عين الدليلِ على اليقينِ

الزيتُ النبراسُ للناظرين

The oil of guidance for those seeking certainty

Is a lantern for the beholders.

لأنه النائب

في سَتره

For it is the substitute,

In its veil,

وهديه الغائب

في كفره

And its absentee's guidance

In his disbelief,

وسهمه الصائب

في نحره

And its piercing arrow

In his throat.

حقاً أقولُ يا غافلين

معارفُ الأكياسِ على فنون

Truly I say, O heedless ones,

The gnosis of the wise is manifold.

لله ما أحلى

طعم المذاق

How sweet is the taste

Of the perspective from above,

بالمنظر الأعلى

عند المساق

When the course continues.

His signs are recited

آياتُه تُتلى

على اتِّساق

In succession.

A long night, a clear morning,

ليلٌ طويلٌ صبحٌ مبينُ

كأنه إلياس في المرسلين

As if he were Elijah among the messengers.

If Idris,

لو أنّ إدريساً

إذ أعرضا

When offered

The Torah of Moses,

عليله يوسى

ما مرَّضا

Had not fallen ill,

And Jesus had come to him

وجاءه عيسى

مع القضا

With judgement,

On the path he would have moaned.

على السبيل يُبدي الأنين

من عِلة الإفلاسِ مع القرين

From the malady of destitution, along with the companion.

They both spoke,

قد قالا من قالا

بعلمه

With his knowledge,

That they had attained

بأنه نالا

من حكمه

From his wisdom,

And ceased not

وعنه ما زالا

في زعمه

In his opinion.

So he says, while holding assumption.

كذا يقول وهو الظنين

وساوس الخناس عند الظنون

The insinuations of the sneaky, amidst assumptions.

When the critic saw

لما رأى العاذلَ

ما أمَّلا

What he hoped for,

And said to the questioner,

وقال للسائلِ

هذا سلا

"This is easy."

I recited to the speaker,

أنشدت للقائلِ

إذ علا

When he was exalted:

"I have no inclusion except for yearning."

ما لي شَمول إلا الشُّجون

مزاجها في الكأس دمع هَتون

Its temperament in the cup is mellowed tears.