ما للقُلوبِ عن الحبيبِ غِطاءُ

ما للقُلوبِ عن الحبيبِ غِطاءُ

إِلاَّ إذا سكَنَتْ بها الأشياءُ

إِلاَّ إذا سكَنَتْ بها الأشياءُ

Hearts have no veil separating them from the Beloved,

Veils cannot cloak love of the beloved,

except when things settle within them.

Save when indwelling things do quell the soul.

يبدو الحِجابُ عن الحبيبِ بنظرةٍ

يبدو الحِجابُ عن الحبيبِ بنظرةٍ

لسِواهُ إنَّ الحادِثاتُ عَمَاءُ

لسِواهُ إنَّ الحادِثاتُ عَمَاءُ

A veil from the Beloved appears with a glance

At but a glance the veil's lifted from the loved one-

at anything other than Him; created things are obscurity.

Other-than-he is dust that to the winds is blown.

من كان يقصُدُ حُبَّهُ لم يلتفِتْ

من كان يقصُدُ حُبَّهُ لم يلتفِتْ

للفانِياتِ إذِ الجميعُ هَباءُ

للفانِياتِ إذِ الجميعُ هَباءُ

Whoever seeks His love does not turn

Who follows love cares not for fleeting things,

to perishing things, for all are dust.

For all is gossamer, and to naught will roll.

مزِّقْ إذْاً حُجْبَ الوُجودِ بهمَّةٍ

مزِّقْ إذْاً حُجْبَ الوُجودِ بهمَّةٍ

من دونِها الغَبْراءُ والخَضْراءُ

من دونِها الغَبْراءُ والخَضْراءُ

Tear, then, the veils of existence with a resolve

Rend then the veils of being with resolve,

beneath which lie the dusty earth and green heaven.

Verdant, or dusty, to thy might they bow.

واهْجُرْ أناساً قَيْدُ دِينهمِ الهَوى

واهْجُرْ أناساً قَيْدُ دِينهمِ الهَوى

دهراً فهم والميِّتونَ سَواءُ

دهراً فهم والميِّتونَ سَواءُ

And shun people whose religion is fettered by desire

Leave men whose creed is but caprice,

for an age; they and the dead are alike.

Long has their reasoning been dust, like bones decayed.

فالعبدُ سيِّدُهُ مُناهُ وقصدُهُ

فالعبدُ سيِّدُهُ مُناهُ وقصدُهُ

لم تُلْهِهِ النَّعماءُ والآلاءُ

لم تُلْهِهِ النَّعماءُ والآلاءُ

For the servant, his Master is his longing and his aim;

The devotee rules o’er his Lord’s domain and quests,

prosperity and blessings have not distracted him.

Unmarred by blessing and beguile of gift bestowed.

وانْهَجْ على أَثرِ النَّبيِّينَ الأُولى

وانْهَجْ على أَثرِ النَّبيِّينَ الأُولى

فهُمُ يَنابيعُ الهُدى العُقَلاءُ

فهُمُ يَنابيعُ الهُدى العُقَلاءُ

And walk in the footsteps of the prophets of old,

Follow the loyal and obedient prophets’ path,

for they are the wise springs of guidance.

Those founts of wisdom and sagacity.

لفتوا عن الأغيارِ عزمَ قُلوبِهِمْ

لفتوا عن الأغيارِ عزمَ قُلوبِهِمْ

ولأمرِهِ بصَحيحِ حالٍ فاءوا

ولأمرِهِ بصَحيحِ حالٍ فاءوا

They turned their hearts' resolve away from all else,

They turned their hearts from strangers, by His order steeled,

and returned to His command in a sound state.

And to His summons did with full hearts flow.

تبِعَتْهُمُ السَّاداتُ ساداتُ الورَى

تبِعَتْهُمُ السَّاداتُ ساداتُ الورَى

العارِفونَ الخُلَّصُ النُّجَباءُ

العارِفونَ الخُلَّصُ النُّجَباءُ

The masters followed them, the masters of humankind,

The saints pursued, the noble and elect,

those who know God, the pure, the noble.

Discerning in mind, untainted in creed.

وأقامَ دولَتَهُمْ وأكملَ شأنَهُمْ

وأقامَ دولَتَهُمْ وأكملَ شأنَهُمْ

طهَ الذي ضاءتْ يه الظَّلْماءُ

طهَ الذي ضاءتْ يه الظَّلْماءُ

And he established their dominion and perfected their standing—

He raised their nation up and perfected their affair,

Ta-Ha, through whom the darkness shone.

Though gloom once reigned through night that hung like cowl.

أَحيى قُلوبَ المؤمنينَ بنورِهِ

أَحيى قُلوبَ المؤمنينَ بنورِهِ

فانْجابَ عنها ساتِرٌ وغِشاءُ

فانْجابَ عنها ساتِرٌ وغِشاءُ

He revived the believers' hearts with his light,

He brought to life believers’ hearts with His light,

so a covering and veil fell away from them.

Which once obscured, from their midst did lift the veil.

عمَّتْ هدايَتُهُ وضاءتْ شمسُهُ

عمَّتْ هدايَتُهُ وضاءتْ شمسُهُ

فلها إلى يومِ القيامِ ضياءُ

فلها إلى يومِ القيامِ ضياءُ

His guidance spread everywhere, and his sun shone;

Universal is the guidance He revealed, the sun He raised,

its radiance endures until the Day of Rising.

Its light till Judgement Day shall never fail.

أخذتْ مُزَمْزِمَةً على منهاجِهِ

أخذتْ مُزَمْزِمَةً على منهاجِهِ

آلٌ وصَحبٌ سادَةٌ حُنَفاءُ

آلٌ وصَحبٌ سادَةٌ حُنَفاءُ

They set out, chanting softly, upon his path—

Those of His house followed His path without relent,

his family and companions, masters of pure faith.

A folk of probity, devotion's zeal.

هامُوا بذكرِ اللهِ جلَّ جلالُهُ

هامُوا بذكرِ اللهِ جلَّ جلالُهُ

وقُلوبُ أَصحابِ الجُحودِ هَواءُ

وقُلوبُ أَصحابِ الجُحودِ هَواءُ

They were enraptured by remembering God—exalted is His majesty—

With God's remembrance they were occupied, Tremendous His Perfection!

while the hearts of those who deny are empty air.

While hearts of unbelievers were but ashen grey.

قومٌ إمامُهُمُ الرَّسولُ المُصطفى

قومٌ إمامُهُمُ الرَّسولُ المُصطفى

من تستَظِلُّ بظلِّهِ الشُّفَعاءُ

من تستَظِلُّ بظلِّهِ الشُّفَعاءُ

A people whose leader is the chosen Messenger,

A folk whose foremost guide was that Embodiment of virtue sought,

the one in whose shade the intercessors take shelter;

Beneath whose shade the pleaders find their goal.

روحُ الوُجودِ مَنارُ كُلَّ حقيقةٍ

روحُ الوُجودِ مَنارُ كُلَّ حقيقةٍ

سامي الجَنابِ اللَّمْعَةُ البيضاءُ

سامي الجَنابِ اللَّمْعَةُ البيضاءُ

the spirit of existence, the beacon of every truth,

He was the soul of existence, splendour of all truth,

exalted in station, the white radiance;

That noble spirit pure of hue like snow.

المُنْتقى من لُبِّ عُنصُرِ هاشمٍ

المُنْتقى من لُبِّ عُنصُرِ هاشمٍ

إِبناً سمتْ بفَخارِهِ الآباءُ

إِبناً سمتْ بفَخارِهِ الآباءُ

chosen from the very essence of Hashim's stock,

Chosen kernel from the heart of Hashim's line,

a son through whose glory the forefathers rose.

Of whom sires were ennobled by his fame.

هو نورُهمْ في كَنْزِ نشأَةِ كونِهِمْ

هو نورُهمْ في كَنْزِ نشأَةِ كونِهِمْ

والطِّينُ لم يُعجَنْ لهم والماءُ

والطِّينُ لم يُعجَنْ لهم والماءُ

He was their light in the treasury of their coming into being,

He was their light within the store of their beginnings,

while clay and water had not yet been kneaded for them.

Ere clay was kneaded, and the water flowed.

وافَى بدينٍ قيِّمٍ ذلَّتْ به

وافَى بدينٍ قيِّمٍ ذلَّتْ به

ضِمنَ العُقولِ بطبعِها العَوْجاءُ

ضِمنَ العُقولِ بطبعِها العَوْجاءُ

He came with an upright religion, through which was subdued

He came with flawless creed; by which

what was naturally crooked within minds.

Were bent the uprighteous minds that once were bent.

وبدَتْ لنا من برجِ طالِعِ بدْرِهِ

وبدَتْ لنا من برجِ طالِعِ بدْرِهِ

رغمَ العُماةِ محجَّةٌ سمْحاءُ

رغمَ العُماةِ محجَّةٌ سمْحاءُ

And from the celestial mansion of his full moon's rising appeared to us

And by his moon's arising we saw clear, despite the blind,

a gracious, open road, despite the blind.

Evidence brilliant and serene of brow.

شهِدَ العِدى طوعاً بعزَّةِ أمرِهِ

شهِدَ العِدى طوعاً بعزَّةِ أمرِهِ

والفضلُ ما شهِدَتْ به الأَعداءُ

والفضلُ ما شهِدَتْ به الأَعداءُ

The enemies willingly bore witness to the might of his cause;

Though foes bore witness to his might, by awe compelled,

merit is what enemies attest.

Merit lies only with attestors from one's foes.

نسخَ الشَّرائعَ كلَّها بشريعَةٍ

نسخَ الشَّرائعَ كلَّها بشريعَةٍ

خضعتْ لحكمَةِ نصِّها الحُكَماءُ

خضعتْ لحكمَةِ نصِّها الحُكَماءُ

He superseded all religious laws with a law

He superseded creeds, prescribing one wherein

to the wisdom of whose text the sages bowed.

Reasons' wise ones did obedience avow.

واتَى بتوْحيدٍ فنزَّهَ رَباًهُ

واتَى بتوْحيدٍ فنزَّهَ رَباًهُ

وهو المُنَزَّهُ ما له شُرَكاءُ

وهو المُنَزَّهُ ما له شُرَكاءُ

He brought affirmation of divine oneness and declared his Lord transcendent,

Singling God out, he lauded Him; that Lofty One,

and He is transcendent; He has no partners.

Who has no partner, peer, nor mate as thou.

العقلُ يشهدُ أنَّ فوقَ فُهومِهِ

العقلُ يشهدُ أنَّ فوقَ فُهومِهِ

معنًى عليه من الوُجودِ رِداءُ

معنًى عليه من الوُجودِ رِداءُ

Reason bears witness that beyond its understandings

Though the mind bears witness that beyond its ken

lies a meaning clothed in a mantle of existence.

There lies a meaning robed in being's gown

وحِّدْ بذوقِكَ ذاتَ ربِّكَ عارفاً

وحِّدْ بذوقِكَ ذاتَ ربِّكَ عارفاً

فالشِّرْكُ وصفاً نقطةٌ سوْداءُ

فالشِّرْكُ وصفاً نقطةٌ سوْداءُ

Affirm your Lord's Essence as One through your inward taste, with knowledge;

Unite in sense the Essence of your Lord, wise,

for, as an attribute, associating partners with Him is a black spot.

For to liken Him, the Ugliest Blot!

يحتاطُ منكَ الرَّأيُ فيكَ ولم تكنْ

يحتاطُ منكَ الرَّأيُ فيكَ ولم تكنْ

تفقَهْ فكيف تصَرَّفُ الآراءُ

تفقَهْ فكيف تصَرَّفُ الآراءُ

Thought is wary of you within you, yet you did not

Opinion is unsure of you; how can thoughts define?

understand—so how do thoughts operate?

Or what approach can grasp imagination now?

من أيِّ زاوِيَةٍ أتاكَ خيالُهُ

من أيِّ زاوِيَةٍ أتاكَ خيالُهُ

أو أيُّ ظرفٍ للخيالِ وِعاءُ

أو أيُّ ظرفٍ للخيالِ وِعاءُ

From what corner did its image come to you,

What thought has fathomed You, from any point or plane?

or what receptacle serves as a vessel for imagination?

Seen, You're corporeal; veiled, hidden from view.

إنْ كان مرئيًّا يكونُ مُجسَّماً

إنْ كان مرئيًّا يكونُ مُجسَّماً

أوْ كان مطموساً فذاكَ خَفاءُ

أوْ كان مطموساً فذاكَ خَفاءُ

If it is visible, it is embodied;

This emergence both apparent and occult,

if it is effaced, that is concealment.

Whereby the eloquent were plunged in doubt.

هذا الحُدوثُ به خَفِيٌّ ظاهِرٌ

هذا الحُدوثُ به خَفِيٌّ ظاهِرٌ

وبسرِّهِ قد حارَتِ البُلَغاءُ

وبسرِّهِ قد حارَتِ البُلَغاءُ

This coming-to-be holds both the hidden and the manifest,

You hold within you treasuries of all such things,

and its mystery has bewildered the eloquent.

Whose pages those reciters yet endow.

وحَفِظْتَ أخْباراً بسرِّكَ كلُّها

وحَفِظْتَ أخْباراً بسرِّكَ كلُّها

منها صُفوفٌ ضِمنَهُ وبِناءُ

منها صُفوفٌ ضِمنَهُ وبِناءُ

And you have stored reports within your inner being, all of them;

This being and not-being leaves sages perplexed,

within it are ranks of them, and a structure.

Abashed where knowledge cannot pierce, they bow.

وتظلُّ مُزْواةً فإنْ راجعتَها

وتظلُّ مُزْواةً فإنْ راجعتَها

كرَّتْ عليكَ هُنالِكَ الأَنباءُ

كرَّتْ عليكَ هُنالِكَ الأَنباءُ

They remain tucked away; if you revisit them,

Transcendent He determines, present, absent too,

the reports come back to you there.

Beyond your sight that Lofty Entity.

ووصفْتَ أشكالاً وطبعُكَ شاهِدٌ

ووصفْتَ أشكالاً وطبعُكَ شاهِدٌ

وذكرْتَ ألواناً ولا اسْتِجْلاءُ

وذكرْتَ ألواناً ولا اسْتِجْلاءُ

And you described forms, your nature bearing witness,

Creation's secrets lead back to His order's realm,

and recalled colors without viewing them anew.

Whereby things' motion does His decree allow.

فكأَنَّ فيك خِزانَةً لجميعِها

فكأَنَّ فيك خِزانَةً لجميعِها

ولها صَحائفُ ضِمنَها قُرَّاءُ

ولها صَحائفُ ضِمنَها قُرَّاءُ

It is as though within you were a storehouse for them all,

The mystics' secret cure is their conviction sure,

and it has pages, with readers within them.

While ignorance in truth's eye is the blight and bane.

هذانِ موجودٌ ومفقودٌ فقِفْ

هذانِ موجودٌ ومفقودٌ فقِفْ

خجِلاً هناكَ تُجَهَّلُ العُلماءُ

خجِلاً هناكَ تُجَهَّلُ العُلماءُ

These two: one present, one absent—so stand

Follow the secret coursing through Muhammad,

ashamed; there the scholars are deemed ignorant.

Those names ennobled by his presence fair.

جلَّ المُهَيْمِنُ حاضرٌ هو غائبٌ

جلَّ المُهَيْمِنُ حاضرٌ هو غائبٌ

عن دَرْكِ عينِكَ ذاتُهُ علياءُ

عن دَرْكِ عينِكَ ذاتُهُ علياءُ

Exalted is the Guardian: He is present, yet absent

Open the seekers’ eyes with ardour,

from your eye's perception; His Essence is sublime.

Where to his spirit's light they signal bow.

ورَقائقُ الأَشياءِ إنْ سَلْسَلْتَها

ورَقائقُ الأَشياءِ إنْ سَلْسَلْتَها

رجعَتْ لدولةِ أمرِهِ الأَشْياءُ

رجعَتْ لدولةِ أمرِهِ الأَشْياءُ

And if you link the subtleties of things in a chain,

Leave those enviers to their misery,

all things return to the dominion of His command.

No cure is there, my lads, that can heal their pain.

ودواءُ سِرِّ العارفينَ يقينُهُمْ

ودواءُ سِرِّ العارفينَ يقينُهُمْ

والجهلُ في عينِ الحقيقةِ داءُ

والجهلُ في عينِ الحقيقةِ داءُ

And the remedy for the knowers' inner being is their certainty;

They vary with desires, for their misguidance,

ignorance, in the very essence of truth, is a sickness.

Fickle as the chameleon does colours change.

خذْ إثْرَ سِرِّ الكائناتِ محمَّدٍ

خذْ إثْرَ سِرِّ الكائناتِ محمَّدٍ

من شرِّفَتْ بجنانِهِ الأَسماءُ

من شرِّفَتْ بجنانِهِ الأَسماءُ

Follow the footsteps of Muhammad, the secret of all beings,

stubborn hatred has trussed them up,

the one through whose heart the names were ennobled.

To bigotry's abyss as fools deranged.

وافْتحْ عُيونَ السَّالكينَ بهمَّةٍ

وافْتحْ عُيونَ السَّالكينَ بهمَّةٍ

فيها لنورِ جَنابِهِ إِيماءُ

فيها لنورِ جَنابِهِ إِيماءُ

And open the eyes of the wayfarers with a resolve

They sneered at Holy Law, what ails their minds,

that gestures toward the light of his presence.

Deeming themselves the learned men so sage!

واترُكْ صُنوفَ الحاسِدينَ بدائِهِمْ

واترُكْ صُنوفَ الحاسِدينَ بدائِهِمْ

ما للحواسِدِ يا بنيَّ دواءُ

ما للحواسِدِ يا بنيَّ دواءُ

And leave the various kinds of enviers to their sickness;

They raved, from their corrupted minds deducing,

there is no cure for the envious, my son.

Vain fabrications, minds that truth evade.

يتلَوَّنونَ مع الهَوى لضلالِهِمْ

يتلَوَّنونَ مع الهَوى لضلالِهِمْ

طَيْشاً كما تتلَوَّنُ الحِرْباءُ

طَيْشاً كما تتلَوَّنُ الحِرْباءُ

They change their colors with desire because of their error,

It's as though their minds were fire ablaze,

recklessly, as the chameleon changes its colors.

And in them, water, flames' rage to assuage.

عقدَ العِنادُ غُبارَهُمْ فتوسَّدوا

عقدَ العِنادُ غُبارَهُمْ فتوسَّدوا

لُجَجَ العِنادِ وكلُّهُمْ سُفَهاءُ

لُجَجَ العِنادِ وكلُّهُمْ سُفَهاءُ

Obstinacy thickened their dust, and they took as pillows

State your absurdities and minds' inanities,

the depths of obstinacy; all of them are fools.

That we examine them you fools outraged.

غَمَزوا الشَّريعةَ يا لسقْمِ عُقولِهِمْ

غَمَزوا الشَّريعةَ يا لسقْمِ عُقولِهِمْ

وبزَعمِهِمْ جَهلاً همُ العُرَفاءُ

وبزَعمِهِمْ جَهلاً همُ العُرَفاءُ

They disparaged the sacred law—alas for their sick minds!

The truth lights up from its words a light,

And ignorantly claim that they are the knowers.

Radiant over horizons afar outstretched.

وتبجَّحوا واسْتنتَجَتْ آراؤُهُمْ

وتبجَّحوا واسْتنتَجَتْ آراؤُهُمْ

زوراً ومُقلةُ عقلِهِمْ زَوراءُ

زوراً ومُقلةُ عقلِهِمْ زَوراءُ

They boasted, and their opinions yielded

You erred headstrong; when the veil is lifted,

falsehood, while the eye of their intellect was askew.

Its covering will clothe you, fools enmeshed.

فكأنَّما الأَمْواهَ جمرٌ لاهبٌ

فكأنَّما الأَمْواهَ جمرٌ لاهبٌ

وكأنَّما النِّيرانُ فيها الماءُ

وكأنَّما النِّيرانُ فيها الماءُ

As though the waters were blazing embers,

You saw inception plainly possible,

and as though fires contained water.

And likewise rendering and inception.

هاتوا مَزالِقَكُمْ وقُبْحَ فُهومِكُمْ

هاتوا مَزالِقَكُمْ وقُبْحَ فُهومِكُمْ

لنقيسَها يا أيُّها السُّقَماءُ

لنقيسَها يا أيُّها السُّقَماءُ

Bring forth your pitfalls and the ugliness of your understandings,

A feat unveiled from One Eternal, Agent,

so we may measure them, you sick ones.

Inception, rendering His Actions matched.

الحقُّ يُجلى من خلالِ حُروفِهِ

الحقُّ يُجلى من خلالِ حُروفِهِ

نورٌ تُضيءُ بشَعِّهِ الأَرْجاءُ

نورٌ تُضيءُ بشَعِّهِ الأَرْجاءُ

Truth is unveiled through its letters:

O you! We see you comprehend your being's realm as stumped,

a light whose radiance illuminates the regions.

While your own place and state you cannot gauge.

رُحتمْ على طيشٍ إذا انْكشفَ الغِطا

رُحتمْ على طيشٍ إذا انْكشفَ الغِطا

ءُ يحُفُّكُمْ بالدَّاهياتِ غِطاءُ

ءُ يحُفُّكُمْ بالدَّاهياتِ غِطاءُ

You went on recklessly; when the veil is lifted,

Each part within you is confounded by your circumstances,

a veil of calamities encompasses you.

So spare us your pretensions and their weight!

فرأيْتُموا الإِبْداءَ يُمكِنُ ظاهِراً

فرأيْتُموا الإِبْداءَ يُمكِنُ ظاهِراً

وكذلك الإِرْجاعُ والإِبْداءُ

وكذلك الإِرْجاعُ والإِبْداءُ

Then you saw that bringing forth could happen visibly,

Existence you witness, its forms you perceive,

and likewise returning and bringing forth.

By your eyes a blurred and sightless waste.

صُنُعٌ تجلَّى من قديمٍ فاعلٍ

صُنُعٌ تجلَّى من قديمٍ فاعلٍ

من شأنِهِ الإِبْداءُ والإِخْفاءُ

من شأنِهِ الإِبْداءُ والإِخْفاءُ

A work manifested by an eternal Agent,

All time makes a ruin of your house entire,

whose province is bringing forth and concealing,

Stripping you of every aspect and trait.

والطَّيُّ والنَّشرُ المُقيمُ لخلقِهِ

والطَّيُّ والنَّشرُ المُقيمُ لخلقِهِ

وإِماتَةُ الأَحداثِ والإِحْياءُ

وإِماتَةُ الأَحداثِ والإِحْياءُ

and folding up, and unfolding that sustains His creation,

Like yourself your house's wall is ignorant, dumb,

and putting created things to death and bringing them to life.

Your words about God flounder in this strait.

يا من نراكَ بفهمِ كونِكَ عاجِزاً

يا من نراكَ بفهمِ كونِكَ عاجِزاً

وبشأنِ ذاتِكَ ما لَكَ اسْتيفاءُ

وبشأنِ ذاتِكَ ما لَكَ اسْتيفاءُ

O you whom we see unable to comprehend your own being,

You felt shame when censured by one who railed,

and who have no complete grasp of your own essence,

Yet censuring yourself you have no shame to date.

عن كلِّ شخصِكَ في شُؤُنِكَ قاصِرٌ

عن كلِّ شخصِكَ في شُؤُنِكَ قاصِرٌ

فاقْصِرْ فزَعْمُكَ فوقَ ذاك عَناءُ

فاقْصِرْ فزَعْمُكَ فوقَ ذاك عَناءُ

in your affairs, you fall short of grasping your whole person;

Unify and ponder perplexed, legitimately,

so desist; your claims beyond that are futile toil.

Thus prophets came, bewildered, in their wake.

هذا الوُجودُ وأنت تشهَدُ شكلَهُ

هذا الوُجودُ وأنت تشهَدُ شكلَهُ

منه بعينِكَ بُرْدَةٌ طَمْساءُ

منه بعينِكَ بُرْدَةٌ طَمْساءُ

This existence, whose form you witness—

We're confused but not confused; and in this bewilderment

what your eye sees of it is an indistinct cloak.

Knowledge secretes the clarities that daybreak.

تُمضي الزمانَ بعقْرِ بيتِكَ كلَّهُ

تُمضي الزمانَ بعقْرِ بيتِكَ كلَّهُ

وتُماطُ عنك بكلِّهِ أَجْزاءُ

وتُماطُ عنك بكلِّهِ أَجْزاءُ

You spend all your time in the depths of your house,

Hallowed, Sanctified, His Name recalled,

yet parts are kept from you all the while.

Besides Him, no earth exists, no heavenly sphere.

بجدارِ بيتِكَ مثلُ شخْصِكَ جاهِلٌ

بجدارِ بيتِكَ مثلُ شخْصِكَ جاهِلٌ

إِخْرَس فقولُكَ في الإِلهِ بَلاءُ

إِخْرَس فقولُكَ في الإِلهِ بَلاءُ

Someone like you is ignorant of your own house's wall.

Resign all matters to him in full servanthood,

Be silent: your talk about God is a calamity.

For His is mighty command and ordain.

أنتَ اسْتَحَيْتَ إذا أساءَكَ شاتِمٌ

أنتَ اسْتَحَيْتَ إذا أساءَكَ شاتِمٌ

من شتْمِ نفسِكَ ما لديكَ حَياءُ

من شتْمِ نفسِكَ ما لديكَ حَياءُ

You felt shame when an insulter offended you;

In every state for devotees, a new beginning

yet you have no shame about insulting yourself.

With God, for affairs, is tutelage.

وَحِّدْ ورُحْ في حَيْرَةٍ شرعِيَّةٍ

وَحِّدْ ورُحْ في حَيْرَةٍ شرعِيَّةٍ

الأَنْبياءُ بمثلِها قدْ جاءوا

الأَنْبياءُ بمثلِها قدْ جاءوا

Affirm His oneness, and go forth in bewilderment sanctioned by sacred law;

He is the Knower, and all knowledge falls short.

the prophets brought such bewilderment.

He the Almighty, while we are all poor.

حِرْنا وما حِرْنا وحَيْرَتُنا به

حِرْنا وما حِرْنا وحَيْرَتُنا به

علمٌ وجَلْجَلَةُ الظُّهورِ خَفاءُ

علمٌ وجَلْجَلَةُ الظُّهورِ خَفاءُ

We were bewildered, yet not bewildered; our bewilderment in Him

is knowledge, and the resounding of manifestation is concealment.

سبحانَهُ قَدِّسْهُ واذْكُرْ إسمهُ

سبحانَهُ قَدِّسْهُ واذْكُرْ إسمهُ

ما ثَمَّ أرضٌ غيرَهُ وسَماءُ

ما ثَمَّ أرضٌ غيرَهُ وسَماءُ

Glory be to Him! Hallow Him and remember His name;

there is no earth or heaven there apart from Him.

سلِّمْ له كلَّ الشُؤُنِ تَبَتُّلاً

سلِّمْ له كلَّ الشُؤُنِ تَبَتُّلاً

فلهُ عَزيزُ الأمرِ والإِقْضاءُ

فلهُ عَزيزُ الأمرِ والإِقْضاءُ

Surrender all affairs to Him in utter devotion;

for His are the mighty command and the issuing of judgment,

في كلِّ حالٍ للعِبادِ ونَشْأَةٌ

في كلِّ حالٍ للعِبادِ ونَشْأَةٌ

لله سِينٌ في الشُؤُنِ وراءُ

لله سِينٌ في الشُؤُنِ وراءُ

in every state of the servants and every coming-to-be.

God has a sīn and a rāʾ within affairs.

وهو العَليمُ وكلُّ علمٍ قاصِرٌ

وهو العَليمُ وكلُّ علمٍ قاصِرٌ

وهو الغنيُّ وكُلُّنا فُقَراءُ

وهو الغنيُّ وكُلُّنا فُقَراءُ

And He is the All-Knowing, and all knowledge falls short;

and He is the Self-Sufficient, while we are all poor.