طَوَّقْتُمُونِيyou have garlanded me بِأَطْوَاقٍwith necklaces مِنَof المِنَنِfavors
طَوَّقْتُمُونِي بِأَطْوَاقٍ مِنَ المِنَنِ
فَكَيْفَso how أَقْضِيI repay حُقُوقاًobligations جَاوَزَتْsurpassed مَنَنِيmy powers
فَكَيْفَ أَقْضِي حُقُوقاً جَاوَزَتْ مَنَنِي
You have garlanded me with necklaces of favors.
You have adorned me with favors beyond count,
How, then, can I repay obligations beyond my powers?
How can I fulfill a duty that exceeds what I've been granted?
وَمَاand what سَبِيلِيmy way إلىto أدْنَىthe least الوَفَاءِrepayment بِمَاof what
وَمَا سَبِيلِي إلى أدْنَى الوَفَاءِ بِمَا
لِكُلِّto each مُبتَدِرٍone who hastens وَافَىcame لِيُكَرمُنِيto honor me
لِكُلِّ مُبتَدِرٍ وَافَى لِيُكَرمُنِي
And how can I offer even the least repayment of what I owe
What path is there for me to even minimally repay
To each who hastened here to honor me?
Each eager benefactor who honored me?
أَبَالِغٌcan ... reach? بِيwith me وَفَائِيmy gratitude بَعْضَpart of وَاجِبِهِits duty
أَبَالِغٌ بِي وَفَائِي بَعْضَ وَاجِبِهِ
لَوْif أنَّthat فِيin هَذَاthis الوَفَاءِgratitude قَنيsufficiency (uncertain reading)
لَوْ أنَّ فِي هَذَا الوَفَاءِ قَني
Can my gratitude bring me to fulfill even part of its duty,
My loyalty cannot fully discharge even some
If such gratitude were of any avail?
Of what I owe, if perfect loyalty were possible.
أخَافُI fear مِنْof سُوءِa bad تأَوِيلٍinterpretation لِرَأْيُكُمُof your judgment
أخَافُ مِنْ سُوءِ تأَوِيلٍ لِرَأْيُكُمُ
فِيconcerning الفَضْلِmerit لَوْif قُلْتُI said إنِّيthat I لَسْتُam not بِالقَمِنِat all deserving
فِي الفَضْلِ لَوْ قُلْتُ إنِّي لَسْتُ بِالقَمِنِ
I fear a misreading of your judgment
I fear you may misinterpret my intent,
Of merit, were I to say that I am unworthy.
If I say I am not the lowliest servant.
قَوْمِيmy people وَفِيand on هَامَةِthe summit of العَلْيَاءِglory مَنْزِلُهُمْtheir abode
قَوْمِي وَفِي هَامَةِ العَلْيَاءِ مَنْزِلُهُمْ
هُمْthey صَفْوَةُthe finest of الخَلْقِhumankind بِالأخْلاَقِin character وَالفِطَنِand insight
هُمْ صَفْوَةُ الخَلْقِ بِالأخْلاَقِ وَالفِطَنِ
My people—their abode is upon the summit of glory—
My people reside atop the lofty elite,
They are humanity's finest in character and insight.
The finest of humanity in morals and intellect.
إنْif عَزَّgained honor مَنْwhoever مَنَحْواthey granted نَصْراًaid فَأحْرَبَهُthen how deserving he is!
إنْ عَزَّ مَنْ مَنَحْوا نَصْراً فَأحْرَبَهُ
أوor هَانَwas humbled منwhoever مَنَعُوهُthey denied him النَّصْرَaid فَلْيَهُنِthen let him be humbled
أو هَانَ من مَنَعُوهُ النَّصْرَ فَلْيَهُنِ
If one they have granted aid gains honor, how deserving he is!
If the mighty they aided gain triumph, or
Or if one they have denied aid is humbled, let him be humbled.
The lowly they denied aid become disgraced.
مَوَاطِنُthe homelands of الضَّادِḍād (symbol of Arabic) شَتَّىdiverse فِيin مَظَاهِرِهَاtheir outward forms
مَوَاطِنُ الضَّادِ شَتَّى فِي مَظَاهِرِهَا
وَفيand in حَقِيقَتِهَاtheir essence لَيْسَتْthey are not سِوَىother than وَطَنِone homeland
وَفي حَقِيقَتِهَا لَيْسَتْ سِوَى وَطَنِ
The lands of ḍād are diverse in their outward forms,
The lands of DAD are diverse in appearance
Yet in their essence they are but one homeland.
Though essentially they are but one homeland.
مُمَثِّلُوهَاtheir representatives بِهَذَاat this المُنْتَدَىgathering لَهُمُthey have
مُمَثِّلُوهَا بِهَذَا المُنْتَدَى لَهُمُ
مَفَاجِرٌglories (probable intended reading) مِلْءُfilling عيْنِthe eye of الدَّهْرTime وَالأُذُنِand the ear
مَفَاجِرٌ مِلْءُ عيْنِ الدَّهْر وَالأُذُنِ
Their representatives at this gathering have
Those representing it in this assembly
Glories filling Time's eye and ear.
Are the best of their age in sight and hearing.
مِنْfrom كُلِّevery ذِيpossessor of نَسَبٍlineage أوْor كُلِّevery ذِيpossessor of حَسَبِdistinction
مِنْ كُلِّ ذِي نَسَبٍ أوْ كُلِّ ذِي حَسَبِ
مَاnot فِيamong مَصَادِرِهِhis sources مِنْany مَصْدَرٍspring أسِنِstagnant
مَا فِي مَصَادِرِهِ مِنْ مَصْدَرٍ أسِنِ
From every man of lineage or every man of distinction,
All of noble lineage or proud lineage,
Not one spring among his sources is tainted.
None among their lineage has a purer origin.
وَكُلُّand every ذِيholder of مَنْصِبٍoffice تَعْتَزُّtakes pride أمَّتُهُhis nation
وَكُلُّ ذِي مَنْصِبٍ تَعْتَزُّ أمَّتُهُ
بِسَيْفِهِin his sword العَضْبِsharp أوor بِالرَّأُيin counsel وَاللَّسُنِand eloquence
بِسَيْفِهِ العَضْبِ أو بِالرَّأُي وَاللَّسُنِ
And every holder of office whose nation takes pride
And all who hold office their nation takes pride
In his sharp sword, or in his counsel and eloquence.
In their sharp swords or wise eloquence.
وَكُلُّand every مُقْتَبِلِat the outset of الأَيَّامِlife's days مُجْتَهِدٌdiligent
وَكُلُّ مُقْتَبِلِ الأَيَّامِ مُجْتَهِدٌ
وَكُلُّand every طَالِبِseeker of عِلْمٍknowledge نَابِهٍbrilliant ذُهُنِmind
وَكُلُّ طَالِبِ عِلْمٍ نَابِهٍ ذُهُنِ
And every diligent youth in life's early days,
And all the aspirants and studious scholars,
And every keen-minded seeker of knowledge;
And the thriving merchants or artisans.
وَمِنْand among مُؤثِلِone who builds up جَاهٍstanding فِيin تِجَارَتِهِhis trade
وَمِنْ مُؤثِلِ جَاهٍ فِي تِجَارَتِهِ
أوْor فِيin صِنَاعَتِهِhis craft أغْنَىenriched الحِمَىthe homeland وَغَنِىand grew rich
أوْ فِي صِنَاعَتِهِ أغْنَى الحِمَى وَغَنِى
And one who builds his standing through his trade
The wealthy guarding reputation not wealth,
Or his craft, enriching the homeland and growing rich;
Hoarding praise not riches.
وَزَارِعٍand a farmer صَائِنٍsafeguarding بِالبِرِّthrough goodness سِمْعَتَهُhis reputation
وَزَارِعٍ صَائِنٍ بِالبِرِّ سِمْعَتَهُ
لِلْمَالِwith wealth مُبْتَذِلٍfreely spending لِلْحَمْدِof praise مُخْتَزِنِstoring up
لِلْمَالِ مُبْتَذِلٍ لِلْحَمْدِ مُخْتَزِنِ
And a farmer who guards his reputation through goodness,
The poets who captivate the world with their verse,
Freely spending wealth and storing up praise;
For the warblers trilling artfully have no tunes sweeter.
وَشَاعِرٍand a poet يَطْرُبُdelights الدُّنْيَاthe world تَرَنُّمُهُhis singing
وَشَاعِرٍ يَطْرُبُ الدُّنْيَا تَرَنُّمُهُ
فَمَاso what are أَفَانِينُvaried strains غِرَّيدٍa songbird عَلَىon فَنَنِa bough
فَمَا أَفَانِينُ غِرَّيدٍ عَلَى فَنَنِ
And a poet whose singing delights the world—
The spendthrifts lavishing wealth as though
What, then, are a songbird's varied strains upon a bough?
They'd taken it at no cost.
وَنَائِرٍand a prose writer (probable intended reading) مُسْرِفٍlavish فِيwith الدُّرِّpearls يُنَفِقُهُhe spends them
وَنَائِرٍ مُسْرِفٍ فِي الدُّرِّ يُنَفِقُهُ
كَأَنَّهُas though he يَتَلَقَّاهُreceives them بِلاَwithout ثَمَنِpayment
كَأَنَّهُ يَتَلَقَّاهُ بِلاَ ثَمَنِ
And a prose writer, lavish with the pearls he spends,
Oh chief minister, did my position allow
As though he received them free of charge.
The grandeur of what I present to endure?
يَاO لِلوَزِيرِto the minister رَئِيسِchair of الحَفْلِthe gathering هَلْhave? وَسَعَتْmade room for
يَا لِلوَزِيرِ رَئِيسِ الحَفْلِ هَلْ وَسَعَتْ
شَأَنِيmy affairs جَلاَئِلُthe great deeds of مَاwhat تُهْدِيyou offer إلىto الزَّمنِTime
شَأَنِي جَلاَئِلُ مَا تُهْدِي إلى الزَّمنِ
O minister, chair of the gathering, is there room
May God protect the leader of his nation,
For my affairs among the great deeds you offer Time?
And the Arabs‐may He grant victory and fortify him!
لِيَحْفَظِmay ... preserve اللهُGod فَارُوقاًFarouk لأُمَّتِهِfor his nation
لِيَحْفَظِ اللهُ فَارُوقاً لأُمَّتِهِ
وَلِلْعُرُوبَةِand for Arabhood وَلْيَنْصُرهُand may He grant him victory وَلْيصُنِand may He protect
وَلِلْعُرُوبَةِ وَلْيَنْصُرهُ وَلْيصُنِ
May God preserve Farouk for his nation,
He whom eminent nations have known
And for the Arab world; may He grant him victory and protect him.
To deny nothing in public or in secret.
هُوَhe الَّذِيwho خَبَرَتْhave experienced مَعْرُوقَةُhis kindness (probable intended reading) أُمَمٌnations
هُوَ الَّذِي خَبَرَتْ مَعْرُوقَةُ أُمَمٌ
فَمَاso ... not تَنْكُرُdeny فِيin سِرٍّprivate وَلاnor عَلَنِpublic
فَمَا تَنْكُرُ فِي سِرٍّ وَلا عَلَنِ
He is the one whose kindness nations have known,
Without him Egypt today would not have attained
So they do not deny it in private or in public.
Her status, nor Arab unity come to be.
لَوْلاهُbut for him لَمْnot تَكُwould be مِصْرُEgypt اليَوْمَtoday بَالِغَةًattaining
لَوْلاهُ لَمْ تَكُ مِصْرُ اليَوْمَ بَالِغَةً
مَكَانَهَاher standing وَاتِّحَادُand the union of العُرْبِthe Arabs لَمْnot يَكُنِwould exist
مَكَانَهَا وَاتِّحَادُ العُرْبِ لَمْ يَكُنِ
But for him, Egypt would not today have attained
And may God protect the Kinana's sons with
Her standing, nor would the union of the Arabs have come into being.
Well-being and safety from trials and afflictions.
وَلْيَحْفَظِand may ... preserve اللهُGod أَبْنَاءَthe sons of الكَنَانَةِthe Quiver (Egypt) فِيin
وَلْيَحْفَظِ اللهُ أَبْنَاءَ الكَنَانَةِ فِي
يُمْنٍgood fortune وَأَمْنٍand safety مِنَfrom الأَحْدَاثِcalamities وَالمِحَنِand trials
يُمْنٍ وَأَمْنٍ مِنَ الأَحْدَاثِ وَالمِحَنِ
And may God preserve the sons of al-Kinānah in
And give long life to all who defended DAD
Good fortune and safety from calamities and trials.
Whether king or president entrusted over it.
وَلْيَحْيَand may ... live مَنْwhoever صَانَsafeguarded الضَّادَḍād (symbol of Arabic) مِنْamong مَلِكٍa king
وَلْيَحْيَ مَنْ صَانَ الضَّادَ مِنْ مَلِكٍ
وَمِنْand among رَئِيسٍa president عَلَيْهِover it مُؤْتَمِنِentrusted
وَمِنْ رَئِيسٍ عَلَيْهِ مُؤْتَمِنِ
And long live every king who has safeguarded ḍād,
For each came in his era, and his is
And every president entrusted with it.
A history bonded with this glory.
فَكُلُّهُمْfor each of them جَاءَcame فِيat مِيقَاتِهِhis appointed time وَلَهُand he has
فَكُلُّهُمْ جَاءَ فِي مِيقَاتِهِ وَلَهُ
تَارِيخُa history of فَضْلٍmerit بِهَذَاwith this المَجْدِglory مُقْتَرِنِlinked
تَارِيخُ فَضْلٍ بِهَذَا المَجْدِ مُقْتَرِنِ
For each of them came at his appointed time, and has
Endure, and may your days be a thousand flourishing,
A history of merit linked with this glory.
Without return of the alternating misfortunes and sorrows.
دُومُواlive on (you all) وَأَيَّامُكُمْand your days بِالأَلفِwith friendship زَاهِرَةٌblooming
دُومُوا وَأَيَّامُكُمْ بِالأَلفِ زَاهِرَةٌ
وَلاand may ... not عَدَتْهُassail it عَوَادِيthe ravages of الخُلْفِdiscord وَالإِحَنِand rancor
وَلا عَدَتْهُ عَوَادِي الخُلْفِ وَالإِحَنِ
Live long, your days blooming with friendship,
And may the ravages of discord and rancor never assail it.
Partial English translation: 44 of 46 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1