أعيدواrestore لناto us التاريخhistory احيواrevive لناfor us الذكرىremembrance
أعيدوا لنا التاريخ احيوا لنا الذكرى
فنحنfor we بنواsons منof those who دوخواsubdued الأممthe nations الكبرىthe mighty
فنحن بنوا من دوخوا الأمم الكبرى
Restore our history to us; revive our remembrance.
Give us back the history, revive for us the memory
For we are sons of those who subdued the mighty nations.
For we are the sons of those who subjugated the great nations
أعيدواrestore لناto us مجدthe glory الجدودof the forefathers الذيwhich اختفىvanished
أعيدوا لنا مجد الجدود الذي اختفى
وكادتand nearly يدthe hand التفريقof division تمحوerases لهof it أثراa trace
وكادت يد التفريق تمحو له أثرا
Restore to us our forefathers' glory, which vanished,
Give us back the glory of our ancestors that has disappeared
and whose traces the hand of division nearly erased.
And the hand of separation was about to erase its traces
فهياso come بناwith us ياO صفوةthe finest العربof the Arabs إنناindeed we
فهيا بنا يا صفوة العرب إننا
بطرقin the paths of العلىeminence والمجدand glory عنthan غيرناothers besides us أدرىbetter versed
بطرق العلى والمجد عن غيرنا أدرى
Come, then, O finest of the Arabs; we
So come on, O elite of the Arabs, we are
know the paths of eminence and glory better than others.
More knowledgeable than others of the paths of glory and honor
لناours are هممaspirations علويةlofty عربيةArab
لنا همم علوية عربية
أزلناwe removed بهاwith them منfrom قبلbefore عنfrom عرشهhis throne كسرىKhosrow
أزلنا بها من قبل عن عرشه كسرى
Ours are lofty Arab aspirations;
We have high Arab ambitions
with them we once removed Khosrow from his throne.
With which we dethroned Chosroes before
إذاwhenever ماindeed عزمناwe resolve واحتزمناand gird ourselves لمعركfor battle
إذا ما عزمنا واحتزمنا لمعرك
خلعناwe bestowed علىupon الأعداءthe enemies قبلbefore اللقاthe encounter الذعراdread
خلعنا على الأعداء قبل اللقا الذعرا
Whenever we resolve and gird ourselves for battle,
If we decide and prepare for battle
we clothe our enemies in dread before the encounter.
We defeat the enemies even before the encounter
خطبناwe wooed العلىeminence منfrom قبلbefore أنthat نسفكwe shed الدماblood
خطبنا العلى من قبل أن نسفك الدما
فلمso did not ترضshe accept إلاexcept بالنفوسwith souls لهاfor her مهراa bride-price
فلم ترض إلا بالنفوس لها مهرا
We wooed eminence before we shed blood,
We sought the highest before shedding blood
but she accepted only souls as her bride-price.
But they would not be satisfied except with souls as mahr
فلسناfor we are not نهابwe fear الموتdeath الشيخthe old man والفتىand the youth
فلسنا نهاب الموت الشيخ والفتى
لأناbecause we نخالwe deem الموتdeath منon دونهاthe near side of her جسراa bridge
لأنا نخال الموت من دونها جسرا
We do not fear death, old men and young alike,
So neither the old nor the young among us fear death
for we deem death a bridge on the way to her.
Because without it we see death as a bridge
فأفياؤناso our shades ممدودةoutspread وسيوفناand our swords
فأفياؤنا ممدودة وسيوفنا
مجردةunsheathed للعدلfor justice والملتويand whoever strays كفراinto unbelief
مجردة للعدل والملتوي كفرا
Our shade stretches wide, and our swords
Our swords are unsheathed and ready
are drawn for justice and against whoever strays into unbelief.
For justice, and bent for the infidels
وليناwe governed فاصلحناso we reformed وسسناand we ruled فلمso did not نهنwe humiliate
ولينا فاصلحنا وسسنا فلم نهن
تقياًa pious person ولمand did not نكرمwe honor شقياًa wretch أتىcommitted النكراevil
تقياً ولم نكرم شقياً أتى النكرا
We governed and set things right; we ruled without humiliating
We were sincere so we reformed and established justice
the pious, or honoring a wretch who committed evil.
Piously, we did not honor the wicked who came with denial
ونحنand we نحبwe love السلمpeace لكنbut إذاif اعتدىtransgressed
ونحن نحب السلم لكن إذا اعتدى
عدوan enemy فلنthen will not نسطيعwe be able عنfrom دفعهrepelling him صبراpatience
عدو فلن نسطيع عن دفعه صبرا
We love peace, but should aggression come
And we love peace, but if an enemy transgresses
from an enemy, we cannot endure refraining from repelling him.
We cannot restrain ourselves from repelling him
فإماso either بنصرwith the aid of اللهGod فزناwe triumphed ونعمand excellent is ذاthat
فإما بنصر الله فزنا ونعم ذا
وإماor else التيthat which أبقىmore enduring وياand oh حبذاhow welcome الأخرىthe other
وإما التي أبقى ويا حبذا الأخرى
So either we triumph with God's help—how excellent that is—
Either by God's victory we succeed and that is good
or else that which lasts longer—how welcome the other outcome!
Or the one He allows to remain, and the latter is better
وماand not نحنwe منthose who يبغيseek الفسادcorruption ولاnor الأولىthose who
وما نحن من يبغي الفساد ولا الأولى
يضيعونsquander حقthe right الجارof the neighbor إلاexcept الذيthe one who إستجراacted insolently
يضيعون حق الجار إلا الذي إستجرا
We are not those who seek corruption, nor those
We do not seek corruption or oppression
who squander a neighbor's rights—unless he acts insolently.
Except he who forfeits the rights of his neighbor
وإنand if مارقa renegade أورىkindled لناfor us نارa fire فتنةof strife
وإن مارق أورى لنا نار فتنة
جعلناwe made وقودthe fuel النارof the fire ذاكthat one الذيwho أورىkindled
جعلنا وقود النار ذاك الذي أورى
If a renegade kindles for us a fire of strife,
And if an intrepid one ignites for us the fire of strife
we make its kindler the fuel of that fire.
We make him the fuel of that fire he ignited
فياso O ضارباًone beating طبلthe drum الأباطيلof falsehoods معلناًproclaiming
فيا ضارباً طبل الأباطيل معلناً
بابنfor Ibn الرفادةal-Rifada الآنnow فاضربso beat الصدراthe breast
بابن الرفادة الآن فاضرب الصدرا
O you who beat the drum of falsehood, proclaiming
So O drummer of falsehoods, announcing
Ibn al-Rifada—now beat your breast!
Ibn Rufaydah now, so beat your chest
فقدfor indeed أخذتهمseized them عنwith رشادsound judgment سيوفناour swords
فقد أخذتهم عن رشاد سيوفنا
وصاحand shouted أبوAbu (father of) يحيىYahya عليهمat them إلاonly صبراpatience
وصاح أبو يحيى عليهم إلا صبرا
For our swords have seized them with sound judgment,
For our swords have seized them
and Abu Yahya cried out at them: 'Only patience!'
And Abu Yahya cried out to them, have patience
فهذاso this is جزاءthe reward البغيof oppression ياO عصبةfaction الهوىof desire فملso turn
فهذا جزاء البغي يا عصبة الهوى فمل
ومنand whoever يتقيfears الرحمنthe Most Merciful يجعلHe grants لهto him اليسراease
ومن يتقي الرحمن يجعل له اليسرا
This is the reward of oppression, O faction of desire; turn
This is the recompense of tyranny, O party of passion, so stop
and whoever fears the Most Merciful, He grants him ease.
And whoever fears the Most Merciful, He will make easiness for him
نحوtoward شارShar تلقyou will find بحراًa sea منof الدماblood
نحو شار تلق بحراً من الدما
بساحلهon its shore السرحانthe wolf قدhas ألفbefriended النسراthe vulture
بساحله السرحان قد ألف النسرا
toward Shar, and you will find a sea of blood,
Towards Najd, he met a sea of blood
on whose shore the wolf has befriended the vulture.
At its coast, As-Sarhan has made friends with eagles
وقلand say لذويto those possessing الغاياتambitions ابقواpreserve نفوسكمyour lives
وقل لذوي الغايات ابقوا نفوسكم
فانfor if تجهلواyou act ignorantly تذهبwill go دماؤكمواyour blood هدراto waste
فان تجهلوا تذهب دماؤكموا هدرا
Tell those with ambitions: spare your lives,
And say to those with vain goals, preserve yourselves
for if you act ignorantly, your blood will go to waste.
For if you remain ignorant, your blood will be wasted
دعواleave عنكمaside from yourselves ذكرmention الحجازof the Hejaz فقدfor indeed مضىhas passed
دعوا عنكم ذكر الحجاز فقد مضى
زمانa time بهin it قدindeed كانwas لاnot ينكرcondemned النكراevil
زمان به قد كان لا ينكر النكرا
Leave off mentioning the Hejaz, for there has passed
Leave mentioning Hejaz, for its time has passed
a time when evil went uncondemned there.
When there was someone who did not deny a stranger
وماand not ثمthere إلاexcept راكعone bowing ومهللand proclaiming God's oneness
وما ثم إلا راكع ومهلل
وتالٍand reciting كتابthe Book اللهof God والسنةand the Sunnah الغراthe radiant
وتالٍ كتاب الله والسنة الغرا
None are there but those bowing and proclaiming God's oneness,
There remains none but prostrating and praising
and reciting God's Book and the radiant Sunnah.
God's Book and the Sunnah most precious
حذارbeware فلاfor no مأوىrefuge بهin it لمنافقfor a hypocrite
حذار فلا مأوى به لمنافق
وآلand the House of سعودSaud قدindeed أحاطواthey encompassed بهit خبراin knowledge
وآل سعود قد أحاطوا به خبرا
Beware: there is no refuge there for a hypocrite,
Beware, there is no refuge in it for a hypocrite
and the House of Saud knows it thoroughly.
And the Al Saud have surrounded it fully aware
وياand O عرباًArabs قدindeed فرقshattered الجهلignorance جمعهاtheir unity
ويا عرباً قد فرق الجهل جمعها
وصارتand they became لصرفthrough the turns of الدهرtime منamong جملةthe collection الأسرارof secrets
وصارت لصرف الدهر من جملة الأسرار
O Arabs whose unity ignorance has shattered,
And O Arabs whom ignorance has separated
and who have become, through time's vicissitudes, counted among mysteries,
Becoming with the passage of time forgotten secrets
أماis there not فيكمamong you ياO قومpeople للجمعfor unity قدرةpower
أما فيكم يا قوم للجمع قدرة
فماfor no فيكمواamong you واللهby God منone who يجهلis ignorant of الأمراthe matter
فما فيكموا والله من يجهل الأمرا
have you no power, my people, to unite?
Is there not among you, O people, the ability to unite
For by God, none among you is ignorant of the matter.
For by God, none among you is unaware of the matter
لئنeven if عزis difficult فيat الوقتthe present time اتحادunity هواdesire لمنىfor hopes
لئن عز في الوقت اتحاد هوا لمنى
فليسso is not يعزdifficult الانفاقspending وذاand that الأحراmore fitting
فليس يعز الانفاق وذا الأحرا
Though unity of desire for hoped-for ends is difficult at present,
If the unity of passions empowers at the moment
spending is not difficult, and that is more fitting.
Then disunity cannot empower, however difficult
هلمcome إلىto الأمرthe course الذيwhich إنif فعلتمواyou carry out
هلم إلى الأمر الذي إن فعلتموا
نجوتمyou will be saved ولمand will not تخشواyou fear لغائلةfrom a calamity غدراtreachery
نجوتم ولم تخشوا لغائلة غدرا
Come to the course which, if you follow it,
Come to this matter which if you do
will save you, leaving you no fear of a calamity's treachery.
You will be saved and need not fear any betrayal
إلىto الساحةthe arena الفيحاthe spacious إلىto مركزthe center العلاof eminence
إلى الساحة الفيحا إلى مركز العلا
إلىto المعقلthe stronghold الأحمىthe best-defended إلىto الرايةthe banner الخضراthe green
إلى المعقل الأحمى إلى الراية الخضرا
To the spacious arena, to the center of eminence,
To Al Fayha Plain, to the center of glory
to the best-defended stronghold, to the green banner,
To the most fervent stronghold, to the green banner
إلىto ملكa king منfrom خلصthe purest العربof the Arabs مجتبىchosen
إلى ملك من خلص العرب مجتبى
بهthrough him اللَهGod عنfrom أهلthe people الهدىof guidance رفعlifted الأمراthe burden
به اللَه عن أهل الهدى رفع الأمرا
to a king chosen from the purest Arabs,
To the King who purified the Arabs, the Chosen One
through whom God lifted the burden from the people of guidance,
Whom God preferred over the people of guidance to raise this matter
إلىto الملكthe king الحرthe noble المتوجthe crowned ذيpossessor of الإباproud resolve
إلى الملك الحر المتوج ذي الإبا
منيعinviolable الحمىin domain الفتاكthe deadly striker والواهبand the giver الوفراof abundance
منيع الحمى الفتاك والواهب الوفرا
to the noble, crowned king, possessed of proud resolve,
The free crowned King, with strong determination
his domain inviolable, the deadly striker and giver of abundance.
Impregnable protector, deadly warrior and abundant granter
هوhe الملكthe king المختارfree to choose عبدAbd (servant of) العزيزal-Aziz (the Mighty) فيin
هو الملك المختار عبد العزيز في
إرادتهhis will إنif شاءhe wishes نفعاًbenefit وإنand if ضراharm
إرادته إن شاء نفعاً وإن ضرا
He is King Abd al-Aziz, free in
He is King Abdulaziz, in his will, if he wills benefit and if harm
his will, whether he wishes benefit or harm.
And of his father Abdulrahman son of Faisal
ومنand he whose عبدAbd (servant of) الرحمنal-Rahman (the Most Merciful) أبوهhis father ابنson of فيصلFaisal الthe
ومن عبد الرحمن أبوه ابن فيصل ال
لإمامImam ابنson of تركيTurki فقدso indeed كملis complete الفخراthe glory
لإمام ابن تركي فقد كمل الفخرا
and whose father is Abd al-Rahman, son of Faisal, the
The Imam son of Turki, thus the pride is complete
Imam, son of Turki—his glory is complete.
So how many tamed wolves have his swords made
فكمso many a ذئبwolf انسhuman قدمتهoffered him سيوفهhis swords
فكم ذئب انس قدمته سيوفه
قراa feast ذئبa wolf وحشwild مرملdestitute يسكنinhabiting القفراthe wasteland
قرا ذئب وحش مرمل يسكن القفرا
How many a human wolf his swords have served up
Howl like ferocious desert wolves inhabiting the desert
as a feast for a destitute wild wolf dwelling in the wasteland!
And the clouds of his generosity rain goodness
وتمطرand rain جوداًgenerosity سحبthe clouds كفيهof his palms باللهىwith gifts
وتمطر جوداً سحب كفيه باللهى
فكمso many a متربpauper أضحتbecame مرابعهhis dwelling grounds خضراgreen
فكم مترب أضحت مرابعه خضرا
The clouds of his palms rain bountiful gifts,
So how many barren lands have become green pastures
so many a pauper's dwelling grounds have turned green!
As if, through his generosity, God reinforced him with soldiers
كأنas though اللهىthe gifts منfrom جودهhis generosity بعضpart of جندهhis army
كأن اللهى من جوده بعض جنده
فكمso often أوجدتthey created يسراease بهthrough it أعدمتthey eliminated عسراhardship
فكم أوجدت يسرا به أعدمت عسرا
It is as though the gifts of his generosity were part of his army;
So how much hardship he created ease after
so often have they created ease, thereby banishing hardship!
His subjects are equal before him, so they are all
تساوتbecame equal رعاياهhis subjects لديهbefore him فكلهمso all of them
تساوت رعاياه لديه فكلهم
بنوهhis sons وكلand each منهمof them يعلنproclaims الشكراthanks
بنوه وكل منهم يعلن الشكرا
His subjects are equal before him; all of them
His sons, and each of them expresses gratitude
are his sons, and each proclaims his thanks.
If he calls they respond, and when clouded they light up
فهمso they إنif دعىhe calls لبواthey answer وانand if غامhe clouds over أبرقواthey flash lightning
فهم إن دعى لبوا وان غام أبرقوا
وإنand if أرعدواthey thunder انفضتscatter قلوبthe hearts العداof enemies
وإن أرعدوا انفضت قلوب العدا
When he calls, they answer; when he clouds over, they flash lightning,
And when he thunders, the hearts of the enemies tremble
and when they thunder, the enemies' hearts fly apart.
He spread Islam after its folding
أمنO one who نشرunfurled الإسلامIslam منfrom بعدafter طيهits folding
أمن نشر الإسلام من بعد طيه
ذعراin terror وماand not أحدanyone قدhad كانbeen يرجواhoping لهfor it نشراan unfolding
ذعرا وما أحد قد كان يرجوا له نشرا
O one who unfurled Islam after it had been folded away,
Frightened, and no one hoped for its spreading
in terror, when no one had hoped to see it unfurled,
And he established in the slate of politics a nation
واثبتand inscribed فيon لوحthe tablet السياسةof politics أمةًa nation
واثبت في لوح السياسة أمةً
قدindeed إتفقتagreed فيon محوهاerasing it أممnations أخرىother
قد إتفقت في محوها أمم أخرى
and inscribed upon the tablet of politics a nation
That other nations had agreed upon erasing
that other nations had agreed to erase,
And he drew with the edge of his determination and sword
وخطand wrote بحديwith the two edges of عزمهhis resolve وحسامهand his sword
وخط بحدي عزمه وحسامه
علىon صفحاتthe pages العصرof the age آياتهhis signs الكبرىthe mighty
على صفحات العصر آياته الكبرى
and wrote with the two edges of his resolve and sword
On the pages of time his great miracles
his mighty signs upon the pages of the age:
So may God's care soften for the enemies, and repent to God
ليهنكmay gladden you نظرthe regard اللهof God والتبand ruin للعداfor the enemies
ليهنك نظر الله والتب للعدا
فقدfor indeed خسرواthey lost الأولىthe first ولنand will not يربحواthey gain أخرىanother
فقد خسروا الأولى ولن يربحوا أخرى
may God's regard gladden you, and ruin be upon your foes!
For they have lost the first and will not profit from the last
For they have lost the first and will not win another.
Remaining, defending God's religion and the King
بقيتmay you remain لدينfor the faith اللهof God والملكand the kingdom حامياًa defender
بقيت لدين الله والملك حامياً
وأبناؤكand your sons الأقمارthe moons ياO ذاpossessor of العلىeminence طراall
وأبناؤك الأقمار يا ذا العلى طرا
May you remain a defender of God's faith and the kingdom,
Are your moon-like sons, O holder of the lofty banner
and all your sons, those moons, O man of eminence!
And O Arabs of Najd, Hijaz and those of you who stood firm
وياand O عربArabs of نجدNajd والحجازand the Hejaz وقيتمواmay you be protected
ويا عرب نجد والحجاز وقيتموا
ولاand may not زلتمyou cease للدينfor religion والوطنand the homeland الذخراa treasure
ولا زلتم للدين والوطن الذخرا
O Arabs of Najd and the Hejaz, may you be protected,
And still are the treasure and pillar for the religion and nation
and may you remain a treasure for religion and the homeland.
You sold your souls in the arena of turmoil
بيعكمyour selling الأرواحsouls فيin عرصةthe arena الوغىof battle
بيعكم الأرواح في عرصة الوغى
ربحتمyou gained بهthrough it شيئينtwo things الفخرglory والأجراand reward
ربحتم به شيئين الفخر والأجرا
By selling your souls on the battlefield,
And gained by it two things: pride and reward
you gained two things: glory and reward.
For glory, my people, for glory take care
علىover المجدglory ياO قوميmy people علىover المجدglory حافظواkeep guard
على المجد يا قومي على المجد حافظوا
فقدfor indeed تخدعmay deceive الأيامthe days منwhoever أهملneglected الحذراcaution
فقد تخدع الأيام من أهمل الحذرا
Guard glory, my people—guard glory!
For time may deceive those who neglect caution
For the days may deceive whoever neglects caution.
The worshippers of benefits have all failed
قدindeed خابfailed عبادthe worshippers المنافعof self-interest كلهمall of them
قد خاب عباد المنافع كلهم
فقدfor indeed سقطواthey fell فيinto الخزيdisgrace واحتملواand bore الوزراthe burden of sin
فقد سقطوا في الخزي واحتملوا الوزرا
All worshippers of self-interest have failed,
Falling into disgrace and bearing sins
for they have fallen into disgrace and borne the burden of sin,
When they enticed the foolish Ibn Rufaydah
لماwhen أغرواthey lured المعتوهthe fool ابنIbn (son of) رفادةRifada
لما أغروا المعتوه ابن رفادة
فياso oh بئسhow wretched منthe one who أغريwas lured وياand oh بئسhow wretched منthe one who أغرىlured
فيا بئس من أغري ويا بئس من أغرى
when they lured the fool Ibn Rifada:
So miserable is he who enticed and who was enticed
how wretched the one lured, and how wretched the one who lured him!
Why did they not attend the field of turmoil?
ماwhat لهمis with them لمdid not يحضرواthey attend ساحةthe field الوغىof battle
ما لهم لم يحضروا ساحة الوغى
ولمand why لمdid not يشدواthey strengthen إزرthe back طغمتهof his rabble البتراthe truncated
ولم لم يشدوا إزر طغمته البترا
Why did they not come to the field of battle,
Why did they not support his severed group?
and why did they not lend strength to his crippled rabble?
They led their souls as offerings to Satan
قرابينofferings للشيطانto Satan قادواthey led نفوسهمthemselves
قرابين للشيطان قادوا نفوسهم
إلىto مذبحthe slaughterhouse الأطماعof greed فاستؤصلواso they were eradicated نحراby slaughter
إلى مذبح الأطماع فاستؤصلوا نحرا
As offerings to Satan, they led themselves
To the altar of ambitions, so they were uprooted by the throat
to the slaughterhouse of greed, and were wiped out by slaughter.
The borders were not cleansed when the victory messengers
ماwhen تمwas complete تطهيرthe cleansing الحدودof the borders وأرختand I dated it
ما تم تطهير الحدود وأرخت
فوافso came لكمto you بالنصرwith victory ياO قوميmy people البشراglad tidings
فواف لكم بالنصر يا قومي البشرا
When the borders were cleansed, I recorded the date,
Came to you, O my people, with glad tidings
and glad tidings of victory reached you, my people.
I am from my respected people, and if
إنيindeed I منam of قوميmy people الكرامthe noble وانand though نئاcarried far
إني من قومي الكرام وان نئا
بيwith me الحظfortune عنهمaway from them لستI am not أنسىforgetting لهمof them ذكراa remembrance
بي الحظ عنهم لست أنسى لهم ذكرا
I belong to my noble people, though I have been carried far,
Fate frowned upon me, I do not forget their memory
by fortune away from them; I do not forget their memory.
I seek their approval as much as I can openly
أجابذI contend عنهمon their behalf ماas much as استطعتI can مجاهراopenly
أجابذ عنهم ما استطعت مجاهرا
ولاand do not اتقيI fear فيin الحقthe truth زيداًZayd ولاnor عمراAmr
ولا اتقي في الحق زيداً ولا عمرا
I contend for them openly, as far as I can,
And I do not fear in truthfulness a Zaid or Umar
and in the cause of truth, I fear neither Zayd nor Amr.
And I have become weary of my life meeting them
وملand I hope منfrom دهريmy lifetime لقاهمmeeting them تشرفاًfor honor
ومل من دهري لقاهم تشرفاً
ولكنهbut it بالعجزthrough helplessness صيرنيturned me into صخراa rock
ولكنه بالعجز صيرني صخرا
And I hope, in my lifetime, for the honor of meeting them,
But my incapacity has made me a rock
but through helplessness it has turned me into a rock.
Partial English translation: 101 of 102 Arabic lines translated.