لَمّا رَأَيتُ بَني نُفاثَةَ أَقبَلوا

لَمّا رَأَيتُ بَني نُفاثَةَ أَقبَلوا

يُشلونَ كُلَّ مُقَلِّصٍ خَنّابِ

يُشلونَ كُلَّ مُقَلِّصٍ خَنّابِ

When I saw the sons of Nufatha advancing,

When I saw the sons of Banu Nufatha approaching,

Urging on every long-legged, powerfully built steed,

Subduing all cowards and poltroons,

فَنَشيتُ ريحَ المَوتِ مِن تِلقائِهِم

فَنَشيتُ ريحَ المَوتِ مِن تِلقائِهِم

وَكَرِهتُ كُلَّ مُهَنَّدٍ قَضّابِ

وَكَرِهتُ كُلَّ مُهَنَّدٍ قَضّابِ

I caught the scent of death coming from their direction,

I sensed the wind of death blowing from their direction,

And dreaded every keen-cutting Indian sword.

And disliked all weaklings and faint-hearts.

وَرَفَعتُ ساقاً لايُخافُ عِثارُها

وَرَفَعتُ ساقاً لايُخافُ عِثارُها

وَطَرَحتُ عَنّي بِالعَراءِ ثِيابي

وَطَرَحتُ عَنّي بِالعَراءِ ثِيابي

And I raised a leg sure not to stumble,

I raised my leg, fearing no stumbling,

And cast off my clothes in the open.

And cast off my clothes in the open.

أَقبَلتُ لايَشتَدُّ شَدّي واحِدٌ

أَقبَلتُ لايَشتَدُّ شَدّي واحِدٌ

عِلجٌ أَقَبُّ مُسَيَّرُ الأَقرابِ

عِلجٌ أَقَبُّ مُسَيَّرُ الأَقرابِ

I sped on; none could match my sprint—

I advanced, my resolve unshaken by any,

Not even a lean-bellied wild ass with streaked flanks.

A kinsman, swift to respond when called.

اللَهُ يَعلَمُ ما تَرَكتُ مُنَبِّهاً

اللَهُ يَعلَمُ ما تَرَكتُ مُنَبِّهاً

عَن طيبِ نَفسٍ فَاِسأَلوا أَصحابي

عَن طيبِ نَفسٍ فَاِسأَلوا أَصحابي

God knows I did not leave Munabbih behind

God knows I left no rouser sleeping

Of my own free will—so ask my companions.

When my soul was eager - ask my comrades!

لامَت وَلو شَهِدَت لَكانَ نَكيرُها

لامَت وَلو شَهِدَت لَكانَ نَكيرُها

ماءً يَبُلُّ مَشافِرَ القَبقابِ

ماءً يَبُلُّ مَشافِرَ القَبقابِ

She blamed me; had she witnessed it, her reproach would have been

Had my she-camel witnessed it, her startled cry

Water moistening the massive bull camel’s lips.

Would have melted the nails of sandals.