تقدّمْ خُطىً أو تأخّرْ خُطًى

تقدّمْ خُطىً أو تأخّرْ خُطًى

فإنّ الشباب مشَى القهْقَرى

فإنّ الشباب مشَى القهْقَرى

Step forward, or step back,

Advance a step, or fall back a step,

for youth has walked backward.

For youth has walked the road of decay,

وكان مَلِيّاً بغَدْرِ الحياةِ

وكان مَلِيّاً بغَدْرِ الحياةِ

وأعْجَبُ منْ غدْرِهِ لو وَفَى

وأعْجَبُ منْ غدْرِهِ لو وَفَى

It was fully capable of life's treachery;

And was inclined to life's treachery,

more surprising than its betrayal would be its keeping faith.

More amazing than his loyalty if he kept faith,

وما كانَ إلاّ خَيالاً ألَمّ

وما كانَ إلاّ خَيالاً ألَمّ

ومُزْناً تَسرّى وبَرْقاً شَرَى

ومُزْناً تَسرّى وبَرْقاً شَرَى

It was only a phantom that briefly visited,

It was but fancied pain,

a raincloud passing by night, and lightning that flashed.

And a light fancy that flowed and a lightning that struck.

لبِسْتُ رِداءَ المَشيبِ الجديدَ

لبِسْتُ رِداءَ المَشيبِ الجديدَ

ولكنّها جِدّةٌ للبِلى

ولكنّها جِدّةٌ للبِلى

I put on the new cloak of gray hair,

I donned the garb of hoariness anew,

yet its newness is a newness of decay.

But it was a newness for wearing away.

فأكْدَيْتُ لمّا بَلَغْتُ المَدى

فأكْدَيْتُ لمّا بَلَغْتُ المَدى

وعُرّيتُ لمّا لَبِستُ النُّهى

وعُرّيتُ لمّا لَبِستُ النُّهى

I came up empty when I reached the goal,

So I grew decrepit when I reached the goal,

and was stripped bare when I clothed myself in wisdom.

And was stripped when I donned the forbidden.

فإنْ أكُ فارَقْتُ طِيبَ الحياةِ

فإنْ أكُ فارَقْتُ طِيبَ الحياةِ

حَميداً ووَدّعتُ عصرَ الصّبى

حَميداً ووَدّعتُ عصرَ الصّبى

If I have parted from life's sweetness

If I live, I part from life’s goodness

with honor, and bid youth's age farewell,

With praise, and bid farewell to the age of youth.

فقد أطْرُقُ الحيّ بعدَ الهدوء

فقد أطْرُقُ الحيّ بعدَ الهدوء

تَصِلُّ أسنّتُهُمْ والظُّبَى

تَصِلُّ أسنّتُهُمْ والظُّبَى

yet I often visit the camp after all is quiet,

So I incline after tranquility

while their spearheads and sword edges ring.

With my tongue tied and gray hair.

فألْهُو على رِقْبَةِ الكاشحينَ

فألْهُو على رِقْبَةِ الكاشحينَ

بمفْعمةِ السُّوق خُرسِ البُرَى

بمفْعمةِ السُّوق خُرسِ البُرَى

I take my pleasure under my foes' watchful eyes,

I wander about the necks of the sleeping ones

with full-legged women whose anklets are silent,

In the market teeming with the silence of the desert,

بسُودِ الغدائِرِ حُمْرِ الخُدو

بسُودِ الغدائِرِ حُمْرِ الخُدو

دِ بِيضِ التّرائبِ لُعسِ اللِّثَى

دِ بِيضِ التّرائبِ لُعسِ اللِّثَى

with black tresses and red cheeks,

With black unkempt beards, red cheeks,

white bosoms and dusky gums.

White turbans, and coarse wool cloaks,

وقد أهبِطُ الغيْثَ غَضَّ الجمي

وقد أهبِطُ الغيْثَ غَضَّ الجمي

مِ غضَّ الأسرّة غضَّ النَّدى

مِ غضَّ الأسرّة غضَّ النَّدى

I often descend to rain-fed pasture, lush with grass,

I pour down the rain whose clouds are still gathering,

lush in its hollows, lush with dew,

Whose trees are still moist with dew,

كأنّ المَجامرَ أذكَيْنَهُ

كأنّ المَجامرَ أذكَيْنَهُ

أوِ اغتَبَقَ الخمرَ حتى انتشَى

أوِ اغتَبَقَ الخمرَ حتى انتشَى

as though incense-burners had kindled it,

As though the dice made the tavern keeper drunk,

or it had drunk evening wine until tipsy.

Or he gulped wine till he was intoxicated.

فقُدْنا إلى الوَحشِ أشْباهَها

فقُدْنا إلى الوَحشِ أشْباهَها

ورُعْنا المها فوقَ مثلِ المَها

ورُعْنا المها فوقَ مثلِ المَها

We led their likenesses toward the wild beasts,

We missed those like the wild animals,

and startled the oryx while riding the oryx's like.

And avoided the errancy above the like of errancy.

صَنعْنا لها كلّ رِخْوِ العِنانِ

صَنعْنا لها كلّ رِخْوِ العِنانِ

رَحيبِ اللَّبانِ سليم الشّظى

رَحيبِ اللَّبانِ سليم الشّظى

For them we trained every horse easy on the rein,

We prepared for it all the slackness of the bridle,

broad-chested, with sound splint bones,

The breadth of the meadow, and the unblemished plain,

يُرَدُّ إلى بسطةٍ في الإهاب

يُرَدُّ إلى بسطةٍ في الإهاب

إذا ما اشتكى شَنَجاً في النَّسا

إذا ما اشتكى شَنَجاً في النَّسا

restored to suppleness within its hide

It is led back to smooth ground if it complains

whenever it suffered a cramp in the thigh sinew.

Of unevenness in the females.

كأنّ قَطا فوق أكفالها

كأنّ قَطا فوق أكفالها

إذا ما سَرَينَ يُثِرْنَ القَطا

إذا ما سَرَينَ يُثِرْنَ القَطا

It is as though sandgrouse sit upon their croups

As though there were cats above its withers

when they travel by night and flush the sandgrouse.

Whenever they mew they raise the cats.

عواري النّواهقِ شوسُ العيونِ

عواري النّواهقِ شوسُ العيونِ

ظِماءُ المفاصلِ قُبُّ الكُلى

ظِماءُ المفاصلِ قُبُّ الكُلى

Bare-cheekboned, with fierce, sidelong eyes,

The long legged, large eyed,

lean-jointed and hollow-flanked,

Thirsty jointed, round bellied,

تُديرُ لطَحْرِ القَذى أعيُناً

تُديرُ لطَحْرِ القَذى أعيُناً

ترى ظلّ فُرسانها في الدُّجى

ترى ظلّ فُرسانها في الدُّجى

they roll their eyes to drive out motes,

They turn to the direction of the pebbles eyes

eyes that see their riders' shadows in the dark.

That see the shadows of their horsemen in the darkness,

وتحسَبُ أطرافَ آذانها

وتحسَبُ أطرافَ آذانها

يراعاً بُرينَ لها بالمُدى

يراعاً بُرينَ لها بالمُدى

You would think the tips of their ears

And reckon the tips of their ears

were reeds sharpened for them with knives.

A herd bleating to them in the distance.

فهنّ مُؤلَّلَةٌ حَشْرَةٌ

فهنّ مُؤلَّلَةٌ حَشْرَةٌ

مُندَّدَةٌ لخفيّ الصَّدى

مُندَّدَةٌ لخفيّ الصَّدى

They are pointed and delicate,

For they are attentive, a watchful group,

pricked up for the faintest echo.

Intent on the most subtle sound.

تَكادُ تُحِسُّ اخْتلاجَ الظنو

تَكادُ تُحِسُّ اخْتلاجَ الظنو

نِ بينَ الضّلوع وبين الحشى

نِ بينَ الضّلوع وبين الحشى

They almost sense the flutter of thoughts

They almost sense the stirring of suspicions

between the ribs and within the breast;

Between the ribs and viscera,

وتعلمُ نجوَى قلوبِ العِدَى

وتعلمُ نجوَى قلوبِ العِدَى

وسِرَّ الأحِبّةِ يوْمَ النّوَى

وسِرَّ الأحِبّةِ يوْمَ النّوَى

they know the whispers in their enemies' hearts,

And know the whispers of enemies’ hearts

and lovers' secrets on the day of parting.

On the day of intimacy.

فأبْعدُ مَيْدانِها خُطْوَةٌ

فأبْعدُ مَيْدانِها خُطْوَةٌ

وأقرَبُ ما في خُطاها المَدَى

وأقرَبُ ما في خُطاها المَدَى

Their farthest course is a single stride,

Beyond its range is a single step,

and the least of their strides reaches the utmost limit.

And the nearest to its steps is the goal.

ومِنْ رِفْقِها أنّها لا تُحَسُّ

ومِنْ رِفْقِها أنّها لا تُحَسُّ

ومِنْ عَدْوِها أنّها لا تُرَى

ومِنْ عَدْوِها أنّها لا تُرَى

Their tread is so gentle they cannot be felt,

Of its gentleness, it does not feel ,

their gallop so swift they cannot be seen.

And of its enmity, it is not seen.

جرَينَ من السّبْقِ في حَلبَةٍ

جرَينَ من السّبْقِ في حَلبَةٍ

إذا ما جرَى البْرقُ فيها كَبَا

إذا ما جرَى البْرقُ فيها كَبَا

They raced, in their swiftness, on a course

They raced in a track

where lightning itself would stumble if it ran.

When lightning raced in it like a he-camel.

إذا أنتَ عدّدْتَ ما يُمتَطَى

إذا أنتَ عدّدْتَ ما يُمتَطَى

وقايَستَ بَينَ ذواتِ الشَّوَى

وقايَستَ بَينَ ذواتِ الشَّوَى

If you count all that can be ridden

If you count those that are ridden

and compare the creatures with limbs,

And compare between the shy and docile,

فهْنّ نَفائسُ ما يُستَفادُ

فهْنّ نَفائسُ ما يُستَفادُ

وهُنّ كَرائمُ ما يُقتَنَى

وهُنّ كَرائمُ ما يُقتَنَى

they are the treasures of what may be acquired,

Then they are the elite of what is gained,

the noblest of what may be possessed.

And the generous of what is sought.

دِيارُ الأعِزّةِ لكِنّها

دِيارُ الأعِزّةِ لكِنّها

مُكَرَّمَةٌ عن مَشيدِ البِنَا

مُكَرَّمَةٌ عن مَشيدِ البِنَا

Homes of the mighty, yet

The land of nobles, but it is

honored above lofty buildings.

Honored beyond the work of construction.

ومن أجلِ ذلك لا غَيرِهِ

ومن أجلِ ذلك لا غَيرِهِ

رأى الغَنَويُّ بها ما رَأى

رأى الغَنَويُّ بها ما رَأى

For this reason, and no other,

And for no other reason

al-Ghanawi saw in them what he saw.

Al-Ghannawi saw in it what he saw,

وكانَ يُجيدُ صِفاتِ الجِيادِ

وكانَ يُجيدُ صِفاتِ الجِيادِ

وإنّ بها اليْومَ عنهُ غِنَى

وإنّ بها اليْومَ عنهُ غِنَى

He excelled at describing fine horses,

And he knew the traits of steeds well,

yet today they have no need of him.

But through it today he has no need.

ألَيسَ لها بالإمامِ المُعِزّ

ألَيسَ لها بالإمامِ المُعِزّ

من الفخرِ لوْ فخرَتْ ما كفَى

من الفخرِ لوْ فخرَتْ ما كفَى

Have they not, in Imam al-Mu'izz,

Is it not enough, with al-Muizz as its imam,

enough glory, if they chose to boast?

Of glory, if it gloried, that would not suffice?

هوَ استَنّ تَفضيلَها للمُلوكِ

هوَ استَنّ تَفضيلَها للمُلوكِ

وأبْقَى لها أثَراً في العُلَى

وأبْقَى لها أثَراً في العُلَى

He established for kings the custom of prizing them,

He made its preference to kings a precedent,

and left them a lasting mark in exalted rank.

And made for it a lasting trace on high.

ولمّا تَخَيّرَ أنسابَها

ولمّا تَخَيّرَ أنسابَها

تَخَيّرَ أسْماءها والكُنَى

تَخَيّرَ أسْماءها والكُنَى

When he selected their pedigrees,

And when he chose its lineage,

he selected their names and bynames.

He chose its names and nicknames.

وليسَ لها من مَقاصِيرِهِ

وليسَ لها من مَقاصِيرِهِ

سوَى الأُطُمِ الشّاهقِ المُبتَنَى

سوَى الأُطُمِ الشّاهقِ المُبتَنَى

They have none of his private quarters

And it has none of his palaces

but the towering, well-built fortress.

Except the lofty, well-built, impregnable citadel.

وحُقّ لذي ميْعَةٍ يغْتَدي

وحُقّ لذي ميْعَةٍ يغْتَدي

به مُستقِلاًّ إذا ما اغتدى

به مُستقِلاًّ إذا ما اغتدى

It is fitting that a spirited steed setting out at dawn,

The owner of virtue who transgresses

bearing him aloft when he goes forth,

With it independently when he transgresses

تكون منَ القُدس حَوباؤه

تكون منَ القُدس حَوباؤه

ونُقْبتُه من رِداء الضُّحى

ونُقْبتُه من رِداء الضُّحى

should have its soul from the sacred realm,

Its dwellings will be from Jerusalem,

and its coat from the robe of morning light.

And its burrows from the garment of daybreak,

ويعدو وقَونَسُه كوكبٌ

ويعدو وقَونَسُه كوكبٌ

وسُنْبُكُه من أديمِ الصَّفا

وسُنْبُكُه من أديمِ الصَّفا

It gallops, its crest a star,

Its mule runs like a planet,

its hoof made from the skin of flint.

And its litter is of the sky’s fabric.

وكان إذا شاء حَفّتْ به

وكان إذا شاء حَفّتْ به

كتائِبُه فَمَلأنَ الملا

كتائِبُه فَمَلأنَ الملا

Whenever he wished, there gathered around him

When he wanted, his regiments would surround it,

his battalions, filling the open plain,

Filling the expanse.

كما استُجفل الرمل من عالجٍ

كما استُجفل الرمل من عالجٍ

فجاء الخَبارُ وجاء النَّقا

فجاء الخَبارُ وجاء النَّقا

as though the sands of 'Alij were driven forth:

As though the sand was swept away by a flood,

the loose sands came, and the dunes came.

So the flow and waves came.

وذي تُدْرَءٍ كفُّه بالطّعا

وذي تُدْرَءٍ كفُّه بالطّعا

نِ أسمَح من حاتمٍ بالقِرى

نِ أسمَح من حاتمٍ بالقِرى

And many a mighty man whose hand at spear-thrusting

The hand of the owner of generosity is more generous than Hatim's

was more generous than Hatim's at serving guests,

In the abode,

وطِئنَ مفارقَه في الصّعيدِ

وطِئنَ مفارقَه في الصّعيدِ

وعفّرْنَ لمّتَه في الثرى

وعفّرْنَ لمّتَه في الثرى

they trampled his crown upon the plain

Its departure was trodden in the countryside

and rubbed his locks into the dust.

And its touch kneaded into the soil.

عليها المَغاوير في السابغاتِ

عليها المَغاوير في السابغاتِ

تَرَقْرَقُ مثلَ مُتونِ الأضا

تَرَقْرَقُ مثلَ مُتونِ الأضا

Upon them rode bold raiders in ample coats of mail,

Above it the warriors in dyed garments

shimmering like the surfaces of pools.

Glitter like the sides of lightning.

حُتوفٌ تَلَهّى بأمْثالِها

حُتوفٌ تَلَهّى بأمْثالِها

وأُسْدٌ تُغِذُّ بأُسْدِ الشَّرَى

وأُسْدٌ تُغِذُّ بأُسْدِ الشَّرَى

Dooms amusing themselves with their like,

Stallions sporting with their likes

and lions charging upon the lions of al-Shara,

And lions feeding on the flesh of prey.

تَبَخْتَرُ في عُصْفُرٍ من دَمٍ

تَبَخْتَرُ في عُصْفُرٍ من دَمٍ

وتَخْطِرُ في لِبَدٍ من قَنا

وتَخْطِرُ في لِبَدٍ من قَنا

strutting in safflower dye of blood,

They strike in a yellow pool of blood

swaying in a felted mass of spears.

And stir in a froth of bubbles.

وقال الأعادي أأسيافُهم

وقال الأعادي أأسيافُهم

أمِ النّارُ مُضرَمةٌ تُصْطلى

أمِ النّارُ مُضرَمةٌ تُصْطلى

The enemies said: Are these their swords,

The enemies said, “Are their swords?

or a blazing fire in which to burn?

Or kindled fire being forged?”

رأوا سُرجاً ثم لم يعلموا

رأوا سُرجاً ثم لم يعلموا

أهِنْديّةٌ قُضُبٌ أمْ لظَى

أهِنْديّةٌ قُضُبٌ أمْ لظَى

They saw lamps, then could not tell:

They saw horse gear but did not know

were these Indian blades or flames?

Were they Indian canes or fiery brands?

ومُتّقِداتٍ تُذيبُ الشّلِي

ومُتّقِداتٍ تُذيبُ الشّلِي

لَ من فوقِ لابِسِه في الوغى

لَ من فوقِ لابِسِه في الوغى

And blazing blades that melt armor

Blazing brands that melt the armor

upon its wearer in the tumult of battle,

From above its wearer in the fray.

من اللاّءِ تأكُلُ أغمادَها

من اللاّءِ تأكُلُ أغمادَها

وتلفَحُ منهنّ جَمْرَ الغضا

وتلفَحُ منهنّ جَمْرَ الغضا

among those that devour their own sheaths

They eat their scabbards from sharpness

and with their heat scorch ghada embers.

And flames spark out of them.

تُطيع إماماً أطاعَ الإلهَ

تُطيع إماماً أطاعَ الإلهَ

فقلّدَه الحُكْمَ فيما برا

فقلّدَه الحُكْمَ فيما برا

They obey an imam who obeyed God,

They obey an imam who obeyed God

so He vested him with rule over all He created.

So He gave him authority over creation.

وكائِنْ تبيتُ له عَزْمَةٌ

وكائِنْ تبيتُ له عَزْمَةٌ

مُضرَّجَةٌ بدِماءِ العِدى

مُضرَّجَةٌ بدِماءِ العِدى

How many a resolve of his spends the night

Whenever he intends a decision

stained with his enemies' blood!

Drenched with the blood of enemies,

فيعْفو القَضاءُ إذا ما عَفا

فيعْفو القَضاءُ إذا ما عَفا

وتَسْطو المَنونُ إذا ما سَطا

وتَسْطو المَنونُ إذا ما سَطا

Fate pardons when he pardons,

Justice then pardons when he pardons

and death strikes when he strikes.

And death wreaks havoc when he wreaks havoc.

له هذه وله هذه

له هذه وله هذه

فسَجْلٌ حياةٌ وسَجْلٌ رَدى

فسَجْلٌ حياةٌ وسَجْلٌ رَدى

Both this and that belong to him:

He has this and he has this,

one brimming bucket is life, another death.

So one register is life, another doom.

وأهْوِنْ علينا بسُخْطِ الزمان

وأهْوِنْ علينا بسُخْطِ الزمان

إذا ما رآنا بعينِ الرّضى

إذا ما رآنا بعينِ الرّضى

How little time's anger matters to us,

We care least for the time’s anger

if he looks upon us with approval.

If it sees us through the eye of acceptance.

عليّ له جُهد نفسِ الشّكور

عليّ له جُهد نفسِ الشّكور

وإن قَصُرَتْ عن بلوغِ المدى

وإن قَصُرَتْ عن بلوغِ المدى

I owe him all the effort of a grateful soul,

I tried, though my soul fell short

even if it falls short of the utmost reach.

Of reaching the goal.

وشرّفَني مَدحُه في البلادِ

وشرّفَني مَدحُه في البلادِ

فآنَسَ عَنْسي بطولِ السُّرَى

فآنَسَ عَنْسي بطولِ السُّرَى

Praising him has honored me throughout the lands,

And his praise honored me in the lands

and made my sturdy she-camel at ease with long night journeys.

So my forgetfulness found solace in distant places,

أسيرُ خطيباً بآلائه

أسيرُ خطيباً بآلائه

فأُنْضي المَطايا وأُنْضي الفَلا

فأُنْضي المَطايا وأُنْضي الفَلا

I travel, proclaiming his favors,

I walk proudly, celebrating his favors,

wearing out the mounts and wearing out the deserts.

So I lead the steeds and lead the camels.

فلوْ أنّ للنّجْمِ من أُفْقِهِ

فلوْ أنّ للنّجْمِ من أُفْقِهِ

مَكانيَ من مَدحهِ ما خَبا

مَكانيَ من مَدحهِ ما خَبا

If the star had, within its horizon,

If the star had from its horizon

my standing in praising him, it would not dim.

My position in his praise, it would not have set.

ولو لم أكنْ أنطَقَ المادحينَ

ولو لم أكنْ أنطَقَ المادحينَ

لأنْطَقَني بالسَّدى والنَّدى

لأنْطَقَني بالسَّدى والنَّدى

Were I not the most eloquent of those who praise,

Had I not been the most eloquent praiser

his gifts and bounty would make me eloquent.

His constant flow and abundance would have made me eloquent.

وما خلفَه من حطيمٍ يُزارُ

وما خلفَه من حطيمٍ يُزارُ

ولا دونه من مَدىً يُنْتَهَى

ولا دونه من مَدىً يُنْتَهَى

Beyond him is no Hatim sanctuary to visit,

What ruins he left behind to be visited!

and short of him, no goal at which to stop.

What a range that cannot be reached!

هو الوارثُ الأرضَ عن أبوين

هو الوارثُ الأرضَ عن أبوين

أبٍ مُصْطفى وأبٍ مُرتَضَى

أبٍ مُصْطفى وأبٍ مُرتَضَى

He inherits the earth from two fathers:

He is the heir to the land of two fathers,

a father, al-Mustafa, and a father, al-Murtada.

A father Mustafa, and a father Murtaza.

وما لامرىءٍ معه سُهْمَةٌ

وما لامرىءٍ معه سُهْمَةٌ

تُعَدّ ولا شِركَةٌ تُدّعى

تُعَدّ ولا شِركَةٌ تُدّعى

No man has with him a share

No one has a share with him

that may be counted, nor a partnership to claim.

That can be counted or partnership claimed.

فما لقُرَيشٍ وميراثِكُم

فما لقُرَيشٍ وميراثِكُم

وقد فرغ الله مما قضى

وقد فرغ الله مما قضى

What has Quraysh to do with your inheritance,

What is Quraysh’s inheritance to you

when God has already settled what He decreed?

When God has finished with what He ordained?

لكم طور سيناء من فوقهم

لكم طور سيناء من فوقهم

وما لهم فيه من مرتقى

وما لهم فيه من مرتقى

Yours is Mount Sinai, above them,

You have the Mount Sinai side above them

and they have no ascent to it.

And they have no means to ascend it.

بمكّة سَمّى الطليقَ الطليقَ

بمكّة سَمّى الطليقَ الطليقَ

ففرّقَ بين القَصا والدَّنى

ففرّقَ بين القَصا والدَّنى

At Mecca he called the freedman 'freedman',

In Mecca, He named the free man free

and distinguished the distant from the near.

So He separated between the near and the low,

شهِيدي على ذاك حكمُ النبي

شهِيدي على ذاك حكمُ النبي

يِ بين المَقامِ وبين الصّفا

يِ بين المَقامِ وبين الصّفا

My witness to that is the Prophet's judgment

My martyred witnesses to that are the Prophet's judgment

between the Maqam and al-Safa.

Between the standing place and al-Safa

وإن كان يجمعُكم غالبٌ

وإن كان يجمعُكم غالبٌ

فإن الوشائظَ غير الذُّرى

فإن الوشائظَ غير الذُّرى

Though Ghalib unites you,

Even if a conqueror unites you

the lesser offshoots are not the summits.

For kinships are other than homes.

ألا إنّ حقّاً دعوتم إليهِ

ألا إنّ حقّاً دعوتم إليهِ

هو الحقّ ليس به من خَفا

هو الحقّ ليس به من خَفا

Indeed, the truth to which you have called

Indeed! You invited to a right

is the truth, with nothing obscure in it.

It is the right, there is no doubt in it.

لآدَمَ من سرّكمْ مَوضِعٌ

لآدَمَ من سرّكمْ مَوضِعٌ

بهِ استوْجَبَ العَفوَ لمّا عَصَى

بهِ استوْجَبَ العَفوَ لمّا عَصَى

Adam has a place within your mystery,

Adam has a place for your secret

through which he merited pardon when he disobeyed.

Through which he deserved forgiveness when he disobeyed.

فيومُكُمُ مثلُ دهرِ الملوكِ

فيومُكُمُ مثلُ دهرِ الملوكِ

وطِفلُكُمُ مثلُ كهلِ الوَرى

وطِفلُكُمُ مثلُ كهلِ الوَرى

Your single day is like the lifetime of kings,

Your day is like the days of kings

and your child is like a mature man among mankind.

And your child like the old men of the land.

يُلاحِظُ قبلَ الثّلاثِ اللّواء

يُلاحِظُ قبلَ الثّلاثِ اللّواء

ويَضرِب قبل الثّمانِ الطُّلى

ويَضرِب قبل الثّمانِ الطُّلى

Before three, he eyes the battle standard,

He attends to the banner before the three years old

and before eight, he strikes at necks.

And strikes with the spear before the eight years old.

عجِبْتُ لقوْمٍ أضَلّوا السّبيلَ

عجِبْتُ لقوْمٍ أضَلّوا السّبيلَ

وقد بَيّنَ اللّه سُبْلَ الهُدى

وقد بَيّنَ اللّه سُبْلَ الهُدى

I marvel at a people who lost the way,

I wondered at people who lost the path

though God has made the paths of guidance clear.

When God made the ways of guidance clear.

فما عَرَفوا الحقّ لمّا اسْتبانَ

فما عَرَفوا الحقّ لمّا اسْتبانَ

ولا أبصروا الفَجرَ لمّا بدا

ولا أبصروا الفَجرَ لمّا بدا

They did not recognize truth when it became plain,

They did not recognize the truth when it became clear,

nor see the dawn when it appeared.

Nor see the dawn when it rose.

ألا أيها المعشَرُ النائمون

ألا أيها المعشَرُ النائمون

أجِدَّكُمُ لم تُقَضُّوا الكَرَى

أجِدَّكُمُ لم تُقَضُّوا الكَرَى

O you sleeping company,

Lo, O heedless crowd!

truly, have you not shaken off sleep?

I call you but you have not fulfilled the pledge.

أفِيقوا فما هِيَ إلاّ اثنتا

أفِيقوا فما هِيَ إلاّ اثنتا

نِ إمّا الرّشادُ وإمّا العَمَى

نِ إمّا الرّشادُ وإمّا العَمَى

Awake! There are only two choices:

Awaken! For it is only two:

either right guidance or blindness.

Either guidance or blindness.

وما خَفِيَ الرُّشْدُ لكنّما

وما خَفِيَ الرُّشْدُ لكنّما

أضَلّ الحُلومَ اتّباعُ الهوى

أضَلّ الحُلومَ اتّباعُ الهوى

Right guidance was never hidden; rather,

Guidance was not hidden but

following desire led minds astray.

Following passions misguided the dreamers.

وما خُلِقَتْ عبَثَاً أُمّةٌ

وما خُلِقَتْ عبَثَاً أُمّةٌ

ولا ترَكَ اللّه قوماً سُدى

ولا ترَكَ اللّه قوماً سُدى

No community was created in vain,

No nation was created in vain,

nor did God leave a people untended.

Nor did God leave a people to stray.

لكلّ بَني أحمدٍ فَضْلُهُ

لكلّ بَني أحمدٍ فَضْلُهُ

ولكنّكَ الواحِدُ المُجتَبَى

ولكنّكَ الواحِدُ المُجتَبَى

Every son of Ahmad has his merit,

For each son of Ahmed is his merit,

but you are the single chosen one.

But you are the chosen one.

إذا ما طوَيتَ على عَزْمَةٍ

إذا ما طوَيتَ على عَزْمَةٍ

فحسبُكَ أن لا تُحَلّ الحُبى

فحسبُكَ أن لا تُحَلّ الحُبى

Whenever you inwardly resolve upon a deed,

When you determine a decision,

you need not even loosen your knee-bands.

It suffices you not to undo the knot.

وما لا يُرى من جنُودِ السّما

وما لا يُرى من جنُودِ السّما

ءِ حولَكَ أكثرُ ممّا يُرَى

ءِ حولَكَ أكثرُ ممّا يُرَى

The unseen hosts of heaven

The invisible soldiers of heaven around you

around you outnumber those that are seen.

Are more than what is seen.

لِيَعْرِفْكَ من أنتَ مَنجاتُه

لِيَعْرِفْكَ من أنتَ مَنجاتُه

إذا ما اتّقى اللهَ حقَّ التُّقى

إذا ما اتّقى اللهَ حقَّ التُّقى

Let him recognize you, whose salvation you are,

So one who you are his rescuer may know you

when he fears God with true reverence.

If he fears God as He should be feared.

كأنّ الهدى لم يكن كائناً

كأنّ الهدى لم يكن كائناً

إلى أنْ دُعيتَ مُعِزَّ الهُدى

إلى أنْ دُعيتَ مُعِزَّ الهُدى

It is as though guidance had not existed

As though guidance did not exist

until you were named Mu'izz al-Huda.

Until you were called, honourer of guidance.

ولم يَحْكِكَ الغَيثُ في نائلٍ

ولم يَحْكِكَ الغَيثُ في نائلٍ

ولكن رأى شِيمةً فاقتَدَى

ولكن رأى شِيمةً فاقتَدَى

The rain did not equal you in bounty;

The rain did not aim for a watering place, but saw

it merely saw a virtue and followed it.

A sign, so it followed.

قرَى الأرضَ لمّا قرَيتَ الأنامَ

قرَى الأرضَ لمّا قرَيتَ الأنامَ

له النَّقَرى ولك الأجْفَلى

له النَّقَرى ولك الأجْفَلى

It feasted the earth when you feasted mankind:

The land was inhabited when you inhabited people.

its invitation is for the few; yours is for all.

To Him belong the most barren, to you the most fertile

شهِدتُ حقيقةَ علمِ الشهي

شهِدتُ حقيقةَ علمِ الشهي

دِ أنّك أكرَمُ مَن يُرْتَجَى

دِ أنّك أكرَمُ مَن يُرْتَجَى

I testify with an eyewitness's certain knowledge

I witnessed the reality of the martyr’s knowledge,

that you are the most generous of all whose bounty is sought.

That you are the most generous who is hoped for.

فلو يجدُ البحرُ نَهجاً إليك

فلو يجدُ البحرُ نَهجاً إليك

لجاءكَ مُستَسقياً من ظما

لجاءكَ مُستَسقياً من ظما

If the sea could find a path to you,

If the sea found a way to you

it would come to you thirsting, asking for water.

It would come to you seeking water from thirst.

ولو فارَقَ البدرُ أفلاكَه

ولو فارَقَ البدرُ أفلاكَه

لَقَبّلَ بين يَديْكَ الثّرى

لَقَبّلَ بين يَديْكَ الثّرى

If the full moon left its orbits,

If the moon left its orbit,

it would kiss the dust before you.

It would kiss the ground before you.

إلى مثلِ جدواكَ تُنضَى المطِيُّ

إلى مثلِ جدواكَ تُنضَى المطِيُّ

ومن مثل كفّيكَ يُرْجى الغنِى

ومن مثل كفّيكَ يُرْجى الغنِى

For bounty like yours, riding beasts are worn out,

To the like of your ancestors the riding beast is led

and from hands like yours, wealth is hoped for.

And from the like of your palms sustenance is hoped for.