1. أَمر الإِلَه محتم

    وَلَهُ الأُمور تَسلم

    God's decree is inevitable,

    And to Him all affairs are surrendered.

  2. وَالمَوت سَهم قَضائه

    مَن مِنهُ يَوماً يَسلم

    Death is the arrow of His decree—

    Who can ever be safe from it?

  3. سَهم المَنية صائِبٌ

    وَبِهِ القَضاء المُبرم

    Death's arrow strikes true,

    And with it comes the irrevocable decree.

  4. مَن ماتَ يَكسب راحَة

    وَلَدى الحَياة تَألم

    Whoever dies gains rest,

    While in life there is suffering.

  5. مَن ماتَ يَلقي رَبه

    وَهُوَ الآله الأَكرَم

    Whoever dies meets his Lord,

    And He is God, the Most Generous.

  6. فَيحفه بِنَعيمه

    وَمِن الرضا لا يَحرم

    So He surrounds him with His bliss,

    And does not deny him His favor.

  7. وَمُحمد القُوصي من

    هُوَ في الرِجال معظم

    And Muhammad al-Qusi is one

    Who is honored among men.

  8. تَرك الحَياة مُفارِقاً

    وَمُوَدِعاً لا يَندَم

    He left life, departing,

    And bidding farewell without regret.

  9. كُنا نَوَد فِداءه

    بِالنَفس لَكن يَعظم

    We wished to ransom him

    With our lives, but the ransom is too great.

  10. كُل القُلوب تَوده

    وَلَهُ المَقام الأَفخَم

    All hearts love him,

    And his is the most magnificent station.

  11. فَليبكه كُل الوَرى

    وَدُموع أَعيُنهم دَم

    So let all humankind weep for him,

    And let their eyes' tears be blood.

  12. كَيفَ التَصَبر بَعدَه

    هَل بَعد ذَلِكَ يَلزَم

    How can we summon patience after him?

    Is it still required after that?

  13. سَكَن الثَرى وَقُلوبُنا

    نيرانها تَتَضرم

    He has settled in the earth, while our hearts—

    Their fires blaze.

  14. كَانَت مَلافظه الحِسا

    ن لِكُل در تَنظم

    His beautiful utterances

    Would string every pearl.

  15. كَانَت مَجالس أنسه

    عَما يَسر تَترجم

    His gatherings of fellowship

    Spoke of what brings delight.

  16. وَبِهِ اللَطائف تَبتدى

    وَبِهِ المَحاسن تَختم

    And with him, pleasantries begin,

    And with him, virtues find completion.

  17. مَن لِلمُروءة بَعده

    مِن لِلمَشاكل يَحسم

    Who will uphold noble conduct after him?

    Who will resolve problems?

  18. مَن لِلفَصاحة كُلَها

    مِن لِلأَنام يَعلم

    Who will uphold eloquence in all its fullness?

    Who will teach humankind?

  19. شَهَدت إِلَيهِ مَنابر

    يا لَيتَها تَتَكلم

    Pulpits bore witness to him—

    Oh, if only they could speak!

  20. وَلَهُ أَجل مَكارم

    في كُل قَلب تَرسم

    And his are the noblest virtues,

    Inscribed in every heart.

  21. تَرك الحَياة لِأَهله

    وَإِلى الإِلَه يَسلم

    He left life to his family,

    And is surrendered to God,

  22. لِيَرى أَخاه بِجَنبه

    مَحفوظ وَهُوَ يَنعم

    To see his brother beside him,

    Mahfuz, enjoying bliss.

  23. فَكِلاهُما في جَنة

    في حفظ مَولى يَرحم

    So both are in Paradise,

    In the protection of a Lord who shows mercy.