طلب الراحة في الدنيا محال

وأرى الأنس بها عين النكال

Seeking rest in this world is impossible,

and I see comfort in it as torment itself.

وأقل العيب فيها أنها

دار موت وانتقال وزوال

And its slightest fault is that it is

an abode of death, departure, and passing away.

ليس تبقى لك أولا تبقى لها

ليس للمطمع في هذا مجال

It will not last for you—or you will not last for it;

there is no room here for hope of gain.

كيف ترضاها وتستوطنها

وهي لم تخلق محلا للحلال

How can you be content with it and make it your home,

when it was not created as a dwelling for those who settle?

خاب عبد قد شراها بدلا

عن جنان ومقامات عوال

Lost is the servant who has bought it in exchange

for gardens of Paradise and lofty stations.

فارمها من قبل ترميك ومل

عن مزاياها حرام أو حلال

So cast it off before it casts you off, and turn away

from its attractions, forbidden or lawful.

إنما الدنيا عقاب أو حساب

ليس تسوى عند ذي العقل عقال

This world is nothing but punishment or reckoning;

to a person of reason, it is not worth a camel's tether.

فاز بالراحة من يتركها

راحة الدنيا مع أهل الكمال

Whoever leaves it behind wins rest;

rest in this world is with the people of perfection.

راحة الدنيا مع أهل الرضا

غنموا بالأنس حالا ومآل

Rest in this world is with the people of contentment;

they have prospered through intimacy, now and hereafter.

فالزهاده والقناعة مالهم

بختهم طوبى لهم نعم الرجال

So renunciation and contentment are their wealth;

how fortunate they are! Blessed are they—what excellent men!

هم رجال الله فاقف أثرهم

واتبعهم في المقال والفعال

They are God's men; so follow in their footsteps,

and follow them in word and deed.

واحتقب زادا بقاء حسنا

عده ذخرا لاهوال طوال

And pack good provision for life everlasting;

count it as a reserve against long-lasting terrors.

والنجاة إن تردها إنها

في خمول وسكوت واعتزال

And salvation, if you desire it, is indeed

in obscurity, silence, and seclusion.

فاترك الناس ومل عنهم إلى

ذكر مولاك الكبير المتعال

So leave people, and turn away from them toward

remembrance of your Lord, the Great, the Most High.

إن ذكر الله للقلب شفا

إن ذكر الله للقلب صقال

Indeed, remembrance of God is healing for the heart;

indeed, remembrance of God is a polish for the heart.

إن ذكر الله خير ما اقتنى المرء

في الدنيا وما حصل ونال

Indeed, remembrance of God is the best of what a person acquires

in this world, and of what he gains and attains.

إن ذكر الله أنس دائم

ماله عنك انفصال وارتحال

Indeed, remembrance of God is lasting solace

that neither parts from you nor departs.

إن ذكر الله نور وهدى

ماله في جملة الخير مثال

Indeed, remembrance of God is light and guidance,

without equal among all good things.

كل برشرع الله إلى

ذكر مولانا إذا حققت آل

Every good deed God ordained leads back to

remembrance of our Lord, if you examine it closely.

يذكر الرحمن من يذكره

وله يحفظ في حال ومال

The All-Merciful remembers whoever remembers Him,

and safeguards his well-being and his wealth.

فاذكر الله مدا الدهر ولا

تعدلن عنه إلى قيل وقال

So remember God throughout all time, and do not

turn from Him to idle gossip.

فجليس الله من يذكره

هكذا عن ربه المختار قال

For God's companion is whoever remembers Him;

so said the Chosen One on his Lord's authority.

فالزم الله وجالسه وكن

لسواه من جميع الغير قال

So cleave to God, keep His company, and be

averse to all that is other than Him.

كل ما ألهاك عن كسب التقى

فهو لا شك بلاء ووبال

Everything that distracts you from gaining piety

is, without doubt, affliction and ruin.

واحفظ الأنفاس لا تنفقها

غير في كسب الفضائل والمعال

And guard your breaths; do not spend them

except in acquiring virtues and noble attainments.

إن لحظاتك لو تعرفها

جوهر أرفع من عال اللآل

Indeed, your moments, if only you knew their worth,

are jewels more precious than the finest pearls.

فتغانم وقتك الفائت من

قبل يأتيك أوان الانتقال

So make the most of your fleeting time before

the hour of departure comes upon you.

يا له أمر مهول مزعج

لك عن مال وأهل وعيال

Oh, what a terrifying event, wrenching

you from wealth, family, and dependents!

رب وفقنا وسددنا لما

ترضه منا على أحسن حال

Lord, grant us success and guide us aright toward what

You accept from us, in the best of states.

واختم الأعمال بالحسنى ولا

تخزنا في يوم نأتي للجدال

And bring our deeds to a good end, and do not

disgrace us on the day we come to plead our case.

وصلاة وسلام دائم

ما حدا حاد وما سرن الجمال

And may blessings and everlasting peace,

as long as a camel-driver chants and camels journey,

تتغشى أحمدا والآل والصحب

ما مزن همل أو غصن مال

envelop Ahmad, his family, and his companions,

as long as rainclouds pour or a branch sways.

ولك الحمد إلهي دائما

عدد القطر وذرات الرمال

And Yours is praise, my God, forever,

as many times as there are raindrops and grains of sand.