اليوم أصبحَ فيك الوقتُ منتظماً

اليوم أصبحَ فيك الوقتُ منتظماً

وهوَّنَ الله أمراً كانَ قد عَظُما

وهوَّنَ الله أمراً كانَ قد عَظُما

Today, through you, time has become orderly,

Today time has become organized in you,

And God has eased a matter that had grown grave.

And God has facilitated what was so difficult.

أمست عمانُ وأنت الشهم سيدها

أمست عمانُ وأنت الشهم سيدها

لا يُستباح لها في الحادثات حمى

لا يُستباح لها في الحادثات حمى

Oman has come to have you, noble-hearted man, as her lord;

Oman has become happy with you as its noble master,

No sanctuary of hers is violated amid calamities.

None can violate its sanctity in calamities.

مدت إليها يد الجاني فما ظفرت

مدت إليها يد الجاني فما ظفرت

إلاَّ بما أعقب الخسران والندما

إلاَّ بما أعقب الخسران والندما

The offender's hand reached toward her, but gained

The hand of the wrongdoer reached out to it, but did not succeed,

Only what brought loss and remorse.

Except in that which regret and loss followed.

من بعد ما هاج شراً من مكانته

من بعد ما هاج شراً من مكانته

وكاد يوقد في أطرافها ضرما

وكاد يوقد في أطرافها ضرما

After he stirred up evil from his station

After the evildoer became restless in his position,

And nearly kindled a blaze along her borders,

And almost ignited flames around its edges.

تمسكاً بحبال الشمس من طمع

تمسكاً بحبال الشمس من طمع

ومورداً من سراب لا يبلّ ظما

ومورداً من سراب لا يبلّ ظما

Grasping at the sun's ropes out of greed,

Clinging to the ropes of the sun out of greed,

And seeking a watering place in a mirage that slakes no thirst.

And heading to a mirage that does not quench thirst.

فلم يُوَفَّقْ إلى نجح يؤمِّله

فلم يُوَفَّقْ إلى نجح يؤمِّله

والمرء إنْ فقد التوفيق أو عدما

والمرء إنْ فقد التوفيق أو عدما

He was not granted the success he hoped for.

So he was not guided to success that gives him hope,

And a man, if he loses divine favor or is denied it,

And when one loses direction, nothing avails him.

لم يهده الرأي إلاَّ للضلال ولا

لم يهده الرأي إلاَّ للضلال ولا

يزيده عدم التوفيق غير عمى

يزيده عدم التوفيق غير عمى

Is guided by his judgment only into error; nor

Nothing guided him but misguidance,

Does loss of divine favor bring him anything but blindness.

And losing direction increases him in nothing but blindness.

أضلَّ مسعاه تركي في غوايته

أضلَّ مسعاه تركي في غوايته

كأنه اختار عن وجدانه العدما

كأنه اختار عن وجدانه العدما

In his delusion, Turki led his striving astray,

His efforts led him astray in his seduction,

As though he knowingly chose annihilation.

As if he chose oblivion over consciousness.

نصحته وبذلتَ النصح تنذره

نصحته وبذلتَ النصح تنذره

مستعملاً بالنذير السيف والقلما

مستعملاً بالنذير السيف والقلما

You advised him and offered counsel, warning him,

I advised him and gave him advice warning him,

Using the sword and the pen in warning.

Using both the sword and the pen as warners.

فما ارعوى لك عن وهم توهمه

فما ارعوى لك عن وهم توهمه

كأنَّ في أُذْنِه عن ناصح صمما

كأنَّ في أُذْنِه عن ناصح صمما

Yet he would not abandon, at your urging, the fancy he imagined,

But he did not heed the advice about his delusion,

As though his ear were deaf to an adviser.

As if his ears were deaf towards the advisor.

أرادَ في زعمه أنْ يستطيل على

أرادَ في زعمه أنْ يستطيل على

عمان قهراً فلم يظفر بما زعما

عمان قهراً فلم يظفر بما زعما

He wished, as he claimed, to lord it over

He wanted, in his claim, to gain power

Oman by force, but did not attain what he claimed.

Over Oman by force, but did not attain what he claimed.

وكان غايته الحرمان يومئذٍ

وكان غايته الحرمان يومئذٍ

ولو أطاعك واسترضاك ما حرما

ولو أطاعك واسترضاك ما حرما

His outcome that day was deprivation;

His ultimate goal that day was deprivation,

Had he obeyed you and sought your favor, he would not have been deprived.

Had he obeyed and pleased you, he would not have been deprived.

خيَّرته قبل هذا اليوم في نعم

خيَّرته قبل هذا اليوم في نعم

ولم يكن ثمَّ ممن يشكر النعما

ولم يكن ثمَّ ممن يشكر النعما

You gave him a choice among blessings before this day,

You gave him bounty before this day,

Yet in that state he was not one to give thanks for blessings.

But he was not among those who thank for bounty.

وجاء يطلب مُلكاً منك ليس له

وجاء يطلب مُلكاً منك ليس له

فقيل خصمان في إرثِ العُلى اختصما

فقيل خصمان في إرثِ العُلى اختصما

He came seeking sovereignty from you that was not his,

And he came seeking a kingdom from you that was not his,

So it was said: two rivals disputed the inheritance of eminence.

So the two opponents argued over the lofty inheritance.

حتَّى إذا كانَ لا يصغي إلى حكم

حتَّى إذا كانَ لا يصغي إلى حكم

حكمتما الصارم الهندي بينكما

حكمتما الصارم الهندي بينكما

Until, when he would heed no arbiter,

Until when he would not listen to judgment,

You both appointed the keen Indian sword to judge between you.

You two judged between yourselves with the Indian scimitar.

قضى لك السيف فيما قد قضى ومضى

قضى لك السيف فيما قد قضى ومضى

فيا له حَككَمٌ عدلٌ إذا حكما

فيا له حَككَمٌ عدلٌ إذا حكما

The sword ruled for you in its judgment, then passed on;

It decreed for you what it decreed and passed,

What a just arbiter it is when it judges!

What a just judgment it was when it judged!

وما تجاوزت الإنصاف شفرته

وما تجاوزت الإنصاف شفرته

وما أضلَّ بمظلوم وإن ظُلِما

وما أضلَّ بمظلوم وإن ظُلِما

Its edge never overstepped fairness,

Its blade did not transgress justice,

Nor did it lead a wronged man astray, even if he suffered injustice.

Nor did it wrong the wronged, even if he was wronged.

وقالت الناس باديها وحاضرها

وقالت الناس باديها وحاضرها

ما جار سالم في حكم ولا ظلما

ما جار سالم في حكم ولا ظلما

The people, desert dwellers and townspeople, said:

The people, both present and absent, said,

Salim was neither unjust in judgment nor oppressive.

“Salem did not wrong in his rule or oppress.”

أنزلَته من منيعات الحصون ولو

أنزلَته من منيعات الحصون ولو

تركت تركي رهين الحصن مات ظما

تركت تركي رهين الحصن مات ظما

You brought him down from impregnable fortresses; had

It brought him down from the fortresses, and had

You left Turki captive in the fortress, he would have died of thirst.

You left Turki hostage in the fort, he would have died thirsty.

أراد مستعصماً فيه ومعتصماً

أراد مستعصماً فيه ومعتصماً

وما رأى في منيع الحصن معتصما

وما رأى في منيع الحصن معتصما

He sought protection and refuge within it,

He wanted protected and sheltered in it,

Yet found no refuge in the impregnable fortress.

But did not find in the fortress a shelter.

ولم يجد سلَّما يرقى السماء به

ولم يجد سلَّما يرقى السماء به

ولو رمى نفسه في البحر لالتُقما

ولو رمى نفسه في البحر لالتُقما

He found no ladder by which to climb to heaven;

He did not find a ladder to ascend to the sky with,

Had he cast himself into the sea, he would have been swallowed.

And had he thrown himself into the sea, he would have drowned.

وإنَّه قبل إعطاء الأمان له

وإنَّه قبل إعطاء الأمان له

ما استشعر الموت حتَّى استشعر الندما

ما استشعر الموت حتَّى استشعر الندما

And he, before safe conduct was granted to him,

And indeed, before giving him amnesty,

Did not sense death until he sensed remorse.

He had not felt death until he felt regret.

وغرَّه مَن دعاه في خيانته

وغرَّه مَن دعاه في خيانته

فجاءها عقبات الموت واقتحما

فجاءها عقبات الموت واقتحما

He was deceived by the one who summoned him to treachery,

And he was fooled by those who called him to betrayal,

So he came upon death's hazards and plunged through them.

So he faced obstacles of death and plunged in.

أذقته العفو حُلواً عن جنايته

أذقته العفو حُلواً عن جنايته

وكان عفوك عمَّن قد جنى كراما

وكان عفوك عمَّن قد جنى كراما

You made him taste sweet pardon for his offense,

I made him taste sweet pardon for his crime,

And your pardon of one who had sinned was generous.

And your pardon of one who transgressed is generous.

عفَوْت عنه ولكن عفوَ مقتدرٍ

عفَوْت عنه ولكن عفوَ مقتدرٍ

والعفو أقرب للتقوى كما عُلما

والعفو أقرب للتقوى كما عُلما

You pardoned him, but with the pardon of one who has power;

You pardoned him, but the pardon of the Capable,

And pardon is nearer to piety, as is known.

And pardon is closer to piety, as is known.

وما هتكت وأيم الله حرمته

وما هتكت وأيم الله حرمته

وكان عندك حتَّى زال محترما

وكان عندك حتَّى زال محترما

And, by God, you did not violate his honor;

By God, you did not violate his sanctity,

He remained honored in your care until he departed.

And he remained respected with you until he passed away.

وربما لامك اللّوام عن سَفَهٍ

وربما لامك اللّوام عن سَفَهٍ

وقد يلومك بين الناس من لؤما

وقد يلومك بين الناس من لؤما

And reproachers may sometimes blame you out of folly,

Perhaps the critic blames you out of foolishness,

And someone base among the people may blame you.

And among people, the wrongdoer may blame you.

أما وربِّك لو أربى طغى وبغى

أما وربِّك لو أربى طغى وبغى

وما عفا مثلما تعفو بل انتقما

وما عفا مثلما تعفو بل انتقما

Indeed, by your Lord, had he prevailed, he would have tyrannized and transgressed;

But, by your Lord, had he become tyrannical and unjust,

He would not have pardoned as you pardon, but would have taken revenge.

And did not pardon as you pardon, but instead took revenge,

رحمته ولو استولى عليك لما

رحمته ولو استولى عليك لما

أبقى عليك ولم يلحق بمن رحما

أبقى عليك ولم يلحق بمن رحما

You had mercy on him; had he prevailed over you, he would not

I would have pitied him even if he had gained power over you,

Have spared you, nor joined those who showed mercy.

For he would not have spared you or joined those you pitied.

أراد ربُّك أنْ تعفو بقدرته

أراد ربُّك أنْ تعفو بقدرته

ليظهر الفضل والتمييز بينكما

ليظهر الفضل والتمييز بينكما

Your Lord willed, through His power, that you should pardon,

Your Lord willed that you pardon with His power,

To reveal the excellence and the distinction between you both.

To manifest grace and distinction between you.

والله يَعْلَمُ والدنيا بأجمعها

والله يَعْلَمُ والدنيا بأجمعها

لو نال من سالمٍ تركي لما سلما

لو نال من سالمٍ تركي لما سلما

And God knows, as does the entire world:

And Allah knows, and the whole world,

Had Turki got at Salim, Salim would not have escaped unharmed.

Had Turki attained anything from Salem, he would not have been safe.

لا زال يولي جميلاً من صنائعه

لا زال يولي جميلاً من صنائعه

وهكذا كرم الشهم الَّذي كرما

وهكذا كرم الشهم الَّذي كرما

May he never cease bestowing kindness through his good deeds;

He continues to generously reward from his feats,

Such is the generosity of the noble man who is generous—

Thus the noble one rewarded nobility.

من سيّدٍ بالغٍ رشد الشيوخ نُهىً

من سيّدٍ بالغٍ رشد الشيوخ نُهىً

رضيع ثدي المعالي قبل أن فطما

رضيع ثدي المعالي قبل أن فطما

A lord whose intellect has attained the wisdom of elders,

He and his fortunate grandfather competed

Suckled at the breast of lofty deeds before he was weaned.

In what they attained of honorable character and shared it.

تبارك الله ما أبهى سناه فتىً

تبارك الله ما أبهى سناه فتىً

كالنجم يهدي سبيل الرشد مذ نجما

كالنجم يهدي سبيل الرشد مذ نجما

Blessed be God! How splendid is his radiance as a youth!

How excellent is his youthful appearance, a young man

Like a star, he has guided the path of wisdom since he rose.

Like a star guiding the path of righteousness since it rose!

الثابت الجأش في سِلْم ومعترك

الثابت الجأش في سِلْم ومعترك

في موطن الفخر قد أرسى له قدما

في موطن الفخر قد أرسى له قدما

Steadfast of heart in peace and battle,

Firm, bold, perfectly composed in war and battle,

He has planted his foot firmly in the realm of pride.

He established himself in the abode of pride with stability.

الباسم الثغر والهيجاء عابسة

الباسم الثغر والهيجاء عابسة

والسيف يقطر من هام الكماة دما

والسيف يقطر من هام الكماة دما

Smiling of mouth while battle frowns,

A smiling face, and a frowning, awe-inspiring demeanor,

And the sword drips blood from warriors' heads.

And a sword dripping blood from the brow of heroes.

فمن صدور العوالي ما يرى وصباً

فمن صدور العوالي ما يرى وصباً

ومن نفوس المعالي ما شفى سقما

ومن نفوس المعالي ما شفى سقما

From the points of tall spears comes what is seen as pain,

From the breasts of loftiness is what is seen as downpour,

And from the souls of lofty deeds comes what has cured sickness.

And from the souls of nobility is what cured sickness.

تساهما هو والجد السعيد بما

تساهما هو والجد السعيد بما

حازاه من كرم الأخلاق واقتسما

حازاه من كرم الأخلاق واقتسما

He and his blessed grandfather shared in what

They share what they attained of honored character and divided it,

They both attained of noble character, and divided it between them.

What an excellent son he is, I mean his son,

ويا له ولد أعنيه من ولدٍ

ويا له ولد أعنيه من ولدٍ

أحيى له ذكره الماضي وإنْ قدما

أحيى له ذكره الماضي وإنْ قدما

And what a son he is—I mean, what a son!

Who revived his past memory though it is old!

He revived his forebear's bygone memory, though it had grown old.

Noble chiefs of Oman venerate him,

تحفُّه من عمان سادةٌ نجبٌ

تحفُّه من عمان سادةٌ نجبٌ

تسمو لهم في سماوات العلاء سما

تسمو لهم في سماوات العلاء سما

Highborn lords of Oman surround him;

Their stature rising to the heavens' heights.

A heaven rises for them amid the heavens of eminence.

They protect their master from every affliction,

يحمون سيّدهم من كلّ نازلة

يحمون سيّدهم من كلّ نازلة

بفيصل يغلق الهامات والقمما

بفيصل يغلق الهامات والقمما

They protect their lord from every calamity,

With Faisal who locks both anxiety and summit.

With a decisive blade that brings heads and crowns to an end.

None protected his realm when dangers came threatening

ولم يكن غيره الحامي لحوزتها

ولم يكن غيره الحامي لحوزتها

إذا ادلهمّ من الأخطار ما دهما

إذا ادلهمّ من الأخطار ما دهما

No one but he was the protector of her domain

Except him. Oman’s lions guard it like sheep at night.

When the dangers that assailed her grew dark.

Were it not for your existence this disease would not have been cured

تبيت لا كملوك الهند تكلأها

تبيت لا كملوك الهند تكلأها

ترعى الأسود وهم يرعونها غنما

ترعى الأسود وهم يرعونها غنما

You pass the night guarding her, unlike the kings of India:

And that crack, were it not for you, would not have healed.

You shepherd lions, while they shepherd them as sheep.

A subtle grace from God in you He manifested,

لولا وجودك هذا الداء ما حسما

لولا وجودك هذا الداء ما حسما

وذلك الصدع لولا أنت ما التأما

وذلك الصدع لولا أنت ما التأما

Without your presence, this malady would not have been eradicated,

After the subtle grace had been concealed.

Nor would that rift have healed without you.

It came to us, bringing happiness, as we supplicate God for it,

لطف من الله فيك الله أظهره

لطف من الله فيك الله أظهره

من بعد ما كانَ سر اللطف مكتتما

من بعد ما كانَ سر اللطف مكتتما

A grace from God, which God revealed through you,

The shining Basra and its souls rejoiced for it,

After the secret of that grace had lain concealed.

And the lofty had their happiness renewed and smiled.

وافت إلينا فوافت بالسرور كما

وافت إلينا فوافت بالسرور كما

ندعو من الله فيها فاغرين فما

ندعو من الله فيها فاغرين فما

It reached us, bringing joy, just as

God made an order easy which you actualized,

We prayed to God for it, our mouths open wide.

And God has wisdom in His decree.

سرَّت بها البصرة الفيحاء وابتهجت

سرَّت بها البصرة الفيحاء وابتهجت

منها النفوس وأنف الصند قد رغما

منها النفوس وأنف الصند قد رغما

Spacious Basra was gladdened by it, and thrilled

You continue to excel in generosity and beneficence,

Were souls at it; the mighty man's nose was rubbed in dust.

Like rain wherever it poured, and sea wherever it surged.

بشارة عمَّت الدنيا مسرّتها

بشارة عمَّت الدنيا مسرّتها

واهتز منها العلى والمجد وابتسما

واهتز منها العلى والمجد وابتسما

Glad tidings whose joy spread throughout the world;

Among your merits are those that adorn the stars,

Eminence and glory thrilled at it, and both smiled.

And among your grants are those that would shame seas.

قد يَسَّرَ الله أمراً أنت فعله

قد يَسَّرَ الله أمراً أنت فعله

وإن لله في تقديره حِكَما

وإن لله في تقديره حِكَما

God has made easy a matter accomplished through you,

I have never ceased composing my words about you,

And God has wise purposes in His decrees.

Just as drops of rain succeed each other in rhythm and harmony.

لا زلت بالجود والإحسان مبتدراً

لا زلت بالجود والإحسان مبتدراً

كالغيث حيث همى والبحر حيث طمى

كالغيث حيث همى والبحر حيث طمى

May you always lead the way in generosity and kindness,

Like rain wherever it pours, and the sea wherever it swells.

فمن مزاياك ما تكسو النجوم سناً

فمن مزاياك ما تكسو النجوم سناً

ومن عطاياك ما قد يخجل الديما

ومن عطاياك ما قد يخجل الديما

Among your virtues are those that clothe the stars in radiance,

And among your gifts are those that put the steady rains to shame.

ولم أزل كلماتي فيك أنظمها

ولم أزل كلماتي فيك أنظمها

كما تتابع قطر المزن وانسجما

كما تتابع قطر المزن وانسجما

I have never ceased composing my words about you,

As drops from rainclouds follow one another and stream down.