أَحُسَينُ إِنّي واعِظٌ وَمؤَدِّبٌ

أَحُسَينُ إِنّي واعِظٌ وَمؤَدِّبٌ

فَاِفهَم فَأَنتَ العاقِلُ المُتَأَدِّبُ

فَاِفهَم فَأَنتَ العاقِلُ المُتَأَدِّبُ

O Husayn, I offer counsel and instruction;

O Husayn, I am a counselor and a teacher of manners,

so understand, for you are discerning and well-mannered.

So understand, for you are the intelligent, the well-bred.

وَاِحفَظ وَصِيَّةَ وَالِدٍ مُتَحَنِّنٍ

وَاِحفَظ وَصِيَّةَ وَالِدٍ مُتَحَنِّنٍ

يَغذوكَ بالآدابِ كَيلا تُعطَبُ

يَغذوكَ بالآدابِ كَيلا تُعطَبُ

And preserve the counsel of a tenderhearted father,

Preserve the testament of a compassionate father,

who nourishes you with good conduct, lest you perish.

Who nourishes you with virtues so that you may not be harmed.

أَبُنَيَّ إِنَّ الرِزقَ مَكفولٌ بِهِ

أَبُنَيَّ إِنَّ الرِزقَ مَكفولٌ بِهِ

فَعَلَيكَ بالإِجمالِ فيما تَطلُبُ

فَعَلَيكَ بالإِجمالِ فيما تَطلُبُ

My dear son, sustenance is guaranteed;

O my son, indeed provision is guaranteed,

so be moderate in what you seek.

So be moderate in your pursuit of it.

لا تَجعَلَنَّ المالَ كَسبَكَ مُفرَداً

لا تَجعَلَنَّ المالَ كَسبَكَ مُفرَداً

وَتُقى إلَهَكَ فَاِجعَلَن ما تَكسِبُ

وَتُقى إلَهَكَ فَاِجعَلَن ما تَكسِبُ

Never make wealth your sole gain;

Do not make wealth your solitary gain,

and make reverence for your God what you gain.

But let fear of your God be the profit that you earn.

كَفِلَ الإِلَهُ بِرِزقِ كُلِ بَرِيَّةٍ

كَفِلَ الإِلَهُ بِرِزقِ كُلِ بَرِيَّةٍ

وَالمالُ عارِيَةٌ تَجيءُ وَتَذهَبُ

وَالمالُ عارِيَةٌ تَجيءُ وَتَذهَبُ

God has guaranteed the sustenance of every creature;

God has undertaken the provision of every creature,

and wealth is a loan that comes and goes.

And wealth is but a borrowed loan that comes and goes.

وَالرِزقُ أَسرَعُ مِن تَلَفُّتِ ناظِرٍ

وَالرِزقُ أَسرَعُ مِن تَلَفُّتِ ناظِرٍ

سَبَباً إِلى الإِنسانِ حينَ يُسَبَّبُ

سَبَباً إِلى الإِنسانِ حينَ يُسَبَّبُ

And sustenance is swifter than a watcher's glance

Provision is swifter than the glance of an eye,

in finding its way to a person, once its means are arranged,

As a means to man when the cause is ordained,

وَمِنَ السُيولِ إِلى مَقَرِّ قَرارِها

وَمِنَ السُيولِ إِلى مَقَرِّ قَرارِها

وَالطَيرُ لِلأَوكارِ حينَ تُصَوِّبُ

وَالطَيرُ لِلأَوكارِ حينَ تُصَوِّبُ

and than torrents to the place where they settle,

[Faster] than torrents rushing to their resting place,

and birds to their nests as they swoop down.

And birds diving down toward their nests.

أَبُنَيَّ إِنَّ الذِكرَ فيهِ مَواعِظٌ

أَبُنَيَّ إِنَّ الذِكرَ فيهِ مَواعِظٌ

فَمَنِ الَّذي بِعِظاتِهِ يَتَأَدَّبُ

فَمَنِ الَّذي بِعِظاتِهِ يَتَأَدَّبُ

My dear son, the Reminder contains admonitions;

O my son, indeed in the Remembrance there are sermons,

who, then, learns right conduct from its admonitions?

So who is the one who learns discipline from its counsels?

فَاِقرَأ كِتابَ اللَهِ جَهدَكَ واِتلُهُ

فَاِقرَأ كِتابَ اللَهِ جَهدَكَ واِتلُهُ

فيمَن يَقومُ بِهِ هُناكَ وَيَنصَبُ

فيمَن يَقومُ بِهِ هُناكَ وَيَنصَبُ

So read God's Book as best you can, and recite it

So read the Book of Allah with all your effort and recite it,

among those who stand reciting it there and toil,

Among those who stand by it there and toil in worship.

بِتَفَكُّرٍ وَتَخَشُّعٍ وَتَقَرُّبٍ

بِتَفَكُّرٍ وَتَخَشُّعٍ وَتَقَرُّبٍ

إِنَّ المُقَرَّبَ عِندَهُ المُتَقَرِّبُ

إِنَّ المُقَرَّبَ عِندَهُ المُتَقَرِّبُ

with reflection, humble reverence, and a seeking of nearness.

With contemplation, humility, and drawing near,

Indeed, the one brought near to Him is the one who seeks nearness.

For the one truly close to Him is the one who seeks to draw near.

وَاِعبُد إِلَهَكَ ذا المَعارِجِ مُخلِصاً

وَاِعبُد إِلَهَكَ ذا المَعارِجِ مُخلِصاً

وَاِنصِت إِلى الأَمثالِ فيما تُضرَبُ

وَاِنصِت إِلى الأَمثالِ فيما تُضرَبُ

And worship your God, Lord of the ways of ascent, with sincerity;

And worship your God, Possessor of the Ascending Stairways, with sincerity,

and listen closely to the parables as they are set forth.

And listen intently to the parables when they are cited.

وَإِذا مَرَرتَ بِآيَةٍ وَعظِيَّةٍ

وَإِذا مَرَرتَ بِآيَةٍ وَعظِيَّةٍ

تَصِفُ العَذابَ فَقِف وَدَمعُكَ يُسكَبُ

تَصِفُ العَذابَ فَقِف وَدَمعُكَ يُسكَبُ

And when you come upon an admonitory verse

And if you pass by a verse of warning,

describing torment, pause while your tears flow:

That describes the punishment, then halt while your tears are shed.

يا مَن يُعَذِّبُ مَن يَشاءُ بِعَدلِهِ

يا مَن يُعَذِّبُ مَن يَشاءُ بِعَدلِهِ

لا تَجعَلَنّي في الَّذينَ تُعَذِبُ

لا تَجعَلَنّي في الَّذينَ تُعَذِبُ

O You who punish whomever You will in Your justice,

[Saying:] 'O You who punish whom You will with Your justice,'

do not place me among those You punish.

'Do not place me among those whom You punish.'

إِنّي أَبوءُ بِعَثرَتي وَخَطيئَتي

إِنّي أَبوءُ بِعَثرَتي وَخَطيئَتي

هَرَباً إِلَيكَ وَلَيسَ دونَكَ مَهرَبُ

هَرَباً إِلَيكَ وَلَيسَ دونَكَ مَهرَبُ

Indeed, I confess my lapse and my sin,

'Indeed, I acknowledge my stumble and my sin,'

fleeing to You, for there is no refuge apart from You.

'Fleeing to You, for there is no escape but toward You.'

وَإِذا مَرَرتَ بِآيَةٍ في ذِكرِها

وَإِذا مَرَرتَ بِآيَةٍ في ذِكرِها

وَصفَ الوَسيلَةِ وَالنَعيمِ المُعجِبُ

وَصفَ الوَسيلَةِ وَالنَعيمِ المُعجِبُ

And when you come upon a verse whose words contain

And if you pass by a verse mentioning,

a description of nearness to God and wondrous bliss,

The description of the Means [of approach] and the wondrous bliss,

فَاِسأَل إِلَهَكَ بِالإِنابَةِ مُخلِصاً

فَاِسأَل إِلَهَكَ بِالإِنابَةِ مُخلِصاً

دارُ الخُلودِ سُؤالَ مَن يَتَقَرَّبُ

دارُ الخُلودِ سُؤالَ مَن يَتَقَرَّبُ

then ask your God sincerely, turning back to Him,

Then ask your God, with repentance and sincerity,

for the abode of eternity, as one seeking nearness asks.

For the Abode of Eternity—the plea of one drawing near.

وَاِجهَد لَعَلَّكَ أَن تَحِلَّ بِأَرضِها

وَاِجهَد لَعَلَّكَ أَن تَحِلَّ بِأَرضِها

وَتَنالَ روحَ مَساكِنَ لا تَخرَبُ

وَتَنالَ روحَ مَساكِنَ لا تَخرَبُ

And strive, in hope that you may dwell in its land

And strive, that perhaps you may settle in its land,

and attain the comfort of dwellings that never fall to ruin;

And attain the spirit of dwellings that never fall to ruin,

وَتَنالَ عَيشاً لا اِنقِطاعَ لِوَقتِهِ

وَتَنالَ عَيشاً لا اِنقِطاعَ لِوَقتِهِ

وَتَنالَ مُلكَ كَرامَةٍ لا تُسلَبُ

وَتَنالَ مُلكَ كَرامَةٍ لا تُسلَبُ

and attain a life whose span never ends;

And attain a life that has no end to its time,

and attain a kingdom of honor that is never taken away.

And attain a kingdom of honor that is never taken away.

بادِر هَواكَ إِذا هَمَمتَ بِصالِحٍ

بادِر هَواكَ إِذا هَمَمتَ بِصالِحٍ

خَوفَ الغَوالِبِ أَن تَجيءَ وَتُغلَبُ

خَوفَ الغَوالِبِ أَن تَجيءَ وَتُغلَبُ

Outrun your desires when you intend a good deed,

Hasten against your caprice if you intend a good deed,

lest overpowering forces come and you be overcome.

For fear that overwhelming obstacles may come and you be defeated.

وَإِذا هَمَمتَ بِسَيِّءٍ فَاِغمِض لَهُ

وَإِذا هَمَمتَ بِسَيِّءٍ فَاِغمِض لَهُ

وَتَجَنَّبِ الأَمرَ الَّذي يُتَجَنَّبُ

وَتَجَنَّبِ الأَمرَ الَّذي يُتَجَنَّبُ

And when you intend something evil, close your eyes to it,

And if you intend a bad deed, close your eyes to it,

and avoid the deed that ought to be avoided.

And avoid the matter that ought to be avoided.

وَاِخفِض جَناحَكَ لِلصَديقِ وَكُن لَهُ

وَاِخفِض جَناحَكَ لِلصَديقِ وَكُن لَهُ

كَأَبٍ عَلى أَولادِهِ يَتَحَدَّبُ

كَأَبٍ عَلى أَولادِهِ يَتَحَدَّبُ

And lower your wing to a friend, and be to him

Lower your wing in humility to the friend, and be to him,

like a father who tenderly cares for his children.

Like a father who bends affectionately over his children.

وَالضَيفُ أَكرِم ما اِستَطَعتَ جِوارَهُ

وَالضَيفُ أَكرِم ما اِستَطَعتَ جِوارَهُ

حَتّى يَعُدُّكَ وارِثاً يَتَنَسَبُ

حَتّى يَعُدُّكَ وارِثاً يَتَنَسَبُ

And honor your guest's stay as much as you can,

And the guest—honor his stay as much as you are able,

until he counts you an heir and claims you as kin.

Until he considers you an heir related by blood.

وَاِجعَل صَديقَكَ مَن إِذا آخيتَهُ

وَاِجعَل صَديقَكَ مَن إِذا آخيتَهُ

حَفِظَ الإِخاءَ وَكانَ دونَكَ يَضرِبُ

حَفِظَ الإِخاءَ وَكانَ دونَكَ يَضرِبُ

And make your friend one who, when you take him as a brother,

And choose as your friend the one who, when you bond with him,

preserves that brotherhood and fights in your defense.

Guards the brotherhood and fights in your defense.

وَاِطلُبهُمُ طَلَبَ المَريضِ شِفاءَهُ

وَاِطلُبهُمُ طَلَبَ المَريضِ شِفاءَهُ

وَدَعِ الكَذوبَ فَلَيسَ مِمَّن يُصحَبُ

وَدَعِ الكَذوبَ فَلَيسَ مِمَّن يُصحَبُ

And seek them as a sick man seeks his cure,

Seek such men as a sick man seeks his cure,

and leave the liar, for he is no fit companion.

And leave the liar, for he is not fit for companionship.

وَاَحفَظ صَديقَكَ في المَواطِنِ كُلِّها

وَاَحفَظ صَديقَكَ في المَواطِنِ كُلِّها

وَعَلَيكَ بِالمَرءِ الَّذي لا يَكذِبُ

وَعَلَيكَ بِالمَرءِ الَّذي لا يَكذِبُ

And stand by your friend in every circumstance,

Preserve your friend in all situations,

and seek the company of the man who does not lie.

And stick to the man who does not lie.

وَاِقلِ الكَذوبَ وَقُربَهُ وَجِوارَهُ

وَاِقلِ الكَذوبَ وَقُربَهُ وَجِوارَهُ

إِنَّ الكَذوبَ مُلَطِّخٌ مَن يَصحَبُ

إِنَّ الكَذوبَ مُلَطِّخٌ مَن يَصحَبُ

And loathe the liar, closeness to him, and living beside him;

Detest the liar, and his nearness, and his neighborhood,

indeed, the liar stains whomever he accompanies.

For indeed, the liar stains whoever accompanies him.

يُعطيكَ ما فَوقَ المُنى بِلِسانِهِ

يُعطيكَ ما فَوقَ المُنى بِلِسانِهِ

وَيَروغُ مِنكَ كَما يَروغُ الثَعلَبُ

وَيَروغُ مِنكَ كَما يَروغُ الثَعلَبُ

With his tongue he offers you more than you could wish for,

He gives you more than you wish for with his tongue,

and slips away from you as a fox slips away.

But he dodges you just as the fox dodges.

وَاِحذَر ذَوي المَلَقِ اللِئامِ فَإِنَّهُم

وَاِحذَر ذَوي المَلَقِ اللِئامِ فَإِنَّهُم

في النائِباتِ عَلَيكَ مِمَّن يَخطُبُ

في النائِباتِ عَلَيكَ مِمَّن يَخطُبُ

And beware of base flatterers, for they,

And beware the base flatterers, for indeed they,

in times of calamity, are among those who speak against you.

In times of calamity, are among those who turn against you.

يَسعَونَ حَولَ المَرءِ ما طَمِعوا بِهِ

يَسعَونَ حَولَ المَرءِ ما طَمِعوا بِهِ

وَإِذا نَبا دَهرٌ جَفَوا وَتَغَيَبوا

وَإِذا نَبا دَهرٌ جَفَوا وَتَغَيَبوا

They bustle around a man as long as they hope to gain from him,

They hover around a man as long as they covet what he has,

and when fortune turns harsh, they grow cold and disappear.

But if time turns harsh, they shun him and disappear.

وَلَقَد نَصَحتُكَ إِن قَبِلتَ نَصيحَتي

وَلَقَد نَصَحتُكَ إِن قَبِلتَ نَصيحَتي

وَالنُصحُ أَرخَصُ ما يُباعُ وَيوهَبُ

وَالنُصحُ أَرخَصُ ما يُباعُ وَيوهَبُ

And I have indeed counseled you, if you accept my counsel;

I have surely advised you, if you accept my advice,

and counsel is the cheapest thing sold or given away.

And advice is the most freely given of what is sold or bestowed.