وَرَد الكتابُ فسَرَّني

وَرَد الكتابُ فسَرَّني

بورودِه لما وردْ

بورودِه لما وردْ

The letter arrived and gladdened me

The book arrived, bringing me joy

by its arrival, when it came.

With its arrival, when it arrived

فكأنما عُنوانُه

فكأنما عُنوانُه

دُرٌّ تَلأَلأَ أو بَرَدْ

دُرٌّ تَلأَلأَ أو بَرَدْ

So it was as though its heading were

As if its title were

glittering pearls, or hailstones;

A glistening pearl or cold ice

وكأنما أسطارُه

وكأنما أسطارُه

سِمْط اللآلى أم زَرَد

سِمْط اللآلى أم زَرَد

and as though its lines were

And as if its lines

a string of pearls, or chain mail.

Were silver necklaces or emerald

لما أتَاني سَرَّني

لما أتَاني سَرَّني

وَأَزال عن قلبي الكَمَدْ

وَأَزال عن قلبي الكَمَدْ

When it came to me, it gladdened me

When it came to me, it delighted me

and removed grief from my heart.

And lifted the gloom from my heart

أَهْداهُ سيدُنا الوليُّ

أَهْداهُ سيدُنا الوليُّ

المرتضى أُهلُ الرشدْ

المرتضى أُهلُ الرشدْ

Our master, the saintly one, sent it as a gift,

Our master the guardian sent it to me

the chosen one, a man of sound judgment.

Al-Murtada, the rightly guided one

رعياً له مِن سيِّدٍ

رعياً له مِن سيِّدٍ

لو كنتُ أعطَى ما أَوَدّْ

لو كنتُ أعطَى ما أَوَدّْ

May he be protected—what a master!

A gift from a master

If I were granted what I desire,

If I were given what I wish

لوددت أن يبقَى بَقَا

لوددت أن يبقَى بَقَا

ءَ الدهر أو طولَ الأَمَدْ

ءَ الدهر أو طولَ الأَمَدْ

I would wish him to endure for the span

I would want it to last

of time, or for ages on end.

For eternity or the longest time

يا سالِمَ بن محمدٍ

يا سالِمَ بن محمدٍ

خُدْ ما ترى مِمن تَوَدْ

خُدْ ما ترى مِمن تَوَدْ

O Salim, son of Muhammad,

O Salim son of Muhammad

take what you see from one you love.

Take what you see fit from whom you love

واسترْ عُيوبَ قَريض مَن

واسترْ عُيوبَ قَريض مَن

وَالاكَ في هَزْلٍ وَجَدّْ

وَالاكَ في هَزْلٍ وَجَدّْ

And conceal the flaws in the verse of one who

And overlook the faults of whoever

has been loyal to you in jest and earnest.

Jests with you

فهُو الوفيُّ بعهدهِ

فهُو الوفيُّ بعهدهِ

فأقبْل فهذا ما اجتْهدْ

فأقبْل فهذا ما اجتْهدْ

For he is faithful to his pledge.

He is faithful to his word

So accept it, for this is what he has labored over.

So accept, for this is what I strive for

وانعمْ بعشٍ ناعمٍ

وانعمْ بعشٍ ناعمٍ

في مَعْقل عالي العَمَدْ

في مَعْقل عالي العَمَدْ

And delight in a comfortable nest,

And enjoy a soft, gentle life

in a stronghold with lofty pillars.

In a lofty, firmly rooted home

واسْلَم سَلِمْت مبرَّأً

واسْلَم سَلِمْت مبرَّأً

مِن كل لُؤْمٍ أو فَنَدْ

مِن كل لُؤْمٍ أو فَنَدْ

And stay safe—may you be safe, free

And be safe, I am cleared

from all baseness or folly.

Of any blame or defiance

بَلِّغْ سلامي كلَّ مَنْ

بَلِّغْ سلامي كلَّ مَنْ

تلْقَى وأهلَكَ والولدْ

تلْقَى وأهلَكَ والولدْ

Convey my greetings to everyone whom

Convey my greetings to whoever

you meet, and to your family and the child.

You meet, your family and children

مِني التحية والسلا

مِني التحية والسلا

مُ عليك طولَ الأَبَدْ

مُ عليك طولَ الأَبَدْ

From me, greetings and peace

From me, greetings and peace

be upon you for all eternity.

Upon you forever

ثم الصلاةُ على النبيّ

ثم الصلاةُ على النبيّ

محمد خَيرِ العدَدْ

محمد خَيرِ العدَدْ

Then blessings upon the Prophet,

Then prayers upon the Prophet

Muhammad, the best of the multitude.

Muhammad, best of all people