أهنىء شيخ الأزهر اليوم بالرضى

من الملك الأعلى وسائر شعبه

I congratulate the Sheikh of al-Azhar today 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 religion, reaching

the full compass of his heart and mind in good things.

وما هو إلا حقه في أوانه

من القدر الجاري له عند ربه

And it is only his due, at its appointed time,

from the destiny unfolding for him with his Lord.

تناول أسرار الوجود فمدها

حدائق من خصب البيان وعذبه

He took up the mysteries of existence and spread them out

as gardens of fertile, sweet eloquence.

وما حزبه في قومه غير نفسه

وما نفسه في قومه غير حزبه

And his party among his people is none but himself,

and he himself among his people is none but 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 invader who raids with his troops

through time is the guide who brings glad tidings through his books.

تبين قدري عنده وأحلَّني

مكاني على بُعدِ المكان وقربه

My worth became clear to him, and he accorded me

my place, whether the place was far or near.

ونوّلني من علمه ويقينه

صنيع كريم طاهر الخلق رحبه

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

with the kindness of a generous man of pure, expansive 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.