لمَنْwhose? طَلَلٌa ruined campsite نائِيremote المَزارِthe place visited بَعيدُهُits distant reaches
لمَنْ طَلَلٌ نائِي المَزارِ بَعيدُهُ
وعهْدٌand a remembered time كَريمٌnoble لاnot يُذَمُّis reproached حَميدُهُits virtues
وعهْدٌ كَريمٌ لا يُذَمُّ حَميدُهُ
Whose is this ruined campsite, remote to visit and far away,
And this noble past, its virtues beyond reproach?
عَفاhas faded غَيْرَexcept نُؤْيٍa drainage trench كالسِّوارِlike a bracelet ومَوْقِدٍand a hearth
عَفا غَيْرَ نُؤْيٍ كالسِّوارِ ومَوْقِدٍ
كَماas جَثَمَتْcrouched بيضُthe white ones الحَمامِof the doves وسُودُهُand their black ones
كَما جَثَمَتْ بيضُ الحَمامِ وسُودُهُ
It has faded, save a bracelet-like trench and a hearth,
Like white and black doves crouching.
إذاwhen أخْلَفَfailed الغيْثُthe rain الأباطِحَthe gravel plains والرُّباand the hills
إذا أخْلَفَ الغيْثُ الأباطِحَ والرُّبا
فتَسْكابُthen the pouring دَمْعِof tears المُقلَتَيْنِfrom both eyes يَجودُهُwaters it abundantly
فتَسْكابُ دَمْعِ المُقلَتَيْنِ يَجودُهُ
When rain fails the gravel plains and hills,
Tears pouring from both eyes rain upon it.
مَحَلٌّa dwelling لسُعْدَىfor Su'da والزّمانُand time مُساعِدٌfavorable
مَحَلٌّ لسُعْدَى والزّمانُ مُساعِدٌ
وجَفْنُand the eyelid اللّياليof the nights لاnot يَريمُdeparts هُجودُهits slumber
وجَفْنُ اللّيالي لا يَريمُ هُجودُه
A dwelling of Su'da, when fortune was favorable,
And the eyelid of the nights never left its slumber.
وقَفْناwe halted بهِat it عُوجَtravel-bent المَطيِّmounts كأنّهُas though it were
وقَفْنا بهِ عُوجَ المَطيِّ كأنّهُ
عَليلٌa sick man ومُجْتازُand a passerby الرِّكابِamong the camel-riders يَعودُهُvisits him
عَليلٌ ومُجْتازُ الرِّكابِ يَعودُهُ
We halted our travel-bent mounts there, as though it were
A sick man whom passing riders came to visit.
فلَوْلاand were it not for نَسيمٌa breeze رَدّreturned رَجْعَthe echo جَوابِناof our reply
فلَوْلا نَسيمٌ رَدّ رَجْعَ جَوابِنا
فسَكّنَand soothed منْsome of حَرِّthe heat الأُوامِof burning thirst بَرُودُهُits coolness
فسَكّنَ منْ حَرِّ الأُوامِ بَرُودُهُ
Had not a breeze returned the echo of our reply,
Its coolness soothing some of burning thirst's heat,
لَماwould not حَمَلتْhave borne منّاwithin us الضّلوعُthe ribs غَرامَهاtheir passion
لَما حَمَلتْ منّا الضّلوعُ غَرامَها
ولاnor كانَwould هَذاthis الشّوقُyearning يَخْبوdie down وَقودُهُits fuel
ولا كانَ هَذا الشّوقُ يَخْبو وَقودُهُ
Our ribs could not have borne their passion,
Nor would this yearning's fuel have died down.
وتاللّهِand by God لوْلاwere it not for أنّةٌa moan تُشْهِرُrevealing الجَوىlove's anguish
وتاللّهِ لوْلا أنّةٌ تُشْهِرُ الجَوى
فأضْحىso it became وسرُّand the secret الحُبِّof love بادٍplain جُحودُهُits denial
فأضْحى وسرُّ الحُبِّ بادٍ جُحودُهُ
By God, were it not for a moan that reveals love's anguish,
Leaving love's secret exposed even in its denial,
لآثَرْتُI would have preferred كَتْمَconcealing الوجْدِpassion بيْنَbetween جَوانِحيmy ribs
لآثَرْتُ كَتْمَ الوجْدِ بيْنَ جَوانِحي
وبلّغْتُand I would have brought فيin القَلْبِthe heart الهَوىlove ماwhat يُريدُهُit desires it
وبلّغْتُ في القَلْبِ الهَوى ما يُريدُهُ
I would have preferred to hide passion within my breast,
And let love in my heart attain what it desires.
خَليليَّmy two friends ماwhat للرّكْبِwith the riders لاnot يَشْتَكيcomplain of الوَجىfoot soreness
خَليليَّ ما للرّكْبِ لا يَشْتَكي الوَجى
وماand what لِبِساطِwith the carpet القَفْرِof the wilderness يُطْوىis folded مَديدُهُits long expanse
وما لِبِساطِ القَفْرِ يُطْوى مَديدُهُ
My two friends, why do the riders not complain of sore feet,
And why is the desert's long carpet being folded away?
يحُثُّit spurs جَناحَthe wing السّيْرِof travel حتّىuntil كأنّماas though
يحُثُّ جَناحَ السّيْرِ حتّى كأنّما
رَجاءُhope in أميرِthe commander المُسْلِمينَof the Muslims يَقودُهُleads it
رَجاءُ أميرِ المُسْلِمينَ يَقودُهُ
It spurs the wing of travel until it seems
Hope in the Commander of the Muslims is leading it.
أظنُّI think ديارَthe dwellings الحَيِّof the tribe منّاto us قَريبةًnear
أظنُّ ديارَ الحَيِّ منّا قَريبةً
وظمْآنُand the thirsty one هَذاof this البُعْدِdistance حانَhas come وُرودُهُhis arrival at water
وظمْآنُ هَذا البُعْدِ حانَ وُرودُهُ
I think the tribe's dwellings are near us,
And this distance's thirsty traveler is due to reach water.
وإلاّand otherwise فَماthen what بالُis the matter with النّسيمِthe breeze كأنّماas though
وإلاّ فَما بالُ النّسيمِ كأنّما
أكبّتْtipped علىonto النّارِthe fire الكِباءَthe incense هُنودُهُits Indians
أكبّتْ على النّارِ الكِباءَ هُنودُهُ
Otherwise, why does the breeze seem as though
Its Indians have tipped incense onto the fire?
تأَرّجَgrew fragrant فيacross الآفاقِthe horizons مَسْرَىthe course هُبوبِهِof its blowing
تأَرّجَ في الآفاقِ مَسْرَى هُبوبِهِ
كَماjust as حَمَلَتْcarried عنْهُfrom him الثّناءَpraise وُفودُهُhis delegations
كَما حَمَلَتْ عنْهُ الثّناءَ وُفودُهُ
The course of its blowing grew fragrant across the horizons,
Just as his delegations carried praise away from him.
وماand what بالُis the matter with هذاthese العِيسِpale camels لاnot تَسْأمُtire of السُّرَىnight travel
وما بالُ هذا العِيسِ لا تَسْأمُ السُّرَى
كَماjust as جُهِّزَتْwere equipped عنْدَat المَغارِthe raid جُنودُهُhis troops
كَما جُهِّزَتْ عنْدَ المَغارِ جُنودُهُ
And why do these pale camels never tire of night travel,
Like his troops when equipped for a raid?
أميرٌan emir كَفىspared الإسْلامَIslam كلَّevery عَظيمةٍcalamity
أميرٌ كَفى الإسْلامَ كلَّ عَظيمةٍ
وقدْwhen already شابَhad grown gray منْfrom طولِthe length العَناءِof suffering وَليدُهُits infant
وقدْ شابَ منْ طولِ العَناءِ وَليدُهُ
An emir who spared Islam every calamity,
When its infant had grown gray from long suffering;
وقادَand led الىto إصْراخِهِits rescue كُلَّevery سابِحٍswimming steed
وقادَ الى إصْراخِهِ كُلَّ سابِحٍ
مُعوّذَةٍprotected by charms أنْthat لاnot تُحَطَّbe removed لُبودُهُits saddle-felts
مُعوّذَةٍ أنْ لا تُحَطَّ لُبودُهُ
And led to its rescue every swimming steed,
Charmed against ever having its saddle-felts removed.
وألّفَand united أسْرارَthe inner thoughts النّفوسِof souls علىupon الُدَىguidance (text unclear)
وألّفَ أسْرارَ النّفوسِ على الُدَى
فأوْشَكَso drew near منْof وَقدِthe blaze الشَّتاتِof disunity خُمودُهُits extinction
فأوْشَكَ منْ وَقدِ الشَّتاتِ خُمودُهُ
And united souls' innermost thoughts upon guidance,
So the blaze of division came close to dying out.
ولمّاand when عرَتْbefell هَذيthis الجَزيرةَpeninsula نَبْوَةٌa setback
ولمّا عرَتْ هَذي الجَزيرةَ نَبْوَةٌ
وعُطِّلَand was neglected منْof فَرْضِthe obligation الجِهادِof jihad أكيدُهُits binding part
وعُطِّلَ منْ فَرْضِ الجِهادِ أكيدُهُ
When a setback befell this peninsula,
And the binding obligation of jihad was neglected,
وأصْبَحَand awoke ثَغْرُthe mouth الثّغْرِof the frontier بعْدَafter ابتِسامِهِits smiling
وأصْبَحَ ثَغْرُ الثّغْرِ بعْدَ ابتِسامِهِ
ولوْلاand but for دِفاعُthe protection اللّهِof God فُضّتْwould be broken عُقودُهُits necklaces
ولوْلا دِفاعُ اللّهِ فُضّتْ عُقودُهُ
And the frontier's mouth awoke after its smiling—
But for God's defense, its necklaces would have scattered.
تَبارَكَblessed be آلُthe House النّصْرِof Nasr حِفْظَfor guarding ذَمائِهِits last breath
تَبارَكَ آلُ النّصْرِ حِفْظَ ذَمائِهِ
فأعْقَبَso left as successor صِدّيقَthe true friend الجَلالِof Majesty شَهيدُهُits martyr
فأعْقَبَ صِدّيقَ الجَلالِ شَهيدُهُ
Blessed be the House of Nasr for preserving its last breath;
Its martyr left Majesty's true friend as successor,
وأنْجَبَهُand brought him forth للدّينِfor the faith يحْميto protect ذِمارَهُits honor
وأنْجَبَهُ للدّينِ يحْمي ذِمارَهُ
كماas أنْجَبَتْbrought forth لَيْثَthe lion العَرينِof the lair أسودُهُits lions
كما أنْجَبَتْ لَيْثَ العَرينِ أسودُهُ
And brought him forth for the faith, to guard its honor,
As its lions bring forth the lion of the lair.
فقامَso arose بأمْرِat the command اللهِof God ناصِرُthe champion دينِهِof His faith
فقامَ بأمْرِ اللهِ ناصِرُ دينِهِ
ولاand no عِبْءَburden يَثْنيbends عَزْمَهُhis resolve ويُؤودُهُand weighs him down
ولا عِبْءَ يَثْني عَزْمَهُ ويُؤودُهُ
Then the champion of His faith arose at God's command,
With no burden to bend his resolve or weigh him down.
وأسْلكَand led onto نهْجَthe path الحقِّof truth مَنْwhoever حادَstrayed بعْدَماafter
وأسْلكَ نهْجَ الحقِّ مَنْ حادَ بعْدَما
تُنوسِيَwas forgotten ذِكْراهُits remembrance وضَلَّand was lost سديدُهُits straight course
تُنوسِيَ ذِكْراهُ وضَلَّ سديدُهُ
He led onto truth's path whoever had strayed, after
Its memory had been forgotten and its straight course lost.
إذاwhen عُدِّدَare counted الأمْلاكُthe kings مَجْداًin glory ومَحْتِداًand lineage
إذا عُدِّدَ الأمْلاكُ مَجْداً ومَحْتِداً
فيُوسُفُthen Yusuf أنْصارُthe Helpers النّبيّof the Prophet جُدودُهُhis ancestors
فيُوسُفُ أنْصارُ النّبيّ جُدودُهُ
When kings are reckoned by glory and lineage,
Yusuf's ancestors are the Prophet's Helpers.
وإنْand if قَعَدواthey fall short منْfrom دونِbelow مبْلَغِreaching غايةٍa goal
وإنْ قَعَدوا منْ دونِ مبْلَغِ غايةٍ
تَدانَىdraws near لهُto him منْof كلِّevery قَصْدٍaim بَعيدُهُits farthest reach
تَدانَى لهُ منْ كلِّ قَصْدٍ بَعيدُهُ
And if they fall short of reaching a goal,
The farthest reach of every aim draws near to him.
وأيُّand which فؤادٍheart مِنْهُمُamong them غيْرُnot خافِقٍfluttering
وأيُّ فؤادٍ مِنْهُمُ غيْرُ خافِقٍ
إذاwhen خَفَقَتْflutter أعْلامُهُhis standards وبُنودُهُand his banners
إذا خَفَقَتْ أعْلامُهُ وبُنودُهُ
And which heart among them does not flutter
When his standards and banners flutter?
لهُhis are فَتَكاتٌdeadly assaults ماnever تَجفُّdry ظُباتُهاtheir sword-edges
لهُ فَتَكاتٌ ما تَجفُّ ظُباتُها
وعزْمُand a resolve اقْتِدارِof might ماnever تُحَلُّare untied عُقودُهُits knots
وعزْمُ اقْتِدارِ ما تُحَلُّ عُقودُهُ
His are deadly assaults whose sword-edges never dry,
And a mighty resolve whose knots are never untied,
ورأيٌand judgment يَمُدُّsupplies الشّمْسَthe sun نوراًwith light ومَشْهَداًand a scene
ورأيٌ يَمُدُّ الشّمْسَ نوراً ومَشْهَداً
ملائِكَةُthe angels السّبْعِof the seven الطِّباقِlayered heavens شُهودُهُits witnesses
ملائِكَةُ السّبْعِ الطِّباقِ شُهودُهُ
And judgment that gives light to the sun, and a scene
Witnessed by the angels of the seven layered heavens.
فلِلنّاسِso for the people فيon يومِthe day العَطاءِof giving هِباتُهُhis gifts
فلِلنّاسِ في يومِ العَطاءِ هِباتُهُ
وللّهِand for God فيin اللّيلِthe night الطّويلِlong هُجودُهُhis night vigil
وللّهِ في اللّيلِ الطّويلِ هُجودُهُ
His gifts are for the people on the day of giving,
And his vigil is for God through the long night.
يَميناًI swear لَماsurely ... are not الأنْواءُthe rain-bearing stars إلاexcept يَمينُهُhis right hand
يَميناً لَما الأنْواءُ إلا يَمينُهُ
وماand not الجُودُbounty إلاexcept ماthat which سَقَىwatered الأرْضَthe earth جودُهُhis bounty
وما الجُودُ إلا ما سَقَى الأرْضَ جودُهُ
I swear: the rain-bearing stars are nothing but his right hand,
And bounty is only what his generosity rains upon the earth.
أميرَO emir العُلَىof exalted deeds لوْلاكَbut for you أصْبَحَwould become رَبْعُهاtheir dwelling
أميرَ العُلَى لوْلاكَ أصْبَحَ رَبْعُها
خَلاءًdesolate ودِينُand the religion اللهِof God وَاهٍweak عَمودُهُits pillar
خَلاءً ودِينُ اللهِ وَاهٍ عَمودُهُ
Emir of exalted deeds, but for you their dwelling would become
Desolate, and God's religion weak in its pillar.
ولَكِنْbut نَهَجْتَyou laid out العَدْلَjustice منْfrom بعْدِafter فتْرَةٍa lapse
ولَكِنْ نَهَجْتَ العَدْلَ منْ بعْدِ فتْرَةٍ
وقدْwhen already دَرَسَتْhad faded آثارُهُits traces وعُهودُهُand its covenants
وقدْ دَرَسَتْ آثارُهُ وعُهودُهُ
But you laid out justice's path after a lapse,
When its traces and its covenants had faded away.
وبَدّدْتَand you scattered شمْلَthe company الكُفْرِof unbelief بعْدَafter ائتلافِهِits union
وبَدّدْتَ شمْلَ الكُفْرِ بعْدَ ائتلافِهِ
فأضْحَىso became عَميداًstricken فيin الرُّغامِthe dust عَميدُهُits chief
فأضْحَى عَميداً في الرُّغامِ عَميدُهُ
You scattered unbelief's company after it had united,
And its chief lay stricken in the dust.
وجاهَدْتَهُand you strove against it فيfor اللّهِGod حَقَّthe due measure جِهادِهِof striving for Him
وجاهَدْتَهُ في اللّهِ حَقَّ جِهادِهِ
فأذْعَنَso submitted عاصِيهِits rebel وذلّand was humbled عَنيدُهُits stubborn opponent
فأذْعَنَ عاصِيهِ وذلّ عَنيدُهُ
You strove against it for God with the striving due to Him,
Until its rebel submitted and its stubborn opponent was humbled.
فمُلْكُكَso your kingdom مَنْصورُvictorious اللِّواءِin banner سَعيدُهُits blessed fortune
فمُلْكُكَ مَنْصورُ اللِّواءِ سَعيدُهُ
وظِلُّكَand your shade خفّاقُfluttering الرواقِin canopy مَديدُهُits far-reaching expanse
وظِلُّكَ خفّاقُ الرواقِ مَديدُهُ
Your kingdom is fortunate, its banner victorious;
Your shade stretches far beneath a fluttering canopy;
وسيْفُكَand your sword مرْهوبُfeared الغِرارِin edge حَديدُهُits steel
وسيْفُكَ مرْهوبُ الغِرارِ حَديدُهُ
وسَيْبُكَand your bounty مسْكوبُpoured out النّوالِin gifts عَتيدُهُits ready store
وسَيْبُكَ مسْكوبُ النّوالِ عَتيدُهُ
Your sword's steel is feared for its edge;
Your bounty's ready store pours forth gifts.
فلوْلاكَand but for you لمْwould not تنْهَلَّpour down بالغَيْثِwith rain ديمةٌa lasting raincloud
فلوْلاكَ لمْ تنْهَلَّ بالغَيْثِ ديمةٌ
ولاnor راقَwould delight منamong زَهْرِthe blossoms الرِّياضِof the gardens مَجودُهُtheir rain-watered growth
ولا راقَ من زَهْرِ الرِّياضِ مَجودُهُ
But for you, no lasting raincloud would pour down rain,
Nor would the gardens' rain-fed blossoms delight,
وأخْفَقَand would fail مسْعَىthe striving كلِّof every آمِلِseeker غايَةٍof a goal
وأخْفَقَ مسْعَى كلِّ آمِلِ غايَةٍ
وأخْلَقَand would wear out منْof عَصْبِthe striped cloth الزّمانِof time جَديدُهُits new fabric
وأخْلَقَ منْ عَصْبِ الزّمانِ جَديدُهُ
The striving of every seeker of a goal would fail,
And time's fresh striped cloth would wear out.
هَنيئاًmay it bring joy لكَto you العيدُthe feast الذيwhich أنْتَyou عِيدُهُits feast
هَنيئاً لكَ العيدُ الذي أنْتَ عِيدُهُ
وفيand for اللهِGod ماwhatever تُبْديهِyou initiate it أوor ماwhatever تُعيدُهُyou repeat it
وفي اللهِ ما تُبْديهِ أو ما تُعيدُهُ
Joy to you in the feast, for you are its feast,
And all you begin or repeat is for God.
أتَيْتَyou came to المُصَلّىthe prayer ground والجُنودُwhile the troops رَوائِحٌwere marching away
أتَيْتَ المُصَلّى والجُنودُ رَوائِحٌ
تَغَصُّare choked بِهاwith them أغْوارُهُits lowlands ونُجودُهُand its uplands
تَغَصُّ بِها أغْوارُهُ ونُجودُهُ
You came to the prayer ground, the troops marching,
Its lowlands and uplands thronged with them.
وقدand already أبْصَرَتْhad beheld منْكَin you النّواظِرُthe eyes مِلأَهاtheir fill
وقد أبْصَرَتْ منْكَ النّواظِرُ مِلأَها
جَمالاًof beauty تَمُدُّsustain النَّيِّراتِthe luminaries سُعودُهُits auspicious stars
جَمالاً تَمُدُّ النَّيِّراتِ سُعودُهُ
Eyes had beheld in you their fill
Of beauty, whose auspicious stars sustain the luminaries,
وآيةُand a sign نَصْرٍof victory فيwithin حِجابِa veil مهابَةٍof awe
وآيةُ نَصْرٍ في حِجابِ مهابَةٍ
تُدافِعُyou fend off عنْfrom دينِthe faith الهُدىof guidance مَنْwhoever يَكيدُهُplots against it
تُدافِعُ عنْ دينِ الهُدى مَنْ يَكيدُهُ
And a sign of victory beneath a veil of awe,
Defending the faith of guidance against whoever plots against it.
فلمّاand when قَضَيْتَyou completed النّحْرَthe sacrifice أقْبَلْتَyou returned راضِياًcontent
فلمّا قَضَيْتَ النّحْرَ أقْبَلْتَ راضِياً
عنِwith اللهِGod تُعْليyou exalt ذِكْرَهُHis remembrance وتُشيدُهُand proclaim it
عنِ اللهِ تُعْلي ذِكْرَهُ وتُشيدُهُ
When you had completed the sacrifice, you returned content
With God, exalting and proclaiming His remembrance.
وأوْرَدْتَناand you brought us to water منْfrom جُودِthe bounty كفّيْكَof your two hands مَوْرِداًa watering place
وأوْرَدْتَنا منْ جُودِ كفّيْكَ مَوْرِداً
يبَرِّدُcools غُلاّتِthe burning thirsts الظِّماءِof the thirsty بَرودُهُits coolness
يبَرِّدُ غُلاّتِ الظِّماءِ بَرودُهُ
You brought us to a watering place from the bounty of your hands,
Its coolness soothing the burning thirst of the thirsty;
وألْبَسْتَناand you clothed us in الآلاءَfavors بِيضاًwhite سَوابِغاًample
وألْبَسْتَنا الآلاءَ بِيضاً سَوابِغاً
فزادَكَso may He grant you more مِنْهاof them اللهُGod ماwhat تَسْتَزيدُهُyou seek more of it
فزادَكَ مِنْها اللهُ ما تَسْتَزيدُهُ
And clothed us in favors, white and ample;
May God grant you more of them, all that you seek.