أهنىء شيخ الأزهر اليوم بالرضى

من الملك الأعلى وسائر شعبه

Today I congratulate the Sheikh of al-Azhar on the approval

Of the exalted king and all his people.

تولاه للدنيا وللدين بالغاً

مدى قلبه في الطيبات ولبه

He took charge of it for worldly life and faith, exerting

His heart and mind to the utmost in good works.

وما هو إلا حقه في أوانه

من القدر الجاري له عند ربه

And this is nothing but his due, at its proper time,

From the destiny ordained for him by his Lord.

تناول أسرار الوجود فمدها

حدائق من خصب البيان وعذبه

He took up the secrets of existence and spread them out

As gardens of eloquence’s richness and sweetness.

وما حزبه في قومه غير نفسه

وما نفسه في قومه غير حزبه

And his party among his people is none other than himself,

And he himself among his people is none other than his party.

وفضل الحكيم المستضيء زمانه

بحكمته فضل الطبيب بطبه

And the merit of the sage whose age is illumined

By his wisdom is the physician’s merit through his medicine.

وأبقى من الغازي المغير بجنده

على الزمن الهادي البشير بكتبه

And more enduring than the warrior who raids with his troops,

Through time, is the guide who brings glad tidings with his books.

تبين قدري عنده وأحلَّني

مكاني على بُعدِ المكان وقربه

My worth became clear to him, and he accorded me

My place, whether far away or near.

ونوّلني من علمه ويقينه

صنيع كريم طاهر الخلق رحبه

And he bestowed on me some of his knowledge and certainty—

The kindness of a noble man, pure and magnanimous in character.

وحسبيَ من طول الحياة وعرضها

وراحتها أني سعيد بحبه

And enough for me of life’s length and breadth

And its comfort is that I am happy in his love.