عليك أَميرَ المؤمنين سلامي

عليك أَميرَ المؤمنين سلامي

وفي يدك الطُّولى زِمامُ غرامي

وفي يدك الطُّولى زِمامُ غرامي

Upon you, Commander of the Faithful, be my greeting of peace.

My leader, upon you be peace

In your far-reaching hand lies the rein of my ardent love.

And in your strong hand lies the reins of my love

وأَنتَ الّذي لمّا بلغتُ ديارَه

وأَنتَ الّذي لمّا بلغتُ ديارَه

بلغتُ المُنى عفواً ونلتُ مَرامي

بلغتُ المُنى عفواً ونلتُ مَرامي

You are the one whose dwellings, when I reached them,

You, when I reached your abode

I attained my wishes effortlessly and gained my aim.

I found my wishes granted, and obtained my hopes

ولم يك لي إِلّا عليك توكُّلِي

ولم يك لي إِلّا عليك توكُّلِي

وَلا كانَ إِلّا في ذُراك مقامي

وَلا كانَ إِلّا في ذُراك مقامي

My reliance was on none but you,

I had no one to rely upon but you

and nowhere but in your shelter was my abode.

And no place to dwell except in your valleys

وحبُّك ثاوٍ في سوادِ جوانحي

وحبُّك ثاوٍ في سوادِ جوانحي

وأَنت صباحي في سوادِ ظلامي

وأَنت صباحي في سوادِ ظلامي

Your love dwells in the dark depths of my breast,

Love of you dwells jet-black in the darkness of my being

and you are my dawn amid my pitch-black darkness.

You are my morning in the blackness of my night

ولمّا وردتُ العِدَّ في عزّك الّذي

ولمّا وردتُ العِدَّ في عزّك الّذي

به الشَّرفُ الأقصى بلَلْتُ أُوامي

به الشَّرفُ الأقصى بلَلْتُ أُوامي

When I reached the unfailing spring of your might, wherein

And when I came to you, so noble

lies the highest honor, I quenched my thirst.

With the highest glory, I soaked my tent ropes

ولستُ أُبالي من لِمامِ عظيمةٍ

ولستُ أُبالي من لِمامِ عظيمةٍ

أَمامي بها دون الأنامِ إمامي

أَمامي بها دون الأنامِ إمامي

I care nothing for the onset of a calamity:

And I do not care about the great burdens

my imam, not other men, stands before me against it.

Before me, while you are my imam before all people

وما لي اِلتِفاتٌ بعد أنْ كنتَ جُنَّتِي

وما لي اِلتِفاتٌ بعد أنْ كنتَ جُنَّتِي

إلى مَنْ رماني عامداً بسهامِ

إلى مَنْ رماني عامداً بسهامِ

Since you became my shield, I give no heed

And after you were my sanctuary

to anyone who deliberately shoots arrows at me.

Why would I heed those who shot arrows at me?

وَما شقّت الأوطار إِلّا بلغتُها

وَما شقّت الأوطار إِلّا بلغتُها

بكلِّ صهيلٍ تارةً وبُغامِ

بكلِّ صهيلٍ تارةً وبُغامِ

No desires proved difficult but I attained them,

My she-camels bellowed wherever they went

with every neighing horse, at times, and bellowing camel,

At times with neighing, at times with moaning

ومحتقرين للدّؤوبِ كأنّهمْ

ومحتقرين للدّؤوبِ كأنّهمْ

سِراعاً إلى القِيعانِ فوق نَعامِ

سِراعاً إلى القِيعانِ فوق نَعامِ

and men who scorn ceaseless toil, as though they

Scornful of the evildoers as if they were

raced toward the plains mounted on ostriches.

Ostriches running atop the sand dunes

إِذا اِلتَفّ مِنهمْ واحدٌ بقبيلةٍ

إِذا اِلتَفّ مِنهمْ واحدٌ بقبيلةٍ

فَقَد لَفّ نبعٌ منهمُ بثمامِ

فَقَد لَفّ نبعٌ منهمُ بثمامِ

When one of them engages a tribe,

If one of them bands with a tribe

a nabʿ tree among them has tangled with thumam grass.

It's like a hobbled she-camel banding with bridles

وإِنْ قُذِفوا في حَوْمةٍ فكأنّما

وإِنْ قُذِفوا في حَوْمةٍ فكأنّما

قذفتَ يَبيساً من غَضاً بضرَامِ

قذفتَ يَبيساً من غَضاً بضرَامِ

If they are hurled into the thick of battle, it is as though

And if they're thrown into a war, it's as though

you cast dry ghada wood into blazing fire.

You threw dry, withered sticks at solid rocks

كأنّهمُ لم يعرفوا الموتَ جُرأةً

كأنّهمُ لم يعرفوا الموتَ جُرأةً

عليه ولا وارَوْا فتىً برِجامِ

عليه ولا وارَوْا فتىً برِجامِ

It is as though they never knew death, so bold

As if they never knew death, so daring towards it

in facing it, nor buried a youth beneath stones.

And never saw a brave knight with a spear

فَقُلْ للّذي يَبغي مساماةِ هاشمٍ

فَقُلْ للّذي يَبغي مساماةِ هاشمٍ

وقد فَضَلوا في الفخر كلَّ مُسامِ

وقد فَضَلوا في الفخر كلَّ مُسامِ

So tell the one who seeks to rival Hashim,

So tell those who seek to contend with Hashim

though they have surpassed every rival in glory:

While they have excelled above all contenders in glory

وفيهمْ شعارُ الدّين يجري ومنهمُ

وفيهمْ شعارُ الدّين يجري ومنهمُ

كما شاهد الأقوامُ كلُّ هُمامِ

كما شاهد الأقوامُ كلُّ هُمامِ

Among them the emblem of faith passes, and from them,

And through them flows the symbol of religion

as the peoples have witnessed, comes every valiant man.

And, as all people witnessed, every protector

وقد ملكوا الأرضَ العريضةَ كلَّها

وقد ملكوا الأرضَ العريضةَ كلَّها

وقادروا عرانين الورى بخطامِ

وقادروا عرانين الورى بخطامِ

They have ruled the whole broad earth

They ruled the entire vast earth

and mastered mankind's proud chieftains with a halter.

And led the creation with reins

عدلتَ بحصباء الثّرى أنجُمَ العُلا

عدلتَ بحصباء الثّرى أنجُمَ العُلا

وسوّيتَ ظُلْماً جُثَّماً بقيامِ

وسوّيتَ ظُلْماً جُثَّماً بقيامِ

You have equated the stars of eminence with earth's pebbles,

You set right with the pebbles of earth the stars of highness

and unjustly made those crouching equal to those standing.

And leveled oppressive, squat darkness with rising

فأين ضياءٌ ساطعٌ من ظلامِهِ

فأين ضياءٌ ساطعٌ من ظلامِهِ

وأين سماءٌ من حضيض رَغامِ

وأين سماءٌ من حضيض رَغامِ

How can brilliant radiance compare with its darkness?

Where is the shining light from its darkness?

How can heaven compare with the low depths of dust?

And where is the sky from the lowly sands?

فللّه أيّامٌ مضين وأنتُمُ

فللّه أيّامٌ مضين وأنتُمُ

تخوضون فيها الخيلَ لُجَّ قَتامِ

تخوضون فيها الخيلَ لُجَّ قَتامِ

How wondrous, by God, were the days gone by, when you

By Allah, there were days past when you

drove horses through a surging sea of battle-dust!

Plunged your horses into the pitch darkness

وللخيلِ إمّا بالجسومِ طريحةً

وللخيلِ إمّا بالجسومِ طريحةً

عِثارٌ وإمّا بالصّعيدِ بهامِ

عِثارٌ وإمّا بالصّعيدِ بهامِ

For the horses, whether over bodies lying fallen,

And for the horses there’s either tripping with bodies

or over skulls upon the ground, there was stumbling.

Or slipping in the dusty earth

وما إنْ ترى في ذلك الحين آمراً

وما إنْ ترى في ذلك الحين آمراً

مطاعاً سوى رمِحٍ وحدِّ حُسامِ

مطاعاً سوى رمِحٍ وحدِّ حُسامِ

At that moment you could see no commander

And you see no obeyed commander in that time

obeyed but a spear and the edge of a keen sword.

Other than a spear and the edge of a sword

ولمّا أردتمْ فصلَ ما كان مُلبِساً

ولمّا أردتمْ فصلَ ما كان مُلبِساً

ضربتمْ لُهاماً في الورى بلُهامِ

ضربتمْ لُهاماً في الورى بلُهامِ

When you wished to settle what had been confusing,

And when you wanted to resolve the ambiguity

you struck one vast host among mankind with another.

You struck with pure white swords in the creation

وما زلتُمُ حتى أخذتمْ تراثَكم

وما زلتُمُ حتى أخذتمْ تراثَكم

وأنتمْ كرامٌ من أكفّ لئامِ

وأنتمْ كرامٌ من أكفّ لئامِ

You did not relent until you reclaimed your inheritance,

And you did not stop until you reclaimed your inheritance

noble as you are, from ignoble hands.

While you are generous, not vile misers

وَطارَ الّذي لا خيرَ فيه كأنّه

وَطارَ الّذي لا خيرَ فيه كأنّه

عقيبَ اِنبلاجِ الصّبح طيفُ مَنامِ

عقيبَ اِنبلاجِ الصّبح طيفُ مَنامِ

The man with no good in him vanished, as though he were

And he who is no good flew away like

a phantom of sleep after dawn had broken.

An apparition after the dawn's emergence

وحقُّكُمُ في النّاس ما كان خافياً

وحقُّكُمُ في النّاس ما كان خافياً

ولكنْ تغابٍ دونه وتَعامِ

ولكنْ تغابٍ دونه وتَعامِ

Your right among the people was never hidden,

Your right among the people was hidden

but met with feigned ignorance and feigned blindness.

Though not absent, merely concealed

وفُزتُم به من غير أنْ تتدنّسوا

وفُزتُم به من غير أنْ تتدنّسوا

بعارٍ وأنْ تُقْذَوْا عليه بذامِ

بعارٍ وأنْ تُقْذَوْا عليه بذامِ

You won it without sullying yourselves

You won it without being disgraced

with disgrace or being blemished for it by reproach.

Or fight over it with the insignificant

فللّه ما قاسيتُمُ من شديدةٍ

فللّه ما قاسيتُمُ من شديدةٍ

وداويتُمُ في اللَّه أيّ سَقامِ

وداويتُمُ في اللَّه أيّ سَقامِ

By God, what grievous trials you endured,

By Allah, the immense hardships you endured

and what maladies you treated for God's sake!

And in Allah you cured every disease

وعرّضتُمُ أجلادكمْ في حفيظةٍ

وعرّضتُمُ أجلادكمْ في حفيظةٍ

لكلِّ كُلومٍ صَعْبةٍ وكَلامِ

لكلِّ كُلومٍ صَعْبةٍ وكَلامِ

You exposed your bodies in zealous defense

You exposed your bodies to harm

to every grievous wound and cutting word.

To every frowning face and harsh word

وحُمِّلْتُمُ الأعباءَ وهي ثقيلةٌ

وحُمِّلْتُمُ الأعباءَ وهي ثقيلةٌ

وكم من ثقيلٍ فوق ثِقْلِ سِلامِ

وكم من ثقيلٍ فوق ثِقْلِ سِلامِ

You were laden with burdens, heavy indeed,

You carried heavy burdens steadily

and how many burdens outweigh massive stones!

Though many heavier than tranquil peace

وإنْ كنتُمُ عُرِّيتُمُ من مقامكمْ

وإنْ كنتُمُ عُرِّيتُمُ من مقامكمْ

زماناً فكم صُدَّ الضُّحى بظلامِ

زماناً فكم صُدَّ الضُّحى بظلامِ

If you were stripped of your station

And if you were evicted from your positions

for a time, how often has daylight been screened by darkness!

For a time, how often the dawn is veiled in darkness!

فَواديكمُ والحمدُ للّه مُفْهقٌ

فَواديكمُ والحمدُ للّه مُفْهقٌ

من العزّ فينا والبحورُ طوامِ

من العزّ فينا والبحورُ طوامِ

Your valley, praise be to God, is filled to the brim

Your valley, praise to Allah, is a refuge

with honor among us, and the seas overflow.

For our glory, and the seas are surging

وأنتمْ كما شئتُمْ وشاء وليُّكمْ

وأنتمْ كما شئتُمْ وشاء وليُّكمْ

ودمعُ الّذي يُشجى بذلك هامِ

ودمعُ الّذي يُشجى بذلك هامِ

You are as you wished, and as your supporter wished,

You are as you wish, as your Guardian wished

while the tears of him whom this grieves stream down.

And the tears of those who mourn this flow

وبالقائمِ الماضي الشّبا قامتِ العُلا

وبالقائمِ الماضي الشّبا قامتِ العُلا

وهبّتْ عيونٌ بعد طول مَنامِ

وهبّتْ عيونٌ بعد طول مَنامِ

Through al-Qa'im, keen of edge, glory rose,

With the arising of the past and future imam

and eyes awakened after a long sleep.

The heights rose after a long sleep

ولولاه كنّا مثلَ نَهْبٍ مقسَّمٍ

ولولاه كنّا مثلَ نَهْبٍ مقسَّمٍ

وَلَيسَ لَنا في ذي الأذيّة حامِ

وَلَيسَ لَنا في ذي الأذيّة حامِ

Without him, we would have been like divided plunder,

And were it not for him, we would be

with no protector against the doer of harm.

Like divided war booty, with no protector against the unjust

هَنيئاً بِهَذا العيد يا خيرَ مفطرٍ

هَنيئاً بِهَذا العيد يا خيرَ مفطرٍ

كما كنتَ عصرَ اليومِ خيرَ صيامِ

كما كنتَ عصرَ اليومِ خيرَ صيامِ

Joy to you on this feast, O best of those breaking the fast,

Congratulations on this feast, O best of those who break fast

as this afternoon you were the best of those who fasted.

Just as you were the best to fast in the day

فإنْ تركوا مآكلاً ومشارباً

فإنْ تركوا مآكلاً ومشارباً

فإنّك ترّاكٌ لكلّ حَرامِ

فإنّك ترّاكٌ لكلّ حَرامِ

If they have given up foods and drinks,

If they have abandoned food and drink

you are one who always shuns all that is forbidden.

You are the most ascetic of all prohibitions

وإنْ جانبوا بعضَ الأثامِ تورُّعاً

وإنْ جانبوا بعضَ الأثامِ تورُّعاً

فَأنتَ الّذي جانبتَ كلَّ أَثامِ

فَأنتَ الّذي جانبتَ كلَّ أَثامِ

If they avoid some sins out of scruple,

If they shun some sins reverently

you are the one who has avoided every sin.

You are the one who shunned all iniquities

وَإِنْ خَشَع الأقوامُ يوماً لربّهم

وَإِنْ خَشَع الأقوامُ يوماً لربّهم

فأين خشوعٌ من خشوع شَمامِ

فأين خشوعٌ من خشوع شَمامِ

If the peoples humble themselves one day before their Lord,

And if the people humbled themselves to their Lord one day

how can their humility compare with Shamam's humility?

Where is the humility like your humility?

فلا زلتَ طلّاعاً لكلِّ ثنيَّةٍ

فلا زلتَ طلّاعاً لكلِّ ثنيَّةٍ

من العمرِ سبّاقاً لكلّ حِمامِ

من العمرِ سبّاقاً لكلّ حِمامِ

May you ever climb every mountain pass

You never ceased rising to every twist and turn

of life, outrunning every stroke of death.

Of life, preceding all to the basin

وإن لم يدمْ شيءٌ فمُتّعتَ بالّذي

وإن لم يدمْ شيءٌ فمُتّعتَ بالّذي

به أنتَ مشغوفٌ بكلّ دوامِ

به أنتَ مشغوفٌ بكلّ دوامِ

Though nothing lasts, may you be granted enjoyment of that

And if nothing remains, you are pleased with that

which you passionately love, for all eternity.

By which you are passionate, always persisting

وبُلّغتَ من ذُخرِ النُّبُوّةِ كلّما

وبُلّغتَ من ذُخرِ النُّبُوّةِ كلّما

تُرامِي وعنه بالنّضالِ تُحامي

تُرامِي وعنه بالنّضالِ تُحامي

May you attain, from the treasure of prophethood, all that

You have delivered all the treasures of prophecy

you aim for and defend with battling arrows.

Stretching to reach them and guarding them in struggle

فبشّرْ بوالي العهدِ قومَك عاجلاً

فبشّرْ بوالي العهدِ قومَك عاجلاً

فَلا طَرْفَ إلّا نَحو ذلك سامِ

فَلا طَرْفَ إلّا نَحو ذلك سامِ

So give your people glad tidings of the heir apparent soon;

So deliver good tidings to your people of the heir apparent

every eye is raised toward that.

Let no eye turn except to that with joy

وَلا اِجتازَ ثَلْمٌ لم تَرِدْهُ بريبةٍ

وَلا اِجتازَ ثَلْمٌ لم تَرِدْهُ بريبةٍ

ولا مرّ نقصٌ محتوٍ بتمامِ

ولا مرّ نقصٌ محتوٍ بتمامِ

May no breach slip by that you have not met with misgiving,

No blemish passed which you did not heal perfectly

nor any deficiency pass enveloped in perfection.

No deficiency passed enveloped in completeness

وَلا اِعتلَّ شيءٌ كان فيك مُصحَّحاً

وَلا اِعتلَّ شيءٌ كان فيك مُصحَّحاً

ولا اِنحلَّ منكَ الدَّهرَ سلكُ نظامِ

ولا اِنحلَّ منكَ الدَّهرَ سلكُ نظامِ

May nothing sound in you grow ailing,

Nothing faltered that you had corrected

nor the thread of your order unravel through all time.

No organization fell from you into disorder

وإنْ أجدبتْ أجراعُ قومٍ فلا يزلْ

وإنْ أجدبتْ أجراعُ قومٍ فلا يزلْ

جنابُك ممطوراً بكلّ غَمامِ

جنابُك ممطوراً بكلّ غَمامِ

If a people's sandy flats grow barren, may

And if the vessels of a people dried up

your domain always be rained upon by every cloud.

Your side is still clouded with every cloud

فَلا تَحفِلَن إلّا بما أنا قائلٌ

فَلا تَحفِلَن إلّا بما أنا قائلٌ

ولا تسعمنْ في المدحِ غير كلامي

ولا تسعمنْ في المدحِ غير كلامي

Heed nothing but what I say,

So pay me no heed except what I say

and listen to no praise other than my words.

And do not wander beyond my words of praise

ونُصحُكمُ فرضٌ فدونك قولةً

ونُصحُكمُ فرضٌ فدونك قولةً

حططتُ لها حتّى أقولَ لِثامي

حططتُ لها حتّى أقولَ لِثامي

Counseling you is a duty, so take a saying

Advising you is an obligation, so hear me say

for which I lowered my veil, that I might speak.

I have prepared these words to recite my wrap

لَقَد ظَفِرت أيّامُكُم بِمُحمَّدٍ

لَقَد ظَفِرت أيّامُكُم بِمُحمَّدٍ

بماضٍ حديدِ الغَرْب غيرِ كَهامِ

بماضٍ حديدِ الغَرْب غيرِ كَهامِ

Your days have indeed gained Muhammad,

Your days have triumphed with Muhammad

a keen blade, sharp-edged and never blunt.

The west-piercer whose past is not insignificant

فخدمتُهُ أغنتكُمُ وهو واحدٌ

فخدمتُهُ أغنتكُمُ وهو واحدٌ

وكم واحدٍ أغنى غَناءَ أنامِ

وكم واحدٍ أغنى غَناءَ أنامِ

His service has sufficed you, though he is but one man,

I served him, and that enriched you, while he was but one

and how often one man has served as well as a multitude!

And how many a one enriched the sleep of slumberers!

فضمّا عَليه باليدين فإنّه

فضمّا عَليه باليدين فإنّه

مَلِيٌّ كَما نهوى بكلِّ مَرامِ

مَلِيٌّ كَما نهوى بكلِّ مَرامِ

So hold him fast with both hands, for he

So hold fast to him, for he

is capable, as we wish, of achieving every aim.

Is dear, as we desire in every endeavor

وَليسَ سعودُ المرء إلّا رضاكُمُ

وَليسَ سعودُ المرء إلّا رضاكُمُ

وإنْ لم يَطُفْ منكمْ برَبْعِ مَلامِ

وإنْ لم يَطُفْ منكمْ برَبْعِ مَلامِ

A man's good fortune is nothing but your approval,

And man cannot succeed except by your pleasure

even if no reproach from you visits his dwelling.

Even if he does not gain a hint of blame from you

خدمتُكمُ والرَّأسُ منّيَ فاحمٌ

خدمتُكمُ والرَّأسُ منّيَ فاحمٌ

وها الرّأسُ مُبَيضُّ الذُّرا كثَغامِ

وها الرّأسُ مُبَيضُّ الذُّرا كثَغامِ

I served you while the hair on my head was coal-black;

I served you while my head was humble

now my head's crown is white as thagham.

Yet here is my head, with hair white like pebbles

وَلَم تَظفروا منّي بِهَفوةِ عامدٍ

وَلَم تَظفروا منّي بِهَفوةِ عامدٍ

تطأطئُ رأسي أو تجرّ مَلامي

تطأطئُ رأسي أو تجرّ مَلامي

You never found in me a deliberate lapse

And you gained no intentional error from me

that lowered my head or brought me blame.

To bow my head, or drag my wrap

فمَغْنىً جفوتمْ لا وطأتُ تُرابه

فمَغْنىً جفوتمْ لا وطأتُ تُرابه

ولا ضُربتْ يوماً عليه خيامي

ولا ضُربتْ يوماً عليه خيامي

A dwelling you have shunned—may I never tread its soil,

You neglected me, but I never stepped on soil

nor may my tents ever be pitched upon it.

Nor did I ever pitch my tents upon it

وما لِيَ تعريجٌ بغير شعابكمْ

وما لِيَ تعريجٌ بغير شعابكمْ

ووادٍ حللتمْ فيه دارُ مقامي

ووادٍ حللتمْ فيه دارُ مقامي

I turn aside to no ravines but yours,

I have no wandering except to your valleys

and a valley you have settled is the home where I abide.

And no abode where you made my dwelling place

وعنكمْ ضرابي او طعانِيَ في العِدا

وعنكمْ ضرابي او طعانِيَ في العِدا

وفيكمْ جِدالي كلُّه وخصامي

وفيكمْ جِدالي كلُّه وخصامي

On your behalf I strike or thrust against foes,

From you is my striking or stabbing an enemy

and for you are all my disputing and quarrelling.

In you lies all my contention and dispute

فلا زلتُ موقوفَ الغرامِ عليكمُ

فلا زلتُ موقوفَ الغرامِ عليكمُ

إلى أنْ أَزورَ تربتي بحِمامي

إلى أنْ أَزورَ تربتي بحِمامي

May all my devotion remain consecrated to you

I am still enamored with love for you

until I visit my grave at my appointed death.

Until I bury my body with my tent pegs

وعَقْرُكمُ لا كان منه ترحُّلِي

وعَقْرُكمُ لا كان منه ترحُّلِي

ودرُّكُمُ لا كان منه فطامي

ودرُّكُمُ لا كان منه فطامي

May I never journey away from your home,

Your estrangement never caused me to wander

nor ever be weaned from your milk.

Nor your nearness ever caused me to wean

وإنِّيَ منكمْ وُصْلَةً وولادَةً

وإنِّيَ منكمْ وُصْلَةً وولادَةً

وفي حبّكمْ لا زلت عنه مسامي

وفي حبّكمْ لا زلت عنه مسامي

I am of you by kinship and birth,

I am connected to you in birth and descent

and may I never aspire beyond my love for you.

And in love of you I persist eternally

وسِيطَ بلحمي وُدُّكمْ ثمّ رُوِّيَتْ

وسِيطَ بلحمي وُدُّكمْ ثمّ رُوِّيَتْ

عظامِيَ منه وهي غيرُ عظامي

عظامِيَ منه وهي غيرُ عظامي

Love for you was blended with my flesh; then were watered

Your affection infiltrated my flesh

my bones with it, while they were not yet mine.

Then my bones were saturated – but not my bones

وذكرُكُمُ زادي وقوتِيَ في الورى

وذكرُكُمُ زادي وقوتِيَ في الورى

ومثلُ شرابي طعمُهُ وطعامي

ومثلُ شرابي طعمُهُ وطعامي

Remembrance of you is my provision and sustenance among mankind,

Remembrance of you is my provision and livelihood in life

and its taste is like that of my drink and food.

And like my drink and food in flavor and substance