تلافَيْتَyou rescued نصْرَthe victory of الدّينِthe faith إذْwhen كادَwas about to يتْلَفُperish
تلافَيْتَ نصْرَ الدّينِ إذْ كادَ يتْلَفُ
وأنْجَزْتَand you fulfilled وعْدَthe promise of الحقِّtruth وهْوَwhile it was مُسَوّفُdeferred
وأنْجَزْتَ وعْدَ الحقِّ وهْوَ مُسَوّفُ
You rescued the victory of the faith when it nearly perished,
and fulfilled the promise of truth, which had been deferred.
وأنشأْتَand you raised فيin أفْقِthe horizon of العُلاeminence سُحُبَclouds of النّدَىbounty
وأنشأْتَ في أفْقِ العُلا سُحُبَ النّدَى
وسَقَيْتَand you watered روْضَthe garden of المَجْدِglory فهْوَso it is مفوَّفُrichly patterned
وسَقَيْتَ روْضَ المَجْدِ فهْوَ مفوَّفُ
You raised clouds of bounty on the horizon of eminence,
and watered glory's garden, leaving it richly patterned.
وجمّعْتَand you gathered أسْباطَthe tribes of المَكارِمِnoble virtues والعُلىand eminence
وجمّعْتَ أسْباطَ المَكارِمِ والعُلى
ونادَيْتَand you proclaimed لاno تَثْرِيبَreproach إذْfor أنْتَyou are يوسُفُYusuf
ونادَيْتَ لا تَثْرِيبَ إذْ أنْتَ يوسُفُ
You gathered the tribes of noble virtues and eminence,
and proclaimed, “No reproach!”—for you are Yusuf.
وقَرّand stood firm سريرُthe throne of المُلْكِkingship لمّاwhen حلَلْتَهُyou occupied it
وقَرّ سريرُ المُلْكِ لمّا حلَلْتَهُ
ولوْand if لمْnot تشِدْyou strengthened أرْجاءَهُits sides كادَwas close to يرْجُفُtrembling
ولوْ لمْ تشِدْ أرْجاءَهُ كادَ يرْجُفُ
The throne of kingship stood firm when you occupied it;
had you not braced its sides, it would have all but tottered.
دعَتْكَcalled to you قُلوبُthe hearts of النّاسِpeople إذْwhen عمّbecame widespread جذْبُهاtheir drought
دعَتْكَ قُلوبُ النّاسِ إذْ عمّ جذْبُها
ولَجّand persisted الأسَىgrief فِيهاwithin them وجَلّand grew immense التأسُّفُsorrow
ولَجّ الأسَى فِيها وجَلّ التأسُّفُ
People's hearts called to you when drought spread through them,
grief persisted within them, and sorrow grew immense.
فأنْزَلْتَso you sent down غيْثاًrain منْfrom سَماءِthe sky of عَجاجَةٍa dust-cloud
فأنْزَلْتَ غيْثاً منْ سَماءِ عَجاجَةٍ
تُرَىis seen دَلْوَهاits bucket شُهْبَthe meteors of الأسِنّةِspearheads تَقْذِفُit hurls
تُرَى دَلْوَها شُهْبَ الأسِنّةِ تَقْذِفُ
So you sent down rain from a sky of whirling dust;
its bucket is seen hurling the meteors of spearheads.
تَهُبُّblow رِياحُthe winds of النّصْرِvictory فيalong جنَباتِهاits flanks
تَهُبُّ رِياحُ النّصْرِ في جنَباتِها
رُخاءًgently ورَعْدُand the thunder of الطّبْلِthe drum خلْفَكَbehind you يقْصِفُcrashes
رُخاءً ورَعْدُ الطّبْلِ خلْفَكَ يقْصِفُ
The winds of victory blow along its flanks,
gently, while the drum's thunder crashes behind you.
فَماso not كُنْتَyou were إلاّexcept رَحْمَةَthe mercy of اللّهِGod أُرْسِلَتْsent forth
فَما كُنْتَ إلاّ رَحْمَةَ اللّهِ أُرْسِلَتْ
فأعْطِيَso was given معْتَرٌّa needy visitor وأخْصَبَand found abundance مُعجِفُan owner of lean livestock
فأعْطِيَ معْتَرٌّ وأخْصَبَ مُعجِفُ
You were nothing but God's mercy sent forth,
so a needy visitor received gifts, and the keeper of lean herds found plenty.
فقرّso was gladdened بكَthrough you الإسلامُIslam عيْناًin its eye ولمْand did not يزَلْcease
فقرّ بكَ الإسلامُ عيْناً ولمْ يزَلْ
يعدُّكَit holds you ready للجُلّىfor great crises ويسْعَىand it strives فتُسْعِفُso you give aid
يعدُّكَ للجُلّى ويسْعَى فتُسْعِفُ
Through you Islam's eye found joy, and it has never ceased
to count on you in great trials; it strives, and you give aid.
فلِلّهِso to God belongs منْof يَومٍa day أغَرَّwhite-blazed مُحجَّلٍwhite-stockinged
فلِلّهِ منْ يَومٍ أغَرَّ مُحجَّلٍ
لحِزْبِfor the party of الهُدىguidance قِدْماًlong before إليْهِtoward it تشوُّفُyearning
لحِزْبِ الهُدى قِدْماً إليْهِ تشوُّفُ
What a day of God's—white-blazed and white-stockinged—
for which the party of guidance had long yearned!
أرَىshowed الدّينَthe faith دينَthe faith of اللّهGod ماwhat كانَit had been يرْتَجيhoping for
أرَى الدّينَ دينَ اللّه ما كانَ يرْتَجي
ودافَعَand warded off عنْfrom أهْلِيهِits people ماwhat يُتَخوَّفُwas feared
ودافَعَ عنْ أهْلِيهِ ما يُتَخوَّفُ
It showed the faith—God's faith—what it had hoped for,
and warded from its people all that was feared.
فَياso O حضْرَةًcourt للعَدْلِof justice أصْبَحَتْhas become روْضَةًa garden
فَيا حضْرَةً للعَدْلِ أصْبَحَتْ روْضَةً
بأنْوارِهاwith its blossoms روْضُthe garden of الهِدايةِguidance يُتْحِفُoffers gifts
بأنْوارِها روْضُ الهِدايةِ يُتْحِفُ
O court of justice, now become a garden,
whose blossoms the garden of guidance offers as gifts!
وياand O كعْبَةَKaaba of الُلْكِsovereignty التيwhich برَكاتُهاits blessings
ويا كعْبَةَ الُلْكِ التي برَكاتُها
تفيضُoverflow علَىupon زُوّارِهاits visitors وتَوكَّفُand rain down
تفيضُ علَى زُوّارِها وتَوكَّفُ
O Kaaba of sovereignty, whose blessings
overflow upon its visitors and rain down!
ليَهْنِكَmay he gladden you منْصورُvictorious اللّواءِin banner مؤيَّدٌdivinely aided
ليَهْنِكَ منْصورُ اللّواءِ مؤيَّدٌ
بِحارُthe seas of النّدىbounty منْfrom جودِthe generosity of كفَّيْهِhis two hands تغْرِفُdraw water
بِحارُ النّدى منْ جودِ كفَّيْهِ تغْرِفُ
May you rejoice in one divinely aided, his banner victorious;
the seas of bounty draw from the largesse of his two hands.
هُمامٌa valiant lord إذاwhen ماever عايَنَbeholds القِرْنَthe opponent سيْفُهُhis sword
هُمامٌ إذا ما عايَنَ القِرْنَ سيْفُهُ
فموْعِدُهُthen his appointed meeting الحشْرُthe Resurrection الذيwhich ليْسَdoes not يُخْلِفُfail
فموْعِدُهُ الحشْرُ الذي ليْسَ يُخْلِفُ
A valiant lord: when his sword beholds an opponent,
his tryst is the Resurrection, a tryst never broken.
وأقْسِمُand I swear لوْif رامَhe sought الثُريّاthe Pleiades لنالَهاhe would surely reach them
وأقْسِمُ لوْ رامَ الثُريّا لنالَها
بعزْمِwith the resolve of اقتِدارٍmight ماno لَهاfor them عنْهُfrom him مصْرفُescape
بعزْمِ اقتِدارٍ ما لَها عنْهُ مصْرفُ
I swear, were he to seek the Pleiades, he would surely reach them,
with powerful resolve; they would have no escape from him.
وَصولٌever attaining الىto الغاياتِthe utmost goals يُرْجَىhe is hoped for ويُتّقىand he is feared
وَصولٌ الى الغاياتِ يُرْجَى ويُتّقى
كريمُnoble in السّجاياcharacter لمْnot يشُبْهُtaint him التّكلّفُaffectation
كريمُ السّجايا لمْ يشُبْهُ التّكلّفُ
Ever attaining the utmost goals, he is hoped for and feared,
noble in character, untainted by affectation.
يؤلّفُhe unites بالحُسْننَىthrough kindness قُلوباًhearts تفرّقَتْthat had scattered
يؤلّفُ بالحُسْننَى قُلوباً تفرّقَتْ
يفرِّقُhe scatters بالإحْسانِthrough beneficence ماwhat لاnot يؤلِّفُhe amasses
يفرِّقُ بالإحْسانِ ما لا يؤلِّفُ
Through kindness he unites hearts that had parted;
through beneficence he scatters what he does not hoard.
أمَوْلايَO my lord إنْindeed عبَدa servant of نِعْمَتِكyour bounty الذيwhose
أمَوْلايَ إنْ عبَد نِعْمَتِك الذي
علَيْكَto you ثَنائِيmy praise ماas long as حَييتُI live موَقّفُdevoted
علَيْكَ ثَنائِي ما حَييتُ موَقّفُ
O my lord, truly I am that servant of your bounty;
my praise is devoted to you as long as I live.
وماand not الشعرُpoetry إلاexcept بعْضُa part of نُعْماكَyour bounty إنّهindeed it
وما الشعرُ إلا بعْضُ نُعْماكَ إنّه
وإنْand even if راقَit delights منْfrom أزْهارِthe blossoms of مجْدِكَyour glory يَقْطِفُit plucks
وإنْ راقَ منْ أزْهارِ مجْدِكَ يَقْطِفُ
Poetry is but a part of your bounty; indeed,
however pleasing, it plucks from the blossoms of your glory.
تكلّفْتَyou undertook بالإحْسانِbeneficence بَدْءًat first وعودةًand again
تكلّفْتَ بالإحْسانِ بَدْءً وعودةً
فخيْرٌso good تسنّيهِyou bestow it وشِعْرٌand poetry تُشَرِّفُyou ennoble
فخيْرٌ تسنّيهِ وشِعْرٌ تُشَرِّفُ
You undertook beneficence, first and once again,
so there is good you bestow, and poetry you ennoble.
بلَغْتُI attained بأمْداحيthrough my praises لمُلْكِكَof your kingship رُتْبَةًa rank
بلَغْتُ بأمْداحي لمُلْكِكَ رُتْبَةً
تُطِلُّthat overlooks علىupon أوْجِthe zenith of السِّماكِal-Simak وتُشْرِفُand rises above
تُطِلُّ على أوْجِ السِّماكِ وتُشْرِفُ
Through my praises of your kingship I attained a rank
that overlooks al-Simak's zenith and rises above it.
وأحْرزْتُand I attained فيin شأوِthe race of امتِداحِكَpraising you غايةًan ultimate goal
وأحْرزْتُ في شأوِ امتِداحِكَ غايةً
تقرِّرُmakes acknowledge مُدّاحَthe panegyrists of المُلوكِkings فتُنْصِفُand so renders justice
تقرِّرُ مُدّاحَ المُلوكِ فتُنْصِفُ
In the race to extol you I have achieved a goal
that makes kings' panegyrists concede and renders justice.
أجَرِّرُI trail ذَيْليmy robe's train عندَat ذِكْرِthe mention of جَريرِهاits Jarir
أجَرِّرُ ذَيْلي عندَ ذِكْرِ جَريرِها
بَياناin eloquence فلاso not أهْفوI falter ولاand not أتوقّفُI pause
بَيانا فلا أهْفو ولا أتوقّفُ
I trail my robe proudly when its Jarir is mentioned,
in eloquence, neither faltering nor pausing.
وأنْتَعِلُand I wear as sandals الجوْزاءَal-Jawza' عُجْباًin pride وإنْeven though غدَتْit has become
وأنْتَعِلُ الجوْزاءَ عُجْباً وإنْ غدَتْ
تُقَرّطُare fitted with earrings آذانٌears بِهاwith it وتُشَنَّفُand adorned with ear-pendants
تُقَرّطُ آذانٌ بِها وتُشَنَّفُ
I wear al-Jawza' as sandals in pride, though it has come
to adorn ears with earrings and pendants.
وماذاand what عسَىcould يُثْنيpraise فصيحٌan eloquent man وشاعِرٌand a poet
وماذا عسَى يُثْني فصيحٌ وشاعِرٌ
وماذاand what عسَىcould يُحصيenumerate كلامٌspeech مُزَخْرَفُornate
وماذا عسَى يُحصي كلامٌ مُزَخْرَفُ
What praise can an eloquent man and a poet offer,
and what can ornate speech ever enumerate,
وأنتَand you أباAbu (father of) الحجّاجِal-Hajjaj حُجّةُthe proof of دينِناour faith
وأنتَ أبا الحجّاجِ حُجّةُ دينِنا
بكَthrough you اللهُGod يجْلوdispels الشّكّdoubt والسّوءَand evil يصْرِفُturns away
بكَ اللهُ يجْلو الشّكّ والسّوءَ يصْرِفُ
when you, Abu al-Hajjaj, are the proof of our faith?
Through you God dispels doubt and turns evil away.
وأنتَand you ابْنُthe son of أنْصارِthe champions of الهُدَىguidance وحُماتِهِand its defenders
وأنتَ ابْنُ أنْصارِ الهُدَى وحُماتِهِ
هَنيئاًjoy لهُمْto them هَذاthis الثّناءُpraise المُخَلَّفُbequeathed
هَنيئاً لهُمْ هَذا الثّناءُ المُخَلَّفُ
You are the son of guidance's champions and defenders;
blessed are they in this bequeathed praise!
نَحاit turned نحْوَtoward أرْبابthe lords of العُلَىeminence ففَعالُهُمْfor their conduct
نَحا نحْوَ أرْباب العُلَى ففَعالُهُمْ
علىtoward السَّنَنthe path المَرْضيِّapproved والعدْلِand justice يعطِفُinclines
على السَّنَن المَرْضيِّ والعدْلِ يعطِفُ
This praise has sought the lords of eminence, whose conduct
inclines toward the approved path and justice.
شِعارُهُمُtheir emblem عِلْمٌknowledge وحِلْمٌand forbearance ونائِلٌand bounty
شِعارُهُمُ عِلْمٌ وحِلْمٌ ونائِلٌ
وحرْبٌand war ومِحْرابٌand a prayer-niche وسيْفٌand a sword ومُصْحَفُand a Qur'an codex
وحرْبٌ ومِحْرابٌ وسيْفٌ ومُصْحَفُ
Their emblems are knowledge, forbearance, bounty,
war and prayer-niche, sword and Qur'an.
فكمْhow many أطْلَعواthey brought forth فيin الحرْبِwar منْof بحْرٍa sea صارمٍkeen-edged
فكمْ أطْلَعوا في الحرْبِ منْ بحْرٍ صارمٍ
يعَفِّرgrinds into dust آنافَthe noses of الطُغاةِtyrants ويُرْعِفُand makes bleed
يعَفِّر آنافَ الطُغاةِ ويُرْعِفُ
How many a keen-edged sea they have brought forth in battle,
to grind tyrants' noses into dust and make them bleed!
وكمْand how many عائِلٍa pauper أغنَوْاthey enriched وكمْand how many خائِفٍa fearful person حمَوْاthey protected
وكمْ عائِلٍ أغنَوْا وكمْ خائِفٍ حمَوْا
وكمand how many معْدِمٍa destitute man أثْرَوْهُthey enriched him جوداًthrough generosity وأتْرَفواand gave luxurious ease
وكم معْدِمٍ أثْرَوْهُ جوداً وأتْرَفوا
How many a pauper they enriched, how many a fearful soul they protected,
how many a destitute man they made wealthy through bounty and gave a life of ease!
بعَثْتَyou sent الىto أرضِthe land of العِدَىthe enemy بكَتيبةٍwith a battalion
بعَثْتَ الى أرضِ العِدَى بكَتيبةٍ
تكادُalmost بِهاbecause of it شمْسُthe sun of الظّهيرةِnoon تكْسِفُis eclipsed
تكادُ بِها شمْسُ الظّهيرةِ تكْسِفُ
You sent a battalion into the enemy's land,
by which the noonday sun is almost eclipsed.
قَبائِلُtribes أدْواهاhad sickened them السُّرَىnight marches فتنكّرَتْso they became unrecognizable
قَبائِلُ أدْواها السُّرَى فتنكّرَتْ
ولكنّهاyet they عندَat الكَريهةِthe ordeal of battle تُعرَفُare recognized
ولكنّها عندَ الكَريهةِ تُعرَفُ
Tribes so worn by night marches that they were unrecognizable,
yet in the ordeal of battle they are known.
تقودُthey lead إلَيْهمْagainst them كلَّevery أجْرَدَsleek-coated steed سابِحٍswimming in stride
تقودُ إلَيْهمْ كلَّ أجْرَدَ سابِحٍ
تُهَدُّare shattered بهِby it شُمُّlofty الهِضابِhills وتُنْسَفُand blown away
تُهَدُّ بهِ شُمُّ الهِضابِ وتُنْسَفُ
They lead against them every sleek, swimming steed,
by which lofty hills are shattered and blown away.
يُكَبّرُhe holds himself too great عنْfor لَبْسِwearing الحَديدِiron armor الىinto الوَغىbattle
يُكَبّرُ عنْ لَبْسِ الحَديدِ الى الوَغى
فقامَso took مَقامَthe place of الدِّرْعِmail armor بُرْدٌa striped robe ومُطْرَفُand a bordered mantle
فقامَ مَقامَ الدِّرْعِ بُرْدٌ ومُطْرَفُ
He scorns donning iron as he goes into battle,
so a striped robe and a bordered mantle serve in place of mail.
تنكّبُveer aside عنْهاfrom it البيضُwhite swords وهْيَthough they are بواتِرٌkeen cutters
تنكّبُ عنْها البيضُ وهْيَ بواتِرٌ
ويَقْصُرُand falls short عنْهاof it السّمْهَريُّthe Samhari spear المُثَقّفُwell-straightened
ويَقْصُرُ عنْها السّمْهَريُّ المُثَقّفُ
White swords veer aside from it, keen though they are,
and the well-straightened Samhari spear falls short of it.
وماand not كُلُّevery زَنْدٍwrist يحْمِلُcarries الكفَّthe hand ساعِداًa forearm
وما كُلُّ زَنْدٍ يحْمِلُ الكفَّ ساعِداً
وماand not كُلُّevery مصْقولِthing polished on الشِّفارَيْنِboth cutting edges مُرْهَفُkeen-edged
وما كُلُّ مصْقولِ الشِّفارَيْنِ مُرْهَفُ
Not every wrist that carries a hand is a strong arm,
nor is every blade polished on both edges truly keen.
فجاسَتْso it scoured أقاصيthe farthest parts of أرضِهِمْtheir land وتعسّفَتْand seized by force
فجاسَتْ أقاصي أرضِهِمْ وتعسّفَتْ
غَنائِمُهُمْtheir spoils للّهِto God belongs ذاكَthat التعسُّفُforcible seizure
غَنائِمُهُمْ للّهِ ذاكَ التعسُّفُ
It scoured the farthest reaches of their land and seized by force
their spoils—what a bold seizure, by God!
فأبْصَرَthen saw ملْكُthe king of الرّومِthe Romans منكَin you مؤيَّداًone divinely aided
فأبْصَرَ ملْكُ الرّومِ منكَ مؤيَّداً
إذاwhen همّhe resolves لاnot وانٍsluggish ولاnor متخَلِّفُlagging behind
إذا همّ لا وانٍ ولا متخَلِّفُ
The king of the Romans saw in you one divinely aided,
who, once resolved, is neither sluggish nor slow to act.
فسالَمَso he made peace إشْفاقاًout of dread وكفّand held back تَخوّفاًout of fear
فسالَمَ إشْفاقاً وكفّ تَخوّفاً
وعفّand refrained فَماand not أنْجاهُsaved him إلاexcept التّعفُّفُself-restraint
وعفّ فَما أنْجاهُ إلا التّعفُّفُ
So he made peace in dread and held back in fear,
and refrained—only self-restraint saved him.
ووجّهَand he dispatched يسْتَجْديseeking largesse from عُلاكَyour eminence رسولَهُhis envoy
ووجّهَ يسْتَجْدي عُلاكَ رسولَهُ
وكاتَبَand wrote يسْتَدْنيseeking to draw near رِضاكَyour favor ويُلْطِفُand makes gracious overtures
وكاتَبَ يسْتَدْني رِضاكَ ويُلْطِفُ
He dispatched his envoy to beg bounty of your eminence,
and wrote to draw your favor near, making gracious overtures.
فأقبلَso he came لاnot يدْريknowing الىto النّجْمِthe star يرْتَقيhe ascends
فأقبلَ لا يدْري الى النّجْمِ يرْتَقي
أمِor البحْرَthe sea يبْغيhe seeks أمْor الىtoward اللّيْثِthe lion يدْلِفُhe advances slowly
أمِ البحْرَ يبْغي أمْ الى اللّيْثِ يدْلِفُ
His envoy came, not knowing whether he was climbing to a star,
seeking the sea, or advancing toward the lion.
يؤمِّلُhe hopes for تقْبيلَkissing البِساطthe carpet ومَنْand who لهfor him
يؤمِّلُ تقْبيلَ البِساط ومَنْ له
بهِwith it وبروقُwhile the flashes of الهِندِIndian steel عيْنَيْهِhis two eyes تخْطِفُsnatch away
بهِ وبروقُ الهِندِ عيْنَيْهِ تخْطِفُ
He hopes to kiss the carpet—but who will grant him
that, while flashes of Indian steel snatch at his eyes?
وقدْand indeed جنَحواthey inclined للسِّلْمِtoward peace فاجْنَحْso incline تفضُّلاًout of graciousness
وقدْ جنَحوا للسِّلْمِ فاجْنَحْ تفضُّلاً
فَماfor not مِنْهُمُamong them عيْنٌan eye منَfrom الرُّعْبِterror تطْرِفُblinks
فَما مِنْهُمُ عيْنٌ منَ الرُّعْبِ تطْرِفُ
They have inclined toward peace; incline toward it in graciousness,
for not one eye among them blinks for terror.
فَلاso may ... not برِحَتْcease أيّامُكَyour days الغُرُّbright تقْتَفيpursue
فَلا برِحَتْ أيّامُكَ الغُرُّ تقْتَفي
بكَthrough you الفَتْحَvictory والآمالُand hopes لاnot تتوقّفُcome to a halt
بكَ الفَتْحَ والآمالُ لا تتوقّفُ
May your bright days never cease to pursue
victory through you, and may hopes never falter.
ولازالتِand may ... never cease الأمْلاكُkings تأتيكَcome to you خُضَّعاًin submission
ولازالتِ الأمْلاكُ تأتيكَ خُضَّعاً
ولازِلْتَand may you ever remain بالإحْسانِin beneficence والعَفْوِand pardon تكْلَفُdevoted
ولازِلْتَ بالإحْسانِ والعَفْوِ تكْلَفُ
May kings ever come before you in submission,
and may you ever be devoted to kindness and pardon.
ويُنْشِدُand recites مَنْwhoever يأتيcomes لبابِكَto your door وافِداًas a visitor
ويُنْشِدُ مَنْ يأتي لبابِكَ وافِداً
تلافَيْتَyou rescued نصْرَthe victory of الدّينِthe faith إذْwhen كادَwas about to يَتْلَفُperish
تلافَيْتَ نصْرَ الدّينِ إذْ كادَ يَتْلَفُ
and may each visitor arriving at your door recite:
You rescued the victory of the faith when it nearly perished.
Sol 6.1