ألا إنما الدنيا كجيفةِ مَيْتةٍ

ألا إنما الدنيا كجيفةِ مَيْتةٍ

وطُلّابها مثل الكلاب النواهِسِ

وطُلّابها مثل الكلاب النواهِسِ

Behold, the world is but like a dead carcass,

Behold, this world is but a carcass dead,

and its seekers are like flesh-tearing dogs.

And those who seek it are naught but dogs that chase,

وأعظمهمْ ذمّاً لها وأشدُّهم

وأعظمهمْ ذمّاً لها وأشدُّهم

بها شعفاً قوم طوالُ القلانِسِ

بها شعفاً قوم طوالُ القلانِسِ

And those among them who condemn it most and are most

Of all who scorn it most and hold it vile,

infatuated with it are men wearing tall caps.

None's scorn approaches his who wears its veil.