1. في الشافعي حبر الورى

    سر الشريعة قد سرى

    In al-Shafi‘i, the great scholar of humankind,

    the secret of sacred law coursed,

  2. حتى سما هام الذرا

    وسناه قد فاق القمر

    until he rose above the crowns of the peaks,

    and his radiance outshone the moon.

  3. كم من علوم أبرزا

    وفضائل قد أحرزا

    How many branches of learning he brought to light,

    and virtues he attained!

  4. ولخصمه قد أعجزا

    وأراه آيات العبر

    And he confounded his opponent,

    and showed him signs full of lessons.

  5. والشرع نادى معلنا

    بالشافعي نلت المنى

    And sacred law cried out, proclaiming:

    “Through al-Shafi‘i I attained my desires,

  6. ولبست أثواب الهنا

    ووقيت اسباب الخطر

    and donned the garments of bliss,

    and was shielded from the causes of danger.”

  7. ما مل من بعد الرضاع

    طلب العلوم ولا أضاع

    He never tired, after his days of suckling,

    of seeking knowledge, nor did he waste

  8. وقتا ولا ترك السماع

    للعلم أو ملّ السهر

    time, or abandon listening

    to learning, or tire of staying awake at night.

  9. فطعامه وشرابه

    حل العويص ودأبه

    So his food and drink were

    solving difficult problems; and his constant practice,

  10. كسب العلوم وقربه

    فيما يرى عين السفر

    gaining knowledge; and his nearness,

    in his view, was travel itself.

  11. ملأ البسيطة بالعلوم

    فسرت به مسرى النجوم

    He filled the earth with knowledge,

    and through him it followed the stars’ course,

  12. حتى أقرّ له العموم

    وبعلمه صحّ الخبر

    until everyone acknowledged him,

    and through his learning the report proved true.

  13. للعلم منه وللحكم

    جعلت بنو عبد الحكم

    For his learning and words of wisdom,

    the Banu ʿAbd al-Hakam began

  14. تهب المنازل عن كرم

    لضريحه السامي الأغر

    to bestow dwellings out of generosity

    for his lofty, radiant tomb.

  15. فغدا حمى كل الأنام

    لما ثوى فيه الإمام

    Thus it became a sanctuary for all humankind,

    when the Imam came to rest within it.

  16. من زارة حاشى يضام

    أوأن يلم به الضرر

    Whoever visits him—far be it that he be wronged

    or that harm should befall him.

  17. نالت به مصر الصفا

    والقطر منه تشرفا

    Through him Egypt attained serenity,

    and the land gained honor through him,

  18. وبآل بيت المصطفى

    السادة الطهر الغرر

    and through the family of the Chosen One’s house,

    those pure, illustrious masters.

  19. يا سعد من لهم استند

    ولهم بإخلاص قصد

    How fortunate is the one who relies on them,

    and seeks them out with sincerity,

  20. ولغيث غوثهم استمد

    فالقرب للقربى ظفر

    and seeks the rain of their succor!

    For nearness to the kindred is triumph.

  21. يا رب متع جمعنا

    بالعز وارزقه الغنى

    O Lord, let our gathering enjoy

    honor, and grant it prosperity;

  22. واجعل به الدين المتين

    يسمو لأسمى مستقر

    and through it make the firm faith

    rise to the loftiest station.

  23. يا ربنا حسن الختام

    نرجوك مع نيل المرام

    O our Lord, for a good ending

    we beseech You, and for the attainment of our aim,

  24. بالمصطفى البدر التمام

    سر الوجود المفتخر

    by the Chosen One, the moon in its fullness,

    the glorious secret of existence.

  25. صلى عليه وسلما

    مولى الورى رب السما

    May blessings and peace be bestowed on him

    by the Master of humankind, the Lord of heaven,

  26. والآل والأصحاب ما

    في الأفق قد لاح القمر

    and on his family and companions, as long as

    the moon shines on the horizon.