وُفِّقتَ مُرتَحِلاً في الوِردِ وَالصَدرِ

وُفِّقتَ مُرتَحِلاً في الوِردِ وَالصَدرِ

وَأُبتَ مُغتَنِماً بِالعِزِّ وَالظَفَرِ

وَأُبتَ مُغتَنِماً بِالعِزِّ وَالظَفَرِ

You were granted success in your travels, in coming and going,

You were granted success as a traveler in love and intimacy,

You have been granted success in your travels, in every arrival and departure,

And you returned having won glory and victory.

Yet you refused to seize glory and victory.

And you have returned laden with spoils, wrapped in glory and victory.

مَواهِبٌ خَصَّكَ المَولى الكَريمُ بِها

مَواهِبٌ خَصَّكَ المَولى الكَريمُ بِها

مِن فَضلِهِ لَم تَكن في قُدرَةِ البَشَر

مِن فَضلِهِ لَم تَكن في قُدرَةِ البَشَر

Gifts with which the generous Lord singled you out,

Gifts especially bestowed on you by the Generous Lord,

These are gifts with which the Generous Lord has singled you out,

From His bounty, beyond the power of humankind.

Out of His bounty, unattainable by mankind.

Through His grace, for they lie beyond the power of mortal men.

لِلَّهِ فيكَ عِناياتٌ سَتَبلُغُها

لِلَّهِ فيكَ عِناياتٌ سَتَبلُغُها

تُرى بها سَيِّداً لِبَدوِ وَالحَضَرِ

تُرى بها سَيِّداً لِبَدوِ وَالحَضَرِ

God has favors for you that you will attain,

God has great plans for you, which will make you

God has bestowed upon you providential cares that you shall attain,

Through which you will be seen as leader of nomads and townsfolk.

A master of nomads and settled folk alike.

Through which you will be seen as master of both the desert and the city.

إِنَّ السَعادَةَ قَد لاحَت مَخايِلُها

إِنَّ السَعادَةَ قَد لاحَت مَخايِلُها

عَلَيكَ مِن قَبلِ ذا في حالَةِ الصِغَرِ

عَلَيكَ مِن قَبلِ ذا في حالَةِ الصِغَرِ

Indeed, the signs of good fortune had already appeared

Indeed good fortune's visions have shone upon you

Indeed, the signs of felicity have already shimmered

Upon you before this, in your childhood.

Since childhood with the auspicious one.

Upon you long before this, even in your days of youth.

مِنها اِسمُكَ اِشتُقَّ إِذ كُنتَ السُعودَ لَنا

مِنها اِسمُكَ اِشتُقَّ إِذ كُنتَ السُعودَ لَنا

فَجِئتَ أَنتَ وَإِيّاها عَلى قَدَرِ

فَجِئتَ أَنتَ وَإِيّاها عَلى قَدَرِ

From it your name was derived, for you were our good fortune,

From it your name was derived when you were our joy,

Your very name was derived from it, for you were 'Good Fortune' to us,

Thus you and it came together as ordained.

So you and it came to be according to destiny.

So you and Happiness arrived together, by divine decree.

إِنَّ الذينَ سَروا في لَيلِ بَغيِهِم

إِنَّ الذينَ سَروا في لَيلِ بَغيِهِم

مُنوا بِسَوطِ عَذابِ اللَهِ في السَحَر

مُنوا بِسَوطِ عَذابِ اللَهِ في السَحَر

Indeed, those who traveled in the night of their rebellion

Those who marched evilly in the night

Those who marched under cover of the night of their transgression,

Were struck by the lash of God's punishment before dawn.

Were punished by God's whip at dawn.

Were struck by the whip of God's punishment at the break of dawn.

ظَنّوا تَغاضِيَكُم عَنهُم وَحِلمَكمُ

ظَنّوا تَغاضِيَكُم عَنهُم وَحِلمَكمُ

عَن جَهلِهِم أَنَّهُ ضَربٌ مِنَ الخورِ

عَن جَهلِهِم أَنَّهُ ضَربٌ مِنَ الخورِ

They supposed your overlooking them and your forbearance

They thought you overlooked them and were patient

They mistook your overlooking of them and your forbearance,

Toward their folly were a kind of weakness.

With their ignorance as if it were dignity.

Out of their ignorance, believing it to be a form of weakness.

أَما دَرَوا وَيلَهُم أَنَّ الأُسودَ لها

أَما دَرَوا وَيلَهُم أَنَّ الأُسودَ لها

إِغضاءُ مُستَصغِرٍ لِلضِدِّ مُحتَقِرِ

إِغضاءُ مُستَصغِرٍ لِلضِدِّ مُحتَقِرِ

Did they not know—woe to them—that lions have

Don't they know their doom, that lions though dormant

Did they not know—woe unto them—that lions possess

The averted gaze of one who belittles and despises his foe?

Are belittled by the despised enemy in pretense?

A sleepy gaze that belittles the foe in utter contempt?

لكِن إِذا أَصحَرَت كانَ المُهيجُ لها

لكِن إِذا أَصحَرَت كانَ المُهيجُ لها

فَريسَةً بينَ نباِ اللَيثِ وَالظُفُر

فَريسَةً بينَ نباِ اللَيثِ وَالظُفُر

But when they enter the open, whoever provokes them becomes

But when lions wake the provoker becomes

But if they enter the open field, he who provokes them becomes

Prey between the lion's fang and claw.

Prey between the claws and fangs.

Mere prey caught between the lion's fang and claw.

يا بنَ الهداةِ حُماةِ الدينِ إِنَّ لكُم

يا بنَ الهداةِ حُماةِ الدينِ إِنَّ لكُم

نُصحاً عَلَينا كَما قَد جاءَ في السُوَرِ

نُصحاً عَلَينا كَما قَد جاءَ في السُوَرِ

O son of guides, guardians of the faith, indeed you are owed

O son of the rightly guided, protectors of the faith, you

O son of the guides, protectors of the faith, truly you are owed

Sincere counsel from us, as stated in the surahs.

Advise us as the scripture dictates.

Sincere counsel from us, as mandated in the revealed Surahs.

وَالنُصحُ إِن لَم يَكُن رَأيٌ يُؤَيِّدُهُ

وَالنُصحُ إِن لَم يَكُن رَأيٌ يُؤَيِّدُهُ

مِنَ السِياسَةِ لَم يُؤمَن مِنَ الضَرَرِ

مِنَ السِياسَةِ لَم يُؤمَن مِنَ الضَرَرِ

And counsel, unless supported by judgment

Advice, if not supported by politics,

Yet counsel, if not supported by sound judgment

In statecraft, is not safe from harm.

Won't be safe from harm.

Derived from statecraft, is not safe from causing harm.

وَالعِلمُ إِن لَم يَكُن عَقلٌ يُؤازِرهُ

وَالعِلمُ إِن لَم يَكُن عَقلٌ يُؤازِرهُ

فَإِنَّ صاحِبَهُ مِنهُ عَلى خَطرِ

فَإِنَّ صاحِبَهُ مِنهُ عَلى خَطرِ

And knowledge, unless reason supports it,

Knowledge, if not aided by reason,

And knowledge, if not bolstered by intellect,

Then its possessor is in danger from it.

Puts its owner in jeopardy.

Places its possessor in peril because of it.

كَذاكَ لِلمُلكِ أَوتادٌ وَأَعمِدَةٌ

كَذاكَ لِلمُلكِ أَوتادٌ وَأَعمِدَةٌ

هُنَّ القِوامُ لهُ مِن سالِفِ العُمُرِ

هُنَّ القِوامُ لهُ مِن سالِفِ العُمُرِ

Likewise, kingship has stakes and pillars,

So it is that kingship has pillars and foundations

Likewise, dominion rests upon pegs and pillars

They are its mainstay, from ages past:

Which support it since olden times:

Which have sustained it throughout the ages past:

الوَحيُ والسَيفُ وَالحَزمُ الحَصيفُ كَذا

الوَحيُ والسَيفُ وَالحَزمُ الحَصيفُ كَذا

رَأيُ المُحَنَّكِ بِالتَجريبِ ذي البَصَرِ

رَأيُ المُحَنَّكِ بِالتَجريبِ ذي البَصَرِ

Revelation, the sword, and prudent resolve, as well as

Revelation, the sword, and wise resolution.

Divine Revelation, the sword, and prudent resolve, as well as

The judgment of one seasoned by experience and possessed of insight.

The insight of the experienced with vision.

The judgment of the veteran, tested by experience and possessed of insight.

وَقِس عَلى ما مَضى باقي الزَمانِ فَكَم

وَقِس عَلى ما مَضى باقي الزَمانِ فَكَم

نَورٍ تَفَتَّقَ عَن مُرٍّ مِنَ الثَمَرِ

نَورٍ تَفَتَّقَ عَن مُرٍّ مِنَ الثَمَرِ

And judge the time to come by the past: how many

Consider the past: how much light emerged

Judge the future by what has passed, for how often

Blossoms have opened to yield bitter fruit!

From the bitterness of fruit!

Have beautiful blossoms burst open to reveal bitter fruit.

إَنَّ الرَعِيَّةَ لا تُصفيكَ طاعَتَها

إَنَّ الرَعِيَّةَ لا تُصفيكَ طاعَتَها

حَتّى تَشوبَ لها التَرغيبَ بِالحَذرِ

حَتّى تَشوبَ لها التَرغيبَ بِالحَذرِ

Indeed, your subjects will not give you undivided obedience

The commoners will not obey you sincerely

The subjects will not offer you pure obedience,

Until you blend encouragement for them with fear.

Unless you mix reward with intimidation.

Until you blend for them enticement with cautionary fear.

فَالحُرُّ يَكفيهِ أَن تُسدي إِلَيهِ نَدىً

فَالحُرُّ يَكفيهِ أَن تُسدي إِلَيهِ نَدىً

وَذو اللامَةِ حدَّ الصارِمِ الذَكرِ

وَذو اللامَةِ حدَّ الصارِمِ الذَكرِ

For a noble man, it is enough that you bestow bounty upon him;

The free man is satisfied with favours,

For the noble soul, it suffices that you extend generosity,

But the base man needs the edge of a keen, hard-tempered sword.

The servile is limited by the threat of the blade.

But for the base nature, only the edge of the sharp, virile sword.

وَالسوءُ يُزجَرُ قَبلَ الفِعلِ قائِلهُ

وَالسوءُ يُزجَرُ قَبلَ الفِعلِ قائِلهُ

إِنَّ المَقالَ بَريدُ الفِعلِ فَاِعتَبر

إِنَّ المَقالَ بَريدُ الفِعلِ فَاِعتَبر

And the speaker of evil must be checked before he acts;

Evil is deterred before the act, so admonish

Evil speech must be rebuked before it becomes action,

Indeed, speech is action's messenger, so take heed.

Its speaker, words being the coolness of deeds.

For speech is the harbinger of the deed, so take heed.

لا تَحقِر الشَرَّ نَزراً في بِدايَتِهِ

لا تَحقِر الشَرَّ نَزراً في بِدايَتِهِ

كَم أَحرَقَ الزَندُ يَوماً حُرجَةَ الشَجَرِ

كَم أَحرَقَ الزَندُ يَوماً حُرجَةَ الشَجَرِ

Do not underestimate evil when slight at its beginning;

Do not take evil lightly in its beginnings,

Do not belittle evil as insignificant in its beginning;

Many a day has a firestick burned a thicket of trees!

How many fires were sparked by a flint's spark!

How often has a single spark burned down a dense forest.

لا تَطمَئِنَّ إِلى مَن أَنتَ واتِرُهُ

لا تَطمَئِنَّ إِلى مَن أَنتَ واتِرُهُ

إِنَّ العَداوَةَ كَسرٌ غَيرُ مُنجَبِرِ

إِنَّ العَداوَةَ كَسرٌ غَيرُ مُنجَبِرِ

Do not feel secure with one whom you have wronged;

Do not feel secure with one you have betrayed,

Do not rest easy with one whom you have aggrieved,

Indeed, enmity is a fracture that will not mend.

Enmity is an unamendable wound.

For enmity is a fracture that can never be fully set.

إِن بانَ خَصلَةُ سوءٍ مِن فَتىً فَلَها

إِن بانَ خَصلَةُ سوءٍ مِن فَتىً فَلَها

نَظائِرٌ عِندَهُ قَد جاءَ في الخَبرِ

نَظائِرٌ عِندَهُ قَد جاءَ في الخَبرِ

If an evil trait appears in a young man, it has

If an evil trait appears in a man, it has

If a single trait of malice appears in a man, know that it has

Others like it within him, as stated in the report.

Counterparts in him, as we've been told.

Many counterparts within him, as tradition has foretold.

وَعاجِلِ الداءِ حَسماً قَبلَ غائِلَةٍ

وَعاجِلِ الداءِ حَسماً قَبلَ غائِلَةٍ

إِنَّ العِلاجَ لَبَينَ البُرءِ وَالخَطرِ

إِنَّ العِلاجَ لَبَينَ البُرءِ وَالخَطرِ

And swiftly eradicate the disease before calamity strikes;

Treat affliction decisively, before it spreads,

Treat the disease decisively before it becomes a calamity;

Indeed, treatment lies between recovery and danger.

Curing lies between wellness and jeopardy.

For true remedy lies balanced between cure and peril.

اِنظُر إِلى عُمَرَ الفاروقِ كَيفَ نَفى

اِنظُر إِلى عُمَرَ الفاروقِ كَيفَ نَفى

نَصراً بِلا رُؤيَةٍ بِالعَينِ أَو خَبَرِ

نَصراً بِلا رُؤيَةٍ بِالعَينِ أَو خَبَرِ

Look at Umar al-Faruq, how he banished

Consider Omar: how he banished

Consider Umar al-Faruq, and how he exiled

Nasr, without eyewitness observation or a report.

Victory without seeing or reports.

Nasr, without witnessing a crime or receiving a report.

وَلم يَكُن ذاكَ عَن ذَنبٍ تَقَدَّمَهُ

وَلم يَكُن ذاكَ عَن ذَنبٍ تَقَدَّمَهُ

لكِن لِأَمرٍ بِسِرِّ الغَيبِ مُستَتِرِ

لكِن لِأَمرٍ بِسِرِّ الغَيبِ مُستَتِرِ

Nor was that for any prior sin,

That was not for a prior sin, but rather

That was not for any sin he had previously committed,

But for a matter concealed in the mystery of the unseen.

A confidential divine matter.

But for a matter hidden within the secrets of the Unseen.

بَل عَن تَمَنّي فَتاةٍ لَيسَ يَعلَمُها

بَل عَن تَمَنّي فَتاةٍ لَيسَ يَعلَمُها

وَلَم تَكُن مِن ذَواتِ الفُحشِ وَالعَهَرِ

وَلَم تَكُن مِن ذَواتِ الفُحشِ وَالعَهَرِ

Rather, because of the longing of a girl he did not know,

Rather, for a girl's wish, unknown to him,

It was due to the longing of a young woman he did not know,

And she was not a woman given to lewdness and fornication.

Who was no lewd harlot.

Though she was not a woman of obscenity or vice.

هذا دَليلٌ عَلى أَنَّ الإِمامَ لهُ

هذا دَليلٌ عَلى أَنَّ الإِمامَ لهُ

أَن يُعمِلَ الظَنَّ في مَن بِالفَسادِ حَري

أَن يُعمِلَ الظَنَّ في مَن بِالفَسادِ حَري

This is evidence that the ruler has the right

Proof that the Imam may act on suspicion

This stands as proof that the Imam possesses the right

To act on suspicion concerning one prone to corruption.

Against one corrupted or prone to evil.

To act on suspicion regarding those prone to corruption.

فَاِعمَل لِوَقتِكَ أَعمالاً تَليقُ بهِ

فَاِعمَل لِوَقتِكَ أَعمالاً تَليقُ بهِ

فَذا زَمانُ اِمتِزاجِ الصَفوِ بِالكَدَرِ

فَذا زَمانُ اِمتِزاجِ الصَفوِ بِالكَدَرِ

So perform deeds suited to your time;

So act in your time in a fitting manner,

So perform deeds suited to your time,

For this is an age of clarity mingled with murk.

For this is an age of purity mixed with filth.

For this is an age where purity is mingled with turbidity.

فَيا جَمالَ بَني الدُنيا وَبَهجَتَهُم

فَيا جَمالَ بَني الدُنيا وَبَهجَتَهُم

وَاِبنَ الأُولى هُم جَمالُ الكُتبِ وَالسِيَرِ

وَاِبنَ الأُولى هُم جَمالُ الكُتبِ وَالسِيَرِ

So, O beauty and delight of the sons of this world,

O, beauty of the world and its joy,

O you, the beauty of the world’s people and their delight,

And son of those who are the beauty of books and chronicles,

Son of the exemplars, beauty of books and legends.

And son of those who adorn the pages of history and biography.

فُقتَ المُلوكَ بِبَأسٍ في الوَغى وَنَدىً

فُقتَ المُلوكَ بِبَأسٍ في الوَغى وَنَدىً

إِنَّ النُجومَ لِيُخفيها سَنى القَمَرِ

إِنَّ النُجومَ لِيُخفيها سَنى القَمَرِ

You surpassed kings in valor on the battlefield and in bounty;

You surpassed kings with ferocity and favour,

You have surpassed all kings in might in battle and in generosity;

Indeed, the moon's radiance hides the stars.

Stars are veiled by the radiance of the moon.

Indeed, the stars are eclipsed by the radiance of the moon.

أَبوكَ عَبدُ العَزيزِ المُرتَضى كَرَماً

أَبوكَ عَبدُ العَزيزِ المُرتَضى كَرَماً

وَمُكرِمُ البيضِ وَالعَسّالَةِ السُمُرِ

وَمُكرِمُ البيضِ وَالعَسّالَةِ السُمُرِ

Your father is Abd al-Aziz, esteemed for his generosity,

Your father Abdulaziz, honourable and generous,

Your father is Abdulaziz, the approved one in nobility,

And one who honors white swords and swaying brown spears.

Who honours the white and brown skinned.

Who honors the white blades and the brown, quivering spears.

مَلكٌ تَجَسَّدَ مِن بَأسٍ وَمن كَرَمٍ

مَلكٌ تَجَسَّدَ مِن بَأسٍ وَمن كَرَمٍ

كَالغَيثِ وَاللَيثِ في نَفعٍ وَفي ضَرَرِ

كَالغَيثِ وَاللَيثِ في نَفعٍ وَفي ضَرَرِ

A king formed from valor and generosity,

A king of incarnate ferocity and nobility,

A king incarnate, forged from valor and munificence,

Like rain and a lion, in benefit and in harm.

Like rain and lion in beneficence and fierceness.

Like the rain in benefit, and the lion in ability to harm.

أَرعى الجَزيرَةَ عَيناً غَيرَ راقِدَةٍ

أَرعى الجَزيرَةَ عَيناً غَيرَ راقِدَةٍ

فَلَم يَبِت ضِدُّهُ إِلّا عَلى حَذَرِ

فَلَم يَبِت ضِدُّهُ إِلّا عَلى حَذَرِ

He watched over the Peninsula with an unsleeping eye,

He guarded the peninsula with an unsleeping eye,

He watched over the Peninsula with an unsleeping eye,

So his foe never passed a night except on guard.

His enemies always anxious.

So that his enemy never slept but in a state of dread.

وَأَنتَ تَتلوهُ مُستَنّاً بِسُنَّتِهِ

وَأَنتَ تَتلوهُ مُستَنّاً بِسُنَّتِهِ

أَكرِم بِها سُنَناً مَحمودَةَ الأَثرِ

أَكرِم بِها سُنَناً مَحمودَةَ الأَثرِ

And you follow him, patterning yourself upon his way;

While you follow his example faithfully,

And you follow him, walking clearly in his path;

How noble are those ways, praiseworthy in their effects!

Honouring the excellent traditions.

How noble are those paths, and how praiseworthy their traces!

أَرضَيتَ رَبَّكَ في حَربِ البُغاةِ كَما

أَرضَيتَ رَبَّكَ في حَربِ البُغاةِ كَما

أَرضَيتَ سَيفَكَ في اللَبّاتِ وَالنَحَرِ

أَرضَيتَ سَيفَكَ في اللَبّاتِ وَالنَحَرِ

You pleased your Lord in fighting the rebels, just as

You satisfied your Lord in war with the rebels,

You pleased your Lord in warring against the transgressors, just as

You pleased your sword in throats and upper chests.

As you sated your sword with skulls and blood.

You pleased your sword by plunging it into their chests and throats.

خُذها اِبنَةَ الفِكرِ أَمثالاً مُهَذَّبةً

خُذها اِبنَةَ الفِكرِ أَمثالاً مُهَذَّبةً

كَالتِبرِ فُصِّلَ بِالياقوتِ وَالدُرَرِ

كَالتِبرِ فُصِّلَ بِالياقوتِ وَالدُرَرِ

Take her, a daughter of thought, in polished maxims,

Take these refined proverbs, daughters of thought,

Accept this poem, a daughter of thought, composed of refined proverbs,

Like gold interspersed with rubies and pearls.

Like pearls threaded with rubies and gems.

Like pure gold set with rubies and pearls.

تَختالُ بَينَ الوَرى تيهاً بِمَدحِكُمُ

تَختالُ بَينَ الوَرى تيهاً بِمَدحِكُمُ

إِنَّ المَدائِحَ فيكُم حَليُ مُفتَخِرِ

إِنَّ المَدائِحَ فيكُم حَليُ مُفتَخِرِ

She struts among mankind, proud of praising you;

They strut proudly among people lost in your praise,

It walks proudly among the people, boasting of your praise;

Indeed, praises of you are the adornment of one who takes pride.

For praises of you are prideful adornment.

For praises sung of you are the jewels of the one who glories.

ثُمَّ الصَلاةُ وَتَسليمُ الإِلهِ عَلى

ثُمَّ الصَلاةُ وَتَسليمُ الإِلهِ عَلى

أَزكى البَرِيَّةِ وَالمُختارِ مِن مُضَرِ

أَزكى البَرِيَّةِ وَالمُختارِ مِن مُضَرِ

Then may God's blessings and peace be upon

Then blessings and peace be upon the purest

Then may the blessings and peace of God be upon

The purest of creation and the chosen one of Mudar,

Of mankind and the chosen of Mudar,

The purest of creation, the Chosen One from the tribe of Mudar,

وَآلهِ الغُرِّ وَالأَصحابِ ما صَدَحَت

وَآلهِ الغُرِّ وَالأَصحابِ ما صَدَحَت

وَرقاءُ في فَنَنٍ قَد حُفَّ بِالزَهَرِ

وَرقاءُ في فَنَنٍ قَد حُفَّ بِالزَهَرِ

And his radiant family and companions, as long as there sings

And his family, whiter than sheets

And upon his noble family and companions, for as long as

A gray dove on a bough surrounded by blossoms.

Adorned with flowers in their prime.

A dove coos upon a branch wreathed in blossoms.