the days of time in their entirety,
and the earth's face shone, jubilant in victory.
And made forget the tales of Hunayn and Badr.
فَرَوَّيتَso you quenched مِنهُمwith them ظامِئَthe thirsty البيضِbright swords وَالقَناand spears
فَرَوَّيتَ مِنهُم ظامِئَ البيضِ وَالقَنا
وَأَشبَعتَand you sated مِنهُمwith them طاوِيَthe hungry الذِئبِwolf وَالنَسرِand vulture
وَأَشبَعتَ مِنهُم طاوِيَ الذِئبِ وَالنَسرِ
With them you quenched the thirst of bright swords and spears,
O happy people who attained in it their fortune!
and with them sated the hungry wolf and vulture.
They combined the spoils of war and reward.
وَجاءَand came مُلوكُthe kings الرومِof Rum نَحوَكَtoward you خُضَّعاًsubmissive
وَجاءَ مُلوكُ الرومِ نَحوَكَ خُضَّعاً
تُجَرِّرُdragging أَذيالَthe hems المَهانَةِof humiliation وَالصُغرِand abasement
تُجَرِّرُ أَذيالَ المَهانَةِ وَالصُغرِ
The kings of Rum came toward you, humbled,
And I am comforted by every newcomer
dragging the hems of humiliation and abasement.
If he is of those conquests in his telling.
أَتَواthey came to مَلِكاًa king فَوقَabove السِماكِal-Simak مَحَلُّهُhis station
أَتَوا مَلِكاً فَوقَ السِماكِ مَحَلُّهُ
فَمِنand from جودِهِhis bounty ذاكَthat السَحابُcloud الَّذيwhich يَسريtravels by night
فَمِن جودِهِ ذاكَ السَحابُ الَّذي يَسري
They came to a king whose station is above al-Simak;
That discourse excites me, its goodness,
from his bounty comes that cloud which travels by night.
And does for me what power lies not in wine.
فَمَنَّso he bestowed عَلَيهِمupon them بِالأَمانِwith safety تَكَرُّماًgenerously
فَمَنَّ عَلَيهِم بِالأَمانِ تَكَرُّماً
عَلىin الرَغمِspite مِنof بيضِbright الصَوارِمِsharp swords وَالسُمرِand brown-shafted spears
عَلى الرَغمِ مِن بيضِ الصَوارِمِ وَالسُمرِ
He graciously granted them safety,
And I listen to him, retelling his account,
despite the gleaming swords and brown-shafted spears.
As if I were venerable, though I am not venerable.
كَفىmay spare اللَهُGod دِمياطَDamietta المَكارِهَhardships إِنَّهاindeed it
كَفى اللَهُ دِمياطَ المَكارِهَ إِنَّها
لَمِنindeed relative to قِبلَةِthe qibla الإِسلامِof Islam فيat مَوضِعِthe place النَحرِof the throat
لَمِن قِبلَةِ الإِسلامِ في مَوضِعِ النَحرِ
May God spare Damietta hardships, for it lies
It takes the place of cool fresh water in thirst
at the throat of Islam's qibla.
And suffices over provisions in the barren land.
وَماand not طابَbecame sweet ماءُthe water النيلِof the Nile إِلّاexcept لِأَنَّهُbecause it
وَما طابَ ماءُ النيلِ إِلّا لِأَنَّهُ
يَحُلُّoccupies مَحَلَّthe place الريقِof saliva مِنin ذَلِكَthat الثَغرِmouth
يَحُلُّ مَحَلَّ الريقِ مِن ذَلِكَ الثَغرِ
The Nile's water is sweet only because
How many a day when I heard him
it takes the place of saliva in that mouth.
My hearing acknowledged it, and my mind remembered it.
فَلِلَّهِso to God يَومُthe day الفَتحِof victory يَومُthe day دُخولِهاof entering it
فَلِلَّهِ يَومُ الفَتحِ يَومُ دُخولِها
وَقَدand already طارَتِtook wing الأَعلامُthe banners مِنهاfrom it عَلىabove وَكرِa nest
وَقَد طارَتِ الأَعلامُ مِنها عَلى وَكرِ
Glory to God for victory's day, the day of entering it,
And here I am, even till today sometimes
while banners there took wing above their nests.
I deny the truth of the matter from him.
لَقَدindeed فاقَsurpassed أَيّامَthe days الزَمانِof time بِأَسرِهاall of them
لَقَد فاقَ أَيّامَ الزَمانِ بِأَسرِها
وَأَنسىand made forgotten حَديثاًa tale عَنof حُنَينٍHunayn وَعَنand of بَدرِBadr
وَأَنسى حَديثاً عَن حُنَينٍ وَعَن بَدرِ
It surpassed all the days of time,
For you, may God reward whoever praises you, for he only
and made tales of Hunayn and Badr forgotten.
From killing, you saved him, or from capture.
وَياand O سَعدَthe good fortune قَومٍof people أَدرَكواthey attained فيهِin it حَظَّهُمtheir share
وَيا سَعدَ قَومٍ أَدرَكوا فيهِ حَظَّهُم
لَقَدindeed جَمَعواthey combined بَينَbetween الغَنيمَةِthe spoils وَالأَجرِand reward
لَقَد جَمَعوا بَينَ الغَنيمَةِ وَالأَجرِ
Oh, how fortunate those who gained their share that day!
Eulogy falls short of you from every praiser
They gained both booty and reward.
Even if he came with the shining sun and the full moon.
وَإِنّيand I indeed لَمُرتاحٌam truly delighted إِلىby كُلِّevery قادِمٍnewcomer
وَإِنّي لَمُرتاحٌ إِلى كُلِّ قادِمٍ
إِذاif كانَhe was مِنof ذاكَthat الفُتوحِconquest عَلىin ذِكرِremembrance
إِذا كانَ مِن ذاكَ الفُتوحِ عَلى ذِكرِ
I delight in every newcomer
if he has that conquest to recount.
فَيُطرِبُنيso it enraptures me ذاكَthat الحَديثُaccount وَطيبُهُand its sweetness
فَيُطرِبُني ذاكَ الحَديثُ وَطيبُهُ
وَيَفعَلُand does بيto me ماwhat لَيسَis not فيwithin قُدرَةِthe power الخَمرِof wine
وَيَفعَلُ بي ما لَيسَ في قُدرَةِ الخَمرِ
That account and its sweetness enrapture me,
and do to me what wine has no power to do.
وَأُصغيand I listen إِلَيهِto him مُستَعيداًrequesting a repetition حَديثُهُhis account
وَأُصغي إِلَيهِ مُستَعيداً حَديثُهُ
كَأَنِّيَّas though I were ذوone with وَقرٍdeafness وَلَستُand I am not بِذيone with وَقرِdeafness
كَأَنِّيَّ ذو وَقرٍ وَلَستُ بِذي وَقرِ
I listen to him, asking for his account again,
as though hard of hearing, though I am not.
يَقومُtakes مَقامَthe place of البارِدِcool water العَذبِsweet فيin الظَماthirst
يَقومُ مَقامَ البارِدِ العَذبِ في الظَما
وَيُغنيand dispenses عَنِwith الأَزوادِprovisions فيin البَلَدِthe land القَفرِbarren
وَيُغني عَنِ الأَزوادِ في البَلَدِ القَفرِ
It takes the place of cool, sweet water when one thirsts,
and replaces provisions in a barren land.
فَكَمand how many مَرَّpassed ليfor me يَومٌa day إِذاwhen ماسَمِعتُهُI heard it
فَكَم مَرَّ لي يَومٌ إِذا ماسَمِعتُهُ
أَقَرَّacknowledged بِهِit سَمعيmy hearing وَأَذكَرَهُand recalled it فِكريmy mind
أَقَرَّ بِهِ سَمعي وَأَذكَرَهُ فِكري
How many a day has passed for me when, on hearing it,
my hearing affirmed it and my mind recalled it.
وَهاand here أَناI ذاthis حَتّىeven إِلىup to اليَومِthis day رُبَّماsometimes
وَها أَنا ذا حَتّى إِلى اليَومِ رُبَّما
أُكَذِّبُI disbelieve عَنهُabout it بِالصَحيحِin what is true مِنَof الأَمرِthe matter
أُكَذِّبُ عَنهُ بِالصَحيحِ مِنَ الأَمرِ
And here I am, even to this day, sometimes
disbelieving even true accounts of it.
لَكَfor you اللَهُGod مَنwhoever أَثنىpraised عَلَيكَupon you فَإِنَّماfor only
لَكَ اللَهُ مَن أَثنى عَلَيكَ فَإِنَّما
مِنَfrom القَتلِdeath قَدindeed أَنجَيتَهُyou saved him أَوor مِنَfrom الأَسرِcaptivity
مِنَ القَتلِ قَد أَنجَيتَهُ أَو مِنَ الأَسرِ
God bless you! Whoever praises you does so only because
you have saved him from death or captivity.
يُقَصِّرُfalls short عَنكَof you المَدحُpraise مِنfrom كُلِّevery مادِحٍpraiser
يُقَصِّرُ عَنكَ المَدحُ مِن كُلِّ مادِحٍ
وَلوand even if جاءَhe came بِالشَمسِwith the sun المُنيرَةِradiant وَالبَدرِand the full moon
وَلو جاءَ بِالشَمسِ المُنيرَةِ وَالبَدرِ
The praise of every praiser falls short of you,
even if he brings the radiant sun and the full moon.
Partial English translation: 84 of 100 Arabic lines translated.