تَهَلَّلَ وَجهُ الدينِ وَاِبتَسَم النَصرُ

فَمَن كانَ ذا نَذرٍ فَقَد وَجَبَ النَذرُ

The face of religion has brightened and victory has smiled,

The countenance of Faith beamed with joy, and Victory smiled,

So whoever has made a vow, his vow is now due.

So let him who made a vow now fulfill what was pledged.

وَوافى خَطيبُ العِزِّ في مَنبَرِ العُلا

يُنادي أَلا لِلَّهِ في صُنعِهِ الشُكرُ

The eloquent preacher has fulfilled his promise from the pulpit of glory,

The herald of Glory has ascended the pulpit of Eminence,

Proclaiming, "Praise be to God for His feat!"

Proclaiming aloud: "To God alone be thanks for His mighty works."

وَإِنّا عَلى وَعدٍ مِنَ اللَهِ صادِقٍ

وَتَأخيرُهُ إِيّاهُ كَي يَعظُمَ الأَجرُ

We are true to the promise of God,

We stand upon a true promise given by the Divine;

And His delaying it is so the reward may be greater.

Its delay was but to magnify the final reward.

وَلِلَّهِ في طَيِّ الحَوادِثِ حِكمَةٌ

يَحارُ بِها عَقلٌ وَيَعيا بِها فِكر

God has wisdom in the twists of fate,

Within the unfolding of events, God holds a hidden wisdom

Baffling intellects and tiring thoughts.

That baffles the mind and wearies the deepest thought.

يُمَحِّصُ أَقواماً لَهُم عِندَهُ الرِضى

وَيَمحَقُ أَقواماً لَهُم عِندَهُ التَبرُ

He assays some people who have His acceptance

He tests a people for whom He holds favor and grace,

And destroys others who have His wrath.

And He obliterates those destined for ruin in His sight.

إِذا خَطَّ ذو العَرشِ الشَقاءَ عَلى اِمرىءٍ

فَلَن تُغنِهِ الآياتُ تُتلى وَلا النُذرُ

When the Lord of the Throne decrees misfortune upon someone,

If the Lord of the Throne decrees misery upon a man,

Neither recited verses nor vows will avail him.

Neither recited verses nor warnings shall avail him.

وَإِلّا فَفيما قَد جَرى أَهلَ حائِلٍ

عَلَيكُم لَكُم لَكُم مِن غَيِّكُم وَالهَوى زَجرُ

As for what has befallen the people of Hail,

Otherwise, consider what has passed, O people of Hail—

You have brought it upon yourselves, so censure your whims!

Therein lies a harsh rebuke for your error and caprice.

وَقِدماً إِمامُ المُسلِمينَ دَعاكمُ

إِلى رُشدِكُم لكِن بِآذانِكُم وَقرُ

The Imam of the Muslims called you long ago

Long ago, the Imam of the Muslims called you forth

To your senses, but you turned a deaf ear.

To the path of guidance, but your ears were deafened.

تَدارَكَكُم حِلمُ الإِمامِ وَعَفوُهُ

وَقَد بَلَغَ السَيلُ الزُبى وَطَما البَحرُ

The Imam's clemency and pardon rescued you

The Imam's forbearance and pardon granted you reprieve,

When the torrent reached peril and the sea raged.

Even when the floodwaters peaked and the sea surged high.

فَأَصبَحتُمُ عَنهُ بِنَجوَةِ مُنعِمٍ

عَلَيكُم فَهَل يُلفى لَدَيكُم لَهُ شُكرُ

You awoke from it, thanks to a Bestower of bounty;

You found yourselves safe through his benevolence,

Is there any gratitude to be found in you?

Yet is there any gratitude found among you for him?

فَلا تَكفُروها نِعمَةً مُقرنِيَّةً

فَإِن كُفِرَت كانَت هِيَ الغُلُّ وَالأَصرُ

Do not show ingratitude for a paired blessing,

Do not deny this favor, now that it is bestowed;

For if blessings are unappreciated, they become sin and captivity.

For ingratitude turns blessings into shackles and burdens.

فَكَم خُوِّفَ النَعماءَ قَومٌ تَرَبَّصوا

فَأَرداهُمُ خُبثُ الطَوِيَّةِ وَالغَدرُ

How many favored ones have been warned by a people who lie in wait!

How many plotted in treachery, scorning the offered peace,

Their wickedness of character and treachery destroyed them.

Until the malice of their hearts and their betrayal destroyed them.

فَلَولا التُقى وَالصَفحُ عَنكُم لَأَصبَحَت

مَنازِلُكُم يَشتو بِها الرُبدُ وَالعَفر

Were it not for piety and forgiving you,

Were it not for piety and forgiveness shown to you,

Your dwellings would be ravaged, with cold and abandoned ruins.

Your homes would be desolate ruins where wild beasts roam.

هُوَ المَلِكُ الوَهّابُ وَالضَيغَمُ الَّذي

لَهُ العَزَماتُ الشُمُّ وَالفَتكَةُ البِكر

He is the Generous King, the Vanquisher,

He is the bountiful King, the Lion who possesses

The biting blades are His, and the deadly first attacks.

Lofty resolves and a strike that knows no equal.

هُوَ المَلِكُ السامي الَّذي سَطَواتُهُ

تُبيحُ حِمى مَن كانَ في خَدِّهِ صَعرُ

He is the Sublime King whom none can withstand

He is the Exalted King whose overwhelming power

When He unleashes His might against one with unkempt hair.

Breaches the sanctuary of those who turn their cheek in pride.

بِجَيشٍ يُغيبُ الشَمسَ عِثيرُ خَيلِهِ

وَيَحمَدُهُ بَعدَ اللِقا الذِئبُ وَالنَسرُ

With an army whose abundant horses darken the sun,

With an army whose horses raise dust that eclipses the sun,

Leaving the wolf and eagle to praise Him after the encounter.

An army praised by the wolf and the vulture after the slaughter.

كَأَنَّ اِشتِعالَ البيضِ في جَنَباتِهِ

سَنا البَرقَ وَالرَعدَ الهَماهِمُ وَالزَجرُ

As if the flaring of lightning in its folds

As if the flashing of swords amidst its ranks

Were the dazzling lightning, the rumbling thunder and the roaring threats.

Were lightning strikes, and the battle-cries rolling thunder.

وَصادِقِ عَزمٍ إِن طَما لَيلُ فِتنَةٍ

تَبَلَّجَ مِنهُ في حَنادِسِها فَجرُ

With steadfast resolve, when the night of turmoil foams,

A man of true resolve; when the night of strife grows dark,

Its dawn shines from His spears.

A dawn breaks forth from him to pierce the gloom.

رَكوبٍ لِما يُخشى مِنَ الخَطبِ عالِمٍ

بِأَنَّ المَعالي دونَها الخَطرُ الوَعرُ

A rider aware of the gravity of feared events,

He rides into the heart of terror, knowing well

Knowing that glory lies beyond that rugged danger.

That the path to glory is paved with rugged peril.

إِذا ذُكَرَت يَوماً مَغازيهِ لَم يَكُن

لِيَفضَحَها أُحدٌ وَلَم يَخزِها بَدرُ

Whenever His campaigns are mentioned, none can expose them,

If his campaigns were recounted this day,

Nor can the full moon outshine them.

They would stand tall beside Uhud and would not shame Badr.

مَغازٍ لَها في الغَربِ وَالشَرقِ رَجفَةٌ

وَفي أُفُقِ العَيا هِيَ الأَنجُمُ الزُهرُ

Campaigns in East and West that shake the land,

Campaigns that sent tremors through both West and East,

They are the bright stars on the horizon.

Shining as brilliant stars on the horizon of glory.

مَشاهِدُ فيها عُزِّزَ الدينُ وَاِعتَلى

وَأُدحِضَ فيها الجَورُ وَاِنمَحَقَ الكُفرُ

There were scenes where religion was strengthened and exalted,

Battles where the Faith was fortified and exalted,

Injustice was repulsed and unbelief wiped out.

Where injustice was crushed and disbelief wiped away.

وَفيما مَضى لِلشّاهِدِ اليَومَ عِبرَةٌ

وَلكِن قُلوبٌ حَشوُها الغِلُّ وَالوَغُر

The witness of the past is a lesson for today,

In the past lies a lesson for those who witness today,

But hearts filled with hatred and rancor are deaf.

Yet there are hearts filled only with malice and rancor.

وَمَن كانَ عَمّا قُلتُهُ مُتَجاهِلاً

سَتَصدُقُهُ قَولي المُهَنَّدَةُ البُترُ

Whoever is oblivious to what I say

Whoever feigns ignorance of these words I speak,

Will be proven true by my eloquent words.

Sharp Indian swords shall prove the truth of my warning.

فَقُل لِحُسَينٍ دامَ في القَوسِ مَنزَعٌ

أَلا تَرعَوي مِن قَبلِ أَن يُقصَمَ الظَهرُ

Say to Hussein, while the bowstring is taut:

Say to Hussein, while the bow can still be drawn:

"Watch out before the back is broken!"

Will you not desist before your back is broken?

زَجَرتَ طُيورَ النَحسِ تَحسَبُ أَنَّها

سُعودٌ فَلا طَرقٌ أَفادَ وَلا زَجرُ

You frightened the birds of ill omen, thinking they were larks,

You stirred up birds of ill omen, mistaking them

But neither tricks nor warnings avail.

For signs of fortune; yet neither divination nor omen availed you.

أَماني مَخدوعٍ يُعَلِّلُ نَفسَهُ

وَمِن دونِ هاتيكَ المُنى المَشرَبُ المُرُّ

The fancies of one led astray who makes excuses for himself,

Such are the delusions of a man deceiving himself,

While the wished-for cups are bitter and murky.

While a bitter cup awaits him before his dreams can ripen.

وَضَربٌ كَأَفواهِ المُخاضِ مُجاجُهُ

دَمٌ تَمتَريهِ البيضُ وَاللَدنَةُ السُمرُ

Blows like the mouths of those in childbirth,

Strikes like the foaming mouths of camels in labor,

With blood the white camels and red sheep will suckle.

Spitting blood drawn by white blades and brown spears.

تَرَقَّب لَها مَلمومَةً تَملَأُ الفَضا

يَسوقُ إِلَيكَ الوَحشَ مِن لَغطِها الذُعرُ

Awaiting them disastrously, filling the horizon,

Await a gathered host that fills the horizon,

Driving terror toward you with its clamor.

Its clamor driving panicked beasts toward your camp.

تَظَلُّ عَلَيها شُغَّبُ الطَيرِ عُكَّفاً

مُعَوَّدَةً أَنَّ القَبيلَ لَها جَزرُ

The agitated birds of prey circle above them,

Rapacious birds hover constantly above it,

Accustomed to receiving tribute from the tribe.

Accustomed to feasting on the flesh of the defeated.

يُدَبِّرُها عَزماً وَرَأياً وَمُنصَلاً

مُديرُ رَحاها لا كَهامٌ وَلا غَمرُ

He directs them with resolve, wisdom and counsel--

Led by resolve, strategy, and the sword,

The guide of their pasture, not confused or blind.

By a master of war's millstone, neither weak nor novice.

إِمامُ الهُدى عَبدُ العَزيزِ الَّذي رَنَت

إِلَيهِ المَعالي قَبلَ أَن تَكمُلَ العَشرُ

The Imam of guidance, Abd al-Aziz, whose glory

The Imam of Guidance, Abdulaziz, to whom

Was proclaimed before he had reached the age of ten.

Greatness looked with favor before he reached the age of ten.

أَتانا بِهِ اللَهُ الكَريمُ بِلُطفِهِ

عَلى حينَ ماجَ الناسُ وَاِستَفحَلَ الشَرُّ

God, Most Gracious, brought him to us in His subtlety,

The Generous God brought him to us in His kindness,

When people were astray and evil prevalent.

At a time when chaos surged and evil grew rampant.

وَشَعَّبَتِ الأَهواءُ دينَ مُحَمَّدٍ

وَلَم يَكُ نَهيٌ عَن فَسادٍ وَلا أَمرُ

Opinions had divided the religion of Muhammad

When capricious desires had fractured the faith of Muhammad,

With no objection to corruption or command of good.

And none forbade corruption or commanded the good.

وَوَليَ أُمورَ الناسِ مَن لا يَسوسُهُم

بِشَرعٍ وَخافَ الفاجِرَ المُؤمِنُ البَرُّ

The affairs of the people were administered by one who did not rule them

When unfit rulers took charge of the people's affairs,

According to Divine Law, while the licentious feared the devout.

Ruling without law, till the righteous feared the wicked.

فَأَسفَرَ صُبحُ المُسلِمينَ وَأَشرَقَت

بِطَلعَتِهِ أَنوارُهُم وَاِنتَفى العُسرُ

The dawn broke for the Muslims and his rise illumined them,

Then the dawn of the Muslims broke, and there shone

Their troubles dispelled and hardship relieved.

Through his rising, their light, and hardship vanished.

وَأُعطوا بُعَيدَ الذُلِّ عِزّاً وَبُدِّلوا

مِنَ الخَوفِ أَمناً وَالشَقا بَعدَهُ اليُسرُ

Given pride instead of humiliation, and security instead of fear,

After humiliation, they were granted glory;

Hardship transformed into ease after it.

Safety replaced fear, and ease followed misery.

مَتى ما تُيَمِّم دارَ قَومٍ جُيوشُهُ

إِذا لَم يَكُن عَفوٌ فَعُمرانُها قَفرُ

Whenever his armies direct themselves towards a people's abode,

Whenever his armies set their course for a people's land,

Ruin will be their lot if there is no pardon.

Unless he grants pardon, their cities become wastelands.

أَلَيسَ الَّذي قادَ المَقانِبَ شُزَّباً

إِلى كُلِّ دَغائِلُهُ المَكرُ

Is he not the one who drove the routed remnants

Is he not the one who led the lean chargers

To all their hidden lairs by his cunning?

Against every traitor whose nature is deceit?

فَلَم يُغنِهِ طولُ الدِفاعِ وَحِصنُهُ

وَلَم يُؤرِهِ لَو فَرَّ بَحرٌ وَلا بَرُّ

No length of resistance or fortress availed them,

Neither long resistance nor high fortress could save him,

Nor did sea or land offer escape.

Nor could land or sea shelter him had he fled.

مُفيدٌ وَمِتلافٌ إِذا جادَ أَو سَطا

فَما الأَسَدُ الضاري وَما الوابِلُ الهَمرُ

Beneficial and destructive when he gives or withholds,

A giver of wealth and a destroyer of foes; in generosity and war,

Not the fierce lion, nor the pelting rains.

He surpasses the fierce lion and the pouring rain.

طَلوبٌ لِأَقصى غايَةِ المَجدِ إِن يَصِل

إِلى رُتبَةٍ مِنها يَقُل فَوقَها القَدرُ

Pursuing the utmost heights of glory--if he attains

Seeking the utmost pinnacle of glory; were he to reach

A rank below which esteem is rare.

A summit, he would deem it beneath his true worth.

إِلَيكَ أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ تَطَلَّعَت

لِتَرعى بَنيها الشامُ وَاِنتَظَرَت مِصرُ

To you, O Commander of the Faithful, Damascus turns her hopes,

To you, O Commander of the Faithful,

And Egypt awaits, looking towards you.

The Levant looks to shepherd her sons, and Egypt waits.

وَناداكَ مُلتَفُّ الحَطيمِ وَيَثرِبٌ

وَلَولا اِحتِرامُ البَيتِ قَد قُضِيَ الأَمرُ

The tribes of Yathrib and Mecca call you,

The sacred Hatim and Yathrib have called out to you;

And were it not for respecting the Sacred House, the matter would be concluded.

Were it not for reverence of the House, the decree would be fulfilled.

وَأَيُّ اِمرىءٍ لَم يَعتَقِدكَ أَميرَهُ

فَإيمانُهُ لَغوٌ وَعِرفانُهُ نُكرُ

What man does not believe you to be his commander?

Whosoever does not accept you as his Commander,

His faith is futile and his knowledge denied.

His faith is void and his understanding flawed.

وَهَل مُؤمِنٌ إِلّا يَرى فَرضَ نُصحِكُم

وَطاعَتِكُم حَقّاً كَما وَجَبَ الذِكرُ

Does not every believer see that sincerely advising and

Does any true believer not see the duty to support you,

Obeying you is an obligation, just like ritual prayer?

And to obey you, as surely as prayer is ordained?

وَمَن شَذَّ عَن رَأي الجَماعَةِ حَظُّهُ

وَإِن صامَ أَو صَلّى مِنَ العَمَلِ الوِزرُ

Whoever dissents from the majority's opinion, his share

He who deviates from the consensus of the faithful,

Is sin, even if he fasts and prays.

Reaps only sin, though he may fast and pray.

وَدونَكَها وَلّاجَةً كُلَّ مِسمَعٍ

يُقالُ إِذا تُتلى كَذا يَحسُنُ الشِعرُ

After you, every listening assembly is merely

Accept this poem that penetrates every ear,

Said when poetry is recited, "How excellent is poetry!"

Compelling listeners to say: "This is true poetry."

بِكَ اِفتَخَرَت في كُلِّ نادٍ وَمَحفِلٍ

وَكَيفَ وَأَنتَ الفَخرُ ما فَوقَهُ فَخرُ

Through you, honor is proclaimed in every club and gathering.

It glories in your name in every gathering and assembly;

How not, when you are the supreme pride, above all pride!

And why not, when you are the pride above all pride?

وَصَلِّ إِلهَ العالَمينَ عَلى الَّذي

لَهُ الحَوضُ وَالزُلفى إِذا ضَمَّنا الحَشرُ

And salutations to the God of all worlds upon him

O Lord of the Worlds, send blessings upon him

With the Fountain and the Exalted Rank when we throng at the Gathering.

Who holds the Basin and high station when the Gathering assembles—

مُحَمَّدٍ الهادي الأَمينِ وَآلِهِ

وَأَصحابِهِ ما اِفتَرَّ بَعدَ الدُجى فَجرُ

Muhammad, the Guide, the Trustworthy, and his Household

Muhammad, the Trustworthy Guide, and upon his kin,

And his Companions, for no dawn has shone after their night.

And companions, as long as dawn breaks the darkness of night.