1. رحاب الشافعي ظل ظليل

    ومورده فرات سلسبيل

    Al-Shafi‘i's precincts are a sheltering shade,

    And his spring is sweet, smoothly flowing water.

  2. وساحته بها الإحسان يهمى

    وفيها الجود منهمل يسيل

    And in his courtyard benevolence rains down,

    And generosity pours and flows within it.

  3. وروض حماه للزوار أمسى

    به الإسعاد والخير الجزيل

    And the garden of his sanctuary has become, for visitors,

    A place of gladness and abundant goodness.

  4. زيارته إلى الخيرات باب

    وفيها العز والمجد الأثيل

    Visiting him is a gate to blessings,

    And in it lie honor and deep-rooted glory.

  5. فقم نحو الحمى واقصد جنابا

    على أمداده قام الدليل

    So rise toward the sanctuary and seek a noble presence,

    Whose aid is borne out by proof.

  6. وقل يا شافعي بحسن قصد

    على أعتابكم عبد ذليل

    And say with good intent: 'O Shafi‘i,

    At your thresholds stands a humble servant.'

  7. فلا والله لا تؤذى بسوء

    ويغبطك المحقر والجليل

    Then no—by God—you shall suffer no harm,

    And the lowly and the great will envy your good fortune.

  8. وتبقى في المهابة مثل اسد

    لها هذا الحمى غاب وغيل

    And you will remain as awe-inspiring as lions,

    Whose forest and thicket are this sanctuary.

  9. حماه للورى حصن منيع

    فحاشى أن يضام به نزيل

    His sanctuary is an impregnable fortress for humankind;

    Far be it that any guest there should suffer wrong.

  10. ومن يكن الإمام له كفيلا

    بحاجته فيانعم الكفيل

    And whoever has the Imam as his guarantor

    For his need—what an excellent guarantor!

  11. إمام قد حوى علما وفضلا

    له احتاج المفضل والفضيل

    An Imam who gathered knowledge and virtue,

    Whom the favored and the virtuous needed.

  12. فذا حبر الأئمة من قريش

    قليل من يماثله قليل

    For he is the sage of the Imams, from Quraysh;

    Few are those who equal him—few.

  13. به نور الشريعة قد تلالا

    ومن تأليفه وضح السبيل

    Through him the light of the Sharia has shone,

    And through his writings the path became clear.

  14. سفينته ببحر العلم تجرى

    بشرع الله ملأى لا تميل

    His ship sails upon the sea of knowledge,

    Laden with God's law, it never lists.

  15. لقد جاب البسيطة في صباه

    لإدراك المعارف ذا النبيل

    He indeed traversed the earth in his youth,

    To acquire learning—this noble man.

  16. فنال من السعادة كل عز

    وطرف الدهر أرمد او كليل

    Thus he gained from good fortune every honor,

    While Time's eye was sore or dim.

  17. معارفه طباق الأرض عمت

    كخصب جاده غيث ونيل

    His learning spread over the whole earth,

    Like fertile land watered by rain and the Nile.

  18. به افتخرت على الآفاق مصر

    وسار بفخرها المثل الجميل

    Through him Egypt gloried above all lands,

    And the beautiful saying of her glory spread abroad.

  19. فما في الفخر بين الناس فرق

    فسيان النزيل أو الصيل

    For in glory there is no distinction among people:

    The newcomer and the native are alike.

  20. به وبآل أحمد أرض مصر

    علت قدرا وحاشاه يزول

    Through him and Ahmad's family, the land of Egypt

    Rose in rank—far be it that this rank should fade.

  21. فيا حبرا به الدنيا تباهت

    ويا بحرا به يشفى الغليل

    So, O scholar through whom the world has gloried,

    And O sea through whom burning thirst is quenched,

  22. وفود الزائرين إليك وافت

    تؤمّ حمى به حل القبول

    Delegations of visitors have come to you,

    Seeking a sanctuary where acceptance dwells.

  23. يرجون العطايا من يمين

    ساب عطائها أبدا هطول

    They hope for gifts from a right hand

    The cloud of whose bounty pours down forever.

  24. فوجّه نظرة من فيض فضل

    ففيض نداك مولانا جزيل

    So cast a glance from an outpouring of grace,

    For your overflowing bounty, our master, is abundant.

  25. ولا حظ من يزور بحسن قصد

    فحسن القصد غايته الوصول

    And regard whoever visits with good intent,

    For the goal of good intent is attainment.

  26. وكن عضدا لأهل العلم طرا

    فباعك في الورى باع طويل

    And be a supporting arm for all the people of learning,

    For your reach extends far among humankind.

  27. ومن أحيا لمولدكم شعاراً

    جميل الوضع ليس له مثيل

    And to whoever revives a rite commemorating your birth,

    Beautiful in form, with none like it.

  28. وكن لي بالعناية خير راع

    فإنى في المحبة لا أحول

    And through your care, be the best shepherd to me,

    For I do not waver in my love.

  29. فأنت لنا إلى المختار باب

    وباب الخير يفتحه الرسول

    For you are our gate to the Chosen One,

    And the Messenger opens the gate of goodness.

  30. عليه الله صلى ما قرأنا

    رحاب الشافعي ظل ظليل

    May God bless him for as long as we recite:

    Al-Shafi‘i's precincts are a sheltering shade.