1. How excellent to pass by the sand dunes of al-Hijan,
For they were surpassed in excellence by your visage and your firmness.

2. Leave to fate the excess of tribulations,
A father whose purpose is far-reaching and whose days have no end.

3. Address it through a door frequented by every master,
Protected by him, becoming safe and inviolable.

4. By the door of the Commander of the Faithful, and with him
Against the vicissitudes of time transgressions and aggressions cease.

5. A leader whom you see the commoner in the grasp of his generosity
Fettered by his mighty hands, made captive.

6. By him the staff of the caliphate flourished and became arrogant,
Inclining in majesty, or rather bowing in glory.

7. When the light eastern breeze moves it gently towards the dew,
The train of favors cascades, falling prostrate.

8. From the family of al-‘Abbas he has a long line of noble deeds
That vie in place with the stars, extending and adjoining.

9. So al-Mustansir bi-llah inherited his good fortune,
And bequeathed greater bliss to al-Musta‘sim bi-llah.

10. You see him on the day of contention an eloquent speaker,
And on the day of battle a supporter made steadfast.

11. The clouds stir him to noble deeds,
And lightning rouses him against calamities as a warner.

12. Through him God has set right affairs properly,
And prepared a piercing arrow into the enemies, precisely aimed.

13. He set upright the affairs of the devout, so they rose up
To correct whatever of them had become distorted.

14. He strengthened the weakening pillars of Islam
And gathered together a community that had become fragmented.

15. So you have remained, O patron of favors, supported
High upon the shoulder of Taurus, made victorious.

16. You were granted success in the exalted palace which has become,
Through your ascension, a stronghold, well-constructed.

17. Its gardens being Paradise, for you are immortal,
Supplicating throughout its corners for increase and abundance.

18. From it you observe the leaves of wishes blossoming,
And the light of joys constantly flowing.

19. The branches of good fortune shade you gently,
To gather the fruits of triumph, far reaching.

20. By my life, it is indeed the garden of eternity, delightful!
For in it you live forever, made eternal.

21. You have settled in it like a lion in his den,
Or the full moon when it emerges between its points.

22. So from your shining light it beams radiantly,
And from your lofty glory becomes sublime in glory.

23. I wish this day that I were standing
To speak fully and attain the purpose of my discourse;

24. For you are deserving, by my life, of the pains of many praises
Which one like me undertakes on behalf of the people, chanting poetry.

25. I am your orator of glories and poet of your honor;
My speech is like my verse which has flowed in your honor, distantly.

26. Eloquent, surpassing rival orators in rhymed prose;
Articulate, exceeding writers of verse in meaning.

27. Belonging through a soul, or rather an embellished line of verse,
And acts of devout obedience in which enemies are repelled.

28. They have restored the banner of unbelief beneath your banner
Vanquished, and plunged into death because of you forcibly.

29. For him you have a pact, ancient and binding,
That increases in loyalty even if covenants are renewed.

30. Time’s misfortunes rouse you, while you
Prepare for him equipment, fulfilling promise and obligation.

31. And how could it be otherwise, when I have descended upon your sanctuary
An newcomer, hoping for your ancestor to be my supporter –

32. Abu Ahmad, by being near you through Ahmad.
And how could one who hopes for the aid of Muhammad,

33. Whose daybreak after nightfall is like water, reject Muhammad?
For the duration of time, renewed help comes from him,

34. Whereby honor in your ascent is seen to be renewed.
A promise has not ceased to be made binding by you,

35. Seeing me, for a return, enumerating my lifetimes.
Whitening the darkness of despair just as it has become

36. A whitener of my despair from hoping in you, obscured.
Time’s rebel remains obedient to your fathers

37. Whenever a matter confusing him causes him to surrender in devotion.
They are what they are, having apportioned time in equal shares

38. For battle and for tranquility.
Heroic glory, or rather a warrior’s determination,

39. Prepared for fighting and exertion.
Indeed, that which his suspicions whispered to him

40. Has deceived him, just as a lofty pinnacle deceives one ascending a mountain.
I have come to you from the hidden valley of Tihama,

41. Seeking to straighten my course towards you as a supporter.
Is it appropriate, O son of the caliphs, to see

42. Your immigrant driven away from you, expelled and displaced?
And that he who has resorted to you be distant

43. From Abu Ahmad in seeking nearness through Ahmad?
And how could one who hopes for the aid of Muhammad,