1. يقولُ راجي كَرَمِ الله العَليْ

    محمّدُ بنُ دانِيالِ الموصلي

    Thus speaks one hoping for the generosity of God Most High:

    Muhammad ibn Daniyal al-Mawsili.

  2. من بَعدِ حَمْدِ للعَليِّ الحاكمِ

    غامرُنا بالجود والمراحمِ

    After praise of the Most High, the Judge,

    Who overwhelms us with bounty and mercies,

  3. ثمَّ الصلاة بعدَ ترتيل اسمهِ

    على النبي الهادي أمين حكمه

    Then blessings, after chanting His name,

    Upon the guiding Prophet, entrusted with His judgment,

  4. ولهِ وَصَحبهِ العُدولِ

    شهودِ حُجَةِ الرِّضى الرَّسولِ

    And upon him and his upright companions,

    Witnesses to the proof of the well-pleasing Messenger.

  5. فأنّني ضمّنتُ هذا الشعرا

    أنباءَ كُلِّ مَنْ تولّى مِصرا

    For I have included in this verse

    Accounts of everyone who governed Egypt,

  6. من سائرِ القضاةِ والحكّامِِ

    مُذ ملكتها دولَةُ الإسلامِ

    Among all its judges and rulers,

    Since the Islamic state ruled it,

  7. من لَدُنِ ابنِ العاص أعني عَمرا

    مِن فتحها ثمَّ هَلُمَّ جرّا

    From the time of Ibn al-‘As—I mean ‘Amr—

    From its conquest, and onward thereafter.

  8. لكنني اخترتُ الكلام الرَّجزا

    في حَصرِهمْ إذا كانَ لفظاً موجزا

    But I chose speech in rajaz meter

    For listing them, since its wording is concise,

  9. ليغتدي عِقداً منَ اللآلي

    يُنفسُه ذكرُ الجنابِ العالي

    So that it might become a necklace of pearls,

    Made precious by mention of His Exalted Presence:

  10. العالميُّ العامِليُّ الأوحدُ

    بدرُ التمامِ ذو السّنا محمَدُ

    The learned, the practicing, the peerless,

    The full moon of perfection, radiant Muhammad.

  11. أعني الكتانيَّ ابنَ إبراهيما

    السّيَد المفضّلَ الكريما

    I mean al-Kattani, son of Ibrahim,

    The favored, generous master,

  12. قاضي القُضاةِ وإمام العَصْرِ

    مفتي الفَريقين بأرضِ مصر

    Chief judge and leader of the age,

    Mufti of the two parties in the land of Egypt.

  13. نَظَمتُها وسيلةً إليهِ

    مُعتَمِداً دونَ الورى عَلَيْه

    I composed it as a means of approaching him,

    Relying on him rather than all mankind.

  14. لا زالَ ستراً مسبلاً عَلَيْنَا

    يبعثُ فَضْلَ رقدِهِ إلينا

    May he remain a shelter spread over us,

    Sending us the bounty of his sleep.

  15. وها أنا بِذكر ذاكَ مُبتَدي

    بِحَمْد ذي الحمدِ البديع الصّمدِ

    And here I begin that account

    With praise of the Praiseworthy, the Originator, the Eternal Refuge.

  16. أوَّلُ مَن وَلي القضا للحكمِ

    قيسٌ فتى عَدِيٍّ بن سَهْمِ

    The first to hold the judgeship and adjudicate

    Was Qays, the youth of ‘Adi ibn Sahm.

  17. وآلَ بعدَهُ لكَعْبِ عَبْسِ

    ثمَّ لعثمانَ بِغَيرِ لَبْسِ

    After him it passed to Ka‘b of ‘Abs,

    Then to ‘Uthman, without confusion.

  18. ثم ولي سليمُ نجلُ عترِ

    وبعدَهُ السّائبُ نجلُ عمرو

    Then Sulaym, son of ‘Itr, held office,

    And after him al-Sa’ib, son of ‘Amr.

  19. ثمَّ وليه عابِسُ المرادي

    وَبعَدهُ ابن النّضر في البلادِ

    Then ‘Abis al-Muradi held it,

    And after him Ibn al-Nadr in the land.

  20. وآلَ بعَهُ لعبدِ الرَّحمن

    ثمَّ إلى مالك نجل خولان

    After him it passed to ‘Abd al-Rahman,

    Then to Malik, son of Khawlan.

  21. ويونسُ من بعده ولي القضا

    ثمَّ ولي أوسُ بعزمٍ منتضى

    After him Yunus held the judgeship,

    Then Aws held office with resolve drawn like a sword.

  22. ثمَّ تولَى الحكمَ عبدُ الرحمن

    ثمَّ وليه بعد ذاك عمران

    Then ‘Abd al-Rahman assumed judicial authority,

    Then after that ‘Imran held it.

  23. وبعدَهُ صارَ لِعَبدِ الأعلى

    وابن حُدَيج ذي الفخارِ الأعلى

    After him it passed to ‘Abd al-A‘la,

    And to Ibn Hudayj, whose glory was most exalted.

  24. ثمَّ لعبد اللهِ ذاكَ القاضي

    أتى ومن بعدُ إلى عِياضِ

    Then to ‘Abd Allah, that judge,

    It came, and afterward to ‘Iyad.

  25. وعادَ للقضا بِحكمِ ثاني

    نجلُ حجيرةَ الفتى الخولاني

    And to the judgeship returned for a second term

    The son of Hujayra, the young al-Khawlani.

  26. ثمَّ إلى عياضَ آلَ ثانيه

    ثمَّ لعبد الله غير وانيه

    Then it passed to ‘Iyad a second time,

    Then to ‘Abd Allah, unflagging.

  27. والحضرميّ ثمَّ للخيارِ

    ثم يزيدُ جاءَ في الآثار

    And al-Hadrami; then to al-Khiyar.

    Then Yazid appears in the transmitted accounts.

  28. وآل بعدَ توبةٍ وخيرِ

    إلى ابنِ سالمٍ لكلِّ خيرِ

    After Tawba and Khayr it passed

    To Ibn Salim, for every good.

  29. هذا وفي عصرِ بني العبّاسِ

    عادَ نعيمُ ثابتَ الآساسِ

    Thus it was; in the age of the sons of al-‘Abbas,

    Nu‘aym returned, firm in his foundations.

  30. وعادَ غوثٌ بعد ذاك بحكُمُ

    ثمَّ ولي يزيدُ بعدُ فاعلموا

    After that Ghawth returned to judging,

    Then Yazid held office afterward—know this.

  31. وعادَ غوثٌ بعدَ إبراهيما

    والحضرميُّ بعدَه مأموما

    Ghawth returned after Ibrahim,

    And after him al-Hadrami, as a follower.

  32. ثمَّ لإسماعيلَ نجلِ لايَسَعِ

    ثمَّ تلاهُ غوثُ خيرُ تَبعِ

    Then to Isma‘il, son of La-Yasa‘,

    Then Ghawth followed him, the finest successor.

  33. وبعد هذا ولي المفّضلُ

    ثم أبو الطاهرِ ذاكَ الأفضَلُ

    After this al-Mufaddal held office,

    Then Abu al-Tahir, that most excellent man.

  34. ثمَّ المفضّلُ الأمينُ حَكَما

    ثمَّ ابن مسروق وما أنْ ظَلَما

    Then the trustworthy al-Mufaddal judged,

    Then Ibn Masruq, who committed no injustice.

  35. ثمَّ ولي من بعده النّجيبي

    والعمريُّ أيّما نجيبِ

    Then after him al-Najibi held office,

    And al-‘Umari—what an eminent man!

  36. وبعدَهُ البكريُّ وابنُ البكَا

    ثمَّ ابن عيسى وهو أزكى نُسكا

    After him al-Bakri and Ibn al-Baka,

    Then Ibn ‘Isa, purest in devotion.

  37. والأسلميُّ حاكمُ الشّريعه

    ثمَّ ابنُ عيسى واسمه لهيعه

    And al-Aslami, judge of sacred law,

    Then Ibn ‘Isa, whose name was Lahi‘a.

  38. ثمَّ لإبراهيم نجلُ القاري

    ثمَّ لإبراهيمَ ذي الفخارِ

    Then to Ibrahim, son of al-Qari,

    Then to Ibrahim, possessed of glory.

  39. ثمَّ لعيسى آلتِ الأحكامُ

    وبعدهُ هارونُ الإمامُ

    Then judicial authority passed to ‘Isa,

    And after him Harun, the imam.

  40. ثمَّ ولي الأحكامَ نجلُ شداد

    وبعده الحارثُ خيرُ من جاد

    Then the son of Shaddad held judicial authority,

    And after him al-Harith, the finest of the generous.

  41. وبعدما ولي دحيم الأنصار

    صارَ بها قاضي القضاة بكَار

    After Duhaym of the Ansar held office,

    Bakkar became chief judge there.

  42. محمد بن عبدة تولَى

    ثمَّ أبو زرعةَ لمَا وَلَى

    Muhammad ibn ‘Abda assumed office,

    Then Abu Zur‘a, when he took office.

  43. ثمَّ ابن عبدة تولَى الحكما

    وكان فيهِ بالمحلِّ الأسمى

    Then Ibn ‘Abda assumed judicial authority,

    And occupied the highest station in it.

  44. ثمَّ ابن حربٍ وأبو الذكر حكم

    قبل الكريزي زماناً في الأُممْ

    Then Ibn Harb and Abu al-Dhikr judged,

    Before al-Kurayzi, for a time among the peoples.

  45. والجوهريُّ وهو نعم القاضي

    ومن به قد وَقع التراضي

    And al-Jawhari—what an excellent judge he was!

    Through him agreement was reached.

  46. وبعدَهُ أحمدُ وابنُ أَحمدَ

    وأحمدُ ثانيةً فيها اغتدى

    After him Ahmad and Ibn Ahmad,

    And Ahmad came there a second time.

  47. وَصَرفوهُ بابن زبرٍ فقضى

    من قَبْل إسماعيلَ فيما قد مضى

    They replaced him with Ibn Zabr, who judged,

    Before Isma‘il, in times already past.

  48. ثمَّ ابن مسلمٍ ونجلِ حَمّاد

    والسرخس والصّيْرفي بإسناد

    Then Ibn Muslim and the son of Hammad,

    And al-Sarakhs and al-Sayrafi, by transmitted report.

  49. وبعد عبد الله نجلِ زَبْرِ

    وَلي أبو بكر جميع الأمرِ

    After ‘Abd Allah, son of Zabr,

    Abu Bakr took charge of the whole affair.

  50. ثم ابن أبي زرعه ونجل بدر

    من قبلِ عبد الله نجلِ زبرِ

    Then Ibn Abi Zur‘a and the son of Badr,

    Before ‘Abd Allah, son of Zabr.

  51. ثمَّ ابن بدرٍ بعد عبد الله

    أَمسى عليها آمراً وناهي

    Then Ibn Badr, after ‘Abd Allah,

    Became its commander and forbider.

  52. ثم أَبو الذكر تولّى والحسن

    وبعدّهُ الكشيُّ في ذاك الزمن

    Then Abu al-Dhikr and al-Hasan assumed office,

    And after him al-Kashshi, in that time.

  53. وبعد ذا ابن أخت وليد لم يزل

    حاكمها والعدل منه ما عَدَلْ

    After this Walid’s nephew continued

    As its judge; justice never departed from him.

  54. ثمَّ تولّى حمها ابن الحداد

    وبعدهُ ابن أخت وليد قد عاد

    Then Ibn al-Haddad assumed its judicial authority,

    And after him Walid’s nephew returned.

  55. وبعد ذاكَ وَلَدُ الخطيبِ

    ولي القضا وولدُ الخصيبِ

    After that the son of al-Khatib

    Held the judgeship, and the son of al-Khasib.

  56. وبعَدهُ محمّدٌ قد حَكَما

    ثمَّ أبو الطاهر فيما عَلِما

    After him Muhammad judged,

    Then Abu al-Tahir, according to what he knew.

  57. وبعدَ ذاكَ ولدُ النُّعمانِ

    وَنَجله في ذلك الزَّمانِ

    After that the son of al-Nu‘man,

    And his son, in that time.

  58. ثمّ ابنُهُ وَصِنْوُهُ الحسينُ

    ولم يَشِنْهُ في القضاء شينُ

    Then his son and his brother al-Husayn,

    Whom no blemish marred in judging.

  59. وبعدَ ذاكًَ مالكٌ تولّى

    ثمَّ أَبو العباسِ فيما يُتْلى

    After that Malik assumed office,

    Then Abu al-‘Abbas, according to what is recited.

  60. وقاسمٌ ثمَّ أَبو الفتح وَلي

    وهو بِغيرِ قاسِمٍ لم يُعْزَلِ

    And Qasim; then Abu al-Fath held office,

    And none but Qasim removed him.

  61. وَصَرفوه بأبي محمَدِ

    قبلَ أَبي عليِّ المسدّد

    They replaced him with Abu Muhammad,

    Before Abu ‘Ali, the rightly guided.

  62. ثمَّ ابن وهبٍ جاءها في الأثر

    ونالَها من قبل نجل زكري

    Then Ibn Wahb came to it, as the account relates,

    And obtained it before the son of Zakri.

  63. ثمَّ أُعيدَ أَحمد للحُكمِ

    ثمَّ ابنُ وهب فاستمعَ لنظمي

    Then Ahmad was restored to judicial authority,

    Then Ibn Wahb—so listen to my verse.

  64. ثم ولي الحكمَ ابنُ عبد الحاكم

    ثمَّ أُعيدَ بعدَهُ للقاسمِ

    Then Ibn ‘Abd al-Hakim held judicial authority,

    Then after him it was restored to al-Qasim.

  65. ثمَّ لعبد الحاكم الإمامي

    وقاسمٍ وُجِّهَ بالأحكامِ

    Then to ‘Abd al-Hakim al-Imami,

    And Qasim was commissioned to adjudicate.

  66. وبعدهُ ولي القضا نجلُ أَسدْ

    وبعدَهُ أَحمد ذو الحكم الأسد

    After him the son of Asad held the judgeship,

    And after him Ahmad, whose judgment was most sound.

  67. ثمَّ أعيدَِ ابنُ أبي كَدينه

    لمّا ارتضوا سيرتَهُ ودينَه

    Then Ibn Abi Kadina was restored,

    When they approved his conduct and his faith.

  68. ثمَّ عليٌّ بعدَهُ الميسّرُ

    ثمّ الرصافيُّ الجميلُ الذكرُ

    Then after him ‘Ali al-Muyassar,

    Then al-Rusafi, of fair renown.

  69. وبعدهُ ولي القضا ابنُ وهْبِ

    وابن أبي كدينةَ ذو اللبِّ

    After him Ibn Wahb held the judgeship,

    And Ibn Abi Kadina, possessed of understanding.

  70. وبعدَهُ المليجي في المدينة

    ولي القضا وابن أبي كدينه

    After him al-Maliji, in the city,

    Held the judgeship, and Ibn Abi Kadina.

  71. ثمَّ وليه بعدهُ اليازوري

    وابن كدينةَ بِغَيرِ زورِ

    Then after him al-Yazuri held it,

    And Ibn Kadina, without falsehood.

  72. وبعدَهُ العرقيُّ والقضاعي

    ولي القضا حَقاً بلا نِزاعِ

    After him al-‘Irqi and al-Quda‘i

    Held the judgeship truly, without dispute.

  73. ثمَّ جلالُ الدولةِ ابن القاسمِ

    عادَ وَوَلّى وهو خيرُ حاكم

    Then Jalal al-Dawla ibn al-Qasim

    Returned and held office, the finest judge.

  74. وبعَدهُ نجلُ نُباتةَ ولي

    وولدُ الكحّالِ ذو التفضُلِ

    After him the son of Nubata held office,

    And the son of al-Kahhal, possessed of generosity.

  75. وبعدَهُ المليجي والمكرَّمي

    ثمَّ أبو الطاهر ذو التكرُّمِ

    After him al-Maliji and al-Mukarrami,

    Then Abu al-Tahir, possessed of munificence.

  76. وبعدَهُ ولي القضا نجلُ ذكا

    وبعدَهُ الحسينُ وهو ذو ذكا

    After him the son of Dhaka held the judgeship,

    And after him al-Husayn, possessed of intelligence.

  77. ثمَّ ابن بدرٍ وأبو الفضل قضى

    قبل الصقلي وأبو الفضل الرضا

    Then Ibn Badr and Abu al-Fadl judged,

    Before al-Siqilli; and Abu al-Fadl, the well-pleasing.

  78. وبعدهُ ابن ظافرٍ تولَى

    وابن الحسين ذو المقام الأعلى

    After him Ibn Zafir assumed office,

    And Ibn al-Husayn, of the highest station.

  79. ثمَّ أبو الفتح ويوسف ولي

    وكان كلّ ذا محل أفضلِ

    Then Abu al-Fath and Yusuf held office,

    And each possessed a most excellent station.

  80. ثمَّ وليهِ ولدُ الميسَرِ

    أعني سناءَ الملكِ ربَ المفخر

    Then the son of al-Muyassar held it,

    I mean Sana’ al-Mulk, master of glory.

  81. ثمَّ أبو الفخر ونجل جعفرا

    ثمَّ محمّدٌ ولي بلا مرا

    Then Abu al-Fakhr and the son of Ja‘far,

    Then Muhammad held office without dispute.

  82. وبعدَ هذا وَليّ الرُّعيني

    ثمَّ سنا الملك بغير مَيْنِ

    After this al-Ru‘ayni held office,

    Then Sana’ al-Mulk, without falsehood.

  83. وبعدَهُ نجلُ عقيلِ لم يزلْ

    وابن حسين صار حاكم العمل

    After him the son of ‘Aqil remained,

    And Ibn Husayn became judge of the district.

  84. وابنُ سلامة ونجلُ المقدسي

    فكان فيها ذا محلٍّ أنفَسِ

    And Ibn Salama and the son of al-Maqdisi,

    Who held there a most valued station.

  85. وابنُ مكرَّمٍ ونجلُ عالي

    ثمَّ ضياءُ الدينِ ذو الأفضالِ

    And Ibn Mukarram and the son of ‘Aali,

    Then Diya’ al-Din, possessed of many favors.

  86. ثمَّ الأَعزُّ وأبو الفتح ولي

    وبعدَهُ أُعيدَ نجلُ كامل

    Then al-A‘azz and Abu al-Fath held office,

    After him the son of Kamil was restored.

  87. وبعد ذاكَ في زمان الغزِّ

    ذوي الفخارِ والعلا والعزِّ

    After that, in the time of the Ghuzz,

    Possessed of glory, elevation, and might,

  88. وليه عبدُ الملك بن عيسى

    قبل عليَّ الفتى الرئيسا

    ‘Abd al-Malik ibn ‘Isa held it,

    Before ‘Ali, the young leader.

  89. ثمَّ ابنَ عصرونَ تولّى الحكما

    وعادَ صدرُ الدين وهو الأسمى

    Then Ibn ‘Asrun assumed judicial authority,

    And Sadr al-Din returned, most exalted.

  90. والسكريُّ وأبو محمَد

    قبلَ ابن عين الدولة الممجَد

    And al-Sukkari and Abu Muhammad,

    Before Ibn ‘Ayn al-Dawla, the glorified.

  91. ثمَّ وليهِ يوسفُ السنجاري

    وجاءَ عزُ الدين في الآثار

    Then Yusuf al-Sinjari held it,

    And ‘Izz al-Din appears in the transmitted accounts.

  92. وبعدَهُ موهوبُ أعني الجزري

    والخَوْنَجيْ ثُمَّ العمادُ الحموي

    After him Mawhub—I mean al-Jazari—

    And al-Khawnaji, then al-‘Imad al-Hamawi.

  93. ثمُ أعيدَِ يوسف السنجاري

    ثمَّ تلاه التاجُ ذو الفخار

    Then Yusuf al-Sinjari was restored,

    Then al-Taj, possessed of glory, followed him.

  94. وولَي البرهانُ أعني الخضرا

    وعادَ تاجُ الدين فيما غَبَرا

    Al-Burhan held office—I mean al-Khidr—

    And Taj al-Din returned in times past.

  95. ثمَّ ولي الأحكام محي الدين

    وابن رزين ذوالحجا الرزينِ

    Then Muhyi al-Din held judicial authority,

    And Ibn Razin, possessed of sober understanding.

  96. وبعد عزلهِ تولاَّهُ عُمَرْ

    أعني العلاميَّ وبالعدلِ أمر

    After his dismissal, ‘Umar assumed it,

    I mean al-‘Allami, who commanded justice.

  97. ثمَّ أُعيدَ ابن رُزَينَ فحكم

    من بعد صدر الدين عدلاً في الأمم

    Then Ibn Razin was restored and judged,

    After Sadr al-Din, justly among the peoples.

  98. ثمَّ الوجيهُ البهنسي للقضا

    عُيِّنَ من بعد التّقيِّ إذ قضى

    Then al-Wajih al-Bahnasi, to the judgeship,

    Was appointed after al-Taqi had judged.

  99. وعندما استعفى لِبعدِ القاهره

    عن مصره خصَّ بها أَوامره

    When he sought release because Cairo was distant

    From his Misr, he confined his orders to it.

  100. ثمَّ الشهابُ رفعوا محلّه

    واستحضروهُ من قَضا المحلَه

    Then they raised al-Shihab’s station,

    And summoned him from the judgeship of al-Mahalla.

  101. ولم يزل حتى توفاهُ الردى

    ووليَ الشامَ الفتى ابن أحمدا

    He remained until death claimed him,

    And the young Ibn Ahmad took office in Syria.

  102. ثمَّ ولي القضا التّقيُّ بنُ خلف

    بعد الوجيه والشهاب المنصرفْ

    Then al-Taqi ibn Khalaf held the judgeship,

    After al-Wajih and the departed al-Shihab.

  103. وعزلوه عن قضاء القاهره

    ثمَّ وليه سيِّد السناجَره

    They removed him from Cairo’s judgeship,

    Then the chief of the Sinjaris held it.

  104. ثمَّ ولي التقيُّ عبد الرحمن

    وبانَ بدر الدين لمّا أن بان

    Then al-Taqi ‘Abd al-Rahman held office,

    And Badr al-Din took his leave when he departed.

  105. وعادَ بدرُ الدين للشآمِ

    ثمَّ ولي الحكمَ الفتى العلامي

    Badr al-Din returned to Syria,

    Then the young al-‘Allami held judicial authority.

  106. ولم يزل حتى توفاهُ القضا

    ثمَّ ولي التَقي أبو الفتح الرِّضا

    He remained until fate claimed him,

    Then al-Taqi Abu al-Fath, the well-pleasing, held office.

  107. وإذ اتاهُ نازلُ الحمامِ

    عادَ إليها البدرُ في التمامِ

    When death’s calamity befell him,

    The full moon returned to it in all its fullness:

  108. بدرٌ منيرٌ كاملُ الأوصاف

    ذو المنهل العَذبِ النمير الصافي

    A radiant full moon, perfect in every quality,

    Lord of a sweet, wholesome, limpid watering place,

  109. قاضي القضة حاكم الحكام

    واسطةُ العقود في النظامِ

    Chief judge, arbiter of arbiters,

    The centerpiece of necklaces in their stringing.

  110. لا بَرحَتْ نافذَةً أحكامه

    وَخَلَدتْ زاهرةً أيّامه

    May his judgments never cease to be binding,

    And may his flourishing days endure forever,

  111. ما لاحَ بَدرٌ كامل الإبدارِ

    وما انجلى الهلالً من سرار

    As long as a full moon shines in perfect fullness,

    And the crescent emerges from its dark concealment.

  112. والحمد للهِ على إنعامهِ

    وفضل ما سدَّدَ من أحكامه

    Praise be to God for His beneficence,

    And for His grace in setting his judgments aright.

  113. وأفضل الصلاةِ والسلام

    على النبيِّ سيدِ الأنام

    And the most excellent blessings and peace

    Upon the Prophet, master of all creation,

  114. وآلهِ وصحبه وعترتِهْ

    وكلِّ من أخلصَ في محبَتِهْ

    And his family, companions, and kin,

    And everyone sincere in loving him.