1. He who contends with truth, no proof avails him,
While guidance has clear signs and sovereignty.

2. Whatever signs of His God displays
In perfect state, for God's work shows perfection.

3. Who has not seen the sun, can ne'er between
The night and day a manifest division find.

4. Praise be to God! Praise such as knowing minds
Yield to His essence, while their thoughts Islam and faith expand.

5. Reason and fixed tradition of fair creed
Are jointly charged the mystic light of right to lead.

6. That light, whose nature mocks our wisdom's reach,
Transcends our thoughts, and far our grasping powers exceeds

7. Who views His lofty court must wonder-lost descry
The earthly throne and heavenly roof in essence one.

8. A sight wherein the souls of all that live
Seem as but dead, to life's delight still blind and deaf and numb.

9. To eye and heart a hope that ventureth not
In time's renewing spring to dip its foot.

10. Through his nobility we nearer drew
Unto the Highest Good, if human thought

11. Could mount to regions of celestial air
Allowed to angels and to men denied.

12. He speaks as one with Luqman's wisdom graced,
Or as As-Suhban when his words the armies swayed.

13. If angered, he forgives the injury
And pardons when revenge is in his power.

14. With wisdom searching what the unseen veil
Conceals, his judgment errs not in the least degree.

15. No worldly king possessed a trait like this,
Since earthly crowns on mortal brows were placed.

16. I ask God's pardon! - save in days of old
When knowledge filled the mind of Solomon.

17. A wanderer amid trackless wastes by night
While clouds discharged their burden, and the lances

18. Of charging cavalry gleamed on the hills.
A staff his hand supports, men think it changed

19. To a fell serpent, at whose look the ranks,
Affrighted, shrink and scatter in wild flight.

20. Granada thy love enraptured he deprived thee
Both of his presence and his wandering.

21. My lord, what fault in her that she no more
Should have the help of other men or lands?

22. When thou recallest native countries left,
Let no forgetfulness thy heart allow.

23. A sword he draws, or reed he guides in sport,
Keenest, when hostile squadrons rove the field.

24. He garbs his speech, if right his meaning's aim,
For eloquence, like war, has camps and fort.

25. Oft silent swords and tongues of streaming fire
For tongues can speak the language of the blade.

26. Justice the land with equity hast filled,
And made twixt God and man the balance true.

27. These pregnant lines Ma'lūyah's gift declare;
On faith's foundation rests their goodly base.

28. Had ye in days inspired the light received,
Down in your pages would have shone the Word.

29. He that espies them not when swords are drawn
Will find them when the naked blade appears.

30. To slay the foe with lightning stroke is just.
E'en should thy matchless blade his crimes delay