النَّصْرُvictory نَصُّكَyour writ وَالْحُسَامُand the keen sword دَلِيلُهُits proof
النَّصْرُ نَصُّكَ وَالْحُسَامُ دَلِيلُهُ
وَالْفَتْحُand conquest وَعْدُكَyour promise وَاْلإلاَهُand God كَفِيلُهُits guarantor
وَالْفَتْحُ وَعْدُكَ وَاْلإلاَهُ كَفِيلُهُ
Victory is your writ, and the keen sword its proof.
Victory is your ally, the sword your guide,
Conquest is your promise, and God its guarantor.
Conquest your promise, God your guarantor.
كَفَلَتْnurtured رِيَاضُthe gardens of الْمُلْكِkingship مِنْكfrom you بِدَوْحِهَاwithin their great trees
كَفَلَتْ رِيَاضُ الْمُلْكِ مِنْك بِدَوْحِهَا
فَرْعاًa branch نَضِيراًfresh and flourishing لاَnot يُخَافُis feared ذُبُولُهُits withering
فَرْعاً نَضِيراً لاَ يُخَافُ ذُبُولُهُ
The gardens of kingship nurtured in you, within their spreading trees,
The gardens of kingship are secured by you,
A flourishing branch whose withering none need fear.
A flourishing branch that will never wither.
وَاهْتَزَّand swayed دَوْحُthe great tree of الْمُلْكِkingship مِنْهُthrough it مُنَعَّماًluxuriant
وَاهْتَزَّ دَوْحُ الْمُلْكِ مِنْهُ مُنَعَّماً
رَيَّانَwell-watered يَعْطِفُهُbends it النَّدَىthe dew وَيُمِيلُهُand inclines it
رَيَّانَ يَعْطِفُهُ النَّدَى وَيُمِيلُهُ
And through it the great tree of kingship swayed luxuriantly,
The tree of kingship sways gracefully because of you,
Well-watered, with dew bending and inclining it.
Branches dripping with dew, leaning gently.
وَطَلَعْتَand you rose بَدْراًas a full moon لاَnot يُخَافُis feared مُحَاقُهُits waning to darkness
وَطَلَعْتَ بَدْراً لاَ يُخَافُ مُحَاقُهُ
يَوْماًever وَلاَand not يُخْشَىis dreaded عَلَيْهِfor it أُفُولُهُits setting
يَوْماً وَلاَ يُخْشَى عَلَيْهِ أُفُولُهُ
And you rose as a full moon whose waning none need fear
You rose like a full moon with no fear of setting,
Ever, nor dread its setting.
A day with no dusk to make it fade.
حَتَّىuntil إِذَاwhen خَطَبَتْكَcalled upon you أَلْسِنَةُthe tongues of الْهُدَىguidance
حَتَّى إِذَا خَطَبَتْكَ أَلْسِنَةُ الْهُدَى
وَحَبَاكَand bestowed upon you هَذَاthis الْعَهْدَcovenant إِسْمَاعِيلُهُits Isma'il
وَحَبَاكَ هَذَا الْعَهْدَ إِسْمَاعِيلُهُ
Until, when the tongues of guidance called upon you,
When the tongues of guidance spoke in your favor,
And its Isma'il bestowed this covenant upon you,
And this era embraced you as its heir,
وَرَآكَand deemed you أهْلاًworthy لِلْخِلاَفَةِof the caliphate بَعْدَهُafter him
وَرَآكَ أهْلاً لِلْخِلاَفَةِ بَعْدَهُ
فَأرَاكَso he showed you قِدْحَthe lot-arrow of الْمُلْكِkingship كَيْفَhow تُجِيلُهُyou cast it
فَأرَاكَ قِدْحَ الْمُلْكِ كَيْفَ تُجِيلُهُ
And deemed you worthy of the caliphate after him,
Seeing you fit for the caliphate after him,
He showed you how to cast the lot-arrow of kingship.
He showed you the flint of kingship, how to ignite it.
وَكَسَتْand clothed إِيَالَتُكَyour rule اَلْبِلاَدَthe lands وَأَهْلَهَاand their people
وَكَسَتْ إِيَالَتُكَ اَلْبِلاَدَ وَأَهْلَهَا
ظِلاًّwith shade تَكَفَّلَundertook the care بِالْعِبَادِof the people ظَلِيلُهُits sheltering shade
ظِلاًّ تَكَفَّلَ بِالْعِبَادِ ظَلِيلُهُ
And your rule clothed the lands and their people
Your rule covered the lands and their people
In shade whose shelter took the people into its care.
With a shade that protected all who sought shelter.
وَحَبَاand endowed السِّيَاسَةَstatecraft مِنْكَwith you حَامِلُthe bearer of عِبْئِهَاits burden
وَحَبَا السِّيَاسَةَ مِنْكَ حَامِلُ عِبْئِهَا
فَمَضَتْso prevailed عَزَائِمُهُhis resolutions وَعَزَّand grew mighty قَبِيلُهُhis tribe
فَمَضَتْ عَزَائِمُهُ وَعَزَّ قَبِيلُهُ
And he who bore statecraft's burden endowed it with you,
The burden of politics was carried by you,
So his purposes prevailed, and his tribe grew mighty.
His resolutions passed, his tribe grew mighty.
ثُمَّthen اسْتَحَثَّurged onward إِلَىtoward الإِلاَهِGod رِكَابَهُhis mounts
ثُمَّ اسْتَحَثَّ إِلَى الإِلاَهِ رِكَابَهُ
وَغَدَاand he departed وَفِيand in دَارِthe abode of النَّعِيمِbliss حُلُولُهُhis lodging
وَغَدَا وَفِي دَارِ النَّعِيمِ حُلُولُهُ
Then he urged his mounts onward toward God,
Then he hurried to his Lord,
And departed, his lodging in the abode of bliss.
And departed for the Abode of Bliss.
وَهَفَتْand stirred بِديِنِwithin the creed of الْكُفْرِunbelief أَطْمَاعٌambitions قَضَتْdecreed
وَهَفَتْ بِديِنِ الْكُفْرِ أَطْمَاعٌ قَضَتْ
أَنْthat تُقْتَضَىbe requited أَوْتَارُهُits blood-debts وَذُحُولُهُand its blood-feuds
أَنْ تُقْتَضَى أَوْتَارُهُ وَذُحُولُهُ
And ambitions stirred in unbelief's creed, demanding
The religion of unbelief nursed ambitions
That its blood-debts and blood-feuds be requited.
That its strings would be severed, it would wilt.
ثُمَّthen اسْتَبَدَّtook sole command الْعَزْمُresolve فِيكَconcerning you وَمَاand did not ارْتَأَىdeliberate
ثُمَّ اسْتَبَدَّ الْعَزْمُ فِيكَ وَمَا ارْتَأَى
وَالْعَزْمُand resolve يُوهِنُweakens عَقْدَهُits knot تَأَجِيلُهُits postponement
وَالْعَزْمُ يُوهِنُ عَقْدَهُ تَأَجِيلُهُ
Then resolve took command concerning you, without deliberation—
Then determination took hold of you, whatever it intended,
And postponement weakens the knot of resolve—
While determination makes light its firm knots if delayed.
وَرَمَىand cast إِلَيْكَto you مَقَالِدَthe keys of اَلأَمْرِauthority الَّذِيwhich
وَرَمَى إِلَيْكَ مَقَالِدَ اَلأَمْرِ الَّذِي
تُرِكَتْwere left إِلَيْكَto you فُرُوعُهُits branches وَأُصُولُهُand its roots
تُرِكَتْ إِلَيْكَ فُرُوعُهُ وَأُصُولُهُ
And cast to you the keys of the authority whose
It handed over to you the reins of command,
Branches and roots had been entrusted to you.
Which, with all its branches and roots, was left to you.
وَاسْتَنْجَزَand demanded fulfillment of النَّصْرَvictory الْعَزِيزَmighty وَلَمْand did not يَزَلْcease
وَاسْتَنْجَزَ النَّصْرَ الْعَزِيزَ وَلَمْ يَزَلْ
يَلْوِيdelays payment بِدَيْنِof the debt of الدِّينِfaith فِيكَin your case مَطُولُهُits tardy debtor
يَلْوِي بِدَيْنِ الدِّينِ فِيكَ مَطُولُهُ
And demanded mighty victory's fulfillment, while still
It accomplished glorious victory and continued
Its tardy debtor withheld the debt due to faith where you were concerned.
To wave the banner of the faith because of you.
فَارْتَاحَso rejoiced دِينُthe religion of اللهِGod فِيin رَيْعَانِهِits prime
فَارْتَاحَ دِينُ اللهِ فِي رَيْعَانِهِ
وَاُعِيدَand was restored مُقْتَبَلَto the beginning of الشَّبِيبَةِyouth جِيلُهُits generation
وَاُعِيدَ مُقْتَبَلَ الشَّبِيبَةِ جِيلُهُ
Then God's religion rejoiced in its prime,
So the religion of God rested in its meadows
And its generation was restored to the dawn of youth.
And the youthful generation regained its vigor.
وَتَكَنَّفَand encompassed الإْسْلاَمَIslam مِنْكَfrom you وَأَهْلَهُand its people
وَتَكَنَّفَ الإْسْلاَمَ مِنْكَ وَأَهْلَهُ
نَظَرٌwatchful care يَدِقَّis too subtle عَنِfor النَّهَىintellects تَأوِيلُهُits interpretation
نَظَرٌ يَدِقَّ عَنِ النَّهَى تَأوِيلُهُ
And Islam and its people were encompassed, through you,
Guidance sought you out, analyzing
By watchful care whose meaning is too subtle for the intellect.
Any interpretation that strayed from what is right.
عَالَجْتَهُyou treated it بِالْمَشْرِفيّwith the Mashrafi sword وَطَالَمَاand long had
عَالَجْتَهُ بِالْمَشْرِفيّ وَطَالَمَا
أَعْيَىbaffled مُزَاوَلَةَthe efforts of الأسَاةِthe physicians عَلِيلُهُits ailing one
أَعْيَى مُزَاوَلَةَ الأسَاةِ عَلِيلُهُ
You treated it with the Mashrafi sword, though long
You cured it with wisdom though the evildoers
Its ailing body had baffled the physicians' efforts.
Had often wearied of resisting the wretched.
حَتَّىuntil إِذَاwhen غَدَتِbecame الْبِلاَدُthe lands قَرِيرَةًtranquil
حَتَّى إِذَا غَدَتِ الْبِلاَدُ قَرِيرَةً
وَالأَمْنُand security تُسْحَبُwere trailed بَيْنَهُنَّamong them ذُيُولَهُits hems
وَالأَمْنُ تُسْحَبُ بَيْنَهُنَّ ذُيُولَهُ
Until, when the lands had grown tranquil,
Until the lands became secure
And security's hems were trailed among them,
And safety spread its coverlets between them.
وَالسَّلْمُand peace قَدْhad كَفَّتْrestrained أَكُفَّthe hands of عِدَاتِهَاits enemies
وَالسَّلْمُ قَدْ كَفَّتْ أَكُفَّ عِدَاتِهَا
وَالْبَأسُand battle نَامَتْslept فِيin الْغُمُودِthe sheaths فُصُولُهُits cutting blades
وَالْبَأسُ نَامَتْ فِي الْغُمُودِ فُصُولُهُ
And peace had restrained its enemies' hands,
Peace sheathed the blades of its fighters
And battle's blades slept within their sheaths,
And war slept, its seasons folded away.
أَرْضَيْتَyou pleased دِينَthe religion of اللهِGod مَقْتَدِياًfollowing بِمَاwhat
أَرْضَيْتَ دِينَ اللهِ مَقْتَدِياً بِمَا
نَطَقَproclaimed الْكِتَابُthe Book بِهِconcerning it وَسَنَّand prescribed رَسُولُهُHis Messenger
نَطَقَ الْكِتَابُ بِهِ وَسَنَّ رَسُولُهُ
You pleased God's religion, following what
You gave comfort to the faith, following
The Book proclaimed and His Messenger prescribed.
What the Book related and what the Messenger legislated.
تَسْتَوْدِعُyou entrust الأَنْسَابَthe lineages غُرَّةَthe crowning glory of يَعْرُبٍYa'rub
تَسْتَوْدِعُ الأَنْسَابَ غُرَّةَ يَعْرُبٍ
وَتُشِيدُand you raise فَخْراًa glory لاَnot يُطَالُcan be matched أَثِيلُهُits ancient nobility
وَتُشِيدُ فَخْراً لاَ يُطَالُ أَثِيلُهُ
Entrusting to the lineages the crowning glory of Ya'rub,
The lineages took pride in you, a glorious Arab,
And raising a glory whose ancient nobility none can match.
And you built a pride no ages would erode.
وَذَهَبْتَand you went تَعْتَامُchoosing الْبُيُوتَthe houses مُيَمِّماًseeking
وَذَهَبْتَ تَعْتَامُ الْبُيُوتَ مُيَمِّماً
مَاwhat يَمِّمَتْsought أذْوَاؤُهُits Dhu-titled lords وَقُيُولُهُand its Yemeni princes
مَا يَمِّمَتْ أذْوَاؤُهُ وَقُيُولُهُ
And you went choosing among houses, seeking
You went about erecting the fallen houses
What its Dhu-lords and qayls had sought.
Whose corners and walls were askew.
فَحَدَاكَso guided you تَوفِيقُthe favor of الإِلاَهِGod لِمَنْصِبٍto a noble lineage
فَحَدَاكَ تَوفِيقُ الإِلاَهِ لِمَنْصِبٍ
مَثْوَاكَyour dwelling مَثْوَاهُits dwelling وَغِيلُكَand your thicket غِيلُهُits thicket
مَثْوَاكَ مَثْوَاهُ وَغِيلُكَ غِيلُهُ
So God's favor guided you to a noble lineage:
So divine guidance made you worthy
Your dwelling is its dwelling, and your thicket its thicket.
Of a position whose ends were just like its beginnings.
حَيْثُwhere الْمَعَالِيlofty honors وَالْعَوَالِيand tall lances وَالظَّبَاand sword-edges
حَيْثُ الْمَعَالِي وَالْعَوَالِي وَالظَّبَا
وَالْبَيْتُand the house عَادِيَّancient as 'Ad الْبِنَاءِin construction أَصِيلُهُits noble root
وَالْبَيْتُ عَادِيَّ الْبِنَاءِ أَصِيلُهُ
Where lofty honors, tall lances, and sword-edges dwell,
Where there is glory, eminence, wild cows,
And the house has noble roots, its building ancient as 'Ad.
And a house whose builder made it everlasting.
حَتَّىuntil إِذَاwhen رَفَّتْfluttered عَلَيْكَabove you ظِلاَلُهُits shades
حَتَّى إِذَا رَفَّتْ عَلَيْكَ ظِلاَلُهُ
وَسَرَتْand journeyed بِأَرْوَاحِwith the breezes of الْقَبُولِacceptance قُيُولُهُits princes
وَسَرَتْ بِأَرْوَاحِ الْقَبُولِ قُيُولُهُ
Until, when its shades fluttered above you,
Until its shadows stretched over you
And its princes rode the breezes of acceptance,
And its spirits of acceptance blew gently.
وَتَوَشَّجَتْand intertwined أَغْصَانُthe branches of دَوْحَةِthe great tree of خَزْرَجٍKhazraj
وَتَوَشَّجَتْ أَغْصَانُ دَوْحَةِ خَزْرَجٍ
ذِمَماًin covenants وَحِيزَand was secured لِكُلِّfor every مَجْدٍglory سُولُهُits desire
ذِمَماً وَحِيزَ لِكُلِّ مَجْدٍ سُولُهُ
And the branches of Khazraj's great tree intertwined
The branches of Khuzaymah’s date palms clustered thickly,
In covenants, and every glory gained its desire,
To give glory to each and delimit it duly.
أَعْرَسْتَyou celebrated your wedding فِيin مَثْوَىthe abode of الْخِلاَفَةِthe caliphate بَعْدَمَاafter
أَعْرَسْتَ فِي مَثْوَى الْخِلاَفَةِ بَعْدَمَا
عَكَفَتْdevoted itself عُلاَكَyour loftiness تُشِيدُهُto building it وَتُطِيلُهُand raising it high
عَكَفَتْ عُلاَكَ تُشِيدُهُ وَتُطِيلُهُ
You celebrated your wedding in the caliphate's abode, after
You wed the caliphate after they
Your loftiness had devoted itself to building it and raising it high.
Had labored long to erect and extend it.
فَبَذَاthen it appeared كَمَاas لاَحَshone الصَّبَاحُthe morning لِنَاظِرٍto a beholder
فَبَذَا كَمَا لاَحَ الصَّبَاحُ لِنَاظِرٍ
مُتَأَلِّقاًgleaming يُعْشِيdazzles الْعُيُونَthe eyes صَقِيلُهُits polished sheen
مُتَأَلِّقاً يُعْشِي الْعُيُونَ صَقِيلُهُ
Then it appeared as morning shines before a beholder,
So it shone, when dawn broke, to the beholder
Gleaming, its polished sheen dazzling the eyes.
Dazzling, making eyes squint at its sharp brilliance.
تَبْلَىwear away اللَّيَالِيthe nights وَهْوَwhile it يَنْدَىglistens with dew جِدَّةًwith newness
تَبْلَى اللَّيَالِي وَهْوَ يَنْدَى جِدَّةً
وَيَجِفُّand dries زَهْرُthe bloom of الزَّهْرِthe flowers وَهْوَwhile it is بَلِيلُهُits dew-moist bloom
وَيَجِفُّ زَهْرُ الزَّهْرِ وَهْوَ بَلِيلُهُ
The nights wear away while it glistens with newness,
Nights pass while it grows ever newer,
And the flowers' bloom dries, while its own remains dew-moist.
And spring blooms fade while it remains fresh.
حَيْثُwhere الرِّيَاضُthe gardens تَفَتَّحَتْopened أَزْهَارُهُits blossoms
حَيْثُ الرِّيَاضُ تَفَتَّحَتْ أَزْهَارُهُ
وَهَمَىand poured down عَلَيْهَاupon them مِنْfrom نَدَاكَyour bounty هَمُولُهُits downpour
وَهَمَى عَلَيْهَا مِنْ نَدَاكَ هَمُولُهُ
Where, amid gardens, its blossoms have opened,
There the gardens opened their flowers,
And over them poured the showers of your bounty.
And your clouds stretched out to water them.
حَيْثُwhere الْجَلاَلُmajesty يَهُولُawes أَفئِدَةَthe hearts of الْوَرَىhumankind
حَيْثُ الْجَلاَلُ يَهُولُ أَفئِدَةَ الْوَرَى
وَيَنِدَّand eludes عَنْbeyond إِدْرَاكِهِمْtheir comprehension تَمْثِيلُهُits likeness
وَيَنِدَّ عَنْ إِدْرَاكِهِمْ تَمْثِيلُهُ
Where majesty awes the hearts of humankind,
There awe made people’s hearts tremble,
And its likeness eludes their comprehension.
His likeness too sublime for their minds to picture.
وَقَدِand already ازْدَهَىshone proudly الدِّيبَاجُthe brocade فِيin رَوْضَاتِهِits gardens
وَقَدِ ازْدَهَى الدِّيبَاجُ فِي رَوْضَاتِهِ
خَضِلاًdew-fresh كَمَاas جَلَتِrevealed الرَّبِيعَspring فُصُولُهُits panels
خَضِلاً كَمَا جَلَتِ الرَّبِيعَ فُصُولُهُ
And the brocade shone proudly in its gardens,
In its meadows silk was threaded
Dew-fresh, as its panels revealed the spring.
Through, like brocade, the seasons being unveiled.
مِنْof كُلِّevery مُنْسَدِلِdrooping الْجَنَاحِwing مُهَدَّلhanging loosely
مِنْ كُلِّ مُنْسَدِلِ الْجَنَاحِ مُهَدَّل
تَضْفُوflow abundantly بِمُذْهَبَةover gilded الْقِبَابِdomes سُدُولُهُits draperies
تَضْفُو بِمُذْهَبَة الْقِبَابِ سُدُولُهُ
Of every drooping-winged, loosely hanging cloth,
With each bird of colorful wings alighting,
Its draperies flowing over gilded domes,
Their domes glazed with patterned glass on every side;
وَمُوَسَّدٍand cushioned فَوْقَupon الأَرَائِكِthe couches رَائِقٍlovely
وَمُوَسَّدٍ فَوْقَ الأَرَائِكِ رَائِقٍ
يُزْهَىoutshines عَلَىabove مَوْضُوعِهَاwhat is laid beneath them مَحْمُولُهُits upper fabric
يُزْهَى عَلَى مَوْضُوعِهَا مَحْمُولُهُ
And lovely brocade cushioned upon couches,
And atop the thrones, luxurious cushions
Its upper fabric outshining what is laid beneath them.
Whose fine covers added to the beauty.
ثُمَّthen اغْتَدَيْتَyou rose in the morning وَمُلْكُكَand your kingdom السَّامِيlofty الْعُلَىin glory
ثُمَّ اغْتَدَيْتَ وَمُلْكُكَ السَّامِي الْعُلَى
مَجْمُوعُunited شَمْلٍin fellowship بِالْمُنَىto hopes مَوْصُولُهُits bonds linked
مَجْمُوعُ شَمْلٍ بِالْمُنَى مَوْصُولُهُ
Then you rose in the morning, your kingdom lofty in glory,
Then, fulfilled, your lofty kingdom
United in fellowship, its bonds linked to hopes;
Became an embodiment of perfect unity.
والْبِشْرand gladness ُمُنْسَحِبُoutspread الْجَنَاحِthe wing عَلَىover الْوَرَىhumankind
والْبِشْر ُمُنْسَحِبُ الْجَنَاحِ عَلَى الْوَرَى
وَالأُنْسُand convivial joy تَشْتَمِلُencompasses الْوُجُودَexistence شَمُولُهُits wine
وَالأُنْسُ تَشْتَمِلُ الْوُجُودَ شَمُولُهُ
And gladness spread its wing over humankind,
While good news spread over the land,
And convivial joy's wine encompassed all existence.
And intimacy embraced all creation.
وَاللَّحْنُand melody قَدْhad وَشَجَتْintertwined غُصُونُthe branches of ضُرُوبِهِits rhythmic modes
وَاللَّحْنُ قَدْ وَشَجَتْ غُصُونُ ضُرُوبِهِ
فَسَبَىso captivated الْعُقُولَminds خَفِيفُهُits light rhythm وَثَقِيلُهُand its heavy rhythm
فَسَبَى الْعُقُولَ خَفِيفُهُ وَثَقِيلُهُ
And melody's rhythmic branches had intertwined,
The rhythms branched out in their melody,
Its light and heavy rhythms taking minds captive.
Captivating minds with their tempo, slow and fast.
خَلَّدْتَyou perpetuated سِرَّthe secret of النَّصْرِvictory فِيin أَعْقَابِهِits descendants
خَلَّدْتَ سِرَّ النَّصْرِ فِي أَعْقَابِهِ
وَسَلَكْتَand you followed قَصْداًa straight course لاَnot يُضَلُّis missed سَبِيلُهُits path
وَسَلَكْتَ قَصْداً لاَ يُضَلُّ سَبِيلُهُ
You made victory's secret endure in its posterity,
You made victory eternal, following its tracks,
And followed a straight course whose path cannot be missed.
And you tread a path from which none stray.
نِعْمَhow excellent الْخُلُودُabiding forever بِهَاin them قُصُورُpalaces of مُقَامَةlasting residence
نِعْمَ الْخُلُودُ بِهَا قُصُورُ مُقَامَة
يَحْبُوكَgrants you سَعْدُكَyour good fortune عِزَّهَاtheir glory وَيُنِيلُهُand bestows it
يَحْبُوكَ سَعْدُكَ عِزَّهَا وَيُنِيلُهُ
How fine to abide forever in them—palaces of lasting residence,
What great eternity, to dwell in those palaces
Your good fortune granting you their glory and bestowing it,
As your good fortune imparts their glory and reaches it.
حَتَّىuntil تَزَيَّنَare adorned بِالبَنِينَwith sons صُدُورَهَاtheir foremost halls
حَتَّى تَزَيَّنَ بِالبَنِينَ صُدُورَهَا
وَيَبِينَand becomes evident فِيin بَاعِthe reach of الْخِلاَفَةِthe caliphate طُولُهُits length
وَيَبِينَ فِي بَاعِ الْخِلاَفَةِ طُولُهُ
Until their foremost halls are adorned with sons,
Until their walls were adorned with boys
And the full length of the caliphate's reach is revealed.
And the extent of the caliphate displayed its length.
فَكَأَنَّنِيso it is as though I بِالْمُلْكِbehold kingship قَدْalready عَقَدَhas tied الْحُبَىthe knee-wraps
فَكَأَنَّنِي بِالْمُلْكِ قَدْ عَقَدَ الْحُبَى
وَزَهَاand shone بِفَاخِرِwith a splendid دِرْهَمٍdirham إِكْلِيلُهُits diadem
وَزَهَا بِفَاخِرِ دِرْهَمٍ إِكْلِيلُهُ
As though I see kingship with its knee-wraps tied,
So I can see the royal bond tied securely,
And its diadem gleaming with a splendid dirham.
Its splendid filigree like a crown for it.
فَكَأَنَّنِيso it is as though I بَكَbehold you وَالْفُتُوحُand conquests سَوَافِرٌunveiled
فَكَأَنَّنِي بَكَ وَالْفُتُوحُ سَوَافِرٌ
وَالسَّبْيُand captives قَدْalready عَمَرَfilled الرُّبَىthe hills تَنْفِيلُهُtheir allotment as spoils
وَالسَّبْيُ قَدْ عَمَرَ الرُّبَى تَنْفِيلُهُ
As though I see you, with conquests unveiled,
I can see you as the conquests pour forth
And the allotment of captives as spoils has filled the hills.
And the captured foes throng the meadows.
نَصَرَchampioned الْهُدَىguidance سَعْدٌSa'd وَفَازَand won بِإِرْثِهِhis inheritance
نَصَرَ الْهُدَى سَعْدٌ وَفَازَ بِإِرْثِهِ
مِنْfrom بَعْدُafterward يُوسُفُYusuf سِبْطُهُhis grandson وَسَلِيلُهُand his scion
مِنْ بَعْدُ يُوسُفُ سِبْطُهُ وَسَلِيلُهُ
Sa'd championed guidance, and his inheritance was won
With happiness Saʿd upheld guidance and gained its legacy—
Thereafter by Yusuf, his grandson and scion.
After Yūsuf, his grandson and progeny.
مِلِكٌa king عَزِيزُhonored الْجَارِthe neighbor مَمْنُوعُprotected الْحِمَىthe domain
مِلِكٌ عَزِيزُ الْجَارِ مَمْنُوعُ الْحِمَى
مَمْنُوحُendowed مُنْهَلِّpouring النَّدَىbounty مَبْذُولُهُhis freely given gifts
مَمْنُوحُ مُنْهَلِّ النَّدَى مَبْذُولُهُ
A king whose neighbor is honored, whose domain is protected,
A mighty king, honored neighbor, protected sanctuary,
Endowed with pouring bounty, his gifts freely given.
Bestower of meadows dripping with bounty, open-handed.
يَقْظَانُvigilant لاَnot حِفْظُguarding الثُّغُورِthe frontiers يَؤُودُهُburdens him
يَقْظَانُ لاَ حِفْظُ الثُّغُورِ يَؤُودُهُ
كَلاَّno indeed وَلاَand not صَعْبُthe difficulty of الأُمُورِaffairs يَهُولُهُappalls him
كَلاَّ وَلاَ صَعْبُ الأُمُورِ يَهُولُهُ
Vigilant: guarding the frontiers does not burden him,
Ever wakeful, not wearied by guarding frontiers,
No, nor do difficult affairs appall him.
Nor daunted by formidable tasks.
وَإِذَاand when دَعَاهُcalls him الْمُلْكُkingship مِنْهُfrom it لِلَذَّةٍto a pleasure
وَإِذَا دَعَاهُ الْمُلْكُ مِنْهُ لِلَذَّةٍ
نَاجَاهُwhispers to him مِنْfrom تَقْوَىreverence for الإِلاَهِGod عَذُولُهُhis reprover
نَاجَاهُ مِنْ تَقْوَى الإِلاَهِ عَذُولُهُ
And when kingship calls him to one of its pleasures,
And if kingship summoned him to pleasure,
His reprover, born of reverence for God, whispers to him.
Godwariness called him back from transgression.
شَمَلًencompassed الْبِلاَدَthe lands وَأَهْلَهَاand their people تَأَمِينُهُhis granting of safety
شَمَلً الْبِلاَدَ وَأَهْلَهَا تَأَمِينُهُ
وَهَمَىand rained down عَلَيْهِمْupon them بِالنَّدَىwith bounty تَأَمِيلُهُhope in him
وَهَمَى عَلَيْهِمْ بِالنَّدَى تَأَمِيلُهُ
His protection encompassed the lands and their people,
His care encompassed the lands and their people,
And hope in him rained bounty upon them.
His clouds showered them with rain gently.
أَخَلِيفَةَO caliph of اللَّهِGod الَّذِيwho آرَاؤُهُhis judgments
أَخَلِيفَةَ اللَّهِ الَّذِي آرَاؤُهُ
شُهْبٌmeteors تُنِيرُilluminate دُجَىthe darkness of الْهَوَىpassion وَتُحِيلُهُand dispel it
شُهْبٌ تُنِيرُ دُجَى الْهَوَى وَتُحِيلُهُ
O caliph of God, whose judgments
The caliph of God whose opinions
Are meteors that light passion's darkness and dispel it,
Are meteors giving light, transforming blindness.
خُذْهَاtake her إِلَيْكَto yourself عَقِيلَةَthe noble lady of الشِّعْرِpoetry الَّذِيwhich
خُذْهَا إِلَيْكَ عَقِيلَةَ الشِّعْرِ الَّذِي
تُبْدِيdisplay لَهُto it سِمَةَthe mark of الْخُضُوعِsubmission فُحُولُهُits stallion-poets
تُبْدِي لَهُ سِمَةَ الْخُضُوعِ فُحُولُهُ
Receive her, the noble lady of verse, before whom
Receive from me, as token of submission, these verses
Its stallion-poets display the mark of submission.
That show poetry abasing itself before you.
دُرًّاتَكَوَّنَpearls formed فِيin بِحَارِseas of بَلاَغَةٍeloquence
دُرًّاتَكَوَّنَ فِي بِحَارِ بَلاَغَةٍ
يُهْدَىis offered إِلَيْكَto you ثَمِينُهُits precious ones وَجَلِيلُهُand its splendid ones
يُهْدَى إِلَيْكَ ثَمِينُهُ وَجَلِيلُهُ
Pearls formed in seas of eloquence,
Pearls formed in oceans of eloquence,
Their precious and splendid ones are offered to you.
The precious and priceless are gifted to you.
وَصِلِand continue الدَّوَامَforever إِذَاwhen نَبَتْfail to bite بِيضُthe bright الظُّبَىsword-edges
وَصِلِ الدَّوَامَ إِذَا نَبَتْ بِيضُ الظُّبَى
تَمْضِيyou press on وَإِنْand if عَثَرَstumbles الزَّمَانُtime تُقِيلُهُyou set it upright
تَمْضِي وَإِنْ عَثَرَ الزَّمَانُ تُقِيلُهُ
And endure forever: when bright sword-edges fail to bite,
Give greetings eternal when the eggs of ostriches appear,
You press on; and if time stumbles, you set it upright.
Going on even if Time should stumble and halt.
فَالْمُلْكُfor kingship أَنْتَyou عِمَادُهُits pillar وَعَتَادُهُand its armament
فَالْمُلْكُ أَنْتَ عِمَادُهُ وَعَتَادُهُ
وَالدِّينُand religion أَنْتَyou مَلاَذُهُits refuge وَمَقِيلُهُand its noonday resting-place
وَالدِّينُ أَنْتَ مَلاَذُهُ وَمَقِيلُهُ
For kingship—you are its pillar and its armament,
For you are the pillar and pillar of kingship,
And religion—you are its refuge and its noonday resting-place.
Just as you are the refuge and shelter of faith.
Sol 6.1