1. He adorned the world with beauty,
Though he exposed the failings and flaws.

2. He built it as the Exalted built,
Erecting glories and destroying possessions.

3. For the blossoming perfections of completeness
As they expanded with majesty and perfection.

4. Its breadth and length surround its form,
But its beauty cannot be encompassed.

5. The beauties in it came together diverse,
So sight shifted, moving from one to the next.

6. It is dignified like the firmness of the towering mountain,
And elegant with the elegance of beauty.

7. Attractions crowded in from its sides,
Until the keenest felt there was nothing left to say.

8. Had they brought the forbidden magic near it,
The lawful magic would have become an idolater.

9. A heaven raining clouds of a sea,
As if it had arches or hills within it.

10. The keen mind almost lost control
And thought the sea of air had poured down.

11. It left no shooting star not aimed,
No illuminating sun or crescent moon.

12. For the splendorous beauty, the heaven of light
Formed its shape into a thick ring.

13. Adorned as if the embroiderer had cast
Onto it the figures of his imagination.

14. Not even the air was left to be a meadow
Nor the ceiling thus to be barren.

15. But indeed I verified that the fire had been
Its wet nurse and its substance limpid water.

16. I made no comparison of its solidity to molten,
Nor denied that its gathering had kindled.

17. Every living inanimate image
Showed in it a brilliance or guide.

18. It has a task but no movement,
Insight but utters no speech.

19. Wondrous sculpting is poured into it,
Elephants that know no tiredness.

20. It nurtured the sap of the malleable clay until it hardened,
Impudent, hardly fearing decay.

21. As if it had blame for animals,
So it did not lift up a veil to look at them.

22. And it bequeathed the planting of gardens,
Ambitions long planted by men.

23. The planting, the fruits, were a bequest
For one who made the dew and promise realities.

24. On the day we gathered, singers stood,
Drawing extemporized chants from our presence.

25. The skill of a craftsman was brought and exposed
The skill of our rhetoric as an example.

26. How often it sought out the difficult yet did not refuse,
How often it transformed the visible yet did not change.

27. But the Supported triumphed in description,
And his reality exhausted me from attaining.

28. When you examine him, you behold an age
That if the age had not been renewed by deeds

29. He established its glories as suns
And extended to us his strivings as shades.

30. And insights he generates composed,
Sending them forth as quick-paced fates.

31. In him is the deliberation of a capable forbearing one
Who almost coaxes the fierce lion.

32. And he lashes with a lash that warns enemies,
Restraining them though they are not imprisoned.

33. Of the whites, when they undertake a task
You find in them no left-handedness.

34. While we gather with them in turns,
They cut across mountains.

35. His face shone and his activity flourished,
So I said, “The paragon of misguidance is him.”

36. The day of Al Murabitun is no day of joy.
Time itself pronounced this of it.

37. We confessed our inability to fully describe him.
Nor did the Rashid find obeying him difficult.

38. He contends with him in every path of glory,
Though you reckon he rivals him in shortcoming.

39. When it was beyond endurance, he yielded his youthfulness,
Referring only to his perfections.

40. He very nearly matched him so that you see him
Wrestling with him, unable to detach.

41. He dazzled us with their dual rising in power
The rising of origin and branch in union.

42. Before him I never saw a full moon robed
In the proximity of the sun, completed.

43. To you came its steeds in their natures
Even if loss of them was worrying.

44. No crafty mind wears you out
If you keep it company with seriousness and ascent.

45. Cares crowded in on my breast,
Leaving my breaths no space.

46. The breeze was not left to be a burden
Nor did its breaths bring harm.

47. As if whenever I inhaled it
I returned it to my liver as stabbing pains.

48. How can one whose heart disdains
Endure if disdain is his punishment?

49. The water of youth passed in wishes
And he who turns away cannot hope for return.

50. You were the best that could be hoped in, so why
Did I find the attainment of my hopes impossible?

51. I did not pretend your love
Nor falsely profess praising you.