1. Should we but know that the drawing speaks,
And no trace remains of his given name but the name,

2. And that questioning fate leaks poison,
Bringing news of him whose knowledge was ruined,

3. There would be long standing and tears would burst forth,
And hidden passion, long guarded, would emerge.

4. But it is a body that bore its spirit,
And however much the spirit turns, the body is not asked.

5. And for how long is one busy with what desire dictates,
And how can one have resolve when resolve is defeated?

6. For a soul of radiant mettle and zeal
She is the intended target, affirmed by fate’s arrow.

7. Passion assaults me with the onslaught of a tyrant,
When provoked, neither pardon nor order near,

8. And sleep is repelled from my eyes as though
A wild cat warded by an arrow from its watering place,

9. And beautiful patience delivers me over to torment,
Exposing me in misery and cloaking me in illness.

10. Indeed souls perished obeying youthful whims,
Decency loved their abode and wisdom parted them.

11. They did not stop surrendering their lead
To a hand made for mastery over them and rule.

12. It wishes for the gain of blind injustice
Yet it is injustice, or less than injustice.

13. And it destroys, without honey, like a gnat,
And without that honey it never feels the poison.

14. The grip of a delusion in the imagination prevailed,
And oh how much it reaps when delusion takes hold!

15. Were it not led by passion in its being
To nothingness, it would destroy its existence with nonexistence.

16. So love ideals and virtues,
Even if the goal be difficult or resolve grow heavy,

17. For prosperity and adversity require both be joined
If a portion of either is granted to someone.

18. And only excellence distinguishes a human,
Had it not been for wine, generosity would not be noble.

19. So there is no pearl but that of perfected qualities,
Nothing seen of it, worried, without ideals.

20. He turned away from the pageantry of vanity,
And avoided passion as a visit, though sweet its taste,

21. And turned away from desire’s course when it grew strong,
Though phrases enticed and favors invited.

22. He protected the field of dignified nature
As Abu Hammu protected the honest field of kingship,

23. And these, in truth, are but his qualities,
In praising him the verse flowed on.

24. And who can render the ages helpless as he,
If steadfast resolve or strength of purpose be spoken of,

25. Or religion, upheld on the pillar of piety,
Or wisdom, curing with it what is uttered?

26. He overlooks ghosts that disturb chastity
And the excellence of shyness no trickery can spoil,

27. And he shames the clouds, so the lightning is ashamed
When it gathers a downpour in its hands.

28. And on the day of war, he hears Faysal’s sermon,
Whose prose strikes, and whose verse stabs.

29. Independent of horses’ neighing, neither whip nor goad draw near,
The white brands above their withers keep off brands.

30. If one day he initiates a work of craft,
Oversight perpetually attends it, and care,

31. And however many rights rise above necks,
Neither denial nor injustice in them, only settlement.

32. And he makes known the garb of glory through conduct pleased,
As embroidery makes known a garment, or pattern.

33. And the vile world that betrays brought him forth,
Yet its womb regarding his like is barren.

34. The best of kings is hunting itself, a natural,
None named above him who wishes can aspire.

35. And pride of the Zayyanis, their presence hastens
Whether they march or tarry, and proceed when they desire.

36. And were it not for the heir apparent, no speaker
Would misspeak of their loftiness, neither first nor last.

37. But it is an ancient inheritance and recent,
An origin of merit none rivals, or approximates.

38. The Zayyanis on the horizon are stars of guidance,
Each setting, replaced by the rising of a star.

39. Succours when they give, lions when they pounce,
Radiances of splendor when arrayed.

40. Will they march its army into the fray of munificence,
Where triumph is girt, and plunder copious?

41. Will they ignite in the field of war a flame,
Casting sparks, bringing misery to Arab and foreigner alike?

42. Blessed is He who perfected you, as though
You chose as you wished, and yours was the choice,

43. Appearing, essence, and vanishing, subtlety,
As though a spirit having no body accompany it.

44. They say, distinct in noble origin,
Though no sun or star grants distinction.

45. But these, in truth, are God-given gifts
Before creation distinguished, fate apportioned.

46. He delivered from woes and rescued from havoc,
His people enveloped in abundant bounty,

47. Saving them from the confusion of loss
After means were cut off and order scattered,

48. Braving thereby the sea of tribulations,
Matching God’s command, the sea parted,

49. For you, from God, a sanctuary in the east,
Forbidden demolition, its pillars sacrosanct,

50. And a mountain towering with wisdom,
Its peaks bowing before its majesty.

51. For you, from God, a heart guided aright,
For you, from God, a hand created to grip,

52. For you, from God, an eminent, graceful face
None resembles, no leering or frowning.

53. Beauty has none equal, and lineage no peer,
He is the exemplar of clear, realized merit.

54. When the midday sun claims him her brother,
Without doubt, her claim rings true.

55. Your care emulates a mother’s tenderness
And kindness to babies she suckles.

56. Your ambitions reach the heavens’ ends
With no fine mention, no thought beyond.

57. And you silence those whose excessive discourse
Shocked and overwhelmed any grasp.

58. You pin vague hopes with a thought
Guided by piety and aided by knowledge.

59. You built governance on a foundation
Laid by the pillars of science as basis.

60. Raised upon it, lineage Alawi,
Leaving no darkness in existence, no injustice.

61. Congratulations to a guest settled among you,
Whose hopes and life, however he desires!

62. Obedience to you imperative for all classes,
No shirking from it, and no escape.

63. You restored joy to the days’ splendor,
Their view gloomy, depressed and dimmed,

64. And nights of time turned bitter faced
Gloomy their specter, and gloomy their essence.

65. Continuously, whether dawn breaks or night falls,
Whether rain comes or stars shine.

66. Blessings upon your Giver of Perfection, as though
You envisioned ideals, and choice was yours.

67. You came to your people when woes exhausted them
And crisis subjugated and tried them sorely,

68. Dawning upon them in the horizon a shining sun
The quarters illuminated and gloom dispelled,

69. Renewing thereby a Mūsáwi state
Whose disposition is justice and trait is clemency.

70. Abu Tāshufīn its edge and blade,
The edge of glory thereby affirmed, and mark.

71. So you remain firmly unassailable,
Your shoulder overlooking the days, huge.

72. Remembrance of you graces horizons
As basil splits open, exuding fragrance.

73. Your abode intended, your love obedience,
Your rule over notables required, unavoidable.

74. You brought radiance back to the days’ elegance,
Their dreary view depressed and gloomy.

75. And time’s nights grew bitter faced,
Specters glowering, essence gloomy.

76. Continuously, whether dawn breaks or night falls,
Whether rain comes or stars shine.

77. May your Giver of Perfection be blessed! As though
You envisioned ideals, and choice was yours.

78. You came to your people when woes exhausted them
And crisis subjugated and tired them extremely,

79. Dawning upon them in the horizon a shining sun
The quarters illuminated and gloom dispelled,

80. Renewing thereby a Mūsáwi state
Whose disposition is justice and trait is clemency.

81. Abu Hammū bin Yūsuf, a clear sign,
And proof of sincerity no adversary contests.

82. Sometimes the named attains of his name
An allotment, by providence’s decree or division.

83. He warded off misery and rescued from havoc,
His people cloaked in abundant bounty,

84. Saving them from the confusion of loss
After means were cut off and order scattered,

85. Braving thereby the sea of tribulations
Matching God’s command, the sea parted.

86. For you, from God, a sanctuary in the east
Forbidden demolition, its pillars sacrosanct,

87. And a mountain towering with wisdom
Its peaks bowing before its majesty,

88. For you, from God, a heart guided aright,
For you, from God, a hand created to clutch,

89. For you, from God, an eminent, graceful face
None resembles, no leering or frowning,

90. Whose beauty is unmatched, and lineage peerless,
The exemplar of clear, realized merit.

91. When the midday sun claims him her brother,
Without doubt, her claim rings true.

92. It continually pursues those you granted security,
Tenderness, kindness, as a mother her suckling,

93. And reaches the horizons with ambition
Beyond fine words, having no thought but this,

94. And silences those whose excessive preaching
Shocked and overwhelmed comprehension,

95. Pinning hopes requiring thoughts
Guided by piety, aided by knowledge,

96. Building thereby governance on a base
Laid by the pillars of science as foundation,

97. Raised upon it lineage Alawi,
Leaving no darkness in existence, no injustice.

98. Congratulations to a guest settled with you
Whose hopes and life however he desires!

99. Obedience to you required for all classes,
No shirking, no evasion, no escape.

100. You restored joy to the days’ splendor,
Their dreary view depressed and gloomy,

101. And time’s nights grew bitter faced
Specters glowering, essence gloomy,

102. Continuously, whether dawn breaks or night falls,
Whether rain comes or stars shine.

103. Blessed are you by your Giver of Perfection, as though
You envisioned ideals, and yours was the choice,

104. Appearing, essence, and vanishing, subtlety,
As though a spirit having no body accompany it.

105. They say, distinct in noble origin,
Though no sun or star grants distinction,

106. But these, in truth, are God-given gifts
Before creation distinguished, fate apportioned.

107. O Mūsá! Your tale in the lands
Is pages recited, their circulation has no limit,

108. Matching your people's need when misery exhausted them
And crisis tired them, and despair peaked,

109. You dawned upon them on the horizon a shining sun
The quarters illuminated and gloom dispelled,

110. Renewing thereby Mūsáwi rule
Whose ways are justice and trait is clemency.

111. Abu Tashfin its edge and blade,
The edge of glory thereby sound, its mark stamped.

112. So you remain a midday sun
As he supports you, the perfect moon.

113. By the Sustainer of the rich who enriches, the Self-Sufficient Lord,
Who possesses the returning winds, yes, and possesses Judgment,

114. Who originated creation inventively, none before
To imitate, no model, measure, or method,

115. And the revolving universe circles by His command
Around a gusting axis, however massive its body,

116. And before whose might humanity bows in submission
No tree refuses prostration, nor star,

117. You have excelled in the sublime niche of guidance,
Even adversaries submit to your clear, plain truth,

118. And God's care for you appears in signs
And tokens of subtle kindness no wisdom can conjure,

119. How many crises have you resolved and tribulations surmounted
Before whose raging torrents mountains crumble!

120. You were but the pearl of glory; whenever described,
Its essence unknown, no date stamped on it,

121. And a ruby whose sincerity time refined,
No defects in it, no blemishes,

122. You clung to God's cord with a grip that grasped
The firmest handle from which none detaches.