ياطالبا للوصيه

خذها بهمه قويه

O seeker of counsel,

take it with strong resolve,

وصدق واخلاص نيه

هي تقوى رب البريه

with truthfulness and sincerity of intention.

It is reverence for the Lord of creation,

وهي امتثال الأوامر

مع اجتناب الزواجر

and obedience to the commands,

together with avoidance of prohibitions,

في كل باطن وظاهر

جلبها والخفيه

in everything inward and outward,

its manifest [uncertain reading] and hidden aspects.

بها حياة الجنان بها تفز بالجنان

بها تنال الأماني وكل خصله عليه

Through it the heart lives; through it you win the gardens of Paradise.

Through it you attain your wishes and every noble quality.

فكن لها الدوب طالب

واحرص عليها وواظب

So always be a seeker of it,

be eager for it and persevere.

تفز بكل المطالب

مع العطايا السنيه

You will attain all you seek,

along with splendid gifts.

ياطالب الخير اجمع

هو في التقى فانصت اسمع

O seeker of all goodness,

it lies in piety, so listen attentively and hear.

فاعمل وكن عبدا ورع

واحذ رتجى للدنيه

So act, and be a devout servant.

And beware of turning toward the lowly world [wording unclear].

واذكر مماتك ورمسك

واقهر هواك ونفسك

Remember your death and your grave,

and subdue your desire and your self.

وصل فرضك وخمسك

فتركها أكبر بليه

Perform your obligatory prayers, your five daily prayers,

for abandoning them is the greatest calamity.

وقم لها كل ساعه

وصلها في الجماعه

And rise for them at every hour,

and perform them in congregation.

فإنها أحسن بضاعه

تنفعك بعد المنيه

For they are the finest merchandise,

benefiting you after death.

وزك ياصاح مالك تحمد وتشكر مآلك

وطهر الدوب بالك ولا تبق بقيه

Pay the alms due on your wealth, my friend; you will praise your outcome and be thankful for it.

And continually purify your mind, leaving no remnant.

وصم لشهر الصيام

وقم بأحسن قيام

Fast during the month of fasting,

and keep the finest vigil in prayer.

واحذر قبيح الكلام

واسلك سبيلا سويه

Beware of ugly speech,

and follow an upright path.

وحج بيت الإله واترك جميع المناهي

ولا تجى للملاهي وكل خصله رديه

Make pilgrimage to God's House, and abandon every forbidden thing.

Do not turn to diversions or any vile practice.

وذكر مولاك لازم

عليه قاعد وقايم

Keep to the remembrance of your Lord,

remaining with it, sitting and standing.

تحظى بكل الغنايم

ونيل تلك المعيه

You will win every gain,

and attain that companionship with God.

فلا تزل صاح ذاكر لله حامد وشاكر

في كل لحظه وخاطر تنال للأمنيه

Never cease, my friend, remembering God, praising Him and giving thanks.

At every moment and passing thought, you will attain your wish.

في الذكر كل الجوائز

هنا وبعد الجنائز

In remembrance are all rewards,

here and after the funerals.

ما يتركه غير عاجز

أخطأ الطريق النقيه

Only a helpless person abandons it,

one who has missed the pure path.

وخذ من الناس جانب

تكفي جميع المصايب

And keep apart from people;

you will be spared all calamities.

وكن في الخير راغب فعلا وقولا ونيه

وقم بحق الأقارب وكل جار وصاحب

Be eager for goodness in deed, word, and intention.

Fulfill the rights of relatives and every neighbor and companion,

والمسلمين الأجانب

وكن سليم الطويه

and of Muslims who are strangers.

And be pure of heart.

وقم إذا الليل جنا

واطلب من الله منا

Rise when night falls,

and ask God for bounty,

فضلا وعفوا وأمنا

تحظى بنيل العطيه

grace, forgiveness, and safety.

You will be favored with the gift.

ولا تكن صاح غافل

ولا عن الخير ذاهل

Do not be heedless, my friend,

nor inattentive to goodness.

ولا تجالس لجاهل

تجيك كم من أذيه

Do not keep company with an ignorant person;

many a harm will come to you.

وإن ترد صاح تحمد

في هذه الدار فازهد

If, my friend, you wish to be praised

in this abode, then renounce attachment.

وارغب إلى الله واجهد

بالسيرة العلويه

Turn your desire toward God and strive

according to the ʿAlawī way of life.

واعرف أخي زمانك

وكف جهدك لسانك

Know your age, my brother,

and restrain your tongue as best you can.

واجعل همومك وشانك

للعيشة الأخرويه

Make your concerns and your affairs

serve the life to come.

وكف سمعك وعينك

واشهد عيوبك وشينك

Restrain your hearing and your eye,

and behold your faults and your blemishes.

وافكر وقويقينك

وكن من الأشعر به

Reflect, and strengthen your certainty.

And be among the Ashʿarīs [wording unclear].

واعن بتطهير سر من كل عجب وكبر

ومن رياء ومكر وحب هذى الدنيه

Take care to purify your innermost self of all self-admiration and pride,

and of ostentation, deceit, and love of this lowly world.

فشغلها ليس ينفد وحبها فيه مسند

عن النبي محمد راس لكل خطيه

For its distractions never end; concerning love of it, a report is attributed

to the Prophet Muhammad: it is the root of every sin.

وارض وفوض لتغنم

وسلم الأمر تسلم

Be content and entrust matters to God, that you may prosper.

Surrender the matter, and you will be safe.

ولا تعارض فتندم

وسر مع الشاذليه

Do not resist, lest you regret it.

And walk with the Shādhiliyya.

وإن أردت الهداية

فاعمل بما في البدايه

If you seek guidance,

then act upon what is in the Bidāya (Beginning).

وإن أردت النهاية

فهي بالأحيا حريه

And if you seek the ultimate attainment,

for that, the Iḥyāʾ (Revival) is fitting.

ومن يريد المعالي ينفق لها كل غالي

وأيامه والليالي فيها بنفس أبيه

Whoever seeks lofty attainments spends every precious thing on them,

and his days and nights in their pursuit, with a noble spirit.

واطلب علوما كريمه

واعمل تنال الغنيمه

Seek noble kinds of knowledge,

and act; you will gain the prize.

ولا تكن كالبهيمه

في غدوتك والعشيه

Do not be like a beast,

in your morning and evening,

يمضي زمانك بطاله وفي اللعب والجهاله

فإن ذالا محاله ندامه أبديه

your time passing in idleness, play, and ignorance.

For that inevitably brings everlasting regret.

وانصح لكل العباد وارشدهم للرشاد

وإنه لكل فساد في الملة الحنفيه

Counsel all God's servants, and guide them to right conduct.

And forbid every corruption within the upright, monotheistic faith.

وحب للصالحينا

وجالس المتقينا

Love the righteous,

and sit with the God-fearing.

وكن من المحسنينا

واعمل بهذي الوصيه

Be among those who do good,

and act upon this counsel.

استغفر الله ربي

من شؤم جهلي وذنبي

I seek forgiveness from God, my Lord,

for the evil of my ignorance and my sin,

ومن أمور بقلبي

تطول فيها الشكيه

and for matters in my heart

about which my lament would be long.

وأنت عالم بحالي

وما إليه مآلي

You know my state,

and what my end will be.

علمك كفى عن سؤالي

فاستر إلهي القضيه

Your knowledge suffices, without my asking,

so veil the matter, my God.

يارب واختم بخير واكفنا كل ضير

ولا تكلنا لغير وأصلح نفوسا غويه

O Lord, grant a good ending, and spare us every harm.

Do not leave us to another, and set erring souls right.

وصل ربي وسلم دابا وبارك وكرم

على النبي المتمم لكل خلق رضيه

My Lord, send blessings and peace continually, and bless and bestow honor

upon the Prophet, who perfected every pleasing virtue,

وآله والصحابه

وأنصاره والقرابه

and his family and the Companions,

his helpers and his kin.

يا نعم تلك العصابه

أهل العقول الزكيه

How excellent that company is:

people of pure understanding.