وَهَلَكَتِand perishedالسُّمْسُمَةُ؛the sesame;وَهِيَand she isزَعِيمَةُthe leaderجَيْشِof the armyالأَعْداءِ،the enemies,وَقائِدَةُand the chiefجُمُوعِهُمْ.of their groups.وَقُتِلَAnd a large number were killedجُمْهُورٌof the publicضَخْمٌmassiveمِنَfromالدَّبى:the insects:وَهِيَand she isتِلْكِthoseالنِّمالُthe antsالصِّغِيراتُ،the small ones,الْعَزِيزَاتُthe dear onesعَلَيْنا،to us,كَرَحَلَتْas has perishedجَماعَةٌa group ofمِنَfromالسماسِمِ،the sesame,وَهُمْand they areإِخْوَتُناour brothersمِنَfromالنِّمالِthe antsالَّتِيthat liveتَعِيشُinفِيthe gardens.وَلَمْAnd she did notيَكُنْhaveلَهاany handيَدٌin this ground.فِيBut she wentهَذِهِas preyالْحَرْبِin this war,الطَّاحِنَةِ،devastating.وَلَكِنَّbutهَذِهِshe has not had any handذَهَبَتْGoneفَرِيسةًin fine,بِلاwith noثَمَنٍ،cost,وَلَقَدْand indeed,رَأَيْتُI have seenنَمْلَةًan antمُسْتَلْقِيَةًlying onعَلَىher back,ظَهْرِها،she raisedرافعَةًher legs toقَوائِمَهاthe sky,وَهِيَand she isتَدْعُوcalling toاللهَGodأَنْto take vengeanceيَثْأَرَfor us from theلَناoppressors,مِنَfrom theالشَّقْراواتِblonde oppressorsالْجائِراتِ،the wicked ones.اللائِيwho conspiredبَغَيْنَ،against usواعْتَدَيْنَand committed heinousعَلَيْناattack against usأَشْنَعَMost heinous
And the sesame perished; she is the leader of the army of the enemies and the chief of their groups. A large number of the public were killed: she is those small and dear ants to us, as a group of the sesame has perished, and they are our brothers from the ants that live in the gardens. And she had no hand in this devastating war, but she went as prey without cost, and indeed, I have seen an ant lying on her back, raising her legs to the sky, calling to God to take vengeance for us from the blonde oppressors who conspired against us and committed the most heinous of attacks against us.
فَسَأَلْتُSo I askedاللهَAllahأَنْtoيُجِيبَanswerدُعاءَها،her prayer,وَandيَنْتَقِمَtake revengeلَناfor usمِنَfromالْقَوْمِthe peopleالظَّالِمِينَ.the oppressors.
So I asked Allah to answer her prayer, and take revenge for us from the oppressors.
فَوَجَمَتِAnd theالنِّمالُantsالسَّوْداءُ،black,وَحَزِنَتْand they were sadلِمَصارِعِfor the deaths ofأَخَواتِها.her sisters.
And the black ants were sad for the deaths of their sisters.
وَصاحَتْAnd she exclaimed«أُمُّMotherمازِنٍ»Mazinمُتَأَلِّمَةً:in pain:«لَقَدْIndeedفَتَكَhas attackedبِناusالنَّمْلُthe antالأَشْقَرُthe blondفَتْكًاdevastatinglyذَرِيعًا،terribly,وَفَجَعَناand shocked usفِيinأَعَزِّdearestصَواحِبِنا،companions,وَأَبَرِّand bestصَدِيقاتِنا،friends,وَأَكْرَمِand noblestأَهْلِيناour familiesعَلَيْنا.to us.
And Mother Mazin exclaimed in pain: "Indeed, the blond ant has attacked us devastatingly, and shocked us in our dearest companions, and best friends, and noblest families to us."
وَلَقَدْAnd indeedأَثارَهاit raisedعَلَيْناagainst usغارَةًan attackشَعْواءَfierceوَذَبَحَand slaughteredمِنَfromالسَّوْداواتِthe darknessعَدَدًاa numberلا يُحْصَىcountlessوَلَمْand did notيَبْقَremainفِيinغُرَفِthe rooms ofالْمُرَبِّياتِthe caretakersأَحَدٌanyoneفَلْنُشَيِّعْLet us mournقَتْلاناour slainغَدًاtomorrowفِيinاحْتِفالٍa celebrationمَهيبٍgrandإِلَىtoمَقْبَرَتِناour graveyardالَّتِيwhichخَلْفَbehindالسِّياجِthe fence.
And indeed it raised against us a fierce attack, and slaughtered from the darkness a number that cannot be counted, and no one remained in the rooms of the caretakers. Let us mourn our slain tomorrow - in a grand celebration - to our graveyard which is behind the fence.
وَلَمَّاAnd whenأَتَمَّتْcompleted«أُمُّMotherمازِنٍ»Mazin»كَلامَها،her speech,سادَsilence/blazedالصَّمْتُthe silence,والْحُزْنُ،and the sorrow,ساعَةًan hourمِنَofالزَّمانِ،time,ثُمَّthenانْبَعَثَتْthere aroseأَصْواتٌvoices——مِنْfromأَرْجاءِcornersالْقاعَةِ —of the hall —تَقُولُ:saying:«اصْغَينَWe should listenإِلَىtoخِطابِthe speech ofأُمِّthe motherمَشْغُولٍ!»busy!»
And when 'Mother Mazin' completed her speech, silence and sorrow prevailed for an hour of time. Then, voices arose from the corners of the hall, saying: 'We should listen to the speech of the busy mother!'
فَتَلَفَّتَتِand she turnedالنِّمالُthe antsإِلَىtowards«أُمِّthe mother ofمَشْغُولٍ»،busyوَهِيَand she isنَمْلَةٌan antعامِلَةٌworkerمُحْتَرَمَةٌ،respectedوَقَدْand she hasصَعِدَتْclimbedعَلَىontoظَهْرِthe back ofنَمْلَةٍan antأُخْرَىanotherلِتُسْمِعَto make hearرَفِيقاتِهاher companionsصَوْتَهاher voiceفِيinوُضُوحٍclarityوَجَلاءٍ.and brightness.
And the ants turned towards 'the mother of the busy', and she is a respected working ant, and she climbed onto the back of another ant to make her companions hear her voice in clarity and brightness.
وَأَرْهَفَتِand sharpenedالنِّمالُthe antsآذانَهُنَّtheir earsلِسَماعِto hearماwhatتَقُولُهُyou say«أُمُّ«Motherمَشْغُولٍ»Busy»
And the ants sharpened their ears to hear what "Mother Busy" is saying.
وَقَدْAndأَنْشَأَتْcreatedتَقُولُ:says:«أَبْنائِي،My children,وَبَنَاتِand daughtersأَخَواتِي،of my sisters,وَحَفَدَتِيَand my grandchildren:الأَعِزَّاءَ:beloved ones:إِنَّIndeed,هَذاthisالْيَوْمَdayلَنْwill notيُمْحَىbe erasedمِنْfromذاكِرَتِنا،our memory;ماas long asحَيينا؛we are alive;فَهُوَit isيَوْمُthe day ofحُزْنٍsorrowوَحِدادٍ،and mourning,وَقَدْandتَبَدَّلَhas changedفِيهِin itهَناؤُناour joyشَقاءً،to misery,وانْقَلَبَand turnedفَرَحُناour happinessتَرَحًا.to grief.
And she said: "My children, and daughters of my sisters, and my grandchildren: Indeed, this day will not be erased from our memory; as long as we are alive; it is the day of sorrow and mourning, and our joy has turned to misery, and our happiness has become grief.
وَلَقَدْAnd indeedأَقَمْناwe have establishedرَدَحًاa periodمِنَofالزَّمَنِtimeفِيinهَذاthisالْوادِيvalleyالْخَصِيبِfertileوَقَضَيْناand we spentفِيهِin itعَهْدًاa timeسَعِيدًاhappyمَرَّpassedبِناwith usكَماasتَمُرُّpassesأَشْهَىthe most delightfulالأَحْلامِdreams
And indeed we have established a period of time in this fertile valley, and we spent in it a happy time that passed by us as the most delightful dreams pass by.
ثُمَّThenدالَتْshowedدَوْلَتُنا،our state,وَرَماناand it ruled usالدَّهْرُ —time —فِيinهَذاthisالْيَوْمِdayالأَسْوَدِ —black —بِفادِحِwith disastrousالْخُطُوبِcalamitiesوالْمِحَنِ …and tribulations …فَقَدْIndeed,رُزِئْناwe were afflictedفِيinبَناتِناour daughtersالْعَزِيزاتِthe dear onesوَكُنَّand they wereمَصْدَرَsource ofسُرُورِناour joyوَإِيناسِنا،and companionship,وَandمُرادَthe purpose ofآمالِناour hopesوَandأَمانِيِّنا.our wishes.
Then it showed our state, and it ruled us in this black day — with disastrous calamities and tribulations … Indeed, we were afflicted in our dear daughters, and they were the source of our joy and companionship, and the purpose of our hopes and wishes.
لَقَدْIndeedقَضَيْناwe spentالصَّباحَthe morningفِيinمَرَحٍjoyوَسُرُورٍ،and delight,فِيinهَذاthisالْوادِيvalleyالْجَمِيلِ،beautiful,الْحَبِيبِbelovedإِلَىtoالْقُلُوبِ،hearts,وهاand hereنَحْنُweأُولاءِ:theseنَقْضِيwe will spendالْمَساءَthe eveningحَزِيناتٍ،sorrowful,مُوجَعاتٍpainfulمُقْرَّحاتِirritatedالْعُيُونِ.the eyes.
Indeed, we spent the morning in joy and delight, in this beautiful valley, beloved to the hearts, and here we are: we will spend the evening sorrowful, painful, and irritated eyes.
لَقَدْIndeedأَغارَتِattackedالشَّقْراواتُthe blond womenعَلَىonدِيارِنا،our homesوانْتَهَبْنَand plunderedماwhatتَرَكْنا،we leftمِنْofبَيْظٍeggsوَأَطْفالٍand childrenأَعِزَّاءٍbelovedعَلَيْنا،to usهُمْtheyمَناطُthe basisآمالِناof our dreamsوَمَعْقِدُand the bindingرَجائِنا،of our hopesواتَّخَذْنَهُنَّand took themعَبِيدًاas slavesلَهُنَّfor themوَأَرِقَّاءَ،and freedmen,لِيُؤَدِّينَ —to carry out —فِيinقَرْيَةِthe village ofالأَعْداءِ —the enemies —أَعْمالَthe works ofالْخَدَمِservantsوالْعَبِيدِ،and slaves,وَلَيْسَand there is notلَناfor usمِنْanyأَمَلٍhopeفِيinعَوْدَةِthe return ofأَبْنائِناour childrenبَعْدَafterالْيَوْمِ!today!
Indeed, the blond women attacked our homes, and plundered what we left, of eggs and beloved children to us, they are the basis of our dreams and the binding of our hopes, and we took them as slaves for them and freedmen, to carry out — in the village of the enemies — the works of the servants and slaves, and there is not for us any hope in the return of our children after today!...
فَبَكَتْthen weptبَناتُthe daughters«الشَّيْصَبانِ»of 'the Shaysibans'جَمِيعًا،all together,حِينَwhenسَمِعْنَthey heardهَذِهِtheseالْكَلِماتِwordsالدَّامِيَةَbleeding……
Then the daughters of 'the Shaysibans' all wept when they heard these bleeding words…
وَصَمَتَتْAnd she became silent«أُمُّ مَشْغُولٍ»‘Busy mother’لَحَظاتٍmomentsيَسِيرَةًsmallثُمَّThenاسْتَأْنَفَتْShe resumedقائِلَةً:saying:«لَيْسَتْ‘This is notهَذِهِthisأَوَّلَfirstمَرَّةٍtimeيَدْهَمُناthat they attack usفِيهاin itأُولَئِكَthoseالأَعْداءُ.enemies.
And she became silent, ‘Busy mother’, for a few moments, then she resumed, saying: ‘This is not the first time that they attack us.’
بَلْbutهِيَit isالْمَرَّةُthe timeالثَّالِثَةُ،the third,فِيماas far asأَعْلَمُ.I know.فَقَدْindeedأَلِفَتِare accustomed toالشَّقْراواتُthe blondesالْخَبِيثَاتُthe wickedأَنْtoيُغِرْنَto enticeعَلَىuponوادِيناour valleyوَيَنْتَهِبْنَand to plunderأَسْلابَنا؛our spoils;وَيُخَرِّبْنَand to destroyبُيُوتَنا،our homes,وَيَسْتَعْبِدْنَand to enslaveأَبْناءَناour sonsوَبَناتِنا.and our daughters.
But it is the third time, as far as I know. Indeed, the wicked blondes are accustomed to entice our valley and plunder our spoils; and to destroy our homes, and to enslave our sons and daughters.
فَماSo what
So what can we do now? We have no option except to fix what the blonde girls have destroyed from our village, and ...
فانْبَعَثَThen aصَوْتٌvoiceضَعِيفٌweakمِنْfromآخِرِthe end ofالْقاعَةِthe hallيَقُولُ:saying:«عُذْرًا"Excuse me——ياOسَيِّدَتِيmy ladyأُمَّmotherمَشْغُولٍbusy——واغْفِرِيand forgiveلِيfor meمقاطَعَتِيmy interruptionإِيَّاكِ!You!"
Then a weak voice rose from the back of the hall saying: "Excuse me, O my lady, I am busy — and forgive my interruption of you!"
لَقَدْIndeedتَهَدَّمَhas collapsedنِصْفُhalfبَيْتِنا،of our house,وَيُخَيَّلُand it seemsإِلَيَّto meأَنَّناthat weغَيْرُare notآمِنِينَsafeعَلَىonحَياتِنا،our lives,وَحَياةِand the livesذَرَارِينا.of our children.
Indeed, half of our house has collapsed, and it seems to me that we are not safe on our lives, and the lives of our children.
وَلَنْAnd we will notنَشْعُرَfeelبِطُمَأْنِينَةٍwith tranquilityفِيinهَذاthis الْوادِي،valley,فَقَدْfor surelyأَلِفَتِare accustomed toالشَّقْراواتُthe blondesأَنْtoيُغِرْنَtemptعَلَيْهِ،them,وَandيُفاجِئْنَناsurprise usبِأَحْدَاثِهِنَّ،with their events,بَيْنَbetweenحِينٍtimeوَآخَرَ.and another.أَلاIsn't itيَجْدُرُworthبِنا — إِذَنْ —us — then —أَنْtoنَبْحَثَsearchعَنْforمَكانٍa placeآخَرَ،another,نَتَّخِذُهُwe take itمَقَرًّاas a headquartersلَناfor usفِيinغَيْرِother thanهَذاthis الْوادِي؟»valley?"
And we will not feel tranquility in this valley, for surely the blondes are accustomed to tempt them, and surprise us with their events, from time to time. Isn't it worth us — then — to search for another place, to take it as a headquarters for us rather than in this valley?
فَصاحَتِThe eloquenceالنِّمالُof the ants—-كُلُّهاAll of them—-قائِلَةً:said:لَقَدْIndeed,أَحَسَنْتِyou have excelled,وَأَصَبْتِ،and you have succeeded,وَبِفَصْلِand with eloquenceالْخِطابِof speechنَطَقْتِ!you spoke!
The eloquence of the ants — all of them — said: 'Indeed, you have excelled, and you have succeeded, and with eloquence of speech you spoke!'
فِيinالوادِيthe valleyالْجَدِيدِthe new
In the new valley