1. Ask destiny for what you desire, it will answer.
It has nothing but what it wishes from the Lord.

2. And with this zeal, seek what is hard to attain,
None on earth can divert you from seeking.

3. How can the kings of earth with ambitions
Disobey laws whose domains encompass the seven planets.

4. They raced but neither warded off injustice nor troubles,
Nor relieved any of the troubles you relieved.

5. Long were their claims yet short were their actions,
Serious perils cannot be remedied by words.

6. They tried attaining glory through many paths
While you came to it through a smooth untrodden path.

7. The nobility you attained does not bewilder people,
Whoever sought as you did, ruled over the staff.

8. A courage that protects a stranger or foreigner through it
As the harm is warded off a neighbour or relative.

9. And an asker whose plenty has dwindled like one asking,
In the early morn and nightfall like one drawing near.

10. So is fire useful and harmful,
Feared is its light, blazing are its flames.

11. And a meekness that fate always prevents
Commendable is serious work unlike frivolous play.

12. None but you is seen when one boasts
Making fathers’ glories a thing of the past.

13. The doer of the world, not you, is questioned about lineage
Sufficient a lineage is what you were endowed with.

14. You are one who elevates the nobility, your service
And affiliation with you are the noblest of lineages.

15. An intuitive mind does not overlook your lineage
When omnipresent fame says to you: “claim lineage!”

16. You built glory for non Arabs conveying them
Glory built by Allah’s messenger for Arabs.

17. The Caliph al-Mansur protected his state
By saying: select horsemen and men of merit.

18. His son, Sword of Time, later chose you
To smite enemies raging in transgression.

19. So when you grew up, son of his son said: my state, depend
On grandfather’s knight and father’s sword.

20. I see your share of honour and nobility
As the equal of your intense troubles and woes.

21. The honourable Arab tribes have tied
To the rope of your generosity, firm and unfailing.

22. You gave it, after being content with water and plants,
Money to drink and heights to graze.

23. You opposed their rule when you gave them
What you had seized at the furthest ends of the bow.

24. You have clearly declared in belief and creed
One who always walked the path of precision and judgment.

25. You ended its ignorance and destruction since
It came to exist in your shade mingled with greed and fear.

26. In the shade of the most wondrous – if one asks it will give,
If one comes in contact with raging, it will not rage.

27. Dew, when it descends on the heated, it pours,
Firm is determination when it aims arrows, it pours.

28. It spreads in every land for the enemy
Talk that stands-in for groups of army.

29. The peninsula is a door whose breadth you expand
Shaking while naught remains but the opening so wait for it.

30. Iraq’s door, if the discerner comes to it
The herald from Baghdad will bring tidings.

31. How much you strived for a moment you anticipated
Kept away by fate a share unforeseen!

32. And how many lands you opened not caring
While arrows are sheathed and eggs are in nests.

33. So let not Numayr be fooled if it is safe
Safety from one with firm purpose is not through escaping.

34. They approached, so when they felt the encounter was near they said:
“Oh how close is this pleasure from that anger!”

35. They attacked, so once they descended at the banks, the banks
Pulled them away from the form of war they had feared.

36. Until Serene descended violently
The sea of Rida foamed overflowing the hearts.

37. Why not protect her as her arrogance still
More worthy to veil their defects than veils.

38. Horses whose morning's dust their legs evoked
Water told of their galloping in dirt.

39. The bow stretched aspiring until indeed
Wounded by spears of foes soaked with blood.

40. It returned after reaching the atmosphere descending
As if the ground had poured out these arrows.

41. The groups dispersed when regiments approached
Like birds dispersing when eagles approach.

42. Like birds bearing lions shading them
Birds whose watering place is blood of drinking beasts.

43. This one rages when the fire of encounter dies down
That one rages if rage comes from afar.

44. They stared at Abi Ka`b to grant them victory
But do lions of the forest notice foxes?!

45. Or would the Romans’ seeking refuge in a king
Who hurls battalions as the ground fills with books offer safety?!

46. Nor are the Romans ignorant of what maturity grants them
By God! Maturity did not dawn and generosity did not dawn.

47. And avoid the might of one whose might
Is mightiest against one whose determination reversed.

48. A star waned after the firewood when your sword
Kindled possessor of world’s faith.

49. Where is Ibn Hamdan frightening them
Or your mamluks, the Governor of Aleppo?!

50. Refined by the Most High, they obtained a share
Of generosity, courage, and proper behaviour.

51. They are loyal even if you delegate authority,
No harm ever came from Joseph being sold into slavery.

52. You made them what kings have delegated
Your determination refused what they attained in positions.

53. As if your glory, while time ascended,
From its swiftness fell into a slippery place.

54. We possessed, Master, glory of a Master mighty in decree
We were brought low, as humble as an affectionate father.

55. Your determination is not pleased with half a kingdom ruled
Half is guaranteed by red and yellow arrows.

56. Nor will you make peace with a foe you subdue
Cups of praise enabled you so select!

57. Thus every king inviting you today from afar
Will tomorrow invite you from nearby.

58. Your zeal has distracted me from mentioning any passion
I cannot come with poetry that lacks harmony or balance.

59. You secured me with copious favour from nothingness
And interceding honour for me despite deficient lineages.

60. So I gained through you lineage and glory
Which burden should I carry - your creating or your making me?

61. My strength lied in that poetry is a reason for me
And this, providing without reason, weights heavy on me.

62. If my ideas do not fail me in praise
It may entice the distant with yearning.

63. Never have I reached the extent of my life’s hope
Or gained pardon on the day I return.

64. The fast has gone and no reward remains for one who discards
Nor sin remains for one anticipating.

65. The feast has returned so deliver what came and went
Revered by fate, protected from flaws.

66. As for pilgrims, you clarified their path
Between those with homelands, faiths or Expatriates.

67. The Creator will not waste their efforts
You have heard the nation’s prayer from all places.

68. Sword of caliphate and blood kinship alliance thus
Calamities when neglected are not neglected.

69. May you live for a state whose rights you supported
It orbits around you like the celestial sphere.