Sol 6.1

  1. يا سائلي عن حال مصر انها

    اعجوبة بين البلاد العامره

    O you who ask me of Egypt's state: she is

    A marvel among the flourishing lands.

  2. تزهو على الدنيا بحسن صفاتها

    وبحسن ما فيها مباني فاخره

    She glories above the world in the beauty of her qualities,

    And in the beauty of the splendid buildings within her.

  3. قد زُيّنت وتزخرفت ببهائها

    حتى حلت في كل عين باصره

    She has been adorned and embellished with their splendor,

    Until she became lovely to every seeing eye.

  4. وكانها وقصورها وربوعها

    فلك البروج بها النجوم السائره

    And she, her palaces, and her quarters seem

    The zodiac's sphere, with wandering stars within.

  5. والنيل مع خلجانه فيها حكى

    حبل المجرَّة حاقها كالدائره

    And the Nile, with its canals within her, resembled

    The Milky Way's cord, encircling her like a ring.

  6. سادت على كل الورى بمناقبٍ

    خُصَّت بها فلذاك صارت نادره

    She held sway over all humankind through virtues

    Granted to her alone; thus she became peerless.

  7. قهرت ملوك الارض طرّاً وازدرت

    بولاتها فلذاك تدعى قاهره

    She conquered all the kings of earth and looked down

    On her governors; thus she is called Cairo, 'the Conqueress.'

  8. جمعت غنى الاقطار ثم محاسن ال

    الاعصار ثم غدت بها متفاخره

    She gathered the wealth of lands, then the glories of the

    Ages, and then took pride in them.

  9. وتعطَّفت نحو الغريب ولم تزل

    تبدي لهُ ودّا وحسن معاشره

    And she showed kindness to the stranger, and has never ceased

    To show him affection and kindly treatment.

  10. وكأنَّها شُغفت بحب نزيلها

    بل لم تزل طبعاً اليهِ ناظره

    And she seems smitten with love for her guest;

    Rather, by nature she has always been attentive to him.

  11. ما زارها يوماً كيرٌ قلبهُ

    الاَّ وهامت فيهِ تجبر خاطره

    No one whose heart was a forge ever visited her,

    Without her doting on him and soothing his spirit.

  12. ما أَمَّها ذو فاقةٍ بوداعةٍ

    الاَّ وعاد بثروةٍ متوافره

    No needy person ever sought her out in meekness

    Without returning with abundant wealth.

  13. يا حبذا أوطانها يا حبذا

    سكانها تلك الاسود الكاسره

    O how lovely her abodes, O how splendid

    Her inhabitants—those fierce lions!

  14. لا سيما التجار مع ارزاقهم

    من سائر الدنيا أتتها زائره

    Especially the merchants with their provisions,

    Who came visiting her from all over the world.

  15. تحمي التنزيل بأرضها وتجيرهُ

    من كل غائلة عليهِ جائره

    She protects the Revelation on her soil and grants it refuge

    From every unjust menace directed against it.