أَبى اللَهُ إِلّا أَن تَسودَ وَتَفضُلا

أَبى اللَهُ إِلّا أَن تَسودَ وَتَفضُلا

وَيَبطُلُ كَيدُ الحاسِدينَ وَيُخذَلا

وَيَبطُلُ كَيدُ الحاسِدينَ وَيُخذَلا

God wills nothing but that you rule and excel,

God willed that you prevail and excel

and that the plotting of the envious fail and be thwarted.

foiling the schemes of enviers, frustrating them

وَقاكَ الَّذي تَخشاهُ مِن كُلِّ حادِثٍ

وَقاكَ الَّذي تَخشاهُ مِن كُلِّ حادِثٍ

جَميلٌ رَعاكَ اللَهُ فيهِ تَطَوُّلا

جَميلٌ رَعاكَ اللَهُ فيهِ تَطَوُّلا

You were shielded from all the calamities you fear—

Saving you from all that you fear

a kindness through which God watched over you in his bounty.

Graceful is He who protected you, prolonging (your success)

فَلا أَدرَكَ الحُسّادُ ما فيكَ أَمَّلوا

فَلا أَدرَكَ الحُسّادُ ما فيكَ أَمَّلوا

وَأَدرَكتَ ما فيهِم غَدَوتَ مُؤَمِّلا

وَأَدرَكتَ ما فيهِم غَدَوتَ مُؤَمِّلا

May the envious never attain what they hoped for against you,

So the envious will not attain what they wished of you

and may you attain what you have come to hope for concerning them.

And you will attain that which you hoped from them

سَعَيتُ لِأَمرٍ كامِلِيٍّ أَطَعتَهُ

سَعَيتُ لِأَمرٍ كامِلِيٍّ أَطَعتَهُ

أَطَعتَ بِهِ أَمرَ الإِلَهَ المُنَزَّلا

أَطَعتَ بِهِ أَمرَ الإِلَهَ المُنَزَّلا

I strove to fulfill an order of al-Kamil that you obeyed;

I have strived for a perfect command obeying it

through it, you obeyed God's revealed command.

Through it obeying God's command, revealed

وَكانَ مَسيراً فيهِ أَوفى مَسَرَّةٍ

وَكانَ مَسيراً فيهِ أَوفى مَسَرَّةٍ

وَصارَ فُضولُ الحاسِدينَ تَفَضُّلا

وَصارَ فُضولُ الحاسِدينَ تَفَضُّلا

It was a journey filled with the fullest joy,

My journey therein was the most fulfilling

and the meddling of the envious became a favor.

With the surplus of the envious becoming charity

وَما أَغمِدَ الهِندِيُّ إِلّا لَيُنتَضى

وَما أَغمِدَ الهِندِيُّ إِلّا لَيُنتَضى

وَما ثُقِّفَ الخَطِّيُّ إِلّا لِيُحمَلا

وَما ثُقِّفَ الخَطِّيُّ إِلّا لِيُحمَلا

And the Indian sword is sheathed only to be drawn,

An Indian sword is only unsheathed to be used

and the Khatti spear is straightened only to be borne.

And an Iraqi pen case is only loaded to be carried

فَلِلَّهِ يَومٌ أَنتَ فيهِ مُسَلَّمٌ

فَلِلَّهِ يَومٌ أَنتَ فيهِ مُسَلَّمٌ

وَهَبتَ لَهُ جُرمَ الزَمانِ الَّذي خَلا

وَهَبتَ لَهُ جُرمَ الزَمانِ الَّذي خَلا

What a day, by God, when you are safe!

So for God there is a day you are surrendered to Him

For its sake, you forgave the wrong of Time gone by.

And you have granted Him the injustice of times gone by

فَإِن ذَكَروا يَوماً أَغَرَّ مُحَجَّلاً

فَإِن ذَكَروا يَوماً أَغَرَّ مُحَجَّلاً

فَإِيّاهُ يَعنونَ الأَغَرَّ المُحَجَّلا

فَإِيّاهُ يَعنونَ الأَغَرَّ المُحَجَّلا

So if they speak of a white-blazed, white-stockinged day,

If they mention a day that confused an addled man

then that is the white-blazed, white-stockinged day they mean.

It is that day they mean – the most confusing day

لَقَد ضَلَّ مَن يَبغي لِنَصرٍ إِساءَةً

لَقَد ضَلَّ مَن يَبغي لِنَصرٍ إِساءَةً

وَخابَت مَساعيهِ وَخانَ التَفَضُّلا

وَخابَت مَساعيهِ وَخانَ التَفَضُّلا

Truly, whoever seeks to harm Nasr has gone astray,

Indeed lost is he who seeks through harming victory

and his efforts have failed, and he has betrayed kindness.

His efforts fail him, benevolence betraying him

أَميرٌ لَهُ في الجودِ كُلُّ غَريبَةٍ

أَميرٌ لَهُ في الجودِ كُلُّ غَريبَةٍ

بِها يَطرَبُ الراوي إِذا ما تَمَثَّلا

بِها يَطرَبُ الراوي إِذا ما تَمَثَّلا

A prince whose generosity holds every marvel,

A prince peerlessly generous

which delights the reciter whenever he quotes it.

at the mention of whom narrators thrill and extoll

أَعَزُّ الوَرى قَدراً وَأَمنَعُهُم حِمىً

أَعَزُّ الوَرى قَدراً وَأَمنَعُهُم حِمىً

وَأَكرَمُهُم نَفساً وَأَرفَعُهُم عُلى

وَأَكرَمُهُم نَفساً وَأَرفَعُهُم عُلى

Highest of mankind in rank, most unassailable in his domain,

The greatest in status, most protected in sanctuary

and noblest in soul, loftiest in eminence.

noblest in character, highest in renown

وَما قِستُهُ في الناسِ قَطُّ بِماجِدٍ

وَما قِستُهُ في الناسِ قَطُّ بِماجِدٍ

وَإِن جَلَّ إِلّا كانَ أَزكى وَأَفضَلا

وَإِن جَلَّ إِلّا كانَ أَزكى وَأَفضَلا

I have never compared him with a noble man among mankind,

Never have I judged him to the people save with glory

however great, without finding him more virtuous and more excellent.

Even if he is distinguished, he is purer and superior

سَواءٌ عَلَيهِ أَن يُجَرِّدَ عَزمَهُ

سَواءٌ عَلَيهِ أَن يُجَرِّدَ عَزمَهُ

إِذا نابَ خَطبٌ أَو يُجَرِّدَ مُنصُلا

إِذا نابَ خَطبٌ أَو يُجَرِّدَ مُنصُلا

It is all one to him whether he unsheathes his resolve,

It matters not to him to ready his determination

when a crisis strikes, or unsheathes a blade.

whether faced with tribulation or stringing his sword

أَخو يَقظَةٍ لَو أَنَّ بَعضَ ذَكائِهِ

أَخو يَقظَةٍ لَو أَنَّ بَعضَ ذَكائِهِ

أَلَمَّ بِأَطرافِ الذُبالِ لَأَشعَلا

أَلَمَّ بِأَطرافِ الذُبالِ لَأَشعَلا

A man of vigilance: if some of his brilliance

A brother of Ya’qub – if only some of his intelligence

alighted on the tips of wicks, it would set them ablaze.

would set fire to the wicks of events – it would ignite

بِهِ اِفتَخَرَت تَيمٌ وَعَزَّ قَبيلُها

بِهِ اِفتَخَرَت تَيمٌ وَعَزَّ قَبيلُها

وَأَصبَحَ مِنها مَجدُها قَد تَأَثَّلا

وَأَصبَحَ مِنها مَجدُها قَد تَأَثَّلا

Through him Taym has taken pride, and its tribe has grown mighty,

Through him Taym became proud and his tribe honored

and its glory, sprung from it, has now taken firm root.

by him their glory manifest, emblazoned

أَمَولايَ لُقّيتَ الَّذي أَنتَ آمِلٌ

أَمَولايَ لُقّيتَ الَّذي أَنتَ آمِلٌ

وَبُقّيتَ لِلراجي نَداكَ مُؤَمَّلا

وَبُقّيتَ لِلراجي نَداكَ مُؤَمَّلا

O my lord, may you be granted what you hope for,

My Master – you have attained that which you hoped

and may you be preserved as a hope for whoever seeks your bounty.

and you have remained for those who seek you, hoped for

وَهُنِّئتَ أَبناءً كِراماً أَعِزَّةً

وَهُنِّئتَ أَبناءً كِراماً أَعِزَّةً

رَأَيتَ لَهُم مِثلَ الضَراغِمِ أَشبُلا

رَأَيتَ لَهُم مِثلَ الضَراغِمِ أَشبُلا

And may you have joy in sons, noble and mighty;

You were congratulated with honorable noble sons

may you see cubs of theirs like mighty lions.

you saw them as lion cubs

صِلاتُهُمُ في الجودِ أَضحَت عَوائِداً

صِلاتُهُمُ في الجودِ أَضحَت عَوائِداً

وَسائِلُهُم في الناسِ لَن يَتَوَسَّلا

وَسائِلُهُم في الناسِ لَن يَتَوَسَّلا

Their generous gifts have become customary,

Their habit in generosity has become tradition

and their petitioner among men need never seek intercession.

their requesting of people will never need lower themselves

إِذا رَكِبوا في الرَوعِ زانوكَ مَوكِباً

إِذا رَكِبوا في الرَوعِ زانوكَ مَوكِباً

وَإِن نَزَلوا في السِلمِ زانوكَ مَحفِلا

وَإِن نَزَلوا في السِلمِ زانوكَ مَحفِلا

When they ride in battle's terror, they adorn your cavalcade,

If they ride forth their shoulders make your procession vibrate

and if they dismount in peace, they adorn your assembly.

and if they alight their gathering makes your council quake

بُحورٌ بُدورٌ في النَوالِ وَفي الدُجى

بُحورٌ بُدورٌ في النَوالِ وَفي الدُجى

غُيوثٌ لُيوثٌ في المُحولِ وَفي الفَلا

غُيوثٌ لُيوثٌ في المُحولِ وَفي الفَلا

Seas in giving and full moons in the darkness;

Brides in munificence, grooms in shelter

rains in drought and lions in the desert wastes.

saviors in dire straits, lions in isolated spots

فَلا عَدِموا مِن فَضلِكَ الجَمَّ أَنعُماً

فَلا عَدِموا مِن فَضلِكَ الجَمَّ أَنعُماً

أَحَلَّتهُمُ رَوضَ السَعادَةِ مُقبِلا

أَحَلَّتهُمُ رَوضَ السَعادَةِ مُقبِلا

May they never lack blessings from your abundant bounty,

May they never lack your abounding bounty

which have lodged them in the flourishing garden of happiness.

which has lodged them in the garden of prosperity

عَسى نَظرَةٌ مِن حُسنِ رَأيِكَ صُدفَةً

عَسى نَظرَةٌ مِن حُسنِ رَأيِكَ صُدفَةً

تَسوقُ إِلى جَدبي بِها الماءَ وَالكَلا

تَسوقُ إِلى جَدبي بِها الماءَ وَالكَلا

May a chance glance from your kindly regard

Perhaps a glance of good opinion from you by chance

bring water and pasture with it to my barren ground.

might bring water and rain to my barren land

فَها أَنا ذا أَشكو الزَمانَ وَصَرفَهُ

فَها أَنا ذا أَشكو الزَمانَ وَصَرفَهُ

وَتَأنَفُ لي عَلياكَ أَن أَتَبَذَّلا

وَتَأنَفُ لي عَلياكَ أَن أَتَبَذَّلا

Here I am, then, complaining of Time and its reversals,

though I disdain, my highest aspirations are to lower myself for you

and your exalted station will not brook my self-abasement.

Resident in a land with no refuge like it

مُقيمٌ بِأَرضٍ لا مُقامَ بِمِثلِها

مُقيمٌ بِأَرضٍ لا مُقامَ بِمِثلِها

وَلَولاكَ ما أَخَّرتُ أَن أَتَحَوَّلا

وَلَولاكَ ما أَخَّرتُ أَن أَتَحَوَّلا

I dwell in a land the like of which is no place to stay,

if not for you, I would not have delayed to depart

and but for you, I would not have delayed moving away.

Show me fine opinion that perhaps

فَجُد لي بِحُسنِ الرَأيِ مِنكَ لَعَلَّني

فَجُد لي بِحُسنِ الرَأيِ مِنكَ لَعَلَّني

أَرى الدَهرَ مِمّا قَد جَرى مُتَنَصِّلا

أَرى الدَهرَ مِمّا قَد جَرى مُتَنَصِّلا

So favor me with your kindly consideration, that I may perhaps

I may see time from what transpired disjoined

see Time excusing itself for what has happened.

It suffices a man as wealth your hands

وَحَسبُ اِمرِئٍ كانَت أَياديكَ ذُخرَهُ

وَحَسبُ اِمرِئٍ كانَت أَياديكَ ذُخرَهُ

إِذا طَرَقَت أَحداثُهُ مُتَمَوِّلا

إِذا طَرَقَت أَحداثُهُ مُتَمَوِّلا

And a man with your favors as his treasure has enough

when disasters befall structural

to be wealthy when his misfortunes come knocking.

And I have not ceased since appearing among the people, seeking

وَما زِلتُ مُذ أَصبَحتُ في الناسِ قاصِداً

وَما زِلتُ مُذ أَصبَحتُ في الناسِ قاصِداً

جَنابَكَ مَقصودَ الجَنابِ مُبَجَّلا

جَنابَكَ مَقصودَ الجَنابِ مُبَجَّلا

And ever since I began among men to seek

your noble side, the most noble destination

your presence, my own has been sought out and revered.

Could I have been other than the sword mixed with the polisher

وَهَل كُنتُ إِلّا السَيفَ خالَطَهُ الصَدا

وَهَل كُنتُ إِلّا السَيفَ خالَطَهُ الصَدا

فَكُنتَ لَهُ ياذا المَواهِبِ صَيقَلا

فَكُنتَ لَهُ ياذا المَواهِبِ صَيقَلا

And was I anything but a sword touched by rust?

so you were the one, O source of gifts, polishing me?

So you became its polisher, O possessor of gifts.

Why would I not rise to every aspiration

وَمالِيَ لا أَسمو إِلى كُلِّ غايَةٍ

وَمالِيَ لا أَسمو إِلى كُلِّ غايَةٍ

إِذا كُنتَ عَوني في الزَمانِ وَكَيفَ لا

إِذا كُنتَ عَوني في الزَمانِ وَكَيفَ لا

And why should I not aspire to every goal,

if you are my helper in time – and how not?

when you are my support through Time—and how could I not?