ما في السُّلوّ لنا نصيبٌ يُطلبُ

ما في السُّلوّ لنا نصيبٌ يُطلبُ

الحُزن أقهر والمصيبة أغلبُ

الحُزن أقهر والمصيبة أغلبُ

We have no share in consolation to seek.

There is no solace for us to seek

Grief is more overpowering, calamity more overwhelming.

Sorrow prevails and misfortune overwhelms

لكِ يا رزّيةُ في فؤادِيَ زفرةٌ

لكِ يا رزّيةُ في فؤادِيَ زفرةٌ

لا تُستطاع ومن جفونيَ صَيِّبُ

لا تُستطاع ومن جفونيَ صَيِّبُ

For you, calamity, there is a sigh in my heart

For you, O noble one, in my heart there is a sigh

beyond endurance, and a downpour from my eyelids.

That cannot be contained as tears flow from my eyes

قد كان عيباً أن جرى لِيَ مدمعٌ

قد كان عيباً أن جرى لِيَ مدمعٌ

فاليوم إن لم يجرِ دمعٌ أعيبُ

فاليوم إن لم يجرِ دمعٌ أعيبُ

Once it was a fault for a tear of mine to flow;

It was a flaw when my tears once flowed

today, if no tear flows, that is more shameful.

Now if they do not flow today, I am flawed

وَلَطَالَما كان الحزين مؤنّبا

وَلَطَالَما كان الحزين مؤنّبا

فالآن مُدّرع العَزاء مؤنَّبُ

فالآن مُدّرع العَزاء مؤنَّبُ

For long the grieving man was reproached;

Often was the sorrowful one admonished

now the one armored in consolation is reproached.

Now the one steadfast in grief is admonished

طَرَقتْ أَميرَ المؤمنين رزيّةٌ

طَرَقتْ أَميرَ المؤمنين رزيّةٌ

والرُّزْءُ فينا طارقٌ لا يُحْجَبُ

والرُّزْءُ فينا طارقٌ لا يُحْجَبُ

A calamity has visited the Commander of the Faithful;

A tragedy befell the Commander of the Faithful

loss is a visitor among us who cannot be barred.

And sorrow in us is a visitor that cannot be veiled

لَم يَنجُ منها شامخٌ مترفِّعٌ

لَم يَنجُ منها شامخٌ مترفِّعٌ

أو مدخلٌ مُتَمَنّعٌ مُتَصَعَّبُ

أو مدخلٌ مُتَمَنّعٌ مُتَصَعَّبُ

No lofty, towering height escaped it,

No lofty or pretentious one was spared from it

nor any entrance, inaccessible and hard to breach.

Or difficult and rugged road was impeded

لو كان يُدفع مثلُها ببسالةٍ

لو كان يُدفع مثلُها ببسالةٍ

لحمى عواليها الكماةُ الغُلَّبُ

لحمى عواليها الكماةُ الغُلَّبُ

If such a calamity could be repelled by valor,

If the likes of it could be warded by valor

broad-necked, armored warriors would have guarded its heights:

The brave wearing armor would have prevailed

الضّاربون الهامَ في رَهَج الوغى

الضّاربون الهامَ في رَهَج الوغى

والسُّمْرُ تُلطخ بالنّجيع وتُخضَبُ

والسُّمْرُ تُلطخ بالنّجيع وتُخضَبُ

those who strike heads amid the dust of battle,

Those who plunge into the tumult of battle

while dark spears are smeared and dyed with gore;

With swords dripping blood and stained

وَالهاجِمونَ على المنيَّة دارَها

وَالهاجِمونَ على المنيَّة دارَها

وَقُلوبُهم كالصَّخرِ لا تتهيَّبُ

وَقُلوبُهم كالصَّخرِ لا تتهيَّبُ

those who storm death in its own abode,

And those who attack the abode of death

their hearts like rock, knowing no fear.

With hearts like rock that do not waver

قَومٌ إِذا حَملوا القنا وَتَنمّروا

قَومٌ إِذا حَملوا القنا وَتَنمّروا

رَكِبوا مِنَ العَزّاء ما لا يُركبُ

رَكِبوا مِنَ العَزّاء ما لا يُركبُ

Men who, when they bear spears and rage like tigers,

A people when they carry spears and show defiance

ride over rugged ground that none can ride;

Mounting sorrow that cannot be mounted

أَو أَقدموا في معركٍ لم ينكصوا

أَو أَقدموا في معركٍ لم ينكصوا

أو غالبوا في مَبْرَكٍ لم يُغلبوا

أو غالبوا في مَبْرَكٍ لم يُغلبوا

or, advancing into battle, never retreat;

Or launch into a battle without retreating

or, contending on the combat ground, are never overcome.

Or overcome in a glorious victory without being overcome

رُزءٌ بمُفتَقَدٍ أَرانا فقدُه

رُزءٌ بمُفتَقَدٍ أَرانا فقدُه

أنَّ العُلا والمجدَ قَفْرٌ سَبْسَبُ

أنَّ العُلا والمجدَ قَفْرٌ سَبْسَبُ

A loss of one departed, whose absence showed us

A sorrow for one missed whose loss

that eminence and glory are a vast, barren waste.

Showed glory and might to be barren and desolate

وَالأرضُ بعدَ نضارةٍ ما إن لها

وَالأرضُ بعدَ نضارةٍ ما إن لها

إِلّا الأَديمُ المقشعرُّ المُجدِبُ

إِلّا الأَديمُ المقشعرُّ المُجدِبُ

The earth, after its verdure, has nothing

The land after verdure it has none

but a bristling, barren skin.

Except the sparsely vegetated and arid plain

والنّاس إمّا واجمٌ متخشِّعٌ

والنّاس إمّا واجمٌ متخشِّعٌ

أو ذاهلٌ خلع الحِجى مُتَسَلّبُ

أو ذاهلٌ خلع الحِجى مُتَسَلّبُ

People are either silent with grief and bowed low,

While people are either silent and humble

or dazed, having cast off reason, clad in mourning.

Or bewildered, having shed their façade

إِن يَمضِ مقتبِل الشّباب فإنّه

إِن يَمضِ مقتبِل الشّباب فإنّه

نالَ الفَضائلَ لَم يَنلْها الأَشيبُ

نالَ الفَضائلَ لَم يَنلْها الأَشيبُ

Though he depart in the bloom of youth, he

If the prime of youth passes it has attained

attained virtues the gray-haired man never attained:

Virtues not attained by the elderly

ورعٌ نبا عنهُ الرّجال وعفّةٌ

ورعٌ نبا عنهُ الرّجال وعفّةٌ

لم يَستطعها النّاسك المتجنِّبُ

لم يَستطعها النّاسك المتجنِّبُ

a piety men fell short of, and a chastity

Piety the men admired and chastity

the withdrawn ascetic could not attain.

That not even the devout recluse could maintain

قُلنا وَقَد عالوهُ فَوق سريرِه

قُلنا وَقَد عالوهُ فَوق سريرِه

يَطفو عَلى قُلل الرّجال ويرسُبُ

يَطفو عَلى قُلل الرّجال ويرسُبُ

We said, as they raised him upon his bier,

We said when they carried him above his throne

floating above men's heads, then sinking,

He floated over the summits of men and settled

وَوَراءَه الشُمُّ الكرامُ فناشِجٌ

وَوَراءَه الشُمُّ الكرامُ فناشِجٌ

يُذرِي مدامعه وآخرُ يندُبُ

يُذرِي مدامعه وآخرُ يندُبُ

with proud, noble men behind him—one sobbing,

Behind him the generous weep profusely

scattering his tears, another lamenting:

One laments while another eulogizes

مَن ذا لَوى هَذا الهمام إِلى الرّدى

مَن ذا لَوى هَذا الهمام إِلى الرّدى

فأطاعه أم كيف قيد المُصْعَبُ

فأطاعه أم كيف قيد المُصْعَبُ

Who turned this valiant man toward death,

Who twisted the arm of this protector into demise

that he obeyed him? Or how was the untamable one bound?

That he obeyed, or how was the formidable fettered?

صَبراً أَميرَ المؤمنينَ فَلَم نَزلْ

صَبراً أَميرَ المؤمنينَ فَلَم نَزلْ

بالصّبر من آدابكم نتأدّبُ

بالصّبر من آدابكم نتأدّبُ

Patience, Commander of the Faithful! We have never ceased

Patience, O Commander of the Faithful, we have not ceased

to be schooled in patience by your teachings.

To adopt your manners of patience and discipline

أَنتُم أَمَرتم بِالسُّلوّ عن الرّدى

أَنتُم أَمَرتم بِالسُّلوّ عن الرّدى

وَأَريتمُ في الخطبِ أَين المذهبُ

وَأَريتمُ في الخطبِ أَين المذهبُ

You bade us leave the grief of death behind,

You commanded composure in the face of misfortune

and showed us where to turn in calamity.

And showed in your sermons where composure lies

وَرَكِبتمُ أَثباجَ كلّ عَظيمةٍ

وَرَكِبتمُ أَثباجَ كلّ عَظيمةٍ

إذ قلّ ركّابٌ وعزّ المركبُ

إذ قلّ ركّابٌ وعزّ المركبُ

And you rode the crests of every great ordeal,

You mounted the saddles of every mighty one

when riders were few and the mount hard to master.

When riders were few and the mount was dear

ووردتُمُ الغَمراتِ في ظلّ القنا

ووردتُمُ الغَمراتِ في ظلّ القنا

والطّعن في حافاتها يتلهّبُ

والطّعن في حافاتها يتلهّبُ

And you entered the perilous depths beneath the shadow of spears,

You confronted torrents in the shade of spears

while spear-thrusts blazed along their edges.

With piercing their fringes aflame

حوشيتُم أن تُنقصوا أنوارَكم

حوشيتُم أن تُنقصوا أنوارَكم

أو تُبخسوا من حظّكم أو تُنكبوا

أو تُبخسوا من حظّكم أو تُنكبوا

May you be spared any dimming of your lights,

You were wary that you diminish your brilliance

any loss of your share, or any calamity.

Or detract from your share or stumble

وَإِذا بَقيتم سالِمينَ منَ الأذى

وَإِذا بَقيتم سالِمينَ منَ الأذى

فَدَعوا الأذى في غَيركم يتقلّبُ

فَدَعوا الأذى في غَيركم يتقلّبُ

So long as you remain safe from harm,

And when you remain unharmed from harm

let harm range among others.

Then let harm in others toss and turn

شاطَرتَ دَهرك واجداً عن واجدٍ

شاطَرتَ دَهرك واجداً عن واجدٍ

فَغَلبتهُ والدّهرُ غيرَك يغلبُ

فَغَلبتهُ والدّهرُ غيرَك يغلبُ

You shared with Time, one wealthy man for another,

You shared your fate finding consolation from condolence

and overcame it, though Time overcomes all but you.

Yet fate vanquishes others while you prevail

ما ضَرّنا وَسُيوفنا مَشحوذةٌ

ما ضَرّنا وَسُيوفنا مَشحوذةٌ

مَصقولةٌ إِن فلَّ منها المِضربُ

مَصقولةٌ إِن فلَّ منها المِضربُ

It does us no harm, while our swords are sharpened,

It does not harm us while our swords are sharpened

and polished, if one of their striking edges is nicked.

Burnished, that if they slip the blade would be marked

وَالشَمسُ أَنتَ مُقيمةً في أُفقها

وَالشَمسُ أَنتَ مُقيمةً في أُفقها

وَهُدىً لَنا مِن كُلّ شَمسٍ كَوكَبُ

وَهُدىً لَنا مِن كُلّ شَمسٍ كَوكَبُ

And you are the sun, abiding in its horizon,

You are a sun fixed in its horizon

and from every sun, a star is our guide.

And guiding stars for us from every sun that orbits

وَإِذا البحورُ بَقينَ فينا مِنكُمُ

وَإِذا البحورُ بَقينَ فينا مِنكُمُ

مَملوءةً فدعِ المذانبَ تنضُبُ

مَملوءةً فدعِ المذانبَ تنضُبُ

And if the seas from among you remain among us,

And if the seas within us remain of you

full, then let the rivulets run dry.

Full, then let the far flung buckets be drained

وَلَئِن وَهى بِالرُّزءِ منّا منكبٌ

وَلَئِن وَهى بِالرُّزءِ منّا منكبٌ

فَلَقد نَجا مِن ذاكَ فينا منكِبُ

فَلَقد نَجا مِن ذاكَ فينا منكِبُ

And even if one shoulder of ours weakens beneath the loss,

And if with sorrow a shoulder of ours slumps

another shoulder among us has escaped it.

Then many shoulders with us after that persevere

نَجمانِ هَذا طالِعٌ إِيماضه

نَجمانِ هَذا طالِعٌ إِيماضه

مَلأ العيونَ وذاك عنّا يغرُبُ

مَلأ العيونَ وذاك عنّا يغرُبُ

Two stars: this one rises; its gleam

Two stars - this one rises its flashing

has filled our eyes, while that one sets away from us.

Fills the eyes while that from us sets

أَو نِعمتانِ فَهذهِ مَتروكةٌ

أَو نِعمتانِ فَهذهِ مَتروكةٌ

مذخورة أبداً وأُخرى تُسلبُ

مذخورة أبداً وأُخرى تُسلبُ

Or two blessings: this one is left to us,

Or two blessings - this one abandoned

treasured forever, while another is taken away.

Hoarded forever and the other plundered

أَصلٌ لهُ غُصنانِ هذا ذابِلٌ

أَصلٌ لهُ غُصنانِ هذا ذابِلٌ

ذاوٍ وهذا ناضرٌ متشعّبُ

ذاوٍ وهذا ناضرٌ متشعّبُ

A root with two branches: this one is wilted,

A root with two branches - this one withered

withered; this other is flourishing and branching out.

Withering while this one flourishing and burgeoning

أَو صَعْدةٌ فُجِعَتْ ببعض كُعوبها

أَو صَعْدةٌ فُجِعَتْ ببعض كُعوبها

ولها كعوبٌ بعد ذاك وأكعُبُ

ولها كعوبٌ بعد ذاك وأكعُبُ

Or a straight spear-shaft bereaved of some of its joints,

Or a hillside aggrieved by some of its slopes

yet it has joints after that, and still more joints.

While slopes after that even steeper remain

أَو أَجدَلٌ ما سُلّ منه مِخْلَبٌ

أَو أَجدَلٌ ما سُلّ منه مِخْلَبٌ

فَاِجتُثَّ إلّا ناب عنه مِخلَبُ

فَاِجتُثَّ إلّا ناب عنه مِخلَبُ

Or a falcon: no talon is drawn from it

Or a wild cat whose claws were not all torn out

and torn out but another talon takes its place.

All were uprooted except one claw that endured

ماذا التنافسُ في البقاءِ وَإِنّما

ماذا التنافسُ في البقاءِ وَإِنّما

هُوَ عارِضٌ ماضٍ وبرقٌ خُلَّبُ

هُوَ عارِضٌ ماضٍ وبرقٌ خُلَّبُ

Why compete for survival, when it is only

What is this struggle for survival when indeed

a passing cloud and rainless lightning?

It is a fleeting condition and a flickering mirage

ذاقَ الحِمامَ مبذّرٌ ومُقتّرٌ

ذاقَ الحِمامَ مبذّرٌ ومُقتّرٌ

وَأَتى إليه مبغضٌ ومحبّبُ

وَأَتى إليه مبغضٌ ومحبّبُ

Spendthrift and miser have both tasted death,

The liberal and the stingy have tasted death

and the hated and the beloved have both come to it.

And the beloved and hated have come to it

فَمُعجّلٌ لحمامهِ ومؤجّلٌ

فَمُعجّلٌ لحمامهِ ومؤجّلٌ

وَمُشرّقٌ بِطلوعهِ ومغرّبُ

وَمُشرّقٌ بِطلوعهِ ومغرّبُ

One is hastened to his death, another granted delay,

One hurries to his death while the other delays

and one rises in the east, another sets in the west.

One rises at its advent while the other sets

وَنُعاتبُ الأيّامَ في فُرُطاتها

وَنُعاتبُ الأيّامَ في فُرُطاتها

لكنْ نُعاتب سادراً لا يُعتبُ

لكنْ نُعاتب سادراً لا يُعتبُ

And we reproach the days for their excesses,

And we blame the days for their oversights

but reproach a heedless one who makes no amends.

But to blame what is foreordained does not avail

لا نافعٌ إلّا وَمنهُ ضائرٌ

لا نافعٌ إلّا وَمنهُ ضائرٌ

أَو مرغبٌ إلّا وَفيه مُرهِبُ

أَو مرغبٌ إلّا وَفيه مُرهِبُ

Nothing beneficial is without harm issuing from it,

No benefit except that it harms

nor anything alluring without something fearsome within.

Or desire except that it makes one wary

وَمَتى صَفا خلل الحوادِث مشربٌ

وَمَتى صَفا خلل الحوادِث مشربٌ

عَذبٌ تكدّر عن قليلٍ مشربُ

عَذبٌ تكدّر عن قليلٍ مشربُ

And whenever a draught runs clear amid misfortunes,

And when the disturbance of events clears

sweet to drink, that draught soon grows turbid.

The water is sweet but shortly muddied again

فَخراً بَني عمّ الرّسول فأنتُمُ

فَخراً بَني عمّ الرّسول فأنتُمُ

أَزكى المَغارس في الأنام وأطيبُ

أَزكى المَغارس في الأنام وأطيبُ

Take pride, sons of the Messenger's uncle, for you are

So pride of the Prophet's uncles you are

the purest, finest plantings among humankind.

The most immaculate plants among the people and purest

إِرثُ النبيِّ لَكم ودار مُقامِهِ

إِرثُ النبيِّ لَكم ودار مُقامِهِ

والوحْيُ يُتلى بينكم أو يُكتبُ

والوحْيُ يُتلى بينكم أو يُكتبُ

The Prophet's legacy is yours, and the home where he dwelt;

The inheritance of the Prophet is yours and abode of his station

and revelation is recited among you or written down.

And the revelation recited to you and transcribed

والبُرْدُ فيكم وَالقضيبُ وَأَنتمُ الْ

والبُرْدُ فيكم وَالقضيبُ وَأَنتمُ الْ

أَدنَوْن من أغصانه والأقربُ

أَدنَوْن من أغصانه والأقربُ

The mantle and rod are among you, and you are the

The chill is yours, the staff, you are the

nearest among his branches, the closest.

Closest branches to it and most akin

وأبوكُمُ سقّى الأنامَ بسجْلَهِ

وأبوكُمُ سقّى الأنامَ بسجْلَهِ

وَأَحلّه والعام عامٌ مُجدبُ

وَأَحلّه والعام عامٌ مُجدبُ

And your father gave humankind drink from his full bucket,

Your father quenched people with his bucket

and lodged them, though the year was barren.

And made lawful and the year was arid

خُتمت خِلافته بكمْ وعليكُمُ

خُتمت خِلافته بكمْ وعليكُمُ

إشرافُها أبدَ الزَّمان مطنَّبُ

إشرافُها أبدَ الزَّمان مطنَّبُ

His caliphate was sealed with you, and over you

His leadership was sealed with you, over it

its eminence is spread like a canopy for all time.

For the rest of time, control centered in you

هِي هَضْبةٌ لَولاكمُ لا تُرتَقى

هِي هَضْبةٌ لَولاكمُ لا تُرتَقى

أَو صَعبةٌ بِسواكمُ لا تُركبُ

أَو صَعبةٌ بِسواكمُ لا تُركبُ

It is a hill none could ascend without you,

It is a plateau none can ascend without you

or an unruly mount none but you could ride.

Or a rough trail none can tread but you

حَكمَ الإِلهُ بِأنّها خِلَعٌ لكمْ

حَكمَ الإِلهُ بِأنّها خِلَعٌ لكمْ

لا تُنْتضى وبَنيَّةٌ لا تُخربُ

لا تُنْتضى وبَنيَّةٌ لا تُخربُ

God decreed that it be robes of honor for you,

God has ruled it is a robe for you

never taken off, and an edifice never demolished.

Never to be stripped, and a structure not to crumble

كَم طامِعٍ مِن غَيرِكمْ في نيلها

كَم طامِعٍ مِن غَيرِكمْ في نيلها

فَرَقتْ مفارِقَه السّيوف الوُثَّبُ

فَرَقتْ مفارِقَه السّيوف الوُثَّبُ

How many others, eager to attain it,

How many coveting it from other than you

had their crowns cleft by leaping swords!

Were scattered by the leaping swords

وَمُؤمّلين وُلوجَ بَعضِ شِعابها

وَمُؤمّلين وُلوجَ بَعضِ شِعابها

لَم يَبلُغوا ذاكَ الرّجاءَ وخُيّبوا

لَم يَبلُغوا ذاكَ الرّجاءَ وخُيّبوا

And those who hoped to enter some of its ravines

And hopefuls of reaching some of its slopes

never attained that hope, and were disappointed.

Did not attain that hope and were disappointed

جِئناك نَمتاحُ العَزاء فَهَب لنا

جِئناك نَمتاحُ العَزاء فَهَب لنا

مِنكَ العَزاءَ فَمِثلُ ذَلكَ يوهبُ

مِنكَ العَزاءَ فَمِثلُ ذَلكَ يوهبُ

We have come to you to draw up solace; grant us

We came to you to solace our grief so bestow upon us

solace from you, for such things are bestowed.

Solace, the like of which would be granted

وَاِرفُقْ بِقَلبٍ حاملٍ ثِقلَ الورى

وَاِرفُقْ بِقَلبٍ حاملٍ ثِقلَ الورى

وَالكَلْمُ يؤْسى والمضايقُ تَرحُبُ

وَالكَلْمُ يؤْسى والمضايقُ تَرحُبُ

And be gentle with a heart bearing humankind's burden;

And be gentle with a heart bearing the burdens of the world

the wound is healed, and narrow straits grow wide.

While speech despairs and straits are ample

وَاِسلُكْ بِنا سُبُلَ السلُوّ فإنّنا

وَاِسلُكْ بِنا سُبُلَ السلُوّ فإنّنا

بِكَ نَقتَدي وَإِلى طريقك نذهبُ

بِكَ نَقتَدي وَإِلى طريقك نذهبُ

And lead us along the paths of solace, for we

And take us on the paths of composure for we

follow your example and go toward your path.

Follow your guidance, and to your path, proceed