إِن كُنتَ تُشفِقُ مِن نُزوحِ نَواهُ

إِن كُنتَ تُشفِقُ مِن نُزوحِ نَواهُ

فَهُنَاكَ مَقبَرُهُ وَذا مَثواه

فَهُنَاكَ مَقبَرُهُ وَذا مَثواه

If you dread the far distance of his departure,

If you grieve for his departure

Then there is his grave, and this his resting place.

Apportion your time in lament or moral

قَسِّم زَمانَكَ عَبرَةً أَو عِبرَةً

قَسِّم زَمانَكَ عَبرَةً أَو عِبرَةً

وأَحِل تشوُّقَهُ على ذِكراهُ

وأَحِل تشوُّقَهُ على ذِكراهُ

Divide your time: a tear, or a lesson,

And let your yearning be for his remembrance

And turn your longing for him toward his memory.

Count him, for as long as you live, absent

واعدُدهُ ما امتدَّت حَياتُكَ غائِباً

واعدُدهُ ما امتدَّت حَياتُكَ غائِباً

أَو عاتِباً إِن لم يَزُر زُرناهُ

أَو عاتِباً إِن لم يَزُر زُرناهُ

Count him absent for as long as your life lasts,

Or faultfinding, if he doesn’t visit us

Or reproachful: if he does not visit, we shall visit him;

Or asleep, overwhelmed by slumber

أَو نائِماً غَلَبَت عليهِ رَقدَةٌ

أَو نائِماً غَلَبَت عليهِ رَقدَةٌ

لِمُسَهَّدٍ لم تَغتَمِض عَيناهُ

لِمُسَهَّدٍ لم تَغتَمِض عَيناهُ

Or asleep, overcome by a slumber

On a pillow his eyes have not closed upon

For a sleepless man whose eyes had never closed;

Or an exceptional utterance whose script has turned

أَو لَفظَ نادرةٍ تَوَلَّى خَطُّها

أَو لَفظَ نادرةٍ تَوَلَّى خَطُّها

وأَقامَ طيَّ صدورِنا مَعناهُ

وأَقامَ طيَّ صدورِنا مَعناهُ

Or the wording of a rare saying, whose script has vanished,

And its meaning has resided in our breasts

While its meaning remains in the folds of our breasts;

Or a visitor, the north wind stinging with its cold

أَو عارِضاً حَدَتِ الشّمالُ بِمُزنِهِ

أَو عارِضاً حَدَتِ الشّمالُ بِمُزنِهِ

وَالأَرضُ مُلبَسَةٌ بُرودَ نَداهُ

وَالأَرضُ مُلبَسَةٌ بُرودَ نَداهُ

Or a cloudbank, its rain-clouds driven by the north wind,

And the earth clothed in the chill of its breeze

While the earth is clothed in the robes of its dew;

Or a planet, the feet gliding in its light

أَو كوكَباً سَرَتِ الرِّكابُ بِنُورِهِ

أَو كوكَباً سَرَتِ الرِّكابُ بِنُورِهِ

فَمَضى وَبلَّغَها المحلَّ سَناهُ

فَمَضى وَبلَّغَها المحلَّ سَناهُ

Or a star by whose light the camels traveled by night,

It passed and its beauty reached its destination

Then it passed away, and its radiance brought them to their destination.

So when did he distance himself though souls love him

فمتى تبعَّدَ والنُّفوسُ تحبُّهُ

فمتى تبعَّدَ والنُّفوسُ تحبُّهُ

ومتى تغيَّبَ والقُلوبُ تَراهُ

ومتى تغيَّبَ والقُلوبُ تَراهُ

When, then, has he grown distant, while souls love him?

And when was he absent though hearts see him

And when has he been absent, while hearts behold him?

I didn’t know except after your day in the soil

لَم أَدرِ إِلَّا بَعدَ يَومِكَ في الثَّرى

لَم أَدرِ إِلَّا بَعدَ يَومِكَ في الثَّرى

أَنَّ الزَّمانَ وأَهلَهُ أَشباهُ

أَنَّ الزَّمانَ وأَهلَهُ أَشباهُ

I did not know until your day beneath the soil

That time and its people are all similar

That time and its people are alike:

For the holiday is no master over another

فَالعيدُ ليسَ بِسَيِّدٍ لسواهُ

فَالعيدُ ليسَ بِسَيِّدٍ لسواهُ

والعَبدُ ليسَ يفوتُهُ مَولاهُ

والعَبدُ ليسَ يفوتُهُ مَولاهُ

For the feast day is no master over the other days,

And the servant, his Master does not elude him

And the slave is not outstripped by his master.

O One who has judged all fairly and set right

يا واحِداً عَدَلَ الجميعَ وأَصلَحَت

يا واحِداً عَدَلَ الجميعَ وأَصلَحَت

دُنيا الجميعِ وَدينَهُم دُنياهُ

دُنيا الجميعِ وَدينَهُم دُنياهُ

O one man who equaled all; set right were

The world of all and their faith, their world

The worldly lives and faith of all, by his worldly life.

And his effects have been eternalized and bounded

وَتَخَلَّدت آثارُهُ وتقيَّدَت

وَتَخَلَّدت آثارُهُ وتقيَّدَت

بالرّغمِ في إِنسان مَن عاداهُ

بالرّغمِ في إِنسان مَن عاداهُ

And his deeds endured forever and were inscribed,

To the chagrin of whoever opposed him

Despite themselves, in the pupils of those who opposed him.

Damascus is your Damascus, in your hands its reigns

الشَّامُ شامُكَ في يَدَيكَ زِمامُها

الشَّامُ شامُكَ في يَدَيكَ زِمامُها

وَمَنِ ادَّعى لَم تُلتَفَت دَعواهُ

وَمَنِ ادَّعى لَم تُلتَفَت دَعواهُ

The Levant is your Levant; its reins are in your hands.

And whoever claimed otherwise, don’t heed his claim

And whoever laid claim—his claim was not heeded.

Your torment in life was honored

طالَت أَذاتُكَ بِالحَياةِ كرامَةً

طالَت أَذاتُكَ بِالحَياةِ كرامَةً

وَاللَهُ يُكرِمُ عَبدَهُ بِأَذاهُ

وَاللَهُ يُكرِمُ عَبدَهُ بِأَذاهُ

Your suffering in life was prolonged as an honor,

And God honors His servant through his torment

And God honors His servant through his suffering,

Until you were cleansed of sins like a polished

حَتّى خَلَصت مِنَ الذُّنوبِ كَمُرهَفٍ

حَتّى خَلَصت مِنَ الذُّنوبِ كَمُرهَفٍ

أَبدى الفِرَند صقاله وَجَلاهُ

أَبدى الفِرَند صقاله وَجَلاهُ

Until you were cleansed of sins, like a keen-edged blade

Sword that revealed its sheen and polish

Whose polishing revealed its watered pattern and made it shine.

There did death gently take you

فَهُناكَ وافَتكَ المنيَّةُ سَمحَةً

فَهُناكَ وافَتكَ المنيَّةُ سَمحَةً

نَزعَ الكَرِيمِ عَنِ الكَريم قَذاهُ

نَزعَ الكَرِيمِ عَنِ الكَريم قَذاهُ

Then death came to meet you gently,

Removing the eminent from the eminent his body

As one noble man removes a mote from another.

With a lucid mind and escorted heart

والذِّهن صافٍ والفُؤادُ مُشَيَّعٌ

والذِّهن صافٍ والفُؤادُ مُشَيَّعٌ

لا تستفزُّ يَدُ الحِمام نُهاهُ

لا تستفزُّ يَدُ الحِمام نُهاهُ

And the mind is clear, and the heart undaunted;

The hand of destiny does not provoke its prohibitions

The hand of death does not unsettle his reason.

The light of your witnessing to Divine Oneness seen

لِشهادَةِ التَّوحيدِ بَينَ لِسانِهِ

لِشهادَةِ التَّوحيدِ بَينَ لِسانِهِ

وَجَنانِهِ نورٌ يُرَى مَسراهُ

وَجَنانِهِ نورٌ يُرَى مَسراهُ

The testimony of God's oneness has, between his tongue

Between his tongue and soul, its radiance visible

And his heart, a light whose course is visible.

And in his face a mark more brilliant than a bridled

وَبوَجههِ سِيمى أَغَرَّ مُحَجَّلٍ

وَبوَجههِ سِيمى أَغَرَّ مُحَجَّلٍ

مَهما بَدا لم تَلتَبِس سيماهُ

مَهما بَدا لم تَلتَبِس سيماهُ

And on his face is the mark of one white-blazed and white-footed;

However much appeared, its symbol unmistakable

Whenever he appears, his mark is unmistakable.

And it was as if he were tranquility in life

وكانه هو في الحياة سكينةٌ

وكانه هو في الحياة سكينةٌ

لولا اهتزازٌ في النَّدى يَغشاهُ

لولا اهتزازٌ في النَّدى يَغشاهُ

And he seems just as in life, serenity itself,

If not for a stirring in the dew enveloping him

But for the stirring of generosity that would sweep over him.

His eyes had lowered in contemplation

قد أطرقَت بتفكُّرٍ عَيناهُ

قد أطرقَت بتفكُّرٍ عَيناهُ

وتقلَّصَت لتبسُّمٍ شَفَتاهُ

وتقلَّصَت لتبسُّمٍ شَفَتاهُ

His eyes have lowered in contemplation,

And his lips narrowed in a smile

And his lips have drawn together in a smile.

As if he saw the poor in distress

وكأنَّهُ لَحَظَ العفاة توجُّعاً

وكأنَّهُ لَحَظَ العفاة توجُّعاً

فتلازَمَت فَوقَ الفُؤادِ يَداهُ

فتلازَمَت فَوقَ الفُؤادِ يَداهُ

And as though he had glanced at those seeking bounty in pity,

So his hands clung atop his heart

So his hands clasped together over his heart.

Do you see him having entrusted concerns to fate?

أَتراهُ وكَّلَ بالعواقِبِ هَمَّهُ

أَتراهُ وكَّلَ بالعواقِبِ هَمَّهُ

حَسبُ الجوادِ الغَمرِ نَيلُ مَداهُ

حَسبُ الجوادِ الغَمرِ نَيلُ مَداهُ

Do you think he set his concern upon the outcomes?

The extent of the generous is the reach of his hand

It is enough for the unstinting giver to reach his utmost.

And indeed you passed a scene that choked

ولَقَد مَضى لك مشهدٌ غَصَّت بِهِ ال

ولَقَد مَضى لك مشهدٌ غَصَّت بِهِ ال

أَرضُ الفَضاءُ فَهالَهُم مرآهُ

أَرضُ الفَضاءُ فَهالَهُم مرآهُ

And indeed, a gathering took place for you, choking the

The expanse of space, astonishing all who saw

Vast, open earth; its sight struck them with awe.

They expressed God’s pleasure with you in their praise

أَبدى رضا الرَّحمن عَنكَ ثَناؤُهُم

أَبدى رضا الرَّحمن عَنكَ ثَناؤُهُم

إنَّ الثَّناءَ عَلامةٌ لِرِضاهُ

إنَّ الثَّناءَ عَلامةٌ لِرِضاهُ

Their praise revealed the All-Merciful's pleasure with you;

For praise is a sign of His satisfaction

Indeed, praise is a sign of His pleasure.

All had their tears precede you

كلٌّ قَدِ استبَقَت عَلَيكَ دُموعُه

كلٌّ قَدِ استبَقَت عَلَيكَ دُموعُه

وَالوَجدُ يأمُرُه ولا يَنهاهُ

وَالوَجدُ يأمُرُه ولا يَنهاهُ

Everyone's tears have raced one another over you,

And ecstasy commands it though it doesn’t prohibit it

And grief urges each on and does not hold him back.

What has preoccupied hearts therewith

ماذا الَّذي شَغَلَ القلوبَ بهِ وذا

ماذا الَّذي شَغَلَ القلوبَ بهِ وذا

لا يرتجيه وَذاكَ لا يَخشاهُ

لا يرتجيه وَذاكَ لا يَخشاهُ

What is it that has occupied hearts with him, while this one

That one does not hope for it and that does not fear it

Hopes for nothing from him, and that one does not fear him?

It is nothing but an immaculate branch

ما ذاكَ إلَّا أَنَّهُ فرعٌ زكا

ما ذاكَ إلَّا أَنَّهُ فرعٌ زكا

وَسِعَ الجميعَ بِظلِّه وَجَناهُ

وَسِعَ الجميعَ بِظلِّه وَجَناهُ

It is only that he was a branch that flourished,

That shaded all and sheltered them

Embracing everyone with its shade and fruit.

I have for you, while you are glory incarnate

عندي عَليكَ وأَنتَ مجداً مالِكٌ

عندي عَليكَ وأَنتَ مجداً مالِكٌ

حُزنٌ يَهُدُّ مُتَمِّماً أَدناهُ

حُزنٌ يَهُدُّ مُتَمِّماً أَدناهُ

I bear for you—and you are Malik in glory—

A sorrow that lowers, fulfilling its depths

A grief whose least would lay Mutammim low.

And your persona settles in the conscience loftily

وَتَحطُّ شَخصكَ في الضَّميرِ سَجيَّةٌ

وَتَحطُّ شَخصكَ في الضَّميرِ سَجيَّةٌ

غَرَّاء تَأتي البِرَّ مِن مَأتاهُ

غَرَّاء تَأتي البِرَّ مِن مَأتاهُ

And a disposition lodges your image in the mind—

Proud, bringing righteousness though remote

Radiant, approaching goodness by its proper path;

With qualities that reject baseness and all

وَخلائقٌ تَأبى القَبيحَ وكلُّ ما

وَخلائقٌ تَأبى القَبيحَ وكلُّ ما

يعتنُّ من حَسَنٍ فلا تَأباهُ

يعتنُّ من حَسَنٍ فلا تَأباهُ

And qualities that reject the vile; whatever

That upholds good and does not refuse it

Good presents itself, they do not refuse it.

Today has passed every one I loved

فَاليومَ أَودى كلُّ مَن أَحبَبتُهُ

فَاليومَ أَودى كلُّ مَن أَحبَبتُهُ

ونعى إليَّ النَّفسَ مَن أَنعاهُ

ونعى إليَّ النَّفسَ مَن أَنعاهُ

Today, then, all whom I loved have perished,

And the self conveys to me the one it elegized

And the one whose death I mourn has announced my soul's death to me.

What does the tomb in Damascus hope for

ماذا يُؤمِّلُ في دِمَشقَ مُسَهَّدُ

ماذا يُؤمِّلُ في دِمَشقَ مُسَهَّدُ

قد كُنتَ ناظِرَ جَفنِهِ وَكَراهُ

قد كُنتَ ناظِرَ جَفنِهِ وَكَراهُ

What can a sleepless man hope for in Damascus,

When you had been its overseer and neighbor

When you were his eye's pupil and his slumber?

It grows accustomed to your grave in sorrow for what

يعتادُ قبرَك للبُكا أَسفاً بِما

يعتادُ قبرَك للبُكا أَسفاً بِما

قَد كان أَضحَكَهُ الَّذي أَبكاهُ

قَد كان أَضحَكَهُ الَّذي أَبكاهُ

He returns to your grave to weep, grieving because

Had made it laugh, the one who made it weep

The one who made him weep had once made him laugh.

O soil, the minister has made his burial ground you

يا تُربَةً حَلَّ الوَزيرُ ضَريحَها

يا تُربَةً حَلَّ الوَزيرُ ضَريحَها

سقَّاكِ بَل صلَّى عليكِ اللَهُ

سقَّاكِ بَل صلَّى عليكِ اللَهُ

O soil in whose tomb the minister has settled,

Allah has watered you, rather sent prayers upon you

May God water you—nay, bestow blessings upon you!

And spreading through you and from you a radiant mention

وَسَرى إليكِ وَمنكِ ذكرٌ ساطعٌ

وَسَرى إليكِ وَمنكِ ذكرٌ ساطعٌ

كالمسكِ عاطرةً بهِ الأَفواهُ

كالمسكِ عاطرةً بهِ الأَفواهُ

And may radiant remembrance spread to you and from you,

Fragrant as musk to the mouths

Like musk, with mouths made fragrant by it.