أَلا لَن تَنالَ العِلمَ إِلّا بِسِتَةٍ

سَأُنبيكَ عَن مَجموعِها بِبَيانِ

Know that knowledge can only be attained through six:

Know that you will not attain knowledge except through six things,

Let me explain their totality with clarity:

I shall inform you of their sum with clear explanation:

ذَكاءٌ وَحِرصٌ وَاَصطِبارٌ وَبلغَةٌ

وَإِرشادُ اُستاذٍ وَطَولُ زَمانِ

Intelligence, eagerness, patience, eloquence,

Intelligence, zeal, patience, and sufficiency,

The guidance of a teacher, and length of time.

The guidance of a teacher, and a long span of time.