سَفَرَ الزَمانُ بِغُرَّةِ المُستَبشِرِ

وَكُسي شَباباً بَعدَ ذاكَ المَكبَرِ

The days have journeyed with the exultation of the blithe,

Time has unveiled the face of a bearer of good tidings,

And clothed youth after that ripeness.

And is clothed in youth after its age of decline.

وَتَأَرَّجَت أَرجاؤُهُ بِشَذائِهِ

حَتّى لَخِلنا التُربَ شيبَ بِعَنبَرِ

And its outskirts were perfumed with its fragrance,

Its corners have become fragrant with his scent,

Until we thought the soil was gray with ambergris.

Until we imagined the very soil was mixed with ambergris.

وَتَأَلَّقَت في طيبَةٍ سُرُجُ الهُدى

ما بَينَ رَوضَةِ سَيِّدي وَالمِنبَرِ

In Taibah the lanterns of guidance shone,

The lamps of guidance have shone in Taybah,

Between my master's garden and the pulpit.

Between the Garden of my Master and the pulpit.

وَتَأَلَّقَت مِن قَبلِ ذاكَ بِمَكَّةٍ

إِذ قُدِّسَت مِن كُلِّ رِجسٍ مُفتَرِ

And before that they shone in Mecca,

And they shone before that in Mecca,

When it was sanctified from all spuriousness of the slanderer.

When it was sanctified from every fabricated abomination.

وَتَجَدَّدَت مِن جُدَّةٍ أَعلامُهُ

وَتَقَشَّعَت مِنها رُسومُ المُنكَر

And its flags were made anew,

His banners were renewed in Jeddah,

And the forms of prohibition faded from it.

And the traces of vice were swept away from it.

وَجَرَت يَنابيعُ الهُدى في يَنبُعٍ

هذي السَعادَةُ يا لَها مِن مَفخَرِ

The fountains of guidance flowed in Yanbu,

And the springs of guidance flowed in Yanbu;

This is happiness, oh how glorious!

This is true felicity—oh, what a source of pride!

بِفُتوحِ مُؤتَمَِ الإِلهِ لِدينِهِ

مَلِكٍ تَسَلسَل مِن كَريمِ العُنصُرِ

With the openings of the God-aided one for His religion,

Through the conquests of God’s trustee over His religion,

A king descended from generous stock.

A King descended from a noble lineage.

لَيتَ الذي سَكَنَ الثَرى مِمَّن مَضى

مِن أَهلِ بَدرٍ وَالبَقيعِ المُنوِرِ

If only those who inhabit the earth and are gone

Would that those who dwell in the dust of the past,

From the people of Badr and the Enlightened Baqi could see!

From the people of Badr and the illuminated Baqi',

اِنظُروا صَنيعَكَ في المَدينَةِ وَالتي

يَهوي إِلَيها كُلُّ أَشعَثَ أَغبَرِ

Look upon your work in Medina and that

Could look upon your work in Medina and that city

To which every disheveled dusty one inclines.

To which every disheveled, dusty pilgrim rushes,

كَي يَشهَدوا أَنَّ الفَضائِلَ قُسِّمَت

بِالفَضلِ بَينَ مُقَدَّمٍ وَمُؤَخَّرِ

So they may witness that the virtues were divided

So they might witness that virtues have been apportioned

By merit between the foremost and the late.

By grace between the vanguard and the rearguard.

وَيَسُرَّهُم إِحياؤُكَ الشَرعَ الذي

قَد كانَ قَبلَكَ مِثلَ روحِ مُغَرغِرِ

And it would delight them, your revival of the Law

And it would please them, your reviving of the Law

Which before you was like the soul of a choking man.

That was, before you, like a spirit in its death throes.

عَبَّدتَ لِلمُلكِ العَزيزِ تَقاؤُلاً

وَالفَألُ تُؤثَرُ عَن شَفيعِ المَحشَرِ

You have enslaved the mighty kingdom,

You paved the way for the mighty kingdom as a good omen,

And fortune is preferred over the intercessor of the Gathering.

For optimism is a tradition from the Intercessor of the Gathering.

سِرٌّ بَدبعٌ كانَ في إِخفائِهِ

مِن قَبلِ سَعدِكَ حِكمَةٌ لَم تَظهَرِ

A hidden pearl was in its concealment,

A wondrous secret lay in its concealment,

Before your good fortune, a wisdom that did not appear.

A wisdom unrevealed before your auspicious arrival.

وَفَضائِلٌ كُنتَ الخَليقَ بِنَشرِها

وَتَرى الغَبِيَّ بِسِرِّها لَم يَشعُرِ

And virtues you were suited to spreading,

And virtues you were created worthy to spread,

Yet the ignorant did not sense its mystery.

While you see the fool unaware of their secret meaning.

أَوَ ما عَلِموا بِاَنَّ حَظَّكَ فيهِمُ

كانَ الزَغيمَ لَدَيهِمُ في المَحضَرِ

Or did they not know that your share among them

Did they not know that your fortune among them

Was like cheap metal before them in the assembly?

Was the guarantor for them in the assembly?

أَنتَ الذي إِن تُبدِ ناجِذَ غَضبَةٍ

مِنها تَثَعلَبَ كُلُّ لَيثٍ قَسوَرِ

You, if you bare the claws of wrath,

You are he who, if he reveals the fang of anger,

From it every stubborn lion would become like a fox.

Every mighty lion turns into a fox before it.

فَاِشكُر إِلهَكَ وَاِرعَهُ غَضبَةٍ

مِنها تَثَغلَبَ كُلُّ لَيثٍ قَسورِ

So thank your God and hold back His wrath,

So thank your God and heed Him in an anger from which every mighty lion turns into a fox.

From which every stubborn lion would be defeated.

And let both mankind and Jinn give thanks for what you bestowed,

وَليَشكُرِ الثَقلانِ ما أَولَتهُم

مِن أَمنِهِم مِن بَعدِ خَوفٍ أَعسَرِ

And let the two races thank what security He gave them

Of safety granted after the harshest fear.

After fear more bitter.

The Hijaz has won a joy from the turn of time,

ظَفِرَ الحِجازُ مِنَ الزَمانِ بِغِبطَةٍ

بَعدَ النَبِيِّ وَصَحبِهِ لَم تُخبَرِ

The Hejaz triumphed over the days with a joy

Unheard of since the Prophet and his Companions.

Not experienced after the Prophet and his companions.

They became secure in their wealth and their blood,

أَمِنوا عَلى أَموالِهِم وَدِمائِهِم

مِن بَعدِ ما كانوا لِأَوَّلِ مُجتَري

They were secure in their wealth and blood

After having been prey to the first aggressor.

After they had been prey for the first assailant.

For so long was the youth seized from his home,

وَلَطالَ ما أُخِذَ الفَتى مِن بَيتِهِ

وَاليَومَ يُمسي مُصحِراً لَم يَحذَرِ

And no more was the youth seized from his home,

Yet today he roams the desert wastes without dread.

While today he spends the night unafraid.

O son of Caliphs and Guides, possessors of piety,

يَاِبنَ الخَلائِفَ وَالهُداةِ أَولي التُقى

وَاِبنَ الأَئِمَّةِ أَكبَراً عَن أَكبَرِ

O son of the caliphs and the rightly guided,

Son of Imams, a great one descended from the great.

Greater than the greatest in ancestry!

The thrones of glory were ruined until you came,

ثُلَّت عُروشُ المَجدِ حَتّى جَئتُمُ

فَبَنَيتُموها بِالظُبى وَالسَمهَري

The thrones of glory succeeded until you came

So you rebuilt them with sharp blades and Samhari spears.

And built them with youth and sword.

A people who flattened the enemy’s land with their steeds,

قَومٌ دَحَوا أَرضَ العَدُوِّ بِخَيلِهِم

وَبَنوا سَماءً فَوقَها مِن عِثيَرِ

A people who conquered the land of the enemy with their horses

And built a sky of dust above it.

And built a heaven above it of eagles.

And when their hands grapple with spears,

وَإِذا تَناوَشَتِ الرِماحَ أَكُفُّهُم

رَكَزوا أَسِنَّتَها بِنَحرِ الأَصعَرِ

And when the spears were mixed together, their palms

They plant the points in the throats of the arrogant.

Thrust its points into the chests of the yellow.

And when stallions swagger in a tight battle,

وَإِذا تَخاطَرَتِ القُرومُ بِمَأزِقٍ

ضَنكٍ رَأَيت وَجوهَهُم كَالأَقمُرِ

And when the warriors were pressed in a tight

You see their faces shining like moons.

Calamitous spot, you saw their faces like the moon.

They took from fortified patience ample armor,

تَخِذوا مِنَ الصَبرِ الحَصينِ سَوابِغاً

أَغناهُمُ عَن جُنَّةٍ أَو مِغفَرِ

They took patient endurance as thick armor

Which sufficed them in place of shield or helmet.

Which enriched them beyond any army or amnesty.

And when the face of unjust fate frowned,

وَإِذا تَعَبَّسَ وَجهُ دَهرٍ قاسِطٍ

ضَحِكوا بِفَكِّ إِسارِ كَفّ المُعسِر

And if the face of unjust time frowned,

They laughed as they broke the bonds of the destitute.

They laughed with the palm of one unable to pay.

Do we not see Abdulaziz, son of those

أَو ما نَرى عَبدَ العَزيزِ اِبنَ الأُلى

أَحيَوا مَآثِرَ سُنَّةِ المُدَّثرِ

Or do we not see Abdulaziz son of the exalted ones

Who revived the glorious traditions of the Cloaked Prophet?

Revive the excellent traditions of the mantled one.

How he ascended in glory to the zenith of heights,

كَيفَ اِرتَقى مَجداً إِلى أَوجِ العُلا

حَتّى لَكادَ بِهِ يُحاذي المُشتَري

How he ascended in glory to the apex of highness

Until he nearly aligned with Jupiter.

Until he almost equaled with it the shining star!

He stripped kingdoms from their owners with resolves

سَلَبَ المَمالِكَ أَهلَها بِعَزائِمٍ

يُنسي مَضاها عَزمَةَ الإِسكَندَرِ

He stripped the kingdoms from their people with resolves

Whose sharpness makes one forget the will of Alexander.

That diminish the resolve of Alexander.

He wore the dust of battle into the fray, for truly

لَبِسَ العَجاجَ إِلى الهياجِ وَإِنَّما

نَيلُ المَعالي في رُكوبِ المَخطَرِ

He donned audacity over caution, and verily

The attainment of high honors lies in riding into danger.

Attaining noble qualities is in undertaking danger.

Kings organized beneath his banner, bowing down

نَظَمَ المُلوكُ لِواءهُ فَتَحَدَّبوا

تَحتَ اللِواءِ تَحَدُّبَ المُستَصغَرِ

The kings joined under his banner jealously

Under the standard with the humility of the belittled.

Gazing under the banner like the debased.

The lion does not roar in his domain;

لا يَزأَرُ اللَيثُ الهِزَبرُ بِجَوِّهِ

وَإِذا تَثاءَبَ وَدَّ لَو لَم يَفغَرِ

The roaring lion does not bellow in his defense,

And if he yawns, he wishes he had not opened his mouth.

And when he yawns he would that he had not opened wide!

How often he led them—horses with lean flanks,

كَم قادَها قُبَّ الأَياطِلِ شُزَّباً

تَدَعُ المَعاقِلَ كَاليَبابِ المُقفِرِ

How he drove the empty ruins ahead in hordes

Leaving strongholds like desolate wastelands.

Leaving the fortresses like a desolate wasteland!

Carrying every lion-hearted warrior with a mane,

يَحمِلنَ كُلَّ غَضَنفَرٍ ذي لُبدَةٍ

وَيَطَأنَ هامَ الأَصيَدِ المُتَجَبِّرِ

Bearing every long-necked one with a mane

And trampling the skulls of the proud tyrants.

And treading the shoulder of the recalcitrant prey.

Seeking shade in the sparks of hooves in battle,

مُتَفَيِّئاً وَهَجَ السَنابِكِ في الوَغى

مُتَقَيِّلاً ظَهرَ الجَوادِ الأَشقَرِ

Sheltered by the fervor of the battlefield in the fray

Napping on the back of a sorrel steed.

Exhausting the back of the blond steed.

Steadfast when dark misfortunes change color,

ثَبتٌ إِذا دُهمُ الخُطوبِ تَلَوَّنَت

يَقِظٌ إِذا لَحَنوا لَهُ لَم يَعتَرِ

Steadfast when the afflictions change color,

Alert; if they speak in riddles to him, he is not confused.

Alert when they sing his praises, he does not notice.

He combined sovereignty, bravery, and generosity,

جَمَعَ السِيادَةَ وَالشَجاعَةَ وَالنَدى

خُلُقٌ لَهُ في مَورِدٍ أَو مَصدَرِ

He combined sovereignty, courage, and softness,

A character innate to him in every coming and going.

A character whose ways whether source or estuary are virtuous.

If he gives, you find only the enriched;

فَإِذا حَبا لَم تَلقَ غَيرَ مُمَوَّلٍ

وَإِذا سَطا لَم تَلقَ غَيرَ مُعَفَّرِ

So if he bestows you will not find any but a loyalist,

If he strikes, you find only those dusted in defeat.

And if he is stern you will not find any but a wretch.

And if you look, you see the finest sight;

وَإِذا نَظَرتَ نَظَرتَ أَحسَنَ مَنظَرٍ

وَإِذا سَمِعتَ سَمِعتَ أَكرَمُ مُخبِرِ

And if you look you look upon the finest looking,

And if you listen, you hear the noblest report.

And if you hear you hear the most honorable speaker.

Thoughts wrestle with how he ascended,

تَتَخالَجُ الأَفكارُ في كَيفَ اِرتَقى

فَتُرَدُّ حاسِرَةً كَأَن لَم تَفكِرِ

Thoughts struggle with how he attained this height,

But they are turned back weary, as if they had not thought at all.

Then return frustrated as if they did not think.

A people from whose core pride branched out,

قَومٌ تَفَرَّعَ مِن صَميمِ فَخارِهِم

وَهَبوا البَرِيَّةَ مَوهِباً لَم يُقدَرِ

A people the cream of whose nobility branched out

Granting creation a gift that cannot be measured.

And gifted mankind with a gift beyond price.

His noble deeds abrogated the noble deeds before him,

نَسَخَت مَكارِمُهُ المَكارِمُ قَبلَهُ

وَلَسَوفَ تَنسَخُ ما يَجي في الغُبَّرِ

Their virtues have superseded past virtues,

And they will abrogate whatever comes in the future.

And will supersede what comes in future times.

So be safe and remain a steadfast pillar for the religion,

فَاِسلَم وَدُم لِلدّينِ رِدءاً ثابِتاً

تَدعو إِلى سُبُلِ السَلامِ الأَكبَرِ

So make peace and remain with lasting devotion

Calling to the paths of the Greatest Peace.

To the religion, calling to the paths of greatest peace,

And repelling the enemies of God in their rage,

وَتَرُدُّ أَعداءِ الإِلهِ بِغَيظِهِم

يَتَجَرَّعونَ كُؤوسَ ذُلٍّ أَحمَرِ

And defeat the enemies of God in their rage,

As they gulp down cups of red humiliation.

As they drink cups of thick red humiliation.

Then blessings upon the Prophet and his family,

ثُمَّ الصلاةُ عَلى النَبِيِّ وَآلِهِ

أَهلِ الكِساءِ وَصَحبِهِ المُتَخَيَّرِ

Then prayers upon the Prophet and his family,

The People of the Cloak and his chosen Companions.

The people of the cloak, and his chosen companions.