عَلِيُّ بَني الفَيّاضِ يَومَ نَوالِهِ

عَلِيُّ بَني الفَيّاضِ يَومَ نَوالِهِ

أَخو الغَيثِ في إِغزارِهِ وَاحتِفالِهِ

أَخو الغَيثِ في إِغزارِهِ وَاحتِفالِهِ

Ali of the sons of al-Fayyad, on the day of his giving,

Ali son of Fayyad on the day of his ascent

Is brother to the rain in his abundant outpouring and profusion.

Brother of abundant rain in its downpour and celebration

إِذا ما بَلَوناهُ حَمِدنا وَإِنَّما

إِذا ما بَلَوناهُ حَمِدنا وَإِنَّما

يَبينُ غَناءُ السَيفِ عِندَ استِلالِهِ

يَبينُ غَناءُ السَيفِ عِندَ استِلالِهِ

Whenever we test him, we praise him; for only

When we tested him, we praised him, and indeed

When it is drawn does a sword's usefulness appear.

The singing of the sword is revealed at its unsheathing

وَزَنّا بِهِ أَخطارَ قَومٍ فَخَفَّضَت

وَزَنّا بِهِ أَخطارَ قَومٍ فَخَفَّضَت

مَواقِعُ مِنهُم عَن تَرَفُّعِ حالِهِ

مَواقِعُ مِنهُم عَن تَرَفُّعِ حالِهِ

We weighed men's worth against him, and down sank

We weighed against him the dangers of a people, so

Their ranks, beneath his lofty station.

His actions humbled their haughty state

جَليلٌ عَنِ الحاجاتِ يَنحونَ نَحوَهُ

جَليلٌ عَنِ الحاجاتِ يَنحونَ نَحوَهُ

فَيَعلَقنَ حَبلاً مُحصَداً مِن حِبالِهِ

فَيَعلَقنَ حَبلاً مُحصَداً مِن حِبالِهِ

He is exalted above needs; they turn toward him,

Sublime, above all needs, they incline towards him

So their needs cling to a tightly twisted rope among his ropes.

To grasp a harvested rope from his ropes

فَلَيسَ بِمَحطوطٍ إِلى دونِ حاجَةٍ

فَلَيسَ بِمَحطوطٍ إِلى دونِ حاجَةٍ

إِذا هُوَ لَم يَغضُض لَها مِن جَلالِهِ

إِذا هُوَ لَم يَغضُض لَها مِن جَلالِهِ

Thus he is not brought low beneath a need,

He is not brought down to anything less than a need

When he himself does not lower his majesty for it.

If he does not diminish his majesty for it

مَتى ما أَعِد نَفسي عَلَيهِ رَغيبَةً

مَتى ما أَعِد نَفسي عَلَيهِ رَغيبَةً

أَكُن آمِناً مِن لِيِّهِ وَاِعتِلالِهِ

أَكُن آمِناً مِن لِيِّهِ وَاِعتِلالِهِ

Whenever I promise myself a generous gift from him,

Whenever I ready my soul towards him desirous

I am safe from his delay and his excuses.

I am safe from his refusing or unwellness

وَلَمّا اِلتَمَستُ جاهَهُ جاءَ تالِياً

وَلَمّا اِلتَمَستُ جاهَهُ جاءَ تالِياً

لِمُستَسلِفٍ مِن سَبقِ مَوهوبِ مالِهِ

لِمُستَسلِفٍ مِن سَبقِ مَوهوبِ مالِهِ

And when I sought his influence, it came afterward

And when I sought his support, he came following

To one who had already received gifts from his wealth.

A bestowed gift from the precedence of his granted wealth

وَلَستُ خَليقاً لِاِنتِفاعٍ تَرومُهُ

وَلَستُ خَليقاً لِاِنتِفاعٍ تَرومُهُ

بِقَولِ اِمرِئٍ لَم يَنتَفِع بِفِعالِهِ

بِقَولِ اِمرِئٍ لَم يَنتَفِع بِفِعالِهِ

Nor am I fit for the benefit you seek

And I am not suited to benefit expected

Through the words of a man who has not benefited from his deeds.

From the words of a man who did not benefit from his actions