نَهْجُ الثّناءِ إِلى ناديكَ مُخْتَصَرٌ

نَهْجُ الثّناءِ إِلى ناديكَ مُخْتَصَرٌ

لوْ أدْرَكَتْ وَصْفَكَ الأوْهامُ والفِكَرُ

لوْ أدْرَكَتْ وَصْفَكَ الأوْهامُ والفِكَرُ

The path of praise to your court would be short,

The path of praise to your club is brief,

if fancy and thought could grasp your qualities.

If imaginings and thought could grasp your description.

ماذا يَقولُ لكَ المُثني وقد نزَلَتْ

ماذا يَقولُ لكَ المُثني وقد نزَلَتْ

على ابنِ عمّكَ في تَقْريظِكَ السُّوَرُ

على ابنِ عمّكَ في تَقْريظِكَ السُّوَرُ

What can a praiser say to you, when

What does the praiser say to you when

the surahs were revealed to your cousin in praise of you?

The chapters have descended upon your cousin in your eulogy?

فُتَّ المَدائِحَ حتى قالَ أفْصَحُنا

فُتَّ المَدائِحَ حتى قالَ أفْصَحُنا

إنّ البَلاغَةَ في تَحْبيرِها حَصَرُ

إنّ البَلاغَةَ في تَحْبيرِها حَصَرُ

You surpassed all praises, until our most eloquent said:

The eulogies were eloquent until the most eloquent of us said,

Indeed, eloquence is tongue-tied in embellishing them.

“Eloquence in its embroidery is confined.”

ما ضَرَّ مَنْ كانَ عَبْدُ اللهِ والِدَهُ

ما ضَرَّ مَنْ كانَ عَبْدُ اللهِ والِدَهُ

إن لم يكنْ أبَويْهِ الشّمسُ والقَمَرُ

إن لم يكنْ أبَويْهِ الشّمسُ والقَمَرُ

No harm befalls one whose father was Abd Allah,

It did not harm one whose father was Abdullah,

if the sun and moon were not his parents.

If his parents were not the sun and the moon.

يا خَيْرَ مَنْ بُشِّرَتْ بعدَ النّبيِّ بهِ

يا خَيْرَ مَنْ بُشِّرَتْ بعدَ النّبيِّ بهِ

عَدْنانُ وادّرَعَتْ عِزّاً بهِ مُضَرُ

عَدْنانُ وادّرَعَتْ عِزّاً بهِ مُضَرُ

O best of those of whom, after the Prophet, glad tidings were given to

O best of those given good news after the Prophet,

Adnan, and through whom Mudar donned the armor of glory!

‘Adnan was gladdened and Muḍar was honoured by him.

أحْيا بكَ اللهُ ما كانتْ تُدِلُّ بهِ

أحْيا بكَ اللهُ ما كانتْ تُدِلُّ بهِ

عُليا قُرَيْشٍ ومِنها السادَةُ الغُرَرُ

عُليا قُرَيْشٍ ومِنها السادَةُ الغُرَرُ

Through you God revived that in which

Through you Allah revived what used to indicate to

the noblest of Quraysh once took pride, among them the illustrious lords.

The nobility of Quraysh, and its excellent chiefs.

لكَ الوَقارُ منَ الصِّدّيقِ تَكْنُفُهُ

لكَ الوَقارُ منَ الصِّدّيقِ تَكْنُفُهُ

مَهابَةٌ كان مَحْبُوّاً بِها عُمَرُ

مَهابَةٌ كان مَحْبُوّاً بِها عُمَرُ

Yours is dignity from al-Siddiq, encompassed by

You have gravity from the Truthful surrounding you,

the awe-inspiring majesty with which Umar was endowed;

Awe with which ‘Umar was loved.

وجُودُ عُثمانَ والآفاقُ شاحِبَةٌ

وجُودُ عُثمانَ والآفاقُ شاحِبَةٌ

ونَجْدَةٌ منْ عليٍّ والقَنا كِسَرُ

ونَجْدَةٌ منْ عليٍّ والقَنا كِسَرُ

and Uthman's generosity, while the horizons are pale,

The generosity of ‘Uthmān and horizons downcast,

and valor from Ali, while the spears lie in fragments;

And the aid of ‘Ali when the spears were broken.

وعِلْمُ جَدِّكَ عبدِ اللهِ شِيبَ بهِ

وعِلْمُ جَدِّكَ عبدِ اللهِ شِيبَ بهِ

دهاؤُهُ حينَ أعْيى الوارِدَ الصّدَرُ

دهاؤُهُ حينَ أعْيى الوارِدَ الصّدَرُ

and your forefather Abd Allah's knowledge, with which was blended

And the knowledge of your grandfather Abdullah, with which

his shrewdness when departure baffled the one who had arrived;

His shrewdness grew white when the visitor's heart grew weary.

وهِمّةٌ منْ أبي الأملاكِ طُلْتَ بِها

وهِمّةٌ منْ أبي الأملاكِ طُلْتَ بِها

باعاً وقَصّرَ عنها الأنْجُمُ الزُّهُرُ

باعاً وقَصّرَ عنها الأنْجُمُ الزُّهُرُ

and ambition from Abu al-Amlak, through which you excelled

And the ambition from Abul-Milaak you aspired with,

in reach, while the radiant stars fell short of it;

Selling and the stars fell short of it dazzled.

وهَيْبَةُ الكامِلِ الموفي على أمَدٍ

وهَيْبَةُ الكامِلِ الموفي على أمَدٍ

ما مَدّ طَرْفاً إِلى أدناهُ مفْتَخِرُ

ما مَدّ طَرْفاً إِلى أدناهُ مفْتَخِرُ

and the majesty of al-Kamil, who attained a goal

And the awe of the faithful perfecter lasting

toward whose nearest point no boaster ever directed his gaze;

As long as an arrogant glance did not extend to its lowness.

وفيكَ منْ شيَمِ المَنصورِ سَطْوَتُهُ

وفيكَ منْ شيَمِ المَنصورِ سَطْوَتُهُ

والبيضُ تَلْمَعُ والهَيْجاءُ تَسْتَعِرُ

والبيضُ تَلْمَعُ والهَيْجاءُ تَسْتَعِرُ

and in you, among al-Mansur's traits, is his might,

And in you there is al-Mansur’s domination,

while white blades flash and battle blazes;

The whites gleaming and the blades aflame.

ومَكْرُماتٌ منَ المَهْديّ تَنْشُرُها

ومَكْرُماتٌ منَ المَهْديّ تَنْشُرُها

وأيَّ هَدْيٍ إِلى العَلياءِ تَفْتَقِرُ

وأيَّ هَدْيٍ إِلى العَلياءِ تَفْتَقِرُ

and noble deeds from al-Mahdi that you spread abroad;

And the gifts of al-Mahdi that you spread about,

and what guidance toward the heights do you lack?

And what guidance to the lofty you lack.

وللرّشيدِ سَجايا منكَ نُعْرِفُها

وللرّشيدِ سَجايا منكَ نُعْرِفُها

فَضْلٌ يُرجّى ورأيٌ تِلْوُهُ القَدَرُ

فَضْلٌ يُرجّى ورأيٌ تِلْوُهُ القَدَرُ

And al-Rashid has traits we make known through you:

And for ar-Rashid there are qualities in you we recognize,

bounty to be hoped for, and judgment with destiny in its wake.

Favour hoped for and opinion followed by Fate.

وقد ورِثْتَ أبا إسحاقَ جُرأَتَهُ

وقد ورِثْتَ أبا إسحاقَ جُرأَتَهُ

في مأزِقٍ حاضِراهُ النّصْرُ والظّفَرُ

في مأزِقٍ حاضِراهُ النّصْرُ والظّفَرُ

And you have inherited Abu Ishaq's daring

And you inherited from your father his boldness

in a strait whose two attendants are victory and triumph.

In dire straits, victory and triumph present for him.

وفيكَ منْ جَعْفَرٍ حَزْمٌ يَلوحُ بهِ

وفيكَ منْ جَعْفَرٍ حَزْمٌ يَلوحُ بهِ

على مَساعيكَ منْ مَسْعاتِهِ أثَرُ

على مَساعيكَ منْ مَسْعاتِهِ أثَرُ

And in you is resolve from Ja'far, through which appears

And in you there is Ja‘far’s wisdom flashing

upon your endeavors a trace of his endeavor;

In your pursuits, its traces from his pursuits.

وبأسُ طَلْحَةَ في إقْدامِ أحْمَدَ إذْ

وبأسُ طَلْحَةَ في إقْدامِ أحْمَدَ إذْ

وشَتْ بسرِّ المَنايا البيضُ والسُّمُرُ

وشَتْ بسرِّ المَنايا البيضُ والسُّمُرُ

and Talha's might in Ahmad's bold advance, when

And the might of Talhah in Ahmad's resolve when

the white blades and brown spears betrayed death's secret;

The whites and browns mingled in the secret of death.

ومنْ أبي الفضلِ عِزٌّ يُستَجارُ به

ومنْ أبي الفضلِ عِزٌّ يُستَجارُ به

يومَ الوغى وظَلامُ النّقْعِ مُعْتَكِرُ

يومَ الوغى وظَلامُ النّقْعِ مُعْتَكِرُ

and from Abu al-Fadl, a might in which refuge is sought

And from your father there is glory that is sought

on battle's day, when the darkness of dust swirls thick;

On the day of strife when gloom of disaster grows dark.

وحِلْمُ إسحاقَ والألْبابُ طائِشةٌ

وحِلْمُ إسحاقَ والألْبابُ طائِشةٌ

بحيثُ يُخْتَضَبُ الصّمْصامَةُ الذّكَرُ

بحيثُ يُخْتَضَبُ الصّمْصامَةُ الذّكَرُ

and Ishaq's forbearance when minds are reeling,

And the forbearance of Ishaq while minds are wild

where the hard-steeled, unbending sword is stained with blood;

To the point that the hearty endure pain.

وعَزْمَةُ القادِرِ المَحْبُوِّ سائِلُهُ

وعَزْمَةُ القادِرِ المَحْبُوِّ سائِلُهُ

والخارجي لَوى منْ جيدِه الأشَرُ

والخارجي لَوى منْ جيدِه الأشَرُ

and the resolve of al-Qadir, whose petitioner is rewarded,

And the determination of al-Qaadir the beloved, asked of him,

while insolence twisted the rebel's neck;

While the dissenter twisted away from his neck.

ورأفَةُ القائِمِ المَرجوّ نائِلُهُ

ورأفَةُ القائِمِ المَرجوّ نائِلُهُ

والسُّحْبُ تعْتَلُّ والأنواءُ تَعْتَذِرُ

والسُّحْبُ تعْتَلُّ والأنواءُ تَعْتَذِرُ

and al-Qa'im's compassion, whose bounty is hoped for,

And the compassion of al-Qaa'im the hoped for, attained by him

while clouds fall ill and the rain-stars make excuses.

While the clouds roared and the breezes apologized.

وللذخيرة فَضْلٌ أنتَ وارِثُهُ

وللذخيرة فَضْلٌ أنتَ وارِثُهُ

وكانَ أرْوَعَ ما في عُودِهِ خَوَرُ

وكانَ أرْوَعَ ما في عُودِهِ خَوَرُ

And al-Dhakhira has merit of which you are the heir;

And for adh-Dhakiyah there is a merit you inherited,

and he was awe-inspiring, with no weakness in his timber.

And the most splendid of what was in his return was ruin.

وعزّةُ المُقْتَدي تُكْسى مَهابَتُها

وعزّةُ المُقْتَدي تُكْسى مَهابَتُها

حتى يَعودَ خفيّاً دونَكَ النّظَرُ

حتى يَعودَ خفيّاً دونَكَ النّظَرُ

And you are clothed in the majesty of al-Muqtadi's might,

And the honour of al-Muqtadi its awe cloaking

until the gaze grows furtive before you.

Until sight secretly turned away from you.

إنْ أثّلوا لَكَ والدنيا بُعذْرَتِها

إنْ أثّلوا لَكَ والدنيا بُعذْرَتِها

عُلاً فهذي عُلاً أثّلْتَها أُخَرُ

عُلاً فهذي عُلاً أثّلْتَها أُخَرُ

If they established for you, while the world was yet virgin,

If they attributed nobility to you while the world in its prime

high honors, then these are other high honors you yourself have established.

Exalted, then this is the nobility you exalted later.

فاسْمَعْ شكيّةَ مَنْ يُلْفى ولاؤهُمُ

فاسْمَعْ شكيّةَ مَنْ يُلْفى ولاؤهُمُ

منهُ بحيثُ يكون السّمْعُ والبصَرُ

منهُ بحيثُ يكون السّمْعُ والبصَرُ

So hear the complaint of one whose loyalty to them is found

So hear the complaint of those whose loyalty

within him where hearing and sight reside.

Is such that hearing and sight are banished from it.

فهذه شَتْوةٌ ألْقَتْ كَلاكِلَها

فهذه شَتْوةٌ ألْقَتْ كَلاكِلَها

حتى استَبَدَّ بصَفْوِ العيشَةِ الكَدَرُ

حتى استَبَدَّ بصَفْوِ العيشَةِ الكَدَرُ

For this winter has laid its crushing breast upon us,

For here is a winter that cast its hailstones

until murk took sole possession of life's clarity.

Until sorrow prevailed in the heart of happiness.

ومَنْزِلي أبْلَتِ الأيّامُ جِدَّتَهُ

ومَنْزِلي أبْلَتِ الأيّامُ جِدَّتَهُ

فشَفّني المُبْلِيانِ الهمُّ والسّهَرُ

فشَفّني المُبْلِيانِ الهمُّ والسّهَرُ

And my dwelling—the days have worn away its newness,

And the days eroded my abode until

so the two ravagers, worry and sleeplessness, have worn me thin.

Worry and wakefulness cured me, the two curing sorrows.

وللفؤادِ وَجيبٌ في جَوانِبهِ

وللفؤادِ وَجيبٌ في جَوانِبهِ

كما يَهُزُّ الجَناحَ الطائِرُ الحَذِرُ

كما يَهُزُّ الجَناحَ الطائِرُ الحَذِرُ

And within its confines the heart throbs,

And my heart has a yearning in its sides

as a wary bird flutters its wing.

As the wary bird flutters its wings.

يُحْكي عِناقَ مُحِبٍّ مَنْ يَهيمُ بهِ

يُحْكي عِناقَ مُحِبٍّ مَنْ يَهيمُ بهِ

إذا تَعانَقْنَ في أرْجائِهِ الجُدُرُ

إذا تَعانَقْنَ في أرْجائِهِ الجُدُرُ

It mimics a lover's embrace of the one he adores,

It recalls the embrace of a lover, when

when the walls embrace one another in its corners.

They cling together in its spaces.

ولن تُقيمَ بهِ نَفْسٌ فتألَفَهُ

ولن تُقيمَ بهِ نَفْسٌ فتألَفَهُ

إذ ليسَ للعَيْنِ في أقْطارِهِ سَفَرُ

إذ ليسَ للعَيْنِ في أقْطارِهِ سَفَرُ

And no soul will settle there and grow accustomed to it,

And no soul will settle in it and befriend it

for the eye can make no journey within its bounds.

Since for the eye in its lands there is no travel.

والسّقْفُ يَبكي بأجْفانِ المَشوقِ إذا

والسّقْفُ يَبكي بأجْفانِ المَشوقِ إذا

أرْسى بهِ هَزِمُ الأطْباءِ مُنهَمِرُ

أرْسى بهِ هَزِمُ الأطْباءِ مُنهَمِرُ

And the roof weeps with a longing lover's eyelids when

And the ceiling weeps with the eyelids of longing when

a pouring cloud with gushing teats settles upon it.

The authority of doctors has settled in it dripping.

وما سَرى البَرْقُ والظّلْماءُ عاكِفَةٌ

وما سَرى البَرْقُ والظّلْماءُ عاكِفَةٌ

إلا وفي القَلْبِ منْ نِيرانِهِ شَرَرُ

إلا وفي القَلْبِ منْ نِيرانِهِ شَرَرُ

And lightning never courses while darkness lingers,

And lightning did not flash nor did darkness remain

without sparks from its fires in my heart.

Except that in the heart there were sparks from its embers.

وابْنُ المُعاوِيِّ يَهْوى أن يكونَ لهُ

وابْنُ المُعاوِيِّ يَهْوى أن يكونَ لهُ

مَغْنىً ببغْداذَ لا يُخْشى بهِ الغِيَرُ

مَغْنىً ببغْداذَ لا يُخْشى بهِ الغِيَرُ

And the son of al-Mu'awi longs to have

The son of Mu‘āwiyah craves to have in Baghdad

a home in Baghdad where vicissitudes are not feared;

A refuge where none other is feared.

مَثْوىً يُدافِعُ عن كُتْبي وأكثَرُها

مَثْوىً يُدافِعُ عن كُتْبي وأكثَرُها

فيهِ مَديحُكَ أن يَغْتالَها المَطَرُ

فيهِ مَديحُكَ أن يَغْتالَها المَطَرُ

a refuge that shields my books—most of which

A dwelling to defend my writings, most of which

contain your praise—from being treacherously slain by the rain.

In it are your praises, lest the rain carry it away.

وشافِعي عُمدَةُ الدينِ المَلوذُ بهِ

وشافِعي عُمدَةُ الدينِ المَلوذُ بهِ

في الرّوْعِ والخَيلُ في أعْطافِها زَوَرُ

في الرّوْعِ والخَيلُ في أعْطافِها زَوَرُ

And my intercessor is Umdat al-Din, in whom refuge is sought

And the mainstay of the faith, my sanctuary

in terror, when the horses' flanks twist aside.

In fright, while the steeds snort in their thickets.

إذا أهَبْتُ بهِ والحَرْبُ لاقِحَةٌ

إذا أهَبْتُ بهِ والحَرْبُ لاقِحَةٌ

روّى القَنا مِنْ أعادِيكَ الدّمُ الهَدَرُ

روّى القَنا مِنْ أعادِيكَ الدّمُ الهَدَرُ

When I call upon him while war is pregnant,

When I set forth with it and war is stirring,

your enemies' blood, shed without redress, waters the spears.

It quenched the spears of your enemies with spilt blood.

فالأرضُ دارُكُمُ والعَبْدُ جارُكُمُ

فالأرضُ دارُكُمُ والعَبْدُ جارُكُمُ

وأنتُمُ أنتمُ والحَمدُ يُدَّخَرُ

وأنتُمُ أنتمُ والحَمدُ يُدَّخَرُ

For the earth is your home, and this servant is your neighbor;

So the earth is your abode and the slave your neighbour,

and you are who you are, and praise is stored up.

While praise is hoarded for you.