ما رأينا كطالبٍ للإجازهْ

ما رأينا كطالبٍ للإجازهْ

برويّ أرى الورىَ إعجازهْ

برويّ أرى الورىَ إعجازهْ

We have seen none like this seeker of authorization:

We have not seen a student seeking ijazah

through a rhyme, he showed humankind his inimitable skill,

With composure - I see the creation as his miracles

واصل غاية المدى بجواد

واصل غاية المدى بجواد

أحرزَ الخصلَ في الجياد المجازهْ

أحرزَ الخصلَ في الجياد المجازهْ

reaching the farthest end of the course on a steed

He reached the farthest extent with his generosity

that won the prize among the steeds it outstripped.

And attained the noble traits among the valiant steeds

هو يُدعى محمداً وأبا الفضلِ

هو يُدعى محمداً وأبا الفضلِ

لفضل لا يرتضى إيجازهْ

لفضل لا يرتضى إيجازهْ

He is called Muhammad and Abu al-Fadl,

He is called Muhammad and Abu Al-Fadl

for merit that no brief account can do justice to.

For his unmatched virtue and conciseness

وإذا ما انتمى إلى آل تجا

وإذا ما انتمى إلى آل تجا

نى فنجم سامي السها ثم جازهْ

نى فنجم سامي السها ثم جازهْ

And when he traces his lineage to the house of Tijani,

And when attributed to the family of Taj

he is a star that rivaled al-Suha in height, then surpassed it.

He is a lofty star, glorified and exceeded them

جاءَنا شعرهُ مُحلّى بحلي

جاءَنا شعرهُ مُحلّى بحلي

بالغ من صدوره أعجازهْ

بالغ من صدوره أعجازهْ

His poetry came to us adorned with ornaments

His poetry came adorned with ornaments

extending from its opening hemistichs to its closing ones.

A marvel flowing from his conscience

سبعةٌ كالنجومِ تهدى إلى النْ

سبعةٌ كالنجومِ تهدى إلى النْ

نَظْمِ ابتداء من قائل أو أجازهْ

نَظْمِ ابتداء من قائل أو أجازهْ

Seven verses, like stars, guide the way to

Seven like stars guided to the

poetry, whether begun by a poet or completed in response.

Composition from the first speaker or permitted it

قلْ له أيُّها البليغُ سمعنا

قلْ له أيُّها البليغُ سمعنا

فاسمع الوعدَ ثم خذ إنجازهْ

فاسمع الوعدَ ثم خذ إنجازهْ

Tell him: O eloquent one, we have heard;

Say to him, O eloquent one, we have listened

so hear the promise, then receive its fulfillment.

Now listen to the promise and then fulfill it

فأخوكم يُجيزكم عن شيوخٍ

فأخوكم يُجيزكم عن شيوخٍ

حاسنوا الشرق شامه وحجازهْ

حاسنوا الشرق شامه وحجازهْ

For your brother grants you authorization on the authority of masters

For I permit you on behalf of sheikhs

who rivaled the East in splendor—its Sham and its Hijaz.

Who beautified the East, its Levant and Hejaz

مثل قاضي الجماعةِ ابن بقي

مثل قاضي الجماعةِ ابن بقي

عن أبيه وجدّه بإجازهْ

عن أبيه وجدّه بإجازهْ

Such as the chief judge Ibn Baqi,

Like the judge of the congregation Ibn Baqi

from his father and his grandfather, by authorization;

From his father and grandfather with permission

وعن ابن الباج وابن الشلو

وعن ابن الباج وابن الشلو

بين أجازه قبل خطب الإجازهْ

بين أجازه قبل خطب الإجازهْ

and from Ibn al-Baj and Ibn al-Shalawbin,

And from Ibn Al-Baaj and Ibn Al-Shalubi

who authorized him before he sought authorization;

He permitted before asking for permission

وعن ابن الفحّام شيخ جليل

وعن ابن الفحّام شيخ جليل

علمَ الناسُ نسكه وانحجازهْ

علمَ الناسُ نسكه وانحجازهْ

and from Ibn al-Fahham, a venerable master,

And from Ibn Al-Fahham, a revered sheikh

whose devotion and self-restraint were known to the people.

People knew his devotion and withdrawal

فارو عنه عنهم وإن شئت أيضاً

فارو عنه عنهم وإن شئت أيضاً

فاروِ أشعاره وزدْ أرجازهْ

فاروِ أشعاره وزدْ أرجازهْ

So transmit from him, on their authority; and if you also wish,

So narrate from him, from them, and if you wish also

then transmit his poems, and add his rajaz verses.

Narrate his poems and increase his couplets

إنه ناظمٌ أسنّ وقد سنَّ

إنه ناظمٌ أسنّ وقد سنَّ

من النظم كنهه ومجازهْ

من النظم كنهه ومجازهْ

He is a poet grown old, and he has laid down

He is an excellent composer and has composed

the essence of verse and its figurative expression.

The essence of composition, its meaning and metaphors

مالكُ بن المرحلِ اختط هذا

مالكُ بن المرحلِ اختط هذا

وهو أولى أن يستجيز مجازهْ

وهو أولى أن يستجيز مجازهْ

Malik ibn al-Murahhal penned this,

Malik bin Al-Marhal authored this

though he ought rather to seek authorization from the man he authorizes.

And he is most deserving to permit its metaphors

قاله عام ستةٍ وثمانين

قاله عام ستةٍ وثمانين

وستٍ من المئاتِ مجازهْ

وستٍ من المئاتِ مجازهْ

He composed it in the year eighty-six,

He said it in the year six hundred

six centuries having already passed.

And eighty six of the centuries, with permission

وبحمد الإله في كلِّ حالٍ

وبحمد الإله في كلِّ حالٍ

وبمدحِ الرسولِ نرجو الإجازهْ

وبمدحِ الرسولِ نرجو الإجازهْ

And by praising God in every circumstance,

And with praise of God in every case

and by praising the Messenger, we hope for reward.

And praising the Messenger we hope for permission