لَنnever تَستَطيعَyou can لِأَمرِfor the decree of اللَهِGod تَعقيباa reversal
لَن تَستَطيعَ لِأَمرِ اللَهِ تَعقيبا
فَاِستَنجِدِso seek aid from الصَبرَpatience أَوor فَاِستَشعِرِthen clothe yourself in الحوباsin
فَاِستَنجِدِ الصَبرَ أَو فَاِستَشعِرِ الحوبا
You will never be able to overturn God's decree.
No power can change what Allah decrees,
So seek patience's aid, or else clothe yourself in sin.
So seek patience, or resignation if grief seizes you.
وَاِفزَعand flee إِلىto كَنَفِthe shelter of التَسليمِsubmission وَاِرضَand be content بِماwith what
وَاِفزَع إِلى كَنَفِ التَسليمِ وَاِرضَ بِما
قَضىhas decreed المُهَيمِنُthe Guardian مَكروهاًunwelcome وَمَحبوباand welcome
قَضى المُهَيمِنُ مَكروهاً وَمَحبوبا
And flee to the shelter of submission, and accept what
Submit to destiny, accept what
the Guardian has decreed, unwelcome or welcome.
The Almighty has ordained, be it hateful or desirable.
إِنَّindeed العَزاءَfortitude إِذاwhen عَزَّتهُoverpowers it جائِحَةٌa calamity
إِنَّ العَزاءَ إِذا عَزَّتهُ جائِحَةٌ
ذَلَّتgrew meek عَريكَتُهُits temper فَاِنقادَso it submitted مَجنوباled alongside
ذَلَّت عَريكَتُهُ فَاِنقادَ مَجنوبا
Fortitude, when a calamity overpowers it,
When fate assails a man of dignity,
grows meek in temper and submits, led alongside.
It bends his stiff neck, so he walks humbly.
فَإِنbut if قَرَنتَyou couple إِلَيهِwith it العَزمَresolve أَيَّدَهُstrengthens it
فَإِن قَرَنتَ إِلَيهِ العَزمَ أَيَّدَهُ
حَتّىuntil يَعودَbecomes لَدَيهِbefore it الحُزنُsorrow مَغلوباvanquished
حَتّى يَعودَ لَدَيهِ الحُزنُ مَغلوبا
But if you couple resolve with it, resolve strengthens it,
But if he summons up his strength of purpose,
until sorrow becomes vanquished before it.
Sorrow itself will be overcome.
فاِرمِso strike الأَسىsorrow بِالأُسىwith consolations يُطفيextinguishes مَواقِعَهاtheir impacts
فاِرمِ الأَسى بِالأُسى يُطفي مَواقِعَها
جَمراًglowing embers خِلالَamong ضُلوعِthe ribs of الصَدرِthe chest مَشبوباkindled
جَمراً خِلالَ ضُلوعِ الصَدرِ مَشبوبا
So strike sorrow with consolations; their impact quenches
Burn anguish with anguish, and so extinguish
embers kindled among the ribs of the chest.
The embers that smolder in the bosom’s depths.
مَنwhoever صاحَبَkept company with الدَهرَtime لَمdid not يَعدمlack مُجَلجِلَةًa thunderous calamity
مَن صاحَبَ الدَهرَ لَم يَعدم مُجَلجِلَةً
يَظَلُّremains مِنهاbecause of it طِوالَthroughout العَيشِlife مَنكوباstricken
يَظَلُّ مِنها طِوالَ العَيشِ مَنكوبا
Whoever keeps company with time never lacks a thunderous calamity
Whoever contends with fate will never lack
that leaves him stricken throughout his life.
Turmoil to afflict him lifelong.
إِنَّindeed البَلِيَّةَcalamity لاnot وَفرٌwealth تُزَعزِعُهُshake it
إِنَّ البَلِيَّةَ لا وَفرٌ تُزَعزِعُهُ
أَيديthe hands of الحَوادِثِmisfortunes تَشتيتاًscattering وَتَشذيباand pruning away
أَيدي الحَوادِثِ تَشتيتاً وَتَشذيبا
True calamity is not wealth shaken
There is no refuge from destiny’s caprice,
by misfortune's hands, scattered and pruned away,
Its hands will toss and batter ceaselessly,
وَلاnor تَفَرُّقُthe dispersal of أُلّافٍdear companions يَفوتُpasses away بِهِمwith them
وَلا تَفَرُّقُ أُلّافٍ يَفوتُ بِهِم
بَينٌseparation يُغادِرُleaves حَبلَthe cord of الوَصلِunion مَقضوباsevered
بَينٌ يُغادِرُ حَبلَ الوَصلِ مَقضوبا
nor the dispersal of dear companions, carried away
No throngs whose ties of love it will not sever,
by separation that leaves the cord of union severed,
Leaving the rope of union severed.
لَكِنَّbut فقدانَthe loss of مَنone who أَضحىhas become بِمَصرَعِهِthrough his death
لَكِنَّ فقدانَ مَن أَضحى بِمَصرَعِهِ
نورُthe light of الهُدىguidance وَبهاءُand the splendor of العِلمِknowledge مَسلوباstripped away
نورُ الهُدى وَبهاءُ العِلمِ مَسلوبا
but the loss of one whose death has left
Yet nothing has confounded us like the loss
the light of guidance and the splendor of knowledge stripped away.
Of one whose death has robbed us of the light
أَودىperished أَبوAbu (father of) جَعفَرٍJa'far وَالعِلمَand knowledge with him فَاِصطَحَباso the two kept company
أَودى أَبو جَعفَرٍ وَالعِلمَ فَاِصطَحَبا
أَعظِمhow great بِذاthis one صاحِباًas a companion إِذwhen ذاكَthat one مَصحوباas one accompanied
أَعظِم بِذا صاحِباً إِذ ذاكَ مَصحوبا
Abu Ja'far perished, and knowledge with him; the two went together.
Of guidance and the glory of all knowledge—
How great a companion was this, with that as his fellow!
Abu Ja’far, who has taken knowledge with him.
إِنَّindeed المَنِيَّةَdeath لَمdid not تُتلِفdestroy بِهِin him رَجُلاًa man
إِنَّ المَنِيَّةَ لَم تُتلِف بِهِ رَجُلاً
بَلrather أَتلَفَتit destroyed عَلَماًa banner لِلدينِfor the faith مَنصوباraised
بَل أَتلَفَت عَلَماً لِلدينِ مَنصوبا
Death did not destroy in him merely a man,
Death did not destroy a man, rather
but destroyed a banner raised for the faith.
It destroyed a guiding beacon raised for the faith.
أَهدىgave as a gift الرَدىdeath لِلثَرىto the soil إِذwhen نالَseized مُهجَتَهُhis life-blood
أَهدى الرَدى لِلثَرى إِذ نالَ مُهجَتَهُ
نَجماًa star علىupon مَنwhoever يُعاديopposes الحَقَّthe truth مَصبوباhurled down
نَجماً على مَن يُعادي الحَقَّ مَصبوبا
When death seized his life-blood, it gave the earth
Fate poured him into the earth like a piercing star
a star hurled down upon whoever opposes the truth.
Against the enemies of truth.
كانَwas الزَمانُtime بِهِthrough him تَصفوgrow clear مَشارِبُهُits drinking-places
كانَ الزَمانُ بِهِ تَصفو مَشارِبُهُ
فَالآنَbut now أَصبَحَhas become بِالتَكديرِwith clouding مَقطوباgrim-faced
فَالآنَ أَصبَحَ بِالتَكديرِ مَقطوبا
Through him, time's drinking-places ran clear;
Through him the times were purified,
but now it has grown grim, its waters muddied.
Now they are troubled and muddied.
كَلّاno indeed وَأَيامُهُby his days الغُرُّradiant الَّتيwhich جَعَلَتmade
كَلّا وَأَيامُهُ الغُرُّ الَّتي جَعَلَت
لِلعِلمِfor knowledge نوراًa light وَلِلتَقوىand for piety مَحاريباprayer niches
لِلعِلمِ نوراً وَلِلتَقوى مَحاريبا
No indeed! By his radiant days, which made
Never will his days return, days which set up
a light for knowledge and prayer-niches for piety,
Beacons of knowledge and gates of piety.
لاnot يَنسَريlifts its veil الدَهرُtime عَنfrom شِبهٍan equal لَهُto him أَبداًever
لا يَنسَري الدَهرُ عَن شِبهٍ لَهُ أَبداً
ماas long as اِستَوقَفَhalts الحَجُّpilgrimage بِالأَنصابِat the markers أُركوباa band of riders
ما اِستَوقَفَ الحَجُّ بِالأَنصابِ أُركوبا
time will never unveil an equal to him,
Time will never reproduce his like, though
so long as pilgrimage halts riders at the markers:
The pilgrims circle the house of stone forever.
أَوفىmore faithful بِعَهدٍto a pledge وَأَورىand readier to kindle عِندَwhen facing مَظلَمَةٍan injustice
أَوفى بِعَهدٍ وَأَورى عِندَ مَظلَمَةٍ
زَنداًa fire-stick وَآكَدُand firmer إِبراماًin resolve وَتَأديباand in discipline
زَنداً وَآكَدُ إِبراماً وَتَأديبا
more faithful to a pledge, and readier, when wrong is done, to kindle
He kept faith in injustice, doused the flames of discord,
a fire-stick, firmer in resolve and discipline
His reason stayed calm in distress, not to be disturbed.
مِنهُthan he وَأَرصَنُand more steadfast حِلماًin forbearance عِندَbefore مَزعَجَةٍan upheaval
مِنهُ وَأَرصَنُ حِلماً عِندَ مَزعَجَةٍ
تُغادِرُleaves القُلَّبِيَّthe nimble الذِهنِof mind مَنخوباunnerved
تُغادِرُ القُلَّبِيَّ الذِهنِ مَنخوبا
than he, and steadier in forbearance before an upheaval
If he spoke, honesty guided his words; if he preferred
that leaves even the nimble-minded unnerved.
Silence, he sought to school himself.
إِذاwhen اِنتَضىunsheathed الرَأيَjudgment فيin إيضاحِclarifying مُشكِلَةٍa difficulty
إِذا اِنتَضى الرَأيَ في إيضاحِ مُشكِلَةٍ
أَعادَrestored مَنهَجَهاits path المَطموسَobliterated مَلحوباclearly marked
أَعادَ مَنهَجَها المَطموسَ مَلحوبا
When he unsheathed judgment to clarify a difficulty,
He looked to his heart and the reverent fear that filled both,
he made its obliterated path clear again.
Waking thought through promise and threat.
لاnot يَعزُبُvanishes الحِلمُforbearance فيin عَتبٍrebuke وَفيand in نَزَقٍirritation
لا يَعزُبُ الحِلمُ في عَتبٍ وَفي نَزَقٍ
وَلاnor يُجَرِّعُmakes swallow ذاone with الزَلّاتِmissteps تَثريباreproach
وَلا يُجَرِّعُ ذا الزَلّاتِ تَثريبا
His forbearance never deserts him in rebuke or irritation,
His preaching would clear the rust from hearts
nor does he make the erring swallow reproach.
As the light of dawn dispels the dark.
لاnot يولَجُis admitted اللَغوُidle talk وَالعَوراءُand foul speech مَسمَعَهُhis ear
لا يولَجُ اللَغوُ وَالعَوراءُ مَسمَعَهُ
وَلاnor يُقارِفُcommits ماwhat يُغشيهِcovers him with تَأنيباcensure
وَلا يُقارِفُ ما يُغشيهِ تَأنيبا
Idle talk and foul speech never enter his ear,
Outwardly and inwardly he was equally balanced,
nor does he commit what would bring censure upon him.
Never tilting to excess or falling short.
إِنif قالَhe speaks قادَleads زِمامَthe reins of الصِدقِtruth مَنطِقُهُhis speech
إِن قالَ قادَ زِمامَ الصِدقِ مَنطِقُهُ
أَوor آثَرَhe prefers الصَمتَsilence أَولىbestows upon النَفسَthe soul تَهييباawe
أَو آثَرَ الصَمتَ أَولى النَفسَ تَهييبا
If he speaks, his words lead truth by its reins;
No eulogist feared to insult him with inadequacy,
or, if he chooses silence, he fills the soul with awe.
No critic feared to overpraise.
لِقَلبِهِhis heart has ناظِراtwo eyes of تَقوىpiety سَماhe rose بِهِماthrough them both
لِقَلبِهِ ناظِرا تَقوى سَما بِهِما
فَأَيقَظَso he awakened الفِكرَthought تَرغيباًthrough encouragement وَتَرهيباand through warning
فَأَيقَظَ الفِكرَ تَرغيباً وَتَرهيبا
His heart has two eyes of piety, through which he rose,
Every land yearned to be his final resting place,
so he awakened thought through encouragement and warning.
To scent its earth with his blessed body.
تَجلوscour away مَواعِظُهُhis admonitions رَينَthe rust of القُلوبِhearts كَماjust as
تَجلو مَواعِظُهُ رَينَ القُلوبِ كَما
يَجلوdispels ضِياءthe light of سَناthe radiance of الصُبحِdawn الغَياهيباdeep darkness
يَجلو ضِياء سَنا الصُبحِ الغَياهيبا
His admonitions scour the rust from hearts, just as
Your life was a light to this world and its people,
the light of dawn's radiance dispels deep darkness.
With your loss, their light was eclipsed.
سِيّانalike ظاهِرُهُhis outer self الباديvisible وَباطِنُهُand his inner self
سِيّان ظاهِرُهُ البادي وَباطِنُهُ
فَلاso you do not تَراهُsee him عَلىdespite العِلّاتِshortcomings مَجدوباblameworthy
فَلا تَراهُ عَلى العِلّاتِ مَجدوبا
His visible outer self and his inner self are alike,
If the earth knew whom it covers,
so, despite shortcomings, you never find him blameworthy.
Its realms would bow down before you in reverence.
لاnot يَأمَنُfeels safe from العَجزَinadequacy وَالتَقصيرَand falling short مادِحُهُhis eulogist
لا يَأمَنُ العَجزَ وَالتَقصيرَ مادِحُهُ
وَلاnor يَخافُfears عَلىfor الإِطنابِlengthy praise تَكذيباa charge of falsehood
وَلا يَخافُ عَلى الإِطنابِ تَكذيبا
His eulogist is never safe from inadequacy and falling short,
You corrected crookedness and deviation,
nor fears being called a liar for praising at length.
Counseled sincerely, guided and educated benevolently.
وَدَّتwished بِقاعُthe tracts of بِلادِthe lands of اللَهِGod لَوif only جُعِلَتthey were made
وَدَّت بِقاعُ بِلادِ اللَهِ لَو جُعِلَت
قَبراًa grave لَهُfor him فَحَباهاso it bestowed upon them جِسمُهُhis body طيباfragrance
قَبراً لَهُ فَحَباها جِسمُهُ طيبا
The tracts of God's lands wished they could be made
You embodied purified morals,
his grave, so his body might bestow fragrance upon them.
Refined and freed from the dross of ignorance.
كانَتwas حَياتُكَyour life لِلدُنياfor the world وَساكِنِهاand its inhabitants
كانَت حَياتُكَ لِلدُنيا وَساكِنِها
نوراًa light فَأَصبَحَso it became عَنهاfrom it النورُthe light مَحجوباveiled
نوراً فَأَصبَحَ عَنها النورُ مَحجوبا
Your life was, for the world and its inhabitants,
If destiny sought you insistently,
a light; now that light is veiled from it.
Weakness could not deter you from the desired.
لَوif تَعلَمُknew الأَرضُthe earth ماwhat وارَتit concealed لَقَدsurely خَشِعَتbowed
لَو تَعلَمُ الأَرضُ ما وارَت لَقَد خَشِعَت
أَقطارُهاits regions لَكَbefore you إِجلالاًin reverence وَتَرحيباand in welcome
أَقطارُها لَكَ إِجلالاً وَتَرحيبا
Had the earth known what it buried, it would surely have bowed—
For death has a fated drink, bitter yet compulsory,
all its regions—to you, in reverence and welcome.
However much it is hated.
كُنتَyou were المُقَوِّمَthe one who straightens مِنfrom زَيغٍdeviation وَمِنand from ظَلَعٍlameness
كُنتَ المُقَوِّمَ مِن زَيغٍ وَمِن ظَلَعٍ
وَفّاكَthose who came to you نُصحاًthrough counsel وَتَسديداًand through guidance وَتَأديباand through discipline
وَفّاكَ نُصحاً وَتَسديداً وَتَأديبا
You were the one who set right crookedness and lameness
They mourn you, and their pillars are shaken,
in those who came to you, through counsel, guidance, and discipline.
Knowledge itself weeps and laments for you.
وَكُنتَand you were جامِعَa gatherer of أَخلاقٍvirtues مُطَهَّرَةٍpurified
وَكُنتَ جامِعَ أَخلاقٍ مُطَهَّرَةٍ
مُهَذَّباًrefined مِنfrom قِرافِcontact with الجَهلِignorance تَهذيباthoroughly
مُهَذَّباً مِن قِرافِ الجَهلِ تَهذيبا
And you gathered within yourself pure virtues,
Among the wonders of these times
thoroughly refined, free of contact with ignorance.
Is that earth’s darkness shrouds you in its folds
فَإِنso if تَنَلكَreaches you مِنَfrom الأَقدارِfate's decrees طالِبَةٌa pursuer
فَإِن تَنَلكَ مِنَ الأَقدارِ طالِبَةٌ
لَمdid not يُثنِهاturn it away العَجزُweakness عَمّاfrom what عَزَّproved elusive مَطلوباwhen sought
لَم يُثنِها العَجزُ عَمّا عَزَّ مَطلوبا
So if a pursuer from fate reaches you,
When you illuminated plain and hillside.
weakness did not turn it from what was hard to attain.
فَإِنَّfor indeed لِلمَوتِdeath has وِرداًa draught مُمقِراًbitter فَظِعاًdreadful
فَإِنَّ لِلمَوتِ وِرداً مُمقِراً فَظِعاً
عَلىdespite كَراهَتِهِloathing for it لاno بُدَّescape مَشروباto be drunk
عَلى كَراهَتِهِ لا بُدَّ مَشروبا
For death has a bitter, dreadful draught
that must be drunk, however loathed.
إِنif يَندُبوكَthey lament you فَقَدthen indeed ثُلَّتwere toppled عُروشُهُمُtheir thrones
إِن يَندُبوكَ فَقَد ثُلَّت عُروشُهُمُ
وَأَصبَحَand has become العِلمُknowledge مَرثِيّاًelegized وَمَندوباand lamented
وَأَصبَحَ العِلمُ مَرثِيّاً وَمَندوبا
If they lament you, their thrones have indeed been toppled,
and knowledge has become the object of elegy and lament.
وَمِنand among أَعاجيبِthe marvels of ماwhat جاءَbrought الزَمانُtime بِهِwith it
وَمِن أَعاجيبِ ما جاءَ الزَمانُ بِهِ
وَقَدand indeed يُبينُreveals لَناto us الدَهرُtime الأَعاجيباmarvels
وَقَد يُبينُ لَنا الدَهرُ الأَعاجيبا
And among the marvels time has brought—
and time does indeed show us marvels—
أَنthat قَدindeed طَوَتكَhas enfolded you غُموضُthe hidden recesses of الأَرضِthe earth فيin لَحَفٍa hillside hollow
أَن قَد طَوَتكَ غُموضُ الأَرضِ في لَحَفٍ
وَكُنتَand you used to تَملَأُfill مِنهاof it السَهلَthe plains وَاللوباand black-rock tracts
وَكُنتَ تَملَأُ مِنها السَهلَ وَاللوبا
is that the earth's hidden recesses have enfolded you in a hillside hollow,
though you once filled its plains and black-rock tracts.
Partial English translation: 61 of 70 Arabic lines translated.