أرسلتَ عُجماً ما تبين

أرسلتَ عُجماً ما تبين

فتشيعت فيها الظنون

فتشيعت فيها الظنون

You sent cryptic words that disclose nothing;

You sent obscure verses that give no clear meaning,

and conjectures split into factions over them.

so conjectures divided into factions over them.

ليسَ المديحُ لمن قصد

ليسَ المديحُ لمن قصد

نَ ولا المكان به مكين

نَ ولا المكان به مكين

The praise is not for the one we intend—

The praise is not for the one intended

—nor is his place within it firmly set.

by them, nor is the station made firm through him.

هذا يُقال لأحمدٍ

هذا يُقال لأحمدٍ

إن حصحص الحقُّ المبين

إن حصحص الحقُّ المبين

This is said of Ahmad,

This is said of Ahmad,

if clear truth comes wholly into the open:

if the clear truth has come to light.

فهو الذي لم تجتمع

فهو الذي لم تجتمع

إلا له دُنيا ودين

إلا له دُنيا ودين

for he is the one in whom they never joined—

For he is the one—never have they come together

save in him—the world and faith.

except for him: worldly life and religion.