سَلِ الْفَلَكَ الدَّوَّارَ إِنْ كَانَ يَنْطِقُ

سَلِ الْفَلَكَ الدَّوَّارَ إِنْ كَانَ يَنْطِقُ

وَكَيْفَ يُحِيرُ الْقَوْلَ أَخْرَسُ مُطْرِقُ

وَكَيْفَ يُحِيرُ الْقَوْلَ أَخْرَسُ مُطْرِقُ

Ask the revolving celestial sphere whether it speaks.

Ask the revolving sky if it can speak,

And how can a mute one, head bowed, reply?

And how the mute, bowed one can confuse the word.

نُسائِلُهُ عَنْ شَأْنِهِ وَهُوَ صَامِتٌ

نُسائِلُهُ عَنْ شَأْنِهِ وَهُوَ صَامِتٌ

وَنَخْبُرُ مَا فِي نَفْسِهِ وَهْوَ مُطْبَقُ

وَنَخْبُرُ مَا فِي نَفْسِهِ وَهْوَ مُطْبَقُ

We question it about its state, while it is silent,

We question it about its affair, and it is silent,

And probe what lies within it, while it is sealed shut.

We inform it of what is in its soul, and it is folded.

فَلا سِرُّهُ يَبْدُو وَلا نَحْنُ نَرْعَوِي

فَلا سِرُّهُ يَبْدُو وَلا نَحْنُ نَرْعَوِي

وَلا شَأْوُهُ يَدْنُو وَلا نَحْنُ نَلْحَقُ

وَلا شَأْوُهُ يَدْنُو وَلا نَحْنُ نَلْحَقُ

Its secret is not revealed, nor do we desist;

So neither its secret appears, nor do we perceive,

Nor does its farthest reach draw near, nor do we catch up.

Neither does its concern draw near, nor do we reach.

وَكَيْفَ تَنَالُ النَّفْسُ مِنْهُ لُبَانَةً

وَكَيْفَ تَنَالُ النَّفْسُ مِنْهُ لُبَانَةً

وَأَقْرَبُ مَا فِيهِ عَنِ الظَّنِّ أَسْحَقُ

وَأَقْرَبُ مَا فِيهِ عَنِ الظَّنِّ أَسْحَقُ

And how can the soul gain from it what it desires,

And how can the soul gain intimacy from it

When even what is nearest in it lies far beyond conjecture?

When the nearest thing in it from supposition is most foolish?

فَضَاءٌ يَرُدُّ الْعَيْنَ حَسْرَى وَمَسْرَحٌ

فَضَاءٌ يَرُدُّ الْعَيْنَ حَسْرَى وَمَسْرَحٌ

يَقُصُّ جَنَاحَ الْفِكْرِ وَهْوَ مُحَلِّقُ

يَقُصُّ جَنَاحَ الْفِكْرِ وَهْوَ مُحَلِّقُ

An expanse that sends the eye back weary, and an arena

A space that returns the eye in sorrow and an open expanse

That clips thought's wing even as it soars.

That clips the wing of thought while it is hovering.

أَقَامَ عَلَى رَغْمِ الْفَنَاءِ وَكُلُّ مَا

أَقَامَ عَلَى رَغْمِ الْفَنَاءِ وَكُلُّ مَا

تَرَاهُ عَلَى وَجْهِ الْبَسِيطَةِ يَنْفُقُ

تَرَاهُ عَلَى وَجْهِ الْبَسِيطَةِ يَنْفُقُ

It has endured in defiance of destruction, while all that

It remained despite the erosion of oblivion, and everything

You see upon the face of the earth perishes.

You see on the face of the earth perishes.

فَكَمْ ثَلَّ عَرْشَاً وَاسْتَبَاحَ قَبِيلَةً

فَكَمْ ثَلَّ عَرْشَاً وَاسْتَبَاحَ قَبِيلَةً

وَفَرَّقَ جَمْعَاً وَهْوَ لا يَتَفَرَّقُ

وَفَرَّقَ جَمْعَاً وَهْوَ لا يَتَفَرَّقُ

How often it has toppled a throne and ravaged a tribe,

So it has ruined many a throne and ransacked many a tribe

And scattered a gathering, while it itself remains undivided!

And scattered many a gathering while it does not disperse.

تَحَسَّى مَرَارَاتِ الْكُبُودِ فَلَمْ تَزَلْ

تَحَسَّى مَرَارَاتِ الْكُبُودِ فَلَمْ تَزَلْ

بِهِ صِبْغَةٌ مِنْ لَوْنِهَا فَهْوَ أَزْرَقُ

بِهِ صِبْغَةٌ مِنْ لَوْنِهَا فَهْوَ أَزْرَقُ

It has sipped the bitter gall of livers, and there still remains

It has tasted the bitternesses of sorrows, so there remains

Upon it a stain of their color; thus it is blue.

Upon it a tinge from their color, thus it is blue.

نَهَارٌ وَلَيْلٌ يَدْأَبَانِ وَأَنْجُمٌ

نَهَارٌ وَلَيْلٌ يَدْأَبَانِ وَأَنْجُمٌ

تَغِيبُ إِلَى مِيقَاتِهَا ثُمَّ تَشْرُقُ

تَغِيبُ إِلَى مِيقَاتِهَا ثُمَّ تَشْرُقُ

Day and night toil on, and stars

Day and night toil, and stars

Disappear until their appointed time, then rise.

Disappear to their appointed time, then rise.

تَرِفُّ كَزَهْرٍ طَوَّحَتْهُ عَوَاصِفٌ

تَرِفُّ كَزَهْرٍ طَوَّحَتْهُ عَوَاصِفٌ

بِلُجَّةِ مَاءٍ فَهْوَ يَطْفُو وَيَغْرَقُ

بِلُجَّةِ مَاءٍ فَهْوَ يَطْفُو وَيَغْرَقُ

They quiver like blossoms that storms have hurled

It floats and sinks like a flower the storms have shaken

Into deep water, where they float and sink.

With a surge of water.

سَوَابِحُ لا تَنْفَكُّ تَجْرِي لِغَايَةٍ

سَوَابِحُ لا تَنْفَكُّ تَجْرِي لِغَايَةٍ

يُقَصِّرُ عَنْهَا الْكَاهِنُ الْمُتَعَمِّقُ

يُقَصِّرُ عَنْهَا الْكَاهِنُ الْمُتَعَمِّقُ

Swimmers that never cease to run toward a goal

Swimmers that do not cease, flowing to some goal

Beyond the reach of the deeply probing soothsayer.

Which the delving priest falls short of.

فَيَا أَيُّهَا السَّارِي عَلَى غَيْرِ هُدْيَةٍ

فَيَا أَيُّهَا السَّارِي عَلَى غَيْرِ هُدْيَةٍ

رُوَيْدَاً فَإِنَّ الْبَابَ دُونَكَ مُغْلَقُ

رُوَيْدَاً فَإِنَّ الْبَابَ دُونَكَ مُغْلَقُ

So, you who travel by night without guidance,

So O you who travel without guidance,

Slow down, for the door before you is closed.

Go gently, for the door before you is closed.

أَتَحْسَبُ أَنَّ الظَّنَّ يُدْرِكُ بَعْضَ مَا

أَتَحْسَبُ أَنَّ الظَّنَّ يُدْرِكُ بَعْضَ مَا

تُحَاوِلُهُ وَالظَّنُّ لِلْمَرْءِ مُوبِقُ

تُحَاوِلُهُ وَالظَّنُّ لِلْمَرْءِ مُوبِقُ

Do you suppose conjecture can grasp some of what

Do you reckon the supposition can grasp some of what

You seek, though conjecture brings a person to ruin?

You attempt, though supposition for man is pernicious?

وَكَيْفَ يَنَالُ الْحِسُّ وَهْوَ مُحَدَّدٌ

وَكَيْفَ يَنَالُ الْحِسُّ وَهْوَ مُحَدَّدٌ

سَرِيرَةَ غَيْبٍ دُونَهَا الْحِسُّ يَصْعَقُ

سَرِيرَةَ غَيْبٍ دُونَهَا الْحِسُّ يَصْعَقُ

And how can the senses, limited as they are, reach

And how can the senses attain what is far off

The inner secret of the unseen, before which the senses are stunned?

When the senses are overwhelmed by the unseen?

فَلا تَتَّبِعْ رَيْبَ الظُّنُونِ فَكُلُّ مَا

فَلا تَتَّبِعْ رَيْبَ الظُّنُونِ فَكُلُّ مَا

تَصَوَّرَهُ الإِنْسَانُ وَهْمٌ مُلَفَّقُ

تَصَوَّرَهُ الإِنْسَانُ وَهْمٌ مُلَفَّقُ

So do not follow doubtful conjectures, for all that

So do not pursue the suspicion of conjectures, for everything

Man has imagined is a fabricated illusion.

The human imagined is a fabricated fancy.

وَلا تَحْسَبَنَّ الْحَدْسَ يُدْرِكُ مَا نَأَى

وَلا تَحْسَبَنَّ الْحَدْسَ يُدْرِكُ مَا نَأَى

فَمَا كُلَّ حِينٍ قَائِفُ الْحَدْسِ يَصْدُقُ

فَمَا كُلَّ حِينٍ قَائِفُ الْحَدْسِ يَصْدُقُ

And never suppose intuition grasps what lies afar;

And do not reckon intuition will attain what is remote,

For intuition's tracker does not prove right every time.

For not every time is the hunch of intuition truthful.

وَأَيْنَ مِنَ الْمَخْلُوقِ إِدْرَاكُ حِكْمَةٍ

وَأَيْنَ مِنَ الْمَخْلُوقِ إِدْرَاكُ حِكْمَةٍ

بِهَا يُنْشِئُ اللَّهُ الْقُرُونَ وَيَمْحَقُ

بِهَا يُنْشِئُ اللَّهُ الْقُرُونَ وَيَمْحَقُ

And how can a created being comprehend the wisdom

And how can the created being grasp the wisdom

By which God brings generations into being and annihilates them?

By which Allah creates generations and obliterates?

فَلَوْ عَلِمَ الإِنْسَانُ حَالَةَ نَفْسِهِ

فَلَوْ عَلِمَ الإِنْسَانُ حَالَةَ نَفْسِهِ

كَفَاهُ وَلَكِنَّ ابْنَ آدَمَ أَخْرَقُ

كَفَاهُ وَلَكِنَّ ابْنَ آدَمَ أَخْرَقُ

If man knew his own condition,

If man knew the state of his soul,

That would suffice him, yet the son of Adam is foolish.

It would suffice him, but the son of Adam is foolish.

إِذَا الْمَرْءُ لَمْ يَمْلِكْ بَوَادِرَ وَهْمِهِ

إِذَا الْمَرْءُ لَمْ يَمْلِكْ بَوَادِرَ وَهْمِهِ

عَنِ الْقَوْلِ فِي مَا لَمْ يُفِدْ فَهْوَ أَحْمَقُ

عَنِ الْقَوْلِ فِي مَا لَمْ يُفِدْ فَهْوَ أَحْمَقُ

If a man does not restrain the impulses of his fancy

When a person cannot restrain the delusions of his fancy

From speaking of what he has not learned, then he is a fool.

From speaking of what does not benefit, he is a fool.

فَإِيَّاكَ وَالدُّنْيَا فَإِنَّ نَعِيمَهَا

فَإِيَّاكَ وَالدُّنْيَا فَإِنَّ نَعِيمَهَا

يَزُولُ وَمَلْبُوسُ الْجَدِيدَيْنِ يَخْلُقُ

يَزُولُ وَمَلْبُوسُ الْجَدِيدَيْنِ يَخْلُقُ

So beware the world, for its bliss

So beware of the world, for the bliss of it

Vanishes, and what the ever-new day and night wear grows threadbare.

Fades, and the newly dressed becomes worn.

فَإِنْ هِيَ أَعْطَتْكَ اللّيَانَ فَإِنَّهَا

فَإِنْ هِيَ أَعْطَتْكَ اللّيَانَ فَإِنَّهَا

سَتَخْشُنُ مِنْ بَعْدِ اللّيَانِ وَتَخْرُقُ

سَتَخْشُنُ مِنْ بَعْدِ اللّيَانِ وَتَخْرُقُ

For if it has given you gentleness, then it

For if it gave you pleasure, it will afterwards

Will grow harsh after gentleness and act recklessly.

Become harsh after pleasure and tear.

فَلا وُدُّهَا يَبْقَى وَلا صَفْوُ عَيْشِهَا

فَلا وُدُّهَا يَبْقَى وَلا صَفْوُ عَيْشِهَا

يَدُومُ وَلا مَوْعُودُها يَتَحَقَّقُ

يَدُومُ وَلا مَوْعُودُها يَتَحَقَّقُ

So its affection does not last, nor does the serenity of life in it

Neither its affection remains nor the purity of its life

Endure, nor does what it promises come true.

Endures, nor is its promise fulfilled.

فَكَمْ أَخْلَفَتْ وَعْدَاً وَمَلَّتْ صَحَابَةً

فَكَمْ أَخْلَفَتْ وَعْدَاً وَمَلَّتْ صَحَابَةً

وَخَانَتْ وَفِيَّاً فَهْيَ بَلْهَاءُ تَنْزَقُ

وَخَانَتْ وَفِيَّاً فَهْيَ بَلْهَاءُ تَنْزَقُ

How often it has broken a promise and tired of companionship,

So how it has reneged on promises and wearied of companions

And betrayed a loyal friend: it is foolish and impulsive.

And betrayed the loyal! It is a confused ruin.

وَكَيْفَ يَعِيشُ الدَّهْرَ خِلْواً مِنَ الأَسَى

وَكَيْفَ يَعِيشُ الدَّهْرَ خِلْواً مِنَ الأَسَى

سَقِيمٌ يُغَادَى بِالْهُمومِ وَيُطْرَقُ

سَقِيمٌ يُغَادَى بِالْهُمومِ وَيُطْرَقُ

And how can a lifetime be lived free from sorrow

And how can one live the ages free of sorrow

By an ailing man, visited by cares morning and night?

While the sick are treated with worries and are bowed?

لَعَمْرُ أَبِي إِنَّ الْحَيَاةَ وَإِنْ صَفَتْ

لَعَمْرُ أَبِي إِنَّ الْحَيَاةَ وَإِنْ صَفَتْ

مَسَافَةَ يَوْمٍ فَهْوَ صَفْوٌ مُرَنَّقُ

مَسَافَةَ يَوْمٍ فَهْوَ صَفْوٌ مُرَنَّقُ

By my father's life, even if life is clear

By my father’s life, though life may last

For a day's span, its clarity is clouded.

But a day’s journey, even that is a squeezed purity!

فَفِيمَ يَوَدُّ الْمَرْءُ طُولَ حَيَاتِهِ

فَفِيمَ يَوَدُّ الْمَرْءُ طُولَ حَيَاتِهِ

وَفِي طُولِهَا شَمْلُ الْهَنَاءِ مُفَرَّقُ

وَفِي طُولِهَا شَمْلُ الْهَنَاءِ مُفَرَّقُ

So why does a man desire a long life,

So why does man desire length of life

While, in its length, the gathering of happiness is scattered?

When in its length well-being is fragmented?

وَمَا الدَّهْرُ إِلَّا مُسْتَعِدٌ لِوَثْبَةٍ

وَمَا الدَّهْرُ إِلَّا مُسْتَعِدٌ لِوَثْبَةٍ

فَحِذْرَكَ مِنْهُ فَهُوَ غَضْبَانُ مُطْرِقُ

فَحِذْرَكَ مِنْهُ فَهُوَ غَضْبَانُ مُطْرِقُ

And time is ever poised to pounce;

And what is time but lying in wait for a leap?

So beware of it: it is angry, with its head bowed.

So beware of it, for it is angry and bowed.

كَأَنَّ هِلالَ الأُفْقِ سَيْفٌ مُجَرَّدٌ

كَأَنَّ هِلالَ الأُفْقِ سَيْفٌ مُجَرَّدٌ

عَلَيْنَا بِهِ وَالنَّجْمَ سَهْمٌ مُفَوَّقُ

عَلَيْنَا بِهِ وَالنَّجْمَ سَهْمٌ مُفَوَّقُ

As though the horizon's crescent were an unsheathed sword

As if the crescent of the horizon is a sword unsheathed

That it wields against us, and the star a nocked arrow.

Against us, and the stars are strung arrows!

أَبَادَ بَنِيهِ ظَالِمَاً غَيْرَ رَاحِمٍ

أَبَادَ بَنِيهِ ظَالِمَاً غَيْرَ رَاحِمٍ

فَيَا عَجَبَاً مِنْ وَالِدٍ لَيْسَ يُشْفِقُ

فَيَا عَجَبَاً مِنْ وَالِدٍ لَيْسَ يُشْفِقُ

It has annihilated its sons, unjust and without mercy;

It destroyed its children wrongfully without mercy.

So what a wonder—a father who feels no compassion!

How strange is a parent who has no compassion!

فَلا تَبْتَئِسْ بِالأَمْرِ تَخْشَى وُقُوعَهُ

فَلا تَبْتَئِسْ بِالأَمْرِ تَخْشَى وُقُوعَهُ

فَقَدْ يَأْمَنُ الإِنْسَانُ مِنْ حَيثُ يَفْرَقُ

فَقَدْ يَأْمَنُ الإِنْسَانُ مِنْ حَيثُ يَفْرَقُ

So do not grieve over an event you fear may happen;

So do not grieve for a matter fearing its occurrence,

For a person may find safety from the very quarter he fears.

For one may feel safe where he fears separation.

فَمَا كُلُّ مَا تَهْوَاهُ يَأْتِيكَ بِالْمُنَى

فَمَا كُلُّ مَا تَهْوَاهُ يَأْتِيكَ بِالْمُنَى

وَلا كُلُّ مَا تَخْشَاهُ فِي الْدَّهْرِ يَطْرُقُ

وَلا كُلُّ مَا تَخْشَاهُ فِي الْدَّهْرِ يَطْرُقُ

For not all you desire comes to you through wishing,

Not everything you desire comes to fruition,

Nor does all you fear in life come knocking.

Nor everything you fear in fate befalls you.

وَكُنْ وَاثِقَاً بِاللَّهِ فِي كُلِّ مِحْنَةٍ

وَكُنْ وَاثِقَاً بِاللَّهِ فِي كُلِّ مِحْنَةٍ

فَلَلَّهُ أَوْلَى بِالْعِبَادِ وَأَرْفَقُ

فَلَلَّهُ أَوْلَى بِالْعِبَادِ وَأَرْفَقُ

And trust in God in every trial,

And trust in God in every tribulation,

For God indeed has the greatest claim on His servants and is the gentlest.

For He is more worthy of servants and kinder.