نور الهدى خير الورى

أعلى البرية عنصرا

Light of guidance, best of creation,

noblest of all beings in origin,

سر الوجود بلا مرا

عالى الذرا سامى المقام

the secret of existence, beyond dispute,

of lofty heights and exalted station.

عقد الوجود به انتظم

وسناه في الآفاق عم

Through him, existence's necklace was strung,

and his radiance spread across the horizons.

وترادفت كل النعم

وزها به بدر التمام

And all blessings followed in succession,

and through him the full moon shone resplendent.

بولاده قد أشرقا

بدر الدجى وتألقا

At his birth there shone forth

the moon of night, glittering brightly.

والخير عم وأغدقا

والكون قد بلغ المرام

And goodness spread and overflowed,

and the universe attained its goal.

من بعد يبس أورقت

أشجاره وتفتقت

After dryness, there burst into leaf

its trees, and there burst open

أكمامها وتنسّقت

فيها الفواكه بانتظام

their buds; and there were arrayed

upon them fruits in orderly ranks.

والناس فازوا بالغنى

والكل نال به المنى

And people attained prosperity,

and all gained through him their wishes.

والأمن أصبح والهنا

في الكون قد ضرب الخيام

And safety and happiness now

pitched their tents in the world.

ولد النبي المصطفى

ما بين زمزم والصفا

The Chosen Prophet was born

between Zamzam and al-Safa.

فسما بمولده الصفا

وترنمت ورق الحمام

Thus al-Safa was exalted by his birth,

and the gray doves sang.

والطير في كبد السما

صلى عليه وسلما

And the birds in the heart of the sky

called down blessings and peace upon him.

وبجاهه الوحش احتمى

ودنا من البيت الحرام

Through his honored rank, wild beasts found refuge

and drew near the Sacred House.

وبه الهواتف بشرت

وبوضعه قد أخبرت

And unseen voices brought glad tidings of him,

and of his birth they informed

كهانهم فتذمّرت

من ذاك أفئدة الطغام

their soothsayers; and resentful grew

at that the hearts of the rabble.

بوجوده الشرك انخذل

وله الغزالة والجمل

Through his presence, idolatry was vanquished;

and to him the gazelle and the camel

نطقا وفازا بالأمل

والضب سلم باحتشام

spoke, and attained what they hoped for.

And the spiny-tailed lizard greeted him with reverence.

للمصطفى انشق القمر

والجذع حن وما اصطبر

For the Chosen One, the moon split apart;

and the tree trunk moaned, unable to bear

لفراق خير بنى مضر

كالطفل في وقت الفطام

parting from the best of Mudar's sons,

like a child at the time of weaning.

وسرى به الروح الأمين

للمسجد الأقصى المكين

And the Trustworthy Spirit bore him by night

to the exalted al-Aqsa Mosque.

فدنا وأم الحاضرين

نعم المقدم والإمام

Then he drew near and led those present in prayer—

what an excellent leader and imam!

من بعد ما ترك البراق

عرج السموات الطباق

After he had left al-Buraq,

he ascended the heavens, tier upon tier.

من قاب قوسين التلاق

بالقرب فاز والاحترام

From the encounter at two bow-lengths' distance,

he gained nearness and honor.

ولمكة حالا رجع

وبأمر مولاه صدع

And he returned at once to Mecca,

and openly proclaimed his Lord's command.

أما الصلاة فقد شرع

فيها الغداة كما يرم

As for prayer, he began

it in the morning, as he wished.

والله أكرم منزلة

وبحسن وصف كمله

And God honored his station,

and perfected him with beautiful qualities,

وإلى البرية أرسله

نورا وهديا للأنام

and sent him to creation

as a light and guidance for humankind.

أعلى العناصر محتده

أصفى الموارد مورده

His lineage is of the noblest stock;

his wellspring is the purest of springs;

وأجل يوم مولده

فيه الشعائر قد تقام

and his birthday is the greatest day,

on which the sacred rites are performed.

فيه المسرة والهنا

وأجل يوم في الدنا

In it are joy and happiness,

and it is the greatest day in the world:

عيد تلالأ بالسنا

يزداد حسنا كل عام

a festival that glittered with radiance,

growing more beautiful every year.

عيد له عنت الرءوس

واستأنست منه النفوس

A festival before which heads bowed,

and from which souls took comfort,

لما تجلّى كالعروس

أو ما ترى هذا النظام

when it shone forth like a bride.

Or do you not see this arrangement?

قد شاده رب الوفا

وسميّ سبط المصطفى

It was built by a master of fidelity

and namesake of the Chosen One's grandson:

هذا حسين أخو الصفا

خدن العلا نسل الكرام

this is Husayn, brother of purity,

companion of eminence, scion of the noble.

جلت محاسن مقصده

لا يرتجى من مولده

Exalted are the beauties of his purpose;

nothing is hoped for from his birth celebration

إلا الشفاعة في غده

يوم القيامة في الزحام

but intercession on his morrow,

the Day of Resurrection, amid the throng.

يا رب ضاعف أجره

وأدم بفضلك نصره

O Lord, multiply his reward,

and, by Your grace, perpetuate his victory,

جودا وأكثر خيره

واجعله ركنا لا يضام

out of generosity, and increase his goodness,

and make him a pillar immune to harm.

وانظر لمن حضروا هنا

نظر القبول مع الغنى

And look upon those who have gathered here

with a gaze of acceptance and abundance.

وارحم بفضلك ضعفنا

واشف الجميع من السقام

And, by Your grace, have mercy on our weakness,

and heal everyone of illness.

وانصر خليفتنا على

أعدائه بين الملا

And grant our caliph victory over

his enemies before the assembly,

وأدم لنا فيه الولا

والمسلمين على الدوام

and perpetuate our loyalty to him,

and that of the Muslims, for all time.