تَهَلَّلَ وَجهُ الكَونِ وَاِبتَسَم السَعدُ

تَهَلَّلَ وَجهُ الكَونِ وَاِبتَسَم السَعدُ

وَعادَ شَبابُ الدَهرِ وَاِنتَظَم العِقدُ

وَعادَ شَبابُ الدَهرِ وَاِنتَظَم العِقدُ

The universe's face beamed, and good fortune smiled.

The face of the universe beamed with joy and good fortune smiled,

The face of the universe has brightened, and good fortune has smiled,

And time's youth returned, and the necklace was set in order.

Youth returned to the ages, and the pearls were strung together.

The youth of the age has returned, and the scattered pearls are strung once more.

وَأَصبَحَتِ العَلياءُ يَفتَرُّ ثَغرُها

وَأَصبَحَتِ العَلياءُ يَفتَرُّ ثَغرُها

وَقد كانَ فيها عَن جَميع الوَرى صَدُّ

وَقد كانَ فيها عَن جَميع الوَرى صَدُّ

And lofty glory now smiles with parted lips,

The virtuous woman's mouth began to smile,

Glory has come to reveal a smiling mouth,

Though once she had turned away from all mankind.

Though she had been aloof from all other people.

Though it had previously turned its face away from all mankind.

لَوَت جيدَها نَحوَ الذي كانَ كَفؤَها

لَوَت جيدَها نَحوَ الذي كانَ كَفؤَها

سعودُ بني الدنيا الذي فِعلُه جِدُّ

سعودُ بني الدنيا الذي فِعلُه جِدُّ

She turned her neck toward the one who was her equal:

Had she turned her neck towards her equal,

She turned her neck toward the one who was her equal,

Saud of the sons of this world, whose deeds are earnest.

Saud, the serious active son of the noble tribe,

Saud, the most fortunate of the world's sons, whose deeds are earnest truth.

رَأى فيهِ سُلطانُ المُلوكِ وَفَخرُها

رَأى فيهِ سُلطانُ المُلوكِ وَفَخرُها

مَخايِل مجدٍ حينَ ما ضمَّهُ المَهدُ

مَخايِل مجدٍ حينَ ما ضمَّهُ المَهدُ

The sovereign of kings, their pride, saw in him

Whom the King of Kings and their pride saw

In him, the Sultan of Kings and their pride perceived

Signs of glory when the cradle embraced him.

As a baby wrapped in the cradle of glory.

The signs of glory even when the cradle embraced him.

فَما زالَ يَنمو وَالفَضائِلُ تَرتَقي

فَما زالَ يَنمو وَالفَضائِلُ تَرتَقي

إِلى أَن بدا في فَضلِهِ العلمُ الفردُ

إِلى أَن بدا في فَضلِهِ العلمُ الفردُ

So he kept growing, as his virtues rose,

He continued to grow as virtues climbed,

He continued to grow while his virtues ascended,

Until he stood forth in excellence, a peerless luminary.

Until he reached the utmost extent of excellence a young man can attain.

Until he appeared, in his merit, as a singular, towering peak.

نَجيبُ مَناجيبٍ وَفرعُ أَئِمَّةٍ

نَجيبُ مَناجيبٍ وَفرعُ أَئِمَّةٍ

هُمُ القَومُ لا عُزلُ اليَدَينِ وَلا نُكدُ

هُمُ القَومُ لا عُزلُ اليَدَينِ وَلا نُكدُ

A noble son of noble forebears, a scion of imams,

A refined gentleman, scion of imams,

A noble scion of noble stock, a branch of Imams;

They are the men—neither bare-handed nor stingy.

They are the people, not the hands of toil and misery.

They are a people neither weaponless of hand nor bringers of misfortune.

حَبيبٌ إِلَيهِ الحِلمُ وَالجودُ وَالتُقى

حَبيبٌ إِلَيهِ الحِلمُ وَالجودُ وَالتُقى

بَغيضٌ إِلَيهِ الجَورُ وَالبُخلُ وَالحِقدُ

بَغيضٌ إِلَيهِ الجَورُ وَالبُخلُ وَالحِقدُ

Dear to him are forbearance, generosity, and piety;

Wisdom, generosity, and piety are beloved to him,

Beloved to him are forbearance, generosity, and piety;

Hateful to him are injustice, miserliness, and rancor.

Injustice, miserliness, and hatred are hateful to him.

Hateful to him are injustice, miserliness, and malice.

فَلَّما سَمَت فيهِ النَجابَةُ وَاِرتَقى

فَلَّما سَمَت فيهِ النَجابَةُ وَاِرتَقى

إِلى غايَةٍ ما فَوقَها لِلفَتى قَصدُ

إِلى غايَةٍ ما فَوقَها لِلفَتى قَصدُ

Then, when nobility rose high within him, and he ascended

When nobility and eminence culminated in him,

When nobility soared within him and he ascended

To a summit beyond which no young man could aspire,

And he assumed the throne of glory in the springtime of his life,

To a summit beyond which no young man can aspire,

وَحلَّ بِعَرشِ المَجدِ في شَرخِ عُمرِهِ

وَحلَّ بِعَرشِ المَجدِ في شَرخِ عُمرِهِ

كَأَفعالِ آباءٍ لهُ وَهُمُ مُردُ

كَأَفعالِ آباءٍ لهُ وَهُمُ مُردُ

And took his place on glory's throne in the prime of his life,

Like the deeds of his ancestors, who are helpers to him,

And he occupied the throne of glory in the prime of his youth,

As his forefathers had done while still beardless youths,

He was seen by the Leader of the Faithful as worthy of his reign,

Just as his forefathers did when they were yet beardless lads.

رَآهُ إِمامُ المُسلِمينَ لِعَهدِهِ

رَآهُ إِمامُ المُسلِمينَ لِعَهدِهِ

كَفِيّاً وَفيما قَد رَأى الحَزمُ وَالرُشدُ

كَفِيّاً وَفيما قَد رَأى الحَزمُ وَالرُشدُ

The imam of the Muslims deemed him, for his succession,

And by what insight and wisdom have deemed.

The Imam of the Muslims deemed him worthy of his covenant,

Capable—and in that judgment lay prudence and wisdom.

He entrusted him with the legacy of the Muslims,

A capable successor; and in his judgment lay resolve and right guidance.

فَوَلّاهُ عَهدَ المُسلِمينَ رِعايَةً

فَوَلّاهُ عَهدَ المُسلِمينَ رِعايَةً

لِنُصحِهِمُ فيما يَغيبُ وَما يَبدو

لِنُصحِهِمُ فيما يَغيبُ وَما يَبدو

So he appointed him heir over the Muslims, out of care

To care for them in his absence and presence.

So he entrusted him with the leadership of the Muslims as a guardian,

For their welfare in matters hidden and apparent.

The Muslims were pleased with that and pledged allegiance to him,

To counsel them in matters hidden and matters revealed.

فرَضيَ بَنو الإِسلامِ ذاكَ وَبايَعوا

فرَضيَ بَنو الإِسلامِ ذاكَ وَبايَعوا

وَقالوا عَلَينا الشُكرُ لِلَّهِ وَالحَمدُ

وَقالوا عَلَينا الشُكرُ لِلَّهِ وَالحَمدُ

The sons of Islam approved this and pledged allegiance,

Saying, “Thanks and praise belong to God.”

The sons of Islam were pleased with this and pledged their allegiance,

And said, 'We owe God thanks and praise.'

So he took on the burdens of the caliphate gloriously,

Saying, "Upon us is the duty of thanks and praise to God."

فَقامَ بِأَعباءِ الخِلافَةِ ماجِدٌ

فَقامَ بِأَعباءِ الخِلافَةِ ماجِدٌ

كَما فَعَلَت آباؤُهُ قَبلُ والجَدُّ

كَما فَعَلَت آباؤُهُ قَبلُ والجَدُّ

Thus a noble man shouldered the burdens of the caliphate,

As his forefathers had done before, and his grandfather.

So a glorious hero rose to bear the burdens of leadership,

As his forefathers and grandfather had done before.

Kings whose likeness matched his, and they agreed

Just as his fathers and grandfather did before him.

مُلوكٌ سما ذا نحوَ ذا فَتَوافَقوا

مُلوكٌ سما ذا نحوَ ذا فَتَوافَقوا

عَلى أَنَّ ذا كَفٌّ وَهذا لهُ عَضدُ

عَلى أَنَّ ذا كَفٌّ وَهذا لهُ عَضدُ

Kings: this one rose toward that one, and they agreed

That this one is a guardian, and that one a supporter to him.

Kings who rose one toward the other in harmony, agreeing

That one was the hand, the other his supporting arm.

O Abd al-Aziz ibn Faisal, your celebrated deeds will remain

That this one is the hand, and that one is the forearm.

فَلِلَّهِ يا عَبدَ العَزيزِ بن فَيصَلٍ

فَلِلَّهِ يا عَبدَ العَزيزِ بن فَيصَلٍ

مَآثِرُ تَبقى ما بَقي في الوَرى عَبدُ

مَآثِرُ تَبقى ما بَقي في الوَرى عَبدُ

So to God be praise, O Abd al-Aziz son of Faisal,

As long as there remains in the world someone to serve.

By God, O Abdulaziz bin Faisal,

For deeds that endure while any servant remains among mankind,

You are determined when you make up your mind,

You possess feats that will endure as long as a single soul remains on earth.

وَهِمَّةُ مِقدامٍ إِذا هَمَّ لم يَكُن

وَهِمَّةُ مِقدامٍ إِذا هَمَّ لم يَكُن

يُنَهنِهُهُ عَنها وَعيدٌ وَلا وَعدُ

يُنَهنِهُهُ عَنها وَعيدٌ وَلا وَعدُ

And a daring man's resolve: when he resolves, he is not

Undeterred by intimidation or temptation.

And the resolution of a bold warrior who, once determined,

Deterred from it by any threat or promise.

You have helped Islam in every land,

Is deterred by neither threat nor promise.

نَصَرتُم بِها الإِسلامَ في كُلِّ مَوطِنٍ

نَصَرتُم بِها الإِسلامَ في كُلِّ مَوطِنٍ

وَسُدتُم بِها أَهلَ القُرى وَالذي يَبدو

وَسُدتُم بِها أَهلَ القُرى وَالذي يَبدو

With it you championed Islam in every place,

And with it you have aided the people of towns and nomads.

Through this resolve, you have championed Islam in every land,

And with it you ruled townsfolk and desert dwellers.

With it you have ruled over the lands from Basra to Abyan,

And held sway over the city dwellers and the bedouins alike.

مَلَكتُم بها ما بَينَ بُصرى وَأَبيَنٍ

مَلَكتُم بها ما بَينَ بُصرى وَأَبيَنٍ

وَمَدَّت لكُم أَعناقَها مِصرُ وَالهِندُ

وَمَدَّت لكُم أَعناقَها مِصرُ وَالهِندُ

With it you ruled all between Bosra and Abyan,

And Egypt and India have bowed their necks to you.

You have conquered the lands between Busra and Abyan,

And Egypt and India stretched out their necks to you.

You have not accepted anything but seeking your own glory,

While Egypt and India craned their necks toward you in anticipation.

فَلَم تَقبَلوا إِلّا مَواكِرَ مَجدِكُم

فَلَم تَقبَلوا إِلّا مَواكِرَ مَجدِكُم

وَفي العَربِ العَربا لِمَن سادَها مَجدُ

وَفي العَربِ العَربا لِمَن سادَها مَجدُ

Yet you accepted only the nesting places of your glory;

And among the Arabs the most glorious of those who attained glory.

Yet you accepted nothing but the pure nests of your own glory;

And among the true Arabs, glory belongs to whoever rules them.

When you embark on something, you take hold of its reins,

For in ruling the pure Arabs lies true honor for the sovereign.

إِذا رُمتُمُ أَمراً مَلَكتُم زِمامَهُ

إِذا رُمتُمُ أَمراً مَلَكتُم زِمامَهُ

وَإن تَقدَحوا لَم يَكبُ يَوماً لكُم زَندُ

وَإن تَقدَحوا لَم يَكبُ يَوماً لكُم زَندُ

When you seek a thing, you grasp its reins;

And when you stir the embers, no spark ever dies out for you.

Whenever you sought a matter, you seized its reins;

And if you strike sparks, your fire-stick never once fails you.

How not, when you are the protectors of the religion and the world,

And whenever you struck a spark, your flint never failed to ignite.

فَكَيفَ وَأَنتُم عِصمَةُ الدينِ وَالدُنى

فَكَيفَ وَأَنتُم عِصمَةُ الدينِ وَالدُنى

وَسادَتهُم مِن قَبلِ هذا وَمِن بَعدُ

وَسادَتهُم مِن قَبلِ هذا وَمِن بَعدُ

How could it, when you are the safeguard of faith and earthly realms,

And their masters before this and after.

How could it be otherwise, when you are the guardians of Faith and World,

And their lords, before this and afterward?

You established the path of religion with steeds and camels

And their masters from times past and for times to come?

أَقَمتُم قَناةَ الدينِ بِالسُمرِ وَالظُبى

أَقَمتُم قَناةَ الدينِ بِالسُمرِ وَالظُبى

وَشوسٍ بِهِم تَعدو مُطَهَّمةٌ جُردُ

وَشوسٍ بِهِم تَعدو مُطَهَّمةٌ جُردُ

You set faith's spear-shaft upright with brown lances and blades,

That race with them, trained for war when chaos calls.

You straightened the lance of Religion with brown spears and sharp blades,

And fierce warriors carried at a gallop by well-built, sleek steeds,

Galloping to the fray heavily armed, when battles rage

And with bold warriors, carried by sleek, swift steeds.

سِراعٍ إِلى الهَيجا ثِقالٍ إِذا الوَغى

سِراعٍ إِلى الهَيجا ثِقالٍ إِذا الوَغى

تَكَعكَعَ عن حَوماتِها الأَسدُ الوَردُ

تَكَعكَعَ عن حَوماتِها الأَسدُ الوَردُ

Swift to battle, steadfast when, in war,

The noble lions bow to their onslaught.

Swift to race toward the fray, yet steadfast as heavy anchors

Tawny lions recoil from its thickest fray.

When an ignorant man is deluded by his own ill fate,

When the battle-dust makes even the tawny lion recoil in fear.

إِذا جاهِلٌ أَغراهُ مِن سوءِ حَظِّهِ

إِذا جاهِلٌ أَغراهُ مِن سوءِ حَظِّهِ

بِأَن سَوف يُنجيهِ معَ الهَرَبِ البُعدُ

بِأَن سَوف يُنجيهِ معَ الهَرَبِ البُعدُ

When a fool was lured, through his ill fortune,

Thinking that fleeing far away will save him,

If an ignorant fool is tempted by his own wretched luck,

Into thinking distance would save him as he fled,

You pelt him with their shooting stars, which hinder birds in flight,

Believing that distance and flight will save him,

رَمَوهُ بِشَهبَها يُعجِزُ الطَيرَ سَيرُها

رَمَوهُ بِشَهبَها يُعجِزُ الطَيرَ سَيرُها

فَلَم يُنجِهِ غَورٌ وَلا جَبَلٌ صَلدُ

فَلَم يُنجِهِ غَورٌ وَلا جَبَلٌ صَلدُ

They hurled their gray steeds at him; their pace outstrips birds,

And no rugged valley or rocky cliff protects him.

They pursue him with grey steeds whose speed outstrips the birds,

So neither a lowland nor a rock-hard mountain saved him.

He ends up wandering in the deserts, wishing

So that neither deep valley nor rugged mountain can offer him refuge.

فَأَصبَحَ يَدو بِالثُبورِ وَيَمتَني

فَأَصبَحَ يَدو بِالثُبورِ وَيَمتَني

لَو اِن صارَ كَالعَنقاءِ أَو ضَمَّهُ لَحدُ

لَو اِن صارَ كَالعَنقاءِ أَو ضَمَّهُ لَحدُ

Then he began calling for destruction and wishing

He were an ostrich or shrouded in a grave.

Until he begins to cry out in ruin, wishing

That he had become like the phoenix, or a grave had enfolded him.

They are not who they are. The fugitive cannot escape them,

He were a mythical Phoenix, or that the grave had already claimed him.

هُمُ ما همُ لا الذَخلُ يُدرِكُ عِندهُم

هُمُ ما همُ لا الذَخلُ يُدرِكُ عِندهُم

وَإِن طَلَبوهُ أَدرَكوهُ وَلا بُدُّ

وَإِن طَلَبوهُ أَدرَكوهُ وَلا بُدُّ

They are what they are: no vengeance is taken against them,

And if they seek him, they find him without fail.

They are who they are; no vengeance can ever overtake them,

Yet if they seek it, they attain it without fail.

How many worries they have relieved with their determination,

Yet if they seek vengeance, they inevitably attain it.

وَكَم غُمَّةٍ قَد فَرَّجوها بِهِمَّةٍ

وَكَم غُمَّةٍ قَد فَرَّجوها بِهِمَّةٍ

بِها قَبلَ مَسعاهُم عُيونُ الهدى رُمدُ

بِها قَبلَ مَسعاهُم عُيونُ الهدى رُمدُ

And how many an affliction they have dispelled with resolve,

Which, before hearing their cry, blinded eyes see!

How many a distress have they dispelled with high resolve,

From which, before their striving, guidance's eyes were inflamed.

They gave sanctuary to Kisra bin Sasan in the past,

When, before their intervention, the eyes of guidance were inflamed and blind.

أَجاروا عَلى كِسرى بن ساسانَ ماضِياً

أَجاروا عَلى كِسرى بن ساسانَ ماضِياً

وَفي الغابِرينَ الآنَ لَيسَ لهُم نِدُّ

وَفي الغابِرينَ الآنَ لَيسَ لهُم نِدُّ

Long ago they granted refuge against Kisra son of Sasan,

And among past peoples they now have no equal.

In the past, they prevailed over the might of Kisra, son of Sasan,

And among those who remain today, they have no peer.

They are the joy of the world and the planets of its fortune,

And among those who remain today, they have no equal.

همُ بَهجَةُ الدُنيا وَكَوكَبُ سَعدِها

همُ بَهجَةُ الدُنيا وَكَوكَبُ سَعدِها

وَهُم خَيرُ مَن أُلقي له الحلُّ وَالعقدُ

وَهُم خَيرُ مَن أُلقي له الحلُّ وَالعقدُ

They are the world's delight and the star of its good fortune,

They are the best of those to whom power and authority are given.

They are the joy of the world and the star of its good fortune;

And they are the best entrusted with loosening and binding.

When they give, they enrich; when they judge, they pardon;

They are the best to be entrusted with the power to bind and to loose.

إِذا وَهَبوا أَغنَوا وَإَن قَدِروا عَفَوا

إِذا وَهَبوا أَغنَوا وَإَن قَدِروا عَفَوا

وَإِن حارَبوا أَشجَوا وَإِن عَقدوا شَدّوا

وَإِن حارَبوا أَشجَوا وَإِن عَقدوا شَدّوا

When they give, they enrich; and if they have power, they pardon;

And when they fight, they plunge in; and when they rule, they strengthen.

When they bestow, they enrich; when they hold power, they forgive;

And if they fight, they bring sorrow; if they make a pact, they bind it firmly.

Giving without condescension, ruling without caprice,

When they war, they crush; and when they make a pact, they bind it fast.

عَطاءٌ وَلا مَنٌّ وَحُكمٌ وَلا هَوىً

عَطاءٌ وَلا مَنٌّ وَحُكمٌ وَلا هَوىً

وَفصلٌ وَلا هَزلٌ وَحِلمٌ وَلا حَردُ

وَفصلٌ وَلا هَزلٌ وَحِلمٌ وَلا حَردُ

Giving without boasting of favors, rule without caprice,

Judging without frivolity, patient without zealotry.

Generosity without reproach, judgment without bias,

And decisive judgment without jest, forbearance without wrath.

So to God, my Lord, belongs praise and thanks

Decisiveness without jest, and forbearance without rancor.

فَللّهِ رَبّي الحَمدُ وَالشُكرُ وَالثَنا

فَللّهِ رَبّي الحَمدُ وَالشُكرُ وَالثَنا

عَلى نِعَمٍ لا يُستَطاعُ لها عَدُّ

عَلى نِعَمٍ لا يُستَطاعُ لها عَدُّ

So to God, my Lord, be praise, thanks, and glorification,

For blessings that cannot be fully enumerated.

So to God, my Lord, belongs all praise, thanks, and laudation,

For blessings that cannot be counted.

And forgive me, for my praise does not fulfil

For blessings that can never be numbered.

وَعُذراً فَما مَدحي بِقاضٍ حُقوقَكُم

وَعُذراً فَما مَدحي بِقاضٍ حُقوقَكُم

عَليَّ وَلا المِعشارَ لكِنَّهُ الجَهدُ

عَليَّ وَلا المِعشارَ لكِنَّهُ الجَهدُ

And pardon me: my praise cannot fulfill what is due to you

Your right over me, not even a fraction.

And I ask pardon, for my praise does not fulfill your dues,

From me—not even a tenth—but it is my utmost effort.

May the world never be devoid of your lasting presence,

Not even a tenth of what I owe, yet it is my utmost effort.

وَلا تَعدَمِ الدُنيا بَقاكُم عَلى المَدى

وَلا تَعدَمِ الدُنيا بَقاكُم عَلى المَدى

وَلا زالَ مِن إِحسانِكُم لِلوَرى رِفدُ

وَلا زالَ مِن إِحسانِكُم لِلوَرى رِفدُ

And may the world never lose your presence through the ages,

And may the goodness you bestow upon the world never cease.

May the world never be deprived of your presence through the ages,

And may aid from your goodness never cease for mankind.

And bless the One in whom is pride,

And may your benevolence never cease to support mankind.

وَصَلِّ إلهَ العالَمينَ على الذي

وَصَلِّ إلهَ العالَمينَ على الذي

لهُ الفَخرُ في الدُنيا وَفي الجَنَّةِ الخُلدُ

لهُ الفَخرُ في الدُنيا وَفي الجَنَّةِ الخُلدُ

And send blessings, O God of all worlds, upon him

In the world and in Paradise, for eternity.

And send blessings, O God of the Worlds, upon him who

Whose is glory in this world, and immortality in Paradise;

The family and companions - whenever a reciter says:

Possesses pride in this world and eternity in Paradise;

كَذا الآلُ وَالأَصحابُ ما قالَ مُنشِدٌ

كَذا الآلُ وَالأَصحابُ ما قالَ مُنشِدٌ

تَهَلَّلَ وَجهُ الكَونِ وَاِبتَسَم السَعدُ

تَهَلَّلَ وَجهُ الكَونِ وَاِبتَسَم السَعدُ

Likewise his family and companions, as long as a reciter says:

The face of the universe beamed with joy and good fortune smiled.

And upon his Family and Companions, for as long as a chanter recites:

The universe's face beamed, and good fortune smiled.

"The face of the universe has brightened, and good fortune has smiled."