لَقَدْIndeedأَبْصَرَتْhas seenطَوائِفَgroupsالنَّمْلِof antsخارِجَةًemergingأَسْرَابًاswarmsأَسْرَابًاswarmsضارِبَةًstrikingفِيinفِجاجِpathwaysالأَرْضِthe earth(طُرُقِها)(its paths)عَلَىwithoutغَيْرِguidanceهُدًىguidance
Indeed, groups of ants have been seen emerging in swarms upon the pathways of the earth, without guidance.
فَقالَتْThen she said«أُمُّ مازِنٍ»"Um Mazin"تُحَدِّثُis talkingنَفْسَهاto herselfمَدْهُوشَةًdazed«هَذا"Thisأَعْجَبُis the most wonderfulماthatرَأَيْتُI have seenفِيinحَياتِي!my life!وَماAnd I do notأَدْرِي:know:لِمَwhyخَرَجَتْthey have leftعَشِيرَتِيmy tribeكُلُّهاall of themمِنْfromدُورِها!their homes!أَتُراهُنَّDo you think theyقَدْmayخَرَجْنَhave come outلِيُقابِلْنَنِي؟to meet me?ماI do notأَظُنُّthinkذَلِكَ!that!
Then she said, "Um Mazin" is talking to herself, dazed: "This is the most wonderful that I have seen in my life! And I do not know: why did my tribe all leave their homes! Do you think they have come out to meet me? I do not think that!"
ثُمَّThenأَبْصَرَتْSaw«أُمُّMotherمازِنٍ»MazinصاحِبَتَهاHer companion«بِنْتَDaughterالشَّيْصَبانِ»Al-Shaysbanقادِمَةً،ComingوَقَدْAndبَدَتْAppearedعَلَيْهاOn herأَماراتُSignsالارْتِباكِConfusionوالْحَيْرَةِAnd bewildermentوَكَأَنَّماAs ifهِيَShe isهارِبَةٌ،EscapingوَقَدْAndحَمَلَتْShe carriedطِفْلاA childصَغِيرًا.Small.
Then, the mother of Mazin saw her companion, the daughter of Al-Shaysban, coming, and there appeared on her signs of confusion and bewilderment as if she were escaping, and she was carrying a small child.
فَصاحَتْexclaimedبِهاwith it«أُمُّ مازِنٍ»"Um Mazin"قائِلَةًsaying«سُعِدَ"Happyيَوْمُكِ،is your day,ياO«بِنْتَ"daughter of theالشَّيْصَبانِ»ShaybanهاHereأَناI amذِيyourرَبِيبَتُكِ:stepdaughter:«أُمُّ مازِنٍ»"Um Mazin"أَلاDo you notتَعْرِفِينَنِي؟recognize me?"ماWhatبالُكِis wrong with you?خائِفَةًafraidوَجِلَةً؟and trembling?"
"Um Mazin" exclaimed: "Happy is your day, O daughter of Shayban. Here I am, your stepdaughter: do you not recognize me? What is wrong with you, afraid and trembling?"
فَقالَتْSo she saidلَهاto her«بِنْتُ الشَّيْصَبانِ»:‘the daughter of Shayban’:«آهٍ‘Ah!لَنا،for us,ياOحَبِيبَتِي!my beloved!وَواهِ مِنْAnd alas fromتِلْكِthatالنَّكْبَةِcalamityالَّتِيwhichأَلَمَّتْbefellبِنا،us,أَيَّتُهاO!الْعَزِيزَةُ!»the dear one!’
So she said to her, ‘the daughter of Shayban’: ‘Ah! for us, O my beloved! And alas from that calamity which befell us, O dear one!’
فَصاحَتْShe exclaimed«أُمُّMother ofمازِنٍ»Mazinمُرْتاعَةً:with alarm:«أَيَّWhichنَكْبَةٍcalamityتَعْنِينَ؟»do you mean?"
Mother of Mazin exclaimed with alarm: "Which calamity do you mean?"
فَأَجابَتْهاSo she answered herبِنْتُ الشَّيْصَبانِthe daughter of Al-ShaysebanلَقَدْIndeedهاجَمَتْناattacked usجُيُوشٌarmiesكَثِيفَةٌnumerousمِنَ النِّمالِfrom the nymphsالشُّقْرِthe blondالْخَبِيثَةِthe wickedوَشَنَّتْand launchedعَلَيْناagainst usغارَةًa raidشَعْواءَ.fierce.
So she answered her, 'Indeed, numerous armies from the wicked blond nymphs have attacked us and launched a fierce raid against us.'
وَلَعَلَّكِAnd perhaps youتَعْرِفِينَknowأَنَّthatأُولَئِكَthoseالشَّقْراواتِblondesطالَماas long asخَطَفْنَthey snatchedبَناتِناour daughtersوَفَجَعْنَناand we were devastatedفِيinحَبِيباتِناour loved onesوَلَقَدْand indeedكَاثَرْنَناwe multipliedبِعَدَدِهِنَّby their numberوَمَلأْنَand we filledالسَّهْلَthe plainوَمَلَكْنَand we possessedعَلَيْناover usفِجاجَthe pathwaysالأَرْضِof the earthكُلَّهاall of itآه!Ah!ألاDon’t youتَسْمَعِينَ؟hear?وَداعًا،Goodbye,ياO«أُمَّ مازِنٍ».‘Mother of Mazin’.فإِنِّيFor indeed Iهارِبَةٌ،am escaping,حَتَّىuntilلاI do notأَقَعَfallفَرِيسةًpreyلأُولَئِكِto thoseالْخَبِيثاتِ.wicked.
And perhaps you know that those blondes have long snatched our daughters, and devastated us in our loved ones. And indeed we have multiplied by their number, and filled the plain, and possessed over us the pathways of the earth all of it. Ah! Don’t you hear? Goodbye, O ‘Mother of Mazin’. For indeed I am escaping, until I do not fall prey to those wicked.
(٢١)(21)غَزْوَةُBattleالنَّمْلِof the Ant
The Battle of the Ant
وَلَقَدْAnd indeedصَدَقَتْshe spoke the truth«بِنْتُ الشَّيْصَبانِ»"Daughter of the Shaybans"فَيماin whatقالَتْهُ،she said,فَإِنَّfor indeedجُيُوشَthe armiesالشَّقْرَواتِof the blond— مِنْ— fromنِمالِthe ants'الأَعْداءِenemies— كانَتْ— wereتَتَقَدَّمُadvancingإِلَىtoوادِيthe valleyالنَّمْلِ،of the ants,زاحِفَةًcrawlingتُحاوِلُtrying toأَنْtoتَكْتَسِحَsweepالْوادِيَ.the valley.
And indeed, "Daughter of the Shaybans" spoke the truth in what she said, for indeed the armies of the blond — from the ants' enemies — were advancing to the valley of the ants, crawling and trying to sweep the valley.
وَقَدْAndرَتَّبَتْarrangedخُطَّةَplanالْهُجُومِof the attackوالْغَزْوِand the invasionوَسارَتْand movedمُتَقَدِّمَةًforwardفِيinصُفُوفٍrowsمُتَراصَّةٍ.closely alignedوَكانَAnd there wasالْقادَةُthe leadersفِيinمُقَدِّمَةِthe forefrontالْجَيْشِ،of the army,مُسْتَبْسِلِينَbraveفِيinالْحَرْبِ،the war,وَقَدْand they haveرَفَعُواraisedقُرُونَهُمْtheir hornsمُهِيبِينَwith awe(صائِحِينَ)(shouting)بِجُنُودِهِمْ:to their soldiers:أَنْtoتَقَدَّمُواadvanceإِلَىtoالأَمامِ،the front,إِلَىtoالأَمامِthe frontدائِمًا!always!
And they have arranged the plan of the attack and the invasion, and moved forward in closely aligned rows. And there were the leaders at the forefront of the army, brave in the war, and they raised their horns with awe (shouting) to their soldiers: to advance to the front, always!
وَكانَتِAnd it wasالشَّقْراواتُthe blondesالْكَبِيراتُthe eldersآيَةًa signمِنْofآياتِthe versesالْقَسْوَةِ،of harshness,فَلَمْso it did notتَرْحَمْhave mercy onصَغِيرًاa small oneوَلَمْand did notتُوَقِّرْrespectكَبِيرًا.the elders.
And the blondes were a sign of harshness, so it did not have mercy on a small one and did not respect an elder.
واضْطَرَبَتْand disturbedأَسْرابُswarms ofالنِّمالِantsالسُّودِblackالصَّغِيرَةِ،small,وَتَفَرَّقَand scatteredحُرَّاسُهاits guardsأَشْتَاتًا،in different groups,يُغَوِّثُونَthey call for helpوَيَسْتَنْجِدُونَ.and seek assistance.وَخَرَجَتْAnd the swarms came out,جَماهِيرُ النَّمْلِthe crowds of antsالأَسْوَدِ،the black,لِصَدِّto repelغارَةِ الأَعْداءِ،the attack of the enemies,وَقَدْ آلَيْنَand we have vowedعَلَى أَنْفُسِهِنَّto themselvesأَنْ يَمْنَعْنَthat they defendوادِيَهُنَّ،their valley,وَيَحْمِينَand protectوَطَنَهُنَّ،their homeland,وَيَذُدْنَand repelعَنْ ذَرارِيهِنَّfrom their offspring,(نَسْلِهِنَّ)،(their progeny),باذِلاتٍspendingأَرْواحَهُنَّtheir soulsرَخِيصَةًcheaplyفِي سَبِيلِin the path ofحِمايَةِthe protection ofالأَهْلِthe familyوالْوَطَنِ!and homeland!
And the swarms of black ants became disturbed, and its guards scattered in different groups, calling for help and seeking assistance. And the crowds of black ants came out to repel the attack of the enemies, and they vowed to themselves that they would defend their valley and protect their homeland, and repel their offspring, spending their souls cheaply in the path of the protection of the family and the homeland!
وانْدَفَعْنَand they chargedفِيinشَجاعَةٍbraveryوإِقْدامٍand daringلاnoمَثِيلَequalلَهُماto themيُحارِبْنَthey fightالْعَدُوَّthe enemyوَيُجْلِينَand they drive awayالْمُغِيراتِthe invadersوَقَدْand they haveبَذَلْنَgivenكُلَّallماthatوَسِعَتْهُthey could affordجُهُودُهُنَّtheir effortsوَأَبْلَيْنَand they excelledفِيinالْحَرْبِthe warأَحْسَنَthe bestبَلاءٍperformance
They charged in a bravery and daring without equal, fighting the enemy, driving away the invaders, and they have devoted all that their efforts could afford, excelling in the war with the best performance.
وَلَكِنَّButالشَّقْراواتِthe blondesالْكَبِيراتِthe big onesظَلِلْنَthey overshadowedيَتَقَدَّمْنَthey advancedإِلَىtowardsالأَمامِthe frontمُسْتَهِيناتٍdisregardingبِكُلِّwith allماwhatيَتَعَرَّضْنِthey faceلَهُto itمِنْfromأَخْطارٍdangersوَقَدْand indeedأَصْرَرْنَthey insistedعَلَىonاقْتِحامِstormingصُفُوفِlinesالْعَدُوِّthe enemyوَإِذْلالِهِand humiliationكَلَفَهُنَّit cost themذَلِكَthatماwhatكَلَفَهُنَّit cost themمِنْfromجِهادٍstruggleوَفِداءٍ.and redemption.
But the big blondes overshadowed and advanced towards the front, disregarding all the dangers they faced, and indeed they insisted on storming the enemy's lines and humiliating them, whatever it cost them in struggle and redemption.
وَصاحَAnd shoutedصائِحُهُنَّtheir caller——مِنَfromالْقادَةِthe leaders——وَهُنَّand theyيَتَسَلَّقْنَare climbingقِمَّةَthe summitالتَّلَّةِ،of the hill,وَيَعْتَلِينَand they ascendذِرْوَةَthe heightالرَّبْوَةِ:of the hillock:«نَظِّمْنَ«Organizeصُفُوفَكُنَّ —your rows —ياOحَفَدَةَdescendants«الشَّيْصَبانِ»«the Shaysaban»——وااسْتَلْهِمْنَand seek guidanceمَضاءَthe firm decisionعَزْمِof resolveأَسْلافِكُنَّ.of your forefathers.
And their caller shouted — from the leaders — and they are climbing the summit of the hill, and they ascend the height of the hillock: «Organize your rows — O descendants of «the Shaysaban» — and seek guidance for the firm decision of your forefathers.
وَلاand notتَنْسَيْنَforgetنَصِيحَةَadviceجَدِّناour grandfatherالأَكْبَرِthe elderالشَّيْصَبانِthe great victoryالْعَظِيمِthe greatفَقَدْfor indeedأَصْبَحَhas becomeالنَّصْرُvictoryمِنَّاfrom usقَرِيبًاsoonوَلَمْand notيَبْقَremainsعَلَيْكُنَّon youإِلَّاexceptخُطُواتٌstepsيَسِيرَةٌeasyتَقْهَرْنَdefeatفِيinإِثْرِهَاits aftermathالْعَدُوَّthe enemyوَتَنْتَصِرْنَand you will triumphفِيinهَذِهِthisالْمَعْرَكَةِbattleالْحاسِمَةِdecisive
And do not forget our grandfather's advice: "The great victory is near for us, and there remains for you only easy steps to defeat the enemy; and you will triumph in this decisive battle!"
فَسارَتِSo they ranالشَّقْراواتُ،the blondes,زاحِفاتٍcrawlingعَلَىonأَعْدائِهِنَّ،their enemies,مُرَدِّداتٍrepeatingنَشِيدَthe chantالْحَرْبِof warالَّذِىwhichحَفِظْنَهُwe have preserved itمِنْfromأَسْلافِهِنَّ،their ancestors,عَنْaboutجَدِّهِنَّtheir grandfather:«الشَّيْصَبانِ»‘Al-Shayban’الأَكْبَرِ.the elder.
So the blondes crawled over their enemies, repeating the chant of the war that we have preserved from their ancestors, about their grandfather: ‘Al-Shayban’ the elder.
(٢٢)(22)نَشِيدُThe songالشَّيْصَبانِof the Shaiban
(22) The song of the Shaiban
وَكانَتْAnd there wereجَماعاتُgroups ofالنَّمْلِthe antsالشُّقْرِ،of the blond,جادَّةًdiligentفِيinطَرِيقِهاits pathإِلَىtoوَادِيthe valley ofالأَعْداءِ،the foes,وَهُنَّAnd theyيَنْشُدْنَare singingالنَّشِيدَthe chantالتَّالِيthat followsمُتَحَمِّساتٍ:enthusiastically:
And there were groups of the blond ants, diligent in their path to the valley of the foes, and they are singing the chant that follows enthusiastically:
ياOبَناتَdaughters ofالشَّيْصَبانِ:the Shayban:
O daughters of Shayban:
قَدْIndeedأَتَىhas comeيَوْمُthe day ofالطِّعانِthe challenges
Indeed, the day of challenges has come.
فَتَوافَدْنَand they came in crowdsأُلُوفَاthousands
And they came in crowds of thousands.
وَandتَجَمَّعْنَgatheredصُفُوفَاrows
And they gathered in rows.
واعْتَلِينَand we have ascendedالْهَضَباتِthe hills
And we have ascended the hills.
واقْتَحِمْنَand penetrateالْعَقَباتِthe hurdles
And penetrate the hurdles.
ثُمَّthenفَرِّقْنَseparateالأَعادِيthe enemies
Then separate the enemies.
بَدَدًاnothingفِيinكُلِّeveryوَادِي!valley!
Nothing in every valley!
ياO
O daughters of the Shayban:
قَدْIndeedأَتَىhas comeيَوْمُthe day ofالطِّعانِthe spear
Indeed, the day of the spear has come.
فَلْيَكُنْLet it beيَوْمَdayفَخَارِglory
Let it be a day of glory.
وابْتِهاجٍjoy and delight
Joy and victory
لاnoتَوانَيْنَ،you are able toفَإِنَّاfor we
Do not be able, for we
إِنْIfتَوانَيْتُنَّyou (feminine plural) are ableضِعْناwe would be lost
If you (feminine plural) are able, we would be lost.
فَلْتُدَكْدِكْنَLet them shakeالْجِبالاthe mountains
Let them shake the mountains
وَلْتُذَلِّلْنَAnd let them be humbledالْمُحالاthe stubborn ones
And let the stubborn ones be humbled!
ياOبَنَاتَdaughtersالشَّيْصَبانِof Shaysban
O Daughters of Shaysban:
قَدْIndeedأَتَىhas comeيَوْمُthe day ofالطِّعانِthe fighting
Indeed, the day of fighting has come.
فَتَسَنَّمْنَAnd they ascendedالْوِهاداthe guide
And they ascended the guide.
وَتَناسَيْنَAnd we forgotالرُّقاداthe sleep
And we forgot the sleep.
وَتَسامَيْنَand we have risenلِمَجْدٍfor glory
And we have risen for glory.
وَتَذَرَّعْنَAnd they supplicatedبِجِدٍّwith earnestness
And they supplicated with earnestness.
وَتَقَحَّمْنَAnd they plungedالسُّهُولاthe ease
And they plunged into the ease.
وَتَدافَعْنَAnd they pushedسُيُولا!floods!
And they pushed floods!
ياOhبَناتَdaughtersالشَّيْصَبانِof the Shaysban
Oh daughters of the Shaysban
قَدْindeedأَتَىhas comeيَوْمُthe day ofالطِّعانِthe stabbing
Indeed, the day of the stabbing has come.
جَدُّكُنَّYour grandfatherالشَّيْصَبانُThe one who is angry
Your grandfather is the one who is angry.
مَجْدُهُHis gloryلَيْسَis notيُهانُinsulted
His glory is not insulted.
إِنَّناIndeed weنَحْمِيprotectلِواءَهْhis banner
Indeed we protect his banner.
فَلْنَمُوتَنَّLet us dieفِداءَهْfor his sacrifice
Let us die for his sacrifice
وَلَنَمُوتَنَّAnd we will surely dieكِراماdignified
And we will surely die dignified.
ذَلَّbelittledمَنْwhoيَخْشَىfearsالْحِماماthe pigeons
Who fears the pigeons has been belittled!
انِتصارُvictoryالشَّقْراواتِthe blondes
Victory of the Blondes