تفكَّرْتُI reflected فيon الإسلامِIslam وهوwhile it was مُحَلِّقٌsoaring
تفكَّرْتُ في الإسلامِ وهو مُحَلِّقٌ
وفكَّرْتُand I pondered فيon الإسلامِIslam وهوwhile it was كسيرُbroken!
وفكَّرْتُ في الإسلامِ وهو كسيرُ!
I reflected on Islam as it soared,
I pondered Islam soaring high
And pondered Islam as it lay broken!
I pondered Islam broken!
صُقُورٌfalcons يَجُبْنَthey traverse الجوَّthe sky غَيْرُnot جَوارحٍbirds of prey
صُقُورٌ يَجُبْنَ الجوَّ غَيْرُ جَوارحٍ
ويَبْدوand seems بِهِنَّwith them الجوُّthe sky وهوwhile it is قَرِيرُtranquil!
ويَبْدو بِهِنَّ الجوُّ وهو قَرِيرُ!
Falcons traversing the sky, yet not birds of prey,
Hawks slicing through the air not carrion birds
With them, the sky itself seemed tranquil!
The air echoes with their cries so sweet!
تَناءيْنَthey kept far away عنfrom ظُلْمٍoppression وخِيمٍdire. وعنand from خَنًىobscenity
تَناءيْنَ عن ظُلْمٍ وخِيمٍ. وعن خَنًى
وأَلْهَمَهُنَّand inspired them الصّالِحاتِrighteous deeds ضَمِيرُa conscience!
وأَلْهَمَهُنَّ الصّالِحاتِ ضَمِيرُ!
They shunned dire oppression and obscenity,
Soaring above the gloom and misery
And conscience inspired them to righteous deeds!
Good women's conscience guides their way
وجاءتْand came علىon أَعْقابِهِنَّtheir heels حمائِمٌdoves
وجاءتْ على أَعْقابِهِنَّ حمائِمٌ
كَثُرْنَthey grew numerous ولكنْbut ماnot لَهُنَّfor them هَدِيرُcooing!
كَثُرْنَ ولكنْ ما لَهُنَّ هَدِيرُ!
After them came doves,
And in their trail came doves in plenty
Numerous, yet without a coo!
Though they were many, no murmuring betrayed their course!
كَثُرْنَthey grew numerous ولكنْbut ماnot لهنَّfor them تَوَثُّبٌspringing to action
كَثُرْنَ ولكنْ ما لهنَّ تَوَثُّبٌ
ولاnor هِمَمٌaspirations كالغابِرينَlike those of old تُثِيرُstir!
ولا هِمَمٌ كالغابِرينَ تُثِيرُ!
Numerous, yet without a spring to action,
Though they were many, no impetuous zeal
Nor aspirations stirring as in those of old!
No fiery souls to fan the flames of life!
فأَغْرَىso emboldened بِهمْagainst them هذاthis الخُمولُtorpor طوائِفاًfactions
فأَغْرَى بِهمْ هذا الخُمولُ طوائِفاً
مَطامِعُهُمْtheir greed لِلْخامِلينَfor the idle سعيرُa blazing fire!
مَطامِعُهُمْ لِلْخامِلينَ سعيرُ!
This torpor emboldened factions against them,
And so sloth allured some groups by greed
Whose greed is an inferno for the idle!
The fiery pit awaits these sluggish souls!
ولوand if أَنَّهمthat they كانواhad been كَمِثْلِjust like جُدودِهِمْtheir forebears
ولو أَنَّهم كانوا كَمِثْلِ جُدودِهِمْ
لماthen not كانَwould have been منهمamong them خانِعٌabject وحَسِيرُand weary!
لما كانَ منهم خانِعٌ وحَسِيرُ!
Had they been like their forebears,
Had they been like their noble ancestors
None among them would have been abject or weary!
No cringing slave or vanquished soul were they!
رَضُواthey were content بِسَرابٍwith a mirage خادِعٍdeceptive فَتَساقَطواso they tumbled
رَضُوا بِسَرابٍ خادِعٍ فَتَساقَطوا
إلىinto حُفْرَةٍa pit فيهاin which الهوانُhumiliation خفيرُa guard!
إلى حُفْرَةٍ فيها الهوانُ خفيرُ!
They settled for a deceptive mirage, then tumbled
Lured by a mirage, deluded folk fell low
Into a pit where humiliation stands guard!
Into the ditch where disgrace sighed soft and slow!
حُطامٌwreckage ومَجْدٌand glory كاذبٌfalse وتَفَرُّقٌand disunity
حُطامٌ ومَجْدٌ كاذبٌ وتَفَرُّقٌ
مُشِتٌscattering.. لهto it الحُرُّthe free man الأَبِيُّthe proud أسيرُcaptive!
مُشِتٌ.. له الحُرُّ الأَبِيُّ أسيرُ!
Wreckage, false glory, and disunity,
Debris – false glory – split – blood spilt
Scattering—the proud free man its captive!
The free now fettered slaves, their heads are bowed!
وَنًىlanguor وانْحِدارٌand decline واخْتِلافٌand discord مُمَزِّقٌrending
وَنًى وانْحِدارٌ واخْتِلافٌ مُمَزِّقٌ
حِراءٌHira بكىwept منat وَيْلِهِits woe وثَبِيرُand Thabir!
حِراءٌ بكى من وَيْلِهِ وثَبِيرُ!
Languor, decline, and rending discord—
Decline, descent, unbridgeable divisions
Hira wept at its woe, and Thabir!
The barren weep, so loud is their distress!
تَذكَّرْتُI recalled أَمْساًa yesterday كانَwere فيهin it رِجالُهُits men
تَذكَّرْتُ أَمْساً كانَ فيه رِجالُهُ
لُيُوثاًlions لهمthey had فيamid القارِعاتcalamities زَئِيرُاa roar!
لُيُوثاً لهم في القارِعات زَئِيرُا!
I recalled a yesterday whose men were
I remembered yesterday when men walked tall
Lions whose roar rang out amid calamities!
Lions who faced adversity and did not run or fall!
ولَيْسواand they were not طغاةًtyrants بلbut حُماةًprotectors لِرَبْعِهِمْof their homeland
ولَيْسوا طغاةً بل حُماةً لِرَبْعِهِمْ
ولِلنَّاسِand of the people إنْif خطْبٌa calamity أَلَمَّbefell عسيرُgrievous!
ولِلنَّاسِ إنْ خطْبٌ أَلَمَّ عسيرُ!
Not tyrants, but protectors of their homeland,
No tyrants they, but proud protectors of their land
And of the people when grievous calamity struck!
Who helped all people, be their trouble big or small!
أَرُواthey showed العالَمَthe world المَسْحُوقَcrushed بعدafter
أَرُوا العالَمَ المَسْحُوقَ بعد
ابْتِزازِهِits plundering وذِلَّتِهand its humiliation عَدْلاًjustice يراهsees it ضَرِيرُa blind man!
ابْتِزازِهِ وذِلَّتِه عَدْلاً يراه ضَرِيرُ!
They showed the crushed world, after
They saw the world downtrodden, crushed
Its plunder and humiliation, justice even the blind could see!
Justice denied amidst such loss and shame
فَمالَso it inclined إلىtoward الحُسْنىgoodness. وألقىand cast قِيادَهُits reins
فَمالَ إلى الحُسْنى. وألقى قِيادَهُ
إلَيْهِمْto them فلاwith no قَيْدٌshackle يَشُدُّbinding.. ونيرُand a yoke!
إلَيْهِمْ فلا قَيْدٌ يَشُدُّ.. ونيرُ!
So it inclined toward goodness and surrendered its reins
So they rose up, cast off the yoke
To them, with neither binding chain nor yoke!
Of slavery - no shackles now, no chain!
تذكَّرْتُI recalled عَهْداًan age للنَّبِيِّof the Prophet محمَّدٍMuhammad..
تذكَّرْتُ عَهْداً للنَّبِيِّ محمَّدٍ..
وأَصْحابِهِand his companions يَهْدِيguiding النُّهىminds ويُنِيرُand illuminating!
وأَصْحابِهِ يَهْدِي النُّهى ويُنِيرُ!
I recalled the age of the Prophet Muhammad
I remembered Islam’s days with Muhammad
And his companions, guiding minds and giving light!
His followers guiding people to see right from wrong!
كبَدْرٍlike a full moon أضاءَilluminated الأَرْضَthe earth بعدafter ظَلامِهاits darkness
كبَدْرٍ أضاءَ الأَرْضَ بعد ظَلامِها
فماso not ثَمَّthere إلاَّexcept راشِدٌone rightly guided وبَصِيرُand one discerning!
فما ثَمَّ إلاَّ راشِدٌ وبَصِيرُ!
Like a full moon illuminating the earth after its darkness,
Like the full moon dispelling darkness
So none were there but the rightly guided and discerning!
Only the rightly guided remained calm and strong!
وماand not ثَمَّthere إلاَّexcept قانِعٌone content بحياتِهِwith his life
وما ثَمَّ إلاَّ قانِعٌ بحياتِهِ
وراضٍand one satisfied بهاwith it.. بالمُوبِقاتِabout deadly sins خبيرُwell informed..!
وراضٍ بها.. بالمُوبِقاتِ خبيرُ..!
And none were there but one content with his life,
Only the content who thanked God for their lot
And pleased with it, knowing well the deadly sins!
However hard their lives had been before
لقدindeed ذاقَhe tasted مِنfrom ماضِيهhis past خُسْراًloss وذِلَّةًand humiliation
لقد ذاقَ مِن ماضِيه خُسْراً وذِلَّةً
وحاضِرُهُand his present رِبْحٌgain عليهfor him وَفِيرُabundant..!
وحاضِرُهُ رِبْحٌ عليه وَفِيرُ..!
He had tasted loss and humiliation in his past,
So much loss and pain they left behind
While his present brought him abundant gain!
The present and future looked so bright in store!
وكانَand there was لهfor him مِنfrom حُكْمِهِthe rule over him ماthat which يَسُومُهُsubjected him to
وكانَ له مِن حُكْمِهِ ما يَسُومُهُ
منof الخَسْفِabasement ماthat which يطوىcrushes المنىhopes ويُبِيرُand destroys..!
من الخَسْفِ ما يطوى المنى ويُبِيرُ..!
And the rule over him had subjected him
Wise rule brought justice, order and peace
To abasement that crushed hopes and laid waste,
Evil customs were no more, they all did cease!
وماand whatever عاقhindered عنfrom حُرِّيَةٍfreedom وكرامَةٍand dignity
وما عاق عن حُرِّيَةٍ وكرامَةٍ
ففيfor in كلِّevery يَوْمٍday مِحْنَةٌan ordeal ونَذِيرُand a warning..!
ففي كلِّ يَوْمٍ مِحْنَةٌ ونَذِيرُ..!
And all that barred freedom and dignity—
Never curtailing freedoms, ever preserving rights
For every day brought an ordeal and a warning!
Each day still brought its problems and hardships, true!
وهاand here هوhe is مّنْذُsince اليَوْمِtoday بعدafter انْدِحارِهِhis defeat
وها هو مّنْذُ اليَوْمِ بعد انْدِحارِهِ
بداappeared فيamid مَغانِيهِhis dwellings الطُّلُولِthe ruins. بَشِيرُa herald of good news!
بدا في مَغانِيهِ الطُّلُولِ. بَشِيرُ!
And here he is, from today onward, after his defeat:
Now, though humbled, see how they rise up again
A herald of good news appeared amid his ruined dwellings!
The night departs; the dawn brings hope anew!
فعادَso he became قَرِيراًcontent بالغُزاةِwith the conquerors تَوافَدُواthey came in crowds
فعادَ قَرِيراً بالغُزاةِ تَوافَدُوا
إليهto him. وقدand indeed يَرْضَىmay welcome الغُزاةَthe conquerors.. قَرِيرُa contented man!
إليه. وقد يَرْضَى الغُزاةَ.. قَرِيرُ!
So he became content with the conquerors who flocked
For conquerors come gladly to join their ranks
To him—and a contented man may welcome conquerors!
Conquerors are welcome when your need is dire!
وكيفand how. وقدwhen indeed جاءُواthey came إليهto him بِعِزَّةٍwith dignity
وكيف. وقد جاءُوا إليه بِعِزَّةٍ
ومَيْسَرَةٍand prosperity يَهْفوyearns لَهُنَّfor them فَقِيرُa poor man؟!
ومَيْسَرَةٍ يَهْفو لَهُنَّ فَقِيرُ؟!
And how could he not, when they brought him dignity
Why not rejoice when strong allies arrive
And prosperity, for which a poor man yearns?
Bringing aid and wealth for which all did aspire?!
فَصارَso he became نَصِيراًa supporter لِلَّذينَof those who تَكَفَّلواtook responsibility
فَصارَ نَصِيراً لِلَّذينَ تَكَفَّلوا
بِعَيشٍfor a life كريمٍdignified لَيْسnot فيهin it نكيرُanything blameworthy!
بِعَيشٍ كريمٍ لَيْس فيه نكيرُ!
So he became a supporter of those who undertook
So this people allies with those
To provide a dignified life with nothing to condemn!
Who provide the means to live life with joy and repose
ولاand no فيهin it غَبْنٌinjustice منfrom ضَراوةِthe ferocity ظالِمٍof a tyrant
ولا فيه غَبْنٌ من ضَراوةِ ظالِمٍ
وماand not فيهin it إلاَّexcept زاهِدٌa self-denying man ونَصِيرُand a helper!
وما فيه إلاَّ زاهِدٌ ونَصِيرُ!
Nor injustice from a tyrant's ferocity,
No deception, no oppression mars their days
And none in it but the self-denying and the helpful!
Only those who help ease life’s woes!
فياO then سلَفاًforebears أَفْضىreached إلىto خَيْرِthe best غايةٍgoal
فيا سلَفاً أَفْضى إلى خَيْرِ غايةٍ
بِأيمانِهِthrough his oaths.. فارْتاحَand so rested منهbecause of him ضَمِيرُa conscience!
بِأيمانِهِ.. فارْتاحَ منه ضَمِيرُ!
O forebears who attained the finest goal
O noble ancestors who chose the best path, still
Through their oaths—conscience found peace in them!
Thanks to your vision, we have peace of mind and will,
يَسِيرُhe journeys إليهاtoward it راضياًcontent بِمَصيرِهِwith his destiny..
يَسِيرُ إليها راضياً بِمَصيرِهِ..
فَيَلْقاهُso meets him بالأَجْرِwith the reward الجَزِيلِabundant مَصِيرُa final destiny!
فَيَلْقاهُ بالأَجْرِ الجَزِيلِ مَصِيرُ!
They journey toward it, content with their destiny;
Walking calmly, satisfied towards our fate
And destiny meets them with abundant reward!
Great reward awaits us also – this is Allah’s will!
خَمائِلُgroves خُضْرٌgreen حالِياتٌadorned بِنَضْرَةٍwith freshness
خَمائِلُ خُضْرٌ حالِياتٌ بِنَضْرَةٍ
غَدَتْbecame فَدْفَداًa barren waste لمnot يَبْكِweep فيهin it مَطِيرُa rain cloud!
غَدَتْ فَدْفَداً لم يَبْكِ فيه مَطِيرُ!
Green groves adorned with freshness
Green orchards, fruits, a profusion of all
Became a barren waste where no rain cloud wept!
No rains to mar or blight this scene so fair
وآياتُand monuments عِمْرانof civilization شَوامِخُtowering شُرَّعٌupraised
وآياتُ عِمْران شَوامِخُ شُرَّعٌ
خَوَرْنَقُهاtheir Khawarnaq عاليlofty الذُّرىin summits. وسَدِيرُand Sadir!
خَوَرْنَقُها عالي الذُّرى. وسَدِيرُ!
And monuments of civilization, towering and upraised—
While towers of man’s invention pierce the sky
Their Khawarnaq towers high, and Sadir!
Their battlements so high, a wondrous sight to spy!
وفيand in هذهthis الدُّنْياworld نُهىًwisdom وشاعِرٌand a poet
وفي هذه الدُّنْيا نُهىً وشاعِرٌ
ومنهاand in it جَليلٌone great شامِخٌlofty. وصَغيرُand one small!
ومنها جَليلٌ شامِخٌ. وصَغيرُ!
And in this world are wisdom and a poet,
In this world - forbidden joys and poets sing
And in it, one great and lofty, and one small;
Some rise high above the rest, their heads held proud
ومنهاand in it هَزيلٌone frail ضامِرٌgaunt مُتنفِّجٌpuffed with pride
ومنها هَزيلٌ ضامِرٌ مُتنفِّجٌ
ومِنْهاand in it –وإنeven though أخْنَىravaged الزَّمانُtime طَريرُone fresh-faced!
ومِنْها –وإن أخْنَى الزَّمانُ طَريرُ!
And in it, one frail and gaunt, yet puffed with pride;
While others fall, forlorn, broken souls
And in it, one fresh-faced, though time has ravaged him!
Yet even if Time betrays, Life will still allow
أياO ابْنَson الأُباةِof the unbowed الصَّيدِthe lordly هُبَّrise منfrom الكرىslumber
أيا ابْنَ الأُباةِ الصَّيدِ هُبَّ من الكرى
فَأَنْتَfor you بِهذاof this الصَّحْوِawakening.. أنْتَyou جَدِيرُare worthy!
فَأَنْتَ بِهذا الصَّحْوِ.. أنْتَ جَدِيرُ!
O son of the unbowed and lordly, rise from slumber!
Some souls to prosper, O noble scions take heart
For you—yes, you—are worthy of this awakening!
For dawn revives and brings a hopeful new start!
شَبِعْناwe have had our fill سُباتاًof slumber كانَthat was خُلْفاًdiscord وفُرْقَةًand division
شَبِعْنا سُباتاً كانَ خُلْفاً وفُرْقَةً
ومِنand from حَوْلِناaround us للطَّامِياتِfor the surging waters هَدِيرُa roar!
ومِن حَوْلِنا للطَّامِياتِ هَدِيرُ!
We have had our fill of slumber, all discord and division,
We’ve slept too long while chaos reigned outside
While around us the surging waters roar!
The howling winds raged on, swirling, tossed about
وقدand perhaps يَجْمَعُwill gather اللهGod الشّتاتَthe scattered فَإنَّهfor He
وقد يَجْمَعُ الله الشّتاتَ فَإنَّه
علىof جمعهgathering it –رَغْمَdespite الصِّعابِthe hardships قَدِيرُfully capable!
على جمعه –رَغْمَ الصِّعابِ قَدِيرُ!
God may yet gather what is scattered, for He
God can gather all these fragments, He’s able still
Can bring it together despite the hardships!
To achieve the impossible, as is His will!
ولكِنْbut عَلَيْناupon us السَّعْيُstriving فهوfor it is ضَرِيبَةٌa levy
ولكِنْ عَلَيْنا السَّعْيُ فهو ضَرِيبَةٌ
عَلَيْناupon us كَبِيرٌgreat دَفْعُهاpaying it.. وصَغِيرُand small!
عَلَيْنا كَبِيرٌ دَفْعُها.. وصَغِيرُ!
But we must strive, for striving is a levy
But we must also strive hard, do our share
For all of us to pay, great and small!
Big or small, united we’ll get there!
سنَدْفَعُهاwe shall pay it حتىuntil نَفُوزَwe triumph وَنَنْتَهِيand arrive
سنَدْفَعُها حتى نَفُوزَ وَنَنْتَهِي
إلىat غايَةٍa goal نَعْلوwe rise بهاthrough it ونَطِيرُand fly!
إلى غايَةٍ نَعْلو بها ونَطِيرُ!
We shall pay it until we triumph and arrive
We’ll pay the price so we can win and reach
At a goal through which we rise and fly!
Those heights our ancestors longed for yet could not breach!
إلىto غايةٍa goal شَمَّاءَlofty كانwere جُدُودُناour forebears
إلى غايةٍ شَمَّاءَ كان جُدُودُنا
حَبِيبٌdear إليهمto them نَيْلُهاattaining it.. ويَسِيرُand easy!
حَبِيبٌ إليهم نَيْلُها.. ويَسِيرُ!
At a lofty goal that our forebears
That pinnacle which filled their dreams and hope
Held dear and found easy to attain!
However hard, they persevered regardless of all they underwent!
حَدِيثٌa theme بِهon which أَمْلىdictated الفَرَزْدَقُal-Farazdaq شِعْرَهُhis poetry
حَدِيثٌ بِه أَمْلى الفَرَزْدَقُ شِعْرَهُ
وشايَعَهُand supported him فيهin it النَّطُوقُthe eloquent جَرِيرُJarir!
وشايَعَهُ فيه النَّطُوقُ جَرِيرُ!
A theme on which al-Farazdaq dictated his poetry,
A tale Farazdaq composed in verse
And eloquent Jarir supported him in it!
While Jareer’s speeches spread this story universe-wide
وماand not هوit إلاَّexcept نَفْثَةٌa breath عَبْقَرِيَّةٌof genius
وما هو إلاَّ نَفْثَةٌ عَبْقَرِيَّةٌ
لهاfor it مِنfrom يَراعِthe reed pen العَبْقَرِيِّof the genius صَرِيرُa scratching sound!
لها مِن يَراعِ العَبْقَرِيِّ صَرِيرُ!
It is but a breath of genius,
No mere fantasy but revelation’s spark
Its sound the scratching of the genius's reed pen!
Genius admires genius, though centuries apart!
Claude 2 is inferred from the historical translator configuration. The original record does not identify its model.