خيرthe finest أمثالهits parables التيwhich ضربوهاthey set them forth
خير أمثاله التي ضربوها
مثلa parable فيin الزجاجthe glass والمشكاةِand the niche
مثل في الزجاج والمشكاةِ
The finest of its parables that they set forth
The best of parables they have struck
is a parable of the glass and the niche.
Are like a lamp within a niche
والسراجand the lamp المنيرradiant أوقدwas kindled بالزيwith the oil (continued next line)
والسراج المنير أوقد بالزي
تcompletion of 'oil' فجلّىand it dispelled بنورهwith its light الظلماتِthe darkness
ت فجلّى بنوره الظلماتِ
And the radiant lamp was kindled with oil,
The lamp enclosed in glass
and with its light it dispelled the darkness.
The glass as it were a brilliant star
هوit دهنoil للآكلينfor those who eat وصبغand a relish
هو دهن للآكلين وصبغ
خارجissuing منfrom بطونbellies ذاكthat النباتِthe plant
خارج من بطون ذاك النباتِ
It is oil for those who eat, and a relish,
Lit from a blessed tree
issuing from the bellies of that plant.
An olive neither of the East nor of the West
طورMount سيناءSinai معدنmine السرthe secret فيهin it
طور سيناء معدن السر فيه
قدسناour sanctity طاهرpure وماءand the water of الحياةlife
قدسنا طاهر وماء الحياة
Mount Sinai is the mine of the secret; within it
Whose oil is well nigh luminous
our sanctity is pure, and the water of life
Though fire scarce touched it
بينbetween عينيكyour two eyes ليسdoes not يعدوكpass you by منهاfrom it
بين عينيك ليس يعدوك منها
إنif تفطنتyou take heed فائضan outpouring of الخيراتblessings
إن تفطنت فائض الخيرات
is before your eyes; you will not miss its
Light upon light
outpouring of blessings, if you take heed.
God guides whom He will
عرفواthey knew عينهits essence ولمand did not يعرفواknow التدthe treatment (continued next line)
عرفوا عينه ولم يعرفوا التد
بيرcompletion of 'treatment' فيهof it فالناسso the people فيin حسراتِsorrows
بير فيه فالناس في حسراتِ
They knew its essence, but did not know the treatment
To His light
of it; so people are in sorrow.
Partial English translation: 11 of 12 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1