قَد وَدَّ نوحٌ أَن يُباسِطَ قَومَهُ

قَد وَدَّ نوحٌ أَن يُباسِطَ قَومَهُ

فَدَعا إِلَيهِ مَعاشِرَ الحَيوانِ

فَدَعا إِلَيهِ مَعاشِرَ الحَيوانِ

Noah had wished to converse freely with his people,

Noah wished he could reach out to his people

So he summoned the animal communities to him.

So he called upon the animals' gathering

وَأَشارَ أَن يَلِيَ السَفينَةَ قائِدٌ

وَأَشارَ أَن يَلِيَ السَفينَةَ قائِدٌ

مِنهُم يَكونُ مِنَ النُهى بِمَكانِ

مِنهُم يَكونُ مِنَ النُهى بِمَكانِ

And he proposed that a captain take charge of the ship,

And gestured that a leader should board the ark

One from among them, well endowed with sound judgment.

One of noble conduct and high standing

فَتَقَدَّمَ اللَيثُ الرَفيعُ جَلالُهُ

فَتَقَدَّمَ اللَيثُ الرَفيعُ جَلالُهُ

وَتَعَرَّضَ الفيلُ الفَخيمُ الشانِ

وَتَعَرَّضَ الفيلُ الفَخيمُ الشانِ

Then the lion, exalted in majesty, stepped forward,

The magnificent lion came forth

And the elephant, of majestic standing, offered himself.

And the dignified elephant made its way

وَتَلاهُما باقي السِباعِ وَكُلهُم

وَتَلاهُما باقي السِباعِ وَكُلهُم

خَرّوا لِهَيبَتِهِ إِلى الأَذقانِ

خَرّوا لِهَيبَتِهِ إِلى الأَذقانِ

The remaining beasts of prey followed them both, and all of them

Followed by the rest of the beasts, all

Fell onto their chins in awe of him.

Bowed their heads in awe and obey

حَتّى إِذا حَيّوا المُؤَيَّدَ بِالهُدى

حَتّى إِذا حَيّوا المُؤَيَّدَ بِالهُدى

وَدَعَوا بِطولِ العِزِّ وَالإِمكانِ

وَدَعَوا بِطولِ العِزِّ وَالإِمكانِ

At last, when they had greeted the one upheld by guidance,

When they greeted the one guided by God

And prayed for lasting glory and power,

And prayed for power and capability

سَبَقَتهُمُ لِخِطابِ نوحٍ نَملَةٌ

سَبَقَتهُمُ لِخِطابِ نوحٍ نَملَةٌ

كانَت هُناكَ بِجانِبِ الأَردانِ

كانَت هُناكَ بِجانِبِ الأَردانِ

An ant forestalled them in addressing Noah;

An ant preceded them in addressing Noah

She was there beside the sleeves.

It was there, next to the cedar tree

قالَت نَبِيَّ اللَهِ أَرضى فارِسٌ

قالَت نَبِيَّ اللَهِ أَرضى فارِسٌ

وَأَنا يَقيناً فارِسُ المَيدانِ

وَأَنا يَقيناً فارِسُ المَيدانِ

She said, "Prophet of God, my homeland is Persia,

It said: "O prophet of God, a horse would suffice

And I am certainly the knight of the field.

Yet I'm surely the champion of the battlefield

سَأُديرُ دِفَّتَها وَأَحمي أَهلَها

سَأُديرُ دِفَّتَها وَأَحمي أَهلَها

وَأَقودُها في عِصمَةٍ وَأَمانِ

وَأَقودُها في عِصمَةٍ وَأَمانِ

I shall work her rudder and protect those aboard her,

I will steer its course and protect its people

And pilot her in safety and security."

And lead it safely, a trusty shield"

ضَحِكَ النَبِيُّ وَقالَ إِنَّ سَفينَتي

ضَحِكَ النَبِيُّ وَقالَ إِنَّ سَفينَتي

لَهِيَ الحَياةُ وَأَنتِ كَالإِنسانِ

لَهِيَ الحَياةُ وَأَنتِ كَالإِنسانِ

The prophet laughed and said, "Indeed, my ship

The prophet laughed and said: "My ark

Is life itself, and you are like a human being:

Is life itself and you are but human

كُلُّ الفَضائِلِ وَالعَظائِمِ عِندَهُ

كُلُّ الفَضائِلِ وَالعَظائِمِ عِندَهُ

هُوَ أَوَّلٌ وَالغَيرُ فيها الثاني

هُوَ أَوَّلٌ وَالغَيرُ فيها الثاني

In all virtues and mighty deeds, as he sees it,

All virtues and greatness belong to Him

He is first, and everyone else is second.

He is the First and others come second

وَيَوَدُّ لَو ساسَ الزَمانَ وَمالَهُ

وَيَوَدُّ لَو ساسَ الزَمانَ وَمالَهُ

بِأَقَل أَشغالِ الزَمانِ يَدانِ

بِأَقَل أَشغالِ الزَمانِ يَدانِ

And he wishes he could govern time, though he lacks

And He wishes if time was ruled

Two hands equal to even the least of time's tasks."

By the simplest of all things made