لو يستطيعُ تخطّيَ الأيامِ

لو يستطيعُ تخطّيَ الأيامِ

عيدٌ إليك لزادَ في الإِلمامِ

عيدٌ إليك لزادَ في الإِلمامِ

If it could leap across the days,

If it could leap over the days,

the feast’s return to you would bring ever more visits and nearness.

a feast would visit you more often.

ولكان يطوي الشهرَ خمس مراحلٍ

ولكان يطوي الشهرَ خمس مراحلٍ

فيكون للشهرين عيدَ العامِ

فيكون للشهرين عيدَ العامِ

It would fold the month into five stages,

And it would traverse a month in five stages,

so that every two months would hold the year’s feast.

so the yearly feast would come every two months.

يآتيك مشتاقاً ويرجع ما شفا

يآتيك مشتاقاً ويرجع ما شفا

بلقاء يومٍ منك حرّ أوامِ

بلقاء يومٍ منك حرّ أوامِ

It comes to you yearning, then returns with its thirst still unquenched

It comes to you longing, and returns without having soothed,

by meeting you on its day—its thirst for you a searing blaze.

through a day's meeting with you, its burning thirst.

أكرمته بالاحتفال بشأنهِ

أكرمته بالاحتفال بشأنهِ

فزها وتاهَ بذلك الإِكرامَ

فزها وتاهَ بذلك الإِكرامَ

You honored it by celebrating its distinction,

You honored it by making much of its occasion,

and it grew proud, exulting in that honor.

so it grew proud and exulted in that honor.

أظهرتَ فيه زينةَ الملكِ التي

أظهرتَ فيه زينةَ الملكِ التي

دهشتْ لرؤيتها ذوو الأحلامَ

دهشتْ لرؤيتها ذوو الأحلامَ

On it you displayed such royal splendor

You displayed in it the splendor of kingship that

that discerning minds were astonished at the sight.

astonished the discerning at the sight.

وحشدتَ فيه الجيشَ واجتمع الملا

وحشدتَ فيه الجيشَ واجتمع الملا

كالحشرِ أقدامٌ على أقدامِ

كالحشرِ أقدامٌ على أقدامِ

You mustered the army for it, and the multitude assembled,

You mustered the army for it, and the throng assembled,

like the gathering at Resurrection, foot pressed upon foot.

as at the Resurrection: feet upon feet.

والخيلُ تقرعُ والجنائب تجتلي

والخيلُ تقرعُ والجنائب تجتلي

مثل العرائس قد نصصن سوامي

مثل العرائس قد نصصن سوامي

The horses pounded the ground, and the led mounts were paraded,

And the horses stamped, and the led mounts were displayed,

like brides raised for display, standing tall.

like brides displayed aloft, their heads held high.

والطرقُ قد غُصّت بمن يسعي لها

والطرقُ قد غُصّت بمن يسعي لها

من ذي سقوط قد جثا وقيامِ

من ذي سقوط قد جثا وقيامِ

The roads were choked with those making their way toward it,

And the roads were choked with those rushing toward them,

some fallen to their knees, others standing.

some fallen and kneeling, others standing.

ما قربَ المركوب إِلا خلتُهم

ما قربَ المركوب إِلا خلتُهم

سلبوا العقولُ لشدةِالتهتامِ

سلبوا العقولُ لشدةِالتهتامِ

Whenever the procession drew near, I thought them

Whenever the mount drew near, I thought them

robbed of reason by the violence of their infatuation.

bereft of reason through overwhelming agitation.

وتموّجوا والنقعُ يأَخذ في السما

وتموّجوا والنقعُ يأَخذ في السما

صعداً كما ماج الخضمُّ الطامي

صعداً كما ماج الخضمُّ الطامي

They surged like waves, while dust rose into the sky,

They surged in waves while dust rose into the sky,

climbing as the vast, swelling sea climbs.

upward, as the vast, overflowing sea surged.

وتطاولوا ليروك مثلَ تطاولٍ

وتطاولوا ليروك مثلَ تطاولٍ

لهلالِ عيدٍ بعدَ طولِ صيامِ

لهلالِ عيدٍ بعدَ طولِ صيامِ

They craned upward to see you, like those straining

They stretched upward to see you, as people stretch

to sight the feast-day crescent after a long fast.

for the feast's crescent after long fasting,

حتى طلعتَ بنور وجهك فانجلى

حتى طلعتَ بنور وجهك فانجلى

ذاك العمى وانجاب كلَ قَتامِ

ذاك العمى وانجاب كلَ قَتامِ

Until you rose with the light of your face, dispelling

until you appeared with your face's light; then vanished

that blindness, and every darkness rolled away.

that blindness, and every dusty gloom dispersed.

ورأوا محيا سرُّ منه من رأى

ورأوا محيا سرُّ منه من رأى

لسماحةٍ ورجاحةٍ ووسامِ

لسماحةٍ ورجاحةٍ ووسامِ

They beheld a countenance that delighted all who saw it

They saw a countenance that delighted whoever saw it,

with its generosity, sound judgment, and beauty.

for its generosity, sound judgment, and beauty.

فاستقبلوه بالدعاء وكبّروا

فاستقبلوه بالدعاء وكبّروا

لجمال ذاك الوجه والإعظامِ

لجمال ذاك الوجه والإعظامِ

They welcomed you with prayers and cried, “God is greatest,”

So they greeted it with prayers and proclaimed God's greatness,

at the beauty of that face and out of reverence.

for the beauty of that face, and in reverence.

ذهلوا بما نظروا ومن يذهل به

ذهلوا بما نظروا ومن يذهل به

وببعض ما نظروا فغير ملامِ

وببعض ما نظروا فغير ملامِ

They were bewildered by what they saw—and who would not be?

They were dazed by what they saw; whoever is dazed by it,

Even a fraction of what they saw left them beyond reproach.

even by part of what they saw, is blameless.

حسدَ المؤخرُ من تقدَّم قبلهُ

حسدَ المؤخرُ من تقدَّم قبلهُ

فتدافعوا حرصاً على الإِقدام

فتدافعوا حرصاً على الإِقدام

Those held back envied whoever had gone before them,

The one behind envied whoever had gone ahead of him,

and they jostled eagerly to advance.

so they jostled, eager to press forward.

وإذا لقى الإنسان منهم فرجةً

وإذا لقى الإنسان منهم فرجةً

أبصرتَهُ كمبشرٍّ بغلامِ

أبصرتَهُ كمبشرٍّ بغلامِ

Whenever one of them found an opening,

Whenever one of them found an opening,

you saw him like a man given glad tidings of a son.

you saw him like one given glad tidings of a son.

فإذا رآك فانها أُمنيّةٌ

فإذا رآك فانها أُمنيّةٌ

ظفرت يداه بها عن الأقوامَ

ظفرت يداه بها عن الأقوامَ

Then, when he saw you, it was a cherished wish

Then, if he saw you, it was a wish

his own hands had won above all other people.

his hands had won in preference to the others.

يتفاخرون بطول مدةِ رؤيةٍ

يتفاخرون بطول مدةِ رؤيةٍ

نظروا إِليك بها وبالإِلمامِ

نظروا إِليك بها وبالإِلمامِ

They boasted to one another of how long their gaze endured,

They boast of how long their gaze lasted,

as they looked upon you, and of drawing near—

as they looked at you, and of their visits.

من فرط ما بقلوبهم لك من هوىً

من فرط ما بقلوبهم لك من هوىً

ومحبة عظُمت وفرطِ غرَام

ومحبة عظُمت وفرطِ غرَام

for the ardent love for you within their hearts,

From the abundance of love for you in their hearts,

a love grown mighty, a passion overflowing.

and affection grown great, and excessive devotion.

وإذا أَحب اللهُ عبداً حبَّه

وإذا أَحب اللهُ عبداً حبَّه

من كان منسوباً إلى الإِسلامِ

من كان منسوباً إلى الإِسلامِ

When God loves a servant, He makes him beloved

And when God loves a servant, he is loved

among all who are counted as Muslims.

by whoever belongs to Islam.

فأكفهُم ممدودةٌ نحو السما

فأكفهُم ممدودةٌ نحو السما

وقلوبهَم في غمرةٍ وهُيامِ

وقلوبهَم في غمرةٍ وهُيامِ

Their palms were outstretched toward heaven,

So their hands are stretched toward the sky,

while their hearts were awash in passion and rapture.

and their hearts are immersed in rapture and ardent love.

هذا إِذاً يدعو وهذا معلنٌ ض

هذا إِذاً يدعو وهذا معلنٌ ض

يثني وذا لا يرعوي لكلامِ

يثني وذا لا يرعوي لكلامِ

One prayed, while another proclaimed aloud—

This one now prays, and that one proclaims aloud,

extolling you; another could not restrain his speech.

offering praise, while another heeds no words.

حتى دنوتَ إِلى المصلى ذاكراً

حتى دنوتَ إِلى المصلى ذاكراً

لله مبتهلاً عقيبَ صيامَ

لله مبتهلاً عقيبَ صيامَ

Until you approached the prayer ground, remembering

Until you approached the prayer ground, remembering

God and beseeching Him after the fast.

God, supplicating after the fast,

مستكثراً من حمد ربك شاكراً

مستكثراً من حمد ربك شاكراً

شكراً قضى بزيادة الإِنعامِ

شكراً قضى بزيادة الإِنعامِ

Abounding in praise of your Lord and giving thanks—

abounding in praise of your Lord, giving thanks,

a gratitude that ensures an increase in blessings.

thanks that secured still greater bounty.

حتى فرغت من الصلاة مسلماً

حتى فرغت من الصلاة مسلماً

متحللاً من ذلك الإِحرامِ

متحللاً من ذلك الإِحرامِ

Until you completed the prayer with the final salutation,

Until you finished the prayer with the salutation of peace,

released from that consecrated state.

released from that ritual consecration.

وأصخت سمعك للخطيب ووعظهِ

وأصخت سمعك للخطيب ووعظهِ

من حينَ بداته إلى الإِتمامَ

من حينَ بداته إلى الإِتمامَ

You listened attentively to the preacher and his counsel,

And you gave ear to the preacher and his exhortation,

from the moment he began until the end.

from the moment he began until the end.

ورجعتَ ربَّ صحيفةٍ قد زُكيت

ورجعتَ ربَّ صحيفةٍ قد زُكيت

أعمالَها وخَلَت من الآثامِ

أعمالَها وخَلَت من الآثامِ

You returned—and many a record had been purified,

And you returned possessing a record whose

its deeds cleansed and emptied of sins!

deeds were purified, and which was free of sins.

من حبهِ الباري فهذا دأبه

من حبهِ الباري فهذا دأبه

فليهن يحيى حُبَّ ذي الإِكرامِ

فليهن يحيى حُبَّ ذي الإِكرامِ

Whomever the Creator loves, thus does He treat;

Such is the way of one whom the Creator loves;

so may Yahya rejoice in the love of the Lord of Honor:

so may Yahya rejoice in the love of the Lord of Honor—

الطاهر بن الأشرفَ بن الأفضل

الطاهر بن الأشرفَ بن الأفضل

الملكَ الهمام مذل كل همامَ

الملكَ الهمام مذل كل همامَ

al-Tahir, son of al-Ashraf, son of al-Afdal,

al-Tahir, son of al-Ashraf, son of al-Afdal,

the valiant king, humbler of every mighty man.

the valiant king who humbles every valiant man.

ما كان قظُّ ولا يكون كمثله

ما كان قظُّ ولا يكون كمثله

ملكٌ لذي شرك ولا إسلامِ

ملكٌ لذي شرك ولا إسلامِ

Never has there been, nor shall there ever be, his like—

Never has there been, nor will there be, his equal:

a king among polytheists or among Muslims.

a king among polytheists or Muslims.

من حاتمً في الجود أَم من غيرهُ

من حاتمً في الجود أَم من غيرهُ

من سائرِ الأعرابِ والاعجامِ

من سائرِ الأعرابِ والاعجامِ

What is Hatim in generosity—or anyone besides him—

Who is Hatim in generosity, or who is anyone else,

among all the Arabs and non-Arabs?

among all the Bedouin Arabs and non-Arabs?

من ناحرً لضيوفه أكياسه

من ناحرً لضيوفه أكياسه

تبراً يأج كناحرِ الأنعامَ

تبراً يأج كناحرِ الأنعامَ

Who else slits open his purses for his guests,

Who slaughters his purses for his guests,

gold blazing forth as cattle are slaughtered?

full of blazing gold, as one slaughters livestock?

قل للملوك بغير يحيى فاقتدوا

قل للملوك بغير يحيى فاقتدوا

ما للذياب شهامة الضرغامِ

ما للذياب شهامة الضرغامِ

Tell the kings to follow someone other than Yahya—

Tell the kings: 'Follow someone other than Yahya;

what have wolves to do with the lion’s mettle?

wolves have none of the lion's valor.

ما في قواكم حمل ما هو حاملٌ

ما في قواكم حمل ما هو حاملٌ

أين الرذاذُ من الُملثِّ الهامي

أين الرذاذُ من الُملثِّ الهامي

Your powers cannot bear the burden that he bears—

Your strength cannot bear what he bears;

what is a drizzle beside an engulfing downpour?

what is drizzle beside an unceasing downpour?'

يهنيكَ عيدً كان أملاك الورى

يهنيكَ عيدً كان أملاك الورى

كالشهبِ فيه وكنت بدرَ تمامِ

كالشهبِ فيه وكنت بدرَ تمامِ

May this feast delight you, when the kings of mankind were

May a feast gladden you in which the world's kings

like meteors within it, while you were the full moon.

were like bright stars, while you were the full moon.

فلذاك لم يأسف لبعد عنهمُ

فلذاك لم يأسف لبعد عنهمُ

وله عليك تأسفٌ بضرامَ

وله عليك تأسفٌ بضرامَ

For that, the feast did not grieve to be far from them;

Thus it felt no regret at being far from them,

for you, though, it yearned with blazing fire.

yet its sorrow for you burns like fire.

ويودٌّ والأفلاك عنك تجرهُ

ويودٌّ والأفلاك عنك تجرهُ

لو طال هذا اليومُ في الأيامِ

لو طال هذا اليومُ في الأيامِ

It wishes, though the celestial spheres drag it away from you,

And while the celestial spheres drag it away from you, it wishes

that this day might stretch long among the days,

that this day might last longer among all days,

ليقرَّ عيناً بالتملي مدةً

ليقرَّ عيناً بالتملي مدةً

بأعز سلطان وخير إمامِ

بأعز سلطان وخير إمامِ

so it might delight its eye by gazing its fill awhile

so its eye might delight awhile in gazing

upon the dearest sovereign and the best imam.

on the mightiest sovereign and the best leader.

لا زلتَ تلبسُ كلَّ عامٍ مقبل

لا زلتَ تلبسُ كلَّ عامٍ مقبل

عيداً يعود وينقضي بسلام

عيداً يعود وينقضي بسلام

May you continue to don, with every coming year,

May you never cease to wear, in each coming year,

a feast that returns and passes away in peace.

a feast that returns and passes in peace.