مَحَلُّكَ مِن مَحَلِّ الشَمسِ أَعلا

مَحَلُّكَ مِن مَحَلِّ الشَمسِ أَعلا

فَهَل يَئِسَ المُنافِسُ فيهِ أَم لا

فَهَل يَئِسَ المُنافِسُ فيهِ أَم لا

Your station is higher than the station of the sun.

Your status is higher than the status of the sun

Has your rival despaired of reaching it, or not?

So has the rival despaired of reaching it or not?

وَما اِستَفهَمتُ شَكّاً لِم بَغاهُ

وَما اِستَفهَمتُ شَكّاً لِم بَغاهُ

فَما وَجَدَ الطَريقَ إِلَيهِ سَهلا

فَما وَجَدَ الطَريقَ إِلَيهِ سَهلا

I did not ask from doubt—why did he seek it?

I did not doubt why he desired it

For he found no easy path to it.

For he did not find the path to it easy

ضَرَبتَ لِحَوزِ أَعشارِ المَعالي

ضَرَبتَ لِحَوزِ أَعشارِ المَعالي

فَكانَ لَكَ الرَقيبُ مَعَ المُعَلّا

فَكانَ لَكَ الرَقيبُ مَعَ المُعَلّا

You cast lots to win the ten shares of high distinction,

You have set out to collect the best qualities

and yours were the Raqib and Mu‘alla arrows.

So you gained both the rival and the elevated

سَمَت بِكَ هِمَّةٌ كَسَبَتكَ ذِكراً

سَمَت بِكَ هِمَّةٌ كَسَبَتكَ ذِكراً

وَسَمتَ بِها الزَمانَ وَكانَ غُفلا

وَسَمتَ بِها الزَمانَ وَكانَ غُفلا

An ambition raised you high and earned you renown;

An ambition carried you which brought you fame

with it you marked an age that had been unmarked.

And it carried the times while they were heedless

فَطُل مَن شِئتَ مَنزِلَةً فَإِنّي

فَطُل مَن شِئتَ مَنزِلَةً فَإِنّي

أَرى كُلّاً عَلى ذا المَجدِ كَلّا

أَرى كُلّاً عَلى ذا المَجدِ كَلّا

Surpass whomever you wish in rank, for I

So seek any position you wish, for I see

see everyone helpless before this glory.

All are inferior in this glory to you

عَلَوتَ يَفاعَهُ يَفَعاً وَيَأبى

عَلَوتَ يَفاعَهُ يَفَعاً وَيَأبى

إِباؤُكَ أَن تُدانى فيهِ كَهلا

إِباؤُكَ أَن تُدانى فيهِ كَهلا

You climbed its summit while still a youth, and

You have ascended it while it rose high

your pride forbids your being matched there in maturity.

And your dignity refused that an old man be brought near to it

وَبَعدَ الحِرصِ لا بَعدَ التَواني

وَبَعدَ الحِرصِ لا بَعدَ التَواني

تَخَلّى عَن مَكانِكَ مَن تَخَلّا

تَخَلّى عَن مَكانِكَ مَن تَخَلّا

After eager striving, not after indolence,

And after keenness, not after reluctance

those who relinquished your station relinquished it.

One who lags behind vacates his position from you

أُضيفَ لَهُم إِلىالطَلَبِ اِجتِهادٌ

أُضيفَ لَهُم إِلىالطَلَبِ اِجتِهادٌ

فَكانَ عَلى تَخَلُّفِهِم أَدَلّا

فَكانَ عَلى تَخَلُّفِهِم أَدَلّا

Exertion was added to their pursuit,

To them, exertion was added to seeking

making their falling behind still more evident.

So their lagging behind was more evident

فَلا تَلحَوا عَزيماتٍ إِذا ما

فَلا تَلحَوا عَزيماتٍ إِذا ما

أَرادَت نَقضَ حَبلِكَ زادَ فَتلا

أَرادَت نَقضَ حَبلِكَ زادَ فَتلا

So do not blame determined efforts when

So do not try to undo resolves when they

their attempt to unravel your rope only twists it tighter.

Wish to untie your rope and add discord

فَمَن ذا يُلزِمُ النَكباءَ ذَنباً

فَمَن ذا يُلزِمُ النَكباءَ ذَنباً

إِذا لَم تَستَطِع لِلهِضبِ نَقلا

إِذا لَم تَستَطِع لِلهِضبِ نَقلا

Who would lay blame upon a crosswind

So who can blame misfortunes for sin

if it cannot move the rocky hills?

When you cannot move the rough ground

أَلَستَ اِبنَ الأُلى جادَت ثَراهُم

أَلَستَ اِبنَ الأُلى جادَت ثَراهُم

سَماءُ المَجدِ تَسكاباً وَهَطلا

سَماءُ المَجدِ تَسكاباً وَهَطلا

Are you not the son of those whose soil was drenched

Are you not the son of the most high whose generosity

by glory’s sky in floods and downpours?

The sky of glory poured forth copiously?

إِذا نَزَلَ الرَجاءُ بِهِم أَزالوا

إِذا نَزَلَ الرَجاءُ بِهِم أَزالوا

عَسى مِن قَولِهِم وَنَفَوا لَعَلّا

عَسى مِن قَولِهِم وَنَفَوا لَعَلّا

When hope alights among them, they remove

When hope descended on them they removed

“perhaps” from their speech and banish “maybe.”

"Perhaps" from their words and "maybe"

أَفادوا الفَخرَ بِالأَموالِ جوداً

أَفادوا الفَخرَ بِالأَموالِ جوداً

لِطالِبِها وَبِالأَعراضِ بُخلا

لِطالِبِها وَبِالأَعراضِ بُخلا

They gained honor through generosity with wealth

They gained pride with wealth by giving generously

to its seekers, and through yielding none of their honor.

To its seeker and with dignity by being stingy

مَصاعِبُ بُوِّئَت رَوضَ المَعالي

مَصاعِبُ بُوِّئَت رَوضَ المَعالي

رَعَتهُ مُصَوِّحاً وَرَعَتهُ بَقلا

رَعَتهُ مُصَوِّحاً وَرَعَتهُ بَقلا

Untamable camels settled in the meadow of high distinction,

Hardships were placed in the meadow of sublime qualities

they grazed it withered and grazed it green.

It grazed them loudly and grazed them silently

بِأَرضٍ أَنبَتَت كَرَماً وَبَأساً

بِأَرضٍ أَنبَتَت كَرَماً وَبَأساً

جَناهُ العِزُّ لا نَشَماً وَرُغلا

جَناهُ العِزُّ لا نَشَماً وَرُغلا

On land that sprouted generosity and valor,

In a land that produced vines and valor

whose harvest was glory, not nasham or rughl.

Glory harvested it, not vile people and vulgarity

سَمَوا زَمَنَ الحَياةِ فَلَم يُسامَوا

سَمَوا زَمَنَ الحَياةِ فَلَم يُسامَوا

وَساموا الدَهرَ طاعَتَهُم فَذَلّا

وَساموا الدَهرَ طاعَتَهُم فَذَلّا

They rose high throughout their lives, and none matched them;

They transcended the time of life so they were not transcended

they demanded obedience of Time, and it submitted.

And they transcended fate by obeying it so it was humiliated

وَغابوا في صَفائِحَ لَم تُغَيَّب

وَغابوا في صَفائِحَ لَم تُغَيَّب

صَحائِفَ ما أَقامَ الدَهرُ تُتلا

صَحائِفَ ما أَقامَ الدَهرُ تُتلا

They vanished beneath slabs, but not so

They disappeared on immaculate pages that

the records recited as long as time endures.

The ages did not make disappear by reciting them

عُلىً حَلِيَ الزَمانُ بِها وَلَكِن

عُلىً حَلِيَ الزَمانُ بِها وَلَكِن

بِمِثلِ صِفاتِ مَجدِكَ ما تَحَلّا

بِمِثلِ صِفاتِ مَجدِكَ ما تَحَلّا

Noble heights adorned the age, yet

Sublime ones that the times were adorned with but

it never adorned itself with qualities like those of your glory.

Were not adorned with qualities like your glory

فِداؤُكَ عالَمٌ لَم تُبقِ فيهِم

فِداؤُكَ عالَمٌ لَم تُبقِ فيهِم

مَروعاً بِالخُطوبِ وَلا مُقِلّا

مَروعاً بِالخُطوبِ وَلا مُقِلّا

May a whole world be your ransom; among them you have left

Your ransom is a world in which you left

none frightened by calamities, and none impoverished.

No frightened one from calamities nor abased one

إِذا لاذوا بِجودِكَ فِضتَ جوداً

إِذا لاذوا بِجودِكَ فِضتَ جوداً

وَإِن عاذوا بِحِلمِكَ فِضتَ عَدلا

وَإِن عاذوا بِحِلمِكَ فِضتَ عَدلا

If they seek refuge in your generosity, you overflow with bounty;

When they sought refuge in your generosity, you poured generosity

if they seek shelter in your forbearance, you overflow with justice.

And when they sought refuge in your forbearance, you poured justice

فَيا أَوفى المُلوكِ حِجىً وَحِلماً

فَيا أَوفى المُلوكِ حِجىً وَحِلماً

وَأَطيَبَهُم نَدىً وَثَناً وَأَصلا

وَأَطيَبَهُم نَدىً وَثَناً وَأَصلا

O wisest and most forbearing of kings,

So O most faithful of kings in protection and forbearance

and finest in bounty, renown, and lineage,

And most pleasant in scent and praise and origin

وَأَخشَعَهُم إِذا صَلّى فُؤاداً

وَأَخشَعَهُم إِذا صَلّى فُؤاداً

وَأَشجَعَهُم إِذا ما السَيفُ صَلّا

وَأَشجَعَهُم إِذا ما السَيفُ صَلّا

the humblest of heart when he prays,

And most humble when your heart prays

and the bravest when the sword rings!

And bravest when the swords clash

لَقَد وَلّا كَنا مَولىً رَؤوفٌ

لَقَد وَلّا كَنا مَولىً رَؤوفٌ

فَأَكرِم بِالمُوَلّي وَالمُوَلّى

فَأَكرِم بِالمُوَلّي وَالمُوَلّى

A compassionate master has indeed appointed you over us;

He who cares for us is a benign master

how noble are both the appointer and the appointed!

So honor the master and the one who has mastery

فَمُنذُ حَلَلتَ ذا البَلَدَ اِستَقَلَّت

فَمُنذُ حَلَلتَ ذا البَلَدَ اِستَقَلَّت

غَمائِمُ ضُمِّنَت خَوفاً وَمَحلا

غَمائِمُ ضُمِّنَت خَوفاً وَمَحلا

Since you settled in this land, there have lifted

Since you arrived in this city, clouds that

clouds freighted with fear and drought.

Gathered fear have scattered and fallen apart

وَما حَمَّلتَ نَفسَكَ فيهِ وِزراً

وَما حَمَّلتَ نَفسَكَ فيهِ وِزراً

وَلا حَمَّلتَ عِزَّكَ فيهِ ثِقلا

وَلا حَمَّلتَ عِزَّكَ فيهِ ثِقلا

You have burdened yourself here with no sin,

You did not burden yourself with any sin in it

nor burdened your glory here with any weight.

Nor burden your honor with any weight

وَكُلُّ سِعايَةٍ أَعرَضتَ عَنها

وَكُلُّ سِعايَةٍ أَعرَضتَ عَنها

كَأَنَّكَ سامِعٌ في الجودِ عَذلا

كَأَنَّكَ سامِعٌ في الجودِ عَذلا

You turned away from every malicious report,

And you ignored any craving

as though hearing reproaches against generosity.

As if you were, in generosity, hearing dispraise

حَمَيتَ مُشَمِّراً وَقَهَرتَ مَنعاً

حَمَيتَ مُشَمِّراً وَقَهَرتَ مَنعاً

وَجُدتَ مُيَسِّراً فَغَمَرتَ بَذلا

وَجُدتَ مُيَسِّراً فَغَمَرتَ بَذلا

You protected with vigor and overpowered in defense;

You strove and overcame prevention

you gave, granting ease, and overwhelmed with largesse.

You made easy and poured abundant generosity

بِأَرضٍ لَو عَداكَ الحُكمُ فيها

بِأَرضٍ لَو عَداكَ الحُكمُ فيها

لَما تَرَكَ الأَعَزُّ بِها الأَذَلّا

لَما تَرَكَ الأَعَزُّ بِها الأَذَلّا

In a land where, had rule passed you by,

In a land that if others than you ruled it

the mightiest would not have spared the weakest.

The mighty would not have left the lowly

وَمَن لَزِمَ التُقى قَولاً وَفِعلاً

وَمَن لَزِمَ التُقى قَولاً وَفِعلاً

تَوَلّى اللَهُ عِصمَةَ ما تَوَلّى

تَوَلّى اللَهُ عِصمَةَ ما تَوَلّى

Whoever holds to piety in word and deed,

He who adheres to piety in words and deeds

God safeguards whatever he governs.

God assumes protection of what he adhered to

رَأَيتُ حُسامُكَ الحاكيكَ قَطعاً

رَأَيتُ حُسامُكَ الحاكيكَ قَطعاً

إِذا سَفَكَ الدَمَ المَمنوعَ طُلّا

إِذا سَفَكَ الدَمَ المَمنوعَ طُلّا

I have seen your sword, which mirrors you in decisiveness:

I saw your decisive sword cutting

when it sheds protected blood, that blood goes unavenged.

When it spilled prohibited blood

وَمالُكَ ما أَراقَ دَماً حَراماً

وَمالُكَ ما أَراقَ دَماً حَراماً

وَكَم أَلزَمتَهُ قَوَداً وَعَقلا

وَكَم أَلزَمتَهُ قَوَداً وَعَقلا

Your wealth has shed no forbidden blood,

And your wealth never spilled unlawful blood

yet how often you have made it pay blood-requital and blood-money!

And how much rationality and composure you imposed on it

تُحَمِّلُكَ المَكارِمُ كُلَّ عِبءٍ

تُحَمِّلُكَ المَكارِمُ كُلَّ عِبءٍ

فَتُلفى مُستَقِلّاً مُستَقِلّا

فَتُلفى مُستَقِلّاً مُستَقِلّا

Noble deeds load you with every burden,

Virtues carry every burden from you

yet you are found bearing it and deeming it light.

So you are found self-sufficient and self-sufficient

وَإِن طالَ الكَلامُ بِلا صَوابٍ

وَإِن طالَ الكَلامُ بِلا صَوابٍ

أَصَبتُ لَدَيكَ أَدنى القَولِ فَصلا

أَصَبتُ لَدَيكَ أَدنى القَولِ فَصلا

Though speech without sound judgment grows long,

And if words grew long without propriety

with you I find the briefest words decisive.

I attained with you the best conclusion of speech

بَيانٌ واضِحٌ وَنَدى بَنانٍ

بَيانٌ واضِحٌ وَنَدى بَنانٍ

غَمَرتَ تَفَضُّلاً وَبَهَرتَ فَضلا

غَمَرتَ تَفَضُّلاً وَبَهَرتَ فَضلا

Clear eloquence and bounty from your fingertips:

Clear explanation and brilliant insight

you inundate with kindness and dazzle with excellence.

You overwhelmed with favor and dazzled with superiority

فَطَوراً تُعجِزُ الحُكَماءَ قَولاً

فَطَوراً تُعجِزُ الحُكَماءَ قَولاً

وَطَوراً تُعجِزُ الكُرَماءَ فِعلا

وَطَوراً تُعجِزُ الكُرَماءَ فِعلا

At times you outstrip sages in speech,

Sometimes you frustrate the wisest with words

and at times you outstrip the generous in deeds.

And sometimes the most generous with deeds

وَما اِنتَصَرَت بِكَ الخُلَفاءُ إِلّا

وَما اِنتَصَرَت بِكَ الخُلَفاءُ إِلّا

وَقَد وَجَدَتكَ أَوفى الخَلقِ إِلّا

وَقَد وَجَدَتكَ أَوفى الخَلقِ إِلّا

The caliphs never gained victory through you

Victory was not attained over the caliphs except by you

without finding you the most faithful of all to a covenant.

For they found you the most faithful of people

فَأَنتَ وَلَن تُدافَعَ عَن مَساعٍ

فَأَنتَ وَلَن تُدافَعَ عَن مَساعٍ

تَظَلُّ لِشارِدِ العَلياءِ عَقلا

تَظَلُّ لِشارِدِ العَلياءِ عَقلا

You are—never to be barred from endeavors

You will never defend reckless acts

that tether the straying heights of glory—

That would make the minds of the sublime lose composure

أَمينُهُمُ عَلى الوَفرِ الَّذي لَو

أَمينُهُمُ عَلى الوَفرِ الَّذي لَو

تَوَلّى أَمرَهُ مَلَكٌ لَغَلّا

تَوَلّى أَمرَهُ مَلَكٌ لَغَلّا

their trustee over riches that, if

You are trusted with the abundance which if

an angel oversaw them, even he would embezzle;

A king took charge of, he would betray

وَناصِرُهُم عَلى النَوَبِ الَّتي لَو

وَناصِرُهُم عَلى النَوَبِ الَّتي لَو

رَآها المَوتُ مُقبِلَةً لَوَلّى

رَآها المَوتُ مُقبِلَةً لَوَلّى

and their helper against calamities that, if

And their supporter against adversities which if

Death saw them approaching, it would flee;

Death saw coming, it would retreat

وَسَيفُهُمُ الَّذي قَهَرَ الأَعادي

وَسَيفُهُمُ الَّذي قَهَرَ الأَعادي

فَأَغمَدَ كُلَّ سَيفٍ مُنذُ سُلّا

فَأَغمَدَ كُلَّ سَيفٍ مُنذُ سُلّا

and their sword that conquered enemies

And their sword that defeated the enemies

and, ever since it was drawn, sheathed every sword.

So sheathed every sword since it was drawn

أَمَتَّ جَميعَ مَن عاداكَ خَوفاً

أَمَتَّ جَميعَ مَن عاداكَ خَوفاً

لِتَفضُلَ مَن أَماتَ عِداهُ فَلّا

لِتَفضُلَ مَن أَماتَ عِداهُ فَلّا

You killed all who opposed you with fear,

It has silenced all who were hostile to you out of fear

to surpass those who kill their foes by routing them.

That you may forgive those whose enmity it killed

عَزائِمُ طالَما فَرَّجتَ كَرباً

عَزائِمُ طالَما فَرَّجتَ كَرباً

بِماضي حَدِّها وَقَتَلتَ قَتلا

بِماضي حَدِّها وَقَتَلتَ قَتلا

Resolves: how often you have relieved distress

Decisions that have often relieved distresses for us

with their keen edge, and dealt death!

With their resolute progress and decisive killings

فَما تَرَكَت بِقَلبِ الدينِ غِلّا

فَما تَرَكَت بِقَلبِ الدينِ غِلّا

وَلا أَبقَت لِجيدِ الحَقِّ غُلّا

وَلا أَبقَت لِجيدِ الحَقِّ غُلّا

They left no rancor in the heart of religion,

You have left no wrongdoing in the heart of the religion

and no shackle upon the neck of truth.

Nor any injustice against the excellent truth

وَأَنتَ جَمَعتَ شَملَ الأَمنِ فينا

وَأَنتَ جَمَعتَ شَملَ الأَمنِ فينا

فَلا شَتَّت لَكَ الأَيّامُ شَملا

فَلا شَتَّت لَكَ الأَيّامُ شَملا

You have united the bonds of safety among us;

You have united the cohesion of security among us

may the days never sunder your own bonds.

So days did not disperse what you united

وَلا زالَ الأَميرُ أَبو عَلِيٍّ

وَلا زالَ الأَميرُ أَبو عَلِيٍّ

يُجِدُّ ثِيابَ عِزٍّ لَيسَ تَبلا

يُجِدُّ ثِيابَ عِزٍّ لَيسَ تَبلا

May the emir Abu Ali never cease

The prince Abu Ali still wears clothes of glory

renewing robes of honor that never wear out.

That have not worn out from constant wearing

لَقَد عَفَّت سَعادَتُهُ فَدامَت

لَقَد عَفَّت سَعادَتُهُ فَدامَت

عَلى ما ظَنَّهُ الحُسّادُ جَهلا

عَلى ما ظَنَّهُ الحُسّادُ جَهلا

His good fortune remained pure, and thus endured,

His good fortune was chaste so it remained

despite what the envious, in ignorance, supposed.

As the ignorant supposed it to be falsely

فَأَثمَرَ ظَنُّنا صِدقاً وَحَقّاً

فَأَثمَرَ ظَنُّنا صِدقاً وَحَقّاً

وَأَثمَرَ ظَنُّهُم مَيناً وَبُخلا

وَأَثمَرَ ظَنُّهُم مَيناً وَبُخلا

Our expectation bore truth and reality as fruit,

Our supposition produced sincerity and truth

while theirs bore falsehood and stinginess.

While their supposition produced weakness and miserliness

فَأَفئِدَةٌ بِماءِ الفَوزِ تُسقى

فَأَفئِدَةٌ بِماءِ الفَوزِ تُسقى

وَأَفئِدَةٌ لَظى النيرانِ تَصلا

وَأَفئِدَةٌ لَظى النيرانِ تَصلا

Some hearts are watered with the water of success,

So hearts are watered with the water of success

while others burn in the blaze of fires.

While other hearts are scorched by fires of misery

وَلَم يَعدِل بِهِ الإِرجافُ عَمّا

وَلَم يَعدِل بِهِ الإِرجافُ عَمّا

رَآهُ لَهُ إِمامُ العَصرِ أَهلا

رَآهُ لَهُ إِمامُ العَصرِ أَهلا

Alarmist rumors did not turn him aside from what

He did not deviate from what he saw fitting for him

the imam of the age deemed him fit for.

Though discord shook others from it

وَخَوَّلَهُ مَعَ التَقريبِ نَعتاً

وَخَوَّلَهُ مَعَ التَقريبِ نَعتاً

لِيَرفَعَ ذِكرُهُ اللَقَبَ الأَجَلّا

لِيَرفَعَ ذِكرُهُ اللَقَبَ الأَجَلّا

Along with drawing him near, he bestowed a title on him,

He authorized him, with favor, a title

so that his renown might elevate the most august honorific.

To elevate his mention to the most majestic name

وَما العَلَمَ المُشيرَ إِلى طِرازٍ

وَما العَلَمَ المُشيرَ إِلى طِرازٍ

نَحا لَكِن نَحا العَلَمَ المُظِلّا

نَحا لَكِن نَحا العَلَمَ المُظِلّا

He did not mean the emblem denoting an embroidered border,

The standard pointing to quality has not risen

but the mountain that casts its shade,

Except for the standard pointing to the shady one

وَما مَدَحَت بِهِ الخَنساءُ صَخراً

وَما مَدَحَت بِهِ الخَنساءُ صَخراً

مُشَبَّهَةً لَهُ فَعَلا مَحَلّا

مُشَبَّهَةً لَهُ فَعَلا مَحَلّا

and the likeness with which al-Khansa praised Sakhr,

It is not what the Khansa compared Sakhr to

comparing him to it, so that he rose in rank.

Likening to him some impossible feat

وَلَيسَ بِرَأسِ ذا نارٌ وَلَكِن

وَلَيسَ بِرَأسِ ذا نارٌ وَلَكِن

بِنورِ جَبينِهِ الظُلُماتُ تُجلا

بِنورِ جَبينِهِ الظُلُماتُ تُجلا

No fire burns on this one’s summit, but

There is no fire in this head but

the light of his brow dispels the darkness.

Its luminous forehead dispels darkness

وَأَعظَمَ أَهلُ مِصرٍ ما رَأَوهُ

وَأَعظَمَ أَهلُ مِصرٍ ما رَأَوهُ

فَصارَ حَديثُهُ لِلقَومِ شُغلا

فَصارَ حَديثُهُ لِلقَومِ شُغلا

The people of Egypt marveled at what they saw,

The people of Egypt saw something in him that was greater

and talk of him became the people’s occupation.

So talk of him became their preoccupation

وَقالوا ما عَهِدنا الشَمسَ عِرساً

وَقالوا ما عَهِدنا الشَمسَ عِرساً

فَقُلتُ وَلا عَهِدنا البَدرَ بَعلا

فَقُلتُ وَلا عَهِدنا البَدرَ بَعلا

They said, “We have never known the sun as a bride,”

They said we never knew the sun to be a bridegroom

and I said, “Nor have we known the full moon as a bridegroom.”

I said and we never knew the full moon to be a husband

فَلَيتَ حُلولَ هَذا الأَمنِ أَضحى

فَلَيتَ حُلولَ هَذا الأَمنِ أَضحى

لِحَتفِ الكارِهينَ لَهُ مُحِلّا

لِحَتفِ الكارِهينَ لَهُ مُحِلّا

Would that the coming of this security became

Would that the coming of this security was

a bringer of death to those who resent it.

A drink of poison to those who detest it

بَشائِرُ أَتعَبَت زِنداً فَلَولا

بَشائِرُ أَتعَبَت زِنداً فَلَولا

مَسَرَّتُهُ بِما ضَمِنَت لَكَلّا

مَسَرَّتُهُ بِما ضَمِنَت لَكَلّا

Glad tidings strained a wrist; but for

Glad tidings have wearied birds so were it not

its delight in their contents, it would have flagged.

For their joy in what they guaranteed, they would perish

فَبُشرى نِقسُها رَطبٌ وَأُخرى

فَبُشرى نِقسُها رَطبٌ وَأُخرى

تُخَطُّ وَأُختُها في الحالِ تُملا

تُخَطُّ وَأُختُها في الحالِ تُملا

One glad message still has wet ink, and another

Some whose moisture is fresh and others

is being penned while its sister is dictated at once.

Whose sisters fill as soon as they diminish

أَحاديثٌ عَرَفناها يَقيناً

أَحاديثٌ عَرَفناها يَقيناً

فَزالَ الشَكُّ فيها وَاِضمَحَلّا

فَزالَ الشَكُّ فيها وَاِضمَحَلّا

Reports we have known with certainty:

Reports we knew with certainty

doubt about them vanished and fell away.

So doubt in them disappeared and faded away

أَلَذُّ مِنَ الغِناءِ لِسامِعيهِ

أَلَذُّ مِنَ الغِناءِ لِسامِعيهِ

وَمِمّا في بُطونِ النَحلِ أَحلا

وَمِمّا في بُطونِ النَحلِ أَحلا

More delightful than song to those who hear it,

Sweeter to listeners than singing

and sweeter than what lies in bees’ bellies.

And than what is in the bellies of bees

حَلَت لِلناطِقينَ بِها فَظَنّوا

حَلَت لِلناطِقينَ بِها فَظَنّوا

حَماماً طارَ بِالأَخبارِ يَحلا

حَماماً طارَ بِالأَخبارِ يَحلا

They were sweet to those who voiced them, who thought

They landed on the speakers so they thought

the pigeons flying with the news were sweet as well.

A pigeon that carried news had landed

وَأَصبَحَ شائِعاً خَبَرُ التَداني

وَأَصبَحَ شائِعاً خَبَرُ التَداني

فَكَشَّفَ كُلَّ داجِيَةٍ وَجَلّا

فَكَشَّفَ كُلَّ داجِيَةٍ وَجَلّا

News of the approach became widespread,

The news of rapprochement became circulated

and dispelled every darkness, clearing it away.

So it uncovered every darkened and thick place

أَدالَ مِنَ المَساءَةِ ما تَوَلّى

أَدالَ مِنَ المَساءَةِ ما تَوَلّى

وَرَدَّ مِنَ المَسَرَّةِ ما تَوَلّى

وَرَدَّ مِنَ المَسَرَّةِ ما تَوَلّى

It overthrew the sorrow that had held sway,

It repelled what was reprehensible and attracted what was delightful

and restored the happiness that had departed.

A drink for him from afar and a meadow up close

فَسَقياً في البِعادِ لَهُ وَرَعياً

فَسَقياً في البِعادِ لَهُ وَرَعياً

وَأَهلاً في الدُنُوِّ بِهِ وَسَهلا

وَأَهلاً في الدُنُوِّ بِهِ وَسَهلا

May he have rain and protection while far away,

So do not allow a time for his arrival

and welcome and ease when he draws near.

The auspicious rising star is sufficient guide for him

فَلا تَجعَل لِمَقدِمِهِ أَواناً

فَلا تَجعَل لِمَقدِمِهِ أَواناً

عَلَيهِ الطالِعُ المُختارُ دَلّا

عَلَيهِ الطالِعُ المُختارُ دَلّا

Do not fix a time for his arrival

I implore you to keep the stars that wish

prescribed by the chosen ascendant.

To descend where he descended from plotting his affair

وَأَبعِد أَن تُدَبِّرَهُ نُجومٌ

وَأَبعِد أَن تُدَبِّرَهُ نُجومٌ

تَمَنّى أَن تَحُلَّ بِحَيثُ حَلّا

تَمَنّى أَن تَحُلَّ بِحَيثُ حَلّا

Dismiss the thought that stars govern him,

The palaces vie for him and if he complains

when they long to dwell wherever he has dwelt.

Of the pain of passion, he does not find rest from it

تَهاداهُ القُصورُ وَإِن تَشَكّى

تَهاداهُ القُصورُ وَإِن تَشَكّى

أَليمَ الشَوقِ ما عَنهُ اِستَقَلّا

أَليمَ الشَوقِ ما عَنهُ اِستَقَلّا

Palaces pass him as a gift to one another, though

A palace of his in Fustat is vacant

the one he leaves complains of aching longing.

And they furnished Damascus for him

فَقَصرٌ مِنهُ بِالفُسطاطِ يَخلو

فَقَصرٌ مِنهُ بِالفُسطاطِ يَخلو

وَشَرواهُ لَهُ بِدِمَشقَ يُخلا

وَشَرواهُ لَهُ بِدِمَشقَ يُخلا

A palace in al-Fustat stands empty of him,

May you live for him and may he live unmatched

while its counterpart in Damascus is cleared for him.

Surpassing Tughlub in might and nobility

فَعِشتَ لَهُ وَعاشَ بِلا نَظيرٍ

فَعِشتَ لَهُ وَعاشَ بِلا نَظيرٍ

يُكاثِرُ تَغلِباً عِزّاً وَنُبلا

يُكاثِرُ تَغلِباً عِزّاً وَنُبلا

May you live for him, and may he live without a peer,

This happy holiday, you are the most faithful of people

vying with Taghlib in might and nobility.

In good deeds, testified by all who pray and give alms

وَذا العيدُ السَعيدُ فَأَنتَ فيهِ

وَذا العيدُ السَعيدُ فَأَنتَ فيهِ

مِنَ الحَسَناتِ أَوفى الناسِ كِفلا

مِنَ الحَسَناتِ أَوفى الناسِ كِفلا

This is the blessed festival, and in it you

And witnessed by all who attend the prayers

have the fullest share of good deeds among all people.

I intentionally prolonged this, knowing

يُقِرُّ بِذاكَ مَن صَلّى وَزَكّى

يُقِرُّ بِذاكَ مَن صَلّى وَزَكّى

وَيَشهَدُ كُلُّ مَن شَهِدَ المُصَلّى

وَيَشهَدُ كُلُّ مَن شَهِدَ المُصَلّى

Whoever prays and gives alms acknowledges this,

That listening to your description will never bore

and everyone attending the prayer ground bears witness.

And oh, would that my words expressed my thanks

تَعَمَّدتُ الإِطالَةَ عَن يَقينٍ

تَعَمَّدتُ الإِطالَةَ عَن يَقينٍ

بِأَنَّ سَماعَ وَصفِكَ لَن يُمَلّا

بِأَنَّ سَماعَ وَصفِكَ لَن يُمَلّا

I have deliberately prolonged my speech, certain

As long as I sensed life, I only perceived the beginning of them

that hearing your qualities described will never grow tiresome.

Another besides you, the praiser increases his glory

وَيا لَيتَ الكَلامَ وَفى بِشُكري

وَيا لَيتَ الكَلامَ وَفى بِشُكري

حَياً ما شِمتُهُ إِلّا اِستَهَلّا

حَياً ما شِمتُهُ إِلّا اِستَهَلّا

If only words could fully convey my thanks

While others are fed up by hearing praise

for a rain-cloud that pours whenever I watch its lightning.

Aloe wood is heated so it may increase in fragrance

سِواكَ يَزيدُهُ المُدّاحُ مَجداً

سِواكَ يَزيدُهُ المُدّاحُ مَجداً

وَغَيرُكَ بِاِستِماعِ المَدحِ حُلّا

وَغَيرُكَ بِاِستِماعِ المَدحِ حُلّا

For anyone but you, panegyrists add glory;

And nadd refuses to increase in fragrance when heated

others are adorned by hearing praise.

You remain tilting calamities from us

يُعَلّى العودُ كَي يَزدادَ طيباً

يُعَلّى العودُ كَي يَزدادَ طيباً

وَيَأبى النَدُّ طيباً أَن يُعَلّا

وَيَأبى النَدُّ طيباً أَن يُعَلّا

Aloeswood is enhanced to increase its fragrance,

Even if the enemy insists and tries to debase

but nadd’s fragrance admits no enhancement.

This is the entirety of the English translation of the Arabic poem.

بَقيتَ مِنَ الخُطوبِ لَنا مُديلاً

بَقيتَ مِنَ الخُطوبِ لَنا مُديلاً

وَإِن رَغِمَ العِدى وَلَهُم مُذِلّا

وَإِن رَغِمَ العِدى وَلَهُم مُذِلّا

May you remain our champion over calamities,

despite the enemies’ chagrin, and the one who humbles them.