عَدِمَlost الإِسلامُIslam مَعدومَlacking المِثالِan equal
عَدِمَ الإِسلامُ مَعدومَ المِثالِ
وَهَوَتand fell مِنfrom أَوجِهاits zenith شَمسُthe sun of المَعاليlofty virtues
وَهَوَت مِن أَوجِها شَمسُ المَعالي
Islam has lost a man without peer,
Islam lost its ideal example,
And the sun of lofty virtues has fallen from its zenith.
And its sun of glory set.
ياO لَهُfor it رزءاًa calamity لَقَدindeed حَلَّuntied حُباًknee-bindings
يا لَهُ رزءاً لَقَد حَلَّ حُباً
قَبلَهُbefore it ليثَتwere wound عَلىupon شُمِّthe lofty peaks of الجِبالِthe mountains
قَبلَهُ ليثَت عَلى شُمِّ الجِبالِ
What a calamity! It has undone the knee-bands
Alas for the calamities that befell it!
Once wound about the towering mountains.
Before it lions roared on mountain peaks.
جَلَّgrew great حَتّىuntil دَقَّdwindled فيهِbeside it كُلّevery رزءٍcalamity
جَلَّ حَتّى دَقَّ فيهِ كُلّ رزءٍ
جَلَلٍmighty وانكَدَرَتand grew dim شُهبُthe bright stars of الجَلالِmajesty
جَلَلٍ وانكَدَرَت شُهبُ الجَلالِ
So great that every calamity dwindled beside it,
Great misfortunes visited it until every speck in it
However mighty; and grandeur's bright stars grew dim.
Was upset, and meteors of glory grew dim.
فَالشُّعورُso the hair السُّودُblack كَالأَيّامِlike the days بيضاًwhite
فَالشُّعورُ السُّودُ كَالأَيّامِ بيضاً
وَالوُجوهُand the faces البيضُwhite سوداًblack كَاللَياليlike the nights
وَالوُجوهُ البيضُ سوداً كَاللَيالي
Thus black hair turned white as days,
Black hair turned white like days,
And white faces turned black as nights.
And white faces went black like nights.
وَلِسانُand the tongue of الشَّرعِsacred law قَدindeed أُلبِسَwas clothed in عِيّاًspeechlessness
وَلِسانُ الشَّرعِ قَد أُلبِسَ عِيّاً
بَعدَafter أَنthat كانَwas جَريئاًbold فيin المَقالِspeech
بَعدَ أَن كانَ جَريئاً في المَقالِ
And the tongue of sacred law has been clothed in speechlessness,
The eloquent tongue of sacred law was struck dumb
After being bold in speech.
After being bold in speech.
وَسَماءُand the heaven of الدينِreligion قَدindeed رانَsettled عَلىupon
وَسَماءُ الدينِ قَد رانَ عَلى
بَدرِهاits full moon النُقصانُdecline مِنfrom بَعدِafter الكَمالِperfection
بَدرِها النُقصانُ مِن بَعدِ الكَمالِ
And in religion's heaven there has settled upon
The sky of religion—after reaching its full moon—
Its full moon a decline, after perfection.
Began to suffer loss.
وَالقَضاياand the legal cases قاضِياتٌfulfilling نَحبَهاtheir appointed term
وَالقَضايا قاضِياتٌ نَحبَها
إِثرَهُfollowing him حُزناًin grief عَلىover تِلكَthose الخِلالِvirtues
إِثرَهُ حُزناً عَلى تِلكَ الخِلالِ
And legal cases are breathing their last,
The judges—weeping over those misfortunes—
Following him, grieving for those virtues.
Neglected their duties.
وَنَجيبُand the noble camel of العِلمِknowledge مَعقولٌhobbled وَقَدand indeed
وَنَجيبُ العِلمِ مَعقولٌ وَقَد
أُنشِطَwas untethered الجَهلُignorance إِذَنthen بَعدَafter عِقالِa tether
أُنشِطَ الجَهلُ إِذَن بَعدَ عِقالِ
Knowledge's noble camel is hobbled, while
Men of knowledge and understanding suffered,
Ignorance has now been freed, after being tethered.
While ignorance grew rife.
ماتَdied مَنhe who كانَwas لِأَهلِfor the people of العِلمِlearning كَهفاًa refuge
ماتَ مَن كانَ لِأَهلِ العِلمِ كَهفاً
وثِمالاًand a sustainer مُحسِناًbeneficent أَيَّwhat a ثِمالِsustainer
وثِمالاً مُحسِناً أَيَّ ثِمالِ
Dead is he who was a refuge for the learned,
The refuge and excellent supporter of scholars died—
And a beneficent sustainer—what a sustainer!
What an excellent supporter!
ماتَdied مَنhe who خَلَّفَleft أَخلافَthe teats of النَدىgenerosity
ماتَ مَن خَلَّفَ أَخلافَ النَدى
شَولاًdry مِنfrom بَعدِafter دَرٍّflowing milk وَاِحتِفالِand fullness
شَولاً مِن بَعدِ دَرٍّ وَاِحتِفالِ
Dead is he who left generosity's teats
He who left fragrant traces behind him
Dry, after flowing milk and fullness.
After generosity and celebrations.
مَوتُهُhis death أَقرَحَulcerated أَجفانَthe eyelids of العُلىgreatness
مَوتُهُ أَقرَحَ أَجفانَ العُلى
وَاِنطَوَتand were rolled up مِنfrom بَعدِهِafter him بُسطُthe carpets of النَوالِbounty
وَاِنطَوَت مِن بَعدِهِ بُسطُ النَوالِ
His death has ulcerated the eyelids of greatness,
His death caused the eyelids of the great to ache
And after him the carpets of bounty were rolled up.
And folded up outspread carpets.
ياO أَباfather of الفَضلِal-Fadl أَبىrefused فَضلُكَyour bounty أَنto
يا أَبا الفَضلِ أَبى فَضلُكَ أَن
يَترُكَleave العافينَthe favor-seekers فيin أَسوَأthe worst الحالِcondition
يَترُكَ العافينَ في أَسوَأ الحالِ
O Abu al-Fadl, your bounty refused to
O Father of Excellence, your excellence refused
Leave those seeking favor in the worst plight.
To abandon the afflicted in their worst state.
فَبَنوso the sons of الآمالِhopes مِنfrom بَعدِكَafter you لاno longer
فَبَنو الآمالِ مِن بَعدِكَ لا
تَشتَكيcomplain إِبلُهُمُtheir camels مَرَّthe bitterness of الكَلالِexhaustion
تَشتَكي إِبلُهُمُ مَرَّ الكَلالِ
Thus, for the sons of hope after you, no longer
After you, son of Murtada, those who hope
Do their camels complain of bitter exhaustion.
Will never again suffer camel-litter galling.
حَرَّمواthey forbade بَعدَكَafter you ياO اِبنَson of المُرتَضىal-Murtada
حَرَّموا بَعدَكَ يا اِبنَ المُرتَضى
أَبَداًforever شَدَّstrapping حُدوجٍcamel-litters وَرِحالِand saddles
أَبَداً شَدَّ حُدوجٍ وَرِحالِ
After you, O son of al-Murtada, they forbade
The shabby-robed from lack of knowledge
Forever the strapping of camel-litters and saddles.
Became, after you, cloaks fit for wearing.
فَالجَلابيبُso the robes القَشيباتُsplendid مِنَof الthe
فَالجَلابيبُ القَشيباتُ مِنَ ال
عِلمِlearning مِنfrom بَعدِكَafter you أَسمالٌrags بَواليworn-out
عِلمِ مِن بَعدِكَ أَسمالٌ بَوالي
So the splendid robes of
Through your death, robes of honor remained
Learning, after you, are worn-out, tattered rags.
A gilded crown of knowledge’s splendor.
عَطَّلَتleft vacant مِنكَof you المَناياthe fates of death طَيلَساناًa scholar's mantle
عَطَّلَت مِنكَ المَنايا طَيلَساناً
كانَwas تاجاًa crown بِلَآليwith the pearls of العِلمِlearning حاليadorned
كانَ تاجاً بِلَآلي العِلمِ حالي
The fates have left a scholar's mantle bereft of you,
Your house was clothed in mourning while
Once a crown adorned with learning's pearls.
Joy used to visit it in beauty's robes.
أُلبِسَتwas clothed in دارُكَyour house إيحاشاًdesolation وَكَمand how often
أُلبِسَت دارُكَ إيحاشاً وَكَم
حَلَّهاdwelt in it الإيناسُwarm companionship فيin حَليِthe adornments of الجَمالِbeauty
حَلَّها الإيناسُ في حَليِ الجَمالِ
Your house has been clothed in desolation—how often
How many a white hand you bestowed gifts on
Warm companionship dwelt there, adorned with beauty!
With a right hand and a left!
كَمhow many يَدٍa hand بَيضاءَwhite; beneficent قَدindeed أَسدَيتَهاyou bestowed it
كَم يَدٍ بَيضاءَ قَد أَسدَيتَها
بِيَمينٍwith a right hand ذاتِpossessing يُمنٍgood fortune وَشِمالِand a left hand
بِيَمينٍ ذاتِ يُمنٍ وَشِمالِ
How many a white hand of kindness you extended,
You were the sea of generosity if a request was made;
With a right hand blessed with fortune, and a left!
You were the ocean of knowledge for every question.
كُنتَyou were بَحرَthe sea of الجودِgenerosity إِنif حَلَّarrived سُؤالٌa request
كُنتَ بَحرَ الجودِ إِن حَلَّ سُؤالٌ
كُنتَyou were حَبرَthe sage of العِلمِlearning فيin كُلِّevery سُؤالِquestion
كُنتَ حَبرَ العِلمِ في كُلِّ سُؤالِ
You were a sea of generosity whenever a plea arrived;
How you brought the half-dead jurist back to life
You were a sage of learning on every question.
After an invigorating disputation!
كَمhow many فَقيهٍa jurist بِالجَداwith gifts أَحيَيتَهُyou revived him
كَم فَقيهٍ بِالجَدا أَحيَيتَهُ
بَعدَafter أَنthat جَدَّلتَyou felled فاهُhis mouth بِالجِدالِthrough debate
بَعدَ أَن جَدَّلتَ فاهُ بِالجِدالِ
How many a jurist you revived with gifts,
So, if the completion of religion died
After you had felled his mouth in debate.
After a dominion and power that went on and on,
فَلَئِنand even if ماتَdied كمالُKamal الدينِal-Din مِنfrom
فَلَئِن ماتَ كمالُ الدينِ مِن
بَعدِafter سُلطانٍpower وَعِزٍّand honor مُتَواليunbroken
بَعدِ سُلطانٍ وَعِزٍّ مُتَوالي
And though Kamal al-Din has died,
He left behind him a memory sweeter than musk
After power and honor in unbroken succession,
Whose fragrance the north wind carried far and wide.
فَلَقَدthen indeed خَلَّفَleft behind ذِكراًa remembrance طابَwas fragrant كَالlike the
فَلَقَد خَلَّفَ ذِكراً طابَ كَال
مسكِmusk تُهديcarries عَرفَهُits scent ريحُthe wind of الشَمالِthe north
مسكِ تُهدي عَرفَهُ ريحُ الشَمالِ
He has indeed left a memory fragrant as
O you who rejoices in death, just wait,
Musk, whose scent the north wind carries.
For death's cup comes round to all in the end.
أَيُّهاO you الشامِتُwho gloats بِالمَوتِover death اِنتَظِرwait
أَيُّها الشامِتُ بِالمَوتِ اِنتَظِر
فَالرَدىfor death كَأسُa cup مُديرٍa cupbearer ذيpossessing اِنتِقالِmovement
فَالرَدى كَأسُ مُديرٍ ذي اِنتِقالِ
You who gloat over death, wait:
No army so vast it fills earth and sky
For death is a cup passed by a roving cupbearer.
Can save a tyrant from death's embrace.
لَيسَdoes not يَنجوescape مِنfrom سُطاهُits assault مَنwhoever سَطاassails
لَيسَ يَنجو مِن سُطاهُ مَن سَطا
بِجُيوشٍwith armies تَملَأُfilling الأَرضَthe earth وَمالِand wealth
بِجُيوشٍ تَملَأُ الأَرضَ وَمالِ
None escapes its assault, even one who assails
By God, if valor could have kept death from him,
With armies filling the earth, and wealth.
Swords red with gore would go back in their sheaths,
قَسَماًI swear لَوif رَدَّrepelled عَنهُfrom him المَوتَdeath بَأسٌvalor
قَسَماً لَو رَدَّ عَنهُ المَوتَ بَأسٌ
لانثَنَتwould have returned مُحمَرَّةًreddened بيضُwhite النِّصالِblades
لانثَنَت مُحمَرَّةً بيضُ النِّصالِ
I swear: if valor could have warded death from him,
Lions of battle would crouch beneath him,
The white blades would have returned reddened,
With steeds like towering mountains beneath them.
وَتَمَطَّتand stretched out تَحتَهُمbeneath them أُسدُlions of شَرىًShara
وَتَمَطَّت تَحتَهُم أُسدُ شَرىً
تَحتَهاbeneath them خَيلٌhorses كَأَمثالِlike the forms of السَعاليshe-ghouls
تَحتَها خَيلٌ كَأَمثالِ السَعالي
And lions of Shara would have stretched out beneath them,
They see no glory but what a firm resolve
With horses beneath them, like she-ghouls.
Builds with hands that climb the heights.
لاnot يَرَونَthey see العِزَّglory فيin الغَزوِraiding سِوىexcept
لا يَرَونَ العِزَّ في الغَزوِ سِوى
ماwhat بَنىbuilt العَزمُresolve بِأَطرافِwith the tips of العَواليlong spears
ما بَنى العَزمُ بِأَطرافِ العَوالي
They see no glory in raiding save
Into battle's surging they plunged, men who
What resolve builds with the tips of long spears.
Drank death like cool limpid water.
وَلَخاضَتand would have plunged into لجَجَthe depths of الحَربِwar رِجالٌmen
وَلَخاضَت لجَجَ الحَربِ رِجالٌ
يَشرَبونَthey drink المَوتَdeath كَالماءِlike water الزُلالِclear and sweet
يَشرَبونَ المَوتَ كَالماءِ الزُلالِ
And men would have plunged into the depths of war,
Souls yearning and lions angry,
Who drink death like clear, sweet water.
Maids cloistered in their chambers,
وَفَدَتهُand ransomed him بِنُفوسٍwith souls طائِعاتٍwilling
وَفَدَتهُ بِنُفوسٍ طائِعاتٍ
أُسُدٌlions حُمسٌfierce وَرَبّاتُand ladies of حِجالِcurtained chambers
أُسُدٌ حُمسٌ وَرَبّاتُ حِجالِ
And with willing souls they would have ransomed him:
Gave their lives for him—cousins, men of his time,
Fierce lions and ladies of curtained chambers,
Slaves, clients, every loyal ally.
مِنfrom among بَنيsons of عَمٍa paternal uncle وَأَبناand sons of زَمَنٍan age
مِن بَني عَمٍ وَأَبنا زَمَنٍ
ذيpossessing وَلاءٍloyalty وَعَبيدٍand slaves وَمَواليand clients
ذي وَلاءٍ وَعَبيدٍ وَمَوالي
From cousins and contemporaries
He showed to those who came after what transmitters
Bound by loyalty, and slaves and clients.
Related in books of old.
قَدindeed رَأىsaw الراؤونَthe beholders مِنهُin him ماwhat رَوىrecounted
قَد رَأى الراؤونَ مِنهُ ما رَوى
قَبلَهُbefore him الراوونَthe narrators فيin الكُتبِthe books الخَواليof bygone days
قَبلَهُ الراوونَ في الكُتبِ الخَوالي
Those who saw him witnessed in him what was recounted
What a life! How many excellent qualities
Before him by narrators in bygone books.
It knotted above high hopes!
ياO لَهاfor it مِنof سيرَةٍa life كَمhow many عَقَدَتit strung
يا لَها مِن سيرَةٍ كَم عَقَدَت
مِنof عُقودٍnecklaces فَوقَupon أَجيادِthe necks of الأَماليdictated lessons
مِن عُقودٍ فَوقَ أَجيادِ الأَمالي
What a life! How often it strung
Before him we saw no one whose writing
Necklaces upon the necks of dictated lessons!
Gleamed white within jet black.
ماnot رَأَيناwe saw قَبلَهُbefore him مَنone whose خَطُّهُhis handwriting
ما رَأَينا قَبلَهُ مَن خَطُّهُ
لاحَgleamed فيin أَسودِهِits black ink بيضُwhite اللآليpearls
لاحَ في أَسودِهِ بيضُ اللآلي
Before him, we never saw anyone whose handwriting
He was peerless as a writer,
Had white pearls gleaming amid its black ink.
And Ali son of Hilal a crescent moon.
فَهوَfor he كَالشَمسِlike the sun عُلُوّاًin loftiness كاتِباًas a scribe
فَهوَ كَالشَمسِ عُلُوّاً كاتِباً
وَعَلِيُّand Ali بنُson of هِلالٍHilal كَالهِلالِlike the crescent
وَعَلِيُّ بنُ هِلالٍ كَالهِلالِ
For as a scribe he is as lofty as the sun,
A versatile composer, when moved
And Ali ibn Hilal is like the crescent.
He would aim at pretentious pedants and expose their failings.
مُنشِئٌa prose composer إِنif شاءَhe wished إِنشاءًcomposition رَمىhe struck
مُنشِئٌ إِن شاءَ إِنشاءً رَمى
كُلَّevery ذيpossessor of لَفظِwording اِحتِيالٍartfulness بِاختِلالِwith disarray
كُلَّ ذي لَفظِ اِحتِيالٍ بِاختِلالِ
A prose master: if he wished to compose, he struck
He calmed the raging sea with words
Every master of artful phrasing with disarray.
As effective as potent spells.
يُكلَمُis wounded البَحرُthe sea لَدىat غَضبَتِهِhis anger
يُكلَمُ البَحرُ لَدى غَضبَتِهِ
بِكَلامٍby speech راقَthat delighted كَالسِحرِlike magic الحَلالِlawful
بِكَلامٍ راقَ كَالسِحرِ الحَلالِ
The sea is wounded when he grows angry,
Unruffled when passion seethed around him
By words delightful as lawful magic.
In the assembly and men's livers burned,
ثابِتُsteadfast الجَأشِof heart إِذاwhen جاشَتseethed لَدىamid الthe
ثابِتُ الجَأشِ إِذا جاشَت لَدى ال
غَيضِrage فيin المَحفَلِthe assembly أَكبادُthe livers of الرِجالِmen
غَيضِ في المَحفَلِ أَكبادُ الرِجالِ
Steadfast of heart when there seethe, amid
Tranquil in a state for which
Rage in the assembly, the livers of men.
Every snarling cur yearned on high.
وَقَرٌcomposed فيin حالَةٍa state يَهفوfalters لَهاat it
وَقَرٌ في حالَةٍ يَهفو لَها
كُلّevery عِرنينٍnose مِنَof الآصالِnoble lineages عاليlofty
كُلّ عِرنينٍ مِنَ الآصالِ عالي
Composed in a state that unsettles
O gleam of faith, patience!—all that lives
Every lofty nose of noble lineage.
Will perish except my Lord, eternal, unchanged.
ياO ضِياءَDiya الدينِal-Din صَبراًpatience! كُلّevery حَيٍّliving being
يا ضِياءَ الدينِ صَبراً كُلّ حَيٍّ
لِفَناءٍfor annihilation غَيرَexcept رَبّيmy Lord وَزَوالِand passing away
لِفَناءٍ غَيرَ رَبّي وَزَوالِ
O Diya al-Din, patience! Every living being
Where are Tasm and Jadis and those ancients
Is destined to perish and pass away, except my Lord.
Who peopled earth with wealth and children?
أَينَwhere طَسمٌTasm وَجَديسٌand Jadis وَالأُلىand those who
أَينَ طَسمٌ وَجَديسٌ وَالأُلى
عَمَرواpopulated الدُنياthe world بِأَموالٍwith wealth وَآلِand households
عَمَروا الدُنيا بِأَموالٍ وَآلِ
Where are Tasm and Jadis, and those
The prophets and their followers—
Who filled the world with wealth and households?
All of them came to this same state.
وَالنَبِيّونَand the prophets وَمَنand those who تابَعَهُمfollowed them
وَالنَبِيّونَ وَمَن تابَعَهُم
كُلُّهُمall of them آلَcame إِلىto هَذاthis المَآلِend
كُلُّهُم آلَ إِلى هَذا المَآلِ
And the prophets, and those who followed them—
Be as Kamal al-Din was in his patience
All of them came to this same end.
When disaster weighed heavily.
كُنbe كَماas كانَwas كَمالُKamal الدينِal-Din فيin
كُن كَما كانَ كَمالُ الدينِ في
صَبرِهِhis patience عِندَwhen faced with المُلِمّاتِcalamities الثِقالِheavy
صَبرِهِ عِندَ المُلِمّاتِ الثِقالِ
Be as Kamal al-Din was in
Steadfast in good and evil alike
His patience when heavy calamities struck:
With the unstable when events changed,
ثابِتٌsteadfast فيin الخَيرِgood وَالشَرِّand ill مَعاًalike
ثابِتٌ في الخَيرِ وَالشَرِّ مَعاً
لِذَويtoward those of الطَيشِrecklessness لَدىin الحالَينِboth states قاليscornful
لِذَوي الطَيشِ لَدى الحالَينِ قالي
Steadfast in good and ill alike,
In his grave he hid away such excellent traits and virtues
Scorning the reckless in either state.
As thick as the sands of the waste.
كَمhow much ثَوىrested فيin لَحدِهِhis grave مِنof سُؤدَدٍnobility
كَم ثَوى في لَحدِهِ مِن سُؤدَدٍ
وَصِفاتٍand qualities كاثَرَتoutnumbered عَدَّthe number of الرِمالِsand-grains
وَصِفاتٍ كاثَرَت عَدَّ الرِمالِ
How much nobility rests in his grave,
God's mercy upon him! Whenever
And qualities that outnumbered the grains of sand!
A mother of little ones cried out in alarm,
رَحمَةُthe mercy of اللَهِGod عَلَيهِupon him كُلَّماwhenever
رَحمَةُ اللَهِ عَلَيهِ كُلَّما
رُوِّعَتis startled فيin مَهمَهٍa trackless waste أُمُّa mother of رِئالِostrich chicks
رُوِّعَت في مَهمَهٍ أُمُّ رِئالِ
May God's mercy be upon him whenever
The days are traitors; they have not ceased
A mother of ostrich chicks is startled in a trackless waste.
To promise, after weaning, parting.
إِنَّindeed ذاthis الدَهرِage خَئونٌtreacherous لَمnot يَزَلcease
إِنَّ ذا الدَهرِ خَئونٌ لَم يَزَل
مُؤذِناًannouncing بَعدَafter رِضاعٍsuckling بِفِصالِof weaning
مُؤذِناً بَعدَ رِضاعٍ بِفِصالِ
This age is surely treacherous; it has never ceased
Blaming, they burn us every time
To announce weaning after suckling.
In prohibited and in lawful acts.
يَحرِقُgnashes النابَthe fang عَلَيناat us عاتِباًreproachfully
يَحرِقُ النابَ عَلَينا عاتِباً
كُلَّevery وَقتٍmoment فيin حَرامٍthe forbidden وَحَلالِand the lawful
كُلَّ وَقتٍ في حَرامٍ وَحَلالِ
It gnashes its fang at us in reproach,
O gleam of faith! Yours is a house
At every moment, in the forbidden and the lawful.
Where the price of poetry stays high.
ياO ضِياءَDiya الدينِal-Din أَنتُمyou سادَةٌlords
يا ضِياءَ الدينِ أَنتُم سادَةٌ
عِندَهُمwith them مازالَhas remained سِعرُthe price of الشِعرِpoetry غاليhigh
عِندَهُم مازالَ سِعرُ الشِعرِ غالي
O Diya al-Din, you are lords
If anyone claims your like in your time
With whom poetry's price has always been high.
He has erred and speaks falsehood.
مَنwhoever يَرُمseeks مِثلاًan equal لَكُمto you فيin دَهرِكُمyour age
مَن يَرُم مِثلاً لَكُم في دَهرِكُم
فَلَقَدthen indeed باءَhe returned بِزورٍwith falsehood وَمُحالِand impossibility
فَلَقَد باءَ بِزورٍ وَمُحالِ
Whoever seeks your equal in your age
How you revived many a fallen house,
Has indeed returned with falsehood and impossibility.
And with prohibition blocked the ways of error!
كَمhow many عَمَرتُمyou restored بِاللُهىwith gifts مِنof داثِرٍa ruined thing
كَم عَمَرتُم بِاللُهى مِن داثِرٍ
وَدَثَرتُمand you effaced بِالنُهىwith wisdom سُبلَthe paths of ضَلالِerror
وَدَثَرتُم بِالنُهى سُبلَ ضَلالِ
How many a ruined thing you restored with gifts,
For the Alids of Sharazur a place
And with wisdom you effaced the paths of error.
Below which stars range in far spheres.
فَلِآلِso for the family of الشَّهرَزَورِيِّal-Shahrazuri مَحَلٌa station
فَلِآلِ الشَّهرَزَورِيِّ مَحَلٌ
دونَهُbelow it الجَوزاءُal-Jawza (constellation) فيin بُعدِremoteness of المَنالِattainment
دونَهُ الجَوزاءُ في بُعدِ المَنالِ
For the house of al-Shahrazuri has a station
Ready for every question, eloquent in every statement,
Beneath which al-Jawza lies, itself far beyond reach.
Persian in Mumbai, Indian in speech,
بَرمَكِيّونَBarmakid-like لَدىat كُلِّevery سُؤالٍrequest
بَرمَكِيّونَ لَدى كُلِّ سُؤالٍ
فَارِسِيّونَFarisi-like لدىin كُلِّevery مَقالِutterance
فَارِسِيّونَ لدى كُلِّ مَقالِ
Barmakid-like at every request,
From them came every critic of taste,
Farisi-like in every discourse.
Every erudite jurist skilled in debate;
مِنهُمُamong them كُلُّevery خَطيبٍorator مِصقَعٍeloquent
مِنهُمُ كُلُّ خَطيبٍ مِصقَعٍ
وَفَقيهٍand a jurist مِدرَهٍa formidable advocate عِندَin الجِدالِdebate
وَفَقيهٍ مِدرَهٍ عِندَ الجِدالِ
Among them is every eloquent orator,
Their pens attained what the heroes attained
And every jurist, a formidable advocate in debate.
With spears on the day of trial.
بَلَغَتattained أَقلامُهُمtheir pens ماwhat بَلَغَتattained
بَلَغَت أَقلامُهُم ما بَلَغَت
بِالقَناwith spears الأَبطالُthe heroes فيon يَومِthe day of النِّزالِcombat
بِالقَنا الأَبطالُ في يَومِ النِّزالِ
Their pens have attained what was attained
If their envier rejoices,
By heroes with spears on the day of combat.
After them he'll be shot down with arrows.
إِنif يَكُنis حاسِدُهُمtheir envier ذاpossessed of فَرَحٍjoy
إِن يَكُن حاسِدُهُم ذا فَرَحٍ
فَسَيُرمىthen he will be struck بَعدُlater مِنهُمby them بِخَبالِwith madness
فَسَيُرمى بَعدُ مِنهُم بِخَبالِ
If their envier feels any joy,
Always, in every season, their graves are watered
He will yet be struck by them with madness.
By a mourner in the corner of the tomb.
فَسَقىso may it water قَبرَthe grave of كَمالِKamal الدينِal-Din فيat
فَسَقى قَبرَ كَمالِ الدينِ في
كُلِّevery وَقتٍhour جائِداًpouring generously صَوبُthe downpour of العزاليthe waterskin spouts
كُلِّ وَقتٍ جائِداً صَوبُ العزالي
So may Kamal al-Din's grave be watered at
Every hour by a generous downpour from the cloud-spouts.
Partial English translation: 110 of 112 Arabic lines translated.