أَلا لَن تَنالَ العِلمَ إِلّا بِسِتَةٍ

أَلا لَن تَنالَ العِلمَ إِلّا بِسِتَةٍ

سَأُنبيكَ عَن مَجموعِها بِبَيانِ

سَأُنبيكَ عَن مَجموعِها بِبَيانِ

Take heed: you will not attain knowledge except with six things.

Know that knowledge can only be attained through six:

Know that you will not attain knowledge except through six things,

I shall explain them all to you clearly:

Let me explain their totality with clarity:

I shall inform you of their sum with clear explanation:

ذَكاءٌ وَحِرصٌ وَاَصطِبارٌ وَبلغَةٌ

ذَكاءٌ وَحِرصٌ وَاَصطِبارٌ وَبلغَةٌ

وَإِرشادُ اُستاذٍ وَطَولُ زَمانِ

وَإِرشادُ اُستاذٍ وَطَولُ زَمانِ

Intelligence, eagerness, perseverance, and sufficient sustenance,

Intelligence, eagerness, patience, eloquence,

Intelligence, zeal, patience, and sufficiency,

And a teacher’s guidance, and a long span of time.

The guidance of a teacher, and length of time.

The guidance of a teacher, and a long span of time.