على ساكني القلمون منّي تحيّةً

على ساكني القلمون منّي تحيّةً

تفوح بنفح الطيب والمسلك والندِّ

تفوح بنفح الطيب والمسلك والندِّ

To the dwellers of al-Qalamun, a greeting from me,

I send greetings to the people of Qalamon

Wafting the fragrance of perfume, [musk], and fragrant incense.

With the fragrance of kindness and good conduct

وتختصّ بالمولى الهمام الّذي له

وتختصّ بالمولى الهمام الّذي له

ولاءٌ عليها بالسيادة والمجد

ولاءٌ عليها بالسيادة والمجد

And especially for the high-minded master, who holds

And specifically to the noble leader

Patronage over it through nobility and glory.

With loyalty, sovereignty, and glory to him

فتى حاز حمد الوصف والفعل إذ غدا

فتى حاز حمد الوصف والفعل إذ غدا

محمّدَ ذات قد تلت سورة الحمد

محمّدَ ذات قد تلت سورة الحمد

A young man who won praise in character and deed, for he became

A young man who gained fame for merit and deed

Much-praised in his very being, which has recited the Surah of Praise.

When Muhammad became the essence of Surat Al-Hamd

هزبرُ الحمى في غابة الحيّ رابضٌ

هزبرُ الحمى في غابة الحيّ رابضٌ

ولا بدع في ذا إذ تولّد من أُسد

ولا بدع في ذا إذ تولّد من أُسد

A lion of the protected domain, crouching in the community's forest;

The protector of dignity in the forest of life residing

And no wonder in this, since he was born of lions.

No wonder as he was born from a lion

إذا مرّ من فرط المهابة وحدَه

إذا مرّ من فرط المهابة وحدَه

تراه كجيشٍ مرّ في كثرة العدّ

تراه كجيشٍ مرّ في كثرة العدّ

When he passes alone, so great is the awe he inspires,

When he passes, awe makes it seem

You see him as an army passing in vast numbers.

Like an army marching in great numbers

حسيبٌ نسيبٌ سيّدٌ متواضعٌ

حسيبٌ نسيبٌ سيّدٌ متواضعٌ

أديبٌ أريبٌ فاضلٌ كاملٌ مهدي

أديبٌ أريبٌ فاضلٌ كاملٌ مهدي

Noble in standing and lineage, a humble lord;

Noble, humble, courteous, complete guide

Cultured, discerning, virtuous, accomplished, rightly guided.

Scholar, poet, virtuous, perfect, rightly-guided

محيّاه بدر الأنس قد لاح طالعاً

محيّاه بدر الأنس قد لاح طالعاً

عليه بأنوار السيادة والسعد

عليه بأنوار السيادة والسعد

His face, the full moon of delight, has shone forth, rising

Greetings as the full moon of companionship rises

Upon him with the lights of nobility and good fortune.

With the light of sovereignty and fortune upon him

لقد ورث الإرشاد عن خير والدٍ

لقد ورث الإرشاد عن خير والدٍ

روى عن أبيه ما رواه عن الجدّ

روى عن أبيه ما رواه عن الجدّ

He indeed inherited spiritual guidance from the best of fathers;

He inherited guidance from the best father

He transmitted from his father what his father had transmitted from the grandfather.

And related from his father what he related from his ancestors

أريدُ عليَّ القدر عارفَ وقته

أريدُ عليَّ القدر عارفَ وقته

ومرجعَ أهل الله في الحلّ والعقد

ومرجعَ أهل الله في الحلّ والعقد

I mean the man of exalted rank, the spiritual knower of his age,

I want Ali to know his destiny's time

And the recourse of God's people in unbinding and binding.

And be the people of God's reference in resolve and contract

بخدمة دين المصطفى جدّه له

بخدمة دين المصطفى جدّه له

مقامٌ رفيعٌ ليس يعرف بالحدّ

مقامٌ رفيعٌ ليس يعرف بالحدّ

Through serving the faith of the Chosen One, his grandfather, he has

With serving the Prophet's religion, his ancestor

A lofty station that no limit can define.

He has a lofty position that knows no bounds

به أضحت القلمون سيّدة القرى

به أضحت القلمون سيّدة القرى

تزور بها قُصّادُها كعبةَ الرشد

تزور بها قُصّادُها كعبةَ الرشد

Through him, al-Qalamun became the mistress of villages;

With him, Qalamon became the town of towns

There, those who seek it visit the Kaaba of right guidance.

Visited for guidance like the Kaaba of righteousness

أقام على التقوى وأسّس مسجداً

أقام على التقوى وأسّس مسجداً

لإحياء دين الله مع صحّة القصد

لإحياء دين الله مع صحّة القصد

He stood firm in piety and founded a mosque,

He stood for piety and built a mosque

To revive God's faith, with sound intent.

To revive God's religion with good intent

وقام بنوه بالّذي سنّه لهم

وقام بنوه بالّذي سنّه لهم

محمّدُ في هديٍ وأحمدُ في زهد

محمّدُ في هديٍ وأحمدُ في زهد

And his sons upheld what he had laid down for them:

His children followed what he exemplified

Muhammad in guidance, and Ahmad in asceticism.

Muhammad in guidance and Ahmad in asceticism

وقد فاقهم بالمكرمات محمّدٌ

وقد فاقهم بالمكرمات محمّدٌ

فلله فردٌ قد تفرّد بالرفد

فلله فردٌ قد تفرّد بالرفد

And indeed Muhammad surpassed them in noble deeds;

And Muhammad surpassed them in generosity

So to God belongs a peerless man, unrivaled in giving.

So a unique individual excelled in munificence

ترى بشره قبل القِرى وابتسامه

ترى بشره قبل القِرى وابتسامه

وكفاً إذا صافحته بالندى يندي

وكفاً إذا صافحته بالندى يندي

You see his cheer and smile before the guest's meal,

You see his cheerful face greeting towns

And a hand that, when you clasp it, grows moist with the dew of generosity.

And his hand dripping with bounty when greeted

له الدين والدنيا قد اجتمعا معاً

له الدين والدنيا قد اجتمعا معاً

وهذا لعمري غاية الجِدّ والجَدّ

وهذا لعمري غاية الجِدّ والجَدّ

For him, religion and worldly life have come together;

For him religion and life came together

And this, by my life, is the summit of diligence and good fortune.

This is the epitome of dedication and vigor

وإنّي على شوقٍ لمعهد قربه

وإنّي على شوقٍ لمعهد قربه

ومازلت أرعى العهد في القرب والبعد

ومازلت أرعى العهد في القرب والبعد

And I yearn for the place where he is near,

I long to be close to his institute

And I have never ceased to honor the covenant, near or far.

And still keep our bond in nearness and distance