Part 1 – The Poet Advises Abu Bakr, His Pupil

‫ات ََْنتَا‬ ِ ‫ت فُؤاد َك األَ اَّيم فَتاا *** وتَ ْن ِح‬

ُ ‫اع‬
َ ‫ك ال اس‬
َ ‫ت ج ْس َم‬
ُ َ ُ َ َ ُّ ‫تَ ُف‬
1 -- The days have weakened your heart *** And the hours have traces on your body

ُ ‫ت أُِر‬ ٍ ِ
‫يد أَنْتَا‬ َ ْ‫ أَن‬:‫اح‬
ٍ‫ص‬ َ ‫وك الْ َمنَو ُن ُد َعاءَ ص ْدق *** أَالَ ََّي‬
َ ُ‫َوتَ ْدع‬
2 – And death calls you with a true call *** So oh my companion, perhaps your time is near

‫اس بَتاا‬ ‫ات ِخ ْد ٍر *** أَبَ ا‬

ُ َ‫ت طَالَقَ َها األَ ْكي‬
ِ ُّ ‫أَر َاك ُُِت‬
َ َ‫ب ع ْرساً ذ‬ َ
3 – I seen you desire the virgin wife [dunya] *** Who the intelligent ones have divorced and will never
take her back

‫يط *** ِِبَا َح اَّت إِذَا ِم ا‬

‫ت انْتَ بَ ْهتَا‬ ٍ ‫ك ِِف َغ ِط‬
َ َ‫اهَر َوْْي‬
ْ ‫تَنَ ُام الد‬
4 – You are sleeping as time goes, woe to you in your snoring *** Until you die, then you will awaken

‫ت َمَْ ُدوعٌ َو َح اَّت *** َم ََّت الَ تَ ْر َع ِوي َعْن َها َو َح اَّت ؟‬
َ ْ‫فَ َك ْم ذَا أَن‬
5 – How long will you be deceived and tricked? *** And when will you cease from it?

ِ
َ ُّ‫َجْب تَا *** إِ ََل َما ف ِيه َحظ‬
‫ك لَ ْو َع َق ْلتَا‬ َ ُ‫" أ َََب بَ ْك ٍر" َد َع ْوت‬
َ ‫ك لَ ْو أ‬
6 – Oh Abu Bakr, I am calling you, perhaps you would respond *** To a great fortune which you will
reap if you only understand

ِ ِ
َ ‫إِ ََل ع ْل ٍم تَ ُكو ُن بِه إِ َماماً *** ُمطَاعاً إِ ْن ََنَْي‬
‫ت َوإِ ْن أ ََم ْرَت‬
7 – To a knowledge that will make you an Imaam*** Obeyed when commanding and when reprimanding

َ ‫يل إِ َذا‬
‫ضلَْلتَا‬ ِ َ ‫اها *** ويَ ْه ِد‬ ِ ِ َ ِ‫وََيلُو ما بِعين‬
َ ‫يك ال اسب‬ َ َ ‫ك م ْن غ َش‬ َْ َ ْ َ
8 – And it will remove from your eyes that which is veiled *** And guide you to the path if you go astray

ِ
‫اْلَ َم َال إِذَا َع ِريتَا‬
ْ ‫وك‬َ ‫ْس‬ َ ‫َوَُْت ِم ُل ِمْنهُ ِِف ََند‬
ُ ‫يك َتجاً *** َويَك‬
9 – And you will carry with it in your gatherings a crown [be respected] *** And cloth you with beauty
when uncovered

1
 ‫ك إِ ْن ذَ َهْب تَا‬ ِ
َ َ‫ت َحيًّا *** َويَْب َقى ذ ْك ُرهُ ل‬
َ ‫ك نَ ْفعُهُ َما ُد ْم‬
َ ُ‫يَنَال‬
10 – You will grasp its benefits for as long as you live *** And its virtue will last with you when you are
gone [dead]

‫يب بِِه َم َقاتِ َل َم ْن اََرْد َت‬ ِ

ُ ‫س يَْن بُو *** تُص‬
َ ‫اد لَْي‬
ُ ‫ب الْ ُم َهن‬
ُ‫ض‬ْ ‫ُه َو الْ َع‬
11 – It is the sharp sword that doesn’t err *** You strike with it whoever you wish

ِ َ ً‫اف علَي ِه لِصا‬

‫ث ُكنتَا‬ َ ُ‫اْلَ ْم ِل ي‬
ُ ‫وج ُد َحْي‬ ْ ‫يف‬ُ ‫*** َخف‬ ّ ْ َ ُ َ‫َوَكْن ٌز ال ََت‬
12 – It is the treasure that is not to be stolen *** Light in weight, with you wherever you are

‫ص إِ ْن بِِه َك ّفاً َش َد ْد َت‬ ِ ِ ِ ُ ‫ي ِز‬

ُ ‫يد ب َكثْ َرةِ ا ِإلنْ َفاق مْنهُ *** َويَْن ُق‬ َ
13 – It increases when it is spent abundantly *** And it decreases when you withhold from spending

ِ ْ‫فَلَو قَ ْد ذُق‬
ْ ‫اعلُّ َم َو‬
‫اجتَ َه ْد َت‬ َ ‫ت الت‬
َ ‫ت م ْن َح ْل َواهُ طَ ْعماً *** آلثَ ْر‬
َ ْ
14 – If you would only taste from its sweetness *** You would have given preference to learning and you
would strive for it

‫وى ُمطَاعٌ *** َوَال ُدنْيَا بُِز ْخ ُرفِ َها فُتِْن تَا‬
ً ‫ك َعْنهُ َه‬
َ ‫َوََلْ يَ ْشغَْل‬
15 – And the enticing desires will not distract you from it *** Nor will the Dunya with its beauty tempt
you

‫ض *** َو َال ِخ ْد ٍر بِ ِزينَتِ َها َكلِ ْفتَا‬

ٍ ‫يق َرْو‬ِ َ َ‫َوالَ أَ ْْل‬
ُ ‫اك َعْنهُ أَن‬
16 – Nor will its beautiful gardens distract you *** Neither will the virgin girl who you love her beauty
set you back

ِ
َ ‫س ِِبَ ْن طَع ْم‬
‫ت َوالَ َش ِربْتَا‬ ِ ُ ‫الرْو ِح أ َْرو‬
َ ‫اح الْ َم َعان *** َولَْي‬ َ ُّ ‫وت‬
ُ ‫فَ ُق‬
17 – The soul is fed by beneficial knowledge *** And it is not fed by food nor drink

‫اظْبهُ َو ُخ ْذ َِب ْْلِ ِّد فِ ِيه *** فَِإ ْن أ َْعطَا َكهُ هللاُ انْتَ َف ْعتَا‬
ِ ‫فَو‬
َ
18 – So persevere and take it seriously *** For if Allaah grants you it [knowledge] you will benefit

‫اك قَ ْد َعلِ ْمتَا‬

َ ‫ إِن‬: ‫ااس‬
ُ ‫يل ََب ٍع *** َوقَ َال الن‬
َ
ِ َ‫يت فِ ِيه ط‬
‫و‬ َ
ِ ‫وإِ ْن أ ُْع‬
‫ط‬ َ
19 – And if you have received a vast amount of it *** And the people say you have indeed learned

2
 ‫ت ؛ فَ َه ْل َع ِم ْلتَا؟‬ ِ ٍ ِ‫فَالَ ََتْمن سؤ َال هللاِ عْنه *** بِت وب‬
َ ‫ َعل ْم‬: ‫يخ‬ َْ َُ َُ ْ َ
20 – Then do not feel safe from the question of Allaah *** Rebuking you saying, ”You have learned, but
have you acted?”

ِ ِ ِ ْ‫فَرأ‬
ْ ‫ لََق ْد َرأ‬: ‫س ِِبَ ْن يُ َق َال‬
‫َستَا‬ َ ‫س الْع ْلم تَ ْق َوى هللا َح ّقاً *** َولَْي‬
ُ َ
21 – For the peak of Knowledge is true fear of Allaah *** And it is not that you be referred to or praised

‫ب ا ِإل َساءَةِ قَ ْد لَبِ ْستَا‬ ِ

َ ‫ك ا ِإل ْح َسا ُن لَك ْن *** نََرى ثَ ْو‬
َ ِ‫ض ُل ثَ ْوب‬
َ ْ‫َوأَف‬
22 – Indeed, the best of your clothes is the cloth of excellence *** However we see you have worn the
clothing of evil

‫إِ َذا َما ََلْ يُِف ْد َك الْعِْل ُم َخ ْْياً *** فَ َخ ْْيٌ ِمْنهُ أَ ْن لَ ْو قَ ْد َج ِه ْلتَا‬
23 – And if you do not benefit from your knowledge any good *** Then it would have been better for
you to be ignorant

‫ك َما فَ ِه ْمتَا‬ َ َ‫ك ِِف َم َها ٍو *** فَلَْي ت‬

َ َ‫ك ُثُا لَْي ت‬ َ ‫َوإِ ْن أَلْ َق‬
َ ‫اك فَ ْه ُم‬
24 – And if your understanding is faulty *** Then only if you initially did not understand!

ِ ‫ستَج ِِن ِمن ِِثَا ِر الْعج ِز جهالً *** وتَصغُر ِِف الْعي‬
‫ون إِ َذا َك ُْبَت‬ُُ ُْ َ َْ ْ َ ْ ْ َ
25 – If ignorant, you will reap fruits that are deficient *** And in the eyes of people you will be small,
even when old

‫ت َولَ ْو فُِق ْد َت‬ ِ

َ ‫وج ُد إِ ْن َعل ْم‬
ٍ ْ‫وتُ ْف َق ُد إِ ْن ج ِه ْلت وأَن‬
َ ُ‫ت ََبق *** َوت‬
َ َ َ َ َ
26 – While alive if you are ignorant, you will be overlooked *** And if knowledgeable, you will remain
even if dead

‫ني *** إِ َذا َح ّقاً ِِبَا يَ ْوماً َع ِم ْلتَا‬

ٍ ‫ك بَ ْع َد ِح‬
َ َ‫َوتَ ْذ ُك ُر قَ ْولَِِت ل‬
27 – You will remember my word to you after a time *** If you truly implement it one day

‫ت إِ ََل ُحطَ ٍام قَ ْد ََجَ ْعتَا‬ ِ

َ ‫صحاً *** َوم ْل‬ َ ‫َوإِ ْن أ َْْهَْلتَ َها َونَبَ ْذ‬
ْ ُ‫ت ن‬
28 – And if you carry it and disregard the advice *** And fall prey to the wreckage [Dunya] to
accumulate it

3
 ‫ض ِم ْن نَ َدٍم َعلَْي َها *** َوَما تُ ْغ ِِن الن َاد َامةُ إِ ْن نَ ِد ْمتَا‬
ُّ ‫ف تَ َع‬
َ ‫فَ َس ْو‬
29 – Then you will pain in regret over it *** While remorse will be of no benefit to you

ِ ٍ
َ ‫ك ِِف ََسَاء *** قَد ْارتَ َفعُوا َعلَْي‬
‫ك َوقَ ْد َس ُف ْلتَا‬ َ َ‫ص ْحب‬
َ ‫ت‬ َ ْ‫إِذَا أَب‬
َ ‫ص ْر‬
30 – When you see your friend/peers [Taalib Al-‘Ilm] in lofty status *** Then certainly they have risen
above you and will you remain lowly

‫ك ا ْْلَُويْ َن *** فَ َما َِبلْبُ ْط ِء تُ ْد ِرُك َما طَلَْب تَا‬ ِ

َ ‫فَ َراج ْع َها َوَد ْع َعْن‬
31 – Then account yourself and leave off procrastination *** For the one who delays does not reach his
goal

‫ال إِالا َما َعلِ ْمتَا‬

ُ ‫س الْ َم‬ ِ
َ ‫َوالَ ََتْتَ ْل ِِبَال‬
َ ‫ك َوالْهُ َعْنهُ *** فَلَْي‬
32 – And do not let money be your main concern *** For real wealth comes from what you learn [of
Islaam]

‫ك الْعَِر ِاق لَهُ ََتَتاى‬ ِ ‫ولَيس ِْل‬

ِ ‫اه ٍل ِِف الن‬
ُ ‫ااس ُم ْغ ٍن *** َولَو ُم ْل‬ َ َ َْ
33 – And the ignorant one has nothing to offer to the people *** Even if he possessed the land of Iraq

‫ك يَ ْوماً إِ ْن َكتَ ْمتَا‬ ٍ ِ ‫سي ْن ِطق عْنك ِع ْلم‬

َ ‫ب َعْن‬
ُ َ‫ك ِف َم َالء *** َويُكْت‬
َ ُ َ َ ُ ََ
34 – Your knowledge will soon attest for you in high regards *** And it will be recorded for you, even if
you hide it [knowledge]

َ ‫يد الْ َمبَ ِان *** إِذَا َِب ْْلَ ْه ِل نَ ْف َس‬

‫ك قَ ْد َه َد ْمتَا‬ َ ِ‫َوَما يُ ْغن‬
ُ ِ‫يك تَ ْشي‬
35 – What is the point of erecting buildings *** When your ignorance will only demolish it?

‫ضيا ِة َما َع َدلْتَا‬

ِ ‫جع ْلت الْم َال فَو َق الْعِْل ِم جهالً *** لَعمرَك ِِف الْ َق‬
َُْ َْ ْ َ َ ََ
36 – You prefer money over knowledge, unknowingly *** Indeed you have not been just in your
reasoning

ِّ َ‫َوبَْي نَ ُه َما بِن‬

‫ص الْ َو ْح ِي بَ ْو ٌن *** َستَ ْعلَ ُمهُ إِ َذا " طه " قَ َرأْ َت‬
37 – And between them in the divine text is a great difference *** You will know this if you read Taha
[Surah Ta-Ha]

4
 ِ ْ‫لَئِن رفَع الْغَِِن لِواء م ٍال *** ألَن‬
َ ‫ت ل َواءَ ِع ْل ِم‬
‫ك قَ ْد َرفَ ْعتَا‬ َ َ َ َ ُّ َ َ ْ
38 – And if the rich one raises his flag of wealth *** Then your flag shall be raised with your knowledge

ِ ِ‫ت َعلَى ال َكواك‬

‫ب قَ ْد َجلَ ْستَا‬ َ ْ‫اْلَ َش َاَّي *** ألَن‬ ُّ َِ‫س الْغ‬
ْ ‫ِن َعلَى‬ ‫ل‬
َ ‫ج‬
َ ‫ن‬
ْ
ِ‫لَئ‬
َ َ
39 – And if the rich one reclines on mattresses *** Then you shall recline on the stars

ِ ‫ات *** ألَنْت من‬

‫اه َج التا ْق َوى َركِْب تَا‬ ٍ ‫اْلِياد مس اوم‬ ِ ِ
ََ َ َ َ ُ َ َْ ‫ب‬ َ ‫َوإ ْن َرك‬
40 – And if they ride on branded fine horses *** Then your ride is the fear of Allaah as a methodology

ِ ِ
‫ضتَا ؟‬
ْ‫ض‬َ َ‫ض أَبْ َك َار الْغَ َوِان *** فَ َك ْم بِ ْك ٍر م َن اْل َك ِم افْ ت‬
‫َوَم ْه َما افْ تَ ا‬
41 – And no matter how many beautiful maidens he had intercourse with *** For how many maidens
have you won over with wisdom?

‫ك قَ ْد َعَرفْ تَا‬ َ ْ‫ضُّرَك ا ِإلقْ تَ ُار َشْيئاً *** إِ َذا َما أَن‬
َ ‫ت َربا‬ ُ َ‫س ي‬
َ ‫َولَْي‬
42 – And poverty will not harm you at all *** If you have knowledge of your Lord

‫اعتِ ِه أ َََنْتَا؟‬ ِ ِ ِ ِ َ َ‫فَماذَا ِعْن َده ل‬

َ َ‫ك م ْن ََج ٍيل *** إِذَا بِفنَاء ط‬ ُ َ
43 – For how much goodness does he [Allaah] have in store for you *** If you fill your courtyard with
his obedience?

‫ت َعْنهُ فَ َق ْد َخ ِس ْرَت‬ ِ ِ ‫فَ َقابِل َِبلْ َقب‬

َ‫ض‬ْ ‫ص ِح قَ ْوِل *** فَِإ ْن أ َْعَر‬
ْ ُ‫ول لن‬ُ ْ
44 – So accept my word and my advice to you *** For if you turn away from it, you have lost

‫ت ا ِإللَهَ بِِه َرِ ِْبتَا‬ ِ

َ ‫َوإِ ْن َر‬
َ ‫اعْي تَهُ قَ ْوالً َوف ْعالً *** َو َت َج ْر‬
45 – But if you guard it with speech and action *** And do business with Allaah with it, then you have
won

‫ت َه ِذهِ الدُّنْيَا بِ َش ْي ٍء *** تَ ُس ْوُؤ َك ِح ْقبَةً َوتَ ُسُّر َوقْ تَا‬

ْ ‫فَلَْي َس‬
46 – For this Dunya [world] is nothing *** It grieves you for long periods and makes you happy for a
short span

ِ ‫و َغاي ت ها إِذَا فَ اكر‬

‫ك إِ ْذ َحلَ ْمتَا‬ َ ِ‫ت ف َيها *** َك َفْيئ‬
َ ‫ك أ َْو َك ُح ْل ِم‬ َْ َ َُ َ
47 – And its likeness if you ponder over it *** Is like the fleeting shadow or a dream that you dreamt

most

5
 ‫ب َما فِ ِيه ُس ِجْن تَا ؟‬
ُّ ‫ف ُُِت‬ ٌّ ‫ت َْلَا ُُِم‬
َ ‫ب *** فَ َكْي‬
ِ ‫س ِجْن‬
َ ْ‫ت ِبَا َوأَن‬
َ ُ
48 – You are imprisoned in it, and you love it (Dunya) *** So how can you love something that you are
imprisoned in?

‫ك َما فِ َيها طَعِ ْمتَا‬

َ ‫يب *** َستَطْ َع ُم ِمْن‬ َ ‫َوتُطْعِ ُم‬
ٍ ‫ك الطا َع َام و َع ْن قَ ِر‬
َ
49 – You eat what she brings forth *** But soon she will eat from you [in the grave]

‫ْسى إِ ْن َمالَبِ َس َها َخلَ ْعتَا‬ ِ ِ ‫وتَعرى إِ ْن لَبِس‬

َ ‫ت ِبَا ثيَاَبً *** َوتُك‬
َ ْ َْ َ
50 – You become naked when you wear her cloths *** And if you remove her clothing you become
clothed

‫اك َال تَُر ُاد لِ َما َش ِه ْد َت‬ ٍ

َ ‫َوتَ ْش َه ُد ُك ال يَ ْوم َدفْ َن ِخ ٍّل *** َكأَن‬
51 – And you witness everyday a burial *** And it’s as if what you saw will not happen to you

‫َوََلْ َُتْلَ ْق لِتَ ْع ُمَرَها َوٰل ِك ْن *** لِتَ ْع َُبَها فَ ِج اد لِ َما ُخلِ ْقتَا‬
52 – And you were not created to inhabit her *** Rather to transit her, so take your purpose of creation
seriously

ِ ِ
‫استَطَ ْعتَا‬ َ ِ‫ص ْن أ َْمَر دين‬
ْ ‫ك َما‬
ِ ْ ‫َوإِ ْن ُهد َم‬
َ ْ‫ت فَ ِزْد َها أَن‬
ّ ‫ت َه ْدماً *** َو َح‬
53 – And if she became destroyed, then increase her in ruining *** And guard your religion to the best of
your ability

ِ َ‫وَال َُْتز ْن علَى ما ف‬

‫ُخَر َاك فُ ْزَت‬ َ ْ‫ات مْن َها *** إِذَا َما أَن‬
ْ ‫ت ِِف أ‬ َ َ َ َ َ
54 – And do not be sad over what you lost from her (Dunya) *** If you will be victorious in the next life

‫ت ِمْن َها *** ِم َن الْ َف ِان إِ َذا الْبَاقِي ُح ِرْمتَا‬ ِ ِ

َ ‫س بِنَاف ٍع َما ن ْل‬
َ ‫فَلَْي‬
55 – For none benefits from what she brings that is temporary *** If they are deprived of what is eternal
[Paradise]

‫ض ِحكْتَا‬ ِ َ ‫ك سو‬ ِ ُّ ‫ك مع‬

َ ‫ف تَْبكي إِ ْن‬ ِ
ْ َ َ ‫الس َف َهاء يَ ْوماً *** فَإنا‬ َ َ ْ ‫ض َح‬
ْ َ‫َوالَ ت‬
56 – And do not laugh with the foolish one day *** For you will cry if you laughed

6
 ‫ت َرْه ٌن *** َوَما تَ ْد ِري أَتُ ْف َدى أ َْم غُلِْلتَا ؟‬ ُّ ‫ك َِب‬
َ ْ‫لس ُروِر َوأَن‬ َ َ‫َوَم ْن ل‬
57 – And what makes you pleased while you have been promised *** and you do not know whether you
will be saved or destroyed

‫الس َؤ ِال إِ َذا َسأَلْتَا‬

ُّ ‫ص ِِف‬ ِ ‫وسل ِمن ربِك التاوفِيق فِيها *** وأ‬
ْ ‫َخل‬
ْ َ َ َ ْ َ َّ ْ ْ َ َ
58 – And ask from your Lord to grant you success *** And be sincere in your asking when you ask

ِ ‫و ََن ِد إِذَا سج ْدت لَه ْاعِِتافاً *** ِِبَا ََنداه ذُو الن‬
‫ُّون ابْ ُن َم اَّت‬ َُ َ ُ َ ََ َ
59 – And supplicate when you prostrate to him, confessing your sin *** With what was supplicated to the
Lord by Dhun Nun son of Matta [Prophet Yunus]

‫ك إِ ْن قَ َر ْعتَا‬
َ َ‫َوالَ ِزْم ََببَهُ قَ ْرعاً َع َساهُ *** َسيَ ْفتَ ُح ََببَهُ ل‬
60 – And stick to knocking on his door *** Perhaps he will open his door if you knock

‫ض َدأَْبً *** لِتُ ْذ َكَر ِِف ال اس َم ِاء إِ َذا ذَ َك ْرَت‬

ِ ‫َوأَ ْكثِْر ِذ ْكَرهُ ِِف األ َْر‬
61 – And continuously increase his remembrance in the earth *** So he may remember you in the
heavens when you remember Him

‫صغِ ٍْي قَ ْد َدفَ ْن تَا؟‬ ِ ٌ ‫الصبَا فِ ِيه ْامتِ َه‬

َ ‫ال *** َوفَ ّك ْر َك ْم‬
ِ
ّ ‫َوالَ تَ ُق ِل‬
62 – And do not say I am young, I have time *** Ponder, for how many get buried in their youth?

Part 2 – The Adviser Gets Admonished

ِ ِِ
‫ك قَ ْد نَظَْرَت‬ َ ‫ص ِح‬
َ ‫ك لَ ْو لف ْعل‬ ْ ُ‫ت أ َْوََل *** بِن‬
ِِ
َ ْ‫ ََّي ََنصحي بَ ْل أَن‬: ‫َوقُ ْل‬
63 – And say Oh advisor, rather you are the first *** To act upon your own advice if you could but see
your own actions

ِ ‫يط لَوماً *** وَِبلتا ْف ِر‬

ِ ِ
‫يط َد ْهَرَك قَ ْد قَطَ ْعتَا‬ َ ْ ‫تُ َقطّعُ ِِن َعلَى التا ْف ِر‬
64 – You call me out and blame me for being negligent *** While you neglect to call yourself out

‫ث ِش ْختَا‬ ِ
َ ‫َوِِف ِصغَ ِري َُتَِّوفُِِن الْ َمنَ َاَّي *** َوَما تَ ْد ِري ِِبَال‬
ُ ‫ك َحْي‬
65 – And in my youth you would scare me with death *** Yet you don’t know your condition when you
are old

7
 َ ِ‫ك بَ ْع َد َشْيب‬
‫ك قَ ْد نَ َكثْ تَا‬ ِ
َ َ‫الصبَا أ َْه َدى َسبِيالً *** فَ َما ل‬
ّ ‫ت َم َع‬
َ ‫َوُكْن‬
66 – And in your youth you were on the right path *** So why in your old age would you override it

‫ضتَهُ َح اَّت َغ ِرقْ تَا‬

ْ ‫اْلَطَ َاَّي *** َك َما قَ ْد ُخ‬
ْ ‫ض َِْبَر‬ ُ ‫َوَها أََنَ ََلْ أ‬
ْ ‫َخ‬
67 – And I did not engage into an ocean of sins *** As you down up until you drown

‫ت َش ِربْتَ َها َح اَّت َس ِك ْرَت‬ ِ ‫و ََل أَ ْشر‬

َ ْ‫ب ُُحيًّا أُِّم ُدفْ ٍر *** َوأَن‬
َْ ْ َ
68 – Nor did I drink from the mother of filth’s cup *** While drank from it until you became drunk

‫ت فِ ِيه َوَما انْتَ َف ْعتَا‬

َ ْ‫ت نَ َشأ‬
ِ ِ ‫و ََل أَنْ َشأْ بِع‬
َ ْ‫ص ٍر فيه نَ ْف ٌع *** َوأَن‬
َْ ْ َ
69 – Nor was I brought up in a time in which there was much benefit *** While you were brought up in it
and did not benefit

‫ت فِ ِيه َوانْتَ َهكْتَا‬ ِِ ٍ

َ ْ‫َحلُ ْل بَِواد فيه ظُْل ٌم *** َوأَن‬
َ ‫ت َحلَْل‬ ْ ‫َو ََلْ أ‬
70 – Nor did I enter upon a valley in which there was oppression *** While you entered it and took part
in its transgression

‫ص ِحْب تَا‬ ِ ‫لََق ْد صاحبت أ َْعالَماً كِباراً *** وََل أَرَك اقْ تَ َدي‬
َ ‫ت ِبَ ْن‬
َْ َ َْ َ َ َْ َ
71 – Verily you befriended the major scholars *** Yet I do not see you following the example of those
you befriended

‫يب فَ َما انْتَ بَ ْهتَا‬ ِ َ ‫و ََند َاك " الْ ِكتَاب " فَلَم ُُِتبه *** ونَباه‬
ُ ‫ك الْ َمش‬ َ َ ُْ ْ ُ َ َ
72 – And the book calls you, yet you do not respond *** And your grey hairs warns you, yet you do not
heed the warning

‫اص ِاب *** َوأَقْ بَ ُح ِمْنهُ َشْي ٌخ قَ ْد تَ َف اَّت‬ ِ

َ ‫َويَ ْقبُ ُح َِبلْ َف ََّت ف ْع ُل الت‬
73 – And the young doing what young people do is ugly *** But an elder behaving like a youth is more
ugly

‫َج َد ُر َم ْن َذَمَْتَا‬ ٍ ‫ك ذُ ام َال تَ ْذ ُم ْم ِسو َاها *** لِ َعْي‬

ْ ‫ب فَ ْه َي أ‬ َ ‫َونَ ْف َس‬
َ
74 – Condemn yourself, and do not condemn anyone else *** For your flaws are superior to the one you
condemn

8
 ِ ِ‫وأَنْت أَح ُّق َِبلتا ْفن‬
ِ َ ‫يد ِم ِِّن *** ولَو ُكْن‬
َ ‫ت اللاب‬
‫يب لَ َما نَطَْقتَا‬ َْ َ َ َ
75 – For you are more worthy of refutation than me *** And if you were smart wouldn’t speak

‫ك قَ ْد أ َِمْن تَا‬ ِ َ َ‫ت ال ِّد َما َعْي ن‬

ِ ‫ولَو ب َك‬
َ ِ‫اك َخ ْوفاً *** ل َذنْب‬
َ َ‫ك ََلْ أَقُ ْل ل‬ َ َْ
76 – And if you were to cry tears of blood out of fear *** Due to your sins, I would still not say you are
safe [from punishment]

ِ ِ
‫ت َوالَ أَطَ ْعتَا‬
َ ‫ت فَ َما ائْ تَ َم ْر‬ َ ْ‫ك َِبأل ََمان َوأَن‬
َ ‫ت َعْب ٌد *** أُم ْر‬ َ َ‫َوَم ْن ل‬
77 – And who will guarantee you safety while you are a slave *** That was commanded, yet you did not
follow or obey

‫ك أَ ْن ََِت ا‬ ِ ُّ ‫ت ِمن‬
‫ف إِ َذا ُوِزنْتَا‬ َ ‫ت ََتْ َشى *** ِْلَ ْهل‬ ِ ُ‫الذن‬
َ ‫وب َولَ ْس‬ َ َ ‫ثَ ُق ْل‬
78 – You are heavily burdened with sins and you do not fear *** Due to ignorance that you may be little
on the scales [of good and bad]

‫ك َما َرُِحْتَا‬ ِ ِ ِ
ِ ‫ص ِر علَى الْمع‬
َ ‫اصي *** َوتَ ْر َُحُهُ َونَ ْف َس‬ َ َ َ ّ ‫َوتُ ْشف ُق ل ْل ُم‬
79 – And you pity the persistent sinner *** And have mercy on him, yet you forget to pity yourself

‫ت لَ َما َر َج ْعتَا‬
َ ‫ص ْل‬
َ ‫ت َع ْش ًوى *** لَ َع ْم ُرَك لَ ْو َو‬
َ ْ‫ت الْ َق ْه َقَرى َو َخبَط‬
َ ‫َر َج ْع‬
80 – You slipped backwards and knocked yourself down *** Only if you had reached the appointed goal.
You wouldn’t have went backwards

‫اب إِذاً َهلَكْتَا‬ ِْ ‫ب *** ونُوقِ ْشت‬

ٍ ْ‫ك ُدو َن َذن‬
َ ‫اْل َس‬ َ َ َ ‫ت َربا‬
َ ‫َولَ ْو َوافَ ْي‬
81 – And if you were to meet your Lord without any sin *** And then be disputed concerning your
account, then [in that case] you are destroyed

‫وم ِِبَا َُحَْلتَا‬ ِ ِ ِ

َ ‫ك ِِف َع َم ٍل َوٰلك ْن *** َعسْيٌ أَ ْن تَ ُق‬
َ ‫َوََلْ يَظْل ْم‬
82 – As he would not wrong you in anyway *** However heavy is the trust you carry

‫ت الْ َمنَا ِزَل فِ ِيه َش اَّت‬ َ ْ‫اْلَ ْش ِر فَ ْرداً *** َوأَب‬

َ ‫ص ْر‬ ْ ‫ت يَ ْوَم‬ ِ
َ ‫َولَ ْو قَ ْد جْئ‬
83 – And if you were to approach the Day of Gathering alone *** And visualize the various dwelling
[levels]

9
 ِ
‫َض ْعتَا‬ َ ِ‫ت الن َاد َامةَ ف ِيه َْلْفاً *** َعلَى َما ِِف َحيَات‬
َ ‫ك قَ ْد أ‬ َ ‫أل َْعظَ ْم‬
84 – You would yearn in great regret *** For the amount of time you wasted in life

‫تَِفُّر ِم ْن ا ْْلَ ِج ِْي َوتَت ِاق ِيه *** فَ َه اال ِم ْن َج َهن َام قَ ْد فَ َرْرَت‬
85 – You run away from the blazing sun and fear its heat *** So have you considered running away from
the Hellfire

َ ‫اْلَ ِد‬
‫يد ِِبَا لَ ُذبْتَا‬ ْ ‫ت‬ َ ‫يق أ َْه َوََنَا َع َذاَبً *** َولَ ْو ُكْن‬
ِ ‫ولَس‬
ُ ‫ت تُط‬
َ ْ َ
86 – Nor can you endure its least punishment *** As even if you were made of iron, you would melt in it

ِ ِ ‫ِ ِا‬
‫ت َوالَ ظَنَ ْن تَا‬ َ ‫َوالَ تُْنك ْر فَإن األ َْمَر ج ُّد *** َولَْي‬
َ ‫س َك َما َحسْب‬
87 – And do not ignore, for the matter is serious *** For it is not how you perceive or think it to be

Part 3 – Poet Returns To Admonishing Abu Bakr, His Pupil

َ ‫" أ َََب بَ ْك ٍر " َك َش ْف‬

‫ت أَقَ ال َعْيِب *** َوأَ ْكثَ َرهُ َوُم ْعظَ َمهُ َس َِْتَت‬
88 – Oh Abu Bakr, you have exposed the least of my flaws *** While most of them you have kept hidden

ِ ‫ِف ِمن الْمخا ِزي *** وض‬

َ ‫اع ْف َها فَِإن‬ ِ
‫ص َدقْ تَا‬
َ ‫اك قَ ْد‬ ََ َ َ َ ‫ت ِا‬ َ ‫فَ ُق ْل َما شْئ‬
89 – So say what you wish about me from my shortcomings *** And increase for indeed you have
spoken the truth

ِ ‫ومهما ِعب تَِِن فَلِ َفر ِط ِع ْل ِمي *** بِب‬

َ ‫اطنِ ِه َكأَن‬
‫اك قَ ْد َم َد ْحتَا‬ َ ْ ْ َ ْ ََ
90 – And whatever fault you found of me *** It is a praise compared to what I know of myself

‫وب َم ْقتَا‬ ُ ‫ب فَ ِه َي َع ٌار *** َع ِظ ٌيم يُوِر‬

َ ُ‫ث الْ َم ْحب‬
ِ
َ ‫ض الْ َم َعاي‬
َ ‫فَالَ تَ ْر‬
91 – So do not be pleased in exposing other’s flaws, for it is a great shame *** It causes your beloved
ones to detest you

‫َويَ ْه ِوي َِبلْ َوِج ِيه ِم َن الث َُّراَّي *** َويُْب ِدلُهُ َم َكا َن الْ َف ْو ِق َُْتتَا‬
92 – As goes from a face of nobility *** To one whose status becomes low after being high

10
 ‫يب َوإِ ْن بَعُ ْد َت‬ ِ
َ ُ‫ارا ِري *** َوَُْت َعل‬
َ ‫ك الْ َق ِر‬ َ ‫ك الد‬
َ ُ‫ات تُْبدل‬ َ ‫َك َما الطا‬
ُ ‫اع‬
93 – Just as obedience [to Allaah] causes your status to reach the skies *** And makes you close [to
Allaah], even if you are far

‫ث ِشْئ تَا‬ ِ َِ ‫ك ِِف الدُّنْيا‬

ُ ‫َجيالً *** َوتَ ْل َقى الِْ اب ف َيها َحْي‬ َ َ ‫َوتَ ْن ُش ُر َعْن‬
94 – It causes your mention on earth to be beautiful *** And it opens the doors to good wherever you are

‫يما قَ ْد َغَر ْستَا‬ِ ْ ‫وَتَْ ِشي ِِف مناكِبِها ع ِزيزاً *** وَُت ِِن‬
َ ‫اْلَ ْم َد ف‬ َْ َ َ ََ َ
95 – And you walk in its pathways honorably *** And you reap praise from where it was sowed

‫ك ُم ْذ نَ َشأْ َت‬
َ َ‫ت ثَ ْوب‬
َ ‫اس‬ ٍ ِ ْ ‫ت اآل َن ََلْ تُ ْعر‬
َ ْ‫َوأَن‬
ْ ‫ف ب َعْيب *** َوالَ َدن‬َ
96 – And you are currently not known for any shame *** and you have not stained your clothes since you
began

‫ت فِ ِيه َوَال َخبَ ْب تَا‬ َ ‫ت ِِف َمْي َد ِان ُزوٍر *** َوَال أ َْو‬
َ ‫ض ْع‬ َ ‫َوالَ َسابَ ْق‬
97 – Nor have you proceeded to the places of vice *** Nor have you stepped foot in it or walked near it

‫ص إِ َذا نَ ِشْب تَا؟‬ ِ ‫فَِإ ْن ََل تَ ْنأَ عْنه نَ ِشب‬

َ َ‫ت ف ِيه *** َوَم ْن ل‬
ِ َ‫ك َِب ْْلَال‬ َ ْ َُ ْ
98 – And if you do not distance yourself, you will fall into it *** And who will save you if you fall into
it?

ِ
‫ك َما طَ ُه ْرَت‬
َ ‫اك قَ ْب َل َذل‬ َ ‫س َما تَطَ اهَر ِمْن‬
َ ‫ك َح اَّت *** َكأَن‬ ِ
ُ ّ‫تُ َدن‬
99 – You stain what you were pure from until *** It’s as if you were never pure to begin with

ُ ‫ك الْ ِف َك‬
‫اك َوقَ ْد اُ ِس ْرَت ؟‬ ٍ َ ِ‫ت أ َِس َْي َذنْب‬
َ ‫ك ِِف َو ََثق *** َوَكْي‬
َ َ‫ف ل‬ ِ
َ ‫َوص ْر‬
100 – Thus you become a prisoner of your sin in bondage *** And how will you escape when you are
imprisoned?

ِ ‫ك واخش ِمْن هم *** َكما ََتْ َشى الضار‬

‫اغ َم َوال اسبَ ْم ََّت‬ ِ ِ ْ ‫فَ ِخ‬
َ َ ُ َ ْ َ َ ‫ف أَبْنَاءَ جْنس‬
101 – So be warned of your nation’s sons and be wary of them *** Just as you fear the lions and the
tigers

11
 ‫ي إِ َذا لُ ِم ْستَا‬ ِ ِ ِ ِ
ِّ ‫َو َخالطْ ُه ْم َو َزاي ْل ُه ْم ح َذاراً *** َوُك ْن َك ال اسام ِر‬
102 – And beware when you intermingle with the evil-doers and depart from them *** And be like
Samiri when he isolated from the people when you are called

‫ف تَ ْسلَ ُم إِ ْن فَ َع ْلتَا‬ َ ‫َوإِ ْن َج ِهلُوا َعلَْي‬

َ ‫ َسالٌَم *** لَ َعلا‬: ‫ك فَ ُق ْل‬
َ ‫ك َس ْو‬
103 – And if they get ignorant with you, then say Peace *** Perhaps you will gain peace if you do that

ِ ‫ال الْعِصم إِالا إِ ْن ع‬

‫ص ْمتَا؟‬ ٍ ِِ ِ َ َ‫وَم ْن ل‬
ُ َ ْ ُ َ‫ك َبل اسالََمة ِف َزَمان *** تَن‬ َ
104 – And who are you to receive safety in a time *** Where you are protected only if Allaah protects
you?

‫ب إِالا إِ ْن ُكبِْلتَا‬ ِ ِ ِ ِ ْ ‫والَ تَ ْلب‬

َ ‫يت الْ َق ْل‬
ُ ‫ضْي ٌم *** ُُي‬
َ ‫ث ِبَ ٍّي فيه‬َ َ
105 – And do not stay in a district that is full of darkness *** And brings death to the heart except if you
are forced to remain

ِ ِ ‫و َغ ِرب فَالتاغَُّر‬
َ ‫ب ف ِيه َخ ْْيٌ *** َو َشِّر ْق إِ ْن بِريِق‬
‫ك قَ ْد َش ِرقْ تَا‬ ُ ّْ َ
106 – And travel west, for traveling west has good *** Or if your saliva [instinct] tells you travel east,
then go east

‫ت ِِبَا األ َِمْيُ إِ َذا َزِه ْد َت‬

َ ْ‫الزْه ُد ِِف الدُّنْيَا ُُخُوالً *** ألَن‬
ُّ ‫س‬َ ‫فَلَْي‬
107 – For having Zuhd [abstinence] in the world is not about being careless *** For with true Zuhd you
would become a leader

ِ ِ ِ
َ ‫َولَ ْو فَ ْو َق األَم ِْي تَ ُكو ُن ف َيها *** َُسًُّوا اُْرت َفاعاً ُكْن‬
‫ت أَنْتَا‬
108 – And even above the leader, you would be *** At the peak of the people

‫ت ِمْن َها *** إِ ََل " َدا ِر ال اسالَِم " فَ َق ْد َسلِ ْمتَا‬
َ ‫َو إِ ْن فَ َارقْ تَ َها َو َخَر ْج‬
109 – And if you part from her [the Dunya] and exit her *** To the dwelling of peace, then you are saved

ِ ‫وإِ ْن أَ ْكرمت ها ونَظَر‬

َ ‫ت ف َيها *** ِإل ْكَرٍام فَنَ ْف َس‬
‫ك قَ ْد أ ََهْن تَا‬ َ ْ َ َ َ َْ َ
110 – And if you honour her and stare at her in amazement *** Then certainly you have humiliated
yourself

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 َ َ‫اصائِ َح فَ ْامتَثِْل َها *** َحيَات‬
َ ْ‫ك فَ ِه َي أَف‬
‫ض ُل َما ْامتَ ثَ ْلتَا‬ َ ‫ك الن‬
َ َ‫ت ل‬
ُ ‫ََجَ ْع‬
111 – Indeed I have gathered for you advices, so act upon it *** In your life, it is the best task to carry out

‫اك ِِف الْبَطَالَِة قَ ْد أَطَْلتَا‬ ِ ِ ‫وطَاولْت الْعِتاب وِزد‬

َ ‫ت ف ِيه *** ألَن‬
ُ َْ َ َ ُ َ
112 – For I have lengthened my admonitions and increased in it *** Because you have spent long periods
in immoral acts

َ َ‫ص ِْيي َو َس ْه ِوي *** َو ُخ ْذ بَِو ِصياِِت ل‬

‫ك إِ ْن َر َش ْد َت‬ ِ ‫والَ ي ْغررَك تَ ْق‬
ُْ َ َ
113 – And don’t let my shortcomings and my forgetfulness distract you *** And take my advices
personally if you seek guidance

‫ت قَ ْب َل ذَا ِمائَةً َو ِستاا‬ ِ ِ

ْ َ‫َوقَ ْد أ َْرَدفْ تُ َها ت ْسعاً ح َساَنً *** َوَكان‬
114 – And certainly I have added 9 more verses *** And before that it was 106 verses

‫الر ْس ِل َرِّب *** َو ِع ْ َِتتِِه الْ َك ِرُيَِة َما ذُكِْرَت‬

ُّ ‫ص ِّل َعلَى ََتَ ِام‬
َ ‫َو‬
115 – And may the peace be upon the most complete of the Messengers of my Lord *** And his noble
offspring, whenever they are mentioned

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