من ظل يبغي فروع علم

بدءاً ولم يدر منه أصلا

He who seeks branches of knowledge without knowing the roots

Whoever persists in pursuing the branches of knowledge,

Is like one who gathers wood by night;

From the beginning, without understanding its roots,

فكلما ازداد فيه سعياً

زاد لعمري بذاك جهلا

The more he toils therein,

The more effort he exerts in its pursuit,

The greater is his bewilderment.

By my life, the more his ignorance only grows.