هَذا الخِتانُ وَقَدْ دَعَوهُ طُهُوراً
ة خَلَعَ الزَّمَانَ بِهِ عَلَيكَ سُرُوراً
This circumcision, though they call it purity
Has brought you joy, as time strips off its dress
فَرَحٌ يَخُصُّكَ بِالكَرامَةِ أوَّلاً
وَبَهَا يَعُمُ الخّيِرِينَ أخِيراً
A joy that honours you before all others
And through it good spreads in the end
وَعَلَى المَنَازِلِ مِنْ بَهَاهُ بَشَاشَةٌ
كَالنَّازِلِينَ فَهَلْ وَجَدْتَ شُعُوراً
And in the dwellings, from its beauty a radiance
Like those descending - have you felt the bliss?
أخْفَيْتَهُ تَبَعاُ لِقَولَةِ صَادِقِ
اُخْفُوا الخِتَانَ وَمَا اتّخَذتَ مُشِيراً
You've hidden it, obeying the words of the truthful one
"Hide the circumcision" - you took no advisor
فَزَكَتْ مَحَاسِنُهُ عَلَى إخفَائِهِ
كَالْمِسكِ زَادَ مَعَ الخَفَاءِ ظُهوراً
So its virtues increased through its concealment
Like musk - the more hidden, the more its scent expands
وَلِمِثلِهِ مِنْ كُلّ مَا تُعنَى بِهِ
خَطَرٌ كَمَا قَدْ كُنتَ أنْتَ خَطِيراً
For the like of it, from all you care for
A notion, as you yourself were most prudent
عَجَبَاً لَهُ مِنْ مَعْرَكٍ خَضَعَتْ بِهِ
نَفْسُ الشَّجِيعِ وَقَدْ رَأتْهُ يَسِيرَا
Wondrously, it conquered the soul of the brave
Who saw it as easy, it made him bend
ذَكَرَتْ به الأرحَامُ يَومَ وِلاَدِهَا
فَغَدَتْ تَجَاذَبُ حِدَّةً وفُتُورَا
The wombs mentioned it the day they gave birth
So they swayed between sharpness and calm
وَزَمَانُهُ إنْ طَالَ كَانَ دَقِيقَةً
وَيَكَادُ يَبلُغُ فِي الخَيَالِ شُهُورَا
Its time, if prolonged, seems but a minute
And nearly in thought reaches months
ما لِلمُزَيِّنِ فيهِ كَيْفَ تَنَاوَلَتْ
كَفَّاهُ فِي فَلَكِ البَهَاء بُدُورَا
What did the adorner do? How gently
His palms held its crescent in the orbit of splendor
أخَذَتْ بِجُزْءٍ لَو يُقاسُ بِمِثلِهِ
مُلكُ القَيَاصِرِ كَانَ بَعْدُ قَصِيرَا
Taking but a part, if measured against the like
The kings' realms after would be petty
وَيَعُدُّ هَيكَلُهُ لِكُلّ عُيونِهِمْ
أهلُ المَشارِقِ والمَغَارِبِ نُورَا
Its structure seemed to every one of their eyes
The people of East and West, a light
أفَلاَ اتَّقَى مِنْ دُونِ ذَاكَ ثَوَاقِباُ
تُذْكِي عَلَيهِ مِنَ الجِهَاتِ سعِيرَا
Why did you not fear, apart from that, sharp troubles
That would kindle flames against you from all sides?
لَولاَ الخَلِيل لَعَاقَهُ عَنْ أخْذِهِ
حَرْبٌ يَشِيبُ لَهُ الوَلِيدُ صَغِيرَا
Had it not been for the Friend, he would have prevented its taking
A war that would make the infant grey-haired
لَكِنْ سُلَيمَانُ المُعّوَّذُ بِاسْمِهِ
سَبَقَ النِّداء إلى النِّزَالِ سَرِيرَا
But Solomon, protected by His name
Preceded the call to battle with ease
فَتَخَلَّلَ الأوجَال ثُمَّ أزَاحَهَا
وَألان مَا قَدْ كَانَ قَبْلُ عَسِيرَا
So he slipped through the thickets and then removed them
And softened what had been harsh before
وَكَفَاهُ فِي ذَاكَ المَجَالِ مُحَمَّدٌ
فَأمَاطَ عَنْ وَجْهِ الخَلاصِ سُتُورَا
And for him in that sphere, Muhammad sufficed
So he unveiled the face of salvation
وَدَعَوا بِمَحْمُودٍ فَجَدَّ إجَابَةً
وَتَلاَهُ إسمَاعِيلٌ بَعْدُ نَصِيرَا
He invoked the Praised One, and found a response
And after him, Ismail a helper
فَتَظَاهَرُوا بِبَنِي شَقِيقِِ أبِيهِمُ
حَتَّى يَكُونُوا فِي المَآلِ ظَهِيرَا
So they cooperated, he and his brother's children
That they might in the end be victorious
وَقَضُوا عَلَى وَفْقِ المُرَاد مَآرِباً
كَانَتْ تَتُوقُ لَهَا النُّفُوسُ دُهُورَا
And according to their desire, they accomplished purposes
Which souls had yearned for through the ages
وَقَضيتَ مَا لِلَّه عِندَكَ حَقَّهُ
إنْ لَمْ تَكُنْهُ فمنْ يكون شكورَا
You have fulfilled what was Allah's right with you
If not, who then could be thankful?
فَوَصَلَتْ رَحْمَكَ رأفَةً وَأقَمْتَها
أعلَى مَقَامٍ فِي الجِنَانِ كَبِيراً
So your kindness connected the womb, gave it
The highest place in the gardens on high
وَأضَفْتَ فِي ذَاتِ الإلَهِ لِهَذِهِ
أمَماً أفَضْتَ لَهَا النَّوَالَ نَمِيرَا
And for it, you added in the Being of God
Nations, pouring gifts on them generously
فَبَذَلْتَ فِي تَحسِينِ بِزَّةِ جَمعِهِمْ
مَالاً يَعِزُّ عَلَى المُلُوكِ غَزِيرَا
You spent, to perfect the clothing of their company
Wealth kings would find hard to amass
وَبَلَغَتْ فِي إبلاَغِ خَيرِك لِلوَرَى
حَتَّى مَلأتَ مِنَ السُّرُورِ قُبُورَا
And in conveying your good to existence
You filled the graves with joy
فلأنتَ أشْجَعْ مِنْ رأته كَريَهةً
وَإذا حَلَفتُ فَلاَ أقُولُ فُجُورَا
That is courage, not the recklessness of an aggressor
Who hopes for acquittal when vengeance seeks him
منْ ذَا يُجَادِلُ نَفْسَه فَيَرُدُهَا
نَحْوَ المَلِيح عَنِ القَبيحِ غَيُورَا
Who else contends against himself, and turns him
From the ugly to the beautiful, zealously?
قَدْ كَانَ ذَلِكَ وَالحِجَارَةُ رَطْبَةٌ
وَالآنْ يُوجَدُ فِي الكِتاب سُطُورَا
That happened when rocks were still damp
And now it is found in scripture's lines
حَتَّى بُعِثْتَ مُجَدّداً لِمَآثِرٍ
لَبِثَتْ عَلَى طُولِ الزَّمان دُثُورَا
Until you came, renewing deeds
Long perished through time's length
أحْيَيتَهَا وَفَعَلْتَ ما تُنسِي بِهِ
أجَلاً ويُكْثِرُ فِي المَعَادِ أجُورَا
You revived them, and did what makes one forget
Eras, and multiply rewards in the Return
تِلْكَ الشَّجَاعَةُ لاَ جَرَاءَةُ فَاتِكٍ
يَدْعُو لهَا عِنْدَ القِصَاصِ ثُبُورَا
That courage - not an attacker's recklessness
Who calls for it, when justice would punish, absolution
فَارْبَحْ إذنْ يا ابنَ الحُسَينِ وكلُّنا
يَلقَى بِرِبحِكَ رَوضَةً وَغَدِيرَا
So profit, o son of Hussein, and we all
Find, through your profit, a meadow and pool
فَهْوَ المُنَى أخَذَ الوَدُودُ بِحَظِّهِ
مِنهُ وَبَاتَ بِهِ الحَسُودُ ضَرِيرَا
It is the object of desire - the loving took his share
And the hater, deprived, passed the night blind
بَعَثَتْ يَدُ الإقبَالِ لَمَّا أنْ بَدَا
وَجْهُ الفُتُوحِ بِهِ إليَكَ بَشِيرَا
The hand of destiny waved when the face
Of the openings appeared, heralding you
كَمْ بعد يْومِكَ ذا المُبارَكِ مِنْ جَنَى
تَجنِيهِ مِنْ هَذا الغِرَاسِ نَضِيرَا
After your blessed day, how much bounty
Will it reap from this planting, how excellent?
فَالآنَ حِينَ تَوَصَّلُوا لِمَنَازِلٍ
قَطَعُوا لَهَا مُنذُ الوِلادَِ وُعُورَا
Now when they have attained mansions
Cut for them since birth - how wondrous!
وَتَطَاوَلَتْ خِطَطُ الإمَارَةِ نَحوَهُمْ
وَلَهُمْ أعِدَّتْ رُتبَةً وَسَرِيرَا
The plans of rule reached out to them
And for them it prepared position and throne
فَالخَيلُ مُصِيخَةً لَهُمْ آذَانُهَا
تَبغِي لَهُمْ جِهَةَ النَّجَاحِ عُبُورَا
The horses, their ears attuned, seeking for them
The direction of advancement, galloping
فَرِحَتْ لهذا النُّوبُ فِي أشطَانِهَا
فَرَحاً وَشَدَّتْ لِلظُّهُورِ ظُهُورَا
They rejoiced at this fortune in their bounding
With joy, and tightened to bear burdens
وَمَعَاقِدُ التِّيجَانِ قَدْ عُقِدَتْ لَهُمْ
وَبَهِمْ تُفَاخِرُ غَيْبَةً وَشُهُورَا
The crowns were bound for them
And through them the absence will boast for ages
وَمِنَ الطُّبُولِ تَحَفُّزُّ لِبُرُوزِهِمْ
إذْ يَفْزَعُ الدَّاعِي لِذَاكَ نَفِيرَا
The drums quicken for their appearance
When the caller is alarmed and sounds reveille
وَمِنْ البُنُودِ تَطَلُّعٌ لِمَسِيرِهِمُ
حَتَّى تَسِيرَ مَعَ التَّمَامِ نُسُورَا
The pocket-drums anticipate their march
Until they move with perfect rhythm
فَاليَومَ قد صَدَرَتْ بشائرُ سَعدِهِمْ
وَغَداً تَرَاهُمْ فِي الصُّفُوفِ صُدُورَا
Today the omens of their good fortune emerged
Tomorrow you will see them at the head of ranks
أعبَاءُ مَجدٍ أنتَ وَحدَكَ حُزتَهُمْ
كَذَبَ المُنازِعُ هَل يَعُدُّ نَظِيرَا
Glories you alone shouldered
False is the rival - can he be called a peer?
بِهِمُ أنَمْتَ المُلكَ نَومَةَ مُعرِسٍ
وَبَهِمْ أدَرْتَ عَلَى الإيَالَةِ سُورَا
Through them you slept a groom's sleep
And through them you turned the realm about
وَبِهِمْ لأمرِكَ نَهْضَةٌ وَلِصَونِهِمْ
مَنَعُوا النَّواهِي أنْ تُفِيدَ نَقِيرَا
Through them is rising for your command
They prevented violations from benefiting detractors
مَا فَردُهُمْ مَهْمَا اخْتَبَرْتَ بِواحِدٍ
بَلْ هُوَ ألفٌ أوْ يَزيدُ كَثِيرَا
What of them? Test with each one
He is a thousand, or more, abundant
كُلٌّ يَفِيضُ عَلَى أخِيهِ تَحَنُّنَا
وَلِوالِدَيْهِ مَهَابَةً وَبُرُورَا
Each pouring affection on his brother
And awe and kindness to their parents
طُبِعُوا كَمَا طُبِعَ الكَرِيمُ أبُوهُمُ
كَرَمَاً يُعَدُّ لَهُ الغَمَامُ حَقِيرَا
Nature imprinted them as their generous father
Whose nobility the clouds would deem paltry
وَسِياسَةً جَذَبَتْ حَبَائِلُ لُطْفِهَا
قَلبَ الكَفورِ عنْ أنْ يكونَ كَفُورَا
A politics that drew in the cords of its charm
The hearts of the ungrateful, from ingratitude
يَا سَيِّدَا طَلَعَتْ طَلاَئِعُ وُدّهِ
فَسَعَى لَهَا دَاعِي المَدِيحِ سَفِيرَا
O masters, the outrunners of affection appeared
So the eulogist hurried to you as envoy
هَذِي بُنَيَّةُ خَاطِرٍ أهدَيْتُهَا
شَرَحَتْ إلَيكَ مِنَ الوِدَادِ ضَمِيرَا
These are the makings of a heart I gift to you
That poured its devotion out to you sincerely
تُحْظَى فَيَقْصُرُ يَومُهَا لِحَدِيثِهَا
وَتَكُونُ فِي غَلَسِ الظَّلاَمِ سَمِيرَا
May it succeed, and its day shorten with talk
And be, in the thick darkness, a lamp
قَصَرْتَ عَلَيْكَ مَلاَبِساً مِنْ غَزْلِهَا
لَكِنْ تَخَافُ إذَا نَظَرْتَ قُصُورَا
You've favored it with gowns woven from its threads
Yet it fears that if you look, you will disdain
وَلَرُبَّ بَعْضِ شُويَعِرٍ يَرْنُو لَهَا
شَزَرَاً وَيُكْثِرُ فِي الخَلاءِ زَئِيرَا
Though perhaps some lovesick fool aspires to it
Muttering nonsense, roaring in the shadows
حَسَداً يُشَكِّكُ فِي تَحَقُقِِ حَملِهَا
مِنْ حُبّ ذَاتِكَ مَا يُحَمِّلُ عِيرَا
Envying, doubting the truth of its message
Of love for you - though it carries no shame
وَيَظَلُّ يَخْبِطُ فِي مَدَى أغرَاضِهَا
لاَ عَنْ هُدىً وَمَتَى يَكُونُ بَصِيرَا
Babbling confusedly the range of its purposes
No insight, when will he finally see?
وَلَوِ اسْتَبَانَ مِنَ الضَّآلَةِ مَرَّةً
لَمَنَحْتُهُ عِوَضَ الزَّئِيرِ زَفِيرَا
Had he once glimpsed his misguidance
I'd replace his roar with a groan
لَكِنْ تَركْتُ حَدِيثَهُ وَأرَاحَنِي
عِلْمِي بِكَوْنِكَ بِالصَّحِيحِ خَبِيرَا
But I left his talk, reassured
By knowing you discern truth fully
فَمِحَكُّ نَقْدِكَ ليس يبقى دونهُ
بَينَ الهِدَايَةِ والضَّلالَةِ زُورَا
For your assay discerns flawlessly
Between guidance and blindness, no falsehood
فَلَكَ الهَنَا وَلِكُلِّكُمْ وَلَنَا بِكُمْ
مَا صَافَحَتْ شَمْسُ النَّهارِ ثَبِيرَا
So to you praise, and to all of you
And through you all, what the sun of day warms
