وَصِيَّتِي لَكَ يَا ذَا الفَضْلِ وَالأَدَبِ

وَصِيَّتِي لَكَ يَا ذَا الفَضْلِ وَالأَدَبِإِنْ شِئْتَ أَنْ تَسْكُنَ السَّامِي مِنَ الرُّتَبِ

Waṣiyyatī laka yā dhā al-faḍli wa-al-ʾadabi, In shiʾta an taskuna as-sāmī mina ar-rutabi

My counsel to you, O man of virtue and refinement, if you wish to dwell in the loftiest of ranks,

وَتُدْرِكَ السَّبْقَ وَالغَايَاتِ تَبْلُغُهَامُهَنَّأً وَتَنَالَ القَصْدَ وَالأَرَبِ

Watudrika as-sabqa wa-al-ghāyāti tablughuhā, Muhannaʾan watanāla al-qaṣda wa-al-ʾarabi

To win the race and reach the goals in joy, attaining your aim and desire,

تَقْوَى الإِلَهِ الَّذِي تُرْجَى مَرَاحِمُهُالوَاحِدِ الأَحَدِ الكَشَّافِ لِلْكُرَبِ

Taqwā al-ʾilahi al-ladhī turjā marāḥimuhu, Al-wāḥidi al-ʾaḥadi al-kashshāfi lilkurabi

Is fear of Allah, whose mercies are hoped for, the One, the Unique, the Remover of distress.

اِلْزَمْ فَرَائِضَهُ وَاتْرُكْ مَحَارِمَهُوَاقْطَعْ لَيَالِيكَ وَالأَيَّامَ فِي القُرَبِ

Az-zam farāʾiḍahu watruk maḥārimahu, Waqṭaʿ layālīka wa-al-ʾayyāma fī al-qurabi

Hold fast to His obligations, leave what He has forbidden, and spend your nights and days in acts of devotion.

وَأَشْعِرِ القَلْبَ خَوْفاً لَا يُفَارِقُهُمِنْ رَبِّهِ مَعَهُ مِثْلٌ مِنَ الرَّغَبِ

Waʾashʿiri al-qalba khawfan lā yufāriquhu, Min rabbihi maʿahu mithlun mina ar-raghabi

Fill your heart with a fear of its Lord that never leaves it, and with it an equal measure of hope.

وَزَيِّنِ القَلْبَ بِالإِخْلَاصِ مُجْتَهِداًوَاعْلَمْ بِأَنَّ الرِّيَا يُلْقِيكَ فِي العَطَبِ

Wazayyini al-qalba bi-al-ʾikhlāṣi mujtahidan, Waʿlam biʾanna ar-riyā yulqīka fī al-ʿaṭabi

Adorn your heart with sincerity, striving, and know that showing off will cast you into ruin.

وَنَقِّ جَيْبَكَ مِنْ كُلِّ العُيُوبِ وَلَاتَدْخُلْ مَدَاخِلَ أَهْلِ الفِسْقِ وَالرِّيَبِ

Wanaqqi jaybaka min kulli al-ʿuyūbi walā, Tadkhul madākhila ahli al-fisqi wa-ar-riyabi

Keep your heart clean of every fault, and do not enter the haunts of the corrupt and the suspect.

وَاحْفَظْ لِسَانَكَ مِنْ طَعْنٍ عَلَى أَحَدٍمِنَ العِبَادِ وَمِنْ نَقْلٍ وَمِنْ كَذِبِ

Waḥfaẓ lisānaka min ṭaʿnin ʿalā aḥadin, Mina al-ʿibādi wamin naqlin wamin kadhibi

Guard your tongue from defaming anyone among Allah's servants, from talebearing and from lies.

وَكُنْ وَقُوراً خَشُوعاً غَيْرَ مُنْهَمِكٍفِي اللَّهْوِ وَالضِّحْكِ وَالأَفْرَاحِ وَاللَّعِبِ

Wakun waqūran khashūʿan ghayra munhamikin, Fī Allāhwi wa-aḍ-ḍiḥki wa-al-ʾafrāḥi wa-al-laʿibi

Be dignified and humble, not absorbed in amusement, laughter, merriment and play.

وَنَزِّهِ الصَّدْرَ مِنْ غِشٍّ وَمِنْ حَسَدٍوَجَانِبِ الكِبْرَ يَا مِسْكِينُ وَالعُجُبِ

Wanazzihi aṣ-ṣadra min ghishshin wamin ḥasadin, Wajānibi al-kibra yā miskīnu wa-al-ʿujubi

Keep your breast free of deceit and envy, and avoid pride, poor soul, and vanity.

وَارْضَ التَّوَاضُعَ خُلْقاً إِنَّهُ خُلُقُ الْأَخْيَارِ فَاقْتَدِ بِهِمْ تَنْجُو مِنَ الوَصَبِ

Warḍa at-tawāḍuʿa khulqan innahu khuluqu al-, Akhyāri faqtadi bihim tanjū mina al-waṣabi

Choose humility as your character, for it is the character of the best of people; follow them and you will be saved from affliction.

وَاحْذَرْ وَإِيَّاكَ مِنْ قَوْلِ الجَهُولِ أَنَاوَأَنْتَ دُونِيَ فِي فَضْلٍ وَفِي حَسَبِ

Waḥdhar waʾiyyāka min qawli al-jahūli anā, Waʾanta dūniya fī faḍlin wafī ḥasabi

Beware, and take care never to say like the ignorant: "I!... And you are beneath me in merit and lineage."

فَقَدْ تَأَخَّرَ أَقْوَامٌ وَمَا قَصَدُوانَيْلَ المَكَارِمِ وَاسْتَغْنَوْا بِكَانَ أَبِي

Faqad taʾakhkhara aqwāmun wamā qaṣadū, Nayla al-makārimi wastaghnaw bikāna abī

For many people have fallen behind who never sought noble deeds, content instead with "My father was...".

وَخَالِفِ النَّفْسَ وَاسْتَشْعِرْ عَدَاوَتَهَاوَارْفُضْ هَوَاهَا وَمَا تَخْتَارُهُ تُصِبِ

Wakhālifi an-nafsa wastashʿir ʿadāwatahā, Warfuḍ hawāhā wamā takhtāruhu tuṣibi

Oppose your ego and sense its enmity; reject its desires and what it chooses, and you will be right.

وَإِنْ دَعَتْكَ إِلَى حَظٍّ بِشَهْوَتِهَافَاشْرَحْ لَهَا غِبَّ مَا فِيهِ مِنَ التَّعَبِ

Waʾin daʿatka ilā ḥaẓẓin bishahwatihā, Fashraḥ lahā ghibba mā fīhi mina at-taʿabi

If it calls you to some pleasure through its lust, explain to it the toil that follows.

وَازْهَدْ بِقَلْبِكَ فِي الدَّارِ الَّتِي فَتَنَتْطَوَائِفاً فَرَأَوْهَا غَايَةَ الطَّلَبِ

Wazhad biqalbika fī ad-dāri al-latī fatanat, Ṭawāʾifan faraʾawhā ghāyata aṭ-ṭalabi

Renounce in your heart the abode that has beguiled whole groups, so that they saw it as the goal of all seeking.

تَنَافَسُوهَا وَأَعْطَوْهَا قَوَالِبَهُمْمَعَ القُلُوبِ فَيَا لَلّٰهِ مِنْ عَجَبِ

Tanāfasūhā waʾaʿṭawhā qawālibahum, Maʿa al-qulūbi fayā lillāhi min ʿajabi

They competed for it and gave it their bodies along with their hearts: how strange that is, by Allah!

وَهْيَ الَّتِي صَغُرَتْ قَدْراً وَمَا وَزَنَتْعِنْدَ الإِلَهِ جَنَاحاً فَالحَرِيصُ غَبِي

Wahya al-latī ṣaghurat qadran wamā wazanat, ʿinda al-ʾilahi janāḥan fa-al-ḥarīṣu ghabī

Yet it is small in worth, and does not weigh even a gnat's wing with Allah; so the greedy one is a fool.

وَخُذْ بَلَاغَكَ مِنْ دُنْيَاكَ وَاسْعَ بِهِسَعْيَ المُجِدِّ إِلَى مَوْلَاكَ وَاحْتَسِبِ

Wakhudh balāghaka min dunyāka wasʿa bihi, Saʿya al-mujiddi ilā mawlāka waḥtasibi

Take from your world what will suffice you, and strive with it as the earnest strive toward your Master, seeking His reward.

وَاعْلَمْ بِأَنَّ الَّذِي يَبْتَاعُ عَاجِلَهُبِآجِلٍ مِنْ نَعِيمٍ دَائِمٍ يَخِبِ

Waʿlam biʾanna al-ladhī yabtāʿu ʿājilahu, Biʾājilin min naʿīmin dāʾimin yakhibi

And know that whoever buys the fleeting present at the price of lasting bliss to come will surely lose.

وَإِنْ وَجَدْتَ فَوَاسِ المُعْوِزِينَ تَفِضْعَلَيْكَ مِنْ رَبِّكَ الأَرْزَاقُ فَاسْتَجِبِ

Waʾin wajadta fawāsi al-muʿwizīna tafiḍ, ʿalayka min rabbika al-ʾarzāqu fastajibi

If you have means, share with the needy, and provision will pour upon you from your Lord; so respond.

وَإِنْ بُلِيتَ بِفَقْرٍ فَارْضَ مُكْتَفِياًبِاللهِ رَبِّكَ وَارْجُ الفَضْلَ وَارْتَقِبِ

Waʾin bulīta bifaqrin farḍa muktafiyan, Billāhi rabbika warju al-faḍla wartaqibi

If you are tried with poverty, be content and sufficed with Allah your Lord; hope for His bounty and wait.

وَإِنْ تَجَرَّدْتَ فَاعْمَلْ بِاليَقِينِ وَبِالْعِلْمِ إِذَا كُنْتَ مَوْقُوفاً مَعَ السَّبَبِ

Waʾin tajarradta faʿmal bi-al-yaqīni wabi-al-, ʿilmi idhā kunta mawqūfan maʿa as-sababi

If you renounce all means, act on certainty, and act on knowledge if you remain bound to means.

وَاتْلُ القُرَانَ بِقَلْبٍ حَاضِرٍ وَجِلٍعَلَى الدَّوَامِ وَلَا تَذْهَلْ وَلَا تَغِبِ

Watlu al-qurāna biqalbin ḥāḍirin wajilin, ʿalā ad-dawāmi walā tadhhal walā taghibi

Recite the Qur'an with a present and fearful heart constantly, and do not be distracted or absent.

فَإِنَّ فِيهِ الهُدَى وَالعِلْمُ فِيهِ مَعاًوَالنُّورُ وَالفَتْحُ أَعْنِي الكَشْفَ لِلْحُجُبِ

Faʾinna fīhi al-hudā wa-al-ʿilmu fīhi maʿan, Wa-an-nūru wa-al-fatḥu aʿnī al-kashfa lilḥujubi

For in it is guidance, and knowledge too, and light and opening, I mean the lifting of the veils.

وَاذْكُرْ إِلَهَكَ ذِكْراً لَا تُفَارِقُهُفَإِنَّمَا الذِّكْرُ كَالسُّلْطَانِ فِي القُرَبِ

Wadhkur ilahaka dhikran lā tufāriquhu, Faʾinnamā adh-dhikru ka-as-sulṭāni fī al-qurabi

Remember your Lord with a remembrance you never abandon, for remembrance is like the sultan among acts of devotion.

وَقُمْ إِذَا هَجَعَ النُّوَّامُ مُجْتَهِداًوَكُلْ قَوَاماً وَلَا تَغْفُلْ عَنِ الأَدَبِ

Waqum idhā hajaʿa an-nuwwāmu mujtahidan, Wakul qawāman walā taghful ʿani al-ʾadabi

Rise when the sleepers slumber, striving, eat in moderation, and never neglect good manners.

وَالوَالِدَانِ لَهُمْ حَقٌّ يَقُومُ بِهِمَنْ يَتَّقِ اللهَ وَالمُدْلُونَ بِالنَّسَبِ

Wa-al-wālidāni lahum ḥaqqun yaqūmu bihi, Man yattaqi Allāha wa-al-mudlūna bi-an-nasabi

Parents have a right, fulfilled by whoever fears Allah, as do those with ties of kinship.

وَالجَارُ وَالصَّحْبُ لَا تَنْسَ حُقُوقَهُمُوَاخْتَرْ مُصَاحَبَةَ الأَخْيَارِ وَانْتَخِبِ

Wa-al-jāru wa-aṣ-ṣaḥbu lā tansa ḥuqūqahumu, Wakhtar muṣāḥabata al-ʾakhyāri wantakhibi

Do not forget the rights of neighbours and companions; choose the company of the good, and be selective.

وَخَالِقِ النَّاسَ بِالخُلْقِ الكَرِيمِ وَلَاتَعْتِبْ عَلَى أَحَدٍ مِنْهُمْ وَلَا تَعِبِ

Wakhāliqi an-nāsa bi-al-khulqi al-karīmi walā, Taʿtib ʿalā aḥadin minhum walā taʿibi

Treat people with noble character, and do not reproach any of them nor find fault with them.

وَانْصِفْ وَلَا تَنْتَصِفْ مِنْهُمْ وَنَاصِحْهُمْوَقُمْ عَلَيْهِمْ بِحَقِّ اللهِ وَانْتَدِبِ

Wanṣif walā tantaṣif minhum wanāṣiḥhum, Waqum ʿalayhim biḥaqqi Allāhi wantadibi

Be fair to them without demanding fairness; counsel them, uphold Allah's right among them, and be ready to serve.

وَاحْذَرْ مُصَاحَبَةَ الأَشْرَارِ وَالحُمَقَىوَالحَاسِدِينَ وَمَنْ يَلْوِي عَلَى الشَّغَبِ

Waḥdhar muṣāḥabata al-ʾashrāri wa-al-ḥumaqā, Wa-al-ḥāsidīna waman yalwī ʿalā ash-shaghabi

Beware the company of the wicked and the foolish, the envious, and those bent on discord.

وَحَالِفِ الصَّبْرَ وَاعْلَمْ أَنَّ أَوَّلَهُمُرٌّ وَآخِرَهُ كَالشَّهْدِ وَالضَّرَبِ

Waḥālifi aṣ-ṣabra waʿlam anna awwalahu, Murrun waʾākhirahu ka-ash-shahdi wa-aḍ-ḍarabi

Make patience your ally, and know that its beginning is bitter, and its end like honey and the finest honeycomb.

يَا رَبِّ إِنَّكَ مَقْصُودِي وَمُعْتَمَدِيوَمُرْتَجَايَ لِدُنْيَايَ وَمُنْقَلَبِي

Yā rabbi innaka maqṣūdī wamuʿtamadī, Wamurtajāya lidunyāya wamunqalabī

O Lord, You are my goal and my support, my hope for my world and for my final return.

فَاغْفِرْ وَسَامِحْ عُبَيْداً مَا لَهُ عَمَلٌبِالصَّالِحَاتِ وَقَدْ أَوْعَى مِنَ الحُوَبِ

Faghfir wasāmiḥ ʿubaydan mā lahu ʿamalun, Bi-aṣ-ṣāliḥāti waqad awʿā mina al-ḥuwabi

So forgive and pardon a lowly servant who has no righteous deeds, and who has amassed many sins.

لَكِنَّهُ تَائِبٌ مِمَّا جَنَاهُ وَقَدْأَتَاكَ مُعْتَرِفاً يَخْشَى مِنَ الغَضَبِ

Lakinnahu tāʾibun mimmā janāhu waqad, Atāka muʿtarifan yakhshā mina al-ghaḍabi

But he repents of what he has done, and has come to You confessing, fearing Your anger.

فَإِنْ عَفَوْتَ فَفَضْلٌ مِنْكَ يَا صَمَدُفَجُدْ عَلَيَّ إِلَهِي وَأَزِلْ رَهَبِي

Faʾin ʿafawta fafaḍlun minka yā ṣamadu, Fajud ʿalayya ilahī waʾazil rahabī

If You pardon, it is a favour from You, O Eternal Refuge; so be generous to me, my God, and remove my fear.

ثُمَّ الصَّلَاةُ عَلَى الهَادِي وَعِتْرَتِهِمُحَمَّدٍ مَا هَمَى وَدْقٌ مِنَ السُّحُبِ

Thumma aṣ-ṣalātu ʿalā al-hādī waʿitratihi, Muḥammadin mā hamā wadqun mina as-suḥubi

Then blessings be upon the guide and his family, Muhammad, as long as rain pours down from the clouds,

وَمَا تَرَنَّمَتِ الوَرْقَا عَلَى فَنَنٍوَمَا تَمَايَلَتِ الأَغْصَانُ فِي الكُثُبِ

Wamā tarannamati al-warqā ʿalā fananin, Wamā tamāyalati al-ʾaghṣānu fī al-kuthubi

As long as the grey dove sings upon a branch, and the boughs sway upon the dunes.