مَا النَّاس بِالصُّوَرِ التي شَاهَدْتُهُمْ

مَا النَّاس بِالصُّوَرِ التي شَاهَدْتُهُمْ

مِنهُمْ وَلكنْ خَلْفَهُنَّ معَاني

مِنهُمْ وَلكنْ خَلْفَهُنَّ معَاني

People are not the outward forms in which I have seen them;

People are not as I saw them

But behind those forms of theirs lie inner meanings.

Behind those faces are meanings

فَاخبُرْ مَعَانِيهُمْ وَدَعْ صُوَراً لَهُمْ

فَاخبُرْ مَعَانِيهُمْ وَدَعْ صُوَراً لَهُمْ

كَيْ لا تكون كَعَابِدِ الأَوْثانِ

كَيْ لا تكون كَعَابِدِ الأَوْثانِ

So examine their meanings, and set aside their forms,

Tell me their meanings and leave their forms

So that you do not become like a worshipper of idols.

Lest you be like an idol worshipper