العلم يَكسو الحُلل الفاخِرَة

وَالعلم يُحيي الأَعظم الناخِرَه

Knowledge adorns the glorious robes,

Knowledge clothes one in luxurious robes,

And knowledge revives the greatest ruins.

And knowledge brings life to decaying bones.

كَم ذَنبٍ أَصبَح رَأساً بِهِ

وَمِذنَبٍ أَبحرُه زاخِرَه

How many sins have become, through it, heads,

How many a tail became a head through it,

And many a sinner, oceans swarming.

And a narrow channel whose waters became swelling seas.

ما شَرَفُ النسبة إِلّا التُقى

أَين تَهيمُ الأَنفُس الفاخِرَه

No glory of lineage except through piety-

The honor of lineage is nothing but piety;

Where do deluded souls find glory?

Where do the boastful souls wander astray?

مَن يَطلُب العزَّ بِغَير التُقى

تَرجعُ عَنهُ نَفسه داخِرَه

One who seeks might without piety

Whoever seeks glory through other than piety,

Will find his own soul recoiling in shame.

His soul returns from it abased and humbled.

أَعرِض عَن الدُنيا تَكُن سَيِّدا

بَل مَلِكاً فيها وَفي الآخِرَه

Turn away from this world and you will be lordly;

Turn away from the world and you shall be a master,

Rather, a king in it and in the next.

Nay, a king in this life and in the Hereafter.