يا من رقى بكماله درج العلى

يا من رقى بكماله درج العلى

وتشنفت بثنائه الأسماع

وتشنفت بثنائه الأسماع

O one who, through his perfection, ascended the steps of eminence,

O you who has attained the highest rank of perfection,

and whose praise has adorned the ears;

And whose praises fill the ears,

ومن الذي فوق الأثير محله

ومن الذي فوق الأثير محله

كلّ المعالي دونه أوضاع

كلّ المعالي دونه أوضاع

and one whose station is above the ether—

And who occupies a place above the ether,

all lofty ranks beneath him are lowly stations.

All glories are beneath you.

وغدا القريض مطاوعا في مدحه

وغدا القريض مطاوعا في مدحه

مهما أردت وتطبع الأسجاع

مهما أردت وتطبع الأسجاع

And verse became pliant in his praise,

Poetry has become obedient in praising you,

however I wished, and rhymed prose came naturally.

However much I want, and meters comply.

هو من غدا حاو لكل فضيلة

هو من غدا حاو لكل فضيلة

ولذا عليه قد انطوى الاجماع

ولذا عليه قد انطوى الاجماع

He is the one who came to possess every virtue,

You who has acquired every virtue,

and so there is unanimous agreement concerning him.

And therefore, consensus has converged upon you.

إن الأفاضل في الفضائل كلها

إن الأفاضل في الفضائل كلها

بك مقتدون وكلهم أتباع

بك مقتدون وكلهم أتباع

Indeed, the eminent, in every virtue,

The virtuous in all virtues,

take you as their example, and all are followers.

Are guided by you, and are your followers.

فالعبد يبغي القرب منك لبعده

فالعبد يبغي القرب منك لبعده

ولأنه من دهره مرتاع

ولأنه من دهره مرتاع

So this servant seeks nearness to you because he is far away,

So the servant seeks closeness to you, for his distance,

and because he is frightened by his times.

And because he is anxious from the days of his life.

ورأي بُروق الرعد منك لم تزل

ورأي بُروق الرعد منك لم تزل

تُدني له غيث الرّجا أطماع

تُدني له غيث الرّجا أطماع

And he saw thunder's lightning from you; ceaselessly,

And I saw the lightning flashes from you, they have not ceased

hopes drew the rain of hope near to him.

To bring near to him the rain of hope and aspirations.

فاسمح بذاك الوعد لا زالت لك

فاسمح بذاك الوعد لا زالت لك

الأيامُ طائعة وأنت مُطاعٌ

الأيامُ طائعة وأنت مُطاعٌ

So fulfill that promise; may there ever be for you

So allow that promise, as long as

obedient days, and may you be obeyed.

The days are obedient to you, and you are obeyed.

يا من يرصع من جواهر لفظه

يا من يرصع من جواهر لفظه

درا نفيسا بالنفوس يُباعُ

درا نفيسا بالنفوس يُباعُ

O one who sets, from the jewels of his speech,

O you whose eloquent words adorn,

precious pearls sold for souls,

Precious pearls in souls that are sold.

قصدي إلى ترصيع عقدي جوهرا

قصدي إلى ترصيع عقدي جوهرا

من نظم فيك لأنك الرصاعُ

من نظم فيك لأنك الرصاعُ

my aim is to adorn my necklace with a gem

My intention is to adorn my necklace with a precious jewel,

of verse in your praise, for you are al-Raṣṣāʿ.

From a poem about you, for you are the bejeweler.