1. إِنْ يَقْضِ اسْمَاعِيلُ عَاصِمْ

    هَلْ مِنْ قَضَاءِ اللهِ عَاصِمْ

    If Ismail Asim dies,

    is there any protector from God's decree?

  2. فِي عَهْدِ مَرْجُوِّ المَثُوبَةِ

    عامِلٌ وَلَّى وَعالِمْ

    In the keeping of Him whose reward is hoped for,

    rests a departed man of action and learning.

  3. رَجْل تَفَرَّدَ بِالشَّمَائِلِ

    وَالفَضَائِلِ وَالعَزَائِمْ

    A man distinguished by noble traits,

    and virtues and firm resolves.

  4. حَدْبٌ عَلَى العَافِينَ لِلضُّعَ

    فَاءِ وَالعَانِينَ رَاحِمْ

    Tender toward those seeking aid; to the weak—

    and the captives, merciful.

  5. سَامِي النَّقِيبَةِ مُغْرَمٌ

    بَالبِرِّ مُغْرَى بِالمَكَارِمْ

    Lofty in nature, enamored

    of goodness, drawn to noble deeds.

  6. سَبْطٌ يَدَاهُ قَاصِدٌ

    فِي السَّيْرِ مِتْلافٌ وَحَازِمْ

    Open are his hands; measured

    in his course, lavish and prudent.

  7. فِي وَجْدِهِ مَا يَنْثَنِي

    عَنْهُ بِفَضْلِ كُلِّ عَادِمْ

    His wealth is such that there returns

    from him, with bounty, every needy soul.

  8. مَنْ لَيْسَ يغْتَنِمُ المَحَامِدَ

    سَانِحَاتٍ فَهْوَ غَارِمْ

    Whoever does not seize opportunities for praise

    as they arise is a loser.

  9. للهِ اسْماعِيلُ مِنْ

    عَلَمٍ بِهِ تَزْهَى المَعَالِمْ

    To God belongs Ismail—what

    a beacon, in whom the landmarks glory!

  10. هُوَ كَاتِبٌ هُوَ شَاعِرٌ

    هُوَ نَاثِرٌ لِلدُّرِ نَاظِمْ

    He is a writer, he is a poet;

    he scatters pearls in prose and strings them in verse.

  11. هُوَ صَارِمٌ لِلعَدْلِ يُخْشَى

    جَانِبَيْهِ أُولُو المَظَالِمْ

    He is a sword for justice, whose

    two edges the wrongdoers fear.

  12. هُوَ صَاحِبُ الصَّوْتِ الَّذِي

    تَعْنُو لَهُ الأُسْدُ الضَّرَاغِمْ

    He is the possessor of the voice

    before which mighty lions bow.

  13. نِعْمَ المُرَجَّى لِلْحُقُوقِ

    وَدُونَهَا حَزُّ الغَلاصِمْ

    How worthy a man to trust with rights,

    though throat-cutting stands in their way.

  14. يَا رَاحِلاً وَرَدَ الفَنَاءَ

    وَذِكْرُهُ فِي النَّاسِ دَائِمْ

    O traveler who has reached death,

    yet whose memory endures among the people:

  15. الذِّكْرُ أَبْقَى مَا بِهِ

    بَعْدَ الرَّدَى يُجْنِي الأَعَاظِمْ

    Remembrance is the most enduring means by which

    the great bear fruit after death.