ملأَ العصر بل الدهر عُلاً

ثابتُ الحبوةِ طيَّاشُ القلمْ

He filled the age, nay the epoch, with glory,

Steadfast of purpose, deft of pen,

يُظهرُ النَّصرَ لمُستصرخهِ

فاذا ما بذلَ الجودَ كَتمْ

He brings victory to those who implore him,

So when he is open-handed he hides it.

وقَطوبٌ لأحاديثِ الخَنا

فاذا ما قطَّبَ الخطبُ ابتسمْ

And frowns at the prattle of slanderers,

So when prating makes him frown he smiles.

بِشْرهُ والجودُ من راحتهِ

كاشفاً لَيْلَىْ حُظوظٍ وظُلَمْ

Gladden him and munificence is his nature,

Dispelling the gloom of misfortunes and darkness.

حَسدَ الطودُ مزايا حِلْمهِ

مثلما تحسدُ جَدْواهُ الدِّيمْ

The lofty mounts envied the qualities of his clemency,

As their permanent water envies their rains.

قاتلُ الأقْرانِ في معْركَةٍ

وبيوم السلم قتَّالُ العَدمْ

Deadly to his peers in battle,

Yet on days of peace he kills no one.

تشتكي ليلاً وصُبحاً سيْفهُ

هامةُ الذِّمْرِ وحمْراءُ النَّعَمْ

By day and night his sword complains

Of the zebra-hide shield and the red ostrich-leather.

فالمقاري وبَراكاءُ الوَغى

مُلئا منهُ سَديفاً وقِمَمْ

So both steed and foot-soldier in the fray

Are filled with awe of him and dread.

وبعيدٌ عن رِما أعْدائهِ

وهو في الودِّ على البُعْدِ أمَمْ

And he is far from the venom of his foes,

Yet in affection near even to the distant.

ذو حياءٍ حابسٍ مَنْطِقهُ

فاذا جادلَهُ اللُّدُّ خَصَمْ

Modest, reticent of speech,

So when calumny wags its tongue he disputes it.

أحْمدُ الخير اذا سمَّيتهُ

شرفُ الدينِ اذا المجدُ وسَمْ

Ahmad is the best when you name him,

The noblest of the faith when glory brands men.

فوقاهُ اللّهُ أسْبابَ الرَّدى

ما هدى السَّفْرَ إِلى الماءِ عَلَمْ

May God guard him from the roads of destruction

As the star guides travelers to water.