مدينة العلم أم دار مباركة

مدينة العلم أم دار مباركة

أم معبد من جلال العلم أم حرم

أم معبد من جلال العلم أم حرم

A city of learning, or a blessed abode,

The city of knowledge, or a blessed abode

Or a temple born of learning's majesty, or a sanctuary?

Or a temple of the majesty of knowledge, or a sanctuary,

أم أدركت أمِرِيكا وهي محسنة

أم أدركت أمِرِيكا وهي محسنة

أن المعارف في أهل النهى ذمم

أن المعارف في أهل النهى ذمم

Or has America, in her benevolence, realized

Or did America realize while she was doing good

That learning is a trust borne by the wise?

That knowledge is blameworthy for the people of prohibition.

بَنَت ببيروت دار العلم جامعة

بَنَت ببيروت دار العلم جامعة

نعم البناء ونعم الحصن والهرم

نعم البناء ونعم الحصن والهرم

She built in Beirut a house of learning, a university:

Beirut built the house of knowledge, the university,

How fine the building, how fine the fortress and pyramid!

How good is its building and its fortress and pyramid.

فيها الضيوف لواء العلم ظللها

فيها الضيوف لواء العلم ظللها

يا حبذا الجيش بل يا حبذا العلمَ

يا حبذا الجيش بل يا حبذا العلمَ

The guests are within it; learning's banner has shaded it.

In it guests - the banner of knowledge - shaded it.

How splendid the army—nay, how splendid the banner!

How excellent is the army, but the knowledge is more excellent!

جند الخليفة تمت من نجابتهم

جند الخليفة تمت من نجابتهم

لملكه الآيتان السيف والقلم

لملكه الآيتان السيف والقلم

Through the excellence of the caliph's troops are perfected

The soldiers of the Caliph, accomplished due to their excellence,

For his realm the two emblems—the sword and the pen.

For his kingdom the two signs: the sword and the pen.

وكم لرب الندى عبدالحميد يد

وكم لرب الندى عبدالحميد يد

فوق الثناء ولو أن الزمان فم

فوق الثناء ولو أن الزمان فم

And how many favors of Abd al-Hamid, lord of bounty,

And how many a hand does the Lord of Nada, Abdulhamid, have

Are beyond praise, even were time itself a mouth!

Above praise, even if time is a mouth.

خليفة الله أبقى الله دولته

خليفة الله أبقى الله دولته

يحفها العز والإكبار والعظم

يحفها العز والإكبار والعظم

God's caliph—may God preserve his realm,

The Caliph of God, may God make his state endure,

Surrounded by glory, reverence, and grandeur.

Surround it with might, glory, and greatness.

كلية الشرق إن الشرق مفتخر

كلية الشرق إن الشرق مفتخر

يعلى مكانك فيه العرب والعجمِ

يعلى مكانك فيه العرب والعجمِ

O College of the East, the East is indeed proud;

The College of the East - the East is proud

Arabs and non-Arabs exalt your standing within it.

To raise your place in it the Arabs and non-Arabs.

فكل باب كباب القدس مستَبَق

فكل باب كباب القدس مستَبَق

وكل ركن كركن البيت مستلَم

وكل ركن كركن البيت مستلَم

So every gate, like Jerusalem's gate, is raced toward,

So every door is like the door of Jerusalem sought

And every corner, like the Sacred House's corner, is touched in reverence.

And every corner like the corner of the House frequented.

أقلُّ حقِك أن تُطوى زواخره

أقلُّ حقِك أن تُطوى زواخره

إليك سبحا إذا لم تسعف القدم

إليك سبحا إذا لم تسعف القدم

The least you are owed is that its surging waters be crossed

Your right is at least that its vessels

By swimming to you, if feet afford no help.

Come to you swifly when the foot is not brisk.

لا زلتِ نورا لأهليه ولا عدمت

لا زلتِ نورا لأهليه ولا عدمت

وئامها عندك الأديان والأمم

وئامها عندك الأديان والأمم

May you ever remain a light to its people, and may they never lack

You have not ceased being a light for your family, and not lacked

Their harmony in you—the faiths and nations.

Harmony among you - the religions and nations.

أتيتهم من طريق العلم فانتبهوا

أتيتهم من طريق العلم فانتبهوا

والناس أيقظ ما كانوا إذا علموا

والناس أيقظ ما كانوا إذا علموا

You came to them by the path of learning, and they awoke;

They came to you by the path of knowledge and were awakened

And people are most awake when they learn.

And people the most alert when they know.

شبيبة الشرق في دار العلوم به

شبيبة الشرق في دار العلوم به

الشرق من جدّكم جذلان يبتسم

الشرق من جدّكم جذلان يبتسم

O youth of the East, in its house of learning,

The youth of the East in the house of knowledge therein

The East smiles, joyful at your diligence.

The East smiles at your striving.

حالَ تحول وأيام مداولة

حالَ تحول وأيام مداولة

وأبوؤس تتوالى إثرها نعم

وأبوؤس تتوالى إثرها نعم

Circumstances change, and days take their turns;

Situations change and days pass

And hardships, in whose wake blessings come in succession.

And distresses continue after them, blessings.

مالي وللنصح للإخوان أبذله

مالي وللنصح للإخوان أبذله

إن النصوح وإن أصفاك متهم

إن النصوح وإن أصفاك متهم

What business have I offering counsel to my brethren?

What is mine I expend in sincere advice for the brothers

For the sincere adviser, even if devoted to you, is mistrusted.

Sincere advice, even if it makes you suspect.

ثلاثة نال نعمى الخلد مدركها

ثلاثة نال نعمى الخلد مدركها

الله والعلم والتاريخ فاغتنموا

الله والعلم والتاريخ فاغتنموا

Three things: whoever grasps them gains the bliss of immortality—

Three things, one who attains them attains the favors of eternity -

God, learning, and history—so make the most of them.

God, knowledge, and history - so seize them!