وَقائِلٍ أَيُّهُما أَنوَرُ

وَقائِلٍ أَيُّهُما أَنوَرُ

الشَمسُ أَم سَيِّدُنا جَعفَرُ

الشَمسُ أَم سَيِّدُنا جَعفَرُ

And someone asked: Which of the two is brighter—

A questioner asked, which of the two shines brighter

the sun or our lord Ja'far?

The sun or our master Ja'far?

قُلتُ لَقَد أَكبَرتَ شَمسَ الضُحى

قُلتُ لَقَد أَكبَرتَ شَمسَ الضُحى

جَهلاً وَما أَنصَفتَ مَن تَذكُرُ

جَهلاً وَما أَنصَفتَ مَن تَذكُرُ

I said: You have indeed exalted the forenoon sun

I said, you have truly wronged the morning sun

in ignorance, and not done justice to the one you name.

In ignorance, you were unfair in your mention

هَل بَقِيَت فيكَ مَجوسِيَّةٌ

هَل بَقِيَت فيكَ مَجوسِيَّةٌ

فَالشَمسُ في مِلَّتِها تُكبَرُ

فَالشَمسُ في مِلَّتِها تُكبَرُ

Does Magianism still remain in you?

Does Zoroastrianism still remain in you

For in its creed the sun is exalted.

That you glorify the sun in its religion?

أَم أَنتَ مِن أَبنائِها عالِمٌ

أَم أَنتَ مِن أَبنائِها عالِمٌ

وَزَلَّةُ العالِمِ لا تُغفَرُ

وَزَلَّةُ العالِمِ لا تُغفَرُ

Or are you a learned man among its sons?

Or are you from its knowledgeable people

And a learned man's lapse is not forgiven.

And a scholar's mistake is unforgivable

فَقُل مَعاذَ اللَهِ مِن هَفوَةٍ

فَقُل مَعاذَ اللَهِ مِن هَفوَةٍ

قالَ فَهَل يَغلَطُ مُستَخبِرُ

قالَ فَهَل يَغلَطُ مُستَخبِرُ

Then say: I seek God's refuge from a lapse.

So say, I seek refuge in God from an error

He said: Can one seeking information be mistaken?

He said, does a questioner make mistakes?

الشَمسُ يَومَ الدَجنِ مَحجوبَةٌ

الشَمسُ يَومَ الدَجنِ مَحجوبَةٌ

وَاللَيلُ يُخفيها فَلا تَظهَرُ

وَاللَيلُ يُخفيها فَلا تَظهَرُ

The sun is veiled on a cloudy day,

The sun on a cloudy day is veiled

and night conceals it, so it does not appear.

And the night hides it, so it does not appear

فَهيَ عَلى الحالَينِ مَملوكَةٌ

فَهيَ عَلى الحالَينِ مَملوكَةٌ

لا تَدفَعُ الرِقَّ وَلا تُنكِرُ

لا تَدفَعُ الرِقَّ وَلا تُنكِرُ

Thus in either state it is enslaved,

It is owned in both states,

neither resisting bondage nor denying it.

It cannot repel its slavery, nor deny

فَكَيفَ قايَستَ بِها غُرَّةً

فَكَيفَ قايَستَ بِها غُرَّةً

غَرّاءَ لا تَخفى وَلا تُستَرُ

غَرّاءَ لا تَخفى وَلا تُستَرُ

How, then, did you compare it with a gleaming brow,

So how did you compare to it an innocent one

radiant, never hidden or veiled?

An innocent one, neither hidden nor concealed

في كُلِّ وَقتٍ نورُها ساطِعٌ

في كُلِّ وَقتٍ نورُها ساطِعٌ

وَكُلُّ وَصفٍ دونَها يَقصُرُ

وَكُلُّ وَصفٍ دونَها يَقصُرُ

At every moment its light shines,

At all times, its light is radiant

and every description falls short of it.

And every description falls short of it

فَقالَ هَل أَكمَلَها قَدرُهُ

فَقالَ هَل أَكمَلَها قَدرُهُ

إِذا بَدا في حُلَّةٍ يَخطُرُ

إِذا بَدا في حُلَّةٍ يَخطُرُ

He said: Does his stature perfect that radiance

So he said, did its predestination perfect it

when he appears in a fine robe, striding proudly?

When it appears in an amazing state

كَالرُمحِ مَهزوزاً عَلى أَنَّهُ

كَالرُمحِ مَهزوزاً عَلى أَنَّهُ

لا فارِطُ الطولِ ولا جَحدَرُ

لا فارِطُ الطولِ ولا جَحدَرُ

Like a spear set quivering, although he is

Like a shaking spear as if

neither excessively tall nor squat.

Neither too short, nor blunt

أَحسَنُ خَلقِ اللَهِ وَجهاً إِذا

أَحسَنُ خَلقِ اللَهِ وَجهاً إِذا

بِدا عَلَيهِ حُلَّةٌ تَزهَرُ

بِدا عَلَيهِ حُلَّةٌ تَزهَرُ

The fairest of God's creatures in face, when

The best of God's creations in face when

he appears wearing a gleaming robe.

An amazing garment appears on it

وَأَخطَبُ الناسِ عَلى مِنبَرٍ

وَأَخطَبُ الناسِ عَلى مِنبَرٍ

يَختالُ في وَطأَتِهِ المِنبَرُ

يَختالُ في وَطأَتِهِ المِنبَرُ

And the most eloquent of men upon a pulpit—

And the most eloquent of people on a pulpit

the pulpit itself struts proudly beneath his tread.

Strutting confidently on the pulpit

وَتَطرَبُ الخَيلُ إِذا ما عَلا

وَتَطرَبُ الخَيلُ إِذا ما عَلا

مُتونَها فَالخَيلُ تَستَبشِرُ

مُتونَها فَالخَيلُ تَستَبشِرُ

And the horses thrill whenever he mounts

And horses prance when

their backs: the horses rejoice.

He mounts them, so the horses are delighted

وَتَرجُفُ الأَرضُ بِأَعدائِهِ

وَتَرجُفُ الأَرضُ بِأَعدائِهِ

إِذا عَلاهُ الدِرعُ وَالمِغفَرُ

إِذا عَلاهُ الدِرعُ وَالمِغفَرُ

And the earth trembles beneath his enemies

And the earth trembles with its enemies

when coat of mail and helmet cover him.

When the coat of mail and shield rise above it

قالَ وَأَينَ البَحرُ مِن جودِهِ

قالَ وَأَينَ البَحرُ مِن جودِهِ

قُلتُ وَلا أَضعافُهُ أَبحُرُ

قُلتُ وَلا أَضعافُهُ أَبحُرُ

He said: Where does the sea stand beside his bounty?

He said, where is the sea to its generosity?

I said: Not even seas many times its measure compare.

I said, not even multiples of it are an ocean

البَحرُ مَحصورٌ لَهُ بَرزَخٌ

البَحرُ مَحصورٌ لَهُ بَرزَخٌ

وَالجودُ في كَفَّيهِ لا يُحصَرُ

وَالجودُ في كَفَّيهِ لا يُحصَرُ

The sea is confined; it has a barrier,

The sea has a barrier, but

and the bounty in his two palms knows no bounds.

Generosity in his hands cannot be measured

قالَ وَكَيفَ البَأسُ عِندَ الوَغى

قالَ وَكَيفَ البَأسُ عِندَ الوَغى

قُلتُ أَتاكَ النَبَأُ الأَكبَرُ

قُلتُ أَتاكَ النَبَأُ الأَكبَرُ

He said: And how is his prowess in battle?

He said, how about might in battle?

I said: The greatest tidings have reached you.

I said, did the greatest news come to you?

قامَ وَأَهلُ الأَرضِ في رَجفَةٍ

قامَ وَأَهلُ الأَرضِ في رَجفَةٍ

يَخبِطُ فيها المُقبِلَ المُدبِرُ

يَخبِطُ فيها المُقبِلَ المُدبِرُ

He rose while the earth's people were trembling,

He took a stand and the people of earth shook

where those retreating struck blindly at those advancing,

In it, the advancing and retreating stumble

في فِتنَةٍ عَمياءَ لا نارُها

في فِتنَةٍ عَمياءَ لا نارُها

تَخبو وَلا موقِدُها يَفتُرُ

تَخبو وَلا موقِدُها يَفتُرُ

in a blind turmoil: neither its fire

In a blinding tribulation, its fire does not

died down, nor did its kindler slacken.

Die down, nor its kindling diminish

وَالدينُ قَد أَشفى وَأَنصارُهُ

وَالدينُ قَد أَشفى وَأَنصارُهُ

أَيدي سَبا مَوعِدُها المَحشَرُ

أَيدي سَبا مَوعِدُها المَحشَرُ

Religion was on the brink of ruin, and its supporters

And the religion was revived and its supporters

were scattered like Saba's people, their meeting set for the Resurrection.

Are the hands of morning, their promise is the Day of Gathering

كُلُّ حَنيفٍ مِنهُمُ مُسلِمٍ

كُلُّ حَنيفٍ مِنهُمُ مُسلِمٍ

لِلكُفرِ فيهِ مَنظَرٌ مُنكَرُ

لِلكُفرِ فيهِ مَنظَرٌ مُنكَرُ

Every upright Muslim among them

Every monotheist among them is a Muslim

was a dreadful spectacle of unbelief's work:

To unbelief among them, their sight is condemning

إِمّا قَتيلٌ أَو أَسيرٌ فَلا

إِمّا قَتيلٌ أَو أَسيرٌ فَلا

يُرثى لِمَن يُقتَلُ أَو يُؤسَرُ

يُرثى لِمَن يُقتَلُ أَو يُؤسَرُ

either slain or captive; no

Either killed or captive, so no one is

pity was shown to whoever was killed or captured.

Mourned for the one killed or captured

فَأَمَّرَ اللَهُ إِمامَ الهُدى

فَأَمَّرَ اللَهُ إِمامَ الهُدى

وَاللَهُ مَن يَنصُرُهُ يُنصَرُ

وَاللَهُ مَن يَنصُرُهُ يُنصَرُ

So God placed the imam of guidance in command,

So God appointed the Imam of guidance

and God—whoever aids Him shall be aided.

And God, whoever He supports, is supported

وَفَوَّضَ الأَمرَ إلى رَبِّهِ

وَفَوَّضَ الأَمرَ إلى رَبِّهِ

مُستَنصِراً إِذ لَيسَ مُستَنصَرُ

مُستَنصِراً إِذ لَيسَ مُستَنصَرُ

He entrusted the matter to his Lord,

And He delegated command to his Lord

seeking aid when no helper was to be found.

Seeking victory, since there is none granting victory but Him

وَنَبَذَ الشورى إِلى أَهلِها

وَنَبَذَ الشورى إِلى أَهلِها

لَم يَثنِهِ خَشيَةُ ما حَذّروا

لَم يَثنِهِ خَشيَةُ ما حَذّروا

And he cast counsel back to its counselors;

And he rejected consultation to its people

fear of what they warned of did not deter him.

Undeterred by fear of what they warned

وَقالَ وَالأَلسُنُ مَقبوضَةٌ

وَقالَ وَالأَلسُنُ مَقبوضَةٌ

لِيُبلِغِ الغائِبَ مَن يَحضُرُ

لِيُبلِغِ الغائِبَ مَن يَحضُرُ

He spoke while tongues were held in check:

And said, the tongues are muted

Let whoever is present inform the absent

So the absent may be informed by the present

أَنّي تَوَكَّلتُ عَلى اللَهِ لا

أَنّي تَوَكَّلتُ عَلى اللَهِ لا

أُشرِكُ بِاللَهِ وَلا أَكفُرُ

أُشرِكُ بِاللَهِ وَلا أَكفُرُ

that I have put my trust in God; I do not

That I put my trust in God, not

associate partners with God, nor disbelieve.

Associating any partners with God or disbelieving

لا أَدَّعي القُدرَةَ مِن دونِهِ

لا أَدَّعي القُدرَةَ مِن دونِهِ

بِاللَهِ حَولي وَبِهِ أَقدِرُ

بِاللَهِ حَولي وَبِهِ أَقدِرُ

I claim no power apart from Him;

I do not claim any power apart from Him

through God is my strength, and through Him I am able.

With God is my strategy and with Him I scheme

أَشكُرُهُ إِن كُنتُ في نِعمَةٍ

أَشكُرُهُ إِن كُنتُ في نِعمَةٍ

مِنهُ وَإِن أَذنَبتُ أَستَغفِرُ

مِنهُ وَإِن أَذنَبتُ أَستَغفِرُ

I thank Him if I enjoy a blessing

I thank Him if I am in blessing from Him

from Him, and if I sin, I seek forgiveness.

And if I sin, I seek forgiveness

فَلَيسَ تَوفيقيَ إِلّا بِهِ

فَلَيسَ تَوفيقيَ إِلّا بِهِ

يَعلَمُ ما أُخفي وَما أُظهِرُ

يَعلَمُ ما أُخفي وَما أُظهِرُ

My success is through Him alone;

For my success is only through Him

He knows what I conceal and what I reveal.

He knows what I conceal and what I make public

فَهوَ الَّذي قَلَّدني أَمرَهُ

فَهوَ الَّذي قَلَّدني أَمرَهُ

إِن أَنا لَم أَشكُر فَمَن يَشكُرُ

إِن أَنا لَم أَشكُر فَمَن يَشكُرُ

For He is the One who entrusted me with His charge;

For He is the One Who entrusted me with His affair

if I do not give thanks, then who will?

If I do not thank, who would thank?

وَاللَهُ لا يُعبَدُ سِرّاً وَلا

وَاللَهُ لا يُعبَدُ سِرّاً وَلا

مِثلي عَلى تَقصيرِهِ يُعذَرُ

مِثلي عَلى تَقصيرِهِ يُعذَرُ

And God is not worshipped in secret; nor

And God is not worshipped secretly, nor is

is one like me excused for his shortcomings.

One like me excused for his shortcomings

وَجَرَّدَ الحَقَّ فَأَشجى بِهِ

وَجَرَّدَ الحَقَّ فَأَشجى بِهِ

مَن كانَ عَن أَحكامِهِ يَنفِرُ

مَن كانَ عَن أَحكامِهِ يَنفِرُ

He unsheathed the truth, bringing anguish through it

And he unsheathed the truth, so it pained

to those who recoiled from its rulings.

Whoever was averse to His rulings

وَاِنفَضَّتِ الأَعداءُ مِن حَولِهِ

وَاِنفَضَّتِ الأَعداءُ مِن حَولِهِ

كَحُمُرٍ أَنفَرَها قَسوَرُ

كَحُمُرٍ أَنفَرَها قَسوَرُ

And the enemies dispersed from around him

And the enemies scattered around him

like wild asses scattered by a lion.

Like donkeys startled by a lion

وَصاحَ إِبليسُ بِأَصحابِهِ

وَصاحَ إِبليسُ بِأَصحابِهِ

حَلَّ بِنا ما لَم نَزَل نَحذَرُ

حَلَّ بِنا ما لَم نَزَل نَحذَرُ

And Iblis cried to his followers:

And Iblis cried out to his comrades

What we never ceased to fear has befallen us!

"A disaster unlike any we feared has befallen us!

مالي وَلِلغُرِّ بَني هاشِمٍ

مالي وَلِلغُرِّ بَني هاشِمٍ

في كُلِّ دَهرٍ مِنهُمُ مُنذِرُ

في كُلِّ دَهرٍ مِنهُمُ مُنذِرُ

What have I to do with the radiant sons of Hashim?

What is the matter with me and the cubs of the Bani Hashim?

In every age there is a warner among them.

In every era, there is one of them warning me

أَكُلَّما قُلتُ خَبا كَوكَبٌ

أَكُلَّما قُلتُ خَبا كَوكَبٌ

مِنهُم بِدا لي كَوكَبٌ يَزهَرُ

مِنهُم بِدا لي كَوكَبٌ يَزهَرُ

Is it that whenever I say: A star has faded

Whenever I say an evil star has faded

among them, a shining star appears before me?

A radiant star appears to me from them

لَم يُلهِهِ عَنّي الشَبابُ الَّذي

لَم يُلهِهِ عَنّي الشَبابُ الَّذي

يُلهي وَلا الدُنيا الَّتي تُعمَرُ

يُلهي وَلا الدُنيا الَّتي تُعمَرُ

He was not distracted from me by youth, which

Youth did not distract him from me, which

distracts, nor by the world that men build up.

Distracts, nor the life of this world adorned

وَاللَهِ لَو أَمهَلَنا ساعَةً

وَاللَهِ لَو أَمهَلَنا ساعَةً

ما هَلَّلَ الناسُ وَلا كَبَّروا

ما هَلَّلَ الناسُ وَلا كَبَّروا

By God, had he given us an hour's respite,

By God, if He gave us respite an hour

people would not have proclaimed God's oneness or greatness.

People would not chant God is Great nor utter

أَلَيسَ قَد كانوا أَجابوا إِلى

أَلَيسَ قَد كانوا أَجابوا إِلى

أَن أَظهَروا الشِركَ كَما أَضمَروا

أَن أَظهَروا الشِركَ كَما أَضمَروا

Had they not already agreed to

Would they not have responded to

reveal the idolatry they had concealed?

Manifesting the polytheism they harbored

وَأَظهَروا أَنَّهُمُ قُدَّرٌ

وَأَظهَروا أَنَّهُمُ قُدَّرٌ

قُدرَةَ مَن يَقضى وَمَن يَقدِرُ

قُدرَةَ مَن يَقضى وَمَن يَقدِرُ

And declared that they possessed power—

And show that they are predestined

the power of the One who decrees and determines?

With the destiny of the One Who decides and predestines

وَشَتَموا القَومَ الَّذينَ اِرتَضى

وَشَتَموا القَومَ الَّذينَ اِرتَضى

بِهِم رَسولُ اللَهِ وَاِستَكبروا

بِهِم رَسولُ اللَهِ وَاِستَكبروا

And reviled the people approved

And they insulted the people whom

by God's Messenger, and grown arrogant?

The Messenger of God was pleased with and acted arrogantly

فَرَدَّهُم طَوعاً وَكَرهاً إِلى

فَرَدَّهُم طَوعاً وَكَرهاً إِلى

أَن عَرَفوا الحَقَّ الَّذي أَنكَروا

أَن عَرَفوا الحَقَّ الَّذي أَنكَروا

Then he brought them back, willingly or unwillingly, to

So he willingly and unwillingly returned them

acknowledge the truth they had denied.

Until they recognized the truth they had denied

وَوافَقوا مِن بَعدِ ما فارَقوا

وَوافَقوا مِن بَعدِ ما فارَقوا

وَأَقبَلوا مِن بَعدِ ما أَدبَروا

وَأَقبَلوا مِن بَعدِ ما أَدبَروا

They agreed after they had dissented,

And they agreed after they had parted

and turned toward it after turning away.

And turned to Him after they had turned away

يا أَعظَمَ الناسِ عَلى مُسلِمٍ

يا أَعظَمَ الناسِ عَلى مُسلِمٍ

حَقّاً وَيا أَشرَفَ مَن يَفخَرُ

حَقّاً وَيا أَشرَفَ مَن يَفخَرُ

O you with the greatest claim upon a Muslim

O greatest of people in obligation to a Muslim

by right, and noblest of those who take pride!

In truth, and O noblest of those who boast

الرِدَّةُ الأولى ثَنى أَهلَها

الرِدَّةُ الأولى ثَنى أَهلَها

حَزمُ أَبي بَكرٍ وَلَم يَكفُروا

حَزمُ أَبي بَكرٍ وَلَم يَكفُروا

The first apostasy—its people were turned back by

The first apostasy, Abu Bakr subdued its people

Abu Bakr's resolve, and they did not disbelieve.

With resolution, and they did not disbelieve

وَهذِهِ أَنتَ تَلافَيتَها

وَهذِهِ أَنتَ تَلافَيتَها

فَعادَ ما قَد كادَ لا يُذكَرُ

فَعادَ ما قَد كادَ لا يُذكَرُ

And this one you yourself have remedied,

And you preempted it

so what had nearly passed out of memory returned.

So what had almost vanished returned

فَاِسلَم لَنا يا خَيرَ مُستَخلَفٍ

فَاِسلَم لَنا يا خَيرَ مُستَخلَفٍ

مِن مَعشَرٍ ما مِثلُهُم مَعشَرُ

مِن مَعشَرٍ ما مِثلُهُم مَعشَرُ

Remain safe for us, O best appointed successor,

So submit to us, O best successor

from a people whom no other people can match.

Of a people unlike whom there are no people

وَاِسمَع إِلى غَرّاءَ سُنِّيَّةٍ

وَاِسمَع إِلى غَرّاءَ سُنِّيَّةٍ

يَسطَعُ مِنها المِسكُ وَالعَنبَرُ

يَسطَعُ مِنها المِسكُ وَالعَنبَرُ

And listen to a radiant ode true to the Sunnah,

And listen to sincere, sound advice

from which musk and ambergris waft.

From which musk and ambergris diffuse

مَوقِعُها مِن كُلِّ ذي بِدعَةٍ

مَوقِعُها مِن كُلِّ ذي بِدعَةٍ

مَوقِعُ وَسمِ النارِ أَو أَكثَرُ

مَوقِعُ وَسمِ النارِ أَو أَكثَرُ

Its impact on every bearer of innovation

Its impact on every innovator

is that of a brand of fire, or greater still.

Is like the impact of fire or more