دَليلُ اِصطفاءِ اللّه للعبدِ علمهُ

دَليلُ اِصطفاءِ اللّه للعبدِ علمهُ

وتشريفُهُ أن يكشفَ الحقّ فهمهُ

وتشريفُهُ أن يكشفَ الحقّ فهمهُ

The sign that God has chosen a servant is his knowledge,

The sign of God's selection of a servant is his knowledge,

and his honor is that his understanding unveils the truth.

And his honor is that He reveals the truth to his understanding,

وَليسَت فنونُ العلمِ إلّا طرائق

وَليسَت فنونُ العلمِ إلّا طرائق

يؤمُّ بِها كلّ اِمرئٍ ما يهمّهُ

يؤمُّ بِها كلّ اِمرئٍ ما يهمّهُ

The branches of knowledge are nothing but paths

The branches of knowledge are but ways,

by which each person seeks what concerns him.

By which each person pursues what concerns him,

وهمُ الوَرى في النفعِ لكن فهومهم

وهمُ الوَرى في النفعِ لكن فهومهم

لأوجهٍ شتّى فكلٌّ وزعمهُ

لأوجهٍ شتّى فكلٌّ وزعمهُ

Humankind's concern is benefit, but their understandings

And people's concerns for benefit vary,

turn toward diverse aspects, each with his own belief.

Each according to diverse aspects, and each has his claim,

وَما خلقُهم إلّا وفاقٌ لحكمةٍ

وَما خلقُهم إلّا وفاقٌ لحكمةٍ

بِها تمّ تأليفُ الوجود ونظمهُ

بِها تمّ تأليفُ الوجود ونظمهُ

Their creation is only in accord with a wisdom

They were not created but in conformity to a wisdom,

through which existence's composition and ordering were completed.

By which the order and system of existence is perfected,

فَما بينَ راع لم يَسُس غيرَ نفسه

فَما بينَ راع لم يَسُس غيرَ نفسه

وآخرَ ماضٍ في طوائفَ حكمهُ

وآخرَ ماضٍ في طوائفَ حكمهُ

Thus, between a shepherd who governs only himself

So between a shepherd who knows none but himself,

and another whose rule prevails over communities,

And another engaged in the ranks of his rule,

وكلّ على أسّ منَ العلمِ تنبنى

وكلّ على أسّ منَ العلمِ تنبنى

إِشادتهُ فيما يسوسُ وهدمهُ

إِشادتهُ فيما يسوسُ وهدمهُ

for each, upon a foundation of knowledge rest

And each builds his direction on a foundation of knowledge,

his building and his demolition in what he governs.

Whether for guidance therein or for its destruction,

وَكيفَ يَسوسُ النفسَ والناسَ جاهلٌ

وَكيفَ يَسوسُ النفسَ والناسَ جاهلٌ

بعاد وطبعٍ والحميّة قومهُ

بعاد وطبعٍ والحميّة قومهُ

How can an ignorant man govern himself and others,

How can an ignorant man govern himself or others,

unversed in his people's customs, temperament, and solidarity?

With natural disposition and zeal for his people?

لِذلكَ لمّا اِستخلفَ اللّه آدماً

لِذلكَ لمّا اِستخلفَ اللّه آدماً

توفّرَ من علمِ الحقائقِ قسمهُ

توفّرَ من علمِ الحقائقِ قسمهُ

Therefore, when God appointed Adam as vicegerent,

Therefore, when God appointed Adam as successor,

his share of knowledge of realities became abundant,

He was endowed with a share of the knowledge of realities,

إِلى أَن درى سرّ التناسبِ بينها

إِلى أَن درى سرّ التناسبِ بينها

وَوجه المسمّى المقتضي ما هو اِسمهُ

وَوجه المسمّى المقتضي ما هو اِسمهُ

until he knew the secret of their correspondence

Until he knew the secret of harmony between them,

and the aspect of each named thing that calls for its name.

And how the named requires what is its name,

فَأَصبحَ يُلقي للملائكِ علمها

فَأَصبحَ يُلقي للملائكِ علمها

بِتوقيفهم لا بالّذي هو علمهُ

بِتوقيفهم لا بالّذي هو علمهُ

So he came to impart knowledge of them to the angels,

So he came to teach the angels their knowledge,

by instructing them, not through the means of his own knowing.

By directing them, not by what was his knowledge,

وَأَعلنَ فضلُ العلمِ أن سَجدوا له

وَأَعلنَ فضلُ العلمِ أن سَجدوا له

وَحاقَ بمَن عنه تكبّر رجمهُ

وَحاقَ بمَن عنه تكبّر رجمهُ

Their prostration before him proclaimed knowledge's excellence,

And the superiority of knowledge was shown when they prostrated to him,

and expulsion overtook the one who proudly turned away from him.

And the one who arrogantly refused was pelted with stones,

وَلمّا اِنبرى للأرضِ مُستعمراً لها

وَلمّا اِنبرى للأرضِ مُستعمراً لها

تجشّم شقّاً يبهضُ النفس جشمهُ

تجشّم شقّاً يبهضُ النفس جشمهُ

When he set forth to settle the earth,

And when he embarked upon the earth as its settler,

he undertook a hardship whose burden weighs upon the soul.

He undertook a struggle the self abhors undertaking,

فبثّ بنيهِ في ذرىً ومناكب

فبثّ بنيهِ في ذرىً ومناكب

ليعنيَ كلّاً خطّ قطرٍ ورضمهُ

ليعنيَ كلّاً خطّ قطرٍ ورضمهُ

He scattered his sons across heights and slopes,

So he spread his children across the lands and regions,

so each would concern himself with a region's bounds and stonework.

That each might tend to the line of a territory and develop it,

فكانَ مناطُ العلمِ والدينِ والعلى

فكانَ مناطُ العلمِ والدينِ والعلى

بِحيثُ نَما العمرانُ واِمتدّ رسمهُ

بِحيثُ نَما العمرانُ واِمتدّ رسمهُ

Thus knowledge, religion, and eminence found their seat

Thus the center of knowledge, religion and sublimity,

where civilization grew and its imprint spread.

Became where civilization grew and its plan extended,

فَلستَ تَرى نورَ النبوّة مشرقاً

فَلستَ تَرى نورَ النبوّة مشرقاً

عَلى غيرِ إقليمٍ توسّط خلمهُ

عَلى غيرِ إقليمٍ توسّط خلمهُ

You do not see the light of prophethood shining

You do not see the light of prophecy shining,

upon any clime but one of moderate richness.

Except on a region centered within its curve,

وَللنفسِ في بسطِ الحضارة نزوةٌ

وَللنفسِ في بسطِ الحضارة نزوةٌ

بِها الوازعُ الدينيُّ يختلّ رسمهُ

بِها الوازعُ الدينيُّ يختلّ رسمهُ

As civilization expands, the soul has an impetuous urge

And the self has in the expansion of civilization a desire,

through which the order of religious restraint is disturbed.

By which religious restraint becomes disordered in its form,

لِذاك تَرى ظلّ التملّك سابقاً

لِذاك تَرى ظلّ التملّك سابقاً

بِعصرٍ طَوى ظلّ الخلافة لؤمهُ

بِعصرٍ طَوى ظلّ الخلافة لؤمهُ

Hence you see the shadow of kingship drawing ahead

For that you see the shadow of absolute rule preceding,

in an age whose baseness swept away the caliphate's shadow.

An era whose shadow envelops the caliphate and tarnishes it,

وَما سوسُ ملكٍ في التمدّن واغلٌ

وَما سوسُ ملكٍ في التمدّن واغلٌ

كَملكٍ تخطّاه الرفاهُ وجمّهُ

كَملكٍ تخطّاه الرفاهُ وجمّهُ

The governance of a kingdom immersed in civilization is not

No kingdom in civilization is more unjust or blameworthy,

like that of a kingdom passed over by luxury and its abundance.

Than a kingdom made loose by prosperity and plenty,

هنالك تُجتثّ الحميّة بالهوى

هنالك تُجتثّ الحميّة بالهوى

ويضعفُ مِن بأسِ التوجُّدِ قسمهُ

ويضعفُ مِن بأسِ التوجُّدِ قسمهُ

There, desire uproots solidarity,

There zeal is uprooted by passions,

and its share of fervent strength grows weak.

And the strength of noble ambitions weakened,

يُظِلّ الهوى مَن أمّه وهو تابعٌ

يُظِلّ الهوى مَن أمّه وهو تابعٌ

كظلٍّ لِمَن شمسُ العلومِ تؤمُّهُ

كظلٍّ لِمَن شمسُ العلومِ تؤمُّهُ

Desire shades whoever seeks it, yet it follows

Passions overshadow one whose mother they are,

like a shadow, the one whom the sun of learning seeks.

Like a shadow to one the sun of knowledge guides,

وَما خسرَ الإنسانُ وجهَ سعادةٍ

وَما خسرَ الإنسانُ وجهَ سعادةٍ

إِذا مِن فنونِ العلمِ وُفِّرَ سهمهُ

إِذا مِن فنونِ العلمِ وُفِّرَ سهمهُ

A human loses no avenue to happiness

Man loses not the face of prosperity,

when his share of the branches of knowledge is abundant.

If his share of the branches of knowledge is ample,

فَما الجِسمُ إلّا خادمُ المالِ ساعياً

فَما الجِسمُ إلّا خادمُ المالِ ساعياً

وَما المالُ إلّا خادمُ الجاهِ لمّهُ

وَما المالُ إلّا خادمُ الجاهِ لمّهُ

The body is but wealth's servant, striving;

For the body is but a servant to money, striving,

wealth is but rank's servant through its accumulation;

And money is but a servant to status, gathering,

وَما الجاهُ إلا خادمُ الملكِ لائذاً

وَما الجاهُ إلا خادمُ الملكِ لائذاً

وَما الملكُ إِلا خادمُ الشرعِ حزمهُ

وَما الملكُ إِلا خادمُ الشرعِ حزمهُ

rank is but kingship's servant, seeking refuge;

And status is but a servant to rule, seeking refuge,

kingship is but sacred law's servant in its firm resolve;

And rule is but a servant to religious law, resolving,

وَما الشرعُ إلّا خادمُ الحقّ مرشداً

وَما الشرعُ إلّا خادمُ الحقّ مرشداً

وَبالحقّ قامَ الكونُ واِنزاح ظلمهُ

وَبالحقّ قامَ الكونُ واِنزاح ظلمهُ

sacred law is but Truth's servant, guiding;

And religious law is but a servant to truth, guiding,

through Truth the universe stands, and its injustice is dispelled.

By truth existence arose and its darkness receded,

فَلستَ تَرى ما أرزمت أمُّ حائلٍ

فَلستَ تَرى ما أرزمت أمُّ حائلٍ

عُلىً مُستمرّاً ليسَ بالعلم دعمهُ

عُلىً مُستمرّاً ليسَ بالعلم دعمهُ

Never, so long as a she-calf's mother lows, will you see

You do not see towering might continuing forever,

lasting eminence whose support is not knowledge.

Unless knowledge is its pillar of support,

يطالُ به بيض الأنوقِ وإن سما

يطالُ به بيض الأنوقِ وإن سما

وَتنزل من نيقِ الحوالقِ عصمهُ

وَتنزل من نيقِ الحوالقِ عصمهُ

Through it the vulture's eggs are reached, however high they lie,

It reaches the nests of ostriches, though high,

and the mountain goats descend from towering summits.

And descends from the slopes of gazelles, though lofty,

إِذا أحكم الإنسانُ ظاهرَ منصبٍ

إِذا أحكم الإنسانُ ظاهرَ منصبٍ

وَباطِنَه علماً مَضى فيه عزمهُ

وَباطِنَه علماً مَضى فيه عزمهُ

When a person masters the outward aspect of an office

When man perfects the outward authority,

and its inner workings through knowledge, his resolve advances within it.

And its inward reality with firm knowledge,

فَمَن عَلِمَ الأشياءَ وفّى حُقوقَها

فَمَن عَلِمَ الأشياءَ وفّى حُقوقَها

وَدانَ لَه فيما يحاولُ خصمهُ

وَدانَ لَه فيما يحاولُ خصمهُ

Whoever knows things gives them their due,

Then he who knows things and fulfills their rights,

and his opponent submits to him in what he attempts.

To him is submitted what his opponent contends,

وَكلُّ فنونِ العلمِ للملكِ نافعٌ

وَكلُّ فنونِ العلمِ للملكِ نافعٌ

وَلا سِيما ما سايرَ الملكَ حكمهُ

وَلا سِيما ما سايرَ الملكَ حكمهُ

Every branch of knowledge benefits kingship,

And every branch of knowledge is beneficial to rule,

especially that whose principles keep pace with kingship.

Especially what agrees with the wisdom of rule,

أَرى الملكَ مثلَ الفلكِ تحتَ رئيسهِ

أَرى الملكَ مثلَ الفلكِ تحتَ رئيسهِ

عويزٌ إِلى الأعوانِ فيما يؤمّهُ

عويزٌ إِلى الأعوانِ فيما يؤمّهُ

I see kingship as a ship beneath its captain,

I see the king like a sphere under its head,

needing helpers for the destination it seeks.

Needing his subordinates for what concerns him,

فَذلكَ نوتيّ يعينُ بفعلهِ

فَذلكَ نوتيّ يعينُ بفعلهِ

وَآخرَ خرّتتٌ قصاراه علمهُ

وَآخرَ خرّتتٌ قصاراه علمهُ

One is a sailor who helps through his labor,

One is the navigating pilot whose action,

another an expert guide whose utmost resource is his knowledge.

Another the retreating sailor whose knowledge is short,

وَمقصدُهُ جَريُ السفينِ وحفظها

وَمقصدُهُ جَريُ السفينِ وحفظها

ليسلمَ كلٌّ أو ليعظم غنمهُ

ليسلمَ كلٌّ أو ليعظم غنمهُ

His aim is to keep the ships moving and preserve them,

And the aim is sailing the ship and keeping it safe,

so each may be safe, or his gains grow greater.

That each may be secure or profit greatly,

أَيَركب هولَ البحرَ دون مقاومٍ

أَيَركب هولَ البحرَ دون مقاومٍ

وَفي طيّه حربٌ كَما يؤذنُ اِسمهُ

وَفي طيّه حربٌ كَما يؤذنُ اِسمهُ

Can one brave the sea's terror without one to withstand it,

Does he sail the seas' swell without resisting waves,

when war lies folded within it, as its name suggests?

While in its folds there is war, as its name indicates?

لِذاك تَرى ملكَ الفرنجِ مؤثّلاً

لِذاك تَرى ملكَ الفرنجِ مؤثّلاً

بعلمٍ على الأيّامِ يمتدّ يمّهُ

بعلمٍ على الأيّامِ يمتدّ يمّهُ

Hence you see the Franks' dominion firmly rooted

For this you see the king of the Franks empowered,

in knowledge, its sea extending through the days.

By knowledge of the modern sciences and arts,

وَمملكة الإسلامِ يقلصُ ظلّها

وَمملكة الإسلامِ يقلصُ ظلّها

وينقصُ مِن أَطرافها ما تضمّهُ

وينقصُ مِن أَطرافها ما تضمّهُ

Meanwhile, the shadow of Islam's kingdom shrinks,

While the kingdom of Islam diminishes in shade,

and what it embraces at its borders diminishes,

And parts of its edges crumble from what they encompass,

عَلى أنّها أَجدى وأبسط رقعةً

عَلى أنّها أَجدى وأبسط رقعةً

وَأوسطُ إِقليماً مِنَ الطبعِ عظمهُ

وَأوسطُ إِقليماً مِنَ الطبعِ عظمهُ

though it is more bountiful and broader in territory,

Though it is more enduring and vaster in expanse,

and more temperate in clime, its greatness born of nature,

And more moderate in climate by nature,

وَأعرَق في مَنمى الحضارةِ موقعاً

وَأعرَق في مَنمى الحضارةِ موقعاً

وَأَطولُ باعاً يفلقُ الهامَ خذمهُ

وَأَطولُ باعاً يفلقُ الهامَ خذمهُ

and situated more deeply at civilization's source,

With the most deeply rooted place in civilization's growth,

and farther-reaching, with a stroke that cleaves skulls.

And the longest historical reach cleaving resolves,

وَقدماً تناهَت في الفنونِ توغُّلاً

وَقدماً تناهَت في الفنونِ توغُّلاً

وجمِّعَ طمُّ الصنعِ فيها ورَمُّهُ

وجمِّعَ طمُّ الصنعِ فيها ورَمُّهُ

Long ago it attained the deepest mastery of the arts,

With steps advanced far in the sciences,

and gathered within itself all craft, great and small.

Having gathered the bounty of crafts within it,

وَدوّخَ مَغزاها الأقاليمَ سبعةً

وَدوّخَ مَغزاها الأقاليمَ سبعةً

وَتاخَمها من سدّ يأجوجَ ردمهُ

وَتاخَمها من سدّ يأجوجَ ردمهُ

Its campaigning subdued the seven climes,

And made its expeditions conquer the seven climes,

and the rampart of Gog's barrier bordered it.

And neighboring from the barrier of Gog and Magog its buildup,

فَلَم يجدِ المستعبدونَ لعزّها

فَلَم يجدِ المستعبدونَ لعزّها

سِوى العلمِ نهجاً للرئاسةِ أمّهُ

سِوى العلمِ نهجاً للرئاسةِ أمّهُ

Those subject to its might found

The subjugated found no path to its glory,

no path but knowledge, whose goal was supremacy.

Except knowledge, the exemplar of leadership and mother,

فَكانَ لَهم منهُ النفوذُ إِلى المنى

فَكانَ لَهم منهُ النفوذُ إِلى المنى

وَلا سيما ثغرٌ خَبا منه حجمهُ

وَلا سيما ثغرٌ خَبا منه حجمهُ

Through it they gained access to their aspirations,

With it they gained access to wishes,

especially at a frontier whose stature had faded.

Especially where an aspect of it was deficient,

فَمَن لم يجس خبراً أروبا وملكها

فَمَن لم يجس خبراً أروبا وملكها

وَلَم يَتَغلغل في المصانعِ فهمهُ

وَلَم يَتَغلغل في المصانعِ فهمهُ

Whoever has not sounded out Europe and its dominion,

Whoever is ignorant of Europe and its rule,

and whose understanding has not penetrated its workshops,

And does not penetrate into industries with understanding,

فَذاكَ في كنِّ البلاهةِ داجنٌ

فَذاكَ في كنِّ البلاهةِ داجنٌ

وَفي مضجعِ العاداتِ يُلهيه حلمهُ

وَفي مضجعِ العاداتِ يُلهيه حلمهُ

is a tame creature sheltered by dullness,

Remains in the bosom of ignorance,

and on the bed of habit his dreaming distracts him.

Distracted in the bed of customs by his dream,

وَمَن لزمَ الأوطانَ أصبحَ كالكلا

وَمَن لزمَ الأوطانَ أصبحَ كالكلا

بِمنبتهِ منماهُ ثمّت حطمهُ

بِمنبتهِ منماهُ ثمّت حطمهُ

Whoever stays rooted in his homeland becomes like grass:

Whoever clings to homelands becomes like herbage,

where it sprouts it grows, and there it crumbles.

Growing in its place, then plucked and discarded,

هُمُ غَرسوا دوحَ التمدّن فرعُه الر

هُمُ غَرسوا دوحَ التمدّن فرعُه الر

رياضيّ وَالعلمُ الطبيعيّ جذمهُ

رياضيّ وَالعلمُ الطبيعيّ جذمهُ

They planted civilization's great tree, whose branch is

They planted the tree of civilization, on its boughs,

mathematics, and whose root is natural science.

Mathematics and natural philosophy flourished,

فَكانَ لَهُم في ظلّه متقيِّلٌ

فَكانَ لَهُم في ظلّه متقيِّلٌ

مِنَ الصولِ يُحمى بالمكائدِ أطمهُ

مِنَ الصولِ يُحمى بالمكائدِ أطمهُ

Under its shade they found a place for noonday rest,

In its shade they took comfortable refuge,

whose fortress is shielded from assaults by stratagems.

From severity, protected by schemes,

لَقَد فاتَنا في بادئِ الرأي صوبُنا

لَقَد فاتَنا في بادئِ الرأي صوبُنا

وَأشفى لَعمري أَن يفوّتَ ختمهُ

وَأشفى لَعمري أَن يفوّتَ ختمهُ

At first glance, we have already missed our right course,

We have in the beginning of opinion missed our path,

and, by my life, its conclusion is close to eluding us.

And would to my life the conclusion be not missed!

تَباعَد شوطاً مقدمٌ ومقهقرٌ

تَباعَد شوطاً مقدمٌ ومقهقرٌ

إِذا لم يَحِن منهُ اِلتفاتٌ يزمّهُ

إِذا لم يَحِن منهُ اِلتفاتٌ يزمّهُ

One advancing and one retreating grow a course's length apart,

One procession moves ahead and another lags behind,

unless a timely turn of attention reins him in.

If attention be not given to bring the latter group up,

لَعَمري لَيس الميتُ من أُودِعَ الثرى

لَعَمري لَيس الميتُ من أُودِعَ الثرى

وَلكن مطيقٌ لِلغنى بانَ عدمهُ

وَلكن مطيقٌ لِلغنى بانَ عدمهُ

By my life, the dead man is not the one laid in the earth,

By my life, not dead is he who is laid in the dust,

but one capable of wealth whose poverty is plain.

But dead of strength is he who cannot equip himself,

وَميتُ القوى مَن لا يهيء بنفسهِ

وَميتُ القوى مَن لا يهيء بنفسهِ

لإنصافها من حيثُ يغبنُ جسمهُ

لإنصافها من حيثُ يغبنُ جسمهُ

Dead in strength is he who does not prepare himself

Where his body falls short, though his spirit urges,

to secure his due wherever his body is wronged.

They killed the life of the two abodes in knowledge,

لَقد قَتلوا دُنيا الحياتينِ خبرةً

لَقد قَتلوا دُنيا الحياتينِ خبرةً

فَمن لم يُساهِمهم فقد طاشَ سَهمهُ

فَمن لم يُساهِمهم فقد طاشَ سَهمهُ

They have mastered through experience the earthly of the two lives;

Whoever does not participate with them, his arrow has missed,

whoever does not share with them has shot his arrow wide.

Every superior whose merits empower him,

وَكلُّ رئيسٍ أَمكَنته فضائلٌ

وَكلُّ رئيسٍ أَمكَنته فضائلٌ

فَأعوَدها نفعاً عَلى الخلقِ همُّهُ

فَأعوَدها نفعاً عَلى الخلقِ همُّهُ

Of every leader's enabling virtues,

Should employ them to benefit the people, and this is his concern,

the most beneficial to humankind is his resolve.

Shall the free soul remain stuck in confusion,

أَيلزمُ حرُّ النفسِ برزخ حيرةٍ

أَيلزمُ حرُّ النفسِ برزخ حيرةٍ

عكوفاً عَلى أصنام وهم تهمّهُ

عكوفاً عَلى أصنام وهم تهمّهُ

Can a free-spirited man remain in a limbo of bewilderment,

Lingering over idols, distracted by its cares,

devoted to idols of illusion that preoccupy him,

While its path is clear and the guide to it beautiful,

وَمسلكهُ نهجٌ وحاديه شائقٌ

وَمسلكهُ نهجٌ وحاديه شائقٌ

وَمُرشدهُ يومي وَقد لاح أمّهُ

وَمُرشدهُ يومي وَقد لاح أمّهُ

when his road is clear and his camel-driver stirs longing,

And the daily guide manifest, its time come?

and his guide beckons, his destination already visible?

Nay, but he has resolved the matter and embarked,

بَلى إنّه قد أبرمَ الأمرَ واِنبرى

بَلى إنّه قد أبرمَ الأمرَ واِنبرى

إِلى ردّ ما قَد بزّ من عزّ عزمهُ

إِلى ردّ ما قَد بزّ من عزّ عزمهُ

Indeed, he has settled the matter and set forth

Upon restoring what diminished from its glory by his resolve,

to restore the honor wrested away, with all his resolve.

A brilliant minister of supreme command,

وزيرٌ عصاميُّ السيادةِ سابقٌ

وزيرٌ عصاميُّ السيادةِ سابقٌ

عَلى المُرتأي مغزاهُ والخطبُ حزمهُ

عَلى المُرتأي مغزاهُ والخطبُ حزمهُ

A minister, self-made in eminence, outstripping

Preceding consideration, his mind piercing and speech decisive,

the planner in purpose, and the crisis in firm resolve.

You see him, not knowing whether kindness melts his severity,

تَراهُ فَلا تَدري لإفراط بشرهِ

تَراهُ فَلا تَدري لإفراط بشرهِ

تودّدَ أم دارى لأمرٍ يهمّهُ

تودّدَ أم دارى لأمرٍ يهمّهُ

You see him, yet, so overflowing is his cheer,

Or judgment stirs a concern that preoccupies him,

cannot tell whether he seeks affection or tactfully pursues a concern.

Justice shows him the merit of his opposite,

يُبينُ له الإنصاف إحسانَ ضدّهِ

يُبينُ له الإنصاف إحسانَ ضدّهِ

وَلكنّه يُخفي المساوئ حلمهُ

وَلكنّه يُخفي المساوئ حلمهُ

Fairness makes his opponent's good deeds plain to him,

But he conceals the faults in forbearance,

but his forbearance conceals the faults.

I envy him that knowledge, like one envying,

أغارُ عَلى تلكَ العلوم كآصفٍ

أغارُ عَلى تلكَ العلوم كآصفٍ

عَلى عرشِ بلقيس المنكّر رضمهُ

عَلى عرشِ بلقيس المنكّر رضمهُ

He swept down upon those sciences, like Asif

The throne of Bilqis, though rejecting its pagan engraving,

upon Bilqis's throne, its structure disguised.

He aimed its horizons with the two brilliant stars, Muhammad,

رَمى أُفقها بِالفَرقدينِ محمّدِ الش

رَمى أُفقها بِالفَرقدينِ محمّدِ الش

شمائِلِ وَالمنجي المبارك نجمهُ

شمائِلِ وَالمنجي المبارك نجمهُ

He cast into their horizon the two pole-stars: Muhammad of fine

The praised, and The Savior, the blessed celestial bodies,

character, and al-Munji, whose star is blessed.

His two noble sons, both of whom spoke in the cradle,

سَليليه نَجليه اللّذين كلاهِما

سَليليه نَجليه اللّذين كلاهِما

تَكلّم في مهدٍ بعلياه وسمهُ

تَكلّم في مهدٍ بعلياه وسمهُ

His two offspring, his two sons, in each of whom

Articulating his name in their loftiness and sublimity,

his mark of greatness spoke while still in the cradle.

And paralleled with two mirrors of their thoughts,

وَحاذى بِمرآتينِ مِن فكرتَيهما

وَحاذى بِمرآتينِ مِن فكرتَيهما

مُدوّنها حتّى تمثّل رسمهُ

مُدوّنها حتّى تمثّل رسمهُ

He held the two mirrors of their minds opposite

Transcribing until its form was displayed,

the sciences' written record, until its image took shape.

And when they expressed the core of a heart, marveling,

وَمُذ أَعربا عَن ظهرِ قلبٍ فَأغربا

وَمُذ أَعربا عَن ظهرِ قلبٍ فَأغربا

أقرّت بفضلِ العربِ في العلم عجمهُ

أقرّت بفضلِ العربِ في العلم عجمهُ

When they spoke eloquently from memory and astonished,

All acknowledged the precedence of Arabs in knowledge,

its non-Arab scholars acknowledged the Arabs' excellence in knowledge.

And each was certain that it was the start of an era,

وَأيقَن كلٌّ أنّه بدءُ دورةٍ

وَأيقَن كلٌّ أنّه بدءُ دورةٍ

يُراجعُ فيها أفقَ تونس نجمهُ

يُراجعُ فيها أفقَ تونس نجمهُ

Everyone became certain that this was a cycle's beginning

In which the horizon of Tunis renews its star,

in which its star would return to the horizon of Tunis.

While the benefit of the chiefs' rule to the people generally,

وَجزئيُّ أربابِ الرئاسَةِ نفعهُ

وَجزئيُّ أربابِ الرئاسَةِ نفعهُ

إِلى الخلقِ كليٌّ إِذا حان تمّهُ

إِلى الخلقِ كليٌّ إِذا حان تمّهُ

The benefit of those who hold authority, though particular,

Is complete, once the conclusion unites with the aim,

is universal for humankind when it reaches completion.

If the beginning of a matter is rightly guided, then fortunate,

إِذا كانَ مبدأ الأمرِ هديا فغبطةٌ

إِذا كانَ مبدأ الأمرِ هديا فغبطةٌ

عَواقبهُ والنهجُ قصدٌ مأمّهُ

عَواقبهُ والنهجُ قصدٌ مأمّهُ

If an undertaking begins with guidance, then blessedness

Are its consequences, and the approach, its protected mother,

is its outcome, and the path is direct in its aim.

O You, O Minister, by whom God has granted virtue to this land,

أَلا أيّها المولى الوزيرِ الّذي بهِ

أَلا أيّها المولى الوزيرِ الّذي بهِ

حَبا اللّه هَذا القطر فخرا يعمّهُ

حَبا اللّه هَذا القطر فخرا يعمّهُ

O master, O minister, through whom

Adorning it with a pride reaching all,

God has granted this land a pride that embraces it,

May the high station your two sons have erected,

لِيهناك ما قَد شادَ نجلاكَ من علىً

لِيهناك ما قَد شادَ نجلاكَ من علىً

وَما أتلدا من مفخرٍ أنت جذمهُ

وَما أتلدا من مفخرٍ أنت جذمهُ

may you rejoice in the heights your two sons have built,

And the glories you sired through them, endure,

and the lasting glory they have established, whose root you are.

Advance them into public offices as teachers,

فَرشّحهما للمعلواتِ محاضراً

فَرشّحهما للمعلواتِ محاضراً

وَأوطئهما أعقابَ فضلٍ تؤمّهُ

وَأوطئهما أعقابَ فضلٍ تؤمّهُ

Prepare them for high attainments, spurring them onward,

And pave for them steps of merit guiding,

and have them tread the footsteps of the excellence you seek.

And raise them in the state of the King who knows from you,

وَرقّهما في دولةِ الملكِ الّذي

وَرقّهما في دولةِ الملكِ الّذي

دَرى منك ما يَخفى على الناس علمهُ

دَرى منك ما يَخفى على الناس علمهُ

Raise them in the state of the sovereign who

What is hidden from the people, of your knowledge,

has recognized in you what remains hidden from others' knowledge.

Seek the pleasure of the Merciful through what He has chosen for you,

توخّى رضا الرحمنِ فيك بِما اِصطفى

توخّى رضا الرحمنِ فيك بِما اِصطفى

إِليك منَ الفضلِ الّذي دقّ فهمهُ

إِليك منَ الفضلِ الّذي دقّ فهمهُ

He sought the All-Merciful's pleasure in you through what he chose

Of merit penetrating your understanding,

for you of distinction, whose meaning is subtle:

A special quality, veiled in the dark of humanity,

خُصوصٌ توارى في غِشىً بشريّة

خُصوصٌ توارى في غِشىً بشريّة

لآدم من قبل تقرّر حكمهُ

لآدم من قبل تقرّر حكمهُ

a special grace concealed beneath human veils,

Decreed for Adam beforehand in its judgment,

whose decree had already been ordained for Adam.

Clarifying it while people are in the veil of heedlessness,

تبيّنه والناسُ في حجب غفلةٍ

تبيّنه والناسُ في حجب غفلةٍ

إِلى أَن جَلا عن صبحه مُدلهمّهُ

إِلى أَن جَلا عن صبحه مُدلهمّهُ

He discerned it while others remained behind veils of heedlessness,

Until its dawn uncovered their long night,

until its deep darkness lifted from its dawn.

So to God belongs the guidance He inspired,

فللّه ما أَهدى وأنفذ فكرةً

فللّه ما أَهدى وأنفذ فكرةً

وَأوسعَ جأشاً يحتوي الكون ضمّهُ

وَأوسعَ جأشاً يحتوي الكون ضمّهُ

God be praised—how discerning, how penetrating in thought,

And the thought He expanded to encompass existence, gathered,

how broad of heart, his embrace encompassing the universe!

And I am humbled by elaborating on some of his praise,

وَيُخجِلُني اِستطرادُ بعض مديحهِ

وَيُخجِلُني اِستطرادُ بعض مديحهِ

وأُكبره عَن أن يسمّى به اِسمُهُ

وأُكبره عَن أن يسمّى به اِسمُهُ

I am embarrassed to digress into even part of his praise,

And magnify him beyond being named by his name,

and deem him too great for his name to be described by it.

But it is a debt upon me, prohibiting satisfaction

وَلكنّه دين عليّ يصدّ عن

وَلكنّه دين عليّ يصدّ عن

قَضائي له اِستنزارُ ما عنّ نظمهُ

قَضائي له اِستنزارُ ما عنّ نظمهُ

Yet it is a debt upon me; what prevents

Of my duty to him with the poetry I have composed,

my paying it is my deeming the verses that came to mind too scant.

You have remained for this King a man of insight,

بَقيتَ لهذا الملكِ إنسانَ ناظرٍ

بَقيتَ لهذا الملكِ إنسانَ ناظرٍ

بِرأيك مرآهَ ومرآك نعمهُ

بِرأيك مرآهَ ومرآك نعمهُ

May you remain the pupil of this kingdom's eye,

Your view his mirror and his bounty your mirror,

your judgment giving it sight, its blessings your prospect.

And you have conveyed in self, family and world,

وَبلّغتَ في نفسٍ وأهلٍ وفي الورى

وَبلّغتَ في نفسٍ وأهلٍ وفي الورى

مُنىً هي مبدأ كلّ فوزٍ وختمهُ

مُنىً هي مبدأ كلّ فوزٍ وختمهُ

May you attain, for yourself, your kin, and all humankind,

A purpose it is the source of every winning and conclusion,

wishes that are the beginning and the end of every triumph.