ما لي مَقالٌ عَن فَعالِكَ يُعرِبُ

ما لي مَقالٌ عَن فَعالِكَ يُعرِبُ

قَد ضَلَّتِ الأَفكارُ مِمّا تُغرِبُ

قَد ضَلَّتِ الأَفكارُ مِمّا تُغرِبُ

I have no words that can express your deeds;

I have no words that can express your deeds.

Thought itself has lost its way before your marvels.

Thoughts have gone astray amid the wonders you perform.

بَذلاً وَمَنعاً فَالرَجاءُ مُخَيِّمٌ

بَذلاً وَمَنعاً فَالرَجاءُ مُخَيِّمٌ

بِذَراكَ وَالنَكَباتُ عَنكَ تَنَكَّبُ

بِذَراكَ وَالنَكَباتُ عَنكَ تَنَكَّبُ

Whether giving or withholding, hope encamps

In giving and withholding, hope is encamped

Within your remembrance, while calamities avoid you.

In your shelter, while calamities turn aside from you.

وَسُطاً وَصَفحاً فَالمَمالِكُ قَد عَنَت

وَسُطاً وَصَفحاً فَالمَمالِكُ قَد عَنَت

مِن خَوفِ بَأسِكَ وَالجَرائِمُ توهَبُ

مِن خَوفِ بَأسِكَ وَالجَرائِمُ توهَبُ

In might and pardon, kingdoms have submitted,

In might and pardon, kingdoms have bowed

In fear of your valor, while offenses are forgiven.

From fear of your strength, while crimes are forgiven.

وَتَواضُعاً سَنَّ التَواضُعَ لِلوَرى

وَتَواضُعاً سَنَّ التَواضُعَ لِلوَرى

مَعَ رُتبَةٍ يَنحَطُّ عَنها الكَوكَبُ

مَعَ رُتبَةٍ يَنحَطُّ عَنها الكَوكَبُ

In humility, you taught humility to humankind,

And in a humility that established humility for mankind,

Though yours is a rank beneath which the planets sink.

Alongside a rank beneath which the star sinks.

يا جامِعَ الأَضدادِ في كَسبِ العُلا

يا جامِعَ الأَضدادِ في كَسبِ العُلا

مِن أَينَ لي قَلبٌ كَقَلبِكَ قُلَّبُ

مِن أَينَ لي قَلبٌ كَقَلبِكَ قُلَّبُ

O gatherer of opposites in winning glory,

O gatherer of opposites in winning eminence,

Where could I find a heart as changeful as yours?

Where can I find a heart as versatile as yours?

لَو مَيَّزَتكَ سَجيَّةٌ عَن ضِدِّها

لَو مَيَّزَتكَ سَجيَّةٌ عَن ضِدِّها

لَعَلِمتُ ما آتي وَما أَتَجَنَّبُ

لَعَلِمتُ ما آتي وَما أَتَجَنَّبُ

Had one quality distinguished you from its contrary,

Had one trait distinguished you from its opposite,

I would know what to pursue and what avoid.

I would have known what to undertake and what to avoid.

ما سارَ في الآفاقِ ذِكرٌ طَيِّبٌ

ما سارَ في الآفاقِ ذِكرٌ طَيِّبٌ

عَمَّن مَضى إِلّا وَذِكرُكَ أَطيَبُ

عَمَّن مَضى إِلّا وَذِكرُكَ أَطيَبُ

No noble fame has traveled through the horizons

No good renown has traveled the horizons

Of any bygone man but yours was sweeter.

Of those gone before without your renown being sweeter.

قَعَدوا عَنِ الغِيَرِ الَّتي ناهَضتَها

قَعَدوا عَنِ الغِيَرِ الَّتي ناهَضتَها

وَاِستَبعدوا الأَمَدَ الَّذي تَستَقرِبُ

وَاِستَبعدوا الأَمَدَ الَّذي تَستَقرِبُ

They shrank from the great changes you confronted

They held back from the vicissitudes you confronted,

And thought remote the goal that you deemed near.

And deemed distant the goal you consider near.

فَضَفَت عَلَيكَ مِنَ الثَناءِ مَلابِسٌ

فَضَفَت عَلَيكَ مِنَ الثَناءِ مَلابِسٌ

لَم يَقدِروا مِنها عَلى ما تَسحَبُ

لَم يَقدِروا مِنها عَلى ما تَسحَبُ

Praise has spread magnificent robes upon you—

So robes of praise have grown ample upon you;

Robes whose trains they were powerless to bear.

They could not attain even the hems you trail.

نَسَخَت فَضائِلُكَ الفَضائِلَ كُلَّها

نَسَخَت فَضائِلُكَ الفَضائِلَ كُلَّها

إِنَّ الكَثيرَ عَلى القَليلِ يُغَلَّبُ

إِنَّ الكَثيرَ عَلى القَليلِ يُغَلَّبُ

Your virtues have annulled all other virtues;

Your virtues have superseded every virtue;

For what is greater overwhelms what is small.

Indeed, the many are given precedence over the few.

فَليَعتَرِف لَكَ بِالسِيادَةِ أَهلُها

فَليَعتَرِف لَكَ بِالسِيادَةِ أَهلُها

لَزِمَت مَلازِمَها وَصَرَّ الجُندُبُ

لَزِمَت مَلازِمَها وَصَرَّ الجُندُبُ

Let glory’s rightful masters acknowledge your supremacy:

Let those who possess sovereignty acknowledge it as yours;

It cleaves to its stations, and the locust chirrs.

It has settled in its proper places, and the grasshopper chirps.

لا يَدَّعِ المَجدَ المُؤَثَّلَ مُدَّعٍ

لا يَدَّعِ المَجدَ المُؤَثَّلَ مُدَّعٍ

فَالمَجدُ مِن هَذي الخِلالِ مُرَكَّبُ

فَالمَجدُ مِن هَذي الخِلالِ مُرَكَّبُ

Let no pretender claim deep-rooted glory;

Let no claimant claim firmly rooted glory,

For glory is compounded of these qualities.

For glory is compounded of these qualities.

فَظُباكَ مُذ خَطَبَت عَلى قِمَمِ العِدى

فَظُباكَ مُذ خَطَبَت عَلى قِمَمِ العِدى

خَطَبَت لَكَ الرُتَبَ الَّتي لا تُخطَبُ

خَطَبَت لَكَ الرُتَبَ الَّتي لا تُخطَبُ

Since your sword-blades courted the enemy’s summits,

Since your blades delivered sermons upon your enemies' heads,

They won for you ranks no suitor else may court.

They have courted for you ranks that cannot be courted.

فَفَرَعتَ مِنها كُلَّ ما لا يُرتَقى

فَفَرَعتَ مِنها كُلَّ ما لا يُرتَقى

إِنَّ النُجومَ قَلائِصٌ ما تُركَبُ

إِنَّ النُجومَ قَلائِصٌ ما تُركَبُ

You rose through every height that none can scale—

So you surmounted every height among them that cannot be climbed;

The stars are young she-camels no one rides.

Indeed, the stars are young she-camels that cannot be ridden.

فَلِذا إِذا نُسِبَت عُلىً في مَشهَدٍ

فَلِذا إِذا نُسِبَت عُلىً في مَشهَدٍ

فَإِلَيكَ ياشَرَفَ المَعالي تُنسَبُ

فَإِلَيكَ ياشَرَفَ المَعالي تُنسَبُ

Thus, whenever high honors are ascribed in an assembly,

Thus, whenever eminence is ascribed in an assembly,

To you, O honor of all heights, they are ascribed.

It is ascribed to you, O glory of lofty achievements.

بَعُدَ المَدى إِلّا عَلَيكَ فَما لِمَن

بَعُدَ المَدى إِلّا عَلَيكَ فَما لِمَن

يَأتَمُّهُ إِلّا النَصيبُ المُنصِبُ

يَأتَمُّهُ إِلّا النَصيبُ المُنصِبُ

The course is long for all but you; whoever

The goal is distant for all but you; whoever

Would follow you gains only exhausting toil.

Seeks it gains only a share of weariness.

ما اِنقادَتِ الأَملاكُ طَوعَكَ كُلَّها

ما اِنقادَتِ الأَملاكُ طَوعَكَ كُلَّها

حَتّى اِستَقادَ لَكَ الزَمانُ الأَصعَبُ

حَتّى اِستَقادَ لَكَ الزَمانُ الأَصعَبُ

All kingdoms yielded willingly to you,

Not all kings submitted willingly to you

Until the hardest security itself submitted.

Until intractable Time itself yielded to you.

لَو غَيرُكَ المُبتَزُّ يا سَيفَ الهُدى

لَو غَيرُكَ المُبتَزُّ يا سَيفَ الهُدى

ما كانَتِ النَخَواتُ مِمّا تَسلُبُ

ما كانَتِ النَخَواتُ مِمّا تَسلُبُ

Had someone else despoiled them, Sword of Guidance,

Were anyone but you the plunderer, O sword of guidance,

Proud spirits would not have been yours to plunder.

The pride you seize would not be among the spoils.

تَتَجَنَّبُ الأَحداثُ ما لا تَشتَهي

تَتَجَنَّبُ الأَحداثُ ما لا تَشتَهي

وَتُسارِعُ الأَقدارُ فيما تَطلُبُ

وَتُسارِعُ الأَقدارُ فيما تَطلُبُ

Events avoid whatever you dislike,

Events avoid what you do not desire,

And destiny hastens toward whatever you seek.

And destinies hasten toward what you seek.

لَو كانَ ذَبُّكَ في الزَمانِ اللَذ مَضى

لَو كانَ ذَبُّكَ في الزَمانِ اللَذ مَضى

لَم تَفتَخِر بِحِمى كُلَيبٍ تَغلِبُ

لَم تَفتَخِر بِحِمى كُلَيبٍ تَغلِبُ

Had your defense belonged to former times,

Had your protection existed in bygone times,

Taghlib would not boast of Kulayb’s sanctuary;

Taghlib would not have boasted of Kulayb's sanctuary.

أَو كانَ جودُ يَدَيكَ عاصَرَ حاتِماً

أَو كانَ جودُ يَدَيكَ عاصَرَ حاتِماً

لَرَأَيتَهُ مِن فِعلِهِ يتَعَجَّبُ

لَرَأَيتَهُ مِن فِعلِهِ يتَعَجَّبُ

And had the bounty of your hands been Ḥātim’s peer,

Or had your hands' generosity lived alongside Hatim,

You would have seen him marvel at his own deeds.

You would have seen him marvel at its deeds.

فَطُلِ الوَرى يا مَن لِباذِخِ فَخرِهِ

فَطُلِ الوَرى يا مَن لِباذِخِ فَخرِهِ

أَلقَت مَفاخِرَها نِزارُ وَيَعرُبُ

أَلقَت مَفاخِرَها نِزارُ وَيَعرُبُ

Surpass mankind, you at whose towering pride

So surpass mankind, O you before whose towering pride

Nizār and Yaʿrub laid their boasts aside.

Nizar and Ya'rub have laid down their glories.

فَلَئِن عَلَوتَ فَكُلُّ ما أَدرَكتَهُ

فَلَئِن عَلَوتَ فَكُلُّ ما أَدرَكتَهُ

وَهُوَ التَناهي بَعضُ ما تَستَوجِبُ

وَهُوَ التَناهي بَعضُ ما تَستَوجِبُ

Though you have risen, all the height you reached—

Even if you have risen high, all you have attained—

The utmost height—is less than what you merit.

Though it is the utmost—is but part of what you deserve.

أَضحَت بِعُدَّتِها الإِمامَةُ هَضبَةً

أَضحَت بِعُدَّتِها الإِمامَةُ هَضبَةً

لَيسَت تُرامُ وَرَوضَةً لا تُجدِبُ

لَيسَت تُرامُ وَرَوضَةً لا تُجدِبُ

Through its champion, the imamate became a mountain

With its resources, the imamate has become a mountain

Beyond assault, a garden never barren:

That cannot be assailed, and a meadow that never grows barren,

بِأَغَرَّ يَثني الحادِثاتِ فَتَنثَني

بِأَغَرَّ يَثني الحادِثاتِ فَتَنثَني

رَهَباً وَيَقتادُ الجِبالَ فَتُصحِبُ

رَهَباً وَيَقتادُ الجِبالَ فَتُصحِبُ

A radiant lord who bends events until they bend,

Through a radiant man who turns calamities back, and they turn

And leads the mountains till they go beside him.

In dread, and leads mountains, which obediently follow.

يا بالِغَ الغَرَضِ البَعيدِ وَدونَهُ

يا بالِغَ الغَرَضِ البَعيدِ وَدونَهُ

جَيشٌ يَضيقُ بِهِ الفَضاءُ السَبسَبُ

جَيشٌ يَضيقُ بِهِ الفَضاءُ السَبسَبُ

You who attain the farthest goal, though before it

O you who reach the distant goal, though before it stands

Stands an army choking the wide, level waste—

An army that makes the vast open plain seem narrow.

تُغني الخِلافَةُ ما عُدِدتَ ظَهيرَها

تُغني الخِلافَةُ ما عُدِدتَ ظَهيرَها

وَالجَيشُ ما لاقاكَ حَرباً رَبرَبُ

وَالجَيشُ ما لاقاكَ حَرباً رَبرَبُ

The caliphate needs nothing while you are its champion,

The caliphate wants nothing while you are reckoned its supporter;

Nor does an army, though it meet you as a mighty host.

And any army that meets you in war is a herd of gazelles.

قَد صارَتِ الدُنيا بِعَدلِكَ مَعقِلاً

قَد صارَتِ الدُنيا بِعَدلِكَ مَعقِلاً

هَل في الوَرى عادٍ وَأَنتَ المُرهِبُ

هَل في الوَرى عادٍ وَأَنتَ المُرهِبُ

Through your justice the world has become a fortress;

Through your justice, the world has become a stronghold;

Who among humankind could return while you inspire dread?

Is there an aggressor among mankind when you inspire dread?

أَنّى وَفي هَذي الجُفونِ بَوارِقٌ

أَنّى وَفي هَذي الجُفونِ بَوارِقٌ

ما أَومَضَت إِلّا تَجَلّى غَيهَبُ

ما أَومَضَت إِلّا تَجَلّى غَيهَبُ

How could they, when lightning flashes in these eyes—

How could there be, when in these sheaths are flashes

Whenever they gleam, the blackest darkness clears?

That never gleam without dispelling darkness?

وَعَلى عَوامِلِ ما رَكَزتَ كَواكِبٌ

وَعَلى عَوامِلِ ما رَكَزتَ كَواكِبٌ

مِمّا اِنتَصَيتَ لَها وَخَلَّفَ قَعدَبُ

مِمّا اِنتَصَيتَ لَها وَخَلَّفَ قَعدَبُ

Upon the spear-shafts you planted stand stars,

And upon the upper shafts of the spears you planted are stars,

Drawn from the blades you bared for them in war.

Of what you selected for them and what Qa'dab left behind.

تَجلو ظَلامَ النَقعِ عِندَ طُلوعِها

تَجلو ظَلامَ النَقعِ عِندَ طُلوعِها

وَظَلامَ أَهلِ البَغيِ ساعَةَ تَغرُبُ

وَظَلامَ أَهلِ البَغيِ ساعَةَ تَغرُبُ

At their rising they dispel the dust-cloud’s darkness,

They dispel the darkness of battle-dust when they rise,

And at their setting, the darkness of the wicked.

And the darkness of the rebellious when they set.

تَرَكَ الزَئيرَ اللَيثُ مُذ أَشرَعتَها

تَرَكَ الزَئيرَ اللَيثُ مُذ أَشرَعتَها

فَرَقاً كَما تَرَكَ الهَديرَ المُصعَبُ

فَرَقاً كَما تَرَكَ الهَديرَ المُصعَبُ

The lion abandoned roaring when you leveled them,

The lion ceased roaring when you leveled them,

From fear, as the fierce stallion ceased to thunder.

In fear, just as the unbroken camel ceased bellowing.

بِكَ عاذَ هَذا الدينُ دُمتَ نَصيرَهُ

بِكَ عاذَ هَذا الدينُ دُمتَ نَصيرَهُ

مِمّا يَخافُ وَنالَ ما يَتَرَقَّبُ

مِمّا يَخافُ وَنالَ ما يَتَرَقَّبُ

In you this faith has sought protection—long remain its champion—

This faith took refuge in you—may you remain its champion—

From all it fears, and through you gained its hopes.

From what it fears, and attained what it awaited.

أَنتَ المُظَفَّرُ بِالأَعادي وَالمُنى

أَنتَ المُظَفَّرُ بِالأَعادي وَالمُنى

إِن خيفَ حَيفٌ أَو تَعَذَّزَ مَطلَبُ

إِن خيفَ حَيفٌ أَو تَعَذَّزَ مَطلَبُ

You are granted victory over foes and aspirations

You are victor over foes and master of desires,

Whenever injustice threatens or a prize proves hard.

When injustice is feared or a goal proves elusive.

فَرَّقتَ شَملَ الخَوفِ وَهوَ مَجَمَّعٌ

فَرَّقتَ شَملَ الخَوفِ وَهوَ مَجَمَّعٌ

وَجَمَعتَ شَملَ الأَمنِ وَهوَ مُشَعَّبُ

وَجَمَعتَ شَملَ الأَمنِ وَهوَ مُشَعَّبُ

You scattered fear’s assembled host

You scattered fear's company while it was gathered,

And gathered safety though its parts were dispersed.

And gathered safety's company while it was scattered.

مازِلتَ تَبعَثُ كُلَّ يومٍ نَكبَةً

مازِلتَ تَبعَثُ كُلَّ يومٍ نَكبَةً

حَتّى اِستَقامَ لَكَ العَنودُ الأَنكَبُ

حَتّى اِستَقامَ لَكَ العَنودُ الأَنكَبُ

Each day you kept unleashing some calamity

You kept sending a calamity every day

Until the crooked rebel stood straight before you.

Until the stubborn and wayward submitted to you.

فَليَنتَحِ القَمقامَ عِندَ سُكونِهِ

فَليَنتَحِ القَمقامَ عِندَ سُكونِهِ

مَن نَدَّ عَنهُ وَمَوجُهُ مُغلَولِبُ

مَن نَدَّ عَنهُ وَمَوجُهُ مُغلَولِبُ

Let him seek the mighty sea only when it is calm—

Let him approach the ocean now that it is calm,

He who fled it when its waves surged overpoweringly.

Who fled from it while its waves were surging.

فَالعِزُّ أَقعَسُ وَالمَجازُ مُساهِمٌ

فَالعِزُّ أَقعَسُ وَالمَجازُ مُساهِمٌ

وَالرَوضُ أَحوى وَالحَيا مُتَصَوِّبُ

وَالرَوضُ أَحوى وَالحَيا مُتَصَوِّبُ

Might stands firm; the storm clouds cast their lots;

For glory stands unbending, and the passage lends aid;

The meadow darkens green, and rain pours down.

The meadow is dark-green, and rain pours down.

غَيرُ الَّذي عاداكَ يَظفَرُ بِالمُنى

غَيرُ الَّذي عاداكَ يَظفَرُ بِالمُنى

وَبِغَيرِ آمِلِكَ الظُنونُ تُخَيَّبُ

وَبِغَيرِ آمِلِكَ الظُنونُ تُخَيَّبُ

All but those who oppose you win their hopes;

Anyone but your enemy attains his wishes,

All but those who trust in you find expectation thwarted.

And expectations are disappointed in anyone but those who hope in you.

تُسدي الكِرامُ مَكارِماً مَبتولَةً

تُسدي الكِرامُ مَكارِماً مَبتولَةً

وَلِكُلِّ نَيلٍ مِن يَدَيكَ مُعَقِّبُ

وَلِكُلِّ نَيلٍ مِن يَدَيكَ مُعَقِّبُ

The noble weave their solitary acts of generosity,

Noble men bestow isolated favors,

But every gift your hands bestow is followed by another.

But every gift from your hands has another following.

فَمِنَ العُفاةِ مُقَوِّضٌ وَمُطَنِّبٌ

فَمِنَ العُفاةِ مُقَوِّضٌ وَمُطَنِّبٌ

وَمِنَ الثَناءِ مُشَرِّقٌ وَمُغَرِّبُ

وَمِنَ الثَناءِ مُشَرِّقٌ وَمُغَرِّبُ

Among your petitioners are those who strike camp and those who pitch it;

Among petitioners, one strikes camp and another pitches it,

Among your praises are voices of east and west.

And among praises, one travels east and another west.

وَلَقَد أَجَرتَ الخائِفينَ وَما لَهُم

وَلَقَد أَجَرتَ الخائِفينَ وَما لَهُم

في الأَرضِ عَن حُجُراتِ مُلكِكَ مَذهَبُ

في الأَرضِ عَن حُجُراتِ مُلكِكَ مَذهَبُ

You have indeed sheltered those who were afraid,

You have indeed sheltered the fearful, though they have

Though nowhere on earth leads beyond your kingdom’s courts.

Nowhere on earth to go outside the precincts of your realm.

وَغَمَرتَهُم صَفحاً يُقَرِّبُ مِنهُمُ

وَغَمَرتَهُم صَفحاً يُقَرِّبُ مِنهُمُ

مَن مالَهُ عَمَلٌ إِلَيكَ يُقَرِّبُ

مَن مالَهُ عَمَلٌ إِلَيكَ يُقَرِّبُ

You engulfed them in a pardon that draws near

You flooded them with pardon, bringing near those among them

Even one who has no plea by which to approach you.

Who have no deed to bring them near to you.

حَتّى لَقالَ الناسُ مِمّا عَمَّهُم

حَتّى لَقالَ الناسُ مِمّا عَمَّهُم

ما ثَمَّ ذَنبٌ لِلعُقوبَةِ موجِبُ

ما ثَمَّ ذَنبٌ لِلعُقوبَةِ موجِبُ

So sweeping was your mercy that the people nearly said:

So that, from what encompassed them, people would surely say:

No sin remains that could require a punishment.

No sin there warrants punishment.

فَالعَفوُ فيكَ فَضيلَةٌ مَكنونَةٌ

فَالعَفوُ فيكَ فَضيلَةٌ مَكنونَةٌ

حَتّى يُبَيِّنَ فَضلَهُ مَن يُذنِبُ

حَتّى يُبَيِّنَ فَضلَهُ مَن يُذنِبُ

Forgiveness in you is a virtue lying hidden

For pardon is a virtue hidden within you

Until a sinner makes its excellence appear.

Until a sinner reveals its merit.

وَأَراكَ تَكرَهُ طَيَّها فَلِأَجلِ ذا

وَأَراكَ تَكرَهُ طَيَّها فَلِأَجلِ ذا

كُلٌّ إِلَيكَ بِنَشرِها يَتَقَرَّبُ

كُلٌّ إِلَيكَ بِنَشرِها يَتَقَرَّبُ

I see you hate to keep that virtue folded; therefore

And I see you dislike folding it away; for that reason,

All draw close to you by spreading it abroad.

Everyone draws near to you by unfolding it.

لَتَخِذتِ إِعجازَ الأَنامِ خَليقَةً

لَتَخِذتِ إِعجازَ الأَنامِ خَليقَةً

فَغَريبُ ما تَأتيهِ لا يُستَغرَبُ

فَغَريبُ ما تَأتيهِ لا يُستَغرَبُ

You have made mankind’s astonishment your nature,

You have indeed made outdoing mankind your nature,

So nothing wondrous that you do is wondered at.

So the strange things you do are not thought strange.

وَعَمَمتَ كُلَّ العالَمينَ بِنائِلٍ

وَعَمَمتَ كُلَّ العالَمينَ بِنائِلٍ

ما اِمتازَ فيهِ عَنِ البَعيدِ الأَقرَبُ

ما اِمتازَ فيهِ عَنِ البَعيدِ الأَقرَبُ

You encompassed all the worlds with largesse

You encompassed all the worlds with a bounty

In which the nearest has no preference over the farthest.

In which the nearer had no advantage over the distant.

أَنشَأتَ مِنهُ بِكُلِّ أُفقٍ ديمَةً

أَنشَأتَ مِنهُ بِكُلِّ أُفقٍ ديمَةً

لِسَحابِها في كُلِّ أَرضٍ هَيدَبُ

لِسَحابِها في كُلِّ أَرضٍ هَيدَبُ

From it you raised a rain cloud in every horizon,

From it you raised a lasting rain upon every horizon;

Its streaming skirts above each tract of earth.

Its clouds trail fringes of rain over every land.

فَالغَيمُ إِلّا مِن سَمائِكَ زِبرِجٌ

فَالغَيمُ إِلّا مِن سَمائِكَ زِبرِجٌ

وَالبَرقُ إِلّا مِن سَحابِكَ خُلَّبُ

وَالبَرقُ إِلّا مِن سَحابِكَ خُلَّبُ

Every cloud not born from your sky is mere gilding,

Clouds, save those from your sky, are mere finery;

And every lightning flash not from your clouds deceives.

And lightning, save that from your clouds, is deceptive.

فَلتَعلُ أَرضُ التُركِ أَنَّ تُرابَها

فَلتَعلُ أَرضُ التُركِ أَنَّ تُرابَها

ما حازَ أَصلاً فَرعُهُ لا يُنجِبُ

ما حازَ أَصلاً فَرعُهُ لا يُنجِبُ

Let the land of the Turks learn that its soil

So let the land of the Turks rise high, for its soil

Held no sound root whose branch could prosper.

Has never held a root whose branch fails to bear noble offspring.

وَلَقَد أَبَنتَ لَنا بِضَربِكَ في الطُلى

وَلَقَد أَبَنتَ لَنا بِضَربِكَ في الطُلى

يَومَ الوَغى في أَيِّ عِرقٍ تَضرِبُ

يَومَ الوَغى في أَيِّ عِرقٍ تَضرِبُ

By striking necks, you made plain to us

Indeed, by striking necks, you have shown us,

Upon the battle-day what stock you spring from.

On the day of battle, in what ancestral stock you are rooted.

لِلمَشرِقِ الأَقصى بِبَيتِكَ مَفخَرٌ

لِلمَشرِقِ الأَقصى بِبَيتِكَ مَفخَرٌ

قَد ظَلَّ يَحسُدُهُ عَلَيهِ المَغرِبُ

قَد ظَلَّ يَحسُدُهُ عَلَيهِ المَغرِبُ

The farthest East takes pride in your illustrious house,

The farthest East has in your house a source of pride

A pride for which the West has long envied it.

For which the West has long envied it.

وَدِمَشقُ فَهيَ لهُ الغَداةَ قَسيمَةٌ

وَدِمَشقُ فَهيَ لهُ الغَداةَ قَسيمَةٌ

إِنَّ المَعالِيَ مِن جِوارِكَ تُكسَبُ

إِنَّ المَعالِيَ مِن جِوارِكَ تُكسَبُ

Damascus now shares equally in that honor,

And Damascus now shares that pride with it;

For lofty qualities are gained by dwelling near you.

Indeed, eminence is gained through being your neighbor.

لَولا اِنتِقالُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَن قَومِهِ

لَولا اِنتِقالُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَن قَومِهِ

ما شارَكَت في الفَخرِ مَكَّةَ يَثرِبُ

ما شارَكَت في الفَخرِ مَكَّةَ يَثرِبُ

Had Muḥammad not departed from his people,

Had Muhammad not departed from his people,

Mecca would not share its glory with Yathrib.

Yathrib would not have shared Mecca's glory.

وَبِفَضلِ قَومِكَ مِن إِبائِكَ شاهِدٌ

وَبِفَضلِ قَومِكَ مِن إِبائِكَ شاهِدٌ

إِنَّ الإِباءَ عَنِ الأُبُوَّةِ يُعرِبُ

إِنَّ الإِباءَ عَنِ الأُبُوَّةِ يُعرِبُ

The excellence of your ancestral people bears witness;

Your proud defiance bears witness to your people's merit;

Their pride speaks plainly of its paternity.

Indeed, proud defiance speaks of one's parentage.

وَلَوَ اِنَّهُم لَم يُشهَروا بِفَضيلَةٍ

وَلَوَ اِنَّهُم لَم يُشهَروا بِفَضيلَةٍ

لَاِزدانَ بِالفَرعِ الزَكِيِّ المَنصِبُ

لَاِزدانَ بِالفَرعِ الزَكِيِّ المَنصِبُ

Even had none of them been famed for excellence,

Even had they not been renowned for any virtue,

Your noble branch would only magnify the rooted tree.

The ancestral stock would be adorned by its pure branch.

فَليَهنِ بَيتاً أَنتَ مِنهُ أَنَّهُ

فَليَهنِ بَيتاً أَنتَ مِنهُ أَنَّهُ

أَبَداً عَلى ظَهرِ السِماكِ مُطَنَّبُ

أَبَداً عَلى ظَهرِ السِماكِ مُطَنَّبُ

Congratulations to the house from which you come:

Let the house you come from rejoice that it is

Its tent stands always on the back of the high star Simāk.

Forever pitched upon the back of al-Simak.

فَنواظِرُ الأَفلاكِ شاهِدَةٌ لَهُ

فَنواظِرُ الأَفلاكِ شاهِدَةٌ لَهُ

بِالمَجدِ وَهوَ عَنِ العَيونِ مَحَجَّبُ

بِالمَجدِ وَهوَ عَنِ العَيونِ مَحَجَّبُ

The eyes of the celestial spheres bear witness to its glory,

The eyes of the celestial spheres bear witness

Though in majesty it is veiled from mortal eyes.

To its glory, though it is veiled from eyes.

وَإِذا السَحابُ رَأَيتَهُ مَتَراكِماً

وَإِذا السَحابُ رَأَيتَهُ مَتَراكِماً

فَاِحكُم بِأَنَّ الغَيثَ فيهِ صَيِّبُ

فَاِحكُم بِأَنَّ الغَيثَ فيهِ صَيِّبُ

Whenever a cloud sees it stretching high above,

And when you see clouds heaped together,

Judge that the rain within that cloud will pour.

Then judge that the rain within them is pouring.

شَغَفَ الوَرى حُبّاً فَعالُكَ كُلُّهُ

شَغَفَ الوَرى حُبّاً فَعالُكَ كُلُّهُ

إِنَّ الجَميلَ إِلى النُفوسِ مَحَبَّبُ

إِنَّ الجَميلَ إِلى النُفوسِ مَحَبَّبُ

Mankind is enamored of all your deeds,

All your deeds have filled mankind with love;

For beauty is beloved by every soul.

Indeed, goodness is beloved of souls.

تَتَطَلَّبُ الأَهواءَ أَفئِدَةُ الوَرى

تَتَطَلَّبُ الأَهواءَ أَفئِدَةُ الوَرى

وَعَنِ المَناقِبِ ماتَزالُ تُنَقِّبُ

وَعَنِ المَناقِبِ ماتَزالُ تُنَقِّبُ

The hearts of humankind aspire toward their desires,

The hearts of mankind seek desires,

While ever searching through your noble qualities.

While you never cease delving for virtues.

فَليَطلُبِ الصَبواتِ غَيرُكَ صاحِباً

فَليَطلُبِ الصَبواتِ غَيرُكَ صاحِباً

ماذا العَزوفُ لِصَبوَةٍ مُستَصحِبُ

ماذا العَزوفُ لِصَبوَةٍ مُستَصحِبُ

Let another seek a patron for coveted gifts—

Let passions seek someone other than you as a companion;

What lasting kindness could accompany his companionship?

What passion would the abstinent take as his companion?

وَلَقَد شُغِلتَ بِمَنعِ ثَغرٍ طارِقٍ

وَلَقَد شُغِلتَ بِمَنعِ ثَغرٍ طارِقٍ

عَمّا دَعاكَ إِلَيهِ ثَغرٌ أَشنَبُ

عَمّا دَعاكَ إِلَيهِ ثَغرٌ أَشنَبُ

You entered even the impregnable den of a thief,

Indeed, defending an embattled frontier has occupied you

Answering the summons of a gleaming-toothed frontier.

Away from what a mouth of pearly teeth invited you to.

قُل لِلمَساعي بَعضَ ما تُملينَهُ

قُل لِلمَساعي بَعضَ ما تُملينَهُ

قَد مَلَّتِ الأَقلامُ مِمّا تَكتُبُ

قَد مَلَّتِ الأَقلامُ مِمّا تَكتُبُ

Tell noble endeavors to ease what they dictate:

Say to your endeavors: Less of what you dictate;

The pens are weary from all that they have written.

The pens have grown weary of what they write.

يَرجوكَ مِنّا خائِفٌ وَمُؤَمِّلٌ

يَرجوكَ مِنّا خائِفٌ وَمُؤَمِّلٌ

وَمِنَ المُلوكِ مُتَوَّجٌ وَمُعَصَّبُ

وَمِنَ المُلوكِ مُتَوَّجٌ وَمُعَصَّبُ

Among us, the fearful and the hopeful look to you,

Among us, the fearful and the hopeful look to you,

As do crowned kings and turbaned sovereigns.

And among kings, the crowned and the diademed.

لا أَدَّعي بِالقَولِ فيكَ فَضيلَةً

لا أَدَّعي بِالقَولِ فيكَ فَضيلَةً

باغي مَديحِكَ رائِدٌ لا يَتعَبُ

باغي مَديحِكَ رائِدٌ لا يَتعَبُ

I claim no virtue merely by speaking praise of you;

I claim no merit for speaking of you;

Whoever seeks your praise has a guide that never tires.

The seeker of your praise is a scout who never tires.

بِكَ عادَ دَهري ضاحِكاً مِن بَعدِما

بِكَ عادَ دَهري ضاحِكاً مِن بَعدِما

أَلوى بِسَدرِ العُمرِ وَهوَ مُقَطِّبُ

أَلوى بِسَدرِ العُمرِ وَهوَ مُقَطِّبُ

Through you my age returned to me smiling, after

Through you my time returned to smiling, after

It had bent life’s lote tree beneath a frowning face.

It had swept away life's carefree ease, frowning.

هَل غالَني زَمَنٌ وَظِلُّكَ عاصِمي

هَل غالَني زَمَنٌ وَظِلُّكَ عاصِمي

أَو فاتَني طَلَبٌ وَأَنتَ المَطلَبُ

أَو فاتَني طَلَبٌ وَأَنتَ المَطلَبُ

Has any age oppressed me while you were my protector?

Could time destroy me while your shelter protects me,

Has any wish escaped me while you were the one I sought?

Or a wish elude me while you are the goal?

فَلَأَشكُرَنَّ نَداكَ مَبلَغَ طاقَتي

فَلَأَشكُرَنَّ نَداكَ مَبلَغَ طاقَتي

أَنا إِن رَجَوتُ لَهُ جَزاءً أَشعَبُ

أَنا إِن رَجَوتُ لَهُ جَزاءً أَشعَبُ

I shall thank your bounty to the utmost of my power,

I shall surely thank your bounty to the limit of my strength;

Though, if I hope to repay it, repayment is hardest of all.

If I hoped for recompense for it, I would be Ash'ab.

أُثني عَلَيكَ وَلَستُ أَبلِغُ شَأوَهُ

أُثني عَلَيكَ وَلَستُ أَبلِغُ شَأوَهُ

مَعَ أَنَّني في وَصفِ مَجدِكَ مُطنِبُ

مَعَ أَنَّني في وَصفِ مَجدِكَ مُطنِبُ

I praise you, though I cannot reach praise’s full extent,

I praise you, yet cannot reach its full measure,

Even while I dwell at length upon your glory.

Though I speak at length in describing your glory.

زينَت بِهَذا المُلكِ أَعيادُ الورى

زينَت بِهَذا المُلكِ أَعيادُ الورى

فَبَقيتَ ما دامَت تَجيءُ وَتَذهَبُ

فَبَقيتَ ما دامَت تَجيءُ وَتَذهَبُ

You have adorned the people’s festivals with this dominion;

Mankind's festivals have been adorned by this reign;

Remain while festivals keep coming and departing.

So may you endure as long as they come and go,

لِلخَطبِ تَنفيهِ فَلَيسَ بِعائِدٍ

لِلخَطبِ تَنفيهِ فَلَيسَ بِعائِدٍ

وَالأَمرِ تُمضيهِ فَلا يُتَعَقَّبُ

وَالأَمرِ تُمضيهِ فَلا يُتَعَقَّبُ

You banish calamity, and it does not return;

To banish calamity, so it does not return,

You issue a command, and none may challenge it.

And carry a matter through, so it is not reconsidered.