وكم ليلةٍ عاطاني الراح بدرها

وكم ليلةٍ عاطاني الراح بدرها

ونادمني فيها الغزال المشنف

ونادمني فيها الغزال المشنف

And many a night its full moon passed me wine,

How many nights has sleep evaded me,

And the earringed gazelle drank with me that night.

When the slender gazelle kept me company,

ومنتقشٍ بالمسك وشي عذاره

ومنتقشٍ بالمسك وشي عذاره

كما انتظمت في جانب الطرس أحرف

كما انتظمت في جانب الطرس أحرف

And one whose sideburns’ tracery is etched in musk,

Scented with musk, his cloak trailing gracefully,

As letters are arrayed along the margin of a parchment.

Like letters embroidered on a silken dress.

وقد يتبادى لفظه وهو أعجم

وقد يتبادى لفظه وهو أعجم

كما يتقاوى خصره وهو مخطف

كما يتقاوى خصره وهو مخطف

And his speech takes on a Bedouin air, though he is foreign-tongued,

Though his words be foreign, their charm intoxicates,

Just as his waist feigns strength, though it is slender.

Like the swaying of his slender waist enthralles.

أدق من المعنى الغريب وفوقه

أدق من المعنى الغريب وفوقه

أرق من الماء المعين وألطف

أرق من الماء المعين وألطف

Finer than an elusive meaning; above it,

More subtle than rare poetry, more gentle

More delicate than flowing water and subtler still,

Than a bubbling brook, a pleasure to behold.

معانٍ من الحسن البديع كأنها

معانٍ من الحسن البديع كأنها

خلال معين الدين تتلى وتوصف

خلال معين الدين تتلى وتوصف

Are forms of wondrous beauty, as though they were

Meanings of wondrous beauty, as though they were

Muʿin al-Din’s virtues, recited and described.

Verses of faith recited and extolled.

ومستصغرٍ في الله كل عظيمةٍ

ومستصغرٍ في الله كل عظيمةٍ

ولو أنه منها على الموت مشرف

ولو أنه منها على الموت مشرف

And one who deems every great ordeal small for God’s sake,

Each mighty thing belittled in God's glory,

Even if, because of it, he stands on the brink of death.

Though perched at the precipice of death's reward.

كأن الملوك الغر حول سريره

كأن الملوك الغر حول سريره

نجومٌ على شمس الظهيرة عكف

نجومٌ على شمس الظهيرة عكف

It is as though the illustrious kings around his throne

Around his throne gathered kings of renown

Were stars gathered around the noonday sun.

Like stars encircling the noonday sun.

فإن تلقه تلق ابن هيجاء دهره

فإن تلقه تلق ابن هيجاء دهره

يريك عنان الدهر كيف يصرف

يريك عنان الدهر كيف يصرف

For if you meet him, you meet the Ibn Hayja of his age,

Were you to meet the son of Hayjaa's age,

He shows you how he turns the reins of time.

You'd see how time's reins are jerked and pulled.

سخيٌ جريءٌ لوذعيٌ كأنه

سخيٌ جريءٌ لوذعيٌ كأنه

إذا ما بدا غيثٌ وليثٌ ومرهف

إذا ما بدا غيثٌ وليثٌ ومرهف

Generous, bold, quick-witted—as though he were

Bold and reckless, a lion in a storm,

Rain, a lion, and a keen-edged blade whenever he appears.

A rain cloud and piercing lightning bolt unfurled.

وقد هتف الداعي إلى الحمد باسمه

وقد هتف الداعي إلى الحمد باسمه

وقام منادي النصر باسمك يهتف

وقام منادي النصر باسمك يهتف

And the caller to praise has cried out his name,

The call to praise sings your name,

And the herald of victory rose, crying out your name.

The cry of victory shouts your name to the world.

تألف شمل الدين عندك والعلى

تألف شمل الدين عندك والعلى

وشمل العدى والمال لا يتألف

وشمل العدى والمال لا يتألف

The ranks of faith and glory have united at your side,

Through you, faith and nobility are reunited,

But the ranks of foes and wealth do not unite.

While hatred and wealth never reconcile.