أَهلُ البَلاغَةِ يَهني القَلبَ إِن صاروا

أَهلُ البَلاغَةِ يَهني القَلبَ إِن صاروا

لِلناسِ حِصناً وَلِلناموسِ أَنصارُ

لِلناسِ حِصناً وَلِلناموسِ أَنصارُ

Masters of eloquence gladden the heart when they become

The people of eloquence gladden the heart if they become

A fortress for the people and defenders of the law.

A fortress for people and supporters of law

سَموا وَسادوا بِعِلمٍ زانَهُ عَمَلٌ

سَموا وَسادوا بِعِلمٍ زانَهُ عَمَلٌ

وَعَزَّزَ الشانُ تَرجيحٌ وَإيثارُ

وَعَزَّزَ الشانُ تَرجيحٌ وَإيثارُ

They rose high and gained eminence through knowledge adorned by deeds.

They excelled and presided with knowledge adorned by deed

And preference and favor enhanced their standing.

And status empowered by preference and choosing

عَلا مَقاماً وَقامَ السَعدُ يَخدِمُهُ

عَلا مَقاماً وَقامَ السَعدُ يَخدِمُهُ

وَحازَ فَخراً بِهِ الرُكبانُ قَد ساروا

وَحازَ فَخراً بِهِ الرُكبانُ قَد ساروا

He rose in rank, and good fortune arose to serve him.

His station became high and good fortune started serving him

And won glory that riders carried on their journeys.

And the caravan gained pride through him after they walked

يا فَوزَ كُلَّ مُلَمٍّ أَمَّ ساحَتُهُ

يا فَوزَ كُلَّ مُلَمٍّ أَمَّ ساحَتُهُ

وَيا شَقاوَةَ مَن شَطَت بِهِ الدارُ

وَيا شَقاوَةَ مَن شَطَت بِهِ الدارُ

How fortunate is every visitor who sought his courtyard!

O, the success of every learned man or his domain

And how wretched is the one whose home lies far away!

And o, the misery of those whom the houses enticed

لَهُ مِنَ الرَأيِ ما تَرضى الخُصومُ بِهِ

لَهُ مِنَ الرَأيِ ما تَرضى الخُصومُ بِهِ

وَلا عَدو لَهُ بِالسُخطِ يَنهارُ

وَلا عَدو لَهُ بِالسُخطِ يَنهارُ

His counsel is such that adversaries are content with it.

He has opinion that even adversaries accept

And no enemy of his collapses in resentment.

And he has no enemy that would collapse in anger

صَبا إِلى المَجدِ وَالعَليا بِهِ اِفتَتَنَت

صَبا إِلى المَجدِ وَالعَليا بِهِ اِفتَتَنَت

فَلا غَرابَةَ إِن كانوا لَهُ اِختاروا

فَلا غَرابَةَ إِن كانوا لَهُ اِختاروا

He yearned for glory, and eminence was enchanted by him.

He strode to glory and the most high because of it they got fascinated

So it is no wonder they made their choice in his favor.

So it's no wonder if they chose him

بَرٌّ بِإِخوانِهِ موفٍ لِعَهدِهِم

بَرٌّ بِإِخوانِهِ موفٍ لِعَهدِهِم

مُتابِعِ الحَقِّ لا خِلٌّ وَلا جارُ

مُتابِعِ الحَقِّ لا خِلٌّ وَلا جارُ

Kind to his brethren, faithful to their covenant,

Righteous to his brothers, loyal to their covenant

A follower of truth—not of friend or neighbor.

Following the truth, no defect or harm

راضٍ وَعَينُ الرِضا بِالحَظِّ تَرمُقُهُ

راضٍ وَعَينُ الرِضا بِالحَظِّ تَرمُقُهُ

وَلا عُيوبَ مُعاذِ اللَهِ أَو عارُ

وَلا عُيوبَ مُعاذِ اللَهِ أَو عارُ

Content, while favor’s eye casts him a fortunate glance,

Pleased and the eye of consent observes him through perception

And without faults—God forbid!—or disgrace.

No flaws - may Allah forbid - or dishonor

يا أَحسَنَ الناسِ أَخلاقاً وَمَعرِفَةً

يا أَحسَنَ الناسِ أَخلاقاً وَمَعرِفَةً

وَالحِلمُ يُنبِئُ وَالأَعمالُ تَذكارُ

وَالحِلمُ يُنبِئُ وَالأَعمالُ تَذكارُ

O best of people in character and knowledge,

O best of people in morals and knowledge

And forbearance speaks, and deeds are a reminder.

Forbearance indicates and deeds remind

بِمَ اِتَّخَذتَ قُلوبَ الناسِ قاطِبَةً

بِمَ اِتَّخَذتَ قُلوبَ الناسِ قاطِبَةً

رَقا إِلَيكَ وَلَم تَفديكَ أَعمارُ

رَقا إِلَيكَ وَلَم تَفديكَ أَعمارُ

By what have you made the hearts of all people

With what did you take the hearts of people in their entirety

Slaves to you, though lifetimes have not ransomed you?

Fond of you and lifetimes did not ransom you

أَما وَرَبُّكَ لا شَيءَ يَقودُهُم

أَما وَرَبُّكَ لا شَيءَ يَقودُهُم

إِلّا المَحاسِنَ وَالأَخلاقَ آثارُ

إِلّا المَحاسِنَ وَالأَخلاقَ آثارُ

Indeed, by your Lord, nothing leads them

No, by your Lord, nothing leads them

Except fine qualities—and character leaves its mark.

Except good deeds and traces of morals

شَكَرَ الإِلَهُ عَلى ما نِلتَ مِن مِنَنٍ

شَكَرَ الإِلَهُ عَلى ما نِلتَ مِن مِنَنٍ

وَسَوفَ تَبلُغُ ما تَبغي وَتَختارُ

وَسَوفَ تَبلُغُ ما تَبغي وَتَختارُ

Give thanks to God for the blessings you have received,

Thank Allah for what you got of blessings

And you shall attain what you seek and choose.

And you will attain what you want and choose

إِنّي إِلَيكَ بَشيرُ الناسِ أَجمَعُهُم

إِنّي إِلَيكَ بَشيرُ الناسِ أَجمَعُهُم

يُنبيكَ بِالصِدقِ فَلتُهنِئكَ أَخبارُ

يُنبيكَ بِالصِدقِ فَلتُهنِئكَ أَخبارُ

I bring you glad tidings on behalf of all the people,

I'm the bearer of glad tidings to all people combined

Telling you truthfully—so may the tidings gladden you!

Informing you sincerely so my news will make you happy