هوit is عيدُthe festival of ميلادthe birth of ابنthe son of عبدِservant of منافِManaf
هو عيدُ ميلاد ابن عبدِ منافِ
لاnot عيدُthe festival of مخترعan inventor، ولاnor كشّافِa discoverer
لا عيدُ مخترع، ولا كشّافِ
It is the birthday festival of the son of Abd Manaf,
This is the birthday of the son of Abd al-Muttalib
not the festival of an inventor or a discoverer.
Not the birthday of an inventor or discoverer
أكبرتُI deemed exalted قدركyour stature ياO بنson of عبدservant of اللهGod عنbeyond
أكبرتُ قدرك يا بن عبد الله عن
تأليفcomposing أوزانmeters، ونحتِand carving قوافrhymes
تأليف أوزان، ونحتِ قواف
I deem your stature, O son of Abd Allah, beyond
I exalt your status, O son of Abdallah, beyond
the composing of meters and the carving of rhymes.
Composing meters or sculpting rhymes
ماnot أنتyou إلاbut عَيْلَمٌa vast ocean لمnot يُكتشفْbe discovered
ما أنت إلا عَيْلَمٌ لم يُكتشفْ
يطغىoverwhelms بلجتهwith its deep waters علىupon الوصّافthe master describer
يطغى بلجته على الوصّاف
You are nothing but an ocean, still undiscovered,
You are but an unexplored treasure whose essence
whose depths overwhelm the master describer.
Prevails over the describers
بحرa sea خضمّvast and deep، غيرَexcept أنthat جُمانَهits pearls
بحر خضمّ، غيرَ أن جُمانَه
ماnot زالceased to be سرًاa secret داخلinside الأصدافthe shells
ما زال سرًا داخل الأصداف
A vast, deep sea—but its pearls
A tumultuous sea, though its pearls
remain a secret within the shells.
Remain concealed within shells
لولاكbut for you لانقطعwould have broken off الزمانtime؛ فلمand not تكنhave been
لولاك لانقطع الزمان؛ فلم تكن
حلقاتُهits links موصولةjoined الأطرافat the ends
حلقاتُه موصولة الأطراف
But for you, time would have broken off; nor would
Had it not been for you, time would have ceased;
its links have been joined end to end.
Its circles weren't linked at their edges
دجتgrew dark القرونُthe centuries؛ فقامso arose دينُكyour religion حارسًاas a guardian
دجت القرونُ؛ فقام دينُك حارسًا
يحميprotects ذمارthe sanctity of حضارةthe civilization of الأسلافthe forebears
يحمي ذمار حضارة الأسلاف
The centuries grew dark; your religion arose as a guardian,
The centuries fell dark; so your religion stood guard
protecting the sanctity of the forebears' civilization.
Protecting the ruins of ancestors' civilization
هزّshook الوجودَexistence بكفهwith his palm فيin مهدهhis cradle
هزّ الوجودَ بكفه في مهده
طفلٌa child يتيمٌorphaned منfrom كنانةَKinana عافneedy
طفلٌ يتيمٌ من كنانةَ عاف
He shook existence with his palm while in his cradle:
A helpless orphan shook existence in his cradle
a needy orphaned child of Kinana.
An offspring of Kananah, well-bred
جادتgave generously بهhim as a gift الفلواتُthe deserts أصفىpurer طينةًin clay
جادت به الفلواتُ أصفى طينةً
وطويةًand in inward nature منthan جوِّهنtheir air الصافيclear
وطويةً من جوِّهن الصافي
The deserts offered him, purer in clay
The deserts conceived him of the purest clay
and inward nature than their clear air,
And a fold from their clear air
وأشدَّand harder منthan خضباتهنtheir plateaus (probable typo) صلابةin solidity
وأشدَّ من خضباتهن صلابة
وأهبَّand more impetuous منthan إعصارهنtheir whirlwind السافيsand-driving
وأهبَّ من إعصارهن السافي
and harder than their plateaus,
Sturdier than their red dunes
and more impetuous than their sand-driving whirlwind.
And fiercer than their raging storms
فإذاthen behold الأكاسرthe Khosrows خاضعونsubmissive لحكمهto his rule
فإذا الأكاسر خاضعون لحكمه
وإذاand behold القياصرُthe Caesars مرغموforced into dust الآنافthe noses
وإذا القياصرُ مرغمو الآناف
Then behold, the Khosrows submit to his rule,
So the Caesars were made subservient to his rule
and behold, the Caesars have their noses rubbed in dust.
And the emperors had their noses rubbed in the dirt
فتحتopened مبادئُهhis principles الحصونَthe fortresses أمامهُbefore him
فتحت مبادئُه الحصونَ أمامهُ
قبلbefore الصوارمthe sharp swords والقناand the lances الرعَّافblood-dripping
قبل الصوارم والقنا الرعَّاف
His principles opened the fortresses before him,
His principles opened fortresses before him
before sharp swords and blood-dripping lances.
Before the swords and the heavily armed cavalry
غزتِconquered القلوبَthe hearts بسحرهاwith their enchantment؛ فكأنهاand as though they
غزتِ القلوبَ بسحرها؛ فكأنها
قدhad لامستtouched منهنamong them كلevery شَغَافheart's enveloping membrane
قد لامست منهن كل شَغَاف
They conquered hearts with their enchantment, as though
They invaded hearts with their charm; as if they
they had touched the very sheath of every heart.
Had touched every affection therein
أينhow far apart الذيthe one who يغزوconquers القلوبhearts منfrom الذيthe one who
أين الذي يغزو القلوب من الذي
يغزوconquers الرقابnecks بحدَّةwith the sharpness of الأسيافswords؟
يغزو الرقاب بحدَّة الأسياف؟
What a gulf between him who conquers hearts and him who
Where is he who invades hearts compared to him
conquers necks with the sharpness of swords!
Who invades necks with the sharpness of swords?
تلكthose المبادئprinciples وهيand they are شتىdiverse جُمِّعتْwere gathered
تلك المبادئ وهي شتى جُمِّعتْ
فيinto مبدأينtwo principles: الحقِّtruth، والإنصافand fairness
في مبدأين: الحقِّ، والإنصاف
Those principles, diverse as they are, were gathered
Those manifold principles were gathered
into two principles: truth and fairness.
In two tenets: truth and justice
آخىestablished brotherhood ابنُthe son of عبدِservant of اللهGod بينamong معاشرcommunities
آخى ابنُ عبدِ الله بين معاشر
يتناحرونslaughter one another تناحرُthe mutual slaughter of الأخيافgroups of differing stock
يتناحرون تناحرُ الأخياف
The son of Abd Allah made brothers of communities
The son of Abdallah brothered communities
who slaughtered one another like rival clans.
That used to claw at each other like wild beasts
لانتgrew pliant قناتهموtheir spear-shafts لدعوتهto his call، وماthough not
لانت قناتهمو لدعوته، وما
لانتgrew pliant قناتهموtheir spear-shafts لغمزunder the pressure of ثقافa spear-straightening tool
لانت قناتهمو لغمز ثقاف
Their spear-shafts yielded to his call, though never
His call tamed them, not the ridicule of critics
had their spear-shafts yielded to a straightener's pressure.
It can even tame the disposition of a stubborn lion
ولقدand indeed يروضmay tame الأسْدَlions رائضُهاtheir trainer، ولاyet not
ولقد يروض الأسْدَ رائضُها، ولا
يتغيرُchanges الطبعُthe nature الغليظcoarse الجافيharsh
يتغيرُ الطبعُ الغليظ الجافي
A trainer may indeed tame lions, yet
This is the miracle, not a sea split in half
their coarse, harsh nature does not change.
Nor a moon cleft into two halves
هذاthis هوis الإعجازthe miracle، لاnot بحرٌa sea، ولاnor
هذا هو الإعجاز، لا بحرٌ، ولا
قمرٌa moon قدindeed انشقاboth were split إلىinto أنصافhalves
قمرٌ قد انشقا إلى أنصاف
This is the miracle—not a sea, nor
A verse from the Wise Scripture brought them
a moon, split into halves.
Then hearts softened after rigidity
آيٌverses منfrom الذكرthe Reminder الحكيمwise أتىhe came بهاwith them
آيٌ من الذكر الحكيم أتى بها
فإذاand behold القلوبhearts تَلِينُsoften بعدafter جفافdryness
فإذا القلوب تَلِينُ بعد جفاف
He brought verses from the Wise Reminder,
Had thousands prostrated to him from doubt
and behold, hearts soften after being parched.
That wouldn't have sufficed as evidence
ولوَand even if أنthat ألفَيءtwo thousand (probable typo) دوحةa spreading tree سجدًاbowed in prostration لهto him
ولوَ أن ألفَيء دوحة سجدًا له
ماnot كانwould have been ذلكthat بالدليلthe proof الكافيsufficient
ما كان ذلك بالدليل الكافي
Even if two thousand spreading trees had bowed before him,
A wonder! Did Muhammad mesmerize with magic in his verses
that would not have been sufficient proof.
Or infuse them with nonsense?
عجبًاhow strange! أجاءdid he come محمدMuhammad بالسحرwith magic فيin
عجبًا! أجاء محمد بالسحر في
آياتهhis verses أمor شابهاhe mingled them بسُلافwith choice wine؟
آياته أم شابها بسُلاف؟
How strange! Did Muhammad bring magic in
Or was their submission to him hypnotism?
his verses, or mingle them with choice wine?
What is that obscure, profound secret?
أمor كانwas تنويمًاhypnosis خضعوعهموtheir submission (probable typo) لهto him؟
أم كان تنويمًا خضعوعهمو له؟
ماwhat ذلكthat السرُّsecret العميقُdeep الخافيhidden؟
ما ذلك السرُّ العميقُ الخافي؟
Or was their submission to him hypnosis?
I swear, Prophet Muhammad was no
What is that deep, hidden secret?
Sorcerer or fortune-teller, no!
أقسمتُI have sworn، ماnot كانwas النبيُّthe Prophet محمدٌMuhammad
أقسمتُ، ما كان النبيُّ محمدٌ
بمشعوذa charlatan، كلاcertainly not، ولاnor عرَّافa diviner
بمشعوذ، كلا، ولا عرَّاف
I swear: the Prophet Muhammad was not
But faith - he who attains it
a charlatan—certainly not—nor a diviner.
Finds life's riddles easy to unravel
لكنهbut it is الإيمانfaith منwhoever يظفرْwins بهit
لكنه الإيمان من يظفرْ به
يلقfinds المفاوزthe desert wastes سهلةeasy الأكنافon all sides
يلق المفاوز سهلة الأكناف
Rather, it is faith: whoever wins it
If a boulder were granted faith, it would ascend
finds the desert wastes easy on every side.
On wings made of its stones and pebbles
لوْif يرزقُwere granted الإيمانَfaith طودٌa mountain، لارتقىit would soar
لوْ يرزقُ الإيمانَ طودٌ، لارتقى
بقوادمon primary flight feathers منfrom ريشهits plumage وخوافand secondary flight feathers
بقوادم من ريشه وخواف
Were a mountain granted faith, it would soar
This is what made the Prophet and his fellows
on the primary and secondary feathers of its plumage.
Victorious over multitudes when warring
هذاthis الذيis what جعلmade النبيَّthe Prophet ورهطَهُand his band
هذا الذي جعل النبيَّ ورهطَهُ
إنif حاربواthey fought، انتصرواthey triumphed علىover الأضعافmany times their number
إن حاربوا، انتصروا على الأضعاف
This is what made the Prophet and his band,
Their faith intensifies in the tumult of war
whenever they fought, triumph over foes many times their number.
Meeting death with disdain
يزدادincreases فيin ساحthe field of الوغىbattle إيمانهمtheir faith
يزداد في ساح الوغى إيمانهم
فيقابلونso they face الموتdeath باستخفافwith disregard
فيقابلون الموت باستخفاف
Their faith grows on the field of battle,
Outnumbered, yet never weak
so they face death with disregard.
For their confidence in God is absolute
يُستضعَفونthey are deemed weak لقلةٍbecause they are few، لكنهمbut they
يُستضعَفون لقلةٍ، لكنهم
بوثوقهمthrough their trust فيin اللهGod غيرُnot ضعافweak
بوثوقهم في الله غيرُ ضعاف
They are deemed weak because they are few, yet
Summoned to battle, they march; summoned to wealth,
their trust in God makes them anything but weak.
They spurn it with utmost chastity
فإذاso when دُعواthey are called للحربto war، هبواthey spring up، أوor دعواthey are called
فإذا دُعوا للحرب، هبوا، أو دعوا
للمالto wealth، عفُّواthey abstain عنهfrom it أيَّutmost عفافself-restraint
للمال، عفُّوا عنه أيَّ عفاف
When called to war, they spring up; or, when called
Arise, O doubting Bedouin: what state
to wealth, they shun it with utmost restraint.
Did they establish carried on shoulders?
قمrise سائلask الأعرابthe Bedouins: أيةُwhat دولةstate
قم سائل الأعراب: أيةُ دولة
نهضواthey raised بهاit حملاًcarrying علىupon الأكتافthe shoulders؟
نهضوا بها حملاً على الأكتاف؟
Rise and ask the Bedouins: what state
"Athena's" seeds spawned a nation in civilization
did they raise, carrying it upon their shoulders?
Who cared for naught but homes and furnishings
بذرتsowed «أثيناAthens» فيin الحضارةcivilization أمةٌa nation
بذرت «أثينا» في الحضارة أمةٌ
لمnot تأوِshelter in غيرَanything but مضاربtent camps وفيافand deserts
لم تأوِ غيرَ مضارب وفياف
A nation sowed Athens in civilization,
Preoccupied with philosophy and science after
though it had sheltered only in tent camps and deserts.
Being busy describing mansions and furniture
شُغلواthey became occupied بفلسفةwith philosophy وعلمand science بعدماafter
شُغلوا بفلسفة وعلم بعدما
شغلواthey were occupied بوصفwith describing منازلcampsites وأثافand hearthstones
شغلوا بوصف منازل وأثاف
They became absorbed in philosophy and science after
They took mansions as homes and dressed
being occupied with describing campsites and hearthstones.
In silk, not camel hair and wool
تَخذواthey took القصورpalaces مساكنًاas dwellings وتسرْبلواand clothed themselves
تَخذوا القصور مساكنًا وتسرْبلوا
بالخزِّin silk، لاnot الأوبارcamel hair والأصوافand wool
بالخزِّ، لا الأوبار والأصواف
They took palaces as dwellings and clothed themselves
So the peninsula became after barrenness
in silk, not camel hair and wool.
A quivering garden with bending branches
فإذاand behold الجزيرةُthe Peninsula بعدafter جدْبbarrenness جنةٌa garden
فإذا الجزيرةُ بعد جدْب جنةٌ
ميَّاسةٌswaying gracefully مهتزةُquivering الأعطافthe limbs
ميَّاسةٌ مهتزةُ الأعطاف
And behold, after barrenness the Peninsula is a garden,
O Lord, they are a navy of prophethood as if
swaying gracefully, its limbs a-quiver.
A turbulent sea above another tide
ياO ربmany a أسطولfleet بنوةُthey built it (probable typo) كأنهas though it were
يا رب أسطول بنوةُ كأنه
بحرُa sea خضمٌّvast and deep فوقupon آخرَanother طافafloat
بحرُ خضمٌّ فوق آخرَ طاف
Oh, many a fleet they built, as though it were
The elite of all humanity ruled the world
a vast, deep sea afloat upon another.
Blessed be the rule of the elite of humanity!
السوقةthe common folk الأجلافuncouth قدindeed حكمواhave ruled الورىhumankind
السوقة الأجلاف قد حكموا الورى
أنعمhow splendid بحكمis the rule of السوقةthe common folk الأجلافuncouth!
أنعم بحكم السوقة الأجلاف!
The uncouth common folk have ruled humankind;
Whatever you wish of justice, equality,
how splendid the rule of those uncouth common folk!
And consultation - what a splendid trinity!
ماwhatever شئتyou wished منof: عدلjustice، وتسويةand equal treatment، ومنand of
ما شئت من: عدل، وتسوية، ومن
شورىconsultation؛ فياso, oh لثلاثةfor three أحلافallies!
شورى؛ فيا لثلاثة أحلاف!
All you could wish of justice, equal treatment, and
O East, o cradle of creeds, may you be shown mercy!
consultation—what a trio of allies!
Why are your people in you like strangers?
ياO شرقُEast، ياO مهدَcradle of الشرائعsacred laws، رحمةًmercy
يا شرقُ، يا مهدَ الشرائع، رحمةً
لكupon you! ماwhy لأهلكare your people فيكin you كالأضيافlike guests؟
لك! ما لأهلك فيك كالأضياف؟
O East, O cradle of sacred laws, mercy
O East, you are the horizon of every sun
be upon you! Why are your people like guests in you?
Why is your horizon in the worst condition?
ياO شرقEast، أنتyou لكلfor every شمسsun مطلعٌa rising-place
يا شرق، أنت لكل شمس مطلعٌ
ماwhat بالis the matter with أفقكyour horizon حالكَpitch-black الأسدافthe shadows؟
ما بال أفقك حالكَ الأسداف؟
O East, you are the rising place of every sun;
It pains us to see you moan from
why is your horizon pitch-black with shadows?
The shackling of feet and binding of shoulders!
أعززhow grievous عليناfor us أنto نراكsee you تئنgroaning منfrom
أعزز علينا أن نراك تئن من
تقييدshackling أقدامfeet وشدand tightening كتافarm-binding cords!
تقييد أقدام وشد كتاف!
How painful for us to see you groaning under
Civilization began its journey from the East
shackles on your feet and bonds around your arms!
Will its journey never resume?
بدأتbegan منfrom الشرقthe East حضارةcivilization سيرهاits journey
بدأت من الشرق حضارة سيرها
أفماis there then no لرحلتهاfor its journey منany استئنافresumption؟
أفما لرحلتها من استئناف؟
Civilization began its journey from the East;
can its journey not begin anew?
Partial English translation: 80 of 82 Arabic lines translated.