1. He deduced knowledge and purified deeds,
And do not live heedlessly,

2. Do not waste your breath in vain play,
Attain excellence through hard work and the highest excellence.

3. The jewel of the soul, if you lose it
In play, you will not find a substitute for it.

4. May God guide you to a momentous matter,
You will attain it if you embark on the ships.

5. If He had not wanted your nearness to His side,
He would not have granted reason and guided the ways.

6. So if you head towards His court,
Let knowledge accompany you leading the camels.

7. The best company is beneficial knowledge,
An intercessor interceding on a day when intercession is denied.

8. Knowledge is like numerous stars,
So hold on to the sun and leave Saturn.

9. Hold on to Sacred Law, you have no refuge,
More comfortable than it as a refuge.

10. Light from God, if it covers you,
You become a sultan over the ignorant.

11. You are of such stature from God, if
You inherit knowledge, a messenger apostle.

12. Be steadfast, draw near, and hold fast
To its essential points, for you cannot encompass it fully.

13. Below you is the journey by which you ascend
The steps of perfection, ascending and arriving.

14. A cloud but bright, though
It rains light and pours forth honey.

15. A speck of light which the Giver poured upon
The replenishment of a heart from God enkindled.

16. The light assumed physical form within it
So a subtle essence shone forth in it.

17. It breathes the spirit of knowledge from its apertures
As the Holy Spirit breathed revelation from on high.

18. It was scattered like the stars and so it strove
To string it into a necklace, the beauty of nobility.

19. Upright in purpose, unveiling blindness,
Comprehending the minds of men, son of majesty.

20. Our exemplar extended from the sources
To which he ascended and drew near.

21. God's treasure to aid His religion
And God's proof against those who invalidated.

22. As-Suyūṭī son of Ḥumayd who
Stood in devotion to the pillar of heaven pleading.

23. He became a flaming meteor
Against the invalidator, so which devil can resist him.

24. May God support him and maintain him for us
Successful, guided, majestic.

25. And wherever he is singled out by God through innate disposition
For what He produced him with, crowned with His light.

26. With the resolve of the sultan, whose care
Made kings tremble, humbled.

27. Supporter of the religion whose traits
And whose praiseworthy mention circulated as an exemplar.

28. My father, source of virtue, youth
Muḥammad Ḥumūd, pillar of the lofty.

29. Of awe-inspiring glory in his affairs,
Who would not be satisfied save by the stars as servants.

30. More generous than a departing cloud
Which poured its rains so the meadows bloomed.

31. The universe rejoices at what gladdened it
Through his blessings, as it rejoiced through Him.

32. So I began to sing his praises,
And I am not alone in praise or full of praise.

33. I give good tidings to people of a blossoming journey,
As if by its light he is crowned.

34. I dated it truthfully, come give me good news,
Of the steps of perfection, completely perfected.