ولما وقفت أمام الإمام

ولما وقفت أمام الإمام

تأخر خلصانه والشيع

تأخر خلصانه والشيع

And when you stood before the imam,

When I stood before the Imam

his intimates and followers drew back.

His attendants fell back and cleared the way

دنوت إلى تاجه والسرير

دنوت إلى تاجه والسرير

فهذا تعالى وذاك اتسع

فهذا تعالى وذاك اتسع

You drew near his crown and throne;

I approached his crown and throne

so this rose higher, and that grew wider.

So this one went higher and that one made way

وضاحك برد النبي القضي

وضاحك برد النبي القضي

ب أنساً بخوضك فيما شرع

ب أنساً بخوضك فيما شرع

And the Prophet’s cloak exchanged smiles with the staff,

I joked about the coolness of the Prophet's pond

in delight at your delving into what he ordained.

Finding joy in your wading into what is permitted

سفرت فتيمه ما رأى

سفرت فتيمه ما رأى

وقلت فأطربه ما سمع

وقلت فأطربه ما سمع

You unveiled your face, and what he saw enthralled him;

I journeyed and he was awestruck by what he saw

and you spoke, and what he heard delighted him.

And I spoke, enchanting him with what he heard

وأثنت فضالك الباهرات

وأثنت فضالك الباهرات

على ملك الدهر فيما اصطنع

على ملك الدهر فيما اصطنع

And your dazzling virtues bestowed praise

I praised your brilliant virtues

upon the king of the age for what he had wrought.

To the king of the age for what he had wrought

طلعت فكنت كنجم الصبا

طلعت فكنت كنجم الصبا

ح دل على الشمس لما طلع

ح دل على الشمس لما طلع

You rose and were like the morning star,

You rose like the morning star

which, upon rising, heralded the sun.

Guiding to the sun when it rose

ومن كلف الدهر امثالكم

ومن كلف الدهر امثالكم

فقد كلف الدهر ما لم يسع

فقد كلف الدهر ما لم يسع

And whoever demands your like of Time

And whoever takes on the likes of you

has demanded of Time what lies beyond its power.

Has taken on more than he can handle