ماwhat is wrong لِلْيَراعِwith the reed pens خَواضِعُbowed الأعْناقِthe necks
ما لِلْيَراعِ خَواضِعُ الأعْناقِ
طرَقَcame knocking النّعِيُّthe death tidings فهُنّso they فيin إطْراقِbowed silence
طرَقَ النّعِيُّ فهُنّ في إطْراقِ
What ails the reed pens, their necks bowed?
What ails the meadows, their necks bowed in submission,
Death's tidings came knocking, so they bow their heads in silence.
As the elegy passes by, and they are immersed in sorrow -
وكأنّماand as though صبَغَstained الشّحوبُpallor وجوهَهاtheir faces
وكأنّما صبَغَ الشّحوبُ وجوهَها
والسُقْمُand sickness منْfrom جزَعٍanguish ومنْand from إشْفاقِapprehension
والسُقْمُ منْ جزَعٍ ومنْ إشْفاقِ
And it is as though pallor has stained their faces,
As if pallor has dyed their faces,
and sickness born of anguish and apprehension.
And sickness of grief and anxiety has overtaken them.
ماwhat is wrong للصّحائِفِwith the pages صوّحَتْwithered رَوْضاتُهاtheir gardens
ما للصّحائِفِ صوّحَتْ رَوْضاتُها
أسَفاًin grief وكُنّand they were نَظيرَةَthe equal of الأوْراقِthe leaves
أسَفاً وكُنّ نَظيرَةَ الأوْراقِ
What ails the pages, whose gardens have withered
What ails the pages - their gardens have withered away in lament,
with grief, though once they were the equal of foliage?
Though they were like leaves green.
ماwhat is wrong للبَيانِwith eloquence كُؤوسُهits cups مهْجورَةٌabandoned
ما للبَيانِ كُؤوسُه مهْجورَةٌ
غفَلَgrew heedless المُديرُthe cup-passer لَهاfor them ونامَand fell asleep السّاقِيthe cupbearer
غفَلَ المُديرُ لَها ونامَ السّاقِي
What ails eloquence, its cups abandoned?
What ails the goblets - abandoned and neglected -
Their passer has grown heedless, and the cupbearer sleeps.
The butler forgot them and the cupbearer slept.
ماwhat is wrong لِيwith me عدِمْتُI have lost تجلُّدِيmy fortitude وتصبُّريand my endurance
ما لِي عدِمْتُ تجلُّدِي وتصبُّري
والصّبْرُand patience فيin الأزَماتِcrises منْamong أخْلاقِmy character traits
والصّبْرُ في الأزَماتِ منْ أخْلاقِ
What ails me, that I have lost my fortitude and endurance,
What ails me - I lost my patience and fortitude,
though patience in crises is among my traits?
Yet patience in tribulations is a trait of the virtuous.
خطْبٌa calamity أصابَstruck بَنيthe sons of البَلاغَةِeloquence والحِجاand reason
خطْبٌ أصابَ بَني البَلاغَةِ والحِجا
شَبَّflared الزّفيرُsighing بهِbecause of it عنِbeyond الأطْواقِthe collars
شَبَّ الزّفيرُ بهِ عنِ الأطْواقِ
A calamity has struck the sons of eloquence and reason;
A calamity has befallen the people of eloquence and rhetoric,
at it, sighing flared beyond their collars.
It makes the breath run short and the sighs overflow.
أمّاas for وقدْand indeed أوْدَىperished أبوAbu الحسَنِal-Hasan الرِّضاal-Rida
أمّا وقدْ أوْدَى أبو الحسَنِ الرِّضا
فالفضْلُthen excellence قدْindeed أوْدَىhas perished علَىin الإطْلاقِabsolute terms
فالفضْلُ قدْ أوْدَى علَى الإطْلاقِ
Now that Abu al-Hasan al-Rida has perished,
Now that Abu al-Hasan al-Ridha has passed away,
excellence itself has perished utterly.
Excellence itself has completely passed away.
كنْزُa treasury المَعارِفِof knowledge لاnot تَبيدُperish نُقودُهits coins
كنْزُ المَعارِفِ لا تَبيدُ نُقودُه
يوْماًon any day ولاand do not تَفْنَىrun out علَىthrough الإنْفاقِspending
يوْماً ولا تَفْنَى علَى الإنْفاقِ
A treasury of knowledge whose coins never perish
The treasure of knowledge - its coins will never perish,
on any day, nor run out through spending.
Nor diminish no matter how much is spent.
مَنْwho للبَدائِعِfor the marvels أصْبَحَتْhave become سمَرَnighttime talk of السُّرَىnight travel
مَنْ للبَدائِعِ أصْبَحَتْ سمَرَ السُّرَى
ماwhat lies بيْنَbetween شامٍal-Sham فيamong الوَرَىhumankind وعِراقِand Iraq
ما بيْنَ شامٍ في الوَرَى وعِراقِ
Who will tend the marvels, now the night travelers' talk,
Who will host the finest gatherings,
among mankind, from al-Sham to Iraq?
Between Syria and Iraq?
مَنْwho لليَراعِfor the reed pens يُجيلُsets in motion منْfrom خطّيِّهاtheir Khatti spear-shafts
مَنْ لليَراعِ يُجيلُ منْ خطّيِّها
سُمَّpoison for العِدَىthe enemies ومَفاتِحَand keys to الأرْزاقِlivelihoods
سُمَّ العِدَى ومَفاتِحَ الأرْزاقِ
Who will wield the pens, drawing from their Khatti shafts
Who will spare the meadows from his malice,
poison for foes and keys to livelihoods?
The poison of enmity and the keys of sustenance?
قُضْبٌrods ذَوابِلُwithered مُثْمِراتٌbearing fruit بالمُنَىwith hopes
قُضْبٌ ذَوابِلُ مُثْمِراتٌ بالمُنَى
وأراقِمٌand serpents ينْفُثْنَthey spit بالتّرْياقِwith antidote
وأراقِمٌ ينْفُثْنَ بالتّرْياقِ
Withered rods, bearing the fruits of hopes,
Branches laden with fruit, symbols of prosperity,
and serpents that spit forth antidotes.
And palms bearing the nectar of healing.
مَنْwho للرِّقاعِfor the missives الحُمْرِred يجْمَعُunites حُسْنُهاtheir beauty
مَنْ للرِّقاعِ الحُمْرِ يجْمَعُ حُسْنُها
خَجَلthe blush of الخُدودِthe cheeks وصِبْغةَand the hue of الأحْداقِthe pupils
خَجَل الخُدودِ وصِبْغةَ الأحْداقِ
Who will tend the red missives whose beauty unites
Who will gather together the beauty of the red parchments -
the blush of cheeks and the hue of pupils?
The shyness of the cheeks and the dye of the eyelids -
تغْتالُslay أحْشاءَthe entrails of العَدوِّthe enemy كأنّهاas though they were
تغْتالُ أحْشاءَ العَدوِّ كأنّها
صَفَحاتُflat blade-faces دامِيَةِbloodied الغِرارِthe cutting edge رِقاقِthin
صَفَحاتُ دامِيَةِ الغِرارِ رِقاقِ
They slay the enemy's entrails, as though they were
That plunder the enemy's entrails as if they were
thin sword-blades with bloodied edges.
The fatal pages of polished swords.
وتَهُزُّand sway أعْطافَthe sides of الوَليِّthe ally كأنّهاas though they were
وتَهُزُّ أعْطافَ الوَليِّ كأنّها
راحٌwine مُشَعْشَعَةٌmixed with water براحَةِin the palm of ساقِيa cupbearer
راحٌ مُشَعْشَعَةٌ براحَةِ ساقِي
And they sway the ally's sides, as though they were
And shake the bosoms of the loyalist as if they were
wine mixed with water in a cupbearer's palm.
The gently blowing breeze gladdening the cupbearer.
مَنْwho للفُنونِfor the arts يُجيلُsets racing فيin مَيْدانِهاtheir arena
مَنْ للفُنونِ يُجيلُ في مَيْدانِها
خيْلَthe horses of البَيانِeloquence كريمَةَnoble in الأعْراقِlineage
خيْلَ البَيانِ كريمَةَ الأعْراقِ
Who will serve the arts, setting loose in their arena
Who will lead in the battlefields of knowledge
eloquence's horses, noble in pedigree?
The steeds of rhetoric, noble Arab horses.
مَنْwho للحقائِقِfor the truths أبْهمَتْhave become obscure أبْوابُهاtheir doors
مَنْ للحقائِقِ أبْهمَتْ أبْوابُها
للنّاسِto people يفْتَحُهاopens them علَىdespite استِغْلاقِtight closure
للنّاسِ يفْتَحُها علَى استِغْلاقِ
Who will tend the truths whose doors are barred
Who will elucidate the doors of truth that were ambiguous
to people, and open them though tightly shut?
And open them to the people though they had been shut.
مَنْwho للمَساعيfor the endeavors الغُرِّnoble تقصِدُseek جاهَهُhis influence
مَنْ للمَساعي الغُرِّ تقصِدُ جاهَهُ
حرَماًas a sanctuary فينْصُرُهاand so aids them علَىagainst الإخْفاقِfailure
حرَماً فينْصُرُها علَى الإخْفاقِ
Who will aid the noble endeavors that seek his influence
Who will seek his glory through noble deeds
as a sanctuary, saving them from failure?
And support them though they fail.
كمْhow many شدّfastened منْof عقدٍa bond وَثيقٍfirm حُكْمُهُhis judgment
كمْ شدّ منْ عقدٍ وَثيقٍ حُكْمُهُ
فيin the cause of اللهِGod أوor أفْتىdecreed بحلِّthe release of وِثاقِa fetter
في اللهِ أو أفْتى بحلِّ وِثاقِ
How many a firm bond his judgment secured
How many firm covenants did he uphold
in God's cause, or decreed a fetter's release!
In Allah, and untie what bonds had been tied!
رحْبُample الذِّراعِof arm لكُلِّfor every خطْبٍcalamity فادِحٍcrushing
رحْبُ الذِّراعِ لكُلِّ خطْبٍ فادِحٍ
أعْيَتْdefeated رِياضَتُهُits taming علَىfor الحُذّاقِthe experts
أعْيَتْ رِياضَتُهُ علَى الحُذّاقِ
Ample of arm for every crushing calamity
Open-armed he was to every towering misfortune,
whose taming defeated even the experts.
Exhausting those skilled in asylum and refuge.
صعْبُhard المَقادَةِto lead فيin الهَوادةِcompromise والهَوىand desire
صعْبُ المَقادَةِ في الهَوادةِ والهَوى
سهْلٌapproachable علَىto العافِينَthe supplicants والطُّرّاقِand night visitors
سهْلٌ علَى العافِينَ والطُّرّاقِ
Hard to lead toward compromise or desire,
Hard to handle in amity and love,
yet approachable to supplicants and night visitors.
Yet easy for the chaste and wise.
ركِبَtook الطّريقَthe road الىto الجِنانِParadise's gardens وحورُهand his houris
ركِبَ الطّريقَ الى الجِنانِ وحورُه
يَلْقَيْنَهُthey meet him بتَصافُحٍwith handclasps وعِناقِand embraces
يَلْقَيْنَهُ بتَصافُحٍ وعِناقِ
He took the road to Paradise, and his houris
He rode the path to gardens and fair maidens,
meet him with handclasps and embraces.
Who welcomed him with embraces and hugs.
فأعْجَبْso marvel لأنْسٍat intimacy فيin مظنّةِa place expected to hold وحْشَةٍdesolation
فأعْجَبْ لأنْسٍ في مظنّةِ وحْشَةٍ
ومَقامand a station of وصْلٍunion فيin مَقامِa station of فِراقِparting
ومَقام وصْلٍ في مَقامِ فِراقِ
Marvel, then, at intimacy where desolation was expected,
Wondrous is the intimacy found in dreaded solitude,
and a station of union in a station of parting.
And the visitation at the abode of separation!
أمُطَيَّباًO you perfumed بمَحامِدِwith the merits of العَمَلِdeeds الرِّضاworthy
أمُطَيَّباً بمَحامِدِ العَمَلِ الرِّضا
ومُكَفّناًand shrouded بمَكارِمِin the nobility of الأخْلاقِcharacter
ومُكَفّناً بمَكارِمِ الأخْلاقِ
O you perfumed with the merits of worthy deeds,
Sweetened with praise for deeds well done,
and shrouded in nobility of character!
And shrouded in the virtues of noble character.
ماnot كُنْتُI was أحسَبُexpecting قبْلَbefore نعْشِكَyour bier أنْthat أرَىI would see
ما كُنْتُ أحسَبُ قبْلَ نعْشِكَ أنْ أرَى
رَضْوَىRadwa نَسيرُwe travel بهِwith it علىupon الأعْناقِthe necks
رَضْوَى نَسيرُ بهِ على الأعْناقِ
Before your bier, I never thought I would see
Never did I think, before your funeral procession,
Radwa, carried by us upon our necks.
That I would one day walk proudly with your bier upon my shoulders
ماnot كُنْتُI was أحسَبُexpecting قبْلَbefore دَفْنِكَyour burial فيin الثّرَىthe soil
ما كُنْتُ أحسَبُ قبْلَ دَفْنِكَ في الثّرَى
أنّthat اللّحودَgraves خَزائِنُtreasuries of الأعْلاقِprecious things
أنّ اللّحودَ خَزائِنُ الأعْلاقِ
Before your burial in the earth, I never thought
Never did I think before your burial in the earth
that graves were treasuries of precious things.
That hidden within it were the depths of minds.
ياO كوْكَبَstar of الهُدَىguidance الذيwho منْfrom بعْدِهafter him
يا كوْكَبَ الهُدَى الذي منْ بعْدِه
ركَدَsettled الظّلامُdarkness بهذِهِin these الآفاقِhorizons
ركَدَ الظّلامُ بهذِهِ الآفاقِ
O star of guidance, after whom
O star of guidance! Now that you have gone
darkness settled over these horizons.
Darkness lingers in these horizons
ياO واحِداًmatchless one مهْماwhenever جرَىhe ran فيin حلْبَةٍa racecourse
يا واحِداً مهْما جرَى في حلْبَةٍ
جَلّىcame first بغُرّةِwith the forehead-blaze of سابِقِthe foremost of السّبّاقِthe racers
جَلّى بغُرّةِ سابِقِ السّبّاقِ
O matchless one, who whenever he ran in a race
O peerless one! No matter what transpires in the arena
came first with the forehead-blaze of the racers' leader.
You were first, surpassing the racers.
ياO ثاوِياًdweller بطْنَin the depths of الضّريحِthe tomb وذكْرُهُand his memory
يا ثاوِياً بطْنَ الضّريحِ وذكْرُهُ
أبَداًforever رَفيقُcompanion to رَكائِبٍmounts ورِفاقِand traveling companions
أبَداً رَفيقُ رَكائِبٍ ورِفاقِ
O dweller in the tomb's depths, whose memory
O resident of the tomb! Yet your remembrance
forever accompanies mounts and traveling companions.
Will forever accompany travelers and friends.
ياO غوْثَsuccor of مَنْwhoever وصَلَcontinued الصّريخَthe cry for help فلمْbut did not يجِدْfind
يا غوْثَ مَنْ وصَلَ الصّريخَ فلمْ يجِدْ
فيin الأرْضِthe earth منْany وزَرٍrefuge ولاnor مِنْany واقِيprotector
في الأرْضِ منْ وزَرٍ ولا مِنْ واقِي
O succor of one who kept up his cry for help, yet found
O refuge for those whose cries reached you, finding
on earth no refuge and no protector.
No room on earth for a helper or protector!
ماnot كُنتَyou were إلاexcept دِيمَةsteady rain مَنْشورَةًspread wide
ما كُنتَ إلا دِيمَة مَنْشورَةً
منْfrom غيْرِwithout إرْعادٍthunder ولاnor إبْراقِlightning
منْ غيْرِ إرْعادٍ ولا إبْراقِ
You were nothing but steady rain spread wide,
You were but a cloud pouring forth without thunder and lightning.
without thunder or lightning.
You were but a well-watered garden,
ماnot كُنتَyou were إلاexcept روْضَةًa garden ممْطورَةًwatered by rain
ما كُنتَ إلا روْضَةً ممْطورَةً
ماwhatever شِئْتَyou wished منْof ثمَرٍfruit ومِنْand of أوْراقِleaves
ما شِئْتَ منْ ثمَرٍ ومِنْ أوْراقِ
You were nothing but a rain-watered garden,
Bearing whatever fruits and leaves you desired.
with whatever fruit and foliage you could wish.
O you who has turned away from us and saddled your mount!
ياO مُزْمِعاًresolved to depart عنّاaway from us العَشيَّat evening رِكابَهُhis mounts
يا مُزْمِعاً عنّا العَشيَّ رِكابَهُ
هَلاّwhy did you not لبِثْتَstay ولوْeven if بقَدْرِfor the measure of فُواقِa brief milking interval
هَلاّ لبِثْتَ ولوْ بقَدْرِ فُواقِ
O you resolved to ride away from us this evening,
Why not stay, even for a moment?
why did you not stay, if only for a milking's pause?
Gently, dear father! Do not overburden us.
رِفْقاًgently أبانَاour father جَلّgreat is ماwhat حمّلْتَناyou made us bear
رِفْقاً أبانَا جَلّ ما حمّلْتَنا
لاdo not تنْسَforget فينَاtoward us عادَةَthe habit of الإشْفاقِcompassion
لا تنْسَ فينَا عادَةَ الإشْفاقِ
Gently, our father: great is the burden you have laid on us.
Do not forget your customary tenderness.
Do not forget your wonted compassion toward us.
Permit us, even if briefly, to visit your tomb,
واسْمَحand grant ولوْeven if only بمَزارِa visit لُقْياof reunion فيin الكَرَىsleep
واسْمَح ولوْ بمَزارِ لُقْيا في الكَرَى
تُبْقِيyou preserve بِهاthrough it منّاof us علَىupon الأرْماقِthe remaining breaths of life
تُبْقِي بِها منّا علَى الأرْماقِ
And grant us, if only in sleep, a visit of reunion
That we may continue to draw life from you.
through which you preserve the last breaths of life within us.
If the means to meet are blocked,
وإذاand when اللّقاءُmeeting تصرّمَتْwere severed أسْبابُهُits means
وإذا اللّقاءُ تصرّمَتْ أسْبابُهُ
كانَbecame الخَيالُthe dream-image تَعِلّةَsolace for المُشْتاقِthe longing one
كانَ الخَيالُ تَعِلّةَ المُشْتاقِ
And when the means of meeting are severed,
Imagination will make up for the longing of the yearner.
the dream-image becomes the longing one's solace.
Wondrous is the soul that bid you farewell, fully convinced
عَجَباًhow strange لنَفْسٍa soul ودّعَتْكَbade you farewell وأيْقَنَتْand became certain
عَجَباً لنَفْسٍ ودّعَتْكَ وأيْقَنَتْ
أنْthat ليسَthere is not بعْدَafter نَواكَyour departure يوْمَa day of تَلاقِيreunion
أنْ ليسَ بعْدَ نَواكَ يوْمَ تَلاقِي
How strange, a soul that bade you farewell and knew
That, after you, there will be no day of reunion!
there would be no day of reunion after your departure!
If she did not share your grave - which you drank to the dregs -
ماwhat عُذْرُهاits excuse إنْif لمْdid not تُقاسِمْكَshare with you الرّدَىdeath
ما عُذْرُها إنْ لمْ تُقاسِمْكَ الرّدَى
فيin فضْلِthe remainder of كأسٍa cup قدْalready شرِبْتَyou drank دِهاقِbrimming
في فضْلِ كأسٍ قدْ شرِبْتَ دِهاقِ
What excuse has it, if it does not share death with you
What excuse has she, despite your merit?
in what remains of the brimming cup you drank?
If our eyes failed to weep
إنْif قصّرَتْfell short أجْفانُناour eyelids عنْof أنْto تُرَىbe seen
إنْ قصّرَتْ أجْفانُنا عنْ أنْ تُرَى
تَبْكيweeping النّجيعَblood علَيْكَfor you باستِحْقاقِas deserved
تَبْكي النّجيعَ علَيْكَ باستِحْقاقِ
If our eyelids have fallen short of being seen
Crying copiously over you, as was deserved,
weeping blood for you as you deserve,
If they were frozen in shock - surely our hearts
واستُوقِفَتْand were halted دَهَشاًby shock فإنّthen indeed قُلوبَناour hearts
واستُوقِفَتْ دَهَشاً فإنّ قُلوبَنا
نهَضَتْrose to fulfill بكُلّevery وظيفَةِduty of الآماقِthe eyes' corners
نهَضَتْ بكُلّ وظيفَةِ الآماقِ
and have been arrested by shock, then our hearts
Were roused to every duty of the deeply aware!
have taken on every duty of the eyes' corners.
Trust in lasting loyalty from the youth
ثِقْtrust بالوَفاءِin loyalty علَىover المَدىall time فيin فِتْيَةٍyoung men
ثِقْ بالوَفاءِ علَى المَدى في فِتْيَةٍ
بكَby your example تقْتَديthey follow فيin العَهْدِthe pledge والمِيثاقِand the covenant
بكَ تقْتَدي في العَهْدِ والمِيثاقِ
Trust in the loyalty, for all time, of young men
Who emulate your covenant and pact.
who follow your example in pledge and covenant.
They have adorned themselves with the blessings you bestowed,
سجَعَتْthey cooed بِماover what طوّقْتَهاyou collared them with منْof مِنّةٍfavor
سجَعَتْ بِما طوّقْتَها منْ مِنّةٍ
حتّىuntil زَرَتْput to shame بحَمائِمِthe doves of الأطْواقِneck-rings
حتّى زَرَتْ بحَمائِمِ الأطْواقِ
They cooed over the favor with which you had collared them,
Until they were collared with your favors.
until they put the ring-necked doves to shame.
They cry over your loss in private - a sanctuary
تَبْكيthey mourn فراقَكَyour departure خَلْوَةًin a retreat عمّرْتَهاyou filled it
تَبْكي فراقَكَ خَلْوَةً عمّرْتَها
بالذِّكْرِwith remembrance فيat طَفَلٍdusk وفيand at إشْراقِdawn
بالذِّكْرِ في طَفَلٍ وفي إشْراقِ
They mourn your departure in a retreat you filled
You filled with remembrance, in childhood and prime.
with remembrance at dusk and at dawn.
As for praise of your sublimity, it is widely diffused,
أمّاas for الثّناءُpraise علَىof عُلاكَyour exalted worth فذائِعٌthen it is widespread
أمّا الثّناءُ علَى عُلاكَ فذائِعٌ
قدْindeed صحّwas confirmed بالإجْماعِby consensus والإصْفاقِand unanimous assent
قدْ صحّ بالإجْماعِ والإصْفاقِ
As for praise of your exalted worth, it is widespread,
Proclaimed by consensus and unanimous agreement.
confirmed by consensus and unanimous assent.
And Allah has coupled praise to His land
واللهُand God قدْindeed قرَنَjoined الثّناءَpraise بأرْضِهِon His earth
واللهُ قدْ قرَنَ الثّناءَ بأرْضِهِ
بثَنائِهِwith His praise منْfrom فوْقِabove سَبْعِseven طِباقِlayers of heaven
بثَنائِهِ منْ فوْقِ سَبْعِ طِباقِ
And God has joined the praise upon His earth
By praising it from above the seven layers of heaven.
with His praise from above seven layered heavens.
Your tomb pours forth a perpetual rain,
جادَتْmay it water ضريحَكَyour tomb ديمَةٌa steady rain هطّالَةٌpouring
جادَتْ ضريحَكَ ديمَةٌ هطّالَةٌ
تبْكيweeping علَيْكَover you بواكِفٍwith flowing rain رَقْراقِglistening
تبْكي علَيْكَ بواكِفٍ رَقْراقِ
May a steady, pouring rain water your tomb,
Weeping over you with constant pouring.
weeping over you in a glistening downpour.
And you have been clothed by the Divine in bliss
وتغَمّدَتْكَand may it enfold you منَfrom الإلاهِGod سَعادَةٌblessedness
وتغَمّدَتْكَ منَ الإلاهِ سَعادَةٌ
تسْموrises بروحِكَwith your soul للمَحَلِّto the abode الرّاقيexalted
تسْمو بروحِكَ للمَحَلِّ الرّاقي
And may blessedness from God enfold you,
That lifts your spirit to the Most Exalted Station.
lifting your soul to the exalted abode.
Have patience, oh kinsmen of al-Jabbaab, your departed one
صبْراًpatience بنِيsons of الجَبّابِal-Jabbab إنّindeed فَقيدكُمْyour departed one
صبْراً بنِي الجَبّابِ إنّ فَقيدكُمْ
سيُسَرُّwill be gladdened مَقْدَمُهُhis arrival بِماby what هوَhe لاقِيwill meet
سيُسَرُّ مَقْدَمُهُ بِما هوَ لاقِي
Patience, sons of al-Jabbab: your departed one
Will soon delight in what he is destined to attain.
will be gladdened on arrival by what awaits him.
When the darkness of grief casts shadows on hearts,
وإذاand when الأسَىsorrow لفَحَscorched القُلوبَthe hearts أُوارُهُits blaze
وإذا الأسَى لفَحَ القُلوبَ أُوارُهُ
فالصّبْرُthen patience والتّسْليمُand submission أيّwhat a رِواقِsheltering canopy
فالصّبْرُ والتّسْليمُ أيّ رِواقِ
And when sorrow's blaze scorches the hearts,
Patience and acquiescence are the best havens.
then patience and submission—what a sheltering canopy!
Partial English translation: 95 of 96 Arabic lines translated.