يَأَحْسَنُ مَا أَتْحَفْتُمَانِي بِهِ

يَأَحْسَنُ مَا أَتْحَفْتُمَانِي بِهِ

مِنَ الكِتابِ المُتْقَنِ الْفَاخِرِ

مِنَ الكِتابِ المُتْقَنِ الْفَاخِرِ

How fine is what you two have presented me with—

You have gifted me with the finest

a finely crafted, magnificent book!

Of the eloquent, accomplished book,

بَرَرْتُمَا فِيهِ بِذِكْرَى أَبٍ

بَرَرْتُمَا فِيهِ بِذِكْرَى أَبٍ

كَان مِثَالَ الْمُقْدَمِ الصَّابِرِ

كَان مِثَالَ الْمُقْدَمِ الصَّابِرِ

In it you two honored the memory of a father

Wherein you have perpetuated the memory of a father,

who was a model of courage and steadfastness.

Who was the epitome of the patient pioneer.

خلدْتمَاهُ فِي الْفَرِيقِ الأَولى

خلدْتمَاهُ فِي الْفَرِيقِ الأَولى

بَنَوا فَخَارَ الزمَنِ الحَاضِرِ

بَنَوا فَخَارَ الزمَنِ الحَاضِرِ

You two immortalized him in the company of those who

You have immortalized him among the foremost group,

built the glory of the present age.

The pride of the present age.

هَل يَفْلَحُ التأْلِيفُ فِي أُمةٍ

هَل يَفْلَحُ التأْلِيفُ فِي أُمةٍ

إِلاَّ بِعَوْنِ الطَّابِعِ النَّاشِرِ

إِلاَّ بِعَوْنِ الطَّابِعِ النَّاشِرِ

Can authorship flourish in a nation

Can authorship succeed in a nation

except with the help of the printer-publisher?

Except with the support of the dedicated publisher?

أَتَيْتُمَا مَكْرُمَةً فَاقْبَلاَ

أَتَيْتُمَا مَكْرُمَةً فَاقْبَلاَ

كَلِمَة الشُّكرِ مِنَ الشاكِرِ

كَلِمَة الشُّكرِ مِنَ الشاكِرِ

You two have done a noble deed; so accept

You have honored me, so accept

a word of thanks from one who is grateful.

The words of gratitude from the grateful one.

يَا ابْنَيْ نَجِيبٍ ثَابِرا وَاجهَدَا

يَا ابْنَيْ نَجِيبٍ ثَابِرا وَاجهَدَا

كَمْ تَرَكَ الأَوَّلُ لِلآخِرِ

كَمْ تَرَكَ الأَوَّلُ لِلآخِرِ

O sons of Najib, persevere and strive!

O diligent, persevering sons of Najib,

How much the predecessor has left for the successor!

How much has the first left for the last!