هو المجد فاطلبه وإن عز طالبه

وجد وإن ضاقت عليه مذاهبه

Glory is worth seeking though the seeker finds it hard,

And though its paths seem narrow when one is forward bound.

وسارع إلى تشييد أركانه فلا

قرار لنا والعدل هدت جوانبه

Make haste to firmly found its pillars, for there is

No rest for us unless equity has smoothed its sides.

ولا تتبع قول أمرئ كل همه

غداء شهي أو كعاب تلاعبه

And do not follow what a man says whose only thoughts

Are of a tasty lunch or jest to pass the time.

فيصبح في ضيم ويمسي بذلة

مخافة أن ينأى عليه حبائبه

For he will morn oppressed and evening find debased,

Fearing his dear companions may abandon him.

فلا خير في هذا وإن للهدى ادَّعى

أليس الهدى إيثار ما أنا طالبه

No good is in this one, though he claims to guide;

Is guidance not to choose what I am asking for?

أليس الهدى إيثار سنة أحمد

أما بزغت في المجد شمسا مناقبه

Is guidance not to follow Ahmed's exemplar path,

Now that his brilliant virtues beam like sunrise?

أما شيد العلياء حتى بنى لها

من العز بيتا ساميات مناصبه

Did he not raise the lofty ones until he built

A home of glory for them at the highest rank?

وقد سلك الصحب الكرام سبيله

وجانب عنه ضلة من يجانبه

The noble companions too walked in his way,

Shunning those who would turn from it aside.

وإن أباك الذمر لا شك أنه

على مفرق الجوزاء شيدت مراتبه

Your father Al-Thumama doubtlessly has raised

His status over the sands of Al-Jawza by degrees.

وكان على ما قد رأيت من العلى

ومثلك لا تخفى عليه مناقبه

And you have seen he occupies the highest place,

Nor are his virtues hidden from the likes of you.

أليس سبيل العز أولى بذي النهى

وإن كدرت للواردين مشاربه

Is not the path of glory best for one who would forbid evil,

Though it makes the water bitter for those who come to drink?

وإن جنان الخلد حفت بمكره الن

نفوس ودون الخير تبدو متاعبه

The gardens of eternity have thorns around, so souls

Find pain while seeking good amidst these thorns.

ومن تحت ظل السيف فالتمس البقا

إذا حكّمته في المعادي مضاربه

Beneath the sword one may find life, if it should judge

Between you and your foe when vocês have joined in battle.

ولا جبن إلا أن تولي هاربا

ولا بأس إن لم يجرع الصبر ناسبه

No cowardice except to flee, no shame if one

Should fail to fully drink the draft of patience.

وأنت إذا فكرت أيقنت أنه

بخوض المنايا يدرك العز خاطبه

For when you contemplate, you know one can attain

Glory by plunging forward into mortal danger.

وإن سلوك الذل للمرء فاضح

إذا ما عزيز النفس طابت عواقبه

But cringing in disgrace for a man is evident

If the proud soul likes the consequences in the end.

ألا فاتخذ أعلى الأمور شهامة

وخلف حليف العجز مع ما يراقبه

Take then the highest matters with valor, and leave

The ally of weakness to watch while you act bold.

وقم للعلى إن العلى ليس ترتضي

سواك إماما للمعالي تخاطبه

Stand tall for the most high, for none but you

Is fit to lead the lofty virtues that seek a chief.

وكن لمريد الظلم من أعظم البلا

إذا نشبت في المسلمين مخالبه

And to the seeker of injustice, be a massive plague

Should he bare his claws against the Muslim folk.

ولا تخش منه بطشه إن كيده

ضعيف وإن جلت لديهم معاطبه

Do not fear his might; his schemes are frail,

Though they seem imposing to these commoners.

وما حاذر العجاز حي تذللوا

سوى كأس ماء الحين والكل شاربه

I do not fear baseness if they should surrender,

Save the draft of cool water which all will drink.

ومن كان ذا علم بأن إلهه

ولي أمور الخلق هانت مصائبه

Whoever knows his God controls affairs,

Finds tribulations light upon him.

وخل مداراة الرجال فإنها

هوان على من عز في الله جانبه

Leave off flattering men, for it is but

Humiliation to one whom God aids.

وقل لأسير الضيم لقيت عزة

حنانيك إن البأس يرفع صاحبه

And say to the prisoner of oppression: you have found

Succor in my care, for valor raises up its companion.

وإن فتى لم يطلب المجد عمره

فقد خسر المسعى وضلت مطالبه

As for him who never sought out glory in his life,

He missed the goal, his seeking gone astray.

فهل مبلغ عني بني المجد إنني

على العهد لا أنفك عما أطالبه

So inform the people of glory: I am true

To my promise never to relinquish what I seek,

وإن صوبت نحوي الليالي سهامها

ودق عظامي من زماني نوائبه

Though the nights turn their arrows on me

And the sorrows of an age have crushed my bones.