عَليَّ لإِخواني رَقيبٌ مِنَ الصَفا

عَليَّ لإِخواني رَقيبٌ مِنَ الصَفا

تَبيدُ الليّالي وَهوَ لَيسَ يَبيدُ

تَبيدُ الليّالي وَهوَ لَيسَ يَبيدُ

For my brothers, a watchman born of pure affection stands over me;

My brothers are guardians sent from Safa

The nights pass away, yet he does not pass away.

Nights pass but they do not pass

يُذَكِرُنيِهم في مَغيبٍ وَمَشهَدٍ

يُذَكِرُنيِهم في مَغيبٍ وَمَشهَدٍ

فَسيّان عِندي غُيَّبٌ وَشُهودُ

فَسيّان عِندي غُيَّبٌ وَشُهودُ

He reminds me of them in absence and in presence;

They remind me in absence and presence

So those absent and those present are alike to me.

So to me absent and present are the same

وَإِنّي لَأَستَحيي أَخي أَن أَبُرَّهُ

وَإِنّي لَأَستَحيي أَخي أَن أَبُرَّهُ

قَريباً وَأَجفو وَالمَزارُ بَعيدُ

قَريباً وَأَجفو وَالمَزارُ بَعيدُ

And I would indeed be ashamed before my brother to show him kindness

And I'm too shy before my brother to bid him farewell

When he is near, yet shun him when the way to visit him is long.

When the grave is far though he is near