1. Then draw near to your Exalted Master
With the saving qualities of perfection

2. By abandoning corrupting laughter
And adopting reverential awe from the virtuous

3. Likewise the excessive idle talk
Is ugly, drawing wrath

4. And adhere to jurisprudence among the sciences
To keep you on the straight path

5. Holding fast to the four widely known
For knowledge and faith among the predecessors

6. Ahmad, al-Nuʿman, then al-Shafiʿi
And Malik, the most brilliant elder of all

7. They are the rightly guiding stars
Their path leads rightly to guidance

8. The signs of truth for the traveling devotee
Calling to the Sunnah of the Chosen One

9. And recite the Book of God at (proper) times
Contemplating the verses attentively

10. It will guide you to the Creator so you will hope for His mercy
At times when you fear His might

11. For it is the summit of knowledge and perfection
Untouched by falsehood or injustice

12. And pay heed to Paradise in the Qurʾan
Increasing your worship of the Merciful

13. And pay heed to Hell, you will find it warning
Against ways leading to ruinous corruption

14. And look within yourself in your world
You will find it has transported you to that

15. So exert the means that will save you
That you may attain mercy from your Creator

16. And know that your sustenance was decreed by my Lord
Striving for it is a means, not what increased it

17. So how many a weak one has the world made black
And how many a strong one whose effort did not enrich

18. Rather, the means are like the veil
So faith in the unseen may be attained

19. And do not neglect the means either
Since exerting it lawfully may become obligatory

20. And hold fast to piety, be you the most excellent
For it is what saves you among all deeds

21. And it is obeying what our God has commanded
And refraining from all He has forbidden

22. And initiate with the Muslim by greeting
Or words pleasing to him

23. And advise him sincerely like an honest, loyal friend
And agree with him in the matter like one compliant

24. Unless he commits wickedness or speaks it
Then gently correct him until he awakes

25. And do not reject a report from your companion
Nor belittle him if it will harm him

26. And if he slips up in the gathering
Then cover over him like an intimate, gentle companion

27. And never follow up by mentioning it again
For the noble one neither gloats nor disgraces anyone

28. And struggle against the self to bear harm
From a Muslim, be an imam to be emulated

29. And say aloud when you meet with greeting
For the Master of mankind enjoined that

30. Never make a gesture your greeting
For that opposes the excellent Sunnah

31. Greeting is the way of the righteous
While gesturing is the way of the unbelievers

32. And beware of clapping after sermons
Like the manner of maidservants at play

33. For the Messenger forbade it for men
It is considered an ugly, rejected act

34. And recognize the honor of men in beards
Black and white like the radiant dawn

35. For it is a merit over women for them
A distinction and beauty in every beholder's eye

36. And the Messenger commanded they be kept full
Shaving it is ugly and rejected

37. And shaving the beard while baring the sides
Is practiced by the people of misguidance and doubt

38. And the like of it is frivolous play and entertainment
Far be it for one with reason to affiliate with that

39. For it wastes time
And does away with the noblest qualities

40. It destroys religion and chivalry
Branding a person with foolishness

41. And beware of wearing the maradah cap
For it corrupts the religion of its wearer

42. There has come to us in the authentic hadith
From the generous master of messengers

43. "Whoever imitates a people, he is one of them"
So beware and take heed

44. So follow the honorable in deeds
Of sublime prohibition, glory and perfection

45. And be not one who imitates the rabble
Of whom Allah said, “like cattle”

46. Your smoking tobacco is vile and filthy
While Allah ordered purification in the Law

47. The miswak has come to us from our Prophet
He said, “Indeed Allah is pleased with it for us”

48. Its superiority is cleansing and beautiful purity
So how can you corrupt it with that stench?

49. And beware of attending the gatherings of innovation
For it is emulating what Allah has legislated

50. Your Exalted Lord has forbidden you from it
So do not oppose His command, lest you be afflicted

51. And accompany, if you would have companions
Every virtuous person, complete in religion and merits

52. For a companion plants his character
Even if he pretends, he imparts hypocrisy

53. With every wise person, a companion
Plants in his companion what they solidified