وجَلالِ تاجِ الملّةِ المنّانِ

وجَلالِ تاجِ الملّةِ المنّانِ

وبقاءِ دولتهِ على الحدَثانِ

وبقاءِ دولتهِ على الحدَثانِ

By the majesty of the bountiful Taj al-Milla,

By the glory of the crown of the gracious nation,

and by his dynasty's endurance against time's vicissitudes,

And the lasting of its state against the vicissitudes of time,

ما ساسَ ملكاً قبلَه في حادثٍ

ما ساسَ ملكاً قبلَه في حادثٍ

باقٍ ولا في سالفِ الأزْمانِ

باقٍ ولا في سالفِ الأزْمانِ

none before him has ruled a kingdom in a recent age

No king before him has ruled during events

still unfolding, nor in the ages long past.

Remaining eternal, nor in times past,

يا ليتَ لي قلباً يساعدُ ناظري

يا ليتَ لي قلباً يساعدُ ناظري

فأراهُ يومَ تَغيُّرِ الألوانِ

فأراهُ يومَ تَغيُّرِ الألوانِ

If only I had a heart to aid my gaze,

I wish I had a heart to match my vision,

so I might see him on the day when colors change,

So I could see him one day when appearances change,

والبيضُ غامضةُ الشّخوصِ كأنّها

والبيضُ غامضةُ الشّخوصِ كأنّها

في النقعِ سِرٌّ ضاعَ في الكِتمانِ

في النقعِ سِرٌّ ضاعَ في الكِتمانِ

while the bright swords' forms are obscured, as though they were

And the whites (of the eyes) are vague in their contours as if they are

in the dust, a secret lost in concealment.

A secret hidden in concealment during a nap,

يومَ الخَوامسِ أو صبيحةَ أربقٍ

يومَ الخَوامسِ أو صبيحةَ أربقٍ

ولهم إليه تَلَهُّفُ الوَلهانِ

ولهم إليه تَلَهُّفُ الوَلهانِ

On the day of al-Khawamis, or the morning of Arbaq,

On the day of al-Khawamis, or the dawn of Arba’,

their yearning for him was that of one distraught.

When the enchanted are longing for him,

حتى إذا اكتحَلوا بغُرّةِ وجهه

حتى إذا اكتحَلوا بغُرّةِ وجهه

خَروا لرؤيتهِ على الأذْقانِ

خَروا لرؤيتهِ على الأذْقانِ

Until, when they lined their eyes with the radiance of his face,

Until when adorned by the redness of his face,

they fell upon their chins at the sight of him.

They fell to the ground to see him,

وسللتَ رأيكَ فاستباحَ حريمَهم

وسللتَ رأيكَ فاستباحَ حريمَهم

والبيضُ ما سُلّتْ من الأجْفانِ

والبيضُ ما سُلّتْ من الأجْفانِ

You unsheathed your counsel, and it overran their sanctuary,

You insinuated your opinion, so you considered their sanctuary permissible,

while the bright swords had not been drawn from their scabbards.

While the whites (of the eyes) have not been touched by eyelids,

جَذَبَ الفَريسةَ وحدَهُ ضِرغامُه

جَذَبَ الفَريسةَ وحدَهُ ضِرغامُه

تُغنيهِ شِدّتُه عن الأعْوانِ

تُغنيهِ شِدّتُه عن الأعْوانِ

His lion seized the prey alone,

He seized the prey alone with his claws,

his strength sparing him the need for helpers.

His strength makes him needless of helpers,

لا يَستظِلُّ سوى عَجاجَةِ فيلقٍ

لا يَستظِلُّ سوى عَجاجَةِ فيلقٍ

مثلَ القِلادةِ ما لَهُ طَرَفانِ

مثلَ القِلادةِ ما لَهُ طَرَفانِ

He takes shade beneath nothing but an army's dust cloud,

He is shaded by none but the plumage of brave heros,

like a necklace: it has no two ends.

Like a necklace with no ends,

تقعُ النسورُ من الزّماجرِ وسطَه

تقعُ النسورُ من الزّماجرِ وسطَه

وتطيحُ فيه كواسرُ العِقْبانِ

وتطيحُ فيه كواسرُ العِقْبانِ

Vultures fall into its midst from the roaring,

The eagles fall from the skies into its midst,

and the predatory eagles tumble within it.

And the ospreys crash into it,

أخْنى وجرّ على بلادِ ربيعةٍ

أخْنى وجرّ على بلادِ ربيعةٍ

ذَيلاً يُجرُّ بسائرِ البلدانِ

ذَيلاً يُجرُّ بسائرِ البلدانِ

He laid waste and dragged across the lands of Rabi'a

It moaned and dragged the tail of ruin,

a train that is dragged through all the lands.

Across the lands of Rabee’ah

رَكَدَتْ بميّافارِقينَ كَتيبةٌ

رَكَدَتْ بميّافارِقينَ كَتيبةٌ

وكتيبتانِ على بني يُونانِ

وكتيبتانِ على بني يُونانِ

A battalion halted at Mayyafariqin,

A battalion stagnated at Mayyafariqin,

and two battalions against the sons of Yunan.

And two battalions at the children of Yunan,

طلعتْ من الدربينِ يلحِمُ بينَها

طلعتْ من الدربينِ يلحِمُ بينَها

رهجُ الوَغى وغَماغِمِ الفُرْسانِ

رهجُ الوَغى وغَماغِمِ الفُرْسانِ

They emerged from the two passes, welded together by

They emerged from the two valleys, the glare of mayhem uniting them,

battle dust and the horsemen's rumbling cries.

And the tumult of the steeds,

ورجعنَ لا يدرينَ أنّ رجوعَها

ورجعنَ لا يدرينَ أنّ رجوعَها

كتَبَ الشَّقاءَ على بني شيبانِ

كتَبَ الشَّقاءَ على بني شيبانِ

They returned, not knowing that their return

They returned not knowing their return

had inscribed misery upon the sons of Shayban.

Had written misfortune upon the children of Shayban,

خَلَطَ السُّباءَ مراهقاً من سِرّهم

خَلَطَ السُّباءَ مراهقاً من سِرّهم

بفَتىً وبِكرٍ منهم بعَوانِ

بفَتىً وبِكرٍ منهم بعَوانِ

He mingled the captives: a boy of their noblest stock

It mixed the captives, boys and virgins from among them,

with a young man, and a maiden of theirs with a matron.

With the youth and adolescents among them,

وَوَرَدْنَ بابلَ والدليلُ أمامَها

وَوَرَدْنَ بابلَ والدليلُ أمامَها

يسألنَه عن مُنتهى العُمْرانِ

يسألنَه عن مُنتهى العُمْرانِ

They came to Babylon, their guide ahead of them,

They arrived at Babylon, and the guide was before them,

asking him where the inhabited world ends.

Asking him about the extent of civilization,

سَمِعَتْ بذي القَرنينِ أنّ جيادَه

سَمِعَتْ بذي القَرنينِ أنّ جيادَه

رَفَعَتْ عمادَ السّدِّ بالبُنْيانِ

رَفَعَتْ عمادَ السّدِّ بالبُنْيانِ

They had heard that Dhu al-Qarnayn's steeds

They heard of Thul Qarnayn, that his steeds

had built up the supporting pillars of the barrier.

Had raised the pillars of the dam with the building,

فسَمتْ إلى ياجُوجَ تَبغي بَغيَهُ

فسَمتْ إلى ياجُوجَ تَبغي بَغيَهُ

إذْ أدركتْها سورةُ الغضبانِ

إذْ أدركتْها سورةُ الغضبانِ

So they rose toward Ya'juj, seeking to assail him,

So they headed to Yajuj, seeking his desire,

when the angry one's fury overtook them.

When they were overtaken by the verse of anger,

غَمرتْ فضائلُك الجبابرَةَ الأُلى

غَمرتْ فضائلُك الجبابرَةَ الأُلى

سنّوا طِلابَ العزّ للفِتيانِ

سنّوا طِلابَ العزّ للفِتيانِ

Your virtues overwhelmed the mighty rulers who

Your virtues overwhelmed the foremost tyrants,

established the pursuit of glory for young men.

Who prepared the seeking of glory for the youth,

وأنِفتَ إذع خُلقوا أمامَكَ أوّلاً

وأنِفتَ إذع خُلقوا أمامَكَ أوّلاً

من أن يكونَ لك الفعالُ الثّاني

من أن يكونَ لك الفعالُ الثّاني

And you disdained, since they had been created first, before you,

You disdained when they were created before you,

that your deeds should come second.

That the subsequent deed would be yours,

وملكتَ أسرارَ القلوبِ وإنّما

وملكتَ أسرارَ القلوبِ وإنّما

سُلطانُ ملكهم على الأبدانِ

سُلطانُ ملكهم على الأبدانِ

You possessed the secrets of hearts, whereas

You ruled the secrets of hearts while

their royal power holds sway over bodies alone.

Their rule was only over bodies,

ومتوج أعطكَ بيضةَ ملكِهِ

ومتوج أعطكَ بيضةَ ملكِهِ

ونَجا على مُتمطِّرٍ فَلْتانِ

ونَجا على مُتمطِّرٍ فَلْتانِ

And a crowned ruler gave you the heart of his kingdom,

The crowned one gave you the egg of his kingdom,

and escaped on a swift, unrestrained steed.

And escaped upon a soaked fleeting horse,

لو كانَ يُؤثرُ أنْ يُمجَّدَ فعلُهُ

لو كانَ يُؤثرُ أنْ يُمجَّدَ فعلُهُ

يومَ الطّعانِ لكان غيرَ جبانِ

يومَ الطّعانِ لكان غيرَ جبانِ

Had he preferred that his deed be glorified

If he preferred that his deed be glorified

on the day of spear-thrusts, he would have been no coward.

On the day of accusation, he would not have been a coward,

يهوَى الثّناءَ مبرِّزٌ ومقصِّرٌ

يهوَى الثّناءَ مبرِّزٌ ومقصِّرٌ

حُبُّ الثّناءِ طبيعة الإنسانِ

حُبُّ الثّناءِ طبيعة الإنسانِ

The one who excels and the one who falls short both love praise;

One who loves praise shows off yet belittles,

love of praise is human nature.

The love of praise is human nature,

ومُضاغنينَ عسوا عليكَ فعضهم

ومُضاغنينَ عسوا عليكَ فعضهم

غمزٌ يُقيمُ تأوُّدَ العِيدانِ

غمزٌ يُقيمُ تأوُّدَ العِيدانِ

And rancorous foes grew stubborn against you, then were bitten by

While the slanderers were hostile to you, so some of them

a squeeze that straightens crooked rods.

Were winks that establish the intimacy of the hands,

وتوهّموا الشيطانَ يَفُذُ كيدهُ

وتوهّموا الشيطانَ يَفُذُ كيدهُ

في أيِّ مملكةٍ وأيِّ زمانِ

في أيِّ مملكةٍ وأيِّ زمانِ

And they imagined that Satan's scheming could take effect

And they imagined Satan executing his plot

in any kingdom and in any age.

In whichever kingdom and time,

كنت الفطامَ المرَّ من عاداتِهم

كنت الفطامَ المرَّ من عاداتِهم

وشفاءَ دأبهِم من العُدوانِ

وشفاءَ دأبهِم من العُدوانِ

You were the bitter weaning from their habits,

You were the weaning from their habits,

and the cure for their habitual aggression.

And the cure of their constant aggression,

خيرُ الرّعيّةِ من يُطامن شخصَهُ

خيرُ الرّعيّةِ من يُطامن شخصَهُ

خوفُ الإلاهِ ورهبة السّلطانِ

خوفُ الإلاهِ ورهبة السّلطانِ

The best subject is one whose person is humbled by

The best of people are those who make themselves

fear of God and awe of the ruler.

Fearful of God and in awe of the Sultan,

ودَعوتَني وقُرى الجزيرةِ بينَنا

ودَعوتَني وقُرى الجزيرةِ بينَنا

وعبابُ دجلةَ جامحُ الطّغيانِ

وعبابُ دجلةَ جامحُ الطّغيانِ

You summoned me, with the villages of al-Jazira between us,

You called me while the villages of the peninsula were between us,

and the Tigris's surging waters in unbridled flood.

And the floods of the raging Tigris,

لبّيكَ يا عضدَ العُلا ويد النّدى

لبّيكَ يا عضدَ العُلا ويد النّدى

وشباةَ كلّ مهنّدٍ وسِنانِ

وشباةَ كلّ مهنّدٍ وسِنانِ

At your service, O arm of glory and hand of bounty,

And youth of every praiseworthy and spear,

and keen edge of every Indian-steel sword and spearhead.

For you is a new tradition every day,

لكَ كل يومٍ بِدعةٌ مشهورةٌ

لكَ كل يومٍ بِدعةٌ مشهورةٌ

يَعيا بها ويكلُّ كل لِسانِ

يَعيا بها ويكلُّ كل لِسانِ

Each day yours is a celebrated novelty,

That all tongues live by and are exhausted,

before which every tongue grows helpless and weary.

For you is a pole revolving above Zawra’,

فلك على الزّوراءِ دائرُ قطبه

فلك على الزّوراءِ دائرُ قطبه

أطلَعتَ فيه كواكبَ النِّيرانِ

أطلَعتَ فيه كواكبَ النِّيرانِ

A sphere above al-Zawra', its axis revolving:

In which you rose like stars of fire,

you made stars of fire rise within it.

The earth was dazzled by it, and before it

باهتْ به الأرضُ السماءَ وقبلَه

باهتْ به الأرضُ السماءَ وقبلَه

باهيتَها بأسنّةِ المُرّانِ

باهيتَها بأسنّةِ المُرّانِ

Through it the earth rivaled heaven in glory; before it,

You dazzled it with the sparkling blades,

you had rivaled heaven with ashwood spearpoints.

It is a practice that has abolished the ways of creation,

هي سُنّةٌ نُسخت بها سننُ الوَرى

هي سُنّةٌ نُسخت بها سننُ الوَرى

جمعاً ودينٌ شاعَ في الأدْيانِ

جمعاً ودينٌ شاعَ في الأدْيانِ

It is a custom by which mankind's customs were abrogated

Together, and a religion that has spread in religions,

all together, and a faith that has spread among faiths.

It is a strange one that minds are blind to without it,

وغريبةٌ تَعْمى الخَواطرُ دونَها

وغريبةٌ تَعْمى الخَواطرُ دونَها

ويَحارُ فيها القلبُ والعينانِ

ويَحارُ فيها القلبُ والعينانِ

And a wonder before which thoughts go blind,

And in which the heart and the two eyes are confused,

and at which the heart and both eyes stand bewildered.