ياO سميnamesake of النبيthe prophet إدريسIdris اَجرنيgrant me refuge
يا سمي النبي إدريس اَجرني
منfrom زمانٍan age أطالprolonged مدةthe duration of حزنيmy sorrow
من زمانٍ أطال مدة حزني
O namesake of the prophet Idris, grant me refuge
O noble friend of the prophet Idris, help me
from an age that has prolonged my sorrow's span.
From a time that prolonged my sadness
راغبRaghib; seeker of الخيرgoodness غابdeparted عنيfrom me ولكنbut
راغب الخير غاب عني ولكن
خيرgoodness خيرthe best of البنينthe sons ماnot غابdeparted عنيfrom me
خير خير البنين ما غاب عني
Raghib, seeker of good, has departed from me, yet
The benevolent one has been absent from me, but
the goodness of the best of sons has not left me.
The absence of the best of sons has not been absent from me
يرحمmay have mercy اللَهGod ذلكthat الليثthe lion أحياrevived
يرحم اللَه ذلك الليث أحيا
ذكرهhis memory ماجدٌa noble man عنin place of الليثthe lion يغنيsuffices
ذكره ماجدٌ عن الليث يغني
May God have mercy on that lion; revived
May God have mercy on that lion who revived
is his memory by a noble man who stands in the lion's stead.
His memory gloriously sung by the lion
كلماwhenever دكrazed حادثa calamity of الدهرtime بيتاًa house
كلما دك حادث الدهر بيتاً
قامrose فيin الحالthe moment جودهhis generosity العامall-embracing يبنيbuilds
قام في الحال جوده العام يبني
Whenever a calamity of time razes a house,
Whenever the events of fate struck down a house
his all-embracing generosity rises at once to rebuild.
His widespread generosity immediately rebuilt it
ماnot تناءىgrew distant سموُّthe exalted rank of إدريسIdris عنهfrom him
ما تناءى سموُّ إدريس عنه
لاno ولاnor فاتهeluded him تواضعthe humility of مَعْنMa'n
لا ولا فاته تواضع مَعْن
Idris's exalted rank is not beyond him,
Idris’ loftiness was never too high for him
no, nor has Ma'n's humility eluded him.
Nor did humility miss him in the least
حسَّنmade beautiful اللَهGod خلقهhis form ثمthen حلّاadorned
حسَّن اللَه خلقه ثم حلّا
هhim بخلقٍwith a character يزيدadds فيto كلevery حسنbeauty
ه بخلقٍ يزيد في كل حسن
God made his form beautiful, then adorned
God beautified his character then adorned him
him with a character that enhances every beauty.
With a character that increased all beauty
لوif رأىsaw عملهhis work ابنson of إدريسIdris سمّاcalled
لو رأى عمله ابن إدريس سمّا
هhim الإمامthe imam المحيطfully versed فيin كلevery فنart
ه الإمام المحيط في كل فن
Had Ibn Idris seen his work, he would have called
If the son of Idris saw his deeds, he would name him
him the imam fully versed in every art.
The all-encompassing imam skilled in every art
أوor رأىsaw حاتمHatim الكريمthe generous عطاياgifts
أو رأى حاتم الكريم عطايا
كفِّهhis hand قالsaid أنتyou أكرمmore generous منيthan me
كفِّه قال أنت أكرم مني
Or had Hatim the Generous seen the gifts
Or if the generous Hatim saw his giving hands
of his hand, he would have said, "You are more generous than I."
He would say you are more generous than me
ليسis not منone who منَّbestowed favors بالنياقwith she-camels كمنlike one who عمbuilt (first part)
ليس من منَّ بالنياق كمن عم
مرcompletes 'built' دورthe homes of الرفاقthe companions منfrom غيرabsence of منِّreminding others of favors
مر دور الرفاق من غير منِّ
One who bestows she-camels is not like one who builds
He who grants generously is not like one who counts the favors he has granted
companions' homes without reminding them of his favors.
The seasons of friends have passed without counting
سيديmy lord لمdid not يزدكincrease you مدحكpraising you مجداًglory
سيدي لم يزدك مدحك مجداً
كيفhow يرجىis hoped for ازديادan increase أطفحthe fullest دَنِّwine-jar
كيف يرجى ازدياد أطفح دَنِّ
My lord, praise of you has added nothing to your glory.
My master, your praise did not increase your glory
How can one hope to add to the fullest wine-jar?
How can increase be expected of the full river?
أنتyou حصنa fortress المروعينthe terrified وإنيand indeed I
أنت حصن المروعين وإني
منكfrom you; through you مستعصمٌseeking refuge بأمنعin the most impregnable حصنfortress
منك مستعصمٌ بأمنع حصن
You are a fortress for the terrified, and indeed I
You are the fortress of the frightened, and I
find refuge through you in the most impregnable fortress.
Am protected in your impregnable fortress
فاصطفينيso choose me أثابكmay reward you اللَهGod عبداًas a servant
فاصطفيني أثابك اللَه عبداً
وامتحنّيand test me بماwith whatever تشاءyou wish تجدنيyou will find me
وامتحنّي بما تشاء تجدني
So choose me—may God reward you—as a servant,
So choose me, may God reward you a servant
and test me with whatever you wish; you will find me.
And test me however you wish, you will find me steadfast
Sol 6.1