مَنْwhoever يَبْتَنِيbuilds لِلْعِلْمِfor learning دَاراًa house إِنَّمَاonly
مَنْ يَبْتَنِي لِلْعِلْمِ دَاراً إِنَّمَا
هُوَhe يَبْتَنِيbuilds مُسْتَقَبِلَthe future الأَوْطَانِof the homelands
هُوَ يَبْتَنِي مُسْتَقَبِلَ الأَوْطَانِ
Whoever builds a house for learning is only
He who builds a house of knowledge builds the future of nations
building the future of nations.
Today we need our girls as much as our boys
اليَوْمَtoday حَاجَتُنَاour need إِلَىfor فَتَيَاتِنَاour young women
اليَوْمَ حَاجَتُنَا إِلَى فَتَيَاتِنَا
شَرْعٌequal وَحَاجَتُنَاand our need إِلَىfor الفُتْيَانِthe young men
شَرْعٌ وَحَاجَتُنَا إِلَى الفُتْيَانِ
Today our need for our young women
Educating them completes educating them
equals our need for young men.
And advancing them advances the times
تَهْذِيبُهُنَّtheir cultivation (women's) مُتمِّمٌcomplementing تَهْذِيبُهُمْtheir cultivation (men's)
تَهْذِيبُهُنَّ مُتمِّمٌ تَهْذِيبُهُمْ
وَرُقِيُّهُنَّand their advancement فِيat آنِa moment
وَرُقِيُّهُنَّ فِي آنِ
Their cultivation complements that of the young men,
Reforming them reforms every clan
and their advancement, at the same time.
And their righteousness brings righteousness to all eras
إِصْلاحُهُمْtheir reform إِصْلاحُthe reform كُلِّevery عَشِيرَةٍclan
إِصْلاحُهُمْ إِصْلاحُ كُلِّ عَشِيرَةٍ
وَصَلاحُهُنَّand their virtue (women's) صَلاحُthe virtue كُلِّevery زَمَانِage
وَصَلاحُهُنَّ صَلاحُ كُلِّ زَمَانِ
Their reform is the reform of every clan,
Our success lies in both genders combining
and the women's virtue is the virtue of every age.
Refinement, cognizance, and discipline
وَفَلاحُنَاand our success بِتَكَاتُفِthrough cooperation الجِنْسَيْنِof the two sexes فِيin
وَفَلاحُنَا بِتَكَاتُفِ الجِنْسَيْنِ فِي
أَدَبٍculture يَزنْهُمَاweighs them both وَفِيand in عُرْفَانِknowledge
أَدَبٍ يَزنْهُمَا وَفِي عُرْفَانِ
And our success lies in the two sexes joining forces in
O lady of favors who built with them
a culture that gives weight to both, and in knowledge.
Varieties of buildings for religion and life
يَاO رَبَّةَlady المِنَنِof benefactions الَّتِيwho شَادَتْshe raised بِهَاwith them
يَا رَبَّةَ المِنَنِ الَّتِي شَادَتْ بِهَا
لِلدِّينِfor religion وَالدُّنْيَاand worldly life ضُرُوبَkinds مَبَانِيof buildings
لِلدِّينِ وَالدُّنْيَا ضُرُوبَ مَبَانِي
O lady of benefactions, who with them has raised
You left with the bounty you gave
buildings of many kinds for religion and worldly life,
An oft-repeated memory in every garden
خَلَّفْتِyou left behind بِالفَضْلِthrough the generosity الَّذِيwhich أَسْدَيتِهِyou bestowed it
خَلَّفْتِ بِالفَضْلِ الَّذِي أَسْدَيتِهِ
ذِكْرَىa remembrance مُرَدَّدَةٍrepeated بِكُلِّin every جَنَانِheart
ذِكْرَى مُرَدَّدَةٍ بِكُلِّ جَنَانِ
through the generosity you bestowed, you have left
You did Joseph justice among his people
a remembrance echoed in every heart.
With the subtlety of status and loftiness of rank
وَفَّيْتِyou gave in full يُوسُفَYusuf حَقَّهُhis due فِيamong قَوْمِهِhis people
وَفَّيْتِ يُوسُفَ حَقَّهُ فِي قَوْمِهِ
مِنْof لُطْفِgraciousness مَنْزِلَةٍstanding وَرِفْعَةِand loftiness شَانِstatus
مِنْ لُطْفِ مَنْزِلَةٍ وَرِفْعَةِ شَانِ
You gave Yusuf his due among his people,
In the book of the Most High you were crowned
in gracious standing and exalted esteem.
With a chapter bearing your name
بِاسْميْكُمَاwith your two names تَوَّجْتِyou crowned فِيin سِفْرِthe book العُلَىof glory
بِاسْميْكُمَا تَوَّجْتِ فِي سِفْرِ العُلَى
طِرْساًa parchment خَلاwas blank إِلاَّexcept مِنْfor العُنْوَانِthe heading
طِرْساً خَلا إِلاَّ مِنْ العُنْوَانِ
With both your names you crowned, in the book of glory,
Would that the elite emulated Aqeelah
a parchment blank except for its heading.
For whom there is a most precious place among the immortal
لَيْتَwould that السُّرَاةُthe notables تَشَبَّهُواthey modeled themselves بِعَقِيلَةٍon a noble lady
لَيْتَ السُّرَاةُ تَشَبَّهُوا بِعَقِيلَةٍ
فِيamong الخَالِدِينَthe immortals لَهَاhers is أَعَزُّthe most honored مَكَانِplace
فِي الخَالِدِينَ لَهَا أَعَزُّ مَكَانِ
Would that the notables emulated a noble lady
She was generous while they were stingy
whose place among the immortals is most honored.
She preceded while they lagged behind
جَادَتْshe gave generously وَضَنُّواand they withheld أَقْدَمَتْshe advanced وَتَأَخَّرُواand they lagged
جَادَتْ وَضَنُّوا أَقْدَمَتْ وَتَأَخَّرُوا
طَلَّتْshe appeared وَهُمْwhile they فِيat أَوَّلِthe beginning المَيْدَانِof the field
طَلَّتْ وَهُمْ فِي أَوَّلِ المَيْدَانِ
She gave freely while they withheld; she advanced while they lagged.
She sought while they were just at the start
She appeared while they were at the field's beginning.
She excelled while they did not excel in any good thing
بَرَّتْshe was kind وَمَاand not بَرَّواthey were kind بِنَشْءٍto a young generation طَيِّبٍgood
بَرَّتْ وَمَا بَرَّوا بِنَشْءٍ طَيِّبٍ
زَاكِيflourishing النَّبَاتِin growth إِلَىfor النَّدَىdew; generosity ظَمْآنِthirsty
زَاكِي النَّبَاتِ إِلَى النَّدَى ظَمْآنِ
She nurtured, while they did not, a good young generation,
Quenching the thirst of plants longing for dew
flourishing in growth, thirsting for dew.
Make her great precedent an exemplar
أَعْظِمْhow great! بِخُطَّتِهَاis her course الحَمِيدَةِpraiseworthy قُدْوَةًas an example
أَعْظِمْ بِخُطَّتِهَا الحَمِيدَةِ قُدْوَةً
لِمَنِfor whoever اشْتَرَىbought خُلْداًimmortality بِعُمْرِwith a lifetime فَانِfleeting
لِمَنِ اشْتَرَى خُلْداً بِعُمْرِ فَانِ
How great an example is her praiseworthy course
For those who bought eternity with fleeting life
for whoever buys immortality with a fleeting life!
For a virtuous group of beauties they fascinate
لِفَرِيقِfor a group خَيْرٍcharity مِنْof غَوانٍbeautiful women هُنَّthey عَنْfrom
لِفَرِيقِ خَيْرٍ مِنْ غَوانٍ هُنَّ عَنْ
أَغْلَىthe costliest الحِلَىjewels بِصِفَاتِهُنَّthrough their qualities غَوَانِيfree of need
أَغْلَى الحِلَى بِصِفَاتِهُنَّ غَوَانِي
For a charitable band of beauties who dispense with
With their exquisite qualities the most precious necklaces
the costliest jewels through their own qualities.
They strive for the noble duty so you see
يَسْعَيْنَthey strive لِلْفَرَضِfor the duty النَّبِيلِnoble فَمَاso not تَرَىyou see
يَسْعَيْنَ لِلْفَرَضِ النَّبِيلِ فَمَا تَرَى
إِلاَّexcept مَلائِكَangels رَحْمَةٍof mercy وَحَنَانِand tenderness
إِلاَّ مَلائِكَ رَحْمَةٍ وَحَنَانِ
They strive for the noble duty, so you see
Nothing but angels of mercy and tenderness
none but angels of mercy and tenderness.
Boughs of acacia the passions cannot sway
أَغْصَانُboughs بَانٍof the ban tree لاnot يَمِيلُsways بِهَاthem الهَوَىpassion
أَغْصَانُ بَانٍ لا يَمِيلُ بِهَا الهَوَى
للهِfor God مَيْلُكِyour inclination يَاO غُصُونَboughs البَانِof the ban tree
للهِ مَيْلُكِ يَا غُصُونَ البَانِ
Boughs of the ban tree that passion cannot sway;
To God alone your leaning, O branches of acacia
your swaying is for God, O boughs of the ban tree.
They would stay up nights to blanket
وَلَقَدْand indeed يُسَاهِرْنَthey keep vigil with النًُّجُومَthe stars لَوَاسُجاًweaving
وَلَقَدْ يُسَاهِرْنَ النًُّجُومَ لَوَاسُجاً
دِفْئاًwarmth لِمَقْرُورِfor one chilled الشَّوَىin the limbs عُرْيَانِnaked
دِفْئاً لِمَقْرُورِ الشَّوَى عُرْيَانِ
And indeed they keep vigil with the stars, weaving
The shivering destitute their shelter
warmth for one naked and chilled of limb.
Were they to adorn themselves with trinkets
لَوْif يَغْتَدِينَthey begin the morning مُوَشَّبَاتٍmingled زينَةًadornment
لَوْ يَغْتَدِينَ مُوَشَّبَاتٍ زينَةً
عُجْباًwondrously تَدُرُّit yields القُوْتَfood لِلْغَرْثَانِfor the hungry
عُجْباً تَدُرُّ القُوْتَ لِلْغَرْثَانِ
If they begin the day arrayed in mingled finery,
How strange to waste sustenance on the wealthy
how wondrously it yields food for the hungry!
How many charity institutions she erected around her
كَمْhow many مَعْهَدٍan institution لِلْبِرِّof charity شَادَتْthey raised حَوْلَهُaround it
كَمْ مَعْهَدٍ لِلْبِرِّ شَادَتْ حَوْلَهُ
أَبَرَّneedles رِقَاقٍslender أَضْخَمَthe mightiest العِمْدَانِpillars
أَبَرَّ رِقَاقٍ أَضْخَمَ العِمْدَانِ
How many a house of charity has had raised around it
With her delicate fingers she laid its firm foundations
the mightiest pillars, by slender needles!
Wherever I look I see no benevolence
وَبِأَنْمُلاتٍand with fingertips نَاعِمَاتٍdelicate أَسَّسَتْthey established
وَبِأَنْمُلاتٍ نَاعِمَاتٍ أَسَّسَتْ
لِلْخَيْرِfor goodness فِيهِwithin it ثَوَابِتَfirm الأَرْكَانِpillars
لِلْخَيْرِ فِيهِ ثَوَابِتَ الأَرْكَانِ
And with delicate fingertips they established
Among people's praiseworthy deeds like hers
firm pillars for goodness within it.
Can a person reach the moral height of another?
إِنِّيindeed I أُقَلِّبُI turn about نَاظِرِيmy gaze فَمَاso not أَرَىI see
إِنِّي أُقَلِّبُ نَاظِرِي فَمَا أَرَى
فِيamong مَحْمَدَاتِpraiseworthy deeds النَّاسِof people كَالإِحْسَانِlike benevolence
فِي مَحْمَدَاتِ النَّاسِ كَالإِحْسَانِ
I turn my gaze about, yet see nothing
The utmost of ranks in human stature?
among people's virtues to equal benevolence.
Were it not for His guarantorship and noble defense
هَلْdoes ...? يَبْلُغُattain الإِنْسَانُthe human being خُلُقَa virtue غَيْرِهِother than it
هَلْ يَبْلُغُ الإِنْسَانُ خُلُقَ غَيْرِهِ
أَعْلَىthe highest الذُّرَىpeaks فِيin رُتْبَةِthe standing الإِنْسَانِof the human being
أَعْلَى الذُّرَى فِي رُتْبَةِ الإِنْسَانِ
Can a person attain, through any other virtue,
Ruination would have remained on civilization
the highest peaks of human standing?
Not to mention the good that flows like dew
لَوْلاbut for كِفَالَتَهُits guardianship وَحُسْنُand the goodness دِفَاعِهِof its defense
لَوْلا كِفَالَتَهُ وَحُسْنُ دِفَاعِهِ
لَمْwould not يُبْقِspare تَدْمِيرُdestruction عَلَىupon عُمْرَانِcivilization
لَمْ يُبْقِ تَدْمِيرُ عَلَى عُمْرَانِ
But for its guardianship and its gracious defense,
And the irrigation from springs of good design
destruction would spare no civilization.
There are honorable men among the elders and youth
نَاهِيكَsufficient for you بِالمَعْرُوفِwith kindness يَجْرِيflows كَالنَّدَىlike dew
نَاهِيكَ بِالمَعْرُوفِ يَجْرِي كَالنَّدَى
وَبِهِand through it سَقَاءٌwatering مِنْfrom بَنَانِthe fingertips حِسانِof fair women
وَبِهِ سَقَاءٌ مِنْ بَنَانِ حِسانِ
How admirable is kindness, flowing like dew,
An elite in both gray hair and youth
and through it comes watering from the fingertips of fair women.
O you who hear the voice of conscience! Be in awe of
وَأَعِزَّةٌand honored ones بَيْنَamong الرِّجَالِmen أَفَاضِلٌvirtuous
وَأَعِزَّةٌ بَيْنَ الرِّجَالِ أَفَاضِلٌ
هُمْthey نُخْبَةٌan elite فِيamong الشَّيْبِthe gray-haired وَالشُّبَّانِand the young
هُمْ نُخْبَةٌ فِي الشَّيْبِ وَالشُّبَّانِ
And among men are honored, virtuous ones;
A caller obeyed in command and authority
they are the chosen among the gray-haired and the young.
And preparing means for some over others
يَاO سَامِعِيhearers of صَوْتَthe voice الضَّمِيرِof conscience وَجُلَّand how exalted مِنْas a
يَا سَامِعِي صَوْتَ الضَّمِيرِ وَجُلَّ مِنْ
دَاعٍcaller مُطَاعِobeyed الأَمْرِin command وَالسُّلْطَانِand authority
دَاعٍ مُطَاعِ الأَمْرِ وَالسُّلْطَانِ
O hearers of the voice of conscience—how exalted it is as a
Who molded verses of thankfulness
caller whose command and authority are obeyed,
Sincere counsel mingles with heartfelt wishes
وَمُهَيِّئٍand one who prepares سَبَبَa means لِبَعْضٍfor some دُونَهُbeneath him
وَمُهَيِّئٍ سَبَبَ لِبَعْضٍ دُونَهُ
مَنْthe one who صَاغَfashioned آيَاتٍverses مِنَof الشُّكْرَانِgratitude
مَنْ صَاغَ آيَاتٍ مِنَ الشُّكْرَانِ
and a provider of means for some, beneath whom
The seal placed on them is an earnest prayer
stands the one who fashioned verses of gratitude.
For you to live in comfort and safety
هَذِيthese تَحِيَّاتِيmy greetings إِلَيْكُمْto you all لُطِّفَتْwere softened
هَذِي تَحِيَّاتِي إِلَيْكُمْ لُطِّفَتْ
فِيهَاin them العِظَاتُthe admonitions بِخَالِصَاتِwith sincere تَهَانِيcongratulations
فِيهَا العِظَاتُ بِخَالِصَاتِ تَهَانِي
These are my greetings to you, in which
Hail unique pearl of her time Hilanah
admonitions are softened by sincere congratulations.
And long live all who offer support
مِسْكُmusk الخِتَامِof the conclusion بِهَاin them دُعَاءٌa prayer خَالِصُsincere
مِسْكُ الخِتَامِ بِهَا دُعَاءٌ خَالِصُ
لَكُمُfor you all بِعَيْشِfor a life رَفَاهَةٍof comfort وَأَمَانِand safety
لَكُمُ بِعَيْشِ رَفَاهَةٍ وَأَمَانِ
The musk of their close is a sincere prayer
for you, for a life of comfort and safety.
تَحْيَاlong live فَريدَةُthe peerless woman عَصْرِهَاof her age هِيلانَةٌHilana
تَحْيَا فَريدَةُ عَصْرِهَا هِيلانَةٌ
وَيَعِيشُand long live كُلُّevery مُؤَازِرٍsupporter مِعْانِhelpful
وَيَعِيشُ كُلُّ مُؤَازِرٍ مِعْانِ
Long live Hilana, the peerless woman of her age,
and long live every helpful supporter!
Partial English translation: 56 of 60 Arabic lines translated.