1. يا سائلي عن منتهى

    رتب المعالي والشرف

    O you who ask me about the summit

    of the ranks of lofty attainment and honor:

  2. تلك التي من نالها

    في قمَّة العليا وقف

    whoever attains those ranks

    stands at the pinnacle of greatness,

  3. يسمو الخلائق سؤدداً

    ويفوز منها بالشغف

    surpasses all creatures in eminence,

    and wins their ardent affection.

  4. ان العلوم باسرها

    ضُمَّت بصدر المقتطف

    Indeed, all the sciences

    were gathered in the breast of Al-Muqtataf.

  5. فغدا كصرحٍ حافلٍ

    ببديع انواع التحف

    Thus it became like an edifice filled

    with wondrous kinds of treasures.

  6. وبدا ككنزٍ شاملٍ

    اسمى الجواهر والطُرف

    And it appeared like a treasure hoard containing

    the finest jewels and rarities.

  7. مفتوحةٌ ابوابهُ

    للناس مبذول الغرف

    Its doors stand open

    to the people; its rooms are freely offered.

  8. من شاءَ بات ومن يشاءُ

    اقام حيناً وانصرف

    Whoever wishes spends the night; whoever wishes

    stays a while and departs.

  9. فيهِ تعلم جاهلٌ

    وبهِ تفقه من عرف

    In it, the ignorant learned,

    and through it, those who knew gained understanding.

  10. وافاد اصناف العبا

    د ذوي الزراعة والحرف

    And it benefited all classes of people:

    those engaged in farming and crafts,

  11. وأُولي المتاجر والمنا

    جم والتنعم والترف

    and owners of shops and mines,

    and those enjoying ease and luxury;

  12. وكذاك ارباب العرو

    ش وكل من بهم انتصف

    and likewise, the lords of thrones,

    and all who gained justice through them.

  13. وجلال قدر المرءِ قا

    مَ بقدرِ إحسانٍ سلف

    And the greatness of a person's standing rests

    on the measure of good done before.

  14. وجميل هذا الفعل فو

    ق جميل اعلام السلف

    And the merit of this deed rises above

    the merit of the luminaries of old.

  15. قد قصَّروا عن بعضهِ

    طرًّا كما عجز الخلف

    Indeed, they fell short of even part of it,

    all of them, just as later generations failed.

  16. فهو الوحيد ولا جدا

    ل بما افاض وما اغترف

    So it is unique, beyond dispute,

    in what it has poured forth and what it has drawn.

  17. حكمٌ تقرَّر عند مَن

    بالعدل والنُبل اتصف

    A judgment firmly held by those

    distinguished by justice and nobility.

  18. هيهات ينكرهُ سوى

    من زاغ بغياً وانحرف

    No one could ever deny it except

    one who strayed in malice and turned aside.

  19. فافقه اذن يا سائلي

    ان كنت لستَ من اعتسف

    So understand, then, O you who ask me,

    if you are not one who acts unjustly:

  20. ان المفاخر والعلى

    والمجد اجمع والشرف

    that proud achievements and lofty rank,

    and all glory and honor,

  21. والذكر يلبث خالداً

    ما دام في البدر الكلف

    and renown that endures forever,

    as long as the full moon bears its dark markings,

  22. عقدٌ بجيد مجلةٍ

    غراء تدعى المقتطف

    are a necklace around the neck of a magazine,

    resplendent, called Al-Muqtataf.