بحمد الله يبدأ كلّ شاكرْ

بنُطق لسان أقلام المحابرْ

With praise to God begins every thankful one

With the speech of a tongue and pens of scholars

وبالإرشاد يرشد كلّ عبدٍ

لسيّده تخصّص وهو قادر

And with guidance He guides every servant

To his Lord of specialty and He is Capable

وبعد فخذ هداكَ الله نصحي

وقم واعمل به وعليه ثابر

And after take your guidance from God my advice

And stand and act upon it and persevere on it

نصحتك في زمانك لا تصاحب

خليلاً من أكابر أو أصاغر

I advise you in your time do not befriend

A close friend from the elders or youngsters

ترى في وجهه البشرى تبدّت

وبالسرَّا يوافي وهو ماكر

You see cheerfulness manifest in his face

Yet secretly he attends while being deceitful

ولا تركن لعهدٍ من وفاه

فإن تلق الموافي فهو غادر

And do not trust the covenant of his loyalty

For if he meets friendly, he is unfaithful

نصحتك إن سمعت النصح منّي

على الأصحاب كَبِّرْ لا تكابر

I advised you, if you heard my advice

About friends, respect, do not be arrogant

خصوصاً كلّ ذي وجهٍ وجيه

له وجهٌ وليس به نواظر

Especially every dignified faced one

Who has a face, but no insight

شجاعٌ كرّ في الكرّات جمعاً

من الأموال بالدنيا يفاخر

Brave, excessive in battles, collectively

Gathering wealth in the world boasting

فدعه ولا تمل يوماً إليه

وجانبه وإن حاز المفاخر

So leave him and do not incline to him one day

And avoid him even if he attained glories

يريك حلاوةً من حسن نطقٍ

وتلك حلاوةٌ شقّت مرائر

He shows you the sweetness of fine speech

And that is a sweetness that split livers

ولا يغررك صدقٌ من صديقٍ

وحاذر أن تبيح له السرائر

And no sincere friend should fool you

And beware not to allow him your secrets

فليس سواه تلقى الضرّ منه

إذا يوماً لودّك بات هاجر

For none but him you will receive harm from

If one day he wished your affection then detached

ولا يخدعك رفقٌ من رفيقٍ

ولو كرّرت فيه للمخابر

And no gentleness of a friend should trick you

Even if you corresponded with him frequently

وفي عين الحقيقة لو ترآى

رأيت مجاز نيّته مغاير

And in the eye of truth if you saw him

You would see his intended meaning is different

وإن يقلب عليك القلب يوماً

تصدّى عالماً لك بالمضارر

And if he turns his heart against you one day

He will block you while knowing your detriments

فهم خوّانُ لا إخوان عهدٍ

فحقّق حالَهم والحال ظاهر

For they are treacherous, not brothers of loyalty

So investigate their situation and it is evident

جواسيس العيون بعين ريب

أباليس الأسى في كلّ ضائر

The spies of eyes with suspicious glances

The devils of misery in every harm

فعيناه ترى والقلب يرعى

ربيع السوء مملوء المباعر

So his eyes see and the heart herds

The spring of evil filled with ulcers

فظاهره الأزاهر بالعواطر

وباطنه القذائر بالمفاقر

So his facade is flowers with fragrances

And his essence is filth with sores

فلا تغترّ منه بعين صدق

ولاحظه بها إن كنت باصر

So do not be fooled by an eye of honesty from him

And do not look at him with it if you are seeing

يذيعُ السوءَ عنك لدى البرايا

وللنعماء والمعروف كافر

He spreads evil about you to the creations

And to favors and good he is ungrateful

يريك الشهدَ منه عذيبُ نطقٍ

بوجهٍ والقفا لسعُ الزنابر

He shows you the honey from his fine speech

With a face, while the nape stings like wasps

فجاهد في سبيل الله نفساً

تريد ودادَهم واحذر وحاذر

So struggle in God’s path against a self

That wants their affection, and be cautious and wary

فحاربها إذا لم ترض هذا

وكن بالله سيفَ الحرب شاهر

So fight it if it does not accept this

And with God be an unsheathed sword of war

إذا ما رمت يوماً فعل أمرٍ

بخيرٍ فاستخر لا لا تشاور

When you intend to do a good deed one day

Then seek divine guidance, do not consult

فما لمشورةٍ إلّا نصوحٌ

لوجه الله برٌّ غير فاجر

For no consultation except sincere advice

For God’s sake, righteous, not immoral

فإنّك إن تشاورهم بخيرٍ

رأيت الخير شرّاً عاد صائر

For if you consult them about good

You will see good become bad redirected

فدهرك ليس فيه من صلاح

فدارِ فسادَه الساري وساير

So your world does not contain righteousness

So leave its corruption flowing and sailing

على الدين احتفظ واقبض عليه

كقبض الجمر واصبر ثمّ صابر

On the religion take hold and grasp it

Like grasping embers, and be patient then steadfast

تحوّل عن مجالسهم بخوضٍ

إذا خاضوا حديثاً لا تباشر

Turn away from their immoral gatherings

If they discussed inappropriate, do not engage

وجانبهم بجنبك واعتزلهم

تكن في راحةٍ وصفاءِ خاطر

And avoid them with your side and seclude yourself

To be in comfort and clarity of conscience

فلا تبصر بمجلسهم رئيساً

سوى نذل تصدّر بالمصادر

So do not see in their gathering a leader

Except vile ones preceding with misguidance

تقدّمَ في محافلهم ويجري

بلغوٍ في الميامن والمياسر

Coming forward in their forums and flowing

With nonsense on the right and left

وجاهلُهم رئيسُ الرأي فيهم

وفاضلهم لديهم بات قاصر

And their ignorant one is the leader of opinion among them

While their virtuous among them has become inadequate

فكم من أوّل في المجد أمسى

بمحفل جمعهم في القوم آخر

So how many first in glory became last

In their gathering among the people

وكم حرٍّ لهم أضحى رقيقاً

وكم عبدٍ تمتّع بالحرائر

And how many free ones became enslaved to them

And how many servants enjoyed the free women

وكم فظٍّ تراه غليظ لفظٍ

إذا ما كان كان الليل عاكر

And how many rude ones you see rough in speech

When it was night engaging in adultery

ولا تُضمِرْ على ضرٍّ لجارٍ

فربّك عالمٌ ما في الضمائر

And do not harbor resentment over harm to a neighbor

For your Lord knows what is in the consciences

وإن يقصدك بالضرّاء يوماً

فلم يقدر لأنّ الله حاضر

And if he intends harm upon you one day

But cannot because God is Present

فثق بالله واجعله نصيراً

ووكّله فإنّ الله ناصر

So trust in God and make Him a victor

And entrust Him for God is a helper

ولا تضجر لأمرٍ فيه عسرٌ

فبعد العسر يسر الأمر صادر

And do not be distressed by any difficult matter

For after hardship ease comes assured

وماء الوجه صنه ولا تُرِقه

لغير الله لو منح الجواهر

And do not shame your face except for God even if given the jewels

And beware residing in the abode of people

وحاذر أن تقيمٍ بدار قومٍ

أضاعوا الدين بالدنيا وهاجر

Who lost the religion for the world and migrated

And tightening the self is easier than residing

وضنكُ النفسِ أهونُ من مقامٍ

بذلٍّ في الديار لذي المساخر

In humiliation among those of amusement

And death of a person is better than living

وموت المرء خيرٌ من حياةٍ

يكون بها ذليل الدين صاغر

A life in which religion is disgraced and weak

So come on, do not be narrow in your state

فهيّا لا تضق بالحال ذرعاً

وقل يا بحر سر بي للجزائر

And say O sea, flow me to the islands

And beware of joking even in truth

وإيّاك المزاح ولو بحقٍّ

فذا مفتاحُ تكديرِ الخواطر

For that is the key to disturbing consciences

And your right, it is truly a flaw and disgrace

وحقِّك إنّه نقصٌ وعيبٌ

وبابٌ للمغادر والمعاذر

And a gateway for transgressors and excuses

And if you speak then say truth and honesty

وإن تنطق فقل حقّاً وصدقاً

تكن بالدين والإسلام ظافر

To be with the religion and Islam triumphant

Or else be silent and leave what does not concern

وإلّا اصمت ودع ما ليس يعني

فأمر الدين في هذين دائر

For the matter of religion in these two is circulating

And if the fool speaks do not respond to him

وإن نطق السفيه فلا تجبه

ولا تسفَه ودع وصف الفواجر

And do not act foolishly, leave the traits of immorality

And do not get angry except for God and leave

ولا تغضب لغير الله واترك

هوى الأغراض من نفسٍ وغادر

Self desires from a soul and unfaithful

And if you become happy with good and evil

وإن سوررت في خيرٍ وشرٍّ

فلا تفشِ الّذي تخفي السرائر

Then do not divulge what you hide in confidentiality

And be absent and attend to your Lord in witnessing

وغب واحضر بربّك في شهودٍ

فربّك باطنٌ فيهم وظاهر

For your Lord is intrinsic in them and manifest

For they are manifestations of divine names

فهم لشؤون أسماءٍ تجلّت

قوابلٌ تنجلي وهم الأشائر

Receptacles that shine and they are the signs

The names influence them with a state

تؤثّر فيهم الأسماء حالاً

لها في أمرهم حكمُ المآثر

That holds authority over their affairs

So submit their matter to God, you will be safe

فسلّم أمرهم لله تسلم

لديه وكن مقرّاً غير ناكر

With Him and be accepting, not rejecting

And if their knots are undone, then leave them

وإن مرجت عقودُهمُ فدعهم

ودع ما عاقدوه ولا تناظر

And leave what they tied and do not look

And say about them a secret decree of judgment

وقل لله فيهم سرّ حكمٍ

وفي عين الحقيقة هم مظاهر

And in the eye of truth they are manifestations

And if they followed desires willingly in greed

وإن تبعوا الهوى بالطوع شحّاً

وإعجاباً لرأيٍ في المحاضر

And arrogance to an opinion in the forums

Then take what you knew as right and leave what

فخذ ما قد عرفت له ودع ما

له أنكرت من تلك المناكر

You rejected from those disavowed things

Take what is for yourself and commit to it

عليك بما لنفسك والتزمه

مع البيت الّذي بالذكر عامر

With the house that is inhabited by remembrance

And cleanse the house of your heart for it is a house

ونظّف بيت قلبك فهو بيتٌ

به نورٌ لذكر الله باهر

In it is the light of God’s remembrance brilliant

And inhabit it with piety of God, piety

وعمّره بتقوى الله تقوى

على حملِ الأمانة والأوامر

Upon carrying the trust and commands

Visit frequently the meadow of purity when it is good to visit

ورِدْ وِردَ الصفا إذ طاب وِرداً

إلى الورّاد وانهل غير صادر

The Gardner, and draw water ceaselessly

For leaving the meadow cuts off an abundance

فترك الورد يقطع فيضَ مدٍّ

من البحر الّذي بالفيض زاخر

From the sea that is abundant with overflowing

And unify the One in a name, essence

ووحّد واحداً في اسمٍ وذاتٍ

وفعلٍ منه تشتقّ المصادر

And deed from which the sources derive

For with oneness is the knowledge of meanings

فبالتوحيد معرفة المثاني

وجمع بحور فرقان زواخر

And collecting seas of overflowing consciousness

And sit with its people, the people of highness

وجالس أهله أهل المعالي

وذكّر في فضائله وذاكر

And remember its virtues and remember

For there is no happiness of the two abodes except

فليس سعادة الدارين إلّا

بذكر الله فالزمه وثابر

By remembering God, so adhere to it and persevere

And do not look to the people of veils from those

ولا تنظر لأهل الحجب ممّن

غدا بالجهل مطموس البصائر

Who became ignorant, visions obscured

For that is in heedlessness and easily removable veil

فذا في غفلةٍ وحجاب رينٍ

بقلبٍ دونه ضربت ستائر

With a heart below which curtains were cast

And everyone trading in other than this

وكلّ متاجرٍ في غير هذا

رباحُ نُمُوِّ متجرِه خسائر

Profits of multiplying his trade are losses

And even if his trade profits and increases

وإن ربحت تجارته وزادت

بدنياه عواقبه المخاسر

In his worldly life, its consequences are forfeits

So oh what loss and annihilation

فيا سحقاً لعبدٍ بل ومحقاً

له إن لم يكن لله ذاكر

To a servant, rather if he was not remembering God

And he has lost his trade if

وقد خسرت تجارته إذا لم

يكن برضاء مولاه يتاجر

He was not trading to please his Master

My brother, hold firmly to the bond of piety

أخي بالعروة الوثقى تمسّك

من التقوى لتربح في المتاجر

From righteousness to profit in trades

And leave the path of one who strayed

وخلّ سبيل مختلٍّ تخلّى

عن السبب المنجّي فهو خاسر

Who abandoned the saving cause so he is forfeited

For the life is not remaining, but in it

فما الدنيا بباقيةٍ ولكن

بها الأعمال زادٌ للمسافر

Deeds are provisions for the traveler

And if you work good or evil in it

وإن تعمل بها خيراً وشرّاً

فمنسوخٌ تسطّر في دفاتر

Then it is transcribed in records

To be displayed on the day of spreading

ستنشر للحساب بيوم نشرٍ

لدى حَكَمٍ بعدلٍ غير جائر

Before a Judge of justice, not unjust

And nothing is hidden from the Almighty

ولا يخفى على الجبّار شيءٌ

بأرضٍ أو سماءٍ وهو قاهر

On earth or sky and He is Dominant

He is the Great King, Subduer, so know

هو الملك العظيم القهر فاعرف

لأحكامٍ بها ناهٍ وآمر

His judgments by which He prevents and commands

And do not desire corruption, for every desirer

ولا تبغ الفساد فكلّ باغٍ

عليه أدار مولانا الدوائر

Our Lord turns the cycles against him

And be in fear hoping for pardon and grace

وكن بالخوف راجي العفو فضلاً

وغفراناً فإنّ الله غافر

For God is Pardoning and Forgiving

Forbearing, not hastening to punishment

حليمٌ ليس يعجل في عقابٍ

وقد يعفو ويصفح وهو قادر

And He may pardon, forgive, and He is Able

So ask Him for cover and success secretly

فسله الستر والتوفيق سرّاً

فمولانا كريم العفو ساتر

For our Lord is noble in pardon, covering

And pave the ways of salvation from vices

وسر سبلَ النجاة من المراضي

وكن في نهج ما يرضيه سائر

And be upon a path that pleases Him proceeding

And ask Him for guidance upon a path

وسل منه الهداية في طريقٍ

بها يهدي له من كان حائر

By which He guides to Him one who is lost

And stand for night prayer and privately speak to God and gain

وقم سحراً وناجِ الله واغنم

مراحمه ومنك الطرفُ ساهر

His mercy and from you the eyelid is awake

I advised you so listen to my advice when

نصحتك فاستمع نصحي إذا ما

من الدارين قد رمت المفاخر

From the two abodes you have wished glories

For this is a threaded necklace in conduct

فهذا عقد سلكٍ في سلوكٍ

تنظَّمَ بالنصيحة كالجواهر

Organized with advice like jewels

And the hands of thought collect it fascinated

وأيدي الفكر تلقطه سحيراً

من البحر الّذي بالفيض وافر

From the sea abundant with overflow

Beginning with praise to God for this

بحمد الله مبتدئاً لهذا

غدا نظماً بمسك الختم عاطر

Becoming a composition sealed with musk fragrance