طَرِبتُ لِحَضرةِ الشَّيخِ الخَدِيمِ

طَرِبتُ لِحَضرةِ الشَّيخِ الخَدِيمِ

وَسَائِسِها خَلِيفَتِه الكَرِيمِ

وَسَائِسِها خَلِيفَتِه الكَرِيمِ

I rejoiced in the presence of Sheikh al-Khadim,

I rejoiced at the presence of the noble Sheikh,

And in its steward, his noble successor,

And his generous Caliph who manages his affairs,

مُدَبِّرِ أمرِهَا دُنياً وأخرَى

مُدَبِّرِ أمرِهَا دُنياً وأخرَى

سَيَاسَةَ حَاذِقٍ وَرَعٍ عَلِيمِ

سَيَاسَةَ حَاذِقٍ وَرَعٍ عَلِيمِ

Who manages its affairs in this world and the next,

Organizing his matters in this world and the next

With the governance of one skilled, pious, and learned.

With the wisdom and piety of a knowledgeable and virtuous man.

يُبِينُ لَهَا صِرَاطاً مُستَقِيماً

يُبِينُ لَهَا صِرَاطاً مُستَقِيماً

يَقُودُ ِإلَى الصِّرَاطِ المُستَقِيمِ

يَقُودُ ِإلَى الصِّرَاطِ المُستَقِيمِ

He makes a straight path clear to it,

He shows it the straight path,

And leads toward the straight path.

That leads to the straight path.

يُلاَحِظُ سُنَّةَ الهَادِى دَوَاماً

يُلاَحِظُ سُنَّةَ الهَادِى دَوَاماً

بِمُقلَةِ قَلبِه الصَّافي السَّلِيمِ

بِمُقلَةِ قَلبِه الصَّافي السَّلِيمِ

He continually observes the Guide's Sunnah,

He constantly adheres to the way of the Guide,

With the eye of his pure, sound heart.

With his pure and unblemished heart.

وُينشُرُ مِن عُلُومِ الدينِ بُرداً

وُينشُرُ مِن عُلُومِ الدينِ بُرداً

عَرِيضاً لِلمُسَافِرِ والمُقِيمِ

عَرِيضاً لِلمُسَافِرِ والمُقِيمِ

And unfurls from religious learning a mantle,

He spreads the cool breeze of religious knowledge,

Broad, for the traveler and the resident.

Abundantly to the resident and the traveller.

طَرٍبتُ لِحَضَرةِ تُروَى وتَرقَى

طَرٍبتُ لِحَضَرةِ تُروَى وتَرقَى

ويُبرِىءُ يُمنُهَا عِلَلَ السَّقِيمِ

ويُبرِىءُ يُمنُهَا عِلَلَ السَّقِيمِ

I rejoiced in a presence refreshed and ascending,

I rejoiced at a presence that gives life and growth,

And its blessedness heals the ailments of the sick.

And that heals the illnesses of the sick through his blessings.

طَرِبتُ لِمَا حَوَتهُ مِن المَعَالِى

طَرِبتُ لِمَا حَوَتهُ مِن المَعَالِى

ومَا تَحوِيهِ مِن كَرَمٍ وخِيمِ

ومَا تَحوِيهِ مِن كَرَمٍ وخِيمِ

I rejoiced in the lofty qualities it has gathered,

I rejoiced at what it contains of noble qualities,

And the generosity and character it contains,

And the generous and protective hospitality it provides.

ومَا تَحوِيهِ مِن سَنَنٍ سَنيٍّ

ومَا تَحوِيهِ مِن سَنَنٍ سَنيٍّ

ومِن سُنَنٍ وقرُآنٍ عَظِيمِ

ومِن سُنَنٍ وقرُآنٍ عَظِيمِ

And the lofty way it embraces,

It contains the excellent traditions,

And the traditions and the mighty Quran,

And the magnificent Quran and Sunnah.

وَمَا جَمَعَتهُ مِن حِلمٍ وعِلمٍ

وَمَا جَمَعَتهُ مِن حِلمٍ وعِلمٍ

ومِن أدَبٍ ومِن قَدرٍ فَخِيمِ

ومِن أدَبٍ ومِن قَدرٍ فَخِيمِ

And the forbearance and knowledge it has gathered,

It brings together wisdom, knowledge,

And refinement, and eminent stature,

Manners, dignity and glory.

وَمضا تُبدِيهِ مِن مَعنًى لَطِيفٍ

وَمضا تُبدِيهِ مِن مَعنًى لَطِيفٍ

بَدِيعٍ في إستِعَارَتِهِ جَسِيمِ

بَدِيعٍ في إستِعَارَتِهِ جَسِيمِ

And the subtle meaning it reveals,

It reveals subtle, beautiful, eloquent metaphors,

Wondrous, and grand in its metaphor,

Grand in their symbolism.

وَمَا نََظَمتهُ مِن دُرٍّ نَثِيرٍ

وَمَا نََظَمتهُ مِن دُرٍّ نَثِيرٍ

ومَا نَثَرَتهُ مِن دُرِّ نَظِيمِ

ومَا نَثَرَتهُ مِن دُرِّ نَظِيمِ

And the scattered pearls it has strung,

It composes strands of abundant prose,

And the strung pearls it has scattered,

And scatters precious gems of verse.

وَمَا تَؤوِيهِ مِن عَافٍ وجَارٍ

وَمَا تَؤوِيهِ مِن عَافٍ وجَارٍ

وَمَا تُولِيهِ مِن مَالٍ قَسِيمِ

وَمَا تُولِيهِ مِن مَالٍ قَسِيمِ

And the seeker of bounty and neighbor it shelters,

It shelters righteous men and generous hosts,

And the apportioned wealth it grants him,

And shares wealth fairly.

ومَا جَلَبَتهُ مِن عِزٍّ وَجَاهٍ

ومَا جَلَبَتهُ مِن عِزٍّ وَجَاهٍ

ومَا جَمَعَتهُ مِن وَجهٍ وِسيمِ

ومَا جَمَعَتهُ مِن وَجهٍ وِسيمِ

And the honor and prestige it has drawn,

It gathers honor, stature,

And the comely faces it has gathered.

And a graceful bearing.

طَرِبتُ لِحَضرَةِ فِيهَا مَنَارٌ

طَرِبتُ لِحَضرَةِ فِيهَا مَنَارٌ

وأعلاَمٌ مِنَ الدينِ القَوِيمِ

وأعلاَمٌ مِنَ الدينِ القَوِيمِ

I rejoiced in a presence where there is a beacon,

I delighted in a presence with beacons,

And signposts of the upright faith.

And flags of the upright religion.

وفِيها مِن تُقَاةِ اللهِ رُكنٌ

وفِيها مِن تُقَاةِ اللهِ رُكنٌ

عَزِيزُ النَّفسِ مَحمِىُّ الحَرِيمِ

عَزِيزُ النَّفسِ مَحمِىُّ الحَرِيمِ

And within it is a pillar among those who fear God,

It contains a pillar of God-consciousness,

Noble in soul, his sanctuary protected,

Dear to the soul and protective of sanctity.

مَنَارَةٌ حَائِرٍ وهُدَى غَوَىٍّ

مَنَارَةٌ حَائِرٍ وهُدَى غَوَىٍّ

وذِكرَةُ غَافِلٍ ورُقَى سَلِيمِ

وذِكرَةُ غَافِلٍ ورُقَى سَلِيمِ

A beacon for the bewildered, and guidance for the wayward,

A lighthouse for the lost, guidance for the astray,

And a reminder for the heedless, and healing charms for the snake-bitten,

A reminder to the heedless and advancement for the righteous.

وَتنفِيسُ لِكُربَةٍ ذي كُرُوبٍ

وَتنفِيسُ لِكُربَةٍ ذي كُرُوبٍ

وَملجأ مُزعَجٍ وغِنَى عَدِيمِ

وَملجأ مُزعَجٍ وغِنَى عَدِيمِ

And relief for the anguish of one burdened with sorrows,

And relief for the distressed bearing sorrows,

And refuge for the distressed, and wealth for the destitute.

A refuge for the troubled and wealth for the destitute.

تُحَأطُ السُّنُةُ الغَرَّاءُ فِيهَا

تُحَأطُ السُّنُةُ الغَرَّاءُ فِيهَا

وتُكلَؤُ مِن مُقَارَفَةِ الحَرِيمِ

وتُكلَؤُ مِن مُقَارَفَةِ الحَرِيمِ

Within it the radiant Sunnah is safeguarded,

The glorious Sunnah is preserved within it,

And kept free of trespass against sacred bounds.

Safe from violating that which is sacrosanct.

فَلَيسَ المُصطفي خَلفاً مَضِيماً

فَلَيسَ المُصطفي خَلفاً مَضِيماً

تَجَنَّبَ شِرعَةَ الخَلَفِ المَضِيمِ

تَجَنَّبَ شِرعَةَ الخَلَفِ المَضِيمِ

For al-Mustafa is no slighted successor;

The Chosen One (Muhammad) is no cheat leaving an unfair inheritance,

He shunned the way of the slighted successor.

Avoiding the law of the unjust cheat.

فَأومَا لِلخِلاَفِةِ وامتَطَاهَا

فَأومَا لِلخِلاَفِةِ وامتَطَاهَا

فَذَلَّلَهَا بِإِمضَاءِ العَزِيمِ

فَذَلَّلَهَا بِإِمضَاءِ العَزِيمِ

So he gestured toward the caliphate and mounted it,

But he bore the caliphate and carried it,

So he subdued it by carrying firm resolve through.

Subduing it through his firm resolve.

تَخَلَّفَ في مَقَامِ أبِيهِ حَقًّا

تَخَلَّفَ في مَقَامِ أبِيهِ حَقًّا

وزَادَ بِنَاءَ مَفخَرِه القَدِيمِ

وزَادَ بِنَاءَ مَفخَرِه القَدِيمِ

He truly succeeded to his father's station,

He assumed his father's position as was right,

And added to the edifice of his ancient glory.

And built upon the glory of his ancient abode.

وقَالَ لِكُلِّ مَحمَدَةٍ تَعَالَى

وقَالَ لِكُلِّ مَحمَدَةٍ تَعَالَى

وقَرِّى في مَكَانِكِ واَستَقِيمِى

وقَرِّى في مَكَانِكِ واَستَقِيمِى

And he said to every praiseworthy quality: Come,

And he said to every supporter of Muhammad,

And settle in your place, and remain upright.

"Rise to your place and be upright.

سَتَرضَينَ المُقَامَ فَلاَ تَمِيلِى

سَتَرضَينَ المُقَامَ فَلاَ تَمِيلِى

بِمَا تُملِيهِ طَائِفَةُ الرَّجِيمِ

بِمَا تُملِيهِ طَائِفَةُ الرَّجِيمِ

You will be content with this station; so do not be swayed

You will be content with this position so incline not,

By what the accursed one's faction dictates.

To what the despicable outcast group dictates."

فَمَا إعجَازُ حِكمَتِنَا تَنَاهَى

فَمَا إعجَازُ حِكمَتِنَا تَنَاهَى

فَلَم تَكُ تَنتَهِى حِكَمُ الحَكِيمِ

فَلَم تَكُ تَنتَهِى حِكَمُ الحَكِيمِ

For our wisdom's miraculous power has not reached its limit;

For the miracle of our wisdom did not cease,

For the wise one's wise sayings have never come to an end.

Nor did the wisdom of the All-Wise ever cease.

فَإِنَّ الشَّيخَ قَلَّجدني بِهذَا

فَإِنَّ الشَّيخَ قَلَّجدني بِهذَا

وأني بِالكَفَيلِ بِهِ الزَّعِيمِ

وأني بِالكَفَيلِ بِهِ الزَّعِيمِ

For the Sheikh has entrusted me with this,

For the Sheikh inspired me with this,

And I am indeed its surety and guarantor,

And that I should be his guarantor and keeper,

بِتَحرِيرِ المَسائِلِ وهىَ عُوصٌ

بِتَحرِيرِ المَسائِلِ وهىَ عُوصٌ

وإيَوَاءِ الأرَامِلِ واليَتِيمِ

وإيَوَاءِ الأرَامِلِ واليَتِيمِ

Through clarifying questions, though they are knotty,

By resolving problematic issues,

And sheltering widows and the orphan,

And caring for widows and orphans.

وتَفرِيقِ الدَّرَاهِمِ والمَوَاشِى

وتَفرِيقِ الدَّرَاهِمِ والمَوَاشِى

وحُسنش الصَّفحِ عَن زَلَلِ المَلِيمِ

وحُسنش الصَّفحِ عَن زَلَلِ المَلِيمِ

And distributing dirhams and livestock,

Distributing money and livestock,

And graciously pardoning the slips of the blameworthy,

And good naturedly forgiving the slights of the blameworthy.

وإحيَاءِ اللَّيَالِى اللِّيَلِ دَاباً

وإحيَاءِ اللَّيَالِى اللِّيَلِ دَاباً

بِصَادقِ نِيَّةٍ فِيهَا تَمِيمِ

بِصَادقِ نِيَّةٍ فِيهَا تَمِيمِ

And keeping vigil through the dark nights, continually,

Staying up nights regularly with true intention,

With intention sincere and complete throughout them,

In it lies success.

وتَرتِيلِ الكِتَابِ عَلَى إتئَادٍ

وتَرتِيلِ الكِتَابِ عَلَى إتئَادٍ

بإِمعَانِ التَّفَهُّمِ مِن فَهِيمِ

بإِمعَانِ التَّفَهُّمِ مِن فَهِيمِ

And reciting the Book distinctly, with deliberation,

And reciting the Book attentively,

With the profound comprehension of one discerning,

Comprehending with understanding from one who understands.

وإحيَاءِ الأوَامِرِ بالتَّلَقِى

وإحيَاءِ الأوَامِرِ بالتَّلَقِى

لَهَا بِمَسَرَّةش الدِّينِ الصَّمِيمِ

لَهَا بِمَسَرَّةش الدِّينِ الصَّمِيمِ

And bringing the commandments to life by receiving

And reviving the commands by receiving them,

Them with the joy of sincere faith.

With joy in the core of this religion.

إلَى مَا ضَمَّ مِن شِيَمٍ لِذَاذٍ

إلَى مَا ضَمَّ مِن شِيَمٍ لِذَاذٍ

ألَذَّ مِنَ المُدَامَةِ لِلنَّدِيمِ

ألَذَّ مِنَ المُدَامَةِ لِلنَّدِيمِ

Along with the delightful virtues he gathered,

To what it comprises of pleasant qualities,

Sweeter than wine to a drinking companion.

More delightful to the boon companion than wine.

فَذلَّت بَعدَ قَسوَتِهَا ولاَنَت

فَذلَّت بَعدَ قَسوَتِهَا ولاَنَت

وَنالَت مَا تُحَاوِلُ في الأنِيمِ

وَنالَت مَا تُحَاوِلُ في الأنِيمِ

So it yielded after its hardness, and softened,

So after their hardness they softened,

And attained what it sought among humankind.

And attained what the obstinate seek.

أفَاقَ فَتًى تَنَقَّلَ مِن بَعِيدٍ

أفَاقَ فَتًى تَنَقَّلَ مِن بَعِيدٍ

رَمَتهُ بِعَرفِكُم نَسَمُ النَّسِيمِ

رَمَتهُ بِعَرفِكُم نَسَمُ النَّسِيمِ

A youth awoke, having traveled from afar;

A young man traveled from afar,

The breaths of the breeze struck him with your fragrance.

Blown by your kindness, O breeze of the zephyr.

وأقبَلَ طَالِباًَ مِنه شَمِيماً

وأقبَلَ طَالِباًَ مِنه شَمِيماً

وكَم كَمُلَ المُؤَمَّلُ بِالشَّمِيمِ

وكَم كَمُلَ المُؤَمَّلُ بِالشَّمِيمِ

And he came seeking a waft of it,

Seeking a scent from it,

And how often a hoped-for goal is fulfilled through fragrance!

And how much the hopeful attains through a scent.

تَعَسَّفَ نَحوَكُم بِيداً عِرَاضاً

تَعَسَّفَ نَحوَكُم بِيداً عِرَاضاً

خَلَت مِن غَير مازَعِلٍ ورِيمِ

خَلَت مِن غَير مازَعِلٍ ورِيمِ

He crossed broad deserts pathlessly toward you,

Imposing, he reached out to you openly,

Empty save for frisking creatures and gazelles.

With a hand empty of resentment and blame.

إلَى أن جَاءَ جَامِعَكُم بِطوبَى

إلَى أن جَاءَ جَامِعَكُم بِطوبَى

وَطافَ بِرَوضَةِ الشَّيخِ الخَدِيمِ

وَطافَ بِرَوضَةِ الشَّيخِ الخَدِيمِ

Until he reached your congregational mosque in Touba,

Until he came to your gathering in good fortune,

And circled the garden of Sheikh al-Khadim.

And circled around the garden of the noble Sheikh.

فَمَا لِلمصطفي شَبَهٌ ومَا إِن

فَمَا لِلمصطفي شَبَهٌ ومَا إِن

حَوتَ مَا قَد حَوَاهُ يَدَا أرِيمِ

حَوتَ مَا قَد حَوَاهُ يَدَا أرِيمِ

For al-Mustafa has no equal, nor indeed

The Chosen One has no equal, nor does

Have anyone's two hands held what he has held.

Any other hand contain what his generous hand contains.

تبَارَكَ رَبُّه فِيهِ وأجرَى

تبَارَكَ رَبُّه فِيهِ وأجرَى

عَلَيهِ حَيَا المَسَّرَةِ والنَّعِيمِ

عَلَيهِ حَيَا المَسَّرَةِ والنَّعِيمِ

Blessed is his Lord in him, and He has made flow

Blessed is his Lord in him, who granted him

Upon him the rain of joy and bliss.

The life of joy and bounty.

عَلَيهِ كما تَخَيَّرَها صَلاةَ

عَلَيهِ كما تَخَيَّرَها صَلاةَ

من الرحمنِ ناصِرِه الرحيمِ

من الرحمنِ ناصِرِه الرحيمِ

Upon him be a blessing, as He has chosen it,

Upon him prayers from the Merciful, his Helper,

From the All-Merciful, his Helper, the Compassionate.

As he chose them from the Compassionate.