In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful and Compassionate
All praise to Allah, Lord of the Worlds. And salutations and greetings upon our Master Muhammad and upon his family and companions.
ما لَذَّةُ العيش إلا صحبةُ الفُقرَا
هم السَّلاطينُ والسَّاداتُ و الأُمَرَا
1. The sweetness of life is only tasted in the companionship of the fuqara’
They are the sultans, the lords and rulers.
فاصحَبهمُ وتأدَّب في مجالسِهم
وخلِّ حظَّك مهما قدَّموكَ ورَا
2. So keep their company and have etiquette in their gatherings
And cast away any desire for personal gain, even if they honour you
و استَغنمِ الوقتَ واحضُر دائماً معهم
واعلم بأنّ الرّضى يختَصّ من حضرا
3. Profit from your time and be constantly in their presence
And know that (Divine) pleasure is solely for those present
ولازِمِ الصَّمتَ إلاّ إن ئ سُلتَ فقل
لا علمَ عندي، وكُن بالجَهلِ مُستَتِرَا
4. Be constantly silent, unless you are questioned, in which case say:
“No knowledge have I,” and conceal yourself with ignorance
ولا تَرَ العَيبَ إلاَّ فيكَ مُعتَقِدًا
عيباً بدا بيِّنًا لكنَّه اسْتَتَرا
5. Do not witness deficiencies in other than yourself, and believe
Your deficiencies to be manifest, although they have been concealed
وحُطَّ رأسَكَ واستغفِر بِلا سببٍ
وقُم على قدمِ الإنصافِ مُعتَذِرَا
6. Lower your head and seek forgiveness without (apparent) cause
Be just in your judgement of yourself and seek pardon
وإن بَدَا منك عَيبٌ فاعترِف وأقِم
وجهَ اعتذارِك عمَّا فيكَ منكَ جَرى
7. If a fault appears in you, acknowledge it
And seek pardon for that which has come forth from within you
وقُل: عُبيدُكمُ أَولَى بِصَفحِكمُ
فسامِحُوا وخُذُوا بالرِّفقِ يا فُقَرا
8. Say: “Your small slave is most worthy of your forgiveness
So excuse me and be gentle with me, O fuqara’!”
هُم بالتَّفضُّلِ أَولى وهو شِيمتهُم
فلا تخَف دَرَكاً مِنهُم ولا ضَرَرا
9. They are truly people of generosity, and it is their nature
So do not fear from them harm or punishment
وبالتَّفَتِّي على الإخوانِ جُد أبدا
ح سا ومعنًى وغُضَّ الطَّرفَ إن عَثَرَا
10. In magnanimity towards the brothers be forever limitless
In things material and spiritual and avert your gaze if one of them stumbles
ورَاقبِ الشَّيخَ في أحوالهِ فعَسى
يُرَى عليكَ مِن استِحسَانِهِ أثَرَا
11. Observe the Shaykh in all his states, perhaps
A trace of his approval will be seen upon you
وقَدِّمِ الجِدَّ وانهَضْ عندَ خِدمَتِهِ
عساهُ يرضَى وحاذِر أنْ تَكُن ضَجِرَا
12. Display earnestness and be eager in his service
Perhaps he will be pleased (with you) and beware of being discontent
فَفِي رِضاهُ رِضَا الباري وطاعتِهِ
يرضَى عَليكَ فَكُن مِن تَركِهَا حَذِرَا
13. For in his pleasure and obedience is the pleasure of the Creator
He is content with you, so beware of leaving it.
واعلَم بأنَّ طريقَ ا ق لومِ دَارِسَةٌ
وحالُ مَن يدَّعِيها اليومَ كيفَ تَرَى
14. Know that the Way of the Folk no longer exists
And that the state of the one who claims to be upon it today is as you see
متى أراهُم وأنَّى لي بِرُؤيَتِهم
أو تسمَعُ الأذنُ منِّي عنهمُ خَبرَا
15. When shall I see them, and how may I see them
Or my ear hear news of them?
مَن لِي وأنَّى لِمثلِي أنْ يزاحمَهم
على مَوارِدَ لَم أُلَفِ بها كَدَرَا
16. Who am I and how can someone like me share with them
In drinking from springs in which I find no impurity?
أُحِبُّهم وأُدارِيهِم وأُوثِرُهم
بِمُهجتِي وخصُوصاً منهمُ نفرَا
17. I love them, seek to please them and prefer them
Over my own self, specifically a group amongst them.
قومٌ كرامُ السَّجايا حيثُما جَلسُوا
يبقَى المكانُ على آثارِهِم عَطِرَا
18. They are a folk noble in character, wherever they sit
That place remains fragrant from their traces
يُهدِي التَّصوُّفُ مِن أخلاقِهم طُرفًا
حُسنُ التَّآلُفِ منهُم رَاقنِي نَظَرا
19. Tasawwuf bestows (upon the seeker) a choice portion of their noble attributes
The intimacy which they display is a joy for me to behold
هُمْ أهلُ وُدِّي وأحبابي الذينَ همُ
مِمّن يجرُّ ذيولَ العِزِّ مُفتَخِرَا
20. They are the ones for whom I reserve my affection, my loved ones
Who proudly bear the honour with which they have been invested.
لا زالَ شَملِي بِهم في اللهِ مُجتمِعًا
وذنبُنا فيهِ مَغفورًا ومُغتَفَرا
21. (I ask) that I am constantly united with them for Allah’s sake
And that our transgressions (against Him) be forgiven and pardoned
ثمَّ الصَّلاةُ على المختارِ سيِّدِنا
محمَّدٍ خيرِ مَن أوفَى ومَن نَذَرَا
22. Then may blessings be bestowed upon the Chosen One, Our Master
Muhammad, the best of those who fulfil their vows.
