هو الله فاعرفه ودع فيه من وما — Abu Muslim Al Bahlani

هو اللّه فاعرفه ودع فيه من وما

دعاك ولم يترك طريقك مظلما

He is God: know Him, and leave aside questions of who and what.

He called you and did not leave your path dark.

عن الحق نحو الخلق يدفعك العمى

تقدم إلى باب الكريم مقدماً

Blindness drives you away from the Real toward creation.

Advance to the Generous One's gate, first offering

له منك نفساً قبل أن تتقدما

تجنب قيود الحظ فالحظ مرتهن

Him your own soul before you advance.

Avoid the fetters of self-interest, for self-interest holds you captive.

وارهق جنود النفس حرباً ولا تهن

وفي ظلمات الطبع بالحق فاستبن

Assail the soul's armies in battle, and do not weaken.

Amid the darkness of your nature, seek clarity through the Real.

وعرج على باب العليم فسله من

مواهب نور العلم بحراً قليذما

Turn toward the All-Knowing One's gate, and ask Him for

A vast, deep ocean from the gifts of knowledge's light.

أترضى مقام الجهل تخبط في السرى

بطامسة أعلامها متحيرا

Are you content with ignorance, stumbling through the night journey,

Bewildered along a path whose landmarks are obscured?

تطلع لنور العلم واطلب مشمرا

فمن لم يكن بالعلم في الناس مبصرا

Aspire to knowledge's light, and seek it with sleeves rolled up.

For whoever does not see among people through knowledge

فلا عاش إلا في الضلالة والعمى

ذوو العلم بين العالمين أعزة

Lives only in error and blindness.

Those possessing knowledge are honored among all beings,

على درجات المصطفين أدلة

وفي ملكوت اللّه للقوم شهرة

Guides to the ranks of the chosen.

In God's kingdom, these people are renowned.

ومن لا له من عزة العلم نسبة

فليس له إلا إلى الذلة انتما

Whoever has no share in knowledge's honor

Has no affiliation except with abasement.

ترق به فالعلم عز وذروة

وحبل متين للتقاة وعروة

Ascend through it: knowledge is honor and a summit,

A strong rope for the devout, and a firm handhold.

ووفر الغنى في الجهل عدم وشقوة

ومن لا له من ثروة العلم ثروة

Abundant wealth amid ignorance is destitution and misery.

Whoever possesses none of knowledge's riches

فمن ثروة الدارين قد صار معدما

قضى اللّه أن العلم نور وحكمة

Has become destitute of the riches of both abodes.

God decreed that knowledge is light and wisdom,

كما أن أصل الجهل شؤم وظلمة

وإن رجال العلم للناس عصمة

Just as ignorance's root is ill fortune and darkness.

Those of knowledge are a protection for mankind.

نعم علماء الدين في الأرض نعمة

على الثقلين عمت الكل منهما

Yes, religious scholars are a blessing on earth,

Encompassing both humankind and jinn, all of them.

به أصفياء اللّه هاموا بحبه

به أدركوا حسب الحظوظ لقربه

Through it, God's chosen ones became enraptured by His love.

Through it, they attained their allotted shares of nearness to Him.

وهم أوصلوا السلاك أسرار غيبه

بهم شرف الدارين تم فهم به

They conveyed the secrets of His unseen to those upon the path.

Through them, the honor of both abodes was perfected; through it they are

ملائكة باهت ملائكة السما

ملائكة ألبابهم وسناؤهم

Angels who rivaled the angels of heaven in glory.

Angelic are their minds and their radiance.

أقامهم هذا المقام صفاؤهم

على الملأ العلى يحق ولاؤهم

Their purity established them in this station.

Their allegiance to the exalted assembly is fitting.

ألم تر في القرآن أنْ أولياؤهم

ملائكة الرحمن فاللّه أعلما

Have you not seen in the Quran that their allies are

The Merciful One's angels? God knows best.

لقد نطق الوحي العزيز بنبلهم

ولا حبل للمستمسكين كحبلهم

Mighty revelation has proclaimed their nobility.

No rope for those holding fast is like their rope.

بقولهم نور الهدى وبفعلهم

أقرت جميع الكائنات بفضلهم

In their words is guidance's light, and in their deeds.

All created beings acknowledged their excellence

عليها فحوت البحر في البحر هينما

إلى ربها استغفارها وخشوعها

Over them; even the fish in the sea murmured

Its plea for forgiveness and its humility to its Lord

لهم إذ هم أمطارها وربيعها

وخالقها في المهتدين سميعها

On their behalf, for they are its rains and its springtime.

Its Creator hears it concerning those rightly guided.

ولم لا ولولاهم تلاشت جميعها

ولم يبق منها في الوجود لها سما

Why not? Without them, all creation would dissolve,

And no name of it would remain in existence.

مصابيح أرض اللّه مهبط فيضه

هداة لمسنون الاله وفرضه

Lamps of God's earth, the landing place of His outpouring,

Guides to God's prescribed practices and obligations.

هم شفعاء العبد في يوم عرضه

هم خلفاء اللّه في أهل أرضه

They are the servant's intercessors on the day of his presentation.

They are God's deputies among the inhabitants of His earth.

بهديهم أمت البسيطة قوما

لأمرهم كل الكوائن أذعنت

Through their guidance, the earth followed an upright course.

All beings submitted to their command.

لسلطانهم بالعلم باللّه سلمت

لعزهم ذلت بنورهم اهتدت

They yielded to their authority through knowledge of God.

They humbled themselves before their honor and followed their light.

لحكمهم الدنيا تدين وقد عنت

سلاطين أهل الأرض أعظم أعظما

The world submits to their judgment and has bowed:

Sovereigns of earth's people, greatest in grandeur,

على الأرض والألباب في عالم القدس

يرون بنور اللّه ما غاب كالقبس

Upon the earth, their minds in the world of holiness.

By God's light, they see the unseen like a flame.

لأفهامهم كالانجم الزهر ما التبس

وآراؤهم تقضى بهن ملائك الس

To their understandings, the obscure is like radiant stars.

Their judgments guide the angels of the heav—

موات فيما قد أحل وحرما

تجلت لهم كالشمس خلف حجابها

—ens concerning what He has permitted and forbidden.

They appeared to them like the sun behind its veil,

فجاؤا بها براقة في صوابها

حقائق شرع في غواشي غيابها

And they brought them forth, shining in their correctness:

The truths of sacred law beneath the coverings of concealment,

ولو لم يكن نص الكتاب أتى بها

صريحاً ولا الهادي بها قد تكلما

Even where the Book's text had not brought them

Explicitly, nor had the Guide spoken of them.

هدوا إذ هم نور إلى اللّه واهتدوا

إذ اتزروا بالعلم باللّه وارتدوا

They guided toward God, being light, and were themselves guided,

When they girded and clothed themselves in knowledge of God.

حداهم من العرفان ذوق به حدوا

غدوا قدوة الأملاك لما هم اقتدوا

A taste of spiritual knowledge urged them onward; through it they urged others.

They became examples for angels when they followed

بما لهم رب الملائك الهما

سما بهم العرفان أعلى المراتب

What the Lord of angels inspired in them.

Spiritual knowledge raised them to the highest ranks.

ونالوا مقاماً فيه فتح المواهب

وفهم خطاب الحق من كل جانب

They attained a station where gifts are opened,

And understanding of the Real's address from every side.

وذلك من أدنى رفيع مناقب

لهم لم يعدوها فخاراً ومكرما

That is among the least of their lofty virtues,

Which they did not reckon as grounds for pride and honor.

تجلى لهم باسم المبين بمنه

ففازوا بظهر الوحي كشفا وبطنه

By His grace, He appeared to them as the Manifest.

Through unveiling, they gained revelation's outward and inward meanings.

وحازوا بفتح اللّه مكنون ضمنه

فما استحسنوا فاللّه يقضى بحسنه

Through God's opening, they gained its hidden contents.

Whatever they deemed beautiful, God judges beautiful;

وما استقبحوا إلا قبيحاً مذمما

لهم من مقام الاجتباء عليه

Whatever they deemed ugly was only ugly and blameworthy.

Theirs is a lofty station of election,

ومن قدم الصدق الزكي رضيه

ومن مورد الاحسان ما طاب ريه

A pure, pleasing foothold of truth,

And sweet refreshment from the wellspring of excellence.

وربك من والوه فهو وليه

ومن خاصموه كان للّه أخصما

Your Lord protects whoever they befriend.

Whoever they oppose becomes God's fiercest adversary.

ملوك على من يملك الأرض حوله

لدى طولهم أدنى من الذر طوله

Kings over those who rule the earth around them:

Beside their might, another's might is less than an ant's.

فقير عديم من تولاه جهله

هم أغنياء العصر والعصر أهله

Poor and destitute is whoever ignorance governs.

They are the wealthy of the age, while the age's people

قد افتقروا والمال بينهم نما

وما لكنوز التبر شأن لمن فهم

Have grown poor, though money has increased among them.

Gold's treasures mean nothing to one who understands

إذا وزنت في جانب العلم والحكم

كنوز رجال اللّه أبقى ووفرهم

When weighed against knowledge and wisdom.

The treasures of God's men endure longer, and their abundance.

يروم كنوز الأرض غيرهم وهم

أصابوا كنوز العرش وفرا ومغنما

Others seek earth's treasures, while they

Have gained the Throne's treasures, abundance and bounty.

رقوا بكمالات الهدى منتهى العلى

وأنزلهم من قربه الحق منزلاً

Through perfected guidance, they ascended to the utmost heights.

The Real lodged them in a dwelling of His nearness.

وأوردهم من مورد الود منهلا

وهم في الثرى قاموا وأرواحهم إلى

He brought them to a drinking place at love's wellspring.

They stood upon the dust, while their spirits rose toward

سما العرش والكرسي أدونهما سما

تولاهم قهر الشهود بحوله

The Throne's heaven; the Footstool's heaven lies beneath it.

The overpowering force of witnessing took them through His might.

وأفناهم عن كل شيء بوصله

فغابوا عن الأكوان في غيب ظله

Through union with Him, He effaced them from everything.

They vanished from created worlds into His shadow's unseen.

وما قنعوا بالعرش والفرش كله

فجازوا إلى أعلى مقام وأعظما

They were not content with the Throne and all beneath it,

But passed to a higher and greater station.

رمى بهم المحبوب في المحورمية

فما أبصروا مقدار ذا الكون ذرة

The Beloved cast them into effacement.

They saw not an atom's worth of this universe.

ولا وقفوا عند الحوادث لمحة

ولو وقفوا بالعرش والفرش لحظة

They did not pause with created things for even a glance.

Had they paused at the Throne and what lies beneath for a moment,

لعدوه تقصيراً وجرماً ومأثما

إلى الحق اخلاصاً وأخذا بحبله

They would have counted it shortcoming, wrongdoing, and sin.

In sincerity toward the Real, holding fast to His rope,

قد انصرفوا عن فصل كون ووصله

مقاصدهم مقصورة تحت حوله

They turned away from creation's separation and connection.

Their aims were confined beneath His power.

تقدم في ذاك الخليل بقوله

لجبريل دعني منك اللّه مسلما

The Friend preceded them in this through his words

To Gabriel: 'Leave me to God, surrendered, without you.'

نفوسهم في اللّه للّه جاهدت

فلم ينثنوا عن وجهه كيف كابدت

Their souls struggled in God and for God.

They did not turn from His face, however their souls suffered.

على نقطة الاخلاص للّه عاهدت

لملة إبراهيم شادوا فشاهدوا الت

Their souls pledged themselves to pure sincerity toward God.

They upheld Abraham's creed, recognizing turn—

لفت للشرك الخفي متمما

تولاهم القيوم في أي وجهة

—ing as bringing hidden idolatry to completion.

The Self-Subsisting One took charge of them in every direction.

وزكاهم بالمد والتبعية

ولفاهم التوحيد في كل ذرة

He purified them through support and following.

Divine oneness enfolded them in every atom.

فقاموا بتجريد وداموا بوحدة

عن الانس روم الأنس فيها تنعما

They stood in detachment and remained in unity,

Apart from mankind, seeking intimacy and delight within it.

محبون لاقى الكل في الحب حينه

نفوسهم ذابت به واصطلينه

Lovers, each meeting his appointed end in love:

Their souls melted in it and burned in its fire.

فلم يبق منها الحب بل صرن عينه

بخلوة لي عبد وستري بينه

Love left nothing of them; rather, they became its very essence.

'In seclusion I have a servant, and My veil between him

وبيني عن الأملاك والرسل كتما

وأورثهم للحب ارث النبوة

And Me is hidden from angels and messengers.'

Through love, He bequeathed them the inheritance of prophecy.

فكانوا دعاة اللّه في خير دعوة

ترقوا بفيض اللّه ارفع ذروة

They became callers to God with the finest summons.

Through God's outpouring, they ascended to the highest summit.

وما بلغوا ذاك المقام بقوة

ولكن بنور العلم قد بلغوا الحمى

They did not reach that station through strength,

But through knowledge's light they reached the sanctuary.

حباهم بمنهاج السلوك استطاعة

فلم يتركوا فيه الحقوق مضاعة

He granted them capacity for the way of spiritual journeying.

They left no obligations neglected along it.

ونالوا أمام اللّه منه شفاعة

عشية أعطوه عهوداً مطاعة

Before God, they obtained intercession from Him,

When they gave Him pledges faithfully obeyed,

على طاعة منهم غداة تحكما

قد اتخذوا العرفان باللّه جنة

Pledging their obedience when He exercised command.

They took spiritual knowledge of God as a shield.

تاروا إليه مطلقين أعنة

ومذ أدركوا منه المقامات منة

They sped toward Him, letting their reins loose.

When, through His grace, they attained the stations,

وقد بايعوه أنفساً مطمئنة

ببيعته والعقد بالعهد أحكما

Having pledged themselves to Him as tranquil souls,

Their pledge and its bond were firmly secured by the covenant.

هداهم سنا العرفان والليل قد سجى

فما جهلوا وهو الدليل المناهجا

Spiritual knowledge's radiance guided them when night grew still.

With it as guide, they did not mistake the paths.

به عرجوا مستبصرين المعارجا

فجذبهم في السير للخير والجا

Through it, they ascended, clearly seeing the ascents.

It drew them onward in their journey, entering toward goodness,

بهم أخطر الأهوال حين تقحما

فنزههم عن قيد أي ادارة

And plunged with them into the gravest terrors.

It freed them from every constraint of direction.

وأفرغ مجهوداتهم في العبادة

وميزهم عن غيرهم بالسيادة

It poured their efforts into worship.

It distinguished them from others through mastery.

فأبعدهم عن كل ألف وعادة

وعودهم شرب الشدائد علقما

It removed them from every familiarity and habit.

It accustomed them to drinking hardships as bitter colocynth.

فجدوا وشدوا وانتووا شقة النوى

وخير لهم في الجهد والعري والطوى

They strove, pressed onward, and resolved upon the distant journey.

It chose for them hardship, nakedness, and hunger,

وفي النوح والتذكار والكرب والجوى

فمن بعد عادى النوم والشبع والروى

Lamentation, remembrance, distress, and burning anguish.

After becoming enemies of sleep, satiety, and refreshment,

غدوا حلف الف السهد والجوع والظما

جروا في ميادين الشهود تقدما

They became intimate allies of sleeplessness, hunger, and thirst.

They raced forward in the fields of witnessing.

وصدق الرجا والخوف فيهم تحكما

فلم يبق كون منهم ما تهدما

True hope and fear held sway within them.

No created attachment in them remained undemolished.

فندمانهم عاد البكاء تندما

وأزمانهم بالنوح قد عدن مأتما

Their boon companion became weeping in remorse.

Their days became mourning gatherings filled with lamentation.

فساروا على تغريد حاد مزعزع

بشوق ملح والتياع مروع

They traveled to the song of a stirring camel-driver,

With insistent yearning and terrifying anguish.

وغابوا عن الأكوان في منتهى معي

وأوردهم بالحزن لجة أدمع

They vanished from created worlds at the utmost of 'with Me.'

Through sorrow, it brought them into an ocean of tears.

وأورى بهم للخوف نار جهنما

تبدت لهم أكوانهم فتبددت

Through fear, it kindled within them the fire of Hell.

Their created worlds appeared to them, then scattered.

نفوسهم في السحق والمحق انفذت

إذا فارقت غوراً من الدمع انجدت

Their souls were spent in crushing and effacement.

Whenever they left a valley of tears, they climbed its heights.

شدائد عودها فوائد فاغتدت

عوائد أعياد السرور تنعما

Hardships whose recurrence brings benefits became

Returning festivals of joy and delight.

مصائب عاموا في بحور صعابها

وقروا على آسادها وذئابها

Afflictions: they swam in the seas of their difficulties.

They stood firm upon their lions and wolves.

وطاب لديهم حسو كاسات صابها

ولو جانبوها روم غير جنابها

Drinking the cups of their bitter sap became sweet to them.

Had they avoided them, seeking another precinct,

لعدوا بحكم العدل ذا العدل مأثما

وتلك بفضل العلم أهنى الموارد

They would, by justice's ruling, have counted that turning aside a sin.

Through knowledge's excellence, these are the sweetest wellsprings,

وأكرم موهوب وأسنى المشاهد

أتعلم مثل العلم مجداً لماجد

The noblest gift and the most radiant visions.

Do you know any glory for the noble equal to knowledge?

هم صدقوه وهو أصدق واعد

وأوفى في ذمام حبله ليس أفصما

They trusted it, and it is the truest promiser,

Most faithful in its rope's covenant, never breaking it.

به قطعوا أصل العلائق والهوى

به أخلصوا في طاعة الحق لا سوى

Through it, they severed the root of attachments and desire.

Through it, they devoted themselves to obeying the Real alone.

به روض هذا الكون في عينهم ذوى

به نهجوا في كل منطمس الصوى

Through it, this world's garden withered in their eyes.

Through it, they found paths wherever landmarks were effaced.

فكان لم في كل بهماء معلما

تبين لهم أسراره كل كائن

It became a signpost in every trackless wilderness.

Every being makes its secrets clear to them.

ويخلصهم للحق من كل شائن

فطوبى لهم يجري بهم في المآمن

It frees them for the Real from everything defiling.

Blessed are they: it carries them through places of safety.

ويملى لهم في السير عن كل مامن

وجال إلى أسوى طريق وأقوما

It grants them scope to journey beyond every refuge.

It ranged toward the most even and upright path.

مقامات أهل اللّه منه مصابح

وكل مقام حله القوم رابح

From it, the stations of God's people receive their lamps.

Every station these people inhabit is profitable.

وكل مقام العارفين مذابح

وقاسمهم باللّه أنى ناصح

Every station of the knowers is a place of slaughter.

It swore to them by God: 'I am a sincere adviser.'

فأنهى إلى أبهى مقام وأكرما

لقد قام علم القوم للحق معلما

Then it led them to the most splendid and noble station.

These people's knowledge stood as a signpost toward the Real.

وجلى لهم بالكشف سراً مختما

وفتح أقفالاً وأطلع أنجما

Through unveiling, it revealed to them a sealed secret.

It opened locks and brought stars into view.

وحل لهم رمزاً وكنزاً مكتما

من السر قد كان الرحيق المختما

It deciphered for them a symbol and a concealed treasure:

From the mystery, it had been the sealed nectar.

به سلكوا في حبه مسلكا جهل

وكلهم بين المشاهد قد ذهل

Through it, they followed an unknown path in His love.

All of them were bewildered among the visions.

وكلهم من مورد الحب منتهل

وقال لهم هذا المقام وهذا ال

All of them drank from love's wellspring.

It told them: 'This is the station, and these are the

خيام وذا باب المليك وذا الحمى

هنا موقفي وهو المقام المحدد

Tents; this is the Sovereign's gate, and this the sanctuary.

Here is where I stand: the appointed station.

فغنوا على هذا المقام وغردوا

وما بعد هذا للمدارك مشهد

Sing at this station, and warble.

Beyond this, the faculties of perception have no vision.

فمالي فيما بعد ذلك مصعد

ولا موعد من بعد ذلك الزما

I have no ascent beyond that,

Nor any further appointed meeting I must keep.

هنالك فهم العقل والدرك مندرس

هناك لسان العلم في الشأن قد خرس

There, reason's understanding and perception are effaced.

There, knowledge's tongue falls silent concerning the matter.

هنالك حد السير من يعده افترس

هنالك قد تطوى الصحاف وتنشر الس

There is journeying's limit; whoever passes it is devoured.

There, the pages are folded and the cur—

جاف فلا يطوى بحدك فافهما

فما بعد هذا للمدراك غاية

—tains spread; it cannot be folded within your limit—understand.

Beyond this, perception has no further goal.

فنقطة هذا الحد فيها نهاية

ولا باب إلا أن تكون رعاية

At this boundary's point lies an ending.

There is no gate unless there is divine care.

ولا تفتح الأبواب إلا عناية

لمن شاءه ذاك المليك تكرما

The gates open only through solicitude

For whoever that Sovereign graciously chooses.

تجرد من الدعوى فقد كمل السرى

وراءك لا تقدم فحظك مدبرا

Strip yourself of claims: the night journey is complete.

Back with you; do not advance—your share lies in retreat.

فلست بلاق فوق ذلك مصدرا

فسلم إليه الأمر واطرق المرا

You will meet no source beyond that.

Entrust the matter to Him, and bow your head in His presence.

ولا تك في شيء من الأمر مبرما

وقف وقفة المندك مالك حيلة

Do not insist upon anything in the matter.

Stand as one shattered, possessing no resource.

فحالك في هذا المقام جليلة

ونفسك في عز الجلال وذيلة

Your state in this station is momentous.

Your soul is abased before majesty's might.

وقل بلسان الحال مالي وسيلة

ولا حيلة والهج بقولك ما وما

Say in the language of your state: 'I have no means,

Nor resource,' and keep uttering your 'nothing, nothing.'

وعرج على التقديس تستخلصنه

ونفسك نسك لازم فاذبحنه

Turn toward sanctification, seeking its purity.

Your soul is a required sacrifice: slaughter it.

وشأنك إن أخلصت لا تحقرنه

فإن تك لا شيئاً هناك فإنه

Do not belittle your condition if you are sincere.

For if you are nothing there, nevertheless He

رناك لما أدناك إذ لك قد رمى

أرادك حتى قمت فيه مجالداً

Looked toward you when He drew you near, directing His aim toward you.

He desired you until you stood struggling in Him.

يميتك مشهوداً ويحييك شاهداً

وإن ساعة أحياك أبقاك بائداً

He makes you die as one witnessed and live as a witness.

When He gives you life, He keeps you passing away.

وإن ساعة أفناك أبقاك خالداً

بوصف له باق صفاتك أعدما

When He effaces you, He keeps you everlasting,

Through His enduring attribute, annihilating your attributes.

تفرد ولا تستثن في سبحاته

ووحد صفات الحق توحيد ذاته

Be undivided, admitting no exception amid His splendors.

Affirm the oneness of the Real's attributes as of His essence.

وسافر بعين الحق في حضراته

فإن هو جلى فيك بعض صفاته

Journey through His presences with the Real's eye.

For if He manifests some of His attributes within you,

فما كنت أنت الآن أنت المقدما

تفاوت حسب الفيض ذوق ملوكها

You are no longer the self you were before.

The taste of its kings varies according to the outpouring.

فهم بين مشريها وبين ضريكها

مراتبهم شتى بمرقى سموكها

They range between its wealthy and its destitute.

Their ranks differ along the ascent of its heights.

وفيها مقامات لأهل سلوكها

شموساً وأقماراً تنير وأنجما

Within it are stations for those who travel its path:

Suns, moons, and stars giving light.

تفاوت أذواق المحبين رغبة

مراتبهم حسب المقامات رفعة

The lovers' tastes vary in longing.

Their ranks rise according to their stations.

هيامى إلى إنا فتحنا ملظة

فمن ذاق منها نغبة مات رغبة

Enraptured, they yearn insistently toward 'Indeed, We have opened.'

Whoever tastes a sip of it dies of longing.

ومن لم يذقها مات بالغم مسقما

وما فاض حسب الفتح من شبه وحيها

Whoever does not taste it dies sick with grief.

What pours forth according to the opening resembles its revelation.

وعينه سر الحكيم بطيها

باثباتها ما أثبتت أو بنفيها

Its essence is the Wise One's secret within its folds.

Through its affirmation of what it affirms, or its negation,

معالم تستهدى الحلوم بهديها

العلوم بها كان العليم المعلما

There are landmarks whose guidance intellects seek.

Through these sciences, the All-Knowing One was the teacher.

أقام لهم فيها حظوظاً مقامة

وأنزلهم حسب الحظوظ مقامة

He established enduring portions for them within it.

He lodged them in stations according to their portions.

وقلدهم في العالمين امامة

فعرفهم اياه منه كرامة

He invested them with leadership among all beings.

As an honor from Him, He made Himself known to them.

وأشهدهم اياه منه تكرما

تولاهم باسم البديع تنزلا

As generosity from Him, He let them witness Himself.

He took charge of them as the Originator, descending toward them.

وفي حضرة الفتاح للقوم انزلا

ونورهم نور السموات وانجلى

He brought these people into the Opener's presence.

The Light of the heavens illuminated them and shone forth.

وخلقهم باسم العليم تفضلا

وكان لهم باسم المبين مسوما

As the All-Knowing, He fashioned them graciously.

As the Manifest, He marked them out.

فجردهم عنهم لخالص حبه

فما همهم إلا وسائل قربه

He stripped them of themselves for His pure love.

Their only concern was the means of nearness to Him.

عروجاً به عنهم إليه بغيبه

وكان لهم عنه فكانوا له به

Through Him, they ascended beyond themselves to Him in His unseen.

He was theirs from Himself; they were His through Him.

وقام بهم عنهم إليهم مكلما

تحكم فيهم حبه وتصرفا

He stood through them, in their stead, addressing them.

His love ruled them and exercised its sway.

وأوقفهم في القبض والبسط موقفا

وأرسل في أسرارها نفحة الصفا

He stationed them in contraction and expansion.

He sent into their mysteries a breath of purity.

فمذ عرفوه لم يروموا تعرفا

إلى غيره والغير ثم تعدما

Once they knew Him, they sought no acquaintance

With another; otherness itself then vanished.

تشعشع فيهم صبحه فانجلى المسا

فهم في ضياء منه والليل عسعسا

His dawn shone within them, and evening cleared away.

They dwell in light from Him, while night darkens.

بأية طور صبحهم قد تنفسا

وليس لهم جهل هناك وما عسى

In whatever phase, their morning has drawn breath.

There is no ignorance there for them; what could

لهم أن يروا من بعد ذلك مبهما

تعهدهم إذ زايلوا الخلق بالمدد

They see as obscure after that?

He tended them with support when they parted from creation.

فهم في بساط الأنس بالواحد الأحد

وكل بفتح اللّه فاز بما وجد

They rest upon the carpet of intimacy with the One, the Unique.

Through God's opening, each gained what he found.

وما علموا شيئاً بعلمهم وقد

أحاطوا يعلم الكل واللّه أعلما

They knew nothing through their own knowledge, yet

They encompassed all in knowledge—and God knows best.

فصارت شهادات لديهم غيوبهم

قد امتلأت بالكشف منه جيوبهم

Their unseen things became witnessed realities before them.

Their bosoms filled with unveiling from Him.

هم العالم الأعلى احتوته جنوبهم

هم لوحه المحفوظ كانت قلوبهم

They are the higher world, contained within their sides.

Their hearts became His Preserved Tablet.

بهم قلم الأنوار للسر رقما

لهم درجات من لديه تحققت

Through them, the pen of lights inscribed the mystery.

Ranks from His presence became established for them.

عليهم بها شمس الحقيقة أشرقت

والطاف وهب من لدنه تدفقت

Through these, reality's sun shone upon them.

Subtle gifts bestowed from His presence poured forth:

مواهب قد دقت عن الفهم وارتقت

عن الوهم رقت عن نسيم تنسما

Gifts too fine for understanding, rising

Beyond imagination, finer than a breathed breeze.

حوى نسخة الامكان ادراك فهمهم

فلا كنه إلا تحت حيطة عقلهم

Their understanding encompassed the whole copy of possibility.

No essence lies outside their intellect's compass.

لهم حضرة القيوم تملى لسرهم

بها انطوت الأكوان في طي علمهم

The Self-Subsisting One's presence unfolds to their inner mystery.

Within it, created worlds were folded into their knowledge:

من العرش والكرسي والأرض والسما

فما السر والاعلان ما الجهر ما الخفا

The Throne, the Footstool, earth, and heaven.

What then are secrecy and disclosure, openness and concealment?

وحسبهم نور المبين مكشفا

هداهم وصفاهم وجلى الكشائفا

The Manifest One's light suffices them as an unveiler.

He guided and purified them, making unveilings clear.

فكانت جميع الكائنات مصاحفا

لهم تهب السر المصون المكتما

All created beings became scriptures

For them, bestowing the protected, concealed mystery.

بدائع فيض أبدعت بعجائب

ينوعها فتاح باب المواهب

Wonders of outpouring, fashioned with marvels:

The Opener of gifts' gate diversifies them.

تباديهم بالفتح من كل جانب

لطائف لم تودع صحائف كاتب

They appear to them with openings from every side:

Subtleties never entrusted to a writer's pages.

تطالعها الافهام واللّه الهما

أريدوا لها فاستنسخوها على النهى

Understandings behold them, and God inspires.

They were chosen for them, and copied them upon their intellects.

لقد فككوا والحمد للّه رمزها

وكم أدركوا بالعقل أمراً منزها

They deciphered their symbols—praise be to God.

How many things they grasped through reason, beyond

عن النقل في الألواح لن يترسما

لقد كان تحت الختم من قبل فضه

Transmission, never to be drawn upon tablets.

It had lain beneath the seal before its breaking.

فصار ظهور البرق في وشك ومضه

وما انفسح المختوم إلا بفيضه

Then it appeared like lightning in its swift flash.

The sealed mystery opened only through His outpouring.

يضيق فضا الأكوان عن شرح بعضه

وكل لسان كل بل ظل مفحما

The expanse of created worlds is too narrow to explain part of it.

Every tongue faltered—indeed, remained struck speechless.

علوم تجلى من لدنا ظهورها

ولم يتعلق باكتساب سفورها

Sciences whose manifestation shone forth from Our presence:

Their disclosure depended upon no acquisition.

تجلت بأسرار الرجال بدورها

به صحف الأرواح أشرق نورها

Their full moons appeared within these men's mysteries.

Through it, the pages of spirits shone with light.

وصين عن الألواح إذ كن أظلما

تجرد لها إن كنت في القرب ترغب

It was kept from tablets, for they were darker.

Strip yourself for it if you desire nearness.

ولا تغلون فالشأن من ذاك أقرب

فلست بقرع الباب بالصدق تحجب

Do not exaggerate: the matter is nearer than that.

You will not be barred if you knock sincerely at the gate.

لذلك فاطلب أن يكن لك مطلب

ترى كل مطلوب سوى ذاك مغرما

Therefore seek to have a single aim,

Seeing every other object of desire as a burden.

خذ الحزم واجعله إلى الحق مقصدا

واخلص متين العزم صدقاً مجردا

Take resolve and direct it toward the Real.

Make your firm determination sincere and unalloyed.

ومن قصد الحق استقام وسددا

ففي قصده قصد السبيل ومن عدا

Whoever seeks the Real becomes upright and rightly directed.

Seeking Him is the straight course; whoever leaves

سبيل الهدى نحو الردى قد تيمما

ملابسة الاغيار عين اضاعة

Guidance's path has turned toward destruction.

Entanglement with others is sheer waste.

وقصد على حرف نقيض لطاعة

فاخلص ترى الاخلاص أزكى بضاعة

Seeking from the brink is the opposite of obedience.

Be sincere: you will find sincerity the purest merchandise.

فكن واقفاً بالباب في كل ساعة

ترى الذل فيه عزة وتكرما

Stand at the gate at every hour.

You will find abasement there to be honor and distinction.

أتعلم أن الأمر ليس كما هنا

فدع دعوة الشيطان والنفس أوهنا

Do you know the matter is not as it is here?

Abandon the feebler summons of Satan and the soul.

وخل حظوظ النفس يسحقها الفنا

وجانب رياش الجاه والعز والغنى

Leave the soul's desires for annihilation to crush.

Shun the finery of prestige, honor, and wealth.

وكن باضطرار وافتقار مؤمما

وإن شئت قرب اللّه فالعلم قربة

Turn toward Him in helplessness and poverty.

If you desire God's nearness, knowledge is a means of nearness.

وإن شئت جاهاً فهو جاه ورفعة

وإن شئت وفراً فهو وفر ودولة

If you desire prestige, it is prestige and elevation.

If you desire abundance, it is abundance and prosperity.

وإن شئت عز العلم فالعلم عزة

لباس لبوس الذل للّه مسلما

If you desire knowledge's honor, knowledge is honor:

Wearing abasement's garment before God, surrendered.

طريقان فاختر ما ترى لك أحسنا

إذا كنت تبغي الحق فاهجر له أنا

Two paths: choose whichever you see as better for you.

If you seek the Real, abandon 'I' for Him.

فان أنا حظ عواقبه العنا

وإن كنت تبغي العز والجاه في الدنا

For 'I' is self-interest whose consequences are suffering.

If you seek honor and prestige in the world,

فدع عنك داعي العلم وارحل مسلما

وعش لحظوظ النفس ندبا مكافحا

Dismiss knowledge's summons and depart, yielding to that.

Live as a bold combatant for the soul's desires.

وعن كل مرغوب سوى الحق جامحا

إليه انطرح للكائنات مبارحا

Yet recoil from every object of desire except the Real.

Cast yourself before Him, departing from created beings.

ودع عنك أدناس المطامع طامحا

لمولاك فيه طائعاً جل منعما

Leave the stains of greed behind, aspiring

To your Master, obedient in Him—exalted as Bestower.

توجه إليه واجعل الفقر ديدنا

يعدك بالفقر الحقيقي محسنا

Turn toward Him and make poverty your constant practice.

Through true poverty, He prepares you as one who does good.

فخذ بطريق الفقر بالحق موقنا

ففيه الغنى والفقر إذ رؤية الغنى

Take poverty's path, certain of the Real.

Within it are wealth and poverty, for seeing wealth

هناك الغنى بل منهما اقصده معدما

تعن ولا تستبق للنفس عادة

There is wealth; rather, seek Him destitute of both.

Labor, leaving the soul no habitual comfort.

أتلقى إذا لم تشق فيه سعادة

أذبها واصبرها وسقها مقادة

Will you find happiness if you endure no hardship in Him?

Melt it, compel it to endure, and lead it by the reins.

فلا راحة ترجى لمن رام راحة

ومهما بذلت الروح صادفت مغنما

No rest is hoped for by one who seeks rest.

Whenever you offer up the spirit, you find a gain.

تلفت لها من حيث ولت وأقبلت

فإن لها كيداً وإن هي أجملت

Watch it wherever it turns away or approaches.

It has cunning, even when it behaves graciously.

عليك بها انحرها وإن هي ولولت

ففي بذلها صون لها إن تقبلت

Attend to it: slaughter it, even if it wails.

Offering it preserves it, if it accepts.

وإلا فقد سيقت إلى ذلك الحمى

فإن هي عما يوجب البعد أعرضت

Otherwise, it has still been driven toward that sanctuary.

If it turns away from what causes distance,

وسلمت الأطوار فيه وفوضت

وشدت بعزم في السلوك وقوضت

Surrenders its changing states in Him, and entrusts itself,

Presses firmly along the path and strikes its tents,

هنيئاً لها فخراً بما قد تعرضت

لذاك الحمى لو كان مطلبها احتمى

Blessed is its glory for exposing itself

To that sanctuary, if its quest there found protection.

ذر الكون في أثوابه يغول

يروق لوهنت الرأي حسناً ويجمل

Leave the world deceiving in its garments.

It charms the weak-minded with beauty and adornment.

فما لك دون الحق فيه معول

وإن أم أبواب الملوك مؤمل

You have no reliance in it apart from the Real.

If a hopeful seeker approaches kings' gates,

فيمم إلى أبوابه متقدما

كريم لضراء الفقير مراقب

Then advance toward His gates.

Generous, watchful over the poor one's distress,

لطيف إذا ضاقت بعبد كوارب

له في القضايا نظرة ومواهب

Gentle when troubles hem a servant in.

In events, He has regard and gifts.

وأبوابه فتح وماثم حاجب

وأفضاله شرح وماثم محتمى

His gates are open, with no gatekeeper there.

His favors are expansive, with nothing there withheld.

تخلى لربى ظاهري والذي بطن

وخلتهم والكون والأهل والوطن

My outward self and what lies within were emptied for my Lord.

I left them, the world, family, and homeland.

كفاني عن زيد وعمرو وعن وعن

لأبوابه ما عشت أغشى ولم أكن

He sufficed me in place of Zayd and Amr, and this and that.

All my life I frequent His gates, never

لأخشى رقيباً أو عذولاً ملوما

رفضت له الأكوان من ذي سرائرى

Fearing a watcher or a reproachful censurer.

For Him, I rejected created worlds from my innermost secrets.

وصنت عن التعليل مرمى بصائرى

وسيان فيه نافعى مثل ضائرى

I guarded my insight's aim from rationalizing.

For His sake, my benefactor and my harmer are alike.

فعندي فيه عاذلي مثل عاذري

ومن فيه عاداني كمن بي ترحما

For His sake, my censurer and my excuser are alike to me.

Whoever opposes me for His sake is like one showing me mercy.

فلست بذي طرف بفرقتهم قذى

بمذهب أنى ذاهب أنا محتذى

Their departure puts no mote of distress in my eye.

In the way I follow, I take as my example

طريقة ذي صدق مع الحق احوذى

سأرحل عنهم أجمعين إلى الذي

The path of one sincere with the Real, resolute and skillful.

I shall depart from them all toward the One

به لذَّ لي ذلي وعزي تهجما

أراني خليل اللّه وشك ذهابه

Through whom my abasement became sweet and my pride collapsed.

God's Friend showed me the imminence of his departure.

وعللني من نغبة من شرابه

وسرت مع المختار تحت ركابه

He refreshed me with a sip of his drink.

I traveled with the Chosen One beneath his stirrup.

عسى أنني أدعى دعياً ببابه

إذا لم أكن باسم الخديم موسما

Perhaps I shall be called one admitted at his gate,

If I am not marked with the name of humble servant.

فصرت بعين الحق أرفع منزلا

بأي مقام شاءه لي وأنزلا

Thus, in the Real's eye, I became higher in dwelling,

In whatever station He chose for me and bestowed.

دعيت دعيا أو ولياً مكملا

وإلا فإن ادعى به متطفلاً

Whether called one admitted or a perfected saint,

Or, failing that, if I am called an uninvited guest there,

فقدري بهذا الاسم يخترق السما

كفاني اختيار الحق في كل موطن

My worth under this name pierces heaven.

The Real's choosing suffices me in every place,

بأية حال أو بأي تعين

فلست لما يختاره عبد ديدني

In whatever condition or particular manifestation.

My habit is not to follow what a servant chooses.

وإن أدع لا شيئاً هناك فاتني

بذاك لقد أصبحت في الناس مغرما

If I am called 'nothing' there, then bring me

That name: among mankind I have become enamored of it.