إِذا كانَ ريبُ الدَهرِ غالَ إِمامَنا

إِذا كانَ ريبُ الدَهرِ غالَ إِمامَنا

فَلَم يُخطِهِ لَمّا رَماهُ فَأَقصَدا

فَلَم يُخطِهِ لَمّا رَماهُ فَأَقصَدا

If the calamities of time have carried off our imam,

If the passing days have made our leader dear,

If the treachery of Time has assassinated our Imam,

and did not miss him when they struck him, dealing a fatal blow,

No arrow went astray when rightly aimed.

And missed him not when it took aim and struck him dead,

فَإِنَّ الَّذي كُنّا نُؤَمِّلُ بُعدُهُ

فَإِنَّ الَّذي كُنّا نُؤَمِّلُ بُعدُهُ

وَنَذخَرُهُ لِلنائِباتِ مُحَمَّدا

وَنَذخَرُهُ لِلنائِباتِ مُحَمَّدا

then the one we used to look to after him

For he whose absence we bemoaned with fear,

Then he in whom we place our hopes for what comes after,

and hold in reserve for calamities—Muhammad—

Preparing for the hour of need, was named

And whom we treasure against life's calamities, is Muhammad.

إِمامُ هُدىً عَمَّ الأَنامُ بِعَدلِهِ

إِمامُ هُدىً عَمَّ الأَنامُ بِعَدلِهِ

وَجارَ عَلى الأَموالِ في الحُكمِ وَاعتَدى

وَجارَ عَلى الأَموالِ في الحُكمِ وَاعتَدى

is an imam of guidance who embraced all mankind with his justice,

Imam and guide whose justice filled the lands,

A leader of guidance, whose justice encompasses all mankind,

yet in his rule he wronged wealth and transgressed against it.

Yet raided wealth and ruled with heavy hands.

Who waged war on wealth in his rule, and transgressed all bounds,

فَأَبقاهُ رَبُّ الناسِ ماحَنَّ والِهٌ

فَأَبقاهُ رَبُّ الناسِ ماحَنَّ والِهٌ

وَما فَرفَرَ القُمرِيُّ يَوماً وَغَرَّدا

وَما فَرفَرَ القُمرِيُّ يَوماً وَغَرَّدا

So may the Lord of mankind preserve him as long as a lovesick soul yearns,

So God who cares for all has let him stay,

So may the Lord of the people preserve him, as long as a lover yearns,

and as long as the turtledove ever flutters and sings.

While never has the moon's white banner strayed.

And as long as the turtledove flutters its wings and sings.