قَضَى صادِقُ الآثارِ في أمْرِكَ الأَرضَى

قَضَى صادِقُ الآثارِ في أمْرِكَ الأَرضَى

بِأنْ تَمْلِكَ الدُّنْيَا وأَنْ تَرِثَ الأَرْضَا

بِأنْ تَمْلِكَ الدُّنْيَا وأَنْ تَرِثَ الأَرْضَا

He whose signs prove true has decreed concerning your most pleasing rule,

The sincere judge has decreed your perfect rule,

That you shall possess the world and inherit the earth.

That you possess the world and inherit satisfaction.

وأَجْرَى إِلى إسْعَادِكَ الماءَ والثَّرَى

وأَجْرَى إِلى إسْعَادِكَ الماءَ والثَّرَى

فَدُونَكَ بَسْطاً لِلْبَسِيطَيْنِ أَوْ قَبْضَا

فَدُونَكَ بَسْطاً لِلْبَسِيطَيْنِ أَوْ قَبْضَا

And set water and soil on their course to bring you good fortune:

He made the water and soil flow to your happiness,

Yours, then, to spread out those two expanses or gather them in.

So you have before you an open or closed expanse.

يُجَالِدُ عَنْكَ السَّعْدُ والجَيْشُ وَادِعٌ

يُجَالِدُ عَنْكَ السَّعْدُ والجَيْشُ وَادِعٌ

ويُنْضِي عِداك الجُهْدُ والسَّيْفُ لا يُنْضَى

ويُنْضِي عِداك الجُهْدُ والسَّيْفُ لا يُنْضَى

Good fortune fights for you while the army rests,

Good fortune and the army fight for you,

And toil wears down your enemies while the sword remains undrawn.

And the effort and sharp sword of your enemies will not cease,

وَما يَفْتَأُ التَّمْكينُ يفتَحُ ما دَنَا

وَما يَفْتَأُ التَّمْكينُ يفتَحُ ما دَنَا

وَما شَطَّ جَوَّاباً لكَ الطُّول والعَرْضا

وَما شَطَّ جَوَّاباً لكَ الطُّول والعَرْضا

Your dominion ceaselessly conquers what is near

And empowerment continues to open what is near,

And what is far, ranging its length and breadth for you.

And height and breadth shoot tents for you.

كأَنَّ علَى الآفَاقِ نَذْراً بِوَقْفِهَا

كأَنَّ علَى الآفَاقِ نَذْراً بِوَقْفِهَا

عَلَيْكَ فَبَعْضٌ في الوَفَاءِ تَلا بَعْضا

عَلَيْكَ فَبَعْضٌ في الوَفَاءِ تَلا بَعْضا

As though the horizons had vowed to dedicate themselves

It is as if the horizons have made a donation for you,

To you, each following another in fulfillment.

So part fulfills the loyalty after part.

أَطاعَتْكَ إفْرِيقِيَّة فَكَفَيْتهَا

أَطاعَتْكَ إفْرِيقِيَّة فَكَفَيْتهَا

عُصاةً علَى إتْلافِهَا ائْتَلَفوا هُضَّا

عُصاةً علَى إتْلافِهَا ائْتَلَفوا هُضَّا

Ifriqiya obeyed you, and you shielded her from

Africa obeyed you, so you were enough

Rebels massed to destroy her with crushing force.

For the rebels who collaborated for its destruction.

وَكانَتْ غِيَاضاً بِالعِدَى فَأَعَدْتها

وَكانَتْ غِيَاضاً بِالعِدَى فَأَعَدْتها

رِياضاً يَرِفُّ النَّوْرُ أثْنَاءَهَا غَضَّا

رِياضاً يَرِفُّ النَّوْرُ أثْنَاءَهَا غَضَّا

She had been thickets full of enemies, but you remade her

It had been thickets with enmity, but you made it,

Gardens, with fresh blossom fluttering in their midst.

Gardens, which the light permeates its density,

ولَمَّا أَجَبْت النَّاصِرِيَّةَ نَاصِراً

ولَمَّا أَجَبْت النَّاصِرِيَّةَ نَاصِراً

وجُبْتَ إلَى البَطْحَاءِ بَيْدَاءَها رَكْضَا

وجُبْتَ إلَى البَطْحَاءِ بَيْدَاءَها رَكْضَا

And when you answered al-Nasiriyya as her champion,

And when you responded to Nasiriyya as a supporter

And crossed her desert at a gallop toward al-Batha,

You sped to its open deserts sprinting.

دَعَتْكَ تِلِمْسَانٌ فَلَبَّيْتَ صَوْتَهَا

دَعَتْكَ تِلِمْسَانٌ فَلَبَّيْتَ صَوْتَهَا

مُجِيراً ونابُ الجَوْرِ يُوسِعُهَا عَضَّا

مُجِيراً ونابُ الجَوْرِ يُوسِعُهَا عَضَّا

Tlemcen called you, and you answered her voice,

Tlemcen called you, so you responded to its voice,

As her protector, while tyranny's fang bit her again and again.

A granter of amnesty, while the fang of injustice widened it forcefully,

وَأَلْحَفْتهَا نُعْمَاكَ وَهْيَ مُطِيعَةٌ

وَأَلْحَفْتهَا نُعْمَاكَ وَهْيَ مُطِيعَةٌ

رِدَاءً قَشِيبَا لا دَريساً وَلا رَحْضَا

رِدَاءً قَشِيبَا لا دَريساً وَلا رَحْضَا

You clothed her, while she was obedient, in your bounty:

And you cloaked it, while obedient,

A fresh robe, neither threadbare nor wash-worn.

With your blessings, not with a coat or a ripped garment,

فَحِينَ جَرَتْ في النَّكْثِ مِلْءَ عِنَانِها

فَحِينَ جَرَتْ في النَّكْثِ مِلْءَ عِنَانِها

وجَرَّتْ إلى أرْجَائِهَا الضُّرَّ والرَّضَّا

وجَرَّتْ إلى أرْجَائِهَا الضُّرَّ والرَّضَّا

But when she raced full rein into treachery

So when it slipped into betrayal, filling up its rein,

And dragged harm and crushing ruin into her quarters,

And ruin and acceptance flowed into its corners,

طَلَعْتَ عَلَيْهَا مالِئاً سَعَةَ المَلا

طَلَعْتَ عَلَيْهَا مالِئاً سَعَةَ المَلا

كَتَائِبَ ما أَضْرَى حُمَاةً وَما أرْضَى

كَتَائِبَ ما أَضْرَى حُمَاةً وَما أرْضَى

You appeared against her, filling the vast open plain

You rose over it, filling the breadth of authority,

With battalions—how fierce in defense, how well-pleasing!

Like battalions of defenders and satisfiers

وَقُدْتَ إلَيْهَا كُلَّ ألْيَسَ قائِدٍ

وَقُدْتَ إلَيْهَا كُلَّ ألْيَسَ قائِدٍ

لأَعْلاقِهَا حَوْزاً وأَغْلاقِها فَضَّا

لأَعْلاقِهَا حَوْزاً وأَغْلاقِها فَضَّا

And led against her every dauntless commander

And you lead to it every hero general

To seize her treasures and force open her locks.

To raid its depths and unblock its passes.

ولَيْسَ يُسرِّي عَن فُتُوحِكَ يَوْمُهَا

ولَيْسَ يُسرِّي عَن فُتُوحِكَ يَوْمُهَا

وأنَّى وهَذِي أرْضُهُم تَشْتَكِي الأَرْضا

وأنَّى وهَذِي أرْضُهُم تَشْتَكِي الأَرْضا

Nor does her battle-day bring respite from your conquests—

And the day does not announce your conquests,

How could it, when their very land is stricken with trembling?

How so when their land complains of rending?

أبَحْتَ حِماها قادِراً وحَمَيْتَه

أبَحْتَ حِماها قادِراً وحَمَيْتَه

فَغَادَرْتَ حُبَّ الغَدْرِ في صَدْرِها بُغْضا

فَغَادَرْتَ حُبَّ الغَدْرِ في صَدْرِها بُغْضا

You overran her protected domain in mastery, then protected it,

You uncovered its protector able, and protected him

Leaving her love of treachery changed to hatred in her breast.

So you left the love of betrayal in his chest with hatred

وخَلَّفْتَ جَيْشَ الرُّعْبِ في أَخَوَاتِهَا

وخَلَّفْتَ جَيْشَ الرُّعْبِ في أَخَوَاتِهَا

يُقِضُّ عَلَيْهِنَّ المَضاجِعَ مُنْقَضَّا

يُقِضُّ عَلَيْهِنَّ المَضاجِعَ مُنْقَضَّا

You left an army of terror among her sister cities,

And you left the army of terror in its sister lands

Swooping down to make their beds restless.

To disturb the beds dismantled.

فَلَمْ تَسْكُنِ الأَقْطَارُ مُذْ رَجَفَتْ بِهِ

فَلَمْ تَسْكُنِ الأَقْطَارُ مُذْ رَجَفَتْ بِهِ

ولم تَهْجَعِ الأبْصار مُذْ بَزَّها الغَمْضَا

ولم تَهْجَعِ الأبْصار مُذْ بَزَّها الغَمْضَا

The regions have not rested since they trembled at it,

So the regions did not settle since it quaked with it,

Nor have eyes slept since it robbed them of slumber.

Nor did sights sleep since tears moistened it.

تَوَغَّلْتَ فيها فاتَّقَتْكَ وُلاتُها

تَوَغَّلْتَ فيها فاتَّقَتْكَ وُلاتُها

بِطَاعَتِهَا تَسْتَدْفِعُ الهَدَّ والهَضَّا

بِطَاعَتِهَا تَسْتَدْفِعُ الهَدَّ والهَضَّا

You penetrated deep into them, and their governors guarded themselves against you

You penetrated it, so its governors feared you

Through submission, seeking to ward off demolition and crushing ruin.

With their obedience, repelling separation and dispersal

وَما اسْتَنْهَضَتْ عَلْياكَ لِلصَّفْحِ والرِّضَى

وَما اسْتَنْهَضَتْ عَلْياكَ لِلصَّفْحِ والرِّضَى

وَإنْ عَظُمَ الإِجْرام إِلا وَفَتْ نَهْضَا

وَإنْ عَظُمَ الإِجْرام إِلا وَفَتْ نَهْضَا

Never was your highness appealed to for pardon and favor,

And it did not rise up against you for reconciliation and consent,

However grave the offense, without rising fully to the call.

No matter how grave the crime, but it rose submissively.

كَذا المَلأُ الحَفْصِيُّ إنْ قَدِرُوا عَفَوْا

كَذا المَلأُ الحَفْصِيُّ إنْ قَدِرُوا عَفَوْا

فلا ذُعْرَ يَسْتَقصِي ولا عُذْرَ يُسْتَقْضَى

فلا ذُعْرَ يَسْتَقصِي ولا عُذْرَ يُسْتَقْضَى

Such are the Hafsid nobles: when they have power, they pardon.

Thus is the Hafsid class, if they are capable they pardon

No terror goes to extremes, nor is an excuse exacted.

So neither alarm exhausts nor excuse draws out.

نَجَا ابْنُ خَلاصٍ بِالخُلوصِ وَلَوْ ثَوَى

نَجَا ابْنُ خَلاصٍ بِالخُلوصِ وَلَوْ ثَوَى

عَلَى ضِدِّهِ لا نفلّ جَمْعاً ولا نفضّا

عَلَى ضِدِّهِ لا نفلّ جَمْعاً ولا نفضّا

Ibn Khalas was saved by sincerity; had he persisted

Ibn Khalas was saved by his loyalty even if he inclined

In its opposite, his host would have been shattered and dispersed.

Against it, no bonus gathered and no bonus distributed,

وَحَيْهَلا بالجُمْهورِ مِنْ أهلِ سَبْتَةٍ

وَحَيْهَلا بالجُمْهورِ مِنْ أهلِ سَبْتَةٍ

لِبَيْعَةِ رِضْوَانٍ رَأَوْا عَقْدَهَا فَرْضَا

لِبَيْعَةِ رِضْوَانٍ رَأَوْا عَقْدَهَا فَرْضَا

And welcome to the multitude of Ceuta's people,

And woe to the multitude from the people of Ceuta

For a pledge of good pleasure whose binding they deemed a duty.

For the pledge of satisfaction they saw as duty!

تَوَلَّتْهُمُ فيها السُّعودُ فأَحْرَزوا

تَوَلَّتْهُمُ فيها السُّعودُ فأَحْرَزوا

مَكَانَهُم رَفْعاً وعَيْشَهُمُ خَفْضا

مَكَانَهُم رَفْعاً وعَيْشَهُمُ خَفْضا

Good fortunes watched over them in it, and they secured

Caprice diverted them therein, so they missed

Elevation of their standing and ease in their life.

Their position of elevation and livelihood of debasement,

وَطالَعَهُم مِنْ غَيْرِ نَصْرِك ما ثَنَى

وَطالَعَهُم مِنْ غَيْرِ نَصْرِك ما ثَنَى

مُقَاوِيَهُمْ شَحْنَا وَمُقْوِيهُمْ بَضَّا

مُقَاوِيَهُمْ شَحْنَا وَمُقْوِيهُمْ بَضَّا

Beyond your aid, there dawned on them what turned

And without your victory, what bent

Their empty tracts full and their needy well-nourished.

Their resisting party and reinforced their cheek swelling?

وَمِنْ قَبْل ما اسْتَسقَتْكَ أنْدَلُسٌ فَلَمْ

وَمِنْ قَبْل ما اسْتَسقَتْكَ أنْدَلُسٌ فَلَمْ

تَجِدْ جُودَك الفَيَّاضَ غَيْضاً ولا بَرْضَا

تَجِدْ جُودَك الفَيَّاضَ غَيْضاً ولا بَرْضَا

And earlier al-Andalus had asked you for rain, and did not

And before Andalus entreated you, it did not

Find your overflowing bounty dwindled or merely trickling.

Find your generous outpouring, neither rain nor vegetation,

بِفَتْحِ رِبَاطِ الفَتْحِ تَرْتَبِطُ المُنْى

بِفَتْحِ رِبَاطِ الفَتْحِ تَرْتَبِطُ المُنْى

ويَحْظَى بها مَنْ باتَ نارَ الوَغَى يَحْظَى

ويَحْظَى بها مَنْ باتَ نارَ الوَغَى يَحْظَى

Through the conquest of Ribat al-Fath, hopes are secured,

With the opening of the Ribat of Victory, hopes tie

And he who spends the night stoking battle's fire attains them.

And those who spent the night with the fire of turmoil are rewarded

وَأجْدِرْ بِفَاسٍ أنْ تُرَاجِعَ رُشْدَها

وَأجْدِرْ بِفَاسٍ أنْ تُرَاجِعَ رُشْدَها

وَقَد رَحَضَتْ مَرَّاكشٌ غَيَّهَا رَحْضا

وَقَد رَحَضَتْ مَرَّاكشٌ غَيَّهَا رَحْضا

How fitting for Fez to return to her good sense,

And it is more fitting for Fez to reconsider its rectitude

Now that Marrakesh has thoroughly washed her error away.

Since Marrakesh confused its mind confusedly

أَمَا أَنَّهُ مِنْ رُوبِها غَزْوُ رُومِها

أَمَا أَنَّهُ مِنْ رُوبِها غَزْوُ رُومِها

فَلَوْ سَنِيَتْ أَغْرَاضُهَا شَدَّتِ الغُرْضَا

فَلَوْ سَنِيَتْ أَغْرَاضُهَا شَدَّتِ الغُرْضَا

Indeed, among her concerns is war against her Romans;

Is it not that its invasion of Rome

Were her aims made attainable, she would tighten the saddle-girths.

Is from its violent whipping by intense concealment?

كَأَنَّا بِها قد شايَعَتْهَا عَزَائِمٌ

كَأَنَّا بِها قد شايَعَتْهَا عَزَائِمٌ

صِحاحٌ لأَشْياعٍ بِوَجْدِهِم مَرْضَى

صِحاحٌ لأَشْياعٍ بِوَجْدِهِم مَرْضَى

We seem already to see her upheld by resolves,

It is as if resolute parties that morning greeted it

Sound resolves of followers sick with longing.

Healed ones for the ecstasy of their purpose though sick

قُصَارَاهُمُ أَن يَقْصُروا الطَّرْفَ والحَشَى

قُصَارَاهُمُ أَن يَقْصُروا الطَّرْفَ والحَشَى

علَى الجَمْرِ مَشبوباً أو الدَّمْع مُرْفَضَّا

علَى الجَمْرِ مَشبوباً أو الدَّمْع مُرْفَضَّا

Their utmost is to confine their gaze and hearts

The least of them is to shorten their gaze and their resolve

To embers fanned to flame, or tears pouring forth.

Over embers kindled or tears pouring

فَحَيَّوْكَ مِنْهَا بالخِلافَة حَيْثُ لَمْ

فَحَيَّوْكَ مِنْهَا بالخِلافَة حَيْثُ لَمْ

يَدَعْ جَذُّ أعْراق الخِلافِ لَها نَبْضَا

يَدَعْ جَذُّ أعْراق الخِلافِ لَها نَبْضَا

So from there they hailed you as caliph, since

They congratulated you from it with the Caliphate where no

The severing of dissent's roots had left them no pulse.

Trunk of Caliphs pulsed authority for it

تَشَيّعَتِ الأَمْصار فيك فَزَحْزَحَتْ

تَشَيّعَتِ الأَمْصار فيك فَزَحْزَحَتْ

عُداتَك عَنْ أَعْلَى مَنَابِرِها رَمْضَا

عُداتَك عَنْ أَعْلَى مَنَابِرِها رَمْضَا

The cities rallied to your cause and thrust

The regions pledged allegiance to you, so your

Your enemies from their lofty pulpits, burning with anguish.

Enemies were pushed from its highest pulpits forcibly

وأَيْنَ بأَصْنَافِ العَوَالِمِ كُلِّهَا

وأَيْنَ بأَصْنَافِ العَوَالِمِ كُلِّهَا

من القَائِمِ الأَرْضَى أوِ الصارِمِ الأَمْضَى

من القَائِمِ الأَرْضَى أوِ الصارِمِ الأَمْضَى

And where do all the orders of creation stand

And where are all the varieties of realms

Beside the most pleasing ruler, or the keenest sword—

To the perfect judge or the decisive executioner?

عنِ الخائِضِ الهَيْجَاء في نُصْرَةِ الهُدَى

عنِ الخائِضِ الهَيْجَاء في نُصْرَةِ الهُدَى

بِضَربٍ وطَعْنٍ لَيْسَ مَشْقاً ولا وَخْضَا

بِضَربٍ وطَعْنٍ لَيْسَ مَشْقاً ولا وَخْضَا

Beside him who plunges into battle to uphold guidance,

To the fervent in supporting guidance

With blows and thrusts, no mere scratches or shallow pricks?

With a strike and stab not laborious or burdensome

وَحِيدُ بَنِي التَّوْحِيدِ فَضْلاً كأَنَّما

وَحِيدُ بَنِي التَّوْحِيدِ فَضْلاً كأَنَّما

مَهَارَتُهُ عِلماً طَهَارَتُه عِرْضا

مَهَارَتُهُ عِلماً طَهَارَتُه عِرْضا

Peerless in merit among the sons of Unity, as though

The unique one of the monotheists in superiority as if

His mastery in learning were his purity in honor.

His skill is purity and his purity is honor

أَلا إنَّ يَحْيَى في الأَئِمَّةِ مَحْضُهُمْ

أَلا إنَّ يَحْيَى في الأَئِمَّةِ مَحْضُهُمْ

فَلا غَرْوَ أنْ يَسْتَخْلِصَ الكَرَمَ المَحْضَا

فَلا غَرْوَ أنْ يَسْتَخْلِصَ الكَرَمَ المَحْضَا

Indeed, Yahya is the purest among the imams;

Verily, Yahya among the imams takes their quintessence

No wonder he makes unalloyed generosity his own.

So it is no wonder to extract the perfect generosity

مُبَارَكُ إبرامٍ ونَقْضٍ مُؤَيَّدٌ

مُبَارَكُ إبرامٍ ونَقْضٍ مُؤَيَّدٌ

إذَا حاوَلَ الإبْرَامَ أوْ حَاوَلَ النَّقْضَا

إذَا حاوَلَ الإبْرَامَ أوْ حَاوَلَ النَّقْضَا

Blessed in binding and unbinding, sustained by aid,

Blessed in bonding and undoing, supported

Whether he undertakes to bind or undertakes to undo.

If he attempts bonding or attempts undoing

يُفِيضُ عَلَى المُلاكِ مُسْتَبْسِلاً نَدىً

يُفِيضُ عَلَى المُلاكِ مُسْتَبْسِلاً نَدىً

وَيَبْطِشُ بالأَمْلاكِ مُسْتَبْسِلاً عَضَّا

وَيَبْطِشُ بالأَمْلاكِ مُسْتَبْسِلاً عَضَّا

He pours bounty upon lords with fearless abandon,

He pours upon sovereigns smiling with dew

And strikes at kings with a fearless, savage bite.

And lashes sovereigns smiling with violence

مَتَى شَحَّ صَوْبُ القَطْرِ سَحَّ أنَامِلاً

مَتَى شَحَّ صَوْبُ القَطْرِ سَحَّ أنَامِلاً

وَإنْ غاضَ صَرْفُ الدَّهْرِ مُعْتَدِياً أَغْضَى

وَإنْ غاضَ صَرْفُ الدَّهْرِ مُعْتَدِياً أَغْضَى

Whenever rainfall grows scant, his fingers pour in torrents;

Whenever the rain clouds gathered stingily, he gathered smiling

And if time's vicissitudes unjustly drain him, he turns a blind eye.

And if the course of fate withdrew aggressively, he withdrew

وَما اسْوَدَّ وَجْهُ الخَطْبِ إلا سَمَا بِهِ

وَما اسْوَدَّ وَجْهُ الخَطْبِ إلا سَمَا بِهِ

لِيَجْلُوَهُ طَلْقَ الأَسِرَّةِ مبيضَّا

لِيَجْلُوَهُ طَلْقَ الأَسِرَّةِ مبيضَّا

Never does calamity's face grow black but he rises to meet it,

And the face of the matter only darkened for him

To brighten it, open-browed and shining white.

To clarify it with the radiance of joy lightening

فَيا عِزّةَ العِانِي إِلى رُكْنِهِ أَوَى

فَيا عِزّةَ العِانِي إِلى رُكْنِهِ أَوَى

وَيا ثَرْوَةَ العَافي إلَى فَضْلِهِ أَفْضَى

وَيا ثَرْوَةَ العَافي إلَى فَضْلِهِ أَفْضَى

What honor for the captive who shelters at his pillar!

So O honor of taking refuge in his pillar,

And what wealth for the suppliant who reaches his bounty!

And O wealth of grace flowing into his favor!

مَناقِبُهُ غَنَّى القَريضُ بِوَصْفِها

مَناقِبُهُ غَنَّى القَريضُ بِوَصْفِها

وَهَيْهَاتَ جَلَّتْ أن يُوَفِّيَهَا قَرْضَا

وَهَيْهَاتَ جَلَّتْ أن يُوَفِّيَهَا قَرْضَا

Poetry has sung of his virtues,

The virtues that poetry lauded in describing it

But they stand far beyond it, too great for verse to do them justice.

And alas! It is too magnificent for creation to repay