1. أشرقت منك في الوجود ذكاء

    فجلا حالك الظلام الضياء

    From you, Dhuka—the sun—shone throughout existence,

    And radiance dispelled the pitch-dark gloom.

  2. درة عن سنائها قد تشظى

    صدف الفيض فاستضاء السناء

    A pearl whose splendor shattered

    The shell of bounty, and radiance was illumined.

  3. يا إماماً سما مقاما علياً

    قصرت دون شأوه الجوزاء

    O Imam, who rose to a lofty station,

    Al-Jawza fell short of his eminence.

  4. هل نجوم السماء إلا صفات

    لك زينت بزهرهن السماء

    Are the stars of heaven anything but attributes

    Of yours, with whose blossoms heaven was adorned?

  5. لك ذات قد أبدع الله فيها

    صنعه وهو صانع ما يشاء

    Yours is an essence in which God has perfected

    His handiwork, and He creates whatever He wills.

  6. عبقت من أريجها نفحات

    فاستطابت بنشرها الأرجاء

    Fragrant breaths wafted from its perfume,

    And its spreading scent sweetened every quarter.

  7. نفد اللفظ وانتهى كل معنى

    ومعانيك ما لهن انتهاء

    Words ran out, and every meaning reached its end,

    But your meanings have no ending.

  8. أنت أسنى علا وأسمى محلا

    أن يداني صفاتك الإطراء

    You are too radiant in glory, too lofty in station

    For lavish praise to approach your attributes.

  9. نزلت بالثناء آيات وحي

    صادع في علاك منه الثناء

    Verses of revelation descended bearing praise;

    From it, praise openly proclaims your exalted rank.

  10. أنت في نعته إمام مبين

    أحصيت في بيانه الأشياء

    In its description, you are a manifest Imam;

    In its exposition, all things are enumerated.

  11. ملأ الله صدرك الرحب علماً

    ضاق عن بعض ما حواه الفضاء

    God filled your spacious breast with knowledge;

    Space was too narrow for even part of what it held.

  12. دل مكنونه على الغيب حتى

    كشف الستر دونه والغطاء

    Its hidden knowledge pointed to the unseen, until

    The veil and covering before it were lifted.

  13. من هداه السبيل كان ولياً

    لك يا من ولاؤه الاهتداء

    Whoever was guided to the path became a loyal follower

    Of yours, O you—allegiance to you is guidance.

  14. لا يجوز الصراط إلا محب

    منك يعطى الجواز وهو الولاء

    None crosses the Bridge save a loving devotee,

    Who is granted passage by you—and that passage is allegiance.

  15. ولك الكوثر الذي منه تسقى

    شبعة الحق والقلوب ظماء

    And yours is al-Kawthar, from which you are given drink:

    A satisfying fill of truth, while hearts are parched.

  16. عصمة الخائفين من كل هول

    يوم لا عاصم ولا شفعاء

    A refuge for the fearful from every terror

    On the day with no protector and no intercessors.

  17. باب علم النبي خير البرايا

    أنت وهو المدينة الفيحاء

    The gate to the knowledge of the Prophet, the best of creation:

    That is you, and he is the spacious city.

  18. عندك العلم وهو علم كتاب

    سخرت طوع حكمه الأشياء

    With you is knowledge, the knowledge of a Book,

    To whose command all things are willingly subjected.

  19. لم يكن عند آصف غير جزء

    منه واستجمعت لك الأجزاء

    Asaf possessed no more than one portion

    Of it, while all its portions were gathered for you.

  20. يوم وافى بالعرش طرفة عين

    وإذا الشام عنده صنعاء

    When he arrived with the throne in the blink of an eye,

    And behold, al-Sham was Sanaa to him.

  21. أنت يا صنو أحمد منه كالضوء

    من الضوء حبذا الأضواء

    You, O Ahmad's counterpart, are from him like light

    From light—how splendid those lights!

  22. أنت وازرته وكنت أخاه

    يوم عزت وزارة واخاء

    You supported him and were his brother

    When assistance and brotherhood were scarce.

  23. كنت في ليلة الفراش وقاء

    حين لم يلف للنبي وقاء

    You were a shield on the night of the bed,

    When no shield could be found for the Prophet.

  24. ثابت الجأش طامناً لا تبالي

    وسيوف العدى إليك ظماء

    Steadfast of heart, serene, you were undaunted,

    While your foes' swords thirsted for you.

  25. بين فضلك الجلي ولكن

    لا ترى الشمس مقلة عمياء

    Your manifest excellence is plain, and yet

    A blind eye cannot see the sun.