أَتأْسَى يَا أَبَا بَكرِ

لِمَوتِ الحُرَّةِ البِكْرِ

Do you grieve, Abu Bakr,

for the death of the freeborn virgin?

وَقَدْ زَوَّجْتَهَا القَبْرَ

وَمَا كَالقَبْرِ مِنْ صِهْرِ

You have married her to the grave,

and what in-law compares with the grave?

وَعُوِّضْتَ بِهَا الأَجْرَ

وَمَا كَالأَجْرِ مِنْ مَهْرِ

For her you have been compensated with reward,

and what dower compares with that reward?

زِفَافٌ أُهْدِيَتْ فِيْهِ

مِنَ الخِدْرِ إِلَى القَبْرِ

A bridal procession in which she was escorted

from her curtained chamber to the grave:

فَتَاةٌ أَسْبَلَ اللَّهُ

عَلَيْهَا أَسْبَغَ السِّتْرِ

a maiden over whom God has let fall

His most encompassing veil.

وَرُزْءٌ أَشْبَهَ النِّعْمَ

ةَ فِي المَوْقِعِ وَالقَدْرِ

And a loss more like a bless—

—ing in its effect and worth.

وَقَدْ يَخْتَارُ فِي المكَرُو

هِ لِلْمَرْءِ وَمَايَدْرِي

He may choose, within what is loath—

—some, what is best for a man, though he does not know.

فَقَابِلْ نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ الَّتِي

أَوْلاَكَ بِالشُّكْرِ

So meet the blessing of God which

He has bestowed upon you with gratitude,

وَعَزِّ النَّفْسَ عَمَّا فَا

تَ بِالتَّسْلِيْمِ وَالصَّبْرِ

and console your soul for what has pass—

—ed, with submission and patience.