لله في كل ما يجري به القدرُ

لله في كل ما يجري به القدرُ

في خلقه حكمةٌ مضمونها الخبرُ

في خلقه حكمةٌ مضمونها الخبرُ

God has, in all that destiny brings to pass,

God has decreed all that comes to pass

within His creation, a wisdom whose substance is knowledge.

In His creation there is wisdom assured

والعبد مستعملٌ فيما يراد به

والعبد مستعملٌ فيما يراد به

الفعل للعبد والجاري به القدرُ

الفعل للعبد والجاري به القدرُ

The servant is put to use in what is willed for him;

And the servant is made to serve that which is willed of him

the deed is the servant's, and destiny works through him.

The action belongs to the servant but what befalls him is foreordained

وبالمكاره خيراتٌ تنال بها

وبالمكاره خيراتٌ تنال بها

منافعُ جرها نحو الفتى ضررُ

منافعُ جرها نحو الفتى ضررُ

And hardships hold blessings, through which are gained

With troubles come blessings that bring

benefits that harm has brought toward a man.

Benefits drawn towards man though harm seemed at hand

فارجَ الكريمُ إذا اسشترى به غضبٌ

فارجَ الكريمُ إذا اسشترى به غضبٌ

إن الصواعق يأتي بعدها المطرُ

إن الصواعق يأتي بعدها المطرُ

So hope in the generous man when anger rages within him;

So the noble one forgives when rage overtakes him

for after thunderbolts comes the rain.

For lightning brings the blessed rain

إن الملوك الرسوليين عادتهم

إن الملوك الرسوليين عادتهم

في الخلق ما كسّروه منهمُ جبروا

في الخلق ما كسّروه منهمُ جبروا

Indeed, the Rasulid kings have this custom:

The practice of prophet-kings is this:

among the people, they mend whatever they have broken.

Of people whatever they broke they would mend

يغنون أَن وهبوا يفنون أن ضربوا

يغنون أَن وهبوا يفنون أن ضربوا

يغضّون أن غضبوا يعفون إِن قدروا

يغضّون أن غضبوا يعفون إِن قدروا

They enrich when they give, and annihilate when they strike.

They give though robbed, show grace though struck

They lower their gaze when angry, and pardon when they have power.

Restrain their anger, pardon when they judge

لذاك ملكهم إرثاً أباً لأبٍ

لذاك ملكهم إرثاً أباً لأبٍ

وملك غيرهم مستنبط حضرُ

وملك غيرهم مستنبط حضرُ

Thus their kingship is inherited, father after father,

Thus their reign endures father to son

while others' rule is newly devised and present-day.

While others grasp at a kingdom of sand

في الجاهليةِ والإِسلامِ ملكهمُ

في الجاهليةِ والإِسلامِ ملكهمُ

باقٍ وملك سواهم ما له أثرُ

باقٍ وملك سواهم ما له أثرُ

In pre-Islamic times and in Islam, their kingship

In pagan and Islamic days their crown remains

endures, while no trace remains of others' rule.

While others’ rule leaves no lasting trace

وقد أتى منهم يحيى بما عجزت

وقد أتى منهم يحيى بما عجزت

عنه الكرام فما يسديه مبتكرُ

عنه الكرام فما يسديه مبتكرُ

And among them Yahya has accomplished what

From them came John who accomplished what

the generous could not; what he bestows is unprecedented.

Even saints failed at, none could match his innovations

جَبَرَ القلوبَ وفعل الخير عادته

جَبَرَ القلوبَ وفعل الخير عادته

فسله ما شئت لا تلقاه يعتذرُ

فسله ما شئت لا تلقاه يعتذرُ

He has mended hearts, and doing good is his custom.

He mended hearts and did good - ask him anything

So ask him whatever you wish; you will not find him making excuses.

You’ll find no excuse, no refusal on his part

وقد جرى بعض ما تهدي عواقبه

وقد جرى بعض ما تهدي عواقبه

خيراً وإنى لذاك الخير منتظرُ

خيراً وإنى لذاك الخير منتظرُ

And something has happened whose consequences bring

Some matters breed goodness though their ends

good, and I await that good.

Are obscure. For that unseen good I yearn

فلا يظل فؤاد أنت ساكنه

فلا يظل فؤاد أنت ساكنه

يوماً طويلا ويمسي وهو منكسرُ

يوماً طويلا ويمسي وهو منكسرُ

So let no heart in which you dwell pass

Let no heart you dwell in remain downcast

a long day and reach evening broken.

For long, anguished as the day draws to its close

لك المحاسنَ دون الناس كلِّهم

لك المحاسنَ دون الناس كلِّهم

فالكلُّ شوك ويحي وحدَه ثَمرُ

فالكلُّ شوك ويحي وحدَه ثَمرُ

All virtues are yours alone among mankind;

You alone have virtue above all mankind

for all are thorns, and Yahya alone is fruit.

The rest are thorns, while you alone bear fruit

وقد تجلّى بفضلٍ لا يحيط به

وقد تجلّى بفضلٍ لا يحيط به

علمُ الملوك فلم يسبق به خبرُ

علمُ الملوك فلم يسبق به خبرُ

And he has shone forth with a bounty beyond the compass of

Through gracious favor none can comprehend

the knowledge of kings; no report of it has come before.

And no news or herald suffices to proclaim