تقرّبت إلاَّ في رضى الأم والأب

تقرّبت إلاَّ في رضى الأم والأب

وبرّهما في الدّين أصل التقرّب

وبرّهما في الدّين أصل التقرّب

You draw near to God only through the mother’s and father’s good pleasure,

You sought nearness to God—but not by pleasing mother and father,

For dutifulness to them is the foundation of drawing near in faith.

and honoring them is religion's foundation for drawing near.

وقدّمت أسباب العقوق وإنها

وقدّمت أسباب العقوق وإنها

لمثمرة في الحشر شرّ مسبب

لمثمرة في الحشر شرّ مسبب

Yet you have put forward the causes of filial disobedience, and they

You have put the causes of filial disobedience first, and they

Will bear at the Gathering the evil fruit of what they bring about.

will surely bear the worst consequences at the Gathering.

رضى الله يُروى أنّه في رضاهما

رضى الله يُروى أنّه في رضاهما

فأَرضهما تظفر به أو فجنب

فأَرضهما تظفر به أو فجنب

God’s good pleasure, it is related, lies in their good pleasure;

It is reported that God's pleasure lies in their pleasure.

So please them and thereby win it—or else keep far from disobedience.

So please them and attain it—or else be denied it.

وقد جاء في التّأفيف ما فيه عبرة

وقد جاء في التّأفيف ما فيه عبرة

تدلَّ على ما فوقها فتأدَّب

تدلَّ على ما فوقها فتأدَّب

Even the prohibition against saying “uff” contains a lesson

What has been said about uttering 'uff' contains a lesson,

Pointing to graver offenses beyond it—so learn proper conduct.

pointing to graver offenses; so conduct yourself respectfully.

ينالهما منك القبيح وطال ما

ينالهما منك القبيح وطال ما

أنا لاك ما تهوى بسهل ومرحب

أنا لاك ما تهوى بسهل ومرحب

They suffer ugly treatment from you, though long have they

They suffer ugly conduct from you, though for so long

Readily and warmly procured for you whatever you desired.

they granted you what you desired with ease and welcome.

وتشنأ ما تأتي به السنُّ منهما

وتشنأ ما تأتي به السنُّ منهما

وبالأمس قد جاءت به منك فأعجب

وبالأمس قد جاءت به منك فأعجب

You loathe what old age brings forth from the two of them,

You loathe what age brings forth from them,

Though yesterday the same came from you—and delighted them.

yet yesterday it brought the same from you—so marvel!

وتنفق ما لا آثلاً لك أصله

وتنفق ما لا آثلاً لك أصله

وحالهما من رِفدِهِ حالُ مجدب

وحالهما من رِفدِهِ حالُ مجدب

You spend wealth, abundant and firmly established for you,

You spend wealth whose foundation they both established for you,

While, deprived of its support, they live like the destitute.

while their lot regarding its bounty is that of someone stricken by drought.

وتؤثر أهواء النّساء عليهما

وتؤثر أهواء النّساء عليهما

وقد منحاك الوجَّ في كلِّ مطلب

وقد منحاك الوجَّ في كلِّ مطلب

You prefer women’s whims to your two parents,

You prefer women's whims to them,

Though they have shown you loving favor in every need.

though they both granted you [affection?] in everything you sought.

فكن حذراً من أن تصيبك دعوةٌ

فكن حذراً من أن تصيبك دعوةٌ

تدلُّ عليك السَّخط من كلِّ مذهب

تدلُّ عليك السَّخط من كلِّ مذهب

Beware lest a prayer against you strike—

So beware lest a prayer against you strike you,

One that marks you for wrath whichever way you turn.

bringing wrath upon you from every quarter.

فما بين أصحاب العقوق وبينه

فما بين أصحاب العقوق وبينه

سوى أدمع ترفضُّ للأم والأب

سوى أدمع ترفضُّ للأم والأب

Nothing stands between the disobedient and that wrath

Nothing stands between those guilty of filial disobedience and that wrath

Except tears streaming from a mother and father.

but tears streaming from mother and father.

ودونك نصحٌ لم تشبه خديعة

ودونك نصحٌ لم تشبه خديعة

فثق بالذي قد قلته أو فجرب

فثق بالذي قد قلته أو فجرب

Here is counsel untainted by deceit;

Take this counsel, untainted by deceit;

Trust what I have told you—or put it to the test.

trust what I have said, or put it to the test.

مقالك في الدارين قول مصدِّق

مقالك في الدارين قول مصدِّق

وفعلك إن أنصفت فعل مكِّذب

وفعلك إن أنصفت فعل مكِّذب

Your profession concerning both abodes is the profession of a believer,

Your words about the two abodes are those of a believer,

But your conduct, judged fairly, is the conduct of a denier.

yet your deeds, if you judge fairly, are those of a denier.

فبادر وفي آثار عمرك فسحة

فبادر وفي آثار عمرك فسحة

وإلاَّ فهل ترضيك حال معِّذِّب

وإلاَّ فهل ترضيك حال معِّذِّب

Hasten, while some span of your life yet remains;

So hasten, while there is still time in what remains of your life;

Otherwise, can the state of one who torments ever satisfy you?

otherwise, would the plight of one tormented please you?

ولا تحسبن الله يهمل عبده

ولا تحسبن الله يهمل عبده

ولكن له ستر على كل مذنب

ولكن له ستر على كل مذنب

Never suppose that God neglects His servant;

Do not think that God neglects His servant;

Rather, He extends concealment and forbearance over every sinner.

but He casts a veil over every sinner.