أَهلالُ العيدِ حَيّانا وَقَد لاحَ

أَهلالُ العيدِ حَيّانا وَقَد لاحَ

بِالنورِ فَأَبهى وَوَقد

بِالنورِ فَأَبهى وَوَقد

O crescent of Eid, you greeted us when you appeared,

Was it the crescent of Eid that greeted us, appearing

in light—how splendid, how ablaze!

in light, growing splendid and blazing,

أَم سَنى بَدرِ العُلى نَجمِ الهُدى

أَم سَنى بَدرِ العُلى نَجمِ الهُدى

راشِدِ الفكرِ عَلى الأُفقِ اِتَقَد

راشِدِ الفكرِ عَلى الأُفقِ اِتَقَد

Or are you the radiance of glory’s full moon, the star of guidance—

or the radiance of glory's full moon, the star of guidance,

right-guided in thought, who rose above the horizon and blazed?

rightly guided in thought, that blazed upon the horizon?

قَد مَضى الصَوم فَعادَ العيدُ في

قَد مَضى الصَوم فَعادَ العيدُ في

مَنظَرٍ باهٍ وَأَيامٍ جُدد

مَنظَرٍ باهٍ وَأَيامٍ جُدد

The fast has passed, and Eid has returned

The fast has passed, and Eid has returned in

in your splendid presence, while your days are ever renewed.

a splendid scene and days made new.

أَيُّها المَولى الَّذي ضاءَ بِهِ

أَيُّها المَولى الَّذي ضاءَ بِهِ

كَوكَبُ السَعدِ عَلَينا لا خمد

كَوكَبُ السَعدِ عَلَينا لا خمد

O gracious lord, through whose advent

O lord, through whom has shone

fortune’s star shone upon us—may it never fade:

upon us the star of good fortune—may it never die out.

لَكَ بِالإِفطار عيدٌ وَلَنا كُلّ

لَكَ بِالإِفطار عيدٌ وَلَنا كُلّ

يَومٍ بِكَ عيدٌ يَستَجد

يَومٍ بِكَ عيدٌ يَستَجد

breaking the fast is an Eid for you; for us, every

For you, breaking the fast is a festival; for us, every

day with you is an Eid renewed.

day is a festival renewed through you.

إِن سَعى الناسُ لِأَجرٍ أَو تُقىً

إِن سَعى الناسُ لِأَجرٍ أَو تُقىً

نَلتَقي شَخصَكَ بِالأَجرِ اِستَبَد

نَلتَقي شَخصَكَ بِالأَجرِ اِستَبَد

If people strive for heavenly reward or piety,

If people strive for reward or piety,

you attain it—your very person holds the reward alone.

we encounter you, who alone have claimed the reward.

كُلأُّ فعلٍ لَكَ فيهِ بِالمَلا فَضلُ

كُلأُّ فعلٍ لَكَ فيهِ بِالمَلا فَضلُ

مَن صامَ وَصَلى وَسَجَد

مَن صامَ وَصَلى وَسَجَد

Every deed of yours among the people bears the merit

In each deed of yours, among the people, lies the merit

of one who fasted, prayed, and prostrated himself.

of one who has fasted, prayed, and prostrated.

لَكَ بِالإِفضالِ صيتٌ ذاعَ مِن بَلَدٍ

لَكَ بِالإِفضالِ صيتٌ ذاعَ مِن بَلَدٍ

في الكَون يَسري لِبَلَد

في الكَون يَسري لِبَلَد

Your beneficence has won renown that spread from land

Your renown for generosity spread from one land,

to land, traveling throughout the world.

traveling through the world to another land.

وَلَدى العَلياءِ فَخرٌ ثابِتٌ يَرسُمُ

وَلَدى العَلياءِ فَخرٌ ثابِتٌ يَرسُمُ

الذِكرَ عَلى فَرقِ الأَبَد

الذِكرَ عَلى فَرقِ الأَبَد

At glory’s summit, an enduring honor inscribes

And in lofty glory stands enduring pride, inscribing

your memory upon eternity’s brow.

remembrance upon the crown of eternity.

لطفكَ الفائض في الكَون إِذا

لطفكَ الفائض في الكَون إِذا

لامَسَ العَينُ شفاها مِن رَمَد

لامَسَ العَينُ شفاها مِن رَمَد

Your overflowing kindness throughout the world—whenever

Your kindness, overflowing through the world, whenever it

it touches an afflicted eye, it heals its inflammation.

touches the eye, cures it of inflammation.

فيهِ مَن كانَ مَريضاً أَو عَلى

فيهِ مَن كانَ مَريضاً أَو عَلى

سَفَرٍ مِنا لَهُ عَونٌ يَعد

سَفَرٍ مِنا لَهُ عَونٌ يَعد

Through it, whoever among us is ill or away

In it, anyone who is ill or on

on a journey finds aid prepared for him.

a journey among us has help made ready for him.

أَيُّها الراشِدُ في أَعمالِهِ

أَيُّها الراشِدُ في أَعمالِهِ

أَنتَ في الأَكوان رُوحٌ لِلرُشد

أَنتَ في الأَكوان رُوحٌ لِلرُشد

O rightly guided man in his deeds,

O you who are rightly guided in your deeds,

throughout creation you are the spirit of right guidance.

you are the spirit of right guidance throughout the worlds.

أَنتَ لِلحلم مدارٌ جامِع

أَنتَ لِلحلم مدارٌ جامِع

أَنتَ لِلفهمِ مَنارٌ مُتَقد

أَنتَ لِلفهمِ مَنارٌ مُتَقد

You are the all-embracing axis of forbearance;

You are the all-embracing center of forbearance;

you are understanding’s blazing beacon.

you are a blazing beacon of understanding.

أَنتَ لِلحِكمَةِ نورٌ ساطِعٌ محقَ

أَنتَ لِلحِكمَةِ نورٌ ساطِعٌ محقَ

الجَهل وَقَد كانَ اِنعَقَد

الجَهل وَقَد كانَ اِنعَقَد

For wisdom you are a radiant light, effacing

You are wisdom's radiant light, which has effaced

ignorance after it had grown entrenched.

ignorance, though it had taken firm hold.

إِن سُوريا الَّتي أَنعشتَها

إِن سُوريا الَّتي أَنعشتَها

مِثلَما يُنعِش بِالروحِ الجَسَد

مِثلَما يُنعِش بِالروحِ الجَسَد

Indeed, Syria, which you revived

Indeed, Syria, which you have revived,

as the spirit revives the body,

as one revives the body with the spirit,

أَصبَحَت تَختال في أَفراحِها

أَصبَحَت تَختال في أَفراحِها

وَصِفاها بَينَ مَيسٍ وَمَبَد

وَصِفاها بَينَ مَيسٍ وَمَبَد

now walks proudly amid her celebrations,

has come to strut in her rejoicing,

her charms all graceful sway and display.

and her rocks are swaying and rocking.

وَغَدا بِهَمي عَلى كُثبانِها

وَغَدا بِهَمي عَلى كُثبانِها

اللؤلؤُ الرَطبُ مُذاباً لا البَرد

اللؤلؤُ الرَطبُ مُذاباً لا البَرد

And there came to be, through rain pouring upon her dunes,

And upon her dunes there now rain down

fresh pearls in liquid form—not hail.

moist pearls, melted—not hail.

جئتَ بَر الشام تَحيي أَهلَهُ

جئتَ بَر الشام تَحيي أَهلَهُ

فَغَدا رَوضاً بِهِ يَشفي الكَمد

فَغَدا رَوضاً بِهِ يَشفي الكَمد

You came to Syria’s land, reviving its people,

You came to the land of al-Sham to revive its people;

and it became a garden where sorrow is healed—

and it became a garden where sorrow is healed,

جَنَّةً مِن تَحتَها الأَنهار قَد

جَنَّةً مِن تَحتَها الأَنهار قَد

أَجرَيت لِلناس تَحيي مِن وَرَد

أَجرَيت لِلناس تَحيي مِن وَرَد

a paradise beneath which rivers now flow,

a paradise beneath which rivers you have

set running by you for the people, reviving all who drink.

made flow for the people revive whoever comes to drink.

قَد حَلَلتَ اليَوم في دار الوَلا

قَد حَلَلتَ اليَوم في دار الوَلا

كَحُلولِ الشَمس في بُرجِ الأَسَد

كَحُلولِ الشَمس في بُرجِ الأَسَد

Today you have alighted in the abode of loyalty

Today you have alighted in the abode of loyalty,

as the sun enters the constellation Leo.

like the sun's arrival in the sign of Leo.

وَسَهَرتَ الآن يا راعي المَلا

وَسَهَرتَ الآن يا راعي المَلا

تَحرُس القُطر مُصاناً فَهجد

تَحرُس القُطر مُصاناً فَهجد

You keep vigil now, O shepherd of the people,

And now you keep vigil, O shepherd of the people,

guarding the realm in safety, so that it sleeps.

keeping the country safe, so it sleeps.

سَكَبَ الإِلهامُ في العليا عَلى فكرَكَ

سَكَبَ الإِلهامُ في العليا عَلى فكرَكَ

العالي سَناهُ فَاِتَقَد

العالي سَناهُ فَاِتَقَد

Inspiration from on high poured upon your thought—

In the heights, inspiration poured upon your mind,

your lofty thought—its radiance, and it blazed.

lofty as it is, its radiance, and it blazed.

وَلَكَ الأَمر مُباحٌ فَاقضِ ما أَنتَ

وَلَكَ الأَمر مُباحٌ فَاقضِ ما أَنتَ

قاضٍ فيهِ وَأحكم لا مُرَد

قاضٍ فيهِ وَأحكم لا مُرَد

Command is freely yours: decree whatever you

Authority is freely yours; decree whatever you

decree therein, and rule—there is no appeal.

will decree, and rule—your judgment cannot be reversed.

لَكَ يا مَولاي أَبهى رِقَةٍ

لَكَ يا مَولاي أَبهى رِقَةٍ

تَسلُبُ القَلبَ وَلا تَبقي نَكد

تَسلُبُ القَلبَ وَلا تَبقي نَكد

Yours, my lord, is the loveliest tenderness,

Yours, my lord, is the loveliest gentleness,

captivating the heart and leaving no distress;

that steals the heart and leaves no misery.

وَوَقارٌ وَنُفوذٌ باسِطٌ

وَوَقارٌ وَنُفوذٌ باسِطٌ

يُرهِبُ النسرَ فَلا يُؤذي الصَرد

يُرهِبُ النسرَ فَلا يُؤذي الصَرد

and dignity, and far-reaching influence

And dignity and far-reaching authority,

that awes the eagle yet never harms the shrike;

terrifying the eagle, so it does not harm the shrike.

وَصِفاتٌ صافِياتٌ لِو سَرَت

وَصِفاتٌ صافِياتٌ لِو سَرَت

في عَباب البَحر ما أَلقى الزَبد

في عَباب البَحر ما أَلقى الزَبد

and qualities so pure that, were they to course

And qualities so pure that, if they flowed

through the sea’s vast surge, it would cast up no foam.

through the surging sea, it would cast up no foam.

أَنتَ وَإِلَينا الَّذي أَبدى لَنا

أَنتَ وَإِلَينا الَّذي أَبدى لَنا

بَهجَة الأَوقاتِ وَالعَيش الرَغد

بَهجَة الأَوقاتِ وَالعَيش الرَغد

You are our governor, who has brought us

You are our governor, who has shown us

the delight of the hours and a life of ease.

the delight of our days and a life of ease.

عزنا فيك اِنجَلى فَوقَ العَلى

عزنا فيك اِنجَلى فَوقَ العَلى

وَعَلا الفَخرُ عَلى كُل أَحَد

وَعَلا الفَخرُ عَلى كُل أَحَد

Through you our glory shone above the heights,

Our glory in you has shone above the heights,

and pride rose higher than everyone else.

and pride has risen above everyone.

وَلَنا مِنكَ عِناياتٌ بِها

وَلَنا مِنكَ عِناياتٌ بِها

نَستَعيز الآن مِن شَرِّ الحَسَد

نَستَعيز الآن مِن شَرِّ الحَسَد

From you we have received such care that through it

And we have care from you through which

we now seek refuge from the evil of envy.

we now seek refuge from the evil of envy.

أَنتَ يا حامي حِما الآداب يا

أَنتَ يا حامي حِما الآداب يا

صاحب الحَزمِ وَأراءِ السَدَد

صاحب الحَزمِ وَأراءِ السَدَد

You, O defender of letters’ sacred precinct, O

You, O protector of the sanctuary of letters, O

master of resolve and sound judgment:

master of resolve and sound counsel,

لَكَ في الإِنشاءِ باعٌ دونَهُ

لَكَ في الإِنشاءِ باعٌ دونَهُ

قَصرت بَينَ البَرايا كُلُّ يَد

قَصرت بَينَ البَرايا كُلُّ يَد

in prose composition your reach is such that

in composition, yours is a reach that

every hand among humankind falls short of it.

every hand among mankind has fallen short of.

يا بَليغاً كُل لَفظٍ مِنهُ قَد

يا بَليغاً كُل لَفظٍ مِنهُ قَد

ضَمنت فيهِ مَعانٍ لا تَعد

ضَمنت فيهِ مَعانٍ لا تَعد

O eloquent one, every utterance of yours

O eloquent one, each utterance of yours has

contains meanings beyond all reckoning.

contained meanings that cannot be counted.

جانِبُ الشعرِ قَد اِعتَّزَ بِما

جانِبُ الشعرِ قَد اِعتَّزَ بِما

جِدتَ تَهديهِ فَأَثنى وَحَمد

جِدتَ تَهديهِ فَأَثنى وَحَمد

The realm of poetry took pride in what

The realm of poetry has taken pride in what

you generously bestowed upon it; it praised and gave thanks.

you generously give it, and has praised and thanked you.

جيدَهُ طَوّقَ إِذ صُغتَ لَهُ

جيدَهُ طَوّقَ إِذ صُغتَ لَهُ

دُرَر الأَلفاظ عَقداً فَإِنسَرَد

دُرَر الأَلفاظ عَقداً فَإِنسَرَد

You encircled its neck when you fashioned for it

Its neck was encircled when you fashioned for it

the pearls of words into a necklace, and thus it was strung.

pearls of words into a necklace, strung together.

أَنتَ فَردٌ في المَعالي مَن لَهُ

أَنتَ فَردٌ في المَعالي مَن لَهُ

طَلَبَ الدَهرَ مَثيلاً ما وَجَد

طَلَبَ الدَهرَ مَثيلاً ما وَجَد

You stand peerless in lofty virtues; whoever

You are peerless in noble attainments; whoever

sought through all time an equal to you found none.

searched the ages for your equal found none.