أبىrefused اللَّهGod إلّاexcept أَنthat يَكونَthere be لكfor you النّصْرُvictory
أبى اللَّه إلّا أَن يَكونَ لك النّصْرُ
وأنand that يَهْدِمَdemolish الإيمانُfaith ماwhat شادهbuilt it الكفرُunbelief
وأن يَهْدِمَ الإيمانُ ما شاده الكفرُ
God has willed only that victory be yours,
God willed that victory be yours,
and that faith demolish what unbelief has built,
That faith destroy what disbelief built,
وأَنand that يُرجعَsend back الأَعلاجَthe foreign foes بَعدَafter عِلاجهاcontending with them
وأَن يُرجعَ الأَعلاجَ بَعدَ عِلاجها
خَزاياdisgraced علىupon آثارِهاtheir tracks الذُّلُّabasement والقهرُand subjugation
خَزايا على آثارِها الذُّلُّ والقهرُ
and send the foreign foes back after contending with them,
That medicines, after curing,
disgraced, with abasement and subjugation in their wake.
Return shame upon its tracks, disgrace and subjugation,
لِيَهنَكَmay it delight you فتحٌa conquest أولغmade lap السيفthe sword فيهمُamong them
لِيَهنَكَ فتحٌ أولغ السيف فيهمُ
ولاحand shone بِوَجهupon the face of الدينreligion منfrom ذِكرهits mention بِشرُgladness
ولاح بِوَجه الدين من ذِكره بِشرُ
May a conquest delight you, one that set the sword lapping among them;
So that an opening whose sword slew them triumphs,
at its mention, gladness shone upon religion's face.
And the light of religion whose mention brings good news shines.
بِسَعْدٍthrough good fortune كساكَclothed you اللّهُGod منهfrom it مهابةًmajesty
بِسَعْدٍ كساكَ اللّهُ منه مهابةً
وإشراقَand radiance نورof light منهfrom it تَقْتَبِسُdraw light الزُّهرُthe bright stars
وإشراقَ نور منه تَقْتَبِسُ الزُّهرُ
Through good fortune, God clothed you in majesty,
With Sa'd whom God endowed with awe,
and radiant light from which the bright stars draw their glow.
And the radiance of whose light, flowers ignite,
ودونand barring مَرَامِthe aim of الرّومthe Romans فيماin what سَمَواthey aspired لهto it
ودون مَرَامِ الرّوم فيما سَمَوا له
قلائدُnecklaces أعناقٍof necks هيthey are القُضُبُthe keen swords البترُthe severing ones
قلائدُ أعناقٍ هي القُضُبُ البترُ
Between the Romans and the goal they aspired to
Below the Romans’ ambitions however high they climbed,
were necklaces for necks—the keen, severing swords,
Are necklaces of necks, snapped twigs,
وخطِّيَّةand Khatt spears تختَطُّinscribe lines مِنهُمamong them حيازِماًchests
وخطِّيَّة تختَطُّ مِنهُم حيازِماً
وأحداقهاand their eyes زرقٌblue وأجسادهاand their bodies حُمرُred
وأحداقها زرقٌ وأجسادها حُمرُ
and Khatt spears inscribing lines through their chests,
And stallions that race them
their eyes blue and their bodies red.
Whose eyes are blue and bodies red.
إذاwhen أُشْرِعَتْthey were leveled للطّعْنِfor thrusting سَرتْthey sped كأنَّماas though
إذا أُشْرِعَتْ للطّعْنِ سَرتْ كأنَّما
يُشَكُّis pierced بهاwith them فيon كلّevery سابقةٍfleet mare نَحْرُa throat
يُشَكُّ بها في كلّ سابقةٍ نَحْرُ
When leveled for thrusting, they sped as though
When loosed to stab they race as though
a throat were pierced with them on every fleet mare.
Their stabbing each neck were in doubt for every winner.
أُشَبِّهُهاI liken them بالقَطرِto raindrops يُبْديdisplays تَألُّقاًa glitter
أُشَبِّهُها بالقَطرِ يُبْدي تَألُّقاً
بِأَطرافِon the tips of أَغصانٍbranches يُحاصِرهاsurround them غُدْرُpools
بِأَطرافِ أَغصانٍ يُحاصِرها غُدْرُ
I liken them to raindrops displaying their glitter
I liken them to drops that shimmer
on the tips of branches surrounded by pools.
On branch ends that treachery besieges.
وَسُحْبٌand clouds بأجوافِin the hollows of الكنائنthe quivers أُودعتwere lodged
وَسُحْبٌ بأجوافِ الكنائن أُودعت
شآبيبهاtheir downpours نبلٌarrows منfrom الزنجthe Zanj لاnot قطرُraindrops
شآبيبها نبلٌ من الزنج لا قطرُ
And clouds were lodged in the hollows of quivers;
In animal interiors were lodged
their downpours were arrows from the Zanj, not rain.
Their downpours, Zanj arrows, not raindrops,
وخيلٌand steeds ترىyou see خيلَthe horses of العلوجِthe foreign foes مُضافةٌset alongside
وخيلٌ ترى خيلَ العلوجِ مُضافةٌ
إِلَيهاto them حميراًas asses لاnot الَّتيthose which نتجfoaled القَفْرُthe wilderness
إِلَيها حميراً لا الَّتي نتج القَفْرُ
And steeds beside which you see the foreigners' horses,
And steeds you see eclipse their steeds
when compared with them, as asses—not those the wilderness foaled.
As though the desert’s born were donkeys, not horses.
كَأنَّas though علىupon العقبانِthe eagles مِنهاamong them ضَراغماًlions
كَأنَّ على العقبانِ مِنها ضَراغماً
فأنيابهاso their fangs عُصْلٌcurved وأبصارهاand their eyes جَمرُembers
فأنيابها عُصْلٌ وأبصارها جَمرُ
As though lions were mounted upon their eagles,
As though hawks wore shields on them
their fangs curved and their eyes embers.
So their claws are iron and their visions embers
وحمرُand red دماءٍblood كَالخُمورِlike the wines الَّتيwhich سقواthey were given to drink
وحمرُ دماءٍ كَالخُمورِ الَّتي سقوا
تَحَمّرَturned red منهاfrom it فيupon الظباthe sword-edges وَرَقٌleaves خُضرُgreen
تَحَمّرَ منها في الظبا وَرَقٌ خُضرُ
And red blood, like the wines they were given to drink,
And red bloods like wines they drank
turned green leaves upon the sword-edges red.
Till leaves once green in the meadow turned red.
بَنوsons of الأَصفَرِal-Asfar, the Yellow One اصْفَرَّتْturned yellow حَذاراًin dread وُجوههمtheir faces
بَنو الأَصفَرِ اصْفَرَّتْ حَذاراً وُجوههم
فَأَيديهِمُso their hands مِنof كُلِّall ماthat طَلَبواthey sought صِفْرُempty
فَأَيديهِمُ مِن كُلِّ ما طَلَبوا صِفْرُ
The sons of al-Asfar turned yellow-faced with fear;
The yellow sons of Byzantines yellowed in fear
their hands were empty of everything they sought.
So hands that sought anything gained only yellow.
تَنادَواthey called to one another كَأَسرابِlike flocks of القَطاsandgrouse فيin بِلادِهمْtheir lands
تَنادَوا كَأَسرابِ القَطا في بِلادِهمْ
وكانand there was لهمfor them فيin كلevery قاصيةٍoutlying region نَفْرُa troop
وكان لهم في كل قاصيةٍ نَفْرُ
They called to one another like flocks of sandgrouse in their lands,
They gathered like flocks of wild cats in their lands
and in every outlying region they had a troop.
And rallied each far reach into bands.
ولمّاand when تناهىwas fully gathered جمعُهُمْtheir host ركبواthey embarked بهwith it
ولمّا تناهى جمعُهُمْ ركبوا به
قَرَاthe back of زاخِرِsurging with الآذيِّsea-billows آفاقُهُits horizons غُبرُgray
قَرَا زاخِرِ الآذيِّ آفاقُهُ غُبرُ
When their host had fully gathered, they embarked with it
When their masses rode the throng
upon the back of a wave-swollen sea, its horizons gray.
Whose horizons seethed with harm,
تَوَلَّتْundertook جنودُthe armies of اللَّهِGod بِالرّيحِwith the wind حَرْبَهُمْwar against them
تَوَلَّتْ جنودُ اللَّهِ بِالرّيحِ حَرْبَهُمْ
وَلَيسَand there is no لِمَخلوقٍfor any creature عَلىagainst حَربِهاits warfare صَبرُendurance
وَلَيسَ لِمَخلوقٍ عَلى حَربِها صَبرُ
God's armies took up warfare against them with the wind,
God’s armies turned them in the winds.
and no creature can endure its warfare.
No creature can withstand its war.
فَكَمso how many مِنof فَريقٍa company مِنهُمُof them إذwhen تَفرَّقواthey scattered
فَكَم مِن فَريقٍ مِنهُمُ إذ تَفرَّقوا
لهfor it غَرَقٌdrowning فيin زخرةِthe surge of الموجthe waves أوor أسرُcaptivity
له غَرَقٌ في زخرةِ الموج أو أسرُ
How many a company of them, when they scattered,
How many ranks of them as they fled
met drowning in the surge of waves, or captivity!
Were drowned in the abundance of waves or captive!
وظَلَّتand kept on سِباعُthe beasts of الماءِthe water وهيَwhile they تنوشُهُمْsnatched at them
وظَلَّت سِباعُ الماءِ وهيَ تنوشُهُمْ
فلاso no شلوtorn limb منهمof them فيin صريحٍa tomb (probable reading) ولاnor قبرُa grave
فلا شلو منهم في صريحٍ ولا قبرُ
The beasts of the water kept snatching at them;
The beasts of the sea drank them in
not a torn limb of theirs lay in a tomb or grave.
With no part in a shroud or a grave.
فإنso if سَلِمَsurvived الشطرُthe half الَّذيwhich لاno سلامةٌsafety
فإن سَلِمَ الشطرُ الَّذي لا سلامةٌ
لهfor it منfrom ظُباthe blades of الهيجاbattle فقدthen indeed عطِبَperished الشطرُthe half
له من ظُبا الهيجا فقد عطِبَ الشطرُ
If one half survived—though there is no safety
If a portion escaped, safe passage denied them
for it from battle's blades—the other half perished.
By savage, raging seas, that portion was ruined.
أَتَواthey came بِأَساطيلٍwith fleets تَمُرُّpassing كَأَنَّهاas though they were
أَتَوا بِأَساطيلٍ تَمُرُّ كَأَنَّها
جَرادٌlocusts مُظِلٌّovershadowing ضاقwas too narrow عنfor عرضهtheir breadth البَحرُthe sea
جَرادٌ مُظِلٌّ ضاق عن عرضه البَحرُ
They came with fleets passing as though
How many fleets they brought like locusts
overshadowing locusts, the sea too narrow for their breadth,
Darkening, too narrow for their breadth the sea
وخيلٍand horses حَشَوْاthey packed منهاwith them السفينَthe ships ولمand did not يكنْexist
وخيلٍ حَشَوْا منها السفينَ ولم يكنْ
لهاfor them فيin مجالِthe field of الحربbattle كرٌّa charge ولاnor فَرُّa retreat
لها في مجالِ الحرب كرٌّ ولا فَرُّ
and horses with which they packed the ships, yet there was
And cavalry cramming ships though consigned
for them in the field of battle neither charge nor retreat.
To battle without advantage or retreat.
وَقَدand already رَكِبتْhad mounted فرسانهاtheir riders صَهَوَاتهاtheir backs
وَقَد رَكِبتْ فرسانها صَهَوَاتها
فأرْجَلَهُمْso made them dismount عنهاfrom them التذلّلُabasement والذعرُand terror
فأرْجَلَهُمْ عنها التذلّلُ والذعرُ
Their riders had mounted their backs,
Their horsemen rode their mares
but abasement and terror made them dismount.
But abjection and panic cast them off.
سلاهبُlong-limbed steeds أهدَوْهاthey presented them إليكto you ولمand did not يكنْexist
سلاهبُ أهدَوْها إليك ولم يكنْ
جزاءٌrecompense لذاكَfor that منfrom علاكyour highness ولاnor شكرُthanks
جزاءٌ لذاكَ من علاك ولا شكرُ
Long-limbed steeds they presented to you, yet there was
Loot they gifted you though no reward
no recompense or thanks for that from your highness.
Could repay or thank he who exalted and aided you.
فَسلْso ask عنهمُabout them الديماسَal-Dimas تسمعْyou will hear حديثَهمْtheir story
فَسلْ عنهمُ الديماسَ تسمعْ حديثَهمْ
فَهُمfor they بالمواضيunder keen swords فيon جزيرَتِهِits island جَزْرُslaughtered prey
فَهُم بالمواضي في جزيرَتِهِ جَزْرُ
Ask al-Dimas about them; you will hear their tale:
Ask Dimashq about them. You’ll hear how
under keen swords, on its island, they were slaughtered prey.
On an isle they were cut down in droves.
وماand not غنِمواthey gained إلّاexcept مُنىًhopes كَذبتْproved false لهمto them
وما غنِموا إلّا مُنىً كَذبتْ لهم
وكانand there was لهمfor them بالقَصْرِat the fortress عنfrom نَيلهاattaining them قصرُa shortfall
وكان لهم بالقَصْرِ عن نَيلها قصرُ
They gained nothing but hopes that lied to them,
They won only illusory booty which lied to them
and at the fortress they fell short of attaining them.
And failing to gain it, failed in their castle.
شَرَوْهُthey bought it فباعواso they sold بالرّدىfor death فيهin it أنفساًselves
شَرَوْهُ فباعوا بالرّدى فيه أنفساً
أرِبحٌwas there profit? لهمfor them فيin ذلكthat البيعsale أمor خُسْرُloss
أرِبحٌ لهم في ذلك البيع أم خُسْرُ
They bought it, selling their lives there for death;
They sold themselves cheap in a losing deal.
was that sale a profit for them, or a loss?
Did they profit? Did they lose?
وقَدand indeed طَمِعواthey hoped فيin الزَّعمِthe claim أنto يُثبتواattach لهto it
وقَد طَمِعوا في الزَّعمِ أن يُثبتوا له
جناحَينtwo wings يُضْحيit would become مِنهُماthrough them both وهوَand it is النّسْرُthe eagle
جناحَين يُضْحي مِنهُما وهوَ النّسْرُ
They hoped, so they claimed, to attach to it
Greedy, they hoped to furnish wings for it
two wings that would turn it into an eagle.
To soar as an eagle over them.
ورامُواand they sought بِهِthrough it صَيْدَto hunt البلادِthe lands وغنمهاand their plunder
ورامُوا بِهِ صَيْدَ البلادِ وغنمها
فَأَضحىso it became وَقَدand already قُصَّتwere clipped خوافِقهُits flight feathers العشرُthe ten
فَأَضحى وَقَد قُصَّت خوافِقهُ العشرُ
Through it they sought to hunt the lands and plunder them,
They plotted with it to hunt the lands and loot them
but its ten flight feathers ended up clipped.
But rose, its ten feathers clipped,
أُذيقواthey were made to taste بهin it حصراًa siege أذلّthat humbled عرامهمtheir unruliness
أُذيقوا به حصراً أذلّ عرامهم
كماjust as ضاقgrew too tight عِندَat المَوتِdeath عنfor نَفَسٍa breath صدرُa breast
كما ضاق عِندَ المَوتِ عن نَفَسٍ صدرُ
There they tasted a siege that humbled their unruliness,
They sampled with it straits too cramped
as at death a breast grows too tight for a breath.
As spirits cramp at death in chests.
وَجَرَّand dragged إِلَيهمtoward them فيamid جِبالٍmountains مِنَof القَناspears
وَجَرَّ إِلَيهم في جِبالٍ مِنَ القَنا
مَناياهُمُtheir deaths بِالقتلِby slaughter جَحفَلُكَyour army المَجْرُthe immense
مَناياهُمُ بِالقتلِ جَحفَلُكَ المَجْرُ
And amid mountains of spears it dragged toward them
How they strove to ransom their lives
their deaths by slaughter—your immense host,
With their weights in dust but no dust was accepted.
وَقائِدُكَand your commander الشَّهمُthe gallant الَّذيwho كانwas بينَهمْamong them
وَقائِدُكَ الشَّهمُ الَّذي كان بينَهمْ
صَبيحَةَon the morning لاقاهُمhe met them علىupon يدهhis hand النصرُvictory
صَبيحَةَ لاقاهُم على يده النصرُ
and your gallant commander, who was among them,
There Islam healed its rage with them
victory in his hand on the morning he met them.
With a piercing, rending blow.
رأواthey saw بأبيthrough Abu إسحقَIshaq سَحْقاًa crushing لجمعهمof their host
رأوا بأبي إسحقَ سَحْقاً لجمعهم
فإبْرَامُهُمْso their binding نَقْضٌunbinding ونظمهمand their ordering نَثرُscattering
فإبْرَامُهُمْ نَقْضٌ ونظمهم نَثرُ
Through Abu Ishaq they saw their host crushed;
They saw your gifts and in them
their binding became unbinding, their ordering scattering.
For the enemy’s glory, matters that perturbed them,
ولوand had لبثواthey remained فيin ضيقِthe straits of حصرهمُtheir siege ولمْand had not
ولو لبثوا في ضيقِ حصرهمُ ولمْ
يَطِرْflown مِنهُمُfrom among them شَوقاًyearning إلىtoward أَجلٍan appointed end عُمْرُa life
يَطِرْ مِنهُمُ شَوقاً إلى أَجلٍ عُمْرُ
Had they remained in the straits of their siege, and no
As if the celestial towers pelted them
life among them flown, yearning for its appointed end,
With meteors of flame and no ember.
لَقامَthen would have risen عَلَيهِمover them مِنجَنيقٌa catapult يُظِلّهُمْovershadowing them
لَقامَ عَلَيهِم مِنجَنيقٌ يُظِلّهُمْ
بِصمّwith solid مرادٍstone missiles ماno لِماfor what كَسَرَتْthey shattered جَبرُmending
بِصمّ مرادٍ ما لِما كَسَرَتْ جَبرُ
a catapult would have risen over them, overshadowing them
How far did their ignorance in delusion stretch
with solid stone missiles, with no mending what they broke.
Had they no wise man, no reason?
إذاwhen وُزِنَwas weighed الموتُdeath الزّؤامُthe grim عليهمُupon them
إذا وُزِنَ الموتُ الزّؤامُ عليهمُ
بكفّةin the pan of وَزّانٍa weigher مَثاقيلُهُits weights الصخرُrocks
بكفّة وَزّانٍ مَثاقيلُهُ الصخرُ
When grim death was weighed out upon them
How they divided in guesswork miles of our land
in a weigher's pan, its weights were rocks.
When they encountered no scent of a bird
فَكَمso how hard جَهدُواthey strove أَنto يَفتَدواransom themselves مِنfrom حِمامِهمtheir doom
فَكَم جَهدُوا أَن يَفتَدوا مِن حِمامِهم
بِأَوزانِهمwith their weights تِبراًin raw gold فماbut not قُبِلَwas accepted التبرُthe raw gold
بِأَوزانِهم تِبراً فما قُبِلَ التبرُ
How hard they strove to ransom themselves from their doom
To wet their thirst if mirages withered!
with their weight in raw gold—but the gold was not accepted.
Did not our lands conquer theirs, theirs in name only,
هناكthere شَفىquenched الإسلامُIslam منهمagainst them غليلَهُits burning thirst
هناك شَفى الإسلامُ منهم غليلَهُ
بِطَعنٍwith thrusting لهit has بَتْرٌsevering وضَربٍand striking لهit has هَبْرُhacking
بِطَعنٍ له بَتْرٌ وضَربٍ له هَبْرُ
There Islam quenched its burning thirst against them
Successive disbelief begetting disbelief?
with thrusts that severed and blows that hacked.
Were not the keys to the lands our swords
وكانواand they had رأواseen مَهْدِيَّتَيْكَyour two Mahdiyyas وفيهماand in them both
وكانوا رأوا مَهْدِيَّتَيْكَ وفيهما
لِعِزِّfor the might of العدىthe enemies أمْرٌa matter فهالَهُمُso it terrified them الأمرُthe matter
لِعِزِّ العدى أمْرٌ فهالَهُمُ الأمرُ
They had seen your two Mahdiyyas, and in them
When hardship unlocked them?
lay a threat to the enemy's might; the prospect terrified them.
Did not the harm of Rīya’s conquest reach
كَأَنّas though بُرُوجَthe towers of الجوِّthe sky مِنكَfrom you رَمَتهُمُpelted them
كَأَنّ بُرُوجَ الجوِّ مِنكَ رَمَتهُمُ
بشُهْبٍwith meteors لهاthey have نارٌfire ولَيسَand there is no لَهاfor them جَمرُembers
بشُهْبٍ لها نارٌ ولَيسَ لَها جَمرُ
As though the sky's towers had hurled from you upon them
And shake its power from Sicily’s end?
meteors with fire but no embers.
Did not their invading army capture their delicate women
فَماso why للعلوجِfor the foreign foes امتَدَّpersisted فيin الغيِّerror جَهلُهمtheir ignorance
فَما للعلوجِ امتَدَّ في الغيِّ جَهلُهم
أماwas it not? كانَwas فيهمamong them منْany لبيبٍa discerning man لهhe had حِجْرُsound judgment
أما كانَ فيهم منْ لبيبٍ له حِجْرُ
Why did the foreigners' ignorance persist in error?
So after each aged crone a virgin followed?
Was there no discerning man among them with sound judgment?
Coffers in which were the heads of their ancestors
فَكَمso how often قَسَمواthey divided فيin الظنِّfancy أَميالَmiles of أَرضِناour land
فَكَم قَسَموا في الظنِّ أَميالَ أَرضِنا
أماwas it not? كانَwas فيهمamong them منْany لبيبٍa discerning man لهhe had حِجْرُsound judgment
أما كانَ فيهم منْ لبيبٍ له حِجْرُ
How often in fancy they divided the miles of our land!
Still filled with their molars today?
Was there no discerning man among them with sound judgment?
If you asked the passing wind about them all
ولاand not وَرَدواthey drank منfrom مائهاits water حَسْوَa sip of طائرٍa bird
ولا وَرَدوا من مائها حَسْوَ طائرٍ
يُبَلّis moistened بهِwith it منهُof it إِذاwhen يَبِسdries السَّحْرُthe lung
يُبَلّ بهِ منهُ إِذا يَبِس السَّحْرُ
Yet they drew not even a bird's sip from its water,
It would tell of every hero slain among them.
with which its lung is moistened when it grows dry.
Not by fierce combat were the people killed
أماdid not? فتحتْconquered منهمof theirs بلاداًlands بلادُناour lands
أما فتحتْ منهم بلاداً بلادُنا
بِزَعمهِمُin their claim كُفراًunbelief علىupon إِثرِهِits heels كُفرُunbelief
بِزَعمهِمُ كُفراً على إِثرِهِ كُفرُ
Did not our lands conquer lands of theirs—
But few they were, encircled by hordes.
in their telling, 'unbelief' with 'unbelief' on its heels?
Will a foreigner dilute the Arabs’ spring?
وكانَتand were مفاتيحَthe keys of البلادِthe lands سُيوفُناour swords
وكانَت مفاتيحَ البلادِ سُيوفُنا
وأَقفْالهاand their locks إذwhen فتحهُنَّopening them لهfor him عُسْرُhardship
وأَقفْالها إذ فتحهُنَّ له عُسْرُ
Our swords were the keys to those lands,
When she surges in rage, no dilution in her strike!
and their locks, when opening them was hard for him.
Every shout came over them
وآذىand pained زجارَZajjar فَتْحthe conquest of رَيّوRayyu وقُطْرُهاand its region
وآذى زجارَ فَتْح رَيّو وقُطْرُها
يَهُدّcrushes قُوَاهُits strength منfrom صقليّةٍSicily قطرُa region
يَهُدّ قُوَاهُ من صقليّةٍ قطرُ
Rayyu's conquest pained Zajjar, and its region
As a lion’s roar startles gazelles.
had its strength battered by a region of Sicily.
Then winds came, the winds their steeds,
ألمdid not? يسبِtake captive جيشُthe army of الغزوthe raid منهمfrom them نواعِماًpampered women
ألم يسبِ جيشُ الغزو منهم نواعِماً
فَمنso among them ثيِّبٍa once-married woman تُقْتادُis led away فيin إثرهاher wake بِكرُa virgin
فَمن ثيِّبٍ تُقْتادُ في إثرها بِكرُ
Did not the raiding army take their pampered women captive—
The cords of the true religion braced.
a woman who had known marriage led away, a virgin following her?
First they relinquished injustice—every insolent
وَقَوْصَرّةٍand Qawsarra فيهاin it رؤوسُthe heads of جدودهمtheir ancestors
وَقَوْصَرّةٍ فيها رؤوسُ جدودهم
إلىto اليومthis day ملآنfull بأفلاقِهاof their fragments العفرُthe dust
إلى اليوم ملآن بأفلاقِها العفرُ
And at Qawsarra, where their ancestors' heads lie,
Brigand’s torment in his nature.
the dust is still full of their fragments to this day.
The bold among them rushed to confront
فلوso if تسألُwere to ask الريحُthe wind المعاطسَthe noses منهمُof them
فلو تسألُ الريحُ المعاطسَ منهمُ
لأخبرهاwould tell it عَنof كُلِّevery شلوٍtorn limb بهاin it دِفرُa stench
لأخبرها عَن كُلِّ شلوٍ بها دِفرُ
If the wind were to ask their noses,
So many a report verifies reports.
a stench would tell it of every torn limb there.
The tribes of Duhman poured into war’s tumult
وَماand not قَتلواthey killed مِنthrough شِدَّةِstrength of البأسِbattle prowess أَهلهاits people
وَما قَتلوا مِن شِدَّةِ البأسِ أَهلها
ولكنّهمbut they قُلٌّfew أحاطَclosed in بهمaround them كثرُmany
ولكنّهم قُلٌّ أحاطَ بهم كثرُ
They did not kill its people through strength in battle;
With every hero sweetening it with his courage.
rather, its people were few, surrounded by many.
Faces rose with glory against misguidance
أَتُعجِمُdo they test by biting? نبعَthe bow-wood of العربِthe Arabs عجمٌforeigners ولاand no يُرَىis seen
أَتُعجِمُ نبعَ العربِ عجمٌ ولا يُرَى
لماin what اشتدّwas hard منهاof it فيbetween نَواجِذِهاtheir molars كَسرُa fracture
لما اشتدّ منها في نَواجِذِها كَسرُ
Do foreigners test the Arabs' bow-wood with their teeth, though no
Battlements when Bater opposed it.
break shows in what resists their molars?
The sons of Zayd attacked all who snarled
توالتْfollowed in succession عليهاagainst them منهمُfrom them كلُّevery صيحةٍcry
توالتْ عليها منهمُ كلُّ صيحةٍ
كماas رَوَّعterrified الأعيارَthe wild asses منfrom أسَدٍa lion زأرُa roar
كما رَوَّع الأعيارَ من أسَدٍ زأرُ
Cry after cry from the Arabs fell upon them,
And the meadows’ secrets were loud in their palms.
as a lion's roar terrifies wild asses.
Ibn Ziyad came with boulders but the fortress resisted
فجاءَتthen came رياحٌRiyah والرِّياحُand the winds جيادُهاtheir steeds
فجاءَت رياحٌ والرِّياحُ جيادُها
فَشُدّso was strengthened منَof الدينِthe faith القويمِthe upright بِهاthrough them أزرُthe backbone
فَشُدّ منَ الدينِ القويمِ بِها أزرُ
Then Riyah came, and the winds were their steeds;
With fangs that foiled each breach.
through them the backbone of the upright faith was strengthened.
A massive sea surging with war
فَأَوَّلُso the first إِنصافٍjustice تَولوهthey undertook it كفُّهُمْtheir restraining
فَأَوَّلُ إِنصافٍ تَولوه كفُّهُمْ
أذىthe harm of كلّevery فظٍّbrute فيin سَجِيَّتِهhis nature غدرُtreachery
أذى كلّ فظٍّ في سَجِيَّتِه غدرُ
The first justice they undertook was to restrain
His body refused it; his hand held back rivers.
the harm of every brute whose nature was treachery.
Between the Romans and the sea he stood so they slipped
وبادرتِand they forestalled الإقدامthe advance منهمfrom them بمقدمwith an advance
وبادرتِ الإقدام منهم بمقدم
فكمso how many خَبَرٍa report عنهاabout them يصدِّقهconfirms it الخبرُexperience
فكم خَبَرٍ عنها يصدِّقه الخبرُ
They forestalled the enemy's advance with their own,
Back to their hold until the hold brought ruin.
and experience confirms many a tale about them.
Nomads persisted in waging holy war on foreigners
وَدُهمand the black steeds of بنيthe sons of دهمانَDahman فاضpoured forth علىupon الوغىbattle
وَدُهم بني دهمانَ فاض على الوغى
بِكُلِّwith every فتىًyouth أحلىthe sweetest of بسالتِهِhis valor مُرُّbitter
بِكُلِّ فتىً أحلى بسالتِهِ مُرُّ
And Banu Dahman's black steeds flooded the battle
Pigs roused to war by lions enraged.
with every youth whose sweetest valor was bitter.
When told, “O people of strongholds,” they answered readily
وشاهَتand grew hideous مِنَamong الضُّلّالِthe misguided بالعزِّby might أَوجُهٌfaces
وشاهَت مِنَ الضُّلّالِ بالعزِّ أَوجُهٌ
عليهاupon them بُسُورٌscowling إِذwhen تَصَدَّىconfronted لَهاagainst them بترُcleaving swords
عليها بُسُورٌ إِذ تَصَدَّى لَها بترُ
Faces of the misguided grew hideous before that might,
With assistants among whom eyes were blue.
scowling as cleaving swords confronted them.
Squadrons of all the tribes came
وكرَّتand charged بنوthe sons of زيدٍZayd علىupon كلِّevery شَيظَمٍtowering steed
وكرَّت بنو زيدٍ على كلِّ شَيظَمٍ
وَسِرّand the secret of المواضيthe keen swords فيin أكفِّهمُtheir palms جهرُopen proclamation
وَسِرّ المواضي في أكفِّهمُ جهرُ
Banu Zayd charged upon every towering steed,
To fulfill a duty neglecting which no excuse.
and the keen swords' secret was proclaimed in their palms.
God Almighty ennobled through them the religion of Muhammad
وجاءand came ابنُson of زيّادٍZiyad بصخرwith Sakhr فكافحتso fought back
وجاء ابنُ زيّادٍ بصخر فكافحت
عَنِin defense of الثغرthe frontier أنيْابٌfangs فلمso was not يُلْثَمkissed الثغرُthe mouth
عَنِ الثغر أنيْابٌ فلم يُلْثَم الثغرُ
Ibn Ziyad came with Sakhr, and fangs fought back
And guaranteed its defense.
to defend the frontier, and that mouth was not kissed.
Every sword that rivaled them
هِزَبرٌa lion علىupon بحرٍa sea منَof الحربِwar مُفْعَمٍbrimming
هِزَبرٌ على بحرٍ منَ الحربِ مُفْعَمٍ
علىupon جِسمهhis body نَهيٌa still pool وفيand in يدهhis hand نهرُa river
على جِسمه نَهيٌ وفي يده نهرُ
A lion upon a brimming sea of warfare,
Were tribes satisfying highland and lowland.
a pool upon his body, and a river in his hand.
If a tumultuous sea surged among their milky pools
وَقَدand indeed حالَbarred the way بَينَbetween الرّومِthe Romans والبحرِand the sea فالتَجوْاso they sought refuge
وَقَد حالَ بَينَ الرّومِ والبحرِ فالتَجوْا
إلىin القصرِthe fortress حتّىuntil جاءَهُمbrought them بالرّدىwith death القصرُthe fortress
إلى القصرِ حتّى جاءَهُم بالرّدى القصرُ
He barred the Romans from the sea, so they sought refuge
Aid came from us and the land seethed like the sea.
in the fortress, until the fortress brought them death.
The son of ʿAlī protected the religion’s precinct
أَعارِبُArabs جدّواstrove earnestly فيin جهِادِjihad against أعاجِمٍforeigners
أَعارِبُ جدّوا في جهِادِ أعاجِمٍ
خنازيرswine شَبّتْkindled حَرْبَهاwar against them أُسُدٌlions هُصرُprey-crushing
خنازير شَبّتْ حَرْبَها أُسُدٌ هُصرُ
Arabs strove earnestly in jihad against foreigners—
Like a predator with bloodied claws.
swine whose war was kindled by prey-crushing lions.
A sovereign whose sovereignty is greater nature
إِذاwhen قيلَit was said ياO أهلَmen of الحفائظِhonor أقْبَلَتْthey came
إِذا قيلَ يا أهلَ الحفائظِ أقْبَلَتْ
مُلَبّيَةًanswering the call فيهاamong them غطارِفةٌnoble chiefs غُرُّradiant
مُلَبّيَةً فيها غطارِفةٌ غُرُّ
When the call went out, 'O defenders of honor!' they came,
God refused a mingling of grandeur.
answering, with radiant, noble chiefs among them.
A father like the sword’s edge, no false sharpness,
عَلَيهمupon them مِنَof الماذِيِّfine steel كلُّevery مُفاضَةٍample coat of mail
عَلَيهم مِنَ الماذِيِّ كلُّ مُفاضَةٍ
مُكَحّلَةٍkohled بالنّقعwith battle dust أعيْنُهُاtheir eyes الخزرُthe narrow ones
مُكَحّلَةٍ بالنّقع أعيْنُهُا الخزرُ
Each wore an ample coat of fine steel,
When the ignited blade’s gleam wanes.
their narrow eyes lined with battle dust like kohl.
He both lunges with spear and sword. His palm
كتائِبُbattalions منfrom كلّall القبائلِthe tribes أقبَلَتْcame
كتائِبُ من كلّ القبائلِ أقبَلَتْ
لِفَرْضِfor the duty of جهادٍjihad ماno لِتارِكِهِfor one who forsakes it عذرُexcuse
لِفَرْضِ جهادٍ ما لِتارِكِهِ عذرُ
Battalions came from all the tribes
Wields members that gather eternal fame.
for the duty of jihad, whose neglect admits no excuse.
No more than a splendid, crowned sovereign
أعزّexalted بهمthrough them ذوthe Lord of العرشِthe Throne دينَthe faith of مُحَمَّدٍMuhammad
أعزّ بهم ذو العرشِ دينَ مُحَمَّدٍ
وَضُمّand was closed عليهaround it منof كفالَتِهHis guardianship حجرُa sheltering lap
وَضُمّ عليه من كفالَتِه حجرُ
Through them the Lord of the Throne exalted Muhammad's faith,
Whose open hands pour bounty so no poverty.
and the lap of His guardianship was closed around it.
As though a loving cup pouring its excess
وفيand along كلِّevery سَيفٍcoast سايرتkept pace with منهمُfrom among them العِدىthe foes
وفي كلِّ سَيفٍ سايرت منهمُ العِدى
قبائلُtribes منهاfrom them أُشْبِعَwas filled السهلَthe plain والوعرُand the rugged land
قبائلُ منها أُشْبِعَ السهلَ والوعرُ
On every coast, some of them kept pace with the foe—
While the moon hides from its pouring.
tribes whose ranks filled both plain and rugged ground.
Whenever his name graces a gathering
إذاwhen ماجsurged بحرٌa sea فيin شوانيهمُtheir war galleys بهمwith them
إذا ماج بحرٌ في شوانيهمُ بهم
أتىcame مَدَدٌreinforcements منّاfrom us فماجَso surged بهwith it البَرُّthe land
أتى مَدَدٌ منّا فماجَ به البَرُّ
When a sea surged with them aboard their war galleys,
Glory clings like a train to its fringes.
reinforcements came from us, and the land surged with them.
So he remains as God’s oneness his haven
حَمىdefended ابنُson of عليٍّAli حَوْزَةَthe domain of الدينthe faith فاحتمىand defended himself
حَمى ابنُ عليٍّ حَوْزَةَ الدين فاحتمى
كمُفْترِسِlike a predator الكفّينِthe two paws يَدْمىis bloodied لهof his ظفرُa claw
كمُفْترِسِ الكفّينِ يَدْمى له ظفرُ
Ibn Ali defended the faith's domain and defended himself,
The world weighed by him as time serves him.
like a claw-handed predator with a bloodied talon.
مليكٌa king لهhe has فيin الملكkingship سيرةُthe conduct of أكبرٍa greater one
مليكٌ له في الملك سيرةُ أكبرٍ
أبىrefused اللَّهGod أنْthat يَختالَswagger فيin عِطفِهِhis bearing الكبرُpride
أبى اللَّه أنْ يَختالَ في عِطفِهِ الكبرُ
A king whose conduct in kingship is that of a greater one;
God would not let pride swagger in his bearing.
أبيٌّunyielding كحَدِّlike the edge of السيفِthe sword منwith غيرِno نَبْوَةٍa glancing stroke
أبيٌّ كحَدِّ السيفِ من غيرِ نَبْوَةٍ
إذاwhen ماindeed مضَاءُthe mettle of الذمرthe valiant warrior قلَّgrew scant بِهِbecause of it الذَّمرُurging
إذا ما مضَاءُ الذمر قلَّ بِهِ الذَّمرُ
Unyielding as a sword's edge, without a glancing stroke,
when a warrior's mettle leaves scant need for urging.
هُوَhe is النّجْدُthe valiant one يقريfeeds الرمحَthe spear والسيفَand the sword كَفُّهُhis palm
هُوَ النّجْدُ يقري الرمحَ والسيفَ كَفُّهُ
بِعُضوَينon two body parts يُلْفَىis found فيهماin them both العمرُlife والذكرُand remembrance
بِعُضوَين يُلْفَى فيهما العمرُ والذكرُ
He is the valiant one; his palm feeds the spear and sword
on two body parts in which life and remembrance reside.
وماand not حسَنٌHasan إلّاexcept مليكٌa king مُتَوَّجٌcrowned
وما حسَنٌ إلّا مليكٌ مُتَوَّجٌ
أفاضَpoured forth الغنىwealth منfrom راحتيهhis two palms فلاso no فقرُpoverty
أفاضَ الغنى من راحتيه فلا فقرُ
Hasan is nothing but a crowned king,
who poured wealth from his two palms, leaving no poverty.
كَأَنَّas though حَبِيّاًa piled-up cloud ساكباًpouring فيضَthe flood of ودقهِits rain
كَأَنَّ حَبِيّاً ساكباً فيضَ ودقهِ
وقَدand indeed يَحْتبيsits with knees clasped منهfrom it لقُصّادِهِfor his petitioners البدرُthe full moon
وقَد يَحْتبي منه لقُصّادِهِ البدرُ
As though a piled-up cloud were pouring its flood of rain,
while the full moon sat within it, knees clasped, for his petitioners.
إذاwhen ماindeed جَرَىflowed فيin محفلٍan assembly حُسْنُthe beauty of ذكرهhis renown
إذا ما جَرَى في محفلٍ حُسْنُ ذكره
تَعَلّقَclung تشريفاًseeking distinction بأذْيالِهِto his hems الفخرُglory
تَعَلّقَ تشريفاً بأذْيالِهِ الفخرُ
Whenever the beauty of his renown flowed through an assembly,
glory clung to his hems to gain distinction.
فلاso may he not زالcease والتوحيدُwhile monotheism مُعْتَصِمٌholds fast بهto him
فلا زال والتوحيدُ مُعْتَصِمٌ به
تُزَانُis adorned بهby him الدنْياthe world ويخدمهand serves him الدهرُtime
تُزَانُ به الدنْيا ويخدمه الدهرُ
May he endure, with monotheism holding fast to him,
the world adorned by him, and time serving him.
Partial English translation: 135 of 150 Arabic lines translated.