أَى سُهمٍ راشَه الدَّهرُ إِلى

أَى سُهمٍ راشَه الدَّهرُ إِلى

ورَمانِي فَرَسَا فِي مُهجَتِي

ورَمانِي فَرَسَا فِي مُهجَتِي

What an arrow Time fletched for me,

Which arrow of fate did the universe aim at me

and shot at me, lodging in my heart!

And threw at my heart a horse galloping rapidly

وعلَى صَرحِ نُبوغٍ قد سَطا

وعلَى صَرحِ نُبوغٍ قد سَطا

فَهَوى ما بَينَ صُبحٍ وعَشِي

فَهَوى ما بَينَ صُبحٍ وعَشِي

And it assailed an edifice of genius,

It crashed onto a palace of genius I had erected

which fell between morning and evening.

Plunging from dawn to dusk down speedily

ما سَطا الدهرُ علَيهِ وحدَهُ

ما سَطا الدهرُ علَيهِ وحدَهُ

بل سَطا الدَّهرُ عليهِ وَعَلي

بل سَطا الدَّهرُ عليهِ وَعَلي

Time did not assail him alone;

Fate did not target just him alone

rather, Time assailed him and me.

But both him and me equally

فمُصَابُ المَرءِ في نابِغَةٍ

فمُصَابُ المَرءِ في نابِغَةٍ

هُوَ جُرحٌ في الحشَا غَير أسِي

هُوَ جُرحٌ في الحشَا غَير أسِي

For a person's loss of a genius

So the affliction that befell a genius like him

is an unhealed wound within the heart.

Is a wound in my own heart deeply

فأنا المفجُوعُ قَلبا بِفَتى

فأنا المفجُوعُ قَلبا بِفَتى

عَبقرِيٍّ يا لَه مِن عَبقَرِي

عَبقرِيٍّ يا لَه مِن عَبقَرِي

So I am heart-stricken by the loss of a young man,

I'm the one profoundly aggrieved for the loss of

a genius—what a genius!

A brilliant youth - how brilliant was he!

بَطلٌ مِن بطلٍ مِن بَطلٍ

بَطلٌ مِن بطلٍ مِن بَطلٍ

وَسرِىٌّ مِن سِرىٍّ مِن سَرِي

وَسرِىٌّ مِن سِرىٍّ مِن سَرِي

A hero, son of a hero, son of a hero,

A hero sprung from a long line of heroes

and a nobleman, son of a nobleman, son of a nobleman.

And a nobleman from a noble ancestry

بَين أحضَانِ العُلا قد قَصَفت

بَين أحضَانِ العُلا قد قَصَفت

غُصنَه الرَّطبَ يدُ الدَّهرِ العَتِي

غُصنَه الرَّطبَ يدُ الدَّهرِ العَتِي

In greatness's embrace was snapped

In the bosom of greatness, the hand of time, the destroyer

his tender branch by the hand of ruthless Time.

Snapped off his juicy branch pitilessly

استَلاَنَت عُودَه الموتُ وقد

استَلاَنَت عُودَه الموتُ وقد

كانَ صَلبَ العُودِ قد كان صَبِي

كانَ صَلبَ العُودِ قد كان صَبِي

Death found his stem pliant, though

Death softened his sturdy wood till it bent

his stem had been stout even as a boy.

Though in life he was upright and steady

كيفَ لا نَرثي لِغُصنٍ نَاضِرٍ

كيفَ لا نَرثي لِغُصنٍ نَاضِرٍ

إذ نرَى كَفَّ الردَى تلويه لَي

إذ نرَى كَفَّ الردَى تلويه لَي

How could we not mourn a flourishing branch,

Why shouldn't we weep for a blooming branch

when we see death's hand wrenching it?

When we see the hand of fate twist it wrenchingly?

عَفَّرت تحتَ الثَّرى وجنتُه

عَفَّرت تحتَ الثَّرى وجنتُه

وهَوَى بعدَ العُلاَ البدرُ السَّنِي

وهَوَى بعدَ العُلاَ البدرُ السَّنِي

His cheek was dust-stained beneath the earth,

I covered his rosy cheeks in the earth

and the radiant full moon fell from its heights.

And the full moon fell after the heights reached loftily

لِقَضَاءِ اللهِ إنا خُضَّعٌ

لِقَضَاءِ اللهِ إنا خُضَّعٌ

كرِقابٍ تحتَ حدِّ المشرَفِي

كرِقابٍ تحتَ حدِّ المشرَفِي

To God's decree we submit,

To Allah's decree we are resigned in submission

like necks beneath a Mashrafi sword's edge.

Like necks under the sword blades coercively

إنَّها الأقدارُ فيهَا يَستَوِي

إنَّها الأقدارُ فيهَا يَستَوِي

كلُّ حيٍّ مِن ضَعِيفٍ وَقَوِي

كلُّ حيٍّ مِن ضَعِيفٍ وَقَوِي

Such are fate's decrees, under which are equal

It's divine destiny; in it the weak and the strong

all living beings, the weak and the strong.

Are equal when their time comes eventually

أىُّ رُكنٍ للعلاَ يَهوِي به

أىُّ رُكنٍ للعلاَ يَهوِي به

بعدَما طاولَ شُهبا في الرُّقِي

بعدَما طاولَ شُهبا في الرُّقِي

What a pillar of greatness it sends plummeting,

Which pillar of glory could collapse from on high

after he rivaled shooting stars in his ascent!

After rising so high on the ladder of nobility?

بطلٌ فيمَا أَتاه لم يكُن

بطلٌ فيمَا أَتاه لم يكُن

مِثلَ أبطالِ طعانٍ وغُزِي

مِثلَ أبطالِ طعانٍ وغُزِي

A hero in what he undertook, he was not

A hero in his deeds was he, not like

like heroes of lance-thrusts and raids.

The heroes of chivalry and battle ferociously

بل حياةٌ كاشَفَتهُ سِرَّها

بل حياةٌ كاشَفَتهُ سِرَّها

فرَأَى مِن سرِّها كلَّ خَفِي

فرَأَى مِن سرِّها كلَّ خَفِي

Rather, life laid its secret bare to him,

But life revealed its mysteries to him

so he saw every hidden thing within its secret.

And he saw its every hidden subtlety

ورأى كلَّ بقاءٍ آيلا

ورأى كلَّ بقاءٍ آيلا

لِفَناءٍ ولقاءٍ لمُضِي

لِفَناءٍ ولقاءٍ لمُضِي

And he saw all that lasts tending

He saw how all existence inclines toward

toward extinction, and every meeting toward parting.

Annihilation and to perishing inevitably

ورأى أنَّ خلُود المَرءِ في

ورأى أنَّ خلُود المَرءِ في

ذِكره إِن هوَ بالذّكرِ عُنِي

ذِكره إِن هوَ بالذّكرِ عُنِي

And he saw that a person's immortality lies in

He saw that man's eternity lies in

his renown, if he has cared for his renown.

His legacy if he strives for it tirelessly

فخُلودُ الذِّكرِ عُمرٌ آخرُ

فخُلودُ الذِّكرِ عُمرٌ آخرُ

ليسَ يَفنَى إن يَكُ الجسمُ فَنِى

ليسَ يَفنَى إن يَكُ الجسمُ فَنِى

For immortal renown is another lifetime,

The eternity of legacy is another life

which does not perish, even if the body has perished.

That will not end though the body dies fleetingly

وحَميدُ الذِّكرِ مَا ماتَ وإِن

وحَميدُ الذِّكرِ مَا ماتَ وإِن

جِسمُهُ عَن أعيُنٍ مِنَّا خَفِى

جِسمُهُ عَن أعيُنٍ مِنَّا خَفِى

And one remembered with praise has not died, though

The praiseworthy legacy of one who passed persists

his body is hidden from our eyes.

Though his body disappeared from our sight stealthily

فامتَطاها هِمَّةً وثَّابةً

فامتَطاها هِمَّةً وثَّابةً

ثُمَّ نادَى قَرِّبوا المجدَ إلَي

ثُمَّ نادَى قَرِّبوا المجدَ إلَي

So he rode it with bounding resolve,

He resolved and kept steadfast to his principles

then cried, 'Bring glory near to me!

Then called out: "Bring glory closer to me!"

في سَبيلِ المجدِ والواجبِ أَن

في سَبيلِ المجدِ والواجبِ أَن

ألقَ مَوتاً فأَنا بالموتِ حَي

ألقَ مَوتاً فأَنا بالموتِ حَي

In the cause of glory and duty, should I

"For glory and duty, I'm willing to welcome

meet death, I live through death.'

Death - alive, I'm embracing death willingfully"

إنهُ الواجِبُ لا بدَّ لَه

إنهُ الواجِبُ لا بدَّ لَه

مِن قضاءٍ عندَ ذي قَلبٍ أبِي

مِن قضاءٍ عندَ ذي قَلبٍ أبِي

It is duty, and it must

"It's the inescapable duty; I must fulfill it

be fulfilled by one with an unbowed heart.

With a willful heart and untiring zeal in me"

فلِهَذا في سبيل المجدِ آ

فلِهَذا في سبيل المجدِ آ

ثَرَ موتا بينَ رنَّات القِسِّي

ثَرَ موتا بينَ رنَّات القِسِّي

Thus, on the path of glory, he

For this - for glory - he chose to die

chose death amid the twanging of bows.

Amidst the boom and blaze of artillery

وكَسَيلٍ رُسُلُ الموتِ وما

وكَسَيلٍ رُسُلُ الموتِ وما

صَدَّهُ عن عَزمِه السَّيلُ الأتِي

صَدَّهُ عن عَزمِه السَّيلُ الأتِي

And death's messengers were like a torrent, yet

Foaming floods engulfed him, yet he

the oncoming torrent did not deter him from his resolve.

Was undeterred from his resolve staunchly

لهُ من نَارِ جَحِيمٍ حُمَمٌ

لهُ من نَارِ جَحِيمٍ حُمَمٌ

وله مِن قَاصِفِ الرَّعدِ دَوِي

وله مِن قَاصِفِ الرَّعدِ دَوِي

It bore embers from the fire of hell,

Lightning and thunder erupted around him

and the rumble of crashing thunder.

And death itself recoiled from him dreadfully

وكأنَّ الموتَ قد أشفَقَ مِن

وكأنَّ الموتَ قد أشفَقَ مِن

ه فَعنَّاه بجُرحٍ يأتَسِي

ه فَعنَّاه بجُرحٍ يأتَسِي

And it was as though death had grown fearful of

It seemed to spare him with one injury

him, afflicting him with a wound that could heal.

A kinder fate for his body temporarily

فأبَى إلاَّ رُجوعاً لِلوغَى

فأبَى إلاَّ رُجوعاً لِلوغَى

بعدَما مِن ذلِك الجُرح شُفِي

بعدَما مِن ذلِك الجُرح شُفِي

But he would accept nothing but returning to battle,

But he refused, returning to battle

after he had recovered from that wound.

After recovering from his wound speedily

باسِما للموتِ منه هَازِئا

باسِما للموتِ منه هَازِئا

قائلاً لَم يَخشَ مِثلِي أىَّ شَي

قائلاً لَم يَخشَ مِثلِي أىَّ شَي

smiling at death and mocking it,

Mocking death, undaunted, by name

saying, 'One like me has feared nothing.'

Saying: "The likes of me have no fear steadfastly!"

أيها المَهدىُ يا رَمزَ البطو

أيها المَهدىُ يا رَمزَ البطو

لَةِ يا فخرَ الشبابِ العَرَبي

لَةِ يا فخرَ الشبابِ العَرَبي

O Mahdi, O emblem of

O Prince - emblem of heroism, pride

heroism, O pride of Arab youth!

Of Arab youth! O, Kauma, called the lion, absent but nigh!

يا كَمِيَا ما سمِعنا مِثلَهُ

يا كَمِيَا ما سمِعنا مِثلَهُ

ليثُ غَابٍ قد يُنَادَى بِكَمِي

ليثُ غَابٍ قد يُنَادَى بِكَمِي

O valiant warrior, whose like we have never heard of,

A trait inherited from his father, the Muhammedan light

a forest lion may be hailed as a valiant warrior.

O Mahdi! Rise to see how the hearts of people are in blight

صِفةٌ موروثة قد سُلسِلَت

صِفةٌ موروثة قد سُلسِلَت

مِن أبيهِ للنَّبيِّ القُرَشِي

مِن أبيهِ للنَّبيِّ القُرَشِي

An inherited quality, passed down in a chain

See the red city don the robes of deepest sorrow's night

from his father back to the Qurayshi Prophet.

See their downcast eyes with tear drops raining outright

أيُّهَا المهدِيُّ قُم حتى تَرَى

أيُّهَا المهدِيُّ قُم حتى تَرَى

كَيفَ قَلبُ الناسِ بالحُزنِ مُلي

كَيفَ قَلبُ الناسِ بالحُزنِ مُلي

O Mahdi, rise so that you may see

See the sanctity and awe from a Maghrebi for his Maghrebi brother's plight

how the people's heart is filled with grief.

Hear it flow from their mouths like the scent of pure musk so bright

وترى مراكشَ الحمراءَ قد

وترى مراكشَ الحمراءَ قد

لبِست ثوبَ الحدادِ الحندسي

لبِست ثوبَ الحدادِ الحندسي

And see how Marrakech the Red has

See after you, how grief has gripped your brothers tight

put on the pitch-black robe of mourning.

A weeping neighbor or screaming "My brother! My brother!" in sad delight

وتراهم خُشَّعاً أبصارُهم

وتراهم خُشَّعاً أبصارُهم

من سكونٍ تّذرِف الدمعَ السَّخي

من سكونٍ تّذرِف الدمعَ السَّخي

And see them with their eyes cast down,

See how the loyal miss their loyal departed knight

in stillness, shedding abundant tears.

See the masses that filled the horizons outright

وترى التقديسَ والإعجابَ من

وترى التقديسَ والإعجابَ من

مغربيٍّ لأخيه المغربي

مغربيٍّ لأخيه المغربي

And see reverence and admiration from

See the Atlas weeping for its lost cub delight

a Moroccan for his Moroccan brother.

Tears flowing from all its children left in sad plight

وترى ذلك في الأفواه يَج

وترى ذلك في الأفواه يَج

ري كما يجري شذا المسك الزكي

ري كما يجري شذا المسك الزكي

And see it upon their lips,

See all people, Arab or foreign, in similar sorrow's blight

flowing as the fragrance of sweet musk flows.

We all lament the loss that afflicted our unifying might

وترى بعدكَ إخوانك كي

وترى بعدكَ إخوانك كي

فَ كَوَت قلبَهُمُ الأحزانُ كَي

فَ كَوَت قلبَهُمُ الأحزانُ كَي

And see your brothers after your passing:

May profound grief be enough for those whose time is not ripe

how sorrows have seared their hearts!

With resignation to Allah's decree that no one can override

بين جارٍ ذَمعُه أو صَارخٍ

بين جارٍ ذَمعُه أو صَارخٍ

يا أُخَيِّي يا أُخَيِّي يا اُخَي

يا أُخَيِّي يا أُخَيِّي يا اُخَي

Some with tears streaming, others crying out:

With forbearance and hope of reward, O father, for patience was your right

'O my dear brother, O my dear brother, O my dear brother!'

How not, when patience and faith were your heart's guiding light?

وتَرى كيفَ يَرى الخِلُّ الوفِي

وتَرى كيفَ يَرى الخِلُّ الوفِي

يُ لدى فُقدَانِه الخِلَّ الوَفي

يُ لدى فُقدَانِه الخِلَّ الوَفي

And see how the loyal friend sees things

We knew you as a man whose heart with Allah was piled

when he loses his loyal friend.

To Him all matters referred, and with His pleasure you complied

وتَراهم مَلأُوا رَحبَ الفضَا

وتَراهم مَلأُوا رَحبَ الفضَا

بوُفودٍ بينَ دانٍ وقًَصِي

بوُفودٍ بينَ دانٍ وقًَصِي

And see how they have filled the broad expanse

For this, He granted you nobleness, sublime morality's height

with delegations from near and far.

And gifted you uniquely a heart pure and contrite

وتَرَى الأطلسَ يبكِي شِبلَه

وتَرَى الأطلسَ يبكِي شِبلَه

ودُموعٌ منه أبنَاء بُكِي

ودُموعٌ منه أبنَاء بُكِي

And see the Atlas weep for its lion cub,

So to Him thanks is due for His gifts outright

and its tears are weeping sons.

The gratitude of a servant seeking from His bounty infinite

وتَرى الناسَ جَميعا في الأسَى

وتَرى الناسَ جَميعا في الأسَى

قد تسَاوى العَجمِي والعَرَبي

قد تسَاوى العَجمِي والعَرَبي

And see all the people in sorrow,

May Allah quench your grave with abundant salutations and honor bright

the non-Arab and the Arab now equal.

And sustain your descendants and loved ones in welfare and might

كلُّنا نستمطِرُ الرُّحمَى علَى

كلُّنا نستمطِرُ الرُّحمَى علَى

نابغٍ عزَّ علينا ما لَقِي

نابغٍ عزَّ علينا ما لَقِي

We all beseech a rain of mercy upon

a genius—what befell him is grievous to us.

وكفَى حُزنا لقلبِ فُرقةً

وكفَى حُزنا لقلبِ فُرقةً

لا إلَى ميعَاد كَتبٍ أو لُقِي

لا إلَى ميعَاد كَتبٍ أو لُقِي

And a parting is sorrow enough for the heart,

with no appointed time for correspondence or reunion.

فخُضوعا لقضَاءِ اللهِ لا

فخُضوعا لقضَاءِ اللهِ لا

مِن مَرَدٍّ لقضَاءٍ أزَلِي

مِن مَرَدٍّ لقضَاءٍ أزَلِي

So submit to God's decree—there is no

reversal of an eternal decree.

واصطِبارا وَاحتسَابا يا أبا

واصطِبارا وَاحتسَابا يا أبا

هُ فإنَّ الصَّبرَ مِن طَبع السَّرِي

هُ فإنَّ الصَّبرَ مِن طَبع السَّرِي

And be patient, seeking God's reward, O his father,

for patience is a nobleman's nature.

كيفَ لاَ والصبرُ والإيمانُ مِن

كيفَ لاَ والصبرُ والإيمانُ مِن

قلبِك المَعمُورِ بالله العَلِي

قلبِك المَعمُورِ بالله العَلِي

How could it be otherwise, when patience and faith spring from

your heart, filled with God Most High?

ما عِلمنا فيكَ إلا رَجُلاً

ما عِلمنا فيكَ إلا رَجُلاً

قلبُه واللهِ باللهِ غَنِي

قلبُه واللهِ باللهِ غَنِي

We have known in you only a man

whose heart, by God, is rich through God.

وإلَيه كلُّ أمرٍ مُوكَل

وإلَيه كلُّ أمرٍ مُوكَل

وبمَا يَرضَى به أنتَ رَضِي

وبمَا يَرضَى به أنتَ رَضِي

And to Him every matter is entrusted,

and you are content with whatever pleases Him.

ولِهذا خَصَّكُم مِن فضلِه

ولِهذا خَصَّكُم مِن فضلِه

بالمزَايا الغُرِّ والخلقِ السَّوِي

بالمزَايا الغُرِّ والخلقِ السَّوِي

And so, from His bounty, He favored you

with radiant virtues and upright character.

وحَبا فيما حَبَا مِن مِنَحٍ

وحَبا فيما حَبَا مِن مِنَحٍ

مِنحةً عُظمَى هِىَ القلبُ النَّقِي

مِنحةً عُظمَى هِىَ القلبُ النَّقِي

And among the gifts He granted, He bestowed

a supreme gift: a pure heart.

فلَه الحَمدُ علَى أنعُمِهِ

فلَه الحَمدُ علَى أنعُمِهِ

حَمدَ عَبدٍ مُستَزيدٍ مُجتَدِي

حَمدَ عَبدٍ مُستَزيدٍ مُجتَدِي

So to Him be praise for His blessings,

the praise of a servant asking more, begging His bounty.

وسقَى قبرَ فقيدِ المجدِ عَا

وسقَى قبرَ فقيدِ المجدِ عَا

رِضُ رضوَانٍ غَزِيرٌ سَرمَدِي

رِضُ رضوَانٍ غَزِيرٌ سَرمَدِي

And may the grave of glory's departed be watered by a

raincloud of divine favor, abundant and everlasting.

ولتَدُم فى حِفظِه أنجالُكُم

ولتَدُم فى حِفظِه أنجالُكُم

وأراكُم مَن مَضَى فيمَن بَقِي

وأراكُم مَن مَضَى فيمَن بَقِي

And may your children remain in His protection,

and may He show you the departed in those who remain.