نامَت لِداتٌ لَهُ بُكوراً

وَلَم يَنَم هكَذا الحِراصُ

A mother gave birth to you at dawn,

His peers slept early, while the eager ones / do not slumber in such a manner.

While the sly fox was still asleep.

He finished Surah Sad while the long chapters followed; / he recited most, for this indeed is a rare distinction.

صادُ اِنتَهى وَالطِوالُ تَتلو

أَكثَرها إِنَّ ذا اِختَصاصُ

The tall palms swayed, and the fruit bent down;

You spoke the truth: were it not for the fear of my Lord, / the braided locks of beauties would be shorn in mourning.

Most laden branches will always droop lowest.

She cried out at the news of your death, shedding pearls / that, however precious, she held cheap for your sake.

صَدَقت لَولا اِتِّقاءُ رَبّي

لَحُلِّقَت لِلدُمى عِقاصُ

Were it not for fear of my Lord,

She fasted, heedless of breaking her fast, / until her very hunger became apparent to all.

I would have sent the vultures to tear at corpses.

She leaned toward the pearls striking my chest / and said, "Here lies the deep where divers plunge."

صاحَت بِمَنعاكَ وَاللآلي

وإن غلت عِندَها رِخاصُ

She cried out against your refusal,

Young in years were you, yet great in worth; / you were perfected until you transcended all deficiency.

Though slackness was her way.

You have journeyed to God, pure of any fault; / congratulations to you upon your salvation.

صامت وَلَم تَشتَغِل بِفِطرٍ

حَتّى بَدا أَنَّها خِماصُ

Silent was she, no thought of breakfast

I protected you from all things but the fates, / for from their calamity there is no escape.

Till it seemed sloth was her purpose.

Their snares trapped you despite my will; / thus are even lions hindered by the hunt.

صَغَت إِلى الدُرِّ ضارِباتٍ

صَدري وَقالَت هُنا المَغاصُ

My heart fluttered at the sound of pearls

The bow of destruction struck you with an arrow, / though my prayers stood as shielding armor before you.

And she said, “Here lie the grazing grounds.”

May God grant me patience; I wandered in grief until / the riders and their camels wept along with me.

صَغُرتَ سِنّاً كَبُرتَ قَدراً

كَمُلتَ حَتّى عَدا اِنتِقاصُ

Young in years, but great in worth,

The lowborn poured out malice against you wrongfully, / but lead can never be compared to silver.

You became complete, flawless.

Yours is the true victory, and I care not what occurs, / for before your Lord, just retribution awaits.

صِرتَ إِلى اللَهِ خالِصاً مِن

عَيبٍ هَنيئاً لَكَ الخَلاصُ

You came to God in purity,

May a pouring rain greet your resting place at dawn, / quenching the high grounds and the open courtyards.

Safe from all wrong. Well done! Your salvation awaits.

صُنتُكَ إِلّا مِنَ المَنايا

وَلَيسَ مِن رَيبِها مَناصُ

None could protect you except from death,

And for that, there is no escape.

صادَتكَ أَشراكُها بِرَغمي

وَالأسدُ يَعتاقُها اِقتِناصُ

Her claws caught you against my will;

The lioness claims her prey.

صادَتكَ قَوسُ الرَدى بِسَهمٍ

وَدَعوَتي دونَكَ الدلاصُ

Fate's bow struck you down with an arrow.

Without you here, grief is my comfort.

صَبَّرَني اللَهُ هِمتُ حَتّى

بَكى مَعي الرَكبُ وَالقِلاصُ

God granted me patience. I persevered

Until the caravan and guide wept with me.

صَبَّ عَلَيكَ الهَجينُ بَغياً

وَلَيسَ كَالفِضَّةِ الرَصاصُ

Jealousy poured slander over you

But slander is not solid like lead.

صَحَّ لَكَ الفَوزُ لا أبالي

بَينَ يَدَي رَبِّكَ القِصاصُ

For you the prize is guaranteed. Let me care not

Before your Lord comes fair retribution.

صَبَّحَ مَثواكَ صَوبُ غَيثٍ

تَروى بِهِ الريعُ وَالعِراصُ

The rainwaters have sweetened your resting place

Where the meadows and farmlands are watered.