لِلَّهِ في كُلِّ ما يَجري بِهِ القَدَرُ

لِلَّهِ في كُلِّ ما يَجري بِهِ القَدَرُ

لُطفٌ تَحارُ بِهِ الأَفهامُ وَالفِكَرُ

لُطفٌ تَحارُ بِهِ الأَفهامُ وَالفِكَرُ

Indeed, God has, in all that destiny brings to pass,

In all that Destiny impels occur

To God belongs, in every turn that destiny decrees,

A gracious kindness that bewilders minds and thoughts.

God's gentleness makes reason stunned and thought demur.

A hidden grace that baffles minds and intellects.

إِنَّ الَّذي قَد شَكا عَينُ الزَمانِ لَهُ

إِنَّ الَّذي قَد شَكا عَينُ الزَمانِ لَهُ

شَكا لَهُ المُسلِمونَ البَدوُ وَالخَضَرُ

شَكا لَهُ المُسلِمونَ البَدوُ وَالخَضَرُ

Indeed, he for whom the very eye of time has lamented

He whom the days' injustice made complain

Indeed, he to whom the very eye of time complained,

Has drawn lament from Muslims, nomads and townsfolk.

Bedouin and sedentary to him complain,

Received the pleas of all Muslims, the nomad and the settled alike.

وَكَيفَ وَهوَ لَهُم روحٌ تَقومُ بِهِم

وَكَيفَ وَهوَ لَهُم روحٌ تَقومُ بِهِم

وَهُم وَإِن كَثُروا فيما تُرى الصُوَرُ

وَهُم وَإِن كَثُروا فيما تُرى الصُوَرُ

And how could they not, when he is their sustaining spirit,

Though they are many in their semblance vain;

And how could it be otherwise, when he is the spirit by which they stand,

While they, however many, are but visible forms?

I say, while their complaint fills me with pain:

While they, though many in number, are but the visible forms?

أَقولُ لِلنّاسِ إِذ راعَت شَكِيَّتُهُ

أَقولُ لِلنّاسِ إِذ راعَت شَكِيَّتُهُ

مَهلاً فَلِلَّهِ في أَحوالِنا نَظَرُ

مَهلاً فَلِلَّهِ في أَحوالِنا نَظَرُ

I say to the people, when his ailment alarmed them:

"Gently, for in our state God's eyes remain!"

I say to the people, when his ailment struck them with alarm:

“Be patient, for God watches over our affairs.”

God's most subtle to leave His Creation free

"Have patience, for God watches over our affairs."

لِلَّهُ أَلطَفُ أَن يُخلي بِرِيَّتَهُ

لِلَّهُ أَلطَفُ أَن يُخلي بِرِيَّتَهُ

مِن ناصِرٍ لِلهُدى بِالرُشدِ يَأتَمِرُ

مِن ناصِرٍ لِلهُدى بِالرُشدِ يَأتَمِرُ

God is too gracious to leave His creatures

Of aiding reason and right-mindedness, maybe,

God is too gracious to leave His creation void

Without a champion of guidance, governed by sound judgment.

And naught we saw or hearsay makes us see

Of a champion for guidance who commands the right.

وَلَيسَ فيما رَأَينا أَو أَتى خَبَرٌ

وَلَيسَ فيما رَأَينا أَو أَتى خَبَرٌ

غَيرُ الإِمامِ لِدينِ اللَهِ يَنتَصِرُ

غَيرُ الإِمامِ لِدينِ اللَهِ يَنتَصِرُ

And in what we have seen, or what report has reached us,

Save the Imam God's religion victorie,

And in all we have seen or heard reported,

None but the Imam champions God's religion.

Abdulaziz, whose rule vivified

There is none but the Imam who triumphs for God's faith.

عَبدُ العَزيزِ الَّذي كانَت وِلايَتُهُ

عَبدُ العَزيزِ الَّذي كانَت وِلايَتُهُ

لِلمُسلِمينَ حَياةً بَعدَ ما قُبِروا

لِلمُسلِمينَ حَياةً بَعدَ ما قُبِروا

Abd al-Aziz, whose rule was

The Moslems after they were mortified.

Abdul-Aziz, whose sovereign rule became

Life to the Muslims after they had been buried.

Purity and light he has and healthfulness,

A new life for the Muslims after they had been entombed.

لَهُ طُهورٌ وَنورٌ ثُمَّ عافِيَةٌ

لَهُ طُهورٌ وَنورٌ ثُمَّ عافِيَةٌ

وَزالَ عَنهُ إِلى اَعدائِهِ الضَرَرُ

وَزالَ عَنهُ إِلى اَعدائِهِ الضَرَرُ

For him are purification, light, and then well-being,

While from his foes calamity is dialed.

May he have purification, light, and restored health,

And harm has left him and passed to his enemies.

So praise be God with praise that will extend

And may all harm pass from him to his foes.

فَالحَمدُ لِلَّهِ حَمداً نَستَمِدُّ بِهِ

فَالحَمدُ لِلَّهِ حَمداً نَستَمِدُّ بِهِ

لَهُ مِنَ اللَهِ أَن يَنسا لَهُ الأَثَرُ

لَهُ مِنَ اللَهِ أَن يَنسا لَهُ الأَثَرُ

So praise be to God—a praise through which we seek

From God to him the spites of time amend

So praise be to God—a praise by which we seek

From God, for him, the prolonging of his lifespan.

And in it good of religion and world lies,

That God may grant him long life and a lasting legacy.

فَفيهِ لِلدّينِ وَالدُنيا الصَلاحُ كَما

فَفيهِ لِلدّينِ وَالدُنيا الصَلاحُ كَما

فيهِ لِمَن حارَبَ الإِسلامَ مُزدَجَرُ

فيهِ لِمَن حارَبَ الإِسلامَ مُزدَجَرُ

For in him lies the welfare of faith and worldly life, just as

As for Islam's foes, chastening it supplies.

For in him lies the welfare of faith and world alike,

In him is a deterrent to whoever wars against Islam.

A hero who glory and piety furled,

Just as he is a deterrent to those who war against Islam.

فَردٌ طَوى المَجدَ وَالتَقوى بِبُردَتِهِ

فَردٌ طَوى المَجدَ وَالتَقوى بِبُردَتِهِ

وَعاشَ في فَضلِهِ قَحطانُ أَو مُضَرُ

وَعاشَ في فَضلِهِ قَحطانُ أَو مُضَرُ

A peerless man who enfolded glory and piety in his cloak,

And Kahlan or Mudar in his glory curled,

A peerless figure who wrapped glory and piety in his cloak,

And in whose bounty Qahtan or Mudar have lived.

I say when woe at his decease was hurled

Under whose bounty all Arabs, of Qahtan and Mudar, thrive.

يا أَفضَلَ الناسِ فيما يُمدَحونَ بِهِ

يا أَفضَلَ الناسِ فيما يُمدَحونَ بِهِ

وَأَوسَعَ الناسِ عَفواً حينَ يَقتَدِرُ

وَأَوسَعَ الناسِ عَفواً حينَ يَقتَدِرُ

O best of men in all for which they are praised,

Among the folk: Gently! In our state God's eyes furled!

O best of men in all qualities for which men are praised,

And most generous in pardon when he holds power.

None but he for religion and world we pin

And most generous in pardon when holding the power to punish.

لِلَّهِ فيكَ عِناياتٌ سَتَبلُغُها

لِلَّهِ فيكَ عِناياتٌ سَتَبلُغُها

نِتاجُها شَرَفُ الدارَينِ وَالعُمرُ

نِتاجُها شَرَفُ الدارَينِ وَالعُمرُ

God has special favors for you, which you shall attain;

On, hoping, as events uncertain spin.

God has bestowed upon you favors you shall surely attain,

Their fruit is honor in both abodes and longevity.

Could we have shared his glory, a bargain 'twould win,

Yielding honor in both worlds and a life prolonged.

فَاِجعَل مُشيرَكَ فيما أَنتَ فاعِلُهُ

فَاِجعَل مُشيرَكَ فيما أَنتَ فاعِلُهُ

مُهَذَّبَ الرَأيِ لِلآثارِ يَقتَفِرُ

مُهَذَّبَ الرَأيِ لِلآثارِ يَقتَفِرُ

So let your adviser in whatever you undertake be

Profit, where men loss incur!

So let your counselor, in whatever you undertake,

Of refined judgment, one who follows the transmitted traditions.

Thou whom God guided this community to tend

Be one of refined judgment who follows wise precedents.

إِنَّ الرُكونَ إِلى مَن لَستَ تَأمَنُهُ

إِنَّ الرُكونَ إِلى مَن لَستَ تَأمَنُهُ

أَو مَن وَتَرتَ لَمَعقودٌ بِهِ الخَطَرُ

أَو مَن وَتَرتَ لَمَعقودٌ بِهِ الخَطَرُ

Indeed, relying on one whom you do not trust,

Bare, straight, its drinking-cups the wrist adorn

For reliance upon one you do not trust,

Or one whom you have wronged, is surely bound to danger.

Of every knight like a lord strict and stern,

Or one you have antagonized, is bound to peril.

وَالنُصحُ إِن لَم يَكُن بِالدينِ مُرتَبِطاً

وَالنُصحُ إِن لَم يَكُن بِالدينِ مُرتَبِطاً

فَأَحرِ مِن صَفوِهِ أَن يَحدُث الكَدَرُ

فَأَحرِ مِن صَفوِهِ أَن يَحدُث الكَدَرُ

And counsel, if it is not bound to religion,

Veiled with the polish of grit and the sheen of pearl,

And counsel, if not anchored in religion,

Is all too likely to breed murk from its clarity.

Almost informing thee what the writ of passion says

Is liable to turn murky after seeming clear.

وَاللَهُ يُبقيكَ لِلإِسلامِ مُدَّرَءاً

وَاللَهُ يُبقيكَ لِلإِسلامِ مُدَّرَءاً

تَروحُ بِالعِزِّ مَحروساً وَتَبتَكِرُ

تَروحُ بِالعِزِّ مَحروساً وَتَبتَكِرُ

May God preserve you as a shield for Islam,

When it flows - "No! Flat and rugged is my way!"

May God preserve you as a mighty shield for Islam,

Going forth at evening, guarded in honor, and setting out at dawn.

Thou urgest on a mettlesome steed the neighs

Moving in glory, guarded, from morning until eve.

ظِلّاً لَنا مِن حَرورِ الجَورِ مُنتَعِشاً

ظِلّاً لَنا مِن حَرورِ الجَورِ مُنتَعِشاً

لِبائِسٍ مَسَّهُ مِن دَهرِهِ عُسُرُ

لِبائِسٍ مَسَّهُ مِن دَهرِهِ عُسُرُ

A shade for us from oppression's scorching heat, a source of revival

Of its longing for war's ardors and affray!

A refreshing shade protecting us from the scorching heat of tyranny,

For a wretch whom hardship from his age has touched.

On how many battlefields hast slain and thrust

For the wretched one touched by time's adversity.

أَجَلتَ أَقداحَ فِكري في الوَرى نَظَراً

أَجَلتَ أَقداحَ فِكري في الوَرى نَظَراً

أُصَوِّبُ الفِكرَ أَحياناً وَأَنحَدِرُ

أُصَوِّبُ الفِكرَ أَحياناً وَأَنحَدِرُ

You set my thought's divining arrows turning among mankind in scrutiny;

Where polished blade and lance the market crust!

I cast the arrows of my thought to contemplate mankind,

At times I aim my thought, and I descend.

Bay steeds whose towering necks and croups adjust

Sometimes aiming high, and sometimes probing deep.

فَلَيسَ إِلّاكَ في الدُنيا نُؤَمِّلُهُ

فَلَيسَ إِلّاكَ في الدُنيا نُؤَمِّلُهُ

لِنُصرَةِ الدينِ وَالدُنيا وَنَنتَظِرُ

لِنُصرَةِ الدينِ وَالدُنيا وَنَنتَظِرُ

For there is none but you in this world in whom we place hope

And the shoulder-breadths make slight the foe unjust!

And there is no one in this world but you in whom we hope,

For the defense of faith and worldly life, and whom we await.

By them religion's probation all adjusted,

To champion faith and life, and for whom we wait.

لَو اِستَطَعنا لَشاطَرناكَ مُدَّتَنا

لَو اِستَطَعنا لَشاطَرناكَ مُدَّتَنا

وَكانَ بَيعاً بِهِ رِبحٌ وَمُتَّجَرُ

وَكانَ بَيعاً بِهِ رِبحٌ وَمُتَّجَرُ

If we could, we would share our lifespans with you,

After its barrenness shook now fruits are clustered.

If we could, we would share with you our span of years,

And it would be a sale yielding profit, a trading venture.

Lances complain of thine undeviating twisted,

A transaction that would bring us profit and gain.

أَنتَ الَّذي قُدتَها جُرداً مُسَوَّمَةً

أَنتَ الَّذي قُدتَها جُرداً مُسَوَّمَةً

يوري الحُباحِبُ في أَرساغِها الحَجَرُ

يوري الحُباحِبُ في أَرساغِها الحَجَرُ

You are the one who led them, sleek and marked steeds;

And the baysteeds after war-clouds scattered and flustered!

You are he who led the short-haired, branded steeds,

Stone kindles firefly-like sparks at their fetlocks.

In a strait that augments the bereaved's repining

Whose hooves strike sparks like fireflies against the stones.

مِن كُلِّ مُقرَبٍَ كَالسيِّدِ مُحكَمَةٍ

مِن كُلِّ مُقرَبٍَ كَالسيِّدِ مُحكَمَةٍ

خَيفانَةٍ زانَها التَحجيلُ وَالغُرَرُ

خَيفانَةٍ زانَها التَحجيلُ وَالغُرَرُ

Of every prized steed, wolf-like and firmly built,

For traitor or foeman Fortune is designing.

Every noble mount, lordly and strongly built,

A locust-slim mare adorned with white stockings and forehead blazes.

How oft a folk believing, when their spite designing

Swift and lean, adorned with white blazes and socks.

تَكادُ تُعطيكَ عَن لَوحِ الهَوى خَبَراً

تَكادُ تُعطيكَ عَن لَوحِ الهَوى خَبَراً

إِذا جَرَت قُلتَ لا سَهلٌ وَلا وَعِرُ

إِذا جَرَت قُلتَ لا سَهلٌ وَلا وَعِرُ

She almost brings you tidings from the tablet of desire;

Hurt thee, from thee some dreadful risk combining,

She nearly speaks to you from the tablet of the wind;

When she runs, you say, “Neither smooth ground nor rugged!”

Discovered thee regardful of plain-dealing,

When she runs, you perceive neither plain nor rugged terrain.

تَعدو بِشُعثِ مَساعيرٍ تَقودُهُم

تَعدو بِشُعثِ مَساعيرٍ تَقودُهُم

يا مِسعَرَ الحَربِ حَيثُ الحَربُ تَستَعِرُ

يا مِسعَرَ الحَربِ حَيثُ الحَربُ تَستَعِرُ

She races bearing disheveled kindlers of war whom you lead,

When thou didst bounty and they plotting and stealing!

Charging with disheveled warriors whom you command—

O kindler of war wherever war blazes.

Thou hast clad with pardon, the negligent way concealing,

O kindler of battle when the flames of war rage high.

فَكَم مَلاعِبِ أَرماحٍ أَقَمتَ بِها

فَكَم مَلاعِبِ أَرماحٍ أَقَمتَ بِها

سوقاً يُغَشَّمُ فيهِ الصارِمُ الذَكَرُ

سوقاً يُغَشَّمُ فيهِ الصارِمُ الذَكَرُ

How many arenas of spears have you made into

Their shoulders thick with fortune's perfect healing,

How many fields of lance-play have you established there,

A market where the keen, hard-tempered sword is wielded ruthlessly!

Wherefore excuse they made, or if thou hadst taken vengeance,

A market where the sharp, masculine sword deals heavy blows.

بيضٌ تُباعِدُ هاماً عَن مَنابِتِها

بيضٌ تُباعِدُ هاماً عَن مَنابِتِها

وَتَستَذِلُّ الَّذي في خَدِّهِ صَعرُ

وَتَستَذِلُّ الَّذي في خَدِّهِ صَعرُ

Bright blades drive heads far from where they grew,

Unheard of we or our forebears' cognizance

White blades that sever heads from their roots,

And humble the man whose cheek turns away in arrogance.

Is any clemency equal to thy grievance.

And humble the arrogant who turn their cheeks in pride.

أَضحَت بِها عَذاباتُ الدينِ بارِضَةً

أَضحَت بِها عَذاباتُ الدينِ بارِضَةً

بَعدَ القُحولَةِ مُهتَزّاً بِها الثَمَرُ

بَعدَ القُحولَةِ مُهتَزّاً بِها الثَمَرُ

Through them, religion's afflictions became sprouting growth,

Thy view regarding wealth to hoard abstinence

Through them, the meadows of faith have sprouted green again,

After barrenness, with fruit swaying upon them.

Not as the miser hides it with his gluttonous insistence,

Bearing shaking fruit after the season of drought.

تَشكو الرِماحُ العَوالي مِن تَقَصُّدِها

تَشكو الرِماحُ العَوالي مِن تَقَصُّدِها

وَالبيضُ بَعدَ فُلولِ الحَد تَنبَتِرُ

وَالبيضُ بَعدَ فُلولِ الحَد تَنبَتِرُ

The lofty lances complain of their shattering,

But for fair deeds thou spendest it in beneficence.

The high lances complain of shattering in the fray,

And bright blades snap after their edges are notched.

Far be it thou shouldst ally with vain extravagance!

And the white swords snap after their edges are notched.

في مَأزِقٍ يُكثِرُ الثَكلى تَأَجُّجُهُ

في مَأزِقٍ يُكثِرُ الثَكلى تَأَجُّجُهُ

مِن ناكِثٍ أَو عَدُوٍّ حانَهُ قَدَرُ

مِن ناكِثٍ أَو عَدُوٍّ حانَهُ قَدَرُ

In a narrow battlefield whose blazing multiplies bereaved mothers,

Thy virtues shall be told of to our descendants,

In a crush of battle whose blaze multiplies bereaved mothers,

Bereaved of an oath-breaker or an enemy overtaken by fate.

And after us be scriptures' word and sentence!

Among oath-breakers or foes whose destiny has arrived.

كَم ظَنَّ قَومٌ إِذا حَقَّت شَقاوَتُهُم

كَم ظَنَّ قَومٌ إِذا حَقَّت شَقاوَتُهُم

بِأَن لَهُم عَنكَ إِمّا أَبعَدوا وَزَرُ

بِأَن لَهُم عَنكَ إِمّا أَبعَدوا وَزَرُ

How often a people, when their doom was sealed, imagined

A folk who see no merit save in opulence,

How many tribes imagined, when their wretchedness was sealed,

They had refuge from you if they fled far away.

To them the Koran's vicegerents are offense;

That they had a refuge from you if they but fled afar.

فَكانَ مَحرَزُهُم لِلبَينِ يُبرِزُهُم

فَكانَ مَحرَزُهُم لِلبَينِ يُبرِزُهُم

إِذ قَد وَفَيتَ لَهُم فَضلاً وَهُم غَدَروا

إِذ قَد وَفَيتَ لَهُم فَضلاً وَهُم غَدَروا

Yet their refuge exposed them to ruin,

For heavenly degrees they have nor recompense.

Yet their very sanctuary exposed them to ruin,

For you had faithfully shown them favor, while they betrayed you.

Kings seek but worldly aims for recompense,

For you kept faith with bounty, while they played the traitor.

جَلَّلتَ فَضفاضَةَ النُعمى مَناكِبَهُم

جَلَّلتَ فَضفاضَةَ النُعمى مَناكِبَهُم

عَفواً وَجوداً وَلَو عاقَبتَهُم عَذَروا

عَفواً وَجوداً وَلَو عاقَبتَهُم عَذَروا

You draped their shoulders in the ample robe of bounty,

While thou art zealous only good deeds recommence.

You robed their shoulders in ample blessings,

With pardon and generosity; had you punished them, they would have excused you.

Reward thee Heaven's rewards sent down from Providence

With pardon and grace—though had you punished, they would have no plea.

فَما سَمِعنا وَلَم تَسمَع أَوائِلُنا

فَما سَمِعنا وَلَم تَسمَع أَوائِلُنا

بِمِثلِ حِلمِكَ فيما ضَمَّتِ السِيَرُ

بِمِثلِ حِلمِكَ فيما ضَمَّتِ السِيَرُ

Neither we nor our forebears have ever heard

To spread justice among the confluence!

We have not heard, nor did our ancients hear,

Of forbearance like yours in all the chronicles contain.

My loyalty to thee no lapse of time convince

Of forbearance like yours in all the chronicles of old.

وَلَيسَ رَأيُكَ في مالٍ تُجَمِّعُهُ

وَلَيسَ رَأيُكَ في مالٍ تُجَمِّعُهُ

كَنزاً إِذا جَمَّعَ الخُزّانُ وَاِدَّخَروا

كَنزاً إِذا جَمَّعَ الخُزّانُ وَاِدَّخَروا

Your purpose is not wealth that you gather

To change, though far and journey make pretense.

Your purpose lies not in the wealth you might amass

As a hoard, when hoarders gather and store away;

How forget thee who lived in thy safe precincts

As treasure, while hoarders gather and store away.

بَل لِلمَكارِمِ تَبنيها وَتَعمُرُها

بَل لِلمَكارِمِ تَبنيها وَتَعمُرُها

حاشا يُخالِطُها زَهوٌ وَلا بَطَرُ

حاشا يُخالِطُها زَهوٌ وَلا بَطَرُ

Rather, it is noble deeds that you build and sustain,

While people thy beneficence and bounty mince?

But rather in noble deeds you build and cultivate,

Far be it that vanity or insolence should taint them.

Take it, thought's daughter, whose eloquence convinces,

Untouched—God forbid—by vanity or arrogance.

مَآثِرٌ لَكَ تُتلى بَينَ أَظهُرِنا

مَآثِرٌ لَكَ تُتلى بَينَ أَظهُرِنا

وَبَعدَنا هُنَّ في صُحفِ العُلى سُوَرُ

وَبَعدَنا هُنَّ في صُحفِ العُلى سُوَرُ

Your noble deeds are recited in our midst,

Praise on thee show'ring muskiers' redolence,

Glorious feats of yours are recited in our midst,

And after us, they shall be chapters in the scrolls of glory.

Yet how should eulogy of thee attain eminence,

And after us, they shall be chapters in the scrolls of fame.

يَفديكَ قَومٌ يَرَونَ الكَنزَ مَكرُمَةً

يَفديكَ قَومٌ يَرَونَ الكَنزَ مَكرُمَةً

وَما لَهُم في العُلى وِردٌ وَلا صَدرُ

وَما لَهُم في العُلى وِردٌ وَلا صَدرُ

May those who deem hoarding a virtue be your ransom,

When loftier than all encomiasts' eloquence

May you be ransomed by those who deem hoarding a virtue,

Yet they neither approach glory's waters nor return from them.

Thou stand'st? God bless (as He did prophets' eloquence)

Yet have no share nor standing in the heights of glory.

تَسعى مُلوكُ بَني الدُنيا لِأَنفُسِهِم

تَسعى مُلوكُ بَني الدُنيا لِأَنفُسِهِم

وَأَنتَ تَسعى لِكَيما يَصلُحَ البَشَرُ

وَأَنتَ تَسعى لِكَيما يَصلُحَ البَشَرُ

The kings of the children of this world strive for themselves,

The Intercessor, if excuse the penitence

The kings of this worldly race strive for themselves,

While you strive so that humankind may fare well.

Of prophets, and his Household's innocence,

While you strive only that mankind may be reformed.

جَزَتكَ عَنّا جَوازي الخَيرِ مِن مَلِكٍ

جَزَتكَ عَنّا جَوازي الخَيرِ مِن مَلِكٍ

عَمَّ الرَعِيَّةَ عَدلٌ مِنهُ فَاِنتَشَروا

عَمَّ الرَعِيَّةَ عَدلٌ مِنهُ فَاِنتَشَروا

May the recompenses of goodness reward you on our behalf—a king

And Companions sun and moon and radiance!

May the King of Kings reward you with good on our behalf,

Whose justice embraced his subjects, so they ranged freely.

For a justice that embraced the flock and made them thrive.

لي فيكَ صِدقُ وَلاءٍ لا يُغَيِّرُهُ

لي فيكَ صِدقُ وَلاءٍ لا يُغَيِّرُهُ

نَأيُ المَزارِ وَلَو يَخرَوِّطُ السَفَرُ

نَأيُ المَزارِ وَلَو يَخرَوِّطُ السَفَرُ

My loyalty to you is true, unchanged by

I hold for you a true loyalty, unaltered

Distance from your presence, however long the journey stretches.

By distance of abode, however long the journey proves.

وَكَيفَ أَنساكَ يا مَن عِشتُ في كَنَفٍ

وَكَيفَ أَنساكَ يا مَن عِشتُ في كَنَفٍ

مِن ظِلِّ إِحسانِهِ وَالناسُ قَد خَبَروا

مِن ظِلِّ إِحسانِهِ وَالناسُ قَد خَبَروا

How could I forget you, O one in whose shelter I have lived,

How could I forget you, O you in whose protecting shadow

In the shade of his kindness, which people have experienced?

I have lived, amidst a benevolence known to all?

خُذها اِبنَةَ الفِكرِ يَجلو حُسنُ مَنطِقِها

خُذها اِبنَةَ الفِكرِ يَجلو حُسنُ مَنطِقِها

عَلَيكَ مِنها ثَناءً نَشرُهُ عَطِرُ

عَلَيكَ مِنها ثَناءً نَشرُهُ عَطِرُ

Take her, the daughter of thought: her lovely speech reveals

Accept this daughter of my thought, whose eloquence shines clear,

From her, praise of you, whose wafting fragrance is sweet.

Bestowing upon you praise with a fragrant scent.

وَما عَسى يَبلُغُ المُثني عَلَيكَ وَقَد

وَما عَسى يَبلُغُ المُثني عَلَيكَ وَقَد

جاوَزتَ ما نَظَمَ المُدّاحُ أَو نَثَروا

جاوَزتَ ما نَظَمَ المُدّاحُ أَو نَثَروا

And how far can one who praises you reach, when you have

Yet what can a eulogist achieve in praising you,

Surpassed all that panegyrists have composed in verse or prose?

When you have surpassed all that poets verse or scribes compose?

ثُمَّ الصَلاةُ وَتَسليمُ الإِلهِ مَعاً

ثُمَّ الصَلاةُ وَتَسليمُ الإِلهِ مَعاً

عَلى الشَفيعِ إِذا ما الأَنبِيا اِعتَذَروا

عَلى الشَفيعِ إِذا ما الأَنبِيا اِعتَذَروا

Then may God's blessing and salutation together rest

Then, may the prayers and peace of God together be

Upon the intercessor, when the prophets offer their excuses,

Upon the Intercessor, when other prophets plead excuse.

وَآلهِ الغُرِّ وَالأَصحابِ ما طَلَعَت

وَآلهِ الغُرِّ وَالأَصحابِ ما طَلَعَت

شَمسٌ وَما لاحَ نَجمٌ أَو بَدا قَمَرُ

شَمسٌ وَما لاحَ نَجمٌ أَو بَدا قَمَرُ

And his radiant family and companions, for as long as rises

And upon his noble kin and friends, as long as suns may rise,

A sun, and as long as a star gleams or a moon appears.

Or stars may sparkle, or the moon ascend the sky.