يا غلة الأحشاء غاض المورد

يا غلة الأحشاء غاض المورد

يا ازمة الأيام غاب المنجد

يا ازمة الأيام غاب المنجد

O burning thirst of the heart—the watering place has run dry!

O burning thirst within, the watering place has run dry!

O crisis of the age—the rescuer has vanished!

O crisis of the days, the rescuer has vanished!

لا نجدة للمستغيث ولا روى

لا نجدة للمستغيث ولا روى

يشفي غليل حشاشة تتوقد

يشفي غليل حشاشة تتوقد

No aid remains for one who cries for help, nor any draught

No aid for the one crying for help, nor any quenching

to cool the burning thirst of a heart ablaze.

To soothe the thirst of life's last flicker, ablaze.

فل الغرار فلا فم لخطابة

فل الغرار فلا فم لخطابة

عند الخطوب ولا حسام ولا يد

عند الخطوب ولا حسام ولا يد

The sword-edge is notched; no mouth remains for eloquence

The blade's edge is blunted: no mouth remains for oratory

when calamities strike, nor sword, nor helping hand.

Amid calamities, no sword and no helping hand.

بكر النعي وقال قد أودى التقى

بكر النعي وقال قد أودى التقى

ومضى إمام المسلمين الأوحد

ومضى إمام المسلمين الأوحد

The death-knell came at dawn, declaring: the pious one has perished,

The death announcement came early and said, 'Piety has perished,'

and the peerless imam of the Muslims has departed.

And the peerless imam of the Muslims has departed.

إن كان قد أودى التقى محمد

إن كان قد أودى التقى محمد

فلقد أصيب به النبي محمد

فلقد أصيب به النبي محمد

If the pious Muhammad has indeed perished,

If Muhammad al-Taqi has indeed perished,

then through him the Prophet Muhammad himself has been stricken.

Then the Prophet Muhammad has been stricken through him.

ذكر المنجم وهو ينعى المتقي

ذكر المنجم وهو ينعى المتقي

وصفاً لغير أبي الرضا لا يسند

وصفاً لغير أبي الرضا لا يسند

The astrologer spoke, announcing the pious man’s death—

The astrologer, mourning the pious man, mentioned

a description attributable to none but Abu al-Rida.

A quality attributed to none but Abu al-Rida.

فقزعت للتكذيب لكن في الحشا

فقزعت للتكذيب لكن في الحشا

قلق مخافة صدقه يتردد

قلق مخافة صدقه يتردد

I rushed to deny it, yet within my breast

So I recoiled in denial, yet in my breast

anxiety kept stirring, for fear his words were true.

Unease keeps stirring, fearing that his words are true.

ليت المنجم لم يصدق قوله

ليت المنجم لم يصدق قوله

فالصدق في بعض المواطن انكد

فالصدق في بعض المواطن انكد

Would that the astrologer’s prediction had proved false,

Would that the astrologer's statement had not proved true,

for truth, in certain places, is most bitter.

For truth in some circumstances brings greater grief.

من يستقل بحمل كل عظيمة

من يستقل بحمل كل عظيمة

وبمن يلوذ الصارخ المستنجد

وبمن يلوذ الصارخ المستنجد

Who now can shoulder every grave burden?

Who will shoulder every mighty burden,

And with whom shall the distressed supplicant seek refuge?

And in whom will the desperate caller seek refuge?

من للوفود وللعفاة يعمها

من للوفود وللعفاة يعمها

بشراً ووجه العام اقتم اربد

بشراً ووجه العام اقتم اربد

Who will receive delegations and favor all who seek his bounty

Who will welcome the delegations and petitioners alike

with gladness, when the face of the year has grown dark and ashen?

With cheerfulness, when the year's face is dusky and dark?

من للمنابر يرتقي اعوادها

من للمنابر يرتقي اعوادها

بالبحر يطفح والفريد ينضج

بالبحر يطفح والفريد ينضج

Who will mount the pulpits, ascend their timbers,

Who will serve the pulpits, mounting their timbers,

overflowing like the sea and bringing forth matchless pearls?

With the sea overflowing and choice pearls ripening?

يا آية الله المقدسة التي

يا آية الله المقدسة التي

امست إليه بها الملائك تصعد

امست إليه بها الملائك تصعد

O sacred sign of God, by whom

O sacred sign of God, through which

the angels have come to ascend unto Him!

The angels have come to ascend to Him!

غادرتنا والخطب داج ليله

غادرتنا والخطب داج ليله

واليوم من صبغ الحوادث اسود

واليوم من صبغ الحوادث اسود

You left us while calamity’s night was pitch-dark,

You left us while calamity's night was dark,

and today is black with the dye of disasters.

And the day blackened by the stain of misfortunes.

فمن المدافع والاسنة شرع

فمن المدافع والاسنة شرع

والبيض تبرق والمدافع ترعد

والبيض تبرق والمدافع ترعد

Who now will face the cannons and leveled spears,

Who, then, will defend us when the spearheads are leveled,

as white blades flash and cannons thunder?

The bright swords flash, and the cannons thunder?

الشرق يا شمس الهداية مظلم

الشرق يا شمس الهداية مظلم

مذ غاب عنه ضياؤك المتوقد

مذ غاب عنه ضياؤك المتوقد

The East is dark, O sun of guidance,

The East, O sun of guidance, lies in darkness

since your blazing radiance vanished from it.

Since your blazing radiance vanished from it.

لو لم تعاجلك المنية لانجلى

لو لم تعاجلك المنية لانجلى

عنه سحاب المغرب المتلبد

عنه سحاب المغرب المتلبد

Had death not overtaken you so swiftly,

Had death not overtaken you so soon, there would have lifted

the massing clouds of the West would have cleared away from it.

From it the West's thick-gathered clouds.

ساروا بنعشك والدموع سواجم

ساروا بنعشك والدموع سواجم

تهوى وافناس الجوى تتصعد

تهوى وافناس الجوى تتصعد

They bore your bier onward while tears poured down;

They went with your bier, while streaming tears

hearts plunged, and anguished breaths rose upward.

Fell, and breaths of anguish rose.

فيه السكينة والوقار وخلفه

فيه السكينة والوقار وخلفه

وامامه غر الملائك حشد

وامامه غر الملائك حشد

Upon it rested serenity and dignity, while behind it

Within it were serenity and dignity; behind it

and before it thronged the radiant nobility of the angels.

And before it, radiant angels thronged.

ولكل عين عبرة ولكل قلب

ولكل عين عبرة ولكل قلب

لوعة منها يذوب الجلمد

لوعة منها يذوب الجلمد

Every eye held a tear, and every heart

Every eye held a tear, and every heart

an anguish that could melt solid rock.

An anguish that would melt solid rock.

جزع الحكيم كغيره في موطن

جزع الحكيم كغيره في موطن

لا صابر فيه ولا متجلد

لا صابر فيه ولا متجلد

The wise man despaired like all others in a place

The wise man despaired like everyone else in a place

where none could remain patient or steadfast.

Where none was patient and none could hold firm.

حملوا على الأيدي الايادي والندى

حملوا على الأيدي الايادي والندى

والعلم والتقوى التي لا تجحد

والعلم والتقوى التي لا تجحد

Upon their hands they bore beneficence and generosity,

Upon their hands they bore beneficence and bounty,

knowledge, and an undeniable piety.

And knowledge and piety that none can deny.

قل للأولى قالوا سيوجد مثله

قل للأولى قالوا سيوجد مثله

خلو المحال فمثله لا يوجد

خلو المحال فمثله لا يوجد

Tell those who said, “His like will come again”:

Tell those who said, 'His like will be found':

Abandon that impossibility—his like will never be found.

'Leave impossibilities aside; his like cannot be found.'

بعد الأئمة لم يقم برئاسة

بعد الأئمة لم يقم برئاسة

فينا كما كان التقي محمد

فينا كما كان التقي محمد

After the Imams, no one assumed leadership

After the Imams, none exercised leadership

among us as did the pious Muhammad.

Among us as did Muhammad al-Taqi.

للحرب والمحراب من عزماته

للحرب والمحراب من عزماته

بطل ومنه القائم المتهجد

بطل ومنه القائم المتهجد

For war and for the prayer-niche, his resolve produced

For war and the prayer niche, his resolve revealed

a hero—and a worshipper standing through the night.

A hero in him, and a worshipper standing in night vigil.

كانت سهام الليل من دعواته

كانت سهام الليل من دعواته

لا تخطيء الاعداء حين تسدد

لا تخطيء الاعداء حين تسدد

His nightly prayers were arrows

The arrows of the night were his prayers,

that never missed the foe when aimed.

Never missing the enemies when aimed.

ان قلت بحر ندى فان يمينه

ان قلت بحر ندى فان يمينه

اسخى من البحر الخضم وأجود

اسخى من البحر الخضم وأجود

If you call him a sea of generosity, his right hand

If you call him a sea of bounty, his right hand

was more munificent and giving than the boundless ocean.

Is more generous and bountiful than the vast sea.

أو قلت بدر هدى فان ضياءه

أو قلت بدر هدى فان ضياءه

أهدى وأجلى للظلام وأسعد

أهدى وأجلى للظلام وأسعد

Or if you call him a full moon of guidance, his light

Or call him a full moon of guidance, his radiance

guided more surely, dispelled darkness more brightly, and brought greater joy.

Guides better, dispels darkness more, and brings greater joy.

أو قلت سيف فالسيوف كليلة

أو قلت سيف فالسيوف كليلة

عن حد سيف الله حين يجرد

عن حد سيف الله حين يجرد

Or if you call him a sword, all other swords are blunt

Or call him a sword: all swords are blunt

beside the edge of God’s sword when it is drawn.

Beside the edge of God's sword when it is drawn.

ما البدر ما الشمس المنير ما الحيا

ما البدر ما الشمس المنير ما الحيا

ما البحر ما عضب الغرار مهند

ما البحر ما عضب الغرار مهند

What is the moon, what the shining sun, what life-giving rain?

What is the full moon? What is the shining sun? What is the rain?

What is the sea, what a keen-edged Indian blade?

What is the sea? What is a sharp-edged Indian-forged sword?

ما كان الا آية قدسية

ما كان الا آية قدسية

جاءت بتوحيد المهيمن تشهد

جاءت بتوحيد المهيمن تشهد

He was nothing less than a sacred sign

He was nothing but a sacred sign

come to bear witness to the Sovereign’s oneness.

That came bearing witness to the Sovereign's oneness.

يا مخضع التيجان نهتف باسمه

يا مخضع التيجان نهتف باسمه

فتذل تيجان الملوك وتسجد

فتذل تيجان الملوك وتسجد

O you whose name we cry aloud, humbling crowns,

O subduer of crowns—when we cry out his name,

so that the crowns of kings bow low and prostrate!

The crowns of kings are humbled and bow down.

لك آية القلم المجهز للعدى

لك آية القلم المجهز للعدى

بيض الضبا منه المداد الأسود

بيض الضبا منه المداد الأسود

Yours is the miracle of the pen, armed against the foe:

Yours is the miracle of a pen armed against foes;

its black ink becomes the white blades of swords.

Its black ink is gleaming sword-edges.

ان البراعة في يراعتك التي

ان البراعة في يراعتك التي

يعنو لهيبتها المليك الأصيد

يعنو لهيبتها المليك الأصيد

The eloquence of your reed pen is such

Mastery lies in your reed pen,

that the proud and mighty king bows before its majesty.

Before whose awe even the proud king bows.

حررت بالكلم القصار معاشراً

حررت بالكلم القصار معاشراً

طال العناء عليهم فاستعبدوا

طال العناء عليهم فاستعبدوا

With brief words you liberated a people

With brief words, you freed communities

whose long suffering had left them enslaved.

Long burdened by suffering and reduced to slavery.

بوركت من قلم جرى في انمل

بوركت من قلم جرى في انمل

بيد على الدين الحنيف لها يد

بيد على الدين الحنيف لها يد

Blessed be the pen that moved through the fingertips

Blessed are you, a pen that ran between fingers

of a hand that rendered mighty service to the true faith.

Of a hand that has served the upright faith.

ان العراق لشاكر لك نعمة

ان العراق لشاكر لك نعمة

عنها يقصّر واصف ومعدد

عنها يقصّر واصف ومعدد

Iraq is indeed grateful to you for a blessing

Iraq is surely grateful to you for a favor

that no describer or enumerator can adequately recount.

No describer or enumerator can adequately recount.

أنت المؤسس نهضة دينية

أنت المؤسس نهضة دينية

عربية فيها العلى والسؤدد

عربية فيها العلى والسؤدد

You founded a religious awakening,

You founded a religious awakening,

Arab in spirit, filled with loftiness and glory.

An Arab one, endowed with eminence and glory.

ما ان نهضت بقوة لكنما

ما ان نهضت بقوة لكنما

من قوة الملكوت كنت تؤيد

من قوة الملكوت كنت تؤيد

You did not rise by earthly strength; rather,

You did not rise through might; rather,

you were sustained by the power of the heavenly realm.

You were sustained by the power of the heavenly kingdom.

الفت بين المسلمين مجمعاً

الفت بين المسلمين مجمعاً

شملا مدى الأيام لا يتبدد

شملا مدى الأيام لا يتبدد

You united the Muslims in an assembly,

You united the Muslims, gathering together

a union that shall never scatter throughout the days.

A union that would not scatter throughout the days.

أعيى على الرؤساء قبلك أمرهم

أعيى على الرؤساء قبلك أمرهم

حتى استقل بها الرئيس الأيد

حتى استقل بها الرئيس الأيد

Their affair had defeated the leaders before you,

Their affairs baffled the leaders before you,

until the strong-handed leader undertook it alone.

Until the mighty leader took charge of it.

كانت حياتك عزة وسعادة

كانت حياتك عزة وسعادة

فيها تعز المسلمون وتسعد

فيها تعز المسلمون وتسعد

Your life was honor and happiness,

Your life was dignity and happiness;

in which the Muslims found honor and joy.

Through it the Muslims gained honor and joy.

واليوم قد هدت رزيتك القوى

واليوم قد هدت رزيتك القوى

والله اعلم بالذي يأتي غد

والله اعلم بالذي يأتي غد

Today your loss has shattered our strength,

Today the tragedy of losing you has shattered our strength,

and God knows best what tomorrow will bring.

And God knows best what tomorrow will bring.

لكن لنا ثقة بنيتك التي

لكن لنا ثقة بنيتك التي

خلصت بان طريقنا ستمهد

خلصت بان طريقنا ستمهد

Yet we trust the intention of yours

Yet we trust, through your intention—which

that was sincerely set on preparing our path.

Was sincere—that our path will be made smooth.

ونفوز باسمك بعد موتك انه

ونفوز باسمك بعد موتك انه

من اعظم الأسماء وهو مخلد

من اعظم الأسماء وهو مخلد

Through your name we shall triumph after your death; it is

And we shall prevail through your name after your death, for it

among the greatest names, and it shall endure forever.

Is among the greatest names, and is immortal.

من عزمك الماضي طبعت صوارماً

من عزمك الماضي طبعت صوارماً

تردى العدى مسلولة لا تغمد

تردى العدى مسلولة لا تغمد

From your unyielding resolve you forged sharp swords

From your unyielding resolve you forged sharp swords

that strike the foe, forever drawn and never sheathed.

That slay enemies, drawn and never sheathed.

اما الجنان فانها لك ازلفت

اما الجنان فانها لك ازلفت

واستبشرت فيها الحسان الخرد

واستبشرت فيها الحسان الخرد

As for the gardens of Paradise, they have been brought near to you,

As for the gardens of Paradise, they have been brought near to you,

and within them the fair, secluded maidens rejoice.

And within them the lovely, modest maidens rejoice.

لكنما الدنيا عليك حزينة

لكنما الدنيا عليك حزينة

حرى تقاسى غلة لا تبرد

حرى تقاسى غلة لا تبرد

But this world grieves for you,

But the world grieves for you,

burning with a thirst it endures and cannot cool.

Parched, enduring a burning thirst that never cools.

ان غاب عن أفق الهداية نير

ان غاب عن أفق الهداية نير

يهدى بساطع نوره المسترشد

يهدى بساطع نوره المسترشد

Though a luminary has vanished from guidance’s horizon—

If a luminary has vanished from the horizon of guidance,

one whose radiant light guided every seeker of the way—

One whose radiant light guides the seeker,

فبنوه اعلام الفقاهة والتقى

فبنوه اعلام الفقاهة والتقى

وهم المصابيح التي لا تخمد

وهم المصابيح التي لا تخمد

his sons are beacons of jurisprudence and piety,

Then his sons are beacons of jurisprudence and piety,

the lamps that shall never be extinguished.

And they are lamps that never go out.

فمحمد الحبر الرضا بحر الندى

فمحمد الحبر الرضا بحر الندى

علم الهدى طود الحجى المتفرج

علم الهدى طود الحجى المتفرج

Muhammad, the learned and well-pleasing scholar, is a sea of bounty,

Muhammad al-Rida, the learned scholar, is a sea of bounty,

a banner of guidance and a towering mount of far-ranging wisdom.

A beacon of guidance, a mountain of wisdom, looking on.

وشقيقه عبد الحسين إذا دجا

وشقيقه عبد الحسين إذا دجا

ليل المشاكل فهو فيه فرقد

ليل المشاكل فهو فيه فرقد

And his brother Abd al-Husayn—when the night

And his brother, Abd al-Husayn, when darkness falls

of difficulties darkens, he is its guiding star.

Upon the night of troubles, is a Farqad star within it.

ومحمد الحسن الزكي المجتبى

ومحمد الحسن الزكي المجتبى

طابت عناصره وطاب المحتد

طابت عناصره وطاب المحتد

And Muhammad al-Hasan, the pure, the chosen—

And Muhammad al-Hasan, the pure, the chosen:

noble are his elements, and noble his lineage.

His origins are pure, and noble is his lineage.

آل التقي هم الدعاة إلى الهدى

آل التقي هم الدعاة إلى الهدى

يا طالبي سبل الهدى بهم اهتدوا

يا طالبي سبل الهدى بهم اهتدوا

The pious man’s family are the callers to guidance;

The family of al-Taqi are the callers to guidance;

O seekers of guidance’s paths, be guided by them.

O seekers of the paths of guidance, be guided by them.

جمعوا الفضائل والمناقب والعلا

جمعوا الفضائل والمناقب والعلا

والكل في جمع الفضائل مفرد

والكل في جمع الفضائل مفرد

They gathered virtues, noble qualities, and eminence,

They have gathered virtues, noble deeds, and eminence,

and each, in gathering every virtue, stands alone.

And each is unmatched in gathering virtues.

بهم عزاء للانام وسلوة

بهم عزاء للانام وسلوة

وهم ملاذ للانام ومقصد

وهم ملاذ للانام ومقصد

In them humanity finds consolation and solace,

In them humanity finds consolation and comfort,

and they are humanity’s refuge and destination.

And they are humanity's refuge and destination.