وجوديmy existence جلis exalted عنabove جسميmy body
وجودي جل عن جسمي
وعنand above روحيmy spirit وعنand above عقليmy intellect
وعن روحي وعن عقلي
My existence is exalted above my body,
My existence transcends my body,
and above my spirit and my intellect,
My spirit, mind, creed and mission.
وعنand above شرعيmy religious law وتكليفيand my obligations
وعن شرعي وتكليفي
وعنand above حكميmy judgment وعنand above نقليmy transmitted knowledge
وعن حكمي وعن نقلي
and above my religious law and my obligations,
My will is absolute, rising
and above my judgment and my transmitted knowledge.
Above the absolute condition.
وأمريand my state مطلقunbounded حتىeven
وأمري مطلق حتى
عنabove الإطلاقunboundedness يستعليit rises
عن الإطلاق يستعلي
And my state is unbounded, even
Of essence or of attribute,
rising above unboundedness,
Part or whole, my knowledge holds
وعنand above ذاتessence وعنand above وصفattribute
وعن ذات وعن وصف
وعنand above بعضpart وعنand above كلwhole
وعن بعض وعن كل
and above essence and attribute,
What none can know but one who, like me
and above part and whole.
Has never ceased to be the same.
وعلميand my knowledge ليسis not يدريهknows it
وعلمي ليس يدريه
سوىexcept منone who لمhas not يزلceased to be مثليlike me
سوى من لم يزل مثلي
And none understands my knowledge
Were inner sight errors relieved
except one who has always been like me.
Of those whose creed knots unravel,
ولوand even if زالvanished الخطاerror عنfrom علknowledge (begins here)
ولو زال الخطا عن عل
مcompletion of 'knowledge' أهلthe people of العقدbinding الحلuntying
م أهل العقد الحل
And were error removed from the knowledge
Their knowledge from my knowledge sea
of those who bind and loose,
Would be a dewdrop to the rain.
لاthen (in 'then would become') ضحىwould become (continuation) علمهمtheir knowledge منfrom بحthe sea (begins here)
لا ضحى علمهم من بح
رcompletion of 'the sea' علميmy knowledge قطرةa drop الطلdew
ر علمي قطرة الطل
then their knowledge would be, from the sea
Al-Khidr's knowledge to my knowledge
of my knowledge, a drop of dew.
Is but as Moses' thirst relented.
وعلمand the knowledge of الخضرal-Khidr فيwithin علميmy knowledge
وعلم الخضر في علمي
وموسىand Moses رشحةa bead البلmoisture
وموسى رشحة البل
And al-Khidr's knowledge, within mine,
Of news to come I am the hoopoe
and Moses's, is a bead of moisture.
To people of an age long past.
وإنيand indeed I هدهدُa hoopoe الأخباtidings (begins here)
وإني هدهدُ الأخبا
رcompletion of 'tidings' للقومfor the people الأُلَىwho قبليbefore me
ر للقوم الأُلَى قبلي
And I am the hoopoe of tidings
for the people who came before me.
I say, and what I say I am,
ومنand from قوليmy speech أناI أمليI dictate
ومن قولي أنا أملي
وإنيand indeed I فوقabove ماwhat أمليI dictate
وإني فوق ما أملي
And from my own speech I dictate,
And over what I say and am,
and I am above what I dictate.
God is the Everlasting Stand,
عليover me اللهGod قيومthe Ever-Sustaining
علي الله قيوم
بلاwithout شبهlikeness ولاand no مثلequal
بلا شبه ولا مثل
Over me is God, the Ever-Sustaining,
Unlikened and matchless in might.
without likeness or equal.
I am that Stand since I stood up
وإنيand indeed I ذلكthat القيوthe Ever-Sustaining One (begins here)
وإني ذلك القيو
مcompletion of 'the Ever-Sustaining One' لماwhen قمتI rose عنabove حمليmy burden
م لما قمت عن حملي
And I am that Ever-Sustaining One,
From bearing burdens of made forms.
when I rose above my burden.
I've stripped myself of rule and realm,
وقدand indeed جردتI have been stripped عنof ملكيmy dominion
وقد جردت عن ملكي
وعنand of علميmy knowledge وعنand of جهليmy ignorance
وعن علمي وعن جهلي
And I have been stripped of my dominion,
Of knowledge and of ignorance,
and of my knowledge and my ignorance,
Of here and where, above, below,
وعنand of كيفيmy 'how' وعنand of أينيmy 'where'
وعن كيفي وعن أيني
وعنand of فوقيwhat is above me وعنand of سفليwhat is below me
وعن فوقي وعن سفلي
and of my how and my where,
My right was gone with fictive stuff.
and of what is above me and what is below me.
I've washed my face of accident
وحقيand my truth زالvanished عنهfrom it باmy falsehood (begins here)
وحقي زال عنه با
طليcompletion of 'my falsehood' ذوpossessed of المحقobliteration والمحلand barrenness
طلي ذو المحق والمحل
And my truth is rid of my falsehood,
With washing beyond washing's need.
with its obliteration and barrenness.
Indeed, I am not something made
ووجهيand my face قدindeed غسلتI have washed الكوthe cosmos (begins here)
ووجهي قد غسلت الكو
نcompletion of 'the cosmos' عنهfrom it أيماa most thorough غسلwashing
ن عنه أيما غسل
And my face—I have washed the cosmos
Or fed on bread and water, nay,
from it, with a most thorough washing.
Nor am I made who makes and acts,
وإنيand indeed I لستam not مخلوقاًcreated
وإني لست مخلوقاً
ولاnor شربيmy drinking ولاnor أكليmy eating
ولا شربي ولا أكلي
And I am not created,
Or deeds and works and motions has.
nor are my drinking and my eating.
Nor am I in God's prophets one,
ولاnor أنيthat I أناI الخلاthe All-Creating One (begins here)
ولا أني أنا الخلا
قcompletion of 'the All-Creating One' ذوpossessed of صنعmaking وذوand possessed of فعلaction
ق ذو صنع وذو فعل
Nor am I the All-Creating One,
Or of the messengers He sent.
possessed of making and of action.
I am not Jesus or Mahdi
ولاnor منamong أنبياءthe prophets of اللGod (begins here)
ولا من أنبياء الل
هcompletion of 'God' إنيindeed I أوor منamong الرسلthe messengers
ه إني أو من الرسل
Nor among God's prophets
Who guides men to the roads of life.
am I, or among the messengers.
With me the minds of men are lost
وإنيand indeed I ماnot أناI عيسىJesus
وإني ما أنا عيسى
ولاnor المهديْthe Mahdi (guided one) إلىto السبلthe paths
ولا المهديْ إلى السبل
And I am not Jesus,
Unsure of what I am in root.
nor the Mahdi, guided to the paths.
I am the Arab, India's own,
أناI حارتwere bewildered بيby me الألباminds (begins here)
أنا حارت بي الألبا
بcompletion of 'minds' لاnot يدرونthey know ماwhat أصليmy origin
ب لا يدرون ما أصلي
I—minds are bewildered by me;
The Roman and the Greek, Most High!
they do not know my origin.
I am the worlds that turned by me,
أناI الشاميthe Syrian أناI الهنديthe Indian
أنا الشامي أنا الهندي
أناI الروميthe Roman أناI الصقليthe Sicilian
أنا الرومي أنا الصقلي
I am the Syrian; I am the Indian.
The heavens that for me were brought.
I am the Roman; I am the Sicilian.
The angels know me and long
أناI الأكوانthe worlds بيthrough me قامتhave stood
أنا الأكوان بي قامت
أناI الأفلاكthe celestial spheres منfor أجليmy sake
أنا الأفلاك من أجلي
I—the worlds stand through me;
For me with hope of my regard.
I—the celestial spheres are for my sake.
I am the famed throughout the world
أناI الأملاكthe angels تدريknow بيof me
أنا الأملاك تدري بي
ومنيand from me ترتجيhope for بذليmy bounty
ومني ترتجي بذلي
I—the angels know of me,
Indeed, I am not mortal man
and from me they hope for my bounty.
Nor of that kind begot at all.
أناI المعروفthe one known فيin الدنياthis world
أنا المعروف في الدنيا
وفيand in الأخرىthe next world بذيas possessor of الفضلbounty
وفي الأخرى بذي الفضل
I am known in this world
Not jinn nor angel ranks know me.
and in the next as the possessor of bounty.
Do comprehend me as I tell!
وإنيand indeed I لستam not إنساناًa human being
وإني لست إنساناً
ولاnor منof ذلكthat النسلlineage
ولا من ذلك النسل
And I am not a human being,
I have no father, mother, son,
nor of that lineage,
No folk, nor people are my own.
ولاnor بالجنof the jinn والأملاand the angels (begins here)
ولا بالجن والأملا
كcompletion of 'the angels' والحيوانand animals فاعرفso know ليof me
ك والحيوان فاعرف لي
nor one of the jinn or the angels,
I am not shaykh, nor youth nor sage.
or the animals—so know this of me.
No child, nor infant in the womb,
ولاnor منany والدfather ليfor me بلrather
ولا من والد لي بل
ولاnor أمmother ولاnor نجلson
ولا أم ولا نجل
Nor have I any father; indeed,
But absolutely free am I,
neither mother nor son.
While all are bound as slaves to doom.
ولاnor قوميmy people أرىI see قوميmy people
ولا قومي أرى قومي
ولاnor أهليmy family أرىI see أهليmy family
ولا أهلي أرى أهلي
Nor do I see my people as my people,
Junayd does not know my place
nor my family as my family.
That's known to me, nor Shibli's ken.
وإنيand indeed I ماnot أناI شيخan old man
وإني ما أنا شيخ
ولاnor بالشابِّa young man والكهلand a middle-aged man
ولا بالشابِّ والكهل
And I am not an old man,
None is within my world but me.
nor a young or middle-aged man.
So cease, my friend, cease me from men!
ولاnor إنيindeed I جنينa fetus أوor
ولا إني جنين أو
بمولودa newborn ولاnor طفلa child
بمولود ولا طفل
Nor am I a fetus, or
"Abd al-Ghani" is not my name,
a newborn, or a child.
As this appearance does compel.
وإنيand indeed I مطلقunbounded والكلand all (begins here)
وإني مطلق والكل
لcompletion of 'all' فيin قيدbonds وفيand in غلshackles
ل في قيد وفي غل
And I am unbounded, while all
But in the world of vanished forms
are in bonds and shackles.
I walk, my friend, with measured step.
ولاnor يدريknows جنيدJunayd بالabout that which (begins here)
ولا يدري جنيد بال
لذيcompletion of 'that which' عنديwith me ولاnor الشبليal-Shibli
لذي عندي ولا الشبلي
Nor does Junayd know
So you who seek me in this world,
what is with me, nor does al-Shibli.
My love soliciting, attend!
وماand there is no فيin عالميmy world غيريanyone but me
وما في عالمي غيري
فخفضso ease عنكoff yourself ياO خليmy friend
فخفض عنك يا خلي
And in my world there is none but me.
Disrobe, renounce, leave clothes and shoes,
So ease yourself, my friend.
Be pure without a grain of dross.
وماand not عبدservant الغنيthe Self-Sufficient اسميmy name
وما عبد الغني اسمي
وهذاand this مقتضىthe consequence of الشكلform
وهذا مقتضى الشكل
And ʿAbd al-Ghani is not my name;
Be meadow where no thistles grow,
and this is what form entails.
Be wine undrunk from any cup,
ولكنbut عالمthe world of الأوهاillusions (begins here)
ولكن عالم الأوها
مcompletion of 'illusions' يمشيwalks بيwith me علىat مهلleisure
م يمشي بي على مهل
But the world of illusions
Be sun aloft without a shade,
walks with me at a leisurely pace.
Cut loose from loves and hold my cord,
فياso, O منyou who رامsought فيin الدنياthis world
فيا من رام في الدنيا
يرانيsees me طالباًseeking وصليunion with me
يراني طالباً وصلي
So, O you who seek, in this world,
Be patient, persevere, and learn,
to see me, seeking union with me:
Musk is not like a fading rose,
تجردstrip yourself وانتزعand pull free واخرجand step out
تجرد وانتزع واخرج
عنof الأثوابgarments والنعلand sandals
عن الأثواب والنعل
strip yourself, pull free, and step out
Nor certainty's true right as just
of garments and sandals.
Halves, justice, straightness of the scales.
وكنand be صِرْفاًpure بلاwithout مزجadmixture
وكن صِرْفاً بلا مزج
وكنand be روضاًa meadow بلاwithout بقلherbage
وكن روضاً بلا بقل
And be pure, without admixture;
Like a clear eye's or like the heart
and be a meadow without herbage;
Of certainty's unerring sight.
وكنand be خمراًwine بلاwithout كأسa cup
وكن خمراً بلا كأس
وكنand be شمساًa sun بلاwithout ظلa shadow
وكن شمساً بلا ظل
and be wine without a cup;
Shut out all others, strive, unseal
and be a sun without a shadow.
My secret and draw forth its light.
وحققand realize the truth واقطعand cut الأحباthe ropes (begins here)
وحقق واقطع الأحبا
لَcompletion of 'the ropes' وامسكand hold fast to دونهاinstead of them حبليmy rope
لَ وامسك دونها حبلي
And realize the truth, and cut the ropes,
God's blessing from my heart on mine
and hold my rope instead of them.
Without division or divorce
وصابرand persevere واصطبرand endure patiently واعلمand know
وصابر واصطبر واعلم
فليسfor it is not المسكmusk كالزبلlike dung
فليس المسك كالزبل
And persevere, endure patiently, and know:
On Taha, God's messenger,
for musk is not like dung.
The light of duty and grace's course,
ولاnor حقthe truth of اليقينcertainty الصرpure (begins here)
ولا حق اليقين الصر
فcompletion of 'pure' فيin الإقساطequity والعدلand justice
ف في الإقساط والعدل
Nor is the pure truth of certainty,
As long as cloud banks trail their skirts
in equity and justice,
Across the sky with trailing showers.
كعينlike the eye أوor كعلمlike the knowledge للof the
كعين أو كعلم لل
يقينcertainty الصائبstriking true النبلthe arrows
يقين الصائب النبل
like the eye or the knowledge of
certainty, whose arrows strike true.
وسدand shut البابthe door منto غيريall but me
وسد الباب من غيري
وعالجand work at وافتتحand open قفليmy lock
وعالج وافتتح قفلي
And shut the door to all but me,
and work at my lock and open it.
صلاةthe blessing of اللهGod منfrom قلبيmy heart
صلاة الله من قلبي
علىupon قلبيmy heart بلاwithout فصلseparation
على قلبي بلا فصل
God's blessing, from my heart,
upon my heart, without separation,
علىupon طهTaha رسولthe Messenger of اللGod (begins here)
على طه رسول الل
هcompletion of 'God' نورthe light of الفرضobligatory worship والنفلand voluntary worship
ه نور الفرض والنفل
upon Taha, God's Messenger,
the light of obligatory and voluntary worship,
مدىthroughout الأيامthe days ماas long as سحَّpours forth الthe
مدى الأيام ما سحَّ ال
سحابclouds الجونdark بالهطلin a downpour
سحاب الجون بالهطل
throughout the days, as long as the
dark clouds pour down rain.
Partial English translation: 85 of 96 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1