ياO جاهِلاًignorant one فيin نَصْرِchampioning سُنَّةِthe prophetic tradition of أَحْمَدٍAhmad
يا جاهِلاً في نَصْرِ سُنَّةِ أَحْمَدٍ
صَبْراًbe patient عَلَىwith زُورِthe falsehood of الأَلَدِّthe obstinate adversary الأَبْلَدِthe dull-witted one
صَبْراً عَلَى زُورِ الأَلَدِّ الأَبْلَدِ
O you ignorant in championing Ahmad's Sunna,
O you who are ignorant of supporting Ahmad's Sunnah, have patience with the falsehood of the quarrelsome and dull-witted.
Bear patiently the lies of the obstinate, dull-witted adversary.
Ignore him who launches raids of harm against you with his tongue, publicly among the people.
دَعْleave alone مَنْwhoever يَشُنُّhe launches عَلَيْكَagainst you غَاراتِraids of الأَذَىharm
دَعْ مَنْ يَشُنُّ عَلَيْكَ غَاراتِ الأَذَى
بِلِسانِهِwith his tongue بَيْنَamong الأَنامِhumankind بمَشْهَدِin public
بِلِسانِهِ بَيْنَ الأَنامِ بمَشْهَدِ
Leave alone whoever launches raids of harm against you
For perhaps God spreads a man's virtue, previously unknown, through the very words of the envious.
With his tongue, publicly among humankind.
You are criticized for nothing but a statement supported by and tethered to authentic evidence.
فلَرُبّماfor often indeed نَشَرَmade known الإلَهُGod فَضِيلَةًa virtue
فلَرُبّما نَشَرَ الإلَهُ فَضِيلَةً
لِلْمَرْءِbelonging to a man قَدْpreviously جُهِلَتْwas unknown بِقَوْلِthrough the words of الحُسَّدِthe envious
لِلْمَرْءِ قَدْ جُهِلَتْ بِقَوْلِ الحُسَّدِ
For often God has brought a virtue to light,
If this be a fault, then your fault is a eulogy that stands tall despite the deaf, obstinate rock.
Belonging to a man, once unknown, through the words of the envious.
Or if this be a sin, then your sin is an act of devotion to God, defying every detractor.
ماnot إنْindeed يُعابُis faulted عَلَيْكَin you غَيْرُexcept مِقَالةٍa statement
ما إنْ يُعابُ عَلَيْكَ غَيْرُ مِقَالةٍ
سُنِدَتْwas supported ونيطتْand was tied بالدّليلِto the evidence المسْنَدِbacked by transmission
سُنِدَتْ ونيطتْ بالدّليلِ المسْنَدِ
Nothing is held against you except a statement
O you who are ignorant of the knowledge of the Chosen One's family, from their earliest predecessors to those sought today:
Supported and anchored in evidence backed by transmission.
Who among the Family of Taha ever shut the door of Ijtihad to the people? O fool, be guided!
إنْif كانَis ذاthis عَيْباًa fault فعَيْبُكَthen your fault مِدْحَةٌa commendation
إنْ كانَ ذا عَيْباً فعَيْبُكَ مِدْحَةٌ
قامَتْhas stood علىin رَغْمِdefiance of الأَصَمِّthe deaf one الْجَلْمَدِthe stone-hard one
قامَتْ على رَغْمِ الأَصَمِّ الْجَلْمَدِ
If this is a fault, then your fault is praise
Who made blind imitation mandatory for one qualified for independent reasoning, saying 'You must imitate'?
That stands despite the deaf, stone-hard adversary.
Who said, 'Cast aside the Book and its knowledge'? Who said, 'Abandon the Tradition of Muhammad'?
أوor كانَis ذاthis ذَنْباًa sin فَذَنْبُكَthen your sin قُرْبَةٌan act of devotion
أو كانَ ذا ذَنْباً فَذَنْبُكَ قُرْبَةٌ
عِنْدَbefore الإلَهِGod بِرَغْمِdespite كُلِّevery مُفَنِّدِfaultfinder
عِنْدَ الإلَهِ بِرَغْمِ كُلِّ مُفَنِّدِ
Or if this is a sin, then your sin is an act of devotion
Who claimed that the master of the source texts is misleading, or that one who seeks them is a transgressor?
Before God, despite every faultfinder.
Look into their registers; within their folds, you will find answers for both the accuser and the defender.
ياO جاهِلاًone ignorant of عِلْماًlearning لآلِbelonging to the family of الْمُصْطَفَىthe Chosen One
يا جاهِلاً عِلْماً لآلِ الْمُصْطَفَى
ماwhat lies بَيْنَbetween سابِقِهِمْtheir earliest member وبَيْنَand between أُلمقصُدِthe intended endpoint (unclear form)
ما بَيْنَ سابِقِهِمْ وبَيْنَ أُلمقصُدِ
O you ignorant of the learning of the Chosen One's family,
And if you are incapable and cannot decipher them, then ask the greatest scholars of our age and inquire.
From their earliest member to the intended endpoint:
There you will realize the weight of your words and the sheer ignorance you have displayed.
مَنْwho سَدَّclosed بابَthe gate of الاِجْتهادِindependent legal reasoning عَلَىto الْوَرَىhumankind
مَنْ سَدَّ بابَ الاِجْتهادِ عَلَى الْوَرَى
مِنْamong آلِthe family of طَهَTaha ياO مُحَمَّقُfool أُرشُدِfind guidance
مِنْ آلِ طَهَ يا مُحَمَّقُ أُرشُدِ
Who closed the gate of independent legal reasoning to humankind
And the virtue of an eye that perceives the truth will become clear to you, over the eye of the inflamed, ignorant one.
Among Taha's family? O fool, find guidance!
O you who claim love for the Prophet and his family, you know not what the love of those noble lions truly entails.
مَنْwho أَوْجَبَmade obligatory التَّقْلِيدَadherence to authority بَعْدَafter تَأَهُّلٍqualification
مَنْ أَوْجَبَ التَّقْلِيدَ بَعْدَ تَأَهُّلٍ
للاِجْتِهادِfor independent legal reasoning وقَالَand said حَتْماًwithout fail قَلِّدِfollow authority
للاِجْتِهادِ وقَالَ حَتْماً قَلِّدِ
Who made adherence to authority obligatory after qualification
You have contradicted their path, swerved from guidance, and demolished the towering glory of majestic knowledge.
For independent legal reasoning, and said, 'Follow authority without fail'?
You assumed that the truth was merely what you presented—ignorantly, without research or scrutiny.
مَنْwho قَالَsaid دَعْset aside عَنْكَfrom yourself الْكِتابَthe Book وعِلْمَهُand its learning
مَنْ قَالَ دَعْ عَنْكَ الْكِتابَ وعِلْمَهُ
مَنْwho قَالَsaid أُتْرُكْabandon سُنَّةًthe prophetic tradition لِمحمّدِof Muhammad
مَنْ قَالَ أُتْرُكْ سُنَّةً لِمحمّدِ
Who said, 'Set aside the Book and its learning'?
O 'Amr, I am the one you know well; so what is it that you denounce in my sound and valid speech?
Who said, 'Abandon Muhammad's Sunna'?
If you claim I have opposed Ahmad's Sunnah and have not bound myself to the school of the Pure Ones,
مَنْwho قَالَsaid شَيْخُthe master of الأُمّهاتِthe principal collections مُضَلِّلٌa misleader
مَنْ قَالَ شَيْخُ الأُمّهاتِ مُضَلِّلٌ
مَنْwho قَالَsaid طالِبُهاone who seeks them عَلَيْهِمْagainst them مُعْتَدِيa transgressor
مَنْ قَالَ طالِبُها عَلَيْهِمْ مُعْتَدِي
Who said, 'The master of the principal collections leads astray'?
Then ask the eminent scholars and the assemblies: who is it that narrates the Imams' knowledge there, hand to hand?
Who said, 'One who seeks those books transgresses against them'?
Who adorns ears with the texts of 'Al-Majmu',' 'Al-Ahkam,' and the 'Amali' of the Guide?
أنْظُرْlook through دَفَاتِرَهُمْtheir books تَجِدْyou will find فيwithin طَيِّهاtheir folds
أنْظُرْ دَفَاتِرَهُمْ تَجِدْ في طَيِّها
مِنْهاmaterial from them لِمُتْهِمِfor a Tihama-dweller أَهْلِهاamong their people والْمُنْجِدِand a Najd-dweller
مِنْها لِمُتْهِمِ أَهْلِها والْمُنْجِدِ
Look through their books; within their folds you will find
And who perfumes the air with their 'Jami'' and their 'Shifa',' healing the heart of the thirsting soul?
Material from those sources for their people in Tihama and Najd.
And who has become the master swimmer of their ocean, diffusing the scent of 'Al-Azhar' like dewy fragrance?
وإذاand if عجزتyou are unable ولمand do not تطقhave the capacity تكشيفهاto scrutinize them
وإذا عجزت ولم تطق تكشيفها
فاسألthen ask أكابرthe leading figures of عصرناour age وتنشدand inquire
فاسأل أكابر عصرنا وتنشد
And if you fail and cannot examine them thoroughly,
Or if you say my claim to independent reasoning is infirm, then ask the fields of knowledge—woe to you!—and be guided.
Then ask the leading figures of our age and seek answers.
There you will learn who truly wades through their depths and roams freely, unlike one shackled by imitation.
فَهُنَاكَthen there تَعْلَمُyou will learn ماwhat تَقُولُyou say وَمَاand what الّذيthat which
فَهُنَاكَ تَعْلَمُ ما تَقُولُ وَمَا الّذي
أَبْدَيْتَهُyou revealed it مِنْof جَهْلِكَyour ignorance الْمُتَبدِّدِthe scattered
أَبْدَيْتَهُ مِنْ جَهْلِكَ الْمُتَبدِّدِ
Then you will learn what you are saying, and what
Ask the Imams among my teachers about a young man who has dived repeatedly into their vast seas.
You have exposed of your scattered ignorance.
And ask the noble students: who is the one who comes and goes, dedicating himself to solving their difficulties?
ويَبِينُand becomes clear عِنْدَكَto you فَضْلُthe superiority of عَيْنٍan eye أَبْصَرَتْthat has seen
ويَبِينُ عِنْدَكَ فَضْلُ عَيْنٍ أَبْصَرَتْ
حَقّاًtruth عَلَىover عَيْنِthe eye of الْجَهُولِthe ignorant one الأَرْمَدِthe sore-eyed one
حَقّاً عَلَى عَيْنِ الْجَهُولِ الأَرْمَدِ
And you will see the superiority of an eye that has seen
Come towards me if you possess any expertise, and test me in every branch of knowledge.
Truth over the eye of the ignorant, sore-eyed man.
O you who have made a sport of my honor without just cause, how will you fare on the Morrow?
ياO مُدَّعِيone claiming حُبَّlove for النَّبيّthe Prophet وآلِهِand his family
يا مُدَّعِي حُبَّ النَّبيّ وآلِهِ
لَمْdid not تَدْرِyou know ماwhat حُبُّlove for الْكِرامِthe noble ones الصُّيَّدِthe majestic ones
لَمْ تَدْرِ ما حُبُّ الْكِرامِ الصُّيَّدِ
O you who claim love for the Prophet and his family,
How will you answer when you are questioned? What have you prepared for the interrogation of that scene?
You have not understood love for the noble, majestic ones.
If you say that you follow the evidence and cast aside blind imitation when Muhammad's words are proven,
ناقَضْتَyou contradicted مَذْهَبَهُمْtheir doctrine وحِفْتَand you strayed عَنfrom الْهُدىguidance
ناقَضْتَ مَذْهَبَهُمْ وحِفْتَ عَن الْهُدى
وهَدَمْتَand you demolished شامِخَthe towering height of مَجْدٍglory عِلْمٍlearning أَمْجَدِmost glorious
وهَدَمْتَ شامِخَ مَجْدٍ عِلْمٍ أَمْجَدِ
You contradicted their doctrine and strayed from guidance,
Then your excuse is more hideous than the crime you committed before, O you who are cloaked in ignorance!
And demolished the towering glory of most glorious learning.
So cease your attacks, O ignorant one; turn away from this path, leave it be, and keep your distance.
وظَنَنْتَand you supposed أَنَّthat الْحَقَّthe truth ماwhat أبْديْتَهُyou expressed it
وظَنَنْتَ أَنَّ الْحَقَّ ما أبْديْتَهُ
جَهْلاًignorantly بِغَيْرِwithout تَطَلُّبٍinquiry وتَفَقّدِand scrutiny
جَهْلاً بِغَيْرِ تَطَلُّبٍ وتَفَقّدِ
And supposed that truth was what you had expressed
You are not worthy to sip from its cups, nor are you fit to unveil its hidden, virgin beauties.
In ignorance, without inquiry or scrutiny.
You have no part in the arrival or the return, nor do you care to uncover truth or investigate.
ياO عَمْروُʿAmr إنّيindeed I مَنْthe one whom عَرَفْتَyou knew فَماso what الذيthat which
يا عَمْروُ إنّي مَنْ عَرَفْتَ فَما الذي
أَنْكَرْتَyou rejected مِنْin قَوْليmy words الصَّحيحِthe sound الْجَيِّدِthe excellent
أَنْكَرْتَ مِنْ قَوْلي الصَّحيحِ الْجَيِّدِ
O ʿAmr, I am the one you know; so what
The bat regards darkness as its intimate friend; when the world is adorned with light, it vanishes.
Have you rejected in my sound, excellent words?
And the rose—though it is a rose—always offends the dung beetle of the trash heaps with its dewy fragrance.
إنif قُلْتَyou say قَدْindeed خالَفْتُI have opposed سُنَّةَthe prophetic tradition of أَحمدٍAhmad
إن قُلْتَ قَدْ خالَفْتُ سُنَّةَ أَحمدٍ
وبِمذْهَبِand to the doctrine of الأَطْهارِthe pure ones لَمْhave not أتقيَدِI bound myself
وبِمذْهَبِ الأَطْهارِ لَمْ أتقيَدِ
If you say that I have opposed Ahmad's Sunna
Likewise the impotent man: should a beauty of captivating charm appear to him, he feels no passion.
And have not bound myself to the pure ones' doctrine,
This is the counsel of a pure heart, untainted by deceit; will anyone, one day, be guided by such counsel?
فَسَلِthen ask الأماثِلَthe exemplary men والْمَحافِلَand the assemblies مَنْwho غَداhas become
فَسَلِ الأماثِلَ والْمَحافِلَ مَنْ غَدا
يَرْويhe transmits بهاin them عِلْمَthe learning of الأَئِمَّةِthe imams عَنْfrom يَدِa hand (idiom: firsthand)
يَرْوي بها عِلْمَ الأَئِمَّةِ عَنْ يَدِ
Then ask the finest men and the assemblies who has come to
Transmit the imams' learning there at first hand,
ويُشَنّفَُand adorns الأَسْماعَthe ears بالمجمُوعwith al-Majmuʿ (the Collection) والand the
ويُشَنّفَُ الأَسْماعَ بالمجمُوع وال
أحْكَامِAhkam (Rulings) ثمَّthen أَماليٍAmali (Dictations) للِمُرْشَدِof al-Murshid
أحْكَامِ ثمَّ أَماليٍ للِمُرْشَدِ
And adorn the ears with al-Majmuʿ and
Al-Ahkam, then the Amali of al-Murshid;
ويُضَمِّخُand perfumes الأَرْجَاthe surroundings بجامِعِwith a compendium of عِلْمِهِمْtheir learning
ويُضَمِّخُ الأَرْجَا بجامِعِ عِلْمِهِمْ
وشِفائِهمand their Shifaʾ (Healing) يَشِْيapparently: he heals (unclear form) بهِwith it قَلْبَthe heart of الصَّدِيthe thirsty one
وشِفائِهم يَشِْي بهِ قَلْبَ الصَّدِي
And perfumes the surroundings with a compendium of their learning,
And their Shifaʾ, with which he [heals] the thirsty heart.
وغَدَاand has become الّذيthe one who يَدْريknows سِباحَةَhow to swim بَحْرِهِمْtheir sea
وغَدَا الّذي يَدْري سِباحَةَ بَحْرِهِمْ
ويُضَوِّعُand makes fragrant الأَزْهارَthe flowers بالعَرْفِwith fragrance النّدِيthe dewy
ويُضَوِّعُ الأَزْهارَ بالعَرْفِ النّدِي
And has become one who knows how to swim their sea,
And perfumes the flowers with dewy fragrance.
أوor قُلْتَyou say دَعْوَىthe claim to الاِجْتِهادِindependent legal reasoning سَقِيمَةٌunsound
أو قُلْتَ دَعْوَى الاِجْتِهادِ سَقِيمَةٌ
فَسَلِthen ask المعارِفَthe branches of knowledge لاno أباfather لَكَfor you تَرْشُدِyou will find guidance
فَسَلِ المعارِفَ لا أبا لَكَ تَرْشُدِ
Or if you say, 'The claim to independent legal reasoning is unsound,'
Then consult the branches of knowledge—may you have no father—and find guidance.
فهُناكَthen there تَعْلَمُyou will learn مَنْwho يَخوضُplunges into غِمارهَاtheir depths
فهُناكَ تَعْلَمُ مَنْ يَخوضُ غِمارهَا
ويَجُولُand roams فيهاwithin them لاnot كَجَوْلِlike the roaming of مُقَيَّدِone in fetters
ويَجُولُ فيها لا كَجَوْلِ مُقَيَّدِ
Then you will learn who plunges into their depths
And ranges through them, not like a man in fetters.
وسَلِand ask الأَئِمَّةَthe imams مِنْamong شُيوخيmy teachers عَنْabout فَتىًa young man
وسَلِ الأَئِمَّةَ مِنْ شُيوخي عَنْ فَتىً
قَدْindeed غاصَhas dived فيinto بَحْرٍa sea لَهُمْof theirs مُتَرَدِّدِsurging back and forth
قَدْ غاصَ في بَحْرٍ لَهُمْ مُتَرَدِّدِ
And ask the imams among my teachers about a young man
Who has plunged into a surging sea of theirs.
وسلand ask التلامذةthe students الكرامthe noble منwho الذيthe one who
وسل التلامذة الكرام من الذي
فيin حلsolving مشكلهمtheir difficult questions يروحhe goes forth ويفتديand sacrifices himself
في حل مشكلهم يروح ويفتدي
And ask the noble students who it is
Who goes forth to solve their hard questions and sacrifices himself.
وهَلُمَّand come نَحْوِيtoward me إنْif يَكُنْthere is لَكَfor you خِبْرَةٌexpertise
وهَلُمَّ نَحْوِي إنْ يَكُنْ لَكَ خِبْرَةٌ
وعَلَيّand against me فيin كُلِّall المعارِفِbranches of learning أوْرِدِraise objections
وعَلَيّ في كُلِّ المعارِفِ أوْرِدِ
And come toward me, if you possess expertise,
And challenge me in every branch of learning.
ياO مَنْyou who غَداhas become بالعِرْضِwith the honor مِنْيof mine لاَعِباًtoying
يا مَنْ غَدا بالعِرْضِ مِنْي لاَعِباً
مِنْin غَيْرِthe absence of ذَنْبٍany offense كَيْفَhow حالُكَyour state فيon غَدِthe morrow
مِنْ غَيْرِ ذَنْبٍ كَيْفَ حالُكَ في غَدِ
O you who have taken to toying with my honor,
Without any offense—how will you fare on the morrow?
كَيْفَhow الْجَوابُthe answer إذاwhen سْئِلْتَyou are questioned وماand what الّذيthat which
كَيْفَ الْجَوابُ إذا سْئِلْتَ وما الّذي
أَغْدَدْتَهُapparently: you prepared it لسُؤالِfor the questioning of ذاكَthat المشْهَدِgathering
أَغْدَدْتَهُ لسُؤالِ ذاكَ المشْهَدِ
How will you answer when questioned, and what
Have you [prepared] for questioning at that gathering?
إنْif قُلْتَyou say تَتَّبِعُyou follow الدَّليلَthe evidence وتَطْرَحand you discard التَّقْلadherence to authority (first fragment)
إنْ قُلْتَ تَتَّبِعُ الدَّليلَ وتَطْرَح التَّقْل
يدَcompletion of 'adherence to authority' عِنْدَwhen ثُبوتِthe establishment of قَوْلِthe saying of مُحَمَّدِMuhammad
يدَ عِنْدَ ثُبوتِ قَوْلِ مُحَمَّدِ
If you say, 'You follow the evidence and discard
Adherence to authority when Muhammad's saying is established,'
فالعُذْرُthen the excuse أَقْبَحُis uglier مِنْthan جِنايَتِكَyour offense التيthat
فالعُذْرُ أَقْبَحُ مِنْ جِنايَتِكَ التي
أَسْلَفْتَyou committed before ياO مَنْyou who بالجَهَالَةِin ignorance مُرْتَدِيare clad
أَسْلَفْتَ يا مَنْ بالجَهَالَةِ مُرْتَدِي
Then the excuse is uglier than the offense that
You committed before, O you clothed in ignorance.
فَدَعِso leave off التَّعَرُّضَattacking ياO جَهُولُignorant one وعَدِّand turn aside عَنْfrom
فَدَعِ التَّعَرُّضَ يا جَهُولُ وعَدِّ عَنْ
هَذَاthis الطَّريقِpath وخَلِّand withdraw عَنْهُfrom it وابْعُدِand stay away
هَذَا الطَّريقِ وخَلِّ عَنْهُ وابْعُدِ
So cease your attacks, ignorant one, and turn away from
This path; withdraw from it and keep your distance.
ماnot أَنْتَyou أَهْلاًfit لارْتِشافِto sip كُؤُوسِهِits cups
ما أَنْتَ أَهْلاً لارْتِشافِ كُؤُوسِهِ
ماnot أَنْتَyou أَهْلاًfit لاجْتِلاءِto behold unveiled الْخُرَّدِthe bashful maidens
ما أَنْتَ أَهْلاً لاجْتِلاءِ الْخُرَّدِ
You are not fit to sip from its cups;
You are not fit to behold the bashful maidens unveiled.
ماnot أَنْتَyou فيin وِرْدٍcoming to water ولاnor صَدْرٍdeparting from water وَلاnor
ما أَنْتَ في وِرْدٍ ولا صَدْرٍ وَلا
تُعْنَىyou concern yourself بكَشْفِwith uncovering حَقيقَةٍa truth وتَفَقُّدِand scrutiny
تُعْنَى بكَشْفِ حَقيقَةٍ وتَفَقُّدِ
You neither approach the water nor depart from it, nor
Do you concern yourself with uncovering a truth and examining it.
إِنّindeed الْخُفاشَthe bat يَرَىregards الظَّلامَdarkness خَلِيْلَهُits companion
إِنّ الْخُفاشَ يَرَى الظَّلامَ خَلِيْلَهُ
فإذَاthen when تَحَلَّىit is adorned بالضِّياwith light لمnot يُوجَدِit is found
فإذَا تَحَلَّى بالضِّيا لم يُوجَدِ
Indeed, the bat regards darkness as its companion;
Then, when it is adorned with light, the bat is nowhere to be found.
والْوَرْدُand the rose وَهْوَthough it is الوَرْدُthe rose يُؤذيharms دَائِماًalways
والْوَرْدُ وَهْوَ الوَرْدُ يُؤذي دَائِماً
جُعَلَthe dung beetle of الْمَزَابِلِrubbish heaps رِيحُهُits fragrance الرِّيحُthe fragrance النَّدِيthe dewy
جُعَلَ الْمَزَابِلِ رِيحُهُ الرِّيحُ النَّدِي
And the rose, rose though it is, always offends
The dung beetle of rubbish heaps with its fragrance—its dewy fragrance.
وكَذلِكَand likewise الْعِنِّينُthe impotent man إنif عَنَّتْappears لَهُbefore him
وكَذلِكَ الْعِنِّينُ إن عَنَّتْ لَهُ
فَتَّانَةٌan enchanting woman فيin الْحُسْنِbeauty لمnot يَتَوَجّدِhe feels passion
فَتَّانَةٌ في الْحُسْنِ لم يَتَوَجّدِ
And likewise the impotent man, if there appears before him
A woman enchanting in beauty, feels no passion.
هَذِيthis نَصِيحَةُthe counsel of ماsincere adviser (first fragment) حِضٍcompletion of 'sincere adviser' ماnot شَابِهاtainted it
هَذِي نَصِيحَةُ ما حِضٍ ما شَابِها
غِشٌّdeceit فَمَنْso who بالنُّصْحِthrough counsel يَوْماًone day يَهْتَديfinds guidance
غِشٌّ فَمَنْ بالنُّصْحِ يَوْماً يَهْتَدي
This is a sincere adviser's counsel, untainted
By deceit—so who will one day find guidance through counsel?
Partial English translation: 40 of 80 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1