رَبيعٌa springtime مِنfrom جَبينكَyour brow قَدhas أطلّاappeared
رَبيعٌ مِن جَبينكَ قَد أطلّا
عَلىupon أفقِthe horizon of الجزائرِAlgeria فَاِستهلّاso shone forth
عَلى أفقِ الجزائرِ فَاِستهلّا
A springtime has dawned from your brow,
A spring from your forehead has risen
upon Algeria's horizon, shining forth.
And shone upon Algeria's horizon
تَقابَلَmet face to face مِنهُماfrom both of them فيهِin it سعودٌauspicious stars
تَقابَلَ مِنهُما فيهِ سعودٌ
سَماsurpassed شرقيّهاtheir eastern one الغربيّthe western one فَضلاin merit
سَما شرقيّها الغربيّ فَضلا
Auspicious stars from the two met there;
Meeting there a fortunate confluence—
their eastern one surpassed the western in merit.
An eastern sun whose western counterpart excelled.
سَرىtraveled by night هَذاthis one عَلىupon فلكٍa vessel هويّاًdown below
سَرى هَذا عَلى فلكٍ هويّاً
وَسارَand moved بذاكَwith that one فلكٌa celestial sphere مُستقلّاrising aloft
وَسارَ بذاكَ فلكٌ مُستقلّا
This one journeyed by night upon a vessel below,
This one traveled in a fiery sphere,
while a celestial sphere bore that one aloft.
While the other circled independently.
فَأَمسىso became ذاكَthat one ليلاًnight قَدalready توارىdisappeared
فَأَمسى ذاكَ ليلاً قَد توارى
وَأصبحَand became ذاthis one نهاراًdaylight قدalready تجلّىappeared clearly
وَأصبحَ ذا نهاراً قد تجلّى
So that one became night, hidden from view,
So that one became night, hidden away,
and this became daylight, shining clear.
And this dawned, manifest and bright.
وَماand not قيسَwas compared الهلالُthe crescent وإنand even though تسامىit rose high
وَما قيسَ الهلالُ وإن تسامى
لتاجِto the crown of جبينكَyour brow الأسمىthe loftiest محلّاin rank
لتاجِ جبينكَ الأسمى محلّا
The crescent, however high it rose, could not compare
Though the crescent moon reached high,
in rank with your brow's most exalted crown.
It could not match the crown of your supreme brow.
وَكَمand how many سبلٍroads رَكِبتَyou rode بهاalong them جياداًfine steeds
وَكَم سبلٍ رَكِبتَ بها جياداً
يودُّlongs لهاfor them الهلالُthe crescent يكونُto be نَعلاa horseshoe
يودُّ لها الهلالُ يكونُ نَعلا
How many roads you rode upon fine steeds,
And how many paths have you ridden, upon which
for which the crescent longs to be a horseshoe!
The crescent wished it could be but a horseshoe!
سُرورٌa joy لاnot يُقاسُis compared بهِwith it سرورٌa joy
سُرورٌ لا يُقاسُ بهِ سرورٌ
مَعادكَyour return حائزُholder of القدحِthe lot-arrow المعلّىthe highest-valued
مَعادكَ حائزُ القدحِ المعلّى
A joy with which no other joy compares:
A happiness immeasurable with any other—
your return claims the highest winning lot.
Your return, winner of the exalted goblet.
فَياso, oh لَهاfor it نيّةa resolve قَرُبتwas near زماناًin time
فَيا لَها نيّة قَرُبت زماناً
وَقَدand indeed عَظُمwas great المرامُthe aim بِهاthrough it وجلّاand was exalted
وَقَد عَظُم المرامُ بِها وجلّا
What a resolve, so near in time,
O blessed your intention, which brought time near,
yet mighty and exalted in its aim!
And magnified the goal through it, making it grand.
رَميتَyou charged لَهاfor its sake الغواربَthe wave-crests مِنof خضمٍّa vast sea
رَميتَ لَها الغواربَ مِن خضمٍّ
بِعزمٍwith resolve فوقهُabove it مدّاًin reach وَفَضلاand in excellence
بِعزمٍ فوقهُ مدّاً وَفَضلا
For its sake you charged the crests of a vast sea,
You launched galleys from amid pressured tumult
with resolve surpassing it in reach and excellence.
With resolve loftier than length and superiority.
طَوَيتyou folded away الشقَّةthe distance القعساءَthe formidable منهof it
طَوَيت الشقَّة القعساءَ منه
بِبارجةٍaboard a warship تبرّجُflaunts her charms فيهupon it دلّاcoquettishly
بِبارجةٍ تبرّجُ فيه دلّا
You folded away its daunting expanse
You folded up the barren, bleak expanse,
aboard a warship, coquettishly displaying her charms there.
With a ship glamorously sailing it, flexing.
فَكادَso almost البحرُthe sea يهديoffers as a gift ماwhat حواهُit contained
فَكادَ البحرُ يهدي ما حواهُ
لوif اِنّindeed البحرَthe sea يدريknew ماwhat أقلّاit bore
لو اِنّ البحرَ يدري ما أقلّا
The sea would almost have offered all it held,
The sea nearly offered up all it contained,
had the sea known what it was bearing.
Had the sea only known what it bore!
وَلمand did not يبلُغattain إِلىto شرفٍhonor خطيرٍlofty
وَلم يبلُغ إِلى شرفٍ خطيرٍ
فَتىa youth ماnot عدّdeemed حزنthe hardship of الأمرِthe task سَهلاeasy
فَتى ما عدّ حزن الأمرِ سَهلا
No lofty honor has ever been attained
No youth attained a dangerous glory
by a youth who did not deem a task's hardship easy.
Without counting sorrow's course as smooth.
لَكyours is الرأيُthe judgment الّذيthat يفريcleaves مضاءًwith keenness
لَك الرأيُ الّذي يفري مضاءً
إِذwhen العضبُthe keen sword الجرازُthe severing نَباfailed to bite وكلّاand grew blunt
إِذ العضبُ الجرازُ نَبا وكلّا
Yours is the judgment that cleaves with its keenness,
Yours is the perceptive decision that gleams radiant,
when the sharp, severing sword fails and grows blunt.
When the hardy, hardened orator spoke and faltered.
تَغمّدَsheathed مَنطقاًspeech فصلاًdecisive حكاهُmirrored it
تَغمّدَ مَنطقاً فصلاً حكاهُ
فَكانَso became كِلاهُماboth of them غمداًa sheath ونصلاand a blade
فَكانَ كِلاهُما غمداً ونصلا
It sheathed decisive speech that mirrored it,
Clothing eloquent, consummate speech—
so the two became sheath and blade.
Thus both were raiment and sword.
وَبأسٌand valor قَدindeed تألّفwas united فيهin it حلمٌforbearance
وَبأسٌ قَد تألّف فيه حلمٌ
كَماjust as سُمَّwas poisoned الحسامُthe keen sword وراقَand gleamed pleasingly صَقلاin polish
كَما سُمَّ الحسامُ وراقَ صَقلا
And valor, with forbearance blended into it,
A dominion cultivated with patience
like a poisoned sword, gleaming with polish.
As the sword's name polished its steel.
وَحزمٌand prudence آخذٌholding بعنانِby the reins of عزمٍresolve
وَحزمٌ آخذٌ بعنانِ عزمٍ
إِذاwhen أكبتstumbled مذاكيseasoned steeds السبقِof the race جلّىtook first place
إِذا أكبت مذاكي السبقِ جلّى
And prudence holding the reins of resolve:
And a restraint, grasping resolve's rein—
when seasoned racing steeds stumble, it takes first place.
When the racetracks of glory clarified its course.
وَخلقٌand a form زانهُadorned it خُلقٌcharacter كريمٌnoble
وَخلقٌ زانهُ خُلقٌ كريمٌ
فَكانso became كِلاهُماeach of the two لأخيهِfor its brother شَكلاa match
فَكان كِلاهُما لأخيهِ شَكلا
And a form adorned by noble character,
A nature adorned by a noble character,
so each was a match for its brother.
Each thereby shaped in its brother's image.
شَمائلُtraits ماnot رَأيناwe have seen مِنany مليكٍsovereign
شَمائلُ ما رَأينا مِن مليكٍ
سِواكَother than you اليومَtoday ضمّgathered لَهنُّfor them شَملاa union
سِواكَ اليومَ ضمّ لَهنُّ شَملا
Traits we have seen no sovereign
The qualities we've seen in no king but you
but you, today, gather into one.
Have gathered today in collective harmony.
تَوسَّمَهاdiscerned them بديهةat first glance كلّevery راءٍbeholder
تَوسَّمَها بديهة كلّ راءٍ
بمرآكَfrom your appearance الوسيمِhandsome قَدِindeed اِستدلّاfound evidence
بمرآكَ الوسيمِ قَدِ اِستدلّا
Every beholder discerned them at first glance,
Every discerner's insight predicted them
finding their proof in your handsome appearance.
In your graceful, striking appearance.
لأمرٍfor a purpose ماunspecified وعَنand from رأيٍjudgment متينٍsound
لأمرٍ ما وعَن رأيٍ متينٍ
وصلتَyou joined بِمنwith the one whom سَعيتَyou journeyed إليهِto him حَبلاa cord
وصلتَ بِمن سَعيتَ إليهِ حَبلا
For a purpose, and guided by sound judgment,
For a matter not lightly undertaken, and sound opinion—
you linked yourself by a cord to the one you sought.
You connected with your aspiration, binding its rope.
رَعيتَyou honored لَهُfor him الجوارَneighborly rights وكانَand it was حقّاًa duty
رَعيتَ لَهُ الجوارَ وكانَ حقّاً
عظيماًgreat رعيُهupholding it شَرعاًby sacred law وعقلاand by reason
عظيماً رعيُه شَرعاً وعقلا
You honored his neighborly rights, and it was a duty
You observed good faith with a neighbor, as was
of great importance to uphold them, in sacred law and reason.
Right, its observance rationally and legally great.
وَأكّدتand you strengthened المودّةaffection وهيَand it is عهدٌa covenant
وَأكّدت المودّة وهيَ عهدٌ
تضمُّadds لفرضِto the obligation of عهدِthe covenant of السلمِpeace نَفلاa voluntary addition
تضمُّ لفرضِ عهدِ السلمِ نَفلا
You strengthened affection, itself a covenant
You made fast affection—a pact
adding voluntary kindness to the binding covenant of peace.
That builds on the duty of peace an extra boon.
تَحفّلَprepared ceremoniously لاِقتبالكto receive you غيرnot آلٍremiss
تَحفّلَ لاِقتبالك غير آلٍ
عَنِin الإكرامِhonoring مَنزلةًrank ونزلاand hospitality
عَنِ الإكرامِ مَنزلةً ونزلا
He made splendid preparations to receive you, sparing no effort
None of your house was remiss in welcoming you—
in honors of rank and hospitality.
In hospitality, lodging and liberality.
وَناطَand affixed عَلىupon علامَتهhis insignia اِبتهاجاًjoyfully
وَناطَ عَلى علامَته اِبتهاجاً
عَلانةَthe emblem of أهلِthe people of بيتكyour house فهيَfor it is أعلىloftier
عَلانةَ أهلِ بيتك فهيَ أعلى
And joyfully he affixed upon his insignia
And your family openly rejoiced
the emblem of your house, for it is loftier.
At your banner's marks—theirs is the highest station.
وَكانَand there were بِصَدرهِon his breast وطنٌa homeland وعرضٌand honor
وَكانَ بِصَدرهِ وطنٌ وعرضٌ
فَضمّso he added إِلَيهماto both of them مِنfrom تلكَthat إلّاa covenant bond
فَضمّ إِلَيهما مِن تلكَ إلّا
On his breast were homeland and honor;
Native land and honor were in his heart,
so from that emblem he added a bond to both.
So he joined to them that one's, no less.
فَياso, oh لمكانةٍwhat a distinction ماnot إِنindeed حَباهاhe bestowed it
فَيا لمكانةٍ ما إِن حَباها
لِغيركَon anyone but you قبلُbefore أيّاwhoever كانَhe was أَصلاat all
لِغيركَ قبلُ أيّا كانَ أَصلا
What a distinction—he had never bestowed it
O what precedence none before,
on anyone else before, whoever he might be!
Of any lineage, has fate granted but you!
وَياand oh للّهto God ماhow أَهداهُrightly guided he is رأياًin judgment
وَيا للّه ما أَهداهُ رأياً
وَألطفهُand how gracious he is مجاملةًin courtesy ونبلاand nobility
وَألطفهُ مجاملةً ونبلا
And, O God, how rightly guided he is in judgment,
By God, how excellent the discernment
and how gracious in courtesy and nobility!
It smoothed for you, and the nobility!
وَلاand may not برحَcease التزاورُmutual visiting مُستجدّاًrenewed
وَلا برحَ التزاورُ مُستجدّاً
وَلاand not سيماthe like of (especially) لأهلِfor the people of الملكِkingship وَصلاas a bond
وَلا سيما لأهلِ الملكِ وَصلا
May mutual visiting never cease to be renewed,
Continuous grew the mutual visitation,
especially as a bond among rulers.
Not least those of the royal house, and ties.
سَيحمدُwill praise غبّهits outcome مَنwhoever لَيسَdoes not يَدريknow
سَيحمدُ غبّه مَن لَيسَ يَدري
وَيعلمand will know أنّهthat it ماnot كانَwas بطلاin vain
وَيعلم أنّه ما كانَ بطلا
He who does not understand will praise its outcome,
The fool unaware will regret his folly,
and learn that it was not in vain.
And know you have not been some simpleton.
فَياso, O أهدىmost rightly guided الملوكِof kings لكلِّtoward every فضلٍexcellence
فَيا أهدى الملوكِ لكلِّ فضلٍ
وَأكرمَand noblest محرزٍwinner للسبقof the prize خصلاwith a winning shot
وَأكرمَ محرزٍ للسبق خصلا
O most rightly guided of kings toward every excellence,
O wisest of kings in every merit,
and noblest to claim the prize with a winning shot!
And noblest prepared for precedence and trait!
بِعفوكَwith your pardon قَدindeed قَصَرناwe fell short منof ثناءٍpraise
بِعفوكَ قَد قَصَرنا من ثناءٍ
رَأَيناwe deemed طولهُits length عيّاًinarticulacy وجَهلاand ignorance
رَأَينا طولهُ عيّاً وجَهلا
With your pardon, we have fallen short in praise;
Our praise was curtailed—we saw
we deemed its length mere inarticulacy and ignorance.
Its length a defect, and ignorance.
وَسرتَand you journeyed فَلمso did not نطقwe could manage وصفًاa description ولكنbut
وَسرتَ فَلم نطق وصفًا ولكن
جَلَبناwe brought القلّthe little إذsince لمnot نَحوِwe encompassed جلّاmuch
جَلَبنا القلّ إذ لم نَحوِ جلّا
You journeyed, and we could not describe you; yet
Though you came, we spoke no description; but rather
we brought a little, since we could not encompass much.
Collected little, as we sang no anthem.
بقيتَmay you remain لناfor us وللإسلامِand for Islam عزّاًa glory
بقيتَ لنا وللإسلامِ عزّاً
وَعنّاand on our behalf شكركَthanking you المولىthe Lord تولّىundertook
وَعنّا شكركَ المولى تولّى
May you remain a glory to us and to Islam,
Remaining for us and Islam a glory,
and may the Lord undertake to thank you on our behalf.
Thanking you has the Almighty assumed.
وَلاand may not زلتَyou cease to be المؤيّدthe upheld one بِاِنتِصارٍby victory
وَلا زلتَ المؤيّد بِاِنتِصارٍ
وَعزٍّand glory حيثwherever أَنتَyou حللتَyou settled حلّاa stay
وَعزٍّ حيث أَنتَ حللتَ حلّا
May you ever remain upheld by victory
Still supported you are with victory,
and glory, wherever you take up residence.
And might—wherever you tread, tread gloriously!
وَلاand may not تَبرَحyou cease to be بِناtoward us برّاًkind رحمياًmerciful
وَلا تَبرَح بِنا برّاً رحمياً
تعمّyou embrace جَميعَناall of us عدلاًwith justice وفضلاand bounty
تعمّ جَميعَنا عدلاً وفضلا
May you never cease to be kind and merciful to us,
Do not cease your righteous, compassionate grace
embracing us all with justice and bounty.
To encompass us all in justice and bounty!