إيهِ يا لَيلُ هَل شَهِدتَ المُصابا

إيهِ يا لَيلُ هَل شَهِدتَ المُصابا

كَيفَ يَنصَبُّ في النُفوسِ اِنصِبابا

كَيفَ يَنصَبُّ في النُفوسِ اِنصِبابا

O night, have you witnessed the calamity?

Speak on, O night: have you witnessed the calamity,

How it pours itself into souls.

how it pours into souls in torrents?

بَلِّغِ المَشرِقَينِ قَبلَ اِنبِلاجِ الـ

بَلِّغِ المَشرِقَينِ قَبلَ اِنبِلاجِ الـ

ـصُبحِ أَنَّ الرَئيسَ وَلّى وَغابا

ـصُبحِ أَنَّ الرَئيسَ وَلّى وَغابا

Tell the two Easts, before dawn breaks,

Tell the two Easts, before the breaking of

that the leader has departed and vanished.

dawn, that the leader has departed and vanished.

وَاِنعَ لِلنَيِّراتِ سَعداً فَسَعدٌ

وَاِنعَ لِلنَيِّراتِ سَعداً فَسَعدٌ

كانَ أَمضى في الأَرضِ مِنها شِهابا

كانَ أَمضى في الأَرضِ مِنها شِهابا

Mourn Saad to the radiant stars—for Saad

And announce Saad's death to the shining stars, for Saad

flashed more swiftly across the earth than they.

was a more piercing meteor on earth than they.

قُدَّ يا لَيلُ مِن سَوادِكَ ثَوباً

قُدَّ يا لَيلُ مِن سَوادِكَ ثَوباً

لِلدَراري وَلِلضُحى جِلبابا

لِلدَراري وَلِلضُحى جِلبابا

O night, cut from your blackness a garment

Cut, O night, a garment from your darkness

for the stars and for the morning light.

for the bright stars, and a cloak for the morning light.

اُنسُجِ الحالِكاتِ مِنكَ نِقاباً

اُنسُجِ الحالِكاتِ مِنكَ نِقاباً

وَاِحبُ شَمسَ النَهارِ ذاكَ النِقابا

وَاِحبُ شَمسَ النَهارِ ذاكَ النِقابا

Weave from your darknesses a veil,

Weave your deepest darkness into a veil,

and make the face of day cherish that veil.

and bestow that veil on the daytime sun.

قُل لَها غابَ كَوكَبُ الأَرضِ في الأَر

قُل لَها غابَ كَوكَبُ الأَرضِ في الأَر

ضِ فَغيبي عَنِ السَماءِ اِحتِجابا

ضِ فَغيبي عَنِ السَماءِ اِحتِجابا

Tell it: the earth’s star has set upon the earth,

Tell her: Earth's star has vanished into the

so hide yourself from heaven, eclipsed.

earth; so vanish from the sky, veiled.

وَاِلبَسيني عَلَيهِ ثَوبَ حِدادٍ

وَاِلبَسيني عَلَيهِ ثَوبَ حِدادٍ

وَاِجلِسي لِلعَزاءِ فَالحُزنُ طابا

وَاِجلِسي لِلعَزاءِ فَالحُزنُ طابا

Put on mourning clothes for him,

And clothe me in a garment of mourning for him,

and sit in condolence, for grief has come into its own.

and sit to receive condolences, for grief has become sweet.

أَينَ سَعدٌ فَذاكَ أَوَّلُ حَفلٍ

أَينَ سَعدٌ فَذاكَ أَوَّلُ حَفلٍ

غابَ عَن صَدرِهِ وَعافَ الخِطابا

غابَ عَن صَدرِهِ وَعافَ الخِطابا

Where is Saad? This is the first assembly

Where is Saad? This is the first gathering

whose chair he has left vacant, forsaking speech.

from whose place of honor he is absent, shunning the address.

لَم يُعَوِّد جُنودَهُ يَومَ خَطبٍ

لَم يُعَوِّد جُنودَهُ يَومَ خَطبٍ

أَن يُنادى فَلا يَرُدُّ الجَوابا

أَن يُنادى فَلا يَرُدُّ الجَوابا

His soldiers were never accustomed, on a momentous day,

He never accustomed his soldiers, on a day of crisis,

to call him and receive no answer.

to calling him and receiving no answer.

عَلَّ أَمراً قَد عاقَهُ عَلَّ سُقماً

عَلَّ أَمراً قَد عاقَهُ عَلَّ سُقماً

قَد عَراهُ لَقَد أَطالَ الغِيابا

قَد عَراهُ لَقَد أَطالَ الغِيابا

Perhaps some matter detained him—or an illness

Perhaps some matter has detained him; perhaps an illness

befell him. How long his absence has grown!

has overtaken him—he has stayed away so long.

أَي جُنودَ الرَئيسِ نادوا جِهاراً

أَي جُنودَ الرَئيسِ نادوا جِهاراً

فَإِذا لَم يُجِب فَشُقّوا الثِيابا

فَإِذا لَم يُجِب فَشُقّوا الثِيابا

Soldiers of the leader, call aloud;

O soldiers of the leader, call out aloud;

if he does not answer, tear your clothes.

and if he does not answer, rend your garments.

إِنَّها النَكبَةُ الَّتي كُنتُ أَخشى

إِنَّها النَكبَةُ الَّتي كُنتُ أَخشى

إِنَّها الساعَةُ الَّتي كُنتُ آبى

إِنَّها الساعَةُ الَّتي كُنتُ آبى

This is the catastrophe I always feared;

It is the calamity I used to fear;

this is the hour I always dreaded.

it is the hour I would not accept.

إِنَّها اللَفظَةُ الَّتي تَنسِفُ الأَنـ

إِنَّها اللَفظَةُ الَّتي تَنسِفُ الأَنـ

ـفُسَ نَسفاً وَتَفقُرُ الأَصلابا

ـفُسَ نَسفاً وَتَفقُرُ الأَصلابا

This is the blast that sweeps souls away

It is the utterance that blasts

utterly, and leaves minds impoverished.

souls apart and breaks backbones.

ماتَ سَعدٌ لا كُنتِ يا ماتَ سَعدٌ

ماتَ سَعدٌ لا كُنتِ يا ماتَ سَعدٌ

أَسِهاماً مَسمومَةً أَم حِرابا

أَسِهاماً مَسمومَةً أَم حِرابا

Saad is dead—may you perish, words “Saad is dead”!

'Saad has died!'—may you never have been, O 'Saad has died!'

Are you poisoned arrows, or spears?

Are you poisoned arrows, or spears?

كَيفَ أَقصَدتِ كُلَّ حَيٍّ عَلى الأَر

كَيفَ أَقصَدتِ كُلَّ حَيٍّ عَلى الأَر

ضِ وَأَحدَثتِ في الوُجودِ اِنقِلابا

ضِ وَأَحدَثتِ في الوُجودِ اِنقِلابا

How you struck down every living thing on earth

How have you struck dead every living being upon the

and brought upheaval into existence!

earth, and caused an upheaval in existence?

حَسرَةٌ عِندَ أَنَّةٍ عِندَ آهٍ

حَسرَةٌ عِندَ أَنَّةٍ عِندَ آهٍ

تَحتَها زَفرَةٌ تُذيبُ الصِلابا

تَحتَها زَفرَةٌ تُذيبُ الصِلابا

A pang in every nation, and a cry

A pang beside a groan beside an 'ah,'

seized by a sigh that melts the hardest stone.

beneath it, a sigh that melts the hardest things.

قُل لِمَن باتَ في فِلِسطينَ يَبكي

قُل لِمَن باتَ في فِلِسطينَ يَبكي

إِنَّ زِلزالَنا أَجَلُّ مُصابا

إِنَّ زِلزالَنا أَجَلُّ مُصابا

Tell whoever spends the night weeping in Palestine:

Tell whoever spent the night weeping in Palestine

our earthquake is the greater affliction.

that our earthquake is the greater calamity.

قَد دُهيتُم في دورِكُم وَدُهينا

قَد دُهيتُم في دورِكُم وَدُهينا

في نُفوسٍ أَبَينَ إِلّا اِحتِسابا

في نُفوسٍ أَبَينَ إِلّا اِحتِسابا

You were struck within your homes, and we were struck

You were stricken in your homes, while we were stricken

within souls that accept nothing but patient reckoning.

in souls that refused all but patient trust in God's reward.

فَفَقَدتُم عَلى الحَوادِثِ جَفناً

فَفَقَدتُم عَلى الحَوادِثِ جَفناً

وَفَقَدنا المُهَنَّدَ القِرضابا

وَفَقَدنا المُهَنَّدَ القِرضابا

You lost, amid disasters, a shield;

You have lost to calamities a scabbard,

we lost the keen, trenchant sword.

while we have lost the keen, Indian-forged sword.

سَلَّهُ رَبُّهُ زَماناً فَأَبلى

سَلَّهُ رَبُّهُ زَماناً فَأَبلى

ثُمَّ ناداهُ رَبُّهُ فَأَجابا

ثُمَّ ناداهُ رَبُّهُ فَأَجابا

His Lord granted him time and gave him respite;

His Lord unsheathed him for a time, and he proved his valor;

then called him, and he answered.

then his Lord called him, and he answered.

قَدَرٌ شاءَ أَن يُزَلزِلَ مِصراً

قَدَرٌ شاءَ أَن يُزَلزِلَ مِصراً

فَتَغالى فَزَلزَلَ الأَلبابا

فَتَغالى فَزَلزَلَ الأَلبابا

Fate wished to shake Egypt;

Fate willed to shake Egypt,

it rose high and shook every mind.

then went too far and shook minds.

طاحَ بِالرَأسِ مِن رِجالاتِ مِصرٍ

طاحَ بِالرَأسِ مِن رِجالاتِ مِصرٍ

وَتَخَطّى التُحوتَ وَالأَوشابا

وَتَخَطّى التُحوتَ وَالأَوشابا

Yesterday one of Egypt’s great men fell,

It toppled the head among Egypt's great men,

and death passed through thrones and doors.

and passed over the lowly and the rabble.

وَالمَقاديرُ إِن رَمَت لا تُبالي

وَالمَقاديرُ إِن رَمَت لا تُبالي

أَرُؤوساً تُصيبُ أَم أَذنابا

أَرُؤوساً تُصيبُ أَم أَذنابا

When the decrees of fate strike, they do not care

And fate's decrees, when they strike, do not care

whether they hit heads or tails.

whether they hit heads or tails.

خَرَجَت أُمَّةٌ تُشَيِّعُ نَعشاً

خَرَجَت أُمَّةٌ تُشَيِّعُ نَعشاً

قَد حَوى أُمَّةً وَبَحراً عُبابا

قَد حَوى أُمَّةً وَبَحراً عُبابا

A nation came out to carry him in procession—

A nation came out to escort a bier

a bier containing a nation and a surging sea.

that contained a nation and a surging sea.

حَمَلوهُ عَلى المَدافِعِ لَمّا

حَمَلوهُ عَلى المَدافِعِ لَمّا

أَعجَزَ الهامَ حَملُهُ وَالرِقابا

أَعجَزَ الهامَ حَملُهُ وَالرِقابا

They bore him upon the cannons when

They carried him on cannons when

shoulders and necks were unable to bear him.

bearing him proved too much for heads and necks.

حالَ لَونُ الأَصيلِ وَالدَمعُ يَجري

حالَ لَونُ الأَصيلِ وَالدَمعُ يَجري

شَفَقاً سائِلاً وَصُبحاً مُذابا

شَفَقاً سائِلاً وَصُبحاً مُذابا

The sunset changed color, and tears ran—

The hue of evening changed, and tears flowed

liquid twilights, while his companions melted away.

as liquid twilight and molten dawn.

وَسَها النيلُ عَن سُراهُ ذُهولاً

وَسَها النيلُ عَن سُراهُ ذُهولاً

حينَ أَلفى الجُموعَ تَبكي اِنتِحابا

حينَ أَلفى الجُموعَ تَبكي اِنتِحابا

The Nile forgot its nightly course in bewilderment

And the Nile forgot its nightly course, bewildered,

when it found the crowds wailing.

when it found the crowds sobbing aloud.

ظَنَّ يا سَعدُ أَن يَرى مِهرَجاناً

ظَنَّ يا سَعدُ أَن يَرى مِهرَجاناً

فَرَأى مَأتَماً وَحَشداً عُجابا

فَرَأى مَأتَماً وَحَشداً عُجابا

Did it think Saad had come, or that it saw a festival?

It thought, O Saad, that it would see a festival,

It saw mourning rites and a tormented multitude.

but saw a mourning gathering and an astonishing throng.

لَم تَسُق مِثلَهُ فَراعينُ مِصرٍ

لَم تَسُق مِثلَهُ فَراعينُ مِصرٍ

يَومَ كانوا لِأَهلِها أَربابا

يَومَ كانوا لِأَهلِها أَربابا

Egypt’s pharaohs were never accorded the like,

Egypt's pharaohs never mustered its like

even when they were lords among gods.

when they were lords over her people.

خَضَبَ الشيبُ شَيبَهُم بِسَوادٍ

خَضَبَ الشيبُ شَيبَهُم بِسَوادٍ

وَمَحا البيضُ يَومَ مِتَّ الخِضابا

وَمَحا البيضُ يَومَ مِتَّ الخِضابا

Old men dyed their whitened hair black,

The gray-haired dyed their gray hair black,

and young faces lost their color when all dye failed.

and fair women erased their dye the day you died.

وَاِستَهَلَّت سُحبُ البُكاءِ عَلى الوا

وَاِستَهَلَّت سُحبُ البُكاءِ عَلى الوا

دي فَغَطَّت خَضراءَهُ وَاليَبابا

دي فَغَطَّت خَضراءَهُ وَاليَبابا

The clouds of weeping burst over the valley,

And clouds of weeping poured down upon the

covering its green lands and its wastes.

valley, covering its verdure and wasteland.

ساقَت التَيمِسُ العَزاءَ إِلَينا

ساقَت التَيمِسُ العَزاءَ إِلَينا

وَتَوَخَّت في مَدحِكَ الإِسهابا

وَتَوَخَّت في مَدحِكَ الإِسهابا

The Thames sent its condolences to us,

The Times brought us condolences,

while I sought ample speech in praising you.

and sought to praise you at length.

لَم يَنُح جازِعٌ عَلَيكَ كَما نا

لَم يَنُح جازِعٌ عَلَيكَ كَما نا

حَت وَلا أَطنَبَ المُحِبُّ وَحابى

حَت وَلا أَطنَبَ المُحِبُّ وَحابى

My anguish for you did not keep me from lamenting,

No distraught mourner lamented you as

nor do I manufacture praise or offer flattery.

it did, nor did a lover so lavish praise and favor.

وَاِعتِرافُ التاميزِ يا سَعدُ مِقيا

وَاِعتِرافُ التاميزِ يا سَعدُ مِقيا

سٌ لِما نالَ نيلَنا وَأَصابا

سٌ لِما نالَ نيلَنا وَأَصابا

Yet pride overtook me, O Saad, as I contemplated

And the Thames's acknowledgment, O Saad, is a measure

what our Nile had attained and achieved.

of what befell and struck our Nile.

يا كَبيرَ الفُؤادِ وَالنَفسِ وَالآ

يا كَبيرَ الفُؤادِ وَالنَفسِ وَالآ

مالِ أَينَ اِعتَزَمتَ عَنّا الذَهابا

مالِ أَينَ اِعتَزَمتَ عَنّا الذَهابا

O great in heart, in soul, and in aspiration,

O you great in heart, in soul, and in

where have you resolved to go from us?

hopes, where have you resolved to go, leaving us?

كَيفَ نَنسى مَواقِفاً لَكَ فينا

كَيفَ نَنسى مَواقِفاً لَكَ فينا

كُنتَ فيها المَهيبَ لا الهَيّابا

كُنتَ فيها المَهيبَ لا الهَيّابا

How could we forget your stands among us,

How can we forget your stands among us,

when you inspired awe and never knew fear?

in which you inspired awe, never fearing?

كُنتَ في مَيعَةِ الشَبابِ حُساماً

كُنتَ في مَيعَةِ الشَبابِ حُساماً

زادَ صَقلاً فِرِندُهُ حينَ شابا

زادَ صَقلاً فِرِندُهُ حينَ شابا

In the first vigor of youth you were a sword;

In youth's prime you were a sharp sword;

age only polished it and made it keener.

its patterned blade gained polish when it turned gray.

لَم يُنازِلكَ قارِحُ القَومِ إِلّا

لَم يُنازِلكَ قارِحُ القَومِ إِلّا

كُنتَ أَقوى يَداً وَأَعلى جَنابا

كُنتَ أَقوى يَداً وَأَعلى جَنابا

No seasoned champion ever challenged you

Whenever the people's seasoned champion challenged you,

but yours was the stronger hand and loftier station.

your hand was stronger and your standing higher.

عِظَمٌ لَو حَواهُ كِسرى أَنوشَر

عِظَمٌ لَو حَواهُ كِسرى أَنوشَر

وانَ يَوماً لَضاقَ عَنهُ إِهابا

وانَ يَوماً لَضاقَ عَنهُ إِهابا

A grandeur that the frame of Chosroes Anushirvan

A greatness which, had Chosroes Anushirwan possessed it

could scarcely have contained within its skin;

for a day, his skin would have been too narrow for it.

وَمَضاءٌ يُريكَ حَدَّ قَضاءِ اللَ

وَمَضاءٌ يُريكَ حَدَّ قَضاءِ اللَ

هِ يَفري مَتناً وَيَحطِمُ نابا

هِ يَفري مَتناً وَيَحطِمُ نابا

and a resolve displaying the edge of God’s decree,

And a sharp resolve that shows you the edge of the decree of

cleaving the back and smashing the fang.

God, cleaving a back and shattering a fang.

قَد تَحَدَّيتَ قُوَّةً تَملَأُ المَعـ

قَد تَحَدَّيتَ قُوَّةً تَملَأُ المَعـ

ـمورَ مِن هَولِ بَطشِها إِرهابا

ـمورَ مِن هَولِ بَطشِها إِرهابا

You challenged a power that fills the inhabited world

You challenged a power that fills the inhabited

with terror at the violence of its might;

world with terror at the horror of its onslaught.

تَملِكُ البَرَّ وَالبِحارَ وَتَمشي

تَملِكُ البَرَّ وَالبِحارَ وَتَمشي

فَوقَ هامِ الوَرى وَتَجبي السَحابا

فَوقَ هامِ الوَرى وَتَجبي السَحابا

it owns land and sea and rises above

It rules the land and seas, and walks

the heads of humankind, levying even the clouds.

above the heads of humankind, levying tribute from the clouds.

لَم يُنَهنِه مِن عَزمِكَ السِجنُ وَالنَفـ

لَم يُنَهنِه مِن عَزمِكَ السِجنُ وَالنَفـ

ـسُ وَساجَلتَها بِمِصرَ الضِرابا

ـسُ وَساجَلتَها بِمِصرَ الضِرابا

Prison and exile never weakened your determination;

Neither prison nor the soul checked your resolve,

in Egypt you matched that power blow for blow.

and you traded blows with that power in Egypt.

سائِلوا سيشِلاً أَأَوجَسَ خَوفاً

سائِلوا سيشِلاً أَأَوجَسَ خَوفاً

وَسَلوا طارِقاً أَرامَ اِنسِحابا

وَسَلوا طارِقاً أَرامَ اِنسِحابا

Ask the prisoners, over whom fear stole;

Ask the Seychelles: did he feel fear?

ask the night visitor who wished to wail.

And ask Tariq: did he seek retreat?

عَزمَةٌ لا يَصُدُّها عَن مَداها

عَزمَةٌ لا يَصُدُّها عَن مَداها

ما يَصُدُّ السُيولَ تَغشى الهِضابا

ما يَصُدُّ السُيولَ تَغشى الهِضابا

A resolve no force could turn from its course,

A resolve that cannot be turned from its reach

just as mountains cannot halt the torrents.

by what checks torrents sweeping across hills.

لَيتَ سَعداً أَقامَ حَتّى يَرانا

لَيتَ سَعداً أَقامَ حَتّى يَرانا

كَيفَ نُعلي عَلى الأَساسِ القِبابا

كَيفَ نُعلي عَلى الأَساسِ القِبابا

You were not one to remain until you saw us

If only Saad had remained to see us,

raising domes in honor of our bondage.

how we raise domes upon the foundation.

قَد كَشَفنا بِهَديِهِ كُلَّ خافٍ

قَد كَشَفنا بِهَديِهِ كُلَّ خافٍ

وَحَسِبنا لِكُلِّ شَيءٍ حِسابا

وَحَسِبنا لِكُلِّ شَيءٍ حِسابا

Through your guidance we exposed every corruption

Through his guidance we have uncovered every hidden thing,

and reckoned every matter to its full account.

and given due reckoning to every matter.

حُجَجُ المُبطِلينَ تَمضي سِراعاً

حُجَجُ المُبطِلينَ تَمضي سِراعاً

مِثلَما تُطلِعُ الكُؤوسُ الحَبابا

مِثلَما تُطلِعُ الكُؤوسُ الحَبابا

The plotters’ arguments vanished swiftly,

The arguments of falsehood's advocates pass swiftly away,

like bubbles rising in goblets.

like the bubbles that cups bring forth.

حينَ قالَ اِنتَهَيتُ قُلنا بَدَأنا

حينَ قالَ اِنتَهَيتُ قُلنا بَدَأنا

نَحمِلُ العِبءَ وَحدَنا وَالصِعابا

نَحمِلُ العِبءَ وَحدَنا وَالصِعابا

When they said, “You are finished,” we answered, “We have begun;

When he said, 'I have finished,' we said, 'We have begun'

we shall bear the burden and hardships alone.”

to bear the burden and hardships alone.

فَاِحجُبوا الشَمسَ وَاِحبِسوا الرَوحَ عَنّا

فَاِحجُبوا الشَمسَ وَاِحبِسوا الرَوحَ عَنّا

وَاِمنَعونا طَعامَنا وَالشَرابا

وَاِمنَعونا طَعامَنا وَالشَرابا

“Drag down the sun and imprison the spirit from us;

So veil the sun and withhold the breeze from us,

deny us food and drink.

and deny us our food and drink.

وَاِستَشِفّوا يَقينَنا رَغمَ ما نَلـ

وَاِستَشِفّوا يَقينَنا رَغمَ ما نَلـ

ـقى فَهَل تَلمَحونَ فيهِ اِرتِيابا

ـقى فَهَل تَلمَحونَ فيهِ اِرتِيابا

Then examine our certainty, despite all we suffer—

And peer into our certainty, despite what we

can you glimpse the least doubt within it?”

endure: do you glimpse any doubt in it?

قَد مَلَكتُم فَمَ السَبيلِ عَلَينا

قَد مَلَكتُم فَمَ السَبيلِ عَلَينا

وَفَتَحتُم لِكُلِّ شَعواءَ بابا

وَفَتَحتُم لِكُلِّ شَعواءَ بابا

You have gained dominion—but what path remains against us,

You have seized the road's entrance against us,

though you twist ropes for every people?

and opened a door for every raging onslaught.

وَأَتَيتُم بِالحائِماتِ تَرامى

وَأَتَيتُم بِالحائِماتِ تَرامى

تَحمِلُ المَوتَ جاثِماً وَالخَرابا

تَحمِلُ المَوتَ جاثِماً وَالخَرابا

You brought circling craft to keep watch,

And you brought hovering craft, hurtling onward,

carrying crouching death and ruin;

bearing crouching death and devastation.

وَمَلَأتُم جَوانِبَ النيلِ وَعداً

وَمَلَأتُم جَوانِبَ النيلِ وَعداً

وَوَعيداً وَرَحمَةً وَعَذابا

وَوَعيداً وَرَحمَةً وَعَذابا

you filled the banks of the Nile with threats,

And you filled the banks of the Nile with promises,

with promises, mercy, and torment.

and threats, and mercy, and torment.

هَل ظَفِرتُم مِنّا بِقَلبٍ أَبِيٍّ

هَل ظَفِرتُم مِنّا بِقَلبٍ أَبِيٍّ

أَو رَأَيتُم مِنّا إِلَيكُم مَثابا

أَو رَأَيتُم مِنّا إِلَيكُم مَثابا

Have you found in us anything but a proud heart?

Have you won over a single proud heart of ours,

Have you seen us return submissively to you?

or seen any of us return to you?

لا تَقولوا خَلا العَرينُ فَفيهِ

لا تَقولوا خَلا العَرينُ فَفيهِ

أَلفُ لَيثٍ إِذا العَرينُ أَهابا

أَلفُ لَيثٍ إِذا العَرينُ أَهابا

Do not say the lion’s den is empty: within it

Do not say the den is empty: within it

are a thousand lions whenever the den calls.

are a thousand lions whenever the den calls.

فَاِجمَعوا كَيدَكُم وَروعوا حِماها

فَاِجمَعوا كَيدَكُم وَروعوا حِماها

إِنَّ عِندَ العَرينِ أُسداً غِضابا

إِنَّ عِندَ العَرينِ أُسداً غِضابا

Gather all your schemes and terrorize its sanctuary;

So gather your plots and menace her sanctuary;

beside that den stand wrathful lions.

at the den stand angry lions.

جَزِعَ الشَرقُ كُلُّهُ لِعَظيمٍ

جَزِعَ الشَرقُ كُلُّهُ لِعَظيمٍ

مَلَأَ الشَرقَ كُلَّهُ إِعجابا

مَلَأَ الشَرقَ كُلَّهُ إِعجابا

The whole East drank in a mighty man

All the East grieved for a great man

who filled the whole East with admiration.

who filled all the East with admiration.

عَلَّمَ الشامَ وَالعِراقَ وَنَجداً

عَلَّمَ الشامَ وَالعِراقَ وَنَجداً

كَيفَ يُحمى الحِمى إِذا الخَطبُ نابا

كَيفَ يُحمى الحِمى إِذا الخَطبُ نابا

He taught Syria, Iraq, and Najd

He taught the Levant, Iraq, and Najd

how a homeland is defended when calamity strikes.

how the sanctuary is defended when calamity strikes.

جَمَعَ الحَقَّ كُلَّهُ في كِتابٍ

جَمَعَ الحَقَّ كُلَّهُ في كِتابٍ

وَاِستَثارَ الأُسودَ غاباً فَغابا

وَاِستَثارَ الأُسودَ غاباً فَغابا

He gathered the whole truth into a book

He gathered all the truth in a book,

and roused the lions, forest after forest.

and roused the lions, forest after forest.

وَمَشى يَحمِلُ اللِواءَ إِلى الحَـ

وَمَشى يَحمِلُ اللِواءَ إِلى الحَـ

ـقِ وَيَتلو في الناسِ ذاكَ الكِتابا

ـقِ وَيَتلو في الناسِ ذاكَ الكِتابا

He went carrying the banner into the assembly,

And he walked, carrying the banner toward

reciting that book among the people.

the truth, reciting that book among the people.

كُلَّما أَسدَلوا عَلَيهِ حِجاباً

كُلَّما أَسدَلوا عَلَيهِ حِجاباً

مِن ظَلامٍ أَزالَ ذاكَ الحِجابا

مِن ظَلامٍ أَزالَ ذاكَ الحِجابا

Whenever they lowered a veil over him,

Whenever they lowered a veil over him

he removed that veil of darkness.

of darkness, he removed that veil.

واقِفٌ في سَبيلِهِم أَينَ ساروا

واقِفٌ في سَبيلِهِم أَينَ ساروا

عالِمٌ بِاِحتِيالِهِم أَينَ جابا

عالِمٌ بِاِحتِيالِهِم أَينَ جابا

He stood in their path wherever they went,

Standing in their path wherever they went,

knowing their devices wherever they roamed.

aware of their stratagems wherever he roamed.

أَيُّ مَكرٍ يَدِقُّ عَن ذِهنِ سَعدٍ

أَيُّ مَكرٍ يَدِقُّ عَن ذِهنِ سَعدٍ

أَيُّ خَتلٍ يُريغُ مِنهُ اِضطِرابا

أَيُّ خَتلٍ يُريغُ مِنهُ اِضطِرابا

What plot could escape Saad’s mind?

What cunning could be too subtle for Saad's mind?

What scheme could throw him into confusion?

What deceit could seek to unsettle him?

شاعَ في نَفسِهِ اليَقينُ فَوَقّا

شاعَ في نَفسِهِ اليَقينُ فَوَقّا

هُ بِهِ اللَهُ عَثرَةً أَو تَبابا

هُ بِهِ اللَهُ عَثرَةً أَو تَبابا

Certainty filled his soul, and through it

Certainty suffused his soul, and thus

God guarded him from stumbling and ruin.

God guarded him through it from a stumble or ruin.

عَجَزَت حيلَةُ الشِباكِ وَكانَ الـ

عَجَزَت حيلَةُ الشِباكِ وَكانَ الـ

ـشَرقُ لِلصَيدِ مَغنَماً مُستَطابا

ـشَرقُ لِلصَيدِ مَغنَماً مُستَطابا

The schemers’ stratagems failed, though the East

The stratagem of nets proved powerless, though

had once been sweet and easy prey for them.

the East had been a tempting hunting prize.

كُلَّما أَحكَموا بِأَرضِكَ فَخّاً

كُلَّما أَحكَموا بِأَرضِكَ فَخّاً

مِن فِخاخِ الدَهاءِ خابوا وَخابا

مِن فِخاخِ الدَهاءِ خابوا وَخابا

Whenever they laid a snare in your land—

Whenever they set a trap in your land,

one of cunning’s traps—they failed utterly.

one of cunning's traps, they failed, and it failed.

أَو أَطاروا الحَمامَ يَوماً لِزَجلٍ

أَو أَطاروا الحَمامَ يَوماً لِزَجلٍ

قابَلوا مِنكَ في السَماءِ عُقابا

قابَلوا مِنكَ في السَماءِ عُقابا

Whenever they raised clamor over a sparrow,

Or if they sent pigeons aloft one day for flight,

they met an eagle in your sky.

they met an eagle from you in the sky.

تَقتُلُ الدَسَّ بِالصَراحَةِ قَتلاً

تَقتُلُ الدَسَّ بِالصَراحَةِ قَتلاً

وَتُسَقّي مُنافِقَ القَومِ صابا

وَتُسَقّي مُنافِقَ القَومِ صابا

You killed intrigue outright with firmness

You kill intrigue outright with candor,

and made the hypocrite taste bitter poison.

and give the people's hypocrite bitter sap to drink.

وَتَرى الصِدقَ وَالصَراحَةَ ديناً

وَتَرى الصِدقَ وَالصَراحَةَ ديناً

لا يَراهُ المُخالِفونَ صَوابا

لا يَراهُ المُخالِفونَ صَوابا

You held truthfulness and candor as a creed,

You hold truthfulness and candor as a creed

though opponents did not deem them right.

that your opponents do not deem right.

تَعشَقُ الجَوَّ صافي اللَونِ صَحواً

تَعشَقُ الجَوَّ صافي اللَونِ صَحواً

وَالمُضِلّونَ يَعشَقونَ الضَبابا

وَالمُضِلّونَ يَعشَقونَ الضَبابا

You loved the air clear and bright,

You love the air clear in color and cloudless,

while the misleaders loved the fog.

while the deceivers love fog.

أَنتَ أَورَدتَنا مِنَ الماءِ عَذباً

أَنتَ أَورَدتَنا مِنَ الماءِ عَذباً

وَأَراهُم قَد أَورَدونا السَرابا

وَأَراهُم قَد أَورَدونا السَرابا

You brought us to fresh, sweet water;

You brought us to sweet water,

they brought us only to a mirage.

and I see they have brought us to a mirage.

قَد جَمَعتَ الأَحزابَ حَولَكَ صَفّاً

قَد جَمَعتَ الأَحزابَ حَولَكَ صَفّاً

وَنَظَمتَ الشُيوخَ وَالنُوّابا

وَنَظَمتَ الشُيوخَ وَالنُوّابا

You gathered the parties around you in one rank

You gathered the parties around you in one rank,

and marshaled old men and young.

and marshaled the senators and deputies.

وَمَلَكتَ الزِمامَ وَاِحتَطتَ لِلغَيـ

وَمَلَكتَ الزِمامَ وَاِحتَطتَ لِلغَيـ

ـبِ وَأَدرَكتَ بِالأَناةِ الطِلابا

ـبِ وَأَدرَكتَ بِالأَناةِ الطِلابا

You held the reins and took precautions for good;

You held the reins and made provision for the

through patience you attained the goal.

unseen, attaining your aims through patience.

ثُمَّ خَلَّفتَ بِالكِنانَةِ أَبطا

ثُمَّ خَلَّفتَ بِالكِنانَةِ أَبطا

لاً كُهولاً أَعِزَّةً وَشَبابا

لاً كُهولاً أَعِزَّةً وَشَبابا

You left in Egypt stalwart men—

Then you left behind in al-Kinana heroes,

dignified elders and young men—

honored men in their prime and young men.

قَد مَشى جَمعُهُم إِلى المَقصِدِ الأَس

قَد مَشى جَمعُهُم إِلى المَقصِدِ الأَس

مى يُغِذّونَ لِلوُصولِ الرِكابا

مى يُغِذّونَ لِلوُصولِ الرِكابا

whose host has gone toward the loftiest aim,

Their company marched toward the highest

mounting the steeds of union.

goal, urging their mounts onward to reach it.

يَبتَنونَ العُلا يَشيدونَ مَجداً

يَبتَنونَ العُلا يَشيدونَ مَجداً

يُسعِدونَ البَنينَ وَالأَعقابا

يُسعِدونَ البَنينَ وَالأَعقابا

They seek the heights and hunt for glory,

They build greatness and establish glory,

bringing happiness to sons and descendants.

bringing happiness to sons and descendants.

قَد بَلَوناكَ قاضِياً وَوَزيراً

قَد بَلَوناكَ قاضِياً وَوَزيراً

وَرَئيساً وَمِدرَهاً خَلّابا

وَرَئيساً وَمِدرَهاً خَلّابا

We saw you as judge and minister,

We tested you as a judge and minister,

as president and masterful orator;

as a leader and a captivating spokesman.

فَوَجَدناكَ مِن جَميعِ نَواحيـ

فَوَجَدناكَ مِن جَميعِ نَواحيـ

ـكَ عَظيماً مُوَفَّقاً غَلّابا

ـكَ عَظيماً مُوَفَّقاً غَلّابا

and found you, from every side,

And found you, in all your aspects,

mighty, successful, and triumphant.

great, blessed with success, and ever victorious.

لَم يَنَل حاسِدوكَ مِنكَ مُناهُم

لَم يَنَل حاسِدوكَ مِنكَ مُناهُم

لا وَلَم يُلصِقوا بِعَلياكَ عابا

لا وَلَم يُلصِقوا بِعَلياكَ عابا

Your enemies never gained their desire against you,

Your enviers did not get from you what they desired,

nor managed to fasten any blemish upon you.

no, nor did they fasten a blemish on your eminence.

نَم هَنيئاً فَقَد سَهِدتَ طَويلاً

نَم هَنيئاً فَقَد سَهِدتَ طَويلاً

وَسَئِمتَ السَقامَ وَالأَوصابا

وَسَئِمتَ السَقامَ وَالأَوصابا

Sleep in peace: long was your good fortune,

Sleep in peace, for you have long stayed wakeful,

and you grew weary of sickness and pain.

and grown weary of sickness and suffering.

كَم شَكَوتَ السُهادَ لي يَومَ كُنّا

كَم شَكَوتَ السُهادَ لي يَومَ كُنّا

بِالبَساتينِ نَستَعيدُ الشَبابا

بِالبَساتينِ نَستَعيدُ الشَبابا

How often you complained of sleepless nights,

How often you complained to me of sleeplessness, when we were

while by day you endured their ache.

in the gardens, reliving our youth,

نَنهَبُ اللَهوَ غافِلَينَ وَكُنّا

نَنهَبُ اللَهوَ غافِلَينَ وَكُنّا

نَحسَبُ الدَهرَ قَد أَنابَ وَتابا

نَحسَبُ الدَهرَ قَد أَنابَ وَتابا

God granted you to us unawares, and we thought

snatching at pleasure, heedless; and we

that time had relented and repented.

thought time had relented and repented.

فَإِذا الرُزءُ كانَ مِنّا بِمَرمىً

فَإِذا الرُزءُ كانَ مِنّا بِمَرمىً

وَإِذا حائِمُ الرَدى كانَ قابا

وَإِذا حائِمُ الرَدى كانَ قابا

Then suddenly grief stood within bowshot,

Then suddenly calamity was within reach of us,

and death’s barrier was close at hand.

and circling death was close at hand.

حَرَمَتنا المَنونُ ذَيّالِكَ الوَجـ

حَرَمَتنا المَنونُ ذَيّالِكَ الوَجـ

ـهَ وَذاكَ الحِمى وَتِلكَ الرِحابا

ـهَ وَذاكَ الحِمى وَتِلكَ الرِحابا

Death deprived us of that face,

Death deprived us of that face of yours,

that sanctuary and those spacious courts.

that sanctuary and those spacious courts,

وَسَجايا لَهُنَّ في النَفسِ رَوحٌ

وَسَجايا لَهُنَّ في النَفسِ رَوحٌ

يَعدِلُ الفَوزَ وَالدُعاءَ المُجابا

يَعدِلُ الفَوزَ وَالدُعاءَ المُجابا

Yet its grace remained within the soul—a spirit

and virtues whose solace in the soul

equal to victory and to answered prayer.

equals victory and a prayer answered.

كَم وَرَدنا مَوارِدَ الأُنسِ مِنها

كَم وَرَدنا مَوارِدَ الأُنسِ مِنها

وَرَشَفنا سُلافَها وَالرُضابا

وَرَشَفنا سُلافَها وَالرُضابا

How often we reached sources of companionship there

How often we visited their springs of companionship,

and sipped their vintage and sweetness.

and sipped their choicest wine and nectar.

وَمَرَحنا في ساحِها فَنَسينا الـ

وَمَرَحنا في ساحِها فَنَسينا الـ

ـأَهلَ وَالأَصدِقاءَ وَالأَحبابا

ـأَهلَ وَالأَصدِقاءَ وَالأَحبابا

We delighted in its courtyard and forgot

And frolicked in their courts, forgetting

family, friends, and loved ones.

family, friends, and loved ones.

ثُمَّ وَلَّت بَشاشَةُ العَيشِ عَنّا

ثُمَّ وَلَّت بَشاشَةُ العَيشِ عَنّا

حينَ ساروا فَوَسَّدوكَ التُرابا

حينَ ساروا فَوَسَّدوكَ التُرابا

Then the joys of life turned away from us

Then life's cheerfulness turned away from us

when we went forth and laid you in the dust.

when they departed and pillowed you on dust.

خِفتَ فينا مَقامَ رَبِّكَ حَيّاً

خِفتَ فينا مَقامَ رَبِّكَ حَيّاً

فَتَنَظَّر بِجَنَّتَيهِ الثَوابا

فَتَنَظَّر بِجَنَّتَيهِ الثَوابا

You left among us a station your Lord keeps alive;

In life among us, you feared standing before your Lord;

so await, within His gardens, your reward.

so await the reward in His two gardens.