هَنِيئاًcongratulations لِلْوَزِيرِto the vizier قَضَاءُrepayment of دَيْنٍa debt
هَنِيئاً لِلْوَزِيرِ قَضَاءُ دَيْنٍ
بِهِthrough it أَضْحَىhas become الزَّمَانُTime قَرِيرَgladdened عَيْنeye
بِهِ أَضْحَى الزَّمَانُ قَرِيرَ عَيْن
Congratulations to the vizier on a debt repaid,
Congratulations to the minister for fulfilling a debt
By which Time has become glad of eye;
Through him, time's eye beams with joy
وَعَوْدُand the return of وِزارَةٍa vizierate سِيقَتْwas brought إلَيْهِto him
وَعَوْدُ وِزارَةٍ سِيقَتْ إلَيْهِ
كَعَوْدَةِlike the return of قُرْبِnearness to حِبِّa beloved بَعْدَafter بَيْنِseparation
كَعَوْدَةِ قُرْبِ حِبِّ بَعْدَ بَيْنِ
And on the return of a vizierate brought to him,
And the promise of ministry which came to him
Like a beloved's nearness restored after separation.
Is like the return of a loved one after separation
أَبِيAbu (father of) عَبْدِAbd (servant of) الإلِهِal-Ilah (God) أَجَلَّmost eminent كَافٍa capable man
أَبِي عَبْدِ الإلِهِ أَجَلَّ كَافٍ
تَسَمَّحَgave freely بِالنضُّارِwith gold وَباللُّجَيْنِand with silver
تَسَمَّحَ بِالنضُّارِ وَباللُّجَيْنِ
Abu Abd al-Ilah, the most eminent of capable men,
My lord Abu Abdullah is of great virtue
Who has given freely of gold and silver.
He is easygoing and gentle
وَيَهْنِيand may gladden ذَاكَthat يَعْقُوباًYa‘qub أَخَاهُhis brother
وَيَهْنِي ذَاكَ يَعْقُوباً أَخَاهُ
وَصِنْوَهُمَاand the counterpart of them both الْكَرِيمَthe noble أَبَاAbu (father of) الْحُسَيْنِal-Husayn
وَصِنْوَهُمَا الْكَرِيمَ أَبَا الْحُسَيْنِ
May that also gladden his brother Ya‘qub,
And this brings joy to Yaqub, his brother
And their noble counterpart, Abu al-Husayn.
And their noble clan, the father of Al-Hussein
هُمَاthey two قَمَرَاthe two moons of الزَّمَانِTime وَغُرَّتَاهُand its two radiant brows
هُمَا قَمَرَا الزَّمَانِ وَغُرَّتَاهُ
مُرِيحاًrelieving الْمُلْكِthe realm مِنْof عَارٍdisgrace وَشَيْنِand blemish
مُرِيحاً الْمُلْكِ مِنْ عَارٍ وَشَيْنِ
They are Time's two moons and its two radiant brows,
They are the two moons of time and its pride
Relieving the realm of disgrace and blemish.
Bringing glory to the kingdom, removing dishonor and evil
أَحَلاَّthey two placed مِنْهُwithin it نُصْحاًin loyal counsel وافْتِقَاداًand attentive care
أَحَلاَّ مِنْهُ نُصْحاً وافْتِقَاداً
مَصالِحَهُits interests مَحَلَّin the place of النَّاظِرَيْنthe two pupils of the eyes
مَصالِحَهُ مَحَلَّ النَّاظِرَيْن
Within it, through counsel and vigilance, they have placed
They have counseled it with care and attention
Its interests in the station of the two eyes.
Concerning its interests, the overseers
وَماand not كانَwas الْفَسادُcorruption وَقَدْand already تَعَلَّىhad risen high
وَما كانَ الْفَسادُ وَقَدْ تَعَلَّى
ليَخْفِضَهُto bring it low سِوَىexcept for إصْلاحِreform by ذَيْنِthese two
ليَخْفِضَهُ سِوَى إصْلاحِ ذَيْنِ
And corruption, once it had risen high,
Corruption had mounted, but to bring it down
Could be brought low only by the reforms of these two.
None will suffice but the reform of these two
وَيَهْنِيand may gladden ذَاكَthat عَبْدَAbd (servant of) اللهِAllah (God) فيهthrough him
وَيَهْنِي ذَاكَ عَبْدَ اللهِ فيه
فَتاهُhis young man فَهُوَfor he is إحْدَىone of الْحُسْنَيَيْنِthe two blessings
فَتاهُ فَهُوَ إحْدَى الْحُسْنَيَيْنِ
May that also gladden Abd Allah through him,
And it brings joy to Abdullah among them
His young man—for he is one of the two blessings.
For he is its outstanding youth
هلاَلٌa crescent moon لَمْhave not تُبَدِّدَهُdispersed it اللَّيالِيthe nights
هلاَلٌ لَمْ تُبَدِّدَهُ اللَّيالِي
فَيَنْقُصَهُand thus diminish it مُرُورُthe passing of الفَرْقَدَيْنِthe Farqadayn (two stars)
فَيَنْقُصَهُ مُرُورُ الفَرْقَدَيْنِ
A crescent moon the nights have not worn away,
A crescent whose light the nights have not scattered
Nor has the passing of the Farqadayn diminished it.
Nor diminished with the passing days
تُرادِفُهcomes successively to him السِّيادَةُeminence غَيْرَnot وَانٍflagging
تُرادِفُه السِّيادَةُ غَيْرَ وَانٍ
وَيُشْبِهُهُand he resembles him تَشَابُهَwith the resemblance of قَرَّتَيْنِtwo delights of the eye
وَيُشْبِهُهُ تَشَابُهَ قَرَّتَيْنِ
Eminence attends him in succession, while he never flags,
Sovereignty accompanies him without fail
And he resembles him like twin delights of the eye.
And he resembles it, like two linked moons
كَماas أَوْدَعْتَyou set down سَطْراًa line مِنْfrom كِتابٍa book
كَما أَوْدَعْتَ سَطْراً مِنْ كِتابٍ
ولَمْand did not تَنْقُطْهُdot it غَيْناًas ghayn بَعْدَafter عَيْنِ‘ayn
ولَمْ تَنْقُطْهُ غَيْناً بَعْدَ عَيْنِ
As when you set down a line from a book,
As you placed a line of text in a book
And did not dot an ‘ayn to make it a ghayn.
Without dotting it beyond the first letter
وَزِيرٌa vizier مُقْبِلُfortunate in الأَيَّامthe days عالٍexalted
وَزِيرٌ مُقْبِلُ الأَيَّام عالٍ
عَلَىabove أَعْدائِهِhis enemies طَلْقُopen الْيَدَيْنِboth hands
عَلَى أَعْدائِهِ طَلْقُ الْيَدَيْنِ
A vizier favored by the days, exalted
A minister whose days are raising him high
Above his enemies, open-handed.
With hands unfettered against his foes
يُهِيُنholds cheap المَالَwealth بالأفضالِthrough favors جُوداًout of generosity
يُهِيُن المَالَ بالأفضالِ جُوداً
وَمَرْقَىand the ascent of الجُودِgenerosity صَعْبٌdifficult غَيْرُnot هَيْنِeasy
وَمَرْقَى الجُودِ صَعْبٌ غَيْرُ هَيْنِ
In generosity, he holds wealth cheap through lavish favors,
He makes wealth petty through his extreme generosity
And the ascent to generosity is hard, not easy.
And reaching the pinnacle of generosity is no easy climb
سَيَقْضِيهِwill repay him الزَّمانَTime بِطُولِwith length of عُمْرٍlife
سَيَقْضِيهِ الزَّمانَ بِطُولِ عُمْرٍ
وَتَمْلِيكُand granting الرِّياسَةِleadership كُلُّevery دَيْنِdebt
وَتَمْلِيكُ الرِّياسَةِ كُلُّ دَيْنِ
Time will repay him, with a long life
Time will fulfil him with length of days
And the bestowal of leadership, every debt.
For holding authority demands total debt
غَدَتْbecame خِلَعٌrobes of honor عَلَيْهِupon him تَائهاتٌproud
غَدَتْ خِلَعٌ عَلَيْهِ تَائهاتٌ
بِعالِيof one lofty in النَّفْسِspirit عَالِيlofty at الذَّرْوَتَيْنِboth summits
بِعالِي النَّفْسِ عَالِي الذَّرْوَتَيْنِ
Robes of honor have grown proud upon him,
Robes of honor became lost on him
Proud of one lofty in spirit and lofty at both summits.
With a lofty spirit, the peaks his stature
جَلَتْdispelled بِسَوادِهاwith their blackness ظُلَمَthe darknesses of اللَّيالِيthe nights
جَلَتْ بِسَوادِها ظُلَمَ اللَّيالِي
كَماas تَجْلُوmakes shine سَوادَthe black of المُقْلَتَيْنِboth eyes
كَما تَجْلُو سَوادَ المُقْلَتَيْنِ
Their blackness has dispelled the darkness of the nights,
Their blackness pales the darkness of nights
As it makes the black of both eyes shine.
As the blackness of kohl pales the eyes
بِمَنْطِقِهِat his girdle (contextual reading) يَلُوحُgleams الحَلْىthe ornament فِيهَاon them
بِمَنْطِقِهِ يَلُوحُ الحَلْى فِيهَا
كَماas لاَحَتْshone نُجُومُthe stars of الشِّعْرَيَيْنthe two Shi‘ras
كَما لاَحَتْ نُجُومُ الشِّعْرَيَيْن
At his girdle, the ornaments upon them gleam,
In his words, gems sparkle
As the stars of the two Shi‘ras shone.
As the stars of Al-Shi’ra twinkle
تُباطُare fastened (uncertain reading) مَعلِقٌa hanging attachment مِنْهَاfrom them رِقَاقٌthin
تُباطُ مَعلِقٌ مِنْهَا رِقَاقٌ
بِمَصْقُولٍto a polished blade رَقِيقِfine in الشَّفْرَتَيْنِboth cutting edges
بِمَصْقُولٍ رَقِيقِ الشَّفْرَتَيْنِ
Thin hanging attachments from them are fastened [uncertain reading],
A dangling ornament, parts of which are thin
To a polished blade with two fine cutting edges.
Polished and delicate in texture
كَرَأْيٍlike a judgment مِنْهُfrom him يَفْعَلُacts فيthrough اللَّيالِيthe nights
كَرَأْيٍ مِنْهُ يَفْعَلُ في اللَّيالِي
وَفِيand through الأَيَّامِthe days فِعْلَwith the action of النَّيِّرَيْنِthe two luminaries
وَفِي الأَيَّامِ فِعْلَ النَّيِّرَيْنِ
Like his judgment, which acts through the nights
Like his opinion in the nights and days
And through the days as the two luminaries act.
The actions of two intrepid stars
فَأَعْلَىso may exalt اللهُGod سَادَتَنَاour masters جَمِيعاًall
فَأَعْلَى اللهُ سَادَتَنَا جَمِيعاً
وَأَبْقاهُمْand may preserve them بَقاءَthe endurance of الفَرْقَدَيْنِthe Farqadayn
وَأَبْقاهُمْ بَقاءَ الفَرْقَدَيْنِ
So may God exalt all our masters,
May God raise all our lords
And preserve them as long as the Farqadayn endure;
And maintain them with lasting permanence
وقَلَّمَand may clip عَنْهُمْaway from them ظُفُرَthe claw of المَنايَاdeaths
وقَلَّمَ عَنْهُمْ ظُفُرَ المَنايَا
بِقُرْبِby the nearness of مُناهُمُtheir wishes وَبِبُعْدِand by the remoteness of حَيْنِdeath
بِقُرْبِ مُناهُمُ وَبِبُعْدِ حَيْنِ
And clip away from them the talon of death,
And spare them from the claws of death
With their wishes near and their death far away;
In their youth and in their old age
ومِلْكٍand dominion لْلَوَرَىover humankind وَصَفاءِand serenity of دَهْرٍan age
ومِلْكٍ لْلَوَرَى وَصَفاءِ دَهْرٍ
يَرينَcasts a pall عَلَىupon عِداهُمُtheir foes أَيَّutter رَيْنِgloom
يَرينَ عَلَى عِداهُمُ أَيَّ رَيْنِ
And dominion over humankind, and the serenity of an age
A kingdom for the earth and days of clarity
That casts an utter pall upon their foes.
Pouring on its enemies, oh what ruin!
فَكَمْfor how often عُذِلُواthey were reproached عَلَىfor إْفَراطِexcess in بَرٍkindness
فَكَمْ عُذِلُوا عَلَى إْفَراطِ بَرٍ
فَمَاyet not أصْغَوْاdid they listen لِعَذْلِto the rebuke of العاذِلَيْنِthe two reproachers
فَمَا أصْغَوْا لِعَذْلِ العاذِلَيْنِ
For how often they were reproached for excessive kindness,
How they were blamed for excessive grace
Yet they did not heed the two reproachers' rebuke.
But they did not heed the critics’ rebuke
أَقولُI say بِمَاfrom what عَلِمْتُI have learned مَقالَwords of صِدْقٍtruth
أَقولُ بِمَا عَلِمْتُ مَقالَ صِدْقٍ
بَعِيدِfar الشَّأْوِin reach مِنْfrom كَذِبٍfalsehood وَشَيْنِand blemish
بَعِيدِ الشَّأْوِ مِنْ كَذِبٍ وَشَيْنِ
I say, from what I know, words of truth,
I speak truly what I know
Far removed from falsehood and blemish.
Far from lies and disgrace
لَقَدْindeed صَانُواthey protected الوِزارَةَthe vizierate بَعْدَafter هَتْكٍdishonor
لَقَدْ صَانُوا الوِزارَةَ بَعْدَ هَتْكٍ
وَزانُوهَاand adorned it وَكانَتْand it was غَيْرَwithout زَيْنِadornment
وَزانُوهَا وَكانَتْ غَيْرَ زَيْنِ
They have indeed safeguarded the vizierate after dishonor,
They have protected the ministry after violation
And adorned it when it had been unadorned;
And honored it though it lacked honor
بِرَأْيٍwith judgment مُسْتَنِيرٍenlightened لِلْمَواليfor allies
بِرَأْيٍ مُسْتَنِيرٍ لِلْمَوالي
وَصَعْبٍand stern لِلمْعُادِيtoward the adversary غَيْرِnot لَيْنِyielding
وَصَعْبٍ لِلمْعُادِي غَيْرِ لَيْنِ
With judgment enlightened for their allies,
With enlightened counsel for the loyalists
And stern toward the adversary, not yielding;
And firmness against the hostile and weak
وَأَقْلاَمٍand pens تُحَكَّمُare empowered to judge فِيover الأَعادِيthe enemies
وَأَقْلاَمٍ تُحَكَّمُ فِي الأَعادِي
كَحُكْمِlike the judgment of السَّيْفِthe sword وَالرُّمْحِand the spear الرُّدَيْنِيRudayni
كَحُكْمِ السَّيْفِ وَالرُّمْحِ الرُّدَيْنِي
And pens empowered to judge their enemies,
Their pens judge the enemies
Like the judgment of the sword and the Rudayni spear.
Like the judgment of sword and sturdy spear
وَيَغْنَىand has no need الرُّمْحُthe spear فِيهاwith them عَنْof ثِقافٍa spear-straightening tool
وَيَغْنَى الرُّمْحُ فِيها عَنْ ثِقافٍ
وَيَغْنَىand has no need السَّيْفُthe sword عَنْof إِصْلاحِrepair by قَيْنِa smith
وَيَغْنَى السَّيْفُ عَنْ إِصْلاحِ قَيْنِ
With them the spear has no need of a straightening tool,
The spear among them has no need of whetting
And the sword has no need of a smith's repair.
The sword no need to be sharpened
وَتَخْفُقُand flutter بِالذَّيwith what نَهْواهُwe desire it كُتْبٌletters
وَتَخْفُقُ بِالذَّي نَهْواهُ كُتْبٌ
تَكُونُthere is بِهاthrough them صلاحُgood order for الخْافِقَيْنِboth horizons
تَكُونُ بِها صلاحُ الخْافِقَيْنِ
And letters flutter, bearing what we desire,
The books flutter with what they have forbidden
Through which both horizons are set aright.
Through which comes the rectitude of both parties
تَرَىyou see الأَقْدارْdestinies مُصْعِدَةًascending إلَيْهِto him
تَرَى الأَقْدارْ مُصْعِدَةً إلَيْهِ
تَسَحَّبُtrail along بَيْنَbetween تَسْجِيَةٍwrapping وَطَينِand clay
تَسَحَّبُ بَيْنَ تَسْجِيَةٍ وَطَينِ
You see destinies ascending toward him,
You see the fates rising to him
Trailing between wrapping and clay.
Dragged between submission and obedience
ثَوابُكُمُyour reward عَلَىfor إصْلاحِsetting right مُلْكٍa realm
ثَوابُكُمُ عَلَى إصْلاحِ مُلْكٍ
ثَوابُthe reward of شُهُودٍwitnessing أَحْدٍUhud أَوْor حُنَيْنِHunayn
ثَوابُ شُهُودٍ أَحْدٍ أَوْ حُنَيْنِ
Your reward for setting a realm aright
Your reward for reforming a kingdom
Is the reward of witnessing Uhud or Hunayn.
Is the reward of martyrs of Badr or Hunayn
فَرَعْتُمْyou scaled فِيamong بَنِيthe sons of الأَحْرارِthe freeborn طَوْراًa mountain
فَرَعْتُمْ فِي بَنِي الأَحْرارِ طَوْراً
يَطُولُovertops الرَّعْنُthe mountain spur فيهin it ذاDhu (possessor of) رُعَيْنِRu‘ayn
يَطُولُ الرَّعْنُ فيه ذا رُعَيْنِ
Among the sons of the freeborn, you have scaled a mountain
For a time, you brought prosperity to the noble clan
Whose spur towers above Dhu Ru‘ayn.
Whose prosperity is long for one who herds them
وَزادَكُمُand raised you مُحَمدَّكُمُyour Muhammad عُلُوّاًin loftiness
وَزادَكُمُ مُحَمدَّكُمُ عُلُوّاً
وَيَعْقُوبٌand Ya‘qub شَرِيفُnoble of الجْانِبَيْنِboth sides
وَيَعْقُوبٌ شَرِيفُ الجْانِبَيْنِ
Your Muhammad has raised you still higher,
Muhammad has raised you in station
And Ya‘qub, noble on both sides.
And Yaqub, noble in lineage
وَرِثْتُمْyou inherited عَنْهُمَاfrom them both كَرَماًgenerosity وَفَضْلاًand excellence
وَرِثْتُمْ عَنْهُمَا كَرَماً وَفَضْلاً
كَذَاكَthus يَجِيءُcomes نَجْلُthe offspring of الْفاضِلَيْنِthe two virtuous men
كَذَاكَ يَجِيءُ نَجْلُ الْفاضِلَيْنِ
From them both you inherited generosity and excellence;
You have inherited generosity and merit from them
Thus comes the offspring of the two virtuous men.
For so comes the progeny of two virtuous men
لَقَدْindeed أَصْلَحْتُمْyou have set right ماwhat بَيْنَbetween دَهْرِيmy time
لَقَدْ أَصْلَحْتُمْ ما بَيْنَ دَهْرِي
عَلَىdespite رَغْمِthe unwillingness of الْعدَىthe foes كَرَماًout of generosity وَبَينيand between me
عَلَى رَغْمِ الْعدَى كَرَماً وَبَيني
You have indeed made peace between my time
You have set right what discord my world saw
And me, through generosity, despite the foes.
Out of nobility and in spite of hostility
سَأَقَضِيI shall discharge فِيin مَدِيحكُمُpraise of you حُقُوقاًduties
سَأَقَضِي فِي مَدِيحكُمُ حُقُوقاً
كَمَاas يُقْضَىare discharged حُقُوقُthe duties owed to الوْالِدَيْنِboth parents
كَمَا يُقْضَى حُقُوقُ الوْالِدَيْنِ
I shall discharge duties in praising you,
I will fulfil the rights of praising you
As the duties owed to both parents are discharged.
As a father’s rights are fulfilled by his sons
Sol 6.1