The stranger is not.......

بِسْمِ اللّهِ الرَّحْمـَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Ali ibn Husain (RA), better known as Zain al-‘Abideen (the adornment of the worshippers), was the great-grandson of the Prophet ﷺ and one of the few people to survive the massacre at Karbala. In addition to being known for his worship, and piety, he was one of the most renowned scholars of orthodox Islam according to Sunni tradition, and additionally an imam according to the Shia tradition.


The following is a well known poem attributed to him:

لَيْسَ الغَريبُ غَريبَ الشَّأمِ واليَمَنِ * إِنَّ الغَريبَ غَريبُ اللَّحدِ والكَفَنِ

The stranger is not the foreigner from Ash-Shaam or Yemen
Rather, the stranger is the one unfamiliar to the shroud and the coffin.

إِنَّ الغَريِبَ لَهُ حَقٌّ لِغُرْبَتـِهِ * على الْمُقيمينَ في الأَوطــانِ والسَّكَنِ

For even the foreigner from distant lands has rights due to him
From the residents of the dwellings in the nations through which he travels.

لا تَنْهَرَنَّ غَريبًا حَالَ غُرْبَ الدَّهْرُ يَنْهَرَهُ بالذُّلِ و المِحَنِ

So rebuke not this stranger due to his condition of strange hood –
For Time itself chastises him using humiliations and tribulations.

سَفَري بَعيدٌ وَزادي لَنْ يُبَلِّغَنـي * وَقُوَّتي ضَعُفَتْ والمـوتُ يَطلُبُنـي

I have far to go though my provisions will not suffice me;
My strength is dwindling and Death beckons me.

وَلي بَقايــا ذُنوبٍ لَسْتُ أَعْلَمُها * الله يَعْلَمُهــا في السِّرِ والعَلَنِ

And yet there remain sins that I know not–
But Allah knows of them, (both) the secret and the manifest.

مـَا أَحْلَمَ اللهَ عَني حَيْثُ أَمْهَلَني * وقَدْ تَمـادَيْتُ في ذَنْبي ويَسْتُرُنِي

How lenient is Allah to me! Granting me respite
Despite my persisting in sin, He has always concealed (my sins and faults) for me.

تَمُرُّ سـاعـاتُ أَيّـَامي بِلا نَدَمٍ * ولا بُكاءٍ وَلاخَـوْفٍ ولا حـَزَنِ

And so the hours of my life tick on without me being remorseful
With neither tears, nor fear, nor sadness on my part

أَنَـا الَّذِي أُغْلِقُ الأَبْوابَ مُجْتَهِداً * عَلى المعاصِي وَعَيْنُ اللهِ تَنْظُرُنـي

For I was the one who closed the doors painstakingly
To (hide) my sins, (oblivious) to Allah still watching me.

يَـا زَلَّةً كُتِبَتْ في غَفْلَةٍ ذَهَبَتْ * يَـا حَسْرَةً بَقِيَتْ في القَلبِ تُحْرِقُني

Oh! The heedless transgressions recorded (against me) during those fleeting momentary lapses,
Have left me only with regret in my heart, and it is consuming me.

دَعْني أَنُوحُ عَلى نَفْسي وَأَنْدِبُـهـا * وَأَقْطَعُ الدَّهْرَ بِالتَّذْكِيـرِ وَالحَزَنِ

Leave me to myself, with my scars and laments
To spend my remaining time in remembrance and grief

دَعْ عَنْكَ عَذْلِيَ يَا مَنْ كانَ يَعْذُلُني *  لَوْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ ما بِي كُنْتَ تَعْذِرُنِي

Abandon your blaming O you who used to blame me
Had you but known my situation, you would have excused me.

دَعْنِي أَسُحُّ دُموعًا لا انْقِطاعَ لَها * فَهَلْ عَسَى عَبْرَةٌ مِنْهَا تُخَلِّصُني

So leave me to cry my tears, unceasingly
Perhaps one of them (fallen tears) will set me free

كَأَنَّني بَينَ جل الأَهلِ مُنطَرِحــَاً * عَلى الفِراشِ وَأَيْديهِمْ تُقَلِّبُنــي

It is as if I am lying prostrate, among my kin
Upon the bed, as their hands turn me over repeatedly;

وَ قَدْ تَجَمَّعَ حَوْلي مَنْ يَنوحُ و مَنْ  *  يَبْكي عَلَيَّ و يَنْعاني و يَنْدُبُني

Gathered around me with concern,
They cry over me, grieve, and mourn for me.

وَقد أَتَوْا بِطَبيبٍ كَـيْ يُعالِجَنـي * وَلَمْ أَرَ الطِّبَّ هـذا اليـومَ يَنْفَعُني

They brought along a doctor, seeking a cure
But this is the day I can see no medicine availing me.

واشَتد نَزْعِي وَصَار المَوتُ يَجْذِبُـها * مِن كُلِّ عِرْقٍ بِلا رِفقٍ ولا هَوَنِ

Oh the immense pain – the tugging of Death –
From every vein. With no diminishing or signs of abating!

واستَخْرَجَ الرُّوحَ مِني في تَغَرْغُرِها * وصـَارَ رِيقي مَريراً حِينَ غَرْغَرَني

My soul breaks free from me, escaping this earthly body –
I taste the bitterness of my death, as it gurgles past my throat and out of me.

وَغَمَّضُوني وَراحَ الكُلُّ وانْصَرَفوا * بَعْدَ الإِياسِ وَجَدُّوا في شِرَا الكَفَنِ

They shut my eyes, and have left my side
Barely a moment ago despairing for in my life, they now rush to find a shroud for me.

وَقـامَ مَنْ كانَ حِبَّ لنّاسِ في عَجَلٍ * نَحْوَ المُغَسِّلِ يَأْتينـي يُغَسِّلُنــي

So quickly he rises, one who was dearest to me
To summon the person who is to wash my body

وَقــالَ يـا قَوْمِ نَبْغِي غاسِلاً حَذِقاً * حُراً أَديبًا أَريباً عَارِفاً فَطِنِ

He summons “Oh people, we seek one who can wash him,
Respectfully, properly, expertly…”

فَجــاءَني رَجُلٌ مِنْهُمْ فَجَرَّدَني * مِنَ الثِّيــابِ وَأَعْرَاني وأَفْرَدَني

So then someone came and removed my clothing,
He undressed me and uncovered my body.

وَأَوْدَعوني عَلى الأَلْواحِ مُنْطَرِحـاً * وَصـَارَ فَوْقي خَرِيرُ الماءِ يَنْظِفُني

He placed me on the bathing table,
Water gushed forth, cleansing me;

وَأَسْكَبَ الماءَ مِنْ فَوقي وَغَسَّلَني * غُسْلاً ثَلاثاً وَنَادَى القَوْمَ بِالكَفَنِ

He poured the water, washing me
Three times, before calling the people to bring with them my shroud.

وَأَلْبَسُوني ثِيابـاً لا كِمامَ لهـا * وَصارَ زَادي حَنُوطِي حيـنَ حَنَّطَني

In a garment with no sleeves, they covered me up
And the only provision left with me was the perfume

وأَخْرَجوني مِنَ الدُّنيـا فَوا أَسَفاً * عَلى رَحِيـلٍ بِلا زادٍ يُبَلِّغُنـي

Then they took me on my journey out of this world – ah, how sorrowful!
To be on an undertaking without sufficient provisions/preparation

وَحَمَّلوني على الأْكتـافِ أَربَعَةٌ * مِنَ الرِّجـالِ وَخَلْفِي مَنْ يُشَيِّعُني

Four men upon bear me upon their shoulders
While those who have come to bid farewell trail behind respectfully.

وَقَدَّموني إِلى المحرابِ وانصَرَفوا * خَلْفَ الإِمـَامِ فَصَلَّى ثـمّ وَدَّعَني

They carried me to the mihrab and left me there, hurriedly to go
Behind the Imam to pray, thus bidding farewell to me.

صَلَّوْا عَلَيَّ صَلاةً لا رُكوعَ لهـا * ولا سُجـودَ لَعَلَّ اللـهَ يَرْحَمُني

They pray a prayer with neither rukoo nor sujood
Asking that my Lord will grant me from His Infinite Mercy.

وَأَنْزَلوني إلـى قَبري على مَهَلٍ * وَقَدَّمُوا واحِداً مِنهـم يُلَحِّدُنـي

Then they lower me into the grave, carefully:
One of them descends alongside to make sure to lay me down properly.

وَكَشَّفَ الثّوْبَ عَن وَجْهي لِيَنْظُرَني * وَأَسْبل الدَّمْعَ مِنْ عَيْنيهِ أَغْرَقَني

He raised the garment from my face to gaze upon me (a final time)
And the tears gushed from his eyes awashing me

فَقامَ مُحتَرِمــاً بِالعَزمِ مُشْتَمِلاً * وَصَفَّفَ اللَّبِنَ مِنْ فَوْقِي وفـارَقَني

Then he rose, honoring me, but firm and resolute
Lined my grave with bricks, secluding me.

وقَالَ هُلُّوا عليه التُّرْبَ واغْتَنِموا * حُسْنَ الثَّوابِ مِنَ الرَّحمنِ ذِي المِنَنِ

“Cover him!” He calls, as they cover me with earth,
“And receive the best of rewards, from the Most Gracious!”

في ظُلْمَةِ القبرِ لا أُمٌّ هنــاك ولا * أَبٌ شَفـيقٌ ولا أَخٌ يُؤَنِّسُنــي

There is no mother, in the darkness of the grave,
Neither an affectionate father, nor a brother to comfort me;

فَرِيدٌ وَحِيدُ القبرِ، يــا أَسَفـاً * عَلى الفِراقِ بِلا عَمَلٍ يُزَوِّدُنـي

Alone… The sole inhabitant of the grave, oh how sorrowful!
Have I, on departing the world, no deeds to accompany me?

وَهالَني صُورَةً في العينِ إِذْ نَظَرَتْ * مِنْ هَوْلِ مَطْلَعِ ما قَدْ كان أَدهَشَني

And now I grow terrified, as I behold a sight,
An image forms, startling me –

مِنْ مُنكَرٍ ونكيرٍ مـا أَقولُ لهم * قَدْ هــَالَني أَمْرُهُمْ جِداً فَأَفْزَعَني

Munkar and Nakeer, what shall I say to them?
The mere thought strikes terror in my heart, makes me fearful.

وَأَقْعَدوني وَجَدُّوا في سُؤالِهـِمُ * مَـالِي سِوَاكَ إِلهـي مَنْ يُخَلِّصُنِي

And as they sit me up and question me
I have none other than You now, O Lord, to deliver me!

فَامْنُنْ عَلَيَّ بِعَفْوٍ مِنك يــا أَمَلي * فَإِنَّني مُوثَقٌ بِالذَّنْبِ مُرْتَهــَنِ

So please, my Only Hope! Bless me with your Forgiveness,
For indeed, my sins are burdening me, dragging me down.

تَقاسمَ الأهْلُ مالي بعدما انْصَرَفُوا * وَصَارَ وِزْرِي عَلى ظَهْرِي فَأَثْقَلَني

My relatives return home, split my wealth evenly,
They take the spoils while I carry the burden on my own.

واستَبْدَلَتْ زَوجَتي بَعْلاً لهـا بَدَلي * وَحَكَّمَتْهُ فِي الأَمْوَالِ والسَّكَـنِ

My wife replaces me with another
Granting him authority over my wealth and home.

وَصَيَّرَتْ وَلَدي عَبْداً لِيَخْدُمَهُ * وَصَارَ مَـالي لهم حـِلاً بِلا ثَمَنِ

My child serves him
And they spend of my earnings freely.

فَلا تَغُرَّنَّكَ الدُّنْيــا وَزِينَتُها * وانْظُرْ إلى فِعْلِهــا في الأَهْلِ والوَطَنِ

So do not be deceived by this material world and its beauty
But look instead to what it has wrought upon your family and nation.

وانْظُرْ إِلى مَنْ حَوَى الدُّنْيا بِأَجْمَعِها * هَلْ رَاحَ مِنْها بِغَيْرِ الحَنْطِ والكَفَنِ

And look also to those who collect its wealth in abundance –
Did they leave with more than soil in their mouths, and a shroud?

خُذِ القَنـَاعَةَ مِنْ دُنْيَاك وارْضَ بِها * لَوْ لم يَكُنْ لَكَ إِلا رَاحَةُ البَدَنِ

Take only from this dunya that suffices you, and be content
Though you may have nothing more than health and a sound body.

يَـا زَارِعَ الخَيْرِ تحصُدْ بَعْدَهُ ثَمَراً * يَا زَارِعَ الشَّرِّ مَوْقُوفٌ عَلَى الوَهَنِ

O You who sows good, know this! You shall reap the fruits of your effort;
You who sow evil, know this! You shall stand in grief and misery.

يـَا نَفْسُ كُفِّي عَنِ العِصْيانِ واكْتَسِبِي * فِعْلاً جميلاً لَعَلَّ اللهَ يَرحَمُني

Oh my soul! Cease your evil inclinations and instead perform beautiful actions
Acts of good and righteousness, that Allah might show you mercy!

يَا نَفْسُ وَيْحَكِ تُوبي واعمَلِي حَسَناً * عَسى تُجازَيْنَ بَعْدَ الموتِ بِالحَسَنِ

Woe unto you, my soul! Repent, and do good,
That you may be rewarded a most beautiful reward after death has taken you.

ثمَّ الصلاةُ على الْمُختـارِ سَيِّدِنـا * مَا وَضَّـا البَرْقَ في شَّامٍ وفي يَمَنِ

And we send salutations upon the Chosen one, Our Leader 

Who illuminated all that was between Ash-Shaam or Yemen;

والحمدُ لله مُمْسِينَـا وَمُصْبِحِنَا * بِالخَيْرِ والعَفْوْ والإِحْســانِ وَالمِنَنِ

All praise is due to Allah, who lets us rise and retire peacefully,
With goodness, forgiveness, and most excellent blessings 
 The best rendering I could find is the one below, please enjoy listening.

It has all the couplets except this one:

فَرِيدٌ وَحِيدُ القبرِ، يــا أَسَفـاً * عَلى الفِراقِ بِلا عَمَلٍ يُزَوِّدُنـي

Alone… The sole inhabitant of the grave, oh how sorrowful!
Have I, on departing the world, no deeds to accompany me?