إنَّ لله في الوجودِ عبيدا

إنَّ لله في الوجودِ عبيدا

لم ينالوا الصعودَ إلا سعودا

لم ينالوا الصعودَ إلا سعودا

Indeed, God has servants in existence,

Indeed, for God there are servants in existence

Who have attained ascent only through good fortune.

Who only attained ascension through ease

لم يزالوا ببابِ من كان منهم

لم يزالوا ببابِ من كان منهم

عينهم عاكفين فيه قعودا

عينهم عاكفين فيه قعودا

They have ever remained at the door of Him who was, among them,

They remained at the door of the one who was among them

Their very essence—abiding devotedly in Him, seated.

Sitting devotedly with their eyes fixed on it

يطلبون الوصال منه ابتداء

يطلبون الوصال منه ابتداء

منه ثم يطلبون الصدودا

منه ثم يطلبون الصدودا

They seek union from Him, with the initiative

Seeking connection with Him in the beginning

Coming from Him; then they seek His turning away.

Then seeking distance from Him

ليروا حكمةَ التقابل منه

ليروا حكمةَ التقابل منه

فيهمُ ثم يطلبون الشهودا

فيهمُ ثم يطلبون الشهودا

So they may see the wisdom of opposition from Him

To see the wisdom of reciprocity from Him

Within themselves; then they seek witnessing.

In them, then seeking witnessing

ما سمعنا منهم حنين اشتياقٍ

ما سمعنا منهم حنين اشتياقٍ

حين حلُّوا ولا سمعنا فديدا

حين حلُّوا ولا سمعنا فديدا

We heard from them no plaintive cry of longing

We did not hear any moan of yearning from them

When they alighted, nor did we hear any clamor.

When they met, nor did we hear any sacrifice

ليت شِعري كيف الوصالُ إليهم

ليت شِعري كيف الوصالُ إليهم

حين خَرُّوا عند التجلِّي سجودا

حين خَرُّوا عند التجلِّي سجودا

Would that I knew how union comes to them

I wonder how the connection was to them

When they fell prostrate at the divine self-disclosure.

When they fell prostrate at the epiphany

بعدوا بالسجود عنه اقترابا

بعدوا بالسجود عنه اقترابا

لا اغترابا إذ كان عنهم بغيدا

لا اغترابا إذ كان عنهم بغيدا

They drew away from Him through prostration, drawing near,

They distanced themselves with prostration from nearing Him

Not becoming estranged, for He was distant from them.

Not estrangement, for He was affectionate towards them

إنّ تسبيحهم يدل عليه

إنّ تسبيحهم يدل عليه

ولذا يسألون منه حدودا

ولذا يسألون منه حدودا

Indeed, their glorification points to Him,

Indeed, their glorification indicates Him

And therefore they ask Him for bounds.

And thus they ask from Him for limits

طلبوا منه ما يعود عليهم

طلبوا منه ما يعود عليهم

حكمه فاستفاد وأمنه الحدودا

حكمه فاستفاد وأمنه الحدودا

They sought from Him that which returns upon them

They sought from Him what would return to them

In its ruling; so he benefited, and his security—the bounds [wording unclear].

His wisdom, so He benefited and secured them with limits