قَسماً بسؤدُدِك القديمِ

قَسماً بسؤدُدِك القديمِ

ووضوح منهجك القويمِ

ووضوح منهجك القويمِ

I swear by your ancient eminence,

I swear by your ancient felicity,

and the clarity of your upright path,

and the clarity of your straight path,

وضياءِ رأيك واضحاً

وضياءِ رأيك واضحاً

يجلو دجى الخطْبِ البَهيمِ

يجلو دجى الخطْبِ البَهيمِ

and the radiance of your judgment, shining clear,

and the brilliance of your clear opinion

dispelling calamity's pitch-black darkness;

that dispels the gloom of ignorant discourse,

وشمائِلٍ تُثْني علي

وشمائِلٍ تُثْني علي

كَ ثَنا الربيعِ على الغُيومِ

كَ ثَنا الربيعِ على الغُيومِ

and qualities that praise

and praiseworthy qualities that compliment me

you as spring praises the clouds;

as springtime compliments the clouds,

ومناقبٍ تُغني سما

ومناقبٍ تُغني سما

ءَ المَكرُماتِ عنِ النجومِ

ءَ المَكرُماتِ عنِ النجومِ

and virtues that spare the heaven

and virtues that sing to the sky

of noble deeds the need for stars:

of glorious deeds instead of stars,

لقد انفردْتَ ببارضِ ال

لقد انفردْتَ ببارضِ ال

مجدِ المؤثّلِ والجَميمِ

مجدِ المؤثّلِ والجَميمِ

indeed, you alone possess the first shoots of

You have uniquely attained the field

deep-rooted glory and its luxuriant growth.

of splendid and beautiful glory,

ورفَعْتَ فيها مثلَ أبنيةِ ال

ورفَعْتَ فيها مثلَ أبنيةِ ال

عُلا كرَماً وكانت كالرّسومِ

عُلا كرَماً وكانت كالرّسومِ

And you raised within them structures like the edifices of

and erected lofty edifices in it

eminence, through generosity, though they had been like ruins;

like great statues that seem drawn,

وفعلْتَ فيها مثل فِعْ

وفعلْتَ فيها مثل فِعْ

لِ البُرْءِ في جسدِ السّقيمِ

لِ البُرْءِ في جسدِ السّقيمِ

and you acted within them as

and done in it deeds like those

healing acts in a sick person's body;

of the healthy in the body of the sick,

وذبَبْتَ عن أرجائِها

وذبَبْتَ عن أرجائِها

ذبّ الغَيورِ عن الحريمِ

ذبّ الغَيورِ عن الحريمِ

and you defended their precincts

and warded off those jealous

as a jealous man defends his harem;

of its corners like the jealous ward off the harem,

وكسوتَ أربابَ البلا

وكسوتَ أربابَ البلا

غةِ حلّةَ الشرفِ الجسيمِ

غةِ حلّةَ الشرفِ الجسيمِ

and you clothed the masters of

and clothed the masters of eloquence

eloquence in the robe of immense honor.

in the robe of tremendous nobility,

عُقِدَتْ عليك برغم مَنْ

عُقِدَتْ عليك برغم مَنْ

عاداكَ ألويةُ العلومِ

عاداكَ ألويةُ العلومِ

Bound to you, despite those who

Despite the enemies that opposed you

opposed you, were the banners of learning.

the banners of knowledge were tied to you,

فاجعلْ يدَ الإحسانِ أع

فاجعلْ يدَ الإحسانِ أع

ظمَ منّةً لك في حميمي

ظمَ منّةً لك في حميمي

So make the hand of beneficence your greatest

So let the hand of kindness be to you

favor toward my dear friend;

a greater favor from me intimately,

واعلَمْ بأني خادمٌ

واعلَمْ بأني خادمٌ

لك في الحديثِ وفي القديمِ

لك في الحديثِ وفي القديمِ

and know that I am a servant

And know that I am your servant

to you, now and in times past.

in the new and old discourse,

بالأمسِ كنتُ مخصَّصاً

بالأمسِ كنتُ مخصَّصاً

واليوم صِرْتُ مع العُمومِ

واليوم صِرْتُ مع العُمومِ

Yesterday I was singled out for favor,

Yesterday I was specialized

and today I have become one of the common crowd,

and today I am with the generality,

حتى كأنّي قد عدَلْ

حتى كأنّي قد عدَلْ

تُ عن الصّراطِ المستقيمِ

تُ عن الصّراطِ المستقيمِ

so much so that it is as if I have turned

As though I have turned

away from the straight path.

from the straight path.