عشْ يا إمام العلى والعلم ذا نعمٍ

عشْ يا إمام العلى والعلم ذا نعمٍ

لقاصر السعي مثلي طامح الأمل

لقاصر السعي مثلي طامح الأمل

Live long, O master of knowledge and action, abounding in favors

Live on, O imam of eminence and learning, a giver of favors

to one whose striving falls short, like me, yet whose hope reaches high.

to one like me, limited in striving but lofty in hope.

أقسمت ما عثرت بالفقر لي قدمٌ

أقسمت ما عثرت بالفقر لي قدمٌ

إلا وصاحَ رجائي فيك يا لعلي

إلا وصاحَ رجائي فيك يا لعلي

I swear: never has a foot of mine stumbled through poverty

I swear, never has a foot of mine stumbled because of poverty

without my hope in you crying out, “O Ali, help!”

without my hope in you crying out, “O Ali, help!”