لله في كل ما يجري به القدرُ

في خلقه حكمةٌ مضمونها الخبرُ

God has decreed all that comes to pass

In His creation there is wisdom assured

والعبد مستعملٌ فيما يراد به

الفعل للعبد والجاري به القدرُ

And the servant is made to serve that which is willed of him

The action belongs to the servant but what befalls him is foreordained

وبالمكاره خيراتٌ تنال بها

منافعُ جرها نحو الفتى ضررُ

With troubles come blessings that bring

Benefits drawn towards man though harm seemed at hand

فارجَ الكريمُ إذا اسشترى به غضبٌ

إن الصواعق يأتي بعدها المطرُ

So the noble one forgives when rage overtakes him

For lightning brings the blessed rain

إن الملوك الرسوليين عادتهم

في الخلق ما كسّروه منهمُ جبروا

The practice of prophet-kings is this:

Of people whatever they broke they would mend

يغنون أَن وهبوا يفنون أن ضربوا

يغضّون أن غضبوا يعفون إِن قدروا

They give though robbed, show grace though struck

Restrain their anger, pardon when they judge

لذاك ملكهم إرثاً أباً لأبٍ

وملك غيرهم مستنبط حضرُ

Thus their reign endures father to son

While others grasp at a kingdom of sand

في الجاهليةِ والإِسلامِ ملكهمُ

باقٍ وملك سواهم ما له أثرُ

In pagan and Islamic days their crown remains

While others’ rule leaves no lasting trace

وقد أتى منهم يحيى بما عجزت

عنه الكرام فما يسديه مبتكرُ

From them came John who accomplished what

Even saints failed at, none could match his innovations

جَبَرَ القلوبَ وفعل الخير عادته

فسله ما شئت لا تلقاه يعتذرُ

He mended hearts and did good - ask him anything

You’ll find no excuse, no refusal on his part

وقد جرى بعض ما تهدي عواقبه

خيراً وإنى لذاك الخير منتظرُ

Some matters breed goodness though their ends

Are obscure. For that unseen good I yearn

فلا يظل فؤاد أنت ساكنه

يوماً طويلا ويمسي وهو منكسرُ

Let no heart you dwell in remain downcast

For long, anguished as the day draws to its close

لك المحاسنَ دون الناس كلِّهم

فالكلُّ شوك ويحي وحدَه ثَمرُ

You alone have virtue above all mankind

The rest are thorns, while you alone bear fruit

وقد تجلّى بفضلٍ لا يحيط به

علمُ الملوك فلم يسبق به خبرُ

Through gracious favor none can comprehend

And no news or herald suffices to proclaim