1. The shepherd of al-Kinanah was struck down - the decree of the Almighty was carried out
Have you seen the procession of mourners and their sorrow?

2. Traveler after traveler proceeds and resident after resident attends
Though they differ in status, in grieving for him aristocrats and commoners are the same

3. The scribe of prose was the pride of his time
And he passed away as a rare gem

4. Now orphan follows orphan from that precious jewelry
Who can cast eloquence as if it were the inspiration of spontaneity, not the craft of a skilled artisan?

5. Refined in speech, not pretentious
He did not utter it carelessly

6. Choosing the ripest meanings to clothe appropriately in a flowering garment
His emotions permeate souls as though they share the temperament of secrets with secrets

7. The journalism profession in Egypt was weakened by the loss of that tireless polisher of rough terrain
Over decades he persevered day after day through prominent struggle

8. He gave his treasures without hoarding them for the benefit of his nation, for the treasuries of the generous are inexhaustible
The days have not been darkened, though they were bright as life among shining moons

9. The hardship of effort is the hardship of a free man beset by concerns and sleeplessness
Each earns according to his share and the journalist's wage is small

10. If he does not sell his conscience, the journalist trader is the noblest of traders
A lifetime in which Hamzah never wearied of his flock and was never neglectful of the bridle

11. Had the drops his pens scattered been gathered, they would flow like a roaring, tumultuous sea
A sea which gives its divers precious jewels and pearls

12. The elders have lost an honest, truth-seeking orator whose goal is to establish truth, not shake pulpits
He presents proofs - his only weapon - in the face of every adversary and denier

13. No idle prattle inserted to pad his speech, no heated missiles launched
The truth needs no embellishment or ostentatious trappings

14. In the Arabic Language Academy, he strove mightily to pay his share of erudition, knowledge, and excellence
Previously it had achievements in serving eloquent Arabic, and through it the pillars of bygone glory were fortified, and the pillars of present glory anchored

15. Arabic poetry laments one who eulogized its misfortunes and grieved for its scattered structure
He was its highest beacon, and his people needed the likes of him to man the minarets

16. He never wearied of supporting its good course, for the time of nations is the time of destinies
A man who outweighed his peers in qualities that disdained resemblance to equals

17. In him are manliness and dew which his tolerance and broad-mindedness clarify
Whatever deprived person you speak of that he helped, or fallen one he lifted up

18. You will not see him except composed, and what is beyond the visible escapes your glance
A soul he manages with sound mind, controlling its impulses with the guidance of one who commands

19. He is angered by opinion, but if it collides with him, the shepherding of ideas by ideas does not fail him
You can see he is frankest in reproach, and if rancor arises, he returns gentlest in pardon

20. However worldly events batter him, ebbing and flowing, he withstands with steadfast patience
With his judiciousness and resolve he gains supporters, if he cannot find them in a band of supporters,

21. For the hero may be the first victor, but truth is the final victor
Oh you who travel, weep for his praiseworthy qualities which gush with tears from my eyelids

22. In harmony and discord we entwined in the immaculate sanctuary of affection
You harbored injustice beyond your capacity, though you were the enemy of every unjust decree

23. So he folded his wings, recoiled, and shed what remnants of that relationship remained
Oh House of Hamzah, if consolation for you is difficult, who can offer solace in the light of the All-Seeing?

24. For your wound, hearts were wounded as if before the tragedy they shared your inner bonds
Or have you not seen amongst the people, O his sons, the many sincere sympathizers and helpers?

25. Show them the extent of your gratitude in proportion to his kindness and loyalty to you
And add to the renown of his mention glories equivalent to the glories with which you extolled him