1. She passed away, so there is no longer hope of meeting her,
The one whose passing brought tears to the eyes of mourners.

2. She brought joy through her character and deeds,
And caused me sorrow when she stopped praising me.

3. He who preserves a woman's honor out of fear of shame,
She has preserved my family from dishonor.

4. Oh her grave! Since you parted from the clouds
That rained on the soil of that tomb.

5. I was not the best son-in-law for one like her,
Nor was I a good husband worthy of her glory.

6. If there was a man in the house whose childbearing
Was expected to birth a girl like her father.

7. My face would not remain darkened by sorrow,
Nor would jealousy place her among the wealthy.

8. I swear by my soul that there was no argument
Left for a husband or father concerning her religion and shyness.

9. Whenever I think of her and others,
The difference between her and them becomes apparent.

10. She never darkened her face or disgraced a brother
By going out in her gown in the streets.

11. She never left her room to go for a walk,
Or visited her neighbors in their homes.

12. No hands gestured toward her,
No one said "This is Zainab among her women."

13. If I did not mention her name after her death,
It would have remained hidden like her in life.

14. I was more hidden in the veil than the stars
At the horizon at sunrise.

15. She pleased me by her modesty. Oh her grave! What
Did you add to her modesty and concealment?

16. She only wanted to relieve the pain in her body,
Which complained until she complained of its treatment.

17. An austere life cut short her lifespan,
Ruled by one excessive in testing her.

18. This is not, my soul, a place of residence,
Your place is in another, so build it.

19. She preceded us hastily,
While we tomorrow or the next day follow her.

20. Decay clothed you after clothes of soil,
Garments that are not cleaned except by affliction.

21. She left behind children like ghosts of cats
Whose hands reluctantly care for them.

22. A child was lost, absent from his mother’s eye,
Even if others replace her in caring for him.

23. For that is a child who sees no father but him,
Nor hopes for the longevity of her upbringing him.

24. Death is but a watering hole crowded
By lifetimes in their madness.

25. One drinks and is followed by another
Who stops her from drinking before her.

26. To what length does man wish himself a long life?
Should not one with grey hair be shy of madness?

27. Grey hair is but a warner announcing to the youth,
If he could see through its blindness.