إِباؤُكَ لِلمَجدِ أَن يُبتَذَل

إِباؤُكَ لِلمَجدِ أَن يُبتَذَل

أَصارَ لَكَ الناسَ طُرّاً خَوَل

أَصارَ لَكَ الناسَ طُرّاً خَوَل

Your refusal to let glory be debased

Your forefathers disdained glory to be debased

has made all people your servants.

People became gentle birds to you out of awe

وَآزَرَكَ الرَأيُ ما إِن يَفيلُ

وَآزَرَكَ الرَأيُ ما إِن يَفيلُ

وَضافَرَكَ العَزمُ ما إِن يُفَلّ

وَضافَرَكَ العَزمُ ما إِن يُفَلّ

Sound judgment supports you and never fails;

Opinion supported you, it does not weaken

resolve aids you and is never blunted.

Resolve backed you, it does not fail

فَلَم تَتَّرِك حِصَّةً في الثَناءِ

فَلَم تَتَّرِك حِصَّةً في الثَناءِ

تُسامُ وَلا فُرصَةً تُبتَذَل

تُسامُ وَلا فُرصَةً تُبتَذَل

You have left no share of praise

So you left no share of praise humiliated

to be sought, nor an opportunity to be taken.

Nor an opportunity to be debased

عُلىً فَضَّتِ الخَلقَ عَن نَهجِها

عُلىً فَضَّتِ الخَلقَ عَن نَهجِها

فَأَفضَت إِلى رُتبَةٍ لَم تُنَل

فَأَفضَت إِلى رُتبَةٍ لَم تُنَل

Heights that drove mankind from their path

You surpassed people in her path

have reached a rank never attained.

So you attained a rank never reached before

وَما هِيَ مِن رُتَباتِ الوَرى

وَما هِيَ مِن رُتَباتِ الوَرى

فَهَل زُحَلٌ لَكَ عَنها زَحَل

فَهَل زُحَلٌ لَكَ عَنها زَحَل

It is no rank belonging to humankind:

It is no ordinary rank in the world

did Saturn withdraw from it for you?

Can any stars for you from it be eclipsed?

لَقَد كَفَلَت بِالغِنى وَاِلتَوى

لَقَد كَفَلَت بِالغِنى وَاِلتَوى

يَدٌ في النَدى وَالرَدى لَم تَطُل

يَدٌ في النَدى وَالرَدى لَم تَطُل

Riches and ruin have indeed been guaranteed by

A hand guaranteed you richness and piety

a hand unsurpassed in bounty and destruction.

A hand that touched dew and was ready to strike

يَدٌ كُلَّما فَتَكَت بِالنُضا

يَدٌ كُلَّما فَتَكَت بِالنُضا

رِ قالَ الرَجاءُ لَها لا شَلَل

رِ قالَ الرَجاءُ لَها لا شَلَل

A hand that, whenever it ravages gold,

Whenever it unsheathed sharp swords

hope tells it, 'May it never be palsied!'

Hope for it said: no weakness

تَرى بَذلَهُ بِيَسيرِ السُؤالِ

تَرى بَذلَهُ بِيَسيرِ السُؤالِ

وَتَمنَعُهُ مِن نِصالِ الأَسَل

وَتَمنَعُهُ مِن نِصالِ الأَسَل

You see it given at the slightest request,

You see it gives generously when asked little

yet shield it from the points of spears.

And it refrains from stabbing with sharp blades

إِذا قَبَّلَ الناسُ راحَ المُلوكِ

إِذا قَبَّلَ الناسُ راحَ المُلوكِ

وَقاها ثَرى قَدَمَيكَ القُبَل

وَقاها ثَرى قَدَمَيكَ القُبَل

When people kiss the palms of kings,

When people kiss the feet of kings

the dust at your feet spares those palms their kisses.

The soil protected your feet from kisses

وَحُقَّ الجَلالُ لِرَبِّ الخِلالِ

وَحُقَّ الجَلالُ لِرَبِّ الخِلالِ

غَذاها الحِجى وَعَداها الخَلَل

غَذاها الحِجى وَعَداها الخَلَل

Grandeur is rightly due to the master of virtues

The right of Majesty belongs to the Lord of Grandeur

nourished by reason and untouched by defect.

Zeal fed it and shortcomings opposed it

فَمَشروعُ إِنصافِهِ لا يَميلُ

فَمَشروعُ إِنصافِهِ لا يَميلُ

وَمَسموعُ أَوصافِهِ لا يُمَلّ

وَمَسموعُ أَوصافِهِ لا يُمَلّ

The path of his justice never bends;

So its path of justice does not tilt

hearing his qualities never wearies.

And its attributes heard do not bore

يُعَفّي عَلى مَن عَفا أَو كَفى

يُعَفّي عَلى مَن عَفا أَو كَفى

وَيوفي عَلى مَن وَفى أَو عَدَل

وَيوفي عَلى مَن وَفى أَو عَدَل

He eclipses whoever pardons or provides,

He forgives those who pardoned or sufficed

and surpasses whoever keeps faith or acts justly.

And fulfils those who fulfilled or were just

وَيَشرَهُ في العَفوِ عَن قُدرَةٍ

وَيَشرَهُ في العَفوِ عَن قُدرَةٍ

وَيَكرَهُ سَبقَ الحُسامِ العَذَل

وَيَكرَهُ سَبقَ الحُسامِ العَذَل

He is eager to pardon despite his power,

He loves pardoning despite ability

and hates the sword to precede reproof.

And hates swords preceding Spears

مَنيعُ الجَنابِ إِذا الدَهرُ صالَ

مَنيعُ الجَنابِ إِذا الدَهرُ صالَ

سَريعُ الجَوابِ إِذا السَيفُ صَلّ

سَريعُ الجَوابِ إِذا السَيفُ صَلّ

His precinct is impregnable when time attacks;

Impregnable if fate becomes hostile

his answer is swift when the sword rings.

Quick to respond if swords are unsheathed

مَديدُ الظِلالِ سَديدُ المَقالِ

مَديدُ الظِلالِ سَديدُ المَقالِ

شَديدُ المِحالِ بَعيدُ المَحَلّ

شَديدُ المِحالِ بَعيدُ المَحَلّ

Far-reaching in shade, sound in speech,

With extensive shadows and eloquent words

mighty in force, lofty in station.

Firm, far-reaching, and elevated

مَحَلٌّ يَقي بِالنَدى المَحلَ عَنهُ

مَحَلٌّ يَقي بِالنَدى المَحلَ عَنهُ

حَيا مُزنِهِ ما وَنى مُذ هَطَل

حَيا مُزنِهِ ما وَنى مُذ هَطَل

An abode from which bounty wards off drought:

An elevated position that protects the elevated from him

his clouds' life-giving rain has not slackened since it poured.

Alive is its glory since it descended

فَما اِرتَحَلَ المَجدُ مُذ حَلَّهُ

فَما اِرتَحَلَ المَجدُ مُذ حَلَّهُ

وَلا اِنفَصَلَ الحَمدُ مُنذُ اِتَّصَل

وَلا اِنفَصَلَ الحَمدُ مُنذُ اِتَّصَل

Glory has never departed since settling there,

So glory never departed since it lodged

nor praise withdrawn since attaching itself.

And praise never disconnected since connected

وَلا جاوَزَ الذَمُّ فيهِ الثَنا

وَلا جاوَزَ الذَمُّ فيهِ الثَنا

وَلا ذَعَرَ الناسُ عَنهُ الأَمَل

وَلا ذَعَرَ الناسُ عَنهُ الأَمَل

Blame has never surpassed praise concerning him,

Nor did blame about him exceed limits

nor have people frightened hope away from him.

Nor did hopes of people flee from him

تَخَيَّرَ ذو العَرشِ لِلمُسلِمينَ

تَخَيَّرَ ذو العَرشِ لِلمُسلِمينَ

غِياثاً كَفى الدينَ أَن يُبتَذَل

غِياثاً كَفى الدينَ أَن يُبتَذَل

The Lord of the Throne chose for the Muslims

The Lord of the Throne chose for Muslims

a savior who spared religion from debasement.

A rescuer, the faith sufficed to be debased

يُحِلّونَهُ بِسَوادِ القُلو

يُحِلّونَهُ بِسَوادِ القُلو

بِ ضَنّاً بِهِ عَن سَوادِ المُقَل

بِ ضَنّاً بِهِ عَن سَوادِ المُقَل

They lodge him in the black depths of their hearts,

They embraced him with dark hearts

jealously keeping him from the black pupils of their eyes.

Stingy towards his dark mind

رَعاهُم بِطَرفٍ كَثيرِ الرُنُوِّ

رَعاهُم بِطَرفٍ كَثيرِ الرُنُوِّ

وَقَلبٍ مِنَ اللَهِ جَمِّ الوَجَل

وَقَلبٍ مِنَ اللَهِ جَمِّ الوَجَل

He tended them with an ever-watchful eye

He cared for them with a gentle gaze

and a heart full of awe before God.

And a heart from God, deterring calamity

فَمُذ باتَ يَحرُسُهُم لَم يَنَم

فَمُذ باتَ يَحرُسُهُم لَم يَنَم

وَمُذ ظَلَّ يَكلَؤُهُم ما غَفَل

وَمُذ ظَلَّ يَكلَؤُهُم ما غَفَل

Since he began guarding them by night, he has not slept;

So since he stayed up guarding them, he did not sleep

since he began protecting them by day, he has not been heedless.

And since he protected them he did not neglect

كَثيرُ الأَناةِ وَإِن لَم تَزَل

كَثيرُ الأَناةِ وَإِن لَم تَزَل

عَطاياهُ مَخلوقَةً مِن عَجَل

عَطاياهُ مَخلوقَةً مِن عَجَل

He is full of deliberation, though ever

Forbearing, though his gifts never ceased

his gifts are fashioned out of haste.

Created in hast, though glorious

مَكارِمُ لَو لَم تُحَلَّل لَدَيكَ

مَكارِمُ لَو لَم تُحَلَّل لَدَيكَ

لَدامَت مَحارِمَ لا تُستَحَلّ

لَدامَت مَحارِمَ لا تُستَحَلّ

Noble gifts that, had they not been made lawful with you,

Had virtues not been permitted by you

would have remained forbidden, never lawfully taken.

They would have remained prohibitions, never permitted

وَلَمّا عَمَمتَ بِها السائِلي

وَلَمّا عَمَمتَ بِها السائِلي

نَ عادَت تَطَلَّبُ مَن لَم يَسَل

نَ عادَت تَطَلَّبُ مَن لَم يَسَل

When you extended them to all petitioners,

And when you bestowed them upon petitioners

they began seeking those who had not asked.

They returned, even asking who did not ask

وَأَنزَرُها كَالأَتِيِّ اِستَمَدَّ

وَأَنزَرُها كَالأَتِيِّ اِستَمَدَّ

وَأَيسَرُها كَالغُمامِ اِستَهَلّ

وَأَيسَرُها كَالغُمامِ اِستَهَلّ

Their smallest is like a torrent gathering strength;

The easiest of them is like the incoming clouds

their slightest is like clouds beginning to pour.

And the quickest of them is like lightning that descended

أَتاكَ هَواها أَمامَ اللِبانِ

أَتاكَ هَواها أَمامَ اللِبانِ

لِذَلِكَ لَم تَبغِ عَنها حِوَل

لِذَلِكَ لَم تَبغِ عَنها حِوَل

Love of them came to you before mother's milk;

Their love came to you ahead of aloes

therefore you never sought to turn away from them.

So you did not want to change course from it

وَواصَلتَها وَصلَ ذي صَبوَةٍ

وَواصَلتَها وَصلَ ذي صَبوَةٍ

عَزيزِ السُلُوِّ عَسيرِ المَلَل

عَزيزِ السُلُوِّ عَسيرِ المَلَل

You maintained them with a passionate lover's attachment,

And you connected it like one of high ambition

for whom forgetting is hard and weariness rare.

Of strong determination and tireless perseverance

فَيا مَن مَراميهِ لا تُنتَحى

فَيا مَن مَراميهِ لا تُنتَحى

وَيا مَن مَساعيهِ لا تُنتَحَل

وَيا مَن مَساعيهِ لا تُنتَحَل

O you whose aims cannot be reached,

So O you whose goals cannot be attained

and whose endeavors cannot be falsely claimed!

And O you whose efforts cannot be emulated

وَيا عَلَمَ المَجدِ قاضي القُضاةِ

وَيا عَلَمَ المَجدِ قاضي القُضاةِ

وَيا سَيِّدَ الوُزَراءِ الأَجَلّ

وَيا سَيِّدَ الوُزَراءِ الأَجَلّ

O banner of glory, Judge of Judges!

And O flag of glory, judge of judges

O most august master of ministers!

And O the greatest of the revered ministers

لَأَنتَ عَلى طيبِ أَصلٍ نَما

لَأَنتَ عَلى طيبِ أَصلٍ نَما

كَ مِن كُلِّ شاهِدِ عَدلٍ أَدَلّ

كَ مِن كُلِّ شاهِدِ عَدلٍ أَدَلّ

You are indeed clearer proof of the noble stock that raised

You are indeed of good origin grown

you than any upright witness.

More guiding than every fair witness

وَما زِلتَ في طُرُقاتِ العَلاءِ

وَما زِلتَ في طُرُقاتِ العَلاءِ

تَدُلُّ عَلَيها وَما إِن تُدَلّ

تَدُلُّ عَلَيها وَما إِن تُدَلّ

You have ever, along the paths of eminence,

And you never stopped treading the roads of the lofty

shown the way, never needing to be shown.

Guiding towards them, never guided

كَفاكَ الخِداعَ أَوانَ القِرا

كَفاكَ الخِداعَ أَوانَ القِرا

عِ عَزمٌ يَقُدُّ إِذا العَضبُ كَلّ

عِ عَزمٌ يَقُدُّ إِذا العَضبُ كَلّ

At the hour of battle, you were spared the need for guile

Trickery sufficed you in time of cunning

by a resolve that cuts when the keen sword dulls.

A resolve leading when fury gathered

عُرِفتَ بِهِ وَكَذاكَ الأَسو

عُرِفتَ بِهِ وَكَذاكَ الأَسو

دُ بِالحَولِ تَفعَلُ لا بِالحِيَل

دُ بِالحَولِ تَفعَلُ لا بِالحِيَل

You are known for this; likewise lions

You were known through it and so were the valiant

act through strength, not stratagems.

Through prowess not through cunning

سَطَوتَ عَلى الدَهرِ لَمّا اِعتَدى

سَطَوتَ عَلى الدَهرِ لَمّا اِعتَدى

وَقَد كانَ ذا مَيَلٍ فَاِعتَدَل

وَقَد كانَ ذا مَيَلٍ فَاِعتَدَل

You assailed time when it transgressed;

You overpowered fate when it transgressed

it had been crooked, and became straight.

Though it had a tendency, so you made it just

فَخَوفُكَ في صَدرِهِ ماثِلٌ

فَخَوفُكَ في صَدرِهِ ماثِلٌ

وَأَمرُكَ في صَرفِهِ مُمتَثَل

وَأَمرُكَ في صَرفِهِ مُمتَثَل

Fear of you is fixed within its breast,

So your fear rests in its breast

and your command is obeyed in its vicissitudes.

And your order is implemented when directed

وَجَرَّدتَ رَأيَكَ قَبلَ السُيوفِ

وَجَرَّدتَ رَأيَكَ قَبلَ السُيوفِ

فَأَغنى مَواضِيَها أَن تُسَلّ

فَأَغنى مَواضِيَها أَن تُسَلّ

You unsheathed your judgment before the swords,

You armed your opinion before the swords

making it needless to draw their keen blades.

So its implications sufficed unsheathed

وَأَعمَلتَهُ وَاِطَّرَحتَ الرِماحَ

وَأَعمَلتَهُ وَاِطَّرَحتَ الرِماحَ

لِما في عَوامِلِها مِن خَطَل

لِما في عَوامِلِها مِن خَطَل

You employed it and cast aside the spears

And you implemented it, and cast aside spears

because of the folly in their points.

Due to the defects latent within them

إِذا قَصُرَت دَرَجُ المُرتَقينَ

إِذا قَصُرَت دَرَجُ المُرتَقينَ

فَإِنَّكَ ذو الدَرَجاتِ الطُوَل

فَإِنَّكَ ذو الدَرَجاتِ الطُوَل

When the steps of those ascending fall short,

When the steps of the climbers grew short

yours are the long steps.

You possess the longest steps

وَإِنَّ الإِمامَ مَعَدّاً رَآ

وَإِنَّ الإِمامَ مَعَدّاً رَآ

كَ خَيرَ مُعَدٍّ لِأَمرٍ جَلَل

كَ خَيرَ مُعَدٍّ لِأَمرٍ جَلَل

Indeed, the Imam Maʿadd saw

And the Leader saw you as the best prepared

you as best prepared for a weighty task.

For a momentous command, so he assigned it to you

فَقَلَّدَكَ الحُكمَ في مُلكِهِ

فَقَلَّدَكَ الحُكمَ في مُلكِهِ

كَما قُلِّدَ المَشرَفِيَّ البَطَل

كَما قُلِّدَ المَشرَفِيَّ البَطَل

He entrusted you with governance in his kingdom,

So he delegated authority to you in his kingdom

as a hero is girded with a Mashrafi sword.

As the Brave was assigned the standard

فَمَن ذا لِذَبِّكَ عَنهُ اِستَقَلَّ

فَمَن ذا لِذَبِّكَ عَنهُ اِستَقَلَّ

وَمَن ذا بِعِبئِكَ فيهِ اِستَقَلّ

وَمَن ذا بِعِبئِكَ فيهِ اِستَقَلّ

Who could undertake your defense of him?

So who was fit to carry your load independently?

And who could bear your burden in his service?

And who was able to bear your burden?

وَأَتحَفتَهُ بِحُسامِ الفُتوحِ

وَأَتحَفتَهُ بِحُسامِ الفُتوحِ

فَعاضَكَ ما اِجتابَهُ مِن حُلَل

فَعاضَكَ ما اِجتابَهُ مِن حُلَل

You presented him with the sword of conquests;

And you endowed him with the sword of conquests

he repaid you with robes he had donned.

So it exposed what garments it drew

فُتوحٌ أَتَت وَالقَنا لَم يَرِم

فُتوحٌ أَتَت وَالقَنا لَم يَرِم

مَراكِزَهُ وَالظُبى في الخِلَل

مَراكِزَهُ وَالظُبى في الخِلَل

Conquests came while the spears had not left

Conquests came and spears had not yet cast

their stands, and sword-edges remained in their sheaths.

At their positions, while horses were in ravines

أَنَختَ بِصَنهاجَةَ النائِباتِ

أَنَختَ بِصَنهاجَةَ النائِباتِ

فَفاتَ زَعيمَهُمُ ما أَمَل

فَفاتَ زَعيمَهُمُ ما أَمَل

You brought calamities down upon Sanhaja;

You destroyed the elite substitutes with a raid

what their leader hoped for eluded him.

So their leader missed what he hoped for

فَمِن عُصَبٍ عَصَبَتها الحُروبُ

فَمِن عُصَبٍ عَصَبَتها الحُروبُ

وَمِن ثُلَلٍ قَد مَحاها الثَلَل

وَمِن ثُلَلٍ قَد مَحاها الثَلَل

Some were bands bound fast by wars,

You thus untied bonds the wars had tied

and some were companies effaced by destruction.

And erased traces the ravages had erased

وَكانَ يُسَمّى مُعِزّاً فَمُذ

وَكانَ يُسَمّى مُعِزّاً فَمُذ

تَحَدَّيتَهُ صار يُدعى مُذَلّ

تَحَدَّيتَهُ صار يُدعى مُذَلّ

He was called Muʿizz, but when

And one who was named Mighty since you challenged him

you challenged him, he was called 'the Humbled.'

Became known as Humiliated instead

فَما يَأمُلَن فَرَجاً بِالبِعادِ

فَما يَأمُلَن فَرَجاً بِالبِعادِ

طَريدُكَ مُستَضعَفٌ حَيثُ حَلّ

طَريدُكَ مُستَضعَفٌ حَيثُ حَلّ

Let him not hope for relief through distance:

So your fleeing victim has no hope of relief

your fugitive is powerless wherever he settles.

Wherever he settles, scared and confused

وَلَو أَقلَعَ الخَوفُ عَنهُ اِهتَدى

وَلَو أَقلَعَ الخَوفُ عَنهُ اِهتَدى

وَلَكِنَّهُ زادَ رُعباً فَضَلّ

وَلَكِنَّهُ زادَ رُعباً فَضَلّ

Had fear released him, he would have found his way;

If fear left him he would be guided

but his terror grew, and he went astray.

But instead his terror intensified and remained

وَخَوفُ حُذَيفَةَ عَمّى عَلَي

وَخَوفُ حُذَيفَةَ عَمّى عَلَي

هِ بِالجَفرِ ما لَم يَغِب عَن حَمَل

هِ بِالجَفرِ ما لَم يَغِب عَن حَمَل

Hudhayfa's fear obscured for him

And fear of Hudhayfah blinded him

at al-Jafr what was not hidden from Hamal.

With cowardice, as long as he did not carry a burden

وَلَو أَمَّ بابَكَ مُستَعصِماً

وَلَو أَمَّ بابَكَ مُستَعصِماً

بِهِ صانَ مِن مُلكِهِ ما بَذَل

بِهِ صانَ مِن مُلكِهِ ما بَذَل

Had he sought your door for protection,

Had he sought protection at your door

he would thereby have preserved the kingdom he surrendered.

He would have protected his kingdom from what he lost

مَمالِكُ أَسلَمَها رَبُّها

مَمالِكُ أَسلَمَها رَبُّها

وَفَرَّ فَظَلَّت كَشاءٍ هَمَل

وَفَرَّ فَظَلَّت كَشاءٍ هَمَل

Kingdoms abandoned by their lord,

The kingdoms willingly surrendered to their Lord

who fled, leaving them like untended sheep.

So they remained like scattered wool

تَخَطَّفَها كُلُّ لَيثٍ أَزَبَّ

تَخَطَّفَها كُلُّ لَيثٍ أَزَبَّ

وَدانَ بِها كُلُّ سِمعٍ أَزَلّ

وَدانَ بِها كُلُّ سِمعٍ أَزَلّ

Every shaggy lion snatched them away,

Every fearsome lion snatched them

and every lean simʿ beast ruled over them.

And every ancient hearing submitted to you

إِذا رامَ رَيَّ كُعوبِ القَنا

إِذا رامَ رَيَّ كُعوبِ القَنا

ةِ لَم تَثنِهِ كاعِبٌ ذاتُ دَل

ةِ لَم تَثنِهِ كاعِبٌ ذاتُ دَل

When he seeks to slake the joints of his spear,

When the heels of the brave desired

no coquettish, full-breasted maiden turns him aside.

No female hyena with cubs could deter them

أَعاريبُ مُذ صِرتَ رِدءاً لَها

أَعاريبُ مُذ صِرتَ رِدءاً لَها

شَفَت مِن عِدى الحَقِّ كُلَّ الغُلَل

شَفَت مِن عِدى الحَقِّ كُلَّ الغُلَل

Bedouins, since you became their support,

The Bedouins since you became their protection

have slaked every burning thirst upon the enemies of truth.

Saw all injustices against the truth vanish

وَلَمّا خَشيتَ عَلَيها الخِلافَ

وَلَمّا خَشيتَ عَلَيها الخِلافَ

وَما اِختَلَفَ العِزُّ إِلّا اِنتَقَل

وَما اِختَلَفَ العِزُّ إِلّا اِنتَقَل

When you feared dissension among them—

And when you feared discord upon it

and power never divides without departing—

And glory only shifts with discord

أَبَيتَ لِأَعناقِها أَن تُغَلَّ

أَبَيتَ لِأَعناقِها أَن تُغَلَّ

وَصُنتَ غَنائِمَها أَن تُغَل

وَصُنتَ غَنائِمَها أَن تُغَل

you refused to let their necks be shackled,

You refused to shackle their necks

and protected their spoils from embezzlement.

And safeguarded their spoils from being plundered

وَأَرسَلتَ فيهِم أَميناً كَفاكَ

وَأَرسَلتَ فيهِم أَميناً كَفاكَ

فَقَسَّمَ بِالعَدلِ ذاكَ النَفَل

فَقَسَّمَ بِالعَدلِ ذاكَ النَفَل

You sent among them a trusted man who sufficed you;

And you sent among them a trustee, sufficient for you

he divided those spoils justly.

Who distributed with justice that bounty

وَجابَ إِلى أَن أَجابَ الصَريخَ

وَجابَ إِلى أَن أَجابَ الصَريخَ

مَهامِهَ مَن دَلَّ فيها أَضَلّ

مَهامِهَ مَن دَلَّ فيها أَضَلّ

Until he answered the cry for help, he traversed

And he answered until he answered the call

wildernesses where whoever guided would lead astray:

With determination, whoever was misguided in them

مَفاوِزَ لَو أَمَّها الشَنفَرى

مَفاوِزَ لَو أَمَّها الشَنفَرى

عَلى عِلمِهِ بِالسُرى ما وَأَل

عَلى عِلمِهِ بِالسُرى ما وَأَل

deserts which, had al-Shanfara sought them,

A desolate land, if the hardy warrior traveled it

he would not have escaped, despite his knowledge of night travel.

Relying on his knowledge of the trails, he would not succeed

مَضى مُعلِناً بِشِعارِ الإِمامِ

مَضى مُعلِناً بِشِعارِ الإِمامِ

وَراياتِهِ في مَحَلٍّ مَحَل

وَراياتِهِ في مَحَلٍّ مَحَل

He advanced proclaiming the Imam's battle-cry

He went announcing the banner of the Leader

and his banners in a barren land.

And his flags in their rightful places

يُؤَيِّدُهُ حَدُّكَ المُتَّقى

يُؤَيِّدُهُ حَدُّكَ المُتَّقى

وَيَعضُدُهُ جَدُّكَ المُقتَبَل

وَيَعضُدُهُ جَدُّكَ المُقتَبَل

Your dreaded edge supports him,

Your sharp sacred limit supports him

and your rising good fortune strengthens him.

And your glorious ancestors help him

إِلى أَن أَناخَ إِلى القَيرُوا

إِلى أَن أَناخَ إِلى القَيرُوا

نِ مِن بُزلِهِ كُلَّ دامي الأَظَل

نِ مِن بُزلِهِ كُلَّ دامي الأَظَل

Until, at al-Qayrawan, he brought to its knees

Until he reached the Qayrawan

each of his mature camels with a bloodied footpad.

From its onion peel every unjust one darkening it

فَقَضّى المَآرِبَ ما عاقَها

فَقَضّى المَآرِبَ ما عاقَها

شِماسٌ وَلا عاقَ عَنها فَشَل

شِماسٌ وَلا عاقَ عَنها فَشَل

He fulfilled the needs: they were not impeded by

So he accomplished the affairs that neither

obstinacy, nor hindered by weakness.

A protector or failure had accomplished

فَخَصَّ بِأَوفى العَطِيّاتِ مَن

فَخَصَّ بِأَوفى العَطِيّاتِ مَن

يُسَدِّدُ في غَزوِهِ وَالقَفَل

يُسَدِّدُ في غَزوِهِ وَالقَفَل

He singled out for the fullest gifts whoever

And he particularly gifted with the best endowments

gave sound guidance in his campaign and return.

Those who were steadfast in their conquest and shackling

فَمَن لَم يُدِلهُ الأَجَلُّ المَكي

فَمَن لَم يُدِلهُ الأَجَلُّ المَكي

نُ مِن صَرفِ أَيّامِهِ لَم يُدَل

نُ مِن صَرفِ أَيّامِهِ لَم يُدَل

Whoever the august, steadfast lord has not given victory

So whoever fate did not return

over the reversals of his days has gained no victory.

From the turnover of his days was not returned

فَناقَضَ أَملاكَ هَذا الزَمانِ

فَناقَضَ أَملاكَ هَذا الزَمانِ

بِما بَذَّ فيهِ المُلوكَ الأُوَل

بِما بَذَّ فيهِ المُلوكَ الأُوَل

He opposed the kings of this age

He took possession of the realms of this time

through qualities in which he outstripped the kings of old.

With what he wasted upon its previous kings

فَما اِستَعمَلوا الغَدرَ إِلّا وَفى

فَما اِستَعمَلوا الغَدرَ إِلّا وَفى

وَلا أَعمَلوا الفِكرَ إِلّا اِرتَجَل

وَلا أَعمَلوا الفِكرَ إِلّا اِرتَجَل

Whenever they employed treachery, he kept faith;

Who only used deceit, which availed them naught

whenever they labored in thought, he improvised.

And thought, which did not help them

وَلا بَرَّضوا النيلَ إِلّا أَفاضَ

وَلا بَرَّضوا النيلَ إِلّا أَفاضَ

وَلا مَرَّضوا القَولَ إِلّا فَعَل

وَلا مَرَّضوا القَولَ إِلّا فَعَل

Whenever they doled out scant gifts, he poured them forth;

They only paraded the Nile, which in turn flooded

whenever they hedged their words, he acted.

And they only feigned words, which they implemented

إِذا أَمرَعوا فُقتَهُم في المُحولِ

إِذا أَمرَعوا فُقتَهُم في المُحولِ

وَإِن أَسرَعوا فُتَّهُم بِالمَهَل

وَإِن أَسرَعوا فُتَّهُم بِالمَهَل

When they enjoyed lush pastures, you surpassed them amid drought;

If they hastened, their destruction was with deliberation

even when they hastened, you outpaced them with deliberation.

And if they slowed down, their ruin was swift

فَهُم مَرَهٌ في عُيونِ العُلى

فَهُم مَرَهٌ في عُيونِ العُلى

وَإِنَّكَ وَاِبنَيكَ فيها كَحَل

وَإِنَّكَ وَاِبنَيكَ فيها كَحَل

They are kohl-less pallor in the eyes of eminence,

While they are a pasture in the eyes of the sublime

while you and your two sons are their kohl.

You and your sons are its kohl

شَبيهُكَ في العَهدِ ما إِن يَحو

شَبيهُكَ في العَهدِ ما إِن يَحو

لُ يَوماً وَفي العَقدِ ما إِن يُحَل

لُ يَوماً وَفي العَقدِ ما إِن يُحَل

Your likeness in keeping faith never changes,

Your resemblance in ancestry will not alter

even for a day, nor is his covenant ever undone.

Nor will your lineage ever be undone

سَحابَي نَوالٍ زَمانَ الجَدا

سَحابَي نَوالٍ زَمانَ الجَدا

وَسَهمي نِضالٍ أَوانَ الجَدَل

وَسَهمي نِضالٍ أَوانَ الجَدَل

Two clouds of bounty in the season of giving,

Will you allow after excellence for me to count

and two contesting arrows at the hour of strife.

Among those deficient, the blemished?

فِداؤُهُما كُلُّ مُرخي الإِزا

فِداؤُهُما كُلُّ مُرخي الإِزا

رِ جَلّى أَبوهُ وَلَمّا يُصَل

رِ جَلّى أَبوهُ وَلَمّا يُصَل

May every man trailing his waist-wrap be their ransom,

If the utmost you enabled me with proves too immense

whose father won the race while he has yet to come second.

Then grace for me is greater

إِذا عُدَّ فَخرُ الأُصولِ اِعتَزى

إِذا عُدَّ فَخرُ الأُصولِ اِعتَزى

وَإِن عُدَّ فَخرُ الفُروعِ اِعتَزَل

وَإِن عُدَّ فَخرُ الفُروعِ اِعتَزَل

When ancestral glory is counted, he claims his lineage;

So increase the chagrin of enviers through it

when the glory of descendants is counted, he withdraws.

And keep harming those who plot and scheme

أَتَرضى مَعاليكَ لي أَن أَعُدَّ

أَتَرضى مَعاليكَ لي أَن أَعُدَّ

بَعدَ النَباهَةِ فيمَن خَمَل

بَعدَ النَباهَةِ فيمَن خَمَل

Do your high honors approve my being counted,

And limit praise, if you mention others, it appears

after distinction, among those who grew obscure?

Falsehoods on the faces of states

لَئِن جَلَّ ما خَوَّلَتني لُهاكَ

لَئِن جَلَّ ما خَوَّلَتني لُهاكَ

فَإِنَّ الكَرامَةَ عِندي أَجَلّ

فَإِنَّ الكَرامَةَ عِندي أَجَلّ

Though the gifts your bounty granted me are great,

Praise that circles the furthest lands

honor is greater in my eyes.

And is found residing wherever it settles

فَضاعِف بِها كَمَدَ الحاسِدينَ

فَضاعِف بِها كَمَدَ الحاسِدينَ

وَزِد في مَضاي تَزِدهُم وَهَل

وَزِد في مَضاي تَزِدهُم وَهَل

Through it, double the grief of the envious,

Do not deny the pride of wishes

and increase my advancement, increasing their dread.

For you enabled their lengthening

وَحُز مِدَحاً إِن سِواها اِنطَوى

وَحُز مِدَحاً إِن سِواها اِنطَوى

بَدَت غُرَراً في وُجوهِ الدُوَل

بَدَت غُرَراً في وُجوهِ الدُوَل

Garner praises which, when others are folded away,

I did not make my worth while so it does not

shine as white blazes on the brows of dynasties.

Become one of endless hopes until it withers away

ثَناءٌ يَحولُ بِأَقصى البِلادِ

ثَناءٌ يَحولُ بِأَقصى البِلادِ

وَيُلفى مُقيماً إِذا ما رَحَل

وَيُلفى مُقيماً إِذا ما رَحَل

Praise that roams through the farthest lands,

The fast left in anticipation of your

yet is found abiding even when it departs.

Most excellent words and most pure deeds

وَلا تُنكِرَنَّ جِماحَ المُنى

وَلا تُنكِرَنَّ جِماحَ المُنى

فَأَنتَ مَدَدتَ لَها في الطِوَل

فَأَنتَ مَدَدتَ لَها في الطِوَل

Do not disown the bolting of my hopes:

And the feast returned to praise you

you yourself have lengthened their tether.

So may you remain its adornment forever

وَلَم أَعدُ قَدرِيَ كَي لا يَكو

وَلَم أَعدُ قَدرِيَ كَي لا يَكو

نَ ذا أَمَلٍ طالَ حَتّى أَمَلّ

نَ ذا أَمَلٍ طالَ حَتّى أَمَلّ

I have not exceeded my station, lest I become

And God has heard sincere prayers for you

a man whose hopes grow long enough to weary others.

From those who beseech and implore

مَضى الصَومُ مُحتَقِباً مِن تُقا

مَضى الصَومُ مُحتَقِباً مِن تُقا

كَ أَحسَنَ قَولٍ وَأَزكى عَمَل

كَ أَحسَنَ قَولٍ وَأَزكى عَمَل

The fast departed, bearing from your piety

No community was deprived asking it

the finest words and purest deeds.

That called the Magnificent for long life

وَعاوَدَكَ العيدُ يُثني عَلَيكَ

وَعاوَدَكَ العيدُ يُثني عَلَيكَ

فَدُمتَ لَهُ زينَةً ما أَظَلّ

فَدُمتَ لَهُ زينَةً ما أَظَلّ

The feast has returned to you, praising you;

May God suffice the perfection of your glory

may you remain its adornment whenever it casts its shade.

For whoever attained the fullness of his goal, perfected

وَقَد سَمِعَ اللَهُ فيكَ الدُعا

وَقَد سَمِعَ اللَهُ فيكَ الدُعا

ءَ مِمَّن دَعا مُخلِصاً وَاِبتَهَل

ءَ مِمَّن دَعا مُخلِصاً وَاِبتَهَل

God has indeed heard the prayer concerning you

from whoever prayed sincerely and supplicated.

وَلا حُرِمَت سُؤلَها أُمَّةٌ

وَلا حُرِمَت سُؤلَها أُمَّةٌ

دَعَت لِلأَجَلِّ بِطولِ الأَجَل

دَعَت لِلأَجَلِّ بِطولِ الأَجَل

May no community be denied its request

that prayed for long life for the most august.

كَفى اللَهُ مَجدَكَ عَينَ الكَمالِ

كَفى اللَهُ مَجدَكَ عَينَ الكَمالِ

فَمَن نالَ أَوفى مَداهُ كَمَل

فَمَن نالَ أَوفى مَداهُ كَمَل

May God shield your glory from perfection's eye;

whoever attains its fullest reach becomes complete.