الحمد لله المعيد المبدي — Ali Bin Al Jahm

الحَمدُ لِلَّهِ المُعيدِ المُبدي

حَمداً كَثيراً وُهوَ أُهلُ الحَمدِ

Praise be to God, the Restorer, the Originator,

Abundant praise, for He is worthy of praise.

ثُمَّ الصَلاةُ أَوَّلاً وَآخِرا

عَلى النَبِيِّ باطِناً وَظاهِرا

Then blessings, first and last,

Upon the Prophet, inwardly and outwardly.

يا سائِلي عَن اِبتِداءِ الخَلقِ

مَسأَلَةَ القاصِدِ قَصدَ الحَقِّ

O you who ask me about creation's beginning,

As one intent on seeking the truth:

أَخبَرَني قَومٌ مِن الثِقاتِ

أولو عُلومٍ وَأولو هَيئآتِ

Trustworthy people informed me,

Possessors of learning and dignity,

تَقَدَّموا في طَلَبِ الآثارِ

وَعَرَفوا حَقائِقَ الأَخبارِ

Who advanced in seeking transmitted accounts

And knew the realities of the reports,

وَفَهِموا التَوراةَ وَالإِنجيلا

وَأَحكَموا التَنزيلَ وَالتَأويلا

Who understood the Torah and the Gospel

And mastered revelation and interpretation,

أَنَّ الَّذي يَفعَلُ ما يَشاءُ

وَمَن لَهُ العِزَّةُ وَالبَقاءُ

That He who does whatever He wills,

To whom belong might and everlasting life,

أَنشَأَ خَلقَ آدَمٍ إِنشاءَ

وَقَدَّ مِنهُ زَوجَهُ حَواءَ

Brought Adam into being

And fashioned from him his wife, Eve,

مُبتَدِئاً ذلِكَ يَومَ الجُمعَهْ

حَتّى إِذا أَكمَلَ مِنهُ صُنعَهْ

Beginning this on Friday.

Then, when He completed His work upon him,

أَسكَنَهُ وَزَوجَهُ الجِنانا

فَكانَ مِن أَمرِهِما ما كانا

He settled him and his wife in the gardens.

And what befell them befell them:

غَرَّهُما إِبليسُ فَاِغتَرّا بِهِ

كَما أَبانَ اللَهُ في كِتابِهِ

Iblis deceived them, and they trusted his deception,

As God made plain in His Book.

دَلّاهُما المَلعونُ فيما صَنَعا

فَأُهبِطا مِنها إِلى الأَرضَ مَعا

The accursed one drew them into what they did,

And both were sent down from there to earth.

فَوَقَعَ الشَيخُ أَبونا آدَمْ

بِجَبَلٍ في الهِندِ يُدعى واسِمْ

The elder, our father Adam, landed

On a mountain in India called Wasim.

لَبَئسَما اِعتاضَ عَن الجِنانِ

وَعَن جِوارِ المَلِكِ المَنّانِ

How wretched an exchange he made for the gardens

And for nearness to the King, the Bountiful!

وَالضَعفُ مِن خَليقَةِ الإِنسانِ

لا سِيَّما في أَوَّلِ الزَمانِ

Weakness belongs to human nature,

Especially at the beginning of time.

ما لَبِثا في الفَوزِ يَوماً واحِدا

حَتّى اِستَعاضا مِنهُ جُهداً جاهِدا

They had not remained in blessedness a single day

Before exchanging it for exhausting hardship.

فَشَقيا وَوَرَّثا الشَقاءَ

أَبناهُما وَالهَمَّ وَالعَناءَ

They suffered and bequeathed suffering

To their children, with sorrow and toil.

وَلَم يَزَل مُستَغفِراً مِن ذَنبِهِ

حَتّى تَلَقّى كَلِماتِ رَبِّهِ

He continued seeking forgiveness for his sin

Until he received his Lord's words.

فَأمِنَ السَخطَةَ وَالعِقابا

وَاللَهُ تَوّابٌ عَلى مَن تابا

Then he was safe from wrath and punishment;

God turns mercifully toward those who repent.

ثُمَّ اِستَمَلّا وَأَحَبّا النَسلا

فَحَمَلَت حَوّاءُ مِنهُ حَملا

Then they grew weary and desired offspring,

And Eve conceived a child by him.

وَوَضَعَت إِبناً وَبِنتاً تَوأَما

فَسُرَّ لَمّا سَلِمَت وَسَلِما

She delivered a son and a daughter as twins,

And he rejoiced when she and both children were safe.

وَاِقتَنيا الإِبنَ فَسُمِّيَ قايِنا

وَعايَنا مِن أَمرِهِ ما عايَنا

They cherished the son, who was named Cain,

And witnessed what they witnessed of his affairs.

ثُمَّ أَغَبَّت بَعدَهُ قَليلا

فَوَضَعَت مُتئِمَةً هابيلا

Then she waited a little while after him

And bore Abel, again delivering twins.

فَشَبَّ هابيلُ وَشَبَّ قايِنُ

وَلَم يَكُن بَينَهُما تَبايُنُ

Abel grew up, and Cain grew up,

With no disparity between them.

فَقَرَّبا لِحاجَةٍ قُربانا

وَخَضَعا لِلَّهِ وَاِستَكانا

They presented an offering for a need

And bowed submissively before God.

فَقُبِلَ القُربانُ مِن هابيلِ

وَلَم يَفُز قايِنُ بِالقُبولِ

The offering was accepted from Abel,

But Cain did not gain acceptance.

فَثارَ لِلحينِ الَّذي حُيِّنَ لَهْ

إِلى أَخيهِ ظالِماً فَقَتَلَهْ

Then, driven by the doom appointed him, he rose

Against his brother unjustly and killed him.

ثُمَّ اِستَفَزَّ أُختَهُ فَهَرَبا

وَفارَقا أُمّاً أَلوفاً وَأَبا

Then he incited his sister, and they fled,

Leaving an affectionate mother and a father.

فَبَعَدَت دارُهُما مِن دارِهِ

وَزَهَدا في الخَيرِ مِن جِوارِهِ

Their dwelling became distant from his dwelling,

And they disdained the goodness of living near him.

فَأَخلَفَ اللَهُ عَلَيهِ شيثا

وَلَم يَزَل بِاللَهِ مُستَغيثا

God gave him Seth in compensation,

And he continued seeking God's help.

وَلَم يَزَل يارِدُ يَألو قَومَهُ

نُصحاً وَكانوا يُكثِرونَ لَومَهُ

Jared continued striving to give his people

Counsel, while they continually reproached him.

حَتّى إِذا ماتَ اِستَقَلَّ بَعدَهُ

إِدريسُ بِالأَمرِ فَأَورى زِندَهُ

Then, when he died, after him

Idris took charge and kindled his fire-stick.

وَهُوَ حَنوخ بِالبَيانِ أَعجَما

صَلّى عَلَيهِ رَبُّنا وَسَلَّما

He is Hanukh in foreign speech;

May our Lord bless him and grant him peace.

أَوَّلُ مَبعوثٍ إِلى العِبادِ

وَآمِرٍ بِالخَيرِ وَالرَشادِ

The first sent to humankind,

Commanding goodness and right guidance,

وَأَوَّلُ الناسِ قَرا وَكَتَبا

وَعَلِمَ الحِسابَ لَمَّا حَسَبا

The first of humankind to read and write,

And he learned reckoning when he calculated.

فَلَم يُطِعهُ أَحَدٌ مِن أَهلِهِ

وَاِختَلَطوا بِقايِنٍ وَنَسلِهِ

None of his people obeyed him,

And they mingled with Cain and his offspring.

فَرَفَعَ اللَهُ إِلَيهِ عَبدَهُ

مِن بَعدِ ما اِختارَ المَقامَ عِندَهُ

So God raised His servant to Himself

After he chose to dwell with Him.

وَصارَ مَتوشَلَخٌ مُستَخلَفا

مِن بَعدِ إِدريسَ النَبِيِّ المُصطَفى

Methuselah became the successor

After Idris, the chosen prophet.

فَحَذَّرَ الناسَ عَذاباً نازِلا

فَلَم يَجِد في الأَرضِ مِنهُم قابِلا

He warned people of impending punishment

But found none on earth who accepted it,

غَيرَ اِبنِهِ لَمكٍ فَأَوصى لَمكا

وَصِيَّةً كانَت تُقىً وَنُسكا

Except his son Lamech; so he charged Lamech

With an injunction of piety and devotion.

فَوَعَظَ الناسَ فَخالَفوهُ

وَنَفروا عَنهُ وَفارَقوهُ

He admonished people, but they opposed him

And recoiled from him and abandoned him.

فَأَرسَلَ اللَهُ إِلَيهِم نوحا

عَبداً لِمَن أَرسَلَهُ نَصوحا

Then God sent Noah to them,

A servant sincerely devoted to the One who sent him.

فَعاشَ أَلفاً غَيرَ خَمسينَ سَنَهْ

يَدعو إِلى اللَهِ وَتَمضي الأَزمِنَهْ

He lived a thousand years less fifty,

Calling to God as the ages passed.

يَدعوهُمُ سِرّاً وَيَدعو جَهرا

فَلَم يَزِدهُم ذاكَ إِلّا كُفرا

He called them privately and called openly,

But that only increased their disbelief.

وَاِنهَمَكوا في الكُفرِ وَالطُغيانِ

وَأَظهَروا عِبادَةَ الأَوثانِ

They plunged into disbelief and transgression

And openly practiced the worship of idols.

حَتّى إِذا اِستَيأَسَ أَن يُطاعا

وَحَجَبوا مِن دونِهِ الأَسماعا

Then, when he despaired of being obeyed,

And they shut their hearing against him,

دَعا عَلَيهِم دَعوَةَ البَوارِ

مِن بَعدِ ما أَبلَغَ في الإِنذارِ

He invoked destruction upon them

After delivering his warning fully.

وَاِتَّخَذَ الفُلكَ بِأَمرِ رَبِّهِ

حَتّى نَجا بِنَفسِهِ وَحِزبِهِ

He built the ark at his Lord's command

And thus escaped with his followers.

وَأَقبَلَ الطوفانُ ماءً طاغِيا

فَلَم يَدَع في الأَرضِ خَلقاً باقِيا

The flood came as overwhelming waters,

Leaving no creature alive upon the earth

غَيرَ الَّذينَ اِعتَصَموا في الفُلكِ

فَسَلِموا مِن غَمَراتِ الهُلكِ

Except those who sought refuge in the ark,

Who escaped the engulfing depths of destruction.

وَكانَ هذا كُلُّهُ في آبِ

قَبلَ اِنتِصافِ الشَهرِ في الحِسابِ

All this occurred in Ab,

Before the month's midpoint, by the reckoning.

فَعَزَموا عِندَ اِقتِرابِ المَعمَعَهْ

أَن يَركَبوا الفُلكَ وَأَن يَنجوا مَعَهْ

When the turmoil approached, they resolved

To board the ark and escape with him.

وَكانَ مِن أَولادِ نوحٍ واحِدُ

مُخالِفٌ لِأَمرِهِ مُعانِدُ

One of Noah's children

Defied his command and was obstinate.

فَبادَ فيمَن بادَ مِن عِبادِهِ

وَسَلِمَ الباقونَ مِن أَولادِهِ

He perished among those of His servants who perished,

While the rest of Noah's children survived:

سامٌ وَحامٌ وَالصَغيرُ الثالِثُ

وَهُوَ في التَوراةِ يُدعى يافِثُ

Shem, Ham, and the youngest, the third,

Who is called Japheth in the Torah.

فَأَكثَرُ البيضانِ نَسلُ سامِ

وَأَكثَرُ السودانِ نَسلُ حامِ

Most white people are Shem's descendants,

And most black people are Ham's descendants.

وَيافِثٌ في نَسلِهِ عَجائِبُ

يَأجوجُ وَالأَتراكُ وَالصَقالِبُ

Among Japheth's descendants are wonders:

Gog, the Turks, and the Slavs.

وَمِن بَني سامِ بنِ نوحٍ إِرَمُ

وَاَرْفَخْشَدٌ وَلاوِذٌ وَغَيلَمُ

Among the sons of Shem son of Noah were Iram,

Arphaxad, Lawidh, and Ghaylam.

فَكَثُرَت مِن بَعدِ نوحٍ عادُ

وَشاعَ مِنها العَيثُ وَالفَسادُ

After Noah, Ad grew numerous,

And havoc and corruption spread from them.

وَعادُ مِن أَولادِ عوصِ بنِ إِرَمْ

وَمِن بَني عوصٍ جَديسٌ وَطَسَمْ

Ad descended from Uz son of Iram,

And among Uz's descendants were Jadis and Tasm.

فَأَرسَلَ اللَهُ إِلَيهِم هودا

فَجَرَّدَ الحَقَّ لَهُم تَجريدا

God sent Hud to them,

And he laid the truth completely bare for them.

فَعانَدوهُ شَرَّ ما عِنادِ

وَاِنهَمَكوا في الكُفرِ وَالإِلحادِ

They opposed him with the worst opposition

And plunged into disbelief and impiety.

فَقالَ يا رَبِّ أَعِزَّ القَطرا

عَنهُم فَعَدّاهُم سِنينَ عَشرا

He said, 'My Lord, make rain scarce

For them'; so it passed them by for ten years.

وَأَرسَلَ الريحَ عَلَيهِم عاصِفا

فَلَم تَدَع مِن آلِ عادٍ طائِفا

He sent the wind storming against them,

And it left none of Ad's people moving about.

وَكانَ وَفدٌ مِنهُم سَبعونا

ساروا إِلى مَكَّةَ يَستَقونا

A delegation of seventy of them

Traveled to Mecca seeking rain.

فَاِبتَهَلوا وَرَفَعوا أَيديهِمُ

وَكانَ لُقمانُ بنُ عادٍ مِنهُمُ

They supplicated and raised their hands,

And Luqman son of Ad was among them.

فَسَأَلَ البَقاءَ وَالتَعميرا

فَعاشَ حَتّى أَهلَكَ النُسورا

He asked for survival and a long life,

And lived until he outlasted the vultures.

وَوافَقَت دَعوَتُهُ إِجابَهْ

إِذ لَم يَكُن بِمُرتَضٍ أَصحابَهْ

His prayer received an answer,

For he did not approve of his companions.

وَأَثمَرَت ثَمودُ بَعدَ عادِ

فَسَكَنَت حِجراً وَبَطنَ الوادي

Thamud flourished after Ad

And settled in Hijr and the valley's floor.

فَأَرسَلَ اللَهُ إِلَيهِم صالِحا

فَتىً حَديثَ السِنِّ مِنهُم راجِحا

God sent Salih to them,

A young man of sound judgment from among them.

فَلَم يَزَل يَدعوهُمُ حَتّى اِكتَهَلْ

وَلَم يُجِبهُ مِنهُمُ إِلّا الأَقَلْ

He continued calling them until middle age,

But only a few of them answered him.

وَأَحضَروهُ صَخرَةً مَلساءَ

وَقالوا أَخلِص عِندَها الدُعاءَ

They brought him to a smooth rock

And said, 'Pray sincerely beside it.

فَهَل لِمَن تَعبُدُهُ مِن طاقَهْ

أَن تَتَشَظّى وَلَداً عَن ناقَهْ

Does the One you worship have the power

To make it splinter open in birth, yielding a she-camel?'

فَاِنفَلَقَت حَتّى بَدا زَجيلُها

عَن ناقَةٍ يَتبَعُها فَصيلُها

It split apart, and its rumbling became apparent,

Revealing a she-camel followed by her calf.

فَعَقَروا الناقَةَ لِلشَقاءِ

فَعاجَلَتهُم صَيحَةُ الفَناءِ

They hamstrung the she-camel, bringing misery,

And the cry of annihilation swiftly overtook them.

فَتِلكَ حِجرٌ مِن ثَمودٍ خالِيَهْ

فَهَل تَرى في الأَرضَ مِنهُم باقِيَهْ

There stands Hijr, empty of Thamud;

Do you see any remnant of them upon the earth?

ثُمَّ اِصطَفى رَبُّكَ إِبراهيما

فَلَم يَزَل في خَلقِهِ رَحيما

Then your Lord chose Abraham,

Who remained compassionate toward His creatures.

فَكانَ مِن إِخلاصِهِ التَوحيدا

أَن هَجَرَ القَريبَ وَالبَعيدا

Such was his sincere devotion to God's oneness

That he forsook those near and far.

فَوَلَّدوا النِساءَ وَالرِجالا

خَؤولَةٌ شَرَّفَت الأَخوالا

Then they begot women and men:

Maternal kinship that ennobled the maternal uncles.

وَوَطَّنوا مَكَّةَ دَهراً داهِرا

حَتّى إِذا ما قارَفوا الكَبائِرا

They made Mecca their home for a long, long age,

Until, when they committed grave sins

وَبَدَّلوا شِرعَةَ إِبراهيمِ

وَشَبَّهوا التَحليلَ بِالتَحريمِ

And changed Abraham's law

And confused permission with prohibition,

أَجلَتهُمُ عَنها بَنو كِنانَهْ

فَدَخَلوا بِالذُلِّ وَالمَهانَهْ

The sons of Kinana expelled them from it;

Thus they entered in abasement and humiliation.

وَوَلي البَيتَ وَأَمرَ الناسِ

الأَكرَمونَ مِن بَني إِلياسِ

The House and the people's affairs were governed

By the noblest descendants of Ilyas.

فَلَم تَزَل شِرعَةُ إِسماعيلِ

في أَهلِهِ واضِحَةَ السَبيلِ

Ishmael's law remained

A clear path among his people

حَتّى اِنتَهى الأَمرُ إِلى قُصَيِّ

مُجَمِّعٍ خَيرِ بَني لُؤَيِّ

Until authority passed to Qusayy,

The Gatherer, the best of Lu'ayy's descendants.

فَسَلَّمَ الناسُ لَهُ المَقاما

وَالبيتَ وَالمَشعَرَ وَالحَراما

The people surrendered to him the station,

The House, the sacred landmark, and the sanctuary.

وَصارَتِ القوسُ إِلى باريها

وَصادَفَت رَمِيَّةٌ راميها

The bow came to its own maker,

And a quarry found its marksman.

وَإيطَنَت في أَهلِها المَكارِمُ

وَرُفِعَت لِشَيدِها الدَعائِمُ

Noble qualities settled among their rightful people,

And pillars were raised to build them high.

وَوَرَّثَ الشَيخُ بَنيهِ الشَرَفا

وَكُلُّهُم أَغنى وَأَجدى وَكَفى

The elder bequeathed nobility to his sons,

And each enriched, benefited, and sufficed.

وَاِسمَع حَديثَ عَمِّنا إِسحاقا

فَإِنَّني أَسوقُهُ أَنساقا

Hear the account of our uncle Isaac;

I shall relate it in orderly succession.

جاءَ عَلى فَوتٍ مِن الشَبابِ

وَمِئَةٍ مَرَّت مِن الأَحقابِ

He came after youth had passed

And a hundred years had elapsed.

فَأَيَّدَ اللَهُ بِهِ الخَليلا

وَعَضَدَ الصادِقَ إِسماعيلا

Through him God strengthened His Friend

And supported truthful Ishmael.

وَعَجِبَت سارَةُ لمّا بُشِّرَت

بِهِ فَصَكَّت وَجهَها وَذُعِرَت

Sarah marveled when she received glad tidings

Of him; she struck her face and was startled.

قالَت وَأَنّى تَلِدُ العَجوزُ

قيلَ إِذا قَدَّرَهُ العَزيزُ

She said, 'How can an old woman give birth?'

It was said, 'When the Almighty decrees it.'

وَقيلَ مِن وَرائِهِ يَعقوبُ

مَقالَةٌ لَيسَ لَها تَكذيبُ

And it was said, 'After him, Jacob':

A pronouncement admitting no denial.

فَتَمَّ وَعدُ اللَهِ جَلَّ ذِكرُهُ

وَغَلَبَ الأَمرَ جَميعاً أَمرُهُ

God's promise was fulfilled—exalted be His remembrance—

And His command prevailed over every affair.

فَكانَ مِن قِصَّةِ يَعقوبَ النَبِي

ما لَيسَ يَخفى ذِكرُهُ في الكُتُبِ

The story of the prophet Jacob contained

What is plainly recounted in the scriptures.

قَد أَفرَدَ اللَهُ بِذاكَ سورَهْ

مَعروفَةً بِيوسِفٍ مَشهورَهْ

God devoted a chapter to that,

Well known and famous as Joseph.

وَماتَ يَعقوبُ بِأَرضِ مِصرِ

مِن بَعدِ تِسعٍ كَمُلَت وَعَشرِ

Jacob died in the land of Egypt

After nine complete years and ten.

وَإِنِّما طالَعَ مِصرَ زائِرا

لِيوسِفٍ ثُمَّ ثَوى مُجاوِرا

He had come to Egypt only as a visitor

To Joseph, then remained dwelling nearby.

حَتّى إِذا أَيقَنَ بِالحِمامِ

أَوصى بِأَن يُقبَرَ بِالشآمِ

When he became certain of approaching death,

He instructed that he be buried in Syria.

فَحَمَلَ التابوتَ حَتّى قَبَرَهْ

يوسُفُ بِالشامِ عَلى ما أَمَرَهْ

The coffin was carried until he was buried

By Joseph in Syria, as he had commanded him.

ثُمَّ أَتى مِصرَ فَعاشَ حِقَبا

حَتّى قَضى مِن الحَياةِ أَرَبا

Then Joseph returned to Egypt and lived for ages

Until he fulfilled his desire for life.

وَكانَ مِن أُسرَتِهِ سَبعونا

أَتوهُ مَع يَعقوبَ زائِرينا

Seventy members of his family

Had come visiting him with Jacob.

وَكانَ فِرعَونُ يَليهِم قَسرا

فَسامَهُم سوءَ العَذابِ دَهرا

Pharaoh ruled them by force

And inflicted grievous torment on them for an age.

فَبَعَثَ اللَهُ إِلَيهِم موسى

مِن بَعدِ ما قَدَّسَهُ تَقديسا

God sent Moses to them

After thoroughly sanctifying him.

فَخَلَّصَ القَومَ مِن العَذابِ

وَهُم عَلى ما قيلَ في الحِسابِ

He delivered the people from torment,

And they numbered, according to the reckoning,

سِوى الذَراري وَالرِجالِ العُجفِ

مِن الرِجالِ سِتَّ مِيةِ أَلفِ

Apart from children and emaciated men,

Six hundred thousand men.

وَنَقَلَ التابوتَ ذو العَهدِ الوَفي

موسى وَفي التابوتِ جِسمُ يوسُفِ

The coffin was transported by the faithful keeper of the covenant,

Moses; within the coffin was Joseph's body.

لَم يَثنِهِ عَن ذاكَ بُعدُ العَهدِ

وَلا الَّذي مَرَّ بِهِ مِن جُهدِ

The long lapse of time did not deter him from that,

Nor the hardship he had endured.

وَبَينَهُم إِحدى وَخَمسونَ سَنَه

وَمِئَةٍ كامِلَةٍ مُمتَحَنَه

Between them lay fifty-one years

And a full hundred, duly ascertained.

وَمَكَثوا في التيهِ أَربَعينا

وَلَم يَعيشوا مِثلَها سِنينا

They remained in the wilderness forty years

And had never lived through years like those.

وَماتَ هارونُ بنُ عِمرانَ النَبِي

مِن قَبلِ موسى في مَنامٍ طَيِّبِ

The prophet Aaron son of Imran died

Before Moses, in a peaceful sleep.

وَقيلَ ما أُخِّرَ عَن أَخيهِ

إِلّا لِأَمرٍ قَد قُضِي في التيهِ

It was said he was delayed after his brother

Only for a matter already decreed in the wilderness.

ثُمَّ تَنَبّا يوشَعُ بنُ نونِ

وَصِيُّ موسى الصادِقِ الأَمينِ

Then Joshua son of Nun became a prophet,

The successor of truthful, trustworthy Moses.

فَخاضَ بَحرَ أُردُنَ العَميقا

وَجَعَلَ البَحرَ لَهُ طَريقا

He crossed Jordan's deep waters

And made the waters a road for himself.

وَحَرَقَت مَن خانَ في أَريحا

وَفَتَحَ اللهُ بهِ الفُتوحا

And those who betrayed at Jericho were burned,

And through him God granted conquests.

وَقالَ لِلشَمسِ قِفي فَوَقَفَت

وَرَدَّها مِن قَصدِها فَاِنصَرَفَت

He said to the sun, 'Stand still,' and it stood still.

He turned it from its course, and it turned back.

وَذَلَّلَ المُلوكَ حَتّى ذَلَّتِ

وَقُلِّلَت في عَينِهِ فَقَلَّتِ

He subdued kings until they submitted;

They were diminished in his eyes and became small.

وَأَسكَنَ الشامَ بَني اِسرائيلِ

وَعداً مِن الرَحمنِ في التَنزيلِ

He settled the children of Israel in Syria,

A promise from the Merciful in revelation.

ثُمَّ تَنَبّا وَقَفاهُ كَالِبُ

وَقالَ لِلأَسباطِ إِنّي ذاهِبُ

Then Caleb became a prophet and followed him,

And said to the tribes, 'I am departing.'

وَخَلَّفَ الحَليمَ حَزقائيلا

ابنَ العَجوزِ بَعدَهُ بَديلا

He left the forbearing Ezekiel

The old woman's son, as his replacement.

وَكَثُرَت مِن بَعدِهِ الأَحزابُ

وَنَصَبوا بَعلَهُمُ وَعابوا

After him the factions multiplied,

And they erected their Baal and acted shamefully.

فَقالَ إِلياسُ بنُ ياسينَ لَهُم

وَهُوَ نَبِيٌّ مُرسَلٌ مِن رَبِّهِم

Elijah son of Yasin said to them,

Being a prophet sent by their Lord,

أَنِ اِعبُدوا اللَهَ وَأَلقوا بَعلا

فَاِستَكبَروا وَأَوعَدوهُ القَتلا

'Worship God and cast aside Baal.'

But they grew arrogant and threatened to kill him.

فَلَم يَزَل مُستَخفِياً سَيّاحا

حَتّى دُعِي بِالمَوتِ فَاِستَراحا

He remained concealed, wandering,

Until death summoned him and he found rest.

وَقيلَ في التَوراةِ إِنَّ فَرَسا

أَتاهُ في صَباحِهِ أَو في مسا

It is said in the Torah that a horse

Came to him in the morning or evening.

حَتّى إِذا رَكِبَهُ إِلياسُ

غابَ فَلَم يَظهَر عَلَيهِ الناسُ

When Elijah mounted it,

He vanished, and people could not discover him.

وَلَم يَزَل اِبنُ الخطوبِ اليَسَعُ

يَردَعُهُم دَهراً فَلَم يَرتَدِعوا

Elisha, a man acquainted with tribulations, continued

Restraining them for an age, but they would not desist.

وَسُلِبوا التابوتَ مِن بَعدِ اليَسِعْ

وَماتَ اليادُ اِسمُهُم مِن الحَذعْ

After Elisha, they were deprived of the Ark,

And al-Yad, 'their name,' died of al-hadhʿ [text unclear].

وَظَهَرَت عَلَيهِمُ الأَعداءُ

وَعَمَّهُم بَعدَ الهُدى العَماءُ

Their enemies prevailed over them,

And blindness encompassed them after guidance.

فسأَلوا نبيَّهم سُمويلا

أنَّ يستقيل الملكَ الجليلا

They asked their prophet Samuel

To seek relief from the glorious King.

وَسَأَلوهُ أَن يُوَلّي والِيا

عَلَيهِمُ يُقاتِلُ الأَعادِيا

They asked him to appoint a ruler

Over them who would fight their enemies.

وَعاهَدوهُ أَن يُطيعوا أَمرَهُ

وَأَن يُعِزّوهُ وَيُعلوا قَدرَهُ

They pledged to obey his command

And to strengthen him and exalt his standing.

فَبَعَثَ اللَهُ لَهُم طالوتا

فَاِتَّبَعوهُ وَغَزوا جالوتا

God sent Saul to them,

And they followed him and marched against Goliath.

وَكانَ داودُ أَقامَ بَعدَهُ

في أَهلِهِ ثُمَّ أَتاهُ وَحدَهُ

David had remained behind him

Among his family, then came to him alone.

وَكَلَّمَتهُ صَخرَةٌ صَمّاءُ

نادَتهُ حَيثُ يَسمَعُ النِداءُ

A solid rock spoke to him,

Calling him where the call could be heard:

خُذني فَإِنّي حَجَرُ الخَليلِ

يُقتَلُ بي جالوتُ عَن قَليلِ

'Take me, for I am the stone of God's Friend;

Through me Goliath will shortly be killed.'

وَكانَ أَيضاً سَأَلَتهُ قَبلَها

صَخرَةُ إِسحاقَ النَبِيِّ حَملَها

Before it, he had also been asked

By the prophet Isaac's rock to carry it.

فَشاهَدَ الحَربَ عَلى أَناتِهِ

وَاِصطَكَّتِ الأَحجارُ في مُخلاتِهِ

He attended the battle with his customary deliberation,

And the stones knocked together in his bag.

وَكُلُّها يَطمَعُ في إِسدائِهِ

مُنتَقِمٌ لِلَّهِ مِن أَعدائِهِ

Each hoped for his favor,

Avenging God upon His enemies.

فَنالَ داودُ بِبَعضِهِنَّهْ

جالوتَ إِذ كانَت لَهُ مَظَنَّهْ

With some of them David struck

Goliath, as they seemed fit to reach him.

فَأَهلَكَ اللَهُ لَهُ عَدُوُّهْ

وَفازَ بِالمُلكِ وَبِالنُبُوَّهْ

God destroyed his enemy for him,

And he gained kingship and prophethood.

وَكانَ طالوتُ لَهُ حَسودا

فَأَظفَرَ اللَهُ بِهِ داودا

Saul was envious of him,

And God gave David victory over him.

وَكانَ قَد أَسَّسَ بَيتَ المَقدِسِ

بورِكَ في الأَساسِ وَالمُؤَسِّسِ

He had laid the foundations of the Holy House;

Blessed be the foundation and its founder.

وَإِنَّما تَمَمَّهُ سُلَيمانْ

مِن بَعدِهِ حّتى اِستَقَلَّ البُنيانْ

Solomon alone completed it

After him, until the building stood upright.

وَكانَ قَد وَصّاهُ بِاِستِمامِهِ

داودُ إِذ أَشفى عَلى حِمامَهِ

He had been charged to complete it

By David, when David approached his death.

وَقامَ بِالمُلكِ سُلَيمانُ المُلِكْ

نَحوَ اَربَعينَ سَنَةً حَتّى هَلَكْ

King Solomon ruled

For about forty years, until he died.

وَكانَ مِن أَولادِهِ عِشرونا

مِن بَعدِهِ بِالمُلكِ قائِمونا

Twenty of his descendants

Held kingship after him.

ثُمَّ أَزالَ المُلكَ بُختَنَصَّرُ

عَنهُم فَقامَ بَعدَهُم وَقَصَّروا

Then Nebuchadnezzar removed kingship

From them, succeeding them as they fell short.

وَخَرَّبَ الشَقِيُّ بَيتَ المَقدِسِ

وَكانَ مَشغوفاً بِقَتلِ الأَنفُسِ

The wretched man destroyed the Holy House

And was consumed with killing people.

وَماتَ بِالرَملَةِ عَن بَنينا

مِن بَعدِهِ بِالمُلكِ قائِمينا

He died at Ramla, leaving sons

Who held kingship after him.

فَقَتَلَ الأَخيرَ مِن بَنيهِ

دارا وَصارَ مُلكُهُم إِلَيهِ

The last of his sons was killed

By Darius, and their kingdom passed to him.

وَكانَ في زَمانِهِ أَيّوبُ

الصابِرُ المُحتَسِبُ المُنيبُ

In his time lived Job,

Patient, seeking God's reward, and penitent.

وَبَعدَ أَيّوبَ اِبنُ مَتّى يونُسُ

وَفيهِ لِلَّهِ كِتابٌ يُدرَسُ

After Job came Jonah son of Matta;

Concerning him there is a Book of God that is studied.

وَيونِسٌ وَلّى فَقامَ شَعيا

فَأَنزَلَ اللَهُ عَلَيهِ الوَحيا

Jonah departed, and Isaiah arose;

God sent revelation down upon him.

وَقيلَ إِنَّ الخِضرَ مِن إِخوانِهِ

وَإِنَّهُ قَد كانَ في زَمانِهِ

It is said that al-Khidr was among his brethren

And that he lived in his time.

وَزَكَرِيّاءُ وَيَحيى الطاهِرُ

قَد أَنذَروا لَو أَغَنتَ المَناذِرُ

Zechariah and pure John

Gave warnings—if only warnings had availed.

كِلاهُما أُكرِمَ بِالشَهادَهْ

فَسَعِدا وَأَيَّما سَعادَهْ

Both were honored with martyrdom,

And attained happiness—what happiness!

وَكانَ يَحيى أَدرَكَ اِبنَ مَريَمِ

طِفلاً صَغيراً في الزَمانِ الأَقدمِ

John lived to encounter Mary's son

As a little child in the earlier time.

وَبَعدَ ذاكَ مَلَكَ الإِسكِندَرُ

وَالإِسمُ ذو القَرنينِ فيما يَذكُرُ

After that, Alexander ruled,

Called Dhu al-Qarnayn in the account.

وَكانَ عيسى بَعدَ ذي القَرنينِ

بِنَحوِ خَمسينَ وَمائَتَينِ

Jesus came after Dhu al-Qarnayn

By about fifty and two hundred years,

يَنقُصُ حَولاً في حِسابِ الرومِ

بِذِكرِهِ في الخَبَرِ المَعلومِ

Less one year in the Romans' reckoning,

As stated in the familiar account.

وَكانَ في أَيّامِهِ الأَشغانون

وَهُم مُلوكٌ لِلبِلادِ غَرين

In his days lived the Ashghanun,

Kings of the lands, inexperienced [reading uncertain].

فَجَذَّهُم بِالسَيفِ أَردَشيرُ

ثُمَّ اِبنُهُ مِن بَعدِهِ سابورُ

Ardashir cut them down with the sword,

Then, after him, his son Shapur.

وَاِنقَطَعَ الوَحيُ وَصارَ مُلكا

وَأَعلَنوا بَعدَ المَسيحِ الشِركا

Revelation ceased, and rule became kingship;

After the Messiah they proclaimed polytheism.

فَخَصَّ بِالطَولِ بَني اِسماعيلِ

أَضافَهُم بِالشَرَفِ الجَليلِ

He singled out Ishmael's descendants for bounty

And endowed them with lofty honor.

فَلَزِمَت مَكَّةَ وَالبَوادِيا

وَحَلَّت الأَريافَ وَالحَواشِيا

They remained in Mecca and the deserts

And settled the countryside and outlying regions.

وَظَهَرَت بِاليَمنِ التَبابِعَهْ

شَمرُ بنُ عَبسِ وَمُلوكٌ خالِعَهْ

In Yemen the Tubba kings appeared:

Shammar son of Abs, and lawless kings.

وَاِستَولَتِ الرومُ عَلى الشاماتِ

فَآثَرَت رَفاهَةَ الحَياةِ

The Romans took possession of the Syrian lands

And preferred life's comfort.

وَأجمَعَت لِلفُرسِ أَرضَ بابِلِ

وَقَنَعَت بِآجِلٍ مِن عاجِلِ

They resolved to leave Babylon's land to the Persians

And were content with the deferred rather than the immediate.

فَهذِهِ جُملَةُ أَخبارِ الأُمَمْ

مَنقولَةٌ مِن عَرَبٍ وَمِن عَجَمْ

This is a summary of the nations' accounts,

Transmitted from Arabs and non-Arabs.

وَكُلُّ قَومٍ لَهُمُ تكثيرُ

وَقَلَّما تُحَصَّلُ الأُمورُ

Every people has its exaggerations,

And matters are seldom firmly established.

وَعُمِّيَتْ في الفَترَةِ الأَخبارُ

إِلّا الَّتي سارَت بِها الأَشعارُ

Accounts grew obscure during the interval

Except those carried abroad by poetry.

وَالفُرسُ وَالرومُ لَهُم أَيّامُ

يَمنَعُ مِن تَفخيمِها الإِسلامُ

The Persians and Romans have their memorable days,

But Islam forbids magnifying them.

وَإِنَّما يَقنَعُ أَهلُ العَقلِ

بِكُتبِ اللَهِ وَقَولِ الرُسلِ

People of understanding are satisfied only

With God's books and the messengers' words.

ثُمَّ أَزالَ الظُلمَةَ الضِياءُ

وَعاوَدَت جِدَّتَها الأَشياءُ

Then light dispelled the darkness,

And things regained their freshness.

وَدانَتِ الشُعوبُ وَالأَحياءُ

وَجاءَ ما لَيسَ بَهِ خَفاءُ

Peoples and clans submitted,

And what admitted no obscurity arrived.

أُتاهُمُ المُنتَجَبُ الأَواهُ

مُحَمَّدٌ صَلّى عَلَيهِ اللَهَ

The chosen, tenderhearted one came to them:

Muhammad—may God bless him—

أَكرَمُ خَلقِ اللَهِ طُرّاً نَفسا

وَمَولِداً وَمَحتَداً وَجِنسا

The noblest in soul of all God's creatures,

In birth, lineage, and kind.

يَغشى لَهُ بِالشَرفِ الأَشرافُ

لا مِريَةٌ فيهِ وَلا خِلافُ

Nobles throng to him for his eminence;

There is neither doubt nor disagreement about him.

أَقامَ في مَكَّتِهِ سِنينا

حَتّى إِذا اِستَكمَلَ أَربَعينا

He remained in his Mecca for years,

Until, when he had completed forty,

أَرسَلَهُ اللَهُ إِلى العِبادِ

أَشرِف بِهِ مِن مُنذِرٍ وَهادِ

God sent him to humankind.

How noble a warner and guide he was!

فَظَلَّ يَدعوهُم ثَلاثَ عَشرَه

بِمَكَةٍ قَبلَ حُضورِ الهِجرَه

He continued calling them for thirteen years

In Mecca, before the migration arrived.

ثُمَّ أَتى مَحَلَّةَ الأَنصارِ

في عُصبَةٍ مِن قَومِهِ خِيارِ

Then he came to the Helpers' dwelling

With a band of the best of his people.

أَوَّلُهُم صاحِبُهُ في الغارِ

أَفضَلُ تِلكَ العِصبَةِ الأَبرارِ

Foremost was his companion in the cave,

The finest of that righteous band:

صِدّيقُها الصادِقُ في مَقالِهِ

المُحسِنُ المُجمِلُ في أَفعالِهِ

Its supremely truthful one, truthful in his speech,

Beneficent and gracious in his deeds.

وَذاكَ في شَهرِ رَبيعِ الأَوَّلِ

لِلَيلَتَينِ بَعدَ عَشرٍ كُمَّلِ

That was in the month of Rabi al-Awwal,

Two nights after ten complete nights.

فَسُرَّتِ الأَنصارُ بِالمُهاجِرَه

وَكُلُّهُم يُؤثِرُ دارَ الآخِرَه

The Helpers rejoiced in the Emigrants,

All preferring the abode of the hereafter.

وَاِحتَشَدَت لِحَربِهِ القَبائِلُ

فَثَبَتَ الحَقُّ وَزالَ الباطِلُ

The tribes gathered to wage war against him,

But truth stood firm and falsehood vanished.

وَوَهَبَ اللَهُ لَهُ الشَهادَهْ

جاءَ فَدَلَّتهُ عَلى السَعادَهْ

God bestowed martyrdom upon him;

It came and guided him to happiness.

وَذاكَ مِن بَعدِ سِنينَ عَشرِ

وَشَطرِ حَولٍ يا لَهُ مِن شَطرِ

That was after ten years

And half a year—what a half-year!

وَقامَ عُثمانُ بنُ عَفّانَ الرِضا

بِالأَمرِ ثِنتَي عَشرَةٍ ثُمَّ مَضى

Uthman son of Affan, the approved one, took charge

For twelve years, then departed,

مُستَشهداً عَلى طَريقِ الحَقِّ

لَم يَثنِهِ عَنهُ بِبابِ الطُرقِ

Martyred upon the path of truth.

He was not turned from it at the gateways of the roads.

وَفُوِّضَ الأَمرُ إِلى عَلِيِّ

الهاشِمِيِّ الفاضِلِ الزَكِيِّ

Authority was entrusted to Ali,

The Hashimite, virtuous and pure.

فَقامَ بِالأَمرِ سِنينَ أَربَعا

وَتِسعَةً مِن الشُهورِ شَرعا

He held authority for four years

And nine months in succession.

ثُمَّ مَضى مُستَشهداً مَحمودا

عاشَ حَميداً وَمَضى مَفقودا

Then he departed, martyred and praised;

He lived commendably and departed, sorely missed.

وَكانَ هذا عامَ أَربَعينا

مِنها اِنقَضَت مِن عِدَّةِ السِنينا

This occurred in the fortieth year

Of the numbered years that had elapsed.

وَاِنتَقَلَ الأَمرُ عَن المَدينَهْ

وَكانَ حَقاً ما رَوى سَفينَه

Authority moved away from Medina,

And what Safina narrated proved true

عَن النَبِيِّ في وُلاةِ الأُمَّه

مِنَ المُلوكِ وَمِنَ الأَئِمَّه

From the Prophet concerning the community's rulers,

Its kings and its imams.

ثُمَّ تولّى أمرهم معاويه

فعاش عشراً بعدَ عشر خاليَه

Then Muawiya took charge of their affairs

And lived ten years after ten had passed.

حَتّى إِذا أَوفاهُمُ عِشرينا

ماتَ مِن التاريخِ في سِتّينا

When he had completed twenty for them,

He died in the sixtieth year of the calendar.

وَمَلَكَ الأَمرَ اِبنُهُ يَزيدُ

لا حازِمُ الرَأيِ وَلا رَشيدُ

His son Yazid assumed authority,

Neither resolute in judgment nor rightly guided.

وَقُتِلَ الحُسَينُ في زَمانِهِ

أَعوذُ بِالرَحمنُ مِن خُذلانِهِ

Husayn was killed in his time;

I seek refuge in the Merciful from His abandonment.

وَإِنَّ ما عاشَ ثَلاثُ حُجَجِ

وَأَشهُرٌ مِن بَعدِ حَملِ المَخرَجِ

He lived only three years

And some months after undertaking the departure.

ثُمَّ ابنه مُعَيَّةُ المُضعَّفُ

كان له دينٌ وعقلٌ يُعرفُ

Then came his son Muʿayyah, deemed weak,

Whose religion and understanding were recognized.

فدام شهراً ثمَّ نصفَ شهرِ

وجاءه الموتُ عزيزَ الأمرِ

He lasted a month and then half a month,

And death came to him while his authority was strong.

وتركَ الناسَ بغير عهدِ

توقّياً منهُ وفضلَ زهدِ

He left the people without naming a successor,

Out of caution and exceptional renunciation.

وَفُوِّضَ الأَمرُ إِلى مَروانِ

بَعدَ يَزيدَ وَهُوَ شَيخٌ فانِ

Authority was entrusted to Marwan

After Yazid, though he was an aged, failing man.

فَقَتَلَ الضَحّاكَ في ذي القِعدَه

بِدارِصٍ ثُمَّ اِستَمالَ جُندَه

He killed al-Dahhak in Dhu al-Qada

At Daris, then won over his army.

وَلَم يَعِش إِلّا شُهوراً عَشرَه

وَلَيسَ شَيءٌ يَتَعَدّى قَدرَه

He lived only ten months,

And nothing exceeds its ordained measure.

وَلَم يَزَل اِبنُ الزُبيرِ بَعدَهُ

تِسعَ سِنينَ لَيسَ يَألو جُهدَهُ

After him Ibn al-Zubayr continued

For nine years, sparing no effort,

مُعتَصِماً بِالكَعبَةِ الحَرامِ

مُمتَنِعاً مِن إِمرَةِ الشآمِ

Seeking refuge in the sacred Kaaba,

Resisting Syria's authority,

حَتّى تَوَلّى قَتلَهُ الحَجّاجُ

مِن بَعدِ ما ضاقَت بِهِ الفِجاجُ

Until al-Hajjaj undertook his killing

After the broad roads had closed upon him.

وَكانَ هَدمُ الكَعبَةِ المَصونَه

وَوُقعَةُ الحَرَّةِ بِالمَدينَه

There was the destruction of the protected Kaaba

And the battle of al-Harra at Medina.

وَقامَ عَبدُ المُلكِ بنُ مَروان

مُستَنهِضاً لِلحَربِ غَيرَ وَسنان

Abd al-Malik son of Marwan arose,

Rousing forces for war, never drowsy,

حَتّى إِذا دانَت لَهُ الآفاقُ

وَأَقفَرَت مِن مُصعَبَ العِراقُ

Until the distant lands submitted to him

And Iraq was emptied of Musab,

وَمِن أَخيهِ البَلَدُ الحَرامُ

وَخافَ مِن سَطوَتِهِ الأَنامُ

And the sacred city of his brother,

And humankind feared his might.

ماتَ وَقَد عاشَ ثَلاثَ عَشرَه

وَأَشهُراً أَربَعَةً بِالإِمرَه

He died after living thirteen years

And four months in command.

وَمَلَكَ الناسَ اِبنُهُ الوَليدُ

وَعِندَهُ الأَموالُ وَالجُنودُ

His son al-Walid ruled the people,

Possessing wealth and armies,

سَبعَ سِنينَ بَعدَها ثَمانِيَه

كامِلَة مِن الشُهورِ وافِيَه

For seven years, followed by eight

Full and complete months.

ثُمَّ سُلَيمانُ بنُ عَبدِ المُلكِ

اِختيرَ لِلعَهدِ وَلَمّا يَترُكِ

Then Sulayman son of Abd al-Malik

Was chosen for the succession before he departed.

فَعاشَ حَولَينَ وَثُلثَ حولِ

ثُمَّ أَتى دابِقِ مُرخى الذَيلِ

He lived two years and a third of a year,

Then came to Dabiq with his robe trailing.

فَماتَ وَاِستَولى عَلى الأَمرِ عُمَر

بِسيرَةٍ مَحمودَةٍ بَينَ السِيَر

He died, and Umar assumed authority,

With a conduct praised among all ways of governing.

فَعاشَ عامَينِ وَنِصفَ عامِ

بِديرِ سَمعانَ سِوى الأَيّامِ

He lived two years and half a year,

At the monastery of Samʿan, apart from some days.

ثُمَّ تَوَلّى أَمرَهُم يَزيدُ

وَاللَهُ فَعالٌ لِما يُريدُ

Then Yazid took charge of their affairs;

God accomplishes whatever He wills.

وَهُوَ مِن أَولادِ عَبدِ المَلِكِ

ثالِثُهُم في عَهدِهِ المُشتَرِكِ

He was among Abd al-Malik's sons,

The third of them under his shared designation.

فَعاشَ حَولَينِ إِلى حَولَينِ

تَزيدُ أَشهُراً قَريرَ العَينِ

He lived two years added to two years,

With some additional months, content at heart.

ثُمَّ تَوَلّى بَعدَهُ هِشامُ

أَخوهُ فَاِعتَدَّت لَهُ الأَقوامُ

Then his brother Hisham succeeded him,

And the peoples made ready for him.

فَلَم يَزَل عِشرينَ عاماً والِيا

إِلّا شُهوراً خَمسَةً بِواقِيا

He remained governor for twenty years,

Except for five months still remaining.

ثُمَّ الوَليدُ بنُ يَزيدَ القاتِلُ

تَعاوَرَتهُ الأُسُدُ البَواسِلُ

Then al-Walid son of Yazid, the slayer,

Was assailed in turn by valiant lions,

مِن بَعدِ شَهرَينِ وَبَعدَ عامِ

وَبَعدَ عِشرينَ مِن الأَيّامِ

After two months and a year

And twenty additional days.

وَنَصَبَ الحَربَ لَهُ اِبنُ عَمِّهِ

مُستَنكِراً سيرَتَه بِزَعمِهِ

His cousin raised war against him,

Denouncing his conduct, as he claimed.

فَقُتِلَ الوَليدُ بِالبَخراءِ

مِن بَعدِ أَن أَثَخنَ بِالأَعداءِ

Al-Walid was killed at al-Bakhra

After inflicting grievous wounds upon his enemies.

ثُمَّ يَزيدُ بنُ الوَليدِ الناقِصُ

عافَصَه الحينُ الَّذي يُعافِصُ

Then Yazid son of al-Walid, the Diminisher,

Was suddenly seized by doom, which seizes suddenly.

فَلَم يَعِش إِلّا شُهوراً سِتَّه

حَتّى أَزالَتهُ المَنايا بَغتَه

He lived only six months

Before death removed him unexpectedly.

وَبايَعوا مَروانَ أَجمَعينا

فَكانَ حِصناً لَهُمُ حَصينا

They all pledged allegiance to Marwan,

Who became a strong fortress for them.

وَلَم يَزَل خَمسَ سِنينَ وافِيَه

يَملُكُهُم وَأَشهُراً ثَمانِيَه

He continued for five complete years

Ruling them, and eight months,

حَتّى أَتى اللَهُ وَلِيُّ النِعمَه

بِالحَقِّ مِنهُ رَأفَةً وَرَحمَه

Until God, the Patron of bounty, brought

The truth, out of His compassion and mercy.

وَاِختارَ لِلناسِ أَبا العَباسِ

مِن أَنجَدِ الناسِ خَيارِ الناسِ

He chose Abu al-Abbas for the people,

Among the bravest people, the best of people:

آلِ النَبِيِّ مِن بَني العَبّاسِ

أَئِمَّةٍ أَفاضِلٍ أَكياسِ

The Prophet's family, descendants of al-Abbas,

Virtuous and discerning imams.

فَعادَ نَصلُ المُلكِ في قُرابِهِ

وَرَجَعَ الحَقُّ إِلى أَصحابِهِ

Kingship's blade returned to its scabbard,

And right returned to its rightful possessors.

ثُمَّ رَقى المَنبَرَ يَومَ الجُمعَه

في مَسجِدِ الكوفَةِ يُذري دَمعَه

Then he ascended the pulpit on Friday

In Kufa's mosque, shedding his tears.

فَقامَ في الدينِ قِيامَ مِثلِهِ

بِرَأيِهِ المَيمونِ حَسبَ فِعلِهِ

He upheld religion as one like him should,

With his auspicious judgment, matching his deeds.

وَماتَ بَعدَ أَربَعٍ كَوامِلِ

وَسَبعَةٍ مِن أَشهُرٍ فَواضِلِ

He died after four complete years

And seven additional months.

وَقامَ بِالخِلافَةِ المَنصورُ

فَاِستَوسَقَت بِعَزمِهِ الأُمورُ

Al-Mansur assumed the caliphate,

And affairs became ordered through his resolve.

فَعاشَ ثِنتَينِ وَعِشرينَ سَنَه

يَحمي حِمى المُلكِ وَيُفني الخَوَنَه

He lived twenty-two years,

Protecting kingship's domain and destroying traitors.

ثُمَّ تُوُفّي مُحرِماً بِمَكَّه

فَوَرِثَ المَهدِيُّ عَنهُ مُلكَه

Then he died in Mecca in pilgrim consecration,

And al-Mahdi inherited his kingdom.

فَعاشَ عَشرَ حِجَجٍ وَشَهرا

وَنِصفَ شَهرٍ ثُمَّ زارَ القَبرا

He lived ten years and a month

And half a month, then visited the grave.

وَاِستَخلَفَ الهادِيَ موسى بَعدَهُ

وَكانَ قَد وَلّاهُ قَبلُ عَهدَهُ

He appointed Musa al-Hadi as his successor,

Having already entrusted him with the succession.

وَعاشَ موسى سَنَةً وَشَهرَين

تَنقُصُ يَوماً واحِداً أَو اِثنَين

Musa lived a year and two months,

Less one day or two.

وَقامَ بِالخِلافَةِ الرَشيدُ

المُلكُ المُمَنَّعُ السَعيدُ

Al-Rashid assumed the caliphate,

The invincible, fortunate sovereign.

فَعاشَ عِشرينَ وَوَفّى عَدَّها

وَعاشَ عامَينِ وَعاماً بَعدَها

He lived twenty years, completing their number,

And lived two years and another year thereafter,

وَنِصفَ شَهرٍ ثُمَّ وافاهُ الأَجَل

بِطوسَ يَومَ السَبتِ فَاِنهَدَّ الجَبَل

And half a month; then his appointed end came

At Tus on Saturday, and the mountain collapsed.

وَبايَعوا مُحَمَّدَ الأَمينا

وَنَكَثوا البَيعَةَ أَجمَعينا

They pledged allegiance to Muhammad al-Amin

And all broke their pledge,

إِلّا قَليلاً وَالقَليلُ أَحمَدُ

وَالمَوتُ لِلناسِ جَميعاً مَوعِدُ

Except a few—and the few were more praiseworthy.

Death is an appointment for all people.

فَأَمَّنوهُ ثُمَّ قَتَلوهُ

ما هكَذا عاهَدَهُم أَبوهُ

They granted him safety, then killed him;

That was not how his father had bound them.

ما عاشَ إِلّا أَربَعاً وَأَشهُرا

حَتّى تَهادوا رَأسَهُ مُعَفَّرا

He lived only four years and some months

Before they passed his dust-covered head as a gift.

وَبايَعوا المَأمونَ عَبدَ اللَهِ

فَبايَعوا يَقظانَ غَيرَ ساهِ

They pledged allegiance to Abd Allah al-Mamun,

Pledging to one alert, not heedless.

وَفّاهُمُ خِلافَةَ المَنصورِ

في عَدَدِ السِنينَ وَالشُهورِ

He matched al-Mansur's caliphate for them

In the number of years and months.

ثُمَّ أَتى الرومَ فَماتَ غازِيا

كانَ البَذَندونَ المَحَلَّ القاصِيا

Then he entered Roman territory and died campaigning;

Badhindun was the distant stopping place.

وَقُلِّدَ الأَمرَ أَبو إِسحاقِ

فَاِنقَضَّ كَالصَقرِ عَلى العِراقِ

Abu Ishaq was invested with authority

And swooped upon Iraq like a falcon,

مُعتَصِماً بِاللَهِ غَيرَ غافِلِ

فَأَيَّدَ الأَمرَ بِرَأيٍ فاضِلِ

Holding fast to God, not heedless.

He strengthened authority with excellent judgment.

وَقامَ فيهِم حُجَجاً ثَمانِيا

وَمِثلَها مِنَ الشُهورِ باقِيا

He remained among them for eight years

And as many months,

وَنَحوَ عِشرينَ مِنَ الأَيّامِ

وَخَمسٍ اَدْنَتهُ مِنَ الحِمامِ

And about twenty days,

With five more bringing him near death.

وَماتَ في شَهرِ رَبيعِ الأَوَّلِ

وَعُمرُهُ خَمسونَ لَم يَستَكمِلِ

He died in the month of Rabi al-Awwal,

Not having completed fifty years of age.

فَبايَعوا مِن بَعدِهِ لِلواثِقِ

وَكانَ ذاكَ بِالقَضاءِ السابِقِ

After him they pledged allegiance to al-Wathiq,

In accordance with the preceding decree.

وَلَم يَزَل في بَسطَةٍ وَمَنعَه

خَمسَ سِنينَ وَشُهوراً تِسعَه

He continued in abundance and strength

For five years and nine months,

وَزادَ أَيّاماً عَلَيها خَمسَه

مَعدودَةً ثُمَّ تَوارى رَمسَه

Adding five days to them,

Precisely counted; then he vanished into his grave.

وَبايَعَ الناسُ الإِمامَ جَعفَرا

خَليفَةَ اللَهِ الأَغَرَّ الأَزهَرا

The people pledged allegiance to Imam Jafar,

God's radiant, shining caliph,

بَعدَ ثَلاثينَ وَميتَي عامِ

وَبَعدَ حَولَينِ سِوى أَيّامِ

After thirty and two hundred years

And two more years, apart from some days,

خَلَت مِن الهِجرَةِ في الحِسابِ

في العَرَبي المُحكَمِ الصَوابِ

Had elapsed since the migration, by the reckoning

Of the precise and correct Arabic calendar.

لِسِتَّةٍ بَقينَ مِن ذي الحِجَّةِ

فَأَوضَحَ السَبيلَ وَالمَحِجَّه

With six days of Dhu al-Hijja remaining,

He made the way and the clear road manifest.

وَقامَ في الناسِ لَهُم خَليفَه

خِلافَةً مُنيفَةً شَريفَه

He stood among the people as their caliph,

In a lofty and noble caliphate.

قَد سَكَّنَ اللَهُ بِهِ الأَطرافا

فَما تَرى في مُلكِهِ خِلافا

Through him God pacified the borderlands,

And you see no discord in his kingdom.

أَقامَ عَشراً ثُمَّ خَمساً بَعدَها

مِنَ السِنينَ فَأَبانَ مَجدَها

He remained ten years, then five after them,

Making their glory manifest.

ثُمَّ تَوَلّى قَتلَهُ الفَراغِنَه

وَساعَدَتهُم عِصبَةٌ فَراعِنَه

Then the Farghana troops undertook his killing,

Helped by a band of pharaoh-like tyrants.

لِأَربَعٍ خَلَونَ مِن شَوّالِ

فَأَصبَحَ المُلكُ أَخا اِختِلال

When four days of Shawwal had passed,

Kingship fell into disorder.

وَبايَعوا مِن بَعدِهِ لِلمُنتَصِر

فَأَصبَحَ الرابِحُ مِنهُم قَد خَسِر

After him they pledged allegiance to al-Muntasir,

And whoever among them had gained now lost.

فَعاشَ في السُلطانُ سِتَّةَ اَشهُرِ

أَخرَجَهُم مِن مُلكِهِ وَالعَسكَرِ

He lived in power for six months,

Expelling them from his realm and the army.

ثُمَّ أَتاهُ بَغتَةً حَمامُهُ

سُبحانَ مَن يُعاجِلُ اِنتِقامُهُ

Then his death came suddenly;

Glory to Him whose vengeance comes swiftly!

فَاِنتَخَبَ اللَهُ لَهُم إِماما

يُؤَيِّدُ اللَهُ بِهِ الإِسلاما

God selected an imam for them

Through whom God strengthens Islam.

وَبايَعوا بَعدَ الرِضا لِأَحمَدِ

المُستَعينِ بِالإِلهِ الأَحَدِ

After agreeing, they pledged allegiance to Ahmad,

Who seeks help from the One God.

وَكانَ في العِشرينَ مِن وُلاتِها

مِن آلِ عَبّاسٍ وَمِن حُماتِها

He was among its twenty rulers,

Of Abbas's family and among its protectors.

فَنَحنُ في خِلافَةٍ مُبارَكَه

خَلَت عَن الإِضرارِ وَالمُشارَكَه

We dwell in a blessed caliphate,

Free from harm and shared rule.

فَالحَمدُ لِلَّهِ عَلى إِنعامِهِ

جَميعُ هذا الأَمرِ مِن أَحكامِه

Praise be to God for His bounty;

All this affair belongs to His decrees.

ثُمَّ السَلامُ أَوَّلاً وَآخِرا

عَلى النَبِيُّ باطِناً وَظاهِرا

Then peace, first and last,

Upon the Prophet, inwardly and outwardly.