وَحَدَّثَ عَنهُ بَعضُ مَن قالَ إِنَّهُ

وَحَدَّثَ عَنهُ بَعضُ مَن قالَ إِنَّهُ

رَأَت عَينُهُ فيما تَرى عَينُ حالِمِ

رَأَت عَينُهُ فيما تَرى عَينُ حالِمِ

And someone gave an account of him, saying that

Some have spoken of him as one whose eyes

His eye had seen, among the visions a dreamer’s eye sees,

Saw what eyes of dreamers see.

كَأَنَّ الَّذي يَبكي عَلى قَبرِ مَعقِلٍ

كَأَنَّ الَّذي يَبكي عَلى قَبرِ مَعقِلٍ

وَلَم يَرَهُ يَبكي عَلى قَبرِ حاتِمِ

وَلَم يَرَهُ يَبكي عَلى قَبرِ حاتِمِ

As though someone were weeping over Maʿqil’s grave,

As though one weeping over Ma'qil's grave,

And he had not seen him weep over Ḥātim’s grave,

Yet did not weep over Hatem's grave,

وَلا قَبر كَعبٍ إِذ يَجودُ بِنَفسِهِ

وَلا قَبر كَعبٍ إِذ يَجودُ بِنَفسِهِ

وَلا قَبر حِلفِ الجودِ قَيسِ بنِ عاصِمِ

وَلا قَبر حِلفِ الجودِ قَيسِ بنِ عاصِمِ

Nor Kaʿb’s grave, as he yielded up his life,

Nor Ka'b's grave when he sacrificed himself,

Nor the grave of generosity’s sworn ally, Qays ibn ʿĀṣim.

Nor the grave of Hilf of generosity, Qays son of 'Asim.

فَأَيقَنتُ أَنَّ اللَهَ فَضَّلَ مَعقِلاً

فَأَيقَنتُ أَنَّ اللَهَ فَضَّلَ مَعقِلاً

عَلى كُلِّ مَذكورٍ بِفَضلِ المَكارِمِ

عَلى كُلِّ مَذكورٍ بِفَضلِ المَكارِمِ

So I knew for certain that God had favored Maʿqil

So I was certain that God favored Ma'qil

Above all renowned for excellence in noble deeds.

Above all the rest named for their virtues.