مضى خلَفُ الأبْرارِ والسيّدُ الطُّهرُ

مضى خلَفُ الأبْرارِ والسيّدُ الطُّهرُ

فصدْرُ العُلى من قلبِه بعدَهُ صُفْرُ

فصدْرُ العُلى من قلبِه بعدَهُ صُفْرُ

Gone is the heir of the righteous, the pure lord.

The righteous have passed, and the pure master,

So glory's breast is empty of its heart after him.

So the eminent's heart is empty after him.

وغُيِّبَ منه في الثّرى نيّرُ الهُدى

وغُيِّبَ منه في الثّرى نيّرُ الهُدى

فغارَتْ ذُكاءُ الدّينِ واِنكسَفَ البدْرُ

فغارَتْ ذُكاءُ الدّينِ واِنكسَفَ البدْرُ

And from it the luminary of guidance was buried in the dust;

The guide of light was buried in the ground,

So the sun of faith has sunk, and the full moon is eclipsed.

So religion's intelligence has darkened and the full moon eclipsed.

وماتَ النّدى فلْتَرْثِهِ ألسُنُ الثّنا

وماتَ النّدى فلْتَرْثِهِ ألسُنُ الثّنا

وليثُ الوَغى فلتَبْكِه البيضُ والسُّمرُ

وليثُ الوَغى فلتَبْكِه البيضُ والسُّمرُ

And generosity has died: let the tongues of praise lament him;

Dew has died, so let the tongues of praise elegize it,

And the lion of battle: let bright swords and dusky spears weep for him.

And let the whites and browns weep the lion of turmoil.

فحقُّ المعالي أن تشُقَّ جُيوبَها

فحقُّ المعالي أن تشُقَّ جُيوبَها

عليهِ وتنْعاهُ المكارمُ والفخرُ

عليهِ وتنْعاهُ المكارمُ والفخرُ

So it is fitting that lofty honors rend their collars

It is right that virtues tear open their garments

For him, and that noble virtues and glory lament his death.

And lament him, and nobility and pride mourn him.

هو الماجِدُ الوهّابُ ما في يَمينِه

هو الماجِدُ الوهّابُ ما في يَمينِه

هوَ العابِدُ الأوّابُ والشّفْعُ والوِتْرُ

هوَ العابِدُ الأوّابُ والشّفْعُ والوِتْرُ

He is the noble one, the lavish giver of whatever his right hand holds;

He is the glorious giver - whatever is in his right hand -

He is the worshipper, ever returning to God, the even and the odd.

He is the devoted returner, the intercessor and the odd prayer.

هوَ الحُرُّ يومَ الحربِ تُثْني حِرابُه

هوَ الحُرُّ يومَ الحربِ تُثْني حِرابُه

عليهِ وفي المِحرابِ يعرفُه الذِّكرُ

عليهِ وفي المِحرابِ يعرفُه الذِّكرُ

He is the freeborn one; on battle's day his spears sing praise

He is free on the day of war when swords sheathe him

Of him; in the prayer niche, devotional remembrance knows him.

And is remembered in the shrine by the mention.

فلا تحسبَنّ الدّهرَ أهلكَ شخصَهُ

فلا تحسبَنّ الدّهرَ أهلكَ شخصَهُ

ولكنّهُ في موتِه هلكَ الدّهرُ

ولكنّهُ في موتِه هلكَ الدّهرُ

So never suppose that Time destroyed his person;

So do not reckon that time has destroyed his person,

Rather, in his death it was Time that perished.

But by his death, time itself was destroyed.

فلو دفَنوهُ قومُه عندَ قدْرِه

فلو دفَنوهُ قومُه عندَ قدْرِه

لجلَّ ولو أنّ السِّماكَ له قَبْرُ

لجلَّ ولو أنّ السِّماكَ له قَبْرُ

Had his people buried him according to his worth,

If his people buried him according to his merit,

He would still be too exalted, even were al-Simak his grave.

The cosmos would be too small, even if the sky was his tomb.

وما دَفْنُه في الأرضِ إلّا لعِلْمِنا

وما دَفْنُه في الأرضِ إلّا لعِلْمِنا

به أنّه كنزٌ لها ولَنا ذُخْرُ

به أنّه كنزٌ لها ولَنا ذُخْرُ

His burial in the earth is only because we know

Burying him in the ground is only because of our knowledge

Him to be a treasure for it and a treasure held in reserve for us.

That he is a treasure for it and provision for us.

وما غَسْلُه بالماءِ إلّا تطوّعاً

وما غَسْلُه بالماءِ إلّا تطوّعاً

وإلّا فَقولا لي متى نَجُسَ البحرُ

وإلّا فَقولا لي متى نَجُسَ البحرُ

And washing him with water was only a voluntary act;

Only optionally did we wash him with water,

Or else, tell me, you two: when did the sea become impure?

For say to me, when has the sea become impure?

فتىً يورِدُ الهِنديَّ وهْوَ حديدةٌ

فتىً يورِدُ الهِنديَّ وهْوَ حديدةٌ

ويَصدِقُ فيه وهوَ من علَقٍ تِبْرُ

ويَصدِقُ فيه وهوَ من علَقٍ تِبْرُ

A young man who leads the Indian sword to drink while it is mere iron,

A young man who imports Indian steel as if it were butter

And proves true with it, while clotted blood makes it raw gold.

And believes it to be sincere while it is deceitful tin.

حَوى الفضلَ والإيثارَ والزُّهْدَ والنُّهى

حَوى الفضلَ والإيثارَ والزُّهْدَ والنُّهى

وصاحَبهُ المعروفُ والجودُ والبِرُّ

وصاحَبهُ المعروفُ والجودُ والبِرُّ

He possessed excellence, selflessness, asceticism, and sound judgment;

He contained virtue, preference, asceticism and prohibition

And kindness, generosity, and righteousness accompanied him.

And accompanied benevolence, generosity and righteousness.

تعطّلَتِ الأحكامُ بعد وفاتِه

تعطّلَتِ الأحكامُ بعد وفاتِه

وضاعَتْ حُدودُ اللَّهِ والنهيُ والأمرُ

وضاعَتْ حُدودُ اللَّهِ والنهيُ والأمرُ

The ordinances fell into abeyance after his death,

After his death, the laws were suspended

And God's bounds, prohibitions, and commands were lost.

And God's boundaries, prohibitions and commands vanished.

فهل لفُروضِ الدّينِ والنّفْلِ حرمةٌ

فهل لفُروضِ الدّينِ والنّفْلِ حرمةٌ

وهل لليالي القَدْرِ من بعدِه قَدْرُ

وهل لليالي القَدْرِ من بعدِه قَدْرُ

So do faith's obligations and voluntary devotions have any sanctity?

Do religious duties and extra prayers have sanctity?

And do the Nights of Decree have any worth after him?

And after him, do the nights of destiny have any worth?

يعِزُّ على المُختارِ والصّنوِ رُزْؤُه

يعِزُّ على المُختارِ والصّنوِ رُزْؤُه

لعِلمِهما في أنّه الوَلَدُ البَرُّ

لعِلمِهما في أنّه الوَلَدُ البَرُّ

His loss is grievous to the Chosen One and his kinsman,

It is hard on the Chosen One and Sanu, his company,

For they both know that he is the dutiful son.

Because they know he is the righteous son.

فغيرُ مَلومٍ جازِعٌ لمُصابِه

فغيرُ مَلومٍ جازِعٌ لمُصابِه

ففي مثلِ هذا الخطْبِ يُستَقبَحُ الصّبْرُ

ففي مثلِ هذا الخطْبِ يُستَقبَحُ الصّبْرُ

So no one anguished by his loss is blameworthy,

So the grieved is not blamed, agonized by his tragedy,

For in such a calamity, patience is deemed unbecoming.

For in the like of this misfortune, patience is unseemly.

أجَلُّ بَني المَهديّ لو أنّهُ اِدّعى

أجَلُّ بَني المَهديّ لو أنّهُ اِدّعى

وقال أنا المهديُّ وازَرَهُ الخضْرُ

وقال أنا المهديُّ وازَرَهُ الخضْرُ

The greatest of al-Mahdi's sons—had he laid claim

How great are the Mahdi's sons! If only he claimed

And said, 'I am the Mahdi,' al-Khidr would have supported him.

He is the Mahdi and the Green One supported him.

كريمٌ كأنّ اللّهَ أخّرَ موتَهُ

كريمٌ كأنّ اللّهَ أخّرَ موتَهُ

ليكسِبَ فيهِ الأجْرَ مَنْ فاتَهُ بَدْرُ

ليكسِبَ فيهِ الأجْرَ مَنْ فاتَهُ بَدْرُ

A noble man: it is as though God delayed his death

Noble, as if God deferred his death

So that whoever missed Badr might gain reward through him.

So those who missed his full moon may earn reward through him.

فكيفَ رياضُ الحُزنِ يبسِمُ نَوْرُها

فكيفَ رياضُ الحُزنِ يبسِمُ نَوْرُها

وترجو حياةً بعدَما هلَكَ القَطْرُ

وترجو حياةً بعدَما هلَكَ القَطْرُ

How, then, can grief's gardens have smiling blossoms

How can the meadows of grief smile with his light

And hope for life after the rain has perished?

And hope for life when the rain has perished?

وكيفَ نُرجّي أنّ لليلِ آخِراً

وكيفَ نُرجّي أنّ لليلِ آخِراً

وفي ظُلُماتِ الأرضِ قد دُفِنَ الفَجْرُ

وفي ظُلُماتِ الأرضِ قد دُفِنَ الفَجْرُ

And how can we hope that the night has an end

How can we hope the night has an end

When dawn has already been buried in the earth's darkness?

When darkness has buried the dawn in the earth?

فأيُّ عِظامٍ في ثَراهُ عظيمةٍ

فأيُّ عِظامٍ في ثَراهُ عظيمةٍ

تجِلُّ وعن إرثائِها يصغُرُ الشِّعْرُ

تجِلُّ وعن إرثائِها يصغُرُ الشِّعْرُ

What mighty bones lie in his dust!

What bones in his grave are so momentous

They are exalted, and poetry falls short of lamenting them.

That they make poetry seem paltry by grieving for him?

نصلّي عليها وهي عنّا غنيّةٌ

نصلّي عليها وهي عنّا غنيّةٌ

ولكنّنا فيها لنا يعظُمُ الأجْرُ

ولكنّنا فيها لنا يعظُمُ الأجْرُ

We pray over them, though they have no need of us;

We pray for them while they are needless of us,

Yet through them our reward grows great.

But through them our reward is magnified.

ونُثني عليها رغبةً في ثنائِها

ونُثني عليها رغبةً في ثنائِها

ليَعبَقَ في الأفواهِ من طيبِها عِطْرُ

ليَعبَقَ في الأفواهِ من طيبِها عِطْرُ

And we praise them, longing to speak their praise,

We praise them craving their praise

So that perfume from their fragrance may linger in our mouths.

So that the scent of his sweetness lingers in mouths.

ترفَّعْنَ عن قدْرِ المَراثي جلالةً

ترفَّعْنَ عن قدْرِ المَراثي جلالةً

وعنْ أدمُعِ الباكي ولو أنّها دُرُّ

وعنْ أدمُعِ الباكي ولو أنّها دُرُّ

They have risen in majesty above the reach of elegies,

They have risen above the level of elegies,

And above a mourner's tears, even were they pearls.

Above the tears of mourners, even if they are pearls.

فمَنْ لليَتامى والأرامِلِ بعدَهُ

فمَنْ لليَتامى والأرامِلِ بعدَهُ

وممّنْ نرجّي النّقْعَ إنْ مسّنا الضُّرُّ

وممّنْ نرجّي النّقْعَ إنْ مسّنا الضُّرُّ

Who, then, is there for the orphans and widows after him?

After him, who remains for the orphans and widows?

And from whom can we hope for relief if harm touches us?

And from whom can we expect relief if hardship strikes us?

كأنّ الورى من حولِه قبلَ بعثِهم

كأنّ الورى من حولِه قبلَ بعثِهم

دَعاهُم من الأجداثِ في يومِه الحَشْرُ

دَعاهُم من الأجداثِ في يومِه الحَشْرُ

It is as though the people around him, before their resurrection,

As if the world around him before his mission

Had been summoned from their graves by the Gathering on his day.

Called them from the graves on the day of his resurrection.

لَئِنْ غدرَتْ فيه اللّيالي فإنّها

لَئِنْ غدرَتْ فيه اللّيالي فإنّها

بكُلِّ وفيِّ العهدِ شيمَتُها الغَدْرُ

بكُلِّ وفيِّ العهدِ شيمَتُها الغَدْرُ

If the nights have betrayed him, then

If the nights betrayed him, their nature is betrayal,

Treachery is their habit with everyone faithful to his pledge.

And harming him would not hurt them if he were ransomed.

وما ضرّها لو أنّها في عبيدِه

وما ضرّها لو أنّها في عبيدِه

منَ الخَلقِ يُفْدى ذلكَ السيّدُ الحُرُّ

منَ الخَلقِ يُفْدى ذلكَ السيّدُ الحُرُّ

What harm would it have done them if, in exchange for his slaves

The breeze of contentment blew toward his grave

Among humankind, that freeborn lord had been ransomed?

With lingering traces of his sweet perfume.

سَرَتْ نسمةُ الرُّضوانِ نحو ضريحِه

سَرَتْ نسمةُ الرُّضوانِ نحو ضريحِه

ولا زالَ فيها من شَذا طِيبِه نَشْرُ

ولا زالَ فيها من شَذا طِيبِه نَشْرُ

A breeze of divine favor drifted toward his tomb,

Entrusted to the Merciful is the best of farewells -

And may a waft of his sweet fragrance always linger within it.

After him remains our fervor and contemplation.

وفي ذمّةِ الرّحمنِ خيرُ مودَّعٍ

وفي ذمّةِ الرّحمنِ خيرُ مودَّعٍ

أقامَ لدَينا بعدَهُ الوَجْدُ والفِكْرُ

أقامَ لدَينا بعدَهُ الوَجْدُ والفِكْرُ

And the finest one we bade farewell to is in the Most Merciful's care;

He turned away, so for the world and its people

Yearning and reflection have stayed with us after him.

There is weeping, sorrow - and for it, good tidings.

تناءَى فللدُّنيا عليهِ وأهلِها

تناءَى فللدُّنيا عليهِ وأهلِها

بُكاءٌ وحزْنٌ والجِنانُ لها بِشْرُ

بُكاءٌ وحزْنٌ والجِنانُ لها بِشْرُ

He has gone far; for him the world and its people have

The call to join the heavenly maidens made him visit them,

Weeping and grief, while the gardens of Paradise have joy.

And he did not know after him who the separation would kill.

دعَتْهُ لوصْلِ الحورِ طوبى فزارَها

دعَتْهُ لوصْلِ الحورِ طوبى فزارَها

ولم يدْرِ فيمَنْ بعدَهُ قتلَ الهَجْرُ

ولم يدْرِ فيمَنْ بعدَهُ قتلَ الهَجْرُ

Tuba called him to union with the houris, and he visited her;

So let not the envious gloat over him, for

And he did not know whom separation slew after him.

His noble sons will silence them in death.

فلا يَشْمَتِ الحُسّادُ فيه فإنّه

فلا يَشْمَتِ الحُسّادُ فيه فإنّه

سترغمُهُمْ بالموتِ أبناؤهُ الغُرُّ

سترغمُهُمْ بالموتِ أبناؤهُ الغُرُّ

So let the envious not gloat over him, for

If his sons and grandsons survive,

His illustrious sons will humble them with death.

Woe to the enemies - let the wolf and eagle rejoice!

لَئِنْ سلِمَتْ أبناؤهُ وبَنوهُمُ

لَئِنْ سلِمَتْ أبناؤهُ وبَنوهُمُ

فويلُ العِدا ولْيَفرَحِ الذّئْبُ والنَّسْرُ

فويلُ العِدا ولْيَفرَحِ الذّئْبُ والنَّسْرُ

If his sons and their sons remain safe,

Brave lions who aspired to greatness as is their right,

Then woe to the foes, and let wolf and vulture rejoice!

And flourished, the influence of gratitude upon them.

فُروعٌ تَسامَتْ للعُلا وهْوَ أهلُها

فُروعٌ تَسامَتْ للعُلا وهْوَ أهلُها

فطابَتْ وفي أفنانِها أثّرَ الشُّكْرُ

فطابَتْ وفي أفنانِها أثّرَ الشُّكْرُ

Branches that rose toward glory, of which he was worthy;

Kings whose morals are pure, as if they are

So they flourished, and gratitude left its mark upon their boughs.

Gardens of heavens and their morals are flowers.

مُلوكٌ زكَتْ أخلاقُهم فكأنّهُم

مُلوكٌ زكَتْ أخلاقُهم فكأنّهُم

حدائِقُ جنّاتٍ وأخلاقُهُم زَهْرُ

حدائِقُ جنّاتٍ وأخلاقُهُم زَهْرُ

Kings of pure character, as though they were

As if between them Ali is the full moon of the fourteenth night,

Gardens of paradise, their virtues the blossoms.

And around him shine stars of flowers.

كأنّ عليّاً بينهُم بَدْرُ أربعٍ

كأنّ عليّاً بينهُم بَدْرُ أربعٍ

وعَشْرٍ أضاءَتْ حولَهُ أنجُمٌ زُهرُ

وعَشْرٍ أضاءَتْ حولَهُ أنجُمٌ زُهرُ

Ali among them is like the full moon of four

If Ali remains safe in glory and eminence,

And ten nights, with radiant stars shining around him.

Then neither will Zeid speak nor Amr.

إذا ما عليٌّ كان في المجدِ والعُلا

إذا ما عليٌّ كان في المجدِ والعُلا

سَليماً فلا زَيدٌ يَقولُ ولا عَمْرُو

سَليماً فلا زَيدٌ يَقولُ ولا عَمْرُو

If Ali remains amid glory and eminence

The fall of any disaster is easy for us

Safe, then neither Zayd nor Amr has a word to say.

If he exists, even if the matter is grave.

يَهونُ علينا وقْعُ كلِّ ملمّةٍ

يَهونُ علينا وقْعُ كلِّ ملمّةٍ

إذا كان موجوداً وإن فدَحَ الأمرُ

إذا كان موجوداً وإن فدَحَ الأمرُ

The impact of every calamity is light upon us

My masters, this is the way of time in the world,

If he is present, however grievous the affair.

There is no lasting good or evil in it.

أمَولايَ هذا عادةُ الدّهرِ في الوَرى

أمَولايَ هذا عادةُ الدّهرِ في الوَرى

وليس بهِ خيرٌ يَدومُ ولا شَرُّ

وليس بهِ خيرٌ يَدومُ ولا شَرُّ

O my lord, this is Time's way with humankind,

Excuse what it brings upon you - how often

And in it neither good nor evil endures.

Before you has it committed grave outrage.

فعُذْراً لِما يَجنِيهِ فيكُم فكَمْ وكَمْ

فعُذْراً لِما يَجنِيهِ فيكُم فكَمْ وكَمْ

لهُ عِندَكُم من قبلُ فادحةٌ وِتْرُ

لهُ عِندَكُم من قبلُ فادحةٌ وِتْرُ

So pardon what it commits against you—for how many, how many

May God reward you multiplied compensation

Grievous, unavenged losses it has inflicted on you before!

And relieve the difficulty after it with ease.

عَسى اللّهُ يَجزيكَ الثّوابَ مُضاعَفاً

عَسى اللّهُ يَجزيكَ الثّوابَ مُضاعَفاً

ويَعقُبُ عُسْرَ الأمرِ منْ بَعدِهِ يُسْرُ

ويَعقُبُ عُسْرَ الأمرِ منْ بَعدِهِ يُسْرُ

May God grant you a doubled reward,

May He inspire you with beautiful patience by His grace,

And may ease follow the hardship of the affair.

And extend upon you in fortune a happy lifetime.

ويُلْهِمُكَ الصّبرَ الجميلَ بفَضلِهِ

ويُلْهِمُكَ الصّبرَ الجميلَ بفَضلِهِ

ويمتدُّ في الحظِّ السّعيدِ لكَ العُمْرُ

ويمتدُّ في الحظِّ السّعيدِ لكَ العُمْرُ

And may He inspire you, by His grace, with gracious patience,

And may your life be prolonged in happy fortune.