They let their tears stream—out of awe of Allah and sorrow—like the downpour loosed by laden clouds.
The murmur of the worshippers, in secret and aloud, rose like a continuous drone in the lofty sky.
Alas for that bleak and frowning day which rampaged against the star al-Suhā (1) and the very crest of heaven!
Many a vigorous, energetic man there stared death in the face, so crushing was the press of the throng.
Oh, what a calamity it was—a single day of misery whose length outstripped a full year.
The catastrophe was so great that even the attempt (2) to describe it broke upon the rocks of imagination.
He had been the Shaykh al-Islam in learning and asceticism, the one who solved (3) the knottiest questions.
With his passing people lost a learned scholar (4) whose guidance equalled that of the illustrious imams.
Love of the Book of Allah and of the exemplary Sunnah coursed through his veins and bones.
He reached the zenith of the firmament of virtues, surpassing every lofty person in knowledge.
His renown spread across the lands and will continue to grow among people until the Day of Return.
[ق 142] He was a mender of the broken-hearted (5) whenever the vicissitudes of time crushed them, a helper of the captive, and a crusher of oppression.
Worldly love was hateful to him—more detestable than a healthy man finds a garment of disease.