يا قطرةَ بحرِ أمرِه الفياضِ

يا قطرةَ بحرِ أمرِه الفياضِ

قس حالك ذا على زمان ماضي

قس حالك ذا على زمان ماضي

O drop of the ocean of His overflowing command,

O drop of the sea of His overflowing command,

Compare this state of yours with a time gone by.

Compare this state of yours with a time gone by.

والروض سوى النسيم فافهم حكمي

والروض سوى النسيم فافهم حكمي

والبرق كما ترى سوى الإيماضِ

والبرق كما ترى سوى الإيماضِ

The garden is distinct from the breeze—grasp my judgment;

And the garden is distinct from the breeze, so understand my judgment;

and lightning, as you see, is distinct from the flash.

And lightning, as you see, is distinct from flashing.