رأيْتُI saw لعبدfor Abd اللهAllah مَجْداًglory مُؤَثَّلاًfirmly established
رأيْتُ لعبد الله مَجْداً مُؤَثَّلاً
تحدَّرdescended منfrom آبائِهِhis forefathers الصِّيدِthe noble واسْتَعْلىand rose high!
تحدَّر من آبائِهِ الصِّيدِ واسْتَعْلى!
I saw in Abdullah a deeply rooted glory,
I saw for Abdullah a splendid glory
descended from his noble forefathers and risen high!
Flowing from his forefathers, the hunters, and ascended high!
فمنso from جَدّهhis grandfather عبدAbd العزيزal-Aziz.. وفَيْصلٍand Faisal
فمن جَدّه عبد العزيز.. وفَيْصلٍ
أبيهhis father تَبَدَّىappeared المجدglory مُمْتَنِعاًunassailable فَخَلاmighty (uncertain reading)!
أبيه تَبَدَّى المجد مُمْتَنِعاً فَخَلا!
From his grandfather, Abd al-Aziz, and Faisal,
From his grandfather Abdulaziz.. and Faisal
his father, glory emerged, unassailable and mighty!
His father's glory appeared impregnable thus it became free!
وللهand, by God فيin عبدAbd العزيزal-Aziz مآثِرٌnoble deeds
ولله في عبد العزيز مآثِرٌ
رأَيْناwe saw بهاthrough them الوَبْلَthe downpour المُبَشِّرَthe promising والطَّلاّand the dew!
رأَيْنا بها الوَبْلَ المُبَشِّرَ والطَّلاّ!
And, by God, Abd al-Aziz had noble deeds
And for Allah, Abdulaziz has glorious achievements
through which we saw the promising downpour and the dew!
With which we saw the harbinger of good news and long night journeys!
وكانتْand were بِلادُthe lands of العُرْبِthe Arabs شَمْلاًa unity مُمَزَّقاًtorn apart
وكانتْ بِلادُ العُرْبِ شَمْلاً مُمَزَّقاً
وخَوْفاًand fear.. فلاso neither وَعْراًrugged ground أَميناًsafe. ولاnor سَهْلاlevel ground!
وخَوْفاً.. فلا وَعْراً أَميناً. ولا سَهْلا!
The Arab lands had been a unity torn apart,
And the lands of the Arabs were a torn unity
and a realm of fear: neither rugged ground nor plain was safe!
And fear.. so neither a safe plain nor an easy terrain!
فلاso neither الحجُّthe pilgrimage مأمُونٌsafe ولاnor المسجدthe mosque الذيthat
فلا الحجُّ مأمُونٌ ولا المسجد الذي
تَمَيَّزwas distinguished بالمُخُتارِby the Chosen One.. وانْتَزَعَand uprooted الجهلاignorance!
تَمَيَّز بالمُخُتارِ.. وانْتَزَعَ الجهلا!
Neither was the pilgrimage safe, nor the mosque that
So neither Hajj was safe nor the mosque which
was distinguished by the Chosen One and banished ignorance!
Was distinguished with the Chosen One.. and ignorance was banished!
فكمhow many مِنof حَجِيجٍpilgrims راحset out يَقُصُدُheading for طَيْبَةٌTaybah
فكم مِن حَجِيجٍ راح يَقُصُدُ طَيْبَةٌ
تَفَزَّعَbecame terrified نَهْباًby plunder. أوor تَرَدَّىfell بِهاthere قَتْلاslain!
تَفَزَّعَ نَهْباً. أو تَرَدَّى بِها قَتْلا!
How many pilgrims set out toward Taybah
So how many pilgrims set out to seek Goodness
and were terror-stricken by plunder, or fell there slain!
Only to be frightened away or killed there!
طرائِقُroads شَتَّىdiverse أفْزَعَتْterrified كُلَّevery طارِقٍtraveler
طرائِقُ شَتَّى أفْزَعَتْ كُلَّ طارِقٍ
وإنْeven if بَذَلواthey gave freely منfrom اللهGod ماwhat جَلَّwas great واسْتَحْلىand was pleasing!
وإنْ بَذَلوا من الله ما جَلَّ واسْتَحْلى!
Diverse roads terrified every traveler,
Different methods that frightened every night traveller
even if they gave of God's bounty what was great and pleasing!
Even if they exerted every effort from God, glorified and most high!
تَصَدَّىconfronted لهاit عبدAbd العزيزal-Aziz فَصانَهاand safeguarded it
تَصَدَّى لها عبد العزيز فَصانَها
منfrom العَبَثِdisorder المُزْريthe disgraceful. وكانَand he was لهfor it أَهْلاqualified!
من العَبَثِ المُزْري. وكانَ له أَهْلا!
Abd al-Aziz confronted this and safeguarded the land
Abdulaziz confronted them thus protecting it
from shameful disorder; he was equal to the task!
From trivial chaos, and he was suited for it!
فماso not هيit إِلاَّexcept جولةa campaign بعَدَafter جوْلَةٍa campaign
فما هي إِلاَّ جولة بعَدَ جوْلَةٍ
فَراحَand ended up بهاin them الباغُونَthe rebels صَرْعىslain بِماby what أَصْلىhe inflicted in burning!
فَراحَ بها الباغُونَ صَرْعى بِما أَصْلى!
It was only one campaign after another,
It was only one campaign after another
and in them the rebels fell, slain by the fire he unleashed!
In which the oppressors fell slain by what he prayed!
فمنهمso some of them أَطاعَobeyed السَّيْفَthe sword يَشْدخُcrushing هامَهُhis skull
فمنهم أَطاعَ السَّيْفَ يَشْدخُ هامَهُ
ومنهمand some of them رأىsaw أَنَّthat الرُّضوخsubmission بهfor him أوْلىmore fitting!
ومنهم رأى أَنَّ الرُّضوخ به أوْلى!
Some submitted to the sword as it shattered their skulls,
Among them some obeyed the sword as it cut off their zeal
and some saw that surrender was more fitting for them!
And some saw that submitting to it was best!
فَلِلهso, by God ماhow much أَجْدىbenefited عليناus جِهادُهُhis struggle
فَلِله ما أَجْدى علينا جِهادُهُ
فقدfor indeed صَحَّbecame sound منهthrough him ماwhat تَهافَتَhad crumbled واعْتَلاَّand grown infirm!
فقد صَحَّ منه ما تَهافَتَ واعْتَلاَّ!
By God, how greatly his struggle benefited us!
So for Allah lies the benefit of his jihad
Through him, what had crumbled and ailed was made sound!
For the corrupt were reformed from it and the tilted were straightened!
يُشِيدُextol بهhim الشَّادُونَthe singers فيin كُلِّevery بُقْعَةٍplace
يُشِيدُ به الشَّادُونَ في كُلِّ بُقْعَةٍ
فكمhow many مِنَّةٍa favor تُرْوىis recounted. وكمand how many آيةٍa sign تُتْلىis recited!
فكم مِنَّةٍ تُرْوى. وكم آيةٍ تُتْلى!
Singers extol him in every place:
The grateful ones praise him in every spot
how many favors recounted, how many signs recited!
So many favors are recounted and many verses recited!
وهذاand this هوis الخُلْدُimmortality الذيthat ظَلَّremained شامِخاًlofty
وهذا هو الخُلْدُ الذي ظَلَّ شامِخاً
مُشِعّاًradiant علىover الدُّنْياthe world بآلائِهِwith its blessings المُثْلىthe finest!
مُشِعّاً على الدُّنْيا بآلائِهِ المُثْلى!
This is the immortality that has remained lofty,
And this is the eternity which remained towering
shining over the world with its finest blessings!
Radiating light upon the world with its most sublime favors!
ومِنand from بَعْدِهafter him جاءَcame الغَطارِيفُthe noble lords.. كُلُّهُمْall of them
ومِن بَعْدِه جاءَ الغَطارِيفُ.. كُلُّهُمْ
شَغُوفٌpassionate بِمَجْدٍfor glory لاnot يَخيسُdecaying ولاnor يَبْلىwearing out!
شَغُوفٌ بِمَجْدٍ لا يَخيسُ ولا يَبْلى!
After him came the noble lords, every one
And after him came the Gatareefs.. all of them
devoted to glory that neither decays nor wears away!
Eager for a glory that does not humiliate or wear out!
بداappeared فَيْصَلٌFaisal لِلنَّاسِto the people مَجْداًas glory مُلألِئاًsparkling
بدا فَيْصَلٌ لِلنَّاسِ مَجْداً مُلألِئاً
يُضِيءُshining.. فلاand not حِسّاًin perception يَضِلُّgoing astray. ولاnor عَقْلاin reason!
يُضِيءُ.. فلا حِسّاً يَضِلُّ. ولا عَقْلا!
Faisal appeared to the people as a sparkling glory,
Faisal appeared to the people a glittering glory
shining, straying neither in perception nor in reason!
That illuminates.. so no perception goes astray, nor any mind!
تأَلَّقَshone فيin عَيْنَيْthe eyes of أَبيهِhis father فَسَرَّهُand delighted him..
تأَلَّقَ في عَيْنَيْ أَبيهِ فَسَرَّهُ..
وكيفand how؟! وقدwhen indeed كانَhe was السَّبوقthe front-runner الذيwho جَلىَّcame first؟!
وكيف؟! وقد كانَ السَّبوق الذي جَلىَّ؟!
He shone in his father's eyes and delighted him;
He shined in his father’s eyes thus gladdening him..
and how could he not, when he was the front-runner who won?
And how not?! For he was the outstanding predecessor!
فقالso he said لهto him كُنْbe نائبِيmy deputy.. وأَحَلَّهُand installed him
فقال له كُنْ نائبِي.. وأَحَلَّهُ
مَحلاًّin a station رَفِيعاًlofty.. ماhow أَعَزَّhonored وماand how أَغْلىprecious!
مَحلاًّ رَفِيعاً.. ما أَعَزَّ وما أَغْلى!
So he told him, 'Be my deputy,' and installed him
So he said to him: be my delegate.. and authorized him
in a lofty station—how honored, how precious!
To a lofty position.. How dear and precious!
فقدfor indeed كانَhad been فيهin it المُصْطَفىthe Chosen One سَيِّدُlord of الورىhumankind
فقد كانَ فيه المُصْطَفى سَيِّدُ الورى
فكانَand he was بهin it طِفْلاًa child.. وشَبَّand grew up بهin it كَهْلاa mature man!
فكانَ به طِفْلاً.. وشَبَّ به كَهْلا!
For there had lived the Chosen One, lord of humankind:
For in him was Al-Mustafa the master of all people
there he was a child, and there he grew to maturity!
So he was as a child with him.. and grew into adulthood with him!
فَراسةُdiscernment مَوْهُوبٍof a gifted man عَظِيمٍgreat مُسَوَّدٍhonored as a leader
فَراسةُ مَوْهُوبٍ عَظِيمٍ مُسَوَّدٍ
وفِطْنَةُand acumen مَوْهُوبٍof a gifted man. وكانand he was لهto him نَجْلاa son!
وفِطْنَةُ مَوْهُوبٍ. وكان له نَجْلا!
The discernment of a gifted, great, revered leader,
The intuition of a gifted, mighty, predestined one
and the acumen of a gifted one who was his son!
And the brilliance of a gifted one, and it was suited for him!
ولَسْتُand I am not بِمُسْطِيعٍable. ولاnor الشّعْرُpoetry قادِرٌcapable
ولَسْتُ بِمُسْطِيعٍ. ولا الشّعْرُ قادِرٌ
علىof صَوْغِfashioning ماwhat كاناthe two were بِهin it. ولهand for it أَهْلاworthy!
على صَوْغِ ما كانا بِه. وله أَهْلا!
I am not able, nor is poetry capable,
I cannot, nor is poetry able
of expressing all they were equal to and worthy of!
To shape what they both possessed, and it was suited for them!
فَفيfor in البَحْرِthe sea أَسْرارٌsecrets. وفيand in الطَّوْدِthe towering mountain رِفْعةٌheight
فَفي البَحْرِ أَسْرارٌ. وفي الطَّوْدِ رِفْعةٌ
تُحَيِّرُbewilder قَوْلاspeech.. أَنْto يُحاوِلَattempt.. أْوor فِعْلاaction!
تُحَيِّرُ قَوْلا.. أَنْ يُحاوِلَ.. أْو فِعْلا!
For in the sea are secrets, and in the towering mountain, height,
For the sea has secrets, and the lineage has elevation
bewildering any attempt, whether in word or deed!
That perplexes words.. to attempt.. or deeds!
وشاءَand wished يَراعيmy reed pen مَرَّةًonce فأَرابَنيand troubled me
وشاءَ يَراعي مَرَّةً فأَرابَني
فَقُلْتُso I said لهto it – لماwhen رَثَيْتُI felt pity لهfor it – مَثلاan example!
فَقُلْتُ له – لما رَثَيْتُ له – مَثلا!
Once my reed pen stirred to write, and troubled me;
And he sometimes checked on me, so I said to him - as I eulogized him - for example!
so, pitying it, I gave it an example.
And I said to him: Look.. around you lies a group
وقُلْتُand I said لهto it أَبْصِرْlook.. فَحَوْلَكَfor around you ثُلَّةٌa company
وقُلْتُ له أَبْصِرْ.. فَحَوْلَكَ ثُلَّةٌ
كَوَاكِبُstars.. كانُواthey were لِلَّذيof him who سادَناruled us نَسْلاoffspring!
كَوَاكِبُ.. كانُوا لِلَّذي سادَنا نَسْلا!
I told it: Look! Around you is a company
Like stars.. they belonged to the one who led us, a lineage!
of stars—offspring of the man who ruled us!
Young men, if above the stars there were springs
أَشاوِسُvaliant men. لَوif فَوْقabove النُّجُومَthe stars مَنَابعٌsprings
أَشاوِسُ. لَو فَوْق النُّجُومَ مَنَابعٌ
لَتاقُواthey would yearn إليْهاfor them. واسْتَطابُواand relish بهاthere النَّهْلاthe first draught!
لَتاقُوا إليْها. واسْتَطابُوا بها النَّهْلا!
Valiant men: were there springs above the stars,
They would hasten to them, and take pleasure in them!
they would long for them and relish the first draught there!
And nothing discouraged them except attaining him
ولمand did not يَثْنِهمْdeter them عَنfrom قَصْدِهمtheir goal غَيْرُother than نيْلِهِattaining it
ولم يَثْنِهمْ عَن قَصْدِهم غَيْرُ نيْلِهِ
وكيْفَand how.. وقدwhen indeed أَدُّواthey rendered لهfor it الفَرْصَduty (uncertain reading) والنَّفْلاand voluntary service!
وكيْفَ.. وقد أَدُّوا له الفَرْصَ والنَّفْلا!
Nothing turned them from their goal but attaining it;
And how could it.. when they gave him every opportunity and bonus!
and how could they falter, having fulfilled duty and voluntary service for it!
And they struggled until they reached his zeal's summit
وقدand indeed ناضَلُواthey struggled حتىuntil اسْتَوَوْاthey stood فَوقَabove هامِهِits crown
وقد ناضَلُوا حتى اسْتَوَوْا فَوقَ هامِهِ
فسارواso they advanced وقدwhile indeed مَدّstretched الطُّمُوحُambition لهمfor them حَبْلاa rope!
فساروا وقد مَدّ الطُّمُوحُ لهم حَبْلا!
They struggled until they stood atop its crown,
So they went on as ambition cast a rope for them!
then advanced, ambition having stretched them a rope!
Remember Saud, he was the first king
تَذكَّرْremember سعوداًSaud وهوand he was أوَّلُthe first عاهلٍmonarch
تَذكَّرْ سعوداً وهو أوَّلُ عاهلٍ
تَسَنَّمascended عَرْشاًa throne يَنْشُدُseeking الحقَّtruth والعدْلاand justice!
تَسَنَّم عَرْشاً يَنْشُدُ الحقَّ والعدْلا!
Remember Saud, the first monarch
Who assumed the throne seeking truth and justice!
to ascend a throne seeking truth and justice!
He assumed it while people praised what his father built..
تَسَنَّمهhe ascended it والنَّاسُwhile the people تحمدpraised ماwhat بَنىbuilt
تَسَنَّمه والنَّاسُ تحمد ما بَنى
أبُوهُhis father.. ويَلْقىand he finds حَوْلَهaround him الحَوْلَstrength والطَّوْلاand plenty!
أبُوهُ.. ويَلْقى حَوْلَه الحَوْلَ والطَّوْلا!
He ascended it while the people praised what
And he experiences transformation and extension around him!
his father had built, and he found strength and plenty around him!
And it is enough that from this enduring lineage lies Khaled
وحَسْبُكَand enough for you مِنfrom هذهthis السُّلالِةlineage خالِدٌKhalid
وحَسْبُكَ مِن هذه السُّلالِة خالِدٌ
وفَهْدٌand Fahd. وقدand indeed كانَwas السُّمُوُّloftiness لهمfor them شُغْلاa pursuit!
وفَهْدٌ. وقد كانَ السُّمُوُّ لهم شُغْلا!
Of this lineage, Khalid is proof enough,
And Fahd, and supremacy was their occupation!
and Fahd: loftiness was their pursuit!
So he passed down to them a gentle, enduring glory
فَأَوْرَثَهمso it bequeathed them مَجْداًglory طَريفاًnewly acquired وتالِداًand ancestral
فَأَوْرَثَهم مَجْداً طَريفاً وتالِداً
وأَوْرَثَناand it bequeathed us نَحْنwe ourselves الكرمةَdignity (uncertain reading) والفَضْلاand bounty!
وأَوْرَثَنا نَحْن الكرمةَ والفَضْلا!
Thus it bequeathed them glory, newly won and ancestral,
And passed down to us the vine and abundance!
and bequeathed us dignity and bounty!
May Allah reward you, O beloved Fahd and Khaled
لَكfor you اللهGod ياO فَهْدُFahd الحَبِيبُthe beloved وخالدٌand Khalid
لَك الله يا فَهْدُ الحَبِيبُ وخالدٌ
فإنَّكُماfor you two are الجُودُgenerosity الذيthat اسْتَأْصَلَuprooted البخلاmiserliness!
فإنَّكُما الجُودُ الذي اسْتَأْصَلَ البخلا!
God be with you, beloved Fahd, and Khalid,
For you are the generosity that uprooted stinginess!
for you two are the generosity that uprooted miserliness!
And you are the pride that provokes us
وإنَّكُماand you two are الفَخْرُpride الذيthat يَستَفِزُّناstirs us
وإنَّكُما الفَخْرُ الذي يَستَفِزُّنا
إلىtoward المَدْحِpraise.. لولاwere it not أنَّهthat it لمnot يكُنْwas جَزْلاrichly eloquent!
إلى المَدْحِ.. لولا أنَّه لم يكُنْ جَزْلا!
And you two are the pride that stirs us
To praise.. if it were not so abundant!
to praise—were it not that such praise lacks eloquence!
And O poetry, may I express a concealed
وياand O شِعْرُpoetry هلis it possible ليfor me أَنْto أَبُوحَspeak openly بِمُضْمَرٍof something hidden
ويا شِعْرُ هل لي أَنْ أَبُوحَ بِمُضْمَرٍ
منof الحُبِّlove أَصْلانيmade me burn الذيwhich لمnot أَكُنْI was أصْلىburning!
من الحُبِّ أَصْلاني الذي لم أَكُنْ أصْلى!
O poetry, may I speak of something hidden
Love that originated with me, without which I would not have originated!
of love, which has scorched me as I had never burned before?
If praising it has honored me, yet I see myself
لَئنeven if عَزَّنيdefeated me فيهin it الثّناءُpraise فَإِنَّنيthen indeed I
لَئن عَزَّني فيه الثّناءُ فَإِنَّني
أرانيI see myself بِحُبِّيthrough my love أعْشّقlove passionately الصَّدَّrejection والوَصْلاand union!
أراني بِحُبِّي أعْشّق الصَّدَّ والوَصْلا!
Though praise of it defeats me, I
With my love passionately loving firmness and connection!
find myself, through my love, enamored of both rejection and union!
And I excuse my poetry if it falls short and remains
وأعْذُرُand I excuse شِعْريmy poetry إنْif تَقَاصَرfalls short واسْتَوىand settles
وأعْذُرُ شِعْري إنْ تَقَاصَر واسْتَوى
علىin العَجْزِhelplessness واسْتَخْذىand submits meekly بِقافيةٍwith a rhyme عَجْلىhurried!
على العَجْزِ واسْتَخْذى بِقافيةٍ عَجْلى!
I excuse my poetry if it falls short and settles
Incapacitated, seizing a hasty rhyme!
into helplessness, meekly yielding with a hurried rhyme!
For it is but poetry attracting censure
فماfor not هوit إلاَّexcept الشِّعْرُpoetry يَسْتَقْطِبَdrawing to itself النُّهىminds
فما هو إلاَّ الشِّعْرُ يَسْتَقْطِبَ النُّهى
فَيَشْدوso it sings كماas تَشْدُوsing مَشاعِرُهُits feelings الجَذْلىjoyful!
فَيَشْدو كما تَشْدُو مَشاعِرُهُ الجَذْلى!
For it is only poetry that draws minds to itself,
Thus it chants just as my feelings chant yearningly!
singing just as its joyful feelings sing!
And it is but glory.. nothing but its solidity
وماand not هوit إلاَّexcept المَجْدُglory.. إلاَّexcept رُسُوخُهُits rooted firmness
وما هو إلاَّ المَجْدُ.. إلاَّ رُسُوخُهُ
وماand not هوit إلاَّexcept أَنْthat غَدَوْتَyou have become لهfor it ظِلاَّa shadow!
وما هو إلاَّ أَنْ غَدَوْتَ له ظِلاَّ!
And it is only glory—only its rooted strength,
And it is nothing but that you have become its shadow!
and only that you have become its shadow!
I loved the heights since childhood, so I found it
عَشِقْتُI loved العُلاgreatness مَنْذُsince الصِّباyouth فَوَجَدْتُهاand I found it
عَشِقْتُ العُلا مَنْذُ الصِّبا فَوَجَدْتُها
لَدَيْهِwith him. فَنَادَتْنيthen it called me أَلاtake heed كُنْbe لهto him خِلاَّa close friend!
لَدَيْهِ. فَنَادَتْني أَلا كُنْ له خِلاَّ!
I have loved greatness since youth, and found it
With him. So it called me: come, become its shadow!
in him; it called to me: 'Come, be his close friend!'
Partial English translation: 75 of 76 Arabic lines translated.