1. شر المذاهب مذهب القبائل

    يقتل بري من غير ذنب غافل

    The worst of doctrines is the doctrine of the tribes.

    He kills an unsuspecting innocent for no offense.

  2. وعاد أشبيا كلها رذائل

    حرام سحت ما لها محامل

    And there are other things too, all of them vices:

    Forbidden, ill-gotten, with no grounds for justification

  3. في الشرع يلقاه لها يقاتل

    فرحان ما يرجع لقول قائل

    In religious law; yet one finds him fighting for them.

    Delighted, he yields to no one's words.

  4. قبيلته في الظلم له تجادل

    ما ننكر المنكر ولا تناضل

    His tribe defends him in wrongdoing.

    We do not denounce wrongdoing, nor does it oppose it.

  5. هل يرتضي ذا الفعل شخص عاقل

    لا والمهيمن لو يكون جاهل

    Would any sensible person approve of this act?

    No, by the Guardian—even if he were ignorant,

  6. ما يعرف الواجب ولا الفضائل

    فاحذر تجيهم أولهم تخالل

    Knowing neither duty nor virtues.

    So beware of visiting them or befriending them.

  7. ومن يشابههم في الشمائل

    لا بد ما يدخل في المداخل

    And whoever resembles them in character

    Inevitably becomes involved in their affairs.

  8. كمثل من قد قال شيخ عاقل

    حلق الذقون في ذا الزمان حاصل

    As someone once said—a wise elder:

    Beards are being shaved in this age.

  9. طوبى لعبد في الأنام خامل

    عارف وعالم بالعلوم عامل

    Blessed is a servant, obscure among humankind,

    Knowing and learned, putting his knowledge into practice.

  10. له في الخيرات شغل شاغل

    عابد وعن كل الفضول مائل

    Good deeds are his all-consuming occupation.

    A worshipper, turning away from all idle pursuits,

  11. يتبع طريق السلف الأوائل

    مثل الصحابة كل كامل

    He follows the path of the earliest forebears,

    Such as the Companions, and every accomplished person

  12. من سار سيرتهم في الفعائل

    والقول والأحوال والمناهل

    Who follows their conduct in deeds,

    And in speech, states of being, and wellsprings.

  13. في كل حال للإله سائل

    خائف وراجي يبتغي الوسائل

    In every state, he beseeches God,

    Fearful and hopeful, seeking means of approach.

  14. يبكي على ذنبه بدمع سائل

    خاشع وخاضع عن هواه ذاهل

    He weeps over his sin with flowing tears,

    Humble and submissive, oblivious to his desires,

  15. صامت وساكت عن كلام باطل

    بالحق ينطق ما يخاف عاذل

    Silent and quiet, shunning false speech.

    He speaks the truth, fearing no reprover,

  16. ذاكر في البكره وفي الأصائل

    شاكر لربه للنصيح قابل

    Remembering God in the morning and the evenings,

    Grateful to his Lord, receptive to the sincere adviser.

  17. هذا هو الفائز بكل طائل

    يا ربنا يامن عطاه هاطل

    This is the one who attains every worthy gain.

    O our Lord, O You whose bounty pours down,

  18. وفضله للحادثات واصل

    نسألك توبه تذهب الرذائل

    And whose grace reaches all that comes to pass,

    We ask You for repentance that drives away vices

  19. وتعمر الأركان بالفضائل

    ولا ترينا يا كريم هائل

    And fills our limbs with virtues.

    And show us no terror, O Generous One,

  20. واغفر لنا والأهل والحلائل

    وفروعنا وأصولنا الأوائل

    And forgive us, our families, and our wives,

    And our branches and our roots of old,

  21. بجاه طه خاتم الرسائل

    صلاة ربي عد كل وابل

    By the standing of Taha, the seal of the messages.

    May my Lord's blessings, as numerous as all the rain showers,

  22. مع السلام ما هبت الشمائل

    عليه مع أصحابه الأمائل

    Together with peace, as long as the north winds blow,

    Be upon him and his exemplary Companions,

  23. والآل والازواج

    ذي المنازل

    And his family and wives,

    Those of rank.