أُوَصّي بَنِيَّ وَأَعمامَهُم

أُوَصّي بَنِيَّ وَأَعمامَهُم

بِأَنَّ المَنايا لَهُم راصِدَه

بِأَنَّ المَنايا لَهُم راصِدَه

I counsel my sons and their paternal uncles

I advise my sons and their uncles

that death lies in wait for them.

That death lies in wait for them

لَها مُدَّةٌ فَنُفوسُ العِبادِ

لَها مُدَّةٌ فَنُفوسُ العِبادِ

إِلَيها وَإِن جَهَدوا قاصِدَه

إِلَيها وَإِن جَهَدوا قاصِدَه

It has an appointed term; so the souls of mortals

It has a set duration, and people's souls

are bound for it, however hard they strive.

Head towards it, even if they strive against it

فَوَاللَهِ إِن عِشتُ ما سَرَّني

فَوَاللَهِ إِن عِشتُ ما سَرَّني

وَإِن مِتُّ ما كانَتِ العائِدَه

وَإِن مِتُّ ما كانَتِ العائِدَه

So, by God, if I live, it will not gladden me;

By God, if I live, it does not please me

and if I die, what gain would there be?

And if I die, there is no return