1. He who builds affection is no true friend of mine
Suckling me the teat of loyalty, never weaning

2. A strange request, for it is precious, like
A western neck, no conformity finding

3. Can one's own soul, in intimacy, a companion be
That complies a while, then swells disdaining?

4. Each man is flawed; venom or nature's taint
And thereof lies, in God's power, the ordaining

5. No creature's spared from faults that shame expose
Save stones, inanimates that beat disdaining

6. The builder splits them; some he takes, some leaves
Dividing them himself, no thought to complaining

7. I've seen the youth; his age and kin also
While money filled the hands of those attaining

8. Turn from them, unwavering soul, they're now
Under the Protector - leave your blaming

9. Reveal it outright or, in the matter, consult
A heedful youth in consultations training

10. Entrust not counsel to a council of five
By Ibn Zayd and Jabir was this ascertaining

11. Rich, from men - his riches make him so
And poor, from wealth - to it he's still complaining

12. A drunk, or one whose needs stain his retreat
Or lost in love - on passion's sea a-sailing

13. Wondrous am I, respectful to others
While with foolish love, the pious assailing

14. My days and nights - to livelihood attending
As beasts tend grazing there, no higher aiming

15. Not to good works, since they are not the stairs
To Eden sought, no modesty restraining

16. I know death's stroke cannot be dodged
Why even try, when fate leaves no evading?

17. I obeyed my soul's desire, and the soul leads
To every wrong, disgrace and cursing

18. When desire leads a man, his soul thereafter
Regrets - vile the companion there awaiting!

19. The soul knows and plans while good appears
But seeds of darkness lie there germinating

20. To wrong she inclines - evil's troops nearing -
While to belief she shows no accommodating

21. I struggle with her, her wildness taming
But self-love rules the soul, no debating

22. I blame her, though blame brings no reforming
Can chiding make the wretched pirate waiting?

23. She bargains with me - swelling if denied
Her wants, relenting never when attaining

24. I know my peace lies in refusing her
Vain the hope, if I obey, of salvaging!

25. No resolute one lacks the finesse granted
By Allah's favour, no miscalculating

26. True are the traditions' books, their wisdom gleaned -
Metered verse aids memorizing and retaining

27. When one lacks knowledge of five principles
Ignorant his knowledge then, though parading

28. "I know not if my sins will be chastised
Or if the Lord forgave them, his pardoning"

29. "My knowledge - is it accepted? or futile?"
"Am I misguided or guided, safe and waiting?"

30. "Can I know if my deeds are preserved inscribed
To Paradise or Hell, that dateless flaming?"

31. The fifth: "Do I to unbelief belong, or to
God's pleasure in Islam, that completing?"

32. Whoever lacks renewal of such principles
Will regret ignorance, wisdom evading

33. Only an errant sinner would ignore them
How can neglect be, when they are proclaiming!

34. Lord, grant me success, pardon and mercy
Many against You my crimes accumulating

35. I met Your creation with disobedience
As though I'm wronged, when I am the one harming

36. I came to You bearing sins I committed
Fear has filled the resolute, my doom awaiting

37. To Your beauty's sanctuary, I raced heedless
My hopes a-thirst - streaming passions waylaying

38. I'm hopeful of mercy and pardon from You
Since You are Forgiving, Merciful, Reclaiming

39. If You're not my defender from attacks
Then who can defend me from torrents raging?

40. If mercy precedes me from You, my Master
What can protect me, alive or interred writhing?

41. I'm the passionate, longing for Your pardon
All lovers are moths to the flame, enclosing

42. If, professing love, I speak any falsehood
The ardent lover shows love's secrets throbbing

43. When night falls, secluding him with his beloved
I spend it sleeping - when I should be waking!

44. I have no tears, though distress surrounds me
Only the distressed know tears overtaking

45. I gathered sins - no good work accomplished
While every night in heedlessness partaking

46. If You pardon me, a noble gift it will be
Whatever You decree, the Judge is faulting

47. Interceding with the Prophet's love I come
That You erase my sins, Your Book steadfasting

48. Bless him living and dead with Your prayers
Your greeting's choicest gift, joy unrestraining