هُوَ الأَجَلُ المَوقوتُ لا يَتَخَلَّفُ

هُوَ الأَجَلُ المَوقوتُ لا يَتَخَلَّفُ

وَلَيسَ يُرَدُّ الفائِتُ المُتَأَسِّفُ

وَلَيسَ يُرَدُّ الفائِتُ المُتَأَسِّفُ

It is the appointed end, fixed in time; it never comes late.

It is the appointed time that does not fail

Nor is what has passed brought back by the grieving.

And the past cannot be regretted by the sorrowful

رَضينا قَضاءَ اللَهِ جَلَّ جَلالُهُ

رَضينا قَضاءَ اللَهِ جَلَّ جَلالُهُ

وَإِن ضَلَّ فيهِ الجاهِلُ المُتَعَسِّفُ

وَإِن ضَلَّ فيهِ الجاهِلُ المُتَعَسِّفُ

We accept God's decree—exalted is His majesty—

We accept the decree of Allah, exalted is His majesty

Though the ignorant, obstinate man goes astray concerning it.

Though the ignorant transgressor may be misguided in it

هُوَ الحَقُّ يَجزينا ثَوابَ صَنيعِهِ

هُوَ الحَقُّ يَجزينا ثَوابَ صَنيعِهِ

وَنُنفِقُ مِن خَيراتِهِ وَهوَ يُخلِفُ

وَنُنفِقُ مِن خَيراتِهِ وَهوَ يُخلِفُ

He is the Truth; He rewards us for His own beneficence,

He is the Truth who rewards us for our deeds

And we spend from His blessings, while He replenishes them.

And we spend from His bounties while He replaces

يُعافي وَيَعفو عَن كَثيرٍ وَلَم يَزَل

يُعافي وَيَعفو عَن كَثيرٍ وَلَم يَزَل

حَليماً وَما زِلنا نُسيءُ وَنُسرِفُ

حَليماً وَما زِلنا نُسيءُ وَنُسرِفُ

He grants well-being and pardons much, and has always been

He pardons and forgives much though we have not ceased

Forbearing, while we continue doing wrong and exceeding bounds.

To do wrong while He remains Forbearing

فَكَيفَ يُؤَدّي حَمدَهُ حَقّ حَمدِهِ

فَكَيفَ يُؤَدّي حَمدَهُ حَقّ حَمدِهِ

كَما يَنبَغي مَجداً لِسانٌ وَأَحرُفُ

كَما يَنبَغي مَجداً لِسانٌ وَأَحرُفُ

How can His praise be rendered with all the praise it merits,

How can praise suffice His rightful praise

In fitting glory, by a tongue and letters?

As befits His glory, by tongue and letters

إِلَهي عَجزنا دونَ ما أَنتَ أَهلُهُ

إِلَهي عَجزنا دونَ ما أَنتَ أَهلُهُ

وَخِفنا وَنَرجو ما لَدَيكَ وَنَرجُفُ

وَخِفنا وَنَرجو ما لَدَيكَ وَنَرجُفُ

My God, we have fallen short of what You deserve;

My God we fall short of what You deserve

And we fear, yet hope for what is with You, and tremble.

And we fear while hoping in what is with You and tremble

أَشارَت يَدُ الدُنيا بِتَوديعِ أَهلِها

أَشارَت يَدُ الدُنيا بِتَوديعِ أَهلِها

وَكِدنا نَرى الأَشراطَ وَاللَهُ يَلطُفُ

وَكِدنا نَرى الأَشراطَ وَاللَهُ يَلطُفُ

The hand of the world has signaled farewell to its people;

The hand of this world has gestured farewell to its people

And we almost see the portents, while God deals gently.

And we almost see the tribulations while God gentles

رَجَوناكَ مِفضالاً وَخِفناكَ عادِلاً

رَجَوناكَ مِفضالاً وَخِفناكَ عادِلاً

فَهَب ما نُرجي وَاكفُ ما نَتَخَوَّفُ

فَهَب ما نُرجي وَاكفُ ما نَتَخَوَّفُ

We hoped in You as bountiful and feared You as just;

We hoped You would be gracious and feared You would be just

So grant what we hope for, and ward off what we fear.

So grant what we hope and spare us what we dread

هِيَ الجسر لِلأُخرى فَسِر ضَيفَ لَيلَةٍ

هِيَ الجسر لِلأُخرى فَسِر ضَيفَ لَيلَةٍ

عَلَيها فَكُل ما تُستَضافُ وَتُعلَفُ

عَلَيها فَكُل ما تُستَضافُ وَتُعلَفُ

It is the bridge to the next life: travel as a guest for one night

It is the bridge to the next so journey as a guest for a night

Upon it, and eat while you are hosted and fed.

On it for all that is hosted and fed are transient

تُكَلِّفُنا أَشياءَ لا نَستَطيعُها

تُكَلِّفُنا أَشياءَ لا نَستَطيعُها

وَنَعلَقُ فيها بِالمُحالِ وَنَكلَفُ

وَنَعلَقُ فيها بِالمُحالِ وَنَكلَفُ

It burdens us with things beyond our power,

It tasks us with things beyond our capacity

And in it we cling to the impossible and become enamored.

And we cling to the impossible and exert

فَأَمّا هَوانا طولُها فَلِأَنفُسٍ

فَأَمّا هَوانا طولُها فَلِأَنفُسٍ

شَديدٍ عَلَيها تَركُ ما كانَ تَألَفُ

شَديدٍ عَلَيها تَركُ ما كانَ تَألَفُ

As for our desire that it endure, it is for souls

As for its meanness, that is from selves

To whom abandoning the familiar is grievous.

Harsh upon it, leaving what they were accustomed to

تَصَرَّفَتِ الهَوجاء فينا عَلى عَمىً

تَصَرَّفَتِ الهَوجاء فينا عَلى عَمىً

فَلا غَرَضٌ تَبغيهِ فيما تُصَرِّفُ

فَلا غَرَضٌ تَبغيهِ فيما تُصَرِّفُ

This reckless world has dealt with us blindly,

Wayward fancies have confused us blindly

Seeking no purpose in what it disposes.

With no purpose sought in what they dispose

وَما ذاكَ إِلّا أَنَّها جَدُّ كَلبَةٍ

وَما ذاكَ إِلّا أَنَّها جَدُّ كَلبَةٍ

وَما طُبِعَت إِلّا عَلى الكَلبِ تَصرِفُ

وَما طُبِعَت إِلّا عَلى الكَلبِ تَصرِفُ

And that is only because it is utterly rabid,

That is but the nature of a mere dog

Fashioned only to act with ravenous ferocity.

Its disposition is only to act doggishly

يَبَشّ مُحيّاها إِلى كُلِّ ناقِصٍ

يَبَشّ مُحيّاها إِلى كُلِّ ناقِصٍ

وَتَعبَس في وَجهِ الكَريمِ وَتَصدُفُ

وَتَعبَس في وَجهِ الكَريمِ وَتَصدُفُ

Its countenance smiles upon every deficient man,

It smiles at every deficient one

But frowns in the noble man's face and turns away.

And frowns in the face of the noble and bucks

وَلَيسَ يَفي فيها يُفيدُ سُرورُها

وَلَيسَ يَفي فيها يُفيدُ سُرورُها

بِأَحزانِها فيما تُبيدُ وَتُتلِفُ

بِأَحزانِها فيما تُبيدُ وَتُتلِفُ

And the joy it bestows cannot compensate

Its joy is of no benefit balancing its sorrows

For its sorrows over what it annihilates and destroys.

In what it destroys and ruins

فَلا تَرضَها جَمعاءَ كَتعاءَ جُملَةً

فَلا تَرضَها جَمعاءَ كَتعاءَ جُملَةً

تَحِلَّةَ ما تولي عَلَيهِ وَتَحلِفُ

تَحِلَّةَ ما تولي عَلَيهِ وَتَحلِفُ

So do not accept it whole—entirely, altogether—

It is not pleased to gather possessions all together

Not even as fulfillment of what it vows and swears.

Adorned with what it turns to and swears by

وَلا دارُ سُكنى وَهيَ قَصرٌ مُشَيَّدٌ

وَلا دارُ سُكنى وَهيَ قَصرٌ مُشَيَّدٌ

فَكَيفَ وَهَذا قاعُها وَهوَ صَفصَفُ

فَكَيفَ وَهَذا قاعُها وَهوَ صَفصَفُ

Nor is it a dwelling-place, even as a lofty palace;

It is no dwelling, though a erected palace

How then, when its ground is a bare, level plain?

So how when this is its depth, a mere mirage

وَما الزُّهدُ في إلغائِها وَهيَ عَلقَمٌ

وَما الزُّهدُ في إلغائِها وَهيَ عَلقَمٌ

زُعاقٌ وَلَكِن وَهِيَ صَهباءُ قَرقَفُ

زُعاقٌ وَلَكِن وَهِيَ صَهباءُ قَرقَفُ

Renunciation is not rejecting it when it is bitter colocynth

And asceticism in renouncing it, when it is filth

And bitter brine, but when it is tawny, chill-inducing wine.

Clamor and din, though it poses as a blond lass

مَضَت غَيرَ ما سُوف عَلى زَرَجونِها

مَضَت غَيرَ ما سُوف عَلى زَرَجونِها

وَلَكِن عَلى مِثلِ اِبنِ يوسُفَ يوسَفُ

وَلَكِن عَلى مِثلِ اِبنِ يوسُفَ يوسَفُ

It passed without delay over its wine;

It passed not as one would hope but as

Yet it is for the likes of Ibn Yusuf that grief is felt.

The like of Joseph son of Jacob, Joseph

فَتانا وَمُفتينا المُصيبُ وَشَيخُنا

فَتانا وَمُفتينا المُصيبُ وَشَيخُنا

وَنِبراسُنا فيما يَهُمُّ وَيَسدِفُ

وَنِبراسُنا فيما يَهُمُّ وَيَسدِفُ

Our young man, our unerring mufti, and our teacher,

Our model and guide is the Stricken One, our Shaykh

And our lamp in whatever troubles and darkens.

And our guiding light in what matters and rows

يُعايِنُ أَعقابَ الأُمورِ فَراسَةً

يُعايِنُ أَعقابَ الأُمورِ فَراسَةً

إِياسِيَّةً تُلقى إِلَيهِ وَتَهتِفُ

إِياسِيَّةً تُلقى إِلَيهِ وَتَهتِفُ

He sees the outcomes of affairs through an intuition

He observes the outcomes of matters with insight

Like Iyas's, conveyed to him and calling out.

Pessimistic, surrendered to him and hailed

وَتَسمَعُ عَنهُ بِالعَجيبِ وَما تَرى

وَتَسمَعُ عَنهُ بِالعَجيبِ وَما تَرى

بِأَحسَنَ مِمّا كانَ يَروي وَأَطرَفُ

بِأَحسَنَ مِمّا كانَ يَروي وَأَطرَفُ

And you hear wonders of him, and see nothing

You hear of him such wondrous things you do not see

Finer or more remarkable than what he used to relate.

Better than what he would recount, more witty

تَهُمُّ قُلوبُ الحاسِدينَ بِغَمصِهِ

تَهُمُّ قُلوبُ الحاسِدينَ بِغَمصِهِ

فَتَسبقُهُم أَفواهُهُم فَتُشَرَّفُ

فَتَسبقُهُم أَفواهُهُم فَتُشَرَّفُ

The hearts of the envious intend to belittle him,

The hearts of enviers plot against him

But their mouths forestall them and are honored.

But their mouths outpace them and expose

بَصيرٌ بِحَلِّ المُشكِلاتِ كَأَنَّما

بَصيرٌ بِحَلِّ المُشكِلاتِ كَأَنَّما

يُكاشِفُ عَن أَسرارِها ثُمَّ يَكشِفُ

يُكاشِفُ عَن أَسرارِها ثُمَّ يَكشِفُ

Insightful in solving difficult problems, as though

Discerning in resolving quandaries as if

He probes their secrets, then lays them bare.

Revealing their secrets then disclosing

حَكيمٌ تَلاشى فيهِ سَحبانُ وائِلٍ

حَكيمٌ تَلاشى فيهِ سَحبانُ وائِلٍ

وَقِسٌّ وَأَفعى الجُرهُمِيُّ وَقَلطَفُ

وَقِسٌّ وَأَفعى الجُرهُمِيُّ وَقَلطَفُ

A sage in whom Sahban of Wa'il dwindles away,

Wise, the clouds of Wael and the vipers

And Qiss, Af'a al-Jurhumi, and Qaltaf,

Of Jurhum and Qaltaf have faded in him

وَرِسطا وَقِسطا وَاِبنُ وَهَرمُسٌ

وَرِسطا وَقِسطا وَاِبنُ وَهَرمُسٌ

وإِقليدِس ذو الجَوسَفَينِ وَاِسقُفُ

وإِقليدِس ذو الجَوسَفَينِ وَاِسقُفُ

And Rista, Qista, Ibn [incomplete name], and Hermes,

And Thales, Pittacus, Ibn Waramis

And Euclid of the two 'Jawsafs,' and Asquf.

And Euclid of the Elements and the Bishop

غَمامٌ بِماءِ المُزنِ يَنهَلُ مُزنُهُ

غَمامٌ بِماءِ المُزنِ يَنهَلُ مُزنُهُ

وَبَحرٌ بِأَصدافِ المَكارِمِ يَقذِفُ

وَبَحرٌ بِأَصدافِ المَكارِمِ يَقذِفُ

A cloud whose rainclouds gush with water,

A cloud with the showers of al-Muzan

And a sea casting forth the shells of noble deeds.

And a sea with the shells of virtues tossing

تَمَلَّكَ أَطرافَ القَضاءِ وَفِقهَهُ

تَمَلَّكَ أَطرافَ القَضاءِ وَفِقهَهُ

وَما هُوَ إِلّا مالِك وَمُطَرَّفُ

وَما هُوَ إِلّا مالِك وَمُطَرَّفُ

He mastered the whole compass of judging and its jurisprudence;

He has mastered the extremities of destiny and its ways

He is none other than Malik and Mutarrif.

And he is none other than the Master and the Virtuous

تُخاطِبُنا كُبرى اِبن يوسُفَ عِندَهُ

تُخاطِبُنا كُبرى اِبن يوسُفَ عِندَهُ

دَعَوا كَثرَةَ الأَراءِ هَذا المُصَنّفُ

دَعَوا كَثرَةَ الأَراءِ هَذا المُصَنّفُ

The Kubra of Ibn Yusuf addresses us in his presence:

The great works of Ibn Yusuf address him

"Leave the multitude of opinions: here is the author."

This compiled book on the multiplicity of views

دَرى في اللُّغى وَالنَّحوِ ما شاءَ في الصِبا

دَرى في اللُّغى وَالنَّحوِ ما شاءَ في الصِبا

فَشَبَّ عَلى تَحقيقِهِ يَتَفَلسَفُ

فَشَبَّ عَلى تَحقيقِهِ يَتَفَلسَفُ

In youth he learned all he wished of languages and grammar,

He knows in language and grammar what he wished in youth

Then matured through their investigation, philosophizing.

So he grew versed in verifying and philosophizing

يُجَوِّدُ آياتِ الكِتابِ فَصَدرُهُ

يُجَوِّدُ آياتِ الكِتابِ فَصَدرُهُ

لِمَجموعِ ذي النورَينِ عُثمان مُصحَفُ

لِمَجموعِ ذي النورَينِ عُثمان مُصحَفُ

He recites the Book's verses expertly; his breast

He elucidates the verses of the Book while his breast

Is a codex of the compilation of Uthman, Possessor of the Two Lights.

Is for its collected entirety the Uthmanic codex

عَواطِلُ آذانٍ مِنَ العِلمِ لَم يَكُن

عَواطِلُ آذانٍ مِنَ العِلمِ لَم يَكُن

يُقَرِّطُها تَدريسُهُ وَيُشَنَّفُ

يُقَرِّطُها تَدريسُهُ وَيُشَنَّفُ

Bare of knowledge are ears that were not

Lazy ears unaccustomed to knowledge

Adorned by his teaching with earrings and pendants.

His teaching does not split and rip open

يُفَسِّرُهُ تَفسيرَ حَبرٍ مُوَفَّقٍ

يُفَسِّرُهُ تَفسيرَ حَبرٍ مُوَفَّقٍ

يُسَنّى لَهُ فَيضُ العُلومِ فَيَغرِفُ

يُسَنّى لَهُ فَيضُ العُلومِ فَيَغرِفُ

He expounds it as a rightly guided scholar,

He explicates it with the interpretation of an accomplished scholar

For whom the flood of learning is made easy, and he draws from it.

Drawing from the overflowing fount of knowledge

نَضَت جودَها في كَفِّهِ كَفُّ حاتِمٍ

نَضَت جودَها في كَفِّهِ كَفُّ حاتِمٍ

وَزَرَّ عَلَيهِ جُبَّة الحِلمِ أَحنَفُ

وَزَرَّ عَلَيهِ جُبَّة الحِلمِ أَحنَفُ

Hatim's hand shed its generosity into his palm,

Its generosity poured into his palm, Hatim's palm

And Ahnaf buttoned the robe of forbearance upon him.

And the mantle of forbearance wrapped over him

أَشَمُّ المَعالي هَمُّهُ وَهوَ هَمُّها

أَشَمُّ المَعالي هَمُّهُ وَهوَ هَمُّها

وَيشغَفُ فيها مِثلَ ما فيهِ تشغَفُ

وَيشغَفُ فيها مِثلَ ما فيهِ تشغَفُ

Nobly proud, lofty honors are his concern, and he is theirs;

He aspires to noble virtues, those are his concern

He is enamored of them, as they are enamored of him.

And is passionate for them just as they are for him

قَصَرنَ عَلَيهِ الطَرفِ وَهوَ كَأَنَّما

قَصَرنَ عَلَيهِ الطَرفِ وَهوَ كَأَنَّما

بِرُؤيا سِواها كانَ يَقذى وَيُطرَفُ

بِرُؤيا سِواها كانَ يَقذى وَيُطرَفُ

They fixed their gaze on him alone, and it was as though

Eyes fell short of him, yet he is as though

Seeing anything else hurt his eyes with grit and blows.

By seeing ought but them he was gouged and turned

وَما كُنتُ أَدري قَبلَهُ المَوتَ زَعزَعا

وَما كُنتُ أَدري قَبلَهُ المَوتَ زَعزَعا

يُدَكدِكُ جودِيَّ المَعالي وَيَنسِفُ

يُدَكدِكُ جودِيَّ المَعالي وَيَنسِفُ

Before him I never knew death as a violent gale

I did not know before him death a shaking

That crushes and scatters the Judi of lofty honors.

That would pound and crush the noble virtues

وَلا حاجِياً أَن يَستَهِلَّ اِبنُ لَيلَةٍ

وَلا حاجِياً أَن يَستَهِلَّ اِبنُ لَيلَةٍ

عَلى النّاسِ بَدراً كامِلاً ثُمَّ يُكسَفُ

عَلى النّاسِ بَدراً كامِلاً ثُمَّ يُكسَفُ

Nor guessed that a child of one night would rise

Nor one in need that the son of Layla

Over people as a complete full moon, then be eclipsed.

Should rise upon the people a full moon then eclipse

تَوَغَّلتَ سِجنَ الهَمِّ فَاِصبِرهُ حِسبَةً

تَوَغَّلتَ سِجنَ الهَمِّ فَاِصبِرهُ حِسبَةً

يُجازيكَ مَن مَجزِيِّ يوسُفَ يوسُفُ

يُجازيكَ مَن مَجزِيِّ يوسُفَ يوسُفُ

You have entered deep into sorrow's prison; endure it seeking reward.

You have penetrated the prison of sorrow, so be patient a reward

May the One who rewarded Yusuf reward you, Yusuf.

He who rewarded Joseph will reward you, Joseph

أَرادَ بِكَ اللَهُ الَّتي هِيَ عِندَهُ

أَرادَ بِكَ اللَهُ الَّتي هِيَ عِندَهُ

أَحَظُّ وَأَحظى بِالمَفازِ وَأَشرَفُ

أَحَظُّ وَأَحظى بِالمَفازِ وَأَشرَفُ

God has willed for you that which, in His sight,

God wanted for you what is with Him

Has greater fortune, more favor in salvation, and higher honor.

More fortunate, triumphing, and noble

وَلَو أَنَّ آثامَ البَرِيَّةِ كِفةٌ

وَلَو أَنَّ آثامَ البَرِيَّةِ كِفةٌ

لَخَفَّت بِما فيها ثَوابُكَ يُصرَفُ

لَخَفَّت بِما فيها ثَوابُكَ يُصرَفُ

Even if all creation's sins filled a scale-pan,

If all of mankind's sins were in one scale

It and all it holds would weigh light beside your allotted reward.

Your reward would outweigh them and prevail

وَبَخ بَخ وَبَشِّرِ أُمَّ أَحمَدَ بِالَّذي

وَبَخ بَخ وَبَشِّرِ أُمَّ أَحمَدَ بِالَّذي

يُثَنّى لَها مِن أَجرِهِ وَيُضَعَّفُ

يُثَنّى لَها مِن أَجرِهِ وَيُضَعَّفُ

Bravo, bravo! Give Umm Ahmad glad tidings of what

Give glad tidings, glad tidings, tell the mother of Ahmad what

Is doubled for her of his reward, and multiplied.

Will be doubled for her from its reward and amplified

فَلا تَجزَعا يا والِدَيهِ فَرَبُّهُ

فَلا تَجزَعا يا والِدَيهِ فَرَبُّهُ

أَبَرُّ بِهِ مِن والِديهِ وأَرأَفُ

أَبَرُّ بِهِ مِن والِديهِ وأَرأَفُ

Do not despair, you his parents, for his Lord

So do not despair, O his parents, for his Lord

Is kinder to him than his parents, and more compassionate.

Is more merciful to him than parents, kinder

وَخَلّي وَمَن أَصفَيتِ وُدّي وَمَن بِهِ

وَخَلّي وَمَن أَصفَيتِ وُدّي وَمَن بِهِ

أُقيم اِعوِجاجي كُلَّهُ وَأُثَقّفُ

أُقيم اِعوِجاجي كُلَّهُ وَأُثَقّفُ

And my friend, and the one to whom you devoted my love, and through whom

And leave, and those you befriended, my love and those in whom

I correct all my crookedness and set it straight,

All my crookedness was set straight and cultivated

وأَفرَشتني شَوكَ القَتادِ وَإِنَّما

وأَفرَشتني شَوكَ القَتادِ وَإِنَّما

فَراشاكَ في الفِردَوسِ لاذٌ وَرَفرَفُ

فَراشاكَ في الفِردَوسِ لاذٌ وَرَفرَفُ

You have laid qatad thorns beneath me; yet

You have laid me on the thorns of loss yet your resting place

Your two beds in Paradise are silk and cushions.

In the Firdaws is shelter and plush

وَجازاكَ عَنها خَيرَ خَيرٍ يَنالَهُ

وَجازاكَ عَنها خَيرَ خَيرٍ يَنالَهُ

وَيُجزى بِهِ الدَيّانَةُ المُتَحَنِّفُ

وَيُجزى بِهِ الدَيّانَةُ المُتَحَنِّفُ

May He repay you for it with the best good one can attain,

And may what is best of the best reward you from it

With which the deeply devout, upright believer is rewarded.

And the Perfect Judge reward you

وَخَلّى لِمَولاهُ الحَضيضَ وَأَهلَهُ

وَخَلّى لِمَولاهُ الحَضيضَ وَأَهلَهُ

فَلَيسَ لَهُ إِلّا إِلَيهِ التَشَوُّفُ

فَلَيسَ لَهُ إِلّا إِلَيهِ التَشَوُّفُ

And he left the lowly realm and its people for his Lord;

And he left for his Master the lowly and His people

His yearning is for Him alone.

So he has none but Him to yearn for

وَتَعزوهُ لِلأَحداثِ سِنٌّ صَغيرَةٌ

وَتَعزوهُ لِلأَحداثِ سِنٌّ صَغيرَةٌ

وَيَعزوهُ لِلأَشياخِ عِلمٌ يُؤَلَّفُ

وَيَعزوهُ لِلأَشياخِ عِلمٌ يُؤَلَّفُ

His young age assigns him to the youths,

Some ascribe his youth to his few years

And learning put into writing assigns him to the elders.

While the learned ascribe his knowledge to the elders

تَعَجَّبتُ مِن تَقديمِهِ عِندَ عدِّهِم

تَعَجَّبتُ مِن تَقديمِهِ عِندَ عدِّهِم

وَهُم وَهوَ عَقدُ السُؤدَد المَحضِ نَيفُ

وَهُم وَهوَ عَقدُ السُؤدَد المَحضِ نَيفُ

I marveled at his precedence when they were counted;

I was amazed at his precedence in their counting

They are but surplus; he is the full ten of pure nobility.

When they and he are pearls unpierced, untainted

تَغَلغَلَ في عِلمِ التَصَوُّفِ آخِذاً

تَغَلغَلَ في عِلمِ التَصَوُّفِ آخِذاً

عَلى نَفسِهِ دونَ الحُظوظِ التَصَوُّفُ

عَلى نَفسِهِ دونَ الحُظوظِ التَصَوُّفُ

He delved deeply into the science of Sufism, undertaking

He penetrated the knowledge of Sufism, taking

Sufism upon himself, setting personal gains aside.

The path of asceticism, not self indulgence

وَأَدناكَ إِذا لَم تَرضَ نَفسُكَ حَيَّةً

وَأَدناكَ إِذا لَم تَرضَ نَفسُكَ حَيَّةً

بِما لَيسَ يُدني مِن رِضاهُ وَيُزلِفُ

بِما لَيسَ يُدني مِن رِضاهُ وَيُزلِفُ

And He drew you near when your soul, while alive, was not content

You drew him near, when his soul was not pleased,

With what did not lead toward His pleasure and bring you near.

With that which does not draw near to His pleasure

وَغَلَّ لِساني فيكَ ما غَمَّ خاطِر

وَغَلَّ لِساني فيكَ ما غَمَّ خاطِر

فَها أَنا أَرسو في الكَلامِ وَأَرسُفُ

فَها أَنا أَرسو في الكَلامِ وَأَرسُفُ

What grieved my mind has shackled my tongue concerning you;

My tongue grew tied speaking of him when he worried

Here I am, anchored in speech and shuffling in fetters.

So here I am, digressing in speech, excessive

وَلَم أَقضِ أَدنى حَقِّهِ غَيرَ أَنَّني

وَلَم أَقضِ أَدنى حَقِّهِ غَيرَ أَنَّني

أُبَهرِجُ في تَأبينِهِ وَأُزَخرِفُ

أُبَهرِجُ في تَأبينِهِ وَأُزَخرِفُ

I have not fulfilled even his least due; I merely

I have not fulfilled the least of his rights

Put false glitter into his eulogy and embellish it.

Except to ramble eulogizing him, embellishing

رَثاء الَّذي لا يُسخِطُ اللَهَ قَولُهُ

رَثاء الَّذي لا يُسخِطُ اللَهَ قَولُهُ

وَيَحزَنُ مِنهُ القَلبُ وَالعَينُ تَذرِفُ

وَيَحزَنُ مِنهُ القَلبُ وَالعَينُ تَذرِفُ

A lament whose utterance does not anger God,

An elegy that does not anger God in its words

From which the heart grows sad, and the eye sheds tears.

While grieving the heart as tears flow

تَمَنَّيتُ لَو أُعطيتَ في القَولِ بِسطَةً

تَمَنَّيتُ لَو أُعطيتَ في القَولِ بِسطَةً

فَأَهتِفُ فيهِ بِالَّذي أَنا أَعرِفُ

فَأَهتِفُ فيهِ بِالَّذي أَنا أَعرِفُ

I wished you had been granted ample scope in speech,

I wished I were given eloquence in speech

So I could proclaim about him what I know.

That I may call out in it what I know

نَعَم كَيفَ يُفني غارِفٌ مُتَحَفِّنٍ

نَعَم كَيفَ يُفني غارِفٌ مُتَحَفِّنٍ

بِغرفَتِهِ البِحرَ المُحيطَ وَيَنزِفُ

بِغرفَتِهِ البِحرَ المُحيطَ وَيَنزِفُ

Yes, how could a scooper gathering handfuls exhaust

Yes how can a fleeting vanishing mortal

The encircling ocean with his scoop, and drain it dry?

Draw from the endless ocean and bleed dry

لَهُ شيمٌ مِثلُ النُجومِ عَديدَةٌ

لَهُ شيمٌ مِثلُ النُجومِ عَديدَةٌ

فَمِنهُنَّ مَوصوفٌ وَما لَيسَ يوصَفُ

فَمِنهُنَّ مَوصوفٌ وَما لَيسَ يوصَفُ

His qualities are as numerous as the stars;

He has qualities like the many stars

Some are describable, and some cannot be described.

Some described and some beyond describing

وَغاياتُ سَبقٍ في الكَمالاتِ تَنتَهي

وَغاياتُ سَبقٍ في الكَمالاتِ تَنتَهي

جِيادُ القَوافي دُونَهُنَّ وَتوقَفُ

جِيادُ القَوافي دُونَهُنَّ وَتوقَفُ

And goals of preeminence in perfection, short of which

The limits of surpassing perfection which

The steeds of rhyme reach their limit and are halted.

The steeds of prose fall short of, halting