يَاO نُجْعَةَhaven sought for bounty الْوُزَرَاءِthe viziers وَالنُّوَّابِand the deputies
يَا نُجْعَةَ الْوُزَرَاءِ وَالنُّوَّابِ
وَالْمَلْهَمُand the inspired one الْمَهِديُّthe guided one لِكُلِّto every صَوَابِright course
وَالْمَلْهَمُ الْمَهِديُّ لِكُلِّ صَوَابِ
O haven of viziers and deputies,
and inspired one, guided to every right course,
وَابْنَand son of الْمَجَادَةِnobility وَالسِّيَادَةِand lordship وَالتُّقىand piety
وَابْنَ الْمَجَادَةِ وَالسِّيَادَةِ وَالتُّقى
وَالْفَضْلِand excellence وَالأَنْسَابِand lineages وَالأَحْسَابِand ancestral honors
وَالْفَضْلِ وَالأَنْسَابِ وَالأَحْسَابِ
and son of nobility, lordship, and piety,
of excellence, noble lineages, and ancestral honors!
وَمَنِand the one الَّذِيwho أَيَّامُهُhis days مَذْكُورَةٌremembered
وَمَنِ الَّذِي أَيَّامُهُ مَذْكُورَةٌ
وَسُعُودُهُand his good fortunes مَوْصُولَةُconnected الأَسْبَابِthe links
وَسُعُودُهُ مَوْصُولَةُ الأَسْبَابِ
And you whose days are remembered,
whose good fortunes are linked in an unbroken chain,
مَنْصُوَرMansur (victorious) دَوْلَةِdynasty of آلِhouse of عَبْدِAbd (servant of) الْحَقِّal-Haqq (the Truth) ذَاpossessor of الْthe
مَنْصُوَر دَوْلَةِ آلِ عَبْدِ الْحَقِّ ذَا الْ
أَثَرِdeeds الْغَرِيبِwondrous لُبَابَquintessence of كُلِّevery لُبَابِquintessence
أَثَرِ الْغَرِيبِ لُبَابَ كُلِّ لُبَابِ
Mansur of the dynasty of the house of Abd al-Haqq, possessor of
wondrous deeds, quintessence of every quintessence!
سَيْفُsword of السَّعِيدِal-Sa'id وَكَافِلَand steward of الأَمْرِrule الَّذِيwho
سَيْفُ السَّعِيدِ وَكَافِلَ الأَمْرِ الَّذِي
قَدْindeed نَابَserved as deputy عَنْon behalf of مَوْلاَهُhis lord خَيْرَbest مَنَابِdeputizing
قَدْ نَابَ عَنْ مَوْلاَهُ خَيْرَ مَنَابِ
Sword of al-Sa'id and steward of rule, who
has served in his lord's stead as the finest deputy.
قَدْindeed كُنْتَyou were تُذْخَرُkept in reserve لِلأَمُورِfor affairs وَتُرْتَجَىand looked to with hope
قَدْ كُنْتَ تُذْخَرُ لِلأَمُورِ وَتُرْتَجَى
لِلْمُعْضِلاتِfor difficult problems وَأَنْتَand you فِيin الْكُتَّابِthe school
لِلْمُعْضِلاتِ وَأَنْتَ فِي الْكُتَّابِ
You were held in reserve for great affairs and looked to
for difficult trials, even while you were in school.
وَيُقَالُand it was said هَذَاthis كَافِلٌa guardian لِخِلاَفَةٍof a caliphate
وَيُقَالُ هَذَا كَافِلٌ لِخِلاَفَةٍ
تَخْتَالُwalks proudly لِلْبَرَكَاتِof blessings فِيin جلْبَابِa cloak
تَخْتَالُ لِلْبَرَكَاتِ فِي جلْبَابِ
And it was said: 'This is a guardian of a caliphate
that walks proudly in a cloak of blessings.'
بُشْرَىglad tidings أَتَتْcame مِثْلَlike الصَّبَاحِmorning لِنَاظرِto a beholder
بُشْرَى أَتَتْ مِثْلَ الصَّبَاحِ لِنَاظرِ
لَمْnot تُعْزَbe ascribed نِسْبَتُهَاits origin إِلَىto كَذَّابِa liar
لَمْ تُعْزَ نِسْبَتُهَا إِلَى كَذَّابِ
Glad tidings came like morning to the beholder;
their origin was never ascribed to a liar.
وَوُعُودُهَاand its promises مِنْfrom بَعْدِafter ذَاthis مُسْتَمْنَحٌsought as a gift
وَوُعُودُهَا مِنْ بَعْدِ ذَا مُسْتَمْنَحٌ
إِنْجَازُهَاtheir fulfillment مِنْfrom مُنْعِمٍa gracious giver وَهَّابِa lavish giver
إِنْجَازُهَا مِنْ مُنْعِمٍ وَهَّابِ
And for their promises thereafter, the gift sought was
their fulfillment from a gracious, lavish giver.
اللهُGod حَسْبُكَsufficient for you يَاO أَبَاAbu (father of) يَحْيَYahya فَقَدْfor indeed
اللهُ حَسْبُكَ يَا أَبَا يَحْيَ فَقَدْ
أَحيَيْتَyou revived رَسْمَtraces of الْمَجْدِglory بَعْدَafter ذَهَابِdisappearance
أَحيَيْتَ رَسْمَ الْمَجْدِ بَعْدَ ذَهَابِ
God suffices you, O Abu Yahya, for you have
revived the traces of glory after their disappearance.
أَنْصَفَتَyou treated fairly جَيْشَarmy of الْمُسْلِمِينَthe Muslims فَمَاso not الْقَنَاthe spears
أَنْصَفَتَ جَيْشَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ فَمَا الْقَنَا
صَعْبَhard الْمَهَزِّto wield وَمَاand not الْحُسَامُthe sword بِنَابِيfailing to cut
صَعْبَ الْمَهَزِّ وَمَا الْحُسَامُ بِنَابِي
You dealt justly with the Muslim army, so the spears are not
hard to wield, nor does the sword fail to cut.
وَأَعَدْتَand you restored سَكَّتَهُمْtheir coinage كَأَنَّas though وُجُوهَهَاits faces
وَأَعَدْتَ سَكَّتَهُمْ كَأَنَّ وُجُوهَهَا
زَهْرُflowers of الرِّيَاضِthe gardens رَبَتْgrew lush بِصَوْبِwith rainfall from رَبَابِclouds
زَهْرُ الرِّيَاضِ رَبَتْ بِصَوْبِ رَبَابِ
You restored their coinage, whose faces seem
like garden flowers grown lush under showers from clouds.
وَجَبَيْتَand you collected مَالَwealth of اللهِGod وَاسْتَخْلَصْتَهُand freed it
وَجَبَيْتَ مَالَ اللهِ وَاسْتَخْلَصْتَهُ
مِنْfrom بَيْنَbetween ظُفْرa claw لِلسِّيَاعِof waste وَنَابِand a fang
مِنْ بَيْنَ ظُفْر لِلسِّيَاعِ وَنَابِ
You collected God's wealth and wrested it free
from between the claw and fang of waste.
وَخَلَفْتَand you succeeded مَوْلَىlord of الْخَلْقِthe people خَيْرَbest خلاَفَةٍstewardship
وَخَلَفْتَ مَوْلَى الْخَلْقِ خَيْرَ خلاَفَةٍ
تُرْضِيهِpleasing him فِيin dealings with الأَعْدَاءِthe enemies وَالأَحْبَابِand the loved ones
تُرْضِيهِ فِي الأَعْدَاءِ وَالأَحْبَابِ
You succeeded the people's lord with the finest stewardship,
pleasing him in your dealings with enemies and friends.
وَرَعَيْتَهُand you cared for him بَعْدَafter الْمَمَاتِdeath كَأَنَّهُas though he
وَرَعَيْتَهُ بَعْدَ الْمَمَاتِ كَأَنَّهُ
رَهْنُheld by الْحَيَاةِlife يَرَاكَhe sees you خَلْفَbehind حِجَابِa veil
رَهْنُ الْحَيَاةِ يَرَاكَ خَلْفَ حِجَابِ
You cared for him after death as though he were
still in life's keeping, seeing you from behind a veil.
هَذَاthis الْوَفَاءُloyalty يَقِلُّamounts to little مَاwhat حُدِّثْتَهُyou were told it
هَذَا الْوَفَاءُ يَقِلُّ مَا حُدِّثْتَهُ
مِنْof مُقْتَضٍsomething requiring لِلنَّفْيِnegation وَالإِيجَابِand affirmation
مِنْ مُقْتَضٍ لِلنَّفْيِ وَالإِيجَابِ
This is loyalty; all you have been told amounts to little,
of grounds for negation and affirmation.
فَالْعَدْلُthus justice يُحْكِمُsets true فِيamong الْوَرَىmankind قِسْطَاسَهُits scales
فَالْعَدْلُ يُحْكِمُ فِي الْوَرَى قِسْطَاسَهُ
وَالأَمْنُand safety ظِلٌّa shade وَافِرُample in الإِطْنَابِextension
وَالأَمْنُ ظِلٌّ وَافِرُ الإِطْنَابِ
Thus justice sets its scales true among mankind,
and safety is a shade of ample reach.
وَالدَّهْرُand Time بَعْدَafter مَشِيبهِits gray-haired age بِكَthrough you لاَبِسٌwearing
وَالدَّهْرُ بَعْدَ مَشِيبهِ بِكَ لاَبِسٌ
مَاwhatever شِئْتَهُyou wished it مِنْof عُنْفُوَانِvigor of شَبَابِyouth
مَا شِئْتَهُ مِنْ عُنْفُوَانِ شَبَابِ
And Time, after going gray, wears through you
whatever you wish of the vigor of youth.
جَعَلَhas placed الإِلاَهُGod عَلَىupon كَمَالِكَyour perfection عُوذَةًa protective charm
جَعَلَ الإِلاَهُ عَلَى كَمَالِكَ عُوذَةً
مِنْfrom ذِكْرِهِremembrance of Him فِيin جِيئَةٍcoming وَذَهَابِand going
مِنْ ذِكْرِهِ فِي جِيئَةٍ وَذَهَابِ
God has set a protective charm upon your perfection,
from remembrance of Him, in coming and going.
يَهْنِيكَmay it bring you joy مَاwhat أولاكَHe bestowed on you مِنْof ألْطَافِهِHis gracious favors
يَهْنِيكَ مَا أولاكَ مِنْ ألْطَافِهِ
فِيamong خَلْقِهِHis creatures تَجْرِيflow بِغَيْرِwithout حسَابِreckoning
فِي خَلْقِهِ تَجْرِي بِغَيْرِ حسَابِ
May what He bestowed on you of His favors bring you joy,
flowing among His creatures without reckoning.
غَلَبَovercame الظُّنُونَconjectures الرَّوْعُfear أَوَّلَat the first وَهلَةٍinstant
غَلَبَ الظُّنُونَ الرَّوْعُ أَوَّلَ وَهلَةٍ
فَقَضَىthen decreed بِسَعْدِكَfor your good fortune غَالِبُthe vanquisher of الْغلاَّبِconquerors
فَقَضَى بِسَعْدِكَ غَالِبُ الْغلاَّبِ
Fear overcame conjecture at the very first instant;
then the Vanquisher of conquerors decreed your good fortune.
وَأَهَلَّand poured forth مُحْتَبسُwhat was held back in الْغَمَامِthe clouds بِجُمْلَةِwith the entirety of الthe
وَأَهَلَّ مُحْتَبسُ الْغَمَامِ بِجُمْلَةِ ال
رُّحْمَىmercy بِفَضْلِby the grace of مُتَمِّمِthe fulfiller of الآرَابِdesires
رُّحْمَى بِفَضْلِ مُتَمِّمِ الآرَابِ
And the clouds' withheld rain poured forth with all
mercy, through the grace of the Fulfiller of desires.
لَطْفٌa kindness يَدُلُّpoints عَلَىto الْعِنَايَةِcare وَالرِّضَىand favor
لَطْفٌ يَدُلُّ عَلَى الْعِنَايَةِ وَالرِّضَى
فَكَأَنَّهُso as though it الْعُنْوَانُthe title فَوْقَupon كِتَابِa book
فَكَأَنَّهُ الْعُنْوَانُ فَوْقَ كِتَابِ
A kindness that bespeaks care and favor,
as though it were the title upon a book.
وَمَقَاصِدٌand purposes شَكَرَrewarded الإِلاَهُGod ضَمِيرَهَاtheir inward intent
وَمَقَاصِدٌ شَكَرَ الإِلاَهُ ضَمِيرَهَا
وَدُعَاءُand a prayer of مَسْمُوعِheard الدُّعَاءِprayer مُجَابِanswered
وَدُعَاءُ مَسْمُوعِ الدُّعَاءِ مُجَابِ
And purposes whose inward intent God rewarded,
and a prayer of one whose prayers are heard and answered.
وَوَسَائِلٌand means of approach خَلَصَتْwere devoted purely لِمَنْto Him whose رَحَمَاتُهُHis mercies
وَوَسَائِلٌ خَلَصَتْ لِمَنْ رَحَمَاتُهُ
لِلْقَاصِديِنَfor seekers رَحيبَةُwide الأَبْوَابِthe gates
لِلْقَاصِديِنَ رَحيبَةُ الأَبْوَابِ
And means of approach devoted solely to Him whose mercies
have wide gates for those who seek Him.
أَنْتَyou الْوَزِيرُthe vizier ابْنُson of الْوَزيرٍthe vizier حَقِيقَةًtruly
أَنْتَ الْوَزِيرُ ابْنُ الْوَزيرٍ حَقِيقَةً
إِرْثٌan inheritance أَصِيلُfirmly rooted الْحَقِّthe right فِيthrough الأَحْقَابِthe ages
إِرْثٌ أَصِيلُ الْحَقِّ فِي الأَحْقَابِ
You are truly the vizier, son of the vizier:
an inheritance whose rightful claim is rooted through the ages.
وَأَبُوكَand your father مَوْقِفُهُhis stand أَنَاI شَاهَدْتُهُI witnessed it
وَأَبُوكَ مَوْقِفُهُ أَنَا شَاهَدْتُهُ
فَسَلِso ask الْمُحِقَّthe truthful one فَلَيْسَfor he is not كَالْمُرْتَابِlike the doubter
فَسَلِ الْمُحِقَّ فَلَيْسَ كَالْمُرْتَابِ
And your father—I myself witnessed his stand;
so ask the truthful man, for he is not like one in doubt.
صَدَقَwas true to الإِلاَهَGod وَبَاعَand sold مِنْهُto Him نَفْسَهُhis soul
صَدَقَ الإِلاَهَ وَبَاعَ مِنْهُ نَفْسَهُ
فَجَزَاهُso He rewarded him بِالزُّلْفَىwith nearness وَحُسْنَand a good مَآبِreturn
فَجَزَاهُ بِالزُّلْفَى وَحُسْنَ مَآبِ
He was true to God and sold Him his soul;
so He rewarded him with nearness and a good return.
مَنْwho لِلطَّعَامِfor food وَلِلطَّعَانِand for spear-thrusts وَللِتُّقَىand for piety
مَنْ لِلطَّعَامِ وَلِلطَّعَانِ وَللِتُّقَى
إلاَّكَexcept you أَوْor لِلْحَرْبِfor war وَالْمِحْرَابِand the prayer niche
إلاَّكَ أَوْ لِلْحَرْبِ وَالْمِحْرَابِ
Who is there for food, for spear-thrusts, and for piety,
except you—or for battle and the prayer niche?
تُهديyou offer as gifts الأسِنَّةthe spearheads للكتائبto the battalions هادياas a guide
تُهدي الأسِنَّة للكتائب هاديا
بِسَناby the radiance of الهدىguidance منfrom سُنَّةٍthe Sunna وكتابand the Book
بِسَنا الهدى من سُنَّةٍ وكتاب
You offer spearheads to the battalions, guiding them
by the radiance of guidance from the Sunna and the Book.
لَمْnot يُعْطِgive مَاwhat أَعْطَيْتَyou gave مُعْطٍa giver قَبْلَهَاbefore it
لَمْ يُعْطِ مَا أَعْطَيْتَ مُعْطٍ قَبْلَهَا
مِنْof صَامِتِinanimate wealth بُرٍّwheat وَمِنْand of أَثْوَابِgarments
مِنْ صَامِتِ بُرٍّ وَمِنْ أَثْوَابِ
No giver before this gave what you have given,
in wheat, that silent wealth, and in garments.
تَسْتَعْبِدُyou enslave الأَحْرَارَfree men بَيْنَamid تَحِيَّةٍa greeting
تَسْتَعْبِدُ الأَحْرَارَ بَيْنَ تَحِيَّةٍ
مَبْرُورَةٍkindly bestowed وَتَوَاضُعٍand humility وَثَوَابِand reward
مَبْرُورَةٍ وَتَوَاضُعٍ وَثَوَابِ
You win free men into servitude through a greeting
kindly offered, humility, and reward.
وَتُمَهِّدُand you consolidate الْمُلْكَthe kingdom الَّذِيwhich بِكَthrough you جَاوَزَتْpassed beyond
وَتُمَهِّدُ الْمُلْكَ الَّذِي بِكَ جَاوَزَتْ
أَسْيَافُswords of عَزْمَتِهِits resolve تُخُومَborders of الزَّابِthe Zab
أَسْيَافُ عَزْمَتِهِ تُخُومَ الزَّابِ
You consolidate the kingdom that, through you, has carried
the swords of its resolve beyond the borders of the Zab.
دَامَتْmay endure سُعُودُكَyour good fortunes مَاas long as تَأَلَّقَflashes بَارِقٌlightning
دَامَتْ سُعُودُكَ مَا تَأَلَّقَ بَارِقٌ
وَبَدَاand appears بِأَفْقِon the horizon of الشَّرْقِthe east ضَوْءُlight of شِهَابِa meteor
وَبَدَا بِأَفْقِ الشَّرْقِ ضَوْءُ شِهَابِ
May your good fortunes endure as long as lightning flashes
and a meteor's light appears on the eastern horizon.
وَحَلَلْتَand may you dwell مِنْwithin كَنَفِprotection of الإْلاَهِGod وَسِتْرِهِand His shelter
وَحَلَلْتَ مِنْ كَنَفِ الإْلاَهِ وَسِتْرِهِ
أَبَدَforever through الَلَّيَالِيthe nights فِيin أَعَزِّthe most honored جَنَابِa sanctuary
أَبَدَ الَلَّيَالِي فِي أَعَزِّ جَنَابِ
May you dwell within God's protection and shelter,
through endless nights, in the most honored sanctuary,
حَتَّىuntil يَكُونَis اسْمُname of السَّعِيدِal-Sa'id مُضَمَّناًincluded
حَتَّى يَكُونَ اسْمُ السَّعِيدِ مُضَمَّناً
فِيin كُلِّevery مِنْبَرpulpit of خُطْبَةِsermon وَخطَابِand address
فِي كُلِّ مِنْبَر خُطْبَةِ وَخطَابِ
until the name of al-Sa'id is included
in every pulpit's sermon and address,
وَتَقَرُّand is gladdened عَيْنُeye of عَلاَكَyour eminence مِنْهُfrom him بِوَارِثٍby an heir
وَتَقَرُّ عَيْنُ عَلاَكَ مِنْهُ بِوَارِثٍ
بَهَرَتْdazzled حُلاَهُhis virtues نُهَىminds of أَولىthose possessing الأَلْبَابِunderstanding
بَهَرَتْ حُلاَهُ نُهَى أَولى الأَلْبَابِ
and the eye of your eminence finds joy in an heir of his,
whose virtues dazzle the minds of the discerning.
مِنْof عِزِّهِhis might تَرْوِيnarrates الْعُلَىgreatness عَنْon the authority of مَالِكِMalik
مِنْ عِزِّهِ تَرْوِي الْعُلَى عَنْ مَالِكِ
أَوْor فِطْنَةٍdiscernment تَرْويnarrates عَنْon the authority of ابْنِIbn (son of) شِهَابِShihab
أَوْ فِطْنَةٍ تَرْوي عَنْ ابْنِ شِهَابِ
Greatness recounts his might on Malik's authority,
or recounts his discernment on Ibn Shihab's authority.
مَنْwhoever كُنْتَyou were أَنْتَyou حُسَامَهُhis sword فَالنَّصْرُthen victory سَاmarched (first part)
مَنْ كُنْتَ أَنْتَ حُسَامَهُ فَالنَّصْرُ سَا
رَcompletion of 'marched' أَمَامَهُbefore him حِزْباًas a host مِنَamong الأَحْزَابِthe hosts
رَ أَمَامَهُ حِزْباً مِنَ الأَحْزَابِ
Whoever has you as his sword, victory marches
before him, a host among the hosts.
إِنْeven if لَمْnot يَدَعْleave لِيfor me جُودُgenerosity of كَفِّكَyour hand حَاجةًa need
إِنْ لَمْ يَدَعْ لِي جُودُ كَفِّكَ حَاجةً
أَسْمُوI aspire لَهَاto it بِشَفَاعَةِthrough the intercession of الآدَابِliterary arts
أَسْمُو لَهَا بِشَفَاعَةِ الآدَابِ
Even if the generosity of your hand has left me no need
to which I might aspire through the intercession of letters,
لَكِنَّنِيyet I أَثْنِيpraise عَلَيْكَyou بِوَاجِبِwith due
لَكِنَّنِي أَثْنِي عَلَيْكَ بِوَاجِبِ
شُكْرَgratitude of الرِّيَاضِthe gardens الدَّائِمِunceasing التَّسْكَابِpouring
شُكْرَ الرِّيَاضِ الدَّائِمِ التَّسْكَابِ
yet I praise you with the due
gratitude of gardens for unceasing rain.
وَأَخَلِّدُand I immortalize الذِّكْرَremembrance الْجَمِيلَbeautiful وَأَنْثُرُand I spread الْthe
وَأَخَلِّدُ الذِّكْرَ الْجَمِيلَ وَأَنْثُرُ الْ
فَخْرَglory الأَصِيلَdeep-rooted مُصَاحِبَaccompanying الأَحْقَابِthe ages
فَخْرَ الأَصِيلَ مُصَاحِبَ الأَحْقَابِ
And I immortalize fair remembrance and proclaim
deep-rooted glory, to accompany the ages.
وَفَضَائِلُand virtues of الْفُضَلاَءِthe virtuous يَذْهَبُvanishes رَسْمُهَاtheir trace
وَفَضَائِلُ الْفُضَلاَءِ يَذْهَبُ رَسْمُهَا
مَاas long as لَمْnot تُشَدْbe celebrated بَصَحَائِفِin the pages of الْكُتَّابِthe writers
مَا لَمْ تُشَدْ بَصَحَائِفِ الْكُتَّابِ
And the virtues of the virtuous lose their trace
unless celebrated in the pages of writers.
فَهيَfor they الَّتِيwhich تُرْوَىare recounted عَلَىover بُعْدِthe distance of الْمَدَىthe reach
فَهيَ الَّتِي تُرْوَى عَلَى بُعْدِ الْمَدَى
وَتُشَدُّand are fastened فَوْقَatop رَوَاحِلِriding mounts الأَقْتَابِcamel saddles
وَتُشَدُّ فَوْقَ رَوَاحِلِ الأَقْتَابِ
For they are recounted even across distant reaches,
and strapped atop saddle-bearing camels.
وَاللهُand God غَايَةُgoal of كُلِّevery طَالِبِseeker of غَايَةٍa goal
وَاللهُ غَايَةُ كُلِّ طَالِبِ غَايَةٍ
وَسِوَاهُand other than Him فِيin التَّحْقِيقِtruth لَمْعُgleam of سَرَابِa mirage
وَسِوَاهُ فِي التَّحْقِيقِ لَمْعُ سَرَابِ
God is the goal of every seeker of a goal,
and all else, in truth, is a mirage's gleam.
فَعَلَيْهِso on Him عَوِّلْrely فِيin أَمُورِكَyour affairs وَاعْتَمِدْand depend
فَعَلَيْهِ عَوِّلْ فِي أَمُورِكَ وَاعْتَمِدْ
تَنَلِyou will attain الْمُنَىthe wishes وَتَفُزْand you will succeed بِكُلِّin every طِلاَبِquest
تَنَلِ الْمُنَى وَتَفُزْ بِكُلِّ طِلاَبِ
So rely on Him in your affairs, and trust in Him:
you will attain your wishes and succeed in every quest.