إذاif شئتyou desire السلامpeace فالزمthen keep to الدارthe home
إذا شئت السلام فالزم الدار
وكفand restrain النطقspeech معalong with سمعhearing وأبصارand sight
وكف النطق مع سمع وأبصار
If you desire peace, keep to your home.
If you want peace, stay home,
And restrain speech, along with hearing and sight.
Stop talking, hearing, and seeing.
ولاand do not تسألask علىabout ماالناسwhat people فيهare in
ولا تسأل على ماالناس فيه
ولاand do not تكشفuncover ولاand do not تبحثsearch عنfor أخبارnews
ولا تكشف ولا تبحث عن أخبار
Do not ask about what occupies people,
Don’t ask what people are up to,
nor uncover things or seek out news.
Don’t uncover or search out news.
عسىperhaps تسلمyou will be safe عسىperhaps تنجوyou will escape وتحفظand you will be protected
عسى تسلم عسى تنجو وتحفظ
عسىperhaps تكفيyou are spared (probable reading) عسىperhaps تحميyou are protected (probable reading) منfrom أشرارevildoers
عسى تكفي عسى تحمي من أشرار
Perhaps you will be safe, perhaps escape and be protected;
Maybe you’ll be safe and saved,
perhaps you will be spared, perhaps protected from evildoers.
Maybe you’ll be spared and protected from evil.
فلاso no خيرgood فيin النجوىprivate conversation معwith الناسpeople
فلا خير في النجوى مع الناس
سوىexcept أمرenjoining بمعروفof what is right أوor إنكارdenouncing wrong
سوى أمر بمعروف أو إنكار
There is no good in private conversation with people,
No good comes from whispering to people,
except enjoining what is right or denouncing wrong.
Except enjoining right and forbidding wrong.
وماand how أجملbeautiful ماhow أحسنfine شخصاa person
وما أجمل ما أحسن شخصا
شغلoccupied بالبرقىwith righteousness, in (probable correction) سرsecret وإظهارand openness
شغل بالبرقى سر وإظهار
And how beautiful, how fine is a person
How beautiful is one who occupies himself
occupied with righteousness, in secret and openly.
Privately and openly with devotion.
وكنand be حلساa mat لبيتكfor your home امتثالاin obedience
وكن حلسا لبيتك امتثالا
لأمرto the command of المصطفىthe Chosen One فيin جملةa number of أخبارreports
لأمر المصطفى في جملة أخبار
And be a mat in your home, in obedience
Be content in your home following
to the Chosen One's command in a number of reports.
The command of the Chosen One in all reports.
وخذand take لكfor yourself منfrom علومbranches of knowledge الدينreligion حظاa share
وخذ لك من علوم الدين حظا
يقيكprotects you الاثمsin والآفاتand afflictions والنارand the Fire
يقيك الاثم والآفات والنار
And take for yourself a share of religious knowledge,
Take from the religious sciences a portion
which protects you from sin, afflictions, and the Fire.
That will protect you from sins, harms, and Hellfire.
بهthrough it تعرفyou know فروضكyour obligations والمحرمand what is forbidden
به تعرف فروضك والمحرم
بهthrough it تبصرyou perceive أسراراmysteries وأنوارand lights
به تبصر أسرارا وأنوار
Through it you know your obligations and what is forbidden;
With it you will know your obligations and prohibitions,
through it you perceive mysteries and lights.
With it you will see secrets and lights.
بهthrough it كلall السرjoy (word split here) وروكل(end of 'joy') and every خيرgood
به كل السر وروكل خير
بهthrough it تحفظyou are protected منfrom آفاتharms of الأغيارothers
به تحفظ من آفات الأغيار
Through it come all joy and every good.
With it is all good and every grace,
Through it you are protected from the harms of others.
With it you are protected from the harms of strangers.
بهthrough it تعطيyou are granted (probable reading) المطالبwhat is sought والمواهبand gifts
به تعطي المطالب والمواهب
بهthrough it تكتبyou are inscribed فيin ديوانthe register of الأبرارthe righteous
به تكتب في ديوان الأبرار
Through it you are granted what you seek and gifts;
With it you give requests and gifts,
through it you are inscribed in the register of the righteous.
With it you will be written among the righteous.
بهthrough it ترفعare lifted همومكyour worries معalong with عمومكyour sorrows (probable correction)
به ترفع همومك مع عمومك
ولاand no يبقىremain عليكupon you أحزانsorrows وأكدارand troubles
ولا يبقى عليك أحزان وأكدار
Through it your worries and sorrows are lifted,
With it you relieve all your worries and sorrows,
and no sorrows or troubles remain upon you.
No grief or regrets will remain.
وذكرand remembrance of اللهGod لازمةkeep to it (probable correction) وواظبand persevere
وذكر الله لازمة وواظب
عليهin it فيduring عشياتevenings وأبكارand early mornings
عليه في عشيات وأبكار
Keep to the remembrance of God, and persevere
Remembering God is an obligation—persist
in it during evenings and early mornings.
Upon it morning and night.
ففيهfor in it النورlight والخيراتand good things أجمعall together
ففيه النور والخيرات أجمع
جليسthe companion of اللهGod منwhoever ديدنهhis constant habit أذكارwords of remembrance
جليس الله من ديدنه أذكار
For in it are light and every blessing;
In it is all light and bounty,
God's companion is one whose constant habit is remembrance.
God’s companion is one whose custom is remembrance.
بهthrough it النفحاتwafts of grace والجذباتand spiritual attractions تأتيcome
به النفحات والجذبات تأتي
منfrom اللهGod معwith الرحماتmercies مدراراpouring abundantly
من الله مع الرحمات مدرارا
Through it come wafts of grace and spiritual attractions
By it whispers and attractions come
from God, with mercies pouring abundantly.
From God with abundant mercy.
بهthrough it غرسplanting الجنانthe gardens of Paradise فكنso be حريصاeager
به غرس الجنان فكن حريصا
علىfor غرسplanting بهاin them منof كلall الأشجارtrees
على غرس بها من كل الأشجار
Through it the gardens of Paradise are planted, so be eager
By it the gardens are planted—so be eager
to plant in them trees of every kind.
To plant them with all kinds of trees.
فاغرسso plant فيduring حياتكyour life قبلbefore موتكyour death
فاغرس في حياتك قبل موتك
لتجنيso that you may gather منهاfrom them بعدafter الموتdeath أثمارfruits
لتجني منها بعد الموت أثمار
So plant during your life, before your death,
So plant in your life before your death
to gather fruits from them after death:
To reap from it fruits after death:
قطوفاfruit clusters دانياتclose at hand دائماتeverlasting
قطوفا دانيات دائمات
منعمliving in bliss ماnot ترىyou see الأكلexcept every (probable correction) شيءthing سارpleasing
منعم ما ترى الأكل شيء سار
fruit clusters close at hand, everlasting.
Pickings, gifts, lasting pleasures
Living in bliss, you see nothing but delightful things;
Delightful—you will see nothing but joy.
مخلدabiding forever لاnot ترىyou see بؤساmisery بعمرin a lifespan
مخلد لا ترى بؤسا بعمر
طويلlong ليسdoes not يشبهresemble كلall الأعمارlifespans
طويل ليس يشبه كل الأعمار
abiding forever, you see no misery in a life
Eternal, you will see no misery,
so long that it resembles no other lifespan.
A long life like no other lifetimes.
وإنand if شئتyou desire العلومknowledge بكلin every فنdiscipline
وإن شئت العلوم بكل فن
كتابthe Book of اللهGod رتلهrecite it measuredly بتكرارrepeatedly
كتاب الله رتله بتكرار
And if you desire knowledge in every discipline,
If you want knowledge in every art,
recite the Book of God in measured tones, again and again.
Recite the Book of God repeating it.
ففيهfor in it الشرحexpansion للصدرfor the breast ففيهfor in it
ففيه الشرح للصدر ففيه
الهدىguidance فيهin it الشفاhealing منfrom كلevery شيءthing ضارharmful
الهدى فيه الشفا من كل شيء ضار
For in it is expansion of the breast; for in it
In it is expansion for the breast. In it
is guidance; in it is healing from every harmful thing.
Is guidance. In it is healing from all harm.
الاAh! ياO ربLord أرشدناguide us وسددand set us aright
الا يا رب أرشدنا وسدد
ووفقناand enable us لملةto follow the faith of خيرthe best مختارchosen one
ووفقنا لملة خير مختار
Ah, O Lord, guide us and set us aright,
Except—O Lord—guide us and make firm
and enable us to follow the faith of the best chosen one.
And help us to the way of the Chosen Best.
علىaccording to هديthe guidance of النبيthe Prophet نسيرwe walk جمعاall together
على هدي النبي نسير جمعا
ونمشيand we walk فيin ورودcoming بلindeed واصدارand departing
ونمشي في ورود بل واصدار
May we all walk according to the Prophet's guidance,
Upon the guidance of the Prophet we walk together
and walk thus in our coming—indeed, in our departing too.
And tread the meadows and plains.
فإنfor indeed اللهGod ذوفضلpossessed of bounty عظيمimmense
فإن الله ذوفضل عظيم
فكمand how much أعطىHe has given بلاwithout حدlimit ومقدارand measure
فكم أعطى بلا حد ومقدار
For God possesses immense bounty;
For God is of tremendous grace
how much He has given, without limit or measure!
And how much He gives without limit or measure.
فلاso do not تقنطdespair ولاand do not تأمنfeel secure وكنand be بينbetween ذينthese two
فلا تقنط ولا تأمن وكن بين ذين
الخصلتينthe two qualities طريقthe path of الأخيارthe virtuous
الخصلتين طريق الأخيار
So do not despair, nor feel secure, but remain between these
So do not despair or feel secure, but be
two qualities: the path of the virtuous.
Between these two traits the path of the virtuous.
وسلمناand keep us safe إلهيmy God منfrom شرورevils
وسلمنا إلهي من شرور
بهاamid them يمشيwalks كثيرone of great الحلمunderstanding محتارbewildered
بها يمشي كثير الحلم محتار
And preserve us, my God, from evils
And deliver us, my God, from evils
amid which one of great understanding walks bewildered.
By which the forbearing wander perplexed.
فسلمناso keep us safe بمحضby sheer الفضلbounty منهاfrom them
فسلمنا بمحض الفضل منها
كماas عودتناYou have accustomed us ياO خيرbest غفارforgiver
كما عودتنا يا خير غفار
So preserve us from them through sheer bounty,
So deliver us purely by Your grace from them
as is Your custom with us, O best of forgivers.
As is Your custom, O Best of Forgivers.
فكمfor how much شرevil كفيتYou have warded off وكمand how many كروبdistresses
فكم شر كفيت وكم كروب
زويتYou have removed وماand no يقيremain (probable correction) منof تلكthose آثارtraces
زويت وما يقي من تلك آثار
How much evil You have warded off, and how many distresses
How much evil have You prevented and how much anguish
You have removed, leaving no traces of them.
Have You dispelled and nothing can protect from such traces.
فأرجوso I hope (possibly rhetorical) سواكin anyone other than You لكشفto remove ضرىmy affliction
فأرجو سواك لكشف ضرى
ولستبand I do not (corrupted form) أخافfear إلاexcept النافعthe Giver of benefit الضارthe Bringer of harm
ولستب أخاف إلا النافع الضار
Would I then hope in anyone but You to remove my affliction?
So I hope for none but You to remove harm
And I fear none but the Giver of benefit and harm.
And I fear none but the Harmful, the Beneficial.
كفىsuffices علمكYour knowledge ولكنbut ماnot صبرناwe have been patient
كفى علمك ولكن ما صبرنا
وأيضاand also فيin الدعاsupplication جملةa host of أسرارmysteries
وأيضا في الدعا جملة أسرار
Your knowledge suffices, yet we have not been patient;
Your knowledge suffices, but we have no patience
and besides, supplication contains a host of mysteries:
And also in supplication are many secrets—
خطابdirect address وافتقارand acknowledging need والتعبدand worship
خطاب وافتقار والتعبد
لأمركbecause of Your command بهto do it بقرآنin the Qur'an وأخبارand reports
لأمرك به بقرآن وأخبار
addressing You, acknowledging need, and worship,
Appeal, neediness, and worship of
because You commanded it in the Qur'an and reports.
Your command through Quran and reports.
فياستارso, O Concealer ياO غفارForgiver استرconceal
فياستار يا غفار استر
وأغفرand forgive كلall عصيانيmy disobedience والأوزارand burdens of sin
وأغفر كل عصياني والأوزار
So, O Concealer, O Forgiver, conceal
O Coverer, O Forgiver, cover over
and forgive all my disobedience and burdens of sin.
And forgive all my disobedience and burdens.
وسلمناand keep us safe منfrom المكروهdistress فيin ذهthis world
وسلمنا من المكروه في ذه
وفيand in الأخرىthe next world منfrom الأهوالterrors والنارand the Fire
وفي الأخرى من الأهوال والنار
And preserve us from distress in this world,
And deliver us from hated things in this life
and in the next, from terrors and the Fire.
And in the next from terrors and Hellfire.
وهبand grant ليme سيديmy Master قلباa heart سليماsound
وهب لي سيدي قلبا سليما
صحيحاhealthy طاهراpure جهراoutwardly وإضمارand inwardly
صحيحا طاهرا جهرا وإضمار
And grant me, my Master, a sound heart,
Grant me, my Master, a sound heart
healthy and pure, outwardly and inwardly,
Healthy, pure, open and secret.
فنمشيso we walk بهthrough it صراطاa path مستيماstraight (probable correction)
فنمشي به صراطا مستيما
صراطthe path of اللهGod فيin علنpublic وإسرارand secrecy
صراط الله في علن وإسرار
so that through it we walk a straight path,
With it we walk a straight path—
God's path, in public and in secret;
The path of God openly and secretly.
وخلقاand a character طيباgood حسناbeautiful عظيماnoble
وخلقا طيبا حسنا عظيما
بهthrough it نحفظwe are protected منfrom ضرharm واضرارand causing harm
به نحفظ من ضر واضرار
and a good, beautiful, noble character,
And excellent, beautiful, tremendous character
through which we are protected from harm and harming others;
With which we protect from harm and injuries.
وحسنand goodness of الخاتمةthe ending للكلfor everyone مناof us
وحسن الخاتمة للكل منا
إذاwhen تمتare complete لياليناour nights والأعمارand lifespans
إذا تمت ليالينا والأعمار
and a good end for every one of us,
And a good ending for us all
when our nights and lifespans are complete,
When our nights and lifespans are complete.
بهاthrough it ترضىYou are pleased عنwith الكلeveryone جميعاall together
بها ترضى عن الكل جميعا
بهاthrough it نوقيwe are shielded جميعall الخزيdisgrace والعارand shame
بها نوقي جميع الخزي والعار
through which You are pleased with us all,
With which You are pleased with all of us
through which we are shielded from all disgrace and shame.
With which we avoid all shame and disgrace.
بجاهby the standing of المصطفىthe Chosen One الهاديthe Guide محمدMuhammad
بجاه المصطفى الهادي محمد
شفيعthe intercessor for الخلقcreation تقضيYou fulfill كلall الأوطارdesires
شفيع الخلق تقضي كل الأوطار
By the standing of the Chosen One, the Guide, Muhammad,
For the sake of the Guide Muhammad
the intercessor for creation, may You fulfill every desire.
Intercessor of creation, fulfilling all difficulties.
عليهupon him صلاةblessings of ربيmy Lord كلevery حينmoment
عليه صلاة ربي كل حين
وسلمand grant peace ماas long as تحركmoves غصنa branch of أشجارtrees
وسلم ما تحرك غصن أشجار
Upon him be my Lord's blessings at every moment,
Blessings of my Lord upon him always
and grant him peace as long as a tree branch moves,
And peace whenever a branch stirs.
تعمencompasses الآلthe family والأصحابand companions جمعاall together
تعم الآل والأصحاب جمعا
مهاجرهمtheir emigrants وباديهمand their desert-dwellers والأنصارand the Ansar
مهاجرهم وباديهم والأنصار
embracing all his family and companions,
Encompassing his family and companions—
their emigrants, their desert-dwellers, and the Ansar.
The emigrants, nomads, and supporters.
وللهand to God الكريمthe Generous أجلthe loftiest حمدpraise
ولله الكريم أجل حمد
يكررis repeated دائماcontinually فيthroughout كلevery الأعصارage
يكرر دائما في كل الأعصار
And to God, the Generous, belongs the loftiest praise,
To God, the Generous, is due
repeated continually throughout every age.
Immense praise, repeating in all eras.
وختمand the close of القولthese words خذtake نصحاcounsel عجيباwondrous
وختم القول خذ نصحا عجيبا
إذاif شئتyou desire السلامةsafety فالزمthen keep to الدارthe home
إذا شئت السلامة فالزم الدار
And to close these words, take this wondrous counsel:
The words conclude—take wondrous advice:
If you desire safety, keep to your home.
If you want security, stay home.