1. للّه قوم بحفظ الدين قد قاموا

    وبالعلوم ونشر الفضل قد هاموا

    To God belong a people who have risen to safeguard the faith;

    and have been enamored of learning and the spreading of virtue.

  2. راموا العلا فسعوا في كل مكرمة

    حتى أتموا بفضل الله ما راموا

    They sought the heights, so strove in every noble deed,

    until, by God's grace, they accomplished what they sought.

  3. لهم جنوب تجافت عن مضاجعها

    والفضل يشهد أن القوم ما ناموا

    Their sides drew away from their beds,

    and virtue bears witness that these people did not sleep.

  4. وخير مطعمهم علم ومعرفة

    وعن لذيذ الغذاء الكل قد صاموا

    And their finest food was learning and knowledge,

    and all of them fasted from delicious food.

  5. فأدركوا بحميد السعى ما طالبوا

    حتى استنار بهم في الكون إسلام

    So they attained, through praiseworthy effort, what they sought,

    until, through them, Islam shone throughout the universe.

  6. هذا الجهاد جهاد العلم قد رفعت

    به لدين رسول الله أعلام

    This struggle is the struggle of learning; there have been raised

    through it banners for the faith of God's Messenger.

  7. فشيدوا الدين واشتدت دعائمه

    وهدمت من مباني الجهل أوهام

    So they built up the faith, and its pillars grew strong,

    and delusions among ignorance's edifices were demolished.

  8. لا فخر إلا لأهل العلم إذ بهم

    بين الورى ثبتت للشرع أقدام

    There is no glory except for the people of learning, for through them

    the sacred law gained a firm footing among humankind.

  9. أما رايت الإمام الشافعيّ على

    أعتابه خفعت للعلم أقوام

    Have you not seen Imam al-Shafi‘i, at

    whose thresholds peoples bowed to learning?

  10. العالم القرشيّ المعتلى نسبا

    كنز العلوم وذخر القوم مقدام

    The Qurayshi scholar, exalted in lineage,

    a treasury of learning and the people's treasure, a fearless champion.

  11. إن كان قوم لهم في الرأي مستند

    فالكل خلف وهذا البحر قدام

    If a people have a basis on which to rely in judgment,

    then all are behind, while this sea is ahead.

  12. بالعلم منه طباق الأرض قد ملئت

    صح الحديث بذا وانحل إبهام

    The earth's full expanse has been filled with learning from him;

    the hadith is confirmed by this, and ambiguity is resolved.

  13. لقد قضى العمر في حل ومرتحل

    لدرك فضل وثغر الفضل بسام

    Indeed, he spent his life in sojourn and travel,

    to attain excellence, while excellence's mouth was ever smiling.

  14. وما ثنته عن الترحال متربة

    في خدمة الشرع أو أقصاه إحجام

    And poverty did not turn him away from travel

    in service of the sacred law, nor did hesitation keep him away.

  15. فكم له من علوم عز مطلبها

    بها استنارت لأهل الدين أحلام

    And how many branches of learning were his, difficult to attain,

    through which the minds of the people of faith were illumined!

  16. كل الملوك له بالعلم قد خضعت

    إن الملوك لأهل العلم خدام

    All kings bowed to him because of his learning;

    indeed, kings are servants to the people of learning.

  17. وكم وكم من صفات لست أحصرها

    قد حبرتها ببطن الكتب أقلام

    And how many, how many qualities—beyond my counting—

    have pens inscribed in the depths of books!

  18. سفينة العلم تجرى فوق لجته

    شراعها الشرع والمحمول أحكام

    The ship of learning sails over its deep waters;

    its sail is the sacred law, and its cargo is legal rulings.

  19. رحابة مهبط الإحسان من قدم

    وفى القلوب له جاه وإعظام

    His precincts have long been a landing place for beneficence,

    and in hearts he commands esteem and reverence.

  20. ما أم ساحته قوم لمقصدهم

    إلا وتمّ لهم بالنجح ما راموا

    No people sought his courtyard for their purpose

    but what they sought was successfully fulfilled for them.

  21. أما ترى القاصدين اليوم قد ملئوا

    رحب الرحاب وفيهم فاض إنعام

    Do you not see how today the seekers have filled

    the spacious precincts, while bounty has overflowed among them?

  22. عمت مكارمه الزوار مذ قصدوا

    هذا الجناب وفي هذا الحمى حاموا

    His generosity embraced the visitors ever since they sought

    this precinct and roamed within this sanctuary.

  23. كل ينال على مقدار نيته

    من العطايا وفضل الله أقسام

    Each receives according to the measure of his intention

    from the gifts—and God's grace is apportioned.

  24. مصر به مع بنى الزهراء قد سعدت

    إذ هم على مصر قوام وحكام

    Egypt has been blessed through him and the sons of al-Zahra,

    for they are guardians and rulers over Egypt.

  25. يا قاضى الشرع إنا في ضيافتكم

    ومنك يهمى على الضيفان إكرام

    O judge of the sacred law, we are your guests,

    and from you honor rains down upon the guests.

  26. فانظر إلينا بعين ملؤها مدد

    يا بحر فضل به الأمجاد قد عاموا

    So look upon us with an eye brimming with aid,

    O sea of bounty in which the noble have swum!

  27. وللأفاضل أهل العلم قاطبة

    فإنهم لك أحباب وأرحام

    And upon all the distinguished, the people of learning,

    for they are your beloved ones and kin.

  28. والحاضرين ومن قاموا بخدمتكم

    فإنهم عن جميل الصنع ما ناموا

    And upon those present and those who have undertaken your service,

    for they did not slumber when it came to noble deeds.

  29. والحظ بعين الرضا من قام ينشدهم

    للّه قوم بحفظ الدين قد قاموا

    And look with an eye of favor upon the one who rose to recite to them:

    To God belong a people who have risen to safeguard the faith.