أَرَأَيتَhave you seen? رَبَّthe lord of التاجِthe crown فيat
أَرَأَيتَ رَبَّ التاجِ في
عيدِthe festival of الجُلوسِaccession وَقَدand already تَبَدّىhe appeared
عيدِ الجُلوسِ وَقَد تَبَدّى
Have you seen the lord of the crown at
Have you seen the King on his coronation day
the accession festival, as he appeared?
Appearing resplendent whilst Gabriel extends
وَشَهِدتَand you witnessed جِبريلاGabriel يَمُدextends (continued)
وَشَهِدتَ جِبريلا يَمُد
دُcompletion of 'extends' عَلَيهِover him ظِلَّthe shade of اللَهِGod مَدّاfully extending
دُ عَلَيهِ ظِلَّ اللَهِ مَدّا
And witnessed Gabriel spreading
The shade of God's protection over him eternally
God's shade over him in full?
And you saw the hearts' circumambulation in the courtyard of the Most High Throne
وَنَظَرتَand you beheld تَطوافَthe circling of القُلوthe hearts (continued)
وَنَظَرتَ تَطوافَ القُلو
بِcompletion of 'hearts' بِساحَةِin the court of العَرشِthe throne المُفَدّىthe one worth sacrificing for
بِ بِساحَةِ العَرشِ المُفَدّى
And watched the hearts circling
And you heard the chanting of the throngs
in the court of the cherished throne?
Praising him, visiting in droves continuously
وَسَمِعتَand you heard تَسبيحَthe glorification of الوُفوthe delegations (continued)
وَسَمِعتَ تَسبيحَ الوُفو
دِcompletion of 'delegations' بِحَمدِهِin praise of him وَفداًa delegation فَوَفداthen another delegation
دِ بِحَمدِهِ وَفداً فَوَفدا
And heard the delegations' glorification
This is the son of Ismael, Lord of the Nile
in his praise, delegation after delegation?
Who enriched and gave generously
هَذاthis اِبنُthe son of إِسماعيلَIsmail رَبlord (continued)
هَذا اِبنُ إِسماعيلَ رَب
بِcompletion of 'lord' النيلِthe Nile مَنwho أَغنىenriched وَأَسدىand bestowed favors
بِ النيلِ مَن أَغنى وَأَسدى
This is the son of Ismail, lord
The Nile flows beneath him
of the Nile, who enriched and bestowed.
So the face of the land smiles with blessing
النيلُthe Nile يَجريflows تَحتَهُbeneath him
النيلُ يَجري تَحتَهُ
فَيَخُدُّso it furrows وَجهَthe face of الأَرضِthe earth خَدّاa furrow
فَيَخُدُّ وَجهَ الأَرضِ خَدّا
The Nile flows beneath him,
Granting vitality as though it draws
and carves a furrow in the earth's face.
Its overflowing bounty from his stream
يَهَبُit bestows النُضارَpure gold كَأَنَّهُas though it
يَهَبُ النُضارَ كَأَنَّهُ
مِنfrom فَيضِthe overflow of جَدواهُhis bounty اِستَمَدّاdrew its supply
مِن فَيضِ جَدواهُ اِستَمَدّا
It bestows pure gold, as though it
As if he were a skilled alchemist
had drawn from the overflow of his bounty.
Who converted the soil to gold
وَكَأَنَّماand as though هُوَit عالِمٌa scholar
وَكَأَنَّما هُوَ عالِمٌ
بِالكيمِياءِin alchemy أَصابَfound خَدّاa furrow
بِالكيمِياءِ أَصابَ خَدّا
And as though it were a scholar
Leave the earth as ashes, did the world
of alchemy who had found a furrow.
Ever witness the Nile's equal
يَدَعُleaves الثَرىthe soil تِبراًraw gold فَهَلso has?
يَدَعُ الثَرى تِبراً فَهَل
شَهِدَwitnessed الوَرىmankind لِلنيلِto the Nile نِدّاan equal
شَهِدَ الوَرى لِلنيلِ نِدّا
It leaves the soil as raw gold; has
On his coronation day the people
mankind ever seen an equal to the Nile?
Welcome a life of prosperity
الناسُthe people يَومَthe day of جُلوسِهِhis accession
الناسُ يَومَ جُلوسِهِ
يَستَقبِلونَthey welcome العَيشَlife رَغداin ease and plenty
يَستَقبِلونَ العَيشَ رَغدا
The people, on the day of his accession,
Whence came you, did you hear
welcome a life of ease and plenty.
Supplications for him and praise
أَنّىwherever سَلَكتَyou went سَمِعتَyou heard أَدprayers (continued)
أَنّى سَلَكتَ سَمِعتَ أَد
عِيَةًcompletion of 'prayers' لَهُfor him وَسَمِعتَand you heard حَمداpraise
عِيَةً لَهُ وَسَمِعتَ حَمدا
Wherever you went, you heard prayers
Live long Abu Al-Farouq and don
for him, and you heard praise.
Raiment woven with praise
عِشlive ياO أَباfather of الفاروقِal-Faruq وَاِلand wear (continued)
عِش يا أَبا الفاروقِ وَاِل
بَسcompletion of 'wear' مِنfrom نَسيجِthe weave of الحَمدِpraise بُرداa mantle
بَس مِن نَسيجِ الحَمدِ بُردا
Live, O father of al-Faruq, and wear
The royal sword from the trees
a mantle woven of praise.
Of paradise is gifted to you
هاbehold صَولَجانَthe scepter of المُلكِkingship مِنfrom
ها صَولَجانَ المُلكِ مِن
شَجَرِthe trees of الجِنانِParadise's gardens إِلَيكَto you يُهدىis offered
شَجَرِ الجِنانِ إِلَيكَ يُهدى
Behold the scepter of kingship, from
None can limit the loftiness of your reign
the trees of Paradise, offered to you.
I see no bounds to your ascendancy
حُدَّتhave been bounded عُلاthe heights of صيدِproud المُلوthe kings (continued)
حُدَّت عُلا صيدِ المُلو
كِcompletion of 'kings' وَلاand not أَرىI see لِعُلاكَto your glory حَدّاa limit
كِ وَلا أَرى لِعُلاكَ حَدّا
The heights of proud kings are bounded,
O son of men, a comfort
yet I see no limit to your heights.
To the enemy's misery and perdition
فَاِبنِso build الرِجالَmen بِنايَةًa structure
فَاِبنِ الرِجالَ بِنايَةً
يَشقىsuffers العَدُوُّthe enemy بِهاthrough it وَيَردىand perishes
يَشقى العَدُوُّ بِها وَيَردى
So build men up into a structure
Strike with the whip of power the epochs
through which the enemy suffers and perishes.
When they are overcome with arrogance
وَاِضرِبand strike بِسَوطِwith the whip of البَأسِmight أَعthe flanks (continued)
وَاِضرِب بِسَوطِ البَأسِ أَع
طافَcompletion of 'flanks' الزَمانِtime إِذاwhen اِستَبَدّاit becomes tyrannical
طافَ الزَمانِ إِذا اِستَبَدّا
And lash with the whip of might the flanks
Which king is greater than you
of time whenever it turns tyrannical.
In rank or has a stronger army
أَيُّwhich of المُلوكِthe kings أَجَلُّmore exalted مِنthan
أَيُّ المُلوكِ أَجَلُّ مِن
كَyou مَكانَةًin station وَأَعَزُّand mightier جُنداin troops
كَ مَكانَةً وَأَعَزُّ جُندا
Which of the kings is more exalted than
Who among them has hands that
you in station, and mightier in troops?
On the day of generosity could match yours
مَنwho مِنهُمُamong them كَفّاهُhis two hands يَوthe day (continued)
مَن مِنهُمُ كَفّاهُ يَو
مَcompletion of 'day' البَذلِgiving مِنthan كَفَّيكَyour two hands أَندىmore generous
مَ البَذلِ مِن كَفَّيكَ أَندى
Who among them has hands, on the day
Who among them lost sleep
of giving, more generous than yours?
While standing guard through the night
مِنwho مِنهُمُamong them نامَتslept رَعِيsubjects (continued)
مِن مِنهُمُ نامَت رَعِي
يَتُهُending of 'subjects'; his وَقامَand kept vigil اللَيلَthe night سُهداsleepless
يَتُهُ وَقامَ اللَيلَ سُهدا
Who among them had his subjects sleeping,
Who among them named you
while he kept vigil through the night?
Or equaled your majesty or opposed you
مَنwho مِنهُمُamong them ساماكَmatched you أَوor
مَن مِنهُمُ ساماكَ أَو
سامىrivaled جَلالَكَyour majesty أَوor تَحَدّىchallenged
سامى جَلالَكَ أَو تَحَدّى
Who among them has matched you, or
Who among them fulfilled pilgrimage
rivaled your majesty, or issued a challenge?
Rights, or was more loyal to their word
مَنwho مِنهُمُamong them أَوفىfuller حِجاًin reason
مَن مِنهُمُ أَوفى حِجاً
وَحَصافَةًand sound judgment وَأَبَرُّand truer وَعداin promise
وَحَصافَةً وَأَبَرُّ وَعدا
Who among them is fuller in reason
In the East, look, do you see
and sound judgment, and truer to his promise?
A people like Ismael's offspring
فيin الشَرقِthe East فَاُنظُرso look هَلdo? تَرىyou see
في الشَرقِ فَاُنظُر هَل تَرى
حَسَباًnoble ancestry كَإِسماعيلَlike Ismail's عُدّاreckoned
حَسَباً كَإِسماعيلَ عُدّا
Look in the East: do you see
And Persia threatened with destruction
noble ancestry reckoned like Ismail's?
And Mecca belongs to you, do you see
هَذيthis الجَزيرَةُthe Peninsula وَالعِراand Iraq (continued)
هَذي الجَزيرَةُ وَالعِرا
قُcompletion of 'Iraq' وَفارِسٌand Persia يُهدَدنَare being shattered هَدّاutterly
قُ وَفارِسٌ يُهدَدنَ هَدّا
Here are the Peninsula and Iraq
Another claiming it or Najd
and Persia, being shattered utterly.
And Tunisia and Algeria
وَإِلَيكَand before you مَكَّةَMecca هَلdo? تَرىyou see
وَإِلَيكَ مَكَّةَ هَل تَرى
أَحَداًanyone بِهاthere وَإِلَيكَand before you نَجداNajd
أَحَداً بِها وَإِلَيكَ نَجدا
And look to Mecca—do you see
Once wore the garb of misery
anyone there? And look to Najd.
No crown was raised higher than yours
وَإِلَيكَand before you تونُسَTunis وَالجَزاand Algeria (continued)
وَإِلَيكَ تونُسَ وَالجَزا
ئِرَcompletion of 'Algeria' قَدhave indeed لَبِسنَthey donned العَيشَlife نَكداwretched
ئِرَ قَد لَبِسنَ العَيشَ نَكدا
And look to Tunis and Algeria:
In the East, no greater glory
they have donned a life of misery.
You renewed the rightly guided Caliphs'
لَمnot يَرتَفِعrose فيin الشَرقِthe East تاa crown (continued)
لَم يَرتَفِع في الشَرقِ تا
جٌcompletion of 'crown' فَوقَabove تاجِthe crown of النيلِthe Nile مَجداin glory
جٌ فَوقَ تاجِ النيلِ مَجدا
No crown has risen in the East
Pact of piety, benevolence and asceticism
above the Nile's crown in glory.
We see in you the attributes
جَدَّدتَyou renewed عَهدَthe age of الراشِديthe Rightly Guided (continued)
جَدَّدتَ عَهدَ الراشِدي
نَcompletion of 'Rightly Guided' تُقىًpiety وَإِحساناًand beneficence وَزُهداand asceticism
نَ تُقىً وَإِحساناً وَزُهدا
You renewed the age of the Rightly Guided,
Of the Caliphs, justice and integrity
in piety, beneficence, and asceticism.
Your sublime qualities erase sorrows
وَنَرىand we see عَلَيكَupon you مَخايِلَthe signs of الthe
وَنَرى عَلَيكَ مَخايِلَ ال
خُلَفاءِcaliphs إِنصافاًfairness وَرُشداand right guidance
خُلَفاءِ إِنصافاً وَرُشدا
And we see in you the signs of the
And show many the path of hope
caliphs: fairness and right guidance.
You gave generously with no thought of gain
جَلَّتare exalted صِفاتُكَyour qualities كَمhow much مَحَوerased (continued)
جَلَّت صِفاتُكَ كَم مَحَو
تَyou (verb ending) أَسىًsorrow وَكَمand how many أَورَيتَyou kindled زَنداa fire-stick
تَ أَسىً وَكَم أَورَيتَ زَندا
Exalted are your qualities! How much you have erased
Or secreting generosity for yourself
of sorrow, and how many a fire-stick you have kindled!
You captivated your subject's hearts
أَعطَيتَyou gave لاnot مُتَرَبِّحاًseeking profit
أَعطَيتَ لا مُتَرَبِّحاً
أَوor مُخفِياًhiding فيin الجودِgenerosity قَصداa motive
أَو مُخفِياً في الجودِ قَصدا
You gave, not seeking profit,
How then could any turn away
nor hiding a motive in your generosity.
You possessed them as you possessed
رَوَّيتَyou watered أَفئِدَةَthe hearts of الرَعِيthe subjects (continued)
رَوَّيتَ أَفئِدَةَ الرَعِي
يَةِcompletion of 'subjects' مِنfrom هَواكَlove of you فَكَيفَso how تَصدىthey thirst
يَةِ مِن هَواكَ فَكَيفَ تَصدى
You watered the hearts of the subjects
The reins of Egypt, father and ancestor
with love of you—how could they thirst?
So when you prohibit, there is obedience
وَمَلَكتَهُنَّand you possessed them كَماjust as مَلَكheld (continued)
وَمَلَكتَهُنَّ كَما مَلَك
تَyou (verb ending) زِمامَthe reins of مِصرَEgypt أَباًa father وَجَدّاand a grandfather
تَ زِمامَ مِصرَ أَباً وَجَدّا
And you possessed them, just as you held
When you command, none disobey
Egypt's reins, from father and grandfather.
They gave you the obedience of the loyalists
فَإِذاso when نَهَيتَyou forbade فَطاعَةٌthen obedience
فَإِذا نَهَيتَ فَطاعَةٌ
وَإِذاand when أَمَرتَyou commanded فَلاthen no مَرَدّاrefusal
وَإِذا أَمَرتَ فَلا مَرَدّا
When you forbid, there is obedience;
And you showed them favor and affection
and when you command, there is no refusal.
You showed the Egyptian the path
أَعطَوكَthey gave you طاعَةَthe obedience of مُخلِصٍone devoted
أَعطَوكَ طاعَةَ مُخلِصٍ
وَمَنَحتَهُمand you granted them عَطفاًkindness وَوُدّاand affection
وَمَنَحتَهُم عَطفاً وَوُدّا
They gave you the obedience of one devoted,
Of his reform so he labored diligently
and you granted them kindness and affection.
You prepared and provided for him
أَوضَحتَyou made clear لِلمِصرِيِّto the Egyptian نَهthe path (continued)
أَوضَحتَ لِلمِصرِيِّ نَه
جَcompletion of 'path' صَلاحِهِhis betterment فَسَعىso he strove وَجَدّاand worked earnestly
جَ صَلاحِهِ فَسَعى وَجَدّا
You made clear to the Egyptian the path
And cared for him until he was empowered
of his betterment, so he strove and worked earnestly.
And you called him to regain
أَعدَدتَهُyou prepared him وَكَفَلتَهُand provided for him
أَعدَدتَهُ وَكَفَلتَهُ
وَرَعَيتَهُand cared for him حَتّىuntil اِستَعَدّاhe was ready
وَرَعَيتَهُ حَتّى اِستَعَدّا
You prepared him and provided for him,
Egypt's lost pride, so he regained it
and cared for him until he was ready.
And renewed precious life
وَدَعَوتَهُand you called on him أَنto يَستَرِدreclaim (continued)
وَدَعَوتَهُ أَن يَستَرِد
دَcompletion of 'reclaim' فَخارَthe glory of مِصرٍEgypt فَاِستَرَدّاso he reclaimed
دَ فَخارَ مِصرٍ فَاِستَرَدّا
And you called on him to reclaim
And was saved though death was expected
Egypt's glory, so he reclaimed it.
And protected Egyptians' nationalism
وَرَدَhe reached الحَياةَlife عَزيزَةًhonorable
وَرَدَ الحَياةَ عَزيزَةً
فَنَجاso he survived وَكانَand was المَوتُdeath وِرداa watering-place
فَنَجا وَكانَ المَوتُ وِردا
He reached a life of dignity,
After greed had dug its grave
and survived, though death had been his watering-place.
You opened our eyes so we saw
وَحَمىand he guarded الكِنانَةَthe Quiver (Egypt) بَعدَafter ماthat
وَحَمى الكِنانَةَ بَعدَ ما
حَفَرَتdug لَهاfor her الأَطماعُgreedy ambitions لَحداa grave
حَفَرَت لَها الأَطماعُ لَحدا
And he guarded the Quiver after
The light though we had been blinded
greedy ambitions had dug her a grave.
And you established a university in Egypt
فَتَّحتَyou opened أَعيُنَناour eyes فَأَبso they saw (continued)
فَتَّحتَ أَعيُنَنا فَأَب
صَرنَcompletion of 'they saw' الضِياءَthe light وَكُنَّand they were رُمداinflamed
صَرنَ الضِياءَ وَكُنَّ رُمدا
You opened our eyes, so they beheld
To strengthen the pillar of knowledge
the light, though they had been inflamed.
How many masters were enslaved
وَأَقَمتَand you founded جامِعَةًa university بِمِصin Egypt (continued)
وَأَقَمتَ جامِعَةً بِمِص
رَcompletion of 'Egypt' تَشُدُّstrengthens أَزرَthe back of العِلمِlearning شَدّاfirmly
رَ تَشُدُّ أَزرَ العِلمِ شَدّا
And you founded a university in Egypt
By ignorance though they protested
that firmly strengthens the back of learning.
And you erected at the coast of the Turks
كَمhow many a سَيِّدٍmaster بِالعِلمِin learning كاwas (continued)
كَم سَيِّدٍ بِالعِلمِ كا
نَcompletion of 'was' بِرَغمِهِagainst his will لِلجَهلِto ignorance عَبداa slave
نَ بِرَغمِهِ لِلجَهلِ عَبدا
How many a master in learning had
A foundation for maritime assets
been, against his will, a slave to ignorance!
You established a school that would
وَرَفَعتَand you raised فيin ثَغرِthe port of الثُغوthe ports (continued)
وَرَفَعتَ في ثَغرِ الثُغو
رِcompletion of 'ports' لِمُنشَآتِfor the vessels of البَحرِthe sea بَنداa banner
رِ لِمُنشَآتِ البَحرِ بَندا
And in the port of ports you raised
Return to us sovereignty of the sea
a banner for seagoing vessels.
So when will I see Egypt's navy
أَسَّستَyou founded مَدرَسَةًa school تُعيrestores (continued)
أَسَّستَ مَدرَسَةً تُعي
دُcompletion of 'restores' لَناto us بِمُلكِin mastery of البَحرِthe sea عَهداan age
دُ لَنا بِمُلكِ البَحرِ عَهدا
You founded a school to restore
Stirring up thunder on the waves
to us an age of mastery over the sea.
And when will I see the army
فَمَتىso when أَرىshall I see أُسطولَthe fleet of مِصEgypt (continued)
فَمَتى أَرى أُسطولَ مِص
رَcompletion of 'Egypt' يُثيرُrousing فَوقَabove البَحرِthe sea رَعداthunder
رَ يُثيرُ فَوقَ البَحرِ رَعدا
When, then, shall I see Egypt's fleet
Filling the horizon end to end
rousing thunder over the sea?
You regarded aviation with the eye
وَمَتىand when أَرىshall I see جَيشَthe army of البِلاthe country (continued)
وَمَتى أَرى جَيشَ البِلا
دِcompletion of 'country' يَسُدُّblocks عَينَthe eye of الشَمسِthe sun سَدّاcompletely
دِ يَسُدُّ عَينَ الشَمسِ سَدّا
And when shall I see the country's army
Of a reformer untiring in his efforts
completely blocking the eye of the sun?
You prepared it though you saw
وَنَظَرتَand you looked فيinto الطَيَرانِaviation نَظa gaze (continued)
وَنَظَرتَ في الطَيَرانِ نَظ
رَةَcompletion of 'gaze' مُصلِحٍa reformer لَمdid not يَألُspare جُهداeffort
رَةَ مُصلِحٍ لَم يَألُ جُهدا
And you looked into aviation with the gaze
No substitute for the homeland
of a reformer who spared no effort.
Mightiest in the aerial armada
أَعدَدتَyou prepared عُدَّتَهُits equipment وَلَمand did not
أَعدَدتَ عُدَّتَهُ وَلَم
تَرَyou see مِنهُfrom it لِلأَوطانِfor nations بُدّاan alternative
تَرَ مِنهُ لِلأَوطانِ بُدّا
You prepared its equipment, and did not
When it embarked, soaring, striking
see any way for nations to do without it.
Whoever saw it on maneuvers
أَعظِمhow great بِأُسطولِthe fleet of الهَواthe air (continued)
أَعظِم بِأُسطولِ الهَوا
ءِcompletion of 'air' إِذِwhen اِنبَرىit sallied forth فَسَطاthen struck وَشَدّاand charged
ءِ إِذِ اِنبَرى فَسَطا وَشَدّا
How mighty is the fleet of the air,
Saw eagles take down a lion
when it sallies forth, strikes, and charges!
And you see it gliding, diving
مَنwhoever راءَهُsaw it يَومَthe day of النِزاbattle (continued)
مَن راءَهُ يَومَ النِزا
لِcompletion of 'battle' رَأىsaw النُسورَeagles تَصيدُhunting أُسداlions
لِ رَأى النُسورَ تَصيدُ أُسدا
Whoever saw it on the day of battle
Through flocks of swooping birds
saw eagles hunting lions.
Rank after rank of laborers
وَتَراهُand you see it عِندَduring السِلمِpeace سِرa flock (continued)
وَتَراهُ عِندَ السِلمِ سِر
باًcompletion of 'flock' مِنof طَواويسٍpeacocks تَبَدّىappeared
باً مِن طَواويسٍ تَبَدّى
And in peace you see it as a flock
You devoted to it, wave upon wave
of peacocks that has come into view.
Who can recount some of what
وَطَوائِفَand the groups of العُمّالِworkers كَمhow often
وَطَوائِفَ العُمّالِ كَم
أَولَيتَهاyou granted them رِفداًaid فَرِفداthen more aid
أَولَيتَها رِفداً فَرِفدا
And the groups of workers—how often
You reformed or provided, never resting
you bestowed on them aid after aid!
Quiet, O heart, find strength
مَنwho ذاthis one يُطيقُis able لِبَعضِfor part of ماwhat
مَن ذا يُطيقُ لِبَعضِ ما
أَصلَحتَyou set right أَوor أَسدَيتَyou bestowed عَدّاa count
أَصلَحتَ أَو أَسدَيتَ عَدّا
Who can, even for some of what
In wealth and spirit both sacrificed
you have set right or bestowed, make a tally?
And prepare for us an era
دُمendure ياO فُؤادُFuad مُؤَيَّداًupheld
دُم يا فُؤادُ مُؤَيَّداً
بِالمالِwith wealth وَالأَرواحِand lives تُفدىyou are ransomed
بِالمالِ وَالأَرواحِ تُفدى
Endure, O Fuad, upheld,
Like the Fatimid, you are the guide
with wealth and lives given for your ransom.
وَأَعِدand restore لَناto us عَهدَthe age of المُعِزal-Mu'izz (continued)
وَأَعِد لَنا عَهدَ المُعِز
زِcompletion of 'al-Mu'izz' الفاطِمِيِّthe Fatimid فَأَنتَfor you are أَهدىbetter guided
زِ الفاطِمِيِّ فَأَنتَ أَهدى
And restore to us the age of al-Mu'izz
the Fatimid, for you are better guided.
Partial English translation: 107 of 110 Arabic lines translated.