1. تمَّ لِسانُ العَرَب

    فَجاءَ قَصدَ الأَرَبِ

    Lisān al-ʿArab is complete,

    and has attained the desired goal.

  2. عِشرونَ سِفراً بَعدَها

    سَبع ذوات نخَبِ

    Twenty volumes, followed by

    seven containing choice selections.

  3. جاءَ جَمالُ الدينِ في

    تَصنيفِهِ بِالعَجَبِ

    Jamāl al-Dīn has brought forth, in

    its compilation, a marvel.

  4. أَبقاهُ ذُخراً للوَرى

    يَبقَى بَقاءَ الحِقَبِ

    He left it a treasure for humankind,

    to endure as long as the ages endure.

  5. طَوّقَ جيدَ عَصرِهِ

    طَوقاً بِهِ مِن ذَهَبِ

    He encircled the neck of his age

    with it—a necklace of gold.

  6. رَصَّعَهُ بِجَوهَرٍ

    فَصارَ زَينَ الكُتُبِ

    He studded it with jewels,

    so it became the ornament of books.

  7. كِتابُهُ شَمسُ الضُحى

    وَكُتبُهُم كَالشُهُبِ

    His book is the sun at midmorning,

    and their books are like shooting stars.

  8. مِن أُسرَةٍ بَذّوا الوَرى

    بِسُمرِهِم وَالقضبِ

    He is from a family who surpassed humankind

    with their dusky spears and keen swords:

  9. أَبناءُ قَحطانَ الأُلى

    سُمُّوا بِأَنصارِ النَّبِي

    the sons of Qaḥṭān, who

    were called the Helpers of the Prophet.

  10. فَيا لَها مِن أُسرَةٍ

    شَريفَةٍ في النَّسَبِ

    So, what a family,

    noble in lineage!

  11. جَمَّلَهم جمالهُم

    إِنسانُ عَينِ الأَدَبِ

    Their Jamāl has adorned them,

    the pupil of literature's eye.

  12. سَقَى الإِلهُ قَبرَهُ

    مِن مُثجِماتِ السُحُبِ

    May God water his grave

    from clouds pouring abundant rain;

  13. وَلا تَزالُ روحُهُ

    مَع الحِسانِ العُرَّبِ

    and may his spirit ever remain

    with the beautiful, loving women,

  14. في جَنَّةٍ يُسقى بِها

    مِن لَبَنٍ وَضَرَبِ

    in a garden where he is given drink

    of milk and thick white honey.