لَم يَنَل سائِقُ الرَكائِبِ رُشدا

لَم يَنَل سائِقُ الرَكائِبِ رُشدا

نَحوَ سُعدى لَولا سَنى نارَ سُعدى

نَحوَ سُعدى لَولا سَنى نارَ سُعدى

The driver of the riding camels would not have found guidance

The ship's captain did not gain wisdom

toward Suʿda, had it not been for the glow of Suʿda’s fire.

Towards his good fortune, had it not been for the beacon of his good fortune's fire.

وَعَدا مَن عَدا غَضاها رِضاها

وَعَدا مَن عَدا غَضاها رِضاها

فَقَضى قاصِداً وَلَم يَقضِ قَصدا

فَقَضى قاصِداً وَلَم يَقضِ قَصدا

And her favor eluded whoever passed beyond her ghada trees;

And whoever passed by, ignoring it or pleased with it,

so he perished in pursuit, yet fulfilled no aim.

Finished with intent, yet did not achieve his aim.

وَعَلى الخَوفِ حامَ مَن رامَ أَمناً

وَعَلى الخَوفِ حامَ مَن رامَ أَمناً

بِمَنى دونَ خيفِها وَتَرَدّى

بِمَنى دونَ خيفِها وَتَرَدّى

And whoever sought safety hovered over fear

And fear hovered over he who sought safety,

at Mina, short of its Khayf, and fell to ruin.

With purpose below its risks, and stumbled.

فَاِرخِ عُقلَ الَطِبِّ وَاِستَنجِدِ الرِك

فَاِرخِ عُقلَ الَطِبِّ وَاِستَنجِدِ الرِك

بَ عَلى سوقِها إِذا جِئتَ نَجدا

بَ عَلى سوقِها إِذا جِئتَ نَجدا

So loosen the hobbles of medical skill, and enlist the riding

So restrain reason’s bridle and seek the pillar’s aid,

party to drive them on when you come to Najd.

Lest you slip in its market when you come to achieve.

وَإِذا شارَلَت شَرافَ المُصَلّى

وَإِذا شارَلَت شَرافَ المُصَلّى

فَأَقِمها هَدياً لَعَلوَةَ تُهدى

فَأَقِمها هَدياً لَعَلوَةَ تُهدى

And when they [approach] the heights of the prayer ground,

And if the noble mosque’s minaret appears to you,

then set them up as sacrificial offerings to be presented to ʿAlwa.

Make it a guide, that perhaps it will guide.

وَاِثنِ عِطفَيكَ عَن مَلامِ غَوِيٍّ

وَاِثنِ عِطفَيكَ عَن مَلامِ غَوِيٍّ

لَكَ بِالصَدِّ عَن هَداكَ تَصَدّى

لَكَ بِالصَدِّ عَن هَداكَ تَصَدّى

And turn your shoulders away from a misguided man’s reproach—

And turn your shoulders away from the temptation of the deviant,

one who confronted you to bar you from your guidance.

For in resisting the harm to your guidance, he opposed you.