لمّا تَكَلّمتُ كانَ النُّطقُ لي شركاً

لمّا تَكَلّمتُ كانَ النُّطقُ لي شركاً

وَالنُّطقُ فخٌّ لِصَيدِ الحاذقِ الفَطِنِ

وَالنُّطقُ فخٌّ لِصَيدِ الحاذقِ الفَطِنِ

When I spoke, speech itself was a snare for me,

When I spoke, speech was a snare for me.

and speech is a trap for catching the skillful, discerning man.

And speech is a trap for catching the skillful, discerning person.

وصِرتُ في قفصِ الإفتاءِ محتَبساً

وصِرتُ في قفصِ الإفتاءِ محتَبساً

فيهِ أُغذّى بمرّ الهمِّ والحزَنِ

فيهِ أُغذّى بمرّ الهمِّ والحزَنِ

I found myself confined in the cage of issuing fatwas,

And I became confined in the cage of issuing fatwas,

fed there on the bitterness of care and sorrow.

where I am fed the bitterness of worry and sorrow.

فَقُلتُ أسكتُ علّي أن يخلّصَني

فَقُلتُ أسكتُ علّي أن يخلّصَني

حُسنُ السّكوتِ مِنَ الأَحزانِ والمِحَنِ

حُسنُ السّكوتِ مِنَ الأَحزانِ والمِحَنِ

So I said, “I shall keep silent, in hopes that I may be freed

So I said: I shall be silent; perhaps I may be freed

by the virtue of silence from sorrows and ordeals.”

by the virtue of silence from sorrows and trials.

وَقلت أَجهلُ عِلماً أَنّ مَعرِفتي

وَقلت أَجهلُ عِلماً أَنّ مَعرِفتي

لي آفةٌ وَبِجَهلي راحَةُ البدَنِ

لي آفةٌ وَبِجَهلي راحَةُ البدَنِ

And I said, “I shall act ignorant,” knowing that my knowledge

And I said: I shall be ignorant, knowing that my knowledge

is a bane to me, while in my ignorance lies ease for the body.

is a bane to me, and in my ignorance lies rest for the body.

وَقلت إِن مِتُّ أَحيا في الدُّنى فَرحاً

وَقلت إِن مِتُّ أَحيا في الدُّنى فَرحاً

مِن ماتَ عاشَ بِعَيشٍ طيّبٍ حسنِ

مِن ماتَ عاشَ بِعَيشٍ طيّبٍ حسنِ

And I said, “If I die, I shall live joyfully in this world—

And I said: If I die, I shall live in the worlds rejoicing;

whoever dies lives a wholesome, good life.”

whoever dies lives a pleasant, good life.

فَلم يفدنيَ شَيئاً ما ذكرت سِوى

فَلم يفدنيَ شَيئاً ما ذكرت سِوى

زيادة الهمِّ وَالمَولى يُخلّصني

زيادة الهمِّ وَالمَولى يُخلّصني

Yet what I recalled availed me nothing, save

Yet what I mentioned availed me nothing except

an increase in care; and the one hoped for will deliver me.

an increase in worry; and the Lord will deliver me.