دِمشقُDamascus لكِto you البُشْرىglad tidings بِعَودِat the return of المَحاسنيal-Mahasini
دِمشقُ لكِ البُشْرى بِعَودِ المَحاسني
فَطيبيso rejoice بِأنْسٍin companionship ماؤُهُits water غيرُnot آسِنِstagnant
فَطيبي بِأنْسٍ ماؤُهُ غيرُ آسِنِ
Damascus, glad tidings are yours at al-Mahasini's return!
Damascus, good tidings to you of the return of virtues,
So rejoice in companionship whose waters never stagnate.
So delight in a water as sweet as honey,
وَطيريand soar مِنَout of الأَفراحِjoys وَالصّفوِand serenity وَالهناand bliss
وَطيري مِنَ الأَفراحِ وَالصّفوِ وَالهنا
بِأَجنِحَةِon wings of السرّاhappiness بِدونِwithout تَهاوُنِslackening
بِأَجنِحَةِ السرّا بِدونِ تَهاوُنِ
And soar with joy, serenity, and bliss,
And flutter with joy, clarity and bliss,
on wings of happiness, without flagging.
On the wings of the sublime without any regression.
وَتيهيand take pride عَلىover الدّنياthe world بِشَمسِin a sun of أَكارِمٍnoble men
وَتيهي عَلى الدّنيا بِشَمسِ أَكارِمٍ
إِلَيكِto you لَقَدindeed رُدَّتit was restored بِأَعلىin the highest of الأَماكِنِplaces
إِلَيكِ لَقَد رُدَّت بِأَعلى الأَماكِنِ
And take pride before the world in a sun of noble men,
And wander upon the world with the sun of generosities,
indeed restored to you in the highest of places.
To you the highest places have been returned.
وَعادand returned بِهاwith it فيكwithin you السّعودُgood fortunes عَلىin الصّفاserenity
وَعاد بِها فيك السّعودُ عَلى الصّفا
وَأَنورتِand you shone أَرجاءًquarters عَلىupon كلِّevery ساكِنِinhabitant
وَأَنورتِ أَرجاءً عَلى كلِّ ساكِنِ
And with it good fortune has returned to you in serenity,
And with it the auspices have returned to you in purity,
and you have shone in your quarters upon every inhabitant.
And you have illuminated every resident.
وَهاتيكِand that before you شَمسُthe sun of الفضلِexcellence وَالمَجدِand glory والعُلىand high rank
وَهاتيكِ شَمسُ الفضلِ وَالمَجدِ والعُلى
تَميلُit inclines عَلىtoward المَعروفِkindness نَحوَtoward المَيامِنِauspicious ways
تَميلُ عَلى المَعروفِ نَحوَ المَيامِنِ
And that is the sun of excellence, glory, and high renown,
And here is the sun of nobility, glory and loftiness,
inclining toward kindness, toward auspicious ways.
Inclining towards good on the right side.
وَماand not هيَit إِلّاexcept أَسعدُAs'ad (most fortunate) الجدِّfortune وَالذّرىand the heights
وَما هيَ إِلّا أَسعدُ الجدِّ وَالذّرى
وجوهرُand the jewel of عِقدthe necklace of الفضلِexcellence بينamong المعادِنِthe minerals
وجوهرُ عِقد الفضلِ بين المعادِنِ
It is none but As'ad, blessed in fortune and lofty station,
And it is none other than the happiest ancestry and offspring,
and the jewel in virtue's necklace among the minerals,
And essence of the necklace of virtues among minerals.
وَمَنand he who كانَwas شِبلَthe lion cub of المَجدِglory وَاِبنَand a son of مَحاسنٍMahasin (virtues)
وَمَن كانَ شِبلَ المَجدِ وَاِبنَ مَحاسنٍ
لَدىduring كَونِهِhis being حَملاًa fetus ونَجلand a scion of الأحاسِنِthe noblest
لَدى كَونِهِ حَملاً ونَجل الأحاسِنِ
and he who was glory's lion cub and a son of Mahasin,
And whoever was the cub of glory and the son of virtues,
even while unborn, a scion of the noblest.
Is in his existence a burden and star of the most beautiful.
وَقَدand indeed عادَhe returned بِالفَتوىwith the mufti's office فَياso O فَخرَpride of جِلَّقٍJilliq
وَقَد عادَ بِالفَتوى فَيا فَخرَ جِلَّقٍ
وَكانَand he was لَهاfor it أَهلاًworthy وليسand is not براشِنِan uninvited interloper
وَكانَ لَها أَهلاً وليس براشِنِ
He has returned as mufti—O pride of Jilliq!
And he has returned with jurisprudence. So O pride of venerable ages!
He was worthy of that office, no unbidden interloper.
He was worthy of it and not pejorative.
وَيَومَئِذٍand on that day قالَتsaid دِمشقُDamascus تَفاخراًboastfully
وَيَومَئِذٍ قالَت دِمشقُ تَفاخراً
أَناI الرّوضَةُthe garden الغنّاءُluxuriant طوبىblessedness لِساكِنيfor my inhabitant
أَنا الرّوضَةُ الغنّاءُ طوبى لِساكِني
On that day Damascus declared in pride:
And then Damascus said boastfully:
I am the luxuriant garden; blessed is whoever dwells in me!
I am the singing garden, blessing to my residents!
وَفيand in أَسعَدٍAs'ad إِذwhen عادَhe returned عادَreturned تَشَرُّفيmy honor
وَفي أَسعَدٍ إِذ عادَ عادَ تَشَرُّفي
وَليand mine is الشّرفُhonor الأَعلىthe highest بِبَيتِthrough the house of المَحاسِنِMahasin (virtues)
وَلي الشّرفُ الأَعلى بِبَيتِ المَحاسِنِ
With As'ad, when he returned, my honor returned,
And during the happiest, when he returned, my pride returned,
and mine is the highest honor through the house of Mahasin.
And the highest pride is mine, the house of virtues.
وَهَلand (question) كانَthere was فيin البلدانِthe lands بَدرٌa full moon كَأَسعَدٍlike As'ad
وَهَل كانَ في البلدانِ بَدرٌ كَأَسعَدٍ
وَلَمand did not تَحوِcontain مِنany بَدرٍfull moon كَبدريَlike my full moon بائِنِdistinguished
وَلَم تَحوِ مِن بَدرٍ كَبدريَ بائِنِ
Was there ever in the lands a full moon like As'ad?
And was there in the countries a full moon like Asaad?
Nor has any land held a full moon as distinguished as mine.
And no full moon can equate to my apparent full moon.
هُمامٌa man of lofty resolve وَحيدٌpeerless وَهوَand he فيin الفضلِexcellence مُفردٌunique
هُمامٌ وَحيدٌ وَهوَ في الفضلِ مُفردٌ
وَماand not إِنindeed (emphasis) لَهُfor him مِثلٌan equal وَلَيسَand is not بِكائِنِexistent
وَما إِن لَهُ مِثلٌ وَلَيسَ بِكائِنِ
A peerless man of lofty resolve, unique in excellence,
Unique pillar, and he is uniquely virtuous,
he has no equal, nor will one ever exist.
He has no equal and none will exist.
فَقيهٌa jurist نَبيهٌdiscerning صادِقُsound in الفِكرِthought حاذقٌskillful
فَقيهٌ نَبيهٌ صادِقُ الفِكرِ حاذقٌ
رَفيعٌlofty لَهُhe has بِالطبعِby nature حسنُthe beauty of التطامُنِhumility
رَفيعٌ لَهُ بِالطبعِ حسنُ التطامُنِ
A discerning jurist, sound in thought and skillful,
A knowledgeable jurist, brilliant minded, truthful, perceptive,
lofty in rank, yet by nature graciously humble.
Lofty who has by nature a beautiful calmness,
مَهيبٌawe-inspiring لَهُof him هابَتstood in awe لُيوثٌlions أَفاضِلُnoble
مَهيبٌ لَهُ هابَت لُيوثٌ أَفاضِلُ
وَكَمand how many عِندَهُbefore him ذَلّتwere humbled ذَواتcreatures with البراثِنِclaws
وَكَم عِندَهُ ذَلّت ذَوات البراثِنِ
Awe-inspiring—noble lions have stood in awe of him,
Awe-inspiring, even lions are in awe of him,
and how many clawed beasts have been humbled before him!
And how many fierce ones have submitted before him!
كَريمٌgenerous أَخوa man of بَذلٍlargesse كَثيرُmany دَواخنٍsmoking hearths
كَريمٌ أَخو بَذلٍ كَثيرُ دَواخنٍ
وَماand not كُلُّevery ذيpossessor of بَذلٍlargesse كَثيرِabundant in الدواخِنِsmoking hearths
وَما كُلُّ ذي بَذلٍ كَثيرِ الدواخِنِ
Generous, a man of largesse, with many smoking hearths,
Generous, brother of unlimited open-handedness,
and not every giver has so many smoking hearths.
Not everyone open-handed has open doors.
لَهُhe has ظاهِرٌan outward form قَدindeed عَمَّهhas pervaded it الحسنُbeauty كلُّهُall of it
لَهُ ظاهِرٌ قَد عَمَّه الحسنُ كلُّهُ
وَظاهِرُهُand his exterior لاno شكّdoubt عُنوانُthe sign of باطِنِthe interior
وَظاهِرُهُ لا شكّ عُنوانُ باطِنِ
His outward form is suffused with every beauty,
He has an external beauty that has encompassed all of him,
and his exterior is, without doubt, the sign of his inner self.
And his external is without doubt a sign of his essence.
وَقَدand indeed رَكِبَhe mounted المَعروفَkindness فيin طَلَبِpursuit of العُلىthe heights
وَقَد رَكِبَ المَعروفَ في طَلَبِ العُلى
وَنالَand won إِلَيهاtoward them السّبقَthe lead يَومَon the day of التراهُنِwagering
وَنالَ إِلَيها السّبقَ يَومَ التراهُنِ
He has mounted kindness in pursuit of the heights,
And he rode goodness in seeking loftiness,
and won the race to them on the day of wagering.
And attained the lead on the day of racing.
وَماand not كانَwas نَيلُattaining السّبقِthe lead يَوماًever لِغَيرِهِfor anyone but him
وَما كانَ نَيلُ السّبقِ يَوماً لِغَيرِهِ
وَلَيسَand does not يَنالُwin السّبقَthe lead كلُّevery مُراهِنِwagering contender
وَلَيسَ يَنالُ السّبقَ كلُّ مُراهِنِ
No one else has ever won the race,
And none attained the lead except him,
and not every contender wins the race.
Not everyone racing attains the lead.
وَقَدand indeed ظَلّتِhas continued العلياءُlofty glory تَخدُمُto serve بَيتَهُhis house
وَقَد ظَلّتِ العلياءُ تَخدُمُ بَيتَهُ
وَماand not خَدمَتhas it served إِلّاexcept لِخَيرِfor the finest of المَساكِنِdwellings
وَما خَدمَت إِلّا لِخَيرِ المَساكِنِ
Lofty glory has continued to serve his house,
And the noble ones continued serving his house,
and it has served only the finest of homes.
And none served except the best residence.
تَحلَّىhe adorned himself بِحُسنِwith the beauty of الصّفحِpardon وَالحِلمِand forbearance وَالنّدىand generosity
تَحلَّى بِحُسنِ الصّفحِ وَالحِلمِ وَالنّدى
وَقَدand indeed رَكِبَhe mounted المَعروفَkindness أَكرَمُthe noblest صافِنِpoised steed
وَقَد رَكِبَ المَعروفَ أَكرَمُ صافِنِ
He is adorned with gracious pardon, forbearance, and generosity,
Adorned with excellent forgiveness, patience and dew,
and has mounted kindness, the noblest of steeds.
The best rider of goodness rode.
إِمامٌan imam بِفَتواهُthrough his legal rulings تَتيهُtakes pride دِمَشقُهُhis Damascus
إِمامٌ بِفَتواهُ تَتيهُ دِمَشقُهُ
تَجرُّshe trails ذُيولَthe hems of الفَخرِpride بَينَamong المَدائِنِthe cities
تَجرُّ ذُيولَ الفَخرِ بَينَ المَدائِنِ
An imam whose rulings make his Damascus proud,
A jurist whom his Damascus wanders,
trailing the hems of pride among the cities.
Dragging the trains of pride between residences.
وَلَمand has not تحسُنِbeen beautiful الفَتوىthe mufti's office وَلَيسَand is not حَميدةًpraiseworthy
وَلَم تحسُنِ الفَتوى وَلَيسَ حَميدةً
إِذاif لَمnot تَكُنit is يَوماًever بِبَيتِin the house of المَحاسِنيal-Mahasini
إِذا لَم تَكُن يَوماً بِبَيتِ المَحاسِني
The mufti's office has no beauty and is not praiseworthy
And jurisprudence did not become good and praiseworthy,
if ever it lies outside the house of al-Mahasini.
Unless one day it was the house of virtues.
أُهَنّئهI congratulate him بالعَودِon the return والعَودُand the return أَحمَدٌmore praiseworthy
أُهَنّئه بالعَودِ والعَودُ أَحمَدٌ
علىwith صِدقsincerity of ودٍّaffection لَستُI am not فيهِin it بِمائِنِa liar
على صِدق ودٍّ لَستُ فيهِ بِمائِنِ
I congratulate him on his return—and return is more praiseworthy—
I congratulate him on the return, and the return is auspicious,
with sincere affection, in which I tell no lie.
With sincerity and affection I have no doubts.
وَعَوَّذتُهُand I invoked protection for him بِاللَّهِin God مِنfrom كلِّevery حاسِدٍenvier
وَعَوَّذتُهُ بِاللَّهِ مِن كلِّ حاسِدٍ
وَمِنand from كلِّevery شَيطانٍdevil وَعَينand an eye لِعائنِof an evil-eye caster
وَمِن كلِّ شَيطانٍ وَعَين لِعائنِ
And I have sought God's protection for him from every envier,
And I protected him from every envier,
and from every devil and the gaze of one who casts the evil eye.
And every devil and every spying eye.
فَلاso may he not زالَcease مَلحوظاًto be watched over بِعَينِby an eye of عِنايَةٍcare
فَلا زالَ مَلحوظاً بِعَينِ عِنايَةٍ
وَلاand may he not زالَcease مَحفوظاًto be protected لِيَومِfor the Day of التغابنِmutual loss
وَلا زالَ مَحفوظاً لِيَومِ التغابنِ
So may he ever be watched over by an eye of care,
So he remains observed by the eye of providence,
and may he ever be kept safe for the Day of Mutual Loss.
And remains protected for the day of reckoning.
Sol 6.1