عجبي ممن تعالت حالُه

عجبي ممن تعالت حالُه

وكفاه اللَّهُ ذلاّت الطلبْ

وكفاه اللَّهُ ذلاّت الطلبْ

I marvel at one whose station has risen,

I wonder at those whose status has risen

and whom God has spared the humiliations of asking:

And Allah has made them self-sufficient and free from worries

كيف لا يقسم شطريْ عمره

كيف لا يقسم شطريْ عمره

بين حالين نعيمٍ وأدبْ

بين حالين نعيمٍ وأدبْ

how can he not apportion the two halves of his life

How do they not split their lifetime

between two states—pleasure and refinement?

Between two states: luxury and discipline

ساعةً يمتع فيها نفسَه

ساعةً يمتع فيها نفسَه

من غذاءٍ وشرابْ منتخبْ

من غذاءٍ وشرابْ منتخبْ

An hour in which he delights himself

An hour to indulge himself

with food and choice drink,

With choice food and drink

ودُنُوٍّ من دُمى هنَّ له

ودُنُوٍّ من دُمى هنَّ له

حين يشتاق إلى اللهو لُعَبْ

حين يشتاق إلى اللهو لُعَبْ

and closeness to doll-like beauties who are his

And be close to beautiful maidens

playthings when he longs for amusement.

When he craves amusement and play

مرّةً جِداً وأخرى راحةً

مرّةً جِداً وأخرى راحةً

فإذا ما غسق الليلُ انتَصَبْ

فإذا ما غسق الليلُ انتَصَبْ

At one time earnestness, at another rest;

At times serious and at other times at ease

then, when night grows dark, he stands in prayer,

And when night falls he stands up

فقضى الدنيا نهاراً حقها

فقضى الدنيا نهاراً حقها

وقضى لله ليلاً ما يجبْ

وقضى لله ليلاً ما يجبْ

thus rendering the world its due by day,

So he spends his days enjoying his due

and rendering to God by night what is required.

And spends the nights doing what he must

تلك أقسام متى يعمل بها

تلك أقسام متى يعمل بها

عامل يَسعد ويَرْشد ويُصبْ

عامل يَسعد ويَرْشد ويُصبْ

These are divisions: whenever they are put into practice,

These are the parts one should follow

the one who follows them prospers, finds guidance, and acts aright.

To have happiness, guidance, and success