لَولا تُعَنِّفُني لَقُلتُ المَنزِلُ

لَولا تُعَنِّفُني لَقُلتُ المَنزِلُ

مَغناً تَبَيَّنَهُ وَمَغناً مُشكِلُ

مَغناً تَبَيَّنَهُ وَمَغناً مُشكِلُ

Were you not to rebuke me, I would say: the abode—

Had you not chided me, I would have said: the house

one recognizable haunt, and another obscure.

Is melodious, clearly articulated and problematic.

وَبِوَقفَةٍ يُشفي غَليلُ صَبابَةٍ

وَبِوَقفَةٍ يُشفي غَليلُ صَبابَةٍ

وَيَقولُ صَبٌّ ما أَرادَ وَيَفعَلُ

وَيَقولُ صَبٌّ ما أَرادَ وَيَفعَلُ

And with a moment's halt, longing's burning thirst is soothed,

With a stance that heals the sickness of youth

and a lovesick man says what he wishes, and acts.

And a youth who says what he wants and acts.

سالَت مُقَدِّمَةُ الدُموعِ وَخَلَّفَت

سالَت مُقَدِّمَةُ الدُموعِ وَخَلَّفَت

حُرقاً تَوَقَّدُ في الحَشا ما تَرحَلُ

حُرقاً تَوَقَّدُ في الحَشا ما تَرحَلُ

The vanguard of tears flowed and left behind

The advance of tears flowed and left

burning griefs that blaze within the breast and never depart.

A burning in my breast that does not depart.

إِنَّ الفِراقَ كَما عَلِمتُ فَخَلِّني

إِنَّ الفِراقَ كَما عَلِمتُ فَخَلِّني

وَمَدامِعاً تَسَعُ الفِراقَ وَتَفضُلُ

وَمَدامِعاً تَسَعُ الفِراقَ وَتَفضُلُ

Parting is as I have known it, so leave me

Surely separation, as I knew, so leave me

with tears sufficient for parting, and more to spare.

And tears enough for separation and more.

إِلّا يَكُن صَبرٌ جَميلٌ فَالهَوى

إِلّا يَكُن صَبرٌ جَميلٌ فَالهَوى

نَشوانُ يَجمُلُ فيهِ ما لا يَجمُلُ

نَشوانُ يَجمُلُ فيهِ ما لا يَجمُلُ

If there is no graceful patience, then love

Unless there is beautiful patience, then desire

is intoxicated: in it, the unseemly becomes seemly.

Is enjoyable in it, though not beautiful.

يا دارُ لا زالَت رُباكِ مُجودَةً

يا دارُ لا زالَت رُباكِ مُجودَةً

مِن كُلِّ سارِيَةٍ تُعَلُّ وَتُنهَلُ

مِن كُلِّ سارِيَةٍ تُعَلُّ وَتُنهَلُ

O dwelling, may your hills always be generously watered

O house! Your blessings have not ceased

by every night-traveling cloud, with draught upon draught.

From every rising star, ascendant and descended.

أَذكَرتِنا دُوَلَ الزَمانِ وَصَرفَهُ

أَذكَرتِنا دُوَلَ الزَمانِ وَصَرفَهُ

وَأَرَيتَنا كَيفَ الخُطوبُ النُزَّلُ

وَأَرَيتَنا كَيفَ الخُطوبُ النُزَّلُ

You have reminded us of time's turns and vicissitudes,

You reminded us of the turns of time and its vicissitudes

and shown us how calamities descend.

And showed us how tribulations descend.

أَصَبابَةٌ بِرُسومِ رامَةَ بَعدَ ما

أَصَبابَةٌ بِرُسومِ رامَةَ بَعدَ ما

عَرَفَت مَعارِفَها الصِبا وَالشَمأَلُ

عَرَفَت مَعارِفَها الصِبا وَالشَمأَلُ

Is there longing for Ramah's traces, after

A youth with the features of prime youth after

the east and north winds have recognized its landmarks?

His acquaintances of youth and young adulthood knew him.

وَسَأَلتُ مَن لا يَستَجيبُ فَكُنتُ في اِس

وَسَأَلتُ مَن لا يَستَجيبُ فَكُنتُ في اِس

تِخبارِهِ كَمُجيبِ مَن لا يَسأَلُ

تِخبارِهِ كَمُجيبِ مَن لا يَسأَلُ

And I asked one who does not respond; I was, in seeking

And I asked one who does not respond, so I was in

news from him, like one answering someone who does not ask.

Inquiring of him like one who answers one who does not ask.

اليَومَ أُطلِعَ لِلخِلافَةِ سَعدُها

اليَومَ أُطلِعَ لِلخِلافَةِ سَعدُها

وَأَضاءَ فيها بَدرُها المُتَهَلِّلُ

وَأَضاءَ فيها بَدرُها المُتَهَلِّلُ

Today good fortune has risen for the caliphate,

Today good fortune shone upon the caliphate for him

and its beaming full moon has shone within it.

And his full moon illuminated it, radiant.

لَبِسَت جَلالَةَ جَعفَرٍ فَكَأَنَّها

لَبِسَت جَلالَةَ جَعفَرٍ فَكَأَنَّها

سَهَرٌ تَجَلَّلَهُ الصَباحُ المُقبِلُ

سَهَرٌ تَجَلَّلَهُ الصَباحُ المُقبِلُ

It has donned Ja'far's majesty, as though it were

It came to him obedient, and no spear was shaken for it

a sleepless vigil cloaked by the approaching dawn.

And no sword was drawn against it.

جاءَتهُ طائِعَةً وَلَم يُهزَز لَها

جاءَتهُ طائِعَةً وَلَم يُهزَز لَها

رُمحٌ وَلَم يُشهَر عَلَيها مُنصَلُ

رُمحٌ وَلَم يُشهَر عَلَيها مُنصَلُ

It came to him willingly; no one brandished for it

Whence, while it had inclined toward him

a spear, nor unsheathed a blade against it.

Before destiny's decree, so it was rational.

أَنّى وَقَد كانَت تَلَفَّتُ نَحوَهُ

أَنّى وَقَد كانَت تَلَفَّتُ نَحوَهُ

مِن قَبلِ أَن يَقَعَ القَضاءُ فَتَعقَلُ

مِن قَبلِ أَن يَقَعَ القَضاءُ فَتَعقَلُ

How otherwise, when it had been turning toward him

Until it came to him, led by his merit

before the decree took effect and it was tethered?

And driven to him by a fortune disposed toward him.

حَتّى أَتَتهُ يَقودُها اِستِحقاهُهُ

حَتّى أَتَتهُ يَقودُها اِستِحقاهُهُ

وَيَسوقُها حَظٌّ إِلَيهِ مُقبِلُ

وَيَسوقُها حَظٌّ إِلَيهِ مُقبِلُ

Until it came to him, his rightful merit leading it,

Regarding an oath of allegiance unless it be subsequent

and favorable fortune driving it toward him.

For that is what the Revealed Book approved.

عَن بَيعَةٍ إِلّا تَكُن عَقَبِيَّةً

عَن بَيعَةٍ إِلّا تَكُن عَقَبِيَّةً

فَهيَ الَّتي رَضِيَ الكِتابُ المُنزَلُ

فَهيَ الَّتي رَضِيَ الكِتابُ المُنزَلُ

Through a pledge of allegiance that, if not of 'Aqabah,

The souls did not turn away from it, the hearts did not waver about it

is one approved by the revealed Book.

And feet did not slip regarding it.

لَم تَنصَرِف عَنها النُفوسُ وَلَم تَزِغ

لَم تَنصَرِف عَنها النُفوسُ وَلَم تَزِغ

فيها القُلوبُ وَلَم تَزِلَّ الأَرجُلُ

فيها القُلوبُ وَلَم تَزِلَّ الأَرجُلُ

Souls did not turn away from it, nor did

They wiped their palms with the palm of the caliph

hearts waver over it, nor did feet stumble.

With his rule, negated rights were restored.

مَسَحوا أَكُفَّهُم بِكَفِّ خَليفَةٍ

مَسَحوا أَكُفَّهُم بِكَفِّ خَليفَةٍ

نَجَمَت بِدَولَتِهِ الحُقوقُ الأُفَّلُ

نَجَمَت بِدَولَتِهِ الحُقوقُ الأُفَّلُ

They passed their palms over the palm of a caliph

And the council sufficed them as witnesses who clarified

in whose reign the rights that had set arose.

His command and virtues not doubtful.

وَكَفَتهُمُ الشورى شَواهِدَ أَعرَبَت

وَكَفَتهُمُ الشورى شَواهِدَ أَعرَبَت

عَن أَمرِهِ وَفَضيلَةٌ ما تُشكِلُ

عَن أَمرِهِ وَفَضيلَةٌ ما تُشكِلُ

And testimonies spared them consultation, speaking plainly

So it was as if the world were a garden there

of his standing, together with unmistakable excellence.

Whose sides were rested, scented and watered.

فَكَأَنَّما الدُنيا هُنالِكَ رَوضَةٌ

فَكَأَنَّما الدُنيا هُنالِكَ رَوضَةٌ

راحَت جَوانِبُهَ تُراحُ وَتوبَلُ

راحَت جَوانِبُهَ تُراحُ وَتوبَلُ

So it was as though the world there were a garden

Or do you not consider the beauty of spring and what appeared

whose sides came to be fanned by breezes and drenched with rain.

And Al-Mu'tadid restored in its days.

أَوَ ما تَرى حُسنَ الرَبيعَ وَما بَدا

أَوَ ما تَرى حُسنَ الرَبيعَ وَما بَدا

وَأَعادَ في أَيَّمِهِ المُتَوَكِّلُ

وَأَعادَ في أَيَّمِهِ المُتَوَكِّلُ

Do you not see spring's beauty, and what has appeared

They shone until darkness almost kindled from them

and been renewed by al-Mutawakkil in his days?

And they flourished until sap almost flowed from them.

أَشرَقنَ حَتّى كادَ يُقتَبَسُ الدُجى

أَشرَقنَ حَتّى كادَ يُقتَبَسُ الدُجى

وَرَطُبنَ حَتّى كادَ يَجري الجَندَلُ

وَرَطُبنَ حَتّى كادَ يَجري الجَندَلُ

They shone so brightly that light could almost be drawn from darkness,

After our time had blackened, contracted upon us

and grew so moist that rocks almost flowed.

And the fertile soil dried for us.

مِن بَعدِمَ اِسوَدَّ الزَمانُ المُنتَضى

مِن بَعدِمَ اِسوَدَّ الزَمانُ المُنتَضى

فينا وَجَفَّ لَنا الثَرى المُتَبَلِّلُ

فينا وَجَفَّ لَنا الثَرى المُتَبَلِّلُ

after unsheathed time had turned black

God made easy by Caliph Ja'far

among us, and the moist earth had dried for us.

What had not been easily accomplished in our time.

اللَهُ سَهَّلَ بِالخَليفَةُ جَعفَرٍ

اللَهُ سَهَّلَ بِالخَليفَةُ جَعفَرٍ

مِن دَهرِنا ما لَم يَكُن يُتَسَهَّلُ

مِن دَهرِنا ما لَم يَكُن يُتَسَهَّلُ

God has made easy, through the caliph Ja'far,

A king who abased the transgressors with a tread

what in our age had not become easy.

That landed upon the pillar of hypocrisy and weighed heavy.

مَلِكٌ أَذَلَّ المُعتَدينَ بِوَطأَةٍ

مَلِكٌ أَذَلَّ المُعتَدينَ بِوَطأَةٍ

تَرسو عَلى كَتَدِ النِفاقِ وَتَثقُلُ

تَرسو عَلى كَتَدِ النِفاقِ وَتَثقُلُ

A king who humbled aggressors with a tread

If the turns of fate did not cease, and if

that settles on hypocrisy's withers and weighs heavily.

Spring's generosity did not neglect.

إِن كَلَّ صَرفُ الدَهرِ لَم يَكلِل وَإِن

إِن كَلَّ صَرفُ الدَهرِ لَم يَكلِل وَإِن

غَفَلَ الرَبيعُ فَجودُهُ لا يَغفُلُ

غَفَلَ الرَبيعُ فَجودُهُ لا يَغفُلُ

If time's vicissitudes grow weary, he does not; and if

A guided soul, a reaped opinion

spring is heedless, his generosity is never heedless.

A supported hand, and words that avail.

نَفسٌ مُشَيَّعَةٌ وَرَأيٌ مُحصَدٌ

نَفسٌ مُشَيَّعَةٌ وَرَأيٌ مُحصَدٌ

وَيَدٌ مُؤَيَّدَةٌ وَقَولٌ فَيصَلُ

وَيَدٌ مُؤَيَّدَةٌ وَقَولٌ فَيصَلُ

A courageous soul and a firmly knit judgment,

And for him, if the lands have become extensive

and a strengthened hand and decisive speech.

An aspect entrusted with the extremities of the lands.

وَلَهُ وَإِن غَدَتِ البِلادُ عَريضَةً

وَلَهُ وَإِن غَدَتِ البِلادُ عَريضَةً

طَرَفٌ بِأَطرافِ البِلادِ مُوَكَّلُ

طَرَفٌ بِأَطرافِ البِلادِ مُوَكَّلُ

And he has, though the lands have grown vast,

He conformed, commander of the faithful, to a Sunnah

an eye charged with watching the lands' farthest bounds.

You revived though people had gone astray.

اِسلَم أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ لِسُنَّةٍ

اِسلَم أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ لِسُنَّةٍ

أَحيَيتَها وَالناسُ حَيرى ضُلَّلُ

أَحيَيتَها وَالناسُ حَيرى ضُلَّلُ

May you live in safety, Commander of the Faithful, for a tradition

And a populace whose drinking places you improved

you revived while the people were bewildered and astray,

Until justice in it was implemented.

وَرَعِيَّةٍ أَحسَنتَ رَعيَ سَوامِها

وَرَعِيَّةٍ أَحسَنتَ رَعيَ سَوامِها

حَتّى غَدَت وَالعَدلُ فيها مُهمَلُ

حَتّى غَدَت وَالعَدلُ فيها مُهمَلُ

and for subjects whose grazing flocks you tended well,

God thanks you for sincere effort

until they went forth with justice ranging freely among them.

In protecting it, then the Messenger, the Sent.

اللَهُ يَشكُرُ مِنكَ سَعياً صادِقاً

اللَهُ يَشكُرُ مِنكَ سَعياً صادِقاً

في حِفظِها ثُمَّ النَبِيُّ المُرسَلُ

في حِفظِها ثُمَّ النَبِيُّ المُرسَلُ

God thanks you for your sincere endeavor

The virtue of caliphs by the caliphate is conditional

in safeguarding them; then the sent Prophet does likewise.

Upon the highest class, and your virtue is superior.

فَضلُ الخَلائِفِ بِالخِلافَةِ واقِفٌ

فَضلُ الخَلائِفِ بِالخِلافَةِ واقِفٌ

في الرُتبَةِ العُليا وَفَضلُكَ أَفضَلُ

في الرُتبَةِ العُليا وَفَضلُكَ أَفضَلُ

The caliphs' excellence, through the caliphate, stands

You fulfilled, tenth of them, so if they are called to

at the highest station, and your excellence is higher still.

Generosity and kindness, then you are the first.

أَوفَيتَ عاشِرُهُم فَإِن نُدِبوا إِلى

أَوفَيتَ عاشِرُهُم فَإِن نُدِبوا إِلى

كَرَمٍ وَإِحسانِ فَأَنتَ الأَوَّلُ

كَرَمٍ وَإِحسانِ فَأَنتَ الأَوَّلُ

You complete their number as the tenth; if they are summoned to

And you came in the Prophet's cold and his guidance

generosity and kindness, you are the first.

Hoping for honest rule, and awaited.

وَغَدَوتَ في بُردِ النَبِيِّ وَهَديِهِ

وَغَدَوتَ في بُردِ النَبِيِّ وَهَديِهِ

تُرجى لِحُكمٍ صادِقٍ وَتُؤَمَّلُ

تُرجى لِحُكمٍ صادِقٍ وَتُؤَمَّلُ

And you have come forth in the Prophet's mantle, following his guidance;

you are looked to for true judgment, and hopes are placed in you.