نسيمُthe breeze الصّباthe east wind راعَstartled الصّبابةَlonging وفْدُهُits arrival
نسيمُ الصّبا راعَ الصّبابةَ وفْدُهُ
فماso why للجَوَىfor heartache طَيّwithin the folds of الجوانحِthe ribs وقْدُهُits blaze
فما للجَوَى طَيّ الجوانحِ وقْدُهُ
The east wind's breeze startled longing with its arrival;
The morning breeze blowing the youths of dawn,
why, then, does heartache blaze deep within the ribs?
Their vigor invigorating the wings of ardency.
عليلٌlanguid سَرَىtraveled by night يشفِيsoothes الغليلَburning thirst بوافِدٍwith a visitor
عليلٌ سَرَى يشفِي الغليلَ بوافِدٍ
قدْalready ابْتَلّwas soaked منْfrom دَمْعِthe tears of الغَمامةِthe cloud بُرْدُهُits mantle
قدْ ابْتَلّ منْ دَمْعِ الغَمامةِ بُرْدُهُ
A languid breeze traveled by night, soothing burning thirst with a visitor
A weary one walked curing languor with arrivals,
whose mantle was soaked with the cloud's tears.
Its coldness contracted from the tear of clouds.
يذَكِّرُrecalls منfrom تلكthose المعاهِدfamiliar haunts حَلَّةًan encampment
يذَكِّرُ من تلك المعاهِد حَلَّةً
سَقىwatered عهدَهاits remembered days منfrom دمعِthe tears of عيْنيَmy eyes عهْدُهُits remembrance
سَقى عهدَها من دمعِ عيْنيَ عهْدُهُ
It recalls an encampment among those familiar haunts;
It reminds of those covenants a condition,
its remembrance watered those remembered days with tears from my eyes.
Its covenant watered from the tear of my eye its covenant.
وحيّاand greeted فأهْدَىthen bestowed المُستَهامَthe love-distraught one تحيّةًa greeting
وحيّا فأهْدَى المُستَهامَ تحيّةً
سَناthe gleam of بارقٍlightning فيin السُّحْبِthe clouds يُقدحُis struck زَنْدُهُits fire-stick
سَنا بارقٍ في السُّحْبِ يُقدحُ زَنْدُهُ
And it greeted the love-distraught, bestowing a salutation:
It greeted so it guided the determined one with greeting,
the gleam of lightning, its fire-stick struck amid the clouds.
Its lightning in the clouds discharged its thunderbolt.
يؤجّجُsets ablaze دمعَthe tears of العينِthe eye نارthe fire of غرامِهhis passion
يؤجّجُ دمعَ العينِ نار غرامِه
متىwhenever ودّlonged أنْto يلقىmeet خليلاًa dear friend يودُّهُloves him
متى ودّ أنْ يلقى خليلاً يودُّهُ
The fire of his passion sets his eye's tears ablaze
It stirs the tear of the eye the fire of his passion,
whenever he longs to meet a dear friend who loves him.
Whenever it willed to meet a friend who befriends it.
وتبْلَىand wear away اللياليthe nights فيin الهَوىlove وفؤادُهُand his heart
وتبْلَى الليالي في الهَوى وفؤادُهُ
جديدٌfresh علىthrough مرِّthe passing of الجَديديْنِnight and day وُدُّهُhis affection
جديدٌ على مرِّ الجَديديْنِ وُدُّهُ
The nights wear away in love, yet his heart's
The nights wear away in passion and its heart,
affection stays fresh as night and day pass.
Renewed over the succession of new ones, its love.
فلاso no منجِدٌhelper إلاexcept أساهُhis sorrow ودمْعُهُand his tears
فلا منجِدٌ إلا أساهُ ودمْعُهُ
ولاand no مُسْعِدٌcomforter إلاexcept جواهُhis heartache وسُهْدُهُand his sleeplessness
ولا مُسْعِدٌ إلا جواهُ وسُهْدُهُ
He has no helper but his sorrow and his tears,
So neither supporter but his woe and his tear,
and no comforter but his heartache and sleeplessness.
Nor felicitator but its vicinity and its bliss.
ومائلةِand a swaying woman الأعطافِthe flanks لمnot أنْسَI forget عهدَهاher remembered days
ومائلةِ الأعطافِ لم أنْسَ عهدَها
بمعْهَدِin a haunt of أُنْسٍintimacy قدalready تقادَمَgrew old عهْدُهُits remembered days
بمعْهَدِ أُنْسٍ قد تقادَمَ عهْدُهُ
And the swaying, supple woman—I have not forgotten her remembered days
The soft-bodied one, I did not forget her covenant
in a haunt of intimacy whose days are long past.
With the covenant of intimacy which is old, its covenant.
علىto حُسْنthe beauty of مرآهاher appearance وقفْتُI devoted محبّتيmy love
على حُسْن مرآها وقفْتُ محبّتي
وإنْeven if جدّintensified بالقلبِin the heart المتيّمِlove-enslaved وجْدُهُits yearning
وإنْ جدّ بالقلبِ المتيّمِ وجْدُهُ
I devoted my love to the beauty of her appearance,
I stopped my love at the beauty of her appearance,
even as yearning intensified in the love-enslaved heart.
And if earnestly loved by the enamored heart, its ardency.
وفوْقَand upon مُتونِthe backs of العيسpale camels ركْبٌa riding party حَداurged onward بهِمْwith them
وفوْقَ مُتونِ العيس ركْبٌ حَدا بهِمْ
إلىto المُلْتَقىthe meeting place نصُّthe haste of المَسيرِtravel ووَخْدُهُand its brisk stride
إلى المُلْتَقى نصُّ المَسيرِ ووَخْدُهُ
Upon the backs of pale camels, a riding party is urged onward
Above the camel litters a band sharp
toward the meeting place by hurried travel and its brisk stride.
To the meeting place straightway the journey and its wound.
يميلونthey sway للذّكْرىtoward remembrance كأنّas though وُرودَهاits arrival
يميلون للذّكْرى كأنّ وُرودَها
نسيمٌa breeze بهwith it مالَتْbent منamong الدّوحِgreat trees مُلْدُهُtheir supple boughs
نسيمٌ به مالَتْ من الدّوحِ مُلْدُهُ
They sway toward remembrance, as though its coming were
They incline to the memory as if its roses
a breeze beneath which the trees' supple branches bend.
A breeze it leaned from the sand dune, its flexible branch.
يقولونthey say ماwhat بالis the matter with المَطاياthe riding beasts ضوامِراًbeing lean
يقولون ما بال المَطايا ضوامِراً
ولوْلاand were it not for نحولthe slenderness of السيْفِthe sword ماnot راعَawed حدُّهُits edge
ولوْلا نحول السيْفِ ما راعَ حدُّهُ
They say, 'Why are the riding beasts so lean?'
They say why are the riding beasts neighing
Yet were the sword not slender, its edge would not inspire awe.
If not for the sword's sharpness it would not have stimulated its edge.
وماand not ورْدُهاtheir watering عذبٌsweet إذاif لمْnot يَبِنْappear لهاto them
وما ورْدُها عذبٌ إذا لمْ يَبِنْ لها
علىat كثَبٍclose quarters بانُthe ben-trees of العُذَيْبِal-Udhayb ورَنْدُهُand its laurels
على كثَبٍ بانُ العُذَيْبِ ورَنْدُهُ
Their watering is not sweet unless they can make out
Its roses are not fragrant if signs did not appear for it
nearby the ben-trees of al-Udhayb and its laurels,
On a hill the oryx appeared and its saliva dripped.
وروْضٍand a garden ترىyou see الآمالَhopes قدalready حُلّتِwere loosened الحُباthe knee-bands
وروْضٍ ترى الآمالَ قد حُلّتِ الحُبا
لدَيْهِthere وعهدُand the covenant of الأنْسِintimacy أُحْكِمَwas secured عَقدُهُits knot
لدَيْهِ وعهدُ الأنْسِ أُحْكِمَ عَقدُهُ
and a garden where you see hopes' knee-bands loosened,
A meadow where hopes are realized by it
while there the covenant of intimacy is firmly knotted.
And the covenant of intimacy its knot is tightened.
كأنّas though الرُبىthe hills والنورُand blossoms فوقabove بِطاحِهاtheir broad flats
كأنّ الرُبى والنورُ فوق بِطاحِها
لآلِئُpearls فيon جيدٍa neck تَناثرَscattered عِقْدُهُits necklace
لآلِئُ في جيدٍ تَناثرَ عِقْدُهُ
As though the hills, with blossoms over their broad stretches,
As if the herbs and the light above its low lands
were pearls upon a neck whose necklace had scattered.
Are pearls in a necklace scattered, its knot.
كأنّas though النسيمَthe breeze اعْتلّfell ill فيهاthere وقدْand already أتىcame
كأنّ النسيمَ اعْتلّ فيها وقدْ أتى
رسولاًas a messenger فلمso not يمكِنwas possible علىover البُعْدِthe distance ردُّهُsending it back
رسولاً فلم يمكِن على البُعْدِ ردُّهُ
As though the breeze had fallen ill there, though it came
As if the breeze dressed up in it and came
as a messenger, yet could not be sent back over the distance.
A messenger, so it could not be driven back from afar, its repulsion.
كأنّas though وميضَthe flash of البرقِlightning يبدُوappears حُسامُهits sword
كأنّ وميضَ البرقِ يبدُو حُسامُه
دُجىًin darkness فيوارِيهthen hides it منof السّحْبِthe clouds غِمْدُهُits sheath
دُجىً فيوارِيه من السّحْبِ غِمْدُهُ
As though the flash of lightning revealed its sword
As if the flash of lightning, its sword appears
in darkness, then its sheath of clouds concealed it.
When the darkness clothed the ignorant one and extended its sheath.
كأنّas though ضياءَthe radiance of الفجرِdawn سيفٌa sword مُشهَّرٌdrawn
كأنّ ضياءَ الفجرِ سيفٌ مُشهَّرٌ
مَتىwhenever ادّرَعdonned armor الليلُthe night البَهيمُpitch-black يَقُدُّهُcleaves it
مَتى ادّرَع الليلُ البَهيمُ يَقُدُّهُ
As though dawn's radiance were a drawn sword
As if the light of dawn an unsheathed sword
that cleaves pitch-black night whenever it dons armor.
When the night armored the brute and controlled it.
كأنّas though نجومَthe stars of الأفقِthe horizon جيشٌan army مُحَلَّأٌdriven from water
كأنّ نجومَ الأفقِ جيشٌ مُحَلَّأٌ
تَواريهِits concealment فيin نهرِthe river of النّهارِdaylight وورْدُهُand its watering
تَواريهِ في نهرِ النّهارِ وورْدُهُ
As though the horizon's stars were an army driven from water,
As if the stars of the horizon a prepared army
its hiding and its watering in the river of daylight.
Hiding in the river of daytime and its roses.
كأنّas though طلوعَthe rising of البدْرِthe full moon عندَat تمامِهِits fullness
كأنّ طلوعَ البدْرِ عندَ تمامِهِ
مُحَيّاthe face of ابنِson of نصرٍNasr والكواكِبَand the stars جُنْدُهُhis troops
مُحَيّا ابنِ نصرٍ والكواكِبَ جُنْدُهُ
As though the rising moon at its fullest
As if the rising of the moon at its fullest
were the face of Ibn Nasr, and the stars his troops.
Is the Caliph Joseph greeting and the planets are its troops.
كأنّas though الضحىthe forenoon وجْهُthe face of الخليفةِthe caliph يوسُفٍYusuf
كأنّ الضحى وجْهُ الخليفةِ يوسُفٍ
وماand what احْمرَّreddened فيهin it منfrom سنَاthe glow of الفجْرِdawn بَنْدُهُhis banner
وما احْمرَّ فيه من سنَا الفجْرِ بَنْدُهُ
As though morning were the face of the caliph Yusuf,
As if the glow of dawn is the face of Joseph
and the red glow of dawn within it his banner.
And the redness of dawn that appeared in it is its revolution.
كأنّas though سَناthe radiance of الأفْقِthe horizon الموَرَّدِrose-tinted سيْفُهُhis sword
كأنّ سَنا الأفْقِ الموَرَّدِ سيْفُهُ
وقدand already راقَgleamed منْfrom تحتِbeneath النجيعِfresh blood فِرِنْدُهُits blade-pattern
وقد راقَ منْ تحتِ النجيعِ فِرِنْدُهُ
As though the radiance of the rose-tinted horizon were his sword,
As if the sharpness of the reddened horizon is its sword
its patterned blade gleaming beneath the fresh blood.
Having spilled blood beneath the resting army and its notch.
فللهِso, praise be to God for روضٌa garden باكَرَvisited at dawn الغيْثُthe rain زَهْرَهُits flowers
فللهِ روضٌ باكَرَ الغيْثُ زَهْرَهُ
وذاعَand spread بهبّاتِwith gusts of النّواسِمgentle breezes ندُّهُits perfume
وذاعَ بهبّاتِ النّواسِم ندُّهُ
So praise be to God for a garden whose flowers rain visits at dawn,
So to Allah a meadow the rain watered its flowers
and whose perfume spreads with gusts of gentle breezes!
And the announcement of soft breezes spread its activity.
تُحَيّاare greeted بهwith it الآفاقُthe horizons لكِنْbut يفوقُهُsurpasses it
تُحَيّا به الآفاقُ لكِنْ يفوقُهُ
ثناءُthe praise of أميرthe commander of المسْلمينthe Muslims وحَمْدُهُand praise of him
ثناءُ أمير المسْلمين وحَمْدُهُ
The horizons are greeted with it, yet it is surpassed
The horizons are greeted by it but it is surpassed
by praise and commendation of the Commander of the Muslims.
By the praise of the Commander of the Muslims and his laudation.
وللهِand praise be to God for زُهرthe bright stars of الأفْقِthe horizon إذwhen لاحَappeared نورُهاtheir light
وللهِ زُهر الأفْقِ إذ لاحَ نورُها
وأشرَقand lit up غَوْرُthe depths of الجوِّthe sky منهاfrom them ونَجْدُهُand its heights
وأشرَق غَوْرُ الجوِّ منها ونَجْدُهُ
And praise be to God for the horizon's bright stars when their light appears,
And to Allah the blossoms of the horizons when its light rose
and the depths and heights of the sky shine with them!
And the depth of atmosphere from it radiated and its splendor.
ولكنهاbut they تخْفَىare hidden ونورُand the light of الهُدَىguidance الذيwhich
ولكنها تخْفَى ونورُ الهُدَى الذي
يُريهreveals it ابْنُson of نصْرٍNasr ليسَnot يُمكِنُis possible جحْدُهُdenying it
يُريه ابْنُ نصْرٍ ليسَ يُمكِنُ جحْدُهُ
But they are hidden, while the light of guidance that
But it disappears and the light of guidance which
Ibn Nasr reveals cannot be denied.
The son of Nasr shows cannot be denied.
فقدfor already راقَهاdelighted them منهُfrom him الكمالperfection وقُرْبُهand his nearness
فقد راقَها منهُ الكمال وقُرْبُه
وقدand already راعَهاawed them منهُfrom him المنالُattainment وبُعْدُهُand his remoteness
وقد راعَها منهُ المنالُ وبُعْدُهُ
For his perfection and nearness have delighted them,
So its perfection and proximity have graced it from him
and his lofty reach and remoteness have awed them.
And its attainment and distance have awed it from him.
وللهand praise be to God for مَولاناour lord الخليفَةُthe caliph يوسُفٌYusuf
ولله مَولانا الخليفَةُ يوسُفٌ
إمامَan imam of هُدىًguidance عمّembraced البريّةall creation رِفْدُهُhis bounty
إمامَ هُدىً عمّ البريّة رِفْدُهُ
And praise be to God for our lord, the caliph Yusuf,
And to our master the Caliph Yusuf
an imam of guidance whose bounty embraces all creation!
An imam of guidance the goodness of which encompassed the lands.
تَؤمُّseek عُفاةُthe seekers of الجودِgenerosity منهُin him مؤمَّلاًone hoped for
تَؤمُّ عُفاةُ الجودِ منهُ مؤمَّلاً
غَداbecame مُسْعِفاًassisting قصْدَthe purpose of المؤمّلِthe hopeful petitioner قَصْدُهُhis purpose
غَدا مُسْعِفاً قصْدَ المؤمّلِ قَصْدُهُ
Seekers of generosity turn to him as the one they hope for,
The destitute of generosity frequent him expectantly
his purpose serving the hopeful petitioner's aim.
Tomorrow a helper with the intent of the hopeful his intent.
جَوادٌgenerous جوادٌa swift steed إنْif تُسوبِقَchallenged to race للنّدَىin generosity
جَوادٌ جوادٌ إنْ تُسوبِقَ للنّدَى
فيُعْجِزُthen defeats منwhoever يَبْغيseeks مَدَىthe utmost reach of الجودِgenerosity شدُّهُhis sprint
فيُعْجِزُ من يَبْغي مَدَى الجودِ شدُّهُ
A generous man, a swift steed—if challenged in bounty,
Generous, generous, if competed with to benefaction
his sprint defeats whoever seeks generosity's utmost reach.
Then is frustrated whoever desires the extent of his generosity its extent.
فلوْso if أمّنgranted safety to المأمونَal-Ma'mun فازَتْwon قِداحُهُhis lot-arrows
فلوْ أمّن المأمونَ فازَتْ قِداحُهُ
وأهْدَىand gave الرشيدَal-Rashid الهَدْيَguidance وافاهُcame to him رُشْدُهُhis right judgment
وأهْدَى الرشيدَ الهَدْيَ وافاهُ رُشْدُهُ
Were he to grant al-Ma'mun safety, his lot-arrows would win;
So if the Mamun wished and his goblets succeeded,
and were he to give al-Rashid guidance, right judgment would reach him.
And if the Rashid was guided by guidance, and rationality embraced him.
إذاif قِيسَتِwere measured الأملاكُthe kings بالنّاصِرagainst al-Nasir الرضَىthe well-pleasing one
إذا قِيسَتِ الأملاكُ بالنّاصِر الرضَى
فماthen not يسْتَويare equal هزْلُthe jesting of الكلامِspeech وجِدُّهُand its seriousness
فما يسْتَوي هزْلُ الكلامِ وجِدُّهُ
If kings are measured against the well-pleasing al-Nasir,
If the kingdoms are measured with the content Nasir
then playful speech and earnest speech cannot be equal.
Then the jest of words and its seriousness are not equal.
وكيفَand how يجارىcan be rivaled فيin مدىًa race مَلِكٌa king غدَتْhave come to
وكيفَ يجارى في مدىً مَلِكٌ غدَتْ
ملائكةُthe angels of السّبعِthe seven الطّباقِlayered heavens تُمِدُّهُsupport him
ملائكةُ السّبعِ الطّباقِ تُمِدُّهُ
How could anyone rival, in the race, a king
How can a king in an extent compete one whose
whom the angels of the seven layered heavens support?
Angels of the seven heavens extend it?
فينْهَدُthen rises قبلbefore الجيشthe army للفتْحِfor conquest عزمُهُhis resolve
فينْهَدُ قبل الجيش للفتْحِ عزمُهُ
ويضرِبُand strikes قبلbefore السّيفِthe sword فيin الحَرْبِwar سعْدُهُhis good fortune
ويضرِبُ قبل السّيفِ في الحَرْبِ سعْدُهُ
His resolve rises to conquest before the army,
His determination kneels before the army for conquest
and his good fortune strikes in war before the sword.
And his good omen strikes before the sword in war, its good omen.
بطيْبَةَin Taybah منهُof his طابَgrew pure أصْلٌa root ومَنشأٌand an origin
بطيْبَةَ منهُ طابَ أصْلٌ ومَنشأٌ
وفيand in مكَّةٍMecca أعْظِمْhow great بماis what حازattained جدُّهُhis forebear
وفي مكَّةٍ أعْظِمْ بما حاز جدُّهُ
In Taybah, his roots and origins grew pure;
Through him the stock and source were purified in Taybah
and in Mecca, how great was what his forebear attained!
And in Mecca ennobled by what his grandfather seized.
ففيso in هذهthis one للفتحِfor conquest قُدِّمwas put foremost قَيْسُهُhis Qays
ففي هذه للفتحِ قُدِّم قَيْسُهُ
وآوَىand sheltered رسولthe Messenger of اللهGod فيin تلكَthat one سعْدُهُhis Sa'd
وآوَى رسول الله في تلكَ سعْدُهُ
In this one, his Qays was put foremost for conquest,
So for this one his measurement was set forward for the conquest
while in that one his Sa'd sheltered God's Messenger.
And the Messenger of Allah was sheltered in that one, his happiness.
ومنْand whoever كانhad للصّحبِto the Companions الكرامِthe noble انتِسابُهُhis descent
ومنْ كان للصّحبِ الكرامِ انتِسابُهُ
فكيفthen how يُضاهَىcan be matched فيamong الخلائِفِthe caliphs مجْدُهُhis glory
فكيف يُضاهَى في الخلائِفِ مجْدُهُ
And one whose descent is from the noble Companions—
And whoever's lineage is to the noble companions
how could his glory be matched among caliphs?
Then how is his glory matched among the caliphs, his glory?
بهمْthrough them عزّgrew mighty دينُthe religion of اللهِGod لمّاwhen أعدّهُمْprepared them
بهمْ عزّ دينُ اللهِ لمّا أعدّهُمْ
لنصْرِto uphold الهُدَىguidance عدْنانُهُhis Adnan ومَعَدُّهُand his Ma'add
لنصْرِ الهُدَى عدْنانُهُ ومَعَدُّهُ
Through them God's faith grew mighty when they were made ready
Through them the religion of Allah was honored when
to uphold guidance by his Adnan and his Ma'add.
Adnan prepared them for supporting guidance, its pillar and its support.
لقدindeed أنجبواthey begot منهُمْfrom among them خلائِفَcaliphs فارتقَتْso they ascended
لقد أنجبوا منهُمْ خلائِفَ فارتقَتْ
إلىto العِزّglory مرقىًan ascent لاnot يُجاوَزُis surpassed حدُّهُits limit
إلى العِزّ مرقىً لا يُجاوَزُ حدُّهُ
They indeed begot caliphs from among themselves, who climbed
They begot from them caliphs who climbed
toward glory by an ascent whose limit cannot be surpassed.
To power steps that cannot be exceeded, its limit.
فإنْso if غرُبَتْset منهُمْfrom among them نجومُstars of هِدايةٍguidance
فإنْ غرُبَتْ منهُمْ نجومُ هِدايةٍ
فأنتَthen you هوَhe البَدْرُthe full moon الذيthat طالwas prolonged رصْدُهُthe watching for it
فأنتَ هوَ البَدْرُ الذي طال رصْدُهُ
If stars of guidance from among them have set,
So if guiding stars have set from them
you are the full moon so long watched for.
Then you are the full moon whose observation is prolonged.
وإنand if غاضَebbed منfrom جَدْواهُمُtheir bounty نَيلُthe receipt of نائِلٍa gift
وإن غاضَ من جَدْواهُمُ نَيلُ نائِلٍ
فنائِلُكَthen your bounty البحْرُthe sea الذيwhich فاضَoverflowed مَدُّهُits tide
فنائِلُكَ البحْرُ الذي فاضَ مَدُّهُ
And if the receipt of gifts from their bounty has dwindled,
And if a drinker's share has diminished from their bucket
your bounty is the sea whose tide overflows.
Then your drinker is the sea whose extent overflowed.
وإنْand if درَجواthey passed away قدalready خلّفواthey left منكin you ناصِراًa champion
وإنْ درَجوا قد خلّفوا منك ناصِراً
غَداhas come to الدّينthe faith للنّصْرِfor victory العَزيزِmighty يُعِدُّهُprepare him
غَدا الدّين للنّصْرِ العَزيزِ يُعِدُّهُ
And if they have passed away, they have left in you a champion
They left you knowledge, forbearance, and determination
whom religion prepares for mighty victory.
Your ally is Allah's victory through it and his support.
ليعْلَمso that may know أهْلُthe people of الشّركِpolytheism أنّكthat you فيهِمُamong them
ليعْلَم أهْلُ الشّركِ أنّك فيهِمُ
تُجاهِدُwage holy war حتىuntil يوهِنَweakens الكُفْرَunbelief جَهْدُهُits exertion
تُجاهِدُ حتى يوهِنَ الكُفْرَ جَهْدُهُ
Let the people of polytheism know that among them
So no wish but you direct its arrow
you wage holy war until its exertion weakens unbelief;
And no defect in the frontiers but you repair it.
وإنّand that العُلَىeminence منْfrom بعدِهمafter them بكَthrough you شُيّدَتْwere built
وإنّ العُلَى منْ بعدِهم بكَ شُيّدَتْ
معالِمُهاits monuments والفتْحand conquest أُنجِزَwas fulfilled وَعْدُهُits promise
معالِمُها والفتْح أُنجِزَ وَعْدُهُ
and that, after them, through you have been raised
Whatever the polytheism constructed landmarks for its religion
the monuments of eminence, and conquest's promise is fulfilled;
And heightened it but the lofty summits are demolished.
وإنّand that نجومَthe stars of الأفْقِthe horizon لمْnot يخبُdimmed نورُهاtheir light
وإنّ نجومَ الأفْقِ لمْ يخبُ نورُها
وإنand that سحابَthe cloud of الجودِgenerosity ماnot عزّgrew scarce وجْدُهُfinding it
وإن سحابَ الجودِ ما عزّ وجْدُهُ
and that the horizon's stars have not dimmed,
The enemy of religion covets opportunity in religion
and that generosity's cloud is not hard to find,
So you prevent him from his purpose and block him.
وإنّand that مدَىthe course of العَلياءِeminence لمnot يكْبُstumbled طِرْفُهُits steed
وإنّ مدَى العَلياءِ لم يكْبُ طِرْفُهُ
وإنّand that لواءَthe banner of النصْرِvictory ماnot حُلَّwas loosened عَقْدُهُits knot
وإنّ لواءَ النصْرِ ما حُلَّ عَقْدُهُ
and that on glory's course its steed has not stumbled,
How many hopeful turned to your door
and that victory's banner has not had its knot undone,
To gain your abundant generosity and its gift.
وإنّand that قَناةَthe lance of العزّglory ماnot رُدَّwas turned back نصْلُهاits point
وإنّ قَناةَ العزّ ما رُدَّ نصْلُها
وإنّand that حُسامَthe sword of المُلْكِsovereignty ماnot فُلَّwas blunted حدُّهُits edge
وإنّ حُسامَ المُلْكِ ما فُلَّ حدُّهُ
and that glory's lance has not had its point turned back,
So his request succeeded and his want attained
and that sovereignty's sword has not had its edge blunted.
And his purpose reached and his aim delivered.
خلَفْتَهُمُyou succeeded them عِلْماًin learning وحِلماًand forbearance وعزْمةًand resolve
خلَفْتَهُمُ عِلْماً وحِلماً وعزْمةً
حليفُكَyour ally نصْرُthe victory of اللهِGod فيهاin it وعَضدُهُand His support
حليفُكَ نصْرُ اللهِ فيها وعَضدُهُ
You have succeeded them in learning, forbearance, and resolve;
And to Allah a blessed kingdom you established
in these, God's victory and support are your allies.
The kings of the earth love its existence.
فلاso no أمَلٌhope إلاexcept تُسدّدُyou straighten سهْمَهُits arrow
فلا أمَلٌ إلا تُسدّدُ سهْمَهُ
ولاand no خَلَلٌbreach فيin الثغْرِthe frontier إلاexcept تَسُدُّهُyou close it
ولا خَلَلٌ في الثغْرِ إلا تَسُدُّهُ
There is no hope whose arrow you do not set straight,
And the stars of fortune rose up for it
and no breach on the frontier that you do not close.
Fulfilling their gifts wherever its knot tightened.
وماand not شيّدَerected الإشْراكُpolytheism مَعْلَمَa monument to دينِهits religion
وما شيّدَ الإشْراكُ مَعْلَمَ دينِه
وأعْلاهُand raised it إلاexcept والعَوالِيwhile tall lances تهُدُّهُtear it down
وأعْلاهُ إلا والعَوالِي تهُدُّهُ
Polytheism raises no monument to its faith
You called the people of jihad to it so they obeyed
or elevates it without tall lances tearing it down.
As his delegation came to Allah's House for pilgrimage.
يرومُseeks عدوُّthe enemy of الدّينthe faith فيagainst الدّينthe faith فُرْصَةًan opportunity
يرومُ عدوُّ الدّين في الدّين فُرْصَةً
فتمْنَعُهُso you bar him عنْfrom قَصْدِهhis aim وتصدُّهُand repel him
فتمْنَعُهُ عنْ قَصْدِه وتصدُّهُ
The enemy of the faith seeks an opportunity against the faith,
And to Allah a racecourse from the horizon of the Sabika
but you bar him from his aim and turn him back.
Whose bareback rider compete the horse released by wind, its horse.
وكمْand how many واردٍa visitor قدalready أمّsought بابَكyour gate آمِلاًhoping
وكمْ واردٍ قد أمّ بابَك آمِلاً
ليَحْظَىto enjoy بجَدْواكَwith your bounty المُهنَّإِmade pleasant ورْدُهُhis watering
ليَحْظَى بجَدْواكَ المُهنَّإِ ورْدُهُ
How many a hopeful visitor has sought your gate
The steeds of victory saunter in it when
to gain your bounty, his draught made pleasant!
They inclined to playfulness in it the journey energizes it.
فأنجَحso succeeded مسْعاهُhis quest وأُمِّنَand was secured سِرْبُهُhis household
فأنجَح مسْعاهُ وأُمِّنَ سِرْبُهُ
وفازand won مُعَلّاهُhis high lot-arrow وبُلِّغَand was granted قَصْدُهُhis aim
وفاز مُعَلّاهُ وبُلِّغَ قَصْدُهُ
So his quest succeeded, and his household was made secure;
They wander about as the crooked one willed so pearls are harvested
his high lot-arrow won, and his goal was granted.
By their approach contrary to the misguided and his repulsion.
وللهِand praise be to God for إمْلاكٌa marriage contract سعيدٌblessed أقمْتَهُyou established it
وللهِ إمْلاكٌ سعيدٌ أقمْتَهُ
مُلوكُthe kings of الورَىmankind فيهat it القِيامَstanding تودُّهُlong for it
مُلوكُ الورَى فيه القِيامَ تودُّهُ
And praise be to God for the blessed marriage contract you established,
They silence in wonder every hot-tempered one when
at which the kings of mankind long to stand!
They raid and the clamor of war their lions roar.
وقدand already طلعَتْrose للسّعْدِfor good fortune فيهover it كَواكِبٌstars
وقد طلعَتْ للسّعْدِ فيه كَواكِبٌ
تحُلُّloosen حُباهاtheir knee-bands حيْثwhere أُحكِمwas secured عَقْدُهُits knot
تحُلُّ حُباها حيْث أُحكِم عَقْدُهُ
Stars of good fortune have risen over it,
You see the dawn reciting the redness of dawn whenever
loosening their knee-bands where its knot was firmly tied.
The gray one plays with it the rose color and its timber.
دعوْتَyou summoned لهto it أهْلَthe men of الجهادِholy war فأهْطَعواso they hastened
دعوْتَ له أهْلَ الجهادِ فأهْطَعوا
كماjust as زارَvisited بيتَthe House of اللهِGod للحجِّfor pilgrimage وفْدُهُits visiting company
كما زارَ بيتَ اللهِ للحجِّ وفْدُهُ
You summoned the men of holy war to it, and they hastened,
You granted it wonderful crafts craved
as its pilgrims visit the House of God for pilgrimage.
By Secure China and India's domains.
وللهand praise be to God for منin أفْقthe reaches of السّبيكةِal-Sabikah ملعَبٌa playing field
ولله من أفْق السّبيكةِ ملعَبٌ
تُجاريrace لَديْهِthere مُرسَلَthe unleashed force of الرّيحِthe wind جُرْدُهُits sleek steeds
تُجاري لَديْهِ مُرسَلَ الرّيحِ جُرْدُهُ
And praise be to God for a playing field in the reaches of al-Sabikah,
My lord, but the description from you is frustrating
where its sleek steeds race the unleashed wind!
And who can count the pebbles or number it?
تَروقُdelight جيادُthe steeds of النّصْرِvictory فيهthere متىwhenever ارْتَمَتْthey launch forth
تَروقُ جيادُ النّصْرِ فيه متى ارْتَمَتْ
إلىinto لعِبٍplay فيهin it المَسيرَthe pace تُجِدُّهُthey pursue it earnestly
إلى لعِبٍ فيه المَسيرَ تُجِدُّهُ
The steeds of victory delight there whenever they launch
Your servant puts forward what he is capable of it
into play, pursuing their course in earnest.
For counting it frustrates the eloquent and its counting.
تجولُthey wheel كماas شاءَwilled الكَميُّthe armored warrior فيُجْتَلَىso is displayed
تجولُ كما شاءَ الكَميُّ فيُجْتَلَى
بإقْبالهاin their advance عكْسُthe turning back of الغويِّthe errant one وطَرْدُهُand pursuit of him
بإقْبالها عكْسُ الغويِّ وطَرْدُهُ
They wheel as the armored warrior wills, displaying
So take from it what makes pearls forget when
in their advance the turning back and pursuit of the errant foe.
His printing became not money and his minting.
وتُصْمِتُand silence عُجْباًin wonder كُلَّevery ذيone with لجَبٍclamor إذاwhen
وتُصْمِتُ عُجْباً كُلَّ ذي لجَبٍ إذا
أغارَتْthey charge وغابُand the forest of الحرْبِwar تزأرُroar أُسْدُهُits lions
أغارَتْ وغابُ الحرْبِ تزأرُ أُسْدُهُ
They silence every clamorous man in wonder when
Your servant hopes from his master the custom of forgiving
they charge, and the lions of war's forest roar.
When your servant deviates from the path of guidance.
ترىyou see الصّبْحَthe morning يتْلوfollowing حُمرَةَthe redness of الفجْرِdawn كُلّماwhenever
ترى الصّبْحَ يتْلو حُمرَةَ الفجْرِ كُلّما
يُلاعِبُplays with منهاamong them الأشْهَبَthe gray one اللونin color ورْدُهُits rose-bay horse
يُلاعِبُ منها الأشْهَبَ اللون ورْدُهُ
You see morning following the red of dawn whenever
The days do not create the attire of my hopes
a rose-bay among them plays with a gray-colored horse.
And your blessings, O Master of the lands, renew it.
فهنِّئْتَهُso may you be congratulated on it صُنْعاًas a deed جميلاًbeautiful تشوّفَتْyearned
فهنِّئْتَهُ صُنْعاً جميلاً تشوّفَتْ
لهُfor it صينُthe China of معْمورthe inhabited parts of البلادِthe world وهِندُهُand its India
لهُ صينُ معْمور البلادِ وهِندُهُ
May you be congratulated on this beautiful feat, which
So last, enemy of the religion, if he covets
the inhabited world's China and India have yearned to see.
To your kingdom, returning his kingdom and his reversal.
أمَولايَO my lord أماas for الوصْفُdescription منكَof you فمُعْجِزٌit defies one's powers
أمَولايَ أما الوصْفُ منكَ فمُعْجِزٌ
ومنْand who ذاis this الذيwho يُحْصِيreckons الحَصَىthe pebbles أوor يعُدُّهُcounts them
ومنْ ذا الذي يُحْصِي الحَصَى أو يعُدُّهُ
O my lord, describing you defies one's powers;
What every believer most hopes for
who could reckon the pebbles or count them?
Is the continuance of the Josephian position and its eternity.
وعبدُكَand your servant يُلْقيoffers منهُof it ماwhat يَسْتَطيعُهُhe can manage
وعبدُكَ يُلْقي منهُ ما يَسْتَطيعُهُ
فإحْصاؤُهُfor reckoning it يُعْييexhausts البليغَthe eloquent one وعَدُّهُand counting it
فإحْصاؤُهُ يُعْيي البليغَ وعَدُّهُ
Your servant offers what he can of it,
for reckoning and counting it exhaust the eloquent.
فخذْso take منهُfrom it ماwhat ينْسيmakes one forget اللآلِئَpearls إذْsince غدَتْhave become
فخذْ منهُ ما ينْسي اللآلِئَ إذْ غدَتْ
نسيئَتُهُits deferred payment لاno نَقْدَcriticism فيهاin it ونَقْدُهُand its ready payment
نسيئَتُهُ لا نَقْدَ فيها ونَقْدُهُ
So take from it what makes pearls forgotten, for now
its deferred and ready payments alike are beyond criticism.
يؤمِّلhe hopes for منfrom موْلايَmy lord عادةَthe customary practice of صَفْحِهِhis pardon
يؤمِّل من موْلايَ عادةَ صَفْحِهِ
إذاwhen حادَstrayed عنfrom نهجِthe path of الهِدايةِguidance عبْدُهُhis servant
إذا حادَ عن نهجِ الهِدايةِ عبْدُهُ
He hopes for my lord's customary pardon
when his servant strays from the path of guidance.
وماand not تُخْلِقُwear out الأيّامُthe days ثوْبَthe garment of مآمِليmy hopes
وما تُخْلِقُ الأيّامُ ثوْبَ مآمِلي
ونُعْماكَand your favor ياO مَوْلَىlord of الورَىmankind تسْتَجِدُّهُrenews it
ونُعْماكَ يا مَوْلَى الورَى تسْتَجِدُّهُ
The days do not wear out the garment of my hopes,
while your favor, O lord of mankind, keeps renewing it.
فدُمْso live on وعدُوُّand the enemy of الدّينthe faith إنْif أمَّsought مقْصَداًa goal
فدُمْ وعدُوُّ الدّين إنْ أمَّ مقْصَداً
لِملكِكَto your dominion رُجْعَىthe reversion of مُلْكِهِhis kingdom ومَرَدُّهُand its return
لِملكِكَ رُجْعَى مُلْكِهِ ومَرَدُّهُ
Live on! If the enemy of the faith seeks a goal,
his kingdom's reversion and return are to your dominion.
فأفضَلُfor the best of ماwhat يَرْجوهُhe hopes for كلُّevery مُوحِّدٍbeliever in God's oneness
فأفضَلُ ما يَرْجوهُ كلُّ مُوحِّدٍ
بَقاءُthe endurance of المَقامِthe station اليوسُفيّYusuf's وخُلْدُهُand its everlastingness
بَقاءُ المَقامِ اليوسُفيّ وخُلْدُهُ
For the highest hope of every believer in God's oneness
is that Yusuf's station endure and live forever.
Partial English translation: 126 of 138 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1