Sol 5.6

  1. Behold, O consummate scholar, O learned man whose

    virtues are like the sea in abundance, bounty, and generosity.

  2. You have indeed been unstinting in this book and its commentary,

    bringing lucid explanation to every intended point—

  3. verses like strings of pearls, fashioned into necklaces,

    more radiant than pure gold upon the necks of graceful maidens.

  4. From the very text of Scripture you have cited admonitions

    for anyone whose heart was hewn from solid rock.

  5. Against the Kharijite people you established a proof,

    and confronted them with every warning and threat,

  6. before the august Sultan—may his life endure,

    and may the Lord of heaven sustain him with His aid—

  7. the successor of the best of messengers, who stands

    to strengthen God’s religion—what a splendid edifice!—

  8. and defend Islam with sword and lance.

    Under his just rule, our days are like a festival.

  9. It plainly establishes the duty that he be obeyed; so record its date:

    “Mahmud’s elucidation, for obedience to Mahmud.”

Sol 5.6