أبوك البر يهديك التحيه

كنفح المسك عاطرة ذكيه

Your kindhearted father sends you his greeting,

Like a waft of musk, fragrant and sweet.

يفوح أريجها في كل ناد

وتحملها نسائم عنبريه

Its scent wafts through every gathering,

And ambergris-scented breezes carry it.

ويسديك النصائح في بلاد

بها تحلو النصائح والوصيه

And he offers you counsel in a land

Where counsel and advice are sweet.

بني اسمع ولا تهمل كلامى

وعض عليه واجعله سجيه

My dear son, listen, and do not neglect my words;

Bite firmly upon them, and make them second nature.

فجاهد في العلوم بكل حزم

وحاذر قلبه فهو البليه

So strive in the sciences with firm resolve,

And beware its reversal—jesting—for that is a scourge.

ولا تركن إلى خب لئيم

جميل اللفظ مذموم الطويه

And do not rely on a base deceiver,

Fair of speech but vile of inward character.

بنى أرى المعارف خير زاد

لخرانا وللدنيا الدنيه

My dear son, I deem knowledge the finest provision

For our hereafter and for this lowly world.

فعين العلم مبصرة دواما

وجيم الجهل مظلمة عييه

For knowledge's ʿayn—its eye—is ever seeing,

And ignorance's jīm is dark and inarticulate.

فكن بالعلم مشتغلا وثابر

لتجنى العز بالرتب العليه

So busy yourself with learning, and persevere,

To reap honor through lofty ranks,

وترفل في ثياب العز حتى

يراك أبوك في حال رضيه

And sweep along in robes of honor, until

Your father sees you in a pleasing state.

رجائي أن تعود وأنت شهم

وفي يدك الشهادات القويه

My hope is that you return noble-hearted,

With strong certificates in your hand.

فيكمد حاسد ويقول قوم

عصا هذا الغلام من العصية

Then an envier will pine, and people will say:

‘This boy's staff comes from the little staff.’

وأمك وهي مصر في احتياج

حقوق الأم ترعاها سويه

And your mother—Egypt—is in need;

Uphold a mother's rights as you should.

فقل لبنى نخدمه جميعا

ونطلب دائما أبدا رقيه

So tell my sons, ‘We shall all serve her,

And seek her advancement, always and forever.’

بنى اعمل على كسب المعالى

ولكن بالتأنى والرويه

My dear son, work to attain high honors,

But with deliberation and reflection.

وصحتك احتفظ أبدا عليها

ولا تجعل كثير الشغل غيه

And always safeguard your health,

And do not make excessive work an obsession.

فختم أن تراعيَ حق جسم

وروض فكرك العانى شويه

For you must respect your body's rights,

And exercise your weary mind a little.

وعامل من تحب بكل لطف

وجاملهم بآداب سنيه

And treat those you love with every kindness,

And be gracious to them with noble manners,

خصوصا أهل بيت أنت فيهم

تراهم في الصبح وفي العشيه

Especially the household among whom you live,

Whom you see in the morning and the evening.

وجمل بالقناعة منك نفسا

فنفس الحر ما قنعت غنيه

And adorn your own soul with contentment,

For a free man's soul is rich as long as it is content.

ولا تركن إلى زيد وعمرو

وكن رجلا له نفس أبيه

And do not rely on Zayd or ʿAmr;

And be a man with a proud, unyielding soul.

وتقوى الله فاجعلها شعارا

ففيها ما تروم من المزيه

And make reverence for God your emblem,

For in it lies the distinction you seek.

وخذ خير الورى جاها منيعا

وآل البيت أبناء الزكيه

And take the best of mankind as a mighty intercessor,

And the Household, children of the pure lady.

ولا تنس الإمام ومن يليه

فكم ليديه فينا من عطيه

And do not forget the Imam and whoever follows him;

For how many gifts have come to us from his hands!

فهم خير الجدود وهم رعاة

وأنت من الأقارب والرعيه

For they are the finest forefathers, and they are shepherds,

And you are among their kin and their flock.

ولا تقصد سوى مولى الموالى

تنل بالسبق حظ الأوليه

And seek none but the Lord of lords;

By taking the lead, you will win a share of primacy.

فإن تعمل بإرشادي ونصحي

رعاك الله في كسب القضية

For if you act upon my guidance and my counsel,

God will watch over you as you win your cause.

وعهدى أن تكون لها مجيبا

فهذا باب عيشتك الهنيّه

And I trust that you will heed it,

For this is the door to your happy life.

أرانا الله وجهك في سرور

بجاه المصطفى خير البريه

May God show us your face in joy,

By the standing of the Chosen One, the best of creation.