سراية عرفان بِها الأُنس دائمُ

سراية عرفان بِها الأُنس دائمُ

وَمِن حَولِها سُورُ السَعادة قائمُ

وَمِن حَولِها سُورُ السَعادة قائمُ

Irfan's palace, where delight is everlasting.

A palace of insight, where companionship is everlasting,

And around it stands the wall of happiness.

Surrounded by walls of felicity, standing tall.

وَجيد مبانيها تحلَّى مِن العُلا

وَجيد مبانيها تحلَّى مِن العُلا

بِعقد فَريد فيهِ أَبدَعَ ناظمُ

بِعقد فَريد فيهِ أَبدَعَ ناظمُ

And the neck of its buildings was adorned with lofty glory,

Its beautiful buildings are adorned with pearls,

With a peerless necklace, in whose making its stringer excelled.

Arranged in a unique necklace by a skilled composer.

وَفيها لِمَولاها الأَمير مَنازل

وَفيها لِمَولاها الأَمير مَنازل

أَضاءَ بِها مِنهُ مقيم وَقادم

أَضاءَ بِها مِنهُ مقيم وَقادم

Within it are dwellings for its lord, the prince,

In it the Emir has abodes for his subjects,

Where, through him, resident and newcomer alike shone.

Which he illuminated for resident and visitor alike.

فَيا حسنها في وَضعها مِن سراية

فَيا حسنها في وَضعها مِن سراية

لَها المشتري عرفانُ وَالسَعد خادم

لَها المشتري عرفانُ وَالسَعد خادم

How lovely this palace is in its design!

How excellent is its placement as a palace,

Irfan is its purchaser, and good fortune its servant.

With Insight as its buyer, and Happiness its servant.

وَكَيفَ وَمِن جَدوى يَديهِ لِوافدٍ

وَكَيفَ وَمِن جَدوى يَديهِ لِوافدٍ

عَلى بابها في كُل وَقت مَغانم

عَلى بابها في كُل وَقت مَغانم

And how could it be otherwise, when his hands' bounty offers a visitor

What benefit is there for a visitor at its gate

At its gate rich rewards at every hour?

Except abundant spoils at every moment?

وَفيها بِإِحسان يَبوء وَنعمة

وَفيها بِإِحسان يَبوء وَنعمة

عَلى الفَور مَعنٌ مِن نَداه وَحاتم

عَلى الفَور مَعنٌ مِن نَداه وَحاتم

And within it, kindness and favor are received

Within it wellbeing and bounty come rushing forth

At once by Ma'n and Hatim from his generosity.

With gifts of generosity from his munificence and seal ring.

وَيَحظى بإِكرام وَجاه وَرفعة

وَيَحظى بإِكرام وَجاه وَرفعة

بِمجلسه فيها فَقيهٌ وَعالم

بِمجلسه فيها فَقيهٌ وَعالم

And honor, prestige, and high rank are enjoyed

And one is granted esteem, prominence and stature

By jurist and scholar at his gathering within it.

In its council, with jurist and scholar.

وَتَحت لوا عَليائه في رِحابها

وَتَحت لوا عَليائه في رِحابها

يَفوز بِأَمن لائذ وَمُنادم

يَفوز بِأَمن لائذ وَمُنادم

And beneath the banner of his eminence, in its spacious courts,

Beneath its lofty porticos one attains refuge and company,

Refuge-seeker and boon companion alike find safety.

Achieving safety as a sheltered, intimate companion.

فَلا زالَ فيها وافر الحَظ ظافِراً

فَلا زالَ فيها وافر الحَظ ظافِراً

بِأَعدائه ما اِعتَزَّ بِالنَصر حازم

بِأَعدائه ما اِعتَزَّ بِالنَصر حازم

So may he ever remain there, rich in fortune, triumphant

So it remains a place of abundant fortune and triumph

Over his enemies, as long as a resolute man glories in victory,

Against enemies, for the resolute victor.

وَما زانَها بِالعلم وَالحلم وَالبَها

وَما زانَها بِالعلم وَالحلم وَالبَها

بِمصر بَنوه الأَذكياءُ الأَكارم

بِمصر بَنوه الأَذكياءُ الأَكارم

And as long as it is adorned with learning, forbearance, and splendor

Its people, the wise and noble ones, have adorned it

In Egypt by his intelligent, noble sons.

With knowledge, wisdom and eloquence in Egypt.

وَما قُلتُ فيها لِلمَعالي مؤرخاً

وَما قُلتُ فيها لِلمَعالي مؤرخاً

سراية عرفان بِها الأنس دائم

سراية عرفان بِها الأنس دائم

And what I said of it, as a chronogram of its glories, was:

I have not spoken of its glories as a chronicler,

"Irfan's palace, where delight is everlasting."

Except to say: a palace of insight, where companionship is everlasting.