يا أَيُّها الحَنَفِيُّ الَّذي لَو أَنَّني

يا أَيُّها الحَنَفِيُّ الَّذي لَو أَنَّني

كاتَبتُهُ بِسَوادِ عَيني ما كَفى

كاتَبتُهُ بِسَوادِ عَيني ما كَفى

O al-Hanafi, even if I

O Hanafi, whom if I were to write of with the blackness of my eyes, it would not suffice,

wrote to you with the blackness of my eye, it would not suffice.

Alas, I cannot fulfill the duty of praising you, O Sultan of the loyal.

هَيهاتَ أَقدِرُ أَن أوفي واجِباً

هَيهاتَ أَقدِرُ أَن أوفي واجِباً

لِثَناكَ يا سُلطانَ أَربابِ الوَفا

لِثَناكَ يا سُلطانَ أَربابِ الوَفا

It is far beyond my power to fulfill my duty

I have wandered the lands while your affection remained fluttering in the heart of a brother over me.

of praising you, O sultan of the lords of loyalty.

You brought me the good tidings of Muhammad's wedding,

ما زِلتُ أَضرِبُ في البِلادِ وَلَم يَزَل

ما زِلتُ أَضرِبُ في البِلادِ وَلَم يَزَل

بِحَشاكَ قَلبُ أَخٍ عَلَيَّ مُرَفرِفا

بِحَشاكَ قَلبُ أَخٍ عَلَيَّ مُرَفرِفا

I still journey through the lands, and still

That joyous news was so sweet and gentle.

within your breast a brother's heart flutters over me.

It brought more happiness than the night when that wedding took place,

أَهدَيتَ لِيَ البُشرى بِعَقدِ مُحَمَّدٍ

أَهدَيتَ لِيَ البُشرى بِعَقدِ مُحَمَّدٍ

تِلكَ البِشارَةُ ما أَلَذَّ وَأَلطَفا

تِلكَ البِشارَةُ ما أَلَذَّ وَأَلطَفا

You gave me glad tidings of Muhammad's marriage;

Of the Chosen One, the Most Praiseworthy.

that glad news—how sweet and lovely!

O the most precious one whom my longing for, after distance, is too great to be described.

أَسعَدَ بِها مِن لَيلَةٍ فيها جَرى

أَسعَدَ بِها مِن لَيلَةٍ فيها جَرى

ذاكَ الزَفافُ عَلى سَمِيِّ المُصطَفى

ذاكَ الزَفافُ عَلى سَمِيِّ المُصطَفى

How happy was the night on which took place

Today the historian calls upon you, praising the wedding of your son with children and wealth.

that wedding for the namesake of al-Mustafa!

يا أَيُّها الخِلُّ الَّذي شَوقي لَهُ

يا أَيُّها الخِلُّ الَّذي شَوقي لَهُ

بَعدَ البِعادِ أَجَلَّ مِن أَن يوصَفا

بَعدَ البِعادِ أَجَلَّ مِن أَن يوصَفا

O dear friend, for whom my longing

after separation is too great to be described.

يَدعو لَكَ اليَومَ المُؤَرِّخُ شاعِراً

يَدعو لَكَ اليَومَ المُؤَرِّخُ شاعِراً

لِزَفافِ نَجلِكَ بِالبَنينِ وَبِالرِفا

لِزَفافِ نَجلِكَ بِالبَنينِ وَبِالرِفا

Today the historian, as a poet, prays for you,

at your son's wedding, for sons and harmony.