حَلَفتُ بِمَسراها بِحَربَةَ بُزَّلا

حَلَفتُ بِمَسراها بِحَربَةَ بُزَّلا

سِراعاً تَعُدُّ الحَزنَ مِن مَرَحٍ سَهلا

سِراعاً تَعُدُّ الحَزنَ مِن مَرَحٍ سَهلا

I swore by their night journey at Harbah—full-grown camels,

I swore by her passage, with spear-like glances,

swift, deeming rugged ground level in their high spirits,

That grief counts mirth easy to obtain.

نَواحِلَ أَمثالَ القِسِيِّ نَواجِياً

نَواحِلَ أَمثالَ القِسِيِّ نَواجِياً

كَما فَوَّقَ الرامي إِلى غَرَضٍ نَصلا

كَما فَوَّقَ الرامي إِلى غَرَضٍ نَصلا

lean as bows, racing onward,

Carrying noble sentiments, like a firm mountaineer,

like an arrow an archer has nocked toward a target,

As an archer aims surely for the bullseye.

حَوامِلَ شُعثاً في الرِحالِ سِواهُمُ

حَوامِلَ شُعثاً في الرِحالِ سِواهُمُ

لِغَيرِ قِلاً ما فارَقوا الدارَ وَالأَهلا

لِغَيرِ قِلاً ما فارَقوا الدارَ وَالأَهلا

bearing disheveled, gaunt men in their saddles,

Bearing disheveled hair in traveling bags,

who left home and family not out of aversion.

Rarely did they leave home and family.

أُذِلَّت لَهُم في طاعَةِ اللَهِ أَنفُسٌ

أُذِلَّت لَهُم في طاعَةِ اللَهِ أَنفُسٌ

كَرائِمُ لا يَعرِفنَ بُؤساً وَلا ذُلا

كَرائِمُ لا يَعرِفنَ بُؤساً وَلا ذُلا

For them, in obedience to God, souls were humbled—

Souls humbled for God in obedience,

noble souls, knowing neither misery nor humiliation.

Generous spirits unacquainted with misery or humiliation.

يَؤُمّونَ في أَعلامِ مَكَّةَ مَوقِفاً

يَؤُمّونَ في أَعلامِ مَكَّةَ مَوقِفاً

يَحُطّونَ مِن وَقرِ الذُنوبِ بِها ثِقَلا

يَحُطّونَ مِن وَقرِ الذُنوبِ بِها ثِقَلا

They head for a station among Mecca's landmarks,

At the stations of Mecca they stand in vigil,

where they cast off weight from the burden of sins.

Unburdening themselves of the weight of sins.

يَسوقُهُمُ مِن نَحوِ طَيبَةَ تُربَةٌ

يَسوقُهُمُ مِن نَحوِ طَيبَةَ تُربَةٌ

تُساقُ لَها الأَملاكُ في المَلَإِ الأَعلى

تُساقُ لَها الأَملاكُ في المَلَإِ الأَعلى

From the direction of Taybah, a tomb draws them onward,

A blessed soil leads them from Mount Tabâ,

to which the angels in the highest assembly are led.

To which angels are led, in the Highest Assembly.

يَميناً لَقَد أَحيا بِجودِ يَمينِهِ

يَميناً لَقَد أَحيا بِجودِ يَمينِهِ

لَنا عَضُدُ الدينِ السَماحَةَ وَالبَذلا

لَنا عَضُدُ الدينِ السَماحَةَ وَالبَذلا

I swear: through his right hand's bounty he has revived

Indeed, the hand of his generosity revived

generosity and giving for us—Adud al-Din.

For us the pillar of religion, magnanimity, and openness.

وَما زالَتِ الأَيّامُ تَظلِمُ أَهلَها

وَما زالَتِ الأَيّامُ تَظلِمُ أَهلَها

فَعَلَّمَها مِن حُسنِ سيرَتِهِ العَدلا

فَعَلَّمَها مِن حُسنِ سيرَتِهِ العَدلا

And the days had always wronged their people,

While the days continued to oppress people,

so through his noble conduct he taught them justice.

He taught them the beauty of his exemplary conduct and justice.

فَأَمَّ نَداهُ الرَكبُ مِن كُلِّ وُجهَةٍ

فَأَمَّ نَداهُ الرَكبُ مِن كُلِّ وُجهَةٍ

فَيوضِحُ مِن أَنوارِهِ لَهُمُ السُبلا

فَيوضِحُ مِن أَنوارِهِ لَهُمُ السُبلا

So riders sought his bounty from every direction,

Caravans cry out to him from every destination,

and through his radiance he makes their paths clear.

So he makes clear to them the roads with his light.

وَفى لَهُمُ بِالخِصبِ قَبلَ لِقائِهِ

وَفى لَهُمُ بِالخِصبِ قَبلَ لِقائِهِ

فَما وَطِئوا في وَطأَةٍ بَلَداً مَحلا

فَما وَطِئوا في وَطأَةٍ بَلَداً مَحلا

He provided them with abundance before they met him,

He fulfilled their needs before meeting them,

so at no step did they tread a drought-stricken land.

So they did not tread on a barren land.

إِذا صافَحَت أَرضاً سَنابِكُ خَيلِهِ

إِذا صافَحَت أَرضاً سَنابِكُ خَيلِهِ

تَمَنّى الأَعادي أَن يَكونَ لَهُم كُحلا

تَمَنّى الأَعادي أَن يَكونَ لَهُم كُحلا

When the hooves of his horses clasp the earth,

When the hoofs of his horses pat the earth,

his enemies wish it were kohl for their eyes.

The enemies wish they had kohl for their eyes.

كَفاكَ العِدى نَصرٌ مِنَ اللَهِ عاجِلٌ

كَفاكَ العِدى نَصرٌ مِنَ اللَهِ عاجِلٌ

خَفِيٌّ وَما أَعمَلتَ رَأياً وَلا نَصلا

خَفِيٌّ وَما أَعمَلتَ رَأياً وَلا نَصلا

A swift victory from God delivered you from your foes,

Your vengeance is sufficient, immediate victory from God,

unseen, though you employed neither strategy nor blade.

Undetectable, as you hatched no plots or devices.

وَقَد كانَ حُلواً أَن يُذيقَهُمُ الرَدى

وَقَد كانَ حُلواً أَن يُذيقَهُمُ الرَدى

وَلَكِن مُفاجاةُ القَضاءِ لَهُم أَحلى

وَلَكِن مُفاجاةُ القَضاءِ لَهُم أَحلى

And it would have been sweet to make them taste death,

It would have been sweet to make them taste setback,

but fate's catching them unawares was sweeter.

But the surprise fate had for them was sweeter.

لِيَهنِ نِظامَ الدينِ سابِغُ نِعمَةٍ

لِيَهنِ نِظامَ الدينِ سابِغُ نِعمَةٍ

رَآهُ أَميرُ المُؤمِنينَ لَها أَهلا

رَآهُ أَميرُ المُؤمِنينَ لَها أَهلا

May Nizam al-Din enjoy an abundant blessing:

That the pillars of religion be renewed with complete bounty,

the Commander of the Faithful deemed him worthy of it.

The Commander of the Faithful saw it apt.

هَدايا أَتَت مِن خَيرِ خَلقٍ وَوَصلَةٌ

هَدايا أَتَت مِن خَيرِ خَلقٍ وَوَصلَةٌ

أُتيحَت وَلَم تَخطُب لَها بادِئاً وَصلاً

أُتيحَت وَلَم تَخطُب لَها بادِئاً وَصلاً

Gifts came from the best of creation, and a union

Gifts came from the best of mankind, and a bond

was granted, though you had not first sought a bond with her.

Was made possible without being sought or requested.

وَما كانَتِ الشَمسُ المُنيرَةُ تَرتَضي

وَما كانَتِ الشَمسُ المُنيرَةُ تَرتَضي

سِوى البَدرِ في أُفقِ السَماءِ لَها بَعلا

سِوى البَدرِ في أُفقِ السَماءِ لَها بَعلا

And the radiant sun would accept no one

The shining sun was not pleased

but the full moon on heaven's horizon as her husband.

With less than the full moon in the horizon as her husband.

تَخَيَّرَهُ لَدنَ المَعاطِفِ واضِحَ ال

تَخَيَّرَهُ لَدنَ المَعاطِفِ واضِحَ ال

أَسِرَّةِ مَعسولَ الشَمائِلِ مُستَحلى

أَسِرَّةِ مَعسولَ الشَمائِلِ مُستَحلى

He chose him, supple of frame, radiant of

He chose him from among the compassionate, sweet of temperament,

countenance, honey-sweet in character, delightful.

One who charms the most hidden secrets.

حَباها بِهِ مِن أَكرَمِ الناسِ نَبعَةً

حَباها بِهِ مِن أَكرَمِ الناسِ نَبعَةً

وَأَعلاهُمُ فَرعٌ وَأَزكاهُمُ أَصلا

وَأَعلاهُمُ فَرعٌ وَأَزكاهُمُ أَصلا

He endowed her with him, of the noblest stock among men,

He endowed her with him, from the noblest people, an untainted spring,

loftiest in branch and purest in root.

The highest in lineage and the purest in origin.

بَهاليلُ مِن قَومٍ يُعَدُّ وَلَيدُهُم

بَهاليلُ مِن قَومٍ يُعَدُّ وَلَيدُهُم

إِذا اِستُصرِخوا يَوماً لِحادِثِةٍ كَهلا

إِذا اِستُصرِخوا يَوماً لِحادِثِةٍ كَهلا

Noble chiefs of a people whose newborn is reckoned

Bahilites, whose son is counted as a leader

a mature man whenever they are called for help in a calamity.

If they call for help one day against adversity.

لَهُم مُعجِزاتٌ في النَدى فَكَأَنَّهُم

لَهُم مُعجِزاتٌ في النَدى فَكَأَنَّهُم

إِذا دَرَسَت أَعلامُهُ بُعِثوا رُسلا

إِذا دَرَسَت أَعلامُهُ بُعِثوا رُسلا

Theirs are miracles in bounty, as though they,

They have miracles in supporting others, as if

when its landmarks fade, were sent as messengers.

When their flags are unfurled, they were sent as messengers.

إِذا رَكِبوا في جَحفَلٍ بَدَّدوا العِدى

إِذا رَكِبوا في جَحفَلٍ بَدَّدوا العِدى

وَإِن جَلَسوا في مَحفِلٍ جَمَعوا الفَضلا

وَإِن جَلَسوا في مَحفِلٍ جَمَعوا الفَضلا

When they ride in a mighty host, they scatter their foes;

When mounted in an army, they disperse the enemies,

and when they sit in an assembly, they gather every virtue.

And if seated in council, they gather the meritorious.

فَلا وَجَدَت أَيدي الحَوادِثِ وَالعِدى

فَلا وَجَدَت أَيدي الحَوادِثِ وَالعِدى

لِما عَقَدَت نَعماؤُهُ بَينَهُم حَلّا

لِما عَقَدَت نَعماؤُهُ بَينَهُم حَلّا

So may the hands of calamities and foes never find

So the hands of misfortunes and enemies found no way

a way to untie what his bounty has bound between them.

To what his blessings tied firmly between them.

وَلا وَطِئَت غَيرُ الخُطوبِ لَكُم حِمىً

وَلا وَطِئَت غَيرُ الخُطوبِ لَكُم حِمىً

وَلا بَدَّدَت غَيرُ اللَيالي لَكُم شَملا

وَلا بَدَّدَت غَيرُ اللَيالي لَكُم شَملا

And may the vicissitudes of calamity never tread your sanctuary,

No footsteps treaded your protected grounds,

nor may the turns of the nights scatter your company.

Nor did any nights disperse your gathering.

وَلا زِلتَ تُعطَ فيهِ قاصِيَةَ المُنى

وَلا زِلتَ تُعطَ فيهِ قاصِيَةَ المُنى

إِلى أَن يُريكَ اللَهُ مِن نَجلِهِ نَجلا

إِلى أَن يُريكَ اللَهُ مِن نَجلِهِ نَجلا

And may you always be granted in him your utmost wishes,

You continue to show kindness to the farthest hopes,

until God shows you a son born of his son,

Until God shows you from his son, a son.

وَحَتّى تَرى فِهِ النَجابَةَ يافِعاً

وَحَتّى تَرى فِهِ النَجابَةَ يافِعاً

عَلى أَنَّهُ في المَهدِ قَد نالَهُ طِفلا

عَلى أَنَّهُ في المَهدِ قَد نالَهُ طِفلا

and until you see excellence in him as a youth,

Until you see the glory of youth in him,

although he already attained it in the cradle as an infant.

Though as an infant he attained it.

كَأَنَّ بِهِ عَمّا قَليلٍ وَقَد سَما

كَأَنَّ بِهِ عَمّا قَليلٍ وَقَد سَما

يَمُدُّ إِلى نَيلِ العُلى ساعِداً عَبلا

يَمُدُّ إِلى نَيلِ العُلى ساعِداً عَبلا

It is as though, before long, he has risen high,

As if, in but a little while, he will soar,

stretching a mighty arm to attain the heights,

Extending his arm to attain the highest horizons.

وَسارٍ أَمامَ الجَيشِ لَيثَ كَتيبَةٍ

وَسارٍ أَمامَ الجَيشِ لَيثَ كَتيبَةٍ

يَرُدُّ عَلى أَعقابِها الخَيلَ وَالرَجلا

يَرُدُّ عَلى أَعقابِها الخَيلَ وَالرَجلا

and marching by night before the army, a battalion's lion,

Marching before an army, a courageous band,

driving cavalry and infantry back on their heels.

Turning its horses and infantry back on their heels.

يَسودُ كَما سادَ الأَنامُ

يَسودُ كَما سادَ الأَنامُ

وَيُعطي كَما أَعطى وَيُبلي كَما أَبلى

وَيُعطي كَما أَعطى وَيُبلي كَما أَبلى

He rules as humankind has ruled,

Ruling as great rulers ruled,

and gives as he gave, and proves his valor as he did.

Giving as great givers gave, vanquishing as conquerors conquered.

وَعِش مُبلِياً ثَوبَ البَقاءِ مُجَدِّداً

وَعِش مُبلِياً ثَوبَ البَقاءِ مُجَدِّداً

مَلابِسَ عِزٍّ لا تَرِثُّ وَلا تَبلى

مَلابِسَ عِزٍّ لا تَرِثُّ وَلا تَبلى

And live, wearing out the robe of longevity, renewing

Live vanquishing the robes of eternity, renewing

garments of glory that neither fray nor wear out.

The raiment of honor that does not tarnish or decay.

تُعَرِّسُ في ناديكُمُ مِن مَدائِحي

تُعَرِّسُ في ناديكُمُ مِن مَدائِحي

عَرائِسُ في أَثوابِ إِحسانِكُم تُجلى

عَرائِسُ في أَثوابِ إِحسانِكُم تُجلى

From my praises, there encamp in your assembly

My poems will marry, in your club,

brides, unveiled in the robes of your kindness.

Brides in the dresses of your generosity, gleaming.