ما هَذِهِ الدُنيا وَطالِبُها

ما هَذِهِ الدُنيا وَطالِبُها

إِلّا عَناءً وَهوَ لا يَدري

إِلّا عَناءً وَهوَ لا يَدري

This world and its seeker are nothing

Outspread lying on the sunny air

What is this world and he who seeks it,

But hardship, though he does not know.

Lord of all on which the heavens look down

But mere suffering, though he does not know?

إِن أَقبَلَت شَغَلَت دِيانَتَهُ

إِن أَقبَلَت شَغَلَت دِيانَتَهُ

أَو أَدبَرَت شَغلَتَهُ بِالفَقرِ

أَو أَدبَرَت شَغلَتَهُ بِالفَقرِ

If it comes to him, it distracts him from his faith;

In motionless still listening

If it advances, it diverts him from his faith,

Or if it turns away, it preoccupies him with poverty.

To the voices crying up the stairs

And if it retreats, it occupies him with poverty.