حَمداًpraise لِرَبٍّto a Lord قاهِرٍall-subduing مَنّانِbountiful
حَمداً لِرَبٍّ قاهِرٍ مَنّانِ
يُعطِيHe gives وَيَمنَعand withholds ماnot لَهُto Him مِنany ثانِequal
يُعطِي وَيَمنَع ما لَهُ مِن ثانِ
Praise to an All-Subduing, Bountiful Lord,
Who gives and withholds, with none His equal.
وَهَبَHe bestowed الحَياةَlife لِقَلبِupon the heart of عَبدٍa servant مُؤمنٍbelieving
وَهَبَ الحَياةَ لِقَلبِ عَبدٍ مُؤمنٍ
وَأَماتَand He deadened قلبَthe heart of مُنافِقٍa hypocrite بِالرّانِwith spiritual rust
وَأَماتَ قلبَ مُنافِقٍ بِالرّانِ
He gave life to the heart of a believing servant,
And deadened a hypocrite's heart with spiritual rust.
وَلَقَدand indeed بُلِيناwe were tried وَهوَand it is وَعدٌa promise ثابِتٌfirm
وَلَقَد بُلِينا وَهوَ وَعدٌ ثابِتٌ
بِأَراهِطٍwith bands فيin سائِرِall البُلدانِthe lands
بِأَراهِطٍ في سائِرِ البُلدانِ
And we have indeed been tried, as firmly promised,
With bands throughout all the lands.
حَلُّواthey settled in البِلادَthe lands وَأَفسَدواand corrupted فيamong حَيِّهاits community
حَلُّوا البِلادَ وَأَفسَدوا في حَيِّها
لِمَجالِهِمbecause of their activity فيin ساحَةِthe arena of الأَديانِreligions
لِمَجالِهِم في ساحَةِ الأَديانِ
They settled in the lands and corrupted their communities,
Through their activity in the arena of religions.
إِمّاeither مَسِيحِيٌّa Christian عَرَفناwe knew حالَهُhis condition
إِمّا مَسِيحِيٌّ عَرَفنا حالَهُ
أَوor جاهِلٌan ignorant man جاراهُmatched him فِيin الإِفتانِstirring temptation
أَو جاهِلٌ جاراهُ فِي الإِفتانِ
Either a Christian whose condition we have known,
Or an ignorant man who matched him in stirring temptation.
وَإِذاand when الفَسَادُcorruption أَلَمَّdescended فِيamid أَجنادِهِits hosts
وَإِذا الفَسَادُ أَلَمَّ فِي أَجنادِهِ
وَجَبَbecame obligatory الدِّفاعُdefense عَلىupon ذَويthose possessing العِرفانِknowledge
وَجَبَ الدِّفاعُ عَلى ذَوي العِرفانِ
And when corruption descends amid its hosts,
Defense becomes obligatory upon those with knowledge.
وَلَقَدand indeed أَبانَmade clear كِتابُthe Book of رَبِّيmy Lord أَنَّهُthat He
وَلَقَد أَبانَ كِتابُ رَبِّي أَنَّهُ
أَخَذَHe took العُهودَpledges عَلَيهِمُbinding upon them لِبَيانِfor clarification
أَخَذَ العُهودَ عَلَيهِمُ لِبَيانِ
My Lord's Book has indeed made clear that He
Took pledges binding upon them to make things clear.
فَلِذاso for this أَقُولُI say مُحَذِّراًwarning لأخِيto a brother of نُهىًunderstanding
فَلِذا أَقُولُ مُحَذِّراً لأخِي نُهىً
قَبِلَaccepted النَّصيحَةadvice غايَةَto the utmost of الإِمكانِability
قَبِلَ النَّصيحَة غايَةَ الإِمكانِ
So I speak, warning a brother of understanding,
Who accepts advice to the fullest extent he can:
عُذseek refuge بِالمُهَيمِنin the Guardian مِنfrom هَوىًdesire فَتّانِtempting
عُذ بِالمُهَيمِن مِن هَوىً فَتّانِ
ماnot تِلكَthat إِلاexcept فِتنَةٌthe temptation of الشَّيطانِSatan
ما تِلكَ إِلا فِتنَةٌ الشَّيطانِ
Seek refuge in the Guardian from tempting desire;
That is nothing but Satan's temptation.
مِنfrom كُلِّevery عَصرِيٍّmodernist هَواهُhis desire مُرسَلٌunrestrained
مِن كُلِّ عَصرِيٍّ هَواهُ مُرسَلٌ
ماnot قَيَّدتهُbound it رِبقَةُthe tether of الإِيمانِfaith
ما قَيَّدتهُ رِبقَةُ الإِيمانِ
From every modernist whose desire runs free,
Unbound by the tether of faith.
نَعَقَتcawed شَياطينٌdevils فَلَبَّتthen answered صَوتَهاtheir call
نَعَقَت شَياطينٌ فَلَبَّت صَوتَها
بِسَخافَةِwith foolishness of الأَحلامِjudgments وَالأذهانِand minds
بِسَخافَةِ الأَحلامِ وَالأذهانِ
Devils cawed, and their call was answered
With foolishness of judgment and intellect.
نَبَذُواthey cast aside كِتابَthe Book of اللَّهِGod خَلفَbehind ظُهُورِهِمtheir backs
نَبَذُوا كِتابَ اللَّهِ خَلفَ ظُهُورِهِم
وَلِسُنَّةِand to the tradition of المُختارِthe Chosen One مِنfrom عَدنانِAdnan
وَلِسُنَّةِ المُختارِ مِن عَدنانِ
They cast God's Book behind their backs,
And the tradition of the Chosen One from Adnan,
وَلِسائِرِand to all النُّجَبَاءthe noble ones مِنamong أَصحابِهِhis companions
وَلِسائِرِ النُّجَبَاء مِن أَصحابِهِ
البالِغِينَattaining مَراتِبَthe ranks of الإِحسانِexcellence
البالِغِينَ مَراتِبَ الإِحسانِ
And all the noble ones among his companions,
Who attained the ranks of excellence,
وَالذَّاكِرِand mentioning الرَّبُّthe Lord العَظيمُthe Mighty صِفاتِهِمtheir qualities
وَالذَّاكِرِ الرَّبُّ العَظيمُ صِفاتِهِم
فيin سابِقِthe earlier الإِنجيلِGospel والفُرقانِand the Criterion
في سابِقِ الإِنجيلِ والفُرقانِ
And whose qualities the Mighty Lord mentions
In the Gospel of old and the Criterion;
وَالتَّابِعِينَand following نَبِيَّهُمtheir Prophet فِيin هَديِهِhis guidance
وَالتَّابِعِينَ نَبِيَّهُم فِي هَديِهِ
مُتَبَتِّلِينَwholly devoted بِطَاعَةِto obeying الرَّحمنِthe Most Merciful
مُتَبَتِّلِينَ بِطَاعَةِ الرَّحمنِ
Who followed their Prophet in his guidance,
Wholly devoted to obeying the Most Merciful;
المُكثِرينَincreasing صِيامَهُمtheir fasting وَصَلاتَهُمand their prayers
المُكثِرينَ صِيامَهُم وَصَلاتَهُم
لَمّاwhen دَعاهُمcalled them واعِظُthe admonisher of القُرآنِthe Qur'an
لَمّا دَعاهُم واعِظُ القُرآنِ
Abundant in their fasting and prayers,
When the Qur'an's admonisher called them,
لَمّاwhen رَأَواthey saw أَنَّthat النَّبِيَّthe Prophet المُصطَفَىthe Chosen
لَمّا رَأَوا أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ المُصطَفَى
مُتَوَرِّمُswollen الأَقدامِthe feet فيin ذاthis الشَّانِendeavor
مُتَوَرِّمُ الأَقدامِ في ذا الشَّانِ
When they saw that the Chosen Prophet
Had swollen feet in this endeavor;
النَّاصِرينَsupporting الشَّرعَthe sacred law فيمَاin what بَينَهُمis between them
النَّاصِرينَ الشَّرعَ فيمَا بَينَهُم
إِذsince نَصرُهُمtheir victory فيin نُصرَةِsupporting الدَّيانِthe Requiter
إِذ نَصرُهُم في نُصرَةِ الدَّيانِ
Who supported the sacred law among themselves,
For their victory lay in supporting the Requiter.
لَكِنَّماbut هَذِيthese المَراتِبُranks صَعبَةٌdifficult
لَكِنَّما هَذِي المَراتِبُ صَعبَةٌ
تَبغِيrequire كِراماًnoble people مِنamong بَنِيthe children of الإِنسانِmankind
تَبغِي كِراماً مِن بَنِي الإِنسانِ
But these ranks are difficult,
Requiring noble people among humankind.
لَمَّاwhen رَأَىsaw حَمقَىthe fools of الوَرَىmankind فيin عَصِرِناour age
لَمَّا رَأَى حَمقَى الوَرَى في عَصِرِنا
فِيin طَبعِهِمtheir nature عَنهاfrom them نُفُورَan aversion of تَوَانِindolence
فِي طَبعِهِم عَنها نُفُورَ تَوَانِ
When the fools of mankind in our age saw
An indolent aversion to them in their own nature,
صَدُّواthey turned away صُدُودَthe aversion of المُعجَبِينَthe self-admiring بِرَأيِهِمin their own opinion
صَدُّوا صُدُودَ المُعجَبِينَ بِرَأيِهِم
وَتَكَبَّرُواand acted arrogantly كَتَكَبُّرِlike the arrogance of السَّكرانِa drunkard
وَتَكَبَّرُوا كَتَكَبُّرِ السَّكرانِ
They turned away like those enamored of their own opinions,
And acted arrogantly like a drunkard.
هُمthey شابَهُواresembled فِيin حالِهِمtheir condition جُعلاًa dung beetle إِذاwhen
هُم شابَهُوا فِي حالِهِم جُعلاً إِذا
أَردَاهُkilled it طِيبٌperfume عاشَit lived بِالإِنتانِon stench
أَردَاهُ طِيبٌ عاشَ بِالإِنتانِ
In their condition they resembled a dung beetle that,
Though perfume killed it, lived on stench.
وَحَكَواand resembled خَفافِيشاًbats تَطِيرُflying بِظُلمَةٍin darkness
وَحَكَوا خَفافِيشاً تَطِيرُ بِظُلمَةٍ
إِذsince كَانَwas يُعشيهاblinding them سَناthe radiance of النِّيرانِfires
إِذ كَانَ يُعشيها سَنا النِّيرانِ
And they resembled bats flying in darkness,
For the radiance of fires blinded them.
فَاستَبدَلُواso they substituted عَنهاin their place لِسُوءِbecause of the badness of حُظُوظِهِمtheir fortunes
فَاستَبدَلُوا عَنها لِسُوءِ حُظُوظِهِم
بِمُؤَلَّفاتٍwith writings مِنby ذَويthose possessing الطُّغيانِtransgression
بِمُؤَلَّفاتٍ مِن ذَوي الطُّغيانِ
So, to their ill fortune, they replaced them
With writings by people of transgression.
قَومٌa people هُمُthey عجمُinarticulate القُلُوبِof heart وَإِنand even if دَعَواthey called
قَومٌ هُمُ عجمُ القُلُوبِ وَإِن دَعَوا
أَتباعَهُمtheir followers بِفَصاحَةٍwith eloquence وَبَيانِand clarity
أَتباعَهُم بِفَصاحَةٍ وَبَيانِ
A people inarticulate of heart, though they called
Their followers with eloquence and clarity;
مُتَجَبِّرِينَdomineering عَلَىover الكِرامِthe noble بِأَلسُنٍwith tongues
مُتَجَبِّرِينَ عَلَى الكِرامِ بِأَلسُنٍ
أَبذَىmore obscene وَأَخبَثَand more wicked مِنthan أَذَىthe harm of الثُّعبانِa serpent
أَبذَى وَأَخبَثَ مِن أَذَى الثُّعبانِ
Lording it over the noble with tongues
More obscene and wicked than a serpent's harm;
مُتَلَبِّسِينَclothed بِدَعوَةٍin a cause مَرضِيَّةٍpleasing
مُتَلَبِّسِينَ بِدَعوَةٍ مَرضِيَّةٍ
لَكِنَّهاbut it مَرضِيَّةpleasing to الشَّيطانِSatan
لَكِنَّها مَرضِيَّة الشَّيطانِ
Clothed in a pleasing cause,
Yet pleasing to Satan.
هُمthey يَحمِلُونَurge عَلَىtoward الجَميلِthe good بِزَعمِهِمby their claim
هُم يَحمِلُونَ عَلَى الجَميلِ بِزَعمِهِم
لَكِنَّماbut حَمَلُواthey urged عَلَىtoward الحِرمَانِdeprivation
لَكِنَّما حَمَلُوا عَلَى الحِرمَانِ
They urge what is good, so they claim,
But they have urged only deprivation.
ياO فِرقَةًfaction لَعِبَتtoyed بِغَيرِwith other than عقُولِهِمtheir minds
يا فِرقَةً لَعِبَت بِغَيرِ عقُولِهِم
أَعداءُthe enemies of دِينِthe religion of اللَّهِGod بِالعُدوانِin aggression
أَعداءُ دِينِ اللَّهِ بِالعُدوانِ
O faction—minds other than their own were toyed with
By the enemies of God's religion, in aggression.
هُمthey حَسَّنُواmade attractive لَكُمto you الفَسادَcorruption فَقُلتُمso you said
هُم حَسَّنُوا لَكُم الفَسادَ فَقُلتُم
هَذَاthis الصَّلاحُreform المُستَجِدُّnewly arisen الدَّانِيnear at hand
هَذَا الصَّلاحُ المُستَجِدُّ الدَّانِي
They made corruption look fair to you, and you said:
'This is the new reform, close at hand.'
وَاللَّهand God يَدعُوكُمcalls you إِلىto جَنَّاتِهِHis gardens
وَاللَّه يَدعُوكُم إِلى جَنَّاتِهِ
وَبِماand through what أَتَىcame فِيin مُحكَمِthe definitive التِّبيانِexposition
وَبِما أَتَى فِي مُحكَمِ التِّبيانِ
And God calls you to His gardens,
And through what came in the definitive exposition.
وَهُمُand they دَعوكُمcalled you لِلهَوَىto desire فَأَجَبتُمُso you answered
وَهُمُ دَعوكُم لِلهَوَى فَأَجَبتُمُ
أَينَwhere الهُدىguidance ياO مُدَّعِيclaimants to الإِيمانِfaith
أَينَ الهُدى يا مُدَّعِي الإِيمانِ
Yet they called you to desire, and you answered.
Where is guidance, O claimants to faith?
هُمthey أَورَثُواbequeathed تُبّاعَهُمto their followers فيin دِينِهِمtheir religion
هُم أَورَثُوا تُبّاعَهُم في دِينِهِم
كَسَلاًlaziness يُؤَدِّيهِمleading them إِلىto خُسرانِruin
كَسَلاً يُؤَدِّيهِم إِلى خُسرانِ
They bequeathed to their followers, in their religion,
A laziness that leads them to ruin.
هُمthey زَندَقُوهُمmade them heretics شكَّكوهُمmade them doubt فيabout الهُدىguidance
هُم زَندَقُوهُم شكَّكوهُم في الهُدى
هُمthey أُولِعُواbecame enamored بِالزُّورِof falsehood وَالبُهتانِand slander
هُم أُولِعُوا بِالزُّورِ وَالبُهتانِ
They made them heretics, made them doubt guidance;
They became enamored of falsehood and slander.
هُمthey سَدَّدُواblocked طُرُقَthe paths of الصَّلاحِrighteousness عَلَيهِمُagainst them
هُم سَدَّدُوا طُرُقَ الصَّلاحِ عَلَيهِمُ
هُمthey رَغَّبُوهُمmade them desire فِيtoward الحَقِيرِthe base الفانِيfleeting
هُم رَغَّبُوهُم فِي الحَقِيرِ الفانِي
They blocked the paths of righteousness against them;
They made them desire what is base and fleeting.
وَاللَّهُand God لَمnot يَمنَعforbade تَطَلُّبَseeking عِيشَةٍa livelihood
وَاللَّهُ لَم يَمنَع تَطَلُّبَ عِيشَةٍ
لَكِنbut مَعَwith الإِجمالmoderation وَالتُّكلانِand reliance
لَكِن مَعَ الإِجمال وَالتُّكلانِ
And God has not forbidden seeking a livelihood,
But with moderation and reliance on Him.
مَلأُواthey filled المَسامِعَears وَالدَّفاتِرَand notebooks دَعوَةًwith calls
مَلأُوا المَسامِعَ وَالدَّفاتِرَ دَعوَةً
لِصَنائِعِfor the crafts of الدُّنياworldly life وَلِلعُمرانِand for civilization
لِصَنائِعِ الدُّنيا وَلِلعُمرانِ
They filled ears and notebooks with calls
For worldly crafts and for building civilization.
أَوَand have ...? ماnot دَعَوناcalled us مَرَّةًonce لِرِعايَةٍto safeguard
أَوَ ما دَعَونا مَرَّةً لِرِعايَةٍ
لِحُدُودِfor the bounds of دِينِthe religion of اللَّهِGod وَالإِيمانِand faith
لِحُدُودِ دِينِ اللَّهِ وَالإِيمانِ
And have they not called us, even once, to safeguard
The bounds of God's religion and of faith?
أَحكامُthe rulings of رَبِّيmy Lord قَدindeed أُضِيعَتhave been neglected بَينَهُمamong them
أَحكامُ رَبِّي قَد أُضِيعَت بَينَهُم
وَهُمُand they عَلَيهاregarding them جامِدُواinert in الأَذهانِmind
وَهُمُ عَلَيها جامِدُوا الأَذهانِ
My Lord's rulings have been neglected among them,
And their minds remain inert regarding them.
لَكِنَّماbut only يَدعُونَناthey call us لِهَواهُمto their desire
لَكِنَّما يَدعُونَنا لِهَواهُم
حُبٌّlove لِدُنياهُمfor their worldly life بِلاwithout بُرهانِproof
حُبٌّ لِدُنياهُم بِلا بُرهانِ
They only call us toward their own desire:
Love of their worldly life, without proof.
وَهُمُand they عَلَىdespite ذَاthis زاعِمُونَclaiming بِأنَّهُمthat they
وَهُمُ عَلَى ذَا زاعِمُونَ بِأنَّهُم
رامُواsought نُهُوضَthe revival of الدِّينِreligion فيin البُلدانِthe lands
رامُوا نُهُوضَ الدِّينِ في البُلدانِ
And yet they claim that they
Sought the revival of religion throughout the lands.
فَهُمُso they كَذِيlike one with ستٍّsix سَمَتrose high فيin زَبلِهاits dung
فَهُمُ كَذِي ستٍّ سَمَت في زَبلِها
وَدَعَتand called لِمَسٍّfor a touch أَيُّهاO you القَمَرانِsun and moon
وَدَعَت لِمَسٍّ أَيُّها القَمَرانِ
So they are like a six-legged creature risen high in its dung,
Calling, 'Touch me, O sun and moon!'
وَفَخامَةُand the grandeur of الآلاتِmachinery لَيسَتis not وَحدَهاalone
وَفَخامَةُ الآلاتِ لَيسَت وَحدَها
تُغنِيsuffices مَعَwith التَفرِيطِnegligence وَالخِذلانِand abandonment
تُغنِي مَعَ التَفرِيطِ وَالخِذلانِ
And the grandeur of machinery alone
Does not suffice amid negligence and abandonment.
بَلrather كُلُّevery قُوَّةِstrength of دافِعٍa defender مِنfrom غَيرِother than ماany
بَل كُلُّ قُوَّةِ دافِعٍ مِن غَيرِ ما
حِفظَpreserving الشَّريعَةِthe sacred law فيin الحَضيضِthe depths الدَّانِيthe lowest
حِفظَ الشَّريعَةِ في الحَضيضِ الدَّانِي
Rather, every defender's strength, without any
Preservation of the sacred law, lies in the lowest depths.
اللَّهُGod أَخبَرَhas declared إِنif نَصَرَناwe support دِينَهُHis religion
اللَّهُ أَخبَرَ إِن نَصَرَنا دِينَهُ
يَنصُرHe grants victory لَناto us بِالنَّصِّby explicit wording فيin القُرآنِthe Qur'an
يَنصُر لَنا بِالنَّصِّ في القُرآنِ
God has declared: if we support His religion,
He grants us victory, as the Qur'an expressly states.
أَنتُمyou تَنَوَّرتُمwere enlightened بِقَولٍby a saying باطِلfalse
أَنتُم تَنَوَّرتُم بِقَولٍ باطِل
لاno بَلrather تَدَمَّرتُمyou were ruined عَلَىto خُسرانِloss
لا بَل تَدَمَّرتُم عَلَى خُسرانِ
You have been enlightened by a false saying—
No, rather, you have been ruined, to your loss.
صِرتُمyou became إِذاًthen أُضحُوكَةًa laughingstock بَينَamong الوَرىmankind
صِرتُم إِذاً أُضحُوكَةً بَينَ الوَرى
تَتَقَلَّدُونَyou adorn yourselves with الفَخرَpride بِالهَذَيانِthrough babble
تَتَقَلَّدُونَ الفَخرَ بِالهَذَيانِ
Thus you have become a laughingstock among mankind,
Adorning yourselves with pride in babble.
أَتُرَىdo you think أُرُبّاEurope عَلَّمَتtaught أَمثالَكُمthe likes of you
أَتُرَى أُرُبّا عَلَّمَت أَمثالَكُم
آلاتِmachines of حَربwar أَمor عُلُومsciences of هَوانِhumiliation
آلاتِ حَرب أَم عُلُوم هَوانِ
Do you think Europe taught the likes of you
Machines of war, or sciences of humiliation?
إِنِّيindeed I أَخافُكَfear for you إِنif بُلِيتyou are afflicted بِعِلمِهِمwith their learning
إِنِّي أَخافُكَ إِن بُلِيت بِعِلمِهِم
أَنthat تَخدِمَyou serve الدَّهرِيَّthe materialist وَالنَّصرانِيand the Christian
أَن تَخدِمَ الدَّهرِيَّ وَالنَّصرانِي
I fear for you, should you be afflicted with their learning,
That you will serve the materialist and the Christian,
وَتُمَدِّحَand you praise الكُفّارَthe unbelievers تَفخِيماًin glorification لَهُمof them
وَتُمَدِّحَ الكُفّارَ تَفخِيماً لَهُم
لَمّاwhen بُلِيتَyou were afflicted مِنَfrom الضَلالِerror بِرانِwith a coating
لَمّا بُلِيتَ مِنَ الضَلالِ بِرانِ
And praise the unbelievers, glorifying them,
When afflicted by a coating of error.
فَتَبينُthen you part عَنfrom حِزبِthe company of الفَلاحِsuccess وَأَهلِهِand its people
فَتَبينُ عَن حِزبِ الفَلاحِ وَأَهلِهِ
وَتَكُونُand you become منfrom حِزبِthe company of الفَريقِthe faction الثانِيthe other
وَتَكُونُ من حِزبِ الفَريقِ الثانِي
Then you part from the company of success and its people,
And belong to the other faction's company.
ماwhat بالُكُمis wrong with you لاnot تَعقِلُونyou understand رَشَادَكُمyour right course
ما بالُكُم لا تَعقِلُون رَشَادَكُم
تُلقُونَyou hand over لِلأَعداءِto the enemies كُلَّevery عِنانِrein
تُلقُونَ لِلأَعداءِ كُلَّ عِنانِ
What is wrong with you, that you do not grasp your right course,
Handing every rein to the enemies?
هَلis ...? مِثلُthe like of أَصحابِthe companions of النَّبِيِّthe Prophet مُقَلَّدٌan exemplar
هَل مِثلُ أَصحابِ النَّبِيِّ مُقَلَّدٌ
صِدِّيقٍSiddiq أوor فارُوقٍFaruq أوor عُثمانِUthman
صِدِّيقٍ أو فارُوقٍ أو عُثمانِ
Is there an exemplar like the Prophet's companions—
Siddiq, or Faruq, or Uthman,
وأَبيand Abu الحُسَينِal-Husayn وَتابِعِيهمand their followers فِيin الهُدىguidance
وأَبي الحُسَينِ وَتابِعِيهم فِي الهُدى
وَالتابِعِيand the followers of الأتباعِthe followers بِالإِحسانِwith excellence
وَالتابِعِي الأتباعِ بِالإِحسانِ
And Abu al-Husayn, and their followers in guidance,
And those who followed their followers in excellence?
هَلis ...? مِثلُthe like of أحمَدَAhmad والمُقَدَّمِand the foremost مالِكٍMalik
هَل مِثلُ أحمَدَ والمُقَدَّمِ مالِكٍ
وَالشافِعِيِّand al-Shafi'i الشَّهمِthe gallant وَالنُّعمانِand al-Nu'man
وَالشافِعِيِّ الشَّهمِ وَالنُّعمانِ
Is there anyone like Ahmad and the foremost Malik,
And the gallant al-Shafi'i, and al-Nu'man?
هَلis there فيكُمُamong you مِمَّنamong those whom تَبِعتُمyou followed عَنaway from هُدىًguidance
هَل فيكُمُ مِمَّن تَبِعتُم عَن هُدىً
مِنany جهبذٍmaster scholar جالٍclearing obscurity عَنِfrom الأَذهانِminds
مِن جهبذٍ جالٍ عَنِ الأَذهانِ
Is there among you, among those you followed away from guidance,
A master scholar who clears obscurity from minds,
كالعَسقَلانِيlike al-Asqalani أَوor فَتىthe son of تَيمِيَّةٍTaymiyyah
كالعَسقَلانِي أَو فَتى تَيمِيَّةٍ
أَعنِيI mean أَباAbu العَبّاسِal-Abbas عالِيexalted in الشانِrank
أَعنِي أَبا العَبّاسِ عالِي الشانِ
Like al-Asqalani or the son of Taymiyyah—
I mean Abu al-Abbas, exalted in rank—
أَوor كَعياضِlike Iyad الحَبرِthe scholar فيin تَحقيقِهِhis verification
أَو كَعياضِ الحَبرِ في تَحقيقِهِ
وَالناقِدِand the critic العَينِيal-Ayni لَدىin الإِتقانِmastery
وَالناقِدِ العَينِي لَدى الإِتقانِ
Or like Iyad, the scholar, in his meticulous inquiry,
And the critic al-Ayni in his mastery?
هَذاthis وكَمand how many أمثالُهُمtheir likes مِنof جهبذٍa master scholar
هَذا وكَم أمثالُهُم مِن جهبذٍ
مَلأfilled البَسيطَةَthe earth بِالهُدىwith guidance رَبّانيdevoted to God
مَلأ البَسيطَةَ بِالهُدى رَبّاني
Thus—and how many master scholars there are like them,
Who filled the earth with guidance, devoted to God.
مَنwhoever يَبغِseeks مِنكُمamong you غَيرَother than أربابِthe masters of الهُدىguidance
مَن يَبغِ مِنكُم غَيرَ أربابِ الهُدى
يَردِwill enter الضَّلالَةَerror فيin عَمَىthe blindness of الحَيرانِthe bewildered
يَردِ الضَّلالَةَ في عَمَى الحَيرانِ
Whoever among you seeks other than the masters of guidance
Will enter error, in the blindness of the bewildered.
هَديُthe guidance of المُشَفَّعِthe accepted intercessor هَديُناour guidance وَشِعارُناand our watchword
هَديُ المُشَفَّعِ هَديُنا وَشِعارُنا
حَمدُpraise of الإِلهGod وَعلمُناand our knowledge رَحمانِيfrom the Most Merciful
حَمدُ الإِله وَعلمُنا رَحمانِي
The accepted intercessor's guidance is ours, and our watchword
Is praise of God; our knowledge is from the Most Merciful.
...............................
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إِنif حَصَّلُواthey gained سرجَthe saddle of السِّياسَةِstatecraft قبلَناbefore us
إِن حَصَّلُوا سرجَ السِّياسَةِ قبلَنا
...............................
If they gained the saddle of statecraft before us,
وَاللَّهِby God لَوif قُمناwe acted بِهاin it كَكِرامِناlike our noble ones
وَاللَّهِ لَو قُمنا بِها كَكِرامِنا
خَضَعَتwould submit لِهَيبَةِto the awe of عِزِّناour might الثَّقلانِhumankind and jinn
خَضَعَت لِهَيبَةِ عِزِّنا الثَّقلانِ
By God, had we undertaken it like our noble ones,
Humankind and jinn would have bowed before the awe of our might.
لَكِنَّناbut we جُرناacted unjustly اتِّباعاًfollowing لِلهَوَىdesire
لَكِنَّنا جُرنا اتِّباعاً لِلهَوَى
وَلِمُتبِعِand for the follower of الأَهواءِdesires كُلّevery هَوانِhumiliation
وَلِمُتبِعِ الأَهواءِ كُلّ هَوانِ
But we acted unjustly, following desire,
And all humiliation awaits the follower of desires.
ياO حامِلِينَthose urging عَلَىtoward الشَّريعَةِthe sacred law فَاحمِلُواthen urge
يا حامِلِينَ عَلَى الشَّريعَةِ فَاحمِلُوا
مِنfrom قَبلbefore أَنthat تَدعُواyou call لِعِلمٍfor learning ثانِother
مِن قَبل أَن تَدعُوا لِعِلمٍ ثانِ
O you who urge adherence to the sacred law, urge it
Before calling for another kind of learning.
فَهُناكَthen there نَعلَمُwe know صِدقَكُمyour sincerity وَنَراكُمand see you
فَهُناكَ نَعلَمُ صِدقَكُم وَنَراكُم
أَهلاًworthy بِأَنto تَدعُواyou call إِلَىto الإِحسانِexcellence
أَهلاً بِأَن تَدعُوا إِلَى الإِحسانِ
Then we shall know your sincerity and see you
As worthy to call others to excellence.
أَولاfirst فكُفُّواthen restrain أَلسُناًtongues ماnot عُلِّمَتwere taught
أَولا فكُفُّوا أَلسُناً ما عُلِّمَت
إِلاexcept خُرافاتٍfables عَنِfrom العُميانِthe blind
إِلا خُرافاتٍ عَنِ العُميانِ
First, restrain tongues that have been taught nothing
But fables from the blind.
وَدَعُواand abandon السَّفاهَةَfoolishness وَاترُكُواand leave أَربابَهاits masters
وَدَعُوا السَّفاهَةَ وَاترُكُوا أَربابَها
وَجدِيWajdi فَرِيداًFarid ناعِقَthe crier of الشَّيطانِSatan
وَجدِي فَرِيداً ناعِقَ الشَّيطانِ
Abandon foolishness and leave its masters,
Farid Wajdi, Satan's crier,
مَعwith كُلِّevery عَصرِيٍّmodernist يُضاهِيrivals عِلمُهُhis learning
مَع كُلِّ عَصرِيٍّ يُضاهِي عِلمُهُ
مَدَنِيّةَthe civilization of الإِفرِنجِthe Franks عَنout of عُدوانِhostility
مَدَنِيّةَ الإِفرِنجِ عَن عُدوانِ
With every modernist whose learning rivals
The civilization of the Franks, out of hostility.
ياO أَيُّهاyou المِسكِينُwretched one نَفسَكَyour soul فارعَهاso care for it
يا أَيُّها المِسكِينُ نَفسَكَ فارعَها
لاdo not تُلقِهاcast it فيinto هُوَّةِthe abyss of الخُسرانِruin
لا تُلقِها في هُوَّةِ الخُسرانِ
O wretched one, look after your own soul;
Do not cast it into the abyss of ruin.
فالعِلمُfor knowledge يُؤخَذُis taken عَنfrom تَقِيٍّa pious person تابِعٍfollowing
فالعِلمُ يُؤخَذُ عَن تَقِيٍّ تابِعٍ
لِلشَّرعِof the sacred law لاnot عَنfrom ذِيone possessing هَوىًdesire بَطرانِarrogant
لِلشَّرعِ لا عَن ذِي هَوىً بَطرانِ
For knowledge is taken from a pious follower
Of the sacred law, not from an arrogant man of desire.
قَدindeed قالَhas said رَبُّthe Lord of العالَمينَthe worlds وَسارِعُواand hasten
قَد قالَ رَبُّ العالَمينَ وَسارِعُوا
فأَجِبso respond وَجَنِّبand shun حالَةَthe condition of الكَسلانِthe lazy one
فأَجِب وَجَنِّب حالَةَ الكَسلانِ
The Lord of the worlds has indeed said, 'And hasten!'
So respond, and shun the condition of the lazy.
وَاسمَعand hear مَواعِظَadmonitions عَنfrom إِلهِكَyour God جَمَّةًabundant
وَاسمَع مَواعِظَ عَن إِلهِكَ جَمَّةً
تُتلَىrecited عَلَيكَto you بِمُحكَمin the definitive التِّبيانِexposition
تُتلَى عَلَيكَ بِمُحكَم التِّبيانِ
And hear abundant admonitions from your God,
Recited to you in the definitive exposition.
وَخُذِand take الصِّفاتِthe qualities المُنجِياتِsaving جَميعَهاall of them
وَخُذِ الصِّفاتِ المُنجِياتِ جَميعَها
عِندَduring التَهَجُّدِnight prayers عَنfrom سَناthe radiance of القُرآنِthe Qur'an
عِندَ التَهَجُّدِ عَن سَنا القُرآنِ
And take on all the saving qualities,
During night prayers, from the radiance of the Qur'an.
وَاترُكand leave سَفاهاتِthe follies of الأَسافِلِthe lowly إِنَّهاindeed they
وَاترُك سَفاهاتِ الأَسافِلِ إِنَّها
تَرميكَcast you يَومَon the Day of البَعثِResurrection بِالحرمانِinto deprivation
تَرميكَ يَومَ البَعثِ بِالحرمانِ
And leave the follies of the lowly, for they
Will cast you into deprivation on the Day of Resurrection.
وَاعمَلand work لِدارٍfor an abode لاnot يَزُولُfades نَعِيمُهاits bliss
وَاعمَل لِدارٍ لا يَزُولُ نَعِيمُها
قَدindeed خابَfailed مَنwhoever باعَsold المُقِيمَthe enduring بِفانِيfor the fleeting
قَد خابَ مَن باعَ المُقِيمَ بِفانِي
And work for an abode whose bliss never fades;
He has failed who sold the lasting for the fleeting.
أَتُحِبُّwould you like أَنto تُعطىbe given الفَخامَةَgrandeur هَهُناhere
أَتُحِبُّ أَن تُعطى الفَخامَةَ هَهُنا
وَتُصِيبَand encounter يَومَon the Day of الحَشرِGathering حالَa condition of هَوانِhumiliation
وَتُصِيبَ يَومَ الحَشرِ حالَ هَوانِ
Would you like to be granted grandeur here,
And meet humiliation on the Day of Gathering?
وَاحرِصand be eager عَلَىfor عِلمِknowledge of الشَّريعَةِthe sacred law إِنَّهاindeed it
وَاحرِص عَلَى عِلمِ الشَّريعَةِ إِنَّها
حِفظُprotection of البَرِيَّةِcreation عَنfrom هَوىthe desire of الشَّيطانِSatan
حِفظُ البَرِيَّةِ عَن هَوى الشَّيطانِ
And be eager for knowledge of the sacred law, for it
Protects creation from Satan's desire.
أَصحابُهاits people هُمthey وارِثُونَheirs of نَبِيَّهمtheir Prophet
أَصحابُها هُم وارِثُونَ نَبِيَّهم
أَنعِمhow excellent بِذاكَis that الإِرثِinheritance لِلإِنسانِfor mankind
أَنعِم بِذاكَ الإِرثِ لِلإِنسانِ
Its people are the heirs of their Prophet:
What an excellent inheritance for mankind!
هَذاthis وَخُذand take نُوراًa light أَتَىcame عَنfrom حِكمَةٍwisdom
هَذا وَخُذ نُوراً أَتَى عَن حِكمَةٍ
يَمحُوerasing ظَلامَthe darkness of الجَهلِignorance وَالطُّغيانِand transgression
يَمحُو ظَلامَ الجَهلِ وَالطُّغيانِ
Thus, take a light that comes from wisdom,
Erasing the darkness of ignorance and transgression.