أيهاO العبدservant إنif شئتyou desire الأمانsafety
أيها العبد إن شئت الأمان
والرضاand contentment والإقامةand dwelling فيin الجنانParadise
والرضا والإقامة في الجنان
O servant, if you desire safety,
O servant, if you want safety,
and contentment, and a dwelling in Paradise,
Contentment, and staying in Paradise,
احذرbeware احذرbeware منof آفاتafflictions اللسانthe tongue
احذر احذر من آفات اللسان
إنهاindeed they الموجبةbring about دارthe abode الهوانof humiliation
إنها الموجبة دار الهوان
beware, beware the afflictions of the tongue:
Beware, beware of the evils of the tongue,
they bring one to the abode of humiliation.
For they cause humiliation and disgrace.
لاتجىdo not approach ياO أخيmy brother قالا'he said' وقيلand 'it was said'
لاتجى يا أخي قالا وقيل
إنهاindeed it مورثةbrings about شرthe worst المقيلresting place
إنها مورثة شر المقيل
Do not take to 'he said' and 'it was said,' my brother;
Do not, my brother, say hearsay,
such talk brings the worst resting place,
For it causes much harm and grief,
والبكاand weeping والفضيحةand disgrace والعويلand wailing
والبكا والفضيحة والعويل
والحزنand sorrow والكدرand distress والإمتحانand trials
والحزن والكدر والإمتحان
and weeping, disgrace, and wailing,
And crying, scandal, and wailing,
and sorrow, distress, and trials.
And sorrow, distress, and tribulation.
أيهاO العبدservant دعabandon هذاthis الكلامtalk
أيها العبد دع هذا الكلام
أنهindeed it جلهmost of it لومis blameworthy أوor حرامforbidden
أنه جله لوم أو حرام
O servant, abandon this talk:
O servant, leave such talk,
most of it is blameworthy or forbidden.
For it is mostly blame or forbidden,
والزمand adhere to الصمتsilence إنif شئتyou desire السلامsafety
والزم الصمت إن شئت السلام
منfrom مضراتهits harms كلevery آنmoment
من مضراته كل آن
Keep silent if you desire safety
And stick to silence if you want peace,
from its harms at every moment.
From its harms at every moment.
كمhow much وردhas been reported فيconcerning مذماتcondemnations الفضولof idle talk
كم ورد في مذمات الفضول
عنfrom شفيعthe intercessor الورىof humankind الهاديthe guiding الرسولMessenger
عن شفيع الورى الهادي الرسول
How much has been reported condemning idle talk
How much has been revealed of the evils of gossip,
from humanity's intercessor, the guiding Messenger!
From the intercessor of mankind, the guiding Messenger,
فاقرأso read الأحياthe Ihya' وتيسيرand Taysir الوصولal-Wusul
فاقرأ الأحيا وتيسير الوصول
تعترفإنyou will acknowledge that حفظguarding القولspeech شانis important
تعترفإن حفظ القول شان
Read the Ihya' and Taysir al-Wusul:
So read the sayings and the facilitation to arrive,
you will acknowledge that guarding speech matters.
You will admit that guarding speech is the way.
وهلand does anything يكبcast down الخلائقcreatures فيinto الجحيمHell
وهل يكب الخلائق في الجحيم
للمناخرonto their nostrils سوىexcept القولspeech الذميمreprehensible
للمناخر سوى القول الذميم
What casts creatures into Hell,
And does Noah throw people into hell,
nose-first, except reprehensible speech?
Except for the vile word?
ثمthen منwhoever كانis يؤمنbelieving بالرحيمin the Merciful
ثم من كان يؤمن بالرحيم
فليقلlet him speak خيراgood ويصمتand keep silent يصانhe will be protected
فليقل خيرا ويصمت يصان
Then whoever believes in the Merciful
So whoever believes in the Merciful,
should speak good and keep silent, and be protected.
Should speak good and be silent to be safe.
بلindeed ومنand among حسنthe excellence إسلامكof your Islam ترىyou see
بل ومن حسن إسلامك ترى
ترميyou cast away ماwhat ليسdoes not يعنيكconcern you وراbehind
ترمي ما ليس يعنيك ورا
Indeed, among the signs of your sound Islam,
Rather, the best of your Islam you see,
you cast behind you what does not concern you.
Is to discard what does not concern you,
وابكand weep for ذنبكyour sin ودعand abandon قولthe talk الورىof people
وابك ذنبك ودع قول الورى
ولتسعكand let suffice you الدويرةthe little house والمكانand the dwelling
ولتسعك الدويرة والمكان
Weep for your sin and leave people's talk;
And rebuke your own sin and leave the talk of others,
let your little house and dwelling suffice you.
And suffice yourself with the monastery and the place.
ربmany a لفظهword بهاbecause of it يهوىplunge الأنامpeople
رب لفظه بها يهوى الأنام
فيinto جهنمHell كذاthus سبعينseventy عامyears
في جهنم كذا سبعين عام
Many a word sends people plunging
How the Prophet censures those,
into Hell for seventy years.
Who make what they say to people as their faith!
والسخطand wrath كمhow often وقعhas descended دائمlasting دوامforever
والسخط كم وقع دائم دوام
منfrom كليمهa little word بهاءat which (apparently بها) المرءa man استهانtook lightly
من كليمه بهاء المرء استهان
How often has wrath descended, enduring forever,
They are like the poets of old
because of a little word a man took lightly!
To whom great sins were no burden.
أبغضmost hateful الخلقof creatures للهاذيto God—the one who تراهyou see him
أبغض الخلق للهاذي تراه
أكثرthe most الناسamong people فكاللهاهjaw-wagging (text corrupt)
أكثر الناس فكاللهاه
The creature most hateful to God, you see,
And know that disasters all,
is the greatest jaw-wagger among people,
Stem from sitting with those who have them,
فيin فضولidle talk وشيءand something ماعناهthat did not concern him
في فضول وشيء ماعناه
هكذاthus جاءتhave come أخبارreports حسانgood
هكذا جاءت أخبار حسان
speaking idly about things that do not concern him.
And staying away from the people of prohibition,
Thus have good reports come down.
Those whose state and meanings elevate you.
والحديثand the report أنthat أشرارthe worst الأنامof people
والحديث أن أشرار الأنام
منthose who تغذواfeed themselves بألوانon varieties الطعامof food
من تغذوا بألوان الطعام
The report says that the worst of people
For like cleaves to like in nature,
are those who feed on varied foods,
And a companion accompanies his peer,
همهمtheir concern فيis with التشدقaffected eloquence بالكلامin speech
همهم في التشدق بالكلام
والتفيهقand pompous verbosity بهاwith it فيat كلevery اوانhour
والتفيهق بها في كل اوان
whose concern is affected eloquence,
Resembling him in attributes and deeds,
and pompous verbosity at every hour.
So said the one who attained knowledge.
واعلمand know أنthat السلامهsafety فيlies in السكوتsilence
واعلم أن السلامه في السكوت
والتحصنand taking shelter بأجوافwithin the interiors البيوتof houses
والتحصن بأجواف البيوت
Know that safety lies in silence,
So listen to the words of our noble master,
and taking shelter within houses,
When he advises Obeid the jurist,
والقناعةand contentment منfrom الدنياthis world بقوتwith sustenance
والقناعة من الدنيا بقوت
منfrom حلالlawful earnings وتتركand you abandon كلeverything فانperishable
من حلال وتترك كل فان
and being content with mere sustenance from this world,
And warns him from every fool-
lawfully earned, abandoning all that passes away.
That is the whole poem, O man!
وحذيفهand Hudhayfa يقولsays كانthere was الرجلa man
وحذيفه يقول كان الرجل
فيin زمانthe time النبيof the Prophet خيرthe best الرسلof messengers
في زمان النبي خير الرسل
Hudhayfa says that a man
O Obeid, withdraw in this time,
in the time of the Prophet, the finest Messenger,
From the prattlers with tongues,
يتكلمwould speak بكلمهa word لمdid not يقلsay
يتكلم بكلمه لم يقل
غيرهاanything else شؤمهاits evil consequences يبقىwould remain الزمانfor all time
غيرها شؤمها يبقى الزمان
would utter a word—and utter no
You see their bodies shining in attire,
other—whose evil consequences endured for all time.
While their inner souls are filled with guile.
إنهاindeed it منكمcomes from you فيon كلevery يومday
إنها منكم في كل يوم
ظاهرهopenly apparent فاشيهwidespread منwithout غيرany لومcensure
ظاهره فاشيه من غير لوم
Yet such a word comes from you every day,
I describe them like the attributes of wolves,
openly, widespread, without censure,
Wearing clothes over bodies,
عشرten مراتtimes تأتىit occurs أينwhere are قومpeople
عشر مرات تأتى أين قوم
يحذرونwho take heed أوor يخافونfear افتتانbeing led astray
يحذرون أو يخافون افتتان
occurring ten times—where are people
Entering by hypocrisy through every door,
who take heed or fear being led astray?
And they have let loose evils unrestrained.
قالsaid بعضone of الصحابهthe Companions إنكمindeed you
قال بعض الصحابه إنكم
تفعلونdo لاشياthings (misspelled) عندكمin your eyes
تفعلون لاشيا عندكم
One of the Companions said, 'You
They resemble scorpions, pigs, and rams,
do things that seem nothing to you,
I wish they were in the furthest wilderness!
كالشعرlike hairs والذينwhile those who قبلكمwere before you
كالشعر والذين قبلكم
عندهمin their eyes منamong كبيراتthe gravest لارزانweighty sins (unclear)
عندهم من كبيرات لارزان
as slight as hairs, while those before you
They have no joy but in dissent,
counted them among the gravest sins.'
And evil gossip among the riffraff,
واعلمand know إنthat المصايبcalamities كلهاall of them
واعلم إن المصايب كلها
فيlie in جلوسكyour sitting إلىwith منsomeone who قدhas لهاbecome heedless
في جلوسك إلى من قد لها
Know that all calamities lie
And gossip, deception, hypocrisy,
in sitting with someone given to heedlessness,
They have never enjoyed anything good.
وابتعادكand your keeping away عنfrom أربابpeople النهىof understanding
وابتعادك عن أرباب النهى
منthose whom يرقيكuplifts you حالهtheir spiritual state والمعانand inner meanings
من يرقيك حاله والمعان
and keeping away from people of understanding,
We ask Allah, our noble Master,
whose spiritual state and insights uplift you.
The Subtle, Kind One to protect the devout one,
فالخليلfor a close friend كخلهis like his friend فيin الخلالcharacter
فالخليل كخله في الخلال
والجليسand a companion جليسهhis companion لهfor him مثالis a model
والجليس جليسه له مثال
A close friend resembles his friend in character;
From the evils of temperaments and women,
a companion takes his companion as a model,
God is enough for us, the best to be sought!
يشبههhe resembles him فيin صفاتهhis qualities والفعالand deeds
يشبهه في صفاته والفعال
هكذاthus قالsaid منone who لاقطnever مانlied
هكذا قال من لاقط مان
resembling him in his qualities and deeds.
May God clarify for the Muslims,
Thus spoke one who never lied.
May God suffice the evil of oppressors,
فاستمعso listen to قولthe words سيدناof our master الوجيهthe esteemed
فاستمع قول سيدنا الوجيه
حينwhen يوصيhe counsels عبودينʿAbbudin الفقيهthe jurist
حين يوصي عبودين الفقيه
Listen, then, to our esteemed master's words
The Guardian, God of all worlds,
as he counsels ʿAbbudin the jurist,
Whatever the Merciful decreed, it was!
ويحذرand warns منagainst كلevery سفيهfool
ويحذر من كل سفيه
هاكhere is كلall القصيدهthe poem ياO فلانso-and-so
هاك كل القصيده يا فلان
and warns against every fool.
And I ask Allah for a sincere repentance,
Here is the whole poem, so-and-so:
For aspirations in worship are deficient,
ياعبودO ʿAbbud انقبضkeep to yourself فيin ذاthis الزمانage
ياعبود انقبض في ذا الزمان
منaway from رجالmen اللقالقof clattering باللسانwith the tongue
من رجال اللقالق باللسان
'O ʿAbbud, keep to yourself in this age,
And souls dancing in disobedience!
away from men whose tongues clatter.
Enough that death and Qur'an admonish!
تنظرyou see أبدانهمtheir bodies تبرقshining زيانwith adornment
تنظر أبدانهم تبرق زيان
والبواطنand the inward selves ملانهare full بالدمانof dung
والبواطن ملانه بالدمان
You see their bodies shining with adornment,
Then bestow peace upon the guiding Messenger,
while their inward selves are full of dung.
Ahmad the Chosen one, pure minds,
وصفهمtheir qualities مثلare like أوصافthe qualities الذيابof wolves
وصفهم مثل أوصاف الذياب
لابسينwearing فوقover الأجسادtheir bodies الثيابclothes
لابسين فوق الأجساد الثياب
Their qualities resemble those of wolves,
And Al-Hassan, Al-Hussain and the Virgin,
wearing clothes over their bodies.
And the noble companions.
يدخلونthey enter بالنفاقthrough hypocrisy فيinto كلevery بابdoor
يدخلون بالنفاق في كل باب
واطلقواand they let loose فيin المضراتharmful acts العنانthe reins
واطلقوا في المضرات العنان
They enter every door through hypocrisy,
Thus ends the words of our advisor ,
and give harmful acts free rein.
Whose every word is beautiful.
يشبهونthey resemble العقاربscorpions والحناشand snakes
يشبهون العقارب والحناش
والبقرand cattle والأباعرand camels والكباشand rams
والبقر والأباعر والكباش
They resemble scorpions and snakes,
It has emerged from a heart of integrity,
cattle, camels, and rams.
Every saying like the heavens.
ليتهمwould that they كانواwere فيin أقصىthe farthest reaches الحباشof Abyssinia
ليتهم كانوا في أقصى الحباش
كدرthey clouded (misdivided) واصفوthe clarity (misdivided) أنوارof the lights المكانof the place
كدر واصفو أنوار المكان
Would that they were in farthest Abyssinia!
Blessed is he who listens to the righteous,
They have clouded the clear radiance of this place.
The guiding, advising caregivers.
ماnot لهمfor them لذهany pleasure إلاexcept فيin الشقاقdiscord
ما لهم لذه إلا في الشقاق
والعلاقand wrangling والوقاوقand noisy squabbles فيin الرقاقthe lanes (uncertain)
والعلاق والوقاوق في الرقاق
They find pleasure only in discord,
Happy is he in the world and faith,
in wrangling and noisy squabbles in the lanes,
And receives his wishes in every matter.
والنممand gossip والتغاريand mutual goading والنفاقand hypocrisy
والنمم والتغاري والنفاق
ماnot لهمfor them قطever فيin الخيرgood امتعانany interest
ما لهم قط في الخير امتعان
in gossip, mutual goading, and hypocrisy.
Like the words of our beloved master,
They never give any thought to good.
Truly his touch is that of a healer,
نطلبwe ask اللهGod مولاناour Master الكريمthe Generous
نطلب الله مولانا الكريم
اللطيفthe Gentle العطوفthe Compassionate يحرسto guard تريمTarim
اللطيف العطوف يحرس تريم
We ask God, our generous Master,
So follow his saying and repent,
the Gentle, the Compassionate, to guard Tarim
As exemplified versified like fine pearls.
منfrom خباثthe foul الطبايعof disposition والحريمand the womenfolk
من خباث الطبايع والحريم
حسبناsufficient for us اللهis God نعمexcellent is المستعانthe One whose help is sought
حسبنا الله نعم المستعان
from the foul-natured—and protect the womenfolk.
How can you be content in an abode that perishes,
God suffices us; excellent is He whose help is sought.
Its core filled with work and worries,
يجليmay dispel لالهGod (apparently الإله) همthe grief المسلمينof the Muslims
يجلي لاله هم المسلمين
يكفيmay ward off اللهGod شرthe evil الظالمينof the oppressors
يكفي الله شر الظالمين
May God dispel the Muslims' grief;
And suffering, tribulations and sorrows,
may God ward off the oppressors' evil:
Reject it for it is insignificant and disdained!
المهيمنthe All-Watchful إلهGod العالمينof all worlds
المهيمن إله العالمين
كلeverything ماthat قدرhas decreed الرحمنthe Merciful كانcomes to be
كل ما قدر الرحمن كان
the All-Watchful, God of all worlds.
This abode contains no happiness,
Whatever the Merciful decrees comes to be.
That is empty of the incorporation of evils.
وأسألand I ask اللهGod توبهfor repentance خالصهsincere
وأسأل الله توبه خالصه
فالهممfor our resolve فيin العبادهworship ناقصهis deficient
فالهمم في العباده ناقصه
I ask God for sincere repentance:
Whoever loves it, his mind wanders,
our resolve in worship is deficient,
Among rubbish and disgrace!
والنفوسand souls فيamid المعاصيsins راقصهare dancing
والنفوس في المعاصي راقصه
يكفيsuffices الموتdeath واعظas an admonisher والقرانand the Qur'an
يكفي الموت واعظ والقران
while our souls dance amid sins.
How many, how many pieces of advice before,
Death and the Qur'an suffice as admonishers.
The days have passed in advising people,
ثمthen صلواinvoke blessings علىupon الهاديthe guiding الرسولMessenger
ثم صلوا على الهادي الرسول
أحمدAhmad المصطفىthe Chosen زاكيpure العقولof mind
أحمد المصطفى زاكي العقول
Then invoke blessings upon the guiding Messenger,
Like that of Al-Ghazali the Imam,
Ahmad the Chosen, pure of mind,
So read his sayings and ponder them with elation!
والحسنand al-Hasan والحسينand al-Husayn ثمthen البتولal-Batul
والحسن والحسين ثم البتول
والصحابهand the Companions همthey are القومthe people الحسانof goodness
والصحابه هم القوم الحسان
and al-Hasan and al-Husayn, then al-Batul,
Read the sayings if you want life,
and the Companions, that noble company.'
Read the sayings if you want salvation,
إنتهىended قولthe words سيدناof our master النصيحthe sincere adviser
إنتهى قول سيدنا النصيح
الذيwhose قولهwords كلهall of them مليحare beautiful
الذي قوله كله مليح
Here end the words of our master, the sincere adviser,
Read the sayings to bring you near God,
whose words are all beautiful,
And you will see truth clearly as witnessed!
قدindeed خرجissued منfrom فؤادa heart لهof his صحيحsound
قد خرج من فؤاد له صحيح
كلevery قولutterance لهof his حالis the state الجنانof the heart
كل قول له حال الجنان
issuing from a sound heart of his.
Read the sayings and make them your companion,
Each word of his reflects his heart's state.
For he is the caring, sweet friend.
بختfortunate is منwhoever يستمعlistens للصالحينto the righteous
بخت من يستمع للصالحين
الهداةthe guides الدعاةthe summoners الناصحينthe sincere advisers
الهداة الدعاة الناصحين
Fortunate is whoever listens to the righteous,
He is money and treasure most precious!
the guides, the summoners, the sincere advisers.
The best company teaching you eloquence!
ذاكthat person سعيدis fortunate بهمthrough them دنياin worldly life ودينand religion
ذاك سعيد بهم دنيا ودين
وينالand attains المنىwishes فيin كلevery شانmatter
وينال المنى في كل شان
Through them he prospers in worldly and religious life,
Meet none but him ever,
and attains his wishes in every matter.
You will be inspired with righteousness and avoid mistakes,
مثلsuch as أقوالthe sayings سيدناof our master الحبيبthe beloved
مثل أقوال سيدنا الحبيب
ذاكthat حدادهمHaddad of theirs نعمexcellent is الطبيبthe physician
ذاك حدادهم نعم الطبيب
Such are the sayings of our beloved master,
For he is justice without excess or fault!
that Haddad of theirs—what an excellent physician!
All is weighed with the scale of justice!
فاتبعso follow قولهhis words تدعىyou will be called منيبpenitent
فاتبع قوله تدعى منيب
مثلlike ماwhat قالhe said نظماin verse كالجمانlike pearls
مثل ما قال نظما كالجمان
Follow his words, and you will be called penitent,
May God guide the heart to the straight path,
as in the verse he spoke, like pearls:
Having tread the path made straight,
كيفhow ترضىcan you be content بدنياwith a world لاthat does not تدومlast
كيف ترضى بدنيا لا تدوم
حشوهاits filling الشغلis toil دأباunceasingly والهمومand cares
حشوها الشغل دأبا والهموم
'How can you be content with a world that does not last,
And follow the Sunnah of the noble guide-
filled with ceaseless toil and cares,
He who expounded it and the Qur'an!
والعناand weariness والبلاياand afflictions والغمومand griefs
والعنا والبلايا والغموم
فارفضوهاso reject it أنهاindeed it is النزرthe paltry thing المهانdespised
فارفضوها أنها النزر المهان
weariness, afflictions, and grief?
This saying was stated by just leaders,
Reject it: it is a paltry, despised thing.
Advising sincerely for God and the Messenger,
هذهthis الدارabode ماnot فيهاwithin it سرورany joy
هذه الدار ما فيها سرور
قطever يخلوfree عنfrom إخلاطan admixture الشرورof evils
قط يخلو عن إخلاط الشرور
In this abode there is no joy
The people of secrets, truth and heroism,
ever free of an admixture of evils.
They have walked the line of the safe path!
كلeveryone منwho حبهاloves it عقلهhis mind يدورwanders
كل من حبها عقله يدور
فيin خلالthe midst المزابلof refuse heaps والهوانand humiliation
في خلال المزابل والهوان
Everyone who loves it lets his mind wander
And remember God and He will remember you,
among refuse heaps and humiliation.'
Your Lord who gives generously.
كمhow many وكمand how many منof نصايحcounsels منfrom أمامan imam
كم وكم من نصايح من أمام
دابهhis constant practice الوقتall the time فيis نصحadvising الأنامhumankind
دابه الوقت في نصح الأنام
How many, how many counsels come from an imam
Stand at His door and beware to lean-
whose constant practice is advising humankind!
Ruined is he who is distracted from Him for a moment!
مثلlike ذاكthat الغزاليal-Ghazali الأمامthe imam
مثل ذاك الغزالي الأمام
فاقرأso read أحياهhis Ihya' خصهgive it special attention بامتعانwith close study
فاقرأ أحياه خصه بامتعان
Like that imam, al-Ghazali:
Ruined, ruined is he who forgets the Bountiful!
read his Ihya' and give it close attention.
Ruined, ruined is he who forgets the Merciful!
فاقرأso read الأحياthe Ihya' إذاif شئتyou desire الحياةlife
فاقرأ الأحيا إذا شئت الحياة
إقرأread الأحياthe Ihya' إذاif شئتyou desire النجاهsalvation
إقرأ الأحيا إذا شئت النجاه
Read the Ihya' if you desire life;
Ruined, ruined is he who forgets the Almighty!
read the Ihya' if you desire salvation.
That heedless one has incurred loss!
إقراread الأحياthe Ihya' يقربكwill draw you near الإلهGod
إقرا الأحيا يقربك الإله
وترىand you will see الحقthe truth حقاas truth كالعيانas by direct sight
وترى الحق حقا كالعيان
Read the Ihya': God will draw you near,
Do not meet him, my friend, for I advise you sincerely,
and you will see truth as truth, as plainly as direct sight.
Do not go to him for he is a clear harm,
إقرأread الأحياthe Ihya' وصيرهand make it الجليسyour companion
إقرأ الأحيا وصيره الجليس
إنهindeed it is الناصحthe sincere adviser الخلthe intimate friend الأنيسthe comforting
إنه الناصح الخل الأنيس
Read the Ihya' and make it your companion:
Do not interact with him lest affliction reaches you,
it is the sincere adviser, the intimate, comforting friend.
Who touches filth, becomes filthy!
إنهindeed it is المالwealth والكنزand treasure النفيسprecious
إنه المال والكنز النفيس
خيرthe best صاحبcompanion يعلمكteaching you البيانclear understanding
خير صاحب يعلمك البيان
It is wealth and a precious treasure,
We ask God to correct the hearts,
the best companion, teaching you clear understanding.
We ask God to forgive sins,
لاdo not تجالسsit with سواهanything else الآنnow قطever
لا تجالس سواه الآن قط
تلهمyou will be inspired with الرشدright guidance تحفظyou will be protected منfrom غلطerror
تلهم الرشد تحفظ من غلط
Never sit with another in its place now:
And that He accepts the repentance of His sinning servant,
you will receive right guidance and be guarded from error.
A repentance of sincerity erasing all evil!
إنهindeed it is القسطjustice ماnot فيهwithin it شططany excess
إنه القسط ما فيه شطط
كلevery وازنone who weighs بذيwith this الميزانbalance زانweighs aright
كل وازن بذي الميزان زان
It is justice, containing no excess;
And complete my life with good, O Lord,
whoever weighs by this balance weighs aright.
And protect us from every harm and adversity,
يأتhe comes to اللهGod بالقلبwith a heart السليمsound
يأت الله بالقلب السليم
قدhaving سلكtaken للصراطto the path المستقيمstraight
قد سلك للصراط المستقيم
He comes to God with a sound heart,
And guard the heart so that none enters it but You!
having taken the straight path,
Fortify it from all else, with every fortress!
واتبعand followed سنةthe Sunna الهاديof the Guide الكريمthe Noble
واتبع سنة الهادي الكريم
إنهindeed it شرحهاexpounded it بلindeed والقرانand the Qur'an
إنه شرحها بل والقران
and followed the noble Guide's Sunna:
We have none to give us but You,
for it expounds that, and the Qur'an as well.
We have no guide but Your guidance,
قالsaid ذاthis القولsaying ساداتmasters عدولupright
قال ذا القول سادات عدول
نصحin sincere counsel للهfor God حقاtruly والرسولand the Messenger
نصح لله حقا والرسول
Upright masters have said this,
We have no healing but from Your healing,
in true sincerity toward God and the Messenger:
Grace us when for us there is no recourse!
أهلpeople الأسرارof spiritual secrets والصدقand sincerity والفحولand mastery
أهل الأسرار والصدق والفحول
استقامواthey stood straight علىupon حدthe edge السنانof the spearhead
استقاموا على حد السنان
people of spiritual secrets and sincerity, men of mastery,
Then bestow peace and blessings always,
who stood straight upon the spearpoint's edge.
As long as lightning flashes or cloud drifts,
واذكرand remember اللهGod يذكركHe will remember you الجليلthe Majestic
واذكر الله يذكرك الجليل
ربكyour Lord اللهGod ذيwho يعطيgives الجزيلabundantly
ربك الله ذي يعطي الجزيل
Remember God, and the Majestic will remember you:
Upon the Messenger whose thirst is quenched,
your Lord is God, who gives abundantly.
With what gushes from the manifest spring!
قفstand علىat بابهHis door واحذرand beware تميلof straying
قف على بابه واحذر تميل
خابlost is منwhoever يشتغلbusies himself عنهaway from Him بثانwith another
خاب من يشتغل عنه بثان
Stand at His door, and beware of straying;
And upon his noble companions and progeny,
lost is whoever turns from Him to another.
Who ascended to the highest station,
خابlost فيin خابlost منwhoever نسيforgets الكريمthe Generous One
خاب في خاب من نسي الكريم
خابlost فيin خابlost منwhoever نسيforgets الرحيمthe Merciful
خاب في خاب من نسي الرحيم
Lost, utterly lost, is whoever forgets the Generous One;
Remembering them is a mercy dispelling darkness!
lost, utterly lost, is whoever forgets the Merciful;
Loving them is an obligatory faith held fast!
خابlost فيin خابlost منwhoever نسيforgets العظيمthe Almighty
خاب في خاب من نسي العظيم
ذاكthat person غافلis heedless عليهupon him الخسربانis loss (misspelled)
ذاك غافل عليه الخسربان
lost, utterly lost, is whoever forgets the Almighty.
And to You belongs praise without end,
He is heedless, and loss is upon him.
Counting Your grace, existence and aid,
لاdo not تجالسهsit with him إنيindeed I am لكto you نصيحa sincere adviser
لا تجالسه إني لك نصيح
لاdo not تجيهapproach him إنهindeed he is الضرharm القبيحhideous
لا تجيه إنه الضر القبيح
Do not sit with him: I am your sincere adviser.
For Your blessings cannot be enumerated,
Do not approach him: he is hideous harm.
Not by words or the writing of fingers!
لاdo not تخالطهmingle with him يعديكhe will infect you الجريحthe wounded one
لا تخالطه يعديك الجريح
منwhoever يدa hand (text corrupt) إنيindeed I (text corrupt) لدانto someone base فهوthen he is دانbase
من يد إني لدان فهو دان
Do not mingle with him: the wounded one will infect you.
That my Lord may kindly accept,
[Text unclear:] whoever associates with the base becomes base.
And act upon what I know and say!
نسألwe ask اللهGod يصلحto set right للقلوبthe hearts
نسأل الله يصلح للقلوب
نسألwe ask اللهGod يغفرto forgive للذنوبthe sins
نسأل الله يغفر للذنوب
We ask God to set hearts right;
We ask God, Unique of Munificence!
we ask God to forgive sins,
وعلىand toward عبدهHis servant المذنبthe sinful يتوبHe turns in mercy
وعلى عبده المذنب يتوب
توبةrepentance الصدقsincere تمحوwipes away كلevery رانstain
توبة الصدق تمحو كل ران
and turn in mercy toward His sinful servant.
Sincere repentance wipes away every stain.
واختمand conclude العمرthe lifetime ياربO Lord بخيرwith good
واختم العمر يارب بخير
واكفناand spare us كلevery مكروهhateful thing وضيرand harm
واكفنا كل مكروه وضير
End our life well, O Lord,
and spare us everything hateful and harmful.
واحفظand guard القلبthe heart لاlet not يدخلهenter it غيرanything else
واحفظ القلب لا يدخله غير
صنهprotect it عنfrom غيركمother than You كلall الصوانprotection
صنه عن غيركم كل الصوان
Guard the heart: let nothing else enter it;
protect it completely from all but You.
مالنارwe have no; our… (misdivided) بنا…Lord (misdivided) معطيgiver سواكexcept You
مالنار بنا معطي سواك
مالناwe have no منany هدىguidance الأهداكexcept Your guidance
مالنا من هدى الأهداك
Our Lord, we have no giver but You.
We have no guidance except Your guidance;
مالناwe have no منany شفاhealing الأشفاكexcept Your healing
مالنا من شفا الأشفاك
جدgive generously لمنto one who لاnot لهhas فيin شيءanything يدانtwo hands; power
جد لمن لا له في شيء يدان
we have no healing except Your healing.
Give generously to one powerless in every matter.
ثمthen صلsend blessings وسلمand grant peace دائماalways
ثم صل وسلم دائما
ماas long as سرىtravels by night البرقthe lightning أوor مزنrainclouds هميpour down
ما سرى البرق أو مزن همي
Then send blessings and peace forever,
as long as lightning travels by night or rainclouds pour,
تتغشىmay they envelop النبيthe Prophet مرويthe quencher الظماof thirst
تتغشى النبي مروي الظما
منfrom يديهhis two hands بماwith water (apparently بماء) نابعspringing forth عيانin plain sight
من يديه بما نابع عيان
enveloping the Prophet, the quencher of thirst,
with water springing visibly from his hands;
والصحاباتand the Companions والآلand the family لكرامthe noble
والصحابات والآل لكرام
منwho ترقواrose إلىto أعلىthe highest مقامstation
من ترقوا إلى أعلى مقام
and the Companions and the noble family,
who rose to the highest station.
ذكرهمremembering them رحمةis a mercy تجلىdispelling الظلامthe darkness
ذكرهم رحمة تجلى الظلام
حبهمloving them فرضis an obligation دينa faith بهby which يدانreligion is practiced
حبهم فرض دين به يدان
Remembering them is a mercy dispelling darkness;
loving them is a religious duty, a faith to live by.
ولكand to You belongs الحمدpraise حمداa praise لاnot يعدcounted
ولك الحمد حمدا لا يعد
عدas numerous as فضلكYour bounty وجودكand Your generosity والمددand aid
عد فضلك وجودك والمدد
To You belongs praise, praise beyond counting,
as abundant as Your bounty, generosity, and aid.
إنindeed نعماكYour blessings لاcannot تحصىbe counted بحدwithin any limit
إن نعماك لا تحصى بحد
لاnot بقولby words ولارقمnor by the counting البنانof fingers
لا بقول ولارقم البنان
Your blessings cannot be numbered within any limit,
neither by words nor by the reckoning of fingers.
تمended قوليmy words وأسألand I ask بالرسولthrough the Messenger
تم قولي وأسأل بالرسول
إنthat يمنgraciously grant إلهيmy God بالقبولacceptance
إن يمن إلهي بالقبول
My words are ended; through the Messenger I ask
that my God graciously grant acceptance,
والعملand action بالذيaccording to what أعلمI know وقولand say (text unclear)
والعمل بالذي أعلم وقول
نسألwe ask اللهGod فرداalone ذاthe Possessor of امتنانgracious bounty
نسأل الله فردا ذا امتنان
and action according to what I know and say.
We ask God alone, the Possessor of gracious bounty.
Partial English translation: 153 of 180 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1