History & Politics
Only Fight Hard for Allah is My Aim
Translated by E. J. W. Gibb (1882) · From Ottoman Poems (1882)
'Only Fight hard for Allah' is my aim and my desire;
'Tis but zeal for Faith, for Islam, that my ardour doth inspire.
Through the grace of Allah, and th' assistance of the Band Unseen,
Is my earnest hope the Infidels to crush with ruin dire.
On the Saints' and on the Prophets surely doth my trust repose;
Through the love of God, to triumph and to conquest I aspire.
What if I with soul and gold strive here to wage the Holy War?
Praise is God's! ten thousand sighs for battle in my breast suspire.
O MuHAMMED! through the chosen Ahmed Mukhtâr's glorious aid,
Hope I that my might may triumph over Islam's foes acquire!
Codex Note
Gazel.
Cite this poem
MLA
'Avnî (Sultan Mehmed II). “Only Fight Hard for Allah is My Aim.” Translated by E. J. W. Gibb. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/avni/2/.
Chicago
'Avnî (Sultan Mehmed II). “Only Fight Hard for Allah is My Aim.” Translated by E. J. W. Gibb. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/avni/2/.
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