هَنيئاً لِزَينِ الدينِ بِالفَرَحِ الَّذي

بِهِ جُلِيَت شَمسُ الضّحاءِ عَلى البَدرِ

Congratulations to Zain al-Din for the joy with which

The sun of brilliance was made manifest over the full moon

أَنارَت بِهِ الأَفلاكُ حَتّى أَثيرُها

بِغُرَّةِ بَدرٍ لاحَ في لَيلَةِ القَدرِ

With it the spheres were illuminated until their atmosphere

With the primeval radiance of a full moon on the Night of Power

وَسُرَّ بِهِ الأَحبابُ إِذ سارَ نَحوَهُم

طَعامٌ مِن المَشويِّ أَو مُنضَجِ القِدرِ

And with it intimates rejoiced when toward them came

A roasted meat or a well-cooked cooking pot

وَمِن صادقِ الحَلواءِ زانَت صُدورُها

صدورَ أُناسٍ في الأَنامِ سِوى صَدري

And with it sincere sweetness adorned their breasts

The breasts of people among men other than my own breast

وَخُصُّوا بِها دُوني وَأُهمِلتُ مِنهُم

وَذا شيمَةٌ مِنكُم عَرَفتُ بِها قَدري

And they were singled out with it, apart from me, and I was neglected by them

And that is a trait I recognized in you all, and so knew my worth

حُروفُهُم أَصلٌ وَحَرفي زائِدٌ

كَأَنّي وَاوٌ أَلحِقَت مُنتَهى عَمرُو

Their letters are original while mine is extra

As if I were a supplementary waw appended to the end of ‘Amr

عَلى أَنَّني ذاكَ الخَليلُ الَّذي غَدا

مُفيداً لآدابٍ بَريئاً مِن الغَدرِ

Even though I am that sincere friend who tomorrow will be

Of benefit to manners, innocent of betrayal