1. جِئتُ يَوماً مُحمدَ بنَ البَشِيرِ

    منبعَ الجُودِ والجَدَى والخِيرِ

    One day I came to Muhammad ibn al-Bashir,

    the wellspring of generosity, bounty, and goodness.

  2. فأرَاني حَقِيقَةَ الأَدَبِ المَحضِ

    ومَحضَ الإِجلاَلِ والتَّوقِيرِ

    So he showed me the true essence of pure courtesy,

    and pure reverence and respect.

  3. وأعَدَّ التَّرحِيبَ والبِشرَ حتى

    تَمَّ مَعنَى التَّرِحيبِ والتَّبشِيرِ

    And he prepared a welcome and good cheer, until

    welcome and glad tidings attained their fullest meaning.

  4. بَسَطَت كَفُّهُ البَسَاطَةَ لِلعَا

    فِينَ أبهَى أرِيكَةٍ وَسِرِيرِ

    His hand spread out ease for those seeking

    bounty—the most splendid couch and bed.

  5. ثُمَّ صَفَّ النَّمَارِبقَ الغُرَّ صَفًّا

    والزَّرَابي مُبثُوثَةَ التَّحبِيرِ

    Then he arranged the gleaming cushions in a row,

    and the carpets lay spread out, richly adorned.

  6. نَثَرَ الكُتبَ فهى دُرٌّ نَثِيرٌ

    يُبهِرُ العَقلَ فَوقَ دُرٍّ نَثِيرِ

    He scattered the books: they were pearls strewn about,

    dazzling the mind more than pearls strewn about.

  7. فَكَأني لِطِيبِ يَومِى جَلِيسٌ

    لأبي الطِّيِّبِ الأَدِيبِ الشَّهِيرِ

    So delightful was my day, it was as though I were a companion

    of Abu al-Tayyib, the renowned man of letters.

  8. وكَأنَّ النَّدَى بِسُوقِ عُكَّاظِ

    في إفَاضَاتِ جَرولِ و جَرِيرِ

    And as though the gathering were at the market of Ukaz,

    amid the outpourings of Jarwal and Jarir.

  9. إنَّه النَّدبُ سُؤدَداً وذَكَاءً

    وارتِقَاءً لِكُلِّ أمرٍ عَسِيرِ

    He is indeed the man of mettle, in eminence and intelligence,

    and in rising to every difficult task.