بَدَاappeared نُورُlight صُبْحٍa dawn بِالْهُدَىwith guidance مُتَنَفَّسِbreathing
بَدَا نُورُ صُبْحٍ بِالْهُدَى مُتَنَفَّسِ
فَيَاso, oh حُسْنَهُits beauty فِيin أَعْيُنِthe eyes of المُتَفَرِّسِthe discerning observer
فَيَا حُسْنَهُ فِي أَعْيُنِ المُتَفَرِّسِ
The light of a dawn breathing guidance has appeared;
The light of a new dawn shines with guidance,
How beautiful it is in the discerning observer's eyes!
taking deep breaths.
وَيَاand oh فَرَحاًjoy بَعْدَafter الْغِيَابِabsence بِعَائِدٍat one returning
وَيَا فَرَحاً بَعْدَ الْغِيَابِ بِعَائِدٍ
دَنَاdrew near فَغَدَاand so became مِناof us بِمَرْأىًwithin sight وَمَلْمَسِand touch
دَنَا فَغَدَا مِنا بِمَرْأىً وَمَلْمَسِ
And oh, the joy, after absence, at one returned,
How beautiful it is in the eyes of the watcher!
Who drew near and came within our sight and touch!
How joyful after absence is the return of a loved one,
أَلاَtake heed أَيُّهاO السَّاقِيcupbearer وَصَهْبَاؤُهُand his tawny wine الْعُلَىlofty glory
أَلاَ أَيُّها السَّاقِي وَصَهْبَاؤُهُ الْعُلَى
أَدِرْهَاpass it around فَمِنَّاfor among us كُلُّevery ظمْآنَthirsty one مُحْتَسِdrinker
أَدِرْهَا فَمِنَّا كُلُّ ظمْآنَ مُحْتَسِ
Ah, cupbearer, whose tawny wine is glory,
who has come near and can now be seen and touched!
Pass it around, for every thirsty one among us is a drinker.
O cupbearer, give us your finest wine,
أَحَقّاًtruly? أَتَاناcame to us الدهْرُtime بِالْبِشْرِwith gladness بَعْدَafter مَاwhat
أَحَقّاً أَتَانا الدهْرُ بِالْبِشْرِ بَعْدَ مَا
رَمَانَاassailed us بِهِwith it مِنْof مُتْعِسٍan affliction إِثْرَon the heels of مُتْعِسِan affliction
رَمَانَا بِهِ مِنْ مُتْعِسٍ إِثْرَ مُتْعِسِ
Has time truly brought us joy, after what
for we are all thirsty.
It hurled upon us—one affliction after another?
Has time really brought us good news after sending
وَهَلْand has? رَجَعَتْreturned شَمْسُthe sun of الحَضَارَةِcivilization بَعْدَمَاafter
وَهَلْ رَجَعَتْ شَمْسُ الحَضَارَةِ بَعْدَمَا
طوَتْهَاfolded it away دُهُورٌages فِيin غَيَاهِبِthe darkest depths of حِنْدِسِpitch-dark night
طوَتْهَا دُهُورٌ فِي غَيَاهِبِ حِنْدِسِ
And has civilization's sun returned, after
one misery after another?
Ages folded it away in the depths of pitch-dark night?
Can the sun of civilization truly return after
رَعَىmay watch over اللهُGod مِنْfrom among بِيضِfair-skinned الغَوَانِيbeautiful women عَشِيرَةًa band
رَعَى اللهُ مِنْ بِيضِ الغَوَانِي عَشِيرَةً
تمَرَّسْنَthey became skilled بِالأَعْمَالِthrough work خَيْرَthe finest تَمَرُّسِmastery
تمَرَّسْنَ بِالأَعْمَالِ خَيْرَ تَمَرُّسِ
May God protect a band of fair-skinned beauties,
ages have plunged it into deep darkness?
Who have gained the finest skill through their labors.
God has nurtured a group of radiant maidens
رَأَىsaw فِيin تَمَادِيهِنَّtheir persistence قَوْمٌsome people تَهَوُّساًmadness
رَأَى فِي تَمَادِيهِنَّ قَوْمٌ تَهَوُّساً
وَبِالْعَقْلِand in reason طُرّاًin its entirety بَعْضُsome of هَذَاthis التهَوُّسِmadness
وَبِالْعَقْلِ طُرّاً بَعْضُ هَذَا التهَوُّسِ
Some people saw madness in their persistence,
who excel in good deeds.
Yet reason, in its entirety, holds some of this madness.
Some see recklessness in their ambitions,
أَجَلْyes وَبِكلِّand among all المُكْثِرَاتِwomen wearing much مِنَof الحِلَىjewelry
أَجَلْ وَبِكلِّ المُكْثِرَاتِ مِنَ الحِلَى
دُمَىdolls لاَبِسَاتِwearing المَجْدِglory أَحْسَنَthe finest مَلْبسِgarb
دُمَى لاَبِسَاتِ المَجْدِ أَحْسَنَ مَلْبسِ
Yes, and among all those laden with ornaments
but reason shows this recklessness has merit.
Are doll-like beauties clothed in glory, the finest garb.
They are an army for peace, their weapons
إِذَاwhen وَسْوَسَتْwhispers فِيin صَدْرِthe breast of حَسْنَاءَa beautiful woman هِمةٌaspiration
إِذَا وَسْوَسَتْ فِي صَدْرِ حَسْنَاءَ هِمةٌ
فَأَحْلَىthen the sweetest سَمَاعٍsound heard صَوْتُthe sound of حَلْيٍjewelry مُوَسْوَسِwhispering
فَأَحْلَى سَمَاعٍ صَوْتُ حَلْيٍ مُوَسْوَسِ
When aspiration whispers in a beautiful woman's breast,
rays of light under the sacred banner.
Then the sweetest music is the sound of whispering jewels.
They march to war – and who can doubt victory
أُرَاهُنَّI see them جَيْشاًan army لِلسلاَمِfor peace سِلاَحُهُits weapon
أُرَاهُنَّ جَيْشاً لِلسلاَمِ سِلاَحُهُ
مِنَof النَّورِlight فِيin ظِلِّthe shade of اللِّوَاءِthe banner المُقَدَّسِsacred
مِنَ النَّورِ فِي ظِلِّ اللِّوَاءِ المُقَدَّسِ
I see them as an army for peace, whose weapon
when your swords, arrows and steeds charge forth?
Is made of light beneath the sacred banner's shade.
Their endeavors are all sincere –
غَزَونْthey went to war وَهلْand is there? فِيin النَّصرِvictory شَكٌdoubt إِذَاwhen غَزَتْattack
غَزَونْ وَهلْ فِي النَّصرِ شَكٌ إِذَا غَزَتْ
فَوَاتِكَfierce women warriors بِالأَسيَافِwith swords وَالسَّمْرِand dusky spears وَالْقَسِيand bows
فَوَاتِكَ بِالأَسيَافِ وَالسَّمْرِ وَالْقَسِي
They went to war—can victory be doubted when
each has a lofty principle it will never compromise.
Fierce warriors attack with swords, dusky spears, and bows?
As they contemplate, their thoughts transcend propriety
نَقَايَاpure in المَسَاعِيendeavors كُلُّهُنِّeach of them حَصِيفَةٌwise
نَقَايَا المَسَاعِي كُلُّهُنِّ حَصِيفَةٌ
لَهَاshe has هَامَةٌa head مَرْفُوعَةٌraised لَمْnot تُنَكَّسِlowered
لَهَا هَامَةٌ مَرْفُوعَةٌ لَمْ تُنَكَّسِ
Pure in their endeavors, each of them is wise,
but never overstep what is right and proper.
Her head held high, never bowed.
They are silent unless their actions speak for them,
وَتخْطِرُand she walks gracefully لاnot تعْدُوgo beyond الهُدَىright guidance خَطَرَاتُهَاher steps
وَتخْطِرُ لا تعْدُو الهُدَى خَطَرَاتُهَا
بِأَزْهَرَwith greater radiance مِنْthan غُصْنٍa bough نَضِيرٍfresh and green وَأَمْيَسِand more graceful
بِأَزْهَرَ مِنْ غُصْنٍ نَضِيرٍ وَأَمْيَسِ
And she walks gracefully, her steps never straying from guidance,
and if they do speak, their words are sweet as honey.
With more radiance and grace than a fresh green bough.
Truly, the prosperity of a country depends on
وَتَسكتُand she is silent إِلاَّexcept مَاwhat تَقُولُsay فِعَالُهَاher deeds
وَتَسكتُ إِلاَّ مَا تَقُولُ فِعَالُهَا
فَإِنْand if نَبَسَتْshe speaks أَرْوَتْshe quenches thirst بِأَعْذَبِwith the sweetest مَنْبِسِutterance
فَإِنْ نَبَسَتْ أَرْوَتْ بِأَعْذَبِ مَنْبِسِ
And she is silent, save for what her deeds say;
what its people strive for at every gathering.
And if she speaks, she quenches thirst with the sweetest utterance.
If some find talk of industry uncouth,
أَلاَtake heed إِنَّindeed عُمْرَانَthe prosperity of البِلاَدِthe land بِماthrough what ابْتَغَتْshe sought
أَلاَ إِنَّ عُمْرَانَ البِلاَدِ بِما ابْتَغَتْ
فَعَالِنْso proclaim openly بِهِabout it فِيin كُلِّevery نادٍgathering وَمَجْلِسِand assembly
فَعَالِنْ بِهِ فِي كُلِّ نادٍ وَمَجْلِسِ
Indeed, the land's prosperity lies in what she has sought;
I find it most delightful.
So proclaim it in every gathering and assembly.
Help your brother as much as you can,
وَإِنَّand indeed أَحَادِيثَtalk of الصِّناعَةِindustry إِنْif يَجِدْfind
وَإِنَّ أَحَادِيثَ الصِّناعَةِ إِنْ يَجِدْ
بِهَاin it وَحْشةًunease قَوْمٌsome people لأَبْهَجُtruly the most delightful مُؤْنِسِcompanion
بِهَا وَحْشةً قَوْمٌ لأَبْهَجُ مُؤْنِسِ
And talk of industry, though some may find
and wear clothes made by your own people.
It forbidding, is truly the most delightful companion.
Compete with them in what they do best
أَخاكَyour brother فَناصِرso support مَاas much as اسْتطَعْتyou can بِقُوَّةٍwith strength
أَخاكَ فَناصِر مَا اسْتطَعْت بِقُوَّةٍ
وَثَوْبَكَand your garment مِنْfrom مَنْسُوجِwoven cloth أَهْلِكyour people فالْبَسِso wear
وَثَوْبَكَ مِنْ مَنْسُوجِ أَهْلِك فالْبَسِ
Support your brother with all the strength you can,
so they surpass themselves each day.
And wear a garment woven by your own people.
You were invited – if you accept, you will gain dignity
وَنَافِسْand compete بِمَاusing what هُمْthey مُتْقِنُوهُperfecting it لِيُصْبِحُوَاso they may become
وَنَافِسْ بِمَا هُمْ مُتْقِنُوهُ لِيُصْبِحُوَا
وهُمْwhile they كُلَّevery يَوْمٍday مُعْقِبُوهُfollowing it up بِأَنْفسِwith something finer
وهُمْ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ مُعْقِبُوهُ بِأَنْفسِ
And compete using what they do well, so that they
by right. If you refuse, you will gain only disgrace.
Follow it each day with something finer.
If it is said there is merit in gilded dress,
دُعِيتَyou were called فَإِنْso if لَبَّيتَyou answered فَالْعِزَّthen honor تكْتَسِيyou clothe yourself in
دُعِيتَ فَإِنْ لَبَّيتَ فَالْعِزَّ تكْتَسِي
بِحَقٍّrightfully وَإِنْand if خَالَفْتَyou refused فَالْهُونَthen humiliation تَكْتَسِيyou clothe yourself in
بِحَقٍّ وَإِنْ خَالَفْتَ فَالْهُونَ تَكْتَسِي
You have been called: if you answer, you don honor,
say all merit lies in one whose fabric is unadorned.
Rightfully; and if you refuse, you don humiliation.
Do not listen to the harmful claims of the foolish
وَإِنْand if قِيلَit is said حُسْنٌbeauty فِيin جَلِيبٍimported goods مُنَوَّعٍvaried
وَإِنْ قِيلَ حُسْنٌ فِي جَلِيبٍ مُنَوَّعٍ
فَقُلْthen say كُلُّall حُسْنٍbeauty فِيin الأَصِيلِthe genuine المُجَنَّسِof native stock
فَقُلْ كُلُّ حُسْنٍ فِي الأَصِيلِ المُجَنَّسِ
And if it is said, 'Beauty lies in varied imports,'
that threaten what is dear to you.
Then say, 'All beauty lies in genuine goods of native stock.'
No calamity befalls a people worse than
وَلاَand do not تسْتَمعْlisten فِيماconcerning what يَعودُbrings consequences عَلَىupon الحِمَىthe homeland
وَلاَ تسْتَمعْ فِيما يَعودُ عَلَى الحِمَى
بِضُرٍّwith harm دَعَاوَىclaims أَخْرَقٍa bungler مُتَنَطِّسِposing as an expert
بِضُرٍّ دَعَاوَى أَخْرَقٍ مُتَنَطِّسِ
And do not heed, in matters that bring the homeland
such vile claims and those who voice them.
Harm, the claims of a bungler posing as an expert.
Can a country and its people prosper
فَمَاfor not تُبْتَلَىare afflicted الأَقْوَامُpeoples مِنْby سُفَهَائِهَاtheir fools
فَمَا تُبْتَلَى الأَقْوَامُ مِنْ سُفَهَائِهَا
بِأَنْكَدَwith anything more grievous مِنْthan هَذِيthese الدَّعَاوَىclaims وَأَنْجَسِand fouler
بِأَنْكَدَ مِنْ هَذِي الدَّعَاوَى وَأَنْجَسِ
For peoples suffer nothing from their fools
when fools are in charge?
More grievous or foul than these claims.
When have you seen a people whose imports exceed exports
وَهَلْand is there? مِنْany فَلاحٍprosperity لِلْبِلاَدِfor the land وَأَهْلِهَاand its people
وَهَلْ مِنْ فَلاحٍ لِلْبِلاَدِ وَأَهْلِهَا
إِذاif الشَّأنُaffairs فِيهَاwithin it ساسَهُgovern it أَلْفُa thousand ريِّسِchiefs
إِذا الشَّأنُ فِيهَا ساسَهُ أَلْفُ ريِّسِ
And can there be prosperity for the land and its people,
yet escape poverty and bankruptcy?
When its affairs are governed by a thousand chiefs?
How can wealth be retained if it is spent
مَتَىwhenever تَرَyou see شَعْباًa people خَرْجُهُits expenditure فَوْقَabove دَخْلِهِits income
مَتَى تَرَ شَعْباً خَرْجُهُ فَوْقَ دَخْلِهِ
فذَلِكَthen that شَعْبٌa people بَاتَhas become فِيin حُكْمِthe status of مُفْلِسِa bankrupt
فذَلِكَ شَعْبٌ بَاتَ فِي حُكْمِ مُفْلِسِ
Whenever you see a people whose spending exceeds its income,
to feed the pits of ignorance and arrogance?
Then that people has become, in effect, bankrupt.
Let us beware of despair, the path to ruin,
وَكَيْفَand how يُصَانُbe safeguarded المَالُwealth وَالبَذْلُwhile spending ذاهِبٌgoing
وَكَيْفَ يُصَانُ المَالُ وَالبَذْلُ ذاهِبٌ
بِهِwith it فِيinto مَهَاوِيthe abysses of جَهْلِهِits ignorance وَالتَّغطْرُسِand arrogance
بِهِ فِي مَهَاوِي جَهْلِهِ وَالتَّغطْرُسِ
And how can wealth be kept safe, when spending carries
and of corrupting thoughts however alluring.
It into the abysses of ignorance and arrogance?
God never lets a land persist in corruption
لِنحذَرْlet us beware مِنَof اليَأْسِdespair الَّذِيwhich دُونهُless dire than it الرَّدَىdeath
لِنحذَرْ مِنَ اليَأْسِ الَّذِي دُونهُ الرَّدَى
وَمِنْand of كُلِّevery مَأْفُونٍunsound مِنَof الرَّأْيِopinion مُؤنِسِcomforting
وَمِنْ كُلِّ مَأْفُونٍ مِنَ الرَّأْيِ مُؤنِسِ
Let us beware of despair, worse even than death,
if its people fail to change their ways.
And of every unsound yet comforting opinion.
O radiant stars reaching for lofty aspirations
أَبَىrefused اللهُGod أَنْthat يُلْفَىbe found بِدَارٍin a land تَغَيُّرٌchange
أَبَى اللهُ أَنْ يُلْفَى بِدَارٍ تَغَيُّرٌ
إِذَاif لَمْdo not يُغَيِّرْchange قَوْمُهَاits people مَاwhat بِأَنْفُسِwithin themselves
إِذَا لَمْ يُغَيِّرْ قَوْمُهَا مَا بِأَنْفُسِ
God has refused to let change be found in a land
that long seemed out of grasp!
If its people do not change what is within themselves.
Build a new pride for your country on solid foundations –
فيَاso, O أَلْمَعِيَّاتٍbrilliant women تَلمَّسنَthey sought out لِلْحِمَىfor the homeland
فيَا أَلْمَعِيَّاتٍ تَلمَّسنَ لِلْحِمَى
مُنىًaspirations طَالَمَاfor so long عَزَّتْproved elusive عَلَىto المُتلَمِّسِthe seeker
مُنىً طَالَمَا عَزَّتْ عَلَى المُتلَمِّسِ
So, O brilliant women, who sought for the homeland
can any structure stand without a base?
Aspirations long elusive to the seeker,
Be united in purpose – give it the sanctity
فَأَسَّسنَso they founded فَخْراًglory لِلبِلاَدِfor the land مُجَدَّداًrenewed
فَأَسَّسنَ فَخْراً لِلبِلاَدِ مُجَدَّداً
وَهَلْand can? يَثْبُتُstand البُنْيَانُthe building غَيْرَnot مُؤسَّسِgiven foundations
وَهَلْ يَثْبُتُ البُنْيَانُ غَيْرَ مُؤسَّسِ
And so founded renewed glory for the land—
of a temple, the reverence of the sacred.
Can a building stand without a foundation?—
Thanks to you will flourish forever,
وَيَمَّمنَand they aimed قصْداًa purpose وَاحداًsingle فَمَنَحْنَهُso they granted it
وَيَمَّمنَ قصْداً وَاحداً فَمَنَحْنَهُ
مَهَابَةَthe awe of مِحْرَابٍa prayer niche وَحُرْمَةَand the sanctity of مَقْدِسِa holy place
مَهَابَةَ مِحْرَابٍ وَحُرْمَةَ مَقْدِسِ
And aimed at a single purpose, granting it
the most fragrant harvest of your efforts.
The awe of a prayer niche and the sanctity of a holy place:
Gratitude, wherever directed, is one,
إِلَيكُنَّto you women حَمْداًpraise سَوْفَwill يَزْكُوflourish عَلَىover المَدَىthe course of time
إِلَيكُنَّ حَمْداً سَوْفَ يَزْكُو عَلَى المَدَى
لَهُit has فِيin مَسَاعِيكُنَّyour endeavors أَطْيَبُthe finest مَغْرِسِplanting-ground
لَهُ فِي مَسَاعِيكُنَّ أَطْيَبُ مَغْرِسِ
To you I offer praise that will flourish with time;
the same to the ruled as to the ruler.
In your endeavors it finds the finest planting-ground.
وَمَاand not الحَمْدُpraise إِلاَّexcept وَاحِدٌone فِيin اتِّجَاهِهِits direction
وَمَا الحَمْدُ إِلاَّ وَاحِدٌ فِي اتِّجَاهِهِ
سَوَاءٌalike إِلَىtoward المَرْؤُوسِthe subordinate وَالمُتَرَئِّسِand the leader
سَوَاءٌ إِلَى المَرْؤُوسِ وَالمُتَرَئِّسِ
And praise follows one and the same course,
Alike toward the subordinate and the leader.
Partial English translation: 61 of 64 Arabic lines translated.