ماnot فيin المَعاليlofty honors مَطمَعٌany hope لِسَواكاfor anyone but you
ما في المَعالي مَطمَعٌ لِسَواكا
أَيَنالُcan he attain? ماwhat اِستَولَتtook possession عَلَيهِof it يَداكاyour two hands
أَيَنالُ ما اِستَولَت عَلَيهِ يَداكا
There is no hope of lofty honors for anyone but you.
There is no aspiring to heights but through you,
Can another attain what your two hands have seized?
None can attain what your hands have grasped.
فَليَسلُهاso let him forget them مَنwhoever لَمnot يَكُنwas أَهلاًworthy لَهاof them
فَليَسلُها مَن لَم يَكُن أَهلاً لَها
فَلَهاfor them بَراكَfashioned you اللَهُGod حينَwhen بَراكاfashioned you
فَلَها بَراكَ اللَهُ حينَ بَراكا
Let whoever is unworthy of them forget them;
So let him despair who is unworthy of it,
for them God fashioned you when He fashioned you.
For it is yours, may Allah bless you when He blessed you.
نامَslept الأَنامُall people وَباتَand spent the night يَمنَعُكَdenying you الكَرىslumber
نامَ الأَنامُ وَباتَ يَمنَعُكَ الكَرى
هَمٌّa yearning بِهاfor them مِنfrom دونِهِمapart from them أَغراكاenthralled you
هَمٌّ بِها مِن دونِهِم أَغراكا
All people slept, while through the night you were denied slumber
The people slept while cares for it kept you awake,
by a yearning for them that enthralled you alone among them.
A concern for it, apart from them, kept you awake,
حَتّىuntil غَدَوتَyou came to تَأُمُّهاyou seek them مُستَنهِجاًfollowing
حَتّى غَدَوتَ تَأُمُّها مُستَنهِجاً
قَصدَthe straight course السَبيلِof the path وَجارَand strayed مَنwhoever جاراكاvied with you
قَصدَ السَبيلِ وَجارَ مَن جاراكا
Until you came to seek them, following
Until you came seeking it early in the morning,
the straight path, while whoever vied with you strayed.
Heading for the path, alongside the one accompanying you.
ياO مُصطَفىchosen one المُلكِof kingship الأَغَرِّradiant وَعُدَّةَand mainstay of الthe
يا مُصطَفى المُلكِ الأَغَرِّ وَعُدَّةَ ال
مَولىlord الإِمامِthe Imam وَسَيفَهُand his sword البَتّاكاkeen-cleaving
مَولى الإِمامِ وَسَيفَهُ البَتّاكا
O chosen one of radiant kingship, and mainstay of the
O Mustafa, pride of the noblest kingdom and treasure of
lord Imam, and his keen-cleaving sword!
The master of authority and its piercing sword.
مَنwhoever رامَsought أَنto يَرقاrise to مَحَلَّكَyour station فَليَحُزthen let him possess
مَن رامَ أَن يَرقا مَحَلَّكَ فَليَحُز
بِأساًvalor كَبَأسِكَlike your valor أَوor نَدىًgenerosity كَنَداكاlike your generosity
بِأساً كَبَأسِكَ أَو نَدىً كَنَداكا
Whoever seeks to rise to your station must possess
Whoever aspires to your lofty position, let him prepare
valor like yours, or generosity like your generosity.
A might like your might or helpers like your helpers.
خَفِّضease your efforts عَلَيكَon yourself فَماfor no أَمامَكَahead of you غايَةٌgoal
خَفِّض عَلَيكَ فَما أَمامَكَ غايَةٌ
وَأَقِمand remain بِحَيثُwhere تَرىyou see الأَنامَall people وَراكاbehind you
وَأَقِم بِحَيثُ تَرى الأَنامَ وَراكا
Ease your efforts: no further goal lies ahead of you;
Lower yourself unto it though before you no limit,
remain where you see all mankind behind you.
And take your stance where you view men behind you.
لاdo not تُنضِexhaust عَزمَكَyour resolve طالِباًseeking أَثَرَthe trail العِدىof the enemies
لا تُنضِ عَزمَكَ طالِباً أَثَرَ العِدى
فَلَوِfor if اِكتَفَيتَyou contented yourself بِبَعضِهِwith some of it لَكَفاكاit would suffice you
فَلَوِ اِكتَفَيتَ بِبَعضِهِ لَكَفاكا
Do not exhaust your resolve pursuing the enemies' trail;
Relent not your resolve seeking the enemies' tracks,
had you contented yourself with part of it, it would have sufficed.
For if you were content with some of it, it would suffice you.
إِنif لَمnot يَنالواthey attain نُصرَةًvictory فَلَقَدthen indeed غَدَواthey have become
إِن لَم يَنالوا نُصرَةً فَلَقَد غَدَوا
وَالرومَwith the Byzantines فيin إِشراكِهِمtheir polytheism أَشراكاpartners
وَالرومَ في إِشراكِهِم أَشراكا
If they gained no victory, they have indeed become
If they attained no succor, they have become
partners with the Byzantines in their polytheism.
Allies of Rome in their idolatry.
خابَfailed الَّذينَthose who رَجَواhoped بِأَعداءِthrough the enemies of الهُدىright guidance
خابَ الَّذينَ رَجَوا بِأَعداءِ الهُدى
أَنthat يَستَرِدَّwould reclaim اللَهُGod ماwhat أَعطاكاHe gave you
أَن يَستَرِدَّ اللَهُ ما أَعطاكا
Frustrated were those who hoped, through guidance's enemies,
They who hoped that Allah would restore
that God would reclaim what He gave you,
What He gave you have come to naught.
بَغياًin malice عَلَيكَagainst you وَتِلكَand that عُقبىthe outcome مَعشَرٍof a people
بَغياً عَلَيكَ وَتِلكَ عُقبى مَعشَرٍ
كَفَرواwere ungrateful for الجَميلَkindness وَهَذِهِand this عُقباكاyour outcome
كَفَروا الجَميلَ وَهَذِهِ عُقباكا
in malice against you; that is the fate of a people
Such was the treachery against you, and this is the recompense
who were ungrateful for kindness, while this is your fate.
Of a people who disbelieved good and this is your recompense.
فَليَطلُبواso let them seek لِلضَيمِfor oppression جَنباًa flank لَيِّناًyielding
فَليَطلُبوا لِلضَيمِ جَنباً لَيِّناً
حاشاكَfar be it from you مِمّاfrom what أَمَّلواthey hoped حاشاكاfar be it from you
حاشاكَ مِمّا أَمَّلوا حاشاكا
Let them seek a yielding flank for their oppression;
So let them seek for outrage a gentle flank.
far be you from what they hoped for—far be you!
Far be it from you what they have wished. Far be it from you!
وَليَبتَغَواand let them seek نَفَقاًa tunnel سِوىother than هَذاthis فَقَدfor indeed
وَليَبتَغَوا نَفَقاً سِوى هَذا فَقَد
وَقَفَstood البَرِيَّةُmankind دونَagainst فَصمِsevering عُراكاyour bonds
وَقَفَ البَرِيَّةُ دونَ فَصمِ عُراكا
Let them seek a tunnel other than this, for
And let them seek a road other than this, for
all mankind stands against severing your bonds.
The open country stands between you and their corpses.
وَلِيَيأَسواand let them despair of النَصرَvictory العَزيزَmighty فَإِنَّهُfor it
وَلِيَيأَسوا النَصرَ العَزيزَ فَإِنَّهُ
لَكَis yours دونَهُمnot theirs مُذsince سارَit marched تَحتَbeneath لِواكاyour banner
لَكَ دونَهُم مُذ سارَ تَحتَ لِواكا
Let them despair of mighty victory, for it is
And let them despair of mighty victory, for it
yours, not theirs, since it marched beneath your banner.
Is yours, not theirs, since you marched under your banner.
وَليَعلَمواand let them know أَنَّthat النَجابَةَnobility خَلَّةٌa quality
وَليَعلَموا أَنَّ النَجابَةَ خَلَّةٌ
خَصَّsingled out الإِلَهُGod بِنيلِهاwith attaining it الأَتراكاthe Turks
خَصَّ الإِلَهُ بِنيلِها الأَتراكا
Let them know that nobility is a quality
And let them know that deliverance is a quality
whose attainment God reserved for the Turks.
That Allah has reserved for bestowing upon the Turks.
وَالرومُand the Byzantines إِنif ظَهَرواthey come forth وَلَمّاthough not yet يَظهَرواthey have come forth
وَالرومُ إِن ظَهَروا وَلَمّا يَظهَروا
كانواthey would be دَراياtargets فيin الوَغىbattle لِقَناكاfor your lances
كانوا دَرايا في الوَغى لِقَناكا
And the Byzantines, if they come forth—though they have not yet—
If the Byzantines gain mastery, and they shall not,
would be targets in battle for your lances.
They would be prey during strife for your sword's point.
وَلَوَand even if اِنَّهُمthey رامواsought نِزالَكَcombat with you دِلَّةًpresumptuously
وَلَوَ اِنَّهُم راموا نِزالَكَ دِلَّةً
كانواthey would be كَمَنlike one whom دارَتturned عَلَيهِover him رَحاكاyour millstone
كانوا كَمَن دارَت عَلَيهِ رَحاكا
Even if they sought combat with you in their presumption,
Had they aspired to fight you in pitched battle,
they would be like one over whom your millstone turned.
They would be as one whom yourContentType revolved against.
إِنif غَرَّهُمdeluded them تَغريرُdeception حَسّانٍHassan بِهِمof them
إِن غَرَّهُم تَغريرُ حَسّانٍ بِهِم
فَسَيَعرِفونَthen they will recognize الكاذِبَthe liar الأَفّاكاthe fabricator
فَسَيَعرِفونَ الكاذِبَ الأَفّاكا
If Hassan's deception has deluded them,
If they are deluded by Heraclius' delusion,
they will recognize the lying fabricator.
Then they will recognize the mendacious deceiver.
فَليَختَبِرso let him test قَبلَbefore التَقَدُّمِadvancing نَفسَهُhimself
فَليَختَبِر قَبلَ التَقَدُّمِ نَفسَهُ
مَنwhoever مالَهُhas no قِبَلٌstrength بِمَنagainst one who يَلقاكاconfronts you
مَن مالَهُ قِبَلٌ بِمَن يَلقاكا
Let him test himself before advancing,
So let each, before advancing, test himself -
who has no strength against one who confronts you.
Who has resolved to meet the one who meets you.
فَمَتىso whenever نَظَرتَyou look at الشِركَpolytheism أَدنىthe slightest نَظرَةٍglance
فَمَتى نَظَرتَ الشِركَ أَدنى نَظرَةٍ
كانَتit was لِأَسرىfor the captives of المُسلِمينَthe Muslims فَكاكاrelease
كانَت لِأَسرى المُسلِمينَ فَكاكا
Whenever you cast the slightest glance at polytheism,
Whenever you deign to look upon idolaters,
that glance brings release to the Muslim captives.
It will be for releasing the Muslim captives.
وَمَتىand whenever سَرَيتَyou marched by night إِلَيهِمُagainst them لَمnot يَأمَنواthey felt secure
وَمَتى سَرَيتَ إِلَيهِمُ لَم يَأمَنوا
أَنthat يُصبِحواthey would awake أَسراكَyour captives غِبَّafter سُراكاyour night march
أَن يُصبِحوا أَسراكَ غِبَّ سُراكا
Whenever you march against them by night, they are not safe
And whenever you march against them, they cannot feel safe
from waking as your captives after your night march.
From waking up your captives minus their captivity.
فَلِأَجلِso because of ذاthis مَدّواthey extended إِلَيكَtoward you رِقابَهُمtheir necks
فَلِأَجلِ ذا مَدّوا إِلَيكَ رِقابَهُم
يَرجونَhoping أَنthat تَرضىyou are pleased وَماand how أَولاكاdeserving you are
يَرجونَ أَن تَرضى وَما أَولاكا
For this reason they held out their necks to you,
For this they have extended their necks to you,
hoping you would be pleased—and how deserving you are!
Hoping you will be pleased, for they love not captivity.
عَمريby my life لَقَدindeed نَظَرواthey looked بِعَينِwith the eye of الحَزمِprudence إِذwhen
عَمري لَقَد نَظَروا بِعَينِ الحَزمِ إِذ
خَطَبواthey petitioned إِلَيكَyou for السِلمَpeace وَالإِمساكاand restraint
خَطَبوا إِلَيكَ السِلمَ وَالإِمساكا
By my life, they looked with prudence's eye when
By my life! They have surely looked with the eye of wisdom
they petitioned you for peace and restraint.
By suing to you for peace and restraint.
وَتَطَرَّحواand they cast themselves down ذُلّاًin abasement لَدَيكَbefore you لِيَحرُسواto safeguard
وَتَطَرَّحوا ذُلّاً لَدَيكَ لِيَحرُسوا
مَلِكاًa king مَتىwhenever نادَيتَهُyou called him لَبّاكاhe answered you
مَلِكاً مَتى نادَيتَهُ لَبّاكا
They cast themselves down in abasement before you to safeguard
And they have thrown themselves down in abjection before you
a king who answers whenever you call him.
To guard a kingdom, when you call its king, he obeys.
فَاِستَفعِso demand جِزيَتَهُمtheir tribute وَخَرجَand the tax of بِلادِهِمtheir lands
فَاِستَفعِ جِزيَتَهُم وَخَرجَ بِلادِهِم
يُعطوكَthey will give you ماwhat اِستَدعَيتَyou requested خَوفَfor fear of سُطاكاyour assault
يُعطوكَ ما اِستَدعَيتَ خَوفَ سُطاكا
So demand their tribute and the taxes of their lands;
So exact their tribute and the land tax,
they will give you what you request, fearing your assault.
They give you what you demand in fear of your whip.
أَوor شَطرَhalf مُلكِهِمُtheir realm تَجِدهُyou will find it عَلَيهِمُfor them
أَو شَطرَ مُلكِهِمُ تَجِدهُ عَلَيهِمُ
سَهلاًeasy إِذاif أَمَّنتَهُمyou made them safe from عَدواكاyour aggression
سَهلاً إِذا أَمَّنتَهُم عَدواكا
Or half their realm: you will find it easy for them
Or half their kingdom - you will find it easy to take
to yield, if you grant them safety from your aggression.
If you give them security against your foes.
وَاِذكُرand recall لِدينِfor the faith of المُسلِمينَthe Muslims وَقائِعاًbattles
وَاِذكُر لِدينِ المُسلِمينَ وَقائِعاً
لَكَof yours ماnot نَباfailed to cut لِأَحَدِّهاat their fiercest حَدّاكاyour two edges
لَكَ ما نَبا لِأَحَدِّها حَدّاكا
Recall, for the Muslims' faith, battles
And recall for the Muslim's religion events
of yours, in whose fiercest your two edges never failed,
You spearheaded without precedent striking your limit.
لِتُخَوِّفاso you may frighten مَنthe one whom يَمَّماهُthey both approached him بِهاwith them وَإِنthough
لِتُخَوِّفا مَن يَمَّماهُ بِها وَإِن
خافَhe feared الكَرىslumber مُذsince صارَhe began فيهِin it يَراكاseeing you
خافَ الكَرى مُذ صارَ فيهِ يَراكا
to frighten with them the one those two approached, though
Frightening those who contemplate them, though the infidels,
he has feared sleep since he began seeing you in it.
Since you have been amongst them, dread you.
أَتَظُنُّdo you think? أَرمانوسَArmanus يَنسىforgets يَومَهُhis day الthe
أَتَظُنُّ أَرمانوسَ يَنسى يَومَهُ ال
مَشهودَmemorable مَعwith مَنthose whom شَرَّدَتهُscattered him ظُباكاyour sword-edges
مَشهودَ مَع مَن شَرَّدَتهُ ظُباكا
Do you think Armanus forgets his day, the
Does Armanus forget his day
memorable one, with those whom your sword-edges scattered?
Witnessed with those whom your wolves scattered?
سَيَبينُwill appear خَوفُكَfear of you فيin أَسِرَّةِthe lines of وَجهِهِhis face
سَيَبينُ خَوفُكَ في أَسِرَّةِ وَجهِهِ
فَليَنظُراهُso let them both look at him كُلَّماwhenever ذَكَراكاthey both mention you
فَليَنظُراهُ كُلَّما ذَكَراكا
His fear of you will show in the lines of his face;
Your awe will show plainly on the face of his secret thoughts
let them both look at him whenever they mention you.
So let them behold him whenever they mention you.
وَليُعلِماهُand let them both tell him بِأَنَّthat هَذيthis هُدنَةٌa truce
وَليُعلِماهُ بِأَنَّ هَذي هُدنَةٌ
أَضحَتhas become لِمَلكِهِمُfor their king المَروعِterrified مِلاكاa mainstay
أَضحَت لِمَلكِهِمُ المَروعِ مِلاكا
Let them both tell him that this is a truce
And let them inform him that this is a truce
that has become their terrified king's mainstay.
That has become a refuge for their frightened king.
وَلَقَدand indeed أَطاعَكَobeyed you مَنwhoever أَحَبَّloved حَياتَهُhis life
وَلَقَد أَطاعَكَ مَن أَحَبَّ حَياتَهُ
لَكِنَّbut مَنwhoever كَرِهَhated الحَياةَlife عَصاكاdisobeyed you
لَكِنَّ مَن كَرِهَ الحَياةَ عَصاكا
Whoever loves his life has obeyed you,
He who loved life obeyed you.
but whoever hates life has defied you.
But he who hated life defied you.
أَضحىbecame إِباؤُكَyour proud refusal فَوقَabove عِزَّكَyour might جُنَّةًa shield
أَضحى إِباؤُكَ فَوقَ عِزَّكَ جُنَّةً
فَعَلَيهِso upon it rests أَلّاthat not يُستَباحَbe violated حِماكاyour sanctuary
فَعَلَيهِ أَلّا يُستَباحَ حِماكا
Your proud refusal has become a shield above your might;
Your might has been a shield above your power,
it must ensure that your sanctuary is never violated.
So let it not be violated protecting your sanctuary.
وَعَلىand upon شِفارِthe cutting edges of ظُباكَyour sword-blades أَلّاthat not يُقدِمواthey bring forth
وَعَلى شِفارِ ظُباكَ أَلّا يُقدِموا
طُرَداكَthose you drove away حَتّىuntil يَنشُرواthey resurrect قَتلاكاthose you slew
طُرَداكَ حَتّى يَنشُروا قَتلاكا
Your sword-edges must keep them from bringing forth
And on the edges of your wolves let them not advance
those you drove away, until they resurrect those you slew.
Your huntsmen until they wreak havoc.
عِزٌّmight لَهُto which عَنَتِbowed الحَوادِثُmisfortunes عَنوَةًby force
عِزٌّ لَهُ عَنَتِ الحَوادِثُ عَنوَةً
وَسَعادَةٌand good fortune تَستَخدِمُmakes servants of الأَفلاكاthe celestial spheres
وَسَعادَةٌ تَستَخدِمُ الأَفلاكا
A might to which misfortunes bow by force,
A power which the vicissitudes of fate assail stubbornly
and good fortune that makes servants of the celestial spheres.
And good fortune which commands the celestial spheres.
فَطُلِso surpass الزَمانَtime وَمَنand whoever رَآهُhas seen it فَماfor not رَأىhas seen
فَطُلِ الزَمانَ وَمَن رَآهُ فَما رَأى
فيin العالَمينَthe worlds وَلاnor يَرىwill see شَرواكاyour equal
في العالَمينَ وَلا يَرى شَرواكا
Surpass time and whoever has seen it: none has seen
Lengthen your time, and whoever sees it has not seen
your equal in all the worlds, nor ever will.
The like of you in all creation, nor will he see your peer.
وَتَهَنَّand enjoy أَلطافَthe favors of الإِمامِthe Imam فَإِنَّهاfor they
وَتَهَنَّ أَلطافَ الإِمامِ فَإِنَّها
نِعَمٌblessings أَنالَكَgranted you فَخرَهاtheir glory مَولاكاyour lord
نِعَمٌ أَنالَكَ فَخرَها مَولاكا
Enjoy the Imam's gracious favors, for they are
And enjoy the Imam's kindnesses, for they
blessings whose glory your lord has granted you.
Are bounties you won, so your master honored you.
أَقرَرتَyou gladdened عَينَيهِhis two eyes بِإِقرارِby establishing الهُدىright guidance
أَقرَرتَ عَينَيهِ بِإِقرارِ الهُدى
فَحَباكَso he bestowed on you ماwhat قَرَّتwere gladdened بِهِby it عَيناكاyour two eyes
فَحَباكَ ما قَرَّت بِهِ عَيناكا
You gladdened his eyes by establishing right guidance;
You gave comfort to his eye by establishing religion,
so he bestowed on you what gladdened your eyes.
So for that Allah disgraced whoever showed you enmity.
وَقَطَعتَand you cut off دابِرَthe last remnant of مَنwhoever طَغىtransgressed فيin أَرضِهِhis land
وَقَطَعتَ دابِرَ مَن طَغى في أَرضِهِ
فَحَظيتَso you gained مِنهُfrom him بِفَوقِwith more than ماwhat أَرضاكاsatisfied you
فَحَظيتَ مِنهُ بِفَوقِ ما أَرضاكا
You cut off the last of those who rebelled in his land,
And you built for Islam an enduring glory
and won from him more than would content you.
Whose pillars the irrational will salute.
عُدَدٌequipment كَساclothed الجَيشَthe army المُؤَيَّدَsupported بَعضُهاsome of it
عُدَدٌ كَسا الجَيشَ المُؤَيَّدَ بَعضُها
عِزّاًin glory وَكَرَّمَand honored بَعضُهاsome of it مَغناكاyour dwelling
عِزّاً وَكَرَّمَ بَعضُها مَغناكا
Equipment: some of it clothed the supported army
Until you see this gift redoubled for you
in glory, while some honored your dwelling.
As long as you live, and the like of it for your young warriors.
تَشريفُهُhis mark of honor هَذاthis السِدِلّىceremonial hanging رُتبَةٌa rank
تَشريفُهُ هَذا السِدِلّى رُتبَةٌ
لَكَfor you جَلَّexalted is موليهاits bestower وَماand how أَولاكاdeserving you are
لَكَ جَلَّ موليها وَما أَولاكا
His grant of this ceremonial hanging is a dignity
O you who lavish favors upon me! Listen to
for you: exalted is its bestower, and how deserving you are!
What rapture moves me from your kindness’ stirring!
لَمnot يَكسُclothed بَعدَafter البَيتِthe House بَيتاًa house غَيرَهُother than it
لَم يَكسُ بَعدَ البَيتِ بَيتاً غَيرَهُ
هَلis there? فيamong البُيوتِhouses أَحَقُّmore deserving مِنهُthan it بِذاكاof that
هَل في البُيوتِ أَحَقُّ مِنهُ بِذاكا
After the House, he clothed no house other than yours;
When spread, the blossoms of my praise will exude perfume.
is any house more worthy of that than it?
I almost folded up mentioning them, were it not for you!
وَالدَستُand the dais قَدindeed حازَgathered الفَضائِلَthe virtues كُلَّهاall of them
وَالدَستُ قَد حازَ الفَضائِلَ كُلَّها
وَحَوىand embraced العُلىeminence وَالمَجدُand glory مُنذُsince حَواكاit embraced you
وَحَوى العُلى وَالمَجدُ مُنذُ حَواكا
The dais has gathered every virtue,
The ingenious loathed all but you and rushed
and embraced eminence and glory since it embraced you.
To shower upon you, for they yearn for you.
وَمَراتِبُand the dignities of الخُلَفاءِthe caliphs لائِقَةٌbefitting بِمَنone who
وَمَراتِبُ الخُلَفاءِ لائِقَةٌ بِمَن
مَلَكَruled البِلادَthe lands وَشَتَّتَand scattered الأَملاكاthe kings
مَلَكَ البِلادَ وَشَتَّتَ الأَملاكا
The dignities of caliphs befit one
Today I have found your merits’ pearls strung together
who mastered the lands and scattered kings.
In prose from me, and their scattering in poetry.
وَالسِترُand the curtain سِترُthe curtain of البابِthe door لَيسَis not بِحاجِزٍa barrier
وَالسِترُ سِترُ البابِ لَيسَ بِحاجِزٍ
عَمّاfrom what يُحاوِلُseek طالِبوthe seekers of جَدواكاyour bounty
عَمّا يُحاوِلُ طالِبو جَدواكا
The curtain—the door's curtain—is no barrier
You have garlanded me with bounty until I cannot
to the aims of those who seek your bounty.
Articulate full gratitude for your abounding recompense.
وَلَقَدand indeed عَلِمتَyou knew بِأَنَّthat هَذيthese أَنعُمٌfavors
وَلَقَد عَلِمتَ بِأَنَّ هَذي أَنعُمٌ
لاnot يَستَحِقُّdeserves جَزيلَهاtheir abundance إِلّاكاexcept you
لا يَستَحِقُّ جَزيلَها إِلّاكا
You surely know that these are favors
Were rhymed verse not sacrosanct in my eyes
whose abundance none but you deserves.
It would suffice me to stand in awe of your sanctity.
أَطلَعتَyou made rise دينَthe faith of اللَهِGod بَعدَafter أُفولِهِits setting
أَطلَعتَ دينَ اللَهِ بَعدَ أُفولِهِ
فَلِذاكَso for that reason عادىopposed اللَهُGod مَنwhoever عاداكاopposed you
فَلِذاكَ عادى اللَهُ مَن عاداكا
You made God's faith rise after it had set;
The poets do not fall short in praising you deliberately,
therefore God opposes whoever opposes you.
Rather your meaning surpasses their ideas.
وَبَنَيتَand you built لِلإِسلامِfor Islam عِزّاًmight ثابِتَsteadfast الthe
وَبَنَيتَ لِلإِسلامِ عِزّاً ثابِتَ ال
أَركانِpillars فَلتَسلَمso may remain safe لَهُfor it حَوباكاyour soul
أَركانِ فَلتَسلَم لَهُ حَوباكا
You built for Islam a might steadfast in its
So distinguish me from them through qualities
pillars; may your soul remain safe for its sake!
That I may be of those you marked out by your care.
حَتّىuntil تَرىyou see هَذاthis العَطاءَgift مُضاعَفاًdoubled
حَتّى تَرى هَذا العَطاءَ مُضاعَفاً
لَكَfor you ماas long as حَيَيتَyou live وَمِثلَهُand its like لِفَتاكاfor your son
لَكَ ما حَيَيتَ وَمِثلَهُ لِفَتاكا
Until you see this gift doubled
Singling out those whose tongues were eloquent
for you throughout your life, and its like for your son.
And embracing those who privately conversed with you.
ياO عاطِفَbestower of النُعمىfavor عَلَيَّupon me أَصِخlisten لِماto what
يا عاطِفَ النُعمى عَلَيَّ أَصِخ لِما
يَهتَزُّsway مِنfrom طَرَبٍdelight لَهُat it عِطفاكاyour two sides
يَهتَزُّ مِن طَرَبٍ لَهُ عِطفاكا
O bestower of favor upon me, lend an ear to what
By what action have you not deserved praise, or
makes your two sides sway with delight:
In what thing have you not reached your aspiration?
مِدَحاًpraises إِذاwhen نُشِرَتunfolded تَضَوَّعَspread fragrantly نَشرُهاtheir fragrance
مِدَحاً إِذا نُشِرَت تَضَوَّعَ نَشرُها
قَدindeed كِدتُI nearly أَطويfold away ذِكرَهاtheir mention لَولاكاwere it not for you
قَد كِدتُ أَطوي ذِكرَها لَولاكا
praises that, when unfolded, spread their fragrance.
For by neither have you ceased to bite your religion
But for you, I had almost folded away their mention.
And by neither were you diverted from devotion to your servants.
كَرِهَتdisliked بَدائِعُهاtheir marvels سِواكَanyone but you وَأَقبَلَتand began
كَرِهَت بَدائِعُها سِواكَ وَأَقبَلَت
تَنثالُpour forth فيكَabout you لِأَنَّهاbecause they تَهواكاlove you
تَنثالُ فيكَ لِأَنَّها تَهواكا
Their marvels shunned everyone but you, and began
So make your fleeting glances a deliverance
pouring forth about you, because they love you.
For me to be of those your gaze delivered!
فَاليَومَso today أَلفىfound دُرُّthe pearls of وَصفِكَyour description ناظِماًa stringer
فَاليَومَ أَلفى دُرُّ وَصفِكَ ناظِماً
مِنّيin me وَصادَفَand found نَثرُهُits unstrung form سَبّاكاa caster
مِنّي وَصادَفَ نَثرُهُ سَبّاكا
Today the pearls describing you have found a stringer
That you favor those whose praises were prolonged
in me, and their unstrung form has found a caster.
And embrace those who praised you in conscience.
طَوَّقتَنيyou garlanded me مِنَناًfavors إِلىuntil أَنthat لَمnot أُطِقI could manage
طَوَّقتَني مِنَناً إِلى أَن لَم أُطِق
تَصريحَexpressing شُكرٍthanks عَنfor جَزيلِthe abundance of جَزاكاyour recompense
تَصريحَ شُكرٍ عَن جَزيلِ جَزاكا
You hung favors about my neck until I could no longer
By what deed have you not deserved praise, or
voice thanks for your abundant recompense.
Toward what goal have you not attained?
لَوif لَمnot تَكُنthere were ليfor me بِالقَوافيthrough rhymes حُرمَةٌa claim to protection
لَو لَم تَكُن لي بِالقَوافي حُرمَةٌ
لَكَفىwould suffice لَدَيكَwith you تَحَرُّميmy seeking sanctuary بِذَراكاin your shelter
لَكَفى لَدَيكَ تَحَرُّمي بِذَراكا
Even if my rhymes gave me no claim to protection,
For by neither have you ceased to defend your faith,
my taking refuge in your shelter would suffice in your eyes.
Nor by either were you diverted from caring for your subjects.
ماnot قَصَّرَfell short الشُعَراءُthe poets فيكَconcerning you تَعَمُّداًdeliberately
ما قَصَّرَ الشُعَراءُ فيكَ تَعَمُّداً
بَلrather دَقَّwas subtle عَنbeyond أَفكارِهِمtheir thoughts مَعناكاyour essence
بَل دَقَّ عَن أَفكارِهِم مَعناكا
Poets did not fall short concerning you deliberately;
rather, your essence was too subtle for their thoughts.
فَاِجعَلso make لُهاكَyour gifts مُمَيِّزاتٍdistinguishing بَينَهُمamong them
فَاِجعَل لُهاكَ مُمَيِّزاتٍ بَينَهُم
لِأَكونَso I may be مِمَّنamong those whom مَيَّزَتهُsingled him out لُهاكاyour gifts
لِأَكونَ مِمَّن مَيَّزَتهُ لُهاكا
Let your gifts distinguish among them,
so I may be among those distinguished by your gifts.
فَتَخُصَّthus specially favor مَنwhoever أَثنىpraised فَطالَand grew long لِسانُهُhis tongue
فَتَخُصَّ مَن أَثنى فَطالَ لِسانُهُ
وَتَعُمَّand include all مَنwhoever بِضَميرِهِin his heart ناجاكاcommuned with you
وَتَعُمَّ مَن بِضَميرِهِ ناجاكا
Thus specially favor him whose tongue grew long in praise,
and extend your gifts to whoever communed with you in his heart.
وَبِأَيِّand by what فِعلٍdeed ماnot مَلَكتَyou won الحَمدَpraise أَمor
وَبِأَيِّ فِعلٍ ما مَلَكتَ الحَمدَ أَم
فيin أَيِّwhat شَيءٍmatter ماnot بَلَغتَyou attained مُناكاyour wishes
في أَيِّ شَيءٍ ما بَلَغتَ مُناكا
By what deed have you not won praise, or
in what matter have you not attained your wishes?
فَكَلاكَso may He guard you مَنHe whose ماnot زِلتَyou ceased تَكلَأُyou guard دينَهُHis faith
فَكَلاكَ مَن ما زِلتَ تَكلَأُ دينَهُ
وَرَعاكَand may He care for you مَنHe who لِعِبادِهِfor His servants اِستَرعاكاappointed you their guardian
وَرَعاكَ مَن لِعِبادِهِ اِستَرعاكا
May He whose faith you have never ceased to guard guard you,
and may He who entrusted you with His servants watch over you.
Partial English translation: 110 of 120 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1