أَخليفَةَ اللَّه الَّذي ضَمِنَت لهُ

أَخليفَةَ اللَّه الَّذي ضَمِنَت لهُ

تَصديقَ واصِفِه سراةُ المِنبَرِ

تَصديقَ واصِفِه سراةُ المِنبَرِ

O God's caliph, for whom

O Caliph of Allah, whom the eloquent orators guaranteed

the pulpit's summit guarantees the truth of his praiser's words,

To be truthful in his description, not exaggerating

لا المُستَطيلُ بِمصرَ ظلُّ قُصورِهِ

لا المُستَطيلُ بِمصرَ ظلُّ قُصورِهِ

وَالمُستطالُ إِليهِ شقَّة صرصرِ

وَالمُستطالُ إِليهِ شقَّة صرصرِ

not he whose palaces cast long shadows in Egypt,

Neither Egypt with its towering palaces is the equal of his shade

nor he approached across Sarsar's long expanse.

Nor outstretched necks can reach his lofty palace

يا نورَ دينِ اللَّهِ وَابنَ عِمادِهِ

يا نورَ دينِ اللَّهِ وَابنَ عِمادِهِ

والكوثَرَ ابنِ الكَوثَرِ اِبنِ الكَوثرِ

والكوثَرَ ابنِ الكَوثَرِ اِبنِ الكَوثرِ

O light of God's religion, and son of its pillar,

O light of the religion of Allah and son of its pillar

and Kawthar, son of Kawthar, son of Kawthar!

And abundant water, son of abundant water, son of abundant water

صَفِّر بِحَدِّ السيفِ دارَ أَشائِبٍ

صَفِّر بِحَدِّ السيفِ دارَ أَشائِبٍ

عَقلوا جيادَكَ عَن بناتِ الأصفَرِ

عَقلوا جيادَكَ عَن بناتِ الأصفَرِ

Empty, with the sword's edge, the abode of a motley rabble

Turn the abodes of the gray-haired into yellow with the sharpness of your sword

who hobbled your steeds from reaching the daughters of al-Asfar.

For your steeds have refrained from the daughters of Al-Asfar

هُم شَيّدوا صَرْحَ النّفاقِ وَأَوقَدوا

هُم شَيّدوا صَرْحَ النّفاقِ وَأَوقَدوا

ناراً تَحُشّ بِهم غَداً في المَحشَرِ

ناراً تَحُشّ بِهم غَداً في المَحشَرِ

They raised the edifice of hypocrisy and kindled

They erected the palace of hypocrisy and ignited

a fire fueled by them tomorrow at the Gathering.

A fire that will engulf them tomorrow at the Gathering

أَذكَوا بِجِلَّقَ حرّها وَاِستَشعَرَت

أَذكَوا بِجِلَّقَ حرّها وَاِستَشعَرَت

لَفَحاتُها بَينَ الصَّفا وَالمِشعَرِ

لَفَحاتُها بَينَ الصَّفا وَالمِشعَرِ

They stoked its heat in Jilliq, and one could feel

Its flames blazed with the sparks of its heat and its eruptions

its scorching blasts between al-Safa and al-Mash'ar.

Flared between As-Safa and Al-Marwah

شَرَّدْتَهُم مِن خَلفِهِم مُستَنجِداً

شَرَّدْتَهُم مِن خَلفِهِم مُستَنجِداً

ما ظاهَرَ الكُفَّار مَن لَم يَكفُرِ

ما ظاهَرَ الكُفَّار مَن لَم يَكفُرِ

You scattered them from their rear, seeking aid;

You routed them from behind as you sought help

no one who has not disbelieved has aided the unbelievers.

Never be lenient with those who manifested disbelief and did not repent

لا تَعْفُ بَل شقّ الهُدى نَفسَ الَّذي اِد

لا تَعْفُ بَل شقّ الهُدى نَفسَ الَّذي اِد

درَع الضَّلالَ على أَغرَّ مشهّرِ

درَع الضَّلالَ على أَغرَّ مشهّرِ

Do not pardon; rather, let guidance cleave the soul of him who clad

Rather, split open the chest of the one who donned

himself in error, upon a gleaming, brandished blade.

The armor of misguidance upon the most hostile declaimer

قَلّدهُ ما أَهدى عليّ لِمَرحب

قَلّدهُ ما أَهدى عليّ لِمَرحب

فَلَقَد تَهَكَّم في الخِداعِ الخَيْبَري

فَلَقَد تَهَكَّم في الخِداعِ الخَيْبَري

Hang about his neck what Ali bestowed on Marhab,

Give him the collars that Ali gifted graciously

for he has insolently reveled in Khaybari deceit.

For he had sneered with the deceit of the Khaybarian

ما الغُشُّ مِمّن أُمُّهُ نَصرانةٌ

ما الغُشُّ مِمّن أُمُّهُ نَصرانةٌ

لم تَخْتَتِنْ كالغشّ من متنصّرِ

لم تَخْتَتِنْ كالغشّ من متنصّرِ

Deceit from one whose mother is a Christian woman,

There is no dishonesty worse than one whose mother

uncircumcised, is not like deceit from a convert to Christianity.

Is an uncircumcised Christian convert

أَذْكَتْ لَنا هَذي العَزائِمُ لا خَبَتْ

أَذْكَتْ لَنا هَذي العَزائِمُ لا خَبَتْ

ما غارَ مِن سُنَن المُلوكِ الغُبَّرِ

ما غارَ مِن سُنَن المُلوكِ الغُبَّرِ

These resolves have rekindled for us—may they never die out—

These resolves have ignited for us, never to wane

what had faded of the ways of bygone kings:

The ways of lords of old in their fortified abodes

إِثقابَ آراءِ المُعِزّ وَخَفقِ رايا

إِثقابَ آراءِ المُعِزّ وَخَفقِ رايا

تِ العَزيزِ وَيَقظةِ المُسْتَنْصِرِ

تِ العَزيزِ وَيَقظةِ المُسْتَنْصِرِ

the brilliance of al-Mu'izz's counsels, the fluttering of the banners

Lighting the opinions of the glorious honored one

of al-Aziz, and al-Mustansir's wakefulness.

And the awakening of the victorious supported one

شَمِّر فَقَد مَدّت إِلَيكَ رِقابَها

شَمِّر فَقَد مَدّت إِلَيكَ رِقابَها

لا يُدرِكُ الغايات غَير مشمِّرِ

لا يُدرِكُ الغايات غَير مشمِّرِ

Gird yourself for action: they have stretched their necks toward you;

Roll up your sleeves for necks have extended themselves to you

none but one girded for action reaches the goals.

None can attain the goals save the roll upper of sleeves

أَوَلَسْتَ مَن مَلَأ البَسيطةَ عدلُهُ

أَوَلَسْتَ مَن مَلَأ البَسيطةَ عدلُهُ

واجْتَبَّ بالمعروفِ أَنفَ المُنكرِ

واجْتَبَّ بالمعروفِ أَنفَ المُنكرِ

Are you not he whose justice has filled the earth,

Are you not the one whose justice filled the plain

and who, with righteousness, cut off wrongdoing's nose?

And the doer of good drove away objectionable matters

حَدَبُ الأبِ البَرِّ الكبيرِ ورأفَةُ ال

حَدَبُ الأبِ البَرِّ الكبيرِ ورأفَةُ ال

أُمّ الحَفِيّةِ باليتيمِ الأَصغرِ

أُمّ الحَفِيّةِ باليتيمِ الأَصغرِ

The solicitude of an aged, kindly father, and the tenderness of the

O affection of the righteous father and kindness of

mother devoted to the youngest orphan.

The merciful mother to the youngest orphan

يا هَضْبَةَ الإسلامِ مَن يُعْصَم بها

يا هَضْبَةَ الإسلامِ مَن يُعْصَم بها

يؤمن وَمَن يتولَّ عَنها يكفرِ

يؤمن وَمَن يتولَّ عَنها يكفرِ

O mighty crag of Islam: whoever is sheltered by it

O plateau of Islam, by whom is protected

believes; whoever turns away from it disbelieves.

Whoever believes and whoever turns away from it disbelieves

كانوا عَلى صَلبِ الصّليبِ سرادِقاً

كانوا عَلى صَلبِ الصّليبِ سرادِقاً

أَنْبَتْ بُنَيَّته بِكُلِّ مذكّرِ

أَنْبَتْ بُنَيَّته بِكُلِّ مذكّرِ

They were a pavilion over the cross's solid frame;

They made the Cross a canopy

make its little structure sprout with every tempered blade.

Its pillars bore fruits of every kind

آثارُهُم نَجَسٌ أَذالَ المَسجِدَ ال

آثارُهُم نَجَسٌ أَذالَ المَسجِدَ ال

أقْصَى فصُنْ ما دنّسوهُ وطهّرِ

أقْصَى فصُنْ ما دنّسوهُ وطهّرِ

Their traces are filth that has debased the Mosque,

Their traces are impure, so protect the Sacred House

al-Aqsa; protect what they defiled, and purify it.

From their defilement and cleanse it

جارَ الخليلُ وَمَن بِغَزَّةِ هاشمٍ

جارَ الخليلُ وَمَن بِغَزَّةِ هاشمٍ

بِلُهامِك المُتَدَمْشِق المُتمصِّرِ

بِلُهامِك المُتَدَمْشِق المُتمصِّرِ

Al-Khalil and those in Hashim's Gaza sought refuge

The Friend (Abraham) would be outraged, and the one from the clan of Hashim

in your vast host, Damascene and Egyptian,

With your Damascus iron sword and Yemeni waist wrapper

بعَرَمْرَمٍ صَلَمَتْ وعاوِعُه عُرَى

بعَرَمْرَمٍ صَلَمَتْ وعاوِعُه عُرَى

أسماعَ جَيْحُون وسيف البربَرِ

أسماعَ جَيْحُون وسيف البربَرِ

in a mighty army whose battle-cries severed the bonds

With the slash of swords, the necks of Banu Uraima were severed

of hearing in Jayhun and on the Berber coast.

Deafening the hearings of Jayhoon and the sword of the Berbers

يَفترُّ عَن ملكِ المُلوكِ مُنحّل الْ

يَفترُّ عَن ملكِ المُلوكِ مُنحّل الْ

أَنْواءِ بَل سَعدُ السُّعُودِ الأَكبرِ

أَنْواءِ بَل سَعدُ السُّعُودِ الأَكبرِ

It parts to reveal the king of kings, benefactor of the

He deludes the possession of the King of kings, loose of principles

rain-stars—nay, Sa'd al-Su'ud the greatest;

Nay, (he is) the good fortune of the greatest of fortunes

عَن طاعِنِ الفُرسانِ غَير مكذّب

عَن طاعِنِ الفُرسانِ غَير مكذّب

وَمُتمِّم الإِحسانِ غَير مكدّرِ

وَمُتمِّم الإِحسانِ غَير مكدّرِ

revealing a piercer of horsemen who never falters,

About the criticizer of the horsemen, he is not belying

and a fulfiller of kindness who never taints it.

And the perfecter of benevolence, he is not corrupting

بَدرُ الجَحافِلِ وَالمَحافِلِ فارِسِ ال

بَدرُ الجَحافِلِ وَالمَحافِلِ فارِسِ ال

آسادِ في غابِ الوَشيجِ الأَسمَرِ

آسادِ في غابِ الوَشيجِ الأَسمَرِ

Full moon of armies and assemblies, knight of the

Full moon of the armies and the gatherings, the knight

lions in the forest of dusky, interwoven spear-shafts.

Of lions in the forest of intricate darkness

مَلكٌ تَساوى النّاسُ في أَوصافِهِ

مَلكٌ تَساوى النّاسُ في أَوصافِهِ

عُذِرَ المُقِلُّ وبان عجز المُكْثِرِ

عُذِرَ المُقِلُّ وبان عجز المُكْثِرِ

A king in whose description all men stand equal:

A king whom people are equal in his traits

the sparing speaker is excused; the lavish one's inadequacy is plain.

The few are excused and the inadequacy of the many is evident

يا أيُّها الملكُ المُنَادِي جُودُهُ

يا أيُّها الملكُ المُنَادِي جُودُهُ

في سائِرِ الآفاقِ هل من مُعْسِرِ

في سائِرِ الآفاقِ هل من مُعْسِرِ

O king whose generosity calls out

O King who calls, whose generosity

throughout all horizons, 'Is anyone in hardship?'

Resounds in all horizons, is there one in distress?

إِنَّ القصائِدَ أَصبَحَتْ أَبكارُهَا

إِنَّ القصائِدَ أَصبَحَتْ أَبكارُهَا

في ظلّ مُلْكِكَ غالياتِ الأمهرُ

في ظلّ مُلْكِكَ غالياتِ الأمهرُ

Indeed, the virgins of poetry have become

Verily, eulogies have become chaste under your shadow

beneath the shade of your reign, costly in dowry.

Expensive to those who appreciate and value

إنْ كنتَ أحيَيْتَ ابنَ حمدانٍ لها

إنْ كنتَ أحيَيْتَ ابنَ حمدانٍ لها

فَأَنا الَّذي غبرت في وَجهِ السّري

فَأَنا الَّذي غبرت في وَجهِ السّري

If you have brought Ibn Hamdan back to life for them,

If you have given life to the son of Hamdan by it

then I am he who cast dust in al-Sari's face.

Then I am the one who smeared dust on the face of As-Sari

ولأَنْتَ أكرم من أُناسٍ نوّهوا

ولأَنْتَ أكرم من أُناسٍ نوّهوا

بِاِسمِ اِبنِ أَوسٍ واِستخصُّوا البُحْتُري

بِاِسمِ اِبنِ أَوسٍ واِستخصُّوا البُحْتُري

And surely you are more generous than those who exalted

You are more generous than people who lauded

the name of Ibn Aws and especially favored al-Buhturi.

The name of the son of Aws and specified Al-Buhturi

ذَلَّت لِدَولَتِك الرّقابُ ولا تزل

ذَلَّت لِدَولَتِك الرّقابُ ولا تزل

إِنْ تَغْزُ تغْنَم أو تقاتلْ تَظفرِ

إِنْ تَغْزُ تغْنَم أو تقاتلْ تَظفرِ

Necks have bowed to your rule; may you never cease

Necks have bowed to your state and will not cease

to win spoils when you raid, or triumph when you fight.

To gain spoils if you conquer or be victorious if you battle