أَلاّ يا لَهفَ نَفسي أَيَّ لَهفٍ

أَلاّ يا لَهفَ نَفسي أَيَّ لَهفٍ

عَلى أَهلِ الفَقارَةِ أَيَّ لَهفِ

عَلى أَهلِ الفَقارَةِ أَيَّ لَهفِ

Ah, my soul’s anguish—what anguish!

Alas, O my yearning soul, what yearning is this

For the people of al-Faqārah—what anguish!

For the people of virtue, what yearning is this

مَضَوا قَصدَ السَبيلِ وَخلَّفوني

مَضَوا قَصدَ السَبيلِ وَخلَّفوني

إِلى خَلَفٍ مِنَ الإِبرامِ خَلفِ

إِلى خَلَفٍ مِنَ الإِبرامِ خَلفِ

They went straight along the path and left me

They have gone ahead on the path and left me behind

To a worthless generation of misers,

To lag behind in completing my affairs

سُدىً لا يَكتَفونَ وَلا أَراهُم

سُدىً لا يَكتَفونَ وَلا أَراهُم

يُطيعونَ اِمرَءاً إِن كانَ يَكفي

يُطيعونَ اِمرَءاً إِن كانَ يَكفي

Aimless, unable to fend for themselves; nor do I see them

In vain, they are never satisfied, nor do I see them

Obeying a man, even if he can meet their needs.

Obeying a man, even if he suffices