ما أحسن العلمَ لمن يعمل

وأقبحَ الجهلَ بمن يجهلُ

How good is knowledge for one who acts

And how ugly is ignorance for one who is ignorant

إنَّ الإله الحقّ في فعله

قد يمهلُ العبدَ ولا يهمل

Indeed God the Truth in His doing

May give the servant respite and not neglect

ويحرصُ العبدُ على فعل ما

ينفعه وقتاً وقد يكلُ

And the servant strives to do what

Benefits him for a time though he may tire

لأنه ينصر في فعله

ثم يرى في تركه يخذل

For He helps him in his doing

Then He sees in his neglect he is forsaken

يا ليت شعري هل أرى من فتى

يبحث عما فيه أو يسألُ

Oh would that I knew, is there any youth

Who searches for what is in it or asks

حتى يرى من نفسه ربه

سبحانه يفعلُ ما يفعل

Until he sees from his own self his Lord

Glory be to Him doing what He does

ويبصر الأكوان هل هي هو

لمثل هذا إخوتي فاعملوا

And observes all creation, is it He

For the like of this my brothers so act

لأنه المطلوب منكم فلا

تفرطوا فيه ولا تهملوا

For this is what is required of you so do not

Neglect it or disregard

سألت قوما أهملوا أمرنا

فقال لي خاذلهم امهلوا

I asked a people who neglected our matter

So their forsaker said to me, “Disregard.”

لا يُنسَبُ الفعل لغيرِ الذي

قيل لكم فإنه أجمل

Action is not attributed to other than He

Who was told to you for He is Most Just

كما أتى فيمن نسى آية

بأنه نسي ولا يعقل

As has come in one who forgot a verse

That he forgot and does not reason

إذا دنت للوقت ريحانةٌ

يشمها الأمثل فالأمثل

When the time draws near a lovely scent

The finest sense, thus the finest

ولا يحصلُ الشخص على حكمه

فيه به علما وقد يحصل

And the person does not obtain his judgment

In it by it knowledge though he may obtain

مثلي فإني عالمُ أمره

فيّ وفي غيري فلا أجهل

Like me, for I know its matter

In me and in others so I do not ignore