لِعَظيمٍ مِنَ الأُمورِ خُلِقنا

لِعَظيمٍ مِنَ الأُمورِ خُلِقنا

غَيرَ أَنّا مَعَ الشَقاءِ نِيامُ

غَيرَ أَنّا مَعَ الشَقاءِ نِيامُ

We were created for a momentous purpose,

We were created for a grand purpose

yet amid misery we lie asleep.

Yet we sleep in misery

كُلَّ يَومٍ يَحُطُّ آجالَنا الدَه

كُلَّ يَومٍ يَحُطُّ آجالَنا الدَه

رُ وَيَدنو إِلى النُفوسِ الحِمامُ

رُ وَيَدنو إِلى النُفوسِ الحِمامُ

Each day our allotted lifespans are shortened by

Each day the inevitable draws nearer

time, and death draws near to souls.

And death creeps closer to our souls

لا نُبالي وَلا نَراهُ غَراماً

لا نُبالي وَلا نَراهُ غَراماً

ذا لَعَمري لَوِ اِتَّعَظنا الغَرامُ

ذا لَعَمري لَوِ اِتَّعَظنا الغَرامُ

We care not, nor do we see it as ruin.

We care not, nor see it as distressing

This, by my life, is ruin—if we would take heed.

If only we had learned from distress

مَن رَجَونا لَدَيهِ دُنيا وَصَلنا

مَن رَجَونا لَدَيهِ دُنيا وَصَلنا

هُ وَقُلنا لَهُ عَلَيكَ السَلامُ

هُ وَقُلنا لَهُ عَلَيكَ السَلامُ

Whoever we hope to gain worldly goods from, we visit

We hoped in him for worldly gain

him and say to him, 'Peace be upon you.'

And said to him "peace be upon you"

ما نُبالي أَمِن حَلالٍ جَمَعنا

ما نُبالي أَمِن حَلالٍ جَمَعنا

أَم حَرامٍ وَلا يَحِلُّ الحَرامُ

أَم حَرامٍ وَلا يَحِلُّ الحَرامُ

We care not whether we gathered it lawfully

We care not if we gathered it lawfully

or unlawfully—and the unlawful is not permitted.

Or unlawfully, for the unlawful is not made lawful

هَمُّنا اللَهوُ وَالتَكاثُرُ في الما

هَمُّنا اللَهوُ وَالتَكاثُرُ في الما

لِ وَهَذا البِناءُ وَالخُدّامُ

لِ وَهَذا البِناءُ وَالخُدّامُ

Our concern is amusement and outdoing one another in

Our concern is frivolity and multiplying wealth

wealth, and this building and the servants.

And this building and servants

كَيفَ نَبتاعُ فانِيَ العَيشِ بِالدا

كَيفَ نَبتاعُ فانِيَ العَيشِ بِالدا

ئِمِ أَينَ العُقولُ وَالرَحلامُ

ئِمِ أَينَ العُقولُ وَالرَحلامُ

How can we buy fleeting life with

How can we buy the fleeting life with lasting

everlasting life? Where are reason and sound judgment?

Where is reason and inspiration?

لَو جَهِلنا فَنائَها وَقَعَ العُذ

لَو جَهِلنا فَنائَها وَقَعَ العُذ

رُ وَلَكِنَّ كُلَّنا عَلّامُ

رُ وَلَكِنَّ كُلَّنا عَلّامُ

If we were ignorant of its passing, there would be an

Had we been ignorant, it would be an excuse

excuse; yet we all know full well.

But we are all knowing