فتحٌ تبسمتِ الأكوانُ عنه فما

فتحٌ تبسمتِ الأكوانُ عنه فما

رأيتُ أملحَ منه مَبْسماً وفمَا

رأيتُ أملحَ منه مَبْسماً وفمَا

A victory at which all creation smiled; never have I

A conquest whose smile lit up the universe, have I seen

seen a smile and mouth more charming than its.

A sweeter or fairer smile or mouth than it?

فتحٌ كما فتح البستانُ زهرته

فتحٌ كما فتح البستانُ زهرته

ورجّع الطير في أفنانه نغما

ورجّع الطير في أفنانه نغما

A victory like the garden opening its blossom,

A conquest like the blossoming of a garden,

and birds trilling melodies in its branches.

And the birds trilling songs in its branches,

فتحٌ كما انشقّ صبحُ في قميص دُجى

فتحٌ كما انشقّ صبحُ في قميص دُجى

وطرّز البرقُ في أردَانه علَما

وطرّز البرقُ في أردَانه علَما

A victory like dawn breaking through a shirt of darkness,

A conquest like the dawn rending the garment of night,

and lightning embroidering a stripe upon its sleeves.

And lightning embroidering flags in its plains,

أضْحتْ لهُ جنةُ الرضوانِ قد فتحت

أضْحتْ لهُ جنةُ الرضوانِ قد فتحت

أبوابُها وفؤادُ الدين قدْ نعما

أبوابُها وفؤادُ الدين قدْ نعما

The Garden of divine favor has now opened for him

For it paradise unveiled its gates,

its gates, and the heart of the faith has found joy.

And the heart of religion was blessed,

لم يُخلفِ اللهُ وعداً كانَ واعده

لم يُخلفِ اللهُ وعداً كانَ واعده

فاشكرْ يُضاعف لكَ الحظ الذي قسما

فاشكرْ يُضاعف لكَ الحظ الذي قسما

God did not break a promise He had made him;

God did not break His promise that He made,

so give thanks: He will multiply for you the fortune He apportioned.

So give thanks, may He increase the fortune He decreed,

بفتحِ مرّاكش عمَّ السرورُ فما

بفتحِ مرّاكش عمَّ السرورُ فما

يُكابدُ الغمَّ إلا قلبُ من ظلما

يُكابدُ الغمَّ إلا قلبُ من ظلما

With the conquest of Marrakesh, joy spread everywhere; none

With the conquest of Marrakesh joy spread

suffers sorrow but the heart of one who did wrong.

Except to the heart of one who wronged,

حَبَا بها اللّهُ مولانا الأمير كما

حَبَا بها اللّهُ مولانا الأمير كما

حبا أباه فأسنى فتحها لهما

حبا أباه فأسنى فتحها لهما

God bestowed it on our lord the prince, just as

God favored him, our Prince, as

He bestowed it on his father, making its conquest glorious for them both.

He favored his father, and made its conquest smooth for them,

فلمْ يزلْ سعدُه المألوفُ مُتصلاً

فلمْ يزلْ سعدُه المألوفُ مُتصلاً

بسعدِ والده المنصور منتظما

بسعدِ والده المنصور منتظما

His accustomed good fortune has never ceased to be joined

So his familiar good fortune continued

in harmony with the good fortune of his father al-Mansur.

With the good fortune of his victorious father,

فدولةُ الدين والدنيا قد اختلفت

فدولةُ الدين والدنيا قد اختلفت

في الفتح والنصر والتأييد بينهما

في الفتح والنصر والتأييد بينهما

Thus sovereignty over faith and worldly life has alternated

The state of religion and world rejoiced

between them in conquest, victory, and divine support.

In the conquest, victory and support between them

أفاقتِ الأرضُ من نومٍ بها وصَحتْ

أفاقتِ الأرضُ من نومٍ بها وصَحتْ

وأصْبحتْ وهي تُلحي السكر والحلما

وأصْبحتْ وهي تُلحي السكر والحلما

The earth awoke from its sleep and sobered,

The land awoke from a dream, awake

and came to reproach drunkenness and dreaming.

As the sugar and dreams were made sweet,

لما رأتْ راية السلطانِ قد رُفعتْ

لما رأتْ راية السلطانِ قد رُفعتْ

في أفقها قرعت أسنانها ندما

في أفقها قرعت أسنانها ندما

When it saw the sultan's banner raised

For it saw the banner of the Sultan raised

on its horizon, it gnashed its teeth in remorse.

On its horizon, it gnashed its teeth in regret,

فاستقطفت منه قولاً من سجيّته

فاستقطفت منه قولاً من سجيّته

أن يحقر الذنبَ والعوّار إن عظُما

أن يحقر الذنبَ والعوّار إن عظُما

So it plucked a word from him, whose nature is

It drew gently from him words of his nature

to deem sin and disgrace slight, however great they are.

To scorn sin though great, and the sinner,

من سنّةِ اللّهِ أن يُحيي خليقته

من سنّةِ اللّهِ أن يُحيي خليقته

على يديكَ وأن يكفيهم النقما

على يديكَ وأن يكفيهم النقما

It is God's way to give life to His creation

It is God’s way to give life to His creation

at your hands, and spare them calamities;

By your hand, and suffice them vengeance,

وأن يقيمَ بكَ الإسلامَ من أوَدٍ

وأن يقيمَ بكَ الإسلامَ من أوَدٍ

وأن يديمَ بك الإحسانَ والنعما

وأن يديمَ بك الإحسانَ والنعما

and through you to set Islam upright from crookedness,

And to establish Islam by you from enemies,

and through you to perpetuate kindness and blessings;

And perpetuate kindness and grace by you,

وأن يُقَّر عيونَ المسلمين وأن

وأن يُقَّر عيونَ المسلمين وأن

يُشفي الصدورَ وأن يبري بك السقما

يُشفي الصدورَ وأن يبري بك السقما

and to gladden the eyes of Muslims, and

And to gladden the eyes of Muslims, and

soothe their hearts, and through you cure sickness.

To heal hearts, and cure all sickness through you,

بشراك يا ملكَ الدنيا وحافظها

بشراك يا ملكَ الدنيا وحافظها

فأنتَ أفضلُ من آوى ومن رحما

فأنتَ أفضلُ من آوى ومن رحما

Glad tidings to you, O king of the world and its guardian!

Good tidings my king of the world and its guardian,

For you are the best of those who shelter and show mercy.

For you are best of those who sheltered and had mercy,

إذا نسخنا معاليكَ التي رأفت

إذا نسخنا معاليكَ التي رأفت

فلم ترَ البأس فيها بزَّ للكرما

فلم ترَ البأس فيها بزَّ للكرما

When we transcribed your lofty deeds, which showed compassion,

If we copied your virtues that you were kind,

you found no valor in them that surpassed generosity.

And saw no harm in them, to honor generosity,

كما نظرنا إلى يُمناك من كثب

كما نظرنا إلى يُمناك من كثب

فلمْ نر السيفَ فيها يُسلم القلما

فلمْ نر السيفَ فيها يُسلم القلما

Just as we looked closely at your right hand,

As we looked at your right hand with resolve,

and did not see the sword in it forsaking the pen.

And saw no sword in it but that which yields to the pen,

تضافرتْ ألسنُ الأقلام فيك معا

تضافرتْ ألسنُ الأقلام فيك معا

وألسن الشعر حتى أخرس الأمما

وألسن الشعر حتى أخرس الأمما

The tongues of pens have joined together in your praise,

The tongues of poetry and pens came together in you,

and the tongues of poetry, until it silenced the nations.

Until the tongues of nations were silenced,

للّه منكَ مليكٌ لا نظيرَ له

للّه منكَ مليكٌ لا نظيرَ له

لولاك كان وجودُ الدين قد عُدما

لولاك كان وجودُ الدين قد عُدما

God be praised for you, a king without equal!

To God belongs a peerless king like you,

Without you, the faith would have ceased to exist.

Without you the existence of religion would cease,

ملكٌ بصيرٌ بأدواءِ الأمور له

ملكٌ بصيرٌ بأدواءِ الأمور له

رأيٌ نجيحٌ وطبُّ يُذهب الألما

رأيٌ نجيحٌ وطبُّ يُذهب الألما

A king well aware of the maladies of affairs; he has

A king of insight into the state of affairs, of

sound judgment and medicine that dispels pain.

Correct opinion, and cure that takes away pain,

عَدْلُ الحكومةِ ماضي العزم معتدلٌ

عَدْلُ الحكومةِ ماضي العزم معتدلٌ

كالريح يمْضي بعدلٍ كلّما عزما

كالريح يمْضي بعدلٍ كلّما عزما

Just in governance, firm of purpose, balanced,

The justice of rule decisive in will, moderate

he moves like the wind, with justice, whenever he resolves.

Like the wind blowing with justice whenever resolved,

سيفٌ وسيبٌ وعفوٌ بعد مقدرة

سيفٌ وسيبٌ وعفوٌ بعد مقدرة

وبطشةٌ وأناةٌ تجمع الحكما

وبطشةٌ وأناةٌ تجمع الحكما

A sword and bounty, and pardon after gaining power,

A sword and lenience, pardon after ability,

and a mighty blow, and deliberation that gathers wisdom.

And severity, and deliberation that combines wisdom,

إن غابَ عنكَ فإن الأذن شاهدةٌ

إن غابَ عنكَ فإن الأذن شاهدةٌ

وإن تشاهدْه لم ينطقْ وقد فهما

وإن تشاهدْه لم ينطقْ وقد فهما

If he is absent from you, the ear bears witness;

If absent from you then the ear witnesses,

and if you behold him, he is silent, yet has understood.

And if you observe then though silent, understands,

اللهُ أعطاهُ علماً من لدنه فلمْ

اللهُ أعطاهُ علماً من لدنه فلمْ

يحتج إلى أحد في علم من عَلما

يحتج إلى أحد في علم من عَلما

God gave him knowledge from His own presence, so he never

God granted him knowledge from His presence so he had

needed anyone among the learned in matters of knowledge.

No need of anyone in a knowledge of the learned,

ومَنْ تخيّره للدين خالقُه

ومَنْ تخيّره للدين خالقُه

أعطاهُ نوراً يُجلّي الظلم والظلما

أعطاهُ نوراً يُجلّي الظلم والظلما

And whomever his Creator chose for the faith,

And whoever the Creator chose for religion,

He gave a light that dispels injustice and darkness.

He gave light to dispel darkness and gloom,

سبحانَ من بجميع الفضلِ أفردَه

سبحانَ من بجميع الفضلِ أفردَه

ومَنْ حباهُ السجايا الغرّ والشيما

ومَنْ حباهُ السجايا الغرّ والشيما

Glory to Him who singled him out with every excellence,

Glory to Him who singled you out with all merit,

and who endowed him with radiant qualities and noble traits.

And gifted you sublime traits and honor,

فللورى أن يقول عند رؤيته

فللورى أن يقول عند رؤيته

ما كانَ ذا بشراً بل أملكا كرما

ما كانَ ذا بشراً بل أملكا كرما

All humanity may say upon seeing him:

It is right that when seeing you it says,

This is no mortal, but an angel in nobility.

He was not mortal but a merciful king,

لا غروَ فالحسنُ في أوصافه تبعٌ

لا غروَ فالحسنُ في أوصافه تبعٌ

وقد عَلاَ بالمعالي ملكه وسما

وقد عَلاَ بالمعالي ملكه وسما

No wonder, for beauty follows in the train of his qualities;

No wonder, for perfection in his attributes follows,

his dominion has risen and soared through noble deeds.

And he transcended in his sublime kingship and mark,

فالغربُ يزهُو على شرقِ البلاد به

فالغربُ يزهُو على شرقِ البلاد به

وقومُه يرهبونَ العربَ والعجما

وقومُه يرهبونَ العربَ والعجما

Thus the West boasts over the eastern lands because of him,

The West prides itself over the East through him,

and his people strike fear into Arabs and non-Arabs.

And his people make the Arabs and non-Arabs quake,

مولاي يهنيك ما أُعطيت من ظفرٍ

مولاي يهنيك ما أُعطيت من ظفرٍ

على عدا أصبحوا في حيْرة وعمى

على عدا أصبحوا في حيْرة وعمى

My lord, may you rejoice in the victory granted to you

My master, congratulations on the victory granted,

over foes who have fallen into confusion and blindness.

Over enemies who fell into confusion and blindness,

وعَنْ قريب إلى يمناك مرجعُهم

وعَنْ قريب إلى يمناك مرجعُهم

فلا يُجازى امرؤ إلا بما جرَمَا

فلا يُجازى امرؤ إلا بما جرَمَا

Soon their return will be to your right hand,

Soon to your right hand will be their return,

and no person shall be requited except for what he has committed.

For man is recompensed only for what he did,

أين المفرُ وخيلُ اللّهِ تطلبُهم

أين المفرُ وخيلُ اللّهِ تطلبُهم

لا يعصم اللّهُ منهم غيرَ من رحما

لا يعصم اللّهُ منهم غيرَ من رحما

Where can they flee, with God's cavalry pursuing them?

Where can they flee, and God's horses pursue them?

God protects none of them but those to whom He shows mercy.

None will God protect but those you had mercy on,

كمْ من مُصرٍّ يلاقيما جَنَتْ يدُه

كمْ من مُصرٍّ يلاقيما جَنَتْ يدُه

وتائب آيبٍ بالتوبة اعتصما

وتائب آيبٍ بالتوبة اعتصما

How many a persistent offender meets what his hand has wrought,

How many insisting were struck by your hand,

and many a returning penitent has taken refuge in repentance.

And repentant fugitives who sought asylum,

أنتَ الإمامُ لبعض السهو تحملُه

أنتَ الإمامُ لبعض السهو تحملُه

وبعضُه يُحبط الأعمال والحرما

وبعضُه يُحبط الأعمال والحرما

You are the imam: some lapses you tolerate,

You are the Imam, overlooking some mistake,

while others nullify deeds and sacred protections.

While some ruins deeds and sanctity,

وقد كفى اللّه كفّ الخائنين وقدْ

وقد كفى اللّه كفّ الخائنين وقدْ

أقال عثرة من أخطا وقد رحما

أقال عثرة من أخطا وقد رحما

God has warded off the traitors' hand, and has

God sufficed striking the betrayers, and

pardoned the stumble of whoever erred, and shown mercy.

Relieved the stumbling of those who erred, and had mercy,

يا بنتَ فكري ضَعي عنكِ النقابَ إذا

يا بنتَ فكري ضَعي عنكِ النقابَ إذا

بلغتِ حضرته ثم انثري النظما

بلغتِ حضرته ثم انثري النظما

O daughter of my thought, cast off your veil when

Oh daughter of my thoughts, cast off your veil,

you reach his presence, then scatter your verse.

When you reach his court, then scatter poetry,

ثم اسجدي في بساطٍ غيرِ واطئةٍ

ثم اسجدي في بساطٍ غيرِ واطئةٍ

فأصبح الرأسُ فيه يجهد القدما

فأصبح الرأسُ فيه يجهد القدما

Then prostrate yourself upon a carpet without treading it,

Then bow down in a carpet with no cushion,

for there the head now makes the foot weary.

So the head strains against the feet,

وذكّريه فإنّ الذكر منفعةٌ

وذكّريه فإنّ الذكر منفعةٌ

وذاك في مُحكم التنزيل قد رسما

وذاك في مُحكم التنزيل قد رسما

And remind him, for remembrance is a benefit,

And remind him though reminding benefits,

and that is inscribed in the unambiguous Revelation.

It was decreed in the decisive Scripture,

من عبدهِ مالكٍ مملوكِ دولته

من عبدهِ مالكٍ مملوكِ دولته

على القديم ويرعى السيِّد القدما

على القديم ويرعى السيِّد القدما

From his servant Malik, the bondsman of his realm,

From his servant Malik, owned by his rule

as of old; the master honors longstanding service.

Over old and young, and the master regards elders,