ناشدتكI implore you الإحساسfeeling ياO أقلامpens
ناشدتك الإحساس يا أقلام
أتزلزلdoes it quake الدنياthe world ونحنwhile we نيامare asleep
أتزلزل الدنيا ونحن نيام
I implore you to feel, O pens!
I implored you, O pens, is the world shaking while we sleep?
Does the world quake while we sleep?
Rise, O shepherd, to your country - call it
قمrise ياO يراعُreed pen إلىto بلادكyour country نادهاcall to it
قم يا يراعُ إلى بلادك نادها
إنif كانthere is عندكwith you للشعوبfor the peoples كلامspeech
إن كان عندك للشعوب كلام
Rise, O reed pen, and call to your country,
If you have any words for the people
If you have words for the peoples.
For long have you kindled your poetry around it
فلطالماfor how often أشعلتَyou kindled شعركyour poetry حولهاaround it
فلطالما أشعلتَ شعرك حولها
ومنand from القوافيthe rhymes شعلةa flame وضرامand a blaze
ومن القوافي شعلة وضرام
For so often you kindled your poetry around it,
And from rhymes, a blaze and embers
And from rhymes came a flame and a blaze.
When you roused it, you chased its slumber
لماwhen أهبتyou called بهاupon it تطاردto chase away نومهاits sleep
لما أهبت بها تطارد نومها
ضحكتlaughed عليكat you بجفنهاthrough its eyelid الأحلامdreams
ضحكت عليك بجفنها الأحلام
When you called upon it to chase away its sleep,
It laughed at you with its drowsy eyelids’ dreams
Dreams laughed at you through its eyelid.
And cried out in its ears, so it stirred
وصرختand you cried out فيinto أسماعهاits ears فتحركتthen it stirred
وصرخت في أسماعها فتحركت
لكنbut, كماas يتحركstir النوّامthe sleepers
لكن, كما يتحرك النوّام
And you cried into its ears, and it stirred,
But stirs like the drowsy
But as sleepers stir.
We fear the swords of injustice while it is sleepy
نخشىwe fear سيوفthe swords الظلمof oppression وهيwhile they are كليلةblunt
نخشى سيوف الظلم وهي كليلة
ونقدسand we sanctify الأصنامthe idols وهيwhile they are حطامrubble
ونقدس الأصنام وهي حطام
We fear the swords of oppression, though they are blunt,
And sanctify idols though they are rubble
And sanctify idols, though they are rubble.
And our nation is humiliated by one individual
وتذلand submits أمتناour nation لفردbefore a man واحدone
وتذل أمتنا لفرد واحد
لاnot تستقادare led obediently لمثلهto his like الأنعامlivestock
لا تستقاد لمثله الأنعام
And our nation bows before a single man,
Cattle cannot be guided to the likes of him
Though even livestock would not submit to his like.
We give him our money and souls
نسديwe bestow لهupon him أموالناour wealth ونفوسناand our lives
نسدي له أموالنا ونفوسنا
ويرىand he thinks بأناthat we خائنونare traitors لئامbase
ويرى بأنا خائنون لئام
We bestow upon him our wealth and our lives,
And he sees us as traitorous villains
Yet he thinks us base traitors.
We build him a throne from which to rule
نبنيwe build لهfor him عرشاًa throne يسودhe rules فيبتنيthen he builds
نبني له عرشاً يسود فيبتني
سجناًa prison , نهانwe are humiliated بظلهbeneath its shadow ونضامand wronged
سجناً , نهان بظله ونضام
We build him a throne from which to rule, and he builds
So he constructs a prison - we live in his shade, squeezed together
A prison, beneath whose shadow we are humiliated and wronged.
Our heads bow to him in fearful, forced humility
تحنوbow الرؤوسthe heads لهto him خشوعاًin submission ظلعاًin weakness
تحنو الرؤوس له خشوعاً ظلعاً
وتنوءand are weighed down منby أصفادهhis fetters الأقدامthe feet
وتنوء من أصفاده الأقدام
Heads bow to him in submission and weakness,
And our feet buckle under his shackles
And feet are weighed down by his fetters.
How many tongues have praised him and tasted
كمhow many سبحتهpraised him ألسنtongues فتجرعتthen swallowed
كم سبحته ألسن فتجرعت
منهfrom him, مذاقthe taste الموتof death وهوand it is زؤامswift and dreadful
منه, مذاق الموت وهو زؤام
How many tongues praised him, only to swallow
From him the flavor of death, bitter and foul
From him the taste of death—swift and dreadful.
How many a father sacrificed his soul for the imam
كمhow many منof أبa father واسىsupported الإمامthe imam بروحهwith his life
كم من أب واسى الإمام بروحه
ماتتdied جياعاًhungry بعدهafter him الأيتامthe orphans
ماتت جياعاً بعده الأيتام
How many a father supported the imam with his life;
After him, his orphans starved to death
After him, the orphans died of hunger.
He sucks the wealth of his people and starves them
يمتصhe sucks out ثروةthe wealth شعبهof his people ويميتهand kills them
يمتص ثروة شعبه ويميته
جوعاًwith hunger , ليسمنto fatten آلهhis kin الأعلامthe illustrious ones
جوعاً , ليسمن آله الأعلام
He sucks out his people's wealth and kills them
To fatten his own noble line
With hunger, to fatten his illustrious kin.
His stabbings are sacred - blessings, verses and laws rained down on them
طعناتهhis stabs قدسيةsacred نزلتdescended بهاwith them
طعناته قدسية نزلت بها
البركاتthe blessings والآياتand verses والأحكامand rulings
البركات والآيات والأحكام
His stabs are sacred; with them descended
The work of creation is blasphemy in his view
Blessings, verses, and rulings.
And whatever comes to him becomes law and order
عملthe deeds الورىof humankind فيin رأيهhis view كفرunbelief
عمل الورى في رأيه كفر
وماand what يأتيهhe does it فهوthen it is شريعةreligious law ونظامand order
وما يأتيه فهو شريعة ونظام
Humankind's deeds, in his view, are unbelief;
Sons of Qahtan are slaves after their leaders and rulers worshipped them
Whatever he does is religious law and order.
Their swords used to discipline every tyrant
أبناءthe sons قحطانof Qahtan عبيدslaves بعدafter ماthat
أبناء قحطان عبيد بعد ما
عبدتهمenslaved them الزعماءthe leaders والحكامand rulers
عبدتهم الزعماء والحكام
The sons of Qahtan are slaves, after
Without the sword, nothing can be done
Leaders and rulers enslaved them.
They used to be the defiant ones, and the world belonged to them
كانتwere سيوفهمtheir swords تؤدبchastising كلevery جبارtyrant,
كانت سيوفهم تؤدب كل جبار,
بغيرwithout السيفthe sword ليسnot يقامis set straight
بغير السيف ليس يقام
Their swords once chastened every tyrant
As did kingship, banners and nobility
Who could be set straight only by the sword.
They descended on Yathrib and Iraq, and built
كانواthey were الأباةthe unbowed وكانتand was الدنياthe world لهمtheirs
كانوا الأباة وكانت الدنيا لهم
والملكand sovereignty والراياتand banners والأعلامand standards
والملك والرايات والأعلام
They were the unbowed, and the world was theirs,
A great kingdom, unmatched
And sovereignty, banners, and standards.
They were the first to storm the walls of Spain
نزلواthey settled بيثربin Yathrib والعراقand Iraq فشيدواthen they built
نزلوا بيثرب والعراق فشيدوا
ملكاًa kingdom كبيرgreat الشأنin stature ليسnot يرامto be assailed
ملكاً كبير الشأن ليس يرام
They settled in Yathrib and Iraq, and built
Conquering and establishing themselves
A mighty kingdom that none could assail.
In battlefields they were sharp swords
وهمand they الأولىare those who اقتحمواstormed علىupon أسبانياSpain
وهم الأولى اقتحموا على أسبانيا
أسوارهاits walls, فتحكمواthen they ruled وأقامواand settled
أسوارها, فتحكموا وأقاموا
They were those who stormed Spain's
And in building empires, pillars
Walls, then ruled and settled.
They were the throbbing pulse of Arabism - a revolution
وهمُand they بمعتركin the thick of الحروبwars صوارمare cutting swords
وهمُ بمعترك الحروب صوارم
وهمُand they لبنيانfor the building العروشof thrones دعامare pillars
وهمُ لبنيان العروش دعام
In the thick of war they were cutting swords,
That erased kings and cast down ambitions
And pillars for the building of thrones.
They were the first to build the Umayyad throne
كانواthey were بأعصابin the nerves العروبةof Arab nationhood ثورةa revolt
كانوا بأعصاب العروبة ثورة
تمحىare erased الملوكthe kings بهاby it وترمىand are hurled الهامthe heads
تمحى الملوك بها وترمى الهام
In the nerves of Arab nationhood they were a revolt
Al-Walid rose with them, and Hisham was honored
That erased kings and sent heads flying.
They were angry with Marwan, so fate turned against him
وهمand they الأولىare those who البانونthe builders عرشof the throne أميةof Umayya
وهم الأولى البانون عرش أمية
نهضrose الوليدal-Walid بهمthrough them وعزَّand grew mighty هشامHisham
نهض الوليد بهم وعزَّ هشام
They were the builders of Umayya's throne;
And time rose up against him
Al-Walid rose through them, and Hisham gained might.
Their swords shone, lighting up history
غضبواthey raged علىagainst مروانMarwan فانقبلتthen was overturned
غضبوا على مروان فانقبلت
بهon him الـدنياthe world, وثارتand rose up ضدهagainst him الأيامthe days
به الـدنيا, وثارت ضده الأيام
They raged against Marwan; overturned
With a horizon devoid of darkness
Was his world, and the days rose against him.
Once upon a time, they were the caliphate whose limbs
كانتwere سيوفهمtheir swords تضيءshining فتمنحthus granting التـhis- (start of history)
كانت سيوفهم تضيء فتمنح التـ
ـاريخ-tory (remainder of history) أفقاًa horizon ليسnot فيهin it ظلامdarkness
ـاريخ أفقاً ليس فيه ظلام
Their swords shone, giving his-
Were torn apart, and so Islam was torn apart
tory a horizon without darkness.
Qahtan, origin of the Arabs - since they were negligent
كانواthey were زماناًan age للخلافةfor the caliphate مزقتwere torn
كانوا زماناً للخلافة مزقت
أوصالهits limbs, فتمزقthen was torn apart الإسلامIslam
أوصاله, فتمزق الإسلام
They were an age for the caliphate; torn were
Of its life, they lived as orphans
Its limbs, and Islam was torn apart.
Theirs are the towering mountains, and souls
قحطانQahtan أصلthe root العربof the Arabs منذsince تهاونواthey neglected
قحطان أصل العرب منذ تهاونوا
بحياتهاher life, عاشواthey lived وهمwhile they أيتامwere orphans
بحياتها, عاشوا وهم أيتام
Qahtan is the root of the Arabs; since they neglected
Like the towering mountains - towering bones
Her life, they have lived as orphans.
Did they make existence or did it make them?
لهمtheirs are الجبالthe mountains الراسياتthe steadfast وأنفسand souls
لهم الجبال الراسيات وأنفس
مثلlike الجبالthe mountains الراسياتthe steadfast عظامgreat
مثل الجبال الراسيات عظام
The steadfast mountains are theirs, and souls
Or are they foundlings?
As great as the steadfast mountains.
They were born giants embalmed
أتراهموdo you think they صنعواmade الذرىthe peaks أمor أنهاthat they
أتراهمو صنعوا الذرى أم أنها
صنعتهمmade them, أمor أنهمthat they أتوامare twins
صنعتهم, أم أنهم أتوام
Do you think they made the peaks, or that the peaks
As the pharaohs were born who built the pyramids
Made them—or that they are twins?
They came out of history with the profile of the family of donkeys
ولدواthey were born عمالقةgiants محنطةmummified كماjust as
ولدوا عمالقة محنطة كما
ولدتgave birth فراعنةto pharaohs لهاof their own الأهرامthe pyramids
ولدت فراعنة لها الأهرام
They were born mummified giants, just as
Stampede on their foreheads and medals
The pyramids gave birth to pharaohs of their own.
They ask: Are we superior donkeys above existence
قدمواthey came منfrom التاريخhistory فيon جبهاتهمtheir brows
قدموا من التاريخ في جبهاتهم
منfrom آلthe house حميرof Himyar غرةa shining forehead mark ووسامand a badge
من آل حمير غرة ووسام
They came from history, bearing upon their brows
Or are those visions delusions?
From the house of Himyar, a shining mark and a badge.
Ibn Al-Sa'eeda - is there really paradise within it
يتساءلونthey ask أحميرis Himyar فوقabove الورىhumankind
يتساءلون أحمير فوق الورى
كالأمسas yesterday أمor تلكthose الرؤىvisions أوهامillusions؟
كالأمس أم تلك الرؤى أوهام؟
They ask: Is Himyar above all humankind
Grown by time when it was a lad?
As yesterday, or are those visions illusions?
Where are the lofty palaces? Where are their
ابنson السعيدةof al-Sa'ida, the Happy Land إنindeed فيهاwithin it جنةa garden
ابن السعيدة إن فيها جنة
خضراgreen نماهاnurtured it الدهرTime وهوwhile he was غلامa boy؟
خضرا نماها الدهر وهو غلام؟
Son of al-Sa'ida, within it lies a garden,
Beautiful ladies? Where are their famed kings?
Green, which Time nurtured while still a boy.
Where are the seas with dams that seem amidst
أينwhere القصورthe palaces الشمthe lofty ؟ أينwhere بناتهاtheir builders
أين القصور الشم ؟ أين بناتها
الأقيالthe princely rulers أينwhere ملوكهاits kings الأعلامthe illustrious ones
الأقيال أين ملوكها الأعلام
Where are the lofty palaces? Where are their builders,
The skyscrapers - bustling and crowded?
The princely rulers? Where are its illustrious kings?
Where is the dynasty of Ma'een and Hamir?
أينwhere البحارthe seas منfrom السدودthe dams يرىis seen لهاfor them
أين البحار من السدود يرى لها
بينamong الشواهقthe towering heights زخرةa surge وزحامand crowding؟
بين الشواهق زخرة وزحام؟
Where are the seas behind the dams, seen
Did they rouse the world for them or are they sleeping?
Surging and crowding among the towering heights?
Did they race the continents in their leaps?
أينwhere السلالةthe lineage منfrom معينMa'in وحميرand Himyar
أين السلالة من معين وحمير
هلhave أيقظواthey awakened الدنياthe world لهمfor themselves أمor نامواslept؟
هل أيقظوا الدنيا لهم أم ناموا؟
Where are the descendants of Ma'in and Himyar?
Did they orbit the stars and wander?
Have they awakened the world for themselves, or slept?
What called Qahtan? In their moments - misery
هلhave سابقواthey raced الأقطارthe lands فيin وثباتهاtheir leaps
هل سابقوا الأقطار في وثباتها
هلhave حلقواthey soared حولaround النجومthe stars وحامواand circled؟
هل حلقوا حول النجوم وحاموا؟
Have they raced other lands in their leaps forward?
And in their words - sorrows
Have they soared and circled around the stars?
Ignorance and diseases and grave injustice
ماذاwhat دهىbefell قحطانQahtan ؟ فيin لحظاتهمtheir glances
ماذا دهى قحطان ؟ في لحظاتهم
بؤسmisery, وفيand in كلماتهمtheir words آلامpains؟
بؤس, وفي كلماتهم آلام؟
What has befallen Qahtan? In their glances
And fear and famine and imam
Is misery, and in their words, pain.
While the people are shackled in chains on their legs
جهلignorance وأمراضand illnesses وظلمand oppression فادحgrievous
جهل وأمراض وظلم فادح
ومخافةand fear ومجاعةand famine وإمامand an imam؟
ومخافة ومجاعة وإمام؟
Ignorance, illnesses, and grievous oppression,
And gagged in their eloquent mouths
Fear, famine—and an imam?
Or frightened, not knowing whether
والناسand the people بينbetween مكبلa shackled man فيon رجلهhis leg
والناس بين مكبل في رجله
قيدٌa chain, وفيand in فمهhis mouth البليغeloquent لجامa bridle
قيدٌ, وفي فمه البليغ لجام
The people: either a shackled man, upon whose leg
Prison or execution awaits them
Is a chain, and in whose eloquent mouth a bridle,
Gathering is an eternal crime
أوor خائفa frightened man, لمnot يدرknow ماwhat ينتابهbefalls him
أو خائف, لم يدر ما ينتابه
منهمfrom them, أسجنis it imprisonment الدهرfor life, أمor إعدامexecution؟
منهم, أسجن الدهر, أم إعدام؟
Or a frightened man, not knowing what will befall him
Knowledge is a sin, speech is forbidden
At their hands: lifelong imprisonment or execution?
One flees from his father and mother
والاجتماعand gathering جريمةa crime أزليةeternal
والاجتماع جريمة أزلية
والعلمand learning إثمa sin ٌ والكلامand speech حرامforbidden
والعلم إثم ٌ والكلام حرام
Gathering is an eternal crime,
As though connecting with them is a sin
Learning a sin, and speech forbidden.
The army occupies the countries - it has
والمرءand a person يهربflees منfrom أبيهhis father وأمهand his mother
والمرء يهرب من أبيه وأمه
وكأنand as though وصلهماhis ties with both لهfor him إجرامa crime
وكأن وصلهما له إجرام
A man flees from his father and mother,
No place but the huts of the weak
As though keeping ties with them were a crime for him.
It loots and pillages whatever it wants
والجيشand the army , يحتلoccupies البلادthe country , ومالهand it has no
والجيش , يحتل البلاد , وماله
فيin غيرother than أكواخthe hovels الضعيفof the weak مقامa lodging
في غير أكواخ الضعيف مقام
The army occupies the country, and has
As if it were the caliph's sledgehammer
No lodging except in the hovels of the weak.
While the people live under the swords, torn limb
يسطوassaults وينهبand plunders ماwhatever يشاءit wishes, كأنماas though
يسطو وينهب ما يشاء, كأنما
هوit للخليفةfor the caliph معولa pickaxe هدامdemolishing
هو للخليفة معول هدام
It assaults and plunders as it pleases, as though
From limb, persecuted, squeezed together
It were the caliph's demolishing pickaxe.
Either they must flee their land
والشعبand the people فيin ظلthe shadow السيوفof swords ممزقtorn apart
والشعب في ظل السيوف ممزق
الأوصالthe limbs مضطهدoppressed الجنابtheir domain يضامsubjected to injustice
الأوصال مضطهد الجناب يضام
The people, beneath the shadow of swords, are torn
Or else life is a slaughter
Limb from limb, oppressed on every side and wronged.
They were scattered in the countries and destroyed
وعليهand they must إماeither أنto يغادرleave أرضهtheir land
وعليه إما أن يغادر أرضه
هرباًin flight وإلاor else فالحياةthen life حمامis death
هرباً وإلا فالحياة حمام
They must either leave their land
Its civilization - as if they were landmines
In flight, or else life is death.
They ate up the soil of the land and monopolized it
نثرواthey were scattered بأنحاءthroughout البلادthe country ودمرواand destroyed
نثروا بأنحاء البلاد ودمروا
عمرانهاits settlements.. فكأنهمas though they ألغامwere mines
عمرانها.. فكأنهم ألغام
They were scattered throughout the country and destroyed
While the needy stand fasting
Its settlements, as though they were mines.
As if they created the world and in their hands
أكلواthey devoured لبابthe heart الأرضof the land واختصواand claimed exclusive rights بهاto it
أكلوا لباب الأرض واختصوا بها
وذووand those with الخصاصةpoverty واقفونstand صيامfasting
وذوو الخصاصة واقفون صيام
They devoured the heart of the land and claimed it for themselves,
The celestial bodies move
While the destitute stand fasting.
Grant that they created the worshippers - but is there
وكأنهمand as though they همthemselves أوجدواcreated الدنياthe world وفيand in
وكأنهم هم أوجدوا الدنيا وفي
أيديهمtheir hands تتحركmove الأجرامthe heavenly bodies
أيديهم تتحرك الأجرام
And as though they themselves had created the world, and in
For those they created any tenderness or bond from them?
Their hands the heavenly bodies move.
What would have harmed them, had they been
هبsuppose أنهمthat they خلقواcreated العبادmankind فهلthen is there لمنfor those whom
هب أنهم خلقوا العباد فهل لمن
خلقوهthey created them عطفkindness ٌ عندهمwith them وذمامand protection
خلقوه عطف ٌ عندهم وذمام
Suppose they created mankind; is there for those
Like their noble ancestors?
They created any kindness or protection from them?
But morals are sustenance, by which fate flows
ماwhat كانwould have ضرهمharmed them وهمwhile they منare of هاشمٍHashim
ما كان ضرهم وهم من هاشمٍ
لوif أنهمthey were مثلlike الجدودthe forefathers كرامgenerous
لو أنهم مثل الجدود كرام
What harm would it have done them, being of Hashim,
And portions are determined
Had they been generous like their forefathers?
O people, rise up to struggle and resist
لكنهاbut they are الأخلاقmorals أرزاقallotted gifts بهاthrough them
لكنها الأخلاق أرزاق بها
يجريruns its course القضاdestiny وتُقَدّرand are apportioned الأقسامthe shares
يجري القضا وتُقَدّر الأقسام
But morals are allotted gifts; through them
Sleeping through oppression is forbidden
Destiny runs its course, and shares are apportioned.
You surrender to cruel ones lacking
ياO قومmy people هبواrise للكفاحto the struggle وناضلواand fight
يا قوم هبوا للكفاح وناضلوا
إنindeed المنامsleep عنneglecting الذمامduty حرامforbidden
إن المنام عن الذمام حرام
O my people, rise to the struggle and fight!
Morals, law or edicts
Sleeping through your obligations is forbidden.
Oppression will not cease to be a ravenous wolf
تستسلمونyou surrender إلىto قساةٍcruel men مالهمwho have no
تستسلمون إلى قساةٍ مالهم
خلقٌmorals, ولاnor شرعٌreligious law ولاnor أحكامrulings
خلقٌ, ولا شرعٌ ولا أحكام
You surrender to cruel men who have
As long as it knows you are sheep
Neither morals, nor religious law, nor rulings.
So speak up to prove you are human
لنwill not يبرحcease to be الطغيانtyranny ذئباًa wolf ضارياًravening
لن يبرح الطغيان ذئباً ضارياً
مادامas long as يعرفit knows أنكمthat you أغنامare sheep
مادام يعرف أنكم أغنام
Tyranny will never cease to be a ravening wolf
And let him feel you see his injustice
As long as it knows you are sheep.
And move so he doesn't think you are
فتكلمواso speak كيماso that يصدقit believes أنكمthat you
فتكلموا كيما يصدق أنكم
بشرٌare human ويشعرand feels أنهthat it ظلاّمis a ruthless oppressor
بشرٌ ويشعر أنه ظلاّم
So speak, that it may believe you are
Dead and see you as idols
Human, and realize it is a ruthless oppressor.
The world has flown on, competing
وتحركواand move كيso that لاnot يظنit thinks بأنكمthat you
وتحركوا كي لا يظن بأنكم
موتىare dead, ويحسبand reckons أنكمthat you أصنامare idols
موتى, ويحسب أنكم أصنام
And move, so it does not think you
While you have neither wings nor feet for the race
Dead, and deem you idols.
If you do not fly in the sky, how can you not
طارflew الورىhumankind متسابقينracing one another ومالكمand you have no
طار الورى متسابقين ومالكم
فيin السبقthe race أجنحةwings ٌ ولاnor أقدامfeet
في السبق أجنحة ٌ ولا أقدام
Humankind has flown, racing one another, while you have
Walk when sheep and cattle walk?
Neither wings nor feet in the race.
Wavering, changing colors and hesitating
إنif لمnot تطيرواyou fly فيin السماءthe sky فكيفthen why لمnot
إن لم تطيروا في السماء فكيف لم
تمشواyou walk وتمشيwhile walk الشاءsheep والأنعامand livestock
تمشوا وتمشي الشاء والأنعام
If you have not flown in the sky, why have you not
They cursed good and evil alike
Walked, though sheep and livestock walk?
We said: "Lift the whips from your bodies"
ومذبذبينand wavering men تلوناًin fickleness وتردداًand hesitation
ومذبذبين تلوناً وتردداً
لعنتهمcursed them الحسناتgood deeds والآثامand sins
لعنتهم الحسنات والآثام
And wavering men, fickle and hesitant—
They said: "That would be a sin against the imam"
Good deeds and sins have cursed them.
By God, it’s not the imam, they are obsessed
قلناwe said:ارفعواlift الأسواطthe whips عنfrom أجسادكمyour bodies
قلنا:ارفعوا الأسواط عن أجسادكم
قالواthey said: لناto us لومblaming الإمامthe imam أثامis a sin
قالوا: لنا لوم الإمام أثام
We said: Lift the whips from your bodies.
With the despot's whip and delirious for it
They said to us: Blaming the imam is a sin.
They sold their conscience for humiliation
تاللهby God مابهمis not their concern الإمامthe imam, وإنماbut rather
تالله مابهم الإمام, وإنما
ولعواthey became enamored بسوطof the whip المستبدof the despot وهامواand were infatuated
ولعوا بسوط المستبد وهاموا
By God, it is not the imam they care about; rather,
As beasts are bought to carry heavy loads
They are enamored of the despot's whip, infatuated.
And when greed resides in chests of beasts
باعواthey sold الضمائرtheir consciences للمهانةinto humiliation مثلماjust as
باعوا الضمائر للمهانة مثلما
تبتاعare bought للحملfor the load الثقيلheavy سوامlivestock
تبتاع للحمل الثقيل سوام
They sold their consciences into humiliation, just as
Their bodies grow strong enough to carry sticks
Livestock are bought for heavy loads.
They meddle in affairs they have no
وإذاand when ثوتdwell بينbetween الضلوعthe ribs بهائمbeasts
وإذا ثوت بين الضلوع بهائم
قويتgrew strong علىfor حملbearing العصاthe rod الأجسامthe bodies
قويت على حمل العصا الأجسام
And when beasts dwell between the ribs,
Knowledge or competence of
Bodies grow strong enough to endure the rod.
They think religion only means
يتطاولونthey presume to reach إلىinto شؤونaffairs مالهمof which they have no
يتطاولون إلى شؤون مالهم
علمknowledge بمعناهاof their meaning ولاnor إلمامfamiliarity
علم بمعناها ولا إلمام
They presumptuously meddle in matters, having
The prince's dirhams and food
No knowledge of their meaning, nor familiarity.
They wrote - but their sayings are merely
لاnot يحسبونthey consider الدينreligion إلاexcept أنهthat it is
لا يحسبون الدين إلا أنه
عندwith الأميرthe prince دراهمٌdirhams وطعامand food
عند الأمير دراهمٌ وطعام
They think religion is nothing but
A plague of forbidden and sickness
Dirhams and food at the prince's court.
They dictated pages to bow
كتبواthey wrote وماand not هذاthis الذيwhich بمقالهمis in their article
كتبوا وما هذا الذي بمقالهم
إلاexcept وباءa plague فيin النهىthe intellects وسقامand sickness
إلا وباء في النهى وسقام
They wrote; yet what is in their article
To the corpse they thought was divine inspiration
Is nothing but a plague upon minds and a sickness.
They prattle on, so rhetoric mocks them
سامواthey compelled الصحائفthe pages أنto تنوءgroan under a burden
ساموا الصحائف أن تنوء
بجيفةٍunder a carcass نفحتthat reeked فظنواthen they thought أنهاthat it was إلهامinspiration
بجيفةٍ نفحت فظنوا أنها إلهام
They made the pages groan
And pens laugh as they write
Beneath a reeking carcass, which they took for inspiration.
By God, a man is not empowered by supporters
يتشدقونthey declaim pompously, فتسخرso scoffs الفصحىclassical Arabic بهمat them
يتشدقون, فتسخر الفصحى بهم
ويحررونand they compose فتضحكso laugh الأقلامthe pens
ويحررون فتضحك الأقلام
They declaim pompously, and classical Arabic mocks them;
Who are like specters of darkness - riffraff
They compose, and the pens laugh.
They pardon his tyranny while their countries
تاللهby God ماnot عزgained honor امرؤa man ودعاتهwhile his advocates
تالله ما عز امرؤ ودعاته
نفرٌa band كأشباحlike specters الظلامof darkness طغامa rabble
نفرٌ كأشباح الظلام طغام
By God, no man gained honor when his advocates
Are erased, crying in lament!
Were a rabble, like specters of darkness.
And sanctify daggers that have stabbed
يعفونthey pardon عنfor طغيانهhis tyranny وبلادهمwhile their country
يعفون عن طغيانه وبلادهم
تلحىis reproached علىfor أناتهاits groans وتلامand blamed!
تلحى على أناتها وتلام!
They pardon his tyranny, while their country
An unhealing wound in the people's heart
Is reproached and blamed for its groans!
They will be held to account, for the day of their reckoning
ويقدسونand they sanctify خناجراًdaggers فتحتopened لهاfor it
ويقدسون خناجراً فتحت لها
جرحاًa wound بقلبin the heart الشعبof the people لاnot يلتامheals
جرحاً بقلب الشعب لا يلتام
And they sanctify daggers that have opened for it
Draws near, evil for the unjust oppressor
A wound in the people's heart that will not heal.
The sycophants will regret like the remorse
سيحاسبونthey will be held accountable, فقدfor already دناhas drawn near لحسابهمfor their reckoning
سيحاسبون, فقد دنا لحسابهم
يومٌa day يسوءthat distresses الخائنthe treacherous one الظلاّمthe ruthless oppressor
يومٌ يسوء الخائن الظلاّم
They will be held to account; drawing near for their reckoning
Of an idolater when idols are shattered
Is a day that will distress the treacherous oppressor.
وسيندمand will regret المتزلفونthe flatterers ندامةwith the regret
وسيندم المتزلفون ندامة
الوثنيof the idolater يومon the day تحطمare shattered الأصنامthe idols
الوثني يوم تحطم الأصنام
And the flatterers will regret it with the regret
Of the idolater on the day the idols are shattered.
Partial English translation: 147 of 150 Arabic lines translated.