هجرتْ بعدك العيونُ الرقادا

هجرتْ بعدك العيونُ الرقادا

وتملَّت جفونُهنَّ السهادا

وتملَّت جفونُهنَّ السهادا

After you, the eyes forsook sleep,

Since you departed, the eyes have forsaken sleep,

and sleeplessness took possession of their lids.

and their eyelids have had their fill of sleeplessness.

نبأٌ كادت الكواكب تنه

نبأٌ كادت الكواكب تنه

دَّ له والرُّبَى تصير وهادا

دَّ له والرُّبَى تصير وهادا

News at which the stars nearly heaved

News that almost made the stars

a sigh for him, and the hills became level plains.

collapse and the hills turn into hollows.

وتكاد الأرضون تزحف والأ

وتكاد الأرضون تزحف والأ

فلاكُ تنشقُّ خيفةً وانتقادا

فلاكُ تنشقُّ خيفةً وانتقادا

The earths nearly crawled forward, while the

The earths almost creep, and the

celestial spheres split apart in fear and rupture.

heavenly spheres split in fear and rupture.

وتكاد الأرواح من لوعة الفق

وتكاد الأرواح من لوعة الفق

دان حُزناً تفارق الأجسادا

دان حُزناً تفارق الأجسادا

Spirits, from anguish at the loss—

The souls almost, from the anguish of

nearly left their bodies in grief.

loss, leave their bodies in sorrow.

وتكاد القواضِبُ البُتْر من فقد

وتكاد القواضِبُ البُتْر من فقد

دٍ عليه تحاربُ الأغمادا

دٍ عليه تحاربُ الأغمادا

The keen, severing swords nearly, for the loss—

The keen, severing swords almost, from

of him, waged war upon their sheaths.

his loss, wage war upon their sheaths.

وقلوبُ الورى تطيرُ بلا عق

وقلوبُ الورى تطيرُ بلا عق

لٍ وكانت مثل الرواسي شدادَا

لٍ وكانت مثل الرواسي شدادَا

The hearts of mankind flew without rea—

The hearts of mankind fly without

son, though once they had been firm as mountains.

reason, though once strong as rooted mountains.

ودَّ كلٌّ يَفديك بالمال والأو

ودَّ كلٌّ يَفديك بالمال والأو

لاد طُرّاً لو أن شخصاً يُفَادَا

لاد طُرّاً لو أن شخصاً يُفَادَا

Each wished to ransom you with wealth and chil—

Everyone wished to ransom you with wealth and

dren—all of them—if any person could be ransomed.

children, all of them, if a person could be ransomed.

ليلة الأربعاءِ كنْتِ إذْ غا

ليلة الأربعاءِ كنْتِ إذْ غا

دَرتِ في بلقعِ اليفاعِ جوادَا

دَرتِ في بلقعِ اليفاعِ جوادَا

On Wednesday night, when you de—

O Wednesday night, when you

parted, riding into the barren uplands,

left a generous man on the barren upland,

لوفاة الإمام ذي العدل سلط

لوفاة الإمام ذي العدل سلط

ان بن سيف تُحرِّكُ الآبادَا

ان بن سيف تُحرِّكُ الآبادَا

at the death of the Imam, the just Sult—

at the death of the just imam,

an ibn Sayf, who stirred the ages.

Sultan ibn Sayf, you set the ages trembling.

كان للدين كعبةً ولذِي الفضل

كان للدين كعبةً ولذِي الفضل

مَلاذاً وللضعيفِ سِنادَا

مَلاذاً وللضعيفِ سِنادَا

He was a Kaaba for religion, and for the virtuous

For the faith he was a Kaaba, and for the virtuous

a refuge, and for the weak a support.

a refuge, and for the weak a support;

ولأهل التُّقى مآلا وذِي الفا

ولأهل التُّقى مآلا وذِي الفا

قةِ مالاً وللأنام عِمادا

قةِ مالاً وللأنام عِمادا

For the God-fearing, a haven; and for one in pover—

for the godfearing a haven, and for those in

ty, wealth; for all mankind, a pillar.

need a source of wealth, and for humankind a pillar.

ثم أضحى في قعْرِ لحدٍ وحيداً

ثم أضحى في قعْرِ لحدٍ وحيداً

بعد عِزٍّ يُقلقلُ الأوتادا

بعد عِزٍّ يُقلقلُ الأوتادا

Then he came to lie alone in the depths of a grave,

Then he lay alone in the depths of a grave,

after glory that shook the mountain-pegs.

after a might that shook the stakes.

لهفَ نفسي عليه من سيّدٍ لا

لهفَ نفسي عليه من سيّدٍ لا

زلتُ من سيْبِ كفه مُستفادا

زلتُ من سيْبِ كفه مُستفادا

Alas for him—what a lord! I have not

Alas for my soul over that lord! I never

ceased to benefit from the bounty of his hand.

ceased to benefit from his hand's bounty.

سوفَ أبكي عليه ما دمتُ حيّاً

سوفَ أبكي عليه ما دمتُ حيّاً

بدموع تحكى الحَيَا والعِهَادا

بدموع تحكى الحَيَا والعِهَادا

I shall weep for him as long as I live,

I shall weep for him as long as I live,

with tears resembling rain and its returning showers.

with tears resembling rain and recurring showers.

ولو أني أبكي مَدَى الدهر ما أذْ

ولو أني أبكي مَدَى الدهر ما أذْ

رَيتُ مِعشار ما بنَى لي وشَادا

رَيتُ مِعشار ما بنَى لي وشَادا

Even if I wept for all of time, I would not ach—

Even if I wept for all time, I would not

ieve a tenth of what he built and raised for me.

shed a tenth of what he built and raised for me.

لستُ أُحْصى له فضائلَ تَتْرَى

لستُ أُحْصى له فضائلَ تَتْرَى

جَمَّةً كلما سألتُ أفادَا

جَمَّةً كلما سألتُ أفادَا

I cannot number his virtues, following one another,

I cannot count his virtues, coming one after another,

abundant; whenever I asked, he granted.

so abundant; whenever I asked, he gave.

يا لَهُ من إمام حق وصدقٍ

يا لَهُ من إمام حق وصدقٍ

همُّه في ذاتِ الإله اجتهادَا

همُّه في ذاتِ الإله اجتهادَا

What an imam of truth and sincerity!

What an imam of truth and sincerity!

His concern, in God’s cause, was striving.

His concern was striving in God's cause.

باسطِ العدل باذلِ المال ملْكٍ

باسطِ العدل باذلِ المال ملْكٍ

يعربيٍّ أَوْرَى الأنام زِنادَا

يعربيٍّ أَوْرَى الأنام زِنادَا

One who spread justice and gave wealth—a king,

Spreading justice, freely giving wealth—a king

a Ya‘rubi who kindled a firebrand among mankind.

of Ya'rub's line, the readiest of mankind to kindle firesticks.

حيث ساسَ الورَى بعدلٍ وفضلٍ

حيث ساسَ الورَى بعدلٍ وفضلٍ

سادَ بالعدل من تولى وسادَا

سادَ بالعدل من تولى وسادَا

When he governed creation with justice and grace,

Since he governed mankind with justice and bounty,

through justice he surpassed all who ruled and held sway.

he surpassed, through justice, those who ruled and reigned.

قد حباهُ الإله مجداً وعزّاً

قد حباهُ الإله مجداً وعزّاً

وسخاءً وطارفاً وتِلاَدا

وسخاءً وطارفاً وتِلاَدا

God bestowed upon him glory and might,

God had granted him glory and might,

generosity, new wealth, and inherited treasure.

generosity, newly acquired wealth, and inherited riches.

شغلتْه العُلَى وكسبُ المعالي

شغلتْه العُلَى وكسبُ المعالي

فنفَى عنه زَيْنَباً وسعادَاً

فنفَى عنه زَيْنَباً وسعادَاً

Lofty aims and the gaining of honors occupied him;

High rank and the pursuit of noble deeds engrossed him,

they drove Zaynab and Su‘ad from his thoughts.

so he turned away from Zaynab and Su'ad.

ليلَه ساهراً يُناجِي ويرجو

ليلَه ساهراً يُناجِي ويرجو

الله يدعوهُ للأنام السدادَا

الله يدعوهُ للأنام السدادَا

His night was spent wakeful, communing and hoping,

He spent his nights awake, communing and hoping in

calling upon God for mankind’s right guidance.

God, beseeching Him for mankind's right guidance.

ملأَ الخافقين نَيلا وجوداً

ملأَ الخافقين نَيلا وجوداً

والنواحي هداية ورشادَا

والنواحي هداية ورشادَا

He filled the two horizons with gifts and munificence,

He filled the east and west with bounty and generosity,

and every region with guidance and rectitude.

and the regions with guidance and right direction.

ساسَ أَهلَ الآفاق بالرأ

ساسَ أَهلَ الآفاق بالرأ

ي واللطفِ فصارُوا لربهم زُهَّادَا

ي واللطفِ فصارُوا لربهم زُهَّادَا

He governed the people of Iraq with gentleness and forbear—

He governed the people of every horizon with

ance, until they renounced this world for the Hereafter.

judgment and gentleness; they became ascetics devoted to their Lord.

رضىَ الله عنه حيّاً وميْتاً

رضىَ الله عنه حيّاً وميْتاً

وحَباهُ الرضوان والإسعادَا

وحَباهُ الرضوان والإسعادَا

May God be pleased with him, living and dead,

May God be pleased with him, living and dead,

and grant him divine favor and felicity.

and grant him divine favor and happiness.

بوَّأَ الله روحه في نعيمٍ

بوَّأَ الله روحه في نعيمٍ

خالداً لا يخافُ فيه نَكادَا

خالداً لا يخافُ فيه نَكادَا

May God lodge his spirit in bliss,

May God lodge his soul in bliss,

everlasting, fearing no adversity there.

abiding forever, fearing no hardship there.

كان بالأربعاءِ من شهر ذي القع

كان بالأربعاءِ من شهر ذي القع

دة موتُ الإمام أعني الجوادا

دة موتُ الإمام أعني الجوادا

It was on Wednesday, in the month of Dhu al-Qa—

It was on a Wednesday in the month of Dhu

‘da, that the Imam—the noble one—died.

al-Qa'dah that the imam died—the generous one, I mean.

ومضى الألف بعد تسعين عاماً

ومضى الألف بعد تسعين عاماً

في حسابِ التاريخ يُتْلَى عِدادا

في حسابِ التاريخ يُتْلَى عِدادا

Ninety years after the thousand had passed,

A thousand and ninety years had passed,

in the reckoning of the date, counted in succession.

as the date's reckoning recites the tally.

بي من الحُزن والكآبةِ من فقدان

بي من الحُزن والكآبةِ من فقدان

ه ما يقطِّعُ الأَكبادا

ه ما يقطِّعُ الأَكبادا

Within me, from grief and gloom at los—

The sorrow and desolation in me at his loss

ing him, is anguish that tears livers apart.

tear the livers apart.

قد لَعمرِي لولا أبو العرب السا

قد لَعمرِي لولا أبو العرب السا

مِي لصرنا بعد الإمام رمادَا

مِي لصرنا بعد الإمام رمادَا

By my life, were it not for Abu al-‘Arab, the exal—

By my life, were it not for Abu al-Arab,

ted, we would have become ashes after the Imam.

the exalted, we would have become ashes after the imam,

وابتُلِى الناسُ بالبلاءِ عظيماً

وابتُلِى الناسُ بالبلاءِ عظيماً

بيِّناً والصلاحُ صارَ فسادا

بيِّناً والصلاحُ صارَ فسادا

The people were afflicted with a grievous trial,

and the people would have suffered a great calamity,

when red-hot iron clashed, raging destruction.

plain to see, and good order would have turned to corruption;

واطْلخَمَّ الأمرُ الشديدُ وأضحى

واطْلخَمَّ الأمرُ الشديدُ وأضحى

الخلقُ بالويلِ والثبورِ تنادَى

الخلقُ بالويلِ والثبورِ تنادَى

The dire affair grew dark and thick, and

the dire affair would have grown dark, and

creation cried out in woe and ruin.

the people would have cried out in woe and ruin.

لكنِ اللهُ مَنَّ فضلا علينا

لكنِ اللهُ مَنَّ فضلا علينا

بجوادٍ لا يخلِفُ الميعادَا

بجوادٍ لا يخلِفُ الميعادَا

But God, out of His grace toward us,

But God bestowed His grace upon us

gave a generous man who never breaks a promise.

through a generous man who never breaks his promise.

ولَعَمْرِي لو صوِّر الملكُ شخصاً

ولَعَمْرِي لو صوِّر الملكُ شخصاً

كان رأساً وقلبَه والفؤادَا

كان رأساً وقلبَه والفؤادَا

By my life, the strength of sovereignty dwells in him;

By my life, were kingship given human form,

he is its head, its heart, and its very soul.

he would be its head, its heart, its inmost heart.

ما لقينَا له عدوّاً من النا

ما لقينَا له عدوّاً من النا

س جميعاً أمثلُ هذا يُعَادَى

س جميعاً أمثلُ هذا يُعَادَى

We found him no enemy among all peo—

We have found him no enemy among

ple—could the like of this man ever be opposed?

all mankind—could someone like this be opposed?

قبلته القلوبُ فاتفق النا

قبلته القلوبُ فاتفق النا

سُ عليه محبةً وودادَا

سُ عليه محبةً وودادَا

Hearts accepted him, and the peo—

Hearts accepted him, and the

ple agreed in love and affection for him.

people agreed upon him in love and affection.

وكذاك العبادُ لو لم يخافوا

وكذاك العبادُ لو لم يخافوا

ربَّهم أصبحوا له عُبَّادا

ربَّهم أصبحوا له عُبَّادا

Likewise, his subjects never opposed

Likewise, had the people not feared

their lord; they became his devoted servants.

their Lord, they would have become his worshippers.

جمعَ اللهُ في خلائقه الغُرِّ

جمعَ اللهُ في خلائقه الغُرِّ

طباعاً تُنْسِى الأبَ الأولادَا

طباعاً تُنْسِى الأبَ الأولادَا

God gathered within his noble nature

God gathered within his radiant character

traits that make a father forget his children.

traits that make a father forget his children.

لا يبالِي بمالِه لو سألنا

لا يبالِي بمالِه لو سألنا

هُ جميعاً أعْطَى وثنّى وزادَا

هُ جميعاً أعْطَى وثنّى وزادَا

He cares nothing for his wealth—if we asked him for

He cares nothing for his wealth; if we asked

all of it, he would give, double, and add.

him, all of us, he would give, give again, and add more.

روحَه إن تسألْهُ يعطِكَها لكن

روحَه إن تسألْهُ يعطِكَها لكن

خَفِ اللهَ واعفُ واخشَ المعادَا

خَفِ اللهَ واعفُ واخشَ المعادَا

Even his soul—if asked of him—was something he would give,

If you ask him for his soul, he will give it to you—but

offering it himself, though he feared the Day of Return.

fear God, forbear, and dread the final return.

هَكذا كان جدهُ وأبوهُ

هَكذا كان جدهُ وأبوهُ

والفتَى الحرُّ يشبهِ الأجدادَا

والفتَى الحرُّ يشبهِ الأجدادَا

Such were his grandfather and his father;

So were his grandfather and his father,

the freeborn youth resembles his forebears.

and the noble youth resembles his forebears.

وكريماً يهجِّنُ الكرمَ الفذَّ

وكريماً يهجِّنُ الكرمَ الفذَّ

نداه ويفضحُ الأجوادَا

نداه ويفضحُ الأجوادَا

He is so generous that singular generosity seems base beside

And a generous man—even peerless generosity is disgraced

his largesse, which puts all generous men to shame.

by his bounty, which puts the generous to shame;

ومليكاً أُحيَى لنا كلَّ فضلٍ

ومليكاً أُحيَى لنا كلَّ فضلٍ

وأمات الأضغانَ والأحتادَا

وأمات الأضغانَ والأحتادَا

A king who revived every virtue for us

and a king who revived every virtue for us

and killed off rancors and hatreds.

and put grudges and rancors to death;

سيداً جَمَّعَ الأنامَ على حبٍّ

سيداً جَمَّعَ الأنامَ على حبٍّ

له لا ترى له أضْدادا

له لا ترى له أضْدادا

A lord who joined the two blessings in the love

a lord who united mankind in love

of him; as you see, he has no rivals.

for him—you see no opponents of his.

فهْو قد صار للإمامةِ أهلاً

فهْو قد صار للإمامةِ أهلاً

وهو كفء لها أتتْه تَهادى

وهو كفء لها أتتْه تَهادى

He has now become worthy of the imamate,

He has become worthy of the imamate,

its equal; it came toward him swaying.

and is fit for it; it came gliding to him.

يا سليلَ الإمام سلطانَ لاَ

يا سليلَ الإمام سلطانَ لاَ

زِلْتَ إماماً ولا برحتَ تُنادَى

زِلْتَ إماماً ولا برحتَ تُنادَى

O scion of Imam Sultan, you have ne—

O descendant of Imam Sultan, may you never

ver ceased to be an imam, nor ceased to summon the people.

cease to be imam, nor ever cease to be acclaimed.

قد أتَتْك الجموعُ خاضعة طو

قد أتَتْك الجموعُ خاضعة طو

عاً وقد سلّمتْ إليك القيادا

عاً وقد سلّمتْ إليك القيادا

The multitudes have chosen you, submissively, of

The multitudes have come to you, submitting

their own will, and yielded you the reins.

willingly, and have handed you the reins.

وحرامٌ على النفوس التي تَرْ

وحرامٌ على النفوس التي تَرْ

قَى العُلا أن تعطى سِواك المقادَا

قَى العُلا أن تعطى سِواك المقادَا

It is forbidden for souls that as—

It is forbidden to souls that

pire to eminence to give the reins to anyone but you.

rise toward the heights to give the reins to anyone but you.

أنت نِعم الإمام بالفضل والإحس

أنت نِعم الإمام بالفضل والإحس

ان والعُرف قد غَمرْتَ البلادا

ان والعُرف قد غَمرْتَ البلادا

You are the finest imam in virtue and beau—

You are an excellent imam; with bounty and

ty and beneficence; you have flooded the land.

kindness and beneficence you have flooded the lands.

أنت يا ذا النوال كاسمكِ حقّاً

أنت يا ذا النوال كاسمكِ حقّاً

وأنا قد بلغتُ المُرادا

وأنا قد بلغتُ المُرادا

You, bearer of this pattern, are true to your name,

You, giver of bounty, truly live up to your name,

and through you I have attained my desire.

and I have attained what I desired.

أنت عيدٌ لنا وأيامنا صارتْ

أنت عيدٌ لنا وأيامنا صارتْ

برؤياك كُلُّها أعيادَا

برؤياك كُلُّها أعيادَا

You are our feast; our days have become,

You are a feast day for us, and our days have become

at sight of you, festivals one and all.

all feast days at the sight of you.

نشكرُ اللهَ حين صرت إماماً

نشكرُ اللهَ حين صرت إماماً

للبرايا وقد ملكتَ العبادَا

للبرايا وقد ملكتَ العبادَا

We thank God that you became an imam

We thank God now that you have become imam

for all creatures and came to rule the people.

for all creation and have ruled the people.

طِبْ ونَمْ خالياً من الهمِّ والْ

طِبْ ونَمْ خالياً من الهمِّ والْ

أشغال لا تخشَ فرقةً وبعادَا

أشغال لا تخشَ فرقةً وبعادَا

Be glad, and sleep free of care and preoccu—

Be at ease and sleep, free from care and

pations; fear no division or hostility.

occupations; fear no division or estrangement.

زادكَ اللهُ منه فضلاً وإحسا

زادكَ اللهُ منه فضلاً وإحسا

ناً وإن كنتَ لا ترومُ ازديادَا

ناً وإن كنتَ لا ترومُ ازديادَا

May God increase you in bounty and bene—

May God grant you more of His bounty and

ficence, though you seek no increase.

kindness, though you seek no increase.

وأَعزَّ الدينَ والحمى بك طرّاً

وأَعزَّ الدينَ والحمى بك طرّاً

وأَذلَّ الأعداءَ والحُسَّادَا

وأَذلَّ الأعداءَ والحُسَّادَا

May He strengthen religion and the sanctuary wholly through you,

May He exalt the faith and the whole protected realm through you,

and humble enemies and the envious.

and abase the enemies and the envious.

عِشْ ودُم يا خليفةَ الله في الأ

عِشْ ودُم يا خليفةَ الله في الأ

رض ولا تخشَ روعةً وعنادا

رض ولا تخشَ روعةً وعنادا

Live and endure, O God’s caliph on the ea—

Live and endure, O God's vicegerent on

rth; fear neither terror nor defiance.

earth, and fear no terror or defiance.

وتمل الأيامَ والدهرَ والد

وتمل الأيامَ والدهرَ والد

نيا جميعاً والعصرَ والآبادَا

نيا جميعاً والعصرَ والآبادَا

And fill the days, time, and the wor—

And enjoy the days, time, and the

ld entire—all ages and eternities.

whole world, the age and endless ages.

يا بني يعربَ بن زهران أَنتم

يا بني يعربَ بن زهران أَنتم

سادةٌ الورى وصِرْتم عِمادا

سادةٌ الورى وصِرْتم عِمادا

O sons of Ya‘rub son of Zahran, you are

O sons of Ya'rub ibn Zahran, you

the lords of mankind and have become its pillars.

are lords of mankind and have become its pillars.

بورِكَتْ من عصابةٍ قد بنى الل

بورِكَتْ من عصابةٍ قد بنى الل

هُ لها في العلياءِ بيتاً مُشادَا

هُ لها في العلياءِ بيتاً مُشادَا

Blessed are you, a company for whom Go—

Blessed is that band, for which

d built a lofty, towering house.

God has built a lofty house in the heights.

وحَباها دون الأنام بِمُلْك

وحَباها دون الأنام بِمُلْك

وكفاها الأضدادَ والأندادَا

وكفاها الأضدادَ والأندادَا

He favored it above mankind with a king,

He singled it out among mankind with kingship

and spared it rivals and peers.

and protected it from adversaries and rivals.

خلّدَ الله مُلككمُ واصْطفاكم

خلّدَ الله مُلككمُ واصْطفاكم

واجْتباكمْ إذْ صِرتمُ أَمجادَا

واجْتباكمْ إذْ صِرتمُ أَمجادَا

May God perpetuate your kingdom, selecting you

May God make your kingship everlasting and choose you,

and choosing you, since you became glorious.

and select you, now that you have become illustrious.

دمَّر الله باغِضِيكمْ كما دمَّ

دمَّر الله باغِضِيكمْ كما دمَّ

رَ مِنْ قبلهم ثموداً وعادَا

رَ مِنْ قبلهم ثموداً وعادَا

May God destroy those who hate you as He des—

May God destroy those who hate you, as He

troyed before them Thamud and ‘Ad.

destroyed Thamud and 'Ad before them.