أنا المختار لا المختارُ أني

أنا المختار لا المختارُ أني

على علم من اتِّباع الرسولِ

على علم من اتِّباع الرسولِ

I am the chosen, not the chooser, for I

I am the Chosen One, not the chooser of myself

have knowledge through following the Messenger.

With knowledge from following the Messenger

ورثت الهاشميّ أخا قريشٍ

ورثت الهاشميّ أخا قريشٍ

بأوضحٍ ما يكون من الدليل

بأوضحٍ ما يكون من الدليل

I became heir to the Hashimite, brother of Quraysh,

I inherited the Hashimite as a brother of Quraysh

by the clearest proof that can be.

With the clearest proof there can be

أبايعه على الإسلام كشفاً

أبايعه على الإسلام كشفاً

وإيماناً لألحق بالرعيلِ

وإيماناً لألحق بالرعيلِ

I pledge allegiance to him in Islam, through unveiling,

I pledge allegiance to him for Islam openly

and through faith, that I may join the vanguard.

And faithfully to join the caravan

أقوم به وعنه إليه حتى

أقوم به وعنه إليه حتى

أبينه لأبناءِ السبيلِ

أبينه لأبناءِ السبيلِ

I stand through him, and from him toward him, until

I stand by him and leave him to him until

I make him clear to the wayfarers.

I make it clear for the people of the way

سري في النوى حتى كان أدنى

سري في النوى حتى كان أدنى

من القوسين في ظلٍ ظليلِ

من القوسين في ظلٍ ظليلِ

My secret was in separation until it became nearer

My secret intention until it became closer

than two bow-lengths, in sheltering shade.

Than the two bow-lengths in a shaded shade

وشرّف بالكلامِ أخاه موسى

وشرّف بالكلامِ أخاه موسى

على كتبٍ وذلك بالمسيلِ

على كتبٍ وذلك بالمسيلِ

And he honored his brother Moses with speech,

And he honored his brother Moses

above books, and that at the watercourse.

With scriptures and that was at Al-Masil

وأين العرش من وادٍ بقاعٍ

وأين العرش من وادٍ بقاعٍ

كما أين الكليم من الخليلِ

كما أين الكليم من الخليلِ

And how far the Throne is from a valley on a plain,

And where is the throne from a valley of Al-Bqa’

just as God's interlocutor is far from the intimate friend.

As where is the Friend from the Friend

بهذا يعرفُ الحقُ الذي لم

بهذا يعرفُ الحقُ الذي لم

يزل يهدي الخليلَ إلى الخليلِ

يزل يهدي الخليلَ إلى الخليلِ

By this the Real is known, who has never

With this the truth is known which

ceased guiding the intimate friend to the intimate friend.

Did not cease to guide the Friend to the Friend

أقول لمن يدلُ على وجودِ

أقول لمن يدلُ على وجودِ

تحققه ببرهانِ الأفولِ

تحققه ببرهانِ الأفولِ

I say to whoever argues for an existence

I say to whoever proves existence

established through the proof of setting:

Confirm it with proof of decline

أصبت تلك حجتكم على من

أصبت تلك حجتكم على من

يحيد عن الإصابة بالنكول

يحيد عن الإصابة بالنكول

You are right; that is your argument against whoever

You got that, your argument over whom

turns away from what is right through evasion.

Deviates from hitting accurately with decline

وقد قام الدليل بأن شمس السم

وقد قام الدليل بأن شمس السم

ما أسنى النجومِ بكلِّ قيل

ما أسنى النجومِ بكلِّ قيل

And proof has established that the sun of poison [text unclear]

And evidence has been established that the sun of the sky

is not the brightest of stars, by every account.

Did not ripen the stars with all that is said

دليلُ الكشفِ في كونٍ مقيم

دليلُ الكشفِ في كونٍ مقيم

وعند الفكر في رسم مُحيلِ

وعند الفكر في رسم مُحيلِ

The proof of unveiling lies in an abiding existence,

Evidence of unveiling in lasting existence

and for thought, in a changing trace.

And when thinking of an outlined imagination

فهذا عابدٌ ربّاً بكشفٍ

فهذا عابدٌ ربّاً بكشفٍ

وهذا عابدٌ ولدَ العقول

وهذا عابدٌ ولدَ العقول

This one, then, worships a Lord through unveiling,

So this one worships a Lord with unveiling

and this one worships the offspring of intellects.

And that one worships the son of intellects

ولم يُولد فكيف الأمر قل لي

ولم يُولد فكيف الأمر قل لي

وليس لهم سواه من دَليلِ

وليس لهم سواه من دَليلِ

And He was not begotten—how, then, does the matter stand? Tell me.

And He was not born so how is the matter tell me

And they have no proof besides it.

And they have no other than Him as evidence

فسبحان العليم بكل وجه

فسبحان العليم بكل وجه

وسبحان العليِّ مع النزول

وسبحان العليِّ مع النزول

So glory to the All-Knowing in every aspect,

So glory be to the All-Knowing in every aspect

and glory to the Most High, even in descent.

And glory be to the Most High with descent

فما للحقِّ إن فكرت فيه

فما للحقِّ إن فكرت فيه

مع الإنصاف بحثاً من عديلِ

مع الإنصاف بحثاً من عديلِ

For the Real has—if you reflect upon Him

For what right has the truth if you think of it

with fairness in inquiry—no equal.

With fairness in judgment from a peer

لقد كفر الذين له أقاموا

لقد كفر الذين له أقاموا

عديلاً بالغَداة وبالأصيل

عديلاً بالغَداة وبالأصيل

Indeed, those have disbelieved who set up for Him

Those who appointed a peer for Him have blasphemed

an equal, in the morning and in the late afternoon.

In the early morn and at nightfall