حَيِّ الرِّفَاقَ الأَكْرَمِينَ وَقُلْ لَهُمْ
إِنَّا لَكُمْ فِي عِيدِكُمْ شُرَكَاءُ
Salute the finest companions and tell them:
On your feast day we are your partners
مَا بَيْنَ مِصْرَ وَبَيْنَ لُبْنَانَ مَدَىً
نَاءٍ وَقَدْ أَدْنَى الْقُلُوبَ إِخاءُ
From Egypt to Lebanon however far between
Partners in concord though kinship there has never been
إِنَّ الَّذِي أَجْمَعْتُمُ إِكْرَامَهُ
لَمْ تَخْتِلفْ فِي حُبِّه الأَهْوَاءُ
He whom you honour on this noble feast
Though tastes for other men may vary or cease
فِي عِيدِهِ الْفِضِّي زَمْرٌ تَنْجَلي
بِبَيَاضِهِ أَخْلاَقُهُ العَزَّاءُ
On his white festival, throngs shine immaculate
High morals adorning their honour innate
خَدَمَ المُوَاطِنَ خِدَمَةً لَمْ يَأْتِهَا
إِلاَّ الرُّعَاةُ الْجِلْسَةُ العُظَمَاءُ
He served the citizens, served beyond measure
As only the greatest leaders unfurl such treasure
وَبَنَى لأُمَّتهِ فَخَاراً بَعْدَ أَن
كَادَتْ تَلُمُّ بِعِرْضِهَا الأَرْزَاءُ
From debasement he raised his nation anew
Though ruin seemed fated whate’er he might do
مُسْتَنْصِراً إِيمانَهُ وَثَبَاتَهُ
وَخُلُوصَهُ إِنْ فَاتَهُ النُّصرَاءُ
He drew on his faith and his constancy too
Though allies there were not his goal to construe
يَرْعَى مَدَارِسَهَا وَيَكْلأُ نِشْأَهَا
وَالنِّشءُ لِلْعَهْدِ الجَدِيِدِ بِنَاءُ
He tended its schools and moulded its youth
For the new generation to strengthen their growth
وَيَعِمُّ كُلَّ مَبَرَّةٍ بِعِنَايَةٍ
مِنْهُ فَلَمْ يُخْصِصْ بِهَا الْفُقَرَاءُ
He cared for all needy no matter how poor
Not only the wretched his bounties assure
مُتُعَهِّداً أَبَداً رَعِيَّتهُ فَلاَ
سَأْمٌ يُثَبِّطهُ وَلاَ أَعْيَاءُ
Resolved evermore to shepherd his flock
No weariness daunted nor drudgery shocked
زُهِيَتْ مَوَاعِظُهُ بِكُلِّ يَتِيمَةٍ
فِي كُلِّ دَاجِيَةٍ لَهَا لأْلاَءُ
His homilies graced with each eloquent phrase
In every obscure allegory to raise
إنْ أكْبَرَ الْعُلَمَاءُ حِكْمَتَهُ فَقَدْ
فُتِنَتْ بِحُسْنِ بَيَانِهَا الأُدَبَاءُ
The greatest of scholars his wisdom endures
His eloquence raptured the cultured and pure
تَقْوَى وَعَقْلٌ رَاجِحٌ وَطَوِيَّةٌ
لاَ تَلْتَوِي وَكِيَاسَةٌ وَذَكَاءُ
Piety, judgement, reserve and tact
No wavering, prudence and skill intact
وَعَزِيَمَةٌ غَلاَّبَةٌ وَفَصَاحَةٌ
خَلاَّبَةٌ وَكَرَامَةٌ وَإِبَاءُ
A will that prevailed and speech that'd disarm
Such valour, largesse, determination and calm
هَذِي مَنَاقِبُهُ وَحَسْبِي ذِكْرُهَا
حَتَّى يُخَيِّل أَنَّه إِطْرَاءُ
These virtues of his I recount but in brief
Lest praise should seem fulsome, not sound but effete
إنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ شُكْرُ العَدَولِ جَزَاءَهَا
فَعَلاَمَ في الدُّنْيَا يَكُونُ جِزَاءُ
If the just man's meed is not gratitude’s wreath
To what in this world can his payment bequeath?
