1. Does praise keep pouring over him,
A master to whom glory accrues,

2. And eloquence does him justice,
And poetry expresses his news?

3. Prose depicts clearly his meanings’ form,
He could with verse outdo poets too.

4. It suffices to describe him that he is
The Mahdi, since names shone bright anew.

5. A pole whose light in East and West,
Served all to see their way unto.

6. He is the sea of law, the Sanusi’s son
Of whom tidings spread and news flew.

7. No science he missed, and none did neglect,
Science did not kill him, nay it gave life anew.

8. He united knowledge and saintlihood, so
The scholars and the saints in him their paragon knew.

9. From him, light after light shone forth
Each brighter than all lights hitherto.

10. In him inner knowledge encountered learning
Toiled for through vigil nights in labors not few.

11. But true knowledge he saw only in righteous deeds
As science is but means, and container too.

12. Thus you see the Sanusi way’s foundation
Is practice, and not mere words devoid of its due.

13. It realized, by deeds, the guidance of Sanusi’s followers,
Since words alone cannot suffice or by themselves construe.

14. They all practice accordingly, and among them
Minds and limbs compete in efforts not few.

15. Many a hand that tilled by labor sowed
Scrolls of wisdom guarded well by students from view.

16. They realized the way shown by the teacher of goodness
That prophet whom we emulate in all we pursue.

17. They spread between East and West
Right guidance by which horizons anew shone through.

18. Lodges in each valley and open plain,
None can grasp their count or fully construe.

19. And building began on the Green Mountain
Where the White Residence anew in view drew.

20. In the radiance of the venerable companion,
My master Rafi’, whom blessings accrue.

21. Where that guiding Mahdi shone like a full moon
Penetrating what gloom had hitherto.

22. What branch to what root, by my life,
Fathers and sons seem to intertwine and construe.

23. Nay, but the son surpassed more sublimely
Even if the most exalted fathers hitherto him outdrew.

24. That aspirer, the Mahdi, and the truthful foregoer
Of right, and rain clouds that abundantly life anew bestrew.

25. His face blossomed, his color shone bright
None fairer than him shone however you peruse.

26. Kohl-lined eyes, soft round cheeks,
In him guidance appeared and modesty anew shone through.

27. White of cheek and renowned, and on his
Two cheeks a mark the color of dusk that mars their hue.

28. Smooth is his forehead’s breadth when kissed,
As if a bright star, thought I as I him closer view.

29. Sturdy, thick-shouldered, long armed and open handed
Capacious of mouth, pearly teeth in order due.

30. Delicate of hand but his delicate hands
Are generous, benevolent, nothing good they eschew.

31. Hashimite nose, led by scent like hound
Along with such flair, lofty spirit shining through.

32. His perfection appears in eyes adorned
With fine brows that grace it however you construe.

33. Eyes that awe and majesty fill, yet still
Lowered gently even while others him closer view.

34. Who saw him says this is the guided one indeed,
For guidance has marks by which we apprehend what is true.

35. The most resembling people to the prophet, and whoever
Resembles his father can make no claim untrue.

36. He spread religion in the lands of Sudan entire,
And guidance covered them all anew shining through.

37. With his swords Tripolitania in the West
He saved, and red Barqah’s rescue he saw into.

38. Soon the Italians will know that among Sudanese
Are men whose swords in wars flash darker than night’s hue.

39. In battle, lions that pounce, but by the swords
Gentle, and against harm, utterly mild of view.

40. They aid Islam with sword and scripture,
So the two strengths in them strike equal hue.

41. They populate the land God to His servants bequeathed
Those righteous ones who set all aright and construe.

42. No desert they left but turned into garden
Singing joyous, however bleak it seemed hitherto.

43. Ask Gharyan, and Jaghbub, and Kufrah,
Their construction and growth does tell and construe!

44. And ask all the open desert plains how they lived
Well in days of Sanusi, though bereft hitherto.

45. None dread the French like the Sanusi do
And in fearing him, they show no folly or their minds askew!

46. They knew his worth and the extent of his aspirations
So witness to his superiority even enemies accrue.

47. How many a state that opposed him quakes in fear
A conceited power, though once dominance it thought its due!

48. He reinforced Islam, erect and proper
After factions deprecated it from virtue hitherto

49. And restored Islam vigorous as it was
In days of ancestors and forerunners, as in times anew.

50. None like him stood for guiding creation.
This truth bears no contention whatsoever worldviews construe!