نُعي لي الرَضيُّ فَقُلت لَقَد

نُعي لي الرَضيُّ فَقُلت لَقَد

نُعي لِيَ شَيخُ العُلا وَالأَدَب

نُعي لِيَ شَيخُ العُلا وَالأَدَب

Al-Raḍī’s death was announced to me, and I said: Indeed,

Al-Raḍī's death was announced to me, and I said: indeed,

I have been told of the death of the master of high distinction and letters.

the death of the master of eminence and letters was announced to me.

فَمَن للغاتِ وَمَن للثِقات

فَمَن للغاتِ وَمَن للثِقات

وَمَن للنُحاة وَمَن للنَسَب

وَمَن للنُحاة وَمَن للنَسَب

Who now is there for the utmost goal, and who for the trusted authorities?

Who, then, is there for languages, and who for the trustworthy,

And who for the grammarians, and who for genealogy?

and who for grammarians, and who for genealogy?

لَقَد كانَ للعلمِ بَحراً فَغارَ

لَقَد كانَ للعلمِ بَحراً فَغارَ

وَإِنَّ غؤورَ البحارِ العجب

وَإِنَّ غؤورَ البحارِ العجب

Indeed, he was a sea of learning, and then sank away;

Indeed, he was a sea of learning, then sank away;

and indeed, the sinking away of seas is the wonder.

and truly, the sinking of seas is a marvel.

فَقُدِّس من عالِم عامل

فَقُدِّس من عالِم عامل

أَثارَ لشجوي لَمّا ذَهَب

أَثارَ لشجوي لَمّا ذَهَب

So may he be hallowed—a scholar who lived by his knowledge,

So hallowed be he—a scholar who practiced his learning,

who stirred my grief when he departed.

who stirred my sorrow when he departed.