1. من ها هنا بحر الشريعة قد جرى

    والعلم من تلك الرحاب تفجّرا

    From this very place the sea of sacred law has flowed,

    And knowledge has burst forth from those precincts.

  2. عمّت مكارمه الأنام فغيثه

    في كل واد بالعوارف أمطر

    His noble gifts encompassed humankind; his rain

    Showered benefactions in every valley.

  3. فجناب هذا الحبر أصبح موردا

    عذبا لقصاد العلوم ومصدرا

    Thus this scholar's precinct became a watering place,

    Sweet for seekers of learning, and a source.

  4. حامى حمى الشرع الشريف وأهله

    وإمام أهل الإجتهاد بلا مرا

    Guardian of the noble law's sanctuary and its people,

    And leader of those who practice independent legal reasoning, without dispute.

  5. فلذا دعى قاضى الشريعة دونهم

    لما سما بعلومه هام الذرا

    Thus he was called the judge of sacred law, rather than the others,

    When, through his learning, he rose to the crowns of the heights.

  6. من قاسه بسواه أخطأ مدحه

    أين الثريا في العلوم من الثرى

    Whoever compares him with another misses the mark in praising him;

    How far, in learning, are the Pleiades from the dust!

  7. علم فكل معرف بالفضل قد

    امسى أمام الشافعي منكرا

    An eminent figure—everyone known for excellence has

    Become unknown before al-Shafi‘i.

  8. هو كعبة المدد المديد فمن يرد

    كرما فهذا الحبر أكرم من ترى

    He is the Kaaba of enduring aid; so whoever seeks

    Generosity—this scholar is the most generous of those you see.

  9. فاقصد رحاب الشافعي تجد به

    جودا وترجع ضاحكا مستبشرا

    So seek al-Shafi‘i's precincts; you will find in him

    Generosity, and return laughing and rejoicing.

  10. والزم زيارته ولذ بجنابه

    فحماه روض بالمكارم أثمرا

    And keep visiting him, and seek refuge in his presence,

    For his sanctuary is a garden fruitful with noble gifts.

  11. من زار قبر الشافعي أمدّه

    حتى يعود مهلّلا ومكبّرا

    Whoever visits al-Shafi‘i's grave receives his aid,

    Until he returns proclaiming 'There is no god but God' and 'God is greatest'.

  12. يهب الجزيل لمن أتى متوسلا

    بمقامه السامي ويربح متجرا

    He gives abundantly to whoever comes seeking intercession

    Through his exalted station and profits in his venture.

  13. يا قوم هذا ملجأ العاني فمن

    نزل الحمى نال المنى واستبشرا

    O people, this is the refuge of the distressed; whoever

    Enters the sanctuary attains his wishes and rejoices.

  14. من خاف جور الدهر فليأت الحمى

    مستصرخا بجنابه مستنصرا

    Whoever fears the tyranny of time, let him come to the sanctuary,

    Crying out for help in his presence, seeking aid.

  15. فهناك يحظى في الحياة وبعدها

    ويظن في كنف الإله موقرا

    For there he finds favor in life and after it,

    And is thought to be honored in God's shelter.

  16. يا خير من وقف الملوك ببابه

    واستمطروا منه السماح مكررا

    O best of those at whose door kings have stood,

    And repeatedly sought showers of generosity from him,

  17. انظر لمن وفدوا إليك كأنهم

    شدوا الرحال ويمموا أم القرى

    Look upon those who have come to you, as though they

    Had fastened their saddles and headed for Umm al-Qura.

  18. تلك الجموع أتتك ترجو منحخة

    فامنحهم حسن الضيافة والقرى

    Those crowds have come to you, hoping for a gift [uncertain reading];

    So grant them gracious hospitality and guest fare.

  19. واحفظ بلاد النيل ثم مليكها

    والحظر رجال الشرع سادات الورى

    And protect the lands of the Nile, and then their king,

    And look upon [uncertain reading] the men of sacred law, the masters of humankind.

  20. وامنح إمام المسلمين مكارما

    حتى يدوم مؤيدا ومظفّرا

    And grant the imam of the Muslims noble gifts,

    So that he may endure, supported and victorious.

  21. لا زلت للرحمات أكبر مهبط

    وحماك بالنفح الذكيّ معطّرا

    May you ever remain the greatest place where mercies descend,

    And may your sanctuary be perfumed with fragrant wafts.