1. هذى رحاب الشافعي بحر الوفا

    حبر الشريعة وابن عم المصطفى

    These are al-Shafi‘i’s precincts, the sea of fidelity,

    the scholar of sacred law and cousin of the Chosen One.

  2. من علمه عم الورى من ذا الذي

    من غير علم الشافعي تثقفا

    He whose knowledge embraced all mankind—who is there

    who became learned without al-Shafi‘i’s knowledge?

  3. بحر سفين الشرع تجرى فوقه

    عذب فرات سائغ فيه الشفا

    A sea upon which the ships of sacred law sail,

    fresh and sweet, pleasant to drink, with healing in it.

  4. فانزل بساحته ولذ بجنابه

    تنظر من الحبر الإمام تعطفا

    So alight in his courtyard and seek refuge at his side;

    you will see compassion from the learned Imam.

  5. وبها ترى نور المكارم مشرقا

    وبها ترى بحر الشريعة قد صفا

    And there you will see the light of noble virtues shining,

    and there you will see the sea of sacred law grown clear.

  6. يا زائريه توسلوا بجنابه

    فالله بالعلم اجتباه وشرفا

    O you who visit him, seek intercession through him;

    for God chose him through learning and honored him.

  7. يا من له أضحى الزمان معاندا

    وغدا بأنواع الخطوب معنفا

    O you to whom time has become hostile,

    and grown harsh with all manner of calamities,

  8. يمم رحاب الشافعي تجد به

    قاضى الشريعة والإمام المنصفا

    head for al-Shafi‘i’s precincts; in him you will find

    the judge of sacred law and the just Imam.

  9. ما أمه راجي المكارم والندى

    إلا وعاد بكل فضل متحفا

    No seeker of noble favors and generosity ever sought him

    without returning graced with every bounty.

  10. هذا الإمام ببابه عنت الملو

    ك مهابة لجلاله وتخوفا

    This Imam—at his door, kings bowed,

    in awe of his majesty and in fear,

  11. مع أنه يهب الجزيل لمن أتى

    متوسلا بجنابه مستعطفا

    though he grants abundant gifts to whoever comes

    seeking intercession through him and imploring his kindness.

  12. عمت مكارمه الأنام فغيثه

    يمسى ويصبح بالمكارم واكفا

    His generosity embraced all creation, so his rain

    pours forth noble gifts at evening and at dawn.

  13. من ذا الذي أم الإمام الشافعي

    ولم ينل حسن القبول والاحتفا

    Who has ever sought Imam al-Shafi‘i

    and not received gracious acceptance and a warm welcome,

  14. أو خاب مسعاه وساءت حاله

    أو ظل مكروبا وبات على شفا

    or had his striving fail and his condition worsen,

    or remained distressed and passed the night on the brink?

  15. لا والذي قد خصّه بمناقب

    مافي محاسنها غموض أو خفا

    No, by Him who distinguished him with virtues

    whose beauties hold no obscurity or concealment.

  16. بل كل من ولج الرحاب أمدّه

    بالفضل منه وبالعطايا أتحفا

    Rather, everyone who entered his precincts he supplied

    with bounty from himself, and honored with gifts.

  17. يا خير جاه بعد آل محمد

    في مصرنا إن جار هر أو جفا

    O greatest in standing after Muhammad’s family

    in our Egypt, if [time] oppresses or is cruel.

  18. أنت الذي شهد الحديث بفضله

    يا من تربى بين زمزم والصفا

    You are the one to whose merit the hadith bears witness,

    O you who were raised between Zamzam and al-Safa.

  19. إنا ضيوفك يا إمام وذو الندى

    يهب الجزيل لمن أتى متضيفا

    We are your guests, O Imam, and the generous man

    bestows abundant gifts on whoever comes seeking hospitality.

  20. فامنح ضيوفك من سماحك نظرة

    فلحسن نظرتك الفؤاد تلهفا

    So, in your generosity, grant your guests a glance;

    for the heart has yearned for the beauty of your gaze.

  21. وامنح رعايتك الألى حضروا هنا

    حبا ومن لجليل شرعتك اقتفى

    And grant your care to those who have come here

    out of love, and to those who follow your exalted law,

  22. وعموم أهل الشرع من بعلومهم

    من كل داء في الجوانح يشتفى

    and all the scholars of sacred law, through whose learning

    one is healed of every malady within the breast;

  23. ولمن أقام شعار مولدك الذي

    جلت محاسنه وحل به الصفا

    and to whoever performed the rites of your birth celebration,

    whose beauties are sublime and in which purity abides.

  24. وامنح إمام المسلمين رعاية

    ليفوز بالنصر المبين وينصفا

    And grant the Muslims’ Imam your care,

    that he may gain a clear victory and act justly.