أظُنُّ ظلامَ الحظِّ حانَ نُصوله

أظُنُّ ظلامَ الحظِّ حانَ نُصوله

إِلى واضحٍ من نيِّر الصُّبح مسفر

إِلى واضحٍ من نيِّر الصُّبح مسفر

I think fortune's darkness is now due to fade

I think the darkness of ill fate has come to an end,

into the clear light of a radiant, breaking dawn,

To the light of a bright dawn with unveiled morning.

بأبيضَ وضَّاحِ الجبينِ مُؤمَّلٍ

بأبيضَ وضَّاحِ الجبينِ مُؤمَّلٍ

لنُصْرة مخذولٍ وثروةِ مُقْترِ

لنُصْرة مخذولٍ وثروةِ مُقْترِ

through a fair man, radiant of brow, looked to with hope

With a white, radiant forehead, hopeful,

for aiding the forsaken and enriching the needy;

For victory of the abandoned, and wealth of the destitute.

بغيثٍ وليثٍ في نزالٍ وأزمْةٍ

بغيثٍ وليثٍ في نزالٍ وأزمْةٍ

لِطردِ مُحولٍ أو كميٍّ مُشهَّرِ

لِطردِ مُحولٍ أو كميٍّ مُشهَّرِ

through rain and a lion amid combat and hardship,

With rain and a lion in battle and crisis

to drive away droughts or a fully armed champion;

To expel the wretched or a gathering of the wicked.

بفضلِ قريع الدهر والحوَّل الذي

بفضلِ قريع الدهر والحوَّل الذي

يُشارُ اليه في مغيبٍ ومَحْضَرِ

يُشارُ اليه في مغيبٍ ومَحْضَرِ

through the bounty of the age's foremost, resourceful man, who

By the grace of He who turns the times and fate

is pointed out in absence and in presence;

To whom is referred in absence and presence.

حميد المساعي لا بنكسٍ مُنكِّبٍ

حميد المساعي لا بنكسٍ مُنكِّبٍ

جبانٍ ولا بالمُستشيطِ المُغّرِّرِ

جبانٍ ولا بالمُستشيطِ المُغّرِّرِ

praiseworthy in his endeavors—not a base, shirking

Praiseworthy endeavor not bent with defeat,

coward, nor a raging, reckless man.

Cowardly nor with weeping of one who laments.

اذا افتخرتْ عُليا تيميم بن خندفٍ

اذا افتخرتْ عُليا تيميم بن خندفٍ

وعَدَّتْ عُلاها مفخراً بعد مفْخر

وعَدَّتْ عُلاها مفخراً بعد مفْخر

When the noble stock of Taymim ibn Khindif boasts

When the highborn Tameem tribe boast of Khunduf

and counts its glories, one boast after another—

And count their heights an honor after honor.

سراعاً إِلى صوت الصَّريخ ورجَّحاً

سراعاً إِلى صوت الصَّريخ ورجَّحاً

رزانَ الحُبى في الحادثِ المُتنكر

رزانَ الحُبى في الحادثِ المُتنكر

swift to the cry for aid, yet weighty in judgment,

Hastening to the voice of screams and weighing

grave in their knee-bound seats amid a menacing calamity—

Steadily the loved ones in the strange incident.

تُغامسُ نيرانَ الحروبِ أجيجةً

تُغامسُ نيرانَ الحروبِ أجيجةً

وتقري القرى في كل هوجاء صرصرِ

وتقري القرى في كل هوجاء صرصرِ

it plunges into the fiercely blazing fires of war

Plunging in the fires of raging wars

and offers hospitality in every raging, bitter gale,

And shaking the towns in every roaring uproar.

وغادرت الأحياءَ عن شأوِ مجدها

وغادرت الأحياءَ عن شأوِ مجدها

رذايا سُرىً كالخابطِ المُتنوِّرِ

رذايا سُرىً كالخابطِ المُتنوِّرِ

leaving other clans behind its glorious reach,

Having left the settlements from the affair of their glory

spent mounts of night travel, like one groping toward firelight—

Base, vile, like one with a branded forehead.

حوى شرفُ الدين المساعي قديمها

حوى شرفُ الدين المساعي قديمها

وحدثَها من دارسٍ ومُحَبَّرِ

وحدثَها من دارسٍ ومُحَبَّرِ

Sharaf al-Din has gathered those endeavors, their ancient

The honor of the religion contained their ancient glory

and their recent ones, the faded and the richly inscribed.

And its newness by the studious and learned.

به استرجعت ما بزَّها الدهرُ وارعوى

به استرجعت ما بزَّها الدهرُ وارعوى

لها المُلكُ باللَّيث الهزبر الغضنفر

لها المُلكُ باللَّيث الهزبر الغضنفر

Through him it reclaimed what Time had stolen from it, and kingship returned

Through it, they regained what time had stripped from them

to it through the lion, the mighty, fearsome lion.

And the kingdom was kind to them, fierce and angry.

وما زالَ فينا كلُّ صاحب رايةٍ

وما زالَ فينا كلُّ صاحب رايةٍ

من المجدِ متبوعِ اللواءِ مُؤمَّرِ

من المجدِ متبوعِ اللواءِ مُؤمَّرِ

And ever among us has stood each bearer of a banner

And there has not ceased to be with us every bearer of a banner

of glory, his standard followed, invested with command.

Pursuing glory, holding the exalted standard.

ثوى المُلكُ منَّا هامداً وحَديثهُ

ثوى المُلكُ منَّا هامداً وحَديثهُ

حليفُ السُّرى من مُنْجدٍ ومغوِّرِ

حليفُ السُّرى من مُنْجدٍ ومغوِّرِ

Kingship lay lifeless among us, while its story

The kingdom has settled amongst us, ferocious, while its discourse

was night travel's companion, for highland and lowland travelers.

Is an ally of nobility, glorious and magnificent.

فأنْشَرَهُ رَبَّ الأنام بمصطفى الاِ

فأنْشَرَهُ رَبَّ الأنام بمصطفى الاِ

مامِ ومُخْتارِ المُطاعِ المُطَهَّرِ

مامِ ومُخْتارِ المُطاعِ المُطَهَّرِ

Then the Lord of mankind revived it through the chosen man of the

So the Lord of mankind spread it through Al-Mustafa

Imam, the elect of the obeyed and purified one:

The Imam, the Chosen, the Pure and Obedient.

وزيرٌ تحاماهُ الكُفاةُ ويقتدي

وزيرٌ تحاماهُ الكُفاةُ ويقتدي

به كلُّ طَبٍّ بالمَعالي مُكَرَّرِ

به كلُّ طَبٍّ بالمَعالي مُكَرَّرِ

a vizier whom even the capable avoid, and whom

A minister protected by ability, and emulated

every seasoned expert in noble pursuits takes as his guide.

By every refined one with repeated virtues.

مهابته تغني عن السيف في الوغى

مهابته تغني عن السيف في الوغى

وسطوتُه عن جحْفَلٍ وسَنَوَّرِ

وسطوتُه عن جحْفَلٍ وسَنَوَّرِ

The awe he inspires replaces the sword in battle,

His prestige suffices instead of the sword in battle

and his might replaces a vast army and armor.

And his authority instead of armies and cavalry.

فليتَ الشهيد الصِّنْوَ شاهدَ مو

فليتَ الشهيد الصِّنْوَ شاهدَ مو

سمَ العُّلى ومقامَ العبقريِّ المُوَقَّرِ

سمَ العُّلى ومقامَ العبقريِّ المُوَقَّرِ

Would that the martyred brother had witnessed the

If only the martyr Al-Sanaw were witness to

season of glory and the station of the revered, peerless man,

The height of sublimity and position of the revered genius.

وعاينَ صِيد الحيِّ بينَ مُسَلِّمٍ

وعاينَ صِيد الحيِّ بينَ مُسَلِّمٍ

مُرِمٍّ وسّجَّادِ الجَبينِ مُعفَّرِ

مُرِمٍّ وسّجَّادِ الجَبينِ مُعفَّرِ

and beheld the proud chiefs of the clan, some saluting

And saw the living prey between Muslims

silently, others prostrate, their foreheads dust-covered;

Throwing themselves down and with dusty foreheads.

فيأخُذَ حقاً عاقَهُ الدهرُ دونَهُ

فيأخُذَ حقاً عاقَهُ الدهرُ دونَهُ

فغادرهُ رهنَ الحمامِ المُقَدَّرِ

فغادرهُ رهنَ الحمامِ المُقَدَّرِ

then he might have claimed a right Time had barred him from,

So he takes the rights time had denied him

leaving him a hostage to his appointed death.

And left him among the destined doves.

ولولا التسلِّي بالوزيرِ ومجْدهِ

ولولا التسلِّي بالوزيرِ ومجْدهِ

لماتَ له صبري وعِيلَ تَصبُّري

لماتَ له صبري وعِيلَ تَصبُّري

Were it not for solace in the vizier and his glory,

Were it not for consoling myself with the minister and his glory

my patience in his loss would have died, and my endurance failed.

My patience would have died and my composure broken.

ولي خطراتٌ بعد ذلك مُرَّةٌ

ولي خطراتٌ بعد ذلك مُرَّةٌ

يُهيِّجُها وُدِّي لهُ وتَذكُّري

يُهيِّجُها وُدِّي لهُ وتَذكُّري

Yet bitter thoughts still visit me after that,

And I have after that bitter thoughts

stirred by my love for him and my remembrance.

Stirred by my love for him and my memory.

اذا احتدمت نيرانُها في جوانحي

اذا احتدمت نيرانُها في جوانحي

فَزْعتُ إِلى دمْعٍ بها مُتَحدِّرِ

فَزْعتُ إِلى دمْعٍ بها مُتَحدِّرِ

When their fires rage within my breast,

When their fires blaze in my heart

I seek refuge in tears set flowing by them.

I am compelled to tears pouring down.

أراكَ حُساماً ذا غِرارٍ ورونقٍ

أراكَ حُساماً ذا غِرارٍ ورونقٍ

يَقُدُّ شَباهُ كل دِرِعٍ ومِغْفرِ

يَقُدُّ شَباهُ كل دِرِعٍ ومِغْفرِ

I see you as a sword with keen edges and luster,

I see you as a sword, radiant and brilliant

whose edges cleave every coat of mail and helmet,

Led by youths, each a coat of mail and forgiving.

عَليماً بضربِ الهامِ في كل مأقطٍ

عَليماً بضربِ الهامِ في كل مأقطٍ

رشيداً اليها في دُجى كل عِثْيرِ

رشيداً اليها في دُجى كل عِثْيرِ

well versed in striking heads in every battle,

Knowledgeable in striking resolve in every arena

unerring toward them in the gloom of every dust cloud.

Discerning of it in the darkness of every confusion.

سكَنْتَ غمود الصَّوْن دهراً لعزَّ

سكَنْتَ غمود الصَّوْن دهراً لعزَّ

ة الكميِّ وفقْدان الشجاع الحَزوَّر

ة الكميِّ وفقْدان الشجاع الحَزوَّر

You dwelt long in the sheaths of safekeeping, for the scarcity

You settled the scabbard of protection for some time in

of armored champions and the lack of a mighty warrior.

Glory of the Kumeyy, and in absence of the courageous warrior.

فأيْداكَ من قلب الغمودِ خليفةٌ

فأيْداكَ من قلب الغمودِ خليفةٌ

تَظنِّيهِ كشَّافٌ لكل مُسّتَّرِ

تَظنِّيهِ كشَّافٌ لكل مُسّتَّرِ

Then a caliph brought you forth from the heart of the sheaths,

So the Caliph supported you from the heart of the scabbard

whose intuition lays bare everything concealed.

I imagined he was a revealer of all hidden.

فسُسْتَ له الصقع العيد بصائبٍ

فسُسْتَ له الصقع العيد بصائبٍ

من الرأي مَقرونٍ بعزمٍ مُظفَّرِ

من الرأي مَقرونٍ بعزمٍ مُظفَّرِ

So you governed the province for him [epithet unclear], with sound

You then smoothed for him the plain of Eid with judiciousness

judgment joined to victorious resolve.

Combined with victorious resolve.

فلما رأى عضْب الكفاية ماضياً

فلما رأى عضْب الكفاية ماضياً

جُرازاً وصفو النُّصح غيرَ مَكدَّر

جُرازاً وصفو النُّصح غيرَ مَكدَّر

And when he saw the blade of competence keen and effective,

When the hyena of ability saw you proceeding

cutting cleanly, and the purity of loyal counsel unclouded,

Strong, pure counsel without bitterness.

رأى حضرة العلياء أكثر حاجةً

رأى حضرة العلياء أكثر حاجةً

اِليك من الصَّادي لصوبِ الكنهور

اِليك من الصَّادي لصوبِ الكنهور

he found the court of glory more in need

He saw the Presence of the Exalted more in need

of you than the thirsty of rain from a towering cloud.

Of you than the hunter in the direction of alkunhur.

فقلَّدك الأمرَ الجسيمَ وانما

فقلَّدك الأمرَ الجسيمَ وانما

لِعبء المعالي بازلٌ لم يُجرْجِرُ

لِعبء المعالي بازلٌ لم يُجرْجِرُ

So he entrusted you with the weighty charge; for only

So he entrusted you with the mighty command, and only

a full-grown camel bears glory's burden without groaning.

The load of virtues is carried by the unwearied.

أبا جعفرٍ حيث النداءُ لخِضْرمٍ

أبا جعفرٍ حيث النداءُ لخِضْرمٍ

بعيدِ النَّواحي لا خليجٍ وجعفرِ

بعيدِ النَّواحي لا خليجٍ وجعفرِ

O Abu Ja'far, here the call is to a vast sea,

O Abu Ja’far, where the call is for one with white temples

far-reaching in its bounds, not a gulf or a stream.

In distant regions, no bay nor creek

غواربُه جيَّاشةٌ من نوالِهِ

غواربُه جيَّاشةٌ من نوالِهِ

ومن بأسه ما بين مُغْنٍ ومُخطر

ومن بأسه ما بين مُغْنٍ ومُخطر

Its wave-crests surge with his bounty,

With overflowing ships from his attainment

and with his might, now enriching, now imperiling.

And might between capable and excellent.

ودادي وحسن الرأي لي منك قد سرى

ودادي وحسن الرأي لي منك قد سرى

به الركبُ وَشْكاً من مُغِذٍّ ومُحضِر

به الركبُ وَشْكاً من مُغِذٍّ ومُحضِر

Your affection for me and your good opinion of me have traveled,

My love and good opinion of you has spread

borne swiftly by riders, both hastening and galloping.

Amongst the caravan complaining and present.

وصار سميرَ الحيِّ حتى تعوَّضوا

وصار سميرَ الحيِّ حتى تعوَّضوا

به عن نِدامٍ مُستطابٍ وسُمَّرِ

به عن نِدامٍ مُستطابٍ وسُمَّرِ

It became the clan's nightly companion, until they took it

And it has become the talk of the living until they have replaced

instead of congenial drinking companions and evening talkers.

With it the regret of blameworthy and bitter.

ونوديتُ بالأفواه من كل جانبٍ

ونوديتُ بالأفواه من كل جانبٍ

أتاكَ الذي ترجو من اللّهِ فابْشرِ

أتاكَ الذي ترجو من اللّهِ فابْشرِ

And mouths called to me from every side:

And I was called from every side with mouths

“What you hope for from God has come to you—rejoice!”

“The one you hope for from God has come so receive good tidings.”