أرىI see ابنيthe two sons of عليAli ركبinstilled اللهGod فيهماin both of them
أرى ابني علي ركب الله فيهما
سجاياinnate dispositions نفوسsouls بينهنbetween them شتاتwide disparity
سجايا نفوس بينهن شتات
I see Ali's two sons, in whom God has instilled
I see my sons whom God has instilled in them
the dispositions of souls that differ widely.
Traits of souls that are divergent
فهذاthus this one لهhe has فيin المكرماتnoble deeds تسرعhaste
فهذا له في المكرمات تسرع
وهذاand this one لهhe has فيin النائباتcalamities ثباتsteadfastness
وهذا له في النائبات ثبات
Thus one hastens to noble deeds,
For this one is hasty in bestowing favors
and the other stands firm in calamities.
And that one is steadfast in adversities
وأحمدand Ahmad ينبوعa spring المحامدpraiseworthy deeds والندىand generosity
وأحمد ينبوع المحامد والندى
إذاwhen نضبran dry الإحسانbeneficence والحسناتand good deeds
إذا نضب الإحسان والحسنات
And Ahmad is a spring of praiseworthy deeds and generosity
And Ahmed is a spring of praise and freshness
when beneficence and good deeds run dry.
When kindness and virtues run dry
وللحسنand al-Hasan has الفضلexcellence الذيwhich هوit is كاسمهlike his name
وللحسن الفضل الذي هو كاسمه
وماand not كلall أسماءnames of الرجالmen سماتmarks of character
وما كل أسماء الرجال سمات
And al-Hasan has excellence that matches his name;
And Hassan has the merit that matches his name
yet not all men's names reflect their qualities.
Though not all men's names match their natures
Sol 6.1