الحمد لله الذي خصّنا

الحمد لله الذي خصّنا

بالعلم والعقبى لمن يشكر

بالعلم والعقبى لمن يشكر

Praise be to God Most High, who favored us

Praise be to God, who has singled us out

with knowledge; the blessed end is for whoever gives thanks.

With knowledge; the final reward is for whoever gives thanks.

ألهمنا علم أداة لنا

ألهمنا علم أداة لنا

مكتومة تخفى ولا تظهر

مكتومة تخفى ولا تظهر

He inspired us with knowledge of an instrument of ours,

He inspired us with knowledge of an instrument of ours,

kept secret, hidden, never brought to light:

Kept secret, hidden, and not revealed.

معمولة من جوهر خالص

معمولة من جوهر خالص

داخله من خارج يبصر

داخله من خارج يبصر

a known device, made of pure substance,

Made from a pure substance,

whose interior can be seen from without.

Its interior can be seen from outside.

في رأسها فتح وإكليلها ال

في رأسها فتح وإكليلها ال

مقلوب في داخلها يقطرُ

مقلوب في داخلها يقطرُ

At its head is an opening, while its crown is the—

In its head is an opening, and its crown,

inverted one, dripping into its interior.

Inverted, drips into its interior.

ممرّد الصرح له غرفة

ممرّد الصرح له غرفة

غامضة المسلك لا تظهر

غامضة المسلك لا تظهر

A glass-smooth pavilion with a chamber

Its structure is polished; it has a chamber,

whose hidden passage cannot be seen.

With a hidden passage, itself unseen.

أم ملوك الأرض في جوفها

أم ملوك الأرض في جوفها

جنينها الأبيض والأحمر

جنينها الأبيض والأحمر

She is mother to the king of earth; within her womb

Mother of the kings of earth, within her belly lie

her embryo is the White and the Red.

Her unborn offspring, the white and the red.

تسقيهم فهي بهم برة

تسقيهم فهي بهم برة

من لبن العذراء ما يحصر

من لبن العذراء ما يحصر

She gives them drink, tenderly caring for them,

She gives them drink, for she is kind to them,

of the Virgin’s milk—all that can be contained.

A measured portion of the virgin's milk.

تحملهم في جوفها أشهرا

تحملهم في جوفها أشهرا

معدودة تتبعها أشهرُ

معدودة تتبعها أشهرُ

She carries them in her womb for months,

She carries them within her belly for months,

numbered—then other months follow.

A fixed number, followed by further months.

وإنما إكليلها ثديها

وإنما إكليلها ثديها

يرضعه الأصغر فالأكبر

يرضعه الأصغر فالأكبر

Her crown is nothing other than her breast:

And her crown is nothing but her breast,

the smaller suckles it, and then the greater.

The smaller suckles it, then the larger.

في جوفها تقبر موتاهمُ

في جوفها تقبر موتاهمُ

حيناً ومن باطنها تحشرُ

حيناً ومن باطنها تحشرُ

Within her belly she buries their dead

Within her belly she buries their dead

for a time; then from her depths she raises them.

For a time, and from her depths she resurrects them.

لطيفة الخصر وأردافها

لطيفة الخصر وأردافها

وجيدها من خصرها أكبرُ

وجيدها من خصرها أكبرُ

Slender-waisted, with her haunches

Her waist is slender, while her hips

and her neck both broader than her waist.

And her neck are larger than her waist.

في وسط البحر ومن تحتها

في وسط البحر ومن تحتها

نار حضان أبداً تسعرُ

نار حضان أبداً تسعرُ

She stands amid the sea, and beneath her

In the midst of the sea, and beneath her

a brooding fire is forever kept ablaze.

An incubating fire is forever kept alight.

هذي أداة القوم أظهرتُها

هذي أداة القوم أظهرتُها

بارزة وهي التي تضمرُ

بارزة وهي التي تضمرُ

This is the adepts’ instrument; I have revealed it,

This is the people's instrument; I have revealed it,

laid bare, though it is the thing kept concealed.

In full view, though it is what is kept hidden.

فضحت أسرارهمُ دفعة

فضحت أسرارهمُ دفعة

وبحتُ بالسر لمن يشعرُ

وبحتُ بالسر لمن يشعرُ

I exposed their secrets in a single stroke

I exposed their secrets all at once,

and divulged the mystery to whoever can discern.

And spoke openly of the secret to whoever understands.

وبؤتُ بالذنب ومن خالقني

وبؤتُ بالذنب ومن خالقني

أستوهبُ الذنبَ وأستغفرُ

أستوهبُ الذنبَ وأستغفرُ

I own the sin; and from Him who created me

And I have confessed my sin; and from the One who created me

I beg its remission and seek forgiveness.

I beg pardon for the sin and seek forgiveness.

فواصلوا الدرس ولا تسأموا

فواصلوا الدرس ولا تسأموا

وأعملوا الفكر ولا تضجروا

وأعملوا الفكر ولا تضجروا

So persevere in study and never weary;

So continue your study and do not grow weary,

exercise your minds and never grow impatient.

And put thought to work and do not grow impatient.

وقايسوا أمركم تدركوا

وقايسوا أمركم تدركوا

مكنون سر الله واستبصروا

مكنون سر الله واستبصروا

Reason carefully about your matter, and you will grasp

And draw comparisons in your undertaking; you will grasp

the hidden mystery of God—and gain clear sight.

The hidden secret of God—and gain insight.