1. وردَ الكتابَ وسرني إتيانُه

    فشفيت لما لاحَ لي عُنوانُه

    The letter arrived, and its arrival delighted me;

    So I was healed when its heading came into view.

  2. أيقنتُ أنّك ساعدِي ومساعدي

    يا ابنَ الذي قد عمَّنى إحسانُه

    I knew for certain that you are my arm and my helper,

    O son of him whose kindness has encompassed me.

  3. أعني به الوالِي الممجد أحمدَ

    العاتي علَى من ديُنه عصيانُه

    By him I mean the illustrious governor, Ahmad,

    Fierce toward anyone whose way is to disobey him.

  4. نفسى الفداء لمن نأَى عنّي ومن

    بعد البُعَاد يسرني لنيانُه

    My soul be a ransom for him who is far from me, and whose

    [Meeting], after separation, gladdens me.

  5. ومن ارتضاهُ إمامُنا بولايةٍ

    أبداً فلا يشقى به إخوانُه

    And for him whom our imam has chosen to govern

    Forever; so his brethren suffer no hardship through him.

  6. لا جارُهُ يُلْقَى المهانةَ دهرَه

    أَكْرم بمن في عزّةٍ جيرانُه

    His neighbor is never subjected to humiliation throughout his life;

    How noble is he whose neighbors live in dignity!

  7. لا عيبَ فيه تُلْفِى إلا أنّه

    مثلُ السحائبِ في السخاء بَنَانُه

    You find no fault in him, except that

    His fingertips are like rainclouds in generosity.

  8. خُلُقٌ له كالشهد بلْ أحلى من

    الماءِ النميرِ وسرُّه إعلانُه

    His character is like honey—indeed, sweeter than

    Pure, sweet water; his private self is his public self.

  9. فحصورُه كمنيبه لأولى التقَى

    وفؤادُه يُنْبيك عنه لسانُه

    So his [presence] is like his [absence] to the pious,

    And his tongue tells you of his heart.

  10. عدلٌ أبيٌّ لا يميلُ إلى الرِّشَا

    أبصرْ بمن أفعالُه عنوانُه

    Just and high-minded, he does not incline toward bribes;

    Look upon him whose deeds are his title!

  11. يا من له ذكرٌ جميلٌ في الورى

    شرقاً وعُظِّمَ في الخلائق شأنُه

    O you whose good name is known among humankind

    In the East, and whose standing among creation is exalted.