بسط الله لي بساط الوجودِ

بسط الله لي بساط الوجودِ

وعليه قعدت وقت الشهودِ

وعليه قعدت وقت الشهودِ

God spread for me the carpet of existence.

God spread for me the carpet of existence

And upon it I sat at the time of witnessing.

And upon it I sat at the time of witnessing

والسوى قاعد على الأرض جهلاً

والسوى قاعد على الأرض جهلاً

منه بي منكراً عليَّ وجودي

منه بي منكراً عليَّ وجودي

And the other sits upon the ground, in ignorance

While the ignorant sat on the ground in ignorance

of me on his part, denying my existence.

Denying me and my existence

هذه حالة عن العقل جلت

هذه حالة عن العقل جلت

لم ينلها غير الطليق الشرود

لم ينلها غير الطليق الشرود

This is a state exalted beyond the intellect;

This is a state that transcends the intellect

none has attained it but the unfettered wanderer.

None can attain it but the ecstatic wanderer

إنني مثلكم ونحن وأنتم

إنني مثلكم ونحن وأنتم

خلقُ مولىً كثيرِ فضلٍ وجود

خلقُ مولىً كثيرِ فضلٍ وجود

Indeed, I am like you, and we and you

I am like you and we are the same

are creatures of a Lord rich in grace and generosity.

Creatures of the Lord of abundant grace and existence

غير أني خرجت عنكم إليه

غير أني خرجت عنكم إليه

فوجدت الهدى إلى المعبود

فوجدت الهدى إلى المعبود

Yet I departed from you to Him,

Except that I departed from you to Him

and so I found guidance to the One worshipped.

And found guidance to the Worshipped One

وارتبطتم أنتم بما قد عرفتم

وارتبطتم أنتم بما قد عرفتم

من سواكم بحبله الممدود

من سواكم بحبله الممدود

And you yourselves became bound to what you had known

While you remained attached to what you knew

from others, through His outstretched cord.

With a rope that is outstretched

يا أخلاي ما أردتم أردنا

يا أخلاي ما أردتم أردنا

وإلى وردكم جميعا ورودي

وإلى وردكم جميعا ورودي

O my dear friends, we desired what you desired;

O my dear people, I wanted what you wanted

and to the watering place of you all I come.

And to your valley, my valley flows

غير أني علمته وجهلتم

غير أني علمته وجهلتم

فاصلحوا حالكم تروا مقصودي

فاصلحوا حالكم تروا مقصودي

Yet I knew Him, while you were ignorant;

Except that I knew Him and you were ignorant

so set your state aright, and you will see my aim.

So mend your state, behold my goal

واتركوا أنفساً لكم حجبتكم

واتركوا أنفساً لكم حجبتكم

عن سواه وعنه بالمحدود

عن سواه وعنه بالمحدود

And forsake those selves of yours that have veiled you

And leave the selves that veiled you

from what is other than Him, and from Him, through the finite.

From all else and from Him through limits

رمتموه مقيداً وشهدتم

رمتموه مقيداً وشهدتم

أنه جلَّ عن جميع القيود

أنه جلَّ عن جميع القيود

You sought Him bound, and you witnessed

You confined Him while professing

that He is exalted above all bonds.

He transcends all confinement

كل قيد فإنه عرض لا

كل قيد فإنه عرض لا

هو باق بل كالبروق الرعود

هو باق بل كالبروق الرعود

Every bond is a transient attribute, not

Every limit is an attribute that does not endure

something lasting, but like thunderous flashes of lightning.

Rather it is like flashes of lightning

صدق الله ما لمن ضل هادٍ

صدق الله ما لمن ضل هادٍ

غيره فاسلموا لرب ودود

غيره فاسلموا لرب ودود

God spoke truly: whoever strays has no guide

God spoke the truth - none can guide those who stray

other than Him; so submit to a loving Lord.

Other than Him - so submit to the Loving Lord

هل تظنون بالركوع إليه

هل تظنون بالركوع إليه

تترقون أو بذل السجود

تترقون أو بذل السجود

Do you suppose that by bowing to Him

Do you think by bowing down to Him you will ascend

you ascend, or through the humility of prostration?

Or by prostrating in submission?

هو حق ما قد ظننتم ولكن

هو حق ما قد ظننتم ولكن

إن يكن ذاك لا بكم يا جنودي

إن يكن ذاك لا بكم يا جنودي

What you have supposed is true, but

He is the Truth, though you thought it so, but

provided that it is not through you, O my troops.

If that were so, it would not be through you, O soldiers

تابعوني فيما أقول فإني

تابعوني فيما أقول فإني

حبلكم منه موصل للوفود

حبلكم منه موصل للوفود

Follow me in what I say, for I

Follow me in what I say, for I

am your cord from Him, conveying the visiting bands.

Am your rope to Him that leads to the sanctuary