فللَّه قومٌ في الفراديسِ مذ أبت

فللَّه قومٌ في الفراديسِ مذ أبت

قلوبهم أن تسكن الجوَّ والسما

قلوبهم أن تسكن الجوَّ والسما

For God has a people in the paradises, ever since

For God has a people in paradise since they refused

their hearts refused to dwell in the air and the sky.

Their hearts to settle for the earth or the sky

ففي العجلِ السرُّ الذي صدعتْ له

ففي العجلِ السرُّ الذي صدعتْ له

رعودُ اللظى في السفلِ من ظاهر العجى

رعودُ اللظى في السفلِ من ظاهر العجى

For in the clay lies the secret for which pealed

So in haste lies the secret for which cracked

the thunders of flame below, from the surface of the sinews.

The thunder of affliction from atop the peak

وأبرق برق في نواحيه ساطع

وأبرق برق في نواحيه ساطع

يجلله من باطن الرجل في الشوى

يجلله من باطن الرجل في الشوى

And radiant lightning flashed throughout his regions,

And flashed its lightning in its directions, radiant

enveloping him from the foot’s sole, among the limbs.

Crowning it from within the man in passion

فأولُ صوتٍ كان منه بأنفه

فأولُ صوتٍ كان منه بأنفه

فشمته فاستوجبَ الحمدَ والثنا

فشمته فاستوجبَ الحمدَ والثنا

So his first sound came through his nose;

So the first sound from it was through his nostrils

then He blessed him for sneezing, and thus merited praise and acclaim.

As he sniffed it, deserving praise and glory

وفاجأه وحي من الله آمرٌ

وفاجأه وحي من الله آمرٌ

وكان له ما كان في نفسه اكتمى

وكان له ما كان في نفسه اكتمى

And a commanding revelation from God surprised him,

And was suddenly inspired by God's command

and his was what had lain hidden within his soul.

Containing what was within his soul concealed

فيا طاعتي لو كنت كنت مقرّباً

فيا طاعتي لو كنت كنت مقرّباً

ومعصيتي لولاك ما كنتُ مجتبى

ومعصيتي لولاك ما كنتُ مجتبى

So, O my obedience, had you existed, I would have been brought near;

So my obedience, had you been brought near

and my disobedience, but for you I would not have been chosen.

And my disobedience without you I'd not been chosen

فما العلم إلا في الخلافِ وسرِّه

فما العلم إلا في الخلافِ وسرِّه

وما النور إلا في مخالفة النهى

وما النور إلا في مخالفة النهى

For knowledge is only in opposition and its secret,

For knowledge lies only in differing and its essence

and light is only in defying reason.

And light only in violating prohibitions