1. With praise to Allah, I begin my discourse
And start systematically with it this book

2. Perhaps Allah will enable me to attain my hopes
And open for me gladly a door

3. And guide me to an accurate conveyance
And provide for me the proper words

4. He is the King who created all creatures
And shaped them while they were dust

5. A single God, living, willful
Knowing, capable, generous in his bounty

6. He sees the trace of an ant when it walks
And cuts through the dark, silent night

7. And hears it when it crawls upon Him
While the wings of night have become like crows

8. He transcends, loftily, the attributes of creatures
Though attribution of description is allowed to Him

9. He encompasses in knowledge what the seven spheres contain
If He were called upon, He would answer readily

10. And knows in the seven earths a knowledge
That encompasses numbering their pebbles in count

11. Why not, when it was He who created us graciously
And promised us the beautiful rewards

12. And created in the sky constellations for us
And clothed them in their adornment and raiment

13. And set in motion the sun, then the moon amongst them
And subjugated with the winds for us the clouds

14. To water a dead land with heavy downpour
Yearning with life, intent, pouring down

15. And set flowing springs in its expanse
Gushing forth, and valleys, punishment

16. And sent amongst mankind a messenger
An intercessor, the Chosen One, reciting the Book

17. Muhammad, the chosen prophet, from
The lineage of Hashim, thus the origin is pure

18. And his Master enabled him on a night journey
With Gabriel taking him on his steed

19. He drew near to the Most High Court, dangled
And attained nearness, thus becoming near

20. Upon him, blessings from the Lord of the Throne continue
For all time, making us inherit rewards

21. No clouds drew with the rain of al-Muzn
Where flowers mixed with flowers on hills

22. He is the one sent giving us good tidings
From the Master, and warning of punishment

23. And urging us to kill the enemies
Where we straiten upon them hills or mountain paths

24. And expend in the jihad against disbelief ourselves
And wealth we accumulated through earnings

25. Thus believed him Abu Bakr the loyal
And next Abu Hafs their support

26. And third amongst them Abu `Amr, and fulfilled
Abu Hasan blows or strikes loyally

27. They are the four caliphs who united
Upon Islam, protection and veil

28. And the best ten pleased with them
Named, and the most sublime amongst them Ibn `Awf

29. Sa`id and Ibn Jarrāh and Sa`d
Zubayr, Talhah, they were noble companions

30. They pledged allegiance to the Chosen One truly
Never to be wronged or harmed

31. And that their souls be sacrificed to protect
The religion of God, far and near

32. And they did strive in God truly
And marched through the enemies' throngs

33. Upon them, the Mercy of the Merciful fills
With light from their spacious tombs

34. For they were distinct, and through those who followed them
Hidden light appeared and disappeared

35. And after them religion became disgraced
And downtrodden and dishonored, stricken

36. And in our furthest West it became a stranger
So what a religion that becomes exiled!

37. And no jihad against enemies was known
Where the people of the land may be granted reward

38. Until the Merciful opened through it
For Yaqub ibn `Abd al-Haqq a door

39. For our master the just king
Through him the hand of disbelief withdrew in defeat

40. And before him we did not see a king
Who showed us in war such wondrous marvels

41. So Allah granted him success in it
And the intention of his truth righteousness in reward

42. He called unto Allah a hopeful call
To his Master in prayer readily answered

43. So Allah responded to his prayer and ordained
For him the best, sparing him ordeals

44. And he crossed the sea frequently, determined,
Leading to the enemy the battle steeds

45. And made their kingdom disgraced
Through which the realms were awed and shook

46. Beyond crossing the land of Portugal magnificence
Increasing through it favor and pride

47. He is the axis around whom the stars of fortune turned
Never fearing disturbance or dislocation

48. His sons are his stars, and the moon amongst them
The crown prince, of superlative merit

49. Abu Ya`qub our master, the hoped for
To drive away fears should they draw near

50. He is the king who gave generously and satisfied
And made the taste of life pleasant

51. And the sons of the emirate aspire to him
And the descendants of nobility rallied around him

52. I fulfilled their right, one by one,
As they made jihad an obligation upon themselves

53. And I mention the raid of this year, that
I may remind each person what befell

54. And propagate the pride of Marin broadly
As they assembled for their religion in factions

55. And I quench in time a poem on their praise
I will record it and place it in the book

56. So their mention remains in the land recited
Seen by riders, a provision and aspiration

57. The army of our master anchored
Their resolute determination in Tangiers

58. And he crossed the sea on a Thursday in Safar
On its fifth, aiming for combat

59. And the Master alighted in a multitude at Tarifa
As valiant as lions on peaks and hills

60. And on the next day he had erected for him
There, a dome that puts domes to shame

61. Adorned in beauty, and its splendor beautified
The finest inked garments were selected for it

62. None was seen like it in beauty, but
It was chosen with the perfect choosing

63. So he stayed in it as if the sun appeared
With its rising, glowing, amazing

64. What a dome whose splendor
Emulated the vaulting sphere's orbit!

65. And he left in place the builder, and drew near
To Algeciras, then headed to seize it

66. And intended to avenge himself on the enemies therein
So he widened against it assault and plunder

67. And from there headed to Jerez in legions
And his destination met him on the return

68. And it wreaked havoc on the crops with pillage
And on the plantings with felling and chopping

69. It inflicted on Seville in each quarter
And the gardens of its farms: anguish

70. Its city and fortress, Bujayr
Spread destruction in its outskirts

71. And to the enemy Mansur dispatched an army
To leave their abode as vacant ruin

72. Against Seville he launched steeds
Ravaging whoever was in its plain

73. Captives he seized, a thousand skulls
Dispersed from them, the birds, insects taking flight

74. And Muẓaffar came victorious, and Abu `Ali
His brother came, and they praised the return

75. And his army `Amr prepared and arrived
At the offspring of Carmona, telling of corruption

76. And he left none in it save one
Fallen to the ground therein prostrate

77. With spoils he returned that filled a multitude
And covered the land's expanse, even the mountain paths

78. And the army of Abu Mu`arrif the lofty
Upon Seville pitched camp

79. It came with booty amongst which were female captives
And vessels intact amongst their ships it had attained

80. On that day went Abu `Ali
To a fortress, so he left it in ruins

81. And the raid of Murcia is not hidden
Its virtues, excellent was its outcome

82. Nor do I forget the assault on Jerez
Where the people of the fortress tasted torment

83. For that day was the greatest of war
We witnessed, when they recounted the blows

84. And the day the arrival of our master the hoped for,
Abu Ya`qub, dawned, and was sweet

85. There the emergence of the people of religion
Their beauties returned the prime of youth to the ages

86. Nor do I forget the bridges when therein
Islam circulated, seizing and pillaging them

87. And the people of Jerez, when the crown prince
Was sighted, they scattered in alarm

88. There the Master assigned to our Master
Abu Ya`qub an army, and it pleased him

89. With four thousand of the picked steeds
Branded, triumphant, battle mounts

90. And the steeds were released from all directions
Against Seville, honor and might

91. And he left in that land no people
Captive, booty, or spoils

92. So that is the booty, that when we heard
This year's, it was the greatest seizure

93. And after, Abu Zayyan came to Jerez
With assault, and did not doubt

94. To it that day he dispatched a thousand
Towards Carmona, correctly resolving

95. And he brought its crops and withdrew from it
To Seville, and castigated it

96. And killed its people, took captives, and departed
Pleased, happily, at his desire

97. And our Master Abu Ya`qub arrived
At Seville, then burned it with blows

98. To Gibraltar he resolutely intended
That if even India it touched, it would melt

99. He encircled a quarter of it by land and sea
Then destroyed it, and left it as ruin

100. And its land became dust, and it became
Like a mourning dove whose song is cawing crows

101. And when the Master routed the Christians
And clothed them in the garb of disgrace

102. And left in their land no food
Or pleasant sustenance, delectable

103. And deprived it of fodder, and his maneuvers therein
Lengthened, aiming for return

104. And the enemy fleet showed signs
Increasing their doubts and suspicions

105. It intended towards the island, desiring
To renew a raid that increases rewards

106. To Seville, to destroy the tyrants therein
Long enslaved to the worship of the cross

107. And besiege it, staying the winter therein
Demolishing it, leaving it destroyed

108. So when the quarter of Tarifa ended for him
And he turned his noble steed towards departure

109. He ordered preparations for the enemies
Their fleets hastened the reply

110. So he equipped them and they came solemnly
With courage – the head of disbelief aged

111. There Shinjah arrived at Jerez at night
Then reconnoitered what he desired

112. So he dispatched Christian messengers
To the Master, seeking through his mercy a truce

113. Asking him to agree to peace, and give
Him whatever he wanted, answering favorably

114. And he did not accept their words, so
The messengers returned confused, disappointed

115. And the Master only returned them with
Talk of the sea, admitting of no doubt

116. So the Triumphant brought his army to the sea
To Ufrūṭah of disbelief rapidly flowing

117. And when the fleet was anchored, the armies
Of disbelief fled into the sea, withdrawing

118. They did not turn back to their helpless ones
And if asked, they would not reply

119. He crossed in delight to the island, desiring
To renew a raid that evokes wonder

120. And there the messengers met him, seeking
Through his kindness the truce's approach

121. So he granted them it, may my Lord reward him
For his beautiful opinions, correctness

122. And place therein for Islam eminence
Its interests which the request implies

123. And that is of matters the Master narrated
To us, enumerating the account

124. So Shinjah rushed to agree the truce, that
He may draw near his city, approaching

125. And he came to meet with the Most High and gave
Gifts to our Master, desiring favor

126. There were between them matters
Forgetting which the bliss of discourse prohibits me

127. And Shinjah hastened for the pact eagerly
And showed therein to the Master great desire

128. So the truce between them was completed, for
A clear excuse, though the secret is hidden

129. This in sum, and the explanation is with me
I will convey, clearly, in a book

130. Congratulations O Marin! You have ascended
Above the sons of kings in courage and pride

131. And you contended with our Master time
So they gave you leadership and power's grasp

132. Abu al-Futūḥ and Ibn al-Futūḥ desire
Your approval, fearing no absence

133. For the Marin faction is the party of God, protecting
The sanctuary of Islam, fearing no punishment

134. When they unsheathe swords, you see the enemies
Settled upon the high ground, extending necks

135. They are the eyelashes of the king, repelling
From the kingdom the deep dark or dust

136. And they are as fingers where the hand of command extends
Giving favors, answering requests

137. O Marin! I have praised you, so live up
To one who praises you, and his reward

138. I have depicted your dynasty, becoming
An adornment sung by the vagrant poet

139. And every composer of verse will perish
While my praise of you remains as writ

140. I will recount their campaign in Rome composed
As verse, fearing no discomposure

141. And I mention their feats, matters
That make the enemies' drink bitter

142. Is there a listener, discerning, eloquent
Who responds, truthfully, to me

143. That he may incline his hearing graciously towards me
Saying, when I am correct: You are right!