أَبَنِيO sons of الْكِنَانَةِal-Kinana (Egypt) أَبْشِرُواrejoice بِمُحَمّدin Muhammad
أَبَنِي الْكِنَانَةِ أَبْشِرُوا بِمُحَمّد
وَثِقُواand trust بِرَاعٍin a shepherd فِيin الْمَكَارِمِnoble deeds أَوْحَدِpeerless
وَثِقُوا بِرَاعٍ فِي الْمَكَارِمِ أَوْحَدِ
O sons of al-Kinana, rejoice in Muhammad,
and trust a shepherd peerless in noble deeds.
فَهُوَfor he الزَّعِيمُthe guarantor لَكُمْfor you بِكُلِّof every فَضِيلَةٍvirtue
فَهُوَ الزَّعِيمُ لَكُمْ بِكُلِّ فَضِيلَةٍ
تَبْقَىendure مَآثِرُهَاits noble deeds وَعَيْشٍand a life أَرْغَدِmore abundant
تَبْقَى مَآثِرُهَا وَعَيْشٍ أَرْغَدِ
For he guarantees you every virtue
whose noble deeds endure, and a more abundant life.
مَلِكٌa king نَمَتْهُbrought him forth أَرُومَةٌancestral stock عَلَوِيَّةٌAlawi
مَلِكٌ نَمَتْهُ أَرُومَةٌ عَلَوِيَّةٌ
مَلَكَتْheld بِسُؤْدُدِهَاby its eminence عِنَانَthe reins of الْفَرْقَدِal-Farqad (a star)
مَلَكَتْ بِسُؤْدُدِهَا عِنَانَ الْفَرْقَدِ
A king sprung from an Alawi stock
that, by its eminence, held the reins of al-Farqad.
يَقِظُwakeful in الْبَصِيرَةِinsight لَوْeven if سَرَتْcrept فيinto عَيْنِهِhis eye
يَقِظُ الْبَصِيرَةِ لَوْ سَرَتْ في عَيْنِهِ
سِنَةُthe drowsiness of الرُّقَادِsleep فَقَلْبُهُyet his heart لَمْnot يَرْقُدِslumber
سِنَةُ الرُّقَادِ فَقَلْبُهُ لَمْ يَرْقُدِ
Wakeful in insight—even should there steal into his eye
the drowsiness of sleep, his heart would not slumber.
بَدَهَاتُهُhis spontaneous insights قَيْدُa fetter for الصَّوَابِsound judgment وَعَزْمُهُand his resolve
بَدَهَاتُهُ قَيْدُ الصَّوَابِ وَعَزْمُهُ
شَرَكُa snare for الْفَوارِسِhorsemen فِيin الْعَجَاجِswirling dust الأَرْبَدِdusky
شَرَكُ الْفَوارِسِ فِي الْعَجَاجِ الأَرْبَدِ
His intuitions hold sound judgment fast; his resolve
is a snare for horsemen amid the dusky battle-dust.
فَإِذَاso when تَنَمَّرَgrows leopard-fierce فَهْوَthen he is زَيْدٌZayd فِيin الْوَغَىbattle
فَإِذَا تَنَمَّرَ فَهْوَ زَيْدٌ فِي الْوَغَى
وإِذَاand when تَكَلَّمَhe speaks فَهْوَthen he is قَيْسٌQays فِيin النَّدِيthe assembly
وإِذَا تَكَلَّمَ فَهْوَ قَيْسٌ فِي النَّدِي
When he grows fierce as a leopard, he is Zayd in battle;
and when he speaks, he is Qays in the assembly.
مُتَقَسَّمٌshared مَاwhat is بَيْنَbetween حُنْكَةِthe seasoned wisdom of أَشْيبٍa gray-haired man
مُتَقَسَّمٌ مَا بَيْنَ حُنْكَةِ أَشْيبٍ
صَدَقَتْproved true مَخِيلَتُهُhis intuition وَحِلْيَةِand the beauty of أَمْرَدِa beardless youth
صَدَقَتْ مَخِيلَتُهُ وَحِلْيَةِ أَمْرَدِ
He combines the seasoned wisdom of a gray-haired man
whose intuition proves true, with the beauty of a beardless youth.
لاnot يَسْتَرِيحُhe rests إِلىin الْفَرَاغِidleness ولاnor يَرَىhe finds
لا يَسْتَرِيحُ إِلى الْفَرَاغِ ولا يَرَى
عَيْشاًa life يَلَذُّhe delights بِهِin it إِذَاif لَمْnot يَجْهَدِhe strives
عَيْشاً يَلَذُّ بِهِ إِذَا لَمْ يَجْهَدِ
He takes no comfort in idleness, nor finds
life delightful unless he labors.
فَنَهَارُهُso his day غَيْثُrain for اللَّهِيفِthe distressed ولَيْلُهُand his night
فَنَهَارُهُ غَيْثُ اللَّهِيفِ ولَيْلُهُ
فيin طَاعَةِobedience to الرَّحْمَنِthe All-Merciful لَيْلُthe night of الْعُبَّدِdevout worshippers
في طَاعَةِ الرَّحْمَنِ لَيْلُ الْعُبَّدِ
His day is rain for the distressed; his night,
in obedience to the All-Merciful, is the worshippers' night.
لَهِجٌdevoted بِحُبِّto the love of الصَّالِحَاتِgood deeds فَكُلَّمَاso whenever
لَهِجٌ بِحُبِّ الصَّالِحَاتِ فَكُلَّمَا
بَلَغَhe reaches النِّهَايَةَthe end مِنْof صَنِيعٍa kindness يَبْتَدِيhe begins
بَلَغَ النِّهَايَةَ مِنْ صَنِيعٍ يَبْتَدِي
Fervent in his love of good deeds, whenever
he reaches the end of one kindness, he begins anew.
خُلُقٌa character trait تَمَيَّزَdistinguished itself عَنْfrom سِوَاهُothers besides it بِفَضْلِهِby its excellence
خُلُقٌ تَمَيَّزَ عَنْ سِوَاهُ بِفَضْلِهِ
والْفَضْلُand excellence فِيin الأَخْلاقِcharacter إِرْثُthe inheritance of الْمَحْتدِancestral stock
والْفَضْلُ فِي الأَخْلاقِ إِرْثُ الْمَحْتدِ
A character distinguished from others by its excellence;
and excellence of character is an inheritance of ancestral stock.
إِقْلِيدُa key to مُعْضِلَةٍa knotty problem وَمَعْقِلُand a fortress for عَائِذٍone seeking refuge
إِقْلِيدُ مُعْضِلَةٍ وَمَعْقِلُ عَائِذٍ
وَسَماءُand a sky for مُنْتَجِعٍa seeker of bounty وَقِبْلَةُand a prayer-direction for مُهْتَدِone rightly guided
وَسَماءُ مُنْتَجِعٍ وَقِبْلَةُ مُهْتَدِ
A key to a knotty problem, a fortress for one seeking refuge,
a sky for the seeker of bounty, and a qibla for the rightly guided.
حَسُنَتْgrew fair بِهِthrough him الأَيَّامُthe days حَتَّىuntil أَسْفَرَتْthey unveiled
حَسُنَتْ بِهِ الأَيَّامُ حَتَّى أَسْفَرَتْ
عَنْfrom وَجْهِthe face of مَعْشُوقِone beloved for الشَّمائِلِhis qualities أَغْيَدِgraceful
عَنْ وَجْهِ مَعْشُوقِ الشَّمائِلِ أَغْيَدِ
Through him the days grew fair, until they unveiled
the face of one graceful, beloved for his ways.
وَصَفَتْand grew clear مَوَارِدُthe watering places of مِصْرَEgypt حَتَّىuntil أَصْبَحَتْthey became
وَصَفَتْ مَوَارِدُ مِصْرَ حَتَّى أَصْبَحَتْ
بَعْدَafter الْكُدُورَةِmuddiness شِرْعَةٌan accessible watering place لِلْوُرَّدِfor those coming to drink
بَعْدَ الْكُدُورَةِ شِرْعَةٌ لِلْوُرَّدِ
And Egypt's watering places grew clear, until they became,
after their murkiness, an open watering place for those coming to drink.
فَالْعَدْلُfor justice يَرْعَاهَاtends her بِرَأْفَةِwith the tenderness of وَالِدٍa father
فَالْعَدْلُ يَرْعَاهَا بِرَأْفَةِ وَالِدٍ
والْبَأْسُand might يَحْمِيهَاprotects her بِصَوْلَةِwith the onslaught of أَصْيَدِa lion
والْبَأْسُ يَحْمِيهَا بِصَوْلَةِ أَصْيَدِ
For justice tends her with a father's tenderness,
and might protects her with a lion's charge.
بَلَغَتْshe attained بِفَضْلِthrough the bounty of مُحَمّدٍMuhammad مَاwhat أَمَّلَتْshe hoped for
بَلَغَتْ بِفَضْلِ مُحَمّدٍ مَا أَمَّلَتْ
مِنْof عِيشَةٍa life رَغَدٍof abundance وَجَدٍّand fortune أَسْعَدِhappier
مِنْ عِيشَةٍ رَغَدٍ وَجَدٍّ أَسْعَدِ
Through Muhammad's bounty she attained what she had hoped for:
a life of ease and a happier lot.
هُوَhe ذَلِكَthat الْمَلِكُthe king الَّذيwhose أَوْصَافُهُhis qualities
هُوَ ذَلِكَ الْمَلِكُ الَّذي أَوْصَافُهُ
فِيin الشِّعْرِpoetry حِلْيَةُthe adornment of رَاجِزٍa rajaz poet وَمُقَصِّدِand an ode poet
فِي الشِّعْرِ حِلْيَةُ رَاجِزٍ وَمُقَصِّدِ
He is that king whose qualities
adorn the verse of rajaz poets and makers of odes.
فَبِنُورِهِso by his light فِيin كُلِّevery جُنْحٍnight's darkness نَهْتَدِيwe find guidance
فَبِنُورِهِ فِي كُلِّ جُنْحٍ نَهْتَدِي
وبِهَدْيِهِand by his guidance فِيin كُلِّevery خَطْبٍgrave affair نَقْتَدِيwe follow an example
وبِهَدْيِهِ فِي كُلِّ خَطْبٍ نَقْتَدِي
By his light we find our way through every darkness,
and in every crisis we follow his guidance.
سَنَّhe established الْمَشُورَةَconsultation وَهيَand it is أَكْرَمُthe noblest خُطَّةٍcourse
سَنَّ الْمَشُورَةَ وَهيَ أَكْرَمُ خُطَّةٍ
يَجْرِيproceeds عَلَيْهَاaccording to it كُلُّevery رَاعٍshepherd مُرْشِدِrightly guiding
يَجْرِي عَلَيْهَا كُلُّ رَاعٍ مُرْشِدِ
He established consultation, the noblest course
followed by every rightly guiding shepherd.
هِيَit عِصْمَةُthe safeguard of الدِّينِreligion التيwhich أَوْحَىrevealed بِهَاconcerning it
هِيَ عِصْمَةُ الدِّينِ التي أَوْحَى بِهَا
رَبُّthe Lord of الْعِبَادِHis servants إِلَىto النَّبِيِّthe Prophet مُحَمَّدِMuhammad
رَبُّ الْعِبَادِ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ مُحَمَّدِ
It is religion's safeguard, which was revealed
by the Lord of His servants to the Prophet Muhammad.
فَمَنِso whoever اسْتَعَانَseeks aid بِهَاthrough it تَأَيَّدَis strengthened مُلْكُهُhis sovereignty
فَمَنِ اسْتَعَانَ بِهَا تَأَيَّدَ مُلْكُهُ
وَمَنِand whoever اسْتَهَانَmakes light بِأَمْرِهَاof its authority لَمْnot يرْشدِfinds right guidance
وَمَنِ اسْتَهَانَ بِأَمْرِهَا لَمْ يرْشدِ
Whoever seeks its aid has his sovereignty strengthened,
and whoever scorns its authority finds no right guidance.
أَمْرَانِtwo things مَاnot اجْتَمَعَاthe two unite لِقَائِدِfor the leader of أُمَّةٍa nation
أَمْرَانِ مَا اجْتَمَعَا لِقَائِدِ أُمَّةٍ
إِلَّاwithout جَنَىhe reaps بِهِمَاthrough them both ثِمَارَthe fruits of السُّؤْدُدِeminence
إِلَّا جَنَى بِهِمَا ثِمَارَ السُّؤْدُدِ
Two things never unite for a nation's leader
without his reaping through them the fruits of eminence:
جَمْعٌan assembly يَكُونُis الأَمْرُthe affair فِيin مَاwhat is بَيْنَهُمْamong them
جَمْعٌ يَكُونُ الأَمْرُ فِي مَا بَيْنَهُمْ
شُورَىmutual consultation وجُنْدٌand an army لِلْعَدُوِّfor the enemy بِمَرْصَدِon watch
شُورَى وجُنْدٌ لِلْعَدُوِّ بِمَرْصَدِ
an assembly whose common affairs are
settled by consultation, and an army on watch for the enemy.
هَيْهَاتَhow impossible يَحْيَاsurvives الْمُلْكُkingship دُونَwithout مَشُورَةٍconsultation
هَيْهَاتَ يَحْيَا الْمُلْكُ دُونَ مَشُورَةٍ
ويَعِزُّand stands strong رُكْنُthe pillar of الْمَجْدِglory مَاso long as لَمْnot يُعْمَدِis supported
ويَعِزُّ رُكْنُ الْمَجْدِ مَا لَمْ يُعْمَدِ
Never can kingship survive without consultation,
nor glory's pillar stand strong unless supported.
فَالسَّيْفُfor the sword لاnot يَمْضِيprevails بِدُونِwithout رَويَّةٍdeliberation
فَالسَّيْفُ لا يَمْضِي بِدُونِ رَويَّةٍ
وَالرَّأْيُand judgment لاnot يَمْضِيprevails بِغَيرِwithout مُهَنَّدِan Indian-steel sword
وَالرَّأْيُ لا يَمْضِي بِغَيرِ مُهَنَّدِ
The sword cannot prevail without deliberation,
nor can judgment prevail without an Indian-steel blade.
فَاعْكُفْso devote yourself عَلَىto الشُّورَىconsultation تَجِدْyou will find فِيin طَيِّهَاits folds
فَاعْكُفْ عَلَى الشُّورَى تَجِدْ فِي طَيِّهَا
مِنْof بَيِّنَاتِclear proofs of الحُكْمِjudgment مَاwhat لَمْnot يُوجَدِhas been found
مِنْ بَيِّنَاتِ الحُكْمِ مَا لَمْ يُوجَدِ
Devote yourself to consultation; within its folds you will find
clear proofs of sound judgment found nowhere else.
لاno غَرْوَwonder أَنْthat أَبْصَرْتَyou saw فيin صَفَحَاتِهَاits pages
لا غَرْوَ أَنْ أَبْصَرْتَ في صَفَحَاتِهَا
صُوَرَimages of الْحَوَادِثِevents فَهْيَfor it is مِرْآةُthe mirror of الْغَدِtomorrow
صُوَرَ الْحَوَادِثِ فَهْيَ مِرْآةُ الْغَدِ
No wonder you have seen upon its pages
the images of events: it is tomorrow's mirror.
فَالعَقْلُfor reason كَالْمِنْظَارِlike a telescope يُبْصِرُsees مَاwhat نَأَىis distant
فَالعَقْلُ كَالْمِنْظَارِ يُبْصِرُ مَا نَأَى
عَنْهُfrom it قَريباًas near دُونَwithout لَمْسٍtouching بِالْيَدِwith the hand
عَنْهُ قَريباً دُونَ لَمْسٍ بِالْيَدِ
For reason, like a telescope, sees what is far
from it as near, without touching it by hand.
وَكَفَاكَand suffices you عِلْمُكَyour knowledge بِالأُمُورِof affairs وَلَيْسَand is not مَنْone who
وَكَفَاكَ عِلْمُكَ بِالأُمُورِ وَلَيْسَ مَنْ
سَلَكَfollowed السَّبِيلَthe path كَجَائِرٍلَمْlike one astray who has not يَهْتَدِfound guidance
سَلَكَ السَّبِيلَ كَجَائِرٍلَمْ يَهْتَدِ
Your knowledge of affairs suffices you; no one who
follows the path is like one astray who has found no guidance.
فَلأَنْتَfor you indeed أَوَّلُthe first مَنْwho أَفَادَbestowed بِعَدْلِهِthrough his justice
فَلأَنْتَ أَوَّلُ مَنْ أَفَادَ بِعَدْلِهِ
حُرِّيَّةَfreedom of الأَخْلاقِconduct بَعْدَafter تَعَبُّدِbondage
حُرِّيَّةَ الأَخْلاقِ بَعْدَ تَعَبُّدِ
You are indeed the first whose justice bestowed
freedom of conduct after bondage.
أَطْلَقْتَyou freed كُلَّevery مُقَيَّدٍcaptive وَحَلَلْتَand you untied كُلevery (continued)
أَطْلَقْتَ كُلَّ مُقَيَّدٍ وَحَلَلْتَ كُل
لَ(completes 'every') مُعَقَّدٍtangled knot وَجَمَعْتَand you gathered كُلَّevery مُبَدَّدِscattered thing
لَ مُعَقَّدٍ وَجَمَعْتَ كُلَّ مُبَدَّدِ
You freed every captive and untied every
tangled knot, and gathered all that was scattered.
وَتَمَتَّعَتْand enjoyed بِالْعَدْلِjustice مِنْكَfrom you رَعِيَّةٌa subject people
وَتَمَتَّعَتْ بِالْعَدْلِ مِنْكَ رَعِيَّةٌ
كَانَتْwas فَرِيسَةَthe prey of كُلِّevery بَاغٍoppressor مُعْتَدِaggressive
كَانَتْ فَرِيسَةَ كُلِّ بَاغٍ مُعْتَدِ
Your subjects have enjoyed justice from you—
once the prey of every oppressive aggressor.
فاسْلَمْso remain safe لِخَيْرِfor the finest وِلايَةٍrule عَزَّتْwas honored بِهَاthrough it
فاسْلَمْ لِخَيْرِ وِلايَةٍ عَزَّتْ بِهَا
نَفْسُthe soul of النَّصِيحِthe sincere counselor وذَلَّand was humbled كُلُّevery مُفَنَّدِfool
نَفْسُ النَّصِيحِ وذَلَّ كُلُّ مُفَنَّدِ
May you remain safe for the finest reign, through which
the loyal counselor's soul is honored and every fool humbled.
ضَرَحَتْit cast away قَذَاةَthe mote of الْغَيِّerror عَنْfrom جَفْنِthe eyelid of الْهُدَىguidance
ضَرَحَتْ قَذَاةَ الْغَيِّ عَنْ جَفْنِ الْهُدَى
وَسَرَتْand stripped away قِنَاعَthe veil of الْيَأْسِdespair عَنْfrom أَمَلٍhope نَدِdewy
وَسَرَتْ قِنَاعَ الْيَأْسِ عَنْ أَمَلٍ نَدِ
It cast error's mote from guidance's eyelid,
and stripped despair's veil from dewy hope.
ضَمَّتْit gathered إِلَيْكَto you زِمَامَthe reins of كُلِّevery مُثَلِّثٍTrinitarian
ضَمَّتْ إِلَيْكَ زِمَامَ كُلِّ مُثَلِّثٍ
وَثَنَتْand turned إِلَيْكَtoward you عِنَانَthe bridle of كُلِّevery مُوَحِّدِmonotheist
وَثَنَتْ إِلَيْكَ عِنَانَ كُلِّ مُوَحِّدِ
It gathered to you the reins of every Trinitarian,
and turned toward you the bridle of every monotheist.
وَتَأَلَّفَتْand united بَعْدَafter الْعَدَاوَةِenmity أَنْفُسٌsouls
وَتَأَلَّفَتْ بَعْدَ الْعَدَاوَةِ أَنْفُسٌ
سَكَنَتْdwelt بِعَدْلِكَthrough your justice فيin نَعِيمٍbliss سَرْمَدِeverlasting
سَكَنَتْ بِعَدْلِكَ في نَعِيمٍ سَرْمَدِ
Souls were united after enmity,
and through your justice dwelt in everlasting bliss.
فَحَبَاكَso may He reward you رَبُّكَyour Lord بِالْجَمِيلِwith goodness كَرَامَةًas an honor
فَحَبَاكَ رَبُّكَ بِالْجَمِيلِ كَرَامَةً
لِجَزِيلِfor the abundance of مَاwhat أَوْلَيْتَyou bestowed upon أُمَّةَthe community of أَحْمَدِAhmad
لِجَزِيلِ مَا أَوْلَيْتَ أُمَّةَ أَحْمَدِ
So may your Lord reward you with goodness, in honor
of the abundance you bestowed upon Ahmad's community.
وَتَهَنَّand enjoy بِالْمُلْكِthe kingship الَّذِيwhich أَلْبَسْتَهُyou clothed it in
وَتَهَنَّ بِالْمُلْكِ الَّذِي أَلْبَسْتَهُ
شَرَفاًhonor بِمِثْلِin the like of رِدَائِهِits mantle لَمْnot يَرْتَدِit had worn
شَرَفاً بِمِثْلِ رِدَائِهِ لَمْ يَرْتَدِ
And enjoy the kingship you have clothed
in honor, a mantle the like of which it had never worn.
بَزَغَتْrose بِهِthrough it شَمْسُthe sun of الْهِدَايَةِguidance بَعْدَafter مَاthat
بَزَغَتْ بِهِ شَمْسُ الْهِدَايَةِ بَعْدَ مَا
أَفَلَتْhad set وَأَبْصَرَand saw كُلُّevery طَرْفٍeye أَرْمَدِinflamed
أَفَلَتْ وَأَبْصَرَ كُلُّ طَرْفٍ أَرْمَدِ
Through it the sun of guidance rose, after
it had set, and every bleared eye could see.
لَمْnot يَبْقَremained مِنْamong ذِيone having خَلَّةٍneed إِلَّاbut اغْتَدَىbecame
لَمْ يَبْقَ مِنْ ذِي خَلَّةٍ إِلَّا اغْتَدَى
بِجَمِيلِthrough the graciousness of صُنْعِكَyour deeds مَصْدَرَاًa source لِلْوُفَّدِfor delegations
بِجَمِيلِ صُنْعِكَ مَصْدَرَاً لِلْوُفَّدِ
No person in need remained but became
through your gracious deeds a source of bounty for delegations.
بَلَغَتْreached بِكَthrough you الآمَالُhopes أَبْعَدَthe farthest غَايَةٍgoal
بَلَغَتْ بِكَ الآمَالُ أَبْعَدَ غَايَةٍ
قَصَرَتْconfined عَلَىto الإِغْضَاءِlowering the eyes طَرْفَthe gaze of الْحُسَّدِthe envious
قَصَرَتْ عَلَى الإِغْضَاءِ طَرْفَ الْحُسَّدِ
Through you, hopes reached their farthest goal,
forcing the eyes of the envious to remain lowered.
فَاسْعَدْso be happy وَدُمْand endure واغْنَمand prosper وَجُدْand be generous وانْعَمْand live at ease وَسُدْand reign
فَاسْعَدْ وَدُمْ واغْنَم وَجُدْ وانْعَمْ وَسُدْ
وابْدَأْand begin وَعُدْand return وَتَهَنَّand enjoy واسْلَمْand remain safe وَازْدَدِand increase
وابْدَأْ وَعُدْ وَتَهَنَّ واسْلَمْ وَازْدَدِ
Be happy, endure, prosper, give, live at ease, and reign;
begin, return, rejoice, stay safe, and increase.
لاmay not زَالَcease عَدْلُكَyour justice فِيamong الأَنَامِmankind مُخَلَّداًimmortalized
لا زَالَ عَدْلُكَ فِي الأَنَامِ مُخَلَّداً
فَالْعَدْلُfor justice فِيthrough الأَيَّامِthe ages خَيْرُthe best مُخَلَّدِlasting legacy
فَالْعَدْلُ فِي الأَيَّامِ خَيْرُ مُخَلَّدِ
May your justice remain immortal among mankind,
for justice is the finest legacy through the ages.
Sol 6.1