Every man endowed with power and rule
is exposed to passing away and doom.
In the revolving course of night and day
lies a lesson for all who will reflect and weigh.
The All-Powerful King who reigns in every land
bestows that rule on whomsoever of His slaves He may command.
Every creature is destined to fade,
and every kingdom is for an appointed end made.
Nothing endures but the sovereignty of the Creator sublime—
transcendent is He, the All-Compelling Lord of time.
He alone possesses majesty and endless life;
all else is hastening toward decline and strife.
The first to receive the pledge of the caliphate,
after the Prophet, was the son of Abu Quḥāfa (1).
I mean the truthful, guiding Imām al-Ṣiddīq;
then, after him, they approved al-Fārūq (2).
He opened up countries and far-flung regions,
and his swords eradicated the unbelieving legions.
He stood for justice with a stand that won
the pleasure of the Lord of earth and heaven.
The people were content with Dhū al-Nūrayn (3);
then came ʿAlī (4), father of the two grandsons.
Battalions next rallied around al-Ḥasan (5),
and were on the verge of rekindling old dissensions;
but Allah brought concord through his hands,
just as our Prophet had foretold in advance.
The people (6) then united behind Muʿāwiya (7),
and every chronicler has handed down the tale.
He smoothed the realm exactly as he wished,
and after him Yazīd (8) assumed the kingship.
Then came his son, a dutiful and upright man—
I mean Abū Laylā (9), renowned for his ascetic span.