قَومٌ إِذا ما النَقعُ أَظلَمَ لَيلُهُ

قَومٌ إِذا ما النَقعُ أَظلَمَ لَيلُهُ

كانَت وُجوهُهُم لَهُ أَقمارا

كانَت وُجوهُهُم لَهُ أَقمارا

A people—when the night of battle-dust grows dark,

A people, when the darkness cloaks their night

their faces become its moons.

Their faces are as bright moons for it

لا يَعدِلونَ بِرِفدِهِم عَن سائِلٍ

لا يَعدِلونَ بِرِفدِهِم عَن سائِلٍ

عَدلَ الزَمانِ عَلَيهِمُ أَم جارا

عَدلَ الزَمانِ عَلَيهِمُ أَم جارا

They never turn their bounty away from a supplicant,

They do not refuse a petitioner their aid

whether Time treats them justly or unjustly.

As if time itself had wronged them

فَمَنِ اِستَغاثَهُم اِستَغاثَ ضَراغِماً

فَمَنِ اِستَغاثَهُم اِستَغاثَ ضَراغِماً

وَمَن اِستَماحَهُم اِستَماحَ بِحارا

وَمَن اِستَماحَهُم اِستَماحَ بِحارا

So whoever seeks their help seeks the help of lions,

So one seeking their help finds glowing coals

and whoever asks them for gifts asks gifts of seas.

And one begging their pardon discovers seas

وَإِذا الصَريخُ دَعاهُم لِمُلِمَّةٍ

وَإِذا الصَريخُ دَعاهُم لِمُلِمَّةٍ

بَذَلوا النُفوسَ وَفارَقوا الأَعمارا

بَذَلوا النُفوسَ وَفارَقوا الأَعمارا

And when the caller for help summons them to face calamity,

And when a cry summons them to battle

they offer up their souls and part with their lives.

They sacrifice themselves and leave behind their lives