لنا ليلةٌ قد أشبَهَت ليلةَ القدْرِ

لنا ليلةٌ قد أشبَهَت ليلةَ القدْرِ

على ألفِ شهرٍ فُضِّلَتْ بل على الدهرِ

على ألفِ شهرٍ فُضِّلَتْ بل على الدهرِ

We had a night that resembled the Night of Power,

Ours is a night resembling the Night of Decree,

favored above a thousand months—nay, above all time.

Favored above a thousand months—nay, above all time.

حَوَت عُصبةً مِثلَ الكواكبِ بينَها

حَوَت عُصبةً مِثلَ الكواكبِ بينَها

وزيرٌ بدا كالبدرِ في ليلة البدرِ

وزيرٌ بدا كالبدرِ في ليلة البدرِ

It gathered a company like the stars, and among them

It gathered a company like the stars, among whom

a minister appeared, like the full moon on the night of its fullness.

A minister appeared like the full moon on a full-moon night.

هو الأحمَدُ السَّامي المقامِ الذي بهِ

هو الأحمَدُ السَّامي المقامِ الذي بهِ

قد ابتهجَتْ بيروتُ باسمةَ الثَّغرِ

قد ابتهجَتْ بيروتُ باسمةَ الثَّغرِ

He is Ahmad—the most praiseworthy—lofty in station, through whom

He is Ahmad, exalted in rank, through whom

Beirut rejoiced, a smile upon her lips.

Beirut has rejoiced, with smiling lips.

يُساقُ إليهِ المدحُ من كلِّ ناطقٍ

يُساقُ إليهِ المدحُ من كلِّ ناطقٍ

ويُختصُّ بعدَ اللهِ بالحمدِ والشُّكرِ

ويُختصُّ بعدَ اللهِ بالحمدِ والشُّكرِ

To him praise is borne from everyone who speaks,

Praise is brought to him from every speaker,

and, after God, he is singled out for praise and thanks.

And, after God, he is singled out for praise and thanks.

بصيرٌ بأحكامِ السِيِّاسةِ قائمٌ

بصيرٌ بأحكامِ السِيِّاسةِ قائمٌ

على سَنَنِ الإنصافِ في النَهْيِ والأمرِ

على سَنَنِ الإنصافِ في النَهْيِ والأمرِ

Well versed in the principles of statecraft, standing firm

Well versed in the rules of governance, he holds fast

upon the ways of equity in forbidding and commanding.

To the path of fairness in forbidding and commanding.

طلبنا لهُ تقريرَ دولتهِ التي

طلبنا لهُ تقريرَ دولتهِ التي

سَعدنا بها مِن حيثُ نَدري ولا نَدِري

سَعدنا بها مِن حيثُ نَدري ولا نَدِري

We sought for him the firm establishment of his rule, which

We sought for him confirmation of his rule, through which

has made us fortunate in ways we know and do not know.

We have been fortunate in ways we know and do not know.

وذاكَ لنا حظٌّ سعيدٌ فلم يكنْ

وذاكَ لنا حظٌّ سعيدٌ فلم يكنْ

لنا فيهِ من فضلٍ يُعَدُّ ولا أجرِ

لنا فيهِ من فضلٍ يُعَدُّ ولا أجرِ

That is a happy lot for us; and so there was

And that is good fortune for us, for there was

no merit of ours in it to be reckoned, nor any reward.

No merit of ours in it to be reckoned, nor any reward.