قالوا أمير فقال العدل بل ملِك

قالوا أمير فقال العدل بل ملِك

قالت مخافته لله بل ملَك

قالت مخافته لله بل ملَك

They said, “An emir”; Justice said, “Rather, a king.”

They said he's a prince, he said no, a just king

His fear of God said, “Rather, an angel.”

Fear of God, she said no, an angel

نعم عليّ العلى دنيا وآخرة

نعم عليّ العلى دنيا وآخرة

والعقل يشهد والآثار والفلك

والعقل يشهد والآثار والفلك

How excellent is Ali of lofty glory, in this world and the next!

Yes, the Most High has blessed me with this life and the next

And reason bears witness, as do his deeds and the celestial sphere.

And reason bears witness, as do traces and celestial orbits

لو تسأل البدر أنبا عن سناه بلا

لو تسأل البدر أنبا عن سناه بلا

تكلُّفٍ وتجلى باسمه الحلك

تكلُّفٍ وتجلى باسمه الحلك

Were you to ask the full moon, it would tell of his radiance without

If you asked the moon to tell of his brilliance without

effort, and deep darkness would lift at his name.

Affectation and the new moon shone with his crescent

فليهنَ شامٌ له من دأبه حلبٌ

فليهنَ شامٌ له من دأبه حلبٌ

حماه بأساً فلا بأس ولا دَرَك

حماه بأساً فلا بأس ولا دَرَك

So may Sham rejoice: through his diligence it has Aleppo;

So let Damascus rejoice in his purpose and Aleppo his protection

He guarded it with might, so there is no harm and no pursuit.

In might, no harm will come, no loss will occur

كم آمن فيه أمنَ الطيرِ في حرمٍ

كم آمن فيه أمنَ الطيرِ في حرمٍ

وكان مثل قطاةٍ غرَّها شرَك

وكان مثل قطاةٍ غرَّها شرَك

How many he made safe there, safe as birds in a sanctuary,

How many found refuge in him, the security of birds in a sanctuary

And each had been like a sandgrouse beguiled by a snare!

And he was like an easily fooled sand grouse ensnared

لا تذكرنَّ بحاراً عند أنعمه

لا تذكرنَّ بحاراً عند أنعمه

إنَّ البحار لدى نعمائه برَك

إنَّ البحار لدى نعمائه برَك

Never mention seas beside his bounties:

Do not mention seas next to his bounties

Indeed, beside his bounty, the seas are mere pools.

For the seas are but ponds next to his blessings

واسمع مدائح كالأسلاك من دُرَرٍ

واسمع مدائح كالأسلاك من دُرَرٍ

غنَّى بها مادحوه أيّة سلكوا

غنَّى بها مادحوه أيّة سلكوا

And hear praises like strings of pearls,

And listen to praises like necklaces made of pearls

His praisers sang them whichever way they went.

With which his eulogists have sung, however they strung them