لِذِكْرَاكَfor your remembrance يَاO حِفْنِيُّHifni فِيin النَّفْسِthe soul أَشْجَانُsorrows
لِذِكْرَاكَ يَا حِفْنِيُّ فِي النَّفْسِ أَشْجَانُ
وَكَيْفَand how سُلُوِّيmy forgetting لِلرِّفَاقِof the companions الأُولَىwho بَانُواdeparted
وَكَيْفَ سُلُوِّي لِلرِّفَاقِ الأُولَى بَانُوا
Your memory, O Hifni, stirs sorrows in the soul.
And how could I forget the companions who have departed?
تَوَلَّواthey passed away وَأَبْقَانِيand left me زَمَانِيmy time بَعْدَهُمْafter them
تَوَلَّوا وَأَبْقَانِي زَمَانِي بَعْدَهُمْ
أَعِزُّI am honored إِذَاwhen عَزُّواthey are honored أَهُونُI am abased إِذَاwhen هَانُواthey are abased
أَعِزُّ إِذَا عَزُّوا أَهُونُ إِذَا هَانُوا
They passed away, and time left me behind them,
Honored when they are honored, abased when they are abased.
نَوَابِغُgeniuses آدَابٍof letters وَعِلْمٍand learning تَلاحَقُواfollowed one another
نَوَابِغُ آدَابٍ وَعِلْمٍ تَلاحَقُوا
وَكَانُواand they were مِنَof الآدَابِletters وَالعِلْمِand learning مَاwhat كَانُواthey were
وَكَانُوا مِنَ الآدَابِ وَالعِلْمِ مَا كَانُوا
Geniuses of letters and learning, they followed one another,
And how great they were in letters and learning!
بِعَيْنِيbefore my eyes مَاas long as طَالَتْlasts حَيَاتِيmy life شُخُوصُهُمْtheir figures
بِعَيْنِي مَا طَالَتْ حَيَاتِي شُخُوصُهُمْ
وَفِيand in السَّمْعِhearing أَقْوَالِwords عِذَابٌsweet وَأَلْحَانُand melodies
وَفِي السَّمْعِ أَقْوَالِ عِذَابٌ وَأَلْحَانُ
Their figures remain before my eyes as long as I live,
And in my hearing, sweet words and melodies.
لَقَدْindeed تَرَكُواthey left سِفْراًa volume مِنَof المَجْدِglory حَافِلاًbrimming
لَقَدْ تَرَكُوا سِفْراً مِنَ المَجْدِ حَافِلاً
وَكُلٌّand each لَهُfor him فِيin ذَلِكَthat السِّفْرِvolume عُنْوَانُa heading
وَكُلٌّ لَهُ فِي ذَلِكَ السِّفْرِ عُنْوَانُ
They left a volume brimming with glory,
And each has a heading in that volume.
وَتَحْتَand beneath اسْمِthe name حِفْنِيٍّof Hifni مَعَانٍmeanings كَثِيرَةٌmany
وَتَحْتَ اسْمِ حِفْنِيٍّ مَعَانٍ كَثِيرَةٌ
هُوَhe الضَّوْءُlight إِنْif حَلَّلْتَهُyou analyze it وَهْيَand they أَلوَانُcolors
هُوَ الضَّوْءُ إِنْ حَلَّلْتَهُ وَهْيَ أَلوَانُ
Beneath Hifni's name lie many meanings:
He is light; resolve it, and they are its colors.
فَحِفْنِيُّfor Hifni كَانَwas الكاتِبَthe writer الأَوْحَدَpeerless الَّذِيwho
فَحِفْنِيُّ كَانَ الكاتِبَ الأَوْحَدَ الَّذِي
خَلَتْpassed قَبْلَbefore أَنْto تَحْظَىbe blessed بِهِwith him مِصْرُEgypt أَزْمَانُages
خَلَتْ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَحْظَى بِهِ مِصْرُ أَزْمَانُ
For Hifni was the peerless writer whom
Egypt gained only after ages had passed;
مَنَارَةَa beacon عَهْدٍof an age لِلحضَارَةِfor civilization زَاهِرٍradiant
مَنَارَةَ عَهْدٍ لِلحضَارَةِ زَاهِرٍ
بِشَتَّىby the various حِلاهَاits adornments يَسْتَضِيءُis illumined وَيَزْدَانُand is adorned
بِشَتَّى حِلاهَا يَسْتَضِيءُ وَيَزْدَانُ
A beacon of an age radiant with civilization,
Illumined and adorned by its manifold graces.
مَبَاحِثُهُhis studies فِيin كُلِّevery فَنٍّdiscipline طَرَائِفٌrare delights
مَبَاحِثُهُ فِي كُلِّ فَنٍّ طَرَائِفٌ
يُجَمِّلُهَاbeautifies them سَبْكٌcomposition بَدِيعٌexquisite وَتَبْيَانُand exposition
يُجَمِّلُهَا سَبْكٌ بَدِيعٌ وَتَبْيَانُ
His studies in every discipline are rare delights,
Beautified by exquisite composition and clear exposition.
تُنِيرُthey illuminate وَتُشْجِيand move قَارِئِيهَاtheir readers كَأَنَّمَاas though
تُنِيرُ وَتُشْجِي قَارِئِيهَا كَأَنَّمَا
تُصِيبُattain المُنَىwishes فِيهَاin them عُقُولٌminds وَأَذْهَانُand intellects
تُصِيبُ المُنَى فِيهَا عُقُولٌ وَأَذْهَانُ
They enlighten and move their readers, as though
Minds and intellects attain their wishes in them.
رَسَائِلُهُhis epistles مُنْسُوجَةٌwoven نَسْجَa weaving وَحْدِهَاuniquely their own
رَسَائِلُهُ مُنْسُوجَةٌ نَسْجَ وَحْدِهَا
تَرُوعُthey dazzle بِوَشْيٍwith embroidery فِيهِin it لِلطَّرْفِfor the eye أَفْنَانُbranching patterns
تَرُوعُ بِوَشْيٍ فِيهِ لِلطَّرْفِ أَفْنَانُ
His epistles are woven in a weave uniquely their own,
Dazzling with embroidery offering the eye branching patterns.
وَتَنْفَحُand waft فِيهَاthrough them نَفْحَةًa fragrance عَبْقَرِيَّةًwondrous
وَتَنْفَحُ فِيهَا نَفْحَةً عَبْقَرِيَّةً
نُسَيْمَاتُgentle breezes رَوْضٍof a garden فِيهِin it وَرْدٌroses وَرَيْحَانُand basil
نُسَيْمَاتُ رَوْضٍ فِيهِ وَرْدٌ وَرَيْحَانُ
And through them, with a wondrous fragrance, blow
The gentle breezes of a garden of roses and basil.
وَحَفْنِيُّand Hifni كَانَwas الشَّاعِرُthe poet المُبْدِعُcreative الَّذِيwho
وَحَفْنِيُّ كَانَ الشَّاعِرُ المُبْدِعُ الَّذِي
قَصَائِدُهُhis poems دُرُّpearls نُظِمْنَstrung وَعِقْيَانُand pure gold
قَصَائِدُهُ دُرُّ نُظِمْنَ وَعِقْيَانُ
And Hifni was the creative poet whose
Poems are strung pearls and pure gold.
قَرِيضٌverse إِذَاwhen اسْتُنْشِدْتَهُyou are asked to recite it ذُقْتَyou taste طِيبَهُits sweetness
قَرِيضٌ إِذَا اسْتُنْشِدْتَهُ ذُقْتَ طِيبَهُ
وَحِسُّكَand your senses نَشْوَانٌintoxicated وَرُوحُكَand your spirit نَشْوَانُintoxicated
وَحِسُّكَ نَشْوَانٌ وَرُوحُكَ نَشْوَانُ
Verse whose sweetness you taste when asked to recite it,
Your senses intoxicated, your spirit intoxicated.
كَمَشْمُولَةٍlike cooled wine مِنْfrom مُشْتَهَىthe desire النَّفْسِof the soul قُطِّرَتْdistilled
كَمَشْمُولَةٍ مِنْ مُشْتَهَى النَّفْسِ قُطِّرَتْ
يُعَاطِيكَهَاhe passes it to you فِيin مَجْلِسِa gathering الأُنْسِof conviviality نُدْمَانُa drinking companion
يُعَاطِيكَهَا فِي مَجْلِسِ الأُنْسِ نُدْمَانُ
Like cooled wine distilled from the soul's desire,
Passed to you by a drinking companion in a convivial gathering.
يَلُوحُshines بِهَاthrough it المَعْنَىmeaning الطَّلِيقُunfettered وَإِنَّمَاand only
يَلُوحُ بِهَا المَعْنَى الطَّلِيقُ وَإِنَّمَا
هُوَit الوَحْيُinspiration يُوحَىrevealed لاnot عَرُوضٌprosody وَأَوْزَانُand meters
هُوَ الوَحْيُ يُوحَى لا عَرُوضٌ وَأَوْزَانُ
Through it unfettered meaning shines; it is but
Inspiration revealed, not prosody and meters.
وَحِفْنِيُّand Hifni كَانَwas العَالِمَthe scholar العَامِلَacting on his knowledge الَّذِيwho
وَحِفْنِيُّ كَانَ العَالِمَ العَامِلَ الَّذِي
لَهُto him القَوْلُspeech طَوْعٌobedient وَالبَلاغَةُand eloquence مِذْعَانُsubmissive
لَهُ القَوْلُ طَوْعٌ وَالبَلاغَةُ مِذْعَانُ
And Hifni was the scholar of deeds, to whom
Speech was obedient and eloquence submissive.
مُثَقِّفَeducator نَشْءِthe youth العَصْرِof the age أَيَّامَin days لَمْnot تَكُنْthere were
مُثَقِّفَ نَشْءِ العَصْرِ أَيَّامَ لَمْ تَكُنْ
وَسَائِلَmeans تَقْرِيبٍof simplification وَلَمْand not يَكُthere was إِتْقَانُmastery
وَسَائِلَ تَقْرِيبٍ وَلَمْ يَكُ إِتْقَانُ
The educator of the age's youth, when there were no
Aids to understanding, nor perfected practice.
فَأُوتِيَso were given ذُخْراًa treasure مِنْfrom غَوَالِيthe precious دُرُوسِهِhis lessons
فَأُوتِيَ ذُخْراً مِنْ غَوَالِي دُرُوسِهِ
غَرَانِيقُfine youths فَازُواthey prospered فِيin الحَيَاةِlife وَفِتْيَانُand young men
غَرَانِيقُ فَازُوا فِي الحَيَاةِ وَفِتْيَانُ
So a treasure from his precious lessons was bestowed on
Fine youths who prospered in life, and young men.
يَعِزُّgains strength الحِمَىthe homeland مِنْهُمْfrom them بِكُلِّthrough every مُهَذَّبٍrefined man
يَعِزُّ الحِمَى مِنْهُمْ بِكُلِّ مُهَذَّبٍ
لَهُhe has أَدَبٌculture جَمٌّabundant وَفَضْلٌand merit وَعِرْفَانُand knowledge
لَهُ أَدَبٌ جَمٌّ وَفَضْلٌ وَعِرْفَانُ
Each refined man among them brings strength to the homeland,
Possessed of abundant culture, merit, and knowledge.
وَand حِفْنِيُّHifni كَانَwas الجِهْبِذَthe master اللَّبِقَadroit الَّذِيwho
وَ حِفْنِيُّ كَانَ الجِهْبِذَ اللَّبِقَ الَّذِي
بِهِthrough him عَادَreturned لِلفُصْحَىto classical Arabic عَلَىover اللَّغْوِidle speech سُلْطَانُauthority
بِهِ عَادَ لِلفُصْحَى عَلَى اللَّغْوِ سُلْطَانُ
And Hifni was the adroit master through whom
Classical Arabic regained its power over idle speech.
وَرَدَّand restored عَلَىto القُرْآنِthe Qur'an مُحْكَمَthe exact form رَسْمِهِof its script
وَرَدَّ عَلَى القُرْآنِ مُحْكَمَ رَسْمِهِ
كَمَاas خَطَّهُhe inscribed it فِيin سَالِفِbygone الدَّهْرِtime عُثْمَانُUthman
كَمَا خَطَّهُ فِي سَالِفِ الدَّهْرِ عُثْمَانُ
He restored to the Qur'an its exact written form,
As Uthman had inscribed it in bygone time.
وَand حِفْنِيُّHifni فِيin نَادِيهِhis gathering ذُوpossessor of الكَلِمِwords الَّتِيwhich
وَ حِفْنِيُّ فِي نَادِيهِ ذُو الكَلِمِ الَّتِي
بِأَبْدَعَwith anything more wondrous مِنْهَاthan them لاnot تُشَنَّفُare adorned آذَانُears
بِأَبْدَعَ مِنْهَا لا تُشَنَّفُ آذَانُ
And Hifni, in his gathering, possessed words
Than which none more wondrous ever adorned the ears.
عِبَارَتُهُhis expression تَجْرِيflows بِأَشْفَىwith greater healing مِنَthan النَّدَىdew
عِبَارَتُهُ تَجْرِي بِأَشْفَى مِنَ النَّدَى
وَمَنْطِقُهُand his speech مِنْfrom حِكْمَةِthe wisdom الدَّهْرِof time رَيَّانُwell-watered
وَمَنْطِقُهُ مِنْ حِكْمَةِ الدَّهْرِ رَيَّانُ
His words flow with more healing than dew,
And his speech is steeped in the wisdom of time.
هُوَhe الأَسْمَرُdark-skinned العَبْلُstout البَطِيءُslow حَرَاكُهُhis movement
هُوَ الأَسْمَرُ العَبْلُ البَطِيءُ حَرَاكُهُ
وَلَكِنَّهُbut he رُوحٌa spirit تَخِفُّis nimble وَوِجْدَانُand feeling
وَلَكِنَّهُ رُوحٌ تَخِفُّ وَوِجْدَانُ
He is dark-skinned and stout, slow in his movements,
Yet he is a nimble spirit and feeling itself.
فَإِنْso if يَكُthere is إِنْسَانٌa person يُبَاهِيهِrivals him طَلْعَةًin appearance
فَإِنْ يَكُ إِنْسَانٌ يُبَاهِيهِ طَلْعَةً
فَلَيْسَthen no يُباهِيهِrivals him بِمَعْنَاهُin his inner worth إِنْسَانُperson
فَلَيْسَ يُباهِيهِ بِمَعْنَاهُ إِنْسَانُ
If a man can rival him in appearance,
No man can rival him in inner worth.
وَand حِفْنِيُّHifni قَاضٍa judge رَاقَبَheeded اللهَGod عَالِماًknowing
وَ حِفْنِيُّ قَاضٍ رَاقَبَ اللهَ عَالِماً
بِأَنَّthat الَّذِيthe One who إِذَاwhen اقْتَصَّHe exacts retribution رَحْمَنُthe All-Merciful
بِأَنَّ الَّذِي إِذَا اقْتَصَّ رَحْمَنُ
And Hifni was a judge mindful of God, knowing
That He, when exacting retribution, is the All-Merciful.
فَبالَغَso he went far فِيin اسْتِيطَانِdwelling within كُلِّevery سَرِيرَةٍhidden heart
فَبالَغَ فِي اسْتِيطَانِ كُلِّ سَرِيرَةٍ
مُحَاذَرَةَfor fear أَنْthat يُخْطِيءَmight miss الحَقَّthe truth بُرْهَانُa proof
مُحَاذَرَةَ أَنْ يُخْطِيءَ الحَقَّ بُرْهَانُ
So he strove to dwell within every hidden heart,
Lest a proof should miss the truth.
وَكَائِنْand how many طَوَىhe passed مِنْof لَيْلَةٍa night نَابِغِيَّةٍlike al-Nabigha's
وَكَائِنْ طَوَى مِنْ لَيْلَةٍ نَابِغِيَّةٍ
بِهَاin it رَقَدَslept الشَّاكِيthe complainant وَقَاضِيهِand his judge سَهْرَانُawake
بِهَا رَقَدَ الشَّاكِي وَقَاضِيهِ سَهْرَانُ
How many a night like al-Nabigha's he endured,
When the complainant slept and his judge stayed awake.
وَفِيand in الدِّينِreligion أَوْor فِيin العِلْمِlearning صَرَّفَexpended جُهْدَهُhis effort
وَفِي الدِّينِ أَوْ فِي العِلْمِ صَرَّفَ جُهْدَهُ
بِأَحْسَنِwith the best مَاthat يُوحِيهِinspires it عَقْلٌreason وَإِيمَانُand faith
بِأَحْسَنِ مَا يُوحِيهِ عَقْلٌ وَإِيمَانُ
In religion or learning he spent his effort,
With the best that reason and faith inspired.
يَمُدُّsupplies بِمَاwith what فِالرَّبِيعِin spring (irregular text) جَامِعَتَيْهِمَاtheir two institutions
يَمُدُّ بِمَا فِالرَّبِيعِ جَامِعَتَيْهِمَا
وَكُلٌّand each لَهُfor it مَرْمَىan aim وَكُلٌّand each لَهُfor it شَانُa role
وَكُلٌّ لَهُ مَرْمَى وَكُلٌّ لَهُ شَانُ
He nourishes their two institutions with what spring holds,
Each has its aim, and each its role.
فَهَذِيso this one لَهَاfor it مِنْهُfrom him نَصِيرٌa champion وَمُرْشِدٌand guide
فَهَذِي لَهَا مِنْهُ نَصِيرٌ وَمُرْشِدٌ
وَهَذِيand this one لَهَاfor it مِنْهُfrom him ظَهِيرٌa supporter وَمِعْوَانُand helper
وَهَذِي لَهَا مِنْهُ ظَهِيرٌ وَمِعْوَانُ
One has in him a champion and guide,
The other has in him a supporter and helper.
إِذَاwhen ائْتَمَرَassemble المُسْتَشْرِقُونَthe Orientalists وَقلِّبَتْand are examined
إِذَا ائْتَمَرَ المُسْتَشْرِقُونَ وَقلِّبَتْ
تَوَارِيخُنَاour histories مِمَّاof what طَوَىfolded away الأَيْنُplace والآنُand time
تَوَارِيخُنَا مِمَّا طَوَى الأَيْنُ والآنُ
When the Orientalists convene and leaf through
Our histories of what place and time have folded away,
فَحِفْنِيُّthen Hifni مِنْطِيقُan eloquent voice المَعَارِفِof learning وَالنُّهَىand reason
فَحِفْنِيُّ مِنْطِيقُ المَعَارِفِ وَالنُّهَى
هُنَاكَthere وَصَوتٌand a voice لِلكِنَانَةِfor al-Kinana (Egypt) رَنَّانُresonant
هُنَاكَ وَصَوتٌ لِلكِنَانَةِ رَنَّانُ
Hifni is the eloquent voice of learning and reason
There, and a resonant voice for al-Kinana.
وَفِيِand in كُلِّall مَاthat يَأْتِيهِhe undertakes لاnot يَسْتَفِزُّهُstirs him
وَفِيِ كُلِّ مَا يَأْتِيهِ لا يَسْتَفِزُّهُ
أَثَمَّتَis there غُنْمٌgain أَمْor هُنَالِكَthere شُكْرَانُgratitude
أَثَمَّتَ غُنْمٌ أَمْ هُنَالِكَ شُكْرَانُ
And in all he undertakes, he is not stirred by
Whether there is profit or gratitude to be had.
فَوَاso, O حَرَبَاmy grief مِنْat طَارِئِيْنِtwo sudden calamities تَحَالَفَاconspired
فَوَا حَرَبَا مِنْ طَارِئِيْنِ تَحَالَفَا
عَلَيْهِagainst him فَدَكَّاهُand crushed him كَمَاas دُكَّis demolished بُنْيَانُa building
عَلَيْهِ فَدَكَّاهُ كَمَا دُكَّ بُنْيَانُ
Alas, my grief for two sudden calamities that conspired
Against him and crushed him as a building is crushed.
أُصِيبَwas struck بِسَهْمٍby an arrow جَنْبُهُhis side فَهْوَyet he صَابْرٌpatient
أُصِيبَ بِسَهْمٍ جَنْبُهُ فَهْوَ صَابْرٌ
وَآخَرَand another أَصْمَىslew بِكْرَهُhis firstborn فَهْوَso he ثَكْلانُbereaved
وَآخَرَ أَصْمَى بِكْرَهُ فَهْوَ ثَكْلانُ
An arrow struck his side, and he was patient;
Another slew his firstborn, and he was bereaved.
وَمَاand not مَلَكٌMalak مَنْone who يَحْسُنُis pleasant العَيْشُlife بَعْدَهَاafter her
وَمَا مَلَكٌ مَنْ يَحْسُنُ العَيْشُ بَعْدَهَا
عَلَيْهَاupon her سَلامٌpeace فِيin الجِنَانِthe Gardens وَرِضْوَانُand divine favor
عَلَيْهَا سَلامٌ فِي الجِنَانِ وَرِضْوَانُ
And life could not be sweet after Malak—
Peace upon her in the Gardens, and divine favor.
وَهَىfailed الجَلَدُthe fortitude البَاقِيremaining بِهِin him إِذْwhen تَرَحَّلَتْshe departed
وَهَى الجَلَدُ البَاقِي بِهِ إِذْ تَرَحَّلَتْ
وَأَوْدَىand he perished أَسىًof grief يَبْكِيهِmourn him أَهْلٌfamily وَإِخْوَانُand brothers
وَأَوْدَى أَسىً يَبْكِيهِ أَهْلٌ وَإِخْوَانُ
His remaining fortitude failed when she departed,
And he died of grief, mourned by family and brothers.
مُصَابٌa calamity أَصَابَstruck العُرْبَthe Arabs بَدْواًnomads أَوْor حُضَّراًtownsfolk
مُصَابٌ أَصَابَ العُرْبَ بَدْواً أَوْ حُضَّراً
فَقَحْطَانُso Qahtan مَكْلُومُwounded الفُؤَادِat heart وَعَدْنَانُand Adnan
فَقَحْطَانُ مَكْلُومُ الفُؤَادِ وَعَدْنَانُ
A calamity struck the Arabs, nomads and townsfolk:
Qahtan is wounded at heart, and Adnan.
وَعَزَّand proved difficult أَسَاconsolation دَارِfor Dar السَّلامِal-Salam وَصُوِّحَتْand were withered
وَعَزَّ أَسَا دَارِ السَّلامِ وَصُوِّحَتْ
بِقَاعُlands العَزِيزِof al-Aziz الخُضْرُgreen وَاهْتَزَّand trembled لُبْنَانُLebanon
بِقَاعُ العَزِيزِ الخُضْرُ وَاهْتَزَّ لُبْنَانُ
Dar al-Salam could scarcely be consoled, and withered were
The green lands of al-Aziz, and Lebanon trembled.
وَرُوِّعَتِand was shaken الفُسْطَاطُal-Fustat لَكِنَّهَاbut it طَغَىsurged
وَرُوِّعَتِ الفُسْطَاطُ لَكِنَّهَا طَغَى
عَلَىover حُزْنِهَاits grief فِيon ذَلِكَthat اليَوْمِday أَحْزَانُsorrows
عَلَى حُزْنِهَا فِي ذَلِكَ اليَوْمِ أَحْزَانُ
Al-Fustat was shaken, yet there surged
Over its grief that day still other griefs.
أَجَابَanswered بَنُوهَاher sons مُهْرَعِينَhurrying وَقَدْand already دَعَاcalled
أَجَابَ بَنُوهَا مُهْرَعِينَ وَقَدْ دَعَا
إِلَىto الذَّوْدِdefense ظُلْمٌoppression حُمِّلُوهُthey were made to bear it وَعُدْوَانُand aggression
إِلَى الذَّوْدِ ظُلْمٌ حُمِّلُوهُ وَعُدْوَانُ
Her sons responded in haste, for they were summoned
To defense by oppression imposed on them and aggression.
وَفَارَقَتِand left الغِيدُthe graceful women الخُدُورَthe secluded chambers عَوَامِداًheading
وَفَارَقَتِ الغِيدُ الخُدُورَ عَوَامِداً
إِلَىto حَيْثُwhere يَلْقَىfaces الرَّوْعَgraybeards شِيبٌand young men وَشُبَّانُline_89
إِلَى حَيْثُ يَلْقَى الرَّوْعَ شِيبٌ وَشُبَّانُ
The graceful women left their secluded chambers, making their way
To where graybeards and young men faced terror.
كَفَىsufficed شَاغِلاًas an occupation أَنْthat يُشْغِلُواthey become absorbed عَنْfrom نُفُوسِهِمْthemselves
كَفَى شَاغِلاً أَنْ يُشْغِلُوا عَنْ نُفُوسِهِمْ
لِيُنْصَفَso justice be done شَعْبٌa people مُسْتَضَامٌoppressed وَأَوْطَانُand homelands
لِيُنْصَفَ شَعْبٌ مُسْتَضَامٌ وَأَوْطَانُ
It was enough to engross them that they forgot themselves,
So an oppressed people and homelands might gain justice.
فَيَقْتَحِمُواso they brave الأَخْطَارَdangers عُوْلاًunarmed (uncertain reading) وَمَاand not بِهِمْof concern to them
فَيَقْتَحِمُوا الأَخْطَارَ عُوْلاً وَمَا بِهِمْ
أَيُرْدَىwhether are slain كُهُولٌmiddle-aged men أَوْor يُعَاجِلُare taken suddenly وِلَدانُchildren
أَيُرْدَى كُهُولٌ أَوْ يُعَاجِلُ وِلَدانُ
So they plunge into dangers, unarmed, unconcerned
Whether middle-aged men are slain or children snatched away.
وَيَزْدَحِمُواand crowd together مُسْتِبْسِلِينَdefying death وَيَصْطَلُواand brave the heat
وَيَزْدَحِمُوا مُسْتِبْسِلِينَ وَيَصْطَلُوا
عَلَىin الكَرِّthe charge نِيرَاناًfires تَلِيهِنَّfollow them نِيرَانُfires
عَلَى الكَرِّ نِيرَاناً تَلِيهِنَّ نِيرَانُ
And crowd together, defying death, and brave
In the charge, fires followed by more fires.
فَفِيso in جَوِّan atmosphere الاِسْتِشْهَادِof martyrdom وَالمَوْتُand death فَاتِكٌdeadly
فَفِي جَوِّ الاِسْتِشْهَادِ وَالمَوْتُ فَاتِكٌ
وَلِليَأْسِand desperation has إِزْرَاءٌcontempt عَلَيْهِfor it وَطُغْيَانُand defiance
وَلِليَأْسِ إِزْرَاءٌ عَلَيْهِ وَطُغْيَانُ
So, in an atmosphere of martyrdom, with death running rampant,
And desperation scorning it and defying it,
تَوَلَّىdeparted عَنِfrom الجُلَّىthe great ordeal مُعِدُّthe preparer رِجَالِهَاof its men
تَوَلَّى عَنِ الجُلَّى مُعِدُّ رِجَالِهَا
فَإِمَّاso if غَفَتْhave slept عَيْنَاهُhis eyes فَالقَلْبُthen the heart يَقْظَانُawake
فَإِمَّا غَفَتْ عَيْنَاهُ فَالقَلْبُ يَقْظَانُ
The man who readied its champions departed from the great struggle.
If his eyes have fallen asleep, his heart remains awake.
وَإِنْand though لَمْnot يَرَhe saw النَّصْرَvictory العَزيزَglorious فَرُوحُهُthen his spirit
وَإِنْ لَمْ يَرَ النَّصْرَ العَزيزَ فَرُوحُهُ
مِنَfrom المَوْطِنِthe dwelling الأَعْلَىhighest بِهِin it اليَوْمَtoday جَذْلانُrejoicing
مِنَ المَوْطِنِ الأَعْلَى بِهِ اليَوْمَ جَذْلانُ
Though he did not see the glorious victory, his spirit
Rejoices in it today from the highest dwelling.
وَمَاand what هَمُّهُhis concern إِنْif لَمْnot يُوَّفُوهُthey pay him in full حَقَّهُhis due
وَمَا هَمُّهُ إِنْ لَمْ يُوَّفُوهُ حَقَّهُ
إِذَاif رُدَّis restored حَقُّthe right القَوْمِof the people وَالبَغْيُand tyranny خَزْيَانُdisgraced
إِذَا رُدَّ حَقُّ القَوْمِ وَالبَغْيُ خَزْيَانُ
What does it matter to him if they have not paid him his due,
If the people's rights are restored and tyranny stands disgraced?
سَلامٌpeace عَلَىupon حِفْنِيُّHifni إِنَّindeed بِلادَهُhis country
سَلامٌ عَلَى حِفْنِيُّ إِنَّ بِلادَهُ
ترَدِّدُechoes ذِكْرَاهُhis memory وَفِيand in النَّفْسِthe soul تَحْيَانُyearning (uncertain reading)
ترَدِّدُ ذِكْرَاهُ وَفِي النَّفْسِ تَحْيَانُ
Peace upon Hifni! His country
Echoes his memory, with yearning in the soul.
إِذَاif هُوَhe لَمْnot يُكُرَمْis honored عَلَىaccording to قَدْرِthe measure of فَضْلِهِhis merit
إِذَا هُوَ لَمْ يُكُرَمْ عَلَى قَدْرِ فَضْلِهِ
فَمَاthen not البُطْءُdelay إِجْحَافٌinjustice وَمَاand not الصَّبْرُpatience سُلْوَانُforgetfulness
فَمَا البُطْءُ إِجْحَافٌ وَمَا الصَّبْرُ سُلْوَانُ
If he has not been honored according to his merit,
Delay is not injustice, nor patience forgetfulness.
أَمَاhas not كَانَbeen حُكْمُthe judgment الدَّهْرِof time فِيon النَّاسِmankind وَاحِداًone
أَمَا كَانَ حُكْمُ الدَّهْرِ فِي النَّاسِ وَاحِداً
وَلَمْand not تَخْتَلِفْdiffered فِيهِabout it شُعُوبٌpeoples وَبُلْدَانُand lands
وَلَمْ تَخْتَلِفْ فِيهِ شُعُوبٌ وَبُلْدَانُ
Has not time's judgment of mankind been one,
Unchanged among peoples and lands?
فَقَدِّمَso was advanced مَجْدُوداًa fortunate man وَأَخِّرَand was held back غَيْرَهُsomeone other than him
فَقَدِّمَ مَجْدُوداً وَأَخِّرَ غَيْرَهُ
تَحَكُّمَby the caprice نَجْمٍof a star وَالفَرِيقَانِand both groups أَقْرَانُpeers
تَحَكُّمَ نَجْمٍ وَالفَرِيقَانِ أَقْرَانُ
The fortunate man advanced, another held back,
By a star's caprice, though both are peers.
وَلَكِنَّbut عُقْبَىthe outcome السُّوءِof evil سُوءٌevil مُحَتَّمٌinevitable
وَلَكِنَّ عُقْبَى السُّوءِ سُوءٌ مُحَتَّمٌ
وَمَاand what كَانَwas إِحْسَاناًgoodness فَعُقْبَاهُthen its outcome إِحْسَانِgoodness
وَمَا كَانَ إِحْسَاناً فَعُقْبَاهُ إِحْسَانِ
Yet evil's end is inevitable evil,
And goodness ends in goodness.
بِلادُكَyour country يَاO أَوْفَىmost loyal بَنِيهَاof its sons وَفِيَّةٌloyal
بِلادُكَ يَا أَوْفَى بَنِيهَا وَفِيَّةٌ
مَشِيئَتُهَاits will تُقْضَىis fulfilled وَإِنْand though عَاقَhinder حِدْثَانُcalamities
مَشِيئَتُهَا تُقْضَى وَإِنْ عَاقَ حِدْثَانُ
Your country, O most loyal of its sons, is loyal;
Its will shall be fulfilled, though calamities obstruct it.
سَيَبْقَىshall remain عَلَىthrough الأَيَّامِthe days مَجْدُكَyour glory كَامِلاًcomplete
سَيَبْقَى عَلَى الأَيَّامِ مَجْدُكَ كَامِلاً
بِرَغْمِdespite العَوَادِيadversities لَيْسَnot يَعْزَوهُtouches it (uncertain reading) نُقْصَانُdiminution
بِرَغْمِ العَوَادِي لَيْسَ يَعْزَوهُ نُقْصَانُ
Your glory shall remain whole through the days,
Despite adversities, no diminution shall touch it.
وَإِنْand though تُنْسَare forgotten أَعْمَالٌdeeds رَهَائِنَcaptives وَقْتِهَاof their time
وَإِنْ تُنْسَ أَعْمَالٌ رَهَائِنَ وَقْتِهَا
فَلَيْسَthen not لِمَاfor what خَلَّدْتَyou immortalized فِيin مِصْرَEgypt نِسْيَانُoblivion
فَلَيْسَ لِمَا خَلَّدْتَ فِي مِصْرَ نِسْيَانُ
Though deeds held captive to their time may be forgotten,
What you made immortal in Egypt shall never be forgotten.
Translation model: Sol 6.1