دام عَلاءُ العِمادْ

دام عَلاءُ العِمادْ

فَهْو رَجاءُ العِبادْ

فَهْو رَجاءُ العِبادْ

May al-Imad's eminence endure,

The pillar of faith, Ala, remains,

For he is the people's hope.

So he is the hope of worshippers.

دام لنا طالِعاً

دام لنا طالِعاً

فهْو ضِياءُ البِلاد

فهْو ضِياءُ البِلاد

May he ever rise for us,

As long as he rises for us,

For he is the radiance of the land.

He is the illumination of countries.

عِمادُ دِينٍ له

عِمادُ دِينٍ له

على تُقاه اعْتِماد

على تُقاه اعْتِماد

A pillar of religion, which

The pillar of a religion for him

Relies upon his piety;

Is to depend on his piety.

فَحُبُّه سُنّهٌ

فَحُبُّه سُنّهٌ

والمَيْلُ عنْهُ ارتِداد

والمَيْلُ عنْهُ ارتِداد

So loving him is the prescribed way,

So loving him is Sunnah,

And turning from him is apostasy.

And leaning away from him is apostasy.

ليس لدِينِ الهُدى

ليس لدِينِ الهُدى

إلاّ بهِ الاعْتِضاد

إلاّ بهِ الاعْتِضاد

The religion of right guidance finds

There is no true religion

Support through him alone.

Except through his support.

ولا يعَاديهِ مَن

ولا يعَاديهِ مَن

صَحّ لَه الاعتِقاد

صَحّ لَه الاعتِقاد

And none is his enemy whose

And none who believes rightly

Belief is sound.

Would oppose him.

أوحَدُ في دولةٍ

أوحَدُ في دولةٍ

مُشْتَهِرُ الاتّحِاد

مُشْتَهِرُ الاتّحِاد

Peerless within a state,

Unique in a state

Renowned for unity;

Of widespread unity.

مُنْفَردٌ بالعُلا

مُنْفَردٌ بالعُلا

والمَجدِ أيَّ انِفراد

والمَجدِ أيَّ انِفراد

Unmatched in eminence

Singular in glory

And glory—how unmatched!

And excellence, what glory!

وعارِضٌ كفُّه

وعارِضٌ كفُّه

كعارِضٍ حينَ جاد

كعارِضٍ حينَ جاد

And his palm is a rain cloud,

An opponent whose palm

Like a cloud when it pours.

Is like one who is generous when he gives.

بُروقُه للعِدا

بُروقُه للعِدا

بِيضُ السّيوفِ الحِداد

بِيضُ السّيوفِ الحِداد

Its lightning against foes:

His lightnings for the enemy

Bright, keen-edged swords.

Are the bare, polished swords.

وسَيْلُه سَيْبُه ال

وسَيْلُه سَيْبُه ال

فيّاضُ في كلِّ ناد

فيّاضُ في كلِّ ناد

And its torrent is his bounty,

And his flood overflows

Overflowing in every gathering.

Every stream.

فالمَجْدُ لم يَحْوِهِ

فالمَجْدُ لم يَحْوِهِ

غَيرُ شجاعٍ جَواد

غَيرُ شجاعٍ جَواد

For none has attained glory

Glory did not encompass him

But a man both brave and generous.

Other than a brave, generous man.

له يَدٌ لم تَزلْ

له يَدٌ لم تَزلْ

تَصْدُرُ منها أياد

تَصْدُرُ منها أياد

He has a hand that has never ceased

He has a hand that has not ceased

To send forth favors.

To issue great favours.

عادتُه أنّه

عادتُه أنّه

إنْ بدأ العُرفَ عاد

إنْ بدأ العُرفَ عاد

It is his habit that,

His custom is that

Once he begins kindness, he returns to it.

If the honorable start, he returns.

قبلَ خُلُوِّ الدّيارِ

قبلَ خُلُوِّ الدّيارِ

ساس لعَمْري وساد

ساس لعَمْري وساد

Before the dwellings lay empty,

Before the lands were empty

He governed, by my life, and held sway.

He laid its foundation and pillow.

فاليومَ لا غَرْوَ إن

فاليومَ لا غَرْوَ إن

ألْقَوا إليه المَقاد

ألْقَوا إليه المَقاد

So today, no wonder if

So today there is no wonder

They hand him the reins.

If they gave him leadership.

حامٍ حِمَى دولةٍ

حامٍ حِمَى دولةٍ

يُحِسنُ عنها الذِّياد

يُحِسنُ عنها الذِّياد

Guardian of a state's domain,

Guarding a state

He excels in its defense.

Who treats it kindly.

صَدْرُ الورى صَدْرُها

صَدْرُ الورى صَدْرُها

وهُو لَهُ كالفُؤاد

وهُو لَهُ كالفُؤاد

The foremost of mankind is its breast;

Its chest is his chest

And he is to that breast as the heart.

And he is to it like a heart.

مُهَوِّنٌ عَزْمُهُ

مُهَوِّنٌ عَزْمُهُ

عنها الخُطوبَ الشِّداد

عنها الخُطوبَ الشِّداد

His resolve eases

His determination

The dire troubles that beset it.

Alleviates its harsh afflictions for it.

طَوْراً جِدالٌ له

طَوْراً جِدالٌ له

عنها وطَوراً جِلاد

عنها وطَوراً جِلاد

At times he argues

Sometimes he contends for it

In its defense; at times he fights.

And other times he fights for it.

أقلامُه دونَها

أقلامُه دونَها

تَجمَعُ شَمْلَ الصِّعاد

تَجمَعُ شَمْلَ الصِّعاد

His pens, in its defense,

His pens without it

Gather together the tall spears,

Gather the scattered summits.

والبِيضَ مُذَروِبَةٍ

والبِيضَ مُذَروِبَةٍ

والخيلَ قُودَ الهَواد

والخيلَ قُودَ الهَواد

And the keenly sharpened swords,

And the whites of drawn swords

And the horses, long of neck,

And the steeds of the valley.

والسُّمْرَ محمولةً

والسُّمْرَ محمولةً

فوق نواصي الجِياد

فوق نواصي الجِياد

And the brown spears borne

And the brown hilts

Above the forelocks of noble steeds.

Borne on the forelocks of steeds.

تُصبِح من خَوفِه

تُصبِح من خَوفِه

دائمةَ الارْتِعاد

دائمةَ الارْتِعاد

They become, through fear of him,

From fear of him they awake

Forever trembling.

Constantly quaking.

تُمِدُّ راياتِهمُ

تُمِدُّ راياتِهمُ

آراؤه بالسَّداد

آراؤه بالسَّداد

Their banners are reinforced

His opinions guide them

By his sound counsels.

Rightly to the path of guidance.

بهِنَّ يَهدِيهمُ

بهِنَّ يَهدِيهمُ

إلى سَبيلِ الرَّشاد

إلى سَبيلِ الرَّشاد

Through these he guides them

An opponent of two armies

To the path of right conduct.

Of strong leadership.

عارِضُ جيشَيْنِ لل

عارِضُ جيشَيْنِ لل

مُلْكِ شَدِيدَيْ قِياد

مُلْكِ شَدِيدَيْ قِياد

Musterer of two armies for the

An army and opinion with him

Realm, both hard to rein:

Defeats the troops of enemies.

جيشٌ ورأْيٌ بهِ

جيشٌ ورأْيٌ بهِ

يَهزِمُ جُنْدَ الأعاد

يَهزِمُ جُنْدَ الأعاد

An army and a counsel by which

If heads become ripe

He routs the troops of his foes.

He reaps them in harvest.

إنْ أَينعَتْ أَرؤُسٌ

إنْ أَينعَتْ أَرؤُسٌ

جَدَّلها في الحَصاد

جَدَّلها في الحَصاد

If heads ripen,

O you who benefited the land

He fells them at harvest.

With your rising, what benefit!

يا مَن أَفاد الورى

يا مَن أَفاد الورى

مَطلَعُه ما أَفاد

مَطلَعُه ما أَفاد

O you whose rising has enriched mankind

Your wealth enriched them

With all that it has bestowed,

Beyond equipment or supplies.

يُمْنُك أَغناهُمُ

يُمْنُك أَغناهُمُ

عن عُدَّةٍ أَو عَتاد

عن عُدَّةٍ أَو عَتاد

Your good fortune has freed them

So the army is a virtue, then,

From needing equipment or arms.

For the kingdom on the day of plunder.

فالجيشُ فَضْلٌ إذن

فالجيشُ فَضْلٌ إذن

للمُلْكِ يَومَ الطِّراد

للمُلْكِ يَومَ الطِّراد

So the army is superfluous, then,

O you whose opinion

To the realm on the day of mounted combat.

Is relied on in difficulties!

يا مَن إلى رأْيِهِ

يا مَن إلى رأْيِهِ

في النُّوَبِ الاستناد

في النُّوَبِ الاستناد

O you upon whose judgment

And whose plains

Men lean in calamities,

Are accustomed to generosity.

ومَن بساحاتِه

ومَن بساحاتِه

للكَرمِ الارتياد

للكَرمِ الارتياد

And in whose courtyards

A face whose water

Generosity is sought:

Quenches every thirsty one.

وجْهٌ تَرَى ماءَهُ

وجْهٌ تَرَى ماءَهُ

يَرْوِى به كلَّ صاد

يَرْوِى به كلَّ صاد

A face whose water, you see,

And speech whose beauty

Quenches the thirst of every thirsty soul;

Increases with debate.

ومَنْطِقٌ حُسْنُه

ومَنْطِقٌ حُسْنُه

يَزيدُ بالانتِقاد

يَزيدُ بالانتِقاد

And speech whose beauty

And manner that resembled

Grows under scrutiny;

A drink of fresh, cool water.

وشِيمةٌ أَشْبَهَتْ

وشِيمةٌ أَشْبَهَتْ

شَرْبَةَ عَذْبٍ بِراد

شَرْبَةَ عَذْبٍ بِراد

And a nature resembling

From it affection for him

A draught of cool, sweet water;

Is implanted in each loving heart.

يُغْرَسُ منها له

يُغْرَسُ منها له

في كلِّ قلبٍ وِداد

في كلِّ قلبٍ وِداد

From it, affection for him is planted

So each word of his

In every heart.

Is appreciated for its beauty.

فكُلُّ لفْظٍ له

فكُلُّ لفْظٍ له

من حُسنِه يُستَعاد

من حُسنِه يُستَعاد

Thus every word of his

And each meaning of his

Is requested again for its beauty,

Is admired for its artistry.

وكُلُّ معنىً له

وكُلُّ معنىً له

في فَنِّه يُستَجاد

في فَنِّه يُستَجاد

And every meaning of his

And every blessing that came

Is esteemed in its own art;

To be obtained from his palm.

وكلُّ نُعمَى غَدتْ

وكلُّ نُعمَى غَدتْ

من كَفّه تُستَفاد

من كَفّه تُستَفاد

And every blessing has come

The eyes of his enviers

To be received from his palm.

Are reddened with wakefulness.

عُيونُ حُسّاده

عُيونُ حُسّاده

مكحولةٌ بالسُّهاد

مكحولةٌ بالسُّهاد

The eyes of his enviers

As if their eyelids

Are lined with the kohl of sleeplessness;

Are their shields against spears.

كأنّ أَجفانَهم

كأنّ أَجفانَهم

أَهدابُها من قَتاد

أَهدابُها من قَتاد

As though their eyelids

He is the resolute one

Had lashes of qatad thorns.

Who subdues the stubborn people.

هو الهُمامُ الّذي

هو الهُمامُ الّذي

يُرغِمُ أَهل العِناد

يُرغِمُ أَهل العِناد

He is the high-hearted lord who

Fulfilling covenants in peace

Humbles the obstinate,

And frightening in calamity and arms.

في السِّلْمِ وافيِ القِرى

في السِّلْمِ وافيِ القِرى

والرَّوْعِ وارِي الزِّناد

والرَّوْعِ وارِي الزِّناد

In peace, unstinting in hospitality,

Of generous character whose mention

And in battle, his firesticks strike flame.

Is praised by every praiser.

ذو كرمٍ ذِكْرُه

ذو كرمٍ ذِكْرُه

يَحْدو به كلُّ حاد

يَحْدو به كلُّ حاد

Possessed of generosity, whose name

The paths to his patrons

Every camel-driver chants;

Are blocked to the stingy.

لطُرْقِ وُرَّادِه

لطُرْقِ وُرَّادِه

بالصّادرين انسِداد

بالصّادرين انسِداد

The roads of those coming to him

But his purpose cannot be prevented,

Are choked with those leaving;

Only almost.

وليس عن قَصْدِه

وليس عن قَصْدِه

تَمْنَعُ لكنْ تَكاد

تَمْنَعُ لكنْ تَكاد

Yet from seeking him

He destroys his wealth

They do not keep anyone—though they nearly do.

For the sake of glory built.

يَهدِمُ أَموالَه

يَهدِمُ أَموالَه

من أَجلِ مجدٍ يُشاد

من أَجلِ مجدٍ يُشاد

He demolishes his riches

The palms of the people thereby

For the sake of glory built aloft.

Become full after emptiness.

تُمْسِي أُكُفُّ الورى

تُمْسِي أُكُفُّ الورى

من حاضرٍ بعد باد

من حاضرٍ بعد باد

At evening, the palms of mankind,

As if they are springs

Town-dweller after desert-dweller,

And the irrigation from them is slumber.

كأنّها أَعيُنٌ

كأنّها أَعيُنٌ

والرِّفدُ منها الرُّقاد

والرِّفدُ منها الرُّقاد

Are as though they were eyes,

His structure with bricks

And gifts are their slumber.

Makes the inanimate speak.

بنانُه بالْلُها

بنانُه بالْلُها

مُستنطِقاتُ الجمَاد

مُستنطِقاتُ الجمَاد

His fingertips, with their gifts,

There is no deviation

Make lifeless things speak.

From his path by the praise of people.

ما لثَناءِ الورى

ما لثَناءِ الورى

عن نَهْجِه من حِياد

عن نَهْجِه من حِياد

The praise of mankind knows

It picks him out with dew

No turning aside from his course.

While praise is the game that is hunted.

يَقْنِصُه بالنّدى

يَقْنِصُه بالنّدى

والحَمْدُ وحْشٌ يُصاد

والحَمْدُ وحْشٌ يُصاد

He hunts it with generosity,

Below you, a carriage

And praise is a wild beast to be hunted.

That every singer travels.

دونَك سَيّارةً

دونَك سَيّارةً

يَشْدو بها كلُّ شاد

يَشْدو بها كلُّ شاد

Take this far-ranging poem,

Whose proud verses

Which every singer sings:

Are repeated until the return.

غَرّاءَ أَبياتُها

غَرّاءَ أَبياتُها

تُعادُ حتّى المَعاد

تُعادُ حتّى المَعاد

Radiant, its verses

From its circulation there wafts

Are repeated until the Resurrection.

Its narrators in every assembly.

يَعبِقُ من نَشْرِها

يَعبِقُ من نَشْرِها

رُواتُها كُلُّ ناد

رُواتُها كُلُّ ناد

From the fragrance it spreads,

One who is generous must necessarily

Its reciters perfume every gathering.

Be praised by one who is skilled.

لا بُدّ مَن جاد أَن

لا بُدّ مَن جاد أَن

يَمدحَهُ مَن أَجاد

يَمدحَهُ مَن أَجاد

Whoever gives generously must

And the sword of glory has none

Be praised by one who excels.

But the poems of maidens.

وما لسَيْفِ العُلا

وما لسَيْفِ العُلا

إلاَّ القوافي نِجاد

إلاَّ القوافي نِجاد

And the sword of eminence has

The markets of our poems

No baldric but rhymes.

Have exaggerated in loss.

أَسواقُ أَشعارِنا

أَسواقُ أَشعارِنا

قد أَسْرفَتْ في الكساد

قد أَسْرفَتْ في الكساد

The markets of our poetry

So be angry with us angrily

Have grown excessively stagnant.

To fertilize that which is desired.

فاغْضَبْ لنا غَضْبةً

فاغْضَبْ لنا غَضْبةً

يُخصِبُ منها المَراد

يُخصِبُ منها المَراد

So kindle an anger on our behalf

And be pleased to visit us

From which our wish may flourish;

After distance.

واسعَدْ بزَوْرٍ دنا

واسعَدْ بزَوْرٍ دنا

إليك بعد البِعاد

إليك بعد البِعاد

And rejoice in a visitor who has drawn near

For us to become accustomed

To you after being far away.

To return each year.

في كُلِّ عامٍ لنا

في كُلِّ عامٍ لنا

للعَوْدِ فيه اعْتياد

للعَوْدِ فيه اعْتياد

Each year, it is our custom

The pillar of guidance visited,

To return during it.

So his success is increasing.

زار عِمادُ الهدَى

زار عِمادُ الهدَى

فيُمْنُه في ازْدياد

فيُمْنُه في ازْدياد

It has visited Imad of Guidance,

A month glories for you

So its good fortune grows.

In your pride of custom.

يَهْنيك شَهْرٌ له

يَهْنيك شَهْرٌ له

من فَخْرِك الاعتِياد

من فَخْرِك الاعتِياد

May a month gladden you, whose return

And his happiness took him

Is owed to your glory;

To it, what a taking!

واقْتاده سَعْدُهُ

واقْتاده سَعْدُهُ

إليه أَيَّ اقْتِياد

إليه أَيَّ اقْتِياد

Its good fortune has led it

A noble month for it

To that glory—what a leading!

The scent of bliss and meadows.

شَهْرٌ شَريفٌ له

شَهْرٌ شَريفٌ له

رائحُ سَعْدٍ وغَاد

رائحُ سَعْدٍ وغَاد

A noble month, attended

Its day silencing

By good fortune morning and evening.

From food for devotion.

نَهارُه مُلْجِمٌ

نَهارُه مُلْجِمٌ

للنُسكِ عن أَكْلِ زاد

للنُسكِ عن أَكْلِ زاد

Its daytime imposes a bridle,

And its night whitening the people

For devotion, against eating food;

After mourning.

وليلُه للورى

وليلُه للورى

بُيِّضَ بعد الحِداد

بُيِّضَ بعد الحِداد

And its night, for mankind,

Its lantern was taught

Is made white after mourning.

To light from your mind.

عُلِّمَ مِصْباحُه

عُلِّمَ مِصْباحُه

من ذِهْنِك الاتِّقاد

من ذِهْنِك الاتِّقاد

Its lamp was taught

The abundant light

To blaze by your mind.

Upon lowlands and swamps.

كَثْرةُ نوارهِ

كَثْرةُ نوارهِ

على الرُّبا والوِهاد

على الرُّبا والوِهاد

The abundance of its blossoms

It scrubbed its garment

On hills and lowlands

So it has no blackness.

قد رحَضَتْ ثَوْبَه

قد رحَضَتْ ثَوْبَه

فما بهِ مِن سَواد

فما بهِ مِن سَواد

Has washed its robe,

Thus the sins of the people

So no blackness remains on it.

Are erased like erasing ink.

كذا خطايا الورى

كذا خطايا الورى

تَمْحو كمَحْو المِداد

تَمْحو كمَحْو المِداد

Likewise, the sins of mankind

So remain for its like

You erase as ink is erased.

What fate has repeated.

فابْقَ لأمثاله

فابْقَ لأمثاله

ما كَرَّ حَوْلٌ مُعاد

ما كَرَّ حَوْلٌ مُعاد

So live on for months like it,

Its days will come to you

As long as a year returns.

In power, constantly.

تَأتيكَ أَيّامُها

تَأتيكَ أَيّامُها

في العِزِّ ذاتَ اطِّراد

في العِزِّ ذاتَ اطِّراد

May their days come to you

In blessings that meet

In honor, in unbroken succession,

Returning with parting.

في نِعَمٍ تَلْتَقي

في نِعَمٍ تَلْتَقي

عوائدٌ مَعْ بَواد

عوائدٌ مَعْ بَواد

Amid blessings where there meet

And a state whose life

Recurring favors and new ones,

Has no end.

ودولةٍ عُمْرُها

ودولةٍ عُمْرُها

ما لمَداهُ نَفاد

ما لمَداهُ نَفاد

And a state whose lifetime

Lofty in its shade

Has a span that never ends,

Attaining the ultimate desire.

عَلياءَ في ظِلِّها

عَلياءَ في ظِلِّها

تُدْرِكُ أَقصَى المُراد

تُدْرِكُ أَقصَى المُراد

Exalted, in whose shade

You attain your utmost desire.