حَمائِمُ البشرِ بِالتّبشيرِ قَد صَدحت

حَمائِمُ البشرِ بِالتّبشيرِ قَد صَدحت

وَلِلصّدورِ بِحُسنِ الصّدحِ قَد شرَحت

وَلِلصّدورِ بِحُسنِ الصّدحِ قَد شرَحت

The doves of joy have cooed aloud with glad tidings,

The doves of gladness have sung out glad tidings.

and by their lovely song have opened hearts wide.

And with their lovely singing have opened hearts to joy.

وَأَنجمُ الأُفقِ بِالأَفراحِ راقِصة

وَأَنجمُ الأُفقِ بِالأَفراحِ راقِصة

وَنَفحَةُ السّعدِ بِالإِسعادِ قَد نَفَحت

وَنَفحَةُ السّعدِ بِالإِسعادِ قَد نَفَحت

The stars upon the horizon dance for joy,

And the stars of the horizon are dancing with joy.

and felicity’s breath has wafted forth, bringing delight.

And a breath of good fortune has wafted happiness.

وَبانَ بَدرُ الهَنا بِالبشرِ مُتّشحاً

وَبانَ بَدرُ الهَنا بِالبشرِ مُتّشحاً

يا حُسنَ طَلعَتِهِ فيما بِهِ اِتّشَحت

يا حُسنَ طَلعَتِهِ فيما بِهِ اِتّشَحت

The full moon of happiness has appeared, mantled in gladness—

And the full moon of bliss appeared, mantled in gladness.

how lovely his countenance in the robe he has put on!

How lovely its appearance in what it has donned!

وَأَصبَحَ الكَونُ بِالأَفراحِ مُمتَلِئاً

وَأَصبَحَ الكَونُ بِالأَفراحِ مُمتَلِئاً

وَزالَ ما كانَ بِالأَكوانِ وَاِنصلَحت

وَزالَ ما كانَ بِالأَكوانِ وَاِنصلَحت

The universe has become filled with rejoicing,

And the universe has become filled with joys.

and what had afflicted all creation has vanished, leaving it restored.

And what had been in the worlds has vanished, and they are set right.

أَتَى البشيرُ إِلَينا ثمَّ بَشّرنا

أَتَى البشيرُ إِلَينا ثمَّ بَشّرنا

وَاللّهِ فيما بِهِ الأَرواح قَد فَرِحَت

وَاللّهِ فيما بِهِ الأَرواح قَد فَرِحَت

The herald came to us and gave us the good news;

The bearer of glad tidings came to us, then gave us good news,

by God, the spirits rejoiced at what he brought.

By God, of that in which souls have rejoiced.

أَتى يُبَشِّرنا فيما نُؤَمّله

أَتى يُبَشِّرنا فيما نُؤَمّله

وَبِالّذي نَحوه أَنظارنا طَمَحت

وَبِالّذي نَحوه أَنظارنا طَمَحت

He came announcing that for which we had hoped,

He came to give us glad tidings of what we hope for,

that toward which our eyes had aspired:

And of that toward which our eyes have aspired.

فَقالَ سُلطاننا المَحمود مَن حمدَت

فَقالَ سُلطاننا المَحمود مَن حمدَت

مِنهُ مَزاياهُ أَسنى الحمدِ وَاِمتَدحت

مِنهُ مَزاياهُ أَسنى الحمدِ وَاِمتَدحت

“Our praised sultan—the one whose

So he said: Our praiseworthy sultan, whose

virtues have earned the highest praise and been extolled—

Virtues have been praised with the loftiest praise and extolled,

مَحمودٌ الشّهم لا زَالَت مؤبّدة

مَحمودٌ الشّهم لا زَالَت مؤبّدة

في الدَّهرِ دَولتهُ بِالعزِّ لا بَرِحَت

في الدَّهرِ دَولتهُ بِالعزِّ لا بَرِحَت

Mahmud, the valiant: may his rule remain forever

Mahmoud the gallant—may it remain everlasting,

through time, never departing from its might;

His dominion through time, in glory; may it never cease.

دامَت مُؤيَّدةً لِلضدِّ قاهرةً

دامَت مُؤيَّدةً لِلضدِّ قاهرةً

بِالضدِّ ظافرةً بِالنّصرِ قَد منحت

بِالضدِّ ظافرةً بِالنّصرِ قَد منحت

enduring and divinely aided, subduing every foe,

May it endure, upheld, subduing its foe,

triumphing over foes, endowed with victory;

Triumphant over its foe, endowed with victory.

جادَت مَراحِمُهُ فاضَت قَريحَتهُ

جادَت مَراحِمُهُ فاضَت قَريحَتهُ

سَحَّت مَكارِمُهُ فَضلاً وَقَد سَمحت

سَحَّت مَكارِمُهُ فَضلاً وَقَد سَمحت

whose mercies pour generously and whose inspiration overflows,

His mercies have been lavish; his inspiration has overflowed.

whose noble gifts rain down in bounty and munificence—

His generous gifts have rained down bounty and flowed freely.

وَأَنعَمت مِن سنيِّ الفَضلِ مَكرمة

وَأَنعَمت مِن سنيِّ الفَضلِ مَكرمة

بِرُتبَةِ العزِّ مِن أَوجِ العُلى اِتّضَحت

بِرُتبَةِ العزِّ مِن أَوجِ العُلى اِتّضَحت

has bestowed, from the splendor of his grace, an honor

And from splendid bounty a gracious favor was bestowed:

made manifest as a glorious rank at the summit of grandeur.

A rank of glory, manifest from the zenith of eminence.

وَإِنّها ميرميران سَمت وَعَلت

وَإِنّها ميرميران سَمت وَعَلت

وَنَحوها بِالعلى كلّ السعود نَحَت

وَنَحوها بِالعلى كلّ السعود نَحَت

It is the rank of Mīr-i Mīrān—Commander of Commanders—risen and exalted,

And it is Mir-i Miran, risen high and exalted,

toward which every good fortune inclines in loftiness,

And toward it, in exaltation, all good fortunes have turned,

عَلى حُسين أَخي العَلياءِ في شَرفٍ

عَلى حُسين أَخي العَلياءِ في شَرفٍ

وَمَن بِعَليائِهِ الآفاق قَد طَفحت

وَمَن بِعَليائِهِ الآفاق قَد طَفحت

upon Husayn, brother of high glory in honor,

Upon Husayn, brother to eminence, in honor,

whose eminence has made the horizons overflow;

And whose eminence has filled the horizons to overflowing.

وَمَن مَعاليهِ في ذا العَصرِ قَد نَسَخت

وَمَن مَعاليهِ في ذا العَصرِ قَد نَسَخت

كلّ المَعالي الّتي مِن قَبلِها وَمَحت

كلّ المَعالي الّتي مِن قَبلِها وَمَحت

whose lofty qualities in this age have effaced

And whose lofty deeds in this age have superseded

all earlier glories and wiped them away;

All the lofty deeds that preceded them, and effaced them.

الأَمجد الفَخم شَمس المَجدِ مَن بَزغَت

الأَمجد الفَخم شَمس المَجدِ مَن بَزغَت

مِن مَطلع العزِّ نَحو المَجدِ قَد جَنحت

مِن مَطلع العزِّ نَحو المَجدِ قَد جَنحت

the most glorious, the magnificent, the sun of majesty, who rose

The most glorious, the magnificent—the sun of glory that has risen

from glory’s dawning place and inclined toward majesty;

From the rising-place of might and inclined toward glory.

الأَفخم الشّهم وَالممدوح في شِيم

الأَفخم الشّهم وَالممدوح في شِيم

وَمَن شَمائِلهُ بِالحُسنِ قَد مُدِحَت

وَمَن شَمائِلهُ بِالحُسنِ قَد مُدِحَت

the most splendid, the valiant, praised for his virtues,

The most magnificent, the gallant, praised for his character,

whose qualities have been commended for their beauty;

And whose qualities have been praised for their beauty.

الضّيغَم اللّيث مَن في الحَربِ سَطوتهُ

الضّيغَم اللّيث مَن في الحَربِ سَطوتهُ

قَطعاً عَلى سَطَواتِ الأُسْدِ قَد رَجَحَت

قَطعاً عَلى سَطَواتِ الأُسْدِ قَد رَجَحَت

the lion, the fierce lion, whose force in war

The fierce lion, the lion, whose onslaught in war

assuredly outweighs the assaults of lions;

Has assuredly outweighed the onslaughts of lions.

وَمَنْ مَضابثهُ وَهيَ السّيوف غَدَت

وَمَنْ مَضابثهُ وَهيَ السّيوف غَدَت

تُردِي الأُسودَ وَإِن لَو لَم تَكن جَرَحَت

تُردِي الأُسودَ وَإِن لَو لَم تَكن جَرَحَت

whose sword-strokes—swords themselves—have become

And whose forepaws—his swords—have come

death to lions, even without inflicting a wound;

To lay lions low, even if they have inflicted no wound.

وَلَو رَأَتهُ أُسودُ الغابِ كافَحَها

وَلَو رَأَتهُ أُسودُ الغابِ كافَحَها

فَرّت مَخافاً وَعَن أَغيالِها نَزَحَت

فَرّت مَخافاً وَعَن أَغيالِها نَزَحَت

had the lions of the wild seen him confront them,

And if the lions of the forest saw him confronting them,

they would have fled in fear and abandoned their lairs;

They would flee in fear and withdraw from their thickets.

بَحر النّدى وَالسّخا مَنْ جودُ راحَتِهِ

بَحر النّدى وَالسّخا مَنْ جودُ راحَتِهِ

كُلّ العُفاةِ بِهِ لا شكّ قَد سَبَحَت

كُلّ العُفاةِ بِهِ لا شكّ قَد سَبَحَت

an ocean of largesse and generosity—from the bounty of his hand,

An ocean of bounty and generosity, in whose palm's largesse

all who seek gifts swim in it, beyond doubt.

All seekers of bounty have swum, without a doubt.

يُنسي اِبنَ زائِدة لَو كانَ قَبل لما

يُنسي اِبنَ زائِدة لَو كانَ قَبل لما

أمّ العفاةُ لَمعن لا ولا مَدَحت

أمّ العفاةُ لَمعن لا ولا مَدَحت

He would consign Ibn Zāʾida to oblivion, had he come before;

He makes one forget Ibn Za'ida; had he lived earlier, never

petitioners would never have sought Maʿn, nor praised him.

Would bounty-seekers have sought Ma'n—no, nor praised him.

الأَحنف الحلم لَم يَغلبهُ مِن غَضَب

الأَحنف الحلم لَم يَغلبهُ مِن غَضَب

لِنَصرِ نَفسٍ لَه حتّى وَلو جَمحت

لِنَصرِ نَفسٍ لَه حتّى وَلو جَمحت

An al-Ahnaf in forbearance, no anger could overcome him

Al-Ahnaf in forbearance; no anger has overcome him

in defense of his own person, even if rage ran wild.

To vindicate his own self, even should it grow unruly.

إِنّا سُررنا بِما قَد نالهُ فرحاً

إِنّا سُررنا بِما قَد نالهُ فرحاً

إِنّ الصدورَ بهِ دونَ اِمتِرا اِنشَرَحَت

إِنّ الصدورَ بهِ دونَ اِمتِرا اِنشَرَحَت

We rejoiced at what he attained, rejoicing deeply;

Indeed, we rejoiced, full of joy, at what he has attained.

hearts opened to it without the least doubt.

Indeed, hearts have opened at it, without a doubt.

يا أَيّها الشّهم فَاِهنَأ نِلتَ مَرتبةً

يا أَيّها الشّهم فَاِهنَأ نِلتَ مَرتبةً

لَها صَلُحْتَ كَما حَقّاً لَكم صَلحت

لَها صَلُحْتَ كَما حَقّاً لَكم صَلحت

O valiant one, rejoice—you have attained a rank

O gallant one, rejoice: you have attained a rank

for which you are fit, just as it truly suits you.

For which you were worthy, just as it was truly worthy of you.

وَيا لَها رُتبة ما إِن لَها شَبه

وَيا لَها رُتبة ما إِن لَها شَبه

فَالأذنُ ما سَمِعَت وَالعَين ما لَمَحَت

فَالأذنُ ما سَمِعَت وَالعَين ما لَمَحَت

What a rank it is! It has no equal:

And oh, what a rank! It has no peer;

no ear has heard of one, nor has any eye glimpsed one.

For the ear has not heard its like, nor has the eye glimpsed it.

تَدومُ بِالعزِّ وَالإِقبالِ زاهيةً

تَدومُ بِالعزِّ وَالإِقبالِ زاهيةً

تَنحو السعود إِلَيها الدّهرَ حيثُ نَحَت

تَنحو السعود إِلَيها الدّهرَ حيثُ نَحَت

May it endure, radiant with might and prosperity;

May it endure, radiant in glory and prosperity,

may good fortunes turn toward it wherever through time it goes.

Good fortunes turning toward it forever, wherever it turns.

وَالسّعد يَخدِمُها وَاليمنُ يَلزَمها

وَالسّعد يَخدِمُها وَاليمنُ يَلزَمها

وَخيل مَوكِبها بالعزِّ قَد ضبحَت

وَخيل مَوكِبها بالعزِّ قَد ضبحَت

Felicity serves it, and auspiciousness cleaves to it,

And good fortune serves it, and blessedness stays beside it.

while the horses of its procession pant proudly in might.

And the horses of its procession have snorted in glory.

عَلى التّقى أسست بِالعدلِ قَد قرنت

عَلى التّقى أسست بِالعدلِ قَد قرنت

أَرخت جدا بِتَوفيقٍ لَقَد منحت

أَرخت جدا بِتَوفيقٍ لَقَد منحت

Founded upon piety, it has been joined with justice.

Founded upon piety, it has been joined with justice.

I set its date: “By success, indeed, it was bestowed.”

I dated it: 'Truly, with divine aid it has indeed been granted.'

أُوصيكَ فيها بِتَقوى اللَّه خالِقنا

أُوصيكَ فيها بِتَقوى اللَّه خالِقنا

فَذي نَصيحتها منّي بِها نُصِحت

فَذي نَصيحتها منّي بِها نُصِحت

I counsel you in it to fear God, our Creator;

I counsel you in this rank to fear God, our Creator.

this is the counsel I have sincerely given you.

So this is my counsel for it; with it you have been advised.

وَاِسلَم وَدُم في أَمانِ اللَّهِ مُرتَقياً

وَاِسلَم وَدُم في أَمانِ اللَّهِ مُرتَقياً

فَوقَ السّهى رُتَباً بِالرّفعَةِ اِتَّشَحَت

فَوقَ السّهى رُتَباً بِالرّفعَةِ اِتَّشَحَت

Peace—and abide in God’s protection, ever ascending

And be safe, and endure in God's protection, ascending

in ranks above al-Suhā, robed in exaltation,

Above al-Suha, to ranks mantled in loftiness,

ما لاحَ بَرقٌ وَما هَبَّ النّسيم وما

ما لاحَ بَرقٌ وَما هَبَّ النّسيم وما

عَينُ السّحابِ لِدَمعِ الوبلِ قَد سفحَت

عَينُ السّحابِ لِدَمعِ الوبلِ قَد سفحَت

as long as lightning flashes, the breeze blows, and

As long as lightning flashes, and as long as the breeze blows, and as long as

the cloud’s eye spills the tears of pouring rain;

The cloud's eye sheds tears of pouring rain,

ما الورقُ غنّى وَفي الأَغصانِ أَنشَدَنا

ما الورقُ غنّى وَفي الأَغصانِ أَنشَدَنا

حَمائم البشرِ بِالتبشيرِ قَد صَدحت

حَمائم البشرِ بِالتبشيرِ قَد صَدحت

as long as the gray dove sings and chants to us among the boughs:

As long as the gray doves sing and chant to us among the branches:

‘The doves of joy have cooed aloud with glad tidings.’

The doves of gladness have sung out glad tidings.