1. Leave off describing the youthful charms of the fair
And cease to romance about the blossoms of spring

2. Rather, sing the virtues and noble deeds
And chant the praises and glories of great men

3. The worth of a youth is tied to his virtues
Not to a spellbound glance from a sorceress’ eye

4. I make for the abode of glory with humble reverence
At the door of the Kaaba, the house of abundant grace

5. Say peace to the lands whose rains are the grace
Of the generous prince, the brave Abdul Qadir

6. My master, all lofty traits are made perfect in him
Each shining star illuminated by his grace

7. My lord before whom battalions tremble in awe
Yet he trembles in awe of the Lord Omnipotent

8. This imam is the exemplar of every virtuous soul
By his sway he bowed the heads held high

9. My liege, you are a star guiding mankind
With the light of magnificent, splendid favor

10. O star in the west shining brilliantly
Your light reached our lands like a welcome visitor

11. The generous sky, when it thought of you
Rained copious showers of noble knowledge

12. O joy of Abdul, be guided by their wisdom
Bearing the torch of luminous sciences

13. O you who seek fortune, follow in their steps
To gain the favor of their excellent deeds

14. Walk the path of justice, turn not to the road
Of misguidance, the way of the deceitful knave

15. Be not neglectful in acquiring glory
Let no trinkets distract you from your Master

16. Walk in God's obedience, incline not
To the tyranny of accursed blaspheming Iblis

17. Blessed is the youth who does not change
An immense promise for this fleeting life

18. What is the glory of one engrossed in this world
Save playing with a narrow mind

19. The confident man, deluded by its promises
Is like one desiring a vanishing mirage

20. And hoping for lasting happiness from it
Is like relying on a treacherous companion

21. I yearn to see before my passing
A gift sent to my master Abdul Qadir

22. This prince, Abu Maali, of pure counsel
The pure son of the pure son of the pure

23. He combines unsullied lineage extended
And the highest merits, great above great

24. With Arab zeal and Hasani purity
And formidable glory like the victorious

25. Master of eloquence, wisdom, and argument
With perfect character and unmatched nobility

26. When he enters a dreadful battle
He returns the foe like a piercing, biting lion

27. He meets the enemies with every flashing sword
Flowing over their skulls and helmets

28. As if they were created for his heel
Or their dust was from a hoof's galloping trail

29. Their necks complain to his sword
The complaint of one wounded by a breaking wing

30. The eagle hovering above his army
Is strengthened by the enemy corpses it devours

31. The ranks kneel before his might in awe
When they resolve to fight, his stance makes them yield

32. Ask the people of Syria about him
When he protected them with his biting blade

33. On a day when clouds rained calamities
While the sun of justice hid behind curtains

34. And the whites of swords shone bare
Amongst the roaring and raging enemy hosts

35. And the people in tumult and confusion
Between fleeers, defenders, and deserters

36. Skirmishes, battles, clashes,
Fighters, fugitives, attackers, and fleeing cowards

37. Shouters, wailers, losers
And fire consuming homes with people inside

38. Yet our Master's sword kept them safe
From every treacherous, oppressive aggressor

39. He met them, penetrating the clashes to rescue
The flock fallen into a ferocious wolf's jaws

40. Until when one called his name aloud
The unjust armies fled like birds in flight

41. With his wisdom he healed the wounds
Though the injury was worse, he was a greater healer

42. He staunched the blood and protected precious honor
Obedient to a faith that commands defenders

43. With his resolve he showed wonders
But the greatest wonder was his deed in Algiers

44. Ask the French nation about him in battle
If mouths did not weary of telling of the sharp blade

45. Their leaders came from the furthest lands
To fulfill the duty pilgrims owe the noble

46. No wrong was counted if a brave one went
And circled the holy Jerusalem made pure

47. They came to his noble court in humility
With hearts fluttering in joy like birds

48. He showed them a face lit with splendor
And enveloped them in the beauty of his deeds

49. They saw a gallant, flooded with praises
Exulting in lofty, brilliant glory

50. Gesturing to them, his fingers pointing
Above the heights, beneath braceleted wrists

51. The angels of God are around him
Protecting him from the eyes of envious traitors

52. Then the visitors rush to praise him
Extolling him in most eloquent words

53. Describing him, following the dictate of truth
Amongst peers and tribes one to another

54. How can they recount all his qualities?
Beyond them is grasping some of the obvious

55. The whole world's counters, composers, and poets
Are helpless to measure or reckon them

56. My Master, though words prolong your wisdom's measure
In describing you the briefest falls short

57. And I who elsewise fall short in your description
In praising you am first among poets

58. These are some qualities that shone from you
Guiding and directing my questing thoughts

59. I threaded them as pearls into a necklace
In the handiwork of a skilled artisan

60. I present this gift to the age and its people
To be for them a beautiful gleaming collar

61. They compete to memorize the verse's beauty
Moving in rhythm with each complete line

62. The path of your praise illuminated the verses
Clearing the sight from all veils

63. It dictates and we write, with shining eyes
This is the way, my lord Abdul Qadir