حَيِّhail الْعَزِيمَةَresolve وَالشَّبَابَاand youth
حَيِّ الْعَزِيمَةَ وَالشَّبَابَا
وَالْفِتْيَةَand the young men النُّضْرَfresh الصِّلاَبَاstalwart
وَالْفِتْيَةَ النُّضْرَ الصِّلاَبَا
Hail resolve and youth,
O you, the firm resolution and youth!
and the fresh, stalwart young men;
O you, the fresh vigorous heroes!
أَلتَّارِكِينَthose leaving لِغَيْرِهِمْto others
أَلتَّارِكِينَ لِغَيْرِهِمْ
نَزَقَrashness الطُّفُولَةِchildhood وَالدِّعَابَاand jests
نَزَقَ الطُّفُولَةِ وَالدِّعَابَا
those who leave to others
Who have abandoned the frivolities of childhood and play,
childhood's rashness and jests;
Who have made Beirut the gateway for the sublime,
أَلْجَاعِلِيthose making بَيْرُوتَBeirut وَهْـand it (continued)
أَلْجَاعِلِي بَيْرُوتَ وَهْـ
ـيَ(completes 'it') الثَّغْرُthe seaport لِلْعَلْيَاءِto glory بَابَاa gateway
ـيَ الثَّغْرُ لِلْعَلْيَاءِ بَابَا
who make Beirut—while it is
Who seek the truth and righteousness from suspicions,
a seaport—a gateway to glory;
Who sell the blossoms of nightshade to those who buy them as herbs,
أَلطَّالِبِينَthose seeking مِنَfrom المَظِنَّاlikely sources (continued)
أَلطَّالِبِينَ مِنَ المَظِنَّا
تِ(completes 'likely sources') الْحَقِيقةَthe truth وَالصَّوَابَاand sound judgment
تِ الْحَقِيقةَ وَالصَّوَابَا
who seek in likely sources
Whose manners refuse imperfection to be criticized,
truth and sound judgment;
Whose ethics are of pure gold that disdains alloy,
أَلْبَائِعِينَthose selling زُهَىthe splendor of الْقُشُوthe husks (continued)
أَلْبَائِعِينَ زُهَى الْقُشُو
رِ(completes 'the husks') المُشْتَرِينَthose buying بِهِwith it لُبَابَاa kernel
رِ المُشْتَرِينَ بِهِ لُبَابَا
who sell the glitter of husks,
Whose intentions are sincere, scorning false glory,
buying with it the kernel.
Whose views, though young, are those of elders,
آدَابُهُمْtheir manners تَأْبَىrefuse بِغَيْـwith anything except (continued)
آدَابُهُمْ تَأْبَى بِغَيْـ
ـرِ(completes 'except') التِّمِّperfection فِيهَاin them أَنْto تُعَابَاbe faulted
ـرِ التِّمِّ فِيهَا أَنْ تُعَابَا
Their manners admit no reproach
However high the office you are called to fill, you fulfill its obligations,
except for their own perfection.
The diligent and generous satisfies God and the companions.
أخْلاَقُهُمْtheir character مِنْof جَوْهَرٍa substance
أخْلاَقُهُمْ مِنْ جَوْهَرٍ
صَافٍpure تَنَزَّهَwas above أَنْbeing يُشَابَاadulterated
صَافٍ تَنَزَّهَ أَنْ يُشَابَا
Their character is of a substance
Look at their acting, do you not see a wonder of wonders!
pure, above all adulteration.
They have surpassed the foremost and attained the most lovable.
نِيَّاتُهُمْtheir intentions نِيَّاتُintentions of صِدْsincerity (continued)
نِيَّاتُهُمْ نِيَّاتُ صِدْ
قٍ(completes 'sincerity') تأْنَفُscorn المَجْدَglory الْكِذَابَاfalse
قٍ تأْنَفُ المَجْدَ الْكِذَابَا
Their intentions are sincere intentions,
Have you heard the excellence of their delivery,
disdaining false glory.
Whether in questioning or answering?
آرَاؤُهُمْtheir judgments آرَاءُjudgments of أشْـelders (continued)
آرَاؤُهُمْ آرَاءُ أشْـ
ـيَاخٍ(completes 'elders') وَإِنْalthough كَانُواthey are شَبَابَاyoung
ـيَاخٍ وَإِنْ كَانُوا شَبَابَا
Their judgments are those of elders,
Have you witnessed their gestures,
though they are young.
That make remoteness like nearness?
مَهْمَاwhatever يَلُواthey hold مِنْof مَنْصِبِa post in الْـthe
مَهْمَا يَلُوا مِنْ مَنْصِبِ الْـ
أَعْمَالِwork يُوفُوهُthey give it fully النِّصَابَاthe full measure
أَعْمَالِ يُوفُوهُ النِّصَابَا
Whatever post they hold in
Did not their speeches excite you,
work, they give it its full due.
As they rose to deliver their address?
وَالمُتْقِنُand the proficient one المِجُوَادُthe generous one يُرْpleases (continued)
وَالمُتْقِنُ المِجُوَادُ يُرْ
ضى(completes 'pleases') اللهَGod عَنْهُwith him وَالصَّحَابَاand the companions
ضى اللهَ عَنْهُ وَالصَّحَابَا
And the skilled, generous man wins
They have created a feat, till we saw
God's approval, and his companions' too.
The stumbler become eloquent.
أُنْظُرْlook إلىat تُمْثِيلِهِمْtheir acting
أُنْظُرْ إلى تُمْثِيلِهِمْ
أَفَمَاdo you not then تَرَىsee عَجَباًa marvel عُجَاباwondrous
أَفَمَا تَرَى عَجَباً عُجَابا
Look at their acting:
Hail! As they met misfortune with honor,
do you not see a wondrous marvel?
They met punishment with glory.
فَاقُواthey surpassed بِهِthrough it المُتَفَوِّقِيـthe outstanding (continued)
فَاقُوا بِهِ المُتَفَوِّقِيـ
ـنَ(completes 'the outstanding') وَأَدْرَكُواand they reached مِنْهُthrough it الْحَبَابَاthe crest
ـنَ وَأَدْرَكُوا مِنْهُ الْحَبَابَا
Through it they surpassed the outstanding,
No dejection is to be noticed in them,
and reached its very crest.
If you look, no melancholy.
أَسَمِعْتَhave you heard حُسْنَthe beauty of أَدَائِهِمْtheir delivery
أَسَمِعْتَ حُسْنَ أَدَائِهِمْ
إِمَّاwhether سُؤَالاًa question أَوْor جَوَابَاan answer
إِمَّا سُؤَالاً أَوْ جَوَابَا
Have you heard the beauty of their delivery,
They care not for events,
whether in a question or an answer?
However often events recur.
أَشَهِدْتَhave you witnessed مِنْin إِيمائِهِمْtheir gestures
أَشَهِدْتَ مِنْ إِيمائِهِمْ
مَاwhat يَجْعَلُmakes الْبُعْدَdistance اقْتِرَابَاcloseness
مَا يَجْعَلُ الْبُعْدَ اقْتِرَابَا
Have you seen in their gestures
They spend their treasures profusely,
what makes distance draw near?
Pouring forth their precious stock.
أَشَجَتْكَhave they stirred you رَنَّاتٌringing tones بِهَاwith them
أَشَجَتْكَ رَنَّاتٌ بِهَا
نَبَرُواthey raised their voices وَقَدْand indeed فَصَلُواthey made clear الْخِطَابَاthe speech
نَبَرُوا وَقَدْ فَصَلُوا الْخِطَابَا
Have ringing tones stirred you,
They hide their pain and force themselves
which they voiced, making their speech clear?
Not to give vent to it and complain.
قَدْindeed أَبْدَعُواthey excelled حَتَّىuntil أَرَوْthey showed
قَدْ أَبْدَعُوا حَتَّى أَرَوْ
نَاus جَابِرَthe mender of الْعَثَرَاتِthe misfortunes آبَاreturned
نَا جَابِرَ الْعَثَرَاتِ آبَا
Indeed, they excelled until they showed
Never for a day do they desist from kindness,
us the Mender of Misfortunes returned,
Though time may have changed and reversed.
حَيّاًalive كَمَاjust as لَقِيَhe faced النَّعيـbliss (continued)
حَيّاً كَمَا لَقِيَ النَّعيـ
ـمَ(completes 'bliss') بِعِزَّةٍwith dignity لَقِيَhe faced الْعَذَابَاtorment
ـمَ بِعِزَّةٍ لَقِيَ الْعَذَابَا
alive: just as he faced bliss,
Their hands are turned against their bosoms,
with dignity he faced torment.
In victory and defeat.
لاَnot تَسْتَبِينَyou discern بِهِin him سُرُوjoy (continued)
لاَ تَسْتَبِينَ بِهِ سُرُو
راً(completes 'joy') إِنْif نَظَرْتَyou look وَلاَnor اكْتِئَابَاdejection
راً إِنْ نَظَرْتَ وَلاَ اكْتِئَابَا
You discern in him no joy,
These may be deceitful natures,
if you look, nor dejection.
Or firm as mountains.
مَاnot إِنْemphatic particle يُبَالِيhe heeds حَادِثاًan event
مَا إِنْ يُبَالِي حَادِثاً
مِنْamong حَادِثَاتِthe events of الدَّهْرِtime نَابَاthat befell
مِنْ حَادِثَاتِ الدَّهْرِ نَابَا
He cares nothing for any event
The soul is what you make it.
among the blows of time that befall him.
Then reach, if you wish, the clouds,
يَقْضِيhe fulfills الرَّغَائِبَwishes بَاذِلاًgiving
يَقْضِي الرَّغَائِبَ بَاذِلاً
فِيهَاfor them نَفَائِسَهُhis treasures الرِّغَابَاthe abundant ones
فِيهَا نَفَائِسَهُ الرِّغَابَا
He fulfills wishes, giving
Or live at ease, a groveling worm,
for them his precious, abundant treasures.
Creeping in the dust ingloriously.
يُخْفِيhe hides مَبَرَّتَهُhis benevolence وَيُجْand he is compelled (continued)
يُخْفِي مَبَرَّتَهُ وَيُجْ
بَرُ(completes 'is compelled') أَنْto يَبُوحَreveal بِهَاit فَيَابِىyet he refuses
بَرُ أَنْ يَبُوحَ بِهَا فَيَابِى
He hides his kindness, and is forced
Be a jewel that remains unblemished
to reveal it, yet refuses.
In the burning flame, or be dust.
لاَnot يَنْثَنَيhe turns away يُوْماًever عَنِfrom الْthe
لاَ يَنْثَنَي يُوْماً عَنِ الْ
إِحْسَانِbenevolence لَوْeven if سَاءَit went badly انْقِلاَبَاin outcome
إِحْسَانِ لَوْ سَاءَ انْقِلاَبَا
He never turns away from
One is a falling star, the other
benevolence, even if it ends badly,
A shooting star flashing.
وَتَحَوَّلَتْand became يَدُهُhis hand إلىtoward
وَتَحَوَّلَتْ يَدُهُ إلى
أَحْشَائِهِhis entrails ظُفْراًa claw وَنَابَاand a fang
أَحْشَائِهِ ظُفْراً وَنَابَا
and his hand becomes, against
The difference is predetermined
his own entrails, a claw and fang.
When man shows cowardice or courage.
هُنَّthey الْخَلاَئِقُthe dispositions قَدْperhaps يَكُنَّthey are
هُنَّ الْخَلاَئِقُ قَدْ يَكُنَّ
بُطُونَhollows of خَبْتٍa low plain أَوْor هِضَابَاplateaus
بُطُونَ خَبْتٍ أَوْ هِضَابَا
Such are dispositions: they may be
If you tame the natural temperament,
the hollows of a plain, or plateaus.
You make temper tamed submissive.
وَالنَّفْسُand the soul حَيْثُwhere جَعَلْتَهَاyou place it
وَالنَّفْسُ حَيْثُ جَعَلْتَهَا
فَابْلُغْso reach إِذَاif شِئْتَyou wish السَّحَابَاthe clouds
فَابْلُغْ إِذَا شِئْتَ السَّحَابَا
The soul is where you place it:
The world is not gained rashly,
reach the clouds, then, if you wish;
It is gained by exertion.
أَوْor جَارِkeep pace with فيin أَمْنٍsafety خَشَاشَcreeping creatures of
أَوْ جَارِ في أَمْنٍ خَشَاشَ
الأَرْضِthe earth تَنْسَحِبُyou crawl انْسِحَابَاa crawling
الأَرْضِ تَنْسَحِبُ انْسِحَابَا
or safely keep pace with the creeping creatures
Reprove your soul as much as you can,
of earth, dragging yourself along.
Do not flatter or blame it.
كُنْbe جَوْهَراًa jewel مِمَّاof what يُمَحَّـis refined (continued)
كُنْ جَوْهَراً مِمَّا يُمَحَّـ
ـصُ(completes 'is refined') بِاللَّظَىby flame أَوْor كُنْbe تُرَابَاdust
ـصُ بِاللَّظَى أَوْ كُنْ تُرَابَا
Be a jewel of the kind refined
Happy is he who walks not astray,
by flame, or be dust.
And sees error, so repents.
لَيْسَاthe two are not سَوَاءًequal هَابِطٌone falling
لَيْسَا سَوَاءً هَابِطٌ
وَهْياًthrough weakness وَمُنْقَضٌand one plunging شِهَابَاas a meteor
وَهْياً وَمُنْقَضٌ شِهَابَا
They are not alike: one who falls
The sin is forgiven; he spoke truly
feebly, and one who plunges like a meteor.
Who said the negligent transgressed.
ألْبَيْنُparting مَحْتُومٌinevitable وَآand its most painful form (continued)
ألْبَيْنُ مَحْتُومٌ وَآ
لَمُهُ(completes 'its most painful form') إِذَاwhen مَاemphatic particle المرْءُa person هَابَاfeared it
لَمُهُ إِذَا مَا المرْءُ هَابَا
Parting is inevitable, and hurts most
O you who composed this story,
when a person fears it.
Your view is right and exact.
وَالطَّبْعُand one's nature إنْif رَوَّضْتَهُyou train it
وَالطَّبْعُ إنْ رَوَّضْتَهُ
ذَلَّلْتَyou tame بِالطَّبْعِthrough your nature الصِّعَابَاhardships
ذَلَّلْتَ بِالطَّبْعِ الصِّعَابَا
And if you train your nature,
In diction and meaning your waters indeed
through that nature you tame hardships.
Gushed copiously and ran sweet.
لاَnot تُؤْخَذُis won الدُّنْيَاthe world اجْتِدَاby begging (continued)
لاَ تُؤْخَذُ الدُّنْيَا اجْتِدَا
ءً(completes 'begging') تُؤْخَذُis won الدُّنْيَاthe world غِلاَبَاby forceful striving
ءً تُؤْخَذُ الدُّنْيَا غِلاَبَا
The world is not won by begging;
You found rightly, you are the most apt
the world is won by struggle.
To be rewarded for excelling.
رَاجِعْexamine ضَمِيرَكَyour conscience مَاas much as اسْتَطعْـyou can (continued)
رَاجِعْ ضَمِيرَكَ مَا اسْتَطعْـ
ـتَ(completes 'you can') وَلاَand do not تُهَادِنْهُmake peace with it عَتَابَاin reproach
ـتَ وَلاَ تُهَادِنْهُ عَتَابَا
Examine your conscience as far as you can,
You have benefited: the supported
and grant it no truce from reproach.
Is good, and the theme is good.
طُوبَىblessedness لِمَنْfor whoever لَمْdid not يَمْضِpersist فِيin
طُوبَى لِمَنْ لَمْ يَمْضِ فِي
غَيٍّerror تَبَيَّنَهُhe recognized it فَتَابَاand so repented
غَيٍّ تَبَيَّنَهُ فَتَابَا
Blessed is he who did not persist in
It suffices you for virtue that you have lived
error he recognized, but repented.
In it what would otherwise fall in ruins.
أَلْوِزْرُthe sin مَغفُورٌforgiven وَقَدْand indeed
أَلْوِزْرُ مَغفُورٌ وَقَدْ
صَدَقَwas sincere المُفَرِّطُthe transgressor إِذْwhen أَنَأبَاhe repented
صَدَقَ المُفَرِّطُ إِذْ أَنَأبَا
The sin is forgiven, for
O excellence of what is narrated
the transgressor was sincere when he repented.
When I narrate a genuine spring, not a mirage!
يَاO مُنْشِئاًcreator of هَذِيthis الرِّوَايَةthe play
يَا مُنْشِئاً هَذِي الرِّوَايَة
إِنَّindeed رَأْيَكَyour judgment قَدْindeed أَصَابَاwas right
إِنَّ رَأْيَكَ قَدْ أَصَابَا
O creator of this play,
You recalled a glory whose sun
your judgment has indeed been right.
My travels never ceased to follow.
بِاللَّفْظِin wording وَالمَعْنَىand meaning لَقَدْindeed
بِاللَّفْظِ وَالمَعْنَى لَقَدْ
سَالَتْflowed مَوَارِدُهَاits springs عِذَابَاsweet and fresh
سَالَتْ مَوَارِدُهَا عِذَابَا
In wording and meaning, indeed,
And magnificences of the East, relieving
its springs have flowed sweet and fresh.
The necks of the West from servitude.
حَقًّاtruly أجْدْتَyou excelled وَأَنْتَand you are أحْـmost deserving (continued)
حَقًّا أجْدْتَ وَأَنْتَ أحْـ
ـرَى(completes 'most deserving') مَنْamong those who أَجَادَexcelled بِأَنْof being تُثَابَاrewarded
ـرَى مَنْ أَجَادَ بِأَنْ تُثَابَا
Truly you excelled, and you are,
They marched over the viceroys
of all who excelled, most deserving of reward.
In the well-knit, pure-blooded Arab horses.
وأَفَدْتَand you brought benefit فَالمَحْمُولُfor the content فِيin
وأَفَدْتَ فَالمَحْمُولُ فِي
هَاit طَابَwas good وَالمَوْضُوعُand the subject طَابَاwas good
هَا طَابَ وَالمَوْضُوعُ طَابَا
And you have brought benefit: its content
With their conquering knights
is good, and its subject is good.
They narrowed the world, though its expanse is wide.
يَكْفِيكَsuffices you فَضْلاًas merit أَنْthat عَمَرْyou restored (continued)
يَكْفِيكَ فَضْلاً أَنْ عَمَرْ
تَ(completes 'you restored') بِهَاthrough it مِنَof الذِّكْرَىmemory خَرَابَاa ruin
تَ بِهَا مِنَ الذِّكْرَى خَرَابَا
It is merit enough that you restored
Verses of might recorded
through it what lay ruined in memory.
On the pages of time their book.
يَاoh حُسْنَthe beauty of مَاwhat يُرْوَىis narrated إِذَاwhen
يَا حُسْنَ مَا يُرْوَى إِذَا
أَرْوَىquenched thirst مَعِيناًas flowing water لاَnot سَرَابَاa mirage
أَرْوَى مَعِيناً لاَ سَرَابَا
How lovely is a tale when
O my people, history does not
it quenches thirst—a flowing spring, not a mirage!
Wrong those who passed away without reckoning.
أَذْكَرْتَyou recalled مَجْداًa glory لَمْnot تَزَلْceased
أَذْكَرْتَ مَجْداً لَمْ تَزَلْ
تَحْدُوchant to drive بِهِwith it السِّيَرُthe histories الرِّكَابَاthe caravans
تَحْدُو بِهِ السِّيَرُ الرِّكَابَا
You recalled a glory of which
And before the resurrection it still
histories still sing to spur the caravans;
Provides for them ample reward or punishment.
وَعَظَائِماًand mighty deeds لِلشَّرْقِof the East قَدْindeed
وَعَظَائِماً لِلشَّرْقِ قَدْ
أَعْنَتْmade bow مِنَfrom الْغَرْبِthe West الرِّقَابَاthe necks
أَعْنَتْ مِنَ الْغَرْبِ الرِّقَابَا
and mighty deeds of the East that
He who doubts resurrection, this
bowed the necks of the West.
Resurrection leaves no room for doubt.
خَفضَlowered الْجَنَاحَthe wing لَهَاbefore them العِدَىthe foes
خَفضَ الْجَنَاحَ لَهَا العِدَى
وَعَلاَand rose الْوُلاَةُthe rulers بِهَاthrough them جَنَابَاin stature
وَعَلاَ الْوُلاَةُ بِهَا جَنَابَا
The foes lowered their wings before them,
If we busy ourselves with life
and through them rulers rose in stature.
We dispense with food and drink.
مَشَّتْmade march عَلَىover الأَسْنَادِthe mountain slopes فيin الـthe
مَشَّتْ عَلَى الأَسْنَادِ في الـ
ـرُّومِRomans المُطَهَّمَةَthe sleek ones الْعِرَابَاthe purebred Arab steeds
ـرُّومِ المُطَهَّمَةَ الْعِرَابَا
They sent marching over the mountain slopes of
If we recognize the misery of the road
Roman lands the sleek, purebred Arab steeds;
We see no path, but only haze.
وَبِمُسْرِجِيَهاand with those who saddled them الْفَاتِحِيـthe conquerors (continued)
وَبِمُسْرِجِيَها الْفَاتِحِيـ
ـنَ(completes 'the conquerors') أَضَاقَتِmade narrow الدُّنْيَاthe world رِحَابَاin expanse
ـنَ أَضَاقَتِ الدُّنْيَا رِحَابَا
and with those who saddled them—the conquerors—
Let us fulfill the right of the covenant
made narrow the wide spaces of the world.
Which nothing can dispel or defer.
آيَاتُsigns of عِزٍّglory خَلَّدَتْimmortalized
آيَاتُ عِزٍّ خَلَّدَتْ
صُحْفُthe pages of الزَّمَانِtime لَهَاfor them كِتَابَاa record
صُحْفُ الزَّمَانِ لَهَا كِتَابَا
Signs of glory, immortalized
Woe to him whose cunning self
in a record by the pages of time.
Deceived him with some trickery.
يَاO قَوْمِيَmy people التَّارِيخُhistory لاnot
يَا قَوْمِيَ التَّارِيخُ لا
يَأْلُوspares الَّذِينَthose who مَضُوْاhave passed حِسَابَاa reckoning
يَأْلُو الَّذِينَ مَضُوْا حِسَابَا
O my people, history does not
Highest endeavor is to expend oneself
spare the departed a reckoning;
Sincerely, not seeking recompense.
وَيَظَلُّand it continues قَبْلَbefore النَّشْرِresurrection يُوlavishes upon them (continued)
وَيَظَلُّ قَبْلَ النَّشْرِ يُو
سِعُهُمْ(completes 'lavishes upon them') ثَوَاباًreward أَوْor عِقَابَاpunishment
سِعُهُمْ ثَوَاباً أَوْ عِقَابَا
and, even before resurrection, keeps
Our goal and request is to observe
lavishing reward or punishment upon them.
Our compact and not transgress its bounds.
مَنْwhoever رَابَهُtroubled him بَعْثٌa resurrection فَهthen this (continued)
مَنْ رَابَهُ بَعْثٌ فَه
ذَا(completes 'this') الْبَعْثُresurrection لَمْdid not يَدَعِleave ارْتِيَابَاdoubt
ذَا الْبَعْثُ لَمْ يَدَعِ ارْتِيَابَا
Whoever doubts a resurrection—
We summon the loyal to preserve
this resurrection leaves no room for doubt.
And magnify every dereliction as unseemly.
فَإِذَاso if عُنِينَاwe concern ourselves بِالْحَيَاwith life (continued)
فَإِذَا عُنِينَا بِالْحَيَا
ةَ(completes 'life') خَلاَapart from أَلْطَّعَامَfood أَوِor الشَّرَابَاdrink
ةَ خَلاَ أَلْطَّعَامَ أَوِ الشَّرَابَا
So if we care for life
We say: be a spear straight
beyond mere food or drink,
With which highmindedness advances, not kinship.
وَإِذَاand if تَبَيَّنَّاwe discern المَسِيthe journey (continued)
وَإِذَا تَبَيَّنَّا المَسِي
رَةَ(completes 'the journey') لاَnot طَرِيقاًa road بَلْrather عُبَابَاa surging sea
رَةَ لاَ طَرِيقاً بَلْ عُبَابَا
and if we see our journey
We say: leave a pride whose echo
not as a road, but as a surging sea,
Reverberates, making us quarrel.
فَلْنْقضِthen let us fulfill مِنْof حَقِّthe due of الْحِمَىthe homeland
فَلْنْقضِ مِنْ حَقِّ الْحِمَى
مَاwhat لَيْسَdoes not يَأْلُوهُspare it ارْتِقَابَاin awaiting
مَا لَيْسَ يَأْلُوهُ ارْتِقَابَا
let us discharge, of our homeland's due,
Our ancestors were
what it never ceases to await.
The noblest of nations in lineage.
ويْحَwoe to امْرِئٍa man رَجَّاهُhoped in him مَوْhis homeland (continued)
ويْحَ امْرِئٍ رَجَّاهُ مَوْ
طِنُهُ(completes 'his homeland') لِمَحْمَدَةٍfor a praiseworthy deed فَخَابَاbut he failed
طِنُهُ لِمَحْمَدَةٍ فَخَابَا
Alas for a man in whom his homeland
Is that enough for us
hoped for a worthy deed, but who failed it!
If we do not match their glory by our deeds?
أَعْلَىthe highest احْتِسَابٍreckoned merit بَذْلُthe giving of مَنْone who
أَعْلَى احْتِسَابٍ بَذْلُ مَنْ
لَبَّىanswered the call وَلَمْand did not يَبْغِseek احْتِسَابَاcredit
لَبَّى وَلَمْ يَبْغِ احْتِسَابَا
The highest merit is the giving of one
O elite, who took precedence
who answered the call and sought no credit.
In my heart and affection!
إِنَّاwe indeed وَمَطْلَبُنَاand our demand أَقَـthe least (continued)
إِنَّا وَمَطْلَبُنَا أَقَـ
ـلُّ(completes 'the least') الْحَقِّof what is due لاَnot نَغْلُوwe exceed measure طِلاَبَاin seeking
ـلُّ الْحَقِّ لاَ نَغْلُو طِلاَبَا
We, whose demand is the least
Who saw as I did the best
of what is due, ask for nothing excessive.
Patterns of harmony and righteous ways.
نَدْعُوwe call الْوَفِّيthe loyal one إلىto الحِفَاkeeping faith (continued)
نَدْعُو الْوَفِّي إلى الحِفَا
ظِ(completes 'keeping faith') وَنُكْبِرُand we deem grave التَّقْصِيرُshortcoming عَابَاas a disgrace
ظِ وَنُكْبِرُ التَّقْصِيرُ عَابَا
We call the loyal to keep faith,
May God bless those of you
and deem shortcomings a grave disgrace.
Who summoned and responded to good deeds.
وَنَقُولُand we say كُنْbe نَصْلاًa blade بِهِwith which
وَنَقُولُ كُنْ نَصْلاً بِهِ
تَسْطُوstrikes الْحِمِيَّةُzeal لاَnot قِرَابَاa sheath
تَسْطُو الْحِمِيَّةُ لاَ قِرَابَا
And we say: be a blade with which
zeal strikes, not a sheath.
وَنَقُولُand we say دَعْforsake فَخْراًboasting يَكَاalmost (continued)
وَنَقُولُ دَعْ فَخْراً يَكَا
دُ(completes 'almost') صَدَاهُits echo يُوسِعُنَاlavishes upon us سِبَابَاabuse
دُ صَدَاهُ يُوسِعُنَا سِبَابَا
And we say: forsake a boast whose
echo all but heaps abuse upon us:
آبَاؤُنَاour fathers كَانُواوَإِنَّاwere, and indeed we
آبَاؤُنَا كَانُواوَإِنَّا
أَشْرَفُthe noblest of الأُمَمِthe nations انْتِسَابَاin descent
أَشْرَفُ الأُمَمِ انْتِسَابَا
“Our fathers were—and we are—
the noblest of nations in lineage.”
هَلْdoes ذَاكَthat مُغْنِينَاsuffice us إِذَاif
هَلْ ذَاكَ مُغْنِينَا إِذَا
لَمْnot نُكْمِلِwe complete المَجْدَglory اكْتِسَابَاby earning it
لَمْ نُكْمِلِ المَجْدَ اكْتِسَابَا
Will that suffice us, if
we do not complete our glory by earning it?
يَاO نُخْبَةًchosen company مَلَكُواthey won التَّجِلَّـreverence (continued)
يَا نُخْبَةً مَلَكُوا التَّجِلَّـ
ـةَ(completes 'reverence') فيin فُؤَادِيmy heart وَالْحُبَابَاand love
ـةَ في فُؤَادِي وَالْحُبَابَا
O chosen company, who have won reverence
and love within my heart,
وَرَأَوْاand they saw كَرَأْيِيas I see it أَمْثَلَthe best of الْthe
وَرَأَوْا كَرَأْيِي أَمْثَلَ الْ
خُطَطِcourses التَّآلُفِfellowship وَالرِّبَابَاand alliance
خُطَطِ التَّآلُفِ وَالرِّبَابَا
and, like me, saw the finest
course in fellowship and alliance,
للهِto God فِيكُمْamong you مَنْthose who دَعَاcalled
للهِ فِيكُمْ مَنْ دَعَا
لِلصَّالِحَاتِto righteous deeds وَمَنْand those who أَجَابَاanswered
لِلصَّالِحَاتِ وَمَنْ أَجَابَا
God bless those among you who called
to righteous deeds, and those who answered!
Partial English translation: 114 of 128 Arabic lines translated.