بَنى مَعنٌ وَيَهدِمُهُ يَزيدُ

بَنى مَعنٌ وَيَهدِمُهُ يَزيدُ

كَذاكَ اللَهُ يَفعَلُ ما يُريدُ

كَذاكَ اللَهُ يَفعَلُ ما يُريدُ

Ma'n built, and Yazid tears it down.

Ma'an builds and Yazid demolishes

Thus God does what He wills.

Thus does Allah do what He wills

فَمَعنٌ كانَ لِلحُسّادِ غَمّاً

فَمَعنٌ كانَ لِلحُسّادِ غَمّاً

وَهَذا قَد يُسَرُّ بِهِ الحَسودُ

وَهَذا قَد يُسَرُّ بِهِ الحَسودُ

For Ma'n was a source of grief to the envious.

Ma'an was a sorrow for the envious

And this one may delight the envious.

And this may bring joy to the envious

يَزيدُ يَزيدُ في مَنعٍ وَبُخلٍ

يَزيدُ يَزيدُ في مَنعٍ وَبُخلٍ

وَيَنقُصُ في النَوالِ وَلا يَزيدُ

وَيَنقُصُ في النَوالِ وَلا يَزيدُ

Yazid increases in withholding and stinginess,

Yazid increases in stinginess and miserliness

And decreases in generosity, and does not increase.

And decreases in generosity, never increasing