أَواصِلٌ أَنتَ أُمَّ العَمروُ أَم تَدَعُ

أَواصِلٌ أَنتَ أُمَّ العَمروُ أَم تَدَعُ

أَم تَقطَعُ الحَبلَ مِنهُم مِثلَ ما قَطَعوا

أَم تَقطَعُ الحَبلَ مِنهُم مِثلَ ما قَطَعوا

Will you maintain ties with Umm al-Amr, or leave her?

Are you still my life's desire, or have you ceased?

Or sever the cord with them, just as they severed it?

Or have you severed the ropes as they once did sever?

تَمَّت جَمالاً وَديناً لَيسَ يَقرَبُها

تَمَّت جَمالاً وَديناً لَيسَ يَقرَبُها

قَسُّ النَصارى وَلا مِن هَمِّها البِيَعُ

قَسُّ النَصارى وَلا مِن هَمِّها البِيَعُ

She is perfect in beauty and faith; she is not approached

She is perfect in beauty and faith, none can attain her;

by a Christian priest, nor are churches her concern.

Neither the rigid Christians nor those who trade in her.

مَن زائِرٌ زارَ لَم تَرجِع تَحِيَّتُهُ

مَن زائِرٌ زارَ لَم تَرجِع تَحِيَّتُهُ

ماذا الَّذي ضَرَّهُم لَو أَنَّهُم رَجَعوا

ماذا الَّذي ضَرَّهُم لَو أَنَّهُم رَجَعوا

What visitor came and had his greeting go unanswered?

Whoever comes to visit, his greeting she'll not return;

What harm would it have done them had they returned it?

What harm if they had only repented and returned?

حَلَّأتِ ذا غُلَّةٍ هَيمانَ عَن شِرَعٍ

حَلَّأتِ ذا غُلَّةٍ هَيمانَ عَن شِرَعٍ

لَو شِئتِ رَوّى غَليلَ الهائِمِ الشَرَعُ

لَو شِئتِ رَوّى غَليلَ الهائِمِ الشَرَعُ

You drove a parched, thirst-crazed man from the watering places;

You who have resolved this perplexing affair;

had you wished, the watering place would have quenched the wanderer's burning thirst.

Had you wished, the law could have quenched the thirst of the lost.

ما رَدُّكُم ذا لُباناتٍ بِحاجَتِهِ

ما رَدُّكُم ذا لُباناتٍ بِحاجَتِهِ

قَد فاتَ يَومَئِذٍ مِن نَفسِهِ قِطَعُ

قَد فاتَ يَومَئِذٍ مِن نَفسِهِ قِطَعُ

Why do you turn away a man of longings with his need unmet?

What has kept you from responding to their need?

That day, pieces of his soul had already slipped away.

Long ago, for himself, the chance of reconciliation passed.

بَل حاجَةٌ لَكَ في الحَيِّ الَّذينَ غَدَوا

بَل حاجَةٌ لَكَ في الحَيِّ الَّذينَ غَدَوا

مَرّوا عَلى السِرِّ ذي الأَغيالِ فَاِجتَزَعوا

مَرّوا عَلى السِرِّ ذي الأَغيالِ فَاِجتَزَعوا

Rather, your need lies among the tribesfolk who set out at dawn.

Nay, but you have a need for those souls who departed

They passed by al-Sirr, with its thickets, then crossed over.

Passing by the furtive valleys, they slipped away.

حَلّوا الأَجارِعَ مِن نَجدٍ وَما نَزَلوا

حَلّوا الأَجارِعَ مِن نَجدٍ وَما نَزَلوا

أَرضاً بِها يَنبُتُ النَيتونُ وَالسَلَعُ

أَرضاً بِها يَنبُتُ النَيتونُ وَالسَلَعُ

They settled on the sandy flats of Najd; they did not camp

They unpacked the camel litters of Nejd, but did not stay

in a land where naytun and sala‘ grow.

On a land where olives and wealth flourish and abound.

باعَدتِ بِالوَصلِ إِلّا أَن يُجَرَّ لَنا

باعَدتِ بِالوَصلِ إِلّا أَن يُجَرَّ لَنا

حَبلُ الشَموسِ فَلا يَأسٌ وَلا طَمَعُ

حَبلُ الشَموسِ فَلا يَأسٌ وَلا طَمَعُ

You have kept union distant, save that toward us is drawn

You have secluded yourself, unless fate’s ropes for us

the restive one's cord; there is neither despair nor hope.

Are drawn by the suns, then no despair and no hope.

لا لَومَ إِذ لَجَّ في مَنعٍ أَقارِبُها

لا لَومَ إِذ لَجَّ في مَنعٍ أَقارِبُها

إِنَّ الفُؤادَ مَعَ الشَيءِ الَّذي مَنَعوا

إِنَّ الفُؤادَ مَعَ الشَيءِ الَّذي مَنَعوا

There is no blame, since her kin persisted in refusal;

No blame, for her own kinsmen prevented their access,

indeed, the heart remains with the thing they withheld.

Since the heart must belong to that from which one is banned.

ماذا تَذَكُّرُ وَصلٍ لَم يَكُن صَدَداً

ماذا تَذَكُّرُ وَصلٍ لَم يَكُن صَدَداً

أَم ما زِيارَةُ رَكبٍ قَلَّما هَجَعوا

أَم ما زِيارَةُ رَكبٍ قَلَّما هَجَعوا

What use is recalling a union that was never within reach?

What memory is there of a bond that was never true?

Or what use is visiting riders who have scarcely slept?

Or the visit of a caravan that seldom rested?

قَرَّبتُ وَجناءَ لَم يَعقِد حَوالِبَها

قَرَّبتُ وَجناءَ لَم يَعقِد حَوالِبَها

طَيُّ الصِدارِ وَلَم يُرشَح لَها رُبَعُ

طَيُّ الصِدارِ وَلَم يُرشَح لَها رُبَعُ

I brought up a stout-cheeked she-camel whose milk-veins had not been bound

I brought you the fawn whose necklace was never tied;

by a folded udder-cloth, nor had a spring-born calf been reared at her side.

A doe, whose chest was never marked with the brand.

كَأَنَّها قارِحٌ طارَت عَقيقَتُهُ

كَأَنَّها قارِحٌ طارَت عَقيقَتُهُ

يَرعى السَماوَةَ أَو طاوٍ بِهِ سَفَعُ

يَرعى السَماوَةَ أَو طاوٍ بِهِ سَفَعُ

She is like a full-grown wild ass that has shed its birth-coat,

Like an oryx that took wing, whose tracks faded away,

grazing in al-Samawah, or a lean beast with dark markings.

Grazing the heavens or lost, with no trace on the ground.

كانَ الَّذينَ هَجَوني مِن ضَلالَتِهِم

كانَ الَّذينَ هَجَوني مِن ضَلالَتِهِم

مِثلَ الفِراشِ وَحَرِّ النارِ إِذ يَقَعُ

مِثلَ الفِراشِ وَحَرِّ النارِ إِذ يَقَعُ

Those who lampooned me were, in their folly,

Those who railed against me were misled in their way,

like moths falling into the fire's heat.

Like moths and the sparks of fires when they fall.

أَصبَحتُ عِندَ وُلاةِ الناسِ أَثبَتَهُم

أَصبَحتُ عِندَ وُلاةِ الناسِ أَثبَتَهُم

فُلجاً وَأَبعَدَهُم غَلواً إِذا نَزَعوا

فُلجاً وَأَبعَدَهُم غَلواً إِذا نَزَعوا

I have become, before the rulers of men, the surest of them

I stand exonerated amongst the rulers of men, Most decisive when they judge, staunchest against excess.

in victory, and the farthest-reaching when they draw their bows.

Were it not for the Caliph who recites the Quran,

لَولا الخَليفَةُ وَالقُرآنُ يَقرَءُهُ

لَولا الخَليفَةُ وَالقُرآنُ يَقرَءُهُ

ما قامَ لِلناسِ أَحكامٌ وَلا جُمَعُ

ما قامَ لِلناسِ أَحكامٌ وَلا جُمَعُ

Were it not for the caliph and the Qur'an he recites,

No law for people would hold, no congregation kept.

neither legal rulings nor Friday prayers would be established for the people.

You are the trustee, trustee of God, neither lavish

أَنتَ الأَمينُ أَمينُ اللَهِ لا سَرِفٌ

أَنتَ الأَمينُ أَمينُ اللَهِ لا سَرِفٌ

فيما وَليتَ وَلا هَيّابَةٌ وَرَعُ

فيما وَليتَ وَلا هَيّابَةٌ وَرَعُ

You are the trustee, God's trustee—not reckless

In your charge nor timorous, filled with pious restraint.

in what you govern, nor a timorous coward.

Like the whetted sword, unblunted by the stroke,

مِثلُ المُهَنَّدِ لَم تُبهَر ضَريبَتُهُ

مِثلُ المُهَنَّدِ لَم تُبهَر ضَريبَتُهُ

لَم يَغشَ غَربَيهِ تَفليلٌ وَلا طَبَعُ

لَم يَغشَ غَربَيهِ تَفليلٌ وَلا طَبَعُ

Like an Indian-forged sword whose cutting power has not been outmatched,

No cheap tin on its blade, no hollowness in its stamp.

neither chipping nor rust has marred its two edges.

I sheath the kindled flame yet the wise do not object,

واري الزِنادِ مِنَ الأَعياصِ في مَهَلٍ

واري الزِنادِ مِنَ الأَعياصِ في مَهَلٍ

فَالعالَمونَ لِما يَقضي بِهِ تَبَعُ

فَالعالَمونَ لِما يَقضي بِهِ تَبَعُ

His fire-sticks kindle readily; he is of al-A‘yas and acts with deliberation.

So what you decree, they obediently accept.

So all peoples follow whatever he decrees.

None reckon a favor like the favor you have shown, Above what people have done, your doing towers.

ما عَدَّ قَومٌ بِإِحسانٍ صَنيعَهُمُ

ما عَدَّ قَومٌ بِإِحسانٍ صَنيعَهُمُ

إِلّا صَنيعُكُمُ فَوقَ الَّذي صَنَعوا

إِلّا صَنيعُكُمُ فَوقَ الَّذي صَنَعوا

No people have reckoned up their deeds of kindness

You are the blessed one; may God guide your party

without your deeds standing above what they have done.

When passions disperse and sects branch away.

أَنتَ المُبارَكُ يَهدي اللَهُ شيعَتَهُ

أَنتَ المُبارَكُ يَهدي اللَهُ شيعَتَهُ

إِذا تَفَرَّقَتِ الأَهواءُ وَالشِيَعُ

إِذا تَفَرَّقَتِ الأَهواءُ وَالشِيَعُ

You are the blessed one whose followers God guides

Each matter made right by your wisdom’s command

when passions and factions become divided.

To us is obeyed, applauded, welcomed with joy.

فَكُلُّ أَمرٍ عَلى يُمنٍ أَمَرتَ بِهِ

فَكُلُّ أَمرٍ عَلى يُمنٍ أَمَرتَ بِهِ

فينا مُطاعٌ وَمَهما قُلتَ مُستَمتَعُ

فينا مُطاعٌ وَمَهما قُلتَ مُستَمتَعُ

So every command you give, attended by good fortune,

I lowered my bucket down virtue’s deep well

is obeyed among us, and whatever you say is a delight.

And drew up precious water and bounty untold.

أَدلَيتُ دَلوِيَ في الفُرّاطِ فَاِغتَرَفَت

أَدلَيتُ دَلوِيَ في الفُرّاطِ فَاِغتَرَفَت

في الماءِ فَضلٌ وَفي الأَعطانِ مُتَّسَعُ

في الماءِ فَضلٌ وَفي الأَعطانِ مُتَّسَعُ

I lowered my bucket among those first at the water, and it drew water.

Soon I will come to you while the home is struck

There is water to spare, and ample room at the camel-stations.

With my thanks and fair words of praise if they return.

إِنّي سَيَأتيكُمُ وَالدارُ نازِحَةٌ

إِنّي سَيَأتيكُمُ وَالدارُ نازِحَةٌ

شُكري وَحُسنُ ثَناءِ الوَفدِ إِن رَجَعوا

شُكري وَحُسنُ ثَناءِ الوَفدِ إِن رَجَعوا

Indeed, though my home is far away, there will come to you

O House of Marwan, God exalted you above

my thanks and the delegation's fine praise, if they return.

The people of heresy and misguided sects.

يا آلَ مَروانَ إِنَّ اللَهَ فَضَّلَكُم

يا آلَ مَروانَ إِنَّ اللَهَ فَضَّلَكُم

فَضلاً عَظيماً عَلى مَن دينُهُ البِدَعُ

فَضلاً عَظيماً عَلى مَن دينُهُ البِدَعُ

O house of Marwan, indeed God has favored you

They assemble but know not what they assemble

with immense favor over those whose creed consists of innovations.

The perfect who gather do not grasp what they grasped.

الجامِعينَ إِذا ما عُدَّ سَعيُهُمُ

الجامِعينَ إِذا ما عُدَّ سَعيُهُمُ

جَمعَ الكِرامِ وَلا يوعَونَ ما جَمَعوا

جَمعَ الكِرامِ وَلا يوعَونَ ما جَمَعوا

Those who gather—when their efforts are reckoned—

You meet men whose might you subdued by your awe

as noble men gather, and do not hoard what they gather.

Who walk humbly, shackled, heads bowed in meekness.

تَلقى الرِجالَ إِذا ما خيفَ صَولَتُهُ

تَلقى الرِجالَ إِذا ما خيفَ صَولَتُهُ

يَمشونَ هَوناً وَفي أَعناقِهِم خَضَعُ

يَمشونَ هَوناً وَفي أَعناقِهِم خَضَعُ

You find men, when his onslaught is feared,

If you pardon you rise above others in pardon,

walking meekly, their necks bowed in submission.

And if you strike, what hits like the strike that you struck?

فَإِن عَفَوتَ فَضَلتَ الناسَ عافِيَةً

فَإِن عَفَوتَ فَضَلتَ الناسَ عافِيَةً

وَإِن وَقَعتَ فَما وَقعٌ كَما تَقَعُ

وَإِن وَقَعتَ فَما وَقعٌ كَما تَقَعُ

So if you pardon, you surpass men in clemency;

Below you we sought no redress for our needs,

and if you strike, no blow is like the blow you deal.

Beyond you, no prospects to seek what we sought.

ما كانَ دونَكَ مِن مَقصىً لِحاجَتِنا

ما كانَ دونَكَ مِن مَقصىً لِحاجَتِنا

وَلا وَراءَكَ لِلحاجاتِ مُطَّلَعُ

وَلا وَراءَكَ لِلحاجاتِ مُطَّلَعُ

Our need had no ultimate destination short of you,

The lands are content with whatever contents you,

nor beyond you any prospect for our needs.

If you walk, they walk; if you say “halt”, they halt.

إِنَّ البَرِيَّةَ تَرضى ما رَضيتَ لَها

إِنَّ البَرِيَّةَ تَرضى ما رَضيتَ لَها

إِن سِرتَ ساروا وَإِن قُلتَ اِربَعوا رَبَعوا

إِن سِرتَ ساروا وَإِن قُلتَ اِربَعوا رَبَعوا

Indeed, creation is content with what you approve for it.

If you set out, they set out; and if you say, 'Halt,' they halt.