كَأَنّي إِذ نَزَلتُ عَلى المُعَلّى

كَأَنّي إِذ نَزَلتُ عَلى المُعَلّى

نَزَلتُ عَلى البَواذِخِ مِن شَمامِ

نَزَلتُ عَلى البَواذِخِ مِن شَمامِ

It was as though, when I made my lodging with al-Muʿallā,

It was as though, when I lodged with al-Muʿallā,

I had made my lodging upon the lofty heights of Mount Shamām.

I lodged upon the towering peaks of Shamām.

فَما مُلكُ العِراقِ عَلى المُعَلّى

فَما مُلكُ العِراقِ عَلى المُعَلّى

بِمُقتَدِرٍ وَلا مُلكُ الشَآمِ

بِمُقتَدِرٍ وَلا مُلكُ الشَآمِ

For the dominion of Iraq has no power over al-Muʿallā,

For the kingdom of Iraq, over al-Muʿallā,

nor does the dominion of al-Shām.

has no power, nor does the kingdom of Syria.

أَصَدَّ نِشاصِ ذي القَرنَينِ حَتّى

أَصَدَّ نِشاصِ ذي القَرنَينِ حَتّى

تَوَلّى عارِضُ المَلِكِ الهُمامِ

تَوَلّى عارِضُ المَلِكِ الهُمامِ

He repelled Dhu al-Qarnayn’s rising assault, until

He repelled Dhū al-Qarnayn’s towering cloud until

the challenger of the valiant king withdrew.

the valiant king’s cloudbank turned away.

أَقَرَّ حَشا اِمرِئِ القَيسِ بنِ حُجرٍ

أَقَرَّ حَشا اِمرِئِ القَيسِ بنِ حُجرٍ

بَنو تَيمٍ مَصابيحُ الظَلامِ

بَنو تَيمٍ مَصابيحُ الظَلامِ

Comforted the heart of Imruʾ al-Qays, son of Hujr,

The heart of Imruʾ al-Qays ibn Ḥujr was soothed

the Banu Taym, lamps in the darkness.

by Banū Taym, lamps in the darkness.