حَيِّ الخَليلَ وَطُف بِتِلكَ الدارِ

حَيِّ الخَليلَ وَطُف بِتِلكَ الدارِ

حَيّاهُ رَبُّ البَيتِ ذي الأَستارِ

حَيّاهُ رَبُّ البَيتِ ذي الأَستارِ

Greet Khalil and circle that house;

Greet the beloved friend and walk around that house,

May the Lord of the curtained House greet him.

Greeted by the Lord of the house with curtains.

إِنَّ التَحِيَّةَ وَالسَلامَ لِمُؤمِنٍ

إِنَّ التَحِيَّةَ وَالسَلامَ لِمُؤمِنٍ

عالي المَواقِفِ راجِحِ المِقدارِ

عالي المَواقِفِ راجِحِ المِقدارِ

Indeed, greetings and peace are for a believer

Greetings and peace to the faithful believer,

Lofty in his stances, weighty in his worth.

Of high character and weighty value.

لا ريعَ سِربُكَ مِن كَمِيٍّ باسِلٍ

لا ريعَ سِربُكَ مِن كَمِيٍّ باسِلٍ

يُرجى لِيَومِ كَريهَةٍ وَمَغارِ

يُرجى لِيَومِ كَريهَةٍ وَمَغارِ

May your flock never be frightened—what a valiant armored warrior,

Your flock is not frightened by a howling wolf,

Counted on for a day of battle and assault!

Hopeful on a day of hardship and caves.

خُضتَ الخُطوبَ لِأَجلِ مِصرَ مَخوفَةً

خُضتَ الخُطوبَ لِأَجلِ مِصرَ مَخوفَةً

مِن كُلِّ أَرعَنَ هائِلِ التَيّارِ

مِن كُلِّ أَرعَنَ هائِلِ التَيّارِ

You plunged into fearful ordeals for Egypt,

You endured battles for fearful Egypt,

From every mighty host, fearsome in its surging tide.

From every roaring torrential current.

وَقَضَيتَ في بَرلينَ حَقَّ شَهيدِها

وَقَضَيتَ في بَرلينَ حَقَّ شَهيدِها

فَقَضَيتَ حَقَّ اللَهِ وَالمُختارِ

فَقَضَيتَ حَقَّ اللَهِ وَالمُختارِ

And in Berlin you fulfilled the duty owed her martyr,

And in Berlin you sought justice for its martyr,

Thus fulfilling the duty owed God and the Chosen One.

Thus you sought the right of God and the Chosen one.

سَدَّ القَضاءُ عَلَيهِ أَقطارَ الدُنى

سَدَّ القَضاءُ عَلَيهِ أَقطارَ الدُنى

فَفَتَحتَ عَنهُ مَغالِقَ الأَقطارِ

فَفَتَحتَ عَنهُ مَغالِقَ الأَقطارِ

Fate had shut against him the reaches of the worlds,

Destiny has blocked him from the corners of the world,

So you opened for him the locked gates of those lands.

So you opened for him the locked corners.

نَصَرَتكَ هِمَّةُ ماجِدٍ لَولا التُقى

نَصَرَتكَ هِمَّةُ ماجِدٍ لَولا التُقى

لَظَنَنتُها قَدَراً مِنَ الأَقدارِ

لَظَنَنتُها قَدَراً مِنَ الأَقدارِ

A noble man's resolve aided you; were it not for piety,

You were helped by the resolve of the glorious one, were it not for piety,

I would have thought it one of destiny's decrees.

I would have thought it predetermined fate.

وَالمَرءُ إِن طَلَبَ الأُمورَ بِهِمَّةٍ

وَالمَرءُ إِن طَلَبَ الأُمورَ بِهِمَّةٍ

لَم يُعيِهِ وَطَرٌ مِنَ الأَوطارِ

لَم يُعيِهِ وَطَرٌ مِنَ الأَوطارِ

And if a man pursues his aims with resolve,

And one who seeks matters with resolve,

No aim among his aims can defeat him.

No route of fate can weary him.

وَيحَ الَّتي أَكَلَ النُسورُ وَليدَها

وَيحَ الَّتي أَكَلَ النُسورُ وَليدَها

وَمَضَت مُحَلِّقَةً بِكُلِّ مَطارِ

وَمَضَت مُحَلِّقَةً بِكُلِّ مَطارِ

Alas for her whose child the vultures devoured,

Woe to her whom the eagles ate her newborn,

And went soaring along every flight-path.

And she flew off in every airfield.

قَذَفَت بِهِ دارُ الجِهادِ إِلى الَّتي

قَذَفَت بِهِ دارُ الجِهادِ إِلى الَّتي

ما بَعدَها لِمُجاهِدٍ مِن دارِ

ما بَعدَها لِمُجاهِدٍ مِن دارِ

The abode of struggle cast him into that abode

The home of jihad cast him to the one,

Beyond which a fighter has no other home.

After which there is no home for the holy warrior.

تَهَبُ الحَياةَ لِمَن يَجيءُ بِشِلوِهِ

تَهَبُ الحَياةَ لِمَن يَجيءُ بِشِلوِهِ

وَتَراهُ عَينَ الفارِسِ المِغوارِ

وَتَراهُ عَينَ الفارِسِ المِغوارِ

She grants life to whoever comes with his remains,

It gifts life to whomever comes with his weapons,

And sees in him the very embodiment of a daring horseman.

Seen by the gallant, dashing horseman.

أَوَ ما رَأَت صُنعَ الخَليلِ فَأَكبَرَت

أَوَ ما رَأَت صُنعَ الخَليلِ فَأَكبَرَت

في العالَمينَ جَليلَ صُنعِ الباري

في العالَمينَ جَليلَ صُنعِ الباري

Has she not seen Khalil's deed, and so extolled

Or did she not see the work of the beloved friend, so she exalted,

The Creator's glorious handiwork throughout the worlds?

In both worlds, the magnificent work of the Creator?

جَعَلَ العِنايَةَ وَالقَضاءَ بِأَسرِهِ

جَعَلَ العِنايَةَ وَالقَضاءَ بِأَسرِهِ

عَونَ الكِرامِ وَنَجدَةَ الأَحرارِ

عَونَ الكِرامِ وَنَجدَةَ الأَحرارِ

He made providence and all of destiny

He made providence and fate altogether,

An aid to the noble and a rescue for the free.

Aiding the generous and helping the free.

فَإِذا سَعَوا جَرَتِ الحَوادِثُ طَوعَهُم

فَإِذا سَعَوا جَرَتِ الحَوادِثُ طَوعَهُم

وَإِذا مَشوا وَقفَ القَضاءُ الجاري

وَإِذا مَشوا وَقفَ القَضاءُ الجاري

So when they strive, events run at their command,

So when they hastened, events flowed to their purpose,

And when they walk, advancing destiny stands still.

And when they walked, fate stopped in its tracks.

هُزّي لِنُصرَتِكِ الخَليلَ وَهَيِّجي

هُزّي لِنُصرَتِكِ الخَليلَ وَهَيِّجي

فيهِ مَضاءَ الصارِمِ البَتّارِ

فيهِ مَضاءَ الصارِمِ البَتّارِ

Rouse Khalil to your aid, and stir

Rouse to your victory, O beloved friend, and provoke

In him the cutting power of the keen, cleaving sword.

In him the spark of the sharp piercing sword.

مَن لَيسَ لِلجُلّى سِواهُ وَما لَهُ

مَن لَيسَ لِلجُلّى سِواهُ وَما لَهُ

في الصالِحاتِ الباقِياتِ مُبارِ

في الصالِحاتِ الباقِياتِ مُبارِ

He alone can meet the gravest crisis, and he has

He who has none but the glorious one, and he has no,

No rival in the good deeds that endure.

Among the righteous deeds, any rivals.

يَحمي الحَقيقَةَ وَالذِمارَ وَما الفَتى

يَحمي الحَقيقَةَ وَالذِمارَ وَما الفَتى

إِلّا رَهينُ حَقيقَةٍ وَذِمارِ

إِلّا رَهينُ حَقيقَةٍ وَذِمارِ

He guards honor and all he must protect; a young man is

He protects the truth and the harvest, and a man,

Nothing but pledged to honor and all he must protect.

Is but a hostage to the truth and harvest.

فَإِذا هُما ذَهَبا تَهَدَّمَ حَوضُهُ

فَإِذا هُما ذَهَبا تَهَدَّمَ حَوضُهُ

وَأَقامَ رَهنَ مَذَلَّةٍ وَصَغارِ

وَأَقامَ رَهنَ مَذَلَّةٍ وَصَغارِ

So if both are lost, his basin crumbles,

So if they are lost, his basin crumbles,

And he remains hostage to humiliation and abasement.

And he remains a hostage of humiliation and pettiness.

وَالمَرءُ تَأخُذُهُ الخُطوبُ بِظُلمِها

وَالمَرءُ تَأخُذُهُ الخُطوبُ بِظُلمِها

فَيَموتُ أَو يَحيا حَياةَ العارِ

فَيَموتُ أَو يَحيا حَياةَ العارِ

And ordeals seize a man with their injustice,

And one is gripped by hardships in their darkness,

So he dies or lives a life of shame.

And dies or lives a life of disgrace.

وَالناسُ بَينَ مُحَقَّرينَ أَصاغِرٍ

وَالناسُ بَينَ مُحَقَّرينَ أَصاغِرٍ

وَمُعَظَّمينَ مِنَ الرِجالِ كِبارِ

وَمُعَظَّمينَ مِنَ الرِجالِ كِبارِ

And people range between despised men of little stature

While people are between two despised inferiors,

And honored men of great stature.

And revered great men.

لَولا الحَمِيَّةُ في النُفوسِ تُثيرُها

لَولا الحَمِيَّةُ في النُفوسِ تُثيرُها

هَتَكَ الكِلابُ حِمى الهِزَبرِ الضاري

هَتَكَ الكِلابُ حِمى الهِزَبرِ الضاري

Were it not for honor's zeal within souls, stirring them,

Were it not for the zeal in souls stirring them,

Dogs would breach the fierce lion's sanctuary,

The dogs would have violated the protected grounds.

وَعَفَت مِنَ الدُنيا الفَضائِلُ وَاِنمَحَت

وَعَفَت مِنَ الدُنيا الفَضائِلُ وَاِنمَحَت

أَعقابُها وَبَقِيَّةُ الآثارِ

أَعقابُها وَبَقِيَّةُ الآثارِ

And virtues would fade from the world, and vanish

Virtues have waned from the world and vanished,

Their legacies and the last remaining traces.

Their remnants and few traces.

وَلَما رَأَيتَ العِرضَ إِلّا سِلعَةً

وَلَما رَأَيتَ العِرضَ إِلّا سِلعَةً

تُزجى وَتَدفَعُها يَمينُ الشاري

تُزجى وَتَدفَعُها يَمينُ الشاري

And you would see honor as nothing but merchandise,

And when you saw honor only as merchandise,

Passed along and pushed by the buyer's right hand.

To be bargained and given away by the buyer.

فَإِذا الحَياةُ غَياهِبٌ مُسوَدَّةٌ

فَإِذا الحَياةُ غَياهِبٌ مُسوَدَّةٌ

يَشقى الدَليلُ بِها وَيَعيا الساري

يَشقى الدَليلُ بِها وَيَعيا الساري

Then life would be blackened depths of darkness,

Then life becomes obscured darknesses,

Where the guide suffers and the night-traveler grows weary;

In which the guide suffers and the walker is lost.

وَإِذا النُفوسُ لِما تَذوقُ مِنَ الأَذى

وَإِذا النُفوسُ لِما تَذوقُ مِنَ الأَذى

حَرّى الشكاةِ عَلى الحَياةِ زَواري

حَرّى الشكاةِ عَلى الحَياةِ زَواري

And souls, because of the hurt they taste,

And when souls taste some harm,

Would burn with complaint and look on life with scorn.

The suffering stokes fires upon life.

قُل لِلخَليلِ صَدَقتَ قَومَكَ عَهدَهُم

قُل لِلخَليلِ صَدَقتَ قَومَكَ عَهدَهُم

وَرَعَيتَ مِصرَ رِعايَةَ الأَبرارِ

وَرَعَيتَ مِصرَ رِعايَةَ الأَبرارِ

Tell Khalil: you kept your people's covenant,

Say to the beloved friend you were true to your people's covenant,

And cared for Egypt with the care of the righteous.

And cared for Egypt with care of the righteous.

وَشَفَيتَ وَجدَ شَهيدِها وَحَبَوتَهُ

وَشَفَيتَ وَجدَ شَهيدِها وَحَبَوتَهُ

فيها بِدارِ إِقامَةٍ وَقَرارِ

فيها بِدارِ إِقامَةٍ وَقَرارِ

And soothed her martyr's longing, and granted him

You healed the passion of its martyr and sheltered him

Within her a home for dwelling and repose.

In it with a home and stability.

شُغِفَت بِهِ وَاِهتاجَ مِن بُرَحائِهِ

شُغِفَت بِهِ وَاِهتاجَ مِن بُرَحائِهِ

شَوقٌ إِلَيها في الجَوانِحِ وارِ

شَوقٌ إِلَيها في الجَوانِحِ وارِ

She was smitten with him; from his anguish flared

She longed for him and stirred from his spirit,

A longing for her, blazing within his ribs.

A yearning in the most ardent souls.

فَطَوَيتَ ما يَشكو المَشوقُ مِنَ النَوى

فَطَوَيتَ ما يَشكو المَشوقُ مِنَ النَوى

وَجَمَعتَ بَينَ الصَبِّ وَالمُزدارِ

وَجَمَعتَ بَينَ الصَبِّ وَالمُزدارِ

So you ended the separation the yearning lover laments,

So you folded what the longing one complained of woe,

And brought together the lovesick lover and the beloved he visits.

And united determination and purpose.

مِصرُ الحَياةُ لِكُلِّ ذي شَغَفٍ جَرى

مِصرُ الحَياةُ لِكُلِّ ذي شَغَفٍ جَرى

في العاشِقينَ فَطاحَ في المِضمارِ

في العاشِقينَ فَطاحَ في المِضمارِ

Egypt is life to every impassioned soul who raced

Egypt is the life for all who have passion that flowed

Among the lovers, then fell upon the racecourse.

Among the lovers and excelled in the race.

إِنّي لَأَعلَمُ وَالمَحَبَّةُ مِحنَةٌ

إِنّي لَأَعلَمُ وَالمَحَبَّةُ مِحنَةٌ

أَنَّ النُفوسَ لِمَن تُحِبُّ عَواري

أَنَّ النُفوسَ لِمَن تُحِبُّ عَواري

I surely know—love is an ordeal—

I know, and love is an ordeal,

That souls are on loan to those they love.

That souls for those they love are defiled.

تَبقى وَتُؤخَذُ ما أَرادَ وَما أَبى

تَبقى وَتُؤخَذُ ما أَرادَ وَما أَبى

لا شَيءَ غَيرَ تَحَكُّمِ وَخِيارِ

لا شَيءَ غَيرَ تَحَكُّمِ وَخِيارِ

They remain or are taken, whether he wishes or refuses—

They remain and are taken whether he wished or refused,

Nothing but arbitrary power and choice.

Nothing but control and choice.

قالوا أَخٌ لِأَبي الشَهيدِ وَأُمِّهِ

قالوا أَخٌ لِأَبي الشَهيدِ وَأُمِّهِ

أَم مِن ذَوي القُربى أَمِ الأَصهارِ

أَم مِن ذَوي القُربى أَمِ الأَصهارِ

They asked: are you a brother to the martyr's father and mother,

They said a brother to the martyr's father and mother,

Or among his kin, or his in-laws?

Or of close kin or in-laws?

ما كُنتَ إِلّا الحُرَّ يَحفَظُ قَومَهُ

ما كُنتَ إِلّا الحُرَّ يَحفَظُ قَومَهُ

وَالحُرُّ صاحِبُ ذِمَّةٍ وَجِوارِ

وَالحُرُّ صاحِبُ ذِمَّةٍ وَجِوارِ

You were only a free man safeguarding his people,

You were but the noble one protecting his people,

And a free man keeps covenants and grants protection.

And the noble is of covenant and neighborliness.

وَالحَقُّ إِن تَرَكَ المَليءُ قَضاءَهُ

وَالحَقُّ إِن تَرَكَ المَليءُ قَضاءَهُ

ضاقَت عَلَيهِ مَنادِحُ الأَعذارِ

ضاقَت عَلَيهِ مَنادِحُ الأَعذارِ

And if a man of means neglects a rightful duty,

And the truth, if the resourceful one neglects its fulfillment,

The room for excuses narrows for him.

Excuses become too narrow for him.

إِنَّ الفَقيرَ إِلى الحَياةِ لَمَن يَرى

إِنَّ الفَقيرَ إِلى الحَياةِ لَمَن يَرى

أَنَّ الحَياةَ بِثَروَةٍ وَعَقارِ

أَنَّ الحَياةَ بِثَروَةٍ وَعَقارِ

Indeed, the one in need of life is he who thinks

The poor towards life is one who sees,

That life consists in wealth and landed property.

That life is with wealth and real estate.

المالُ لِلرَجُلِ الكَريمِ ذَرائِعٌ

المالُ لِلرَجُلِ الكَريمِ ذَرائِعٌ

يَبغي بِهِنَّ جَلائِلَ الأَخطارِ

يَبغي بِهِنَّ جَلائِلَ الأَخطارِ

Money is, for the noble man, a means

Money for the generous man is means,

With which he seeks the loftiest distinctions.

Through which he seeks the greatest perils.

وَالناسُ شَتّى في الخِلالِ وَخَيرُهُم

وَالناسُ شَتّى في الخِلالِ وَخَيرُهُم

مَن كانَ ذا فَضلٍ وَذا إيثارِ

مَن كانَ ذا فَضلٍ وَذا إيثارِ

And people differ in their qualities; the best of them

While people are diverse in morals, and the best among them,

Is one endowed with merit and selflessness.

Is one of merit and preference.

بورِكتَ أَنتَ كَتَبتَ أَبلَغَ آيَةٍ

بورِكتَ أَنتَ كَتَبتَ أَبلَغَ آيَةٍ

لِلمُسلِمينَ بِسائِرِ الأَمصارِ

لِلمُسلِمينَ بِسائِرِ الأَمصارِ

Blessed are you: you wrote the most eloquent verse

You were blessed, you wrote the most eloquent verse,

For Muslims throughout all the cities.

For Muslims in all corners.

وَنَسَختَ ما كَتَبَ الَّذينَ تَقَدَّموا

وَنَسَختَ ما كَتَبَ الَّذينَ تَقَدَّموا

مِن تُرُّهاتِ الكُتبِ وَالأَسفارِ

مِن تُرُّهاتِ الكُتبِ وَالأَسفارِ

And you annulled what those before you wrote

And you copied what those before had written,

Of the nonsense in books and tomes.

Of nonsense from books and epics.

كانوا إِذا لَوَتِ النُفوسَ عَنِ النَدى

كانوا إِذا لَوَتِ النُفوسَ عَنِ النَدى

سَعَةُ الغِنى قالوا نُفوسُ تِجارِ

سَعَةُ الغِنى قالوا نُفوسُ تِجارِ

They would, when souls were turned from generosity

When souls deviated from propriety,

By abundant wealth, say: "Merchants' souls."

They said ample wealth, those were merchants' souls.

أوتيتَ مُلكَ الحَمدِ غَيرَ مُدافِعٍ

أوتيتَ مُلكَ الحَمدِ غَيرَ مُدافِعٍ

وَلَبِستَ تاجَي سُؤدُدٍ وَفَخارِ

وَلَبِستَ تاجَي سُؤدُدٍ وَفَخارِ

You were granted the kingdom of praise, unchallenged,

You were given the possession of praise without contention,

And donned the two crowns of eminence and glory.

And wore the crown of good lineage and honor.

وَرُزِقتَ ميراثَ النَوابِغِ كُلِّهِم

وَرُزِقتَ ميراثَ النَوابِغِ كُلِّهِم

فيما وَرِثتَ اليَومَ مِن أَشعاري

فيما وَرِثتَ اليَومَ مِن أَشعاري

And you were granted the heritage of all the great poets

And you were granted the inheritance of all the geniuses,

In what you inherited today of my poems.

In what you inherited today of my poetry.

أَطرَيتُ أَبلَجَ مِن غَطارِفِ يَعرُبٍ

أَطرَيتُ أَبلَجَ مِن غَطارِفِ يَعرُبٍ

وَمَدَحتُ أَروَعَ مِن شُيوخِ نِزارِ

وَمَدَحتُ أَروَعَ مِن شُيوخِ نِزارِ

I extolled a radiant man among Ya'rub's noble chiefs,

I have excelled over the most eloquent Arab poet,

And praised a majestic man among Nizar's elders.

And praised what is most wondrous than the elders of Nizar.

أَطَلَبتَ مِن حاجاتِ نَفسِكَ مَأرَباً

أَطَلَبتَ مِن حاجاتِ نَفسِكَ مَأرَباً

أَم كُنتَ في بَرلينَ طالِبَ ثارِ

أَم كُنتَ في بَرلينَ طالِبَ ثارِ

Did you seek some object of your own desires,

Did you seek from your soul's needs a purpose,

Or were you seeking vengeance in Berlin?

Or were you in Berlin seeking vengeance?

هِمَمٌ مَضَت في الغابِرينَ وَأُمَّةٌ

هِمَمٌ مَضَت في الغابِرينَ وَأُمَّةٌ

ما بَينَنا مِنها سِوى الأَخبارِ

ما بَينَنا مِنها سِوى الأَخبارِ

Resolves that passed with the ancients, and a nation

Resolves have passed in ages ago, and a nation,

Of which nothing remains among us but tales.

Between us is but their news.

المُسلِمونَ الأَوَّلونَ بِغِبطَةٍ

المُسلِمونَ الأَوَّلونَ بِغِبطَةٍ

وَالشَرقُ في فَرَحٍ وَفي اِستِبشارِ

وَالشَرقُ في فَرَحٍ وَفي اِستِبشارِ

The earliest Muslims are filled with joy,

The early Muslims in pride,

And the East is joyful and full of glad expectation.

And the East in joy and elation.

جَدَّدتَ مِن ذِكرِ الصَحابَةِ ما اِنطَوى

جَدَّدتَ مِن ذِكرِ الصَحابَةِ ما اِنطَوى

وَرَفَعتَ ذِكرَكَ في بَني النَجّارِ

وَرَفَعتَ ذِكرَكَ في بَني النَجّارِ

You revived what had faded of the Companions' memory,

You renewed what was implicit from mention of the companions,

And raised your renown among the Banu al-Najjar.

And raised your mention among the carpenter's sons.

وَأَعدَتَّ مِن عَصرِ النُبُوَّةِ ما مَضى

وَأَعدَتَّ مِن عَصرِ النُبُوَّةِ ما مَضى

لَمّا أَعدَتَ لَنا حَديثَ الغارِ

لَمّا أَعدَتَ لَنا حَديثَ الغارِ

And brought back what had passed of the age of prophethood,

And you prepared from the era of prophethood what had passed,

When you brought us again the story of the cave.

When you prepared for us the story of the cave.

ثِقَةُ المَمالِكِ بِالرِجالِ وَحُبُّها

ثِقَةُ المَمالِكِ بِالرِجالِ وَحُبُّها

وَقفٌ عَلى أَبنائِها الأَخيارِ

وَقفٌ عَلى أَبنائِها الأَخيارِ

The kingdoms' trust in men, and their love,

The confidence of kingdoms in men, and their love

Are reserved for their virtuous sons.

Is dependent on their finest youth.

وَالمَرءُ في الدُنيا العَريضَةِ سَعيُهُ

وَالمَرءُ في الدُنيا العَريضَةِ سَعيُهُ

فَبَدارِ لِلسَعيِ الجَميلِ بَدارِ

فَبَدارِ لِلسَعيِ الجَميلِ بَدارِ

And in the wide world, a man is his striving;

And one’s endeavor in the vast world,

So hasten to noble striving—hasten!

So for beautiful efforts, the reward is with reward.