ماذا اقول اذا اردت مديح من
تعلو على كل الثنا معلاته
What can I say if I wanted praise from
One whose virtues rise above all glory?
كيلا اكون به المسيئ وانما
عن سيئاتي كفرت حسناته
Lest I become an evildoer through it,
His virtues atone for my misdeeds.
ما كنت اجسر ان افوه بمدحه
وجلاه لولا حلمه واناته
I would not dare sing his praises,
Were it not for his clemency and gentleness.
لكنما شان الحليم العفو عن
زلات معترف طغت زلاته
But the forbearance of the gentle is to forgive
The stumbles of one whose stumbles exceeded.
ان كنت اهديه اللفا عن جوهر
فبكفه يغلو وذي عاداته
If I present to him words not matching his essence,
With his palm he raises them, such is his habit.
بحر خضم لا تزال على الورى
تطفو جواهر لفظه وهباته
A deep sea, still bestowing upon the world
The pearls of his words and his gifts.
حتى كأن الاولين به حيوا
اذ قد حوت كل المحامد ذاته
As if the ancients live through him,
For he encompasses all praise.
قمر الكمال عن المحاق منزه
حالاته اني بدت هالاته
The full moon of perfection, far from defect,
When his splendor appeared, so did his halo.
شرف النقابد فيه زاد ترفعا
وعلت بمجد فعاله راياته
The honor of leadership in him grew loftier,
His glorious deeds raised his banners.
الفضل شيمته وسيماه التقى
والمكرمات شعاره وسماته
Virtue is his trait, and piety his mark,
Benevolence his emblem and his attributes.
يفتى شيةخ العلم فيما فاتهم
من مشكلات والشباب لداته
He issues rulings that elude even the wise elders,
With his sharp mind and youthful vigor.
والله يؤتى الفضل من يختصه
وبذا التفاضل قد جرت مرضاته
And God grants privilege to whom He chooses,
And by this distinction His approval shone.
ان تدرك السباق شأوا واحدا
من فضله فاتتهم غاياته
If you wish to attain precedence in one
Of his virtues, you will fall short of his limits.
اقلامه للدين ركن ثابت
وهي القنا عزت بها شرفاته
His pens are a pillar of faith,
With them the banners of glory fluttered.
ولسانه بالحق يصدع كل ذي
غي كذاك بلاغه وعظاته
His tongue strikes with truth all who stray,
Such is his eloquence and preaching.
ما بعد ان وضح الصباح لمبصر
عذرب بان ظلامه مغواته
When the morning has shone, the bleary-eyed
Cannot blame its prior darkness.
حسبي على دين النبي بصبرة
قرآن وحي فصلت آياته
My faith in the Prophet's religion suffices me,
The Quran whose verses detail.
وبيان حبر لو تجلى في الدجى
في شكل شي لانمحت ظلماته
And the elucidation of a scholar, if it shone in darkness
Would erase its shadows.
وكماله وجماله وفعاله
وخصاله وخلاله وصفاته
His perfection, beauty, deeds,
Traits, subtleties, and attributes.
يا سيدا من يوم حان فراقه
هجر الكرى طرفى فطار سباته
O Master, since the day we parted,
My eyes deserted Habeeb and slumber escaped him.
كان التلاقي بيننا واحسرتي
كجريعة العصفور بان بزاته
Our meetings were like the gulps of a bird
That found its eggs stolen.
لم يشف مني لوعة الشوق الذي
بين الجوانح قد ذكت جمراته
He did not cure the burning longing
That kindled embers in my chest.
فمتى يعود وبيننا دهر طغا
ومتى يهل على الشجي ميقاته
So when will he return, and between us lies
A tyrannous lifetime? When will his appointed time come?
يا طيبها من ساعة لو انها
تأتي وقد هنأ العليل حياته
O blessed is that hour, if only
It would come and the ailing man regained his life!
اني بوعدك لم ازل متشبثا
واذا يريث فلا يخاف فواته
I still cling to your promise,
And if it tarries, fear not its loss.
ان الجوائب منك ترجو نجدة
كيلا يحقق للعدو شماته
Answers from you are hoped for as aid,
Lest the enemy realize his gloating.
فالغوث عندك للوداد زكاته
والحق عندك تستعز حماته
For you, help for a lover is charity,
And truth with you bolsters its pillars.
