ما حاجَةٌ أَولى بِنُجحٍ عاجِلٍ

ما حاجَةٌ أَولى بِنُجحٍ عاجِلٍ

مِن حاجَةٍ عَلِقَت أَبا تَمّامِ

مِن حاجَةٍ عَلِقَت أَبا تَمّامِ

No need is more deserving of swift fulfillment

What need is more deserving of swift success

What need is more deserving of urgent fulfillment

than a need that rests with Abu Tammam.

Than a need that clings to Abū Tammām's robe?

Than a need that has attached itself to Abu Tammam?

فَرعٌ تَمَكَّنَ مِن أَرومِ عِمارَةٍ

فَرعٌ تَمَكَّنَ مِن أَرومِ عِمارَةٍ

بَقِيَت مَناقِبُها عَلى الأَيّامِ

بَقِيَت مَناقِبُها عَلى الأَيّامِ

A branch firmly rooted in the stock of Imara,

A branch that took root in a lofty palace

A branch firmly established in the roots of 'Imarah,

whose noble deeds have endured through the ages.

Whose glories remain through the days.

Whose virtues have remained throughout the days.

لَمّا نَدَبتُكَ لِلمُهِمِّ أَجَبتَني

لَمّا نَدَبتُكَ لِلمُهِمِّ أَجَبتَني

لَبَّيكَ وَاِستَعذَبتَ ماءَ كَلامي

لَبَّيكَ وَاِستَعذَبتَ ماءَ كَلامي

When I summoned you for the pressing matter, you answered me,

When I called on you for the important task, you answered me,

When I summoned you for a grave matter, you answered me,

“At your service!”—and found the water of my words sweet.

"I am at your service," and found sweet my words.

Saying 'At your service,' and finding the water of my speech sweet.

فَدَعِ المَواعِدَ الَّتي أَلحَقتُها

فَدَعِ المَواعِدَ الَّتي أَلحَقتُها

حَتّى يَكونَ نِتاجُها لِتَمامِ

حَتّى يَكونَ نِتاجُها لِتَمامِ

So leave the promises I appended

Leave aside the promises I have made

So let the promises that I have appended

until their fruit comes to completion.

Until their fruits are for completion.

Reach their fruition and come to completion.

فَإِذا بَسَطتَ يَداً إِلَيَّ بِغَوثَةٍ

فَإِذا بَسَطتَ يَداً إِلَيَّ بِغَوثَةٍ

فَلَقَد هَزَزتُكَ هَزَّةَ الصَمصامِ

فَلَقَد هَزَزتُكَ هَزَّةَ الصَمصامِ

Then, when you extend a hand to me with help,

So if you extend a hand to help me,

For if you extend a hand to me with succor,

I have indeed brandished you like a keen-edged sword.

I have shook you with the shaking of battle.

Then I have truly brandished you as one brandishes a sharp sword.

كَم نارِ حَربِ ضَلالَةٍ أَطفَأتَها

كَم نارِ حَربِ ضَلالَةٍ أَطفَأتَها

وَرُضاعِ جَهلٍ كِدتَهُ بِفِطامِ

وَرُضاعِ جَهلٍ كِدتَهُ بِفِطامِ

How many fires of misguided war you have quenched,

How many fires of straying wars you've doused,

How many fires of the war of error have you extinguished,

and how much suckling of ignorance you have thwarted by weaning!

And weaned the suckling of ignorance.

And the suckling of ignorance you have cured with weaning!

إِنَّ المُلوكَ رَأَوا أَباكَ بِأَعيُنٍ

إِنَّ المُلوكَ رَأَوا أَباكَ بِأَعيُنٍ

قَد كُحِّلَت بِمَراوِدِ الإِعظامِ

قَد كُحِّلَت بِمَراوِدِ الإِعظامِ

Indeed, the kings saw your father with eyes

Kings have seen your father with eyes

Indeed, kings have beheld your father with eyes

already lined with the kohl-wands of reverence.

Painted with the musk of veneration.

That were lined with the kohl of reverence.

وَاِستَودَعوا تيجانَهُم تِمثالَهُ

وَاِستَودَعوا تيجانَهُم تِمثالَهُ

وَاللَهُ يَعلَمُهُ مَعَ الأَقوامِ

وَاللَهُ يَعلَمُهُ مَعَ الأَقوامِ

And they placed his likeness in their crowns;

And they entrusted their crowns to his statue—

And they entrusted his image to their crowns,

and God knows him among the peoples.

God knows him among the throngs of people.

And God knows his true station among the peoples.