يا أَيُّها السائِلُ عَمّا مَضَى

يا أَيُّها السائِلُ عَمّا مَضَى

مِن عِلمِ هَذا الزَمَنِ الذاهِبِ

مِن عِلمِ هَذا الزَمَنِ الذاهِبِ

O you who ask about what has passed

O seeker of what is past

of the lore of this passing age,

Of the knowledge of this fleeting age

إِن كُنتَ تَبغي العِلمَ أَو أَهلَهُ

إِن كُنتَ تَبغي العِلمَ أَو أَهلَهُ

أَو شاهِداً يُخبِرُ عَن غائِبِ

أَو شاهِداً يُخبِرُ عَن غائِبِ

if you seek knowledge or those versed in it,

If you wish for knowledge or its people

or a witness who tells of someone absent,

Or a witness to speak of the absent

فَاِختَبِرِ الأَرضَ بِأَسمائِها

فَاِختَبِرِ الأَرضَ بِأَسمائِها

وَاِعتَبِرِ الصاحِبَ بِالصاحِبِ

وَاِعتَبِرِ الصاحِبَ بِالصاحِبِ

then assess the land by its names,

Then explore the earth by its names

and judge a companion by his companion.

And consider the companion by the companion