آدَابُ الطَّرِيقِ

مَا لَذَّةُ العَيْشِ إِلَّا صُحْبَةُ الفُقَرَاهُمُ السَّلَاطِينُ وَالسَّادَاتُ وَالأُمَرَا

Mā ladhdhatu al-ʿayshi illā ṣuḥbatu al-fuqarā, Humu as-salāṭīnu wa-as-sādātu wa-al-ʾumarā

The sweetness of life is nothing but the company of the poor in God; they are the sultans, the masters and the princes.

فَاصْحَبْهُمُو وَتَأَدَّبْ فِي مَجَالِسِهِمْوَخَلِّ حَظَّكَ مَهْمَا قَدَّمُوكَ وَرَا

Faṣḥabhumū wataʾaddab fī majālisihim, Wakhalli ḥaẓẓaka mahmā qaddamūka warā

So keep their company and observe courtesy in their gatherings, and leave your own share behind, however much they bring you forward.

وَاسْتَغْنِمِ الوَقْتَ وَاحْضُرْ دَائِمًا مَعَهُمْوَاعْلَمْ بِأَنَّ الرِّضَا يَخْتَصُّ مَنْ حَضَرَا

Wastaghnimi al-waqta waḥḍur dāʾiman maʿahum, Waʿlam biʾanna ar-riḍā yakhtaṣṣu man ḥaḍarā

Make the most of the time and always be present with them, and know that good pleasure is reserved for whoever is present.

وَلَازِمِ الصَّمْتَ إِلَّا إِنْ سُئِلْتَ فَقُلْلَا عِلْمَ عِنْدِي وَكُنْ بِالجَهْلِ مُسْتَتِرَا

Walāzimi aṣ-ṣamta illā in suʾilta faqul, Lā ʿilma ʿindī wakun bi-al-jahli mustatirā

Keep to silence unless you are asked, then say: "I have no knowledge," and hide yourself in ignorance.

وَلَا تَرَ العَيْبَ إِلَّا فِيكَ مُعْتَقِدًاعَيْبًا بَدَا بَيِّنًا لَكِنَّهُ اسْتَتَرَا

Walā tara al-ʿayba illā fīka muʿtaqidan, ʿayban badā bayyinan lakinnahu statarā

See no fault but in yourself, believing it a manifest fault, though it is hidden.

وَحُطَّ رَأْسَكَ وَاسْتَغْفِرْ بِلَا سَبَبٍوَقُمْ عَلَى قَدَمِ الإِنْصَافِ مُعْتَذِرَا

Waḥuṭṭa raʾsaka wastaghfir bilā sababin, Waqum ʿalā qadami al-ʾinṣāfi muʿtadhirā

Lower your head and seek forgiveness without cause, and stand on the foot of fairness, apologising.

وَإِنْ بَدَا مِنْكَ عَيْبٌ فَاعْتَرِفْ وَأَقِمْوَجْهَ اعْتِذَارِكَ عَمَّا فِيكَ مِنْكَ جَرَى

Waʾin badā minka ʿaybun faʿtarif waʾaqim, Wajha ʿtidhārika ʿammā fīka minka jarā

If a fault appears from you, confess it, and turn your face in apology for what has come from you.

وَقُلْ عُبَيْدُكُمُ أَوْلَى بِصَفْحِكُمُفَسَامِحُوا وَخُذُوا بِالرِّفْقِ يَا فُقَرَا

Waqul ʿubaydukumu awlā biṣafḥikumu, Fasāmiḥū wakhudhū bi-ar-rifqi yā fuqarā

And say: "Your humble servant is most in need of your pardon; so forgive, and be gentle, O poor ones."

هُمْ بِالتَّفَضُّلِ أَوْلَى وَهْوَ شِيمَتُهُمْفَلَا تَخَفْ دَرَكًا مِنْهُمْ وَلَا ضَرَرَا

Hum bi-at-tafaḍḍuli awlā wahwa shīmatuhum, Falā takhaf darakan minhum walā ḍararā

They are most worthy of generosity, for it is their nature; so fear no reproach or harm from them.

وَبِالتَّفَتِّي عَلَى الإِخْوَانِ جُدْ أَبَدًاحِسًّا وَمَعْنًى وَغُضَّ الطَّرْفَ إِنْ عَثَرَا

Wabi-at-tafattī ʿalā al-ʾikhwāni jud abadan, Ḥissan wamaʿnan waghuḍḍa aṭ-ṭarfa in ʿatharā

Be ever generous in chivalry toward your brothers, outwardly and inwardly, and lower your gaze if one stumbles.

وَرَاقِبِ الشَّيْخَ فِي أَحْوَالِهِ فَعَسَىيُرَى عَلَيْكَ مِنَ اسْتِحْسَانِهِ أَثَرَا

Warāqibi ash-shaykha fī aḥwālihi faʿasā, Yurā ʿalayka mina stiḥsānihi atharā

Watch the shaykh in his states, that perhaps a trace of his approval may be seen on you.

وَقَدِّمِ الجِدَّ وَانْهَضْ عِنْدَ خِدْمَتِهِعَسَاهُ يَرْضَى وَحَاذِرْ أَنْ تَكُنْ ضَجِرَا

Waqaddimi al-jidda wanhaḍ ʿinda khidmatihi, ʿasāhu yarḍā waḥādhir an takun ḍajirā

Put earnestness first and rise to his service, that he may be pleased, and beware of growing weary.

فَفِي رِضَاهُ رِضَى البَارِي وَطَاعَتِهِيَرْضَى عَلَيْكَ وَكُنْ مِنْ تَرْكِهَا حَذِرَا

Fafī riḍāhu riḍā al-bārī waṭāʿatihi, Yarḍā ʿalayka wakun min tarkihā ḥadhirā

For in his good pleasure is the good pleasure of the Creator, and through obeying him He is pleased with you; so beware of neglecting it.

وَاعْلَمْ بِأَنَّ طَرِيقَ القَوْمِ دَارِسَةٌوَحَالُ مَنْ يَدَّعِيهَا اليَوْمَ كَيْفَ تَرَى

Waʿlam biʾanna ṭarīqa al-qawmi dārisatun, Waḥālu man yaddaʿīhā al-yawma kayfa tarā

Know that the path of the folk has faded, and see the state of those who claim it today!

مَتَى أَرَاهُمْ وَأَنَّى لِي بِرُؤْيَتِهِمْأَوْ تَسْمَعُ الأُذْنُ مِنِّي عَنْهُمُ خَبَرَا

Matā arāhum waʾannā lī biruʾyatihim, Aw tasmaʿu al-ʾudhnu minnī ʿanhumu khabarā

When will I see them, and how can I see them, or my ear hear any news of them?

مَنْ لِي وَأَنَّى لِمِثْلِي أَنْ يُزَاحِمَهُمْعَلَى مَوَارِدَ لَمْ أُلْفِ بِهَا كَدَرَا

Man lī waʾannā limithlī an yuzāḥimahum, ʿalā mawārida lam ulfi bihā kadarā

Who will grant me, and how could one like me jostle them at springs where I never found any turbidity?

أُحِبُّهُمْ وَأُدَارِيهِمْ وَأُوثِرُهُمْبِمُهْجَتِي وَخُصُوصًا مِنْهُمُ نَفَرَا

Uḥibbuhum waʾudārīhim waʾūthiruhum, Bimuhjatī wakhuṣūṣan minhumu nafarā

I love them, show them courtesy and prefer them with my very heart, especially a few of them,

قَوْمٌ كِرَامُ السَّجَايَا حَيْثُمَا جَلَسُوايَبْقَى المَكَانُ عَلَى آثَارِهِمْ عَطِرَا

Qawmun kirāmu as-sajāyā ḥaythumā jalasū, Yabqā al-makānu ʿalā ʾāthārihim ʿaṭirā

A folk of noble character; wherever they sit, the place remains fragrant with their traces.

يُهْدِي التَّصَوُّفُ مِنْ أَخْلَاقِهِمْ طُرَفًاحُسْنُ التَّأَلُّفِ مِنْهُمْ رَاقَنِي نَظَرَا

Yuhdī at-taṣawwufu min akhlāqihim ṭurafan, Ḥusnu at-taʾallufi minhum rāqanī naẓarā

Sufism offers some rare gifts of their character; the beauty of their harmony delighted my sight.

هُمْ أَهْلُ وُدِّي وَأَحْبَابِي الَّذِينَ هُمُمِمَّنْ يَجُرُّ ذُيُولَ العِزِّ مُفْتَخِرَا

Hum ahlu wuddī waʾaḥbābī al-ladhīna humu, Mimman yajurru dhuyūla al-ʿizzi muftakhirā

They are the people of my love and my beloveds, among those who trail the hems of glory with pride.

لَا زَالَ شَمْلِي بِهِمْ فِي اللهِ مُجْتَمِعًاوَذَنْبُنَا فِيهِ مَغْفُورًا وَمُغْتَفَرَا

Lā zāla shamlī bihim fī Allāhi mujtamiʿan, Wadhanbunā fīhi maghfūran wamughtafarā

May my company with them ever be united in Allah, and our sins in it forgiven and pardoned.

ثُمَّ الصَّلَاةُ عَلَى المُخْتَارِ سَيِّدِنَامُحَمَّدٍ خَيْرِ مَنْ أَوْفَى وَمَنْ نَذَرَا

Thumma aṣ-ṣalātu ʿalā al-mukhtāri sayyidinā, Muḥammadin khayri man awfā waman nadharā

Then blessings upon the Chosen One, our master, Muhammad, the best of all who fulfilled their vows.