1. وصيتي لك يا ذا الفضل والأدب

    إن شئت أن تسكن السامي من الرتب

    My counsel to you, O possessor of excellence and refinement,

    if you wish to dwell in the lofty ranks,

  2. وندرك السبق والغايات تبلغها

    مهنأ بمنال القصد والأرب

    and we attain precedence, and you reach the goals,

    gladdened by attaining your aim and desire,

  3. تقوى الإله الذي ترجى مراحمه

    الواحد الأحد الكشاف للكرب

    is reverent fear of God, whose mercies are hoped for,

    the One, the Unique, the Dispeller of distress.

  4. إلزم فرائضه واترك محارمه

    واقطع لياليك والأيام في القرب

    Observe His prescribed duties and abandon what He forbids.

    And spend your nights and days in acts of devotion.

  5. واشعر القلب خوفاً لا يفارقه

    من ربه معه مثل من الرغب

    And imbue the heart with fear that never leaves it,

    of its Lord, with an equal measure of hopeful longing alongside it.

  6. وزين القلب بالإخلاص مجتهداً

    واعلم بأن لربا يلقيك في العطب

    And earnestly adorn the heart with sincerity.

    And know that ostentation casts you into ruin.

  7. ونق جيبك من كل العيوب ولا

    تدخل مداخل أهل الفسق والريب

    And cleanse your bosom of every fault, and do not

    enter the haunts of people of wickedness and dubious conduct.

  8. واحفظ لسانك من طعن علي أحد

    من العباد ومن نقل ومن كذب

    And guard your tongue from disparaging anyone

    among God's servants, from tale-bearing, and from lying.

  9. وكن وقوراً خشوعاً غير منهمك

    في اللهو والضحك والأفراح واللعب

    And be dignified and reverently humble, not engrossed

    in diversion, laughter, festivities, and play.

  10. ونزه الصدر من غش ومن حسد

    وجانب الكبريا مسكين والعجب

    And purify your breast of deceit and envy.

    And shun pride, O poor one, and conceit.

  11. وارض التواضع خلقاً إنه خلق ال

    أخيار فاقتد بهم تنجو من الوصب

    And embrace humility as your character; it is the character of the

    righteous; follow their example, and you will escape suffering.

  12. واحذروا وإياك من قول الجهول أنا

    وأنت دوني في ضل وفي حسب

    And beware—take heed—of the fool's saying, “I—

    and you are beneath me in merit and lineage.”

  13. فقد تأخر أقوام وما قصدوا

    نيل المكارم واستغنوا بكان أبي

    For some people have fallen behind and never sought

    to attain noble qualities, content with “My father was...”

  14. وخالف النفس واستشعر عداوتها

    وارفض هواها وما تختاره تصب

    And oppose the self, and be conscious of its enmity.

    And reject its desires and whatever it chooses; you will be right.

  15. وَإن دَعتك إلى حظ بشهوتها

    فاشرح لها غب ما فيه من التعب

    And if it calls you to gratification through its craving,

    then explain to it the toil that comes in the aftermath.

  16. وازهد بقلبك في الدار التي فتنت

    طوائفا فرأوها غاية الطلب

    And renounce in your heart the abode that has beguiled

    groups, who then saw it as the ultimate object of pursuit.

  17. تنافسوها وأعطوها قوالبهم

    مع القلوب فياللَه من عجب

    They competed for it and gave it their bodies,

    together with their hearts—O God, what a wonder!

  18. وهي التي صغرت قدراً وما وزنت

    عند الإله جناحاً فالحريص غبي

    Yet it is paltry in worth and does not weigh

    even a wing in God's sight; the covetous one is foolish.

  19. وخذ بلاغك من دنياك واسع به

    سعى المجد إلى مولاك واحتسب

    And take your needed provision from this world, and with it strive

    earnestly toward your Master, seeking His reward.

  20. واعلم بأن الذي يبتاع عاجله

    بآجله من نعيم دائم يخب

    And know that whoever buys his present life

    at the cost of his everlasting bliss in the hereafter will fail.

  21. وإن بليت بفقر فارض مكتفياً

    بالله ربك أرح الفضل وارتقب

    And if you are afflicted with poverty, be content, finding sufficiency

    in God your Lord; hope for His bounty, and wait expectantly.

  22. وإن تجردت فاعمل باليقين وبال

    علم إن كنت موقوفاً مع السبب

    And if you renounce worldly means, act with certainty, and with

    knowledge if you remain bound to worldly means.

  23. واتل القران بقلب حاضر وجل

    على الدوام ولا تذهل ولا تغب

    And recite the Quran with an attentive, trembling heart,

    continually; do not grow distracted or absent-minded.

  24. فإن فيه الهدى والعلم فيه معا

    والنور والفتح أعنى الكشف للحجب

    For in it are guidance and knowledge together,

    and light and spiritual opening—I mean the lifting of veils.

  25. واذكر إلهك ذكراً لا تفارقه

    فإنما الذكر كالسلطان في القرب

    And remember your God with remembrance that you never abandon.

    For remembrance is like a sovereign among acts of devotion.

  26. وقم إذا هجع النوام مجتهدا

    وكل قواماً ولا تغفل عن الأدب

    And rise earnestly when the sleepers slumber.

    And eat what sustains you; do not neglect proper conduct.

  27. والوالدان لهم حق يقوم به

    من يتق اللَه والمدلون بالنسب

    And parents have a right upheld by

    whoever fears God; so do those connected by kinship.

  28. وَالجار والصحب لا تنسى حقوقهم

    واختر مصاحبة الأخيار واتخب

    And the neighbor and companions—do not forget their rights.

    And choose the company of the righteous, and be selective.

  29. وخالق الناس بالخلق الجميل ولا

    تعتب على أحد منه ولا تعب

    And treat people with beautiful character, and do not

    reproach anyone for his conduct, nor find fault.

  30. وانصب ولا تنتصف منهم وناصحهم

    وقم عليهم بحق اللَه وانتدب

    And exert yourself; do not seek redress from them, and counsel them sincerely.

    And uphold God's right over them, and rise to the task.

  31. واحذر مصاحبة الأشرار والحمقى

    والحاسدين ومن يلوي على الشغب

    And beware the company of the wicked and the foolish,

    and the envious, and anyone bent on strife.

  32. وحالف الصبر واعلم أن أوله

    مر وأخره كالشهد والضرب

    And ally yourself with patience, and know that its beginning is

    bitter, but its end is like comb-honey and thick white honey.

  33. يا رب إنك مقصودي ومعتمدي

    ومرتجاي لدنياي ومنقلبي

    O Lord, You are my aim and my support,

    and my hope for my worldly life and my final return.

  34. فاغفر وسامح عبيداً ما له عمل

    بالصالحات وقد أوعى من الحوب

    So forgive and pardon a lowly servant who has done no

    righteous deeds, yet has stored up sin.

  35. لكنه تاب مما جناه وقد

    أتاك معترفاً يخشى من الغضب

    But he has repented of what he committed, and has

    come to You confessing, fearing wrath.

  36. فإن عفوت ففضل منك يا صمد

    فجد على إلهي وأزل رهبي

    If You pardon, that is grace from You, O Self-Sufficient One.

    So be generous to me, my God, and remove my fear.

  37. ثم الصلاة على الهادي وعترته

    محمد ما همي ودق من السحب

    Then blessings upon the Guide and his kindred,

    Muhammad, as long as rain pours from the clouds,

  38. وما ترنمت الورقا على فنن

    وما تمايلت الأغصان في الكثب

    and as long as the gray dove sings upon a bough,

    and as long as branches sway among the dunes.