عنان الليالي في يديك مسلم

عنان الليالي في يديك مسلم

ومجدك من أحداثهن مسلم

ومجدك من أحداثهن مسلم

The reins of the nights are surrendered into your hands,

The reins of the nights are in your hands, O protector,

and your glory is safe from their calamities.

And your glory, from their events, is protected.

سبقت الملوك السابقين وفت من

سبقت الملوك السابقين وفت من

يجيء فأنت السابق المتقدم

يجيء فأنت السابق المتقدم

You outstripped the kings who went before and surpassed those

You preceded the previous kings and opened for the one to come,

who will come; you are the foremost, the one in the lead.

So you are the foremost pioneer.

ستروي مساعيك الليالي بألسن

ستروي مساعيك الليالي بألسن

مآثرها في صفحة الدهر ترقم

مآثرها في صفحة الدهر ترقم

The nights will recount your endeavors with tongues;

Your efforts will quench the nights with tongues

their glorious deeds are inscribed on the page of Time.

That will inscribe their events on the page of time,

ويحدث جيل بعد جيل وكلهم

ويحدث جيل بعد جيل وكلهم

بذكرك يبدأ أو بشكرك يختم

بذكرك يبدأ أو بشكرك يختم

Generation after generation will speak, and all of them

And generation after generation will speak of you,

begin with remembrance of you or end with gratitude to you.

Starting with your mention or ending with thanking you.

إذا قرنت فيهم مآثر شاور

إذا قرنت فيهم مآثر شاور

وسيرته صلوا عليه وسلموا

وسيرته صلوا عليه وسلموا

When, among them, Shawar's glorious deeds are paired

If you link their feats to the exploits of Chawar

with his life-story, they invoke blessings and peace upon him.

And his conduct - may prayers and peace be upon him,

فأما ملوك الأرض شرقاً ومغرباً

فأما ملوك الأرض شرقاً ومغرباً

فإنك شمس لو رأوا نورها عموا

فإنك شمس لو رأوا نورها عموا

As for the kings of the earth, east and west,

As for the kings of the east and west,

you are a sun: were they to see its light, they would go blind.

You are a sun - if they saw its light they would be blinded.

عذرناهم في العجز عما بلغته

عذرناهم في العجز عما بلغته

وليسوا بمعذورين أن يتعلموا

وليسوا بمعذورين أن يتعلموا

We excused them for their inability to reach what you attained,

We excuse them for falling short of your attainments,

but they are not excused from learning.

Though they cannot be excused for not striving to learn.

فإنك يا بدر الزمان وفرده

فإنك يا بدر الزمان وفرده

حجرت عليه أن يرى لك توأم

حجرت عليه أن يرى لك توأم

For you, O full moon of Time, its matchless one,

For you are the moon of the age and its matchless one.

have forbidden it to behold a twin to you.

You have forbidden it to have a twin.

وألزمته أن يجلب الفجر والدجى

وألزمته أن يجلب الفجر والدجى

إليك وفي الأحكام ما ليس يلزم

إليك وفي الأحكام ما ليس يلزم

You compelled it to bring dawn and darkness

And compelled it to bring the dawn and nightfall to you,

to you—and some decrees are not binding.

And in decrees what is not binding.

فقاد عنان الصبح والصبح أشهب

فقاد عنان الصبح والصبح أشهب

وساق إليك الليل والليل أدهم

وساق إليك الليل والليل أدهم

So it led morning by its reins, morning a gray steed,

So it led forth the dawn with its reddish glow

and drove night toward you, night a black steed.

And brought the night to you enveloped in darkness.

فوافاك هذا وهو بالعز مسرج

فوافاك هذا وهو بالعز مسرج

وزارك هذا وهو بالنصر ملجم

وزارك هذا وهو بالنصر ملجم

This one came to you, saddled with glory,

This one came to you in power caparisoned,

and that one visited you, bridled with victory.

And that one visited you checkmamed in victory.

ووافق أمر الله أمرك فيهما

ووافق أمر الله أمرك فيهما

موافقة يجري به الرزق والدم

موافقة يجري به الرزق والدم

God's command accorded with your command over them both,

And God's command coincided with your command regarding both,

in an accord through which sustenance and blood flow.

A concurrence by which sustenance and blood are apportioned.

فلا ظفر إلا بسيفك يجتنى

فلا ظفر إلا بسيفك يجتنى

ولا عدم إلا بسيبك يعدم

ولا عدم إلا بسيبك يعدم

No victory is harvested except by your sword,

For there is no triumph but by your sword,

nor want abolished except by your bounty.

And no loss but by your leaving off.

ليهنك أن الذل والعز أصبحا

ليهنك أن الذل والعز أصبحا

وقد قسما فيمن تهين وتكرم

وقد قسما فيمن تهين وتكرم

May it gladden you that abasement and honor now stand

Be comforted that abasement and honor

apportioned among those you humble and those you honor;

Have been apportioned among those you humiliate and honor.

وأن قضاء الله مصغ بسمعه

وأن قضاء الله مصغ بسمعه

إلى حفظ ألفاظ بها تتكلم

إلى حفظ ألفاظ بها تتكلم

and that God's decree inclines its hearing

And that God's decree listens attentively

to preserving the words you speak.

To preserve the words by which you speak,

وإنك تبني حول قوم بلفظة

وإنك تبني حول قوم بلفظة

وتبني بأخرى حال قوم فتهدم

وتبني بأخرى حال قوم فتهدم

And with a word you build a people's strength,

And that you build, with a word, the state of a people,

and with another build a people's fortunes, then tear them down.

And destroy, with another word, the state of a people.

وأنت الذي يرمي بك الله إن رمى

وأنت الذي يرمي بك الله إن رمى

ومن نصره قوس وسيف وأسهم

ومن نصره قوس وسيف وأسهم

You are the one with whom God shoots, if He shoots,

And it is you that God casts at whoever He casts,

and from His aid come a bow, a sword, and arrows.

And whoever aids you - bow, sword and arrows.

أجرت الهدى يا ابن المجير فأصبحت

أجرت الهدى يا ابن المجير فأصبحت

عليك ثنايا الدين تثني وتبسم

عليك ثنايا الدين تثني وتبسم

You sheltered guidance, O son of al-Mujir; so now

You have guided rightly, O son of Mujir, so you have become

the front teeth of faith praise you and smile.

The haven to whom the religion’s folds turn with a smile.

لك الحمد عن آل النبي محمد

لك الحمد عن آل النبي محمد

ومثلك من يستوجب الحمد منهم

ومثلك من يستوجب الحمد منهم

Praise is yours on behalf of the family of the Prophet Muhammad,

Yours is praise from the House of the Prophet Muhammad

and one like you deserves their praise.

And the like of you deserves praise from them.

كفلت لهم أن يكشف الغم عنهم

كفلت لهم أن يكشف الغم عنهم

ولو أنه قطع من الليل مظلم

ولو أنه قطع من الليل مظلم

You guaranteed them that their sorrow would be lifted,

You guaranteed that grief will be dispelled from them

even if it were a dark stretch of night.

Even if it has cut off a piece of the dark night.

كأنك ما في الأرض غيرك مؤمن

كأنك ما في الأرض غيرك مؤمن

ولي ولا في الأرض غيرك مسلم

ولي ولا في الأرض غيرك مسلم

As though no one on earth but you were a believing

You are like no other believer in the land but you

protector, and no one on earth but you a Muslim.

And no other Muslim in the land but you.

حسرت لثام الخوف عن وجه ملكهم

حسرت لثام الخوف عن وجه ملكهم

ووجهك بالنقع المثار ملثم

ووجهك بالنقع المثار ملثم

You lifted fear's veil from the face of their sovereignty,

You have unveiled the face of their kingdom

while your own face was veiled in the dust stirred up.

While your face is masked with the stirred sandstorm.

جلوت جبيناً مثل سيفك أبيضاً

جلوت جبيناً مثل سيفك أبيضاً

عليه قناع بالعجاجة أقتم

عليه قناع بالعجاجة أقتم

You revealed a forehead, white as your sword,

You have revealed a brow white like your sword

bearing a veil darkened by swirling dust.

Above which lies a mask darker than pitch.

وذدت الأعادي عن حريم خلائف

وذدت الأعادي عن حريم خلائف

حمى حلها سيف بكفك محرم

حمى حلها سيف بكفك محرم

You drove enemies from the sacred precinct of caliphs,

And you have warded off the enemies from the sanctuary of the Caliphs,

a sanctuary whose violation the sword in your hand forbids.

A sanctuary made inviolable by the sword in your grip.

لعمري لقد فرجت عن مصر غمة

لعمري لقد فرجت عن مصر غمة

تشيب لها الأهرام خوفاً ويهرم

تشيب لها الأهرام خوفاً ويهرم

By my life, you relieved Egypt of a calamity

By my life, you have indeed relieved Egypt of an affliction

that would make the pyramids turn gray with fear and grow old.

That makes the pyramids grow gray and decrepit with fear.

ويا طالما كشفت عنها عظيمة

ويا طالما كشفت عنها عظيمة

يكاد لها وجه المقطم يحطم

يكاد لها وجه المقطم يحطم

And how often you lifted from her a great affliction

Often you have removed from it a great calamity

that would nearly shatter Muqattam's face.

That almost causes the face of the plateau to split.

ولولا دفاع الله عنها بشاور

ولولا دفاع الله عنها بشاور

لأمسى عليها للمذلة ميسم

لأمسى عليها للمذلة ميسم

Were it not for God's defense of her through Shawar,

And were it not for God's defense of it through Chawar,

she would have borne humiliation's brand.

It would have fallen prey to ignominy by evening.

وغادرها غدر الزمان وريبه

وغادرها غدر الزمان وريبه

وأكثر من فيها يتيم وأيم

وأكثر من فيها يتيم وأيم

And Time's treachery and vicissitudes would have left her,

And the age betrayed it with deceit and guile,

with most of her people orphaned or widowed.

Leaving in it many an orphan and widow.

ولكن تلافاها أبو الفتح ناظماً

ولكن تلافاها أبو الفتح ناظماً

فرائد شمل لم تكن قط تنظم

فرائد شمل لم تكن قط تنظم

But Abu al-Fath rescued her, stringing

But its restoration by Abu al-Fath the regulator,

the choice pearls of a union never before strung together.

Arranging pearls of shade that were never before strung together.

فما يتقى كسر وجودك جابر

فما يتقى كسر وجودك جابر

ولا يشتكى جرح وسيفك مرهم

ولا يشتكى جرح وسيفك مرهم

No break is feared, with your bounty to mend it,

For no breaking of your resolve can be feared O healer,

nor any wound lamented, with your sword as a salve.

Nor is any wound complained of while your sword is a salve.

رفعت ببسط العدل كل ظلامة

رفعت ببسط العدل كل ظلامة

ومالك من جور الندى يتظلم

ومالك من جور الندى يتظلم

By spreading justice, you lifted every injustice,

With the spreading of justice you have dispelled all gloom,

while your wealth complains of generosity's oppression.

And none in your equitable pasture feel oppressed.

وما أهون الدنيا عليك وإنها

وما أهون الدنيا عليك وإنها

لتكبر في عين الملوك وتعظم

لتكبر في عين الملوك وتعظم

How trifling the world is to you, though it

How trivial is the world in your eyes, though to kings

looms large and mighty in the eyes of kings.

It looms large and is held in great esteem!

بسطت على الآمال عفواً ونائلاً

بسطت على الآمال عفواً ونائلاً

فأغني محروم وأومن مجرم

فأغني محروم وأومن مجرم

You spread pardon and bounty over hopes,

You have bestowed forgiveness and wishes upon hopes,

so the deprived were enriched and the guilty made safe.

Enriching the deprived and reassuring the sinner.

لك الأرض ملك والملوك رعية

لك الأرض ملك والملوك رعية

وأنت بمن ترعى أبر وأرحم

وأنت بمن ترعى أبر وأرحم

The earth is your kingdom, and kings your subjects,

To you belong earthly dominion, and kings are your flock,

and you are kinder and more merciful to those you tend.

And you are, toward those you shepherd, the most righteous and merciful.

ولابد من زرع الرعايا وردعهم

ولابد من زرع الرعايا وردعهم

وذلك في حكم السياسة أحزم

وذلك في حكم السياسة أحزم

Yet subjects must be cultivated and restrained,

The flock must be cultivated and disciplined,

and this, by the judgment of statecraft, is more prudent.

Which is the essence of prudent governance.

لسانك فيه بالوعيد مصرح

لسانك فيه بالوعيد مصرح

وقلبك ينهاه التقى فيجمجم

وقلبك ينهاه التقى فيجمجم

In this, your tongue proclaims its threats,

Your tongue threatens them with punishment overtly,

while piety restrains your heart, so it speaks indistinctly.

While your heart, cautioned by piety, is reserved.

وما ضرهم أن بات قلبك بارداً

وما ضرهم أن بات قلبك بارداً

ولفظك نار جمرها يتضرم

ولفظك نار جمرها يتضرم

It did them no harm that your heart remained cool,

It matters not that your heart remains dispassionate,

while your speech was fire, its embers blazing.

While your words are fiery embers flaming high.

لقد عمت الأفراح أيامنا بكم

لقد عمت الأفراح أيامنا بكم

فلا يوم إلا وهو عيد وموسم

فلا يوم إلا وهو عيد وموسم

Through you, joys have filled our days,

Joy has indeed suffused our days through you,

so every day is a feast and a festival.

So that no day passes but it is a feast and celebration.

وحيتكم الأفلاك خير تحية

وحيتكم الأفلاك خير تحية

أتاكم بها قبل الشهور المحرم

أتاكم بها قبل الشهور المحرم

The heavenly spheres greeted you with their finest greeting;

The spheres have greeted you with the finest greeting,

Muharram brought it to you before the other months.

Preceded by the sacred months, sent to you.

تهنوا بعام قابلتكم سعوده

تهنوا بعام قابلتكم سعوده

بدولة إقبال تدوم وتسلم

بدولة إقبال تدوم وتسلم

Rejoice in a year whose auspicious stars greeted you

They congratulate you on a year whose auspices

with a reign of prosperity that endures and stays secure.

Have brought you an empire enduring and secure.

ملكتم بنعماكم ضميري فخاطري

ملكتم بنعماكم ضميري فخاطري

إليكم يصلي أو يصوم ويحرم

إليكم يصلي أو يصوم ويحرم

With your favors you won my heart; so my mind

Through your blessings you have conquered my soul,

prays toward you, or fasts and enters pilgrim consecration.

So that my thoughts pray to you or fast or hold sacred.

وأغنيتموني أن أقول تحرضاً

وأغنيتموني أن أقول تحرضاً

بدأتم بمعروف إلي فتمموا

بدأتم بمعروف إلي فتمموا

And you spared me from saying in distress:

And you have enriched my mind, excusing me,

"You began with a kindness to me; complete it."

So thanks to you for what you have granted and done!

واغنيتموا فكري عفا الله عنكم

واغنيتموا فكري عفا الله عنكم

فشكراً لا أوليتم وصنعتم

فشكراً لا أوليتم وصنعتم

And you enriched my thought—may God pardon you—

Your guest and stranger will praise you beautifully,

so thanks [the negation here is unclear] for what you bestowed and did.

As time itself has a mouth that speaks of you.

سيثني عليكم ضيفكم وغريبكم

سيثني عليكم ضيفكم وغريبكم

ثناء جميلاً والزمان له فم

ثناء جميلاً والزمان له فم

Your guest and your stranger will praise you

with beautiful praise—and Time has a mouth.