عَزاءً فَلَم يَخلُد حُوَيٌّ وَلا عَمرُو

عَزاءً فَلَم يَخلُد حُوَيٌّ وَلا عَمرُو

وَهَل أَحَدٌ يَبقى وَإِن بُسِطَ العُمرُ

وَهَل أَحَدٌ يَبقى وَإِن بُسِطَ العُمرُ

Take solace, for neither Huwayy nor ʿAmr lived forever.

Neither Huwai nor Amr attained immortality,

And does anyone live on, even if his lifespan is prolonged?

And does anyone last, however long their life?

سَيَأكُلُنا الدَهرُ الَّذي غالَ مَن نَرى

سَيَأكُلُنا الدَهرُ الَّذي غالَ مَن نَرى

وَلا تَنقَضي الأَشياءُ أَو يُؤكَلَ الدَهرُ

وَلا تَنقَضي الأَشياءُ أَو يُؤكَلَ الدَهرُ

Time, which has slain those we see, will devour us.

Time will consume us all, and those we see,

And things will not come to an end until Time is devoured.

Yet things do not cease, nor can time itself be consumed.

وَأَكثَرُ حالاتِ اِبنِ آدَمَ خِلقَةٌ

وَأَكثَرُ حالاتِ اِبنِ آدَمَ خِلقَةٌ

يَضِلُّ إِذا فَكَّرتَ في كُنهِها الفِكرُ

يَضِلُّ إِذا فَكَّرتَ في كُنهِها الفِكرُ

And most of the states of Adam's son are of such a nature

Most states of man are a nature

That thought loses its way when you ponder its essence.

That goes astray when thought reflects upon its essence.

فَيَفرَحُ بِالشَيءِ المُعارِ بَقاؤُهُ

فَيَفرَحُ بِالشَيءِ المُعارِ بَقاؤُهُ

وَيَحزَنُ لَمّا صارَ وَهوَ لَهُ ذُخرُ

وَيَحزَنُ لَمّا صارَ وَهوَ لَهُ ذُخرُ

So he rejoices in a thing whose continuance is on loan,

So he rejoices at what is lent a little while,

And he grieves when it is gone, though it is a treasure stored for him.

And grieves for what becomes his own possession.

عَلَيكَ بِثَوبِ الصَبرِ إِذ فيهِ مَلبَسٌ

عَلَيكَ بِثَوبِ الصَبرِ إِذ فيهِ مَلبَسٌ

فَإِنَّ اِبنَكَ المَحمودَ بَعدَ اِبنِكَ الصَبرُ

فَإِنَّ اِبنَكَ المَحمودَ بَعدَ اِبنِكَ الصَبرُ

Hold fast to the robe of patience, for it offers a covering;

Clothe yourself in the garb of patience, for after your praised son, patience remains your son.

For, after your son, Patience is your praiseworthy son.

The Merciful has not made desolate the abode of His servant

وَما أَوحَشَ الرَحمَنُ ساحَةَ عَبدِهِ

وَما أَوحَشَ الرَحمَنُ ساحَةَ عَبدِهِ

إِذا عايَنَ الجُلّى وَمُؤنِسُهُ الأَجرُ

إِذا عايَنَ الجُلّى وَمُؤنِسُهُ الأَجرُ

And the All-Merciful has not left His servant's courtyard desolate

When he sees his reward and his companion is recompense.

When he beholds the great calamity, with reward to comfort him.