هجَمَ الصَّبَاحُ فَأيْنَ يَا لَيْلُ المَفَرْ

وَجِيَادُهُ بِالنَّصْرِ وَاضِحَةُ الغُرَرْ

Morning attacked, where are you O night of escape,

And its steeds of victory have clear deceit.

أوَ مَا تَرَاهُ نَضَا لِحَربِكَ يَا دُجَى

عَضْباً صَقِيلاً كَادَ يَخْتَطِفُ البَصَرْ

Or do you not see it as suitable for your war O darkness,

A polished blade that almost snatched the sight.

وَدَعَا إلَيْكَ وَقَدْ أمَاطَ لِثَامَهُ

كَاللَّيْثِ كَشَّرَ للفَرِيسَةِ وَاكْفَهَرْ

And called you and uncovered his garb,

Like a lion, he exposed his fangs and growled.

فَالْجَأ لِذِمَّةِ فَرْعِهِ مُسْتَسْلِماً

وَدَعِ العِنَادَ فما العِيانُ كما الخَبَرْ

So seek refuge in the protection of its branches surrendered,

And leave stubbornness for seeing is not like hearing.

لا تَغْتَرِرْ وَتَرَى الهَزِيمَةَ مَغْنَماً

فَطَلاَئِعُ الإصبَاحِ خُصَّتْ بِالظَّفَرْ

Do not be deceived and see defeat as war booty,

For the dawn vanguards were endowed with victory.

وَكَحيلَةِ الأجْفَانِ لَوْلاَ لحظُهَا

لَمْ أدْرِ أنّ الغنجَ يُمْزَحُ بِالحَوَرْ

And like the kohl of eyelids, were it not for its glance,

I would not know that the eye is jested with love.

قَسَماً وَلَوْلاَ شَعْرُهَا وَجَبِينُهَا

لَمْ أدْرِ أنَّ الشَّمْسَ تَطلعُ فِي السَّحَرْ

By God, were it not for her hair and her forehead,

I would not know the sun rises at dawn.

إيهٍ وَلَوْلاَ نَبْتُ سَالِفِ خَدّهَا

لَمْ أدْرِ أنَّ الآسَ يَنْبتُ فِي الشَّرَرْ

Alas, were it not for the growth of her cheek’s moles,

I would not know that myrtle grows on hot ashes.

شَمْسٌ عَلَى الأرْدَافِ أرْخَتْ شَعْرَهَا

لِتُرِيكَ أنّ المسكَ فِي الوَرْدِ انْتَشَرْ

A sun over buttocks let down her hair,

To show you that musk is spread in roses.

وَلَوَتْ عَلَى الوَجَنَاتِ سَالِفَ عَنْبَرٍ

فَحَمَتْ بِعَقْرَبِ صدغِهَا وردَ الخَفَرْ

It twisted over cheeks a twisted amber,

So it hugged with the mole of its temple and the guards of the dawn.

وَأرَتْ بِلاَلَ الخَالِ يرقبُ فِي دُجَى

لَيْلِ العذَارِ صبيحَ مبسمهَا الأغرْ

And it showed the moles of the cheek waiting in the darkness,

Of the virgin night, the smile of its white face.

يَا ظبيةَ الوَعْسَاءِ يَا برءَ الأسَى

يَا مَطْمَحَ الأهوَاءِ يَا قيدَ النَّظَرْ

O gazelle of sadness, O cure of anguish,

O hope of passions, O captor of sight.

أظُبَى جُفُونِكِ أمْ ظِبَا عينيك قَدْ

تَركَا الفؤَاد أسِيرَ تخييل الفِكَرْ

Are your eyelids gazelles or your eyes gazelles that,

Left the heart a prisoner imagining thought?

فَإذَا نَفَرْتِ نَفَرْتِ عَنْ عَيْنِ المَهَا

وَإذَا سَفَرْتِ سَفَرْتِ عَنْ وَجْهِ القَمَرْ

So when you avert, you avert from the spring of splendor,

And when you travel, you travel from the face of the moon.

وَإذَا مَحَاسِنُك انْطَوتْ فِيكِ فَعَنْ

عَلْيَا أبِي يَحْيَى الثنَاءُ قَدِ انْتَشَرْ

And when your beauties withdraw into you, praise is upon,

My father Abu Yahya spread.

العَادِلُ المَلِكُ الَّذِي كُشِفَتْ بِهِ

عَنْ فِكْرَةِ الدُّنْيَا مَخَايِيلُ الغِيَرْ

The just king whom worries of life,

Were uncovered with, and imaginations of others dispersed.

والنَّيِّرُ الأعْلَى الإمَامُ المُرْتَضَى

ذُو المبسمِ الوَضَّاحِ وَالوَجْهِ الأغَرْ

And the pure, highest, desired Imam,

With bright smile and white face.

بَدرٌ لَهُ وَجْهٌ تَجَلَّلَ بِالحَيَا

إذْ هَلَّ مِنْ كَفَّيْهِ مَا عَمَّ البَشَرْ

A full moon whose face dignity adorned,

When it unveiled what covered people.

وَصَبَاحُ رشدٍ مَا اسْتَنَارَ بِرَأيِهِ

مُتَحَيِّرٌ إلاَّ وَشَاهَدَ مَا اسْتَتَرْ

And dawn of righteousness, none despaired of his opinion,

Except the perplexed who saw what was hidden.

وَهِزَبْرُ بأسٍ مَا تَقَلَّدَ سَيْفَهُ

إلاّ وَفَارَ دَمُ المُعَانِدِ وَانْهَمَرْ

And experienced courage none adorned his sword,

Except flees the blood of the hostile and flows.

سَاسَ الأمُورَ فَأنْجَبَتْ بِمُؤيَّد

شَاءَ الإلهُ ظُهُورَهُ فَلِذَا ظَهَرْ

He managed affairs so his support begot,

As God willed its appearance so it appeared.

وَبِنَفْسِهِ خَاضَ الحِمَامَ وَبَحْرُهُ

مُتَلاَطِمُ الأمْوَاجِ يَرْمِي بِالشَّرَرْ

And with himself he plunged into battle, and his sea,

With clashing waves casts sparks.

وَأتَى لِتُونسَ في حِمَى العَالِي الَّذِي

هُوَ مُحْكِم الآرَا وَمِفَتاحُ الظَّفَرْ

And came to Tunis in the protection of the Exalted,

Who firmly decides and holds the key to victory.

وَسَعَى إلَيْهَا جَارِياً كَالطَّيْرِ إذْ

نَظَرَ القَنِيصَ اشْتَدَّ وَاتَّبَعَ الأثَرْ

And he hurried to it running like a bird when,

It saw prey become intense and followed the trace.

وَسَرَى سُرَى النجمِ المُعَدّ لِرَمْيِ مَنْ

قَدْ جَاءَ مُسْتَرِقاً لِيَسْتَمِعَ الخْبَرْ

And flowed like the star destined to shoot whoever,

Came secretly listening to news.

وَاسْتَعْمَلَ الأوْرَادَ فِي خَلَوَاتِهَا

وَاسْتَصْحَبَ الصلحَاءَ جَيْشاً فَانْتَصَرْ

And recited litanies in its isolation,

And accompanied the righteous an army so he won.

وَبِجَفْنِهَا قَدْ حَلَّ مِنْهُ طَارِقٌ

طَرَقَتْ بِهِ الخَيْرَاتُ في وَقْتِ السحرْ

And with its eyelid a visitor came down from it,

At dawn the blessings knocked.

وَأتَى لأخْذِ الثأرِ فِي الوَقْتِ الَّذِي

حَكَمَ القَضَاءُ لَهُ بِمَا أجْرَى القَدَرْ

And came to take revenge at the time,

Judgment ruled for him however destiny flowed.

فِي فتيةٍ كَالزُّهْرِ إنْ عُدُّوا فَهُمْ

عَدَدُ الثُّرَيَّا وَهْوَ بَيْنَهُمُ قَمَرْ

Among young men like flowers, if counted they are,

The number of Pleiades and it is the moon between them.

فَثَنَتْ إلَيْهِ عِطفَهَا وَتَمَنَّعَتْ

بِذُيُولِهِ وَقَضَتْ بِطَلْعَتِهِ وَطَرْ

So it inclined its affection to him and was shy,

With its trains and was pleased with its rising and good fortune.

وَدَعَتْهُ أهْلاً بِالحَبِيبِ وَمَرْحَباً

أنْتَ المليكُ المُسْتَغَاثُ المُنْتَظَرْ

And called him welcome O loved one and greetings,

You are the precious king, the aided, the awaited.

فَأحَاطَ حَوْزَتَهَا وَسَكَّنَ رَوْعَهَا

وَأقَرَّ نَاظِرَهَا وَأوْسَعَهَا بِدَرْ

So he protected its territory and calmed its fear,

And settled its onlooker and widened it with full moon.

وَدَعَا إلَيْهِ أهْلَهَا فَتَسَارَعُوا

طوعاً لما عنهُ نَهَى وَبِهِ أمَرْ

And called its family so they hurried,

Obedient to what he forbade and ordered.

وَتَصَارَخُوا وَتَحَالَفُوا وَتَعَاقَدُوا

أَنْ لَيْسَ يتركُ نصرَهُ مِنْهُمْ بَشَرْ

And they screamed and allied and contracted,

That no human would abandon supporting it.

فَأنَالَهُمْ مَا يرتضَوُنَ منَ العَطَا

وَكَفَاهُمُ مَا يَخْتَشُونَ مِنَ الضَّرَرْ

So he gave them what they approve of gifts,

And sufficed them from what they fear of harm.

هَذَا هُوَ الفَتْحُ الَّذِي فُتْحَتْ لَهُ

بَابُ السَّمَا بالإنْتِصَارِ وَبِالظُّفَرْ

This is the victory with which the gates of sky opened,

With triumph and victory.

وَبِهِ البَسِيطَةُ مَهِّدَتْ وَاسْتَبْشَرَتْ

بوقيعةٍ هِيَ عِبْرةٌ لِمَنِ اعْتَبَرْ

And Basra was paved with it and rejoiced,

With an admonition that advises who learns.

آوَى لِمَرْكَزِهِ العَلِيّ فَلَن تَرَى

مِنْهُ أجَلَّ وَلاَ أعَزَّ وَلاَ أسَرّ

He stayed at his high position so you will never see,

One more majestic, dearer, or concealed than him.

وَأقَام ركن الملكِ بَعْد وُقُوِعِهِ

وبَنَى أسَاس عَمُودِهِ لَمَّا دثَرْ

And he established the pillar of the kingdom after its demise,

And built the foundation of its pillar when it crumpled.

وأنَارَ مِنْ أفْقِ الخِلاَفَةِ مَا دَجَا

وَأبَانَ في العَلْيَا مَآثِرَ مَنْ غَبَرْ

And illuminated from the horizon of the caliphate what darkened,

And clarified in the Hijaz the traces of one covered in dust.

وَأعَادَ فيضَ المَا لِمَجْرَاهُ وَلاَ

بِدْعَ لِمَاءٍ قَدْ صفَا بعدَ العَكَرْ

And returned the abundance of water to its course without,

Seeking water that had become pure after turbidity.

وَإلَيْهِ عَادَ الأمْرُ بَعْدَ ذَهَابِهِ

عَنْهُ وكَانَ العَوْدُ أحْمَدَ مُنْتَظَرْ

And command returned to him after leaving him,

And returning was most anticipated.

ورث الخِلاَفَةَ كَابراً عَنْ كَابِرٍ

وَبِقُدْرَةِ البَارِي تَعَزَّزَ وَاقْتَدَرْ

He inherited the caliphate from another senior,

And was strengthened and empowered by the Powerful’s power.

وَدَعَا بِثَأرِ وَلِيِّهَا من غَاصِبٍ

غصبَ الخِلاَفَةَ ثُمَّ خَلاَّهَا وَفَرّ

And sought vengeance of his successor from an usurper,

Who usurped the caliphate then left and escaped.

وَهَل الخِلاَفَة غَيْر ميرَاثٍ لَهُ

وَالحَقُّ لا يَخْفَى وَإنْ يُخْفَ ظَهَرْ

Is the caliphate other than his inheritance,

And the truth does not disappear even if hidden, it appears.

وَاللَّهُ يُؤْتِي ملكَهُ مَنْ شَاءَهْ

وَهْوَ المُدَبِّرُ مَنْ أقَامَ منَ الصُّوَرْ

And God gives His rule to whom He wills,

And He is the Manager of what shapes forms.

ذَا غَرْسَةُ البَارِي القديرِ وَمَنْ يَرُمْ

قَلْعاً لما غَرَسَ الإلهُ فقَدْ كَفَرْ

This is the sprout of the Capable and Powerful, and whoever aims,

To uproot what God planted has disbelieved.

مَلِكٌ يُجِيبُ سُؤَالَ كُلّ مُؤَمِّلٍ

وَيجيرُ من خَطْبِ الخطوبِ إذَا خَطَرْ

A king who answers the hopes of every hopeful,

And protects from formidable events when they occur.

فَإلَى سنَاهُ البَدْرُ فِي اللَّيْلِ التَجَا

وَإلَى ندَاهُ الغيثُ في المَحْلِ افْتَقَرْ

So the full moon in darkness and the rain in drought,

Yearn for his aid.

مَا رَامَ صعبَ المُرْتَقَى إِلاَّ ارْتَقَى

بسُهُولَةٍ أرْقَى المَرَاقِي فَاسْتَقَرّ

What his spears sprouted with resolve,

Only because the branch is loved for its fruit.

مُتَيَقِّظُ العَزَمَاتِ لَكِن سَيْفه

قَدْ قَامَ في جفنِ الأمَانِ بِهِ وَقَرْ

No, its white lightning did not shine,

Except to burn with rays whoever betrayed.

إنْ هَبَّ فِي الهَيْجَاءِ هبَّةَ ثَائِرٍ

هَبَّتْ رِيَاحٌ لَيْسَ تُبْقِى أوْ تَذَرْ

O you who wishes to attain parity with its heights,

Fall short for the eye cannot match the trace.

وَإذَا عَلاَ فِي المَجْدِ أعْلَى غَايَةِ

قَالَتْ لَهُ النَّفْسُ الأبِيَّةُ لاَ وَزَرْ

Who can measure the full moon with stars? And who

Can claim pebbles equal pearls?

قَاسُوا نَدَاهُ بِالحِسَابِ فَأخْطَأوا

أيُقَاسُ طُوفَانُ المَكَارِمِ بِالمَطَرْ

Or who says the sun is like sparks,

Or who sees mugwort as equal to flowers?

وَكَذَاك قَالُوا اللَّيْثُ يَحْكِيهِ وَهَلْ

لِلَّيْثِ فِي الهَيْجَا قُوَى العَضْبِ الذَّكَرْ

Your steps fell short and these are lofty ways,

To be followed by a riding idea or sight.

يَرْوِي عطَاءٌ عَنْ نَدَاهُ حديثَهُ

وَلْوَجهِهِ يُعْزَى ابن وضَّاح الأغَرْ

Perfect essence, insightful opinion,

Supported hand, and considerable saying.

ملكٌ إذَا حَلَّ المُلُوكُ بِمَوْرِدٍ

وَنَحَاهُ لاَ يَرِدُونَ إلاَّ إنْ صَدَرْ

I seek refuge for him in dawn, daylight,

Sun, night journey, Originator, and groups.

فَإذَا اسْتُغِيثَ غمَامُ رَاحَتِهِ سَقَى

وَإذَا انْتَصَرْتَ بِبَأسِ عزمته نَصَرْ

My Master O cave of kings and who contains,

Ferocity that lions submit to and belittle.

مَا أثْمَرَتْ بالهامِ سُمْرُ رمَاحه

إلاّ لأنَّ الغصنَ يُعْشَقُ بِالثمَرْ

O Kaaba of favors and the favor that,

Purified the efforts of those who visited it.

كَلاَّ وَلاَ لَمَعَتْ بَوَارِقُ بِيضِهِ

إلاّ لتَحْرقَ بِالأشعَّةِ مَنْ غَدَرْ

You usurped the caliphate defending not usurping,

And truthfully the precious heritage inherited you.

يَا من يَرُوم لحَاقَ شَأوِ عَلاَئِهِ

أقْصِرْ فَلَيْسَ العَيْنُ تَلْحَقُ بِالأثَرْ

And restored in us an Umarite conduct,

Or is not your grandfather Abu Yahya Umar?

مَنْ ذَا يَقِيسُ البَدرَ بِالعَوَّا وَمَنْ

ذَا يَدَّعِي أن الحصى مِثْلُ الدرَرْ

Thank your Generous Master for whoever,

Thanked God He increases however much thanked.

أوْ مَنْ يَقُولُ الشَّمْسُ كالشِّعْرَى سَناً

أوْ مَنْ يَرَى أن الكَلاَ مِثْلُ الزَّهَرْ

Reward Ibn al-Khalouf for his praise and fulfill,

What he hopes and treat him with good care.

قَصُرَتْ خُطَاكَ وَهَذِهِ طُرُقٌ عَلَتْ

أن تُقْتَفَى بِمَطِيّ وَهْمٍ أوْ نَظَرْ

Make peace and continue goodness for Muslims for they,

In the shade of your glory attained watering.

ذَاتٌ مُكَمَّلَةٌ وَرَأيٌ مُنْجِبٌ

وَيَدٌ مُؤَيَّدَةٌ وَقَوْلٌ مُعْتَبَرْ

So for you are safety, prestige, happiness,

And for you are fortune, eternity, and stability.

إنِّي أعَوّذُهُ بطَهَ والضحى

والشمس والإسرا وفاطرَ والزُّمر

Al-Qumri did not sing in branches and no,

Garden bride was adorned in dress of flowers.

مَوْلاَي يَا كَهْفَ المَلُوكِ وَمنْ حَوَى

بأساً تَذلّ لَهُ الأسُود وَتحتقَرْ

يَا كَعْبَةَ الإفضَالِ وَالفَضْل الَّذِي

أزْكَى مَسَاعِي مَنْ بِخِدْمَتِهِ اعْتَمَرْ

حُزْتَ الخِلاَفَةَ عَاصِباً لاَ غَاصِباً

وَالحَقُّ وَرَّثَكَ النفيسَ المُدَّخَرْ

وأعدتَ فِينَا سيرةً عُمَرِيَّةً

أو لَيْسَ جدكَ يَا أبَا يَحْيَى عُمَرْ

وَاشْكرْ لمَوْلاَك الكَرِيمِ فَإنَّ مَنْ

شَكَرَ لإلهَ يَزِيدُه مَهْمَا شَكَرْ

وَأجِزْ مَدِيح ابن الخلوف ووفِّه

مَا يَرْتَجِيهِ وأوْلِهِ حُسْن النَّظَرْ

واسْلَمْ ودُمْ لِلْمُسْلِمِين فَإنَّهُمْ

فِي ظِلّ عِزِّك أدْرَكُوا نَيْلَ الوَطَرْ

فَلَكَ السَّلاَمَةُ وَالكَرَامَةُ والهَنَا

وَلَكَ السَّعَادةُ وَالبَقَا وَالمُسْتقَرْ

مَا غَرَّدَ القُمْرِيُّ فِي فَنَنٍ وَمَا

جُلِيَتْ عَرُوسٌ الرَّوضِ في حُلَلِ الزَّهَرْ