لِمَ اِسوَدَّتِ الدّنيا وَلَم يَكُ غاسِقُ
وَأَظلَمَتِ الآفاقُ حَتّى المَشارِقُ
Why has the world turned dark without any darkness?
Why have horizons darkened, even the east?
خَليلي رَعاكَ اللَّه قُل ليَ ما الّذي
لَقَد صارَ في الدُّنيا فَإنّكَ صادقُ
My friend, may God protect you, tell me what is it
That has happened in this world, for you speak the truth
فَهَل آنَ خِلِّي للقِيامَةِ وَقتها
وَنَفخٌ بِصورٍ ثمَّ يَصعَقُ صاعِقُ
Has it come time for resurrection, with the trumpet blown
Then shock and raising of the dead, and gathering?
وَبَعثُ الوَرى وَالحَشرُ ثَمَّ وَإِنّهُ
تَقومُ لِربِّ العالَمينَ الخَلايِقُ
I see the universe darkened, I see the sun not shining
I see the cold not breaking dawn or rising
أَرى الكَونَ مُسوَدّاً أَرى الشَّمسَ لَم تَبِنْ
أَرى البَردَ لَم يُسفِرْ وَما هُوَ شارِقُ
I see the stars of the horizon not rising
No forerunner appeared, nor any pursuer
وَأَنّ نُجومَ الأُفقِ غَير طَوالعٍ
فَلَم يَبدُ مَسبوقٌ وَلَم يَبدُ سابِقُ
Where is the sky without this darkness? It cannot be seen
Even with staring hard and peering intently
وَأَينَ السّما غَير الظّلام فَلا يَرى
وَلَو جَدَّ بِالتّحديقِ وَالومقِ وامِقُ
It has been removed or else it is veiled in darkness
What is its affair? Tell me, for my chest is straitened
أَزالَت وَإِلّا بِالظّلامِ تَحَجَّبَت
فَما شَأنُها قُل لي فَصدرِيَ ضائِقُ
What is with me that I see the hills not as they were?
How many a hill has collapsed and how many a lofty one knocked down
وَما لي أَرى الأَطوادَ لَيسَت بِحالِها
فَكَم قَد هَوَى طَودٌ وَكَم دُكَّ شاهِقُ
What is with me that I see the birds, muted, though they were
Never before ceasing in chirping and singing
وَما لي أَرى الأَطيارَ خُرساً وَلَم يَكُن
عَنِ الصّدحِ وَالتَّغريدِ يَسكتُ ناطِقُ
What is with me that I see them not flying though they are
As if their wings have been clipped, broken
وَما لي أَراها لا تَطيرُ وَإِنَّها
وَإِنْ هِيَ قَد قُصّت جَناحاً خَوافِقُ
What is the final news, my friend, that will cure me?
For in talking to you I feel secure and certain
فَما الخَبَرُ الشّافي خَليلي بِهِ اِشفِني
فإِنِّيَ بِالتَّحديثِ مِنك لَواثِقُ
You are the father of news who relates its truth
The brother of trust, the steadfast, the truthful and loyal
فَأَنتَ أَبو الأَخبارِ يَروي صَحيحها
أَخو الثّقَةِ الثّبتُ الصّدوقُ المصادقُ
And I did not stop asking him until he answered me
His tears flowing from his eyelids in streams
وَها لَم أَزَل فيهِ إِلى أَن أَجابَني
وَأَدمُعُه مِن مُقلَتَيهِ دَوافِقُ
In a faint voice that pierces the hearing
The answer of one weeping while tears flood his cheeks
بِصَوتٍ خَفِيٍّ قَد يدقّ سَماعهُ
إِجابَةَ باكٍ وَهوَ بِالدّمعِ شارِقُ
He said "Yes, the caliph of Malik has passed away
The master of this time whom none can compete
وَقالَ نَعَم أَودى خَليفةُ مالِكٍ
وَمالِكُ هَذا العَصرِ مَن لا يسابقُ
The imam of exacting scholars, foremost among them
His precedence among them is agreed upon by consensus
إِمامُ ذَوي التّحقيقِ قدّمَ فيهِمُ
وَتَقديمُهُ فيهِم عَلَيهِ تَوافَقوا
The eminent among those of refinement and precision, he is their prince
For him unfurled their standards and banners
وَجيهِ أُولي التّدقيقِ وَهوَ أَميرُهُم
لَهُ نشرَت فيهِم لَديهِ البَيارِقُ
He took authority among them in the sciences and their comprehension
And elucidated them however realities demanded
تَأَمَّر فيهِم بِالعلومِ وَضَبطِها
وَأَبرزَها كَيفَ اِقتَضَتها الحَقائِقُ
He took authority until called ‘the commander’
And upon this title they agreed unanimously
تَأَمَّر حتّى أَن تَسمّى الأمير في ال
وَرى وَعَلى التلقيبِ فيهِ تَصادَقوا
He is the sun, the sun of religion, its light
How many horizons has it illuminated and flown over!
هُوَ الشّمسُ شَمسُ الدّين وَالهدى ضوؤها
فَكَم فيهِ أُفقٌ قَد أَضاءَ وَخافِقُ
How much ignorant darkness, vanquishing, has it erased
So that no darkness remains visible anymore
وَكَم قَد مَحا جنحاً مِنَ الجَهلِ داجِياً
فَزالَ وَلَم يَظهَر مِنَ الجَهلِ غاسقُ
Named after the greatest of messengers, Muhammed
Upon him the eternal blessings of God
سَمِيُّ أَجَلِّ المُرسَلينَ محمّدٍ
عَلَيهِ صَلاة اللَّهِ ما لاحَ بارِقُ
He is the sea of knowledge, speak highly of him
For you are apt in speaking of him in agreement
هوَ البحرُ عِلماً عنهُ حَدِّثْ مُبالِغاً
فَأَنتَ عَلى التّحديثِ عنهُ مُوافَقُ
He is the scholar, spring of knowledge flowing clearly
The water of knowledge streaming over its surface
هُوَ الحَبرُ ينبوعُ المَعارِفِ رائِقاً
عَلى سَطحهِ ماءُ المَعارِفِ دافِقُ
He is the accomplished author and the formidable one
Above every accomplished and transcending
هوَ العالِمُ النّحريرُ وَالجَهبذُ الّذي
عَلى كُلّ نحريرٍ سَما هوَ فائِقُ
The renowned scholar in every field
Not surpassed by west over east
هُوَ العَلَمُ المَشهورُ في كُلِّ جانِبٍ
فَلَيسَت تَفوقُ الغَرب فيهِ المَشارِقُ
The best witnesses to one's merit in existence
And their consensus on it conforms and corresponds
وَخَيرُ شُهودِ المَرءِ بِالفَضلِ في الوَرى
وَعِندَهمُ فيِه اِشتِهارٌ يُطابِقُ
He preceded in authorship from the days of youth
And subtleties submitted to him entirely
تَصَدَّرَ لِلتأليفِ مِن زَمَنِ الصِّبا
وَدانَت لَهُ فيهِ الصّعابُ الدقائِقُ
His works excelled and were wonders
And mysteries alighted upon investigating them
تَآليفُهُ جَلَّت وَتِلكَ بَديعةٌ
وَحَلَّت عَلى التّحقيقِ فيها الرّقائِقُ
There is no discipline but he is its imam
No problem but he is the first to solve it
فَلا فَنَّ إِلّا وَهوَ فيهِ إِمامُه
وَلا مُشكِلَ إِلّا لَهُ هُوَ سابِقُ
On his superiority all the virtuous unanimously concurred
And the agreement was reached without exception
عَلى فَضلِهِ كُلُّ الأَفاضِلِ أَجمَعوا
وَمِنهُم بِدونِ الخلفِ تَمَّ التّوافقُ
They agreed openly and not one close friend or loyal one denied
That none can compete with him if he races
وَقَد أَذعَنوا طُرّاً فَلَم يَأبَ مِنهُمُ
صَديقٌ صَدوقٌ أَو صَديقٌ مُنافِقُ
And that he will win the lead if he competes
And I was pleased by all his traits
وَقَد أَجمَعوا أَن لا يُجارى مسابقاً
وَأَنْهُ يَحوزُ السّبقَ حينَ يُسابِقُ
Those you are pleased with are few
Good in manners and conduct, his reputation was fragrant
وَقَد رَضِيَت مِنهُ سَجاياهُ كلّها
وَقَلَّ الّذي تُرضيكَ مِنهُ السّلائِقُ
As his manners were pleasing to all people
Like generosity, forbearance, excellent humility
وَطابَ بِحُسنِ الخلقِ وَالخلقِ سيرَةً
وَصيتاً كَما قَد طابَ مِنهُ الخَلائِقُ
And in refined manners he resembled the prophets
Raising harm, injury, his purpose is benefit
كَجودٍ وَحلمٍ ثمّ حسنِ تَواضُعٍ
وَفي حُسنِ خلقٍ لِلأَنامِ يخالقُ
And wonders appeared safe in his time
His God called him to the gardens, a caller
وَرَفعِ الأَذى وَالضرِّ وَالنّفعِ شَأنُهُ
وَقَد أُمِنَتْ في الدّهرِ منه البَوائِقُ
So he answered willingly, no barriers impeded him
He strove seriously on his journey, longing pulling him
دَعاهُ إِلى الجَنّاتِ داعي إلَهه
فَلَبّى مُجيباً لَم تَعُقْه العَوائِقُ
O how near is the goal for one eager and yearning
God's good pleasure led him towards it
وَسارَ يَجدُّ السّيرَ وَهوَ مَشوقُها
وَيا قُربَ مَقصودٍ لَهُ سارَ تائِقُ
How successful is one whose guide is God's good pleasure
He journeyed to Paradise, date it with his striving
وَقَد ساقَهُ رضوانُ مَولاهُ نَحوَها
وَيا فَوزَ مَنْ رِضوان مَولاهُ سائِقُ
And attained eternity and the prophet accompanies him
He was given glad tidings of tremendous success, that
وَسارَ إِلى الفِردَوسِ أَرِّخ بِجدّهِ
وَنالَ خُلوداً وَالنبيَّ يُرافِقُ
He will dwell with his Master, never to part
But we, because of him, were struck with an affliction
وَبُشراهُ بِالفَوزِ العَظيمِ وَإِنَّهُ
يُجاوِرُ مَولاهُ وَلَيسَ يُفارِقُ
Its gravity is recognized by all people
By it our glory was broken, our shoulders weakened
وَلَكنّنا فيهِ أَصَبنا مُصيبَةً
تَجِلُّ كَما قَد عَظمتها الخَلائِقُ
From carrying it, and the joints of our necks
Weep for him until resurrection, O my eyes, shedding
بِها قُصِمَت مِنّا الظّهورُ وَقَد وَهَت
كَواهِلُنا عَن حَملِها وَعَواتِقُ
Tears flooding the eyes in streams
By them the souls soar upwards for him
قِفا نَبكِهِ حتّى القيامة أَدمُعاً
تَسيلُ بِها الأَحداقُ وَهيَ زَواهِقُ
And descend like drizzle, gently raining
It is right for our hearts to be rent
وَتَبدو بِها الأَرواحُ صاعِدَةً لَها
وَتَنزِلُ مِثلَ الودقِ وَالودقُ وادِقُ
And our livers, not just our buildings
For how many marvels were seen when he passed
وَحقّ عَلَينا أَن تُشَقّ قُلوبُنا
وَأَكبادُنا لا أَن تُشقّ البَنائِقُ
Witnessed in person, commands to custom contrary
He spoke during washing though the living were present
فَكَم شوهِدَت إِذْ ماتَ مِنهُ كَرامةٌ
عَياناً وَأَمرٌ لِلعَوائِدِ خارِقُ
And at laying in the grave all heard him accurately
I wish we could ransom him and be his redemption
فَبَسمَلَ عندَ الغَسلِ أَسمَعَ حاضراً
وَعِندَ نُزولِ القبرِ وَالنقلُ صادِقُ
And that death had not come to him as fate inescapable
But my Lord decreed death as inescapable
فَيا لَيتَهُ يُفدى وَكنّا فِداءَهُ
وَأَنْ لَم يَكُن مِمّن لَهُ المَوتُ لاحِقُ
And whoever possesses a soul must taste death
Though he tasted death and the grave took him
وَلَكِنَّما بِالمَوتِ رَبِّي قَد قَضى
وَمَن كانَ ذا نَفسٍ فَلِلمَوتِ ذائِقُ
He continues alive forever brilliantly radiant
He left famous repute and it remains
وَإِنْ كانَ ذاقَ المَوتَ وَالقبرُ حازهُ
فَما زالَ حَيّ الدّهرَ ما بانَ شارِقُ
The most fragrant musk, scenting all existence
Whoever lives in memory truly lives
فَقَد خَلَّف الصيتَ الحَميدَ وَإِنَّهُ
لأذفَرُ مِسكٍ مالئ الكَونِ عابقِ
Whoever does not live in memory, he is fleeing
He left us his eminent son, the formidable one
وَمَن عاشَ ذكراً فَهوَ حيّ حَقيقَةً
وَمَن لَم يَعِش ذِكراً فَذَلك وابِقُ
Whose superiority the people of knowledge unanimously recognized
The father of knowledge, Lord of understanding, sea of wisdom
وَخَلّف فينا نَجلهُ الجهبذَ الّذي
عَلى فَضلِهِ أَهلُ العُلومِ تَطابَقوا
The discerning brother who none can match
He succeeded teaching and benefiting after him
أَبو العِلمِ رَبّ الفَهمِ بَحر مَعارِفٍ
أَخو الحِذقِ يَبدو لا يُدانيهِ حاذِقُ
Succeeded suitably as rightful and deserving
He has produced every wondrous comprehension
تَصَدَّرَ للتدريسِ وَالنّفعِ بَعدهُ
تَصدُّرَ كُفؤ وهوَ أَهلٌ وَلائِقُ
Minds find accessing its ways difficult
He came with what distinguished predecessors could not attain
فَأَبدى مِنَ التَّحقيقِ كُلَّ عَجيبَةٍ
يَعزّ عَلى الأَفكارِ فيها الطرائِقُ
And how many successors he cannot be matched
Though he attained excellence from his father
وَجاءَ بِما لَم تَستَطِعهُ أَوائِلٌ
وَكَم مِن أَخيرٍ لا يُدانيهِ سابِقُ
He is its rightful heir and towering over it
No wonder, the son of a lion is a fierce lion cub
وَإِن حازَ فَضلاً مِن أَبيهِ فَإِنَّهُ
وَبُشراكُم سامٍ عَلَيهِ وفائقُ
No surprise, the son of warriors is a warrior
O Master, the like of whom is little found
وَلا غَروَ فَاِبنُ اللّيثِ لَيثُ غَضَنفَرٍ
وَلا عَجب فَاِبنُ البَواشِقِ باشِقُ
As the sun that has no match or anything to make it distinct
If you, our Master, suffered a calamity
فَيا أَيّها المَولى الّذي قَلَّ مثلُهُ
فَكالشّمسِ لا مثلَ فَلا فَرق فارِقُ
At its horror the separate ones’ hair turn white
Remember the greatest calamity of the best of messengers
لَئِن كُنتَ مَولانا أَصبتَ مُصيبَةً
عَلى هَولِها مِنّا تشيبُ المَفارِقُ
Hardships seem small when you are distressed
Have patience, for patience best befits the noble one
تَذَكَّر بِخَيرِ الرّسلِ أَعلى مُصيبَةٍ
يَقِلُّ لدَيك الخطبُ إِذْ أَنتَ ضائِقُ
And your Lord overlooks the compensation owed by the speaker
In you, from the one you lost, is a brother of solace
وَصَبراً فَإِنّ الصّبرَ أَليَقُ بِالفَتى
وَعَن أَجرِهِ مَولايَ يَقصرُ ناطِقُ
With whom people were pleased as his replacement
I ask my Lord God to reward you excellently
وَفيكَ لَنا عَمّن أُصبت أَخا الحجى
بِهِ خَلف مِنهُ اِستطيبَ الخَلائِقُ
And magnify it, for merit encompasses it
To settle him in Paradise near his company
وَأَسأَلُ ربّي اللَّهَ حُسنَ عَزائِكم
وَإِعظامه أَجراً بِهِ الفضلُ حائِقُ
Where for him towers are built with delights
To water his grave with a rain of mercy
وَيُسكِنَهُ الفِردوسَ قُربَ جِوارِهِ
وَفيهِ لَهُ بالدّرِّ تُبنى الجَواسِقُ
Flooding it while he in it is drowning
As long as winds blow, pollinating
وَيَسقِيَ قَبراً ضَمَّهُ غَيثُ رَحمَةٍ
يُقَلِّبُ فيه وَهوَ في ذاك غارِقُ
And lightning of bursts give rain in torrents
So the son of Fathallah says, asking
مَدى الدّهرِ ما هَبَّت رِياحٌ لَواقِحٌ
وَما أمطَرَت غبّ البروقِ البَوارِقُ
Why has the world turned dark without any darkness?
كَذا ما اِبنُ فَتحِ اللَّهِ يَسأَلُ قائِلاً
لِمَ اِسوَدَّت الدّنيا وَلَم يكُ غاسِقُ
