1. يا خليّ العين والأذنِ

    لاهياً في السرّ والعلنِ

    O you whose eye and ear are idle,

    heedless in private and in public,

  2. أيقظ القلب اللجوج فقد

    أثّرت فيه يد المحنِ

    Awaken the obstinate heart, for already

    the hand of trials has left its mark upon it.

  3. عامل المولى بنعمته

    من أيادي فعله الحسنِ

    Trade with the Lord using His bounty,

    drawn from the gifts of His gracious deeds.

  4. وقبيح أن تضنّ وقد

    مُلئت كفَّاك بالمنن

    And it is shameful to be miserly, when already

    both your palms have been filled with favors.

  5. فزكاةُ المال بذلُكَهُ

    وزكاة الصَّوم للبدن

    For wealth is purified by your giving it,

    and fasting is purification for the body.

  6. ولعاشوراء مرتبةٌ

    شُهرت في سالف الزّمن

    And Ashura has a rank

    renowned in times gone by.

  7. هو يومٌ لم يزل أبداً

    صومه من آكد السُّنن

    It is a day on which, as has always been the case,

    fasting is among the most strongly recommended practices.

  8. فاغتنم إن كنت متجراً

    خَلَساً من راحة المحن

    So seize, if you are a trader,

    moments stolen from the palm of trials.

  9. فكأن الموت مطلع

    وكأن العيش لم يكن

    For it is as though death were looking on,

    and as though life had never been.

  10. ترتجي فوزاً وهل أحدٌ

    نال ما يرجو بلا ثمن

    You hope for triumph; but has anyone

    attained what he hopes for without a price?

  11. إن من ضاعت بغيَّتُهُ

    لكثير الغَبنِ والغَبَنِ

    Indeed, he whose goal is lost

    is surely beset by great loss and faulty judgment.