بُلَّغْتَ أعْلَى مَنْصبٍ تَوْثِيقَاً

بُلَّغْتَ أعْلَى مَنْصبٍ تَوْثِيقَاً

فَسَمَوْتَ لاَ عَفْواً وَلاَ تَوْفِيقَا

فَسَمَوْتَ لاَ عَفْواً وَلاَ تَوْفِيقَا

You were raised to the highest office in recognition,

You attained the highest position with merit

and rose neither by chance nor by mere good fortune.

You excelled not out of pardon or enablement

شَرَفاً عَمِيدَ الطِّب لَمْ تَلِ مَنْصِباً

شَرَفاً عَمِيدَ الطِّب لَمْ تَلِ مَنْصِباً

إِلاَّ بِأَسْنَى مِنْهُ كُنْتَ حَقِيقَا

إِلاَّ بِأَسْنَى مِنْهُ كُنْتَ حَقِيقَا

Honor to you, dean of medicine! You held no office

Glory to the dean of medicine, you did not take a position

without deserving one more exalted still.

Except with the best of it, you were the most genuine

آيَاتُ عِلْمكَ وَابْتِكَارِكَ سُدِّدَتْ

آيَاتُ عِلْمكَ وَابْتِكَارِكَ سُدِّدَتْ

نَظَرِيَّة وَتَمَحِّصتْ تَطْبِيقَا

نَظَرِيَّة وَتَمَحِّصتْ تَطْبِيقَا

The proofs of your knowledge and invention were made sound

The signs of your knowledge and innovation were directed

in theory, and proved through practice.

Theoretically and examined through application

عَرَفَ النَّوَابِغُ بِالشَّوَاهِدِ فَضْلَهَا

عَرَفَ النَّوَابِغُ بِالشَّوَاهِدِ فَضْلَهَا

فَأَتَتْ شَهَادَتُهُمْ لَهَا تَصْدِيقَا

فَأَتَتْ شَهَادَتُهُمْ لَهَا تَصْدِيقَا

Great minds recognized their merit through the evidence,

The geniuses knew its superiority through evidence

and their testimony came to confirm them.

So their testimonies to it came as confirmation

لاَ بِدْعَ وَالْوَطَنَانِ مُخْتَلِفَانِ أَنْ

لاَ بِدْعَ وَالْوَطَنَانِ مُخْتَلِفَانِ أَنْ

رَعَيَا النَّبوغَ وَأَنْ دَعَوْكَ رَفِيقَا

رَعَيَا النَّبوغَ وَأَنْ دَعَوْكَ رَفِيقَا

It is no wonder, though the two homelands differ, that

Without heresy, though differing in nationality, they

they nurtured genius and called you a fellow.

Cherished genius and called you a colleague

فَإِذَا مَقَامُ الْعِلْمِ أَرْفَعُ رَايَةً

فَإِذَا مَقَامُ الْعِلْمِ أَرْفَعُ رَايَةً

وَإِذَا فَرِيقُهُمْ أَعَزُّ فَرِيقَا

وَإِذَا فَرِيقُهُمْ أَعَزُّ فَرِيقَا

Then lo, the realm of science has the loftiest banner,

So if the position of knowledge is the highest flag

and lo, their company is the most honored company.

And their party is the most honourable group

جَدَّدْتَ مَأْثُرَةً لِمِصْرَ عَتِيقَةً

جَدَّدْتَ مَأْثُرَةً لِمِصْرَ عَتِيقَةً

فَجَلَوْتَ وَجْهاً لِلْفَخارِ عَتِيقَا

فَجَلَوْتَ وَجْهاً لِلْفَخارِ عَتِيقَا

You renewed an ancient achievement for Egypt,

You renewed an ancient glory for Egypt

thus bringing an ancient face of glory to light.

So you purified a face for venerable pride

وَوَصَلْتَ فِي الطِّب الفُرُوعَ بِأَصْلِهَا

وَوَصَلْتَ فِي الطِّب الفُرُوعَ بِأَصْلِهَا

فزَهَا الْفُوُرعُ بِأَصْلِهِنَّ عَرِيقا

فزَهَا الْفُوُرعُ بِأَصْلِهِنَّ عَرِيقا

You joined medicine's branches to their root,

And you connected medicine’s branches to its origin

so the branches gloried in their venerable root.

So the branches blossomed with their rooted origin

أَلطِّب مِنْ إِبْدَاءِ مِصْرَ فَيَا لَهُ

أَلطِّب مِنْ إِبْدَاءِ مِصْرَ فَيَا لَهُ

فَتْحاً أَفَاضَ عَلَى الْغُرُوبِ شُرُوقَا

فَتْحاً أَفَاضَ عَلَى الْغُرُوبِ شُرُوقَا

Medicine is Egypt's invention—oh, what a

Oh medicine, from the innovation of Egypt, for it

triumph that poured sunrise upon sunset!

An opening that overflowed over the sunset as sunrise

لاَ بِدْعَ وَالْحُفَدَاءُ سِرُّ جُدُودِهِمْ

لاَ بِدْعَ وَالْحُفَدَاءُ سِرُّ جُدُودِهِمْ

أَنْ تَسْتَعِيدَ مَقَامَهَا وَتَفُوقَا

أَنْ تَسْتَعِيدَ مَقَامَهَا وَتَفُوقَا

It is no wonder, since grandchildren are their grandfathers' secret,

Without heresy, and the grandchildren are the secret of their ancestors

that she should regain her standing and surpass it.

To regain its position and excel

قَدْ أَلَّهَتْ آمِنْحَتِيبَ وَإِنَّما

قَدْ أَلَّهَتْ آمِنْحَتِيبَ وَإِنَّما

هِيَ مَجَّدَتْ فِي الْخَالِقِ المَخْلُوقَا

هِيَ مَجَّدَتْ فِي الْخَالِقِ المَخْلُوقَا

She had deified Amenhotep; yet

It deified Amenhotep, but rather

she merely glorified the creature in the Creator.

It glorified the Creator through the created

عِلْمٌ إِذَا اسْتَقْرَيْتَ مِنْهُ جَلِيلَهُ

عِلْمٌ إِذَا اسْتَقْرَيْتَ مِنْهُ جَلِيلَهُ

أَمْعَنْتَ فِيهِ فَمَا تَرَكْتَ دَقِيقَا

أَمْعَنْتَ فِيهِ فَمَا تَرَكْتَ دَقِيقَا

A science: when you surveyed its great matters,

A knowledge which if you examine its greatness

you delved into it, leaving no detail untouched.

You delve into it and leave no subtlety

وَقَتَلْتَهُ خُبْراً لإِحْيَاءٍ بِهِ

وَقَتَلْتَهُ خُبْراً لإِحْيَاءٍ بِهِ

وَسَبَرْتَ أَبْعَدَ غَوْرِهِ تَحْقِيقَا

وَسَبَرْتَ أَبْعَدَ غَوْرِهِ تَحْقِيقَا

And you studied it to death, to give life through it,

And you killed it with news to revive through it

and probed its farthest depths with thorough inquiry.

And you probed its furthest depth in verification

فَبَدَتْ لَكَ الآرَاءُ فِيهِ جَدِيدَةً

فَبَدَتْ لَكَ الآرَاءُ فِيهِ جَدِيدَةً

مِنْ كُلِّ بَابٍ لَمْ يَكُنْ مَطْرُوقَا

مِنْ كُلِّ بَابٍ لَمْ يَكُنْ مَطْرُوقَا

Then new ideas appeared to you within it,

So new perspectives appeared in it to you

from every door that had not been knocked upon.

From every door not previously knocked on

وَتُنُوقِلَتْ فِيهِ مَبَاحِثُكَ الَّتِي

وَتُنُوقِلَتْ فِيهِ مَبَاحِثُكَ الَّتِي

قَدْ قَرَّبَتْ مَا كَانَ مِنْهُ سَحِيقَا

قَدْ قَرَّبَتْ مَا كَانَ مِنْهُ سَحِيقَا

And your studies of it were circulated—those

And your discussions which brought close

that brought near what had been far removed in it.

What was of it far, were transformed in it

كَمْ مُدْنَفٍ أَبْرَأْتَهُ مِنْ سُقْمِهِ

كَمْ مُدْنَفٍ أَبْرَأْتَهُ مِنْ سُقْمِهِ

فَكَفَيْتَهُ التَّعذِيبَ وَالتَّأرِيقَا

فَكَفَيْتَهُ التَّعذِيبَ وَالتَّأرِيقَا

How many a languishing patient you cured of his sickness,

How many ill you cured of their sickness

sparing him torment and sleeplessness!

So you spared them torture and moistening

وَشَفَيْتَ قَبْلَ الجِسْمِ عِلَّةَ رُوحِهِ

وَشَفَيْتَ قَبْلَ الجِسْمِ عِلَّةَ رُوحِهِ

بِاللَّفْظِ عَذْباً وَالعِلاَجِ رَفِيقَا

بِاللَّفْظِ عَذْباً وَالعِلاَجِ رَفِيقَا

And before his body, you healed the sickness of his soul,

And you cured the spiritual illness before the body

with sweet speech and gentle treatment.

With gentle speech and gentle treatment

تَصِفُ الدَّوَاءَ لَهُ عَلَى قَدَرٍ فَلاَ

تَصِفُ الدَّوَاءَ لَهُ عَلَى قَدَرٍ فَلاَ

تَخْلِيطَ فِي صِفَةٍ وَلاَ تَلْفِيقا

تَخْلِيطَ فِي صِفَةٍ وَلاَ تَلْفِيقا

You prescribe medicine for him in due measure, so there is no

You describe the medicine to him in the right amount so no

muddling in the prescription, nor makeshift concoction.

Adulterating in attributes or patching up

أَوْ تُدْرِكُ الدَّاءَ الدَّوِيَّ بِنَصْلَةٍ

أَوْ تُدْرِكُ الدَّاءَ الدَّوِيَّ بِنَصْلَةٍ

تَنْضُو الْحِجَابَ وَلاَ تَضِلُّ طَرِيقَا

تَنْضُو الْحِجَابَ وَلاَ تَضِلُّ طَرِيقَا

Or you reach the grievous disease with a blade

Or you detect the chronic illness with insight

that strips away the veil and never strays from its path.

That removes the veil and does not stray from the path

تَنْدَى وَتَسْطَعُ فِي يَدَيْكَ مَهَارَةً

تَنْدَى وَتَسْطَعُ فِي يَدَيْكَ مَهَارَةً

كَالمَاءِ لِيناً وَالرَّجَاءِ بَريقَا

كَالمَاءِ لِيناً وَالرَّجَاءِ بَريقَا

It grows dewy and shines with skill in your hands,

A skill flows and shines in your hands

soft as water, bright as hope.

Like water, gentle, and hope, shining

وَتُطِيعُ فِكْراً صَارِماً كَشَبَاتهَا

وَتُطِيعُ فِكْراً صَارِماً كَشَبَاتهَا

وَتُطِيعُ قَلْباً كَالنَّسيمِ رَقِيقَا

وَتُطِيعُ قَلْباً كَالنَّسيمِ رَقِيقَا

It obeys a mind as keen as its cutting edge,

And it obeys a stringent mind like its firmness

and obeys a heart as tender as the breeze.

And obeys a heart gentle like a breeze

عَزْمٌ بِهِ تَنْهَى الصُّرَوفُ فَتَنْتَهِي

عَزْمٌ بِهِ تَنْهَى الصُّرَوفُ فَتَنْتَهِي

وَلَرُبَّما عُقْتَ الحِمَامَ فَعِيقَا

وَلَرُبَّما عُقْتَ الحِمَامَ فَعِيقَا

A resolve with which you bid fate's vicissitudes cease, and they cease;

Resolve with which calamities end when they end

and many a time you have stayed death, and it was stayed.

And sometimes you harness the pigeons when they coo

دَعْ فَضْلَ ذَاكَ الْعَبْقَرِيَّ وَعِلْمَهُ

دَعْ فَضْلَ ذَاكَ الْعَبْقَرِيَّ وَعِلْمَهُ

وَذَكَاءَهُ وَلِسَانَهُ المِنْطِيقَا

وَذَكَاءَهُ وَلِسَانَهُ المِنْطِيقَا

Set aside that genius's excellence and learning,

Leave the excellence of that genius, his knowledge

and his intelligence and his eloquent tongue,

His intelligence and his eloquent tongue

وَاذْكُرْ لَهُ فَوْقَ الحَصَافَةِ وَالحِجَى

وَاذْكُرْ لَهُ فَوْقَ الحَصَافَةِ وَالحِجَى

خُلُقاً بِأَسْنَى التَّكرِمَاتِ خَلِيقَا

خُلُقاً بِأَسْنَى التَّكرِمَاتِ خَلِيقَا

and recall in him, beyond discernment and wisdom,

And mention to him above wisdom and dignity

a character worthy of the loftiest honors.

A mannerism with the finest nobilities befitting

خَبَرَ الزَّمَانَ بَنُوا الزَّمَانِ فَعَزَّ أَنْ

خَبَرَ الزَّمَانَ بَنُوا الزَّمَانِ فَعَزَّ أَنْ

يَرَوُا الصَّدِيقَ كَمَا رَأَوْهُ صَدِيقَا

يَرَوُا الصَّدِيقَ كَمَا رَأَوْهُ صَدِيقَا

The sons of time have known time; yet it is rare that they

The people of the time experienced time’s sons, so it was difficult

see a friend as they have seen him—a true friend.

For them to see the friend as his friend saw him

وَلَوِ الْوَفَاءُ بَدَا مِثَالاً لَمْ يَكُنْ

وَلَوِ الْوَفَاءُ بَدَا مِثَالاً لَمْ يَكُنْ

أَحَدٌ سِوَاهُ مِثَالَهُ المَصْدُوقَا

أَحَدٌ سِوَاهُ مِثَالَهُ المَصْدُوقَا

And were loyalty to take embodied form, there would be

And if loyalty appeared as an example, there would be

none but him as its true embodiment.

No one but him whose example is believed

وَدٌّ صَفَا مِنْ كُلِّ شَائِبَةٍ فَلاَ

وَدٌّ صَفَا مِنْ كُلِّ شَائِبَةٍ فَلاَ

تَكْدِيرَ فِي حَالٍ وَلاَ تَرْنِيقَا

تَكْدِيرَ فِي حَالٍ وَلاَ تَرْنِيقَا

Affection purified of every taint, with no

A love pure of any blemish, so no

clouding in any circumstance, nor muddying.

Turbidity in a situation or affectation

أَدَبٌ تُقَيِّدُهُ سَجِيَّتهُ بِهِ

أَدَبٌ تُقَيِّدُهُ سَجِيَّتهُ بِهِ

وَيُرِيكَهُ البِشْرُ الطَّليقُ طَلِيقَا

وَيُرِيكَهُ البِشْرُ الطَّليقُ طَلِيقَا

A courtesy with which his nature binds him,

Manners that restrain him with their ways

yet his open cheerfulness shows him to you unfettered.

And you see him cheerful and at ease

ذَوقٌ سَلِيمٌ فِي الطَّرَائِفِ وَالْحِلَى

ذَوقٌ سَلِيمٌ فِي الطَّرَائِفِ وَالْحِلَى

يَهْوَى الْفُنُونَ وَيُنْكِرُ التَّزْوِيقَا

يَهْوَى الْفُنُونَ وَيُنْكِرُ التَّزْوِيقَا

A sound taste in curios and ornaments,

A sound taste in wit and sweetness

loving the arts and rejecting gaudy embellishment.

He loves the arts and rejects ornamentation

يَخْتَصُّ مِنْهَا بِالْعُيُونِ فَمَا تَرَى

يَخْتَصُّ مِنْهَا بِالْعُيُونِ فَمَا تَرَى

إِلاَّ جَمِيلاً حَوْلَهُ وَأَنِيقَا

إِلاَّ جَمِيلاً حَوْلَهُ وَأَنِيقَا

He selects their finest works, so you see

He takes from them the best, so you do not see

nothing around him but beauty and elegance.

Except beautiful all around him and elegant

يَا فَخْرَ أُمَّتهِ وَبَاعِثَ مَجْدِهَا

يَا فَخْرَ أُمَّتهِ وَبَاعِثَ مَجْدِهَا

جَلَّتْ مَسَاعِيكَ الْجِسَامُ حُقُوقَا

جَلَّتْ مَسَاعِيكَ الْجِسَامُ حُقُوقَا

O pride of his nation and reviver of its glory,

Oh pride of his nation and reviver of its glory

your mighty endeavors are owed immense recognition.

Your great efforts have obliged you your rights

أَيَفِي بِمَا افْتَرَضَتْ عَلَى أُدَبَائِهَا

أَيَفِي بِمَا افْتَرَضَتْ عَلَى أُدَبَائِهَا

أَنْ يُحْسِنُوا المَكْتُوبَ وَالمَنْطُوقَا

أَنْ يُحْسِنُوا المَكْتُوبَ وَالمَنْطُوقَا

Can the duty they impose upon its men of letters be met

Can it fulfill what it obligated upon its literati

by excellence in the written and spoken word?

To commend the written and spoken?

هَيْهَاتَ تُخْفِي بِالتَّوَاضُعِ جُهْدَ

هَيْهَاتَ تُخْفِي بِالتَّوَاضُعِ جُهْدَ

مَا بَالَغْتَ فِيهِ مَكَانَكَ المَرْمُوقَا

مَا بَالَغْتَ فِيهِ مَكَانَكَ المَرْمُوقَا

Never can you hide through humility—however hard

Far from it! You conceal with modesty the effort

you strive at it—your distinguished station.

Of what you reached in your lofty position

يَتَقَاصَرُ الأَنْدَادُ عَنْكَ وَمَا بِهِم

يَتَقَاصَرُ الأَنْدَادُ عَنْكَ وَمَا بِهِم

مِنْ سَابِقٍ إِلاَّ غَدَا مَسْبُوقَا

مِنْ سَابِقٍ إِلاَّ غَدَا مَسْبُوقَا

Your peers fall short of you, and among them there is

The peers fall short of you, and none of them

no forerunner who has not been overtaken.

Were preceding except they became preceded

أَرْضَاهُمُ فِي الْحَقّ أَنَّك لَمْ تَكُنْ

أَرْضَاهُمُ فِي الْحَقّ أَنَّك لَمْ تَكُنْ

أَدْنَاهُمُ جُهْداً وأَعْلَى فُوقَا

أَدْنَاهُمُ جُهْداً وأَعْلَى فُوقَا

What pleased them, in truth, was that you were not

It satisfied them in truth that you were not

the least hardworking among them yet highest in rank.

The lowest of them in effort and highest in ascent

عَدْلٌ حُلُولُكَ فِي القُلُوبِ جَمِيعِهَا

عَدْلٌ حُلُولُكَ فِي القُلُوبِ جَمِيعِهَا

ذَاكَ المَحَلَّ مُبَجَّلاً مَوْمُوقَا

ذَاكَ المَحَلَّ مُبَجَّلاً مَوْمُوقَا

It is just that you should dwell in every heart,

Justice, your residing in all hearts

in that place, revered and beloved.

That position revered and entrusted