تقرّبت إلاَّ في رضى الأم والأب

وبرّهما في الدّين أصل التقرّب

I sought nearness only through pleasing my mother and father,

And being dutiful to them in religion is the essence of nearness.

وقدّمت أسباب العقوق وإنها

لمثمرة في الحشر شرّ مسبب

I presented the causes of disobedience, though they

Bear bitter fruit on the Day of Resurrection.

رضى الله يُروى أنّه في رضاهما

فأَرضهما تظفر به أو فجنب

It is said that God's pleasure lies in their pleasure,

So pleasing them, you will attain it, or be deprived.

وقد جاء في التّأفيف ما فيه عبرة

تدلَّ على ما فوقها فتأدَّب

What the Quran contains is an admonition

Pointing to what is beyond, so be disciplined.

ينالهما منك القبيح وطال ما

أنا لاك ما تهوى بسهل ومرحب

They receive from you what is ugly, after long

Saying to you: Do what you wish, with ease and welcome!

وتشنأ ما تأتي به السنُّ منهما

وبالأمس قد جاءت به منك فأعجب

You drink what old age brings from them,

And yesterday, you did the same, to their delight.

وتنفق ما لا آثلاً لك أصله

وحالهما من رِفدِهِ حالُ مجدب

You spend what you have no ancestral claim to,

While their condition from its flow is that of barren land.

وتؤثر أهواء النّساء عليهما

وقد منحاك الوجَّ في كلِّ مطلب

You prefer the whims of women over them,

After they pampered you in every wish.

فكن حذراً من أن تصيبك دعوةٌ

تدلُّ عليك السَّخط من كلِّ مذهب

So beware, lest a prayer comes upon you,

Drawing down wrath upon you, from every creed.

فما بين أصحاب العقوق وبينه

سوى أدمع ترفضُّ للأم والأب

What lies between the people of disobedience and Him

Is but tears they shed for their mother and father.

ودونك نصحٌ لم تشبه خديعة

فثق بالذي قد قلته أو فجرب

My advice to you is no trickery,

So trust what I have said, or try it yourself.

مقالك في الدارين قول مصدِّق

وفعلك إن أنصفت فعل مكِّذب

Your words in both abodes are those of one truthful,

And your actions, if you judge fairly, are those of one lying.

فبادر وفي آثار عمرك فسحة

وإلاَّ فهل ترضيك حال معِّذِّب

So take the initiative, while there is space in the tracks of your life,

Otherwise, are you pleased with the state of one tormented?

ولا تحسبن الله يهمل عبده

ولكن له ستر على كل مذنب

Do not think God neglects His servant,

But He veils each sinner.