Sol 6.1

  1. بنورك يا مولاي لا زلت أهتدي

    فإنك بعد الله وحدك مرشدي

    By your light, my master, I have never ceased to find my way.

    For after God, you alone are my guide.

  2. ملاذي مربي الروح غارس روضتي

    لك اللّه استاذي لك اللّه موردي

    My refuge, nurturer of the spirit, planter of my garden.

    God be with you, my teacher; God be with you, my wellspring.

  3. درست عليك العلم نقلا وضده

    فبت به في حلة الفضل أرتدي

    Under you I studied learning, both transmitted and rational,

    And through it I came to wear the robe of excellence.

  4. وكم كنت توليني النصيحة عندها

    لتفرغ من خيرات كنزك في يدي

    And how often you bestowed counsel upon me then,

    To pour the riches of your treasure into my hand.

  5. ولم ترما استحصلته عنك كافيا

    أمامك حقا ذو المعارف مبتدي

    Yet you did not deem what I acquired from you sufficient;

    Before you, truly, even the learned man is a beginner.

  6. وأخلصت في التعليم حتى تركتني

    أروح بتاج الشعر فيهم وأغتدي

    You taught with such devotion that you left me

    Going among them crowned with poetry, evening and morning.

  7. وشاهدت معنى العارفين بربهم

    عيانا وما معنى التقى فيك سيدي

    And I witnessed the meaning of those who know their Lord,

    With my own eyes, and what piety means in you, my master.

  8. أخذت من الدنيا المعارف والهدى

    وما كنت إلا بأليمة تقتدي

    You took from this world knowledge and guidance,

    And you followed only the imams [uncertain reading].

  9. طرحت بكل الزهد عنك حطامها

    وما كنت لولا الأهل بالمتزود

    In utter renunciation you cast its worldly dross away,

    And, but for your family, you would have stored no provisions.

  10. وساقت لك الأقدار إذ كنت خاضعا

    لأحكامها رزقا ولست بمُجتدي

    And the fates brought you, as you submitted

    To their decrees, sustenance, though you were no beggar.

  11. وقال لمن أولاك هذا النزيه في

    بلادك مذ أوصتني بمؤيد

    And he said to whoever granted you this untainted provision in

    Your land, since she charged me concerning a supporter [passage unclear].

  12. وقد كنت صواما وللّه قائما

    تحوط بك الأنوار في كل معبد

    You were devoted to fasting and to standing in prayer for God;

    Lights surrounded you in every place of worship.

  13. تفيض علوم الدين فينا هداية

    روتها خيار الناس عن خير مسند

    You poured forth religious learning among us as guidance,

    Which the finest people transmitted from the best authority.

  14. وتقضي ضرورات الحياة بمهنة

    جعلت لها الحانوت قدام مسجد

    You met life's necessities through a trade,

    For which you set up a shop in front of a mosque.

  15. فآنا تبث العلم بالدرس جامعا

    وآونة بالكتب بيعا لمتهدي

    At times you spread knowledge through lessons, gathering listeners,

    And at others by selling books to one seeking guidance.

  16. كلامك ذكر وافتكارك نظرة

    لعلم صحيح والخطى لتعبد

    Your speech is remembrance; your thought is contemplation

    Of sound knowledge, and your footsteps are for worship.

  17. نهارك للدين الحنيفي مرشدا

    وليلك قد أعددته للتهجد

    You spend your day guiding others in the pure monotheistic faith,

    And your night you have set apart for prayerful vigil.

  18. وأعرضت إعراض الكرام عن البذا

    وعما يرى لهوا وما أنت من دد

    You turned away, as noble men do, from obscenity,

    And from what is deemed frivolous; you are no man of idle play.

  19. تجنبت ما استطلعت المجامع خشية

    من الخوض في غير الطريق المحمدي

    You avoided gatherings as far as you could [uncertain reading], for fear

    Of venturing beyond the Muhammadan path.

  20. كذاك عفيف النفس يحي شريفهم

    فلا عنه من يعدو ولا هو معتدي

    Thus their noble one lives, chaste of soul:

    So none turns away from him, nor does he transgress.

  21. وأديت فرض الحج واخترت تونسا

    مقرا لأخذ العلم أكرم بمقصد

    You fulfilled the duty of pilgrimage and chose Tunis

    As a home for seeking knowledge—what a noble aim!

  22. فكنت بها منها لنا خير عالم

    وأصبحت في الدارين غوثي ومسعدي

    There you became the finest scholar it gave us,

    And in both worlds you became my rescuer and helper.

  23. ولي بك أمسى الذكر كاسمك طيبا

    فلله يا بوشناق عندك من يد

    Through you my reputation grew sweet, as your name is sweet;

    God be praised, Boushnaq—what a giving hand is yours!

  24. لها الفخر ميلادا قسنطينة به

    فطوبى لذاك اليوم من يوم مولد

    Constantine claims the honor of his birth;

    Blessed be that day—what a day of birth!

  25. وفازت بك الخضراء فوزك بالذي

    سعيت له فيها بعزم موطد

    And Tunis the Green won you, as you won what

    You sought there with steadfast resolve.

  26. سعيت لأخذ العلم سعي موفق

    وأزمعت فيها هجرة لموحد

    You strove for knowledge as one favored with success,

    And resolved upon a monotheist's migration there.

  27. فأخلصت للّه الدراسة فالذي

    روى عنك شيئا من علومك يهتدي

    You devoted your studies sincerely to God, so whoever

    Transmits from you any of your learning finds guidance.

  28. سلوا حلق التدريس عن نور علمه

    سلوا جامع الزيتونة الآن يشهد

    Ask the teaching circles about the light of his learning;

    Ask al-Zaytuna Mosque: it will bear witness now.

  29. قضى فقضى في إثره الفضل والتقى

    غريقين في بحر من العلم مزبد

    He died, and after him excellence and piety died,

    Both drowned in a foaming sea of knowledge.

  30. مشى فوق هامات التلاميذ نعشه

    وبالروح كل صاحب النعش يفتدي

    His bier made its way above his pupils' heads,

    And each would ransom its occupant with his own life.

  31. على ضجة التهليل ساروا بشيخهم

    جموعا رعاها الله سارت بمفرد

    Amid loud proclamations of God's oneness, they went with their shaykh,

    In crowds—may God protect them—accompanying one lone man.

  32. علا جبل الجلاز بين هتافهم

    فيا لهما طودين في اليوم والغد

    He ascended Mount al-Jallaz amid their cries:

    Ah, those two mighty mountains, today and tomorrow!

  33. ولاحظت طودا فوق مثله راسخا

    فأرخت أمسى في النعيم المخلد

    And I beheld a mighty mountain firmly rooted above its like,

    So I marked the date: 'He now dwells in everlasting bliss.'