1. If benevolence turns away from us
We praise Him, knowing that the cause is from us

2. So my heart does not resent His loyal servants
Nor does the father hate the son out of anger

3. In man's weeping, not his laughter
Lies reform, weeping reforms him

4. So do not be surprised at one who examines his condition
And corrupts some words to improve the meaning

5. I do not praise the generous or blame the stingy in vain
I extensively praise him whenever he gives or deprives

6. For in every act from Him there is wisdom
With an apparent aim to achieve success through it, guaranteed

7. His pleasure is awesome like a sword, dreaded in its sheath
And its dread is stronger when it leaves the sheath

8. When He says "Forbearance and suppressed rage"
He who held the sword casts it from his hand in cowardice

9. And he whose reforming people is his concern
Considers even the farthest people as the nearest

10. I clung to him, not despairing if he was distant
Nor letting down my guard if he came near, feeling secure

11. I was fortunate, though I slept a sick man's sleep
Whenever I stand up, I stumble from weakness

12. And they said "Move on and tomorrow will be good"
But running water turns foul, and long stays make it rotten

13. I said "Yes", though the moon wanes
Whenever it moves, weakening and fading away

14. If I don't say "Enough!" when given water
I will be left in a desert with snakes disdaining the dwelling

15. Leave me be, for I found no days like Ahmad's days
That the wretched or the pessimist can attain

16. His slipper's heel stays with me, and no other face
Even if they pledged the slipper for the face, I would not sell

17. I have missed men who were contemporaries of others, not Ahmad's
For they did not live by the endless sea or lofty peaks

18. I singled him out and his time singled me out
With the best praise for the best of all givers

19. So you who pledge your eulogy to others for reward
Have made a deal full of loss

20. God forbid that my praise of others brings me misery
For none but him satisfies me to emulate

21. By God, whenever someone turns away
I become hopeful, and my good opinion of him grows

22. For I know he is the best to deal with
And that he has no reward for benevolence but benevolence

23. I made his right hand, son of Ismail's
From his generosity, a fortress for me

24. A generous man who sees undeserved kindness as duty
And generosity itself was the first thing he instituted

25. When he hears of kindness, he insists on spreading it
And if he hears of disgrace, he insists on burying it

26. He loved high goals from childhood and swore
When he saw one not yet named, with no experience or age

27. He was so fervently longing for them
Until God let him attain the two, happily

28. In the morning he became, as they became for him
An intimate friend, each in love with his companion

29. No young man in their service attracted them
Like Ahmad, since they began to tread their path

30. He built for the high goals a palace, a fortress
Where stars enter on their feet graciously

31. They gave favor while opponents fought over it
One took a fortress and the other took a fortress

32. When the palace of Bani Fas was built
Those who loved and favored him for his goodness increased

33. From you they attained the pride and glory, nothing remained
For the others with him, nor matching weight

34. You surpassed them in the best name and lineage
Matching between word and meaning in limitation and sense

35. Happy are the buildings, the delegation flocks to them
When the hopeful comes to your munificence, needing no other

36. And none who love you returns disappointed
While all we hate return from you disappointed

37. Through it you repel enemies, it is itself
That repels when intimacy and souls are cut off