إِنَّ العُلى المُعيي المُلوكَ طِلابُها

إِنَّ العُلى المُعيي المُلوكَ طِلابُها

لَكَ دونَ هَذا الخَلقِ يُفتَحُ بابُها

لَكَ دونَ هَذا الخَلقِ يُفتَحُ بابُها

Indeed, lofty glory, whose pursuit exhausts kings—

The lofty kingdom sought by kings

its gate is opened for you alone among all these people.

Is open to you beyond all humankind

خَطَبَتكَ راغِبَةً إِلَيكَ وَطالَما

خَطَبَتكَ راغِبَةً إِلَيكَ وَطالَما

رُدَّت عَلى أَعقابِها خُطّابُها

رُدَّت عَلى أَعقابِها خُطّابُها

She has sought your hand, longing for you, though often

It has wanted you, desiring you

her suitors were turned back on their heels.

Though its suitors were often turned away

وَلَقَد فَرَعتَ بِما صَنَعتَ مَحَلَّةً

وَلَقَد فَرَعتَ بِما صَنَعتَ مَحَلَّةً

لَولا النُجومُ تَعَذَّرَت أَترابُها

لَولا النُجومُ تَعَذَّرَت أَترابُها

Through your deeds you have indeed reached a height

With your deeds you attained an exalted glory

that, but for the stars, would have no peers.

Were it not for the stars, its like would be unattained

وَبِكَ اِنجَلى عَن مُقلَةِ الحَقِّ القَذى

وَبِكَ اِنجَلى عَن مُقلَةِ الحَقِّ القَذى

وَاِنجابَ عَن لَيلِ الخُطوبِ حِجابُها

وَاِنجابَ عَن لَيلِ الخُطوبِ حِجابُها

And through you, the mote was cleared from truth's eye,

Through you the mote is lifted from the eye of truth

and calamities' veil was lifted from their night.

And the veil of sorrow is raised from the night

وَأَعَدتَ أَيامَ الخِلافَةِ غَضَّةً

وَأَعَدتَ أَيامَ الخِلافَةِ غَضَّةً

فَمَضى شَباها مُنذُ عادَ شَبابُها

فَمَضى شَباها مُنذُ عادَ شَبابُها

You restored the days of the caliphate to freshness,

You made the days of the Caliphate fresh

and their sharp edge passed away once their youth returned.

Since, after its youth, old age came upon it

مُستَرجِعاً بِالمُرهَفاتِ مَمالِكاً

مُستَرجِعاً بِالمُرهَفاتِ مَمالِكاً

لَولاكَ ما غَصَّت بِها غُصّابُها

لَولاكَ ما غَصَّت بِها غُصّابُها

Reclaiming kingdoms with keen-edged swords,

Recovering realms with gallant cavalries

whose usurpers would not have choked on them but for you.

Without you, its bosoms would not have swelled

فَاِفخَر فَإِنَّكَ غُرَّةٌ في أُسرَةٍ

فَاِفخَر فَإِنَّكَ غُرَّةٌ في أُسرَةٍ

دَلَّت عَلى أَنسابِها أَحسابُها

دَلَّت عَلى أَنسابِها أَحسابُها

So take pride: you are the shining brow of a family

So take pride! You are the choice one of a family

whose noble merits attest its lineage.

Whose genealogy is shown by its nobility

وَتَمَلَّها خِيَماً حَباكَ النَصرَ مَن

وَتَمَلَّها خِيَماً حَباكَ النَصرَ مَن

مُدَّت لِنُصرَةِ دينِهِ أَطنابُها

مُدَّت لِنُصرَةِ دينِهِ أَطنابُها

Enjoy them long as tents; victory was granted you by Him

Its protection is completed by the tents of your victory

for whose faith their ropes were stretched in support.

Which lengthened its cords to defend its religion

طَلَعَت بِأَعلاها نُجومُ دُجىً ضُحىً

طَلَعَت بِأَعلاها نُجومُ دُجىً ضُحىً

زَهَرَت فَمِن أَنوارِها جِلبابُها

زَهَرَت فَمِن أَنوارِها جِلبابُها

Stars of darkness rose at their tops in daylight;

Stars of early morning and late evening shone at its peak

they gleamed, and the tents' mantle is made of their light.

And by their light its robes glistened

وَبِها الحَيا وَالشَمسُ طالِعَةٌ فَهَل

وَبِها الحَيا وَالشَمسُ طالِعَةٌ فَهَل

عُقِدَت عَلى الفَلَكِ المُدارِ قِبابُها

عُقِدَت عَلى الفَلَكِ المُدارِ قِبابُها

And rain is within them while the sun shines—have

By it life and the rising sun will remain

their domes been raised upon the revolving celestial sphere?

Will its dome revolving above the sky stay fastened?

قَصرٌ إِذا الشُعَراءُ رامَت وَصفَهُ

قَصرٌ إِذا الشُعَراءُ رامَت وَصفَهُ

عَجَزَت وَقَصَّرَ دونَهُ إِطنابُها

عَجَزَت وَقَصَّرَ دونَهُ إِطنابُها

A palace: when poets attempt to describe it,

A palace which, when the poets aspired to describe it

they fail, and their elaboration falls short of it.

Fell short, though their descriptions flowed boundlessly

في كُلِّ فِترٍ مِنهُ حَربٌ لَم تَرُع

في كُلِّ فِترٍ مِنهُ حَربٌ لَم تَرُع

مَن قاتَلَتهُ سُيوفُها وَحِرابُها

مَن قاتَلَتهُ سُيوفُها وَحِرابُها

In every small span of it is a battle that has never frightened

In each part of it is a battle never shunned

anyone its swords and spears have fought.

By the swords within it and the spears of its warriors

كَثُرَت مُهاواةُ الرِجالِ مُشيرَةً

كَثُرَت مُهاواةُ الرِجالِ مُشيرَةً

بِظُبى صَوارِمِها وَقَلَّ ضِرابُها

بِظُبى صَوارِمِها وَقَلَّ ضِرابُها

The men's feints are many as they gesture

The rising and setting of brave men is many

with the edges of their keen swords, yet their blows are few.

By the sharp blades of its swords they are few

تَحمي الرُماةُ بِها حَقائِقَها وَلَم

تَحمي الرُماةُ بِها حَقائِقَها وَلَم

يَسطِع فِراقَ قِسيِّها نُشّابُها

يَسطِع فِراقَ قِسيِّها نُشّابُها

Archers there protect their charges, yet

Its archers guard its truths inviolable

their arrows cannot part from their bows.

And the gleam of its straight sword is inextinguishable

فَتَرى الأُسودَ بِهِ فَوارِسَ حَيثُ لا

فَتَرى الأُسودَ بِهِ فَوارِسَ حَيثُ لا

تَعدو وَلا تَفري الطُلى أَنيابُها

تَعدو وَلا تَفري الطُلى أَنيابُها

Thus you see lions there as horsemen, where they do not

You will see its lions, like horses, where

run, nor do their fangs rend throats.

The sharp claws of the wolves cannot hunt or flee

وَتَرى الفَوارِسَ لا تَمَلُّ جيادُها

وَتَرى الفَوارِسَ لا تَمَلُّ جيادُها

تُزجي الظَعائِنَ لا تَكِلُّ رِكابُها

تُزجي الظَعائِنَ لا تَكِلُّ رِكابُها

And you see horsemen whose steeds never tire,

And you see its horsemen whose steeds never tire

urging on women in litters whose mounts never weary.

Driving the foes whose mounts never rest their feet

أَبَداً تَسيرُ وَلا تَزولُ فَهَل تُرى

أَبَداً تَسيرُ وَلا تَزولُ فَهَل تُرى

عَرَفَت غُيوثَ الجودِ أَينَ مَصابُها

عَرَفَت غُيوثَ الجودِ أَينَ مَصابُها

They travel forever yet never move; do you suppose

Forever marching, never withdrawing, can the rains

they have learned where the rains of bounty fall?

Of your generosity be seen, wherever droughts lie?

عَزمٌ مَتى تَصِلِ العِدى أَخبارُهُ

عَزمٌ مَتى تَصِلِ العِدى أَخبارُهُ

قَبلَ العِيانِ تَقَطَّعَت أَسبابُها

قَبلَ العِيانِ تَقَطَّعَت أَسبابُها

A resolve: whenever its tidings reach the foes,

When your intent to reach the enemy spreads

their sustaining ties are severed before they see it.

The means to it are cut before it is seen

يا مُتعِبَ النَفسِ النَفيسَةِ حَسبُ مَن

يا مُتعِبَ النَفسِ النَفيسَةِ حَسبُ مَن

قارَعتَ عَنهُ راحَةً إِتعابُها

قارَعتَ عَنهُ راحَةً إِتعابُها

O you who weary your precious soul, enough repose for those

O you who tire a noble soul, enough for one

you battle for is your wearing it out.

Whose comfort you opposed with toil and exhaustion

مَن هَمَّ بِالعَلياءِ هامَ فُؤادُهُ

مَن هَمَّ بِالعَلياءِ هامَ فُؤادُهُ

وَجداً بِها وَحَلا بِفيهٍ صابُها

وَجداً بِها وَحَلا بِفيهٍ صابُها

Whoever aspires to lofty glory has his heart enthralled

One who aspires to the most high, his heart devotes itself

with longing for it, and its bitter sap grows sweet in his mouth.

Seriously to it, and settles for nothing less than its peak

أَيَنالُ مَن صَعُبَت عَلَيهِ سُهولُها

أَيَنالُ مَن صَعُبَت عَلَيهِ سُهولُها

ما نالَ مَن سَهُلَت عَلَيهِ صِعابُها

ما نالَ مَن سَهُلَت عَلَيهِ صِعابُها

Can one who finds its easy paths difficult attain

Can he who found its ascents hard attain

what one who finds its difficult paths easy has attained?

What evaded one who found its slopes smooth?

تَفديكَ مِن غَيرِ الزَمانِ خَلائِقٌ

تَفديكَ مِن غَيرِ الزَمانِ خَلائِقٌ

في راحَتَيكَ ثَوابُها وَعِقابُها

في راحَتَيكَ ثَوابُها وَعِقابُها

Multitudes would ransom you from time's vicissitudes,

For you creatures of other than this age ransom themselves

their reward and punishment resting in your palms.

In your rest lies their reward and punishment

إِنَّ السَماءَ رَأَت فَعالَكَ في الوَرى

إِنَّ السَماءَ رَأَت فَعالَكَ في الوَرى

فَإِذا دَعَوا لَكَ فُتِّحَت أَبوابُها

فَإِذا دَعَوا لَكَ فُتِّحَت أَبوابُها

Indeed, heaven has seen your deeds among mankind;

Heaven has seen your deeds in the world

so whenever they pray for you, its gates are flung open.

So if you call out to it, its doors will open

وَالأَرضُ إِن خافَت فَمِنكَ ذَهابُ ما

وَالأَرضُ إِن خافَت فَمِنكَ ذَهابُ ما

تَخشى وَإِن ظَمِئَت فَمِنكَ ذِهابُها

تَخشى وَإِن ظَمِئَت فَمِنكَ ذِهابُها

And if the earth fears, from you comes the removal of what

And the earth - if you dispel what it fears

it dreads; and if it thirsts, from you come its showers.

And if it thirsts, you make its thirst disappear

لا تَشتَكي ظُلماً وَعَدلُكَ جارُها

لا تَشتَكي ظُلماً وَعَدلُكَ جارُها

كَلّا وَلا ظُلَماً وَأَنتَ شِهابُها

كَلّا وَلا ظُلَماً وَأَنتَ شِهابُها

It does not complain of injustice, with your justice as its neighbor;

It will not complain of injustice; your justice surrounds it

never, nor of darkness, for you are its blazing meteor.

No, nor of darkness, for you are its shining light

خَبُثَت فَمُذ طَهَّرتَها بِدِماءِ مَن

خَبُثَت فَمُذ طَهَّرتَها بِدِماءِ مَن

خَبُثَت بِهِم طَهُرَت وَطابَ تُرابُها

خَبُثَت بِهِم طَهُرَت وَطابَ تُرابُها

It was defiled; since you cleansed it with the blood of those

It was corrupt, but since you cleansed it with the blood

who defiled it, it has become pure, and its soil wholesome.

Of those who corrupted it, its soil is purified

لَولا فِعالُكَ بِالطَواغي لَم تَلُذ

لَولا فِعالُكَ بِالطَواغي لَم تَلُذ

حَذَرَ البَوارِ بِرومِها أَعرابُها

حَذَرَ البَوارِ بِرومِها أَعرابُها

But for your deeds against the tyrants, refuge would not have been sought

Without your deeds against the tyrants, the Arabs

by its Bedouins with its Byzantines, for fear of destruction.

Would not have dared to attack Rome and its people

هَيهاتَ لا عِزٌّ يُتاحُ لَها وَقَد

هَيهاتَ لا عِزٌّ يُتاحُ لَها وَقَد

دانَت لِمُلكِكَ كَلبُها وَكِلابُها

دانَت لِمُلكِكَ كَلبُها وَكِلابُها

Far from it! No might can be theirs, now that

Never! No honor can be attained when

their Kalb and their Kilab have submitted to your rule.

Its dogs and dogs have submitted to your rule

وَبِلادُ أَرمانوسَ سَوفَ تَشيمُها

وَبِلادُ أَرمانوسَ سَوفَ تَشيمُها

إِن حانَ مالِكُها وَحانَ خَرابُها

إِن حانَ مالِكُها وَحانَ خَرابُها

And the lands of Armanus—you will soon survey them,

And the lands of the Armenians will be disgraced

if their ruler perishes and their destruction comes due.

If their ruler falls, as will his lands eventually

وَالمُلكُ لا يَبقى لَهُ إِلّا كَما

وَالمُلكُ لا يَبقى لَهُ إِلّا كَما

يَبقى عَلى وَجهِ المُدامِ حَبابُها

يَبقى عَلى وَجهِ المُدامِ حَبابُها

And his kingship will last only as long as

And a kingdom remains only like

bubbles last upon the surface of wine.

The bubbles that linger on wine when poured

وَالرومُ ثابِتَةٌ كَما زَعَمَت إِذا

وَالرومُ ثابِتَةٌ كَما زَعَمَت إِذا

ثَبَتَت عَلى وَقعِ السُيوفِ رِقابُها

ثَبَتَت عَلى وَقعِ السُيوفِ رِقابُها

And the Byzantines are steadfast, as they claim, if

And Rome remains established, as it claims, only if

their necks hold firm against the blows of swords.

When the swords strike, its necks remain steadfast

وَلَها مِنَ البيضِ الرِقاقِ رِهافُها

وَلَها مِنَ البيضِ الرِقاقِ رِهافُها

إِن لَم تُنِب وَمِنَ العِتاقِ صِلابُها

إِن لَم تُنِب وَمِنَ العِتاقِ صِلابُها

And for them are keen, slender, white swords,

It has delicate females and rugged males

if they do not repent, and sturdy, purebred steeds.

If they do not flee, and stout slaves if they stand

خَيلٌ إِذا رَكَضَت تَساوى عِندَها

خَيلٌ إِذا رَكَضَت تَساوى عِندَها

مِن كُلِّ أَرضٍ وَهدُها وَهِضابُها

مِن كُلِّ أَرضٍ وَهدُها وَهِضابُها

Horses that, when they gallop, find no difference

Horses, when they gallop, are equal in its eyes

between the hollows and heights of any land.

No matter their breed, gait, or natural terrain

تَردي بِآسادٍ خَوادِرَ في القَنا

تَردي بِآسادٍ خَوادِرَ في القَنا

مِنها أَظافِرُها وَمِنها غابُها

مِنها أَظافِرُها وَمِنها غابُها

They gallop bearing lair-dwelling lions among the spears;

They drive lions back with their hooves in battle

from these come their claws, and from these their thickets.

Their claws and fangs both engage in the combat

وَأَمامَها ظَفِرٌ يَذِلُّ لَهُ العِدى

وَأَمامَها ظَفِرٌ يَذِلُّ لَهُ العِدى

وَيُفَلُّ ظُفرُ النائِباتِ وَنابُها

وَيُفَلُّ ظُفرُ النائِباتِ وَنابُها

Ahead of them goes a victory before which the foes bow,

And ahead of them is a triumph that debases the foe

and the claw and fang of calamities are blunted.

As the claws of the lionesses and their fangs fail

إِذعَر جُيوشَهُمُ بِجَيشِكَ إِنَّها

إِذعَر جُيوشَهُمُ بِجَيشِكَ إِنَّها

نَعَمٌ وَأَطرافُ الوَشيجِ ذِئابُها

نَعَمٌ وَأَطرافُ الوَشيجِ ذِئابُها

Terrify their armies with your army: they are

Their armies were routed by your forces; they are

livestock, and the spearpoints are their wolves.

A blessing, though the writhing serpents bite

وَالقَومُ إِن شَطَّت بِعِزِّهِمُ النَوى

وَالقَومُ إِن شَطَّت بِعِزِّهِمُ النَوى

فَاِبنُ المُفَرِّجِ لا تَشُكَّ غُرابُها

فَاِبنُ المُفَرِّجِ لا تَشُكَّ غُرابُها

And if separation carries the people's might far away,

And those people, if their glory swells with pride

then Ibn al-Mufarrij—have no doubt—is its raven.

Then the son of deliverance does not doubt their overthrow

إِن زُرتَ مَملَكَةَ النَصارى زَورَةً

إِن زُرتَ مَملَكَةَ النَصارى زَورَةً

أَعيا عَلى أَصحابِها إِصحابُها

أَعيا عَلى أَصحابِها إِصحابُها

If you visit the Christians' kingdom even once,

If you visit the domain of the Christians on a raid

its masters will be unable to secure its obedience.

Ruin will befall its inhabitants intensely

ثَبَتَت بِأَفئِدَةِ العِدى لَكَ هَيبَةٌ

ثَبَتَت بِأَفئِدَةِ العِدى لَكَ هَيبَةٌ

سَتَزولُ مِن إِلبابِها أَلبابُها

سَتَزولُ مِن إِلبابِها أَلبابُها

An awe of you has taken root in the hearts of foes;

In the hearts of your enemies, awe of you remains fixed

its persistence will drive their wits away.

And from their minds, sanity will depart

هَمِمٌ يُهيبُ بِهَ الوَليُّ لِدَفعِ ما

هَمِمٌ يُهيبُ بِهَ الوَليُّ لِدَفعِ ما

يَخشى وَلَكِنَّ العَدوَّ يَهابُها

يَخشى وَلَكِنَّ العَدوَّ يَهابُها

Resolves the ally summons to ward off what

A resolve that terrifies the ruler to repel what

he fears, while the enemy fears those very resolves.

He fears, but which the enemy dreads even more

عَزَّت وَجادَت فَالمَروعُ طَريدُها

عَزَّت وَجادَت فَالمَروعُ طَريدُها

في كُلِّ أَرضٍ وَالمَريعُ جَنابُها

في كُلِّ أَرضٍ وَالمَريعُ جَنابُها

They are mighty and generous: the terrified are their fugitives

They have become mighty and generous, so the frightened are prey

in every land, while their domain is lush.

In every land, and the fearful are outcasts

يا مُصطَفى المُلكِ المُظَفَّرَ دَعوَةً

يا مُصطَفى المُلكِ المُظَفَّرَ دَعوَةً

عَدواكَ إِن عَدَتِ الخُطوبُ جَوابُها

عَدواكَ إِن عَدَتِ الخُطوبُ جَوابُها

O victorious Mustafa al-Mulk—a plea:

O chosen one of kingdom and victory, may you pray

your aid, if calamities assail, is its answer.

When troubles recur, that your foes have no reprieve

حَسُنَت بِكَ الدُنيا فِإِن هِيَ أُعجِبَت

حَسُنَت بِكَ الدُنيا فِإِن هِيَ أُعجِبَت

تيهاً فَلَيسَ بِمُنكَرٍ إِعَجابُها

تيهاً فَلَيسَ بِمُنكَرٍ إِعَجابُها

The world grew beautiful through you; if it admires itself

Through you, worldly life is improved, so if it is amazed

in pride, its self-admiration is no cause for reproach.

There is no wonder, for amazement suits it

إِنَّ القَوافِيَ وَهيَ غَيرُ مَلومَةٍ

إِنَّ القَوافِيَ وَهيَ غَيرُ مَلومَةٍ

مُذ أَصبَحَت دَأبي فَمَدحُكَ دابُها

مُذ أَصبَحَت دَأبي فَمَدحُكَ دابُها

Indeed, the rhymes—and they are blameless—

When it is my habit to praise you, there is no blame

since becoming my pursuit, have made praising you their pursuit.

For rhyme, though it wearies me, so your eulogy is its theme

فَاِلبَس مِنَ الحَمدِ المُؤَثَّلُ موقِناً

فَاِلبَس مِنَ الحَمدِ المُؤَثَّلُ موقِناً

أَنَّ المَحامِدَ لَن تَرِثَّ ثِيابُها

أَنَّ المَحامِدَ لَن تَرِثَّ ثِيابُها

So put on firmly established praise, certain

Wear praise embroidered lavishly, confident

that the garments of praise will never grow threadbare.

That accolades will never wear out their garb

حُلَلاً عَلَيَّ وَما أُكافِئ نَسجُها

حُلَلاً عَلَيَّ وَما أُكافِئ نَسجُها

وَعَلى مَناقِبِكَ العُلى إِذهابُها

وَعَلى مَناقِبِكَ العُلى إِذهابُها

Robes whose weaving falls to me—though I cannot repay you—

They are gifts to me, though I cannot reciprocate their quality

and whose gilding falls to your lofty virtues.

Or match the virtues they confer upon your noble traits

وَإِذا الخُيولُ تَسابَقَت في حَلبَةٍ

وَإِذا الخُيولُ تَسابَقَت في حَلبَةٍ

بانَت هُناكَ هِجانُها وَعِرابُها

بانَت هُناكَ هِجانُها وَعِرابُها

And when horses race one another on a course,

And when horses race on the track, it shows

their purebreds and Arabians stand out there.

Their vigor and pure breed of Arabian stock

قَد صَحَّ لي كَدَرُ المُلوكِ وَغَدرُها

قَد صَحَّ لي كَدَرُ المُلوكِ وَغَدرُها

لَمّا وَفى لي صَفوُها وَلُبابُها

لَمّا وَفى لي صَفوُها وَلُبابُها

The murkiness and treachery of kings became clear to me

To me the deception of kings and their betrayal was healed

when their purest and finest kept faith with me.

When their sincerity and loyalty kept true to me

غَريَت صُروفُ الدَهرِ بي إِن غَرَّني

غَريَت صُروفُ الدَهرِ بي إِن غَرَّني

مِن بَعدِ أَن هَطَلَت يَداكَ سَرابُها

مِن بَعدِ أَن هَطَلَت يَداكَ سَرابُها

May time's reversals assail me if I am deceived

The turns of fate estranged me after your hands

by their mirage after your hands have poured down rain.

Poured down on me like rain quenching thirst

أَحلَيتَ لي العَيشَ الأَمَرَّ بِأَنعُمٍ

أَحلَيتَ لي العَيشَ الأَمَرَّ بِأَنعُمٍ

صَدَقَت بَوارِقُها وَسَحَّ سَحابُها

صَدَقَت بَوارِقُها وَسَحَّ سَحابُها

You sweetened the bitterest life for me with favors

You made life sweet for me with blessings

whose lightning proved true and whose clouds poured rain.

Whose flashes were true and whose clouds poured down

وَنَذَرتَني كَرَماً بِمُقلَةِ عالِمٍ

وَنَذَرتَني كَرَماً بِمُقلَةِ عالِمٍ

أَنَّ الرِجالَ حُليُّها آدابُها

أَنَّ الرِجالَ حُليُّها آدابُها

And generously you noticed me with the eye of one who knows

And you left me, generously, in the care of a learned man

that men's ornaments are their cultivated manners.

Who said: The ornament of men is their moral manners

فَاِسلَم وَإِن رُغَمَت عِداكَ لِأُمَّةٍ

فَاِسلَم وَإِن رُغَمَت عِداكَ لِأُمَّةٍ

لَولاكَ طالَ عَلى الزَمانِ عِتابُها

لَولاكَ طالَ عَلى الزَمانِ عِتابُها

So live in safety, though your foes be humbled, for a nation

So submit, even if your enemies oppose a nation

whose reproaches against time would be long without you.

Without you, the reproach on the age would have prolonged