دِمَنَ الأحَبَّةِ لَو عَصَيتِ العَاذِلا

دِمَنَ الأحَبَّةِ لَو عَصَيتِ العَاذِلا

لأَجَبتِ عَن ظَعنِ الخَلِيطِ السَّائِلا

لأَجَبتِ عَن ظَعنِ الخَلِيطِ السَّائِلا

O ruins of the beloved, had you defied the reproacher,

My beloveds, had you disobeyed the blamer

you would have answered the questioner about the companions' departure,

I would have answered the insults of the pouring slanderer

وبَرَّدتِ عَنه البَعضَ مِن حَرِّ الهَوَى

وبَرَّدتِ عَنه البَعضَ مِن حَرِّ الهَوَى

وكَفَفتِ عَنهُ وَسَاوِساً وبَلاَبِلا

وكَفَفتِ عَنهُ وَسَاوِساً وبَلاَبِلا

and cooled for him some of love's heat,

And cooled him somewhat from the heat of passion

and warded off his anxieties and troubles,

And restrained him from whisperings and confusions

وحَبَستِ في عَينَيهِ بَعضَ دُمُوعَهُ

وحَبَستِ في عَينَيهِ بَعضَ دُمُوعَهُ

وشَفَيتِ دَاءً في الجَوانِحِ دَاخِلا

وشَفَيتِ دَاءً في الجَوانِحِ دَاخِلا

and held some of his tears within his eyes,

And detained some of his tears in his eyes

and cured an illness lodged within his breast,

And healed an illness intrinsic in his essence

وأرَيتهِ مَلهَى الأحبَّةِ باللِّوَى

وأرَيتهِ مَلهَى الأحبَّةِ باللِّوَى

زَمنَ السُّرُورِ بِهِ ضُحىً وأصَائِلا

زَمنَ السُّرُورِ بِهِ ضُحىً وأصَائِلا

and shown him the beloved's place of play at al-Liwa,

And showed him the pleasures of lovemaking

in the time of joy there, in the forenoon and late afternoons.

In the days of joy, morning and evening

أيَّامَنَا بِلِوَى الطَّوِيلِ إِذِ الهَوَى

أيَّامَنَا بِلِوَى الطَّوِيلِ إِذِ الهَوَى

طَوعُ الصُّبَاةِ مَوَاثِقاً وَوَسَائِلا

طَوعُ الصُّبَاةِ مَوَاثِقاً وَوَسَائِلا

Our days at Liwa al-Tawil, when love

Our days in the embrace of intimacy, when passion

was at the lovers' command, in pledges and means;

Obeys the youths with pacts and paths

لا نَختَشِي تَشحَاجَ أبقَعَ بالنَّوَى

لا نَختَشِي تَشحَاجَ أبقَعَ بالنَّوَى

والوَصلُ عَذبٌ لا صُدُودَ ولاَ قِلَى

والوَصلُ عَذبٌ لا صُدُودَ ولاَ قِلَى

we feared no pied crow's cawing of separation,

We do not fear the jealousy of a frowning lover

and union was sweet, with neither aversion nor hatred.

And union is sweet without barriers or scarcity

نَلهُو عَلَى كُثبانِهِ بِخَرَائِد

نَلهُو عَلَى كُثبانِهِ بِخَرَائِد

رُودٍ تَاَطَّرُ في الرِّيَاطِ غوَافِلا

رُودٍ تَاَطَّرُ في الرِّيَاطِ غوَافِلا

We played upon its dunes with maidens,

We play on its dunes with the gazelles

supple, swaying in fine wraps, unheeding.

Of a grazing doe scattering in the meadows unmindful

ونَبِيتُ في العَرَصَاتِ نَكتُمُ سِرَّنَا

ونَبِيتُ في العَرَصَاتِ نَكتُمُ سِرَّنَا

نَخشَى العَوَاذِرَ أن تَكُونَ عَواذِلا

نَخشَى العَوَاذِرَ أن تَكُونَ عَواذِلا

We spent the nights in the courtyards, concealing our secret,

And we spend the night in the thickets concealing our secret

fearing those who excused us might become reproachers.

Fearing the chaste would be forbidding

ونَظَلُّ نَرقُبُ غَيبَةَ الرُّقَبَاءِ كَى

ونَظَلُّ نَرقُبُ غَيبَةَ الرُّقَبَاءِ كَى

نَصطَادَ بِيضاً كالظِّبَاءِ خَوَاذِلا

نَصطَادَ بِيضاً كالظِّبَاءِ خَوَاذِلا

And all day we watched for the watchers' absence, so that

And we lurk watching for the absence of the guardians

we might catch fair maidens like gazelles withdrawn from the herd.

That we may hunt eggs like partridges, deceived

نَمشِى على الكُثبَانِ بين خرائد

نَمشِى على الكُثبَانِ بين خرائد

بيض نواعم بالقلوب مَوَائِلا

بيض نواعم بالقلوب مَوَائِلا

We walked upon the dunes among maidens,

We walk on the dunes between gazelles

fair and tender, swaying hearts.

Of delicate, white, tender-hearted doves

مَا إِن بَعَثَن لِحَاظَهُنَّ لِمَرعَوٍ

مَا إِن بَعَثَن لِحَاظَهُنَّ لِمَرعَوٍ

إِلاَّ أصَبنَ بِهِنَّ مِنهُ مَقَاتِلا

إِلاَّ أصَبنَ بِهِنَّ مِنهُ مَقَاتِلا

No sooner did they cast their glances at a self-restrained man

No sooner did they release their gaze to pasture

than they struck his vital spots with them.

Than they got some of them as warriors

يَصطَدنَ كُلَّ مُدَجَّجٍ مُتَمَنِّعٍ

يَصطَدنَ كُلَّ مُدَجَّجٍ مُتَمَنِّعٍ

مهما نَصَبنَ دَلاَلَهُنَّ حَبَائِلا

مهما نَصَبنَ دَلاَلَهُنَّ حَبَائِلا

They capture every armored, resistant man

They hunt every armed and resistant prey

whenever they set their coy charm as snares.

No matter how much they deploy their ropes

وَتزِلُّ مِن أعلَى شَمَارِيخِ الذُّرَى

وَتزِلُّ مِن أعلَى شَمَارِيخِ الذُّرَى

نَغَمَاتُهُنَّ الأدفيب الصُّلُودَ العَاقِلا

نَغَمَاتُهُنَّ الأدفيب الصُّلُودَ العَاقِلا

And from the highest pinnacles of the peaks is dislodged

And their melodies spill from the top of the abodes

by their melodies the long-horned [uncertain reading], hard-hoofed mountain goat.

Intoxicated, modest, rational

وكَأنَّهُنَّ إِذَا رَنِينَ مِنَ المَهَا

وكَأنَّهُنَّ إِذَا رَنِينَ مِنَ المَهَا

عِينٌ مَطَافِلُ قَد أحَسنَ مُخَاتِلا

عِينٌ مَطَافِلُ قَد أحَسنَ مُخَاتِلا

And when they gaze, they seem, among the oryx,

And it is as if when they resonate from playfulness

wide-eyed mothers with young, practiced in ruses.

A roving eye has contended fairly

وَكَأنَّ أوجُهَهُنَّ أقمَارُ الدُّجَى

وَكَأنَّ أوجُهَهُنَّ أقمَارُ الدُّجَى

وكَأنَّ في ضَفَرَاتِهِنَّ لَيَائِلا

وكَأنَّ في ضَفَرَاتِهِنَّ لَيَائِلا

Their faces seem the moons of darkness,

And it is as if their faces are moons of nightfall

and in their braids there seem to be nights.

And as if their braids have flashes

وكَأنَّهُنَّ إذا ابتَسَمنَ بَوَارِقاً

وكَأنَّهُنَّ إذا ابتَسَمنَ بَوَارِقاً

بَل هُنَّ أحسَنُ طَلعَةً وأقَاوِلا

بَل هُنَّ أحسَنُ طَلعَةً وأقَاوِلا

When they smile, they seem lightning flashes;

And it is as if when they smile flashes of lightening

rather, they are lovelier in appearance and speech.

But they are more beautiful in rising and setting

وَكَأنَّ في أنيَابِهِنَّ عَلَى الكَرَى

وَكَأنَّ في أنيَابِهِنَّ عَلَى الكَرَى

عَسَلاً وفي نَكَهَاتِهِنَّ خَمَائِلا

عَسَلاً وفي نَكَهَاتِهِنَّ خَمَائِلا

It is as though their canine teeth, in slumber,

And it is as if their fangs against fate contain

held honey, and their breath held leafy groves.

Honey, and their tastes, spirits

وكَأنَّهُنَّ تَثَنِيًّا وتَمَايُلاً

وكَأنَّهُنَّ تَثَنِيًّا وتَمَايُلاً

بَانُ النّقَى مُتَثَنِياً مُتَمَائِلا

بَانُ النّقَى مُتَثَنِياً مُتَمَائِلا

In their bending and swaying, they seem

And it is as if they swaying and swaying

ban trees of the dune, bending and swaying.

The pure bend swaying, tilting

ولَهَا أنَابِيبٌ رِوىً ومَعَاصِمٌ

ولَهَا أنَابِيبٌ رِوىً ومَعَاصِمٌ

مَلاَت بِهِنَّ أسَاوِراً وخَلاَخِلا

مَلاَت بِهِنَّ أسَاوِراً وخَلاَخِلا

And she has full, rounded limbs and wrists,

And they have wrists, bending softly, and chastity belts

with which she fills bracelets and anklets.

Adorned with bracelets and anklets

وَإِذَا وَعَدنَ وَفِينَ لَكِنَّ الوَفَا

وَإِذَا وَعَدنَ وَفِينَ لَكِنَّ الوَفَا

عَدَمُ الوَفَاءِ فَقَد عُهِدنَ مَوَاطِلا

عَدَمُ الوَفَاءِ فَقَد عُهِدنَ مَوَاطِلا

And when they promise, they fulfill; yet fulfillment

And when they promise and fulfill, but loyalty

is nonfulfillment, for they are known as procrastinators.

Is seldom found, they are known to delay

وكَأنني لَمَّا مَرَرتُ بِدِمنَتَى

وكَأنني لَمَّا مَرَرتُ بِدِمنَتَى

ذَاتِ الرُّبَى نَقِفتُ حَنَاظِلا

ذَاتِ الرُّبَى نَقِفتُ حَنَاظِلا

It was as though, when I passed the two ruined camps of

And it is as if when I passed by my beloved

Dhat al-Ruba, I had cracked bitter colocynths.

Of shapely neck, I stopped enchanted

وكَأنَّ في قَلبي غَضاً مُتَضَرِّماً

وكَأنَّ في قَلبي غَضاً مُتَضَرِّماً

يغلي زَفِيرِي عَالِياً أو سَافِلا

يغلي زَفِيرِي عَالِياً أو سَافِلا

And as though blazing ghada wood lay within my heart,

And it is as if in my heart there is blazing rancor

making my sighs boil, whether rising or falling.

Seething my sighs loud or low

وَتَخَالُ لَو شَاهَدتَ جَريَ مَدَامِعِي

وَتَخَالُ لَو شَاهَدتَ جَريَ مَدَامِعِي

يَومَ الزَّيَالِ جَوارِياً وَسَوَائِلا

يَومَ الزَّيَالِ جَوارِياً وَسَوَائِلا

Had you seen the flowing of my tears, you would have thought

And you would imagine if you saw my tears flowing

them running streams on the day of parting.

One day of departure, maidens and crones

وَكَأَنَّ أَدمُعَ مُقلَتي مِن جَريِها

وَكَأَنَّ أَدمُعَ مُقلَتي مِن جَريِها

بَينَ الرُّبوعِ ذَوارِفاً وَسَوالِفا

بَينَ الرُّبوعِ ذَوارِفاً وَسَوالِفا

And it was as though the tears of my eye, flowing

And it is as if the tears of my eyelids in their flowing

between the camps, streaming and passing by,

Between the meadows, flowing and streaming

يمني الخَليفةِ والخَليلِ المُصطفي

يمني الخَليفةِ والخَليلِ المُصطفي

جَعَلَت تُفَرِّقُ أَينُقاً وَأَجامِلا

جَعَلَت تُفَرِّقُ أَينُقاً وَأَجامِلا

were the right hand of the khalifa and dear friend, al-Mustafa,

On the right of the Caliph and the chosen beloved

setting about distributing she-camels and camel herds,

They came to separate beauty and perfection

وَدَراهِماً وَقَناطِراً وَمَوائِداً

وَدَراهِماً وَقَناطِراً وَمَوائِداً

وَأَرائِكاً وَوَلائِداً وَحُلاحِلا

وَأَرائِكاً وَوَلائِداً وَحُلاحِلا

and dirhams, qintars of wealth, and dining tables,

And dirhams, and chains, and tables

and couches, slave girls, and great chiefs,

And couches, and coverings, and ornaments

وَجَوارِياً دُهماً قَواطِعَ لِلفَلا

وَجَوارِياً دُهماً قَواطِعَ لِلفَلا

تَشئُو الجَهامَةَ والأسكَّ جَوافِلا

تَشئُو الجَهامَةَ والأسكَّ جَوافِلا

and black coursing steeds that cross the wilderness,

And slender, firm slave-girls

outstripping the rainless cloud and the short-eared ostrich as they rush;

Who straighten resoluteness and submissiveness

وَنَوالَهُ المَأمولَ سَيلاً دافِقاًَ

وَنَوالَهُ المَأمولَ سَيلاً دافِقاًَ

بِتَلاعِ أَربابِ الحَوائِجِ سائِلا

بِتَلاعِ أَربابِ الحَوائِجِ سائِلا

and his hoped-for bounty a gushing torrent,

And his expected downpour, pouring

flowing through the gullies of those in need.

To the hopes of the seekers, requesting

يَا أَيُّها الشَّيخُ الجَلِيلُ المُصطفي

يَا أَيُّها الشَّيخُ الجَلِيلُ المُصطفي

لا زِلتَ في بُردِ الجَلالَةِ رَافِلا

لا زِلتَ في بُردِ الجَلالَةِ رَافِلا

O venerable shaykh al-Mustafa,

O eminent, majestic, chosen Sheikh

may you ever walk in majesty's flowing cloak.

You persist in the coldness of majesty, kind

أنتَ الذي تَهَبُ القُصَورَ وغَرسَهَا

أنتَ الذي تَهَبُ القُصَورَ وغَرسَهَا

وبِنَاءَهَا المُتَعَالِىَ المُتَطَاوِلا

وبِنَاءَهَا المُتَعَالِىَ المُتَطَاوِلا

You are the one who gives palaces and their plantings,

You who grants palaces and their cultivation

and their lofty, towering structures,

And their towering, lofty construction

والهَيكَلَ الطِّرفَ المُسَوَّمَ مُسرَجاً

والهَيكَلَ الطِّرفَ المُسَوَّمَ مُسرَجاً

والشَّد قَمِىِّ المُقسَئِنَّ البَازِلا

والشَّد قَمِىِّ المُقسَئِنَّ البَازِلا

and the large-framed, noble, marked steed, saddled,

And the perfumed, pure, thoroughbred horse

and the broad-jawed, sturdy, mature camel,

And the resolute, judicious archer

والغَادَةَ العَذ رَاءَ بَاهِرَةَ الحُلَى

والغَادَةَ العَذ رَاءَ بَاهِرَةَ الحُلَى

وَصَدَاقَهَا وتَكُونَ بَعدُ الكَافِلا

وَصَدَاقَهَا وتَكُونَ بَعدُ الكَافِلا

and the tender virgin, dazzling in her jewelry,

And the chaste, brilliant, beautifully adorned bride

and her bridal dower, and afterward you remain the provider.

And her dower, and you would later fulfill

عَوَّدتَ نَفسَكَ أَن تَمِيلَ مَعَ التُّقَى

عَوَّدتَ نَفسَكَ أَن تَمِيلَ مَعَ التُّقَى

أبَداً وأن تَهَبَ الجَزِيلَ السَّائِلا

أبَداً وأن تَهَبَ الجَزِيلَ السَّائِلا

You have accustomed yourself to side with piety

You have accustomed yourself to incline with piety

always, and to give the petitioner lavish gifts.

Always, and to bestow generously to the asker

وأمَرتَهَأ أن لاَ تَمَلَّ مِنَ العَطَا

وأمَرتَهَأ أن لاَ تَمَلَّ مِنَ العَطَا

حَتى تُمِلًّ هِبَاتُكَ المُتنَاوِلا

حَتى تُمِلًّ هِبَاتُكَ المُتنَاوِلا

And you commanded it never to tire of giving,

And you ordered it not to hesitate to bestow

until your gifts weary the recipient.

Until your donations make you hesitate

وَلَقَد وَهَبتَ عَلَى الخُطُوبِ مَوَاهِباً

وَلَقَد وَهَبتَ عَلَى الخُطُوبِ مَوَاهِباً

خَلَفَنَ عَنكَ مُجَارِياً ومُنَاضِلا

خَلَفَنَ عَنكَ مُجَارِياً ومُنَاضِلا

Indeed, in the face of calamities you have bestowed gifts

And indeed you have granted gifts over tribulations

that left every rival and contender behind on your behalf.

That flowed from you, struggling and contending

إني لأُرفُلُ في إِلاَكَ فَمِن إِلىً

إني لأُرفُلُ في إِلاَكَ فَمِن إِلىً

مُبثُوثَةٍ مِنهَا أمِيلُ ِإلَى إِلَى

مُبثُوثَةٍ مِنهَا أمِيلُ ِإلَى إِلَى

Indeed, I stride proudly in your favors; from one favor

I swagger in my dependence so guide me

strewn about among them, I turn to another favor.

To scattered dependencies which I lean to

شَيِّمٌ أتَتكَ مِنَ الخَدِيمِ سِجَالُهَا

شَيِّمٌ أتَتكَ مِنَ الخَدِيمِ سِجَالُهَا

فَغَدَوتَ فِيها لِلخَدِيمِ مُسَاجِلا

فَغَدَوتَ فِيها لِلخَدِيمِ مُسَاجِلا

Virtues whose brimming buckets came to you from al-Khadim:

A dispute came to you from the servant

and in them you came to rival al-Khadim, bucket for bucket.

So you became in it disputing the servant

إني أقُولُ لِمَن يُؤَمِّلُ حَاجَةً

إني أقُولُ لِمَن يُؤَمِّلُ حَاجَةً

أو مَن يُحَاذِرُ في الخُطُوبِ هوائلا

أو مَن يُحَاذِرُ في الخُطُوبِ هوائلا

I say to whoever hopes for a need to be met,

I say to whoever anticipates a need

or whoever fears terrors amid calamities:

Or who fears calamities in tribulations

أُمَّ الخَلِيفَةَ مِنهُ تُحظَ بِمُنتَهَى

أُمَّ الخَلِيفَةَ مِنهُ تُحظَ بِمُنتَهَى

مَا كُنتُ مِنهُ مُؤَمِلاً ومُحَاوِلا

مَا كُنتُ مِنهُ مُؤَمِلاً ومُحَاوِلا

Seek the khalifa; from him you will attain the utmost

Seek from him the utmost

of what I had hoped for and sought from him.

That I anticipated and contended

أُمَّ الفَتَى الجَوَّالَ في طُرُقِ العُلاَ

أُمَّ الفَتَى الجَوَّالَ في طُرُقِ العُلاَ

خَيرَ الرِّجَالِ جِبِلَّةً وفَعَائِلا

خَيرَ الرِّجَالِ جِبِلَّةً وفَعَائِلا

Seek the young man ranging through the paths of excellence,

The mother of the wandering youth in the paths of ascension

the best of men in nature and deeds,

The best of men in nature and ancestry

العَالِمَ الجَمَّ الخِصَالِ المُرتَضَى

العَالِمَ الجَمَّ الخِصَالِ المُرتَضَى

والتَّابِعَ السَّنَنَ القَوِيمَ العَامِلا

والتَّابِعَ السَّنَنَ القَوِيمَ العَامِلا

the esteemed scholar, abundant in virtues,

The erudite scholar of perfect traits, the content

who follows the upright path and acts upon it,

And the follower of the straight methodology, the practitioner

والسِّيدَ الأَعلَى هُدًى وهِدَايَةً

والسِّيدَ الأَعلَى هُدًى وهِدَايَةً

والأورَعَ الأتقَى الوَلِىَّ الكَامِلا

والأورَعَ الأتقَى الوَلِىَّ الكَامِلا

the master highest in guidance and in guiding,

And the highest chief of guidance and direction

the most scrupulous, most devout, the perfect saint,

And the most pious and complete guardian

والمُغني الفُقَراءَ مِن نَفحَاتِه

والمُغني الفُقَراءَ مِن نَفحَاتِه

والمُولِىَ الضُّعَفَاءَ رِفقاً شَامِلا

والمُولِىَ الضُّعَفَاءَ رِفقاً شَامِلا

who enriches the poor through his gifts,

The enricher of the poor with his breaths

who grants the weak all-embracing kindness,

And the aider of the weak gently, inclusively

والغَاسِلَ الرَّينَ المُرِبَّ عَلَى النُّهَى

والغَاسِلَ الرَّينَ المُرِبَّ عَلَى النُّهَى

والكَاسِىَ العِلمَ الغَزِيرَ الجَاهِلا

والكَاسِىَ العِلمَ الغَزِيرَ الجَاهِلا

who washes away the rust that clings to minds,

The washer of filth, cultivated in prohibition

who clothes the ignorant in abundant knowledge,

And the clother of abundant knowledge to the ignorant

والمُهدِىَ الغَاوي بِجِذوَةِ سِرِّهِ

والمُهدِىَ الغَاوي بِجِذوَةِ سِرِّهِ

وبِجَذبِهِ لِلحَضرَةِ المُتَكَاسِلا

وبِجَذبِهِ لِلحَضرَةِ المُتَكَاسِلا

who guides the straying with the ember of his secret,

The guider of the misguided with his secret's spark

and by his attraction brings the sluggish into the Presence,

And his pull to the Presence, the lazy

والحَامِلَ بالكَلَّ الذي يُعيِى الوَرَى

والحَامِلَ بالكَلَّ الذي يُعيِى الوَرَى

والظَّاهِرَ الرُّتبَ العَزِيزَ الخَامِلا

والظَّاهِرَ الرُّتبَ العَزِيزَ الخَامِلا

who bears the burden that exhausts mankind,

The carrier of the whole which fatigues humanity

and whose rank is manifest, honored yet obscure,

And the prominent, mighty, universal

والبَاذِلَ العِلقَ النَّفِيسَ سَمَاحَةً

والبَاذِلَ العِلقَ النَّفِيسَ سَمَاحَةً

والحَاكِمَ النَّدُسَ اللَّبِيبَ العَاقِلا

والحَاكِمَ النَّدُسَ اللَّبِيبَ العَاقِلا

who freely gives the precious treasure,

The giver of the precious solution, generously

the discerning judge, perceptive and wise,

And the just, intelligent, reasonable ruler

والمُدني السني مِن جَنَباتِهِ

والمُدني السني مِن جَنَباتِهِ

وَالمُنئى البِدَعَ المُمِيتَ البَاطِلا

وَالمُنئى البِدَعَ المُمِيتَ البَاطِلا

who draws the Sunni close to his side,

The advocate of the Sunnah from his sides

and banishes religious innovations, putting falsehood to death;

And the denier of destructive, false innovation

نَدباً تَفَقًّه في التَّصَوُّفِ يَافِعاً

نَدباً تَفَقًّه في التَّصَوُّفِ يَافِعاً

ودَرى العُلُومَ مسَائِلاً فَمَسَائِلا

ودَرى العُلُومَ مسَائِلاً فَمَسَائِلا

a noble man who gained deep understanding of Sufism while still young,

A youth who studied Sufism deeply

and learned the sciences, question after question.

And learned the sciences, issue after issue

يُصغِى لاِنشَادِ القَرِيضِ بِسَمعِهِ

يُصغِى لاِنشَادِ القَرِيضِ بِسَمعِهِ

حَتًّى يُظَنُّ بِحِفظِهِ مُتَشَاغِلا

حَتًّى يُظَنُّ بِحِفظِهِ مُتَشَاغِلا

He lends his ear to the recitation of verse,

He listens to poetry recital with his hearing

until one thinks him absorbed in memorizing it.

Until you would think him preoccupied with memorization

ولِقَلبِهِ في كُلِّ مَعنًى جَولَةٌ

ولِقَلبِهِ في كُلِّ مَعنًى جَولَةٌ

فَتَرَاهُ مِن معنًى جَائِلا

فَتَرَاهُ مِن معنًى جَائِلا

And his heart journeys through every meaning,

And his heart has an excursion in every meaning

so you see him roaming away from a meaning.

So you see him leaning from one meaning to another

وَيَشُنُّ فِيمَا قَد حَوَاهُ إغَارَةً

وَيَشُنُّ فِيمَا قَد حَوَاهُ إغَارَةً

فَتَظنُّهُ لَولاَ الجَلاَلَةُ هَازِلا

فَتَظنُّهُ لَولاَ الجَلاَلَةُ هَازِلا

He launches a raid upon what he has grasped,

And he assaults what he has contained jealously

so that, but for his majesty, you would think him jesting.

So you would think him, were it not for his majesty, jesting

إِنَّ الفَضَائِلَ إِن أتَينَ جَنَابَهُ

إِنَّ الفَضَائِلَ إِن أتَينَ جَنَابَهُ

تَكُنِ المُنَى وَجهُنَّ عنهُ جَدَاوِلا

تَكُنِ المُنَى وَجهُنَّ عنهُ جَدَاوِلا

Indeed, if virtues come to his threshold,

Indeed, if virtues come to him

wishes become their destination, as they stream from him.

They would reach wishes, and turn away streams from him

والقَائِلَ المَعرُوفَ في أندَائِهِ

والقَائِلَ المَعرُوفَ في أندَائِهِ

والفَاعِلَ الخَيرَ المُعِينَ الفَاعِلا

والفَاعِلَ الخَيرَ المُعِينَ الفَاعِلا

He speaks what is good in his assemblies,

The sayer of good in his groanings

does good, and aids those who do it.

And the doer of good, the benefactor, the doer

ألحَقتَ أفقَرَنَا نَدىً بِغَنِيِّنَا

ألحَقتَ أفقَرَنَا نَدىً بِغَنِيِّنَا

وَجَعلَت كالبَرَمِ السَّخِىَّ الباذِلا

وَجَعلَت كالبَرَمِ السَّخِىَّ الباذِلا

You have made our poorest in generosity equal to our richest,

You joined our poverty with our wealth

and made the generous giver like a miser.

And made the generous pouring one similar

وبِمَادِرٍ ألحَقتَ حَاتِمَ طَىٍّ

وبِمَادِرٍ ألحَقتَ حَاتِمَ طَىٍّ

وتَركتَ قُسًّا في البَلاَغَةِ بَاقِلا

وتَركتَ قُسًّا في البَلاَغَةِ بَاقِلا

And you have ranked Hatim of Tayy with Madir,

And with the spontaneous you joined Hatim

and left Quss, in eloquence, a Baqil.

And left everyday speakers in eloquence scant

حَلَّى جُمَانُ مَنَاقِبٍ لَكَ رُصِّعَت

حَلَّى جُمَانُ مَنَاقِبٍ لَكَ رُصِّعَت

بِمَنَاقِبٍ جِيدَ الزَّمَانِ العَاطِلا

بِمَنَاقِبٍ جِيدَ الزَّمَانِ العَاطِلا

Pearls of your virtues, studded

The epochs of time have been adorned for you with traits

with virtues, have adorned Time's bare neck.

With traits dispelling the barren era