1. للمسلمين في الأنام إفادة

    لم تزل منهما الإفادة عاده

    The two Muslims bring benefit to humankind;

    benefiting others has always been their custom.

  2. صنفا للورى كتاباً جليلاً

    نافعاً بارعاً بديع الإجاده

    They compiled for humankind a noble book,

    useful, masterful, wondrous in its craftsmanship.

  3. فاق فيما حواه كل كتابٍ

    راق في فنه العظيم وساده

    It surpassed every book in what it contained,

    excelled in its great field and held sway over it.

  4. فهو فيها اضحى كبيت قصيدٍ

    عند أهل النهى ووسطي القلاده

    Thus, among them, it became like a poem's finest verse,

    to people of reason, and like the necklace's central jewel.

  5. معربٌ معجمُ البسيطة طرا

    معجبٌ مطربُ الملا بزياده

    A gazetteer of the whole earth, rendered into Arabic,

    impressive, enrapturing the throng exceedingly.

  6. بين بحرين مشتهى ذو صنوف

    من ثمار ومن رياحين ساده

    Between two seas, much desired, rich in varieties

    of fruits and lordly fragrant flowers.

  7. ساد كل الجنان في كل معنى

    إذ تسر الجنان منه استفاده

    It surpassed all gardens in every respect,

    for benefit drawn from it gladdens the heart.

  8. فاتخذه يا رائد العلم روضاً

    وتنزه في ما حوى برغاده

    So take it, O seeker of knowledge, as a garden,

    and stroll at ease through what it holds.

  9. كل شخص فيه ينال مناه

    ويرى فيه ما يفوق مراده

    Every person attains his wishes in it,

    and sees in it what surpasses his desire.

  10. فعبارته ذوات اعتبار

    جملت طروسه وزانت مداده

    For its wording is worthy of regard;

    it beautified its pages and adorned its ink.

  11. قد بدا لي منه كدرة نحر

    غرة افصحت له بالشهاده

    There appeared to me from it, like a pearl on the upper chest,

    a radiant gleam bearing clear witness on its behalf.

  12. قلت لله در من قطفاه

    من مجانيه في مجالي السعاده

    I said: God bless the two who plucked it

    from its harvests, in the realms of happiness.

  13. بيضا أوجه التواريخ فيه

    نعم سفراً يعده السفر زاده

    They made the faces of histories radiant within it;

    what a fine volume, which travelers count as their provision!

  14. خالص من تعقد واضطراب

    لا يرى الشخص ما يسوء اعتقاده

    It is free from complexity and confusion;

    one sees nothing that troubles one's belief.

  15. فهو مرآة كل شيء شهيٍّ

    فيه تبدو الأشكال حسب الإراده

    For it is a mirror of every delightful thing;

    in it, forms appear according to one's desire;

  16. وسلاف لكل سالف عصر

    دام من ألفاه أهل مجاده

    and the choice wine of every bygone age.

    May its two compilers endure, men of glory.