ضاهى الخلائفَ في الأحكام مُقتَدراً

ضاهى الخلائفَ في الأحكام مُقتَدراً

بينَ الخلائقِ عَدْلاً وهو مأمونُ

بينَ الخلائقِ عَدْلاً وهو مأمونُ

He rivaled the caliphs in judgment, wielding power,

He matched the caliphs in judgements, powerful,

just among humankind, and trustworthy.

Among the people, just while he is trusted,

قد طالَ جامعُ طولونَ بذلكَ أو

قد طالَ جامعُ طولونَ بذلكَ أو

نَسى به إذ نشا للِحُسْنِ طولونُ

نَسى به إذ نشا للِحُسْنِ طولونُ

Tulun’s mosque has risen high through that—or

Indeed the length of Tulun's mosque has lasted with that or

been forgotten through him, when a Tulun arose for beauty.

Forgotten with it when Tulun arose for beauty,

أينَ المناظِرُ منْ تلكَ المنائر إذْ

أينَ المناظِرُ منْ تلكَ المنائر إذْ

للدِّينِ تِلكَ وللهْوِ المَيادينُ

للدِّينِ تِلكَ وللهْوِ المَيادينُ

How do the viewing pavilions compare with those minarets, since

Where are the sights from those lanterns when

those are for religion, and the arenas for amusement?

Those are for the religion while the racecourses are for vanity,

صَعِدتُها فَغَدت أصدافَ جوْهرةٍ

صَعِدتُها فَغَدت أصدافَ جوْهرةٍ

وكانَ أشباهَها قبلُ الحلازينُ

وكانَ أشباهَها قبلُ الحلازينُ

I climbed them, so they became the shells of a jewel,

I accessed them so they became shells of gems

and before, snails had been their likenesses.

While their likes before were glass beads,

فانظُرْ إليَّ بِعيْنٍ منكَ مُغنية

فانظُرْ إليَّ بِعيْنٍ منكَ مُغنية

فَلَيْسَى عِندِيَ لاأقجاولا الطونُ

فَلَيْسَى عِندِيَ لاأقجاولا الطونُ

So look upon me with an enriching eye of yours,

So look at me with an eye from you that sings

for I have neither an aqcha nor an altun.

For I have with me neither ignorant nor twisted ones.