سَلِمتَmay you remain safe أَميرَCommander of المُؤمِنينَthe Faithful عَلىthroughout الدَهرِall time
سَلِمتَ أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ عَلى الدَهرِ
وَلاand never زِلتَyou cease فيناamong us باقِياًremaining واسِعَlong in العُمرِlifespan
وَلا زِلتَ فينا باقِياً واسِعَ العُمرِ
May you remain safe for all time, Commander of the Faithful,
You have greeted the Commander of the Faithful for ages,
and may you ever remain among us, with a long span of life.
And you remain among us with abundant life.
حَلَلتَyou settled in الثُرَيّاal-Thurayya خَيرَthe finest دارٍdwelling وَمَنزِلٍand abode
حَلَلتَ الثُرَيّا خَيرَ دارٍ وَمَنزِلٍ
فَلاso never زالَmay it cease to be مَعموراًinhabited وَبورِكَand may it be blessed مِنas a قَصرِpalace
فَلا زالَ مَعموراً وَبورِكَ مِن قَصرِ
You have settled in al-Thurayya, the finest dwelling and abode;
You have settled in the best abode and dwelling,
may it ever remain inhabited—blessed be that palace!
So it remains inhabited and blessed from the palace.
فَلَيسَfor there is no لَهُfor it فيماamong what بَنىbuilt الناسُpeople مُشبَهٌequal
فَلَيسَ لَهُ فيما بَنى الناسُ مُشبَهٌ
وَلاnor ماwhat بَناهُbuilt it الجِنُّthe jinn فيin سالِفِbygone الدَهرِtime
وَلا ما بَناهُ الجِنُّ في سالِفِ الدَهرِ
Nothing built by people can match it,
It has no match among what people have built,
nor anything the jinn built in ages past.
Nor what jinn built in ancient times.
وَماand not زالَceased يَرعاهُhe tends it الإِمامُthe Imam بِرَأيِهِwith his judgment
وَما زالَ يَرعاهُ الإِمامُ بِرَأيِهِ
وَبِالعُزِّand with might وَالتَقديمِand advancement وَالنَهيِand prohibition وَالأَمرِand command
وَبِالعُزِّ وَالتَقديمِ وَالنَهيِ وَالأَمرِ
The Imam continually tended it with his judgment,
The Imam still manages it with his wisdom,
and with might, advancement, prohibition and command.
With might, precedence, prohibition, and command.
فَتَمَّso it was perfected فَماso no فيin الحُسنِbeauty شَيءٌanything يُريدُهُdesires it
فَتَمَّ فَما في الحُسنِ شَيءٌ يُريدُهُ
لِسانٌa tongue وَلاnor قَلبٌa heart بِقَولٍin speech وَلاnor فِكرِthought
لِسانٌ وَلا قَلبٌ بِقَولٍ وَلا فِكرِ
Thus it was perfected: no beauty remained to be desired
It is complete, so nothing remains desired in beauty
by tongue or heart, in speech or thought.
By a tongue, heart, words, or thought.
سَيُثنيwill praise عَلَيهِhim مِنfrom مَحاسِنِthe beauties of قَصرِهِhis palace
سَيُثني عَلَيهِ مِن مَحاسِنِ قَصرِهِ
مَدائِحَpraises لَيسَتare not مِنof كَلامٍspeech وَلاnor شِعرِpoetry
مَدائِحَ لَيسَت مِن كَلامٍ وَلا شِعرِ
From his palace's beauties will come praise of him—
Its fine qualities will inspire eulogies
praises made neither of speech nor of verse.
That are beyond speech and poetry,
يُشيرُit points إِلىto رَأيٍjudgment مُصيبٍsound وَحِكمَةٍand wisdom
يُشيرُ إِلى رَأيٍ مُصيبٍ وَحِكمَةٍ
وَجَودٍand generosity لَدىat الإِنفاقِspending بِالبيضِwith silver coins وَالصُفرِand gold coins
وَجَودٍ لَدى الإِنفاقِ بِالبيضِ وَالصُفرِ
It bespeaks sound judgment and wisdom,
Pointing to insightful opinions and wisdom,
and generosity in spending white silver and yellow gold.
And generosity when spending white and yellow coin.
جِنانٌgardens وَأَشجارٌand trees تَلاقَتmet غُصونُهاtheir branches
جِنانٌ وَأَشجارٌ تَلاقَت غُصونُها
فَأَورَقنَso they leafed out بِالأَثمارِwith fruits وَالوَرَقِand leaves الخُضرِgreen
فَأَورَقنَ بِالأَثمارِ وَالوَرَقِ الخُضرِ
Gardens and trees whose branches intertwine,
Gardens and trees with intertwining branches
then put forth fruit and green leaves.
That have leafed out with fruits and greenery.
تَرىyou see الطَيرَbirds فيamong أَغصانِهُنَّtheir branches هَواتِفاًcalling
تَرى الطَيرَ في أَغصانِهُنَّ هَواتِفاً
تَنَقَّلُflitting مِنfrom وَكرٍa nest لَهُنَّof theirs إِلىto وَكرِa nest
تَنَقَّلُ مِن وَكرٍ لَهُنَّ إِلى وَكرِ
You see birds calling among their branches,
You see birds twittering in their nests
flitting from one of their nests to another.
Moving from one burrow to another.
هَجَرتَyou abandoned سِواهاother than it كُلَّevery دارٍdwelling عَرَفتَهاyou knew it
هَجَرتَ سِواها كُلَّ دارٍ عَرَفتَها
وَحَقَّand it is fitting لِدارٍfor a dwelling غَيرِother than دارِكَyour dwelling بِالهَجرِto be abandoned
وَحَقَّ لِدارٍ غَيرِ دارِكَ بِالهَجرِ
You have forsaken every other dwelling you have known;
You have abandoned all other known abodes
and any dwelling but yours deserves abandonment.
And it is right that any home but yours is shunned.
وَبُنيانُand the structure of قَصرٍa palace قَدindeed عَلَتrose high شَرَفاتُهُits battlements
وَبُنيانُ قَصرٍ قَد عَلَت شَرَفاتُهُ
كَصَفِّlike a row of نِساءٍwomen قَدalready تَرَبَّعنَthey sat cross-legged فيin الأُزرِwaist-wraps
كَصَفِّ نِساءٍ قَد تَرَبَّعنَ في الأُزرِ
And a palace's structure, with lofty battlements,
A palace whose parapets are highly placed
like a row of women seated cross-legged in wraps;
Like rows of women sitting with braids.
وَأَنهارُand streams of ماءٍwater كَالسَلاسِلِlike chains فُجِّرَتwere made to gush
وَأَنهارُ ماءٍ كَالسَلاسِلِ فُجِّرَت
لِتُرضِعَto suckle أَولادَthe offspring of الرَياحينِfragrant herbs وَالزَهرِand flowers
لِتُرضِعَ أَولادَ الرَياحينِ وَالزَهرِ
and streams of water, like chains, were made to gush
Streams of water like necklaces unleashed
to suckle the offspring of fragrant herbs and flowers.
To nurse the winds’ and flowers’ children.
وَميدانُand a field of وَحشٍwild beasts تَركُضُyou spur on الخَيلَthe horses وَسطَهُin its midst
وَميدانُ وَحشٍ تَركُضُ الخَيلَ وَسطَهُ
فَيُؤخَذُso is taken مِنهاfrom them ماwhatever يَشاءُhe wishes عَلىaccording to قَدرِa measure
فَيُؤخَذُ مِنها ما يَشاءُ عَلى قَدرِ
And a field of game, where you gallop horses;
An arena where horses race amidst the wild
so from them whatever he wishes is taken, in due measure.
And from them is taken what is desired accordingly.
إِذاwhen ماemphasis رَأَتthey see ماءَthe water of الثُرَيّاal-Thurayya وَنَبتَهُand its vegetation
إِذا ما رَأَت ماءَ الثُرَيّا وَنَبتَهُ
يَسيرُis easy وَثَوبُthe pouncing of الكَلبِthe hound فيهِنَّamong them وَالصَقرِand the falcon
يَسيرُ وَثَوبُ الكَلبِ فيهِنَّ وَالصَقرِ
When they see al-Thurayya's water and its vegetation,
If they see the Thurayya’s water and vegetation,
the hound and falcon can easily pounce among them.
The dog and hawk’s clothing moves among them.
عَطاياgifts of إِلَهٍGod مُنعِمٍbountiful كانَwas عالِماًknowing
عَطايا إِلَهٍ مُنعِمٍ كانَ عالِماً
بِأَنَّكَthat you are أَوفىthe fullest of الناسِpeople فيهُنَّfor them بِالشُكرِin gratitude
بِأَنَّكَ أَوفى الناسِ فيهُنَّ بِالشُكرِ
Gifts of a bountiful God who knew
Gifts of a beneficent, knowing God
that you are the most grateful of all people for them.
Who knew you are most grateful among people for them.
حَكَمتَyou ruled بِعَدلٍwith justice لَمnot يَرىsaw الناسُpeople مِثلَهُits like
حَكَمتَ بِعَدلٍ لَم يَرى الناسُ مِثلَهُ
وَداوَيتَand you cured بِالرُفقِwith gentleness الجُموحَunruliness وَبِالقَهرِand with force
وَداوَيتَ بِالرُفقِ الجُموحَ وَبِالقَهرِ
You have ruled with justice whose like the people have never seen,
You have ruled with unmatched justice,
and cured unruliness with gentleness and with force.
And healed obstinacy with kindness and coercion.
وَلاand no بَأسَforce أَنكىmore wounding مِنthan تَثَبُّطِthe hesitation of حازِمٍa resolute man
وَلا بَأسَ أَنكى مِن تَثَبُّطِ حازِمٍ
وَلاand no دِرعَarmor أَوقىmore protective لِلنُفوسِfor souls مِنَthan العُمرِlifespan
وَلا دِرعَ أَوقى لِلنُفوسِ مِنَ العُمرِ
And no force wounds more deeply than a resolute man's hesitation,
No harm that the caution of resolute men
and no armor shields souls better than life's span.
Or armor protects souls better than you.
وَماand not زِلتَyou have ceased to be حَيَّthe serpent of المُلكِkingship تُرجىyou are looked to with hope وَتُتَّقىand you are feared
وَما زِلتَ حَيَّ المُلكِ تُرجى وَتُتَّقى
وَتَفتَرِسُand you prey upon الأَعداءَenemies بِالبيضِwith white swords وَالسُمرِand brown spears
وَتَفتَرِسُ الأَعداءَ بِالبيضِ وَالسُمرِ
And you remain the serpent of kingship, looked to with hope and feared,
You remain the living king, hoped for and feared,
and devour your enemies with white swords and brown spears.
Who hunts enemies with white and brown steeds.
وَماnor is لَيثُa lion of غابٍthickets يَهدِمُshatters الجَيشَthe army خَوفُهُfear of him
وَما لَيثُ غابٍ يَهدِمُ الجَيشَ خَوفُهُ
بِمَشيَةِwith the gait of وَثّابٍa leaper عَلىdespite النَهيِrestraint وَالزَجرِand rebuke
بِمَشيَةِ وَثّابٍ عَلى النَهيِ وَالزَجرِ
Nor is a lion of the thickets, whose terror shatters an army,
No absent lion who frightens armies with his awe
striding like a leaper, undeterred by restraint and rebuke,
With the gait of a reproacher of prohibition and deterrence,
يَجُرُّhe drags إِلىto أَشبالِهِhis cubs كُلَّevery لَيلَةٍnight
يَجُرُّ إِلى أَشبالِهِ كُلَّ لَيلَةٍ
عَقيرَةَa slain beast of وَحشٍwild game أَوor قَتيلاًa slain man مِنَfrom السَفرِthe travelers
عَقيرَةَ وَحشٍ أَو قَتيلاً مِنَ السَفرِ
dragging to his cubs every night
Drags to his cubs each night
a slain wild beast or a slaughtered traveler,
The prey of beasts or victim of travel.
إِذاwhen ماemphasis رَأوهُthey see him طارَflies away جَمعُهُمُtheir company مَعاًtogether
إِذا ما رَأوهُ طارَ جَمعُهُمُ مَعاً
كَماas طَيَّراsent flying النَفخُblowing التُرابَdust عَنِoff الجَمرِembers
كَما طَيَّرا النَفخُ التُرابَ عَنِ الجَمرِ
at whose sight their whole company scatters at once
When they see him, their group takes flight together
as blowing sends dust flying off embers,
As blowing scatters dust from embers.
جَريءٌbold أَبيٌّunyielding يَحسِبُhe counts الأَلفَa thousand واحِداًas one
جَريءٌ أَبيٌّ يَحسِبُ الأَلفَ واحِداً
بَعيدٌfar removed إِذاwhen ماemphasis كَرَّhe charges يَوماًever مِنَfrom الفَرِّflight
بَعيدٌ إِذا ما كَرَّ يَوماً مِنَ الفَرِّ
bold and unyielding, counting a thousand as one,
Bold, refusal, deeming one thousand as one,
far from flight whenever he charges,
Remote, when one day he turns to flee.
يُزَعزِعُshakes أَحشاءَthe entrails of البِلادِthe lands زَئيرُهُhis roar
يُزَعزِعُ أَحشاءَ البِلادِ زَئيرُهُ
وَيُبطِلُand disables أَبطالَthe champions of الرِجالِmen مِنَfrom الذُعرِterror
وَيُبطِلُ أَبطالَ الرِجالِ مِنَ الذُعرِ
whose roar shakes the entrails of the lands
His roar shakes the innards of the land
and paralyzes the champions of men with terror,
And undoes the heroes of men with panic.
إِذاwhen ضَمَّhe clasps قِرناًan adversary بَينَbetween كَفَّيهِhis two paws خِلتَهُyou would think him
إِذا ضَمَّ قِرناً بَينَ كَفَّيهِ خِلتَهُ
يُعانيhe grapples with عَروساًa bride فيin غَلائِلِهاher undergarments الحُمرِred
يُعاني عَروساً في غَلائِلِها الحُمرِ
who, when he clasps a foe between his two paws, seems to you
If he clasps a horn in his two paws
to be grappling with a bride in her red undergarments,
He makes it suffer like a bride in her red apparel.
فَحَرَّمَso he forbade أَرضَthe land of الحائِرينَal-Ha'irayn وَمائَهاand its water
فَحَرَّمَ أَرضَ الحائِرينَ وَمائَها
فَهَيهاتَso impossible مَنwhoever يَغدوgoes at dawn عَلَيهاupon it وَمَنand whoever يَسريtravels by night
فَهَيهاتَ مَن يَغدو عَلَيها وَمَن يَسري
who has forbidden the land of al-Ha'irayn and its water,
He has made the land of the perplexed and its water prohibited,
so none ventures there by morning or travels by night—
So it is unthinkable that any would go or walk there,
بِأَجرَأَmore daring مِنهُthan him حَدَّthe sharpness of بَأسٍvalor وَعَزمَةٍand resolve
بِأَجرَأَ مِنهُ حَدَّ بَأسٍ وَعَزمَةٍ
إِذاwhen ماemphasis نَزاleaps قَلبُthe heart of الجَبانِthe coward إِلىto النَحرِthe throat
إِذا ما نَزا قَلبُ الجَبانِ إِلى النَحرِ
more daring than he in fierce valor and resolve,
More daring than him, with greater ferocity and resolve,
when the coward's heart leaps to his throat.
When the coward’s heart inclines toward the gullet.
فَكُلُّso every أُناسٍpeople يُشهِرونَraise أَكُفَّهُمtheir palms
فَكُلُّ أُناسٍ يُشهِرونَ أَكُفَّهُم
دَعاءًin prayer لَهُfor him بِالعِزِّfor glory فيهِمamong them وَبِالنَصرِand for victory
دَعاءً لَهُ بِالعِزِّ فيهِم وَبِالنَصرِ
Thus every people raises its palms,
So all people brandish their palms,
in prayer for his glory among them and for his victory.
Praying for his might over them and victory.