قل لِلذَكيّ الأَلمعيّ وَقَد رقى

قل لِلذَكيّ الأَلمعيّ وَقَد رقى

رتباً بطالعه السَعيد تهيمُ

رتباً بطالعه السَعيد تهيمُ

Say to the intelligent, keen-witted man, who has ascended

Tell the brilliant and enlightened one, who has risen

Ranks enamored of his fortunate star:

Through his auspicious horoscope, you are besotted with him

بكَ أَنتَ ثانية المَراتب زانَها

بكَ أَنتَ ثانية المَراتب زانَها

شرف لَها بَين الأَنام عَظيم

شرف لَها بَين الأَنام عَظيم

Through you yourself, the second rank has been adorned

You are second in rank, adorned with it

With honor great among humankind.

A great honor among people for it

وَستأخذ الأولى وتبلغ ما تَشا

وَستأخذ الأولى وتبلغ ما تَشا

عَمّا قَليل وَالزَمان خَديم

عَمّا قَليل وَالزَمان خَديم

And you will attain the first and reach whatever you wish

And you will take the first rank and attain what you desire

Before long, with Time your servant.

In a little while, and time is your servant

وَإِذا رآك المَجد قال مهنئاً

وَإِذا رآك المَجد قال مهنئاً

متمثلاً بِالمَدح وَهُوَ نَظيم

متمثلاً بِالمَدح وَهُوَ نَظيم

And when Glory sees you, it says in congratulation,

And when glory sees you, it congratulates

Quoting praise finely woven into verse:

Praising in well-composed verse

لا غرو أَن فقت الثريا رفعةً

لا غرو أَن فقت الثريا رفعةً

هَذا المَقام وَأَنتَ إِبراهيم

هَذا المَقام وَأَنتَ إِبراهيم

No wonder you have surpassed the Pleiades in loftiness:

No wonder you have surpassed others in ascendance

This is the station, and you are Ibrahim.

With this position, and you are Abraham

حاشاك تَنسى ذاكراً لك مخلصاً

حاشاك تَنسى ذاكراً لك مخلصاً

طُول المَدى في الود وَهوَ قَديم

طُول المَدى في الود وَهوَ قَديم

Far be it from you to forget one mindful of you, sincere

Far be it that you forget, remembering as a loyal friend

In affection through the years, a friend of long standing.

Throughout the ages with everlasting affection

فَكَفاه سَبعة أَشهر مَعدودة

فَكَفاه سَبعة أَشهر مَعدودة

مرّت بِهِ في الدار وَهوَ مقيم

مرّت بِهِ في الدار وَهوَ مقيم

So seven numbered months have been enough for him,

It was enough for him, seven counted months

Which passed while he remained in the house.

That passed with him in the house where he resided

قلم الإِدارة بِالمَدارس غَيره

قلم الإِدارة بِالمَدارس غَيره

خدم بِها طبق المَرام يَقوم

خدم بِها طبق المَرام يَقوم

In the schools' administrative bureau, others

The pen of administration in schools, changed him

Serve there, performing as desired.

He served in them, upholding the intended way

فَارفع إِلى الصدّيق حالة فاقةٍ

فَارفع إِلى الصدّيق حالة فاقةٍ

مِنها يَذوب الصَخر وَهوَ جسيم

مِنها يَذوب الصَخر وَهوَ جسيم

So present to al-Siddiq a case of destitution

So send to the dear friend, in dire need

At which rock would melt, massive though it is.

At which even solid rock would melt, so immense

لا زلت للمضطرّ عَوناً في قَضا

لا زلت للمضطرّ عَوناً في قَضا

حاجاته وَلَكَ الثَناء يَدوم

حاجاته وَلَكَ الثَناء يَدوم

May you ever aid one in distress in meeting

You remain a helper for the distressed, in fulfilling

His needs, and may praise of you endure.

His needs, and praise of you endures