يَاO سَعْدَjoy of هَذِيthis اللَّيْلَةِthe night الزَّهْرَاءِradiant
يَا سَعْدَ هَذِي اللَّيْلَةِ الزَّهْرَاءِ
جَدَّدْتِyou renewed عَهْدَthe age of السَّعدِbliss بِالْحَمْرَاءِat al-Hamra
جَدَّدْتِ عَهْدَ السَّعدِ بِالْحَمْرَاءِ
O joy of this radiant night!
O Saad, on this auspicious night
You have renewed al-Hamra's age of bliss,
You renewed your happiness in Cairo
جَدَّدْتِهِyou renewed it فِيin مِصْرَEgypt فِيin الدِّارِthe house الَّتيthat
جَدَّدْتِهِ فِي مِصْرَ فِي الدِّارِ الَّتي
كَانَتْwas وَظَلَّتْand remained مُلْتَقَىthe meeting place of الأُمَرَاءِprinces
كَانَتْ وَظَلَّتْ مُلْتَقَى الأُمَرَاءِ
Renewed it in Egypt, in the house that
In the palace that was and remains
Was, and has remained, the meeting place of princes.
A meeting place for princes
فِيin حَيْثُthe place where أَعْلَىthe highest of المَالِكِينَrulers مَكَانَةًin rank
فِي حَيْثُ أَعْلَى المَالِكِينَ مَكَانَةً
نَزَلُواthey descended مَنَازِلَهُمْtheir lodgings مِنَfrom العَلْيَاءِthe heights
نَزَلُوا مَنَازِلَهُمْ مِنَ العَلْيَاءِ
Where rulers of the highest station
Where the highest kings once dwelled
Descended from on high to their lodgings;
In lofty abodes from on high
فِيin حَيْثُthe place where إِسْمَاعِيلُIsmail لاَحَshone بِنُبْلِهِwith his nobility
فِي حَيْثُ إِسْمَاعِيلُ لاَحَ بِنُبْلِهِ
فَوْقَabove السُّهىSuha لِضُيُوفِهِfor his guests النُّبلاَءِthe noble
فَوْقَ السُّهى لِضُيُوفِهِ النُّبلاَءِ
Where Ismail shone in his nobility
Where Ishmael shone with his nobility
Above Suha for his noble guests.
Above the plateau for his noble guests
هَلْis it ...? كَانَwas إِسْمَاعِيلُIsmail إلاَّanything but صُورَةًan image
هَلْ كَانَ إِسْمَاعِيلُ إلاَّ صُورَةً
شَرْقِيَّةEastern لِلعِزَّةِof majesty الْقَعْسَاءِindomitable
شَرْقِيَّة لِلعِزَّةِ الْقَعْسَاءِ
Was Ismail anything but an image—
Was Ishmael anything but an oriental icon
Eastern—of indomitable majesty?
Of stubborn glory and pride
بِنَدَاهُthrough his bounty وَادِيthe valley of النِّيلِthe Nile سَالَflowed وَبِالذِيand through what
بِنَدَاهُ وَادِي النِّيلِ سَالَ وَبِالذِي
أسْدَاهُhe bestowed it طَالَrose عَلَىabove الذُّرَىthe peaks الشَّماءِlofty
أسْدَاهُ طَالَ عَلَى الذُّرَى الشَّماءِ
Through his bounty the Nile Valley flowed, and through what
With his call the Nile valley flowed
He bestowed, it rose above the lofty peaks.
And with his judgment the lofty heavens rained
أُنْظُرْlook إلىat آثَارِهِhis works يُزْهَىtakes pride بِهَاin them
أُنْظُرْ إلى آثَارِهِ يُزْهَى بِهَا
قَطْرَاهُhis two lands فِيin دَانِيهِمَاtheir near reaches وَالنَّائِيand the distant
قَطْرَاهُ فِي دَانِيهِمَا وَالنَّائِي
Look upon his works: they are the pride
Look at his relics adorning
Of his two lands, in their near and distant reaches.
His homeland near and far
هَذِيthis الْجَزِيرَةُisland مِنْamong بَدَائِعِthe wonders of خَلْقِهِhis creation
هَذِي الْجَزِيرَةُ مِنْ بَدَائِعِ خَلْقِهِ
بِغِيَاضِهَاwith its groves وَرِيَاضِهَاand its gardens الْفَيْحَاءِspacious
بِغِيَاضِهَا وَرِيَاضِهَا الْفَيْحَاءِ
This island is among his wondrous creations,
This island among the wonders of His creation
With its groves and spacious gardens;
With its meadows and gardens so welcoming
وبِنائِهَاand its building الفَخْمِsplendid الْبَدِيعِwondrous نِظَامُهُits design
وبِنائِهَا الفَخْمِ الْبَدِيعِ نِظَامُهُ
مِنْfrom صُنْعِthe work of ذَاكَthat المُبْدِعِinventive البّنَّاءِbuilder
مِنْ صُنْعِ ذَاكَ المُبْدِعِ البّنَّاءِ
And its splendid building, wondrous in design,
With its marvelous, wondrous architecture
Is the work of that inventive builder.
The work of that creative builder
لِلّهِGod be praised! آيَاتُmarvels of الصِنَّاعَةِcraftsmanship فِيin الدُّمَىthe statues
لِلّهِ آيَاتُ الصِنَّاعَةِ فِي الدُّمَى
مَنْwho شَارَكَshared with الرَّحْمَنَthe Merciful فِيin الإِحْيَاءِgiving life
مَنْ شَارَكَ الرَّحْمَنَ فِي الإِحْيَاءِ
God be praised for the marvels of craftsmanship in the statues!
The signs of craftsmanship in artifacts
Who has shared with the Merciful in giving life?
Who rivals The Merciful in giving life?
للهِGod be praised! ناطِقةُspeaking النُقُوشِcarvings أَهكَذَاis it thus?
للهِ ناطِقةُ النُقُوشِ أَهكَذَا
تُعطَىare granted الكَلامَspeech جَوَامِدُlifeless الَأشيَاءِthings
تُعطَى الكَلامَ جَوَامِدُ الَأشيَاءِ
God be praised for the speaking carvings! Is this how
Carvings that speak, is this how
Lifeless things are granted speech?
Inanimate objects are given voice?
للهِGod be praised! مِطْفَرَةٌa fountain تُصَعِّدُsends upward قَطْرَهَاits droplets
للهِ مِطْفَرَةٌ تُصَعِّدُ قَطْرَهَا
وَتَرُدُّهُand sends it back صَبَباًin cascades عَلَىover الأَنْحَاءِthe surroundings
وَتَرُدُّهُ صَبَباً عَلَى الأَنْحَاءِ
God be praised for a fountain that sends its spray aloft
The light tower that sends its droplets up
And pours it back in cascades on every side!
And pours them down on all sides
تَجِدُyou find النُّجومَthe stars حِيَالَهَاbefore it ضَحَّاكَةًlaughing
تَجِدُ النُّجومَ حِيَالَهَا ضَحَّاكَةً
بِشُعَاعِهَاwith their radiance بَكَّاءَةًweeping بِالْمَاءِwith water
بِشُعَاعِهَا بَكَّاءَةً بِالْمَاءِ
You find the stars before it, laughing
Finding the stars tearful
With their radiance, weeping with water.
In its radiance, crying with water
قَدْindeed أَخْلَفَتْhas gone against بِسُكُونِهَاwith its stillness وَصَفائِهَاand its clarity
قَدْ أَخْلَفَتْ بِسُكُونِهَا وَصَفائِهَا
فِعْلَthe action of النُّجومِthe stars مُثِيرَةِstirring الأَنْوَاءِstorms
فِعْلَ النُّجومِ مُثِيرَةِ الأَنْوَاءِ
In its stillness and clarity it has gone against
It succeeded in its stillness and clarity
The action of the stars that stir up storms.
To mimic the stirring of the heavenly bodies
هَلْis it ...? غَيْرُother than هَذَاthis الصَّرْحِpalace زِينَwas adorned بِمِثْلٍِwith the like of مَاwhat
هَلْ غَيْرُ هَذَا الصَّرْحِ زِينَ بِمِثْلٍِ مَا
فِيهِin it لإِينَاسٍfor fellowship وَحُسْنِand graciousness of لِقَاءِwelcome
فِيهِ لإِينَاسٍ وَحُسْنِ لِقَاءِ
Has any palace but this been adorned with the like of what
What palace other than this one was adorned
It holds for fellowship and gracious welcome,
With such welcoming and beauty?
وَقِرَىand feasting of الْعُيُونِthe eyes مِنَfrom الطَّرَائِفِrarities وَالْحِلَىand ornaments
وَقِرَى الْعُيُونِ مِنَ الطَّرَائِفِ وَالْحِلَى
غَيْرُapart from القِرىَhospitality مِنْof مَشْرَبٍdrink وَغِذاءِand food
غَيْرُ القِرىَ مِنْ مَشْرَبٍ وَغِذاءِ
And for feasting the eyes on rarities and adornments,
A feast for the eyes of wonders and trinkets
Apart from the hospitality of drink and food?
Other than feasts of drink and food
يَاO مَنْyou who لَهُfor whom صَدْرُthe foremost seat of المَقَامِthe gathering تَجِلَّةًin reverence
يَا مَنْ لَهُ صَدْرُ المَقَامِ تَجِلَّةً
وَهْوَwhile he is النَّزِيلُthe guest وَلَيْسَand is not كَالنُّزَلاَءِlike other guests
وَهْوَ النَّزِيلُ وَلَيْسَ كَالنُّزَلاَءِ
O you granted the foremost seat in reverence,
O you whom this abode graces
A guest, yet unlike other guests,
As resident, not as guest
هَذِيthis هِيَis الدَّارُthe house الَّتِيthat قَلَّدْتَهَاyou adorned it
هَذِي هِيَ الدَّارُ الَّتِي قَلَّدْتَهَا
شَرَفاًhonor بِهِthrough it تَاهَتْit vaunted عَلَىabove الْجَوْزَاءِal-Jawza
شَرَفاً بِهِ تَاهَتْ عَلَى الْجَوْزَاءِ
This is the house that you adorned
This is the home you adorned
With an honor that made it vaunt above al-Jawza.
With glory to dazzle the outstanding
شَرَفٌan honor بِهِthrough it النَّبأُthe news البَعِيدُfar-reaching دَوِيُّهُits resonance
شَرَفٌ بِهِ النَّبأُ البَعِيدُ دَوِيُّهُ
يَخْتَالُstruts مَعْتَزَّاًproudly عَلَىabove الأًنْبَاءِother tidings
يَخْتَالُ مَعْتَزَّاً عَلَى الأًنْبَاءِ
An honor whose far-resounding news
Glory whereby distant news resounds
Struts proudly above all other news.
Proudly echoing the reports
وَلآلِand for the house of لُطِفِLutf اللهِAllah مِنهُfrom it كَرَامَةٌan honor
وَلآلِ لُطِفِ اللهِ مِنهُ كَرَامَةٌ
سَتَظَلُّwill endure فِيamong الأَحْفادِgrandchildren وَالأَبْنَاءِand sons
سَتَظَلُّ فِي الأَحْفادِ وَالأَبْنَاءِ
And from it the house of Lutf Allah gains an honor
By God's gentle blessings a dignity remains
That will endure among grandchildren and sons.
In descendants and children
إنِّيindeed I لِهذاfor this الفَضلِfavor عَنْهُمْon their behalf شَاكِرٌam grateful
إنِّي لِهذا الفَضلِ عَنْهُمْ شَاكِرٌ
وَالشُّكرُand gratitude فِيamong السَّادَاتِnoble lords خَيرُthe finest وَفَاءِloyalty
وَالشُّكرُ فِي السَّادَاتِ خَيرُ وَفَاءِ
For this favor I offer thanks on their behalf,
For this grace I thank them
And among noble lords, gratitude is the finest loyalty.
Gratitude to the noble is the best loyalty
شكرٌgratitude زَهَاshone شِعْرِيmy poetry بِهِthrough it مُتَهَلِّلاَbeaming
شكرٌ زَهَا شِعْرِي بِهِ مُتَهَلِّلاَ
كَتَهَلُّلِlike the beaming of النُّوَّارِblossoms بِالأَنْدَاءِwith dew
كَتَهَلُّلِ النُّوَّارِ بِالأَنْدَاءِ
A gratitude in which my verse glows joyfully,
Gratitude that makes my poetry shine
As blossoms brighten with the dew.
Like the shimmering of lightning in the dark
أَنَّىwherever تَكُنْyou may be لاَno غَروَwonder أنْthat يُلْفَىis found الحِمىthe protected domain
أَنَّى تَكُنْ لاَ غَروَ أنْ يُلْفَى الحِمى
وَبِهِand in it رَوَائِعُmarvels مِنْof سَنىًradiance وَسَنَاءِand glory
وَبِهِ رَوَائِعُ مِنْ سَنىً وَسَنَاءِ
Wherever you may be, no wonder the domain is found
How can the protected not be clad
Filled with marvels of radiance and glory.
In it are remarkable beauty and brilliance?
أَفَلَمْand were ... not? تَكُنْyou be شِبْلَthe lion cub of الحُسِينِHusayn وَرَأْيَهُand his judgment
أَفَلَمْ تَكُنْ شِبْلَ الحُسِينِ وَرَأْيَهُ
وَفِرِنْدَهُand his blade فِيin السِّلمpeace وَالهَيْجَاءِand battle
وَفِرِنْدَهُ فِي السِّلم وَالهَيْجَاءِ
Were you not Husayn's lion cub, and his judgment,
Were you not the cub of Hussein in lineage and view
And his blade in peace and battle?
And his pride in peace and calamity?
مَلِكٌa king بِهِin whom رَحِمُkinship with النُّبوءَةِprophethood وَاشِجٌdeeply entwined
مَلِكٌ بِهِ رَحِمُ النُّبوءَةِ وَاشِجٌ
وَلَهُand he has جَلاَلُthe majesty of الصِّيدِthe proud فِيamong الخُلَفَاءِthe caliphs
وَلَهُ جَلاَلُ الصِّيدِ فِي الخُلَفَاءِ
A king whose kinship with prophethood is deeply entwined,
A king in whom the prophecy's womb ripens
And who has the majesty of the proud among the caliphs.
With splendid hunting among caliphs
أَهْدَىbestowed العُرُوشَthrones إِلَىupon بَنِيهِhis sons وَبَثَّهُمْand scattered them
أَهْدَى العُرُوشَ إِلَى بَنِيهِ وَبَثَّهُمْ
فِيthrough الشَّرْقِthe East بَثَّas the scattering of الشَّمسِthe sun لِلأَضْواءِof light
فِي الشَّرْقِ بَثَّ الشَّمسِ لِلأَضْواءِ
He bestowed thrones on his sons and scattered them
He passed leadership to his sons and dispersed them
Through the East as the sun scatters light.
Across the east spread like the sun's rays
أًعْظِمْhow great! بِعَبدِis Abd اللهِAllah نَجلاًas a son صَالِحاًworthy
أًعْظِمْ بِعَبدِ اللهِ نَجلاً صَالِحاً
يَقفُوfollows أَبَاهُhis father حِجىًin wisdom وَحُسْنَand excellence of بَلاَءِachievement
يَقفُو أَبَاهُ حِجىً وَحُسْنَ بَلاَءِ
How great is Abd Allah, a worthy son,
May God make Abdallah an upright son
Who follows his father in wisdom and noble achievement!
To match his father in protection and good trial
فِيهِin him النَّزَاهَةُintegrity وَالنَّباهَةُand acumen يَعْتَلِيhe rises
فِيهِ النَّزَاهَةُ وَالنَّباهَةُ يَعْتَلِي
بِهِماthrough both of them عَلَىabove الأَنْدَادِrivals وَالنُّظرَاءِand peers
بِهِما عَلَى الأَنْدَادِ وَالنُّظرَاءِ
In him are integrity and acumen; he rises
In him are honesty and brilliance as he rises
By these above rivals and peers.
Above peers and equals
جَمَعَunited الوَدَاعَةَgentleness وَالإِبَاءَand proud self-respect فَحَبَّذَاso how admirable!
جَمَعَ الوَدَاعَةَ وَالإِبَاءَ فَحَبَّذَا
هُوَhe مِنْas أَمِيرِa prince of وَدَاعَةٍgentleness وَِإبَاءِand proud self-respect
هُوَ مِنْ أَمِيرِ وَدَاعَةٍ وَِإبَاءِ
He has joined gentleness and proud self-respect—how admirable
He combined gentleness and dignity which both
He is, a prince of gentleness and proud self-respect!
Suit him, from a gentle and dignified forefather
خُلُقَانِtwo traits كُلُّهُمَاboth of them إِلَيْهِto him قَدِindeed انْتَهَىhave come down
خُلُقَانِ كُلُّهُمَا إِلَيْهِ قَدِ انْتَهَى
عَنْfrom أَكْرَمِthe noblest of الأَجْدَادِgrandfathers وَالآبَاءِand fathers
عَنْ أَكْرَمِ الأَجْدَادِ وَالآبَاءِ
Two traits, both of which have come down to him
Two traits whose utmost he attained
From the noblest grandfathers and fathers.
From the noblest ancestors and forefathers
وَلَهُand he has مُروُءَاتٌchivalrous deeds تُجَابُare traversed بِذِكْرِهَاat their mention
وَلَهُ مُروُءَاتٌ تُجَابُ بِذِكْرِهَا
جَوْبَlike traversing الرِّياضِgardens مَجَادِبُthe barren tracts of البَيْدَاءِthe desert
جَوْبَ الرِّياضِ مَجَادِبُ البَيْدَاءِ
And he has chivalrous deeds whose mention lets one cross
And he has gallantry, at the mention of which
The desert's barren tracts as one would cross gardens.
The meadows answer like the white desert
وَلَهُand he has فَضَائِلُvirtues إنْif تَحَدَّثَspeaks عَارِفٌone who knows
وَلَهُ فَضَائِلُ إنْ تَحَدَّثَ عَارِفٌ
عَنْهَاof them عَرَتْهُovertook him نَشْوَةُthe rapture of الصَّهبَاءِtawny wine
عَنْهَا عَرَتْهُ نَشْوَةُ الصَّهبَاءِ
And he has virtues which, if one who knows speaks
He has merits, if one who knows speaks of them,
Of them, the rapture of tawny wine overtakes him.
Enthusiasm takes hold of the youth
وَلَهُand he has وَقَائِعُexploits فِيin البَسَالَةِvalor يَزْدَهِيtakes pride
وَلَهُ وَقَائِعُ فِي البَسَالَةِ يَزْدَهِي
بِصِغارِهِنَّin the least of them أَكَابِرُthe greatest of البُسَلاَءِthe brave
بِصِغارِهِنَّ أَكَابِرُ البُسَلاَءِ
And he has feats of valor: pride is taken
He has feats of courage, made great
In their least by the greatest of the brave.
By their smallest details, the boldest heroes
وَلَهُand he has طَرَائِفُrare deeds فِيin السَّماحَةِgenerosity نَقَّحتْhave corrected
وَلَهُ طَرَائِفُ فِي السَّماحَةِ نَقَّحتْ
مَاwhat أَخْطَأَتْهُmissed it طَرَائِقُthe ways of السُّمحَاءِthe generous
مَا أَخْطَأَتْهُ طَرَائِقُ السُّمحَاءِ
And he has rare deeds of generosity that have corrected
And he has acts of generosity that refine
What the ways of the generous had missed.
What the generous left out
فَهْوَthus he is الحَبِيبُbeloved إِلىto الوُلاَةِrulers مُصَافِياًas a sincere friend
فَهْوَ الحَبِيبُ إِلى الوُلاَةِ مُصَافِياً
وَهُوَand he is البَغِيضُhated وَغَىًin battle عَلَىagainst الأَعْدَاءِenemies
وَهُوَ البَغِيضُ وَغَىً عَلَى الأَعْدَاءِ
Thus he is beloved by rulers as a true friend,
So he is the beloved of governors inclining to them
And hated by his enemies in battle.
And the hated, raging among enemies
لاَmay not زِلْتَyou cease عَبْدَAbd اللهِAllah فِيupon هَامِthe brows of الْعُلَىglory
لاَ زِلْتَ عَبْدَ اللهِ فِي هَامِ الْعُلَى
تَاجاًa crown يَفِيضُoverflows بِبَاهِرِwith dazzling الَّلأْلاَءِradiance
تَاجاً يَفِيضُ بِبَاهِرِ الَّلأْلاَءِ
May you ever remain, Abd Allah, on glory's brow,
You remain, Abdallah, at ambition's pinnacle,
A crown overflowing with dazzling radiance!
A crown overflowing with the most radiant pearls
لِلْمَجْدِfor glory سِرٌّa secret فِيكَin you نَاطَit bound بِهِto it غَداًtomorrow
لِلْمَجْدِ سِرٌّ فِيكَ نَاطَ بِهِ غَداً
وَغَداًand tomorrow يُحَقِّقwill fulfill فِيكَin you خَيْرُthe finest رَجَاءِhope
وَغَداً يُحَقِّق فِيكَ خَيْرُ رَجَاءِ
Glory has a secret in you, to which it has bound tomorrow,
A secret of glory lies in you, fulfilling tomorrow
And tomorrow the finest hope will find fulfillment in you.
What today promises of hopes
Sol 6.1