أَضَوْءُ شَمْسٍ فَرَى سِرْبَالَ دَيْجُورِ

أَضَوْءُ شَمْسٍ فَرَى سِرْبَالَ دَيْجُورِ

أَمْ نُورُ عِيدٍ بِعَقْدِ التَّاجِ مَشْهُورِ

أَمْ نُورُ عِيدٍ بِعَقْدِ التَّاجِ مَشْهُورِ

Is it a sun's light that has rent the robe of deepest darkness,

Is it the radiant light of a sun that appeared in the robe of morning?

Or the radiance of a festival famed for the fastening of the crown?

Or the lustrous glow of a feast ornamented with a splendid crown?

وَأَنْجُمٌ تِلْكَ أَمْ فُرْسَانُ عَادِيَةٍ

وَأَنْجُمٌ تِلْكَ أَمْ فُرْسَانُ عَادِيَةٍ

تَخْتَالُ فِي مَوْكِبٍ كَالْبَحْرِ مَسْجُورِ

تَخْتَالُ فِي مَوْكِبٍ كَالْبَحْرِ مَسْجُورِ

And are those stars, or horsemen of a charging host,

Are they stars or noble steeds galloping proudly in procession,

Parading proudly in a cavalcade like a brimming sea?

Like a captivating sea stirred into waves?

مِنْ كُلِّ أَرْوَعَ يَجْلُو ظِلَّ عِثْيَرِهِ

مِنْ كُلِّ أَرْوَعَ يَجْلُو ظِلَّ عِثْيَرِهِ

بِصَارِمٍ كَلِسَانِ النَّارِ مَسْعُورِ

بِصَارِمٍ كَلِسَانِ النَّارِ مَسْعُورِ

Each an awe-inspiring warrior, dispelling his dust-cloud's shadow

From every wonder the shadow of its magic is revealed

With a keen blade ablaze like a tongue of fire.

With a sword like the flashing tongue of fire.

لا يَرْهَبُونَ عَدُوَّاً فِي مُغَاوَرَةٍ

لا يَرْهَبُونَ عَدُوَّاً فِي مُغَاوَرَةٍ

وَكَيْفَ يَرْهَبُ لَيْثٌ كَرَّ يَعْفُورِ

وَكَيْفَ يَرْهَبُ لَيْثٌ كَرَّ يَعْفُورِ

They fear no enemy in a raid;

They fear no enemy in battle,

And how should a lion fear a gazelle's charge?

How could a fierce lion fear a snarling fox?

مُسْتَوْفِزُونَ لِوَحْيٍ مِنْ لَدُنْ مَلِكٍ

مُسْتَوْفِزُونَ لِوَحْيٍ مِنْ لَدُنْ مَلِكٍ

بَادِي الْوَقَارِ عَلَى الأَعْدَاءِ مَنْصُورِ

بَادِي الْوَقَارِ عَلَى الأَعْدَاءِ مَنْصُورِ

Poised for a signal from a king

Spurred on by inspiration from a king

Of manifest dignity, victorious over his enemies,

Whose dignity over his foes is secured.

فِي دَوْلَةٍ بَلَغَتْ بِالْعَدْلِ مَنْزِلَةً

فِي دَوْلَةٍ بَلَغَتْ بِالْعَدْلِ مَنْزِلَةً

عَلْيَاءَ كَالشَّمْسِ فِي بُعْدٍ وَفِي نُورِ

عَلْيَاءَ كَالشَّمْسِ فِي بُعْدٍ وَفِي نُورِ

In a realm that through justice has attained a station

In a state exalted by justice to the rank

Exalted, like the sun in remoteness and in radiance.

Of a sublime sun both far and radiant.

طَلَعْتَ فِيهَا طُلُوعَ الْبَدْرِ فَازْدَهَرَتْ

طَلَعْتَ فِيهَا طُلُوعَ الْبَدْرِ فَازْدَهَرَتْ

أَقْطَارُهَا بِضِيَاءٍ مِنْكَ مَنْشُورِ

أَقْطَارُهَا بِضِيَاءٍ مِنْكَ مَنْشُورِ

You rose within it as the full moon rises, and resplendent grew

You rose in it like the rising of the full moon then prospered

Its regions in the radiance spread abroad from you.

Its regions through the light diffused by you.

فَلْيَفْخَرِ التَّاجُ إِذْ دَارَتْ مَعَاقِدُهُ

فَلْيَفْخَرِ التَّاجُ إِذْ دَارَتْ مَعَاقِدُهُ

عَلَى جَبِينٍ بِنُورِ السَّعْدِ مَغْمُورِ

عَلَى جَبِينٍ بِنُورِ السَّعْدِ مَغْمُورِ

So let the crown boast, since its fastenings encircled

So let the crown take pride as its links revolved

A brow bathed in the light of good fortune.

Around a brow illuminated by good fortune.

كَأَنَّما صَاغَ كَفُّ الأُفْقِ أَنْجُمَهُ

كَأَنَّما صَاغَ كَفُّ الأُفْقِ أَنْجُمَهُ

لِلْبَدْرِ مَا بَيْنَ مَنْظُومٍ وَمَنْثُورِ

لِلْبَدْرِ مَا بَيْنَ مَنْظُومٍ وَمَنْثُورِ

As though the horizon's hand had fashioned its stars

As if the horizon's palm set its stars

For the full moon, some strung together and some scattered.

For the full moon, strung and unstrung.

فَيَا لَهَا حَفْلَةً لِلْملكِ مَا بَرِحَتْ

فَيَا لَهَا حَفْلَةً لِلْملكِ مَا بَرِحَتْ

تَارِيخَ مَجْدٍ بِكَفِّ الدَّهْرِ مَسْطُورِ

تَارِيخَ مَجْدٍ بِكَفِّ الدَّهْرِ مَسْطُورِ

So what a celebration of kingship! It has remained

What a celebration it is for the king, it has never ceased

A chronicle of glory inscribed by the hand of Time.

To record on the palm of time a history of glory!

ظَلَّتْ بِهَا حَدَقُ الأَمْلاكِ شَاخِصَةً

ظَلَّتْ بِهَا حَدَقُ الأَمْلاكِ شَاخِصَةً

إِلى مَهيبٍ بِفَضْلِ الْحِلْمِ مَشْكُورِ

إِلى مَهيبٍ بِفَضْلِ الْحِلْمِ مَشْكُورِ

There the eyes of kings remained fixed

For it the eyes of the angels gaze upwards

Upon an august man, praised for the virtue of forbearance.

To an awe inspiring presence, gracious in clemency.

فَكَمْ أَمِيرٍ بِحُسْنِ الْحَظِّ مُبْتَهِجٍ

فَكَمْ أَمِيرٍ بِحُسْنِ الْحَظِّ مُبْتَهِجٍ

وَكَمْ وَزِيرٍ بِكَأْسِ الْبِشْرِ مَخْمُورِ

وَكَمْ وَزِيرٍ بِكَأْسِ الْبِشْرِ مَخْمُورِ

How many a prince rejoices in good fortune,

So many a fortunate prince rejoices

And how many a minister is drunk on the cup of joy!

And so many a minister made tipsy with the cup of glad tidings!

فَالأَرْضُ فِي فَرَحٍ وَالدَّهْرُ فِي مَرَحٍ

فَالأَرْضُ فِي فَرَحٍ وَالدَّهْرُ فِي مَرَحٍ

والنَّاسُ مَا بَيْنَ تَهْلِيلٍ وَتَكْبِيرِ

والنَّاسُ مَا بَيْنَ تَهْلِيلٍ وَتَكْبِيرِ

So the earth is in joy, and Time in merriment,

The earth is joyful, time is playful,

And the people proclaim God's oneness and greatness.

And people praise and proclaim God's greatness.

فِي كُلِّ مَمْلَكَةٍ تَيَّارُ كَهْرَبَةٍ

فِي كُلِّ مَمْلَكَةٍ تَيَّارُ كَهْرَبَةٍ

يَسْرِي وَفِي كُلِّ نَادٍ صَوْتُ تَبْشِيرِ

يَسْرِي وَفِي كُلِّ نَادٍ صَوْتُ تَبْشِيرِ

In every kingdom a current of electricity

In every kingdom currents of delight flow,

Flows, and in every assembly rings a voice of glad tidings.

In every assembly voices announce good news.

يَوْمٌ بِهِ طَنَّتِ الأَسْمَاعُ مِنْ طَرَبٍ

يَوْمٌ بِهِ طَنَّتِ الأَسْمَاعُ مِنْ طَرَبٍ

كَأَنَّ فِي كُلِّ أُذْنٍ سِلْكَ طُنْبُورِ

كَأَنَّ فِي كُلِّ أُذْنٍ سِلْكَ طُنْبُورِ

A day when ears rang with rapture,

A day whose keen sounds were made drunk with rapture

As though each ear held the string of a tanbur.

As if every ear held a reed pipe.

وَكَيْفَ لا تَبْلُغُ الأَفْلاكَ دَوْلَةُ مَنْ

وَكَيْفَ لا تَبْلُغُ الأَفْلاكَ دَوْلَةُ مَنْ

أَضْحَى بِهِ الْعَدْلُ حِلاً غَيْرَ مَحْظُورِ

أَضْحَى بِهِ الْعَدْلُ حِلاً غَيْرَ مَحْظُورِ

And how should the realm of one not reach the heavenly spheres,

How could the kingdom of one who made justice

Through whom justice has become permitted, not forbidden?

Free and unforbidden not reach the stars?

هُوَ الْمَلِيكُ الَّذِي لَوْلا مَآثِرُهُ

هُوَ الْمَلِيكُ الَّذِي لَوْلا مَآثِرُهُ

مَا كَانَ فِي الدَّهْرِ يُسْرٌ بَعْدَ مَعْسُورِ

مَا كَانَ فِي الدَّهْرِ يُسْرٌ بَعْدَ مَعْسُورِ

He is the sovereign; were it not for his noble deeds,

He is the king who, were it not for his achievements,

There would be no ease in the world after hardship.

There would have been no happiness after sorrow in time.

فَلَّ النَّوَائِبَ فَانْصَاحَتْ دَيَاجِرُهَا

فَلَّ النَّوَائِبَ فَانْصَاحَتْ دَيَاجِرُهَا

بِمُرْهَفٍ مِنْ سُيُوفِ الرَّأْيِ مَأْثُورِ

بِمُرْهَفٍ مِنْ سُيُوفِ الرَّأْيِ مَأْثُورِ

He blunted calamities, and their darkness split apart

He turned aside misfortunes, so their blankets were ripped

With a renowned keen blade from the swords of judgment.

By the piercing blades of wise policy.

وَأَصْلَحَتْ عَنَتَ الأَيَّامِ حِكْمَتُهُ

وَأَصْلَحَتْ عَنَتَ الأَيَّامِ حِكْمَتُهُ

مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا كَانَ صَدْعَاً غَيْرَ مَجْبُورِ

مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا كَانَ صَدْعَاً غَيْرَ مَجْبُورِ

And his wisdom mended the affliction of the days,

With his wisdom he repaired the blemishes of days

After it had been a fracture left unhealed.

After they had been a fracture beyond mending.

مُسَدَّدُ الرَأْيِ مَوْقُوفُ الظُّنُونِ عَلَى

مُسَدَّدُ الرَأْيِ مَوْقُوفُ الظُّنُونِ عَلَى

رَعْيِ السِّيَاسَةِ فِي ثَبْتٍ وَتَحْوِيرِ

رَعْيِ السِّيَاسَةِ فِي ثَبْتٍ وَتَحْوِيرِ

Sound in judgment, his thoughts fixed upon

His view is straight, conjectures halted

The care of statecraft, in firmness and adjustment.

At governing with composed change.

لا يُغْمِدُ السَّيْفَ إِلَّا بَعْدَ مَلْحَمَةٍ

لا يُغْمِدُ السَّيْفَ إِلَّا بَعْدَ مَلْحَمَةٍ

وَلا يُعَاقِبُ إِلَّا بَعْدَ تَحْذِيرِ

وَلا يُعَاقِبُ إِلَّا بَعْدَ تَحْذِيرِ

He does not sheathe the sword until after a fierce battle,

He does not sheathe the sword but after battle,

Nor does he punish until after a warning.

Nor punish except after warning.

يَا أَيُّهَا الْمَالِكُ الْمَيْمُونُ طَائِرُهُ

يَا أَيُّهَا الْمَالِكُ الْمَيْمُونُ طَائِرُهُ

أَبْشِرْ بِفَتْحٍ عَظِيمِ الْقَدْرِ مَنْظُورِ

أَبْشِرْ بِفَتْحٍ عَظِيمِ الْقَدْرِ مَنْظُورِ

O ruler, whose omen is auspicious,

O fortunate king, good omens are yours,

Rejoice in an anticipated victory of great importance.

Rejoice at a great conquest in sight!

إِنَّ الْخُطُوبَ الَّتِي ذَلَّلْتَ جَانِبَها

إِنَّ الْخُطُوبَ الَّتِي ذَلَّلْتَ جَانِبَها

بِحُسْنِ رَأَيِكَ لَمْ تُقدَرْ لِمَقْدُورِ

بِحُسْنِ رَأَيِكَ لَمْ تُقدَرْ لِمَقْدُورِ

Indeed, the crises whose force you subdued

The trials you subdued with your excellent judgment

With your sound judgment had not been deemed surmountable.

Are not to be overcome by any mortal.

بَلَغْتَ بِالشَّرْقِ مَا أَمَّلْتَ مِنْ وَطَرٍ

بَلَغْتَ بِالشَّرْقِ مَا أَمَّلْتَ مِنْ وَطَرٍ

وَنِلْتَ بِالْغَرْبِ حَقَّاً غَيْرَ مَنْكُورِ

وَنِلْتَ بِالْغَرْبِ حَقَّاً غَيْرَ مَنْكُورِ

You attained in the East the desire you had cherished,

In the East you attained the expectation you hoped for,

And gained in the West a right not to be denied.

In the West you gained an undeniable truth.

فَمَنْ يُبَارِيكَ في فَضْلٍ وَمَكْرُمَةٍ

فَمَنْ يُبَارِيكَ في فَضْلٍ وَمَكْرُمَةٍ

وَمَنْ يُدَانِيكَ فِي حَزْمٍ وَتَدْبِيرِ

وَمَنْ يُدَانِيكَ فِي حَزْمٍ وَتَدْبِيرِ

So who can rival you in excellence and noble deeds?

So who rivals you in merit and honor?

And who approaches you in resolve and planning?

And who matches you in wisdom and strategy?

لَوْلاكَ مَا دَامَ ظِلُّ السِّلْمِ وَانْحَسَرَتْ

لَوْلاكَ مَا دَامَ ظِلُّ السِّلْمِ وَانْحَسَرَتْ

ضَبَابَةُ الْحَرْبِ إِلَّا بَعْدَ تَغْرِيرِ

ضَبَابَةُ الْحَرْبِ إِلَّا بَعْدَ تَغْرِيرِ

But for you, peace's shade would not have endured, and the lifting

Had it not been for you, the peace could not have lasted

Of war's mist would have come only after hazardous ventures.

And the fog of war not lifted except by trickery.

وَلا سَرَى الأَمْنُ بَعْدَ الْخَوْفِ وَاعْتَصَمَتْ

وَلا سَرَى الأَمْنُ بَعْدَ الْخَوْفِ وَاعْتَصَمَتْ

بِجَانِبِ الصَّبْرِ هِمَّاتُ الْمَغَاوِيرِ

بِجَانِبِ الصَّبْرِ هِمَّاتُ الْمَغَاوِيرِ

Nor would safety have spread after fear, nor would refuge have been sought

Nor would security have spread after fear while

At patience's side by the resolve of valiant warriors.

The resolves of aggressors sought refuge in patience.

فَاسْلَمْ لِمُلْكٍ مَنِيعِ السَّرْحِ تَكْلَؤُهُ

فَاسْلَمْ لِمُلْكٍ مَنِيعِ السَّرْحِ تَكْلَؤُهُ

بِعَيْنِ ذِي لِبَدٍ فِي الْغَابِ مَحْذُورِ

بِعَيْنِ ذِي لِبَدٍ فِي الْغَابِ مَحْذُورِ

So remain safe for a realm of unassailable pastures, which you guard

Submit to an unassailable kingdom whose striking

With the eye of a maned lion, feared in the forest.

Is like the eye of a lion lying in wait.

وَاقْبَلْ هَدِيَّةَ فِكْرٍ قَدْ تَكَنَّفَهَا

وَاقْبَلْ هَدِيَّةَ فِكْرٍ قَدْ تَكَنَّفَهَا

رَوْعُ الْخَجَالَةِ مِنْ عَجْزٍ وَتَقْصِيرِ

رَوْعُ الْخَجَالَةِ مِنْ عَجْزٍ وَتَقْصِيرِ

And accept a gift of thought, which has been surrounded

Accept the gift of a thought enveloped

By the dread of shame at inadequacy and falling short.

In an awe of inadequacy and failing.

وَسَمْتُهَا بِاسْمِكَ الْعَالِي فَأَلْبَسَهَا

وَسَمْتُهَا بِاسْمِكَ الْعَالِي فَأَلْبَسَهَا

جِلْبَابَ فَخْرٍ طَوِيلِ الذَّيْلِ مَجْرُورِ

جِلْبَابَ فَخْرٍ طَوِيلِ الذَّيْلِ مَجْرُورِ

I marked it with your exalted name, which clothed it

I named it with your exalted name and so clothed it

In a robe of pride with a long, trailing hem.

In a mantle of glory with a long flowing train.

لَوْلا صِفَاتُكَ وَهْيَ الدُّرُّ مَا بَهرَتْ

لَوْلا صِفَاتُكَ وَهْيَ الدُّرُّ مَا بَهرَتْ

أَبْيَاتُهَا الْغُرُّ مِنْ حُسْنٍ وَتَحْبِيرِ

أَبْيَاتُهَا الْغُرُّ مِنْ حُسْنٍ وَتَحْبِيرِ

But for your qualities, which are pearls, none would be dazzled

Had it not been for your attributes, which are pearls,

By its radiant verses, with their beauty and embellishment.

Its verses of gold would not have gleamed with beauty and charm.

شَمَائِلٌ زَيَّنَتْ قَوْلِي بِرَوْنَقِها

شَمَائِلٌ زَيَّنَتْ قَوْلِي بِرَوْنَقِها

كَالسِّحْرِ يَفْتِنُ بَيْنَ الأَعْيُنِ الْحُورِ

كَالسِّحْرِ يَفْتِنُ بَيْنَ الأَعْيُنِ الْحُورِ

Virtues that adorned my words with their luster,

Features that adorned my words with their elegance

Like magic beguiling amid eyes with dark pupils and brilliant whites.

Like magic they dazzle between the lovely eyes.

شَفَّتْ زُجَاجَةُ فِكْرِي فَارْتَسَمْتُ بِهَا

شَفَّتْ زُجَاجَةُ فِكْرِي فَارْتَسَمْتُ بِهَا

عُلْيَاكَ مِنْ مَنْطِقِي فِي لَوْحِ تَصْوِيرِ

عُلْيَاكَ مِنْ مَنْطِقِي فِي لَوْحِ تَصْوِيرِ

The glass of my thought grew clear, and in it I depicted

The flask of my thought was polished and I painted on it

Your greatness, through my words, upon a pictorial panel.

With my speech your noble image.

فَاسْعَدْ بِيَومٍ تَجَلَّى السَّعْدُ فِيهِ عَلَى

فَاسْعَدْ بِيَومٍ تَجَلَّى السَّعْدُ فِيهِ عَلَى

نَادِي عُلاكَ بِتَعْظِيمٍ وَتَوْقِيرِ

نَادِي عُلاكَ بِتَعْظِيمٍ وَتَوْقِيرِ

So rejoice in a day when good fortune shone upon

So enjoy a day when good fortune shone upon

Your exalted court with homage and reverence.

One who exalts and respects you!

وَدُمْ عَلَى الدَّهْرِ فِي مُلْكٍ تَعِيشُ بِهِ

وَدُمْ عَلَى الدَّهْرِ فِي مُلْكٍ تَعِيشُ بِهِ

مُرفَّهَ النَّفْسِ حَتَّى نَفْخَةِ الصُّورِ

مُرفَّهَ النَّفْسِ حَتَّى نَفْخَةِ الصُّورِ

And endure through the ages in a realm where you live

Live forever in a kingdom you can delight in

At ease in spirit until the Trumpet's blast.

Until the final blast on the trumpet.