Nuh Ibrahim, "What a loss, O Izz al-Din!"

Nuh Ibrahim (1913-1938) was arguably the leading poet of the 1936 Arab Revolution in British-occupied Palestine. In 1936, Ibrahim joined the Palestinian national liberation movement, joining the same brigades that al-Qassam had organized. It was around this time that Ibrahim published a collection of his nationalist (or militant) poems, which was quickly banned in Palestine. He was imprisoned for five months in 1937 following the publication of his poem, “Commander Dill,” which skewered the top British military commander in Mandate Palestine. In October 1938, Nuh and three other militants were traveling outside the village of Tamra when they were killed by a British patrol who threw their bodies down a well. Later, local residents retrieved and buried the bodies in the local cemetery.

Though Ibrahim was only 25 years old when he was martyred, his poems and songs (almost entirely in the Palestinian Colloquial, rather than Modern Standard Arabic) remain popular, having been long part of nationalist song repertoires, and performed by bands such as Firqat al-Ashiqeen.

“What a loss, O Izz al-Din”

by Nūḥ Ibrāhīm

trans. Ahmed Saidam and Elliott Colla

Izz al-Din—What a loss!

Sacrificed for your nation

Who could deny your bravery,

O Martyr of Palestine?


Rest in peace, Izz al-Din,

Your death’s a lesson for all.

Oh—if only you’d lasted

Chief among freedom fighters


You gave your life and wealth

For the independence of your country.

And when the enemy came to you

You resisted them with firm resolve.


You resisted them with a steady heart

And your enemies feared you

Has Palestine ever seen

Someone as devoted as Izz al-Din?


You formed a league for righteous struggle

To liberate the country

Its goal: Victory or Death!

And you gathered together fervent men


You gathered together great, brave men

And with your own money, bought weapons

“Let us go to struggle,” you said. 

“To defend the homeland and our Faith!”


You gathered together the very best of men

Holding onto so many hopes.

But treachery, my Man,

Played its role to give them power.


Betrayal played its game

And then the disaster came

Blood came up to the knees

And you would not surrender or yield


You roared, “God is great!”

Like a fierce lion

But fate decreed

The will of Our Lord


How sweet is death amidst struggle

Compared to a life of oppression. 

His praiseworthy men answered,

“We die so that Palestine may live!”


The body has died, but the idea lives on,

And blood never turns into water!

We pledge before God, My Brother

To die as Izz al-Din died.


Recite the Fatiha, Brothers,

For the souls of the homeland’s martyrs.

And register this, O Time:

Each one of us is Izz al-Din

Source: Nūḥ Ibrāhīm, Majmū‘at qaṣā’id Falasṭīn al-mujāhida (Damascus: Maṭba‘at al-I‘tidāl, N.D. [1939?], 49-50.

يا خسارة ، يا عزالدين

للشاعر نوح إبراهيم


(عز الدين) يا خسارتك 

رحت فدا لأمتك

مين بينكر شهامتك

يا شهيد فلسطين


(عز الدين) يا مرحوم

موتك درس للعموم 

آه لوكنت تدوم

يا رئيس المجاهدين


ضحيت بروحك ومالك 

لأجل استقلال بلادك 

العدو لما جالك

قاومتو بعزم متين


قاومتوا بقلب ثابت

والعدا منك هابت

فلسطين مين قال شافت

مثل غيرة (عز الدين)


أسست عصبة للجهاد 

حتى تحرر البلاد 

غايتها نصر أو استشهاد

وجمعت رجال غيورين


جمعت رجال من الملاح

من مالك شريت سلاح

وقلت هيا للكفاح

لنصر الوطن والدين


جمعت نخبة رجال

وكنت معقد الآمال

لكن الغدر يا خال

لعب دورو بالتمكين


لعبت الخيانة لعبة

وقامت وقعت النكبة

وسال الدم للركبة

وما كنت تسلم وتلين


كنت تصيح الله أكبر

كالأسد الغضنفر

لكن حكم المقدر

مشيئة رب العالمين


محلا الموت والجهاد

ولا عيشة الاستعباد

جاوبوه رجاله الأمجاد

نموت وتحيا فلسطين


الجسم مات المبدأ حي

والدماء ما تصير مي

منعاهد الله يا خي

نموت موتة (عزالدين)


اقروا الفاتحة يا اخوان

على روح شهداء الأوطان

وسجل عندك يا زمان

كل واحد منا (عزالدين)

Nuh Ibrahim, "The Arab and Zionist Debate"

Nuh Ibrahim (1913-1938) was arguably the leading poet of the 1936 Arab Revolution in British-occupied Palestine. In 1936, Ibrahim joined the Palestinian national liberation movement, joining the same brigades that al-Qassam had organized. It was around this time that Ibrahim published a collection of his nationalist (or militant) poems, which was quickly banned in Palestine. He was imprisoned for five months in 1937 following the publication of his poem, “Commander Dill,” which skewered the top British military commander in Mandate Palestine. In October 1938, Nuh and three other militants were traveling outside the village of Tamra when they were killed by a British patrol who threw their bodies down a well. Later, local residents retrieved and buried the bodies in the local cemetery.

Though Ibrahim was only 25 years old when he was martyred, his poems and songs (almost entirely in the Palestinian Colloquial, rather than Modern Standard Arabic) remain popular, having been long part of nationalist song repertoires, and performed by bands such as Firqat al-Ashiqeen.

“The Arab and Zionist Debate”

by Nūḥ Ibrāhīm

trans. Ahmed Saidam and Elliott Colla


The Arab: 

I’m an Arab, my Dears. 

At death’s embrace, cast me

To erase the Zionist’s name

And defend my country, Palestine,

From the schemes of settlers!


The Zionist:

I’m a well-known Zionist

In this world, I play an open game

Wiliness and bluff are all that I own

I must have Palestine!

Palestine must be mine!


The Arab:

 It’ll be yours by early tomorrow morning

` When woe and falling befall you

And you meet the Angels at the Gates.

On Judgment Day, you poor fellow,

That’s when Palestine will be yours!


The Zionist:

I’m a fleer, not a fighter

My daughters answer for me

With them, I never lose

Out of a ten times, I win nine

I must have Palestine!


The Arab:

Uff—I spit on those kind of men

Who boast with such words.

Your hopes are all in vain.

Your luck is awful, it’s rotten.

Time to leave, you misbegotten..

The Zionist:

Khabeebee, listen to my words,

No matter what I see before me,

A national homeland remains my goal..

To Zionize Palestine… 

Palestine must be mine!

The Arab:

You’ll never live to see it!

Go on being freshly plucked

A sheep pretending to be a lion,

You will see the fatal sign

If you stay here in Palestine.

The Zionist:

I’m sick of the whole world

And the lands that rejected me.

Now you are also chasing after me,

To take away my Palestine 

Land of my ancient bloodline.

The Arab:

What a load of nonsense.

Sounds like you got lost in a dream.

Palestine is Islam’s birthplace,

Cradle of Christ and Prophets, too.

Where’re you going, fool?

The Zionist:

I can’t leave it behind,

I must save my forest.

Either I win or I lose.

I won’t leave Palestine.

Palestine must be mine.

The Arab: You must go.

The Zionist: I won’t leave.

The Arab: Why are you still standing here? 

The Zionist: I’m not afraid.

The Arab: Consider how this will end.

The Zionist: Do whatever you want.

The Arab: Bam bam bam bam.

The Zionist:

What a loss! What a disaster!

I lost my money, all that I owned!

I’ve lost all of Palestine!

Source: Nūḥ Ibrāhīm, Majmū‘at qaṣā’id Falasṭīn al-mujāhida (Damascus: Maṭba‘at al-I‘tidāl, N.D. [1939?], 19-20.

"محاورة العربي والصهيوني"

للشاعر نوح إبراهيم

العربي:

أنا العربي يا عيوني

عند الموت ارموني

بمحي اسم الصهيوني

لاحمي بلادي فلسطين

من كيد المستعمرين


الصهيوني:

أنا الصهيوني المعروف

وامري في الدنيا مكشوف

رسمالي مكر وبلوف

ولازم أملك فلسطين

ولازم أملك فلسطين


العربي:

بمتلكها بكرة بكير

لما تشوف هم وتعتير 

وتقابل ناكر ونكير

يوم القيامة يا مسكين

حتى تملك فلسطين


الصهيوني:

بهرب انا ما بحارب

وبناتي عني بتجاوب

فيهم ما برجع خايب 

وبكسب بالمية تسعين

ولازم أملك فلسطين


لعربي:

أخ تفو على هيك رجال

بفتخروا بهالأقوال

خابت منك الآمال

وقعتك قطران وطين

ولازم ترحل يا لعين


الصهيوني:

خبيبي اسمع كلامي

مهما شفت قدامي

الوطن القومي مرامي

علشان صهيون فلسطين

ولازم أملك فلسطين


العربي:

والله عمرك ما بتشوف

ولازم تضلك منتوف

عامل سبع يا خروف

لازم تشوف غراب البين 

إذا بقيت بفلسطين


الصهيوني:

كل الدنيا زهقتني

 ومن بلادها رفضتني

وأنت كمان لاحقني

لتحرمني من فلسطين

بلاد أجدادي من سنين


العربي:

حاجة تخبص بالكلام

كنك غارق في المنام

فلسطين مهد الإسلام 

والمسيح والمرسلين

فين رايح يا مسكين


الصهيوني:

مش ممكن أرحل عنها... 

ولازم غابتي أنقذها

با بكسب يا بخسرها

ما برحل عن فلسطين 

ولازم أكسب فلسطين


العربي: لازم ترحل

الصهيوني: ما برحل

العربي: بعدك واقف

الصهيوني: أنا موش خايف

العربي: وقف شوف آخرتك

الصهيوني: اعمل انت اللي بدك

العربي: بم بم بم بم


الصهيوني:

آه يا خسارتي ويا مصيبتي

ضاع المال والراسمال

وراحت مني الحزيطة فلسطين


Nuh Ibrahim, “The Arab and Englishman Debate”

Nuh Ibrahim (1913-1938) was arguably the leading poet of the 1936 Arab Revolution in British-occupied Palestine. In 1936, Ibrahim joined the Palestinian national liberation movement, joining the same brigades that al-Qassam had organized. It was around this time that Ibrahim published a collection of his nationalist (or militant) poems, which was quickly banned in Palestine. He was imprisoned for five months in 1937 following the publication of his poem, “Commander Dill,” which skewered the top British military commander in Mandate Palestine. In October 1938, Nuh and three other militants were traveling outside the village of Tamra when they were killed by a British patrol who threw their bodies down a well. Later, local residents retrieved and buried the bodies in the local cemetery.

Though Ibrahim was only 25 years old when he was martyred, his poems and songs (almost entirely in the Palestinian Colloquial, rather than Modern Standard Arabic) remain popular, having been long part of nationalist song repertoires, and performed by bands such as Firqat al-Ashiqeen.

The Arab and Englishman Debate

by Nūḥ Ibrāhīm

trans. Ahmed Saidam and Elliott Colla


The Arab:

Hey History—record this, write it down.

Hey Tyrant—crush and torture us!

What goes up must come down.

You shall rejoice, My Palestine

The Englishman:

Write it down or not—whatever!

I’m a stranger to promises and honor.

I fear only force.

That’s how I govern Palestine


The Arab:

Where’s my justice, where’re my rights,

Mr. Clever Englishman?

We thought you were compassionate,

We thought you kept your promises.


The Englishman:

Hey Arab—Talk all you like.

Who will listen to you, poor man?

Shout as much as you want, I won’t hear.

My ears are plugged!


The Arab:

You burned my heart,

With your promise to the Zionists.

Will you doublecross us? 

Are you trying to destroy Palestine?


The Englishman:

There’s no going back on my promise to Balfour

I won’t give up the millions I got in return

Even if I have to escalate things with artillery,

airplanes and rifles!

The Arab:

Woe is me, My Oppressor

Your heart is hard and never softens

You think we’re animals?

Or just a nation of savages?


The Englishman:

Seems you don’t understand

The colonizers’ philosophy.

Wake up, if you’re still asleep:

We are a nation of excellence. 


The Arab:

Mr. Englishman—we fought with you,

When you came out victorious!

What happened to our hopes and demands?

To our independence in Palestine?


The Englishman:

No matter how much we offer and promise,

—We might swear a thousand oaths!—

We won’t change this policy

That we follow.


The Arab:

As long as you do not hear my voice,

And have no respect for the law,

I will take care of myself,

As the Lord is my support.


The Arab:

Where have you gone, Good People of Honor,

Good Muslim Kings?

Let me hear your voices thunder,

To save Palestine.


Source: Nūḥ Ibrāhīm, Majmū‘at qaṣā’id Falasṭīn al-mujāhida (Damascus: Maṭba‘at al-I‘tidāl, N.D. [1939?], 42-3.

محاورة العربي والإنجليزي

للشاعر نوح إبراهيم


العربي

يا تاريخ سجل واكتب

يا ظالم اطغى وعذب

لازم الدهر يقلب

وتنفرحي يا فلسطين


الإنجليزي

سجل مجل ما بعرف

ولا بفهم عهد وشرف

غير القوة ما بخاف

وهذا حكمي بفلسطين


العربي

وين العدل والحقوق

يا انجليزي يا فطين

كنا منفتكرك شفوق

وإنك عالعهد أمين


الإنجليزي

يا عربي احكي لتشبع

من يفهملك يا مسكين

مهما تصيح ما بسمع

حيث آداني مسدودين


العربي

قلبي منك صار محروق

بوعدك للصهيونيين

راح تصفينا بخازوق

وبدك تهلك فلسطين؟


الإنجليزي

بوعدي لبلفور ما برجع

ما بترك قبض الملايين

وان كترتها بالمدفع

والطيارة والمرتين


العربي

آه منك يا ظالم

قلبك قاسي ما بلين

بتفتكرنا بهايم

والا أمة متوحشين


الإنجليزي

الظاهر انك مش فاهم

مبادي المستعمرين

اصحى ان كنت نايم

نحنا أمة موصوفين


العربي

يا نكليزي حاربنا معكم

وخرجتو منصورين

فين أملنا ومطاليبنا

واستقلالنا بفلسطين


الإنجليزي

مهما عطينا ووعدنا

وحلفنا ألف يمين

ما منغير سياستنا

هاللي عليها ماشيين


العربي

ما دمت ما تسمع حسي

وما بتراعي القوانين 

أنا بدبر نفسي 

والمولى إلي معين


العربي

فينكم يا أهل النخوة

ويا ملوك المسلمين

سمعوني صوتكم يدوي

لإنقاذ فلسطين


Nuh Ibrahim, “Commander Dill”

Nuh Ibrahim (1913-1938) was arguably the leading poet of the 1936 Arab Revolution in British-occupied Palestine. Born into poverty in Haifa, Ibrahim studied at Haifa’s Islamic School where Izz al-Din al-Qassam, taught. After working with printing presses in Haifa and Jaffa, Ibrahim traveled to Baghdad for more training in the craft. He then moved to Bahrain to help train typesetters and printers. While living in Bahrain, he composed many poems and songs in vernacular Arabic, and developed a following while performing at private functions in Manama and Muharraq. Upon hearing the news of revolt in Palestine in 1936, Ibrahim returned home to join the guerrilla movement, joining the same brigades that al-Qassam had organized. It was around this time that he published a collection of his nationalist (or militant) poems, which was quickly banned in Palestine. He was imprisoned for five months in 1937 following the publication of his poem, “Commander Dill,” which skewered the top British military commander in Mandate Palestine. In October 1938, Nuh and three other militants were traveling outside the village of Tamra when they were killed by a British patrol who threw their bodies down a well. Later, local residents retrieved and buried the bodies in the local cemetery.

Though Ibrahim was only 25 years old when he was martyred, his poems and songs (almost entirely in the Palestinian Colloquial, rather than Modern Standard Arabic) remain popular, having been long part of nationalist song repertoires, and performed by bands such as Firqat al-Ashiqeen.


“Commander Dill”

by Nūḥ Ibrāhīm

trans. Ahmed Saidam and Elliott Colla

 

Hey, Commander Dill

Don’t think the nation’s grown tired

But since you’re following its affairs

Maybe you’ll be the one to fix things?

Since you’re an expert,

And an effective military leader

Who understands our whole cause,

You need no explanation.

Tell London what’s happened

And what is yet to come:

The Arabs are a nation of free men

Whose friendship you badly need.

 

So make it work, Mr. Dill

Perhaps you’ll fix it all…


Mister General—If you want

By force to change the situation

Then you must certainly grasp

That your request is difficult, impossible,

So take it with a bit of wisdom.

Pay us our due, Uncle

And give the nation what it demands

Of freedom and independence.

 

Manage it, Mr. Dill

Maybe you can fix things.


You came to a free Palestine,

To put down the Revolution.

And when you studied the situation,

You discovered how precarious things were.

You ought to make Britain understand,

So we may be spared its harm,

And reconcile with the Arab nation

With a prohibition on land sales and immigration


So get on it, Mr. Dill,

Maybe you’ll be the one to fix things?


As long as you’re in charge,

Then solve this problem and end this crisis.

Reach out your hand and take ours,

Take all your battalions away.

Fulfill your good-faith promises,

So we can erase this mistake.

This would be an honor for your regime

And the best plan of action.


Hop to it, Mr. Dill

Maybe you’re the one to fix it…


Source: Nūḥ Ibrāhīm, Majmū‘at qaṣā’id Falasṭīn al-mujāhida (Damascus: Maṭba‘at al-I‘tidāl, N.D. [1939?], 23.


قصيدة القائد دل

للشاعر نوح أبراهيم

 

يا حضرة القائد دل

لا تظن الأمة بتمل

لكن انت سايرها

يمكن على يدك بتحل

ما دمت رجل خبير

وقائد عسكري خطير

وقضيتنا كلها فهمتها

ما بلزم الك تفسير

فهِم لندن باللي صار

واللي وبعدوا راح يصير

العرب أمة أحرار

صداقتها لازمتكم كثير

 

ودبرها يا مستر دل

يمكن على يدك بتحل


إن كنت عاوز يا جنرال

بالقوة تغير هالحال

لازم تعتقد أكيد

طلبك صعب من المحال

لكن خدها بالحكمة

واعطينا الثمن يا خال

ونفذ شروط الأمة

من حرية واستقلال

 

ودبرها يا مستر دل

يمكن على يدك بتحل


جيت فلسطين الحرة

حتى تقمع الثورة

ولما درست الحالة

لقيت المسألة خطرة

بدك تفهم بريطانيا

حتى تكفينا شرها

وتصافي الامة العربية

بمنع البيع والهجرة


ودبرها يا مستر دل

يمكن على يدك بتنحل


ما دمت صاحب السلطة

حل هالمشكلة وهالورطة

ومد يدك وصافحنا

وما تخلي ولا أورطة

ونفذ وعود الشرف

حتى نمحي هالغلطة

للدولة هادا شرف

وأحسن مشروع وخطة


ودبرها يا مستر دل

يمكن على يدك بتحل