سَرى مِن خَيالِ المالِكِيَّةِ ما سَرى

سَرى مِن خَيالِ المالِكِيَّةِ ما سَرى

فَتَيَّمَ ذا القَلبِ المُعَنّى وَأَسهَرا

فَتَيَّمَ ذا القَلبِ المُعَنّى وَأَسهَرا

A phantom of al-Malikiyya stole through the night,

What passed from the fantasy of Al-Malikiya has passed,

Then enslaved this tormented heart with love and kept it awake.

So the one with the loving heart became sleepless and stayed up at night.

دُنُوٌّ بِأَحلامِ الكَرى مِن بَعيدَةٍ

دُنُوٌّ بِأَحلامِ الكَرى مِن بَعيدَةٍ

تُسيءُ بِنا فِعلاً وَتَحسُنُ مَنظَرا

تُسيءُ بِنا فِعلاً وَتَحسُنُ مَنظَرا

A nearness in slumber's dreams from a distant woman,

It came close in a dream, though only to intend to depart,

Who wrongs us in her deeds, yet is lovely to behold.

And only reached in slumber to sever.

وَما قَرُبَت بِالطَيفِ إِلّا لِتَنتَوي

وَما قَرُبَت بِالطَيفِ إِلّا لِتَنتَوي

وَلا وَصَلَت في النَومِ إِلّا لِتَهجُرا

وَلا وَصَلَت في النَومِ إِلّا لِتَهجُرا

She drew near as a phantom only to depart,

It withheld, and its withholding is of its nature,

Nor granted union in sleep except to forsake me.

And had it reached, it would have had more power to connect.

لَقَد مَنَعَت وَالمَنعُ مِنها سَجِيَّةٌ

لَقَد مَنَعَت وَالمَنعُ مِنها سَجِيَّةٌ

وَلَو وَصَلَت كانَت عَلى الوَصلِ أَقدَرا

وَلَو وَصَلَت كانَت عَلى الوَصلِ أَقدَرا

She has indeed withheld union; withholding is her nature,

Reaching it is difficult, yet reaching is possible,

Yet had she granted union, she would have been more capable of it.

And the eggs of the white ants, it is rare they become inaccessible.

تَعَذَّرَ مِنها الوَصلُ وَالوَصلُ مُمكِنٌ

تَعَذَّرَ مِنها الوَصلُ وَالوَصلُ مُمكِنٌ

وَقَصرُ نَوالِ البيضِ أَن يَتَعَذَّرا

وَقَصرُ نَوالِ البيضِ أَن يَتَعَذَّرا

Union with her proved unattainable, though union was possible;

So if this heart had willed at the start of youth,

And fair women's favor is marred by being unattainable.

It would have fallen short of some of the youth, or would have fallen short.

فَلَو شاءَ هَذا القَلبُ في أَوَلِ الصِبا

فَلَو شاءَ هَذا القَلبُ في أَوَلِ الصِبا

لَقَصَّرَ عَن بَعضِ الصِبا أَو لَأَقصَرا

لَقَصَّرَ عَن بَعضِ الصِبا أَو لَأَقصَرا

So had this heart wished, in its earliest youth,

But, alas! I did not find a shelter from passion,

It would have held back from some youthful passion, or desisted altogether.

Nor did I find a spring of love from which to draw water.

وَلَكِنَّ وَجداً لَم أَجِد مِنهُ مَوئِلاً

وَلَكِنَّ وَجداً لَم أَجِد مِنهُ مَوئِلاً

وَمَورِدَ حُبٍّ لَم أَجِد عَنهُ مَصدارا

وَمَورِدَ حُبٍّ لَم أَجِد عَنهُ مَصدارا

But there was a passion from which I found no refuge,

It was a tender love between us, advancing,

And a watering place of love from which I found no way out:

As rain of spring, early showering.

هَوىً كانَ غَضّاً بَينَنا مُتَقَدِّماً

هَوىً كانَ غَضّاً بَينَنا مُتَقَدِّماً

كَما صابَ وَسمِيُّ الغَمامِ فَبَكَّرا

كَما صابَ وَسمِيُّ الغَمامِ فَبَكَّرا

A love once tender between us, in earlier days,

She glanced, and a glance drew her to the side,

Like the clouds' first autumn rain, which fell early.

And the ardent lover only turns to look.

نَظَرتُ وَضَمَّت جانِبَيَّ اِلتِفاتَةٌ

نَظَرتُ وَضَمَّت جانِبَيَّ اِلتِفاتَةٌ

وَما اِلتَفَتَ المُشتاقُ إِلّا لِيَنظُرا

وَما اِلتَفَتَ المُشتاقُ إِلّا لِيَنظُرا

I looked, my sides drawn together as I turned,

At redness from lightning whenever

And the yearning lover turns only to gaze,

The high clouds acting arrogantly grow dusty.

إِلى أُرجُوانِيٍّ مِنَ البَرقِ كُلَّما

إِلى أُرجُوانِيٍّ مِنَ البَرقِ كُلَّما

تَنَمَّرَ عُلوِيُّ السَحابِ تَعَصفَرا

تَنَمَّرَ عُلوِيُّ السَحابِ تَعَصفَرا

At crimson lightning, which, whenever

It lights a cloud above a shining plain

The upper clouds grew leopard-mottled, turned safflower-colored.

And makes out a meadow below a green plain.

يُضيءُ غَماماً فَوقَ بِطياسَ واضِحاً

يُضيءُ غَماماً فَوقَ بِطياسَ واضِحاً

يَبِصُّ وَرَوضاً تَحتَ بِطياسَ أَخضَرا

يَبِصُّ وَرَوضاً تَحتَ بِطياسَ أَخضَرا

It lights a bright cloud above Bityas,

It would have been beloved to me had it

Which gleams, and a green meadow beneath Bityas.

Lit a gazelle near the green plain.

وَقَد كانَ مَحبوباً إِلَيَّ لَوَ اَنَّهُ

وَقَد كانَ مَحبوباً إِلَيَّ لَوَ اَنَّهُ

أَضاءَ غَزالاً عِندَ بِطياسَ أَخضَرا

أَضاءَ غَزالاً عِندَ بِطياسَ أَخضَرا

And it would indeed have been dear to me, had it

God has granted the one made mighty through God a blessing,

Lit a dusky gazelle beside Bityas.

Too majestic to be limited or measured.

لَقَد أُعطِيَ المُعتَزُّ بِاللَهِ نِعمَةً

لَقَد أُعطِيَ المُعتَزُّ بِاللَهِ نِعمَةً

مِنَ اللَهِ جَلَّت أَن تُحَدَّ وَتُقدَرا

مِنَ اللَهِ جَلَّت أَن تُحَدَّ وَتُقدَرا

Al-Mu'tazz billah was indeed granted a blessing

Through it God has delivered people from a tremendous

From God, too great to be bounded or measured.

Event which beset Islam, going around it for months.

تَلافى بِهِ اللَهُ الوَرى مِن عَظيمَةٍ

تَلافى بِهِ اللَهُ الوَرى مِن عَظيمَةٍ

أَناخَت عَلى الإِسلامِ حَولاً وَأَشهُرا

أَناخَت عَلى الإِسلامِ حَولاً وَأَشهُرا

Through him God rescued humankind from a great calamity

And from turbulent strife whose darkness

That had settled upon Islam for a year and months,

Covered the horizon until it returned intensely gloomy.

وَمِن فِتنَةٍ شَعواءَ غَطّى ظَلامُها

وَمِن فِتنَةٍ شَعواءَ غَطّى ظَلامُها

عَلى الأُفقِ حَتّى عادَ أَقتَمَ أَكدَرا

عَلى الأُفقِ حَتّى عادَ أَقتَمَ أَكدَرا

And from a raging strife whose darkness shrouded

It gave victory with the swords of loyalists and their

The horizon until it became dust-dark and murky.

Patience upon death when they struggled with death redly.

أُعينَ بِأَسيافِ المَوالي وَصَبرِهِم

أُعينَ بِأَسيافِ المَوالي وَصَبرِهِم

عَلى المَوتِ لَمّا كافَحوا المَوتَ أَحمَرا

عَلى المَوتِ لَمّا كافَحوا المَوتَ أَحمَرا

He was aided by the retainers' swords and their endurance

More youthful than the angels, whenever you looked upon him,

In the face of death, when they confronted red death.

You looked upon Abu Ishaq and Al-Qaram Jafar.

أَغَرُّ مِنَ الأَملاكِ إِمّا رَأَيتَهُ

أَغَرُّ مِنَ الأَملاكِ إِمّا رَأَيتَهُ

رَأَيتَ أَبا إِسحاقَ وَالقَرمَ جَعفَرا

رَأَيتَ أَبا إِسحاقَ وَالقَرمَ جَعفَرا

Bright-browed among kings: whenever you see him,

His arrow advanced regarding the caliphate

You see Abu Ishaq and the great lord Ja'far.

When others were turned back from it, so lagged behind.

تَقَدَّمَ في حَقِّ الخِلافَةِ سَهمُهُ

تَقَدَّمَ في حَقِّ الخِلافَةِ سَهمُهُ

إِذا رُدَّ عَنها غَيرُهُ فَتَأَخَّرا

إِذا رُدَّ عَنها غَيرُهُ فَتَأَخَّرا

His share in the right to the caliphate took precedence,

And it becomes known to him in the morning, the merit is his, not theirs,

When another was turned away from it and fell behind.

Though the far removed disavow it, denying.

وَيُصبِحُ مَعروفاً لَهُ الفَضلُ دونَهُم

وَيُصبِحُ مَعروفاً لَهُ الفَضلُ دونَهُم

وَما يَتَداعاهُ الأَباعِدُ مُنكَرا

وَما يَتَداعاهُ الأَباعِدُ مُنكَرا

His preeminence, rather than theirs, becomes acknowledged,

He erected the beacon of truth until one was guided by it,

And what those farther removed claim is rejected.

And saw it who before was never seeing clearly.

أَقامَ مَنارَ الحَقِّ حَتّى اِهتَدى بِهِ

أَقامَ مَنارَ الحَقِّ حَتّى اِهتَدى بِهِ

وَأَبصَرَهُ مِن لَم يَكُن قَطُّ أَبصَرا

وَأَبصَرَهُ مِن لَم يَكُن قَطُّ أَبصَرا

He raised the beacon of truth, until people found guidance by it,

And the ways of grace returned to the world through his merit,

And those who had never seen before beheld it.

So everything that had gone away came forward.

وَعادَت عَلى الدُنيا عَوائِدُ فَضلِهِ

وَعادَت عَلى الدُنيا عَوائِدُ فَضلِهِ

فَأَقبَلَ مِنها كُلُّ ما كانَ أَدبَرا

فَأَقبَلَ مِنها كُلُّ ما كانَ أَدبَرا

And the benefits of his bounty returned to the world,

With a forbearance as if the earth revered him

So all that had turned away from it came forward.

And a generosity as if the sea gushed from him.

بِحِلمٍ كَأَنَّ الأَرضَ مِنهُ تَوَقَّرَت

بِحِلمٍ كَأَنَّ الأَرضَ مِنهُ تَوَقَّرَت

وَجودٍ كَأَنَّ البَحرَ مِنهُ تَفَجَّرا

وَجودٍ كَأَنَّ البَحرَ مِنهُ تَفَجَّرا

With forbearance that seemed to lend the earth its gravity,

You have lived, Commander of the Faithful, well-protected,

And generosity from which the sea seemed to gush forth.

So the life of dew and generosity is in being lived long.

عَمِرتَ أَميرَ المُؤمِنينِ مُسَلَّماً

عَمِرتَ أَميرَ المُؤمِنينِ مُسَلَّماً

فَعُمرُ النَدى وَالجودِ في أَن تُعَمَّرا

فَعُمرُ النَدى وَالجودِ في أَن تُعَمَّرا

May you live long and safe, Commander of the Faithful,

Glory and praise and loftiness cannot be encompassed,

For the life of bounty and generosity lies in your long life.

Not until they are encompassed and supported fully.

وَلَيسَ يُحاطُ المَجدُ وَالحَمدُ وَالعُلا

وَلَيسَ يُحاطُ المَجدُ وَالحَمدُ وَالعُلا

بِأَجمَعِها حَتّى تُحاطَ وَتُنصَرا

بِأَجمَعِها حَتّى تُحاطَ وَتُنصَرا

Nor can glory, praise, and eminence be safeguarded

You were generous, so a drop of rain became,

In their entirety, until you are protected and supported.

From your munificence, nearer and narrower than it is.

كَرُمتَ فَكانَ القَطرُ أَدنى مَسافَةً

كَرُمتَ فَكانَ القَطرُ أَدنى مَسافَةً

وَأَضيَقَ باعاً مِن نَداكَ وَأَقصَرا

وَأَضيَقَ باعاً مِن نَداكَ وَأَقصَرا

So generous were you that the rain was shorter in reach,

And when you assumed leadership, doing good,

And narrower in span than your bounty, and shorter still.

You prevented the far reaches of your rule from being disturbed.

وَلَمّا تَوَلَّيتَ الرَعِيَّةَ مُحسِناً

وَلَمّا تَوَلَّيتَ الرَعِيَّةَ مُحسِناً

مَنَعتَ أَقاصي سِر بِها أَن يُنَفَّرا

مَنَعتَ أَقاصي سِر بِها أَن يُنَفَّرا

And when you took charge of the populace with kindness,

You took up the burdens of the caliphate, sufficient,

You kept the outermost of its flock from being driven away.

And you remain hopeful regarding it, waiting.

نَهَضتَ بِأَعباءِ الخِلافَةِ كافِياً

نَهَضتَ بِأَعباءِ الخِلافَةِ كافِياً

وَمازِلتَ مَرجُوّاً لَها مُتَنَظَّرا

وَمازِلتَ مَرجُوّاً لَها مُتَنَظَّرا

You took up the burdens of the caliphate, equal to them,

So it did not weary you when you strove tirelessly,

And have ever been its hoped-for and awaited one.

Nor did you slacken from it when you shot arrows.

فَلَم تَسعَ فيها إِذ سَعَيتَ مُثَبِّطاً

فَلَم تَسعَ فيها إِذ سَعَيتَ مُثَبِّطاً

وَلَم تَرمِ عَنها إِذ رَمَيتَ مُقَصِّرا

وَلَم تَرمِ عَنها إِذ رَمَيتَ مُقَصِّرا

So when you strove for it, you did not strive to hinder it,

And you remain, if at peace, successful,

And when you shot in its defense, you did not shoot short.

Upright, and if at war, victorious.

وَمازِلتَ إِن سالَمتَ كُنتَ مُوَفَّقاً

وَمازِلتَ إِن سالَمتَ كُنتَ مُوَفَّقاً

رَشيداً وَإِن حارَبتَ كُنتَ مُظَفَّرا

رَشيداً وَإِن حارَبتَ كُنتَ مُظَفَّرا

And always, when you made peace, you were favored with success,

So if the aspirations of the imams preceded you,

Rightly guided; and when you waged war, you were victorious.

You have surpassed kings, leading and planning.

لَئِن فُتَّ غاياتِ الأَئِمَّةِ سابِقاً

لَئِن فُتَّ غاياتِ الأَئِمَّةِ سابِقاً

فَطُلتَ المُلوكَ سائِساً وَمُدَبِّرا

فَطُلتَ المُلوكَ سائِساً وَمُدَبِّرا

If you surpassed the imams' utmost goals, taking the lead,

Thus it is no wonder they are enraged and rise up,

Then you towered above kings as ruler and administrator.

Nor strange they diminish while you increase.

فَلا عَجَبٌ في أَن يَغيضوا وَتَعتَلي

فَلا عَجَبٌ في أَن يَغيضوا وَتَعتَلي

وَلا مُنكَرٌ في أَن يَقِلّوا وَتَكثُرا

وَلا مُنكَرٌ في أَن يَقِلّوا وَتَكثُرا

No wonder, then, that they ebb while you rise,

Al-'Abbas and his son have left with you

Nor is it strange that they diminish while you increase.

Heights the stars' trajectory wandered bewildered.

وَقَد تَرَكَ العَبّاسُ عِندَكَ وَاِبنُهُ

وَقَد تَرَكَ العَبّاسُ عِندَكَ وَاِبنُهُ

عُلاً طُلنَ مَرمى النَجمِ حَتّى تَحَيَّرا

عُلاً طُلنَ مَرمى النَجمِ حَتّى تَحَيَّرا

And al-Abbas and his son have indeed left in your keeping

They both bequeathed to you the sword of cleavage,

Glories that overtopped the star's reach, until it grew bewildered.

And handed over the rod and the striped cloak.

هُما وَرَّثاكَ ذا الفَقارِ وَصَيَّرا

هُما وَرَّثاكَ ذا الفَقارِ وَصَيَّرا

إِلَيكَ القَضيبَ وَالرِداءَ المُحَبَّرا

إِلَيكَ القَضيبَ وَالرِداءَ المُحَبَّرا

They both bequeathed you Dhu al-Fiqar, and handed over

So which glory are you not right for through its merit,

To you the staff and the ornamented mantle.

And most fitting for it of any living soul?

فَأَيُّ سَناءٍ لَستَ أَهلاً لِفَضلِهِ

فَأَيُّ سَناءٍ لَستَ أَهلاً لِفَضلِهِ

وَأَولى بِهِ مِن كُلِّ حيٍّ وَأَجدَرا

وَأَولى بِهِ مِن كُلِّ حيٍّ وَأَجدَرا

What splendor is there, then, whose excellence you do not deserve,

You are the son of one who quenched the thirst of pilgrims during drought

Being more entitled to it than anyone alive, and more deserving?

And called upon the clouds in the sky, so it showered.

وَأَنتَ اِبنُ مَن أَسقى الحَجيجَ عَلى الظَما

وَأَنتَ اِبنُ مَن أَسقى الحَجيجَ عَلى الظَما

وَناشَدَ في المَحلِ السَحابَ فَأَمطَرا

وَناشَدَ في المَحلِ السَحابَ فَأَمطَرا

And you are the son of one who gave the pilgrims water in their thirst,

And in drought implored the clouds, and they gave rain.