فللَّه قومٌ في الفراديسِ مذ أبت

قلوبهم أن تسكن الجوَّ والسما

For God has a people in paradise since they refused

Their hearts to settle for the earth or the sky

ففي العجلِ السرُّ الذي صدعتْ له

رعودُ اللظى في السفلِ من ظاهر العجى

So in haste lies the secret for which cracked

The thunder of affliction from atop the peak

وأبرق برق في نواحيه ساطع

يجلله من باطن الرجل في الشوى

And flashed its lightning in its directions, radiant

Crowning it from within the man in passion

فأولُ صوتٍ كان منه بأنفه

فشمته فاستوجبَ الحمدَ والثنا

So the first sound from it was through his nostrils

As he sniffed it, deserving praise and glory

وفاجأه وحي من الله آمرٌ

وكان له ما كان في نفسه اكتمى

And was suddenly inspired by God's command

Containing what was within his soul concealed

فيا طاعتي لو كنت كنت مقرّباً

ومعصيتي لولاك ما كنتُ مجتبى

So my obedience, had you been brought near

And my disobedience without you I'd not been chosen

فما العلم إلا في الخلافِ وسرِّه

وما النور إلا في مخالفة النهى

For knowledge lies only in differing and its essence

And light only in violating prohibitions