1. What sorrow for love preys on the deserted ruins
And what moaning, what grief, what misery and resignation

2. Memories gladden him rekindling his flame
While his loved ones suffer still and endure the torment

3. Though he finds a little time’s solace,
Through exile, remembrance, wailing or love lament,

4. Who could equal the bereaved lover, shedding
Endless tears on the day of parting’s advent?

5. The desert gazelles avoid the rich, full groves
Abandoned by the doe, though the rich seek them still,

6. Within his breast a blazing furnace of passion
Scorched by its embers, burning his soul and heart –

7. His panted breath smoulders, his sighs are flames,
Sometimes calm, sometimes wild in sweet transport,

8. And tears flow unchecked, should he cease weeping,
His eyes would then do what his hands had checked.

9. And though bright lightning flashes in the dark,
Sleep would still flee him - the lovelorn ne’er rest.

10. He wanders as if in extreme distraction, driven
To lament nightlong like a dove condemned,

11. Visiting assemblies where men praise the lords
Inciting the jealousy of their singular God.

12. This day some call their lord a pole; praising
As if such poles and pegs were apt and valid.

13. Truly the custom of an ignorant man
Is neither guidance nor the way I tread

14. And a knowledgeable leader submerged in innovation -
Pleasing himself until the two seem blended.

15. He does not consider a tenet sound unless he believes it
And excellence in innovation is not found.

16. One claims they both stand on true religion
And deserve support. But my creed denies it!

17. I have faith in none but the Merciful
Who depends on other than the Merciful?

18. Once I passionately loved injustice to old age -
The ties have slackened; I am now set free

19. I have been told a tortoise threatens me, -
Claiming to be a raging lion with strong arm,

20. His might is feared; he makes the mountains quake
His sinewy power will try the brave man’s nerve!

21. His frame’s immense, composed of flesh and bone,
He strips for war; all masks have been removed!

22. Will crockery break if man or donkey stumble?
Or can a star be made to fall at human urging?

23. They profess to support the perverse heretics
And set themselves across my path in enmity.

24. But attain not what they craved to have,
Nor receive the support lasting ages could bestow.

25. The sea remains unchanged though buckets draw it out
And ladders cannot reach the glorious spheres.

26. My resolute ardour cannot be made to waver
By threats, nor will taunts make me deviate.

27. The folly of a foolish man cannot deflect me,
Though absence of wit and tricks assail me still.

28. I will not seek the shelter of a lifeless form
Should destiny’s day ever descend.

29. I do not see this man as lion in his jungle,
I will not turn and flee when the lion comes!

30. I am the valiant one; where I appear
Men fear for their land as long as I inhabit.

31. Wild beasts avoid me in the woods
Shying from my path in trembling dread!

32. If one who dives for deep ideas should plunge within
When talents all convene in sweet poesy

33. And draw out worthless scum, thrown off in agony,
After the assembly’s heard the dull notes sound,

34. I bring forth from its depth the guarded pearls -
Are guarded pearls like scum considered sound?

35. In every field of contest I was put to trial
And won the race by merit and by length.

36. I am the youth destined to attain his hopes
If the pot boils over, the curls flow down.

37. And if they refuse to glance my way,
Their glances and their twists will not astound.

38. Say to him who’d rival me in rhythmic verse
Don’t let ignorance and envy spellbind!

39. Just as unequal must the limping mule remain
Though it outpaces all the racers sound

40. The weakened colt that pales from weight of years
With monkey perched insisting he is crowned,

41. The brave commander will not equal one known
As wretched scum though bold in battleground.

42. My rhymes obey me; let him race with mine,
He will be hampered and cannot keep sound!

43. My utterance flows smoothly, not refused
But welcomed in each club none can confound

44. My arrows hit their every mark with force
And never stray too far to miss their bound.

45. They flow effortlessly through meanings’ seas
With neither angle nor excessive round

46. No hesitation, puzzlement for listeners,
No clashing discords to jar the ears with sound

47. I have adorned their softness, symmetry and balance,
Not overdoing ornament to compound.

48. I bring not strange, obscure and puzzling words
Common words are sweeter to my mind.

49. In weaving them I do not overdo the numbers, -
For numbers may obscure the sense profound

50. I aim for fine tropes, eloquently phrased
With skilful contrast throughout to astound.

51. Should it address the soul and strike the heart,
Subtly infusing unity in sense compound,

52. I demonstrate the manifold, ingenious ways,
With brilliant metaphors those tropes abound.

53. For I create them polished, exquisite, -
From wisdom’s treasury where truths abound.

54. Hearing such delicate words, souls quiver and dance,
Through joy the bodies and the spirits dance around.

55. And when displayed, eyes watching them unfold
Shed tears, so fine and subtle they resound.

56. O gloating enemy, rejoicing at their fall, -
Your ignorance of faith cannot astound!

57. If a scholar dies in venerable age
Minds lament him and the tolerant surround.

58. Performing Hajj with purest intentions, - gold
And sons could not distract him from that ground.

59. The misguided drank the bitter poisoned cup, -
His heart and soul were truly battleground!

60. All present testified he lived a life
To please the One Eternal Lord unbound.

61. Meeting both high and low he stood alone
Through virtues and renown set apart.

62. A place of refuge sheltering those distressed,
A healing spring for thirsty souls around.

63. Smiling as hosts he honoured every guest
And answered critics till their voices drowned.

64. Even lions fear and stand in awe of him,
Crouched, wary, growling, circling round.

65. Faith’s brilliant pillar he restored
When lying toppled, columns strewn aground,

66. Diverting people from innovations’ harm
To happiness they yearned for but not found.

67. He never compromised firm principles,
Though ease and comfort might his mind compound.

68. He spent his means fulfilling God’s good pleasure,
Distributing his wealth the needy to surround.

69. He studied books until the most obscure
Shone through his wisdom bright without a bound.

70. You triumphed, found relief from sorrow and distress,
Pain and sadness left you safe and sound.

71. Roused to attack though none provoked, - you wrote
As if your allies ceased to gather round.

72. Destroy his work! Annihilate his clan!
Let sorrow be his lot though peace abound!

73. O righteous scholars resisting heresy, sweetest draughts derive from Frat’s fresh founts. Turn back!
Do not refrain nor hesitate nor fear.

74. And if you taste the cup of woe, show patience,
Falsehood declines; the truth will shine around.

75. Use what God granted you to argue with them,
Clarify the way and course you found.

76. Exclude them from the lands so they no longer
Remain close by, for distance is your ground.

77. Supreme you stand above the rest
Since yours proceeded and were rightfully crowned

78. With you lies proof the Book itself records,
And from your Chosen Prophet, truths abound

79. Blessings on him from the Lord of Throne through days
As sun still rises and the stars still round.