قِفوا بي عَلى الرَبعِ المُحيلِ أُسائِلُه

قِفوا بي عَلى الرَبعِ المُحيلِ أُسائِلُه

وَإِن كانَ أَقوى بَعدَ ما خَفَّ آهِلُه

وَإِن كانَ أَقوى بَعدَ ما خَفَّ آهِلُه

Stop with me at the desolate campsite, that I may question it,

Stand by me in this ruined abode and ask it

Halt with me at the desolate ruins, that I may question them,

though it lies deserted now that its inhabitants have departed.

Though its strongest stones have wasted away

Though they have fallen silent and void since their dwellers departed.

وَما في سُؤالِ الدارِ إِطفاءُ غُلَّةٍ

وَما في سُؤالِ الدارِ إِطفاءُ غُلَّةٍ

لِقلبٍ مِنَ التَذكارِ جَمٍّ بَلابِلُه

لِقلبٍ مِنَ التَذكارِ جَمٍّ بَلابِلُه

Questioning the dwelling does not quench the thirst

Asking after this house does not quell the yearning

Yet questioning the abode holds no quenching for the burning thirst

of a heart whose sorrows abound through remembrance.

Of a heart brimful with memories that stir its sorrows

Of a heart whose sorrows are overflowing from remembrance;

تَعَلُّلُ مُشتاقٍ وَلَوعَةُ ذاكِرٍ

تَعَلُّلُ مُشتاقٍ وَلَوعَةُ ذاكِرٍ

لِعَهدِ سُرورٍ غابَ عَنهُ عَواذِلُه

لِعَهدِ سُرورٍ غابَ عَنهُ عَواذِلُه

It is a yearning lover's solace, and the anguish of one recalling

A longing lover’s pretexts, a rememberer’s grief

The solace of a yearning soul, the anguish of one recalling

a time of joy from which his reproachers were absent.

For days of joy that fleeing time has borne away

An era of joy from which all censors were absent.

فَإِن أَسلُ لا أَسلو هَواهُم تَجَلُّداً

فَإِن أَسلُ لا أَسلو هَواهُم تَجَلُّداً

وَلكِنَّ يَأساً أَخلَفَتني أَوائِلُه

وَلكِنَّ يَأساً أَخلَفَتني أَوائِلُه

If I forget, it is not through fortitude that I forget my love for them,

Though I ask not out of desire but despair

If I seem to forget, I do not forget their love through feigned strength,

but through despair whose beginnings have let me down.

For early days whose latter course betrayal marred

But rather through a despair whose early signs have overtaken me.

خَليلَيَّ لَو أَبصَرتُما يَومَ حاجِرٍ

خَليلَيَّ لَو أَبصَرتُما يَومَ حاجِرٍ

مُقامي وَكَفّي فَوقَ قَلبي اُبادِلُه

مُقامي وَكَفّي فَوقَ قَلبي اُبادِلُه

My two friends, had you seen, on the day at Hajir,

O my two friends, had you but seen me one day

O my two companions, had you but seen me on the day of Hajir,

my stance, my palm upon my heart, communing with it,

My stance, my palms pressed to my heart, thoughts streaming

Standing there, my hand pressed to my heart to soothe its beating,

عَشِيَّةَ لا صَبري يُثيبٌ وَلا الهَوى

عَشِيَّةَ لا صَبري يُثيبٌ وَلا الهَوى

قَريبٌ وَلا دَمعي تَفيضُ جَداوِلُه

قَريبٌ وَلا دَمعي تَفيضُ جَداوِلُه

that evening, when neither my patience offered reward nor love

At evening, with no patience to console me

An evening when patience brought no reward, nor was love

was near, nor did the streams of my tears overflow,

No solace near, no tears flowing in streams

Within reach, and my tears were flowing like streams,

لَأَيقَنتُما أَنَّ الأَسى يَغلِبُ العَزا

لَأَيقَنتُما أَنَّ الأَسى يَغلِبُ العَزا

وَأَنَّ غَرامي لا غَرامَ يُماثِلُه

وَأَنَّ غَرامي لا غَرامَ يُماثِلُه

you would have known that grief overcomes consolation,

Then you’d have known that grief defeats all cheer

You would have known for certain that sorrow conquers stoicism,

and that no passion equals mine.

That none can rival my passion, however extreme

And that this passion of mine is matched by no other passion.

فَلِلَّهِ قَلبي ما أَشَدَّ اِحتِمالَهُ

فَلِلَّهِ قَلبي ما أَشَدَّ اِحتِمالَهُ

وَيا وَيح صَبري كَيفَ هُدَّت مَعاقِلُه

وَيا وَيح صَبري كَيفَ هُدَّت مَعاقِلُه

By God, my heart—how great its endurance!

My heart, Allah, how staunchly it has borne all this!

To God I entrust my heart—how intense is its endurance!

Alas for my patience—how its strongholds have been demolished!

And my patience, alas, how its strongholds have been overturned!

And alas for my patience—how its fortresses have been razed!

نَظَرتُ إِلى الأَظعانِ يَومَ تَحَمَلّوا

نَظَرتُ إِلى الأَظعانِ يَومَ تَحَمَلّوا

فَأَشرَقَني طَلُّ الدُموعِ وَوابِلُه

فَأَشرَقَني طَلُّ الدُموعِ وَوابِلُه

I looked toward the departing howdahs on the day they left,

I looked upon the ruins as they carried their load

I gazed at the caravan litters on the day they departed,

and tears choked me, their drizzle and their downpour.

Tears flowed till my sleeve dripped from their welling stream

And I was choked by the drizzle and the deluge of my tears.

مَضَوا بِبُدورٍ في بُروجِ أَكِلَّةٍ

مَضَوا بِبُدورٍ في بُروجِ أَكِلَّةٍ

بِهِنَّ حَليمُ القَلبِ يَصبو وَجاهِلُه

بِهِنَّ حَليمُ القَلبِ يَصبو وَجاهِلُه

They departed with full moons in towers of canopies,

Bearing off what remained, they strode through the zodiac

They departed carrying full moons within the towers of veils,

for whom both the sober-hearted and the foolish yearn.

Swaying gently, kind of heart though ignorant their mien

For whom both the wise of heart and the foolish yearn alike.

وَفيهِنَّ مِقلاقُ الوِشاحِ إِذا مَشى

وَفيهِنَّ مِقلاقُ الوِشاحِ إِذا مَشى

تَمَلَّكَ حَبّاتِ القُلوبِ تَمايُلُه

تَمَلَّكَ حَبّاتِ القُلوبِ تَمايُلُه

Among them is one whose sash hangs loose; when he walks,

In their flowing robes, when the wearer walks

Among them is she of the loose sash; when she walks,

his sway takes possession of the hearts' innermost cores.

Hearts melt captivated by their beauty’s gleam

Her swaying captures the very core of men's hearts.

يَلوثُ عَلى مِثلِ الكَثيبِ إِزارَهُ

يَلوثُ عَلى مِثلِ الكَثيبِ إِزارَهُ

وَأَعلاهُ بَدرٌ قَد تَناهى تَكامُلُه

وَأَعلاهُ بَدرٌ قَد تَناهى تَكامُلُه

He winds his waistcloth around a form like a sand dune,

Cloaks trailing in the sand as though a hillside

She wraps her garment over hips like a shifting sand dune,

and his upper part is a full moon whose perfection is complete.

Crowned by the full moon nearing its perfect team

While above rises a full moon whose perfection is absolute.

وَزَعتُ التَصابي إِذ عَلا الشَيبُ مُفرِقي

وَزَعتُ التَصابي إِذ عَلا الشَيبُ مُفرِقي

وَوَدَّعتُهُ تَوديعَ مَن لا يُجامِلُه

وَوَدَّعتُهُ تَوديعَ مَن لا يُجامِلُه

I checked my youthful dalliance when gray hair crowned my parting,

When grey flecked my temples, I bade them adieu

I curbed my youthful folly when gray hair crowned my head,

and bade it farewell as one who grants it no indulgence.

As one parts from another unlikely to be seen again

And I bade it farewell—the parting of one who offers no false courtesy.

وَفِئتُ إلى رُشدي وَأَعطَيتُ مِقودي

وَفِئتُ إلى رُشدي وَأَعطَيتُ مِقودي

نَصيحي فَمَهما قالَهُ أَنا قِلُه

نَصيحي فَمَهما قالَهُ أَنا قِلُه

I returned to sound judgment and handed my reins

I returned to wisdom and handed myself the reins

I returned to my senses and surrendered my reins

to my counselor; whatever he says, I echo it.

My counsel, whatever I say, echoes what I mean

To my sincere advisor, accepting whatever counsel he speaks.

وَمَن صَحِبَ الأَيّامَ رَنَّقنَ عَيشَهُ

وَمَن صَحِبَ الأَيّامَ رَنَّقنَ عَيشَهُ

وَأَلبَسنَهُ بُرداً سَحيقاً خَمائِلُه

وَأَلبَسنَهُ بُرداً سَحيقاً خَمائِلُه

Whoever keeps company with the days, they muddy his life

Whoever courts fate will find his life constricted

Whoever keeps company with Time finds his life muddied,

and clothe him in a cloak whose nap is worn away.

And clothed in a coat of misery, of fabric mean

And is clothed in a garment whose threads are worn and tattered.

وَلَيلٍ غُدافِيِّ الإِهابِ تَسَربَلَت

وَلَيلٍ غُدافِيِّ الإِهابِ تَسَربَلَت

كَواكِبُهُ خالاً تَرِنُّ صَواهِلُه

كَواكِبُهُ خالاً تَرِنُّ صَواهِلُه

And a night of raven-black hide had cloaked

By a night whose darkness was lit by scintillating stars

I have crossed many a night, raven-black in its hide,

its stars in rainclouds whose neighing steeds rang out;

That glittered in clusters, their melody serene

Where the stars were veiled, and the wind's neighing rang out.

يَمُدُّ عَلى الآفاقِ سَجفَ حَنادِسٍ

يَمُدُّ عَلى الآفاقِ سَجفَ حَنادِسٍ

مَخوفاً رَداهُ موحِشاتٍ مَجاهِلُه

مَخوفاً رَداهُ موحِشاتٍ مَجاهِلُه

it spread over the horizons a curtain of pitch-darkness,

It cast across the horizon a canopy of dread

It stretches over the horizons a curtain of deep gloom,

its cloak fearsome, its unknown reaches desolate.

Fearsome in expanse, desolate the intervening scene

Its perils are feared, its unknown wastelands desolate.

هَتكنا بِأَيدي الناعِجاتِ سُدولَهُ

هَتكنا بِأَيدي الناعِجاتِ سُدولَهُ

إِلى مَلِكٍ يُخشى وَتُرجى نَوافِلُه

إِلى مَلِكٍ يُخشى وَتُرجى نَوافِلُه

We rent its curtains with the forelegs of our white she-camels,

With our mounts we penetrated its folds

We tore through its veils with the hooves of swift camels,

on our way to a king who is feared, whose gifts are hoped for.

To a king majestic yet kind, of generous mien

Journeying toward a King whose might is feared and whose bounty is hoped for.

إِلى مَلِكٍ لَو كانَ في عَهدِ حاتِمٍ

إِلى مَلِكٍ لَو كانَ في عَهدِ حاتِمٍ

لقالَ كَذا فَليَبذُلِ المالَ باذِلُه

لقالَ كَذا فَليَبذُلِ المالَ باذِلُه

To a king who, had he lived in Hatim's age,

A king who, if Hatim’s time were now

Towards a King who, had he lived in the time of Hatim,

Hatim would have said, 'Let the giver of wealth give like this!'

Would say “Let those with wealth be openhanded and keen!”

Hatim would have said: "Thus indeed should a giver bestow his wealth!"

إِمامِ الهُدى عَبدِ العَزيزِ بنِ فَيصَلٍ

إِمامِ الهُدى عَبدِ العَزيزِ بنِ فَيصَلٍ

بِهِ اِنهَدَّ رُكنُ الشركِ وَاِنحَطَّ باطِلُه

بِهِ اِنهَدَّ رُكنُ الشركِ وَاِنحَطَّ باطِلُه

The imam of guidance, Abd al-Aziz ibn Faisal,

The Pillar of Guidance, Abd al-Aziz ibn Faysal

The Imam of Guidance, Abdulaziz bin Faisal,

through whom the pillar of polytheism collapsed and its falsehood fell low.

With him the edifice of unbelief fell, falsehood’s regime

Through whom the pillar of idolatry crumbled and its falsehood collapsed.

سَما لِلمَعالي وَهوَ في سِنِّ يافِعٍ

سَما لِلمَعالي وَهوَ في سِنِّ يافِعٍ

فَأَدرَك أَعلاها وَما شُقَّ بازِلُه

فَأَدرَك أَعلاها وَما شُقَّ بازِلُه

He rose toward lofty honors while still an adolescent,

He reached the heights while yet in the bloom of youth

He ascended to glory while yet in the bloom of youth,

and attained their summit before his tooth of maturity had emerged.

Before he wavered or his foot slipped, still keen

Reaching its summit before he had even come of age.

بِطَلعَتِهِ زانَ الوُجودَ وَأَشرَقَت

بِطَلعَتِهِ زانَ الوُجودَ وَأَشرَقَت

عَلى الأَرضِ أَنوارُ الهُدى وَوَسائِلُه

عَلى الأَرضِ أَنوارُ الهُدى وَوَسائِلُه

His appearance adorned existence, and there shone

His rise adorned existence, and the lands shone

His countenance adorned existence, and there shone

upon the earth the lights of guidance and its means.

With beacons of guidance, paths kept smooth and clean

Upon the earth the radiant lights of guidance and its righteous paths.

فَلَو نُشِرَت أَيّامُ كِسرى وَتبَّعٍ

فَلَو نُشِرَت أَيّامُ كِسرى وَتبَّعٍ

وَأَيّامُ هارونَ الرَشيدِ وَنائِلُه

وَأَيّامُ هارونَ الرَشيدِ وَنائِلُه

Were the days of Kisra and Tubba resurrected,

Were unveiled the days of Kisra, Tab’a, and the era

Were the days of Khosrow and Tubba' to be unfolded,

and the days of Harun al-Rashid and his bounty,

Of Harun al-Rashid, days that set the balance between

And the reign of Harun al-Rashid with all his munificence,

لَقالَت بِحَقٍّ لَيتَ أَيّامَنا الأُولى

لَقالَت بِحَقٍّ لَيتَ أَيّامَنا الأُولى

تُعادُ لَنا كَي يُدرِكَ السُؤلَ آمِلُه

تُعادُ لَنا كَي يُدرِكَ السُؤلَ آمِلُه

they would rightly say, 'Would that our former days

They’d exclaim “Would that our first days could return

They would truthfully say: "Would that our ancient days"

were restored to us, so each hopeful seeker might attain his desire!'

That yearning souls might re-attain what once had been!”

"Could return, that we might attain what this era has achieved."

وَلا غَروَ أَن يَشتاقَهُ عَهدُ مَن مَضى

وَلا غَروَ أَن يَشتاقَهُ عَهدُ مَن مَضى

فَقَد نَسَخَت مَجدَ المُلوكِ شَمائِلُه

فَقَد نَسَخَت مَجدَ المُلوكِ شَمائِلُه

No wonder the age of those long gone should long for him,

No wonder days gone by long for his return

It is no wonder the eras of the past yearn for him,

for his virtues have eclipsed the glory of kings.

When his qualities surpass all kings have preened

For his noble virtues have superseded the glory of all kings.

رَعى الدينَ وَالدُنيا رِعايَةَ مُحسِنٍ

رَعى الدينَ وَالدُنيا رِعايَةَ مُحسِنٍ

وَقامَ بِأَعباءِ الخِلافَةِ كاهِلَه

وَقامَ بِأَعباءِ الخِلافَةِ كاهِلَه

He tended religion and worldly affairs with a benefactor's care,

Religion and world he tended with beneficence

He shepherded both Religion and the World with a benevolent hand,

and his shoulders bore the burdens of the caliphate.

Bearing alone the burdens of the mandate unseen

And his shoulders bore the heavy burdens of the Caliphate.

وَأَرضى بَني الإِسلامِ قَولاً وَسيرَةً

وَأَرضى بَني الإِسلامِ قَولاً وَسيرَةً

فَذو الظُلمِ أَرداهُ وَذو اليُتمِ كافِلُه

فَذو الظُلمِ أَرداهُ وَذو اليُتمِ كافِلُه

He pleased the sons of Islam in speech and conduct;

His rule in word and deed gratified all Muslims

He pleased the children of Islam in word and in deed;

the oppressor he brought down, and the orphan he protects.

To the oppressed a refuge, to the weak care and screen

He struck down the oppressor and became the guardian of the orphan.

وَجَدَّدَ مِنهاجَ الهُدى بَعدَ ما عَفا

وَجَدَّدَ مِنهاجَ الهُدى بَعدَ ما عَفا

وَعَزَّ بِهِ الشَرعُ الشَريفُ وَحامِلُه

وَعَزَّ بِهِ الشَرعُ الشَريفُ وَحامِلُه

He renewed the path of guidance after it had faded,

The ways of guidance, once obscured, he made clear

He renewed the path of Guidance after it had faded,

and through him the noble Sacred Law and its bearer gained strength.

And reverenced the Law, upholding its demesne

And through him, the Noble Law and its bearers found strength.

قُصارى بَني الدُنيا دَوامُ حَياتِهِ

قُصارى بَني الدُنيا دَوامُ حَياتِهِ

عَسى اللَهُ يُحييهِ وَتَعلو مَنازِلُه

عَسى اللَهُ يُحييهِ وَتَعلو مَنازِلُه

The utmost wish of the world's people is that his life endure;

Let his life be prolonged for people’s good

The utmost hope of the people is the endurance of his life;

may God preserve him and may his ranks rise.

May God elevate him, and his abode keep serene!

May God preserve him and exalt his station ever higher.

فَكَم كَنزِ مَعروفٍ اَثارَ وَمَفخَرٍ

فَكَم كَنزِ مَعروفٍ اَثارَ وَمَفخَرٍ

أَشادَ وَمَجدٍ لَيسَ تُحصى فَضائِلُه

أَشادَ وَمَجدٍ لَيسَ تُحصى فَضائِلُه

How many treasures of kindness he uncovered, how many glorious deeds

So many treasures troves were opened, such glory unveiled

How many treasures of kindness has he unearthed, and glories

he exalted, and glories whose virtues cannot be counted!

That his feats and virtues cannot be counted or gleaned

Has he built, and majesty whose virtues cannot be counted.

قَليلُ التَشَكّي وَالتَمَنّي وَإِنَّما

قَليلُ التَشَكّي وَالتَمَنّي وَإِنَّما

إِذا هَمَّ لَم تُسدَد عَلَيهِ مَداخِلُه

إِذا هَمَّ لَم تُسدَد عَلَيهِ مَداخِلُه

He seldom complains or idly wishes; rather,

Rarely coveting, eschewing all vain wishing

He complains little and wishes for little; rather,

when he resolves, no avenues are closed to him.

His resolves, when formed, meet no obstacles convened

When he resolves to act, no gateway is barred against him.

خِفيُّ مَدَبِّ الكَيدِ يَقظانُ لَم يَكُن

خِفيُّ مَدَبِّ الكَيدِ يَقظانُ لَم يَكُن

بِهِ غَفلَةٌ لكِنَّ عَمداً تَغافُلُه

بِهِ غَفلَةٌ لكِنَّ عَمداً تَغافُلُه

Subtle in the course of his stratagems, alert, he has never

Subtle plotter, wakeful when others sleep

Subtle in strategy, ever-vigilant; he possesses

been heedless—his seeming heedlessness is deliberate.

Feigning inattention, while nothing escapes his keen sight

No negligence, but rather a deliberate feigning of unawareness.

وَلا طالِبٌ أَمراً سِوى ما أَفادَهُ

وَلا طالِبٌ أَمراً سِوى ما أَفادَهُ

بِهِ عَزمُهُ أَو سَيفُهُ أَو عَوامِلُه

بِهِ عَزمُهُ أَو سَيفُهُ أَو عَوامِلُه

He seeks nothing except what is won for him

None who petition him seeks aught but what will benefit them

He seeks no objective save that which is secured

by his resolve, his sword, or his spearheads.

Either his wisdom, his sword, or his means between

By his resolve, his sword, or his spearheads.

فَقُل للذي قَد غَرَّهُ مِنهُ حِلمُهُ

فَقُل للذي قَد غَرَّهُ مِنهُ حِلمُهُ

مَتى كافَأَ الذِئبُ الهِزَبرَ يُنازِلُه

مَتى كافَأَ الذِئبُ الهِزَبرَ يُنازِلُه

Tell the man misled by his forbearance:

Say to those lulled by his mildness: when has a wolf

So say to him who has been deluded by his forbearance:

when has a wolf matched the lion it challenges?

Ever requited a shepherd, though gently he careen?

"When has the wolf ever been a match for the battling lion?"

أَلَم تَرَ أَنَّ البَحرَ يُسلَكُ ساكِناً

أَلَم تَرَ أَنَّ البَحرَ يُسلَكُ ساكِناً

وَإِن حَرَّكَتهُ الريحُ جاشَت زَلازِلُه

وَإِن حَرَّكَتهُ الريحُ جاشَت زَلازِلُه

Do you not see that the sea may be crossed when calm,

Have you not seen how the sea may be coursed when calm

Do you not see that the sea is traversed when calm,

but when the wind stirs it, its convulsions surge?

Yet if winds arouse it, great tempests careen?

But when the wind stirs it, its quakes erupt in fury?

فَلا تُخرِجوهُ عَن سَجِيَّةِ حِلمِهِ

فَلا تُخرِجوهُ عَن سَجِيَّةِ حِلمِهِ

فَتَكثُرَ في الساعي بِذاكَ ثَواكِلُه

فَتَكثُرَ في الساعي بِذاكَ ثَواكِلُه

Do not drive him from his natural forbearance,

Do not disturb his innate mildness

So do not provoke him out of his nature of clemency,

lest many women among that schemer's kin be bereaved.

Lest your plots against him thereby multiply and teem

Lest the mothers of those who strive for such folly be left bereaved.

وَلا تَستَطيبوا مَركَبَ البَغيِ إِنَّهُ

وَلا تَستَطيبوا مَركَبَ البَغيِ إِنَّهُ

إِذا ما اِمتَطاهُ المَرءُ فَاللَهُ خاذِلُه

إِذا ما اِمتَطاهُ المَرءُ فَاللَهُ خاذِلُه

Do not relish riding the mount of rebellion, for

Do not think to mount the steed of rebellion

Do not find sweet the steed of rebellion, for truly,

when a man mounts it, God abandons him.

All who dare it, God will foil and their hopes demean

Whenever a man mounts it, God surely forsakes him.

ضَمِنتُ لِباغي فَضلِهِ أَن يَنالَهُ

ضَمِنتُ لِباغي فَضلِهِ أَن يَنالَهُ

وَمَن يَطلُبِ اللأوا تَئيمُ حلائِلُه

وَمَن يَطلُبِ اللأوا تَئيمُ حلائِلُه

I pledge that whoever seeks his bounty shall attain it,

I guarantee the rebel that instead of advantage

I guarantee that he who seeks his favor shall attain it,

but whoever seeks trouble will leave his wives widowed.

He will pluck bitter fruit and dire final scene

But he who seeks trouble—his wives shall be left widows.

وَما نالَ هذا المُلكَ حَتّى تَقَصَّدَت

وَما نالَ هذا المُلكَ حَتّى تَقَصَّدَت

صُدورُ عَواليهِ وَفُلَّت مَناصِلُه

صُدورُ عَواليهِ وَفُلَّت مَناصِلُه

He did not gain this kingdom until there had splintered

He assumed the throne only after his enemies fell

He did not attain this dominion until the chests

the tips of his lofty spears, and his blades were notched;

Sundered, their ties severed, their ranks left cracked and unclean

Of his spears were shattered and his blades blunted.

وَأَنعَلَ اَيدي الجُردِ هامَ عِداتِهِ

وَأَنعَلَ اَيدي الجُردِ هامَ عِداتِهِ

وَزَلزَلَتِ الأَرضَ البَعيدَ قَنابِلُه

وَزَلزَلَتِ الأَرضَ البَعيدَ قَنابِلُه

he shod his sleek horses' forefeet with his enemies' skulls,

His destriers trampled them under, his weapons unfurled

He shod the hooves of his horses with the skulls of his foes,

and his cavalry squadrons shook the distant earth.

Till the distant lands quaked from his cannonballs’ careen

And his legions shook the very ends of the earth.

وَما زادَهُ تيهُ الخِلافَةِ قَسوَةً

وَما زادَهُ تيهُ الخِلافَةِ قَسوَةً

نَعَم زادَ عَفواً حينَ زادَ تَطاوُلُه

نَعَم زادَ عَفواً حينَ زادَ تَطاوُلُه

The pomp of the caliphate did not make him harsher;

Power did not increase his harshness, but rather

The grandeur of power increased him not in harshness;

yes, his forgiveness grew as his stature grew.

As his dominion grew, so his pardons did stream

Nay, he grew more forgiving as his influence grew vast.

مِن القَومِ بَسّامينَ وَالوَقتُ أَكدَرٌ

مِن القَومِ بَسّامينَ وَالوَقتُ أَكدَرٌ

مِنَ النَقعِ وَهّابينَ وَالجَدبُ شامِلُه

مِنَ النَقعِ وَهّابينَ وَالجَدبُ شامِلُه

He is of a people who smile when the times are murkier

Amidst a time of discord and drought universal

He is of a people who smile when times are grim,

than battle-dust, who give when drought engulfs them.

Some with smiling face, yet the season is wretchedly lean

Amidst the dust of war; who give freely when drought prevails.

عَلَينا لَكَ الرحمنُ أَوجَبَ طاعَةً

عَلَينا لَكَ الرحمنُ أَوجَبَ طاعَةً

بِنَصٍّ وَبُرهانٍ تَلوحُ دَلائِلُه

بِنَصٍّ وَبُرهانٍ تَلوحُ دَلائِلُه

The All-Merciful has made obedience to you incumbent upon us,

Incumbent upon us is obedience, ordained by the Merciful

The Merciful has ordained upon us obedience to you,

by a text and proof whose signs are clear.

In revealed texts and proofs unambiguous, keen

By scripture and proof whose evidences are clear.

فَقالَ أَطيعوا اللَهَ ثُمَّ رَسولَهُ

فَقالَ أَطيعوا اللَهَ ثُمَّ رَسولَهُ

وَذا الأَمرِ يَدريهِ الذي هُوَ عاقِلُه

وَذا الأَمرِ يَدريهِ الذي هُوَ عاقِلُه

He said, 'Obey God, then His Messenger,

“Obey God and the Prophet,” He saith

He said: "Obey Allah, and then His Messenger,"

and the one in authority'—as anyone who comprehends it knows.

And those in authority, as any rational deem

And "those in authority"—a truth the wise well understand.

وَقالَ رَسولُ اللَهِ سَمعاً وَطاعَةً

وَقالَ رَسولُ اللَهِ سَمعاً وَطاعَةً

لِذي أَمرِكُم لَو شَطَّ في الحُكمِ عامِلُه

لِذي أَمرِكُم لَو شَطَّ في الحُكمِ عامِلُه

And God's Messenger said, 'Hear and obey

The Prophet said, Hear and obey

And the Messenger of Allah said: "Listen and obey

the one in command over you, even if his officer strays in judgment.'

Your leaders, even should their rule angular lean

Your ruler, even if his governor strays in judgment."

وَمَن ماتَ ما في عُنقِهِ لَكَ بَيعَةٌ

وَمَن ماتَ ما في عُنقِهِ لَكَ بَيعَةٌ

فَميتَةَ أَهلِ الجَهلِ يَرويهِ ناقِلُه

فَميتَةَ أَهلِ الجَهلِ يَرويهِ ناقِلُه

Whoever dies with no pledge to you upon his neck

Whose neck bears no fealty when he dies

And whoever dies with no pledge of allegiance upon his neck,

dies as the people of ignorance do, as its transmitter relates.

Meets a hellbound end—so relate those who have gleaned

Dies the death of the Days of Ignorance, as the narrators recount.

فَيا لَيتَ شِعري ما الذي غَرَّ بَعضَهُم

فَيا لَيتَ شِعري ما الذي غَرَّ بَعضَهُم

إِلى أَن رَأى رَأياً يُضَلَّلُ قائِلُه

إِلى أَن رَأى رَأياً يُضَلَّلُ قائِلُه

If only I knew what has beguiled some of them

I wonder what has deluded some of them

Oh, how I wish I knew what has deluded some of them,

into adopting a view whose proponent is deemed astray!

To deem valid an opinion whose holder is waywardly keen?

To adopt a view whose proponent is clearly led astray.

سَيخسَرُ في الدُنيا وَفي الدين سَعيُهُ

سَيخسَرُ في الدُنيا وَفي الدين سَعيُهُ

وَعَمّا قَريبٍ يَجتَوي الوِردَ ناهِلُه

وَعَمّا قَريبٍ يَجتَوي الوِردَ ناهِلُه

His striving will fail in this world and in religion,

He will fail in religion and world, his striving is ruined

His endeavor will end in loss, both in this world and the Faith,

and soon its drinker will find the watering place foul.

While near at hand he will suffer catastrophes unseen

And soon the thirsty one shall find the watering hole bitter.

فَيا مَعشَرَ القُرّاءِ دَعوَةَ صارِخٍ

فَيا مَعشَرَ القُرّاءِ دَعوَةَ صارِخٍ

بِكُم إِن يَكُن فيكُم حَليمٌ نُسائِلُه

بِكُم إِن يَكُن فيكُم حَليمٌ نُسائِلُه

O company of reciters—hear a crying man's appeal

O assembly of Koran-readers! The cry of one imploring:

O assembly of Readers, hear the call of one crying out

to you; if there is a wise man among you, we would question him.

Is there among you one mild-mannered I might keen?

To you—if there be a wise man among you to question:

أَما أَخَذَ الميثاقَ رَبّي عَلَيكُمُ

أَما أَخَذَ الميثاقَ رَبّي عَلَيكُمُ

بِإِرشادِنا لِلأَمرِ كَيفَ نُعامِلُه

بِإِرشادِنا لِلأَمرِ كَيفَ نُعامِلُه

Has not my Lord taken a covenant from you

Did not my Lord exact a pact from you

Did not my Lord take a solemn covenant from you,

to guide us in how we should handle this matter?

To counsel wisely the best course for our deen?

To guide us in this matter and how we should deal with it?

فَقوموا بِأَعباءِ الأَمانَةِ إِنَّما

فَقوموا بِأَعباءِ الأَمانَةِ إِنَّما

بِأَعناقِكُم طَوقٌ يُعانيهِ حامِلُه

بِأَعناقِكُم طَوقٌ يُعانيهِ حامِلُه

Then shoulder the burdens of that trust, for

Rise to bear the Trust—on your necks

So rise and bear the burdens of this trust, for truly

around your necks is a collar that weighs upon its bearer.

A pact whose weighty pearls bring pain to the bearer, gleam and sheen

Upon your necks is a heavy collar that burdens the bearer.

إِذا عَقَدَ الصُلحَ الإِمامُ لِكافِرٍ

إِذا عَقَدَ الصُلحَ الإِمامُ لِكافِرٍ

يَرى أَنَّهُ لا يَستَطيعُ يُطاوِلُه

يَرى أَنَّهُ لا يَستَطيعُ يُطاوِلُه

When the imam concludes a peace with an unbeliever

When the imam makes peace with unbelievers

If the Imam concludes a peace treaty with a disbeliever,

whom he believes he cannot match in strength,

Deeming he cannot subdue them, however keen

Deeming that he cannot sustain a conflict against him,

وَفيهِ لِدُنيانا صَلاحٌ وَدينِنا

وَفيهِ لِدُنيانا صَلاحٌ وَدينِنا

وَدَفعُ أَذىً عَنّا تُخافُ غَوائِلُه

وَدَفعُ أَذىً عَنّا تُخافُ غَوائِلُه

and it benefits our worldly affairs and our religion,

A peace that benefits our faith and world

And seeing therein a benefit for our world and our faith,

and averts from us a harm whose dangers are feared,

That spares us their evil, foils whatever they scheme

And the warding off of a harm whose calamities are feared—

فَذا جَأنِرٌ في الشَرعِ مِن غَيرِ شُبهَةٍ

فَذا جَأنِرٌ في الشَرعِ مِن غَيرِ شُبهَةٍ

فَيا لَيتَ شِعري هل يُفَنَّدُ فاعِلُه

فَيا لَيتَ شِعري هل يُفَنَّدُ فاعِلُه

then this is permissible under the Sacred Law, without doubt;

This is valid in law, beyond all doubt

Then this is permissible in the Law without any doubt.

if only I knew: should its maker be reproached?

So what rebuttal can possibly its decoder convene?

How then, I wonder, can the one who does so be rebuked?

وَقَد كانَ في أَمرِ التَتارِ كِفايَةٌ

وَقَد كانَ في أَمرِ التَتارِ كِفايَةٌ

لِمَن كانَ ذا قَلبٍ سَليمٍ دَغائِلُه

لِمَن كانَ ذا قَلبٍ سَليمٍ دَغائِلُه

The affair of the Tatars contains warning enough

The accord with the Tatars should suffice

There was indeed a sufficient lesson in the matter of the Tatars,

for anyone whose heart is free of hidden malice.

To convince those whose minds from turbid passions are clean

For anyone whose heart is sound and free of rancor.

هُمُ عاقَدوا السُلطانَ صُلحاً مُؤَكَّداً

هُمُ عاقَدوا السُلطانَ صُلحاً مُؤَكَّداً

عَلى أَنَّهُ مَن شاءَ قُطراً يُسابِلُه

عَلى أَنَّهُ مَن شاءَ قُطراً يُسابِلُه

They concluded a binding peace with the sultan,

A pact concluded with the Sultan, binding

They concluded a firm peace treaty with the Sultan,

stipulating that whoever wished could trade with a country.

That each may go freely where’er their reins careen

That whoever wished to travel to a region might do so freely.

فَجاءَ أُناسٌ مِنهُمُ بِبَضائِعٍ

فَجاءَ أُناسٌ مِنهُمُ بِبَضائِعٍ

مُحاوَلَةً لِلرِّبحِ مِمَّن تُعامِلُه

مُحاوَلَةً لِلرِّبحِ مِمَّن تُعامِلُه

Some of them came with merchandise,

Yet some came with wares, seeking profit

Then some of their people came with merchandise,

seeking profit from those with whom you trade.

From those they traded with, heedless of what intervened

Seeking profit from those with whom they traded.

فَأَغراهُ حُبُّ المالِ يُخفِرُ عَهدَهُ

فَأَغراهُ حُبُّ المالِ يُخفِرُ عَهدَهُ

فَما أَمطَرَت إِلّا بِشَرٍّ مَخايَلُه

فَما أَمطَرَت إِلّا بِشَرٍّ مَخايَلُه

Love of wealth tempted him to break his pact,

Desire for gain enticed them to break their vows

But love of wealth tempted someone to break the covenant,

and his promising clouds rained nothing but evil.

And they unleashed upon us woes unforeseen

And his clouds rained down nothing but evil.

وَجَرَّ عَلى الإِسلامِ شَرَّ جَريرَةٍ

وَجَرَّ عَلى الإِسلامِ شَرَّ جَريرَةٍ

بِها بادَ نَسلُ المُسلِمينَ وَناسِلُه

بِها بادَ نَسلُ المُسلِمينَ وَناسِلُه

He brought upon Islam a terrible offense,

How much wealth they seized! How much blood they shed!

He brought upon Islam the worst of consequences,

through which both the Muslims' offspring and their begetters perished.

How many a household weeps for its widows, its orphaned keen!

Through which both the Muslims' offspring and their sires perished.

فَكَم أَخَذوا مالاً وَكَم سَفَكوا دَماً

فَكَم أَخَذوا مالاً وَكَم سَفَكوا دَماً

وَكَم تَرَكوا سِرباً تُبَكّي أَرامِلُه

وَكَم تَرَكوا سِرباً تُبَكّي أَرامِلُه

How much wealth they took, how much blood they shed,

O Men of Islam, east and west I counsel:

How much wealth they seized, how much blood they shed!

and how many communities they left with widows lamenting!

Advice guided to you, though distant its origin and scene

How many households they left with widows weeping!

إِلَيكُم بَني الإِسلامِ شَرقاً وَمَغرِباً

إِلَيكُم بَني الإِسلامِ شَرقاً وَمَغرِباً

نَصيحَةَ مَن تُهدى إِلَيكُم رَسائِلُه

نَصيحَةَ مَن تُهدى إِلَيكُم رَسائِلُه

To you, sons of Islam, in east and west,

Come follow the Summoner to Righteousness, cooperate

Listen, O sons of Islam, in the East and in the West,

comes counsel from one whose letters are sent to you.

Upon piety and reverence, for such are its confederates keen

To the counsel of one whose messages are directed to you:

هَلُمّوا إِلى داعي الهُدى وَتَعاوَنوا

هَلُمّوا إِلى داعي الهُدى وَتَعاوَنوا

عَلى البِرِّ وَالتَقوى فَأَنتُم أَماثِلُه

عَلى البِرِّ وَالتَقوى فَأَنتُم أَماثِلُه

Come to the caller of guidance, and help one another

Go your ways, ponder, reflect, consider

Come to the Caller of Guidance and cooperate

in righteousness and piety, for you are its finest exemplars.

You will see my warnings are clear, no crookedness convened

In righteousness and piety, for you are the best to do so.

وَقوموا فُرادى ثُمَّ مَثنى وَفَكِّروا

وَقوموا فُرادى ثُمَّ مَثنى وَفَكِّروا

تَرَوا أَنَّ نُصحي لا اِغتِشاشَ يُداخِلُه

تَرَوا أَنَّ نُصحي لا اِغتِشاشَ يُداخِلُه

Rise singly, then in pairs, and reflect:

Ibn Faysal, the Muslims’ Imam, is rightly guided

Stand individually and in pairs, and reflect—

you will see that no deceit enters my counsel,

By wisdom in each matter, discretely convened

You will see that my counsel is free from all deceit.

بِأَنَّ إِمامَ المُسلِمينَ اِبنَ فَيصَلٍ

بِأَنَّ إِمامَ المُسلِمينَ اِبنَ فَيصَلٍ

هُوَ القائِمُ الهادي بِما هوَ فاصِلُه

هُوَ القائِمُ الهادي بِما هوَ فاصِلُه

that the imam of the Muslims, Ibn Faisal,

In Nejd, before his appearance, what tumult there was!

That the Imam of the Muslims, Ibn Faisal,

is the upholder and guide in the matters he decides.

May the separation caused by its events never be seen!

Is the upright guide in the decisions he makes.

فَقَد كانَ في نَجدٍ قُبَيلَ ظُهورِهِ

فَقَد كانَ في نَجدٍ قُبَيلَ ظُهورِهِ

مِنَ الهَرجِ ما يُبكي العُيونَ تَفاصُلُه

مِنَ الهَرجِ ما يُبكي العُيونَ تَفاصُلُه

In Najd, shortly before his appearance,

Men in every town locked in mutual destruction

For in Najd, just prior to his rising,

there was slaughter whose details would make eyes weep.

While lions roamed outside each wall’s confines, hungry and keen

Was such chaos that its details would make eyes weep.

تَهارَشَ هذا الناسُ في كُلِّ بَلدَةٍ

تَهارَشَ هذا الناسُ في كُلِّ بَلدَةٍ

وَمَن يَتَعَدَّ السورَ فَالذِئبُ آكِلُه

وَمَن يَتَعَدَّ السورَ فَالذِئبُ آكِلُه

These people tore at one another in every town;

Between spoils stripped and spoils robbed

The people savaged one another in every town;

whoever ventures beyond the wall, the wolf devours.

And the last corpse and the last killed, the killer and slain between

Whoever stepped beyond the wall was devoured by the wolf.

فَما بَينَ مَسلوبٍ وَما بَينَ سالِبٍ

فَما بَينَ مَسلوبٍ وَما بَينَ سالِبٍ

وَآخرَ مَقتولٍ وَهذاكَ قاتِلُه

وَآخرَ مَقتولٍ وَهذاكَ قاتِلُه

There were the plundered and the plunderers,

God replaced your poverty through him with a kingdom

Nothing remained but the robbed and the robber,

and another slain, and yonder man his killer.

And your degradation with honor that casts down the debased and mean

The slain victim and his slayer.

فَأَبدَلَكُم رَبّي مِنَ الفَقرِ دَولَةً

فَأَبدَلَكُم رَبّي مِنَ الفَقرِ دَولَةً

وَبِالذُلِّ عِزّاً بَزَّ خَصماً يُناضِلُه

وَبِالذُلِّ عِزّاً بَزَّ خَصماً يُناضِلُه

My Lord exchanged your poverty for prosperity,

Under a leader whose shade covers you all

Then my Lord exchanged your poverty for a mighty state,

and humiliation for might that vanquished its contending foe,

His wisdom and armament guard you, splendidly keen

And your humiliation for a glory that vanquishes every foe.

ييمن إِمامٍ أَنتُمُ في ظِلالِهِ

ييمن إِمامٍ أَنتُمُ في ظِلالِهِ

يُدافِعُ عَنكثم رَأيُهُ وَذَوابِلُه

يُدافِعُ عَنكثم رَأيُهُ وَذَوابِلُه

through the blessing of an imam beneath whose shade you live;

Through him God granted us new life

By the grace of an Imam in whose shade you dwell,

his judgment and slender spears defend you.

Freeing us from the straits of misery and want obscene

Whose judgment and spears stand in your defense.

بِهِ اللَهُ أَعطانا حَياةً جَديدًةً

بِهِ اللَهُ أَعطانا حَياةً جَديدًةً

رَفَهنا بِها مِن ضَنكِ بُؤسٍ نُطاوِلُه

رَفَهنا بِها مِن ضَنكِ بُؤسٍ نُطاوِلُه

Through him, God gave us a new life,

To you, Commander of the Faithful, I have called out

Through him God has granted us a new life,

in which we found ease from the straits of misery we had battled.

My messages crossing the horizon’s breadth and space between

In which we found ease after the prolonged misery we endured.

إِلَيكَ أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ زَجَرتُها

إِلَيكَ أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ زَجَرتُها

تَرامى بِها بَعدَ السُهوبِ جَراوِلُه

تَرامى بِها بَعدَ السُهوبِ جَراوِلُه

Toward you, Commander of the Faithful, I urged my mount,

Whenever the echoing camel song extols you

To you, O Commander of the Faithful, I have driven this poem,

the rocky tracts sending her onward beyond the plains.

It trips along, rousing the slumbering mount to careen

Tossed across plains and over rocky terrain.

إِذا ما وَنَت غَنّى الرَديفُ بِذِكرهِ

إِذا ما وَنَت غَنّى الرَديفُ بِذِكرهِ

فَزَفَّت زَفيفَ الرَألِ فَاجاهُ خاتِلُه

فَزَفَّت زَفيفَ الرَألِ فَاجاهُ خاتِلُه

Whenever she flagged, the rider behind sang of him,

I pray God keeps you in safety, while my home

Whenever it flagged, the rider sang out your name,

and she dashed like an ostrich chick surprised by its stalker.

Far from you remains, though the roads to you yearn intervene

And it sped like an ostrich chick startled by a predator.

وَما زِلتُ أَدعو اللَهَ يُبقيكَ سالِماً

وَما زِلتُ أَدعو اللَهَ يُبقيكَ سالِماً

وَأَنَّ بِعادي عَنكَ تُطوى مَراحِلُه

وَأَنَّ بِعادي عَنكَ تُطوى مَراحِلُه

I have never ceased praying to God to keep you safe,

I quote verses that another of times past spoke

I cease not to pray that God keeps you safe,

and that the stages separating me from you be crossed.

Poetry dies not, though death takes its sayer unseen:

And that the miles of my distance from you be folded away.

وَأُنشِدُ بَيتاً قالَهُ بَعضُ مَن مَضى

وَأُنشِدُ بَيتاً قالَهُ بَعضُ مَن مَضى

وَلَيسَ يَموتُ الشِعرُ لَو ماتَ قائِلُه

وَلَيسَ يَموتُ الشِعرُ لَو ماتَ قائِلُه

I recite a verse spoken by one who lived before us—

If eyes gain a glance of you but fleeting

I recite a verse spoken by a poet of old,

poetry does not die, though its speaker dies:

For that I will thank my riding beast, however it lean

For poetry does not die, though its author may perish:

إِذا ظَفِرَت مِنكَ العُيونُ بِنَظرَةٍ

إِذا ظَفِرَت مِنكَ العُيونُ بِنَظرَةٍ

أَثابَ بِها مُعيي المَطِيِّ وَهازِلُه

أَثابَ بِها مُعيي المَطِيِّ وَهازِلُه

'When eyes win a single glimpse of you,

I swear as long as I live, I will thank your blessings

"If eyes but win a single glance from you,"

it repays the one who wearied and wasted his mounts.'

That the warbling songbirds incessantly hymn and keen

"It rewards the weary mount and the wasted rider alike."

فَأُقسِمُ لا أَنفَكُّ ما عِشتُ شاكِراً

فَأُقسِمُ لا أَنفَكُّ ما عِشتُ شاكِراً

لِنُعماكَ ما غَنَّت سُحَيراً بَلابِلُه

لِنُعماكَ ما غَنَّت سُحَيراً بَلابِلُه

I swear I shall remain, as long as I live, grateful

Circling the world, glorifying you in verse

I swear I shall remain thankful as long as I live

for your favors, as long as dawn's nightingales sing,

That melts even the coldest heart, however it wean

For your favors, as long as nightingales sing at dawn.

بَسائِرَةٍ تَزهو بِمَدحِكَ في الوَرى

بَسائِرَةٍ تَزهو بِمَدحِكَ في الوَرى

وَيُصغي لَها قُسُّ الكَلامِ وَباقِلُه

وَيُصغي لَها قُسُّ الكَلامِ وَباقِلُه

with a far-traveling poem that proudly praises you among mankind,

At it the mount speeds up, the rider urged on

I send a traveling poem that boasts of your praise among men,

to which both speech's Quss and its Baqil lend an ear.

While your noblemen vie in its rhythms careening scene

To which the eloquent Quss and the silent Baqil alike listen.

وَيَحدو بِها الساري فَيَطرَبُ لِلسُّرى

وَيَحدو بِها الساري فَيَطرَبُ لِلسُّرى

وَيَشدو بِها في كُلِّ صُقعٍ أَفاضِلُه

وَيَشدو بِها في كُلِّ صُقعٍ أَفاضِلُه

The night traveler chants it and delights in his night journey,

And I conclude with a prayer of surrender

The night traveler chants it, finding joy in his journey,

and the finest men sing it in every land.

Upon the best prophet sent to those who glean

And the noble ones recite it in every land.

وَثَنِّ إِلهي بِالصلاةِ مُسَلِّماً

وَثَنِّ إِلهي بِالصلاةِ مُسَلِّماً

عَلى خَيرِ مَبعوثٍ إِلى مَن تُراسِلُه

عَلى خَيرِ مَبعوثٍ إِلى مَن تُراسِلُه

And follow this, my God, with blessings and peace

His excellent Companions, Family, and House

And grant, O my God, doubled blessings and peace

upon the best messenger sent to those You address,

As the stars parade then set, but never the cycle careen

Upon the best Messenger sent to those You address,

وَأَصحابِهِ الغُرِّ الكِرامِ وَآلِهِ

وَأَصحابِهِ الغُرِّ الكِرامِ وَآلِهِ

كَذا ما بَدا نَجمٌ وَما غابَ آفِلُه

كَذا ما بَدا نَجمٌ وَما غابَ آفِلُه

and his radiant, noble companions, and his family,

And upon his noble, radiant Companions and his Kin,

likewise, as long as a star appears and a setting star vanishes.

As long as a star rises and a setting one fades.