نَعِمَ الْوَرَى بِسَوابِغِ النَّعْماءِ

نَعِمَ الْوَرَى بِسَوابِغِ النَّعْماءِ

وَنَجَوْا مِنَ الْبأْساءِ والضَّرَّاءِ

وَنَجَوْا مِنَ الْبأْساءِ والضَّرَّاءِ

Humankind prospered amid abundant blessings,

What a good land with abundant blessings!

and escaped hardship and affliction.

And they were saved from adversity and harm.

عَضَدَ الآلهُّ أَبا الْوَفاءِ بِنَصْرِهِ

عَضَدَ الآلهُّ أَبا الْوَفاءِ بِنَصْرِهِ

عَضُدَ الخْلافَةِ سَيِّدَ الأُمَراءِ

عَضُدَ الخْلافَةِ سَيِّدَ الأُمَراءِ

God strengthened Abu al-Wafa with His aid,

God supported the father of loyalty with His victory,

the Caliphate's strong arm, lord of the emirs.

The support of the Caliphate, the master of princes.

فأُرِيحَ قَلْبِي مِنْ جَوَى الْبُرَحاءِ

فأُرِيحَ قَلْبِي مِنْ جَوَى الْبُرَحاءِ

وَلَهيبِ نَارِ الْوَجْدِ وَالأدْواءِ

وَلَهيبِ نَارِ الْوَجْدِ وَالأدْواءِ

So my heart was relieved of anguish's burning grief,

So my heart was relieved from the burning of separation

and the blaze of passion's fire and ailments.

And the blaze of the fire of passion and sickness.

عَادَ الزَّمانُ إلىَ نَضارَةِ عَيْشِهِ

عَادَ الزَّمانُ إلىَ نَضارَةِ عَيْشِهِ

وَأُزِيلَتِ الْبَأساءُ بالسَّرَّاءِ

وَأُزِيلَتِ الْبَأساءُ بالسَّرَّاءِ

Time returned to the freshness of its life,

Time has returned to the freshness of its life,

and adversity was dispelled by happiness.

And adversities were removed with joy.

قَدْ واصَلَ النَّصْر للتْابِعَ سَيْفُهُ

قَدْ واصَلَ النَّصْر للتْابِعَ سَيْفُهُ

كَوِصالِ حِبٍّ كارِهٍ لِجفَاءِ

كَوِصالِ حِبٍّ كارِهٍ لِجفَاءِ

Victory has kept close to his sword [wording uncertain],

His victorious sword connects to the follower

as a lover stays close, averse to estrangement.

Like the connection of unwilling love to estrangement.

فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ للأَعادِي وَقْعَةٌ

فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ للأَعادِي وَقْعَةٌ

مِنْهُ تُبِيدُهُمُ وَسَيْفُ فَناءِ

مِنْهُ تُبِيدُهُمُ وَسَيْفُ فَناءِ

Each day his enemies face an onslaught

Every day for the enemies is an affliction from him

from him that annihilates them, and a sword of destruction.

That destroys them, and the sword of annihilation.

فَتَراهُمُ لَمَّا رَأَوْهُ مُقْبِلاً

فَتَراهُمُ لَمَّا رَأَوْهُ مُقْبِلاً

كَالشَّاءِ يَنْفُرِ مِنْ أُسُودِ ضِرَاءِ

كَالشَّاءِ يَنْفُرِ مِنْ أُسُودِ ضِرَاءِ

You see them, when they see him advancing,

So when they saw him approaching,

like sheep fleeing ferocious lions.

They fled like frightened sheep from fierce wolves.

صَرْعَى وَقَتْلَى وَالَّذِي فاتَ الرَّدَى

صَرْعَى وَقَتْلَى وَالَّذِي فاتَ الرَّدَى

مِنْهُمُ حَلِيفُ الذُّلِّ في الأُسَراءِ

مِنْهُمُ حَلِيفُ الذُّلِّ في الأُسَراءِ

Felled and slain; whoever escaped death

Slain and killed, and those who escaped destruction

among them is bound to humiliation among the captives.

Were imprisoned in humiliation by him.

ضَحِكَتْ بِه الأَيَّامُ بَعْدَ قُطُوبِها

ضَحِكَتْ بِه الأَيَّامُ بَعْدَ قُطُوبِها

وَجَلا الضِّياءُ بِهِ دُجَى الظَّلْماءِ

وَجَلا الضِّياءُ بِهِ دُجَى الظَّلْماءِ

The days smiled through him after their scowling,

The days smiled after their gloominess through him,

and through him light dispelled the gloom of darkness.

And the light shone through the darkness because of him.

فَصلُوا السُّرُور قَضَاءَ ما عايَنْتُمُوا

فَصلُوا السُّرُور قَضَاءَ ما عايَنْتُمُوا

بِالأَمْسِ مِنْ هَمٍّ وَمِنْ بُرَحاءِ

بِالأَمْسِ مِنْ هَمٍّ وَمِنْ بُرَحاءِ

So sustain your joy as recompense for what you witnessed

So pray to eliminate the anxiety and distress

yesterday of worry and anguish.

You saw yesterday and the day before.

قَدْ عُوفِي اللَّيْثُ الْمُطِلُّ عَلى الغْدِا

قَدْ عُوفِي اللَّيْثُ الْمُطِلُّ عَلى الغْدِا

مِنْ كُلِّ مَا يَشْكُو مِنْ الَّلأْواءِ

مِنْ كُلِّ مَا يَشْكُو مِنْ الَّلأْواءِ

The lion looming over his foes has been cured

The lion who pounces on prey has recovered

of every hardship he complains of.

From all his complaints and pains.

وَأَتاهُ نَصْرٌ مِنْ إلهٍ مُنْعِمٍ

وَأَتاهُ نَصْرٌ مِنْ إلهٍ مُنْعِمٍ

يَقْضِي لَهُ أَبَداً بِخَيْرِ قَضاءِ

يَقْضِي لَهُ أَبَداً بِخَيْرِ قَضاءِ

And victory came to him from a beneficent God,

And victory has come to him from a God who bestows favor,

who always ordains the best decree for him.

Who always decides what is best for him.

أَعْيَيْتَ حيلَتَهُمْ وَفُتَّ مَدَاهُمُ

أَعْيَيْتَ حيلَتَهُمْ وَفُتَّ مَدَاهُمُ

مِنْ غَيْرِ إِتْعابٍ وَلا إِعْيَاءِ

مِنْ غَيْرِ إِتْعابٍ وَلا إِعْيَاءِ

You frustrated their plotting and surpassed their reach,

You have exhausted their trickery and ended their deception

without exertion or exhaustion.

Without fatigue or exhaustion.

نَثَرَتْ سُيُوفُكَ بِالْفَضاءِ أَكُفَّهُمْ

نَثَرَتْ سُيُوفُكَ بِالْفَضاءِ أَكُفَّهُمْ

فَكَأَنَّهُمْ فِيهِ حَصَى الْبَطْحاءِ

فَكَأَنَّهُمْ فِيهِ حَصَى الْبَطْحاءِ

Your swords scattered their hands across the open plain,

Your swords scattered their palms in the open space

so they seemed there like pebbles on the gravelly plain.

As if they were pebbles in the courtyard.

وَعطَفْتَ خَيْلَكَ خاطِفاً أَرْوَاحَهُمْ

وَعطَفْتَ خَيْلَكَ خاطِفاً أَرْوَاحَهُمْ

مِنْ غَيْرِ إمْهَالٍ وَلا إِبْطاءِ

مِنْ غَيْرِ إمْهَالٍ وَلا إِبْطاءِ

And you wheeled your horses, snatching their souls,

And you turned your horses snatching their souls

without respite or delay.

Without delay or tardiness.

أَنْتَ الْمُعَظَّمُ فِي الزَّمانِ وَمَنْ لَهُ

أَنْتَ الْمُعَظَّمُ فِي الزَّمانِ وَمَنْ لَهُ

ذَلَّتْ رِقابُ السَّادَةِ الْعُظَماءِ

ذَلَّتْ رِقابُ السَّادَةِ الْعُظَماءِ

You are this age's exalted one, and the one to whom

You are the greatest in the times, and to you

the necks of mighty lords have bowed.

The necks of the honorable nobles have bowed.

أَبَتِ الإمارَةُ أَنْ تَزَوَّجَ غَيْرَهُ

أَبَتِ الإمارَةُ أَنْ تَزَوَّجَ غَيْرَهُ

مِنْ بَعْدِ ما خُطِبَتْ أَشَدَّ إِباءِ

مِنْ بَعْدِ ما خُطِبَتْ أَشَدَّ إِباءِ

The emirate refused to wed anyone but him,

The emirate refused to marry anyone but him

after being courted, with the sternest refusal.

After being adamantly proposed to.

وَعَصَى الْمَدِيحُ فَلَيْسَ يُعْطي طَاعَةً

وَعَصَى الْمَدِيحُ فَلَيْسَ يُعْطي طَاعَةً

إلاَّ لَهُ فِي سُؤْدَدٍ وثَنَاءِ

إلاَّ لَهُ فِي سُؤْدَدٍ وثَنَاءِ

And praise rebelled, offering no obedience

And praise disobeyed, it does not give obedience

except to him in eminence and acclaim.

Except to him, in infatuation and adoration.

يَلْهُو بِأَبْطالِ الرُجِّالِ شَجاعَةً

يَلْهُو بِأَبْطالِ الرُجِّالِ شَجاعَةً

لَهْوَ الْمُلاعِبِ فازَ بِالأهَوْاءِ

لَهْوَ الْمُلاعِبِ فازَ بِالأهَوْاءِ

In his bravery he toys with the champions of men,

He plays with the courage of brave men,

like a player who has won hearts.

Playing like an entertainer who has won passions.

مَلِكٌ أَبَرَّ عَلَى الْمُلُوكِ بِبَأْسِهِ

مَلِكٌ أَبَرَّ عَلَى الْمُلُوكِ بِبَأْسِهِ

وَقَبُولِهِ مِنْ سَيِّدِ النُّصَحاءِ

وَقَبُولِهِ مِنْ سَيِّدِ النُّصَحاءِ

A king who surpassed kings in his prowess

A king who surpassed kings with his might

and in heeding the foremost of counselors.

And his acceptance from the master of advisers.

أَحيا مُحَمَّدٌ بْنُ يَحْيى دَوْلةً

أَحيا مُحَمَّدٌ بْنُ يَحْيى دَوْلةً

بِصَحِيحِ عَزْمٍ صائِبِ الأراءِ

بِصَحِيحِ عَزْمٍ صائِبِ الأراءِ

Muhammad ibn Yahya revived a realm

Muhammad bin Yahya revived a state

with sound resolve and unerring judgment.

With sound determination and correct opinion.

زَيْنُ الكِتابَةِ وَابْنُ مَنْ ذَلَّتْ لَهُ

زَيْنُ الكِتابَةِ وَابْنُ مَنْ ذَلَّتْ لَهُ

وَعَلَيْهِ قِدْماً كِتْبَةُ الْخُلَفاءِ

وَعَلَيْهِ قِدْماً كِتْبَةُ الْخُلَفاءِ

The ornament of scribal art, and son of one to whom

The adornment of writing and the son of one whose

and before whom the caliphs' scribes bowed long ago.

Writers of caliphs have bowed to.

مِنْ بَعْدِ ما ظَنَّ الأَعادِي أَنَّهُ

مِنْ بَعْدِ ما ظَنَّ الأَعادِي أَنَّهُ

سَيَكُونُ مَنْ نَاوَاهُ ذا اسْتِعلاءِ

سَيَكُونُ مَنْ نَاوَاهُ ذا اسْتِعلاءِ

After his enemies had thought that

After the enemies thought that he

whoever opposed him would gain ascendancy.

Would be defeated by whoever opposed him.

إذْ ساوَرَ الإسْلامَ سُقْمٌ قاتِلٌ

إذْ ساوَرَ الإسْلامَ سُقْمٌ قاتِلٌ

لَوْ لَمْ يُدارِكْ سُقْمَهُ بِشِفاءِ

لَوْ لَمْ يُدارِكْ سُقْمَهُ بِشِفاءِ

When Islam was assailed by a sickness that would have been fatal,

When Islam was afflicted with a deadly disease

had he not countered its sickness with a cure.

That would not have been cured without a remedy.

فَرَماهُمُ مِنْ رَأْيِهِ بِنَوافِذٍ

فَرَماهُمُ مِنْ رَأْيِهِ بِنَوافِذٍ

تُهْدَى بِلا هادٍ إلَى الأَحْشاءِ

تُهْدَى بِلا هادٍ إلَى الأَحْشاءِ

So he struck them with piercing shafts of his judgment,

So he threw them with the arrows of his opinion

guided without a guide into their entrails.

That are guided without a guide, to the intestines.

وَرَأَى حَبَالَى رَأْيِهِ شَرَكاً لَهُمْ

وَرَأَى حَبَالَى رَأْيِهِ شَرَكاً لَهُمْ

فَهُوَوْا لَحْمئَتِهِ هُوىَّ دِلاءِ

فَهُوَوْا لَحْمئَتِهِ هُوىَّ دِلاءِ

And he saw the cords of his judgment as a snare for them,

And he saw the ropes of his opinion as partners for them,

so they plunged into its mire like falling buckets.

So they plunged into its abyss like a lost camel.

في كارَ يُرْجَى عَيْنُ رَأْى مُجَرِّبٍ

في كارَ يُرْجَى عَيْنُ رَأْى مُجَرِّبٍ

مَاضِي الْحُسامِ لِحَسْمِ هَذَا الدَّاءِ

مَاضِي الْحُسامِ لِحَسْمِ هَذَا الدَّاءِ

In [unclear], an experienced man's keen judgment is hoped for,

In every important matter the view of an experienced one

his blade keen enough to cut away this disease.

Is hoped for, whose sword is decisive in curing this disease.

سَلْ بِالأمِيرِ وَسَيْفِهِ مَنْ رَامَهُ

سَلْ بِالأمِيرِ وَسَيْفِهِ مَنْ رَامَهُ

أَوْ هاجَهُ فِي حَوْمَةِ الْيجَاءِ

أَوْ هاجَهُ فِي حَوْمَةِ الْيجَاءِ

Ask those who challenged him about the emir and his sword,

Ask with the prince and his sword whoever desires him

or roused him in the thick of battle.

Or provokes him in the intense heat of battle.

ضِرْغامُهُ دَامي الأظَافِرِ كُلَّمَا

ضِرْغامُهُ دَامي الأظَافِرِ كُلَّمَا

عَرَتِ النَّوائِبُ مِن دَمِ الأَعْدَاءِ

عَرَتِ النَّوائِبُ مِن دَمِ الأَعْدَاءِ

His lion's claws are bloodstained whenever

His growling, blood dripping claws - whenever

calamities strike, stained with the blood of foes.

Misfortunes from the blood of enemies arise.

فَكَأَنَّهُ فِي سَرْجِهِ يَوْمَ الْوغَا

فَكَأَنَّهُ فِي سَرْجِهِ يَوْمَ الْوغَا

بَدْرٌ تَلأْلأَ فِي سُعُودِ سَمَاءِ

بَدْرٌ تَلأْلأَ فِي سُعُودِ سَمَاءِ

As though, in his saddle on the day of battle,

So it is as if on the day of battle, he is

he were a full moon glittering amid the sky's auspicious stars.

A shining full moon in the fortunate rising of the sky.

وكَأَنَّما قُوَّادُهُ مِنْ حَوْلِهِ

وكَأَنَّما قُوَّادُهُ مِنْ حَوْلِهِ

مُسْتَلِئْمِيَن كَواكِبَ الْجَوْزاءِ

مُسْتَلِئْمِيَن كَواكِبَ الْجَوْزاءِ

And as though his commanders around him,

And it is as if his leaders around him

clad in armor, were the stars of al-Jawza'.

Are planets, like the constellation Gemini.

مُتَلَبِّسٌ جِلْبَابَ صَبْرٍ تَحْتَهُ

مُتَلَبِّسٌ جِلْبَابَ صَبْرٍ تَحْتَهُ

قَلْبٌ كَمِثْلِ الصَّخْرَةِ الصَّمّاءِ

قَلْبٌ كَمِثْلِ الصَّخْرَةِ الصَّمّاءِ

Clothed in a cloak of patience, beneath it

Dressed in the gown of patience, underneath which

is a heart like solid rock.

Lies a heart like a silent rock.

شَرَدَ الأَعادِي خَوْفُهُ فَكَأَنَّهُمْ

شَرَدَ الأَعادِي خَوْفُهُ فَكَأَنَّهُمْ

خَرِقُ النَّعامِ بِقَفْرَةٍ بَيْدَاءِ

خَرِقُ النَّعامِ بِقَفْرَةٍ بَيْدَاءِ

Fear of him scattered the enemies, as though they were

His fear dispersed the enemies, so it is as if they are

panic-stricken ostriches in a barren wilderness,

The ostrich flock in the barren plain.

أَوْ كُدْرُ سِرْبِ قَطاً أَضَرَّ بِها الصَّدى

أَوْ كُدْرُ سِرْبِ قَطاً أَضَرَّ بِها الصَّدى

فَتَساقَطَتْ عَطَشاً إلَى الأَحْشاءِ

فَتَساقَطَتْ عَطَشاً إلَى الأَحْشاءِ

or a flock of dusky sandgrouse tormented by thirst,

Or a flock of wild cats damaged by the echo

so they tumbled down, parched to their very entrails.

So they fell thirsty into the plains.

عَطَفَ الرِّجالُ إلَيْهِمْ فَتَعَطَّفُوا

عَطَفَ الرِّجالُ إلَيْهِمْ فَتَعَطَّفُوا

لِلأْسْرِ وَالإِذْلالِ فِعْلَ نِساءِ

لِلأْسْرِ وَالإِذْلالِ فِعْلَ نِساءِ

The men turned against them, and they yielded

The men attacked them, so they surrendered

to captivity and humiliation, in the manner of women.

To captivity and humiliation, acting like women.

وَأَتَى الأَمِيرُ بِعِزَّةٍ وَمَهابَةٍ

وَأَتَى الأَمِيرُ بِعِزَّةٍ وَمَهابَةٍ

يَخْتالُ بَيْنَ غِنىً وَبَيْنَ غنَاءِ

يَخْتالُ بَيْنَ غِنىً وَبَيْنَ غنَاءِ

And the emir came in might and awe,

And the prince came with might and awe,

strutting amid wealth and worth.

Strutting between wealth and singing.

خَصِبَتْ بِهِ بُغْدادُ بَعْدَ جُدُوبِها

خَصِبَتْ بِهِ بُغْدادُ بَعْدَ جُدُوبِها

وَتَلَبَّسَتْ مِنْهُ ثِيابَ رَخاءِ

وَتَلَبَّسَتْ مِنْهُ ثِيابَ رَخاءِ

Baghdad grew fertile through him after its barrenness,

Baghdad prospered with him after its gloom,

and through him donned the garments of prosperity.

And wore from him clothes of comfort.

هذا وَفِي أَيَّامِ بَجْكَمَ كَمْ لَهُ

هذا وَفِي أَيَّامِ بَجْكَمَ كَمْ لَهُ

مِنْ صِدْقِ عارِفَةٍ وَحُسْنِ بَلاءِ

مِنْ صِدْقِ عارِفَةٍ وَحُسْنِ بَلاءِ

All this—and in Bajkam's days, how many were his

This was during the days of Bajkam - how much

genuine favors and splendid feats!

Sincerity, wisdom and excellent testing he has!

تَسْوَدُّ أَيْدي غَيْرِهِ فِي حَرْبِهِ

تَسْوَدُّ أَيْدي غَيْرِهِ فِي حَرْبِهِ

فَيُضِيئُها قَيدٍ لَهُ بَيْضاءِ

فَيُضِيئُها قَيدٍ لَهُ بَيْضاءِ

Others' hands turn black in his warfare,

The hands of others darken in his war,

so he brightens them with his white hand [text uncertain].

So he whitens them with shackles he places on them.

أَطْنابُ بَأْسِكَ يَوْمَ حَرْبِكَ عُلِّقَتْ

أَطْنابُ بَأْسِكَ يَوْمَ حَرْبِكَ عُلِّقَتْ

لِعُلُوِّها بِكَواكِبِ الْعَوَّاءِ

لِعُلُوِّها بِكَواكِبِ الْعَوَّاءِ

The tent ropes of your valor on your battle-day were suspended

The banners of your might on the day of your war were raised up

upon the stars of al-'Awwa', so high they rose.

And hung with the stars in the sky, due to their height.

فَضَلَتْ كَفَضْلِ بَنِي النَّبِيِّ وصَهْرِهِ

فَضَلَتْ كَفَضْلِ بَنِي النَّبِيِّ وصَهْرِهِ

فِي نُبْلِ قَدْرِهِمُ بَنِي الطَّلقَاءِ

فِي نُبْلِ قَدْرِهِمُ بَنِي الطَّلقَاءِ

They excelled as the descendants of the Prophet and of his son-in-law surpassed

You have excelled in nobility over the children of the Prophet and his in-laws,

the descendants of the freed captives in nobility of rank.

In the merit of their status, O people of purity.

فَرَقِيتَ فِي دَرَجَ الْمَعالِي صاعِداً

فَرَقِيتَ فِي دَرَجَ الْمَعالِي صاعِداً

تَعْلُو عَلَى الْعظُمَاءِ وَالْكُبَرَاءِ

تَعْلُو عَلَى الْعظُمَاءِ وَالْكُبَرَاءِ

So you climbed the steps of lofty distinction, ascending,

You ascended the steps of glory, rising

rising above the mighty and the great.

Above the grandees and nobles.