الحكمُjudgment للهِbelongs to God كلٌّall غيرُهother than Him فانيperishable
الحكمُ للهِ كلٌّ غيرُه فاني
وفيand in المناياdeaths عظاتُadmonitions كلِّevery ولهانِdistraught lover
وفي المنايا عظاتُ كلِّ ولهانِ
Judgment belongs to God; all but Him perish.
Judgement belongs to God alone, all else passes away
And deaths hold lessons for every distraught lover.
And in death are lessons for every complacent one
ياO تائهًاwandering one غافلاًheedless والموتُand death يطلبُهpursues him
يا تائهًا غافلاً والموتُ يطلبُه
أقصرْcut short عَناكyour toil فللمَنونfor death has عينانtwo eyes
أقصرْ عَناك فللمَنون عينان
O wandering, heedless one whom death pursues,
O wanderer heedless while death seeks you
Cut short your toil, for death has two eyes.
Make haste before the appointed hour arrives
وهذهand this الدارabode لاno شبهٌlikeness يُقاربُهاcomes close to it
وهذه الدار لا شبهٌ يُقاربُها
إلاexcept سرابٌa mirage بداappeared فيon ظهرthe surface of قِيعانlevel plains
إلا سرابٌ بدا في ظهر قِيعان
And no likeness comes close to this abode,
This abode resembles no other, except a mirage
Save a mirage that appeared on the surface of level plains.
Appearing over the sands during summer's heat
سحّارةُenchantress of الطرْفِthe eye ترميshe casts فيin لواحظهاher glances
سحّارةُ الطرْفِ ترمي في لواحظها
سُمِّيّةُthe venom of الصِّلِّthe viper لاno راقٍincantation-healer ولاand no دانيone approaching
سُمِّيّةُ الصِّلِّ لا راقٍ ولا داني
An enchantress of the eye, she casts through her glances
The captivating glance casts with her eyes
The viper's venom: no spell-healer, and none to come near.
The severing arrow neither gentle nor kind
كمhow often أظهرتshe revealed فرحًاjoy فيin طيِّهits folds حزَنٌsorrow
كم أظهرت فرحًا في طيِّه حزَنٌ
وماand not استحتfelt shame before واحدًاa single one فيin العصرthe age ربّانيgodly
وما استحت واحدًا في العصر ربّاني
How often she revealed a joy whose folds held sorrow,
How much joy has appeared from hidden sorrow
Nor did she feel shame before a single godly man of the age.
Yet feels no shame before any lordly epoch
فيon تاسعِthe ninth of العشْرthe ten days منof ذيDhu (possessor of) حجّةٍHijjah (pilgrimage) وسطٍmiddle
في تاسعِ العشْر من ذي حجّةٍ وسطٍ
فازattained عليٌّAli بوعدٍwith a promise of خيرِthe best of إيمانfaith
فاز عليٌّ بوعدٍ خيرِ إيمان
On the ninth of Dhu al-Hijjah's middle ten days,
On the nineteenth of Dhu'l Hijjah's midst
Ali attained a promise of the finest faith.
Ali won the promise of faith's best
وضجَّتِand cried out الناسthe people عندat موتهhis death فزعًاin alarm
وضجَّتِ الناس عند موته فزعًا
لمّاwhen بدتْappeared ثلمةُthe breach in الإسلامIslam فيat الآنthis moment
لمّا بدتْ ثلمةُ الإسلام في الآن
And the people cried out in alarm at his death,
And people were disturbed at his death in fright
When the breach in Islam appeared at that moment.
When the new moon of Islam disappeared that night
لاnot حبّذاwelcome فَقْدُthe loss of أحبابٍloved ones فُجعْتُI was bereaved بهمof them
لا حبّذا فَقْدُ أحبابٍ فُجعْتُ بهم
شُمِّlofty الأنوفِnoses طوالِlong الباعreach غُرّانradiant ones
شُمِّ الأنوفِ طوالِ الباع غُرّان
How unwelcome the loss of loved ones of whom I was bereaved,
Alas the loss of loved ones brought me their pain
Lofty-nosed, long of reach, radiant men.
The scent of noses long in grief remain
فكمand how often أحنُّI yearn لأصواتٍfor voices مرنَّمةٍmelodious
فكم أحنُّ لأصواتٍ مرنَّمةٍ
حنينَthe longing of ثكلىa bereaved mother شَجاهاgrieved her فَقْدُthe loss of فردانdear ones
حنينَ ثكلى شَجاها فَقْدُ فردان
And how I yearn for melodious voices,
How I yearn for melodious voices long stilled
Like a bereaved mother's longing, grieved by the loss of her dear ones.
A childless mother's lament for babes she held
تبكيweep يتاماهhis orphans أنَّthat الخيرَgoodness فارقهاhas left them
تبكي يتاماه أنَّ الخيرَ فارقها
تبكيweep المدارسُthe schools يبكيweeps كلُّevery ذيone possessing شانstanding
تبكي المدارسُ يبكي كلُّ ذي شان
His orphans weep that goodness has left them;
The orphans weep the good has left their side
The schools weep; everyone of standing weeps.
The schools weep every man of repute has cried
تبكيweep المساجدُthe mosques إنwhen نادىcalls مؤذِّنهاtheir muezzin
تبكي المساجدُ إن نادى مؤذِّنها
تبكيweep المصاعدُthe stairways يبكيweeps كلُّevery ميدانarena
تبكي المصاعدُ يبكي كلُّ ميدان
The mosques weep when their muezzin calls;
The mosques weep when the muezzin gives his call
The stairways weep; every arena weeps.
The plains all weep as does each minaret tall
إمامَimam of مدرسةِthe school of التوحيدdivine oneness خاطبَهاhe addressed her
إمامَ مدرسةِ التوحيد خاطبَها
فباسمٌso smiling ثغرُهاher mouth فيat كلall أزمانtimes
فباسمٌ ثغرُها في كل أزمان
The imam of the school of divine oneness addressed her,
The leader of the school of Divine Unity it hailed
So her mouth smiles at all times.
With a smiling face for every age availed
مؤيّدٌa supporter لِبِناof the edifice of المروِيِّtransmitted lore ناشرُهits disseminator
مؤيّدٌ لِبِنا المروِيِّ ناشرُه
مباركُblessed الوجهof countenance فيin يُمنٍgood fortune وإيمانand faith
مباركُ الوجه في يُمنٍ وإيمان
A supporter of the edifice of transmitted lore, its disseminator,
Supported by Mawardi spreading knowledge wide
Blessed of countenance, in good fortune and faith.
Blessed of face with rightness by his side
مهذَّبٌrefined زيَّنadorned اللهGod البلادthe land بهthrough him
مهذَّبٌ زيَّن الله البلاد به
مُسدَّدsound الرأيِin judgment حاميprotector of الدينthe faith عنagainst شانblemish
مُسدَّد الرأيِ حامي الدين عن شان
A refined man through whom God adorned the land,
Refined, graced by God the lands where abided
Sound in judgment, guarding the faith against blemish.
Wise of thought, guardian of faith provided
إنسانُpupil عينthe eye of وجودِthe existence of الوقتِthe age أوحدُهits peerless one
إنسانُ عين وجودِ الوقتِ أوحدُه
مجدِّدُrenewer of العصرthe age فيin علمٍknowledge وإتقانand mastery
مجدِّدُ العصر في علمٍ وإتقان
The pupil in the eye of the age's existence, its peerless one,
The exemplar of the age in knowledge defined
The renewer of the age in knowledge and mastery.
Renewer of era with wisdom designed
عليٌّAli المرتضَىthe chosen one فيamong أمةٍa community وسطٍjustly balanced
عليٌّ المرتضَى في أمةٍ وسطٍ
مخاطَبينaddressed بكُنتمwith 'you were' خيرَthe best ذيone possessing شانstanding
مخاطَبين بكُنتم خيرَ ذي شان
Ali, the chosen one, among a community of the middle way,
Ali the Chosen of a community centered
Addressed with 'You were the best of those of standing.'
Hailed as the best of exalted descended
بقادِيُBaqadi الشيخthe shaykh مَنْthe one whose سارتjourneyed ركائبُهhis mounts
بقادِيُ الشيخ مَنْ سارت ركائبُه
بنشْرِby spreading علمٍknowledge فأروىand so quenched كلَّevery ظمآنthirsty one
بنشْرِ علمٍ فأروى كلَّ ظمآن
Baqadi, the shaykh whose mounts journeyed
My father the sheikh whose ships set sail
To spread knowledge; thus he quenched every thirsty soul.
To disseminate knowledge and all thirsts avail
سمحُgracious الشمائلin character لوif قابلتَyou encountered طلعتَهhis countenance
سمحُ الشمائل لو قابلتَ طلعتَه
تخالُهyou would imagine him فضَّةًsilver شيبتْmingled بِعقْيانwith pure gold
تخالُه فضَّةً شيبتْ بِعقْيان
Gracious in character—if you beheld his countenance,
Gentle of manner should you meet his face
You would think him silver mingled with pure gold.
You'd think it silver graced with time's embrace
يرويrelates الحقيقةَthe Truth منfrom بحرthe sea of الشريعةِsacred law ذاthis الthe (continued next line)
يروي الحقيقةَ من بحر الشريعةِ ذا ال
فَيّاضِoverflowing علمًاwith knowledge كذاlikewise رُشْدًاguidance لِحَيرانfor a bewildered one
فَيّاضِ علمًا كذا رُشْدًا لِحَيران
He relates the Truth from the sea of sacred law, this—
He presents truth from the sea of Sacred Law
One overflowing with knowledge, and likewise guidance for the bewildered.
Learned, rightly guiding the confused in awe
وكمand how often بنىhe built لأصولfor the foundations of الدينthe faith مرتبةًa station
وكم بنى لأصول الدين مرتبةً
فاقتْsurpassed لماbeyond what شيَّدواthey erected منof كلِّevery بنيانstructure
فاقتْ لما شيَّدوا من كلِّ بنيان
How many a station he built for the foundations of the faith,
How many pillars of theology's reign
Surpassing every structure they had erected.
Did he establish, beyond all works done
لاdo not تبغينَّseek at all بهin his place فيin عصرهhis age بدلاًa substitute
لا تبغينَّ به في عصره بدلاً
فالشمسُfor the sun تُغنيكsuffices you عنfrom needing مصباحِa lamp of نيرانfires
فالشمسُ تُغنيك عن مصباحِ نيران
Seek no substitute for him in his age,
Seek not his equal in his day and age
For the sun leaves you no need of a fire-lit lamp.
The sun suffices, no fire's lamp can engage
وكانand there was فيin الوقتthe age لاno شيءٌthing يقاربُهapproached him
وكان في الوقت لا شيءٌ يقاربُه
وهلand can ينالُreach الثريّاthe Pleiades مَسُّthe touch of إنسانa human؟
وهل ينالُ الثريّا مَسُّ إنسان؟
And in that age, nothing came close to him;
None compared to him at that time
And can a human touch reach the Pleiades?
Can lofty stars be reached by mankind?
فخرٌhonor لزُمْرتِناfor our company بينamong الأنامhumankind بهthrough him
فخرٌ لزُمْرتِنا بين الأنام به
كماas سقىhe gave drink to الكلَّeveryone منfrom إبْريزِthe pure gold of بُرهانproof
كما سقى الكلَّ من إبْريزِ بُرهان
Through him our company has honor among humankind,
Pride of our group amongst all peoples known
As he gave everyone drink from the pure gold of proof.
As Salsabil's spring all equally shown
واستنجَدand sought help الدينthe faith أحيانًاat times ففازand so prevailed بهthrough him
واستنجَد الدين أحيانًا ففاز به
وقلَّand diminished تقليدُهمtheir imitation بشمسthrough a sun of عِرْفانspiritual knowledge
وقلَّ تقليدُهم بشمس عِرْفان
And the faith sometimes sought aid, and through him prevailed;
When faith was threatened he brought success
And their imitation waned before a sun of spiritual knowledge.
Few follow their way with his keenness
وسيَّرand he sent forth الحقَّthe truth فيacross الآفاقthe horizons مشتهرًاrenowned
وسيَّر الحقَّ في الآفاق مشتهرًا
مسيرةَthe course of الشمسthe sun فيthrough بُرجٍa zodiacal sign لميزانof Libra
مسيرةَ الشمس في بُرجٍ لميزان
And he sent the truth forth, renowned across the horizons,
He advanced truth through the horizons far
Like the sun's course through the sign of Libra.
Like the sun moving through Libra's star
وذكَّرand he reminded الكلَّeveryone عهدًاof a covenant كانhad been مندرسًاeffaced
وذكَّر الكلَّ عهدًا كان مندرسًا
فيin عالمthe realm of الذرِّprimordial particles أصلُthe root of كلِّall إذعانsubmission
في عالم الذرِّ أصلُ كلِّ إذعان
And he reminded everyone of a covenant that had faded,
Reminding all of a pact gone obscure
In the realm of primordial particles—the root of all submission.
In particles' world obedience's core
الأمرُthe decree للهbelongs to God هذاthis شيخُthe shaykh of مَنْthose who عُقدَتْwere bound
الأمرُ لله هذا شيخُ مَنْ عُقدَتْ
تيجانُcrowns of عزٍّhonor لهمfor them فيin رِيفthe fertile countryside of ديّانthe Judge
تيجانُ عزٍّ لهم في رِيف ديّان
The decree is God's: this is the shaykh of those for whom were bound
Command belongs to God, this sheikh tied
Crowns of honor in the Judge's fertile countryside.
Crowns of glory, for them the valley wide
واستمطَرواand they sought rain غيثَa shower of أيدٍhands أنتyou باسطُهاare extending them
واستمطَروا غيثَ أيدٍ أنت باسطُها
علىover ضريحٍa tomb رفيعِexalted in القدْرِrank نُورانيradiant
على ضريحٍ رفيعِ القدْرِ نُوراني
And they sought a shower from hands that you extend
Seeking from gracious hands your tomb dressed
Over a radiant tomb of exalted rank.
With pure lights in high honor blessed
جزاهُmay He reward him ربّيmy Lord منfrom الرضوانdivine pleasure مغفرةًforgiveness
جزاهُ ربّي من الرضوان مغفرةً
تسقيwatering ضريحًاa tomb لهbelonging to him منfrom ذاتone bearing أفْنانboughs
تسقي ضريحًا له من ذات أفْنان
May my Lord reward him with forgiveness from His good pleasure,
May my Lord grant him the Garden's pardon
Watering his tomb from a garden rich in boughs.
From bounty's spring his tomb ever sodden
فقدfor indeed صبرتُI have been patient لأمرِwith the decree of اللهGod محتسِبًاseeking divine reward
فقد صبرتُ لأمرِ الله محتسِبًا
والصبرُand patience ذكرٌremembrance أتىcame منfrom غيرwithout عنوانa title
والصبرُ ذكرٌ أتى من غير عنوان
For I have borne God's decree patiently, seeking His reward,
I've been patient with what God has decreed
And patience is a remembrance that came without a title.
Patience itself came with no title keyed
والنفسُand the soul إنwhether رضيَتْaccepted بذاكwith that أوor حجمَتْheld back
والنفسُ إن رضيَتْ بذاك أو حجمَتْ
تُقادُis driven رغمًاagainst its will بتسليمٍwith surrender وإذعانand submission
تُقادُ رغمًا بتسليمٍ وإذعان
And whether the soul accepts that or holds back,
The soul if accepting or hesitant still
It is driven, despite itself, to surrender and submission.
Is led perforce by acquiescence and will
ياO أيُّهاyou الوالدُfather الميمونُauspicious طائرُهhis omen
يا أيُّها الوالدُ الميمونُ طائرُه
أُسعِدْتَyou were blessed ضيفَguest of كريمٍthe Generous One فُزْattain برِضوانwith divine favor
أُسعِدْتَ ضيفَ كريمٍ فُزْ برِضوان
O father, whose omen is auspicious,
O father blessed your spirit took flight
You have been blessed, guest of the Generous One; attain His favor.
To meet a generous noble guest that night
أمليتُI dictated فيكabout you رثاءًan elegy أنتyou مِرودهits kohl-stick
أمليتُ فيك رثاءً أنت مِروده
ياO بهجةَdelight of الدهرthe age فيin علمٍknowledge وإتقانand mastery
يا بهجةَ الدهر في علمٍ وإتقان
I dictated an elegy about you; you are its kohl-stick,
For you I poured an elegy, you its source
O delight of the age in knowledge and mastery.
O delight of era in knowledge and discourse
لاmay not زالcease to be قبرُكَyour grave ميمونًاauspicious لزائرِهfor its visitor
لا زال قبرُكَ ميمونًا لزائرِه
وأنتand you باللهِby God عندwith اللهِGod ذوpossessing شانstanding
وأنت باللهِ عند اللهِ ذو شان
May your grave remain auspicious for its visitor,
Your grave remains blessed all who implore
And you, by God, have standing with God.
While you are with God, in rank evermore
ثمthen الصلاةُblessings علىupon المختارthe chosen one سيِّدِناour master
ثم الصلاةُ على المختار سيِّدِنا
محمدِMuhammad المصطفىthe chosen one منfrom نسْلِthe lineage of عدنانAdnan
محمدِ المصطفى من نسْلِ عدنان
Then blessings upon the chosen one, our master,
Then prayers upon the Chosen one, our master
Muhammad al-Mustafa, descended from Adnan.
Muhammad Al-Mustafa of 'Adnan's linefaster
Claude 2 is inferred from the historical translator configuration. The original record does not identify its model.