رَبَّةَlady of الدَّوْلَةِsovereignty وَالجَاهِand rank المَكِينْfirmly established
رَبَّةَ الدَّوْلَةِ وَالجَاهِ المَكِينْ
عُدْتِyou returned يَحْدُوguides with song رَكْبَكِyour retinue الرُّوحُthe Spirit الأَمِينْthe faithful
عُدْتِ يَحْدُو رَكْبَكِ الرُّوحُ الأَمِينْ
Lady of sovereignty and firmly established rank,
O mistress of power and secure glory
You have returned, the Faithful Spirit guiding your retinue with song.
Your spirit, the faithful, sings your virtues
عُدْتِyou returned فِيin مُنْشَأَةٍa vessel مُعْتَزَّةٍproud
عُدْتِ فِي مُنْشَأَةٍ مُعْتَزَّةٍ
بِكِof you وَالبَحْرُand the sea ذَلُولٌdocile مُسْتَكِينْsubdued
بِكِ وَالبَحْرُ ذَلُولٌ مُسْتَكِينْ
You have returned in a vessel proud
You have returned in glorious splendor
Of you, while the sea is docile and subdued.
With you the sea is tame and submissive
يَتَلَقَّاهَاreceives her بِرِفْقٍgently صَدْرُهُits breast
يَتَلَقَّاهَا بِرِفْقٍ صَدْرُهُ
وَيُحَيِّيand greets عَنْfrom شِمَالٍthe left وَيَمِينْand the right
وَيُحَيِّي عَنْ شِمَالٍ وَيَمِينْ
Its breast receives her gently,
It receives you gently in its chest
And greets her from left and right.
Greeting you left and right
قُلِّدَتْshe was invested مَاwhat قُلِّدَتْshe was invested with مِنْof شَرَفٍhonor
قُلِّدَتْ مَا قُلِّدَتْ مِنْ شَرَفٍ
وَلَهَاand hers is أَعْلَىthe highest لِوَاءٍbanner فِيamong السَّفِينْships
وَلَهَا أَعْلَى لِوَاءٍ فِي السَّفِينْ
She has been adorned with all the honors bestowed upon her,
You are adorned with every honor
And hers is the highest banner among ships.
And you hold the highest flag on the ship
بَسَمَsmiled الأُفْقَيْنِthe two horizons فِيat آنٍa moment بَدَتْappeared
بَسَمَ الأُفْقَيْنِ فِي آنٍ بَدَتْ
آيَتَاthe two signs of الإِحْسَانِbenevolence وَالحُسْنِand beauty المُبِينْmanifest
آيَتَا الإِحْسَانِ وَالحُسْنِ المُبِينْ
The two horizons smiled at the moment there appeared
In one moment, the two signs appeared
The two signs of benevolence and radiant beauty.
Of kindness and clear beauty
بَزَغَتْrose شَمْسُthe sun of الضُّحَىmidmorning مِنْfrom سِتْرِهَاher veil
بَزَغَتْ شَمْسُ الضُّحَى مِنْ سِتْرِهَا
وَهِلالُand the crescent of العِيدِEid مِنْfrom أَنْقَىthe purest جَبِينْbrow
وَهِلالُ العِيدِ مِنْ أَنْقَى جَبِينْ
The morning sun rose from behind her veil,
The sun of dawn emerged from its veil
And the crescent of Eid from the purest brow.
And the crescent of Eid from the purest forehead
مَرْحَباًwelcome بِالفَضْلِto bounty وَالنُّبْلِand nobility مَعاًtogether
مَرْحَباً بِالفَضْلِ وَالنُّبْلِ مَعاً
طَلَعَاboth rose بِاليُمْنِwith good fortune لِلْمُرْتَقِبِينْfor those awaiting
طَلَعَا بِاليُمْنِ لِلْمُرْتَقِبِينْ
Welcome to bounty and nobility together,
Welcome to merit and nobility together
They have risen with good fortune for those awaiting them.
They have risen with blessings for those who await
هَذِهِthese جَنَّاتgardens مِصْرٍEgypt أَبْرَزَتْhave displayed
هَذِهِ جَنَّات مِصْرٍ أَبْرَزَتْ
لَكِfor you مِنْof زِينَتِهَاtheir adornment مَاwhat تَشْهَدِينْyou behold
لَكِ مِنْ زِينَتِهَا مَا تَشْهَدِينْ
These gardens of Egypt have displayed
For you their finest adornments that you see
For you the adornments you behold.
The earth wore its silks for her
لَبِسَتْdonned سُنْدُسَهَاits fine silk الأَرْضُthe earth لِمَنْfor her who
لَبِسَتْ سُنْدُسَهَا الأَرْضُ لِمَنْ
أَلْبَسَتْهَاclothed it in الفَخْرُglory بَيْنَamong الأَرَضِينْlands
أَلْبَسَتْهَا الفَخْرُ بَيْنَ الأَرَضِينْ
The earth has donned its fine silk for her
Whom glory dressed among all lands
Who clothed it in glory among lands.
The trees offered their yields
آتَتِyielded الأَشْجَارُthe trees مَاwhat اسْتَنْبَتَهَاmade them grow
آتَتِ الأَشْجَارُ مَا اسْتَنْبَتَهَا
بِرُّهَاher kindness مِنْof أُكُلٍfruit لِلآكِلينْfor those who eat
بِرُّهَا مِنْ أُكُلٍ لِلآكِلينْ
The trees have yielded what they were made to grow
As provisions for those who eat
By her kindness: fruit for those who eat.
The birds sang their praises
شَدَتِsang الأَطْيَارُthe birds تَتْلُوreciting حَمْدَهَاpraise of her
شَدَتِ الأَطْيَارُ تَتْلُو حَمْدَهَا
بَعْدَafter حَمْدِpraising اللهGod رَبِّLord of العَالَمِينْthe worlds
بَعْدَ حَمْدِ الله رَبِّ العَالَمِينْ
The birds have sung, reciting her praise
After praising God, Lord of all worlds
After praising God, Lord of the worlds.
How lovely is their warbling in ardour
حَبَّذَاhow lovely تَغْرِيدُهَاtheir birdsong فِيin جَذَلٍjoy
حَبَّذَا تَغْرِيدُهَا فِي جَذَلٍ
بَعْدَafter شَجْوٍsorrow رَدَّدَتْهُthey echoed it وَأَنِينْand moaning
بَعْدَ شَجْوٍ رَدَّدَتْهُ وَأَنِينْ
How lovely their joyful singing,
After the plaints they echoed and moaned
After the sorrow they echoed and their moaning.
Indeed a nation's hopes and desires
إِنَّindeed آمَالَthe hopes of بِلادٍa country وَمُنَىand the wishes of
إِنَّ آمَالَ بِلادٍ وَمُنَى
أُمَّةٍa nation مُوحِيَةٌinspire مَاwhat تَسْمَعِينْyou hear
أُمَّةٍ مُوحِيَةٌ مَا تَسْمَعِينْ
Indeed, a country's hopes and the wishes
Are truthful, not mere flattery
Of a nation inspire what you hear.
The Nile overflowed from its source
لَيْسَthere is not فِيهِin it مِنْany مُدَاجَاةٍdissimulation وَهَلْand can
لَيْسَ فِيهِ مِنْ مُدَاجَاةٍ وَهَلْ
يَصْدُقُbe truthful الإِنْشَادُthe song وَالقَلْبُwhile the heart يمينْlies
يَصْدُقُ الإِنْشَادُ وَالقَلْبُ يمينْ
There is no dissembling in it—and can
Stretching its arms to those who seek water
Song ring true while the heart lies?
Bearing fertility and treasures
فَاضَoverflowed مَجْرَىthe stream of النِّيلِthe Nile مِنْfrom يَنْبُوعِهِits source
فَاضَ مَجْرَى النِّيلِ مِنْ يَنْبُوعِهِ
بَاسِطاًstretching out أَذْرُعَهُits arms لِلْمُسْتَقِينْto those drawing water
بَاسِطاً أَذْرُعَهُ لِلْمُسْتَقِينْ
The Nile's stream has poured forth from its source,
Other than what it gives of gems
Stretching out its arms to those who draw water.
It has shed its high cost so much
يَحْمِلُcarries الخِصْبَfertility وَمَاand not عُنْصُرُهُits substance
يَحْمِلُ الخِصْبَ وَمَا عُنْصُرُهُ
غَيْرُother than مَاwhat يُهْدِيit bestows مِنَof الكَنْزِthe treasure الثَّمِينْprecious
غَيْرُ مَا يُهْدِي مِنَ الكَنْزِ الثَّمِينْ
It carries fertility, and its substance is nothing
That it is normal for it to be called mud
But the precious treasure it bestows.
It is above soil, meltable goodness
أَرْخَصَcheapened العَسْجَدَgold حَتَّىto the point that إِنَّهُindeed it
أَرْخَصَ العَسْجَدَ حَتَّى إِنَّهُ
جَازَbecame permissible فِيin المَأْلُوفِcommon usage أَنْto يُسْمَىbe called بِطِينْas mud
جَازَ فِي المَأْلُوفِ أَنْ يُسْمَى بِطِينْ
It has cheapened gold so much that it
And for the irrigators a lasting spring
May in common speech be called mud.
Your blessed return is a feast for the bereaved
فَهْوَfor it is فَوْقَabove التُّرْبِthe soil تِبْرٌuncoined gold ذَائِبٌmolten
فَهْوَ فَوْقَ التُّرْبِ تِبْرٌ ذَائِبٌ
وَهْوَand it is للوُرَّادِfor those coming to drink سَلْسَالٌsweet-flowing water مَعِينْrunning
وَهْوَ للوُرَّادِ سَلْسَالٌ مَعِينْ
For above the soil it is molten gold,
And for your family across the years
And for those who come to drink, sweet, running water.
If only they could gather in one place
عَوْدُكِyour return المَحْمُودُwelcome عِيدٌa festival لِلْحِمَىfor the homeland
عَوْدُكِ المَحْمُودُ عِيدٌ لِلْحِمَى
وَلأَهْلِيهِand for its people عَلَىthrough مَرِّthe passage of السِّنِينْthe years
وَلأَهْلِيهِ عَلَى مَرِّ السِّنِينْ
Your welcome return is a festival for the homeland
I would find them together as thousands and hundreds
And for its people through the passing years.
That old love you have increased
لَوْif تَسَنَّىwere possible فِيin مَكَانٍa place وَاحِدٍone
لَوْ تَسَنَّى فِي مَكَانٍ وَاحِدٍ
جَمْعُهُمْgathering them أَلْفَيْتِهِمْyou would find them مُجْتَمِعِينْassembled
جَمْعُهُمْ أَلْفَيْتِهِمْ مُجْتَمِعِينْ
Were it possible, in a single place,
With your lasting gifts day after day
To gather them, you would find them assembled.
Acts of kindness have united them
ذَلِكَthat الوُدُّaffection قَديمٌlongstanding زَادَهُincreased it
ذَلِكَ الوُدُّ قَديمٌ زَادَهُ
كُلَّevery يَوْمٍday سَبَبٌa bond مِنْكِfrom you مَتِينْstrong
كُلَّ يَوْمٍ سَبَبٌ مِنْكِ مَتِينْ
That love is longstanding, strengthened
Though apart they would differ
Each day by a firm bond from you.
How could a people not love you purely
مَكْرُمَاتٌgenerous deeds أَلَّفَتْunited بَيْنَهُمُamong them
مَكْرُمَاتٌ أَلَّفَتْ بَيْنَهُمُ
إِنْeven if يُرَواthey are seen فِيin غَيْرِهَاother than these مُخْتَلِفِينْdiffering
إِنْ يُرَوا فِي غَيْرِهَا مُخْتَلِفِينْ
Acts of generosity have united them,
When they owe you lifelong gratitude
Even if they are seen to differ in other matters.
You have increased their goodness by being
كَيْفَhow لاnot يُصْفِيكِis sincere toward you وُدّاًaffection مَعْشَرٌa people
كَيْفَ لا يُصْفِيكِ وُدّاً مَعْشَرٌ
لَكِto you بِالشُّكْرِin gratitude عَلَىthroughout الدَّهْرِall time مَدِينْindebted
لَكِ بِالشُّكْرِ عَلَى الدَّهْرِ مَدِينْ
How could a people not love you sincerely,
An example for them in life and faith
When they owe you thanks for all time?
Your grandfather suffered no shame from a lady
زِدْتهِyou gave it more بِرّاًkindness بِأَنْby the fact that كُنْتِyou were لَهُfor it
زِدْتهِ بِرّاً بِأَنْ كُنْتِ لَهُ
نِعْمَةَa blessing القُدْوَةُthe example فِيin دُنْيَاworldly life وَدِينْand religion
نِعْمَةَ القُدْوَةُ فِي دُنْيَا وَدِينْ
You showed them still greater kindness by being for them
Whose merit encompassed him at all times
A blessed example in worldly life and faith.
If we counted those you brought joy
لاَmay not كَبَاstumble جَدُّكِyour good fortune مِنْof سَيِّدَةٍa lady
لاَ كَبَا جَدُّكِ مِنْ سَيِّدَةٍ
فَضْلُهَاher bounty يَشْمَلُهُencompasses it فِيat كُلِّevery حِينْmoment
فَضْلُهَا يَشْمَلُهُ فِي كُلِّ حِينْ
May your good fortune never falter, O lady,
We would number them in thousands and hundreds
Whose bounty embraces them at every moment.
Hands that left no place for sorrow
لَوْif عَدَدْنَاwe counted فِيهِwithin it مَنْthose whom أَسْعَدْتِهِyou made him happy
لَوْ عَدَدْنَا فِيهِ مَنْ أَسْعَدْتِهِ
لَعَدَدْنَاهُمْwe would count them أُلُوفاًthousands وَمِئِينْand hundreds
لَعَدَدْنَاهُمْ أُلُوفاً وَمِئِينْ
If we counted among them those you have made happy,
In any grieving heart they missed
We would count them in thousands and hundreds.
You visited the suffering in their misery
تُخْطِيءُelude الحَصْرَcounting أَيَادٍbenefactions لَمْdid not تَدَعْleave
تُخْطِيءُ الحَصْرَ أَيَادٍ لَمْ تَدَعْ
مَوْضِعاًa place لِلْحُزْنِfor sorrow فِيin قَلْبٍa heart حَزِينْsorrowful
مَوْضِعاً لِلْحُزْنِ فِي قَلْبٍ حَزِينْ
Benefactions defy counting; they have left
And the mansions of kings sought your visit
No room for sorrow in a sorrowful heart.
How many shelters you built and established
زَارَتِshe visited الدَّهْمَاءَthe common people فِيin أَخْصَاضِهاtheir huts (probable reading)
زَارَتِ الدَّهْمَاءَ فِي أَخْصَاضِها
وَاسْتَزَارَتْهَاand invited her to visit قُصُورُthe palaces of المَالِكِينْrulers
وَاسْتَزَارَتْهَا قُصُورُ المَالِكِينْ
She visited the common folk in their huts,
For orphaned and devastated children
And the palaces of rulers invited her to visit.
And founded a home of knowledge that raised
كَمْhow many بَنَتْshe built مَأْوىًa refuge وَشَادَتْand raised مَلْجَأًa shelter
كَمْ بَنَتْ مَأْوىً وَشَادَتْ مَلْجَأً
لِلأَيَامَىfor widows وَاليَتَامَىand orphans البَائِسِينْthe destitute
لِلأَيَامَى وَاليَتَامَى البَائِسِينْ
How many refuges she built and shelters she raised
The best generation of girls and boys
For widows and destitute orphans.
O what lasting achievements all of them
وَأَقَامَتْand she established دَارَa house of عِلْمٍlearning نَشَّأَتْnurtured
وَأَقَامَتْ دَارَ عِلْمٍ نَشَّأَتْ
خَيْرَthe finest جِيلٍgeneration مِنْof بَنَاتٍgirls وَبَنِينْand boys
خَيْرَ جِيلٍ مِنْ بَنَاتٍ وَبَنِينْ
And she founded a house of learning that nurtured
Immortal in the memories of those who remember
The finest generation of girls and boys.
Remain ever generous as time passes on
يَاoh لَهَاhers مِنْof مَأْثَرَاتٍnoble deeds كُلُّهَاall of them
يَا لَهَا مِنْ مَأْثَرَاتٍ كُلُّهَا
خَالِدٌimmortal فِيin ذِكْرَيَاتِthe memories of الذَّاكِرِينْthose who remember
خَالِدٌ فِي ذِكْرَيَاتِ الذَّاكِرِينْ
What noble deeds are hers, all of them
And may God honor the best benefactor
Immortal in the memories of those who remember!
دُمْتِmay you endure لِلإِحْسَانِfor benevolence مَاas long as طَالَextends المَدَىtime's span
دُمْتِ لِلإِحْسَانِ مَا طَالَ المَدَى
وَأَعَزَّand may exalt اللهُGod أُمَّthe mother of المُحْسِنِينْbenefactors
وَأَعَزَّ اللهُ أُمَّ المُحْسِنِينْ
May you endure for benevolence as long as time endures,
And may God exalt the mother of benefactors.
Partial English translation: 61 of 64 Arabic lines translated.