النقصُ في العبد ذاتيّ وإنَّ له

النقصُ في العبد ذاتيّ وإنَّ له

وقتاً كمالاً ولكن فيه بالغَرَضِ

وقتاً كمالاً ولكن فيه بالغَرَضِ

Deficiency is intrinsic to the servant, though he has

The servant's deficiency is inherent, though

perfection for a time, yet in him it is for a purpose.

For a time he attains perfection, but for a purpose

العبد لا بدَّ منه فهو يطلبه

العبد لا بدَّ منه فهو يطلبه

وإنه صاحبُ الآفاتِ والمرَض

وإنه صاحبُ الآفاتِ والمرَض

The servant cannot be dispensed with, for He seeks him,

The servant is inevitable, for he seeks Him

and indeed he bears afflictions and disease.

Yet he is the companion of defects and disease

اعراضه بوجودِ النقصِ شاهدة

اعراضه بوجودِ النقصِ شاهدة

وما نرى أحداً ينفك عن عَرَضِ

وما نرى أحداً ينفك عن عَرَضِ

His accidental attributes attest to the presence of deficiency,

His turning away due to the deficiency is evidence

and we see no one free of an accidental attribute.

And we see no one free from circumstance

وقد ينال الذي يهوى ويحرمه

وقد ينال الذي يهوى ويحرمه

وقتاً فيبصره يصبر على مَضَضِ

وقتاً فيبصره يصبر على مَضَضِ

He may attain what he desires, yet be deprived of it

And he may attain what he desires and be deprived of it

for a time; then He sees him patiently bearing bitter pain.

For a time, so he sees it and is patient with bitterness

فقل لعقلِك قد أفهمت صورته

فقل لعقلِك قد أفهمت صورته

فقم على قدمِ التحقيقِ وانتهض

فقم على قدمِ التحقيقِ وانتهض

So tell your intellect: you have been made to understand his form.

So say to your intellect, you have understood its form

So stand on the footing of realization, and rise

Stand on the footing of realization and rise

إلى لمقامِ الذي ما عنده عرض

إلى لمقامِ الذي ما عنده عرض

أيضاً ويعصمه من على الحَرَض

أيضاً ويعصمه من على الحَرَض

toward the station of Him who has no accidental attribute,

To the station which has no circumstance

also; and He who is above wasting sickness protects him.

And protects him from frenzy too

فإن تيسَّر مطلوبي ظفرتُ به

فإن تيسَّر مطلوبي ظفرتُ به

وإن تعذر تعلم أنَّ ذاك قضي

وإن تعذر تعلم أنَّ ذاك قضي

So if what I seek becomes attainable, I win it;

If what I seek is made easy, I will attain it

and if it proves unattainable, know that it was decreed.

And if difficult, know that is destiny

فالعبد عبدٌ متى أعطاه سُرَّ به

فالعبد عبدٌ متى أعطاه سُرَّ به

ما كان يسأله وإنْ أبى فرضي

ما كان يسأله وإنْ أبى فرضي

So the servant is a servant: whenever He gives him, he rejoices in it—

For the servant is a servant, if He gives him joy with it

what he had been asking Him for; and if He refuses, he is content.

What he was asking for, and if not, he is content

ولا يغرّنك أحوالٌ فحالتُها

ولا يغرّنك أحوالٌ فحالتُها

كالبرقِ يظلم جوّ كان منه يضي

كالبرقِ يظلم جوّ كان منه يضي

And let no states deceive you, for their condition

And do not be fooled by states, for their situation

is like lightning: the sky it once illuminated grows dark.

Is like lightning that darkens a sky which had light

قد يعلم من حال القبول إذا

قد يعلم من حال القبول إذا

رآه أن وجود الفعل منه رضي

رآه أن وجود الفعل منه رضي

He may know from the state of acceptance, when

He may know from the state of acceptance, when

he sees it, that the act arising from him has been approved.

He sees it, that the existence of the action was by His pleasure

السقم للعبدِ حكم لا يزايله

السقم للعبدِ حكم لا يزايله

فلا يزالُ مع الأنفاس ذا مرض

فلا يزالُ مع الأنفاس ذا مرض

Sickness is the servant's lot, which never leaves him;

Sickness is a decree for the servant that does not leave him

so with every breath he remains afflicted with disease.

So it does not leave with his breaths, being an ailment