لَعَلَّ قَسيمَ الفَضْلِ مِنْ آلِ قاسِمٍ

لَعَلَّ قَسيمَ الفَضْلِ مِنْ آلِ قاسِمٍ

يُصِيخُ إلَيْهَا نُدْبَةً مِنْ مُقاسِمِ

يُصِيخُ إلَيْهَا نُدْبَةً مِنْ مُقاسِمِ

Perhaps the sharer in virtue from the house of Qasim

Perhaps the divider of virtue from the family of Qasim

will heed this lament from one who shares his grief,

Will cry out to it a lament from the dividers

تَقَيَّلَ فِيهَا رَأْيُهُ غَيْرَ آثِمٍ

تَقَيَّلَ فِيهَا رَأْيُهُ غَيْرَ آثِمٍ

وكَمْ نادِبٍ مُسْتَصْحِبٌ حَالَ نادِمِ

وكَمْ نادِبٍ مُسْتَصْحِبٌ حَالَ نادِمِ

whose judgment in this followed an example without sin;

His opinion turned towards it, not sinful

and many a mourner bears the state of one who regrets.

And how many wailers become regretful companions

وأَحْسَنُ مَا أُعْطِيتَهُ عِلْمُ زاهدٍ

وأَحْسَنُ مَا أُعْطِيتَهُ عِلْمُ زاهدٍ

وأزْيَنُ ما رُدِّيتَه زُهْدُ عالِمِ

وأزْيَنُ ما رُدِّيتَه زُهْدُ عالِمِ

The finest thing you have been given is an ascetic's knowledge,

The best that you are given is the knowledge of an ascetic

and the fairest thing you have been robed in is a scholar's asceticism,

And the finest that you return is the asceticism of a scholar

وَطُولُ اعْتِبارٍ في الليالي وحُكْمِهَا

وَطُولُ اعْتِبارٍ في الليالي وحُكْمِهَا

عَلى كُلِّ مَحْكُومٍ عَلَيْهِ وحَاكِمِ

عَلى كُلِّ مَحْكُومٍ عَلَيْهِ وحَاكِمِ

and long reflection on the nights and their sway

And the length of contemplation during the nights and their wisdom

over every subject and every ruler.

Upon every one ruled over and every ruler

خليلَيَّ ما هَذِي الأَسَاةُ التِي أَرى

خليلَيَّ ما هَذِي الأَسَاةُ التِي أَرى

وتِلْكَ عُرَى الأَعْمارِ في يَدِ قاصِمِ

وتِلْكَ عُرَى الأَعْمارِ في يَدِ قاصِمِ

My two friends, what use are these healers I see,

My two friends, what is this misery that I see

when those bonds of life lie in a breaker's hand?

And those bare lifetimes in the hand of the breaker

ألَمْ تَعْلَما أنَّ النّفوسَ فَرَائِسٌ

ألَمْ تَعْلَما أنَّ النّفوسَ فَرَائِسٌ

تُزَجَّى لآسادِ المَنايا الهَوَاجِمِ

تُزَجَّى لآسادِ المَنايا الهَوَاجِمِ

Did you two not know that souls are prey,

Do you not know that souls are like fillies

driven toward the onrushing lions of death?

Led out to the lions of death, the attackers

فَأَيْنَ التَّوَخِّي لِلسَّعادَةِ في غَدٍ

فَأَيْنَ التَّوَخِّي لِلسَّعادَةِ في غَدٍ

وَأَيْنَ التَّوَقّي للدَّواهِي الدَّواهِمِ

وَأَيْنَ التَّوَقّي للدَّواهِي الدَّواهِمِ

So where is the pursuit of happiness tomorrow,

So where is the caution for happiness tomorrow

and where is protection against overwhelming calamities?

And where is avoidance of passions, the corrupters

كَفَى حَزَناً أنَّ الحِمَامَ مُسَلَّط

كَفَى حَزَناً أنَّ الحِمَامَ مُسَلَّط

وأنَّا عَلى اسْتِبْصَارِنا فِي الجَرَائِمِ

وأنَّا عَلى اسْتِبْصَارِنا فِي الجَرَائِمِ

It is grief enough that death holds sway,

It is enough of sorrow that the predator is unleashed

and that we, despite our insight into our crimes,

And that we race towards sin in ignorance

نَسيرُ إِلى الأجْداثِ رَكْضاً وما لَنا

نَسيرُ إِلى الأجْداثِ رَكْضاً وما لَنا

من الزَّادِ إلا موبِقاتُ المَآثِمِ

من الزَّادِ إلا موبِقاتُ المَآثِمِ

race toward the graves, with nothing

We race towards the graves galloping without

for provisions except ruinous sins.

Provision except for that which destroys integrity

وَما الكَهْلُ بِالنَّاجِي وَلا الطِّفْلُ مِنْ يَدَي

وَما الكَهْلُ بِالنَّاجِي وَلا الطِّفْلُ مِنْ يَدَي

زَمَانٍ لأهْليهِ مُصَادٍ مُصادِمِ

زَمَانٍ لأهْليهِ مُصَادٍ مُصادِمِ

Neither the mature man nor the child escapes the two hands

Neither can the elderly save nor the child from

of a time that cajoles and assails its own people.

A time hostile to its people, assailing

سَلامٌ عَلى الدَّارِ التي ليسَ رَبُّهَا

سَلامٌ عَلى الدَّارِ التي ليسَ رَبُّهَا

وإنْ سالَمَتْهُ الحادِثَاتُ بِسَالِمِ

وإنْ سالَمَتْهُ الحادِثَاتُ بِسَالِمِ

Farewell to the abode whose master is never

Peace upon the house whose Lord

safe, even if events make peace with him.

Kept it safe from disasters with well-being

فَأَطْوَلُ عُمْرِ المَرْءِ خَطْفَةُ بارِقٍ

فَأَطْوَلُ عُمْرِ المَرْءِ خَطْفَةُ بارِقٍ

وأَحْلَى مُنَى الإنسانِ أَحْلامُ نائِمِ

وأَحْلَى مُنَى الإنسانِ أَحْلامُ نائِمِ

For a person's longest life is a flash of lightning,

For the longest life of a person is a lightning bolt

and a person's sweetest hopes are a sleeper's dreams.

And the sweetest death of a human is the dreams of one sleeping

سَقَى اللَّه قَبْراً أودِعَ البِرّ والتُّقَى

سَقَى اللَّه قَبْراً أودِعَ البِرّ والتُّقَى

كَما تُودَعُ الأَزْهارُ طَيَّ الكَمَائِمِ

كَما تُودَعُ الأَزْهارُ طَيَّ الكَمَائِمِ

May God water a grave where virtue and piety were laid,

May Allah water a grave in which goodness and piety were deposited

as flowers are laid within the folds of their sheaths.

As flowers are folded in bouquets

ويَمَّمَهَا الرِّضْوَانُ أُماً كَرِيمَةً

ويَمَّمَهَا الرِّضْوَانُ أُماً كَرِيمَةً

لأَوْحَدَ مَخصوصٍ بِغُرِّ الْمَكَارِمِ

لأَوْحَدَ مَخصوصٍ بِغُرِّ الْمَكَارِمِ

And may divine favor seek her out, a noble mother

And may contentment give it a generous mother

of a peerless man distinguished by resplendent virtues.

To the most singular in precious qualities

تَخَلَّتْ عَنِ الدُّنْيَا وخَلَّتْ مُسَامِياً

تَخَلَّتْ عَنِ الدُّنْيَا وخَلَّتْ مُسَامِياً

لَها طِيب أنْفاسِ الرِّياحِ النَّواسِمِ

لَها طِيب أنْفاسِ الرِّياحِ النَّواسِمِ

She departed from the world, leaving as a rival

She left the world and left it loftily

to her the fragrance of the breaths of gently blowing winds.

With the sweet breaths of the soft breezes

فَإِنْ وَكَفَتْ سُحْم الغَمائِمِ بَعْدَها

فَإِنْ وَكَفَتْ سُحْم الغَمائِمِ بَعْدَها

فَقَدْ هَتَفَتْ بالنَّوْحِ وُرْقُ الحَمَائِمِ

فَقَدْ هَتَفَتْ بالنَّوْحِ وُرْقُ الحَمَائِمِ

So if the dark clouds drip after her passing,

So if the clouds' darkness laments after her

then the gray doves have already cried out in mourning.

Then the leaves of doves have cried out in elegy

مُبَارَكَة جاءَتْ بِنَجْلٍ مُبَارَكٍ

مُبَارَكَة جاءَتْ بِنَجْلٍ مُبَارَكٍ

لَهُ في المَعَالي سامِيَاتُ المَعَالِمِ

لَهُ في المَعَالي سامِيَاتُ المَعَالِمِ

Blessed was she who bore a blessed son,

Blessed is she who came with a blessed progeny

who has lofty landmarks in the heights of honor.

For him the highest traits amongst the high

نَهوضٌ بِأَعْباءِ الدِّيانةِ مُقْدِمٌ

نَهوضٌ بِأَعْباءِ الدِّيانةِ مُقْدِمٌ

عَلى الحَقِّ إِقدامَ الليوثِ الضَراغِمِ

عَلى الحَقِّ إِقدامَ الليوثِ الضَراغِمِ

He shoulders the burdens of religion, boldly advancing

Rising up with the burdens of religion leading

for truth with the bold charge of mighty lions.

Forward for truth with the boldness of attacking lions

تَنَسَّكَ لا يَرْجُو زَمَاناً مُلائِماً

تَنَسَّكَ لا يَرْجُو زَمَاناً مُلائِماً

ولا يَتَّقِي في اللَّهِ لَوْمَةَ لائِمِ

ولا يَتَّقِي في اللَّهِ لَوْمَةَ لائِمِ

He embraced devotion, hoping for no favorable age,

He practiced asceticism, not hoping for a congenial time

and he fears no critic's reproach in God's cause.

And fearing no critic's blame in God

وأَسْلَمَ دُنْيَا النَّاسِ للنَّاسِ غانِما

وأَسْلَمَ دُنْيَا النَّاسِ للنَّاسِ غانِما

مِن الدِّينِ في الدّارَيْنِ أُنْسَ المَغَارِمِ

مِن الدِّينِ في الدّارَيْنِ أُنْسَ المَغَارِمِ

He surrendered people's world to the people, gaining

He surrendered the world of people to people seizing

from faith, in both abodes, solace amid losses.

The joys of religion in both abodes

فَلَيْسَ إِذا صَامَ النَّهَارَ بِمُفْطِرٍ

فَلَيْسَ إِذا صَامَ النَّهَارَ بِمُفْطِرٍ

ولَيْسَ إذا قامَ الظَّلامَ بِنَائِمِ

ولَيْسَ إذا قامَ الظَّلامَ بِنَائِمِ

For when he fasts by day, he does not break his fast,

He is not, if he fasts the day, a breaker of fast

and when he stands in prayer through the darkness, he does not sleep.

Nor if he stands at night, a sleeper

لَهُ بَسْطَةٌ في العِلمِ والحلْمِ زَانَها

لَهُ بَسْطَةٌ في العِلمِ والحلْمِ زَانَها

بِقَبْضِ الخُطَى إلا لِكَفِّ المَظَالِمِ

بِقَبْضِ الخُطَى إلا لِكَفِّ المَظَالِمِ

He has breadth in knowledge and forbearance, which he adorned

He has vast knowledge and patience which grace him

by restraining his steps except to curb injustices,

With restraint of pace but to restrain tyranny

وحُسْنِ عَزَاءٍ في الأَسى وتَمَاسُكٍ

وحُسْنِ عَزَاءٍ في الأَسى وتَمَاسُكٍ

سِوَى عَبْرَةٍ لم تَعْدُ عادَةَ راحِمِ

سِوَى عَبْرَةٍ لم تَعْدُ عادَةَ راحِمِ

and by noble endurance in grief and composure,

And excellent consolation in woe and composure

save a tear that did not exceed a compassionate person's wont.

Beyond tears no longer a custom of the compassionate

وَمَنْ كَأبِي عَبدِ الإلَهِ بْنِ قاسِمٍ

وَمَنْ كَأبِي عَبدِ الإلَهِ بْنِ قاسِمٍ

لِصَبْرٍ وَتَفْوِيضٍ لَدَى كُلِّ قاصِمِ

لِصَبْرٍ وَتَفْوِيضٍ لَدَى كُلِّ قاصِمِ

And who is like Abu ʿAbd al-Ilah ibn Qasim

And who is like my father Abdel Ilah bin Qasim

in patience and entrusting affairs to God at every crushing blow?

In patience and entrusting at the hands of every divider

وحَسْبُكَ مِنْ هادٍ إلَى الخَيْرِهَدْيُه

وحَسْبُكَ مِنْ هادٍ إلَى الخَيْرِهَدْيُه

ومِنْ ناجِحٍ مَسْعاهُ في كُلِّ نَاجِمِ

ومِنْ ناجِحٍ مَسْعاهُ في كُلِّ نَاجِمِ

And his guidance is enough for you in one who leads to good

It is enough that your guidance to good is his guidance

and whose endeavor succeeds in every matter that arises.

And that your success in every star is his success

لَكَ الخَيْرُ خُذْها مُغْضِياً عَنْ قُصورِها

لَكَ الخَيْرُ خُذْها مُغْضِياً عَنْ قُصورِها

قَوَافِيَ أعْيَا وَصْفُهَا كُلَّ نَاظِمِ

قَوَافِيَ أعْيَا وَصْفُهَا كُلَّ نَاظِمِ

May good be yours! Take them, overlooking their shortcomings:

Yours is the good - take it while overlooking its shortcomings

rhymes—for describing her has defeated every versifier.

End rhymes wearied describing each composer

بَعَثْتُ بِهَا أبْقِي رِضاكَ مُسَاهِماً

بَعَثْتُ بِهَا أبْقِي رِضاكَ مُسَاهِماً

ومِثْلُكَ مَنْ أرْضَاهُ سَعْيُ المُسَاهِمِ

ومِثْلُكَ مَنْ أرْضَاهُ سَعْيُ المُسَاهِمِ

I sent them to preserve your favor, offering my share,

I sent it to keep your pleasure a partner

and one like you is pleased by a contributor's effort.

And one you pleased is the effort of partners