هنيئاً لَكَ الإِقبَالُ واليُمنُ والنُّجحُ
لَقَد جَاءَ نَصرُ اللهِ إذ جئت وَالفَتحُ
Congratulations on your prosperity, auspiciousness, and success!
Indeed, God's victory has come with your arrival and the conquest.
قَضَى اللهُ أن تَسعَى لإِحيَاءِ دِينِهِ
فَتَفعَل مَا لا يَفعَلُ السَّيفُ والرُّمحُ
God has decreed that you strive to revive His religion,
Accomplishing what cannot be done by sword or spear.
وَقدّرَ أن تُبلَى عَلَى مَشهد الوَرَى
سَريرَتُكَ الفُضلَى وَآراؤُكَ السُّجحُ
He has ordained that you wear yourself out before all people
With your excellent character and esteemed views.
وَأن يَتَقَاضَى مَوضِعَ النَّصرِ فِي العِدَا
حَفِيظٌ عَلَى الإِسلامِ مُؤتَمَنٌ سَمحُ
An ally for Islam has assumed the position of victory over the enemy,
One who is devoted to safeguarding it, trustworthy and tolerant.
فَوَفّقَ مَا تَنوِي وَسَدّدَ مَا تَرَى
وَيَسَّر مَا تَأتي وقَرَّبَ مَا تَنحُو
So may He facilitate your every intention and steady your vision,
Make easy your every deed and bring near your every goal.
أرادَكُمُ أَدفُونشُ بالغَدرِ قادحاً
زِنَادَ هِياجٍ لَم يُعِنهُ بِهَا القَدحُ
Adonsh intended to strike with treachery, igniting
The sparks of incitement, but incitement availed him not.
وَأبدَى بِبِيضِ الهِندِ بَيضَةَ مُلكِهِ
فَمُزِّق عَنها القَيضُ واستُرِطَ المُحًُّ
He revealed the egg of his kingdom in India’s ivory,
So it was shattered and its yolk spilled forth.
أتَى في جُموع الرُّومِ تَنوِي بِزَعمِهَا
لأندَلُسٍ كَسحاً فَكانَ بِهَا الكَسحُ
He came against Andalusia with hordes of Romans, intending, in his claim,
To kick it down, but it was he who received the kick.
بِمَا كَالحَصَى عَدّاً وَكَالشُّهبِ عِدَّةً
تَضَاءَلَ عَنهَا السَّهبُ وَالوَهدُ والسَّفحُ
As numerous as pebbles, as abundant as shooting stars,
They were diminished before the torrent, abyss, and mountainside.
أطَلَّ عَلَيهِم نَاصِرُ الدِّينِ فَانثَنَوا
وَبَأوُهُمُ صُغرٌ وَزأرُهُمُ نَبّحُ
The defender of the faith appeared before them, so they recoiled,
Whimpering, their howling that of yelping dogs.
وَخَرَّت جِبَالٌ مِنهُمُ صَدَمُوا بِهَا
عَزيمَتَهُ نَطحاً فَأَرداهُمُ النَّطحُ
Mountains of them collapsed when they collided with
His resolute onslaught, so they were gored by the goring.
فَقُل لِعَمِيدِ الشِّركِ هَل نُصِرَ العِدَا
وَهَل حَلّت البُشرَى وَهَل عَظُمَ المَنحُ
Say to the commander of polytheism, “Was the enemy given victory?
Did good tidings come? Did kindness abound?”
وَهَل أُدرِكَ الثّأرُ المُنِيمُ لَدَيكُمُ
وَهَل رُدَّت النُّعمَى وَهَل أُسِيَ الجَرحُ
“Was long-awaited vengeance achieved against you?
Were blessings returned? Did wounds heal?"
أَلَم يَلتَئِم مِن فورِهِ ذَلِكَ الثَّأَى
أَلَم يَندَمِل مِن حِينِهِ ذَلكَ القَرحُ
"Did that rift not immediately mend?
Did that ulcer not swiftly scar over?"
كَتَبتَ سُطورَ الظِّنِّ فِي مهرَقِ العَرَا
فَخَانَكَ مِنهَا مَا تُقِرُّ وَمَا تَمحُو
You traced out presumptions in vanishing ink,
So what you affirmed and erased both betrayed you.
ولاقَيتَ مِن دُونِ الأَمَانِي خَلِيفَةً
بدِيهَتُه وَحيٌ وَعَزمَتُهُ لَمحُ
Instead of vain hopes, you met their antithesis:
His insight is revelation, his will decisive lightning flashes.
ألا إنَّهُ المَلكُ الَّذِي لَم يَسِر إِلَى
مَدَى أمَلٍ إلاّ وَسَايَرَهُ النُّجحُ
Behold, he is the king who, in pursuit of any aspiration,
Was accompanied by success at every step.
يُقَاتِلُ عَنهُ الطَّمُّ والرِّمّ مَن عَصَى
وَيَغزُو لَهُ فِي المُلتَقَى الرِّيحُ والضِّحُّ
Hot wind and pelting rain fight those who disobey him,
While soft breeze and bright sun assist his raids.
وَقَد عَرَّفتَكَ الحَربُ قَدرَكَ عِندَهُ
ولا جِدَّ مِن بَعدِ العِيَانِ ولا مَزحُ
War has shown you your standing with him;
After witnessing, there is no more jesting or foolery.
فَكَيفَ تَرَى بَعدَ اعتِرَافٍ وخِبرَةٍ
أهَيجَاؤُهُ أشهَى إلَيكَ أمِ الصُّلحُ
How then, after admitting and knowing this,
Do you see incitement as more alluring than making peace?
وَلَمّا رَأيتَ الأُسدَ تَأوِي مِنَ القَنَا
إِلَى أُجُمٍ لا الضَّالُ مِنهَا ولا الطَّلحُ
When you saw the lion take cover from spears
In a thicket where neither lost nor grazing cattle venture,
فَرَرتَ وجِنحُ اللَّيلِ دِرعٌ مُفاضَةٌ
عَلَيكَ وأوقَى جُنَّةِ الهَارِبِ الجِنحُ
You fled while the wings of night were a copious armor upon you
And the canopy of the fugitive’s stars gave you shelter.
وَخَلَّوكَ لا شُحاً عَلَيكَ مِنَ الرَّدَى
وَلَكِن عَلَى أرماقِ خَيلِهِمُ شَحوا
Not out of stinginess toward you did they let you go,
But because they were sparing of their steeds’ strength.
فَصِرتَ طِرِيداً لِلخلافَةِ لائِذاً
تَضِيقُ بِكَ الدُّنيا وَيَذعَرُكَ الصُّبحُ
So you became an outcast of the caliphate, finding refuge,
While the world tightens around you and dawn startles you,
بِأدنَى رَذَاذٍ مِن غُيُومِ انتِقَامِهِم
غَرِقتَ فَمَا يُدرِيكَ وَيحَكَ إن سَحّوا
At the slightest drizzle from the clouds of their vengeance.
You drowned, oblivious of whether they will be forgiving or punish.
فَإن رَشَحَت مِن بَعدِهَا لَكَ بَلَّةٌ
مِنَ العَيشِ لَم يَنجَع بِهِ ذَلِكَ الرَّشحُ
And if some further affliction befalls you after this,
That shower will not avail to relieve your life.
أقَمتُم عَلَى أمصَارِهِ سوقَ فِتنَةٍ
فكَانَ عَلَيكُم خُسرُهَا وَلَهُ الرِّبحُ
You have set up in his cities a market of sedition,
So its loss was yours while the profit was his.
وَأطغَاكُمُ ظِلُّ الهُدُونِ وَبَردُهُ
فأَدَّبَكُم حَرُّ المَعَارِكِ وَاللَّفحُ
The shadow of the Hudun blinded and chilled you,
So the heat of fierce combat disciplined you with burning.
وَهِجتُم لِكَي تُنحُوا عَلَى الثَّغرِ هَيجَةً
فَنَاحَ صَدَى أروَاحِكُم قَبلَ أَن تُنحُوا
You surged recklessly to attack the frontier,
But the echo of your spirits’ groaning preceded your surging.
غَزَاكُم أمِيرُ المُؤمِنِينَ بِعَسكَرٍ
يُشيِّعُهُ نَصرٌ وَيقدُمُهُ فَتحُ
The Commander of the Faithful attacked you with an army
Escorted by victory, preceded by conquests.
وَفِي حَشوِهِ نَبعٌ لِوَابِلِ نَبلِهِ
عَلَى الرُّومِ فِي الظّلماءِ نقعُ الوَغَى سَحّ
In its multitudes is a source for the downpour of its arrows
Upon the Romans in darkness—the havoc-wreaking wine is poured.
تَمَشّى عَلَى أَعقَابِها الخَيلُخَشيَةً
لَهَا فَكَأَنّ الرَّكضَ فِي جَنبِهَا كَبحُ
Their steeds walked behind them in dread,
As though galloping alongside them would exhaust them.
وبِيضٍ جَلاهَا الصَّقلُ حَتَّى تَشَابَهَت
فَلَم يَستَبِن لِلعَينِ حَدٌّ ولا صَفحُ
With polished white blades they resembled each other,
So that neither edge nor side could be distinguished.
فَأمسَى نَثِيرُ السَّردِ عَن سَبَرَاتِهَا
عَلَى الأَرضِ مَفضوضاً كَمَا بُدّد المِلحُ
The horse armor was strewn upon the ground shredded,
Like salt scattered.
وسُمرٍ كِثِيرٍ في الدّماءِ وُرُودُهَا
وَلَكِن بِهَا مِن شُربِهَا ظَمَأ بَرحُ
There was much bloodshed, yet with it they thirsted for more blood,
Though drinking only increased their thirst.
فَكانَ لَهَا فِي الأَربِعَاءِ مَرارة
مِنَ الدّم ريٌّ بالأَسِنّةِ لا تَضحو
So for them on Wednesday there was the bitterness
Of blood irrigating tongues that do not praise.
وشدّت إلَيهَا الخًَيلُ وَهي مُشيحَةٌ
فَصُدَّت وَمِن وَقعِ الرِّمَاحِ بِهَا رمحُ
The horses charged them while they grimaced,
So they were repelled, and their spears' blows repelled them.
فقلّص آل الشِّركِ ذيلَ غُرورِهِ
وَسَيلُ الجِيَادِ المُحضَرات بِهِ يَدحُو
The progeny of polytheism diminished the train of their arrogance,
While the onrush of the thoroughbreds, goaded by it, surged.
وَغَارَت نُجُومُ الكُفرِ شَرَّ مُغارِها
أمَامَ شُعَاعِ الشَّمسِ لَمّا بَدَا الصُّبحُ
The stars of unbelief completely disappeared
Before the rays of the sun when dawn shone.
وَيوشِكُ إِن أَبصَرتَهُ عِندَ لَمحِها
يُجَلّي دُجَى ظَلمَائِها ذَلِكَ اللّمحُ
Soon—if you but glimpse it in flashing—
That gleam will dispel the darkness of their gloom.
وَلَكِنّها تَعمَى القُلُوبُ فلا تَرَى
وَتَسكُنُ أفهَامُ النُّفوسِ فلا تصحُو
But hearts are blinded so they do not see,
And souls’ minds fall silent so they do not awaken.
فَيَا قُبحَ هَاتِيكَ المَصَارِعِ بِالفلا
وَيَا حُسنَ مَا سَنّى لَنَا ذَلِكَ اللّمحُ
How ugly are those fallen in battle!
How excellent is the prospect shaped for us by that gleam!
فإن عُدتُمُ لِلحَرب عَادَتلِشَأنِهَا
تَعَضُّكُمُ بِالبُؤسِ أنيَابُهَا القُلحُ
If you return to war, it will rend you with its fangs.
Those divorced by its swords and spears have had enough.
وَحَسبُكُمُ مَا طَلَّقَت مِن نِسَائِهَا
طلاقَ بَتَاتٍ سَنّهُ السَّيفُ وَالرُّمحُ
Their temples turned white; their nursing dried up,
Lest in some nurse's breast there still be milk.
فَشَابَت نَوَاصِيهَا وَجَفّت لِبَانُهَا
حذاراً فَما فِي ثَدي مُرضِعَةٍ نَشحُ
They will sigh with anguish or slap their cheeks,
Their faces red, their voices crying.
تَوَجَّعُ نَوحاً أَو تَصُكُّ مَحَاجِراً
فَأوجُهُهَا حُمرٌ وَأصوَاتُهَا بُحُّ
So fear the Trustee of God in peace and war;
Steer the remnants of treachery away from him.
فَخَافُوا أمِينَ اللهِ فِي السِّلمِ وَالوَغَى
وَنحّوا بَقايَا الغَدرِ عَن صَوبِهِ نَحّوا
You have no independence from obeying him,
Nor in the sea of his dominion can you swim.
فَمَا لَكُمُ عَن بَذلِ طَاعَتِهِ غِنى
ولا لَكُمُ فِي بَحرِ سَطوَتِهِ سَبحُ
The rituals of the true religion are clear through him;
No other true ritual exists but his sacrifices.
مَنَاسِكُ دِينِ الحَقِّ وَاضِحَةٌ بِهِ
فلا نُسكُ حَقٍّ فِي سِوَاه ولا ذِبحُ
The festivals of this opening are brilliant, so no
Monasteries’ celebrations follow them, nor Easter.
وَأعيَادُ هَذَا الفَتحِ بَاهِرَةٌ فَلا
شَعانِينُ دَيرٍ بَعدَهُنّ ولا فَصحُ
O delegation, enter the presence of approval!
Abundant blessings and gifts will inundate you!
ألا أيُّهَا الوَفدُ ادخُلُوا حَضرَةَ الرِّضَى
تَفِض لَكُمُ النُّعمَى وَيغمُرُكُم مَنحُ
Greet an Imam whose traits include wisdom,
Kindness, forbearance, and pardon.
فَحَيُّوا إِمَاماً مِن خَلائِقِهِ الحِجَى
وَمِن عَادِهِ الإِحسَانُ وَالحِلمُ وَالصَّفحُ
A truthful successor, born of predecessors,
whose mention spreads fragrance whenever they are recalled.
خَلِيفَة صِدقٍ أنجَبَتهُ خَلائِفٌ
لِمِسكِ ثَناهُم كُلَّمَا ذُكِرُوا نَفحُ
The horizons shone with good tidings through him and were illuminated,
So they came to dwell in light, and light became more lucid.
أنَارَت بِهِ الآفَاقُ بِشراًُ وَنَوَّرَت
فَأمسَوا بِهَا فِي النّورِ وَالنُّورُ أوضحُ
May prosperity inclusive of him endure,
And may blessings continue to tend toward his inclinations!
فَدَامَت لَهُ النَّعمَاءُ شامِلَةً بِهِ
ولا بَرِحَت تَنحو المَقَادِيرُ مَا يَنحُو
Had he not prohibited, the world would have had no prohibitions,
And had he not guided, the guides would have achieved no feats.
فَلَولا نُهاهُ لَم يَكُن لِلوَرَى نُهىً
وَلَولا هُدَاهُ لَم يَفُز لِلهُدَى قِدحُ
So may his blessings last, encompassing him,
And may the divine decrees never cease tending as he tends!
