اطلتhave appeared علىover افقكyour horizon الزاهرradiant
اطلت على افقك الزاهر
سعودauspicious stars منfrom الفلكthe firmament الذائرthe raging
سعود من الفلك الذائر
Over your radiant horizon have appeared
I gazed upon your blossoming horizon,
Auspicious stars from the raging firmament.
Saud, from the revolving heavens,
فأبشرso rejoice فإنfor indeed رقابthe necks of العداthe enemies
فأبشر فإن رقاب العدا
تمدare stretched إِلىtoward سيفكyour sword الباترcleaving
تمد إِلى سيفك الباتر
Rejoice, for the enemies' necks
So rejoice, for the necks of your enemies
Are stretched toward your cleaving sword.
Stretch out to your piercing sword.
وعماand within قليلa short while يحلwill descend الردىdeath
وعما قليل يحل الردى
بكندهمupon their count الناكثthe oath-breaking الغادرthe treacherous
بكندهم الناكث الغادر
And before long death will descend
And in no time, ruin will befall
Upon their oath-breaking, treacherous count.
Their treacherous, violating leader.
وحصبand the stone-hail of الورىhumankind يومon the day تسقىis watered الثرىthe earth
وحصب الورى يوم تسقى الثرى
سحائبclouds منof دمهاtheir blood الهامرstreaming
سحائب من دمها الهامر
And mankind's stone-hail, when the earth is watered,
And the battleground's soil, when watered
By clouds of their streaming blood.
By clouds of their blood, the red.
فكمso how many لكfor you منa فتكةdeadly assault فيهمagainst them
فكم لك من فتكة فيهم
حكتmatched فتكةthe attack of الاسدthe lion الخادرlurking in its lair
حكت فتكة الاسد الخادر
How many deadly assaults of yours upon them
So how many killings of them by you!
Have matched the attack of a lion in its lair!
Like the killing of a lurking lion.
كسرتyou broke صليبهمtheir cross عنوةby force
كسرت صليبهم عنوة
فللهso to God belongs درُّكyour excellence منas a كاسرbreaker
فلله درُّك من كاسر
You broke their cross by force;
You broke their cross by force—
God be praised for you, breaker that you are!
May God reward you, O breaker!
وغيرتand you altered آثارهمtheir vestiges كلهاall of them
وغيرت آثارهم كلها
فليسso there is no لهاfor them الدهرever منany جابرrestorer
فليس لها الدهر من جابر
And you altered all their vestiges,
And you changed all their traces—
So none will ever restore them.
Time has no mender for them.
وأمضيتand you pressed forward جدكyour resolve فيin غزوهمwarring against them
وأمضيت جدك في غزوهم
فتعساًso ruin لجدهمto their fortune العاثرstumbling
فتعساً لجدهم العاثر
You pressed your resolve in warring against them;
And you fulfilled your ancestors' striving against them—
So ruin to their stumbling fortune!
Woe to their stumbling ancestors!
فأدبرso retreated ملكهمtheir dominion بالشآمin al-Sham
فأدبر ملكهم بالشآم
وولىand passed away كأمسهمlike their yesterday الدابرvanished
وولى كأمسهم الدابر
Their dominion in al-Sham retreated,
So their kingdom in Syria retreated
And passed away like their vanished yesterday.
And yesterday's defeat befell them.
جنودكyour troops بالرعبthrough terror منصورةgranted victory
جنودك بالرعب منصورة
فناجزso engage in battle متىwhenever شئتyou wish أوor صابرendure steadfastly
فناجز متى شئت أو صابر
Your troops are victorious through terror;
Your armies are victorious through awe—
So engage whenever you wish, or patiently outlast them.
Charge whenever you wish, or be patient.
فكلهمfor all of them غارقdrowning هالكperishing
فكلهم غارق هالك
بتيارin the torrent of عسكركyour army الزاخرsurging
بتيار عسكرك الزاخر
For all of them are drowning and perishing
For all of them are drowning, destroyed,
In the surging torrent of your army.
In the torrent of your teeming army.
ثأرتyou took vengeance لدينfor the faith of الهدىright guidance فيagainst العداthe enemies
ثأرت لدين الهدى في العدا
فآثركso He favored you اللهGod منas an ثائرavenger
فآثرك الله من ثائر
You avenged the faith of guidance upon the enemies,
You took revenge for the religion of guidance against the enemies,
And God favored you as an avenger.
So may God prefer you, O avenger!
وجاهدتand you fought in holy war مجتهداًdiligently صابراًsteadfastly
وجاهدت مجتهداً صابراً
فللهso to God belongs دركyour excellence منas a صابرsteadfast person
فلله درك من صابر
You fought diligently and steadfastly;
And you strove, enduring patiently—
God be praised for you, steadfast as you are!
May God reward you, O endurer!
تبيتspend the night الملوكthe kings علىupon فرشهاtheir beds
تبيت الملوك على فرشها
وترفلand you stride proudly فيin الزردchain mail السابرىSabiri
وترفل في الزرد السابرى
The kings spend the night upon their beds,
Kings sleep on their beds,
While you stride proudly in Sabiri chain mail.
Dressed in smooth silk.
وتوثرand you prefer جاهدthe arduousness of عيشthe life of الجهادholy war
وتوثر جاهد عيش الجهاد
علىover طيبthe sweetness of عيشهمtheir life الناضرflourishing
على طيب عيشهم الناضر
And you prefer the arduous life of holy war
And you prefer the life of holy war
To the sweetness of their flourishing life.
To their pleasant, luxurious life.
وتسهرand you keep awake جفنكyour eyelid فيin حقthe service of منHim who
وتسهر جفنك في حق من
سيرضيكwill reward you فيfor جفنكyour eyelid الساخرthe scornful
سيرضيك في جفنك الساخر
You keep your eyelid wakeful in the service of Him
And you keep your eyelids awake for the sake
Who will reward you for your scornful eyelid.
Of One who will be pleased with your wakefulness.
فتحتyou conquered المقدسthe holy portion منof ارضهHis earth
فتحت المقدس من ارضه
فعادتso it returned إِلىto وصفهاits condition الطاهرpure
فعادت إِلى وصفها الطاهر
You conquered the holy portion of His earth,
You opened the Holy City from its land,
And it returned to its pure condition.
Returning it to its pure description.
وجبتand you journeyed إلىto قدسهHis sanctuary المرتضىchosen
وجبت إلى قدسه المرتضى
فخلصتهso you freed it منfrom يدthe hand of الكافرthe unbeliever
فخلصته من يد الكافر
You journeyed to His chosen sanctuary,
You came to the Sanctuary of the Chosen One,
And freed it from the unbeliever's hand.
Saving it from the infidel's hand.
وأعليتand you raised فيهwithin it منارthe beacon of الهدىguidance
وأعليت فيه منار الهدى
وأحييتand you revived منsome of رسمهits traces الدائرeffaced
وأحييت من رسمه الدائر
You raised within it the beacon of guidance,
And you raised the minaret of guidance there
And revived its effaced traces.
And revived its erased features.
لكمfor you ذخرstored up اللهGod هذيthese الفتوحconquests
لكم ذخر الله هذي الفتوح
منfrom الزمنthe age الاولearliest الغابرlong past
من الزمن الاول الغابر
For you God stored up these conquests
How much storage has God prepared for you
From the earliest age long past.
Of these openings from the departed early time!
وخصكand He singled you out منfrom بعدafter مازرتهyour having visited Him/it
وخصك من بعد مازرته
بهاwith them لاصطناعكto favor you فيin الآخرthe latter age
بها لاصطناعك في الآخر
And after your visit, He singled you out
And after you visited it, He singled you out
With them, to favor you in this latter age.
With them, for your effort in the end.
محبتكمlove for you القيتwas cast فيinto النفوسsouls
محبتكم القيت في النفوس
بذكرthrough renown لكمof you فيamong الورىhumankind طائرflying abroad
بذكر لكم في الورى طائر
Love for you was cast into souls
Love for you is cast into souls
Through your fame, flying among humankind.
With your memory circulating in the world.
فكمso how many عندwhen ذكرmentioning الملوكthe kings لهمfor them
فكم عند ذكر الملوك لهم
بمثلكabout one like you منa مثلproverb سائرwidely circulating
بمثلك من مثل سائر
How often, when kings are mentioned, do people find
So when kings are mentioned, who is like you
In one like you a widely current proverb!
Among the outstanding?
رفعتyou lifted مغارمthe levies on أَهلthe people of الحجازthe Hijaz
رفعت مغارم أَهل الحجاز
بانعامكthrough your bounty الشاملall-embracing الهامرpouring
بانعامك الشامل الهامر
You lifted the levies from the people of the Hijaz,
You lifted the debts of Mecca's people
Through your all-embracing, pouring generosity.
With your all-encompassing, redounding charity.
وأمنّتand you made secure أَكنافَthe reaches of تلكthose البلادlands
وأمنّت أَكنافَ تلك البلاد
فهانso became easy السّبيلthe road علىfor العابرِthe traveler
فهان السّبيل على العابرِ
You made the reaches of those lands secure,
And you secured the regions of those lands—
So the road became easy for the traveler.
The journey is easy for the passerby.
وسحبُand the clouds of أَياديكَyour favors فيّاضةoverflowing
وسحبُ أَياديكَ فيّاضة
علىupon واردٍone arriving وعلىand upon صَادرone departing
على واردٍ وعلى صَادر
And the clouds of your bounty overflow
And your hands pour forth,
Upon those arriving and those departing.
On the arriving and the departing.
فكمso how many لكfor you بالشرقin the East منa حَامدٍperson praising
فكم لك بالشرق من حَامدٍ
وكمand how many لكfor you بالغربِin the West منa شاكرperson giving thanks
وكم لك بالغربِ من شاكر
How many in the East praise you,
So how many in the East thank you,
And how many in the West give you thanks!
And how many in the West are grateful!
وكمand how many بالدُّعاءwith prayers لكمfor you كلevery عامyear
وكم بالدُّعاء لكم كل عام
بمكةin Mecca منa معلنٍone declaring openly جَاهرspeaking aloud
بمكة من معلنٍ جَاهر
How many every year offer prayers for you
And how much, each year in Mecca, is your name
In Mecca, declaring them openly and aloud!
Proclaimed by a public praiser!
وكمand how much بقيتremains حسبةًduty to restrain wrong فيagainst الظّلومthe tyrant
وكم بقيت حسبةً في الظّلوم
وتلكand that الذَّخيرةُstored treasure للذّاخرfor whoever stores it
وتلك الذَّخيرةُ للذّاخر
And how much duty to restrain the tyrant still remains,
And you remained a refuge in injustices—
That treasure for whoever lays treasure by!
That supply is for the spendthrift.
يعنفhe treats harshly حجاجthe pilgrims to بيتِthe House of الإلهGod
يعنف حجاج بيتِ الإله
ويسطوand he assails بهمthem سطوةَwith the violence of الجائرthe oppressor
ويسطو بهم سطوةَ الجائر
He treats the pilgrims to God's House harshly
It violates the pilgrims of God's House,
And assails them with an oppressor's violence.
With the tyranny of the unjust.
ويكشفand he searches عماinto what بأيديهمُis in their hands
ويكشف عما بأيديهمُ
وناهيكand enough for you عنabout مَوقفa situation صاغرhumiliating
وناهيك عن مَوقف صاغر
He searches into what they have in their hands—
It reveals their secret intentions
What a humiliating scene that is!
And no more to say about a humbled stance.
وقدand indeed أُوقفواthey were detained بعدماafter كوشفواthey were searched
وقد أُوقفوا بعدما كوشفوا
كأنهمas though they فيin يدthe hand of الآسرthe captor
كأنهم في يد الآسر
They have been detained after being searched,
And after being exposed, they are held
As though held in a captor's hand.
As if by a captor's hand.
ويُلزمهمand he compels them to حلفاًan oath باطلاًinvalid
ويُلزمهم حلفاً باطلاً
وعُقبىand the consequences of اليمينthe oath علىupon الفاجرthe wicked man
وعُقبى اليمين على الفاجر
He compels them to a wrongful oath,
And it imposes on them a vain oath—
While the oath's consequences fall upon the wicked man.
The consequence of lying is on the sinner.
وإنand if عرضتappeared بينهمamong them حُرمَةٌa woman
وإن عرضت بينهم حُرمَةٌ
فليسthen there is not لهاfor her عنهfrom him منany ساترone who shields
فليس لها عنه من ساتر
And if a woman appears among them,
And if a sanctity appears between them,
She has no one to shield her from him.
It has no veil from it.
أَليسdoes he not يخافfear غداًtomorrow عَرضَهُhis being brought forth
أَليس يخاف غداً عَرضَهُ
علىbefore الملكthe Sovereign القَادرthe Mighty القاهرthe All-Subduing
على الملك القَادر القاهر
Does he not fear being brought tomorrow
Does it not fear, tomorrow, displaying
Before the Sovereign, the Mighty, the All-Subduing?
Itself to the Able, Supreme King?
وليسَand there is not علىfor حُرَمthe womenfolk of المسلمينthe Muslims
وليسَ على حُرَم المسلمين
بتلكat those المشاهدgatherings منany غائرzealous protector
بتلك المشاهد من غائر
And the Muslims' womenfolk have no
And it has no right to violate
Zealous protector at those gatherings,
The sanctities of the Muslims.
ولاand no حاضرperson present نافعeffective زجرهhis rebuke
ولا حاضر نافع زجره
فياذلةso, oh the humiliation of الحاضرthe person present الزاجرwho rebukes
فياذلة الحاضر الزاجر
Nor anyone present whose rebuke helps—
No watcher benefits warning it,
So how abased is the bystander who rebukes!
So shame on the warner of the shameless!
الاis there not ناصحٌan adviser مبلغconveying نصحهhis counsel
الا ناصحٌ مبلغ نصحه
إِلىto الملكKing الناصرal-Nasir, the champion الظافرthe triumphant
إِلى الملك الناصر الظافر
Is there no adviser to carry his counsel
Except a counselor who conveys his counsel
To King al-Nasir, the triumphant?
To the victorious, supporting King.
ظلومa tyrant تضّمنcontracted to collect مالthe funds of الزكاةzakat
ظلوم تضّمن مال الزكاة
لقدindeed تعستill-fated is صفقةthe bargain of الخاسرthe loser
لقد تعست صفقة الخاسر
A tyrant has contracted to collect the zakat revenues—
An oppressor who appropriates the obligatory alms—
Ill-fated indeed is the loser's bargain!
What a lossful deal for the loser!
يُسِرhe conceals الخيانةَtreachery فيin باطنthe inward self
يُسِر الخيانةَ في باطن
ويبديand he displays النصيحةgood counsel فيon الظاهرthe outside
ويبدي النصيحة في الظاهر
He conceals treachery within
He makes treason easy in private
And outwardly displays good counsel.
And shows advice openly.
فأوقعso bring down بهupon him حَادثاًa calamity أَنهfor he
فأوقع به حَادثاً أَنه
يقبّحhe makes shameful أحدوثةthe tale of الذاكرwhoever recounts
يقبّح أحدوثة الذاكر
So bring calamity down upon him, for he
So make an incident befall him
Makes shameful the tale told by whoever recalls him.
That will mar the mention of his memory.
فماfor there is no للمناكِرfor wrongdoings منany زَاجرrestrainer
فما للمناكِر من زَاجر
سواكexcept you وبالعرفِand concerning what is right منany آمرone who commands
سواك وبالعرفِ من آمر
For there is no one to restrain wrongdoing
For prohibiting wrong, none can stop it
But you, nor anyone to command what is right.
Except you, with authority's command.
وحاشاكand far be it from you إنif لمnot تزلyou remove رسمَهاtheir trace
وحاشاك إن لم تزل رسمَها
فماthen what بالكis your concern (unclear here) فيamong النّاسthe people منa غَادرtraitor
فما بالك في النّاس من غَادر
Far be it from you not to erase their traces—
And far be it from you, if you do not remove its precedent—
Then what is your concern with a traitor among the people? [Wording unclear.]
What is your stance among people then?
ورفعكand your removal of أَمثالهاthings like these موسِعbroadens
ورفعك أَمثالها موسِع
رداءthe mantle of فخارِكyour glory للنّاشرfor whoever unfolds it
رداء فخارِك للنّاشر
Removing wrongs like these will broaden
But lifting the likes of it expands
The mantle of your glory for whoever unfolds it.
The mantle of your pride for the displayer.
وآثاركand your deeds الغرّradiant تبقىendure بهاthrough them
وآثارك الغرّ تبقى بها
وتلكand those المآثرillustrious deeds للآثرfor the chronicler
وتلك المآثر للآثر
Your radiant deeds will thereby endure;
And your magnificent traces will remain through them—
Those are exploits for the chronicler.
Those glorious deeds last forever.
نذرتُI vowed النَّصيحةfaithful counsel فيregarding حقِّكمyour due
نذرتُ النَّصيحة في حقِّكم
وحقand binding is الوَفاءfulfillment علىupon النّاذرِthe vow-maker
وحق الوَفاء على النّاذرِ
I have vowed to give you faithful counsel,
I pledged advice truthfully for you
And fulfillment is binding upon one who vows.
And loyalty's duty upon the fulfiller.
وحبكand love of you أَنطَقَنيmade me speak بالقريضin verse
وحبك أَنطَقَني بالقريض
وماand I do not أبتَغِىseek صِلَةthe recompense of الشّاعرthe poet
وما أبتَغِى صِلَة الشّاعر
Love of you has made me speak in verse,
And love for you inspired me to poetry—
And I seek no poet's recompense.
I do not seek the poet's connection.
ولاnor كانَwas فيin ماwhat مضىhas passed مكسَبيmy livelihood
ولا كانَ في ما مضى مكسَبي
وبئسَand wretched is البِضاعَةُthe merchandise للتّاجِرfor the trader
وبئسَ البِضاعَةُ للتّاجِر
Nor was it my livelihood in days gone by;
Nor was its gain mine in the past—
What wretched merchandise for a trader!
Miserable merchandise for the merchant!
إذاif الشعرpoetry صارَbecomes شِعارthe emblem of الفَتىthe young man
إذا الشعر صارَ شِعار الفَتى
فَناهيكthen enough for you منas a لقبtitle شاهِرmaking one notorious
فَناهيك من لقب شاهِر
If poetry becomes a young man's emblem,
When poetry becomes the man's motto,
What a title to make him notorious!
Then no more said for the renowned.
وإنand though كانis نَظميmy composing لهof it نَادراًrare
وإن كان نَظمي له نَادراً
نقدcriticism (unclear here) قيلit is said لاno حكمَruling للنادرfor rare cases
نقد قيل لا حكمَ للنادر
Though I compose it only rarely,
And if my verse is rarely excellent,
Criticism [unclear]: it is said, 'No ruling applies to rare cases.'
It is said, "No rule for the rare."
ولكنّهاbut they are خطراتpassing impulses الهَوىlove
ولكنّها خطرات الهَوى
تَعِنarise فتلعَبthen play بالخَاطرwith the mind
تَعِن فتلعَب بالخَاطر
These are merely love's passing impulses,
But it is the notions of passion
Arising, then playing with the mind.
That engage and toy with thought.
وأماbut as for وقدnow that زارَit visited تلكthose العلاlofty heights
وأما وقد زارَ تلك العلا
فقدthen indeed فازَit has won بالشّرفhonor الباهرdazzling
فقد فازَ بالشّرف الباهر
But now that it has visited those lofty heights,
As for visiting those high places,
It has won dazzling honor.
He has won sublime honor.
وانand if كانَthere is منكfrom you قبولٌacceptance لهfor it
وان كانَ منك قبولٌ له
فتلكthen that الكرامةُhonored hospitality للزّائرfor the visitor
فتلك الكرامةُ للزّائر
And if it finds acceptance from you,
And if you accept it,
That is the welcome accorded a visitor.
That is generosity for the visitor.
ويكفيهand sufficient for it is سمعكَyour hearing منas a سامعٍlistener
ويكفيه سمعكَ من سامعٍ
ويكفيهand sufficient for it is لحظكَyour glance منas a ناظِرbeholder
ويكفيه لحظكَ من ناظِر
Your hearing, as a listener, is enough for it,
And it suffices him your hearing as a listener
And your glance, as a beholder, is enough.
And your gaze as a watcher.
ويُزهىand it boasts علىover الرَّوضِthe garden غبَّafter الحياthe rain
ويُزهى على الرَّوضِ غبَّ الحيا
بماthrough what حَازَit gained منof ذِكرِكَyour renown العَاطِرfragrant
بما حَازَ من ذِكرِكَ العَاطِر
It boasts over the garden after rain
And he boasts, at the garden, the ardency of life
Through the fragrant renown of you that it has gained.
Through what he gained of your fragrant mention.