جادَت يَداكَ إِلى أَن هُجِّنَ المَطَرُ

جادَت يَداكَ إِلى أَن هُجِّنَ المَطَرُ

وَزانَ وَجهُكَ حَتّى قُبِّحَ القَمَرُ

وَزانَ وَجهُكَ حَتّى قُبِّحَ القَمَرُ

Your hands gave so freely that rain was put to shame.

Your hands were generous until the rain was polluted,

And your face was so fair that the moon was made to seem ugly.

And your face shone until the moon was disgraced.

أَمسَت عُقولُ البَرايا فِيكَ حائِرَةً

أَمسَت عُقولُ البَرايا فِيكَ حائِرَةً

فَلَيسَ يُدرى هِلالٌ أَنتَ أَم بَشَرُ

فَلَيسَ يُدرى هِلالٌ أَنتَ أَم بَشَرُ

The minds of all creatures are left bewildered by you,

The minds of men have become confused about you,

so none can tell whether you are a crescent moon or a human.

So it is not known whether you are a crescent moon or a mortal.

لَو كُنتَ في عَصرِ قَومٍ سارَ ذِكرُهُمُ

لَو كُنتَ في عَصرِ قَومٍ سارَ ذِكرُهُمُ

في الجاهِلِيَّةِ لَم تُكتَب لَهُم سِيَرُ

في الجاهِلِيَّةِ لَم تُكتَب لَهُم سِيَرُ

Had you lived in the age of men whose fame spread

If you had lived in the time of a people whose fame

in the pre-Islamic age, no biographies of them would have been written.

Spread in the Jahiliyyah, they would not have had biographies written.

وَلَو لَحِقتَ زَمانَ الوَحيِ ما نَزَلَت

وَلَو لَحِقتَ زَمانَ الوَحيِ ما نَزَلَت

إِلّا بِتَفضِيلِكِ الآياتُ وَالسُوَرُ

إِلّا بِتَفضِيلِكِ الآياتُ وَالسُوَرُ

And had you lived in the time of revelation, none would have descended

And if you had coincided with the era of revelation,

but verses and surahs proclaiming your preeminence.

Only verses and surahs praising you would have been revealed.

إِنَّ العُصُورَ وَأَهلِيها الَّذينَ مَضَوا

إِنَّ العُصُورَ وَأَهلِيها الَّذينَ مَضَوا

مُذ مَرَّ ذِكرُكَ بِالأَسماعِ ما ذُكِرُوا

مُذ مَرَّ ذِكرُكَ بِالأَسماعِ ما ذُكِرُوا

The ages, and their people who have passed away,

The eras and their people who have passed

have gone unmentioned since your fame reached the ears.

Since your name was heard have not been mentioned.

أَبدَعتَ في كُلِّ شَيءٍ أَنتَ فاعِلُهُ

أَبدَعتَ في كُلِّ شَيءٍ أَنتَ فاعِلُهُ

فَلَم يُقَس بِكَ لا بَدوٌ وَلا حَضَرُ

فَلَم يُقَس بِكَ لا بَدوٌ وَلا حَضَرُ

You have excelled in everything you do,

You were the doer of everything in every way,

so neither nomads nor townspeople have been compared with you.

So neither nomad nor settled were compared to you.

هَجَّنتَهُمُ وَأَبانَ الفَضلُ نَقصَهُمُ

هَجَّنتَهُمُ وَأَبانَ الفَضلُ نَقصَهُمُ

حَتّى لَأزرَت عَلى سُكّانِها الحُفَرُ

حَتّى لَأزرَت عَلى سُكّانِها الحُفَرُ

You put them to shame, and your excellence exposed their shortcomings,

You confounded them and excellence exposed their defects

until even the graves scorned their occupants.

Until the holes were too narrow for their inhabitants.

لا يَنعَتِ الناسُ جَوّاباً وَلا زُفَراً

لا يَنعَتِ الناسُ جَوّاباً وَلا زُفَراً

فَما يُدانِيكَ جَوّابٌ وَلا زُفَرُ

فَما يُدانِيكَ جَوّابٌ وَلا زُفَرُ

Let people no longer extol Jawwab or Zufar,

People cannot match a reply or sigh to you,

for neither Jawwab nor Zufar comes close to you.

For no reply or sigh can equal you.

ما الخَبرُ كَالخَبَرِ المَروِيِّ مُذ زَمَنٍ

ما الخَبرُ كَالخَبَرِ المَروِيِّ مُذ زَمَنٍ

يا صاحِ هَل يَتَساوى الخُبرُ وَالخَبَرُ

يا صاحِ هَل يَتَساوى الخُبرُ وَالخَبَرُ

A report is not like a tale handed down from long ago;

No news is like transmitted news since olden times -

my friend, are firsthand knowledge and a report alike?

O you whose news is unequalled by any news!

مَضى الزَمانُ وَمِن أَنبائِهِ أُمَمٌ

مَضى الزَمانُ وَمِن أَنبائِهِ أُمَمٌ

رامُوا مَرامَكَ في الدُنيا فَما قَدَرُوا

رامُوا مَرامَكَ في الدُنيا فَما قَدَرُوا

Time has passed, and among its tales are peoples

Time has passed and nations within it

who sought your goal in this world but could not attain it.

Who aspired to your goals in life did not achieve them.

إِنَّ المَحَلَّ الَّذي أَصبَحتَ مُدرِكَهُ

إِنَّ المَحَلَّ الَّذي أَصبَحتَ مُدرِكَهُ

دُونَ المَحَلِّ الَّذي أَصبَحتَ تَنتَظِرُ

دُونَ المَحَلِّ الَّذي أَصبَحتَ تَنتَظِرُ

The station you have now attained

The position you have reached is not

is below the station you now await.

The position you were hoping to reach.

إِذا صَعِدتَ مِنَ العَلياءِ في دَرَجٍ

إِذا صَعِدتَ مِنَ العَلياءِ في دَرَجٍ

تَسَبَّبَت دَرَجٌ مِن فَوقِها أُخَرُ

تَسَبَّبَت دَرَجٌ مِن فَوقِها أُخَرُ

Whenever you ascend through the heights by steps,

If you ascend the highest rank after rank,

still other steps open up above them.

Another rank higher than it is necessarily formed.

لا يَنتَهِي لَكَ إِقبالٌ إِلى أَمَدِ

لا يَنتَهِي لَكَ إِقبالٌ إِلى أَمَدِ

وَلا يَنُصُّ إِلى وَقتٍ لَكَ العُمُرُ

وَلا يَنُصُّ إِلى وَقتٍ لَكَ العُمُرُ

Your good fortune has no final limit,

You have no end to glory and no limit to your life,

nor does your lifespan hasten toward an appointed term.

You ascend and meet the falling stars of the sky,

تَرقى وَتَلقى نُجُومَ الجَوِّ هابِطَةً

تَرقى وَتَلقى نُجُومَ الجَوِّ هابِطَةً

فَأَنتَ تَصعَدُ وَالعَيُوقُ يَنحَدِرُ

فَأَنتَ تَصعَدُ وَالعَيُوقُ يَنحَدِرُ

You rise, meeting the stars of the sky as they descend,

While you rise and obstacles tumble down.

for you ascend while Capella descends.

Time was ignorant and turned to you,

كانَ الزَمانُ بَهِيماً وَاِتَّفَقتَ لَهُ

كانَ الزَمانُ بَهِيماً وَاِتَّفَقتَ لَهُ

فَغَيَّرَت لَونَهُ أَيّامُكَ الغُرَرُ

فَغَيَّرَت لَونَهُ أَيّامُكَ الغُرَرُ

Time was pitch-black, and you came its way,

So your blessed days altered its color.

so your radiant days changed its color.

As for your hands, they have been given power

أَمّا يَداكَ فَقَد أَمسَت مُسَلَّطَةً

أَمّا يَداكَ فَقَد أَمسَت مُسَلَّطَةً

عَلى النُضارِ فَلا تُبقي وَلا تَذَرُ

عَلى النُضارِ فَلا تُبقي وَلا تَذَرُ

As for your hands, they have been given mastery

Over the blossoms, leaving neither remainder nor trace.

over gold, sparing nothing and leaving nothing.

You have exhausted your treasures and hastened to gather good praise

أَفنَت كُنُوزَكَ وَاستَبقَت جَميل ثَناً

أَفنَت كُنُوزَكَ وَاستَبقَت جَميل ثَناً

يَعفُو الزَمانُ وَلا يَعفُو لَهُ أَثَرُ

يَعفُو الزَمانُ وَلا يَعفُو لَهُ أَثَرُ

They exhausted your treasures and preserved fair praise;

While time pardons but leaves no trace pardoned.

time fades, but no trace of that praise fades.

No trees blossomed and ripened their branches

لا أَقفَرَت شَجَراتٌ عَرَّقَت وَزَكَت

لا أَقفَرَت شَجَراتٌ عَرَّقَت وَزَكَت

فُرُوعُها فَزَكا مِنهُنَّ ذا الثَمَرُ

فُرُوعُها فَزَكا مِنهُنَّ ذا الثَمَرُ

May the trees that struck root never grow barren; thriving were

Without their fruits ripening from them as well.

their branches, and from them this fruit thrived.

As for the frontiers, they are barred by an impassable man

أَما الثُغُورُ فَقَد سُدَّت بِمُنتَجبٍ

أَما الثُغُورُ فَقَد سُدَّت بِمُنتَجبٍ

ماضِي العَزِيمَةِ ما في عُودِهِ خَوَرُ

ماضِي العَزِيمَةِ ما في عُودِهِ خَوَرُ

As for the frontiers, they have been secured by a chosen man,

Whose will cannot be broken and whose sword has no notch.

firm of resolve, with no weakness in his timber,

A resilient skin covers the days' shame

جَلدٍ عَلى نُوَبِ الأَيّامِ مُصطَبرٍ

جَلدٍ عَلى نُوَبِ الأَيّامِ مُصطَبرٍ

لَولا نَداهُ لَقُلنا إِنَّهُ حَجَرُ

لَولا نَداهُ لَقُلنا إِنَّهُ حَجَرُ

tough in the face of time's blows, steadfast;

If not for his voice we would think him a rock.

were it not for his bounty, we would call him stone.

The thing he loves most in his realms

أَحَبُّ شَيءٍ إِلَيهِ في مَمالِكِهِ

أَحَبُّ شَيءٍ إِلَيهِ في مَمالِكِهِ

أَن يُجمَعَ الحَمدُ لا أَن تُجمَعَ البَدرُ

أَن يُجمَعَ الحَمدُ لا أَن تُجمَعَ البَدرُ

The thing he loves most in his dominions

Is for praise to be gathered, not moons.

is that praise be amassed, not purses of money.

He guides pure musk to the earth, his slipper

يُهدي إِلى التُربِ طِيباً طِيبُ أَخمَصِهِ

يُهدي إِلى التُربِ طِيباً طِيبُ أَخمَصِهِ

حَتّى يَقُومَ مَقامَ العَنبَرِ العَفَرُ

حَتّى يَقُومَ مَقامَ العَنبَرِ العَفَرُ

The fragrance of his foot's hollow lends fragrance to the soil,

Taking the place of aromatic ambergris.

until dust takes the place of ambergris.

His blessed face finds no hardship in keeping vows

مُبارَكُ الوَجهِ لا مِيثاقُهُ حَرِجٌ

مُبارَكُ الوَجهِ لا مِيثاقُهُ حَرِجٌ

عَنِ الوَفاءِ ولا مَعرُوفُهُ عَسِرُ

عَنِ الوَفاءِ ولا مَعرُوفُهُ عَسِرُ

Blessed of countenance, his pledge is never held back

Or doing good, neither bitter nor difficult.

from fulfillment, nor is his favor hard to obtain.

The staffs that bled testified to his superiority,

يُجِدي وَيُردي فَإِمّا وَاهِباً نِعمَاً

يُجِدي وَيُردي فَإِمّا وَاهِباً نِعمَاً

أَو سالِباً فَهوَ لا حُلوٌ وَلا صَبِرُ

أَو سالِباً فَهوَ لا حُلوٌ وَلا صَبِرُ

He enriches and slays: either bestowing blessings

As did travel, night journey, and travel.

or despoiling; he is neither sweetness nor bitter aloe.

Look and look at something marvelous made by his Creator,

أَثنَت عَلى فَضلِهِ العِيسُ الَّتي دَمِيَت

أَثنَت عَلى فَضلِهِ العِيسُ الَّتي دَمِيَت

أَخفافُها وَالسُرى وَالسَفرُ وَالسَفَرُ

أَخفافُها وَالسُرى وَالسَفرُ وَالسَفَرُ

His bounty was praised by the pale camels, bleeding

About which, and its like, eyes are confused.

at their footpads, and by night journeys, wayfarers, and travel.

A collar on the fortunate king, its pendant

أُنظُر لِتَنظُرَ شَيئاً جَلَّ خالِقُهُ

أُنظُر لِتَنظُرَ شَيئاً جَلَّ خالِقُهُ

يَحارُ فيهِ وَفي أَمثالِهِ النَظَرُ

يَحارُ فيهِ وَفي أَمثالِهِ النَظَرُ

Look, to behold something—exalted is its creator—

Like a halo with a moon in its midst.

at which, and at its like, the gaze is bewildered:

And a garment of sunlight radiant,

طَوقاً عَلى المَلِكِ المَيمُونِ طائِرُهُ

طَوقاً عَلى المَلِكِ المَيمُونِ طائِرُهُ

كَأَنَّهُ هالَةٌ فِي وَسطِها قَمَرُ

كَأَنَّهُ هالَةٌ فِي وَسطِها قَمَرُ

a collar on the king whose omen is auspicious,

Eyes cannot remain fixed upon it.

like a halo with a moon at its center;

The pleiades have ignited such that if

وَحُلَّةً مِن أَدِيمِ الشَمسِ مُشرِقَةً

وَحُلَّةً مِن أَدِيمِ الشَمسِ مُشرِقَةً

لا يَستَطيعُ ثَباتاً فَوقَها البَصَرُ

لا يَستَطيعُ ثَباتاً فَوقَها البَصَرُ

and a radiant robe made from the sun's own skin,

You brought it near without blowing you would see fire kindle.

on which the eye cannot hold its gaze.

A hole through which water can be seen wringing from his palms

تَوَقَّدَ التِبرُ حَتّى لَو دَنَوتَ بِهِ

تَوَقَّدَ التِبرُ حَتّى لَو دَنَوتَ بِهِ

مِن غَيرِ لَفحٍ رَأَيتَ النارَ تَستَعِرُ

مِن غَيرِ لَفحٍ رَأَيتَ النارَ تَستَعِرُ

The gold blazed so fiercely that, if you came close to it,

Has spared it much of its burning.

you would see fire flaring, without a scorching blast.

This and a belt of Orion studded

قَد كَفَّها عَن كَثِيرٍ مِن تَوَقُّدِها

قَد كَفَّها عَن كَثِيرٍ مِن تَوَقُّدِها

خِرقٌ يُرى الماءُ مِن كَفَّيهِ يَنعَصِرُ

خِرقٌ يُرى الماءُ مِن كَفَّيهِ يَنعَصِرُ

Much of its blazing has been restrained

With ruby and pearls around it.

by a generous man from whose two palms water is seen being wrung.

And a sharp, male sword whose bearer

هَذا وَمِن أَنجُمِ الجَوزاءِ مِنطَقَةٌ

هَذا وَمِن أَنجُمِ الجَوزاءِ مِنطَقَةٌ

مُرَصَّعٌ حَولَها الياقُوتُ والدُرَرُ

مُرَصَّعٌ حَولَها الياقُوتُ والدُرَرُ

Here too is a girdle made from the stars of Orion,

Turns away from this sword of rule.

with rubies and pearls inlaid all around it;

Everything obeyed it necessarily,

وَصارِماً ذَكَراً قَد نابَ حامِلُهُ

وَصارِماً ذَكَراً قَد نابَ حامِلُهُ

عَنِ الخَليفَةِ هَذا الصارِمُ الذَكَرُ

عَنِ الخَليفَةِ هَذا الصارِمُ الذَكَرُ

and a keen, hard-tempered sword, whose bearer has deputized

Even fate, time, and predestination.

for the caliph—this keen, hard-tempered sword.

Chosen by Ad and left as inheritance

أَطاعَهُ كُلُّ شَيءٍ طاعَةً حُتِمَت

أَطاعَهُ كُلُّ شَيءٍ طاعَةً حُتِمَت

حَتّى القَضاءُ وَحَتّى الحَينُ وَالقَدَرُ

حَتّى القَضاءُ وَحَتّى الحَينُ وَالقَدَرُ

Everything obeyed him with an obedience decreed,

To the noble youths of his son Mudar.

even divine decree, even death and destiny.

As if its sheaths were filled with uncut gems

مِمّا تَخَيَّرَهُ عادٌ وَخَلَّفَهُ

مِمّا تَخَيَّرَهُ عادٌ وَخَلَّفَهُ

لِلسّادَةِ الغُرِّ مِن أَبنائِهِ مُضَرُ

لِلسّادَةِ الغُرِّ مِن أَبنائِهِ مُضَرُ

From what 'Ad selected, and what was bequeathed

Or a river flowed in its scabbard.

by Mudar to the illustrious lords among his sons,

And an eye aspiring with breasts in its gaze

كَأَنَّما حُمِّلَت مِنهُ حَمائِلُهُ

كَأَنَّما حُمِّلَت مِنهُ حَمائِلُهُ

عَقِيقَةً أَو جَرى في غِمدِهِ نَهَرُ

عَقِيقَةً أَو جَرى في غِمدِهِ نَهَرُ

as though its baldrics had been laden with

A long length loved and shortness in its strap.

a lightning flash, or a river flowed within its sheath.

As if burning embers with no sparks

وَطامِحَ الطَرفِ نَهداً في سَبائِبِهِ

وَطامِحَ الطَرفِ نَهداً في سَبائِبِهِ

طُولٌ يُحَبُّ وَفِي أَرساغِهِ قِصَرُ

طُولٌ يُحَبُّ وَفِي أَرساغِهِ قِصَرُ

And a proud-eyed, sturdy steed, in whose flowing hair is

Were over its conductor and helmet.

a pleasing length, while its pasterns are short;

He walks in the most dignified manner, no slipperiness leading him

كَأَنَّما فَوقَ هادِيهِ وَلَبَّتِهِ

كَأَنَّما فَوقَ هادِيهِ وَلَبَّتِهِ

مِنَ الحُلى جَمَراتٌ ما لَها شَرَرُ

مِنَ الحُلى جَمَراتٌ ما لَها شَرَرُ

as though upon its neck and breast

Astray from righteousness, nor tempting illusion guiding him.

the ornaments were embers without sparks.

And a banner whose peak has been tied

يَمشِي بِأَروعَ لا يَهُفو بِهِ زَلَلٌ

يَمشِي بِأَروعَ لا يَهُفو بِهِ زَلَلٌ

عَنِ الرَشادِ وَلا يَقتادُهُ الغَرَرُ

عَنِ الرَشادِ وَلا يَقتادُهُ الغَرَرُ

It walks bearing a noble man whom no misstep carries

With power, support, and victory above it.

away from sound guidance, nor does peril lure him on.

Like a garden of sorrow blossoming

وَرايَةٌ باتَ مَعقُوداً بِذِروَتِها

وَرايَةٌ باتَ مَعقُوداً بِذِروَتِها

مِن فَوقِهِ العِزُّ وَالتَأيِيدُ وَالظَفَرُ

مِن فَوقِهِ العِزُّ وَالتَأيِيدُ وَالظَفَرُ

And a banner, at whose summit remained bound

With wild plants and green greenery.

above him, might, support, and victory;

Its edges twist and the wind opens it

كَرَوضَةٍ مِن رِياضِ الحَزنِ مَونِقَةٍ

كَرَوضَةٍ مِن رِياضِ الحَزنِ مَونِقَةٍ

مِنها اللَياحُ وَمِنها الأَخضَرُ النَضِرُ

مِنها اللَياحُ وَمِنها الأَخضَرُ النَضِرُ

like a lovely garden among the gardens of the uplands,

As blossoms opened from its sleeves.

part gleaming white, part fresh and green.

It sways in joy and good fortune encompasses it

تَلتَفُّ أَطرافُها وَالرِيحُ تَفتحُها

تَلتَفُّ أَطرافُها وَالرِيحُ تَفتحُها

كَما تَفَتَّحَ مِن أَكمامِهِ الزَهَرُ

كَما تَفَتَّحَ مِن أَكمامِهِ الزَهَرُ

Its edges curl together, and the wind unfolds it,

As if it knew of its good fortune.

as flowers unfold from their buds.

Behind it stretches longer-lasting glory

تَهتَزُّ مِن فَرَحٍ وَالسَعدُ شامِلُها

تَهتَزُّ مِن فَرَحٍ وَالسَعدُ شامِلُها

كَأَنَّما عِندَها مِن سَعدِها خَبَرُ

كَأَنَّما عِندَها مِن سَعدِها خَبَرُ

It quivers with joy, good fortune enfolding it,

Without boredom or fatigue.

as though it had news of its own good fortune.

A delegation came to it after delegation in its field

مِن خَلفِ أَطوَلَ مِنها باعَ مَكرُمَةٍ

مِن خَلفِ أَطوَلَ مِنها باعَ مَكرُمَةٍ

في المَجدِ لا مَلَلٌ فيهِ وَلا ضَجَرُ

في المَجدِ لا مَلَلٌ فيهِ وَلا ضَجَرُ

Behind one whose reach in noble deeds is longer than its own,

And groups parked in succession after groups.

in glory, with neither weariness nor impatience in him.

It meets freely flowing streams of royal pride

أَناخَ وَفدٌ عَلى وَفدٍ بِساحَتِهِ

أَناخَ وَفدٌ عَلى وَفدٍ بِساحَتِهِ

وَعَرَّسَت زُمَرٌ في إِثرِها زُمَرُ

وَعَرَّسَت زُمَرٌ في إِثرِها زُمَرُ

Delegation after delegation has halted in his courtyard,

Which neither roses diminish nor thorns.

and companies have camped, with companies following in their wake.

He sets out in the morning and standards precede him

تَلقى مَوارِد فَخرِ المُلكِ مُترَعَةً

تَلقى مَوارِد فَخرِ المُلكِ مُترَعَةً

لا الوِردُ يَنقُصُها شَيئاً وَلا الصَدَرُ

لا الوِردُ يَنقُصُها شَيئاً وَلا الصَدَرُ

You find the watering places of royal glory brimming;

Flying from his good fortune like birds take flight.

neither coming to drink nor departing diminishes them at all.

Fluttering like the hearts of those who resent it

يَغدُو وَتَقدُمُهُ الأَعلامُ حائِمَةً

يَغدُو وَتَقدُمُهُ الأَعلامُ حائِمَةً

كَالطَيرِ نازِحَةً عَن سَعدِها الطَيَرُ

كَالطَيرِ نازِحَةً عَن سَعدِها الطَيَرُ

He goes forth in the morning, banners circling before him

When fear and caution take hold of them.

like birds, ill omens far removed from their good fortune,

The oceans of enmity fled in chaos, the distinguished bearing

خَفّاقَةًكَقُلوبِ الشانِئِينَ لَها

خَفّاقَةًكَقُلوبِ الشانِئِينَ لَها

إِذا تَمَكَّنَ مِنها الخَوفُ وَالحَذَرُ

إِذا تَمَكَّنَ مِنها الخَوفُ وَالحَذَرُ

fluttering like the hearts of those who hate them

Those domes covered in wicker and ink.

when fear and apprehension take hold of them.

Small ships swaying with embroidered patterns

وَهَت بُحُورُ العِدى وَالنُجبُ حامِلَةٌ

وَهَت بُحُورُ العِدى وَالنُجبُ حامِلَةٌ

تِلكَ القِبابَ عَلَيها الوَشيُ وَالحبَرُ

تِلكَ القِبابَ عَلَيها الوَشيُ وَالحبَرُ

The enemies' seas have weakened, while noble camels carry

Whose images on their coasts almost speak.

those domed pavilions, draped in brocade and striped cloth.

Gifts from an imam who gave you

خُوصٌ تَهادى بِأَنماطٍ مُصَوَّرَةٍ

خُوصٌ تَهادى بِأَنماطٍ مُصَوَّرَةٍ

تَكادُ تَنطِقُ في حافاتِها الصُوَرُ

تَكادُ تَنطِقُ في حافاتِها الصُوَرُ

Sunken-eyed camels sway beneath figured coverlets,

Affection whose purity has no murkiness.

whose border images almost speak.

O you whose words fall short describing him

مَواهِبٌ مِن إِمامٍ قَد بَذَلتَ لَهُ

مَواهِبٌ مِن إِمامٍ قَد بَذَلتَ لَهُ

مَحَبَّةً مِنكَ ما في صَفوِها كَدَرُ

مَحَبَّةً مِنكَ ما في صَفوِها كَدَرُ

Gifts from an imam to whom you have offered

I apologize for this failing.

a love from you whose purity holds no murk.

Your greatness was too lofty for my understanding, I fell short

يا مَن تُقَصِّرُ في أَوصافِهِ كَلِمِي

يا مَن تُقَصِّرُ في أَوصافِهِ كَلِمِي

إِنّي إِلَيكَ مِنَ التَقصِيرِ مُعتَذِرُ

إِنّي إِلَيكَ مِنَ التَقصِيرِ مُعتَذِرُ

O you whose qualities my words fall short of describing,

With no comprehension or limit.

I ask your pardon for my shortcomings.

You are the clouds and I have no handhold on clouds

جَلَّت مَعالِيكَ عَن فَهمِي وَضِقتُ بِها

جَلَّت مَعالِيكَ عَن فَهمِي وَضِقتُ بِها

ذَرعاً وَما بِيَ لا عِيٌّ وَلا حَصَرُ

ذَرعاً وَما بِيَ لا عِيٌّ وَلا حَصَرُ

Your lofty qualities surpass my understanding and overtax

To enumerate as they heavily pour down.

my powers, though I suffer neither inarticulacy nor tongue-tied silence.

The world shone at your rising and the pillar of faith,

أَنتَ الغَمامُ وَما لِي بِالغَمامِ يَدٌ

أَنتَ الغَمامُ وَما لِي بِالغَمامِ يَدٌ

أَعُدُّهُ وَهوَ جَمُّ الوَبلِ مُنحَدِرُ

أَعُدُّهُ وَهوَ جَمُّ الوَبلِ مُنحَدِرُ

You are the raincloud, and I have no power over the raincloud

Religion, Islam, and the horizon were strengthened through you.

to reckon it as it pours down rain in abundance.

You live for glory, eternally,

زَهَت بِطَلعَتِكَ الدُنيا وَعَزَّ بِكَ ال

زَهَت بِطَلعَتِكَ الدُنيا وَعَزَّ بِكَ ال

عَمُودُ وَالدِينُ وَالإِسلامُ وَالثَغَرُ

عَمُودُ وَالدِينُ وَالإِسلامُ وَالثَغَرُ

The world is radiant at your appearance, and through you are strengthened the

And I am needy for your extended life.

pillar, the faith, Islam, and the frontier.

And may you continue to desire what you love and attain it

عُمِّرتَ لِلمَجدِ عُمراً لا اِنقِضاءَ لَهُ

عُمِّرتَ لِلمَجدِ عُمراً لا اِنقِضاءَ لَهُ

إِنّي إِلى عُمرِكَ المَمدُودِ مُفتَقِرٌ

إِنّي إِلى عُمرِكَ المَمدُودِ مُفتَقِرٌ

May you live for glory a life without end;

And seek all that is forbidden and become capable.

I have need of your prolonged life.

وَدُمتَ تَطلُبُ ما تَهوى فَتَبلُغه

وَدُمتَ تَطلُبُ ما تَهوى فَتَبلُغه

وَتَبتَغِي كُلَّ مَمنُوعٍ فَتَقتَدِرُ

وَتَبتَغِي كُلَّ مَمنُوعٍ فَتَقتَدِرُ

And may you ever seek what you desire and attain it,

and pursue all that is withheld, gaining the power to win it.