عَصَفَswept away الحِمَامُdeath بِأَيِّwhat a فَرْعٍbranch سَامِقِlofty
عَصَفَ الحِمَامُ بِأَيِّ فَرْعٍ سَامِقِ
مِنْfrom ذَلِكَthat الأَصْلِthe stock الزَّكِيِّpure البَاسِقِtowering
مِنْ ذَلِكَ الأَصْلِ الزَّكِيِّ البَاسِقِ
What a lofty branch death has swept away
The doves cooed in the lofty branches
From that pure and towering stock!
Of that honorable, pure tree,
رَاوٍwell-watered رَطِيبِfresh الظَّلshade مَوْفُورِabundant الجَنىfruit
رَاوٍ رَطِيبِ الظَّل مَوْفُورِ الجَنى
ذَاكِيfragrant النَّوَاحِيthe surrounding parts بِالأَرِيجِwith the fragrance العَابِقِpervading
ذَاكِي النَّوَاحِي بِالأَرِيجِ العَابِقِ
Well-watered, with fresh shade and abundant fruit,
With its sweet-smelling shade and abundant fruit,
Its every side fragrant with a pervading scent.
And its hills perfumed with meadowsweet.
خَطْبُthe calamity of الكِنَانَةِEgypt فيin الإِمَامِthe imam المُجْتََبىchosen
خَطْبُ الكِنَانَةِ في الإِمَامِ المُجْتََبى
خَطْبٌa calamity أَصَابَstruck صَمِيمَهَاher very heart مِنْfrom حَالِقِa great height
خَطْبٌ أَصَابَ صَمِيمَهَا مِنْ حَالِقِ
Egypt's calamity in losing the chosen imam
It was the speech of allegiance to the rightly-guided Imam,
Is a blow that fell from on high upon her very heart.
A speech that struck at the heart of the matter precisely.
أَرَأَيْتَdid you see فِيon اليَوْمِthe day العَبُوسِgrim وُجُومَهَاher stunned silence
أَرَأَيْتَ فِي اليَوْمِ العَبُوسِ وُجُومَهَا
مِنْfrom ذَلِكَthat النَّبإnews الأَلِيمِgrievous الصَّاعِقِthunderbolt-like
مِنْ ذَلِكَ النَّبإ الأَلِيمِ الصَّاعِقِ
Did you see, on that grim day, her stunned silence
Have you not seen how on that gloomy day
At that grievous news, striking like a thunderbolt?
The news struck like a thunderbolt?
يَاO يَوْمَday of طِيَّتهِhis passing أَدَلْتَyou gave victory to دُجُنَّةًdark gloom
يَا يَوْمَ طِيَّتهِ أَدَلْتَ دُجُنَّةً
نَكْرَاءَdreadful مِنْover أَنْوَارِthe rays of أَوْهَرَthe most radiant شَارِقِa rising luminary
نَكْرَاءَ مِنْ أَنْوَارِ أَوْهَرَ شَارِقِ
O day of his passing, you gave victory to darkness—
O day whose cover you removed, bringing pitch darkness
Dreadful darkness—over the rays of the brightest rising luminary—
In place of the shining lights of the brilliant dawn,
أَنْوَارِthe rays of مَيْمُونِblessed النَّقيبَةِdisposition مَاجِدٍa noble man
أَنْوَارِ مَيْمُونِ النَّقيبَةِ مَاجِدٍ
ثَبْتِfirm الحَصَاةِjudgment مِنَof الطِّرَازِthe kind الفَائِقِoutstanding
ثَبْتِ الحَصَاةِ مِنَ الطِّرَازِ الفَائِقِ
The rays of a noble man, blessed in disposition,
The lights of the blessed Meem of the victorious Al-Naqeeb,
Firm in judgment, of the most excellent kind.
The steadfast, supremely virtuous one.
عَرَفَتْrecognized لَهُin him أَوْطَانُهُhis homelands إِخْلاَصَهُhis devotion
عَرَفَتْ لَهُ أَوْطَانُهُ إِخْلاَصَهُ
وَرَعَاهُand watched over him فَارُوقٌFarouk رِعَايَةَthe care of وَاثِقِone who trusts
وَرَعَاهُ فَارُوقٌ رِعَايَةَ وَاثِقِ
His homelands recognized his devotion,
His homeland knew his loyalty,
And Farouk watched over him with trusting care.
And Al-Farooq looked after him caringly.
أَلفَيْلَسُوفُthe philosopher العَالِمُthe scholar الوَرِعُthe devout الَّذِيwho
أَلفَيْلَسُوفُ العَالِمُ الوَرِعُ الَّذِي
بَلَغَattained اليَقِينَcertainty مُدَعَّماًsupported بِحَقَائِقِby facts
بَلَغَ اليَقِينَ مُدَعَّماً بِحَقَائِقِ
The philosopher, the learned, devout man who
The pious philosopher of the world, who attained certainty,
Attained certainty supported by facts.
Supported by truths, was not tempted
لَمْdid not تُرْضِهِsatisfy him الدَّنْيَاthe world بِمَاwith what بِذَلَتْit offered لَهُto him
لَمْ تُرْضِهِ الدَّنْيَا بِمَا بِذَلَتْ لَهُ
مِنْof مُغْرِيَاتٍenticements مَنَاصِبِoffices وَمَرَافِقِand advantages
مِنْ مُغْرِيَاتٍ مَنَاصِبِ وَمَرَافِقِ
The world did not satisfy him with what it offered him
By the world's enticements of positions and comforts.
Of alluring offices and advantages.
So he sought the most elevated station in his religion,
فَسَمَاso he rose إِلَىto مُتَبَوَّإٍa station فِيin دِينِهِhis faith
فَسَمَا إِلَى مُتَبَوَّإٍ فِي دِينِهِ
أَدْنَىcloser إِلَىto اسْتِجْلاَءِclearly beholding وَجْهِthe face of الخَالِقِthe Creator
أَدْنَى إِلَى اسْتِجْلاَءِ وَجْهِ الخَالِقِ
So he rose to a station in his faith
Coming closest in contemplating the Creator.
Closer to clearly beholding the Creator's face.
Religion and worldly life provide ample scope
وَالدَّينُand faith وَالدُّنْيَاand worldly life مَجَالُa sphere for كِفَايَةٍability
وَالدَّينُ وَالدُّنْيَا مَجَالُ كِفَايَةٍ
لِلعَبْقَرِيَّfor the genius المُسْتَقِيمِupright الصَّادِقِtruthful
لِلعَبْقَرِيَّ المُسْتَقِيمِ الصَّادِقِ
Faith and worldly life offer scope for the abilities
For the resourceful, straightforward, and truthful man.
Of the upright, truthful genius.
Is there any eloquence in a writer's prose
هَلْis there? مِنْany بَيَانٍeloquence فِيin تَرَسُّلprose writing كَاتِبٍa writer
هَلْ مِنْ بَيَانٍ فِي تَرَسُّل كَاتِبٍ
كَبَيَانِهِlike his eloquence العَذْبِsweet النَّقيِّpure الرَّائِقِlucid
كَبَيَانِهِ العَذْبِ النَّقيِّ الرَّائِقِ
Is there eloquence in any writer's prose
To match his sweet, pure, delightful rhetoric?
Like his sweet, pure, lucid eloquence?
Are there any treasures for the mind like his compositions
هَلْis there? مِنْany مَتَاعٍdelight للعُقُولِfor minds كَمَتْنِهِlike his text
هَلْ مِنْ مَتَاعٍ للعُقُولِ كَمَتْنِهِ
وَشُرُوحِهِand his commentaries فِيin كُلِّevery بِحْثٍinquiry شَائِقِengaging
وَشُرُوحِهِ فِي كُلِّ بِحْثٍ شَائِقِ
Is there delight for minds like his text
And commentaries on every fascinating topic?
And his commentaries in every engaging inquiry?
What caused the early lovers to censure him
مَاذَاwhat دَهَىafflicted فِيهِthrough his loss المُحبِّينَthose who loved him الأُولَىwho
مَاذَا دَهَى فِيهِ المُحبِّينَ الأُولَى
رُزِئُوهُwere bereaved of him بَيْنَbetween مَغَارِبٍwestern lands وَمَشَارِقِand eastern lands
رُزِئُوهُ بَيْنَ مَغَارِبٍ وَمَشَارِقِ
What grief at his loss befell those who loved him,
As they roamed between East and West?
Who were bereaved of him across western and eastern lands!
Glory to He who granted him the natural disposition of His creation
سُبْحَانَglory to مُعْطِيهِHim who gave him صَبَاحَةَbeauty خَلْقِهhis form
سُبْحَانَ مُعْطِيهِ صَبَاحَةَ خَلْقِه
وَمُتِمُّهاand who perfected it بِشَمَائِلٍwith virtues وَخَلاَئِقِand character traits
وَمُتِمُّها بِشَمَائِلٍ وَخَلاَئِقِ
Glory to Him who gave him beauty of form
And completed it with fine traits and ethics.
And perfected it with virtues and character!
How excellent a loyal friend he was to his family and companions,
نِعْمَhow excellent الوَفيُّthe loyal man لأَهْلِهِto his family وَلصَحْبهِand to his companions
نِعْمَ الوَفيُّ لأَهْلِهِ وَلصَحْبهِ
وَالمُسْتجِيبُand the one who answers لِكُلِّto every دَعْوَةِappeal of طَارِقِa visitor
وَالمُسْتجِيبُ لِكُلِّ دَعْوَةِ طَارِقِ
How fine a man, faithful to his family and companions,
Responding to every petitioner's knock!
And answering every visitor's plea!
Gentle and sparing of speech - if you ask something of him
سَمْحٌgenerous قَلِيلُsparing in القَوْلِspeech إِنْif تَسْأَلْyou ask بِهِabout him
سَمْحٌ قَلِيلُ القَوْلِ إِنْ تَسْأَلْ بِهِ
تَسْمَعْyou hear إِجَابَاتِthe answers of الفَعَالِdeeds النَّاطِقِspeaking
تَسْمَعْ إِجَابَاتِ الفَعَالِ النَّاطِقِ
Generous and sparing of speech: if you ask about him,
You will hear the answers of the Speaking, Active One.
You hear the answers of deeds that speak.
Resolute in events, accompanied by determination,
جَلْدٌresilient عَلَىin the face of الأَحْدَاثِadversities يَصْحَبُhe bears هِمَّةًa resolve
جَلْدٌ عَلَى الأَحْدَاثِ يَصْحَبُ هِمَّةً
لَيْسَتْis not تُعَاقُheld back عَنِfrom المَرَامِthe goal بِعَائِقِby an obstacle
لَيْسَتْ تُعَاقُ عَنِ المَرَامِ بِعَائِقِ
Resilient in adversity, he bore a resolve
Which cannot be hampered from its purpose by any barrier.
That no obstacle could hinder from its goal.
So when contentions grow severe, his heart does not shrink
فَإِذَاand when تَفَاقَمَتِgrew severe المَعَاضِلُthe difficulties لَمْdid not يَضِقْgrow strained
فَإِذَا تَفَاقَمَتِ المَعَاضِلُ لَمْ يَضِقْ
ذَرْعاًin endurance بِهَاby them فِيin المَوْقِفِthe situation المُتضَايِقِstraitened
ذَرْعاً بِهَا فِي المَوْقِفِ المُتضَايِقِ
And when difficulties worsened, he never lost
From engaging intensely in the pressing situation.
Patience with them in a straitened situation,
Making up what can be made up,
مُسْتَدْرِكاًremedying مَاwhatever يُمْكِنُis possible اسْتِدْرَاكُهُits remedy
مُسْتَدْرِكاً مَا يُمْكِنُ اسْتِدْرَاكُهُ
وَلَهُand he had إِلَىtoward الحُسْنَىِthe best outcome لِطَافُsubtle طَرَائِقpaths
وَلَهُ إِلَى الحُسْنَىِ لِطَافُ طَرَائِق
Remedying whatever could be remedied,
With the subtlest ways to beauty.
And he had subtle paths toward the best outcome.
In God's custody, having parted,
فِيin ذِمَّةthe keeping of اللهِGod العَلِيthe Most High مُفَارِقٌdeparted
فِي ذِمَّة اللهِ العَلِي مُفَارِقٌ
هُوَhe خَالِدّimmortal بِالذّكْرِthrough remembrance غَيْرُnot مُفَارِقِdeparted
هُوَ خَالِدّ بِالذّكْرِ غَيْرُ مُفَارِقِ
Departed, he is in the keeping of God Most High;
He is immortalized in memory, never absent.
He is immortal in remembrance, never truly gone.
His nation mourns him, and your departed one,
تَبْكِيهِweeps for him أُمَّتهُhis nation وَإِنَّand indeed فَقِيدَكُمْyour departed one
تَبْكِيهِ أُمَّتهُ وَإِنَّ فَقِيدَكُمْ
لَفَقِيدُهَاis surely her departed one يَاO آلَfamily of عَبْدِAbd الرَّازِقِal-Raziq
لَفَقِيدُهَا يَا آلَ عَبْدِ الرَّازِقِ
His nation weeps for him; indeed, the one you have lost
O Family of Abdurrazaaq, was its departed one.
Is surely her loss too, O family of Abd al-Raziq!
He was an intermediary who shone radiantly between you
قَدْindeed كَانَhe was وَاسِطَةًa central jewel تَأَلَّقَshone بَيْنَكُمْamong you
قَدْ كَانَ وَاسِطَةً تَأَلَّقَ بَيْنَكُمْ
فِيin أَيwhat a عِقْدٍnecklace فَاخِرٍsplendid مُتَنَاسقِharmonious
فِي أَي عِقْدٍ فَاخِرٍ مُتَنَاسقِ
He was a central jewel that shone among you,
In every splendid, well-proportioned era.
In what a splendid, harmonious necklace!
So his loss is the ransom for the remainder,
فَإِذَاand when هَوَتْit fell فَهِيَthen it is الفِدَىthe ransom لِبَقِيَّةٍfor the remainder
فَإِذَا هَوَتْ فَهِيَ الفِدَى لِبَقِيَّةٍ
شَتَّىvaried الحِلَىadornments مِنْfrom مَصْدَرٍa source مُتَوَافِقِharmonious
شَتَّى الحِلَى مِنْ مَصْدَرٍ مُتَوَافِقِ
Now that it has fallen, it is a ransom for the rest,
The scattered pearls from a compatible source.
Varied in adornment, from a harmonious source.
How many a steadfast, high-minded Ali,
كَمْhow many مِنْof عَليٍّAli بِالحَصَافَةِin sound judgment وَالنَّدَىand generosity
كَمْ مِنْ عَليٍّ بِالحَصَافَةِ وَالنَّدَى
إِنْif عُدَّis counted فِيin شَوْطَيْهِمَاtheir two races اسْمُthe name of السَّابِقِthe frontrunner
إِنْ عُدَّ فِي شَوْطَيْهِمَا اسْمُ السَّابِقِ
How many can equal Ali in sound judgment and generosity,
If the name of the foremost is counted among the two?
When the frontrunner is named in their two races?
How many a perceptive, resolute Ismail in his own field
كَمْhow many حَازِمٍresolute فَطِنٍdiscerning كَإِسْمَاعِيلَlike Ismail فِيin
كَمْ حَازِمٍ فَطِنٍ كَإِسْمَاعِيلَ فِي
مِضْمَارِهِhis racecourse يَشْأُوhe outstrips وَمَاand there is no مِنْany لاَحِقِone catching up
مِضْمَارِهِ يَشْأُو وَمَا مِنْ لاَحِقِ
How many resolute, discerning men are like Ismail on
Glides effortlessly, with none to overtake him?
His racecourse? He outstrips all, with none to catch him.
Two treasures whom we hope God will protect,
ذُخْرَانِtwo treasures نَرْجُوwe hope اللهَGod أَنْthat يَرْعَاهُمَاHe will watch over them both
ذُخْرَانِ نَرْجُو اللهَ أَنْ يَرْعَاهُمَا
فَهُمَاfor they both are العَزَاءُthe consolation لِكُلfor every قَلْبٍheart وَامِقِloving
فَهُمَا العَزَاءُ لِكُل قَلْبٍ وَامِقِ
Two treasures—we hope that God will watch over them both;
For they are solace for every stricken heart.
For they are the solace of every loving heart.
Partial English translation: 53 of 54 Arabic lines translated.