تَعزَّ وَأَنّى وَالمُصابُ جَليلُ

تَعزَّ وَأَنّى وَالمُصابُ جَليلُ

فَخلِّ الدُموعَ الجامِدات تَسيلُ

فَخلِّ الدُموعَ الجامِدات تَسيلُ

Take comfort—but how, when the loss is grievous?

Still grieving, for how great is this calamity,

Console yourself—but how, when the calamity is immense? So let the frozen tears flow freely.

So let the frozen tears flow.

Let flow the frozen tears in floods continuously.

We have been bereft of the reins of virtue, religion, and piety, Yet his blessed son is a worthy substitute for him.

رُزِئنا زِمامَ الفَضلِ وَالدينِ وَالتُقى

رُزِئنا زِمامَ الفَضلِ وَالدينِ وَالتُقى

نَعم نَجلهُ المَيمونُ منه بَديل

نَعم نَجلهُ المَيمونُ منه بَديل

We have lost the guiding rein of virtue, faith, and piety.

We have lost the leader of virtue, faith and piety,

Moons of glory: this one has set into absence, While that one roams the sky of noble deeds.

Yes, his blessed son stands in his stead.

Yes, his auspicious son is for him a good substitute.

Oh, what a full moon he was, who brought forth a sun after him, And a pouring rain cloud followed by sweeping floods.

بُدورُ عُلا هذا هوى لِمَغيبهِ

بُدورُ عُلا هذا هوى لِمَغيبهِ

وَذا في سَماءِ المَكرُمات يَجولُ

وَذا في سَماءِ المَكرُمات يَجولُ

Full moons of glory: this one has sunk from sight,

The full moons set, and for their setting places yearn,

His Lord called 'Abid al-Rahman to victory, And to Gardens of Eden where the shade is deep and cool.

while that one courses through the sky of noble deeds.

While this one tours the heavens of glorious deeds.

He passed away, pure of morals and character—traits That shine like the white blaze and stockings on high-bred horses.

فَيا لكَ بدراً أَطلعَ الشَمس بَعدهُ

فَيا لكَ بدراً أَطلعَ الشَمس بَعدهُ

وَثَجّاجَ مُزنٍ أَعقَبَته سُيولُ

وَثَجّاجَ مُزنٍ أَعقَبَته سُيولُ

What a full moon, who made the sun rise after him,

O you like a full moon whose rising the sun follows,

The guardian of orphans in every winter has passed, When drought and barrenness covered the regions of the land.

and a rain-pouring cloud, followed by torrents!

And a torrential rain after heavy clouds roll.

The mountain of the world has passed—the one in whom The fugitive of crimes, shunned by his tribe, sought refuge.

دعا عابِدَ الرَحمنِ لِلفَوزِ رَبَّهُ

دعا عابِدَ الرَحمنِ لِلفَوزِ رَبَّهُ

وَجَنّاتُ عَدنٍ ظِلُّهُنَّ ظَليلُ

وَجَنّاتُ عَدنٍ ظِلُّهُنَّ ظَليلُ

His Lord called the worshipper of the Merciful to triumph,

The worshipper of the Merciful prays for triumph, his Lord,

Noble deeds echo their yearning for him, Just as a bereaved mother camel repeats her mournful cry.

and the gardens of Eden have sheltering shade.

And the Gardens of Eden whose shade is pleasant and cool.

There is no hoarding of tears or sorrow after today, Even if such grief cannot cure the burning thirst inside.

مَضى طاهرُ الأَخلاقِ وَالشِيَمِ التي

مَضى طاهرُ الأَخلاقِ وَالشِيَمِ التي

بِجِسمِ العَوالي غُرَّةٌ وَحجولُ

بِجِسمِ العَوالي غُرَّةٌ وَحجولُ

He has passed away, pure in character and in traits that

The pure of morals and traits has passed away

By God, how many eyes have shed their tears, And how many sighs have followed the weeping and wailing.

are a white blaze and white stockings on the body of lofty virtues.

With the heights of glory, as a tender foal.

If he could be ransomed with souls, however precious, A brave, bold, and noble hero would have paid the price.

مَضى كافِلُ الأَيتامِ في كُلِّ شَتوَةٍ

مَضى كافِلُ الأَيتامِ في كُلِّ شَتوَةٍ

إِذا عَمَّ أَقطارَ البِلادِ مُحولُ

إِذا عَمَّ أَقطارَ البِلادِ مُحولُ

Gone is the guardian of orphans in every winter,

The sponsor of orphans in every winter

And if it were an enemy who acted fiercely against him, Men with spears and blades in hand would have stood in defense.

when drought spread across the regions of the land.

When the lands are beset by turmoil all around.

When they mount their lean-flanked horses, there is no Return for them unless a slain foe is left permissible to spoil.

مَضى هَضبَةُ الدُنيا التي يَلتَجي بِها

مَضى هَضبَةُ الدُنيا التي يَلتَجي بِها

طَريدُ جِناياتٍ جفاهُ قَبيلُ

طَريدُ جِناياتٍ جفاهُ قَبيلُ

Gone is the world's rocky stronghold, where refuge was sought

The refuge of the world, when the transgressed resorts to him,

But it is a sealed decree in which all are equal: The mighty king among the people, and the lowly subject.

by one banished for crimes, whom his tribe had shunned.

Whose people had abandoned him disloyally.

We hope for permanence and health in this world, But this is impossible, if only our minds were clear.

تُرجَّعُ فيهِ المَكرُماتُ حَنينَها

تُرجَّعُ فيهِ المَكرُماتُ حَنينَها

كَما رَدَّدَت رجعَ الحَنينِ عَجولُ

كَما رَدَّدَت رجعَ الحَنينِ عَجولُ

Noble deeds echo their yearning cry for him,

To whom benevolence returns longing

In the Master of the Two Worlds there is an example for mankind, A loss by which all of creation became bereaved.

as a bereaved she-camel echoed her yearning cry.

As the yearning does the returning gazelles.

Man in this world is but a stranger, a traveler, And after the journey, there must be a disembarking.

فَلا ذُخرَ بعد اليوم لِلدَّمعِ والأَسى

فَلا ذُخرَ بعد اليوم لِلدَّمعِ والأَسى

وَإ كانَ لا يُشفى بِذاكَ غَليلُ

وَإ كانَ لا يُشفى بِذاكَ غَليلُ

So after today, hold no tears or sorrow in reserve,

No more wealth of tears and grief after this day,

May a thundering, pouring cloud of pardon water a grave That conceals noble deeds and high eminence.

though no burning anguish is soothed by that.

Even if this does not alleviate the anguish.

A persistent rain; if it delays, its heavy clouds yearn, And the south and east winds untie its bonds.

فَلِلَّه كم عَينٌ تَحلَّبَ دمعُها

فَلِلَّه كم عَينٌ تَحلَّبَ دمعُها

وَكم زَفرَةٌ إِثرِ البُكا وَعَويل

وَكم زَفرَةٌ إِثرِ البُكا وَعَويل

By God, how many an eye has poured out its tears,

How many eyes have shed copious tears,

O Imam of Guidance: have patience, consolation, and seek God's reward, For the outcome of beautiful patience is beautiful.

and how many a sigh after weeping and wailing!

And how many moans follow the weeping and wailing.

If the mountain of virtue has been shaken by death, And has found a resting place beneath the gravestones,

فَلو كان يُفدى بِالنُفوسِ وَلو غَلَت

فَلو كان يُفدى بِالنُفوسِ وَلو غَلَت

فَداهُ هُمامٌ أَشوسٌ وَنَبيل

فَداهُ هُمامٌ أَشوسٌ وَنَبيل

Had he been ransomable with lives, however precious,

If souls could be ransomed, no matter how precious,

Then in you—may we never lack you—we have a successor For everything lost, one who bears the burden of difficult crises.

a fierce, valiant man and a noble one would have ransomed him.

Devoted souls, noble and generous, would pay his ransom.

For you are the one who smoothed the path of this kingdom After it had faded and the roots of its strength were severed.

وَلَو كانَ مِن خَصمٍ تَنَمَّرَ دونهُ

وَلَو كانَ مِن خَصمٍ تَنَمَّرَ دونهُ

رِجالٌ بِأَيديهِم قَناً وَنُصولُ

رِجالٌ بِأَيديهِم قَناً وَنُصولُ

And had it come from a foe, there would have raged in his defense

If any adversary had assaulted him,

Through you, the days have returned to their fresh youth, After drought had touched them following a time of error.

men with lances and blades in their hands.

Men with spears and swords would defend him.

He has not died, he whom you have succeeded; Through you, he possesses another life that shall endure.

إِذا ما اِعتَلوا قُبَّ الأَياطلِ لم يَكُن

إِذا ما اِعتَلوا قُبَّ الأَياطلِ لم يَكُن

لهُم أَوبَةٌ أَو يُستَباح قَتيلُ

لهُم أَوبَةٌ أَو يُستَباح قَتيلُ

When they mounted their lean-flanked steeds, there would be

When they ascend the mounts of enemies, defeat is not theirs,

Were it not for you, high honors would have become desolate, And they would have had no path among those who remain.

no return for them until a man lay slain.

Nor a victim for them to slaughter.

May you remain in elegant glory, kept safe, And may destruction destroy the one who seeks your ruin.

وَلكن قضاءٌ مُبرَمٌ يَستَوي به

وَلكن قضاءٌ مُبرَمٌ يَستَوي به

مَليكٌ عَزيزٌ في الوَرى وَذَليلُ

مَليكٌ عَزيزٌ في الوَرى وَذَليلُ

But it is an irrevocable decree, before which are equal

But it is a decided decree that afflicts

And the purest prayer of God, followed by His peace, Enduring as long as the afternoon succeeds the morning,

a mighty king among humankind and a lowly man.

An exalted king and the lowly commoner.

Upon the Master of Masters—may my soul be his ransom— An Imam who is the guide to the paths of salvation.

نُؤَمِّلُ في الدُنيا بَقاءً وَصحَّةً

نُؤَمِّلُ في الدُنيا بَقاءً وَصحَّةً

وَهذا مُحالٌ لَو صَحَونَ عُقولُ

وَهذا مُحالٌ لَو صَحَونَ عُقولُ

We hope for lasting life and health in this world,

We hope for continued life and health in this world,

yet this is impossible—if only minds would wake!

Yet this is impossible, if minds were reasonable.

وَفي سَيِّدِ الكَونَينِ لِلنّاسِ أُسوَةٌ

وَفي سَيِّدِ الكَونَينِ لِلنّاسِ أُسوَةٌ

مُصابٌ به كلُّ الأَنامِ ثُكولُ

مُصابٌ به كلُّ الأَنامِ ثُكولُ

And in the master of the two worlds is an example for humankind:

In the best of creation, there is an example for people,

all humanity is stricken by his loss and bereaved.

Since all of mankind endures calamities and misfortune.

هوَ المَرءُ في الدُنيا غَريبٌ مُسافِرٌ

هوَ المَرءُ في الدُنيا غَريبٌ مُسافِرٌ

وَلا بُدَّ من بَعدِ الرَحيلِ نُزولُ

وَلا بُدَّ من بَعدِ الرَحيلِ نُزولُ

A person in this world is a stranger, a traveler,

In life, man is a stranger, a traveller,

and after departure, one must come to rest.

And after departure, descent is inevitable.

سَقى جدثاً وارى المَكارِمَ وَالعُلى

سَقى جدثاً وارى المَكارِمَ وَالعُلى

مِنَ العَفوِ رَجّاسُ السَحابِ هَمولُ

مِنَ العَفوِ رَجّاسُ السَحابِ هَمولُ

May the grave that concealed noble deeds and glory be watered

It irrigated a grave, and the generous clouds

by a thundering cloud of forgiveness, pouring copiously,

Rained virtues and loftiness copiously.

مُلِثٌّ إِذا ما راثَ حَنَّت عِشارُهُ

مُلِثٌّ إِذا ما راثَ حَنَّت عِشارُهُ

وَحلَّ عُراهُ أَزيَبٌ وَقَبولُ

وَحلَّ عُراهُ أَزيَبٌ وَقَبولُ

ever persistent—when it tarries, its pregnant she-camels moan,

A downpour, when inherited, softens the soil,

and a southerly wind and an east wind loosen its bonds.

And removes its barrenness, becoming acceptable and fertile.

إِمامَ الهُدى صَبراً عَزاءً وَحسبَةً

إِمامَ الهُدى صَبراً عَزاءً وَحسبَةً

فَعاقِبَةُ الصَبرِ الجَميلِ جَميلُ

فَعاقِبَةُ الصَبرِ الجَميلِ جَميلُ

Imam of guidance, show patience, take comfort, and seek God's reward;

For the Imam, patience, solace and steadfastness,

for beautiful patience has a beautiful outcome.

Since the outcome of goodly patience is beautiful.

فَإِن يَكُ طَودُ الفَضلِ زَعزَعَهُ الردى

فَإِن يَكُ طَودُ الفَضلِ زَعزَعَهُ الردى

وَأَضحى لهُ تَحتَ الرِجامِ مَقيلُ

وَأَضحى لهُ تَحتَ الرِجامِ مَقيلُ

For if death has shaken the mountain of virtue,

If the mountain of excellence is shaken by misfortune,

and his noonday resting-place is now beneath piled stones,

It remains under the spears unyielding.

فَفيكَ وَلا نَعدَمكَ من كلِّ فائِتٍ

فَفيكَ وَلا نَعدَمكَ من كلِّ فائِتٍ

لنا خلفٌ لِلمُعضِلاتُ حمولُ

لنا خلفٌ لِلمُعضِلاتُ حمولُ

then in you—may we never lose you—for everything lost,

Through you, we find in every loss, a replacement

we have a successor, able to shoulder daunting trials.

To overcome tribulations, able and strong.

فَأَنتَ الذي مهَّدت ذا المُلكَ بعدَما

فَأَنتَ الذي مهَّدت ذا المُلكَ بعدَما

تَلاشى وَجُثَّت من قُواهُ أُصول

تَلاشى وَجُثَّت من قُواهُ أُصول

For you are the one who made this kingdom firm after

You who restored this kingdom after it withered,

it had fallen apart and the roots of its strength were torn out.

And its foundations crumbled losing strength.

وَعادَت بكَ الأَيّامُ غَضّاً شَبابُها

وَعادَت بكَ الأَيّامُ غَضّاً شَبابُها

وَقد مسَّها بعدَ الغَيِّ قُحول

وَقد مسَّها بعدَ الغَيِّ قُحول

And through you the days regained their tender youth,

Through you, time regained its youth after old age,

though withering had touched them after their waywardness.

And senility which had afflicted it retreated.

وَما ماتَ من كُنتَ الخَليفَةَ بعدهُ

وَما ماتَ من كُنتَ الخَليفَةَ بعدهُ

له بكَ عمرٌ آخرٌ سَيَطولُ

له بكَ عمرٌ آخرٌ سَيَطولُ

And he whose successor you became has not died;

Who you succeeded did not die, for through you,

through you he has another life that will be long.

He lives again in an unending life.

وَلَولاكَ اَقفَرنَ المَعالي وَلم يَكُن

وَلَولاكَ اَقفَرنَ المَعالي وَلم يَكُن

لها بَعدهُ في الغابِرينَ سَبيلُ

لها بَعدهُ في الغابِرينَ سَبيلُ

Without you, lofty honors would have lain deserted, and there would be

Without you, glories would be desolate,

no path for them after him among those who remain.

And for those departed, through you remains a path.

فَلا زِلتَ في عِزٍّ أَنيقٍ مُسَلَّماً

فَلا زِلتَ في عِزٍّ أَنيقٍ مُسَلَّماً

وَغالَ الذي يَبغي الرَدى لكَ غولُ

وَغالَ الذي يَبغي الرَدى لكَ غولُ

May you ever remain in splendid glory, kept safe,

You remain in honoured prosperity undiminished,

and may deadly calamity seize whoever seeks your death.

While difficult is the attempt of the vile to assault you.

وَأَزكى صَلاةِ اللهِ ثُمَّ سَلامهِ

وَأَزكى صَلاةِ اللهِ ثُمَّ سَلامهِ

يَدومانِ ما ساقَ الغُدُوَّ أَصيلُ

يَدومانِ ما ساقَ الغُدُوَّ أَصيلُ

And may God's purest blessings, and then His peace,

The most blessed prayers of God and then greetings

endure as long as evening ushers in morning,

Endure, lasting while the early dawn gleams.

عَلى سَيِّدِ الساداتِ نَفسي فِداؤُهُ

عَلى سَيِّدِ الساداتِ نَفسي فِداؤُهُ

إِمامٌ إِلى طُرقِ النَجاةِ دَليلُ

إِمامٌ إِلى طُرقِ النَجاةِ دَليلُ

upon the master of masters—may my soul be his ransom—

My soul is yours to sacrifice, O head of chieftains,

an imam, a guide to the paths of salvation.

A leader guiding to the paths of salvation.