كَتَبْتُ بِمَكْتَبٍ أَبْيَاتَ شِعْرٍِ

تُفِيدُ أَخَا النُّهَى مَرَحاً وَزَهْوَا

I wrote in prose some verses of poetry

I penned verses of poetry in a study,

That may benefit a brother seeking joy and amusement

Bestowing joy and exaltation upon the man of wisdom.

يُمِيتُ بَدِيعُهُنَّ كُلَّ وَصْفٍ

لَهُ فَاتْرُكْ بُحَيْرَ الْوَصْفِ رَهْوَا

Their eloquence outshines any description

Their wondrous beauty lays every description to rest,

So leave confusing descriptions be

So leave the little sea of description completely still.

وَقُلْ مَتْلَى كِتَابِ اللهِ وَاكْفُفْ

وَفَارِقْ مَنْ سَهَا فِي الْوَصْفِ سَهْوَا

And say the recitation of God's book is enough

Say, 'It is the recitation of God's Book,' and hold your peace,

And part from one who errantly describes in amusement

And part ways with him who carelessly errs in description.

وَتَمَّ بِنَاؤُهُ إِذَ شَقَّ حَيٌّ

جُيُوبَ قَمِيصِهِ طَرَباً وَلَهْوَا

And it was complete when Hayy

Its composition was completed when a living soul tore

Tore his shirt in ecstasy and play

The collar of his shirt out of ecstasy and delight.