تنام وأنت على مشتبه

وعلّك إن نمت لم ننتبه

You sleep while in a state of doubt,

And perhaps, if you sleep, we shall not awaken.

وإني لأعجب ممّن ينام

ولم يرض ما كان من مكسبه

And I truly marvel at one who sleeps,

Yet is not content with what he has earned.

فجاهد وقلب كتاب الإله

لتلقى الإله إذا متّ به

So strive, and pore over God's Book,

That you may meet God, when you die, with it.

فقد قلد الناس رهبانهم

فكلّ يجاهد عن مذهبه

For people have followed their monks,

So each struggles in defense of his creed.

ولا يعرف الحق بالمعنيين

وبالحق يدري هدى مصحبه

Nor is truth known through the people concerned;

Through truth, one discerns its companion's right guidance.

وللحقّ مستنبط واحدٌ

وكل يرى الحقّ في مذهبه

And truth has but one discoverer,

Yet everyone sees truth in his own creed.

وإني لأجهد في أن أرى

ذوي الحق فيه على موجبه

And I strive hard to see

Those who hold the truth living by its demands.

فوجه الإله لمن أمّه

مبين منير فما يشتبه

For God's face, to whoever seeks Him,

Is clear and radiant, so there is no mistaking it.

وفي ما نرى عجب غير أن

التفرّق في الدين من أعجبه

And in what we see are wonders, yet

Division in religion is among the strangest of them.