أَلا اسمع أَخي وَاحفَظهُ إِن كُنتَ ذا عَقل

أَلا اسمع أَخي وَاحفَظهُ إِن كُنتَ ذا عَقل

كَلامَ نَصيحٍ فاهَ بِالجَدِّ لا الهَزلِ

كَلامَ نَصيحٍ فاهَ بِالجَدِّ لا الهَزلِ

Listen, my brother, and remember it, if you have reason—

Listen, my brother, and remember if you have any sense,

the words of a sincere adviser who spoke in earnest, not in jest.

Words of sincere advice, in earnest not jest,

عليكَ كِتابُ اللَهِ وَالسُنَن الَّتي

عليكَ كِتابُ اللَهِ وَالسُنَن الَّتي

تَناولَها أَهلُ العَدالةِ في النَقلِ

تَناولَها أَهلُ العَدالةِ في النَقلِ

Hold fast to God's Book and the traditions which

Upon you is Allah's Book and the traditions,

were received through transmission by people of integrity.

Upheld by the just in transmission and text,

وَقُل إِنَّ أَصحابَ الرَسولِ هُمُ الأُلى

وَقُل إِنَّ أَصحابَ الرَسولِ هُمُ الأُلى

بِهم يُقتَدى في الدينِ بِالقَولِ وَالفعلِ

بِهم يُقتَدى في الدينِ بِالقَولِ وَالفعلِ

And say that the Messenger's Companions are those

Say the Prophet's Companions are the foremost guide,

whose example is followed in religion, in word and deed.

In religion, by word and by deed they excel,

هُم خَيرُ خَلقِ اللَهِ بَعد نبيِّهم

هُم خَيرُ خَلقِ اللَهِ بَعد نبيِّهم

فَلَيسَ لَهُم في السَبقِ وَالفَضلِ مِن مِثلِ

فَلَيسَ لَهُم في السَبقِ وَالفَضلِ مِن مِثلِ

They are the best of God's creation after their Prophet,

They're the best of Allah's creation after their Prophet,

so they have no equal in precedence and excellence.

None can match their superiority and merit as well,

وَهُم آمَنوا بِاللَهِ بَدءاً وَجاهَدوا

وَهُم آمَنوا بِاللَهِ بَدءاً وَجاهَدوا

فَأَفنَوا قبيل الكُفرِ بِالسَبي وَالقَتلِ

فَأَفنَوا قبيل الكُفرِ بِالسَبي وَالقَتلِ

They believed in God at the outset and fought,

They believed in Allah first and did jihad,

so they annihilated the tribe of unbelief by captivity and killing.

Destroying disbelief ere loss and death knell,

وَهُم نَقَلوا علمَ الشَريعةِ لِلَّذي

وَهُم نَقَلوا علمَ الشَريعةِ لِلَّذي

أَتى بَعدَهُم نَقلاً بَريئاً مِن الخَبلِ

أَتى بَعدَهُم نَقلاً بَريئاً مِن الخَبلِ

They transmitted knowledge of the sacred law to whoever

And they carried shariah knowledge for those coming later,

came after them, in a transmission free of corruption.

A transmission pure of any flaw and lapse they tell,

فَما يَكُ مِن خَيرٍ لِمَن جاءَ بَعدَهُم

فَما يَكُ مِن خَيرٍ لِمَن جاءَ بَعدَهُم

فَهُم لَهُمُ حظٌّ مِن الأَجرِ وَالفَضلِ

فَهُم لَهُمُ حظٌّ مِن الأَجرِ وَالفَضلِ

Whatever good comes to those who came after them,

So whatever good came to those after them,

they have a share of the reward and merit.

The Companions deserve a share of its wealth as well,

وَأَخبارُهُم مَنقولَةٌ بِتَواترٍ

وَأَخبارُهُم مَنقولَةٌ بِتَواترٍ

وَآحاد النقل الَّذي صحَّ في العَقلِ

وَآحاد النقل الَّذي صحَّ في العَقلِ

Accounts of them are passed down by mass transmission

And their accounts are related successively,

and singly transmitted reports that reason finds sound.

As lone reports that are sound in mind and intellect,

فَما مِنهُمُ مَن طارَ يَوماً وَلا مَشى

فَما مِنهُمُ مَن طارَ يَوماً وَلا مَشى

عَلى الماءِ لا يَندى لَهُ أَخمصُ الرِجلِ

عَلى الماءِ لا يَندى لَهُ أَخمصُ الرِجلِ

None of them ever flew, nor walked

None amongst them claimed to walk on water one day,

on water without the arch of his foot becoming wet.

With feet unsullied, no wetting their sole,

وَلا مُخبرٌ بِالغَيبِ لا وَمُصيّرٌ

وَلا مُخبرٌ بِالغَيبِ لا وَمُصيّرٌ

دَقيقَ حُوارى مِن تُرابٍ وَمِن رَملِ

دَقيقَ حُوارى مِن تُرابٍ وَمِن رَملِ

Nor a teller of the unseen—no—nor a maker

Nor an informer of secrets, transmuter fine

of fine white flour from dust and sand.

Of disciples from dust and sand into gold,

وَلا مَن دَنا نَحوَ السَماءِ بِطَرفِهِ

وَلا مَن دَنا نَحوَ السَماءِ بِطَرفِهِ

لمُزنٍ فَجادَت بِالوَكيفِ لَدى المَحلِ

لمُزنٍ فَجادَت بِالوَكيفِ لَدى المَحلِ

Nor one who approached the sky with his gaze,

Nor one who neared the sky with their gaze

toward rain clouds, which then poured forth showers during drought.

Causing it to shower with vials untold,

وَلا مُنفِقٌ بِالغَيبِ بيضَ دَراهمٍ

وَلا مُنفِقٌ بِالغَيبِ بيضَ دَراهمٍ

بلا ضربِ ضرّابٍ وَلا مَعدِنٍ أَصلي

بلا ضربِ ضرّابٍ وَلا مَعدِنٍ أَصلي

Nor one who spent white dirhams from the unseen,

Nor a spender of hidden coins of silver drachma,

without a minter's striking or a natural source of metal.

With no mint nor smith of origin extolled,

ولا خاطِفٌ مِن الهَواء فَواكِهاً

ولا خاطِفٌ مِن الهَواء فَواكِهاً

فَوَردٌ بِلا شَوكٍ وَتمرٌ بِلا نَخلِ

فَوَردٌ بِلا شَوكٍ وَتمرٌ بِلا نَخلِ

Nor one who snatched fruits from the air:

Nor a snatcher of fruits from thin air,

then roses without thorns, and dates without palms.

Roses without thorns and dates with no palm,

دَعَوا مُعجِزاتِ الأَنبياءِ كَرامةً

دَعَوا مُعجِزاتِ الأَنبياءِ كَرامةً

لَهُم وَادَّعَوها حَذوكَ النَعلَ بِالنَعلِ

لَهُم وَادَّعَوها حَذوكَ النَعلَ بِالنَعلِ

They called the prophets' miracles saintly wonders

Leave alone the miracles of prophets as reverence,

for themselves, and claimed them as you match sandal to sandal.

Which they mimicked like step matching step heel to heel,

ينالُونَ صيتاً في الوَرى وَرِياسَةً

ينالُونَ صيتاً في الوَرى وَرِياسَةً

عَلَيهم وَأَموالاً تُجَمَّعُ بِالمِثلِ

عَلَيهم وَأَموالاً تُجَمَّعُ بِالمِثلِ

They gain fame among mankind and authority

Seeking fame in the world and leadership,

over them, and wealth amassed by such things.

And wealth hoarded steadily with no repeal,

وَزادُوا عَلى هَذا مُحالاً وَأَسنَدوا

وَزادُوا عَلى هَذا مُحالاً وَأَسنَدوا

لأَنفسِهم ما لَم يَكُن قَطُّ للرُسلِ

لأَنفسِهم ما لَم يَكُن قَطُّ للرُسلِ

They added further impossibilities to this, and ascribed

Beyond this they claimed the impossible and ascribed,

to themselves what never belonged to the messengers.

To themselves what no messenger was revealed,

فَمن ذا كَأنَّ الشَخصَ في الآنِ واحِداً

فَمن ذا كَأنَّ الشَخصَ في الآنِ واحِداً

يَحِلُ جِهاتٍ مِن عُلُوٍّ وَمِن سِفلِ

يَحِلُ جِهاتٍ مِن عُلُوٍّ وَمِن سِفلِ

Among these: as though a single person at one instant

So who is this that in one moment seems one being,

were present in places both high and low,

Occupying above and below without veil,

يحدِّثُ ذا في مِصرَ وَهوَ محدِّثٌ

يحدِّثُ ذا في مِصرَ وَهوَ محدِّثٌ

لآخر في شامٍ وَآخرَ في حَقلِ

لآخر في شامٍ وَآخرَ في حَقلِ

speaking to this man in Egypt while speaking

Conversing here with one in Egypt and another in Damascus,

to another in Syria and another in a field.

And another one tilling the field,

وَيغطِسُ في نَهرٍ لِغسلٍ فَيَلتَقي

وَيغطِسُ في نَهرٍ لِغسلٍ فَيَلتَقي

مَدائنَ أَقوامٍ عَلى الحَزنِ وَالسَهلِ

مَدائنَ أَقوامٍ عَلى الحَزنِ وَالسَهلِ

He plunges into a river to bathe, and comes upon

And dives in a river for ablution then joins,

peoples' cities on rugged and level ground.

The clans on the plain and in the vale,

وَيَنكِحُ بِكراً فيهم وَلَدت لَهُ

وَيَنكِحُ بِكراً فيهم وَلَدت لَهُ

بَنين فَأَضحى في بَنينَ وَفي أَهلِ

بَنين فَأَضحى في بَنينَ وَفي أَهلِ

He marries a virgin among them, who bears him

And marries a maiden there who bears him,

sons, and so finds himself among sons and family,

Sons till he has sons and family hale,

مُقيماً لَدَيهم في سِنينَ مُمَتَّعاً

مُقيماً لَدَيهم في سِنينَ مُمَتَّعاً

بِأبنائِهِ وَالعِرسُ مُجتَمعُ الشَملِ

بِأبنائِهِ وَالعِرسُ مُجتَمعُ الشَملِ

living with them for years, enjoying

Staying with them for pleasurable years,

his sons, with his wife and household united.

United in marriage with children the hearty table,

فَيَخرُجُ مِن ذا النَهرِ يُلقي ثِيابَهُ

فَيَخرُجُ مِن ذا النَهرِ يُلقي ثِيابَهُ

عَلى حافَةِ النَهرِ الَّذي جاءَ للغسلِ

عَلى حافَةِ النَهرِ الَّذي جاءَ للغسلِ

Then he emerges from this river and casts his clothes

Then emerges from the river discarding his clothes,

on the bank of the river to which he came to bathe.

On the river bank whence he came for the lave,

وَذا كُلُّهُ قَد كانَ في بَعضِ ساعَةٍ

وَذا كُلُّهُ قَد كانَ في بَعضِ ساعَةٍ

غِطاسٌ وَتَزويجٌ وَردّ بِلا نَسلِ

غِطاسٌ وَتَزويجٌ وَردّ بِلا نَسلِ

And all this took place within part of an hour:

All this in a fraction of time,

a plunge, a marriage, and a return without offspring.

A dive, marriage and return without travelogue tale,

يَسمّونَهُ طَيَّ الزَمانِ كَما

يَسمّونَهُ طَيَّ الزَمانِ كَما

يَكونُ لَهُم طَيُّ المَكانِ بِلا فَضلِ

يَكونُ لَهُم طَيُّ المَكانِ بِلا فَضلِ

They call it the folding of time, just as

They name it transcending time just as,

they have the folding of space, with no difference.

They transcend space without merit or avail,

وَيمشي إِلى الأَجداثِ يُخبرُ بِالَّذي

وَيمشي إِلى الأَجداثِ يُخبرُ بِالَّذي

يَكونُ بِها بالاسم وَالوَصفِ وَالشَكلِ

يَكونُ بِها بالاسم وَالوَصفِ وَالشَكلِ

He walks to the graves and tells of whoever

And he walks to sites foretelling what,

lies there, by name, description, and appearance.

Will occur there in name, description and detail,

وَيَأتي رَسولُ اللَهِ مِلقَبرِ يَقظَةً

وَيَأتي رَسولُ اللَهِ مِلقَبرِ يَقظَةً

إِلَيهِ فَيُثنى بِالمعارِفِ وَالفَضلِ

إِلَيهِ فَيُثنى بِالمعارِفِ وَالفَضلِ

And God's Messenger comes from the grave, in waking life,

And the Prophet's messenger comes to his grave, awoken,

to him, and he is praised for spiritual knowledge and excellence.

Extolling him in knowledge and avail,

وَيَسري إِلَيهِ السِرُّ مِن قَبرِ شَيخِهِ

وَيَسري إِلَيهِ السِرُّ مِن قَبرِ شَيخِهِ

فَتَضطَربُ الأَسرارُ في قَلبهِ تَغلي

فَتَضطَربُ الأَسرارُ في قَلبهِ تَغلي

The secret passes to him from his master's grave,

And the secret flows to him from his shaykh's tomb,

so the secrets churn within his heart, boiling.

Secrets churn in his heart and boil,

وَيقرأُ في آنٍ لَهُ أَلفَ خَتمَةٍ

وَيقرأُ في آنٍ لَهُ أَلفَ خَتمَةٍ

تُرَتِّلُها حَرفاً فَحَرفاً عَلى مَهلِ

تُرَتِّلُها حَرفاً فَحَرفاً عَلى مَهلِ

He recites a thousand complete readings of the Quran in an instant,

And he recites in an instant verses thousand,

which you recite distinctly, letter by letter, at leisure.

Articulating them slowly letter by letter trail,

وَيَجعلُ في الإِبريقِ ماءً لِشُربِهِ

وَيَجعلُ في الإِبريقِ ماءً لِشُربِهِ

إِذا هُوَ زَيتٌ للسَراجِ وَللأَكلِ

إِذا هُوَ زَيتٌ للسَراجِ وَللأَكلِ

He puts water in the pitcher for his drinking,

And he puts water in a jug for drinking,

and behold, it is oil for the lamp and for eating.

Lo it becomes oil for lamp and food without fail,

تَدورُ رَحاهُ إِن يُرِد طَحنَ بُرِّهِ

تَدورُ رَحاهُ إِن يُرِد طَحنَ بُرِّهِ

بِغَيرِ مُديرٍ لا حِمارٍ وَلا بغلِ

بِغَيرِ مُديرٍ لا حِمارٍ وَلا بغلِ

His mill turns if he wishes to grind his wheat,

His mill stone turns if he wants to grind his grain,

without a turner—neither donkey nor mule.

Without a donkey or mule that turn by the tail,

وَأَعمى يَرى الأَفلاكَ في يَقظَةٍ لَهُ

وَأَعمى يَرى الأَفلاكَ في يَقظَةٍ لَهُ

مُعاينة أَجناسها أَبداً يُملي

مُعاينة أَجناسها أَبداً يُملي

A blind man sees the celestial spheres while awake,

And a blind man sees the orbits clearly awake,

by direct sight, and constantly dictates their kinds:

Beholding their types constantly without veil,

فَهذي رَصاصٌ ذي نَحاس وَهَذِهِ

فَهذي رَصاصٌ ذي نَحاس وَهَذِهِ

لُجينٌ وَهَذي عَسجدٌ نادرُ المِثلِ

لُجينٌ وَهَذي عَسجدٌ نادرُ المِثلِ

So this one is lead, this one copper, and this

This is lead and this brass and this,

is silver; this is gold, rarely matched.

Is iron and this rare solid steel,

وَذي جَوهرٌ هَذي زُمُرُّدَةٌ وَها

وَذي جَوهرٌ هَذي زُمُرُّدَةٌ وَها

ذِ ياقوتةٌ مِن نُورها الشَمسُ تَستَجلي

ذِ ياقوتةٌ مِن نُورها الشَمسُ تَستَجلي

This is a jewel, this an emerald, and behold—

And this a gem and here an emerald,

this is a ruby from whose light the sun draws its radiance.

From its light the sun gleams and beams reveal,

وَفي الأقصر المِعراجُ مِعراجُ يوسُفٍ

وَفي الأقصر المِعراجُ مِعراجُ يوسُفٍ

فَيصعدُ للسَبعِ الطِباقِ وَيَستَخلي

فَيصعدُ للسَبعِ الطِباقِ وَيَستَخلي

In Luxor is the ascension, Yusuf's ascension:

And the Ascension is in Egypt like Joseph's ascent,

he ascends to the seven layered heavens and withdraws alone.

Rising to the seven spheres to prevail,

وَلَيسَ بِمُحتاجٍ لِجبريلَ لا وَلا

وَلَيسَ بِمُحتاجٍ لِجبريلَ لا وَلا

براقَ وَلَكن رَميةُ القَوسِ بِالنبلِ

براقَ وَلَكن رَميةُ القَوسِ بِالنبلِ

He has no need of Gabriel—no—nor of

Needing no Gabriel or steed Buraq,

Buraq, but only a bowshot with arrows.

Rather drawing the bow fast to assail,

يُقيم بِها النسوانُ وَالمُردُ أَزمُناً

يُقيم بِها النسوانُ وَالمُردُ أَزمُناً

غِناءٌ وَرَقصٌ في شَراب وَفي أَكلِ

غِناءٌ وَرَقصٌ في شَراب وَفي أَكلِ

Women and beardless youths stay there for long periods:

Therein women and boys stay seasons,

singing and dancing, amid drink and food.

Singing, dancing, in drink and food and table,

وَمَكشوف جُحرٍ لا يُصلّي واخر

وَمَكشوف جُحرٍ لا يُصلّي واخر

عَلى السَطحِ بادٍ أَيرُه كادَ أَن يُدلي

عَلى السَطحِ بادٍ أَيرُه كادَ أَن يُدلي

One with his anus exposed does not pray, and another

One exposes his den not praying, another

is on the roof, his penis exposed and almost hanging down.

Atop his roof his banner near to trail,

يَزورُهما أَهلُ النُهى حَسبُوهما

يَزورُهما أَهلُ النُهى حَسبُوهما

وَلِيَّينِ فَاختَصّوهُما أَحسن الفِعلِ

وَلِيَّينِ فَاختَصّوهُما أَحسن الفِعلِ

People of understanding visit the pair, reckoning them

The forbidden visit them thinking them saints,

two saints, and favor them with the finest treatment.

And saints, treating them best in their travail,

وَلَما قَضى مَكشوفُ جُحرٍ سَعى إِلى

وَلَما قَضى مَكشوفُ جُحرٍ سَعى إِلى

جَنازتِهِ مَشياً ذوو العَقدِ وَالحلِّ

جَنازتِهِ مَشياً ذوو العَقدِ وَالحلِّ

When the one with the exposed anus died, there hastened to

When Den Exposer died the chiefs walked,

his funeral, on foot, those with power to bind and loose.

To his procession, dignitaries in veil,

عَلى النَعشِ يَرمونَ المَناديلَ ماسِحِي

عَلى النَعشِ يَرمونَ المَناديلَ ماسِحِي

وجوهٍ بِها شاهَت وَجوهُ ذَوي الجَهلِ

وجوهٍ بِها شاهَت وَجوهُ ذَوي الجَهلِ

Onto the bier they throw handkerchiefs, wiping

Throwing scarves on his bier, wiping,

their faces with them—may the faces of the ignorant be disfigured!

Faces with them, faces of ignorance frail,

وَلَما قَضى ذو السَطحِ قامَ مَشايخٌ

وَلَما قَضى ذو السَطحِ قامَ مَشايخٌ

بِدَعوتِهِ فَوقَ السُطوحِ فَيَستَعلِي

بِدَعوتِهِ فَوقَ السُطوحِ فَيَستَعلِي

When the rooftop man died, sheikhs rose

When Rooftop Man died, shaykhs stood,

to invoke him above the rooftops, so he rises high.

Praying for him atop roofs climbing and scale,

وَغَيداءَ مثلُ البَدرِ تُبدي دِيانَةً

وَغَيداءَ مثلُ البَدرِ تُبدي دِيانَةً

وَأَنّى يُرى دينٌ لِمشقوقة القُبلِ

وَأَنّى يُرى دينٌ لِمشقوقة القُبلِ

A graceful woman, like the full moon, displays piety—

A singer appears like the full moon displaying,

and how can faith be seen in one with a cleft vulva?

What faith where split lips lewdness entail,

فَيصبغُ بِالحِناءِ جبريلُ كَفَّها

فَيصبغُ بِالحِناءِ جبريلُ كَفَّها

فَيُصبحُ مِنها البَيتُ مَلآنَ بِالرجلِ

فَيُصبحُ مِنها البَيتُ مَلآنَ بِالرجلِ

Gabriel dyes her palm with henna,

Gabriel dyes her palm with henna,

so because of her the house fills with men.

Filling the house from it with man unveiled,

يَزورُونَها فَوجاً فَفَوجا وَكَفُّها

يَزورُونَها فَوجاً فَفَوجا وَكَفُّها

مِن الجَسِّ وَالتقبيلِ في أَعظمِ السَفلِ

مِن الجَسِّ وَالتقبيلِ في أَعظمِ السَفلِ

They visit her, troop after troop, and her palm,

They visit her in droves and crowds and her palm,

through touching and kissing, is sunk in utter debasement.

Is kissed and clasped in utmost indignity and derail,

أَفاضوا عَلَيها المالَ سَكباً فَأصبَحَت

أَفاضوا عَلَيها المالَ سَكباً فَأصبَحَت

تَحِنُّ إِلى خِدنٍ وَتَرنو إِلى خِلِّ

تَحِنُّ إِلى خِدنٍ وَتَرنو إِلى خِلِّ

They poured wealth upon her in streams, and she began

They shower her with wealth abundantly till she,

to yearn for a lover and gaze toward a beloved.

Yearns for a cot and pines for a cell,

وَفَرَّت فَلا يَدرونَ أَينَ تَوجهت

وَفَرَّت فَلا يَدرونَ أَينَ تَوجهت

فِرار غَزالٍ خافَ مِن وَرطَة الحَبلِ

فِرار غَزالٍ خافَ مِن وَرطَة الحَبلِ

She fled, and they do not know where she went,

Then she flees and they know not where,

like a gazelle fleeing in fear of a snare's peril.

Like a deer fled the snare of ropes that entail,

فَيا لَكَ مِن ذي خِصيةٍ قَد تَلعَّبت

فَيا لَكَ مِن ذي خِصيةٍ قَد تَلعَّبت

بِهِ ذاتُ شَفرين اِستَفزَّت أَخا جَهلِ

بِهِ ذاتُ شَفرين اِستَفزَّت أَخا جَهلِ

Oh, what a testicle-bearing fellow, already toyed with

What a eunuch played with by one with cleaver,

by a woman with two labia, who stirred up a fool!

Inciting a brother of ignorance and travail,

وَكَم لَعِبَت بِالقَومِ في مَشرَع الهَوى

وَكَم لَعِبَت بِالقَومِ في مَشرَع الهَوى

ذَواتُ الخُدود الحُمرِ وَالأَعينِ النُجلِ

ذَواتُ الخُدود الحُمرِ وَالأَعينِ النُجلِ

How often they have toyed with the people at passion's watering-place—

And how many the people were toyed by in the pasture of passion,

women with red cheeks and wide eyes!

By red cheeked and wide eyed gazelle,

طَغامٌ رُعاعٌ تابَعوا كُلَّ ناعِق

طَغامٌ رُعاعٌ تابَعوا كُلَّ ناعِق

جُسُومٌ بِلا حِسٍّ قُلوبٌ بِلا عَقلِ

جُسُومٌ بِلا حِسٍّ قُلوبٌ بِلا عَقلِ

Rabble, riffraff, who followed every squawker—

Riffraff rabble following every babbler,

bodies without sensation, hearts without reason.

Vile hearts devoid of piety and intellect frail.