لَو كَانَ يُقعَدُ فَوقَ الشَّمسِ مِن كَرَمٍ

لَو كَانَ يُقعَدُ فَوقَ الشَّمسِ مِن كَرَمٍ

قَومٌ لَقِيلَ اقعُدُوا يا آلَ عَبَّاسِ

قَومٌ لَقِيلَ اقعُدُوا يا آلَ عَبَّاسِ

If any people could sit above the sun for sheer nobility,

If, for generosity, a seat above the sun could be given

it would be said, “Sit there, O House of ʿAbbās!”

to a people, it would be said: “Sit, O house of ʿAbbās!”

ثمَّ ارتَقُوا في شُعَاعِ الشَّمسِ كُلُّكُمُ

ثمَّ ارتَقُوا في شُعَاعِ الشَّمسِ كُلُّكُمُ

إلى السَّماءِ فَأنتُم أكرَمُ النَّاسِ

إلى السَّماءِ فَأنتُم أكرَمُ النَّاسِ

Then ascend through the sun’s radiance, all of you,

Then ascend in the sun’s radiance, all of you,

up to heaven—for you are the noblest of men.

to heaven, for you are the most generous of people.

وقَدّمُوا القَائِمَ المَنصُورَ رأسَكُمُ

وقَدّمُوا القَائِمَ المَنصُورَ رأسَكُمُ

فَالعَينُ والأنفُ والأذنَانِ في الراسِ

فَالعَينُ والأنفُ والأذنَانِ في الراسِ

And set the reigning al-Manṣūr, your chief, at your fore—

And place the reigning al-Manṣūr, your head, foremost,

for the eye, the nose, and the two ears are in the head.

for the eye, the nose, and the two ears are in the head.