1. O my dear friend, if you go to Damietta
It is one of the heavens

2. Head for it, for it has a charming smile
That gives glad tidings and security

3. Enter it, for surely it is without doubt
A secure refuge for one in fear

4. Wherein is a shrine of knowledge for the virtuous
And a pillar of support for the noble

5. He is our professor, the Imam Ali
May God honor his face always

6. Send him my greetings, and convey to him
A longing for meeting and intimacy

7. Then kiss his noble hands for me
Then return and speak of him and delight me

8. And recite to me the sweetest to my hearing
And my mind, my passions and my soul

9. Of his noble traits, virtues and fine qualities
And praiseworthy attributes and kindness

10. Beauty adorned with majesty
Perfection unmatched indeed

11. Noble qualities that none can equal
Found in this Imam, unmatched of his time

12. An ocean of knowledge, treasure of all things rare
Of elegant subtleties and meanings

13. Excellent in his time, scholar of the age, unmatched
Knower of times, he is the sheikh of eras

14. Sun of knowledge, from it the stars drew
The best light, like merit and gnosis

15. Singular knowledge, for it conquest proclaimed
That it is unique in raising rank

16. Shining, courageous, intrepid, unique
The ages have not one like him

17. Quintessence of honor, joy of glory, beauty
Breath of pride, garden of benevolence

18. Glory and triumphs are but the essence
He is in them, without doubt, like a human

19. And the heights and their people are like a body
He is in it like the soul and the heavens

20. Of wondrous wisdom and incomparable eloquence
With meanings that dazzle brilliant minds

21. And insights like pearls and coral
If he were seen by a Christian or a Sabian

22. They would be like Bakil to Sahban
He is a light for religion, and he is Al-Khafaji

23. His name lasts as long as time
So glory to Damietta which contains one whose like

24. Is rare in the days of time
He is its pride, so through him let its glory

25. Shine upon all other cities
O most high of all people in worth and station

26. And abode and name in every place
And perfection, rank, minaret and pillar

27. Of lofty structure
Through you a fragrance spreads like musk

28. Pervading all creation
With the stringing of this poem I have adorned my neck

29. With a necklace of ghawali beads
I am the daughter of lonely thought reared

30. On the milk of the eloquent nursling
She came to me walking with a swaying gait

31. Like a fresh branch quivering
When she came I served her with a maiden

32. Who has no equal among lovely maidens
I wedded her to you, happily praising

33. With fine gold and peridot
I give her to you not reluctantly but joyfully

34. Robing her in consent and intimacy
And I bequeath to life pleasant and carefree

35. With bliss, delight and peace
Such as the doves never sung in the branches

36. At all times with the best melodies
And the morning hand never plucked

37. All the blooms and branches
By your humble servant Nu'man