حُيِّيتِyou are saluted يَاO ذَاتَlady of المَقَامِthe station السَّامِيthe exalted
حُيِّيتِ يَا ذَاتَ المَقَامِ السَّامِي
بِتَحِيَّةِwith a greeting of الإِكْبَارِreverence وَالإِعْظَامِand veneration
بِتَحِيَّةِ الإِكْبَارِ وَالإِعْظَامِ
Hail to you, lady of exalted station,
I greet you, O one of sublime station,
With a greeting of reverence and veneration.
With reverence and utmost esteem.
اليُمْنُgood fortune وَالإِقْبَالُand prosperity عَادَاboth returned فِيin زَهَاsplendor
اليُمْنُ وَالإِقْبَالُ عَادَا فِي زَهَا
يَوْمٍa day لَهُfor it شَرَفٌhonor عَلَىabove الأَيَّامِthe days
يَوْمٍ لَهُ شَرَفٌ عَلَى الأَيَّامِ
Good fortune and prosperity have returned amid the splendor
Good fortune and favor have returned
Of a day honored above all other days.
On a day superior to all days.
عِيدٌa festival يُجَدِّدُrenews لِلْبِلادِfor the land وَأَهْلِهَاand its people
عِيدٌ يُجَدِّدُ لِلْبِلادِ وَأَهْلِهَا
بَهَجَاتِهِits joys بِتَجَدُّدِthrough the renewal of الأَعْوَامِthe years
بَهَجَاتِهِ بِتَجَدُّدِ الأَعْوَامِ
A festival renewing for the land and its people
A feast that renews for the country and its people
Its joys as the years are renewed.
Its joys with the renewal of years.
رَاعَawed الْعُقُولَthe minds بِآيَتَيْنِwith two signs تَرَاءتَاboth appeared
رَاعَ الْعُقُولَ بِآيَتَيْنِ تَرَاءتَا
فِيin أُفْقِهِits horizon المُتَهَلِّلِthe radiant البَسَّامِthe smiling
فِي أُفْقِهِ المُتَهَلِّلِ البَسَّامِ
It awed the minds with two signs that appeared
It has amazed minds with two signs that appeared
On its radiant, smiling horizon:
In its sparkling serene horizon.
الشَّمْسُthe sun فِيin عَلَيْائِهِits lofty heights مَجْلُوَّةٌunveiled
الشَّمْسُ فِي عَلَيْائِهِ مَجْلُوَّةٌ
وَيضدُunclear; probably 'and the hand' النَّوَالِbounty تَصُوبُrains down صَوْبَthe downpour of غَمَامِclouds
وَيضدُ النَّوَالِ تَصُوبُ صَوْبَ غَمَامِ
The sun, unveiled in its lofty heights,
The sun in its loftiness is shrouded,
And the hand of bounty raining down like a cloud.
And rain pours as clouds gather.
مِصْرُEgypt الَّتِيwhom أَعَزَزْتِهَاyou cherished her وَحَبَبْتِهَاand you loved her
مِصْرُ الَّتِي أَعَزَزْتِهَا وَحَبَبْتِهَا
عَنْfrom ظُهْرِthe depth of نَفْسٍa soul مِنْكِof yours حُبَّa love of غَرَامِardor
عَنْ ظُهْرِ نَفْسٍ مِنْكِ حُبَّ غَرَامِ
Egypt, whom you cherished and loved
Egypt, whom you have honored and loved
From the depths of your soul with ardent love,
With a sincere love from your soul.
وَأَبَيْتِand you refused إِلاَّexcept أَنْthat يَكُونَshould be مَرَامُهَاher aim
وَأَبَيْتِ إِلاَّ أَنْ يَكُونَ مَرَامُهَا
فِيمَاin what شُغِلْتِyou were occupied بِهِwith it أجَلَّthe noblest مَرَامِaim
فِيمَا شُغِلْتِ بِهِ أجَلَّ مَرَامِ
And whose aim you insisted should be
And you refused but for its hopes
The noblest aim in all that occupied you,
To be where you busied yourself, the highest hopes.
جَعَلَتْshe appointed لِرَكْبِكِfor your retinue مِنْfrom سَوَادِthe multitude of قَطِينِهَاher residents
جَعَلَتْ لِرَكْبِكِ مِنْ سَوَادِ قَطِينِهَا
سُوداًleaders وَمِنْand from سَادَاتِهَاher lords الأَعْلامِthe illustrious
سُوداً وَمِنْ سَادَاتِهَا الأَعْلامِ
Has appointed for your retinue, from the mass of her inhabitants,
You made its darkness your retinue,
Leaders, and from her lords, the illustrious.
And its masters your banners.
حَفَلُواthey gathered لأُمِّfor the mother of المُحْسِنِينَbenefactors وَأَمْمَأْواunclear; probably 'and gestured'
حَفَلُوا لأُمِّ المُحْسِنِينَ وَأَمْمَأْوا
بِتَجِلَّةٍwith reverence مَصْدُوقَةٍsincere وَسَلامِand greetings
بِتَجِلَّةٍ مَصْدُوقَةٍ وَسَلامِ
They gathered for the mother of benefactors, and gestured
They gathered for the mother of benefactors and filled
With sincere reverence and greetings.
With sincere veneration and peace.
يُبْدُونَthey show مِنْfrom وَحْيِthe inspiration of النُّفُوسِthe souls إِشَارَةًa sign
يُبْدُونَ مِنْ وَحْيِ النُّفُوسِ إِشَارَةً
لَطُفَتْwas subtle وَلِلْوَحْيِand for inspiration اللَّطِيفِthe subtle مَرَامِa purpose
لَطُفَتْ وَلِلْوَحْيِ اللَّطِيفِ مَرَامِ
From the inspiration of their souls they offer a sign
Showing inspiration from their souls a gesture
So subtle—and subtle inspiration has its purpose.
That was gentle, inspired by the gentle inspiration.
يَاO أَهْلَpeople of هَذِيthis الدَّارِhouse لاmay it not بَرِحَتْcease to be بِكُمْthrough you
يَا أَهْلَ هَذِي الدَّارِ لا بَرِحَتْ بِكُمْ
مَأْهُولَةًinhabited مَرْفُوعَةَwith raised الأَعْلامِbanners
مَأْهُولَةً مَرْفُوعَةَ الأَعْلامِ
O people of this house, may it ever remain, through you,
O people of this abode, it did not cease to be
Inhabited, with banners raised.
Populated, with banners raised.
فَإِذَاand if نَأَيْتُمْyou go far away لاmay not حُرِمْنَاwe be deprived of عَوْدَكُمْyour return
فَإِذَا نَأَيْتُمْ لا حُرِمْنَا عَوْدَكُمْ
مِنْfrom among عُيَّبٍunclear; probably 'absentees' مُتَرَقِّبِينَexpectant كِرَامِnoble
مِنْ عُيَّبٍ مُتَرَقِّبِينَ كِرَامِ
And if you go far away, may we not be denied your return,
So when you are absent, we are not deprived
You noble absentees, waiting in expectation.
Of your pleasing return, O generous ones.
إِنِّيindeed I لأُلْهَمُam surely inspired يَاO مُفَدَّاةَransomed lady الحِمَىthe protected land
إِنِّي لأُلْهَمُ يَا مُفَدَّاةَ الحِمَى
قولاًan utterance وَتَنْبُوand fall short دُونَهُof it أَقْلامِيmy pens
قولاً وَتَنْبُو دُونَهُ أَقْلامِي
I am indeed inspired, O lady for whom the protected land would offer ransom,
I am inspired, O savior of the sanctuary,
With words before which my pens fall short.
To say words my pen flows with.
شَتَّانَhow far apart مَاwhat بَيْنَbetween الَّذِيthat which يُدْنِينَهُthey bring it within reach
شَتَّانَ مَا بَيْنَ الَّذِي يُدْنِينَهُ
وَمَكَانَهُand its station العَالِيthe lofty مِنَin الإِلْهَامِinspiration
وَمَكَانَهُ العَالِي مِنَ الإِلْهَامِ
What a gulf between what they convey
Far apart is what I utter
And its lofty place in inspiration!
And its lofty place of inspiration.
مَنْwho لِيfor me بِوَصْفِwith describing عَظَائِمٍmighty deeds خَلَّدْتِهَاyou immortalized them
مَنْ لِي بِوَصْفِ عَظَائِمٍ خَلَّدْتِهَا
لَمْnot تَتَّسِقْcame together لِمُخَلَّدِينfor the immortalized عِظامِgreat
لَمْ تَتَّسِقْ لِمُخَلَّدِين عِظامِ
Who will help me describe the mighty deeds you made immortal,
Who can describe the magnificent deeds you immortalized
Such as the great immortals never achieved?
That did not suite the immortal glories?
أَثَرَrelated الأَصَادِقُthe truthful عَنْكِabout you مَاwhat لَمْnot يَأْثُرُواthey related
أَثَرَ الأَصَادِقُ عَنْكِ مَا لَمْ يَأْثُرُوا
عَنْabout أُمَّهَاتِthe mothers of المَجْدِglory فِيin الإِسْلامِIslam
عَنْ أُمَّهَاتِ المَجْدِ فِي الإِسْلامِ
The truthful have related of you what they never related
The truthful have related about you what they have not
Of the mothers of glory in Islam:
Related about the mothers of glory in Islam.
مِنَنٌblessings شَمَلْتِyou embraced بِهَاwith them المَشَارِقَthe eastern lands فَانْتَفَىso vanished
مِنَنٌ شَمَلْتِ بِهَا المَشَارِقَ فَانْتَفَى
فِيمَاwherever وَسِعْنَthey reached تَبَايُنُthe divisions among الأَقْوَامِpeoples
فِيمَا وَسِعْنَ تَبَايُنُ الأَقْوَامِ
Blessings with which you embraced the East; thus vanished
Favors you have bestowed that encompassed the horizons,
The divisions among peoples wherever those blessings reached.
In all you have reached of the nations' diversity.
فِيin كُلِّevery قَلْبٍheart صُورَةٌan image لَكِof you أُنْزِلَتْwas placed
فِي كُلِّ قَلْبٍ صُورَةٌ لَكِ أُنْزِلَتْ
مِنْwithin كُلِّevery قَلْبٍheart مُنْزِلَthe abode of الإِكْرَامِhonor
مِنْ كُلِّ قَلْبٍ مُنْزِلَ الإِكْرَامِ
In every heart an image of you has been placed
In every heart an image of you is revealed
In that heart's dwelling of honor.
From every heart, the abode of honor.
مَاذَاwhat وَجَدْتُI found مِنَof الثَّنَاءِpraise عَلَيْكِof you فِيduring
مَاذَا وَجَدْتُ مِنَ الثَّنَاءِ عَلَيْكِ فِي
أَثْنَاءِthe course of كُلِّevery تَرَحُّلٍjourney وَمُقَامِand stay
أَثْنَاءِ كُلِّ تَرَحُّلٍ وَمُقَامِ
What praise of you I have found
What have I found of praising you
In the course of every journey and every stay!
During all my travels and sojourns?
دَارَجْتُI journeyed with ذِكْرَكِyour remembrance وَالسَّفِينُwhile the ships مَدَائِنٌwere cities
دَارَجْتُ ذِكْرَكِ وَالسَّفِينُ مَدَائِنٌ
حَمِلَتْborne عَلَىupon ظَهْرِthe back of الخِضَمِّthe vast sea الطَّامِيthe swelling
حَمِلَتْ عَلَى ظَهْرِ الخِضَمِّ الطَّامِي
I journeyed with your remembrance, while ships were cities
I mentioned you while traveling the cities
Borne upon the back of the swelling sea.
Borne on the tossing, surging water.
فَكَأَنَّمَاso it was as though النَّسَمَاتُthe breezes وَهْيَwhile they were مُقِلًّةٌbearing
فَكَأَنَّمَا النَّسَمَاتُ وَهْيَ مُقِلًّةٌ
نَفَحَاتُهُits wafts تَسْرِيdrift بِنَشْرِwith the fragrance of خَزَامِlavender
نَفَحَاتُهُ تَسْرِي بِنَشْرِ خَزَامِ
It was as though the breezes, as they bore
It was as if the gentle breezes
Its wafts, drifted with the fragrance of lavender.
Were perfumed breaths spreading fragrance.
دَارَجْتُI journeyed with ذِكْرَكِyour remembrance فِيthrough الحُزُونِrugged lands وَفِيand through الرُّبَىhills
دَارَجْتُ ذِكْرَكِ فِي الحُزُونِ وَفِي الرُّبَى
مِنْamong صَاقِبِthe nearby الأَطْرَافِbounds وَالمُتَرَامِيand the far-reaching
مِنْ صَاقِبِ الأَطْرَافِ وَالمُتَرَامِي
I journeyed with your remembrance through rugged lands and hills,
I mentioned you in sadness and in joy,
In places with nearby bounds and far-flung reaches.
From the horizon's rim to the farthest reach.
فَرَأَيْتُand I saw مِنَfrom زَهْرِthe flowers of الرِّيَاضِthe gardens هَشَاشَةًdelight
فَرَأَيْتُ مِنَ زَهْرِ الرِّيَاضِ هَشَاشَةً
لِحَدِيثِهِat its telling تَبْدُوappearing مِنَfrom الأَكْمَامِthe bud-sheaths
لِحَدِيثِهِ تَبْدُو مِنَ الأَكْمَامِ
And I saw the garden flowers' delight
I saw in the flowers' bloom a delicacy
At its telling, emerging from their bud-sheaths.
Emerging in their fresh youth.
وَطَرِبْتُand I rejoiced للأَطْيَارِin the birds شَادِيَةًsinging بِهِof it
وَطَرِبْتُ للأَطْيَارِ شَادِيَةً بِهِ
وَنَقَعْتُand I quenched فِيin مَجْرَىthe watercourse of الصَّفَاةِthe smooth rock أُوَامِيmy burning thirst
وَنَقَعْتُ فِي مَجْرَى الصَّفَاةِ أُوَامِي
And I rejoiced in the birds singing of it,
I was thrilled by the birds singing it
And quenched my burning thirst in the stream over smooth stone.
And wandered in the river's clarity.
دَارَجْتُI journeyed with ذِكْرَكِyour remembrance فِيthrough الحَوَاضِرِthe cities وَالقُرَىand villages
دَارَجْتُ ذِكْرَكِ فِي الحَوَاضِرِ وَالقُرَى
بَيْنَamong المُرُوجِthe meadows الخُضْرِgreen وَالآكَامِand hillocks
بَيْنَ المُرُوجِ الخُضْرِ وَالآكَامِ
I journeyed with your remembrance through cities and villages,
I mentioned you in settlements and villages
Among green meadows and hillocks.
Between green meadows and sand dunes.
فَبَدَاso appeared لِيَto me المَعْمُورُthe inhabited world معْمُوراًfilled بِهِwith it
فَبَدَا لِيَ المَعْمُورُ معْمُوراً بِهِ
فِيin كُلِّevery مُجْتَمَعٍgathering وَكُلand every مَقَامِabode
فِي كُلِّ مُجْتَمَعٍ وَكُل مَقَامِ
So the inhabited world seemed to me filled with it,
The inhabited appeared inhabited by it
In every gathering and every abode.
In every society and place.
أَيُّwhich المَحَامِدِpraiseworthy qualities لَمْnot تَكُنْwas لَكِof yours نَفْحَةٌa fragrant breath
أَيُّ المَحَامِدِ لَمْ تَكُنْ لَكِ نَفْحَةٌ
فِيهِwithin it تَهُزُّstirs رَصِينَةَthe steadfast الأَحْلامِminds
فِيهِ تَهُزُّ رَصِينَةَ الأَحْلامِ
Which virtue did not hold a breath of yours,
Which praises have not breathed into you
Stirring even the most steadfast minds?
Shaking the firmness of dreams?
مَنْwho بَرَّshowed kindness بِرَّكِyour kindness بِالأيَامَىto widows وَانْتَحَىand followed
مَنْ بَرَّ بِرَّكِ بِالأيَامَى وَانْتَحَى
مَنْحَاكِyour path مِنْof حَدَبٍtender care عَلَىtoward الأَيْتَامِorphans
مَنْحَاكِ مِنْ حَدَبٍ عَلَى الأَيْتَامِ
Who showed widows kindness like yours, and followed
Who was kinder than you to the orphans
Your path of tender care toward orphans?
And more compassionate to the bereaved?
وَلِمَنْand for whom سِوَاكَother than you إِذَاwhen تَضَرَّمَتِburst into flame القُرَىthe villages
وَلِمَنْ سِوَاكَ إِذَا تَضَرَّمَتِ القُرَى
أَشْفَىmost healing نَدىًbounty فِيin إِثْرِthe wake of كُلevery ضِرَامِblaze
أَشْفَى نَدىً فِي إِثْرِ كُل ضِرَامِ
And who but you, when villages burst into flame,
For whom, when places were afflicted with drought,
Had the most healing bounty after every blaze?
Was dew more soothing after every barrenness?
وَمنِand who الَّتِيshe who فِيin دَفْعِwarding off كُلِّevery مُلِمَّةٍcalamity
وَمنِ الَّتِي فِي دَفْعِ كُلِّ مُلِمَّةٍ
هِيَshe is كَعْبَةُthe Kaaba of الآمَالِhopes لِلْمُعْتَامِfor the needy
هِيَ كَعْبَةُ الآمَالِ لِلْمُعْتَامِ
And which woman, in warding off every calamity,
Who in dispelling every adversity
Is the Kaaba of hope for those in need,
Is the kaaba of hopes for the blind?
وَعِنَايَةٌand care مَحْجُوبَةٌveiled لَيْسَتْis not تُرَىseen
وَعِنَايَةٌ مَحْجُوبَةٌ لَيْسَتْ تُرَى
إِلاَّexcept بِمَاthrough what تُسدِيshe bestows مِنَof الإِنْعَامِbeneficence
إِلاَّ بِمَا تُسدِي مِنَ الإِنْعَامِ
And a veiled care that cannot be seen
And an unseen care, seen only
Except through the favors she bestows?
Through what you provide of favors?
هَذِيthis تَحِيَّةُthe greeting of شَاعِرٍa poet يَقْضِيhe pays بِهَاwith it
هَذِي تَحِيَّةُ شَاعِرٍ يَقْضِي بِهَا
حَقَّthe due of العُلَىgreatness فِيin العَامِthe year بَعْدَafter العَامِthe year
حَقَّ العُلَى فِي العَامِ بَعْدَ العَامِ
This is a poet's greeting, by which he pays
This is the greeting of a poet who fulfils with it
The debt due to greatness, year after year.
What is due this year and every year after.
يَجْلُوreveals بَدِيعُthe beauty of نِظَامِهَاits composition مَاwhat تَنْجَلِيis revealed
يَجْلُو بَدِيعُ نِظَامِهَا مَا تَنْجَلِي
عنهfrom it صِفَاتُكِyour qualities فِيin بَدِيعِan exquisite نِظَامِorder
عنه صِفَاتُكِ فِي بَدِيعِ نِظَامِ
Its exquisite composition reveals what is shown
The splendor of its system reveals what qualities of yours
By your qualities, in an exquisite order.
Are revealed in the splendor of the system.
بَرِئَتis free كَذَاتِكِlike your own self وَهْيَwhile it is مِرْآةٌa mirror لَهَاfor it
بَرِئَت كَذَاتِكِ وَهْيَ مِرْآةٌ لَهَا
مِنْof كُلِّevery غَاشِيَةٍveil تَرِيبُthat arouses doubt وَذَامِand blemish
مِنْ كُلِّ غَاشِيَةٍ تَرِيبُ وَذَامِ
It is free, like you, whose mirror it is,
You were exonerated, being a mirror
Of every troubling veil and blemish.
Clear of any clouding or blemish.
تتَحَوَّلُchanges الدُّنْيَاthe world تَجَوُّلَwith the wanderings of أَهْلِهَاits people
تتَحَوَّلُ الدُّنْيَا تَجَوُّلَ أَهْلِهَا
وَالعَهْدُyet the pledge عَهْدِيis my pledge وَالذِّمَامُand the bond ذِمَامِيis my bond
وَالعَهْدُ عَهْدِي وَالذِّمَامُ ذِمَامِي
The world changes as its people wander,
The world changes, its people wander,
Yet my pledge is my pledge, and my bond is my bond.
While my pledge endures and my banner is my banner.
وَلَقَدْand indeed أُلامُI am reproached عَلَىfor الوَفَاءِloyalty فَمَاyet not أَرَىI see
وَلَقَدْ أُلامُ عَلَى الوَفَاءِ فَمَا أَرَى
لِيَfor me مَادِحِينَpraisers كَزُمْرَةِlike the band of اللُّوَّامِreproachers
لِيَ مَادِحِينَ كَزُمْرَةِ اللُّوَّامِ
I am indeed reproached for loyalty; yet I see
I have been tested with loyalty, so I do not see
No praisers of mine to match the band of reproachers.
For me praisers like the cohorts of blamers.
هَلْdoes لِلْفَتَىa young man have عُمْرَانِtwo lifetimes يُفْنِيhe exhausts فِيهِمَاin both of them
هَلْ لِلْفَتَى عُمْرَانِ يُفْنِي فِيهِمَا
قَلْبَيْنِtwo hearts بَيْنَbetween النَّقْضِundoing وَالإبْرَامِand binding fast
قَلْبَيْنِ بَيْنَ النَّقْضِ وَالإبْرَامِ
Has a young man two lifetimes in which to exhaust
Can one have two lifetimes to spend between
Two hearts, between undoing and binding fast?
Breach and fulfillment of pledges?
إِنَّindeed الوَفَاءَloyalty سَجِيَّةٌa disposition لَمْnot يُؤْتِهَاwere granted it (intended reading)
إِنَّ الوَفَاءَ سَجِيَّةٌ لَمْ يُؤْتِهَا
إِلاَّexcept رِجَالُmen of الرَّأْيِjudgment وَالإِقْدَامِand daring
إِلاَّ رِجَالُ الرَّأْيِ وَالإِقْدَامِ
Loyalty is indeed a disposition granted
Loyalty is an innate trait, only possessed
Only to men of judgment and daring.
By men of wisdom and daring.
عِيشِيlive وَأَبْلِيand wear out الدَّهْرَtime وَاغْتَفِرِيand forgive لَهُit
عِيشِي وَأَبْلِي الدَّهْرَ وَاغْتَفِرِي لَهُ
بِالصَّالِحَاتِthrough good deeds كَبَائِرَthe gravest of الآثَامِsins
بِالصَّالِحَاتِ كَبَائِرَ الآثَامِ
Live, wear out Time, and forgive it
Live long, do right, and forgive him
Through good deeds, its gravest sins.
Great sins with good deeds.
تِلْكَthose المَآثِرُnoble deeds لِلدَّوَامِto endure بَنَيْتِهَاyou built them
تِلْكَ المَآثِرُ لِلدَّوَامِ بَنَيْتِهَا
وَسِوَاكَand others than you مَنْare those who يَبْنِيbuild لِغَيْرِfor other than دَوَامِendurance
وَسِوَاكَ مَنْ يَبْنِي لِغَيْرِ دَوَامِ
Those noble deeds you built to endure,
Those achievements you built to last,
While others build for what will not endure.
And who else builds for other than lasting?