بُشْرَىglad tidings تَقُومُrises لَهَاfor it الدُّنْيَاthe world عَلَىon قَدَمِa foot
بُشْرَى تَقُومُ لَهَا الدُّنْيَا عَلَى قَدَمِ
حَتَّىeven بِهَاwith it اللَّهُGod حَيَّىhailed النَّصْرِvictory فِيin الْقِدَمِantiquity
حَتَّى بِهَا اللَّهُ حَيَّى النَّصْرِ فِي الْقِدَمِ
Good news that brings the world to its feet,
Good tidings rise for which the world stands on its feet
even God hailed victory with it in ages past.
So that through it God gave life to victory in antiquity
وَأَصْبَحَand became الدِّينُthe faith جَذْلاَناًjoyful بِمَوْقِعِهَاat its advent
وَأَصْبَحَ الدِّينُ جَذْلاَناً بِمَوْقِعِهَا
يَثْنِيoffers praise بِكُلِّwith every لِسَانٍtongue نَاطِقٍspeaking وَفَمِand mouth
يَثْنِي بِكُلِّ لِسَانٍ نَاطِقٍ وَفَمِ
And the faith rejoiced at its advent,
And the religion became radiant in its position
offering praise with every speaking tongue and mouth.
Bending with every eloquent tongue and mouth
وَاسْتَبْشَرَتْand rejoiced دَوْلَةُthe realm of الإِسْلاَمِIslam حِينَwhen رأَتْit saw
وَاسْتَبْشَرَتْ دَوْلَةُ الإِسْلاَمِ حِينَ رأَتْ
سَيْفَاًa sword مِنَfrom الْعُرْبِthe Arabs مَسْلُولاًdrawn عَلَىagainst الْعَجَمِthe non-Arabs
سَيْفَاً مِنَ الْعُرْبِ مَسْلُولاً عَلَى الْعَجَمِ
And the realm of Islam rejoiced when it saw
And the state of Islam rejoiced when it saw
a sword of the Arabs drawn against the non-Arabs.
A sword from the Arabs unsheathed against the non-Arabs
خِلافَةَO caliphate of اللَّهِGod يَهْنِيكِmay it gladden you الدَّوَامُpermanence فَلاَso do not
خِلافَةَ اللَّهِ يَهْنِيكِ الدَّوَامُ فَلاَ
تَخْشَيْfear نَفَاداًan end وَقَدْand indeed قَالَsaid الإِلاَهُGod دُمendure!
تَخْشَيْ نَفَاداً وَقَدْ قَالَ الإِلاَهُ دُم
O caliphate of God, may permanence gladden you; do not
God's caliphate may its permanence humble you, so do not
fear an end, for God has said, 'Endure!'
Fear depletion while the God has said “it will last”
وَيَاand O بَشِيراًbearer of glad tidings بِنُعْمَىof a blessing جَلَّwas great مَوْقِعُهاits import
وَيَا بَشِيراً بِنُعْمَى جَلَّ مَوْقِعُها
لَكَyours الْبِشَارَةُthe herald's reward مِمَّاof whatever شِئْتَyou wish فَاحْتَكِمِso set your terms
لَكَ الْبِشَارَةُ مِمَّا شِئْتَ فَاحْتَكِمِ
And O bearer of tidings of a blessing great in its import,
O you who bring good news of a lofty status
your reward is whatever you wish; set your terms.
For you are the glad tidings, so choose whatever you desire
وَيَاand O أَمِيرَprince of الْهُدَىguidance هُنِّيتَهَاmay you enjoy it نِعَماًas blessings
وَيَا أَمِيرَ الْهُدَى هُنِّيتَهَا نِعَماً
مَوْصُولَةَcontinuous العدِّin number قَدْindeed جَلَّتْwere exalted عَنْabove النِّعَمِblessings
مَوْصُولَةَ العدِّ قَدْ جَلَّتْ عَنْ النِّعَمِ
And O prince of guidance, may you enjoy it—blessings
O commander of guidance, may its renewal be blessings
unceasing in number, surpassing all other blessings,
Continuous, surpassing all blessings
أَجْدَىmore beneficial مِنَthan الْغَيْثِrain بَعْدَafter الْجَدْبِdrought فِيin بَلَدٍa land
أَجْدَى مِنَ الْغَيْثِ بَعْدَ الْجَدْبِ فِي بَلَدٍ
أَوor الشَّبِيبَةِyouth بَعْدَafter الشَّيْبِgray hair وَالْهَرَمِand decrepitude
أَو الشَّبِيبَةِ بَعْدَ الشَّيْبِ وَالْهَرَمِ
more beneficial than rain after drought in a land,
More fruitful than rain after drought in a country
or youth after gray hair and decrepitude.
Or youthfulness after aging and old age
شِهَابُa meteor of هَدْيguidance تَجَلَّىshone forth فِيin سَمَاءِa heaven of عُلىًeminence
شِهَابُ هَدْي تَجَلَّى فِي سَمَاءِ عُلىً
وَفَرْعُand a branch of مُلْكٍkingship نَمَاgrew فِيin دَوْحَةِa great tree of الْكَرَمِgenerosity
وَفَرْعُ مُلْكٍ نَمَا فِي دَوْحَةِ الْكَرَمِ
A meteor of guidance shining in a heaven of eminence,
The meteor of guidance appeared in the sky of the eminent
and a royal branch grown on the great tree of generosity.
And a branch of kingship grew in the courtyard of generosity
تَاهَتْgloried بهِin him الْجُرْدُthe sleek steeds وَاهْتَزَّتْand swayed بِهِfor him طَرَباًin delight
تَاهَتْ بهِ الْجُرْدُ وَاهْتَزَّتْ بِهِ طَرَباً
مَعَاطِفُthe flexing forms of السُّمْرِthe tawny spears والْمَصْقُولَةِand the polished blades الْحَذَمِkeen-edged
مَعَاطِفُ السُّمْرِ والْمَصْقُولَةِ الْحَذَمِ
The sleek steeds gloried in him, and for him swayed in joy
Distracted by it the necklaces and shaken by it in rapture
the shafts of tawny spears and polished, keen-edged blades.
The attires of silk and the polished coats of mail
وَلِلتَّنَافُسِand in rivalry فِيin تَقْبِيلِkissing رَاحَتِهِhis palm
وَلِلتَّنَافُسِ فِي تَقْبِيلِ رَاحَتِهِ
ظَلَّcontinued التَّفَاخُرُthe proud rivalry بَيْنَbetween السَّيْفِthe sword وَالْقَلَمِand the pen
ظَلَّ التَّفَاخُرُ بَيْنَ السَّيْفِ وَالْقَلَمِ
And in rivalry to kiss his palm,
And for competing in kissing its palm
the sword and pen kept vying in pride.
The sword and the pen have continued to pride themselves on it
فَاذْخَرْso keep in store لَهُfor him الْخَيْلَthe horses تُزْهَىstrutting proudly فِيin مَرَابِطِهَاtheir stalls
فَاذْخَرْ لَهُ الْخَيْلَ تُزْهَى فِي مَرَابِطِهَا
شُوسَfierce اللِّحَاظِof glance لَهَاthey have حِقْدٌa grudge عَلَىagainst اللُّجُمِthe bridles
شُوسَ اللِّحَاظِ لَهَا حِقْدٌ عَلَى اللُّجُمِ
So keep horses ready for him, proud in their stalls,
So prepare for it the horses adorned at their stables
fierce-eyed, bearing a grudge against their bridles.
The outstanding coats of armor harbor malice against cowards
وَاذْكُرْand recount بِمِسْمَعِهِto his ear الأَنْدَىthe tender وَقَائِعَهَاtheir battles
وَاذْكُرْ بِمِسْمَعِهِ الأَنْدَى وَقَائِعَهَا
يَلُحْwill shine لِوَجْهِكَtoward your face مِنْهُfrom him وَجْهُa face مُبْتَسِمِsmiling
يَلُحْ لِوَجْهِكَ مِنْهُ وَجْهُ مُبْتَسِمِ
And recount their battles to his tender ear;
And recall in its hearing the most wondrous feats
a smiling face of his will shine toward yours.
So that its face may smile at you
وَكُلَّمَاand whenever كَمُلَتْmatured فِيهِin him الْقُوَىthe powers وَشَدَاand began learning
وَكُلَّمَا كَمُلَتْ فِيهِ الْقُوَى وَشَدَا
فَاجْعَلْso make مُجَالِسَهُhis companion فِيin الْحَفْلِthe gathering كُلَّevery كَمِيarmored warrior
فَاجْعَلْ مُجَالِسَهُ فِي الْحَفْلِ كُلَّ كَمِي
And as his powers mature and he begins to learn,
And whenever its powers and influence grew
make every armored warrior his companion in the gathering.
Make its assemblies at every party all perfection
وَلْيُكْثِرِand let them increase الْقَوْمُthe company ذِكْراًdiscussion فِيin مَجَالِسِهِhis gatherings
وَلْيُكْثِرِ الْقَوْمُ ذِكْراً فِي مَجَالِسِهِ
مِنَof السِّيَاسَةِstatecraft والأَمْثَالِand proverbs وَالْحِكَمِand wisdom
مِنَ السِّيَاسَةِ والأَمْثَالِ وَالْحِكَمِ
And let the company speak often in his gatherings
And let the people frequently discuss in its councils
of statecraft, proverbs, and wisdom.
Politics, proverbs and wisdom
حَتَّىuntil إِذَاwhen كَمُلَتْmatured فِيهِin him الْقُوَىthe powers وَسَماand rose
حَتَّى إِذَا كَمُلَتْ فِيهِ الْقُوَى وَسَما
فَضْلاًin excellence وَرَاعَand terrified أُسُودَthe lions of الْغَابِthe forest فِيin الأَجَمِthe thickets
فَضْلاً وَرَاعَ أُسُودَ الْغَابِ فِي الأَجَمِ
Until, when his powers have fully matured and he rises
Until when its powers and influence fully grew
in excellence, terrifying the forest's lions in the thickets,
Excelling, guarding the thickets of the forests bravely
فَاذْعَرْso terrify بِهِthrough him الْكُفْرَunbelief فِيin أَقْصَىthe remotest مَآمِنِهِits refuges
فَاذْعَرْ بِهِ الْكُفْرَ فِي أَقْصَى مَآمِنِهِ
وَحُطْand guard بهِthrough him الدِّينَthe faith مِنْfrom خَلْفٍbehind وَمِنْand from أَمَمin front
وَحُطْ بهِ الدِّينَ مِنْ خَلْفٍ وَمِنْ أَمَم
use him to terrify unbelief in its remotest refuges,
Then drive away with it disbelief to its remotest refuge
and through him guard the faith from behind and from before,
And raise up the religion from behind and from the front
لِكَيْso that تَلُوحَmay appear عَلَيْهِupon him مِنْamong شَمَائِلِهhis traits
لِكَيْ تَلُوحَ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ شَمَائِلِه
شَمَائلٌqualities مِنْfrom أبيهِhis father الطَّاهِرِpure الشِّيَمِin character
شَمَائلٌ مِنْ أبيهِ الطَّاهِرِ الشِّيَمِ
so that upon him, among his traits, may appear
So that his praiseworthy traits from his pure father
qualities from his father, pure of character.
Who is well-mannered, shines through it
وَمَنْand who كيُوسُفَlike Yusuf فِيamong الأَمْلاَكِthe kings مِنْof مَلكٍa king
وَمَنْ كيُوسُفَ فِي الأَمْلاَكِ مِنْ مَلكٍ
بِالْحِلْمِby forbearance مُتَّسِمٍmarked بالْحَزْمِwith resolve مُحْتَزِمِgirded
بِالْحِلْمِ مُتَّسِمٍ بالْحَزْمِ مُحْتَزِمِ
And what king among kings is like Yusuf,
And who is like Joseph in ruling kingdoms among kings
marked by forbearance, girded with resolve?
Characterized by forbearance, resolute, and dignified
تَنْمِيincrease عُلاَهَاits glory مِنَfrom الأَنْصَارِthe Ansar سَادَتُهَاits lords
تَنْمِي عُلاَهَا مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ سَادَتُهَا
فِيin مَعْشَرٍa company ككُعُوبِlike the joints of الرُّمْحِthe spear مُنْتَظِمِordered
فِي مَعْشَرٍ ككُعُوبِ الرُّمْحِ مُنْتَظِمِ
Its lords, from the Ansar, increase its glory
Raising its prominence from its elite supporters
in a company ordered like the joints of a spear:
In a group well-organized like spear shafts in rows
خَلاَئِفٌcaliphs لَمْnot تَزَلْceased بِالْهَديِwith guidance صادعةproclaiming openly
خَلاَئِفٌ لَمْ تَزَلْ بِالْهَديِ صادعة
بالعدلwith justice فيamid الظلمoppression أوor بالنورwith light فيamid الظلمdarkness
بالعدل في الظلم أو بالنور في الظلم
caliphs who have never ceased proclaiming guidance,
Successors who never ceased to be candid
with justice amid oppression, or with light amid darkness;
With justice against injustice or light against darkness
السابقونthe foremost إلىto الغاياتthe goals إنif ركضواthey race
السابقون إلى الغايات إن ركضوا
والناطقونand those speaking بفضلwith excellence of الحكمjudgment فيin الكلمwords
والناطقون بفضل الحكم في الكلم
first to the goals when they race,
The first to lofty goals if they raced
and speaking with excellence of judgment in their words.
And the speakers of the merit of wisdom in speech
مِنْfrom كُلِّevery أَرْوَعَawe-inspiring lord إِنْif ضَنَّتْwithheld بَوابلهَاwith their downpour
مِنْ كُلِّ أَرْوَعَ إِنْ ضَنَّتْ بَوابلهَا
سُحْبُthe clouds of السَّمَاءِheaven وَشَحَّتْand grew scant سِحَّةُthe outpouring of الدِّيمِthe steady rains
سُحْبُ السَّمَاءِ وَشَحَّتْ سِحَّةُ الدِّيمِ
Each an awe-inspiring lord: if they withhold their downpour—
From every most remarkable downpour if the clouds
the clouds of heaven—and the steady rains grow scant,
Of the sky were stingy and the pouring rains sparse
قَامَتْtook يَدَاهُhis two hands مَقَامَthe place of الْغَيْثِrain وَانْتَجَعَتْand sought pasture
قَامَتْ يَدَاهُ مَقَامَ الْغَيْثِ وَانْتَجَعَتْ
نَدَاهُhis bounty زَاجِرَةُthe driver of الْوَخَّادَةِthe long-striding camels الرُّسُمِswift-moving
نَدَاهُ زَاجِرَةُ الْوَخَّادَةِ الرُّسُمِ
his hands take the place of rain, and there comes
His hands took the place of rain and his call
seeking his bounty the drover of long-striding, swift camels.
Restraining negligence stood in place of beneficial traditions
وَأَصْبَحَand became الْحَيُّthe tribe بَعْدَafter الْجَهْدِhardship فِيin دَعَةٍease
وَأَصْبَحَ الْحَيُّ بَعْدَ الْجَهْدِ فِي دَعَةٍ
رَيَّانَsated مِنْwith زَفَرَاتِthe snorting of الْخَيْلِthe horses وَالنَّعَمِand livestock
رَيَّانَ مِنْ زَفَرَاتِ الْخَيْلِ وَالنَّعَمِ
And the tribe, after hardship, comes to live at ease,
And the living after exhaustion became
sated with the snorting of horses and livestock.
Watered from the snorting of horses and cattle
يَاO أَيُّهَاyou الْمَلِكُking النَّدْبُthe valiant الَّذِيwho عُصِمَتْwere safeguarded
يَا أَيُّهَا الْمَلِكُ النَّدْبُ الَّذِي عُصِمَتْ
مِنْهُthrough him الْبِلاَدُthe lands بِدَفَّاعِby a mighty defender مِنَamong الْعُصُمِthe safeguards
مِنْهُ الْبِلاَدُ بِدَفَّاعِ مِنَ الْعُصُمِ
O valiant king, through whom were safeguarded
O King, the affliction from which the lands were protected
the lands, by a mighty bulwark among safeguards.
By a defender against vulnerabilities
هَفَاswept بِهَاover them الرَّوْعُterror وَارْتَجَّتْand trembled جَوَانِبُهَاtheir sides
هَفَا بِهَا الرَّوْعُ وَارْتَجَّتْ جَوَانِبُهَا
وَكَانَand was سَاكِنُهَاtheir inhabitant لَحْماًmeat عَلَىupon وَضَمِa butcher's board
وَكَانَ سَاكِنُهَا لَحْماً عَلَى وَضَمِ
Terror swept over them, and their sides trembled,
It confounded them with fear and its sides shuddered
and their inhabitant was meat upon a butcher's board.
While its inhabitants were flesh over bones
فَأَصْبَحَتْthen they became بِكَthrough you بَعْدَafter الرَّوْعِterror آمِنَةًsecure
فَأَصْبَحَتْ بِكَ بَعْدَ الرَّوْعِ آمِنَةً
فِيin ظِلِّthe shade of مُلْكِكَyour kingship أَمْنَas safe as الطَّيْرِthe birds فِيin الْحَرَمِthe sanctuary
فِي ظِلِّ مُلْكِكَ أَمْنَ الطَّيْرِ فِي الْحَرَمِ
Then through you, after terror, they became secure,
Yet after the fear they have become safe
beneath the shade of your kingship, as safe as birds in the sanctuary.
In the shade of your kingdom, as safe as birds in a sanctuary
فَلَوْso if رآكَsaw you زُهَيْرٌZuhayr مَاnot تَخَلَّفَهَاleft them behind
فَلَوْ رآكَ زُهَيْرٌ مَا تَخَلَّفَهَا
غُرّاًradiant عَلَىacross مدَدَthe span of الأَحْقَابِthe ages فِيconcerning هَرِمHarim
غُرّاً عَلَى مدَدَ الأَحْقَابِ فِي هَرِم
Had Zuhayr seen you, he would not have left those
If Zuheir had seen you he would not have regretted
radiant verses for Harim, enduring through the ages.
Not living to the end of time in old age
وَلَوْand if تَنَاسَىforgot الرّضِيَّىal-Radi الدَّهْرُTime ثُمَّthen رَأَىsaw
وَلَوْ تَنَاسَى الرّضِيَّى الدَّهْرُ ثُمَّ رَأَى
أَيّامَthe days of سَلْمِكَyour peace لَمْnot يَحْفِلْwould care بِذِيfor Dhi سَلَمِSalam
أَيّامَ سَلْمِكَ لَمْ يَحْفِلْ بِذِي سَلَمِ
And had Time forgotten al-Radi, and had he then seen
If ar-Rithi forgot time then saw
your days of peace, he would have paid no heed to Dhi Salam.
The days of your peace, he would not care for one with well being
فَأَهْنَأْso rejoice بِغُرَّةِin the bright dawn of سَعْدٍgood fortune طَالِعٍrising لِبَنِيfor the sons of
فَأَهْنَأْ بِغُرَّةِ سَعْدٍ طَالِعٍ لِبَنِي
سَعْدٍSa'd بِعِزٍّwith glory جَدِيدٍrenewed غَيْرِnot مُنْصَرِمِending
سَعْدٍ بِعِزٍّ جَدِيدٍ غَيْرِ مُنْصَرِمِ
So rejoice in the bright dawn of fortune rising for the sons of
So congratulate the rise of renewed good fortune
Sa'd, with renewed glory that will never end.
For the Sa’d tribe with fresh glory, endless
بَقِيتَmay you remain فِيin ظِلِّthe shade of مُلْكٍkingship لاَno نَفَادَend لَهُto it
بَقِيتَ فِي ظِلِّ مُلْكٍ لاَ نَفَادَ لَهُ
وَالدَّهْرُand Time طَوْعُكَobedient to you وَالأَيَّامُand the days كَالْخَدَمِlike servants
وَالدَّهْرُ طَوْعُكَ وَالأَيَّامُ كَالْخَدَمِ
May you remain beneath the shade of a kingship without end,
You remain in the shade of an everlasting kingdom
with Time obedient to you and the days like servants;
With time under your control and days like servants
وَدَامَand may endure نَجْلُكَyour son لاَnot تَنْفَكُّceases تَحْرُسُهُguards him
وَدَامَ نَجْلُكَ لاَ تَنْفَكُّ تَحْرُسُهُ
عَيْنٌan eye مِنَfrom اللَّهِGod لَمْnot تَهْجَعْslumbered وَلَمْand not تَنَمِslept
عَيْنٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ لَمْ تَهْجَعْ وَلَمْ تَنَمِ
and may your son endure, ceaselessly guarded by
And may your progeny last, protected by an eye
an eye from God that neither slumbers nor sleeps,
From God that never sleeps or slumbers
حَتَّىuntil تَرَىyou see الْجَيْشَthe army يَغْزُوcampaigning تَحْتَbeneath رَايَتِهِhis banner
حَتَّى تَرَى الْجَيْشَ يَغْزُو تَحْتَ رَايَتِهِ
مُؤَيَّدَstrengthened الْعَزمِin resolve مَنًصُوراًvictorious عَلَىالأُمَمِover the nations
مُؤَيَّدَ الْعَزمِ مَنًصُوراً عَلَىالأُمَمِ
until you see the army campaigning beneath his banner,
Until you see the army wage war beneath its banner
its resolve strengthened, victorious over the nations;
With strong determination, supported against the nations
والرِّفْدُand largesse مَاwhat is بَيْنَbetween مُرْفَضٍّdispersed وَمُنْسَكِبٍand pouring forth
والرِّفْدُ مَا بَيْنَ مُرْفَضٍّ وَمُنْسَكِبٍ
وَالْوَفْدُand the delegations مَاwhat is بَيْنَbetween مُنْفَضٍّdispersing وَمُنْزَحِمِand thronging
وَالْوَفْدُ مَا بَيْنَ مُنْفَضٍّ وَمُنْزَحِمِ
and largesse now dispersed, now pouring forth,
With newcomers streaming in and deputations flooding
and delegations now dispersing, now thronging.
And pilgrims continuously coming and going in crowds
مَوْلاَيَmy lord لِيI have ذِمَمٌbonds of obligation فِيwith الْمُلْكِthe monarchy سَابِقَةٌlongstanding
مَوْلاَيَ لِي ذِمَمٌ فِي الْمُلْكِ سَابِقَةٌ
وَأَنْتَand you أَكْرَمُthe noblest رَاعٍguardian of حُرْمَةَthe sanctity of الذِّمَمِthe bonds
وَأَنْتَ أَكْرَمُ رَاعٍ حُرْمَةَ الذِّمَمِ
My lord, I have longstanding bonds with the monarchy,
My Lord, I have pacts in the kingdom preceding me
and you are the noblest guardian of the sanctity of such bonds.
While you are the most generous keeper of pacts
مَالِيI have no لِسَانٌa tongue بِمَاfor what أَوْلَيْتَyou bestowed مِنْof مِنَنٍfavors
مَالِي لِسَانٌ بِمَا أَوْلَيْتَ مِنْ مِنَنٍ
وَلاَnor كَفِئٌa fitting recompense لِمَاfor what أَسْدَيْتَyou granted مِنْof نِعَمِblessings
وَلاَ كَفِئٌ لِمَا أَسْدَيْتَ مِنْ نِعَمِ
I have no tongue adequate to the favors you have bestowed,
I have no tongue for what you have bestowed of favors
nor a fitting recompense for the blessings you have granted.
Nor equal to what you have granted of blessings