ماذا عَسى لِأَبي الفَضائِلَ أَن تُجيب

ماذا عَسى لِأَبي الفَضائِلَ أَن تُجيب

وَهوَ المُقَدَّمُ في البَلاغَةِ وَالنَجيب

وَهوَ المُقَدَّمُ في البَلاغَةِ وَالنَجيب

What might you reply to Abu al-Fada'il,

What can I say in response to the virtuous Abi

When he is foremost in eloquence and nobly gifted?

Who is foremost in eloquence and refinement?

ذو اللُبِّ عَبدُ القادِرِ المَنشي الَّذي

ذو اللُبِّ عَبدُ القادِرِ المَنشي الَّذي

غَنيتُ بِهِ الطِلابَ عَن مَغنى اللَبيب

غَنيتُ بِهِ الطِلابَ عَن مَغنى اللَبيب

The discerning Abd al-Qadir al-Manshi, whom

The brilliant Abd al-Qadir al-Manshi whom

I found sufficient in my quest, needing no wise man's abode.

I made the students needless of an intelligent mentor.

هُنا بَعيدٌ في الحَقيقَةِ عِندَنا

هُنا بَعيدٌ في الحَقيقَةِ عِندَنا

في رَوضِهِ هُوَ ذَلِكَ الغُصنُ الرَطيب

في رَوضِهِ هُوَ ذَلِكَ الغُصنُ الرَطيب

Though distant, he is truly here among us;

He is truly far away from us here

In his garden, he is that tender bough.

In his garden, that fresh branch.

وَنَحا سَبيلاً لِلوِدادِ وَما دَرى

وَنَحا سَبيلاً لِلوِدادِ وَما دَرى

أَنَّ الفُؤادَ يُعِدُّهُ أَسنى حَبيب

أَنَّ الفُؤادَ يُعِدُّهُ أَسنى حَبيب

And he followed a path of affection, unaware

And he paved the way of affection though unaware

That the heart regards him as its noblest beloved.

That the heart counts him the most beloved companion.

فَلا شَكَرنَ هَناءَهُ وَوَلاءَهُ

فَلا شَكَرنَ هَناءَهُ وَوَلاءَهُ

ما اِهتَزَّ غُصنٌ أَو تَغَنّى عَندَليب

ما اِهتَزَّ غُصنٌ أَو تَغَنّى عَندَليب

So I shall surely thank him for his good wishes and loyalty,

So I cannot thank his joy and loyalty

As long as a bough sways or a nightingale sings.

When no branch stirred or nightingale sang.

وَأَخَصَّهُ بِتَحِيَّةٍ يَطوىي لَها

وَأَخَصَّهُ بِتَحِيَّةٍ يَطوىي لَها

ريحُ الصِبا مِن نَشرِهِ مِسكاً وَطيب

ريحُ الصِبا مِن نَشرِهِ مِسكاً وَطيب

And I single him out with a greeting for which

And I sent him a special greeting the fragrance of which

The east wind enfolds musk and perfume from its fragrance.

The morning breeze spreads as musk and perfume.

وَأُسائِلِ المَولى الكَريمُ تَضَرُّعاً

وَأُسائِلِ المَولى الكَريمُ تَضَرُّعاً

بِبَقائِهِ فَهوَ السَميعُ المُستَجيب

بِبَقائِهِ فَهوَ السَميعُ المُستَجيب

And I humbly entreat the gracious Lord

And I ask the Bountiful Master beseechingly

For his continued life, for He is the All-Hearing, the Answerer.

By his remaining, for He is All-Hearing, Responsive.