ربعَmay linger الغَمامِthe clouds عَلىover مَرابِعthe abodes of فاسِFez
ربعَ الغَمامِ عَلى مَرابِع فاسِ
دارَthe abode العُلومِthe sciences وَمَعلَمَand the landmark الإِيناسِfellowship
دارَ العُلومِ وَمَعلَمَ الإِيناسِ
May the clouds linger over the abodes of Fez,
Upon the rectangles of Fez the clouds' quarters,
The home of learning and the landmark of fellowship,
Home of knowledge and inspirer of mankind.
ماوىthe refuge السِيادةsovereignty حَيثُwhere أَنوارُthe lights الهُدىguidance
ماوى السِيادة حَيثُ أَنوارُ الهُدى
تُغنيsuffice عَنِin place of المَشكاةِthe lamp-niche وَالنِبراسِand the lamp
تُغني عَنِ المَشكاةِ وَالنِبراسِ
The abode of sovereignty, where the lights of guidance
Abode of rule where illumination of guidance sings,
Make the lamp-niche and the lamp needless;
Making unnecessary the lamp and torch.
حَيثُwhere اِستَقَرَّsettled firmly المُلكُkingship يَحميprotects بَيضَةَthe heart الthe
حَيثُ اِستَقَرَّ المُلكُ يَحمي بَيضَةَ ال
إِسلامIslam مِنهُfrom him بِالنَدىwith generosity وَالباسِand valor
إِسلام مِنهُ بِالنَدى وَالباسِ
Where kingship stands firm, guarding the heart of
Where the kingdom settled, protecting the egg of Islam
Islam with his bounty and might—
With dew and clothing.
فَرعٌa scion نَماgrew مِنfrom هاشِمٍHashim فيin تُربَةٍsoil
فَرعٌ نَما مِن هاشِمٍ في تُربَةٍ
كانَwas الكَفِيّthe worthy match لَهاfor it مِنَamong الأَغراسِthe saplings
كانَ الكَفِيّ لَها مِنَ الأَغراسِ
A scion sprung from Hashim, in soil
A branch grew from Hashim in fertile soil,
For which, among saplings, he was the worthy match;
For which the palms were sufficient of the saplings.
فيat ذُروَةِthe summit الشَرَفِhonor الَّذيwhich ماno فَوقَهُabove it
في ذُروَةِ الشَرَفِ الَّذي ما فَوقَهُ
شَرَفٌhonor لِمُعتَبِرٍto a discerning observer يُرىis seen فيamong الناسِpeople
شَرَفٌ لِمُعتَبِرٍ يُرى في الناسِ
At the summit of honor, above which no
At the peak of honor, above which no
Honor is seen among people by a discerning eye.
Honor can be seen by one who observes people.
وَلَقَدand indeed بَعَثتُI sent مَعَwith الرَّسولthe messenger تَحيّةًa greeting
وَلَقَد بَعَثتُ مَعَ الرَّسول تَحيّةً
لِجَنابِهِto his august presence مِسكيَّةmusk-scented الأَنفاسِthe breaths
لِجَنابِهِ مِسكيَّة الأَنفاسِ
And I have indeed sent with the messenger a greeting
With the messenger I sent greetings
To his august presence, its breaths scented with musk,
To his essence, the life of breaths.
لِتُذَكِّرَto remind العَهدَthe bond القَديمold وَإِنand even if يَكُنhe may be
لِتُذَكِّرَ العَهدَ القَديم وَإِن يَكُن
لَمdid not ينسَforget مِنهُof it تَصَرُّفَthe vicissitudes الأَحراسِthe ages
لَم ينسَ مِنهُ تَصَرُّفَ الأَحراسِ
To remind him of the old bond, even though he has
To remind of the ancient covenant, even if
Not forgotten any of it through time's vicissitudes.
He did not forget the march of time.
عَهدٌa bond كَأَيّامlike the days of الصِباyouth حَيثُwhen الصِباyouth
عَهدٌ كَأَيّام الصِبا حَيثُ الصِبا
غَضٌّfresh كَصَفوِlike the clarity of الراحwine وَسطَwithin الكاسِthe cup
غَضٌّ كَصَفوِ الراح وَسطَ الكاسِ
A bond like the days of youth, when youth
A covenant like the days of youth, where youth
Was fresh as clear wine within the cup;
Is tender like the purity amid the cup.
نَورblossom العُرارةthe oxeye نَورهits blossom وَنَسيمُهُand its breeze
نَور العُرارة نَوره وَنَسيمُهُ
نَشرُfragrance الخُزامىlavender فيamid اِخضِرارthe greenness of الآسِmyrtle
نَشرُ الخُزامى في اِخضِرار الآسِ
Its blossom was the oxeye's blossom, and its breeze
The light of meadows his light, and his breeze
The scent of lavender amid the greenness of myrtle.
Spreads the chamomile in the greening of days.