1. هي العيس نوليها الحَنين فَتَسعَد

    وَنزجرها نحو الحَبيب فتصعد

    These are the pale camels: we impart our yearning to them, and they respond in sympathy.

    We urge them toward the beloved, and they ascend.

  2. يذكرها الحادي بجيرة طيبة

    فَيأخذها شوق مقيم ومقعد

    The camel-driver reminds them of Taybah's neighbors,

    And a yearning seizes them, making them rise and kneel.

  3. وان سمعت سجع الحمام تذكرت

    بسلع حمامات تبيت تغرد

    When they hear the cooing of doves, they remember

    Doves at Sal‘ that spend the night singing.

  4. وان وقدت نار بأحد تبلدرت

    اليهاوَفي أَحشائها النار توقد

    And when a fire is kindled at Uhud, they [hasten]

    Toward it, while fire burns within their entrails.

  5. فَلا تذكرا يا صاحبي لها الحمى

    وَلا جيرة فَلو الغوير فأنجدوا

    So do not mention the protected pasture to them, my two companions,

    Nor neighbors [who dwelt in] al-Ghuwayr and then went up to Najd.

  6. وَلكن عداها بالحجاز واحمد

    فماقصدها الا الحجاز وَأَحمد

    But promise them the Hijaz and Ahmad,

    For they seek only the Hijaz and Ahmad.

  7. سرت فرأت من نحو بدر عَلى الربا

    طَلائع بدرنوره يتصعد

    They journeyed by night and saw, toward Badr, upon the hills

    The heralds of a full moon whose light rises upward.

  8. وَدانَت ثنيات الوداع فَهاجَها

    نَسيم حجازى يهب وَيركد

    The passes of al-Wada‘ drew near, and they were stirred by

    A Hijazi breeze that blows and falls still.

  9. لعل نَسيم الريح يَهدي تَحيَتي

    الى من له عن أَيمن العرش مقعد

    Perhaps the wind's breeze will carry my greeting

    To him who has a seat at the right of the Throne,

  10. فيقرئه مني السَلام مكررا

    فخيرالتَحيّات السَلام المردد

    And repeatedly convey to him my salutation of peace;

    For the finest greeting is peace repeated.

  11. نَبي له جود ومجد مؤثل

    وَجاه وَتَمكين مكين وَسودد

    A prophet with generosity and deeply rooted glory,

    And prestige, firmly established authority, and eminence.

  12. عَلى حبه بستمسك الطير في الهَوا

    وَتَهبط أَملاك السماء وَتصعد

    Through love of him, birds remain suspended in the air,

    And the angels of heaven descend and ascend.

  13. وَيَهتَز ريحان القلوب لذكره

    اذا ذكر اِرتاحَت قلوب وأكبد

    The sweet basil of hearts sways at his mention;

    When he is mentioned, hearts and livers rejoice.

  14. وَذَلِكَ من أوتى النبوّة أَولا

    وآدم بين الماء وَالطين مفرد

    He is the one first granted prophethood,

    While Adam was alone between water and clay.

  15. فَكانَ له في العرش سبق وَرفعَة

    وَكانَ له في الارض بعث ومولد

    Thus he had precedence and exalted rank at the Throne,

    And on earth he had a mission and a birth.

  16. هَنيئا لِذاكَ البدر شرف قدره

    وأعطى من التَمكين ما لَيسَ ينفد

    Blessed be that full moon: his rank was exalted,

    And he was granted authority that never runs out.

  17. وَشق اسمه من أَحرف اسم الهه

    فَذو العرش محمود وَهَذا محمد

    His name was drawn from the letters of his God's name:

    The Lord of the Throne is praised—Mahmud—and this is Muhammad.

  18. يُنادي باسماء المَلائك وَالعُلا

    عَلى أَنَّه أَعلى وَأَزكى وَأَمجَد

    He calls out with the names of the angels and the heights,

    As one who is higher, purer, and more glorious.

  19. وَيذكر في التَهليل مَع ذكر ربه

    وان قيل في التأذين أَشهد أَشهَد

    He is mentioned in the proclamation of God's oneness alongside his Lord's name,

    And when 'I bear witness, I bear witness' is said in the call to prayer.

  20. وَيَعلو عَلى الاملاك وَالرسل رفعة

    فَها هوَ للاملاك وَالرسل سيد

    He rises in rank above the angels and the messengers;

    Behold, he is the master of angels and messengers.

  21. فَلا غيره في الفضل يَختَرِق العلى

    وَلا تحت ساق العرش لِلَّه يسجد

    No other, through excellence, pierces the heights,

    Nor prostrates to God beneath the foot of the Throne.

  22. نَبي أَتى وَالناس في جاهلية

    من الدين والاصنام في الارض تعبد

    A prophet who came while people lived in ignorance

    Of religion, and idols were worshipped on earth.

  23. فَقامَ عَلى التَوحيد بالسَيف داعيا

    الى اللَه فهو الهامشمي الموحد

    He stood for God's oneness, calling with the sword

    To God—he, the Hashimite who affirms His oneness.

  24. وَغيض بحر الشرك حين تَلاطَمَت

    عَلى أَهله أَمواجه وَهو مزبد

    The sea of idolatry was drained when there clashed

    Against its people its waves, while it foamed.

  25. وَغادرَ حي المُشركين بلاقعا

    منكرة لما عصوا وَتَمَردوا

    He left the idolaters' settlement a wasteland,

    Unrecognizable after they disobeyed and rebelled.

  26. تَروح وَتَغدو الطير في عرصاتها

    وأَسيافه فيهم تسل وَتغمد

    Birds pass at evening and morning through its open grounds,

    And his swords are drawn and sheathed among them.

  27. فآياته بالمعجزات نواطق

    وَراياته بالفتح وَالنصر تعقد

    His signs speak through miracles,

    And his banners are fastened for conquest and victory.

  28. فَذَلك نور اللَه في كل وجهة

    من الارض وَالسيف الصقيل المهند

    He is God's light in every quarter

    Of the earth, and the polished sword of Indian steel.

  29. غَنائمه جل وَمكة قبلة

    له وَالطهور الترب والارض مسجد

    His spoils are great, and Mecca is a prayer-direction

    For him; dust is a means of purification, and the earth a place of prayer.

  30. وَكَم من كَرامات له وَخَصائص

    لمشهدها فوق السموات مشهد

    How many graces and special gifts are his,

    For witnessing them, there is a place above the heavens.

  31. مدحت رَسول اللَه مفتخراته

    وَقمت بحمد اللَه انشي وانشد

    I praised God's Messenger for his glories,

    And, praising God, I rose to compose and recite.

  32. وَقلت لعل اللَه يَمحو جَرائمي

    به وابن مسعود المقصر يسعد

    I said: perhaps God will erase my sins

    Through him, and Ibn Mas‘ud, the negligent one, will find happiness.

  33. رَجَوناكَ في الدارين يا علم الهدى

    لانك في الدارين هاد وَمرشد

    We hope in you in both abodes, O banner of guidance,

    For in both abodes you are a guide and a leader.

  34. اقل عَثَرات ان بناز من نبا

    فأَنتَ ابر الناس قَلبا واجود

    Pardon the stumblings—if [unclear]—of whoever has strayed.

    For you are the kindest-hearted and most generous of people.

  35. وَلا نرتجي مَولى سواكَ لعلمنا

    بانك موجود وغيرك يفقد

    We hope for no patron but you, knowing

    That you are present, while others are not to be found.

  36. اتتك مَع النيابَتين حروفها

    تخال حروفا وَهي در منضد

    Its letters have come to you with the two deputations;

    You take them for letters, but they are pearls in ordered rows.

  37. وَقائلها عَبد الرَحيم بن أَحمَد

    عَسى انه في نظم مدحك يحمد

    Their author is ‘Abd al-Rahim ibn Ahmad;

    May he be praised for composing your praise.

  38. فحقق رَجائي فيك يا غايَة المنى

    وقل أَنتَ منافي الجنان مخلد

    Fulfill my hope in you, O utmost object of desire,

    And say, 'You are one of us, dwelling forever in the Gardens.'

  39. وَلا تطرد المسكين مع حسن ظنه

    فَحاشا علاكم ان يرجى ويطرد

    Do not turn away the poor man, with his trusting hope;

    Far be it from your eminence that hope in you should end in rejection.

  40. وَكَيفَ يخافَ الذنب كل مقصر

    وَعَفوك يا مَولاي للذنب مرصد

    How could any negligent sinner fear sin,

    When your pardon, my master, lies in wait for sin?

  41. فَهَل منك اذن في الزيارة انني

    اسير باغلال الذنوب مقيد

    Is there permission from you for a visit? I am

    A captive bound in the fetters of sins.

  42. بعدت بزلاتي وَطالَت اقامتي

    فَلا المَوت مأمول وَلا العمر مسعد

    I have grown distant through my lapses, and my stay has lengthened;

    Neither death is hoped for, nor does life bring happiness.

  43. فَواحَسرَتي يا خير من وطىء الثرى

    اذا لَم يكن بَيني وَبينك موعد

    Alas for me, O best of those who have trodden the dust,

    If there is no appointed meeting between you and me.

  44. عليك سَلام لا بيد مبارك

    جَديد عَلى مر الجديدين سرمد

    Upon you be blessed peace that never [perishes],

    Ever renewed, everlasting through the passing of day and night.