أَفادَكَ مَجدَ الدَهرِ صِدقُ العَزائِمِ

وَبَلَّغَكَ العَليا شِفارُ الصَوارِمِ

Has the glory of time benefited you through steadfast determination?

True resolve has won you the glory of the age, And the edges of sharp swords have carried you to the heights.

And has the heights of power been brought to you by the drawing of swords?

For glory is naught but the Divine Law, pardon, and generosity, But if these avail not, then the striking of skulls.

وَما المَجدُ إِلّا الشَرعُ وَالعَفوُ وَالنَدى

فَإِن لَم يُفِد شَيئاً فَضَربُ الجَماجِمِ

Glory is but righteousness, pardon, and benevolence;

None attains the summit save the noble-hearted leader Who, when resolved, heeds not the words of a blamer.

If it brings no benefit, then it is but the striking of skulls.

Such is the Imam of the Muslims, the son of Faisal: Deadly poison to the aggressor, a mercy to the peaceful.

وَما بَلَغَ العَلياءِ إِلّا سَمَيذَعٌ

إِذا هَمَّ لَم يَسمَع مَقالَةَ لائِمِ

None has reached the heights save one intrepid,

A sovereign whom kings shun out of sheer awe, And whom the thick-necked lions of the thicket dread.

Who, when resolved, hears not the words of critics.

He soared to greatness through the sword, hospitality, and bounty, By conquering foes and shunning all things forbidden.

وَذاكَ إِمامُ المُسلِمينَ اِبنُ فَيصَلٍ

سِمامُ المُعادي رَحمَةٌ لِلمُسالِمِ

He is the leader of Muslims, son of Faisal,

How vast the difference between he whose noble striving Is to earn high honors, and he who strives only for silver coins!

A poisoned arrow for enemies, mercy for those resigned.

If the master of glory were to climb the horizon itself, He would boast of his majesty above the stars of the heavens.

مَليكٌ تحاماهُ المُلوكُ مَهابَةً

وَتَرهَبُهُ غُلبُ الأُسودِ الضَراغِمِ

A king whom other kings fear with awe,

How often has he subdued foes in the East and the West, Trampling their sanctuaries with strong, solid-hoofed steeds.

And whose might makes beasts of prey tremble.

The scion of kings who renewed the Faith after Its throne had toppled from its high pillars.

سَما لِلعُلا بِالسَيفِ وَالضَيفِ وَالنَدى

وَقَهرِ الأَعادي وَاِجتِنابِ المَحارِمِ

He attained eminence with sword, hospitality, and benevolence;

Their fame traveled the earth like the course of the sun, Aiding guidance with Mashrafite swords and spears.

Subduing foes and avoiding forbidden acts.

By God! How many obliterated ruins of the world did they rebuild? And how many past noble deeds did they immortalize?

فَشَتّان ما بَينَ الذي جلَّ سَعيُهُ

لِكَسبِ المَعالي وَالذي لِلدَراهِمِ

Great is the difference between one whose toil

You were the most excellent successor to them, After they passed away and rested in the bellies of tombs.

Is for high principles, and one for coins.

Had they been given speech, they would have praised you, And their decayed bones would have proclaimed your thanks.

فَلَو كانَ يَرقى المَجدَ في الأُفق رَبُّهُ

تَبَجَّحَ مَجداً فَوقَ هامِ النَعائِمِ

Had his Lord allowed glory to rise high,

You were ever ready when dire calamities arose, At which lions would squint in a day of dark, dusty battle.

He would have boasted a glory above the stars.

Where the wolf would lose its way, dancing and swaying, And the hungry, ancient vultures would praise the feast.

فَكَم دَوَّخَ الأَعداء شَرقاً وَمَغرِباً

وَداسَ حِماهُم بِالعِتاقِ الصَلادِم

How many enemies did he crush in East and West!

Riding the shoulders of crises when they grew twisted, You aimed for the greatest of them with the resolve of the decisive.

Trampling their sanctity under soldiers' feet.

On short-haired steeds, lean as wolves, worn thin By crossing the deep valleys of the wild and mountain passes.

سَليلُ مُلوكٍ جَدَّدوا الدينَ بَعدَما

هَوى عَرشُهُ مِن عالِياتِ الدَعائِمِ

Scion of kings who renewed religion after

Upon them are youths who, when the battle blazes, Give one another cups of death to drink like water at a trough.

Its edifice fell from lofty pillars.

He ascended with deliberate calm, mounting the steed of glory, A feat that exhausted kings who sought it with ladders.

فَسارَ مَسيرَ الشَمسِ في الأَرضِ ذِكرُهُم

بِنَصرِ الهُدى بِالمَشرَ في وَاللَهاذِمِ

Thus his glory moves like the sun across lands

Forgiving, whenever forgiveness is an act of prudence, Yet a wrathful lion when the adversary acts in ignorance.

Aiding the faith with sword in lands of infidels.

Did you not see a people deluded by his forbearance, Who conjectured thoughts like the confused dreams of a sleeper?

فَلِلَّهِ كَم شادوا مِنَ الدُنيا دارِساً

وَكم خَلَّدوا مِن سابِقاتِ المَكارِمِ

My God! How they destroyed tyranny's dwellings

In their folly, they wished their plotting might harm you, Yet between their aim and its mark lay the severing of throats.

And immortalized countless excellent deeds!

Delusions that surrendered them to humiliation and ruin, And cast them into the bottom of a blazing hell-fire.

وَكنتُ لَهُم نِعمَ الخَليفَةُ بَعدَما

قَضوا وَاِستَكَنّوا في بُطونِ الرَواجِمِ

I was their excellent successor after their death,

When they refused all but schism, you hurled at them A massive army, prowling through the mountain trails.

Lying in tombs amidst empty expanses.

So they ended up either dead, cast upon the ground, Or shackled in the chains of dark, tawny spears.

فَلَو مُكِّنوا أَثنَوا عَلَيكَ وَأَعلَنت

بِشُكرِكَ مِنهُم بالِياتُ الرَمائِمِ

Had they been able, they would have praised you

They lost both this world and their faith, having purchased The humiliation of sin at the cost of praiseworthy piety.

And proclaimed your favors in eloquent verse.

When they witnessed your severity, they fled, Thinking the vast earth as narrow as a ring's band.

وَكنتَ إِذا الأَمر الصَعيبُ تَخازَرَت

بهِ الأُسدُ في يَومٍ من النَقعِ قاتِمِ

Whenever the dire matter confused the lions,

By choice, they sought refuge with the worshippers of the Cross, But they returned with nothing but evil outcomes.

On an ominous day of gloom,

Driven by force in disgrace and abject humility, Biting the tips of their thumbs in rage.

وَضَلَّ بهِ السِرحانُ يَرقُصُ مائِداً

وَتَحمَدُهُ سُغبُ النُسورِ القَشاعِمِ

misleading the wolves to prance triumphantly

They earnestly wish, before this day arrived, That they had drunk cups of adder's poison instead.

While the vultures squawk approval,

And had not reached the day where they gazed upon The faces of death, grinning grimly.

رَكوباً لِأَثباجِ الخُطوبِ إِذا التَوَت

تَيَمَّمتَ كُبراها بِهِمَّةِ حازِمِ

You rode the steeds of resolve when disasters came,

Yet, when they claimed affiliation to the Faith, you welcomed them Like a lover welcoming the most beloved arrival.

Girded with the courage of one decisive.

You supported them after their poverty and destitution, And united them after long periods of conflict.

وَجُردٍ كَأَمثالِ السَراحينِ لاحَها

تَجاوُزُ غيطانِ الفَلا وَالمَخارِمِ

With thoroughbreds like racing steeds, their gleam

Among them are some who were true to their claim— Those are the brothers of purity and compassion.

Transcending the hills of shifting sands and ruins.

They were true to God in the covenant they made With their Imam, acting with constant piety.

عَلَيهِنَّ فِتيانٌ إِذا اِحتَدَمَ الوَغى

تَساقَوا حِياضَ المَوتِ وِردَ الحَوائِم

On them are youths who, when war grew tumultuous,

But among them are others who betrayed their claim, Selling guidance for great, destructive sins.

Vied in courting death and sought glory.

Did the people not learn from what you had done To their fathers in the ancient past?

رَقى بِالهُوَينا فَاِمتَطى صَهوَةَ العُلا

وَأَعيَت مُلوكاً حاوَلوا بِالسَلالِم

You ascended glory's ladder and mounted its pinnacle,

For even before they affiliated themselves to the Faith, You were striking them with calamity's mother.

Exhausting kings who attempted its rungs.

What made them change course, had they but reasoned? But alas, they are bodies housing the minds of beasts.

عَفُوٌّ إِذا ما العَفوُ كانَ حَزامَةً

وَلَيثٌ غَضوبٌ عِندَ جَهلِ المُخاصِمِ

Forgiving when pardon shows strength,

O Imam of Guidance, physical wounds heal over time, But the hidden rancor of souls remains.

A raging lion when faced with ignorant foes.

So never trust the adversary upon whom you have inflicted loss, Even if he shows the smiling face of cheer.

أَلَم تَرَ قَوماً غَرَّهُم مِنهُ حِلمُهُ

فَظَنّوا ظُنوناً مِثلَ أَضغاثِ حالِمِ

Have you not seen people deluded by your forbearance

For in his chest lies anguish from what you have done, And in his heart burns a fire like blazing logs.

To think vain thoughts like a dreamer's delusions?

How often have they sworn a pact only to break it, And how often sworn by God the oath of a sinner?

تَمَنَّوا سَفاهاً أَن يَضُرَّكَ كَيدُهُم

وَمِن دونِ ما رامواهُ حَزُّ الغَلاصِمِ

They foolishly wished their schemes would harm you,

May you remain ever victorious over them and others, Unique in praise among Arabs and non-Arabs alike.

While far from their goal like fettered captives.

And send Your blessings, O God of the Worlds, and peace, Upon the Chosen One, the Elect from the House of Hashim,

مُنىً أَسلَمَتهُم لِلهَوانِ وَلِلرَّدى

وَأَلقَتهُمُ في قَعرِ ضَرّاءِ جاحِمِ

An ill-omened day cast them into disgrace and ruin,

And upon his family and his noble, radiant Companions, The guides of guides, the good and the generous.

Plunging them into the abyss of a raging furnace.

وَلَمّا أَبَوا إِلّا الشِقاقَ رَمَيتَهُم

بِأَرعَنَ جَوّاسٍ خِلالَ المَخارِمِ

When they persisted in schism, you assailed them

With a millstone amidst the fray.

فَأَضحَوا وَهُم ما بَينَ ثاوٍ مُجَندَلٍ

وَآخرَ مَصفودٍ بِسُمرِ الأَداهِمِ

Some lay prostrate, others bound by ropes,

Black as the nights of adversity.

وَقَد خَسِروا وَالدُنيا مَع الدينِ وَاِشتَرَو

بِعِزِّ التُقى المَحمودِ ذُلَّ المَآثِمِ

They lost this world and the true religion, but gained

Honorable piety in place of disgrace.

وَلمّا رَأوا مِنكَ الصَرامَةَ أَدبَروا

يَظُنّونَ رَحبَ الأَرضِ حَلقَةَ خاتِمِ

When they professed the faith, you welcomed them

Like a lover greeting the noblest guest.

وَلاذوا بِعُبّادِ الصَليبِ تَخَيُّراً

فَما اِنقَلَبوا إِلّا بِسوءِ الخَواتِمِ

After poverty and hardship you befriended them

And united them after long discord.

يُساقونَ قَهراً بِالهَوانِ أَذِلَّةً

يَعَضّونَ مِن غَيظٍ رُؤوسَ الأَباهِمِ

Some were true to their professed faith—

Those are brethren of loyalty and compassion.

يَوَدّونَ قَبلَ اليَومِ جِدّاً لَو اِنَّهُم

تَساقَوا كُؤوساً مِن سمامِ الأَراقِمِ

They were truthful to God with whom they pledged obedience—

To their leader of pious constancy.

وَلَم يَبلُغوا اليَومَ الذي نَظَروا به

وجوهَ المَنايا كالِحاتِ المَباسِمِ

Others broke their covenant

And sold guidance for major transgressions.

وَيَومَ اِعتَزَوا لِلدّينِ رَحَّبتُمُ بِهِم

كَتَرحيبِ مَشغوفٍ بِأَفضَلِ قادِم

Why not inform them what you did for their forebears

In days gone by of past eras?

وَواسَيتُموهُم بَعدَ فَقرٍ وَعَيلَةٍ

وَأَلَّفتُموهُم بَعد طولِ تَصادُمِ

Before their conversion you assailed them

With the direst calamities.

فَمِنهُم أُناسٌ صَدَّقوا ما اِعتَزَوا بِه

أولئِك إِخوانُ الصَفا وَالتَراحُمِ

What could be clearer than this, had they but reasoned?

Yet they are brutes in bestial bodies.

هُمُ صَدَقا اللَه الذي عاهَدوا بِهِ

إِمامَهُمُ فِعلَ التَقِيِّ المُلازِمِ

O Imam of Truth, spite disappears with time

While festering souls still harbour hidden rancor.

وَمِنهُمُ أُناسٌ خالَفوا ما اِعتَزَوا بهِ

وَباعو الهُدى بِالموبِقات العَظائِم

Do not trust enemies, though they show

A smiling face that beams like the moon.

فَهلّا أَفاد القَومَ ما قد فَعَلتُمُ

بِآبائِهِم في الغابِرِ المُتَقادِمِ

In their breasts they carry discontent for your deeds,

And in their hearts, the spark of latent embers.

وَأَنت بِهِم مِن قَبلِ وَقتِ اِنتِسابِهِم

إلى الدينِ تَرميهِم بِأُمِّ القَواصِم

How many a vow did they break while swearing it!

How many an oath did they take sinfully!

فماذا بدا فيما عَدا لَو تَعَقَّلوا

وَلكِن جُسومٌ في حُلومِ البَهائِمِ

Still you remained victorious over them and others,

Unique in your glory among Arabs and non-Arabs.

إِمامَ الهُدى تَبرا الكُلومُ على المَدى

وَتَبقى حَزازاتُ النُفوسِ الكَواتِمِ

Pray to God, the Lord of all worlds,

Blessing that chosen one from Hashim's clan,

فَلا تَأمَنِ الضِدَّ الذي قَد وَتَرتَهُ

وَلَو أَنَّهُ أَبدى بَشاشَة باسِمِ

And his noble companions, people of virtue,

And his family—guiding guides of utmost nobility.

قِفي صَدرِهِ مِمّا فَعَلت تَحَرُّجٌ

وَفي قَلبِهِ مِثلُ التِهابِ الضَرائِمِ

فَكَم عاهَدوا عَهداً وَهم يَنقُضونَهُ

وَكَم حَلَفوا بِاللَهِ حَلفَةَ آثِمِ

فَلا زِلتَ مَنصوراً عَلَيهِم وَغَيرِهِم

وَحيدَ الثَنا في عُربِها وَالأَعاجِم

وَصلِّ إلهَ العالَمينَ مُسَلِّماً

عَلى المُصطَفى المُختارِ مِن آلِ هاشِمِ

وَأَصحابِهِ الغُرِّ الكِرامِ وَآلِهِ

هُداةِ الهُداةِ الطَيِّبينَ الأَكارِمِ