دَعُواLeave aside سالِفاًwhat is past منof ذِكرِthe mention of لَيلَىLayla وَمِنand of هِندِHind
دَعُوا سالِفاً من ذِكرِ لَيلَى وَمِن هِندِ
وَذِكرىand remembrance of أَحاديثِtales of الرُّصافَةِal-Rusafa والرَّندِand the laurel
وَذِكرى أَحاديثِ الرُّصافَةِ والرَّندِ
Leave aside past talk of Layla and Hind,
and memories of tales of al-Rusafa and the laurel.
وَلَكنbut تَعالَواcome عَطِّرُواperfume مَجلِسَthe gathering of الهَناjoy
وَلَكن تَعالَوا عَطِّرُوا مَجلِسَ الهَنا
بِعَودِwith the return of أَبِthe father of الأَحساءِal-Ahsa أَعنِيI mean أَباfather of الحَمدِpraise
بِعَودِ أَبِ الأَحساءِ أَعنِي أَبا الحَمدِ
But come, perfume the gathering of joy
with the return of al-Ahsa’s father—I mean Abu al-Hamd.
فَتىًa young man جَلَويٍّof Jalawi مَنwho نُقَرِّعُwe batter باسمِهِwith his name
فَتىً جَلَويٍّ مَن نُقَرِّعُ باسمِهِ
قلُوبَthe hearts of الأَعادِيthe enemies مِثلَlike قارِعَةِa crushing blow against السَّدِّthe dam
قلُوبَ الأَعادِي مِثلَ قارِعَةِ السَّدِّ
A scion of Jalawi, with whose name we batter
the hearts of foes, like a crushing blow against a dam.
فَهَيبَتُهُfor his majesty العُظمَىsupreme هَدَتhas guided كلَّevery ظَالِمٍoppressor
فَهَيبَتُهُ العُظمَى هَدَت كلَّ ظَالِمٍ
فَداعِيso the impulse toward أَذاهُhis harm لاnot يُعيدُrepeats وَلاnor يُبدِيbegins
فَداعِي أَذاهُ لا يُعيدُ وَلا يُبدِي
For his supreme majesty has guided every oppressor,
so his impulse to harm can neither return nor begin.
وَأَظهَرَand he manifested عَدلاًjustice فيamong الأَنامِmankind كأنَّهُas though it were
وَأَظهَرَ عَدلاً في الأَنامِ كأنَّهُ
جِبالٌmountains أَحاطَتsurrounded كلَّevery مُستَضعَفِone weak in الجُهدِstrength
جِبالٌ أَحاطَت كلَّ مُستَضعَفِ الجُهدِ
And he made justice manifest among mankind, as though it were
mountains encircling everyone of feeble strength.
فَتىًa young man هَمُّهُhis concern نَصرُchampioning الشَّريعَةِIslamic law وَالهُدىand right guidance
فَتىً هَمُّهُ نَصرُ الشَّريعَةِ وَالهُدى
وَحِفظُand safeguarding حُدودِthe ordinances of اللَّهِGod فيin القُربِnearness وَالبُعدِand distance
وَحِفظُ حُدودِ اللَّهِ في القُربِ وَالبُعدِ
A man whose concern is to champion the Sharia and right guidance,
and uphold God’s ordinances, near and far.
وَكانَتand were حُدودُthe ordinances of اللَّهِGod قَبلُpreviously مُضاعَةًneglected
وَكانَت حُدودُ اللَّهِ قَبلُ مُضاعَةً
كَأنas though لَمnot يَكُنthere were لِلَّهfor God فيin الشَّرعِthe sacred law مِنany حَدِّordinance
كَأن لَم يَكُن لِلَّه في الشَّرعِ مِن حَدِّ
And God’s ordinances had previously been neglected,
as though God had no ordinance in the sacred law.
كأنَّas though كِتابَthe Book of اللَّهِGod لاnot يَدرُسُونَهُthey study it
كأنَّ كِتابَ اللَّهِ لا يَدرُسُونَهُ
وماand what كانَwas فيهِin it مِنof وَعيدٍwarning وَمِنand of وَعدِpromise
وما كانَ فيهِ مِن وَعيدٍ وَمِن وَعدِ
As though they did not study God’s Book
and the warnings and promises it contained.
فمُذbut since قامَrose عَبدُservant of اللَّهِGod لِلَّهِfor God ناهِضاًrising up
فمُذ قامَ عَبدُ اللَّهِ لِلَّهِ ناهِضاً
بِنَهضَةِwith the charge of ضِرغامٍa lion عَظيمٍmighty مِنَamong الأُسدِthe lions
بِنَهضَةِ ضِرغامٍ عَظيمٍ مِنَ الأُسدِ
But since Abdullah rose up in God’s cause,
with the charge of a mighty lion among lions,
أَعادَhe restored حُدودَthe ordinances of اللَّهِGod فيin أُفُقِthe horizon of العُلاglory
أَعادَ حُدودَ اللَّهِ في أُفُقِ العُلا
تُضِيءُshine نُجُومُthe stars of الأُفقِthe horizon عَنهاfrom them وَتَستَهدِيand seek guidance
تُضِيءُ نُجُومُ الأُفقِ عَنها وَتَستَهدِي
he restored God’s ordinances upon glory’s horizon;
the horizon’s stars shine by their light and seek their guidance.
وَمَدَّتand stretched out هناكَthere الصَّالِحُونَthe righteous أَكُفَّهُمtheir palms
وَمَدَّت هناكَ الصَّالِحُونَ أَكُفَّهُم
دعاءًin prayer لِهَذاfor this السَّيِّدِlord المَاجِدِnoble الفَردِpeerless
دعاءً لِهَذا السَّيِّدِ المَاجِدِ الفَردِ
And there the righteous stretched out their palms
in prayer for this peerless, noble lord.
وَوَلَّتand turned away جنُودُthe armies of الفِسقِsin عَنّاfrom us ضَئِيلةًdiminished
وَوَلَّت جنُودُ الفِسقِ عَنّا ضَئِيلةً
أَذَلَّmore abject وَأَخزَىand more disgraced فيamong الأَنامِmankind مِنَthan القِردِthe monkey
أَذَلَّ وَأَخزَى في الأَنامِ مِنَ القِردِ
And the armies of sin turned away from us, diminished,
more abject and disgraced among mankind than a monkey.
إِذاwhen فَاسِقٌa sinner أَغوَاهُled him astray مِنfrom نَفسِهِhis own soul الهَوىdesire
إِذا فَاسِقٌ أَغوَاهُ مِن نَفسِهِ الهَوى
تَغَشَّاهُenvelops him خَوفٌfear مِنهُof him يُثنِيهِturns him back لِلرُّشدِto right guidance
تَغَشَّاهُ خَوفٌ مِنهُ يُثنِيهِ لِلرُّشدِ
When a sinner is led astray by his own soul’s desire,
fear of him envelops him, turning him back to right guidance.
فياso O ماجِداًnoble man مُذsince غابَdeparted عَنَّاfrom us لَطِيفُهُhis gracious presence
فيا ماجِداً مُذ غابَ عَنَّا لَطِيفُهُ
فَهَامَتso pined بِهِfor him الأَحساءُal-Ahsa وَجداًwith longing عَلَىupon وَجدِlonging
فَهَامَت بِهِ الأَحساءُ وَجداً عَلَى وَجدِ
O noble man, since his gracious presence left us,
al-Ahsa has pined for him, longing upon longing.
طَلَعتَyou rose عَلَيهاupon her طلعَةَlike the rising of الشَّمسِthe sun لِلوَرىfor mankind
طَلَعتَ عَلَيها طلعَةَ الشَّمسِ لِلوَرى
فظَلَّتso she kept تُغَنِّيsinging فيكَof you بِالشُّكرِwith gratitude وَالحَمدِand praise
فظَلَّت تُغَنِّي فيكَ بِالشُّكرِ وَالحَمدِ
You rose upon her as the sun rises upon mankind,
so she kept singing of you with gratitude and praise.
عَلَىdespite أَنَّthe fact that فَرعاًa scion مِنكَof yours فيناamong us أَقَمتَهُyou established him
عَلَى أَنَّ فَرعاً مِنكَ فينا أَقَمتَهُ
فأَعظِمso how great بهِhe is منas a ماجِدٍnoble man مُشرِقِradiant with السَّعدِgood fortune
فأَعظِم بهِ من ماجِدٍ مُشرِقِ السَّعدِ
Though you had established a scion of yours among us—
and what a great nobleman he is, radiant with good fortune!
شَأىmatched شأوَكَyour reach العالِيlofty بحُسنِthrough sound سِياسَةٍgovernance
شَأى شأوَكَ العالِي بحُسنِ سِياسَةٍ
وَعَزمٍand resolve مُلُوكِيٍّkingly وَهَيبَةِand the majesty of ذِيone possessing مَجدِglory
وَعَزمٍ مُلُوكِيٍّ وَهَيبَةِ ذِي مَجدِ
He has matched your lofty reach through sound governance,
and kingly resolve, and the majesty of a man of glory.
سُعُودٌSaud أَدامَmay perpetuate اللَّهGod طالِعَthe rising star of سَعدِهِhis good fortune
سُعُودٌ أَدامَ اللَّه طالِعَ سَعدِهِ
وَصَيَّرَهُand may He make him ماas long as عاشَhe lives يَجرِيproceed عَلىupon رُشدِright guidance
وَصَيَّرَهُ ما عاشَ يَجرِي عَلى رُشدِ
Saud—may God keep his lucky star ascendant,
and make him follow right guidance as long as he lives.
وَلاand no عَجَبٌwonder إِذwhen نالَhe attained ماwhat نالَhe attained مِنof عُلاًheights
وَلا عَجَبٌ إِذ نالَ ما نالَ مِن عُلاً
فَقَدfor indeed كانَhe was يَسعَىstriving فيin مَساعِيكَyour endeavors لِلمَجدِfor glory
فَقَد كانَ يَسعَى في مَساعِيكَ لِلمَجدِ
Nor is it any wonder that he attained such heights,
for he has followed your course in striving for glory.
فَياso O ضَيغَماًlion بَلrather ياO شِهاباًmeteor إِذاwhen اِنجَلَىit shines forth
فَيا ضَيغَماً بَل يا شِهاباً إِذا اِنجَلَى
تَنَحَّتwithdrew شَياطِينُthe devils of الضَّلالِerror عَلَىwith كَدِّstrain
تَنَحَّت شَياطِينُ الضَّلالِ عَلَى كَدِّ
O lion—rather, O meteor, when it shines forth,
the devils of error withdraw in distress.
أَلاtake heed إِنَّindeed لِلشَيطانِSatan has جُنداًan army مِنَamong الوَرىmankind
أَلا إِنَّ لِلشَيطانِ جُنداً مِنَ الوَرى
فحافِظso persist عَلىin التَمزيقِtearing apart فيamong ذَلِكَthat الجُندِarmy
فحافِظ عَلى التَمزيقِ في ذَلِكَ الجُندِ
Take heed: Satan has an army among mankind,
so persist in tearing that army apart.
وَناصِرُand the champion of دِينِthe religion of اللَّهِGod يُولِيهِgrants him رَبُّهُhis Lord
وَناصِرُ دِينِ اللَّهِ يُولِيهِ رَبُّهُ
فُتُوحاًconquests وَنَصراًand victory جاءَwas conveyed عَنby أَصدَقِthe truest الوَعدِpromise
فُتُوحاً وَنَصراً جاءَ عَن أَصدَقِ الوَعدِ
And the champion of God’s religion is granted by his Lord
conquests and victory, as conveyed by the truest promise.
وَناصِرُand the champion of دينِthe religion of اللَّهِGod يَحيىlives مُبَشَّراًgiven glad tidings
وَناصِرُ دينِ اللَّهِ يَحيى مُبَشَّراً
لَهُfor him العِزُّhonor فيin الدُّنياthis world وفِيand in جَنَّةِthe Garden of الخُلدِeternity
لَهُ العِزُّ في الدُّنيا وفِي جَنَّةِ الخُلدِ
And the champion of God’s religion lives with glad tidings:
his is honor in this world and in the Garden of Eternity.
وَنَحنُand we بِحَمدِwith praise of اللَّهِGod عِندَكَwith you لمnever نَزَلwe have ceased
وَنَحنُ بِحَمدِ اللَّهِ عِندَكَ لم نَزَل
نُسَرُّwe rejoice بِعَزمٍin a resolve مِنكَfrom you ماضٍfirm وَلاand does not يُكدِيfalter
نُسَرُّ بِعَزمٍ مِنكَ ماضٍ وَلا يُكدِي
And with you, praise be to God, we have never ceased
to rejoice in your firm resolve, which never falters.
وَنَشكُرُand we thank إِحسانَthe kindness of الإِمامِthe Imam بِفَضلِهِthrough his generosity
وَنَشكُرُ إِحسانَ الإِمامِ بِفَضلِهِ
فَوَلَّىso he appointed عَلَيناover us سَيِّداًa lord عالِيَlofty in الجَدِّstanding
فَوَلَّى عَلَينا سَيِّداً عالِيَ الجَدِّ
And we give thanks for the Imam’s gracious beneficence,
for he appointed over us a lord of exalted standing,
وَقُورٌdignified عَلَىamid الشِّدّاتِhardships أَمضَىsharper عَزائِماًin resolve
وَقُورٌ عَلَى الشِّدّاتِ أَمضَى عَزائِماً
إِلَىtoward حَلَباتthe arenas of المَجدِglory مِنthan مُرهَفِa finely honed الحَدِّedge
إِلَى حَلَبات المَجدِ مِن مُرهَفِ الحَدِّ
dignified amid hardships, sharper in resolve
toward the arenas of glory than a finely honed blade.
وَكَمand how many للإِمامِthe Imam has مِنof أَيادٍfavors عَظيمَةٍgreat
وَكَم للإِمامِ مِن أَيادٍ عَظيمَةٍ
إِذاwhen قُوبِلَتthey are approached بالعَدِّwith counting جَلَّتthey are too great عَنfor العَدِّcounting
إِذا قُوبِلَت بالعَدِّ جَلَّت عَن العَدِّ
And how many great favors the Imam has bestowed—
when one tries to count them, they prove beyond all counting.
وَأَنتُمand you بحَمدِwith praise of اللَّهِGod بَيتٌa house مَعَظَّمٌheld in honor
وَأَنتُم بحَمدِ اللَّهِ بَيتٌ مَعَظَّمٌ
فَضائِلُكُمyour virtues فِيin المَجدِglory سابِقَةُearlier in العَهدِtime
فَضائِلُكُم فِي المَجدِ سابِقَةُ العَهدِ
And you, praise be to God, are an honored house;
your virtues in glory are of long standing.
وَأَقوىand the strongest of مُلُوكِthe kings of الأَرضِthe earth فيin نُصرَةِchampioning الهُدىright guidance
وَأَقوى مُلُوكِ الأَرضِ في نُصرَةِ الهُدى
وَفِيand in الأَمرِenjoining بِالمَعرُوفِwhat is right وَالحِفظِand safeguarding لِلحَدِّof the prescribed bounds
وَفِي الأَمرِ بِالمَعرُوفِ وَالحِفظِ لِلحَدِّ
And you are the strongest of earth’s kings in championing right guidance,
and in enjoining right and safeguarding the sacred bounds,
وَأَعظَمُهُمand the greatest of them حِلماًin forbearance وَعَفواًand pardon وَهِمَّةًand lofty purpose
وَأَعظَمُهُم حِلماً وَعَفواً وَهِمَّةً
وَأَخلاقُand the character of أَملاكٍkings أَلَذُّsweeter مِنَthan الشّهدِhoney
وَأَخلاقُ أَملاكٍ أَلَذُّ مِنَ الشّهدِ
and the greatest among them in forbearance, pardon, and lofty purpose,
and yours is the character of kings, sweeter than honey.