هذهthis نفحةa fragrant waft عنبرْambergris
هذه نفحة عنبرْ
عنabout شذاهاits fragrance لاnot يُعَبَّرْis expressed
عن شذاها لا يُعَبَّرْ
This is a waft of ambergris;
This is a waft of ambergris
its fragrance cannot be expressed.
Its fragrance is beyond expression
ياO مريضsick one النفسthe soul عنكabout you الthe
يا مريض النفس عنك ال
عارفknower النحريرthe consummate expert أخبرhas told
عارف النحرير أخبر
O you sick of soul, about you the
O you who is sick at heart because of
consummate knower has spoken:
The knower of prose has informed you
إنif ترمyou desire داءكyour illness يبرىis healed
إن ترم داءك يبرى
فاشربthen drink الماءthe water المدبَّرprepared
فاشرب الماء المدبَّر
If you wish your illness to be healed,
If you want your illness cured
then drink the prepared water,
Drink the purified water
لتقيءso that you may vomit الكونthe universe والكوand the universe (first part)
لتقيء الكون والكو
نcompletion of 'universe' وكسرand the fracture البعدseparation يجبرis mended
ن وكسر البعد يجبر
so you may vomit out the universe, and the uni-
So you may vomit the universe and the
verse and the fracture of separation may be mended.
Universe and breaking the distance is mended
قامarose فيin الصدرthe breast خطيبa preacher
قام في الصدر خطيب
ولهand for him قلبكyour heart منبرa pulpit
وله قلبك منبر
A preacher has risen in the breast,
A preacher stood up in the chest
and your heart is his pulpit.
And for him your heart is a pulpit
فاستمعso listen وانصتand keep silent ولاand do not تلbeginning of 'speak idly'
فاستمع وانصت ولا تل
غوcompletion of 'speak idly' فتيلاًa thread's worth كنbe مُصَبَّرfortified with patience
غو فتيلاً كن مُصَبَّر
So listen and keep silent, and do not prat-
So listen, be silent, do not
tle even a thread's worth; be fortified with patience.
Extinguish a wick, be patient
وبهand through Him لاnot بكthrough yourself فاذكرso remember
وبه لا بك فاذكر
ولذكرand surely remembrance اللهGod أكبرgreater
ولذكر الله أكبر
And through Him, not through yourself, remember;
And through Him, not you, so remember
and surely remembrance of God is greater.
And remembering Allah is greater