بِإِحرازِكَ الفَضلَ الَّذي بَهَرَ الخَلقا

بِإِحرازِكَ الفَضلَ الَّذي بَهَرَ الخَلقا

فَرَعتَ ذُرى المَجدِ الَّتي لَم تَكُن تُرقا

فَرَعتَ ذُرى المَجدِ الَّتي لَم تَكُن تُرقا

By attaining the excellence that dazzled creation,

With your virtuous qualities that dazzle all creation,

you scaled glory's summits that had never been climbed.

You have attained the heights of glory never reached before.

وَمَن مَهَرَ العَلياءَ حِلماً وَنائِلاً

وَمَن مَهَرَ العَلياءَ حِلماً وَنائِلاً

وَمَحمِيَةً كانَت حَلالاً لَهُ طِلقا

وَمَحمِيَةً كانَت حَلالاً لَهُ طِلقا

Whoever gives loftiness a bridal dower of forbearance and bounty

One who has mastered nobility, forbearance, and attainment,

and protective zeal finds her lawful and freely his.

With safeguards that were permitted to him unconditionally.

وَقَد زِدتَها مِنَ التَقِيَّةِ نِحلَةً

وَقَد زِدتَها مِنَ التَقِيَّةِ نِحلَةً

فَكُنتَ الأَعَفَّ الأَحلَمَ الأَكرَمَ الأَتقا

فَكُنتَ الأَعَفَّ الأَحلَمَ الأَكرَمَ الأَتقا

You added piety as a bridal gift to her,

You have augmented these with devoutness,

and became the chastest, most forbearing, most generous, most devout.

Thus you are the most chaste, forbearing, generous, and pious.

مَعاني مَعالٍ فُقتَ لَمّا اِبتَدَعتَها

مَعاني مَعالٍ فُقتَ لَمّا اِبتَدَعتَها

وَأَعيا الوَرى ما جَلَّ مِنها وَما دَقّا

وَأَعيا الوَرى ما جَلَّ مِنها وَما دَقّا

Qualities of lofty deeds—you excelled when you devised them,

With meaningful ideas you innovated,

and their great and subtle aspects alike baffled mankind.

Perplexing the world’s brightest and most discerning minds.

رَكِبتَ إِلى المَجدِ الرَوامِسَ وَاِمتَطَوا

رَكِبتَ إِلى المَجدِ الرَوامِسَ وَاِمتَطَوا

عَرامِسَ ما أَبقى الكَلالُ بِها طِرقا

عَرامِسَ ما أَبقى الكَلالُ بِها طِرقا

You rode through dark nights toward glory, while they mounted

You mounted glory’s lofty heights,

stout she-camels in which exhaustion had left no strength.

That no hero before you had trodden.

وَحُجَّتُهُم كانَت لِإِشكالِ طُرقِهِ

وَحُجَّتُهُم كانَت لِإِشكالِ طُرقِهِ

فَأَلّا وَقَد أَوضَحتَ لِلسالِكِ الطُرقا

فَأَلّا وَقَد أَوضَحتَ لِلسالِكِ الطُرقا

Their excuse had been the obscurity of its paths;

Their argument was the difficulty of its paths,

so why not, now that you have made the paths clear to the traveler?

But you have made the way clear for the wayfarer.

وَمُستَبَقٍ لِلأَكرَمينَ بِمَركَضٍ

وَمُستَبَقٍ لِلأَكرَمينَ بِمَركَضٍ

تَرى الوَفرَ مُقنىً فيهِ وَالشُكرَ مُستَبقا

تَرى الوَفرَ مُقنىً فيهِ وَالشُكرَ مُستَبقا

And many a contest for the noblest in an arena

A front runner leaving the noblest behind in your gallop -

where wealth is acquired and gratitude retained:

You see vigor tiring in it, and gratitude left behind.

عَلَوتَ بِهِ الأَجوادَ طُرّاً مَكارِماً

عَلَوتَ بِهِ الأَجوادَ طُرّاً مَكارِماً

وَفُتَّ بِهِ الأَمجادَ قاطِبَةً سَبقا

وَفُتَّ بِهِ الأَمجادَ قاطِبَةً سَبقا

through it you surpassed all the generous in noble deeds,

You surpassed the generous in noble manners,

and outstripped all the illustrious in the race.

And outstripped glories utterly in precedence.

كَأَنَّكَ لا تَرجو لِذا الفَخرِ أَن يُرى

كَأَنَّكَ لا تَرجو لِذا الفَخرِ أَن يُرى

مُحِقّاً إِذا لَم تُفنِ ما حُزتَهُ مَحقا

مُحِقّاً إِذا لَم تُفنِ ما حُزتَهُ مَحقا

As though you do not hope this boast will be judged

As though you do not wish such pride be seen

justified unless you utterly consume what you have amassed.

Diminishing, if you do not exhaust what you have gained.

وَما زِلتَ ذا الفَضلِ الَّذي صاقَبَ السُهى

وَما زِلتَ ذا الفَضلِ الَّذي صاقَبَ السُهى

عُلُوّاً وَذا القَولِ الَّذي جانَبَ المَذقا

عُلُوّاً وَذا القَولِ الَّذي جانَبَ المَذقا

You have remained the possessor of excellence that neighbored Suha

You still possess this virtue that avoided disgrace,

in height, and of speech that shunned dilution.

And this discourse that avoided distaste.

جَلا عَن جَميعِ المُسلِمينَ غِياثُهُم

جَلا عَن جَميعِ المُسلِمينَ غِياثُهُم

خُطوباً تَحَدَّتهُم بِأَسهُمِها رَشقا

خُطوباً تَحَدَّتهُم بِأَسهُمِها رَشقا

Their rescuer cleared away from all the Muslims

The shelter of all Muslims against their assailing woes -

calamities that challenged them with volleys of arrows.

Misfortunes that challenge them with their arrows.

خَليلٌ أَتى مَأتى الخَليلِ بنِ آزَرٍ

خَليلٌ أَتى مَأتى الخَليلِ بنِ آزَرٍ

مِنَ الحِلمِ وَالإِغضاءِ قَد آزَرَ الخَلقا

مِنَ الحِلمِ وَالإِغضاءِ قَد آزَرَ الخَلقا

A friend who took the path of the Friend, son of Azar,

A Khalil who emulates the Khalil son of Azar

in forbearance and overlooking faults, has supported creation.

In forbearance and restraint, benefiting all mankind.

فَأَبقى عَلى الجانينَ عَفواً وَرَأفَةً

فَأَبقى عَلى الجانينَ عَفواً وَرَأفَةً

وَجادَ عَلى العافينَ عَفواً فَما أَبقا

وَجادَ عَلى العافينَ عَفواً فَما أَبقا

He spared offenders in pardon and compassion,

He forgives the sinner, and is generous to the innocent,

and gave freely to petitioners, leaving nothing.

Continuously bestowing pardon, never ceasing.

وَقَد تَلِدُ المَعروفَ أَيدٍ كَثيرَةٌ

وَقَد تَلِدُ المَعروفَ أَيدٍ كَثيرَةٌ

وَلَكِنَّها مِن قَبلِهِ تُكثِرُ الطَلقا

وَلَكِنَّها مِن قَبلِهِ تُكثِرُ الطَلقا

Many hands may give birth to kindness,

Good deeds give birth to many hands,

but beforehand they multiply the pains of labor.

But his outdo them in frequent charity.

سَريعٌ إِلى أُكرومَةٍ وَحَمِيَّةٍ

سَريعٌ إِلى أُكرومَةٍ وَحَمِيَّةٍ

فَلَو رافَقَتهُ الريحُ قالَت لَهُ رِفقا

فَلَو رافَقَتهُ الريحُ قالَت لَهُ رِفقا

Swift to noble generosity and protective zeal,

Swift to noble and protective acts -

if the wind accompanied him, it would tell him, 'Gently!'

If the wind accompanied him it would say to him, “Gently!”

يَفيضُ نَدىً فيمَن أَطاعَ وَمَن عَصى

يَفيضُ نَدىً فيمَن أَطاعَ وَمَن عَصى

أَتَتهُ سُطاهُ مِثلَ أَنعُمِهِ دَفقا

أَتَتهُ سُطاهُ مِثلَ أَنعُمِهِ دَفقا

He pours bounty upon those who obey; and whoever rebels,

He is bountiful to those who obey and disobey equally,

his assaults reach him in torrents, like his favors.

His kindness comes to them like his blessings, in floods.

مِنَ الأُسرَةِ الشُمِّ الَّذينَ تَحَمَّلوا

مِنَ الأُسرَةِ الشُمِّ الَّذينَ تَحَمَّلوا

إِلى كُلِّ ذِكرٍ طَيِّبٍ كُلَّ ما شَقّا

إِلى كُلِّ ذِكرٍ طَيِّبٍ كُلَّ ما شَقّا

Of the lofty family whose members endured

From the elevated house of Shumays, who have taken upon themselves

every hardship to win every good remembrance,

Every worthy mention, regardless of the burdens.

وَذَبّوا عَنِ الأَعراضِ عِلماً بِأَنَّها

وَذَبّوا عَنِ الأَعراضِ عِلماً بِأَنَّها

بِغَيرِ مِياهِ البَذلِ وَالعَدلِ لا تَبقا

بِغَيرِ مِياهِ البَذلِ وَالعَدلِ لا تَبقا

and defended their honor, knowing that

They protected honors with the knowledge

without the waters of generosity and justice it cannot endure.

That without the waters of generosity and justice they cannot last.

بَهاليلُ كَم أَسدَوا إِلى الدَهرِ مِنَّةً

بَهاليلُ كَم أَسدَوا إِلى الدَهرِ مِنَّةً

وَسَدّوا بِها خَرقاً وَسادوا بِها خِرقا

وَسَدّوا بِها خَرقاً وَسادوا بِها خِرقا

Noble lords—how many a favor they bestowed upon time,

Bahalil - how much favor they showed the ages!

mending a breach through it and surpassing a noble master through it.

They mended every tear, and sowed the openings.

رَأَيتُ الَّذي يَبغي مَداكَ كَناصِبٍ

رَأَيتُ الَّذي يَبغي مَداكَ كَناصِبٍ

حَبائِلَهُ جَهلاً لِيَقتَنِصَ العَنقا

حَبائِلَهُ جَهلاً لِيَقتَنِصَ العَنقا

I saw whoever seeks your stature as a man laying

I saw those who desire your death like lying foes

his snares, in ignorance, to capture the Anqa.

Ensnaring you in the traps of ignorance to catch you.

مَلَكتَ مِنَ الآفاقِ غَرباً وَقِبلَةً

مَلَكتَ مِنَ الآفاقِ غَرباً وَقِبلَةً

فَأَنشَأتَ عَزماً يَطلُبُ الشامَ وَالشَرقا

فَأَنشَأتَ عَزماً يَطلُبُ الشامَ وَالشَرقا

You possessed the horizons westward and toward the qibla,

You have conquered East and West,

then formed a resolve seeking al-Sham and the East.

Instilling a resolve to seek Syria and the Orient.

وَقَد دَبَّ مِن أَقصى المَشارِقِ حَيَّةٌ

وَقَد دَبَّ مِن أَقصى المَشارِقِ حَيَّةٌ

لَها لَدَغاتٌ لا تُداوى وَلا تُرقا

لَها لَدَغاتٌ لا تُداوى وَلا تُرقا

A serpent has crept from the farthest eastern lands,

And there has crept out of the far East a snake

whose bites cannot be healed or charmed away.

Whose stings cannot be cured or softened.

فَطَبَّقَ تِلكَ الأَرضَ ظُلماً وَظُلمَةً

فَطَبَّقَ تِلكَ الأَرضَ ظُلماً وَظُلمَةً

فَكُن فَلَقاً يَجلو دَجوجِيَّهُ فَلقا

فَكُن فَلَقاً يَجلو دَجوجِيَّهُ فَلقا

It covered that land with oppression and darkness,

It has smothered that land in injustice and darkness -

so be a dawn that cleaves and dispels its deepest gloom.

So be a crack to dispel its pitch blackness.

فَمِن دونِ دينٍ قَد تَوَلَّيتَ نَصرَهُ

فَمِن دونِ دينٍ قَد تَوَلَّيتَ نَصرَهُ

قَبائِلَ مِن قَيسٍ وَقَحطانَ ما تُلقا

قَبائِلَ مِن قَيسٍ وَقَحطانَ ما تُلقا

For in defense of a faith whose support you have undertaken

For the defense of religion you have mobilized

stand tribes of Qays and Qahtan that cannot be confronted.

Tribes of Qais and Qahtan they did not previously ally.

هُمُ سَلَبوا كِسرى بنَ ساسانَ مُلكَهُ

هُمُ سَلَبوا كِسرى بنَ ساسانَ مُلكَهُ

وَقَبلَهُمُ عَقَّ المُلوكَ وَما عُقّا

وَقَبلَهُمُ عَقَّ المُلوكَ وَما عُقّا

They stripped Kisra, son of Sasan, of his kingdom,

They stripped Chosroes son of Sasan of his kingdom,

though before them he had defied kings without being defied.

And before him they straightened the bent kings.

وَذادوا عَلى اليَرموكِ ذادَةَ قَيصَرٍ

وَذادوا عَلى اليَرموكِ ذادَةَ قَيصَرٍ

بِكُلِّ حُسامٍ يَمنَعُ الناطِقَ النُطقا

بِكُلِّ حُسامٍ يَمنَعُ الناطِقَ النُطقا

At the Yarmuk they repelled Caesar's defenders

At Yarmouk they resisted Caesar’s resistance

with every keen sword that robs the speaker of speech.

With every sharp sword that silences the speaker.

يُبالِغُ في نَهيِ الطُغاةِ وَلَم يَقُل

يُبالِغُ في نَهيِ الطُغاةِ وَلَم يَقُل

وَيَقسو لَدى الحَربِ العَوانِ وإِن رَقّا

وَيَقسو لَدى الحَربِ العَوانِ وإِن رَقّا

It goes to extremes in restraining tyrants, though it has not spoken,

He forbids tyrants forcefully and does not say “gently”,

and is harsh in renewed battle, though slender.

Yet is compassionate in the heat of battle, however intense.

وَلا شَكَّ أَنَّ التُركَ يَنسَونَ رَميَهُم

وَلا شَكَّ أَنَّ التُركَ يَنسَونَ رَميَهُم

بِطَعنٍ بِهِ أَنسَيتَ صَنهاجَةَ الزَرقا

بِطَعنٍ بِهِ أَنسَيتَ صَنهاجَةَ الزَرقا

No doubt the Turks will forget their archery

Undoubtedly the Turks forget his piercing arrows

through thrusts with which you made Sanhaja forget their blue spears.

With which you made them forget Sanajah’s coat of mail.

أَلا فَاِرمِهِم مِنهُم بِكُلِّ بنِ حُرَّةٍ

أَلا فَاِرمِهِم مِنهُم بِكُلِّ بنِ حُرَّةٍ

يَهيمُ بِيَومِ الرَوعِ مِن مَهدِهِ عِشقا

يَهيمُ بِيَومِ الرَوعِ مِن مَهدِهِ عِشقا

Come, strike them with every freeborn woman's son from among those men,

Then attack them with every fiery son of Hurrah

who has passionately loved the day of terror from his cradle.

Who from birth yearns for the day of panic.

تَطيحُ بِهِ شَقّاءُ يُجنَبُ خَلفَها

تَطيحُ بِهِ شَقّاءُ يُجنَبُ خَلفَها

إِلى كُلِّ حَربٍ عِثيَرٌ قَطُّ ماشُقّا

إِلى كُلِّ حَربٍ عِثيَرٌ قَطُّ ماشُقّا

A long-bodied mare sweeps him onward; behind her is led

Calamity brings down its fold,

to every battle a dust cloud never yet cleft.

Then every unruly cat takes to every battle, defying wounds.

جَريءٍ يَرى الإِقدامَ حَقّاً عَلى الفَتى

جَريءٍ يَرى الإِقدامَ حَقّاً عَلى الفَتى

فَيَحمِلُ وِقرَ العَودِ مِن نَجدَةٍ حِقّا

فَيَحمِلُ وِقرَ العَودِ مِن نَجدَةٍ حِقّا

A bold man who sees advance as a young man's duty,

A bold man who sees daring as the duty of man,

he bears an old camel's load of valor while still a young camel.

So he bears the heavy weight of the lance fearlessly.

يَحُثُّ الجَوادَ الأَعوَجِيَّ وَما وَنى

يَحُثُّ الجَوادَ الأَعوَجِيَّ وَما وَنى

وَيُسقي الحُسامَ المَشرَفِيَّ وَما اِستَسقى

وَيُسقي الحُسامَ المَشرَفِيَّ وَما اِستَسقى

He spurs the A'waji steed without flagging,

He rouses the nimble camel and it has not grown weary,

and gives the Mashrafi sword drink without its asking.

He waters the Indian sword and it is not sated.

مِنَ القَومِ بَزّوا رَبَّةَ الرومِ نَفسَها

مِنَ القَومِ بَزّوا رَبَّةَ الرومِ نَفسَها

بِمَنزِلِها الأَقصى وَما بَلَغوا العُمقا

بِمَنزِلِها الأَقصى وَما بَلَغوا العُمقا

Of the men who seized the mistress of Rum herself

Some of the tribe reached the palace of Rome’s empress herself,

in her farthest abode, though they had not reached the heartland.

To her furthest abode, but did not reach the depths.

رَمَيتَ مِنَ العَزمِ الوَحيِّ بِلادَها

رَمَيتَ مِنَ العَزمِ الوَحيِّ بِلادَها

بِصاعِقَةٍ ما خِلتُها بَعدَها تَبقا

بِصاعِقَةٍ ما خِلتُها بَعدَها تَبقا

Through swift resolve you struck her lands

You have pierced its lands with resolute lightning

with a thunderbolt after which I thought they could not survive.

Of which no trace remains after its strikes.

بَعَثتَ لَهُم مِن كُلِّ خَرقٍ وَقُلَّةٍ

بَعَثتَ لَهُم مِن كُلِّ خَرقٍ وَقُلَّةٍ

صَوارِمَ أَعيَت مَن يَسُدُّ لَها خَرقا

صَوارِمَ أَعيَت مَن يَسُدُّ لَها خَرقا

From every wasteland and summit you sent against them

You have sent them warriors against every breach and gap

keen swords that baffled anyone trying to close their breaches.

Exhausting those who would mend the torn places.

فَأَجرَت سُيولاً مِن دِماءِ حُماتِهِم

فَأَجرَت سُيولاً مِن دِماءِ حُماتِهِم

أَماتَت بِها الفُرّارَ مِن وَقعِها غَرقا

أَماتَت بِها الفُرّارَ مِن وَقعِها غَرقا

They released torrents of their defenders' blood,

They have poured rivers of blood from their protectors

drowning in them those fleeing their blows.

In which the fleeing from their onslaught drowned.

وَلَم نَرَ سَيلاً قَبلَهُ فاضَ مِن دَمٍ

وَلَم نَرَ سَيلاً قَبلَهُ فاضَ مِن دَمٍ

وَلا قُضُباً هِندِيَّةً قَتَلَت خَنقا

وَلا قُضُباً هِندِيَّةً قَتَلَت خَنقا

Never before had we seen a torrent overflowing with blood,

We have never seen a flood pour from blood before,

nor Indian blades killing by strangulation.

Nor an Indian reed that kills by strangling.

وَقَد طالَما أَخَّرتَ جَيشاً عَنِ العِدى

وَقَد طالَما أَخَّرتَ جَيشاً عَنِ العِدى

وَأَرسَلتَ رَأياً مِثلَ باعِثِهِ صَدقا

وَأَرسَلتَ رَأياً مِثلَ باعِثِهِ صَدقا

Many a time you held an army back from the enemy,

Often you held back an army from transgression

and sent forth a plan as true as its sender.

And sent a wise saying like its sender in truthfulness.

فَأَذهَبتَ بِالإيعادِ شِقَّ نُفوسِهِم

فَأَذهَبتَ بِالإيعادِ شِقَّ نُفوسِهِم

وَغادَرتَ مِنها لِلظُبى وَالقَنا شِقّا

وَغادَرتَ مِنها لِلظُبى وَالقَنا شِقّا

With threats you swept away half their souls,

You took away the wolves’ souls with intimidation

leaving the other half for sword edges and spears.

And left in them but hares and foxes.

وَلَو شِئتَ لَم تَترُك لِبيضٍ مِنَ الظُبى

وَلَو شِئتَ لَم تَترُك لِبيضٍ مِنَ الظُبى

وَزُرقٍ مِنَ الخِرصانِ في مُهجَةٍ رِزقا

وَزُرقٍ مِنَ الخِرصانِ في مُهجَةٍ رِزقا

Had you wished, you would have left the white sword edges

Had you wished, you would have left no white tail of a fox

and blue spearheads no sustenance in any heart's blood.

Or blue lizard in the meadowland a bite.

وَلَكِن أَراكَ الحَزمُ أَنَّ وُرودَها

وَلَكِن أَراكَ الحَزمُ أَنَّ وُرودَها

دَمَ المارِقِ الغاوي لِهَيبَتَها أَبقا

دَمَ المارِقِ الغاوي لِهَيبَتَها أَبقا

But prudence showed you that their coming to drink

But I see your wisdom, that only the blood

the errant rebel's blood better preserves the dread they inspire.

Of deviant rebels will make its terror eternal.

قَرَعتَ الرَزايا بِالرَزايا وَلَم تَكُن

قَرَعتَ الرَزايا بِالرَزايا وَلَم تَكُن

بِمُستَعمِلٍ في مَوضِعِ الشِدَّةِ الرِفقا

بِمُستَعمِلٍ في مَوضِعِ الشِدَّةِ الرِفقا

You struck calamities with calamities, never

You have struck hardships with hardships and were not

using gentleness where severity belongs.

Gentle in dire need, a time for gentleness.

وَعايَنتَ ما تَحتَ الغُيوبِ فِراسَةً

وَعايَنتَ ما تَحتَ الغُيوبِ فِراسَةً

وَفَجرُ اليَقينِ في دُجى الشَكِّ ما اِنشَقّا

وَفَجرُ اليَقينِ في دُجى الشَكِّ ما اِنشَقّا

By intuition you saw what lay beneath the unseen,

You have witnessed what lies beyond perceptions -

while certainty's dawn had not yet split doubt's darkness.

The dawn of certainty rending the veil of doubts.

فَلَو كانَ ظَنُّ الجاهِلِيَّةِ صادِقاً

فَلَو كانَ ظَنُّ الجاهِلِيَّةِ صادِقاً

كَظَنِّكَ لَم تَسأَل سَطيحاً وَلا شِقّا

كَظَنِّكَ لَم تَسأَل سَطيحاً وَلا شِقّا

Had the conjecture of the age of ignorance been true

If the beliefs of ignorance were true,

like yours, it would not have consulted Satih or Shiqq.

Like your beliefs, you would not have questioned turtle shells.

مَساعٍ بِأَدناهُنَّ تُستَعبَدُ العُلى

مَساعٍ بِأَدناهُنَّ تُستَعبَدُ العُلى

وَقَبلَكَ لَم يَملِك لَها أَحَدٌ رِقّا

وَقَبلَكَ لَم يَملِك لَها أَحَدٌ رِقّا

Deeds whose least achievement enslaves lofty glory,

Hearing their lowest you enslave the highest,

though before you no one held it in bondage.

None before you possessed any control over them.

تَحَقَّقَها الأَدنَونَ سَمعاً وَرُؤيَةً

تَحَقَّقَها الأَدنَونَ سَمعاً وَرُؤيَةً

وَأُشعِرَها الأَقصَونَ مِن عَرفِها نَشقا

وَأُشعِرَها الأَقصَونَ مِن عَرفِها نَشقا

Those nearby verified them by hearing and sight,

The lowest ascertain them by hearing and seeing,

and those far away learned of them by inhaling their fragrance.

The highest are made aware of them by their renown.

وَأَنجُمُ عَزمٍ أَشرَقَ المُلكُ مُذ بَدَت

وَأَنجُمُ عَزمٍ أَشرَقَ المُلكُ مُذ بَدَت

فَدامَت لَهُ وَقفاً وَدُمتَ لَها أُفقا

فَدامَت لَهُ وَقفاً وَدُمتَ لَها أُفقا

And stars of resolve—the realm shone when they appeared,

Stars of resolve whose rising empowered the kingdom -

so they remained devoted to it, and you remained their horizon.

They were stopped in their course for it, became its horizon.

بِإِنعامِكَ اِستَغنَيتُ عَن كُلِّ مُنعِمٍ

بِإِنعامِكَ اِستَغنَيتُ عَن كُلِّ مُنعِمٍ

وَمَن ظَلَّ تَحتَ الغَيثِ لَم يَشِمِ البَرقا

وَمَن ظَلَّ تَحتَ الغَيثِ لَم يَشِمِ البَرقا

Your bounty has freed me from need of any other benefactor;

With your blessings I have become needless of any benefactor,

one who stands beneath the rain does not watch for lightning.

One sheltered by rain does not smell distant lightning.

أَبَت لِيَ ذاكَ ديمَةٌ ناصِرِيَّةٌ

أَبَت لِيَ ذاكَ ديمَةٌ ناصِرِيَّةٌ

تَفوقُ الحَيا نَفعاً وَتَكثُرُهُ وَدقا

تَفوقُ الحَيا نَفعاً وَتَكثُرُهُ وَدقا

A steady Nasiri rain denied me that,

That everlasting, victorious bond has refused me -

surpassing rain in benefit and exceeding it in rainfall.

It surpasses snakes in benefit, frequency, and precision.

وَصائِنُ مَدحي عَن مَعاشِرَ لا يَرى

وَصائِنُ مَدحي عَن مَعاشِرَ لا يَرى

أَسَفُّهُمُ بَينَ النَدى وَالرَدى فَرقا

أَسَفُّهُمُ بَينَ النَدى وَالرَدى فَرقا

You also guard my praise against people whose

My poetry’s guardian against a horde who do not see

basest member sees no difference between bounty and death.

Which of the two, praise or blame, distinguishes them more.

ذَوي المَلَقِ المُنجابِ عَن غَيرِ بُغيَةٍ

ذَوي المَلَقِ المُنجابِ عَن غَيرِ بُغيَةٍ

وَكَم عَدِمَ الإِحسانَ مَن حَسَّنَ المَلقا

وَكَم عَدِمَ الإِحسانَ مَن حَسَّنَ المَلقا

Men of flattery that clears away, revealing no desired prize,

Those of welcoming appearance but no ill intent,

and many who perfected flattery have received no kindness.

Yet how much good appearance is marred by those of bad behavior!

وَسائِلُ ما أَجدَت لَدَيهِم كَأَنَّها

وَسائِلُ ما أَجدَت لَدَيهِم كَأَنَّها

مَسائِلُ مِن عِلمٍ عَلى جاهِلٍ تُلقا

مَسائِلُ مِن عِلمٍ عَلى جاهِلٍ تُلقا

Appeals availed nothing with them, as though they were

Asking what they gain no knowledge from by asking,

questions of learning put to an ignoramus.

Like questions posed to the ignorant by the learned.

سَقى اللَهُ آمالاً سَما بي طُموحُها

سَقى اللَهُ آمالاً سَما بي طُموحُها

إِلى الذَروَةِ العَلياءِ وَالعُروَةِ الوُثقا

إِلى الذَروَةِ العَلياءِ وَالعُروَةِ الوُثقا

May God water the hopes whose ambition raised me

God has watered hopes that tower to the highest peak,

to the lofty summit and the firmest handhold.

And grasp the firmest handhold.

تَرَكتُ أَكُفّاً قَرمَطَ البُخلُ رِفدَها

تَرَكتُ أَكُفّاً قَرمَطَ البُخلُ رِفدَها

وَعُذتُ بِكَفٍّ في النَدى تُحسِنُ المَشقا

وَعُذتُ بِكَفٍّ في النَدى تُحسِنُ المَشقا

I left hands whose gifts stinginess had cramped,

I have left palms the miser’s stinginess has dried up,

and sought refuge in a hand skilled in broad strokes of bounty.

And I take refuge in an open palm skilled in giving.

فَأَمَّنتَ سِرباً كانَ قِدماً مُرَوَّعاً

فَأَمَّنتَ سِرباً كانَ قِدماً مُرَوَّعاً

وَأَصفَيتَ شِرباً كُنتُ أَعهُدُهُ رَنقا

وَأَصفَيتَ شِرباً كُنتُ أَعهُدُهُ رَنقا

You made safe a household long terror-stricken,

You have secured a caravan that was fearful,

and cleared the drinking water I had known as turbid.

And sweetened a drink I used to find bitter.

وَأَحمَدتَني الأَيّامَ مِن بَعدِ ذَمِّها

وَأَحمَدتَني الأَيّامَ مِن بَعدِ ذَمِّها

عَلى أَنَّ دَهراً عاقَني عَنكَ قَد عَقّا

عَلى أَنَّ دَهراً عاقَني عَنكَ قَد عَقّا

You made me praise the days after condemning them,

And time, after blaming me, has praised me

though the age that kept me from you had been disloyal.

Because an age has prevented me from you wrongfully.

وَلَو كانَ جِسمي مِثلَ عَزمِيَ لَم أُنِخ

وَلَو كانَ جِسمي مِثلَ عَزمِيَ لَم أُنِخ

قَلائِصَ يُلوي بِالحَصى وَخدُها سَحقا

قَلائِصَ يُلوي بِالحَصى وَخدُها سَحقا

Had my body matched my resolve, I would not have made kneel

If my body matched my resolve I would not flinch

young she-camels whose swift strides grind pebbles to dust.

At hardships that twist my cheek into pebbles and gravel.

جَديلِيَّةً وُرقاً إِذا جَدَّ جِدُّها

جَديلِيَّةً وُرقاً إِذا جَدَّ جِدُّها

إِلى غايَةٍ ظُنَّت هَديلِيَّةً وُرقا

إِلى غايَةٍ ظُنَّت هَديلِيَّةً وُرقا

Gray camels of the Jadili strain, when their exertion grows intense

A stream that flows strongly when its source flows strongly,

toward a goal, are taken for gray Hadili doves.

To a goal it thought was gently flowing at first.

خَليلَ أَميرِ المُؤمِنينَ بِكَ اِعتَلى

خَليلَ أَميرِ المُؤمِنينَ بِكَ اِعتَلى

مَقالي وَقِدماً كانَ كَالحَرَضِ المُلقا

مَقالي وَقِدماً كانَ كَالحَرَضِ المُلقا

Friend of the Commander of the Faithful, through you has risen

Khalil, commander of the faithful - through you

my speech, once like a discarded wreck.

My words have risen and my feet that dragged lifelessly.

فَجاوَزتُ في مَدحيكَ لَمّا نَظَمتُهُ

فَجاوَزتُ في مَدحيكَ لَمّا نَظَمتُهُ

فُحولاً مَضَوا ما كُنتَ أَرجو لَهُم لَحقا

فُحولاً مَضَوا ما كُنتَ أَرجو لَهُم لَحقا

When I composed my praise of you, I surpassed

So in praising you I have surpassed the supreme

past master-poets whom I had never hoped to catch.

Poets I had never hoped to overtake.

وَصِرتُ إِذا ما قالَةُ الشِعرِ قُلِّبَت

وَصِرتُ إِذا ما قالَةُ الشِعرِ قُلِّبَت

بَضائِعُهُم أُلفيتُ أَنفَسَهُم عِلقا

بَضائِعُهُم أُلفيتُ أَنفَسَهُم عِلقا

And now, whenever the poets have

When the camel-litter of poetry is rotated,

their wares examined, I am found to hold the finest treasure.

And their goods displayed, I find them hanging on desperately.

وَلا حَمدَ لي في حُسنِ قَولي وَصِدقِهِ

وَلا حَمدَ لي في حُسنِ قَولي وَصِدقِهِ

وَلَكِنَّهُ لِلمُلهِمي الفَضلَ وَالصِدقا

وَلَكِنَّهُ لِلمُلهِمي الفَضلَ وَالصِدقا

No praise is mine for my words' beauty and truth;

I deserve no praise in the fairness and honesty of my words,

it belongs to the one who inspires me with excellence and truth.

But the credit is due to the Inspirer, the Honest.

وَقَد تُشكَرُ الأَرضُ العَميمُ نَباتُها

وَقَد تُشكَرُ الأَرضُ العَميمُ نَباتُها

وَإِن كانَ مِن فِعلِ الغَمامِ الَّذي أَسقا

وَإِن كانَ مِن فِعلِ الغَمامِ الَّذي أَسقا

The earth may indeed be thanked for its abundant growth,

The dark earth is thanked for its plants

though that comes from the cloud that watered it.

Though it comes through the action of watering clouds.

إِذا طَلَبَ المَملوكُ عِتقَ مَليكِهِ

إِذا طَلَبَ المَملوكُ عِتقَ مَليكِهِ

أَبى لِيَ ما أَولَيتَ أَن أَطلُبَ العِتقا

أَبى لِيَ ما أَولَيتَ أَن أَطلُبَ العِتقا

When a bondsman seeks freedom from his master,

If the slave asks his master for freedom,

what you have bestowed forbids me to seek release.

The gift you have given me prevents me from asking for freedom.

فَلا زالَ هَذا العيدُ يَأتي وَيَنقَضي

فَلا زالَ هَذا العيدُ يَأتي وَيَنقَضي

وَجَدُّكَ قاضٍ أَنَّ شانِئَكَ الأَشقا

وَجَدُّكَ قاضٍ أَنَّ شانِئَكَ الأَشقا

May this festival keep coming and passing,

So this feast continues arriving and passing

while your good fortune decrees your hater the most wretched.

While your judgment is that your enemy is most wretched.

فَمُنذُ مَلَكتَ الدَهرَ لا زِلتَ رَبَّهُ

فَمُنذُ مَلَكتَ الدَهرَ لا زِلتَ رَبَّهُ

غَدا فِعلُهُ فينا مِنِ اِسمِكَ مُشتَقّا

غَدا فِعلُهُ فينا مِنِ اِسمِكَ مُشتَقّا

Since you mastered time—may you always be its lord—

Since you ruled time, you remain its lord -

its conduct toward us has become derived from your name.

Tomorrow its actions derive from your name.

وَما هُوَ لِلإِحسانِ أَهلاً وَإِنَّما

وَما هُوَ لِلإِحسانِ أَهلاً وَإِنَّما

تَخَلَّفَهُ خَوفاً فَصارَ لَهُ خُلقا

تَخَلَّفَهُ خَوفاً فَصارَ لَهُ خُلقا

It is not worthy of kindness; rather,

It is unworthy of generosity, but only

it took to kindness out of fear, until it became its habit.

Remains for fear, so it acquired that trait.

فَدُمتَ مُوَقّىً في الأَجَلَّينِ صَرفَهُ

فَدُمتَ مُوَقّىً في الأَجَلَّينِ صَرفَهُ

فَكَم أَردَيا بُطلاً وَكَم أَحيَيا حَقّا

فَكَم أَردَيا بُطلاً وَكَم أَحيَيا حَقّا

May you remain spared its reversals regarding the two most illustrious;

May you remain focused on the two eternities directing it,

how often they have destroyed falsehood and revived truth!

For how many have you destroyed and given life with truth!

لَقَد أَشبَهاكَ هِزَّةً وَنَزاهَةً

لَقَد أَشبَهاكَ هِزَّةً وَنَزاهَةً

وَلا عَجَبٌ لِلفَرعِ أَن يُشبِهَ العِرقا

وَلا عَجَبٌ لِلفَرعِ أَن يُشبِهَ العِرقا

They truly resemble you in generous ardor and integrity,

They resemble you in dignity and righteousness,

and no wonder that the branch resembles the root.

No surprise branches resemble the roots.

بَقيتَ وَإِن سيءَ العِدى لِتَراهُما

بَقيتَ وَإِن سيءَ العِدى لِتَراهُما

وَلا مِنبَرٌ إِلّا بِأَمرِهِما يُرقا

وَلا مِنبَرٌ إِلّا بِأَمرِهِما يُرقا

May you live, though your enemies grieve, to see them both,

You remain, though time treats you badly, just to see them,

with no pulpit ascended except by their command.

No pulpit stands but by their command.

وَلا زِلتَ ما كَرَّ الجَديدانِ ساحِباً

وَلا زِلتَ ما كَرَّ الجَديدانِ ساحِباً

مَلابِسَ مِن فَخرٍ لِغَيرِكَ ما حُقّا

مَلابِسَ مِن فَخرٍ لِغَيرِكَ ما حُقّا

As long as day and night recur, may you keep trailing

You ceaselessly wear the garments of pride

robes of pride to which none but you has a right.

Never worn by another, however long ago.