عُج بِاللِصابِ وَعُنقُ اللَيلِ مَقتولُ

عُج بِاللِصابِ وَعُنقُ اللَيلِ مَقتولُ

بِصارِمِ اِبنِ ذَكاءٍ وَهوَ مَسلولُ

بِصارِمِ اِبنِ ذَكاءٍ وَهوَ مَسلولُ

Turn aside to al-Lisab, while the neck of night lies slain

The night's neck was slain by the swords

by the keen sword of Ibn Dhaka—the dawn—drawn from its sheath.

Of the astute son of Zakaa while he was unsheathed

باتَت سُعادٌ عَلى ذا كُلِّهِ وَغَدَت

باتَت سُعادٌ عَلى ذا كُلِّهِ وَغَدَت

تَضفو عَلَيها مِنَ النُعمى سرابيلُ

تَضفو عَلَيها مِنَ النُعمى سرابيلُ

Suad spent the night through all this, and at morning

Su'ad spent the night depressed over it all and awoke

ample robes of bliss flowed over her.

With the bounties of life cloaking her

إِذا تَمُرُّ الصِبا في خِدرِها غَلَساً

إِذا تَمُرُّ الصِبا في خِدرِها غَلَساً

راحَت عَلَيها مِنَ الرَيا مَثاقيلُ

راحَت عَلَيها مِنَ الرَيا مَثاقيلُ

When the east wind passes through her chamber in dawn's darkness,

When the morning breeze gently stirred her tent

measures of fragrance waft over her.

The dew burdens settled upon it

كَذاكَ حَتّى إِذا شَمسُ الضُحى طَلَعَت

كَذاكَ حَتّى إِذا شَمسُ الضُحى طَلَعَت

قامَت وَمِنها وِشاحُ الصَدرِ مَحلولُ

قامَت وَمِنها وِشاحُ الصَدرِ مَحلولُ

Thus it was, until the midmorning sun rose;

Until the sun of morning arose

she stood, her breast-sash loosened from her.

Su'ad got up with her bosom's wrap undone

قامَت سُعادٌ تُحَيّينا فَما قَمَرُ

قامَت سُعادٌ تُحَيّينا فَما قَمَرُ

عَلى قَضيبٍ عَلى الكُثبانِ مَحمولُ

عَلى قَضيبٍ عَلى الكُثبانِ مَحمولُ

Suad rose to greet us—what is a moon

Su'ad rose to greet us, the moon is not

borne upon a branch above the dunes compared with her?

Carried on a staff over the sand dunes

جَلَت مَحاسِنُ ما يَلفى لَها مِثلُ

جَلَت مَحاسِنُ ما يَلفى لَها مِثلُ

وَما لِمُلتَمِسٍ مِنهُنَّ تَنويلُ

وَما لِمُلتَمِسٍ مِنهُنَّ تَنويلُ

Beauties shone forth whose equal is never found,

The beauties she revealed have no equal

nor are they granted to any seeker.

And no seeker can attain the like of them

نَقولُ بَدرٌ وَغُصنٌ كَي نُشبِهَها

نَقولُ بَدرٌ وَغُصنٌ كَي نُشبِهَها

وَإِنَّما قَولَنا يا صاحِ تَمثيلُ

وَإِنَّما قَولَنا يا صاحِ تَمثيلُ

We say 'full moon' and 'branch' to liken her,

We say she's a full moon or a tender branch to compare her

but our words, my friend, are only figures.

But our words, oh friend, are but similes

فَلا يَغُرَنكَ في مِثلٍ لَها طَمَعُ

فَلا يَغُرَنكَ في مِثلٍ لَها طَمَعُ

فَدونَ أَمثالِها العَنقاءُ وَالغولُ

فَدونَ أَمثالِها العَنقاءُ وَالغولُ

Let no longing for her equal deceive you;

So do not be fooled by any likeness of her

even the phoenix and the ghoul are easier to find than her like.

For she is above analogies and marvels

حَتّى إِذا شَغَفَ القَلبُ الَّذي اِجتَذَبَت

حَتّى إِذا شَغَفَ القَلبُ الَّذي اِجتَذَبَت

بانَت سُعادُ فَقَلبي اليَومَ مَتبولُ

بانَت سُعادُ فَقَلبي اليَومَ مَتبولُ

Until the heart she had captivated became consumed by love,

Until the heart she captivated was inflamed with passion

Suad departed, and today my heart is love-stricken.

Su'ad appeared and today my heart is ruptured

يُحاوِلُ الجَهدَ كَي يَقتَصُّ مَدرَجَها

يُحاوِلُ الجَهدَ كَي يَقتَصُّ مَدرَجَها

وَهَل يَطيقُ تِباعَ العيسِ مَغلولُ

وَهَل يَطيقُ تِباعَ العيسِ مَغلولُ

It strives with all its strength to trace her path;

It tries to follow her steps

but can one in chains keep up with the pale camels?

But how can one bound to a bier keep up?

تَجوبُ جَوزَ الفَلا في كُلِّ ناحِيَةٍ

تَجوبُ جَوزَ الفَلا في كُلِّ ناحِيَةٍ

تَزَل عَن مَتنِها رَقطاءُ زَهلولُ

تَزَل عَن مَتنِها رَقطاءُ زَهلولُ

They cross the wilderness's heart in every direction;

She roams the broad desert in every direction

a sleek, speckled snake would slip from their backs.

Sloughing off her mantle's train as she wanders

مَرثومَةٌ بِالبَرى خَلَت مَخاطِمَها

مَرثومَةٌ بِالبَرى خَلَت مَخاطِمَها

جَذباً كَما غودِرَ الثَوبُ الرَعابيلُ

جَذباً كَما غودِرَ الثَوبُ الرَعابيلُ

Nose-bruised by their rings, their muzzles seemed,

Embroidered with speckles, her wrapping was torn

from the tugging, like a garment left in tatters.

As a garment caught on thorns is shredded

فَاِعطِف عَلى طَلَلٍ بِالجَزعِ أَن دَمى

فَاِعطِف عَلى طَلَلٍ بِالجَزعِ أَن دَمى

مِنها عَلى طَلَلٍ بِالجَزعِ مَطلولُ

مِنها عَلى طَلَلٍ بِالجَزعِ مَطلولُ

Turn toward a ruined campsite at the valley-bend, for my blood,

So mourn at the ruins with melancholy, for blood

shed because of her upon a ruin at the valley-bend, lies unavenged.

Was shed on ruins in melancholy

كانَت لَنا غَرُّ أَوقاتٍ مَضَت مَعَها

كانَت لَنا غَرُّ أَوقاتٍ مَضَت مَعَها

وَالخَطبُ مُنهَزِمٌ وَالهَمُّ مَعزولُ

وَالخَطبُ مُنهَزِمٌ وَالهَمُّ مَعزولُ

We had radiant times that passed with her,

She was the pride of our finest hours now gone

with adversity routed and sorrow dismissed.

With worries defeated and cares dispelled

تِلكَ اللَيالي الَّتي ما بِتُّ أَذكُرَها

تِلكَ اللَيالي الَّتي ما بِتُّ أَذكُرَها

إِلّا شَجيتُ وَبي اِهتاجَت عَقابيلُ

إِلّا شَجيتُ وَبي اِهتاجَت عَقابيلُ

Those nights—I never spent a night recalling them

Those nights I recall and sob

without grieving, as lingering pains stirred within me.

And my eyelids twitch and tears start flowing

كُنّا نَهيمُ بِها وَالعُمرُ مُقتَبِلُ

كُنّا نَهيمُ بِها وَالعُمرُ مُقتَبِلُ

وَالعَيشُ غَضٌّ وَرَبعُ الإِنسِ مَأهولُ

وَالعَيشُ غَضٌّ وَرَبعُ الإِنسِ مَأهولُ

We were enraptured by them, while life was young,

We reveled in them as youth bid welcome

living was fresh, and the abode of companionship well peopled.

And life was lush with mortals thronging

في كُلِّ وادٍ مِنَ الآرامِ لَيسَ بِهِ

في كُلِّ وادٍ مِنَ الآرامِ لَيسَ بِهِ

إِلّا أَغنَ غَضيضَ الطَرفِ مَكحولُ

إِلّا أَغنَ غَضيضَ الطَرفِ مَكحولُ

In every valley, among the gazelles, there was none

In every vale of shelters none but sang

but one soft-voiced, with lowered gaze and kohl-rimmed eyes.

The tender-eyed gazelle's weeping song

أَما اللَيالي فَقَد عادَت وَهُنَّ بِنا

أَما اللَيالي فَقَد عادَت وَهُنَّ بِنا

مِن بَعدِ ما كُنَّ أَطفالاً مَطافيلُ

مِن بَعدِ ما كُنَّ أَطفالاً مَطافيلُ

As for the nights, they have become, in our company,

As for those nights, they've come and gone

mothers with young, after once being children.

Leaving us, once children, now decrepit

وَلَّت سُعادٌ وَبَدَّلنا بِها جَزعاً

وَلَّت سُعادٌ وَبَدَّلنا بِها جَزعاً

وَكُلُّ شَيءٍ لَهُ في الأَرضِ تَبديلُ

وَكُلُّ شَيءٍ لَهُ في الأَرضِ تَبديلُ

Suad has gone, and we have taken grief in her stead,

Su'ad left us and we've replaced her with grief

and everything on earth has its replacement.

For all things on earth are subject to change

فَلا يَغَرَّنكَ مِن دُنياكَ زُخرُفَها

فَلا يَغَرَّنكَ مِن دُنياكَ زُخرُفَها

فَما زَخارِفُها إِلّا الأَباطيلُ

فَما زَخارِفُها إِلّا الأَباطيلُ

Let not your world's adornment deceive you;

So do not be fooled by the glamour of your world

its adornments are nothing but falsehoods.

For its glitz is all delusions

أَنّا نَزَّلنا عَلى وادي تَضَلَّلَ قَد

أَنّا نَزَّلنا عَلى وادي تَضَلَّلَ قَد

تَدَفَّقَت مِن حَوالَينا الأَضاليلُ

تَدَفَّقَت مِن حَوالَينا الأَضاليلُ

We have alighted in a valley of error; already

We were guided to a valley gone astray

delusions have poured forth from all around us.

With ruinous depravity surrounding us

يَمُدُّ في كُلِّ يَومٍ لِلورى شَركا

يَمُدُّ في كُلِّ يَومٍ لِلورى شَركا

وَالناسُ مِنهُم بِهِ ناجٍ وَمَحبولُ

وَالناسُ مِنهُم بِهِ ناجٍ وَمَحبولُ

Each day it stretches out a snare for humankind,

Each day it sets more traps for mankind

and of the people, some escape it and others are ensnared.

And people get snared and entangled there

فَمَن سَعى عَن طَريقِ الغَيِّ مُبتَعِداً

فَمَن سَعى عَن طَريقِ الغَيِّ مُبتَعِداً

فَحَبلُ مَسعاهُ بِالخَيراتِ مَوصولُ

فَحَبلُ مَسعاهُ بِالخَيراتِ مَوصولُ

Whoever strives to keep away from error's path,

But whoever strives to avoid its deviation

the cord of his striving is joined to blessings.

Has his efforts bound to blessings

وَمَن تَهافَتَ عَمداً في ضَلالَتِهِ

وَمَن تَهافَتَ عَمداً في ضَلالَتِهِ

فَليَعلَمَنَّ فَعَرشُ الكُفرِ مَثلولُ

فَليَعلَمَنَّ فَعَرشُ الكُفرِ مَثلولُ

And whoever deliberately plunges into its delusion,

While he who deliberately ruins himself

let him surely know: unbelief's throne is overthrown.

Must know the throne of blasphemy will topple

كَم زَلزَلَ اللَهُ مِن قَومٍ لِكُفرِهِم

كَم زَلزَلَ اللَهُ مِن قَومٍ لِكُفرِهِم

قَدَماً وَأَهلُكَ جيلٌ قَبلَهُ جيلُ

قَدَماً وَأَهلُكَ جيلٌ قَبلَهُ جيلُ

How many peoples has God shaken for their unbelief

How many peoples has God shaken for their blasphemy

long ago! Your people are one generation, with another before it.

And generations before them were destroyed

فَلَيسَ تَبرَحُ لِلرَحمَنِ حامِيَةٌ

فَلَيسَ تَبرَحُ لِلرَحمَنِ حامِيَةٌ

لِتَزهَقَ البَطَلَ إِنَّ البَطَلَ زَحليلُ

لِتَزهَقَ البَطَلَ إِنَّ البَطَلَ زَحليلُ

The All-Merciful never lacks a defending force

For the Merciful shall have no respite

to destroy falsehood, for falsehood has slippery footing.

To destroy the heretic - for the heretic is accursed

هَل بايَ تونُسَ إِلّا السَيفُ جَرَّدَهُ

هَل بايَ تونُسَ إِلّا السَيفُ جَرَّدَهُ

في الأَرضِ رُبىً فَحَدُّ البَغى مَفلولُ

في الأَرضِ رُبىً فَحَدُّ البَغى مَفلولُ

Is the Bey of Tunis not the sword drawn

Hasn't the sword of Tunis unsheathed?

on earth by my Lord, so that tyranny's edge is blunted?

To curb injustice now that is banned

فَاليَومَ لِلرُشدِ بَينَ الناسِ واسِطَةٌ

فَاليَومَ لِلرُشدِ بَينَ الناسِ واسِطَةٌ

وَلِلتَعَسُّفِ وَالإِلحادِ تَذليلُ

وَلِلتَعَسُّفِ وَالإِلحادِ تَذليلُ

Today, right guidance has a central place among the people,

Today justice is a bridge between mankind

and tyranny and irreligion are brought low,

And tyranny and sacrilege are suppressed

بِكَفٍّ أَبلَجَ مَيمونٍ مَطالِعُهُ

بِكَفٍّ أَبلَجَ مَيمونٍ مَطالِعُهُ

فَخَمُّ الجَنابِ وَقيلٍ قيلُهُ القيلُ

فَخَمُّ الجَنابِ وَقيلٍ قيلُهُ القيلُ

by the hand of a radiant man whose rising is auspicious,

By the pure hand of a blessed destiny in auspice

majestic in station, a sovereign whose word is the final word.

Though the arrogant pretend and gossip

أَشَدَّ أَوسَعُ مَن في ذَرعِهِ سِعَةٌ

أَشَدَّ أَوسَعُ مَن في ذَرعِهِ سِعَةٌ

طولاً وَأَطوَلَ مَتن في باعِهِ طولُ

طولاً وَأَطوَلَ مَتن في باعِهِ طولُ

Mightiest, most ample of those whose reach is ample

Mightier, more magnanimous than any with breadth in his capacity

in bounty, and longest-backed of those whose arm reaches far.

Taller, of longer build in his tallness

مَشبوبَ عَزمٍ بِحُسنِ الحَدسِ مُتَّقِدٌ

مَشبوبَ عَزمٍ بِحُسنِ الحَدسِ مُتَّقِدٌ

فُؤادُهُ وَبِحُبِّ اللَهِ مَشغولُ

فُؤادُهُ وَبِحُبِّ اللَهِ مَشغولُ

Kindled in resolve, aflame with sound intuition

Lit with determination and insight

is his heart, and absorbed in the love of God.

His heart aflame with love of God

يُلاحِقُ القَصدَ بِالتَسديدِ مُنتَهِجاً

يُلاحِقُ القَصدَ بِالتَسديدِ مُنتَهِجاً

إِذا اِنتَحَت هَدِيَّةُ الساري العَواقيلُ

إِذا اِنتَحَت هَدِيَّةُ الساري العَواقيلُ

He pursues his purpose with precise direction, following the path,

Pursuing his goal with steadfast guidance

when obstacles assail the night-traveler's course.

When the guided missile overcomes obstacles

مِن مَعشَرِالمُؤمِنينَ الغَرَّ مَحتِدُهُ

مِن مَعشَرِالمُؤمِنينَ الغَرَّ مَحتِدُهُ

لَدى عَمامَتِهِ تَعنو الأَكاليلُ

لَدى عَمامَتِهِ تَعنو الأَكاليلُ

His lineage springs from the illustrious company of believers;

The crest of the faithful gathers under his turban

crowns bow low before his turban.

Where victories are toasted with wine

بِفَيلَقِ لَجبٍ مِن كُلِّ مُلتَثِمٍ

بِفَيلَقِ لَجبٍ مِن كُلِّ مُلتَثِمٍ

لَهُ صَديقٌ غَداةَ الحَربِ عَزريلُ

لَهُ صَديقٌ غَداةَ الحَربِ عَزريلُ

With a clamorous host of veiled warriors,

With a battalion of stalwarts, every heavily-armed

each has Azrael for a friend on battle's morning.

A friend at wartime, a fearsome warrior

مَقذِلٌ يَقذِف العادي بِصَهوَتِهِ

مَقذِلٌ يَقذِف العادي بِصَهوَتِهِ

إِذا عَلا النَقعِ تَكبيرٌ وَتَهليلُ

إِذا عَلا النَقعِ تَكبيرٌ وَتَهليلُ

A long-necked steed hurls the charging rider onward upon its back,

Who hurls his foe with his battlecry

when cries of 'God is greatest' and 'There is no god but God' rise above the battle-dust.

When the call to prayer rises with exaltation

لِلَهِ هَذِهِ عُلى بايِ الزَمانِ فَهَل

لِلَهِ هَذِهِ عُلى بايِ الزَمانِ فَهَل

لِمِثلِ مَحصولِهِ في المَجدِ تَحصيلُ

لِمِثلِ مَحصولِهِ في المَجدِ تَحصيلُ

God be praised for these glories of the Bey of the age! Can

Thanks be to God for this era's champion

the like of his achievement in glory be attained?

Can the like of his glorious achievements be matched?

عَن مِثلِ عَلياهُ كَفُّ الدَهرِ قاصِرَةٌ

عَن مِثلِ عَلياهُ كَفُّ الدَهرِ قاصِرَةٌ

وَأَعيُنَ السُخطِ مِن حُسّادِهِ حولُ

وَأَعيُنَ السُخطِ مِن حُسّادِهِ حولُ

Time's hand falls short of any glory like his,

The days are too short to fully do him justice

and the resentful eyes of his enviers are cross-eyed.

And the eyes of his haters squint with envy

فَلَيسَ يَنضى لِرَوعِ عَضبِ هِمَّتِهِ

فَلَيسَ يَنضى لِرَوعِ عَضبِ هِمَّتِهِ

إِلّا وَتَنجابُ في الحالِ العَراقيلُ

إِلّا وَتَنجابُ في الحالِ العَراقيلُ

No sooner is the keen blade of his resolve drawn to strike fear

When stirred, nothing withstands his wrath

than obstacles immediately fall away.

And trials arise immediately

وَلَيسَ يُمسِكُ عَلى عافٍ مَواهِبُهُ

وَلَيسَ يُمسِكُ عَلى عافٍ مَواهِبُهُ

إِلّا كَما يُمسِكُ الماءَ الغَرابيلُ

إِلّا كَما يُمسِكُ الماءَ الغَرابيلُ

Nor does he withhold his gifts from a supplicant,

Nothing can contain his generosity

except as sieves hold back water.

As a water-skin contains water

حَقائِقُ طَيٍّ ذاكَ الصَدرُ مُحرِزُهُ

حَقائِقُ طَيٍّ ذاكَ الصَدرُ مُحرِزُهُ

عَلى شَتاتٍ فَمَعمولٍ وَمَنقولُ

عَلى شَتاتٍ فَمَعمولٍ وَمَنقولُ

Folded truths—that breast is their repository—

That breast guards truths

diverse in kind, both applied and transmitted.

Scattered yet purposeful and transmitted

تَزهو بِهِنَّ تَآليفُ مُفرَدَةٍ

تَزهو بِهِنَّ تَآليفُ مُفرَدَةٍ

عَلى اِفتِراقٍ فَتَجميلٌ وَتَفصيلُ

عَلى اِفتِراقٍ فَتَجميلٌ وَتَفصيلُ

Separate writings are adorned with them,

Graced with unique compositions

varied, in embellishment and detailed exposition.

Though separated, with beauty and detail

مِنها مَناهِجٌ لِلتَعريفِ واضِحَةٌ

مِنها مَناهِجٌ لِلتَعريفِ واضِحَةٌ

يَدُلُّ سالِكَها حَكَمٌ وَتَعليلُ

يَدُلُّ سالِكَها حَكَمٌ وَتَعليلُ

Among them are clear paths of explanation;

Some are clear methods of guidance

judgment and reasoning guide their traveler.

Led by wisdom and reasoning

تَجلو بِفَصلِ خَطابٍ كُلَّ مَسأَلَةٍ

تَجلو بِفَصلِ خَطابٍ كُلَّ مَسأَلَةٍ

عَوصاً وَإِن كَثُرَت فيها الأَقاويلُ

عَوصاً وَإِن كَثُرَت فيها الأَقاويلُ

With decisive discourse, they clarify every question,

Clarifying any question's mystery

however knotty, even if opinions about it abound.

Though many conjecture on its meaning

اللَهُ أَكبَرُ هَذا فَضلُ سَيِّدَنا

اللَهُ أَكبَرُ هَذا فَضلُ سَيِّدَنا

فَأَينَ مِن وَصفِهِ مَدحٌ وَتَبجيلُ

فَأَينَ مِن وَصفِهِ مَدحٌ وَتَبجيلُ

God is greatest! Such is our master's excellence;

God is Greatest! Such is the bounty of our Master

how could praise and reverence measure up to describing him?

But what praise or accolade can do him justice?

يَبغي جَميعَ الوَرى إيفاهُ دينَ ثَنا

يَبغي جَميعَ الوَرى إيفاهُ دينَ ثَنا

فَيَعجَزونَ وَدينُ الشُكرِ مَمطولُ

فَيَعجَزونَ وَدينُ الشُكرِ مَمطولُ

All humankind seeks to repay him its debt of praise,

All humanity aspires for the debt of his favor

but they fall short, and the debt of gratitude goes unpaid.

Yet falls short, for the debt of gratitude remains outstanding

مَهلاً أَبا حُسنٍ نَجلِ الحُسَينِ فَما

مَهلاً أَبا حُسنٍ نَجلِ الحُسَينِ فَما

أَنتُم أَيا سادَتي إِلّا بَهاليلُ

أَنتُم أَيا سادَتي إِلّا بَهاليلُ

Gently, Abu Husn, son of al-Husayn, for

Stay your pace, Abu Hassan, son of Hussein

you, my lords, are none but noble chiefs.

For you, my lords, are but fine steeds

تَزهو بِكُم تونُسَ الخَضراءَ مَمرَعَةً

تَزهو بِكُم تونُسَ الخَضراءَ مَمرَعَةً

وَلَيسَ يَزعَبُ في أَغوارِها النيلُ

وَلَيسَ يَزعَبُ في أَغوارِها النيلُ

Tunis the Green, lush with pasture, glories in you,

Tunis the Green boasts of you

though the Nile does not gush through its lowlands.

With no rivals across its lands

كَفاكُم شَرَفاً أَهلَ الحُسَينِ فَهَل

كَفاكُم شَرَفاً أَهلَ الحُسَينِ فَهَل

مُقَصِّرٌ عَنكُم في الوَصفِ مَعذولُ

مُقَصِّرٌ عَنكُم في الوَصفِ مَعذولُ

Your honor suffices, family of al-Husayn; is

Your nobility suffices, House of Hussein

one who falls short in describing you to be reproached?

Is any describer of you left wanting?

أَثنى عَلَيكُم بِتَقصيري عَلى أَمَلِ

أَثنى عَلَيكُم بِتَقصيري عَلى أَمَلِ

لَعَلَّ عُذري عِندَ الباري مَقبولُ

لَعَلَّ عُذري عِندَ الباري مَقبولُ

I praise you, despite my shortcomings, in the hope

I praise you inadequately, hoping

that my excuse may be accepted before the Creator.

My excuse with the Creator is accepted

وَقَد أُعارِضُ فيكُم فارِساً بَطَلاً

وَقَد أُعارِضُ فيكُم فارِساً بَطَلاً

لا يَترُكُ القَرنَ إِلّا وَهوَ مَجدولُ

لا يَترُكُ القَرنَ إِلّا وَهوَ مَجدولُ

Yet in praising you I may vie with a valiant horseman

And though an adversary of your valiant heroes

who leaves no adversary except laid low.

The generations extol their glory

فَيا مَليكاً تَقاصى في مَمالِكِهِ

فَيا مَليكاً تَقاصى في مَمالِكِهِ

لَكِن لِنِعمَتِهِ في الأَرضِ تَظليلُ

لَكِن لِنِعمَتِهِ في الأَرضِ تَظليلُ

O king, far distant in your dominions,

O king whose realms have no parallel

yet your bounty casts its shade across the earth.

Though your blessings on earth are unmatched

إِن كُنتَ بَدراً بأُفقِ الغَربِ مُنبَلِجاً

إِن كُنتَ بَدراً بأُفقِ الغَربِ مُنبَلِجاً

فَالشَرقُ مِن لُطفِ ذاكَ النورِ مَشمولُ

فَالشَرقُ مِن لُطفِ ذاكَ النورِ مَشمولُ

If you are a full moon shining on the western horizon,

You are the rising full moon of the West

the East is enfolded in that light's gentle grace.

With the East in your light enveloped

فَاِسلَم وَعِزُّكَ لِلأَحلافِ مُعتَصِمٌ

فَاِسلَم وَعِزُّكَ لِلأَحلافِ مُعتَصِمٌ

مِنَ الرَزايا وَلِلأَعداءِ تَنكيلُ

مِنَ الرَزايا وَلِلأَعداءِ تَنكيلُ

May you remain safe! Your might is a refuge for allies

So submit, your might protects alliances

against calamities, and a punishment for enemies.

And destroys foes, ensuring justice

وَاِرعَ الحَنيفِيَّةَ البَيضاءَ مُعتَصِماً

وَاِرعَ الحَنيفِيَّةَ البَيضاءَ مُعتَصِماً

بِالحَقِّ وَاللَهُ بِالتَوفيقِ مَسلولُ

بِالحَقِّ وَاللَهُ بِالتَوفيقِ مَسلولُ

Guard the radiant, upright faith, holding fast

And hold fast to the pure white Hanifi way

to truth; and God is besought for success.

With truth, and to success God holds the key