يُبلي هَوى الصُوَرِ الحِسانِ بَلاها

يُبلي هَوى الصُوَرِ الحِسانِ بَلاها

وَهَوى المَعاني خالِدٌ بِبَقاها

وَهَوى المَعاني خالِدٌ بِبَقاها

Love of beautiful forms—their decay wears it away;

Love of beautiful forms is worn away by their decay.

But love of meanings lives forever through their permanence.

And love of meanings is eternal through their permanence.

وَسَوى العَقيدَةَ لا أَرى مَعشوقَةً

وَسَوى العَقيدَةَ لا أَرى مَعشوقَةً

نَقصُ الحَياةِ بِها يَزيدُ هَواها

نَقصُ الحَياةِ بِها يَزيدُ هَواها

Apart from the creed, I see no beloved;

And apart from faith, I see no beloved

Life’s waning through it only deepens love for it.

For whom love grows as life dwindles through her.