للذات ذات وللأسماء أسماءُ

للذات ذات وللأسماء أسماءُ

تدري حقيقته سعدى وأسماءُ

تدري حقيقته سعدى وأسماءُ

The Essence has an essence, and the names have names.

The essence has an essence, and names have names,

Saʿdā and Asmāʾ know its reality.

You know its truth, Saadi, and the names,

فاخرج عن اللفظ والمعنى لأنهما

فاخرج عن اللفظ والمعنى لأنهما

رمزٌ إلى الذات والأسما وإيماءُ

رمزٌ إلى الذات والأسما وإيماءُ

So go beyond wording and meaning, for both are

So transcend words and meanings, for they

a symbol and an allusion to the Essence and the names.

Are symbols of the essence and the names, gesturing.

هي الحقيقة في كل الأمور سرت

هي الحقيقة في كل الأمور سرت

سراً و قامت بها في الجهر أشياء

سراً و قامت بها في الجهر أشياء

It is the Reality that has pervaded all things

It is the truth in all matters, hidden

in secret, and through it things have arisen openly.

As a secret, and it made things stand in the open.

تنزهت في فهوم العارفين بها

تنزهت في فهوم العارفين بها

وإنما هم على الذكرى أدلاء

وإنما هم على الذكرى أدلاء

It is transcendent in the understanding of those who know it;

It transcended in the minds of the knowers about it,

and they are only guides to remembrance.

And they are only intimations of the commemoration.

لا تسأل الكون عنها فهو يجهلها

لا تسأل الكون عنها فهو يجهلها

وعنه سلها ففيها منه أنباء

وعنه سلها ففيها منه أنباء

Do not ask the universe about it, for the universe does not know it.

Do not ask the universe about it, for it is ignorant of it,

And ask it about the universe, for within it are tidings of the universe.

And ask it about it, for in it are news of it.

كن طالباً علمها منها تجده بها

كن طالباً علمها منها تجده بها

محققاً وعلى التحقيق لألاء

محققاً وعلى التحقيق لألاء

Seek knowledge of it from itself; through it you will find that knowledge

Be a seeker of knowledge of it from it, you will find it with it

fully realized; and upon realization there is radiance.

Fulfilled, and excelling in the fulfillment.

ما في الورى أحد إلا بقوتها

ما في الورى أحد إلا بقوتها

له مدى عمره منع وإعطاء

له مدى عمره منع وإعطاء

No one among created beings, save through its power,

There is no one in the world except by its power

can withhold and give throughout his life.

He has the extent of his lifetime of refusal and giving.

والناظرون بها والسامعون بها

والناظرون بها والسامعون بها

وإن يكن عندهم للأمر إخفاء

وإن يكن عندهم للأمر إخفاء

And those who see, see through it, and those who hear, hear through it,

And those looking through it and listening through it

even if, for them, the matter is concealed.

Even if the matter remains hidden to them.

وتسعد الناس أو تشقى بلا غرض

وتسعد الناس أو تشقى بلا غرض

فهي الدواء كما تختار والداء

فهي الدواء كما تختار والداء

And people become happy or wretched, without any motive;

And it makes people happy or miserable without purpose,

for it is the remedy and the disease, as it chooses.

So it is the cure as you choose, and the disease.

شمس وعن علمها كل الورى ظهروا

شمس وعن علمها كل الورى ظهروا

كأنما هم ظلالات وأفياء

كأنما هم ظلالات وأفياء

A sun, and from its knowledge all created beings emerged,

Sun, and by its knowledge all of existence became

as though they were shadows and shades.

Apparent, as if they are shadows and mirages.