أَلا هَل لِعَهدِ العامِريَّةِ جاحِدُ

أَلا هَل لِعَهدِ العامِريَّةِ جاحِدُ

وَعِندي مِن صدق المَوَدَّةِ شاهِدُ

وَعِندي مِن صدق المَوَدَّةِ شاهِدُ

Ah, does anyone deny the covenant with al-ʿAmiriyya?

Is there no denier of the prosperous days of intimacy?

And I have a witness to the sincerity of my love.

Yet I have a witness to the sincerity of affection.

حُكي لَكِ عَنّي أَنَّني لَكِ مُبغِضٌ

حُكي لَكِ عَنّي أَنَّني لَكِ مُبغِضٌ

فَلا تَسمَعي ما قالَ فيَّ حَواسِدي

فَلا تَسمَعي ما قالَ فيَّ حَواسِدي

You were told of me that I hate you.

You were told that I hate you,

So do not listen to what my enviers said about me.

So do not listen to what my envious enemies say about me.

فَواللَهِ ما الأَعراض عَنكِ مَلالة

فَواللَهِ ما الأَعراض عَنكِ مَلالة

أَأَسطيعُ إِعراضاً وَشوقيَ زائِدُ

أَأَسطيعُ إِعراضاً وَشوقيَ زائِدُ

For, by God, turning away from you is not from weariness.

By God, turning away from you is not out of boredom,

Can I turn away while my longing grows?

How can I turn away when my passion is increasing?

وَلَكِن حِذاراً مِن وُشاةٍ عيونهم

وَلَكِن حِذاراً مِن وُشاةٍ عيونهم

عَلَينا وَإِن أَبدَت هُجوداً رَواصِدُ

عَلَينا وَإِن أَبدَت هُجوداً رَواصِدُ

But it is for fear of talebearers, whose eyes

But beware of the slanderers whose eyes

keep watch on us, even when they seem asleep.

Watch over us even if they show affection hypocritically.

أَناديكِ مِن شَوقٍ إِلَيكَ وَصبوة

أَناديكِ مِن شَوقٍ إِلَيكَ وَصبوة

وَما بَينَ دارينا مَدىً مُتباعِدُ

وَما بَينَ دارينا مَدىً مُتباعِدُ

I call to you from longing for you and passion,

I call out to you out of longing and infatuation,

and no great distance separates our two homes.

Though our homes are separated by great distances.

وَكَم سرت في طُرقِ السلو فَلَم أَجِد

وَكَم سرت في طُرقِ السلو فَلَم أَجِد

سَبيلاً وَضاقَت في هَواكِ المَقاصِدِ

سَبيلاً وَضاقَت في هَواكِ المَقاصِدِ

And how often I traveled the paths of forgetting, yet found no

How often I walked the paths of night, but could not find

way, and in loving you the avenues grew narrow.

A way as the means to reach you narrowed.

وَكَم طلبت عَينايَ في الناس ماجِداً

وَكَم طلبت عَينايَ في الناس ماجِداً

كَريماً فَناداني النَدى لَيسَ ماجِدُ

كَريماً فَناداني النَدى لَيسَ ماجِدُ

And how often my eyes sought among people a noble man,

How often my eyes sought in people a glorious and generous one,

generous; then Generosity called to me: “None is noble

But the call replied that none is glorious except

سِوى من عَليه الحمد وَقفٌ وَعِندَهُ

سِوى من عَليه الحمد وَقفٌ وَعِندَهُ

بلوغ المُنى إِن جاءَ يَرجوهُ قاصِدُ

بلوغ المُنى إِن جاءَ يَرجوهُ قاصِدُ

except him for whom praise is reserved, and with whom

The One praised and worshipped, the One who

wishes are fulfilled if a seeker comes hoping in him.”

Can attain wishes if a seeker comes desiring Him.

أَبا الفَضل عَبدُ اللَهِ بن مُحَمَدٍ

أَبا الفَضل عَبدُ اللَهِ بن مُحَمَدٍ

عَلى وَجهِهِ للمكرمات شَواهِدُ

عَلى وَجهِهِ للمكرمات شَواهِدُ

O Abu al-Fadl, ʿAbd Allah ibn Muhammad,

Abu al-Fadl, Abd Allah ibn Muhammad,

upon his face are signs of noble deeds.

Upon his face are witnesses to his generosity.

لَهُ مِن سَماءِ الفَخرِ مِن طيب أَصلِهِ

لَهُ مِن سَماءِ الفَخرِ مِن طيب أَصلِهِ

وَإِحسانِهِ في المعتفين مُشاهِدُ

وَإِحسانِهِ في المعتفين مُشاهِدُ

He has, from the heaven of glory, through his noble lineage

From the heaven of nobility, he has the perfume of his origin

and his kindness toward petitioners, visible signs.

And his kindness to the needy is manifest.

كَريم عَلى أَبوابِهِ النُجح ثابِت

كَريم عَلى أَبوابِهِ النُجح ثابِت

إِذا مَرَّ عَنها وافد جاءَ وافِدُ

إِذا مَرَّ عَنها وافد جاءَ وافِدُ

A generous man, at whose gates success stands firm;

At his doors success remains constant,

when one visitor departs from them, another arrives.

If a newcomer passes by, he returns as a regular.

وَما خَيَّبَ الدهر الخؤون لِطالِبٍ

وَما خَيَّبَ الدهر الخؤون لِطالِبٍ

وَلاذَ بِها إِلّا أَتَتهُ الفَوائِدُ

وَلاذَ بِها إِلّا أَتَتهُ الفَوائِدُ

And no seeker disappointed by treacherous Time

Fate never disappointed the hopes of a seeker

has sought refuge there without benefits coming to him.

Who sought refuge in it, except favours came to him.

عَلَيها ازدِحام لِلعفاة وَحَولها

عَلَيها ازدِحام لِلعفاة وَحَولها

عَلى كُلِّ فِترٍ للعُفاةِ مَوارِدُ

عَلى كُلِّ فِترٍ للعُفاةِ مَوارِدُ

At them petitioners crowd, and around them

To it the destitute throng, and around it

at every span lie watering places for petitioners.

For every layabout, means arrive.

لَئِن نامَ عَن جَدوى أَبي الفَضلِ طالِب

لَئِن نامَ عَن جَدوى أَبي الفَضلِ طالِب

فَما جودِهِ عَن ما يُحاوِلُ راقِدُ

فَما جودِهِ عَن ما يُحاوِلُ راقِدُ

Even if a seeker sleeps, heedless of Abu al-Fadl's bounty,

If the seeker of Abu al-Fadl's bounty sleeps,

his generosity is not asleep to what the seeker pursues.

His munificence does not sleep from pursuing its goals.

أَعادَ عَلى حَمدِ الأَنامِ فَخاره

أَعادَ عَلى حَمدِ الأَنامِ فَخاره

فَظَلَّ لَهُ مِن سائِرِ الناس حاسِدُ

فَظَلَّ لَهُ مِن سائِرِ الناس حاسِدُ

He renewed his glory through mankind's praise,

He restored the pride of people's praise,

so among the rest of mankind there remained an envier of him.

So he remains envied by all people.

مَواهِبه في الناس لَم يَبقَ غيرها

مَواهِبه في الناس لَم يَبقَ غيرها

لعودَةِ ممتاحٍ طَريفٌ وَتالِدُ

لعودَةِ ممتاحٍ طَريفٌ وَتالِدُ

His gifts among people—no other wealth remains,

His gifts to people, none remain but them

newly acquired or inherited, for a water-drawer's return.

For the return of a gentle and constant bestowal.

تَكادُ تُناجيهِ بِأَعذَبِ مَنطِقٍ

تَكادُ تُناجيهِ بِأَعذَبِ مَنطِقٍ

عَلى الخَلقِ مِن حُسنِ الفِعالِ المَحامِدُ

عَلى الخَلقِ مِن حُسنِ الفِعالِ المَحامِدُ

Praises almost whisper to him in speech most sweet

They almost speak to him in the gentlest speech

to mankind, springing from the beauty of his deeds.

Above all people for the beauty of righteous deeds.

وَمن لَم يَكُن يُعطي الخُلود فَإِنَّهُ

وَمن لَم يَكُن يُعطي الخُلود فَإِنَّهُ

بِحَمدِ الوَرى في الدَهرِ لَو ماتَ خالِدُ

بِحَمدِ الوَرى في الدَهرِ لَو ماتَ خالِدُ

And he who does not bestow immortality is nevertheless

Whoever does not live forever, by people's praise,

immortal through mankind's praise for all time, even if he dies.

If he dies, remains immortal.

عَوائِدُهُ أَلّا يُخَيِّبَ سائِلاً

عَوائِدُهُ أَلّا يُخَيِّبَ سائِلاً

فَيا حَبَّذا في الناس هَذي العَوائِدُ

فَيا حَبَّذا في الناس هَذي العَوائِدُ

He is accustomed never to disappoint a petitioner.

His habit is not to disappoint any asker,

Ah, how admirable among mankind are these habits!

So excellent among people are these habits!

أَبا الفَضل إِنَّ الشِعرَ عِندَكَ نافِقٌ

أَبا الفَضل إِنَّ الشِعرَ عِندَكَ نافِقٌ

وَعِندَ الَّذي سامى عُلوك كاسِدُ

وَعِندَ الَّذي سامى عُلوك كاسِدُ

O Abu al-Fadl, poetry sells readily with you,

Abu al-Fadl, with you poetry is hypocritical,

but with him who vied with your eminence, it goes unsold.

And with the one lofty through your ascent, it is futile.

إِذا ضَلَّتِ القُصّاد عَن حَوض ماجِدٍ

إِذا ضَلَّتِ القُصّاد عَن حَوض ماجِدٍ

يَكونُ لَها مِن مكرماتك راشِدُ

يَكونُ لَها مِن مكرماتك راشِدُ

When petitioners lose their way to a noble man's pool,

If the archers miss the basin of the generous one,

they find a guide among your noble deeds.

Yours will guide them with favours.

وَإِن عَدَلَ المَحرومُ عَنكَ فَإِنَّهُ

وَإِن عَدَلَ المَحرومُ عَنكَ فَإِنَّهُ

إِذا خافَ الإِقبال نَحوَكَ عائِدُ

إِذا خافَ الإِقبال نَحوَكَ عائِدُ

And if a deprived man turns away from you, he

If the deprived turns away from you,

returns toward you when he fears what is coming.

When fearing to approach, he returns to you.

أَرى الغيث مَفقوداً مِنَ الدَهرِ بُرهَةً

أَرى الغيث مَفقوداً مِنَ الدَهرِ بُرهَةً

وجودك باقٍ ماله الدَهر فاقِدُ

وجودك باقٍ ماله الدَهر فاقِدُ

I see rain absent for a stretch of time,

I see rain missing from fate for a while,

and your generosity endures; Time is never deprived of it.

While your bounty remains, unvanquished by fate.

يَزيدُ عَلى فَيضِ البِحارِ انسِكابِهِ

يَزيدُ عَلى فَيضِ البِحارِ انسِكابِهِ

وَعِدَّتُها سَبعٌ وَأَنتَ فَواحِدُ

وَعِدَّتُها سَبعٌ وَأَنتَ فَواحِدُ

Its outpouring exceeds the overflow of the seas,

Your outpouring surpasses the torrents of seas,

and they number seven, while you are but one.

Though they are seven and you are but one.

وَلَولاكَ ماتَ الجود يا بن مُحَمَّدٍ

وَلَولاكَ ماتَ الجود يا بن مُحَمَّدٍ

فَأَنتَ لَهُ دونَ البَريَّةِ والِدُ

فَأَنتَ لَهُ دونَ البَريَّةِ والِدُ

But for you, generosity would have died, O son of Muhammad;

Were it not for you, O son of Muhammad,

for you alone, among creation, are its father.

Generosity would have died, and you are its parent.

ترفعت عَن مَدح الأَنامِ جَلالَةً

ترفعت عَن مَدح الأَنامِ جَلالَةً

فَسادَ بِنَشرِ الحَمدِ عَنكَ القَصائِدُ

فَسادَ بِنَشرِ الحَمدِ عَنكَ القَصائِدُ

In majesty you rose above the praise of mankind,

You rose above praising people out of majesty,

so odes gained eminence by spreading praise of you.

So poems spread your praise far and wide.

فَنجمك في بُرجِ السَعادَةِ بالِغٍ

فَنجمك في بُرجِ السَعادَةِ بالِغٍ

وَمَجدك في أَعلى المَنازِلِ صاعِدُ

وَمَجدك في أَعلى المَنازِلِ صاعِدُ

So your star has reached the zodiacal mansion of good fortune,

Your star in the mansion of fortune is ascendant,

and your glory rises in the loftiest stations.

And your glory rising to the highest place.

نُفوس العِدى تَهواكَ يا ابن مُحَمَدٍ

نُفوس العِدى تَهواكَ يا ابن مُحَمَدٍ

فَما لَكَ في إِحسانَ كَفِّكَ حاسِدُ

فَما لَكَ في إِحسانَ كَفِّكَ حاسِدُ

The souls of foes love you, O son of Muhammad,

The souls of enemies desire you, O son of Muhammad,

so none envies you for the bounty of your hand.

So what envier do you have in kindness from your palm?

إِذا رُمتُ أَن أَثني عَلَيكَ بِصالِحٍ

إِذا رُمتُ أَن أَثني عَلَيكَ بِصالِحٍ

فَماليَ في خَلقِ الإِلَهِ مُعانِدُ

فَماليَ في خَلقِ الإِلَهِ مُعانِدُ

If I seek to speak well of you,

If I try praising you for good,

then none in God's creation opposes me.

What opponent do I have among God's creation?

وَإِن رمت أَن أَثني عَلَيكَ بِغَيرِهِ

وَإِن رمت أَن أَثني عَلَيكَ بِغَيرِهِ

فَماليَ في كُلِّ الأَنامِ مُساعِدُ

فَماليَ في كُلِّ الأَنامِ مُساعِدُ

And if I seek to speak of you otherwise,

And if I try praising you for other than Him,

then none among all mankind helps me.

What helper do I have among all people?

فَدَم سالِماً يا ابن المَنيع مُجدداً

فَدَم سالِماً يا ابن المَنيع مُجدداً

فَلا طرقتك الحادِثات الشَدائِدُ

فَلا طرقتك الحادِثات الشَدائِدُ

So remain safe, O son of al-Maniʿ, ever renewed,

So stay safe, O son of the mighty, renewing

and may grievous calamities never visit you.

Glory, untouched by calamities.