ما زلتُ في الدنيا من الهَمِّ

ما زلتُ في الدنيا من الهَمِّ

طولَ زماني وافِرَ القسمِ

طولَ زماني وافِرَ القسمِ

In this world, I have always had of sorrow

I still suffer much woe in this life,

throughout my life, an ample share.

For long has my time been apportioned.

فالحمدُ للَه الذي حُكمُهُ

فالحمدُ للَه الذي حُكمُهُ

حَيَّرَ في أفقٍ السَّما نَجمي

حَيَّرَ في أفقٍ السَّما نَجمي

So praise be to God, whose decree

So praise be to Allah whose rule

has bewildered my star on the sky’s horizon.

Has confounded the stars in my sky.

أصبَحتُ لحَّاماً وفي البيت لا

أصبَحتُ لحَّاماً وفي البيت لا

أعرِفُ ما رائحة اللَّحمِ

أعرِفُ ما رائحة اللَّحمِ

I have become a butcher, yet at home I do not

I've become a butcher, yet at home

know what meat smells like.

I know not the smell of meat.

وليس حظي منه إلا اسمُهُ

وليس حظي منه إلا اسمُهُ

قَنِعتُ من ذلك بالإِسمِ

قَنِعتُ من ذلك بالإِسمِ

And my only share of it is its name;

My portion of it is but the name,

I have contented myself with that name.

With that name I'm content.

واعتَضتُ من فَقري ومن فاقَني

واعتَضتُ من فَقري ومن فاقَني

عن التذاذ الطَّعمِ بالشَّمِّ

عن التذاذ الطَّعمِ بالشَّمِّ

And because of my poverty and whoever surpassed me, I exchanged

Want has denied me the finest tastes -

the pleasure of tasting for smelling.

I know them but by their scent.

جَهِلتُهُ فَقراً فكنتُ الذي

جَهِلتُهُ فَقراً فكنتُ الذي

أضلَّه اللَه على عِلمِ

أضلَّه اللَه على عِلمِ

Through poverty I knew it not, and so I was the one

In my ignorance I was made poor,

whom God led astray with full knowledge.

So God led me astray in His wisdom.