وَقَفنا بِحَيثُ العَدلُ مَدَّ رِواقَهُ

وَقَفنا بِحَيثُ العَدلُ مَدَّ رِواقَهُ

وَخَيَّمَ في أَرجائِهِ الجودُ وَالباسُ

وَخَيَّمَ في أَرجائِهِ الجودُ وَالباسُ

We stood where justice had spread its canopy,

We stood where justice had extended its porch,

And generosity and valor had encamped within its bounds.

And generosity and gallantry covered its corners.

وَفَوقَ السَّريرِ ابنُ المُلوكِ مُحَمَّدٌ

وَفَوقَ السَّريرِ ابنُ المُلوكِ مُحَمَّدٌ

تَخِرُّ لَهُ مِن فَرطِ هَيبَتِهِ النَّاسُ

تَخِرُّ لَهُ مِن فَرطِ هَيبَتِهِ النَّاسُ

And upon the throne is Muhammad, son of kings;

Above the throne was the son of kings, Muhammad,

People fall prostrate before him from the overwhelming awe he inspires.

Before whose awe people bowed down.

فَخامَرَني ما خانَني قَدَمي لَهُ

فَخامَرَني ما خانَني قَدَمي لَهُ

وَإِن رَدَّ عَنّي نُفرَةَ الجأشِ إِيناسُ

وَإِن رَدَّ عَنّي نُفرَةَ الجأشِ إِيناسُ

Then I was overcome by what made my foot betray me,

I was gripped by the misstep of my feet before him,

Even though reassurance had dispelled my heart's alarm.

Even though the timidity of my nature held me back.

وَذاكَ مَقامٌ لا نوفِّيهِ حَقَّهُ

وَذاكَ مَقامٌ لا نوفِّيهِ حَقَّهُ

إِذا لَم يَنُب فيهِ عَنِ القدَمِ الرَّاسُ

إِذا لَم يَنُب فيهِ عَنِ القدَمِ الرَّاسُ

And that is a station we do not give its due

That was a position I could not fully appreciate

Unless the head takes the foot's place there.

If the head did not bow down before the feet.

لَئِن عَثَرَتْ رِجلي فَلَيسَ لِمقْوَلي

لَئِن عَثَرَتْ رِجلي فَلَيسَ لِمقْوَلي

عِثارٌ وَكَم زَلَّت أَفاضِلُ أَكياسُ

عِثارٌ وَكَم زَلَّت أَفاضِلُ أَكياسُ

Even if my foot has stumbled, my tongue knows no

If my legs stumble, my words have no fault,

Stumbling—and how many eminent, discerning men have slipped!

And how many honorable men have slipped.

فَأَنتَ الَّذي أَوطأْتَنِي قِمَّةَ السُّرى

فَأَنتَ الَّذي أَوطأْتَنِي قِمَّةَ السُّرى

فَما ليَ غَيرَ الأَنجُمِ الزُّهرُ جُلّاسُ

فَما ليَ غَيرَ الأَنجُمِ الزُّهرُ جُلّاسُ

For you are the one who made me tread the summit of the night journey,

You are the one who lifted me to the pinnacle of glory,

So I have none but the radiant stars to sit with me.

So I have none but the bright stars as my bosom friends.