مَرِض الجودُ والْتوَى الإكرامُ

وشكَا ما شكوتَه الإسلامُ

Generosity and nobility fell ill,

And Islam complained of what afflicted it.

وَغَدا لاْعتِلالكَ العِزُّ والمَجْ

د عَلِيلَيْن واحتذى الإعظامُ

Glory and grandeur languished because of your illness,

And reverence grew frail.

عجباً كيف يَشْتَكي مَن فَداهُ الدْ

دهْرُ واستَعصَمتْ به الأيّام

How strange that one who saved lifetimes should complain!

Days took refuge in him and defiant fates obeyed him,

وأطاعتْه عاصياتُ الرّزايا

وصِعابُ الأُمورِ حتّى الحمامُ

Even obstinate circumstances, to the extent of doves.

A king in whom the essence of light and sanctity resides,

مَلِكٌ فيه جَوهرُ النورِ والقُدْ

سِ وإن ظَلَّ تدّعيه الأنام

Though people claim him.

How can a hand that rains generosity tire of giving?

كيف تَضنَى يَدٌ بِها يُمطر الجو

د وكفّ بها يَصولُ الحُسامُ

How can a sword that wreaks havoc sheathe itself?

A brow that illuminates the stars of good fortune over us,

وجبينٌ به تُنِير نُجوم السْ

سَعدِ فينا ويَستضِيء الظَّلام

And by which darkness becomes illuminated.

How can the prime of one for whom, without it,

كيف تصفرّ غُرّةٌ لك لولا

ها لَمَا كان للزّمان ابتِسام

There would be no smiles in this age turn sallow?

Lifetime! You are the son of Ma’add!

إنّما الدهر أنت يا بن مَعَدٍّ

فعلى الدهر إن سَقِمتَ السَّلام

So greet lifetime if you fall ill!

May God not let me see you in distress,

لا أراني الإله فيكَ مُهِمّاً

لا ولا عَرَّجتْ بك الآلام

Nor afflictions make you stumble!

O Imam of guidance, by whose hands

يا إمامَ الهُدَى الّذي بِيَدَيْهِ

حُسِمَ الكُفْرُ وانجلى الإعدْام

Disbelief was vanquished and darkness dispelled!

Would that I and the generous could ransom him fully,

ليتني والكرام نَفْدِيه طرّاً

وقليلٌ له أنا والكِرام

But I and the generous are paltry for him.

How can a king for whom God is protector

كيف يَضْنَى مَلْكٌ له الله جارٌ

ومُجِيرٌ مّما يريد السَّقام

From all that ails grow frail?

Distress only came to test you,

إنما زارك التشكّي طَلُوباً

منكَ سَلْماً كَيْلاَ بِخَسفٍ يُسامُ

Seeking your wellbeing, that it might withdraw cured.

It quickly lost all hold over you,

ما تراه استقلّ عنكَ سريعاً

وبه عنك ذِلّة وانهِزَام

And it retreated from you in disgrace and defeat.

Trust that God will preserve you until

ثِقْ بأنّ الإله يُبْقِيك حتى

تَملكِ الأرض قادِراً لا تُرام

You rule the land, prevailing, not opposed.

And you live the lifetime that totals ninety

وتعِيش العمرَ الّذي هو تسعو

ن وعشر مُسَلَّماً لا تُضام

And ten, secured, not infringed upon.

Thus came the prophecy of old,

فبِذا جاءتِ الرّواية قِدْماً

وبهذا جرتْ لك الأقلام

And so the pens wrote of you.

incumbent upon us for God, for you, are

فعلينا لله فيك صلاةٌ

وزكاةٌ زكيّةٌ وصِيامُ

prayer, purifying alms, and fasting,

When you recovered the caliphate and kingdom,

حين عُوفيتَ للخلافة والمُلْ

كِ وصحّت بك الأُمورُ الجِسام

And through you, grave affairs were corrected.

My heart drank the pure draught of your affection

شَرِبَتْ مُهجتي وِدادَك صِرفاً

شُرْبَ من لا يَثْنِيه عنك ملاَم

Drunk by one no blamer can deter from you.

I hope that through you I may hold the reins

فعسى أن يكون لي بك فيما

أقتضيه على الزمان ذِمام

over the age, however it kicks.

You are my request which I present, and is there,

أنت سُؤْلي الذي اقترحتُ وهل بع

دَكَ لي في الْبَرِيَّة استعصام

after you, any taking refuge in the wilderness for me?

So remain exalted in your kingdom, fortified by you,

فابقَ مستعلِياً لمُلْكِك مشتدْ

داً بك النقَّضُ فيه والإبرام

demolition in it and consolidation.