لَكَ النَهيُ بَعدَ اللَهِ في الخَلقِ وَالأَمرُ

لَكَ النَهيُ بَعدَ اللَهِ في الخَلقِ وَالأَمرُ

وَفي يَدِكَ المَبسوطَةِ النَفعُ وَالضُرُّ

وَفي يَدِكَ المَبسوطَةِ النَفعُ وَالضُرُّ

After God, yours are prohibition and command over creation.

You are the prophet's successor enjoying

And in your outstretched hand lie benefit and harm.

Supreme authority over all creatures;

وَطاعَتُكَ الإيمانُ بِاللَهِ وَالهُدى

وَطاعَتُكَ الإيمانُ بِاللَهِ وَالهُدى

وَعِصيانُكَ الإِلحادِ في الدينِ وَالكُفرُ

وَعِصيانُكَ الإِلحادِ في الدينِ وَالكُفرُ

Obedience to you is faith in God and right guidance;

Obeying you is believing in Allah and guidance,

disobedience to you is heresy in religion and unbelief.

While disobeying you is blasphemy and unbelief.

وَلَولاكَ ما صَحَّت عَقيدَةُ مُؤمِنٍ

وَلَولاكَ ما صَحَّت عَقيدَةُ مُؤمِنٍ

تَقِيٍّ وَلَم يُقبَل دُعاءٌ وَلا نَذرُ

تَقِيٍّ وَلَم يُقبَل دُعاءٌ وَلا نَذرُ

Without you, no believer's creed would be sound,

Were it not for you, no believer's faith would be valid,

however devout; nor would prayer or vow be accepted.

Neither his prayer nor vow would be accepted.

مُرِ الدَهرَ يَفعَل ما تَشاءُ فَإِنَّهُ

مُرِ الدَهرَ يَفعَل ما تَشاءُ فَإِنَّهُ

بِأَمرِكَ يَجري في تَصَرُّفِهِ الدَهرُ

بِأَمرِكَ يَجري في تَصَرُّفِهِ الدَهرُ

Command Time, and it will do as you wish, for

Command time as you wish, for it

Time follows your command in all its workings.

Rules according to your order.

عِتادُكَ لِلأَعداءِ بيضٌ صَوارِمٌ

عِتادُكَ لِلأَعداءِ بيضٌ صَوارِمٌ

وَمُقرَبَةٌ جُردٌ وَخَطِيَّةٌ سُمرُ

وَمُقرَبَةٌ جُردٌ وَخَطِيَّةٌ سُمرُ

Your arms against your enemies are bright, keen swords,

Your stalwarts ready to fight the foe

prized, sleek steeds and brown Khatt spears.

Are armor-clad swordsmen and select horsemen.

وَأَنتَ أَمينُ اللَهِ فينا وَوارِثُ ال

وَأَنتَ أَمينُ اللَهِ فينا وَوارِثُ ال

نَبِيِّ وَمِن أَمسى يَحُقُّ لَهُ الأَمرُ

نَبِيِّ وَمِن أَمسى يَحُقُّ لَهُ الأَمرُ

You are God's trustee among us, and heir to the

You are Allah's trustee over us and the prophet's heir;

Prophet, and one to whom command now rightfully belongs.

To you belongs the right to rule.

إِمامُ هُدىً عَمَّت سِياسَةُ عَدلِهِ

إِمامُ هُدىً عَمَّت سِياسَةُ عَدلِهِ

فَأَوَّلُ مَقتولٍ بِأَسيافِهِ الفَقرُ

فَأَوَّلُ مَقتولٍ بِأَسيافِهِ الفَقرُ

A guiding imam whose just governance reaches all;

You are the imam and guide whose justice

poverty is the first slain by his swords.

Has spread all over, killing poverty first of all.

يُقَصِّرُ باعُ المَدحِ دونَ صِفاتِهِ

يُقَصِّرُ باعُ المَدحِ دونَ صِفاتِهِ

وَتَصغُرُ أَن يَهدي الثَناءَ لَهُ الشِعرُ

وَتَصغُرُ أَن يَهدي الثَناءَ لَهُ الشِعرُ

The reach of praise falls short of his qualities,

Eulogists fall short of enumerating your attributes,

and poetry is too small to offer him praise.

While poets are too humble to praise you enough.

وَمَن نَطَقَت آيُ الكِتابِ بِفَضلِهِ

وَمَن نَطَقَت آيُ الكِتابِ بِفَضلِهِ

فَما حَدُّهُ أَن يَبلُغَ النَظمُ وَالنَثرُ

فَما حَدُّهُ أَن يَبلُغَ النَظمُ وَالنَثرُ

For one whose excellence the Book's verses proclaim,

Those whose glory the Qur'an has proclaimed,

what measure of him can verse and prose attain?

Cannot be ever praised enough by prose or verse.

وَكَيفَ يُقاسُ البَحرُ جوداً بِكَفِّهِ

وَكَيفَ يُقاسُ البَحرُ جوداً بِكَفِّهِ

وَمِن بَعضِ ما تَحويهِ قَبضَتُهُ البَحرُ

وَمِن بَعضِ ما تَحويهِ قَبضَتُهُ البَحرُ

How can the sea compare in generosity with his hand,

How can the sea be compared to your liberal hands

when the sea is but a part of what his grasp contains?

When what you hold in one palm is more than all the sea?

وَما لِضِياءِ البَدرِ إِشراقُ وَجهِهِ

وَما لِضِياءِ البَدرِ إِشراقُ وَجهِهِ

وَأَنّى وَمِن إِشراقِهِ خُلِقَ البَدرِ

وَأَنّى وَمِن إِشراقِهِ خُلِقَ البَدرِ

The full moon's light has not his face's radiance;

The full moon borrows its light from your face;

how could it, when the full moon was created from his radiance?

How can the full moon shine without your light?

وَمَن يَستَهِلُّ القَطرُ مِن بَرَكاتِهِ

وَمَن يَستَهِلُّ القَطرُ مِن بَرَكاتِهِ

عَلى الناسِ ظُلمٌ أَن يُقاسَ بِهِ القَطرُ

عَلى الناسِ ظُلمٌ أَن يُقاسَ بِهِ القَطرُ

He whose blessings make the rain pour down

It would be unfair if a drop of your blessings

upon the people—it is unjust to compare the rain with him.

Were equaled with rain pouring all over people.

وَكَيفَ يُهَنّى بِالزَمانِ وَإِنَّما

وَكَيفَ يُهَنّى بِالزَمانِ وَإِنَّما

تُهَنّى بِهِ الأَيّامُ وَالعامُ وَالعَصرُ

تُهَنّى بِهِ الأَيّامُ وَالعامُ وَالعَصرُ

How can he be congratulated on the times, when instead

How can time be belittled when only

the days, the year, and the age are congratulated on him?

Days, years and centuries are belittled by it?

تَغارُ مِنَ الأَرضِ السَماءُ لِوَطئِهِ

تَغارُ مِنَ الأَرضِ السَماءُ لِوَطئِهِ

ثَراهَ وَمِن حَصبائِها الأَنجُمُ الزُهرُ

ثَراهَ وَمِن حَصبائِها الأَنجُمُ الزُهرُ

Heaven envies earth because he treads

The sky is jealous of your walk on earth,

its soil, and the radiant stars envy its pebbles.

And of the stars that illuminate your path.

مِنَ القَومِ لِلأَملاكِ بِالوَحيِ مَهبِطٌ

مِنَ القَومِ لِلأَملاكِ بِالوَحيِ مَهبِطٌ

عَلَيهِم وَفي أَبياتِهِم نَزَلَ الذِكرُ

عَلَيهِم وَفي أَبياتِهِم نَزَلَ الذِكرُ

He is of a people: angels descend with revelation

Through your ancestors, revelation used to come down

upon them; in their houses the Remembrance came down.

To the angels, and the Book was revealed in their homes.

بِمَجدِهِمُ سادَت قُرَيشٌ وَهاشِمٌ

بِمَجدِهِمُ سادَت قُرَيشٌ وَهاشِمٌ

وَمِن قَبلُ ما سادَت كُنانَةُ وَالنِضرُ

وَمِن قَبلُ ما سادَت كُنانَةُ وَالنِضرُ

Through their glory Quraysh and Hashim rose to eminence,

Through their glory, Quraysh and Hashim gained leadership;

and earlier still, Kinanah and al-Nadr rose to eminence.

Before them, neither Kananah nor Nidhar had it.

وَلاؤُهُمُ لِلمُذنِبينَ وَسيلَةٌ

وَلاؤُهُمُ لِلمُذنِبينَ وَسيلَةٌ

فَلولاهُمُ ما حُطَّ عَن مُذنِبٍ وِزرُ

فَلولاهُمُ ما حُطَّ عَن مُذنِبٍ وِزرُ

Devotion to them is a means of intercession for sinners;

Seeking their support is salvation

without them, no sinner's burden would be lifted.

Without which no sinner's burden would be removed.

بِهِم شَرُفَت بَطحاءُ مَكَّةَ وَالصَفا

بِهِم شَرُفَت بَطحاءُ مَكَّةَ وَالصَفا

وَزَمزَمُ وَالبَيتُ المُحَجَّبُ وَالحُجرُ

وَزَمزَمُ وَالبَيتُ المُحَجَّبُ وَالحُجرُ

Through them Mecca's valley and al-Safa were ennobled,

It was through them that the precinct of Mecca gained nobility

and Zamzam, the veiled House, and al-Hijr.

As well as Safa, Zamzam, the Inviolable House and the Black Stone.

وَكَيفَ تُجارى في الفِخارِ عِصابَةٌ

وَكَيفَ تُجارى في الفِخارِ عِصابَةٌ

لِآدَمَ في يَومِ المَعادِ بِهِم فَخرُ

لِآدَمَ في يَومِ المَعادِ بِهِم فَخرُ

How can any rival a company in glory

How could any group be proud among mankind

in whom Adam takes pride on the Day of Return?

When through your father, Adam will take pride on the Day of Judgment?

وَأَنتَ أَميرُ المُؤمِنينَ ذَخيرَةٌ

وَأَنتَ أَميرُ المُؤمِنينَ ذَخيرَةٌ

لِأَعقابِهِم طابَت وَطابَ بِها الذِكرُ

لِأَعقابِهِم طابَت وَطابَ بِها الذِكرُ

You, Commander of the Faithful, are a treasure

O prince of the faithful, you are a treasure

for their descendants, goodly in itself and sweetening their renown.

To their offspring; may their mention ever be blessed!

وَلَمّا أَبى الأَعداءُ إِلّا تَمَرُّداً

وَلَمّا أَبى الأَعداءُ إِلّا تَمَرُّداً

أَبى اللَهُ إِلّا أَن يَكونَ لَكَ النَصرُ

أَبى اللَهُ إِلّا أَن يَكونَ لَكَ النَصرُ

When the enemies would accept nothing but rebellion,

When the foes persisted in aggression,

God would have nothing but victory for you.

Allah granted you victory over them.

وَكَم زَجَرَتهُم مِن سُطاكَ مَواعِظٌ

وَكَم زَجَرَتهُم مِن سُطاكَ مَواعِظٌ

فَما نَفَعَ الوَعظُ المُنَهنِهُ وَالزَجرُ

فَما نَفَعَ الوَعظُ المُنَهنِهُ وَالزَجرُ

How many warnings of your might rebuked them!

How many warnings did your speeches give them,

Yet restraining counsel and rebuke availed nothing.

But neither warning nor threat did benefit the warned!

وَغَرَّهُمُ سِلمُ اللَيالي وَما دَرَوا

وَغَرَّهُمُ سِلمُ اللَيالي وَما دَرَوا

بِأَنَّ اللَيالي مِن سَجِيَّتِها الغَدرُ

بِأَنَّ اللَيالي مِن سَجِيَّتِها الغَدرُ

The peaceful nights deceived them, and they did not know

The calm nights deluded them, and they did not know

that treachery is in the nature of nights.

That nights are infamous for being treacherous.

أَريتَهُمُ مِن سُخطِكَ المَوتَ جَهرَةً

أَريتَهُمُ مِن سُخطِكَ المَوتَ جَهرَةً

غَداةَ اِستَوى في عَزمِكَ السِرُّ وَالجَهرُ

غَداةَ اِستَوى في عَزمِكَ السِرُّ وَالجَهرُ

Through your wrath you showed them death openly,

You showed them in your anger open death

the morning your resolve was the same in secret and in public.

When your secrets and proclamations became all the same.

تَشِفُّ لَهُم وَالحرَبُ مُلقىً جِرانُها

تَشِفُّ لَهُم وَالحرَبُ مُلقىً جِرانُها

مِنَ الهَبَواتِ السودِ أَثوابُهُ الحُمرُ

مِنَ الهَبَواتِ السودِ أَثوابُهُ الحُمرُ

There gleam before them, while war's neck lies outstretched,

They pleasure in seeing war dressed

death's red robes through clouds of black dust.

In black robes and reddish raiment.

أَبى اللَهُ إِلّا أَن يَموتوا أَذِلَّةً

أَبى اللَهُ إِلّا أَن يَموتوا أَذِلَّةً

وَفَرّوا وَسَيّانِ المَنِيَّةُ وَالفَرُّ

وَفَرّوا وَسَيّانِ المَنِيَّةُ وَالفَرُّ

God would have them die in abasement;

Allah decreed humiliation and death for them

they fled, though death and flight were one.

As they ran away, while death and fleeing chased them.

وَلَو صَبَروا ماتوا كِراماً أَعِزَّةً

وَلَو صَبَروا ماتوا كِراماً أَعِزَّةً

وَلَكِنَّ عِندَ السوءِ خانَهُمُ الصَبرُ

وَلَكِنَّ عِندَ السوءِ خانَهُمُ الصَبرُ

Had they stood firm, they would have died noble and honored;

Had they been patient, they would have died honorably,

but in adversity steadfastness betrayed them.

But patience betrayed them during misfortune.

وَقَد كانَ خَيراً مِن حَياتِهِمُ الرَدى

وَقَد كانَ خَيراً مِن حَياتِهِمُ الرَدى

وَأَجدى عَلَيهِم مِن فِرارِهِمُ الأَسرُ

وَأَجدى عَلَيهِم مِن فِرارِهِمُ الأَسرُ

Death would have been better than their lives,

Their death was better for them than

and captivity more profitable to them than flight.

Their disgraceful escape and humiliating capture.

يَعِزُّ عَلى زُرقِ الأَسِنَّةِ عَودُها

يَعِزُّ عَلى زُرقِ الأَسِنَّةِ عَودُها

وَما نَهَلَت مِنهُم ذُوابِلُها السُمرُ

وَما نَهَلَت مِنهُم ذُوابِلُها السُمرُ

It pains the blue spearheads to return

Their tongues were unable to speak out of thirst,

when their slender brown shafts have not drunk of them.

And the swords spared them not their piercing.

تَحومُ ظِماءً وَالنُحورُ كَأَنَّها

تَحومُ ظِماءً وَالنُحورُ كَأَنَّها

مَناهِلِ وِردٍ وَالرِماحُ قَطاً كُدرُ

مَناهِلِ وِردٍ وَالرِماحُ قَطاً كُدرُ

They circle thirsty, while the throats seem

Had you wished, you could have let their tongues speak

watering places to drink at, and the spears dusky sandgrouse.

And made the tongueless Indian swords speak eloquently,

وَلَو شِئتَ حَكَّمتَ الأَسِنَّةَ فيهُمُ

وَلَو شِئتَ حَكَّمتَ الأَسِنَّةَ فيهُمُ

وَبَلَّت صَداها الهِندُوانِيَّةُ البُترُ

وَبَلَّت صَداها الهِندُوانِيَّةُ البُترُ

Had you wished, you could have made the spearheads their judges,

You did not annihilate them out of pity,

and the keen Indian swords would have slaked their thirst.

Rather, you left them alone till distress destroyed them

وَلَم تُبقِ إِشفاقاً عَليهِم وَإِنَّما

وَلَم تُبقِ إِشفاقاً عَليهِم وَإِنَّما

تَبَقَّيتَهُم حَتّى يُميتَهُمُ الذُعرُ

تَبَقَّيتَهُم حَتّى يُميتَهُمُ الذُعرُ

You did not spare them out of pity; rather,

You made them fearful wherever they went,

you kept them alive until terror should kill them.

So much so that every path led them to a spy ambushing them;

قَذَفتَهُمُ بِالرُعبِ في كُلِّ مَسلَكٍ

قَذَفتَهُمُ بِالرُعبِ في كُلِّ مَسلَكٍ

فَكُلُّ سَبيلٍ أَمَّ رائِدُهُم وَعرُ

فَكُلُّ سَبيلٍ أَمَّ رائِدُهُم وَعرُ

You drove them in terror down every path;

Even the vast expanse of Malik's territory was narrow for them,

every road their scout sought was rugged.

And its towns were frightening, valleys mere traps.

وَضاقَت بِهِم أَكنافُ رَحبَةِ مالِكٍ

وَضاقَت بِهِم أَكنافُ رَحبَةِ مالِكٍ

وَأَقطارُها فيحٌ وَأَمواهُها غُدرُ

وَأَقطارُها فيحٌ وَأَمواهُها غُدرُ

The reaches of Rahbat Malik grew narrow for them,

Their dreams scared them during the year of insurrection,

though its regions are wide and its waters are pools.

And upon waking, fear overwhelmed them at dawn.

تَروعُهُمُ الأَحلامُ في سِنَةِ الكَرى

تَروعُهُمُ الأَحلامُ في سِنَةِ الكَرى

وَيُذهِلُهُم خَوفاً إِذا اِستَيقَظوا الفَجرُ

وَيُذهِلُهُم خَوفاً إِذا اِستَيقَظوا الفَجرُ

Dreams terrify them in the drowsiness of sleep,

As though the white dawn were your spears

and dawn stuns them with fear when they wake.

And the dark night the harbinger of your advent.

كَأَنَّ بَياضَ الصُبحِ بيضُكَ جُرِّدَت

كَأَنَّ بَياضَ الصُبحِ بيضُكَ جُرِّدَت

لَهُم وَسَوادُ اللَيلِ عَسكَرُكَ المَجرُ

لَهُم وَسَوادُ اللَيلِ عَسكَرُكَ المَجرُ

As though morning's whiteness were your bright swords, drawn

Their sighs are so intense that

against them, and night's darkness your vast army.

When they drink water, it boils like embers in fire.

لَهُم زَفَراتٌ مُحرِقاتٌ كَأَنَّها

لَهُم زَفَراتٌ مُحرِقاتٌ كَأَنَّها

إِذا اِستَبرَدوا بِالماءِ مِن حَرِّها جَمرُ

إِذا اِستَبرَدوا بِالماءِ مِن حَرِّها جَمرُ

They have burning sighs, as though they were,

They plotted wickedly before daybreak,

when they seek water's relief from their heat, live coals.

Thus the evils of plotting and scheming backfired on them.

طَوَوا مَكرَهُم تَحتَ الظُلوعِ خِيانَةً

طَوَوا مَكرَهُم تَحتَ الظُلوعِ خِيانَةً

فَحاقَ بِهِم خُبثُ الطَوِيَةِ وَالمُكرُ

فَحاقَ بِهِم خُبثُ الطَوِيَةِ وَالمُكرُ

They hid their plots beneath their ribs in treachery,

Their homelands became fed up with them

and secret malice and deceit recoiled upon them.

So much so that homelands casting out their inhabitants was legitimized.

نَبَت بِهِمُ أَوطانُهُم وَتَنَكَّرَت

نَبَت بِهِمُ أَوطانُهُم وَتَنَكَّرَت

وَحَقَّ لِأَوطانٍ بَغى أَهلُها النُكرُ

وَحَقَّ لِأَوطانٍ بَغى أَهلُها النُكرُ

Their homelands rejected them and grew unrecognizable;

The songs sung for them by mourning women under the dust

calamity befits lands whose people rebelled.

Were accompanied by black-robed women on gray mounts

وَكانَت بِهِم غَنّاءَ حالِيَةَ الثَرى

وَكانَت بِهِم غَنّاءَ حالِيَةَ الثَرى

مَواقِدُها سودٌ وَأَكنافُها خُضرُ

مَواقِدُها سودٌ وَأَكنافُها خُضرُ

Their lands had been lush with them, their soil adorned,

Thus did they become the talk of every country and

their hearths blackened and their environs green.

A lesson for others, while their treasures were all plundered

فَأَضحَوا حَديثاً في البِلادِ وَعِبرَةً

فَأَضحَوا حَديثاً في البِلادِ وَعِبرَةً

ذَخائِرُهُم نَهبٌ وَأَطلالُهُم قَفرُ

ذَخائِرُهُم نَهبٌ وَأَطلالُهُم قَفرُ

Then they became a tale throughout the lands, a warning:

And their residences became vacant and deserted.

their treasures plundered, their ruins desolate.

Many a morning does not carry an evening in its wings

وَرُبَّ صَباحٍ لا يَعودُ مَساؤُهُ

وَرُبَّ صَباحٍ لا يَعودُ مَساؤُهُ

نَعَم وَمَساءٍ لا يَكونُ لَهُ فَجرُ

نَعَم وَمَساءٍ لا يَكونُ لَهُ فَجرُ

Many a morning never sees its evening return;

And many an evening carries no morning in its womb!

yes, and many an evening has no dawn.

The steeds of death raced with them exhilarated

لَقَد رَكَضَت خَيلُ المَنايا فَأَوجَفَت

لَقَد رَكَضَت خَيلُ المَنايا فَأَوجَفَت

بِهِم وَلَها فيمَن بَقي مِنهُمُ كَرُّ

بِهِم وَلَها فيمَن بَقي مِنهُمُ كَرُّ

Death's horses galloped, speeding

And still expect more from their remaining number.

away with them; they will charge again at those of them who remain.

Thus, neither a fort nor a protective quarter

فَلَم ينُجِهِم قَصرٌ مَشَيدٌ وَلا حِمىً

فَلَم ينُجِهِم قَصرٌ مَشَيدٌ وَلا حِمىً

وَلَم يُغنِهِم مالٌ عَتيدٌ وَلا وَفرُ

وَلَم يُغنِهِم مالٌ عَتيدٌ وَلا وَفرُ

No lofty palace or protected ground saved them,

Could avail them, nor could wealth or plenty do so.

nor did ready wealth or abundance avail them.

The choice detachments of Mansur's horsemen

عَزائِمُ مَنصورِ السَرايا مُؤَيَّدٍ

عَزائِمُ مَنصورِ السَرايا مُؤَيَّدٍ

أَبى أَن يَرى هَضماً إِباءٌ لَهُ مُرُّ

أَبى أَن يَرى هَضماً إِباءٌ لَهُ مُرُّ

Such are the resolves of one divinely aided, whose squadrons triumph:

Could be stopped by none and accept no excuse.

his fierce pride refused to countenance any slight.

Can victory ever forsake an army raising the standard

وَهَل يَتَعَدّى النَصرُ مَلكاً شِعارُهُ

وَهَل يَتَعَدّى النَصرُ مَلكاً شِعارُهُ

وَوَسمُ مَذاكيهِ غَداةَ الوَغى نَصرُ

وَوَسمُ مَذاكيهِ غَداةَ الوَغى نَصرُ

Can victory pass by a king whose battle cry

Of `Nasr' and whose soldiers wear its insignia on their sleeves?

and the brand of his seasoned steeds on battle's morn are Victory?

I swear by God had they come to you repentant,

وَأَقسِمُ لَو عادوا فَعاذوا بِعَفوِهِ

وَأَقسِمُ لَو عادوا فَعاذوا بِعَفوِهِ

تَلَقَّتهُمُ مِنهُ الطَلاقَةُ وَالبِشرُ

تَلَقَّتهُمُ مِنهُ الطَلاقَةُ وَالبِشرُ

I swear, if they returned and sought refuge in his pardon,

You would have met them excitedly and pleasantly!

his open welcome and good cheer would receive them.

Let not those who antagonize

فَلا يَطمَعِ الباغونَ في رَدِّ حُكمِهِ

فَلا يَطمَعِ الباغونَ في رَدِّ حُكمِهِ

فَلِلَّهِ في إِعزازِ دَولَتِهِ سِرُّ

فَلِلَّهِ في إِعزازِ دَولَتِهِ سِرُّ

Let rebels not hope to overturn his judgment;

Your rule covet any hope to undermine it

for God has a secret in strengthening his dominion.

Nor let them seek any excuse, since God

وَلا يَطلُبوا عُذراً فَليسَ لِمُجرِمٍ

وَلا يَطلُبوا عُذراً فَليسَ لِمُجرِمٍ

مِنَ اللَهِ في إِتيانِ مَعصِيَةٍ عُذرُ

مِنَ اللَهِ في إِتيانِ مَعصِيَةٍ عُذرُ

Nor let them seek excuses: no offender has

Accepts no excuse when one commits a sin.

an excuse before God for committing sin.

Had it not been for the guiding imam and his views,

وَلَولا الإِمامُ المُستَضيءُ وَرَأيُهُ

وَلَولا الإِمامُ المُستَضيءُ وَرَأيُهُ

تَداعَت قُوى الإِسلامِ وَاِنثَغَرَ الثَغرُ

تَداعَت قُوى الإِسلامِ وَاِنثَغَرَ الثَغرُ

Were it not for the Imam al-Mustadi and his judgment,

The foundations of Islam would have collapsed and gaping holes opened in its domain.

Islam's strength would have collapsed and its frontier been breached.

It is through him that God granted the caliphate stability

بِهِ أَيَّدَ اللَهُ الخِلافَةَ بَعدَ ما

بِهِ أَيَّدَ اللَهُ الخِلافَةَ بَعدَ ما

تَفاقَمَ داءُ البَغيِ وَاِستَفحَلَ الشَرُّ

تَفاقَمَ داءُ البَغيِ وَاِستَفحَلَ الشَرُّ

Through him God strengthened the caliphate after

After much dissension, treachery and discord.

rebellion's disease had worsened and evil grown rampant.

Who can inform the son of Hanif who lies buried

فَمَن مُبلِغٌ تَحتَ التُرابِ اِبنَ هانِئٍ

فَمَن مُبلِغٌ تَحتَ التُرابِ اِبنَ هانِئٍ

وَقَبرَ المُعِزِّ إِن أَصاخَ لَهُ القَبرُ

وَقَبرَ المُعِزِّ إِن أَصاخَ لَهُ القَبرُ

Who will carry word beneath the earth to Ibn Hani,

Under the ground or al-Mu`izz in his grave

and to al-Muizz's tomb, if the tomb will lend him an ear,

That the rights have been restored through his reign

بِأَنَّ الحُقوقَ اُستُرجِعَت في زَمانِهِ

بِأَنَّ الحُقوقَ اُستُرجِعَت في زَمانِهِ

عَلى رَغمِ مِن ناواهُ وَاِفتَتَحَت مِصرُ

عَلى رَغمِ مِن ناواهُ وَاِفتَتَحَت مِصرُ

that rights were reclaimed in his time,

And Egypt conquered again after he had almost lost it?

despite those who opposed him, and Egypt was conquered;

The dark and depressing nights were followed

وَأَنَّ اللَيالي الدُهمَ بِالجَورِ أَشرَقَت

وَأَنَّ اللَيالي الدُهمَ بِالجَورِ أَشرَقَت

عَلى إِثرِها بِالعَدلِ أَيّامُهُ الغُرُّ

عَلى إِثرِها بِالعَدلِ أَيّامُهُ الغُرُّ

and that the nights blackened by oppression gave way

Through him by brightly lit days.

to his bright days, radiant with justice?

We cannot thank him enough for the rewards he gave us,

شَكَرناهُ ما أَولاهُ لا أَنَّ وُسعَنا

شَكَرناهُ ما أَولاهُ لا أَنَّ وُسعَنا

بِنا بالِغٌ ما يَقتَضيهِ لَهُ الشُكرُ

بِنا بالِغٌ ما يَقتَضيهِ لَهُ الشُكرُ

We thanked him for what he bestowed, not because our power

For our own thanksgiving falls short of being adequate;

could bring us to the gratitude that is his due.

Rather, we glorify and pray for him

وَلَكِنَّنا نُثني عَليهِ تَعَبُّدا

وَلَكِنَّنا نُثني عَليهِ تَعَبُّدا

وَإِن كانَ عَنّا ذا غِنى فَبِنا فَقرُ

وَإِن كانَ عَنّا ذا غِنى فَبِنا فَقرُ

Rather, we praise him as an act of devotion;

Though he does not stand in need of our prayers.

though he has no need of us, we are in need.

In our nights and days, we implore God

فَما نَبتَغي في لَيلِنا وَنَهارِنا

فَما نَبتَغي في لَيلِنا وَنَهارِنا

مِنَ اللَهِ إِلّا أَن يُمَدَّ لَهُ العُمرُ

مِنَ اللَهِ إِلّا أَن يُمَدَّ لَهُ العُمرُ

We seek nothing in our nights and days

To prolong for him his stay.

from God except that his life be prolonged.

When hopes lodged us at his door,

وَلَمّا أَحَلَّتنا الأَماني بِبابِهِ

وَلَمّا أَحَلَّتنا الأَماني بِبابِهِ

تَيَقَّنتُ أَنَّ العُسرَ يَتبَعُهُ العُسرُ

تَيَقَّنتُ أَنَّ العُسرَ يَتبَعُهُ العُسرُ

When our hopes brought us to his gate,

We found out that one distress follow another:

I knew for certain that hardship is followed by hardship.

Poetry today has to stand at his door

فَلِلشِعرِ في أَبوابِهِ اليَومَ مَوقِفٌ

فَلِلشِعرِ في أَبوابِهِ اليَومَ مَوقِفٌ

تَدينُ لَهُ الشِعرى وَيَعنو لَهُ النَسرُ

تَدينُ لَهُ الشِعرى وَيَعنو لَهُ النَسرُ

Today poetry holds a station at his gates

In need of the nobility his hands dispense,

before which Sirius submits and the Eagle bows.

And though my poetry may be independent in praising his glory,

وَإِن يُمسِ مَدحي مُستَقَلِّاً لِمَجدِهِ

وَإِن يُمسِ مَدحي مُستَقَلِّاً لِمَجدِهِ

فَيا رُبَّ جيدٍ مُستَقَلٍّ لَهُ الدُرُّ

فَيا رُبَّ جيدٍ مُستَقَلٍّ لَهُ الدُرُّ

Though my praise may seem too slight for his glory,

Yet the cream of poetry is what praises him.

how many a neck finds pearls too slight for it!

Narrated by the poets as they traverse the land,

عَلَيكَ أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ جَلَوتُها

عَلَيكَ أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ جَلَوتُها

عَرائِسَ لَم يَسمَح بِمِثلٍ لَها فِكرُ

عَرائِسَ لَم يَسمَح بِمِثلٍ لَها فِكرُ

Before you, Commander of the Faithful, I unveiled them:

Seeking anecdotes before other bards,

brides whose like no mind has ever offered.

And drawing their swords before others unsheathe...

غَرائِبُ تَسري في البِلادِ شَوارِداً

غَرائِبُ تَسري في البِلادِ شَوارِداً

يُغَنّي بِها الحادي وَيَشدو بِها السَفرُ

يُغَنّي بِها الحادي وَيَشدو بِها السَفرُ

Rare marvels journeying by night through the lands, roaming free,

Though generous of praise, my share of its benefits

sung by the camel-driver and chanted by travelers.

Remained too little to be praised.

سَبَقتُ إِلَيها القائِلينَ فَوِردُهُم

سَبَقتُ إِلَيها القائِلينَ فَوِردُهُم

نَقائِعُ مِن أَوشالِها وَلِيَ الغَمرُ

نَقائِعُ مِن أَوشالِها وَلِيَ الغَمرُ

I reached them before the poets; their drinking places

Which, when it meets the minds and moods, is sheer magic!

are pools of their scant trickles, while the deep flood is mine.

It is delicate and solid,

وَإِنّي مِنَ الإِحسانِ في القَولِ مُكثِرٌ

وَإِنّي مِنَ الإِحسانِ في القَولِ مُكثِرٌ

وَلَكِنَّ حَظّي مِن فَوائِدِهِ نَزرُ

وَلَكِنَّ حَظّي مِن فَوائِدِهِ نَزرُ

I am prolific in excellence of speech,

Like water intermingled with wine's strainer.

yet my share of its rewards is scant.

Not everyone who eulogized you is a poet,

فَدونَكَ أَلفاظاً عِذاباً هِيَ الرُقى

فَدونَكَ أَلفاظاً عِذاباً هِيَ الرُقى

إِذا طَرَقَت سَمعاً وَمَعنىً هُوَ السِحرُ

إِذا طَرَقَت سَمعاً وَمَعنىً هُوَ السِحرُ

Take, then, sweet words, which are charms

Nor is everything recited to you called poetry!

when they reach an ear, and a meaning that is magic.

لَها رِقَّةٌ في قُوَّةٍ وَجَزالَةٌ

لَها رِقَّةٌ في قُوَّةٍ وَجَزالَةٌ

هِيَ الماءُ مَقطوبٌ بِسَلسالِهِ الخَمرُ

هِيَ الماءُ مَقطوبٌ بِسَلسالِهِ الخَمرُ

They have delicacy amid strength and stateliness:

they are water, with wine blended into its limpid flow.

فَما كُلُّ مَن أَهدى لَكَ المَدحَ شاعِرٌ

فَما كُلُّ مَن أَهدى لَكَ المَدحَ شاعِرٌ

وَلا كُلُّ نَظمٍ حينَ تَسمَعُهُ شِعرُ

وَلا كُلُّ نَظمٍ حينَ تَسمَعُهُ شِعرُ

Not everyone who offers you praise is a poet,

nor is every metrical composition you hear poetry.