سرور المعالي عاد والعود اجمل

سرور المعالي عاد والعود اجمل

وهذا محياها به متهلل

وهذا محياها به متهلل

The joy of high honors has returned, and its return is lovelier.

The light of grandeur has returned, and return is most beautiful,

Here her countenance beams with it.

And this is its greeting, with which it exults,

بدت للملا تزهو بأحسن منظر

بدت للملا تزهو بأحسن منظر

تصور معناه على الذهن معظل

تصور معناه على الذهن معظل

She appeared before the gathering, radiant in the loveliest sight;

It appeared to the exalted, adorned with the finest spectacle,

conceiving its meaning is arduous for the mind.

Imagining its meaning imprinted on the mind.

عليها من الإقبال حلة مفخر

عليها من الإقبال حلة مفخر

من التيه إذ تمشي بها تترفل

من التيه إذ تمشي بها تترفل

She wears a robe of pride bestowed by good fortune,

Upon it is a garment of pride, magnificent,

strutting proudly in it as she walks.

Wandering in its loss, it sways gracefully,

أجل من العقيق عقد بجيدها

أجل من العقيق عقد بجيدها

من السعد منظوماً وأبهى وافضل

من السعد منظوماً وأبهى وافضل

At her neck is a necklace grander than carnelian,

More precious than carnelian, a necklace around its neck,

strung from good fortune, more radiant and finer.

Strung with good fortune, and most superb.

تهز قوام العجب من طربٍ بها

تهز قوام العجب من طربٍ بها

أهل أحرزت من دهرها ما تؤمل

أهل أحرزت من دهرها ما تؤمل

She sways her proud form in delight at it.

It shakes the frame of wonder with ecstasy through it,

Has she gained from her time what she hopes for?

My people have attained from its time what they hope for.

نعم حلت الأفراح وارتحل الأسى

نعم حلت الأفراح وارتحل الأسى

وأدبرت الأكدار والصفو مقبل

وأدبرت الأكدار والصفو مقبل

Yes: joys have settled, and sorrow has departed;

Yes, joy has arrived and sorrow departed,

troubles have turned away, and serenity approaches.

And calamities receded while serenity draws near.

وزان سماء المجد بدر بها بدا

وزان سماء المجد بدر بها بدا

له فلك الأفضال والعز منزل

له فلك الأفضال والعز منزل

A full moon appearing there adorned the sky of glory;

And the full moon of glory rose through it,

the orbit of bounty and might is his abode.

For it is the orbit of sublime deeds and the abode of might.

ونوار روض الجود قد فاح نشره

ونوار روض الجود قد فاح نشره

بأطيب من نشر الكبا حين يشعل

بأطيب من نشر الكبا حين يشعل

The blossoms of generosity's garden spread their fragrance,

And the light of the garden of generosity has diffused its blossoming,

sweeter than the scent of incense when kindled.

With the sweetest scent when the east wind ignites.

وهب نسيم الفوز للناس بالمنى

وهب نسيم الفوز للناس بالمنى

بيوم به فاز الاغر المفضل

بيوم به فاز الاغر المفضل

The breeze of triumph blew, bringing people their wishes,

And the breeze of victory blew to the people their wishes,

on a day when the radiant benefactor triumphed.

On a day through which the honorable one excelled.

تزينت له الدنيا وباهت به الملا

تزينت له الدنيا وباهت به الملا

واسعد الآمال فيه المؤمل

واسعد الآمال فيه المؤمل

The world adorned itself for him and boasted of him before the gathering,

The world has adorned itself for it and the noble ones dazzled by it,

and hopes in him gladdened the hopeful one.

And hopes became fortunate through it for the hopeful.

سأجعله ما عشت عيداً معظما

سأجعله ما عشت عيداً معظما

وأوصي به بعدي إذا مت يجعل

وأوصي به بعدي إذا مت يجعل

I shall keep that day a revered feast as long as I live,

As long as I live I will sanctify it as a great celebration,

and enjoin that after my death it be kept so.

And bequeath it, when I die, to be made so.

خليلي قد طاب الزمان فأسرعا

خليلي قد طاب الزمان فأسرعا

إلى الراح إن الأنس بالراح اكمل

إلى الراح إن الأنس بالراح اكمل

My two friends, the times have grown pleasant; hasten

My friend, time has become good, so hurry

to wine, for fellowship is fuller with wine.

To comfort, for companionship in comfort is most complete.

أدر أيها الساقي الكؤوس فإنها

أدر أيها الساقي الكؤوس فإنها

لكل صداً في جوهر القلب صيقل

لكل صداً في جوهر القلب صيقل

Pass the cups around, O cupbearer, for they

Turn, O cupbearer, the cups, for they

polish away every rust stain in the heart's essence.

Are for every breast the burnisher of the heart's essence.

شمولاً بها تزداد لطفا شمائلي

شمولاً بها تزداد لطفا شمائلي

ويرتاح بالأفراح بالي المبلبل

ويرتاح بالأفراح بالي المبلبل

Wine through which my character grows more refined,

With them, fine features increase in refinement,

and joys bring ease to my troubled mind.

And the ecstatic heart rests in joy.

إذا برزت من دنها في كؤسها

إذا برزت من دنها في كؤسها

توهمت أن البدر للشمس هيكل

توهمت أن البدر للشمس هيكل

When it emerges from its jar into its cups,

When it emerges from its flask in the cup,

I imagine the full moon to be the sun's shrine.

You would think the full moon a temple for the sun.

تخبر عن عادٍ القديم وتبع

تخبر عن عادٍ القديم وتبع

بأبلغ معنى ما على الشرب يشكل

بأبلغ معنى ما على الشرب يشكل

It tells of ancient ʿAd and Tubbaʿ,

It tells of the old happiness and succession,

in most eloquent expression, clear to the drinkers.

In the most eloquent meaning of what adorns drink.

أحاديث لو تتلى على ورع صبا

أحاديث لو تتلى على ورع صبا

إليها وعن حاناتها ليس يعدل

إليها وعن حاناتها ليس يعدل

Tales which, recited to a devout man, would make him yearn

Conversations which if recited to the devotion of youth,

for them, never turning away from its taverns.

To it and about its taverns, nothing equals.

هنيئاً لأقمار بهالات انسهم

هنيئاً لأقمار بهالات انسهم

بدور بشمس الراح تقفي وتقبل

بدور بشمس الراح تقفي وتقبل

Joy to the moons within the halos of their fellowship—

Congratulations to moons whose crescents keep company,

full moons departing and approaching with the sun of wine.

With the house of the light of comfort, tarrying and accepting.

لعمري لقد فازوا كما فزت بالمنى

لعمري لقد فازوا كما فزت بالمنى

بقرب كريمٍ طل نعماه مسبل

بقرب كريمٍ طل نعماه مسبل

By my life, they have gained their wishes, as I have,

By my life, they have succeeded just as you succeeded in attaining your wish,

through nearness to a generous man whose bounty's dew pours down.

Through the proximity of a generous one whose favours cascade.

اجل مهيب مرهب لأعدائه

اجل مهيب مرهب لأعدائه

وايمن من يرجى إذا حل مشكل

وايمن من يرجى إذا حل مشكل

Exalted, awe-inspiring, terrifying to his enemies,

Most revered, most awe-inspiring to his enemies,

and the most auspicious to seek when difficulty strikes.

And most auspicious for one who hopes when a problem arises.

أغر عليه للمعالي دلائل

أغر عليه للمعالي دلائل

تلوح وعنوان السنا ليس يجهل

تلوح وعنوان السنا ليس يجهل

Radiant, bearing the signs of high honors,

For the grandeur, signs point to him,

which shine forth; the mark of splendor cannot be missed.

Beaming, and the banner of glory is not concealed.

له همة تدني له كل شاسع

له همة تدني له كل شاسع

وتستسهل الصعب الذي ليس يسهل

وتستسهل الصعب الذي ليس يسهل

His resolve brings everything distant within his reach,

He has an ambition that brings near everything far,

and finds easy the difficulty that will not yield.

And makes easy the difficult which cannot be easily resolved.

سريعاً بطيئاً صفحة وعقابه

سريعاً بطيئاً صفحة وعقابه

بعيداً قريباً حين ينوي ويسأل

بعيداً قريباً حين ينوي ويسأل

Swift is his pardon, slow his punishment;

Swift, slow, forgiving, and his punishment,

far-reaching when he resolves, near when petitioned.

Far, near, when he intends and asks.

له ثاقب الرأي المنير إذا دجى

له ثاقب الرأي المنير إذا دجى

ظلام مهم منه ذو اللب يوجل

ظلام مهم منه ذو اللب يوجل

His penetrating judgment shines when darkness gathers—

For him is the penetrating wisdom, when the darkness

the darkness of a grave affair that even the discerning fear.

Of a confusing affair darkens, perplexing the mind.

به يقتدي من ساعدا لله جده

به يقتدي من ساعدا لله جده

ويزور مرتاب شقي فيخذل

ويزور مرتاب شقي فيخذل

Those whose fortune God has favored follow his example,

Through it those who have helped his forefathers are guided,

while a wretched doubter turns away and is forsaken.

And the wretched doubter is abandoned and fails.

يصور أشكال الحقائق عقله

يصور أشكال الحقائق عقله

بآلة فكر والفؤاد السجنجل

بآلة فكر والفؤاد السجنجل

His mind shapes the forms of truths,

His mind depicts the forms of truths,

with thought as its instrument and his mirror-bright heart.

With the instrument of thought and insightful heart.

فيعرف كنه الشيء من قبل كونه

فيعرف كنه الشيء من قبل كونه

فيقضي بما يختار منه ويفعل

فيقضي بما يختار منه ويفعل

Thus he knows a thing's essence before it exists,

So he knows the essence of a thing before it exists,

and decides upon what he chooses of it, and acts.

And decides what he chooses of it and acts.

ولا شك أن المؤمن البر ناظر

ولا شك أن المؤمن البر ناظر

بنورٍ من الرحمن لا يتأول

بنورٍ من الرحمن لا يتأول

There is no doubt that the righteous believer sees

And no doubt the faithful seer,

by light from the All-Merciful, without interpretation.

Sees with a light from The Merciful, no metaphor.

خوارق للعادات آيات مجده

خوارق للعادات آيات مجده

تحير بها الأذهان والعقل يعقل

تحير بها الأذهان والعقل يعقل

The signs of his glory transcend ordinary ways,

Miracles transcending normalcy, signs of his glory,

bewildering minds and fettering reason.

Perplex minds and reason comprehends.

إلينا بدت في بعثه لم تزل بها

إلينا بدت في بعثه لم تزل بها

إلى العالم الأخبار تروى وتنقل

إلى العالم الأخبار تروى وتنقل

They appeared to us when he was sent; reports of them still

Through his mission, wonders appeared to us, enduring

are recounted and conveyed throughout the world.

Through them, narrations to the world are conveyed and circulated.

يقولون من هذا الكريم الذي أتى

يقولون من هذا الكريم الذي أتى

أذا ملك أم ذا من الله مرسل

أذا ملك أم ذا من الله مرسل

They say, 'Who is this noble man who has come?

They say who is this generous one who came,

Is this a king, or one sent by God?'

Is he an angel or one sent by God?

تبارك من أعطاه ما يستحقه

تبارك من أعطاه ما يستحقه

من الملك ما أعطا سليمان أول

من الملك ما أعطا سليمان أول

Blessed is He who gave him what he deserves

Blessed is He who gave him what he deserves,

of sovereignty—what He gave Solomon of old:

Of kingship what He gave Solomon before.

علاء وتسديداً ومجداً وسؤدداً

علاء وتسديداً ومجداً وسؤدداً

ورأياً عليه في المهم المعول

ورأياً عليه في المهم المعول

eminence, sound guidance, glory, and lordship,

Elevation, guidance, glory, joy,

and judgment relied upon in grave affairs.

And wisdom upon which is relied in important affairs.

وذلك فضل الله يؤتيه من يشا

وذلك فضل الله يؤتيه من يشا

ويختص بالتفضيل من هو أفضل

ويختص بالتفضيل من هو أفضل

That is God's bounty, granted to whom He wills;

That is the grace of God, He gives it to whom He wills,

He singles out for favor the one most worthy.

And He singles out with preference the one who is superior.

فتباً لمن ناوى بطياً أماله

فتباً لمن ناوى بطياً أماله

نذير بصحب الفيل عما يؤمل

نذير بصحب الفيل عما يؤمل

Ruin to whoever opposes Butti; he is turned aside

So destruction to one who vainly aspires,

from his hopes by a warning about the Companions of the Elephant.

Like the companions of the elephant, hopes.

جسور على الأخطار لا يرهب الردى

جسور على الأخطار لا يرهب الردى

ثبوت بيوم الروع لا يتقلقل

ثبوت بيوم الروع لا يتقلقل

Daring amid dangers, he fears no death,

Audacious in the face of dangers, not fearing adversity,

steadfast on the day of terror, never shaken.

Steadfast on the day of calamity, not wavering.

إذا ما عدى بالعاديات إلى العدا

إذا ما عدى بالعاديات إلى العدا

غشاهم بويل القارعات التزلزل

غشاهم بويل القارعات التزلزل

When he charges with galloping steeds toward his foes,

If they transgress the limits into aggression,

trembling engulfs them in the woe of crushing blows.

He will overwhelm them with the torment of the convulsing.

ولو انهم يلقون عن ذاك موئلا

ولو انهم يلقون عن ذاك موئلا

لفروا ولكن ما لهم عنه موئل

لفروا ولكن ما لهم عنه موئل

If they could find a refuge from that,

If only they would abandon him as refuge,

they would flee; but from it they have no refuge.

They would flee but for them from him there is no refuge.

ويومئذ أين المفر لهم وقد

ويومئذ أين المفر لهم وقد

أحاط بهم ليل من الويل أليل

أحاط بهم ليل من الويل أليل

Where can they flee that day, when

That day, where is the escape for them, while

a pitch-dark night of woe surrounds them?

The night of woe has encompassed them, endless.

به تخطف الهام المواضي كأنها

به تخطف الهام المواضي كأنها

وحق المعالي الطير والهام خردل

وحق المعالي الطير والهام خردل

There, sharp blades snatch heads as though they were

Through it ambitions are snatched, as if they

birds—by the sanctity of high honors—and heads were mustard seeds.

For the grandeur, are insects and locusts.

وقد نزل النصر العزيز لذي السنا

وقد نزل النصر العزيز لذي السنا

وبالتب باء المعتدى المتطول

وبالتب باء المعتدى المتطول

Mighty victory has descended upon the radiant one,

And victory, mighty, has descended for the one of glory,

and the arrogant aggressor has returned with ruin.

While the transgressor, wretched, disappointed, laments.

فيا فائق الأقران جودا وسؤدداً

فيا فائق الأقران جودا وسؤدداً

وأسنى أبي في دبي له العلو

وأسنى أبي في دبي له العلو

O you who surpass your peers in generosity and lordship,

So O eminent above peers in generosity and joy,

and noblest of the proud, exalted in Dubai,

And most felicitous, for whom fortune is set lofty.

ومن باسه يخشى وجدواه يرتجدى

ومن باسه يخشى وجدواه يرتجدى

فطوراً وطوراً يردي خصماً ويفضل

فطوراً وطوراً يردي خصماً ويفضل

whose might is feared and whose bounty is sought,

Whose awe is feared and struggle deprecated,

now felling a foe, now bestowing favors;

Vanquishing one opponent after another, excelling.

ومن إن دعي يوماً سواه بإسمه

ومن إن دعي يوماً سواه بإسمه

لهيبته لم تحمل الخصم أرجل

لهيبته لم تحمل الخصم أرجل

you whose name, if another is called by it one day,

And if anyone were called other than him one day,

so awes the foe that his legs cannot bear him.

Because of his reverence, the opponent’s feet would not carry him.

عليك بنصر الحق لله حسبة

عليك بنصر الحق لله حسبة

وكن مقسطاً في الحكم إياك تعدل

وكن مقسطاً في الحكم إياك تعدل

Uphold the truth, seeking your reward from God,

Upon you is the victory of truth, God is sufficient,

and be just in judgment; beware of swerving.

And be just in your rule, yourself you must judge.

وراع الرعايا باهتمام وفطنة

وراع الرعايا باهتمام وفطنة

ووالهم بالفضل يا متفضل

ووالهم بالفضل يا متفضل

Care for your subjects with diligence and discernment,

Shepherd the flock with care and insight,

and support them with bounty, O benefactor.

And endow them with virtue, O most virtuous.

وكن فيهمو ذا سيرةٍ عمرية

وكن فيهمو ذا سيرةٍ عمرية

فانك عنهم سوف والله تسأل

فانك عنهم سوف والله تسأل

Follow among them a way of conduct like ʿUmar's,

And be among them of Umar's conduct,

for, by God, you will be questioned about them.

For you will, by God, be questioned about them.

وخف دعوة المظلوم إذ ليس بينها و

وخف دعوة المظلوم إذ ليس بينها و

حجاب وبين الله إياك تغفل

حجاب وبين الله إياك تغفل

Fear the oppressed one's prayer, for between it and

And fear the supplication of the oppressed, for between it

God there is no veil; beware of heedlessness.

And God, no barrier, do not be oblivious of it.

بالباس بادر كل باغ مراجم

بالباس بادر كل باغ مراجم

عنيد له عن شرعة الحق معدل

عنيد له عن شرعة الحق معدل

With might, swiftly confront every rebellious assailant,

With firmness, hasten against every recalcitrant transgressor,

obstinate and turning from the law of truth.

Obstinate, for him the path of truth altered.

وجز لهم بحراً خميساً عرمرماً

وجز لهم بحراً خميساً عرمرماً

فمن جحفل يقفوه كالموج جحفل

فمن جحفل يقفوه كالموج جحفل

Cross toward them with a sea—a vast army,

And mete out for them a roaring, raging sea,

one mighty host following another like waves.

So whoever is tyrannical, it tosses him like a wave.

وشن عليهم غارة اثر غارةٍ

وشن عليهم غارة اثر غارةٍ

بيوم به عن طفلها الأم تذهل

بيوم به عن طفلها الأم تذهل

Launch against them raid after raid,

And unleash upon them raid after raid,

on a day when a mother forgets her child.

On a day through which a mother is bewildered of her child.

وحكم امين المارتين من الخطا

وحكم امين المارتين من الخطا

بهم فهي بالأحكام أمضى وافصل

بهم فهي بالأحكام أمضى وافصل

Let the reliable Martini, safe from error, pass judgment

And the trusted one judges between the two parties in dispute

on them; its verdicts are sharper and more decisive,

For he is in judgments most determined and excellent.

إلى أن ترى الفجار صرعى من الثوى

إلى أن ترى الفجار صرعى من الثوى

كأنهموا علوا بخمرٍ وانهلوا

كأنهموا علوا بخمرٍ وانهلوا

until you see the wicked fallen in death,

Until you see the wicked fallen dead from the calamity,

as though they had drunk their fill of wine again and again.

As if they had risen intoxicated and drained it.

وقد عدت من دار أبيت بها الثوا

وقد عدت من دار أبيت بها الثوا

وجئت سريعاً نحو دارك أعجل

وجئت سريعاً نحو دارك أعجل

I have returned from a house where I refused to remain,

And I have returned from the house I spent the night,

and come swiftly toward your house, hastening.

And came hastily to your abode speeding.

بها كنت معبوباً على بثي الثنا

بها كنت معبوباً على بثي الثنا

عليكم وما للعتب في ذاك مدخل

عليكم وما للعتب في ذاك مدخل

There I was reproached for spreading praise

In it I was enamored reciting your praise

of you, though there is no room for reproach in that.

Upon you, and for reproach in that there is no admission.

فقلت لمن يعتب رويدك إنني

فقلت لمن يعتب رويدك إنني

وحق علاه نحوه مترحل

وحق علاه نحوه مترحل

I told the reproacher, 'Have patience; I am—

So I said to the reproacher, gently, I

by his exalted rank—journeying toward him.'

By the truth of the most high, am travelling to him.

فلا تعتبن أني مدحت أبا الثنا

فلا تعتبن أني مدحت أبا الثنا

بما فيه من فضل كأنك تجهل

بما فيه من فضل كأنك تجهل

Do not reproach me for praising Abu al-Thana

So do not blame me for praising the father of glory

for the excellence in him, as though you did not know.

With what virtue in him is, as if you are ignorant.

ففي ابن سهيل يسمو شعري مفخرا

ففي ابن سهيل يسمو شعري مفخرا

وبإبن سهيلٍ كل صعب سيسهل

وبإبن سهيلٍ كل صعب سيسهل

Thus my verse on Ibn Suhayl rises proudly,

For in the son of Suhayl my poetry rises gloriously,

and through Ibn Suhayl every difficulty will become easy.

And by the son of Suhayl every hardship will be eased.