سَلام حواشيه كدرٍّ منضد

سَلام حواشيه كدرٍّ منضد

يَروح إِلى قطرى لهاب وَيغتدي

يَروح إِلى قطرى لهاب وَيغتدي

A greeting whose fringes are like pearls strung in order,

A greeting, its fringes like pearls neatly arrayed,

journeying evening and morning to the two reaches of Lahāb—

Traveling evening and morning to both quarters of Lahab.

تحيَّة مجروح الفؤاد هدية

تحيَّة مجروح الفؤاد هدية

الى ابن سليمان بن راشد سيدي

الى ابن سليمان بن راشد سيدي

the greeting of a wounded heart, offered as a gift

A salutation from one wounded at heart, offered as a gift

to Ibn Sulaymān ibn Rāshid, my master.

To the son of Sulayman ibn Rashid, my master.

تخص خضم العحلو القطوف من

تخص خضم العحلو القطوف من

نى ثمرات الخير منبسط اليد

نى ثمرات الخير منبسط اليد

From me, it singles out the sea of bounty whose lofty gifts hang within easy reach—

It singles out an ocean [of knowledge?], with sweet harvests from

fruits of goodness, his hand spread open wide;

The [yield?] of the fruits of goodness, an open-handed man.

امام يحل المشكلات غوامضا

امام يحل المشكلات غوامضا

غَزير المَعاني فاتح كل مؤصد

غَزير المَعاني فاتح كل مؤصد

an imam who resolves perplexing problems, however obscure,

An imam who resolves obscure difficulties,

abundant in insight, opening every fast-barred door.

Rich in meanings, opening everything shut fast.

له حجج علمية في خفيها

له حجج علمية في خفيها

طَلائع نور السنة المتوقد

طَلائع نور السنة المتوقد

In the hidden depths of his learned proofs

In the hidden depths of his scholarly proofs lie

rise the first rays of the Sunna’s blazing light.

The first rays of the Sunnah's blazing light.

وَما هو الاسر شكل بَني الوَرى

وَما هو الاسر شكل بَني الوَرى

وَعروة عز الدين دين محمد

وَعروة عز الدين دين محمد

He is the fairest in form among all humankind,

And he is but the secret of mankind's form,

and the firm handhold of religion’s glory—the faith of Muḥammad.

And the bond of faith's glory—the faith of Muhammad.

له الطرق المثلى له الفضل وَالعلى

له الطرق المثلى له الفضل وَالعلى

له الشرف الاعلى به الناس تَهتَدي

له الشرف الاعلى به الناس تَهتَدي

His are the noblest ways; his are virtue and loftiness.

His are the finest ways; his are excellence and eminence.

His is the highest honor; through him the people are guided.

His is the highest honor; through him people find guidance.

مَتى تأنه تَعشو إِلى نار فضله

مَتى تأنه تَعشو إِلى نار فضله

تجد خير نار عندها خير موقد

تجد خير نار عندها خير موقد

Whenever you come to him, groping through dimness toward the fire of his bounty,

Whenever you come to him, seeking the fire of his bounty,

you find the finest fire, and beside it the finest kindler.

You find the finest fire, with the finest kindler beside it.

اليك عَفيف الدين حامل خدمة

اليك عَفيف الدين حامل خدمة

عَلى البعد من عَبد الرَحيم بن أَحمد

عَلى البعد من عَبد الرَحيم بن أَحمد

To you, O ʿAfīf al-Dīn, comes a bearer of humble service

To you, Afif al-Din, comes a bearer of homage,

from afar: ʿAbd al-Raḥīm ibn Aḥmad,

From afar, from Abd al-Rahim ibn Ahmad:

فَتى من بَني الاسدي وَفاك زائرا

فَتى من بَني الاسدي وَفاك زائرا

لتأسيس عهد لا لعهد مجدد

لتأسيس عهد لا لعهد مجدد

a young man of the Banū al-Asadī, who has come to you as a visitor

A youth from the family of al-Asadi has come to visit you,

to found a bond, not to renew one already made.

To establish a bond, not to renew one.

توسل بي قربا اليك لعله

توسل بي قربا اليك لعله

عليك احتسابا في القراءة يبتدى

عليك احتسابا في القراءة يبتدى

He sought my intercession to draw near to you, in hope

He sought my intercession to draw near to you, hoping

of beginning his studies under you, seeking God’s reward.

To begin reading under you, seeking divine reward.

فآنس غريبا لابليت بغربة

فآنس غريبا لابليت بغربة

وأسعده بالتَدريس يا خير مسعد

وأسعده بالتَدريس يا خير مسعد

So put a stranger at ease—may you never suffer exile—

So comfort a stranger—may you never suffer being far from home—

and further him through instruction, O best of helpers.

And help him through teaching, O best of helpers.

وَدمت منيع الدار وَالجار وَالحمى

وَدمت منيع الدار وَالجار وَالحمى

حَميد المَساعي فائض العارض الندي

حَميد المَساعي فائض العارض الندي

May you endure, keeping home, neighbor, and sanctuary secure,

And may you remain unassailable, with home, neighbor, and sanctuary secure,

praised in your endeavors, an overflowing, rain-laden cloud.

Praiseworthy in your endeavors, your dew-laden cloud overflowing.

وَطلت مَكانا في العلا وَمَكانة

وَطلت مَكانا في العلا وَمَكانة

كانك شمس في مَنازل أَسعد

كانك شمس في مَنازل أَسعد

Long may you abide, exalted in both place and station,

And may you rise high in station and standing,

as though a sun among the most auspicious mansions.

As though you were a sun in the mansions of good fortune.

وَحييت ما غنت مطوّقة الحمى

وَحييت ما غنت مطوّقة الحمى

عَلى عذبات الائل في شعب ثهمد

عَلى عذبات الائل في شعب ثهمد

And may you live as long as the collared dove of the preserve sings

And may you be greeted as long as the sanctuary's collared dove sings

upon the tender boughs of al-Ayl in Thahmad’s ravine.

On the tender boughs of [tamarisks?] in Thahmad's ravine.