رَضينا بِالأَمينِ عَنِ الزَمانِ

رَضينا بِالأَمينِ عَنِ الزَمانِ

فَأَضحى المُلكُ مَعمورَ المَعاني

فَأَضحى المُلكُ مَعمورَ المَعاني

With al-Amin, we are content with Time.

We were pleased with the trustee against the times,

We found in al-Amin content against the Age,

So kingship has become rich in meaning.

So the kingdom became inhabited with meanings,

And the dominion became fully graced with meaning.

تَمَنَّينا عَلى الأَيّامِ شَيئاً

تَمَنَّينا عَلى الأَيّامِ شَيئاً

فَقَد بَلَّغنَنا تِلكَ الأَماني

فَقَد بَلَّغنَنا تِلكَ الأَماني

We wished for something from the days,

We wished for something from the days,

We wished a certain thing of the rolling days,

And they have indeed granted us those wishes,

So they conveyed those wishes,

And they have conveyed to us those very hopes:

بِأَزهَرَ مِن بَني المَنصورِ تُنمى

بِأَزهَرَ مِن بَني المَنصورِ تُنمى

إِلَيهِ وِلادَتانِ لَهُ اِثنَتانِ

إِلَيهِ وِلادَتانِ لَهُ اِثنَتانِ

Through a radiant scion of al-Mansur, to whom are traced

With the most blossomed of the sons of Mansur growing

A radiant bloom from al-Mansur’s progeny,

Two lines of descent, both his.

To him belong two successive births,

To whom is ascribed a dual right of birth.

وَلَيسَ كَجَدَّتَيهِ أُمِّ موسى

وَلَيسَ كَجَدَّتَيهِ أُمِّ موسى

إِذا نُسِبَت وَلا كَالخَيزُرانِ

إِذا نُسِبَت وَلا كَالخَيزُرانِ

And none rivals his two grandmothers—Umm Musa,

Not like his two grandmothers, mother of Moses,

He is not like his grandmothers—not Umm Musa,

When her lineage is traced, and al-Khayzuran.

When attributed, nor like the dandelions,

When ancestry is cited, nor al-Khayzuran.

لَهُ عَبدُ المَدانِ وَذو رُعَينٍ

لَهُ عَبدُ المَدانِ وَذو رُعَينٍ

كِلا خالَيهِ مُنتَخَبٌ يَماني

كِلا خالَيهِ مُنتَخَبٌ يَماني

His are Abd al-Madan and Dhu Ru'ayn,

To him belongs Abdel Madan and Thu Ra'yin,

He claims ‘Abd al-Madan and Dhu Ru‘ayn;

Both his maternal uncles are distinguished Yemenis.

Both his maternal uncles, chosen Yemenis,

Both his maternal lines are chosen Yemenis.

فَمَن يَجحَد بِكَ النُعمى فَإِنّي

فَمَن يَجحَد بِكَ النُعمى فَإِنّي

بِشُكري الدَهرَ مُرتَهَنُ اللِسانِ

بِشُكري الدَهرَ مُرتَهَنُ اللِسانِ

So whoever denies the blessing that comes through you—as for me,

So whoever denies you blessings, I

So let who may deny the bounty you bestow—for I,

My tongue is forever held in pledge by my gratitude.

With my gratitude, pledge my tongue against fate.

My tongue is held in pledge to thank you through all time.