تُناضِلُ عَنْ دينِ الهُدى وتُدافِعُ

تُناضِلُ عَنْ دينِ الهُدى وتُدافِعُ

كَأنَّكَ في الهَيْجا أبُوكَ مُدافِعُ

كَأنَّكَ في الهَيْجا أبُوكَ مُدافِعُ

You fight for the faith of guidance and defend it.

You struggle for the religion of guidance and defend it

As though in battle you were your father, Mudafiʿ.

As if in battle your father is its defender

وتَثْبتُ يَوْمَ الرَّوْعِ في حَوْمَةِ الوَغَى

وتَثْبتُ يَوْمَ الرَّوْعِ في حَوْمَةِ الوَغَى

كَأنَّكَ ثَهْلانٌ بِها أَوْ مُتَالِعُ

كَأنَّكَ ثَهْلانٌ بِها أَوْ مُتَالِعُ

And you stand firm on the day of terror, amid the battle,

And on the day of turmoil, you stand firm in the fray

As though you were Thahlan there, or Mutaliʿ.

As if you are its resident or frequent visitor

وَتَغزُو العِدَى في عُقْرِها مُتَتابِعاً

وَتَغزُو العِدَى في عُقْرِها مُتَتابِعاً

وحَسْبُكَ غَزْوٌ في العِدَى مُتَتابِعُ

وحَسْبُكَ غَزْوٌ في العِدَى مُتَتابِعُ

And you raid the enemies in their heartland, time after time,

And you raid the enemies in succession

And repeated raids against the enemies suffice you.

And raiding the enemies in succession suffices you

فَتُلْفِي دِيارَ المُشْرِكِينَ ولَم تَزَلْ

فَتُلْفِي دِيارَ المُشْرِكِينَ ولَم تَزَلْ

أَواهِلَ قَدْ أصْبَحْنَ وَهيَ بَلاقِعُ

أَواهِلَ قَدْ أصْبَحْنَ وَهيَ بَلاقِعُ

Thus you find the idolaters' dwellings, which had always been

So you destroy the lands of the polytheists, which have not ceased

Inhabited, now turned into desolate wastes.

To be empty and desolate in the early dawn

وَما هُمْ ولا البُلْدان إِلا وَدَائِعٌ

وَما هُمْ ولا البُلْدان إِلا وَدَائِعٌ

وَعَما قَرِيبٍ تُسْتَرَدّ الوَدَائِعُ

وَعَما قَرِيبٍ تُسْتَرَدّ الوَدَائِعُ

And neither they nor the lands are anything but entrusted deposits,

And they and their lands are but trusts

And before long those deposits will be reclaimed.

To be soon reclaimed, those trusts

تَقَدَّمَك الرُّعْبُ الذِي ما لَهُمْ بهِ

تَقَدَّمَك الرُّعْبُ الذِي ما لَهُمْ بهِ

قَرارٌ ولا في العَيشِ مِنْهُم مَطامِعُ

قَرارٌ ولا في العَيشِ مِنْهُم مَطامِعُ

Terror preceded you, under which they found no

Terror precedes you, giving them no rest

Rest, nor among them any hope of living.

Nor hope of survival from it

فَضَاقَ عَلَيْهِم أفْقُهُمْ وهوَ واسِعٌ

فَضَاقَ عَلَيْهِم أفْقُهُمْ وهوَ واسِعٌ

وأَكْثَبَ مِنْهُم حيْنُهُمْ وهوَ شاسِعُ

وأَكْثَبَ مِنْهُم حيْنُهُمْ وهوَ شاسِعُ

So their horizon narrowed around them, though it was wide,

So their horizon narrowed, though vast

And their appointed death drew near, though it was far away.

And their days darkened, though expansive

وَلاذُوا بِأَعْلَى الرَّاسِياتِ تَوَقُّعاً

وَلاذُوا بِأَعْلَى الرَّاسِياتِ تَوَقُّعاً

لِما سَوْفَ يَغْشاهُم وَما حُمَّ واقِعُ

لِما سَوْفَ يَغْشاهُم وَما حُمَّ واقِعُ

And they sought refuge atop the steadfast mountains, anticipating

And they took refuge in the highest fortresses

What would soon engulf them; what is decreed must happen.

In fear of what will befall them, and what is bound to happen

فَلَمْ تَألُ هَدّاً أَرْضَهُم واسْتِبَاحَةً

فَلَمْ تَألُ هَدّاً أَرْضَهُم واسْتِبَاحَةً

تُجَاذِبُهُم أطْرَافَهَا وتُنازِعُ

تُجَاذِبُهُم أطْرَافَهَا وتُنازِعُ

So you spared no effort in razing their land and overrunning it,

Yet you did not stop devastating their lands

Wresting its outskirts from them and contesting possession.

As its parts vie with each other over them

يَمِيناً بِما قَدَّمْتَ مِن حَسَنٍ لَقَدْ

يَمِيناً بِما قَدَّمْتَ مِن حَسَنٍ لَقَدْ

حَمَيْتَ ذِمارَ الدِّينِ والدِّينُ ضائِعُ

حَمَيْتَ ذِمارَ الدِّينِ والدِّينُ ضائِعُ

An oath by the good you have done: indeed,

By what you have brought of good deeds, indeed

You protected the faith's sanctity while the faith lay forsaken.

You have protected the pillars of religion, while religion was in peril

وَقُمْتَ بِأَعباءِ الإِمارَةِ نَاهِضاً

وَقُمْتَ بِأَعباءِ الإِمارَةِ نَاهِضاً

تُجالِد عَنها مَنْ عَتا وَتُقارِعُ

تُجالِد عَنها مَنْ عَتا وَتُقارِعُ

And you shouldered the burdens of rule, rising resolutely,

And you shouldered the burdens of leadership, rising up

Fighting in its defense against rebels and trading blows.

To battle for it against whoever transgresses and contends

فَلا صامِتٌ إِلا بِشُكْرِكَ نَاطِقٌ

فَلا صامِتٌ إِلا بِشُكْرِكَ نَاطِقٌ

وَلا خالِعٌ إِلا لأَمْرِكَ خَانِعُ

وَلا خالِعٌ إِلا لأَمْرِكَ خَانِعُ

No silent man but speaks in gratitude to you,

So none remains silent but by praising you speaks

And no rebel but bows to your command.

And none remains aloof but to your command submits

ولَيْسَ بِأُفْقِ الشِّرْكِ إِلا مُبادِرٌ

ولَيْسَ بِأُفْقِ الشِّرْكِ إِلا مُبادِرٌ

بِطَاعَتِهِ يَرْجُو القَبُولَ مُسارِعُ

بِطَاعَتِهِ يَرْجُو القَبُولَ مُسارِعُ

And none in the realm of idolatry fails to hasten

And the horizons of polytheism have none

With his obedience, swiftly seeking acceptance.

But those racing to obey you, hoping to be accepted

وقَدْ عَلِمَ الإيمانُ أَنَّكَ حاصِدٌ

وقَدْ عَلِمَ الإيمانُ أَنَّكَ حاصِدٌ

بِمُنْصُلِكَ الماضِي لِما الكُفْرُ زارِعُ

بِمُنْصُلِكَ الماضِي لِما الكُفْرُ زارِعُ

And faith has come to know that you reap

And faith knows that you are one who reaps

With your keen blade what unbelief sows.

With your advancing sword what disbelief had sown

وأَنَّك لِلْمَنْكورِ مُذْ كُنْتَ خَافِضٌ

وأَنَّك لِلْمَنْكورِ مُذْ كُنْتَ خَافِضٌ

وأَنَّكَ لِلْمَعروفِ مُذْ كُنْتَ رافِعُ

وأَنَّكَ لِلْمَعروفِ مُذْ كُنْتَ رافِعُ

And that, ever since you came to be, you have cast down wrong,

That you have always been one to lower the forbidden

And that, ever since you came to be, you have raised up good.

And raise the enjoined good

بَسَطْتَ مِن الأَنْوارِ ما تُقْبَضُ الدُّنَى

بَسَطْتَ مِن الأَنْوارِ ما تُقْبَضُ الدُّنَى

إذَا انْصَرَمَتْ آمَادُها وهوَ قاطِعُ

إذَا انْصَرَمَتْ آمَادُها وهوَ قاطِعُ

You have spread a light that outlasts the worlds' folding away,

You have spread such lights that when

When their allotted spans end, while it still pierces through.

Their course ends, it cuts through the darkness

عُنِيتَ بِما يُعْنَى بِهِ كُلُّ خَاشِعٍ

عُنِيتَ بِما يُعْنَى بِهِ كُلُّ خَاشِعٍ

فَلِلَّهِ بَرٌّ مِنْكَ للَّهِ خاشِعُ

فَلِلَّهِ بَرٌّ مِنْكَ للَّهِ خاشِعُ

You attended to what every humble worshipper attends to,

You have attended to what every devout attendee attends to

So God has in you a righteous man, humble before God.

So, by God, you are righteous, God-fearing

صَلاةٌ وَصَوْمٌ واحْتِسابٌ وَخَشْيَة

صَلاةٌ وَصَوْمٌ واحْتِسابٌ وَخَشْيَة

وَعَدْلٌ وإِحْسَانٌ لَها الغَزْو سابِعُ

وَعَدْلٌ وإِحْسَانٌ لَها الغَزْو سابِعُ

Prayer, fasting, seeking divine reward, and reverent fear,

Prayer, fasting, piety, reverence

And justice and benevolence, with warfare as their seventh.

Justice, benevolence – and jihad makes seven

وَفِي كُلِّ حالٍ لا تَزال مُوَفَّقاً

وَفِي كُلِّ حالٍ لا تَزال مُوَفَّقاً

تُوَاصِلُ في مَرْضاتِهِ وتُقَاطِعُ

تُوَاصِلُ في مَرْضاتِهِ وتُقَاطِعُ

And in every circumstance you remain favored with success,

And you remain guided in every state

Joining and severing ties in pursuit of His pleasure.

Continuing in His pleasure, abstaining from His displeasure

يَسُرُّ بَنِي العَبَّاس خَلْعُكَ مَنْ غَدَا

يَسُرُّ بَنِي العَبَّاس خَلْعُكَ مَنْ غَدَا

لِدَعْوَتِهِم مِنْ قَبْلِهَا وهوَ خالِعُ

لِدَعْوَتِهِم مِنْ قَبْلِهَا وهوَ خالِعُ

The sons of al-ʿAbbas rejoice at your deposing one who had become

It pleases the Abbasids that you have shed

Before this a repudiator of their cause;

The allegiance to those who had called you to it before

وَكَوْنُكَ في أبْناءِ سَعْدٍ مُشايِعاً

وَكَوْنُكَ في أبْناءِ سَعْدٍ مُشايِعاً

لآل رَسولِ اللَّهِ فِيمَنْ يُشَايِعُ

لآل رَسولِ اللَّهِ فِيمَنْ يُشَايِعُ

And at your being, among the sons of Saʿd, a supporter

And that you stand with the Sa`dis, supporting

Of the family of God's Messenger, among their supporters.

The Household of the Messenger of Allah among their supporters

وأَنَّكَ أَرْيٌ لِلمُحالِفِ نافِعٌ

وأَنَّكَ أَرْيٌ لِلمُحالِفِ نافِعٌ

وأَنَّكَ شَرْيٌ لِلْمُخَالِف ناقِعُ

وأَنَّكَ شَرْيٌ لِلْمُخَالِف ناقِعُ

And that you are honey, beneficial to the ally,

And that you are beneficial to the ally

And that you are bitter colocynth, deadly to the opponent.

And harmful to the adversary you subdue

وللَّهِ مِنْ أبْناءِ سَعْدٍ عِصَابَةٌ

وللَّهِ مِنْ أبْناءِ سَعْدٍ عِصَابَةٌ

إِذا غابَ كَهْلٌ مِنْهُمُ قام يافِعُ

إِذا غابَ كَهْلٌ مِنْهُمُ قام يافِعُ

And God has a band among the sons of Saʿd:

By the Sa`dis is a group of youths

When a mature man among them is gone, a youth rises.

When an elder among them is gone, a youth takes his place

ملُوكٌ بِهَا ليلٌ كِرام أَعِزَّةٌ

ملُوكٌ بِهَا ليلٌ كِرام أَعِزَّةٌ

لَهُمْ شِيَمٌ مَرْضِيَّةٌ ومَنَازِعُ

لَهُمْ شِيَمٌ مَرْضِيَّةٌ ومَنَازِعُ

Kings, magnanimous, generous and mighty,

They are kingly lions, honorable nobles

They have commendable traits and inclinations.

Whose manners are agreeable, though contentious

ليُوثٌ إِلَى حَرْبِ الأَعادِي دَوالِفٌ

ليُوثٌ إِلَى حَرْبِ الأَعادِي دَوالِفٌ

نُجومٌ بِآفاقِ المَعالي طَوالِعُ

نُجومٌ بِآفاقِ المَعالي طَوالِعُ

Lions advancing to war against their foes,

Lions heading into battle with the enemies

Stars rising over the horizons of high glory.

Stars rising on the horizons of glory

إِذَا بَطَشَتْ يُمْناكَ يَوْماً فَإِنَّهُم

إِذَا بَطَشَتْ يُمْناكَ يَوْماً فَإِنَّهُم

لِرَاحَتِها العُلْيا هُناكَ أَصابِعُ

لِرَاحَتِها العُلْيا هُناكَ أَصابِعُ

When your right hand strikes one day, they are

When your right hand unleashes on a day

There as fingers to its exalted palm.

They are its fingers in the lofty repose

أَيَرْجو النَّصارَى في زَمانِكَ نُصْرَةً

أَيَرْجو النَّصارَى في زَمانِكَ نُصْرَةً

وَقد كَثُرَتْ فِيهِمْ لَعَمْرِي الوَقائِعُ

وَقد كَثُرَتْ فِيهِمْ لَعَمْرِي الوَقائِعُ

Do the Christians hope for victory in your time,

Do the Christians hope for victory in your time

When, by my life, battles against them have multiplied?

When, by my life, many catastrophes have befallen them

فأَعْيُنُهُم بَعدَ الهُجوع سَواهِدٌ

فأَعْيُنُهُم بَعدَ الهُجوع سَواهِدٌ

وأَعْيُنُنا بعد السُّهاد هَوَاجِعُ

وأَعْيُنُنا بعد السُّهاد هَوَاجِعُ

So their eyes are wakeful after sleep,

So after withdrawal, their eyes are sleepless

And our eyes sleep after sleeplessness.

While after prowess, our eyes find repose

وكَيْفَ يَرُومُ الرُّومُ طُولَ تَمَتُّعٍ

وكَيْفَ يَرُومُ الرُّومُ طُولَ تَمَتُّعٍ

وأنْتَ رَدَاهَا والمَواضِي القَوَاطِعُ

وأنْتَ رَدَاهَا والمَواضِي القَوَاطِعُ

And how can the Rum seek prolonged enjoyment,

And how can the Romans enjoy longevity

When you are their doom, along with keen, cutting swords,

When you have repelled them, you splitter of the sturdy mountains

وجُنْدٌ كُماةٌ لا العُداةُ أَوَامِنٌ

وجُنْدٌ كُماةٌ لا العُداةُ أَوَامِنٌ

بِأَسْيافِهِمْ وَلا الوُلاةُ جَوازِعُ

بِأَسْيافِهِمْ وَلا الوُلاةُ جَوازِعُ

And an army of champions? The foes find no safety

An army of reserve when the enemies are not safe

From their swords, nor do the rulers lose heart.

From their swords, nor the governors safe from their assault

إِذا وَقَفُوا قُلْتَ الهِضَابُ الفَوارِعُ

إِذا وَقَفُوا قُلْتَ الهِضَابُ الفَوارِعُ

وإِنْ زَحَفُوا قُلْتَ الرِّياحُ الزّعازِعُ

وإِنْ زَحَفُوا قُلْتَ الرِّياحُ الزّعازِعُ

If they stand still, you say: towering hills;

When they halt, you say they are impassable mountains

And if they advance, you say: tempestuous winds.

When they march, you say they are gusting winds

تَحُفُّ بِزَيَّانِ الأَمِيرِ كَأَنَّهُ

تَحُفُّ بِزَيَّانِ الأَمِيرِ كَأَنَّهُ

فُؤَادٌ وَهُمْ فَوْق الفُؤَادِ أَضالِعُ

فُؤَادٌ وَهُمْ فَوْق الفُؤَادِ أَضالِعُ

They surround Emir Zayyan, as though he were

They throng around their magnificent commander as if

A heart, and they were ribs over that heart.

He is a heart while they are its enclosing ribs

أَميرٌ كَسَوْهُ بِالجَميلِ لأَنَّهُ

أَميرٌ كَسَوْهُ بِالجَميلِ لأَنَّهُ

جَميلٌ حَميدٌ كُلُّ ما هُوَ صانِعُ

جَميلٌ حَميدٌ كُلُّ ما هُوَ صانِعُ

An emir whom they have clothed in honor, because

A commander characterized by beauty, for he

Beautiful and praiseworthy is everything he does.

Is beautiful, praiseworthy in all he undertakes

بإِمْرَتِهِ ازْدانَ الزَّمانُ وَأَصْبَحَتْ

بإِمْرَتِهِ ازْدانَ الزَّمانُ وَأَصْبَحَتْ

مُوَدَّعَةَ الآمالِ وَهْيَ رَواجِعُ

مُوَدَّعَةَ الآمالِ وَهْيَ رَواجِعُ

Under his rule the age grew splendid, and

By his leadership, time became adorned and

Hopes once bidden farewell were returning.

Abandoned hopes retreated

لِرَايَتِهِ السَّوْداءِ في كُلِّ مَشْهَدٍ

لِرَايَتِهِ السَّوْداءِ في كُلِّ مَشْهَدٍ

قِيَامٌ بِنَصْرِ الحَقِّ أبْيَضُ نَاصِعُ

قِيَامٌ بِنَصْرِ الحَقِّ أبْيَضُ نَاصِعُ

For his black banner, in every encounter, there is

For his black banner, in every arena

A stand for truth's victory, pure and brilliant white.

There is, in supporting truth, a gleaming white defiant

ثُغُورُ ثُغُورِ المُسْلِمِين بَوَاسِمٌ

ثُغُورُ ثُغُورِ المُسْلِمِين بَوَاسِمٌ

بِهِ وَرِقابُ المُشْرِكين خَواضِعُ

بِهِ وَرِقابُ المُشْرِكين خَواضِعُ

The mouths of the Muslims' frontier towns are smiling

The borders of Muslim lands smile

Because of him, while the idolaters' necks bow low.

Through him, and the necks of the polytheists bow

يُفيضُ عَلَيها الخَيْرَ والشَّرُّ دائِمٌ

يُفيضُ عَلَيها الخَيْرَ والشَّرُّ دائِمٌ

ويَقْبِضُ عَنْهَا الجُهْدَ والجُهْدُ شَائِعُ

ويَقْبِضُ عَنْهَا الجُهْدَ والجُهْدُ شَائِعُ

He pours good upon them, though evil persists,

Goodness and evil ever flow to them

And keeps hardship from them, though hardship is widespread.

And hardship and exhaustion are shared among them

فَتَدْبيرُهُ في حالَةِ السِّلْمِ نَاجِعٌ

فَتَدْبيرُهُ في حالَةِ السِّلْمِ نَاجِعٌ

وَتَشْميرُهُ في حالَةِ الحَرْبِ نَافِعُ

وَتَشْميرُهُ في حالَةِ الحَرْبِ نَافِعُ

So his planning in time of peace is effective,

So his planning in times of peace is beneficial

And his exertion in time of war is beneficial.

And his preparation in times of war advantageous

أَميرَ العُلى أَرْجُو ومِثْلُكَ سامِحٌ

أَميرَ العُلى أَرْجُو ومِثْلُكَ سامِحٌ

أميرَ العُلى أَدْعُو ومِثْلُكَ سامِعُ

أميرَ العُلى أَدْعُو ومِثْلُكَ سامِعُ

Emir of glory, I hope in you; one like you is generous.

Supreme commander I hope for, and one like you is forbearing

Emir of glory, I call to you; one like you listens.

Supreme commander I supplicate, and one like you is hearing

وأَشدُو بِما طَوَّقْتَنِي مِنْ صَنائِعٍ

وأَشدُو بِما طَوَّقْتَنِي مِنْ صَنائِعٍ

جِسامٍ كَما تَشْدُو الحَمامُ السَّواجِعُ

جِسامٍ كَما تَشْدُو الحَمامُ السَّواجِعُ

And I sing of the favors you have hung about my neck,

And I sing of what you have graced me with of great deeds

Great favors, as the cooing doves sing.

As the doves sing of past loves

فَيَصْدَعُ مِنِّي بِاعْتِمادِك صَادِحٌ

فَيَصْدَعُ مِنِّي بِاعْتِمادِك صَادِحٌ

ويَصْدَحُ مِنِّي بِامْتِدَاحِكَ صادِعُ

ويَصْدَحُ مِنِّي بِامْتِدَاحِكَ صادِعُ

So a singing voice in me proclaims its reliance on you,

So from me emerges with your support one who cries out loudly

And a proclaiming voice in me sings your praise.

And from me emerges with your praise one who proclaims

وَدُمْ رَحْمَةً لِلعالَمينَ وَعِصْمةً

وَدُمْ رَحْمَةً لِلعالَمينَ وَعِصْمةً

عَدُوُّكَ مَصْروعٌ وبَأْسُكَ صارِعُ

عَدُوُّكَ مَصْروعٌ وبَأْسُكَ صارِعُ

And endure as a mercy to all worlds and a safeguard:

And last with mercy upon all the worlds, and victory

Your enemy overthrown, and your might overthrowing.

Your enemy is vanquished, and your might overwhelming