ماليwhat is with me? وَلِلفُصَحاءِand with the eloquent لاnot تَتَكَلَّمُspeak
مالي وَلِلفُصَحاءِ لا تَتَكَلَّمُ
كَثُرَbecame abundant الجُمانُthe pearls فَمالُهso why is it لاnot يُنظَمُstrung
كَثُرَ الجُمانُ فَمالُه لا يُنظَمُ
What is it with me and the eloquent, who do not speak?
Why should I care for eloquent speech when chatter abounds without rhyme or reason revealed,
Pearls have grown abundant; why are they not strung?
Laying bare what was once concealed in hearts kept hidden and suppressed.
قَدindeed أَنطَقَتناmade us speak المُرهَفاتُthe sharpened swords وَأَظهَرَتand revealed
قَد أَنطَقَتنا المُرهَفاتُ وَأَظهَرَت
ماwhat كانَwas يُخزَنُstored فيin الصُدُورِthe hearts وَيُكتَمُand concealed
ما كانَ يُخزَنُ في الصُدُورِ وَيُكتَمُ
Sharpened swords have made us speak and revealed
Where are those whose poets proclaimed with delusions of grandeur, boasting of false glory,
what was stored in hearts and kept concealed.
Claiming we were easy prey for their swords wherever they raided or lusted.
أَينَwhere الَّذينَthose whose تَفَوَّهَتspoke شُعَراؤُهُمtheir poets
أَينَ الَّذينَ تَفَوَّهَت شُعَراؤُهُم
بِالمَينِwith lies وَافتَخَرُواand boasted بِماof what لَمnot يَعلَمُواthey knew
بِالمَينِ وَافتَخَرُوا بِما لَم يَعلَمُوا
Where are those whose poets spoke
Had they spoken true, their corpses would now litter the ground, torn by circling vultures,
lies, and who boasted of what they did not know?
Amid the ruins of Homs and misbegotten Aleppo, its waters bitter as tainted wellsprings.
زَعَمُواthey claimed بِأَناthat we طَعمَةٌfodder لِسُيُوفِهِمfor their swords
زَعَمُوا بِأَنا طَعمَةٌ لِسُيُوفِهِم
فيin كُلِّevery أَرضٍland أَنجَدُواthey went to Najd أَوor أَتهَمُواthey went to Tihama
في كُلِّ أَرضٍ أَنجَدُوا أَو أَتهَمُوا
They claimed that we were fodder for their swords
May the Dezbiri never succeed in his misdeeds as his twisted path has now been made clear,
in every land, whether they went to Najd or Tihama.
Does he take pride in slaughtering helpless lambs? Arrogant souls now humbled into fear.
إِنif يَصدُقُواthey speak truth فَسُيُوفُthen the swords مَنwhose? تَرَكتُهُمُleft them
إِن يَصدُقُوا فَسُيُوفُ مَن تَرَكتُهُمُ
صَرعىfallen تَهُزُّهُمُtoss them about النُسُورُthe vultures الحُوَّمُcircling
صَرعى تَهُزُّهُمُ النُسُورُ الحُوَّمُ
If they speak truth, then whose swords left them
We did not meet them man to man in battle or their false courage would have been revealed,
fallen, tossed about by the circling vultures,
And they would have known who was the bravest and noblest when swords clashed and fate was sealed.
بِخَرابِin the ruins of حِمصٍHoms وَالجِبابُand the wells خَبِيثَةٌfouled
بِخَرابِ حِمصٍ وَالجِبابُ خَبِيثَةٌ
مِنهُمby them كَأَنَّas though مِياهَهُنَّtheir waters العَندَمُblood-red dye
مِنهُم كَأَنَّ مِياهَهُنَّ العَندَمُ
in the ruins of Homs, where the wells are fouled
They died without unsheathing their blades as their swords drew no blood in vengeance,
by them, their waters like blood-red dye?
Only gazing from afar as arrows pierced skulls and lances crushed bones to fragments.
لاlet not يَنجَحَنَّprosper الدِزبِريُّal-Dizbiri بِماthrough what جَرىhappened
لا يَنجَحَنَّ الدِزبِريُّ بِما جَرى
قِدِماًlong ago فَقَدfor indeed وَضَحَbecame clear الطَريقُthe path الأَقوَمُstraightest
قِدِماً فَقَد وَضَحَ الطَريقُ الأَقوَمُ
Let al-Dizbiri not prosper through what happened
No true man would boast of spectating death but only heroes who plunge into fate's reckonings,
long ago, for the straightest path has become clear.
Worlds apart between the Dezbiri and those who with wisdom counseled the noble Imam unfailing.
هَلis فَخرُهُhis pride إِلّاexcept بِمَوتِin the deaths of سَمادِعٍnoble chieftains
هَل فَخرُهُ إِلّا بِمَوتِ سَمادِعٍ
أَنِفُواthey disdained وَقَدthough they had عَرَفُواknown الرَدىdeath أَنto يُحجِمُواdraw back
أَنِفُوا وَقَد عَرَفُوا الرَدى أَن يُحجِمُوا
Is his pride in anything but the deaths of noble chieftains
One disobeys after bowing while the other rebels having gained glory and acclaim,
who disdained retreat, though they knew death awaited?
By my life the speaker spoke true in censuring them and I cannot fault his aim,
لَمnot يَلقَهُمhe met them فيin مَعرَكٍbattle وَلَوand had التَقَواthey met
لَم يَلقَهُم في مَعرَكٍ وَلَو التَقَوا
لَعَرَفتyou would surely have known أَيُّهُمُwhich of them أَشَدُّstronger وَأَكرَمُand nobler
لَعَرَفت أَيُّهُمُ أَشَدُّ وَأَكرَمُ
He did not meet them in battle; had they met,
The deeds of honor breed honor while the acts of knaves breed only knaves,
you would have known which of them was stronger and nobler.
You counted your days but the shame is yours not ours, bear that in mind always.
ماتُواthey died بِغَيرِwithout حُسامِهِhis sword وَحُسامُهُand his sword
ماتُوا بِغَيرِ حُسامِهِ وَحُسامُهُ
ماnot سالَflowed فَوقَover شِفارِهِits edges مِنهُمfrom them دَمُblood
ما سالَ فَوقَ شِفارِهِ مِنهُم دَمُ
They died by no sword of his; his sword
The day you attacked clad in white, your horde was not worthy of food or drink
had none of their blood flow over its edges.
While our onslaught deprived you of hearth, home, swords, and all that you cherish.
بَلrather كانَwas يَنظُرُwatching مِنfrom بَعيدٍafar وَالظُبىand the sword-edges
بَل كانَ يَنظُرُ مِن بَعيدٍ وَالظُبى
تَفريcleave الجَماجِمَthe skulls وَالقَناand the spears يَتَحَطَّمُshatter
تَفري الجَماجِمَ وَالقَنا يَتَحَطَّمُ
Rather, he watched from afar while sword-edges
As to the border fortresses, we have kept them safe beyond the efforts of kings,
cleaved skulls and spears shattered.
Without our scimitars, disaster would have struck, flooding in without slowing.
لاnot يَفخَرُboasts الرَجُلُthe man الَّذيwho نَظَرَwatched الوَغاthe battle
لا يَفخَرُ الرَجُلُ الَّذي نَظَرَ الوَغا
بَلrather يَفخَرُboasts البَطَلُthe hero الَّذيwho يَتَقَحَّمُplunges in
بَل يَفخَرُ البَطَلُ الَّذي يَتَقَحَّمُ
The man who watched the battle does not boast;
Savage waves would have washed over you as a roaring sea cannot be contained,
rather, the hero who plunges into it boasts.
But we took on the heavy burden, holding back the surging tides that threatened to swallow all.
شَتّانَfar apart بَينَbetween الدِزبرِيِّal-Dizbiri وَبَينَand between مَنthe one who
شَتّانَ بَينَ الدِزبرِيِّ وَبَينَ مَن
نَصَحَcounseled sincerely الإِمامَthe Imam نَصيحَةًsincere counsel لاnot تَسقَمُgrows unsound
نَصَحَ الإِمامَ نَصيحَةً لا تَسقَمُ
How far apart are al-Dizbiri and the man who
You know better what God has averted so do not pretend ignorance of our role,
gave the Imam sincere counsel that never grew unsound!
Why must our lands be invaded each morn, bound again by enmity's chains.
هَذاthis one يَعُقُّis disloyal وَقَدthough he had أَطاعَobeyed وَذاand that one عَصىrebelled
هَذا يَعُقُّ وَقَد أَطاعَ وَذا عَصى
مِنfrom بَعدِafter أَنthat أَضحىhe became يُعَزُّesteemed وَيُكرَمُand honored
مِن بَعدِ أَن أَضحى يُعَزُّ وَيُكرَمُ
This one is disloyal, though he obeyed; that one rebelled
Do you not know that just beyond our bounds are horsemen with skin blackened by the sun
after coming to be esteemed and honored.
And gleaming swords, from constant vigilance along the secure border, grips hardened.
عَمرِيby my life لَقَدindeed صَدَقَspoke truly الَّذيthe one who هُوَhe قائِلٌsays
عَمرِي لَقَد صَدَقَ الَّذي هُوَ قائِلٌ
فِيناabout us وَفيهِand about him مَقالَةًa saying لاnot تُخرَمُcan be breached
فِينا وَفيهِ مَقالَةً لا تُخرَمُ
By my life, he spoke truly who uttered
On the day of struggle the battlefield was narrow with little room to maneuver,
about us and him a saying that cannot be breached:
While your women were led off as captives, some cleaved by the slashing blades.
أَفعالُthe deeds of مَنthose whom تَلِدُbear الكِرامُthe noble كَريمَةٌnoble
أَفعالُ مَن تَلِدُ الكِرامُ كَريمَةٌ
وَفَعالُand the deeds of مَنthose whom تَلِدُbear الأَعاجِمُnon-Arabs أَعجَمُbarbarous
وَفَعالُ مَن تَلِدُ الأَعاجِمُ أَعجَمُ
The deeds of those the noble bear are noble,
The fateful events of the past year should have enlightened and taught a perceptive soul,
and the deeds of those non-Arabs bear are barbarous.
You did not descend on Homs or contemplate its fallen towers and crushed homes.
عَدَّدتُمُyou recounted أَيّامَكُمyour battle-days وَعَلَيكُمand against you
عَدَّدتُمُ أَيّامَكُم وَعَلَيكُم
فيهاin them النَقِيصَةُthe disgrace لاnot عَلَيناagainst us فاعلَمُواso know
فيها النَقِيصَةُ لا عَلَينا فاعلَمُوا
You have recounted your battle-days; upon you
The death surrounding it should have sufficed as a lesson had any understood its wisdom,
falls their disgrace, not upon us—know this.
You rejoiced at Jaafar's death, yet still found the nerve to further offend,
يَومَon the day of الأُبَيَّضِal-Ubayyad كانَwas جُلُّmost of نِهابَكُمyour plunder
يَومَ الأُبَيَّضِ كانَ جُلُّ نِهابَكُم
ماwhat كانَwas يُسقاهُgiven it to drink الرِجالُthe men وَيُطعَمُand fed
ما كانَ يُسقاهُ الرِجالُ وَيُطعَمُ
On the day of al-Ubayyad, most of your plunder
A cautious man cannot elude fate's decree when destiny's time has come,
was what men were given to drink and eat.
The eunuch attacked you in your beds like slumbering cattle in a pen,
وَنِهابُناand our plunder مِنكُمfrom you مَعاقِلُfortresses حَظّكُمyour share
وَنِهابُنا مِنكُم مَعاقِلُ حَظّكُم
مِنهاof them المُثَقَّفthe straightened spear وَالحُسامُand the sword المِخذَمُcleaving
مِنها المُثَقَّف وَالحُسامُ المِخذَمُ
And our plunder from you was fortresses; your share
As if you were helpless prey ambushed by a hissing viper in striking venom,
of them was the straightened spear and the cleaving sword.
The wise knew they would not survive and that you would show no mercy.
أَمّاas for العَواصِمُthe fortified districts وَالثُغورُand frontier posts فَلَمso have not تَزَلceased
أَمّا العَواصِمُ وَالثُغورُ فَلَم تَزَل
تُحمىare defended بِناby us دُونَrather than المُلوكِkings وَتُعصَمُand safeguarded
تُحمى بِنا دُونَ المُلوكِ وَتُعصَمُ
As for the fortified districts and frontier posts, they have always
Gently, gently O hot-blooded youth made heedless by wine's intemperance,
been defended and safeguarded by us, not by kings.
The world is a milk-dew whose taste is sweetish though it leaves a bitter aftertaste.
لَولاwere it not for صَوارِمُناour sharp swords لَكانَتwould have تُبَّلٌTubbal
لَولا صَوارِمُنا لَكانَت تُبَّلٌ
دَهَمَتكُمُoverwhelmed you بِأَشَدِّwith the direst خَطبcalamity يدهمُthat strikes suddenly
دَهَمَتكُمُ بِأَشَدِّ خَطب يدهمُ
Were it not for our sharp swords, Tubbal would have
It was the prey of kings who then spurned it, gaining nothing they had hoped to gain,
overwhelmed you with the direst calamity that strikes.
I have been granted victory and my righteous Caliph continues to maintain,
وَلَسَحَّand would have poured مِنهاfrom it عارِضٌa storm-cloud يَطمُوswells بِهِwith it
وَلَسَحَّ مِنها عارِضٌ يَطمُو بِهِ
مِمّاfrom what lies وَراءَbeyond السَدِّthe barrier بَحرٌa sea خِضرِمُvast
مِمّا وَراءَ السَدِّ بَحرٌ خِضرِمُ
And from it a storm-cloud would have poured, with which would swell
You are unworthy to stand equal with a slave, much less a king of greatest fame,
a vast sea from beyond the barrier.
When your ransom is required, the ransom of a black crow will do the same.
لَكِنbut تَجَشَّمناwe undertook العَظيمَthe great ordeal بِأَنفَسٍwith souls
لَكِن تَجَشَّمنا العَظيمَ بِأَنفَسٍ
عَظُمَتgrew great فَسُدَّso was blocked بِهاby them المُلِمُّthe calamity الأَعظَمُgreatest
عَظُمَت فَسُدَّ بِها المُلِمُّ الأَعظَمُ
But we undertook the great ordeal with souls
You aspired to ascend the peaks but climbed up masked with your sword as claim,
grown great, and by them the greatest calamity was blocked
Sitting honored among kings, treated like a friend, waited upon and served.
عَنكُمfrom you وَعَنand from أَهلِthe people of البِلادِthe land وَأَنتُمُand you
عَنكُم وَعَن أَهلِ البِلادِ وَأَنتُمُ
أَدرىbest aware بِماof what دَفَعَwarded off الإِلهُGod وَأعلَمُand best informed
أَدرى بِما دَفَعَ الإِلهُ وَأعلَمُ
from you and from the people of the land; and you
You gained no good, no benefit sought, unlike what was intended by the gracious Imam,
are best aware of what God warded off, and best informed.
A lofty palace in the Mashrafiya with the sturdiest pillars not to fall into ruin.
فَعَلامَso why تُصبَحُawakens كُلَّevery يَومٍday أَرضُناour land
فَعَلامَ تُصبَحُ كُلَّ يَومٍ أَرضُنا
تُغزىis invaded وَتُصبِحُand awakens بِالعَداوَةِwith hostility تُلزَمُis burdened
تُغزى وَتُصبِحُ بِالعَداوَةِ تُلزَمُ
Then why does our land, every day, find itself
If you gain the unmatched glory none preceded or will follow,
invaded, and find enmity forced upon it?
Honored for all time and none can ever hope to disesteem.
أَفَماso did you not عَلِمتُمknow أَنthat دُونَbefore حَرِيمِناour sanctuary
أَفَما عَلِمتُم أَن دُونَ حَرِيمِنا
قُضُباًkeen swords تُشامُare drawn وَمُقرَباتٍand choice steeds تُلجَمُare bridled
قُضُباً تُشامُ وَمُقرَباتٍ تُلجَمُ
Did you not know that before our sanctuary
It is greatly feared what the passage of years may bring or how fate will deem,
are drawn swords and choice steeds being bridled,
Your nature is like the clouds of mercy and your resolve like the sword's gleaming,
وَفَوارِساًand horsemen سُودَblack الجُلُودِof skin لِطُولِbecause of how long ماthe time that
وَفَوارِساً سُودَ الجُلُودِ لِطُولِ ما
يَصداrusts عَلَيهاupon them السابِريُّthe Sabiri mail المُحكَمُclosely wrought
يَصدا عَلَيها السابِريُّ المُحكَمُ
and riders, black of skin from how long
Your will is hardened and through triumph you sustain whom you will or deprive at whim,
the closely wrought Sabiri mail has rusted on them?
Remain forever verdant in vigor, divinely supported to give or withhold on a fateful whim.
بِأَكُفِّهِمin their palms بِيضٌbright swords تَطِنُّring شِفارُهاtheir edges
بِأَكُفِّهِم بِيضٌ تَطِنُّ شِفارُها
حَتّىuntil كَأَنَّas though شِفارَهاtheir edges تَتَكَلَّمُspeak
حَتّى كَأَنَّ شِفارَها تَتَكَلَّمُ
In their palms are bright swords whose edges ring,
until their edges seem to speak.
يَومَon the day of المَشاهِدِbattles وَالقَناand the spears مُتَضايِقٌare crowded
يَومَ المَشاهِدِ وَالقَنا مُتَضايِقٌ
ماthe space بَينَهُbetween them وَالرِيحُand the wind خُرقٌfierce تَنسِمُblows
ما بَينَهُ وَالرِيحُ خُرقٌ تَنسِمُ
On battle-days, the spears leave little room
between them, while fierce winds blow.
وَحُماتُكُمand your defenders أَسرىcaptives تُقادُare driven وَمِنهُمُand among them
وَحُماتُكُم أَسرى تُقادُ وَمِنهُمُ
شَرقٌone choking بِماon what شَرِقَchoked السِنانُthe spearhead اللَهذَمُsharp
شَرقٌ بِما شَرِقَ السِنانُ اللَهذَمُ
And your defenders are captives, driven along; among them
are men choking on what choked the sharp spearhead.
قَدindeed كانَthere was فيin العامِthe year المُقُدَّمِpreceding عِبرَةٌa lesson
قَد كانَ في العامِ المُقُدَّمِ عِبرَةٌ
لَكمُfor you وَعلِمٌand knowledge لِامرِئٍfor a person يَتَعَلَّمُwho learns
لَكمُ وَعلِمٌ لِامرِئٍ يَتَعَلَّمُ
In the preceding year there was a lesson
for you, and knowledge for anyone willing to learn.
لَمnot تَنزِلُواyou descended upon حِمصاًHoms وَلَمand not تَتَأَمَّلُواyou contemplated
لَم تَنزِلُوا حِمصاً وَلَم تَتَأَمَّلُوا
قِمَماًheads تُداسُare trampled بِهاthere وَدُوراًand houses تُهدَمُare demolished
قِمَماً تُداسُ بِها وَدُوراً تُهدَمُ
You did not descend upon Homs, nor contemplate
heads trampled there and houses demolished.
وَعَظَتكُمadmonished you تِلكَthose المَصارِعُplaces of death حَولَهاaround it
وَعَظَتكُم تِلكَ المَصارِعُ حَولَها
لَوif only أَنَّthat مَنone who سَمِعَheard المَواعِظَthe admonitions يَفهَمُunderstood
لَو أَنَّ مَن سَمِعَ المَواعِظَ يَفهَمُ
Those places of death around it admonished you,
if only those who heard admonitions understood.
وَعَلىand at كَفَرKafr طابَTab بِمَصرَعِat the fall of جَعفَرٍJa'far
وَعَلى كَفَر طابَ بِمَصرَعِ جَعفَرٍ
حِرتُمyou were bewildered فَكَيفَso how جَسَرتُمُyou dared أَنto تُقدِمُواadvance
حِرتُم فَكَيفَ جَسَرتُمُ أَن تُقدِمُوا
And at Kafr Tab, at Ja'far's fall,
you were bewildered; how, then, did you dare advance?
لاnot يَنفَعُhelps الرَجُلَthe man الَّذيwho هُوَhe is حازِمٌprudent
لا يَنفَعُ الرَجُلَ الَّذي هُوَ حازِمٌ
يَوماًon a day إِذاwhen نَزَلَdescends القَضاءُfate المُبرَمُirrevocable
يَوماً إِذا نَزَلَ القَضاءُ المُبرَمُ
Nothing helps the man who is prudent
on a day when irrevocable fate descends.
هَجَمstormed الخَصِيُّthe eunuch بِكُمwith you عَرِينَthe den of ضَراغِمٍlions
هَجَم الخَصِيُّ بِكُم عَرِينَ ضَراغِمٍ
خَطَرُthe danger of الهُجُومِthe assault عَلىupon الَّذيthe one who يَتَهَجَّمُrushes in
خَطَرُ الهُجُومِ عَلى الَّذي يَتَهَجَّمُ
The eunuch stormed with you into the lions' den;
the danger of the assault falls on the assailant.
وَكَأَنَّماand as though كُنتُمyou were وَكانَand he was فَرِيسَةًa quarry
وَكَأَنَّما كُنتُم وَكانَ فَرِيسَةً
فَرَّتfled فَأَدرَكَهاthen overtook it الهِزَبرُthe mighty lion الضَيغَمُthe fierce lion
فَرَّت فَأَدرَكَها الهِزَبرُ الضَيغَمُ
You and he were like a quarry
that fled, then was overtaken by the mighty, fierce lion.
مَرَةٌa woman مُخَدَّرَةًsecluded تَسِيرُtravels وَحَولَهاand around her
مَرَةٌ مُخَدَّرَةً تَسِيرُ وَحَولَها
لَجِبٌa clamorous host يَسُدُّfills الخافِقَينِthe two horizons عَرَمرَمُvast
لَجِبٌ يَسُدُّ الخافِقَينِ عَرَمرَمُ
A secluded woman travels, and around her
a clamorous, vast host fills both horizons.
حَكَمَتjudged عُقُولُthe minds of ذَويpossessors of العُقولِintellect بِأَنَّهُمthat they
حَكَمَت عُقُولُ ذَوي العُقولِ بِأَنَّهُم
لاnot يَسلَمُونَwill come through safely وَأَنَّهاand that she لاnot تَسلَمُwill come through safely
لا يَسلَمُونَ وَأَنَّها لا تَسلَمُ
The minds of men of sense have judged that they
will not come through safely, nor will she.
ياO رِفقُRifq رِفقاًgently رُبَّmany a فَحلٍstallion غَرَّةُdeceived him
يا رِفقُ رِفقاً رُبَّ فَحلٍ غَرَّةُ
ذاthis المَشرَبُwatering-place الأَهنىsweetest وَهَذاand this المَطعَمُfood
ذا المَشرَبُ الأَهنى وَهَذا المَطعَمُ
O Rifq, gently! Many a stallion has been deceived by
this sweetest watering-place and this food.
حَلَبٌAleppo هِيَit الدُنياthe world تُحَبُّis loved وَطَعمُهاand its taste
حَلَبٌ هِيَ الدُنيا تُحَبُّ وَطَعمُها
طَعمانِtwo flavors حُلوٌsweet فيon المَذاقِthe palate وَعَلقَمُand colocynth
طَعمانِ حُلوٌ في المَذاقِ وَعَلقَمُ
Aleppo is the world, beloved; its taste
has two flavors: sweet upon the palate, and bitter colocynth.
قَدindeed رامَهاsought it صَيدُthe proud among المُلوكِkings وَعاوَدُواand returned
قَد رامَها صَيدُ المُلوكِ وَعاوَدُوا
عَنهاfrom it وَماand not غَنِمُواthey gained booty وَلَكِنbut غُنِّمواthey were taken as booty
عَنها وَما غَنِمُوا وَلَكِن غُنِّموا
Proud kings have sought it, and returned
from it with no booty, but as booty themselves.
شُرِيتyou were bought بِنَصرٍfor Nasr وَالحُلاand chieftain (first fragment) حِلِchieftain (completion) صالِحٍSalih
شُرِيت بِنَصرٍ وَالحُلا حِلِ صالِحٍ
فِيمَنamong those who يُباعُare sold لِسائِمٍto a bidder يَتَسَوَّمُwho bargains
فِيمَن يُباعُ لِسائِمٍ يَتَسَوَّمُ
You were bought for Nasr and the chieftain Salih,
among those sold to a bidder bargaining.
ماnot أَنتَyou أَهلاًfit أَنto تَكونَbe لِسَنبَرٍfor Sanbar
ما أَنتَ أَهلاً أَن تَكونَ لِسَنبَرٍ
كُفؤاًan equal وَلاnor مَلِكُthe king of الزُنُوجِthe Zanj الأَعظُمُgreatest
كُفؤاً وَلا مَلِكُ الزُنُوجِ الأَعظُمُ
You are not fit to be Sanbar's
equal—nor is the greatest king of the Zanj.
لَكِنbut إِذاwhen حَضَرَcomes الفِداءُthe ransom فَإِنَّماthen only
لَكِن إِذا حَضَرَ الفِداءُ فَإِنَّما
تُفدىyou are ransomed بِماfor what يُفدىis ransomed الغَرابُthe crow الأَسحَمُcoal-black
تُفدى بِما يُفدى الغَرابُ الأَسحَمُ
But when ransom comes, you will only
be ransomed for what a coal-black crow is ransomed for.
رُمتَyou sought الصُعُودَascent فَقَدso indeed صَعِدتَyou have ascended مُعَمَّماًturbaned
رُمتَ الصُعُودَ فَقَد صَعِدتَ مُعَمَّماً
بالسَيفِwith the sword أَحسَنَthe finest عِمَّةٍturban-wrapping تَتَعَمَّمُyou wear as a turban
بالسَيفِ أَحسَنَ عِمَّةٍ تَتَعَمَّمُ
You sought ascent; you have indeed ascended, turbaned
with the sword, in the finest turban you could wear.
وَجَلَستَand you sat ماthe space بَينَbetween المُلوكِkings مُكَرَّماًhonored
وَجَلَستَ ما بَينَ المُلوكِ مُكَرَّماً
تُرعىyou are tended كَماjust as يُرعىis tended الصَديقُthe friend وَتُخدَمُand you are served
تُرعى كَما يُرعى الصَديقُ وَتُخدَمُ
And you sat among kings, honored,
tended as a friend is tended, and served.
وَثَوَيتَand you stayed لاnot خَيراًgood حَويتَyou gained وَلاand not نَوىintended
وَثَوَيتَ لا خَيراً حَويتَ وَلا نَوى
ماwhat قَدalready نَوَيتَyou intended لَناfor us الإِمامُthe Imam الأَكرَمُnoblest
ما قَد نَوَيتَ لَنا الإِمامُ الأَكرَمُ
And you stayed, having gained no good; nor did
the noblest Imam intend for us what you had intended.
يابانياًO builder بِالمَشرَفِيَّةِwith Mashrafi swords وَالقَناand spears
يابانياً بِالمَشرَفِيَّةِ وَالقَنا
بَيتاًa house مِنَof العَلياءِeminence لاnot يَتَهَدَّمُcollapses
بَيتاً مِنَ العَلياءِ لا يَتَهَدَّمُ
O builder, with Mashrafi swords and spears,
of a house of eminence that never collapses,
إِنif فُزتَyou have won بِالشرَفِthe distinction الَّذيwhich لاno آخِرٌlater person
إِن فُزتَ بِالشرَفِ الَّذي لا آخِرٌ
فيin الدَهرِtime فازَwon بِهِit وَلاnor مُتَقَدِّمُan earlier person
في الدَهرِ فازَ بِهِ وَلا مُتَقَدِّمُ
if you have won a distinction that no later man
in time has won, nor any earlier man,
فَلِأَجلِthen because أَنَّكَthat you ماas long as حَيِيتَyou live وَإِنَّماand only
فَلِأَجلِ أَنَّكَ ما حَيِيتَ وَإِنَّما
يُخشىfear is felt عَلَيكَfor you مَدىthroughout الزَمانِtime وَيُحكَمُand judgment is passed
يُخشى عَلَيكَ مَدى الزَمانِ وَيُحكَمُ
it is because, while you live, you are only
feared for throughout time, and judged
خُلُقاًin character كَأَندِيَةِlike the dews of الغَمامِclouds وَهِمَّةًand in ambition
خُلُقاً كَأَندِيَةِ الغَمامِ وَهِمَّةً
مِثلَlike الحُسامِthe sharp sword وَعَزمَةًand a resolve لاnot تَكهَمُgrows blunt
مِثلَ الحُسامِ وَعَزمَةً لا تَكهَمُ
to have a character like the clouds' dews, and an ambition
like a sword, and a resolve that never blunts.
لاmay you not زِلتَcease مُخضَرَّgreen الجَنابِof domain مُؤَيّداًsupported
لا زِلتَ مُخضَرَّ الجَنابِ مُؤَيّداً
بِالنَصرِby victory ترزُقُyou grant sustenance مَنwhomever تَشاءُyou wish وَتَحرِمُand you withhold
بِالنَصرِ ترزُقُ مَن تَشاءُ وَتَحرِمُ
May your domain remain green, and may you be aided
by victory, granting sustenance to whom you will, and withholding it.
Partial English translation: 54 of 106 Arabic lines translated.