خَطبٌa calamity لهat it الدّينُreligion أرنىfixed لحظَthe gaze مذعورِof one terrified
خَطبٌ له الدّينُ أرنى لحظَ مذعورِ
وَالناسُand people ماranging بينَbetween مَبهوتٍstunned ومبهورِand breathless
وَالناسُ ما بينَ مَبهوتٍ ومبهورِ
A calamity at which religion fixed a terrified gaze,
Religion mourned, showing me a moment of distress,
and people stand between stunned and breathless.
And people between stupefaction and confusion.
أَصمّdeafened أقذىclouded eyes أجرّsilenced اللسنَthe tongues فتّshattered بأعin the limbs (word begins)
أَصمّ أقذى أجرّ اللسنَ فتّ بأع
ضاءِlimbs (word ends) البريّةِof humankind أشجىchoked with grief كلّevery حنجورِthroat
ضاءِ البريّةِ أشجى كلّ حنجورِ
It deafened, clouded eyes, silenced tongues, shattered the limbs—
Deaf, most harmful, untying the tongues with calamities,
of humankind, and choked every throat with grief.
More painful than the wilderness, sadder than every lament.
بذّoverwhelmed القُوىstrength وَالنهىand reason فُجأًsuddenly بِغاشيةٍwith an overwhelming visitation
بذّ القُوى وَالنهى فُجأً بِغاشيةٍ
فَلاso no تأسٍّconsolation ولاnor صبرpatience بمقدورِpossible
فَلا تأسٍّ ولا صبر بمقدورِ
It suddenly overwhelmed strength and reason with a visitation,
Goodness and restraint collapsed suddenly with overwhelming,
so neither consolation nor patience is possible.
No consolation, nor patience within capability.
تَرىyou see وجوهَfaces of وجومٍstunned silence لاno حراكَmovement بهمamong them
تَرى وجوهَ وجومٍ لا حراكَ بهم
كأنّماas though صُعِقواthey were struck senseless مِنby نفخةِa blast of الصورِthe Trumpet
كأنّما صُعِقوا مِن نفخةِ الصورِ
You see faces of stunned silence, their owners motionless,
You see faces sullen, without movement in them,
as though struck senseless by a blast of the Trumpet.
As if they were struck by the blowing of the horn.
أَفدِحhow crushing بهِit is مِنas قضاءٍa decree لاno مردّreversal لهfor it
أَفدِح بهِ مِن قضاءٍ لا مردّ له
مقدّرٍordained فيin كتابِthe Book of اللّهGod مسطورِinscribed
مقدّرٍ في كتابِ اللّه مسطورِ
How crushing a decree, with no turning it back,
Overwhelmed by a decree with no way to reverse it,
ordained and inscribed in the Book of God!
Predestined in God's Book, transcribed.
أَذكىkindled علىin كلّevery قلبٍheart لوعةًanguish وَحَشاand filled
أَذكى على كلّ قلبٍ لوعةً وَحَشا
فيin كلِّevery سامِعةٍear زلزالَthe trembling of ناقورِa trumpet
في كلِّ سامِعةٍ زلزالَ ناقورِ
It kindled anguish in every heart and filled
It ignited in every heart grief, and in every hearing
every ear with the trembling of a trumpet.
The earthquake of the braying of camels.
خِضمُّan ocean of علمٍlearning غَداbecame غوراًsunken away فَفاضَso overflowed بهِbecause of it
خِضمُّ علمٍ غَدا غوراً فَفاضَ بهِ
خضمُّan ocean of دَمعtears بنارِwith the fire of الحزنsorrow مسجورِkindled
خضمُّ دَمع بنارِ الحزن مسجورِ
An ocean of learning sank away, and because of it overflowed
The clamor of knowledge has faded, so its meteors poured out,
an ocean of tears, kindled by sorrow's fire.
The clamor of tears of sorrow cooked.
وَشمسُand a sun of هديٍguidance توارَتvanished وهيَwhile it was مُضحيةٌin full daylight
وَشمسُ هديٍ توارَت وهيَ مُضحيةٌ
فَاِلتفَّso entwined ديجورُdarkness of إفزاعٍterror بديجورِwith darkness
فَاِلتفَّ ديجورُ إفزاعٍ بديجورِ
A sun of guidance vanished while in full daylight,
The sun of guidance has set while it was shining,
and darkness of terror entwined with darkness.
So the lamps of terror mingled with lamps of terror.
تَصامَمتهُfeigned deafness to it وعاةٌthose who heard ثمّthen لجّpersisted loudly بهwith it
تَصامَمتهُ وعاةٌ ثمّ لجّ به
تبّاعُa succession of نعيِdeath-announcements نعاةٍdeath-heralds ذيbearing زماجيرِroaring cries
تبّاعُ نعيِ نعاةٍ ذي زماجيرِ
Those who heard feigned deafness; then clamored insistently
The disobedient besieged him, then plunged at him
the successive death-announcements of roaring heralds.
Successive news of the death of the owner of claws.
وَيحَalas for العلومِthe sciences خبَتwent out شُهبانهاtheir blazing stars وغداand began
وَيحَ العلومِ خبَت شُهبانها وغدا
يبيخloosening مِنهاof them العُرىthe bonds نسجthe weaving of الأعاصيرِwhirlwinds
يبيخ مِنها العُرى نسج الأعاصيرِ
Alas for the sciences! Their blazing stars went out, and now
The lights of sciences have faded, and they have become
the weaving of whirlwinds loosens their bonds.
Ashamed of the nakedness of their weaving by storms.
ماnot أَنصَفَتناtreated us fairly اللياليthe nights فيin تمرّسهاtheir assaults
ما أَنصَفَتنا الليالي في تمرّسها
بِكلّupon every عضبٍkeen blade مقيمِstraightening الميلِcrookedness شمّيرِresolute
بِكلّ عضبٍ مقيمِ الميلِ شمّيرِ
The nights have not treated us fairly in their assaults
The nights have not been fair to us in their flow
upon every keen blade, straightening crookedness, resolute.
With every lasting inclination, a burning brand.
لَقَدindeed تقصّتtested fully مقالاتٍsayings وَماand did not كَذَبتlie
لَقَد تقصّت مقالاتٍ وَما كَذَبت
إنif أنشَبتsank in ظفراًa claw فيinto خيرِthe finest مظفورِprey seized
إن أنشَبت ظفراً في خيرِ مظفورِ
They have thoroughly tested the sayings, and not belied them,
It has certainly recounted sayings, and has not lied
if they have sunk a claw into the finest prey.
If it sank its claws in the best of the buried.
فيin فاجعِone grievous in الفقدِloss مرهوبٌheld in awe ومنتجعٌand sought for aid
في فاجعِ الفقدِ مرهوبٌ ومنتجعٌ
مغيّبُhidden by الحينِdeath معروفٌfamiliar بمنكورِin an unfamiliar guise
مغيّبُ الحينِ معروفٌ بمنكورِ
In him whose loss appalls was one held in awe and sought,
In the tragedy of loss terrified and seeking refuge,
hidden by death, familiar in an unfamiliar guise.
The familiar is now unknown and denied.
قُلsay لِلمَناياto the fates أَبعدَis there after الآنnow معتقبٌa successor
قُل لِلمَنايا أَبعدَ الآن معتقبٌ
لاno رزءloss مِنfrom بعدِafter رزءٍa loss باِبنin Ibn عاشورِAshur
لا رزء مِن بعدِ رزءٍ باِبن عاشورِ
Tell the fates: is there anything to follow now?
Tell death, is there comfort after
No loss remains after the loss of Ibn Ashur.
No comfort following comfort with Ibn Ashur?
أَردىfelled فَتىthe champion of الدينfaith وَالدنياand worldly life الّذيwho سَبَراthe two fathomed
أَردى فَتى الدين وَالدنيا الّذي سَبَرا
مِنهُin him بِأبعدِat the farthest شأوٍreach خيرthe finest مظفورِprize attained
مِنهُ بِأبعدِ شأوٍ خير مظفورِ
It felled the champion of faith and worldly life, which had fathomed
It corrupted the best of religion and life
in him, at the farthest reach, the finest prize.
Whose goodness we have probed in the furthest enmity.
فَأَصبحَso became اليومtoday قدalready رقّتweakened جوانبهُits sides
فَأَصبحَ اليوم قد رقّت جوانبهُ
كَآبةًwith dejection وتغشّىand donned ثوبَthe robe مذعورِof one frightened
كَآبةً وتغشّى ثوبَ مذعورِ
So today its sides have weakened
So today its aspects have softened
with dejection, and it has donned a frightened man's robe.
With sadness, and the garment of distress covers it.
وَأَمستِand became الشهبُthe stars فيin الخضراءِthe green heavens حائرةًbewildered
وَأَمستِ الشهبُ في الخضراءِ حائرةً
لاnot تَعتديventure beyond وجهَa course of تشويفٍlooking upward وتغويرِand sinking low
لا تَعتدي وجهَ تشويفٍ وتغويرِ
The stars in the green heavens have become bewildered,
The meteors in the green sky wander
not venturing beyond looking upward and sinking low.
Not transgressing the face of driving away and deception.
ياO دهرُTime وَيلكwoe to you أَصميتَyou struck down الكرامَthe noble بهthrough him
يا دهرُ وَيلك أَصميتَ الكرامَ به
فَهُمso they are كعقدٍlike a necklace هَوَتfell وسطاهُits middle jewel منثورِscattered
فَهُم كعقدٍ هَوَت وسطاهُ منثورِ
O Time, woe to you! Through him you struck down the noble;
O time, woe to you, you have deafened the generous through it
they are a scattered necklace whose middle jewel has fallen.
So they are like a necklace whose center has scattered.
ناشدتكَI adjure you by اللّهGod هَلdo تَدريyou know بتونسَin Tunis منany
ناشدتكَ اللّه هَل تَدري بتونسَ من
جيبٍcollar عَلىover مثلthe like of فضلٍmerit فيهwithin it مزرورِbuttoned
جيبٍ عَلى مثل فضلٍ فيه مزرورِ
I adjure you by God: do you know in Tunis of any
I adjure you by God, do you know anyone in Tunis
collar buttoned over merit such as his?
From a pocket on the like of abundant virtue?
ردّدrecount شمائلهُhis qualities إِنif كنتَyou are مُمترئاًdoubtful
ردّد شمائلهُ إِن كنتَ مُمترئاً
وَاِنظرand see أَيَحظىwhether gains فتىa young man منهاof them بقمطيرِeven a tiny scrap
وَاِنظر أَيَحظى فتى منها بقمطيرِ
Recount his qualities if you are doubtful,
Repeat its traits if you are a pretender
and see whether any young man gains even a scrap of them.
And see which young man among them is rained upon.
كَمhow many صائلٍan assailant يَستخفّscorns الشرعsacred law صيّرهُhe made him
كَم صائلٍ يَستخفّ الشرع صيّرهُ
مُفلّلَblunted in النابِfang مقلومَclipped in الأظافيرِclaws
مُفلّلَ النابِ مقلومَ الأظافيرِ
How many an assailant who scorned sacred law he left
How many questioners make the Law subservient,
with blunted fang and clipped claws!
Bald snakes, clipped talons.
وَخاملٍand an obscure man قَدalready عَطاreached for مِنfrom حبلهِhis rope سبباًa strand
وَخاملٍ قَد عَطا مِن حبلهِ سبباً
سَماrose high بلحظٍthrough a glance منof الإقبالِfavor مشهورِrenowned
سَما بلحظٍ من الإقبالِ مشهورِ
And how many an obscure man who grasped a strand of his rope
And indolent ones who have given the rope of his rope a reason
rose high, renowned through a glance of favor!
Elevated by a look of prosperity known.
وَمُستمدّand one seeking فيوضٍoutpourings مِنof عوارفهِhis kindnesses
وَمُستمدّ فيوضٍ مِن عوارفهِ
أَمدّهhe supplied him بعطاءٍwith gifts غيرnot معبورِmeasurable
أَمدّه بعطاءٍ غير معبورِ
And one seeking the outpourings of his kindness
And drawing floods from his gnosis
he sustained with gifts beyond reckoning.
Provide him with a gift beyond reach.
يُجيبanswers سائلهُhis petitioner عرفاًwith kindness ومعرفةًand knowledge
يُجيب سائلهُ عرفاً ومعرفةً
بِماwith what يفيدُprovides الغناsufficiency مِنfrom غيرthe absence of تكديرِembitterment
بِما يفيدُ الغنا مِن غير تكديرِ
He answered his petitioner with kindness and knowledge,
Answering his questioner with virtue and knowledge
with what brought sufficiency, without embitterment.
With what benefits melody without disturbance.
مُستنزراًdeeming too little كثرةًabundance للمنتمينَfor those attached لهto him
مُستنزراً كثرةً للمنتمينَ له
مُستكثراًdeeming much مِنهمfrom them متّاًa claim of kinship بمنزورِwith even a little
مُستكثراً مِنهم متّاً بمنزورِ
He deemed abundance too little for those attached to him,
Appointing many of those loyal to him
yet counted their slightest claim of kinship as much.
While having many composed poems with hidden meanings.
وَنسخةٌand a likeness مِنof كمالٍperfection لَمnot تَكنhad نظَرتseen
وَنسخةٌ مِن كمالٍ لَم تَكن نظَرت
عَينthe eye of الزمانِTime لهits like منذthroughout الدهاريرِthe ages
عَين الزمانِ له منذ الدهاريرِ
A likeness of perfection whose equal had never been seen
An exemplar of perfection, the eye of time has not seen
by Time's eye throughout the ages.
Anyone like him since the early generations.
ياO حَسرَتاmy sorrow هضبةٌa plateau لِلعلمِof learning غيّبهاhid it
يا حَسرَتا هضبةٌ لِلعلمِ غيّبها
قَبرٌa grave وَطودُand a mountain of وقارٍdignity ذوwith شماخيرِlofty peaks
قَبرٌ وَطودُ وقارٍ ذو شماخيرِ
Alas! A plateau of learning has been hidden
Oh what a loss, a hill of knowledge that a grave has hid
by a grave—a mountain of dignity with lofty peaks.
And the glory of dignity with minarets.
أَستغفرُI seek forgiveness from اللّهGod لَمnot يقبرwas buried سوىanything but جسدٍa body
أَستغفرُ اللّه لَم يقبر سوى جسدٍ
كانَwas الكمالُperfection بِهwithin it بَدراًa full moon بساهورِwithin a halo
كانَ الكمالُ بِه بَدراً بساهورِ
I ask God's forgiveness: nothing was buried but a body
I ask God’s forgiveness, nothing but a body was buried
in which perfection was a full moon within its halo.
While perfection was in it, a full moon illuminating.
شَريعةُa watering-place كلّevery مَنone who فيon الأرضِearth واردُهاcomes to it
شَريعةُ كلّ مَن في الأرضِ واردُها
وَغايَةand a goal ماnot فتىًa young man عَنهاfrom it بمقصورِbarred
وَغايَة ما فتىً عَنها بمقصورِ
A watering-place to which everyone on earth came,
It is the law of all people and its destination,
and a goal from which no young man was barred.
And the limit of what a young man is restricted by.
قَدindeed كانَwas خافضَat ease عيشٍin living فيupon ذرىsummits
قَد كانَ خافضَ عيشٍ في ذرى
مَرفوعةٍraised high نَصبَbefore ذيلٍa hem منهof his مجرورِtrailing
مَرفوعةٍ نَصبَ ذيلٍ منه مجرورِ
He had lived in ease upon summits
He lowered a prestigious living with humility,
raised high before the hem he trailed.
Raising the train of one debased and disgraced.
سَهلُgentle in الخلائقِdispositions فَضفاضُample in الرداcloak حولٌresourceful
سَهلُ الخلائقِ فَضفاضُ الردا حولٌ
بِالأمرِin affairs عيٌّbaffling بِجمهورٍفجمهورِto throng after throng
بِالأمرِ عيٌّ بِجمهورٍفجمهورِ
Gentle in disposition, ample of cloak, resourceful
Easy with people, humble in responding, sometimes
in affairs, baffling to throng after throng.
Distracted with the affair, weak with the general public and the specific.
وَماand did not تزيّلdepart إلّاexcept وهوwhile he was فيin شرفٍhonor
وَما تزيّل إلّا وهو في شرفٍ
مُستشرفٍtowering لعيونِto the eyes of الفضلexcellence منظورِlooked upon
مُستشرفٍ لعيونِ الفضل منظورِ
He departed only while in lofty honor,
Nothing removes him except in an honorable state,
towering, watched by the eyes of excellence.
Anticipating the eyes of favor visible.
تُشيّعهُescort him أممٌnations تهميrain down عوارفهُhis kindnesses
تُشيّعهُ أممٌ تهمي عوارفهُ
مِنهمfrom them ذوارفُstreaming tears of موقوذٍone stricken وموتورِand one bereaved
مِنهم ذوارفُ موقوذٍ وموتورِ
Nations escort him, while his kindness rains down
Nations eulogize his gnosis,
from them in the tears of the stricken and bereaved.
Among them the nostrils of a branded and castrated camel.
كلٌّeach one يقولُsays وَأنفاسٌand breaths مصعّدةٌheaving upward
كلٌّ يقولُ وَأنفاسٌ مصعّدةٌ
فيabout جارهِhis neighbor وَدموعٌand tears ذاتwith تحديرُa downpour
في جارهِ وَدموعٌ ذات تحديرُ
Each one says, with sighs rising,
Everyone speaks with breaths held back,
of his neighbor, with tears streaming down:
In his neighbor, and tears with pouches.
تغمّدَmay enfold اللّهGod بِالرضوانِin good pleasure مضجعَthe resting-place ذيof one endowed with
تغمّدَ اللّه بِالرضوانِ مضجعَ ذي
علمٍlearning أماليهhis dictations إملاءُthe filling of الطواميرِscrolls
علمٍ أماليه إملاءُ الطواميرِ
May God enfold in His good pleasure the resting-place of a man of
May God cover with acceptance the resting place of one
learning, whose dictations filled scrolls.
With knowledge, inspired by the dictation of pens.
تغمّدmay enfold اللّهGod بالرضوانِin good pleasure مضجعthe resting-place ذيof one endowed with
تغمّد اللّه بالرضوانِ مضجع ذي
فصاحةٍeloquence لقفتswallowed إفكَthe falsehood of التساحيرِenchantments
فصاحةٍ لقفت إفكَ التساحيرِ
May God enfold in His good pleasure the resting-place of a man of
May God cover with acceptance the resting place of one
eloquence that swallowed the falsehood of enchantments.
With eloquence, who refuted the greatest confusion.
تغمّدmay enfold اللّهGod بالرضوانِin good pleasure مضجعthe resting-place ذيof one endowed with
تغمّد اللّه بالرضوانِ مضجع ذي
حلمٍforbearance يلقّنteaches إلقاءَthe offering of المعاذيرِexcuses
حلمٍ يلقّن إلقاءَ المعاذيرِ
May God enfold in His good pleasure the resting-place of a man of
May God cover with acceptance the resting place of one
forbearance, who taught how to offer excuses.
With forbearance, who taught the finest excuses.
تغمّدmay enfold اللّهGod بالرضوانin good pleasure مضجعthe resting-place ذيof one endowed with
تغمّد اللّه بالرضوان مضجع ذي
بشرٍcheerfulness يترجمُexpresses عَنabout حسنthe beauty of المخابيرِinner qualities
بشرٍ يترجمُ عَن حسن المخابيرِ
May God enfold in His good pleasure the resting-place of a man of
May God cover with acceptance the resting place of one
cheerfulness that revealed the beauty of his inner qualities.
With good tidings, who translated the best sermons.
ياO طاهرَpure in القلبِheart مِنof غلٍّrancor ومنand of حسدٍenvy
يا طاهرَ القلبِ مِن غلٍّ ومن حسدٍ
ومكرمand keeping noble النفسِthe soul عنabove ثوبٍa garment منof الزورِfalsehood
ومكرم النفسِ عن ثوبٍ من الزورِ
O you whose heart was pure of rancor and envy,
O pure of heart from any hatred or envy,
who kept his soul above a garment of falsehood,
And generous soul beyond any garment of falsehood.
وَعاليَand lofty in الهمِّaspiration عَنabove تيهٍconceit وعنand above بطرٍarrogance
وَعاليَ الهمِّ عَن تيهٍ وعن بطرٍ
وَعَنand above تكلّفِaffecting خلقٍa disposition غيرnot مفطورِinborn
وَعَن تكلّفِ خلقٍ غير مفطورِ
whose aspirations rose above conceit and arrogance,
And lofty goal above confusion or nonsense,
and above affecting a character not inborn,
And any affectation of an innate disposition.
وَصادقَand sincere in الذبّdefense ممقورَfiercely bitter in الحَفيظةprotective zeal معalong with
وَصادقَ الذبّ ممقورَ الحَفيظة مع
سولَeasy in الفكاهةِhumor باديdisplaying البشرِcheerfulness والخيرِand goodness
سولَ الفكاهةِ بادي البشرِ والخيرِ
sincere in defense, fierce in protective zeal, yet
And truthful in play, sealed with
easy in humor, displaying cheerfulness and goodness,
Easiness of humor, appearing with good and benevolence.
وَدارياًand knowledgeable بِسياساتِabout governance of الزمانِthe times وماand what
وَدارياً بِسياساتِ الزمانِ وما
يَملأُfills المحاضرَassemblies مِنwith علمٍlearning وتذكيرِand admonition
يَملأُ المحاضرَ مِن علمٍ وتذكيرِ
versed in the governance of the times and in what
And knowing the politics of time and what
fills assemblies with learning and admonition,
Fills the records of knowledge and advice.
وَذاand possessor of البيانِeloquence الّذيwhich يُفضيconveys البنانُthe fingers بهthrough it
وَذا البيانِ الّذي يُفضي البنانُ به
مِنfrom مقولٍa tongue جهوريّresonant اللفظِin wording مجهورِvoiced aloud
مِن مقولٍ جهوريّ اللفظِ مجهورِ
possessor of eloquence which the fingers convey,
And with the eloquence which the prominent pour out
from a tongue with ringing, resonant words.
Sayings majestic in wording and content.
واهاًAh! لعهدكَfor your days ماhow أوهىfrail تصرّمهtheir ending
واهاً لعهدكَ ما أوهى تصرّمه
تصرُّمَthe fading of الحلمِa dream عنfrom روعٍthe mind لمسرورِof one happy
تصرُّمَ الحلمِ عن روعٍ لمسرورِ
Ah, your days! How frail was their ending,
Oh what a time you have weakened with your absence,
like a happy man's dream fading from his mind.
The absence of wisdom from an enjoyable company.
لَهفاًalas عَلىfor معضلاتٍhard questions لاno أباAbu حسنٍHasan
لَهفاً عَلى معضلاتٍ لا أبا حسنٍ
لَهاfor them سواكَexcept you بحلٍّin untying للصحاريرِthe knots
لَها سواكَ بحلٍّ للصحاريرِ
Alas for hard questions, with no Abu Hasan
Yearning for dilemmas that have no solution but you
but you to untie their knots!
O Abu al-Hasan with an answer to perplexities.
لَهفاًalas علىfor مجلسِthe council of الشرعِsacred law الرفيعlofty وقدnow that
لَهفاً على مجلسِ الشرعِ الرفيع وقد
أَضحىhas become مكانكَyour seat منهwithin it غيرnot معمورِoccupied
أَضحى مكانكَ منه غير معمورِ
Alas for the lofty council of sacred law, where
Yearning for the sublime court of Islamic Law, so
your seat now stands unoccupied!
Your position in it has become uninhabited.
لَهفاًalas فَلاso no عبقريٌّbrilliant master حينَwhen تبصرهُyou behold him
لَهفاً فَلا عبقريٌّ حينَ تبصرهُ
يَفريworks wonders برأيكَwith your judgment فيin أمرٍan affair ومأمورِand one under orders
يَفري برأيكَ في أمرٍ ومأمورِ
Alas! No brilliant master, when you look upon him,
Yearning so no genius, when you see him,
works wonders with your judgment in affairs and those under command.
Flees from your opinion in a matter and affair.
أَعززhow grievous عَليناto us بأنthat تُدعىbe raised مبهّمةٌan obscure question
أَعزز عَلينا بأن تُدعى مبهّمةٌ
وَعضبُand the keen blade of رأيكyour judgment فيهاin it غيرُnot مشهورِdrawn
وَعضبُ رأيك فيها غيرُ مشهورِ
How grievous to us that an obscure question be raised,
It grieves us that an ambiguous issue arises
and the keen blade of your judgment not be drawn upon it!
While your angry opinion in it is not well known.
أَعزِزhow grievous عليناto us بِأنthat تَجلوdispel الدجىthe darkness سرجٌlamps
أَعزِز علينا بِأن تَجلو الدجى سرجٌ
وَماwhile there are no لصبحِfor the dawn of حجاكَyour wisdom منany تباشيرِfirst gleams
وَما لصبحِ حجاكَ من تباشيرِ
How grievous to us that lamps should dispel the darkness,
It grieves us that you clear away the darkness, a burning brand,
while no first gleams announce the dawn of your wisdom!
While morning has no steeds like your investigations.
أَعزِزhow grievous عَليناto us بأنthat يَقوىbecomes deserted ذُراكyour shelter فلاso no
أَعزِز عَلينا بأن يَقوى ذُراك فلا
كفٌّrestraint لعادٍfor an aggressor ولاnor إِعدادprovision مفقورِfor one impoverished
كفٌّ لعادٍ ولا إِعداد مفقورِ
How grievous to us that your shelter stand deserted, with no
It grieves us that your striking become weak so no palm
restraint for an aggressor, nor provision for the destitute!
Suffices against an enemy or prepared perdition.
إِنif تخلُstand empty منكَof you مقاماتٌstations فَقدthen already أرِجتhave become fragrant
إِن تخلُ منكَ مقاماتٌ فَقد أرِجت
أَرجاؤُهاtheir precincts بثناءٍwith praise فيكof you معطورِperfumed
أَرجاؤُها بثناءٍ فيك معطورِ
If places stand empty of you, already fragrant are
If positions are devoid of you, then its corners have shone
their precincts with sweet-scented praise of you.
With your praise, perfumed and fragrant.
أَبانrevealed فضلكَyour merit فيناamong us فقدهُits loss وكذاand thus (continued)
أَبان فضلكَ فينا فقدهُ وكذا
كَcompletion of 'thus' النفسُthe soul زاهدةٌdisdainful فيof كلّevery ميسورِreadily available thing
كَ النفسُ زاهدةٌ في كلّ ميسورِ
The loss of your merit revealed it among us; thus
Your favor upon us was shown by its loss, and so
the soul disdains whatever is readily at hand.
The soul dislikes all ease.
لَمnot يقضpaid حقّكyour due مَنone who فيin أصغريهhis heart and tongue يرىsees
لَم يقض حقّك مَن في أصغريه يرى
مَأوىًa dwelling بِذكركwith remembrance of you يوماًeven a day غيرnot معمورِoccupied
مَأوىً بِذكرك يوماً غير معمورِ
He has not paid you your due who sees within his heart and tongue
One who sees your mention as shelter
even for a day, a dwelling unfilled by remembrance of you.
On a day not inhabited has not fulfilled your due right.
ياO نائماًsleeper لاnot يُجيبanswers اليومtoday داعيهُhis caller
يا نائماً لا يُجيب اليوم داعيهُ
أَسهرتَyou kept awake مَنone who لمnever يذُقtasted طعماًa taste لساهورِof sleeplessness
أَسهرتَ مَن لم يذُق طعماً لساهورِ
O sleeper who today will not answer his caller,
O you who today does not answer the caller
you have kept awake one who had never tasted sleeplessness.
You made sleepless those who have not tasted the wine of wakefulness.
ماnot أَنصَفتكdid you justice نفوسٌsouls لمnot تَفضoverflowed لهفاًwith grief
ما أَنصَفتك نفوسٌ لم تَفض لهفاً
وَأعينٌand eyes غيّضتwere drained مِنfrom بعدafter تفجيرِbursting forth
وَأعينٌ غيّضت مِن بعد تفجيرِ
Souls that did not overflow with grief have not done you justice,
You were not done justice by souls that did not burst in yearning,
nor eyes whose floods dwindled after bursting forth.
And eyes that did not overflow after your loss.
لَمdid not يَتركنّاleave us الأسىgrief إنif كانit was متّركاًcapable of leaving off
لَم يَتركنّا الأسى إن كان متّركاً
نعياًa death-lament ولكنbut لِتجديدِto renew المحاذيرِthe fears
نعياً ولكن لِتجديدِ المحاذيرِ
Grief has not left us; if it ever leaves off
Sorrow did not leave us if it did depart,
mourning, it is only to renew our fears.
But to renew precautions.
مَهماwhenever عداassails أعدلُthe straighter الصنوينِof twin trunks تبعثهُits upheaval
مَهما عدا أعدلُ الصنوينِ تبعثهُ
فَلاthen do not تَخلsuppose أنّthat صِنواًa fellow trunk غيرnot مهصورِcrushed
فَلا تَخل أنّ صِنواً غير مهصورِ
Whenever upheaval assails the straighter of twin trunks,
No matter how many successors of the two eras come about,
do not suppose its fellow remains uncrushed.
Still, you think the successor is not pictured.
اللّهGod يَعلمُknows أنّthat الخطبَthe calamity جرّعناmade us swallow
اللّه يَعلمُ أنّ الخطبَ جرّعنا
خَطباًa grievous draught لكأسٍfrom a cup بصابِwith bitter sap of اليأسdespair منقورِhollowed out
خَطباً لكأسٍ بصابِ اليأس منقورِ
God knows that the calamity made us swallow
God knows the affliction made us drink
a grievous draught from a cup hollowed in despair's bitter sap.
A cup of the poison of despair engraved.
اللّهGod يَعلمُknows أنّthat البعدَseparation أَوحشناleft us desolate
اللّه يَعلمُ أنّ البعدَ أَوحشنا
فَلاso not نَرىwe see بعدُnow شيئاًanything غيرother than منفورِrepellent
فَلا نَرى بعدُ شيئاً غير منفورِ
God knows that separation has left us desolate,
God knows separation has frightened us
so we now see nothing that does not repel us.
So we see after nothing but the detested.
اللّهGod يعلمُknows أنّthat الفقدَthe loss أزعجناdisturbed us
اللّه يعلمُ أنّ الفقدَ أزعجنا
فَلاso no قرارٌrest وَلاnor أمنٌsafety بمحذورِfrom what is feared
فَلا قرارٌ وَلا أمنٌ بمحذورِ
God knows that the loss has shaken us,
God knows loss has disturbed us
and there is no rest, no safety from what we dread.
So there is no stability or safety from caution.
اللّهGod يَعلمknows أنthat قَدindeed راعَناterrified us نبأٌnews
اللّه يَعلم أن قَد راعَنا نبأٌ
نُبيؤهُits announcement كلّevery سمعٍear منهby it موقورِdeafened
نُبيؤهُ كلّ سمعٍ منه موقورِ
God knows that news has terrified us,
God knows startling news terrified us
its tidings leaving every ear deafened.
That we report to every cautious and protected hearing.
أسىًa grief إِذاwhenever حاوَلَتsought فيهِwithin it القلوبthe hearts أسىa cure
أسىً إِذا حاوَلَت فيهِ القلوب أسى
شبّتkindled عَليهاupon them التعازيconsolations لَفحthe scorching heat of تنّورِan oven
شبّت عَليها التعازي لَفح تنّورِ
A grief in which, whenever hearts seek a cure,
Sorrow, when hearts attempt it, sorrow ties to them
consolations kindle upon them the scorching blast of an oven.
The heat of condolences like the baking of an oven.
تُسلىone is consoled وَيأتيand pass علىover ذكراكَyour memory أزمنةٌages
تُسلى وَيأتي على ذكراكَ أزمنةٌ
إنif كانَwas ماwhat عنكَfor you يُسليconsoles غيرnot محظورِforbidden
إن كانَ ما عنكَ يُسلي غير محظورِ
One may be consoled, and ages pass over your memory,
It consoles - though your memory comes in eras -
if anything that consoles us for you is not forbidden.
If what consoles about you is not prohibited.
لاdoes not يبعدُmake distant النأيَdistance مَنone whose لمnot يقلُhated صحبتهُhis company
لا يبعدُ النأيَ مَن لم يقلُ صحبتهُ
طولthe length of التعاشرِcompanionship فيin يسرٍease ومعسورِand hardship
طول التعاشرِ في يسرٍ ومعسورِ
Distance cannot estrange one whose company was not made hateful
Absence cannot remove one whose long companionship
by long fellowship in ease and hardship.
In ease and prosperity was not brief.
وَكيفَand how يُقلىcould be disliked اِمرؤٌa man كانتwas سياستهhis governance
وَكيفَ يُقلى اِمرؤٌ كانت سياسته
تَستنزلُbrings down العصمَmountain goats منfrom نيقٍa peak لتيهورِof a sheer mountain
تَستنزلُ العصمَ من نيقٍ لتيهورِ
How could a man be disliked whose governance
And how can one be burned whose policy
brought mountain goats down from the summit of a sheer mountain?
Brought down divine protection from misguidance and recklessness?
كانَتwere صدورُthe foremost seats of النواديassemblies منهُby him حاليةًadorned
كانَت صدورُ النوادي منهُ حاليةً
وَمقولُand the tongue of الشرعِsacred law طلقاًunrestrained غيرnot مقصورِrestricted
وَمقولُ الشرعِ طلقاً غير مقصورِ
The foremost seats in assemblies were graced by him,
The hearts of clubs were inspired by him
and the tongue of sacred law was free, not restrained.
And the sayings of Islamic Law fluent, not restricted.
وَاليومَand today لاno خُطّةٌoffice عنfrom حطّةٍabasement سلِمتescaped
وَاليومَ لا خُطّةٌ عن حطّةٍ سلِمت
وَلاnor حشاشةُa spark of life in صدرٍa breast غيرnot مصدورِstricken in the chest
وَلا حشاشةُ صدرٍ غير مصدورِ
Today no office has escaped abasement,
Today there is no plan free of being beneath a plan,
and no breast's last spark of life is free of heartache.
Nor a cheerful chest without relief.
إنّindeed الّذيthat which كانَwas يندىmoistening فيwithin جَوانحناour hearts
إنّ الّذي كانَ يندى في جَوانحنا
مِنfrom بردِthe coolness of ذِكركyour remembrance أضحىhas become فيحthe heat of تسعيرِkindling
مِن بردِ ذِكرك أضحى فيح تسعيرِ
What once moistened our hearts
That which chilled our insides
with the coolness of your remembrance is now a blaze of burning heat.
From the cold of your mention has become the heat of stoking.
سَيعرفُwill recognize الناسُthe people منكَin you اليومَtoday ماwhat نكرواthey denied
سَيعرفُ الناسُ منكَ اليومَ ما نكروا
وَيأبَهونَand will heed لِسعيٍthe effort منكَfrom you مشكورُworthy of thanks
وَيأبَهونَ لِسعيٍ منكَ مشكورُ
Today people will recognize in you what they denied,
People will know today what they denied of you
and heed your worthy efforts.
And they will blame themselves for appreciated efforts from you.
وَيَذكرونكَand will remember you فيat بدءٍa beginning وعاقبةٍand an outcome
وَيَذكرونكَ في بدءٍ وعاقبةٍ
مِنfrom مستفزّينَtwo incitements مرجوٍّa hoped-for thing ومحذورِand a feared thing
مِن مستفزّينَ مرجوٍّ ومحذورِ
They will remember you at beginnings and endings,
They will remember you at the start and end
stirred by the two incitements: hope and fear.
From those made to covet, hoped for and cautioned against.
مَنwhoever كانَwas رزؤكyour loss أجراًa reward فيin صحيفتهِhis ledger
مَن كانَ رزؤك أجراً في صحيفتهِ
فَقَدthen indeed حَوىgained الفوزَsuccess أخذاًtaking بالحذافيرِthe entirety
فَقَد حَوى الفوزَ أخذاً بالحذافيرِ
Whoever has your loss recorded as reward in his ledger
Whoever had your care as reward in his book
has won success, taking it whole and entire.
Then he has attained success, holding on to the claws.
فَلَيسَso not يعدمُlacks منكَfrom you النفعbenefit ذوone with مقةٍlove
فَلَيسَ يعدمُ منكَ النفع ذو مقةٍ
حيّاًalive وَميتاًand dead لِمنقودٍfor what is paid out ومذخورِand stored away
حيّاً وَميتاً لِمنقودٍ ومذخورِ
For no one who loves you lacks benefit from you,
So one with loyalty will not lack your benefit
alive or dead, in what is paid forth and what is stored away.
Alive or dead, intended or stored away.
إِنif أَقصَدتكstruck you down المناياthe fates فهيَthen they are مرصدةٌlying in wait
إِن أَقصَدتك المنايا فهيَ مرصدةٌ
لكلّfor every مدّرعٍone armored بِالفضلin excellence مذكورِrenowned
لكلّ مدّرعٍ بِالفضل مذكورِ
If the fates have struck you down, they lie in wait
If death aimed for you, then it is aiming
for everyone renowned for being armored in excellence.
For every one clothed in renowned virtue.
وَإِنand if عَدتكdrove you away عنِfrom الدنياthe world مُعاجلةًhurriedly
وَإِن عَدتك عنِ الدنيا مُعاجلةً
فَلَمthen never تكنwas لكريمٍfor a noble man دارa dwelling of تعميرِlong residence
فَلَم تكن لكريمٍ دار تعميرِ
And if they have hurried you away from this world,
And if it hurried you from life unexpectedly,
it was never a lasting dwelling for a noble man.
Then it was no home to settle for the generous.
إنّindeed المَناياdeath لأهلِfor the people of الفضلِexcellence تكرمةٌan honor
إنّ المَنايا لأهلِ الفضلِ تكرمةٌ
تَربوraises بِهمthem عنabove قراراتِthe depths of التكاديرِvexations
تَربو بِهم عن قراراتِ التكاديرِ
Death is an honor for the excellent,
Death for the virtuous is an honorable act
raising them above the depths of vexation.
In which they rise above the settlements of the insignificant.
سَمتlifted بكyou الروحُthe spirit لمّاwhen طُهّرتit was purified وَزَكتand grew pure
سَمت بك الروحُ لمّا طُهّرت وَزَكت
عَنfrom مركزٍa center لمحيطٍto a circumference غيرnot محصورِbounded
عَن مركزٍ لمحيطٍ غير محصورِ
The spirit lifted you when it was purified and refined,
Your soul has ascended when it was purified and refined,
from a center to a boundless circumference.
From a position for an unlimited ocean.
وَأَوفَدتكand sent you إلىto دارٍa dwelling تكونyou will be بهاthere
وَأَوفَدتك إلى دارٍ تكون بها
مَعَwith الأحبّةloved ones مبرورٍone blessed فمبرورِthen another blessed
مَعَ الأحبّة مبرورٍ فمبرورِ
And sent you to a dwelling where you shall be
And dispatched you to a house in which you will be
with loved ones, one blessed soul after another.
With loved ones, devoted and devout.
دارٌa dwelling بِهاthere جدّكyour forefather الأسمىthe most exalted وشيعتهُand his followers
دارٌ بِها جدّك الأسمى وشيعتهُ
صلّىmay bless عَليهhim الّذيHe who أنشاهcreated him منfrom نورِlight
صلّى عَليه الّذي أنشاه من نورِ
A dwelling where your most exalted forefather and his followers reside;
A house in which is your greatest grandfather and his followers
may He who created him from light bless him.
Prayers be upon him who created him from light.
فَاِهنَأso rejoice إذاًthen بِلقاin meeting الربّthe Lord الكريمthe generous وبالand with the (continued)
فَاِهنَأ إذاً بِلقا الربّ الكريم وبال
جدّforefather الشفيعِthe intercessor وجرّرand trail ذيلthe hem of بختيرِone walking proudly
جدّ الشفيعِ وجرّر ذيل بختيرِ
So rejoice, then, in meeting the generous Lord and your
So congratulations on meeting the Generous Lord and the
interceding forefather; trail the hem of one walking proudly.
Grandfather, the intercessor, and drag the train of your luck.
وَأَعظمَand may magnify اللّهGod أجرَthe reward of العالمينall people فَقدfor indeed
وَأَعظمَ اللّه أجرَ العالمين فَقد
دَهاهمُbefell them فيكthrough you رزءٌa loss غيرnot محسورِexhaustible
دَهاهمُ فيك رزءٌ غير محسورِ
May God magnify the reward of all people, for
And may God magnify the reward of both worlds, for
an inexhaustible loss has afflicted them through you.
A calamity in you, unbounded, has struck them.
طَوواfolded away بِلحدكَin your grave نشرَthe unfolding of المكرُماتnoble deeds كماjust as
طَووا بِلحدكَ نشرَ المكرُمات كما
يُطوىis folded السجلُّthe scroll ليومِfor the day of النفخِthe blowing فيinto الصورِthe Trumpet
يُطوى السجلُّ ليومِ النفخِ في الصورِ
Within your grave they folded the unfurled virtues,
They have folded at your grave the spreading of generosity
as the scroll is folded for the day of blowing the Trumpet.
As the scroll will be folded on the day of blowing into the horn.
وارواburied علوماًsciences يُناديproclaims مَنwhoever يؤرّخُهاchronicles them
واروا علوماً يُنادي مَن يؤرّخُها
وَدائعthe treasures of العلمِlearning فيin قبرِthe grave of اِبنIbn عاشورِAshur
وَدائع العلمِ في قبرِ اِبن عاشورِ
They buried sciences whose chronicler proclaims:
And they have inherited sciences that the historian calls out
“The treasures of learning lie in Ibn Ashur's grave.”
And deposits of knowledge in the grave of Ibn Ashur.
وَغرّةًand a radiant brow جلّلتwas clothed نوراًin light مؤرّخةًbearing a chronogram
وَغرّةً جلّلت نوراً مؤرّخةً
ألاLo! عَلىupon الطاهرِal-Tahir المفتيthe Mufti حلىthe adornments of النورِlight
ألا عَلى الطاهرِ المفتي حلى النورِ
And a radiant brow, clothed in light, bearing this chronogram:
And a wonderful first moment that immortalized a light,
“Lo, upon al-Tahir the Mufti are the adornments of light.”
Verily upon the pure scholar the ornaments of light.
Sol 6.1