1. اللَه قد خلق الإنسان مرتسِماً

    بشبهه وهو عين العاقل الفَهِمِ

    God has created man, imprinted

    with His likeness, and he is truly rational and discerning.

  2. وزان عنصرَه بالعقل فهو به

    ملكٌ رَقِي في علومٍ أرفعَ الشيم

    And He adorned his substance with reason; through it he is

    an angel, risen in the sciences to the loftiest virtues.

  3. فالعقل شمسٌ ونور العلم منبثقٌ

    منها ومنها ثمار الفضل فافتهم

    For reason is a sun, and the light of knowledge springs

    from it, as do the fruits of virtue—so understand.

  4. أو إنه القوسُ فيه العلم منحصرٌ

    كالسهم يُصمي معانيه ولم يُصَم

    Or it is a bow, with knowledge contained within it,

    like an arrow: it strikes its meanings dead-on, yet is not struck down.

  5. أو إنه صارمٌ في حرب هرطقةٍ

    بحكمه الفصل بين اللاء والنَعَم

    Or it is a keen blade in a war against heresy,

    with its decisive judgment between 'no' and 'yes'.

  6. فالعلم كالحق موجودين من أزلٍ

    والجهل كالإثم موصوفين بالعدم

    Knowledge, like truth, has existed from eternity,

    and ignorance, like sin, is marked by nonexistence.

  7. من يَعدَم العلمَ يُظلِمْ عقلُهُ أبداً

    حتى تراه شبيهَ الحال في النَعَم

    Whoever lacks knowledge has an intellect forever darkened,

    until you see him resembling cattle in his condition.

  8. كم من نفوسٍ غدت للَه مخلصةً

    بالعلم في صفحة القرطاس والقلم

    How many souls have become sincerely devoted to God

    through knowledge on the page of paper and pen!

  9. إن كان من ثَمْرةٍ رُمنا تألُّهنا

    فالعلم أدنى إلى المطلوب من قِدَم

    If through some fruit we have sought our deification,

    knowledge has long been nearer to the desired goal.

  10. توقَّ يا من غدا بالعلم متصفاً

    من شهوةٍ شوَّهت سلمانَ في الأمم

    Beware, you who have become marked by knowledge,

    of a desire that disfigured Salman among the nations.

  11. فيها فلاسفة اليونان قد جهلوا

    فلم يُنِرهُم منيرُ العلم في الظلم

    In this the philosophers of Greece were ignorant,

    and knowledge's light did not illumine them in the darkness.

  12. كُفَّت بصائرُهم منها فما انتزحوا

    عنها فتشكو بَصيرتْهُم من السَقَم

    Their inner sight was blinded by it, and they did not withdraw

    from it; thus their inner sight complains of sickness.

  13. باتوا وفي كل عضوٍ منهمُ خَللٌ

    وكلِّ جارحةٍ ضربٌ من الألم

    They spent the night with a disorder in every member of theirs,

    and in every limb some form of pain.

  14. أضحيتُ أدعو بآرسطو وشيعتِه

    وسينكا الفاضل المشهور بالحكم

    I began calling for Aristotle and his followers,

    and virtuous Seneca, renowned for wise sayings.

  15. فلم يجيبوا ونار العدل تلجمُهُم

    إذ كان كلٌّ من الرشد الشديد عمي

    They did not answer, while the fire of justice bridled them,

    for each was blind to firm guidance.

  16. فالنار تُسرِجُ فيهم زيتَ علمهمِ

    للخزي لا لتُحلِّي كذْبَ خيرهمِ

    So the fire kindles within them the oil of their knowledge,

    for disgrace, not to adorn their counterfeit goodness.

  17. هذي جهم ملأى من فلاسفةٍ

    وخائفوا اللَه لم يَلووا على ضَرَم

    This is hell, filled with philosophers,

    while those who fear God did not turn toward the blaze.

  18. فاحذر وكن عاملاً يا عالماً أبداً

    توجَد عظيماً بملك اللَه ذي النعم

    So beware, and always be a doer, O learned one;

    you will be found great in the kingdom of God, possessor of blessings.

  19. واسنِد إلى مريمٍ ما حزتَ من حكمٍ

    فالفضل في غيرها في الناس لم يَقُم

    And ascribe to Mary whatever wisdom you have gained,

    for excellence has not arisen in anyone else among humankind.

  20. لها السلامة في دار السلام على

    رب السلام وفيها ملتقى السَلَم

    Her safety in the abode of peace rests upon

    the Lord of peace, and in her is the meeting-place of peace.

  21. لها عجائب لا تحصى مواقعُها

    جليلة القدر والمقدار في الأمم

    She has wonders whose manifestations are beyond counting,

    exalted in worth and stature among the nations.

  22. لها منازل في قلبي منازلها

    مشيَّداتٌ على إسٍّ من الكرم

    She has dwellings in my heart; her dwellings

    are built high upon a foundation of generosity.

  23. ترى القداسةَ في أعتاب قدرتها

    ذكيةَ العَرف والأخلاق والشيم

    You see holiness at the thresholds of her power,

    fragrant in scent, morals, and virtues.

  24. إن تستجر بحمى أذيال سلطتِها

    في موقف الدين تنجُ من أذى النِقم

    If you seek refuge in the shelter of her authority's hems,

    at the place of judgment, you will escape the harm of retribution.

  25. كأنها الحصن تشتدُّ النفوس به

    ما حصنُ بابلَ دع ما عاد للعدم

    She is like a fortress through which souls grow strong;

    what is Babylon's fortress? Leave what has returned to nothingness.

  26. هي الصراط وباب اللَه مدخلُه

    متى يجد بابَها الشيطان ينهزم

    She is the path and God's gate—the entrance to Him.

    Whenever Satan finds her gate, he is routed.

  27. هي الشفيعة في الدارين فامض لها

    إن لم تجدها فقل يا زلةَ القدم

    She is the intercessor in both worlds, so go to her.

    If you do not find her, then say, 'Alas for the foot's stumble!'

  28. قرت بها عين مدّاحٍ وخادمِها

    إن لم تكوني له البنيانَ ينهدم

    The eye of her praiser and servant is gladdened by her;

    if you are not his edifice, he collapses.