لَبَّيكُمُI answer your call يَاO رفْقَةَcompanions of النَّادِيthe club
لَبَّيكُمُ يَا رفْقَةَ النَّادِي
مِنْof سَادَةٍgentlemen فِيin الْفَضْلِvirtue أَنْدَادِpeers
مِنْ سَادَةٍ فِي الْفَضْلِ أَنْدَادِ
At your service, O companions of the club,
I answer your call, O fellow gathering
gentlemen who are peers in virtue.
Of nobles peerless in merit and deed
شَرَّفْتُمُyou honored قَدْرِيmy standing بِدَعْوَتِكُمْwith your invitation
شَرَّفْتُمُ قَدْرِي بِدَعْوَتِكُمْ
وَحضُورِكُمْand your presence لِسَمَاعِto hear إِنْشَادِيmy recitation
وَحضُورِكُمْ لِسَمَاعِ إِنْشَادِي
You honored my standing with your invitation
You have honored me by your invitation
and your presence to hear my recitation.
And blessed presence to hear my recital
وَبِلُطْفِكُمْand by your kindness فِيin سَتْرِconcealing مَعجَزَتِيmy inadequacy
وَبِلُطْفِكُمْ فِي سَتْرِ مَعجَزَتِي
أَسْعَدْتُمونِيyou made me happy أَيَّwhat great إِسْعَادِjoy
أَسْعَدْتُمونِي أَيَّ إِسْعَادِ
And by your kindness in concealing my shortcomings,
And by your grace in concealing my shortcomings
you brought me the greatest joy.
You have gladdened me beyond any gladdening
تِلْكَthose الشَّمائِلُqualities مِنْof مُجَامَلَةٍcourtesy
تِلْكَ الشَّمائِلُ مِنْ مُجَامَلَةٍ
فِيكُمْamong you وَإِينَاسٍand warm companionship وَإِرْفَادِand aid
فِيكُمْ وَإِينَاسٍ وَإِرْفَادِ
Those qualities of courtesy
Such are traits of friendliness from you
among you, of warm companionship and aid,
Of harmony and support untold
لَمْnot يؤْتَهاis granted them إِلاَّكُمُexcept you أَحَدٌanyone
لَمْ يؤْتَها إِلاَّكُمُ أَحَدٌ
مِنْamong حَاضِرٍa townsman سَمْحٍgenerous وَمِنْand among بَادِa desert dweller
مِنْ حَاضِرٍ سَمْحٍ وَمِنْ بَادِ
have been granted to none but you,
None but you extends such warmth
among gracious townsmen or desert dwellers.
Whether present or traveled afar
زَادَتْthey increased هَوىًlove بِيin me لَمْnot أَخَلْهُI thought it وَقَدْand already
زَادَتْ هَوىً بِي لَمْ أَخَلْهُ وَقَدْ
بَلَغَhad reached المَدَىthe limit الأَقصْىthe utmost بِمُزْدَادِcapable of increase
بَلَغَ المَدَى الأَقصْى بِمُزْدَادِ
They deepened a love in me I had not thought—though it had
Increasing the passion I already possess
reached its utmost limit—capable of increase.
To its utmost bounds in steady ascent
هِيit is زَحْلَةُZahle الْبَلَدُthe town الْحَبِيبُthe beloved وَهَلْand is there
هِي زَحْلَةُ الْبَلَدُ الْحَبِيبُ وَهَلْ
مِنْany نُجْعَةٍretreat أَشْهَىmore delightful لِمرْتَادِfor a visitor
مِنْ نُجْعَةٍ أَشْهَى لِمرْتَادِ
It is Zahle, the beloved town; and is there
It is the crown jewel of beloved homelands
a retreat more delightful for a visitor?
Is there comfort sweeter for one pulled to roam?
مَنْwhoever يَلْتَمِسْseeks رَوْحاًrepose وَعَافِيَةًand well-being
مَنْ يَلْتَمِسْ رَوْحاً وَعَافِيَةً
فَهُنَاكَthen there تُنْقَعُis quenched غُلَّةُthe thirst الصَّادِيof the thirsty one
فَهُنَاكَ تُنْقَعُ غُلَّةُ الصَّادِي
Whoever seeks repose and well-being,
Whoever seeks spirit and wellness
there the thirsty one's thirst is quenched.
Will find his languor cured in this balm
هلْis there فيin الأَقاليمِthe lands الَّتِيthat وُصِفَتْhave been described
هلْ في الأَقاليمِ الَّتِي وُصِفَتْ
كَهَوَائِهَاlike its air برْءاًhealing لأَجْسَادِfor bodies
كَهَوَائِهَا برْءاً لأَجْسَادِ
Is there, in the lands that have been described,
In all the realms that have been extolled
anything like its air for healing bodies,
As curative to body and bold
أَوْor مَائِهَاits water الْعَذْبِsweet الْبَرودِcool إِذَاwhen
أَوْ مَائِهَا الْعَذْبِ الْبَرودِ إِذَا
مَاemphatic particle الْقَيْظُthe summer heat أُوقِدَwas kindled شَرَّthe fiercest إِيقَادِkindling
مَا الْقَيْظُ أُوقِدَ شَرَّ إِيقَادِ
or its sweet, cool water when
Be it the sweet chill of its waters
summer's heat is kindled to its fiercest blaze,
When summer's blaze burns hot aflame
أَوْor شَمْسِهَاits sun تَجْرِيflow أَشِعَّتهَاits rays
أَوْ شَمْسِهَا تَجْرِي أَشِعَّتهَا
بِالْبَلْسَمِwith the balm الشَّافِيhealing لأَكْبَادِfor livers
بِالْبَلْسَمِ الشَّافِي لأَكْبَادِ
or its sun, whose rays flow
Or its sunshine streaming rays
with balm that heals the livers,
That heal and give livers acclaim
أَوْor سِكْرِهَاits intoxication وَالأَجْرُand the reward ضَاعَwas lost بِهِthrough it
أَوْ سِكْرِهَا وَالأَجْرُ ضَاعَ بِهِ
زُهَّادُascetics زَحْلَةَof Zahle غَيْرُnot زهَّادِascetics
زُهَّادُ زَحْلَةَ غَيْرُ زهَّادِ
or its intoxication, through which pious reward is lost?
Or its heady drunken splendor that made
Zahle's ascetics are no ascetics!
Ascetics forget whatever ascetic ways
أَوْor نَهرِهَاits river وَبِهِand in it مَوَارِدُwatering places فِيin
أَوْ نَهرِهَا وَبِهِ مَوَارِدُ فِي
حِسٍّthe senses وَفِيand in مَعْنىًspiritual meaning لِوُرَّادِfor those coming to drink
حِسٍّ وَفِي مَعْنىً لِوُرَّادِ
Or its river, with watering places
Or its river whose meanderings run
for the senses and the spirit, for those who come to drink,
To rhythms of sense and significance yet unknown
بَيْنَamid التَّلوُّنِthe changing colors فِيin مَسَاقِطِهِits cascades
بَيْنَ التَّلوُّنِ فِي مَسَاقِطِهِ
تَبَعاًin accord لاِصَالٍwith evenings وَآرَادِand early mornings
تَبَعاً لاِصَالٍ وَآرَادِ
amid the changing colors of its cascades,
With colors ever shifting by degrees
in keeping with evenings and early mornings,
As the angles alternate and intercede
وَنَشِيشُهُand its hissing فِيin الأُذْنِthe ear منْحَدِراًdescending
وَنَشِيشُهُ فِي الأُذْنِ منْحَدِراً
حَتَّىuntil يَحُطَّit falls بِصَوْتِwith a voice رَعَّادِthunderous
حَتَّى يَحُطَّ بِصَوْتِ رَعَّادِ
and its hissing in the ear as it descends,
Its rippling thrill in the ear descends
until it falls with a thunderous voice,
To alight to the sound of tumbling rapids
وَهُيَامُand the rapture أَرْوَاحٍof souls تُحِسُّsense بِهِin it
وَهُيَامُ أَرْوَاحٍ تُحِسُّ بِهِ
مَاwhat لاَnot تُحِسُّsense جُسُومُthe bodies أَشْهَادِof onlookers
مَا لاَ تُحِسُّ جُسُومُ أَشْهَادِ
and the rapture of souls that sense in it
And the soaring of souls who sense in it
what the bodies of onlookers cannot sense?
What unfeeling corpses cannot permit
أَيُّwhich الغِياضِwoodlands بِحسْنِin beauty غَيْضَتِهَاits woodland
أَيُّ الغِياضِ بِحسْنِ غَيْضَتِهَا
لوْif لَمْnot يَنَلْهَاhad afflicted it بِالأَذَىwith harm عَادِيan aggressor
لوْ لَمْ يَنَلْهَا بِالأَذَى عَادِي
What woodland could rival its woodland's beauty,
What grove rivals such graceful cover
had no aggressor afflicted it with harm?
Had it not suffered a transgressor's harm?
أَبْكَيI weep عَلَىfor الأَدْوَاحِthe great trees غَابِرَةًvanished
أَبْكَي عَلَى الأَدْوَاحِ غَابِرَةً
مِنْof بَاسِقَاتِtowering الْهَامِcrowns مرَّادِgiants
مِنْ بَاسِقَاتِ الْهَامِ مرَّادِ
I weep for the vanished great trees,
I mourn the felled giants that reached
those giants with towering crowns.
With towering ambition beyond what pickaxes heed
ماnot الْفَأْسthe axe أَلْقَىfelled كُلَّevery باذِخَةٍtowering tree
ما الْفَأْس أَلْقَى كُلَّ باذِخَةٍ
مِنْهُنَّof them إِلاَّbut نَصْلُthe blade جَلاَّدِof an executioner
مِنْهُنَّ إِلاَّ نَصْلُ جَلاَّدِ
No axe felled each towering tree
Not one prominent trunk remains intact
among them, but an executioner's blade.
Save the sharp relentless bite of blades
تَاللهِby God أَفْتَأُI never cease ذاكِراًremembering أَبَداًforever
تَاللهِ أَفْتَأُ ذاكِراً أَبَداً
وَقفاتِهَاtheir stances بِنِظامِin the ranks أَجْنَادِof troops
وَقفاتِهَا بِنِظامِ أَجْنَادِ
By God, I shall never cease remembering
By God, I shall never cease commemorating
how they stood in ranks like soldiers,
How they stood aligned in formations told
وَذَهَابَهَاand their rising بِرؤُوسِهَاwith their heads صُعُداًupward
وَذَهَابَهَا بِرؤُوسِهَا صُعُداً
مِنْfrom مَوْضِعِthe place التَّصْويبِof descent فِيin الوَادِيthe valley
مِنْ مَوْضِعِ التَّصْويبِ فِي الوَادِي
and thrust their heads upward
And how they were felled to meet their end
from their low-lying place in the valley,
Where aim was directed from down the valley's bend
وتَحَوُّلاًand a change فِيin حَالِهَاtheir condition نُظِمَتwere arranged
وتَحَوُّلاً فِي حَالِهَا نُظِمَت
فِيهِin it المَحَاسِنُthe beauties نَظْمَin an arrangement أَضْدَادِof opposites
فِيهِ المَحَاسِنُ نَظْمَ أَضْدَادِ
and the changes in their state, in which
And how in their state arrangements were made
beauties were arrayed as opposites.
Where beauties embraced in contrasts shown
مَاscarcely إِنْemphatic particle تُرَىare seen أَوْراقُهَاtheir leaves أُصُلاًat dusk
مَا إِنْ تُرَى أَوْراقُهَا أُصُلاً
شجْواًas sorrow يرَفْرِفُfluttering فَوْقَabove أَعْوَادِboughs
شجْواً يرَفْرِفُ فَوْقَ أَعْوَادِ
Scarcely are their leaves seen at dusk
No sooner seen, their leaves in legions spread
as sorrow fluttering above boughs,
To flutter above their posted steads
حَتَّىbefore تَعُودَthey return إِلَىto مَناهِجِهَاtheir accustomed ways
حَتَّى تَعُودَ إِلَى مَناهِجِهَا
صُبْحاًat dawn وَأَظْمَأُand the thirstiest مَاof what بِهَاis on them نادِيis dewy
صُبْحاً وَأَظْمَأُ مَا بِهَا نادِي
before they return to their accustomed ways
Only to return by dawn's first rays
at dawn, their thirstiest leaf wet with dew.
As I gulp their last sweetness in desperate thirst
عَبِثplayed havoc الدَّمَارُdestruction بِهَاwith them وَلوْand had قَبِلَتْthey accepted
عَبِث الدَّمَارُ بِهَا وَلوْ قَبِلَتْ
أَغْلَىthe costliest فِدىransom لَمْnot يَعْزِزِwould be scarce الفادِيthe ransomer
أَغْلَى فِدى لَمْ يَعْزِزِ الفادِي
Destruction ravaged them; had they accepted
Destruction had its way though they deserved
the costliest ransom, a ransomer would not have been lacking.
A costlier ransom no aid could afford
لَكِنْbut أَجَدَّتْهَاrenewed them عَزِيمتُكُمْyour resolve
لَكِنْ أَجَدَّتْهَا عَزِيمتُكُمْ
قَبْلَbefore الفوَاتِit was too late أَبَرَّthe noblest إِجْدَادِrenewal
قَبْلَ الفوَاتِ أَبَرَّ إِجْدَادِ
Yet your resolve renewed them
But your resolve came before it was too late
before it was too late, with the noblest renewal.
The noblest restoration by ancestors made
فَوَجَدْتُso I found تَعْزِيَةًconsolation وَبَشَّرَنِيand gave me glad tidings
فَوَجَدْتُ تَعْزِيَةً وَبَشَّرَنِي
أَمَلٌhope بِعَصْرٍof an age فَجْرُهُwhose dawn بَادِيis appearing
أَمَلٌ بِعَصْرٍ فَجْرُهُ بَادِي
So I found consolation, and was cheered
And so I found solace and news to delight
by hope of an age whose dawn is breaking.
A hope-giving morn after long darkened night
نَعْتَاضُwe take in exchange مِنْinstead of نَزَوَاتِthe caprices سَابِقِهِof its predecessor
نَعْتَاضُ مِنْ نَزَوَاتِ سَابِقِهِ
بِنَعِيمِthe bliss of عَهْدٍan era رَاشِدٍrightly guided هَادِيguiding
بِنَعِيمِ عَهْدٍ رَاشِدٍ هَادِي
We exchange the caprices of its predecessor
We recoil from the sins of those passed
for the bliss of a rightly guided, guiding era.
To bliss in an age so nobly cast
فلْتُسْكِتِso let it silence الذِّكْرَىmemory منَاحتَهَاits lament
فلْتُسْكِتِ الذِّكْرَى منَاحتَهَا
وَلْيَعْلُand let rise صَوْتُthe voice الطَّائِرِof the bird الشَّادِيsinging
وَلْيَعْلُ صَوْتُ الطَّائِرِ الشَّادِي
Let memory, then, silence its lament,
Let memories cease their woeful song
and let the singing bird's voice rise.
And the warbler's lone tune pass along
ولْتَجْهَرِand let sound aloud الأَصْوَارُthe trumpets مُوقِعَةًkeeping rhythm
ولْتَجْهَرِ الأَصْوَارُ مُوقِعَةً
طَرَباًjoyfully عَلَىto رَنَّاتِthe ringing أَعْوَادِof lutes
طَرَباً عَلَى رَنَّاتِ أَعْوَادِ
And let the trumpets sound in rhythm,
Let the air ring out with rhythms that run
joyfully to the ringing of lutes.
To melodies plucking on towering rods
ولْنَمْضِand let us proceed فِيin أَفْرَاحِthe joys نَهْضَتِنَاof our revival
ولْنَمْضِ فِي أَفْرَاحِ نَهْضَتِنَا
وَلْنَقْضِand let us spend أَيَّاماًdays كَأَعْيَادِlike feast days
وَلْنَقْضِ أَيَّاماً كَأَعْيَادِ
And let us proceed amid the joys of our revival,
Let's rejoice in our rising fortunes ahead
and spend our days like feast days.
And spend days that pass as holy days led
إِنِّيindeed I لأَذْكُرُsurely remember زَحلةZahle وَأَنَاwhile I was
إِنِّي لأَذْكُرُ زَحلة وَأَنَا
وَلَدٌa boy لعوبُplayful بَيْنَamong أَوْلاَدِboys
وَلَدٌ لعوبُ بَيْنَ أَوْلاَدِ
I do remember Zahle when I was
I recall Zahle once a carefree lad
a playful boy among other boys,
Playing 'mongst playmates less wise than mad
متَعَلِّمٌlearning فِيهَاthere الهِجَاءَthe alphabet وَبِيand in me
متَعَلِّمٌ فِيهَا الهِجَاءَ وَبِي
نَزَقٌimpetuousness فَلاَso not أَصْغُوI heed لإِرْشَادِto guidance
نَزَقٌ فَلاَ أَصْغُو لإِرْشَادِ
learning my letters there, filled with
A student not apt to be tutored or led
impetuousness, so I heeded no guidance.
With hunger my crown and no lesson read
كُلُّeveryone يُعِدُّprepares الدَّرسَthe lesson مجْتَهِداًdiligently
كُلُّ يُعِدُّ الدَّرسَ مجْتَهِداً
وَأَنَاwhile I بِلاَwithout دَرْسٍa lesson وَإِعْدادِand preparation
وَأَنَا بِلاَ دَرْسٍ وَإِعْدادِ
Each diligently prepared his lesson,
I'd turn in at dusk and wake at dawn
while I had neither lessons nor preparation.
To a master who saw me lost to be shorn
أُمْسِيI pass the evening وَأُصْبِحand pass the morning وَالعَرِيفُand the monitor يَرَىthinks
أُمْسِي وَأُصْبِح وَالعَرِيفُ يَرَى
أَنَّthat الجَهَالَةَignorance مِلْءُfills أَبْرَادِيmy robes
أَنَّ الجَهَالَةَ مِلْءُ أَبْرَادِي
I passed evening and morning, while the monitor thought
Warnings loomed as dangers stalked ahead
that ignorance filled my robes.
That my ruin inevitably lied
وَيَلُوحُand it seems وَالأَخْطَارُwhile dangers تُحْدِقُsurround بِيme
وَيَلُوحُ وَالأَخْطَارُ تُحْدِقُ بِي
أَنَّthat الرَّدَىdoom لاَبُدَّinevitably مصْطَادِيmy hunter
أَنَّ الرَّدَى لاَبُدَّ مصْطَادِي
And it seemed, with dangers surrounding me,
Yet by some miracle I was spared
that doom would surely catch me.
As the seal gave way to leaks no more flared
لَكِنَّنيbut I أَنْجوescape بِمعْجِزَةٍby a miracle
لَكِنَّني أَنْجو بِمعْجِزَةٍ
وَالمُهْرُand the colt يُزبِدُfoams أَيَّsuch great إِزْبَادِfoaming
وَالمُهْرُ يُزبِدُ أَيَّ إِزْبَادِ
But I escaped by a miracle,
And relief came to fund my last days
while the colt foamed furiously.
From my Guardian to brim her aid
وَيَجِيئُنِيand comes to me إِرْهَافُthe keenness حَافِظَتِيof my memory
وَيَجِيئُنِي إِرْهَافُ حَافِظَتِي
فِيat منْتَهَىthe end عَامِيof my year بِأَمْدَادِwith reinforcements
فِي منْتَهَى عَامِي بِأَمْدَادِ
And my keen memory would come to me
My friends from youth, a curious thing
with reinforcements at my year's end.
How things turned out from that dawning
يَاO رفْقَتِيmy companions بَدْءَat the beginning of الصِّباyouth عَجَبٌa marvel
يَا رفْقَتِي بَدْءَ الصِّبا عَجَبٌ
هَذَاthis المَصِيرُoutcome لِذلِكَfor that البَادِيbeginning
هَذَا المَصِيرُ لِذلِكَ البَادِي
O companions of my early youth, wondrous
Could this mind have been foreseen
is this outcome of that beginning!
From our ignorance back then?
هَلْquestion particle كَانَwas هَذاthis العَقْلُwisdom بَعْدَئِذٍafterward
هَلْ كَانَ هَذا العَقْلُ بَعْدَئِذٍ
مِنْby جَهْلِنَاour ignorance المَاضِيformer بِميعَادِpromised
مِنْ جَهْلِنَا المَاضِي بِميعَادِ
Had this wisdom, which came afterward,
Who'd have thought back in those spaces
been promised by our former ignorance?
Such wit from us babes with babies' faces ?
مَنْwho كَانَwould يَوْمَئِذٍthen يَظُنُّimagine لَنَاfor us
مَنْ كَانَ يَوْمَئِذٍ يَظُنُّ لَنَا
هَذَاthis الرَّوَاحَevening journey وَكُلُّنَاwhile all of us غَادِيsetting out at dawn
هَذَا الرَّوَاحَ وَكُلُّنَا غَادِي
Who then could have imagined for us
The little ones then have now grown tall
this evening journey, when we were all setting out at dawn?
With children advanced and fathers withal
أَضْحىnow are صِغَارُthe little ones الأَمْسِof yesterday قَدْalready كَبَرواhave grown up
أَضْحى صِغَارُ الأَمْسِ قَدْ كَبَروا
وَدُعُواand were called بِابَاءٍas fathers وَأَجْدَادِand grandfathers
وَدُعُوا بِابَاءٍ وَأَجْدَادِ
Yesterday's little ones have now grown up,
Their jet black hair has grey strands inset
and are called fathers and grandfathers.
As they walk sure-stepped without any fret
وَابْيضَّand has whitened فَاحِمُthe jet-black شَعْرِهِمْof their hair وَمَشَوْاand they walked
وَابْيضَّ فَاحِمُ شَعْرِهِمْ وَمَشَوْا
مِيْلاًbent بِقَامَاتٍin stature وَأَجْيَادِand necks
مِيْلاً بِقَامَاتٍ وَأَجْيَادِ
Their jet-black hair has whitened, and they walk
Such is way of life and nothing withstands
with bent figures and necks.
Its currents - ask the eras and lands
شَأْنُthe way الْحَيَاةِof life وَلاَand no دَوَامَpermanence عَلَىin
شَأْنُ الْحَيَاةِ وَلاَ دَوَامَ عَلَى
حَالٍa state سَلُواask الآثارَthe ruins مِنْof عَادِʿAd
حَالٍ سَلُوا الآثارَ مِنْ عَادِ
Such is life; nothing remains in
But when it comes time to stand for cause
one state—ask the ruins of ʿAd.
We give our lives as ransoms without pause
لكِنْbut إِذَاwhen بِدنَاwe perish فَيَاthen O وَطَناًhomeland
لكِنْ إِذَا بِدنَا فَيَا وَطَناً
نَفْدِيهِwe sacrifice ourselves for it عِشْlive وَاسْلَمْand remain safe لاِبَادِforever
نَفْدِيهِ عِشْ وَاسْلَمْ لاِبَادِ
Yet when we perish, O homeland
And Zahle's standing shall ever endure
for which we give our lives, live on, secure forever!
Despite the spite of those emerald with hatred unsure
وَمقَامُand the standing زَحْلَةَof Zahle بَالِغٌreaching أَبَداًforever
وَمقَامُ زَحْلَةَ بَالِغٌ أَبَداً
أَوْجthe pinnacle الْفَخارِof glory بِرَغْمِdespite حسَّادِthe envious
أَوْج الْفَخارِ بِرَغْمِ حسَّادِ
And Zahle's standing shall forever attain
Zahle's leaders brook no equivalent vying
the pinnacle of glory, despite the envious.
In all the world's domains defying
آسَادُthe lions زحْلَةَof Zahle لاَnot ينافِرُهمْcan rival them
آسَادُ زحْلَةَ لاَ ينافِرُهمْ
بَلَدٌany land مِنَin الدُّنْيَاthe world بِاسَادِwith lions
بَلَدٌ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا بِاسَادِ
Zahle's lions find no rival
Zahle's bested by no regional pair
in the lions of any land in the world.
In every age and era
أَجْوَادُthe generous people زَحْلَةَof Zahle لاَnot يُكاثِرُهمْoutnumbers them
أَجْوَادُ زَحْلَةَ لاَ يُكاثِرُهمْ
بَلَدٌany land مِنَin الدُّنْيَاthe world بِأَجْوَادِwith generous people
بَلَدٌ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا بِأَجْوَادِ
Zahle's generous souls are not outnumbered
Its literati are seated on high
by the generous of any land in the world.
In hearts of all those who speak truth without lie
أُدَباؤُهاits writers لَهُمُthey have مَكَانَتُهُمْtheir standing
أُدَباؤُها لَهُمُ مَكَانَتُهُمْ
فِيat صَدْرِthe forefront أَهْلِof the people of النُّطقِspeech بِالضَّادwith the letter ḍād
فِي صَدْرِ أَهْلِ النُّطقِ بِالضَّاد
Its men of letters hold their place
Its creators supreme though never endowed
at the forefront of those who speak the tongue of ḍād.
With patronage plentiful proud
صُنَّاعهاits craftsmen متَفوقُونَexcel وَإِنْand although
صُنَّاعها متَفوقُونَ وَإِنْ
لَمْnot يَظْفَرواhave obtained يَوْماًever بِإِمْدَادِsupport
لَمْ يَظْفَروا يَوْماً بِإِمْدَادِ
Its craftsmen excel, though
In every knowledge a star lion emerges
they have never once obtained support.
And every art has its fount welling surges
فِيin كُلِّevery عِلْمٍscience كلevery نَابِغَةٍgenius
فِي كُلِّ عِلْمٍ كل نَابِغَةٍ
وَلِكُلِّand for every فَنٍart كُلُّevery مِجوادِconsummate master
وَلِكُلِّ فَنٍ كُلُّ مِجوادِ
In every science, every brilliant mind,
The ethic of glory and grit to avail
and for every art, every consummate master.
Not cowering misery and cursing tale
قوْمpeople of المروءَةِhonor وَالإِبَاءِand proud dignity هُمُthey are
قوْم المروءَةِ وَالإِبَاءِ هُمُ
لاَnot قَوْمُpeople of مَسْكَنَةٍabasement وَإِخْلاَدِand indolence
لاَ قَوْمُ مَسْكَنَةٍ وَإِخْلاَدِ
They are people of honor and proud dignity,
In each far reach and distant place displayed
not people of abasement and indolence.
Their traces reveal and trails they made
فِيat كُلُّevery مَرْمَىgoal هِمَّةof ambition بَعُدَتthat reaches far
فِي كُلُّ مَرْمَى هِمَّة بَعُدَت
عَزَّgrew mighty الحِمَىthe homeland مِنْهمْamong them بِاحَادِthrough individuals
عَزَّ الحِمَى مِنْهمْ بِاحَادِ
At every far-reaching goal of ambition,
Their greatest feat of cooperation swayed
their homeland has grown mighty through individuals among them.
Had they united 'neath one standard raised
فِيat آخِرِthe farthest reaches المَعْمورِof the inhabited world كَمْhow many لَهمthey have
فِي آخِرِ المَعْمورِ كَمْ لَهم
آثَارُmarks إِبْدَاءٍof initiative وَإِيجادِand creation
آثَارُ إِبْدَاءٍ وَإِيجادِ
At the farthest reaches of the inhabited world, how many are their
Shall I ever see such reform again
marks of initiative and creation!
Instead of the chaos hatred and envy sustain?
مَاhow كَانَwould be أَعْظمَهُمْgreat they are لَوِif اتَّحَدواthey united
مَا كَانَ أَعْظمَهُمْ لَوِ اتَّحَدوا
وَنبَوْاand cast aside بِأَضْغَانٍresentments وَأَحْقَادِand hatreds
وَنبَوْا بِأَضْغَانٍ وَأَحْقَادِ
How great they would be if they united
The hope leaders hold and despots decry
and cast aside resentments and hatreds!
As from their foxholes they question "why?"
هَلْquestion particle أَنْظُرُI behold الإِصْلاَحَreform بَيْنَهمamong them
هَلْ أَنْظُرُ الإِصْلاَحَ بَيْنَهم
يَوْماًone day يَحُلُّtakes مَحَلَّthe place of إِفْسَادِcorruption
يَوْماً يَحُلُّ مَحَلَّ إِفْسَادِ
Shall I behold reform among them
Hail to the beautiful lodge that resides
one day taking the place of corruption?
In a manor where each noble soul abides
هَذاthis الَّذِيwhat يَرْجُوhope for الولاَةُthe rulers وَمَاand what
هَذا الَّذِي يَرْجُو الولاَةُ وَمَا
يَخْشَىfear العدَاةُthe enemies وَهمْwhile they بِمِرْصَادِlie in wait
يَخْشَى العدَاةُ وَهمْ بِمِرْصَادِ
That is what the rulers hope for, and what
A house made nobler by every gentleman hosted
the enemies fear as they lie in wait.
Of grace and generosity the utmost
حَيِّsalute المعَلَّقةَal-Muallaqa الجَمِيلةَthe beautiful مِنْas a
حَيِّ المعَلَّقةَ الجَمِيلةَ مِنْ
دَارٍhome مرَحِّبةٍwelcoming بِوُفَّادِto visitors
دَارٍ مرَحِّبةٍ بِوُفَّادِ
Salute beautiful al-Muallaqa, a
In hardship's sweep the sturdiest pillars
home welcoming visitors.
For their lands - firm anchors that never waver
دَارٌa home تَعِزُّgrows mighty بِكُلِّthrough every محْتَشِمٍdignified man
دَارٌ تَعِزُّ بِكُلِّ محْتَشِمٍ
عَالِيexalted in الجَنَابِstanding وَكُلِّand every جَوَّادِgenerous man
عَالِي الجَنَابِ وَكُلِّ جَوَّادِ
A home made mighty by every dignified man
They inherit glory built to endure
of exalted standing, and every generous soul.
From actions lit with motivations pure
هُمْthey فِيamid الصُّروفِlife's reversals أَعَزُّthe mightiest أَعْمِدَةٍpillars
هُمْ فِي الصُّروفِ أَعَزُّ أَعْمِدَةٍ
لِبِلاَدِهِمْfor their homeland وَأَشَدُّand the strongest أَعْضَادِsupporting arms
لِبِلاَدِهِمْ وَأَشَدُّ أَعْضَادِ
Amid life's reversals, they are the mightiest pillars
Assembly of both countries' very best displayed
of their homeland, and its strongest supporting arms.
Like a necklace of luminaries inlaid
يتَوَارَثُونَthey inherit successively الْحَمْدَpraise أَجْدَرَmost worthy مَاas
يتَوَارَثُونَ الْحَمْدَ أَجْدَرَ مَا
كَانتْwere مَسَاعِيهِمtheir endeavors بِإِحْمادِof acclaim
كَانتْ مَسَاعِيهِم بِإِحْمادِ
They inherit praise, most deservedly,
Your gracious gesture has granted me
for their endeavors have merited acclaim.
Great honor by which my name shall never flee
ياO مَجْلِسَcouncil البَلَدَيْنِof the two towns منْتَظِماًarrayed
يا مَجْلِسَ البَلَدَيْنِ منْتَظِماً
كَالعِقْدِlike a necklace مِنْof نُبَلاَءَnoblemen أَمْجَادِillustrious
كَالعِقْدِ مِنْ نُبَلاَءَ أَمْجَادِ
O council of the two towns, arrayed
So you have bestowed and earned in kind
like a necklace of noble, illustrious men,
Blessings immeasurable of any kind
ذَاكَthat التَّفضُّلkindness مِنْكَfrom you خَوَّلَنِيbestowed on me
ذَاكَ التَّفضُّل مِنْكَ خَوَّلَنِي
شَرَفاًan honor بِهِthrough which أَمَّلتُI hoped for إِخْلاَدِيmy immortality
شَرَفاً بِهِ أَمَّلتُ إِخْلاَدِي
that kindness of yours bestowed on me
By hearts' signs when together descried
an honor through which I hoped for immortality.
Bonds evidentiary of love tied
فَلَقدْfor indeed مَنَنْتَyou favored me فَجزْتَand surpassed كُلُّevery مَدىًlimit
فَلَقدْ مَنَنْتَ فَجزْتَ كُلُّ مَدىً
بِجَمِيلِwith a beautiful صنْعٍdeed ليْسَnot بِالعَادِيordinary
بِجَمِيلِ صنْعٍ ليْسَ بِالعَادِي
For you have favored me and surpassed every limit
O attendees, your brother here imposed
with a beautiful deed beyond the ordinary.
Since early rising such boons to declare
لِلهِto God آياتُthe wonders القُلُوبِof hearts إِذَاwhen
لِلهِ آياتُ القُلُوبِ إِذَا
كَانَتْthey are مَعاًalso آيَاتِsigns إِخلادِof immortality
كَانَتْ مَعاً آيَاتِ إِخلادِ
To God belong the wonders of hearts, when
For this is your custom, people and nation alike
they are also signs of immortality.
To habitually render favors forthright
يَاO محْتَفِينَyou who celebrate تفَضُّلاًgraciously بِأَخٍin honor of a brother
يَا محْتَفِينَ تفَضُّلاً بِأَخٍ
يَهْفُوlongs إِلَيْكُمْtoward you منْذُfor آمادِages
يَهْفُو إِلَيْكُمْ منْذُ آمادِ
O you who graciously honor a brother
who has long yearned toward you,
ماnot زَالhas ceased هَذَاthis الفَضْلُgenerosity عَادَتَكُمْyour custom
ما زَال هَذَا الفَضْلُ عَادَتَكُمْ
وَالشَّعبand a people مِثْلlike الفَرْدِthe individual ذُوhas عَادhabits
وَالشَّعب مِثْل الفَرْدِ ذُو عَاد
this generosity has always been your custom,
and a people, like a person, has its habits.
Partial English translation: 130 of 134 Arabic lines translated.