لَكَyours فِيin ارْتِجَالِspontaneously undertaking جَلائِلِgreat deeds of الهِمَمِresolve
لَكَ فِي ارْتِجَالِ جَلائِلِ الهِمَمِ
مَاwhat عَزَّproved elusive لَوْif نَبْغِيهِwe seek it فِيin الكَلِمِwords
مَا عَزَّ لَوْ نَبْغِيهِ فِي الكَلِمِ
Yours, in spontaneously undertaking great deeds of resolve,
You possess in your extempore eloquence the genius
is what would prove elusive if we sought it in words.
That would be unmatched were we to seek it in words,
حَتَّىso much so that كَأَنَّas though نَجَازَthe fulfillment of مَوْعِدِهَاtheir promise
حَتَّى كَأَنَّ نَجَازَ مَوْعِدِهَا
بَعْضُpart of العُهُودِthe covenants عَلَيْكَbinding upon you وَالذِّمَمِand obligations
بَعْضُ العُهُودِ عَلَيْكَ وَالذِّمَمِ
So much so that fulfilling their promise seems
As though the achievements of the finest poets
one of the covenants and obligations binding upon you.
Were obligations binding you, and their repute.
وَلَقَدْand indeed نَبَيْتَyou were informed (unclear form) مُبَرِّحاًtormenting بِكَyou مِنْfrom
وَلَقَدْ نَبَيْتَ مُبَرِّحاً بِكَ مِنْ
أَلَمٍpain وَلاyet not تَشْكُوyou complain مِنَof الأَلَمِpain
أَلَمٍ وَلا تَشْكُو مِنَ الأَلَمِ
Indeed, you have known the torment brought upon you by
You have excelled, cheering us, in patience
pain, yet you do not complain of pain.
Uncomplaining, however sore the pain.
وَسِوَاكَand others besides you يَسْئِمُهُwearies him الكِفَاحُstruggle وَمَاyet no
وَسِوَاكَ يَسْئِمُهُ الكِفَاحُ وَمَا
بِكَin you فِيin كِفَاحِstruggling against الدَّهْرِtime مِنْany سَأَمِweariness
بِكَ فِي كِفَاحِ الدَّهْرِ مِنْ سَأَمِ
Struggle wearies others, yet
Others are wearied by struggle, but you
you feel no weariness in your struggle against time.
In struggling with fate show no fatigue.
للهِto God (in admiration) مَاwhat أَحْدَثْتَyou brought forth مِنْof غُرَرٍbrilliant achievements
للهِ مَا أَحْدَثْتَ مِنْ غُرَرٍ
طَابَgrew sweet الحَدِيثُthe telling بِهَاof them لِكُلِّto every فَمِmouth
طَابَ الحَدِيثُ بِهَا لِكُلِّ فَمِ
God bless the shining deeds you have brought forth!
O Prince, your innovations are a font
The telling of them is sweet to every mouth.
Of witticisms on every tongue and lip.
أَضْحَتْhas become صَحَافَتُنَاour press تَتِيهُvaunts itself عَلَىabove
أَضْحَتْ صَحَافَتُنَا تَتِيهُ عَلَى
أَخَوَاتِهَاits sisters فِيamong أَرْفَلِthe most richly arrayed الأُمَمِnations
أَخَوَاتِهَا فِي أَرْفَلِ الأُمَمِ
Our press now proudly vaunts itself above
Our newspapers ramble in confusion
its sisters among the most richly arrayed nations.
Among their sisters in the states of Islam.
أَيَّدَْتَهَاyou upheld it تَأْيِيدَwith the support of ذِيone possessing ثِقَةٍconfidence
أَيَّدَْتَهَا تَأْيِيدَ ذِي ثِقَةٍ
مِنْin نَفْسِهِhimself بِالحَقto truth مُعْتَصِمِholding fast
مِنْ نَفْسِهِ بِالحَق مُعْتَصِمِ
You upheld it with the support of one assured
With confident spirit you have buttressed them
of himself, holding fast to truth.
In truth, like one whose faith is never shaken.
كَمْhow often خَافَfeared صَولَتَهَاits onslaught فَغَلَّلَهَاso he shackled it
كَمْ خَافَ صَولَتَهَا فَغَلَّلَهَا
بَاغٍan oppressor إِلَىuntil أَنْthat بَاءَhe came away فِيin نَدَمِremorse
بَاغٍ إِلَى أَنْ بَاءَ فِي نَدَمِ
How often its onslaught was feared, and it was fettered
How many have feared their impetuous onrush
by an oppressor, until he came away in remorse.
And so confined them till they rued their act!
ذَاتُpossessor of الجَلالَةِmajesty لَيْسَis not ضَائِرَهَاharming it
ذَاتُ الجَلالَةِ لَيْسَ ضَائِرَهَا
مَرُّthe passing of السَّحَابِclouds وَظِلُّand the shadow of مُحْتَكِمِone wielding power
مَرُّ السَّحَابِ وَظِلُّ مُحْتَكِمِ
Her Majesty is not harmed
Majesty cannot be harmed by the passage
by passing clouds or a ruler's shadow.
Of clouds or the shadow of one who takes cover.
تَارِيخُهَاits history فِيin مَصْرَEgypt مُذٌsince نَشَأَتْit arose
تَارِيخُهَا فِي مَصْرَ مُذٌ نَشَأَتْ
تَارِيخُa history of جَهْدٍstriving غَيْرِnot مُنْفَصَمِbroken
تَارِيخُ جَهْدٍ غَيْرِ مُنْفَصَمِ
Its history in Egypt, since it first arose,
Its history in Egypt goes back an age,
is a history of unbroken striving.
The epic of unbroken, relentless zeal,
أَفْدِحْhow grievous بِمَاis what عَانَتْهُit endured صَابِرَةًpatiently
أَفْدِحْ بِمَا عَانَتْهُ صَابِرَةً
مِنْof مُرْهَقِthe crushing burden of المَثْلاتِexemplary punishments وَالنِّقَمِand reprisals
مِنْ مُرْهَقِ المَثْلاتِ وَالنِّقَمِ
How grievous what it patiently endured
Bearing with resignation the crushing weight
of crushing punishments and reprisals!
Of slights and outrages past all compute.
هِيَit نَوَّرَتْenlightened أَذَّهَانَthe minds of أُمَّتِهَاits nation
هِيَ نَوَّرَتْ أَذَّهَانَ أُمَّتِهَا
إِذْwhen كَانَتِwere الأَذْهَانُthe minds فِيin ظُلَمِdarkness
إِذْ كَانَتِ الأَذْهَانُ فِي ظُلَمِ
It enlightened the minds of its nation
It gave light to the minds of its people
when those minds were in darkness.
When minds were darkened all about.
هِيَit عَلَّمَتْهَاtaught it مَاwhat الحَيَاةُlife وَمَاand what
هِيَ عَلَّمَتْهَا مَا الحَيَاةُ وَمَا
يُوحِيهِinspires it مَجْدُthe glory of النيلِthe Nile وَالهَرَمِand the Pyramid
يُوحِيهِ مَجْدُ النيلِ وَالهَرَمِ
It taught its nation what life is, and what
It taught them what is life, and what
the glory of the Nile and the Pyramid inspires.
The glory of the Nile and Pyramid inspires.
هِيَit بِاليَرَاعَةِwith the reed pen وَالصَّحِيفَةِand the newspaper قَدْhas indeed
هِيَ بِاليَرَاعَةِ وَالصَّحِيفَةِ قَدْ
أَغْنَتْrendered service غَنَاءَthe service of السَّيْفِthe sword وَالعَلَمِand the banner
أَغْنَتْ غَنَاءَ السَّيْفِ وَالعَلَمِ
With reed pen and newspaper, it has
With civil order and official decree
done the work of the sword and the banner.
It sang as loud as sword and standard sing.
فاليَوْمَso today أَنْصَفَهَاtreated it justly وَأَيَّدَهَاand upheld it
فاليَوْمَ أَنْصَفَهَا وَأَيَّدَهَا
عَلَمٌa luminary رَعَاهُmay He protect him اللهُGod مِنْsuch a عَلمِluminary
عَلَمٌ رَعَاهُ اللهُ مِنْ عَلمِ
So today it has been treated justly and upheld
Thus validated now, upheld today
by a luminary—God preserve him—what a luminary!
By the rule of a rightly guided prince.
شَرَفاًhonor! عَلِيّAli فَمَاfor not فَتِئْتَyou have ceased عَلَىto uphold
شَرَفاً عَلِيّ فَمَا فَتِئْتَ عَلَى
عَهْدِthe pledge of الشَّجَاعَةِcourage فِيكَin you والشَّمَمِand proud nobility
عَهْدِ الشَّجَاعَةِ فِيكَ والشَّمَمِ
Honor to you, Ali, for you have remained true to
O noble `Ali, still you stand upon
the pledge of courage and proud nobility within you.
The oath of valor binding you, and pride.
لاnot تَطْرُقُyou approach الإصْلاحَreform عَنْfrom عَرَضٍthe side
لا تَطْرُقُ الإصْلاحَ عَنْ عَرَضٍ
بَلْrather تَطْرُقُyou approach الإصْلاحَreform مِنْfrom أَمَمِstraight ahead
بَلْ تَطْرُقُ الإصْلاحَ مِنْ أَمَمِ
You do not approach reform obliquely,
You turn reform not from its course
but come at reform head-on.
But set it on the paths that straightly tend
أَعْدَدْتَyou prepared لِلدُّسْتُورِfor the constitution عُدَّتَهُits necessary means
أَعْدَدْتَ لِلدُّسْتُورِ عُدَّتَهُ
وَلَوَاحِظُand the eyes of الأَحْقَادِrancor لَمْdid not تَنَمِsleep
وَلَوَاحِظُ الأَحْقَادِ لَمْ تَنَمِ
You prepared what the constitution needed,
To lofty goals. You do not pause
while the eyes of rancor did not sleep.
Or tire or swerve from purpose.
عَجْلاًhastening إِلَىtoward الغَايَاتِthe goals تَطْلُبُهَاyou seek them
عَجْلاً إِلَى الغَايَاتِ تَطْلُبُهَا
بِمَضَاءwith resolve لاnot وَانٍflagging وَلاnor بَرِمِimpatient
بِمَضَاء لا وَانٍ وَلا بَرِمِ
Hastening toward the goals you seek,
A palace you erect to native pride,
with resolve, neither flagging nor impatient.
Its cornerstone cemented with our blood.
صَرْحٌan edifice لِعِزِّهِfor its glory مِصْرَEgypt تَرْفَعُهُraises it
صَرْحٌ لِعِزِّهِ مِصْرَ تَرْفَعُهُ
وَأَسَاسُهُand its foundation مَتَخَضِّلٌdrenched بِدَمِwith blood
وَأَسَاسُهُ مَتَخَضِّلٌ بِدَمِ
An edifice Egypt raises for its glory,
No hunter can attain his prey in it,
with its foundation drenched in blood.
Or find asylum in that hallowed court.
لَنْwill not يَبْلُغَattain الصَّيَّادُthe hunter مَأْرَبَهُhis aim
لَنْ يَبْلُغَ الصَّيَّادُ مَأْرَبَهُ
مِمَّنْfrom whoever يَلُوذُtakes refuge بِذَلِكَin that الحَرَمِsanctuary
مِمَّنْ يَلُوذُ بِذَلِكَ الحَرَمِ
The hunter will never attain his aim
The State Council is a chamber that gained
against anyone taking refuge in that sanctuary.
Perfection, and its freshness from the Pyramid.
الدَّاخِلِيَّةُthe Interior Ministry دَوْحَةٌa spreading tree هَرُمتhas grown old
الدَّاخِلِيَّةُ دَوْحَةٌ هَرُمت
وَذَوَتْand withered نَضَارَتُهَاits freshness عَلَىwith الهَرَمِage
وَذَوَتْ نَضَارَتُهَا عَلَى الهَرَمِ
The Interior Ministry was a spreading tree grown old,
You have renewed it, and all blessing lies
and its freshness withered with age.
In renovation of the ancient and decayed.
جَدَّدْتَهَاyou renewed it وَالخَيْرُand goodness أَجمَعُall of it فِيlies in
جَدَّدْتَهَا وَالخَيْرُ أَجمَعُ فِي
تَجْدِيدِrenewing مَاwhat أَعْيَاhas worn out مِنَfrom القِدَمِage
تَجْدِيدِ مَا أَعْيَا مِنَ القِدَمِ
You renewed it, and all good lies in
Thus you have guaranteed its soundness, purged
renewing what age has worn out.
Of all obstruction, and each lingering ill.
فَضَمِنْتَso you secured صِحَّتَهَاits health مشَذَّبَةًpruned
فَضَمِنْتَ صِحَّتَهَا مشَذَّبَةً
وَأَوَلْتَand you remedied (unclear form) مَاwhat اسْتَعْصَىresisted treatment مِنَof السَّقَمِsickness
وَأَوَلْتَ مَا اسْتَعْصَى مِنَ السَّقَمِ
Thus you secured its health by pruning it,
Make trusted men arbiters,
and remedied the sickness that resisted treatment.
And extend ungrudgingly the judge's sway,
إِجْعَلْmake ثِقَاتِكَthose you trust حَكَماًan arbiter
إِجْعَلْ ثِقَاتِكَ حَكَماً
وَابْسِطْand broaden مَجَالthe scope of البّتِّdecision لِلْحَكَمِfor the arbiter
وَابْسِطْ مَجَال البّتِّ لِلْحَكَمِ
Let those you trust serve as judge,
For justice is a holy thing; to it
and give the judge ample scope to decide.
You have recourse through wisdom and renown.
قُدْسُthe sanctuary of القَضَاءِjustice رَجَعْتَyou turned فِيهِwithin it إِلَىto
قُدْسُ القَضَاءِ رَجَعْتَ فِيهِ إِلَى
ذِكْرِthe recollection of العَلِيمِthe learned man وَخِبْرَةِand the experience of الفَهِمِthe discerning man
ذِكْرِ العَلِيمِ وَخِبْرَةِ الفَهِمِ
In the sanctuary of justice, you turned to
You seek to guard it and uplift its state
the learned man's recollection and the discerning man's experience.
To highest place among the paramount powers.
تَبْغِيyou seek صِيَانَتَهُits preservation وَتَرْفَعُهُand raise it
تَبْغِي صِيَانَتَهُ وَتَرْفَعُهُ
شَأْناًin stature إِلَىto العُلْيَاthe highest مِنَof القِمَمِpeaks
شَأْناً إِلَى العُلْيَا مِنَ القِمَمِ
You seek to preserve it and raise it
Leave no soul that held authority
in stature to the loftiest peaks.
Still in need, make straight that which was bent.
لاdo not تُبْقِleave فِيin نَفْسٍa soul بِهِwith it اضَّطَلَعَتْhas borne responsibility
لا تُبْقِ فِي نَفْسٍ بِهِ اضَّطَلَعَتْ
مِنْany حَاجَةٍneed تَعْدُلْit may act justly وَتَسْتَقِمِand remain upright
مِنْ حَاجَةٍ تَعْدُلْ وَتَسْتَقِمِ
Leave in no soul that has shouldered it
For redress of wrong is meaningless
any need, so that it may be just and upright.
Unless assailing some usurping hand.
كَشْفُthe redress of المَظَالِمِwrongs لاnot يُرَامُis to be hoped for إِذَاif
كَشْفُ المَظَالِمِ لا يُرَامُ إِذَا
مَاever رُمْتَهُyou seek it مِنْfrom كَفِّthe hand of مُهْتَضَمِan oppressed person
مَا رُمْتَهُ مِنْ كَفِّ مُهْتَضَمِ
Redress of wrongs cannot be hoped for if
Those codes developed in each clan, at odds
you seek it from an oppressed person's hand.
With all the rest, not meshing with their aims...
تِلْكَthose القَوَانِينُlaws الَّتِيwhich اقتُرِفَتْwere perpetrated
تِلْكَ القَوَانِينُ الَّتِي اقتُرِفَتْ
فِيamong كُلِّevery شَعْبٍpeople غَيْرِnot مُلْتَئِمِunited
فِي كُلِّ شَعْبٍ غَيْرِ مُلْتَئِمِ
Those laws that were contrived
You have desired the joining of their ranks
among every disunited people—
When peace is not a secret held close-pent
شِئْتَyou wished الْتِئَامَto unite شِعَابِهَاtheir branches وَلَمَاand for what
شِئْتَ الْتِئَامَ شِعَابِهَا وَلَمَا
تَبْغِيهِyou seek it سِرٌّa secret غَيْرُnot مُكْتَتِمِconcealed
تَبْغِيهِ سِرٌّ غَيْرُ مُكْتَتِمِ
you wished to join their branches, and in what
But wisdom to explore the extent of their
you seek lies a secret not concealed.
Objectives through the most discerning thought.
بَلْrather حُكْمُهُits precept أَنْthat يُسْتَشَفَّbe discerned مَدَىthe extent of
بَلْ حُكْمُهُ أَنْ يُسْتَشَفَّ مَدَى
غَايَاتِهَاtheir aims مِنْfrom أَبْلَغِthe most eloquent الحِكَمِwise maxims
غَايَاتِهَا مِنْ أَبْلَغِ الحِكَمِ
Rather, its precept is that the extent
Independence now is regulated
of their aims be discerned from the most eloquent maxims.
By the unity of law and government.
قَدْindeed تَمَّhas reached completion الاستِقْلالُindependence مَدْرَجَةًby a path
قَدْ تَمَّ الاستِقْلالُ مَدْرَجَةً
هِيَit is وَحْدَةُthe unity of التَّشْرِيعِlegislation وَالنُّظُمِand systems
هِيَ وَحْدَةُ التَّشْرِيعِ وَالنُّظُمِ
Independence has reached completion through a path
Happy the state and prince whose pleasure
that is unity in legislation and systems.
Is this pure sire, of high repute.
نِعَمْexcellent is المُولَّىthe appointee وَالزَّمَانُand Time رِضاًcontent
نِعَمْ المُولَّى وَالزَّمَانُ رِضاً
هَذَاthis الأَبِيُّhigh-minded man الطَّاهِرُpure in الشِّيَمِcharacter traits
هَذَا الأَبِيُّ الطَّاهِرُ الشِّيَمِ
Excellent is the appointee, and Time is pleased:
Refined, without austerity or fault,
this proud man of pure character.
Tolerant, above suspicion or blame,
لَبِقٌtactful بِلاwithout مَذَقٍinsincerity وَلاnor مَلَقٍflattery
لَبِقٌ بِلا مَذَقٍ وَلا مَلَقٍ
سَمِحٌgenerous بِلاwithout رِيَبٍsuspicions وَلاnor تُهَمِaccusations
سَمِحٌ بِلا رِيَبٍ وَلا تُهَمِ
Tactful, without insincerity or flattery,
Should you consult him, his concern will be
generous, without suspicion or accusation.
Always for every cause that's just and right.
إِنْif تَنْنَدِبْهُyou call upon him تَجِدْهُyou find him مُنْتَدَباًready to serve
إِنْ تَنْنَدِبْهُ تَجِدْهُ مُنْتَدَباً
أَبَداًalways لِكُلِّfor every مَبَرَّةٍkind deed عَمَمِall-embracing
أَبَداً لِكُلِّ مَبَرَّةٍ عَمَمِ
If you call upon him, you will find him ready,
Or should you seek his counsel, there you find
always, for every act of far-reaching kindness.
The winnowed grain, the wisdom harvested.
أَوْor تَدْعُهُyou call him لِلرَّأْيِfor counsel تُلْفِyou find لَهُfor him
أَوْ تَدْعُهُ لِلرَّأْيِ تُلْفِ لَهُ
فِيهِin it جَلاءُthe gleam of الصَّارِمِthe sharp sword الخَذِمِkeen-edged
فِيهِ جَلاءُ الصَّارِمِ الخَذِمِ
Or call on him for counsel, and you will find
My eloquence confesses its defeat
in his counsel the gleam of a keen, cleaving sword.
Though it aspires to praise such worth.
عَجِزَproved unable البَيَانُeloquence وَقَدْand indeed هَمَمْتُI resolved بِهِupon it
عَجِزَ البَيَانُ وَقَدْ هَمَمْتُ بِهِ
عَنْfrom أَنْto يُحِيطَencompass بِذَلِكَthat العِظَمِgreatness
عَنْ أَنْ يُحِيطَ بِذَلِكَ العِظَمِ
Eloquence, though I attempted it, proved unable
Vainly might it essay to keep pace with
to encompass such greatness.
The sun, however hard its rider spur!
هيهاتfar from possible! يبلغنيit brings me to المرامthe desired goal وماand how
هيهات يبلغني المرام وما
انأىfar away مناطthe hanging-place of الشمسthe sun إنif يرمit is sought
انأى مناط الشمس إن يرم
Never can it bring me to my aim! And how
far off is the sun's hanging-place, should one seek it!
Partial English translation: 76 of 78 Arabic lines translated.