بِرَغمِ المَعالي فارَق الدَستَ صاحِبُه

بِرَغمِ المَعالي فارَق الدَستَ صاحِبُه

وَثُلَّت عُروشُ المَجدِ وِانهدَّ جانِبُه

وَثُلَّت عُروشُ المَجدِ وِانهدَّ جانِبُه

Against glory's will, the throne's master has departed;

Much to the grief of Glory, its master has parted from the throne,

and glory's thrones have been toppled, and its flank has collapsed.

And the pillars of honor are toppled, their foundations collapsed.

وَأَضحَت بَنو الآمالِ سُهماً وُجوهُها

وَأَضحَت بَنو الآمالِ سُهماً وُجوهُها

تُقَلِّبُ طَرفاً خاشِعاً ذلَّ حاجِبُه

تُقَلِّبُ طَرفاً خاشِعاً ذلَّ حاجِبُه

And the children of hope have become wan of face,

The faces of those who held hope have turned gaunt and pale,

turning a humbled gaze, its brow brought low.

Casting about a submissive gaze, with humbled brows lowered,

تَقولُ إِلى مَن نَطلُبُ العُرفَ بَعدَما

تَقولُ إِلى مَن نَطلُبُ العُرفَ بَعدَما

عَلى قاسِمِ المَعروفِ بُنيَت نَصائِبُه

عَلى قاسِمِ المَعروفِ بُنيَت نَصائِبُه

They ask, 'To whom shall we turn for kindness now that

Asking: "From whom shall we seek benevolence, now that

over Qasim the renowned his gravestones have been raised?'

Headstones have been raised over Qasim, the distributor of kindness?"

مَضى كافِلُ الأَيتامِ في كُلِّ شَتوَةٍ

مَضى كافِلُ الأَيتامِ في كُلِّ شَتوَةٍ

وَمَوئِلُ مَن ضاقَت عَليهِ مَذاهِبُه

وَمَوئِلُ مَن ضاقَت عَليهِ مَذاهِبُه

Gone is the guardian of orphans in every winter,

The guardian of orphans in every harsh winter has passed away,

and the refuge of anyone whose paths have narrowed around him.

The sanctuary for him whose paths had narrowed and closed.

أَقولُ لِناعيهِ إِلَيَّ مُجاوِباً

أَقولُ لِناعيهِ إِلَيَّ مُجاوِباً

بِفيكَ الثَرى لَم تَدرِ مَن أَنتَ نادِبُه

بِفيكَ الثَرى لَم تَدرِ مَن أَنتَ نادِبُه

I say in reply to the man who brought me news of his death:

I say to the one bearing news of his death, replying:

'Dust in your mouth! You knew not whom you were mourning.'

"May your mouth be filled with dust! You know not whom you lament."

نَعَيتَ امرَأً لِلبِرِّ وَالدينِ سَعيُهُ

نَعَيتَ امرَأً لِلبِرِّ وَالدينِ سَعيُهُ

وَلِلجودِ وَالمَعروفِ ما هوَ كاسِبُه

وَلِلجودِ وَالمَعروفِ ما هوَ كاسِبُه

You announced the death of a man whose striving served righteousness and faith,

"You have announced the death of a man whose labors were for righteousness and faith,

and whose earnings went to generosity and kindness.

"And whose earnings were solely for the sake of generosity and benevolence."

فَيا قاسِمُ المَعروفُ لِلبَاسِ وَالنَدى

فَيا قاسِمُ المَعروفُ لِلبَاسِ وَالنَدى

وَلِلخَصمِ مُستَطّاً عَلى مَن يُطالِبُه

وَلِلخَصمِ مُستَطّاً عَلى مَن يُطالِبُه

So, O Qasim, renowned for valor and generosity,

O Qasim, famed for both martial might and dew-like generosity,

and to the adversary who wrongs whoever makes a claim against him;

And for overwhelming the adversary who dares to challenge him.

وَيا قاسِمُ المَعروفُ لِلطّارِقِ الذي

وَيا قاسِمُ المَعروفُ لِلطّارِقِ الذي

مِنَ الزادِ قد أَصبَحنَ صُفراً حقائِبُه

مِنَ الزادِ قد أَصبَحنَ صُفراً حقائِبُه

and O Qasim, known to the night visitor whose

O Qasim, known to the night-traveler whose saddlebags

bags have become empty of provisions;

Have become completely empty of all provisions.

وَيا قاسِمُ المَعروفُ لِلمُلتَجي الذي

وَيا قاسِمُ المَعروفُ لِلمُلتَجي الذي

تَحاماهُ مِن عِظمِ الجِنايَةِ صاحِبُه

تَحاماهُ مِن عِظمِ الجِنايَةِ صاحِبُه

and O Qasim, known to the seeker of shelter whom

O Qasim, known to the refugee whom even his own companion

his companion shunned for the enormity of his offense;

Shunned due to the magnitude of his alleged crime.

وَلِلمُرهَقِ المَكروبِ يُفرِخُ رَوعُهُ

وَلِلمُرهَقِ المَكروبِ يُفرِخُ رَوعُهُ

إِذا أَسلَمَتهُ لِلخُطوبِ أَقارِبُه

إِذا أَسلَمَتهُ لِلخُطوبِ أَقارِبُه

and to the burdened, anguished man whose terror subsides

And for the distressed soul, whose panic he soothes

when his kin abandon him to calamities;

When his own kin have surrendered him to misfortunes.

وَلِلجَحفَلِ الجَرّارِ يَهدي رَعيلُهُ

وَلِلجَحفَلِ الجَرّارِ يَهدي رَعيلُهُ

إِلى كُلِّ جَبّارٍ أَبِيٍّ يُشاغِبُه

إِلى كُلِّ جَبّارٍ أَبِيٍّ يُشاغِبُه

and to the vast, surging host whose vanguard leads

And for the sweeping army, whose vanguard he guides

toward every unyielding tyrant who challenges him.

Against every obstinate tyrant who stirs up strife.

هوَ المانِعُ الخصمَ الأَلَدَّ مَرامَهُ

هوَ المانِعُ الخصمَ الأَلَدَّ مَرامَهُ

وَإن رامَ مِنهُ مُعضِلاً فَهوَ سالِبُه

وَإن رامَ مِنهُ مُعضِلاً فَهوَ سالِبُه

He denies the implacable adversary his aim;

He denies the fiercest adversary his aim,

and if he seeks a difficult prize from him, he wrests it away.

And should the foe seek a difficult prize, he strips it away.

فَقُل لِلجِيادِ المُشمَعِلّاتِ لاحَها

فَقُل لِلجِيادِ المُشمَعِلّاتِ لاحَها

تَجاوُزُ غيطانِ الفَلا وَسَباسِبُه

تَجاوُزُ غيطانِ الفَلا وَسَباسِبُه

So tell the swift-striding steeds, worn lean

Tell the swift, lean horses, worn thin by

by crossing the desert's hollows and level wastes:

Crossing the desert valleys and its barren plains:

عَلى قاسِمٍ فَاِبكي طَويلاً فَإنَّهُ

عَلى قاسِمٍ فَاِبكي طَويلاً فَإنَّهُ

فَتاك إِذا ما اِستَخشَنَ اسَرجَ راكِبُه

فَتاك إِذا ما اِستَخشَنَ اسَرجَ راكِبُه

'Weep long for Qasim, for he was

"Weep long for Qasim, for he was indeed

your champion whenever the saddle felt harsh to its rider.'

Your true master, when the rider found the saddle rough."

إِذا ما رَمى المَرمى البَعيدَ ذَرَعنَهُ

إِذا ما رَمى المَرمى البَعيدَ ذَرَعنَهُ

بهِ ناجِياتٌ زامَلَتها شَوازِبُه

بهِ ناجِياتٌ زامَلَتها شَوازِبُه

Whenever he aimed for a distant goal, they spanned it,

When he aimed for a distant goal, they measured the miles,

bearing him—swift she-camels accompanied by his lean steeds.

Carried by swift she-camels accompanied by lean steeds.

جَحافِلُ سَهَّلنَ الرَوابي فَأَصبَحَت

جَحافِلُ سَهَّلنَ الرَوابي فَأَصبَحَت

سَباسِبَ مِمّا بَعثَرَتها كَتائِبُه

سَباسِبَ مِمّا بَعثَرَتها كَتائِبُه

Hosts leveled the hills, and they became

Battalions that trampled the hills until they became

flat plains, so thoroughly his battalions had scattered them.

Like flat plains, scattered by his squadrons.

إِذ نُشِرَت أَعلامُهُنَّ تحدَّبَت

إِذ نُشِرَت أَعلامُهُنَّ تحدَّبَت

بِأَرجائِها صيدُ المُلوكِ تُراقِبُه

بِأَرجائِها صيدُ المُلوكِ تُراقِبُه

When their banners were unfurled, there gathered

When their banners were unfurled, the proud kings

around their flanks proud kings, watching him.

Hunched in their corners, watching him with dread.

فَما مَشرِقٌ إِلّا لهُ فيهِ وَقعَةٌ

فَما مَشرِقٌ إِلّا لهُ فيهِ وَقعَةٌ

وَلا مَغرِبٌ إِلّا أَرَنَّت نَوادِبُه

وَلا مَغرِبٌ إِلّا أَرَنَّت نَوادِبُه

No eastern land but has seen a battle of his,

There is no East where he has not struck a blow,

and no western land but its mourners have wailed.

Nor a West but that its mourners have wailed aloud.

أَقولُ لِقَلبي حينَ جَدَّ بهِ الأَسى

أَقولُ لِقَلبي حينَ جَدَّ بهِ الأَسى

وَلِلجَفنِ لمّا قَرَّحتهُ سَواكِبُه

وَلِلجَفنِ لمّا قَرَّحتهُ سَواكِبُه

I tell my heart, when grief presses hard upon it,

I say to my heart when sorrow presses hard upon it,

and my eyelid, when its flowing tears have ulcerated it:

And to my eyelid, wounded by flowing tears:

تَعَزَّ بما عَزَّيتَ غَيركَ إِنَّهُ

تَعَزَّ بما عَزَّيتَ غَيركَ إِنَّهُ

طَويلُ أَسىً مَن أُودِعَ اللَحدَ غائِبُه

طَويلُ أَسىً مَن أُودِعَ اللَحدَ غائِبُه

'Console yourself with what you used to console others; for

"Find solace in what you offered others; for indeed,

long is the sorrow of one whose departed loved one is laid in the grave.'

His grief is long whose beloved is laid in the niche of the grave."

هوَ الدَهرُ يَستَدعي الفَناءَ بَقاؤُهُ

هوَ الدَهرُ يَستَدعي الفَناءَ بَقاؤُهُ

وَتَستَصغِرُ الخَطبَ العَظيمَ مَصائِبُه

وَتَستَصغِرُ الخَطبَ العَظيمَ مَصائِبُه

It is Time: its continuance summons extinction,

It is Fate: its very duration summons annihilation,

and its calamities make a mighty disaster seem small.

And its calamities make great disasters seem small.

لهُ عَثرَةٌ بِالمَرءِ لا يَستَقيلُها

لهُ عَثرَةٌ بِالمَرءِ لا يَستَقيلُها

إِذا ما أُنيخَت لِلرَحيلِ رَكائِبِهُ

إِذا ما أُنيخَت لِلرَحيلِ رَكائِبِهُ

It brings a man a fall he cannot undo,

It trips a man with a stumble from which he cannot rise,

when his riding-camels are made to kneel for departure.

Once the mounts are made to kneel for the final departure.

اَباحَ حِمى كِسرى بنِ ساسانَ صَرفُهُ

اَباحَ حِمى كِسرى بنِ ساسانَ صَرفُهُ

فَلم تَستَطِع عَنهُ الدِفاعَ مَرازِبُه

فَلم تَستَطِع عَنهُ الدِفاعَ مَرازِبُه

Its turns laid open the guarded realm of Kisra, son of Sasan,

Its shifting tides violated the sanctuary of Kisra son of Sasan,

and his governors could not defend him.

And his satraps were powerless to defend him.

وَكَرَّ عَلى أَبناءِ جَفنَةَ كَرَّةً

وَكَرَّ عَلى أَبناءِ جَفنَةَ كَرَّةً

سَقاهُم بها كَأساً ذُعافاً مَشارِبُه

سَقاهُم بها كَأساً ذُعافاً مَشارِبُه

And it charged upon the sons of Jafna with an assault

And it charged against the sons of Jafna with an assault,

through which it made them drink a cup whose draughts were deadly poison.

Giving them a cup of instant poison to drink.

وَأَعظَمُ من هذا وَذاكَ مُصيبَةٌ

وَأَعظَمُ من هذا وَذاكَ مُصيبَةٌ

قَضى النَحبَ فيها المُصطَفى وَأَقارِبه

قَضى النَحبَ فيها المُصطَفى وَأَقارِبه

Greater than this and that was a calamity

Yet greater than all these in calamity,

in which the Chosen One and his kin met their end.

Was the passing of the Chosen One and his kin.

همُ الأُسوَةُ العُظمى لمَن ذاقَ غُصَّةً

همُ الأُسوَةُ العُظمى لمَن ذاقَ غُصَّةً

من الدَهرِ أو من أَجرَضَتهُ نَوائِبُه

من الدَهرِ أو من أَجرَضَتهُ نَوائِبُه

They are the supreme example for anyone who has tasted anguish

They are the supreme example for anyone choking on grief

at Time's hands, or whom its calamities have choked.

From the turns of Time, or one stifled by misfortunes.

بَني قاسمِ إن كان أَودَعتُمُ الثَرى

بَني قاسمِ إن كان أَودَعتُمُ الثَرى

أَباً طَرَّزَت بُردَ المَعالي مَناقِبُه

أَباً طَرَّزَت بُردَ المَعالي مَناقِبُه

Sons of Qasim, if you have laid in the earth

O sons of Qasim, though you have committed to the earth

a father whose virtues embroidered the mantle of high honors,

A father whose virtues embroidered the cloak of glory,

فَخَلّوا الهُوَينَي وَاِجعَلوا الرَأيَ واحداً

فَخَلّوا الهُوَينَي وَاِجعَلوا الرَأيَ واحداً

فَيَخشاكُمُ نائي البِلادِ وَصاقِبُه

فَيَخشاكُمُ نائي البِلادِ وَصاقِبُه

then abandon ease and unite your resolve,

Cast aside lethargy and unite your counsel,

so that far and neighboring lands will fear you.

That both the distant lands and the near may fear you.

وَأَلقوا مَقاليدَ الأُمورِ لِماجدٍ

وَأَلقوا مَقاليدَ الأُمورِ لِماجدٍ

أَخي ثِقَةٍ قد أَحكَمَتهُ تَجارِبُه

أَخي ثِقَةٍ قد أَحكَمَتهُ تَجارِبُه

And hand the keys of affairs to a noble man,

And entrust the reins of affairs to a noble leader,

a man of trust, made wise by his experiences,

Trustworthy and refined by the wisdom of experience.

بَعيدِ المَدى لا يُدركُ النَبثُ غَورَهُ

بَعيدِ المَدى لا يُدركُ النَبثُ غَورَهُ

أَبيٍّ على الأَعداءِ محضٍ ضَرائِبه

أَبيٍّ على الأَعداءِ محضٍ ضَرائِبه

far-reaching, whose depths no digging can reach,

Of far-reaching vision—whose depths no excavation can fathom,

unyielding toward enemies, pure in his innate traits.

Unyielding to enemies, and pure in his nature.

أَبا حمدٍ لولاكَ كان مُصابهُ

أَبا حمدٍ لولاكَ كان مُصابهُ

على الناس لَيلاً لا تَجلّى غياهِبُه

على الناس لَيلاً لا تَجلّى غياهِبُه

Abu Hamad, but for you, the loss of him would have been

O Abu Hamad, were it not for you, his loss would be

for the people a night whose darkness never lifted.

Upon the people a night whose darkness never lifts.

سَقى اللَهُ قَبراً ضمَّ أَعظمَ قاسمٍ

سَقى اللَهُ قَبراً ضمَّ أَعظمَ قاسمٍ

من العَفوِ شُؤبوبٌ رَواءٌ سَحائِبُه

من العَفوِ شُؤبوبٌ رَواءٌ سَحائِبُه

May God water a grave that holds Qasim's bones

May God water the grave that holds Qasim's bones

with a shower of pardon, its clouds rich with rain.

With a quenching downpour from the clouds of pardon.

وَثنِّ إلهي بِالصَلاةِ على الذي

وَثنِّ إلهي بِالصَلاةِ على الذي

سمَت في مَقاماتِ الكمالِ مَراتِبُه

سمَت في مَقاماتِ الكمالِ مَراتِبُه

And next, my God, send blessings upon the one whose

And follow this, my God, with blessings upon him whose rank

ranks rose high in the stations of perfection;

Has ascended the highest stations of perfection,

كَذا الآلِ وَالأَصحابِ ما ناحَ طائِرٌ

كَذا الآلِ وَالأَصحابِ ما ناحَ طائِرٌ

بِأَفنانِ دوحٍ تَستَميلُ ذَوائِبُه

بِأَفنانِ دوحٍ تَستَميلُ ذَوائِبُه

likewise upon his family and companions, as long as a bird laments

And likewise upon his Family and Companions, as long as a bird sings

among the boughs of great trees whose crowns sway.

On the branches of a tree whose boughs sway in the wind.