يا قاتَلَ اللَهُ لَيلاً كُنتُ أَحرُسُهُ

يا قاتَلَ اللَهُ لَيلاً كُنتُ أَحرُسُهُ

لَدى الخُرَيبَةِ ما يَمضي فَيَنحَسِرُ

لَدى الخُرَيبَةِ ما يَمضي فَيَنحَسِرُ

Ah, may God curse a night I kept watch through

O killer of God, I was guarding the night

at al-Khurayba; it would not pass and fade away.

By the ruins as it receded and withdrew

يا آلَ مَروانَ إِنَّ الثَغرَ فَاِنتَبِهوا

يا آلَ مَروانَ إِنَّ الثَغرَ فَاِنتَبِهوا

قَد ضاعَ إِن لَم يَكُن مِنكُم لَهُ غِيَرُ

قَد ضاعَ إِن لَم يَكُن مِنكُم لَهُ غِيَرُ

O house of Marwan, surely the frontier—so take heed—

O Marwan’s family, the border is in danger so be alert

is already lost unless you bring about a change for it.

It will be lost if none among you defend but the brave

لا يُصلِحُ الثَغرَ إِلّا كُلُّ مُحتَنِكٍ

لا يُصلِحُ الثَغرَ إِلّا كُلُّ مُحتَنِكٍ

ضَخمُ الدَسيعَةِ أَو صَمصامَةٌ ذَكَرُ

ضَخمُ الدَسيعَةِ أَو صَمصامَةٌ ذَكَرُ

Nothing can set the frontier right but a seasoned man,

None can secure the border but every seasoned warrior

great in bounty, or a keen sword of hard steel.

Stout, audacious, undaunted and bold