أَيَا مَنْ سَبَى الألباب لُطْفُ كلامه

أَيَا مَنْ سَبَى الألباب لُطْفُ كلامه

كما أنّه في الأذكياء مُقَدَّمُ

كما أنّه في الأذكياء مُقَدَّمُ

O you whose graceful speech has captivated minds,

O you whose eloquent words enchant minds,

just as you are foremost among the keen-witted.

Among the intelligent, you are held in the highest esteem,

أَتَتْنيَ من سحر البيان قصيدةٌ

أَتَتْنيَ من سحر البيان قصيدةٌ

وما هي إلا عِقْدُ دُرٍّ مُنَظَّمُ

وما هي إلا عِقْدُ دُرٍّ مُنَظَّمُ

A poem has come to me from the magic of eloquence,

A poem of magical rhetoric has come to me,

and it is nothing but a necklace of pearls strung together.

Nothing but a string of polished pearls arranged.

تُسَائِلُ عمّا شاع في النّاس ذكرُه

تُسَائِلُ عمّا شاع في النّاس ذكرُه

أَهَلْ لَهُ أَصْلٌ في الثّبوت مُسَلَّمُ

أَهَلْ لَهُ أَصْلٌ في الثّبوت مُسَلَّمُ

It asks about what has been widely spoken of among the people:

It asks about what has become widespread talk among people,

Does it have an acknowledged basis in fact?

Is there an established origin to it, undisputed?

نَعَمْ هُوَ رَيْبٌ دون مَيْنٍ ومَا لَهُ

نَعَمْ هُوَ رَيْبٌ دون مَيْنٍ ومَا لَهُ

ثُبُوتٌ وأَمْرُ الشيخ أعلى وأَعْظَمُ

ثُبُوتٌ وأَمْرُ الشيخ أعلى وأَعْظَمُ

Yes, it is suspicion—without falsehood—and it has no

Yes, it is a doubt without certainty, and it has

substantiation; and the shaykh’s standing is loftier and greater.

No proof, while the Sheikh's command is higher and greater.

جزى اللّهُ خِزْياً مُفْتَرِيه وذِلّةً

جزى اللّهُ خِزْياً مُفْتَرِيه وذِلّةً

وَمَأْوَاهُ إن لم يَعْفُ عنه جَهَنَّمُ

وَمَأْوَاهُ إن لم يَعْفُ عنه جَهَنَّمُ

May God requite its fabricator with disgrace and humiliation,

May Allah disgrace the fabricator and humiliate him,

and his abode, if He does not pardon him, is Hell.

And hellfire be his abode, if He does not forgive him.

فهذا جوابٌ للّذي هو طالبٌ

فهذا جوابٌ للّذي هو طالبٌ

حقيقةَ هذا الأمر واللّه أَعْلَمُ

حقيقةَ هذا الأمر واللّه أَعْلَمُ

So this is an answer for the one who seeks

This is an answer for the one who seeks

the truth of this matter; and God knows best.

The truth of this matter, and Allah knows best.

ويسأل إبراهيمُ من فضل ربّه

ويسأل إبراهيمُ من فضل ربّه

لك الأمْنَ في الدَّاريْنِ وهو يُسَلِّمُ

لك الأمْنَ في الدَّاريْنِ وهو يُسَلِّمُ

And Ibrahim asks of his Lord’s bounty

And Ibrahim asks of his Lord’s bounty

safety for you in both abodes, and sends his greetings.

Safety for you in both abodes, and he sends peace.