مَجْدٌglory تَسَلْسَلwas passed down كَابِراًa great forebear عَنْfrom كَابِرٍa great forebear
مَجْدٌ تَسَلْسَل كَابِراً عَنْ كَابِرٍ
يَعتَزْtakes pride غَابِرُthe past شَأْنهِits stature بِالحَاضِرِin the present
يَعتَزْ غَابِرُ شَأْنهِ بِالحَاضِرِ
Glory handed down from one great forebear to the next,
A glorious lineage, generation after noble generation,
Its past grandeur takes pride in its present.
Its eminent member prides himself on the present.
وَعَشِيرَةٌand a clan لوْif أُحْصِيَتْwere counted بِكِرَامِهَاby its noble members
وَعَشِيرَةٌ لوْ أُحْصِيَتْ بِكِرَامِهَا
كَانَتْit would be وَلاand no غَلْوَاءَexaggeration جَمْعَa gathering عشَائِرِof clans
كَانَتْ وَلا غَلْوَاءَ جَمْعَ عشَائِرِ
And a clan that, if counted by its noble members,
A clan - if its generosity were counted,
Would be, without exaggeration, a gathering of clans.
It would surpass, without exaggeration, all clans.
كَمhow many أَنْجَبَتْit brought forth لِلْمَحْمَدَاتِfor praiseworthy deeds وَلِلنُّهَىand for wisdom
كَم أَنْجَبَتْ لِلْمَحْمَدَاتِ وَلِلنُّهَى
مِنْof شُمِّlofty أَعْلامٍluminaries وَغرِّand radiant مَنَائِرِbeacons
مِنْ شُمِّ أَعْلامٍ وَغرِّ مَنَائِرِ
How many has it brought forth for noble deeds and wisdom,
How many shining lights of praise it has raised,
Of towering luminaries and radiant beacons!
And lofty minarets of glory.
مَرَّتْhave passed بِهَاover it الأَحْقَابُthe ages وَالأَسْبَابُand the bonds لمْhave not
مَرَّتْ بِهَا الأَحْقَابُ وَالأَسْبَابُ لمْ
تَنْبَتَّbeen severed بَيْنَbetween أَوَائِلٍearlier generations وَأَوَاخِرِand later generations
تَنْبَتَّ بَيْنَ أَوَائِلٍ وَأَوَاخِرِ
Ages have passed over it, yet the bonds have not
Eras and epochs have passed by it
Been severed between earlier and later generations.
Without its early or late renown fading.
أَمَّاas for فُؤَادُFuad فَهْوَthen he is زَيْنُthe adornment شَبَابِهَاof its youth
أَمَّا فُؤَادُ فَهْوَ زَيْنُ شَبَابِهَا
وَفخَارِهَاand its pride فِيin وَجْهِthe face of كُلِّevery مَفَاخِرِglories
وَفخَارِهَا فِي وَجْهِ كُلِّ مَفَاخِرِ
As for Fuad, he is the adornment of its youth,
Its heart is the adornment of its youth
And its pride in the face of all rival glories.
And its pride in the face of all prides.
مِنَamong قادَةِthe leaders of الرَّأْيthought الأُولىwho بِنُبُوغِهِمْthrough their brilliance
مِنَ قادَةِ الرَّأْي الأُولى بِنُبُوغِهِمْ
فَتَحُوopened لِمِصْرَfor Egypt فُتُوحَtriumphs عَهْدٍof an age زَاهِرِflourishing
فَتَحُو لِمِصْرَ فُتُوحَ عَهْدٍ زَاهِرِ
Among the leaders of thought who, through their brilliance,
Of the leading intellects, early in their brilliance
Opened for Egypt the triumphs of a flourishing age.
Who opened Egypt’s gates to a flourishing era.
الجَاعِلِينَthose making الْقَصْدَmoderation مِنْهاجاًa guiding path لَهُمْfor them
الجَاعِلِينَ الْقَصْدَ مِنْهاجاً لَهُمْ
وَالصَّادِقِينَand the truthful عَنِaway from الطَّرِيقِthe path الْجَائِرِcrooked
وَالصَّادِقِينَ عَنِ الطَّرِيقِ الْجَائِرِ
Who make moderation their guiding path,
Who made integrity their way
And hold to truth, far from the crooked road.
And truthfulness their path.
رَجُلٌa man شَأَىoutstripped إِقْرَانَهُhis peers بِمَنَاقِبَthrough virtues
رَجُلٌ شَأَى إِقْرَانَهُ بِمَنَاقِبَ
فِيamong النَّابِهِينَthe distinguished مِنَof الرِّجَالِmen نَوَادِرِrare
فِي النَّابِهِينَ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ نَوَادِرِ
A man who has outstripped his peers in virtues
A man whose merits parallel
Rare even among distinguished men.
The rarest wonders among eminent men.
ذُوpossessing نَظْرَةٍa vision طَمَّاحَةٍaspiring وَشُجَاعَةٍand courage
ذُو نَظْرَةٍ طَمَّاحَةٍ وَشُجَاعَةٍ
تَرْتَاضُis trained بَيْنَamid مَصَاعِبَdifficulties وَمَخَاطِرِand dangers
تَرْتَاضُ بَيْنَ مَصَاعِبَ وَمَخَاطِرِ
Possessed of an aspiring vision and a courage
With an ambitious outlook and courage
Tempered amid difficulties and dangers.
That dashes amidst hardships and dangers.
مَعَهَاwith it إِذَاwhen عَبَسَscowled الزَّمَانُtime بَشَاشَةٌcheerfulness
مَعَهَا إِذَا عَبَسَ الزَّمَانُ بَشَاشَةٌ
وَبِهَاand through it إِلىtoward الأَحْدَاثِevents لَفْتَةُa glance سَاخِرِof a scoffer
وَبِهَا إِلى الأَحْدَاثِ لَفْتَةُ سَاخِرِ
With it comes cheerfulness when time scowls,
With it, when times frown, a cheerful composure
And through it, a scoffer's glance toward events.
And in events, a mocking glance.
إِنْif تدْعُcalls دَاعِيَةُthe summons of المُرُوءَةnoble conduct تَلْقَهُyou will find him
إِنْ تدْعُ دَاعِيَةُ المُرُوءَة تَلْقَهُ
ذَاpossessing جَانِبٍa character وَافَىfully met المُرُوءَةَnoble conduct وافِرِabundant
ذَا جَانِبٍ وَافَى المُرُوءَةَ وافِرِ
If the summons of noble conduct calls, you find him
If the call of chivalry invites him
Rich in character, fully answering the demands of noble conduct.
He comes with abundant chivalry.
مَاas far as اسْطَاعَhe is able يَذْخُرُhe stores up لِلبِلادfor the country مَنَافِعاًbenefits
مَا اسْطَاعَ يَذْخُرُ لِلبِلاد مَنَافِعاً
وَلمَاand for what يرُدُّreturns عَلَيْهto him لَيْسَhe is not بِذَاخِرِone who hoards
وَلمَا يرُدُّ عَلَيْه لَيْسَ بِذَاخِرِ
He stores up all the benefits he can for the country,
He strives to store as many benefits as he can for the nation
Yet does not hoard what comes back to him.
And does not refuse whatever is beyond his capacity.
الحَزْمُprudence فِيin تَقْديرِهhis judgment وَالعَزمُand resolve فِيin
الحَزْمُ فِي تَقْديرِه وَالعَزمُ فِي
تَدْبِيرِهِhis management يَمْضِيhe proceeds مَضَاءَwith the keenness of البَاتِرِa cleaving blade
تَدْبِيرِهِ يَمْضِي مَضَاءَ البَاتِرِ
Prudence is in his judgment, and resolve in
Carefulness in assessing, determination in managing -
His management; he acts with a cleaving blade's keenness.
His resolve goes forth like the cleaving lightning.
أَضْحَتْhas become إِدَارَتُهُhis management لِمَاof what يَعْنِيhe attends بِهto it
أَضْحَتْ إِدَارَتُهُ لِمَا يَعْنِي بِه
مَثَلاًan example يُرَدَّدُis repeated فِيin الحَديثِconversation السَّائِرِwidely circulating
مَثَلاً يُرَدَّدُ فِي الحَديثِ السَّائِرِ
His management of what he attends to has become
His administration has become, in what it aims for,
An example repeated in common conversation.
An example passed on in common parlance.
يَعْطِيhe gives الْجَلائِلَgreat matters وَالدَّقَائِقَand fine details حَقَّهَاtheir due
يَعْطِي الْجَلائِلَ وَالدَّقَائِقَ حَقَّهَا
مِنَof جَهْدهِhis effort الْمُتَلاحِقِunceasing الْمُتَظَاهِرِmutually reinforcing
مِنَ جَهْدهِ الْمُتَلاحِقِ الْمُتَظَاهِرِ
He gives great matters and fine details their due
He gives the momentous and the subtle their due,
Of his unceasing, mutually reinforcing effort.
With his ceaseless, manifest efforts.
سَيَّانَalike فِيهfor him بَيَاضُthe whiteness of صُبْحٍdawn تَغْتَديcome early
سَيَّانَ فِيه بَيَاضُ صُبْحٍ تَغْتَدي
طَلْبَاتُهُhis demands وَسَوَادُand the blackness of لَيْلٍnight سَاهِرِwakeful
طَلْبَاتُهُ وَسَوَادُ لَيْلٍ سَاهِرِ
Alike for him are dawn's whiteness, when early come
Dawn and dusk are equal in him - the pursuits of dawn he takes up
His demands, and the blackness of a sleepless night.
And the vigils of night he keeps.
عَجَبٌa marvel إِحَاطَتُهُhis comprehensive grasp بِكُلِّof every مُهِمَّةٍtask
عَجَبٌ إِحَاطَتُهُ بِكُلِّ مُهِمَّةٍ
وُكِلتْwas entrusted إِلىto ذَاكَthat الذَّكَاءِintelligence الْبَاهِرِdazzling
وُكِلتْ إِلى ذَاكَ الذَّكَاءِ الْبَاهِرِ
Marvelous is his grasp of every task
Wondrous is his comprehension of every task
Entrusted to that dazzling intelligence.
Assigned to that brilliant intellect.
لاnot عَيْنُهhis eye تَسْهُوis inattentive وَلاnor تُخْفَىare hidden عَلىfrom
لا عَيْنُه تَسْهُو وَلا تُخْفَى عَلى
ذَاكَthat الضَّمِيرِmind مُخبآتُthe secrets of ضَمَائِرِminds
ذَاكَ الضَّمِيرِ مُخبآتُ ضَمَائِرِ
His eye is never inattentive, nor are hidden from
Neither does his eye err, nor do the secrets within
That mind the secrets of other minds.
Those innermost souls escape him.
أَعْمَالُهُhis undertakings شَتَّىvaried يَسُوسُhe manages أُمُورَهَاtheir affairs
أَعْمَالُهُ شَتَّى يَسُوسُ أُمُورَهَا
لَبِقاًskillfully وَلاand not يَلْفِيis found شَتِيتَscattered الْخَاطِرِthought
لَبِقاً وَلا يَلْفِي شَتِيتَ الْخَاطِرِ
His undertakings are diverse; he manages their affairs
His diverse works he deftly administers
Deftly, and is never found distracted in thought.
Without confusing his scattered thoughts.
صَافِيclear البَدَاهَةِquick perception مَاnot تَرَاهُyou see him وَاقِفاًstanding
صَافِي البَدَاهَةِ مَا تَرَاهُ وَاقِفاً
فِيin أَزْمةٍa crisis تَشْتَّدُintensifies وَقْفَةَthe stance of حَائِرِa bewildered man
فِي أَزْمةٍ تَشْتَّدُ وَقْفَةَ حَائِرِ
With lucid, ready wit, you never see him stand
How plainly his insight sees when he stands perplexed
In a deepening crisis as a bewildered man would.
In a growing crisis, like one lost.
لاnot يَسْتَقِرُّsettles نِطَاقُthe bounds of دَائِرَةٍa circle بِهaround him
لا يَسْتَقِرُّ نِطَاقُ دَائِرَةٍ بِه
حَتَّىuntil تَهَادَاهُpass him among themselves عدَادُa number of دَوَائِرِcircles
حَتَّى تَهَادَاهُ عدَادُ دَوَائِرِ
No single circle's bounds settle around him
The scope of work does not settle for him
Before many circles pass him from one to another.
Until departments and bureaus are coordinated.
فَتَرَاهُthen you see him بَيْنَamong مَزَارعَfarms وَمَصَانعَand factories
فَتَرَاهُ بَيْنَ مَزَارعَ وَمَصَانعَ
شَبْهَlike النِّظَامِthe string لَعِقْدهَاfor their necklace المُتَنَاثِرِscattered
شَبْهَ النِّظَامِ لَعِقْدهَا المُتَنَاثِرِ
Then you see him among farms and factories,
So you see him amidst scattered farms and factories
Like the thread for their scattered necklace.
Giving order to their disjointed system.
يَهْديhe guides الأُولىthose who يَبْنونَbuild نَهْضةَthe revival of قَوْمهِhis people
يَهْدي الأُولى يَبْنونَ نَهْضةَ قَوْمهِ
وَهْوَand he is الْمُعَلِّمُthe teacher فِيin مِثَالِthe likeness of التَّاجِرِthe merchant
وَهْوَ الْمُعَلِّمُ فِي مِثَالِ التَّاجِرِ
He guides those who build his people's revival,
He guides the elite to build his people's renaissance
A teacher in the guise of a merchant.
And he is the teacher in the example of the merchant.
حَسبَit suffices for المَعَارِضُexhibitions أَنْthat تَكُونَthey be مَدَارِساًschools
حَسبَ المَعَارِضُ أَنْ تَكُونَ مَدَارِساً
بِالجَمْعِby combining بَينَbetween مَنَافعbenefits وَمَفَاخِرِand glories
بِالجَمْعِ بَينَ مَنَافع وَمَفَاخِرِ
It suffices for exhibitions to be schools,
It suffices schools to be institutes
By bringing benefits and glories together.
Combining benefits and glories.
هَلْis there كَالتَّعَارُفِlike mutual acquaintance ضَابِطٌan organizer وَمُؤَلَّفٌand a unifier
هَلْ كَالتَّعَارُفِ ضَابِطٌ وَمُؤَلَّفٌ
لِلْعُنْصُرِfor the human element المُتَنَاكِرِmutually estranged المُتَدَابِرِturning away from one another
لِلْعُنْصُرِ المُتَنَاكِرِ المُتَدَابِرِ
Is there a force like mutual acquaintance to order and unite
Is there a principle and bond like acquaintance
People estranged and turning their backs on one another,
For the belligerent, estranged element?
وَمُبْصِرand an enlightener لِلناسِfor people فِيabout أَرْزَاقِهِمْtheir livelihoods
وَمُبْصِر لِلناسِ فِي أَرْزَاقِهِمْ
بِمَوَارِدٍthrough resources تُجْلىare revealed لَهُمْto them وَمَصَادِرِand sources
بِمَوَارِدٍ تُجْلى لَهُمْ وَمَصَادِرِ
And to enlighten people about their livelihoods,
And a provider, showing people their livelihood
Through resources and sources revealed to them?
Through resources that make it clear to them.
لاno حُبَّlove يَعْدِلُequals حُبَّهُhis love أَوْطَانهِhis homelands
لا حُبَّ يَعْدِلُ حُبَّهُ أَوْطَانهِ
فِيin بَاطِنٍan inward aspect مِنْof أَمْرِهhis affairs أَوor ظَاهِرِan outward aspect
فِي بَاطِنٍ مِنْ أَمْرِه أَو ظَاهِرِ
No love equals his love for his homelands,
No love matches his love of homelands
In the inward or outward aspects of his affairs.
In private or openly.
حَقِّقْexamine closely مَرَامِيَهُhis aims الكَثِيرَةَmany لاnot تَجِدْyou will find
حَقِّقْ مَرَامِيَهُ الكَثِيرَةَ لا تَجِدْ
فِيهَاin them سِوَىexcept الغرَضthe purpose النَّزِيهِhonorable الطَّاهِرِpure
فِيهَا سِوَى الغرَض النَّزِيهِ الطَّاهِرِ
Examine his many aims: you will find
Carry out his many aims - you will not find
In them nothing but an honorable, pure purpose.
Anything but a pure, honest purpose.
يَبْغِيhe seeks الْعَزِيزَthe precious مِنَof الْمُنىaspirations لِبِلادهfor his country
يَبْغِي الْعَزِيزَ مِنَ الْمُنى لِبِلاده
بِرَجَاءِwith the hope of مُعْتصِمٍone holding fast وَيَأْسِand the despair of مُغَامِرِan adventurer
بِرَجَاءِ مُعْتصِمٍ وَيَأْسِ مُغَامِرِ
He seeks the dearest of aspirations for his country,
He desires the precious from fate for his land
With the hope of one holding fast and an adventurer's despair.
With a hopeful expectation and venturesome despair.
وَلقدand indeed يَجُوبُhe roams الأَرْضthe earth لَيْسَhe is not مُبَالِياًheedful
وَلقد يَجُوبُ الأَرْض لَيْسَ مُبَالِياً
فِيthrough غَامِرٍwasteland تَجْوَابُهُhis roaming أَوَّor عَامِرِinhabited land
فِي غَامِرٍ تَجْوَابُهُ أَوَّ عَامِرِ
And indeed, he roams the earth, heedless
He roams the land unconcerned
Whether his roaming is through wasteland or settled land.
Whether his roving is in ruin or cultivation.
فَإِذَاthen if مَرَاكِبُهَاits conveyances الْعِجَالُswift اسْتُبْطِئَتْare deemed slow
فَإِذَا مَرَاكِبُهَا الْعِجَالُ اسْتُبْطِئَتْ
كَانَتْbecomes مَطِيَّتُهُhis mount جِنَاحَthe wing of الطَّائِرِa bird
كَانَتْ مَطِيَّتُهُ جِنَاحَ الطَّائِرِ
Then, if its swift conveyances are deemed too slow,
When its carriages are slowed
His mount becomes a bird's wing.
His steed is the wing of a bird.
مَاذَاwhat أُعَدِّدُshall I enumerate مِنْof مَنَاقِبَvirtues جَمَّةٍabundant
مَاذَا أُعَدِّدُ مِنْ مَنَاقِبَ جَمَّةٍ
تَسْمُوsurpasses حَقِيقَتُهَاtheir reality خَيَالَthe imagination of الشَّاعِرِthe poet
تَسْمُو حَقِيقَتُهَا خَيَالَ الشَّاعِرِ
What shall I enumerate of his abundant virtues,
What virtues can I recount, so many they are
Whose reality soars above the poet's imagination?
Reality transcends a poet's imagination?
شِيَمٌtraits أُتِيحَwas granted لَهَاto them لِتَبْلُغَso that they attain تَمَّهَاtheir fullness
شِيَمٌ أُتِيحَ لَهَا لِتَبْلُغَ تَمَّهَا
مِنْamong أَحْصَفِthe most discerning الأُمَرَاءِprinces أَشْرَفُthe noblest نَاصِرِsupporter
مِنْ أَحْصَفِ الأُمَرَاءِ أَشْرَفُ نَاصِرِ
Virtues that, to attain their fullness, were granted
A charter that enabled it to attain its perfection
The noblest supporter among the most discerning princes:
From the noblest of princes, the greatest supporter.
عُمْرُUmar الَّذيwho أَعْيَاexhausted الْحِسَابَreckoning فَلَمْso it could not يَسَعْencompass
عُمْرُ الَّذي أَعْيَا الْحِسَابَ فَلَمْ يَسَعْ
تَعْدادَa count of آثارٍworks لهُof his وَمَآثِرِand glorious deeds
تَعْدادَ آثارٍ لهُ وَمَآثِرِ
Umar, who has exhausted reckoning, which cannot encompass
A life that exhausted counting, so it did not encompass
A count of his works and glorious deeds.
Numbering its effects and achievements.
قِيلٌa prince يُدَوِّيresounds الشَّرْقُthe East فِيin تَمْدَاحٍهhis praise
قِيلٌ يُدَوِّي الشَّرْقُ فِي تَمْدَاحٍه
بِصَرِيرِwith the scratching of أَقْلامٍpens وَجَهْرِand the loud voices of مَنَابِرِpulpits
بِصَرِيرِ أَقْلامٍ وَجَهْرِ مَنَابِرِ
A prince—the East resounds in his praise,
It is said that the East raves in praising him
With the scratching of pens and the loud voices of pulpits.
With the scratching of pens and the voice of platforms,
فِيin كُلِّevery مَحْمِدَةٍpraiseworthy deed وَكُلِّand every مَبَرَّةٍcharitable act
فِي كُلِّ مَحْمِدَةٍ وَكُلِّ مَبَرَّةٍ
أَجْرَىhe set running هَوَاهُhis passion إِلىto مَدَاهُits reach الآخِرِfurthest
أَجْرَى هَوَاهُ إِلى مَدَاهُ الآخِرِ
In every praiseworthy deed and every act of charity,
In every excellence and each merit
He has let his passion run to its farthest reach.
His passion streamed to its furthest extent.
فَاهْنَأْso rejoice فُؤَادُFuad بِعَطْفهِin his affection وَبِلُطْفِand in the grace of مَاwhat
فَاهْنَأْ فُؤَادُ بِعَطْفهِ وَبِلُطْفِ مَا
أُوتيتَyou were granted مِنْof نِعَمِfavors المَلِيكِthe monarch الْقَادِرِthe powerful
أُوتيتَ مِنْ نِعَمِ المَلِيكِ الْقَادِرِ
So rejoice, Fuad, in his affection and in the grace of what
Rejoice then, heart, in his kindness and the favor of what
You have received of the powerful monarch's favors.
You have been given from the blessings of the Almighty.
أَوْلاكَhe bestowed on you أَسْنىthe most splendid رُتْبَةًrank يَبْلُوhe tests بِهَاthrough it
أَوْلاكَ أَسْنى رُتْبَةً يَبْلُو بِهَا
مَعْنَىthe meaning of الإِثَابَةَrecompense فِيin طِرَازٍa form فَاخِرِsplendid
مَعْنَى الإِثَابَةَ فِي طِرَازٍ فَاخِرِ
He bestowed on you the most splendid rank, proving through it
Yours is the highest office, through which is tasted
The meaning of recompense in a splendid form.
The essence of nobility in splendid fashion.
بِالْحَقِّrightfully أَهْدَاهَاhe bestowed it وَضَاعَفَand doubled فَضْلَهُhis generosity
بِالْحَقِّ أَهْدَاهَا وَضَاعَفَ فَضْلَهُ
إِنْif كَانَhe is مَشْكُوراًthanked بِصُورَةin the guise of شَاكِرِone giving thanks
إِنْ كَانَ مَشْكُوراً بِصُورَة شَاكِرِ
Rightfully he bestowed it, and doubled his generosity,
Rightfully he granted it and doubled his merit
If, though thanked, he takes the guise of one giving thanks.
If thankfulness was obligatory on the grateful.
Sol 6.1