عَفَا الْعَلَمُ الرَّاسِي كَمَا يَقْشَعُ الظِّلُّ
فَمَا يُوسُفٌ إِلاَّ حَدِيثٌ لمَنْ يَتْلو
The banner lowering as the shade withdraws,
Joseph but a tale for those reciting,
لَئِنْ كَانَ حَتْفَ الأَنْفِ عَاجِلُ مَوْتِهِ
لَمَصْرَعُهُ فِي مِيلِ مَوْقِفِهِ قَتْلُ
If death's quick blow is fated for his nose,
His end is slaughter in the stance and site.
قَضَى يُوسُفُ الْجِنْدِيُّ جُنْدِي قَوْمِهِ
بِحَيْثُ قِوَامُ العِزَّةِ الرَّأْيُ لاَ النَّصْلُ
Joseph the soldier his people's soldier died
Where glory's based on wisdom, not the sword,
بِحَيْثُ الْقَنَا وَالمَشْرَقِيَّةُ خُضَّعٌ
لِمَا تَزَعُ الشَّورَى وَمَا يَشْرَعُ الْعَدْلُ
Where there is equity and consultation,
By what convention sanctions and law affords,
فَرَاحَ شَهِيدَ البَذِل مِنْ ذَاتِ نَفسِهِ
وَمِنْ خَيْرِ مَا يَقْنِي وَذَاكَ هُوَ الْبَذْلُ
A martyr to self-sacrifice he died, from self
And the best self offers-that is selfless deed,
يُنَهْنَهُ عَنْ إِسْرَافِهِ غَيْرَ مُنْتَهٍ
كَأَنَّ بِهِ جَهْلاً وَلَيْسَ بِهِ جَهلُ
Reproached for excess yet knows no bound,
As if in ignorance, yet his act no flaw.
إِذَا مَا سَبِيلُ اللهِ كَانَتْ سَبِيلَهُ
فَمَا فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ حِرْصٌ وَلاَ بُخْلُ
If God's path was his path no greed or stint,
No hoarding mood when spending as ordained,
وإِنْ يَكُ حُبَّ النَّفْسِ وَالوُلْدِ شِرْعَةً
فَحُبِّ البِلاَدِ الفَرْضُ وَالآخَرُ النَّفْلُ
If self and child devotion be ruled right,
One's country devotion is duty, all else extra boon.
وَلَيْسَ امْرُوءٌ لَمْ يَمْنحِ الْمَجْدَ نَفْسَهُ
بِبَالِغِهِ أَو يَبْلُغَ الجَبَلَ السَّهلُ
No man true glory reached but gave himself
His utmost or attained what might have daunted other men.
عَذِيرَ الأُولَى يَبْكونَ يُوسُفَ إِنَّهُ
مَضَنةُ وَادِيهِ فَمَا رُزؤُهُ سَهْلُ
Let mourners mourn-so rugged was his course-,
So strait his lot-yet did he once complain?
طَوَتْهُ المَنايَا وَهْوَ أَوْحَدُ أُمَّةٍ
فَلاَ تُنْكِرُوا أَنْ شَاعَ فِي الأْمَّةِ الثكْلُ
He perished lonely amidst all his people,
Grieve not that grief spreads throughout the folk,
لَقَدْ جَمَعَ الشَّمْلَ الشَّتِيتَ بِبَيْنِهِ
أَلَيْسَ بِغَيْرِ البَيْنِ يَلْتَئِمُ الشَّمْلُ
He did unite the riven parts through his example,
Can rifts be knit without an exemplar focus?
عِتَابٌ أَجَازَتْهُ خُطوبٌ مُغِيرَةٌ
عَلَيْنَا وَعَنْ إِنْذَارهِنَّ بِنَا شُغْلُ
Reproaches some misfortunes overrode us,
We were for their alarm too overwhelmed to respond,
بِأَيِّ مُحَامٍ عَظَّمَ اللهُ أَجْرَهُمْ
أُصِيبُوا وَأَعْزِزْ أَنْ يَكُونَ لَهُ مِثْلُ
But oh what mead has God for them prepared,
Stricken they were: would equal fate were mine!
مَكَانُ الْمُحَامِي غَايَةٌ فِي سُمُوِّهِ
إِذَا اجْتَمَعَتْ فِيهِ النَّزَاهَةُ وَالنُّبْلُ
Noble the law profession and sublime
When in one soul high principles and nobility are fused.
وَلَمْ يَكُ سَوَّاماً ولَمْ يَكُ مُتَجِراً
متى أَعْضَلَ المَوْضُوعُ أَوْ أَشْكَل الشَّكْلُ
No quack or fake he when issues seemed past hope,
The crux bewildered or solutions were mired.
يُهَيِّءُ فَصْلَ القَوْلِ فِي كُلِّ مَوْقِفٍ
بِحُجِّتِهِ المُثْلَى لِمَنْ قَوْلُهُ الفَصْلُّ
His insight pierces to the heart of things; his words resolve issues
For those whose speaking arbitrates and settles fateful questions.
وَيَدْفَعُ تَضْلِيلَ الَّذِينَ افْتِرَاؤُهُمْ
عَلَى اللهِ حَقٌّ وَالحَرَامُ لَهُمْ حِلُّ
He routs the wiles of tricksters whose false pleas
Claim God's sanction, deem the unlawful licit road,
فَذَاكَ مُلاَذٌ يُرْتَجَى وَمَنَارَةٌ
لأُمْنِ الأُولَى رِيعُوا هَدْيِ الأُولَى ضَلُّوا
He is resort, he is beacon for security;
O predecessors in safety's path they strayed who left it.
تَعَاطَى المُحَامَاةَ الشَّرِيفَةَ يُوسُفٌ
فَأُّحْمِدَ فِيهَا قَوْلُهُ الحُرُّ وَالْفِعْلُ
The honored legal profession Joseph practised
Its standards realized in word and deed intact,
وَكَانَ الَّذِي يَبْلُوهُ فِي كُلَّ حَالَةٍ
شَكُوراً لِمَا يَلْقَى فَخُوراً بِمَنْ يَبْلُو
Ever thankful for tests sent however stern,
Proud of who sends them-let God recompense his meed.
وَفِي الوَفْدِ إِنْ تُوصَفْ مَوَاقِفُ يُوسُفِ
أَكَانَ لَهُ فِي الذَّودِ عَنْ حَوْضِهِ كِفْلُ
If we describe how Joseph acquitted himself before that delegation,
Did he defend his rights when hosts turned tyrannous foes?
فَدَاهُ بِأَغْلَى مَا يُسَامُ أَخُو الْفِدَى
وَلَمْ يَثْنِهِ ضَيْمٌ وَلَمْ يُغْرِهِ جُعْلُ
He ransomed them with all soul can ransom,
Unbribed, he gave without return, expect no gain.
عَقِيدَةُ نَفْسٍ أَوْرَدَتْهُ مَهَالِكاً
وَلَمْ تَأْبَ أَنْ يُرْعَى الخُصُومُ وَإِنْ زَلُّوا
Soul-belief induced him, he would not deny justice
However hostile opponents acted or attacked.
وَفِي مَجْلِسِ النُوُّابِ هَلْ سَارَ سَيْرَهُ
أَخُو مِرَّةٍ جَلْدٌ عَنِ الجَهْدِ لاَ يَأْلُوا
In Council, Sessions did he play that selfsame role?
A doughty brother, tireless amid harsh demands?
بِيُوسُفَ وَالْمَشْهُورِ مِنْ وَثَبَاتِهِ
إِلَى كُلِّ إِصْلاَحٍ تَمَهَّدَتِ السُّبْلُ
For any reform Joseph and his famed dedication
Prepared the roads however difficult the terrain.
هُنَاكَ مَجَالُ الْعَبْقَرِيَّةِ وَاسِعٌ
لِمُسْتَبِقٍ يَشْأُو وَمَنْطَلِقٍ يَعْلُو
There genius range is vast however far its runner's aspirations,
There fiery ordeal's arrows he courageously sustained
هُنَاكَ رَمَى جَيْشَ الأبَاطِيلِ نَاثِلٌ
كِنَانَةَ صِدْقٍ لاَ يَطِيشُ لَهَا نَبْلُ
Bringing openings on openings no rancor marring his decisiveness,
His policies served reason, lawful ends and justice,
فَآبَ بِفَتْحٍ بَعْدَ فَتحٍ وَلَم يُثِرْ
حُقُوداً وَلَمْ يَعْدُ الصَّوَابَ وَلَمْ يغْلُ
Serious he was in duties on him loaded
With strains to crush the strongest frame and ever tax the adequacy of powers.
وَمَنْ جَدَّ فِي التَّصْرِيفِ لِلأمْرِ جِدَّهُ
وَقَدْ بَاتَ فِي تَصْرِيفِهِ العَقْدُ وَالْحَلُ
Who of elders showed Joseph's qualities and firmness of purpose
A sage's wisdom his though still young in years?
فَقَامَ بِأَعْبَاءٍ تَنُوءَ بِهَا الْقُوَى
وَلَيْسَ لَهُ إِلاَّ رُقِيَّ الْحِمَى سُؤْلُ
Poise he brings and reasoned points though hot the indignation-
No maverick rabble-rouser frothing violence and babble
وَمَنْ فِي الشُّيُوخِ الْمُنْتَدِينَ كَيُوسُفٍ
بِهِ حِلْمُ شَيْخٍ وَهْوَ فِي سِنِّهِ كَهْلُ
Passion may sway the listeners not reason
When passion speaks while reason sways the soul
يُعِيدُ وَيُبْدِي رَابِطَ الجَأْشِ مُنْصِفاً
وَلَيْسَ بِهَدَّارٍ كَمَا يَهْدِرُ الفَحْلُ
In concise words his militancy straightforward marched,
No wild collision, no avoidance or withdrawal;
وَما يَمْلِك الأَسْمَاعَ إِذْ يَنْطِقُ الهَوَى
كَمَا يَمْلِكُ الأَسْمَاعَ إِذْ يَنْطقُ الْعَقْلُ
Nor did dissemblance shadow devotion to Allah,
With faith he hunted game and ease was not his idol.
قُصَارَاكَ مِنْهُ أَنَّهُ فِي كِفَاحِهِ
جَريءٌ صَرِيحٌ لا اقْتِحَامٌ وَلاَ خَتْلُ
He died owning no wealth save his dependants:
God protects their fortune, undimmed by blight of time.
وَلَيْسَ يُدَاجِي فِي عِبَادَةِ رَبِّهِ
يَصِيدُ بِهَا سُحْتاً وَمَعْبُودُهُ الْعِجْلُ
What avail the liars now their old ploys against him
Have failed and negative efforts come to nothing?
فَمَاتَ وَمَا مِنْ ثَرْوَةٍ غَيْرُ عَيْلَةٍ
ثَوَى رَبُّ نُعْمَاهَا وَحَاقَ بِهَا الأزَلُ
An opposing party's rule did him justice, cleaved to good
No self-interest infringing on commonweal and righteousness infringing on common weal and righteousness
تَرَى مَا اعْتِذَارُ الكَاذِبِينَ الأُولَى سَعَوْا
سِعَايَاتِهِمْ فِيهِ وَقَدْ زَهَقَ البُطْلُ
The like of him in kinship and amity
Graces them like a flower garden aromatic exhalations.
حُكُومَةُ خَصْمٍ أَنْصَفَتْهُ فَوُفِّقَتْ
إِلَى الْخَيْرِ لاَ يَعْرُوهُ رَيْبٌ وَلاَ دَخل
None matched his place, no lineage ever bred
A finer father, brother, sweetly manifested traits...
وَمنْ مِثْلهُ فِي أَهْلِهِ وَرِفَاقِهِ
لَهُ شِيِمٌ كَالرَّوْضِ بَاكَرَهُ الطَّلُّ
The like of him whose manliness all obstacles defied
Never he shrank when truth's demand was made however difficult.
فَحَلَّ مَحَلاًّ مِنْهُمُ لَمْ يَفُزْ بِهِ
أَبٌ أَوْ أَخٌ حُلْوُ الشَّمَائِلِ أَوْخِل
I hated? No I could not hate?yet I have seen
Folk time's inheritances, worthless, neither reins nor feet to stand or walk life's arena and foregrounds;
وَمَنْ مِثْلهُ وَافِي الرجُولَةِ كُلُّمَا
دَعَا الْحَقُّ لاَ يَأْبَى عَلَيْهِ وَيَعْتَل
Many they are, few the noble souls among them,
So do not wonder if nobility on life's tableau is rare.
كَرِهْتُ وَحَاشَاهُ أَنَاساً وجَدْتُهُمْ
رِثَاتَ الأوَاخِي لاَ ذِمَامٌ وَلاَ إِل
Why did that light not guide them that they see clear?
In hearts, hearts alone real dwelling place and cornerstone.
لَقَدْ كَثُرُوا وَالأَكْرَمُون خَلاَقهُمْ
قَلِيلٌ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا فَلاَ بِدْعَ إِنْ قَلوا
Joseph, I was before so blind I stirred not
Nor awoke to hints of fate obscure to me before.
فَهَلاَّ هَدَاهُمْ ذَلِكَ النَّورُ فَاهْتَدَوا
أَلاَ إِنَّ مَحْلاً فِي النُّفُوسِ هُوَ الْمَحْلُ
I knew no rancor lodged inside to gnaw and fret
Now mourning eats away my heart given over to grief and anger.
أَيُوسُفُ إِنِّي قَبْلَ مَنْعَاك لَمْ أَثُرْ
وَلَمْ يَتَيقَّظْ لِلْمُلِمَّاتِ بِي قَبْلُ
Despite long loyalty oh he fails me this day,
What avails wailing? Tears however copiously down-poured!
وَكُنْتُ امْرَءًا لا يَعْرِفُ الْغِلُّ قَلْبَهُ
فَأضْحَى بِهِ حُزْنٌ يُخَامِرُهُ الْغِلُّ
Sufficient the balm of solace that Egypt entire
Bore you in funeral pomp none witnessed ever in life before.
بِرَغْمِ وَفَائِي إِنَّهُ الْيَوْمَ خَاذِلِي
وَمَاذَا يَرُد البَث وَالْمَدْمَعُ الجَزْلُ
You are exemplar writ across time without end,
Your name is deathless; your superiority in virtue for as long as virtue told.
كَفَى سَلْوَةً أَنْ شيَّعَتْ مِصْرُ كُلُّهَا
فَتَاهَا بِمَا لَمْ يَشْهَدِ النَّاسُ مِنْ قَبْلُ
We did condole the President but no need:
Through you all guidance and attachments were condoned.
مِثَالُكَ مِلْءُ الدَّهْرِ وَاسْمُكَ خَالِدٌ
وَفَضْلُكَ بَاقِي الذَّكْرِ مَا ذُكِرَ الفَضْلُ
إِذَا نَحْنُ عَزَّيْنَا الرَّئِيسَ وَلَمْ نَزِدْ
فَقَدْ عُزِّيَتْ فِيكَ الكِنَانَةُ وَالأهْلُ
