قالوا الرحيلُ غداً فَشَاهِدْنَا غدا

قالوا الرحيلُ غداً فَشَاهِدْنَا غدا

تَرَنَا أشَتَّ نوىً وأشْجَى مَشْهَدا

تَرَنَا أشَتَّ نوىً وأشْجَى مَشْهَدا

They said, 'Departure is tomorrow'; so behold us tomorrow.

They said departure is tomorrow, so we saw tomorrow

You will see us most scattered by separation, most sorrowful to behold.

It made us yearn intensely and the scene was heartrending

قلْ كيفَ يُشْفِقُ من مكابدةِ الأَسَى

قلْ كيفَ يُشْفِقُ من مكابدةِ الأَسَى

من ليس يَفْرَق من مُكَابدة العدا

من ليس يَفْرَق من مُكَابدة العدا

Say, how can he fear enduring sorrow,

Say, how can one who suffers not from inflicting pain

Who does not fear contending with foes?

Feel sympathy for one suffering from an enemy’s blows

ذَكَرَ الحمى فبكى إليه صَبابةً

ذَكَرَ الحمى فبكى إليه صَبابةً

حتى بكى معه المُفَنِّدُ مُسْعِدا

حتى بكى معه المُفَنِّدُ مُسْعِدا

He recalled the sanctuary and wept for it in longing,

He remembered longing, and wept for it bitterly

Until the reproacher wept with him in sympathy.

Until the robe-spreader wept with him, grieved

ويلاهُ من ذِكَرٍ جميعٍ شملُهَا

ويلاهُ من ذِكَرٍ جميعٍ شملُهَا

بَدَّدْنَ شَمْلَ دموعِهِ فتبدّدا

بَدَّدْنَ شَمْلَ دموعِهِ فتبدّدا

Alas for memories, all gathered together—

Woe to him from a memory whose sum

They scattered the gathering of his tears, and it fell apart.

Scattered the sum of his tears so they dispersed

وطلابُهُ ما لا يُنَالُ ضلالةٌ

وطلابُهُ ما لا يُنَالُ ضلالةٌ

يا بُعْدَ ما بَيْنَ الضَّلالةِ والهُدَى

يا بُعْدَ ما بَيْنَ الضَّلالةِ والهُدَى

And his pursuit of what cannot be attained is error;

And his students, when misguided, cannot attain

Oh, how far apart are error and guidance!

O distant are misguidance and guidance!