They stand manifest, steadfast upon their faith
until the Day of Gathering; no over-bearing tyrant can defeat them.
From among them, in every age, arise Imams for us—
guides to the loftiest heights, beacons set on every lookout.
The Lord of Majesty has reinforced them with a cohort
zealous to make Allah’s religion prevail and shine.
[ق 136] The All-Merciful well knew that in our own time
opinion had splintered in every possible direction;
so He sent a learned scholar from their noble ranks (1),
seven full centuries after the Hijrah from Yathrib,
who re-erects the spine of the religion after it had bent (2)
and snatches it from the grasp of every usurper.
That is the youth of Taymiyyah, the finest of lords (3),
a noble soul who comes to us from an illustrious lineage.
He knows the ailments of hearts and manages them (4)
with his wisdom, like an experienced physician.
Far from lewdness, injustice, and harm (5),
he draws near to the people of piety, ever affectionate.
He stays unseen only from faults and back-biting,
yet from the arena of benevolence he is never absent.
Forbearing, generous, and compassionate—yet
when Allah’s cause is disobeyed, for Allah’s sake he grows angry (6).
He sees championing Islam as the noblest booty,
making Allah’s religion manifest as the most profitable gain.
And how often, with both word and deed, has he demolished
the error of a fabricator and the view of a denier (7).