يَاO نُجْعَةَpasture sought by الْوُزَرَاءِthe viziers وَالنُّوَّابِand the deputies
يَا نُجْعَةَ الْوُزَرَاءِ وَالنُّوَّابِ
وَالْمَلْهَمُand the inspired one الْمَهِديُّthe rightly guided لِكُلِّto every صَوَابِright course
وَالْمَلْهَمُ الْمَهِديُّ لِكُلِّ صَوَابِ
O pasture sought by viziers and deputies,
and you who are inspired, guided to every right course;
وَابْنَand son of الْمَجَادَةِglory وَالسِّيَادَةِand sovereignty وَالتُّقىand piety
وَابْنَ الْمَجَادَةِ وَالسِّيَادَةِ وَالتُّقى
وَالْفَضْلِand excellence وَالأَنْسَابِand noble lineages وَالأَحْسَابِand ancestral honors
وَالْفَضْلِ وَالأَنْسَابِ وَالأَحْسَابِ
and son of glory, sovereignty, and piety,
and excellence, noble lineages, and ancestral honors;
وَمَنِand one الَّذِيwho أَيَّامُهُhis days مَذْكُورَةٌare remembered
وَمَنِ الَّذِي أَيَّامُهُ مَذْكُورَةٌ
وَسُعُودُهُand his good fortunes مَوْصُولَةُconnected in الأَسْبَابِtheir bonds
وَسُعُودُهُ مَوْصُولَةُ الأَسْبَابِ
and you whose days are remembered,
and whose good fortunes are linked by unbroken bonds;
مَنْصُوَرvictorious one دَوْلَةِthe dynasty of آلِthe house of عَبْدِʿAbd الْحَقِّal-Ḥaqq ذَاpossessor of الْthe (continued)
مَنْصُوَر دَوْلَةِ آلِ عَبْدِ الْحَقِّ ذَا الْ
أَثَرِlegacy الْغَرِيبِwondrous لُبَابَquintessence of كُلِّevery لُبَابِquintessence
أَثَرِ الْغَرِيبِ لُبَابَ كُلِّ لُبَابِ
victorious one of the dynasty of the house of ʿAbd al-Ḥaqq, you of
a wondrous legacy, quintessence of every quintessence;
سَيْفُsword of السَّعِيدِal-Saʿīd وَكَافِلَand steward of الأَمْرِaffairs الَّذِيwho
سَيْفُ السَّعِيدِ وَكَافِلَ الأَمْرِ الَّذِي
قَدْindeed نَابَacted as deputy عَنْfor مَوْلاَهُhis lord خَيْرَthe finest مَنَابِdeputyship
قَدْ نَابَ عَنْ مَوْلاَهُ خَيْرَ مَنَابِ
sword of al-Saʿīd and steward of affairs, who
has served his lord as the finest deputy.
قَدْindeed كُنْتَyou were تُذْخَرُheld in reserve لِلأَمُورِfor affairs وَتُرْتَجَىand looked to
قَدْ كُنْتَ تُذْخَرُ لِلأَمُورِ وَتُرْتَجَى
لِلْمُعْضِلاتِfor difficult tasks وَأَنْتَwhile you فِيwere in الْكُتَّابِthe schoolroom
لِلْمُعْضِلاتِ وَأَنْتَ فِي الْكُتَّابِ
You were held in reserve for affairs and looked to
for difficult tasks while still in the schoolroom.
وَيُقَالُand it is said هَذَاthis one كَافِلٌa guardian لِخِلاَفَةٍof a caliphate
وَيُقَالُ هَذَا كَافِلٌ لِخِلاَفَةٍ
تَخْتَالُwalks proudly لِلْبَرَكَاتِof blessings فِيin جلْبَابِa robe
تَخْتَالُ لِلْبَرَكَاتِ فِي جلْبَابِ
And it was said, “This is a guardian of a caliphate
that walks proudly in a robe of blessings.”
بُشْرَىglad tidings أَتَتْcame مِثْلَlike الصَّبَاحِthe morning لِنَاظرِto a beholder
بُشْرَى أَتَتْ مِثْلَ الصَّبَاحِ لِنَاظرِ
لَمْnot تُعْزَwas attributed نِسْبَتُهَاtheir origin إِلَىto كَذَّابِa liar
لَمْ تُعْزَ نِسْبَتُهَا إِلَى كَذَّابِ
Glad tidings came, like morning to the beholder,
with no liar named as their source.
وَوُعُودُهَاand their promises مِنْfrom بَعْدِafter ذَاthis مُسْتَمْنَحٌsought as a gift
وَوُعُودُهَا مِنْ بَعْدِ ذَا مُسْتَمْنَحٌ
إِنْجَازُهَاtheir fulfillment مِنْfrom مُنْعِمٍa benefactor وَهَّابِa bountiful giver
إِنْجَازُهَا مِنْ مُنْعِمٍ وَهَّابِ
And their promises—after this, one seeks as a gift
their fulfillment from a gracious, bountiful giver.
اللهُGod حَسْبُكَis sufficient for you يَاO أَبَاAbū يَحْيَYaḥyā فَقَدْfor indeed
اللهُ حَسْبُكَ يَا أَبَا يَحْيَ فَقَدْ
أَحيَيْتَyou revived رَسْمَthe traces of الْمَجْدِglory بَعْدَafter ذَهَابِdisappearance
أَحيَيْتَ رَسْمَ الْمَجْدِ بَعْدَ ذَهَابِ
God is sufficient for you, Abū Yaḥyā, for you have
restored glory's traces after they had vanished.
أَنْصَفَتَyou treated fairly جَيْشَthe army of الْمُسْلِمِينَthe Muslims فَمَاso not الْقَنَاthe spears
أَنْصَفَتَ جَيْشَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ فَمَا الْقَنَا
صَعْبَdifficult الْمَهَزِّto wield وَمَاand not الْحُسَامُthe sword بِنَابِيfailing to bite
صَعْبَ الْمَهَزِّ وَمَا الْحُسَامُ بِنَابِي
You have done justice to the Muslim army: the spears are not
hard to wield, nor does the sword fail to bite.
وَأَعَدْتَand you restored سَكَّتَهُمْtheir coinage كَأَنَّas though وُجُوهَهَاits faces
وَأَعَدْتَ سَكَّتَهُمْ كَأَنَّ وُجُوهَهَا
زَهْرُflowers of الرِّيَاضِthe gardens رَبَتْgrew lush بِصَوْبِwith the rain of رَبَابِclouds
زَهْرُ الرِّيَاضِ رَبَتْ بِصَوْبِ رَبَابِ
And you have restored their coinage, as though its faces
were garden flowers grown lush with rain from clouds.
وَجَبَيْتَand you collected مَالَthe wealth of اللهِGod وَاسْتَخْلَصْتَهُand wrested it free
وَجَبَيْتَ مَالَ اللهِ وَاسْتَخْلَصْتَهُ
مِنْfrom بَيْنَbetween ظُفْرa claw لِلسِّيَاعِof beasts (reading uncertain) وَنَابِand a fang
مِنْ بَيْنَ ظُفْر لِلسِّيَاعِ وَنَابِ
And you have collected God's wealth and wrested it
from between the beasts' claw and fang.
وَخَلَفْتَand you succeeded مَوْلَىthe lord of الْخَلْقِhumankind خَيْرَthe finest خلاَفَةٍstewardship
وَخَلَفْتَ مَوْلَى الْخَلْقِ خَيْرَ خلاَفَةٍ
تُرْضِيهِpleasing him فِيregarding الأَعْدَاءِthe enemies وَالأَحْبَابِand the friends
تُرْضِيهِ فِي الأَعْدَاءِ وَالأَحْبَابِ
And you have succeeded the lord of humankind with the finest stewardship,
pleasing him in your dealings with enemies and friends.
وَرَعَيْتَهُand you watched over him بَعْدَafter الْمَمَاتِdeath كَأَنَّهُas though he
وَرَعَيْتَهُ بَعْدَ الْمَمَاتِ كَأَنَّهُ
رَهْنُbound to الْحَيَاةِlife يَرَاكَsees you خَلْفَbehind حِجَابِa veil
رَهْنُ الْحَيَاةِ يَرَاكَ خَلْفَ حِجَابِ
And you watched over him after death as though he
were still bound to life, watching you from behind a veil.
هَذَاthis الْوَفَاءُloyalty يَقِلُّis little by comparison مَاwhat حُدِّثْتَهُyou were told of it
هَذَا الْوَفَاءُ يَقِلُّ مَا حُدِّثْتَهُ
مِنْof مُقْتَضٍsomething calling لِلنَّفْيِfor denial وَالإِيجَابِand affirmation
مِنْ مُقْتَضٍ لِلنَّفْيِ وَالإِيجَابِ
This is loyalty; little beside it is all you have heard
of matters inviting denial or affirmation.
فَالْعَدْلُso justice يُحْكِمُsets firmly فِيamong الْوَرَىhumankind قِسْطَاسَهُits balance
فَالْعَدْلُ يُحْكِمُ فِي الْوَرَى قِسْطَاسَهُ
وَالأَمْنُand safety ظِلٌّa shade وَافِرُfar-reaching in الإِطْنَابِits tent ropes
وَالأَمْنُ ظِلٌّ وَافِرُ الإِطْنَابِ
So justice sets its balance firmly among humankind,
and safety is a shade with far-reaching tent ropes.
وَالدَّهْرُand time بَعْدَafter مَشِيبهِits gray age بِكَthrough you لاَبِسٌis clothed
وَالدَّهْرُ بَعْدَ مَشِيبهِ بِكَ لاَبِسٌ
مَاwhatever شِئْتَهُyou wish مِنْof عُنْفُوَانِthe vigor of شَبَابِyouth
مَا شِئْتَهُ مِنْ عُنْفُوَانِ شَبَابِ
And time, after going gray, is clothed through you
in whatever vigor of youth you desire.
جَعَلَplaced الإِلاَهُGod عَلَىupon كَمَالِكَyour perfection عُوذَةًa protective charm
جَعَلَ الإِلاَهُ عَلَى كَمَالِكَ عُوذَةً
مِنْfrom ذِكْرِهِHis remembrance فِيin جِيئَةٍcoming وَذَهَابِand going
مِنْ ذِكْرِهِ فِي جِيئَةٍ وَذَهَابِ
God has placed upon your perfection a protective charm
of His remembrance, in coming and going.
يَهْنِيكَmay it bring you joy مَاwhat أولاكَHe bestowed on you مِنْof ألْطَافِهِHis kindnesses
يَهْنِيكَ مَا أولاكَ مِنْ ألْطَافِهِ
فِيamong خَلْقِهِHis creatures تَجْرِيflow بِغَيْرِwithout حسَابِmeasure
فِي خَلْقِهِ تَجْرِي بِغَيْرِ حسَابِ
May you enjoy the kindnesses He has bestowed on you,
flowing without measure among His creatures.
غَلَبَoverwhelmed الظُّنُونَexpectations الرَّوْعُterror أَوَّلَthe first وَهلَةٍinstant
غَلَبَ الظُّنُونَ الرَّوْعُ أَوَّلَ وَهلَةٍ
فَقَضَىthen decreed بِسَعْدِكَyour good fortune غَالِبُthe Conqueror of الْغلاَّبِconquerors
فَقَضَى بِسَعْدِكَ غَالِبُ الْغلاَّبِ
At the first instant, terror overwhelmed expectation;
then the Conqueror of conquerors decreed your good fortune.
وَأَهَلَّand poured forth مُحْتَبسُthe pent-up الْغَمَامِrainclouds بِجُمْلَةِwith the fullness of الthe (continued)
وَأَهَلَّ مُحْتَبسُ الْغَمَامِ بِجُمْلَةِ ال
رُّحْمَىmercy بِفَضْلِthrough the bounty of مُتَمِّمِthe Fulfiller of الآرَابِdesires
رُّحْمَى بِفَضْلِ مُتَمِّمِ الآرَابِ
And the pent-up rainclouds poured forth the fullness of
mercy, through the bounty of the Fulfiller of desires.
لَطْفٌa kindness يَدُلُّindicating عَلَىtoward الْعِنَايَةِcare وَالرِّضَىand favor
لَطْفٌ يَدُلُّ عَلَى الْعِنَايَةِ وَالرِّضَى
فَكَأَنَّهُas though it were الْعُنْوَانُthe heading فَوْقَabove كِتَابِa book
فَكَأَنَّهُ الْعُنْوَانُ فَوْقَ كِتَابِ
A kindness revealing care and favor,
as though it were the heading at the top of a book;
وَمَقَاصِدٌand purposes شَكَرَrewarded الإِلاَهُGod ضَمِيرَهَاtheir hidden intent
وَمَقَاصِدٌ شَكَرَ الإِلاَهُ ضَمِيرَهَا
وَدُعَاءُand the prayer of مَسْمُوعِone whose is heard الدُّعَاءِprayer مُجَابِanswered
وَدُعَاءُ مَسْمُوعِ الدُّعَاءِ مُجَابِ
and purposes whose hidden intent God has rewarded,
and an answered prayer from one whose prayer is heard;
وَوَسَائِلٌand means of approach خَلَصَتْwere offered sincerely لِمَنْto Him whose رَحَمَاتُهُmercies
وَوَسَائِلٌ خَلَصَتْ لِمَنْ رَحَمَاتُهُ
لِلْقَاصِديِنَfor those who seek Him رَحيبَةُwide in الأَبْوَابِtheir doors
لِلْقَاصِديِنَ رَحيبَةُ الأَبْوَابِ
and means of approach offered sincerely to Him whose mercies
have doors wide open for those who seek Him.
أَنْتَyou الْوَزِيرُthe vizier ابْنُson of الْوَزيرٍthe vizier حَقِيقَةًtruly
أَنْتَ الْوَزِيرُ ابْنُ الْوَزيرٍ حَقِيقَةً
إِرْثٌan inheritance أَصِيلُfirmly rooted in الْحَقِّits right فِيthrough الأَحْقَابِthe ages
إِرْثٌ أَصِيلُ الْحَقِّ فِي الأَحْقَابِ
You are truly the vizier, son of the vizier:
an inheritance whose right is firmly rooted through the ages.
وَأَبُوكَand your father مَوْقِفُهُhis stand أَنَاI myself شَاهَدْتُهُwitnessed it
وَأَبُوكَ مَوْقِفُهُ أَنَا شَاهَدْتُهُ
فَسَلِso ask الْمُحِقَّone who knows the truth فَلَيْسَfor he is not كَالْمُرْتَابِlike one in doubt
فَسَلِ الْمُحِقَّ فَلَيْسَ كَالْمُرْتَابِ
As for your father, I myself witnessed his stand;
so ask one who knows the truth, for he is not like one in doubt.
صَدَقَhe was true to الإِلاَهَGod وَبَاعَand sold مِنْهُto Him نَفْسَهُhis own soul
صَدَقَ الإِلاَهَ وَبَاعَ مِنْهُ نَفْسَهُ
فَجَزَاهُso He rewarded him بِالزُّلْفَىwith nearness وَحُسْنَand a good مَآبِreturn
فَجَزَاهُ بِالزُّلْفَى وَحُسْنَ مَآبِ
He was true to God and sold Him his own soul;
so He rewarded him with nearness and a good return.
مَنْwho لِلطَّعَامِfor feeding وَلِلطَّعَانِand for spear-thrusts وَللِتُّقَىand for piety
مَنْ لِلطَّعَامِ وَلِلطَّعَانِ وَللِتُّقَى
إلاَّكَbut you أَوْor لِلْحَرْبِfor war وَالْمِحْرَابِand the prayer niche
إلاَّكَ أَوْ لِلْحَرْبِ وَالْمِحْرَابِ
Who is there for feeding, spear-thrusts, and piety,
but you—or for war and the prayer niche?
تُهديyou offer الأسِنَّةthe spearheads للكتائبto the battalions هادياas a guide
تُهدي الأسِنَّة للكتائب هاديا
بِسَناby the radiance of الهدىguidance منfrom سُنَّةٍthe Sunna وكتابand the Book
بِسَنا الهدى من سُنَّةٍ وكتاب
You offer spearheads to the battalions while giving guidance
by the radiance of guidance from the Sunna and the Book.
لَمْnot يُعْطِhas given مَاwhat أَعْطَيْتَyou have given مُعْطٍany giver قَبْلَهَاbefore it
لَمْ يُعْطِ مَا أَعْطَيْتَ مُعْطٍ قَبْلَهَا
مِنْof صَامِتِcoin (silent wealth) بُرٍّbounty (reading uncertain) وَمِنْand of أَثْوَابِgarments
مِنْ صَامِتِ بُرٍّ وَمِنْ أَثْوَابِ
No giver before this has given what you have given,
in monetary bounty and in garments.
تَسْتَعْبِدُyou enslave الأَحْرَارَfree men بَيْنَbetween تَحِيَّةٍa greeting
تَسْتَعْبِدُ الأَحْرَارَ بَيْنَ تَحِيَّةٍ
مَبْرُورَةٍgraciously given وَتَوَاضُعٍand humility وَثَوَابِand reward
مَبْرُورَةٍ وَتَوَاضُعٍ وَثَوَابِ
You enslave free men with a greeting
graciously given, with humility and reward.
وَتُمَهِّدُand you consolidate الْمُلْكَthe kingdom الَّذِيwhich بِكَthrough you جَاوَزَتْhave crossed
وَتُمَهِّدُ الْمُلْكَ الَّذِي بِكَ جَاوَزَتْ
أَسْيَافُthe swords of عَزْمَتِهِits resolve تُخُومَthe frontiers of الزَّابِal-Zāb
أَسْيَافُ عَزْمَتِهِ تُخُومَ الزَّابِ
And you consolidate the kingdom, for through you
the swords of its resolve have crossed the frontiers of al-Zāb.
دَامَتْmay endure سُعُودُكَyour good fortunes مَاas long as تَأَلَّقَgleams بَارِقٌlightning
دَامَتْ سُعُودُكَ مَا تَأَلَّقَ بَارِقٌ
وَبَدَاand appears بِأَفْقِon the horizon of الشَّرْقِthe east ضَوْءُthe light of شِهَابِa shooting star
وَبَدَا بِأَفْقِ الشَّرْقِ ضَوْءُ شِهَابِ
May your good fortunes endure as long as lightning gleams
and a shooting star's light appears on the eastern horizon;
وَحَلَلْتَand may you dwell مِنْwithin كَنَفِthe shelter of الإْلاَهِGod وَسِتْرِهِand His protection
وَحَلَلْتَ مِنْ كَنَفِ الإْلاَهِ وَسِتْرِهِ
أَبَدَforever through الَلَّيَالِيthe nights فِيin أَعَزِّthe most honored جَنَابِsanctuary
أَبَدَ الَلَّيَالِي فِي أَعَزِّ جَنَابِ
and may you dwell in God's shelter and protection,
through endless nights, in the most honored sanctuary,
حَتَّىuntil يَكُونَis اسْمُthe name of السَّعِيدِal-Saʿīd مُضَمَّناًincluded
حَتَّى يَكُونَ اسْمُ السَّعِيدِ مُضَمَّناً
فِيin كُلِّevery مِنْبَرpulpit خُطْبَةِsermon وَخطَابِand address
فِي كُلِّ مِنْبَر خُطْبَةِ وَخطَابِ
until the name of al-Saʿīd is included
in every pulpit sermon and address;
وَتَقَرُّand is gladdened عَيْنُthe eye of عَلاَكَyour eminence مِنْهُfrom him بِوَارِثٍby an heir
وَتَقَرُّ عَيْنُ عَلاَكَ مِنْهُ بِوَارِثٍ
بَهَرَتْhave dazzled حُلاَهُhis virtues نُهَىthe minds of أَولىthose endowed with الأَلْبَابِunderstanding
بَهَرَتْ حُلاَهُ نُهَى أَولى الأَلْبَابِ
and the eye of your eminence rejoices in an heir of his,
whose virtues have dazzled the minds of those endowed with understanding.
مِنْof عِزِّهِhis might تَرْوِيnarrates الْعُلَىhigh glory عَنْon the authority of مَالِكِMālik
مِنْ عِزِّهِ تَرْوِي الْعُلَى عَنْ مَالِكِ
أَوْor فِطْنَةٍdiscernment تَرْويnarrates عَنْon the authority of ابْنِIbn شِهَابِShihāb
أَوْ فِطْنَةٍ تَرْوي عَنْ ابْنِ شِهَابِ
Of his might, high glory narrates on Mālik's authority,
or of his discernment it narrates on Ibn Shihāb's authority.
مَنْwhoever كُنْتَyou are أَنْتَyou yourself حُسَامَهُhis sword فَالنَّصْرُthen victory سَاmarched (first part)
مَنْ كُنْتَ أَنْتَ حُسَامَهُ فَالنَّصْرُ سَا
رَcompletion of 'marched' أَمَامَهُbefore him حِزْباًas a host مِنَamong الأَحْزَابِthe hosts
رَ أَمَامَهُ حِزْباً مِنَ الأَحْزَابِ
Whoever has you as his sword—victory has marched
before him, a host among the hosts.
إِنْeven if لَمْnot يَدَعْhas left لِيfor me جُودُthe generosity of كَفِّكَyour palm حَاجةًany need
إِنْ لَمْ يَدَعْ لِي جُودُ كَفِّكَ حَاجةً
أَسْمُوI aspire لَهَاto it بِشَفَاعَةِthrough the intercession of الآدَابِliterature
أَسْمُو لَهَا بِشَفَاعَةِ الآدَابِ
Though your palm's generosity has left me no need
to seek through the intercession of literature,
لَكِنَّنِيbut I أَثْنِيbestow praise عَلَيْكَupon you بِوَاجِبِwith the due
لَكِنَّنِي أَثْنِي عَلَيْكَ بِوَاجِبِ
شُكْرَgratitude الرِّيَاضِof gardens الدَّائِمِthe ceaseless التَّسْكَابِpouring
شُكْرَ الرِّيَاضِ الدَّائِمِ التَّسْكَابِ
yet I praise you with the gratitude that is due:
the gardens' thanks to the ever-pouring rain.
وَأَخَلِّدُand I immortalize الذِّكْرَthe remembrance الْجَمِيلَfair وَأَنْثُرُand spread الْthe (continued)
وَأَخَلِّدُ الذِّكْرَ الْجَمِيلَ وَأَنْثُرُ الْ
فَخْرَglory الأَصِيلَdeep-rooted مُصَاحِبَaccompanying الأَحْقَابِthe ages
فَخْرَ الأَصِيلَ مُصَاحِبَ الأَحْقَابِ
And I immortalize fair remembrance, spreading
deep-rooted glory to keep company with the ages.
وَفَضَائِلُand the virtues of الْفُضَلاَءِthe virtuous يَذْهَبُvanishes رَسْمُهَاtheir trace
وَفَضَائِلُ الْفُضَلاَءِ يَذْهَبُ رَسْمُهَا
مَاso long as لَمْnot تُشَدْthey are proclaimed بَصَحَائِفِin the pages of الْكُتَّابِthe scribes
مَا لَمْ تُشَدْ بَصَحَائِفِ الْكُتَّابِ
And the virtues of the virtuous lose their trace
unless proclaimed in the pages of scribes.
فَهيَfor they الَّتِيare those that تُرْوَىare recounted عَلَىacross بُعْدِthe remoteness of الْمَدَىdistance
فَهيَ الَّتِي تُرْوَى عَلَى بُعْدِ الْمَدَى
وَتُشَدُّand are bound فَوْقَatop رَوَاحِلِriding mounts الأَقْتَابِcamel saddles
وَتُشَدُّ فَوْقَ رَوَاحِلِ الأَقْتَابِ
For these are what are recounted across vast distances
and strapped atop mounts bearing camel saddles.
وَاللهُand God غَايَةُthe goal of كُلِّevery طَالِبِseeker of غَايَةٍa goal
وَاللهُ غَايَةُ كُلِّ طَالِبِ غَايَةٍ
وَسِوَاهُand all besides Him فِيin التَّحْقِيقِtruth لَمْعُthe shimmer of سَرَابِa mirage
وَسِوَاهُ فِي التَّحْقِيقِ لَمْعُ سَرَابِ
And God is the goal of every seeker of a goal;
and all besides Him, in truth, is the shimmer of a mirage.
فَعَلَيْهِso on Him عَوِّلْrely فِيin أَمُورِكَyour affairs وَاعْتَمِدْand depend
فَعَلَيْهِ عَوِّلْ فِي أَمُورِكَ وَاعْتَمِدْ
تَنَلِyou will attain الْمُنَىyour wishes وَتَفُزْand succeed بِكُلِّin every طِلاَبِquest
تَنَلِ الْمُنَى وَتَفُزْ بِكُلِّ طِلاَبِ
So rely on Him in your affairs and put your trust in Him:
you will attain your wishes and succeed in every quest.
Sol 6.1