إِن لَم أَقُل فيكَ ما يُردي العِدى كَمَدا

فَلا بَلَغتُ مَدىً أَسعى لَهُ أَبَدا

If I do not say of you that which destroys hostility forever,

Then I will never attain the extent I strive for.

وَكَيفَ أُصبِحُ في الإِحسانِ مُقتَصِداً

وَما وَجَدتُكَ فيهِ قَطُّ مُقتَصِدا

And how can I be stingy in doing good

When I never found you to be stingy at all.

لَأورِدَنَّكَ بِالنُعمى الَّتي غَمَرَت

مِنَ المَحامِدِ بَحراً قَطُّ ما وُرِدا

I will make you drink from the blessings that flooded you

An ocean of praises never before arrived.

عَذبَ المَشارِبِ مَمنوعَ المَشارِعِ لَو

نَحاهُ غَيرُكَ لَم يَظفَر بِبَلِّ صَدا

Sweet watering place, blocked path, even if

Another diverted it, he would not gain clear water.

وَمُترَعاً مِن مَعانٍ غَيرِ ناضِبَةٍ

أَنّى وَمَجدُكَ قَد أَضحى لَها مَدَدا

And a pasture of inexhaustible meanings,

Whence, and your glory has already lent it support.

أَبَحتُكَ الصَفوَ مِن أَمواهِهِ فَسَقى

رِياضَ فَخرِكَ لا نَزراً وَلا ثَمَدا

I revealed you the noblest from its obscurities, so it quenched

The meadows of your pride not with a sprinkling or a drizzle.

وَلَو سِواكَ وَكَلّا كانَ وارِدَهُ

لَما عَدَوتُ بِهِ الإِكدارَ وَالزَبَدا

And if I frequented other than you - never!

I would not have been rid of disturbing sediment.

سَيفَ الخِلافَةِ مَن يَرجو السُمُوَّ وَقَد

أَحرَزتَ مُطَّرَفاً مِنهُ وَمُتَّلَدا

You left the horizons fragrant with mention of you

And no star will shine whose orbit you do not encompass.

أَحرَزتَهُ بِالنَدى لَم تُبقِ ذا عَدَمٍ

وَبِالحُروبِ الَّتي أَلوَت بِمَن عَنَدا

Since you reached this Levant, time itself

Became incapable of being called time anymore.

لَقَد تَرَكتَ طَريقَ المَجدِ شاطِنَةً

فَلَو سَرى النَجمُ فيها اِستَبعَدَ الأَمَدا

You filled its horizons with gray hair for the creatures

You made them into snares for the devils of mankind.

فَقُل لِمَن رامَ جَرياً في مَداكَ شَأى

مُستَبعِدَ القُربِ مَن يَستَقرِبُ البُعُدا

You never ceased seizing wealth without depletion

And giving that which, had you withheld, would have run out.

دَعِ المَعالي لِمَن أَضحى لَها شَرَفاً

فَما وَجَدتَ بِها مِعشارَ ما وَجَدا

You have never taken a step toward other than the Exalted

Nor have you stretched your hand to other than praise.

وَلَيسَ يَبلُغُها فَاِربَع عَلى ظَلَعٍ

مَن لا يَرى صابَها مِن حُبِّها شُهُدا

The imamate’s glory is enough that its equipment

The nights cannot untie what it has knotted.

بَلِ المَكارِمِ لَم تَكثُر مَغارِمُها

إِلّا لِتُلحِقَ بِالدانينَ مَن بَعُدا

You never ceased advising it sincerely since you were but its namesake

In word, deed, display, and belief.

كَم في الدُنا قَفرَةٍ عَذراءَ ما سُلِكَت

صارَت طَرائِقَ مِن قُصّادِها قِدَدا

You were famed for a compassion from you for Islam

That no father has given his own son.

تَرَكتَ مِن ذِكرِها الآفاقَ طَيِّبَةً

وَلَن يَطيبَ نَثا مَن لا يَعُمُّ جَدا

You warded off from it covetous aims, after they set upon it

And you struggled against those who were its enemies, striving.

وَمُذ حَلَلتَ بِهَذا الشامِ تَكلَؤُهُ

فَقَد عَدا الدَهرُ فيهِ أَن يُقالَ عَدا

It would praise supporters who went to help it

But since it saw you as its champion, it blamed those it had praised.

مَلَأتَ آفاقَهُ مِن ذي الظُبى شُهُباً

جَعَلتَها لِشَياطينِ الوَرى رَصَدا

How the brilliant state was ripped apart in the arm

Of another, when it called you over mankind as helpers!

وَلَم تَزَل آخِذاً مالا نَفادَ لَهُ

وَمُعطِياً ما لَوِ اِستَبقَيتَهُ نَفِدا

You are the sword that is never drawn

Except to humiliate misguidance or honor guidance.

فَما نَقَلتَ إِلى غَيرِ العُلى قَدَماً

وَلا شَدَدتَ عَلى غَيرِ الثَناءِ يَدا

When its claimant drew you to prevent the truth

You destroyed with determination those who would not mount resolve.

كَفى الإِمامَةَ عِزّاً أَنَّ عُدَّتَها

لا تَستَطيعُ اللَيالي حَلَّ ما عَقَدا

And the return of injustice with intention is impossible

Until the heat returns to its people intentionally.

ما زِلتَ في نُصحِها مُذ كُنتَ مُشتَبِهاً

قَولاً وَفِعلاً وَإِظهاراً وَمُعتَقَدا

You made sit those who stood against its enemies,

And if it weren’t for you, those who sit would stand.

عَن رَأفَةٍ مِنكَ بِالإِسلامِ قَد شُهِرَت

لَم يُعطِها والِدٌ مِن نَفسِهِ وَلَدا

You lowered their repute by force, and their noses,

So you left them naught but their breath ascending.

ذُدتَ المَطامِعَ عَنهُ بَعدَما شُرِعَت

فيهِ وَجاهَدتَ مَن عاداهُ مُجتَهِدا

Their whims would empty their breasts

Of rancor, so it became like vapor.

وَكانَ يَحمَدُ أَنصاراً لَهُ ذَهَبوا

فَمُذ رَآكَ نَصيراً ذَمَّ مَن حَمِدا

While you are one whose intimidation of them

Killed your enemies, even when not one draws near.

كَم فَتَّتِ الدَولَةُ الزَهراءُ في عَضُدٍ

لَمّا دَعَتكَ لَها دونَ الوَرى عَدُدا

And you returned seeking from them the blood price of themselves,

When did we hear of victims being made to pay blood money?

أَنتَ الحُسامُ الَّذي لا يُنتَضى أَبَداً

إِلّا لِذُلِّ ضَلالٍ أَو لِعِزِّ هُدا

So they surrendered to you in hope that

A pardon engulfing ease would pour over them from your rest.

لَمّا اِنتَضاكَ لِمَنعِ الحَقِّ صاحِبُهُ

أَهلَكتَ بِالجِدِّ مَن لَم يَركَبِ الجَدَدا

They were glad to live in the outskirts of a kingdom—

One who does not live in its outskirts lives no life of comfort.

وَعَودَةُ الجَورِ قَصداً غَيرُ مُمكِنَةٍ

حَتّى يَعودَ القَنا عَن أَهلِهِ قِصَدا

A generosity you were exclusive among all people in

So thank the One who gave it to you, which He gave no other.

أَقعَدتَ مَن قامَ مِن أَعداءِ دَولَتِهِ

وَلَو بِغَيرِكَ ريعوا قامَ مَن قَعَدا

You supported kings with resolve and sound resolve, so live

The age of time ruling the earth exclusively.

أَهبَطتَ أَقدارَهُم قَسراً وَآنُفَهُم

فَما تَرَكتَ سِوى أَنفاسِهِم صُعُدا

You have died of envy one who would not have died in awe

Of you, and in awe of one who would not have died envied.

كانَت عَواديهِمُ تُخلي صُدورَهُمُ

مِنَ الحُقودِ فَصارَت لِلضَبابِ كَذا

What makes Hassan suspend his hatred?

May he not outlive the remainder of his life in rancor!

وَأَنتَ مَن لَم تَزَل تُتوي إِخافَتُهُ

عِداهُ حَتّى أَماتَت حِقدَ مَن حَقَدا

He used to be —in bygone days— stout of heart

For battles, but you left him no heart.

حاكَمتَهُم وَهُمُ لُدٌّ فَأَحصَرَهُم

عَن نُصرَةِ الغَيِّ طَعنٌ يَنصُرُ الرَشَدا

You made him drink what melts the rock, very easily,

And what missteps would ruin him, had he not been so foolish.

وَفي الرُدَينِيَّةِ اللائي حَشَوتَ بِها

تِلكَ الصُدورَ لَدودٌ يُذهِبُ اللَدَدا

So turn to a king whom misery has overwhelmed,

If he should win from you even a glance, he would be fortunate.

لَم تُغنِ عَنهُم رِماحٌ قَلَّ مانِعُها

إِذا رَأَت ثُغَرَ الأَبطالِ أَن تَرِدا

For no one disobeys you in word or deed,

Whoever you have forbidden from sleep has not slumbered.

وَلا حَمَتهُم دُروعٌ طالَما عَصَمَت

وَالقَعضَبِيَّةُ فيها تَكثُرُ الزَرَدا

The lions crouched in their thickets submitting to you in fright,

So had you wished, you could have herded them for money.

قَتَلتَهُم بِصُنوفِ الخَوفِ تَبعَثُهُ

كَم مِن قَتيلٍ وَلَمّا يَدنُ مِنهُ رَدا

And the piercing eyes are downcast, no more piercing,

And the hunters have neglected hunting in your time.

وَعُدتَ تَطلُبُ مِنهُم قَودَ أَنفُسِهِم

وَما سَمِعنا بِقَتلى أُلزِموا قَوَدا

Determinations that outpace destinies were not created

Except to restrain an enemy or kill a foe.

فَيَمَّموكَ رَجاءً أَن سَيَغمُرُهُم

عَفوٌ يُحيلُ الرَدى في راحَتَيكَ نَدا

So how many tribulations threatening us have you

Repelled, and distanced their bridegrooms, O lion!

فَأَحمَدوا العَيشَ في أَفناءِ مَملَكَةٍ

مَن لَم يَعِش في ذَراها لَم يَعِش رَغَدا

And [how many] enemies you have allowed every grace,

Time will run out before their number can be counted.

فَضلٌ تَمَيَّزتَ عَن كُلِّ الأَنامِ بِهِ

فَاِشكُر لِمُعطيكَ ما لَم يُعطِهِ أَحَدا

Until it is as if a dignitary, before his death,

Entrusted you with those he abandoned when he parted from the world.

أَيَّدتَ بِالجِدِّ وَالجَدِّ المُلوكَ فَعِش

عُمرَ الزَمانِ بِمُلكِ الأَرضِ مُنفَرِدا

If in antiquity their ignorance had befallen

A king emulating your munificence, it would have pardoned the buried daughter.

أَمَتَّ مِن حَسَدٍ مَن لَم يَمُت رَهَباً

مِنهُم وَمِن رَهَبٍ مَن لَم يَمُت حَسَدا

So let the ambitious seek what raises his aspiration—

He whose support you have become will not be pushed away.

إِلامَ يُمطَلُ حَسّانٌ بِبُغيَتِهِ

لا يَنفَدَن ما بَقي مِن عُمرِهِ فَنَدا

And let him aim for the stars through the kinship that gathered

The honor of nobility for him and lasting pillars.

قَد كانَ في سالِفِ الأَيّامِ ذا جَلَدٍ

عَلى الخُطوبِ فَلَم تَترُك لَهُ جَلَدا

The souls of enemies were torn by a bond

Through which time will ever see Adnan envied by lineage.

جَرَّعتَهُ ما يُذيبُ الصَخرَ أَيسَرُهُ

وَما خَطاهُ الرَدى لَو لَم يَكُن لُبَدا

Except in acknowledgment. For the deprived is not the one whose

Favors were rejected—rather the deprived is he who rejected.

فَاِعطِف عَلى مَلِكٍ لَجَّ الشَقاءُ بِهِ

إِن فازَ مِنكَ بِأَدنى نَظرَةٍ سَعِدا

Time was too narrow for what you have enabled of blessings

Whose edges multiplied from what you have poured forth begetting.

فَلَيسَ يَعصيكَ في قَولٍ وَلا عَمَلٍ

مَن مُذ حَظَرتَ عَلَيهِ النَومَ ما رَقَدا

It decreed that I find ease in my homeland,

So I did not travel to it failing to find.

ذَلَّت لَكَ الأُسدُ في غاباتِها وَعَنَت

خَوفاً فَلَو شِئتَ لَاِستَرعَيتَها النَقدا

And how can one reaching its pinnacle do so

By falling short when he strives with utmost striving?

وَالأَعيُنُ الشوسُ قَد غُضَّت فَلا شَوَسٌ

وَالصِيدُ قَد تَرَكوا في عَصرِكَ الصَيَدا

So draw the trains of robes with no end

Woven from praise preceding chill mornings.

عَزائِمٌ تَسبِقُ الأَقدارَ ما خُلِقَت

إِلّا لِكَفِّ عَداءٍ أَو لِقَتلِ عِدا

This rain has poured down its well-watered soil,

So it sets out in a robe of its light, moving on.

فَكَم جَلَوتَ بِها مِن فِتنَةٍ غَسَقَت

عَنّا وَأَجلَيتَ عَن عِرّيسِهِ أَسَدا

Your mention clothed it in radiance, so it left

Curing whatever firmness and resolve it requires.

وَكَم أَتَحتَ عَدِيّاً كُلَّها نِعَماً

يَفنى الزَمانُ وَما أُحصي لَها عَدَدا

You remain our world’s adornment, and the days

Of your rule have not ceased to be recurring holidays for us.

حَتّى كَأَنَّ جَناباً قَبلَ مَصرَعِهِ

وَصّاكَ إِذ بايَنَ الدُنيا بِمَن وَلَدا

No homelands were left of you by which they took refuge—

Had it not been for you, no soul would have inhabited a body.

فَلَو أَصابَت قَديماً جاهِلِيَّتُهُم

مَلكاً يُدانيكَ جوداً عَفَّ مَن وَأَدا

What goodness comes to you today is thought copious,

And what tomorrow holds is thought paltry.

فَليَلتَمِس رافِعٌ ما عَزَّ مَطلَبُهُ

فَلَن يُدافَعَ مَن تُضحي لَهُ سَنَدا

You have reached no extent the kings rise to

Unless the auspicious resolve found you a greater extent.

وَليُفرَعِ النَجمَ بِالقُربى الَّتي جَمَعَت

شَملَ الفَخارَ لَهُ وَالسُؤدُدَ البَدَدا

تَقَطَّعَت أَنفُسُ الأَعداءِ مِن صِلَةٍ

يَظَلُّ يَحسُدُ عَدنانَ بِها أُدَدا

إِلّا اِعتِرافاً فَما المَغبونُ مَن جُحِدَت

آلاؤُهُ إِنَّما المَغبونُ مَن جَحَدا

ضاقَ الزَمانُ بِما خَوَّلتَ مِن نِعَمٍ

خيلَت طَوارِفُها مِمّا ضَفَت تُلُدا

قَضَت بِأَن أَجِدَ الإيسارَ في وَطَني

فَما رَحَلتُ إِلَيهِ عِرمِساً أُجُدا

وَكَيفَ يُدرِكُ بِالتَقصيرِ غايَتَها

مَن لا يَنالَ قُصاراها إِذا جَهَدا

فَاِسحَب ذُيولَ بُرودٍ لا فَناءَ لَها

مَنسوجَةٍ مِن مَديحٍ تَسبِقُ البُرُدا

مُرَوَّضٍ جادَ هَذا الغَيثُ تُربَتَهُ

فَراحَ في خِلَعٍ مِن نورِهِ وَغَدا

كَساهُ ذِكرُكَ لَألاءً فَغادَرَهُ

أَشَفَّ ما يُقتَضاهُ مَن شَدا وَحَدا

لا زِلتَ زينَةَ دُنيانا وَلا بَرِحَت

أَيّامُ مُلكِكَ أَعياداً لَنا جُدُدا

وَلا خَلَت مِنكَ أَوطانٌ بِكَ اِعتَصَمَت

لَولاكَ ما اِستَوطَنَت روحٌ بِها جَسَدا

يُستَكثَرُ اليَومَ ما تَأتيهِ مِن حَسَنٍ

وَيُستَقَلُّ بِما تُفضي إِلَيهِ غَدا

وَلا بَلَغتَ مَدىً تَعلو المُلوكُ بِهِ

إِلّا أَجَدَّ لَكَ الجَدُّ السَعيدُ مَدى