Sol 6.1

  1. Is it humankind's peace, or your feast today, that we exalt?

    And is it the morning sun, or your throne's light, that we behold?

  2. And is it the day you assumed the caliphate, upholding

    your kingdom, or guidance's dawn, that we recall?

  3. Kindly Time celebrates and hides away,

    while the world smiles, glories, and blossoms.

  4. Behold, it is a radiant, sacred feast,

    with adornment and splendor in every land.

  5. Joy now courses through every heart,

    making it serene, and brightens every face until it beams.

  6. We welcome happy fortune and behold

    dazzling smiles upon the face of the earth.

  7. Delegations from all peoples hasten with everything that

    establishes proofs of loyalty and proclaims them.

  8. They have an all-embracing assembly in the courtyards of Yıldız,

    and an even greater throng beneath the throne.

  9. They salute God's shadow among them with a greeting

    whose fragrance wafts through space and perfumes it.

  10. Peace upon the shining crown, adorned by

    its lord's still more splendid, radiant brow.

  11. Peace upon a sword whose cutting power

    the swords of all sovereigns fear and dread.

  12. A supremely mighty, supported lord has girded it on,

    holding sway over every stubborn tyrant.

  13. Imam of guidance, Abd al-Hamid, successor to the

    Prophet, who arose on earth to govern.

  14. Scion of the sons of Osman, heir to their glory,

    whose glory is more enduring, loftier, and more momentous.

  15. He took power while the realm's heart was parched, heading

    toward its death, and the land was a barren desert.

  16. Then he drenched it abundantly with the bounty of his hands,

    turning it into a blossoming spring.

  17. Its pebbles shone, becoming pearls and jewels,

    and its soil breathed fragrance, becoming musk and ambergris.

  18. He became king while Islam was among foes

    who disparaged some of its rulings and belittled them.

  19. The Muslims' hearts soared with joy,

    and the enemies feared his crushing might and felt foreboding.

  20. It took only one appearance of his, rising

    over the calamity, for it to lift, dark though it was.

  21. And it took only a cry, whose force nearly made

    their hearts burst from its terror.

  22. He thwarted their endeavors by setting our affairs right,

    and by conduct in keeping with the Book's prohibitions and commands.

  23. When they saw our honor stoutly protected,

    secure, and the thicket guarded by a lion,

  24. they turned their resolve away from it, and their faces

    toward places where usurping rights was not difficult.

  25. Had he wished to prevent them from doing so, there would have been

    no roads or passage for them over land or water.

  26. May God protect a heart compassionate toward creation,

    and an eye that keeps vigil when the subjects sleep.

  27. Through both he sees the secrets of consciences laid bare,

    and knows what breasts conceal and harbor.

  28. He knows what tomorrow will bring; indeed, he

    has deep knowledge and a presence in the realm of the unseen.

  29. An imam who, through inspiration, presents what we see

    of counsel in governing the lands, and issues it.

  30. My lord, justice is what you decree

    among us, and just judgment is your captive.

  31. The Merciful chose you for us; enough for us

    in bliss and honor is that you are the chosen one.

  32. You fixed the throne of sovereignty firmly in its place,

    though it had swayed from its longings.

  33. You raised its stars on the horizon of high achievement,

    though they had remained for a time sunken from sight.

  34. In twenty-five years you rebuilt what had vanished

    of glory in a thousand years spent by the destroyer.

  35. You eased the routes of pilgrimage; traveling them

    is swifter than the clouds' passage, and easier.

  36. May God's House pray for you as long as a ritual place stands

    at its pillars for those offering solace, and a sacred site.

  37. You shortened the distances between the lands,

    and brought them what lay beyond their reach.

  38. You united scattered hearts upon guidance,

    so that alienating error came to fear them.

  39. You reconciled us to that Time, so much that we

    forgave it the sin that cannot be forgiven.

  40. You made us forget the memory of its schemes, which

    have passed away, and the life that turns bitter.

  41. Among those your might protects there is no fearful one,

    and among those your blessings clothe there is none in hardship.

  42. For your faith and the world you stand alone,

    repelling foes though they are a massed multitude.

  43. How often they attacked us, greedy, and failed!

    The wind cannot affect a firmly rooted mountain.

  44. How often they plotted evil to hurl against us,

    and thought of nothing but what brought them misery.

  45. Can one be defeated whose banner is the crescent,

    whom the obedient host of the skies surrounds?

  46. From it comes light for the eyes, and a sickle

    that reaps the soul of whoever acts tyrannically.

  47. Can one be defeated whose troops fill the sky,

    their aim guided by ordained destiny?

  48. At peace they are still: they are mountains;

    in war they surge: they are seas.

  49. When they show kindness, they are gentle as the breeze;

    when they deal harshly with an aggressor, they are a howling wind.

  50. When they tread a land, safety and bounty come

    to its sons, and their life grows green.

  51. Ask the mighty Caesar about their resolute deeds,

    for Caesar is the one who knows best and is best informed.

  52. How often their raids changed a state's character,

    while their fierce raids never change!

  53. Their enemies submitted to them: some freely choosing,

    seeing good in drawing near to them, and others compelled.

  54. O you who raised Islam from its worst stumble,

    through which we so often saw truth stumble on earth,

  55. O defender of homelands after their collapse,

    when their people thought they could not be rescued,

  56. Your silver jubilee has revealed their beauty; they are

    brides that captivate minds and enchant.

  57. Youth, beauty, smiles, a glance,

    perfume, lights, and richly patterned brocade.

  58. They strutted within it, self-admiring; and indeed,

    strutting suits beautiful women and is sweet.

  59. And the Nile Valley has a voice you have heard—

    did it proclaim anything but love and affection?

  60. O finest warrior ever shaded by a banner,

    and most devout imam at whose name a pulpit trembled,

  61. What you strive for has truly gladdened us; indeed,

    it gladdened the purified Prophet before us.

  62. Whoever opposed you will know the evil of his end,

    and whoever you contended with will see how he is subdued.

  63. Fifty years shall not pass before

    the shade of your rule spreads over every region.

  64. Hopes you long to attain; their attainment

    is heralded by your hope to bring happiness to the people.

  65. If those who came before could know

    your age, they would wish they had come later to reach it.

  66. Our thanks are yours; your reward is from the One

    who can better count all you have bestowed upon us.

  67. My lord, I am a bird borne aloft

    in your garden by a branch fruitful with happiness.

  68. I chant verses of praise early,

    and the best of singing birds is the early riser.

  69. I have captivated minds until they obey my speech,

    and one like me prevails when he speaks the truth.

  70. I have become known to every believer,

    and in every gathering I have a place and companions.

  71. Sons of the Turks, may hearts that shun you never be sound,

    and may no fire in which they blaze be quenched.

  72. Nor, sons of Osman, may eyes find rest

    that see your light filling existence yet deny it.

  73. I have directed the reins of praise to none but you,

    and who else is more worthy and deserving of praise?

  74. I have given myself wholly to loving you; it is you

    I prefer to myself, my family, and all creation.

  75. If you could see through my heart, you would behold

    my loyalty within it, in the form of a pictured figure.

  76. No wonder if I have gone to extremes for you: what unites me

    with you is faith, temperament, and origin.

  77. Sons of the faith, God will fulfill His promise

    to you in the era of Hamidian rule, so be patient.

Sol 6.1