أَلا عَلِّلاني قَبلَ نَوحِ النَوائِحِ

أَلا عَلِّلاني قَبلَ نَوحِ النَوائِحِ

وَقبلَ اطِّلاعِ النَفسِ بَينَ الجَوانِحِ

وَقبلَ اطِّلاعِ النَفسِ بَينَ الجَوانِحِ

Ah, comfort me, you two, before the mourning women's wailing,

Oh, comfort me before the wailing women mourn, and before the soul rises between the ribs.

And before the soul rises from between the ribs,

And before tomorrow—alas for my soul regarding tomorrow—when my companions leave, and I do not leave.

وَقَبلَ غَدٍ يا لَهفَ نَفسي عَلى غَدٍ

وَقَبلَ غَدٍ يا لَهفَ نَفسي عَلى غَدٍ

إِذا راحَ أَصحابي وَلَستُ بِرائِحِ

إِذا راحَ أَصحابي وَلَستُ بِرائِحِ

And before tomorrow—oh, my soul's anguish over tomorrow!

When my companions leave with overflowing tears, and I am left in a grave, with slabs placed over me.

When my companions depart, and I do not depart;

They ask, "Have you prepared well for your brother?" yet the grave in the desolate earth is never well.

إِذا راحَ أَصحابي بِفَيضِ دُموعِهِم

إِذا راحَ أَصحابي بِفَيضِ دُموعِهِم

وغُودِرتُ في لَحدٍ عَليَّ صَفائِحي

وغُودِرتُ في لَحدٍ عَليَّ صَفائِحي

When my companions depart with their tears overflowing,

They say, "Do not be far," as they bury me, yet the place of distance is none other than my tomb.

And I am left in a grave's side-niche, my stone slabs over me.

يَقولونَ هَل أَصلَحتُمُ لأَخيكُمُ

يَقولونَ هَل أَصلَحتُمُ لأَخيكُمُ

وَما الرَمسُ في الأَرضِ القِواءِ بِصالِحِ

وَما الرَمسُ في الأَرضِ القِواءِ بِصالِحِ

They say, 'Have you made things right for your brother?'

Yet a grave in desolate earth is no good.

يَقولونَ لا تَبعُد وَهُم يَدفِنونَني

يَقولونَ لا تَبعُد وَهُم يَدفِنونَني

وَليسَ مَكانُ البُعدِ إِلا ضَرائِحي

وَليسَ مَكانُ البُعدِ إِلا ضَرائِحي

They say, 'Do not be far away,' while they bury me,

Yet the abode of distance is none other than my tombs.