عَجَباً لوَجْدٍ لا يَلينُ شَديدُهُ

عَجَباً لوَجْدٍ لا يَلينُ شَديدُهُ

وغَرامِ قلْبٍ شَبَّ فيهِ وَقودُهُ

وغَرامِ قلْبٍ شَبَّ فيهِ وَقودُهُ

How astonishing a yearning whose fierceness never softens,

How strange is the firmness of passion that burns unflinchingly,

and a heart's passion whose fuel has blazed within it!

And the love in a heart where its fuel took hold as a spark.

ولقَد عَهِدْتُ القَلْبَ وهْوَ موَحِّدُ

ولقَد عَهِدْتُ القَلْبَ وهْوَ موَحِّدُ

فعَلامَ يُقْضَى في العَذابِ خُلودُهُ

فعَلامَ يُقْضَى في العَذابِ خُلودُهُ

And I have known the heart as a believer in God's oneness;

I knew this heart to be devout,

so why is it sentenced to everlasting torment?

So why is its torment destined to last?

إتْلافُ نَفْسي في هَواكِ حَياتُها

إتْلافُ نَفْسي في هَواكِ حَياتُها

وفَناءُ قَلبي في رِضاكِ وُجودُهُ

وفَناءُ قَلبي في رِضاكِ وُجودُهُ

My soul's destruction in loving you is its life,

My soul's ruin in loving you is its life,

and my heart's annihilation in your approval is its existence.

And my heart's dissolution in your pleasure is its existence.

وإنْ اسْتَرَبْتِ سَلي شُهودَ مَدامِعي

وإنْ اسْتَرَبْتِ سَلي شُهودَ مَدامِعي

قدْ صحَّ مَنْ في وَجْنَتَيْهِ شُهودُهُ

قدْ صحَّ مَنْ في وَجْنَتَيْهِ شُهودُهُ

And if you doubt, ask my tears as witnesses;

And if you doubt, ask the witnesses of my tears

one whose witnesses are on his cheeks is surely proven truthful.

For their truthfulness in my eyelids is evident.

هلْ تذْكُرينَ عُهودَ أيّامِ الحِمى

هلْ تذْكُرينَ عُهودَ أيّامِ الحِمى

للّهِ أيّامُ الحمَى وعُهودُهُ

للّهِ أيّامُ الحمَى وعُهودُهُ

Do you remember the pledges of the days in the protected grounds?

Do you remember the days of ardor and their pacts?

How splendid the days of those grounds and their pledges!

By God, those days of passion and their covenants!

أيّامَ وجهُ الدّهْرِ طَلْقٌ والصِّبا

أيّامَ وجهُ الدّهْرِ طَلْقٌ والصِّبا

لُدْنُ المَعاطِفِ يانِعٌ أُمْلودُهُ

لُدْنُ المَعاطِفِ يانِعٌ أُمْلودُهُ

Days when time's face was cheerful, and youth

When life's days were serene and youth carefree,

was supple-limbed, its tender shoot flourishing.

Its garments pliant, soft and silky.

فاليوْمَ عادَ القُرْبُ منّا في الهَوى

فاليوْمَ عادَ القُرْبُ منّا في الهَوى

بُعْداً وصالَ علَى الوصالِ صُدودُهُ

بُعْداً وصالَ علَى الوصالِ صُدودُهُ

But today our nearness in love has turned

But now nearness in love from us

to distance, and its estrangement has assailed union.

Is distant, blocked by barriers to union.

ولقدْ شَجاني بارِقٌ متَأنِّقٌ

ولقدْ شَجاني بارِقٌ متَأنِّقٌ

يُشْجى بهِ صَبُّ الفؤادِ عَميدُهُ

يُشْجى بهِ صَبُّ الفؤادِ عَميدُهُ

And an exquisite lightning-flash has grieved me,

A twinkling star has pained me,

grieving the lovesick lover, stricken in heart.

Agonizing the stalwart core of my heart.

أوْرَى بِجُنْحِ اللّيلِ في سِقْطِ اللِّوى

أوْرَى بِجُنْحِ اللّيلِ في سِقْطِ اللِّوى

سِقْطاً ورَتْ خَلَلَ السَّحابِ زُنودُهُ

سِقْطاً ورَتْ خَلَلَ السَّحابِ زُنودُهُ

In night's wing, at Siqt al-Liwa, it kindled

It hid in the wing of night amid the swoon of passion,

a spark its fire-sticks struck through the clouds.

Falling, piercing the clouds, its strands scattered.

وهمَى علَى طَلَلِ الأحبّةِ ديمَةً

وهمَى علَى طَلَلِ الأحبّةِ ديمَةً

فحَسِبْتُ عيْني عنْدَ ذاكَ تَجودُهُ

فحَسِبْتُ عيْني عنْدَ ذاكَ تَجودُهُ

And it poured steady rain upon the loved ones' ruined dwelling,

Over the traces of the beloved it hovered as a mirage,

so I thought my eye was watering it then.

And I thought my eyes in that moment poured forth their waters.

وكأنّ نورَ جَبينِ يوسُفَ نورُهُ

وكأنّ نورَ جَبينِ يوسُفَ نورُهُ

وكأنّ ديمَتَهُ المُلِثّةَ جودُهُ

وكأنّ ديمَتَهُ المُلِثّةَ جودُهُ

And it was as though the light of Yusuf's brow were its light,

As if the light of Joseph's forehead was its light,

and its lingering rain were his generosity.

And its shimmering mirage was his mantle's train.

مَلِكٌ أقامَ الحقَّ يَخْفِقُ ظِلُّهُ

مَلِكٌ أقامَ الحقَّ يَخْفِقُ ظِلُّهُ

فالحَقُّ خَفّاقُ الرِّواقِ مَديدُهُ

فالحَقُّ خَفّاقُ الرِّواقِ مَديدُهُ

A king who established justice, its shade fluttering;

A just king whose shade trembles as he establishes truth,

so justice has a fluttering canopy that stretches far.

For truth makes the archways quiver mightily.

وحَباهُ رَبُّ العرْشِ آيةَ مَفْخَرٍ

وحَباهُ رَبُّ العرْشِ آيةَ مَفْخَرٍ

حَكَمَتْ لهُ أنّ المُلوكَ عَبيدُهُ

حَكَمَتْ لهُ أنّ المُلوكَ عَبيدُهُ

The Lord of the Throne bestowed on him a sign of glory

The Lord of the Throne endowed him with a verse of pride

that decreed in his favor that kings are his servants.

Decreeing that kings are but his servants.

وحمَى الجَزيرَةَ حامِلاً أعْباءَها

وحمَى الجَزيرَةَ حامِلاً أعْباءَها

بِلُهامِ جيْشٍ لا يُكَثُّ عَديدُهُ

بِلُهامِ جيْشٍ لا يُكَثُّ عَديدُهُ

And he protected the peninsula, bearing its burdens,

He protected the peninsula, bearing its burdens,

with a vast army whose numbers cannot be surpassed.

With an army whose multitude could not be counted.

وغَدا بأسْبابِ العُلَى متمسِّكاً

وغَدا بأسْبابِ العُلَى متمسِّكاً

فيها فحِفْظُ اللهِ ليْسَ يَؤودهُ

فيها فحِفْظُ اللهِ ليْسَ يَؤودهُ

And he held fast to the cords of exaltation,

Holding fast to the means of ascension,

therein; God's keeping him is no burden to Him.

Wherein God's preservation cannot be undone.

من كانَ أنْصارُ النّبيِّ جُدودَهُ

من كانَ أنْصارُ النّبيِّ جُدودَهُ

فَملائِكُ السّبْعِ الطِّباقِ جُنودُهُ

فَملائِكُ السّبْعِ الطِّباقِ جُنودُهُ

He whose forebears were the Prophet's Helpers

The Prophet's helpers were his ancestors,

has the angels of the seven layered heavens as his troops.

So the angels of the seven heavens are his soldiers.

ماسَت غُصونُ رِماحِهِ وتفتّحَتْ

ماسَت غُصونُ رِماحِهِ وتفتّحَتْ

بشَقائِقِ النّصْرِ العَزيزِ بُنودُهُ

بشَقائِقِ النّصْرِ العَزيزِ بُنودُهُ

The branches of his spears swayed, and there blossomed

The branches of his spears budded

his banners, with the anemones of mighty victory.

With the anemones of mighty triumph.

وأعَدّ أوْزارَ الحُروبِ صَوافِناً

وأعَدّ أوْزارَ الحُروبِ صَوافِناً

تَمْضي علَى عِقْبانِهِنّ أُسودُهُ

تَمْضي علَى عِقْبانِهِنّ أُسودُهُ

And he prepared war's armaments—steeds standing poised,

He readied the tackle of war like cruisers

his lions advancing upon their eagles.

That race on their heels are lions dark.

منْ كُلِّ أجْرَدَ سابِقٍ عبْلِ الشَّوى

منْ كُلِّ أجْرَدَ سابِقٍ عبْلِ الشَّوى

ما إنْ تُحَطُّ عنِ الحُروبِ لُبودُهُ

ما إنْ تُحَطُّ عنِ الحُروبِ لُبودُهُ

Each a sleek racer, stout of limb,

Of every smooth, preceding courser,

whose saddle-felts are never relieved of warfare.

Its splendor dims not amidst the flames of war.

يَرْمي بهِ الغَرَضَ البَعيدَ فيَنْثَني

يَرْمي بهِ الغَرَضَ البَعيدَ فيَنْثَني

بطِلابِهِ كثِبُ المَزارِ بَعيدُهُ

بطِلابِهِ كثِبُ المَزارِ بَعيدُهُ

He drives it toward a far-off goal, and that goal turns,

He aims the distant goal and it recoils,

through his pursuit, from distant to close at hand.

While its seeking returns far reaching.

ويكادُ ينْتَعِلُ الهِلالَ إذا سَرَى

ويكادُ ينْتَعِلُ الهِلالَ إذا سَرَى

ويُقَلِّدُ الشّمسَ المُنيرَةَ جِيدُهُ

ويُقَلِّدُ الشّمسَ المُنيرَةَ جِيدُهُ

It almost shoes itself with the crescent when it travels by night,

He comes close to unfurling the crescent when traveling at night,

and its neck wears the radiant sun as a necklace.

And mimics the shining sun with his headband.

وقَواضِباً بِيضاً سُقينَ دمَ العِدى

وقَواضِباً بِيضاً سُقينَ دمَ العِدى

فبَدا على صَفَحاتِها توْرِيدُهُ

فبَدا على صَفَحاتِها توْرِيدُهُ

And white, keen-edged swords, given foes' blood to drink,

And white bows were given to drink the blood of foes,

so its rosy tint appeared upon their flat sides;

So their flexing appeared crimson on their arc.

ومُفاضَةً زَغْفاً تضاعَفَ نَسْجُها

ومُفاضَةً زَغْفاً تضاعَفَ نَسْجُها

خَلْقاءَ قدَّرَ نَسْجَها داوُودُهُ

خَلْقاءَ قدَّرَ نَسْجَها داوُودُهُ

and a flowing coat of supple mail, its weave doubled,

And supple coats of mail whose weave

smooth, its Dawud having measured out its weave;

Was destined by David in its tight plaiting.

وحَنيّةً تحْنو على سهْمِ الرّدى

وحَنيّةً تحْنو على سهْمِ الرّدى

فيُصيبُ شاكِلَةَ الرّميِّ سَديدُهُ

فيُصيبُ شاكِلَةَ الرّميِّ سَديدُهُ

and a bow bending over death's arrow,

And smooth spears that incline toward the arrows of doom,

so its unerring shaft strikes the target's flank.

Striking their intended marks unerringly.

أضْحى الضّلالُ بِها يُصوِّحُ نَبْتُهُ

أضْحى الضّلالُ بِها يُصوِّحُ نَبْتُهُ

واخْضَرَّ منْ دينِ الحَنيفَةِ عودُهُ

واخْضَرَّ منْ دينِ الحَنيفَةِ عودُهُ

Through it, error's growth has begun to wither,

Misguidance by them is laid waste, its vegetation withering,

and the stem of the upright faith has grown green.

While by the religion of divine oneness its stakes grow verdant.

أخَليفَةَ الرّحمانِ والملْكُ الذي

أخَليفَةَ الرّحمانِ والملْكُ الذي

تَنْميهِ منْ أقْيالِ خَزْرَجَ صِيدُهُ

تَنْميهِ منْ أقْيالِ خَزْرَجَ صِيدُهُ

O vicegerent of the Merciful, and king whom

Successor of the Merciful, and king whose lineage

the proud princes of Khazraj claim as their descendant,

Thrives, cultivated from the loins of Khazraj.

ماذا يُنَمِّقُ في امْتِداحِكَ مادِحٌ

ماذا يُنَمِّقُ في امْتِداحِكَ مادِحٌ

لا يُنْزِفُ البحْرَ الخِضَمَّ وُرودُهُ

لا يُنْزِفُ البحْرَ الخِضَمَّ وُرودُهُ

what can a eulogist embellish in your praise?

What can an eulogizer adorn in praising you

His coming to drink cannot exhaust the boundless sea.

When his sea of praise is not richly streaming?

ما زَهْرُ روضِ الغَوْرِ روّضَهُ الحَيا

ما زَهْرُ روضِ الغَوْرِ روّضَهُ الحَيا

وحنَتْ عليْهِ بُروقُهُ ورُعودُهُ

وحنَتْ عليْهِ بُروقُهُ ورُعودُهُ

No bloom of a lowland garden made lush by rain,

Not the blossoms of the valley's garden bed, watered by dew,

with its lightning and thunder bending over it,

With lightning flashing over it and thunder sounding.

وسَرَى سَقيطُ الطَّلِّ في أوْراقِهِ

وسَرَى سَقيطُ الطَّلِّ في أوْراقِهِ

بَدَداً كدُرٍّ أسْلَمَتْهُ عُقودُهُ

بَدَداً كدُرٍّ أسْلَمَتْهُ عُقودُهُ

and dewfall coursing through its leaves,

The train of hanging pearls in its leaves

scattered like pearls released by their necklaces,

Dispersed like scattered pearly beads freed of knots.

وكأنّه في ضِفّةِ النّهْرِ انْتَشى

وكأنّه في ضِفّةِ النّهْرِ انْتَشى

وغَدا يَبوحُ بسِرّهِ عِرْبيدُهُ

وغَدا يَبوحُ بسِرّهِ عِرْبيدُهُ

as though it had grown tipsy on the riverbank,

As if it blossomed on the riverbank,

its drunken reveler beginning to disclose its secret,

Its willow frond whispering its secret.

بجَنِيِّ وَرْدِ شجَّ وجْنَتَهُ النّدى

بجَنِيِّ وَرْدِ شجَّ وجْنَتَهُ النّدى

وبسَوسَنٍ شُقَّتْ علَيْهِ بُرودُهُ

وبسَوسَنٍ شُقَّتْ علَيْهِ بُرودُهُ

with a fresh rose whose cheek the dew had gashed,

With jasmine whose petals split from the dew's moisture,

and an iris whose striped robes were rent,

And lilies hardened by the cold upon them.

وتَخالُ غُصْنَ البانِ فيه عابِدا

وتَخالُ غُصْنَ البانِ فيه عابِدا

ما إنْ يَريمُ رُكوعُهُ وسُجودُهُ

ما إنْ يَريمُ رُكوعُهُ وسُجودُهُ

where you would think a moringa bough a worshipper,

The boughs of acacia in it seem to pray in devotion,

whose bowing and prostration never cease,

Bowing down and prostrating in worship.

بأنَمَّ مِنْ مَسْرى امْتِداحٍ عاطِرٍ

بأنَمَّ مِنْ مَسْرى امْتِداحٍ عاطِرٍ

يُهْدَى الى نادي عُلاكَ فَريدُهُ

يُهْدَى الى نادي عُلاكَ فَريدُهُ

is more fragrant than the night-borne waft of scented praise,

In composing from a stream of fragrant praise,

whose peerless jewel is offered to the assembly of your eminence.

To be gifted to your unique gathering of nobility.

ألْبَسْتَ هَذا المُلْكَ ثوْبَ جَلالَةٍ

ألْبَسْتَ هَذا المُلْكَ ثوْبَ جَلالَةٍ

يَبْقي على مَرِّ الجَديدِ جَديدُهُ

يَبْقي على مَرِّ الجَديدِ جَديدُهُ

You clothed this kingdom in a robe of majesty

You have dressed this kingdom in the garb of augustness

whose freshness endures through the passage of time.

That remains novel over time however long.

وعَضَدْتَ دينَ اللهِ يا ابْنَ نَصيرِهِ

وعَضَدْتَ دينَ اللهِ يا ابْنَ نَصيرِهِ

حتّى سَما فوْقَ السّماءِ عَمودُهُ

حتّى سَما فوْقَ السّماءِ عَمودُهُ

And you strengthened God's religion, O son of His champion,

You have supported the religion of God, O son of its helper,

until its pillar rose above the sky.

Until it towered high above the celestial dome.

جاهَدتَ دينَ الكُفْرِ حتّى سِمْتَهُ

جاهَدتَ دينَ الكُفْرِ حتّى سِمْتَهُ

خَسْفاً ورامَ السَّلْمَ منْكَ عَنيدُهُ

خَسْفاً ورامَ السَّلْمَ منْكَ عَنيدُهُ

You fought the religion of unbelief until you imposed upon it

You have striven against the religion of unbelief until you erased it,

abasement, and its obstinate adherent sought peace from you.

While the recalcitrant sought peace from you.

وتبِعْتَ آثارَ النّبيّ مُيَمِّماً

وتبِعْتَ آثارَ النّبيّ مُيَمِّماً

ما أمَّهُ صِدّيقُهُ وشَهيدُهُ

ما أمَّهُ صِدّيقُهُ وشَهيدُهُ

And you followed the Prophet's footsteps, directing yourself

And you followed in the steps of the Prophet enacting

toward the goal sought by his truthful companion and his martyr.

What his truthful companion and martyr carried out.

قابَلْتَ شهْرَ الصّومِ منْكَ بما بهِ

قابَلْتَ شهْرَ الصّومِ منْكَ بما بهِ

ينْهَلُّ منْ فَضْلِ الإلاهِ مَزيدُهُ

ينْهَلُّ منْ فَضْلِ الإلاهِ مَزيدُهُ

You greeted the month of fasting with acts of your own through which

You met the month of fasting with what it deserves,

an increase of God's bounty pours abundantly.

As sustenance descends abundantly from God’s grace.

ووصَلْتَ تِمَّ اللّيْلِ منْهُ بيَوْمِهِ

ووصَلْتَ تِمَّ اللّيْلِ منْهُ بيَوْمِهِ

ذِكْراً يُبَلِّغْهُ القَبولَ صُعودُهُ

ذِكْراً يُبَلِّغْهُ القَبولَ صُعودُهُ

And you joined the whole of its night to its day

You completed the nights in full with recitation,

in remembrance whose ascent brings it acceptance.

Whose rising conveyance attains acceptance.

وشَرَعْتُ للصّدَقاتِ أصْفى مَشْرَعٍ

وشَرَعْتُ للصّدَقاتِ أصْفى مَشْرَعٍ

يَنْدى على حَرِّ الصُّدورِ بُرودُهُ

يَنْدى على حَرِّ الصُّدورِ بُرودُهُ

And I opened for alms the purest watering-place,

And you have set out with the finest initiative for alms,

whose coolness bathes the heat of hearts in dew.

Its coolness moistening parched hearts.

فجَزاكَ بالأجْرِ الجَزيلِ صِيامُهُ

فجَزاكَ بالأجْرِ الجَزيلِ صِيامُهُ

وحَباكَ بالنّصْرِ المؤزَّرِ عِيدُهُ

وحَباكَ بالنّصْرِ المؤزَّرِ عِيدُهُ

So its fasting rewarded you with abundant recompense,

So may its fast reward you abundantly,

and its feast bestowed on you a decisive victory.

And may its feast gift you triumphant victory.

فاهْنَأْ بهِ في الدّهْرِ أسْعَدَ قابِلٍ

فاهْنَأْ بهِ في الدّهْرِ أسْعَدَ قابِلٍ

طَلَعَتْ بعِزِ المُسْلِمينَ سُعودُهُ

طَلَعَتْ بعِزِ المُسْلِمينَ سُعودُهُ

So rejoice in it through all time, the happiest to welcome it,

Rejoice in this as the happiest recipient,

its auspicious stars having risen with the Muslims' glory.

Since by Muslim might its fortunes have risen!

لمّا مرَرْتَ الى مُصلاّهُ ضُحىً

لمّا مرَرْتَ الى مُصلاّهُ ضُحىً

والتُّرْبُ يلْثِمُ أخْمصَيْكَ صَعيدُهُ

والتُّرْبُ يلْثِمُ أخْمصَيْكَ صَعيدُهُ

When you passed to its prayer-ground at midmorning,

When you passed by the prayer spot in the morning

while the earth's dust kissed the arches of your feet,

With dust clinging to your feet,

قضّيْتَ منْ حَقِّ الشّريعَةِ مَقْصَداً

قضّيْتَ منْ حَقِّ الشّريعَةِ مَقْصَداً

لزِمَ المُلوكَ الصّالحِينَ أكيدُهُ

لزِمَ المُلوكَ الصّالحِينَ أكيدُهُ

you fulfilled a purpose owed to the sacred law,

You fulfilled the right of Islamic law intentionally,

whose binding obligation rests upon righteous kings.

Pursuing what the righteous kings firmly establish.

فاخْلُدْ ودُمْ وانْعَمْ بسابِغِ نِعْمَةٍ

فاخْلُدْ ودُمْ وانْعَمْ بسابِغِ نِعْمَةٍ

تَتْرَى ومُلْكٌ لا يُثَلُّ مَشيدُهُ

تَتْرَى ومُلْكٌ لا يُثَلُّ مَشيدُهُ

So live forever, endure, and enjoy abundant blessings

So live forever, last eternally, enjoying perfect bounty,

in unbroken succession, and a kingdom whose lofty edifice is never toppled.

An everlasting kingdom none can equal!

لازالَ ذِكْرُكَ في البسيطَةِ دائِماً

لازالَ ذِكْرُكَ في البسيطَةِ دائِماً

سَيُرى على كَتِدِ الزّمانِ حَميدُهُ

سَيُرى على كَتِدِ الزّمانِ حَميدُهُ

May your renown remain forever upon the earth;

May your remembrance in the plain remain forever,

its praiseworthy fame will be seen upon time's shoulder.

And your praiseworthy traits be seen throughout time.

منْ كادَ مُلْكَكَ منْ عدوٍّ يَبْتَغي

منْ كادَ مُلْكَكَ منْ عدوٍّ يَبْتَغي

شَرّاً فإنّ اللهَ عنْكَ يَكيدُهُ

شَرّاً فإنّ اللهَ عنْكَ يَكيدُهُ

Whoever among your enemies plots against your kingdom, seeking

Whoever of your enemies intends evil against your kingdom,

harm—God surely plots against him on your behalf.

God will be plotting his deception!