جِهادُكَyour holy warfare حُكمthe decree اللهِof God منwho ذاis it that يَرُدُّهُrepels it
جِهادُكَ حُكم اللهِ من ذا يَرُدُّهُ
وعَزْمُكَand your resolve أَمْرُthe command اللهِof God مَنْwho ذاis it that يَصُدُّهُthwarts it
وعَزْمُكَ أَمْرُ اللهِ مَنْ ذا يَصُدُّهُ
Your holy warfare is God's decree—who can repel it?
Your jihad is the judgment of Allah, who can repel it?
Your resolve is God's command—who can thwart it?
And your resolve is the command of Allah, who can deter it?
وطائِرُكَand your omen اليُمْنُgood fortune الَّذِيwhose أنتَyou يُمنُهُblessing
وطائِرُكَ اليُمْنُ الَّذِي أنتَ يُمنُهُ
وطَالِعُكَand your ascendant السَّعدُfelicity الَّذِيwhose أنتَyou سَعدُهُfelicity
وطَالِعُكَ السَّعدُ الَّذِي أنتَ سَعدُهُ
Your omen is good fortune, whose blessing you are,
And your bird of good omen is the felicity you bring,
and your ascendant is felicity, whose felicity you are.
And your horoscope is the bliss that attends you.
وبَيعةُand a pledge رِضْوَانof divine approval رَعَىmay safeguard اللهGod حَقَّهاits due
وبَيعةُ رِضْوَان رَعَى الله حَقَّها
لمَنْfor him whose بَيعةُpledge الرِّضْوَانِof divine approval إِذْwhen غابَwas absent جَدُّهُhis grandfather
لمَنْ بَيعةُ الرِّضْوَانِ إِذْ غابَ جَدُّهُ
And a pledge of Ridwan—may God safeguard its due—
The oath of allegiance to Ridwan - may Allah preserve its sanctity! -
belongs to him whose grandfather had the Pledge of Ridwan even while absent.
For whom is the oath of good pleasure when his grandfather is gone,
فأَصبَحَand thus became فِيupon رَأْسِthe head الرِّياسَةِof sovereignty تاجُهُhis crown
فأَصبَحَ فِي رَأْسِ الرِّياسَةِ تاجُهُ
وَنُظِّمَand was strung فِيaround جيدِthe neck الخِلافَةِof the caliphate عِقدُهُhis necklace
وَنُظِّمَ فِي جيدِ الخِلافَةِ عِقدُهُ
His crown thus came to rest upon the head of sovereignty,
And in the morning the crown of leadership adorns his head,
and his necklace was strung around the caliphate's neck.
And the collar of the caliphate is strung around his neck.
مَسرَّتُهُhis delight مأْوىshelter الغريبِfor the stranger وسِتْرُهُand his protection
مَسرَّتُهُ مأْوى الغريبِ وسِتْرُهُ
ولَذَّتُهُand his pleasure خَيْرُthe welfare المُقِلِّof the poor man ورِفْدُهُand his support
ولَذَّتُهُ خَيْرُ المُقِلِّ ورِفْدُهُ
His delight is shelter and protection for the stranger,
His delight shelters the lonely stranger and his pleasure succors the destitute wanderer.
and his pleasure the poor man's welfare and support.
In the stance of peril his armies are his meadow,
وأجنادُهُand his troops فِيin موقِفِthe place الرَّوْعِof terror رَوْضُهُhis garden
وأجنادُهُ فِي موقِفِ الرَّوْعِ رَوْضُهُ
وَأَعلامُهُand his banners فِيat مَوْرِدِthe watering-place المَوْتِof death وِرْدُهُhis drink
وَأَعلامُهُ فِي مَوْرِدِ المَوْتِ وِرْدُهُ
His troops, in the place of terror, are his garden,
And in the arena of death his standards are his resort.
and his banners at death's watering-place are his drink.
He frolics with the steeds of heroes, gifts for which he has no need,
نلاعِبُwe sport with آرَامَthe gazelles الفَلاof the wastes منthrough هِباتِهِhis gifts
نلاعِبُ آرَامَ الفَلا من هِباتِهِ
وآرامُهُand his gazelles غُرُّwhite-blazed steeds الطِّرَادِof the charge وَجُرْدُهُand his sleek steeds
وآرامُهُ غُرُّ الطِّرَادِ وَجُرْدُهُ
We sport with the gazelles of the wastes through his gifts,
While his pleasures are but the zealous chargers and his couch their trappings.
while his gazelles are white-blazed chargers and sleek steeds.
The glad tidings he evokes in the hearts of the excellent are matched by that which enraptures his own,
ونَفْتَرِشُand we spread beneath us الدِّيباجَbrocade منْfrom جُودِthe generosity كَفِّهِof his hand
ونَفْتَرِشُ الدِّيباجَ منْ جُودِ كَفِّهِ
وَمَاand not فَرْشُهُhis bedding إِلّاexcept الجَوادُthe noble steed ولِبدُهُand its felt saddlecloth
وَمَا فَرْشُهُ إِلّا الجَوادُ ولِبدُهُ
We spread brocade beneath us through his hand's generosity,
For he has drawn us nigh unto the mercy of Allah through his guidance,
while his only bedding is a noble steed and its felt saddlecloth.
And enticed us to obey Allah through his asceticism.
ومَنْand one whose بَرَّحَtormented البيضُthe fair-skinned women الحِسانbeautiful بوَجْدِهِthrough his longing
ومَنْ بَرَّحَ البيضُ الحِسان بوَجْدِهِ
فبالبيضِbut the bright blades فِيin الهَيجاءِbattle بَرَّحَtormented وَجْدُهُhis longing
فبالبيضِ فِي الهَيجاءِ بَرَّحَ وَجْدُهُ
Where fair-skinned beauties torment a man's longing,
The outpour from his bounteous hand that nurtures its guest has taught us to sacrifice lives for his cause.
his longing torments bright blades in battle.
Were visitors not to throng his abode, his emissaries would be the stars in the firmament.
وقَرَّبَناand brought us nearer منto رَحْمَةِthe mercy اللهِof God هَدْيُهُhis guidance
وقَرَّبَنا من رَحْمَةِ اللهِ هَدْيُهُ
وَرَغَّبَناand inspired us فِيto طاعَةِobedience اللهto God زُهْدُهُhis renunciation
وَرَغَّبَنا فِي طاعَةِ الله زُهْدُهُ
His guidance has brought us nearer to God's mercy,
His unbroken fasts are long as the nights he hallows with reciting the Koran therein.
and his renunciation has inspired us to obey God.
From Qahtan your glory illuminates, your kingdom thrives through you, and by your aid comes triumph.
وعلَّمَناand taught us بَذْلَthe giving النُّفوسِof lives لِنَصْرِهِto support him
وعلَّمَنا بَذْلَ النُّفوسِ لِنَصْرِهِ
نَدىthe bounty كَفِّهِof his hand المُرْبيsurpassing عَلَىbeyond القَطْرِthe rain عَدُّهُits quantity
نَدى كَفِّهِ المُرْبي عَلَى القَطْرِ عَدُّهُ
And what taught us to give our lives in his support
In your cause stalwarts of the lance redouble their efforts, and in defense of your claim the disputants of the sword increase their fervor.
was his hand's bounty, whose gifts outnumber the raindrops.
For you the creed of the pious believer whose conviction it is that you will come to the aid of the true religion of Islam.
ولَوْand if لَمْnot يُوَافِcame to الوافِدُونَthe visitors قِبابَهُhis pavilions
ولَوْ لَمْ يُوَافِ الوافِدُونَ قِبابَهُ
لأَصبحَwould then become منfrom زُهرthe radiant ones الكواكِبِamong the stars وَفْدُهُhis delegation
لأَصبحَ من زُهر الكواكِبِ وَفْدُهُ
Had no visitors come to his pavilions,
Whatever worldly fortune time accords you involuntarily shall not seduce you, unless you strip for the fray that demands your protection.
his delegation would have been the radiant stars.
In your presence hearing is awed and sight strays,
وأَيَّامُهُand his days المَوصُولُjoined طُولُthe length صِيامِهِof his fasting
وأَيَّامُهُ المَوصُولُ طُولُ صِيامِهِ
بلَيلٍto a night تَحلَّىwas adorned بالتِّلاوَةِwith recitation سُهْدُهُits wakefulness
بلَيلٍ تَحلَّى بالتِّلاوَةِ سُهْدُهُ
His days, with their long fasts, are joined
While your high-mindedness spurns the hopes the craven place in you,
to a night whose vigil is adorned with recitation.
And your resolution drives them back to the stagnant pools of servility.
وأَبْلَجَand a radiant man منof قحطانَQahtan قُربُكَnearness to you عِزُّهُhis honor
وأَبْلَجَ من قحطانَ قُربُكَ عِزُّهُ
ومُلكُكَand your kingship مَحْياهُhis life ونَصرُكَand your victory مَجْدُهُhis glory
ومُلكُكَ مَحْياهُ ونَصرُكَ مَجْدُهُ
And a radiant man of Qahtan, whose honor is nearness to you,
How often has the grip of the righteous weakened only for the bond of your pact to restore its clasp!
whose life is your kingship, whose glory is your victory:
Should the death of despair cast its shadow thanks to you, the breath of hope will blow it away.
شَديدُfierce مِحالin the combat الرُّمحِof the spear فيكَfor you أَبيُّهُits unyielding champion
شَديدُ مِحال الرُّمحِ فيكَ أَبيُّهُ
مُبِرُّsurpassing خِصامِthe strife السَّيفِof the sword عَنكَon your behalf أَلَدُّهُits fiercest contender
مُبِرُّ خِصامِ السَّيفِ عَنكَ أَلَدُّهُ
in spear combat for you, he is its fierce, unyielding champion;
You called out to Islam, "Arise!" when once it wavered,
in sword combat for you, he surpasses its fiercest contender.
A cry that parched souls rejoiced to hear,
رضاكَyour approval لَهُfor him يَاO مُرتضىMurtada دينُthe creed وَاثِقٍof one assured
رضاكَ لَهُ يَا مُرتضى دينُ وَاثِقٍ
بأَنَّكَthat you للدينِfor the faith الحَنيفِupright تعدُّهُprepare him
بأَنَّكَ للدينِ الحَنيفِ تعدُّهُ
Your approval, O Murtada, is his creed, for he is certain
So you entrusted with a sword him who would drive your foes before him,
that you are preparing him for the upright faith.
Either to abase the Indians or visit the Greeks with ravage.
وماand not يَزْدَهِيهِelates him مِنكَfrom you دهْرٌa lifetime يسُودُهُhe rules it
وما يَزْدَهِيهِ مِنكَ دهْرٌ يسُودُهُ
إذَاif لَمْnot تُجرِّدْهُyou dispatch him لِثَغْرِto a frontier يَسُدُّهُhe secures it
إذَا لَمْ تُجرِّدْهُ لِثَغْرِ يَسُدُّهُ
No lifetime of lordship granted by you elates him
If the Indians have not witnessed the iron resolve with which you were created,
unless you dispatch him to a frontier he can defend.
Who shall then deny that of the Arabs your origin and descent are purest?
يَوقِّرُgrows dull عنكُمْaway from you سَمْعُهُhis hearing فيُصيخُهُso he strains it
يَوقِّرُ عنكُمْ سَمْعُهُ فيُصيخُهُ
ويَقصُرُand falls short عَنْكُمْof you طَرْفُهُhis gaze فَيَمُدُّهُso he extends it
ويَقصُرُ عَنْكُمْ طَرْفُهُ فَيَمُدُّهُ
His hearing grows dull away from you, so he strains it;
If the ancestry derives from the glorious tribe of Yemen,
his gaze falls short of you, so he extends it.
Then the obedience rendered to you came from Abd Shams and his friendship.
وعهدُكَand your covenant بالآمالِwith hopes تَصْرِفُyou turn away عَنكُمُfrom you
وعهدُكَ بالآمالِ تَصْرِفُ عَنكُمُ
ورَدَّاكُمُand has robed you عَهدَin the covenant السَّموْأَلِof al-Samaw'al عَهْدُهُhis covenant
ورَدَّاكُمُ عَهدَ السَّموْأَلِ عَهْدُهُ
And your covenant with hopes—you turn them away from you—
Be it Azd conceived you and Tujib gave you birth,
his pledge has clothed you in al-Samaw'al's loyalty.
It was Adnan who refined you and Ma'ad who made you whole.
وكمand how often حَلَّloosened مَوتُthe death الحَقِّof justice منof شَدِّthe tightness عَقدِكمof your pact
وكم حَلَّ مَوتُ الحَقِّ من شَدِّ عَقدِكم
ويُحييand revives ابْنُthe son يَحْيىof Yahya عَقدَكُمْyour pact فَيَشُدُّهُthen tightens it
ويُحيي ابْنُ يَحْيى عَقدَكُمْ فَيَشُدُّهُ
How often has the death of justice loosened your firm pact,
Time cloaked your scabbard with the mantle of our rule,
yet Ibn Yahya revives your pact and tightens it.
For a kingdom nurtured by Abdelmalik its sovereigns are beholden.
وإِنْand if ماتَdies مَوْتُthe death اليَأْسِof despair منكُمin you رَجاؤُهُhis hope
وإِنْ ماتَ مَوْتُ اليَأْسِ منكُم رَجاؤُهُ
تَنَسَّمdraws breath فيكُمfrom you روحَهُits spirit فيَرُدُّهُthen restores it
تَنَسَّم فيكُم روحَهُ فيَرُدُّهُ
And if his hope in you dies the death of despair,
It thrives through every just imam aiding it,
he draws its breath from you and restores it.
It waxes through every vanquishing prince abetting it.
ونادَيْتَand you called فِيwithin الإِسْلامِIslam حَيّcome عَلَىto الهُدىguidance
ونادَيْتَ فِي الإِسْلامِ حَيّ عَلَى الهُدى
فَياand oh لَكَfor you مِنْwhat a ظَمآنَthirsty man قَدْalready حانَhas come وِرْدُهُhis watering-time
فَيا لَكَ مِنْ ظَمآنَ قَدْ حانَ وِرْدُهُ
You called out within Islam, 'Come to guidance!'
You trace your birth to the house of prophecy, and it pronounced you singular in your nobility.
And what a thirsty man, whose time to drink had come!
So pride yourself in him whose noble deeds even the prophets extol,
فقلَّدْتَهُso you girded him سَيفاًwith a sword لِزَحْفٍfor an advancing army يقُودُهُhe leads it
فقلَّدْتَهُ سَيفاً لِزَحْفٍ يقُودُهُ
لِخِزْيِto disgrace عِدَاكَyour enemies أَوْor لزغفfor fine mail يَقدُّهُhe cleaves it
لِخِزْيِ عِدَاكَ أَوْ لزغف يَقدُّهُ
So you girded him with a sword for an army he would lead,
And glory in him whose triumphs are those the Orthodox caliphs acclaim,
to shame your foes or cleave their fine mail.
He who personifies every right to the caliphate, and every imam in Islam claims as forebear.
فإِنْand if لَمْnot يكَنْbe لِلهِنْدِfrom India يوماًever حَديدُهُits iron
فإِنْ لَمْ يكَنْ لِلهِنْدِ يوماً حَديدُهُ
فمِنْthen from يَعرُبَYa'rub العَلياthe exalted شباهُits points وَحَدُّهُand its edge
فمِنْ يَعرُبَ العَليا شباهُ وَحَدُّهُ
Even if its iron never came from India,
Be he whose mother is the illustrious Hind, while the sanctuary nurtured him and the Heat its cradle rocked,
its points and edge are from exalted Ya'rub.
Unto whom the holy place of Mecca and its hidden passages belong,
وإِنْand if يَكُbe فِيamong سَرْوِthe nobles اليَمانِينَof the Yemenis أَصْلُهُhis origin
وإِنْ يَكُ فِي سَرْوِ اليَمانِينَ أَصْلُهُ
فطاعتُهُthen his obedience فِيbelongs to عَبدِAbd شَمْسٍShams وَوُدُّهُand his love
فطاعتُهُ فِي عَبدِ شَمْسٍ وَوُدُّهُ
Though his origin lies among Yemen's nobility,
The course for the pilgrim to pursue, Nejd his country's heart,
his obedience and love belong to Abd Shams.
Where the voice of the Talbiya resounds and the pilgrims don their sequined vestments.
وإِنْand if أَنْجَبَتْهُbore him أَزْدُهُhis Azd tribe وتُجِيبُهُand his Tujib tribe
وإِنْ أَنْجَبَتْهُ أَزْدُهُ وتُجِيبُهُ
فَصَفْوَتُهُthen his elect عَدْنانُهُhis Adnan وَمَعَدُّهُand his Ma'add
فَصَفْوَتُهُ عَدْنانُهُ وَمَعَدُّهُ
Though his Azd and Tujib gave him birth,
Nobilities subtle meaning would daunt mankind's minds to comprehend,
his chosen kin are Adnan and Ma'add.
And boasts that, were I to call all of creation to recount, would exceed what any number could reckon.
أَمَاindeed وتَحَلَّىand was adorned دُونَin defense of مُلكِكَyour realm نَصْلُهُhis blade
أَمَا وتَحَلَّى دُونَ مُلكِكَ نَصْلُهُ
لَقِدْماًindeed long ago تَحَلَّىwas adorned منwith سَنائكَyour splendor غِمْدُهُhis sheath
لَقِدْماً تَحَلَّى من سَنائكَ غِمْدُهُ
Indeed, his blade is adorned in defense of your realm;
Not even Mundhir's line of fathers attained such heights as he
long ago his sheath was adorned with your splendor.
The first of them - but his pride surpasses that of the first..
لمُلكٍfor a realm نَمىfathered عَبدُAbd المَلِيكِal-Malik مُلُوكَهُits kings
لمُلكٍ نَمى عَبدُ المَلِيكِ مُلُوكَهُ
وأَنْجُمِand stars نورٍof light منfrom هِشامٍHisham تُمِدُّهُsustain it
وأَنْجُمِ نورٍ من هِشامٍ تُمِدُّهُ
For a realm whose kings Abd al-Malik fathered,
They conferred on Merwan the choice of their souls,
and radiant stars from Hisham sustain it,
Whereby the ages were ennobled, and the best of grandfathers exalted.
بكُلِّwith every إِمامٍimam ناصِرٍvictory-bringing أَنتَyou صِنوُهُhis peer
بكُلِّ إِمامٍ ناصِرٍ أَنتَ صِنوُهُ
وكُلِّand every مليكٍking قاهِرٍconquering أَنتَyou نِدُّهُhis equal
وكُلِّ مليكٍ قاهِرٍ أَنتَ نِدُّهُ
with every victory-bringing imam whose peer you are,
Your sword, perfectly aimed, increases glory the further flung -
and every conquering king whose equal you are.
With it you shot the horizons of the Romans' realm, and in it drag their leading lights captives.
نَمَوْكَthey traced your lineage إِلَىto بَيتِthe house النُّبُوَّةِof prophecy وابْتَنَوْاand built
نَمَوْكَ إِلَى بَيتِ النُّبُوَّةِ وابْتَنَوْا
لَكَfor you الشَّرَفthe nobility الفَرْدَpeerless الَّذِيwhich أَنتَyou فَرْدُهُits sole exemplar
لَكَ الشَّرَف الفَرْدَ الَّذِي أَنتَ فَرْدُهُ
They traced your lineage to the house of prophecy and built
Many a mulish lord of ill-repute
for you the peerless nobility of which you are the sole exemplar.
Rules his far-flung state by leave of your whims.
فأَفخِرْso how proud! بِمَنْis he whose قُرْبُkinship النِّبيينَwith the prophets فَخْرُهُhis pride
فأَفخِرْ بِمَنْ قُرْبُ النِّبيينَ فَخْرُهُ
وأَمْجِدْand how glorious! بمَنْis he whose مَجدُthe glory الخَلائِفِof the caliphs مَجدُهُhis glory
وأَمْجِدْ بمَنْ مَجدُ الخَلائِفِ مَجدُهُ
How proud is he whose pride is kinship with the prophets,
Deeming himself immune to the blows of fate he yet reckons not their suddenness,
and how glorious he whose glory is the caliphs' glory!
Though when the buffets of adversity strike they catch him unawares.
ومَنْand one whose كُلُّevery حَقٍّclaim فِيto الخِلافَةِthe caliphate حَقُّهُhis right
ومَنْ كُلُّ حَقٍّ فِي الخِلافَةِ حَقُّهُ
وكلُّand every إِمامٍimam فِيamong البَريَّةِmankind جدُّهُhis forefather
وكلُّ إِمامٍ فِي البَريَّةِ جدُّهُ
And he to whom every right to the caliphate belongs,
The son of Yahya saw that you were astray and made clear to you that uprightness should be your rule,
and every imam among mankind is his forefather;
So you did not hesitate when an envious hand reached for what fortune had granted you,
ومَنْand one whose أُمُّهُhis mother أَجْيادُAjyad والرُّكْنُand the Corner ظِئرُهُhis wet nurse
ومَنْ أُمُّهُ أَجْيادُ والرُّكْنُ ظِئرُهُ
ومُرْضِعُهُand his nurse البَطحاءُal-Batha والحِجْرُand al-Hijr مَهْدُهُhis cradle
ومُرْضِعُهُ البَطحاءُ والحِجْرُ مَهْدُهُ
whose mother is Ajyad and whose wet nurse is the Corner,
Nor were your faithful scions far from Rome to be found wanting
whose nurse is al-Batha and whose cradle is al-Hijr.
When the craven-hearted crew cried out, dismayed at the approach of your lions.
لَهُhis is حَرَمُthe sanctuary الإِتْهامِof Tihama والغَوْرُand the lowland غَوْرُهُhis lowland
لَهُ حَرَمُ الإِتْهامِ والغَوْرُ غَوْرُهُ
ومَنْهَجُand the course سُبلِof the roads الحَجِّof pilgrimage والنَّجدُand the highland نَجدُهُhis highland
ومَنْهَجُ سُبلِ الحَجِّ والنَّجدُ نَجدُهُ
His is the sanctuary of Tihama, and the lowland is his lowland,
Battalions - had they been cast at fate itself they would have left The Zodiac's Twin Peaks tottering.
and the course of pilgrimage roads, and the highland is his highland;
As if the vastness of earth were clad
وحَيثُand wherever اعْتلَىrose صَوْتُthe voice المُلَبِّيof the chanting pilgrim وَحَجُّهُand his pilgrimage
وحَيثُ اعْتلَى صَوْتُ المُلَبِّي وَحَجُّهُ
وحَيثُand wherever انتهَىended صَدْرُthe return الحَجيجof the pilgrims وَوَخْدُهُand their swift stride
وحَيثُ انتهَى صَدْرُ الحَجيج وَوَخْدُهُ
and wherever the pilgrim's voice and pilgrimage ascend,
In an impregnable coat of mail,
and wherever the pilgrims' return and swift-paced journey end.
With a glance you would break their ranks, laying their squadrons low.
مَناقِبُvirtues سارَتْjourneyed فِيthrough مَعالِمِthe landmarks كُنْهِهاof their essence
مَناقِبُ سارَتْ فِي مَعالِمِ كُنْهِها
عُقولُthe minds بَنيof the sons الدُّنياof this world وَمَاyet not حُدَّwas defined حدُّهُits limit
عُقولُ بَني الدُّنيا وَمَا حُدَّ حدُّهُ
Merits whose inner landmarks have been explored
Thus your enemies behold naught but a calamity
by the minds of mankind, yet their bounds remain undefined.
Which the Compassionate drives, and wherein His servant rides.
وَفَخْرٌand a glory لَوْif استَنْجدْتُI enlisted help فِيin وَصْفِهِdescribing it الوَرَىall mankind
وَفَخْرٌ لَوْ استَنْجدْتُ فِي وَصْفِهِ الوَرَى
لأَسْأَرَwould leave a remainder منof عَدِّcounting الحَصىthe pebbles مَنْwhoever يَعُدُّهُcounts it
لأَسْأَرَ من عَدِّ الحَصى مَنْ يَعُدُّهُ
And such glory that, were I to enlist mankind to describe it,
Until you reach the promised day, bright shall be its light for you,
whoever counted it would leave pebbles still uncounted.
And the foretold appointment, wherein His word to you shall be fulfilled,
ولمْand did not يُبلِrender service مَاwhat أَبْلاهُrendered it آباءُthe forefathers مُنْذِرٍof Mundhir
ولمْ يُبلِ مَا أَبْلاهُ آباءُ مُنْذِرٍ
لأَوَّلهمْto their first بلْrather مَفَخَرٌa glory تَسْتَجِدُّهُyou gain it afresh
لأَوَّلهمْ بلْ مَفَخَرٌ تَسْتَجِدُّهُ
Nor has he merely rendered what Mundhir's forefathers rendered
Through the All-Bountiful this boon was bestowed complete,
to their first lord: this is glory you gain afresh.
And the Caliphate's scion is he who should justly receive your praise.
وأَلْقَوْاand they bestowed عَلَىupon مَرْوَانَMarwan صَفوَةَthe choicest أَنْفُسٍof souls
وأَلْقَوْا عَلَى مَرْوَانَ صَفوَةَ أَنْفُسٍ
تَعالىrose high بِهَاthrough them جَدُّthe fortune الزمانِof the age وجَدُّهُand his fortune
تَعالى بِهَا جَدُّ الزمانِ وجَدُّهُ
They placed at Marwan's service the choicest souls,
He stands ever to my right hand, enduring through days nonesuch,
through whom the age's fortune and his own rose high.
A marvel spanning ages, bound to abide unending.
وسيفُكَand your sword منهُمfrom among them سَهْمُكَyour arrow الصَّائِبُunerring الَّذِيwhich
وسيفُكَ منهُم سَهْمُكَ الصَّائِبُ الَّذِي
يَزيدُincreases غَناءًin effectiveness كُلَّماwhenever زادَincreases بُعدُهُits distance
يَزيدُ غَناءً كُلَّما زادَ بُعدُهُ
Your sword from among them is your unerring arrow, which
No eloquence of any foreign tongue could attain its limit
grows more effective the farther it travels.
Were I to strive harnessing the epochs to prolong their stretches.
رَمَيْتَyou shot بِهِwith it آفاقَthe horizons رُومَةَof Rome فانْثَنىand it returned
رَمَيْتَ بِهِ آفاقَ رُومَةَ فانْثَنى
يقودُleads بُنُودَthe banners الرُّومِof the Romans نَحْوَكَtoward you بَندُهُits banner
يقودُ بُنُودَ الرُّومِ نَحْوَكَ بَندُهُ
You shot it toward Rome's horizons; it returned,
Knowing that whoever whets his soul against you
its banner leading Roman banners toward you.
Shall reap but the fangs and claws of wolves for his pains.
فَرُبَّand many a حمِيِّone hot with الغِلِّrancor فِيin غِيلِthe thicket مُلكِهاof its realm
فَرُبَّ حمِيِّ الغِلِّ فِي غِيلِ مُلكِها
بَعيدٍdistant عَلَىbeyond شَأْوِthe range الجنائِبِof led mounts قَصْدُهُreaching him
بَعيدٍ عَلَى شَأْوِ الجنائِبِ قَصْدُهُ
Many a foe hot with rancor in the thicket of its realm,
He who the horizons scours, bent on confronting you,
so distant that reaching him exceeds the range of led mounts:
Shall leave his bones where the steeds clash, deserted, scattered.
متىwhenever يَرْمِhe shoots at صَرْفَthe vicissitudes الدَّهْرِof fate لاnot يَعدُgoes beyond نفسَهُhimself
متى يَرْمِ صَرْفَ الدَّهْرِ لا يَعدُ نفسَهُ
وإِنْand if يَرْمِهِshoots at him صَرفُthe turns المكارِهِof adversity يَعدُهُit misses him
وإِنْ يَرْمِهِ صَرفُ المكارِهِ يَعدُهُ
whenever he shoots at fate's vicissitudes, he goes no farther than himself;
And whoso seeks a stream not found in your expanse,
yet when adversity shoots at him, it misses him.
Shall discover naught but the sandal-prints of your mount marking his cheek.
تجلَّىshone forth ابنُthe son يَحيىof Yahya فِيin سناكَyour radiance لِغَيِّهِupon his error
تجلَّى ابنُ يَحيى فِي سناكَ لِغَيِّهِ
فبَصَّرَهُand made him see أَنَّthat اصطناعَكَyour patronage رُشْدُهُhis right course
فبَصَّرَهُ أَنَّ اصطناعَكَ رُشْدُهُ
Ibn Yahya shone with your radiance upon his error,
For there is no aspiration that does not end with you,
and made him see that your patronage was his right course.
No sovereign whose affairs do not depend on your command.
فماso not أَبْطَأْتَyou delayed إِذwhen أَبطأتْwas slow يدُthe hand قادِحٍof a fire-striker
فما أَبْطَأْتَ إِذ أَبطأتْ يدُ قادِحٍ
أَتاكَhe came to you وَقَدْand already أَوْرىhad kindled لكfor you النُّجحَsuccess زَنْدُهُhis fire-stick
أَتاكَ وَقَدْ أَوْرى لك النُّجحَ زَنْدُهُ
You did not delay, though a fire-striker's hand was slow;
he came to you, his fire-stick already kindling success for you.
ولاnor غابَwas absent منhe who وافاكَcame to you منfrom أرْضِthe land رُومَةٍof Rome
ولا غابَ من وافاكَ من أرْضِ رُومَةٍ
بغابٍwith a thicket منof الخَطِّيِّKhatti spears تَزْأَرُroar أُسْدُهُits lions
بغابٍ من الخَطِّيِّ تَزْأَرُ أُسْدُهُ
Nor was he absent who came to you from Rome's land,
with a forest of Khatti spears whose lions roar.
كتائِبُbattalions لَوْif يُرمىwere assailed بِهَاwith them الدَّهْرُthe ages قبلَناbefore us
كتائِبُ لَوْ يُرمى بِهَا الدَّهْرُ قبلَنا
لزُلزِلَwould have been shaken ذُوthe possessor القَرْنَيْنِof the two horns منهاby them وسَدُّهُand his rampart
لزُلزِلَ ذُو القَرْنَيْنِ منها وسَدُّهُ
Battalions which, had the ages been assailed by them before us,
would have shaken Dhu al-Qarnayn and his rampart.
كَأَنَّas though فضاءَthe expanse الأَرْضof the earth أُلبِسَwas clothed منهُمُwith them
كَأَنَّ فضاءَ الأَرْض أُلبِسَ منهُمُ
لَبوساًin armor منof الماذِيِّfine bright mail قُدِّرَwas measured سَرْدُهُits linked weave
لَبوساً من الماذِيِّ قُدِّرَ سَرْدُهُ
As though the earth's expanse had been clothed with them
in a coat of bright mail, its links measured to fit.
تُهَدُّare shattered بِهِمْby them شُمُّthe lofty peaks الجبالِof the mountains فإِنْbut if هَفَواthey falter
تُهَدُّ بِهِمْ شُمُّ الجبالِ فإِنْ هَفَوا
فلَحْظُكَthen your glance يَرْمِيstrikes جَمْعَهُمْtheir host فَيَهُدُّهُso shatters it
فلَحْظُكَ يَرْمِي جَمْعَهُمْ فَيَهُدُّهُ
Lofty mountains are shattered by them; yet if they falter,
your glance strikes their host and shatters it.
فماso not ينظُرُsee الأَعدَاءُthe enemies إِلّاexcept عَجَاجَةًa dust-cloud
فما ينظُرُ الأَعدَاءُ إِلّا عَجَاجَةً
يسيرُadvances بِهَاwith it الرَّحمنُthe Merciful فِيهَاwithin it وعبدُهُand His servant
يسيرُ بِهَا الرَّحمنُ فِيهَا وعبدُهُ
The enemies see nothing but a dust-cloud,
with which the Merciful advances, His servant in its midst,
إلىtoward يومِa day فَلْجٍof triumph ساطِعٍshining لَكَfor you نُورُهُits light
إلى يومِ فَلْجٍ ساطِعٍ لَكَ نُورُهُ
وميقَاتِand the appointed time فتحٍof conquest صادقٍtrue لكَto you وعْدُهُits promise
وميقَاتِ فتحٍ صادقٍ لكَ وعْدُهُ
toward a day of triumph whose light shines for you,
and an appointed conquest whose promise to you is true.
عَلىupon بادِئِthe initiator الإِنعَامِof favor فِيهِin it تمامُهُits completion
عَلى بادِئِ الإِنعَامِ فِيهِ تمامُهُ
وحَقٌّand a duty عَلَىupon سِبْطِthe scion الخِلافَةِof the caliphate حَمدُهُgratitude for it
وحَقٌّ عَلَى سِبْطِ الخِلافَةِ حَمدُهُ
Its completion rests with Him who first bestowed the favor,
and the caliphate's scion is bound to give thanks for it.
وحَقٌّand a duty عَلَىupon يُمنىthe right يَدَيَّof my two hands بقاؤُهُits preservation
وحَقٌّ عَلَى يُمنى يَدَيَّ بقاؤُهُ
جديداًfresh عَلَىthrough مَرِّthe passage الزَّمانِof time وخُلْدُهُand its immortality
جديداً عَلَى مَرِّ الزَّمانِ وخُلْدُهُ
And my right hand is bound to preserve it,
fresh through the passage of time, and make it immortal,
بغَرْبِwith the keen edge لسانٍof a tongue لَوْif أُبارِيI rivaled بِهِwith it الوَرىmankind
بغَرْبِ لسانٍ لَوْ أُبارِي بِهِ الوَرى
مَدىthroughout الدَّهرall time لَمْnot يَبْلُغْreach نَصِيفيَmy half-measure مُدُّهُtheir full measure
مَدى الدَّهر لَمْ يَبْلُغْ نَصِيفيَ مُدُّهُ
with the keen edge of a tongue with which, if I rivaled mankind
through all time, their full measure would not equal my half.
عَليماًknowing بأَنthat مَنْwhoever أَلْحدَتْhas turned disloyal فيكَtoward you نَفسُهُhis soul
عَليماً بأَن مَنْ أَلْحدَتْ فيكَ نَفسُهُ
ففِيthen in لَهَواتِthe maws الذِّيبِof the wolf والذَّيخِand the male hyena لَحْدُهُhis grave
ففِي لَهَواتِ الذِّيبِ والذَّيخِ لَحْدُهُ
Knowing that whoever's soul turns disloyal to you
has his grave in the maws of wolf and male hyena.
ومَنْand whoever يَبغِseeks فِيacross الآفاقِthe horizons عنكَfrom you مُراغِماًa refuge
ومَنْ يَبغِ فِي الآفاقِ عنكَ مُراغِماً
فَوِجْدانُهُthen finding him فِيat مُلتَقىthe clash الخَيلof cavalry فَقدُهُlosing him
فَوِجْدانُهُ فِي مُلتَقى الخَيل فَقدُهُ
And whoever seeks across the horizons a refuge from you,
to find him where the horses clash is to lose him.
ومنand whoever يَتَّخِذْtakes فِيin غيرother than بَحرِكَyour sea مَوْرداًa watering-place
ومن يَتَّخِذْ فِي غير بَحرِكَ مَوْرداً
فلمthen not يُتَّخَذْwas fashioned إِلّاexcept لنَعْلَيْكَfor your two sandals خَدُّهُhis cheek
فلم يُتَّخَذْ إِلّا لنَعْلَيْكَ خَدُّهُ
Whoever takes a watering-place outside your sea,
his cheek has been made for nothing but your sandals.
فلاso no أَمَلٌhope إِلّاexcept إِليكَto you انتِهاؤُهُits end
فلا أَمَلٌ إِلّا إِليكَ انتِهاؤُهُ
ولاand no مَلِكٌking إِلّاexcept إِليكَto you مَرَدُّهُhis recourse
ولا مَلِكٌ إِلّا إِليكَ مَرَدُّهُ
No hope has any end but you,
and no king any final recourse but you.
Partial English translation: 88 of 116 Arabic lines translated.