الخطبُ أكبر في النفوسِ وأعظم

الخطبُ أكبر في النفوسِ وأعظم

من أنْ تُراقَ له الدموعُ أو الدَّمُ

من أنْ تُراقَ له الدموعُ أو الدَّمُ

The calamity is greater and graver in our souls

The sorrows in souls are greater and more sublime

than the shedding of tears or blood over it.

Than tears to be shed or blood to flow for them

عَزَّ العزاءُ فكلُّ جلْدٍ عاجِزٌ

عَزَّ العزاءُ فكلُّ جلْدٍ عاجِزٌ

عما ألمَّ وكلُّ أفْوهَ مُفْحَمُ

عما ألمَّ وكلُّ أفْوهَ مُفْحَمُ

Consolation has become elusive: every steadfast man is helpless

Consolations have failed, so every patient one is helpless

before what has befallen us, and every eloquent speaker is silenced.

Against what hurts him, and every eloquent one is silenced

سبقَ الغَمامُ بنُدْبةٍ وبعَبْرَةٍ

سبقَ الغَمامُ بنُدْبةٍ وبعَبْرَةٍ

فبدا لنا منه الرَّعودُ المُثْجِمُ

فبدا لنا منه الرَّعودُ المُثْجِمُ

The clouds preceded us with a lament and a tear,

The clouds advanced with a dirge and tears

and from them we saw a thunderous cloud pouring steadily.

So thunderbolts appeared to us, violent and terrifying

ولو أنَّ شمس الصبح راقبت العُلى

ولو أنَّ شمس الصبح راقبت العُلى

لتغيَّبتْ فالصُّبحُ داجٍ مُظْلِمُ

لتغيَّبتْ فالصُّبحُ داجٍ مُظْلِمُ

And had the morning sun shown regard for greatness,

Had the morning sun kept watch over the firmament

it would have hidden itself; the morning is dark and gloomy,

It would have disappeared, for the dawn is dark and gloomy

وتكوَّرتْ حُزناً لفقدِ خليفةٍ

وتكوَّرتْ حُزناً لفقدِ خليفةٍ

شَهدَ السِّنانُ ببأسهِ والمِخْذَمُ

شَهدَ السِّنانُ ببأسهِ والمِخْذَمُ

and folded itself away in grief at the loss of a caliph

Grieving the loss of a caliph, it curled up in sorrow

to whose valor spearpoint and cleaving sword bore witness.

Whose boldness the spears witnessed, and the swords

ألقانِتُ الأوَّابُ ساهِرُ ليْلهِ

ألقانِتُ الأوَّابُ ساهِرُ ليْلهِ

يحمي الرَّعِيَّةَ والرعيَّةُ نُوَّمُ

يحمي الرَّعِيَّةَ والرعيَّةُ نُوَّمُ

The devout, ever-returning to God, wakeful through his nights,

The devoted worshipper, wakeful through his night

he guarded his subjects while his subjects slept.

Protecting the commoners while they slept

ألمُقْتفي أمر الإلهِ ومنْ لهُ

ألمُقْتفي أمر الإلهِ ومنْ لهُ

شَرفُ المساعي والمَقامُ الأعْظَمُ

شَرفُ المساعي والمَقامُ الأعْظَمُ

Al-Muqtafi, follower of God's command, to whom belong

Seeking the command of God, he whose

the nobility of deeds and the highest station.

Endeavors are noble, and station is supreme

زجَلُ المخَادعِ والمعاركِ عندهُ

زجَلُ المخَادعِ والمعاركِ عندهُ

في حالتيهِ تلاوةٌ وتَغَمْغُمُ

في حالتيهِ تلاوةٌ وتَغَمْغُمُ

For him, the clamor of chambers and battlefields,

The clamor of deceivers and battles are to him

in either state, was recitation and murmured prayer.

In both states, reciting and murmuring

فعلى الحَوادسِ والقَوانس دعوةٌ

فعلى الحَوادسِ والقَوانس دعوةٌ

ما إنْ تُرَدُّ وصارِمٌ لا يكْهَمُ

ما إنْ تُرَدُّ وصارِمٌ لا يكْهَمُ

Against calamities and helmet-crests stood a prayer

So the vigilant and brave are called

never refused, and a keen sword that never dulled.

A call unfailing, and a blade that does not dull

ومُعَفِّرُ التِّيجانِ تحتَ لوائِهِ

ومُعَفِّرُ التِّيجانِ تحتَ لوائِهِ

طوعاً وكَرْهاً إذْ تَدينُ وتُهزمُ

طوعاً وكَرْهاً إذْ تَدينُ وتُهزمُ

And he cast crowns into the dust beneath his banner,

The tiaras underneath his banner willingly and unwillingly

willingly or by force, as they submitted or were defeated.

Bow down since they are vanquished and defeated

كانت نِعالُ جيادهِ في حرْبهِ

كانت نِعالُ جيادهِ في حرْبهِ

هاماً تُصانُ عن العيونِ وتُكْرمُ

هاماً تُصانُ عن العيونِ وتُكْرمُ

The horseshoes of his steeds in battle were

His steeds’ shoes in war

heads once shielded from eyes and held in honor.

Are protected from eyes and held in esteem

يعصيه ملْثومُ الصَّعيدِ فينْثني

يعصيه ملْثومُ الصَّعيدِ فينْثني

لصعيدِ مأزقِهِ يشَمُّ ويلْثَمُ

لصعيدِ مأزقِهِ يشَمُّ ويلْثَمُ

One whose ground is kissed defies him, then stoops

The slippery ground disobeys him, so it recoils

to sniff and kiss the earth of his cramped battlefield.

To the tricky terrain, smelling and licking the ground

فإذا غَزا وقَرى فمنْ أنْصارِه

فإذا غَزا وقَرى فمنْ أنْصارِه

يهديه عنه مُهَنَّدٌ أو لَهْذَمُ

يهديه عنه مُهَنَّدٌ أو لَهْذَمُ

When he campaigns and offers hospitality, one of his helpers—

So when he campaigns and raids, among his supporters

an Indian blade or keen spear—dispenses his gifts for him.

Is there one to guide him away from it, submissive or crushed?

يمشي الخميسُ به فإنْ لم يستطع

يمشي الخميسُ به فإنْ لم يستطع

أمْضى قواتِلَه زَنيقٌ مُحْكَمُ

أمْضى قواتِلَه زَنيقٌ مُحْكَمُ

The army marches with him; if it cannot,

On Thursdays he walks with pride, but if he cannot

a well-built catapult sends his deadly missiles onward.

His lethal warriors, resolute, accomplish it

فعلى العدوِّ بصُبحه وبليلهِ

فعلى العدوِّ بصُبحه وبليلهِ

جيشانِ منه صَيْلَمٌ وعرمْرمُ

جيشانِ منه صَيْلَمٌ وعرمْرمُ

Against the enemy, at dawn and at night,

Against the enemy, at dawn and night

come two armies from him, one devastating and one vast.

Two armies of his, assaulting and overwhelming

لو كان خصمُك غر محتومِ الردى

لو كان خصمُك غر محتومِ الردى

كسفَ الغزالةَ مُسْتثارٌ أقْتَمُ

كسفَ الغزالةَ مُسْتثارٌ أقْتَمُ

Had your adversary been other than death decreed,

Had your opponent been an untamed horse

a stirred-up, dusky dust-cloud would have eclipsed the sun,

It would lower its neck, provoked and bite

وتألَّق الجوْنُ الكثيفُ ببارقٍ

وتألَّق الجوْنُ الكثيفُ ببارقٍ

يهمي إذا سَحَّ الرِّقابَ ويَسْجُم

يهمي إذا سَحَّ الرِّقابَ ويَسْجُم

and the dense black cloud would have flashed with lightning,

The thick clouds flashed with lightning

pouring and streaming whenever it rained down severed necks.

That attacks necks when it flickers and pierces

تتلو سِباعُ الطَّير كِسْف عجاجه

تتلو سِباعُ الطَّير كِسْف عجاجه

في السيرِ فهي على الغطارف حُوَّم

في السيرِ فهي على الغطارف حُوَّم

Birds of prey follow the bank of his dust-cloud

The beasts of prey circle over his prey during travel

on the march, circling above the noble warriors.

As if hooked vultures hovering above

وتناقلتْ بالدَّارعينَ كأنها

وتناقلتْ بالدَّارعينَ كأنها

مُعْطٌ يُحثحثها عنيفٌ صِلْدِمُ

مُعْطٌ يُحثحثها عنيفٌ صِلْدِمُ

And the steeds bounded along with armored riders, as though they were

Passing the dervish’s bowls amongst themselves as if

bare-necked ostriches driven hard by a fierce, powerful horse.

A violent pouring person is shaking them insistently

ترْعى شَكيرَ الهامِ وهو مُمَنَّعٌ

ترْعى شَكيرَ الهامِ وهو مُمَنَّعٌ

وتُبيحُ وِرْدَ الهامِ وهو محرَّمُ

وتُبيحُ وِرْدَ الهامِ وهو محرَّمُ

They graze the fine growth of heads, though it is guarded,

They graze the meadows luxuriously while prohibited

and open the watering-place of heads, though it is forbidden.

And make lawful the meadows’ roses while forbidden

ويَطأنَ غُرَّانَ السَّراةِ كأنها

ويَطأنَ غُرَّانَ السَّراةِ كأنها

صوَّانُ رعْنٍ بالسَّنابك يُهْشمُ

صوَّانُ رعْنٍ بالسَّنابك يُهْشمُ

And they trample the nobles' forelocks as though they were

Trampling the wild cows’ pastures as if they are

flint on a mountain spur, shattered by hooves.

Secured cows in the cattle pens, breaking them

وتدافع القاني الصَّبيبُ على الثرى

وتدافع القاني الصَّبيبُ على الثرى

فكأنَّ سافِحهُ أتِيٌّ مُفْعِمُ

فكأنَّ سافِحهُ أتِيٌّ مُفْعِمُ

And the crimson outpouring of blood surged across the dust,

The warriors’ spears compete over the ground

so its shedder seemed a torrent in full flood.

As if their flooding is an abundant downpour

لكنهُ المقدورُ لا مُسْتأخَرٌ

لكنهُ المقدورُ لا مُسْتأخَرٌ

عنه إذا وافى ولا مُتقدَّمُ

عنه إذا وافى ولا مُتقدَّمُ

Yet it is what was decreed: none can lag

But it is the predetermined, neither delayed

behind it when it arrives, nor go ahead of it.

Nor advanced when it comes

يبكي نَداك المُعْتفونَ عَشيَّةً

يبكي نَداك المُعْتفونَ عَشيَّةً

والعامُ يُخْلفُ نوْؤُهُ والأنجمُ

والعامُ يُخْلفُ نوْؤُهُ والأنجمُ

Those seeking your bounty mourn your generosity at evening,

Your lament, O confidants, makes the evenings weep

as the year's rains and stars fail their promise,

While the public succeeds it, though the stars weep

والبُؤس قد سلب الثَّريَّ بجوره

والبُؤس قد سلب الثَّريَّ بجوره

فغنيُّ معشره مُسيفٌ مُصْرِمُ

فغنيُّ معشره مُسيفٌ مُصْرِمُ

and hardship, in its cruelty, has stripped the wealthy,

Misery has wrongfully robbed the wealthy ones

so the wealthy man of his community is destitute and penniless.

So the rich ones of its people became impoverished and broke

حيث المَواقدُ كالمَواردِ لا غَضاً

حيث المَواقدُ كالمَواردِ لا غَضاً

يُعْلي الضِّرامَ ولا شياعٌ يُجحم

يُعْلي الضِّرامَ ولا شياعٌ يُجحم

Where hearths are like watering-places: no ghada wood

Where hearths were once like pastures, neither miserly

raises the blaze, and no kindling burns.

Elevating the cooking pots, nor gathered crowds pushing

أوسعْتهم كرماً فباتَ شَقيُّهُمْ

أوسعْتهم كرماً فباتَ شَقيُّهُمْ

في ظلِّ نُعماك النَّضيرةِ يَنْعَمُ

في ظلِّ نُعماك النَّضيرةِ يَنْعَمُ

You lavished generosity on them, so their wretched one passed the night

You were most generous to them, so the wretched among them

at ease beneath the shade of your flourishing bounty.

Slept in the shade of your great blessings, content

للّهِ ما ضَمَّ الضَّريحُ فإنهُ

للّهِ ما ضَمَّ الضَّريحُ فإنهُ

طودٌ أشمُّ وذو عُبابٍ خِضْرِمُ

طودٌ أشمُّ وذو عُبابٍ خِضْرِمُ

To God belongs what the tomb encloses, for he is

By God, the tomb did not contain him, for it is

a towering mountain and a vast sea with surging waves.

A fragrant abode with fresh green plants

أغضى الجفون ولم يكن عن حادثٍ

أغضى الجفون ولم يكن عن حادثٍ

يُغْضي ولا عن ناجِمٍ يَتَلَوَّمُ

يُغْضي ولا عن ناجِمٍ يَتَلَوَّمُ

He closed his eyelids, though never before a calamity

He closed his eyelids, not for any accident

did he avert his gaze, nor hesitate before a rising threat.

That made him close them, nor for any star that winked

وثوى وكان يبُثُّ شكْوى سيرهِ

وثوى وكان يبُثُّ شكْوى سيرهِ

وسُراهُ حافِرُ طِرْفهِ والمَنْسم

وسُراهُ حافِرُ طِرْفهِ والمَنْسم

And he lies at rest; once complaints of his journeys were voiced,

He passed away, though he used to voice complaint of his life

and of his night marches, by his steed's hoof and the camel's pad.

And his career—the edge of his toe and his incisor tooth

لا يَرْكُننَّ إلى الحياةِ مُمَتَّعٌ

لا يَرْكُننَّ إلى الحياةِ مُمَتَّعٌ

فالبُعْدُ دانٍ والمَدى مُتَصرِّمُ

فالبُعْدُ دانٍ والمَدى مُتَصرِّمُ

Let no one blessed with life's pleasures put his trust in life,

Let no delighted one incline toward life

for the far-off is near, and the span is running out.

For the distance has drawn near and the course is hazardous

ووراءَ آمالِ الرجالِ مَنِيَّةٌ

ووراءَ آمالِ الرجالِ مَنِيَّةٌ

يعْدو بفارسها حثيثٌ مِرْجَمُ

يعْدو بفارسها حثيثٌ مِرْجَمُ

And behind men's hopes lies death,

Beyond the hopes of men is death

whose rider is borne at a gallop by a swift, stone-flinging steed.

For which one rides quickly with his horse girded

فسَقى مقامكَ يابنَ عمِّ مُحمدٍ

فسَقى مقامكَ يابنَ عمِّ مُحمدٍ

وحِماكَ رجَّافُ العَشيَّةِ مُرزِم

وحِماكَ رجَّافُ العَشيَّةِ مُرزِم

May your resting-place, O son of Muhammad's uncle, be watered,

Your place has quenched the burning thirst, O son of Muhammad’s uncle

and your sanctuary, by a cloud that quakes and thunders at evening,

And your protection has cooled the heat of evenings, O pillar

مُتَبعِّقٌ كَندى بنانكَ ساكِبٌ

مُتَبعِّقٌ كَندى بنانكَ ساكِبٌ

باقٍ كخيرك في الورى لا يُنْجِمُ

باقٍ كخيرك في الورى لا يُنْجِمُ

gushing, pouring like the dew of your fingertips,

Your clouds pouring down like your fresh rain

enduring like your goodness among mankind, never ceasing.

Remaining as your goodness remains in the world, unwavering

واللّهُ يُحسنُ للإمامِ عَزاءهُ

واللّهُ يُحسنُ للإمامِ عَزاءهُ

ويُطيبُ مثوى المُستَجَنِّ ويُكرم

ويُطيبُ مثوى المُستَجَنِّ ويُكرم

May God grant the Imam fitting consolation,

God will send comfort to the Imam in his grief

and make the entombed one's resting-place pleasant and honor him,

And make pleasant the abode of the one who seeks refuge and honors him

ويُحقِّقُ الآمالَ في مُسْتنجدٍ

ويُحقِّقُ الآمالَ في مُسْتنجدٍ

باللّهِ يحميهِ الإِلهُ ويَعْصِمُ

باللّهِ يحميهِ الإِلهُ ويَعْصِمُ

and fulfill the hopes placed in al-Mustanjid

And will fulfill the hopes in the one who seeks help

bi-Allah—may God protect him and keep him safe.

God will protect him, the God who guards him and makes him infallible