قدوم رِياض لِلبَهاء هو البَها

قدوم رِياض لِلبَهاء هو البَها

وَإقبالُه لِلقطر نورٌ بِهِ اِزدَهى

وَإقبالُه لِلقطر نورٌ بِهِ اِزدَهى

Riyad's arrival is the very splendor of splendor.

The arrival of Riyaḍ is splendor itself,

And his coming to the land is a light by which it grew radiant.

And his coming to Egypt sheds light, enhancing its beauty.

وبدرُ مُحيّاه به مصر أشرقت

وبدرُ مُحيّاه به مصر أشرقت

وحين بدا زادت بمقدمه اِزدِها

وحين بدا زادت بمقدمه اِزدِها

And Egypt shone by the full moon of his countenance.

The full moon greeted him, so Egypt shone bright,

And when he appeared, she grew more radiant at his arrival.

And with his arrival, its splendor increased.

وَطابَت لَنا الأَوقات فيها بِعودة

وَطابَت لَنا الأَوقات فيها بِعودة

تَحلّى بِها في الأُنس جيد أُولي النُهى

تَحلّى بِها في الأُنس جيد أُولي النُهى

And our days there grew pleasant with a return,

Our times became pleasant with his return,

With which the necks of the wise were adorned in joy.

Adorned with it, the beloved's presence brought joy.

فَيا مُصطَفى لا زلت في كُل رحلة

فَيا مُصطَفى لا زلت في كُل رحلة

تَفوز بِما لِلنَفس وَالرُوح يُشتَهى

تَفوز بِما لِلنَفس وَالرُوح يُشتَهى

So, O Mustafa, may you never cease, on every journey,

O Muṣṭafā, you always gain on every journey,

To win what the soul and spirit desire.

What the soul and spirit desire.

وَلا زلت أَيضاً في الإِقامة ظافِراً

وَلا زلت أَيضاً في الإِقامة ظافِراً

بِما هُوَ أَوج وَالحَضيض لَهُ السُها

بِما هُوَ أَوج وَالحَضيض لَهُ السُها

And may you likewise remain triumphant while at home,

And you are always victorious in your stay,

In attaining a zenith whose nadir is Suha.

Achieving the highest, while the lowly bow to you.

فَأَنت أَمير وافر الحَزم آخذ

فَأَنت أَمير وافر الحَزم آخذ

بِناصر مَظلوم إِلَيكَ قَد اِنتَهى

بِناصر مَظلوم إِلَيكَ قَد اِنتَهى

For you are an emir, rich in resolve, taking up

You are the generous prince, aiding

The cause of an oppressed man who has come to you.

The oppressed who sought refuge in you.

وَكَم لَكَ مِن رَأي سَديد وَحكمة

وَكَم لَكَ مِن رَأي سَديد وَحكمة

يَمانية عَنها أَخو الرشد ما لَها

يَمانية عَنها أَخو الرشد ما لَها

And how many sound judgments you possess, and how much wisdom—

You have much insight and wisdom,

Yemeni wisdom, which no man of sound judgment has neglected.

Your brothers in righteousness are bereft of it.

وَكَم لَكَ مِن حلم وَفهم وَفطنة

وَكَم لَكَ مِن حلم وَفهم وَفطنة

غلامك عَنها في المَدائح ما سها

غلامك عَنها في المَدائح ما سها

And how much forbearance, understanding, and discernment you possess,

You have much forbearance, understanding and perceptiveness,

Which your servant has not overlooked in his praises.

Your servant cannot praise enough.

وَكَم لَكَ يا عالي الذَرى مِن مُروءة

وَكَم لَكَ يا عالي الذَرى مِن مُروءة

مبرّاتها في عصرنا تَفتح اللُهى

مبرّاتها في عصرنا تَفتح اللُهى

And how much magnanimity you possess, O you of lofty summits,

You, exalted one, have much chivalry,

Whose benefactions in our age open mouths wide.

In this age, its wonders bring delight.

وَكَم لَكَ في دَفع المُلمّات همة

وَكَم لَكَ في دَفع المُلمّات همة

تُفرّج عَمَّن يَستجيرك ما دهى

تُفرّج عَمَّن يَستجيرك ما دهى

And how great your zeal in warding off calamities,

You have great determination in relieving distress,

Relieving whoever seeks your protection of what has befallen him.

Comforting those who seek your protection.

فَدونَك مِن أَبكار فكري يَتيمةً

فَدونَك مِن أَبكار فكري يَتيمةً

رضابُ ثَناياها المبرّد مُشتهَى

رضابُ ثَناياها المبرّد مُشتهَى

So take a peerless maiden from the virgins of my thought:

May their gentle touch bring you joy.

The sweet, cooling saliva of her front teeth is longed for.

I hope, O Exalted One, you will accept them,

وَإِني لَأَرجو مِن علاك قبولَها

وَإِني لَأَرجو مِن علاك قبولَها

وَإِن لَم يَكُن وَردُ الخدود بِها زَها

وَإِن لَم يَكُن وَردُ الخدود بِها زَها

And I earnestly hope your exalted self will accept her,

Even if cheeks do not blush for them.

Even though the roses of her cheeks have not blossomed.

Be a refuge, in travels and stays

وَكُن لِلوَرى في رحلةٍ وَإِقامةٍ

وَكُن لِلوَرى في رحلةٍ وَإِقامةٍ

ملاذاً لَهُ عَزم لَدى الخَطب ما وَهى

ملاذاً لَهُ عَزم لَدى الخَطب ما وَهى

And be, for humankind, in travel and at home,

For people, whose resolve weakens in tribulation.

A refuge whose resolve never falters in calamity.

Increase the loftiness, of what Majdī wrote in history,

وَزد رفعة ما قال مَجدي مؤرخاً

وَزد رفعة ما قال مَجدي مؤرخاً

قُدوم رِياض للبَهاء هُوَ البَها

قُدوم رِياض للبَهاء هُوَ البَها

And grow in eminence as long as Majdi says, marking the date:

The arrival of Riyaḍ is splendor itself.

Riyad's arrival is the very splendor of splendor.