تَفُتُّ فُؤادَكَ الأَيّامُ فَتّا

وَتَنحِتُ جِسمَكَ الساعاتُ نَحتا

The days melt your heart into copper,

And the hours carve your body in sculpture,

وَتَدعوكَ المَنونُ دُعاءَ صِدقٍ

أَلا يا صاحِ أَنتَ أُريدُ أَنتا

Death calls you with a call of sincerity,

"O friend! It is you I want, you I need."

أَراكَ تُحِبُّ عِرساً ذاتَ غَدرٍ

أَبَتَّ طَلاقَها الأَكياسُ بَتّا

I see you love a bride of betrayal,

The wise have refused to divorce her ever.

تَنامُ الدَهرَ وَيحَكَ في غَطيطٍ

بِها حَتّى إِذا مِتَّ اِنتَبَهنا

You sleep a lifetime as she cheats,

Until you die, still asleep and unaware.

فَكَم ذا أَنتَ مَخدوعٌ وَحَتّى

مَتى لا تَرعَوي عَنها وَحَتّى

How long will you be fooled, and how long

Will you not keep away from her forever?

أَبا بَكرٍ دَعَوتُكَ لَو أَجَبتا

إِلى ما فيهِ حَظُّكَ إِن عَقَلتا

Abu Bakr, I called you - if only you’d answer -

To what is good for you, if you have reason.

إِلى عِلمٍ تَكونُ بِهِ إِماماً

مُطاعاً إِن نَهَيتَ وَإِن أَمَرتا

To knowledge that makes you a leader obeyed

When you forbid and when you command.

وَتَجلو ما بِعَينِكَ مِن عَشاها

وَتَهديكَ السَبيلَ إِذا ضَلَلتا

It clears your view of her lustful ways

And guides you to the path if you go astray.

وَتَحمِلُ مِنهُ في ناديكَ تاجاً

وَيَكسوكَ الجَمالَ إِذا اِغتَرَبتا

It brings you glory among your people

And clothes you in beauty if you're far away.

يَنالُكَ نَفعُهُ مادُمتَ حَيّاً

وَيَبقى ذُخرُهُ لَكَ إِن ذَهَبتا

You benefit from it while alive

And its riches remain if you pass away.

هُوَ العَضبُ المُهَنَّدُ لَيسَ يَنبو

تُصيبُ بِهِ مَقاتِلَ ضَرَبتا

It's a sharp sword that hits its target,

When you wield it at an enemy in the fray.

وَكَنزاً لا تَخافُ عَلَيهِ لِصّاً

خَفيفَ الحَملِ يوجَدُ حَيثُ كُنتا

A treasure safe from any thief,

Light to carry wherever you stray.

يَزيدُ بِكَثرَةِ الإِنفاقِ مِنهُ

وَينقُصُ أَن بِهِ كَفّاً شَدَدتا

It grows by spending lavishly

And shrinks if you hoard it and lock it away.

فَلَو قَد ذُقتَ مِن حَلواهُ طَعماً

لَآثَرتَ التَعَلُّمَ وَاِجتَهَدتا

If you had but tasted its sweetness

You would seek learning and always obey.

وَلَم يَشغَلَكَ عَنهُ هَوى مُطاعٌ

وَلا دُنيا بِزُخرُفِها فُتِنتا

No tempting beauty could distract you

Or worldly vanities lead you astray.

وَلا أَلهاكَ عَنهُ أَنيقُ رَوضٍ

وَلا خِدرٌ بِرَبرَبِهِ كَلِفتا

No lovely garden could enthrall you,

No wine's drunkenness lead your mind astray.

فَقوتُ الروحِ أَرواحُ المَعاني

وَلَيسَ بِأَن طَعِمتَ وَأِن شَرِبتا

The soul's nourishment is meanings' souls,

Not that you eat and drink night and day.

فَواظِبهُ وَخُذ بِالجِدِّ فيهِ

فَإِن أَعطاكَهُ اللَهُ أَخَذتا

So stick to it with diligence,

God may grant it if you always pray.

وَإِن أوتيتَ فيهِ طَويلَ باعٍ

وَقالَ الناسُ إِنَّكَ قَد سَبَقتا

If you gain great knowledge in it,

Though people say you have gone astray,

فَلا تَأمَن سُؤالَ اللَهِ عَنهُ

بِتَوبيخٍ عَلِمتَ فَهَل عَمِلتا

Do not feel safe from God's questioning,

With rebuke - did you know and obey?

فَرَأسُ العِلمِ تَقوى اللَهِ حَقّاً

وَلَيسَ بِأَن يُقال لَقَد رَأَستا

The essence of knowledge is fearing God,

Not to say: I have gained the upper way.

وَضافي ثَوبِكَ الإِحسانُ لا أَن

تُرى ثَوبَ الإِساءَةِ قَد لَبِستا

Rather clothe yourself in doing good,

Not seen doing evil night and day.

إِذا ما لَم يُفِدكَ العِلمُ خَيراً

فَخَيرٌ مِنهُ أَن لَو قَد جَهِلتا

If knowledge does not benefit you,

Better ignorant you stay.

وَإِن أَلقاكَ فَهمُكَ في مَهاوٍ

فَلَيتَكَ ثُمَّ لَيتَكَ ما فَهِمتا

And if your mind plunges into an abyss,

Would that you'd never thought or tried to sway!

سَتَجني مِن ثِمارِ العَجزِ جَهلاً

وَتَصغُرُ في العُيونِ إِذا كَبُرتا

From inability's fruit you will reap ignorance,

Belittled, though great, in people's way.

وَتُفقَدُ إِن جَهِلتَ وَأَنتَ باقٍ

وَتوجَدُ إِن عَلِمتَ وَقَد فُقِدتا

You'll be missed if ignorant, though alive,

Found if you know, when you've passed away.

وَتَذكُرُ قَولَتي لَكَ بَعدَ حينٍ

وَتَغبِطُها إِذا عَنها شُغِلتا

And my words you will remember later,

Envying them when from them you did stray.

لَسَوفَ تَعَضُّ مِن نَدَمٍ عَلَيها

وَما تُغني النَدامَةُ إِن نَدِمتا

You will bite your hand in regret,

But regret won't help when you rue the day.

إِذا أَبصَرتَ صَحبَكَ في سَماءٍ

قَد اِرتَفَعوا عَلَيكَ وَقَد سَفَلتا

When you see your friends elevated above,

While you below them have fallen away,

فَراجِعها وَدَع عَنكَ الهُوَينى

فَما بِالبُطءِ تُدرِكُ ما طَلَبتا

Return to them and leave foolishness;

Slowly you will not regain the way.

وَلا تَحفِل بِمالِكَ وَاِلهُ عَنهُ

فَلَيسَ المالُ إِلّا ما عَلِمتا

Do not care for your money, turn from it,

Only what you know is money, I say.

وَلَيسَ لِجاهِلٍ في الناسِ مَعنىً

وَلَو مُلكُ العِراقِ لَهُ تَأَتّى

An ignorant man has no standing among people,

Even if Iraq's kingdom to him made its way.

سَيَنطِقُ عَنكَ عِلمُكَ في نَدِيٍّ

وَيُكتَبُ عَنكَ يَوماً إِن كَتَبتا

Your knowledge will speak well of you in gatherings,

And of you be written, on Resurrection Day.

وَما يُغنيكَ تَشيِيدُ المَباني

إِذا بِالجَهلِ نَفسَكَ قَد هَدَمتا

Building monuments won't benefit you

If you've ruined your soul and gone astray.

جَعَلتَ المالَ فَوقَ العِلمِ جَهلاً

لَعَمرُكَ في القَضيَّةِ ماعَدَلتا

You've made wealth above knowledge, wrongfully!

By God, in this matter, justice gave way.

وَبَينَهُما بِنَصِّ الوَحيِ بَونٌ

سَتَعلَمُهُ إِذا طَهَ قَرَأتا

Between them the Scripture shows a gulf,

You'll know, if you read Qur'an and obey.

لَئِن رَفَعَ الغَنيُّ لِواءَ مالٍ

لَأَنتَ لِواءَ عِلمِكَ قَد رَفَعتا

If the wealthy raise a banner of riches,

You raise your banner of knowledge, I say.

وَإِن جَلَسَ الغَنيُّ عَلى الحَشايا

لَأَنتَ عَلى الكَواكِبِ قَد جَلَستا

And if the wealthy sit atop cushions,

You upon the stars have found your place to stay.

وَإِن رَكِبَ الجِيادَ مُسَوَّماتٍ

لَأَنتَ مَناهِجَ التَقوى رَكِبتا

If they ride thoroughbred horses,

You ride the paths of Godliness, I say.

وَمَهما اِفتَضَّ أَبكارَ الغَواني

فَكَم بِكرٍ مِنَ الحِكَمِ اِفتَضَضتا

And however many blooms of beauty they reap,

How many wisdoms' buds will you pick away!

وَلَيسَ يَضُرُّكَ الإِقتارُ شَيئاً

إِذا ما أَنتَ رَبَّكَ قَد عَرَفتا

Poverty will not harm you at all

If you've known your Lord in night and day.

فَما عِندَهُ لَكَ مِن جَميلٍ

إِذا بِفِناءِ طاعَتِهِ أَنَختا

With Him you have no grace

If you disobey and go your own way.

فَقابِل بِالقَبولِ صَحيحَ نُصحي

فَإِن أَعرَضتَ عَنهُ فَقَد خَسِرتا

So accept my good advice wholeheartedly,

If you reject it you will go astray.

وَإِن راعَيتَهُ قَولاً وَفِعلاً

وَتاجَرتَ الإِلَهَ بِهِ رَبِحتا

And if you observe it in word and deed,

Trading with God, you have gained the day.

فَلَيسَت هَذِهِ الدُنيا بِشَيءٍ

تَسوؤُكَ حُقبَةً وَتَسُرُّ وَقتا

This world is nothing,

Whether it brings you bliss or dismay,

وَغايَتُها إِذا فَكَرَّت فيها

كَفَيئِكَ أَو كَحُلمِكَ إِن حَلَمتا

Its limit, if you think on it,

Is like your nap or dream by day.

سُجِنتَ بِها وَأَنتَ لَها مُحِبٌّ

فَكَيفَ تُحِبُّ ما فيهِ سُجِنتا

You're imprisoned in it, loving it,

How can you love what imprisons you astray!

وَتُطعِمُكَ الطَعامَ وَعَن قَريبٍ

سَتَطعَمُ مِنكَ ما مِنها طَعِمتا

It feeds you food, and before long,

It will feed on you, from what you fed the way.

وَتَعرى إِن لَبِستَ لَها ثِياباً

وَتُكسى إِن مَلابِسَها خَلَعتا

It strips you bare if you wear its clothes,

And clothes you if you take its clothes away.

وَتَشهَدُ كُلَّ يَومٍ دَفنَ خِلٍّ

كَأَنَّكَ لا تُرادُ بِما شَهِدتا

Each day you witness a friend's burial,

As if you will remain and not decay!

وَلَم تُخلَق لِتَعمُرها وَلَكِن

لِتَعبُرَها فَجِدَّ لِما خُلِقتا

You weren't created to build it up

But to pass through it - be earnest in your way.

وَإِن هُدِمَت فَزِدها أَنتَ هَدماً

وَحَصِّن أَمرَ دينِكَ ما اِستَطَعتا

And if it crumbles, make it crumble more,

And fortify your faith, while yet you may.

وَلا تَحزَن عَلى ما فاتَ مِنها

إِذا ما أَنتَ في أُخراكَ فُزتا

Do not grieve over what from it is gone,

If at the end you've gained the day.

فَلَيسَ بِنافِعٍ ما نِلتَ فيها

مِنَ الفاني إِذا الباقي حُرِمتا

No use in what you gained that fades,

If robbed of what remains and always stays.

وَلا تَضحَك مَعَ السُفَهاءِ لَهواً

فَإِنَّكَ سَوفَ تَبكي إِن ضَحِكتا

Do not laugh foolishly with fools,

For you will cry if you laugh the way they sway.

وَكَيفَ لَكَ السُرورُ وَأَنتَ رَهنٌ

وَلا تَدري أَتُفدى أَم غَلِقتا

How can you feel joy while you are hostage,

Not knowing if you'll ransom pay or stay?

وَسَل مِن رَبِّكَ التَوفيقَ فيها

وَأَخلِص في السُؤالِ إِذا سَأَلتا

So pray your Lord for success in it,

Be sincere to Him if you pray.

وَنادِ إِذا سَجَدتَ لَهُ اِعتِرافاً

بِما ناداهُ ذو النونِ بنُ مَتّى

And call, when bowing down to Him confessing

What Dhu al-Nun called and Matta's son oft said.

وَلازِم بابَهُ قَرعاً عَساهُ

سَيفتَحُ بابَهُ لَكَ إِن قَرَعتا

Frequent His door, hoping if you knock

He may open up, if you but sway.

وَأَكثِر ذِكرَهُ في الأَرضِ دَأباً

لِتُذكَرَ في السَماءِ إِذا ذَكَرتا

Remember Him frequently while here,

That you'll be mentioned in heaven, when you stray.

وَلا تَقُل الصِبا فيهِ مَجالٌ

وَفَكِّر كَم صَغيرٍ قَد دَفَنتا

Say not: "I have time yet as youth,"

Consider how many young in grave decay.

وَقُل لي يا نَصيحُ لَأَنتَ أَولى

بِنُصحِكَ لَو بِعَقلِكَ قَد نَظَرتا

With youth, you were better guided,

How can you, after graying, go astray?

تُقَطِّعُني عَلى التَفريطِ لَوماً

وَبِالتَفريطِ دَهرَكَ قَد قَطَعتا

As you have sailed until you drowned midway.

I have not drunk wine, mother of disgrace,

وَفي صِغَري تُخَوِّفُني المَنايا

وَما تَجري بِبالِكَ حينَ شِختا

As you have, till you were drunk in every way.

I have not set foot in an unjust land,

وَكُنتَ مَعَ الصِبا أَهدى سَبيلاً

فَما لَكَ بَعدَ شَيبِكَ قَد نُكِستا

While you went in and became dazed astray.

I was not born in a time of benefit,

وَها أَنا لَم أَخُض بَحرَ الخَطايا

كَما قَد خُضتَهُ حَتّى غَرِقتا

While you were, and did not benefit your day.

You accompanied great leaders,

وَلَم أَشرَب حُمَيّاً أُمِّ دَفرٍ

وَأَنتَ شَرِبتَها حَتّى سَكِرتا

But I don't see you following their way.

The Book called you but you did not respond,

وَلَم أَحلُل بِوادٍ فيهِ ظُلمٌ

وَأَنتَ حَلَلتَ فيهِ وَاِنهَمَلتا

Old age advised you but you did not sway.

A young man acting foolishly is ugly,

وَلَم أَنشَأ بِعَصرٍ فيهِ نَفعٌ

وَأَنتَ نَشَأتَ فيهِ وَما اِنتَفَعتا

But uglier, an old man gone astray.

You are more deserving of my rebuke

وَقَد صاحَبتَ أَعلاماً كِباراً

وَلَم أَرَكَ اِقتَدَيتَ بِمَن صَحِبتا

If the wrongdoer stayed silent, I'd not say.

But blame yourself, no other,

وَناداكَ الكِتابُ فَلَم تُجِبهُ

وَنَهنَهَكَ المَشيبُ فَما اِنتَبَهتا

For a fault making it the target of your prey.

If your tears flowed in fear

لَيَقبُحُ بِالفَتى فِعلُ التَصابي

وَأَقبَحُ مِنهُ شَيخٌ قَد تَفَتّى

Of your sins, I'd not say: you are safe today.

Who can guarantee you safety when you are

فَأَنتَ أَحَقُّ بِالتَفنيدِ مِنّي

وَلو سَكَتَ المُسيءُ لَما نَطَقتا

A slave, ordered but not obeying the way?

Heavy with sins yet fearing not

وَنَفسَكَ ذُمَّ لا تَذمُم سِواها

بِعَيبٍ فَهِيَ أَجدَرُ مَن ذَمَمتا

Meeting God, in your ignorance, you stray.

You pity the insistent sinner

فَلَو بَكَت الدَما عَيناكَ خَوفاً

لِذَنبِكَ لَم أَقُل لَكَ قَد أَمِنتا

And have mercy on him, but not your way.

You turned back and wandered blindly,

وَمَن لَكَ بِالأَمانِ وَأَنتَ عَبدٌ

أُمِرتَ فَما اِئتَمَرتَ وَلا أَطَعتا

By your life, if you reached the path you would not stray.

If you met your Lord without a sin

ثَقُلتَ مِنَ الذُنوبِ وَلَستَ تَخشى

لِجَهلِكَ أَن تَخِفَّ إِذا وُزِنتا

And He examined you, you would die midway.

He wrongs you not in any deed, but

وَتُشفِقُ لِلمُصِرِّ عَلى المَعاصي

وَتَرحَمُهُ وَنَفسَكَ ما رَحِمتا

It's hard to stand up with all you did and said.

If you came on Judgement Day alone

رَجَعتَ القَهقَرى وَخَبَطتَ عَشوا

لَعَمرُكَ لَو وَصَلتَ لَما رَجَعتا

And saw the different ranks displayed,

You'd wish the greatest regret and ardour

وَلَو وافَيتَ رَبَّكَ دونَ ذَنبٍ

وَناقَشَكَ الحِسابَ إِذاً هَلَكتا

For what in life you missed and went astray.

You shun hot deserts, avoiding them,

وَلَم يَظلُمكَ في عَمَلٍ وَلَكِن

عَسيرٌ أَن تَقومَ بِما حَمَلتا

But do you flee from Hell and run away?

You cannot endure its lightest torment,

وَلَو قَد جِئتَ يَومَ الفَصلِ فَرداً

وَأَبصَرتَ المَنازِلَ فيهِ شَتّى

Even if you were made of iron, you would melt away.

So do not deny, the matter is serious,

لَأَعظَمتَ النَدامَةَ فيهِ لَهَفاً

عَلى ما في حَياتِكَ قَد أَضَعتا

Not as you thought or fancied in your way.

Abu Bakr, you've uncovered my slightest vice

تَفِرُّ مِنَ الهَجيرِ وَتَتَّقيهِ

فَهَلّا عَن جَهَنَّمَ قَد فَرَرتا

And most of it, its bulk, you did not display.

Say what you will of my disgrace,

وَلَستَ تُطيقُ أَهوَنَها عَذاباً

وَلَو كُنتَ الحَديدَ بِها لَذُبتا

Double it! For you spoke truth in all you say.

However much you chide me, because you know

فَلا تُكذَب فَإِنَّ الأَمرَ جِدٌّ

وَلَيسَ كَما اِحتَسَبتَ وَلا ظَنَنتا

My inner state, it's as if you gave me praise.

Do not approve of vice, it is ugly,

أَبا بَكرٍ كَشَفتَ أَقَلَّ عَيبي

وَأَكثَرَهُ وَمُعظَمَهُ سَتَرتا

Greatly disgraced, making people scorn your way.

It debases the noble among men

فَقُل ما شِئتَ فيَّ مِنَ المَخازي

وَضاعِفها فَإِنَّكَ قَد صَدَقتا

And places the lofty person low in every way.

While virtues make you don pearls

وَمَهما عِبتَني فَلِفَرطِ عِلمي

بِباطِنَتي كَأَنَّكَ قَد مَدَحتا

And feel close, even if you are far away.

In life, it spreads your goodness about you,

فَلا تَرضَ المَعايِبَ فَهِيَ عارٌ

عَظيمٌ يُورِثُ الإِنسانَ مَقتا

So you reap kindness wherever you did stray.

You walk life's arena generously

وَتَهوي بِالوَجيهِ مِنَ الثُرَيّا

وَتُبدِلُهُ مَكانَ الفَوقِ تَحتا

And gain praise for all the seeds you did plant and spray.

While now, you have no known disgrace,

كَما الطاعاتُ تَنعَلُكَ الدَراري

وَتَجعَلُكَ القَريبَ وَإِن بَعُدتا

Nor have you stained your clothes since your first day.

You have not been first in any cheating race,

وَتَنشُرُ عَنكَ في الدُنيا جَميلاً

فَتُلفى البَرَّ فيها حَيثُ كُنتا

Nor placed in it, nor thrown dust in its way.

But if you do not avoid it altogether,

وَتَمشي في مَناكِبَها كَريماً

وَتَجني الحَمدَ مِمّا قَد غَرَستا

You will be mired completely in its clay.

Who then can save you once you're stuck?

وَأَنتَ الآن لَم تُعرَف بِعابٍ

وَلا دَنَّستَ ثَوبَكَ مُذ نَشَأتا

All that you purified will pass away.

You'll be a prisoner of your sin, in shackles,

وَلا سابَقتَ في ميدانِ زورٍ

وَلا أَوضَعتَ فيهِ وَلا خَبَبتا

How can you free yourself, when led astray?

You will fear your fellow man and shun him

فَإِن لَم تَنأَ عَنهُ نَشِبتَ فيهِ

وَمَن لَكَ بِالخَلاصِ إِذا نَشِبتا

As you'd fear a snake or scorpion in your way.

Deal with them and avoid them cautiously,

وَدَنَّسَ ما تَطَهَّرَ مِنكَ حَتّى

كأَنَّكَ قَبلَ ذَلِكَ ما طَهُرتا

Behave as a Samaritan behaved, I say.

If they are ignorant to you, say only "Peace,"

وَصِرتَ أَسيرَ ذَنبِكَ في وَثاقٍ

وَكَيفَ لَكَ الفُكاكُ وَقَد أُسِرتا

Perhaps you may find safety if you obey.

Who can guarantee you safety in an age

وَخَف أَبناء جِنسِكَ وَاِخشَ مِنهُم

كَما تَخشى الضَراغِمَ وَالسَبَنتى

When none are safe unless God keeps at bay?

Do not stay where injustice makes

وَخالِطهُم وَزايلهُم حِذاراً

وَكُن كالسامِريَّ إِذا لَمِستا

Hearts die, unless you wish to be bound and shackled.

Seek the East or West if your fortune rises,

وَإِن جَهِلوا عَلَيكَ فَقُل سَلاماً

لَعَلَّكَ سَوفَ تَسلَمُ إِن فَعَلتا

The stranger finds provision along the way.

Even if over the ruler you'd be honored,

وَمَن لَكَ بِالسَلامَةِ في زَمانٍ

يَنالُ العُصمَ إِلّا إِن عُصِمتا

You would be if you yourself walked the way.

And if you shun it and leave it

وَلا تَلَبَث بِحَيٍّ فيهِ ضَيمٌ

يُميتُ القَلبَ إِلا إِن كُبِّلتا

For the Abode of Peace, then you're safe in every way.

But if you respect it and gaze on it

وَغَرِّب فَالغَريبُ لَهُ نَفاقٌ

وَشَرِّق إِن بَريقَكَ قَد شَرِقتا

Reverently, then yourself you have debased in every way.

I have gathered advice for you, so follow it,

وَلَو فَوقَ الأَميرِ تَكونُ فيها

سُمُوّاً وَاِفتِخاراً كُنتَ أَنتا

The best your life if you follow the way it says.

I prolonged reproach and increased it

وَإِن فَرَّقتَها وَخَرَجتَ مِنها

إِلى دارِ السَلامِ فَقدَ سَلِمتا

Since in laziness you have delayed your day.

Do not take my shortcomings and lapses,

وَإِن كَرَّمتَها وَنَظَرتَ مِنها

بِإِجلالٍ فَنَفسَكَ قَد أَهَنتا

But take my advice for you if you can find your way.

I've appended six verses, goodly,

جَمَعتُ لَكَ النَصائِحَ فَاِمتَثِلها

حَياتَكَ فَهِيَ أَفضَلُ ما اِمتَثَلتا

To the hundred and six that came before their way.

وَطَوَّلتُ العِتابَ وَزِدتُ فيهِ

لِأَنَّكَ في البَطالَةِ قَد أَطَلتا

فَلا تَأخُذ بِتَقصيري وَسَهوي

وَخُذ بِوَصِيَّتي لَكَ إِن رَشَدتا

وَقَد أَردَفتُها سِتّاً حِساناً

وَكانَت قَبلَ ذا مِئَةً وَسِتّا