تجلّىshone forth صباحُthe dawn of الفتحِconquest منfrom جبلِthe mount of الفتحِal-Fath (Conquest)
تجلّى صباحُ الفتحِ من جبلِ الفتحِ
فهنِّئْتَهاso may you be congratulated on it بُشْرىglad tidings تجِلُّare exalted عنbeyond الشّرحِdescription
فهنِّئْتَها بُشْرى تجِلُّ عن الشّرحِ
The dawn of conquest shone forth from Mount al-Fath.
The dawn of victory shone from Victory Mount
May you be congratulated on it—glad tidings beyond description.
So I congratulated it on tidings that illuminate elucidation
هوit الصُنعُthe deed صنعُthe work of اللهِGod حيّاكَgreeted you أفْقُهُits horizon
هو الصُنعُ صنعُ اللهِ حيّاكَ أفْقُهُ
بوكّافِwith copious pouring غيْثٍrain طالَماfor so long ضنّwas grudging بالنّضْحwith a sprinkling
بوكّافِ غيْثٍ طالَما ضنّ بالنّضْح
This is the deed, God's deed; its horizon greeted you
It is the making of God, may its horizon live long
with pouring rain, after long withholding even a sprinkling.
With abundant rain after long thirst
كماjust as راقَshone beautifully نورُthe light of البَدْرِthe full moon بعْدَafter سِرارِهِits moonless nights
كما راقَ نورُ البَدْرِ بعْدَ سِرارِهِ
وعادَand returned لحُسْنِto the beauty of النّظْمِstringing مُنتَثِرُthe scattered jewels of الوُشْحِthe jeweled sashes
وعادَ لحُسْنِ النّظْمِ مُنتَثِرُ الوُشْحِ
As the full moon's light shone beautifully after its moonless nights,
As the light of the full moon shone after its concealment
and the scattered jewels of sashes were beautifully strung again.
And the ornamented order returned scattered and adorned
وماand not عاوَدَتْهُrevisited it دعوةٌa summons يوسُفيّةٌYusufian
وما عاوَدَتْهُ دعوةٌ يوسُفيّةٌ
ولكنّهاbut it is روحٌa soul أُعيدَتْrestored إلىto شَبْحِa body
ولكنّها روحٌ أُعيدَتْ إلى شَبْحِ
It was not merely a Yusufian summons that revisited it,
Nor did a Yusuf-like call restore it
but a soul restored to a body.
But it is a soul returned to a body
عَقيلَةُa noble lady of حُسْنٍbeauty طارَدَتْplayed at evasion بوصالِهاwith her union
عَقيلَةُ حُسْنٍ طارَدَتْ بوصالِها
لتعْظُمَso that it may grow بعْدَafter المَنعِwithholding فائِدَةُthe benefit of المنْحِgiving
لتعْظُمَ بعْدَ المَنعِ فائِدَةُ المنْحِ
A noble beauty who made her union elusive,
The beloved of beauty hastened to meet it
so that, after withholding, the benefit of giving might be greater.
So that the benefit of refusal may magnify the favor of union
فبُشْرىso glad tidings بهذاof this الصُّنعِdeed ياO ملِكَking of الهُدَىguidance
فبُشْرى بهذا الصُّنعِ يا ملِكَ الهُدَى
وهُنّئْتَand may you be congratulated on هذاthis الفتحَconquest ياO جبَلَMount of الفتحِal-Fath (Conquest)
وهُنّئْتَ هذا الفتحَ يا جبَلَ الفتحِ
Glad tidings of this deed, O king of guidance!
Good tidings of this feat, O king of guidance
And congratulations on this conquest, O Mount al-Fath!
And congratulations on this victory, O Victory Mount
فلولاهُso, but for it كانتْthere would have been للعِدَىfor the enemies فيكَwithin you أسْرَةٌa household
فلولاهُ كانتْ للعِدَى فيكَ أسْرَةٌ
تَروحُgoes at evening إلىto قَسٍّa priest وتغدوand goes at morning إلىto فِصْحِEaster
تَروحُ إلى قَسٍّ وتغدو إلى فِصْحِ
But for it, the enemy would have had a household within you,
Else the enemies would have had power over you
going at evening to a priest, and at morning to Easter.
Going to harshness and returning to celebration
تجلّىappeared مُعزُّthe strengthener of الدّولَةِthe realm الأكْرَمُthe most noble الرِّضىal-Rida
تجلّى مُعزُّ الدّولَةِ الأكْرَمُ الرِّضى
بمَرْقَبِكَat your watchtower المشهورِthe famed منfrom جانبِthe side of السّفْحِthe slope
بمَرْقَبِكَ المشهورِ من جانبِ السّفْحِ
Al-Rida, the most noble strengthener of the realm, appeared
The supporter of the state, the noble, the content
at your famed watchtower on the hillside.
Appeared in your famous observation point on the mountainside
لكَyours الدولةُthe realm العُلياthe supreme عليٌّAli مُعِزُّهاits strengthener
لكَ الدولةُ العُليا عليٌّ مُعِزُّها
بهدِّby demolishing الذيthat which أعْلتْraised يَدُthe hand of البغْيrebellion منof صرْحِan edifice
بهدِّ الذي أعْلتْ يَدُ البغْي من صرْحِ
Yours is the exalted realm; Ali is its strengthener,
For you is the supreme state, O its supporter
by demolishing the edifice that rebellion's hand had raised.
With the calm that raised the hand of tyranny from the palace
فياso O مَلكاًking يستَقْبِلُgoes to meet النّصْرَvictory عزْمُهُhis resolve
فيا مَلكاً يستَقْبِلُ النّصْرَ عزْمُهُ
وماand not الفجْرُthe dawn إلاexcept أنthat يدُلَّit points علىto صُبْحِmorning
وما الفجْرُ إلا أن يدُلَّ على صُبْحِ
O king whose resolve goes forth to meet victory—
So receive victory, as your resolve welcomes it
dawn does nothing but herald morning.
And dawn only points to the morning
فأجْهَدَso he exerted نفْساًa soul فيin seeking رِضاكَyour pleasure زكيّةًpure
فأجْهَدَ نفْساً في رِضاكَ زكيّةً
تجاهِدُbattles مَنthose who قدْalready حادَstrayed عنْfrom سَنَنِthe path of النُّصْحِloyal counsel
تجاهِدُ مَن قدْ حادَ عنْ سَنَنِ النُّصْحِ
He exerted his pure soul in seeking your pleasure,
A soul strived sincerely to please you
battling those who had strayed from the path of loyal counsel,
Struggling with those who deviated from the ways of good advice
بكلّwith every كَميّarmored warrior حينَwhen يُدْعَىhe is summoned إلىto الوَغَىbattle
بكلّ كَميّ حينَ يُدْعَى إلى الوَغَى
فغيْرُthen not جَزوعٍfainthearted فيin الحُروبِwars ولاnor طِلْحِexhausted
فغيْرُ جَزوعٍ في الحُروبِ ولا طِلْحِ
with every armored warrior who, when summoned to battle,
With every brave warrior when called to turmoil
is neither fainthearted in wars nor exhausted.
Not lacking courage in wars or declining fighting
وأتْبَعْتَهُand you sent after him غُرَّthe finest of الكتائِبِthe battalions مُنْعِماًgenerously
وأتْبَعْتَهُ غُرَّ الكتائِبِ مُنْعِماً
فكمْso how many حلّhe occupied منof سَفْحٍslopes بماwith what هزّhe brandished منof صَفْحِsword-blades
فكمْ حلّ من سَفْحٍ بما هزّ من صَفْحِ
You generously sent the finest battalions after him;
And you followed it with the finest regiments
how many slopes he occupied with the sword-blades he brandished!
So what descents the slopes shook from their summits
فماso not قَصرتْfell short فيهthere الجيادُthe steeds عنof المَداthe goal
فما قَصرتْ فيه الجيادُ عن المَدا
ولاnor نُهْنِهَتْwere restrained أسْدُthe lions among الرجالِmen عنfrom الكَفْحِclose combat
ولا نُهْنِهَتْ أسْدُ الرجالِ عن الكَفْحِ
The steeds there never fell short of their goal,
The steeds did not fail in courage
nor were the lions among men restrained from close combat.
Nor did the lions of men refrain from clawing
وقدand indeed نشأتْarose للنّقْعِof dust فيهِمْamong them غَمائِمٌclouds
وقد نشأتْ للنّقْعِ فيهِمْ غَمائِمٌ
وماand not أمْطَرَتْrained إلاexcept سِهاماًarrows إلىfor النضْحِdefense
وما أمْطَرَتْ إلا سِهاماً إلى النضْحِ
Clouds of dust arose among them,
Clouds of arrows rose against them
and rained nothing but arrows in defense.
And rained only arrows to pierce
إذاwhen أظْمأmade thirsty الرّوْعُterror الجوانِحَthe breasts خِلْتَهاyou would think them
إذا أظْمأ الرّوْعُ الجوانِحَ خِلْتَها
تُزادُare increased فتَستَسْقيand so they seek rain تُراعُare alarmed فتسْتَصْحيand so they seek clear skies
تُزادُ فتَستَسْقي تُراعُ فتسْتَصْحي
When terror parched their breasts, you would think them
When battle made the wings thirsty, you let them drink their fill
increased and so seeking rain, alarmed and so seeking clear skies.
They ask and are saturated, they cry out and are vivified
وأرسَلْتَand you sent فوقَover البحرِthe sea أجفانَكَyour ships التيwhich
وأرسَلْتَ فوقَ البحرِ أجفانَكَ التي
بهاin them حَركاتُthe movements of الرّفعِelevation تُبْنىare built علىupon الفَتْحِconquest
بها حَركاتُ الرّفعِ تُبْنى على الفَتْحِ
You sent over the sea your ships,
And you sent your ships above the sea
where the motions of elevation are founded upon conquest.
With which the movements of conquest are built upon victory
سوابِحُswimming vessels تُغْنيdispense with حينwhen تجْنَحُthey turn للعِدَىtoward the foes
سوابِحُ تُغْني حين تجْنَحُ للعِدَى
بأجنحةِthrough the wings of النّصْرِvictory العَزيزmighty عنِinstead of السّبْحِswimming
بأجنحةِ النّصْرِ العَزيز عنِ السّبْحِ
Swimming vessels that, when they turn toward the foe, are freed
Gliders that sing when they swoop down on the enemy
from swimming by the wings of mighty victory.
With wings of mighty victory instead of swimming
كأنّas though ظِباءَthe gazelles of القفْرِthe desert ضلّتْhad strayed فأتْلَعَتْand so stretched upward
كأنّ ظِباءَ القفْرِ ضلّتْ فأتْلَعَتْ
هواديَnecks بينْamong الأيْكِthe thickets والبانِand ban trees والطّلْحِand acacias
هواديَ بينْ الأيْكِ والبانِ والطّلْحِ
As though desert gazelles had strayed and stretched upward
As if the gazelles of the desert went astray and fell
their necks among thickets, ban trees, and acacias.
Into the valleys between Al-Ayk, Ban and Talh
وقدand indeed كُسِيَتْwere clothed منfrom دامِسِthe pitch-dark القارِtar صِبْغَةًa dye
وقد كُسِيَتْ من دامِسِ القارِ صِبْغَةً
كماas التفّتِwrapped themselves الرُهْبانُthe monks فيin خَلِقِworn المِسْحِsackcloth
كما التفّتِ الرُهْبانُ في خَلِقِ المِسْحِ
They were clothed in a dye of pitch-dark tar,
Coated from the staining tar with a color
like monks wrapped in worn sackcloth.
As the monks' turning in the creation of erasure
وتَشْدوand sing طُيورُthe birds of اليُمْنِgood fortune فيهاin them وإنand although غدَتْthey become
وتَشْدو طُيورُ اليُمْنِ فيها وإن غدَتْ
خُطوباًcalamities علىupon الأعداءِthe enemies رائِعةَterrifying in الفَدْحِcrushing severity
خُطوباً على الأعداءِ رائِعةَ الفَدْحِ
Birds of good fortune sing within them, though they become
And the birds of Yemen chant in them, though they have become
calamities for the enemy, terrifying in their crushing severity.
Songs against the enemy, startling with wit
يُبدِّدُscatters شمْلَthe unity of المُعتَدينَthe aggressors اجتِماعُهاtheir gathering
يُبدِّدُ شمْلَ المُعتَدينَ اجتِماعُها
فذاكَso that إلىtoward صدْعٍsundering وتِلْكَand these إلىtoward صدْحِsong
فذاكَ إلى صدْعٍ وتِلْكَ إلى صدْحِ
Their gathering scatters the aggressors' unity,
Their gathering scatters the assembly of the transgressors
that unity destined for sundering, these ships for song.
One to a crack and another to a split
إذاwhen جمعَتْgathered طوْعَwillingness for السِّباقِthe race جِيادُهاtheir steeds
إذا جمعَتْ طوْعَ السِّباقِ جِيادُها
فماso not تَنْثَنيturn back منهاof them الأعنّةُthe reins بالكَبْحِby reining in
فما تَنْثَني منها الأعنّةُ بالكَبْحِ
When their steeds muster willingly for the race,
When their steeds race to the lead
their reins do not turn back under restraint.
Their nimble ones do not falter at the curb
وفيand at مجْمَعِthe meeting of البحْرَيْنِthe two seas قومٌa people تمنّعواheld out
وفي مجْمَعِ البحْرَيْنِ قومٌ تمنّعوا
زماناًfor a time ونارُand the fire of البَغْيrebellion مشبوبَةُblazing with اللّفْحِscorching heat
زماناً ونارُ البَغْي مشبوبَةُ اللّفْحِ
At the meeting of the two seas, a people held out
And in the Gulf's assembly some were obstinate
for a time, while rebellion's fire blazed with scorching heat.
And the fire of tyranny kindled with inflammation
فكمْso how many مُعْتَدٍan aggressor منهمْamong them وخافِرِand a breaker of ذمّةٍa covenant
فكمْ مُعْتَدٍ منهمْ وخافِرِ ذمّةٍ
علىover قلبِهhis heart غيْمٌa cloud منَof الجَهْلِignorance لاnot يُصْحيclearing
على قلبِه غيْمٌ منَ الجَهْلِ لا يُصْحي
How many an aggressor among them, and breaker of a covenant,
So many aggressors and truce-keepers among them
whose heart bears a cloud of ignorance that never clears!
In whose hearts ignorance clouds that do not clear
غَداhe became خابِطاًstumbling عشْواءَlike a night-blind she-camel فيin ظُلَمِthe darkness of الرّدىdestruction
غَدا خابِطاً عشْواءَ في ظُلَمِ الرّدى
فلاso not جوُّهُhis sky يُصْحيclears ولاnor ليلُهُhis night يُضْحيbecomes day
فلا جوُّهُ يُصْحي ولا ليلُهُ يُضْحي
He went stumbling like a night-blind she-camel through the darkness of destruction;
Tomorrow wandering blindly in the darkness of loss
his sky never clears, nor does his night become day.
Neither their night clears nor their day breaks
سَقَتْهُgave him to drink صروفُthe vicissitudes of الدّهرِtime صِرْفَthe undiluted essence of مُدامِهاtheir wine
سَقَتْهُ صروفُ الدّهرِ صِرْفَ مُدامِها
فياso O قدَحاًgoblet جَلَّتْwere exalted حُلاهُits ornaments عنِbeyond القدْحِreproach
فيا قدَحاً جَلَّتْ حُلاهُ عنِ القدْحِ
Time's vicissitudes gave him their wine unmixed:
The turns of fate made him drink her wine till he emptied the cup
what a goblet, its adornments beyond reproach!
Oh cup that emptied of its bouquet by drinking
لقدindeed قصّدَتْshattered رُمْحَthe spear of الضّلالِerror عزائِمٌresolves
لقد قصّدَتْ رُمْحَ الضّلالِ عزائِمٌ
مقاصِدُهاtheir aims أضْحَتْbecame سَبيلاًa path إلىto النُّجْحِsuccess
مقاصِدُها أضْحَتْ سَبيلاً إلى النُّجْحِ
Resolves shattered the spear of error,
Resolute souls aimed at the spear of misguidance
their aims becoming a path to success.
Their aims became a path to success
لئنْif indeed كدَحواthey toiled خَفْراًin violation لذمّةِof the covenant of مُنعِمٍa benefactor
لئنْ كدَحوا خَفْراً لذمّةِ مُنعِمٍ
فياthen O خَيْبَةَthe futility of المَسْعىthe striving وياand O ذِلّةَthe humiliation of الكَدحِthe toil
فيا خَيْبَةَ المَسْعى ويا ذِلّةَ الكَدحِ
If they toiled to violate a benefactor's covenant,
Though they struggled to protect the favor of a benefactor
how futile their striving, how humiliating their toil!
Oh ruin of endeavor and humiliation of toil
وطافَand passed منfrom الشيْطانِSatan فيamong القومِthe people طائِفٌa visitation
وطافَ من الشيْطانِ في القومِ طائِفٌ
لماbecause of what عزّwas grievous منْof خَطْبٍaffliction وماand what مسَّtouched منْof قَرْحِwounds
لما عزّ منْ خَطْبٍ وما مسَّ منْ قَرْحِ
A visitation from Satan swept among the people
An inciter from Satan circulated among the people
because of grievous afflictions and wounds that touched them,
For what was firmly tied and what was wounded
وماand what حُلَّwas undone منْof عَقدٍbonds وعُجِّلَand was hastened منْof أذىًharm
وما حُلَّ منْ عَقدٍ وعُجِّلَ منْ أذىً
وبُدِّدَand was scattered منof شمْلٍa gathering ورُوِّعَand was frightened منْof سَرْحِgrazing herds
وبُدِّدَ من شمْلٍ ورُوِّعَ منْ سَرْحِ
and bonds undone, and harm brought swiftly,
What pacts were undone and harm was hastened
and gatherings scattered, and grazing herds terrified.
What unity was shattered and what rest was disrupted
فأطْلَعْتَso you brought forth فيهِمْamong them منfrom جُنودِكَyour troops أنجُماًstars
فأطْلَعْتَ فيهِمْ من جُنودِكَ أنجُماً
تجلّتْshone forth وليلُwhile the night of الرّوعِterror منْسَدِلُhung down الجِنْحِthe wing
تجلّتْ وليلُ الرّوعِ منْسَدِلُ الجِنْحِ
Then you made stars rise among them from your troops,
Then you unleashed in them your soldiers like stars
shining while the night of terror hung down its wing,
Shining while the night of panic lowered its wing
لِماfor what شُدَّwas strengthened منof أزْرٍsupport وشُيّدَand was fortified منof حِمىًprotected ground
لِما شُدَّ من أزْرٍ وشُيّدَ من حِمىً
وماand what راقَshone fair منof صُنْعٍdeeds وماand what بانَbecame clear منof نُجْحِsuccess
وما راقَ من صُنْعٍ وما بانَ من نُجْحِ
for the support strengthened and the refuge fortified,
For what help was extended and protection strengthened
and the deeds made splendid and the success made clear,
What security prevailed, guidance appeared
وماand what عمّspread everywhere منof أمْنٍsecurity وماand what لاحَshone منof هُدىًguidance
وما عمّ من أمْنٍ وما لاحَ من هُدىً
وماand what اعْتزّgrew mighty منof نصْرٍvictory وماand what فازَwon منof قِدْحِa lot-arrow
وما اعْتزّ من نصْرٍ وما فازَ من قِدْحِ
and the safety spread abroad and the guidance that shone,
What triumph prevailed, and success was attained
and the victory grown mighty and the lot-arrow that won.
With every brave piercing arrow
لقدْindeed طَرقَتْهُمْcame upon them by night فيin مَنازِلِthe dwellings of طارِقٍTariq
لقدْ طَرقَتْهُمْ في مَنازِلِ طارِقٍ
كتائِبُbattalions لاnot تُنجِيrescue ولكنّهاbut they تُنْحيassail
كتائِبُ لا تُنجِي ولكنّها تُنْحي
They were indeed visited by night in Tariq's dwellings
When the war uncovered its leg and recoiled
by battalions that do not rescue, but assail.
As Bilqis exposed her ankle from the palace
فألْقَواso they extended يَدَthe hand of التسْليمِsurrender طوْعاًwillingly ولمand not يكُنْwas
فألْقَوا يَدَ التسْليمِ طوْعاً ولم يكُنْ
ليَنْقادَto submit باغِيهِمْtheir rebel إلىto السِّلْمِpeace والصُلْحِand reconciliation
ليَنْقادَ باغِيهِمْ إلى السِّلْمِ والصُلْحِ
They willingly extended the hand of surrender, though
Having laid down her burden after determination
their rebel would not have yielded to peace and reconciliation.
That bent their resolute souls, bloodily wounded
وجادواand they gave generously بماwith what ضنّواthey begrudged بهِwith it ولَطالَماand for so long
وجادوا بما ضنّوا بهِ ولَطالَما
تعدَّواthey transgressed بماthrough what اعْتادوهُthey were accustomed to it منof عادةِthe habit of الشُحِّstinginess
تعدَّوا بما اعْتادوهُ من عادةِ الشُحِّ
They freely gave what they had begrudged, though for so long
By God, when they repented and reconciled
they had transgressed through their accustomed habit of stinginess.
A pardon that bent away from them by the custom of pardoning
وهَيْهاتَand how unlikely عنfrom طوعٍfree will يجودُgives generously بواكِفٍwith a downpour
وهَيْهاتَ عن طوعٍ يجودُ بواكِفٍ
منof الغَيْثِrain للوُرّادِfor those coming to drink منْone who ضنّwas grudging بالنَّشْحِwith a trickle
من الغَيْثِ للوُرّادِ منْ ضنّ بالنَّشْحِ
Far from freely giving a downpour
Neither spear nor sword were sanctioned
of rain to those coming to drink is he who begrudged a trickle.
Neither plotting nor erasing adopted
لقدindeed كشفَتْbared عنfrom ساقِهاher shin الحربُwar وانثَنَتْand turned away
لقد كشفَتْ عن ساقِها الحربُ وانثَنَتْ
كماas صدرَتْwithdrew بلْقيسُBilqis عنْfrom لُجّةِthe deep pool of الصّرحِthe palace
كما صدرَتْ بلْقيسُ عنْ لُجّةِ الصّرحِ
War bared her shin, then turned away,
The deeds of a master who graciously and mercifully granted
as Bilqis withdrew from the palace's deep pool.
What the stubborn had never found ease in granting
وقدand indeed وضعَتْlaid down أوْزارَهاher burdens بعْدَafter عَزْمةٍa firm resolve
وقد وضعَتْ أوْزارَها بعْدَ عَزْمةٍ
ثنَتْbent منهُمُamong them الأكْبادَthe livers داميةَbleeding from الجُرْحِwounds
ثنَتْ منهُمُ الأكْبادَ داميةَ الجُرْحِ
She laid down her burdens after a firm resolve
He gave them success after long waiting
that bent their livers, bleeding from wounds.
A cup for the thirsty from a rain withholding its drink
فللهِso glory to God منهاof her حينَwhen تابُواthey repented وأصْلَحواand made amends
فللهِ منها حينَ تابُوا وأصْلَحوا
صِفاحٌsword-blades ثنَتْهاturned them aside عنهُمُfrom them عادةُthe habit of الصّفْحِpardon
صِفاحٌ ثنَتْها عنهُمُ عادةُ الصّفْحِ
How wondrous, by God, when they repented and made amends,
A hand that checks the aggressors and an obtainer
were her blades, which the habit of pardon turned away from them!
Who gives the archers abundant pouring rain
فماso not شُرِعَتْwere leveled سُمْرٌbrown lances ترىdeeming الطّعْنَthrusting شِرْعَةًa law
فما شُرِعَتْ سُمْرٌ ترى الطّعْنَ شِرْعَةً
ولاnor أُعْمِلتْwere wielded بيضٌbright swords تُوكّلُentrusted بالمَسحِwith slashing
ولا أُعْمِلتْ بيضٌ تُوكّلُ بالمَسحِ
No brown lances were leveled that deemed thrusting their law,
His palm fluctuates between sword and captivity
nor were bright swords wielded, entrusted with slashing.
However you wish to prevent or wish to give
مآثِرُthe glories of مَوْلىًa lord جادَgave generously حِلْماًforbearance ورأفةًand compassion
مآثِرُ مَوْلىً جادَ حِلْماً ورأفةً
بماwith what لمْnot تجُدْgave generously يوماًever بهِwith it راحَةthe palm of السّمْحِthe generous man
بما لمْ تجُدْ يوماً بهِ راحَة السّمْحِ
These are the glories of a lord generous in forbearance and compassion,
A generosity like your rain-laden clouds
giving what no generous palm had ever given.
And guidance like your rising dawn
وأوْلاهُمُand he bestowed upon them النُعْمىblessing علىafter طولِthe length of فترةٍan interval
وأوْلاهُمُ النُعْمى على طولِ فترةٍ
فمنso what a ديمةٍsteady rain سحٍّpouring علىupon ظمأthirst برْحِtormenting
فمن ديمةٍ سحٍّ على ظمأ برْحِ
He bestowed favor upon them after a long interval—
Its rising depicts for us the image of daybreak
what a steady downpour upon a searing thirst,
And its determination recites its surah of victory
وكفٍّand a hand تكُفُّrestrains المُعْتَدينَthe aggressors ونائِلٍand bounty
وكفٍّ تكُفُّ المُعْتَدينَ ونائِلٍ
يجودُpours generously علىupon القصّادِthose seeking bounty بالوابِلِwith a downpour السَّحِّpouring abundantly
يجودُ على القصّادِ بالوابِلِ السَّحِّ
and a hand that restrains aggressors, and bounty
O meteors of guidance, gleam in its horizon
that lavishes torrential rain upon those who seek it!
O clouds of favor from his palm, rain
تَرَدَّدُmoves back and forth بينbetween السّيفِthe sword والسّيْبِand bounty كفُّهُhis hand
تَرَدَّدُ بين السّيفِ والسّيْبِ كفُّهُ
لماfor whatever شئتَyou wished منof منْعٍwithholding وماand whatever شئْتَyou wished منof مَنحِbestowal
لما شئتَ من منْعٍ وما شئْتَ من مَنحِ
His hand passes between sword and bounty,
And so many strenuously striving souls
for whatever you wish withheld and whatever you wish bestowed.
Whose trade with God thrives with profit
فجودٌso generosity كماas جادَتْكَlavished upon you واكِفَةُthe pouring cloud of الحَياrain
فجودٌ كما جادَتْكَ واكِفَةُ الحَيا
وهدْيٌand guidance كماas حيّتْكَgreeted you طالِعَةُthe rising light of الصبْحِdawn
وهدْيٌ كما حيّتْكَ طالِعَةُ الصبْحِ
Generosity like the pouring rain that lavished itself upon you,
Its lofty determination sees it assailing
and guidance like the rising dawn that greeted you.
Like stars appearing to the darkness in the wing
فطَلْعَتُهُso his face تحْكيresembles لناfor us صورَةَthe image of الضحىthe forenoon
فطَلْعَتُهُ تحْكي لنا صورَةَ الضحى
وعزْمتُهُand his resolve تَتْلوrecites لهُfor him سورَةَthe surah of الفَتْحِal-Fath (Conquest)
وعزْمتُهُ تَتْلو لهُ سورَةَ الفَتْحِ
His face shows us the image of the forenoon,
And its swords, when war intensifies
and his resolve recites for him Surah al-Fath.
Reflect lightning in the glance
فياso O شُهُبَmeteors of الهَدْيِguidance اسْتَبينيshow yourselves بأفْقِهِon his horizon
فيا شُهُبَ الهَدْيِ اسْتَبيني بأفْقِهِ
وياand O سُحُبَclouds of الإنْعامِfavor منfrom كفّهhis hand سُحّيpour down
ويا سُحُبَ الإنْعامِ من كفّه سُحّي
O meteors of guidance, show yourselves on his horizon!
No lightning but what the scabbard reveals of its blade
O clouds of favor, pour down from his hand!
No star but what climbs the bearer of the lance
وكمand how many منْof جهادٍstruggles for God's cause مجْهِدٍexhausting نفْسَهُhis soul التيwhich
وكم منْ جهادٍ مجْهِدٍ نفْسَهُ التي
مَتاجِرُهاits trades فيwith اللهGod ناميةُgrowing in الرّبْحِprofit
مَتاجِرُها في الله ناميةُ الرّبْحِ
How many a struggle has exhausted his soul, whose
Swooping down on the enemy where its flock
trade with God yields ever-growing profit!
Are pastures that ignite the wounds of its intensity
عَواليهِhis tall lances فيin النّقْعِthe dust المُثارِstirred up تخالُهاyou would think them
عَواليهِ في النّقْعِ المُثارِ تخالُها
كَواكِبَstars تبْدوappearing للدُّجُنّةِagainst the darkness فيin جنْحِa wing of night
كَواكِبَ تبْدو للدُّجُنّةِ في جنْحِ
His tall lances in the dust stirred up—you would think them
My Prince, take them as a garden for joy
stars appearing through the gloom beneath night's wing.
Adorned with lamps, aromatic with scent
وأسْيافُهُand his swords تُبْديdisplay إذاwhen احْتَدَمَgrows fierce الوغىbattle
وأسْيافُهُ تُبْدي إذا احْتَدَمَ الوغى
منof اللّمْعِgleaming ماwhat يحْكيresembles البوارِقَlightning flashes فيin اللّمْحِflashing
من اللّمْعِ ما يحْكي البوارِقَ في اللّمْحِ
His swords reveal, when battle grows fierce,
Showing you from excellent composition necklaces
gleams that resemble lightning in their flashing.
Of pearls, adorning with necklaces and victory
فَلاso no بَرْقَlightning إلاexcept ماwhat جَلاlaid bare الغِمْدُthe scabbard مَتْنَهُits back
فَلا بَرْقَ إلا ما جَلا الغِمْدُ مَتْنَهُ
ولاnor نجْمَa star إلاexcept ماwhat عَلاrose above عامِلَthe upper shaft of الرُمْحِthe spear
ولا نجْمَ إلا ما عَلا عامِلَ الرُمْحِ
No lightning but the blade whose back the scabbard bares,
Though I fell short in describing you
and no star but what crowns the spear's upper shaft.
Who are the endless sea, inexhaustible by praise
تصولُcharge علىagainst الأعْداءِthe enemies حيثُwhere نَجيعُهاtheir gore
تصولُ على الأعْداءِ حيثُ نَجيعُها
مَواردُwatering places يُذْكيkindles وِرْدُهاtheir draught لاعِجَthe burning pain of البَرْحِanguish
مَواردُ يُذْكي وِرْدُها لاعِجَ البَرْحِ
They charge against the enemy, where the blood upon them
For God has praised you, so what can a servant
forms watering places whose draught kindles burning anguish.
Match in eulogizing you with praise?
أمَوْلايَO my lord خُذْهاtake it للهَناءِfor congratulations حديقةًas a garden
أمَوْلايَ خُذْها للهَناءِ حديقةً
مهدّلةَdrooping in الأدْواحِgreat trees صَيّبَةَshowering النّفْحِfragrance
مهدّلةَ الأدْواحِ صَيّبَةَ النّفْحِ
O my lord, take this as a garden of congratulations,
with drooping great trees and showers of fragrance.
تُريكَshows you منof النّظْمِverse البديعِwondrous قَلائِداًnecklaces
تُريكَ من النّظْمِ البديعِ قَلائِداً
منof الدُّرِّpearls تُزْريputs to shame بالقلائِدِcompared with al-Qala'id (The Necklaces) والفَتْحِand al-Fath
من الدُّرِّ تُزْري بالقلائِدِ والفَتْحِ
It shows you necklaces of wondrous verse,
of pearls that put al-Qala'id and al-Fath to shame.
علىdespite أنّنيthe fact that I قصّرتُfell short فيin وصفِكِdescribing you الذيwhich
على أنّني قصّرتُ في وصفِكِ الذي
هوَit is البحْرُthe sea لاnot يفْنىis exhausted علىdespite كثْرةِthe abundance of المتْحِdrawing water
هوَ البحْرُ لا يفْنى على كثْرةِ المتْحِ
Though I have fallen short in describing you, whose praise
is a sea undrained, however much is drawn.
إذاif اللهُGod قدalready أثْنىpraised عليْكَupon you فماthen what الذيis it that
إذا اللهُ قد أثْنى عليْكَ فما الذي
يوَفّيهِcan render it fully عبْدٌa servant منamong عبيدِكَyour servants بالمَدْحِthrough praise
يوَفّيهِ عبْدٌ من عبيدِكَ بالمَدْحِ
If God has already praised you, what
can a servant among your servants render fully in praise?
Partial English translation: 108 of 116 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1