Poems by Imam Syafi'i

(1)

دع الأيام تفعل ما تشاء *** وطب نفسا إذا حكم القضاء

ولا تجزع لحادثة الليالي *** فما لحوادث الدنيا بقاء

وكن رجلا على الأهوال جلدا *** وشيمتك السماحة والوفاء

وإن كثرت عيوبك في البرايا *** وسرك أن يكون لها غطاء

يغطى بالسماحة كل عيب *** وكم عيب يغطيه السخاء

ولا حزن يدوم ولا سرور *** ولا بؤس عليك ولا رخاء

ولا ترج السماحة من بخيل *** فما في النار للظمآن ماء

ورزقك ليس ينقصه التأني *** وليس يزيد في الرزق العناء

إذا ما كنت ذا قلب قنوع *** فأنت ومالك الدنيا سواء

ومن نزلت بساحته المنايا *** فلا أرض تقيه ولا سماء

وأرض الله واسعة ولكن *** إذا نزل القضا ضاق الفضاء

دع الأيام تغدر كل حين *** ولا يغني عن الموت الدواء

English Translation by Saki Mustafa :

Let days go forth and do as they please *** And remain firm when settled is the Decree

Don’t be afraid of what happens by night *** For the affairs of this world are not to last

And be a man, strong in the face of calamities *** And let your nature be that of kindness and honesty

If your faults become too much in front of the people *** And you wish that they were to be concealed,

Then know that kindness covers all faults *** And how many faults are kept hidden by kindness!

No sadness lasts forever, nor any happiness *** And you shall not remain in poverty, or any luxury

Generosity cannot be hoped from the miserly *** For no water exists in the Fire for the thirsty

Your provision will not be decreased due to life’s delays *** And it cannot be increased due to your haste

If, in your heart, you possess contentment *** Then you and those who possess the world are equal

And for him upon whose horizon death descends *** No earth can offer him protection, nor any sky

Indeed, the earth of Allah is certainly vast *** But if decree descends, then the world constricts

Let days be the ones that betray you at all times *** For no cure can avail a person of death

 (2)

توكلت في رزقي على الله خالقي *** و أيقنت أن الله لا شك رازقي
و ما يك من رزقي فليس يفوتني *** و لو كان في قاع البحار العوامق
سيأتي به الله العظيم بفضله *** و لو لم يكن مني اللسان بناطقي

ففي أي شيء تذهب النفس حسرة *** و قد قسم الرحمن رزق الخلائق

English Translation by fajr wordpress :

When it comes to my provisions, I rely upon Allah, my Creator
And I know with certainty that He will no doubt provide for me.
Whatever’s in my due, will not pass me by,
Even if it were to be in the depths of the sea.
Allah the Exalted will bring it forth by His Grace,
Even if I were to remain silent over it.
So, what can a soul feel sorrow over,
When the Most Merciful has set the provisions of the creation?