1. Is the full moon curling its forelock, or does it dawn above the full moon?
Or are the shining stars sparse pearls gathered around it?

2. Or is it the moon of Salma shining from near her palace,
There it is rising between us, overlooking the wrestling grounds.

3. Her veil slipped off, illuminating her forehead,
A veil on the howdah slipping from it.

4. When the cheek of Salma and her forehead shone
And her front teeth glistened, it was like flashes snatching away vision.

5. As if the glowing embers were the sparkling of her jewelry
When she uncovers her jewelry from her curling tresses.

6. As if her braids, when she lets down her veil,
Were pure rubies set in order.

7. As if the fawn's glancing back depicts her glancing back
When she turns, her curls entwined around her.

8. But she sometimes lets down her hair like a branch
Upon her breastplate, captivating minds and kindling passion.

9. She is the virginal beauty who, when she turns her back,
Her gazelle buttocks shine like the fluttering wings of a dove.

10. She is the wild gazelle, the blossoming adolescent
Enveloped in her graceful, embroidered palace.

11. Zubaida, a palace no storms have reached,
Nor has the sun - for the sun is eclipsed by her brilliance -

12. Nor has she wandered freely grazing, then startled
The hunted, while thunder and rain pelt down,

13. Nor have the spinning winds shaken her tent ropes,
Nor has she tossed sleeplessly fearing the wails of mourners,

14. Secluded from seeing anything but her own beauty,
Reputation, allure and religion by which she is described.

15. A palace whose wings are perfect, while she overlooks
Her prayer niche, so she bowed in modesty and her anklets

16. Rang with tinkling bells while the Mullah prayed.
I was struck by her modesty and her breastplate,

17. But also by her seducing, rosy cheek that kindles passion.
She whose beauty surpasses the fine perfection

18. Of the full moon or the rising sun at dawn,
How not, when she possesses two lofty brows

19. While Salma's brow loftily curves,
Nor do both own gazelle eyes lined with kohl

20. While Salma blinks with the eyes of a gazelle of the open country.
I swear by the two moons, night and day,

21. By one more beautiful than Salma, I swear sincerely,
By the fact that the people of this world are witnesses that

22. I move about to reform you, not to spread corruption,
And that I belong to the people whose clothing

23. Has been modesty itself since the Prophet's covenant.
But people incline toward the world's tendencies

24. And follow its changes through its twists and turns.
If I filled the two worlds to overflowing and my command prevailed,

25. They would say "This man pretends to be gentle."
When the holy warrior kills champions

26. And conquers nations, they say "He is oppressive."
Likewise before the victory the Prophet

27. Spoke gently to the people in his words,
But they did not testify that their God was their God

28. Nor bow down until they were permitted violence and unsheathed their swords.
Oh, why do these people dislike their own situation

29. And prefer to be content with modesty and justice?
The Merciful spoke truly when He said:

30. When We send a warner, the affluent turn away.
My friend, why do the disobedient don armor

31. And taste safety while it is feared?
He who strove to lift up their hands -

32. Their protectors are stained by betrayal and lies.
The waves of its flood will overwhelm them soon

33. With succeeding waves pouring down destructively.
Help comes from the flags of the right, its lightning flashing,

34. With abundant, pouring rain, no promise unfulfilled.
Clouds of war wherein tongues shout amidst roaring stallions

35. Trampling the earth, which almost sinks beneath the warriors.
It is death, nothing but life, yet by it the living are clothed

36. And the slain finds rest.
With it Islam relieved the vehement, mighty grief

37. Of the oppressed, hard to bear though long-suffering.
Saeed, you have lifted high the glory of success and ascended the heights of might,

38. Your affairs prosper whenever you uncover oppression.
With your resolve you dispelled the sorrows of the hopeful,

39. And so sorrows clear away for one rightly guided.
Saeed, the dust of a day in holy war, when armor is donned,

40. Is honor upon the face of one wearing a breastplate.
Saeed, one must inevitably taste death,

41. So savor it, while the horses neigh battle cries.
Saeed, the man who rests for a spell with martyrs

42. Has succeeded, not lingering aimlessly on a couch.
Saeed, just as there is no pride but in piety,

43. The crown of piety is courage and the sword's slashing.
Saeed, Saeed, may the sword deprive him of sleep,

44. For nothing accompanies sleep but the broadsword.
Saeed, if you do not unsheathe the sword, it will never stop

45. Attempting excess and oppressive wrongdoing.
Saeed, we found the warning of our Lord's signs –

46. It repels when spear and blade do not clash.
Saeed, did you not hear that Muhammad

47. Was reviled with insults before the sword was unsheathed?
Then when he unsheathed it, they said "You are our prophet,

48. And most tender and gentle toward us."
So may God bless him as long as breath rattles

49. And column arrays with column again and again!