عُجْ بِالسَّواحِلِ لا خانَتكَ غَيْداءُ

عُجْ بِالسَّواحِلِ لا خانَتكَ غَيْداءُ

وَلا رَمَتكَ بِسَهمِ البُعْدِ أَسماءُ

وَلا رَمَتكَ بِسَهمِ البُعْدِ أَسماءُ

Turn toward the shores—may no graceful maiden betray you,

Turn toward the coasts—may Ghayda never betray you,

Nor may Asma strike you with the arrow of separation.

Nor may Asma shoot you with the arrow of separation.

فَإِنّها دارُ أُنسٍ لا خَفاءَ بِها

فَإِنّها دارُ أُنسٍ لا خَفاءَ بِها

وَهَل لِشَمسِ الضُّحى في الظّهرِ إخفاءُ

وَهَل لِشَمسِ الضُّحى في الظّهرِ إخفاءُ

For it is a home of intimacy, with nothing hidden there;

For it is an abode of fellowship, with no obscurity about it,

Can the morning sun at noon be concealed?

And can the morning sun be concealed at noon?

وحُلَّ في ثغرِ بيروت وروضتِها

وحُلَّ في ثغرِ بيروت وروضتِها

فَإنَّها رَوضَةٌ فَيحاءُ زَهْراءُ

فَإنَّها رَوضَةٌ فَيحاءُ زَهْراءُ

Alight at Beirut’s harbor and in its garden,

And dwell in the port of Beirut and its garden,

For it is a garden, spacious and radiant with bloom.

For it is a spacious, radiant garden.

وَاِنزِلْ رُباها وَأَرسِلْ مِنكَ لي نَبأً

وَاِنزِلْ رُباها وَأَرسِلْ مِنكَ لي نَبأً

لَعَلَّ أَن ينعش المُشتاقَ إِنباءُ

لَعَلَّ أَن ينعش المُشتاقَ إِنباءُ

Descend upon its hills, and send me tidings of yourself;

Alight upon its hills, and send me news from you,

Perhaps the telling of news will revive the yearning one.

Perhaps news will revive the yearning one.

فَإِنَّني في دِمَشقَ آخِذٌ وَطَناً

فَإِنَّني في دِمَشقَ آخِذٌ وَطَناً

وَمِن صَبا لُطفِها لي صارَ إِنشاءُ

وَمِن صَبا لُطفِها لي صارَ إِنشاءُ

For I am making Damascus my homeland,

For I have made my home in Damascus,

And whoever is smitten with her charm becomes a theme for my verse.

And its gentle east wind has brought forth my verse.

دارٌ بِها أَنجمٌ لَو أَنَّهُم أَمَروا

دارٌ بِها أَنجمٌ لَو أَنَّهُم أَمَروا

شَمسَ الضُّحى بِالخَفا لَم تَبدُ إِن شاؤوا

شَمسَ الضُّحى بِالخَفا لَم تَبدُ إِن شاؤوا

A city whose luminaries, if they gave the command,

An abode with stars who, were they to command

Could bid the morning sun hide, and it would not appear if they wished.

the morning sun to hide, it would not appear, if they so wished.

بِها المَحاسِنُ لا في غَيرِها سَكَنَت

بِها المَحاسِنُ لا في غَيرِها سَكَنَت

وَالحُسنُ تَحويهِ في العاداتِ حَسناءُ

وَالحُسنُ تَحويهِ في العاداتِ حَسناءُ

In her all beauties dwell, and nowhere else;

In it, and nowhere else, have beauties made their home,

And beauty is customarily contained in one fair woman.

And beauty is, as is customary, contained in a fair woman.

هِيَ العَروسُ فَإِن تُذكَرْ لَطايِفها

هِيَ العَروسُ فَإِن تُذكَرْ لَطايِفها

وَما مِصرُ مِصْر ولا الشّهباءُ شَهباءُ

وَما مِصرُ مِصْر ولا الشّهباءُ شَهباءُ

She is the bride—and if her charms are recounted,

She is the bride; if her charms are mentioned,

Egypt is not Egypt, nor Aleppo Aleppo.

Misr is no Misr, nor al-Shahba al-Shahba.

فَلا اِعتَرَتها غُمومٌ بَل ولا كَدرٌ

فَلا اِعتَرَتها غُمومٌ بَل ولا كَدرٌ

وَلا جَفَتها مِنَ الرَّحمنِ نَعماءُ

وَلا جَفَتها مِنَ الرَّحمنِ نَعماءُ

May neither sorrows befall her, nor any clouding care,

May no sorrows befall her—nay, nor any distress,

And may the Merciful’s blessings never forsake her.

And may the Merciful's bounty never forsake her.

بِها تَسلَّيتُ عَن داري وَعَن وَطَني

بِها تَسلَّيتُ عَن داري وَعَن وَطَني

وَبِاللَّطافَةِ قَد تُنسى الأَحبّاءُ

وَبِاللَّطافَةِ قَد تُنسى الأَحبّاءُ

In her I found consolation for my home and native land,

In her I found consolation for my house and homeland,

For through gracious kindness even loved ones may be forgotten.

And through charm, loved ones may be forgotten.

فَإِنْ يَكُنْ ليَ يا بيروتُ فيكِ أبٌ

فَإِنْ يَكُنْ ليَ يا بيروتُ فيكِ أبٌ

فَلي بِجِلَّق ساداتٌ وأبناءُ

فَلي بِجِلَّق ساداتٌ وأبناءُ

If, Beirut, I have a father in you,

So if, O Beirut, I have a father in you,

Then in Damascus I have lords and sons—

Then in Jilliq I have lords and sons,

لاسِيَّما السيِّدُ الصَّوّافُ أَعظمُهم

لاسِيَّما السيِّدُ الصَّوّافُ أَعظمُهم

عَينُ الأَماجدِ لا مَسَّتْهُ ضَرَّاءُ

عَينُ الأَماجدِ لا مَسَّتْهُ ضَرَّاءُ

Especially al-Sayyid al-Sawwaf, the greatest of them,

Especially Sayyid al-Sawwaf, the greatest among them,

The foremost of the noble; may adversity never touch him.

The foremost of the illustrious—may no affliction touch him.

شَهمٌ لِغَيرِ المَعالي ما لَهُ نَظَرٌ

شَهمٌ لِغَيرِ المَعالي ما لَهُ نَظَرٌ

وَلا لَهُ نَحوَ غَيرِ الفَضلِ إِصغاءُ

وَلا لَهُ نَحوَ غَيرِ الفَضلِ إِصغاءُ

High-souled, he has no regard for anything but lofty deeds,

A noble-hearted man, he looks toward nothing but lofty attainments,

Nor lends an ear to anything but virtue.

Nor does he listen to anything but excellence.

فَردٌ ولا بِدعَ في أَن لا نَظيرَ له

فَردٌ ولا بِدعَ في أَن لا نَظيرَ له

فَإِنّ جَبهتَه في الدهرِ غَرّاءُ

فَإِنّ جَبهتَه في الدهرِ غَرّاءُ

Peerless—and no wonder that he has no equal,

Unique—and no wonder that he has no equal,

For his brow shines illustrious through the ages.

For his brow is radiant through the ages.

فَما خِصالُ سِواهُ عِندَما حَسُنت

فَما خِصالُ سِواهُ عِندَما حَسُنت

إِلّا لَدَى بِعضِ ما يَحويهِ شَنعاءُ

إِلّا لَدَى بِعضِ ما يَحويهِ شَنعاءُ

However fair the qualities of anyone besides him,

The qualities of others, even when admirable,

Beside even a part of what he possesses, they are hideous.

Are nothing but ugly beside a portion of what he possesses.

بِهِ الكَمالُ اِعتلَى وَاِهتَزَّ مِن طَرَبٍ

بِهِ الكَمالُ اِعتلَى وَاِهتَزَّ مِن طَرَبٍ

وَلِلكَمالِ بِأَهلِ المَجدِ عَلياءُ

وَلِلكَمالِ بِأَهلِ المَجدِ عَلياءُ

Through him perfection rose and quivered with delight,

Through him perfection has risen high and trembled with delight,

For among the glorious, perfection has its summit.

And through men of glory, perfection has its lofty station.

نَدب فَمَهما تُبالِغْ في المَديحِ لَهُ

نَدب فَمَهما تُبالِغْ في المَديحِ لَهُ

تُذعنْ بِعَجزٍ وَيَستَقعِدْك إِعياءُ

تُذعنْ بِعَجزٍ وَيَستَقعِدْك إِعياءُ

A noble man—however greatly you strive to praise him,

A generous nobleman: however lavishly you praise him,

You acknowledge your incapacity, and weariness makes you sit down.

You will admit your inability, and exhaustion will bring you to a halt.

أَنّى مَديحي فَوا عَجزي وَوا خَرسي

أَنّى مَديحي فَوا عَجزي وَوا خَرسي

وَإِنْ تَكُنْ دونَنا في المَدحِ خَنْساءُ

وَإِنْ تَكُنْ دونَنا في المَدحِ خَنْساءُ

How could my praise suffice? Alas, my weakness and my speechlessness,

How could my praise suffice? Alas for my inability, alas for my muteness!

Even if al-Khansa herself stood below us in praise!

Even if Khansa stands beneath us in praise.

فَاِذكُرْ بَلاغَتَهُ وَاِسمَعْ فصاحتَهُ

فَاِذكُرْ بَلاغَتَهُ وَاِسمَعْ فصاحتَهُ

ففيهما مِن معاني اللُّطفِ صهباءُ

ففيهما مِن معاني اللُّطفِ صهباءُ

Speak of his eloquence, and listen to his lucid speech:

So mention his eloquence, and listen to his lucid speech,

In both is tawny wine distilled from meanings of grace.

For in both is tawny wine drawn from the meanings of grace.

وَهوَ المُهابُ فَإِن تُذكَر مَهابتُه

وَهوَ المُهابُ فَإِن تُذكَر مَهابتُه

فَكلُّ كَفٍّ منَ الشُجعانِ شَلّاءُ

فَكلُّ كَفٍّ منَ الشُجعانِ شَلّاءُ

He is awe-inspiring: if you recall his majesty,

And he commands awe; if his majesty is mentioned,

Every brave warrior’s hand is palsied.

Then every hand among the brave is paralyzed.

وَلَستُ أَقدِرُ يَوماً أَن أُخاطِبَه

وَلَستُ أَقدِرُ يَوماً أَن أُخاطِبَه

لَولا اِبتِسامُ ثَناياهُ وَإِغضاءُ

لَولا اِبتِسامُ ثَناياهُ وَإِغضاءُ

I could never bring myself to address him,

And I could never address him,

Were it not for the smile of his teeth and his forgiving forbearance.

Were it not for his smiling front teeth and his forbearance.

فَلا تَرُمْ أَيُّها التعبانُ مِن غَررٍ

فَلا تَرُمْ أَيُّها التعبانُ مِن غَررٍ

دَرْكَ الّذي حازَه فالفضلُ إعطاءُ

دَرْكَ الّذي حازَه فالفضلُ إعطاءُ

Do not strive, weary one, misled by vain hope,

So do not seek, O weary one, out of delusion,

To attain what he has won—for virtue is a gift.

To attain what he has gained, for excellence is a gift.

وَلا تَقُلْ إِنّني أَحوي مَكارِمَهُ

وَلا تَقُلْ إِنّني أَحوي مَكارِمَهُ

فَإنَّ أُذْني عَنِ الفَحشاءِ صَمّاءُ

فَإنَّ أُذْني عَنِ الفَحشاءِ صَمّاءُ

And do not say, “I encompass all his noble qualities,”

And do not say, "I possess his noble qualities,"

For my ear is deaf to such obscenity.

For my ear is deaf to obscenity.

وَلا تَبنِ هَيئة زَعماً كَهَيئَتِهِ

وَلا تَبنِ هَيئة زَعماً كَهَيئَتِهِ

فَإِنَّ عَينِيَ عَن ذا القُبحِ عَمياءُ

فَإِنَّ عَينِيَ عَن ذا القُبحِ عَمياءُ

Nor display a form, falsely claiming it resembles his,

And do not fashion a bearing you claim resembles his,

For my two eyes are blind to such ugliness.

For my eye is blind to such ugliness.

فَإِنَّهُ في عُقودِ المَجدِ واسِطَةٌ

فَإِنَّهُ في عُقودِ المَجدِ واسِطَةٌ

غَرّاءُ بَل دُرّةٌ في الدَّهرِ عَصْماءُ

غَرّاءُ بَل دُرّةٌ في الدَّهرِ عَصْماءُ

For amid glory’s necklaces he is the central jewel,

For he is the central jewel in glory's necklaces,

Radiant—indeed, a peerless pearl throughout the ages.

Radiant—nay, a flawless pearl through the ages.

فَهاكَ يا أَيُّها المَولى مخدَّرةً

فَهاكَ يا أَيُّها المَولى مخدَّرةً

وَلَّدْتُها في اِفتِكاري فهيَ عَذراءُ

وَلَّدْتُها في اِفتِكاري فهيَ عَذراءُ

Here, my lord, take this sheltered maiden,

So take, O my lord, a secluded maiden,

Whom I brought forth in thought, so she remains a virgin.

I brought her forth in my thoughts, so she is a virgin.

إِلَيكَ تَمشي على اِسْتِحيا بِها أدَباً

إِلَيكَ تَمشي على اِسْتِحيا بِها أدَباً

تَميلُ تيهاً وَعُجباً وَهيَ هَيْفاءُ

تَميلُ تيهاً وَعُجباً وَهيَ هَيْفاءُ

Toward you she walks bashfully, endowed with decorum,

She walks toward you shyly, out of courtesy,

Swaying proudly and admiringly, slender-waisted.

She sways in pride and self-admiration, and she is slender-waisted.

لَم تَرضَ كفواً لَها في النَّاسِ غَيرَكمُ

لَم تَرضَ كفواً لَها في النَّاسِ غَيرَكمُ

إِذْ ما تُعَدُّ لَها في النَّاسِ أَكفاءُ

إِذْ ما تُعَدُّ لَها في النَّاسِ أَكفاءُ

She would accept none among mankind as her equal but you,

She has accepted no one among people as her match but you,

For no equals are reckoned for her among mankind.

For no equals of hers are counted among people.

وَإِن يَكُن عَرَجٌ بِها يُؤخِّرُها

وَإِن يَكُن عَرَجٌ بِها يُؤخِّرُها

فَرُبَّما سَبَقَت في العَوْدِ عَرجاءُ

فَرُبَّما سَبَقَت في العَوْدِ عَرجاءُ

And if some limp in her should delay her,

And if she has a limp that slows her,

How often has a lame mare led the race on the homeward way.

Then a limping one may sometimes come first on the return.

فَكُفَّ طَرفَكَ إِن ما تَبدُ عَورَتُها

فَكُفَّ طَرفَكَ إِن ما تَبدُ عَورَتُها

فَأَنتَ حُرٌّ وَشَأنُ الحُرِّ إِغضاءُ

فَأَنتَ حُرٌّ وَشَأنُ الحُرِّ إِغضاءُ

Then lower your gaze if some naked flaw of hers appears:

So avert your gaze if her nakedness appears,

You are noble, and the noble person’s way is to overlook.

For you are noble, and the noble man's way is forbearance.

وَلَم يَكُن قَصدُها إِلّا رِضاءكمُ

وَلَم يَكُن قَصدُها إِلّا رِضاءكمُ

فَإِنَّ فيهِ إِنعاشٌ وَإِحياءُ

فَإِنَّ فيهِ إِنعاشٌ وَإِحياءُ

Her only aim was your approval,

And her only aim has been your approval,

For in it lie revival and new life.

For in it are revival and renewed life.

وَاِسْلَم ودُمْ بأمانِ اللَّهِ مُكتَنِفاً

وَاِسْلَم ودُمْ بأمانِ اللَّهِ مُكتَنِفاً

ما غَرَّدت بكرةً في الرّوضِ وَرْقاءُ

ما غَرَّدت بكرةً في الرّوضِ وَرْقاءُ

Peace—and remain enfolded in God’s protection

And be safe, and live on, enveloped in God's protection,

As long as a grey dove sings at dawn within the meadow,

As long as a gray dove sings in the garden at early morn,

وَحَيثُ أَضحى ابنُ فتحِ اللَّه يُنشِدُكم

وَحَيثُ أَضحى ابنُ فتحِ اللَّه يُنشِدُكم

عُجْ بِالسّواحلِ لا خانَتكَ غَيداءُ

عُجْ بِالسّواحلِ لا خانَتكَ غَيداءُ

And whenever Ibn Fathallah recites to you:

And as Ibn Fath Allah now recites to you:

Turn toward the shores—may no graceful maiden betray you.

Turn toward the coasts—may Ghayda never betray you,