أرَكباًO caravan سَرىjourneyed by night إِذwhen شامَsaw بَرقاًlightning يَمانياfrom Yemen
أرَكباً سَرى إِذ شامَ بَرقاً يَمانيا
لِيَهنِكُمmay it gladden you أَنّاthat we بَلَغناwe attained الأَمانياthe wishes
لِيَهنِكُم أَنّا بَلَغنا الأَمانيا
O caravan that journeyed by night upon seeing lightning from Yemen,
May it gladden you that we have attained our wishes.
تَأَلَّقit flashed فيin ظَلمائِهِits darkness فَكَأنَّهُso as though it were
تَأَلَّق في ظَلمائِهِ فَكَأنَّهُ
مَباسِمُsmiling mouths تَحكِيresemble فيin سَناهاtheir radiance اللّآلِياpearls
مَباسِمُ تَحكِي في سَناها اللّآلِيا
It flashed in its darkness, as though it were
Smiling mouths whose radiance resembles pearls.
زَجَرناwe spurred بِهِwith it الآمالَhopes فَاِبتَسَمَتso they smiled لَناupon us
زَجَرنا بِهِ الآمالَ فَاِبتَسَمَت لَنا
وَضاءَتand they shone كَماas أَضحىit became يُضِيءُit illuminates الدَياجِياthe night-darkness
وَضاءَت كَما أَضحى يُضِيءُ الدَياجِيا
We spurred our hopes with it, and they smiled upon us,
And shone, as it came to illumine the darkness.
وَروَّعand it startled أَحشاءًinmost hearts تَحِنُّyearning لِمَعهَدٍfor a familiar haunt
وَروَّع أَحشاءً تَحِنُّ لِمَعهَدٍ
تَقَضَّتthey spent بِهِthere عَهدَthe days of الشَبابyouth تَقاضياsettling its dues
تَقَضَّت بِهِ عَهدَ الشَباب تَقاضيا
And it startled hearts yearning for a familiar haunt,
Where they had spent the days of youth, settling its dues.
وَماand not زالَceased هَذاthis البينُseparation يُوقِدُkindles لَوعَةًburning grief
وَما زالَ هَذا البينُ يُوقِدُ لَوعَةً
أَبَتit refused فيin فُؤادthe heart of الصَبِّthe lover إِلّاanything but تَمادياdeepening
أَبَت في فُؤاد الصَبِّ إِلّا تَماديا
And this separation has never ceased to kindle burning grief,
That insists on deepening in the lover's heart.
فُؤادٌa heart دَعاهcalled it الحُبُّlove مِنfrom بَعدafter كَبوَةٍa stumble
فُؤادٌ دَعاه الحُبُّ مِن بَعد كَبوَةٍ
وَماand what لِلهَوىfor passion بَعدَafter المَشيبِgray hair وَماand what لياfor me
وَما لِلهَوى بَعدَ المَشيبِ وَما ليا
A heart that love called back after a stumble—
What have I to do with passion after my hair has grayed?
وَلَكنَّand yet أَدواءَthe maladies of الهَوىpassion إِنif تَمكَّنَتtake firm hold
وَلَكنَّ أَدواءَ الهَوى إِن تَمكَّنَت
لَواعِجُهاtheir burning pangs لَمnot تُلفyou find مِنهنّfrom them شافياa healer
لَواعِجُها لَم تُلف مِنهنّ شافيا
Yet when the maladies of passion take firm hold,
You find no healer for their burning pangs.
أَلاcome حَيِّgreet مَغنىًa dwelling لِلحَبيبof the beloved وَإِنand even if نَأىit is far away
أَلا حَيِّ مَغنىً لِلحَبيب وَإِن نَأى
وَماذاand what عَلىupon صَبِّa lover يُحيِّيwho greets المَغانياthe abodes
وَماذا عَلى صَبِّ يُحيِّي المَغانيا
Come, greet a dwelling of the beloved, however distant;
And what harm is there in a lover greeting old abodes?
وَنَحنُand we وَقَدand already حَقَّcame to pass الكتابُthe decree مَعاشِرٌa people
وَنَحنُ وَقَد حَقَّ الكتابُ مَعاشِرٌ
رَضيناwe accepted الهَوىpassion فليَقضso let it decree ماwhatever كانَit was قاضياdecreeing
رَضينا الهَوى فليَقض ما كانَ قاضيا
And we, now that the decree has come to pass, are a people
Who have accepted passion; let it decree whatever it will.
رَعىmay protect اللَهُGod أَهلthe people of الحُبِّlove مِنfrom كُلّevery حادثٍcalamity
رَعى اللَهُ أَهل الحُبِّ مِن كُلّ حادثٍ
وَلاand may not راعَهُمalarm them عَذلٌreproach لِمَنfrom whoever كانَwas لاحِياcensuring
وَلا راعَهُم عَذلٌ لِمَن كانَ لاحِيا
May God guard the people of love from every calamity,
And may no censurer's rebuke frighten them.
نَرُدُّwe turn back عَلىupon الأَعقابthe heels صَوبَthe downpour of مَدامعtears
نَرُدُّ عَلى الأَعقاب صَوبَ مَدامع
حَذارfor fear of رَقيبٍa watcher لَيسَdoes not يَبرحُcease وَاشياtattling
حَذار رَقيبٍ لَيسَ يَبرحُ وَاشيا
We turn the downpour of tears back upon its heels,
For fear of a watcher who never ceases tattling.
وَلولاand were it not for عُيونُthe eyes of الكاشِحينَthe spiteful لَأَخلَفَتwould surely have replaced
وَلولا عُيونُ الكاشِحينَ لَأَخلَفَت
مَدامِعُtears نُجرِيهاwe let them flow الغَمامَrainclouds الغَوادِياcoming at dawn
مَدامِعُ نُجرِيها الغَمامَ الغَوادِيا
Were it not for the eyes of the spiteful,
The tears we shed would replace the morning clouds.
وَهَيهاتَand far beyond reach إِطفاءُquenching الهَوىpassion بِجَوانِحٍwithin breasts
وَهَيهاتَ إِطفاءُ الهَوى بِجَوانِحٍ
تَذوبthat melt إِذاwhen ماfor emphasis الرَكبُthe caravan أَصبَحَbecame غادياdeparting at dawn
تَذوب إِذا ما الرَكبُ أَصبَحَ غاديا
And how far beyond reach is quenching passion within breasts
That melt whenever the caravan sets out at dawn!
يَهيجstirs الصَباthe east wind أَنwhen هَبَّit blew مِنfrom أَرضthe land of حاجِرٍHajir
يَهيج الصَبا أَن هَبَّ مِن أَرض حاجِرٍ
كَوامِنَthe hidden stirrings of أَشواقٍlongings تُزِيلُthat dislodge الرَواسياthe rooted mountains
كَوامِنَ أَشواقٍ تُزِيلُ الرَواسيا
The east wind, when it blows from the land of Hajir, stirs
Hidden longings that could dislodge the rooted mountains.
عَذيرone to excuse غَريرٍan innocent فيin الهَوىlove لَعبتtoyed بِهِwith him
عَذير غَريرٍ في الهَوى لَعبت بِهِ
صَباباتُardent yearnings of ذِكراهhis remembrance of الرُبوعthe abodes القَواصِياfar away
صَباباتُ ذِكراه الرُبوع القَواصِيا
Who will excuse an innocent lover, toyed with
By yearnings stirred by his memories of distant abodes?
إِذاwhen غَرَّدَتsang فيin الأَيكِthe thickets وَهناًlate at night حَمامَةٌa dove
إِذا غَرَّدَت في الأَيكِ وَهناً حَمامَةٌ
تَذكَّرَhe recalled نَجداًNajd وَالنَقاand the sand dunes وَالمَغانياand the abodes
تَذكَّرَ نَجداً وَالنَقا وَالمَغانيا
When a dove sings in the thickets late at night,
He remembers Najd, the sand dunes, and the old abodes,
وَبَيتاًand a House عَتيقاًancient فيin أَباطِحِthe gravelly valleys of مَكَّةٍMecca
وَبَيتاً عَتيقاً في أَباطِحِ مَكَّةٍ
رَفيعاًlofty مِنwith الدِيباجِbrocade ماnot زالَceased حالياadorned
رَفيعاً مِن الدِيباجِ ما زالَ حاليا
And an ancient House in Mecca's gravelly valleys,
Lofty, ever adorned with brocade.
إِذاwhen ماfor emphasis دَناdrew near مِنهاto it الرِّكابُthe riding camels تَجَرَّدواthey shed their garments
إِذا ما دَنا مِنها الرِّكابُ تَجَرَّدوا
وَطافواand they circled بِهاaround it شُعثاًdisheveled ظِماءًthirsty بَواكياweeping
وَطافوا بِها شُعثاً ظِماءً بَواكيا
When the riding camels draw near it, the travelers shed their garments,
And circle it, disheveled, thirsty, weeping.
وَأَيقَنand became certain كُلٌّeach أَنَّهُthat he بِبُلوغهby his reaching
وَأَيقَن كُلٌّ أَنَّهُ بِبُلوغه
لِذاكto that الحِمىthe sanctuary نالَhe attained المُنىwishes وَالأَمانياand desires
لِذاك الحِمى نالَ المُنى وَالأَمانيا
And each is certain that, by reaching
That sanctuary, he has gained his wishes and desires,
وَأَضحىand became أَميناًsafe مِنfrom عَذابthe punishment of إِلاهِهِhis God
وَأَضحى أَميناً مِن عَذاب إِلاهِهِ
وَمِنand from بَعدafter سُخطdispleasure يَستَبيحhe gains access to المَراضياfavor
وَمِن بَعد سُخط يَستَبيح المَراضيا
And become safe from his God's punishment,
And, after displeasure, enjoys divine favor.
هَنيئاًblessed لِقَومٍfor people ناظِرينَbeholding جَمالَهاits beauty
هَنيئاً لِقَومٍ ناظِرينَ جَمالَها
عُكوفاًdevotedly lingering عَلَيهاat it يَحمَدونthey praise المَساعياthe endeavors
عُكوفاً عَلَيها يَحمَدون المَساعيا
Blessed are those who behold its beauty,
Devotedly lingering there, thankful for their endeavors.
قَضواthey removed تَفَثاًritual unkemptness بَعدَafter الإِفاضةthe pilgrim procession وَاِنثَنواand turned back
قَضوا تَفَثاً بَعدَ الإِفاضة وَاِنثَنوا
لِطَيبَةَtoward Tayba يُزجونthey urge on القِلاصَthe young she-camels النَواجياswift
لِطَيبَةَ يُزجون القِلاصَ النَواجيا
They removed their ritual unkemptness after the pilgrim procession, then turned
Toward Tayba, urging on the swift young she-camels.
وَراحُواand they departed عَلىin إِثرthe wake of الوَداعthe farewell وَحَصَّبواand halted at al-Muhassab
وَراحُوا عَلى إِثر الوَداع وَحَصَّبوا
عَلىin مَرَحٍhigh spirits يَطوونthey traverse تِلكَthose الفيافياvast deserts
عَلى مَرَحٍ يَطوون تِلكَ الفيافيا
They set out after the farewell and halted at al-Muhassab,
In high spirits, swiftly crossing those deserts.
وَماand not فَصَلُواthey departed حَتّىuntil تَراءَتthere appeared بَعيدَةًfar away
وَما فَصَلُوا حَتّى تَراءَت بَعيدَةً
مِنfrom الغَورthe lowlands أَنوارٌlights تُنيرُilluminating المَحانياthe valley bends
مِن الغَور أَنوارٌ تُنيرُ المَحانيا
They had scarcely departed when, far away, there appeared
Lights from the lowlands, illuminating the valley bends.
وَهَبَّتand blew رِياحٌwinds عاطِراتٌfragrant بِليلةmoist
وَهَبَّت رِياحٌ عاطِراتٌ بِليلة
كَماas فاحَwafted fragrance رَوضٌa garden بِالأَزاهِرwith blossoms حالياadorned
كَما فاحَ رَوضٌ بِالأَزاهِر حاليا
And fragrant, dewy winds arose,
Like a fragrant garden adorned with blossoms.
فَجدَّتso pressed on عَلىdespite الأَينِweariness الرِكابُthe riding camels وَهَيمَنَتand fluttered
فَجدَّت عَلى الأَينِ الرِكابُ وَهَيمَنَت
رَكائِبُهُمtheir mounts كَيماso that تَنالthey might attain التَدانياnearness
رَكائِبُهُم كَيما تَنال التَدانيا
Despite weariness, the riding camels pressed on, and onward fluttered
Their mounts, seeking to draw near.
وَلَمّاand when دَنَتdrew near أَرضthe land of الحَبيبthe beloved تَرجَّلُواthey dismounted
وَلَمّا دَنَت أَرض الحَبيب تَرجَّلُوا
وَأَظهَرَتِand revealed الأَشواقُlongings ماwhat كانَhad been خافياhidden
وَأَظهَرَتِ الأَشواقُ ما كانَ خافيا
When the beloved's land drew near, they dismounted,
And longing revealed what had been hidden.
وَعَفَّرَand rubbed in dust كُلٌّeach فيin التُرابthe dust وُجوهَهُمtheir faces
وَعَفَّرَ كُلٌّ في التُراب وُجوهَهُم
تُرابdust بِهِupon which خَيرُthe best of الوَرىhumankind كانَhad been ماشياwalking
تُراب بِهِ خَيرُ الوَرى كانَ ماشيا
And each rubbed his face into the dust—
Dust on which the best of humankind had walked.
وَخَرَّتand fell prostrate مُلوكُthe kings of الأَرضthe earth فيهِthere جَلالَةًin reverence
وَخَرَّت مُلوكُ الأَرض فيهِ جَلالَةً
لِمَنfor him who كانَhad been فيهِthere يَسحَبونthey dragged النَواصياthe forelocks
لِمَن كانَ فيهِ يَسحَبون النَواصيا
And the kings of the earth fell prostrate there in reverence
For him who had dwelt there, trailing their forelocks.
أَلاlo ياO بقاعاًtracts فيin البَقيعِal-Baqi وَوادِياًand a valley
أَلا يا بقاعاً في البَقيعِ وَوادِياً
بِهِin which خِيرَةُthe chosen one of الرَحمَنِthe Merciful حُيِّيتَmay you be greeted وادياO valley
بِهِ خِيرَةُ الرَحمَنِ حُيِّيتَ واديا
O tracts in al-Baqi, and O valley
Where the Merciful's chosen one is—greetings to you, O valley!
فَوَاللَهِso by God لاnot أَنسىI forget زَماناa time قَطَعتُهُI spent it
فَوَاللَهِ لا أَنسى زَمانا قَطَعتُهُ
بِمَغناكَin your abode حَيثُwhere السَعدgood fortune كانَwas مواتياfavorable
بِمَغناكَ حَيثُ السَعد كانَ مواتيا
By God, I shall never forget the time I spent
In your abode, where good fortune was favorable.
وَياand O وافِداًvisitor قَدindeed أَنزَلَتهhas lodged him عِنايَةٌprovidential care
وَيا وافِداً قَد أَنزَلَته عِنايَةٌ
هُناكَthere فَأَضحىand so he became بِالكَرامَةwith the honor راضياcontent
هُناكَ فَأَضحى بِالكَرامَة راضيا
And O visitor whom providence has lodged
There, content with the honor bestowed,
لَكَfor you اللَهُGod ماhow أَهناpleasant وَأَكرَمand noble مَوطِناًa dwelling
لَكَ اللَهُ ما أَهنا وَأَكرَم مَوطِناً
ثَوَيتَyou stayed بِهِin it حَيّاكmay He greet you رَبّيmy Lord ثاوياwhile dwelling
ثَوَيتَ بِهِ حَيّاك رَبّي ثاويا
God be with you! What a blissful and noble dwelling
You inhabit—may my Lord welcome you as you dwell there!
فَعَنّيso on my behalf لِخَيرto the best of الرُسلthe messengers أَدِّdeliver رِسالَةًa message
فَعَنّي لِخَير الرُسل أَدِّ رِسالَةً
وَإِيّاكand you must beware تَنسىyou forget أَوor تُرىyou are seen مُتَناسياfeigning forgetfulness
وَإِيّاك تَنسى أَو تُرى مُتَناسيا
On my behalf, deliver a message to the best of messengers,
And do not forget, nor be seen to feign forgetfulness.
فَقُلthen say بَعدَafter إِهداءِoffering السَلامpeace تَحِيَّةas a greeting
فَقُل بَعدَ إِهداءِ السَلام تَحِيَّة
تَعُمُّencompassing ضَجِيعَيهhis two companions resting beside him الكرامthe noble المَوالياthe loyal
تَعُمُّ ضَجِيعَيه الكرام المَواليا
Then say, after offering a greeting of peace
That embraces his two noble, loyal companions resting beside him:
إِلَيكto you رَسولMessenger of اللَهGod مِنfrom أَرضِthe land of مَغربthe Maghrib
إِلَيك رَسول اللَه مِن أَرضِ مَغرب
عَنِon behalf of المُذنبthe sinner الجانيthe offender أَتيتُكI have come to you شاكياcomplaining
عَنِ المُذنب الجاني أَتيتُك شاكيا
To you, Messenger of God, from the land of the Maghrib,
On behalf of the sinful offender, I have come to you in complaint.
عَنon behalf of ابنِson of هِشامٍHisham الأَسيرthe captive لِنَفسهto his own self
عَن ابنِ هِشامٍ الأَسير لِنَفسه
وَأَهوائِهِand his desires يَبغيhe seeks لَديكَwith you التَفادياdeliverance by ransom
وَأَهوائِهِ يَبغي لَديكَ التَفاديا
On behalf of Ibn Hisham, captive to his own self
And his desires, seeking deliverance at your hands;
عَنon behalf of ابنِson of هِشامٍHisham الَّذيwho قَدindeed تَقاعَدَتheld back
عَن ابنِ هِشامٍ الَّذي قَد تَقاعَدَت
بِهِhim عَنكَfrom you أَشغالٌoccupations أَصارَتهmade him عانياa captive
بِهِ عَنكَ أَشغالٌ أَصارَته عانيا
On behalf of Ibn Hisham, held back
From you by occupations that have made him a prisoner;
عَنِon behalf of ابنِson of هِشامHisham الَّذيwho لَيسَdoes not يَرتَجيhope for
عَنِ ابنِ هِشام الَّذي لَيسَ يَرتَجي
سِواكanyone but you فَحَقِّقso fulfill فيكَin you ماwhat كانَhe had been راجياhoping for
سِواك فَحَقِّق فيكَ ما كانَ راجيا
On behalf of Ibn Hisham, who hopes for none
But you: fulfill what he has hoped to find in you.
يُحاوِلُhe strives for إِصلاحاًreform لِأُمَّتِكَfor your community الَّتيwhich
يُحاوِلُ إِصلاحاً لِأُمَّتِكَ الَّتي
رَجَوناكwe hope in you تَنفيyou banish عَنfrom حِماهاits sanctuary الأَعادياthe enemies
رَجَوناك تَنفي عَن حِماها الأَعاديا
He strives for the reform of your community,
Whose sanctuary we hope you will rid of enemies.
رَجَوناكَwe hope in you تَكفِيناyou spare us المَخاوفthe fears كُلَّهاall of them
رَجَوناكَ تَكفِينا المَخاوف كُلَّها
فَماfor never زِلتَhave you ceased فيin كُلّall المَخاوفfears كافياa sufficient protector
فَما زِلتَ في كُلّ المَخاوف كافيا
We hope you will spare us every fear,
For you have ever been our safeguard against every fear.
رَجَوناwe hope for لَدَيكthrough you النَصرَvictory فيin كُلِّevery حالَةٍcircumstance
رَجَونا لَدَيك النَصرَ في كُلِّ حالَةٍ
عَلىover مَنwhoever غَداbecame بِالغَيِّthrough waywardness فيamong الناسthe people باغياan oppressor
عَلى مَن غَدا بِالغَيِّ في الناس باغيا
We hope for victory through you in every circumstance
Over whoever oppresses people in his waywardness.
رَجَوناكwe hope in you تَرعاناyou protect us مِنَfrom الفِتَنthe tumults الَّتيwhich
رَجَوناك تَرعانا مِنَ الفِتَن الَّتي
غَداbecame أَهلُهاtheir people فيهاwithin them الأُسودlions الضَوارِياravening
غَدا أَهلُها فيها الأُسود الضَوارِيا
We hope you will protect us from the tumults
Whose people have become ravening lions within them.
فَلَيسَfor there is no لِهَذاfor this السَرحgrazing flock غَيرُكanyone but you كالِئاًa guardian
فَلَيسَ لِهَذا السَرح غَيرُك كالِئاً
فَكُنso be ياO رَسولMessenger of اللَهGod لِلسَرحfor the flock كالياa guardian
فَكُن يا رَسول اللَه لِلسَرح كاليا
For this grazing flock has no guardian but you;
So, Messenger of God, be the flock's guardian.
وَلَيسَand there is not لَناfor us إِلّاexcept بِمِلَّةِthrough the faith of أَحمَدٍAhmad
وَلَيسَ لَنا إِلّا بِمِلَّةِ أَحمَدٍ
دُعاءٌa prayer إِذاwhen ماfor emphasis الغَيرُothers أَصبَحَbecame داعياone who prays
دُعاءٌ إِذا ما الغَيرُ أَصبَحَ داعيا
And we have, through Ahmad's faith alone,
A prayer, when others begin to pray.
وَحاشاكَand far be it from you مَنone who يُنمىis affiliated إِلَيكwith you تَملُّهyou tire of him
وَحاشاكَ مَن يُنمى إِلَيك تَملُّه
وَتُسلِمُهand abandon him إِنif أَصبَحَbecomes الهَولُterror داجياdark
وَتُسلِمُه إِن أَصبَحَ الهَولُ داجيا
Far be it from you to tire of one affiliated with you,
And abandon him when terror grows dark.
وَحاشىand far be it from نَدىthe bounty of كفَّيكyour two hands وَهوَwhile it is مُفَجَّرgushing forth
وَحاشى نَدى كفَّيك وَهوَ مُفَجَّر
عَلىover سائرall الأَكوانcreation يَترُكleaving صادياa thirsty person
عَلى سائر الأَكوان يَترُك صاديا
And far be it from your hands' bounty, gushing forth
Over all creation, to leave anyone thirsty.
أَلاlo ياO رَسولَMessenger of اللَهِGod إِنّيindeed I خائفٌam afraid
أَلا يا رَسولَ اللَهِ إِنّي خائفٌ
وَأَنتَand you مُجيرُare the protector of الخائِفينthose fearing الدَواهياcalamities
وَأَنتَ مُجيرُ الخائِفين الدَواهيا
O Messenger of God, I am afraid,
And you are the refuge of those who fear calamities.
وَليand I have رَحِمٌa bond of kinship مَوصُولةjoined بِكَto you أَبتَغيI seek
وَلي رَحِمٌ مَوصُولة بِكَ أَبتَغي
لَهاfor it صِلَةًa kindness تُوليthat bestows لَدَيكwith you التَراضياmutual contentment
لَها صِلَةً تُولي لَدَيك التَراضيا
I have a bond of kinship joined to you; I seek
For it a kindness that brings mutual contentment with you.
وَمثلُكَand one like you لِلأَرحامfor kinship bonds يَرعىsafeguards ذِمامَهاtheir claims to protection
وَمثلُكَ لِلأَرحام يَرعى ذِمامَها
وَلاand no شَكَّdoubt تَرعىyou safeguard لِيfor me كَذاكَlikewise ذمامياmy claim to protection
وَلا شَكَّ تَرعى لِي كَذاكَ ذماميا
One such as you honors the obligations of kinship,
And surely you likewise honor your obligation to me.
فَرُحماكso grant your mercy لِلرُحمto kinship القَريبclose وَعَطفةًand compassion
فَرُحماك لِلرُحم القَريب وَعَطفةً
فَأَولىfor more deserving بِعَطفٍof affection مِنكَfrom you مَنone who كانَis دانياnear
فَأَولى بِعَطفٍ مِنكَ مَن كانَ دانيا
So show mercy and compassion to your close kin,
For one who is near is most deserving of your affection.
وَعَوناًand aid لَناfor us مِنagainst صَولَةِthe onslaught of الدَهرTime أَنَّناfor we
وَعَوناً لَنا مِن صَولَةِ الدَهر أَنَّنا
بِغَيرِكthrough anyone but you لاnot نَرجُوwe hope for مِنagainst الدَهرTime واقِياa protector
بِغَيرِك لا نَرجُو مِن الدَهر واقِيا
And grant us help against Time's assault, for we
Hope for no protector against Time besides you.
فَقَدfor indeed أَحكَمتmade firm فيناover us المَقاديرُthe decrees of fate حُكمَهاtheir judgment
فَقَد أَحكَمت فينا المَقاديرُ حُكمَها
سِياسَةthe rule of أَقوامpeople تُحاكيwho resemble الأَفاعياvipers
سِياسَة أَقوام تُحاكي الأَفاعيا
For fate has firmly imposed its judgment upon us:
The rule of people who resemble vipers.
وَقَدand indeed أَلزَمَتناcompelled us أَنto نُعاشِرَkeep company with مَعشَراًa people
وَقَد أَلزَمَتنا أَن نُعاشِرَ مَعشَراً
يُسِرُّونthey conceal شَيئاًsomething غَيرَother than ماwhat كانَwas بادياapparent
يُسِرُّون شَيئاً غَيرَ ما كانَ باديا
And has compelled us to keep company with a people
Who conceal something other than what they show.
عَلىdespite قِلَّةِthe scarcity of الإِنصافfairness وَالخَيرand goodness فيهمamong them
عَلى قِلَّةِ الإِنصاف وَالخَير فيهم
وَكَثرةand the abundance of أَقوالٍwords تُطيلthat prolong التَناجياsecret consultations
وَكَثرة أَقوالٍ تُطيل التَناجيا
Despite their scant fairness and goodness,
And the many words that prolong their secret consultations.
سَوابِقُswift racers للأَطماعafter coveted gains يَنتَهبونهاthey plunder them
سَوابِقُ للأَطماع يَنتَهبونها
كَواسِلُsluggards عِندَwhen faced with الرَوعterror تَخشىfearing التَلاقياconfrontation
كَواسِلُ عِندَ الرَوع تَخشى التَلاقيا
Swift racers after coveted gains, they plunder them;
Sluggards when terror comes, afraid of confrontation.
عَزائِمُهُمtheir resolves فيfor نَيلِattaining مِلءِthe filling of بُطونِهمtheir bellies
عَزائِمُهُم في نَيلِ مِلءِ بُطونِهم
فَندعُوهمso we call them رَبّيmy Lord بِطاناًpotbellied بَواطياlarge drinking bowls
فَندعُوهم رَبّي بِطاناً بَواطيا
Their resolve is all for filling their bellies,
So, my Lord, we call them potbellied drinking bowls.
وَلاand no عَونَhelp إِلّاexcept مِنfrom عِنايتكyour care الَّتيwhich
وَلا عَونَ إِلّا مِن عِنايتك الَّتي
بِهاthrough which نَتَّقيwe guard against هذيthese الذِيابَwolves العَوادياmarauding
بِها نَتَّقي هذي الذِيابَ العَواديا
And there is no help but from your care,
Through which we guard against these marauding wolves.
وَلاand no مَلجأrefuge إِلّاexcept إِلىin عزِّكyour might الَّذيwhich
وَلا مَلجأ إِلّا إِلى عزِّك الَّذي
نَلوذُwe seek shelter بِهِin it حِصناًas a fortress مِنagainst الضَيمoppression عالياlofty
نَلوذُ بِهِ حِصناً مِن الضَيم عاليا
And there is no refuge except in your might,
In which we shelter, a lofty fortress against oppression.
بِجاهِكby your standing ياO قُطبَaxis of العَوالمthe worlds كُلِّهاall of them
بِجاهِك يا قُطبَ العَوالم كُلِّها
وَياand O مَنبعَfount of الإمدادsuccor نَرجوwe hope for الأَمانياwishes
وَيا مَنبعَ الإمداد نَرجو الأَمانيا
By your standing, O axis of all the worlds,
And O fount of succor, we hope to attain our wishes.
فَوَجِّهso send مِنfrom النَصرvictory إِلهيmy God عاجِلاًwithout delay
فَوَجِّه مِن النَصر إِلهي عاجِلاً
لَناfor us مَدداًreinforcements ماas long as دامَendures عزُّكyour might باقياremaining
لَنا مَدداً ما دامَ عزُّك باقيا
So send, my God, without delay, victorious
Aid for us, so long as your might endures.
وَصلّىand may bless عَلَيكَupon you اللَهُGod فيin كُلّevery لَمحةٍinstant
وَصلّى عَلَيكَ اللَهُ في كُلّ لَمحةٍ
بِكُلّwith every صَلاةٍblessing لاnot تَرومseeks التَناهياan ending
بِكُلّ صَلاةٍ لا تَروم التَناهيا
And may God bless you at every instant,
With every blessing that seeks no end.