ولما وقفت أمام الإمام

ولما وقفت أمام الإمام

تأخر خلصانه والشيع

تأخر خلصانه والشيع

When you stood before the imam,

When I stood before the Imam

His intimates and followers stepped back.

His followers and congregation delayed

دنوت إلى تاجه والسرير

دنوت إلى تاجه والسرير

فهذا تعالى وذاك اتسع

فهذا تعالى وذاك اتسع

You drew near to his crown and throne;

I approached his crown and throne

The one rose higher, the other grew wider.

For this is the Most High and that is vast

وضاحك برد النبي القضي

وضاحك برد النبي القضي

ب أنساً بخوضك فيما شرع

ب أنساً بخوضك فيما شرع

The Prophet's mantle exchanged smiles with the staff,

Laughing at the coolness of the righteous Prophet

Rejoicing in your engagement with what he ordained.

Pleased with your conduct in what is ordained

سفرت فتيمه ما رأى

سفرت فتيمه ما رأى

وقلت فأطربه ما سمع

وقلت فأطربه ما سمع

You unveiled your face; what he saw captivated him.

You have journeyed, so he saw

And you spoke; what he heard enraptured him.

And I said, so he was delighted by what he heard

وأثنت فضالك الباهرات

وأثنت فضالك الباهرات

على ملك الدهر فيما اصطنع

على ملك الدهر فيما اصطنع

Your dazzling virtues offered praise

And I praised your brilliant virtues

To the king of the age for what he had wrought.

Upon the king of the age for what he has done

طلعت فكنت كنجم الصبا

طلعت فكنت كنجم الصبا

ح دل على الشمس لما طلع

ح دل على الشمس لما طلع

You rose and were like the morning star,

You rose like the morning star

Which heralded the sun when it rose.

Guiding to the sun when it rose

ومن كلف الدهر امثالكم

ومن كلف الدهر امثالكم

فقد كلف الدهر ما لم يسع

فقد كلف الدهر ما لم يسع

And whoever asks Time for your equals

And whoever charges the age with the likes of you

Has asked of Time what lies beyond its power.

Has charged the age with more than it can bear