شُموسٌ مِنَ التَحقيقِ في طالِعِ السَعدِ

شُموسٌ مِنَ التَحقيقِ في طالِعِ السَعدِ

تَجَلَّت فَأَجلَت ظُلمَةَ الهَزلِ وَالجَدِّ

تَجَلَّت فَأَجلَت ظُلمَةَ الهَزلِ وَالجَدِّ

Suns of sound inquiry in the ascendant of good fortune

Suns of truthfulness rose in the ascendant of good fortune,

Suns of verification rising in a fortunate ascendant,

have shone forth, dispelling the darkness of jest and earnest.

Dispelling the darkness of jest and seriousness.

They manifested, dispelling the darkness of frivolity and earnest confusion.

قَواطِعُ مِن آيِ الكِتابِ كَأَنَّها

قَواطِعُ مِن آيِ الكِتابِ كَأَنَّها

بِأَعناقِ أَهلِ الزَيغِ مُرهَفَةُ الحَدِّ

بِأَعناقِ أَهلِ الزَيغِ مُرهَفَةُ الحَدِّ

Decisive proofs from the Book's verses, as though they were

Decisive verses from the Book as if they are

Decisive proofs from the Book's verses, appearing as though

keen-edged blades at the necks of those who stray.

With the necks of the people of deviation, swords that behead.

Upon the necks of the deviant, they are swords with honed edges.

إِذا ما تَلاها مُنصِفٌ وَمُحَقِّقٌ

إِذا ما تَلاها مُنصِفٌ وَمُحَقِّقٌ

يَقولُ هيَ الحَقُّ المُبينُ بِلا جَحدِ

يَقولُ هيَ الحَقُّ المُبينُ بِلا جَحدِ

When someone fair-minded and discerning recites them,

When an impartial and just person recites them,

When recited by one who is just and seeks the truth,

he says, without denial, 'They are the manifest truth.'

He says they are the clear truth without denial.

He declares: "This is the manifest truth, undeniable."

وَيَصدُفُ عَنها مُبطِلٌ مُتَعَسِّفٌ

وَيَصدُفُ عَنها مُبطِلٌ مُتَعَسِّفٌ

يُقَلِّدُ آراءَ الرِجالِ بِلا نَقدِ

يُقَلِّدُ آراءَ الرِجالِ بِلا نَقدِ

But an obstinate champion of falsehood turns away from them,

And a biased invalidator turns away from them,

But the arbitrary falsifier turns away from them,

blindly following men's opinions without scrutiny.

Imitating the opinions of men without critique.

Blindly imitating men's opinions without critical thought.

يَجُرُّ أَقاويلَ الرَسولِ وَفِعلَهُ

يَجُرُّ أَقاويلَ الرَسولِ وَفِعلَهُ

إِلى رَأيهِ الغاوي وَمَذهَبهِ المُردي

إِلى رَأيهِ الغاوي وَمَذهَبهِ المُردي

He drags the Messenger's sayings and his deeds

He attributes the sayings of the Messenger and his actions

He drags the sayings of the Messenger and his deeds,

toward his erring opinion and his ruinous doctrine.

To his misguided opinion and destructive doctrine.

Twisting them to fit his misguided opinion and ruinous sect.

كَفاناهُمُ مَن لَم يَزل مُتَجَرِّداً

كَفاناهُمُ مَن لَم يَزل مُتَجَرِّداً

لِنَصرِ الهُدى وَالدينِ أَكرِم به مَهدي

لِنَصرِ الهُدى وَالدينِ أَكرِم به مَهدي

We have been shielded from them by one ever wholly devoted

Enough for them is he who never ceased to be devoted

We were sufficed against them by one who remains ever-devoted,

to defending guidance and religion—how noble a rightly guided man!

To supporting guidance and religion, the most generous Mahdi.

To the victory of guidance and faith—how noble a guide is he!

سُلَمانُ مَن سارَت فَضائِلُ مَجدِهِ

سُلَمانُ مَن سارَت فَضائِلُ مَجدِهِ

مَسيرَ مَهبِّ الريحِ في الغَورِ وَالنَجدِ

مَسيرَ مَهبِّ الريحِ في الغَورِ وَالنَجدِ

Sulaman, whose glorious virtues have spread

Salman, whose virtues of glory

Sulayman, whose glorious virtues have traveled forth,

as the wind travels through lowland and highland.

Traveled the path of the wind in the valley and plain.

Like the sweeping wind across the lowlands and the highlands.

وَما قالَهُ الصَقّارُ آيةُ جَهلهِ

وَما قالَهُ الصَقّارُ آيةُ جَهلهِ

وَعُنوانُ بُطلانِ العَقيدَةِ والقَصدِ

وَعُنوانُ بُطلانِ العَقيدَةِ والقَصدِ

What al-Saqqar said is a sign of his ignorance,

What the falconer said is a sign of his ignorance

And what Al-Saqqar has said is a token of his ignorance,

and a token of the falsity of his creed and intent.

And a marker of the falsehood of belief and purpose.

And the very title of a corrupt creed and intent.

وَلَو كانَ ذا عَقلٍ لأَصبحَ سائِلاً

وَلَو كانَ ذا عَقلٍ لأَصبحَ سائِلاً

أُولي العِلمِ وَالتَحقيقِ مِن كلِّ مُستَهدي

أُولي العِلمِ وَالتَحقيقِ مِن كلِّ مُستَهدي

Had he possessed reason, he would have questioned

Had he been reasonable, he would have become a questioner

Had he possessed intellect, he would have sought to ask

the learned and discerning among all who seek guidance.

Of the people of knowledge and investigation from every seeker of guidance.

The people of knowledge and verification, like any seeker of guidance.

فَقالَ بِعِلمٍ إِذ تَفَوَّهَ قائِلاً

فَقالَ بِعِلمٍ إِذ تَفَوَّهَ قائِلاً

وَإِلّا رَأى الإِمساكَ خَيراً فَلَم يُبدِ

وَإِلّا رَأى الإِمساكَ خَيراً فَلَم يُبدِ

Then he would speak with knowledge when he uttered his words;

So he spoke with knowledge when he uttered

Then he would have spoken with knowledge when he opened his mouth,

otherwise, he would deem silence better and not speak out.

Otherwise he saw silence is better, so he did not speak.

Or deemed silence the better course, revealing nothing.

لَعَمرُكَ ما التَقوى بِلُبسِ عِمامَةٍ

لَعَمرُكَ ما التَقوى بِلُبسِ عِمامَةٍ

وَلا تَركِها فَاِسلُك سَبيلَ أُولي الرُشدِ

وَلا تَركِها فَاِسلُك سَبيلَ أُولي الرُشدِ

By your life, piety is not in wearing a turban,

By your life, piety is not by wearing a turban

By your life! Piety is not found in the wearing of a turban,

nor in leaving it off; so follow the path of the rightly guided.

Nor is leaving it, so take the path of the rightly guided.

Nor in abandoning it—so follow the path of those with insight.

وَلكِن بِجَوفِ المَرءِ وَاللَهِ مُضغَةٌ

وَلكِن بِجَوفِ المَرءِ وَاللَهِ مُضغَةٌ

عَلَيها مَدارُ الحَلِّ في الدينِ وَالعَقدِ

عَلَيها مَدارُ الحَلِّ في الدينِ وَالعَقدِ

But within a person, by God, lies a morsel of flesh

Rather, it is an issue inside a person, and by God a concern

But within a person's chest, by God, lies a morsel of flesh;

on which the loosing and binding of religious matters turn.

On which the permissibility in religion and doctrine revolves.

Upon it pivots the entirety of faith, its loosing and its binding.

فَكُن واقِفاً عِندَ المَحارِمِ زاجِراً

فَكُن واقِفاً عِندَ المَحارِمِ زاجِراً

عَنِ البَغيِ نَفساً تَستَبيكَ لما يُردي

عَنِ البَغيِ نَفساً تَستَبيكَ لما يُردي

So halt at forbidden bounds, restraining

So be someone who stands at prohibitions, preventing

So halt at the sacred limits, restraining

from wrongdoing a soul that enslaves you to what brings ruin.

A soul that weeps for what destroys it.

A soul prone to transgression that lures you toward ruin.

وُخُذ يُمنةً وَاٍسلُك الأُولى مَضَوا

وُخُذ يُمنةً وَاٍسلُك الأُولى مَضَوا

مِنَ الرُسلِ وَالآلِ الكِرامِ أُولي المَجدِ

مِنَ الرُسلِ وَالآلِ الكِرامِ أُولي المَجدِ

Take the right-hand way, and follow those who went before,

And take the right path and walk the first

Take the right-hand path and follow those who have passed on:

among the messengers and the noble family, possessors of glory.

Of the messengers and the honorable progeny, the people of glory.

The Messengers and their noble Family, possessors of glory.

وَإياكَ وَالإِقدامَ بِالقَولِ حاكِماً

وَإياكَ وَالإِقدامَ بِالقَولِ حاكِماً

بحلٍّ وَتَحريمٍ بِلا حُجَّةٍ تُجدي

بحلٍّ وَتَحريمٍ بِلا حُجَّةٍ تُجدي

And beware of rushing to speak as a judge

And beware embarking on speech as a judge

And beware of rushing forward with speech, passing judgment

of what is lawful and forbidden, without sufficient proof,

Of permissibility and prohibition without effective proof.

On what is lawful or forbidden without a valid proof,

فَتُصبِحَ في بيدِ الضَلالَةِ هائِماً

فَتُصبِحَ في بيدِ الضَلالَةِ هائِماً

وَتُصدَفَ يَومَ الحَشرِ عَن جَنَّةِ الخُلدِ

وَتُصدَفَ يَومَ الحَشرِ عَن جَنَّةِ الخُلدِ

lest you wander lost in the deserts of error

For you will become wandering in the land of misguidance

Lest you find yourself wandering in the deserts of error,

and be turned away on the Day of Gathering from the Garden of Eternity.

And on the Day of Gathering, you will be turned away from the eternal Paradise.

And on the Day of Gathering, be turned away from the Garden of Eternity.

وَنَهيُكَ أَن تُقرا رَسائِلُ عالِمٍ

وَنَهيُكَ أَن تُقرا رَسائِلُ عالِمٍ

لَدَيكُم فَخِذلانٌ لكُم واضِحٌ مُردي

لَدَيكُم فَخِذلانٌ لكُم واضِحٌ مُردي

And your forbidding a scholar's epistles to be read

And my advice to you is not to read letters from a scholar

And your forbidding the reading of a scholar's epistles—

among you is a clear, ruinous abandonment of you.

Among you, for it is clear abandonment that brings destruction.

Among you, this is a clear betrayal and a destructive act.

أَلَيسَ بها آياتُ حقٍّ قَواطِعاً

أَلَيسَ بها آياتُ حقٍّ قَواطِعاً

تَدلُّ عَلى الأَمرِ المُرادِ منَ العَبدِ

تَدلُّ عَلى الأَمرِ المُرادِ منَ العَبدِ

Do they not contain decisive verses of truth,

Are there not in it verses of truth that are decisive

Do they not contain decisive verses of truth,

pointing to what is required of the servant,

That indicate the intended matter from the servant?

Indicating what is required of the servant?

وَأَقوالُ خيرِ المُرسَلينَ وَصحبِهِ

وَأَقوالُ خيرِ المُرسَلينَ وَصحبِهِ

وَأَهلِ النُهى وَالعِلمِ مِن كلِّ مُستَهدي

وَأَهلِ النُهى وَالعِلمِ مِن كلِّ مُستَهدي

and the sayings of the best of messengers and his companions,

And sayings of the best of messengers and his companions,

And the sayings of the Best of Messengers and his Companions,

and of the wise and learned among all who seek guidance?

And people of advice and knowledge from every seeker of guidance?

And the people of intellect and knowledge, and every seeker of light?

فَمن كانَ يَوماً نابِذاً مثلَ هذهِ

فَمن كانَ يَوماً نابِذاً مثلَ هذهِ

يَقولُ بِأَقوالِ المَلاحِدَةِ اللُدِّ

يَقولُ بِأَقوالِ المَلاحِدَةِ اللُدِّ

Whoever should one day cast aside such things

So whoever was once rejecting the likes of this,

So whoever casts aside such things,

adopts the sayings of obdurate heretics.

Saying the sayings of the Godless people,

And speaks with the arguments of stubborn heretics,

فَما بَعدَها إِلّا الضَلالَةُ وَالعمى

فَما بَعدَها إِلّا الضَلالَةُ وَالعمى

وَما بَعدَها إِلّا العُلومُ التي تُردي

وَما بَعدَها إِلّا العُلومُ التي تُردي

Beyond them lie only error and blindness,

Then there is nothing after it but misguidance and blindness,

Has nothing left but error and blindness,

and beyond them, only forms of learning that bring ruin.

And nothing after it but knowledge that brings destruction.

And nothing left but knowledge that leads to ruin.

وَدُونكَ مِنّي إِن قَبِلتَ نَصيحَةً

وَدُونكَ مِنّي إِن قَبِلتَ نَصيحَةً

وَما كلُّ مَنصوحٍ يُوَفَّقُ لِلرُشدِ

وَما كلُّ مَنصوحٍ يُوَفَّقُ لِلرُشدِ

Here is counsel from me, if you will accept it—

And you have sincere advice from me, if you accept advice,

So take this from me, if you are willing to accept advice—

not everyone advised is granted right guidance.

And not every advisor is granted success and guidance.

Though not every advised soul is granted the grace of rectitude:

تَمَسَّك بما في مُحكَمِ النَصِّ ظاهِراً

تَمَسَّك بما في مُحكَمِ النَصِّ ظاهِراً

وَبالسُنَّةِ الغَرّا عَن الصادِقِ المُهدي

وَبالسُنَّةِ الغَرّا عَن الصادِقِ المُهدي

Hold fast to what is plain in the unambiguous text,

Hold on to what is apparent in the decisive text

Hold fast to the clear meaning of the decisive Text,

and to the radiant Sunnah from the truthful guide.

And the radiant Sunnah from the honest guide.

And to the radiant Sunnah from the Truthful Guide.

وَطالِع تَصانيفَ الإِمامِ مُحمَّدٍ

وَطالِع تَصانيفَ الإِمامِ مُحمَّدٍ

وَأَبنائِهِ أَهلِ الدِرايَةِ وَالنَقدِ

وَأَبنائِهِ أَهلِ الدِرايَةِ وَالنَقدِ

And read the writings of Imam Muhammad

And read the books of Imam Muhammad

And study the works of Imam Muhammad,

and his sons, men of knowledge and critical discernment.

And his knowledgeable and critical sons.

And his descendants, men of insight and critical distinction.

فَإِنَّ بها ما يُطفىءُ الغُلَّةَ التي

فَإِنَّ بها ما يُطفىءُ الغُلَّةَ التي

بِها من أُوارِ الجَهلِ وَقدٌ عَلى وَقدِ

بِها من أُوارِ الجَهلِ وَقدٌ عَلى وَقدِ

For in them is what quenches the burning thirst

For in them is what will extinguish the darkness

For in them lies what quenches the burning thirst,

ablaze with ignorance's heat, flame upon flame.

With which, from the lights of ignorance, fire is kindled upon fire.

Which is fueled by the blazing fires of ignorance, layer upon layer.

هُمُ قُدوَةٌ في ذا الزَمانِ وَحُجَّةٌ

هُمُ قُدوَةٌ في ذا الزَمانِ وَحُجَّةٌ

وَميزانُ عدلٍ لا يَميلُ عنِ القَصدِ

وَميزانُ عدلٍ لا يَميلُ عنِ القَصدِ

They are an example in this age and an authority,

They are role models in this time and proof,

They are the exemplars in this age, and a proof,

and a balance of justice that does not swerve from the right course.

And the scale of justice that does not deviate from moderation.

And a scale of justice that never deviates from the right course.

وَقُل لابنِ قَهدانٍ رُوَيدَكَ إِنَّما

وَقُل لابنِ قَهدانٍ رُوَيدَكَ إِنَّما

تَسيرُ عَلى نَهجٍ من الجَهلِ مُمتَدِ

تَسيرُ عَلى نَهجٍ من الجَهلِ مُمتَدِ

And tell Ibn Qahdan: 'Slow down; you are only

And say to the son of Qahdan: Restrain yourself, for you are only

And say to Ibn Qahdan: "Slow down! For truly,"

treading a long path of ignorance.'

Traveling a path of ignorance that keeps extending.

"You are marching down an endless path of ignorance."

سَينَدمِ مِمّا قالَ يومَ مَعادِنا

سَينَدمِ مِمّا قالَ يومَ مَعادِنا

إِذا اِنكَشَفَ المَستورُ في مَوقِفِ الحَشدِ

إِذا اِنكَشَفَ المَستورُ في مَوقِفِ الحَشدِ

He will regret what he said on the day of our return,

He will regret what he said on the day we meet

He will regret what he said on the Day of our Return,

when the concealed is revealed at the place of assembly.

When the hidden becomes exposed at the place of gathering.

When hidden things are laid bare in the Great Assembly.

وَما كانَ ذا عِلمٍ وَحِلمٍ وَلا حِجىً

وَما كانَ ذا عِلمٍ وَحِلمٍ وَلا حِجىً

وَلكنَّهُ بِالإِفكِ يَلحُمُ أَو يُسدي

وَلكنَّهُ بِالإِفكِ يَلحُمُ أَو يُسدي

He possessed neither knowledge nor forbearance nor reason,

He had no knowledge, forbearance, or proof,

He possessed neither knowledge, nor forbearance, nor wisdom;

but he weaves the weft or lays the warp with falsehood.

But he dishes up lies or sets them as snares.

But rather, he weaves and warps his fabric with falsehoods.

فَلا تَكتَرِث مِن عُصبَةٍ قَد تَوازَروا

فَلا تَكتَرِث مِن عُصبَةٍ قَد تَوازَروا

عَلى عَيبِ أَهلِ الفَضلِ وَالمَدحِ لِلضِّدِّ

عَلى عَيبِ أَهلِ الفَضلِ وَالمَدحِ لِلضِّدِّ

So pay no heed to a band who have joined forces

So do not pay attention to a gang who have collaborated

So pay no heed to a gang that has conspired together

to disparage the virtuous and praise their opponents,

To find fault with people of virtue and praise opponents.

To fault the virtuous and praise the adversary.

وَمالوا مَعَ النَفسِ المُضِلَّةِ وَالهَوى

وَمالوا مَعَ النَفسِ المُضِلَّةِ وَالهَوى

لِنَيل حُظوظٍ مِن ثَناءٍ وَمِن رِفدِ

لِنَيل حُظوظٍ مِن ثَناءٍ وَمِن رِفدِ

and sided with the misleading self and desire

They leaned towards the misleading soul and passions

They have inclined toward the misleading self and base desire,

to win shares of praise and largesse,

To attain shares of praise and income.

To gain their share of worldly praise and gifts,

وَكَيما يَقولُ الجاهِلونَ بِحالِهِم

وَكَيما يَقولُ الجاهِلونَ بِحالِهِم

بِهِم وَلَهُم فَرقٌ وَذا القَصدُ لا يُجدي

بِهِم وَلَهُم فَرقٌ وَذا القَصدُ لا يُجدي

and so that those ignorant of their condition will speak

Just as the ignorant speak of them in their state,

So that those ignorant of their true state might say:

in their favor, claiming distinction for them; yet that aim avails nothing.

Between them there is separation, and this purpose is futile.

"They have distinction and merit"—but this aim is futile.

فَسَل رَبَّكَ التَثبيتَ وَاِسأَلهُ عِصمَةً

فَسَل رَبَّكَ التَثبيتَ وَاِسأَلهُ عِصمَةً

تَقيكَ الرَدى حَتّى تُوَسَّدَ في اللَحدِ

تَقيكَ الرَدى حَتّى تُوَسَّدَ في اللَحدِ

So ask your Lord for steadfastness, and ask Him for protection

So ask your Lord for steadfastness and ask Him for protection

So ask your Lord for steadfastness, and ask Him for protection

that guards you from ruin until you are pillowed in the grave's niche.

That will save you from evil until you are laid in the grave.

To guard you from ruin until you are laid to rest in the grave.

وَلَولا الذي قَد قالَهُ الحَبرُ قَبلَنا

وَلَولا الذي قَد قالَهُ الحَبرُ قَبلَنا

لكِلنا لهُ بِالصاعِ كَيلاً بِلا عَدِّ

لكِلنا لهُ بِالصاعِ كَيلاً بِلا عَدِّ

Were it not for what the learned scholar said before us,

Had the scholar before us not said what he said,

And were it not for what the scholar said before us,

we would have measured it out to him by the saʿ, without counting.

We would have repaid him in kind without limit.

We would have measured out retribution to him in overflowing scoops.

وَدونَكَها مِنّي عُجالَةَ راكِبٍ

وَدونَكَها مِنّي عُجالَةَ راكِبٍ

تُراوِحُ ما بَينَ الذَميلِ إِلى الوَخدِ

تُراوِحُ ما بَينَ الذَميلِ إِلى الوَخدِ

And take this from me, a rider's hurried offering,

And this is a hastily written letter

So take this poem from me, the hasty work of a rider,

alternating between an easy trot and a swift stride.

That shifts between pacing and galloping.

Alternating between a trot and a brisk pace.

وَصَلِّ إِلهي ما هَمي الوَدقُ أَو شَدا

وَصَلِّ إِلهي ما هَمي الوَدقُ أَو شَدا

عَلى الأَيكِ نَوّاحُ العَشِيّاتِ وَالبَردِ

عَلى الأَيكِ نَوّاحُ العَشِيّاتِ وَالبَردِ

And send blessings, my God, as long as rain pours or song rises

O my God, whoever's worry or joy it is,

And send blessings, my God, as long as rain pours or birds sing

from the lamenting bird in the groves at evening and in the cool hours,

The owls of nights and cold lament.

Upon the branches, chanting in the evenings and the dawns,

عَلى المُصطَفى الهادي الأَمينِ وَآلهِ

عَلى المُصطَفى الهادي الأَمينِ وَآلهِ

وَأَصحابهِ أَهلِ الحَفيظَةِ والجِدِّ

وَأَصحابهِ أَهلِ الحَفيظَةِ والجِدِّ

upon the Chosen One, the trustworthy guide, and his family,

Upon the Guided Trustworthy Messenger and his progeny,

Upon the Chosen One, the Trustworthy Guide, and his Family,

and his companions, men of protective zeal and earnest resolve.

The people of memorization and seriousness.

And his Companions, men of loyalty and resolve.