1. ولما أن رجعنا للديار

    ونلنا العفو بعد الاقتدار

    And when we returned to our homeland,

    And received pardon after power had been attained,

  2. نهضنا للسياحة والتسلي

    وجوب البر مع خوض البحار

    We set out for travel and diversion,

    And to roam the land and cross the seas.

  3. نزلنا مصر ذات النيل فيها

    رجال العلم كالاسد الضواري

    We arrived in Egypt, land of the Nile; within her

    Are men of learning, like fierce lions.

  4. فعلم مدرسي فاق وصفا

    وعلم أزهري كالدراري

    For school learning surpassed description,

    And al-Azhar's learning was like radiant stars.

  5. وفيها الحر يبدي كل فكر

    علانية برابعة النهار

    And there the free man expresses every thought

    Openly, in broad daylight.

  6. بها كل التسامح فهي حقا

    وأيم الله منبع للفخار

    In her is complete tolerance; she is truly

    By God, a wellspring of glory.

  7. بها العباس ذو حزم وعزم

    كريم النفس محمود الاثار

    In her is Abbas, possessed of firmness and resolve,

    Generous of soul, praised for his deeds.

  8. هويناها ومن نهوى سواها

    وفيها العلم بادي الانتشار

    We loved her—and whom else do we love?

    And in her the spread of learning is plain.

  9. وأسسنا بها للطبع دارا

    وللأسد اقتداء بالخيار

    And there we founded a house for printing,

    And for the Lion, in emulation of the best.