حَبْرَ أَحْبَارِنَا الْجَلِيلَ الْمُفَدَّى

حَبْرَ أَحْبَارِنَا الْجَلِيلَ الْمُفَدَّى

دُمْتَ جَاهاً لَنَا وَذخْراً وَمَجْدَا

دُمْتَ جَاهاً لَنَا وَذخْراً وَمَجْدَا

O venerable, cherished pontiff of our pontiffs,

O our esteemed and virtuous scholar

may you remain our honor, our treasure, and our glory.

You have brought us honor, wealth, and glory

كُلَّ يَوْمِ تضيِفُ فَضْلاً إِلَى سَا

كُلَّ يَوْمِ تضيِفُ فَضْلاً إِلَى سَا

بِقِ فَضْلٍ وَلاَ تَقْصُرُ جُهدا

بِقِ فَضْلٍ وَلاَ تَقْصُرُ جُهدا

Each day you add merit to previous

Each day you add excellence to excellence

merit, and spare no effort,

So persist in virtue and spare no effort

مُسْرِفاً فِي الْبِنَاءِ لله مِمَّا

مُسْرِفاً فِي الْبِنَاءِ لله مِمَّا

تَقْتَنِي بِالتُّقى وَتَذْخُرُ قَصْدَا

تَقْتَنِي بِالتُّقى وَتَذْخُرُ قَصْدَا

lavish in building for God from what

Building abundantly for God with what

you acquire through piety, reserving moderation

You earn through piety and store with purpose

لَكَ فِي الْعَيْشِ فَإِذَا لَمْ

لَكَ فِي الْعَيْشِ فَإِذَا لَمْ

يَكُ لِلْنَّاسِ نَفْعُهُ عَادَ زُهْدَا

يَكُ لِلْنَّاسِ نَفْعُهُ عَادَ زُهْدَا

for your own living; and if it does not

In life you have asceticism, and when

benefit people, it turns to renunciation.

Your work brings no benefit, it becomes austerity

مَنْ تَقَصَّى أدْوَارَنَا فِي الْمَرَاقِي

مَنْ تَقَصَّى أدْوَارَنَا فِي الْمَرَاقِي

عَزَّهُ أَنْ يَرَى كَعَهْدِكَ عَهْدَا

عَزَّهُ أَنْ يَرَى كَعَهْدِكَ عَهْدَا

Whoever traces our stages of ascent

Whoever reviews our history over the ages

finds it hard to see a tenure like yours.

Would be hard pressed to find an era like yours

قَامَ فِيه العُمْرَانُ مِنْ كُلِّ ضَرْبٍ

قَامَ فِيه العُمْرَانُ مِنْ كُلِّ ضَرْبٍ

وَغَدَا الْجَزْرُ فِي الْمَفَاخِرِ مَدا

وَغَدَا الْجَزْرُ فِي الْمَفَاخِرِ مَدا

Development of every kind arose in it,

Where civilization thrived in every way

and glory's ebb became a flood tide.

And the peninsula gained glory and repute

لَيْسَ بِدْعاً وَأَنْتَ مَا أَنْتَ مِنَّا

لَيْسَ بِدْعاً وَأَنْتَ مَا أَنْتَ مِنَّا

أَنْ نَظَمْنا لَكَ الْقَلاَئِدَ حَمْدَا

أَنْ نَظَمْنا لَكَ الْقَلاَئِدَ حَمْدَا

It is no wonder, given what you are among us,

It is no wonder, for one like you among us

that we have strung necklaces of praise for you.

That we compose poems and garlands in praise

أَيهَا الْمُسْتَنِيبُ فِي مِصْرَ عَنْهُ

أَيهَا الْمُسْتَنِيبُ فِي مِصْرَ عَنْهُ

مَا أَبَرَّ الَّذي أَنَبْتَ وَأَهْدَى

مَا أَبَرَّ الَّذي أَنَبْتَ وَأَهْدَى

O you who appoint a deputy in Egypt in your stead,

O you who in Egypt represent the best

how righteous and rightly guided is the one you appointed!

Of what you planted and guided aright

إَنَّما السَّيدُ الْكُفُورِي بِحْرٌ

إَنَّما السَّيدُ الْكُفُورِي بِحْرٌ

مِنْ صَلاَحٍ يَفِيضُ هَدْياً وَرُشْدَا

مِنْ صَلاَحٍ يَفِيضُ هَدْياً وَرُشْدَا

Indeed, Master al-Kufuri is a sea

Truly Sir Al-Kufuri is an ocean

of righteousness, overflowing with guidance and sound judgment.

Of righteousness, spilling forth guidance and wisdom

دَمِثُ الْخُلْقِ ثَاقِبُ الْفِكْرِ مِسْمَاحٌ

دَمِثُ الْخُلْقِ ثَاقِبُ الْفِكْرِ مِسْمَاحٌ

زَكِيٌّ يَأْبَى لَهُ الْنُّبلُ نِدَّا

زَكِيٌّ يَأْبَى لَهُ الْنُّبلُ نِدَّا

Gentle of character, keen of mind, open-handed,

Of upright character, keen of mind, even-tempered

pure; his nobility allows him no equal.

Of refined manners, refusing all rivalry

لَمْ يُعَبْ فِي تَصَرُّفٍ دُقَّ أَوْ جُلَّ

لَمْ يُعَبْ فِي تَصَرُّفٍ دُقَّ أَوْ جُلَّ

وَلَمْ يَعْدُ لِلْكيَاسَة حَدَّا

وَلَمْ يَعْدُ لِلْكيَاسَة حَدَّا

No fault was found in his conduct, small or great,

He has not faltered in discretion or care

nor did he overstep the bounds of tact.

Nor transgressed the bounds of wisdom

وَلَهُ فِي الْنَّدَى وَفِي الرِّفْقِ ما حَبَّ

وَلَهُ فِي الْنَّدَى وَفِي الرِّفْقِ ما حَبَّ

بَ أَخْلاَقَهُ إِلَى الْخَلْقِ جِدَّا

بَ أَخْلاَقَهُ إِلَى الْخَلْقِ جِدَّا

And in his generosity and gentleness lies what has endeared

In amiability and gentleness he has what makes

his character so deeply to people.

His character appealing to all people

لَوْ تَجَلَّتْ صِفَاتُهُ لِعُيونِ النَّاسِ

لَوْ تَجَلَّتْ صِفَاتُهُ لِعُيونِ النَّاسِ

كَانَتْ مِنَ الْفَرَائِد عَقْدَا

كَانَتْ مِنَ الْفَرَائِد عَقْدَا

If his qualities were revealed to people's eyes,

If his qualities were revealed to all eyes

they would form a necklace of rare pearls.

They would form a necklace of precious gems

كُلَّمَا جَالَ ذِكْرُهُ فِي مَقَامٍ

كُلَّمَا جَالَ ذِكْرُهُ فِي مَقَامٍ

فَاحَ ذَاكَ الْمَقَامُ طِيباً وَنَدَّا

فَاحَ ذَاكَ الْمَقَامُ طِيباً وَنَدَّا

Whenever his name circulates in a gathering,

Whenever his name is mentioned in any gathering

that gathering wafts perfume and incense.

That gathering diffuses a sweet fragrance

خِيرَةُ الله كَانَ تَحْقِيقُهَا

خِيرَةُ الله كَانَ تَحْقِيقُهَا

لِلْقُطْرِ يُمْناً عَلَى يَدَيْك وَسَعْدَا

لِلْقُطْرِ يُمْناً عَلَى يَدَيْك وَسَعْدَا

The fulfillment of God's choice was

It was the will of God that his realization

a blessing and good fortune for the land, at your hands.

Should be a blessing upon this country and joy

وَلَقَدْ زِدْتَنَا صَنِيعاً وَهَلْ تَأْتِي

وَلَقَدْ زِدْتَنَا صَنِيعاً وَهَلْ تَأْتِي

صَنِيعاً إِلاَّ إِذَا كَانَ عِدا

صَنِيعاً إِلاَّ إِذَا كَانَ عِدا

And you have indeed bestowed another favor on us; do you ever do

Indeed you have done us a service, and does a

a favor unless it is an unfailing spring?

Service come except from one of piety?

جَعَلَ اللهُ مِنْ مَقَامِكَ أَلا

جَعَلَ اللهُ مِنْ مَقَامِكَ أَلا

يَكْثُرَ التَّاجُ مِنْ يَمِينِكَ رِفْدَا

يَكْثُرَ التَّاجُ مِنْ يَمِينِكَ رِفْدَا

May God ordain through your station that

May God ordain that the crown on your right

the crown not abound in bounty from your right hand.

Hand be constantly increased through provision

سِمْتَ سُلْمَانُ مَنْصِباً أُسْقُفِياً

سِمْتَ سُلْمَانُ مَنْصِباً أُسْقُفِياً

كَانَ لِلاحصَفِ الابَرِّ مُعَدَّا

كَانَ لِلاحصَفِ الابَرِّ مُعَدَّا

You were assigned, Salman, an episcopal office

You appointed Salman to the bishopric

reserved for the most discerning and righteous.

Which had been prepared for the most devout

فَبَدَا فِي النِّظامِ نَجْمٌ جَديدٌ

فَبَدَا فِي النِّظامِ نَجْمٌ جَديدٌ

مِنْ سَنَى شَمْسِه سَنَاهُ اسْتُمِدَّا

مِنْ سَنَى شَمْسِه سَنَاهُ اسْتُمِدَّا

Thus a new star appeared in the order,

So there appeared in the system a new star

its radiance drawn from the brilliance of its sun.

Deriving its radiance from the sun it reflects

عَالِمٌ عَامِلٌ أَدِيبٌ أَرِيبٌ

عَالِمٌ عَامِلٌ أَدِيبٌ أَرِيبٌ

ذُو بَيَانٍ يُعَزُّ أَنْ يُتَحَدَّى

ذُو بَيَانٍ يُعَزُّ أَنْ يُتَحَدَّى

A scholar, a man of action, cultured and discerning,

A scholar, a worker, cultured, judicious

possessing eloquence that is hard to rival.

Eloquent, who would be hard to challenge

قَلَّدَتْهُ بَلاَغَةُ الْفِكْرِ حُسْناً

قَلَّدَتْهُ بَلاَغَةُ الْفِكْرِ حُسْناً

وَكَسَتْهُ فَصَاحَةُ اللَّفْظِ بُرْدَا

وَكَسَتْهُ فَصَاحَةُ اللَّفْظِ بُرْدَا

Eloquence of thought has garlanded him with beauty,

Eloquence adorned his mind with beauty

and eloquence of speech has clothed him in a mantle.

And fluency clothed his speech with silk

رَجُلٌ رَاقَبَ الضَّميرَ فَارْضى

رَجُلٌ رَاقَبَ الضَّميرَ فَارْضى

اللهَ عَنْهُ فِي كُلِّ مَمْسَى وَمَغْدَى

اللهَ عَنْهُ فِي كُلِّ مَمْسَى وَمَغْدَى

A man who kept watch on conscience, making

A man who examined his conscience and pleased

God pleased with him every evening and morning.

God with it at dusk and dawn each day

أُسْوَةً بِالْمَسِيحِ يَحْمِلُ حُباً

أُسْوَةً بِالْمَسِيحِ يَحْمِلُ حُباً

لأِخِيه وَلَيْسَ يَحْمِلُ حِقْدَا

لأِخِيه وَلَيْسَ يَحْمِلُ حِقْدَا

Following Christ's example, he bears love

An exemplar of Christ bearing love

for his brother, and bears no rancor.

For his brother, not harboring hatred

لاَ تَزِينُ الْخِصَالَ يَوْمَ فَخَارٍ

لاَ تَزِينُ الْخِصَالَ يَوْمَ فَخَارٍ

مِثْلُهُ فِي الرِّجَالِ أَرْوَعُ فَرْدَا

مِثْلُهُ فِي الرِّجَالِ أَرْوَعُ فَرْدَا

On a day of boasting, virtues adorn no one

No traits adorn a man, on the day of pride

among men more splendidly than a man like him.

Like him, most wondrous and peerless

فَازَ شَرْقُ الأُرْدُنِّ مِنْهُ بِعَودٍ

فَازَ شَرْقُ الأُرْدُنِّ مِنْهُ بِعَودٍ

مُسْتَطَابٍ كَأنَّه كَانَ وَعْدَا

مُسْتَطَابٍ كَأنَّه كَانَ وَعْدَا

Transjordan has won his return,

The East of Jordan won in him a pleasing

a welcome one, as though it had been promised.

Return, as if he had been a promise

عَهْدُهُ كَانَ عَهْدَ خَيْرٍ وَخَيْرُ النَّا

عَهْدُهُ كَانَ عَهْدَ خَيْرٍ وَخَيْرُ النَّا

سِ مَنْ وُدَّ فِي الجَوَارِ وَوَدَّا

سِ مَنْ وُدَّ فِي الجَوَارِ وَوَدَّا

His tenure was a time of goodness; the best of people

His time was an era of goodness, and good people

is one loved by neighbors who loves in return.

Love their neighbor and become bosom friends

أَيُّها الرَّاجِعُ الكَرِيمُ إِلَيْه

أَيُّها الرَّاجِعُ الكَرِيمُ إِلَيْه

إِلْقَ فِيه الصَّفاءَ وَالْعَيْشَ رَغْدَا

إِلْقَ فِيه الصَّفاءَ وَالْعَيْشَ رَغْدَا

O noble one returning to it,

O noble sir returned to it, find

find serenity there and a life of ease.

In it serenity and live in ease

وَاغْتَنِمْ رُؤيَةَ الأمِيرِ الَّذي مَدَّ

وَاغْتَنِمْ رُؤيَةَ الأمِيرِ الَّذي مَدَّ

لَهُ اللهُ فِي الْمَفَاخِرِ مَدَّا

لَهُ اللهُ فِي الْمَفَاخِرِ مَدَّا

And seize the chance to see the emir, for whom

And enjoy seeing the prince whom God

God has extended glory far and wide.

Has extended in glory and renown

قُرْشِيٌّ نَمَّاهُ عَدْنَانُ أَصْلاً

قُرْشِيٌّ نَمَّاهُ عَدْنَانُ أَصْلاً

وَحُسَيْنٌ أَباً وَهَاشِمُ جَدَّا

وَحُسَيْنٌ أَباً وَهَاشِمُ جَدَّا

A Qurayshi, whose ancestry springs from Adnan,

A Qurayshi whom Adnan elevated

with Husayn as father and Hashim as forefather.

And Hussein as father and Hashim grandfather

فَإَذَا مَا بَلَغْتَ سُدَّتَهُ حَيِيِّ

فَإَذَا مَا بَلَغْتَ سُدَّتَهُ حَيِيِّ

نِزَاراً بِه وَحَيِّي مُعَدّا

نِزَاراً بِه وَحَيِّي مُعَدّا

And when you reach his threshold, salute

So when you reach his majesty, greet

Nizar in him, and salute Ma'add,

Nizar in it, and greet Mu'adda

وَجَلاَلاً مِنْ إِرْثِ مُلْكٍ قَديمٍ

وَجَلاَلاً مِنْ إِرْثِ مُلْكٍ قَديمٍ

شَفَّ عَنْهُ جَلاَلُ مُلْكٍ أَجَدَّا

شَفَّ عَنْهُ جَلاَلُ مُلْكٍ أَجَدَّا

and majesty inherited from an ancient kingship,

And the glory of an ancient royal heritage

which the majesty of a newer kingship lets shine through;

Which the glory of a most generous kingdom revealed

وَجَبِيناً فِي الْعَيْنِ يَزْهُو نُوراً

وَجَبِيناً فِي الْعَيْنِ يَزْهُو نُوراً

وَلِسَاناً فِي السَّمعِ يَقْطُرُ شَهْدا

وَلِسَاناً فِي السَّمعِ يَقْطُرُ شَهْدا

and a brow that, to the eye, glows with light,

And a brow beaming light in the eye

and a tongue that, to the ear, drips honey.

And a tongue dripping honey in the ear

ثُمَّ حَيِّي الْعُزَّ الْمَيَامِينَ مِنْ أَعْوَانه

ثُمَّ حَيِّي الْعُزَّ الْمَيَامِينَ مِنْ أَعْوَانه

الأكْرَمِينَ شِيْباً وَمُرْدَا

الأكْرَمِينَ شِيْباً وَمُرْدَا

Then salute the mighty, blessed men among his aides,

Then greet the esteemed elders of his aides

the most noble, grey-haired and beardless alike.

Honored for age and chivalry

جَمَعَ الْصَّفوَةَ الارَاجِحَ عَقْلاً

جَمَعَ الْصَّفوَةَ الارَاجِحَ عَقْلاً

فِي حَوَاشِيه وَالاصَادِقَ عَهْدَا

فِي حَوَاشِيه وَالاصَادِقَ عَهْدَا

He gathered the elite, the soundest in intellect,

He gathered the elite, wisest in mind

in his retinue, and the truest to their pledges.

As his entourage, truest to their word

سِرْ بِيُمْنٍ وَإِنَّ ذِكْرَكَ فِينَا

سِرْ بِيُمْنٍ وَإِنَّ ذِكْرَكَ فِينَا

لَمُقِيمُ فَلَيْسَ بُعْدُكَ بُعْدَا

لَمُقِيمُ فَلَيْسَ بُعْدُكَ بُعْدَا

Go with good fortune; your memory among us

Journey in safety, and your memory among us

surely abides—so your distance is no distance.

Remains, so your absence is not absence