لَوif أَستَطيعُI could كَتَبتُI would write بِالنيرانِwith fire
لَو أَستَطيعُ كَتَبتُ بِالنيرانِ
فَلَقَدfor indeed عَيِّتُI was worn out بِكُمby you وَعَيَّand faltered بَيانيmy eloquence
فَلَقَد عَيِّتُ بِكُم وَعَيَّ بَياني
If I could, I would write with fire.
If I had the power, I would write with fire,
For you have exhausted me, and my eloquence has faltered.
For I have grown weary of you, and my speech has failed me.
وَلَكِدتُand I nearly أَستَحيِfeel ashamed of القَئيضَverse وَأَتَّقيand fear
وَلَكِدتُ أَستَحيِ القَئيضَ وَأَتَّقي
أَنthat يَستَريبَfall into doubt يَراعَتيmy reed pen وَجَنانيand my heart
أَن يَستَريبَ يَراعَتي وَجَناني
I nearly grew ashamed of verse, and feared
I have come to feel shame before the parchment, and I dread
that my pen and my heart might fall into doubt.
That my pen and my heart might view me with suspicion.
أَمسىit came to يُعاصينيdefy me لَمّاwhen جَشَّمتُهُI burdened it
أَمسى يُعاصيني لَمّا جَشَّمتُهُ
فيكُمfor your sake وَكُنتُand I was وَكانَand it was طَوعَobedient to بَنانيmy fingers
فيكُم وَكُنتُ وَكانَ طَوعَ بَناني
It came to defy me when I burdened it
It began to disobey me when I burdened it with a task
for your sake, though once it obeyed my fingers.
Concerning you—though it was once obedient to my fingertips.
يَشكوit complains إِلَيَّto me وَأَشتَكيand I lament إِعراضُكُمyour disregard
يَشكو إِلَيَّ وَأَشتَكي إِعراضُكُم
اللَهَGod! فيfor عانٍa sufferer يَلوذُseeks refuge بِعانِwith a sufferer
اللَهَ في عانٍ يَلوذُ بِعانِ
It complains to me, and I lament your disregard.
It complains to me, and I complain of your indifference;
For God's sake—a sufferer seeking refuge with another sufferer!
By God, look at a sufferer seeking refuge in another sufferer.
عاهَدتُهُI pledged to it أَنthat لاnot أُثيرَI stir شُجونُهُits sorrows
عاهَدتُهُ أَن لا أُثيرَ شُجونُهُ
أَوor يَستَثيرَit awakens كَوامِنَhidden stores of الأَشجانِsorrows
أَو يَستَثيرَ كَوامِنَ الأَشجانِ
I pledged to it not to stir its sorrows,
I pledged to it that I would not stir its sorrows,
or let it awaken the sorrows lying hidden.
Nor would it provoke the hidden depths of grief.
ياoh طالَماhow often اِستَبكَيتُهُI made it weep فَبَكىso it wept لَكُمfor you
يا طالَما اِستَبكَيتُهُ فَبَكى لَكُم
لَولاbut for الرَجاءُhope بَكَيتُهُI would mourn it وَبَكانيand it would mourn me
لَولا الرَجاءُ بَكَيتُهُ وَبَكاني
Oh, how often I made it weep, and it wept for you!
How often I beseeched it to weep, and it wept for your sake;
But for hope, I would have mourned it, and it would have mourned me.
Were it not for hope, I would have wept for it, and it for me.
كَمhow many لَيلَةًa night أَحيَيتُهاI spent awake مُتَمَلمِلاًrestlessly
كَم لَيلَةً أَحيَيتُها مُتَمَلمِلاً
طَرفيmy gaze وَطَرفُand the gaze of النَجمِthe star مُلتَقِيانِmeeting each other
طَرفي وَطَرفُ النَجمِ مُلتَقِيانِ
How many nights I spent awake and restless,
How many a night I spent awake, tossing in restlessness,
my gaze and the star's gaze meeting!
While my gaze and the gaze of the stars remained fixed upon each other.
تَحنوbends tenderly عَلىover قَلَميmy pen يَمينيmy right hand وَالدُجىand darkness
تَحنو عَلى قَلَمي يَميني وَالدُجى
حانٍbending tenderly عَلىover الفَتَياتِthe maidens وَالفِتيانِand the youths
حانٍ عَلى الفَتَياتِ وَالفِتيانِ
My right hand bends tenderly over my pen, while darkness
My right hand tends gently to my pen, while the darkness
bends tenderly over maidens and young men.
Wraps itself tenderly around the young women and men.
أَجلوI unveil عَرائِسَهُits brides لَكُمfor you وَأَزُفُّهاand escort them as brides
أَجلو عَرائِسَهُ لَكُم وَأَزُفُّها
ماwhat بَينَbetween بِكرٍa virgin كاعِبٍwith budding breasts وَعَوانِand a woman once wed
ما بَينَ بِكرٍ كاعِبٍ وَعَوانِ
I unveil its brides for you and lead them forth,
I unveil the brides of my thought for you, presenting them
from budding-breasted virgins to women once wed.
Some like untouched virgins, others like experienced matrons.
مُتَأَلِّماًsuffering فيكُمfor you وَفيand for أَبنائِكُمyour children
مُتَأَلِّماً فيكُم وَفي أَبنائِكُم
وَهُمُwhile they وَأَنتُمُand you نائِموsleeping through الأَحزانِsorrows
وَهُمُ وَأَنتُمُ نائِمو الأَحزانِ
Suffering for you and for your children,
Suffering on your behalf and for the sake of your children,
while they and you sleep through your sorrows.
While you and they sleep through the sorrows.
ماnot غالَrobbed نَوميmy sleep حُبُّlove of مَعسولِhoney-sweet اللِمىdusky lips
ما غالَ نَومي حُبُّ مَعسولِ اللِمى
مَمنوعِهِits forbidden sweetness لَكِنbut هَوىlove of الأَوطانِhomelands
مَمنوعِهِ لَكِن هَوى الأَوطانِ
No love of honey-sweet, dusky lips robbed me of sleep,
It was not love for honeyed lips that stole my sleep,
unattainable though they were—but love of homelands.
Nor forbidden passion, but the love of my homeland.
أَنفَقتُI spent أَيّامَdays of الشَبابِyouth عَلَيكُمُon you
أَنفَقتُ أَيّامَ الشَبابِ عَلَيكُمُ
فيin ذِمَّةِthe keeping of الماضيthe past الشَبابُyouth الفانيdeparted
في ذِمَّةِ الماضي الشَبابُ الفاني
I spent the days of youth on you;
I have squandered the days of my youth upon you,
departed youth is now in the keeping of the past.
And fleeting youth now belongs to the custody of the past.
كَمhow often تَسأَلونيyou ask me أَنto أُعيدَbring back زَمانَهُits time
كَم تَسأَلوني أَن أُعيدَ زَمانَهُ
ياO قَومُmy people مَرَّhas passed زَمانُهُits time وَزَمانيand my time
يا قَومُ مَرَّ زَمانُهُ وَزَماني
How often you ask me to bring back its time!
How often you ask me to restore its era,
My people, its time has passed, and mine.
O people, its time has passed, and so has mine.
هانَcounted for little اليوَراعُthe reed pen عَلىagainst البَواتِرِcutting swords وَالقَناand spears
هانَ اليوَراعُ عَلى البَواتِرِ وَالقَنا
ماwhat تَصنَعُcan do الأَقلامُpens بِالمُرّانِagainst ashwood lances
ما تَصنَعُ الأَقلامُ بِالمُرّانِ
The reed pen counts for little against cutting swords and spears.
The reed pen counts for little against sharp swords and spears;
What can pens do against ashwood lances?
What can pens achieve against lances of tough wood?
لَيسَis not الكَلامُspeech بِنافِعٍof use أَوuntil تَغتَديthere come to be
لَيسَ الكَلامُ بِنافِعٍ أَو تَغتَدي
حُمرُred المَضارِبِstriking edges خَلفَbehind كُلِّevery لِسانِtongue
حُمرُ المَضارِبِ خَلفَ كُلِّ لِسانِ
Words are of no use until there stand
Words are of no avail, unless the red blades
swords with blood-red edges behind every tongue.
Stand ready behind every tongue spoken.
وَالشَعبُand the people لَيسَis not بِمُدرِكٍattaining آمالَهُits hopes
وَالشَعبُ لَيسَ بِمُدرِكٍ آمالَهُ
حَتّىuntil يَسيرَit walks عَلىupon النَجيعِblood القانيdeep crimson
حَتّى يَسيرَ عَلى النَجيعِ القاني
And a people will not attain its hopes
A nation will not attain its hopes
until it walks upon deep-crimson blood.
Until it marches upon deep crimson blood.
صَلَّrang الحَديدُiron وَشَمَّرَتand she bared عَنfrom ساقِهاher leg
صَلَّ الحَديدُ وَشَمَّرَت عَن ساقِها
وَتَنَكَّرَand became estranged الإِخوانُbrothers لِلإِخوانِto brothers
وَتَنَكَّرَ الإِخوانُ لِلإِخوانِ
Iron rang, and war bared her leg,
Iron has clashed, and War has bared her leg in earnest;
and brothers became strangers to brothers.
And brothers have turned against their own brothers.
فَالخَيلُso the horses غاضِبَةٌangry عَلىat أَرسانِهاtheir halters
فَالخَيلُ غاضِبَةٌ عَلى أَرسانِها
وَالبيضُand gleaming swords غاضِبَةٌangry عَلىat الأَجفانِthe scabbards
وَالبيضُ غاضِبَةٌ عَلى الأَجفانِ
So the horses rage against their halters,
The horses are furious at their bridles,
and gleaming swords rage against their scabbards.
And the white swords rage against their sheaths.
وَالمَوتُand death مِنfrom قُدّامِهِمbefore them وَوَرائِهِمand behind them
وَالمَوتُ مِن قُدّامِهِم وَوَرائِهِم
وَالهَولُand terror كُلَّevery ثَنِيَّةٍmountain pass وَمَكانِand place
وَالهَولُ كُلَّ ثَنِيَّةٍ وَمَكانِ
Death is before them and behind them,
Death looms before them and behind them,
and terror fills every mountain pass and place.
And terror fills every mountain pass and every place.
بَسَطَتshe spread جَناحَيهاher two wings وَمَدَّتand extended ظِلَّهاher shadow
بَسَطَت جَناحَيها وَمَدَّت ظِلَّها
فَإِذاand behold جَناحاthe two wings of السِلمِpeace مَقصوصانِclipped
فَإِذا جَناحا السِلمِ مَقصوصانِ
She spread her wings and stretched her shadow,
War has spread her wings and cast her long shadow,
and behold, peace's two wings were clipped.
While the wings of peace lie clipped and broken.
تَغشىenter مَواكِبُهاher columns ثَلاثَthree غَياهِبٍdeep darknesses
تَغشى مَواكِبُها ثَلاثَ غَياهِبٍ
مِنof قَسطَلٍbattle-dust وَدُجُنَّةٍand blackness وَدُخانِand smoke
مِن قَسطَلٍ وَدُجُنَّةٍ وَدُخانِ
Her columns enter threefold darkness,
Her processions are shrouded in three layers of darkness:
of battle-dust, blackness, and smoke.
Of battle-dust, gloom, and thick smoke.
وَيَرُدُّand drive back عَنهاfrom her كُلَّevery خائِضٍone wading into لُجَّةٍa deep sea
وَيَرُدُّ عَنها كُلَّ خائِضٍ لُجَّةٍ
سَيلانِtwo torrents مِنof ماءٍwater وَمِنand of نيرانِfires
سَيلانِ مِن ماءٍ وَمِن نيرانِ
And everyone who braves the deep is driven back from her
And two torrents repel any who dare to wade the abyss:
by two torrents, of water and of fire.
A torrent of water and a torrent of fire.
أَنّىwherever اِلتَفَتُّI turned رَأَيتَyou saw رَأساًa head طائِراًflying
أَنّى اِلتَفَتُّ رَأَيتَ رَأساً طائِراً
أَوor مُهجَةًa heart مَطعونَةَنpierced بِسِنانِby a spearpoint
أَو مُهجَةً مَطعونَةَن بِسِنانِ
Wherever I turned, you saw a head flying,
Wherever I turn, I see a severed head flying,
or a heart pierced by a spearpoint.
Or a heart pierced through by a spearhead.
يَمشيwalks الرَدىdeath فيin إِثرِthe wake of كُلِّevery قَذيفَةٍshell
يَمشي الرَدى في إِثرِ كُلِّ قَذيفَةٍ
فَكَأَنَّماso it is as though تَقتادُهُit leads him بِعَنانِby a rein
فَكَأَنَّما تَقتادُهُ بِعَنانِ
Death walks in the wake of every shell,
Destruction walks in the wake of every shell,
as though it were leading him by a rein.
As though it leads Death by the reins.
فَالجَوُّso the sky مِمّاfrom what فاضَpoured forth مِنof أَرواحِهِمtheir souls
فَالجَوُّ مِمّا فاضَ مِن أَرواحِهِم
لاnot تَستَبينُcan discern نُجومُهُits stars عَينانِtwo eyes
لا تَستَبينُ نُجومُهُ عَينانِ
So the sky, filled with their outpouring souls,
The air is so thick with their departing souls
has stars no pair of eyes can discern.
That no eyes can distinguish the stars above.
وَالنَهرُand the river مِمّاfrom what سالَflowed مِنof مُهَجاتِهِمtheir hearts' blood
وَالنَهرُ مِمّا سالَ مِن مُهَجاتِهِم
يَجريflows عَلىover أَرضٍa land مِنَof المُرجانِcoral
يَجري عَلى أَرضٍ مِنَ المُرجانِ
And the river, from their spilled lifeblood,
And the river, swollen with their flowing life-blood,
flows over a land of coral.
Flows over a bed that looks like red coral.
وَالأَرضُand the earth حَمراءُred الأَديمِof skin كَأَنَّهاas though it were
وَالأَرضُ حَمراءُ الأَديمِ كَأَنَّها
خَدُّthe cheek of الحَيِّيَةِthe shy woman أَوor خَضيبُhenna-stained بَنانِfingertips
خَدُّ الحَيِّيَةِ أَو خَضيبُ بَنانِ
The earth is red of skin, as though it were
The earth's surface is dyed red, as if it were
a shy woman's cheek, or henna-stained fingertips.
The blushing cheek of a maiden or fingers dyed with henna.
كَمhow many مِنof مُبيحٍone freely offering لِلضُيوفِto guests طَعامَهُhis food
كَم مِن مُبيحٍ لِلضُيوفِ طَعامَهُ
أَمسىbecame طَعامَfood for الأَجدَلِthe falcon الغَرثانِravenous
أَمسى طَعامَ الأَجدَلِ الغَرثانِ
How many a man who freely offered guests his food
How many a generous host who once fed his guests
became food for a ravenous falcon!
Has now become food for the famished hawk.
وَمُقاتِلٍand a fighter ناشَstruck الكَتيبَةَthe battalion ناشَهُstruck him
وَمُقاتِلٍ ناشَ الكَتيبَةَ ناشَهُ
ظُفرُthe talon of العُقابِthe eagle وَمِخلَبُand the claw of السَرجانِthe wolf
ظُفرُ العُقابِ وَمِخلَبُ السَرجانِ
And a fighter who struck the battalion was struck
And a warrior who once ravaged battalions is now ravaged
by the eagle's talon and the wolf's claw.
By the eagle's talon and the wolf's claw.
وَمُحَلِّقٍand one flying high بَينَbetween المَجَرَّةِthe Milky Way وَالسُهاand Suha
وَمُحَلِّقٍ بَينَ المَجَرَّةِ وَالسُها
صَعَدَrose الحِمامُdeath إِلَيهِto him فيin الطَيَرانِflight
صَعَدَ الحِمامُ إِلَيهِ في الطَيَرانِ
And a flier between the Milky Way and Suha—
And an aviator soaring between the Milky Way and the stars,
death rose to meet him in flight.
Death climbed up to meet him in mid-flight.
وَمُشَيِّدٍand a lofty edifice وَقَفَstood الزَمانُTime حَيالَهُbefore it
وَمُشَيِّدٍ وَقَفَ الزَمانُ حَيالَهُ
مُتَخَيِّراًdeliberating بِجَمالِهِover its beauty الفَتّانِcaptivating
مُتَخَيِّراً بِجَمالِهِ الفَتّانِ
And a lofty edifice before which Time stood,
And a mighty structure before which Time stood in awe,
deliberating over its captivating beauty:
Bewildered by its captivating beauty—
أَخنىeffaced عَلىupon ذِكرِthe memory of الخَوَرنَقِKhawarnaq ذِكرُهُits renown
أَخنى عَلى ذِكرِ الخَوَرنَقِ ذِكرُهُ
وَسَماand rose عَلىabove الحَمراءِthe Alhambra وَالإِيانِand Iyan
وَسَما عَلى الحَمراءِ وَالإِيانِ
its renown effaced the memory of Khawarnaq,
Its fame eclipsed the legendary palace of Khawarnaq,
and rose above the Alhambra and Iyan.
And it towered over the Alhambra and the Great Arch of Ctesiphon.
وَقَضىand spent العُصورَages الناسُpeople فيin تَشِيّدِهِits construction
وَقَضى العُصورَ الناسُ في تَشِيّدِهِ
أَودَتdestroyed بِهِit مَقذَفَةٌa cannon وَثَوانِand seconds
أَودَت بِهِ مَقذَفَةٌ وَثَوانِ
People spent ages raising it;
People spent ages constructing it,
a cannon and mere seconds destroyed it.
Yet a single shell and mere seconds destroyed it.
وَمَدينَةٍand a city زَهراءَradiant آمِنَةِsecure الحِمىin its precincts
وَمَدينَةٍ زَهراءَ آمِنَةِ الحِمى
هُدِمَتwere demolished مَنازِلُهاits houses عَلىupon السُكّانِthe inhabitants
هُدِمَت مَنازِلُها عَلى السُكّانِ
And a radiant city, its precincts secure,
And a flourishing city, once a secure sanctuary,
had its houses demolished upon their inhabitants.
Had its homes brought down upon its inhabitants.
خُرِسَتfell silent بَلابِلُهاits nightingales الشَواديthe singing ones فيin الضُحىthe morning
خُرِسَت بَلابِلُها الشَوادي في الضُحى
وَعَلاand rose صِياحُthe cries of البومُowls وَالغِربانِand crows
وَعَلا صِياحُ البومُ وَالغِربانِ
Its singing nightingales fell silent in the morning,
Its nightingales, singing in the morning light, were silenced,
and the cries of owls and crows rose high.
While the screeching of owls and crows grew loud.
وَتَعَطَّلَتand were deserted جَنّاتُهاits gardens وَقُصورُهاand its palaces
وَتَعَطَّلَت جَنّاتُها وَقُصورُها
وَلَقَدand indeed تَكونُit is بِغَبطَةٍin happiness وَأَمانِand safety
وَلَقَد تَكونُ بِغَبطَةٍ وَأَمانِ
Its gardens and palaces were left deserted,
Its gardens and palaces fell into ruin,
though it had known happiness and safety.
Where once there was bliss and safety.
حَربٌa war أَذَلَّhumiliated بِهاthrough it التَمدُّنُcivilization أَهلُهُits people
حَربٌ أَذَلَّ بِها التَمدُّنُ أَهلُهُ
وَجَنىand wronged الشُيوخُthe old بِهاthrough it عَلىagainst الشُبّانِthe young
وَجَنى الشُيوخُ بِها عَلى الشُبّانِ
A war in which civilization debased its own people,
A war in which Civilization humiliated its own people,
and the old wronged the young.
And the old committed crimes against the young.
سَحَقَcrushed القَوِيُّthe strong بِهاthrough it الضَعيفَthe weak وَداسَهُand trampled him
سَحَقَ القَوِيُّ بِها الضَعيفَ وَداسَهُ
وَمَشىand walked عَلىover أَرضٍa ground مِنَof الأَبدانِbodies
وَمَشى عَلى أَرضٍ مِنَ الأَبدانِ
In it the strong crushed the weak and trampled him,
In it, the strong crushed and trampled the weak,
walking over a ground of bodies.
Walking upon a ground paved with human bodies.
بِئسَwretched is الوَغىwar يَجنيreap الجُنودُsoldiers حُتوفَهُمtheir deaths
بِئسَ الوَغى يَجني الجُنودُ حُتوفَهُم
فيin ساحِهاits field وَالفَخرُwhile glory لِلتيجانِbelongs to crowns
في ساحِها وَالفَخرُ لِلتيجانِ
Wretched is war: soldiers reap their deaths
Wretched is the war where soldiers harvest their deaths
on its field, while the glory goes to crowns.
On the battlefield, while the glory goes to the crowns.
ماhow أَقبَحَvile is الإِنسانَman يَقتُلُkilling جارَهُhis neighbor
ما أَقبَحَ الإِنسانَ يَقتُلُ جارَهُ
وَيَقولُand says هَذيthis سُنَّهُthe law of العِمرانِcivilization
وَيَقولُ هَذي سُنَّهُ العِمرانِ
How vile is man who kills his neighbor
How hideous is man, killing his neighbor,
and says, 'This is civilization's law!'
And claiming this is the law of civilization.
بَلِيَhas worn out الزَمانُtime وَأَنتَyet you مِثلَكَlike yourself قَبلَهُbefore it
بَلِيَ الزَمانُ وَأَنتَ مِثلَكَ قَبلَهُ
ياO شِرعَةًlaw قَدindeed سَنَّهاlaid it down الجِدّانِthe two forefathers
يا شِرعَةً قَد سَنَّها الجِدّانِ
Time has worn out, yet you remain as you were before it,
Time has aged, yet you remain as you always were,
O law laid down by the two forefathers!
O law of bloodshed enacted by the ancients.
فَالقاتِلُso the killer of الآلافِthousands غازٍan invader فاتِحٌa conqueror
فَالقاتِلُ الآلافِ غازٍ فاتِحٌ
وَالقاتِلُand the killer الجانيthe criminal أَثيمٌsinful جانِa felon
وَالقاتِلُ الجاني أَثيمٌ جانِ
The killer of thousands is an invading conqueror,
The killer of thousands is hailed as a conquering hero,
and the criminal killer is a sinner, a felon.
While the lone killer is condemned as a sinful criminal.
لاno حَقَّright إِلّاexcept ماwhat تُؤَيِّدُهُuphold it الظُبىsword-edges
لا حَقَّ إِلّا ما تُؤَيِّدُهُ الظُبى
ماas long as دامَcontinues حُبُّlove of الظُلمِinjustice فيin الإِنسانِman
ما دامَ حُبُّ الظُلمِ في الإِنسانِ
No right exists except what sword-edges uphold,
There is no justice but that which the swords support,
so long as love of injustice dwells in man.
So long as the love of tyranny resides in man.
لَوif خُيِّرَwere given a choice الضُعَفاءُthe weak لَاِختارواthey would choose الرَدىdeath
لَو خُيِّرَ الضُعَفاءُ لَاِختاروا الرَدى
لَكِنَّbut عَيشَthe life of الأَكثَرينَmost people أَمانيwishes
لَكِنَّ عَيشَ الأَكثَرينَ أَماني
If the weak were given a choice, they would choose death,
If the weak were given a choice, they would choose death,
but most people's lives are only wishes.
But the life of the majority is built on mere wishes.
ماwhat بالُis the matter with قَوميmy people نائِمينَsleeping عَنِheedless of العُلىgreatness
ما بالُ قَومي نائِمينَ عَنِ العُلى
وَلَقَدand indeed تَنَبَّهَawakened لِلعُلىto greatness الثَقَلانِhumankind and jinn
وَلَقَد تَنَبَّهَ لِلعُلى الثَقَلانِ
Why do my people sleep, heedless of greatness,
Why do my people sleep, ignoring the call to greatness,
when humankind and jinn have awakened to it?
While all other beings have awakened to seek glory?
تُبّاعُfollowers of أَحمَدَAhmad وَالمَسيحَand the Messiah هَوادَةًforbearance
تُبّاعُ أَحمَدَ وَالمَسيحَ هَوادَةً
ماnot العَهدُthe established way أَنthat يَتَنَكَّرَbecome estranged الأَخَوانِthe two brothers
ما العَهدُ أَن يَتَنَكَّرَ الأَخَوانِ
Followers of Ahmad and the Messiah, be forbearing!
O followers of Ahmad and the Messiah, let there be peace!
It was never the way for the two brothers to become strangers.
It is not in the covenant for brothers to disown one another.
اللَهُGod رَبُّLord of الشَرعَتَينِthe two faiths وَرَبُّكُمand your Lord
اللَهُ رَبُّ الشَرعَتَينِ وَرَبُّكُم
فَإِلىso until مَتىwhen فيover الدينِreligion تَختَصِمانِyou two quarrel
فَإِلى مَتى في الدينِ تَختَصِمانِ
God is Lord of both faiths, and your Lord;
God is the Lord of both faiths and the Lord of you all,
how long, then, will you two quarrel over religion?
So how long will you quarrel over religion?
مَهماwhatever يَكُنthere may be مِنof فارِقٍa difference فَكِلاكُماthen both of you
مَهما يَكُن مِن فارِقٍ فَكِلاكُما
يُنمىtrace descent إِلىto قَحطانِQahtan أَوor غَسّانِGhassan
يُنمى إِلى قَحطانِ أَو غَسّانِ
Whatever difference there may be, both of you
Whatever differences may exist, both of you
trace your descent to Qahtan or Ghassan.
Trace your lineage to Qahtan or Ghassan.
فَخُذواso take بِأَسبابِthe means of الوِفاقِconcord وَطَهِّرواand cleanse
فَخُذوا بِأَسبابِ الوِفاقِ وَطَهِّروا
أَكبادَكُمyour livers مِنof لَوثَةِthe stain of الأَضغانِgrudges
أَكبادَكُم مِن لَوثَةِ الأَضغانِ
So take up the means of concord, and cleanse
So seize the means of unity and purify
your livers of the stain of grudges.
Your hearts from the stain of deep-seated hatred.
فيin ماwhat يُحيقُthreatens بِأَرضِكُمyour land وَنُفوسِكُمand your souls
في ما يُحيقُ بِأَرضِكُم وَنُفوسِكُم
شُغلٌoccupation لِمُشتَغِلٍfor one occupied عَنِaway from الأَديانِreligions
شُغلٌ لِمُشتَغِلٍ عَنِ الأَديانِ
In what threatens your land and your souls
In the dangers encircling your land and your souls
there is enough to occupy a man beyond religious matters.
There is trouble enough to distract you from religious strife.
نِمتُمُyou slept وَقَدwhile indeed سَهَرstayed awake الأَعاديenemies حَولَكُمaround you
نِمتُمُ وَقَد سَهَر الأَعادي حَولَكُم
وَسَكَنتُمُand you stayed still وَالأَرضُwhile the earth فيin جَيشانِturmoil
وَسَكَنتُمُ وَالأَرضُ في جَيشانِ
You slept while enemies stayed awake around you,
You slept while enemies around you remained awake,
and you lay still while the earth seethed.
And you remained still while the earth shook in commotion.
لاno رَأيَcommon purpose يَجمَعُكُمunites you إِذاwhen اِختَلَفَcrossed القَناspears
لا رَأيَ يَجمَعُكُم إِذا اِختَلَفَ القَنا
وَتَلاقَتِand clashed الفُرسانُhorsemen بِافُرسانِwith horsemen
وَتَلاقَتِ الفُرسانُ بِافُرسانِ
No common purpose unites you when spears cross
No common resolve unites you when spears clash,
and horsemen clash with horsemen.
And horsemen meet horsemen in battle.
لاno رايَةٌbanner لَكُمfor you يُدافِعُdefend دونَهاon its behalf
لا رايَةٌ لَكُم يُدافِعُ دونَها
مُردُbeardless العَوارِضِcheeks وَالحُتوفُwhile deaths دَوانيnear
مُردُ العَوارِضِ وَالحُتوفُ دَواني
You have no banner defended
You have no banner to be defended by
by beardless youths while death draws near.
Brave youths when death draws near.
لاno ذَنبَblame لِلأَقدارِfor fate فيin إِذلالِكُمyour humiliation
لا ذَنبَ لِلأَقدارِ في إِذلالِكُم
هَذاthis جَزاءُthe reward of الغافِلِthe heedless المُتَوانيthe laggard
هَذا جَزاءُ الغافِلِ المُتَواني
Fate bears no blame for your humiliation;
Fate is not to blame for your humiliation;
this is the heedless laggard's reward.
This is the reward of the heedless and the slacker.
لَوif لَمnot يَعِزَّheld sway الجَهلُignorance بَينَamong رُبوعِكُمyour lands
لَو لَم يَعِزَّ الجَهلُ بَينَ رُبوعِكُم
ماnot هانَfell low جَمعُكُمُyour people عَلىbefore الحَدَثانِtime's calamities
ما هانَ جَمعُكُمُ عَلى الحَدَثانِ
Had ignorance not held sway within your lands,
Had ignorance not grown strong within your lands,
your people would not have fallen so low before time's calamities.
Your collective strength would not have crumbled before misfortune.
المَرءُa person قيمَتُهُhis worth المَعارِفُknowledge وَالنُهىand reason
المَرءُ قيمَتُهُ المَعارِفُ وَالنُهى
ماwhat نَفعُuse of باصِرَةٍa seeing eye بِلاwithout إِنسانِa pupil
ما نَفعُ باصِرَةٍ بِلا إِنسانِ
A person's worth is knowledge and reason;
A man's worth lies in his knowledge and intellect;
what use is a seeing eye without a pupil?
What use is an eye without the light of the mind?
ماwhat بالُكُمis wrong with you لاnot تَغضَبونَyou rage لِمَجدِكُمfor your glory
ما بالُكُم لا تَغضَبونَ لِمَجدِكُم
غَضَباتِthe rage of مَلطومِone slapped on الجَبينِthe brow مُهانِhumiliated
غَضَباتِ مَلطومِ الجَبينِ مُهانِ
Why do you not rage for your glory
Why do you not rage for the sake of your glory,
with the rage of one slapped on the brow and humiliated?
With the fury of one slapped across the face and insulted?
أَوَis it then لَستُمُyou are not كَالناسِlike other people أَهلَpeople possessing حَفائِظٍa sense of honor
أَوَ لَستُمُ كَالناسِ أَهلَ حَفائِظٍ
أَمor أَنتُمُyou لَستُمare not مِنَamong الحَيانِthe living
أَم أَنتُمُ لَستُم مِنَ الحَيانِ
Are you not, like others, people with a sense of honor,
Are you not, like other men, possessed of dignity?
or are you not among the living?
Or do you not belong to the race of the living?
أَبناأُكُمyour children لَهَفيmy anguish عَلىfor أَبنائِكُمyour children
أَبناأُكُم لَهَفي عَلى أَبنائِكُم
يَلهوtoy بِهِمwith them أَبناءُthe sons of جِنكيزGenghis خانِKhan
يَلهو بِهِم أَبناءُ جِنكيز خانِ
Your children—alas for your children!—
Your sons—oh, my sorrow for your sons!—
are playthings for the sons of Genghis Khan,
Are mere playthings for the sons of Genghis Khan,
النازِعونَthose wresting away المُلكَpower مِنfrom أَيديكُمُyour hands
النازِعونَ المُلكَ مِن أَيديكُمُ
العابِثونَthose toying بِكُمwith you وَبِالقُرآنِand with the Qur'an
العابِثونَ بِكُم وَبِالقُرآنِ
who wrest power from your hands,
Who strip the sovereignty from your hands,
who toy with you and with the Qur'an.
Making a mockery of you and of the Quran.
أَوor كُلَّماwhenever طَلَعَتappeared عَلَيهِمover them أَزمَةٌa crisis
أَو كُلَّما طَلَعَت عَلَيهِم أَزمَةٌ
هاجواthey stirred ضَغائِنَكُمyour grudges عَلىagainst الصُلبانِthe crosses
هاجوا ضَغائِنَكُم عَلى الصُلبانِ
Or is it that whenever a crisis looms over them,
Whenever a crisis arises to confront them,
they stir up your rancor against the crosses?
They incite your hatred against the Christians.
لاdo not تَخدَعَنَّكُمُever deceive you السِياسَةُpolitics إِنَّهاindeed it
لا تَخدَعَنَّكُمُ السِياسَةُ إِنَّها
شَتّىvaried الوُجوهِin faces كَثيرَةُmany الأَلوانِcolors
شَتّى الوُجوهِ كَثيرَةُ الأَلوانِ
Do not let politics deceive you: it
Do not let politics deceive you, for it
has many faces and many colors.
Wears many faces and changes many colors.
لَوif تَعقِلونَyou used reason عَمِلتُمُyou would work لِخَلاصِكُمfor your deliverance
لَو تَعقِلونَ عَمِلتُمُ لِخَلاصِكُم
مِنfrom دَولَةِthe rule of القَيناتِsinging-girls وَالخِصيانِand eunuchs
مِن دَولَةِ القَيناتِ وَالخِصيانِ
If you used your reason, you would work to free yourselves
If you were wise, you would work for your own liberation
from the rule of singing-girls and eunuchs.
From this empire of songstresses and eunuchs.
عارٌa disgrace عَلىupon نَسلِthe offspring of المُلوكِkings بَنيsons of العُلىgreatness
عارٌ عَلى نَسلِ المُلوكِ بَني العُلى
أَنthat يَستَذِلَّهُمabase them بَنوthe sons of الرُعيانِshepherds
أَن يَستَذِلَّهُم بَنو الرُعيانِ
It is shameful for the offspring of kings, the sons of greatness,
It is a disgrace for the descendants of kings and nobles
to be abased by the sons of shepherds.
To be subjugated by the sons of shepherds.
ثورواrise up عَلَيهِمagainst them وَاِطلُبواand demand اِستِقلالَكُمyour independence
ثوروا عَلَيهِم وَاِطلُبوا اِستِقلالَكُم
وَتَشَبَّهواand emulate بِالصِربِthe Serbs وَاليونانِand the Greeks
وَتَشَبَّهوا بِالصِربِ وَاليونانِ
Rise against them and demand your independence,
Rise up against them and demand your independence;
and follow the example of the Serbs and the Greeks.
Follow the example of the Serbs and the Greeks!
ماذاwhat يَروعُterrifies نُفوسَكُمyour souls ماnot فيكُمُamong you
ماذا يَروعُ نُفوسَكُم ما فيكُمُ
وَكُلٌّa weakling وَلاnor فيamong التُركِthe Turks غَيرُany but جَبانِa coward
وَكُلٌّ وَلا في التُركِ غَيرُ جَبانِ
What terrifies your souls? Among you there is no
What strikes fear into your souls? Among you,
weakling, nor among the Turks anyone but a coward.
There are none but the brave, while the Turks are cowards.
وَهَبوهُمُand suppose them الرومانَthe Romans فيin غَلوائِهِمtheir overweening pride
وَهَبوهُمُ الرومانَ في غَلوائِهِم
أَفَماhave you not then غَلَبتُمdefeated أُمَّةَthe nation of الرومانِthe Romans
أَفَما غَلَبتُم أُمَّةَ الرومانِ
Even suppose them Romans at the height of their arrogance;
Even if you imagine them to be Romans at their peak—
did you not defeat the Roman nation?
Did you not once defeat the nation of the Romans?
ماnot المَوتُdeath ماwhat أَعياbaffled النُطاسيthe skilled physician رَدَّهُits averting
ما المَوتُ ما أَعيا النُطاسي رَدَّهُ
مَوتُthe death of الذَليلِthe abased وَعَيشُهُand his life سِيّانِare alike
مَوتُ الذَليلِ وَعَيشُهُ سِيّانِ
Death is not what the skilled physician cannot ward off;
True death is not that which the physician fails to cure;
the death and life of the abased are alike.
For the humiliated soul, life and death are one and the same.
Gemini 3.5 Flash is a user-supplied attribution. The original record does not identify its model.