1. وَمَدرَسَةٌ سَيَدرُس كُلَّ شَيءٍ

    وَتَبقى في حِمى عَلَمٍ وَنُسكِ

    And a school—all things shall fade away,

    while it endures in the sanctuary of learning and devotion.

  2. تَضَوَّعَ ذِكرُها شَرقاً وَغَرباً

    بِنورِ الدينِ مَحمودُ بنُ زَنكي

    Its renown has wafted like fragrance east and west,

    through Nur al-Din, Mahmud ibn Zangi.

  3. يَقولُ وَقَولَهُ حَقٌّ وَصِدقٌ

    بِغَيرِ كِنايَةٍ وَبِغَيرِ شَكِّ

    He says—and his words are true and honest—

    without allusion and without doubt:

  4. دِمَشقُ في المَدائِنِ بَيتُ مُلكي

    وَهَذي في المَدارِسِ بَيتُ مِلكي

    “Among cities, Damascus is the seat of my rule;

    and among schools, this is the house I own.”