ألاَ أَيُّهَا الطَّالِعُ المُتَبَسِّمُ

هُدىً وَسُرُورٌ نُورُكَ المُتَوَسَّمُ

O you who rise smiling, your light brings guidance and joy,

Peace upon that infant who emerged

سَلاَمٌ عَلَى ذَاكَ الْوَلِيدِ الَّذِي بَدَا

مِنَ الرَّحِمِ الْخَافِي مُثِيراً يُسَلِّمُ

From the hidden womb, peacefully submissive.

Peace upon that brother of gloom

سَلاَمٌ عَلَى ذَاكَ الشَّقِيقِ مِنَ الدُّجَى

يُكَلِّمُهَا وَالْبُرْءُ حَيْثُ يُكَلِّمُ

Who converses with it while innocence cannot speak.

Peace upon that crescent belonging to a candid man of passion

سَلاَمٌ عَلَى ذَاكَ الْهِلاَلِ مِنِ امْرِئٍ

صَرِيحِ الْهَوَى وَالحُرُّ لا يَتَكَلَّمُ

Whose love is evident though he does not talk.

Peace and honor deserved by both,

سَلاَمٌ وَتَكْريمٌ بِحَقِّ كِلاَهُمَا

وَأَشْرَفُ مَنْ أحْبَبْتَهُ مَنْ تُكَرِّمُ

And most honorable is he whom you honor.

I cherished you highly for what your symbol represents

هَوِيْتُكَ إِكْبَاراً لِمَا رَمْزُهُ

مِنَ المَأْرَبِ العُلْوِيِّ لَوْ كَانَ يُفْهَمُ

Of lofty purpose, if it could be understood.

And knowing the East grows and rises

وَعِلْماً بِأَنَّ الشَّرْقَ يَنْمُو وَيَرْتَقِي

بِأَنْ يَتَصَافَى عِيسَويٌّ وَمُسْلِمُ

When Christian and Muslim achieve harmony.

So if hostile zealots blame me,

فَإِنْ نَالَ مِنِّي كَاشِحُونَ وَلُوَّمٌ

فَفِي كُلِّ حُبٍّ كَاشِحُونَ ولُوَّمُ

In every love there are hostile zealots.

I see every religion that brought good as pure

أَرَى كُلَّ دِينٍ جَاءَ بِالخَيْرِ طَاهِراً

وَلاَ شَيْءَ غَيْرَ الشَّرِّ عِنْدِي مُتْهَمُ

And nothing but evil do I consider suspect.

And if one like me views things without bias,

وَإِنْ يَرَ مِثْلِي رَأْيَهُ عَنْ تَحَيُّزٍ

فَمَنْ عَالِمٌ فِينَا وَمَنْ مُتَعَلِّمُ

Then who among us is scholar or student?

My reason refused that I disagree with its rule,

أُبَى لِيَ عقْلِي أَنْ أُخَالِفَ حُكْمَهُ

وَلَوْ فُزْتُ مِنْ قَوْمٍ بِمَا لا يُقَوَّمُ

Though I gain from people what cannot be valued.

It is truth even if lives are sacrificed for it,

هُوَ الْحَقُّ حَتَّى تُضْرَبَ الْهَامُ دُونَهُ

فَمَا الْخَطْبُ فِي أَسْبَابِ جَهْلٍ تُفْصمُ

So why fret over causes of ignorance severed?

Say: The truth - nothing benefits people like it

قُلِ الْحَقَّ مَا إِنْ يَنْفَعُ النَّاسَ مِثْلُهُ

وَلَوْ بَعْدَ حِينٍ وَاتْرُكِ الزُّورَ يَنْقِمُ

Though after a while, so leave falsehood to rage.

Say: The truth - if it pleases, so; if it riles,

قُلِ الْحَقَّ إِنْ يُعْجِبْ فَذَاكَ وَإِنْ يَسُوءْ

فَذَاكَ وَلاَ يَصْدُدْكَ مَا قَدْ تُجَشَّمُ

So; and do not be deterred by what you have endured.

By God, nothing sways me more than the sayings of others

فَتَاللهِ مَا المُصْدِي لأَقْوَالِ غَيْرِهِ

بِأنْبَهَ عِنْدِي مِنْ جَوَادٍ يُحمْحِمُ

Than a steed roused to zeal, impetuous.

By God, no smooth-talker lacking conscience

وَتَاللهِ مَا الرَّوَّاغُ دُونَ ضَمِيرِهِ

بِأَشْرَفَ مِنْ رِعْدِيدِ هَيْجَاءَ يُهْزمُ

Is nobler than thunder rumbling, overwhelming.

Illuminer of alcoves, good tidings with your new year,

مُنِيرَ السُّرَى بِشْراً بِعَامِكَ مُقْبِلاً

وَلاَ طَابَ ذِكْراً صِنْوُهُ المُتَصرِّمُ

While an anthem of protection is not sweet to recite.

Smeared with all kinds of harm, though avoiding,

دَهَانَا بِأَنْوَاعِ الأَذَى مُتَجَنِّباً

فَلَمْ يَكُ إِلاَّ صَارِخٌ مُتَظَلِّمُ

He is but a screaming victim protesting.

As though after one prominent departed, I saw

كَأَنِّي وَقَدْ وَلَى بَصُرْتُ بِلُجَّةٍ

يُغَيَّبُ فِيهَا شَامِخٌ مُتَضَرِّمُ

A torrent in which a towering figure is concealed.

So I said from afar: you were not praised sincerely

فَقُلْتُ بَعِيداً لاَ مُدِحْتَ بِطَيِّبٍ

سِوَى عِبْرَةٍ عَنْ بَارِحِ الْخَطْبِ تَنْجُمُ

Except with a tear for the departed misfortune flickering.

Our people's part in our affair is significant,

عَلَى أَنَّ مَا لِلْعَامِ فِي شَأْنِنَا يَدٌ

وَمَا الذَّنْبُ إِلاَّ ذَنْبُنَا المُتَقَدِّمُ

And the sin belongs to none but our own earlier sin.

You witnessed Egypt's calamities in its beginnings,

شَهِدْتُمْ رَزَايَا مِصْرَ فِي بِدْءِ أَمْرِهِ

وَنَكْبَةَ دَارِ الْفُرْسِ إِذْ هُوَ يُخْتَمُ

And the downfall of Persia's state as it ended;

And amidst it the ugly things that befell

ومَا حَلَّ فِي أَثْنَائِهِ مِنْ كَرِيهَةٍ

بِدَوْلَتِنَا الْكُبْرَى تَرُوعُ وَتُؤْلِمُ

Our great state, frightening and painful;

Since the pirates attacked raiding its west

لَدُنْ هَجَمَ الْقُرْصَانُ يَغْزُونَ غَرْبَهَا

كَما كَانَتِ الْجُهَّالُ فِي الْبَدْوِ تَهْجُمُ

As nomads in the desert were wont to raid.

They war against us in the name of civilization,

يَسُومُونَنا بِاسْمِ الْحَضَارَةِ حَرْبَهُمْ

أَلاَ إِنَّهَا مِمَّا جَنَوهُ لَتَلْطِمُ

But it is the product of their pillage, destructive.

Oh no! It has become an unseemly bride for a suitor

أَلاَ إِنَّهَا سَاءَتْ عَرُوساً لِخَاطِبٍ

إذَا بَسَطَتْ كَفّاً وَحِنَّاؤُهَا دَمُ

When she extends a palm and its caress is blood.

In the fine art of its letters is charm,

لأَحْرُفِهَا مِنْ دِقَّةِ الصُّنْعِ بَهْجَةٌ

وَفِيهَا مِنَ الشَّكْلِ الْجَمَالُ المُتَمِّمُ

And in its shape is completeness of beauty.

Whatever is etched by lightnings is not neglected,

وَمَا نَقَشَتْ مِنْهَا الْبَوَارِقُ مُهْمَلٌ

وَمَا نَقَطَتْ مِنْهَا الْبَنَادِقُ مُعْجَمُ

And whatever is dotted by guns is annotated.

So admire it for a sign of magnificent import

فَاعْجِبْ بِهَا مِنْ آيةٍ ذَاتِ رَوْعَةٍ

تُصَغَّرُ آيَاتِ الْحُرُوبِ وَتَعْظُمُ

That diminishes the signs of wars and aggrandizes.

With it we gained strength from humiliation, and with resolve

عَزَزْنَا بِهَا مِنْ ذِلَّةٍ وَبِعَزْمِهَا

سَيُقْشَعُ هَذَا الْغَيْهَبُ المُتَجَهِّمُ

This threatening gloom shall dissipate.

But will we remain forever a burden

وَلَكِنْ أَنَبْقَى آخِرَ الدَّهْرِ عِيْلَةٌ

عَلَى الْجَيْشِ يَشْقَى فِي الدِّفَاعِ وَنَنْعَمُ

On the army, suffering in defense as we enjoy?

Can the might of soldiers guarantee their people

وَهَلْ قُوَّةُ الأَجْنَادِ تَكْفُلُ قَوْمَها

إلَى آخِرِ الأيَّامِ وَالقَوْمُ نُوَّمُ

To the end of time while the people slumber?

If you observe, then Egypt, Persia,

إذَا مَا تَبَصَّرْتُمْ فَمِصْرُ وَ فَارِسٌ

وَدَوْلَةُ عُثْمَانٍ شَقَاءٌ مُقَسَّمُ

And Uthman's state - misfortune divided.

Except that the caliphate's throne is protected

سِوَى أَنَّ كُرْسِيَّ الْخِلافَةِ مُحْتَمٍ

بِأَبْطَالِهِ أَمَّا الشُّعُوبُ فَهُمْ هُمُ

By its heroes; as for the public, they are the same.

Excuse my soul's frankness to what

عَذِيرِيَ مِنْ سَبْقِ الْيَرَاعِ إلَى الَّذِي

أُدَاجِي بِهِ نَفْسِي وَلاَ أَتَكَلَّمُ

I converse with myself about but do not utter.

Let me be from mentioning affairs that shame us,

دَعُونِيَ مِنْ ذِكْرَى أُمُورٍ تَسُوءُنَا

وَذَا يَوْمُ عِيدٍ بِالمَسَرَّاتِ مُفْعَمُ

As this is a festival day filled with joys.

I see hopeful signs of goodness rising amongst you

أَرَى بَيْنَكُمْ آمَالَ خَيْرٍ طَوَالِعاً

تَهُلُّ وَرَاءَ الأُفْقِ وَاللَّيْلُ مُظْلِمُ

Behind the horizon as the night grows dark.

Men who have adorned themselves with virtues and risen

رِجَالاً تَحَلُّوا بِالْفَضَائِلِ وَارْتَقَوْا

بِأَنْفُسِهِمْ عَنْ كُلِّ خُلْقٍ يُذَمَّمُ

Above all flawed creatures condemned.

Youth who, when chaste, are forbidden by chastity,

شَبَاباً إذَا عَفُّوا فَإِنَّ النُّهَى نَهَى

وَإنْ يَطْلُبُوا الْغَايَاتِ فَالْعَزْمُ يَعْزِمُ

And when seeking lofty goals, resolve empowers.

They raced in love of homeland farther than

عَدَوْا فِي هَوَى الأَوْطَانِ أَبْعَدَ غَايَةٍ

يَسُوقُ إِلَيهَا الْعَاشِقَينِ التألم

Any goal, led by fervent lovers writhing.

But they met from us what did not please them,

وَلَكِنْ لَقُوا مِنَّا الَّذِي لَمْ يَسُرَّهُمْ

لَقُوا الْقَاعَ وَالطَّيَّارُ خَزْيَانُ مُرْغَمُ

Met the ground while the flying were defeated forced down.

They met how courage in the fray enriched us

لَقُوا كَيْفَ أَغْنَتْنَا الشَّجَاعَةُ فِي الوَغَى

مِنَ العُدَدِ الصُّمِّ الَّتي لَيْسَ تَرْحَمُ

Against dumb numbers that do not have mercy.

They met when languages failed us in confusion

لَقُوا حِينَ أَعْيَانَا التَّفَاهُمُ بِاللُّغَى

مَقَابِضَنَا فِي الْهَامِ كيف تُتَرْجِمُ

How our grips directly translated meaning.

They met surpassing what they expected of might

لَقُوا فَوْقَ مَا ظَنُّوا مِنَ البَأْسِ مُفْضِياً

إلَى رَحْمَةٍ تَرْبُو عَلَى مَا تَوَهَّمُوا

To mercy nurturing beyond what they imagined.

So forgiveness where the stubborn are submissive,

فَمَغْفِرَةٌ حَيْثُ الأَبِيُّ مُجَنْدَلٌ

وَمَقْدِرَةٌ حَيْثُ الْجَبَانُ مُسَلِّمُ

And forbearance where the coward acquiesces.

And care for our soldiers’ wounds - their injuries

وَعَطْفٌ عَلَى جَرْحَى عَدَدْنَا جِرَاحَهُمْ

مُكَفِّرَةً عَمَّا أَسَاءُوا وَأَجْرَمُوا

Absolve what wrongs and sins they committed.

They embarrassed us so we called for their demise,

هُمُ أَحْرَجُونَا فَاقْتَضَوْنَا هَلاَكَهُمْ

عَلَى أنَّنَا كُنَّا نُضَامُ فَنَحْلَمُ

Though we were being oppressed so we endured.

And if their punishment by us distresses us,

وَإِنْ يُشْجِنَا مَا نَالَهُمْ مِنْ عِقَابِنَا

فَفِينا عَلَى العِلاَّتِ ذَاكَ التَّكَرُّمُ

Then that is the nobility in us toward failings.

A soul's lenience that was never without our faults -

سَمَاحَةُ نَفْسٍ لَمْ تَزَلْ مِنْ عُيُوبِنَا

فَأِنْ يَغْفِرُوهَا ذَلِكَ الْفَضْلُ مِنْهُمُ

So for them to pardon it, that is their merit.

God protected heroes who protected, for they came

حَمَى اللهُ أَبْطَالاً حَمَوْنَا فَإِنَّهُمْ

أَتَوْا مُعْجِزَاتٍ فِي الْخُصُومَاتِ تُفْحِمُ

With miracles in adversities that silence opponents.

With requital's favor they erased what the insolent

مَحَوْا بِجَمِيل الثَّأْرِ مَا خَطَّ مُفْتَرٍ

عَلَيْنَا وَفِي كَفَّيْهِ لِلْعَارِ مِيسَمُ

Falsely ascribed to us, his hands branded with shame.

And they came with a clear sign of victory, etched

وَجَاءُوا مِنَ النَّصْرِ المُبينِ بِآيَةٍ

عَلَى صَفَحَاتِ الدَّهْرِ بِالتِّبْرِ تُرْسَمُ

On the pages of time in triumph inscribed -

Melodious, graceful, Arabic,

مُنَمَّقَةٍ رَنَّانَةٍ عَرَبِيَّةٍ

لَهَا كَاتِبٌ مِنْهَا وَتَالٍ مُرَنِّمُ

Having a scribe from it and a singer chanting -

If beheld, the eye never grows weary of its beauty,

إذَا طُولِعَتْ لَمْ تَسْأَمِ الْعَيْنُ حُسْنَها

وَإِنْ أُنْشِدَتْ فَالسَّمْعُ هَيْهَاتَ يَسْأَمُ

And if recited, the hearing - never would it tire!

The understanding of the righteous, however insulted,

فَهْمُ أَوْلِيَاءُ الْحَقِّ مَهْمَا يُعَيَّرُوا

وَهُمْ حُلفَاءُ الصِّدقِ مَهْمَا يُؤَثَّمُوا

And the allies of truth, however blemished.

To these loyal ones with sincere advice for Egypt

إِلَى هَؤلاءِ الخَالِصِينَ طَوِيَّةً

لِمِصْرٍ بِنُصْحٍ خَالِصٍ أَتَقَدَّمُ

I step forward devotionally.

My sons, take from our experience consequences

بَنِيَّ خُذُوا عَنَّا نَتَائِجَ خُبْرِنَا

لِتَكْتَسِبُوا مَا فَاتَنَا فَتُتَمِّمُوا

To gain what we missed and accomplish -

Incumbent upon you are diverse sciences, for they

عَلَيْكُمْ بِأَشْتَاتِ الْعُلُومِ فَإِنَّهَا

نَجَاةٌ فَإِنْ شَقَّتْ فَلاَ تَتَبَرَّمُوا

Are salvation, so if arduous, do not despair.

Be strong, for the weak have no portion but decay,

تَقَوَّوْا فَمَا حَظُّ الضَّعِيفِ سِوَى الرَّدَى

وَخَيْرُ الْقُوَى خُلْقٌ مَقَوِّمُ

And the best strength is correcting conduct.

Support your brother, not for a fruitless cause,

أًعِينُوا أخَاكُمْ لاَ عَلَى غَيْرِ طَائِلٍ

وَمَنْ كَانَ لاَ يُرْجَى فَمَا هُوَ مِنْكُمُ

And one beyond hope, then he is not yours.

Enjoin each other to excellent patience, for its success is assured,

تَوَاصَوْا بِحُسْنِ الصَّبْرِ فَالْفَوْزُ وَعْدُهُ

وَلاَ تَبْتَغُوا مَا لاَ يُرَامُ فَتَنْدَمُوا

And do not seek what cannot be attained, so regret.

And be not provoked in answering a call,

وَلاَ تُسْتَفَزُّوا فِي إِجَابَةِ دَعْوَةٍ

فَحَيْثُ أَجَبْتُمْ أَقْدِمُوا ثُمَّ أقْدِمُوا

So where you respond, step forward and advance.

Leave every useless word aside

ذَرُوا كُلَّ قَوْلٍ فَاقِدِ النَّفْعِ جَانِباً

وَمُدُّوا مَجَالَ الْفِعْلِ ذَلِكَ أحْزَمُ

And extend the realm of action - that is wiser.

Do not crave pleasure in the forbidden,

وَلاَ تَتَوَخَّوْا لَذَّةً فِي مُحَرَّمٍ

فَشَرُّ مُبِيدٍ لِلشُّغُوبِ المُحَرَّمُ

For the worst annihilator of passions prohibited.

If you have completed as we wish for you,

فَإِمَّا تَكَامَلْتُمْ كَمَا نَبْتَغِي لَكُمْ

فَتِلْكَ المُنَى تَمَّتْ وَذَاكَ التَّقَدُّمُ

Then the purpose is realized and the progress made.

And then Egypt shall pride itself on its people,

وَيَومَئِذٍ تَعْتَزُّ مِصْرٌ بِأَهْلِهَا

وَتَسْعَدُ مَا شَاءَتْ وَتَعْلُو وَتُكْرَمُ

Attain what it desires, rise high, and be honored.