سليمان باشا حين شيَّد قُبَّةً

سليمان باشا حين شيَّد قُبَّةً

لسيدنا الجيلي أعجوبة الشكلِ

لسيدنا الجيلي أعجوبة الشكلِ

When Sulayman Pasha built a dome

When Sulayman Pasha built a dome

When Suleiman Pasha built a dome

for our master al-Jili—a wonder of form—

for our master al-Jili, a marvel of form,

For our master Al-Jaili, a wonder in its form

بنى سمكها باللازورد وفوقهُ

بنى سمكها باللازورد وفوقهُ

رصافة تبرٍ خالصٍ جيد الصقلِ

رصافة تبرٍ خالصٍ جيد الصقلِ

he fashioned its vault of lapis lazuli, and above it

he built its vault with lapis lazuli, and above it

He built its walls with lapis lazuli and above it

laid a course of pure gold, finely polished.

was a covering of pure gold, finely polished.

Carefully laid pure transparent marble tiles

إذا حار فيها الطرف قال لسانُها

إذا حار فيها الطرف قال لسانُها

إلا فأعجبوا هل قبة بنيت مثلي

إلا فأعجبوا هل قبة بنيت مثلي

Whenever the eye wandered bewildered within it, its tongue declared:

When the gaze is bewildered by it, its tongue says:

When the eye wanders confused in it, its beauty proclaims

“Come, marvel! Has any dome been built like me?”

Behold, marvel! Has any dome been built like me?

Marvel, has any other dome been built like me?