ياO مُكثِراًone who does much مِنof ذَمdisparaging كُلevery ذَميمblameworthy person
يا مُكثِراً مِن ذَم كُل ذَميم
أَبدأbegin بِنَفسِكَwith yourself قَبلbefore كُلevery مَلومِperson blamed
أَبدأ بِنَفسِكَ قَبل كُل مَلومِ
O you who endlessly disparage every blameworthy person,
O you who denounce all the vile,
begin with yourself before anyone else you blame.
Begin with yourself before blaming others.
قَدmay يورثcause التَعنيفharsh rebuke إِصراراًobstinacy وَقَدand may
قَد يورث التَعنيف إِصراراً وَقَد
يَتَكَسَرbreaks المُعوجthe crooked thing بِالتَقويمthrough straightening
يَتَكَسَر المُعوج بِالتَقويم
Rebuke may breed obstinacy, and sometimes
Rebuke may breed stubbornness, yet
what is crooked breaks in being straightened.
The crooked may be straightened with guidance.
هَلdo? تَنجَعprove effective الآدابmoral teachings عِندَamong مَعاشرgroups of people
هَل تَنجَع الآداب عِندَ مَعاشر
مَعdespite زهدهمtheir indifference فيto العلمlearning وَالتَعليمand instruction
مَع زهدهم في العلم وَالتَعليم
Do moral teachings avail among people
Are morals of use to a people
who care so little for learning and instruction?
Who shun knowledge and education?
كَمhow many حكمةa wise saying عِندَto الغَبيّthe fool كَأَنَّهاas though it were
كَم حكمة عِندَ الغَبيّ كَأَنَّها
رَيحانَةa basil sprig فيin راحةthe palm of المَزكومone with a cold
رَيحانَة في راحة المَزكوم
How many a wise saying, to a fool, is like
What wisdom in a fool but like
a sprig of basil in the palm of one with a cold!
A sweet basil on a dunghill!
بَسمتsmiled مَحاسنهاits beauties لِوَجهat a face كَالحscowling
بَسمت مَحاسنها لِوَجه كَالح
ماhow أُضيعwasted المِرآةthe mirror عِندamong البُومowls
ما أُضيع المِرآة عِند البُوم
Its beauties smile upon a scowling face;
Its beauties smile for a face that's like
how wasted is a mirror among owls!
A mirror not wasted on the blind.
كانَwere المُلوكkings تُجارmerchants of فَضلexcellence عِندَهُمin their eyes
كانَ المُلوك تُجار فَضل عِندَهُم
قَلمthe pen of البَليغthe eloquent person أَعَزdearer مِنthan إِقليمa province
قَلم البَليغ أَعَز مِن إِقليم
Once kings were merchants of excellence; to them
Kings prized the merit of eloquence;
the eloquent man's pen was dearer than a province.
A skillful pen was dearer than a realm.
وَالحُكمand rule كانَwas لِأَجَلbecause of ذَلِكَthat فيamong ذَويpossessors of
وَالحُكم كانَ لِأَجَل ذَلِكَ في ذَوي
هِمَمhigh resolves مَوكلةcharged بِكَشفwith dispelling هُمومcares
هِمَم مَوكلة بِكَشف هُموم
And rule, for that reason, lay with men of
Rule was for this entrusted to the capable
high resolve, charged with dispelling cares.
Whose lofty aspirations resolved problems.
ثُمَthen اِنطَوىwas folded away ذاكَthat الزَمانage وَأَهلَهُand its people
ثُمَ اِنطَوى ذاكَ الزَمان وَأَهلَهُ
طَيّthe folding of السجلّthe scroll الطاهرpure المَختومsealed
طَيّ السجلّ الطاهر المَختوم
Then that age and its people were folded away,
Then time and its people passed away,
like a pure, sealed scroll rolled up.
The page of glory sealed and confirmed.
وَتَغايرand changed المُعتادthe customary فيناamong us واِنقَضَتand ended
وَتَغاير المُعتاد فينا واِنقَضَت
دُولreigns of الكِرامthe noble وَسادَand ruled كُلevery لَئيمbase person
دُول الكِرام وَسادَ كُل لَئيم
Our accustomed ways changed, and ended
Normalcy changed amongst us, the rule
the reigns of the noble; every base man came to rule.
Of the honorable ceased, and baseness spread.
فَكَأَنَّماso it was as though خَطَطdomains of المَعاليhigh achievement بَعدَهُمafter them
فَكَأَنَّما خَطَط المَعالي بَعدَهُم
شَققlengths of cloth خَلَتwere emptied مِنof رَونَقthe splendor of التَسهيمstriped patterning
شَقق خَلَت مِن رَونَق التَسهيم
It was as though the domains of greatness, after them,
It was as though, after their era,
were lengths of cloth stripped of the splendor of their patterned stripes.
Splits appeared devoid of fair alignment.
أَنضىexhausted الَّذيthe one who طَلَبsought الكِرامthe noble مِطيةa mount
أَنضى الَّذي طَلَب الكِرام مِطية
وَانبثand wandered بَينَamong رَواسمswift-trotting camels وَرُسومand old camp traces
وَانبث بَينَ رَواسم وَرُسوم
Whoever sought the noble wore his mount to exhaustion,
The seeker of esteem mounted his steed
and wandered among trotting camels and traces of old camps.
And roamed between milestones and ruins.
هَذاthis وَماand not اِنفَرَدwere alone المُلوكkings بِجورهمin their injustice
هَذا وَما اِنفَرَد المُلوك بِجورهم
كَمhow many فيamong الوَرىmankind مِنof ظالمa wrongdoer مَظلومone wronged
كَم في الوَرى مِن ظالم مَظلوم
Yet kings are not alone in their injustice;
Not only kings were unjust in their rule—
how many among mankind both wrong and are wronged!
How many in the world are oppressor and oppressed!
لَوif جاءَناcame to us المَهديّthe Mahdi لَمnot يُوجدwould be found لَناfor us
لَو جاءَنا المَهديّ لَم يُوجد لَنا
طَوقa neck-ring of امرءِa person إِلّاexcept بِكَفin the hand of غَريمa claimant
طَوق امرءِ إِلّا بِكَف غَريم
If the Mahdi came to us, we would find no
Were the Mahdi to come to us, he'd scarcely find
man's neck-ring except in a claimant's hand.
Any man's neck free of an enemy's grasp.
قَدmay يَشتَكيcomplain of الحُرّthe freeborn person الخَطوبcalamities وَرُبَّماand sometimes
قَد يَشتَكي الحُرّ الخَطوب وَرُبَّما
كانَis التَأوّهsighing راحةrelief for المَكلومthe wounded
كانَ التَأوّه راحة المَكلوم
A freeborn man may complain of calamities, and sometimes
The freeman may complain of woes, yet
sighing brings relief to the wounded.
Moaning may relieve the anguished.
سُكرdrunkenness of الزَمانtime فَعربَدَتso ran riot أَيامُهُits days
سُكر الزَمان فَعربَدَت أَيامُهُ
سُكرthe drunkenness of اللَئيمthe base person عَذابtorment for كُلevery نَديمdrinking companion
سُكر اللَئيم عَذاب كُل نَديم
Time grew drunk, and its days ran riot;
An age intoxicated, its days
a base man's drunkenness torments every drinking companion.
Drunken; the scourge of all companions.
وَسُمwere branded الأَماثلthe finest people بِالهُمومwith cares وَطالَماand often
وَسُم الأَماثل بِالهُموم وَطالَما
عَرفتare recognized جِيادthe finest of الخَيلhorses بِالتَسويمby markings
عَرفت جِياد الخَيل بِالتَسويم
The finest are branded with cares; how often
Poison circulates amongst the masses; oft
fine horses are recognized by their markings!
Have I known steeds by their bridling.
همّthe sorrow of النُفوسsouls المُستَقرsettled بِقَدرin proportion to ماhow much
همّ النُفوس المُستَقر بِقَدر ما
تَأَبىrejects الدنيةbaseness هِمةthe resolve of المَهمومthe troubled person
تَأَبى الدنية هِمة المَهموم
The sorrow settled in souls is measured by how much
Cares occupy souls to the extent
the troubled person's resolve rejects baseness.
That base natures spurn the concerns of the grieved.
لَمnot يَردَعwards off الأَحزانgriefs إِلّاexcept قَلبthe heart of مَنone who
لَم يَردَع الأَحزان إِلّا قَلب مَن
قَدhas قابلfaced الأَقدارfates بِالتَسليمwith submission
قَد قابل الأَقدار بِالتَسليم
Only the heart of one can ward off grief
Only a heart that meets fortunes
who has met fate with submission.
With acceptance restrains anguish.
فَاِقنَعso be content وَلاand do not تَكشفuncover قشناعveil (text uncertain) الصَبرpatience عَنfrom
فَاِقنَع وَلا تَكشف قشناع الصَبر عَن
ماءthe water of الحَياةlife لِصاحبfor a companion وَحَميمand a close friend
ماء الحَياة لِصاحب وَحَميم
So be content, and do not lift the veil of patience from
So be content; unveil not the mask of patience
the water of life for any companion or close friend.
To your bosom friend while breath remains.
وَأَرحand give rest to فُؤادَكَyour heart لاdo not تَسَلask عَنabout عِلةthe reason for الthe
وَأَرح فُؤادَكَ لا تَسَل عَن عِلة ال
أَقسامallotments إِذfor لَيسَتthey are not سِوىother than التَقسيمapportionment
أَقسام إِذ لَيسَت سِوى التَقسيم
And rest your heart; do not ask the reason for the
Comfort your heart; ask not about the cause
allotments, for they are nothing but apportionment.
Of fates, for they are but allotment.
وَإِذاand when عرفتyou know مقسمthe apportioner of الرزقsustenance اِستَوىbecame equal
وَإِذا عرفت مقسم الرزق اِستَوى
مَعwith جُرأةthe boldness of الضرغامthe lion جبنthe timidity of الريمthe gazelle
مَع جُرأة الضرغام جبن الريم
Once you know who apportions sustenance, equal become
When you know the Dispenser of rizq, the daring
the lion's boldness and the gazelle's timidity.
Of the wolf and the cowardice of the fox are equal.
لَمdid not يَرتَضِdeem fitting العَرَضَfleeting worldly goods الكَريمُthe Generous One كَرامَةan honor
لَم يَرتَضِ العَرَضَ الكَريمُ كَرامَة
لِعِبادِهِfor His servants إِذsince كانَit was غَيرnot جَسيمsubstantial
لِعِبادِهِ إِذ كانَ غَير جَسيم
The Generous One did not deem fleeting goods an honor
The Benevolent did not approve a generous
for His servants, for they are of little substance.
Gift for His servants, for He transcends need.
لَوif كانَتwere الدُنياthe world تَليقُbefit بِجودِهِHis bounty
لَو كانَت الدُنيا تَليقُ بِجودِهِ
أَضحىwould become بِهاthrough it مُلكاًkingship أَقلthe least عَديمdestitute person
أَضحى بِها مُلكاً أَقل عَديم
Were this world commensurate with His bounty,
Had the world befitted His bounty,
the lowliest pauper would gain kingship through it.
He'd have made it a trifling dominion.
حسنimprove بِرَبof the Lord of العَرشthe Throne ظَنكyour opinion دائِماًalways
حسن بِرَب العَرش ظَنك دائِماً
تَظفرyou will attain بِخَيرgoodness لَيسَnot بِالمَحسومcut off
تَظفر بِخَير لَيسَ بِالمَحسوم
Always think well of the Lord of the Throne;
Think good of the Lord of the Throne, and you
you will attain goodness that is never cut off.
Will attain the unforeseen best.
كَمhow many مِنof غَنيّa rich person حَظُهُhis share مِنof مالِهِhis wealth
كَم مِن غَنيّ حَظُهُ مِن مالِهِ
تَعبthe toil of الحَريصthe greedy person وَحَسرةand the anguish of المَحرومthe deprived person
تَعب الحَريص وَحَسرة المَحروم
How many a rich man has as his share of his wealth
What wealth some rich possess, yet
the greedy man's toil and the deprived man's anguish!
Theirs are but toil and deprived longing!
يَلقىhe meets الفَقيرthe poor person مصعراًturning away haughtily خَدّاًa cheek لَهُtoward him
يَلقى الفَقير مصعراً خَدّاً لَهُ
وَيَليand approaches المَليّthe wealthy person بِجانبwith a side مَهضومbowed low
وَيَلي المَليّ بِجانب مَهضوم
He meets the poor man with his cheek turned proudly away,
The destitute meets sullen-faced ones
yet draws near the wealthy, his side bowed low.
While the affluent are flanked by the meek.
أَمعis it alongside التَبصبصfawning لِلكِلابupon dogs تَكبرarrogance
أَمع التَبصبص لِلكِلاب تَكبر
غَيرother than التَبَختُرswaggering مَشيةthe gait of المَهزومthe defeated person
غَير التَبَختُر مَشية المَهزوم
Do you swagger while fawning upon dogs?
You disdain sniffing at dogs, yet haughtiness
The defeated man's gait is no strut.
Is no better than the gait of the defeated.
بَرقthe lightning of البَخيلthe miser وَإِنeven if تَأَلَّقَit flashes خلَّبٌrainless
بَرق البَخيل وَإِن تَأَلَّقَ خلَّبٌ
وَودادهُand his affection وادٍa valley بِغَيرwithout نَسيمa breeze
وَودادهُ وادٍ بِغَير نَسيم
The miser's lightning, though it flashes, brings no rain;
The flame of the miser may flare, yet it flickers.
and his affection is a valley without a breeze.
His affection an abyss without breeze.
كُنbe بِالتَواضعthrough humility لِلوَرىto mankind مُتحبباًendearing yourself
كُن بِالتَواضع لِلوَرى مُتحبباً
إِنindeed التَواضعhumility جالبbrings التَفخيمesteem
إِن التَواضع جالب التَفخيم
Endear yourself to people through humility;
Be endearing to all through humility,
humility draws esteem.
For humility brings exaltation.
كَمhow many خادمa servant فيin الهَونabasement وَهُوَwhile he is أَحَقmore entitled لَوif
كَم خادم في الهَون وَهُوَ أَحَق لَو
بَرَحdeparted الخِفاءobscurity بِرُتبةto the rank of المَخدومthe master
بَرَح الخِفاء بِرُتبة المَخدوم
How many a servant lives in abasement, yet is more entitled—if
What an attendant in disgrace! Had he but left
obscurity were dispelled—to the master's rank!
Seclusion, he'd gain the station of the served.
لينgentleness of الخِطابspeech مَعwith الفَقيرthe poor person كَأَنَّهُas though it were
لين الخِطاب مَع الفَقير كَأَنَّهُ
نَفسthe breath of النَسيمthe breeze يَمُرُّpassing بِالمَحمومover the feverish person
نَفس النَسيم يَمُرُّ بِالمَحموم
Gentle speech to the poor is like
Speaking gently to the needy as though
the breath of a breeze passing over someone feverish.
A soft breeze passing the burning hot.
مَنwhoever يَغرسplants الإِحسانkindness يَجنreaps مَحبةaffection
مَن يَغرس الإِحسان يَجن مَحبة
دونunlike المُسيءthe wrongdoer المُبعَدbanished المَصرومcut off
دون المُسيء المُبعَد المَصروم
Whoever plants kindness reaps affection,
He who plants kindness reaps affection,
unlike the wrongdoer, banished and cut off.
Unlike the evildoer, shunned and banned.
أَقلِpardon العثارَstumbles تُقَلyou will be pardoned وَلاand do not تَحسدenvy وَلاand do not
أَقلِ العثارَ تُقَل وَلا تَحسد وَلا
تَحقدbear grudges فَلَيسَfor ... is not المَرءa person بِالمَعصومimmune from error
تَحقد فَلَيسَ المَرء بِالمَعصوم
Pardon slips and you will be pardoned; do not envy or
Overlook the lapses of people and envy none,
bear grudges, for no person is immune from error.
For no man is infallible.
خَفَفlighten عَلىupon الناسpeople المُؤنةthe burden فيin اللقاmeeting
خَفَف عَلى الناس المُؤنة في اللقا
إِنindeed المُخففone who lightens burdens لَيسَis not بِالمَسئومwearied of
إِن المُخفف لَيسَ بِالمَسئوم
Lessen the burden you place on people when you meet;
Lighten the burden when you meet,
one who burdens others lightly is not wearied of.
For the lightener is not to be blamed.
وَإِذاand when صَنَعتyou do صَنيعةa kindness فَاِكتُمthen conceal it وَلاand do not
وَإِذا صَنَعت صَنيعة فَاِكتُم وَلا
تَمننremind others of favors فَظَلَfor the shadow of المَنّreminding of favors مَنof يَحمومblack smoke
تَمنن فَظَلَ المَنّ مَن يَحموم
When you do a kindness, conceal it, and do not
When you do a good deed, then conceal it;
remind others of it, for such reminders cast a shadow of black smoke.
Boast not, for boasting sours the favor.
وَاِحذَرand beware سُمومthe poisons of الإِغتيابbackbiting فَلَنfor never تَرىyou will see
وَاِحذَر سُموم الإِغتياب فَلَن تَرى
فيamong الخَلقpeople مُغتاباًa backbiter صَحيحunblemished of أَديمskin
في الخَلق مُغتاباً صَحيح أَديم
Beware the poisons of backbiting: you will never see
Beware the venom of backbiting, for never
a backbiter among mankind with an unblemished skin.
Will you find an inveterate backbiter true.
دارِhumor السَفيهِthe fool وَلاand do not تَمارdispute تكرماًout of nobility
دارِ السَفيهِ وَلا تَمار تكرماً
يَرجَعhe retreats بِأَنفwith a nose راغمabased مَهشومcrushed
يَرجَع بِأَنف راغم مَهشوم
Humor the fool; nobly refrain from disputing,
Avoid the foolish, and do not contend generously
and he will retreat with his nose abased and crushed.
Against one whose argument is twisted and crushed.
وَكَوامنand the hidden malice of الحُسادthe envious لاnot تَخفىis concealed وَكَمand how many
وَكَوامن الحُساد لا تَخفى وَكَم
زِندa fire-stick يَبوحdivulges بِسرهits secret المَكتومconcealed
زِند يَبوح بِسره المَكتوم
The hidden malice of the envious is not concealed; how many
Speak according to your worth always, and to the worth
a fire-stick divulges its hidden secret!
Of whom you address, gently imparting wisdom.
وَالصدقand truthfulness مِنfrom كَرَمthe nobility of الطِباعdispositions وَطالَماand often
وَالصدق مِن كَرَم الطِباع وَطالَما
باءended up الكَذوبthe habitual liar بِخجلةin shame وَوجومand sullen silence
باء الكَذوب بِخجلة وَوجوم
Truthfulness is part of a noble nature; often
Aspire, my lad, to truths, drawing
the habitual liar ends in shame and sullen silence.
From the explicit and the implied.
وَاِحذَرand beware نُحوسthe ill omens of منجمan astrologer يَستَقبلfaces الكَفthe hand
وَاِحذَر نُحوس منجم يَستَقبل الكَف
الخَضيبdyed with henna بِوَجهِهِwith his face المَلطومslap-struck
الخَضيب بِوَجهِهِ المَلطوم
Beware an astrologer's ill omens: he faces the hand
Deem not that some knowledge can be attained
dyed with henna with his slap-struck face.
Save by devoting care and commitment.
خاطبaddress بِقَدركaccording to your capacity دائِماًalways وَبِقَدرand according to the capacity of مَنwhomever
خاطب بِقَدرك دائِماً وَبِقَدر مَن
خاطَبتُهُyou addressed him بِالرفقwith gentleness وَالتَفهيمand clear explanation
خاطَبتُهُ بِالرفق وَالتَفهيم
Always speak as befits your capacity and that of whomever
Speak not ignorantly amidst the circle of experts
you address, with gentleness and clear explanation.
In prose or verse, lest you expose your deficiency.
وَإِلىand toward الحَقائقtruths ياO فَتىyoung man كُنbe طامِحاًaspiring
وَإِلى الحَقائق يا فَتى كُن طامِحاً
أَخذاًdrawing مِنfrom المَنطوقwhat is explicitly stated وَالمَفهومand what is implied
أَخذاً مِن المَنطوق وَالمَفهوم
Aspire to truths, young man,
What a pretentious prattler! Singing
drawing from what is stated and what is implied.
Does not suit the throat of a donkey.
لاdo not تَحسَبَنَever suppose العلمknowledge يُدركis attained بَعضَهُany part of it
لا تَحسَبَنَ العلم يُدرك بَعضَهُ
إِلّاexcept بِصَرفby devoting عِنايةcare وَلُزومand persistence
إِلّا بِصَرف عِناية وَلُزوم
Never think that any part of knowledge can be gained
Be not content save with correctness, and stop
except by devoting care and persevering.
Short of limits in your persevering efforts.
وَبِغَيرand without فهمunderstanding فيin نَديthe gathering of القَومthe people لاdo not
وَبِغَير فهم في نَدي القَوم لا
تَنطقspeak بِمَنثورin prose وَلاnor مَنظومverse
تَنطق بِمَنثور وَلا مَنظوم
Without understanding, in the people's gathering, do not
A disputant bested by his betters—a group
speak in prose or verse.
Well-versed, yet he harvested nothing but pith.
كَمhow many مُخطيءa blunderer متشدقbombastic مَتفيقهpretending to learning
كَم مُخطيء متشدق مَتفيقه
لَيسَdoes not الغِناءsinging يَليقsuit بِالعَلجومthe toad
لَيسَ الغِناء يَليق بِالعَلجوم
How many a blunderer is bombastic and pretends to learning!
Away with you, foal! For you bolted headlong.
Singing does not suit a toad.
You will be dragged between the stable and enclosure.
لاdo not تَرضَbe satisfied إِلّاexcept بِالإِصابةwith correctness أَوفقفor else stop
لا تَرضَ إِلّا بِالإِصابة أَوفقف
عِندَat الحُدودthe limits بِجَدكwith your fortune المَثلومimpaired
عِندَ الحُدود بِجَدك المَثلوم
Accept nothing but correctness, or else stand
O soul! Beware, for you are chastised
within your bounds, with your impaired fortune.
Above all people with blame and sin.
وَمُجادلand one disputing مِنthose فَوقهُabove him مِنfrom مَعشرa company
وَمُجادل مِن فَوقهُ مِن مَعشر
حَذقواwere skilled وَلَمand did not يَظفرgain بِغَيرanything but رَقومscars
حَذقوا وَلَم يَظفر بِغَير رَقوم
And one who disputes with his betters, from a company
Noble, you left your lofty world
of experts, wins nothing but scars.
And befriended all the vile and base.
مهstop ياO فَصيلyoung camel فَقَدfor indeed عجلتyou hastened مُجرجراًrumbling
مه يا فَصيل فَقَد عجلت مُجرجراً
سَتجرُّyou will be dragged بَينَamong قَناعسmighty camels وَقُرومand great male camels
سَتجرُّ بَينَ قَناعس وَقُروم
Enough, young camel! You have been hasty in your rumbling;
You neglected thanking the Bestower of Reason
you will be dragged among mighty camels and great sires.
After blessed life, the Ever-Present Sustainer;
ياO نَفسsoul فَاِنتَبِهيso awaken فَأَنتِfor you مُرادةare intended
يا نَفس فَاِنتَبِهي فَأَنتِ مُرادة
دونrather than الوَرىmankind بِاللَومby blame وَالتَأَثيمand accusation of sin
دون الوَرى بِاللَوم وَالتَأَثيم
O soul, awaken—for you are the one intended,
You grew lazy to acquire knowledge which,
rather than everyone else, by this blame and charge of sin.
If missed in life, becomes as naught;
فارقتِyou left عالَمَكِyour realm الشَريفnoble شَريفةin nobility
فارقتِ عالَمَكِ الشَريف شَريفة
فَأَلفتِthen you grew familiar with كُلevery مُدنسsullied thing وَذَميمand vile thing
فَأَلفتِ كُل مُدنس وَذَميم
You left your noble realm in nobility,
You were content to gain each merit
then grew familiar with all that is sullied and vile.
And truth with fancied gain.
وَغَفِلتِand you neglected عَنregarding شُكرgratitude to المَفيضthe One bestowing العَقلintellect مِنfrom
وَغَفِلتِ عَن شُكر المَفيض العَقل مِن
بَعدafter الحَياةlife المُنعمthe Benefactor القَيومthe Ever-Sustaining
بَعد الحَياة المُنعم القَيوم
You neglected gratitude to Him who bestowed intellect
You were corrupted by passions in a pasture—
after life—the Benefactor, the Ever-Sustaining.
A gloomy, murky resort of vice.
وَكَسلتِand you were idle عَنabout تَحصيلكyour acquisition of العلمknowledge الَّذيwhich
وَكَسلتِ عَن تَحصيلك العلم الَّذي
إِنif فاتَit eludes حَيّاًa living person فَهُوَthen he is كَالمَعدومlike the nonexistent
إِن فاتَ حَيّاً فَهُوَ كَالمَعدوم
You were too idle to acquire knowledge, which,
How pretentiously you act while you are
if a living person lacks it, makes him as one nonexistent.
In fact abased, degraded! Vainglory is most ugly.
وَرَضيتِand you settled مِنinstead of أَحرازattaining كُلevery فَضيلةvirtue
وَرَضيتِ مِن أَحراز كُل فَضيلة
وَحَقيقةand truth بِمحصلfor an attainment مَوهومimagined
وَحَقيقة بِمحصل مَوهوم
Instead of attaining every virtue
If you have no faith or piety,
and truth, you settled for an imagined achievement.
A dog is more deserving of honor.
دنَّستِyou soiled بِالشَهواتِwith desires أَزديةrobes (text uncertain) النُهىreason
دنَّستِ بِالشَهواتِ أَزدية النُهى
فيin مَرتَعa grazing ground وَعرrough المَقيلthe noonday resting-place وَخيمunwholesome
في مَرتَع وَعر المَقيل وَخيم
With desires you stained the robes of reason,
Indeed, you have committed major sins,
in a grazing ground with a rough noonday resting-place, unwholesome.
And minor ones, wronging all the innocent.
كَمhow much تبذخينyou boast وَأَنتِwhile you أَنتِyourself دَناءَةbaseness
كَم تبذخين وَأَنتِ أَنتِ دَناءَة
وَخَساسةand meanness وَالفَخرand vainglory أَقبَحthe ugliest خيمcharacter trait
وَخَساسة وَالفَخر أَقبَح خيم
How much you boast, though you are baseness itself
If you are rational, you have been addressed
and meanness; vainglory is the ugliest trait!
In rulings with obligation and prohibition.
إِنif كانَthere is لاno علمlearning لَدَيكwith you وَلاnor تُقىpiety
إِن كانَ لا علم لَدَيك وَلا تُقى
فَالكَلبthen the dog أَولىmore deserving مِنكِthan you بِالتَكريمof honor
فَالكَلب أَولى مِنكِ بِالتَكريم
If you possess neither learning nor piety,
So derive a lesson, O wise,
a dog deserves honor more than you.
From this momentous affair!
أَماas for الذُنوبsins فَقَدthen indeed جَنيتyou committed كِبارَهاtheir great ones
أَما الذُنوب فَقَد جَنيت كِبارَها
وَصِغارَهاand their small ones وَظلمتand you wronged كُلevery غَريمclaimant
وَصِغارَها وَظلمت كُل غَريم
As for sins, you have committed the great ones
God transcends praise; He forgives
and the small, and wronged every claimant.
And pardons the ordained duty.
إِنif كُنتِyou are عاقِلةrational فَقَدthen indeed خوطِبَتyou were addressed فيin الthe
إِن كُنتِ عاقِلة فَقَد خوطِبَت في ال
أَحكامordinances بِالتَحليلthrough permission وَالتَحريمand prohibition
أَحكام بِالتَحليل وَالتَحريم
If you have reason, you have been addressed in the
With what can I escape when my argument
ordinances through permission and prohibition.
Is refuted and opponents gain mastery over me?
تَعقيبfollowing up فَاِعتبرواso take heed بِفَحوىwith the import of ياO أُوليpossessors of الthe
تَعقيب فَاِعتبروا بِفَحوى يا أُولي ال
أَلبابunderstanding مِنof شَأنa matter هُناكَthere عَظيمgreat
أَلباب مِن شَأن هُناكَ عَظيم
Following 'So take heed' with the sense of 'O possessors of
Alas, unless by the mercy of the love of one
understanding' is a matter of great significance there.
Whose intercession has been made general.
نعمyes الإِلَهُGod بِفَضلِهِthrough His grace مُتَجاوِزٌoverlooking faults
نعم الإِلَهُ بِفَضلِهِ مُتَجاوِزٌ
وَمُسامحand pardoning فيregarding الواجبthe obligation المَحتومstrictly required
وَمُسامح في الواجب المَحتوم
Yes, God, through His grace, overlooks faults
His intercession is owed to every monotheist,
and pardons what is strictly due.
And I am resolved upon Divine Oneness.
فَبِمَso by what التَخَلُصescape يَومon the day تَدحضis refuted حِجَتيmy plea
فَبِمَ التَخَلُص يَوم تَدحض حِجَتي
عَدلاًin justice وَتَستَعليand rise above عَلَيَّagainst me خُصوميmy adversaries
عَدلاً وَتَستَعلي عَلَيَّ خُصومي
But how shall I escape on the day my plea is refuted
God—exalted is His remembrance—is gracious
in justice, and my adversaries gain the upper hand?
In emphasizing honor and reverence.
هَيهاتfar from possible إِلّاunless أَنthat رَحمتI am shown mercy بِحبthrough love of مَنhim who
هَيهات إِلّا أَن رَحمت بِحب مَن
تَشفيعهُhis being granted intercession قَدhas خَصَbeen singled out بِالتَعميمfor universal scope
تَشفيعهُ قَد خَصَ بِالتَعميم
Impossible—unless I am shown mercy through love of him
I expect, therefore, not to waste
whose right to intercede was uniquely given universal scope.
The gift between an Honorer and the recipient of honor.
وَجَبتis assured شَفاعَتُهُhis intercession لِكُلِfor every مُوَحدٍmonotheist
وَجَبت شَفاعَتُهُ لِكُلِ مُوَحدٍ
وَأَناand I عَلىon التَوحيدGod's oneness بِالتَصميمwith firm resolve
وَأَنا عَلى التَوحيد بِالتَصميم
His intercession is assured to every monotheist,
It is but a droplet of His boundless rain of mercy,
and I am firmly committed to God's oneness.
While the sea is contained in the dripping of its clouds.
وَاللَهُand God أَعلىexalted ذكرَهُhis renown مُتَفَضِلاًgraciously
وَاللَهُ أَعلى ذكرَهُ مُتَفَضِلاً
بِمُؤكدwith emphatic التَكريمhonor وَالتَعظيمand magnification
بِمُؤكد التَكريم وَالتَعظيم
God, in His bounty, exalted his renown
Why not a sea of generosity and a droplet
with emphatic honor and magnification.
To quench my thirst one day when I arrive?
فَالظَنُso the expectation is إِنيthat I لاnot أَكونُwill be مُضيعاًforsaken
فَالظَنُ إِني لا أَكونُ مُضيعاً
مَعwith ذاكَthat بَينَbetween مكرمan honored one وَكَريمand a generous one
مَع ذاكَ بَينَ مكرم وَكَريم
So I trust that I shall not be left forsaken,
Blessings upon him whom God mentioned whenever
with that, between one honored and one generous.
His name is uttered, and upon his family and companions.
هُوَhe رَحمَةa mercy ماnot البَحرthe sea إِلّاexcept قَطرةa drop
هُوَ رَحمَة ما البَحر إِلّا قَطرة
فيat جَنبthe side of أَيسَرthe least of غَيثِهاits rain المَسجومpouring forth
في جَنب أَيسَر غَيثِها المَسجوم
He is a mercy; the sea is only a drop
beside the least of its pouring rain.
أَفماshall we not نَرىsee مِنfrom بَحرan ocean of جودbounty قَطرةa drop
أَفما نَرى مِن بَحر جود قَطرة
يُروىis quenched بِهاby it عَطَشيmy thirst غَداةon the morning of قُدوميmy arrival
يُروى بِها عَطَشي غَداة قُدومي
Shall we not see a drop from an ocean of bounty
to quench my thirst on the morning of my arrival?
صَلىmay bless عَلَيهِupon him اللَهُGod ماwhenever ذكرis mentioned اِسمَهُhis name
صَلى عَلَيهِ اللَهُ ما ذكر اِسمَهُ
وَالآلand the family وَالأَصحابand the companions بِالتَسليمwith salutations of peace
وَالآل وَالأَصحاب بِالتَسليم
May God bless him whenever his name is mentioned,
and his family and companions, with salutations of peace.
Partial English translation: 130 of 136 Arabic lines translated.