لَعَمرُ الحَقِّ ذا قولٌ جَميلُ

ولكن لو يُعَزِّزُ الدَّليلُ

By the truth, these are beautiful words,

But they would be stronger with evidence.

كثيرُ العِلمِ في زَمَنٍقَليلٍ

لِمُستَملِيهِ هذا مُستَحيلُ

To gain much knowledge in little time,

For the eager student this is impossible.

كأَنَّ العلمَ سَهلٌ ليس فيه

عَويصٌ فيه قد حارت عُقولُ

As if knowledge is easy with no obstacles,

Over which minds are perplexed.

وكم لِمُؤَلَّفٍ لَفظٌ وجِيزٌ

ومعناهُ له شَرحٌ يَطولُ

How many authors have eloquent expressions,

Yet their meanings require lengthy explanations.

وكم ليلٍ تَبيتُ بدون نَومٍ

وفِكرُكَ في تَفَهُّمِه يَجولُ

How many nights pass without sleep,

As your mind wanders trying to understand.

أبنَتَ تَساهُلاً في أَخذِ عِلمٍ

كأنَّ العِلمَ ماءٌ سَلسَبيلُ

You have been complacent in gaining knowledge,

As if knowledge flows like a free-running stream.

ألا فاعلَم بأنَّ العِلمَ صَعبٌ

ولا يَكفي له الزَّمَنُ القَليلُ

Know that knowledge is difficult,

And little time does not suffice.

وكم مِن جُملةٍ فيها وُجوهٌ

وآراءٌ وكُلٌّ ما يَقولُ

How many issues have multiple facets,

And differing opinions, each stating their own.

فمن لم يَجتَهِد فيه ويُجهِد

به نَفساً وعنه لا يَميلُ

Whoever does not diligently persevere,

And devote himself wholeheartedly without wavering,

فليسَ له على عِلمٍ حُصولٌ

وليس لهُ إلى عِلمٍ وصُولُ

Will have no acquisition of knowledge,

And no access to learning.

وهذا ما رَوينا عن شُيوخٍ

وكلٌّ منهمُ شيخٌ جَليلُ

This we have transmitted from venerable shaykhs,

Each a majestic elder.

وشاهَدناه نَحنُ بِأُمِّ عَينٍ

وما راءٍ لِمُستَمِعٍ مَثيلُ

We have witnessed it with our own eyes,

Unparalleled for any listener.