لخيرُ إمامٍ قامَ من خير عُنصُرِ

وأفضل راقٍ فوق أعوادِ منبرِ

The best leader arose from the best lineage,

And the most virtuous rider above the pulpit's wood.

ووارثُ علمِ الأولينَ ومُلكِهم

وذاك هم المأمونُ من أمٍّ جعفرِ

The heir of the knowledge of the ancients and their kingdom,

That one is al-Ma'mun, son of Ja'far.

كتبتُ وعيني تستهلُّ دموعُها

إليك ابن عمي من جُفوني ومحجري

I wrote while my eyes shed their tears

To you, my cousin, from my eyelids and pupils.

أُصبتُ بأدنى الناس منك قرابة

ومَن هوَ لي روحي فعيل تصبّري

I was brought to the lowest degree of kinship to you,

Yet who is as dear to me as you, so be patient.

أتى طاهرٌ لا طهّر الله طاهراً

فما طاهرٌ في فعله بمطهَّر

A purified one came, though God had not purified him,

So he was not purified in his actions.

فأبرزني مكشوفة الوجه حاسراً

وأنهبَ أموالي وخرّب أدوُري

He brought me out barefaced, downcast,

And plundered my wealth, and destroyed my homes.

يعزّ على هارون ما قد لقيتُه

وما مرّ لي من ناقص الخلق أعور

Harun feels sorry for what I have endured,

And what I received from the imperfect, one-eyed man.

تذكّر أمير المؤمنين قرابتي

فديتُك من ذي قربة متذكّر

Remember, Commander of the Faithful, my kinship-

I ransom you - of close kinship, remembering me.

فإن يك ما أسدى لأمر أمرته

صبرتُ لأمرٍ من قدير مدبّر

If what I have conveyed is by your command,

I am patient with the decree of the Planner.

وإن تكن الأخرى فغير مدافع

إليك أمير المؤمنين فَغيِّرِ

And if it is otherwise, I have no defender

Except you, Commander of the Faithful, so change it!