يَا عَائِداً بِرِعَايَةِ الرَّحْمَنِ

يَا عَائِداً بِرِعَايَةِ الرَّحْمَنِ

أَلنِّيْلُ رَاضٍ عَنْكَ وَالهَرَمَانِ

أَلنِّيْلُ رَاضٍ عَنْكَ وَالهَرَمَانِ

O you returning under the Most Merciful's care,

O you who returns under the care of the Merciful

The Nile is pleased with you, and so are the two pyramids.

The Nile is pleased with you and the pyramids too

أَقْبَلْتَ مَوْفُورَ السَّلامَةِ فَائِزاً

أَقْبَلْتَ مَوْفُورَ السَّلامَةِ فَائِزاً

وَالمَوْتُ يَنْظُرُ نِظْرَةَ الخَزْيَانِ

وَالمَوْتُ يَنْظُرُ نِظْرَةَ الخَزْيَانِ

You have returned triumphant, wholly unharmed,

You have come back safe and victorious

While death looks on with the gaze of the disgraced.

While death stares with the gaze of disgrace

مِنْ جَانِبِ البَحْرِ المَهِيجِ تَجُوزُهُ

مِنْ جَانِبِ البَحْرِ المَهِيجِ تَجُوزُهُ

فِي الجَوِّ أَوْ مِنْ جَانِبِ البُركَانِ

فِي الجَوِّ أَوْ مِنْ جَانِبِ البُركَانِ

From beside the raging sea, you cross over it

Whether from the turbulent sea side

Through the air, or past a volcano's flank.

Or from the desert side

للهِ دَرُّكَ مِنْ جَرِيءٍ حَازِمٍ

للهِ دَرُّكَ مِنْ جَرِيءٍ حَازِمٍ

لا مُبْطِيءٍ سَفَهاً وَلا عَجْلانِ

لا مُبْطِيءٍ سَفَهاً وَلا عَجْلانِ

God bless your excellence, so bold and resolute,

God bless you for being bold and decisive

Neither foolishly slow nor hurried.

Neither too slow out of foolishness nor hasty

وَدَّ الحِمَى لَوْ يَقْتَفِي آثَارَهُ

وَدَّ الحِمَى لَوْ يَقْتَفِي آثَارَهُ

جَيْشٌ مِنَ البُلاءِ فِي الفَتْيَانِ

جَيْشٌ مِنَ البُلاءِ فِي الفَتْيَانِ

The homeland wished that his footsteps might be followed

If the zealous army pursued his tracks

By an army of proven young men.

A troop of ordeals would pursue the youth

أَثْبَتَّ وَالفُلْكُ الضَّعِيفَةُ مَرْكَبٌ

أَثْبَتَّ وَالفُلْكُ الضَّعِيفَةُ مَرْكَبٌ

مَا يُسْتَطَاعُ بِقُوَّةِ الإِيمَانِ

مَا يُسْتَطَاعُ بِقُوَّةِ الإِيمَانِ

You proved, with a frail craft for your mount,

You have proven, though the ship was frail

What can be achieved through the power of faith.

What can be achieved through strength of faith

صِدْقُ العَزِيمَةِ وَاليَقِينِ إِذَا هُمَا

صِدْقُ العَزِيمَةِ وَاليَقِينِ إِذَا هُمَا

وَفَرَا فَأَقْصَى مَا يُؤَمَّلُ دَانِي

وَفَرَا فَأَقْصَى مَا يُؤَمَّلُ دَانِي

When sincerity of resolve and certainty both

When true determination and certainty

Abound, the farthest object of hope is near.

Strive their utmost, exceeding all hopes

فِي مِصْرَ عِيدٌ لِلنُّبُوغِ تُقِيمُهُ

فِي مِصْرَ عِيدٌ لِلنُّبُوغِ تُقِيمُهُ

لِلْخَالِدِينَ وَلا يُقَامُ لِفَانِي

لِلْخَالِدِينَ وَلا يُقَامُ لِفَانِي

In Egypt there is a festival of genius that she holds

In Egypt a celebration is held for genius

For the immortal, not for those who fade away.

For the eternal, not for the ephemeral

أَضْحَتْ وَحَاضِرُهَا كَمَا أَقْرَرْتَهُ

أَضْحَتْ وَحَاضِرُهَا كَمَا أَقْرَرْتَهُ

تَسْتَقْبِلُ الأَيَّامَ بِاطْمِئْنَانِ

تَسْتَقْبِلُ الأَيَّامَ بِاطْمِئْنَانِ

With her present as you have secured it, she now

Its present as you decreed is now

Faces the days ahead with confidence.

Facing the days with tranquility

وَتَلَفَّتَ المَاضِي إِلَيْكَ مُحَيِّياً

وَتَلَفَّتَ المَاضِي إِلَيْكَ مُحَيِّياً

أَمَلاَ بِهِ المَجْدَانِ يَلْتَقِيَانِ

أَمَلاَ بِهِ المَجْدَانِ يَلْتَقِيَانِ

And the past turned toward you, saluting

The past turns to you reviving

A hope through which the two glories meet.

The two glories meet

لِلْمُلْكِ فِي ذِمَمِ المَفَاخِرِ وَالعُلَى

لِلْمُلْكِ فِي ذِمَمِ المَفَاخِرِ وَالعُلَى

عِوَضٌ كَفَالَتُهُ عَلَى الشُّجْعَانِ

عِوَضٌ كَفَالَتُهُ عَلَى الشُّجْعَانِ

For sovereignty, in the pledges of glory and eminence,

The state has in keeping the prides and heights

There is recompense, guaranteed by the brave.

A recompense guaranteeing the brave

أَليَوْمَ تَخْدُو فِي العَرِينِ أُسُودُهُ

أَليَوْمَ تَخْدُو فِي العَرِينِ أُسُودُهُ

وَالنَّصْرُ بَيْنَ مَخَالِبِ العِقْيَانِ

وَالنَّصْرُ بَيْنَ مَخَالِبِ العِقْيَانِ

Today its lions stride within the den,

Do its lions pace in the den today

And victory lies between the eagles' talons.

With victory between the claws of the strong?

فِي الحَرْبِ أَوْ فِي السِّلْمِ لا تُقْضَى المُنَى

فِي الحَرْبِ أَوْ فِي السِّلْمِ لا تُقْضَى المُنَى

إِلاَّ وَسَاعَاتُ الكِفَاحِ ثَوَانِ

إِلاَّ وَسَاعَاتُ الكِفَاحِ ثَوَانِ

In war or peace, wishes are not fulfilled

In war or peace, fate is not fulfilled

Unless the hours of struggle are but seconds.

Except in the hours of struggle

صِدْقِي تَلاهُ أَحْمَدٌ وَيَلِيهِمَا

صِدْقِي تَلاهُ أَحْمَدٌ وَيَلِيهِمَا

سِرْبُ الْبُزَاةِ يَجُوبُ كُلَّ عَنَانِ

سِرْبُ الْبُزَاةِ يَجُوبُ كُلَّ عَنَانِ

Sidqi—Ahmad followed him, and after them both

My sincerity followed by Ahmed's

A flock of falcons ranges through every reach of sky.

And a flock of gallants roams every path

إِنِّي لَمَحْتُ هِلالَنَا وَكَأَنَّمَا

إِنِّي لَمَحْتُ هِلالَنَا وَكَأَنَّمَا

يَبْدُو عَلَيْهِ تَلَهُّبُ الظَّمْآنِ

يَبْدُو عَلَيْهِ تَلَهُّبُ الظَّمْآنِ

I glimpsed our crescent, and it seemed

I glimpsed our crescent, as though

To show the burning ardor of one athirst.

Ablaze with the thirst of yearning

لَوْ كَانَ شَاهَدَهُ أَخُوهُ لَرَاعَهُ

لَوْ كَانَ شَاهَدَهُ أَخُوهُ لَرَاعَهُ

بِجَمَالِ غُرَّتِهِ الهِلالُ الثَّانِي

بِجَمَالِ غُرَّتِهِ الهِلالُ الثَّانِي

Had its brother seen it, he would have been awed

Had its brother witnessed its charm

By the beauty of the second crescent's radiant brow.

Dazzled by the beauty of its curve

أَيَعُودُ فِي رَايَاتِ مِصْرَ وَظِلُّهُ

أَيَعُودُ فِي رَايَاتِ مِصْرَ وَظِلُّهُ

فَوْقَ القُرَى يَمْشِي بِلا اسْتِئْذَانِ

فَوْقَ القُرَى يَمْشِي بِلا اسْتِئْذَانِ

Will it return upon Egypt's banners, its shadow

Does it return over Egypt's banners and its shade

Walking over the villages without asking leave?

Walking above the villages without permission?

وَنَرَاهُ كَالعَهْدِ القَدِيمِ مُصَعِّداً

وَنَرَاهُ كَالعَهْدِ القَدِيمِ مُصَعِّداً

وَنَرَى لَدَيْهِ تَطَامُنَ البُلْدَانِ

وَنَرَى لَدَيْهِ تَطَامُنَ البُلْدَانِ

And shall we see it ascending as in days of old,

And we see it ascending as of old

And see the nations bowing low before it?

With the lands submissive before it

أَهْلاً بِأَمْهَرِ فَارِسٍ مُتَرَجِّلٍ

أَهْلاً بِأَمْهَرِ فَارِسٍ مُتَرَجِّلٍ

عَنْ مُصْعَبٍ يُرْتَاضُ بِالعِرْفَانِ

عَنْ مُصْعَبٍ يُرْتَاضُ بِالعِرْفَانِ

Welcome to the most skillful rider, dismounting

Welcome, most skilled of dismounted knights

From an unruly steed tamed by knowledge,

Dismounting from the rugged with knowledge

خَوَّاضِ أَجْوَازِ العَنَانِ مُمَانِعٍ

خَوَّاضِ أَجْوَازِ العَنَانِ مُمَانِعٍ

غَيْرَ النُّهَى عَنْ أَخْذِهِ بِعِنَانِ

غَيْرَ النُّهَى عَنْ أَخْذِهِ بِعِنَانِ

A plunger through the sky's expanses, resisting

Breaker of the reins' knots, preventing

All but reason taking hold of its reins.

All but grasping them by the bridle

فَرَسٌ كَمَا حَلُمَ الجُدُودُ مَجُنَّحٌ

فَرَسٌ كَمَا حَلُمَ الجُدُودُ مَجُنَّحٌ

قَدْ حَقَّقَتَّهُ يَقْظَةُ الأَزْمَانِ

قَدْ حَقَّقَتَّهُ يَقْظَةُ الأَزْمَانِ

A winged horse, as our forebears dreamed,

A winged horse, just as the ancestors dreamed

Made real by the wakefulness of the ages.

Brought into being by the times' wakefulness

يَدعُو الرِّيَاحَ عَصِيَّةً فَتْنِيلُهُ

يَدعُو الرِّيَاحَ عَصِيَّةً فَتْنِيلُهُ

أَكْتَافُهَا بِالطَّوْعِ وَالإِذْعَانِ

أَكْتَافُهَا بِالطَّوْعِ وَالإِذْعَانِ

It summons the defiant winds, and they offer it

Calling the winds stubborn, so they yield

Their shoulders willingly and submissively.

Their shoulders obediently and submissively

يَسْمُو فَتَتَّضِعُ الشَّوَامِخُ دُونَهُ

يَسْمُو فَتَتَّضِعُ الشَّوَامِخُ دُونَهُ

حَتَّى تَؤُوبَ بِذِلَّةِ الغيطَانِ

حَتَّى تَؤُوبَ بِذِلَّةِ الغيطَانِ

It rises, and the lofty peaks sink beneath it,

It rises high and the peaks humble themselves before it

Until they return to the lowliness of lowlands.

Until they relent with the humiliation of giants

ويَجُولُ بَيْنَ السُّحْبِ جَوْلَةَ مُمْعِنٍ

ويَجُولُ بَيْنَ السُّحْبِ جَوْلَةَ مُمْعِنٍ

فِي الفَتْحِ لا يَثْنِيهِ عَنْهُ ثَانِ

فِي الفَتْحِ لا يَثْنِيهِ عَنْهُ ثَانِ

And it ranges among the clouds like one pressing onward

And it circles among the clouds insistently conquering

In conquest, with none to turn it from its course.

Nothing deters it from victory

فَإِذَا مَنَاثِرُهَا عَوَاثِرُ بِالدُّجَى

فَإِذَا مَنَاثِرُهَا عَوَاثِرُ بِالدُّجَى

وَبِحَارُهَا يَنْضُبْنَ مِنْ طُغِيَانِ

وَبِحَارُهَا يَنْضُبْنَ مِنْ طُغِيَانِ

And lo, their scattered masses stumble in darkness,

Then its scattered remains are ruins in the gloom

And their seas are drained of their surging fullness.

And its seas drained of turmoil

وَإِذَا قُرَاهَا العَامِرَاتُ وَرَوضُهَا

وَإِذَا قُرَاهَا العَامِرَاتُ وَرَوضُهَا

يُقْوِينَ مِنْ حُسْنٍ وَمِنْ عُمْرَانِ

يُقْوِينَ مِنْ حُسْنٍ وَمِنْ عُمْرَانِ

And lo, their thriving villages and gardens

And its flourishing villages and meadows

Become empty of beauty and habitation.

Gain in beauty and civilization

وَإِذَا مَنَاجِمُ تِبْرِهَا وَعَقِيقِهَا

وَإِذَا مَنَاجِمُ تِبْرِهَا وَعَقِيقِهَا

مَهْدُودَةٌ مَشْبُوبَةُ النِّيرَانِ

مَهْدُودَةٌ مَشْبُوبَةُ النِّيرَانِ

And lo, their mines of gold and agate

And its mineral mines and gems

Are demolished and ablaze with fire.

Smashed and ignited by fires

وَإِذَا الصُّنُوفُ الكُثْرُ مِنْ حَيَوانِهَا

وَإِذَا الصُّنُوفُ الكُثْرُ مِنْ حَيَوانِهَا

صُورٌ مَنَكَّرَةٌ مِنَ الحَيوَانِ

صُورٌ مَنَكَّرَةٌ مِنَ الحَيوَانِ

And lo, the many kinds of their living creatures

And the diverse throngs of its creatures

Are unrecognizable forms of animal life.

Are unfamiliar shapes of animals

وَإِذَا عَوَالِمُ لَيْسَ مِنْهَا بَاقِياً

وَإِذَا عَوَالِمُ لَيْسَ مِنْهَا بَاقِياً

إِلاَّ اخْتِلاطُ أَشِعَّةٍ وَدُخَانِ

إِلاَّ اخْتِلاطُ أَشِعَّةٍ وَدُخَانِ

And lo, worlds of which nothing remains

And its worlds where nothing remains

But mingled rays and smoke.

Except intermingled rays and smoke

هَذِي أَلاعِيبُ الخَيَالِ وَصَفْتُهَا

هَذِي أَلاعِيبُ الخَيَالِ وَصَفْتُهَا

بِضُرُوبِ مَا تَتَوَهَّمُ العَيْنَانِ

بِضُرُوبِ مَا تَتَوَهَّمُ العَيْنَانِ

These are imagination's tricks, which I have described

These are the wiles of imagination I described

Through the various things the eyes imagine.

In ways the eyes may imagine

وَمِنَ المَخَاطِرِ مَا يَفُوقُ بِهَوْلِهِ

وَمِنَ المَخَاطِرِ مَا يَفُوقُ بِهَوْلِهِ

مَا تُخْطِرُ الأَوْهَامُ فِي الأَذْهَانِ

مَا تُخْطِرُ الأَوْهَامُ فِي الأَذْهَانِ

Yet some dangers, in their terror, surpass

And dangers that surpass in their horror

What fancies call up in the mind.

What minds conjure in thoughts

مَرَّ الكَمِيَّ بِهَا وَضَرَّى طِرْفَهُ

مَرَّ الكَمِيَّ بِهَا وَضَرَّى طِرْفَهُ

بِالوَثْبِ فَوْقَ حَبَائِلِ الحِدْثَانِ

بِالوَثْبِ فَوْقَ حَبَائِلِ الحِدْثَانِ

The armored warrior passed through them and trained his steed

The brave one passed them, glancing

To leap above the snares of fate.

Above the tangled brushwood

حَتَّى إِذَا مَا جَالَ غَيْرَ مُدَافِعٍ

حَتَّى إِذَا مَا جَالَ غَيْرَ مُدَافِعٍ

أَوْ عَامَ بَيْنَ اللَّيْثِ وَالسَّرَطَانِ

أَوْ عَامَ بَيْنَ اللَّيْثِ وَالسَّرَطَانِ

Until, when it roamed unopposed

Until when he drew close to the throne

Or swam between the Lion and the Crab,

Angels bound it without columns

أَلْوَى يَحُطُّ فَمَا يَقُولُ شُهُودُهُ

أَلْوَى يَحُطُّ فَمَا يَقُولُ شُهُودُهُ

إِلاَّ جَلاَلَ النَّسْرِ فِي الطَّيَرَانِ

إِلاَّ جَلاَلَ النَّسْرِ فِي الطَّيَرَانِ

It wheeled to descend, and its witnesses spoke

When they saw him in a chariot

Only of the eagle's majesty in flight.

Wheeled by the hands of a devil

فَإِذَا دَنَا خَالُوهُ عَرْشاً قَائِماً

فَإِذَا دَنَا خَالُوهُ عَرْشاً قَائِماً

شَدَّتْهُ أَمْلاكٌ بِلا أَشْطَانِ

شَدَّتْهُ أَمْلاكٌ بِلا أَشْطَانِ

As it drew near, they thought it a standing throne,

When it sped then leveled above the ground

Held fast by angels without ropes.

The wonder of man was revealed to them

فَإِذَا أَسََّ رَأَوْهُ مَرْكَبةً لَهَا

فَإِذَا أَسََّ رَأَوْهُ مَرْكَبةً لَهَا

عَجَلٌ تُسَيِّرُهَا يَدَا شَيْطَانِ

عَجَلٌ تُسَيِّرُهَا يَدَا شَيْطَانِ

When it settled, they saw it as a carriage with

O son of metaphor, the arrow of its wit

Wheels driven by a devil's two hands.

Fate aimed at your mind's core

فَإِذَا جَرَى ثُمَّ اسْتَوَى فَوْقَ الثَّرَى

فَإِذَا جَرَى ثُمَّ اسْتَوَى فَوْقَ الثَّرَى

ظَهَرَتْ لَهُمْ أُعْجَوبَةَ الإِنْسَانِ

ظَهَرَتْ لَهُمْ أُعْجَوبَةَ الإِنْسَانِ

When it ran, then came to rest upon the earth,

Yearning called so you answered, do not waver for what

The marvel of humankind was revealed to them.

You endure and suffer

يَا ابْنَ الكِنَايَةِ رَاشَ سَهْمَ فَخَارِهَا

يَا ابْنَ الكِنَايَةِ رَاشَ سَهْمَ فَخَارِهَا

قَدْرٌ رَمَى بِكَ مَهْجَةَ العُدْوَانِ

قَدْرٌ رَمَى بِكَ مَهْجَةَ العُدْوَانِ

O son of metonymy, the arrow of her pride was feathered

And I feel the fervor you carried

By destiny, which shot you at the heart of aggression.

Pervading the ether, gushing in veins

شَوْقٌ دَعَا فَأَجَبْتَ لا تَلْوِي بِمَا

شَوْقٌ دَعَا فَأَجَبْتَ لا تَلْوِي بِمَا

تُسْتَامُ مِنْ جَرَّائِهِ وَتُعَانِي

تُسْتَامُ مِنْ جَرَّائِهِ وَتُعَانِي

Longing called, and you answered, heedless of what

What distracted you, as you looked hovering

You were made to endure for its sake, and suffer.

At the beauty of zeal's compelling charm?

وَأُحِسُّ بِالوَجْدِ الَّذِي حَمَّلْتَهُ

وَأُحِسُّ بِالوَجْدِ الَّذِي حَمَّلْتَهُ

مَتْنَ الأَثِيرِ فَشَعَّ بِالتَّحْتَانِ

مَتْنَ الأَثِيرِ فَشَعَّ بِالتَّحْتَانِ

And I feel the passion that you laid upon

The great country seemed like a patch

The ether's back, and it radiated [unclear wording].

Of green, not exceeding a garden's range

مَاذَا عَرَاكَ وَقَدْ نَظَرْتَ مُحَلِّقاً

مَاذَا عَرَاكَ وَقَدْ نَظَرْتَ مُحَلِّقاً

وَجْهَ الحِمَى بِجَمَالِهِ الفَتَّانِ

وَجْهَ الحِمَى بِجَمَالِهِ الفَتَّانِ

What came over you when, soaring, you beheld

And the countryside studded with treasures appeared

The homeland's face in its enchanting beauty?

Mixed with the visible and hidden hues

فَبَدَا لَكَ القُطْرُ العَظِيمُ كَرُقْعَةٍ

فَبَدَا لَكَ القُطْرُ العَظِيمُ كَرُقْعَةٍ

خَضْرَاءَ لا تَعْدُو مَدَى بُسْتَانِ

خَضْرَاءَ لا تَعْدُو مَدَى بُسْتَانِ

The vast country appeared to you as a patch

In Egypt, Alexandria, and the villages

Of green, no larger than a garden's bounds.

Peoples multiplied, the earth was crowded

وَجَلا لَكَ الرِّيفُ الحِلَى مَمْزُوجَةً

وَجَلا لَكَ الرِّيفُ الحِلَى مَمْزُوجَةً

بِالظَّاهِرِ الخَافِي مِنَ الأَلْوَانِ

بِالظَّاهِرِ الخَافِي مِنَ الأَلْوَانِ

And the countryside displayed its ornaments to you, mingled

Look at their old and young

With colors both visible and hidden.

Look at the girls and boys

فِي مِصْرَ و الإِسْكَنْدَرِيَّةِ وَالقُرَى

فِي مِصْرَ و الإِسْكَنْدَرِيَّةِ وَالقُرَى

خَفَّ الوَرَى بِتَعَدَّدِ السُّكَّانِ

خَفَّ الوَرَى بِتَعَدَّدِ السُّكَّانِ

In Cairo, Alexandria, and the villages,

Look at the nomads and the greenery in

The people hastened forth in all their multitude.

Their orchards, racing without a prize

أَنْظُرْ إِلَى أَحْدَائِهِمْ وَكُهُولِهِمْ

أَنْظُرْ إِلَى أَحْدَائِهِمْ وَكُهُولِهِمْ

أُنْظُرْ إِلَى الفَتَيَاتِ وَالفِتْيَانِ

أُنْظُرْ إِلَى الفَتَيَاتِ وَالفِتْيَانِ

Look at their youths [uncertain reading] and their middle-aged men,

They came out to glimpse the dawn of their glory

Look at the young women and the young men.

In its caravan lined with banners

أُنْظُرْ إِلَى البَادِينَ وَالخُضَارِ فِي

أُنْظُرْ إِلَى البَادِينَ وَالخُضَارِ فِي

حَلَبَاتِهَا اسْتَبَقُوا لِغَيْرِ رِهَانِ

حَلَبَاتِهَا اسْتَبَقُوا لِغَيْرِ رِهَانِ

Look at the desert dwellers and townsfolk [uncertain reading], in

And to blacken their eyelids with kohl

Her arenas, racing without a wager.

From the dust of that radiant powder

خَرَجُوا لِيَسْتَجْلُوا طَلِيعَةَ مَجْدِهِمْ

خَرَجُوا لِيَسْتَجْلُوا طَلِيعَةَ مَجْدِهِمْ

فِي رَكْبِهِ المَحْفُوفِ بِاللَّمَعَانِ

فِي رَكْبِهِ المَحْفُوفِ بِاللَّمَعَانِ

They came out to behold the vanguard of their glory

And to convey gratitude to that zeal

In his procession, surrounded by radiance,

Elevating its stature to the stars

وَليَكْحَلُوا هُدْبَ الجُفُونِ بِإِثْمِدٍ

وَليَكْحَلُوا هُدْبَ الجُفُونِ بِإِثْمِدٍ

مِنْ ذَرِّ ذَاكَ المِرْوَدِ النُّورَانِي

مِنْ ذَرِّ ذَاكَ المِرْوَدِ النُّورَانِي

And to darken the lashes of their lids with antimony

The land inclines to you like swooning camels

From the dust of that radiant kohl-stick,

And gazes facing Rawan

وَليُبْلِغُوا شُكْرَ الحِمَى ذَاكَ الَّذِي

وَليُبْلِغُوا شُكْرَ الحِمَى ذَاكَ الَّذِي

أَعْلَى مَكَانَتَهُ إِلَى كِيوَانِ

أَعْلَى مَكَانَتَهُ إِلَى كِيوَانِ

And to convey the homeland's thanks to him who

You felt while the breezes were still

Raised its standing as high as Saturn.

What throbbed in their hearts in the air

فَالأَرْضُ هَامَاتٌ إِلَيْكَ تَوَجَّهَتْ

فَالأَرْضُ هَامَاتٌ إِلَيْكَ تَوَجَّهَتْ

وَنَوَاظِرٌ نَحْوَ رَوَانِ

وَنَوَاظِرٌ نَحْوَ رَوَانِ

The earth is all heads turned toward you,

And you knew in their honoring you the utmost

And eyes gazing in your direction.

Reaching of generosity and kindness

أَشَعَرْتَ وَالنَّسَمَاتُ سَاكِنَةٌ بِمَا

أَشَعَرْتَ وَالنَّسَمَاتُ سَاكِنَةٌ بِمَا

لِقُلُوبِهِمْ فِي الجَوِّ مِنْ خَفَقَانِ

لِقُلُوبِهِمْ فِي الجَوِّ مِنْ خَفَقَانِ

Did you feel, while the breezes lay still, how

Your little ship descended from the heights

Their hearts fluttered in the air?

Gliding by the grace of your Bountiful Lord

وَعَرَفْتَ فِي إِكْرَامِهِمْ لَكَ مُنْتَهَى

وَعَرَفْتَ فِي إِكْرَامِهِمْ لَكَ مُنْتَهَى

مَا يَبْلُغُ الإِسْدَاءُ مِنْ عِرْفَانِ

مَا يَبْلُغُ الإِسْدَاءُ مِنْ عِرْفَانِ

And did you recognize, in their honoring you, the utmost

No, hope cannot penetrate its gloom

Gratitude that any act of giving can attain?

In each wing and every garden

نَزَلَتْ سَفِينَتُكَ الصَّغِيرَةُ مِنْ عَلٍ

نَزَلَتْ سَفِينَتُكَ الصَّغِيرَةُ مِنْ عَلٍ

تُزْجَى بِرَحْمَةِ رَبِّكَ المَنَّانِ

تُزْجَى بِرَحْمَةِ رَبِّكَ المَنَّانِ

Your little ship descended from on high,

No slowly descending light seizes the sights

Guided by the mercy of your bountiful Lord.

Hesitantly like its hesitant descent

كَلاَّ وَلا يَلِجُ الرَّجَاءُ وَلُوجَها

كَلاَّ وَلا يَلِجُ الرَّجَاءُ وَلُوجَها

فِي كُلِّ جَانِحَةٍ وكلِّ جَنَانِ

فِي كُلِّ جَانِحَةٍ وكلِّ جَنَانِ

No—hope itself does not enter as it entered

The cities' notables met you

Every breast and every heart.

For one deserving of homelands

لا يَأْخُذُ الأَبْصَارَ نُورٌ هَابِطٌ

لا يَأْخُذُ الأَبْصَارَ نُورٌ هَابِطٌ

مُتَوَانِياً كَهُبُوطِهَا المُتَوانِي

مُتَوَانِياً كَهُبُوطِهَا المُتَوانِي

No descending light captivates the eyes,

The safe harbor welcomed its guest

Even falling slowly, as does the craft's unhurried descent.

With the joy of one freed and laughing

لَقِيَتْكَ حَاضِرَةُ البِلادِ لَقَاءهَا

لَقِيَتْكَ حَاضِرَةُ البِلادِ لَقَاءهَا

لأَجَلِّ ذِي حَقٍ عَلَى الأَوْطَانِ

لأَجَلِّ ذِي حَقٍ عَلَى الأَوْطَانِ

The country's capital welcomed you as it welcomes

Alexandria never lost its merit

The noblest of those with a claim upon their homelands.

With its firstness in the field

وَاسْتَقْبَلَ الثَّغْرُ الأَمِينُ نَزيلَهُ

وَاسْتَقْبَلَ الثَّغْرُ الأَمِينُ نَزيلَهُ

بِبَشَاشَةِ المُتَهّلِّلِ الجَذْلانِ

بِبَشَاشَةِ المُتَهّلِّلِ الجَذْلانِ

And the secure port welcomed its guest

It gathered before you its old and young

With the radiant cheer of one rejoicing.

Like a family, intimate as brothers

مَا زَالَ لِلإِسْكَنْدَرِيَّةِ فَضْلُهَا

مَا زَالَ لِلإِسْكَنْدَرِيَّةِ فَضْلُهَا

بِبِدَارَهَا وَالسَّبْقِ فِي المَيْدَانِ

بِبِدَارَهَا وَالسَّبْقِ فِي المَيْدَانِ

Alexandria still retains her distinction

An elite—if the call of sacrifice summons them

Through her promptness and her lead upon the field.

Each devoted soul answers readily

جَمَعَتْ حِيَالَكَ شِيبَهَا وَشَبَابَهَا

جَمَعَتْ حِيَالَكَ شِيبَهَا وَشَبَابَهَا

كَالأَهْلِ مُؤْتَلِفِينَ وَالإِخْوَانِ

كَالأَهْلِ مُؤْتَلِفِينَ وَالإِخْوَانِ

She gathered her elders and her youth before you,

Marvel at their throng knit with glory

United like family and brothers,

As beauty and splendor appeared together

مِنْ نُخْبَةٍ إِنْ يَدْعُهُمْ دَاعِي الفِدَى

مِنْ نُخْبَةٍ إِنْ يَدْعُهُمْ دَاعِي الفِدَى

لَبَّاهُ كُلُّ سَمَيْذَعٍ مُتَفَانِ

لَبَّاهُ كُلُّ سَمَيْذَعٍ مُتَفَانِ

From a chosen band: if sacrifice's summons calls them,

The uniquely splendid prince rose among them

Every selfless, noble leader answers.

A wonder whose like the two moons coveted

أَبْدِعْ بِحَشْدِهِمُ الَّذِي انْتَظَمَ العُلَى

أَبْدِعْ بِحَشْدِهِمُ الَّذِي انْتَظَمَ العُلَى

فِي مَوْضِعٍ وَجَلا الحِلَى فِي آنِ

فِي مَوْضِعٍ وَجَلا الحِلَى فِي آنِ

How splendid their gathering, which assembled high virtues

Omar whose perfect traits contend

In one place, and revealed their ornaments at once!

In their majesty, beauty, and carrying of burdens

طَلَعَ الأَمِيرُ الفَرْدُ فِيهِ مَطْلَعاً

طَلَعَ الأَمِيرُ الفَرْدُ فِيهِ مَطْلَعاً

عَجَباً تَمَنَّى مِثْلَهُ القَمَرَانِ

عَجَباً تَمَنَّى مِثْلَهُ القَمَرَانِ

The peerless prince appeared among them with a rising

The East knows his value and venerates him

So wondrous that both sun and moon wished for its like.

Seeing him at the height of all Creation

عُمَرُ الَّذِي اخْتَلَفَتْ صِفَاتُ كَمَالِهِ

عُمَرُ الَّذِي اخْتَلَفَتْ صِفَاتُ كَمَالِهِ

وَجَلالُهَا وَجَمَالُهَا وَحَمَالُهَا سَيَّانِ

وَجَلالُهَا وَجَمَالُهَا وَحَمَالُهَا سَيَّانِ

Umar, whose qualities of perfection are diverse,

So congratulations for being near him, Sincerity, and attain

Yet their majesty, beauty, and [unclear quality] are equal.

As much pride and loftiness as you wish

الشَّرْقُ يَعْرِفُ قَدْرَهُ وَيَجِلُّهُ

الشَّرْقُ يَعْرِفُ قَدْرَهُ وَيَجِلُّهُ

وَيَرَاهُ مِنْ أَعْلَى الذُّرَى بِمَكَانِ

وَيَرَاهُ مِنْ أَعْلَى الذُّرَى بِمَكَانِ

The East knows his worth and venerates him,

And receive from him a hand skilled in its choices

And sees him placed among the highest peaks.

Rewarding kindness with kindness

فَاهْنَأْ بِقُرْبِكَ مِنْهُ يَا صِدْقِي وَنَلْ

فَاهْنَأْ بِقُرْبِكَ مِنْهُ يَا صِدْقِي وَنَلْ

مَا شِئْتَ فَخْرٍ وَرِفْعَةِ شَانِ

مَا شِئْتَ فَخْرٍ وَرِفْعَةِ شَانِ

So rejoice in your closeness to him, O Sidqi, and gain

Whatever pride and high standing you desire.

وَتَلَقَّ مِنْهُ يَداً تُجِيدُ خِيَارَهَا

وَتَلَقَّ مِنْهُ يَداً تُجِيدُ خِيَارَهَا

وَتُكَافيءُ الإِحْسَانَ بِالإِحْسَانِ

وَتُكَافيءُ الإِحْسَانَ بِالإِحْسَانِ

And receive from him a hand generous with its choicest gifts,

Repaying kindness with kindness.