1. In the unseen inner realm, thought cannot attain,
So the insightful one considers events.

2. Why do I see the king of the Franks in a cage?
Where are the galleys and the brave, brown knights?

3. And the cavalry to the sand dune, when they assemble
As if they were the barrier of Gog and Magog unleashed.

4. And the soul is strangely infatuated with its conduct,
Yet in destiny lies that which will console the march.

5. O day of defeat, what wonders you have left behind,
Armies from which no human escaped.

6. O morn of Saturday, why did they become enraptured?
Did they convert to Judaism or were they drunk on the wine of stabbing?

7. O tomb of Shu'ayb, why did they squat?
Like Midian, or did they experience a quake for their disbelief?

8. They crowned the King thinking him invincible,
Yet in an hour that king and his destiny vanished.

9. Saladin swooped down on them like a predator,
The undefeated one, whose victory was made victory.

10. He dictated to them so they ended up in his palm,
Like a flock of birds gathered up by a hunting falcon.

11. And God fulfilled His promise to the Sultan,
Who devoted his religion to God through his vow.

12. And the King witnessed his own blood,
So he died alive, alive while apologizing.

13. He saw a king whom the kings of earth follow,
With the stars and sun and moon in his service.

14. When he appears, the nobles are dazzled by his awe,
Yet he remains obscure while renowned in minds.

15. The generation has advanced in the latter days through him
Above the glorious elite of those before us.

16. Have you not seen the conquests of al-Quds at
The fringes of Lubya, gloriously, in the days of 'Umar?

17. The truth holds a wedding feast while tyranny grieves,
Disbelief is erased and faith blossoms.

18. This is the king about whom the Prophet gave good tidings
That he would gain victory for Islam in the strife of wrongdoing.

19. Forget the exploits of Dhu al-Qarnayn? Though renowned,
The storytellers conceded he had no trace.

20. The aid of al-Khidr assisted Alexander despite his might—
Al-Khidr is helped by none but God.

21. The work of the Lord of the Throne is pure creation without cause.
So do not say "How did this grave event occur?"

22. While his female captives were being paraded in Damascus,
The king of the Franks ruled alongside the Turks in bondage.

23. Facing him, the chieftains of both coasts together,
Bound in shackles of subjugation, now captive.

24. Behind them, the Patriarch being led in humiliation,
Surrounded by every priest carrying his Gospel.

25. While we were a bird whose good tidings were
The conquest of Acre which blocked the mountain pass.

26. Our fleets set out to raid Sicily,
So the Byzantines, Sicilians and Khazars fled in panic.

27. Who would say Jerusalem is likely to be conquered by you?
Nay, the journey of Jacob is the one to undertake.

28. Abu al-Muzaffar intends it, so take our ships
From Acre's gate to spread out to Tarsus.

29. He captures Franks from their far-flung lands.
He has wars with the Magians which his blaze ignited.

30. Some of his sons lament in Jerusalem
While others Rome the Great is his target.

31. With a banner that rends the vast earth
In a mass that tells bodies, "No burden!"

32. They said, "You have prolonged the praise." I said, "As
It appeared, for pouring for the beloved is habitual."