إِذا شِئتَ أَن تَستَقرِضِ المالَ مُنفِقاً

إِذا شِئتَ أَن تَستَقرِضِ المالَ مُنفِقاً

عَلى شَهَواتِ النَفسِ في زَمَنِ العُسرِ

عَلى شَهَواتِ النَفسِ في زَمَنِ العُسرِ

If you wish to borrow money to spend

If you want to borrow money to spend

If you wish to borrow wealth to spend it

on the soul’s desires in a time of hardship,

On the desires of the self in times of hardship

Upon the cravings of the soul in a time of hardship,

فَسَل نَفسَكَ الإِنفاقَ مِن كَنزِ صَبرِها

فَسَل نَفسَكَ الإِنفاقَ مِن كَنزِ صَبرِها

عَلَيكَ وَإِنظاراً إِلى زَمَنِ اليُسرِ

عَلَيكَ وَإِنظاراً إِلى زَمَنِ اليُسرِ

then ask your soul to spend from the treasure of its patience

Then ask your own soul to spend from the treasure of its patience

Then ask your own soul to spend from the treasure of its patience

with you, and to grant respite until a time of ease.

Upon you, and wait for the time of ease

Upon you, and for a respite until a time of ease.

فَإِن سَمَحَت كُنتَ الغَنيَّ وَإِن أَبَت

فَإِن سَمَحَت كُنتَ الغَنيَّ وَإِن أَبَت

فَكُلُّ مَمنوعٍ بَعدَها واسِعُ العُذرِ

فَكُلُّ مَمنوعٍ بَعدَها واسِعُ العُذرِ

For if it consents, you are rich; and if it refuses,

For if it obliges, you will be rich, and if it refuses

For if it consents, you are truly wealthy; but if it refuses,

then anyone prevented from giving thereafter has ample excuse.

Then every thing forbidden thereafter has ample excuse

Then anyone who denies you afterwards has ample excuse.