1. The excellence of the Imam of excellence is proven by his own excellence,
And his register in Iraq and Syria.

2. Indeed, that which has overflowed from his forgiveness,
Is multiples of what has overflowed from his bestowal.

3. His sincerity of intention and holding fast his reins,
Is better for him than his gifts and his bounty.

4. Nothing is more beneficial than the kindness of his heart,
And his withdrawing from reproach and blame.

5. O pride of the kingdom of the Fatimids, he who
Endowed them the cradle before weaning,

6. May no messenger you send return,
Except one who comes leading prosperity by its reins.

7. Whatever was done seeking success pretentiously,
In word, deed or purpose,

8. Verily the one who shoots penetrating arrows,
Shoots though not all his arrows hit.

9. One who strives seeking your increase deserves
To benefit, if you increase his honor.

10. And among the loving men is one sleepless,
Whom your praise distracts from sweet slumber.

11. If he died and the earth uncovered his remains,
You would find your love in the rubble of his bones.

12. You granted him beauty and he is thankful,
As obligatory as his prayers and fasts.

13. With your favor he lauds what he can,
For he has naught to aid him but his pens.

14. Travel wherever in the lands, and you will find there,
For you a pearl necklace of strange composition,

15. More aromatic than the breeze in meadows
Of al-Rand, al-‘Arar and Bahrain and Syria.

16. When the lands want a lasting fragrance,
Their kings perfume themselves with his speech.

17. And on the throne of the kingdom a magnificent glorious king,
Before whose awe eyes are downcast.

18. By the meteors! He surpasses all description!
By the lion! None can match his daring!

19. If Hammaam had seen him, he would have left
Bashar, Waleed and Hisham.

20. Or if he lived in the time of Ibn Aws none would have,
Equaled his deeds, not even the son of Umamah.

21. Generosity that erased the mention of generosity,
Leaving no worth for generosity in any age but through him.

22. More perfect than Luqman, higher than
Numan, more just than Bistam.

23. They are the kings who from the highest heavens,
With their palms strike its nodes and stars.

24. Look at him and you see a blazing light,
In his hand from his charm and decorations.

25. He wore the turban—no doubt it is
A crown on top of his Kisra or his Khosroe.

26. He competed with the sky wearing it—the crescent wished
It could take the place of his collar and scarf.

27. A collar on the neck of the sublime that lessens
A mountain that sees mountains as small.

28. It is an aura like the full moon of a tribe
Who by its darkness and gloom feel safe.

29. They fashioned it from the youth of brilliant ones, for the glorious one
War sufficed since the days his sword was tied to his waist.

30. And pearls are strung on it as if
Beads of wine spilling over the rim of his cup.

31. How many are the collars like it on necks
To lure youth with his blade.

32. And he wore the double-edged sword—his good fortune enriches him,
Making him independent in battle of the double-edged sword.

33. And waving on it is a knotted insignia
With might and support from its maker.

34. Like an orchard, whether spread or folded,
The light within its sleeves is like the light at its fullness.

35. Pure white like the sheen of a blade, as if
The chest of the prince untouched by blemish.

36. The thick stars came and went humbly
In his courtyard, behind and before him.

37. I saw seven stars in its midst
And a moon surpassing the moon at its peak.

38. Dust shone upon them as if
Wine whose robe hides its darkness.

39. Blazing were it not for the clouds of their palms
That extinguish it, else they would have burned from its flaming sparks.

40. They bowed down to the flags of the Imam though verily
They bowed to what they wrote on his standards.

41. A day most splendid and a favor thanked,
At which the jealous one bites his fingers.

42. May his sons never be devoid of it, for they
Are in a continuing favor for all time.

43. If not for pride in what came to him, I would consider them
Rarities too paltry for his servant and slave.

44. But they are the treasure of the Imam, and some of it
Would suffice though only his peace came.

45. Today the Muslims are honored and the enemies
Of these lofty deeds are turned from their envy.

46. I reckon the king of Rome sees for himself
No fortress to defend him but his Islam.

47. O you who gives to delegations with his wealth
Like the raincloud gives rain to the meadows with its showers!

48. Perfect your favor by listening to my strange wishes
For the beautiful is made more beautiful by its perfection.

49. And forbid misfortunes from visiting my courtyard
For plants are not watered by the like of its clouds.

50. O Hearer of voices, silence his enemy
In this world for the lifespan of insects.

51. And destroy his opposite and his envier with Your kindness,
O Lord, death of greed in his days.

52. And protect him for Islam while wakeful,
And asleep and on his travels and settled,

53. Delighting for long in his day
And last night and this month and this year.