إذا مَرِضَ اليمينُ أبو عليٍّ

إذا مَرِضَ اليمينُ أبو عليٍّ

رعاهُ اللهُ فالمجدُ المَريضُ

رعاهُ اللهُ فالمجدُ المَريضُ

When the right hand, Abu Ali, falls ill,

When Abu Ali's right hand fell ill,

may God watch over him, for glory itself is ill.

God cared for him, though glory lay ill,

يرى الناس العوارفَ نافِلاتٍ

يرى الناس العوارفَ نافِلاتٍ

وهَنَّ عليه واجِبَةٌ فروضُ

وهَنَّ عليه واجِبَةٌ فروضُ

People regard acts of kindness as voluntary,

Men saw the courtesies he paid as extras,

yet for him they are obligatory duties.

But these were duties binding him, compulsory.

فدامَتْ صِحَّةُ العلْياءِ منهُ

فدامَتْ صِحَّةُ العلْياءِ منهُ

ودامَ المَدْحُ فيه والقَريضُ

ودامَ المَدْحُ فيه والقَريضُ

So may lofty glory's health endure through him,

So may the noblest part of him stay healthy,

and may praise and poetry about him endure.

And may praise in him and verse endure.