قَرّتwere gladdened عيونُthe eyes of بنيthe descendants of النبيِّthe Prophet محمّدMuhammad
قَرّت عيونُ بني النبيِّ محمّد
بالقادرthrough al-Qadir الماضِيunyielding العزيمةin resolve أحمدِAhmad
بالقادر الماضِي العزيمة أحمدِ
The eyes of the Prophet Muhammad's descendants were gladdened
The eyes of the children of Prophet Muhammad rejoiced
by al-Qadir, Ahmad of unyielding resolve,
At the capable Ahmad, resolute of will
بموفّقٍthrough one divinely favored شَهدتْtestified لهfor him آباؤهُhis forefathers
بموفّقٍ شَهدتْ له آباؤهُ
أنْthat سوفwill يشتملclothe himself in الخلافةthe caliphate فيin غدِthe morrow
أنْ سوف يشتمل الخلافة في غدِ
by one divinely favored, whose forefathers testified for him
With Mufawwadh, whose fathers bore witness for him
that he would don the caliphate on the morrow.
That the caliphate will encompass him tomorrow
جاءَتْهit came to him لمnot يُتْعِبْburden بهاover it فيin صدرِهhis breast
جاءَتْه لم يُتْعِبْ بها في صدرِه
همّاًanxiety وَلاnor أوْمَاbeckoned إليهاtoward it باليدِwith the hand
همّاً وَلا أوْمَا إليها باليدِ
It came to him; he had not burdened his breast
It came to him but did not burden his chest
with anxiety over it, nor beckoned toward it with his hand.
With worries or leanings, and he did not extend his hand to it
سَبَقتْcame first مُخِيلَتُهاits auspicious promise إليهto him وأكرَمand the noblest of الthe
سَبَقتْ مُخِيلَتُها إليه وأكرَم ال
نعماءِblessings طالعةٌdawning أمامَbefore الموعِدِthe appointed time
نعماءِ طالعةٌ أمامَ الموعِدِ
Its auspicious promise reached him first; and the noblest of
Its imaginings had reached him, and the most generous
blessings is one that dawns before its appointed time.
Of fortunes was rising before the appointed time
ولقدand indeed علمتُI knew بأنّهاthat it لاdoes not تنتضِيunsheathe
ولقد علمتُ بأنّها لا تنتضِي
إلّاexcept شَباthe sharp edge of ماضِيkeen الغِرارِin cutting edge مهنَّدِan Indian-forged blade
إلّا شَبا ماضِي الغِرارِ مهنَّدِ
And indeed I knew that it never unsheathes
And I knew that it would not settle
anything but the edge of a keen-edged Indian-forged blade.
Except like the subsiding of a faded flood
لمّاwhen مشتْspread فيهabout him الظّنونُconjectures وأوسعتْand gave full scope
لمّا مشتْ فيه الظّنونُ وأوسعتْ
طَمَعاًto greed يروحgoes at dusk معwith العدوِّthe foe ويغتدِيand goes at dawn
طَمَعاً يروح مع العدوِّ ويغتدِي
When conjectures spread about him and gave full scope
When suspicions prowled in it and widened
to greed that went with the foe at dusk and dawn,
Ambitions that wander with the enemy and transgress
وَتَنازَعواand they contended طُرُقاًpaths إليهاtoward it وعْرَةًrugged
وَتَنازَعوا طُرُقاً إليها وعْرَةً
جاءتهit came to him فيin سَنَنِthe course of الطّريقِthe road الأقصدِmost direct
جاءته في سَنَنِ الطّريقِ الأقصدِ
and they contested rugged paths toward it,
And they competed for roads to it, rugged
it came to him along the straightest road.
It came to him along the straightest path
عَلِقتْclung بأوفىto the most faithful ساعدٍarm فيin نصرهاsupporting it
عَلِقتْ بأوفى ساعدٍ في نصرها
وأذبَّand most protective عنof مصباحهاits lamp المتوقّدِblazing
وأذبَّ عن مصباحها المتوقّدِ
It clung to the arm most faithful in its defense,
It clung to the most capable arm in supporting it
and most protective of its blazing lamp:
And the brightest of its lamps was protected
قَرْمٍa noble chief يضيفُadds صرامةَstern resolve المنصورِof al-Mansur فيin
قَرْمٍ يضيفُ صرامةَ المنصورِ في
قَمعِsubduing العدوِّthe foe إلىto خشوعِhumble devotion المهتديof al-Muhtadi
قَمعِ العدوِّ إلى خشوعِ المهتدي
a chief who adds al-Mansur's stern resolve in
A hero who adds the valor of the victorious
subduing the foe to al-Muhtadi's humble devotion.
To the subjugation of the enemy, to the devotion of the guided
كالنّارِlike fire عاليةِsoaring الشّعاعِin radiance وربّماand sometimes
كالنّارِ عاليةِ الشّعاعِ وربّما
أخفَتْconcealed تضرّمَهاits blazing بطونُthe depths of الرِّمْددِthe ashes
أخفَتْ تضرّمَها بطونُ الرِّمْددِ
Like fire with soaring radiance, though at times
Like a fire, lofty of rays, though
the depths of ash have concealed its blazing.
Its flames may be obscured by cinderous ashes
يقظٌvigilant يغضُّlowers جفونَهhis eyelids وهمومهُand his concerns
يقظٌ يغضُّ جفونَه وهمومهُ
منfrom كلِّevery أطرافfar reach of البلادِthe land بمرصدِon watch
من كلِّ أطراف البلادِ بمرصدِ
Vigilant, he lowers his eyelids, while his concerns
Awake, closing his eyelids and worries
keep watch over every far reach of the land.
From all corners of the country with observatories
فخراًtake pride بنِيsons of العبّاسِal-Abbas إنّindeed قديمكمْyour ancient glory
فخراً بنِي العبّاسِ إنّ قديمكمْ
يأبىrefuses علىfrom الأيّامِthe days غيرَanything but تجدّدِrenewal
يأبى على الأيّامِ غيرَ تجدّدِ
Take pride, sons of al-Abbas: your ancient glory
Pride of the Abbasids, your ancientness
will accept from the passing days nothing but renewal.
Refuses days other than renewal
شرفٌhonor يميلُmakes sway بيَذْبُلٍYadhbul ويَلَمْلَمٍand Yalamlam
شرفٌ يميلُ بيَذْبُلٍ ويَلَمْلَمٍ
وعُلاًand lofty heights تعرّسencamp فيin جوارthe vicinity of الفرقدِal-Farqad, a star
وعُلاً تعرّس في جوار الفرقدِ
An honor that makes Yadhbul and Yalamlam sway,
A nobility that withers and crumples
and heights that encamp beside al-Farqad.
And loftiness that settled alongside detached stars
وهْيَand it is الخلافةُthe caliphate موطنٌa homeland لمnot يفتقِدْlose
وهْيَ الخلافةُ موطنٌ لم يفتقِدْ
أطوادَهits mountains وشرارةٌand a spark لمnot تخمُدِgo out
أطوادَه وشرارةٌ لم تخمُدِ
And the caliphate is a homeland that has not lost
It is the caliphate, a place never missed
its mountains, and a spark that has not gone out.
By its pillars, and an undying spark
إنْif نلتَهاyou attained it ولَكَمْand how often لمجدكfor your glory عندهاwith it
إنْ نلتَها ولَكَمْ لمجدك عندها
قدمٌprecedence وكمand how many فيin نيلهاattaining it لكfor you منof يدِa helping hand
قدمٌ وكم في نيلها لك من يدِ
If you have gained it, how often has your glory had with it
If you attain it, how many steps has your glory taken there
precedence, and how often have you had a hand in winning it!
And how much, in attaining it, you have been helped
قَدindeed وازَنوكthey weighed you against others فكنتَso you were أضربَthe deepest-striking فيهمُamong them
قَد وازَنوك فكنتَ أضربَ فيهمُ
عِرْقاًin root وأبعدَand farthest-reaching غايةًin reach فيin مَحتِدِancestral stock
عِرْقاً وأبعدَ غايةً في مَحتِدِ
They weighed you against others: among them you struck the deepest
They weighed you, and you were the finest among them
root, and reached farthest in ancestral stock.
In lineage, and farthest in purpose and resolve
وَدَعوكand they called you للأمرِto the charge الجَليلِmomentous فَلمso not تَكنْyou were
وَدَعوك للأمرِ الجَليلِ فَلم تَكنْ
نَزْرscant in الفَخارِglory ولاnor قليلَmeager in السُّؤدُدِnobility
نَزْر الفَخارِ ولا قليلَ السُّؤدُدِ
And they called you to the momentous charge, and you were not
And they called you to the majestic affair, but you were not
scant in glory, nor meager in nobility.
The insignificant pottery, or the scarce dwarf palm
ياO اِبنَson of الّذينthose who إذاwhen اِحتَبَوْاsat with knees drawn up فيin مفخرٍa contest of glory
يا اِبنَ الّذين إذا اِحتَبَوْا في مفخرٍ
عصفواthey swept away بكلِّevery سيادةٍsupremacy لمسوّدِof an acknowledged chief
عصفوا بكلِّ سيادةٍ لمسوّدِ
O son of those who, when they sit with knees drawn up in a contest of glory,
O son of those who, when prideful in glory
sweep away every chieftain's supremacy,
Swept away every darkened dominion
الطاعنُواthose who spear ثُغَرِthroat hollows الرّجالof men وعندهمْand in their view
الطاعنُوا ثُغَرِ الرّجال وعندهمْ
أنّthat المسلّمَthe one saved بالفِرارِby flight هوis الرّدِيthe ruined one
أنّ المسلّمَ بالفِرارِ هو الرّدِي
those who spear the hollows of men's throats, and in whose eyes
Assailants of the throats of men, and to them
the man who survives by flight is the one truly lost.
The Muslim is one who retreats, depraved
وإذاand when دُعواthey were summoned لِمُلِمّةٍto a calamity فكأنّماthen it is as though
وإذا دُعوا لِمُلِمّةٍ فكأنّما
فُجرتْwere unleashed لهاfor it دُفَعُthe surges of الغمامclouds المُزْبدِfoaming
فُجرتْ لها دُفَعُ الغمام المُزْبدِ
And when summoned to a calamity, it is as though
And if invited to a confrontation, it is as if
the surges of foaming clouds were unleashed for it.
The driving away of thunderous clouds were ruptured for it
يفديكmay he ransom you مِنْwhoever يغشىveils بهاؤكyour splendor طرفَهhis sight
يفديك مِنْ يغشى بهاؤك طرفَه
منfrom among كلِّevery رعْديدِa trembling coward الجَنانِat heart معرِّدِone who flees
من كلِّ رعْديدِ الجَنانِ معرِّدِ
May he whose sight your splendor veils be your ransom—
He whose gaze is veiled by your brilliance redeems you
every trembling-hearted, fleeing coward,
From every crashing thunder of the verdant gardens
متطاولٍhaughty فإذاyet when عرضتَyou appeared لِلَحْظِهِbefore his gaze
متطاولٍ فإذا عرضتَ لِلَحْظِهِ
لصقتْclung أسرّةُthe furrows of وجههِhis face بالجلمدِto hard rock
لصقتْ أسرّةُ وجههِ بالجلمدِ
haughty, yet when you appear before his gaze,
Haughty, so if he looks to your fortune
his face's furrows cling to the hard rock.
The corners of his mouth cling to the ice
للَّهِto God دَرُّكyour excellence وَالعجاجُand the battle-dust محلّقٌsoaring aloft
للَّهِ دَرُّك وَالعجاجُ محلّقٌ
والخيلُand the horses تعثرُstumble بالقناover the spears المتقصّدِbroken into pieces
والخيلُ تعثرُ بالقنا المتقصّدِ
God be praised for you, while battle-dust whirls aloft,
God bless you, and al-`Ujaj soars
and horses stumble over shattered spears,
And the horses stumble at the targeted streams
واليومand the day تَغدُرُbetrays بالمطالِعthe onlooker شمسُهits sun
واليوم تَغدُرُ بالمطالِع شمسُه
فيطالعُso it faces الدّنياthe world بوجهٍwith a face أسْودِblack
فيطالعُ الدّنيا بوجهٍ أسْودِ
and the day's sun betrays the onlooker,
And today the sun deceptively rises upon the horizons
so the day faces the world with a blackened face.
So it rises upon the world with a blackened face
ماnot إِنْindeed تَرىyou see إلّاexcept جَريحاًa wounded man ينثنِيbends
ما إِنْ تَرى إلّا جَريحاً ينثنِي
ضَرِجَblood-soaked القميصِof shirt علىover طريحٍa fallen man مُقصَدِmortally struck
ضَرِجَ القميصِ على طريحٍ مُقصَدِ
You see nothing but a wounded man bending,
You see only a wounded man bending over
his shirt blood-soaked, over a fallen man mortally struck.
Bloodied shirt upon a targeted victim
والبِيضُand the white blades تعلمُknow أنّهاthat they ماnot جُرّدَتْwere unsheathed
والبِيضُ تعلمُ أنّها ما جُرّدَتْ
بِيديكby your hands إلّاexcept منfrom حُشاشَةِthe last spark of life of معتدِan aggressor
بِيديك إلّا من حُشاشَةِ معتدِ
And the white blades know they were never drawn
And the whites know that they were stripped
by your hands save from an aggressor's last spark of life.
By your hands only from an aggressive bandit
وأناand I الّذيthe one whose ينُمىis traced إليكto you ولاؤهُhis allegiance
وأنا الّذي ينُمى إليك ولاؤهُ
أبداًforever كماjust as يُنمىis traced إليكمْto you all مولديmy birth
أبداً كما يُنمى إليكمْ مولدي
And I am he whose allegiance is traced to you
And I whose loyalty grows for you
forever, just as my birth is traced to you.
Everlastingly like my birthplace grows for you
ماnot حاجَتيmy need إلّاexcept بَقاؤكَyour remaining سالِماًsafe
ما حاجَتي إلّا بَقاؤكَ سالِماً
تُعلِيyou elevate مقاماتِيmy stations وتُدنِيand you bring near مشهدِيmy place of audience
تُعلِي مقاماتِي وتُدنِي مشهدِي
I need nothing but for you to remain unharmed,
I want nothing but your wellbeing
raising my standing and drawing me close in audience.
Raising my status and nearing my field
وَإِذاand when دَنوتُI approached إلىto الرِّواقِthe portico مسلِّماًoffering greetings
وَإِذا دَنوتُ إلى الرِّواقِ مسلِّماً
أقذيتَyou put grit in بِيwith me فيهthere نواظرَthe eyes of حُسّدِيmy enviers
أقذيتَ بِي فيه نواظرَ حُسّدِي
And when I approach the portico with a greeting,
And when I come close to the porch, in submission
you make me there like grit in my enviers' eyes,
You receive me among the jealous gazes
وكسوتَand you clothed مرتبتيmy rank هناكthere فضيلةًa distinction
وكسوتَ مرتبتي هناك فضيلةً
تَبقىendures علىfor عَقِبِيmy descendants بقاءَas enduring as المُسْنَدِtime itself
تَبقى على عَقِبِي بقاءَ المُسْنَدِ
and there clothe my rank in a distinction
And clothe my position there in superior merit
that endures for my descendants as long as time itself,
Remaining after me like the lasting legacy
فيin ساعةٍan hour مَلأىfilled بكلِّwith every تحيّةٍsalutation
في ساعةٍ مَلأى بكلِّ تحيّةٍ
تنجابُcomes forth عنfrom أفواهِthe mouths of قومٍpeople سُجّدِbowed in prostration
تنجابُ عن أفواهِ قومٍ سُجّدِ
in an hour filled with every salutation
In a time filled with every greeting
issuing from the mouths of men bowed low,
Flowing from the mouths of bowing people
ومواقفٍand gatherings عمَرَinhabited الجلالُmajesty فِناءَهاtheir precincts
ومواقفٍ عمَرَ الجلالُ فِناءَها
فالحسنُso beauty فيهاin them بالمهابةِin awe مُرتَدِis clothed
فالحسنُ فيها بالمهابةِ مُرتَدِ
and in gatherings whose precincts majesty has filled,
And standings where majesty fills their horizons
so beauty is clothed there in awe.
So beauty in them has scattered presence
لاnot يستطيعcan الطّرفُthe eye يأخذُtake in لحظَهاa glimpse of them
لا يستطيع الطّرفُ يأخذُ لحظَها
إلّاexcept مخالسةًfurtively كلحظِlike the glance of الأرمدِone with inflamed eyes
إلّا مخالسةً كلحظِ الأرمدِ
The eye cannot catch a glimpse of them
The eye cannot take their glances
except furtively, like the glance of one with sore eyes.
Except by glancing indirectly, like the squint of the blind
وَأَحقُّand most deserving مَنthe one who لبسَwore الكرامةَhonor مخلصٌa sincere man
وَأَحقُّ مَن لبسَ الكرامةَ مخلصٌ
ماnot شابَtainted صفوَthe purity of ودادِهhis affection بتودّدِwith ingratiation
ما شابَ صفوَ ودادِه بتودّدِ
And most deserving to wear honor is a sincere man,
And most deserving to wear honesty without fault
who never tainted the purity of his love with ingratiation.
Is one whose affection was never marred by fawning
أُثنيI praise عَليكyou وبينناand between us متمنّعٌa forbidding barrier
أُثني عَليك وبيننا متمنّعٌ
صعبُdifficult المرامِto attain علىfor الرّجالِmen القُصّدِintent on their aim
صعبُ المرامِ على الرّجالِ القُصّدِ
I praise you, though between us stands a forbidding barrier,
I praise you while between us disdains
hard for determined men to surmount.
One difficult to please among resolute men
وَلئِنْand even if تحجّبَwas veiled نورُthe light of وجهكyour face بُرهةًfor a while
وَلئِنْ تحجّبَ نورُ وجهك بُرهةً
عنِّيfrom me فهاتيكthen those المناقبُnoble qualities شُهّدِيmy witnesses
عنِّي فهاتيك المناقبُ شُهّدِي
And even if the light of your face is veiled for a while
And if the light of your face hides from me a while
from me, those noble qualities are my witnesses.
Take them turning between expressions the reciters'
خذهاtake it تَقَلَّبُit moves بينbetween لفظٍwording لمnot يَطُفْcirculate
خذها تَقَلَّبُ بين لفظٍ لم يَطُفْ
نُطقُthe speech of الرّواةِreciters بهwith it ومعنىًand a meaning أوحدِpeerless
نُطقُ الرّواةِ به ومعنىً أوحدِ
Take it, moving between words never circulated
Speech never inclined to, and meanings beyond match
by reciters' tongues, and a meaning without peer:
Brilliant, capturing acceptance as if they
غرّاءradiant تستلبseizes القَبولَapproval كأنّماas though
غرّاء تستلب القَبولَ كأنّما
جاءَتْit came تبشّرُbringing glad news to صادياًa thirsty man بالمورِدِof the watering-place
جاءَتْ تبشّرُ صادياً بالمورِدِ
radiant, it seizes approval, as though
Came heralding a watering place for the thirsty traveler
it came bringing a thirsty man glad news of a watering-place.
And surrender, Commander of the Faithful, supplied
وَاِسلَمْand remain safe أميرَCommander of المؤمنينthe Faithful مزَوَّداًendowed
وَاِسلَمْ أميرَ المؤمنين مزَوَّداً
نعماءَblessings موفورabundant الحياةِin life مخَلّدِmade everlasting
نعماءَ موفور الحياةِ مخَلّدِ
And remain safe, Commander of the Faithful, endowed
With abundant graces of immortalized life
with blessings, rich in life, made everlasting.
Centuries pass while the pillar of your rule remains firm
تفنىperish القرونُgenerations وطودُwhile the mountain of ملككyour rule راسخٌstands firm
تفنى القرونُ وطودُ ملكك راسخٌ
فيin خيرthe best منزلةٍstation وأشرفِand the noblest مقعدِseat
في خير منزلةٍ وأشرفِ مقعدِ
Generations perish while the mountain of your rule stands firm,
In the best position and most noble seat
in the finest station and the noblest seat.
Partial English translation: 79 of 80 Arabic lines translated.