المُلكُthe kingdom أَصبَحَhas become ثابتَfirm الآساسِthe foundations
المُلكُ أَصبَحَ ثابتَ الآساسِ
بِالمُستَعينthrough al-Musta'in العادِلthe just العَبّاسِal-Abbas
بِالمُستَعين العادِل العَبّاسِ
Kingship now stands firm upon its foundations,
The kingdom now stands on firm foundations,
Through al-Mustaʿin, the just al-Abbas.
Through al-Musta'in, the just al-Abbas.
رَجعَتreturned مَكانَةُthe standing of آلthe family of عمّthe uncle of المُصطَفىthe Chosen One
رَجعَت مَكانَةُ آل عمّ المُصطَفى
لمحلّهاto its place مِنfrom بعدِafter طولlong duration of تناسِneglect
لمحلّها مِن بعدِ طول تناسِ
The standing of the Chosen Prophet’s uncle’s house has returned
The standing of the Chosen One's uncle's family has returned
To its rightful place after long neglect.
To its place after long neglect.
ثانيthe second of رَبيعRabi' الآخَرِal-Akhir (the latter) المَيمونِthe auspicious فيon
ثاني رَبيع الآخَرِ المَيمونِ في
يَومa day الثُلاثاTuesday حُفَّwas surrounded بِالأَعراسِwith wedding celebrations
يَوم الثُلاثا حُفَّ بِالأَعراسِ
On the blessed second day of Rabiʿ al-Akhir,
The second of auspicious Rabi' al-Akhir, on
A Tuesday abounding in wedding-like joys,
A Tuesday, was wreathed in wedding celebrations,
بِقُدومwith the coming of مهديّthe rightly guided one of الأَنامِhumankind أَمينهمtheir trusted guardian
بِقُدوم مهديّ الأَنامِ أَمينهم
مأمونsafe from عيبٍfault طاهِرpure of الأَنفاسِbreaths
مأمون عيبٍ طاهِر الأَنفاسِ
With the advent of mankind’s guide, they are secure—
With the coming of mankind's rightly guided one, their trusted guardian,
Safe from every flaw, pure of breath.
Free from fault, pure of breath.
ذوpossessor of البَيتthe House طافcircled بِهِaround him الرَجاءhope فَهَلso do تَرىyou see
ذو البَيت طاف بِهِ الرَجاء فَهَل تَرى
مِنany قاصِدٍseeker متردّدwavering فيin الياسِdespair
مِن قاصِدٍ متردّد في الياسِ
The lord of the House, around whom hopes circle—do you see
He of the House, around whom hope has circled—do you see
Any petitioner wavering in despair?
Any seeker wavering in despair?
فرعٌa branch نماgrew منfrom هاشِمHashim فيin روضةٍa garden
فرعٌ نما من هاشِم في روضةٍ
زاكيflourishing المنابتِgrowing grounds طيّبwholesome الأَغراسِplantings
زاكي المنابتِ طيّب الأَغراسِ
A branch of Hashim flourishing in a garden,
A branch that grew from Hashim in a garden,
Pure in root and sweet in planting;
Flourishing in its growing grounds, wholesome in its plantings,
بِالمُرتَضىthrough al-Murtada (the Approved One) وَالمُجتَبىand al-Mujtaba (the Chosen One) وَالمشتَريand the purchaser
بِالمُرتَضى وَالمُجتَبى وَالمشتَري
لِلحمدof praise وَالحاليand the one adorned بِهِwith it وَالكاسيand the one clothed
لِلحمد وَالحالي بِهِ وَالكاسي
The approved, the chosen, the purchaser
Through al-Murtada, al-Mujtaba, and the purchaser
Of praise—adorned with it and clothing others in it—
Of praise, adorned with it and clothed in it.
مِنfrom أسرةٍa family أَسرواthey took captive الخطوبcalamities وَطهِّرواand were purified
مِن أسرةٍ أَسروا الخطوب وَطهِّروا
مِمّاfrom what يغيّرهمtaints them مِنof الأدناسِdefilements
مِمّا يغيّرهم مِن الأدناسِ
From a house that mastered calamities and purified itself
From a family who took calamities captive and were purified
Of every stain that might disfigure them.
Of the defilements that would taint them.
أُسدٌlions إِذاwhen حَضَرواthey entered الوَغىbattle وَإِذاand when خلواthey withdrew
أُسدٌ إِذا حَضَروا الوَغى وَإِذا خلوا
كانواthey were بِمَجلِسِهِمin their gathering ظباءَgazelles of كِناسِa covert
كانوا بِمَجلِسِهِم ظباءَ كِناسِ
Lions when they enter battle, yet when alone,
Lions when they enter battle; and when they withdraw,
Gazelles at rest within their sheltered lairs.
They are, in their gathering, gazelles in a covert.
مِثلُlike الكَواكِبthe stars نورُهُhis light ماemphatic particle بينهمamong them
مِثلُ الكَواكِب نورُهُ ما بينهم
كالبَدرِlike the full moon أَشرَقshone فيin دُجىthe darkness of الأَغلاسِthe predawn gloom
كالبَدرِ أَشرَق في دُجى الأَغلاسِ
Like stars is his radiance among them,
They are like stars; his light among them
Like a full moon shining through the darkness before dawn.
Is like the full moon shining in the predawn darkness.
وَبِكَفِّهِand in his palm عِندَat العَلامَةِthe signature آيَةٌa wondrous sign
وَبِكَفِّهِ عِندَ العَلامَةِ آيَةٌ
قَلَمٌa pen يُضيءُshines إِضاءَةwith the radiance of المقباسِthe torch
قَلَمٌ يُضيءُ إِضاءَة المقباسِ
In his hand, beside the signet, is a sign:
And in his palm, when signing, is a wondrous sign:
A pen that gleams with the light of a lamp.
A pen that shines with a torch's radiance.
فلبشرهso for his cheerfulness لِلوافِدينtoward the arrivals بِباسِمas Basim (the Smiling One)
فلبشره لِلوافِدين بِباسِم
يدعىhe is called وَلِلإِجلالand for reverence بِالعبّاسِas al-Abbas (the Stern One)
يدعى وَلِلإِجلال بِالعبّاسِ
His face beams smiling upon arriving guests,
Thus for his cheerful welcome to newcomers, 'Basim,' the Smiling One,
Though for majesty he is called al-Abbas.
He is called; and for the awe he inspires, 'al-Abbas,' the Stern One.
فالحَمدُso praise لِلَّهto God المُعزِّwho gives glory لدينهto His religion
فالحَمدُ لِلَّه المُعزِّ لدينه
مِنfrom بعدafter ماthat قَدindeed كانit had been فيin إِبلاسِdespair
مِن بعد ما قَد كان في إِبلاسِ
Praise, then, to God, who strengthens His religion
So praise be to God, who gives glory to His religion,
After it had nearly fallen into despair,
After it had been in despair,
بِالسّادةِthrough the lords الأُمراءthe emirs أَركانthe pillars of العلاglory
بِالسّادةِ الأُمراء أَركان العلا
مِنfrom بَينamong مدركone attaining ثأرهhis revenge وَمواسيand one giving solace
مِن بَين مدرك ثأره وَمواسي
Through the noble princes, pillars of eminence,
Through the noble lords, the emirs, pillars of glory,
Some avenging wrongs and others bringing solace.
Among them, one who wins his revenge and one who offers solace.
نَهَضواthey rose بِأَعباءwith the burdens of المَناقِبnoble deeds واِرتَقواand ascended
نَهَضوا بِأَعباء المَناقِب واِرتَقوا
فيin مَنصِبthe station of العلياhigh eminence الأَشمِّthe lofty الراسيthe firmly rooted
في مَنصِب العليا الأَشمِّ الراسي
They shouldered the burdens of noble deeds and rose
They shouldered the burdens of noble deeds and ascended
To the towering, firmly rooted seat of supremacy.
To the lofty, firmly rooted station of eminence.
تَرَكواthey left العدىthe enemies صَرعىfallen slain بمعتَرَكِin the battleground of الرَدىdeath
تَرَكوا العدى صَرعى بمعتَرَكِ الرَدى
فاللَّهso God يحرسُهمguards them مِنfrom الوسواسِthe whisperer
فاللَّه يحرسُهم مِن الوسواسِ
They left the enemy slain upon the field of death—
They left their enemies slain on death's battlefield;
May God guard them from the Whisperer.
So may God guard them from the whisperer.
وَإِمامُهمand their imam بِجَلالِهِin his majesty مُتَقَدِّمٌstanding foremost
وَإِمامُهم بِجَلالِهِ مُتَقَدِّمٌ
تَقديمthe precedence of بِسمin the name of اللّهGod فيon القرطاسِthe page
تَقديم بِسم اللّه في القرطاسِ
Their leader, in his majesty, goes before them,
And their imam, in his majesty, stands foremost,
As “In the name of God” precedes the writing on a page.
As 'In the name of God' comes first upon the page.
لَولاwere it not for نظامُthe ordering of الملكthe kingdom فيin تَدبيرهِhis governance
لَولا نظامُ الملك في تَدبيرهِ
لَمnot يَستَقِمbe set right فيin المُلكthe kingdom حالthe condition of الناسِthe people
لَم يَستَقِم في المُلك حال الناسِ
Were it not for the kingdom’s order under his governance,
Were it not for the ordering of the kingdom through his governance,
The people’s affairs throughout the realm would not stand straight.
The people's affairs within the realm would not be set right.
كَمhow many مِنof أَميرٍan emir قَبلَهُbefore him خطَبَcourted العلاglory
كَم مِن أَميرٍ قَبلَهُ خطَبَ العلا
وَبجهدهand despite his effort رجعَتهit sent him back بالإِفلاسِin bankruptcy
وَبجهده رجعَته بالإِفلاسِ
How many a prince before him courted eminence,
How many an emir before him courted glory,
Only to return from his striving bankrupt,
Yet, for all his striving, it sent him back bankrupt.
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen جاءcame to المَعاليhigh honors كفؤُهاtheir worthy match
حَتّى إِذا جاء المَعالي كفؤُها
خضعتthey yielded لَهُto him مِنfrom بعدafter فرطexcess of شِماسِunruliness
خضعت لَهُ مِن بعد فرط شِماسِ
Until, when lofty honors found their equal,
Until, when their worthy match came to the heights of glory,
They submitted to him after stubborn resistance.
They bowed to him after extreme unruliness.
طاعَتobeyed لَهُto him أَيديthe hands of الملوكkings وَأَذعَنَتand submitted
طاعَت لَهُ أَيدي الملوك وَأَذعَنَت
مِنfrom نيلthe Nile of مصرEgypt أَصابعthe fingers of المقياسِthe nilometer
مِن نيل مصر أَصابع المقياسِ
The hands of kings obeyed him and yielded,
The hands of kings obeyed him; and bowed in submission
As did the keepers who measure Egypt’s Nile.
The nilometer's fingers in Egypt's Nile.
وَأَزالand he removed ظُلماًoppression عمّencompassed كلّevery معمّمturbaned man
وَأَزال ظُلماً عمّ كلّ معمّم
مِنfrom سائِرِall الأَنواعkinds وَالأَجناسِand groups
مِن سائِرِ الأَنواع وَالأَجناسِ
He removed an injustice that afflicted every turbaned man
And he removed oppression that encompassed every turbaned man,
Among all peoples and every class.
Of all kinds and groups.
فَهوَfor he الَّذيthe one who قَدindeed رَدَّturned away عَنّاfrom us البؤسmisery فيin
فَهوَ الَّذي قَد رَدَّ عَنّا البؤس في
دهرٍan age بِهِin it لَولاهbut for him كلّall الباسِhardship
دهرٍ بِهِ لَولاه كلّ الباسِ
He is the one who turned affliction away from us
For he is the one who has driven misery from us, in
In an age that, without him, would have been all affliction—
An age that, but for him, would hold every affliction,
بِالخاذِلِbecause of the forsaker المدعوّcalled ضدَّthe opposite of فعالهhis deeds
بِالخاذِلِ المدعوّ ضدَّ فعاله
بِالناصرِas al-Nasir (the Helper) المُتَناقِضcontradictory الآساسِfoundations
بِالناصرِ المُتَناقِض الآساسِ
Through the one called al-Khadil, though his deeds belied the name,
Because of the forsaker, named the opposite of his deeds:
And al-Nasir, whose very foundations contradicted him.
Al-Nasir, 'the Helper,' with contradictory foundations.
كَمhow many نِعمَةa blessing لِلَّهِfrom God كانَتwas عندهin his keeping
كَم نِعمَة لِلَّهِ كانَت عنده
وَكأَنَّهاand as though it were فيin غربةexile وَتناسِand neglect
وَكأَنَّها في غربة وَتناسِ
How many blessings from God were once with him,
How many a blessing from God was in his keeping,
Yet seemed exiled and forgotten!
And it seemed to lie in exile and neglect.
ماnot زالَceased سِرُّthe secret of الشَرِّevil بَينَbetween ضلوعهِhis ribs
ما زالَ سِرُّ الشَرِّ بَينَ ضلوعهِ
كالنارlike fire أَوor صحبَتهُit accompanied him للأَرماسِto the graves
كالنار أَو صحبَتهُ للأَرماسِ
The secret of evil never left his breast,
The secret of evil never ceased to lie between his ribs,
Like fire—or like his companionship with graves.
Like fire—or it accompanied him to the graves.
كَمhow many سَنَّinstituted سَيّئَةًan evil practice عَلَيهِupon him إِثامُهاits guilt
كَم سَنَّ سَيّئَةً عَلَيهِ إِثامُها
حَتّىuntil القِيامةthe Resurrection ماnot لهfor him مِنany آسِhealer
حَتّى القِيامة ما له مِن آسِ
How many sins he instituted, their guilt resting upon him
How many an evil practice he instituted, its guilt upon him
Until Resurrection, with no healer for him.
Until the Resurrection—he has no healer.
مَكراًby guile بَنىhe built أَركانَهُhis pillars لكنّهاbut they
مَكراً بَنى أَركانَهُ لكنّها
لِلغَدرِfor treachery قَدindeed بنيتwere built بِغَيرِwithout أَساسِa foundation
لِلغَدرِ قَد بنيت بِغَيرِ أَساسِ
In cunning he built up his pillars, but they
By guile he built his pillars, but they
Were raised for treachery upon no foundation.
Were built for treachery, without a foundation.
كلّevery اِمرئٍperson يَنسىforgets ويذكرand remembers تارَةby turns
كلّ اِمرئٍ يَنسى ويذكر تارَة
لكنّهbut he لِلشرّof evil لَيسَis not بِناسيforgetful
لكنّه لِلشرّ لَيسَ بِناسي
Every man forgets, then remembers again,
Every person forgets and remembers by turns,
But he was never forgetful of evil.
But he does not forget evil.
أملىgranted respite لَهُto him رَبُّthe Lord of الوَرىmankind حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen
أملى لَهُ رَبُّ الوَرى حَتّى إِذا
أَخَذوهُthey seized him لَمdid not يفلِتهُlet him escape مُرُّthe bitterness of الكاسِthe cup
أَخَذوهُ لَم يفلِتهُ مُرُّ الكاسِ
The Lord of creation gave him respite, until
The Lord of mankind granted him respite until, when
They seized him, and the bitter cup did not let him escape.
They seized him, the cup's bitterness did not let him escape.
وَأَدالناand gave us victory مِنهُover him المَليكthe Sovereign بِمالِكthrough a ruler
وَأَدالنا مِنهُ المَليك بِمالِك
أَيّامُهُhis days صَدرتcame forth بِغَيرwithout قِياسِcomparison
أَيّامُهُ صَدرت بِغَير قِياسِ
The Sovereign gave us victory over him through Malik,
And the Sovereign gave us victory over him through a ruler,
Whose days unfolded beyond all measure.
Whose days have unfolded beyond compare.
فاِستَبشَرَتso rejoiced أُمُّthe Mother of القُرىthe Towns وَالأَرضُand the earth مِنfrom
فاِستَبشَرَت أُمُّ القُرى وَالأَرضُ مِن
شَرقٍeast وَغربand west كالعُذَيبِlike al-Udhayb وَفاسِand Fez
شَرقٍ وَغرب كالعُذَيبِ وَفاسِ
Umm al-Qura rejoiced, and all the earth
So Umm al-Qura rejoiced, and the earth, from
From east to west—from al-Udhayb to Fez.
East and west, as in al-Udhayb and Fez.
آياتsigns of مجدٍglory لاnot يُحاوِلattempts جَحدَهاtheir denial
آيات مجدٍ لا يُحاوِل جَحدَها
فيamong الناسpeople غَيرexcept الجاهِلthe ignorant الخنّاسِthe skulking one
في الناس غَير الجاهِل الخنّاسِ
These are signs of glory none attempts to deny
Signs of glory that no one tries to deny
Except the ignorant, skulking whisperer.
Among mankind, save the ignorant, skulking one.
وَمناقبُand the noble virtues of العبّاسal-Abbas لَمnot تُجمَعwere gathered سِوىexcept
وَمناقبُ العبّاس لَم تُجمَع سِوى
لِحَفيدهfor his descendant ملكthe king of الوَرىmankind العبّاسِal-Abbas
لِحَفيده ملك الوَرى العبّاسِ
The virtues of al-Abbas have been gathered for none
And al-Abbas's noble virtues were gathered only
Save his descendant, al-Abbas, king of mankind.
For his descendant, the king of mankind, al-Abbas.
لاdo not تُنكِرواdeny لِلمُستَعينto al-Musta'in رِئاسَةًleadership
لا تُنكِروا لِلمُستَعين رِئاسَةً
فيin المُلكِkingship مِنfrom بعدafter الجَحودِdenial القاسيthe harsh
في المُلكِ مِن بعد الجَحودِ القاسي
Do not deny al-Mustaʿin the right to rule
Do not deny al-Musta'in leadership
After harsh and stubborn repudiation.
In kingship, after harsh denial.
فَبَنواfor the sons of أميّةUmayya قَدindeed أَتىcame مِنfrom بَعدِهِمafter them
فَبَنوا أميّة قَد أَتى مِن بَعدِهِم
فيin سالِفthe bygone days of الدنياthe world بَنوthe sons of العبّاسِal-Abbas
في سالِف الدنيا بَنو العبّاسِ
The sons of Umayya came, and after them,
For after the sons of Umayya there came,
In the world’s bygone age, came the sons of al-Abbas.
In the world's bygone days, the sons of al-Abbas.
وَأَتىand came أَشَجُّthe head-scarred one of بَنيthe sons of أُميَّةَUmayya ناشِراًspreading
وَأَتى أَشَجُّ بَني أُميَّةَ ناشِراً
لِلعَدلِof justice مِنfrom بَعدِafter المبيرِthe destroyer الخاسيthe contemptible
لِلعَدلِ مِن بَعدِ المبيرِ الخاسي
Then came the scarred one of Umayya, spreading
And the Scarred One of the sons of Umayya came, spreading
Justice after the humbled, destructive tyrant.
Justice, after the contemptible destroyer.
مَولايَmy lord عَبدُكyour servant قَدindeed أَتىhas come لكto you راجِياًhoping for
مَولايَ عَبدُك قَد أَتى لك راجِياً
منكfrom you القَبولَacceptance فَلاso not يَرىhe sees مِنany باسِharm
منك القَبولَ فَلا يَرى مِن باسِ
My lord, your servant has come to you in hope
My lord, your servant has come to you, hoping
Of acceptance, and thus sees nothing to fear.
For acceptance from you, so that he may see no harm.
لَولاwere it not for المَهابَةُawe طُوِّلَتwould have been lengthened أَمداحُهُhis praises
لَولا المَهابَةُ طُوِّلَت أَمداحُهُ
لَكِنَّهاbut they جاءَتهُcame to him بِالقسطاسِby the balance
لَكِنَّها جاءَتهُ بِالقسطاسِ
Were it not for awe of you, his praises would have grown longer,
Were it not for awe, his praises would have been longer,
But that very awe has brought them forth in due measure.
But they came to him weighed in the balance.
فَأَدامَso may prolong رَبُّthe Lord of الناسmankind عِزَّكyour glory دائِماًforever
فَأَدامَ رَبُّ الناس عِزَّك دائِماً
بِالحَقّby truth مَحروساًguarded بربِّby the Lord of الناسِmankind
بِالحَقّ مَحروساً بربِّ الناسِ
May the Lord of mankind perpetuate your glory forever,
So may the Lord of mankind prolong your glory forever,
Guarded in truth by the Lord of mankind.
By truth, guarded by the Lord of mankind.
وَبقيتand may you remain تَستمعlistening to المَديحpraise لِخادمfrom a servant
وَبقيت تَستمع المَديح لِخادم
لَولاكbut for you كانَwould be مِنfrom الهُمومcares يُقاسيsuffering
لَولاك كانَ مِن الهُموم يُقاسي
May you continue to hear a servant’s praise—
And may you remain listening to praise from a servant
A servant who, without you, would suffer many cares—
Who, but for you, would suffer from cares.
عَبدٌa servant صَفاbecame pure وُدّاًin affection وَزمزمand chanted softly حادياًas a camel-driver
عَبدٌ صَفا وُدّاً وَزمزم حادياً
وَسَعىand hastened عَلىupon العينينthe two eyes قبلَbefore الراسِthe head
وَسَعى عَلى العينين قبلَ الراسِ
A servant of pure affection, with Zamzam as his guide,
A servant pure in affection, who softly chanted as a camel-driver,
And hastening upon both eyes before his head,
And hastened upon his two eyes before his head.
أَمداحُهُhis praises فيof آلthe family of بَيتthe House of مُحمَّدٍMuhammad
أَمداحُهُ في آل بَيت مُحمَّدٍ
بَينَamong الوَرىmankind مسكيّةُmusk-scented الأَنفاسِbreaths
بَينَ الوَرى مسكيّةُ الأَنفاسِ
His praises devoted to the House of Muhammad,
His praises of the family of Muhammad's House
Musk-scented among all humankind.
Are, among mankind, musk-scented in breath.
