فُتَّ الوَرى فَعَلامَ ذا الإِجهادُ

فُتَّ الوَرى فَعَلامَ ذا الإِجهادُ

وَبِبَعضِ سَعيِكَ تُحرَزُ الآمادُ

وَبِبَعضِ سَعيِكَ تُحرَزُ الآمادُ

You have surpassed mankind—why, then, this exertion?

The world is conquered, so why this struggle?

And with but part of your effort, the farthest goals are reached.

With some of your effort, success is achieved.

قَد فَتَّ في الأَعضادِ هَذا المُرتَقى

قَد فَتَّ في الأَعضادِ هَذا المُرتَقى

وَتَفَتَّتَت مِن دونِهِ الأَكبادُ

وَتَفَتَّتَت مِن دونِهِ الأَكبادُ

This ascent has already sapped the arms,

This lofty one exhausted his limbs,

And livers have shattered short of reaching it.

While the livers of others melted away.

في كُلِّ يَومٍ أَنتَ بالِغُ سُؤدُدٍ

في كُلِّ يَومٍ أَنتَ بالِغُ سُؤدُدٍ

لَم تَدرِ كَيفَ طَريقُهُ الأَنجادُ

لَم تَدرِ كَيفَ طَريقُهُ الأَنجادُ

Each day you attain a height of lordship

Each day you attain the highest achievements,

Whose path the valiant do not know.

Not knowing the path of glory.

تَزدادُ مَجداً لَيسَ يُعرَفُ كُلَّما

تَزدادُ مَجداً لَيسَ يُعرَفُ كُلَّما

قالَ الوَرى لَم يَبقَ ما تَزدادُ

قالَ الوَرى لَم يَبقَ ما تَزدادُ

You gain unheard-of glory whenever

You gain more glory, though it is not known

Mankind says, 'Nothing remains for you to gain.'

When people say you gain no more.

وَمَناقِباً مِن دونِها وَبِمِثلِها

وَمَناقِباً مِن دونِها وَبِمِثلِها

تَكبو المُلوكُ وَتُكبَتُ الحُسّادُ

تَكبو المُلوكُ وَتُكبَتُ الحُسّادُ

And virtues, short of which—and by the like of which—

Attributes the kings covet and envy

Kings stumble, and the envious are subdued.

Are combined in the victor’s hands.

جُمِعَت لِغَلّابِ اليَدَينِ عَلى العُلى

جُمِعَت لِغَلّابِ اليَدَينِ عَلى العُلى

تَعنو لِسَورَةِ عِزِّهِ الأَمجادِ

تَعنو لِسَورَةِ عِزِّهِ الأَمجادِ

They are gathered for one whose two hands conquer the heights;

Whenever he intends to meet the foe,

The illustrious bow before the force of his might.

Numbers and preparation do not stop him.

نَدبٌ إِذا ما هَمَّ أَن يَلقى عِدىً

نَدبٌ إِذا ما هَمَّ أَن يَلقى عِدىً

لَم يَثنِهِ عَدَدٌ وَلا اِستِعدادُ

لَم يَثنِهِ عَدَدٌ وَلا اِستِعدادُ

A gallant man: whenever he resolves to face foes,

From a generous family, if asked for help,

Neither numbers nor preparations deter him.

They give freely and excel in their work.

مِن أُسرَةٍ شوسٍ إِذا سُئِلوا النَدى

مِن أُسرَةٍ شوسٍ إِذا سُئِلوا النَدى

جادوا وَإِن صَنَعوا الصَنيعَ أَجادوا

جادوا وَإِن صَنَعوا الصَنيعَ أَجادوا

From a proud, fierce family: when asked for bounty,

From every ladder to the highest positions,

They give freely, and when they do a kindness, they excel.

His steps are always ascending.

مِن كُلِّ صَعّادٍ إِلى رُتَبِ العُلى

مِن كُلِّ صَعّادٍ إِلى رُتَبِ العُلى

دَرَجاتُهُ أَبَداً ظُبىً وَصِعادُ

دَرَجاتُهُ أَبَداً ظُبىً وَصِعادُ

Each a tireless climber to the ranks of eminence,

When the waves of death rise high,

Whose steps are always sword-edges and straight spears.

And their onslaught flows from the skulls' springs,

وَرّادِ أَحواضِ المَنونِ إِذا طَغَت

وَرّادِ أَحواضِ المَنونِ إِذا طَغَت

وَالدُهمُ مِن عَلَقِ النَجيعِ وِرادُ

وَالدُهمُ مِن عَلَقِ النَجيعِ وِرادُ

Ever visiting the pools of death when they overflow,

They fell with what they had built, for since

While black steeds are red with clotted gore.

The glory of the Victor appeared, they neglected their buildings.

فَخَروا بِما شادوا فَمُنذُ بَدا لَهُم

فَخَروا بِما شادوا فَمُنذُ بَدا لَهُم

مَجدُ المُظَفَّرِ أَهمَلوا ما شادوا

مَجدُ المُظَفَّرِ أَهمَلوا ما شادوا

They boasted of what they built, but since there appeared to them

When a young man's deeds bring him down,

Al-Muzaffar's glory, they have set aside what they built.

Not fathers or grandfathers raise him.

وَإِذا الفَتى هَبَطَت بِهِ أَفعالُهُ

وَإِذا الفَتى هَبَطَت بِهِ أَفعالُهُ

لَم تُعلِهِ الآباءُ وَالأَجدادُ

لَم تُعلِهِ الآباءُ وَالأَجدادُ

And if a young man's deeds bring him low,

The Protected One stopped the foe and sufficed the enemies -

Fathers and grandfathers cannot raise him.

Units are turned back by his mention.

كَفَّ العِدى وَكَفى العِداءُ مُؤَيَّدٌ

كَفَّ العِدى وَكَفى العِداءُ مُؤَيَّدٌ

يَثني الأُلوفَ بِذِكرِهِ الآحادُ

يَثني الأُلوفَ بِذِكرِهِ الآحادُ

An aided champion checked the foes and warded off hostility;

His armies gain from his wisdom, resolve,

Single men turn back thousands by mentioning him.

And refusal to retreat at war's peak.

لِجُيوشِهِ مِن رَأيِهِ وَمَضائِهِ

لِجُيوشِهِ مِن رَأيِهِ وَمَضائِهِ

وَإِبائِهِ يَومَ الوَغى أَمدادُ

وَإِبائِهِ يَومَ الوَغى أَمدادُ

For his armies, his judgment and his resolve

So let the enemies despair of a land

And his defiance are reinforcements on the day of battle.

From which a trustworthy, firm sword drove them back.

فَليَيأَسِ الأَعداءُ أَرضاً ذادَهُم

فَليَيأَسِ الأَعداءُ أَرضاً ذادَهُم

عَنها طِعانٌ صادِقٌ وَجِلادُ

عَنها طِعانٌ صادِقٌ وَجِلادُ

Let the enemies despair of a land: they were driven

Over Syria flies his banner held high

From it by sure spear-thrusts and swordplay.

By the hands of knights, strong in its poles.

فَعَلى الشَآمِ سُرادِقٌ أَوتادُهُ

فَعَلى الشَآمِ سُرادِقٌ أَوتادُهُ

بيدُ الظُبى وَلَهُ القُنِيُّ عِمادُ

بيدُ الظُبى وَلَهُ القُنِيُّ عِمادُ

For over al-Sham stands a pavilion whose stakes

They almost corrupted the true path, so your fear

Are white blades, and spears are its pillars.

Subdued them until they nearly deserted misguidance.

كادوا الهُدى فَأَدالَ خَوفُكَ مِنهُمُ

كادوا الهُدى فَأَدالَ خَوفُكَ مِنهُمُ

حَتّى لَقَد سَكَنوا الكُدا أَو كادوا

حَتّى لَقَد سَكَنوا الكُدا أَو كادوا

They plotted against guidance; fear of you turned the tables on them,

They were lofty mountains, as if when discords shook,

Until they lay in the stony earth—or nearly did.

The gusts of dust had made them wither.

كانوا جِبالاً مُثَّلاً وَكَأَنَّهُم

كانوا جِبالاً مُثَّلاً وَكَأَنَّهُم

في ذي الزَعازِعِ إِذ عَصَفنَ رَمادُ

في ذي الزَعازِعِ إِذ عَصَفنَ رَمادُ

They were towering mountains, yet they seemed

Ashes in these gales when they raged.

In their hands, the spears of war grew short,

قَصُرَت رِماحُ الخَطِّ في أَيديهِمُ

قَصُرَت رِماحُ الخَطِّ في أَيديهِمُ

وَنَبَت سُيوفُ الهِندِ وَهيَ حِدادُ

وَنَبَت سُيوفُ الهِندِ وَهيَ حِدادُ

The spears of al-Khatt fell short in their hands,

And the Indian swords rusted in their sheaths.

And Indian swords failed to bite, though sharp.

Since your sea raged and its harm swelled,

مُذ جاشَ بَحرُكَ وَاِعتَلى آذِيُّهُ

مُذ جاشَ بَحرُكَ وَاِعتَلى آذِيُّهُ

نَضَبَت بِحارُ الإِفكِ فَهيَ ثِمادُ

نَضَبَت بِحارُ الإِفكِ فَهيَ ثِمادُ

Since your sea surged and its billows rose high,

The seas of calumny dried up, reduced to ashes.

The seas of falsehood have dried up into scant pools.

Without you, hypocrisy would not have retracted,

لَولاكَ ما اِنقَمَعَ النِفاقُ وَلا وَرَت

لَولاكَ ما اِنقَمَعَ النِفاقُ وَلا وَرَت

لِلدينِ مِن بَعدِ الكُبُوِّ زِنادُ

لِلدينِ مِن بَعدِ الكُبُوِّ زِنادُ

But for you, hypocrisy would not have been quelled, nor sparks struck

Nor after confusion were banners raised for religion.

For the faith from fire-strikers after their faltering.

Through you, the sword of polytheism became

بِكَ عادَ سَيفُ الشِركِ مَفلولَ الشَبا

بِكَ عادَ سَيفُ الشِركِ مَفلولَ الشَبا

وَغَدَت قُوى الإِسلامِ وَهيَ شِدادُ

وَغَدَت قُوى الإِسلامِ وَهيَ شِدادُ

Through you, the sword of polytheism became blunted at its edges,

Feeble with age, while the forces of Islam grew young.

And the forces of Islam grew strong.

Whenever you attacked the Romans in their lands,

وَمَتى دَهِمتَ الرومَ في أَوطانِهِم

وَمَتى دَهِمتَ الرومَ في أَوطانِهِم

صَبَحَتهُمُ الدَهماءُ وَهيَ نَآدُ

صَبَحَتهُمُ الدَهماءُ وَهيَ نَآدُ

And whenever you descend on the Romans in their homelands,

Morning found them overwhelmed, calling for help.

The dark host strikes them at dawn, a calamity,

With the transports of lions, lions of battle,

بِحَوامِلِ الآسادِ آسادِ الوَغى

بِحَوامِلِ الآسادِ آسادِ الوَغى

لَم يوهِها التَأويبُ وَالإِسآدُ

لَم يوهِها التَأويبُ وَالإِسآدُ

With mounts bearing lions—the lions of battle—

Unwearied by long marches or night travel.

Unweakened by daylong or nightlong marches.

Whenever your power is absent for a day,

وَلَهُم مَتى لا قَوكَ يَومٌ بَعدَهُ

وَلَهُم مَتى لا قَوكَ يَومٌ بَعدَهُ

لا تَلتَقي الأَرواحُ وَالأَجسادُ

لا تَلتَقي الأَرواحُ وَالأَجسادُ

And whenever they meet you, theirs is a day after which

Souls and bodies will no longer unite.

Souls and bodies never meet again.

So let them fear a king whose tyranny

فَليَحذَروا مَلِكاً تَخَلَّت عَنوَةً

فَليَحذَروا مَلِكاً تَخَلَّت عَنوَةً

لِسُطاهُ عَن أَجَماتِها الآسادُ

لِسُطاهُ عَن أَجَماتِها الآسادُ

So let them beware a king: under compulsion,

Made even mountains bow in submission.

Lions abandoned their thickets before his might.

Can the storyteller avoid death after hearing

هَل لِلأَراوي مَصحَرٌ مِن بَعدِما

هَل لِلأَراوي مَصحَرٌ مِن بَعدِما

سَمِعَت بِأُسدِ الغابِ كَيفَ تُصادُ

سَمِعَت بِأُسدِ الغابِ كَيفَ تُصادُ

Can mountain goats venture into the open, now that

How the lion of the forest takes its prey?

They have heard how the lions of the forest are hunted?

The Imam's sword surpassed what no ambition reached,

سَيفَ الإِمامِ عَلَوتَ ما لَم يَرقَهُ

سَيفَ الإِمامِ عَلَوتَ ما لَم يَرقَهُ

أَمَلٌ وَشِئتَ فَلَم يَفُتكَ مُرادُ

أَمَلٌ وَشِئتَ فَلَم يَفُتكَ مُرادُ

O Sword of the Imam, you have risen where no

And whatever you willed was not unattainable.

Hope has climbed; you willed, and no desire escaped you.

While for others there is only lightning and thunder,

وَلَكَ العَزائِمُ لا يُبِلُّ جَريحُها

وَلَكَ العَزائِمُ لا يُبِلُّ جَريحُها

وَلِغَيرِكَ الإِبراقُ وَالإِرعادُ

وَلِغَيرِكَ الإِبراقُ وَالإِرعادُ

Yours are resolves whose wounded never recover,

Your resolves know no turning back.

While others have only lightning-flashes and thunder.

Cringing, when the enemy carves, it only finds

ذُلُقاً إِذا نَحَتِ العَدُوَّ فَإِنَّما

ذُلُقاً إِذا نَحَتِ العَدُوَّ فَإِنَّما

بَينَ الحُتوفِ وَبَينَها ميعادُ

بَينَ الحُتوفِ وَبَينَها ميعادُ

Sharp-edged, when they aim at the foe, there is only

Death's meeting place between the breastbones.

A rendezvous between them and death.

The winds were still before your assault,

سَكَنَت لِصَولَتِكَ الرِياحُ مَهابَةً

سَكَنَت لِصَولَتِكَ الرِياحُ مَهابَةً

وَتَزَعزَعَت مِن خَوفِكَ الأَطوادُ

وَتَزَعزَعَت مِن خَوفِكَ الأَطوادُ

The winds grew still in awe of your onslaught,

And the tent pegs shook in fear of you.

And the mountains shook with fear of you.

Draw the swords! For you have often unsheathed them,

فَشِمِ السُيوفَ فَطالَما جَرَّدتَها

فَشِمِ السُيوفَ فَطالَما جَرَّدتَها

حَتّى لَقُلنا ما لَها أَغمادُ

حَتّى لَقُلنا ما لَها أَغمادُ

So sheathe the swords: so long have you drawn them

We would say they have no more sheaths.

That we said they had no scabbards.

Take a stand! For your might has inspired awe,

وَأَقِم فَقَد قامَت لِبَأسِكَ هَيبَةٌ

وَأَقِم فَقَد قامَت لِبَأسِكَ هَيبَةٌ

لَم يَخلُ مِنها في الأَنامِ فُؤادُ

لَم يَخلُ مِنها في الأَنامِ فُؤادُ

And stay: awe of your valor has arisen,

Leaving no heart of men untouched.

From which no heart among mankind has been free.

Your concerns traveled, so staying is a journey,

وَسَرَت هُمومُكَ فَالإِقامَةُ رِحلَةٌ

وَسَرَت هُمومُكَ فَالإِقامَةُ رِحلَةٌ

وَالسِلمُ حَربٌ وَالرُقادُ سُهادُ

وَالسِلمُ حَربٌ وَالرُقادُ سُهادُ

And your concerns have traveled, so staying is a journey;

Peace is war, and sleep is wakefulness.

Peace is war, and sleep is sleeplessness.

The shelter of your travels is safety wherever you shelter,

فَثَواءُ رَحلِكَ عِصمَةٌ أَنّى ثَوى

فَثَواءُ رَحلِكَ عِصمَةٌ أَنّى ثَوى

أَبَداً وَكَفُّكَ لِلعَدُوِّ جِهادُ

أَبَداً وَكَفُّكَ لِلعَدُوِّ جِهادُ

So wherever your saddle rests, its presence is protection

And stopping the enemy is eternal holy war.

Forever; and your restraint is warfare against the foe.

Their fires and embers burned nothing lofty,

ما أَحرَقَت نيرانُهُم وَشَرارُها

ما أَحرَقَت نيرانُهُم وَشَرارُها

عالٍ فَكَيفَ تَروعُ وَهيَ رَمادُ

عالٍ فَكَيفَ تَروعُ وَهيَ رَمادُ

Their fires did not scorch, though their sparks

So why would sparks frighten you?

Were high; how can they terrify when they are ashes?

When the path of error appeared to them, they took it,

رَكِبوا سَبيلَ الغَيِّ حينَ بَدَت لَهُم

رَكِبوا سَبيلَ الغَيِّ حينَ بَدَت لَهُم

وَلَقَد رَأَوا سُبُلَ الرَشادِ فَحادوا

وَلَقَد رَأَوا سُبُلَ الرَشادِ فَحادوا

They took the path of error when it appeared to them;

Though they saw the roads of right guidance and deviated.

They had indeed seen the paths of right guidance, yet turned aside.

The protected one leads those whom past misguidance

وَعَلى الظِبى إِرشادُ مَن لَم يَثنِهِ

وَعَلى الظِبى إِرشادُ مَن لَم يَثنِهِ

فيما مَضى عَن غَيِّهِ إِرشادُ

فيما مَضى عَن غَيِّهِ إِرشادُ

And the blades must guide whoever was not deterred

Did not stop from his own misguidance.

From his error by guidance in the past.

They harbored hatred, so since you instilled

حَقَدوا فَمُذ أَسكَنتَ بَينَ ضُلوعِهِم

حَقَدوا فَمُذ أَسكَنتَ بَينَ ضُلوعِهِم

خَوفَ اِنتِقامِكَ ماتَتِ الأَحقادُ

خَوفَ اِنتِقامِكَ ماتَتِ الأَحقادُ

They bore grudges; but since you lodged within their ribs

Fear of your revenge in their hearts, their grudges died.

The fear of your vengeance, their grudges have died.

And you flooded them with your forgiveness after

وَأَراكَ تَغمُرُهُم بِصَفحِكَ بَعدَما

وَأَراكَ تَغمُرُهُم بِصَفحِكَ بَعدَما

كَثُرَت بِبابِكَ مِنهُمُ القُصّادُ

كَثُرَت بِبابِكَ مِنهُمُ القُصّادُ

And I see you overwhelming them with your pardon after

Many who sought your door had been turned away.

Petitioners from among them grew numerous at your gate.

They feared devastation, so they aspired to hopes

خافوا الرَدى فَنَحَوا هُماماً عِندَهُ

خافوا الرَدى فَنَحَوا هُماماً عِندَهُ

يُجدي وَيُردي الوَعدُ وَالإيعادُ

يُجدي وَيُردي الوَعدُ وَالإيعادُ

They feared destruction and sought a valiant man with whom

In which promises and warnings come true.

A promise brings benefit, and a threat brings death.

Misfortune guided them after blindness -

وَهَدَتهُمُ النَكَباتُ مِن بَعدِ العَمى

وَهَدَتهُمُ النَكَباتُ مِن بَعدِ العَمى

يا طالَما جَرَّ الصَلاحَ فَسادُ

يا طالَما جَرَّ الصَلاحَ فَسادُ

Calamities guided them after their blindness;

Oh, how often right conduct breeds corruption!

Ah, how often corruption has brought reform!

They crossed the desert, with your face's light their guide

قَطَعوا القِفارَ وَنورُ وَجهِكَ في الدُجى

قَطَعوا القِفارَ وَنورُ وَجهِكَ في الدُجى

هادٍ لَهُم وَرَجاءُ قُربِكَ زادُ

هادٍ لَهُم وَرَجاءُ قُربِكَ زادُ

They crossed the wildernesses, while the light of your face in darkness

In gloom, and hope of your nearness their supplies.

Was their guide, and hope of your nearness their provision.

You terrified them until those far away knew

أَرهَبتَهُم حَتّى تَحَقَّقَ مَن نَأى

أَرهَبتَهُم حَتّى تَحَقَّقَ مَن نَأى

أَن لَيسَ يُنجي مِن سُطاكَ بِعادُ

أَن لَيسَ يُنجي مِن سُطاكَ بِعادُ

You terrified them until those far away knew for certain

No distance saves from your power.

That distance offers no escape from your might.

You forgave until, if their exiles hoped for

وَعَفَوتَ حَتّى لَو رَجا غُيّابُهُم

وَعَفَوتَ حَتّى لَو رَجا غُيّابُهُم

ذا العَفوَ وَدّوا أَنَّهُم شُهّادُ

ذا العَفوَ وَدّوا أَنَّهُم شُهّادُ

And you pardoned so fully that, if their absent men hoped for

Such pardon, they would wish they were martyrs.

This pardon, they would wish to be present.

This son of Jarrāḥ has come to you - and for whom

هَذا اِبنُ جَرّاحٍ أَتاكَ وَهَل لِمَن

هَذا اِبنُ جَرّاحٍ أَتاكَ وَهَل لِمَن

أَقصَيتَهُ إِلّا إِلَيكَ عِوادُ

أَقصَيتَهُ إِلّا إِلَيكَ عِوادُ

Here is Ibn Jarrah, come to you; can one

Do you banish but yourself do they seek?

You banished return to anyone but you?

So answer the caller with your bounty! For with you

فَأَجِب بِفَضلِكَ مَن دَعاكَ فَلَم يَزَل

فَأَجِب بِفَضلِكَ مَن دَعاكَ فَلَم يَزَل

لِلعَفوِ عِندَكَ مَبدَأٌ وَمَعادُ

لِلعَفوِ عِندَكَ مَبدَأٌ وَمَعادُ

So answer through your bounty whoever calls; there has always been

Forgiveness always has its origin and return.

With you a beginning and a return for pardon.

Meet the apology of one who confesses sin with mercy -

قابِل بِرَأفَتِكَ اِعتِذارَ مُساوِرِ

قابِل بِرَأفَتِكَ اِعتِذارَ مُساوِرِ

إِنَّ المَعاذِرَ لِلذُنوبِ حَصادُ

إِنَّ المَعاذِرَ لِلذُنوبِ حَصادُ

Receive with your compassion the apology of an assailant;

Apologies are the harvest of misdeeds.

Indeed, apologies are a reaping of sins.

Anger clouds the forebearing's vision, though his nature

قَد يَكهَمُ العَضبُ الجُرازُ وَحَدُّهُ

قَد يَكهَمُ العَضبُ الجُرازُ وَحَدُّهُ

ماضٍ وَيَكبو الطِرفُ وَهوَ جَوادُ

ماضٍ وَيَكبو الطِرفُ وَهوَ جَوادُ

The keen, slashing sword may falter, though its edge

Is bygone generosity, eyes overflowing.

Is sharp; a steed may stumble though it is noble.

O pillar of Islam! Who complains of thirst

يا عُدَّةَ الإِسلامِ مَن ذا يَشتَكي

يا عُدَّةَ الإِسلامِ مَن ذا يَشتَكي

ظَمَأً وَعِدُّكَ لِلعُفاةِ عَتادُ

ظَمَأً وَعِدُّكَ لِلعُفاةِ عَتادُ

O bulwark of Islam, who can complain of

When your rain pools are the camels' watering holes?

Thirst, when your perennial spring is provision for petitioners?

How often in the saddle of glory you carried

كَم قُدتَ في رِبقِ الجَميلِ مَصاعِباً

كَم قُدتَ في رِبقِ الجَميلِ مَصاعِباً

لِسِواكَ لا تَعنو وَلا تَنقادُ

لِسِواكَ لا تَعنو وَلا تَنقادُ

How many unruly beasts have you led in the halters of kindness,

Misfortunes others could not bear or tame!

Who neither yield nor submit to anyone but you!

Kings sought refuge with you, and the poor sought shelter,

عاذَت بِحَضرَتِكَ المُلوكُ وَلاذَتِ ال

عاذَت بِحَضرَتِكَ المُلوكُ وَلاذَتِ ال

فُقَراءِ فَاِجتَمَعَت بِها الأَضدادُ

فُقَراءِ فَاِجتَمَعَت بِها الأَضدادُ

Kings have sought refuge in your presence, and so have the

So opposites met in your abode.

Poor; in it, opposites have come together.

Your place has become all-gathering and all-separating,

أَضحى مَحَلُّكَ جامِعاً وَمُفَرِّقاً

أَضحى مَحَلُّكَ جامِعاً وَمُفَرِّقاً

فَالحَمدُ يُحرَزُ وَالثَراءُ يُبادُ

فَالحَمدُ يُحرَزُ وَالثَراءُ يُبادُ

Your abode has become a gatherer and a scatterer:

So thanks are gained and riches lost.

Praise is secured, and wealth is exhausted.

Containing the noble, preventing their attainment,

تَحوي العَلاءَ بِهِ فَتَمنَعُ نَيلَهُ

تَحوي العَلاءَ بِهِ فَتَمنَعُ نَيلَهُ

وَالمالُ ساعَةَ يُستَفادُ يُفادُ

وَالمالُ ساعَةَ يُستَفادُ يُفادُ

There you gather eminence and bar others from attaining it,

Wealth for an hour is gotten and spent.

While money, the moment it is gained, is given away.

To ransom you, the inhabitants of whole kingdoms would give

يَفديكَ أَهلُ مَمالِكٍ هَضَباتُها

يَفديكَ أَهلُ مَمالِكٍ هَضَباتُها

في جَنبِ ذا المُلكِ الأَشَمِّ وِهادُ

في جَنبِ ذا المُلكِ الأَشَمِّ وِهادُ

May the peoples of kingdoms be your ransom; their highlands

Their plateaus, alongside this most clement kingdom.

Are lowlands beside this lofty realm.

You are the Nuʿmān of this age, while I -

نُعمانُ هَذا العَصرِ أَنتَ وَإِنَّني

نُعمانُ هَذا العَصرِ أَنتَ وَإِنَّني

في حَيثُ يَنتَسِبُ القَريضُ زِيادُ

في حَيثُ يَنتَسِبُ القَريضُ زِيادُ

You are this age's Nu'man, and I,

Whenever the Quraysh boast - add more.

Where poetry's lineage is reckoned, am Ziyad.

No distracter can divert me from your praise;

لا يَلفِتَنَّكَ عَن ثَنائي لافِتٌ

لا يَلفِتَنَّكَ عَن ثَنائي لافِتٌ

فَلِكُلِّ قَولٍ ما عَداهُ نَفادُ

فَلِكُلِّ قَولٍ ما عَداهُ نَفادُ

Let no one turn you away from my praise,

For every other saying, its extent ends.

For every utterance other than it comes to an end.

Listen to the refined poetry of your perfect order -

وَاِسمَع لِمُحكَمَةِ النِظامِ حُلِيُّها

وَاِسمَع لِمُحكَمَةِ النِظامِ حُلِيُّها

دُرَرُ الثَنا وَجِلائُها الإِنشادُ

دُرَرُ الثَنا وَجِلائُها الإِنشادُ

And listen to a firmly strung ode, whose ornaments

The pearls of verse and its chanting recital!

Are pearls of praise, and whose polish is recitation.

Intercede through it for those necklaces - they are

وَاِشفَع بِها تِلكَ القَلائِدَ إِنَّها

وَاِشفَع بِها تِلكَ القَلائِدَ إِنَّها

مِن خَيرِ ما تُزهى بِهِ الأَجيادُ

مِن خَيرِ ما تُزهى بِهِ الأَجيادُ

And supplement those necklaces with it, for they

The finest ornaments for the noble.

Are among the finest things in which necks take pride.

And follow what your hands have rendered in praise -

وَاِقتَد بِما أَسدَت يَداكَ مَدائِحاً

وَاِقتَد بِما أَسدَت يَداكَ مَدائِحاً

لَولاكَ لَم يُملَك لَهُنَّ قِيادُ

لَولاكَ لَم يُملَك لَهُنَّ قِيادُ

And lead, with what your hands have bestowed, praises

Without you, none would have led their reins.

Whose reins could not be held without you.

How can I reach for more when the palms of your bounty

أَنّى أَمُدُّ يَداً إِلى طَلَبٍ وَلي

أَنّى أَمُدُّ يَداً إِلى طَلَبٍ وَلي

مِن جودِ كَفِّكَ طارِفٌ وَتِلادُ

مِن جودِ كَفِّكَ طارِفٌ وَتِلادُ

How can I stretch out a hand to ask, when I have

Rain down and your fingers scatter fresh pearls?

From your hand's bounty, wealth both new and old?

And delight in a year whose happy clouds

وَاِسعَد بِهِ عاماً سَحائِبُ يُمنِهِ

وَاِسعَد بِهِ عاماً سَحائِبُ يُمنِهِ

هُطُلٌ وَكَوكَبُ سَعدِهِ وَقّادُ

هُطُلٌ وَكَوكَبُ سَعدِهِ وَقّادُ

And prosper through a year whose clouds of blessing

Pour down, with your lucky star to lead them.

Pour down, and whose star of good fortune blazes.

The shadow of one whose days delight us

لا زالَ عَنّا ظِلُّ مَن أَيّامُنا

لا زالَ عَنّا ظِلُّ مَن أَيّامُنا

مِن حُسنِها في ظِلِّهِ أَعيادُ

مِن حُسنِها في ظِلِّهِ أَعيادُ

May his shade never leave us, for our days

Did not cease, with holidays in his shade.

Are festivals, so beautiful beneath his shade.

And this kingdom remains verdant, sheltered

وَأَقامَ هَذا المُلكُ أَخضَرَ لائِذاً

وَأَقامَ هَذا المُلكُ أَخضَرَ لائِذاً

بِفِنائِهِ الوُرّادُ وَالرُوّادُ

بِفِنائِهِ الوُرّادُ وَالرُوّادُ

And may this kingdom remain green, with refuge sought

In its courtyard, with pilgrims and visitors.

In its courtyard by water-seekers and seekers of pasture.

You gave life to literature which you revived -

وَحَيِيتَ لِلأَدَبِ الَّذي أَحيَيتَهُ

وَحَيِيتَ لِلأَدَبِ الَّذي أَحيَيتَهُ

فَنَفاقُهُ إِلّا لَدَيكَ كَسادُ

فَنَفاقُهُ إِلّا لَدَيكَ كَسادُ

And may you live for the literature you have brought to life,

Elsewhere, it declines into stagnation.

For its thriving trade, anywhere but with you, is stagnation.