سلask بالشريعةabout the sacred Law كيفhow مالfell ديامهاits support (uncertain spelling)
سل بالشريعة كيف مال ديامها
سلask بالفقاهةabout jurisprudence ابنwhere (probable reading) غابvanished إمامهاits imam
سل بالفقاهة ابن غاب إمامها
Ask of the sacred Law how its support fell;
Ask jurisprudence how its pillars have declined,
ask of jurisprudence where its imam has gone.
Ask jurisprudence whose leader has been absent.
ساجلvie with بلوعتكwith your anguish الحمامthe doves فقدfor indeed رمىstruck
ساجل بلوعتك الحمام فقد رمى
نفساًa soul مقدسةsanctified الخصالin qualities حمامهاits death
نفساً مقدسة الخصال حمامها
Vie with the doves in your anguish, for death has struck
Vent your sadness to the dove, for it has cast
a soul of sanctified qualities.
A sacred soul whose traits are its feathers.
نفسa soul تفدىis ransomed بالنفوسwith souls كرامةfor nobility
نفس تفدى بالنفوس كرامة
ونفاسةand preciousness لوif only يستطاعwere attainable مرامهاwhat is sought for it
ونفاسة لو يستطاع مرامها
A soul to be ransomed with souls, for its nobility
A soul that sacrifices souls to defend dignity,
and preciousness—if only that aim were attainable.
And whose ambition cannot be attained.
حلتloosened عرىthe bonds of الصبرpatience الجميلnoble عظيمةa great calamity
حلت عرى الصبر الجميل عظيمة
ماnot ينقضيends طولthe length of المدىtime استعظامهاawe at its enormity
ما ينقضي طول المدى استعظامها
A mighty calamity loosened the bonds of noble patience;
The beautiful patience has worn off tremendously,
throughout time, awe at its enormity never ends.
Its greatness cannot diminish over time.
حالتchanged لهاbecause of it الايمthe days (probable reading) فهيand they are حوالكpitch-dark
حالت لها الايم فهي حوالك
غشيengulfed البلادthe lands النازحاتfar-distant ظلامهاtheir darkness
غشي البلاد النازحات ظلامها
The days changed because of it and became pitch-dark;
Calamities have befallen us so they surround you.
their darkness engulfed the far-distant lands.
The displaced have overwhelmed the countries in their darkness.
منamong them حائرa bewildered one لاnot يهتديfinds the way لسبيلهto his path
من حائر لا يهتدي لسبيله
ورهينand a captive of أشجانsorrows رمتهstruck him سهامهاtheir arrows
ورهين أشجان رمته سهامها
One is bewildered, unable to find his way,
A confused one who cannot find his way,
another captive to sorrows, struck by their arrows,
And a prisoner whose sighs are his arrows.
ومغالطand one deceiving خوفfor fear of الحقيقةthe truth نفسهhimself
ومغالط خوف الحقيقة نفسه
كيفhow الخداعdeception وقدwhen indeed أميطwas removed لثامهاits veil
كيف الخداع وقد أميط لثامها
and another deceives himself for fear of the truth.
And a deceiver who fears the truth itself,
How can there be deception, when its veil has been lifted?
Why the deception when its mask has been removed?
ماnot سلوةthe solace of التعليلself-consoling explanations عنهاconcerning it بالذيof the kind that
ما سلوة التعليل عنها بالذي
يجديavails وقدwhen indeed نزلتit befell وشبand flared ضرامهاits blaze
يجدي وقد نزلت وشب ضرامها
No solace in explaining it away can
What is the use of reasoning while
avail, now that it has struck and its blaze has flared.
What has been destined has occurred and its wound festered?
هتفcried out النعيthe death announcement كانماas though الفاظهits words
هتف النعي كانما الفاظه
نفثspittle الأراقمof vipers يستطيرflies about سمامهاtheir venom
نفث الأراقم يستطير سمامها
The death-announcement cried out, its words as though
The obituary exclaimed as if its words
vipers' spittle, their venom flying everywhere.
Were the hissing of snakes rising to the sky.
انظرlook إلىat الدنياthe world بعينwith an eye بصيرةdiscerning
انظر إلى الدنيا بعين بصيرة
تنبيكtell you عنabout افعالهاits deeds أيامهاits days
تنبيك عن افعالها أيامها
Look upon the world with a discerning eye;
Look at the world with insightful eyes
its days tell you of its deeds.
That warn you of its deeds and days.
الغدرtreachery منamong عاداتهاits habits لكنهاbut it
الغدر من عاداتها لكنها
تصفprofesses الوفاءfidelity فماso not يصحis sound ذمامهاits pledge
تصف الوفاء فما يصح ذمامها
Treachery is among its habits, yet it
Betrayal is of its habits but it
professes fidelity; its pledge cannot be trusted.
Describes loyalty, so its flaws cannot be blamed.
نهوىwe love الحياةlife مؤملينhoping for دوامهاits permanence
نهوى الحياة مؤملين دوامها
هيهاتfar beyond reach ياO راجيone hoping for الحياةlife دوامهاits permanence
هيهات يا راجي الحياة دوامها
We love life, hoping it will endure.
We crave life hoping it lasts forever
Far beyond reach, O you who hope for life, is its permanence!
Alas! O you who crave life lasting forever!
أينwhere الأولىthose who ملكواruled البسيطةthe earth كلهاall of it
أين الأولى ملكوا البسيطة كلها
حتىuntil تضايقgrew cramped بالأسودwith lions اجامهاits thickets
حتى تضايق بالأسود اجامها
Where are those who ruled the whole earth,
Where are the first ones who owned the entire plain
until its thickets grew crowded with lions?
Until the black restricted its waves?
عصبواwere crowned بتيجانwith crowns of النضارpure gold ومذand when ثوواthey settled
عصبوا بتيجان النضار ومذ ثووا
بطنin the belly of الثرىthe earth خلفreplaced النضارthe gold رغامهاits dust
بطن الثرى خلف النضار رغامها
They wore crowns of pure gold; but when they settled
They wore the crowns of youth but after they withered
in the earth's belly, its dust replaced the gold.
They were buried behind youth in its grave.
أينwhere الرجالthe men الصالحونrighteous إلىinto الردىdeath
أين الرجال الصالحون إلى الردى
درجواthey passed away وقلصand shrank ظلهاits shade وخيالهاand its phantom
درجوا وقلص ظلها وخيالها
Where are the righteous men? Into death
I stayed up with burning yearning in my chest
they passed, and the world's shade and phantom shrank.
On the night of estrangement when sleep avoided its eyes.
ولقدand indeed ابيتI spend the night وفيand in الحشىthe breast نارthe fire of الجوىgrief
ولقد ابيت وفي الحشى نار الجوى
فيin ليلةa night هجرforsook الجفونthe eyelids منامهاtheir sleep
في ليلة هجر الجفون منامها
Indeed, I spend the night with grief's fire in my breast,
I cry for the oceans of knowledge that have withdrawn,
on a night when sleep has forsaken my eyelids.
I cry for the houses of righteousness that have declined.
ابكيI mourn بحورthe seas of العلمlearning غاضebbed عبابهاtheir surging waters
ابكي بحور العلم غاض عبابها
ابكيI mourn بدورthe full moons of الرشدguidance حالchanged تمامهاtheir fullness
ابكي بدور الرشد حال تمامها
I mourn the seas of learning whose surging waters have ebbed;
And I blame the days for them while knowing
I mourn the full moons of guidance whose fullness has faded.
That blaming and criticizing them is useless.
وأعاتبand I reproach الأيامthe days فيهمon their account عالماًknowing
وأعاتب الأيام فيهم عالماً
انthat لاnot يفيدbenefits عتابهاreproaching them وملامهاand blaming them
ان لا يفيد عتابها وملامها
And I reproach the days on their account, knowing
The crack has not healed since
that reproaching and blaming them bring no benefit.
Another one split open and its wound festered.
لمnot يلتئمhealed صدعa breach لجلىfrom a great calamity قدمتthat came before
لم يلتئم صدع لجلى قدمت
حتىwhen دهتstruck اخرىanother استطارspread widely ضرامهاits blaze
حتى دهت اخرى استطار ضرامها
The breach left by an earlier great calamity had not healed
Yesterday, he who guided us was buried in the ground
when another struck, its blaze spreading far.
While the leader and protector was absent.
بالأمسyesterday ألحدwas buried فيin الثرىthe earth مهديهاits Mahdi
بالأمس ألحد في الثرى مهديها
واللومand today (probable reading) غابvanished عميدهاits chief وهمامهاand its noble champion
واللوم غاب عميدها وهمامها
Yesterday its Mahdi was laid in the earth,
Two calamities have befallen Islam, so the years
and today its chief and noble champion has vanished.
Of affliction have succeeded one another.
رزآنtwo bereavements بالأسلامupon Islam حلاbefell فاغتدىand so became
رزآن بالأسلام حلا فاغتدى
عامa year of الرزاياcalamities والنوائبand misfortunes عامهاits year
عام الرزايا والنوائب عامها
Two bereavements befell Islam, making
O Lord, protect the upright religion
its year a year of calamities and misfortunes.
From increasingly great calamities that conclude it.
ربLord علىupon الدينthe faith الحنيفupright تتابعfollowed in succession
رب على الدين الحنيف تتابع
بأعظمwith the greatest of الأرزاءbereavements كانwas ختامهاtheir conclusion
بأعظم الأرزاء كان ختامها
Lord, calamities followed one another upon the upright faith;
How can there be stillness to rest while
the greatest of bereavements was their culmination.
The pillar of guidance has collapsed and its pillars crumbled?
كيفhow الركودsettling إلىinto السلوforgetfulness وقدwhen indeed هوىfell
كيف الركود إلى السلو وقد هوى
ركنthe pillar of الهدىguidance منهاwithin it وهدand was shattered دعامهاits support
ركن الهدى منها وهد دعامها
How can we settle into forgetfulness, when fallen is
The virtuous carrier of excellence passed away at dawn
its pillar of guidance, and its support is shattered?
And his unknown coffin crowned the important figures.
للهto God بنwhom (uncertain reading) حملcarried الافاضلthe worthy غدوةat dawn
لله بن حمل الافاضل غدوة
وبنعشهand with his bier المجهولunknown توجcrowned هامهاtheir heads
وبنعشه المجهول توج هامها
God be praised for him whom the worthy bore at dawn,
He carried forbearance on the throne of merits and sublime traits
and whose unknown bier crowned their heads.
And generous deeds, with great flags.
حلمforbearance علىupon العرشthe throne الفضائلvirtues والعلىand lofty rank
حلم على العرش الفضائل والعلى
والمكرماتand noble deeds منيعةimpregnable اعلامهاtheir standards
والمكرمات منيعة اعلامها
Upon the throne: forbearance, virtues, and lofty honor,
And he walked steadily, holding leadership and high position
and noble deeds, their standards impregnable.
While being agreeable, over the heads of leaders and nobles.
وعلىand upon رؤوسthe heads of أولىthose possessing الراسةleadership (probable reading) والعلاand high rank
وعلى رؤوس أولى الراسة والعلا
قدindeed سارpassed رضوىRadwa ماثلاstanding tall وشمامهاand its Shamam
قد سار رضوى ماثلا وشمامها
And upon the heads of those of leadership and high rank
He revived the hearts of Muslims over the absence of the virtuous one
Radwa passed, standing tall, and its Shamam too.
Whose elegy accompanies his Islam.
وحيتand saluted قلوبthe hearts of المسلمينthe Muslims لفاضلin honor of a virtuous man
وحيت قلوب المسلمين لفاضل
ندبa noble champion يلازمever accompanies ندبهmourning him إسلامهاtheir Islam
ندب يلازم ندبه إسلامها
And Muslim hearts saluted a virtuous man,
So the brave heroes felt anguish over his absence
a noble champion whose mourning ever accompanies their Islam.
When the flags and pillars of guidance departed.
فعلىso over المجارسthe schools (uncertain spelling) والمحاربand the prayer niches (probable reading) وحشةdesolation
فعلى المجارس والمحارب وحشة
لماwhen مضىpassed away اعلامهاtheir luminaries قوامهاtheir mainstay
لما مضى اعلامها قوامها
So desolation hangs over the schools and prayer niches,
His son, the Chosen and Pure Imam
since their luminaries and mainstay have passed away:
From the glorious and high-ranking family.
مفضالهاtheir generous benefactor الحسنHasan الزكيthe pure المجتبىthe chosen
مفضالها الحسن الزكي المجتبى
منfrom اسرةa family المجدof glory الرفيعexalted مقامهاits station
من اسرة المجد الرفيع مقامها
their generous Hasan, the pure, the chosen,
Tears flowed like pearls so it is as if
from a family of glory, exalted in station.
His words in the lesson composed an elegant system.
جرتflowed الدموعthe tears لئالئاas pearls فكأنهاso, as though they were
جرت الدموع لئالئا فكأنها
الفاظهhis words فيin الدرسthe lesson راقwas lovely نظامهاtheir arrangement
الفاظه في الدرس راق نظامها
Tears flowed as pearls, as though they were
O refuge of those seeking help, when the nights
his words in the lesson, beautifully arranged.
Of afflictions arrive, provide us with your staff.
ياO عصمةrefuge of المستنجدينthose seeking help إذاwhen عرتbefell
يا عصمة المستنجدين إذا عرت
نوبthe calamities of اللياليthe nights فاستقالand withdrew عصامهاtheir protective bond
نوب الليالي فاستقال عصامها
O refuge of those seeking help, when there befell them
Many needs have come to you anxiously
the night's calamities, and their protective bond gave way!
Hoping you will fulfill them and calm their heat.
كمhow many حاجةa need جاءتكcame to you وهيwhile it was لهفةanguished
كم حاجة جاءتك وهي لهفة
حرىburning فبردso cooled بالنجاحthrough fulfillment أوامهاits thirst
حرى فبرد بالنجاح أوامها
How many a need came to you in anguish,
You were in the horizons of Muhammad’s law
burning, its thirst cooled by fulfillment!
A sun that illuminates its rulings with your knowledge.
قدindeed كنتyou were فيin افاقthe horizons of شرعthe sacred law of محمدMuhammad
قد كنت في افاق شرع محمد
شمساًa sun تضيءilluminating بعلمهwith his knowledge احكامهاits rulings
شمساً تضيء بعلمه احكامها
You were, on the horizons of Muhammad's sacred Law,
And you plunge into the deep oceans of wisdom
a sun illuminating its rulings with his knowledge,
Whose turbulence originates from you.
وخضمand a vast sea of علىlofty honor يستمدdraws from عبابهits surging waters
وخضم على يستمد عبابه
كلall البحورthe seas خضمهاtheir vast sea قمقامهاtheir boundless ocean
كل البحور خضمها قمقامها
and an ocean of eminence whose surging waters sustain
Who can take on the burden of every great deed
all the seas—their vast deep, their boundless ocean.
When war has broken out and conflict emerged?
منwho يستقلtakes upon himself بعبأthe burden of كلevery عظيمةgreat calamity
من يستقل بعبأ كل عظيمة
يوماًone day إذاwhen حربتraged ولدand grew fierce خصامهاits contention
يوماً إذا حربت ولد خصامها
Who will bear the burden of every great calamity
Who can accommodate the influx of delegations
one day, when it rages and its contention grows fierce?
With wisdom that abundantly flows from you?
منwho يستهلbeams طلاقةwith cheerfulness لوفودهfor his visitors
من يستهل طلاقة لوفوده
منfrom قبلbefore عارفةa kindness يفيضpours forth سجامهاits rain
من قبل عارفة يفيض سجامها
Who will beam with welcome for his visitors,
Who can protect the religion of guidance from enemies
even before his kindness rains down in torrents?
And return it intact after they attempt to destroy it?
منwho ذاis there يحوطguards منfrom العداthe enemies دينthe faith of الهدىguidance
من ذا يحوط من العدا دين الهدى
فيعودso becomes منقوضاundone بهthrough him إبرامهاtheir firm designs
فيعود منقوضا به إبرامها
Who will guard the faith of guidance from its enemies,
You are forbearing when faced with adversities
so that through him their firm designs are undone?
As people’s dreams have become prey of men.
حلمforbearance يقرstands firm علىamid الخطوبcalamities إذاwhen غدتbecame
حلم يقر على الخطوب إذا غدت
صيدthe proudest of الرجالmen مطاشةunsettled أحلامهاtheir judgments
صيد الرجال مطاشة أحلامها
Forbearance holds firm amid calamities, when
You have an unshakable resolve when faced with problems
the proudest men have their judgment thrown astray;
As the sharp swords fail against you.
وعزيمةand resolve لاnot تنثنيshrinks عنfrom معضلa hard problem
وعزيمة لا تنثني عن معضل
ويفلand blunts حدthe edge of المرهفاتkeen blades حسامهاits sword
ويفل حد المرهفات حسامها
and resolve that does not shrink from any hard problem,
None other than your son Ja‘far,
its sword blunting the edge of keen blades.
The eminent, devout, and sublime.
ماnot انindeed لهاfor it إلاexcept سليلكyour offspring جعفرJaafar
ما ان لها إلا سليلك جعفر
مفضالهاits generous benefactor الهاميshowering bounty الذرىthe summits قمقامهاits boundless sea
مفضالها الهامي الذرى قمقامها
There is none for it but your offspring Jaafar,
He inherited praiseworthy traits as he possesses them
its benefactor, raining bounty from the heights, its boundless sea.
So graceful praiseworthy traits are destined for him.
ورثinherited المحامدpraiseworthy qualities وهوwhile he حائزpossesses مثلهاtheir like
ورث المحامد وهو حائز مثلها
فلهso his are طريفnewly acquired محامدmerits مقدامهاtheir bold champion
فله طريف محامد مقدامها
He inherited praiseworthy qualities, possessing their like;
The truthful news of Ja‘far’s excellence
his are newly won merits, and he is their bold champion.
Has become known among the people of virtue and resolve.
خبرthe account of الفضيلةvirtue صادقtrue عنconcerning جعفرJaafar
خبر الفضيلة صادق عن جعفر
اضحتbecame رجالthe men of الفضلexcellence وهوامهاand he is their leader (uncertain reading)
اضحت رجال الفضل وهوامها
The account of virtue concerning Jaafar is true;
The rulings yielded to him their leadership
the men of excellence now have him as their leader [uncertain reading].
Willingly, so he gently holds their reins.
القتcast لهto him الأحكامthe rulings فضلthe slack of قيادهاtheir reins
القت له الأحكام فضل قيادها
طوعاwillingly فاسلسso became pliant فيin يديهhis two hands زمامهاtheir bridle
طوعا فاسلس في يديه زمامها
The rulings cast to him the slack of their reins,
He elucidates their ambiguities with his insightful mind
willingly; their bridle grew pliant in his hands.
And draws from the gushing springs their sediments.
يجلوclarifies غوامضهاtheir obscurities بثاقبwith piercing فكرةthought
يجلو غوامضها بثاقب فكرة
ينهلpours down فيin اثرthe wake of الوميضthe flash ركامهاtheir massed clouds
ينهل في اثر الوميض ركامها
He clears their obscurities with piercing thought;
Thus you see the gardens of jurisprudence thriving,
their massed clouds pour rain in the wake of the flash.
Their buds have blossomed and opened their petals,
فترىso you see رياضthe gardens of الفقهjurisprudence زاهرةflowering الربىthe hills
فترى رياض الفقه زاهرة الربى
طابتgrew sweet شذاin fragrance تفتحتopened أكمامهاtheir flower-sheaths
طابت شذا تفتحت أكمامها
So you see the gardens of jurisprudence, their hills in flower,
With the precious, eloquent words, as if they are
sweet-scented, their flower-sheaths unfolding.
Gems composed in an elegant system.
بجواهرwith jewels of الكلمwords النضيدwell-arranged كأنهas though it were
بجواهر الكلم النضيد كأنه
دررpearls ينظمhe strings عقدهاtheir necklace بنظامهاupon their thread
درر ينظم عقدها بنظامها
With jewels of well-arranged speech, as though it were
O family of the Follower, you are the eminent people
pearls whose necklace he strings upon its thread.
Who have attained its maturity and youth.
ياO آلfamily of راضRad أنتمyou القومthe people الألىwho
يا آل راض أنتم القوم الألى
حازattained المعاليthe heights of honor كهلهاits elder وغلامهاand its youth
حاز المعالي كهلها وغلامها
O family of Rad, you are the people whose
Be patient with the bitterness of adversities, for you are
elders and youths have attained the heights of honor.
Its scholars, its wise men, and its pillars.
صبراًbe patient علىwith مضضthe bitterness of الخطوبcalamities فأنتمfor you are
صبراً على مضض الخطوب فأنتم
علماؤهاits scholars حلماؤهاits forbearing sages عظامهاits great men
علماؤها حلماؤها عظامها
Be patient with the bitterness of calamities, for you are
His soul has departed to the Abode of Nobility
its scholars, its forbearing sages, its great men.
Yearning for it, so may he be honored there.
خلدتsought repose إلىin دارthe abode of الكرامةhonor روحهhis soul
خلدت إلى دار الكرامة روحه
شوقاout of longing لهاfor it فليهنهso may it gladden him إكرامهاits honors
شوقا لها فليهنه إكرامها
His soul sought repose in the abode of honor,
longing for it; may its honors gladden him.
Partial English translation: 96 of 98 Arabic lines translated.