بَدا شَيْبُه قبلَ ابتداءِ شَبابِه

بَدا شَيْبُه قبلَ ابتداءِ شَبابِه

وولَّى الصِّبا عنه عَقيبَ اغْترابِهِ

وولَّى الصِّبا عنه عَقيبَ اغْترابِهِ

His gray hair appeared before his youth had even begun,

His gray hair appeared before his youth began,

and youth turned away from him directly after its estrangement.

And youth deserted him just after his exile.

وما حان وقتُ الشيبِ منه وإنما

وما حان وقتُ الشيبِ منه وإنما

له عِلَّةٌ من وَجْدِه واكْتئابه

له عِلَّةٌ من وَجْدِه واكْتئابه

The time for graying had not yet come upon him; rather,

The time for gray had not yet come to him; rather,

it had a cause in his passion and his sorrow.

His ailment comes from lovesick anguish and dejection.

فدَام طبيعيُّ السوادِ بشعرِه

فدَام طبيعيُّ السوادِ بشعرِه

دوامَ مَشيبٍ تحت زُور خِضابه

دوامَ مَشيبٍ تحت زُور خِضابه

Thus the natural blackness of his hair endured

So the natural blackness of his hair endured

as long as grayness lasts beneath the deceit of its dye.

As gray hair endures beneath his dye's deceit.

ومن خامرَتْ خمر الهوى كأس لُبِّه

ومن خامرَتْ خمر الهوى كأس لُبِّه

فإنّ نجومَ الشيبِ بعضُ حَبابه

فإنّ نجومَ الشيبِ بعضُ حَبابه

Whoever has had love’s wine steep the cup of his mind—

And whoever has love's wine mingle in the cup of his mind,

the stars of love are but some bubbles on that wine.

The stars of gray are but some of its bubbles.

ولما طَمَى بحرُ الغرامِ بقلبه

ولما طَمَى بحرُ الغرامِ بقلبه

طَفا زَبَدٌ في فَرْقِه من عُبابه

طَفا زَبَدٌ في فَرْقِه من عُبابه

When the sea of passion surged within his heart,

And when passion's sea overflowed his heart,

my foam floated over his hair-parting from that sea’s swell.

Foam from its billows floated in his hair's parting.

حَذِرتُ الهوى مذْ كنتُ حتى استفَزَّني

حَذِرتُ الهوى مذْ كنتُ حتى استفَزَّني

بوجهٍ كأنَّ الشمس تحت نقابه

بوجهٍ كأنَّ الشمس تحت نقابه

I had guarded against love in Egypt, until I was roused

I feared love ever since I existed, until it swept me away

by a face beneath whose veil beauty itself seemed hidden.

With a face as though the sun lay beneath his veil.

وقد كتب الحسنُ اسَمه فوقَ خَدَّه

وقد كتب الحسنُ اسَمه فوقَ خَدَّه

ولم يَبْد إلا نُونُه من كتابه

ولم يَبْد إلا نُونُه من كتابه

Beauty had written its name upon his cheek,

Beauty had written its name upon his cheek,

yet of its script disclosed only the letter nūn.

But only its nūn appeared from its writing.

وقد أَطلعَتْ أزْرارُه الشمسَ في الدُّجَى

وقد أَطلعَتْ أزْرارُه الشمسَ في الدُّجَى

وماد النَّقا بالغُصنِ تحتَ ثيابه

وماد النَّقا بالغُصنِ تحتَ ثيابه

His loosened buttons brought the sun forth into darkness,

His buttons had made the sun rise in the darkness,

and a sandhill swayed with a bough beneath his clothes.

And a sandhill swayed with a branch beneath his clothes.

وما عَجَبي من روضةٍ طَلَّها النَّدَى

وما عَجَبي من روضةٍ طَلَّها النَّدَى

على خَدِّه لم تَحتْرِق بالْتِهابه

على خَدِّه لم تَحتْرِق بالْتِهابه

Nor do I marvel at a garden on his cheek, bedewed by dew,

And how I marvel at a garden sprinkled with dew

that does not burn beneath the flame of his glow;

Upon his cheek, unburned by his blaze;

ومن بَرَدٍ يَفْتَرُّ عنه وكيف لم

ومن بَرَدٍ يَفْتَرُّ عنه وكيف لم

يَذُب وهْو مغمورٌ بشَهد رُضابِه

يَذُب وهْو مغمورٌ بشَهد رُضابِه

nor at hail revealed by his smiling mouth—how has it not

And at hailstones his smile reveals—how have they not

melted, immersed in the honey of his saliva?

Melted, immersed in the honey of his saliva?

أحِنُّ إلى الفُسطاط ما لم أكن به

أحِنُّ إلى الفُسطاط ما لم أكن به

حنينَ طَليحِ الرَّكْبِ بعدَ ذهابه

حنينَ طَليحِ الرَّكْبِ بعدَ ذهابه

I yearn for al-Fustat whenever I am away from it,

I yearn for Fustat whenever I am not there,

with the yearning of a travel-worn rider after his caravan has gone.

As an exhausted traveler yearns after his caravan departs.

وتَهْفُو بقلبي زَفْرةٌ لو تَلبَّسَتْ

وتَهْفُو بقلبي زَفْرةٌ لو تَلبَّسَتْ

بصُمِّ الصَّفا لانتْ مُتونُ صِلابه

بصُمِّ الصَّفا لانتْ مُتونُ صِلابه

A sigh stirs in my heart which, if it clothed

A sigh flutters through my heart which, if it clothed

unyielding rock, would soften its hard back.

The solid rocks, would soften the surfaces of their hardest stones.

وأسمو لرَوضىِّ النسيمِ لعلّني

وأسمو لرَوضىِّ النسيمِ لعلّني

أُصادف منه نَفْحةً من تُرابه

أُصادف منه نَفْحةً من تُرابه

I reach toward the meadow of the breeze, in hope that

And I reach toward the garden-scented breeze, hoping

I may meet a breath of air bearing some of its dust.

To catch in it a breath of that city's soil.

واستقبلُ الرُّكْبانَ من كلِّ وِجْهةٍ

واستقبلُ الرُّكْبانَ من كلِّ وِجْهةٍ

لعلَّ بمصرٍ ذاكرا في خِطابه

لعلَّ بمصرٍ ذاكرا في خِطابه

I go out to meet riders arriving from every direction,

And I greet riders coming from every direction,

hoping one of them will mention Egypt in his speech.

Hoping that one will mention Egypt in his speech.

وأهجرُ عَذْبَ الماءِ معْ طول غُلَّةٍ

وأهجرُ عَذْبَ الماءِ معْ طول غُلَّةٍ

إذا لم يُنِلنِي النِّيلُ بردَ شَرابه

إذا لم يُنِلنِي النِّيلُ بردَ شَرابه

I forsake sweet water, despite a thirst prolonged,

I shun sweet water despite my long burning thirst

if the Nile does not grant me the coolness of its drink.

Unless the Nile grants me the coolness of its drink.

وتَسْودُّ في عينِي البلادُ تذكُّراً

وتَسْودُّ في عينِي البلادُ تذكُّراً

لخضرةِ شَطَّيْهِ وبيضِ قِبابه

لخضرةِ شَطَّيْهِ وبيضِ قِبابه

All lands darken in my eyes when I remember

The lands turn black before my eyes as I remember

the green of its two banks and the white of its domes.

The greenness of its two banks and its white domes.

وكم لي على سفحِ المقطَّم وَقْفةٌ

وكم لي على سفحِ المقطَّم وَقْفةٌ

لها أثرٌ في وَهْدِه وهِضابه

لها أثرٌ في وَهْدِه وهِضابه

How often I have paused upon al-Muqattam’s slope—

How many times have I lingered on al-Muqattam's slope,

a pause that left its mark on hollow and hill.

Leaving a trace in its hollows and hills.

فَضَضْنا بها سِلْك الحديثِ فخِلْتُه

فَضَضْنا بها سِلْك الحديثِ فخِلْتُه

يَميد بنا زَهْوا لطيبِ عِتابه

يَميد بنا زَهْوا لطيبِ عِتابه

There we unstrung the thread of talk, and I imagined it

There we broke the thread of talk, and I fancied it

swaying us proudly for the sweetness of its reproach.

Swaying with us in pride at the sweetness of its reproach.

وفي البركةِ الغَنَّاءِ للطَّرْفِ مَسْرَحٌ

وفي البركةِ الغَنَّاءِ للطَّرْفِ مَسْرَحٌ

نَهَى ما انْطَوَى من جَفْنه عن مآبه

نَهَى ما انْطَوَى من جَفْنه عن مآبه

In the luxuriant pool there is wide pasture for the eye,

In the lush pool lies a pasture for the eye,

forbidding the sleep folded in its lid from returning.

Keeping its eyelid from folding shut again.

يُبلِّغُنا عن زَهْرِها وافدُ الصَّبا

يُبلِّغُنا عن زَهْرِها وافدُ الصَّبا

سَلاما تَولَّى المسكُ رَدَّ جوابهِ

سَلاما تَولَّى المسكُ رَدَّ جوابهِ

The envoy of the east wind brings us the blossoms’ greeting,

The east wind's messenger brings us from its blossoms

a greeting whose answer musk itself undertakes.

A greeting whose reply musk undertakes to send.

إذا جَمَّش الغُدرانَ واهِى نَسيمِها

إذا جَمَّش الغُدرانَ واهِى نَسيمِها

حَكَتْ زَرَدا فُضَّت أَعالِي عُبابه

حَكَتْ زَرَدا فُضَّت أَعالِي عُبابه

When its frail breeze dallies with the pools,

When its gentle breeze caresses the pools,

they resemble chain mail whose upper waves have burst apart.

They resemble chainmail with broken crests of swell.

وَينْسلُّ في ساحاتِها كلُّ جَدْولٍ

وَينْسلُّ في ساحاتِها كلُّ جَدْولٍ

كما سُلَّ مَطْرورُ الشَّبا من قِرابه

كما سُلَّ مَطْرورُ الشَّبا من قِرابه

Every stream slips through their courtyards

Every stream slips through its open grounds

as a keen-edged blade is drawn from its sheath.

As a sharp-edged blade is drawn from its sheath.

ولما حَباني الدهرُ منه بعودةٍ

ولما حَباني الدهرُ منه بعودةٍ

وراجَعَ حظى بعدَ طولِ اجْتِنابه

وراجَعَ حظى بعدَ طولِ اجْتِنابه

When time granted me a return to it,

And when Time bestowed on me a return there,

and my fortune came back after long estrangement,

And my fortune returned after long shunning me,

وهبتُ لقُرْبٍ سَرَّني بنعيمه

وهبتُ لقُرْبٍ سَرَّني بنعيمه

جنايَة بُعْدٍ ساءني بعِقابه

جنايَة بُعْدٍ ساءني بعِقابه

I granted the nearness that delighted me with its bliss

For the nearness that gladdened me with its bliss, I forgave

the pardon of a distance that had pained me with its punishment.

The offense of distance that grieved me with its punishment.

فإن كنتُ في مصرٍ غَريبا فجُلُّ ما

فإن كنتُ في مصرٍ غَريبا فجُلُّ ما

يَنالُ الغَريبُ العِزُّ عند اغْتِرابه

يَنالُ الغَريبُ العِزُّ عند اغْتِرابه

Though I am a stranger in Egypt, the greater part of what

If I was a stranger in Egypt, the greatest thing

a stranger gains is honor in his estrangement.

A stranger gains in exile is honor.

وردتُ بها بحرَ النَّوال مُشرِّقا

وردتُ بها بحرَ النَّوال مُشرِّقا

وغرَّب غيري آمِلا لسَرابه

وغرَّب غيري آمِلا لسَرابه

I came to it, traveling eastward toward the sea of bounty,

There I reached the sea of bounty, heading east,

while others went westward, hoping for its mirage.

While another went west, hoping for its mirage.

فأصبحتُ فيهاَ خادمَ الأَفْضلِ الذي

فأصبحتُ فيهاَ خادمَ الأَفْضلِ الذي

زَحَمتُ ملوكَ الأرضِ تحتَ رِكابه

زَحَمتُ ملوكَ الأرضِ تحتَ رِكابه

There I became the servant of the Most Excellent One,

So I became there the servant of al-Afdal,

and crowded the kings of earth beneath his stirrup.

Beneath whose stirrup I jostled the kings of the earth.

جَلوتُ عليه كلَّ عذراءَ ما ارْتَضَتْ

جَلوتُ عليه كلَّ عذراءَ ما ارْتَضَتْ

ببعلٍ إلى أن هَرْولتْ بحجِابه

ببعلٍ إلى أن هَرْولتْ بحجِابه

Before him I unveiled every maiden who had consented

I unveiled before him every virgin who had never consented

to no husband, until she hastened behind his veil.

To a husband until she hastened to his curtain.

جَهدت فما غاليْتُ في مدحِه بها

جَهدت فما غاليْتُ في مدحِه بها

ولكنني غاليتُ في مَدْحِها به

ولكنني غاليتُ في مَدْحِها به

I strove in praising him through her, yet did not overvalue him;

I strove, yet did not exaggerate in praising him through her;

rather, I overvalued her by praising her through him.

Rather, I exaggerated in praising her through him.

إذا نَوَتِ الآمالُ للجودِ حجَّةً

إذا نَوَتِ الآمالُ للجودِ حجَّةً

فما تَجْتَرِى إلا الوقوفُ ببابه

فما تَجْتَرِى إلا الوقوفُ ببابه

When hopes intend a pilgrimage to munificence,

If hopes intend a pilgrimage to generosity,

they dare no farther than a halt at his door.

They dare only to stand at his door,

وتَسْتلم الركنَ اليَمانِى بداره

وتَسْتلم الركنَ اليَمانِى بداره

وتُكْمِل سَعيا في طوافِ جَنابه

وتُكْمِل سَعيا في طوافِ جَنابه

They touch the Yemeni Corner at his dwelling,

And touch the Yemeni Corner in his dwelling,

and complete their course by circling his presence.

Completing their ritual course by circling his precinct.

زَرَتْ كُّفه اليمنى على الغيثِ فانثنتْ

زَرَتْ كُّفه اليمنى على الغيثِ فانثنتْ

به خَجْلةٌ عن مصرَ بعد انْسِكابه

به خَجْلةٌ عن مصرَ بعد انْسِكابه

His right hand vied with the rain cloud and made it bear

His right hand put the rain to shame, and it withdrew

shame before him, even after all its outpouring.

From Egypt, ashamed before it, after its downpour.

وما النيلُ إلا مُشْبِهٌ بعضَ نَيْلِه

وما النيلُ إلا مُشْبِهٌ بعضَ نَيْلِه

إذا غَمَر الدنيا بفَيْضِ انْصِبابه

إذا غَمَر الدنيا بفَيْضِ انْصِبابه

The Nile is only the likeness of a portion of his bounty

The Nile only resembles some part of his bounty

when its flood pours across the whole world.

When he floods the world with the surge of his outpouring.

إذا ادخر المالَ الملوك فإنما

إذا ادخر المالَ الملوك فإنما

جزيلُ الثَّنا والحمدِ جُلُّ اكْتِسابه

جزيلُ الثَّنا والحمدِ جُلُّ اكْتِسابه

When kings hoard wealth, what he hoards

If kings hoard wealth, then

is abundant praise, and all his gain is gratitude.

Abundant praise and thanks are the bulk of what he gains.

على أنَّ ما حازُوه من صَدقاتِه

على أنَّ ما حازُوه من صَدقاتِه

عليهم لما يحظى به من ثوابه

عليهم لما يحظى به من ثوابه

Indeed, all that they have amassed comes from his alms,

Besides, whatever they have gathered comes from his alms

a debt upon them beside the reward he wins.

To them, for the reward he gains thereby.

ويُحِيى رِضاهُ النفسَ بعدَ فَنائِها

ويُحِيى رِضاهُ النفسَ بعدَ فَنائِها

ويُفْنِى سُطاه الليثَ داخلَ غابه

ويُفْنِى سُطاه الليثَ داخلَ غابه

His favor revives the soul after its death,

His favor revives the soul after its extinction,

and his might destroys the lion within its den.

And his might destroys the lion within its forest.

إذا ما عَتا شيطانُ أرض وإنْ نَأَتْ

إذا ما عَتا شيطانُ أرض وإنْ نَأَتْ

فأقربُ شيءٍ منه نارُ شِهابِه

فأقربُ شيءٍ منه نارُ شِهابِه

If the demon of some land rebels, however far away,

If ever a land's demon rebels, however far away,

the fire of his meteor is the nearest thing to it.

The nearest thing to him is the fire of his meteor.

أَجار من الأيام فالحُرُّ آمِنٌ

أَجار من الأيام فالحُرُّ آمِنٌ

على نفسه من صَرْفِها وانْقِلابه

على نفسه من صَرْفِها وانْقِلابه

He has sheltered the freeborn from the assaults of time, so they are safe

He gave refuge from Time, so the free man is safe

from its reversals and changes.

In his life from its turns and reversals.

ومَدَّ بِساطَ العدلِ حتى تَوقَّرت

ومَدَّ بِساطَ العدلِ حتى تَوقَّرت

أسودُ الشَّرَى في القَفْرِ قبلَ ذئابه

أسودُ الشَّرَى في القَفْرِ قبلَ ذئابه

He spread the carpet of justice until, in the wilderness,

He spread the carpet of justice until

the lions of the thicket grew sedate even before its wolves.

The lions of al-Shara grew tranquil in the waste before its wolves.

فما الحَرَمُ المشهور بالأمنِ في الوَرَى

فما الحَرَمُ المشهور بالأمنِ في الوَرَى

بآمَنَ من صحرائهِ وَيبابِه

بآمَنَ من صحرائهِ وَيبابِه

The Sanctuary, famed among humankind for safety,

The Sanctuary, famed among mankind for safety,

is no safer than his precincts and spacious courts.

Is no safer than his desert and wasteland.

له سيفُ نصرٍ كلَّما هزَّ نصلَه

له سيفُ نصرٍ كلَّما هزَّ نصلَه

تَتَبَّع نابُ الموتِ أمرَ ذُبابه

تَتَبَّع نابُ الموتِ أمرَ ذُبابه

He has a sword of victory: whenever its blade is brandished,

He has a sword of victory: whenever he brandishes its blade,

death’s fang follows the trace of its point.

Death's fang follows the command of its point.

وجيشُ اعْتزامٍ تَظْلَعُ الريحُ خَلْفَه

وجيشُ اعْتزامٍ تَظْلَعُ الريحُ خَلْفَه

وتَقْفُوا أَوالِى البرقِ أُخْرَى عِرابه

وتَقْفُوا أَوالِى البرقِ أُخْرَى عِرابه

And an army of resolve that casts the wind behind it,

And an army of firm resolve, behind which the wind limps,

while lightning’s foremost flashes strike only its rear ranks.

While lightning's first flashes trail his rearmost Arab steeds.

يُقاتلُ عنه الرُّعبُ قبلَ قِتاله

يُقاتلُ عنه الرُّعبُ قبلَ قِتاله

ويضرِب عنه النصرُ قبلَ ضِرابه

ويضرِب عنه النصرُ قبلَ ضِرابه

Terror fights for him before he fights,

Terror fights for him before his own fighting,

and victory strikes for him before his blows.

And victory strikes for him before his own blows.

يُضايقُ وجهَ الأرضِ طَوْرا بجيشِه

يُضايقُ وجهَ الأرضِ طَوْرا بجيشِه

فأَعْوَزُ شيءٍ جَلْسَةٌ في رِحابه

فأَعْوَزُ شيءٍ جَلْسَةٌ في رِحابه

At times his army crowds the face of the earth,

At times his army crowds the surface of the earth,

until the rarest thing is room within his camp.

So the rarest thing is a place to sit within its expanse.

وثارَ به في ساحةِ الخوفِ قَسْطَلٌ

وثارَ به في ساحةِ الخوفِ قَسْطَلٌ

فضاقتْ على عِقْبانِه وسَحابه

فضاقتْ على عِقْبانِه وسَحابه

At other times, with him in fear’s arena, a dust cloud rises,

Through him battle dust rose in the arena of fear,

constricting the sky around its eagles and clouds.

Till it grew too narrow for his eagles and clouds.

وأَطْرَفَ طَرْف الشمسِ حتى كأنّها

وأَطْرَفَ طَرْف الشمسِ حتى كأنّها

وقد خَفِيتْ وَسْنَى لفَرْطِ ضَبابه

وقد خَفِيتْ وَسْنَى لفَرْطِ ضَبابه

It lowers the sun’s eye until it seems

And he made the sun's eye blink, until it seemed

to flutter drowsily through the density of its haze.

Drowsy, concealed by the thickness of his haze.

وبثَّ على البحر الأساطيل جَحْفَلا

وبثَّ على البحر الأساطيل جَحْفَلا

بأكثرَ من نِينانِه ودَوابه

بأكثرَ من نِينانِه ودَوابه

He launched fleets upon the sea as a vast army,

He scattered fleets upon the sea as a mighty host,

more numerous than its fish and beasts.

More numerous than its fish and creatures.

فضَمَّ مُتون اللٌّجِّ منتِظم القَنا

فضَمَّ مُتون اللٌّجِّ منتِظم القَنا

كما يَتراءَى شِبْهُهم في إهابه

كما يَتراءَى شِبْهُهم في إهابه

He burdened the deep’s back with the long shafts of lances,

Ordered ranks of spears clasped the broad backs of the deep,

as their likeness appears bristling upon its hide.

As their likeness appeared upon its skin.

إذا عَن شاهِنْشاهُ ذِكْرا تزعزعتْ

إذا عَن شاهِنْشاهُ ذِكْرا تزعزعتْ

قوى كلِّ جبارٍ لفَرْط ارْتِعابه

قوى كلِّ جبارٍ لفَرْط ارْتِعابه

When Shāhanshāh is named in remembrance, there tremble

Whenever Shahanshah is mentioned,

the powers of every tyrant from sheer terror of him.

Every tyrant's strength is shaken by his utter terror.

كَسا الفَضْلُ فضْلا حين أضْحَى سَمِيَّه

كَسا الفَضْلُ فضْلا حين أضْحَى سَمِيَّه

ومَتَّ إلى أَفْعالِه بانتسابه

ومَتَّ إلى أَفْعالِه بانتسابه

He clothed Excellence in excellence when he became its namesake,

Excellence robed itself in excellence when it became his namesake,

and claimed kinship with it through his deeds.

And linked itself to his deeds through that kinship.

له قلمٌ يستخدِم السيفَ والقَنا

له قلمٌ يستخدِم السيفَ والقَنا

وتُغْنى وتُفْنى قطرةٌ من لُعابه

وتُغْنى وتُفْنى قطرةٌ من لُعابه

He has a pen that makes the sword and lance its servants,

He has a pen that commands the sword and spears;

and one drop of its fluid can enrich—or annihilate.

A drop of its saliva enriches and destroys.

تَوَدّ سُوَيْدا قلبِ كلِّ أخِى نُهىً

تَوَدّ سُوَيْدا قلبِ كلِّ أخِى نُهىً

إذا مدَّ نفْسا لو جرَتْ في مُذابه

إذا مدَّ نفْسا لو جرَتْ في مُذابه

The innermost heart of every discerning man wishes,

The dark core of every wise man's heart longs,

when it draws a breath, that it might flow within its ink.

Whenever it draws a breath, to flow in its molten liquid.

فمهما توالتْ نعمةٌ فبشَهْدِه

فمهما توالتْ نعمةٌ فبشَهْدِه

ومهما تناهتْ نقمةٌ فبصَابِه

ومهما تناهتْ نقمةٌ فبصَابِه

Whenever blessings follow one another, they come through its honey;

Whatever blessing comes in succession comes from its honey,

whenever vengeance reaches its utmost, through its bitter aloe.

And whatever punishment reaches its utmost comes from its bitter sap.

جمعتَ فنونَ الفضل فاخترتَ كل ما انْ

جمعتَ فنونَ الفضل فاخترتَ كل ما انْ

فرَدْتَ به من لُبِّه ولُبابه

فرَدْتَ به من لُبِّه ولُبابه

You gathered every art of excellence and chose all that

You gathered every kind of excellence, choosing all that you

made you peerless in its very essence and purest core.

Alone possessed of its essence and its purest core.

فيا عيدَ عيدَ الخَلْقِ يَهْنِيه أنه

فيا عيدَ عيدَ الخَلْقِ يَهْنِيه أنه

يُقيم ثلاثاً في ذَراكَ كدابِه

يُقيم ثلاثاً في ذَراكَ كدابِه

O delight of Eid for all creation, Eid rejoices that

O feast of mankind's feast! It is glad that it

it dwells three days in your shelter, as is its custom.

Dwells three days in your shelter, as is its custom,

ويُبصر فيها كلَّ مَلْكٍ مُقبِّلا

ويُبصر فيها كلَّ مَلْكٍ مُقبِّلا

لَدَيْك الثَّرَى معْ كبره واعْتِجابه

لَدَيْك الثَّرَى معْ كبره واعْتِجابه

There it beholds every king approaching—

And sees there every king kissing

the dust at your feet, despite his pride and vaunting.

The dust before you, despite his pride and self-admiration.

ويعلم أن العيد وجهُك دائما

ويعلم أن العيد وجهُك دائما

بمصرٍ ولكن نابَ بعضَ مَنابه

بمصرٍ ولكن نابَ بعضَ مَنابه

It knows that your face is ever the Eid

And knows that your face is forever the feast

in Egypt, though another has stood in for it awhile.

In Egypt, though it stands only partly in your stead;

وأنّ له من عُظْمِ قَدْرِك في الوَرَى

وأنّ له من عُظْمِ قَدْرِك في الوَرَى

ومن نَحْرِك الأعداءَ بعضَ مَشابه

ومن نَحْرِك الأعداءَ بعضَ مَشابه

Eid possesses, in the grandeur of your rank,

And that, in your great standing among mankind,

and in your slaughter of enemies, some resemblance to you.

And your slaughter of enemies, it somewhat resembles you.

بقيتَ تُهَنَّا كلَّ يومٍ بنعمةٍ

بقيتَ تُهَنَّا كلَّ يومٍ بنعمةٍ

مَدَى الدهرِ من تَوْديعِه لإيابِه

مَدَى الدهرِ من تَوْديعِه لإيابِه

May you remain congratulated each day with a blessing,

May you keep receiving congratulations each day for a blessing,

through all time, from Eid’s farewell until its return.

Throughout time, from its departure to its return.

فإنك معنىً والخليفةُ كلُّها

فإنك معنىً والخليفةُ كلُّها

كلامُ زمان لو عَداكَ هَذَى به

كلامُ زمان لو عَداكَ هَذَى به

For you are the meaning, and the caliphate in its entirety

For you are meaning, and the caliph is wholly

the speech of an age that, without you, would babble it.

Time's speech: without you, it would babble.