1. يا مالكاً لا عن وراثة شامخٍ

    بجدوده حين الجدودُ فخارُ

    O ruler, not by inheritance from one proud

    of his forefathers, when forefathers are a source of glory,

  2. بل عن محبة شعبة وخياره

    والشعبُ حُقَّ له الذي يَختارُ

    but through his people's love and their choice;

    and the people are entitled to the one they choose.

  3. الملك مُلك الشعبِ حين زعيمهُ

    ملكٌ هو المأثورُ لا الجبار

    Kingship belongs to the people when their leader

    is a celebrated king, not a tyrant.

  4. مُتوِّهجٌ بدم الكفاح وإن يكن

    سلماً وفي سَلمِ الكفاحِ النار

    Aglow with the blood of struggle, though it may be

    peaceful—and in peaceful struggle there is fire.

  5. قالوا ألا تَصفُ المليكَ فقلت بل

    وصفَ المليك سلوُكه القَّهارُ

    They said, “Will you not describe the king?” I said, “Rather,

    his all-conquering conduct has described the king.”

  6. هو واحدٌ من شعبه لم يغترر

    يوماً ولا مجدٌ لديه مُعارُ

    He is one of his people; he has never grown conceited

    for a day, nor is any glory he possesses borrowed.

  7. يحنو عليه فيستجيبُ لعطفه

    ما فيه أضداد ولا أنصارُ

    He is tender toward them, and they respond to his kindness;

    among them there are neither opponents nor partisans.

  8. بل كلُّهُ يومَ الكريهةِ شُعلة

    وجميعه يومَ السلام الغارُ

    Rather, all of them are a flame on the day of battle,

    and on the day of peace, they are all laurel.

  9. إن كان ماضيه الحضارة والعلى

    فإلى غدٍ له تَشخصُ الأبصارُ

    If their past was civilization and lofty glory,

    then eyes gaze toward a tomorrow of their own.

  10. شبل الألى عمَّت حضارتُهم هدىً

    أمماً ولم يمسسُ علاها العار

    Lion-cub of those whose civilization spread guidance

    among nations—and shame never touched its lofty glory.

  11. سطعت بأندلسَ العظيمةِ حُرةً

    ومضت وظلَّ عبيدَها الأحرارُ

    It shone, free, in great Andalusia,

    and passed away, while free men remained its slaves,

  12. يستلهمون جمالها وشعارَها

    إن أَعوز المستلهمين شعارُ

    drawing inspiration from its beauty and its motto

    if those seeking inspiration lack a motto.

  13. أمحمدٌ ما كنتَ خامس عاهلٍ يقظٍ

    يَهابُ جلاله الفجَّارُ

    O Muhammad, you were no mere fifth vigilant sovereign

    whose majesty the wicked fear.

  14. يا رائداً للمكرمات وحَكمهُ

    سِيرَ البطولةِ حولها الإعصار

    O pioneer of noble deeds, whose reign is

    chronicles of heroism, with the whirlwind all around them.

  15. ماذا اقدِّمُ يومَ عيدِك من حُلىً

    وَحلاَكَ زاهيةٌ بها الآثارُ

    What adornments shall I offer on your festival day,

    when the monuments shine with your adornments?

  16. ليس التمسُّح في الملوك سجيتي

    إن صاحَ خلفهمو العفاةُ وساروا

    Fawning on kings is not my nature,

    even if seekers of bounty shout behind them and follow.

  17. بل للمبادئ وحدَها أزجى لها

    ما ترتضي الأحلامُ والأشعارُ

    Rather, to principles alone I offer

    what dreams and poems approve.

  18. عش مَضربَ الأمثالِ للأُمم التي

    عانت ودوَّخَ حظَّها الأشرارُ

    Live as a proverbial model for the nations that

    have suffered, and whose fortunes the wicked have made reel.

  19. يا رُبَّ فردٍ قد يُضِّيعُ أمةً

    سواه تَعمرُ حوَله الأعمارُ

    Oh, many a person may ruin a nation;

    around another, lifetimes flourish.