1. ليالٍ ما بها واللَه بأسٌ

    ليالٍ ما بها أبداً رخاءُ

    Nights in which, by God, there is no hardship;

    Nights in which there is never any ease.

  2. وأيامٌ تروحُ بنا وتغدو

    وآخرها وآخرنا انتهاءُ

    And days bear us along, evening and morning,

    And their end, and ours, is cessation.

  3. غرورٌ ما يرى عيشٌ منامٌ

    وجودٌ باطلٌ كونٌ فناءُ

    What is seen is delusion; life is a dream.

    Existence is vain; being is annihilation.

  4. لباس غدا معاشٌ راحَ حزنٌ

    غدا وَسرورُ راحَ مدىً عناءُ

    Clothing went forth in the morning; livelihood departed in the evening; sorrow

    Went forth in the morning, and joy departed in the evening; life's span is toil.

  5. وَكُلٌّ زائِلٌ واللَهُ باقٍ

    إِلَهُ الكُلِّ يَفعَلُ ما يَشاءُ

    And everything passes away, while God remains.

    The God of all does whatever He wills.

  6. إِلَهٌ واحدٌ أحدٌ وُجودٌ

    دَليلُ عَلى وُجودِهِ لا مِراءُ

    God is one and unique; existence

    Is proof of His existence—there is no dispute.

  7. دَنا حينُ الرَحيلُ لِضَيفِ دارٍ

    عَليهِ لِرَبِّها حَقّاً وَفاءُ

    The time of departure has drawn near for a guest in a house;

    He truly owes its master fidelity.

  8. مَشيبُكَ مُنذِرٌ هَل مِن مَتابٍ

    إِذَن إِن لَم تَتَب جَلَّ الجَزاءُ

    Your gray hair is a warning—is there any repentance?

    Then, if you do not repent, great is the retribution.

  9. دَواءٌ هَل يَرُدُّ المَوتَ حاشا

    إِذا جاءَ الرَدى بَطَلَ الدَواءُ

    Can a remedy ward off death? Far from it!

    When death comes, the remedy is futile.

  10. قَضاءٌ هَل يُرَدُّ بِشَيءِ كُلّاً

    إِذا حَكَمَ القَضا جاءَ العَماءُ

    Can fate be turned back by anything? No!

    When fate decrees, blindness comes.