عَلىaccording to قَدرِthe measure of أَهلِpeople of العَزمِresolve تَأتيcome العَزائِمُgreat resolves
عَلى قَدرِ أَهلِ العَزمِ تَأتي العَزائِمُ
وَتَأتيand come عَلىaccording to قَدرِthe measure of الكِرامِthe noble المَكارِمُnoble deeds
وَتَأتي عَلى قَدرِ الكِرامِ المَكارِمُ
Great resolves come in proportion to people of resolve,
According to the resolve of the resolute ones, resolutions come,
Great resolutions come in the measure of those with great resolve, / And noble deeds descend to match the measure of the noble.
and noble deeds come in proportion to the noble.
And noble deeds come according to the nobility of noble men.
In the eyes of the small, small deeds seem mighty, / While mighty deeds seem small in the eyes of the great.
وَتَعظُمُand loom large فيin عَينِthe eye of الصَغيرِthe small person صِغارُهاtheir small ones
وَتَعظُمُ في عَينِ الصَغيرِ صِغارُها
وَتَصغُرُand grow small فيin عَينِthe eye of العَظيمِthe great person العَظائِمُgreat matters
وَتَصغُرُ في عَينِ العَظيمِ العَظائِمُ
The small among them loom large in the eyes of the small,
Small things seem big to small minds,
Sayf al-Dawla charges the army with his own boundless drive, / Though large, tumultuous armies fail to bear his load.
and great matters grow small in the eyes of the great.
And big things seem small to big minds.
He demands from ordinary men what lies within himself, / A standard that even lions do not claim to hold.
يُكَلِّفُburdens سَيفُSword الدَولَةِof the State الجَيشَthe army هَمَّهُhis ambition
يُكَلِّفُ سَيفُ الدَولَةِ الجَيشَ هَمَّهُ
وَقَدand indeed عَجَزَتhave proved incapable عَنهُof it الجُيوشُthe armies الخَضارِمُvast
وَقَد عَجَزَت عَنهُ الجُيوشُ الخَضارِمُ
Sayf al-Dawla burdens the army with his ambition,
The sword of the state imposes on the army its concern,
The longest-living birds of prey offer their lives for his sword, / The desert eagles, both the fledglings and the old.
though vast armies have proved unequal to it.
Though mighty armies are helpless against it.
No harm befalls them that they were born without claws, / For his swords and their hilts were created to provide.
وَيَطلِبُand seeks عِندَin الناسِpeople ماwhat عِندَin نَفسِهِhimself
وَيَطلِبُ عِندَ الناسِ ما عِندَ نَفسِهِ
وَذَلِكَand that is مالاwhat ... do not تَدَّعيهِclaim it الضَراغِمُthe lions
وَذَلِكَ مالا تَدَّعيهِ الضَراغِمُ
He seeks in others what he finds in himself,
And from people he seeks what he has in himself,
Does the Red Fortress of al-Hadath know its own true hue? / Does it know which of the two pourers gave the clouds their tide?
and that is what even lions do not claim.
Though that is not claimed by the weak.
Bright clouds watered it before he descended there, / But when he drew near, it was watered by the skulls of men.
يُفَدّيoffers itself as ransom for أَتَمُّthe most complete الطَيرِof birds عُمراًin lifespan سِلاحُهُhis weapons
يُفَدّي أَتَمُّ الطَيرِ عُمراً سِلاحُهُ
نُسورُvultures of المَلاthe open country أَحداثُهاtheir young وَالقَشاعِمُand the aged
نُسورُ المَلا أَحداثُها وَالقَشاعِمُ
The longest-lived of birds offer themselves as ransom for his weapons:
Its weapon redeems the longest-lived bird in life,
He built it high while spears clashed against spears, / And the waves of death crashed around it again and again.
the vultures of the open country, their young and their old.
The young buzzards and vultures.
It suffered a kind of madness, so now it stands / Adorned with corpses of the slain as amulets for a cure.
وَماand not ضَرَّهاharmed them خَلقٌcreation بِغَيرِwithout مَخالِبٍtalons
وَما ضَرَّها خَلقٌ بِغَيرِ مَخالِبٍ
وَقَدand indeed خُلِقَتhave been created أَسيافُهُhis swords وَالقَوائِمُand the hilts
وَقَد خُلِقَت أَسيافُهُ وَالقَوائِمُ
It would not harm them to be created without talons,
And no harm was done by a creation without claws
A fugitive of Fate, driven away, but you restored her / To the Faith with spear-points, though Fate was unwilling and unsure.
now that his swords and their hilts have been created.
Since its swords and spears were created.
You make the Nights lose hold of all you seize, / While for what they take from you, they remain in debt.
هَلِdoes ...? الحَدَثُal-Hadath الحَمراءُthe Red تَعرِفُrecognize لَونَهاher color
هَلِ الحَدَثُ الحَمراءُ تَعرِفُ لَونَها
وَتَعلَمُand know أَيُّwhich of الساقِيَينِthe two waterers الغَمائِمُthe rainclouds
وَتَعلَمُ أَيُّ الساقِيَينِ الغَمائِمُ
Does red al-Hadath know her own color,
Does the young red-haired camel know its color
If what you intend is an act in the present tense, / It passes into the past before the checking particles are set.
and know which of her two waterers the rainclouds are?
And recognize which of the two rain-clouds is rainy?
How can the Byzantines and Rus hope to tear it down, / When this very stabbing is its foundation and pillar stone?
سَقَتهاwatered her الغَمامُthe clouds الغُرُّwhite قَبلَbefore نُزولِهِhis arrival
سَقَتها الغَمامُ الغُرُّ قَبلَ نُزولِهِ
فَلَمّاthen when دَناhe drew near مِنهاto her سَقَتهاwatered her الجَماجِمُthe skulls
فَلَمّا دَنا مِنها سَقَتها الجَماجِمُ
White clouds watered her before his arrival,
The rain-cloud watered it when remote,
They brought it to trial with Death acting as the judge, / So no oppressed died, nor did the oppressor live on.
but when he drew near her, skulls watered her.
But when it drew near, skulls watered it.
They came to you dragging iron armor, as if they / Marched on horses that had no legs to stride.
بَناهاhe built her فَأَعلىthen raised high وَالقَناwhile the spears تَقرَعُstrike القَناthe spears
بَناها فَأَعلى وَالقَنا تَقرَعُ القَنا
وَمَوجُand the surge of المَناياthe dooms of death حَولَهاaround her مُتَلاطِمُcrashing together
وَمَوجُ المَنايا حَولَها مُتَلاطِمُ
He built her and raised her high while spears clashed against spears,
It built high the arch, yet the arch rings
When they glittered, one could not distinguish the swords from the men, / For their garments and turbans were of steel and pride.
and the surge of death crashed around her.
And the waves of death crash around it.
A vast army, its crawling mass spans East and West, / And in the ear of Gemini, its clamor rings loud.
وَكانَand there had been بِهاin her مِثلُsomething like الجُنونِmadness فَأَصبَحَتthen she became
وَكانَ بِها مِثلُ الجُنونِ فَأَصبَحَت
وَمِنand from جُثَثِthe bodies of القَتلىthe slain عَلَيهاupon her تَمائِمُamulets
وَمِن جُثَثِ القَتلى عَلَيها تَمائِمُ
A kind of madness had possessed her; now she stands
And it was like madness, but dawned
Gathered within it is every tongue and every race, / Only interpreters can make the speakers understood in the crowd.
with amulets of the slain's bodies upon her.
With the corpses of the slain erected on it as charms.
God be praised for a time whose fire melted all fraud, / Leaving nothing but the sharp sword and the lion-hearted warrior.
طَريدَةُa hunted quarry of دَهرٍTime ساقَهاdrove her away فَرَدَدتَهاthen you restored her
طَريدَةُ دَهرٍ ساقَها فَرَدَدتَها
عَلىto الدينِthe faith بِالخَطِّيِّwith Khatti spears وَالدَهرُwhile Time راغِمُwas humbled
عَلى الدينِ بِالخَطِّيِّ وَالدَهرُ راغِمُ
She was Time's hunted quarry; it drove her off, but you restored her
An outcast of time which led it back
All that could not shatter armor and spears was shattered, / And he who could not clash fled from the champions, a worrier.
to the faith with Khatti spears, while Time was humbled.
To religion, while time is uncontrollable.
You stood firm—where any other would see death as certain— / As if you stood in the eyelid of Destruction, and it slept.
تُفيتُyou deny اللَياليthe nights كُلَّevery شَيءٍthing أَخَذتَهُyou have taken it
تُفيتُ اللَيالي كُلَّ شَيءٍ أَخَذتَهُ
وَهُنَّand they لِماfor what يَأخُذنَthey take مِنكَfrom you غَوارِمُliable to repay
وَهُنَّ لِما يَأخُذنَ مِنكَ غَوارِمُ
You deny the nights everything you have taken,
Nights efface everything they take,
Heroes passed you by, wounded and in defeat, / Yet your face was luminous, and your lips smiled and kept.
and they owe repayment for whatever they take from you.
Yet they are for what takes you easy to take.
You transcended the limits of courage and reason both, / Until people said you knew the Unseen and the hidden.
إِذاif كانَis ماwhat تَنويهِyou intend it فِعلاًa verb مُضارِعاًpresent-tense
إِذا كانَ ما تَنويهِ فِعلاً مُضارِعاً
مَضىbecame past قَبلَbefore أَنthat تُلقىare cast عَلَيهِupon it الجَوازِمُjussive particles
مَضى قَبلَ أَن تُلقى عَلَيهِ الجَوازِمُ
If what you intend is a present-tense verb,
If what you intend equals action,
You crushed their army’s wings against its very heart, / A crushing where the secondary feathers and the primaries were ridden.
it becomes past before jussive particles are cast upon it.
It is done before the decisive strikes you.
With blows that struck skulls when victory was yet unseen, / And descended to the throats when victory had arrived.
وَكَيفَand how تُرَجّيhope for الرومُthe Byzantines وَالروسُand the Rus هَدمَهاher demolition
وَكَيفَ تُرَجّي الرومُ وَالروسُ هَدمَها
وَذاand this الطَعنُspear-thrusting آساسٌfoundations لَهاfor her وَدَعائِمُand pillars
وَذا الطَعنُ آساسٌ لَها وَدَعائِمُ
How can the Byzantines and the Rus hope to demolish her,
And how do Rome and Russia hope for its destruction
You disdained the spears until you cast them aside, / As if the sword were reviling the lance, so victory thrived.
when this spear-thrusting forms her foundations and pillars?
When stabbing is its foundation and pillars?
Whoever seeks a conquest of glorious magnitude, / His keys are the light, sharp, cutting blades.
وَقَدand indeed حاكَموهاthey brought her to trial وَالمَناياwhile the dooms of death حَواكِمٌwere judges
وَقَد حاكَموها وَالمَنايا حَواكِمٌ
فَماso no ماتَdied مَظلومٌwronged person وَلاand no عاشَlived ظالِمُwrongdoer
فَما ماتَ مَظلومٌ وَلا عاشَ ظالِمُ
They brought her to trial, with the dooms of death as judges,
They have ruled it while death rules.
You scattered them over the entire hill of al-Uhaydib, / Just as coins are scattered over a bride by her maids.
so no wronged man died, and no wrongdoer survived.
Thus no wronged man died, nor did an unjust man live.
Your horses trample the eagles' nests upon the peaks, / For around those nests, the feasts of flesh are laid.
أَتوكَthey came to you يَجُرّونَdragging الحَديدَiron كَأَنَّهُمas though they
أَتوكَ يَجُرّونَ الحَديدَ كَأَنَّهُم
سَرَواtraveled by night بِجِيادٍon fine horses ماnot لَهُنَّthey have قَوائِمُlegs
سَرَوا بِجِيادٍ ما لَهُنَّ قَوائِمُ
They came to you dragging iron, as though
They came to you dragging iron as if they were
The vulture chicks imagine you have visited them / With their mothers, for your steeds are strong and well-made.
they rode by night on steeds that had no legs.
Brisk steeds with no legs.
When the horses slipped on steep slopes, you made them slide on their bellies, / Like snakes moving across the desert sand.
إِذاwhen بَرَقواthey gleamed لَمnot تُعرَفِwere distinguished البيضُthe bright swords مِنهُمُfrom them
إِذا بَرَقوا لَم تُعرَفِ البيضُ مِنهُمُ
ثِيابُهُمُtheir clothes مِنof مِثلِهاthe same material as them وَالعَمائِمُand the turbans
ثِيابُهُمُ مِن مِثلِها وَالعَمائِمُ
When they gleamed, their bright swords could not be distinguished from them;
When they shine, the whites are not known from them,
Is this Domesticus attacking every single day? / While the back of his neck blames his face for this command?
their clothes and turbans were of the same metal.
Their clothes are of its like and the turbans.
Does he deny the scent of the lion until he tastes the bite? / Even the cattle know the scent where lions roam.
خَميسٌan army بِشَرقِin the east of الأَرضِthe earth وَالغَربِand the west زَحفُهُits advance
خَميسٌ بِشَرقِ الأَرضِ وَالغَربِ زَحفُهُ
وَفيand in أُذُنِthe ear of الجَوزاءِal-Jawza مِنهُfrom it زَمازِمُrumblings
وَفي أُذُنِ الجَوزاءِ مِنهُ زَمازِمُ
An army whose advance spanned the earth's east and west,
Thursday over East and West its march,
You bereaved him of his son and his son-in-law, / And by the son-in-law, the Prince's crushing attacks struck home.
and whose rumblings sounded in al-Jawza's ear.
And from it in Scorpio's ear are small bells.
He fled, thanking his companions that he escaped the blades, / Only because their own skulls and wrists kept the swords engaged.
تَجَمَّعَgathered فيهِin it كُلُّevery لِسنٍlanguage وَأُمَّةٍand nation
تَجَمَّعَ فيهِ كُلُّ لِسنٍ وَأُمَّةٍ
فَماso not تُفهِمُmake understand الحُدّاثَthe speakers إِلّاexcept التَراجِمُthe interpreters
فَما تُفهِمُ الحُدّاثَ إِلّا التَراجِمُ
Every tongue and nation gathered in it,
In it gathered every offensive tongue and nation.
He understands the voice of the swords hacking through them, / Even though the voices of swords are foreign and un-staged.
so only interpreters could make its speakers understand one another.
Thus the slain understand only interpretations.
He is pleased with what he surrendered to you, not out of ignorance, / But a survivor is a winner, though stripped of his gain.
فَلِلَّهِso glory to God for وَقتٌan hour ذَوَّبَmelted الغِشَّthe dross نارُهُits fire
فَلِلَّهِ وَقتٌ ذَوَّبَ الغِشَّ نارُهُ
فَلَمso not يَبقَremained إِلّاexcept صارِمٌa keen sword أَوor ضُبارِمُa mighty lion
فَلَم يَبقَ إِلّا صارِمٌ أَو ضُبارِمُ
Glory to God for an hour whose fire melted the dross,
By God's time which melted the dross, its fire,
You are not merely a king defeating a rival king; / You are Monotheism defeating Polytheism on the plain.
leaving nothing but a keen sword or a mighty lion.
So naught remained but a cutting blade or striking blades.
All of Adnan finds honor in him, not just the tribe of Rabi'a, / And the whole world boasts of him, not just the border cities.
تَقَطَّعَwas shattered مالاwhat does not يَقطَعُcut through الدِرعَarmor وَالقَناand spears
تَقَطَّعَ مالا يَقطَعُ الدِرعَ وَالقَنا
وَفَرَّand fled مِنَamong الأَبطالِthe champions مَنwhoever لاdoes not يُصادِمُclash
وَفَرَّ مِنَ الأَبطالِ مَن لا يُصادِمُ
Whatever could not cleave armor and spears was shattered,
It cuts what mail and armor do not cut
Yours is the praise for these pearls, though the wording is mine; / You are the giver of deeds, I am but the stringer of ditties.
and among the champions, those who would not face the clash fled.
And flees from heroes what clashes not.
Your gifts carry me swiftly into the heat of battle, / So I am not blamed, nor are you regretful of your art.
وَقَفتَyou stood وَماand no فيconcerning المَوتِdeath شَكٌّdoubt لِواقِفٍfor one who stood
وَقَفتَ وَما في المَوتِ شَكٌّ لِواقِفٍ
كَأَنَّكَas though you فيwithin جَفنِthe eyelid of الرَدىDeath وَهوَwhile he نائِمُwas asleep
كَأَنَّكَ في جَفنِ الرَدى وَهوَ نائِمُ
You stood where death was certain for anyone who stood,
You stood while death has no doubt for a stander
On every steed that flies toward war with its legs, / When the confusion of battle falls upon the ear and heart.
as though you were within Death's eyelid while he slept.
As if you were in the eye of fate while it sleeps.
O Sword that is never sheathed in rest, / In whom no doubt exists, from whom no protection is found.
تَمُرُّpass بِكَby you الأَبطالُthe champions كَلمىwounded هَزيمَةًrouted
تَمُرُّ بِكَ الأَبطالُ كَلمى هَزيمَةً
وَوَجهُكَwhile your face وَضّاحٌis radiant وَثَغرُكَand your mouth باسِمُis smiling
وَوَجهُكَ وَضّاحٌ وَثَغرُكَ باسِمُ
Champions pass you by, wounded and routed,
The heroes pass by you defeated
Congratulations to the skull-cleaving blow, to glory, and to height, / And to Islam, and your hopefuls, that you are safe and sound.
while your face is radiant and your mouth is smiling.
While your face smiles and your mouth grins.
Why should the Merciful not protect your two edges as He has done, / When the splitting of enemy skulls by you is eternal and profound?
تَجاوَزتَyou surpassed مِقدارَthe measure of الشَجاعَةِcourage وَالنُهىand reason
تَجاوَزتَ مِقدارَ الشَجاعَةِ وَالنُهى
إِلىto قَولِthe saying of قَومٍpeople أَنتَyou بِالغَيبِof the unseen عالِمُare aware
إِلى قَولِ قَومٍ أَنتَ بِالغَيبِ عالِمُ
You surpassed the bounds of courage and reason,
You surpassed the extent of valor and prohibition
until people said, 'You know the unseen.'
To the saying of a folk: you know the unseen.
ضَمَمتَyou pressed together جَناحَيهِمtheir two wings عَلىupon القَلبِthe heart ضَمَّةًa clasp
ضَمَمتَ جَناحَيهِم عَلى القَلبِ ضَمَّةً
تَموتُdie الخَوافيthe secondary feathers تَحتَهاbeneath it وَالقَوادِمُand the primary feathers
تَموتُ الخَوافي تَحتَها وَالقَوادِمُ
You pressed their two wings upon their heart in a clasp
You folded their wings over the heart folded
beneath which the secondary and primary feathers die,
Under which the thoughts die and the oncomers.
بِضَربٍwith a blow أَتىreached الهاماتِthe crowns of heads وَالنَصرُwhile victory غائِبُwas absent
بِضَربٍ أَتى الهاماتِ وَالنَصرُ غائِبُ
وَصارَand passed إِلىto اللَبّاتِthe bases of throats وَالنَصرُwhile victory قادِمُwas approaching
وَصارَ إِلى اللَبّاتِ وَالنَصرُ قادِمُ
with a blow that reached their crowns while victory was absent,
With a blow the decisive blow came and victory absent
and passed to the bases of their throats as victory approached.
And to the gums and victory became present.
حَقَرتَyou scorned الرُدَينِيّاتِthe Rudayni spears حَتّىuntil طَرَحتَهاyou cast them aside
حَقَرتَ الرُدَينِيّاتِ حَتّى طَرَحتَها
وَحَتّىand until كَأَنَّas though السَيفَthe sword لِلرُمحِtoward the spear شاتِمُwas reviling
وَحَتّى كَأَنَّ السَيفَ لِلرُمحِ شاتِمُ
You scorned the Rudayni spears until you cast them aside,
You regarded the small swords so as to discard them
and until the sword seemed to be insulting the spear.
As if the sword rebuked the spear.
وَمَنand whoever طَلَبَsought الفَتحَconquest الجَليلَglorious فَإِنَّماthen only
وَمَن طَلَبَ الفَتحَ الجَليلَ فَإِنَّما
مَفاتيحُهُits keys البيضُthe bright swords الخِفافُlight الصَوارِمُkeen-edged
مَفاتيحُهُ البيضُ الخِفافُ الصَوارِمُ
And whoever seeks a glorious conquest—its only
And he who sought great openings
keys are the bright, light, keen-edged swords.
Its keys are the white light blades.
نَثَرتَهُمُyou scattered them فَوقَover الأُحَيدِبِal-Uhaydib كُلِّهِall of it
نَثَرتَهُمُ فَوقَ الأُحَيدِبِ كُلِّهِ
كَماas نُثِرَتwere scattered فَوقَover العَروسِthe bride الدَراهِمُdirhams
كَما نُثِرَت فَوقَ العَروسِ الدَراهِمُ
You scattered them over all of al-Uhaydib,
You scattered them over the whole plain
as dirhams are scattered over a bride.
As money was scattered over the bride.
تَدوسُtrample بِكَbearing you الخَيلُthe horses الوُكورَthe nests عَلىupon الذُرىthe peaks
تَدوسُ بِكَ الخَيلُ الوُكورَ عَلى الذُرى
وَقَدand indeed كَثُرَتbecame plentiful حَولَaround الوُكورِthe nests المَطاعِمُfood
وَقَد كَثُرَت حَولَ الوُكورِ المَطاعِمُ
The horses bearing you trample nests upon the peaks,
Under you the horses trample the stallions
and food has grown plentiful around the nests.
Though around the stallions are many feeding-troughs.
تَظُنُّthink فِراخُthe chicks of الفُتخِbroad-winged eagles أَنَّكَthat you زُرتَهاvisited them
تَظُنُّ فِراخُ الفُتخِ أَنَّكَ زُرتَها
بِأُمّاتِهاwith their mothers وَهيَthough they are العِتاقُthe noble steeds الصَلادِمُsturdy
بِأُمّاتِها وَهيَ العِتاقُ الصَلادِمُ
The chicks of broad-winged eagles think you have visited them
The chicks of the conquests think you visited them
with their mothers—though these are noble, sturdy steeds.
With their mothers while they are the firm slayers.
إِذاwhen زَلِفَتthey drew near مَشَّيتَهاyou made them walk بِبِطونِهاon their bellies
إِذا زَلِفَت مَشَّيتَها بِبِطونِها
كَماas تَتَمَشّىcrawl فيupon الصَعيدِthe ground الأَراقِمُspeckled snakes
كَما تَتَمَشّى في الصَعيدِ الأَراقِمُ
When they draw near, you make them walk upon their bellies,
When they walk proudly with their abdomens
as speckled snakes crawl upon the ground.
As the short-legged walk proudly in the plains.
أَفيis it in ...? كُلِّevery يَومٍday ذاthis الدُمُستُقُthe Domestikos مُقدِمٌadvancing
أَفي كُلِّ يَومٍ ذا الدُمُستُقُ مُقدِمٌ
قَفاهُhis nape عَلىfor الإِقدامِadvancing لِلوَجهِtoward the face لائِمُreproachful
قَفاهُ عَلى الإِقدامِ لِلوَجهِ لائِمُ
Does this Domestikos advance every day,
Is this blood-spiller leading every day
his nape reproaching his face for advancing?
His nape to the feet suited to the face?
أَيُنكِرُdoes he deny ريحَthe scent of اللَيثَthe lion حَتّىuntil يَذوقَهُhe tastes him
أَيُنكِرُ ريحَ اللَيثَ حَتّى يَذوقَهُ
وَقَدand indeed عَرَفَتhave recognized ريحَthe scent of اللُيوثِthe lions البَهائِمُthe beasts
وَقَد عَرَفَت ريحَ اللُيوثِ البَهائِمُ
Does he deny the lion's scent until he tastes him,
Does he deny the smell of the lion until he tastes it
though even beasts have recognized the scent of lions?
When the cattle know the smell of lions?
وَقَدand indeed فَجَعَتهُhave bereaved him بِاِبنِهِof his son وَاِبنِand the son of صِهرِهِhis in-law
وَقَد فَجَعَتهُ بِاِبنِهِ وَاِبنِ صِهرِهِ
وَبِالصِهرِand of the in-law حَملاتُthe charges of الأَميرِthe prince الغَواشِمُruthless
وَبِالصِهرِ حَملاتُ الأَميرِ الغَواشِمُ
He has been bereaved of his son and his in-law's son,
It has saddened him with his son, his son-in-law
and of his in-law, by the prince's ruthless charges.
And his father-in-law and the sisters of the Emir of the predators.
مَضىhe departed يَشكُرُthanking الأَصحابَthe companions فيfor فَوتِهِhis escape from الظُبىthe sword-edges
مَضى يَشكُرُ الأَصحابَ في فَوتِهِ الظُبى
بِماbecause شَغَلَتهاoccupied them هامُهُمtheir heads وَالمَعاصِمُand the wrists
بِما شَغَلَتها هامُهُم وَالمَعاصِمُ
He went away thanking his comrades for his escape from the blades,
He went thanking the comrades for their loss of antelopes
for their heads and wrists had kept those blades busy.
For what their zeal and wristguards distracted.
وَيَفهَمُand he understands صَوتَthe sound of المَشرَفِيَّةِMashrafi swords فيهِمِamong them
وَيَفهَمُ صَوتَ المَشرَفِيَّةِ فيهِمِ
عَلىdespite أَنَّthe fact that أَصواتَthe voices of السُيوفِswords أَعاجِمُare unintelligible
عَلى أَنَّ أَصواتَ السُيوفِ أَعاجِمُ
And he understands the sound of Mashrafi swords among them,
And he understands the sound of Mashrafiyya in them
though the voices of swords are unintelligible.
For the sounds of swords are foreign.
يُسَرُّhe rejoices بِماin what أَعطاكَhe gave you لاnot عَنout of جَهالَةٍignorance
يُسَرُّ بِما أَعطاكَ لا عَن جَهالَةٍ
وَلَكِنَّbut مَغنوماًa despoiled man نَجاescaped مِنكَfrom you غانِمُis a gainer
وَلَكِنَّ مَغنوماً نَجا مِنكَ غانِمُ
He rejoices in what he gave you—not from ignorance,
He is pleased at what He gave you, not out of ignorance,
but a despoiled man who escapes you is a gainer.
But rather as war booty saved from you, victor.
وَلَستَand you are not مَليكاًa king هازِماًa defeater لِنَظيرِهِof his peer
وَلَستَ مَليكاً هازِماً لِنَظيرِهِ
وَلَكِنَّكَbut you are التَوحيدُmonotheism لِلشِركِof polytheism هازِمُa defeater
وَلَكِنَّكَ التَوحيدُ لِلشِركِ هازِمُ
You are not a king defeating his peer,
You are not a defeating king to your peer,
but you are monotheism defeating polytheism.
Rather you are the oneness defeating polytheism.
تَشَرَّفُis ennobled عَدنانٌAdnan بِهِthrough him لاnot رَبيعَةٌRabi'a
تَشَرَّفُ عَدنانٌ بِهِ لا رَبيعَةٌ
وَتَفتَخِرُand takes pride الدُنياthe world بِهِin him لاnot العَواصِمُal-Awasim
وَتَفتَخِرُ الدُنيا بِهِ لا العَواصِمُ
Adnan is ennobled through him, not Rabi'a alone,
Adnan boasts of it, not Rabia,
and the world takes pride in him, not al-Awasim alone.
And the world prides itself on it, not the capitals.
لَكَyours is الحَمدُthe praise فيfor الدُرِّthe pearls الَّذيwhich لِيَmine is لَفظُهُits wording
لَكَ الحَمدُ في الدُرِّ الَّذي لِيَ لَفظُهُ
فَإِنَّكَfor you are مُعطيهِits giver وَإِنِّيَand I am ناظِمُa stringer of pearls
فَإِنَّكَ مُعطيهِ وَإِنِّيَ ناظِمُ
Yours is the praise for the pearls whose wording is mine,
To you be praise for the pearl which my words string
for you give them, and I string them.
Since you are the giver and I the stringer.
وَإِنّيand indeed I لَتَعدوsurely gallop بيwith me عَطاياكَyour gifts فيinto الوَغىbattle
وَإِنّي لَتَعدو بي عَطاياكَ في الوَغى
فَلاso not أَناI مَذمومٌblameworthy وَلاand not أَنتَyou نادِمُregretful
فَلا أَنا مَذمومٌ وَلا أَنتَ نادِمُ
And indeed your gifts gallop with me into battle—
And gifts outrace me in battle,
so I am not blameworthy, nor are you regretful—
Thus I am not blamed, nor are you regretful.
عَلىupon كُلِّevery طَيّارٍflying steed إِلَيهاtoward it بِرِجلِهِwith its foot
عَلى كُلِّ طَيّارٍ إِلَيها بِرِجلِهِ
إِذاwhen وَقَعَتfell فيinto مِسمَعَيهِits two ears الغَماغِمُrumblings
إِذا وَقَعَت في مِسمَعَيهِ الغَماغِمُ
on every steed that flies toward it on its feet,
To it heads every flier on foot
when rumblings fall upon its two ears.
When the unclear sounds reach his ears.
أَلاbehold أَيُّهاO السَيفُsword الَّذيthat لَيسَis not مُغمَداًsheathed
أَلا أَيُّها السَيفُ الَّذي لَيسَ مُغمَداً
وَلاand no فيهِabout him مُرتابٌdoubter وَلاand no مِنهُfrom him عاصِمُprotector
وَلا فيهِ مُرتابٌ وَلا مِنهُ عاصِمُ
Behold, O sword that is not sheathed,
O sword which is not sheathed
whom none doubts, and from whom there is no protector:
And in which is no doubt or protection from it.
هَنيئاًcongratulations لِضَربِto the smiting of الهامِheads وَالمَجدِand glory وَالعُلىand high honor
هَنيئاً لِضَربِ الهامِ وَالمَجدِ وَالعُلى
وَراجيكَand whoever hopes in you وَالإِسلامِand Islam أَنَّكَthat you are سالِمُsafe
وَراجيكَ وَالإِسلامِ أَنَّكَ سالِمُ
Congratulations to the smiting of heads, to glory and high honor,
Congratulations for the decisive blow, glory and loftiness,
to those who hope in you, and to Islam, that you are safe!
And your seeker and Islam that you are safe.
وَلِمand why لاnot يَقيprotect الرَحمَنُthe Merciful حَدَّيكَyour two edges ماas long as وَقىHe grants protection
وَلِم لا يَقي الرَحمَنُ حَدَّيكَ ما وَقى
وَتَفليقُهُwhile His cleaving هامَthe heads of العِداthe enemies بِكَwith you دائِمُis unceasing
وَتَفليقُهُ هامَ العِدا بِكَ دائِمُ
And why should the Merciful not guard your two edges as long as He grants protection,
Why does the Merciful not protect your edge what He protected
when His cleaving of enemy heads with you is unceasing?
And its drawing the resolving blow of the enemy continuously?
Partial English translation: 46 of 92 Arabic lines translated.