سيف القمر

بيد المرسلاتBy the winds sent forth,

بالطف نازعاتin Karbala the snatchers of souls descend,

تقرأ ذارياتreciting the verses of scattering winds,

تفني العاديات (2x)annihilating the charging steeds.

من حول الأعادي أضحى يناديSurrounded by enemies, he called out:

اليوم يوم القدر"Today is the Day of Decree!

قوموا سريعا وامشوا قطيعاRise quickly and march like cattle,

للخلد تنادي سقرfor Hellfire summons you for eternity!"

هل من مزيد"Are there any more?"

بنو يزيدO sons of Yazid,

للنار أنتم حجرyou are fuel and stone for the Fire!

هذا الطارق الساحقHere is the striking, crushing force!

ما أدراك ما الطارقAnd what can make you know what the night-comer is?

بالحومة نجم ثاقبIn the battlefield, he is a piercing star,

كفيل أخت الوديعةthe guardian of the entrusted sister.

من جاهم على مهرهWhen he charged at them upon his steed,

كم عشرة تضيق عشرةgroup after group was hemmed in.

أمهلهم رويدا"Give them a brief respite,"

قامت تنادي الشريعةcried the riverbank.

سوى شيء جديدHe forged something unprecedented:

يذبح من بعيدhe slays even from afar,

نظراته تبيدhis gazes annihilate,

من جد للحفيد (2x)from grandfather to grandson.

جيش يرى صرعى لصرعىAn army seeing fallen heaped on fallen,

صاروا كشبه البقرrendered like cattle slaughtered,

كم من جديل خلف النخيلhow many laid low behind the palm trees,

هوى كورق الشجرfalling like autumn leaves!

ومن رآه ومن أتاه قضى بلمح البصرWhoever beheld him or approached him perished in the blink of an eye.

صاحب للفتى الأنزعHe called out in the manner of the Valiant Hero Ali:

يا ماي الفرات اسمع“O water of the Euphrates, listen!

ما جيت أشربكI did not come to drink you,

جيت أسحبك قوة للخيامI came to drag you by force to the tents!

كل من يعرف طباعيEveryone knows my nature:

آخذ كل شي بذراعيI seize everything with the strength of my own arms.

ما همني العطشThirst does not concern me;

عندي المهم خدمة إماميWhat matters to me is serving my Imam.

لو رمل الطفوف يتحول سيوفEven if the sands of Karbala turn into swords,

أمشي بلا خوفI march forward without fear,

وأمحيها الألوف (2x)and wipe out the thousands!

لقيت حقا حبا وصدقا وذا يقيني ظهرI truly found genuine love and sincere devotion, and this certainty of mine became manifest.

يا نفس هوني ولا تكوني من بعد خير البشر“O soul, be humbled! Do not remain after the best of mankind!”

للاسبط أبقى عبدا ورقا وطائعا إن أمرFor the Prophet's Grandson I shall remain a servant and a slave, obedient to his command.

ما مات القمر بعدهThe Moon has never died; he still lives on.

لا تظن كربلاء تحدهDo not think Karbala confines his bounds.

هو بكل زمن متواجد ويشهد مزارهHe is present in every age, as his holy shrine bears witness.

لو قلت له يا أخو زينبIf you say to him, “O brother of Zaynab,”

من شاره تتعجبyou will be awestruck by his miraculous signs.

ينطيك الشمس بيده وقمر بيد بشارةHe will grant you the sun in one hand and the moon in the other as glad tidings.

هو بلا زوالHe is imperishable,

مصنع للرجالa maker of true men;

ما عنده محالnothing is impossible to him.

جربه بالسؤال (4x)Test him by asking!

من كل حين باب الحسينAt all times he remains the gateway to al-Husayn,

ومن أتاه أبشرand whoever comes to him, rejoice!

لمن سواه يدنو لواه للقائم المنتظرFor whom else would his banner advance, if not for the Awaited Al-Qa'im?