رمز البطولة والمكارم Emblem of Valour and Generosity

40 verses · ṭawīl metre

In praise of Brigadier Ighlas ibn Muhammad Ahmad, commander of Libyan Brigade 173

Poet: Ahmadou Mohamadalher Ishaki

Introduction

A praise poem from the collection “⁨رمال الصحراء⁩”: Ahmadou celebrates Brigadier (عميد) Ighlas ibn Muhammad Ahmad, commander of Libyan Brigade 173, for his charitable works and his feats of arms.

According to the poem, he looks after the rights of all Libyans and of the South, feeds the hungry, sheltered in Ubari those fleeing danger, protected women and the weakest, and even helped prisoners. The poet plays on his name (“⁨تغلّست الأعداء⁩”, verse 16; “⁨أغلست لبيان⁩”, verse 26) and names himself in verse 39. The three notes are his.

The poem

Show the translation

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم، وصلى الله على النبي الكريم. من ديوان (رمال الصحراء). هكذا أفاض «أحمدو بن محمد الخير الإسحاقي» في مدح العميد «إغلس بن محمدأحمد» آَمِرُ كتيبة 173 الليبية، مُشيدًا بأعماله الخيرية الجليلة وبطولاته العظيمة التي رسمها على صفحات المجد بمداد الفخر والعطاء. بعنوان: «رمز البطولة والمكارم»

أَهَاجَكَ لا طَمْسُ الدِّيَارِ الْعَوَامِرِ وَلا الطَّعْنُ فِي الأعْدَآ. بِبِيضٍ قَوَاطِرِ

What stirred you was neither the effacing of once-inhabited dwellings, nor the thrusting at enemies with dripping white blades;
فَلا ذَا وَلا ذَاكَ الذِي هَاجَ خَاطِرِي لَهُ بَلْ وَلا ذِكْرَى الخُيُولِ الضَّوَامِرِ

neither this nor that roused my mind to it — not even the memory of lean, swift horses;
وَلَكِنْ أَتَتْ بَرْقِيَّةٌ مِن شُيُوخِنَا تُهَيِّجُنِي فِي قَرْضِ هَذِي الْبَوَادِرِ

but a message came from our elders, urging me to compose these impromptu verses.
تُهيِّجُ فِينَا مِدْحَةً لِعَمِيدِنَا وَتَحْمِلُ نَفْحًا طَيِّبًا كَالْكَوَافِرِ

It stirs in us a eulogy for our brigadier and carries a sweet fragrance, like camphor.
تُسَاوِقُهَا أُخْرَى لِجُلِّ شَبَابِنَا تُعبِّرُ عَن تَقْدِيرِهِمْ لِلْكَوَادِرِ

Another accompanies it, from most of our young people, expressing their esteem for the officers.
أَلا لِعَمِيدٍ شَذَّ فِي النَّاسِ مِثْلُهُ إِذَا مَا تَسَامَى العُمْدُ صُلْبُ النَّوَاقِرِ

Yes, for a brigadier whose like is rare among men when leaders vie for eminence — a man of sure arrows.
عَمِيدٌ تَعَلَّى فِي النَّيَاشِينِ وَارْتَقَى سَلَالِمَ مَجْدٍ تالِدٍ بَلْهَ خَاتِرِ

A brigadier raised high by his decorations, who climbed the ladders of inherited glory — nothing like a traitor’s.
عَمِيدٌ إِذَا سَاءَلْتَ عَنْهُ الْمَجَامِعَا سَيُخْبِرُ عَنْهُ العُمْيُ قَبْلَ الْبَوَاصِرِ

A brigadier: ask the gatherings about him, and the blind will tell you of him before the sighted.
يُراعِي حُقُوقَ الشَّعْبِ فِي لِيبْيَا كُلِّهَا وَيُولِي اهْتِمَامًا لِلْجَنُوبِ المُفَاخِرِ

He looks after the rights of the people throughout Libya and gives his attention to the proud South.
يَسُوسُ بِلُطْفٍ وَالشُّعُوبُ تُحِبُّهُ وحُقَّ لهُم فَالرِّفْقُ أَوْجُ المَفَاخِرِ

He governs gently and the peoples love him — rightly so, for kindness is the summit of glory.
عَمِيدٌ لَهُ فَضْلٌ عَلَى الْكُلِّ إِذْ بِهِ يُذَادُ لَدَى صَدِّ الْحُرُوبِ الصَّوَاقِرِ

A brigadier to whom all are indebted, for it is through him that defence is made when warding off wars and their calamities.
فَلَوْلاهُ مَا ذَلَّتْ رِقَابُ أشَاوِسٍ لأبْنَاءِ لِيبْيَا أَرْضِ خَيْرِ الْعَسَاكِرِ

Were it not for him, the necks of the proud would not have bowed before the sons of Libya, land of the finest soldiers.
وَلَيْسَ يُرَى مَن مِّنْهُ أَمْثَلُ فِي الْوَغَى لإِقْدَامِهِ مُسْتَأْصِلاً لِلجُمَاهِرِ

No one is seen to surpass him in battle, so bold that he brings down the mightiest men.
هُوَ اللَّيْثُ فِي الْهَيْجَآ. إِذَا مَا لَقِيتَهُ تَخَيَّلْتَهُ مِنْ أُسْدِ غٍيلٍ هَواصِرِ

He is the lion of the fray: meet him and you would think him one of the thicket’s lions that crush their prey.
هُوَ الْمُطْعِمُ النَّاسَ الْجِيَاعَ لِشِدَّةٍ هُوَ الْهَازِمُ الْأَعدَآ. مُذِلُّ الْجَبَابِرِ

He is the one who feeds the hungry in hard times, who defeats the enemies and humbles the tyrants.
إِذَا صَاحَ دَاعٍ في الْوَغَى أين إِغْلَسٌ تَغَلَّسَتِ الْأَعْدَآ. ولا فَرَّ خَائِرِ

When a cry goes up in battle — “Where is Ighlas?” — the enemies melt into the dark, and none of ours, however faint-hearted, flees.
فلا مَجْدَ إلا قدْ جَمَعْتَ عَظِيمَهُ وَخَيْرُ دَلِيلٍ فِي اللِّقَآ. وَالمَغاوِرِ

There is no glory whose greatest part you have not gathered; you are the best guide in encounters and raids.
وأنتَ الذِي زَانَتْ مَكَارِمُهُ الدُّنَا فَشَاعَتْ كَضَوْءِ الشَّمْسِ وَقْتَ الهَوَاجِرِ

You are the one whose noble deeds adorned the world and spread like sunlight in the blazing noon.
وأنتَ الذِي سَاعَدتَّ كُلَّ مُعذَّبٍ من الْفَقْر والإِعْوَازِ لا كَالْمُنَاكِرِ

You are the one who helped everyone tormented by poverty and want — nothing like the ungrateful.
لِيَهْنِكَ يا كَنزَ المَكارِمِ وَالنُّهَى مَكانَتُكَ المُثْلَى لَدَى كُلِّ حَائِرِ

Rejoice, treasure of generosity and wisdom, in the eminent place you hold with all who are in distress.
لِيَهْنِكَ يَا دِرْعَ المَكَارِهِ دَعْوَةٌ من الضُعَفَآ. والْعاجِزاتِ العَوَاثِرِ

Rejoice, shield against misfortunes, in the prayers of the weak and of the helpless women whom fate has made stumble.
وَهُنَّ اللَّوَاتِي يَبْتَغِينَ مَلاجِئًا فِرَارًا مِن الأعْدَآ. الكِلابِ الْكَواسِرِ

They are the ones who sought refuge, fleeing enemies like ravening dogs.
فأَصْبحْنَ في أَمْنٍ مِنَ الشَّرِّ كُلِّهِ يُرَطِّلْنَ بالأمْشَاطِ عَقْدَ الضَّفَائِرِ

And now they are safe from all harm, combing out the knots of their braids.
وآَوَيْتَ في «أُوبَارِي» من كان خَائِفًا وأمَّنتَهُم خَوْفَ الْعِدَا والمَخَاطِرِ

You gave shelter in Ubari to those who were afraid, and kept them safe from fear of enemies and dangers.
فَمَن مُبْلِغٌ عَنِّي مُغَلْغَلَةً إِلَى عَمِيدِ بِلادِ الْخَيْرِ زَوْرَةَ زَائِرِ

Who will carry from me a far-sent message to the brigadier of the land of goodness, as one pays a visit?
لَقَدْ أَغْلَسَتْ لِبْيَانَ تَحْثُو رِمَالَها تُسَائِلُ عن إِغْلَسْ بِلادَ الجَواهِرِ

Libya set out before dawn, raising her sands, asking the land of jewels for news of Ighlas.
فإن كُنتَ لاقَيْتَ الْعَظِيمَ ابْنَ أَصْلِهِ فسَلِّمْ عَلَى عَيْنِ الفَخَارِ وَجاوِرِ

If you meet the great man, true son of his lineage, greet the very wellspring of pride, and stay by his side.
مَواقِفُهُ فِي عَوْنِ كُلِّ ضَرِيرٍنا مَوَاقِفُ صِدْقٍ سُجِّلتْ بالمَسَاطِرِ

His deeds in helping each of our blind are deeds of sincerity, written down in the records.
ولمْ يَنسَ في إسْعافِهِ أَهْلَ وُدِّهِ مِنَ السُّجَنَآ. ذَا الْحَقِّ أَوْ ذَا الْجَرَائِرِ

In his help he did not forget those dear to him among the prisoners, whether in the right or guilty of offences.
لَنَا الْفَخْرُ كُلُّ الْفَخْرِ فِيهِ وَعِندَنَا يُكَرَّمُ مَن ذِي مَيْزُهُ في الأكَابِرِ

All pride is ours in him; among us, honour goes to one who holds such a rank among the great.
وحَيِّ الشَّبَابَ الْعَامِلِينَ بِحَوْزِهِ وَقَبْلَهُمُ الأشْيَاخَ عِندَ المَنَاوِرِ

Greet the young men who work under his command, and, before them, the elders who are our beacons.
هُمُ الصَّدْرُ من بَيْنِ الرَّعِيلِ وَلَيْتَنِي أُسَامِرُهُم بِالشِّعْرِ لا بِالمَزَامِرِ

They are the front rank of the troop; would that I could keep them company at night with poetry, not with pipes.
فَجَازَاهُمُ الرَّحْمَانُ خَيْرَ جَزَائِهِ بِما اسْتَبَقُوا فِي الخَيْرِ وَقْتَ الضَّرَائِرِ

May the Merciful reward them with His best reward for racing one another in good deeds in times of hardship.
وَأَبْقَى لَنَا نَجْلَ ابْنِ أَحْمَدَ شَامِخًا يُوَطِّدُ فِي أَهْلِيهِ نُبْلَ المَشَاعِرِ

And may He keep for us, standing tall, the son of Muhammad Ahmad, who strengthens noble feeling among his people.
وَكَبَّلَ فِي أَغْلالِهِ كُلَّ شَانِئٍ لِيُدْفَنَ فِي حَفْرٍ مِنَ الأرْضِ غَائِرِ

And may He bind all who hate him in his shackles, to be buried in a deep pit in the earth.
هُنا قَدْ كَبَحْتُ النَّظْمَ خَوْفَ إِطَالةٍ وَلَوْ شِئْتُ طَوَّلْتُ الثَّنَآ. بِالْمَزَابِرِ

Here I rein in my verse for fear of length; had I wished, I would have drawn out the praise with my pens.
فَهَاءَكُمُوهَا مِدْحَةً أوْ لَآَلِئَا مُذَهَّبَةً مِن نَاظِمٍ مُتَشَاعِرِ

So take it: a eulogy — or rather gilded pearls — from a versifier who would be a poet.
فَيَا لَيْتَ شِعْرِي هَلْ تُصًادِفُ عِندَكُمْ مقَامًا أَمِ الأيَّامُ لَيْسَتْ لِشَاعِرِ

Would that I knew whether it will find a place with you, or whether these days are no longer for poets!
وَوَسْمِي إِذَا مَا جِئْتَ تَسْأَلُ «أَحْمَدٌو» أَبِي نَجْلُ بِجِّي اللَّذْ أَبَى لِلصَّغَائِرِ

And my name, should you come asking, is Ahmadou; my father is the son of Bijji, who refused all pettiness.
صَلاةُ إِلَهِ الْعَالَمِينَ عَلَى النَّبِيْ وَآَلٍ وَصَحْبٍ مَا قُرِيْ بِالمَحَاضِرِ

May the blessing of the Lord of the worlds be upon the Prophet, his family and Companions, as long as there is reading in the Qur’anic schools.

Poet’s notes

verse 6 — النواقر: جمع ناقر، وهو السهم الذي يصيب الهدف. (al-nawāqir: plural of nāqir, the arrow that hits its target.)
verse 11 — الصواقر: جمع صاقرة، وهي المصيبة الشديدة. (al-ṣawāqir: plural of ṣāqira, a terrible calamity.)
verse 13 — الجُماهر: الرجل الضخم. (al-jumāhir: a huge, powerfully built man.)

The Arabic text is reproduced as the poet wrote it, vowel marks included. The translation, offered verse by verse by the site’s team, follows the meaning rather than the rhyme: only the Arabic text is authoritative.