هَل لِسانَ أَقوالِهِ الإِلهامَ

هَل لِسانَ أَقوالِهِ الإِلهامَ

أَم بَيانَ آياتِهِ الأَحكامَ

أَم بَيانَ آياتِهِ الأَحكامَ

Is the tongue of his utterances inspiration,

Is there a tongue whose utterances are inspiration,

or are his signs expounded by decrees?

or a discourse whose verses are decrees,

فَتَبارى الأَلفاظُ شَأوَ المَعاني

فَتَبارى الأَلفاظُ شَأوَ المَعاني

وَيوفي حَقَّ الثَناءِ الإِمامَ

وَيوفي حَقَّ الثَناءِ الإِمامَ

Words race to match meanings in their farthest reach,

so that words might rival the reach of meanings,

and a full grasp renders praise its due.

and render the Imam his rightful praise?

وَغَدَت لَهجَةَ الثَناءِ عَلَيهِ

وَغَدَت لَهجَةَ الثَناءِ عَلَيهِ

مِثلَما دامَ لِلصَلاةِ إِقامَ

مِثلَما دامَ لِلصَلاةِ إِقامَ

Praise of him has made his tongue its home,

And the voice of praise for him has become

enduring as the observance of prayer.

as constant as the summons to prayer.

قَعَدَت نَهضَةَ البَلاغَةِ عِنهُ

قَعَدَت نَهضَةَ البَلاغَةِ عِنهُ

وَدَنَت عَن خَيالِهِ الأَوهامَ

وَدَنَت عَن خَيالِهِ الأَوهامَ

Eloquence’s rising effort falls short of him,

Eloquence's striving has fallen short of him,

and fancies recoil from his imagination.

and fancies fall below even his image.

قَعَسَ في الصَفيحِ مِن أَطلَسِ ال

قَعَسَ في الصَفيحِ مِن أَطلَسِ ال

عِزِّ تَهاوَت مِن دونِهِ الأَفهامَ

عِزِّ تَهاوَت مِن دونِهِ الأَفهامَ

He sits proudly upon the broad brocade of glory;

He stands proudly in the upper expanse of the firmament of

before him, understandings tumble down.

glory; minds tumble short of him.

إِنَّما وَصَفَهَ عَلى فاتِحِ الأَفكا

إِنَّما وَصَفَهَ عَلى فاتِحِ الأَفكا

رِ في الذَروَةِ الَّتي لا تُرامِ

رِ في الذَروَةِ الَّتي لا تُرامِ

To describe him surpasses even the conqueror of thought—

To describe him falls to the one who unlocks thought,

at the summit no one can attain.

upon the summit that none can attain.

كُلُّ طَرفٍ لِفِكرِ عِندَ كَليلٍ

كُلُّ طَرفٍ لِفِكرِ عِندَ كَليلٍ

كُلَّ طَرفٍ لِلجَريِ فيهِ كَهامِ

كُلَّ طَرفٍ لِلجَريِ فيهِ كَهامِ

Every gaze of thought grows weary and dim;

Every gaze of thought is weary before him;

every gaze lost in wonder at him is blunted.

every steed that races there is sluggish.

قَصُرَ الوَصفُ دونَ مَن يَفضَحُ الوَص

قَصُرَ الوَصفُ دونَ مَن يَفضَحُ الوَص

فَ وَعِندَ الفِعالِ يَخفى الكَلامِ

فَ وَعِندَ الفِعالِ يَخفى الكَلامِ

Description falls short of one who puts description to shame;

Description falls short of him who puts to shame

before his deeds, speech hides away.

description; before deeds, speech fades away.

يَنبُذُ الشِعرَ وَالشُهودَ الرِياضِيّ

يَنبُذُ الشِعرَ وَالشُهودَ الرِياضِيّ

ياتِ عَدا وَالحَجَّةِ الأَرقامِ

ياتِ عَدا وَالحَجَّةِ الأَرقامِ

Poetry and mathematical proofs stand aside—

He sets poetry aside; mathematics bears witness,

except for number, where numbers are the proof.

through reckoning, and numbers furnish the proof.

إِن ما سالَ في ثَناهُ يَراعٌ

إِن ما سالَ في ثَناهُ يَراعٌ

لا َما سَحَّ مِن يَدَيهِ غَمامِ

لا َما سَحَّ مِن يَدَيهِ غَمامِ

Whatever pen has flowed in praise of him

Indeed, what flows in his praise is a reed pen,

is nothing beside the rain cloud poured from his hands.

not what pours from his two hands—a cloud.

وَفِعالُ الضِرغامِ أَوقَعَ في النَف

وَفِعالُ الضِرغامِ أَوقَعَ في النَف

سِ مِنَ القَولِ إِنَّهُ الضِرغامِ

سِ مِنَ القَولِ إِنَّهُ الضِرغامِ

The lion’s deeds strike deeper in the soul

And the lion's deeds strike more deeply into the soul

than merely saying, “He is the lion.”

than the words, "He is the lion."

كُلُّ يَومٍ لَهُ صَنائِعٌ تَترى

كُلُّ يَومٍ لَهُ صَنائِعٌ تَترى

في البَرايا لِباسُهُنَّ الدَوامِ

في البَرايا لِباسُهُنَّ الدَوامِ

Each day his benefactions follow one another,

Each day he performs kindnesses, one after another,

clothing all creation in permanence.

among creation, clothed in permanence.

تَكفُلُ الناسَ مِثلَما يَكفُلُ الغَب

تَكفُلُ الناسَ مِثلَما يَكفُلُ الغَب

راءَ غَيثٌ لَهُ عَلَيها اِنسِجامِ

راءَ غَيثٌ لَهُ عَلَيها اِنسِجامِ

They sustain the people as the dust-brown earth is sustained

They sustain people, as the dusty earth is sustained

by his rain, streaming down upon it.

by rain that pours steadily upon it.

طَوقُ الخَلقِ جودُهُ وَنَداهُ

طَوقُ الخَلقِ جودُهُ وَنَداهُ

فَهيَ في مَدحِهِ لَعَمري حَمامِ

فَهيَ في مَدحِهِ لَعَمري حَمامِ

His generosity and bounty encircle creation;

His generosity and bounty are creation's neck-ring;

by my life, they are doves cooing his praise.

thus, by my life, creation is doves singing his praise.

وَجَديرٌ أَن تَنطِقَ الطَيرَ وَالوَح

وَجَديرٌ أَن تَنطِقَ الطَيرَ وَالوَح

شَ فَيَتلو الصَدّاحُ فيهِ البَغامِ

شَ فَيَتلو الصَدّاحُ فيهِ البَغامِ

Well may bird and beast be made to speak—

He is worthy that birds and wild beasts should speak,

the songbird warbling of him, the dumb beast lowing.

and the songbird follow their lowing in his praise.

نَسَخَت عِندَهُ المُلوكُ وَأَمسى

نَسَخَت عِندَهُ المُلوكُ وَأَمسى

خَبَراً مِن أَخبارٍ كانَ الكِرامِ

خَبَراً مِن أَخبارٍ كانَ الكِرامِ

In his presence, kings are effaced and become

Kings are superseded beside him, and

mere tales of noble men who once were.

the noble have become a tale of bygone days.

ما رَأى مِثلَهُ الزَمانُ عَظيماً

ما رَأى مِثلَهُ الزَمانُ عَظيماً

صِبيَةً عِندَهُ الرِجالُ العِظامِ

صِبيَةً عِندَهُ الرِجالُ العِظامِ

Time has never seen his equal in greatness;

Time has never seen a great man like him;

before him, mighty men are boys.

great men are children beside him.

جاءَ مِن ضَئضَئِّ الخِلافَةِ فَرداً

جاءَ مِن ضَئضَئِّ الخِلافَةِ فَرداً

هُوَ مِن مَعشَرِ المُلوكِ السَنامِ

هُوَ مِن مَعشَرِ المُلوكِ السَنامِ

From the pure stock of the Caliphate he came, unique;

From the stock of the caliphate he came, peerless;

among the company of kings, he is the crest.

among the company of kings he is the pinnacle.

فَرعُ عُثمانٍ وَكَفى المَجدُ وَالأَح

فَرعُ عُثمانٍ وَكَفى المَجدُ وَالأَح

سابُ وَالمَكرُماتِ وَالأَحلامِ

سابُ وَالمَكرُماتِ وَالأَحلامِ

Scion of Osman, peer of glory, noble lineage—

A scion of Uthman—glory suffices, with noble

generous deeds and forbearance.

lineage, generous deeds, and forbearance.

دَولَةٌ حَجَّةَ الزَمانِ عَلى الخَل

دَولَةٌ حَجَّةَ الزَمانِ عَلى الخَل

قِ بِها دونَ مُريَةٍ إِلزامِ

قِ بِها دونَ مُريَةٍ إِلزامِ

A state that is Time’s proof against creation—

A state that is Time's proof against creation,

binding, beyond all doubt.

binding it beyond all doubt.

لَيسَ لِلشَرقِ غَيرَها فَبَنو المَش

لَيسَ لِلشَرقِ غَيرَها فَبَنو المَش

رِقَ طَراً بِدونِها أَيتامِ

رِقَ طَراً بِدونِها أَيتامِ

The East has none but it; the children of the East,

The East has none but her; its children

all of them, are orphans without it.

are all orphans without her.

قَد أَامَت سَرادِقَ العِزِّ يَعلي

قَد أَامَت سَرادِقَ العِزِّ يَعلي

هِ الوَشيجُ الرِماحُ وَالأَقلامِ

هِ الوَشيجُ الرِماحُ وَالأَقلامِ

It has pitched the pavilion of glory, held aloft

She has erected a pavilion of honor, raised high

by interwoven spears and pens.

by interwoven spears and pens.

فَوقَهُ رايَةَ الهِلالِ مُنيراً

فَوقَهُ رايَةَ الهِلالِ مُنيراً

يُدَبِّرُ الظُلمَ عِندَها وَالظَلامِ

يُدَبِّرُ الظُلمَ عِندَها وَالظَلامِ

Above it the crescent banner shines,

Above it, the crescent's banner shines;

and oppression and darkness turn away.

oppression and darkness retreat before it.

يَنضَوي تَحتَها النُقّادُ مَعَ الأُس

يَنضَوي تَحتَها النُقّادُ مَعَ الأُس

دِ وَتَرعى الذِئابُ وَالآرامِ

دِ وَتَرعى الذِئابُ وَالآرامِ

Beneath it, fault-finders gather with lions,

Beneath it the lambs gather with the lions,

while wolves and white antelopes graze.

and wolves graze alongside gazelles.

مَجدُ عُثمانَ لَيسَ غَيرَكَ مَجدٌ

مَجدُ عُثمانَ لَيسَ غَيرَكَ مَجدٌ

كُلَّ مَدحٍ مِندونَ مَدحِكَ ذامِ

كُلَّ مَدحٍ مِندونَ مَدحِكَ ذامِ

Osman’s glory—there is no glory but yours;

Glory of Uthman, there is no glory but you;

every praise beneath your praise is blame.

all praise apart from yours is blame.

لَم تَزَل شامِخاً بِأنفٍ عَزيزٍ

لَم تَزَل شامِخاً بِأنفٍ عَزيزٍ

وَلَكُم أَعطُسُ المُلوكَ الرِغامِ

وَلَكُم أَعطُسُ المُلوكَ الرِغامِ

You have never ceased to tower, proud and unbent;

You have ever stood lofty, with a proud nose,

before you, kings’ noses are pressed into dust.

and how often dust has made kings sneeze!

لا تَرى دَولَةٌ هُزالاً وَضَعفاً

لا تَرى دَولَةٌ هُزالاً وَضَعفاً

حَولَها المُسلِمونَ وَالإِسلامِ

حَولَها المُسلِمونَ وَالإِسلامِ

No frailty or wasting afflicts the state;

No state can suffer wasting or weakness

around it stand the Muslims and Islam.

with Muslims and Islam around it,

وَعَلى رَأسِها خَليفَةُ عَصرٍ

وَعَلى رَأسِها خَليفَةُ عَصرٍ

دَهرُهُ تابِعٌ لَهُ وَغُلامِ

دَهرُهُ تابِعٌ لَهُ وَغُلامِ

At its head is the caliph of an age

and at its head a caliph of the age,

whose own age follows him like a page.

whose time is his follower and servant.

لَم يَزَل قائِماً لَدَيهِ بِأَبوا

لَم يَزَل قائِماً لَدَيهِ بِأَبوا

بٍ عَلَيهِنَّ لِلجِباهِ اِزدِحامِ

بٍ عَلَيهِنَّ لِلجِباهِ اِزدِحامِ

He has never ceased to stand with doors before him—

Time has always stood before him at gates

doors thronged by bowing foreheads.

where foreheads crowd together,

حَيثُما تَهطَعُ المُلوكُ وَتَعنو

حَيثُما تَهطَعُ المُلوكُ وَتَعنو

تَحتَ تيجانِها الطَلى وَالهامِ

تَحتَ تيجانِها الطَلى وَالهامِ

There kings crane their necks and submit;

where kings hasten, and bow

beneath their crowns, necks and heads alike.

their necks and heads beneath their crowns.

مَوقِفٌ تَخَشَّعَ النَواظِرَ فيهِ

مَوقِفٌ تَخَشَّعَ النَواظِرَ فيهِ

وَتُسَوّى الرُؤوسُ وَالأَقدامِ

وَتُسَوّى الرُؤوسُ وَالأَقدامِ

A station where every gaze is humbled,

A station where eyes grow humble,

where heads and feet are made equal.

and heads are level with feet.

قَد حَباهُ عُثمانَ أُسّاً مَتيناً

قَد حَباهُ عُثمانَ أُسّاً مَتيناً

مِثلَ البَيتِ عِندَهُ وَالمقامِ

مِثلَ البَيتِ عِندَهُ وَالمقامِ

Osman endowed it with a foundation firm

Uthman endowed it with a solid foundation,

as the Sacred House and the Station beside it.

like the House, with the Station beside it.

شابَ قَرنُ الزَمانِ وَهوَ مَكينٌ

شابَ قَرنُ الزَمانِ وَهوَ مَكينٌ

وَتَخَطَّت مِئاتِها الأَعوامِ

وَتَخَطَّت مِئاتِها الأَعوامِ

Time’s forelock has gone gray while it stands secure,

Time's forelock has grayed, yet it remains secure;

and centuries have passed over it.

and the years have surpassed their hundreds.

وَغَدا آلفاً سِهامَ اللَيالي

وَغَدا آلفاً سِهامَ اللَيالي

فَلِذا لا تَنالُ مِنهُ السِهامِ

فَلِذا لا تَنالُ مِنهُ السِهامِ

It has grown accustomed to the arrows of the nights;

It has grown accustomed to the arrows of the nights,

therefore no arrow can strike it.

and thus those arrows cannot wound it.

إيهٍ عَبد الحَميدِ إِنَّ زَماناً

إيهٍ عَبد الحَميدِ إِنَّ زَماناً

أَنتَ فيهِ عَبّاسُهُ بَسّامِ

أَنتَ فيهِ عَبّاسُهُ بَسّامِ

Onward, Abd al-Hamid! An age in which

Ah, Abd al-Hamid! An age

you are its formidable lion, yet smiling.

with you as its stern-faced lion is smiling.

أَوَّلُهُ نَصرُكَ العَزيزُ وَأَيدٌ

أَوَّلُهُ نَصرُكَ العَزيزُ وَأَيدٌ

وارو مِصراً لَهُ إِلَيكَ أَرامِ

وارو مِصراً لَهُ إِلَيكَ أَرامِ

Its beginning is your mighty victory and power;

Its beginning is your mighty victory and strength;

give Egypt its fill—toward you its hopes incline.

[Unclear wording:] ... Egypt, for him; toward you, gazelles.

أَشخَصَت نَحوَكَ العُونُ حَيارى

أَشخَصَت نَحوَكَ العُونُ حَيارى

أُمَمُ الخافِقينَ وَالأَقوامِ

أُمَمُ الخافِقينَ وَالأَقوامِ

The eyes of nations turn toward you, bewildered—

Toward you, bewildered, they have raised their eyes:

the nations of both horizons and all peoples.

the nations and peoples of both horizons.

وَتَصَبّى القُلوبَ مِنكَ خِلالَ

وَتَصَبّى القُلوبَ مِنكَ خِلالَ

يُحرِمُ العِشقَ دونَها وَالهَيامِ

يُحرِمُ العِشقَ دونَها وَالهَيامِ

The qualities in you bewitch every heart;

Your qualities have captivated hearts;

before them, love and passion renounce all else.

love and passion for anything less are forbidden.

أَقبَلَ العَصرَ يَرتجيكَ وَفي اليُم

أَقبَلَ العَصرَ يَرتجيكَ وَفي اليُم

نى كِتابٌ وَفي الشَمالِ حُسامِ

نى كِتابٌ وَفي الشَمالِ حُسامِ

The age comes forward, setting its hope in you, with a book in its right hand

The age advances, hoping in you, bearing in its right hand

and a sword in its left.

a book, and in its left a sword.

حَبَّذا الدَولَةُ الَّتي صار فيها

حَبَّذا الدَولَةُ الَّتي صار فيها

تَوأَمَينِ العُلومِ وَالأَعلامِ

تَوأَمَينِ العُلومِ وَالأَعلامِ

Blessed is the state in which

Blessed is the state in which

knowledge and standards have become twins.

learning and banners have become twins.

هُوَ ذا الشَرقُ في حِماكَ لَكَ الأَم

هُوَ ذا الشَرقُ في حِماكَ لَكَ الأَم

رُ جَميعاً وَفي يَدَيكَ الزِمامِ

رُ جَميعاً وَفي يَدَيكَ الزِمامِ

Here is the East beneath your protection: yours the command

Here is the East in your protection; command is yours,

entire, and in your hands the reins.

entirely, and in your hands are the reins.

هَزَّهُ هَزَّةً تَثوبُ بِها الرو

هَزَّهُ هَزَّةً تَثوبُ بِها الرو

حُ وَتَحيى الآمالُ وَهيَ رِمامِ

حُ وَتَحيى الآمالُ وَهيَ رِمامِ

Shake it with such a shock that the spirit revives,

Shake it with a shake that brings back the spirit,

and hopes, though crumbled, rise.

and revives hopes, though they are crumbling bones.

أَرهَفَ الحَدَّ لِلخُطوبِ فَما يَن

أَرهَفَ الحَدَّ لِلخُطوبِ فَما يَن

فَعث مَعَ هَذِهِ اللَيالي اِحتِشامِ

فَعث مَعَ هَذِهِ اللَيالي اِحتِشامِ

Sharpen the blade against calamities; reserve is useless

Sharpen the blade for calamities; no

in the face of nights like these.

restraint avails against such nights.

لَم تَزَل أَرضَنا مَآسِدٌ بِاللَهِ

لَم تَزَل أَرضَنا مَآسِدٌ بِاللَهِ

وَمَأَوى رِجالَنا الآجامِ

وَمَأَوى رِجالَنا الآجامِ

Our land remains, by God, a den of lions,

Our land, by God, has ever been a haunt of lions,

and the thickets are the refuge of our men.

and our men's refuge is the thickets.

إِنَّ لِلشَرقَ هِبَةً بَعدَ نَومٍ

إِنَّ لِلشَرقَ هِبَةً بَعدَ نَومٍ

أَزعَجَتهُ خِلالَهُ الأَحلامِ

أَزعَجَتهُ خِلالَهُ الأَحلامِ

The East has an uprising after sleep,

Indeed, the East has an awakening after sleep,

stirred during that sleep by dreams.

during which dreams disturbed it.

هِبَةً تَبعَثُ الحَمِيَّةً في النا

هِبَةً تَبعَثُ الحَمِيَّةً في النا

سِ كَما يَبعَثُ الخِمارُ المَدامِ

سِ كَما يَبعَثُ الخِمارُ المَدامِ

An uprising that kindles ardor among the people

An awakening that rouses zeal in people,

as wine awakens intoxication.

as wine brings on intoxication.

يَسَألُ الغَربَ عِندَها الشَرقُ هَل جا

يَسَألُ الغَربَ عِندَها الشَرقُ هَل جا

ءَكَ روحٌ تَحيا بِهِ الأَصنامِ

ءَكَ روحٌ تَحيا بِهِ الأَصنامِ

Then the East asks the West: Has there come to you

Then the East asks the West: Has there come to you

a spirit by which idols live?

a spirit through which idols come to life?

تُرسِلُ الكَهرَباءَ فيها شُعاعاً

تُرسِلُ الكَهرَباءَ فيها شُعاعاً

وَيَرى لِلبُخارِ فيها رِكامِ

وَيَرى لِلبُخارِ فيها رِكامِ

Electricity sends its rays through it,

You send electricity through them as radiance,

and steam is seen there massing like clouds.

and within them masses of steam are seen.

وَتَشِبُّ النيرانُ في كُلِّ أَرضٍ

وَتَشِبُّ النيرانُ في كُلِّ أَرضٍ

فَتَعودُ النيرانُ وَهيَ سَلامِ

فَتَعودُ النيرانُ وَهيَ سَلامِ

Fires flare up in every land,

And fires blaze in every land,

then the fires become peace.

yet those fires turn to peace.

إِنَّما تُثلِجُ الصُدورَ بِسِلمٍ

إِنَّما تُثلِجُ الصُدورَ بِسِلمٍ

حَيثُما يوقِدُ الصُدورَ ضِرامِ

حَيثُما يوقِدُ الصُدورَ ضِرامِ

Hearts are cooled only by peace

You soothe hearts through peace alone,

wherever fury sets hearts ablaze.

wherever a blaze sets hearts aflame.

يا إِمامَ الهُدى هَنيئاً وَأَولى

يا إِمامَ الهُدى هَنيئاً وَأَولى

أَةن يَهنا بِالعيدِ عَنكَ الأَنامِ

أَةن يَهنا بِالعيدِ عَنكَ الأَنامِ

O imam of guidance, joy to you—and it is fitting

O Imam of guidance, congratulations! More fitting still

that through you mankind rejoice in the feast.

that mankind be congratulated on the feast in your stead.

إِن أُحاوِلُ عَلى عُلاكَ ثَناءً

إِن أُحاوِلُ عَلى عُلاكَ ثَناءً

فَهوَ مِمّا قَضى عَلَيَّ الذِمامِ

فَهوَ مِمّا قَضى عَلَيَّ الذِمامِ

If I attempt praise worthy of your heights,

If I attempt praise of your loftiness,

it is only what duty has decreed upon me.

it is what duty has laid upon me.

أَو أُعارِضُ فَتى القَريضِ فَما عا

أَو أُعارِضُ فَتى القَريضِ فَما عا

رَضَ وَردَ الحَدائِقِ القَلامِ

رَضَ وَردَ الحَدائِقِ القَلامِ

Or I rival the master of verse—for no pen has

Or if I rival the young poet, never has

rivaled the roses of gardens.

saltwort rivaled the roses of gardens.

ذا مَجالٍ رَضيتُ فيهَ مِنَ السَب

ذا مَجالٍ رَضيتُ فيهَ مِنَ السَب

قِ بِعَزمٍ لَهُ يُثنِهِ الأَحجامِ

قِ بِعَزمٍ لَهُ يُثنِهِ الأَحجامِ

This is a field where I accepted my place in the race,

This is a field where, as my share of victory, I was content

with a resolve no timidity can turn back.

with resolve that hesitation had not turned aside.

وَإِذا كانَ بَدعُ وَصفِكَ سَمطاً

وَإِذا كانَ بَدعُ وَصفِكَ سَمطاً

جاءَ عَفواً مِنَ القَريضِ النِظامِ

جاءَ عَفواً مِنَ القَريضِ النِظامِ

If this novel praise of you is a necklace,

And if this fresh description of you forms a necklace,

its ordered verse came freely from poetry.

it came unbidden from well-strung verse.

إِنَّ يَوماً بِهِ الجُلوسُ تَجَلّى

إِنَّ يَوماً بِهِ الجُلوسُ تَجَلّى

هُوَ يَومٌ خِدامُهُ الأَيّامِ

هُوَ يَومٌ خِدامُهُ الأَيّامِ

A day on which the accession shone forth

Indeed, the day your enthronement shone forth

is a day all other days must serve.

is a day whose servants are all other days.

كَفَّرَ الدَهرُ فيهِ عَن كُلِّ ما جَرَّ

كَفَّرَ الدَهرُ فيهِ عَن كُلِّ ما جَرَّ

فَلَم يَتَّجِه عَلَيهِ مَلامِ

فَلَم يَتَّجِه عَلَيهِ مَلامِ

On it Time atoned for all it had wrought,

On it, Time atoned for all it had brought about,

and no blame could then be laid upon it.

and no reproach could be directed at it.

جاءَ خِتاماً لِطارِقاتِ اللَيالي

جاءَ خِتاماً لِطارِقاتِ اللَيالي

فَاِختِلافاتِها إِلَينا لِمامِ

فَاِختِلافاتِها إِلَينا لِمامِ

It came as the ending of nighttime assaults,

It came as an end to the calamities of the nights,

so their changes visit us only in passing.

so their visits to us are only fleeting.

لَيسَ يَلحى عَلى أَواليهِ عَصرٌ

لَيسَ يَلحى عَلى أَواليهِ عَصرٌ

بِمَعاليكَ طابَ مِنهُ الخِتامِ

بِمَعاليكَ طابَ مِنهُ الخِتامِ

No age appears along its first horizons

An age is not blamed for its beginnings

whose ending your high deeds have made so fair.

when your lofty deeds have made its ending sweet.