غاضَت أَنامِلُهُ وَهُنَّ بُحورُ

وَخَبَت مَكايِدُهُ وَهُنَّ سَعيرُ

His fingertips have dried, though they were boundless seas; his stratagems have faded, though they were a raging fire.

He is mourned, yet scarcely had he settled in the tomb before the maidens of Paradise reached out to clasp his hand.

يُبكى عَلَيهِ وَما اِستَقَرَّ قَرارُهُ

في اللَحدِ حَتّى صافَحَتهُ الحورُ

Have patience, O sons of Isaac, for his sake, in nobility; for the great are patient in the face of great calamity.

For every mourner else but you, a likeness may be found; and every lost one, save for him, possesses an equal peer.

صَبراً بَني إِسحاقَ عَنهُ تَكَرُّماً

إِنَّ العَظيمَ عَلى العَظيمِ صَبورُ

In days when his sword-hilt rested firm within his right hand, and the reach of Death itself fell short of touching him.

And often have skulls and throats poured forth a crimson rain upon the two sharp edges of his blade.

فَلِكُلِّ مَفجوعٍ سِواكُم مُشبِهٌ

وَلِكُلِّ مَفقودٍ سِواهُ نَظيرُ

I commend his brothers to the care of Muhammad's Lord, lest they mourn while Muhammad, in his place, is joyous.

Or lest they prize their palaces above that hollow pit, wherein the angels Munkar and Nakir have welcomed him.

أَيّامَ قائِمُ سَيفِهِ في كَفِّهِ ال

يُمنى وَباعُ المَوتِ عَنهُ قَصيرُ

A company who, when their scabbards are emptied of their blades, the fated hours of men are instantly at hand.

And when they meet an army, that army knows for sure it shall be gathered from the bellies of the desert birds.

وَلَطالَما اِنهَمَلَت بِماءٍ أَحمَرٍ

في شَفرَتَيهِ جَماجِمٌ وَنُحورُ

Never are the reins of their steeds pulled back in the chase, save when the life-span of their quarry has been severed.

I set my course toward their distant home with firm intent; for truly, the lover visits though the distance be great.

فَأُعيذُ إِخوَتَهُ بِرَبِّ مُحَمَّدٍ

أَن يَحزَنوا وَمُحَمَّدٌ مَسرورُ

And I was satisfied with the meeting and a single glance; for even a little from the beloved is abundance.

أَو يَرغَبوا بِقُصورِهِم عَن حُفرَةٍ

حَيّاهُ فيها مُنكَرٌ وَنَكيرُ

نَفَرٌ إِذا غابَت غُمودُ سُيوفِهِم

عَنها فَآجالُ العِبادِ حُضورُ

وَإِذا لَقوا جَيشاً تَيَقَّنَ أَنَّهُ

مِن بَطنِ طَيرِ تَنوفَةٍ مَحشورُ

لَم تُثنَ في طَلَبٍ أَعِنَّةُ خَيلِهِم

إِلّا وَعُمرُ طَريدِها مَبتورُ

يَمَّمتُ شاسِعَ دارِهِم عَن نِيَّةٍ

إِنَّ المُحِبَّ عَلى البِعادِ يَزورُ

وَقَنِعتُ بِاللُقيا وَأَوَّلِ نَظرَةٍ

إِنَّ القَليلَ مِنَ الحَبيبِ كَثيرُ