أَيُّ شراعٍ لأَيِّ بحرِ

وأَيُّ كِسْفٍ لأَيِّ بَدْرِ

What sail for what sea,

What full moon for what sky,

وأَيُّ شمسٍ تجلَّلَتْها

طُرَّةُ صُبْحٍ سَعَتْ بفجرِ

What sun dawned and shone,

In the light of early morn.

ظِلّاً لمن مَدَّ ظلَّ أَمْنٍ

فِي كل أَرضٍ وكل ثغرِ

Providing shade for one who spread shade

Of safety in every land and every border,

وسِتْرَ صَوْنٍ لوجهِ مولىً

بِهِ رعى اللهُ كلَّ سِتْرِ

A veil of protection for the face of a master,

With whom God tended to every veil.

تُشرقُ منه بنورِ هَدْيٍ

وبرقِ غيثٍ وسيفِ نَصْرِ

Shining from him the light of guidance,

And the lightning of rain and sword of victory,

كَأَنَّما ظَلَّلَتْ عَلَيْهِ

سحابَةٌ مَدَّها بقطرِ

As though a cloud had shaded over him

Extending with its rain.

أَو روضَةٌ في الهواءِ حُفَّتْ

من طِيبِ أخلاقه بزَهْرِ

Or a garden in the air enclosed

With the fragrance of his virtuous traits,

كأَنما الريحُ فِي ذُرَاها

راحٌ تُريهِ انثناءَ سُكْرِ

As though the breeze in its flowing

Were a loving voice singing his praise,

أَوْ كَيْفَ يَهْتَزُّ إِنْ دَعاهُ

صوتُ وغىً أَوْ لسانُ شُكرِ

Or how it trembles if called

By the voice of clamor or tongue of thanks,

مُظَفَّرٌ حازَ تاجَ مُلْكٍ

كُلِّلَ من نظمِ كلِّ فخْرِ

Victorious, having won the crown of kingship,

Crowned with the prose of every glory.

فالله يُمْلي له الليالي

فِي عزِّ ملكٍ وطولِ عُمرِ

So may God grant him nights

In the honor of a lasting reign.