1. Your neighborhood protects from tyranny of time,
And your good tidings bring joy to those hoping in you.

2. You have excelled all people so your excellence is first,
The first of the excellencies of the ancients is last.

3. You are a wise counsel who arranged the kingdom,
Experienced in the changing ways of time, all-seeing.

4. When al-Malik al-Mansur sought his aid,
For al-Malik al-Mansur, you alone sufficed as helper.

5. So let not the days make you forget, for he
Rejoices in you among the kings, proud.

6. When he passes through a land with a magnificent army,
The stars' mother almost totters and stirs.

7. You’d think his towers attack the stars’ mansions
With horses that like the mansions plunder and raid.

8. Yet the stars feel no restlessness from his troops' clatter,
No glance of theirs until they return, mild.

9. His cavalry and riders the same over plainswandering,
And saddles when roaming the deserts remote.

10. The fortresses of unbelief knew not his might
And were fooled about Muslims, so sure and smug.

11. No blessing upon siblings whose mother –
Though many her sons – is mean and cheap.

12. When their necks were rigid with alienation,
No yoke upon them for humiliation bent.

13. Do you not know we keep ties though they shun,
And though the graves are far, we visit friends?

14. They thought the Muslim cavalry would be held back
From the enemy in enemy lands barred.

15. But it shook them with sudden raids,
And countless Turks came, wave upon wave poured.

16. They brought assembled regiments, their feet
Like locusts, countless, massed and horde upon horde.

17. They eyed no fortress’ outlook, so towering and high,
Its battlements not chilled by the clouds so cold.

18. And down upon them poured a storm of boulders,
Arrows and spears, raining punishment untold.

19. They raced them with caves, as if cauldrons
Whose lids are the fixed stars in heaven's domes.

20. So they tasted the bitterness of siege, and their fortress,
Once so impregnable, became a flimsy enclosure.

21. They cry from the parapets in fright, like scrawny
Goats whose bleating denies the weary rest.

22. What use are walls, while behind are horsemen and blades,
Wall upon wall, and sword upon keening sword?

23. When they sensed a might that crushed their vigor,
They called for safety, and the robe of life tore.

24. The Frank lent them that trick, for he saw
A borrower who would restore it intact, fool no more.

25. He ransomed himself with wealth, family and fled,
His birds all flown from their incoming death.

26. So speak no more of what they were yesterday,
For it stirs the rancor lying in swords that slay.

27. Had the Sultan of the Plains wished, their blood
Would have swelled the Nile, wave after crimson wave.

28. Like the Feast of Sacrifice, how fine the sight -
Fatted calves strewn, as offerings freely given.

29. But in his forbearance and power lies pardon
For grievous sins, Most Forgiving, Gentle and Kind.

30. He spared them but for the like, wise ruler
Whose view is sound, in judgments most fair and just.

31. His pen shows favor, with blessings it flows,
While for traitorous tyrants, it harsh justice bestows.

32. Let not the workers covet riches, for he
Is zealous for the treasury of all Muslims.

33. His justice makes the sentence for criminals long,
And the lifetime of betrayers fleetingly short.

34. With wisdom, piety and knowledge threefold combined,
Do the aspects of his great buildings point and remind.

35. A minaret piercing the darkening gloom,
Flooded with guidance for all peoples, brilliant and bright.

36. Wherever you turn your face towards it,
It meets you with vividness and delight.

37. The envious glance at it ruefully,
Their eyes return downcast, humbled in their spite.

38. How the stars envied its towering height,
The full moons jealous of its perfect light!

39. When the muezzin stands calling God's name therein,
He seems but a companion to the heavenly stars.

40. So for people, his call and prayers mean predawn meals
And meals after sunset, when the echoes return.

41. The dome of the hospital is without flaw,
Though time continues its relentless flow.

42. Pure air that revives souls with its breath,
A place of rest, and for brittle bones, life anew.

43. It exhales, each spirit finds its body,
As if the Breath of Life, blowing the Trumpet of Dread.

44. If bodies knew its dust grants life again to flesh,
In illness and death, they would flock to it ahead.

45. No tomb would wear down the dead,
No sickbed hear complaints from one abed.

46. In its garden, leaves whispering water between them,
Yearning murmurs, soft rustling sounds.

47. People told me of its wonders, descriptions
Like faces of nymphs unveiled, perfect and pure.

48. Its beauties called to me, nothing else,
As if a doe, not people, cried out for them, stirred.

49. My heart imagined its charms all night, displaying them
Before my eyes, though deep in sweet sleep laid.

50. Beauty cannot be described unless the one portraying
Adores the one portrayed, enamored and obsessed.

51. A pretentious hack appeared, his serpent's tongue
Hissing hidden venom in verses he addressed.

52. Seeing me, he shunned and diminished me,
As if I am deep down in a bottle, sealed!

53. He admired his own plumpness, and that I
Am thin, pleasing eyes that spot flowing faults.

54. He knew not that pearls are small in size,
Yet priceless still, cherished by kings of prestige.

55. A perceptive soul aided me against him,
Clement, though mild, in calm dignity composed.

56. No injustice stains his judgments, but still
Against traitorous tyrants, harsh justice he imposed.

57. For workers, their wealth alone draws their gaze,
While for the Muslims' treasury he is fiercely protective.

58. His pen writes what will be, while what they scheme
Is but hours flitting without achievement, ever-fugitive.

59. Gladly he accepts time's abandonment, when people despair,
Son of Ghadah, lofty in adversity, steadfast and brave.

60. Does the son of Muqlah fear death's specter when it looms?
Nay, he fears only to be blamed when graves await.

61. His soul scorns terrors for glory’s sake,
And spurns gifts, though precious and direly craved.

62. No innate merit in him, but qualities shared –
Outward and inner self both partake and achieve.

63. No war drives him; no peace lures him.
His sword suffices; warnings are vain.

64. Overpowering in its flash, yet a slick surface
Hides its edge, no grip for fools to naively grasp.

65. Awe-inspiring, terrifying the daring assailant,
Generous, fierce against the daring predator.

66. His hints at what he intends are swords unsheathed,
His times unknown, spanning ages.

67. When people shun the outcast in his woe,
He delights that time is likewise forlorn.

68. Can the son of Ghadah fear time's heat?
Sublime over time's cruelty, patient and serene.

69. He avoids death's specter when it looms,
Yet dreads not to be blamed when the end draws near.

70. Were it not for his generosity,
The Prince would not grant us miracles, revered.

71. For his piety, knowledge and wisdom -
The three aspects of his buildings point to their source.

72. So a minaret pierces the darkening gloom,
Flooding the world with guidance and light.

73. Turn to it from any direction,
Its vividness and joy to you will alight.

74. The envious glance in bitter despair,
Their eyes turn down, humbled in their spite.

75. How the stars envied its towering height,
The full moons jealous of its perfect light!

76. When the muezzin stands calling God's name therein,
He seems but a companion to the heavenly stars.

77. His call reminds people of dawn and dusk prayers,
Echoes return when the sun sets and rises.

78. The hospital dome lacks flaws over time,
As years flow on relentlessly, it defies.

79. Pure air revives souls with its breath,
A place of rest, broken bones anew will rise.

80. It exhales, each soul finds its body again,
As if the Trumpet's breath blows, stirring graves.

81. People told me of its wonders, descriptions
Like unveiled nymphs, perfect, pure.

82. Its beauty called me, nothing less,
As if a doe, not people, cried for it, stirred.

83. My heart imagined its charms all night,
Displaying them before my eyes in sweet sleep's mirth.

84. No description, unless the one portraying
Adores the one portrayed, obsessed from their birth.

85. A pretentious hack appeared, envy in his soul,
His words' venom masked by poetic grace.

86. Seeing me, he shunned and diminished me,
As if I'm deep in a sealed bottle, displaced!

87. He admired his own plumpness, while I
Am thin, in his eyes sorely thin and effaced.

88. Little he knew pearls are small in size,
Yet cherished by kings, their brilliance encased.

89. A perceptive soul came to my aid,
Clement, though mild, composed in his place.

90. No injustice in his fair judgments, unless
Against betrayers, his justice mills their grains to paste.

91. For workers, wealth alone draws their gaze,
While for Muslims' treasury his care embraces.

92. He built what Kisra never achieved,
Nor Aad's towers matched his splendid edifice.

93. Guided by piety its foundation,
As the blessed Mount points to the Hajj's rituals and place.

94. Clouds from the Hejaz, their bulks lofty,
Fast winds drive, passing through while they race.

95. Some form astral mansions circling the earth,
Now appearing, now hiding from sight in their chase.

96. The paths are narrow, the gales cannot pass,
No track for winds' raging and chase.

97. How many boulders rolled down the hill,
Plains heaping them before him in place!

98. Columns stood like years his reign accrued,
Yet not a year passed with its months running apace.

99. Structures divulged the perfection of his vision,
Stonecourses proclaim firm foundations in place.

100. Celestial, its corners made me think
Silken banners adorned it with artful grace.

101. My eyes fancied its pavements were brocades,
Its marble paintings, all fringed and lace.

102. Surpassing creation in gorgeousness,
Reality illusions replace.

103. So glory to the day foregathered leaders
Their oceans of knowledge pour and grace!

104. The suns of honor from Quran and Sunnah
Upon people shed the Word's shining rays.

105. In our tongue, their wisdom's treasures unfold,
Abundant the merit our gain in its embrace.

106. You honored an auspicious birth, sublimest of all,
A most noble infant, by virtue and grace.

107. Muslims rejoiced in it, yet for unbelievers
In it loomed perdition and woe in its place.

108. We read the unchanging Quran within its walls,
While Gospels and Psalms faded in its rays.

109. The chambers multiplied the Prophet's traditions,
Each scholar well-versed in his noble ways.

110. Thrice believers pray, praising the One God,
Thankful for divine blessings, remembrance in place.

111. For the Sultan it is but good fortune,
Reward everlasting for his works shall take place.

112. A wise and venerable mentor invited me,
Judicious in counsel, dignified in his place.

113. Is there among earth’s rulers or caliphs
One whose buildings can compare and keep pace?

114. To what he built seven heavens do bow,
Though like the seven-tiered sky embellished in lace!

115. He who sees it must think the one who raised its height
Did what exhausted all kings by his grace.

116. That a minaret standing tall by its side
Points to the Prince's overflowing grace.

117. As if the minaret of Alexandria
A delicate bud, its door a slender crease!

118. Built by Sa'id in happy lands, therein
Homes thrived before schools spread in their place.

119. A city of knowledge, schools surround it,
Villages or bright stars, their full moons shine upon its face.

120. It dawned, dimming the visible, its light obscured
The stars, for they cannot shine in its rays.

121. A hive's geometry shapes its plan,
Molten wax poured, solid bricks in its place.

122. Erected by a wise man, his resolve is firm,
Neither weakness in him, nor in his works' foundation creased.

123. Strong in might, unique in his time,
Ages passed ere one like him took life's race.

124. Not even Aad's architects achieved the like,
Nor did palaces rival it, though high they raised.

125. Eight pillars up to heaven bear its throne,
Each supporting the other, interlaced.

126. Who sees it must think the one who raised it
Did what exhausted all kings by his grace.

127. That a towering minaret by its side
Signals the Prince's overflowing grace.

128. As if Alexander's Lighthouse minaret,
A delicate bud, its door a slender crease!

129. Built by Sa'id in happy lands, therein
Homes thrived before schools spread in their place.

130. When the muezzin calls to prayer therein,
He seems a companion to stars in space.

131. So God's Houses became palaces in its reign,
Kings' abodes, though to teachers they ceded their place.

132. We spoke of the Nasr Dome, none dare mention it,
Even eagles take flight, too shy to face.

133. If attributed to the Nasr, the intended is he
With celestial cycle and stellar place.

134. Else, how many on earth bowed before it,
Eagles and hawks swooping down in its space!

135. I examined its mihrab, appearing thus,
Statues of nymphs, all perfectly shaped in their place.

136. Some dressed richly bejeweled,
Long hair dangling underneath, publicly on display.

137. Pillars mixed among them showing their years,
Yet not a year passed with its months running apace.

138. Structures that proclaim the vision's extent,
Stone courses affirming foundations firmly in place.