يا موضع الكوماء مهلاً إن من

يا موضع الكوماء مهلاً إن من

تبغيه بالإيصاع خلفك قائم

تبغيه بالإيصاع خلفك قائم

O you urging on the high-humped she-camel, slow down; for the one whom

O place of gathering, wait, for he whom

you seek through swift travel stands behind you.

You seek to reach with your journey is behind you,

فارجع إليه ولا تفارق سيركم

فارجع إليه ولا تفارق سيركم

فله به وجهٌ عليكم حاكمُ

فله به وجهٌ عليكم حاكمُ

So return to him, and do not abandon your journey,

So turn back to him and do not abandon your path,

for within it he has a face that rules over you.

For he has a face over you that rules.

هو صاحبٌ لك في السرى وخليفةٌ

هو صاحبٌ لك في السرى وخليفةٌ

في الأهل بعدك فانتبه يا نائم

في الأهل بعدك فانتبه يا نائم

He is your companion on the night journey, and a deputy

He is a friend to you in travel and a successor

among your family in your absence; so awaken, O sleeper.

To your family after you, so pay attention, O sleeper!

المصطفون ثلاثةٌ مذكورةٌ

المصطفون ثلاثةٌ مذكورةٌ

أسماؤهم منهم إمامٌ ظالم

أسماؤهم منهم إمامٌ ظالم

The chosen ones are three; mentioned are

The chosen ones are three, mentioned -

their names; among them is an unjust leader.

Their names - among them an unjust leader,

ثم الذي سموه مقتصداً وذا

ثم الذي سموه مقتصداً وذا

ك التالِ في ورثِ الكتاب العالم

ك التالِ في ورثِ الكتاب العالم

Then the one they called moderate; and that

Then the one they called the moderate, the one

is the next in inheriting the Book, the learned one.

Inheriting the book, the knowing.

والثالث المذكور فيهم سابقٌ

والثالث المذكور فيهم سابقٌ

بالباء لا أبالي وذاك الراحمُ

بالباء لا أبالي وذاك الراحمُ

And the third mentioned among them is a forerunner,

And the third mentioned among them a predecessor

with the letter bāʾ—I do not care—and that is the merciful one.

With the letter 'B', I do not care, and that is the merciful one.

لولا التهمم بالسباق لما أتى

لولا التهمم بالسباق لما أتى

متأخراً من أجل من هو خاتم

متأخراً من أجل من هو خاتم

Were it not for concern with racing ahead, he would not have come

Had it not been for vying for first place, he would not have come

late, for the sake of the one who is a seal,

Late, because of the one who is the seal.

ومن أجل مَنْ هو رابعٌ لثلاثةٍ

ومن أجل مَنْ هو رابعٌ لثلاثةٍ

جار وذاك هو الإله القاسم

جار وذاك هو الإله القاسم

and for the sake of the one who is a fourth alongside three,

And because of the one who is fourth to three,

a neighbor—and that is God, the Apportioner.

A neighbor, and that is the God who apportions.