Poem – The Laamiyah

Of Imaam Ibn Al-Wardi

The original transcript was extracted from a video online along with
additional corrections to the translations by the brother Abu Fajr
AbdulFattaah Bin Uthman based upon word definitions taken
from the available explanations of the poem.
Compiled by Abu Layth, Aashir Khan TorontoDawah.com
Imam Ibn Al-Wardi, a great poet and historian, said this beautiful poem to his son in times of
fitnah and while the Muslims were deceived by the Dunya. He wrote this Laamiyah where every
line ends with the letter “Laam”. The poem is full of gems and wisdom for anyone with a mind.

‫وجانب َم ْـن َه َزْل‬ ‫ص َل‬ ِ ِ

ْ ْ ‫الغ َزْل * * * وُقل الَف‬
َ ‫كر األغاني و‬
َ ‫اعتزل ذ‬
1 - Abandon music and flirtation (with women) *** And speak with words of honour and avoid
those who are known for repugnant jokes

‫ـجم أَف ْـل‬ ِ ِ ِ

ٌ ‫ود ِع الـذك َـر أليـا ِم الصبا * * * فـأليـا ِم الصبـا َن‬
َ
2 - Forget the past days of youth *** For the days of your youth are like a star long gone

َّ ‫ـبت‬
‫لذاتُهـا واإل ْث ُـم َحـل‬ ٍ
ْ ‫إن أهنا عيـشة قـضيتُهـا * * * ذه‬
ْ
3 - The sweetest days I’ve ever had *** Their enjoyment has ended yet the sins were recorded

‫س فـي ِع ٍز رفي ٍع وتُ َجل‬

ِ ‫تحفل بها * * * تُ ْـم‬
ْ ‫الغاد َة ال‬ ِ
َ ‫وات ُـرك‬
4 - Abandon the girl, do not carry on with her *** And you will be honoured, raised and exalted

‫تجد أمـ اًر َجَل ْل‬

ْ ُ‫ـت تـهواه‬ ِ ‫افتكر في منتهى ُح‬
َ ‫سن الذي* * * أن‬ ْ ‫و‬
5 - Reflect on the thing you are attached to *** You will see in it many flaws

ٍ ‫كيف يسعى في ُج‬

‫نون َم ْن َعَق ْل‬ َ * * * ‫فتى‬ ‫اهج ِر الخمرة إن كنت‬
ُ ‫و‬
ً َ ْ َ
6 - Abandon any intoxicants, especially if you are young *** How quickly does it make someone
lose his mind?!

‫ص ْل‬ ٍ ِ َّ‫وات‬
* * * ‫ـق هللاَ فتـقوى هللا مـا‬
َ ‫قلب امريء إال َو‬
َ ‫جاورت‬
ْ
7 - And fear Allaah for the fear of Allaah does not *** Reach the heart of a person except it
connects (to Allaah)
 ‫ط ْـل‬ َ ‫طرقاً َبطالً * * * إنـما م ْـن يـتَّقي هللا‬
َ ‫الب‬ ُ ‫يقطع‬
ُ ‫ليس م ْـن‬
َ
8 - The hero is not the one who could be a highway robber *** Rather the real hero is the one
who is God conscious of Allaah

‫حل‬ ٍ ِ
َّ ‫صد ِق‬
ْ ‫تركن إلى * * * رجـل يـرصد في الليل ُز‬
ْ ‫ع وال‬
َ ‫الشر‬
9 - Obey the Shari’ah (of Allaah) and do not incline towards *** A man who looks at the
celestial bodies at night (for soothsaying)

‫وج ْل‬ َّ ‫سبلنا‬ ِ ِ

َ ‫عز‬ ْ ‫األفكار في حكمة َم ْن * * * قـد هـدانـا‬
ُ ‫حارت‬

10 - The mind has become lost in contemplating in the wisdom of the one *** Who guided us to
our path, Exalted and Might He

ٍ
‫جيش وأفنى من ُد َو ْل‬ ‫فكم * * * َف َّـل من‬ ِ ‫الخ‬
ْ ‫لق‬ َ ‫تب الموت على‬
َ ‫ُك‬
11 - Death has been written upon the creation, so how many *** Armies and nations have
passed?

‫وع َـزْل‬ َّ
َ ‫األرض وولـى‬
َ ‫ومن * * * َمَل َك‬
ْ ‫وكنعان‬
ُ ‫ـرود‬
ُ ‫أي َـن ُنم‬
12 - Where is Nimrod and his father Kanaan and those *** Who ruled the Earth and did what
they pleased?

‫يسمع َي َخ ْل‬
ْ ‫عون ومن * * * رف َـع األهر َام مـن‬
ُ ‫عاد أين فر‬
ٌ ‫أيـن‬
13 - Where is Aad and where is Pharoah, and those *** Who built the pyramids? He who listens
will take heed

ِ ُ‫الكل ولـم ت‬
‫ـغن الُقَل ْل‬ ُّ ‫وب َنوا * * * َهـَل َك‬
َ ‫أين من سادوا وشادوا‬
َ
14 - Where are those who dominated and built (huge palaces)? *** All of them were destroyed
and nothing of theirs benefitted them
 ‫األو ْل‬
َ ‫القوم‬ ُّ ُ ‫باب ال ِح َجى‬
ُ ‫أهل النهى * * * أي َـن أه ُـل العل ِم و‬ ُ ‫أين أر‬
َ
15 - Where are the heads of states, the people who called the shots? * Where are the scholars,
and the first generations?

‫وسيـجزي فـاعالً ما قد َف َع ْل‬

َ * * * ‫ـهم‬
ُ ‫سيـعي ُـد هللا كـالً من‬
ُ
16 - Allaah will return all of them *** And will reward the doer of what he did

‫لل‬ ِ َّ ‫معت ِحكمـاً * * * ُخ‬

ْ ‫خير الم‬
ُ ‫ص ْت بهـا‬ ْ ‫اسمع وصايا َج‬
ْ ‫ني‬
َّ ‫إي ُب‬
ْ
17 - Oh my dear son, listen to this advice gathered, wisdom * Which is specifically based upon
the best religion

َ ‫الخير على أه ِـل‬

‫الك َس ْل‬ ‫تكس ْل فمـا * * * أبع َـد‬ ِ
َ َ ‫اطلب الع َلم وال‬
ُ
18 - Seek knowledge and do not be lazy * For the people of laziness are furthest from good

‫ـحقر ما َب َذ ْل‬ ِ ِ َّ ِ
ْ ‫المطلوب ي‬
َ ‫يعرف‬ * * * ‫فمن‬
ْ ‫له‬ُ ‫وم وحص‬
َ ‫واهـجر الن‬
19 - Abandon much sleep and attain beneficial knowledge for he who * Knows what he is
seeking he will consider degrading what he is sacrificing

‫وصل‬ ِ ‫الد‬
‫رب‬ َّ ‫سار على‬
ْ َ ‫كل من‬
ُّ * * * ‫باب ُه‬
ُ ‫ذهبت أر‬
ْ ‫ـقل قـد‬
ْ ‫ال ت‬
20 - Do not say the people of knowledge are gone * For whoever treads the path will reach his
target

‫ـالح العم ْـل‬ ِ

ِ ‫ازدياد العل ِم إرغام‬
ُ ‫وجمال العل ِم إص‬
ُ * * * ‫العدى‬ ُ ‫في‬

21- In increasing of knowledge is that which defeats the enemies in rage *** And the beauty of
knowledge is in the rectification of action

‫اختبل‬ ِ ‫بالن‬
‫طق‬ ُّ ‫اب‬ ِ ‫ج ِم ِل الم‬
َّ ‫نط َق‬
ْ َ ‫ـحرِم اإلعر‬
َ ‫ـمن * * * ُي‬
ْ ‫بالنحو ف‬ َ َ
22 - Beautify your oral speech with Nahw (Arabic grammar) for who *** has been deprived of it
will fall short in understanding

َّ ‫الشعر والزم مذهبي * * * فـي‬

َّ ‫اط ار ِح الرَّفد ال تب ِغ‬
‫الن َح ْل‬ ِ ‫ظ ِم‬
ُ ‫انـ‬
ْ َ
23 - Write poetry and stick to my way in doing so *** Without desiring something of the worldly
life in return

‫ـذل‬ ِ
ْ ‫الشعر إذا لـم ُيـبت‬
َ ‫أحسن‬
َ * * *‫الفضل وما‬ ‫ان على‬
ٌ ‫فهو عنو‬
َ
24 - For it is a sign of virtue, and how *** Amazing is the affair of poetry if is not abused?

ِ ِ
ْ َّ‫يبق سوى* * * مقرف أو من على األصل ات‬
‫كل‬ َ ‫أهل الفضل لم‬
ُ ‫مات‬
َ
25 - The noble people are passing away and no one is there to replace them except * Repulsive
ones or those who rely merely on their lineage

‫بل‬
ْ ‫تلك الُق‬
َ ‫أجمل مـن‬
ُ ْ ‫ـقبيل ٍيد * * * َقـ‬
‫ط ُعها‬ َ ‫ـتار ت‬
ُ ‫أنـا ال أخ‬
26 - I don’t see the act of kissing a hand *** Of those handsm, that cutting them off is more
beautiful than being kissed

‫ـج ْل‬ َ ‫صرت في* * * رِقها أو ال فيكفيني‬

َ ‫الخ‬ ُ ‫إن َجزتني عن مديحي‬

27 - If you fulfill my need, I become a slave to it *** And if not I become overwhelmed with
embarrassment

ِ ‫األلفاظ َقولي لك خ ْذ * * * وأم ُّـر‬

‫اللفظ ُنطـقي ِبَل َع ْـل‬ ِ ‫ـذب‬
َ ُ َ ُ ‫أع‬
28 - The sweetest word I can say to you is “Take” *** And the worst word is me saying
“Perhaps”

‫شل‬
ْ ‫بالو‬
َ ‫اء‬ ِ
ٌ ‫البحر اجتز‬ ‫عنه تُغني ِكسرةٌ * * * وع ِـن‬
ُ ‫لك كسرى‬
ُ ‫ُم‬
 29 - A loaf of bread could suffice one from having the kingdom of Ceaser *** While a gulp of
spring water could suffice from having the ocean

)‫ـزل‬
ْ ‫ـلقه حقاً (وبالحـق ن‬
ُ ‫اعـتبر (نحن قسمنا بينهم) * * * ت‬
30 - Take heed, we have given each their share of sustenance *** You will surely come across it
and in truth it has come

‫بالكسل‬
ْ َ ‫ليس ما يحوي الفتى من عزمه * * * ال وال ما‬
ً‫فات يومـا‬

31 - No man could capture what he desires through his determination *** Nor could he capture
what he missed due to laziness

‫ض العالي وتُعلي َم ْن َسَف ْل‬ ِ

ْ ُ ‫فمن عاداتها* * * تخف‬
ْ ‫اطـرِح الدنيا‬
32 - Abandon the world (from your heart) from its deception *** It puts down the highly ones
and raises the lowly ones

‫أقل‬ ِ ِ ِ ‫عيشةُ الر‬

ْ ‫َّاغب في تحصيلها * * * عيشـةُ الجاهـل فيهـا أو‬
33 - The livelihood of the hard worker in it may be like *** The ignorant’s livelihood or even
less

‫بات منهـا فـي ِعَل ْل‬

َ ‫بات فيها ُمكث اًر * * * وعليـ ٍم‬ ٍ ‫َكـم ج‬
َ ‫هول‬ َ ْ
34- How many of the ignorant ones are full of riches *** And how of those who are learnt have
been stricken with poverty?

‫األمل‬ ِ
‫غايات‬ ‫ـال‬ ٍ ‫ينل فيها المنى * * * وجب‬
ْ َ ‫ـان ن‬ ْ ‫كم شجا ٍع لم‬
ْ
35 - How many bravehearts got none of its delights *** And the cowards got the highest of
positions?

ِ ‫ـرك الحيل َة فيها واتَّ ِكل * * * إنـما الحيل ُة فـي‬

ِ ‫ترك‬
‫الحَي ْل‬ ِ ‫فات‬
ْ
 36 - So stop with your schemes and have trust (in Allaah) *** Indeed the real scheme is when
you abandon trickery entirety

َّ ‫تنل منها المنى * * * فرمـاهـا هللا من ُـه ب‬

‫ـالشَل ْل‬ ٍ ُّ
ُ ُ ْ ‫أي كف ْلم‬
37 - The hand which didn't attain its goals in it *** Allaah will strike it with a disaster

‫ص ْل‬
َ ‫أصل الَفتى ما قـد َح‬
ُ * * *‫تقل أصلي وَفصلي أبداً إنما‬
ْ ‫ال‬
38 - Do not ever say my lineage or my forefathers for verily *** Your virtue lies in what you do

َّ ‫الس ْب ِك ْقد ُينَقى‬

‫الدغ ْل‬ َّ ‫ِحسن‬ ٍ ‫دون‬
ِ ‫أب * * * وب‬ ِ ‫يسود المرء من‬
ُ ‫ْقد‬
ُ
39 - Surely a person can prevail without having an upright lineage *** And with a good
upbringing defeats this defect

‫ص ْل‬ ِ ‫الش‬
َّ ‫وك وما * * * َين ُـب ُت‬ َّ ‫من‬
َ ‫جس إال من َب‬
ُ ‫النر‬ َ ‫الورد‬
ُ ‫إنـما‬
40 - Indeed roses come from thorns and what *** Does the Narcissus (flower) come from except
onions?

ْ َّ‫ـير أني أحم ُـد هللاَ على* * * نسبـي إذ بـأبي بك ِر ات‬

‫صل‬ َ‫غ‬
41 - I praise Allaah for an honourable lineage *** That goes back to Abu Bakr (As-Sideeq)

‫ـان من ُـه ْأم أَق ْل‬

ُ ‫حسن ُه * * * أكث َـر اإلنس‬ ِ
ُ ‫اإلنسان مـا ُي‬ ُ‫قيمـة‬

42 - The weight of a person is by what he is good at *** Whether he increases of it or decreases

‫ط ْل‬
َ ‫الفْل َس وحاسب من َب‬
َ ‫اكسب‬ ِ ‫أُكـت ِم األمر‬
َ ‫ين فق اًر وغنى * * * و‬
43 - Conceal two matters: poverty and richness *** And earn money and take the strong one to
account

‫ـخَل ْل‬
َ ‫صحب َة الحمقى وأربـاب ال‬ ْ ‫و َّادرع جداً وكداً و‬
ُ * * * ‫اجتنب‬
 44 - Be a serious and diligent person. And avoid *** Foolish, unintelligent companions

ٍ ‫ـذير وب‬
ْ ‫خل ُرتب ٌة * * * و ِكـال هـذي ِـن‬
‫إن زَاد َقتَ ْـل‬ ُ ٍ ‫ـين تب‬
َ ‫ب‬
45 - Between extravagance and miserliness is a rank *** Balance between them both; if you
increase in one, you are destroyed

ِ ‫ضوا * * * إنـهم ليسوا ب‬

َّ ‫ـأهل‬
‫للزَل ْل‬ َ ‫ض في حـق سادات َم‬
ْ ‫تخ‬
ُ ‫ال‬
46 - Do not fall short in the rights of the masters of the past (Salaf) *** Indeed they are not
people of flaws

ِ
‫بالحمد إال من َغَف ْل‬ ٍ ‫وتغاضى عـن‬
‫أمور إنـه لـم* * * يـُف ْز‬

47 - And overlook certain affairs no one *** Attains praise except those who overlook [the
shortcomings]

‫الجب ْل‬ ِ ‫العزل َة في ر‬ ٍ ‫ليس يخلو المرء ِمن‬

َ ‫اس‬ ُ ‫حاول‬
َ * * *‫ضد وَلو‬ ْ ُ َ
48 - No person can hide from opposition, even if *** He tried to seclude himself in the top of the
mountain

‫ـكروه إال مـن َنَق ْـل‬ ِ

َ ‫ازج ُرهُ فما * * * بل َغ الم‬
ُ ‫الن َّما ِم و‬
َ ‫م ْل عن‬
49 - Avoid the tale carrier and block him for whoever *** No one who really harms except the
one who conveyed the vile speech

ُّ ‫تجد صب اًر فما أحلى‬

‫النَق ْل‬ ْ ‫إن * * * ل ْـم‬ ِ ‫بالص‬
ْ ‫بر و‬ ِ ‫الس‬
َّ ‫وء‬ ُّ ‫جار‬ ِ
َ ‫دار‬
50 - Be patient with your bad neighour and if *** You cannot find patience, then how sweet is it
to just move away

‫ـال َف َع ْل‬ ِ ِ
ُّ ‫جان ِب‬
َ ‫بطش ُه * * * ال تُـعـان ْد َم ْن إذا ق‬
َ ‫احذر‬
ْ ‫لطان و‬
َ ‫الس‬
51 - Avoid the ruler and beware of his assault *** Do not be stubborn with he who could carry
out what he says

‫وخالف َم ْن َع َذ ْل‬ ‫فيك‬

َ ‫إن ُه ْم سألوا* * * رغـب ًة‬
ْ ‫ـام‬ ِ
ْ َ ‫ال َتل األحك‬
52 - Do not become a (Qadhi) judge if they ask you in desire for you *** And oppose those who
criticize

‫األحكام هذا إن َع َد ْل‬ ‫لمن * * * ولـي‬

ْ ‫أعداء‬ ِ
‫الناس‬ ‫نصف‬
َ َّ
‫إن‬
َ َ ٌ
53 - For indeed half of the people will be an enemy to *** The judge, even if he is just

‫لذات ِـه* * * و ِكال كفيه فـي الحشر تُ َغ ْل‬

َّ ‫كالمحبوس عن‬
ِ ‫فهو‬

54 - So he is like the prisoner *** With his two hands tied in the court

ِ ‫االستثقال فـي‬
‫لفظة * * * القاضي َلَوعظا أو َمَث ْل‬ ِ ِ
‫للنقص و‬ َّ
‫إن‬

55 - Furthermore, the root word of *** Qadi is itself a threat and example

‫انعزل‬
ْ ‫الشخص‬
ُ ‫الشخص إذا‬
ُ ُ ُ‫ال تُوازى لذة‬
‫الحك ِم بـما * * * ذا َق ُه‬

56 - The sweetness of being a judge is not *** Equivalent to when a person isolates himself

‫الع َس ْل‬
َ ‫ذاك‬
َ ‫فالس ُّم فـي‬
ُّ ‫لمن * * * ذا َقـها‬
ْ ‫طابت‬
ْ ‫اليات وإن‬
ُ ‫فالو‬
57 - It seems sweet on the outside *** But the reality is there is poison in that honey

‫فل‬ َّ ‫المنص ِب أوهـى َجَلدي* * * وعنائـي من ُمدارِاة‬

ْ ‫الس‬
ِ ‫ص ُب‬
َ ‫َن‬
58 - The exhaustion of this position has weakened my strength *** And my bearing of what
comes from the lowly ones

ِ ِ
‫األمل‬
ْ ‫تقصير‬
ُ ‫العقل‬ َ ‫َقص ِر اآلم‬
‫ـال فـي الدنيا ُتف ْز * * * فدلي ُـل‬
 59 - Reduce your dreams of this life and you will succeed *** For the proof of intellect is
reducing one's dreams of this world

ِ
‫بالو َج ْـل‬ ٌ ‫ـوت على * * * غ َّـرٍة منـه‬
َ ‫جدير‬ ُ ‫ـلبه الم‬
ُ ‫من يط‬
ْ ‫إن‬
60 - For whoever knows that death is awaiting to come to him *** Suddenly should always be on
guard

‫المَل ْل‬ ِ َ‫وزْر ِغَّبا‬

َ َّ‫تزْد ُحَّباً فم ْـن * * * أكث َـر الت‬
َ ُ‫رداد أقـصاه‬ ُ ‫ِغ ْب‬
61 - Visit (friends, family) time after time *** For visiting often causes boredom

َّ ‫يضر الشمس إطباق‬

‫الطَف ْل‬ ُّ ‫إقالل كما * * * ال‬ ‫الفضل‬ ‫ال يض ُّـر‬
ُ َ ٌ َ
62 - A decrease does not harm being generous similarly *** How the sun is not harmed by it
losing its light when setting

ِ ِ َّ ‫بنصل‬
ِ
ُ ‫دون‬
‫الحُل ْل‬ َ ‫فضل الفتى‬
َ ‫اعتبر‬
ْ ‫اترك غمدهُ* * * و‬
ْ ‫السيف و‬ ‫ُخ ْذ‬

63 - Hold the blade of your sword and do not unsheathe it *** And see the virtues of others
without judging the outer appearances (don’t judge a book by its cover)

ِ
‫األهل َب َد ْل‬ ‫تلق عن‬
َ ‫ـاغترب‬
ْ ‫ظاهر * * * ف‬
ٌ ‫األوطان عج ٌـز‬
َ ‫ُحب َك‬

64 - Love of your homeland is a clear weakness *** So emigrate and you will find a replacement
for your family

‫عل‬
ْ ‫للج‬ ٍ ‫ـورد‬
ِ ‫ـب ال‬
ُ ‫مؤذ‬ َ ‫العائب قـولي عبثاً * * * إن طي‬
ُ ‫ُّأيـها‬

65 - Oh you who take my words in vain and find fault in it *** Indeed the fine roses are harmed
only when crumbed up

ِ ‫ع ِد عن أسه ِم قولي و‬
َّ ‫استت ْر * * * ال ُيصي‬
‫ـبن َك سه ٌـم مـن ثُ َع ْل‬ ُ َ
 66 - Receive the arrow of my words and shield yourself *** For the arrow will not strike the
good archer

‫ـزل‬ ِ َّ ‫إن‬ َّ * * * ‫لين مـن فتى‬ َّ‫ال يـغر‬

ْ ‫للحيـات لينـاً ُيـعت‬ ً ٌ ‫َّن َك‬
67 - Don’t be fooled by the kindness of a young man *** Indeed the snakes are soft yet avoided

ِ ‫أنا مثـل‬
ِ ‫الماء سهل سائ ٌغ * * * ومتـى أ‬
‫ُسخ َـن آذى وَقتَ ْـل‬ ٌ ُ
68 - I am like fresh water *** But when overheated, I will harm and kill

‫انفت ْل‬
َ ‫شئت‬َ ‫كيف ما‬
َ ‫لدن‬
ٌ ‫كسرهُ * * * وهو‬
ُّ ‫صعب‬
ٌ ‫أنا كالخيزور‬

69 - I am like the bamboo stick, difficult to break *** Yet it is flexible, easy to twist

ٍ ‫يكن * * * فيه ذا‬

‫مال هو الموَلى األجل‬ ٍ ‫غير أني في‬
ْ ‫زمان َم ْن‬ َ
70 - However I'm in an era, whoever *** Has money, he is the noble master

ِ
‫ستقل‬
ْ ‫فيهم ُي‬ ُ ‫اجب عند الورى إكر‬
ْ ‫ام ُه* * * وقلي ُـل المـال‬ ٌ ‫و‬
71 - It is a must to see his virtue *** And those with little wealth are seen as below them

‫الج َمل‬ ِ ِ ‫كل‬

ُ ‫تفاصيل‬
َ ‫ فاترك‬،‫غمر وأنا * * * منه ُـم‬
ٌ ‫العصر‬ ‫أهل‬ ُّ

72 - Everyone in this time is immersed (in this world), and I *** Am from them, so abandon
looking at people’s faults

‫الشمس نهـا اًر وأف ْـل‬

ُ َ * * * ‫وصـالةُ هللاِ ربـي ُكلما‬
‫طَل َـع‬

73 - And may the peace/blessings of my Lord every time *** The sun rises and sets

‫األو ْل‬
َ ‫ـاد‬ ِ
َ ‫المختار من س‬ ‫أحمد‬
َ * * * ‫العلى من هاش ٍم‬
ُ ‫حاز‬
َ ‫للذي‬
74 - Be upon the possessor of loftiness from Hashim (tribe) *** Ahmad the chosen one, the one
who reigns supreme
 ‫ط ْـل‬
َ ‫عاجز إال َب‬ ‫ـهم‬ ٍ ٍ ٍ
ٌ ْ ‫ليس في‬
َ * * * ‫وعلى آل وصحب سـادة‬
75 - And on his family, foremost companions *** They have no defect except in being heroes