النَّصْرُvictory نَصُّكَyour declaration 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 declaration, and the keen sword its proof;
conquest is your promise, and God its guarantor.
كَفَلَتْnurtured رِيَاضُthe gardens الْمُلْكِof kingship مِنْكfrom you بِدَوْحِهَاamong their great trees
كَفَلَتْ رِيَاضُ الْمُلْكِ مِنْك بِدَوْحِهَا
فَرْعاًa branch نَضِيراًflourishing لاَnot يُخَافُis feared ذُبُولُهُits withering
فَرْعاً نَضِيراً لاَ يُخَافُ ذُبُولُهُ
The gardens of kingship nurtured, among their great trees, from you
a flourishing branch whose withering need never be feared.
وَاهْتَزَّand swayed دَوْحُthe great tree الْمُلْكِof kingship مِنْهُthrough it مُنَعَّماًluxuriantly nurtured
وَاهْتَزَّ دَوْحُ الْمُلْكِ مِنْهُ مُنَعَّماً
رَيَّانَwell-watered يَعْطِفُهُbends it النَّدَىthe dew وَيُمِيلُهُand inclines it
رَيَّانَ يَعْطِفُهُ النَّدَى وَيُمِيلُهُ
Through it the great tree of kingship swayed, luxuriantly nurtured,
well-watered, bent and inclined by dew.
وَطَلَعْتَand you rose بَدْراًas a full moon لاَnot يُخَافُis feared مُحَاقُهُits disappearance
وَطَلَعْتَ بَدْراً لاَ يُخَافُ مُحَاقُهُ
يَوْماًever وَلاَand not يُخْشَىis dreaded عَلَيْهِfor it أُفُولُهُits setting
يَوْماً وَلاَ يُخْشَى عَلَيْهِ أُفُولُهُ
You rose as a full moon whose disappearance is never feared
on any day, nor is its setting dreaded.
حَتَّىuntil إِذَاwhen خَطَبَتْكَsought you out أَلْسِنَةُthe tongues الْهُدَىof guidance
حَتَّى إِذَا خَطَبَتْكَ أَلْسِنَةُ الْهُدَى
وَحَبَاكَand bestowed on you هَذَاthis الْعَهْدَcovenant إِسْمَاعِيلُهُits Isma'il
وَحَبَاكَ هَذَا الْعَهْدَ إِسْمَاعِيلُهُ
Until, when the tongues of guidance sought you out,
and its Isma'il bestowed this covenant upon you,
وَرَآكَand deemed you أهْلاًworthy لِلْخِلاَفَةِof the caliphate بَعْدَهُafter him
وَرَآكَ أهْلاً لِلْخِلاَفَةِ بَعْدَهُ
فَأرَاكَso he showed you قِدْحَthe arrow-shaft الْمُلْكِof kingship كَيْفَhow تُجِيلُهُyou turn it
فَأرَاكَ قِدْحَ الْمُلْكِ كَيْفَ تُجِيلُهُ
and deemed you worthy of the caliphate after him,
he showed you how to turn the arrow-shaft of kingship.
وَكَسَتْand clothed إِيَالَتُكَyour governance اَلْبِلاَدَthe lands وَأَهْلَهَاand their people
وَكَسَتْ إِيَالَتُكَ اَلْبِلاَدَ وَأَهْلَهَا
ظِلاًّwith shade تَكَفَّلَundertook care بِالْعِبَادِof the people ظَلِيلُهُits deep shade
ظِلاًّ تَكَفَّلَ بِالْعِبَادِ ظَلِيلُهُ
Your governance clothed the lands and their people
in shade whose deep shelter took the people into its care.
وَحَبَاand endowed السِّيَاسَةَgovernance مِنْكَfrom you حَامِلُthe bearer عِبْئِهَاof its burden
وَحَبَا السِّيَاسَةَ مِنْكَ حَامِلُ عِبْئِهَا
فَمَضَتْso proceeded عَزَائِمُهُhis resolves وَعَزَّand grew mighty قَبِيلُهُhis clan
فَمَضَتْ عَزَائِمُهُ وَعَزَّ قَبِيلُهُ
The bearer of its burden enriched governance through you;
his resolves went forward, and his clan grew mighty.
ثُمَّthen اسْتَحَثَّurged onward إِلَىtoward الإِلاَهِGod رِكَابَهُhis mounts
ثُمَّ اسْتَحَثَّ إِلَى الإِلاَهِ رِكَابَهُ
وَغَدَاand departed وَفِيand in دَارِthe abode النَّعِيمِof bliss حُلُولُهُhis dwelling
وَغَدَا وَفِي دَارِ النَّعِيمِ حُلُولُهُ
Then he urged his mounts onward toward God,
and departed, his dwelling in the abode of bliss.
وَهَفَتْand stirred بِديِنِin the faith الْكُفْرِof unbelief أَطْمَاعٌambitions قَضَتْdemanded
وَهَفَتْ بِديِنِ الْكُفْرِ أَطْمَاعٌ قَضَتْ
أَنْthat تُقْتَضَىbe exacted أَوْتَارُهُits grievances وَذُحُولُهُand its blood-feuds
أَنْ تُقْتَضَى أَوْتَارُهُ وَذُحُولُهُ
Ambitions stirred in the faith of unbelief, demanding
that its grievances and blood-feuds be avenged.
ثُمَّthen اسْتَبَدَّheld sole sway الْعَزْمُresolve فِيكَin you وَمَاand what ارْتَأَىit envisioned
ثُمَّ اسْتَبَدَّ الْعَزْمُ فِيكَ وَمَا ارْتَأَى
وَالْعَزْمُand resolve يُوهِنُweakens عَقْدَهُits bond تَأَجِيلُهُits postponement
وَالْعَزْمُ يُوهِنُ عَقْدَهُ تَأَجِيلُهُ
Then resolve held sway in you, along with what it envisioned—
and postponement weakens resolve's bond—
وَرَمَىand cast إِلَيْكَto you مَقَالِدَthe keys اَلأَمْرِof authority الَّذِيwhich
وَرَمَى إِلَيْكَ مَقَالِدَ اَلأَمْرِ الَّذِي
تُرِكَتْwere left إِلَيْكَto you فُرُوعُهُits branches وَأُصُولُهُand its roots
تُرِكَتْ إِلَيْكَ فُرُوعُهُ وَأُصُولُهُ
and cast into your hands the keys of authority, whose
branches and roots were left to you.
وَاسْتَنْجَزَand sought fulfillment of النَّصْرَvictory الْعَزِيزَthe mighty وَلَمْand did not يَزَلْcease
وَاسْتَنْجَزَ النَّصْرَ الْعَزِيزَ وَلَمْ يَزَلْ
يَلْوِيevades payment بِدَيْنِof the debt الدِّينِof the faith فِيكَthrough you مَطُولُهُits habitual defaulter
يَلْوِي بِدَيْنِ الدِّينِ فِيكَ مَطُولُهُ
It sought the fulfillment of mighty victory, while still
its defaulter stalled over the debt owed to faith through you.
فَارْتَاحَso rejoiced دِينُthe faith اللهِof God فِيin رَيْعَانِهِits prime
فَارْتَاحَ دِينُ اللهِ فِي رَيْعَانِهِ
وَاُعِيدَand was restored مُقْتَبَلَto the beginning الشَّبِيبَةِof youth جِيلُهُits generation
وَاُعِيدَ مُقْتَبَلَ الشَّبِيبَةِ جِيلُهُ
So God's faith rejoiced in its prime,
and its generation was restored to the dawn of youth.
وَتَكَنَّفَand surrounded الإْسْلاَمَIslam مِنْكَfrom you وَأَهْلَهُand its people
وَتَكَنَّفَ الإْسْلاَمَ مِنْكَ وَأَهْلَهُ
نَظَرٌa care يَدِقَّis too subtle عَنِfor النَّهَىintellects تَأوِيلُهُits interpretation
نَظَرٌ يَدِقَّ عَنِ النَّهَى تَأوِيلُهُ
Islam and its people were surrounded, through you,
by a care whose meaning is too subtle for reason.
عَالَجْتَهُyou treated it بِالْمَشْرِفيّwith the Mashrafi sword وَطَالَمَاand for so long
عَالَجْتَهُ بِالْمَشْرِفيّ وَطَالَمَا
أَعْيَىdefeated مُزَاوَلَةَthe efforts الأسَاةِof the physicians عَلِيلُهُits ailing one
أَعْيَى مُزَاوَلَةَ الأسَاةِ عَلِيلُهُ
You treated it with the Mashrafi sword, though for so long
its ailing body had defied the physicians' efforts.
حَتَّىuntil إِذَاwhen غَدَتِbecame الْبِلاَدُthe lands قَرِيرَةًat peace
حَتَّى إِذَا غَدَتِ الْبِلاَدُ قَرِيرَةً
وَالأَمْنُand security تُسْحَبُare trailed بَيْنَهُنَّamong them ذُيُولَهُits hems
وَالأَمْنُ تُسْحَبُ بَيْنَهُنَّ ذُيُولَهُ
Until, when the lands became at peace,
and security's trailing hems were drawn among them,
وَالسَّلْمُand peace قَدْhad كَفَّتْrestrained أَكُفَّthe hands عِدَاتِهَاof its enemies
وَالسَّلْمُ قَدْ كَفَّتْ أَكُفَّ عِدَاتِهَا
وَالْبَأسُand warfare نَامَتْslept فِيin الْغُمُودِthe sheaths فُصُولُهُits cutting blades
وَالْبَأسُ نَامَتْ فِي الْغُمُودِ فُصُولُهُ
and peace had restrained its enemies' hands,
and warfare's cutting blades slept within their sheaths,
أَرْضَيْتَyou pleased دِينَthe faith اللهِof God مَقْتَدِياًfollowing بِمَاin accordance with what
أَرْضَيْتَ دِينَ اللهِ مَقْتَدِياً بِمَا
نَطَقَproclaimed الْكِتَابُthe Book بِهِconcerning it وَسَنَّand prescribed رَسُولُهُHis Messenger
نَطَقَ الْكِتَابُ بِهِ وَسَنَّ رَسُولُهُ
you pleased God's faith, following what
the Book proclaimed and His Messenger prescribed.
تَسْتَوْدِعُyou entrust الأَنْسَابَthe lineages غُرَّةَthe radiant brow يَعْرُبٍof Ya'rub
تَسْتَوْدِعُ الأَنْسَابَ غُرَّةَ يَعْرُبٍ
وَتُشِيدُand build فَخْراًglory لاَnot يُطَالُis reached أَثِيلُهُits ancient nobility
وَتُشِيدُ فَخْراً لاَ يُطَالُ أَثِيلُهُ
You entrust the lineages with Ya'rub's radiant brow,
and build a glory whose ancient nobility none can reach.
وَذَهَبْتَand you set out تَعْتَامُyou choose الْبُيُوتَthe houses مُيَمِّماًheading toward
وَذَهَبْتَ تَعْتَامُ الْبُيُوتَ مُيَمِّماً
مَاwhat يَمِّمَتْsought أذْوَاؤُهُits titled lords وَقُيُولُهُand its princes
مَا يَمِّمَتْ أذْوَاؤُهُ وَقُيُولُهُ
You set out to choose among the houses, seeking
what its titled lords and princes had sought.
فَحَدَاكَso guided you تَوفِيقُsuccess-granting favor الإِلاَهِof God لِمَنْصِبٍto a station
فَحَدَاكَ تَوفِيقُ الإِلاَهِ لِمَنْصِبٍ
مَثْوَاكَyour dwelling مَثْوَاهُits dwelling وَغِيلُكَand your lion-thicket غِيلُهُits lion-thicket
مَثْوَاكَ مَثْوَاهُ وَغِيلُكَ غِيلُهُ
God's favor guided you to a station:
your dwelling is its dwelling, and your lion-thicket its lion-thicket.
حَيْثُwhere الْمَعَالِيlofty honors وَالْعَوَالِيand tall lances وَالظَّبَاand sword-edges
حَيْثُ الْمَعَالِي وَالْعَوَالِي وَالظَّبَا
وَالْبَيْتُand the house عَادِيَّ'Ad-like الْبِنَاءِin construction أَصِيلُهُits noble foundation
وَالْبَيْتُ عَادِيَّ الْبِنَاءِ أَصِيلُهُ
Where are lofty honors, tall lances, and sword-edges,
and the house, its noble foundations ancient as 'Ad.
حَتَّىuntil إِذَاwhen رَفَّتْfluttered عَلَيْكَover you ظِلاَلُهُits shades
حَتَّى إِذَا رَفَّتْ عَلَيْكَ ظِلاَلُهُ
وَسَرَتْand traveled بِأَرْوَاحِon the breezes الْقَبُولِof acceptance قُيُولُهُits princes
وَسَرَتْ بِأَرْوَاحِ الْقَبُولِ قُيُولُهُ
Until, when its shades fluttered over you,
and its princes traveled on welcoming breezes,
وَتَوَشَّجَتْand intertwined أَغْصَانُthe branches دَوْحَةِof the great tree خَزْرَجٍof Khazraj
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
in covenants, and every glory's desire was secured,
أَعْرَسْتَyou celebrated your wedding فِيin مَثْوَىthe dwelling الْخِلاَفَةِof the caliphate بَعْدَمَاafter
أَعْرَسْتَ فِي مَثْوَى الْخِلاَفَةِ بَعْدَمَا
عَكَفَتْdevoted itself عُلاَكَyour greatness تُشِيدُهُbuilding it وَتُطِيلُهُand heightening it
عَكَفَتْ عُلاَكَ تُشِيدُهُ وَتُطِيلُهُ
you celebrated your wedding in the caliphate's dwelling, after
your greatness devoted itself to building it and raising it high.
فَبَذَاso it appeared كَمَاas لاَحَappeared الصَّبَاحُthe morning لِنَاظِرٍto a beholder
فَبَذَا كَمَا لاَحَ الصَّبَاحُ لِنَاظِرٍ
مُتَأَلِّقاًgleaming يُعْشِيdazzles الْعُيُونَthe eyes صَقِيلُهُits polished splendor
مُتَأَلِّقاً يُعْشِي الْعُيُونَ صَقِيلُهُ
Then it appeared, as morning dawns before a beholder,
gleaming, its polished splendor dazzling the eyes.
تَبْلَىwear away اللَّيَالِيthe nights وَهْوَwhile it يَنْدَىis dewy جِدَّةًwith freshness
تَبْلَى اللَّيَالِي وَهْوَ يَنْدَى جِدَّةً
وَيَجِفُّand dries زَهْرُthe bloom الزَّهْرِof the flowers وَهْوَwhile it بَلِيلُهُits dewy bloom
وَيَجِفُّ زَهْرُ الزَّهْرِ وَهْوَ بَلِيلُهُ
The nights wear away, while it stays dewy with freshness;
the bloom of flowers dries, while it remains their dewy bloom.
حَيْثُwhere الرِّيَاضُthe gardens تَفَتَّحَتْhave opened أَزْهَارُهُits blossoms
حَيْثُ الرِّيَاضُ تَفَتَّحَتْ أَزْهَارُهُ
وَهَمَىand poured down عَلَيْهَاupon them مِنْfrom نَدَاكَyour bounty هَمُولُهُits downpour
وَهَمَى عَلَيْهَا مِنْ نَدَاكَ هَمُولُهُ
Where, in the gardens, its flowers have opened,
and your bounty's downpour has rained upon them.
حَيْثُwhere الْجَلاَلُmajesty يَهُولُawes أَفئِدَةَthe hearts الْوَرَىof mankind
حَيْثُ الْجَلاَلُ يَهُولُ أَفئِدَةَ الْوَرَى
وَيَنِدَّand escapes عَنْfrom إِدْرَاكِهِمْtheir comprehension تَمْثِيلُهُits depiction
وَيَنِدَّ عَنْ إِدْرَاكِهِمْ تَمْثِيلُهُ
Where majesty awes the hearts of mankind,
and any depiction of it eludes their comprehension.
وَقَدِand indeed ازْدَهَىdisplayed splendor الدِّيبَاجُthe brocade فِيin رَوْضَاتِهِits gardens
وَقَدِ ازْدَهَى الدِّيبَاجُ فِي رَوْضَاتِهِ
خَضِلاًlush كَمَاas جَلَتِunveiled الرَّبِيعَthe spring فُصُولُهُits seasons
خَضِلاً كَمَا جَلَتِ الرَّبِيعَ فُصُولُهُ
Brocade has displayed its splendor in its gardens,
lush, as its seasons unveiled the spring.
مِنْof كُلِّevery مُنْسَدِلِdrooping الْجَنَاحِthe wing مُهَدَّلhanging loose
مِنْ كُلِّ مُنْسَدِلِ الْجَنَاحِ مُهَدَّل
تَضْفُوflow abundantly بِمُذْهَبَةover gilded الْقِبَابِdomes سُدُولُهُits draperies
تَضْفُو بِمُذْهَبَة الْقِبَابِ سُدُولُهُ
Of every drooping-winged, trailing curtain,
its draperies flowing over gilded domes;
وَمُوَسَّدٍand cushioned فَوْقَupon الأَرَائِكِthe couches رَائِقٍexquisite
وَمُوَسَّدٍ فَوْقَ الأَرَائِكِ رَائِقٍ
يُزْهَىis exalted عَلَىabove مَوْضُوعِهَاwhat is laid on them مَحْمُولُهُits borne fabric
يُزْهَى عَلَى مَوْضُوعِهَا مَحْمُولُهُ
and exquisite brocade cushioned upon couches,
its borne fabric outshining what lies upon them.
ثُمَّthen اغْتَدَيْتَyou rose in the morning وَمُلْكُكَand your kingship السَّامِيlofty الْعُلَىin its heights
ثُمَّ اغْتَدَيْتَ وَمُلْكُكَ السَّامِي الْعُلَى
مَجْمُوعُgathered شَمْلٍin unity بِالْمُنَىwith hopes مَوْصُولُهُits linked union
مَجْمُوعُ شَمْلٍ بِالْمُنَى مَوْصُولُهُ
Then you rose in the morning, your high-soaring kingship
gathered into unity, its bonds linked with hopes,
والْبِشْرand joy ُمُنْسَحِبُspreading الْجَنَاحِthe wing عَلَىover الْوَرَىmankind
والْبِشْر ُمُنْسَحِبُ الْجَنَاحِ عَلَى الْوَرَى
وَالأُنْسُand conviviality تَشْتَمِلُembraces الْوُجُودَexistence شَمُولُهُits wine
وَالأُنْسُ تَشْتَمِلُ الْوُجُودَ شَمُولُهُ
and joy spreading its wing over mankind,
and conviviality's wine embracing all existence.
وَاللَّحْنُand melody قَدْhad وَشَجَتْintertwined غُصُونُthe branches ضُرُوبِهِof its modes
وَاللَّحْنُ قَدْ وَشَجَتْ غُصُونُ ضُرُوبِهِ
فَسَبَىso captivated الْعُقُولَthe minds خَفِيفُهُits light rhythms وَثَقِيلُهُand its heavy rhythms
فَسَبَى الْعُقُولَ خَفِيفُهُ وَثَقِيلُهُ
Melody's branches of varied modes had intertwined,
its light and heavy rhythms captivating minds.
خَلَّدْتَyou perpetuated سِرَّthe secret النَّصْرِof victory فِيin أَعْقَابِهِits posterity
خَلَّدْتَ سِرَّ النَّصْرِ فِي أَعْقَابِهِ
وَسَلَكْتَand you followed قَصْداًa straight course لاَnot يُضَلُّis lost سَبِيلُهُits path
وَسَلَكْتَ قَصْداً لاَ يُضَلُّ سَبِيلُهُ
You perpetuated the secret of victory in its posterity,
and followed a straight course whose path cannot be lost.
نِعْمَhow excellent الْخُلُودُeternal abiding بِهَاin them قُصُورُpalaces مُقَامَةof residence
نِعْمَ الْخُلُودُ بِهَا قُصُورُ مُقَامَة
يَحْبُوكَbestows on you سَعْدُكَyour good fortune عِزَّهَاtheir glory وَيُنِيلُهُand grants it
يَحْبُوكَ سَعْدُكَ عِزَّهَا وَيُنِيلُهُ
How fine to abide forever in them, these palaces of repose!
Your good fortune bestows their glory on you and grants it,
حَتَّىuntil تَزَيَّنَyou adorn بِالبَنِينَwith sons صُدُورَهَاtheir foremost halls
حَتَّى تَزَيَّنَ بِالبَنِينَ صُدُورَهَا
وَيَبِينَand becomes clear فِيin بَاعِthe arm-span الْخِلاَفَةِof the caliphate طُولُهُits length
وَيَبِينَ فِي بَاعِ الْخِلاَفَةِ طُولُهُ
until you adorn their foremost halls with sons,
and its reach is revealed in the arm-span of the caliphate.
فَكَأَنَّنِيso it is as though I بِالْمُلْكِwith kingship قَدْhad عَقَدَtied الْحُبَىthe knee-bands
فَكَأَنَّنِي بِالْمُلْكِ قَدْ عَقَدَ الْحُبَى
وَزَهَاand shone بِفَاخِرِwith a splendid دِرْهَمٍdirham إِكْلِيلُهُits diadem
وَزَهَا بِفَاخِرِ دِرْهَمٍ إِكْلِيلُهُ
So I seem to see kingship seated, its knee-bands tied,
and its diadem shining with a splendid dirham.
فَكَأَنَّنِيso it is as though I بَكَwith you وَالْفُتُوحُand conquests سَوَافِرٌunveiled
فَكَأَنَّنِي بَكَ وَالْفُتُوحُ سَوَافِرٌ
وَالسَّبْيُand captives قَدْhad عَمَرَfilled الرُّبَىthe hills تَنْفِيلُهُits allotment as spoils
وَالسَّبْيُ قَدْ عَمَرَ الرُّبَى تَنْفِيلُهُ
So I seem to see you, with conquests unveiled,
and the allotment of captives as spoils filling the hills.
نَصَرَchampioned الْهُدَىguidance سَعْدٌSa'd وَفَازَand gained بِإِرْثِهِhis inheritance
نَصَرَ الْهُدَى سَعْدٌ وَفَازَ بِإِرْثِهِ
مِنْfrom بَعْدُafterward يُوسُفُYusuf سِبْطُهُhis scion وَسَلِيلُهُand his descendant
مِنْ بَعْدُ يُوسُفُ سِبْطُهُ وَسَلِيلُهُ
Sa'd championed guidance, and his inheritance was won
thereafter by Yusuf, his scion and descendant:
مِلِكٌa king عَزِيزُhonored الْجَارِthe neighbor مَمْنُوعُinviolable الْحِمَىthe domain
مِلِكٌ عَزِيزُ الْجَارِ مَمْنُوعُ الْحِمَى
مَمْنُوحُendowed مُنْهَلِّstreaming النَّدَىgenerosity مَبْذُولُهُhis freely given bounty
مَمْنُوحُ مُنْهَلِّ النَّدَى مَبْذُولُهُ
a king whose neighbor is honored, whose domain is inviolable,
endowed with streaming generosity, his bounty freely given.
يَقْظَانُwakeful لاَnot حِفْظُguarding الثُّغُورِthe frontiers يَؤُودُهُburdens him
يَقْظَانُ لاَ حِفْظُ الثُّغُورِ يَؤُودُهُ
كَلاَّcertainly not وَلاَand not صَعْبُthe difficulty الأُمُورِof affairs يَهُولُهُalarms him
كَلاَّ وَلاَ صَعْبُ الأُمُورِ يَهُولُهُ
Wakeful: guarding the frontiers does not burden him;
certainly not, nor do difficult affairs alarm him.
وَإِذَاand whenever دَعَاهُcalls him الْمُلْكُkingship مِنْهُfrom it لِلَذَّةٍto pleasure
وَإِذَا دَعَاهُ الْمُلْكُ مِنْهُ لِلَذَّةٍ
نَاجَاهُwhispers to him مِنْout of تَقْوَىreverence الإِلاَهِfor God عَذُولُهُhis reprover
نَاجَاهُ مِنْ تَقْوَى الإِلاَهِ عَذُولُهُ
Whenever kingship calls him to one of its pleasures,
his reprover whispers to him out of reverence for God.
شَمَلًembraced الْبِلاَدَthe lands وَأَهْلَهَاand their people تَأَمِينُهُhis assurance of safety
شَمَلً الْبِلاَدَ وَأَهْلَهَا تَأَمِينُهُ
وَهَمَىand showered عَلَيْهِمْupon them بِالنَّدَىwith bounty تَأَمِيلُهُhis fostering of hope
وَهَمَى عَلَيْهِمْ بِالنَّدَى تَأَمِيلُهُ
His assurance of safety embraces the lands and their people,
and his fostering of hope showers them with bounty.
أَخَلِيفَةَO caliph اللَّهِof God الَّذِيwho آرَاؤُهُhis judgments
أَخَلِيفَةَ اللَّهِ الَّذِي آرَاؤُهُ
شُهْبٌmeteors تُنِيرُilluminate دُجَىthe darkness الْهَوَىof desire وَتُحِيلُهُand transform it
شُهْبٌ تُنِيرُ دُجَى الْهَوَى وَتُحِيلُهُ
O caliph of God, whose judgments
are meteors that light desire's darkness and transform it,
خُذْهَاtake her إِلَيْكَto yourself عَقِيلَةَthe noble lady الشِّعْرِof poetry الَّذِيwhich
خُذْهَا إِلَيْكَ عَقِيلَةَ الشِّعْرِ الَّذِي
تُبْدِيdisplay لَهُbefore it سِمَةَthe mark الْخُضُوعِof submission فُحُولُهُits master poets
تُبْدِي لَهُ سِمَةَ الْخُضُوعِ فُحُولُهُ
take her to yourself, the noble lady of poetry, before which
its master poets display the mark of submission:
دُرًّاتَكَوَّنَpearls formed فِيin بِحَارِseas بَلاَغَةٍof eloquence
دُرًّاتَكَوَّنَ فِي بِحَارِ بَلاَغَةٍ
يُهْدَىis offered إِلَيْكَto you ثَمِينُهُits precious pearls وَجَلِيلُهُand its splendid pearls
يُهْدَى إِلَيْكَ ثَمِينُهُ وَجَلِيلُهُ
pearls formed in seas of eloquence,
its precious and splendid pearls offered to you.
وَصِلِand maintain الدَّوَامَcontinuance إِذَاwhen نَبَتْfail to strike بِيضُthe bright الظُّبَىsword-edges
وَصِلِ الدَّوَامَ إِذَا نَبَتْ بِيضُ الظُّبَى
تَمْضِيyou press on وَإِنْand if عَثَرَstumbles الزَّمَانُtime تُقِيلُهُyou raise it up
تَمْضِي وَإِنْ عَثَرَ الزَّمَانُ تُقِيلُهُ
And abide forever: when the bright sword-edges fail,
you press on, and if time stumbles, you raise it up.
فَالْمُلْكُfor kingship أَنْتَyou عِمَادُهُits pillar وَعَتَادُهُand its armament
فَالْمُلْكُ أَنْتَ عِمَادُهُ وَعَتَادُهُ
وَالدِّينُand the faith أَنْتَyou مَلاَذُهُits refuge وَمَقِيلُهُand its noonday resting place
وَالدِّينُ أَنْتَ مَلاَذُهُ وَمَقِيلُهُ
For kingship, you are its pillar and its armament;
and faith, you are its refuge and its noonday resting place.
Sol 6.1