هناءٌ كأزْهارِ الرُبَى مُتحمَّلُ

هناءٌ كأزْهارِ الرُبَى مُتحمَّلُ

وبُشْرَى كأنْوارِ الضّحى تتهلّلُ

وبُشْرَى كأنْوارِ الضّحى تتهلّلُ

Felicitation, borne like the flowers of the hills,

Delight like the flowers of the meadows laden,

and glad tidings beaming like the lights of forenoon.

Good tidings like the lights of dawn descending.

هُوَ الصُّنعُ صُنعُ اللهِ معْنَى وجودِهِ

هُوَ الصُّنعُ صُنعُ اللهِ معْنَى وجودِهِ

سَبيلٌ لما شاءَتْ عُلاكَ مُوصَّلُ

سَبيلٌ لما شاءَتْ عُلاكَ مُوصَّلُ

It is the handiwork—God's handiwork; the meaning of its existence

It is the work of God, the meaning of His being,

is a path leading to what your highness desired.

A path to what Your Highness desired, completed.

ولا كالذي رامَ العِنادَ سَفاهَةً

ولا كالذي رامَ العِنادَ سَفاهَةً

يَرى الدّهْرَ عنهُ مُعْرضاً وهْوَ مُقْبِلُ

يَرى الدّهْرَ عنهُ مُعْرضاً وهْوَ مُقْبِلُ

Not so the man who sought defiance in folly:

Not like one who foolishly sought rebellion,

he sees fortune turning away from him as he approaches.

Who sees the days turn from him though he comes to them.

وأمّلَ مثوَى العِزِّ لا دَرَّ درُّهُ

وأمّلَ مثوَى العِزِّ لا دَرَّ درُّهُ

وليسَ له عن مرْتَعِ الذّلِّ مَرْحَلُ

وليسَ له عن مرْتَعِ الذّلِّ مَرْحَلُ

He hoped for a dwelling of glory—may he never prosper!—

He hoped for the abode of glory, not valuing it,

yet has no escape from the pasture of abasement.

Having no way to escape the pasture of baseness.

ألمْ يدْرِ أن النّاصرَ المَلكَ الرِّضَى

ألمْ يدْرِ أن النّاصرَ المَلكَ الرِّضَى

إذا قالَ فالمِقْدارُ ما شاءَ يفْعَلُ

إذا قالَ فالمِقْدارُ ما شاءَ يفْعَلُ

Did he not know that al-Nasir, the well-pleasing king,

Does he not know that the victorious king’s pleasure,

when he speaks, has fate do whatever he wills?

When declared, whatever he wills comes to pass?

لهُ شيمٌ في الحِلْمِ والعِلْمِ والندَى

لهُ شيمٌ في الحِلْمِ والعِلْمِ والندَى

يَفوقُ بها كلَّ المُلوكِ ويَفْضُلُ

يَفوقُ بها كلَّ المُلوكِ ويَفْضُلُ

He possesses virtues of forbearance, knowledge, and bounty,

He has traits of forbearance, knowledge, and clarity,

through which he surpasses and excels all kings.

Surpassing all kings, preeminent and unequaled.

فحزْمٌ كلَيْثِ الغابِ يحمِي ذِمارَهُ

فحزْمٌ كلَيْثِ الغابِ يحمِي ذِمارَهُ

وعزْمٌ كما قد هُزّ في الرّوْعِ مُنصُلُ

وعزْمٌ كما قد هُزّ في الرّوْعِ مُنصُلُ

His firmness is like a forest lion guarding his charge,

Prudence like a sturdy lion guarding its lair,

and his resolve like a blade brandished amid terror;

Resolve like a firmly planted spearhead.

وجودٌ كما جادَتْ لدَى المَحْلِ ديمةٌ

وجودٌ كما جادَتْ لدَى المَحْلِ ديمةٌ

وبِشرٌ كما حيّا الضّحى المُتهلِّلُ

وبِشرٌ كما حيّا الضّحى المُتهلِّلُ

his generosity like steady rain falling in drought,

Generosity like the rainclouds over the meadows,

and his cheer like the greeting of the beaming forenoon.

Good tidings like the smiling dawn adorned.

تواضَعَ فاسْتعْلَى بصِدْقِ يَقينِه

تواضَعَ فاسْتعْلَى بصِدْقِ يَقينِه

وعزّ فذلّ الماكِرُ المُتحيِّلُ

وعزّ فذلّ الماكِرُ المُتحيِّلُ

He humbled himself, then rose through the truth of his conviction,

He lowered himself in sincerity of faith,

and grew mighty, so the scheming trickster was abased.

And rose high, humbling the scheming rebel.

أتَى وثيابُ الهونِ تعْلو قُيودَهُ

أتَى وثيابُ الهونِ تعْلو قُيودَهُ

فيرْسُفُ طوْعَ الذُلِّ فيها ويرْفُلُ

فيرْسُفُ طوْعَ الذُلِّ فيها ويرْفُلُ

He came, the garments of humiliation covering his chains,

He came in garments of disgrace covering his shackles,

and shuffles in them, submitting to abasement, yet struts.

Crawling in humiliation and twisting within them.

وجاءَ وقدْ حفّتْ بهِ الشيعَة التي

وجاءَ وقدْ حفّتْ بهِ الشيعَة التي

لها من ذَميم الغَدْرِ ما ليْسَ يُجْهَلُ

لها من ذَميم الغَدْرِ ما ليْسَ يُجْهَلُ

He came surrounded by the faction that

He came while the treacherous faction surrounded him,

has a share of vile treachery that is not unknown.

Having no hidden rancor that is not known.

تحامَى طريقَ الرُشْدِ من قَبْلُ فاغْتَدى

تحامَى طريقَ الرُشْدِ من قَبْلُ فاغْتَدى

تُزلِّلُهُ آراؤهُمْ وتُضلّلُ

تُزلِّلُهُ آراؤهُمْ وتُضلّلُ

He had earlier shunned the path of right guidance, and came to be

Before he kept to the path of righteousness while they

made to stumble and led astray by their opinions.

Degraded him with their corrupt views, leading him astray.

ولوْ أمّل المَوْلَى الخليفَةَ يوسُفاً

ولوْ أمّل المَوْلَى الخليفَةَ يوسُفاً

لما راعَهُ خَطْبٌ من الدّهْرِ مُعْضِلُ

لما راعَهُ خَطْبٌ من الدّهْرِ مُعْضِلُ

Had he placed his hopes in the lord, the caliph Yusuf,

Had the Master considered Joseph to be His caliph,

no grievous crisis of time would have frightened him.

No difficult events from fate would have befallen him.

ولوْ أمّ للباب الكريمِ لأصبحَتْ

ولوْ أمّ للباب الكريمِ لأصبحَتْ

وُجوهُ الأماني نحْوَهُ تتهلّلُ

وُجوهُ الأماني نحْوَهُ تتهلّلُ

Had he made for the noble gate,

Had He opened the noble door, their hopes

the faces of his wishes would have beamed toward him.

Would have turned toward it, shining and sparkling.

ولكنّهُ ما جدّ إلا لأنْ يُرَى

ولكنّهُ ما جدّ إلا لأنْ يُرَى

كما شاءَهُ المِقْدارُ وهْوَ مجَدِّلُ

كما شاءَهُ المِقْدارُ وهْوَ مجَدِّلُ

But he strove only to be seen

But He only earnestly strove to be seen

as fate willed him, fate itself laying him low.

As the Divine Decree willed, determining and deciding.

وقد عزّ من ولّيْتهُ المُلْكَ مُنْعِماً

وقد عزّ من ولّيْتهُ المُلْكَ مُنْعِماً

وأضْحى الذي ناواكَ وهْوَ مُذَلَّلُ

وأضْحى الذي ناواكَ وهْوَ مُذَلَّلُ

Mighty has grown the man on whom you bestowed kingship,

You were honored with kingship, made prosperous,

while the man who opposed you has become abased.

While he who opposed you now kneels, disgraced.

حُلا المُلْكِ حَلْيٌ منهُ هذا مُطوّقٌ

حُلا المُلْكِ حَلْيٌ منهُ هذا مُطوّقٌ

كما شاءَتِ النعْمَى وذاك مُعطَّلُ

كما شاءَتِ النعْمَى وذاك مُعطَّلُ

Royal ornaments are jewels; this one is necklaced with them,

The adornments of kingship are gifts from You, one worn

as favor wished, while that one is unadorned.

As Your bounty desired, the other cast off.

صنائِعُ جَلتْ أن يُحيطَ بوصْفِها

صنائِعُ جَلتْ أن يُحيطَ بوصْفِها

نِظامٌ بليغٌ أو نثارٌ مُفَصَّلُ

نِظامٌ بليغٌ أو نثارٌ مُفَصَّلُ

Benefactions too sublime for their description to be encompassed

The wonders surpass any detailed description,

by eloquent verse or detailed prose.

Or well-arranged prose or meticulous poetry.

وقد كان فيها الحزْمُ ضُيِّعَ بُرهةً

وقد كان فيها الحزْمُ ضُيِّعَ بُرهةً

ونالَ العِدى ما أمّلوا حينَ أُغْفِلوا

ونالَ العِدى ما أمّلوا حينَ أُغْفِلوا

For a while, prudence had been neglected there,

Reason was lost for a time in these events,

and enemies gained what they hoped for when left unheeded.

The transgressors gained what they craved when neglected.

وأُمِّن فيها خائِنٌ ومُخادعٌ

وأُمِّن فيها خائِنٌ ومُخادعٌ

وصُدّقَ فيها مُلحِدٌ ومُعَطّلُ

وصُدّقَ فيها مُلحِدٌ ومُعَطّلُ

There a traitor and a deceiver were granted safety,

A traitor and a deceiver was trusted among them,

and a heretic and a denier of divine attributes were believed.

A heretic and rejecter of truth was believed.

بحيثُ جميعُ الغادِرين تفرّقوا

بحيثُ جميعُ الغادِرين تفرّقوا

وفرّوا عنِ النّهْجِ القَويمِ وأجْفَلوا

وفرّوا عنِ النّهْجِ القَويمِ وأجْفَلوا

Thus all the treacherous dispersed

So that all the deceitful ones dispersed

and fled the straight path, scattering in panic.

And fled from the straight path, stumbling and faltering.

لقد كفَروا نُعْماكَ بَغياً وطالَما

لقد كفَروا نُعْماكَ بَغياً وطالَما

وهَبْتَ وأنتَ المنعِمُ المتَطوِّلُ

وهَبْتَ وأنتَ المنعِمُ المتَطوِّلُ

They indeed spurned your favors out of insolence, though so often

They showed ingratitude for Your blessings out of enmity,

you gave, the lavish benefactor that you are.

Though You are the Bestower, Most Generous, Everlasting!

تحامَوْا جَناباً عندَهُ العِزُّ والعُلى

تحامَوْا جَناباً عندَهُ العِزُّ والعُلى

لهُمْ منهُ كهْفٌ في الخُطوبِ وموْئِلُ

لهُمْ منهُ كهْفٌ في الخُطوبِ وموْئِلُ

They shunned a presence where might and eminence dwell,

In Your presence they gained might and supremacy,

from which they had shelter and refuge in calamities.

Finding in You shelter from woes, refuge and lodging.

أينعَمُ فيه الغادِرونَ تخيُّلاً

أينعَمُ فيه الغادِرونَ تخيُّلاً

وقد كفَروا النعْمَى التي فيهِ خُوِّلوا

وقد كفَروا النعْمَى التي فيهِ خُوِّلوا

Do the treacherous imagine they can enjoy ease there,

The traitors imagined comfort from it in their fancy,

though they spurned the favor granted to them there?

Ungrateful for the blessing in which they freely indulged.

وقد عادَ للقَصْدِ الذي كان آمِلاً

وقد عادَ للقَصْدِ الذي كان آمِلاً

وليسَ لهُ إلا عليْكَ مُعَوَّلُ

وليسَ لهُ إلا عليْكَ مُعَوَّلُ

He has returned to the aim he had hoped for,

He has returned to the goal which he hoped for,

and has none but you on whom to rely.

Relying on none but You, hoping and trusting in You.

وحُكِّمَ سيفُ النّصْرِ فيهم وإنّهُ

وحُكِّمَ سيفُ النّصْرِ فيهم وإنّهُ

لَحُكْمٌ بما شاءَتْ علاكَ مُسَجَّلُ

لَحُكْمٌ بما شاءَتْ علاكَ مُسَجَّلُ

The sword of victory was appointed judge over them, and it

The sword of victory was appointed judge over them,

is truly a judgment recorded according to your highness's will.

A just verdict as Your Exalted Will decreed and registered.

بحيثُ الوَغى تُبْدي ظُباها جَداوِلاً

بحيثُ الوَغى تُبْدي ظُباها جَداوِلاً

علَيْها منَ الخَطّيّ دوْحٌ مُهدَّلُ

علَيْها منَ الخَطّيّ دوْحٌ مُهدَّلُ

There battle displays its sword-edges as streams,

Tumult revealed its calamities like streamlets

with drooping groves of Khatti spears above them.

Scattered over them from the Valiant King, descending.

وبُشْراكَ يا مَولَى المُلوكِ براحَةٍ

وبُشْراكَ يا مَولَى المُلوكِ براحَةٍ

تُتمِّمُ ما شاء الهُدى وتكمِّلُ

تُتمِّمُ ما شاء الهُدى وتكمِّلُ

And glad tidings to you, O lord of kings, of relief

Good tidings to you, O King of Kings, of tranquility

that fulfills and completes what right guidance desired.

Completing what upright guidance willed and perfected.

فلوْ أنصفَ الخدّامُ أضحَتْ نفوسُهُمْ

فلوْ أنصفَ الخدّامُ أضحَتْ نفوسُهُمْ

وأرواحُهُمْ طوْعَ البَشائِرِ تُبْذَلُ

وأرواحُهُمْ طوْعَ البَشائِرِ تُبْذَلُ

Had the servants been just, their very selves

If the loyal were fair, their souls and spirits

and souls would have been freely offered for the glad tidings.

Would willingly be sacrificed, excited and fervent.

ومنْ قَبْلُ هنّأْنا عُلاكَ بوافِدٍ

ومنْ قَبْلُ هنّأْنا عُلاكَ بوافِدٍ

مَخائِلُهُ يقْضي بها المتأمِّلُ

مَخائِلُهُ يقْضي بها المتأمِّلُ

Earlier we congratulated your highness on a new arrival,

We already congratulated Your Highness on the arrival

whose signs the thoughtful observer judges by.

Of glories, which the thoughtful beholder can deduce.

مُحيّاه وضّاحُ الأسِرَّة نَيّرٌ

مُحيّاه وضّاحُ الأسِرَّة نَيّرٌ

ترَى الشهْبَ تسْتَهدي سَناه وتسألُ

ترَى الشهْبَ تسْتَهدي سَناه وتسألُ

His face is radiant, its lineaments shining;

The luminous Datu glittering like a star, his qualities

you see the stars seeking guidance from his radiance and asking for it.

Passed down, an enlightened guide, rightly guided, reliant.

تَلا صِنْوَهُ الأرْضَى وإنّ كِلَيْهِما

تَلا صِنْوَهُ الأرْضَى وإنّ كِلَيْهِما

لَهادٍ رَشيدٌ مُهْتَدٍ متوكِّلُ

لَهادٍ رَشيدٌ مُهْتَدٍ متوكِّلُ

He followed his most pleasing brother, and each of the two

This one is hoped for benevolence and generosity,

is a wise guide, rightly guided and trusting in God.

That one for attaining knowledge is anticipated.

فهذا إلى بذْلِ المكارِمِ يُرْتَجى

فهذا إلى بذْلِ المكارِمِ يُرْتَجى

وذاكَ لنيْلِ المعْلُواتِ يُؤَمَّلُ

وذاكَ لنيْلِ المعْلُواتِ يُؤَمَّلُ

This one is looked to for the bestowal of noble gifts,

Therefore the flowers of openings are picked,

and that one for the attainment of lofty ranks.

And the garden of wishes, its boughs drooping and dangling.

لذلكَ أزْهارُ الفتوحاتِ تُجْتَلَى

لذلكَ أزْهارُ الفتوحاتِ تُجْتَلَى

وروضُ المُنى أدْواحُها تتهدّلُ

وروضُ المُنى أدْواحُها تتهدّلُ

For that, the flowers of conquests are beheld,

The enemy of religion, You will soon imagine,

and the garden of wishes—its great trees droop.

Vanquished before You, destined for quick destruction.

وإنّ عدوَّ الدّينِ سوفَ تخالُهُ

وإنّ عدوَّ الدّينِ سوفَ تخالُهُ

لديْكَ وقد وافاهُ حتْفٌ معجّلُ

لديْكَ وقد وافاهُ حتْفٌ معجّلُ

And the enemy of the faith—you will soon picture him

His homelands will become, while every devout believer

before you, overtaken by a hastened death.

Exalts and declares Your Oneness throughout its regions.

وأوطانُهُ تُمْسي وكلُّ موحِّدٍ

وأوطانُهُ تُمْسي وكلُّ موحِّدٍ

يُكَبِّرُ في أرْجائِها ويُهَلِّلُ

يُكَبِّرُ في أرْجائِها ويُهَلِّلُ

Evening will fall on his lands, with every believer in God's oneness

O You carried on the excellent camel on journeys,

proclaiming 'God is greatest' and 'There is no god but God' throughout them.

Whose tracks across the dunes are not obscure or hidden,

فَيا راكِبَ الوجْناءِ يَطوي بِها الفَلا

فَيا راكِبَ الوجْناءِ يَطوي بِها الفَلا

إلى طِيّةٍ آثارُها ليْسَ تُجْهَلُ

إلى طِيّةٍ آثارُها ليْسَ تُجْهَلُ

So, O rider of the stout she-camel, crossing the wastes upon her,

To the abode of intimacy, in whose landscapes

toward a destination whose tracks are not unknown,

The attributes of Beauty are interpreted and made graceful,

إلى معهَدِ الأنسِ الذي في بطاحِهِ

إلى معهَدِ الأنسِ الذي في بطاحِهِ

تُفسَّرُ أوصافُ الجمالِ وتُجمَلُ

تُفسَّرُ أوصافُ الجمالِ وتُجمَلُ

toward the abode of fellowship, in whose broad plains

To the dwelling of glory, which every hopeful

the qualities of beauty are expounded and summed up,

Exerts efforts and works hard that he may attain it.

إلى منزِلِ العِزِّ الذي كُل آمِلٍ

إلى منزِلِ العِزِّ الذي كُل آمِلٍ

يُجِدُّ له السيْرَ الحثيثَ ويُعْمِلُ

يُجِدُّ له السيْرَ الحثيثَ ويُعْمِلُ

toward the dwelling of glory for which every hopeful seeker

Rest her, for she has reached the home of the Caliph

hastens with eager travel and urges his mount:

Whose precedence, dignity and patience are unequaled,

أرِحْها فقدْ حَلَّتْ بمثوى خليفَةٍ

أرِحْها فقدْ حَلَّتْ بمثوى خليفَةٍ

لهُ السّبْقُ وهوَ الوادِعُ المُتمهّلُ

لهُ السّبْقُ وهوَ الوادِعُ المُتمهّلُ

rest her, for she has reached the dwelling of a caliph

An Imam of wisdom, knowledge, who attains his goals,

who takes the lead though calm and unhurried.

Decisiveness, courage and lasting glory.

إمامٌ له حِلْمٌ وعلمٌ ونائلٌ

إمامٌ له حِلْمٌ وعلمٌ ونائلٌ

وحزْمٌ وإقدامٌ ومجْدٌ مؤثّلُ

وحزْمٌ وإقدامٌ ومجْدٌ مؤثّلُ

An imam possessing forbearance, knowledge, and bounty,

When the sincere turn to him, their deeds

firmness, boldness, and deeply rooted glory.

Are accepted, as befits the Truthful and Praiseworthy.

إذا أعْمَلَ القصّادُ نحْوَ جنابِه

إذا أعْمَلَ القصّادُ نحْوَ جنابِه

ركائِبَهُمْ أعْمالُهُمْ تُتَقبَّلُ

ركائِبَهُمْ أعْمالُهُمْ تُتَقبَّلُ

When petitioners urge toward his presence

The clouds of his generosity pour forth from his palm,

their riding beasts, their endeavors are accepted.

Flooding the horizons, overwhelming and shaming.

يجودُ غمامُ الجودِ من أفْقِ كفّه

يجودُ غمامُ الجودِ من أفْقِ كفّه

فيفْضَحُ صوبَ الغادِياتِ ويُخْجِلُ

فيفْضَحُ صوبَ الغادِياتِ ويُخْجِلُ

The cloud of bounty pours from the horizon of his palm,

When we attend his noble court, what harm if a loved one

shaming the downpour of morning clouds and leaving it abashed.

Or home should become distant?

إذا ما حَللْنا تحتْ ظلّ جَنابِه

إذا ما حَللْنا تحتْ ظلّ جَنابِه

فما ضرّ أن ينْأى حَبيبٌ ومنزِلُ

فما ضرّ أن ينْأى حَبيبٌ ومنزِلُ

When we settle beneath the shade of his presence,

I seek refuge from the Supreme that any faction

what harm is there if a beloved and a home are far away?

Will fail in longing love for the Court of Joseph!

أُعيذُ العُلَى من أن تخيبَ عِصابةٌ

أُعيذُ العُلَى من أن تخيبَ عِصابةٌ

بحُبّ المقامِ اليوسُفيّ توسّلُوا

بحُبّ المقامِ اليوسُفيّ توسّلُوا

I invoke protection for eminence, lest a company be disappointed

One whom You have raised so high, O King of Guidance,

who sought favor through love of Yusuf's court.

And one like You who bestows bounty and favors.

فمِثْليَ مَن رَقّيْتَ يا ملِكَ الهُدَى

فمِثْليَ مَن رَقّيْتَ يا ملِكَ الهُدَى

ومثلُكَ من يولِي الجَميلَ ويُجْزِلُ

ومثلُكَ من يولِي الجَميلَ ويُجْزِلُ

One such as I is whom you have raised, O king of right guidance,

You have granted and secured me from what I feared,

and one such as you bestows kindness and gives lavishly.

So nothing left remains to dread or hope for.

وهَبْتَ وقد أمّنْتَ ممّا أخافُهُ

وهَبْتَ وقد أمّنْتَ ممّا أخافُهُ

فلمْ يبْقَ ما يُخْشى ولا ما يُؤَمَّلُ

فلمْ يبْقَ ما يُخْشى ولا ما يُؤَمَّلُ

You bestowed gifts and made me safe from what I fear,

You appointed me to the blessings I hoped for,

so nothing remained to dread or hope for.

Beyond what could be imagined or supposed.

وأوْليْتَني النّعْمى التي كنتُ آمِلاً

وأوْليْتَني النّعْمى التي كنتُ آمِلاً

فخِلْتُ حُلاها فوقَ ما يُتخيَّلُ

فخِلْتُ حُلاها فوقَ ما يُتخيَّلُ

You granted me the favor I had hoped for,

You clothed me in whatever robes of approval You wished,

and I thought its ornaments surpassed all imagination.

So I paraded about in them, donning and wearing them.

وألْبَسْتَني ما شِئْتَ من خِلَعِ الرّضى

وألْبَسْتَني ما شِئْتَ من خِلَعِ الرّضى

فأصبَحْتُ في أثْوابِها أتسَربَلُ

فأصبَحْتُ في أثْوابِها أتسَربَلُ

You clothed me in whatever robes of favor you wished,

How can I fulfil thanksgiving for Your blessing

and I came to clothe myself in their garments.

Whose successive news is true, chained and linked?

بماذا أوفّي شُكْرَ نعْمَتِكَ التي

بماذا أوفّي شُكْرَ نعْمَتِكَ التي

حَديثُ تواليها صحيحٌ مُسَلْسَلُ

حَديثُ تواليها صحيحٌ مُسَلْسَلُ

How can I give full thanks for your favor, whose

So its vestments remained on this owned one,

account of successive gifts is sound, linked in a chain?

Evenings pass, yet they do not change or alter.

فدامَت على الممْلوكِ منها مَلابسٌ

فدامَت على الممْلوكِ منها مَلابسٌ

تَبيدُ اللّيالي وهْيَ لا تتبدّلُ

تَبيدُ اللّيالي وهْيَ لا تتبدّلُ

May garments of that favor endure upon your servant:

Continue for the religion of God as the most noble supporter,

the nights perish, while they never change.

Your guidance sought and your existence asked for.

ودُمْتَ لدين اللهِ أكْرمَ ناصرٍ

ودُمْتَ لدين اللهِ أكْرمَ ناصرٍ

وهَدْيُكَ يُسْتَجْلى وجودُك يُسألُ

وهَدْيُكَ يُسْتَجْلى وجودُك يُسألُ

And may you ever be the noblest champion of God's religion,

your conduct admired and your generosity sought.