1. Thus let the Imam support religion,
And with his name fill the earth with peace,

2. And extinguish among his people the flames
Kindled by discord and strife.

3. Thus let the valiant lion come forth
From the thickets, raging,

4. Awakened by authority and affairs,
Active again after prolonged slumber.

5. Thus let the hostile people return
To the paths of guidance and righteousness,

6. And pure knowledge that you are for the servants
A light when darkness intensifies.

7. You dwelt, O Banu Uthman, for an age
Counting the battalions therein in secret.

8. So your enemies thought evil of your kingdom
And said the Turks had seized power.

9. Your stillness emboldened them, so they came forth
And roamed and swaggered and lingered,

10. Bent on waging war against you while turmoil brewed in the homeland,
Frightening the people till they were distraught and confused.

11. By their unity they gained strength,
But when they met you they were subdued

12. And disgraced, humbled before you,
Defeated, routed and dismayed.

13. They departed from your tent vanquished,
Biting their fingers in regret,

14. Wandering and bewildered, humbled,
Yet they are a people of mighty chiefs.

15. They returned to fill the land with dread
And harm in East and West,

16. To seize both non-Arab and Arab realms,
So people feared, were troubled and confused.

17. Some yielded, broken and disgraced,
While others resisted the aggressor,

18. Kindling a blaze round their homeland.
Between them the land quaked with the clash.

19. They feared only the open field
Where in China’s land a terrible fire blazed,

20. Beyond their present state,
For they knew not the way nor stayed on course.

21. They met the Islamic army
That on the morrow was a fortress and bulwark before the sanctuary,

22. With zeal shaking even mountains,
A jealous guardian, whose fury could not be contained.

23. How many intractable trials they faced there,
Strange, difficult events,

24. And awesome, monumental miracles
That might cause schism and division!

25. They found no way to salvation
From the harsh, ominous attacks

26. That made them fear past and future
Except you, for you are the splendid King.

27. You came to the rescue of the countries and those in them
With a command that would fill both sides,

28. With guidance, restoring vitality,
As is your custom, O Imam.

29. You acted well, as you desire,
Toward a people who so wronged us,

30. And were it not for your gentle heart and clemency
They would be our food tomorrow.

31. Commander of the Faithful, yours are our prayers
We repeat as loyalty requires,

32. And your absolute obedience and fealty,
And your status, pacts, and high principles.

33. Through your noble mission, good tidings were proclaimed
Of an age in which religion gained victory

34. Over its enemies on land and sea,
And Uthman’s kingdom was unified.

35. To spread the faith is its distant goal,
And in God’s name its blessed endeavor,

36. Its rise was felicitous,
And its course thereafter sublime.

37. The people will show love and celebration
At its arrival, praise and compliance,

38. And cast tongues and blades
As affinity and harmony commence.

39. For the righteous are the signs of the Book,
Conferring kindness and reward,

40. While the wicked face severe punishment
And the fires of cannons and swords.

41. A noble work it is in the world,
Firm in achieving what we hope,

42. Through which the Guardian and the Prophet triumphed,
And the strength of religion and the Sacred Land.

43. May God protect you, O Abd al-Hamid,
And guard you among your servant subjects,

44. And may the enduring wisdom of your sound counsel
Prevail in the wild and hold sway.

45. So O Shauqi, my longing for the auspicious day
That restores the glories of old,

46. Where I see the land blooming with bliss,
Peace and order prevailing.

47. Where in the West, invocation brings hearts together,
Echoing when space is filled with light,

48. And in the East, the banner unites
Of a Sultan who aspires but covets not.

49. By your life, I have strong hope
Tomorrow my thoughts will prove true,

50. I will attain its fulfillment while alive
With your command in your firm hand.

51. O Banu Uthman, you are the light of my eye,
My path between my hopes and me,

52. My pride in you is my honor and beauty,
And so are the joys of youth and wine.

53. Are you not the best that ever fought
And met its horrors with joy and delight,

54. Dispelling troubles from your homelands
So they lived in safety, free of discord?

55. You have a homeland the nights watch over,
A Caliph’s throne of majesty,

56. Girt with virtues and glories,
Its might enduring through the land.

57. Ask the Bosphorus of fearful tides,
Manifestation of that awful might,

58. And bastion of the ample kingdom,
How it bowed before you in submission.

59. The Merciful watered your land and irrigated it,
Strengthened your resolve and empowered you,

60. While you remained the noblest of peoples,
Forgiving the offender when vengeance was due.