رَبعٌ تَأَبَّدَ مِن شِبهِ المَها العينِ

وَقَفتُ دَمعي عَلى أَطلالِهِ الجونِ

A quarter that has been eternally adorned with the beauty of the full moon's visage,

A campsite grown wild, forsaken by the wide-eyed gazelles,

I paused as my tears fell upon its delicate ruins.

Upon its blackened ruins, I dedicated the flow of my tears.

إِنَّ الذين بِرَغمي عَنهُ قد رَحَلوا

حَفِظتُ عَهدَهُمُ لكِن أَضاعوني

Verily those who left against my will,

Those who departed from it, leaving me helpless against my will—

I kept my promise to them, but they abandoned me.

I kept faith with their vow, yet they have cast me to waste.

نادَيتُهُم وَالنَوى بي عَنهُمُ قُذُفٌ

نِداءَ مُلتَهِبِ الأَحشاءِ مَحزونِ

I called out to them, but my call was flung far from them,

I called out to them, while distance hurled me far from their side,

A heated cry from my grieving heart.

The cry of a sorrowful heart, its core set ablaze with grief.

يا غائِبينَ وَفي قَلبي تَصَوُّرُهُم

وَنازِحينَ وَذِكراهُم تُناجيني

O you who are absent yet present in my heart's imagining,

O you who are absent, yet whose image dwells within my heart,

And you who have departed though your memory converses with me!

You who have wandered far, yet whose memory whispers to my soul.

مالي وَلِلبَرقِ يَشجيني تَأَلُّقُهُ

وَلِلصِّبا بِشَذاكُم لا تُداويني

What do I want with lightning whose flashes wound me,

What is it to me that the lightning’s flash stirs my sorrow,

Or the morning breeze that cannot heal me with your fragrance?

Or that the East Wind, bearing your scent, brings me no cure?

لَيتَ الرِياحَ التي تَجري مُسَخَّرَةً

تُنبيكُمُ ما أُلاقيهِ وَتُنبيني

If only the winds that blow subdued

Would that the winds, which blow by divine command,

Would inform you of my state and inform me of yours!

Could carry news of my suffering to you, and bring yours to me.

وَجدٌ مُقيمٌ وَصَبرٌ ظاعِنٌ وَهَوىً

مُشَتِّتٌ وَحَبيبٌ لا يُواتيني

Yearning has taken hold, and patience has been exhausted, and love

Passion that remains, patience that departs, and a love

Is scattered, and the beloved does not come to me.

That shatters me, and a beloved who grants me no favor.

مَن لي بِعَهدِ وِصالٍ كُنتُ أَحسَبُهُ

لا يَنقَضي وَشَبابٍ كانَ يُصيبُني

Who will fulfill the promise of union I thought would never end,

Who will restore the days of union I once deemed

And the youth that used to overcome me?

Would never end, and a youth that was truly mine?

لَم يَبقَ مِن حُسنِهِ إِلّا تَذَكُّرُهُ

أَو الأَمانِيُّ تُدنيهِ وَتُقصيني

Nothing remains of his beauty but the memory,

Nothing remains of its beauty but the fading memory,

Or hopes that bring him near and banish me.

Or vain hopes that bring it near while casting me astray.

تِلكَ اللَيالي التي أَعدَدتُ مِن عُمري

أَيّامَ رَوضُ الصِبا غَضُّ الرَياحينِ

Those were the nights I counted as days of my life,

Those were the nights I truly reckoned as my life,

When the garden of childhood was the softest breeze.

Days when the garden of youth was lush with fresh basil.

أَيّامَ أُسقى بِكاساتِ السُرورِ عَلى

رَغمِ الوُشاةِ بِحَظٍّ غَيرِ مَغبونِ

Days I was given cups of joy

Days I was served from the cups of joy,

Despite the enviers, with undeserved fortune.

Despite the slanderers, enjoying a fortune undiminished.

يَسعى بِها أَوطَفُ العَينَينِ ذو هَيَفٍ

يَهتَزُّ مِثلَ اِهتِزازِ الغُصنِ في اللينِ

The most beautiful-eyed would hurry to me, swaying

Served by a slender cupbearer with languid, heavy-lashed eyes,

Like the swaying of a branch in softness.

Swaying with the softness of a trembling bough.

مُعَسَّلُ الريقِ في أَنيابِهِ شَنَبٌ

يُجنيكَ مِن خَدِّهِ وَرداً بِنَسرينِ

Smooth-cheeked, with teeth like pearls in his smile,

His kiss is honeyed, his smile reveals a lustrous freshness,

Plucking roses and basil from his cheek.

Allowing you to harvest roses and eglantine from his cheek.

مَن مُبلِغُ الصَحبِ عَنّي قَولَ مُبتَهِجٍ

بِما يُلاقي قَريرِ القَلبِ وَالعَينِ

If only the one who conveyed my joyful words

Who will convey to my companions the words of one rejoicing,

That delighted my heart and eyes would come again!

Delighted by what he finds, with heart and eye at peace?

أَنّي أَوَيتُ مِنَ العَليا إِلى حَرَمٍ

قَبلَ الإِناخَةِ بِالبُشرى يُحَيّيني

I came down from the High Place to a sanctuary

That I have sought refuge within a sanctuary of greatness,

Before alighting with good news that gave me life.

Which greets me with glad tidings before I even dismount.

يَنتابُهُ الناسُ أَفواجاً كَأَنَّهُمُ

جاءوا لِنُسكٍ عَلى صُهبِ العَثانينِ

Men flocked to it as if they had come

Crowds flock to him in waves, as if they were

For pilgrimage, on the heights of Al-`Uthayn.

Pilgrims arriving for rites upon reddish camels.

تَرى المُلوكَ قِياماً عِندَ سُدَّتِهِ

وَتَنظُرُ اِبنَ سَبيلٍ وَاِبنَ مِسكينِ

You would see kings standing at his tomb,

You see kings standing humble at his threshold,

And behold a wayfarer or a poor man.

Beside the wayfarer and the destitute.

ذا يَطلُبُ العَفوَ مِن عُقبى جَريرَتِهِ

وَذا يُؤَمِّلُ فَضلاً غَيرَ مَمنونِ

One seeking pardon for the evil of his deeds,

This one seeks pardon for the consequence of his crime,

And one hoping for unbounded generosity.

While that one hopes for a bounty without end.

نَزَلتُ مِنهُ إِلى جَمٍّ فَواضِلُهُ

عَبدِ العَزيزِ ثِمالِ المُستَميحينِ

I descended from it to the crowds at the tomb

I have alighted before one whose virtues are vast,

Of `Abdul`aziz, sanctuary of those seeking refuge.

Abd al-Aziz, the refuge for all who seek aid.

طَمّاحِ عَزمٍ إِلى العَلياءِ لَو ذُكِرَت

في هامَةِ النَجمِ أَو في مَسرَحِ النونِ

One whose determination was for the Highest Place, if it were mentioned,

With will aspiring to the heights—were glory mentioned

In the cluster of stars or on the theater stage.

At the zenith of the stars or the depths of the whale's domain.

وَلا يُفَكِّرُ إِلّا في نَدىً وَوَغىً

هُما ذَخيرَتُهُ مِن كُلِّ مَخزونِ

He thought of nothing but dew and tumult—

He contemplates nothing but generosity and battle,

They were his stock from all his stores.

For these are his chosen treasures above all hoarded wealth.

يا أَيُّها المَلِكُ السامي بِهِمَّتِهِ

وَاِبنَ المُلوكِ الأَجِلّاءِ السَلاطينِ

O noble king, lofty in his ambition,

O King, who soars high on wings of ambition,

Son of magnificent kings and sultans.

Son of majestic kings and mighty sultans,

الواهِبينَ المَعالي لِلوَلِيِّ لَهُم

وَالخاضِبينَ العَوالي مِ المُعادينِ

Bestowers of glory upon the loyal one,

Those who bestow honors upon their loyal friends,

And challengers of the heights against the hostile ones.

And dye their spears with the blood of their foes.

قَومٌ إِذا ذَكَرَت أَفعالُهُم فَخَرَت

بِهِم رَبيعَةُ مِن فاسٍ إِلى الصينِ

A people, when their deeds were recounted,

A people whose deeds, when recounted, bring pride

Rabi`ah, from Fez to China, took pride in them.

To the tribe of Rabi'ah from Fes to the lands of China.

وَحينَ خَفيَت رُسومُ الفَضلِ أَو طُمِسَت

وَسيمَ أَهلُ التُقى بِالخَسفِ وَالهونِ

And when the lights of virtue dimmed and were erased,

And when the traces of virtue had faded or were erased,

The people of piety were eclipsed and degraded.

And the pious were branded with humiliation and disgrace,

اِختارَكَ اللَهُ لِلأَمرِ الذي سَبَقَت

بِهِ السَادَةُ لِلدُنيا وَلِلدّينِ

God chose you for the command—preceded by

God chose you for a destiny preordained

The masters, for the world and the faith.

By the masters of this world and the faith.

فَكُنتَ في هذِهِ الدُنيا القِوامَ لَهُم

وَكُنتَ في الديِ قِسطاسَ المَوازينِ

Thus you were the pillar of them in this world,

Thus, you became their pillar in this worldly life,

And you were the balance of justice in religion.

And in religion, the just balance of the scales.

أُعطوا بِسَعدِكَ حَظّاً ما تَوَهَّمَهُ

فِكرٌ وَلَم يَكُ في الدُنيا بِمَظنونِ

With your good fortune, they attained a share

Through your auspice, they were granted a fortune

Beyond what any mind conceived or was expected in this world.

Unimagined by the mind, and undreamt of in this world.

قالَ العَزيزُ الذي أَنتَ العَزيزُ بِهِ

قُم فَاِستَعِن بي فَإِنّي ناصِرٌ ديني

The Almighty, of whom you are the Almighty, said:

The Almighty, through Whom you derive your might, has said:

“Arise, and seek My help, for I am the supporter of My faith.”

"Rise and seek My aid, for I am the Victor of My faith."

أَجَبتَ حَظَّكَ إِذ ناداكَ مُعتَزِماً

بِالمُرهَفاتِ وَجُردٍ كَالسَراحينِ

You responded when He called you, resolved

You answered your destiny when it called out to you, resolved,

Upon steeds swift as the wind over the plain.

Armed with sharp blades and steeds as swift as wolves.

إِذا سَرَينَ بِلَيلٍ خِلتَ أَنجُمَهُ

مِن قَدحِهِنَّ الحَصا يُشعَلنَ في الطينِ

When they race in the night, their stars shine

When they charge by night, you would think the stars

From their flashing hooves, igniting sparks in the mud.

Were ignited in the very mud by their hooves striking stone.

وَكُلِّ أَبلَجَ يَلقى المَوتَ مُدَّرِعاً

دِرعاً مِنَ الصَبرِ لا مِن كُلِّ مَوضونِ

Every knight meets death armored

And every radiant warrior meets death, clad

In patience, not in any breastplate.

In armor woven of patience, not merely of steel mesh.

كَمِ اِنتَهَكتَ بِحَدِّ السَيفِ مِن نَفَرٍ

قَد خارَ عِجلُهُمُ فيهِم بِتَحسينِ

How many you undid with the blade of your sword—

How many a host have you shattered with the sword's edge,

Their legs failed among them with your excellent thrust.

Among whom their idol had bellowed with false promise?

حَتّى إِذا ما المُنى أَلقَحنَ شَولَهُمُ

أَنتَجتَهُنَّ خِداجاً قَبلَ تَكوينِ

Until their wishes gave birth once their bellies ripened,

Until, just when false hopes had impregnated their mounts,

You birthed them as embryos before their creation.

You forced them to miscarry before the birth was due.

كَتَبتَ آجالَهُم بِالسَيفِ إِذ كُتِبَت

عَلى يَدَيكَ بِكافِ الأَمرِ وَالنونِ

You wrote their lifespans with the sword when

You inscribed their dooms with the sword, just as they were inscribed

Their fates were written by the writer's pen.

Upon your hands by the divine command of "Be" and it is.

فَأَصبَحوا سِيَراً تُتلى وَمُعتَبَراً

لِلغابِرينَ وَلِلموجودِ في الحين

Thus they became lessons recited and examples

So they became tales to be recited, and a warning

For those who came after and those now living.

For those who come after and those present now.

فَدُم سَليماً قَريرَ العَينِ مُبتَهِجاً

بِالآلِ وَالحالِ في عِزٍّ وَتَمكينِ

So praise Salim, cheerful of eye,

So remain safe, your eyes at peace, rejoicing

Delighted with family and state, in glory and empowerment.

In family and state, in glory and sovereign power.

وَاِشدُد عُرى الدينِ وَالدُنيا بِمُنتَخَبٍ

مِن عُنصُرِ السادَةِ الغُرِّ المَيامينِ

And strengthen the bonds of religion and world

And strengthen the bonds of faith and world with a chosen heir,

With the finest stock of noble chiefs and daring warriors—

Scion of the lineage of masters, the noble, the blessed.

فَرعِ الأَئِمَّةِ وَالأَذواءِ مِن يَمَنٍ

أَهلِ القِبابِ المَطاعيمِ المَطاعينِ

Branches of imams and sharp swords from Yemen,

A branch of Imams and the ancient kings of Yemen,

Masters of domes, obeyed and obeying.

Lords of high domes, who feed the hungry and strike down the foe.

غَمرُ النَدى نَجلُكَ المَيمونُ طائِرُهُ

سُعودُ أَهلِ التُقى نَحسُ المُناوينِ

Good fortune's star, your auspicious son Sa`ud,

Overflowing with generosity is your son, of blessed augury,

Joy of the pious, bane of the wretched.

The felicity of the pious, the misfortune of the antagonistic.

تَلَتكَ في خُلقِكَ السامي خَلائِقُهُ

تِلوَ المُصَلّي المُجَلّي في المَيادينِ

Your lofty traits adhere to him—

His nature follows your lofty nature,

After the praying leader, the armored hero on the battlefields.

As the runner-up pursues the victor on the racing tracks.

سَلِ الكُماةَ وَكُمتَ الخَيلِ عَنهُ إِذا

ما ثَمَّ إِلّا القَنا أَو حَدُّ مَسنونِ

Ask the brave warriors and the charging steeds about him when

Ask the armored warriors and the bay steeds about him,

There is nothing left but the spearheads or sharpened blades.

When nothing is present but spears and whetted blades.

هُناكَ تَلقى الحِفاظَ المُرَّ حَيثُ تَرى

بُلقَ الجِيادِ تَرَدَّت حِليَةَ الجونِ

There the noble youths meet their fate, where you see

There you shall find bitter defense, where you see

The necks of the steeds tossed, stripped of their beauty.

Piebald horses donning the dark garb of blood and dust.

ثُمَّ الصَلاةُ وَتَسليمُ الإِلهِ عَلى

مَن خُصَّ بِالخُلُقِ المَحمودِ في نونِ

Then prayer and peace upon the One

Then may the prayers and peace of God be upon

Gifted with the praised character of Nun.

Him who was singled out for "Exalted Character" in the Surah of Nun,

وَآلِهِ الغُرِّ وَالأَصحابِ كُلِّهِمُ

ما ناحَ وُرقٌ بِمُلتَفِّ البَساتينِ

And upon his family and all his companions

And upon his noble family and all his companions,

As long as leaves rustle on laden branches.

For as long as doves coo within the lush, entangling gardens.