كيف يا قوم يوصف المخلوقُ

كيف يا قوم يوصف المخلوقُ

بوجود وأصله ممحوقُ

بوجود وأصله ممحوقُ

How, O people, can the created being be described

How can existence, my people, describe the created

As existent, though its origin is effaced?

When its origin is annihilated?

عدم كله وقد قدَّرته

عدم كله وقد قدَّرته

أزلاً قدرةٌ عليه تحوق

أزلاً قدرةٌ عليه تحوق

It is wholly nonbeing, and it has been ordained

Pure nonexistence, which from the start

From eternity by a power that encompasses it.

Was ordained by a power ruling over it

فهو شأن مقدر من قديم

فهو شأن مقدر من قديم

لم يكن للوجود فيه طريق

لم يكن للوجود فيه طريق

So it is an affair ordained by the Eternal;

Thus it is a matter predetermined anciently

Existence had no path into it.

Existence had no path unto it

ولقد جاءت النصوص بهذا

ولقد جاءت النصوص بهذا

في كتاب وسنة ذا مسوق

في كتاب وسنة ذا مسوق

And indeed the texts have conveyed this;

Verily this has been stated in texts

In the Book and the Sunnah, this is set forth.

In Scripture and Tradition of secure transmission

وإذا كان هكذا الأمر قل لي

وإذا كان هكذا الأمر قل لي

كيف وصف الوجود فيه يليق

كيف وصف الوجود فيه يليق

And if this is how matters stand, tell me:

If this be the case, tell me

How can the attribute of existence befit it?

How can existence befit its description?

والذي بالوجود يوصف ماذا

والذي بالوجود يوصف ماذا

أين يا عقل أنت والتحقيق

أين يا عقل أنت والتحقيق

And what is that which is described as existent?

And that which is described by existence, what is it?

Where are you, O reason, in relation to true discernment?

Where, O intellect, are you and verification?

فإذا الخلق قيل نفس وجود

فإذا الخلق قيل نفس وجود

لا بوصف الوجود ذا مرموق

لا بوصف الوجود ذا مرموق

So if creation is said to be existence itself,

So if the cosmos is called identical with existence

Not something viewed as bearing the attribute of existence,

Not in terms of existence, noble and lofty,

قلت إن الوجود في كل شيء

قلت إن الوجود في كل شيء

واحد كلهم به مطروق

واحد كلهم به مطروق

I would say: indeed, existence in every thing

I say: Existence in all things

Is one; all of them are visited by it,

Is one, all struck by it

طبق ما قيل أنه هو جنس

طبق ما قيل أنه هو جنس

وهو للإشتراك فيه يسوق

وهو للإشتراك فيه يسوق

In keeping with what was said: that it is a genus,

As it is said to be a genus

And it leads toward participation in it.

To which they are led by sharing therein

وَلْيَكُ الفرق ظاهراً بذوات

وَلْيَكُ الفرق ظاهراً بذوات

وشخوص سوى الوجود تروق

وشخوص سوى الوجود تروق

And let the distinction be apparent through essences

But the difference between essences is clear

And individual forms, apart from existence, that please the eye.

Other than existence, coursing freely

وإذا كانت الذوات وجوداً

وإذا كانت الذوات وجوداً

وكذاك الشخوص زالت فروق

وكذاك الشخوص زالت فروق

And if the essences are existence,

And if essences are existence

And individual forms likewise, distinctions vanish,

As are individual quiddities, gone are distinctions

وغدا الكل واحداً ومحال

وغدا الكل واحداً ومحال

ذاك في العقل ليس فيه وثوق

ذاك في العقل ليس فيه وثوق

And all becomes one; yet impossible

And all become one, impossible!

Is that to reason; there is no trust in it.

That in reason has no certainty

فافهموا يا عقول ذا القول وادروا

فافهموا يا عقول ذا القول وادروا

وادركوا ما ترونه واستفيقوا

وادركوا ما ترونه واستفيقوا

So understand, O minds, this saying, and know;

So understand, O intellects, this discourse, realize

And grasp what you see, and come to your senses.

Grasp what you see, and awaken!