هَكَذا يُسعى لذكرٍ يخلدُ

هَكَذا يُسعى لذكرٍ يخلدُ

وَفعالٍ نفعُهُ لا ينفدُ

وَفعالٍ نفعُهُ لا ينفدُ

Thus one strives for remembrance that endures,

Thus one strives for lasting fame

and deeds whose benefit never runs out.

And deeds whose benefits never end

لَيسَ كلٌّ يُحرزُ الخصلَ ولا

لَيسَ كلٌّ يُحرزُ الخصلَ ولا

كلُّ مستهدٍ لقصدٍ يرشدُ

كلُّ مستهدٍ لقصدٍ يرشدُ

Not everyone wins the prize, nor

Not all can attain excellence, nor

does every seeker find the way to a goal.

Can every seeker find guidance that leads

إنّ لِلدهرِ صُروفا تَصرفُ ال

إنّ لِلدهرِ صُروفا تَصرفُ ال

عزمَ أو تصرمُ ما يعتمدُ

عزمَ أو تصرمُ ما يعتمدُ

Time indeed has turns that deflect

For time has changes that divert

resolve, or sever what one relies upon.

Resolves or undo what's relied upon

ما تَأتّى لاِمرئٍ مطلبهُ

ما تَأتّى لاِمرئٍ مطلبهُ

دونَ توفيقٍ وعونٍ ينجدُ

دونَ توفيقٍ وعونٍ ينجدُ

No person's goal is attained

No mortal attains what he wants

without divine favor and aid that comes to the rescue.

Without aid and help from a savior

كَم حريص يُحرم القصدَ وكم

كَم حريص يُحرم القصدَ وكم

مُتوانٍ بِمُناه يسعدُ

مُتوانٍ بِمُناه يسعدُ

How many an eager striver is denied his goal, and how many

How many zealous are deprived of their goal

a laggard is blessed with his desires!

While the hesitant, through ease, succeeds

إنّ مَن كانَ الغِنى غايتهُ

إنّ مَن كانَ الغِنى غايتهُ

مِن حياةٍ هو فيها مجهدُ

مِن حياةٍ هو فيها مجهدُ

Indeed, for one whose aim is wealth

Truly, he who takes riches as the

in a life in which he is worn out,

Aim of a life spent in toil

غَيرُ خافٍ أنّه الأحرى بهِ

غَيرُ خافٍ أنّه الأحرى بهِ

صرفُ ما ينفدُ في ما يخلدُ

صرفُ ما ينفدُ في ما يخلدُ

it is plain that what best befits him

Thoughtless that he's most deserving of

is to spend what perishes on what endures.

Spending fleeting things on lasting ones

أي ولا خيَر ولا أَبقى من ال

أي ولا خيَر ولا أَبقى من ال

عَملِ الصالحِ ذخراً يعتدُ

عَملِ الصالحِ ذخراً يعتدُ

Indeed, nothing is better or more lasting than

No good or permanence but in

righteous action as a treasure to be counted on.

Righteous deeds, a treasure counted

هوَ في الدارينِ للآتي به

هوَ في الدارينِ للآتي به

مثلُ فلكٍ حلّه أرفخشدُ

مثلُ فلكٍ حلّه أرفخشدُ

For the one who brings it, in both abodes,

In both abodes for its bearer,

it is like the ark where Arpachshad dwelt.

Like a lofty celestial sphere

ثمّ إنّ الأحمدَ الأرضى إلى ال

ثمّ إنّ الأحمدَ الأرضى إلى ال

لهُ منهُ ما إليه يصمدُ

لهُ منهُ ما إليه يصمدُ

Then the most praiseworthy and most pleasing to

But the most pleasing to God

God among such deeds is what one turns toward:

Is that which leads to and relies on Him

ذلكَ العلمُ الّذي ورّثتِ الر

ذلكَ العلمُ الّذي ورّثتِ الر

رسلُ أصحاباً هَدوا لما هُدوا

رسلُ أصحاباً هَدوا لما هُدوا

that knowledge which was bequeathed by the

That knowledge which prophets bequeathed

messengers to companions, who guided others as they were guided.

Upon companions who were guided when guided

نَظّرَ اللّه اِمرأً يحفظهُ

نَظّرَ اللّه اِمرأً يحفظهُ

وَيؤدّيه لِمن يسترشدُ

وَيؤدّيه لِمن يسترشدُ

May God make radiant a man who preserves it

May God enable a man who preserves it

and conveys it to whoever seeks guidance.

And conveys it to one seeking guidance

دَعوةُ المختارِ لا تبرحُ في

دَعوةُ المختارِ لا تبرحُ في

حافِظي السنّة عنه تشهدُ

حافِظي السنّة عنه تشهدُ

The Chosen One's blessing lives on among

The call of the Chosen never leaves

those preserving his Sunna, bearing witness.

The Sunna's keepers without bearing witness

يا لَها مِن خطّة فائقةٍ

يا لَها مِن خطّة فائقةٍ

خِنصرُ الفخرِ عليها يعقدُ

خِنصرُ الفخرِ عليها يعقدُ

What an outstanding calling it is!

What an exalted method it is

Pride bends its little finger to count it first.

Pride's diadem is bound upon it

هي أَنفاسٌ نفيساتٌ عن ال

هي أَنفاسٌ نفيساتٌ عن ال

مُصطفى آثرُهُنّ السندُ

مُصطفى آثرُهُنّ السندُ

They are precious breaths from the

It's precious breaths from the Elect

Chosen One, conveyed by the chain of transmission.

Whose affection made them a support

تَرجَمت عَن حضرةِ اللّه وعن

تَرجَمت عَن حضرةِ اللّه وعن

دينهِ فهيَ الهدى والرشدُ

دينهِ فهيَ الهدى والرشدُ

They tell of God's august presence and of

Translated from God's presence and religion

His religion; they are guidance and right direction.

It is guidance and uprightness

سُننٌ ما ظلّ مَن يَسلكها

سُننٌ ما ظلّ مَن يَسلكها

وَسِواها ضلّةٌ أو فندُ

وَسِواها ضلّةٌ أو فندُ

Ways whose follower never strays,

Ways by which none who follow them stray

while anything apart from them is error or folly.

While all else is misguidance or heresy

بَيّنت ما أنزَلَ اللّه لَنا

بَيّنت ما أنزَلَ اللّه لَنا

مِن كتابٍ فيضهُ لا ينفدُ

مِن كتابٍ فيضهُ لا ينفدُ

They explained what God revealed to us

It clarified what God revealed to us

of a Scripture whose abundance never runs out.

Of a Book whose bounty never ends

فَصلاحُ الدينِ والدّنيا مدى الد

فَصلاحُ الدينِ والدّنيا مدى الد

دهرِ محويٌّ بِها مطّردُ

دهرِ محويٌّ بِها مطّردُ

So the welfare of religion and worldly life throughout

So the good of religion and life forever

time is contained in them, unbroken.

Flows through it, steady and continuous

يا رَعَى اللّه رِجالاً ضَربوا

يا رَعَى اللّه رِجالاً ضَربوا

أَكبدَ العيسِ لَها وَاِجتَهدوا

أَكبدَ العيسِ لَها وَاِجتَهدوا

Ah, may God protect the men who struck

O may God guard men who struck

pale camels' flanks in their pursuit, and strove.

The necks of injustice for it and strove

بَذَلوا الأنفسَ في تَحصيلِها

بَذَلوا الأنفسَ في تَحصيلِها

وَاِقتَفَوا آثارَها وَاِنتَقَدوا

وَاِقتَفَوا آثارَها وَاِنتَقَدوا

They gave their very selves to acquiring them,

Expended themselves to obtain it

followed their traces, and critically examined them.

And emulated its traces and verified

حَمَلوها خلفاً عن سلفٍ

حَمَلوها خلفاً عن سلفٍ

وَنَفَوا عَنها غلاةً ألحدوا

وَنَفَوا عَنها غلاةً ألحدوا

They carried them, successors receiving from predecessors,

Carried it from predecessors

and expelled from them extremists who had deviated.

And protected it from extremists who deviated

كلّهم مجرٍ بِمضمارٍ مجل

كلّهم مجرٍ بِمضمارٍ مجل

ليهِ ذاكَ الأصبحيّ الأوحدُ

ليهِ ذاكَ الأصبحيّ الأوحدُ

All race upon a course whose front-runner

Each a runner in a field witnessed

is that peerless al-Asbahi:

By the unique, brilliant morning sun

حجّةُ اللّهِ عَلى الخلقِ ومن

حجّةُ اللّهِ عَلى الخلقِ ومن

لَيسَ يَفري ما فراه أحدُ

لَيسَ يَفري ما فراه أحدُ

God's proof against creation, and one

God's proof upon creation, none

whose achievements no one else can match.

Can flee what any of them ruled

مالكُ بنُ أنسِ بنِ مالك ب

مالكُ بنُ أنسِ بنِ مالك ب

نِ أَبي عامر المجتهدُ

نِ أَبي عامر المجتهدُ

Malik son of Anas, son of Malik, son

Malik son of Anas son of

of Abu Amir—the discerning jurist.

Malik of Abu Amir the jurist

نَجمُ دارِ الهجرةِ الطالعُ في

نَجمُ دارِ الهجرةِ الطالعُ في

أُفقها ستّينَ عاماً يُرشدُ

أُفقها ستّينَ عاماً يُرشدُ

The star of the Abode of Emigration, rising on

Star of Madina rising in its

its horizon, guiding for sixty years.

Horizon sixty years giving guidance

مُفتياً لم يُفتِ إلّا وله

مُفتياً لم يُفتِ إلّا وله

نَحو سبعينَ إِماماً يشهدُ

نَحو سبعينَ إِماماً يشهدُ

As a mufti, he gave no rulings until

With some seventy imams attesting

some seventy imams bore witness for him,

Whenever he gave a legal ruling

بَعدما درسَ عشراً بينهم

بَعدما درسَ عشراً بينهم

مُذ عَدا سبعاً وعشراً تسردُ

مُذ عَدا سبعاً وعشراً تسردُ

after he had studied ten years among them,

After studying under ten of them

since passing seven and ten, counted in succession.

From age seventeen and on he recounts

وطّأ اللّهُ لَه سُبلَ الهُدى

وطّأ اللّهُ لَه سُبلَ الهُدى

في مُوطّاهُ الصحيحُ الأفيدُ

في مُوطّاهُ الصحيحُ الأفيدُ

God smoothed the paths of guidance for him

God smoothed paths of guidance

in his Muwatta, sound and most beneficial.

In his authentic, beneficial Muwatta

لَم يؤلّف مِثلهُ في ملّةٍ

لَم يؤلّف مِثلهُ في ملّةٍ

فهوَ القدوةُ والمعتمدُ

فهوَ القدوةُ والمعتمدُ

No like of it has been compiled in any faith;

None composed its like in religious law

it is the model and the authority.

So it's the exemplar and relied upon

مِن زُها مئة ألف مُنتقى

مِن زُها مئة ألف مُنتقى

مِن أَحاديث لِطه تسندُ

مِن أَحاديث لِطه تسندُ

Chosen from some hundred thousand

From pearly prophetic narrations

traditions traced back to Taha,

One hundred thousand selected

أَربعينَ سنةً يخلصه

أَربعينَ سنةً يخلصه

وَإِلى الأمثلِ دينا يقصدُ

وَإِلى الأمثلِ دينا يقصدُ

he refined it for forty years,

For forty years he verified it

seeking the most exemplary in religion.

Seeking what's most ideal in religion

ثمّ لمّا أَن تَناهى اِمتحنَ الن

ثمّ لمّا أَن تَناهى اِمتحنَ الن

نَفسَ هَل مَقصدها منه الغدُ

نَفسَ هَل مَقصدها منه الغدُ

Then, when it was complete, he tested

Then when it was complete he tested

his soul: did it seek through this the morrow?

Himself - was the Hereafter his aim?

فَغَدا يُلقي إِلى الماءِ به

فَغَدا يُلقي إِلى الماءِ به

وَهوَ لا تبتلُّ منه بلدُ

وَهوَ لا تبتلُّ منه بلدُ

So he began casting it into the water,

So he went to cast it in the sea

yet no part of it grew wet.

While no cities were flooded by it

وَلَقد حاكى لداتٌ صنعهُ

وَلَقد حاكى لداتٌ صنعهُ

فَكأن قَد ولَّدوا ما وُلِّدوا

فَكأن قَد ولَّدوا ما وُلِّدوا

His contemporaries indeed imitated his work,

Many who imitated his deed

as though what they brought to birth had never been born.

Were as if born without what they were born with

وَكَفى قولُ اِبن إدريسَ ثنا

وَكَفى قولُ اِبن إدريسَ ثنا

وَهوَ مَن لا لجزافٍ يعمدُ

وَهوَ مَن لا لجزافٍ يعمدُ

Ibn Idris's words suffice as praise—

Sufficient is Ibn Idris' declaration

he is not one to resort to reckless claims:

While he is not one for baseless claims

ما عَلى الأرضِ كتابٌ هو أد

ما عَلى الأرضِ كتابٌ هو أد

نَى إِلَى القرآن منه يعهدُ

نَى إِلَى القرآن منه يعهدُ

There is no book on earth that is

No book on earth nearer in rank

known to be nearer to the Quran than it.

To the Quran - on it one relies

فَتَرى الفُرقان قطباً راسخاً

فَتَرى الفُرقان قطباً راسخاً

وَهوَ في الدورِ عليه فرقدُ

وَهوَ في الدورِ عليه فرقدُ

You see the Criterion as a steadfast pole,

You see the Criterion a firm pillar

and this, in its orbit, as a Farqad star.

Around which it revolves and orbits

لَيسَ بِالغالي لِذي الدينِ ولو

لَيسَ بِالغالي لِذي الدينِ ولو

ملء دُنياهُ عليهِ ينقدُ

ملء دُنياهُ عليهِ ينقدُ

For a man of faith it is not too costly, even if

Not excessive toward the zealous

he pays for it all his world contains.

If his world was offered to buy it

فَهوَ أَجدى مِن تفاريقِ العصا

فَهوَ أَجدى مِن تفاريقِ العصا

كَالفرا في جوفهِ ما يقصدُ

كَالفرا في جوفهِ ما يقصدُ

It is more useful than the fragments of a staff;

Better than separations of the staff

like the wild ass, its belly holds all one seeks.

Like intestines which one desires to examine

وَهوَ للعائذِ حصنٌ مانع

وَهوَ للعائذِ حصنٌ مانع

وَهوَ للعالمِ بحرٌ مزبدُ

وَهوَ للعالمِ بحرٌ مزبدُ

For one seeking refuge, it is a protective fortress;

A forbidding fortress for one seeking refuge

for the scholar, it is a foaming sea.

A billowing sea for the scholar

وَهو في توطئةٍ مثل اِسمهِ

وَهو في توطئةٍ مثل اِسمهِ

يَسهلُ الحزنُ به أو يمهدُ

يَسهلُ الحزنُ به أو يمهدُ

In smoothing the way, it lives up to its name:

In its prefacing is its name

through it rough ground grows easy, or is leveled.

Sorrow made smooth or paved

منهُ ما شاعَ لذاتِ الطلقِ إن

منهُ ما شاعَ لذاتِ الطلقِ إن

نَشرتهُ إِذ بيسرٍ تلدُ

نَشرتهُ إِذ بيسرٍ تلدُ

It is said of it that a woman in labor, if

Parts of it spread for unmarried women

she opens it out, will give birth with ease.

When published, easily born

فَاِصرف العزمَ إِلى تحصيلهِ

فَاِصرف العزمَ إِلى تحصيلهِ

إنّه العلقُ النفيسُ الأفيدُ

إنّه العلقُ النفيسُ الأفيدُ

So direct your resolve toward acquiring it;

Its licensed songs dear adornments

it is a precious treasure, most beneficial.

Uncover them, shining white pearls

أَقنهِ يَحرسكَ أنفقهُ يَزِد

أَقنهِ يَحرسكَ أنفقهُ يَزِد

كَ وَما تَرجوه منه صددُ

كَ وَما تَرجوه منه صددُ

Treasure it: it guards you; spend it: it enriches

From it like an echo from one articulating

you; what you hope to gain from it is within reach.

Or a form with traits witnessed

وَتعلّم أنّه قَد أكثبَت

وَتعلّم أنّه قَد أكثبَت

نُهزةٌ فيه لمن يرتصدُ

نُهزةٌ فيه لمن يرتصدُ

And know that there has drawn near

Today it's been published by a press

an opportunity in it for whoever lies in wait.

In it a imprint of its publisher, excellent

جُلّيت منهُ مجلّاتٌ كما

جُلّيت منهُ مجلّاتٌ كما

تُجتلى البيضُ الحسانُ الخرّدُ

تُجتلى البيضُ الحسانُ الخرّدُ

Volumes of it have been unveiled, as

The truthful king has revealed it

fair-skinned, lovely, bashful maidens are unveiled:

In the kernel of civilizing, a knot tied

مُرخصاتُ المهرِ مغلاتُ الحلى

مُرخصاتُ المهرِ مغلاتُ الحلى

شقَّ عنها أبلمات محتدُ

شقَّ عنها أبلمات محتدُ

low in dowry, costly in adornment.

A king whose rule left none

Their source has split their palm-leaf coverings open.

Of its subjects without envy

فَهيَ منهُ كالصدى من صائتٍ

فَهيَ منهُ كالصدى من صائتٍ

أو مثالٍ بمزايا يشهدُ

أو مثالٍ بمزايا يشهدُ

Thus they are to it as an echo from a voice,

Roused in caring for them eyes that slumbered

or a likeness bearing witness to its excellences.

And slept each gloating eye

وطّأ اليومَ الموطّا مطبعٌ

وطّأ اليومَ الموطّا مطبعٌ

فيهِ مِن مُنشيه طبعٌ سددُ

فيهِ مِن مُنشيه طبعٌ سددُ

Today a press has smoothed the way for the Muwatta;

A state renewed civilization with

in it lies its founder's sound imprint.

Knowledge and justice - why shouldn't it be joyous?

قَد جلاهُ الملكُ الصادقُ في

قَد جلاهُ الملكُ الصادقُ في

لبّة التمدينِ عقداً ينضدُ

لبّة التمدينِ عقداً ينضدُ

King al-Sadiq has displayed it upon

Our verdure continues to live through it

civilization's throat, a necklace strung in order.

As a body lives through a soul

مَلكٌ دولتهُ ما غادَرت

مَلكٌ دولتهُ ما غادَرت

في رَعاياها فتىً لا يحسدُ

في رَعاياها فتىً لا يحسدُ

A king whose state has left

May God eternize its truthful one

no young man among its subjects who is not envied.

And suffice him - his command was supported

أَيقظت في رَعيهم أَعيُنها

أَيقظت في رَعيهم أَعيُنها

وَأَنامَت كلّ عينٍ تسهدُ

وَأَنامَت كلّ عينٍ تسهدُ

It kept its eyes awake to care for them,

In printing the Muwatta witness

and put to sleep every sleepless eye.

To its merits and lasting pride

دَولةٌ جدّدتِ العمرانَ بال

دَولةٌ جدّدتِ العمرانَ بال

علمِ وَالعدلِ فَلِم لا تسعدُ

علمِ وَالعدلِ فَلِم لا تسعدُ

A state that renewed civilization through

O people, the purest of springs is unveiled

knowledge and justice—why should it not prosper?

So compete for it and give thanks

لَم تَزل خَضراؤُنا تَحيى بِها

لَم تَزل خَضراؤُنا تَحيى بِها

مِثل ما يَحيى بروحٍ جسدُ

مِثل ما يَحيى بروحٍ جسدُ

Our green land has never ceased to live through it,

And know the moment when completed

just as a body lives through a soul.

What day, month, and year - proclaim

خَلّدَ اللّه لها صادقها

خَلّدَ اللّه لها صادقها

وكَفاهُ أَمره قَد أيّدوا

وكَفاهُ أَمره قَد أيّدوا

May God make its Sadiq endure forever,

Date the Thursday era, date

and suffice him in his affairs; they have indeed been upheld.

The excellent publication of the Muwatta born

إِنّ في طبعِ الموطّا شاهداً

إِنّ في طبعِ الموطّا شاهداً

لِمزاياهُ وفخراً يخلدُ

لِمزاياهُ وفخراً يخلدُ

Indeed, printing the Muwatta bears witness

to his excellences, and brings enduring glory.

أيّها الناسُ لَقد أَصفى لَكُم

أيّها الناسُ لَقد أَصفى لَكُم

وِردهُ فَاِستَبِقوه واِحمدوا

وِردهُ فَاِستَبِقوه واِحمدوا

O people, he has surely purified for you

its draught; race to it and give thanks.

وَلتدروا ساعةَ الإتمامِ مِن

وَلتدروا ساعةَ الإتمامِ مِن

أيِّ يوم شهر عام فَاِنشُدوا

أيِّ يوم شهر عام فَاِنشُدوا

And to learn the hour of completion, on

which day, month, and year, recite:

أرّخوا عصرَ الخميسِ أرّخوا

أرّخوا عصرَ الخميسِ أرّخوا

طابَ ختماً للموطّا المولدُ

طابَ ختماً للموطّا المولدُ

Record the date: Thursday afternoon—record the date:

The Mawlid was a happy seal upon the Muwatta.