ألبستُه خرقةَ التصوُّفِ

ألبستُه خرقةَ التصوُّفِ

وما له نحوها تشوُّف

وما له نحوها تشوُّف

I clothed him in the cloak of Sufism,

I clothed him in the robe of Sufism

And he had no longing for it,

Though he had no inclination towards it

لعلمه بالذي يراه

لعلمه بالذي يراه

من أدبِ الوقت والتظرُّفِ

من أدبِ الوقت والتظرُّفِ

Because of his knowledge of what he sees

Since he knew the decorum

Of conduct befitting the moment and refinement.

Of the times and proper etiquette

ألبستَه بعدَما تعالى

ألبستَه بعدَما تعالى

عن رُتبة الأخذ والتعطُّف

عن رُتبة الأخذ والتعطُّف

You clothed him after he had risen

I clothed him after he had risen

Beyond the rank of receiving and showing kindness.

Above the station of taking and begging

وحَصَلَ الكونُ في حماه

وحَصَلَ الكونُ في حماه

وأحكم العلم والتصرُّفِ

وأحكم العلم والتصرُّفِ

And the cosmos came within his protected domain,

And the universe was protected by his care

And he mastered knowledge and the exercise of power.

And knowledge and discipline were instilled

فمثلُ هذا ألبست ثوبي

فمثلُ هذا ألبست ثوبي

إذ كان ثوباً على التعرُّف

إذ كان ثوباً على التعرُّف

So one such as this I clothed in my robe,

So one such as this I clothed in my robe

Since it was a robe of recognition.

As it was a robe of distinction