سلا مَن سلا مَن بنا استبدلا

سلا مَن سلا مَن بنا استبدلا

وكيفَ محا الآخرُ الأوّلا

وكيفَ محا الآخرُ الأوّلا

Ask him who forgot us whom he chose in our place,

Peace to the one who exchanged peace,

and how the latter erased the former.

How did the other erase the first?

وأيّ هوىً حادث العهد أم

وأيّ هوىً حادث العهد أم

س أنساه ذاك الهوى المُحوِلا

س أنساه ذاك الهوى المُحوِلا

And what newly pledged love, born yesterday,

And which passion newly occurred,

made him forget that year-old love?

Or did I forget that transforming passion?

وأين المواثيقُ والعاذلاتُ

وأين المواثيقُ والعاذلاتُ

يضيق عليهنّ أن تعذُلا

يضيق عليهنّ أن تعذُلا

Where are the pledges, and the reproaching women

Where are the covenants and the reproachers?

who found it hard to utter reproach?

It is difficult for them to reproach.

أكانت أضاليلَ وعدِ الزما

أكانت أضاليلَ وعدِ الزما

ن أم حُلُمَ الليلِ ثم انجلى

ن أم حُلُمَ الليلِ ثم انجلى

Were they the deceptions of Time's promise,

Were they the delusions of time’s promise,

or a dream of night that then dissolved?

Or a night’s dream that then vanished?

وممّا جرى الدمعُ فيه سؤا

وممّا جرى الدمعُ فيه سؤا

لُ من تاه بالحسن أَن يُسألا

لُ من تاه بالحسن أَن يُسألا

Among the things that drew tears was the demand

About what did a tear flow, I ask,

of one proud of beauty to be implored.

One who is lost in beauty, that he be asked.

أقول برامةَ يا صاحبيَّ

أقول برامةَ يا صاحبيَّ

مَعاجاً وإن فعلا أجملا

مَعاجاً وإن فعلا أجملا

At Ramah I say, 'My two companions,

I say to my companion, gently,

turn aside'; if they do, they do a kindness.

Though he acted harshly, more beautifully.

قفا لعليل فإنّ الوقوفَ

قفا لعليل فإنّ الوقوفَ

وإن هو لم يشفِه علّلا

وإن هو لم يشفِه علّلا

Stop for a sick man, for stopping,

Stop for the sick man, though stopping

even if it does not cure him, gives him solace.

Will not heal him, it will console him,

بغربيّ وجرةَ ينشُدنَه

بغربيّ وجرةَ ينشُدنَه

وإن زادنا صلةً منزلا

وإن زادنا صلةً منزلا

They seek him west of Wajrah,

With my song and travel provisions,

though he grants us only a dwelling as a gift.

And if our ties increase, a stopping place,

وحسناء لو أنصفتْ حسنَها

وحسناء لو أنصفتْ حسنَها

لكان من القُبح أن تبخَلا

لكان من القُبح أن تبخَلا

And a beauty, if she did her beauty justice,

And a beautiful woman, if she were fair,

would find it ugly to be stingy.

It would be ugly for her to be stingy.

رأت هجرَها مرِخصاً من دمي

رأت هجرَها مرِخصاً من دمي

على النأيِ عِلقاً قديماً غلا

على النأيِ عِلقاً قديماً غلا

She saw her abandonment cheapen my blood,

She saw his estrangement licit because of

a treasure long prized, grown dearer in absence.

An old attachment to distance that fermented.

ورُبَّتَ واشٍ بها منبضٍ

ورُبَّتَ واشٍ بها منبضٍ

أسابقه الردَّ أن يُنبلا

أسابقه الردَّ أن يُنبلا

Many a slanderer, twanging his bow against her,

And an informing spy brought her news of him,

I forestall with rebuttal before he can shoot.

Racing ahead lest the news be cut off.

رأى ودَّها طللا ممحِلا

رأى ودَّها طللا ممحِلا

فلفَّق ما شاء أن يَمحَلا

فلفَّق ما شاء أن يَمحَلا

He saw her love as a barren ruin,

He saw her love an unreal illusion,

and fabricated whatever slander he wished.

So he ripped up as much as he wished to rip up.

وألسنة كأعالي الرماح

وألسنة كأعالي الرماح

رددتُ وقد شُرعتْ ذُبَّلا

رددتُ وقد شُرعتْ ذُبَّلا

And tongues like the tips of spears

And tongues like spearheads

I turned back, drooping, though leveled against me.

I parried when they were unleashed, stabbed.

ويأبى لحسناءَ إن أقبلت

ويأبى لحسناءَ إن أقبلت

تعرُّضَها قمراً مقبلا

تعرُّضَها قمراً مقبلا

Nor will a beauty, when she approaches, be allowed

And it refuses a beauty, if she inclines,

to suffer assault—a moon drawing near.

Her imposition on a crescent, inclining.

سقى الله ليلاتنا بالغوي

سقى الله ليلاتنا بالغوي

ر فيما أعلَّ وما أنهلا

ر فيما أعلَّ وما أنهلا

May God water our nights at al-Ghuwayr,

May God water our nights with talk,

with a second draught and a first,

Whenever a star rises or sets.

حياً كلّما أسبلت مقلةٌ

حياً كلّما أسبلت مقلةٌ

حنيناً له عبرةً أسبلا

حنيناً له عبرةً أسبلا

with rain that, whenever an eye sheds

Live! Whenever a star appears,

a tear in longing for it, pours down.

Yearning for it, I let fall a tear.

وخَصَّ وإن لم تعد ليلةً

وخَصَّ وإن لم تعد ليلةً

خلت فالكرى بعدها ما حلا

خلت فالكرى بعدها ما حلا

And may He favor especially, though it was but one night,

And it was special, though no night

the night now gone; no sleep since then was sweet.

Passed after it that resolved.

وفَى الطيفُ فيها بميعاده

وفَى الطيفُ فيها بميعاده

وكان تعوّد أن يمطُلا

وكان تعوّد أن يمطُلا

The apparition kept its appointment that night,

The specter fulfilled its tryst,

though it had grown accustomed to delaying.

As it grew accustomed, delaying.

فما كان أقصرَ ليلي به

فما كان أقصرَ ليلي به

وما كان لو لم يزر أطولا

وما كان لو لم يزر أطولا

How short my night was with it,

So my night with him was not

and how long it would have been had it not come!

The shortest, nor if he had not visited, the longest.

مساحبُ قصَّر عنّي المشي

مساحبُ قصَّر عنّي المشي

بُ ما كانَ منها الصِّبا ذيَّلا

بُ ما كانَ منها الصِّبا ذيَّلا

Trailing robes: gray hair shortened for me

Dewy nightclouds shortened my walk;

what youth had once let trail.

With old, pure exertion I jest.

ستصرفني نزواتُ الهمو

ستصرفني نزواتُ الهمو

م بالأرَب الجِدِّ أن أهْزِلا

م بالأرَب الجِدِّ أن أهْزِلا

The surges of sorrow will turn me

Worries’ caprices distract me

to earnest purpose, away from jesting.

From serious, ancient goals.

وتنحتُ من طرَفي زفرةٌ

وتنحتُ من طرَفي زفرةٌ

مباردها تأكل المُنصُلا

مباردها تأكل المُنصُلا

And a sigh chips away at my edge,

And a sigh is sculpted on my cheek

its files eating through a sword blade.

Whose lightning bolt eats away at my scarf’s fringe.

وأُغري بتأبين آل النبي

وأُغري بتأبين آل النبي

يِ إن نسّبَ الشعرُ أو غزّلا

يِ إن نسّبَ الشعرُ أو غزّلا

I am drawn to lamenting the Prophet's family,

And I am tempted to lament the House of the Prophet

even when poetry sings of love or courts a beloved.

If poetry attributes or seduces.

بنفسي نجومَهم المخمَداتِ

بنفسي نجومَهم المخمَداتِ

ويأبى الهدى غير أن تُشعَلا

ويأبى الهدى غير أن تُشعَلا

With my life I would ransom their extinguished stars,

With my soul, their extinguished stars,

yet guidance insists that they be kindled.

Though guidance refuses but to be lit.

وأجسامَ نور لهم في الصعي

وأجسامَ نور لهم في الصعي

د تملؤه فيضيء الملا

د تملؤه فيضيء الملا

And their bodies of light within the earth,

And bodies of light for them in the desert

filling it until the open expanse shines.

Fill it, so the dunes shine.

ببطن الثرى حملُ ما لم تُطِقْ

ببطن الثرى حملُ ما لم تُطِقْ

على ظهرها الأرضُ أن تحمِلا

على ظهرها الأرضُ أن تحمِلا

Within the dust lies a burden that

The earth could not bear

the earth could not bear upon its back.

To carry what the ground bore in its belly.

تفيض فكانت ندًى أبحرا

تفيض فكانت ندًى أبحرا

وتهوِي فكانت عُلاً أجبُلا

وتهوِي فكانت عُلاً أجبُلا

They pass away—once oceans of bounty;

It overflowed and became a sea’s dew,

they fall—once mountains of lofty rank.

It collapsed and became mountains piled up.

سل المتحدِّي بهم في الفخا

سل المتحدِّي بهم في الفخا

ر أين سمت شُرفات العلا

ر أين سمت شُرفات العلا

Ask whoever challenges others by boasting of them

Ask the challenger about them in battle,

where the pinnacles of greatness have risen.

Where did the pinnacles of glory lead?

بمن باهل اللهُ أعداءَه

بمن باهل اللهُ أعداءَه

فكان الرسولُ بهم أبهلا

فكان الرسولُ بهم أبهلا

Through whom did God challenge His enemies to mutual cursing,

With whom did God defeat his enemies?

and with them the Messenger invoke the curse?

So the Messenger through them was victorious?

وهذا الكتاب وإعجازُه

وهذا الكتاب وإعجازُه

على مَنْ وفي بيت مَنْ نُزِّلا

على مَنْ وفي بيت مَنْ نُزِّلا

And this Book and its inimitability—

And this Book and its inimitability,

upon whom, and in whose house, were they sent down?

Upon whom and in whose house was it sent down?

وبدرٌ وبدرٌ به الدِّينُ تم

وبدرٌ وبدرٌ به الدِّينُ تم

مَ من كان فيه جميلَ البلا

مَ من كان فيه جميلَ البلا

And Badr—Badr, through which the faith was completed—

And Badr, and at Badr, through it religion

who proved himself nobly there?

Was perfected, from its beautiful afflictions.

ومن نام قومٌ سواه وقام

ومن نام قومٌ سواه وقام

ومن كان أَفقَهَ أو أعدلا

ومن كان أَفقَهَ أو أعدلا

And who stood while others slept,

And who slept while the others stayed up

and who was more learned in law, or more just?

And who was the most knowledgeable or most just?

بمن فُصِلَ الحكم يوم الحنين

بمن فُصِلَ الحكم يوم الحنين

فطَّبق في ذلك المَفْصِلا

فطَّبق في ذلك المَفْصِلا

Through whom was judgment settled on the day of Hunayn,

Through whom was judgment decided on the Day of Gathering,

and who struck true at that very joint?

Categorizing therein that categorized case?

مساعٍ أطيلُ بتفصيلها

مساعٍ أطيلُ بتفصيلها

كفى معجزاً ذكرُها مجمَلا

كفى معجزاً ذكرُها مجمَلا

Deeds whose details would take me long to tell;

Far-reaching news whose details

their brief mention is miracle enough.

I lengthen, it’s enough briefly mentioned as miraculous.

يميناً لقد سُلّط الملحِدون

يميناً لقد سُلّط الملحِدون

على الحقّ أو كاد أن يبطُلا

على الحقّ أو كاد أن يبطُلا

I swear, the impious have been given power

By God, the atheists were let loose

over truth—or it has nearly been annulled.

Upon the truth, and it nearly was undone,

فلولا ضمانٌ لنا في الظهور

فلولا ضمانٌ لنا في الظهور

قضى جدَلُ القول أن نخجلا

قضى جدَلُ القول أن نخجلا

But for our assurance of triumph,

So had we no guarantee in the return,

contentious argument would force us to shame.

Debate’s argument would have shamed us.

أأللهَ يا قومُ يقضِي النبيُّ

أأللهَ يا قومُ يقضِي النبيُّ

مطاعاً فيُعصَى وما غُسِّلا

مطاعاً فيُعصَى وما غُسِّلا

By God, people, does the Prophet die

Do they, O people, claim the Prophet decrees

obeyed, yet be disobeyed before he is even washed?

Obedience, then is disobeyed, and is not washed?

ويوصِي فنخرُصُ دعوى علي

ويوصِي فنخرُصُ دعوى علي

ه في تركه دينَه مهمَلا

ه في تركه دينَه مهمَلا

He gives his testament, yet we fabricate a claim against him

And he commands, yet we quibble, alleging

that he left his religion neglected.

He neglected his religion, neglected?

ويجتمعون على زعمهم

ويجتمعون على زعمهم

وينبيك سعدٌ بما أَشكلا

وينبيك سعدٌ بما أَشكلا

They agree, according to their own claim,

And they gather on their alleged authority,

while Sa'd tells you what remains obscure.

And Sa’d opposes you with their ambiguities.

فيُعقِب إجماعُهم أن يبي

فيُعقِب إجماعُهم أن يبي

تَ مفضولُهم يقدُمُ الأفضلا

تَ مفضولُهم يقدُمُ الأفضلا

Their consensus thus brings it about that overnight

So their consensus is succeeded by

their lesser man takes precedence over the best,

Their inferior preceding the superior?

وأن يُنزع الأمرُ من أهله

وأن يُنزع الأمرُ من أهله

لأنّ عليّا له أُهِّلا

لأنّ عليّا له أُهِّلا

and authority is stripped from its rightful holders

And authority is stripped from its people

because Ali was qualified for it.

Because Ali was deemed its guardian?

وساروا يحطّون في آله

وساروا يحطّون في آله

بظلمهمُ كلكلاً كلكلا

بظلمهمُ كلكلاً كلكلا

They went on bearing down upon his family,

And they went on vilifying his House unjustly,

breast after breast, with their oppression.

Pelting them, pelting them with pebbles.

تدبُّ عقاربُ من كيدهم

تدبُّ عقاربُ من كيدهم

فتفنيهمُ أوّلا أوّلا

فتفنيهمُ أوّلا أوّلا

Scorpions of their plotting creep,

The claws of their malice crept in,

wiping them out, one by one.

So they perished, one by one.

أضاليلُ ساقت مصابَ الحسين

أضاليلُ ساقت مصابَ الحسين

وما قبلَ ذاك وما قد تلا

وما قبلَ ذاك وما قد تلا

Falsehoods led to Husayn's calamity,

The delusions that led to al-Husayn’s catastrophe,

and what preceded it, and what followed.

And what happened before and what ensued.

أميَّةُ لا بسةٌ عارَها

أميَّةُ لا بسةٌ عارَها

وإن خَفِيَ الثأرُ أو حُصِّلا

وإن خَفِيَ الثأرُ أو حُصِّلا

Umayyah is clothed in its disgrace,

The Umayyads, clothed with their shame,

whether vengeance remains hidden or is exacted.

Though vengeance was concealed or achieved.

فيومُ السقيفة يا بن النبي

فيومُ السقيفة يا بن النبي

يِ طرّق يومَك في كربلا

يِ طرّق يومَك في كربلا

The day of the Saqifah, son of the Prophet,

So oh son of the Prophet, the Day of Saqifa

paved the way for your day at Karbala.

Foreboded your day at Karbala.

وغصبُ أبيك على حقِّه

وغصبُ أبيك على حقِّه

وأمِّك حَسّنَ أن تُقتَلا

وأمِّك حَسّنَ أن تُقتَلا

The theft of your father's right,

And your father’s rightful authority usurped,

and your mother's, made your killing seem right.

And your mother commendably killed.

أيا راكبا ظهرَ مجدولةٍ

أيا راكبا ظهرَ مجدولةٍ

تُخالُ إذا انبسطت أجدلا

تُخالُ إذا انبسطت أجدلا

O rider on the back of a sinewy she-camel,

O rider atop a braided stand,

thought, when she stretches out, to be a falcon,

You fancied, when erect, an acacia tree,

شأت أربَعَ الريح في أربَعٍ

شأت أربَعَ الريح في أربَعٍ

إذا ما انتشرن طوين الفلا

إذا ما انتشرن طوين الفلا

she outran the four winds on four legs

Desiring, galloping on four,

which, when extended, folded up the desert.

When they dispersed tents’ pegs.

إذا وَكَّلتْ طَرفها بالسما

إذا وَكَّلتْ طَرفها بالسما

ء خِيل بإدراكها وُكِّلا

ء خِيل بإدراكها وُكِّلا

When she charges her gaze with the sky,

When she assigned her gaze to the sky,

it seems commissioned to overtake it.

A troop to catch up to her was assigned.

فعزَّت غزالتَها غُرّةً

فعزَّت غزالتَها غُرّةً

وطالت غزال الفلا أيطلا

وطالت غزال الفلا أيطلا

She outshone its sun with her bright forehead-blaze,

Her proud gazelles were blemished

and exceeded the desert gazelle in length of flank.

And the gazelles of the meadow grew distant.

كطّيك في منتهىً واحد

كطّيك في منتهىً واحد

لتُدرِكَ يثربَ أو مرقلا

لتُدرِكَ يثربَ أو مرقلا

Like your folding the distance toward one goal,

Like when partridges in one direction

to reach Yathrib or a swift-moving traveler.

Try to reach Medina or Marqala.

فِصلْ ناجيا وعلىَّ الأمانُ

فِصلْ ناجيا وعلىَّ الأمانُ

لمن كان في حاجةٍ مُوصَلا

لمن كان في حاجةٍ مُوصَلا

Arrive safely; security is my charge

intercede for a supplicant and I am safe

for whoever is dispatched on an errand.

For one who seeks a connection.

تحمَّلْ رسالةَ صبٍّ حملتَ

تحمَّلْ رسالةَ صبٍّ حملتَ

فناد بها أحمدَ المرسَلا

فناد بها أحمدَ المرسَلا

Carry a lovesick man's message—may you be well borne—

Take on the burden of my passion’s message,

then call out with it to Ahmad, the Messenger.

Then call Ahmad, the messenger with it.

وحيِّ وقُلْ يا نبيّ الهدى

وحيِّ وقُلْ يا نبيّ الهدى

تأشَّب نهجُك واستوغلا

تأشَّب نهجُك واستوغلا

Greet him and say, 'Prophet of guidance,

Inspire me and say, O guide Prophet,

your path has grown tangled and impenetrable.

Your path grew dark and overgrown.

قضيتَ فأرمضنا ما قضيتَ

قضيتَ فأرمضنا ما قضيتَ

وشرعُك قد تمَّ واستكملا

وشرعُك قد تمَّ واستكملا

You departed, and your departure scorched us,

You fulfilled, so we forgot what you fulfilled,

your law already complete and perfected.

And your law was complete and perfected.

فرامَ ابنُ عمكّ فيما سنن

فرامَ ابنُ عمكّ فيما سنن

تَ أن يتقبَّل أو يَمثُلا

تَ أن يتقبَّل أو يَمثُلا

Your cousin sought, in what you had ordained,

But your cousin considered, in what you legislated,

to accept it or conform to it.

To accept or enact it.

فخانك فيه من الغادري

فخانك فيه من الغادري

ن من غيَّر الحقَّ أو بدّلا

ن من غيَّر الحقَّ أو بدّلا

But treacherous men betrayed you in this—

So he betrayed you in it, of the traitors,

those who altered the truth or changed it—

Who altered the truth or changed it.

إلى أن تحلّت بها تيمها

إلى أن تحلّت بها تيمها

وأضحت بنو هاشم عُطَّلا

وأضحت بنو هاشم عُطَّلا

until its clan of Taym adorned itself with it,

Until Taym ruled it,

and Banu Hashim were left unadorned.

And the Hashimites were disempowered.

ولما سرى أمرُ تيم أطا

ولما سرى أمرُ تيم أطا

ل بيتُ عديٍّ لها الأحبلا

ل بيتُ عديٍّ لها الأحبلا

When Taym's authority spread,

And when Taym’s command went on,

the house of Adi lengthened its ropes for it.

The houses of ‘Adiy for them were destroyed.

ومدّت أميَّةُ أعنَاقها

ومدّت أميَّةُ أعنَاقها

وقد هُوّن الخطبُ واستُسهلا

وقد هُوّن الخطبُ واستُسهلا

And Umayyah stretched out its necks,

And the Umayyads extended their necks,

the grave affair already belittled and taken lightly.

When matters became easy and feasible.

فنال ابن عفّانَ ما لم يكن

فنال ابن عفّانَ ما لم يكن

يُظَنّ وما نال بل نُوِّلا

يُظَنّ وما نال بل نُوِّلا

Then Ibn Affan gained what had never been

The son of ‘Affan attained what was not

imagined; he did not gain it, but was granted it.

Expected, nor attained, but enabled.

فقرَّ وأنعمُ عيش يكو

فقرَّ وأنعمُ عيش يكو

ن من قبله خَشناً قُلْقُلا

ن من قبله خَشناً قُلْقُلا

He settled in ease; even the most comfortable life

So he became wealthy, and life,

before him had been harsh and unsettled.

Which had been rough before him, was smoothed.

وقلّبها أردشيريّةً

وقلّبها أردشيريّةً

فحرَّق فيها بما أشعلا

فحرَّق فيها بما أشعلا

He made it Ardashirian,

He made it Persian-like,

then scorched it with what he had kindled.

And in it, with what he ignited, burned.

وساروا فساقوه أو أوردوه

وساروا فساقوه أو أوردوه

حياضَ الردى منهلاً منهلا

حياضَ الردى منهلاً منهلا

They went on, driving him or bringing him

And they went on, driving him or leading him

to the pools of death, watering-place after watering-place.

To depravity’s meadows, watering hole to watering hole.

ولما امتطاها عليٌّ أخو

ولما امتطاها عليٌّ أخو

ك رَدَّ إلى الحقّ فاستُثقِلا

ك رَدَّ إلى الحقّ فاستُثقِلا

When Ali, your brother, mounted it,

And when Ali assumed command,

he restored it to truth, and was deemed burdensome.

He returned it to truth, so it was heavy.

وجاؤُا يسومونَه القاتلين

وجاؤُا يسومونَه القاتلين

وهم قد ولُوا ذلك المقتَلا

وهم قد ولُوا ذلك المقتَلا

They came demanding the killers from him,

And they came to him, blaming him for the deaths,

though they themselves had overseen that killing.

When they had fled from that blame.

وكانت هَناةٌ وأنت الخصيمُ

وكانت هَناةٌ وأنت الخصيمُ

غداً والمعاجَلُ من أُمهِلا

غداً والمعاجَلُ من أُمهِلا

There were misdeeds, and you are the adversary

There was hesitation while you were the adversary

tomorrow; the one reprieved will be hastened.

Tomorrow, though postponing was from the negligent.

لكم آل ياسين مدحي صفا

لكم آل ياسين مدحي صفا

وودّي حلا وفؤادي خلا

وودّي حلا وفؤادي خلا

For you, family of Ya-Sin, my praise is pure,

My praise is pure for you, O House of Yasin,

my love sweet, my heart emptied of all else.

And my affection is sweet and my heart sincere.

وعندي لأعدائكم نافذا

وعندي لأعدائكم نافذا

تُ قولِيَ ما صاحبَ المِقولا

تُ قولِيَ ما صاحبَ المِقولا

For your enemies I have the piercing utterances

And I have, for your enemies, penetrating

of my speech, as long as it accompanies my tongue.

Words—what an eloquent speaker says!

إذا ضاق بالسير ذرعُ الرفيق

إذا ضاق بالسير ذرعُ الرفيق

ملأتُ بهنّ فروجَ الملا

ملأتُ بهنّ فروجَ الملا

When the companion's endurance fails on the journey,

When the way is too narrow for the companion,

I fill with them the gaps of the open expanse.

I fill its expanses with flagpoles.

فواقرُ من كلّ سهمٍ تكون

فواقرُ من كلّ سهمٍ تكون

له كلُّ جارحةٍ مقتَلا

له كلُّ جارحةٍ مقتَلا

Back-breaking blows: for every arrow,

So the cores of each arrow become

every limb becomes a fatal target.

For every warrior a death blow.

وهلّا ونهجُ طريقِ النجاة

وهلّا ونهجُ طريقِ النجاة

بكم لاح لي بعد ما أشكلا

بكم لاح لي بعد ما أشكلا

And why not, when the path of salvation

Why not take the path of salvation’s road

appeared to me through you after being obscure?

With you, when for me, after darkness, a gleam shone?

ركبتُ لكم لُقَمي فاستننتُ

ركبتُ لكم لُقَمي فاستننتُ

وكنتُ أخابطه مَجهَلا

وكنتُ أخابطه مَجهَلا

I took my open road for you and sped along,

I rode my message to you, so I gained success,

where I had once floundered through trackless terrain.

When I was groping confusedly for it.

وفُكَّ من الشِّرك أسِري وكا

وفُكَّ من الشِّرك أسِري وكا

ن غُلّاً على مَنكِبي مُقفَلا

ن غُلّاً على مَنكِبي مُقفَلا

My bondage to idolatry was broken; it had been

My bondage to idolatry was untied, and it

a shackle locked upon my shoulder.

Was a burden shackled on my shoulders.

أواليكُمُ ما جرت مزنةٌ

أواليكُمُ ما جرت مزنةٌ

وما اصطخب الرعد أو جلجلا

وما اصطخب الرعد أو جلجلا

I remain loyal to you while any raincloud moves,

I will ally with you as long as there is

and thunder clamors or reverberates.

Thunderclap roaring and rumbling.

وأبرأُ ممن يعاديكُمُ

وأبرأُ ممن يعاديكُمُ

فإن البراءةَ أصلُ الولا

فإن البراءةَ أصلُ الولا

I disavow whoever opposes you,

And I disavow those who oppose you,

for disavowal is the root of allegiance.

For disavowal is the origin of loyalty.

ومولاكُمُ لا يخاف العقابَ

ومولاكُمُ لا يخاف العقابَ

فكونوا له في غدٍ موئلا

فكونوا له في غدٍ موئلا

Your loyal follower does not fear punishment;

And your master does not fear punishment,

so be his refuge on the morrow.

So be for him tomorrow a haven.