ألا أيُّها النّحرير والعالم الَّذي

ألا أيُّها النّحرير والعالم الَّذي

فضائلُه كالبَحر والفيض والجودِ

فضائلُه كالبَحر والفيض والجودِ

Behold, O consummate scholar, O learned man whose

O consummate scholar and learned man whose

virtues are like the sea in abundance, bounty, and generosity.

virtues are like the sea in abundance and generosity.

لقد جَدْتَ في هذا الكتاب وشرحه

لقد جَدْتَ في هذا الكتاب وشرحه

وقد جئت بالتبيان في كلّ مقصود

وقد جئت بالتبيان في كلّ مقصود

You have indeed been unstinting in this book and its commentary,

You have indeed excelled in this book and its commentary,

bringing lucid explanation to every intended point—

and brought clear explanation to every intended point.

قوافٍ كأمثال الجُمان قلائد

قوافٍ كأمثال الجُمان قلائد

وأزهى من العِقيان في عُنُق الغيد

وأزهى من العِقيان في عُنُق الغيد

verses like strings of pearls, fashioned into necklaces,

Rhyming verses like pearls, strung into necklaces,

more radiant than pure gold upon the necks of graceful maidens.

and more radiant than pure gold around graceful women's necks.

وأوْرَدْتَ من نَصِّ الكتاب مواعظاً

وأوْرَدْتَ من نَصِّ الكتاب مواعظاً

لمن كانَ منه القلب من نحت جلمود

لمن كانَ منه القلب من نحت جلمود

From the very text of Scripture you have cited admonitions

And you have cited admonitions from the text of the Book

for anyone whose heart was hewn from solid rock.

for one whose heart was hewn from solid rock.

أقَمْتَ إلى القوم الخوارج حُجَّةً

أقَمْتَ إلى القوم الخوارج حُجَّةً

وجئتَهُم في كلّ خوف وتهديد

وجئتَهُم في كلّ خوف وتهديد

Against the Kharijite people you established a proof,

You have presented proof to the rebellious people,

and confronted them with every warning and threat,

and have come to them amid every fear and threat,

إلى حضرة السلطان دام بقاؤه

إلى حضرة السلطان دام بقاؤه

وأيّده ربّ السَّماء بتأييد

وأيّده ربّ السَّماء بتأييد

before the august Sultan—may his life endure,

to the Sultan's presence—may his life endure

and may the Lord of heaven sustain him with His aid—

and may the Lord of heaven strengthen him with His aid—

خليفة خير المرسلين وقائم

خليفة خير المرسلين وقائم

بتشديد دين الله أيَّة تشييد

بتشديد دين الله أيَّة تشييد

the successor of the best of messengers, who stands

successor to the best of messengers, and one who works

to strengthen God’s religion—what a splendid edifice!—

to strengthen God's religion, building it up mightily,

وحامى عن الإسلام بالسيف والقنا

وحامى عن الإسلام بالسيف والقنا

فأيَّامنا في حكمه العدل كالعيد

فأيَّامنا في حكمه العدل كالعيد

and defend Islam with sword and lance.

and a defender of Islam with sword and lances;

Under his just rule, our days are like a festival.

so our days under his just rule are like a festival.

تُبَيّنُ فرضاً أن يطاع فأرِّخوا

تُبَيّنُ فرضاً أن يطاع فأرِّخوا

فتبيانُ محمودٍ لطاعةِ محمود

فتبيانُ محمودٍ لطاعةِ محمود

It plainly establishes the duty that he be obeyed; so record its date:

You show that obeying him is a duty; so record the date:

“Mahmud’s elucidation, for obedience to Mahmud.”

Thus: Mahmud's exposition on obedience to Mahmud.