رَفَضتُ سُنَّةَ أَهلِ الزُهدِ مُعتَمِداً

رَفَضتُ سُنَّةَ أَهلِ الزُهدِ مُعتَمِداً

لِيَرغَبَ الغَمرُ عَن ديني بِدُنيائي

لِيَرغَبَ الغَمرُ عَن ديني بِدُنيائي

I deliberately rejected the way of the ascetics,

I refused the way of the ascetics as support

So that the ignorant might turn from my faith because of my worldly life.

So that sensual pleasures turn from my faith because of my worldliness

وَرُحتُ في طَيِّ نَشرِ اللَهوِ مُستَتِراً

وَرُحتُ في طَيِّ نَشرِ اللَهوِ مُستَتِراً

عَن ناظِرٍ أَكَمَهٍ عَن نورِ مَعنائي

عَن ناظِرٍ أَكَمَهٍ عَن نورِ مَعنائي

And I went, concealed in the folds of unfurled revelry,

And I went about freely indulging in vain amusements in secret

From an onlooker born blind to the light of my inner meaning.

From a blinkered critic, blind to the light of my meanings

وَفي خَفائي بَدا لي بِالتَنَعُّمِ في

وَفي خَفائي بَدا لي بِالتَنَعُّمِ في

دارَيَّ مِن غَيرِ إِثمٍ أَمرُ مَولائي

دارَيَّ مِن غَيرِ إِثمٍ أَمرُ مَولائي

And in my concealment there appeared to me, bidding me enjoy ease in

And in my privacy the command of my Master appeared to me

My two abodes without sin, the command of my Lord.

To enjoy myself in my home without guilt