هُوَ المَوتُ ما منهُ ملاذٌ وَمهربُ

هُوَ المَوتُ ما منهُ ملاذٌ وَمهربُ

متى حُطَّ ذا عن نَعشهِ ذاكَ يَركبُ

متى حُطَّ ذا عن نَعشهِ ذاكَ يَركبُ

It is death: from it there is no refuge or escape.

Death, from which there is no refuge or escape

It is Death: from it there is no sanctuary, no escape;

Whenever this one is lowered from his bier, that one mounts it.

When a person is laid in his grave, another mounts

When one is taken down from his bier, another mounts it.

نُشاهدُ ذا عَينَ اليَقينَ حَقيقَةً

نُشاهدُ ذا عَينَ اليَقينَ حَقيقَةً

عَلَيهِ مضى طِفلٌ وَكهلٌ وَأَشيَبُ

عَلَيهِ مضى طِفلٌ وَكهلٌ وَأَشيَبُ

We witness this as a fact, with the certainty of sight;

We see with the eye of certainty, it is a fact

We witness this with the eye of certainty as a stark reality;

upon it have passed a child, a middle-aged man, and a gray-haired elder.

Over it a child, a grown up and an old have passed

Upon this path pass the child, the middle-aged, and the hoary elder.

وَلكن عَلى الرانِ القُلوبُ كَأَنَّنا

وَلكن عَلى الرانِ القُلوبُ كَأَنَّنا

بِما قد عَلمناهُ يَقيناً تُكذِّبُ

بِما قد عَلمناهُ يَقيناً تُكذِّبُ

Yet the hearts are covered with rust, as though we

Yet our souls are in denial, as if

But rust has so crusted over our hearts that it seems

deny what we have known with certainty.

We reject what we know as certain

We deny that which we know for a surety.

نُؤَمِّلُ آمالاً وَنرجو نِتاجَها

نُؤَمِّلُ آمالاً وَنرجو نِتاجَها

وَعلَّ الرَدى مِمّا نُرَجّيهِ أَقرَبُ

وَعلَّ الرَدى مِمّا نُرَجّيهِ أَقرَبُ

We cherish hopes and look for their fruits,

We hope for hopes and wish for their fruits

We harbor high hopes and desire their fruition,

though death may be nearer than what we hope for.

While loss is closer than what we wish for

Yet destruction may be closer than all we hope for.

وَنَبني القصورَ المُشمخِرّاتِ في الهَوى

وَنَبني القصورَ المُشمخِرّاتِ في الهَوى

وَفي عِلمِنا أَنّا نَموتُ وَتَخرَبُ

وَفي عِلمِنا أَنّا نَموتُ وَتَخرَبُ

We build towering palaces out of desire,

And we build towering castles in the air

We build towering palaces in the realm of desire,

though we know we shall die and they will fall to ruin.

Though we know we will die and they will ruin

While knowing well we shall die and they shall fall to ruin.

وَنَسعى لِجَمعِ المالِ حِلّاً وَمَأثَماً

وَنَسعى لِجَمعِ المالِ حِلّاً وَمَأثَماً

وَبِالرَغمِ يَحويهِ البعيدُ وَأَقرَبُ

وَبِالرَغمِ يَحويهِ البعيدُ وَأَقرَبُ

We strive to amass wealth, lawfully and sinfully,

And we strive to gather wealth, legally and sinfully

We strive to amass wealth, through lawful means and sin,

yet, against our will, the distant and the nearer take possession of it.

While the far and the near will contain it

And inevitably, the stranger and the kin shall possess it.

نُحاسَبُ عنهُ داخِلاً ثمَّ خارجاً

نُحاسَبُ عنهُ داخِلاً ثمَّ خارجاً

وَفيمَ صَرَفناهُ وَمن أَينَ يُكسَبُ

وَفيمَ صَرَفناهُ وَمن أَينَ يُكسَبُ

We are held to account for it as it comes in and then goes out,

We are questioned about it inwardly and then outwardly

We are called to account for it, coming in and going out,

and for what we spent it on, and where it is earned.

And how we spent it and from where it was earned

On what we spent it, and from what source it was earned.

وَيَسعدُ فيه وارِثٌ مُتَعَفِّفٌ

وَيَسعدُ فيه وارِثٌ مُتَعَفِّفٌ

تَقِيٌّ وَيَشقى فيه آخرُ يَلعَبُ

تَقِيٌّ وَيَشقى فيه آخرُ يَلعَبُ

Through it a self-restrained heir finds happiness,

In it a contented inheritor is happy

A virtuous, abstinent heir finds happiness in it,

a pious one; while another, given to play, finds misery in it.

While another plays in it wretchedly

While another, playing the fool, finds misery through it.

وَأَوَّلُ ما تَبدو نَدامةُ مُسرِفٍ

وَأَوَّلُ ما تَبدو نَدامةُ مُسرِفٍ

إِذا اِشتَدَّ فيهِ الكَربُ وَالروحُ تُجذَبُ

إِذا اِشتَدَّ فيهِ الكَربُ وَالروحُ تُجذَبُ

The first time a transgressor's remorse appears

And the first regret to appear to a squanderer

The first thing to appear is the remorse of the wastrel,

is when his anguish intensifies and his soul is drawn out.

Is when hardship intensifies and the soul is seized

When distress intensifies within him and the soul is wrenched away.

وَيُشفِقُ من وَضعِ الكتابِ وَيَمتَني

وَيُشفِقُ من وَضعِ الكتابِ وَيَمتَني

لَو ان رُدَّ لِلدّنيا وَهَيهات مَطلَبُ

لَو ان رُدَّ لِلدّنيا وَهَيهات مَطلَبُ

He dreads the laying out of the record and wishes

He fears the book of reckoning and wishes

He dreads the placing of the Book of Deeds and wishes,

he might be returned to the world—but how far beyond reach that wish!

If only he could return to the world, but it's an impossible wish

If only he could be returned to the world—but how impossible the plea.

وَيشهدُ مِنّا كلُّ عُضوٍ بِفِعلهِ

وَيشهدُ مِنّا كلُّ عُضوٍ بِفِعلهِ

وَليسَ عَلى الجَبّارِ يَخفى المُغَيَّبُ

وَليسَ عَلى الجَبّارِ يَخفى المُغَيَّبُ

Every limb of ours bears witness to its deeds,

And every organ will testify to his deeds

Every limb among us bears witness to its own deed,

and nothing unseen is hidden from the Almighty.

Nothing is hidden from the Almighty

And nothing hidden is concealed from the Compeller.

إِذا قيلَ أَنتُم قد عَلِمتُم فَما الذي

إِذا قيلَ أَنتُم قد عَلِمتُم فَما الذي

عَمِلتُم وَكلٌّ في الكِتابِ مُرَتَّبُ

عَمِلتُم وَكلٌّ في الكِتابِ مُرَتَّبُ

When it is said, 'You knew—so what

When it is said, "You knew, so what did you do?"

When it is said: "You knew the truth, so what is it

did you do?'—and everything is ordered in the record—

And everything is recorded in the book

That you actually did?" And all is arrayed in the Book.

وَماذا كَسَبتُم في شَبابٍ وَصِحَّةٍ

وَماذا كَسَبتُم في شَبابٍ وَصِحَّةٍ

وَفي عُمرٍ أَنفاسُكُم فيه تُحسَبُ

وَفي عُمرٍ أَنفاسُكُم فيه تُحسَبُ

'And what did you earn in youth and health,

"And what did you earn in youth and in health?

"And what did you earn during the days of youth and health,

and in a lifetime in which your breaths are counted?'

When your breaths in it are counted?"

And in a life wherein your very breaths are counted?"

فَيا لَيتَ شِعري ما نَقولُ وَما الَّذي

فَيا لَيتَ شِعري ما نَقولُ وَما الَّذي

نُجيبُ بهِ وَالأَمرُ إِذ ذاكَ أَصعَبُ

نُجيبُ بهِ وَالأَمرُ إِذ ذاكَ أَصعَبُ

Ah, would that I knew what we shall say, and what

Oh, I wonder what we will say and how we

Oh, would that I knew what we shall say, and with what

answer we shall give, when the matter will be harder still.

Will respond, when the matter then is most difficult

We shall answer, for the matter then will be far more grave.

إِلى اللَهِ نَشكو قَسوَةً في قُلوبِنا

إِلى اللَهِ نَشكو قَسوَةً في قُلوبِنا

وَفي كُلِّ يَومٍ واعِظُ المَوتِ يَندُبُ

وَفي كُلِّ يَومٍ واعِظُ المَوتِ يَندُبُ

To God we complain of the hardness in our hearts,

To God we complain of the hardness in our hearts

To God we complain of the hardness within our hearts,

while every day death's admonisher laments.

And the preacher of death laments everyday

While every day the preacher of death wails aloud.

وَلِلَّهِ كم غادٍ حَبيبٍ وَرائحٍ

وَلِلَّهِ كم غادٍ حَبيبٍ وَرائحٍ

نُشَيِّعهُ لِلقَبرِ وَالدَمعُ يُسكَبُ

نُشَيِّعهُ لِلقَبرِ وَالدَمعُ يُسكَبُ

And, O God, how many a beloved, departing morning or evening,

And how many dear ones and companions, God,

By God, how many a beloved comes and goes,

we escort to the grave while tears are poured out:

We bid farewell to their graves as tears pour

Whom we escort to the grave as tears are poured forth.

أخٍ أَو حميمٍ أو تَقيٍّ مُهذَّبٍ

أخٍ أَو حميمٍ أو تَقيٍّ مُهذَّبٍ

يُواصِلُ في نُصحِ العِبادِ وَيَدأَبُ

يُواصِلُ في نُصحِ العِبادِ وَيَدأَبُ

a brother, a close friend, or a pious, refined man,

A brother, intimate or refined, diligent

A brother, an intimate friend, or a refined, pious soul,

who perseveres in counseling people and labors tirelessly.

In advising people and he persists

Who persisted in advising God's servants, striving earnestly.

نَهيلُ عَليهِ التُربَ حَتّى كَأنَّهُ

نَهيلُ عَليهِ التُربَ حَتّى كَأنَّهُ

عَدوٌّ وفي الأَحشاءِ نارٌ تَلَهَّبُ

عَدوٌّ وفي الأَحشاءِ نارٌ تَلَهَّبُ

We heap earth upon him until he seems

Dust pours over him as if he is

We heap the soil upon him until it is as if he were

an enemy, while a fire blazes in our very entrails.

An enemy, though affection burns inside

An enemy, though a fire blazes within our very entrails.

سَقى جدثاً وارى ابنَ أحمدَ وابِلٌ

سَقى جدثاً وارى ابنَ أحمدَ وابِلٌ

منَ العَفوِ رَجّاسُ العَشِيّاتِ صَيِّبُ

منَ العَفوِ رَجّاسُ العَشِيّاتِ صَيِّبُ

May a downpour water the grave that concealed Ibn Ahmad,

He quenched a grave, and abundant grace rains

May a heavy rain water the grave that hides Ibn Ahmad,

of pardon, thundering in the evenings, pouring down.

Upon the son of Ahmed, the evening reciter

A rain of pardon, thundering in the evenings, pouring down.

وَأَنزَلَهُ الغُفرانُ وَالفَوزُ وَالرِضى

وَأَنزَلَهُ الغُفرانُ وَالفَوزُ وَالرِضى

يُطافُ عَليهِ بِالرَحيقِ وَيَشربُ

يُطافُ عَليهِ بِالرَحيقِ وَيَشربُ

And may forgiveness, triumph, and favor grant him a dwelling,

Forgiveness and success and pleasure bring him down

May forgiveness, triumph, and contentment descend upon him,

where pure wine is brought round to him, and he drinks.

He is encircled by elixir and drinks

While pure nectar is passed around for him to drink.

فَقد كانَ في صَدرِ المَجالسِ بَهجةً

فَقد كانَ في صَدرِ المَجالسِ بَهجةً

بهِ تُحدِقُ الأَبصارُ وَالقَلبُ يَرهبُ

بهِ تُحدِقُ الأَبصارُ وَالقَلبُ يَرهبُ

For he was a delight at the head of gatherings,

He was a joy in the chests of gatherings

For he was the delight at the forefront of assemblies;

eyes fixed upon him, while the heart stood in awe.

Eyes would gaze at him and hearts would awe

Eyes gazed fixedly upon him, and hearts held him in awe.

فَطوراً تَراهُ مُنذِراً وَمُحَذِّراً

فَطوراً تَراهُ مُنذِراً وَمُحَذِّراً

عَواقِبَ ما تَجني الذُنوبُ وَتَجلُبُ

عَواقِبَ ما تَجني الذُنوبُ وَتَجلُبُ

At times you would see him warning and cautioning

Sometimes you see him warning and cautioning

At times you would see him warning and cautioning

against the consequences of what sins wreak and bring;

The consequences sins bring and attract

Of the consequences that sins harvest and bring forth.

وَطَوراً بِآلاءِ مُذكِّراً

وَطَوراً بِآلاءِ مُذكِّراً

وَطَوراً إلى دارِ النَعيمِ يُرَغِّبُ

وَطَوراً إلى دارِ النَعيمِ يُرَغِّبُ

and at times reminding of blessings,

And sometimes reminding with blessings

And at times reminding us of the bounties of God,

and at times inspiring longing for the abode of bliss.

And sometimes enticing to the abode of bliss

And at times encouraging us toward the Abode of Bliss.

وَلم يَشتَغِل عَن ذا بِبَيعٍ وَلا شِرا

وَلم يَشتَغِل عَن ذا بِبَيعٍ وَلا شِرا

نَعَم في اِبتِناءِ المَجدِ لِلبَذلِ يَطرَبُ

نَعَم في اِبتِناءِ المَجدِ لِلبَذلِ يَطرَبُ

Neither selling nor buying distracted him from this;

He was not distracted from this by trade or travel

He was not distracted from this by trade nor commerce;

indeed, in building honor, he delighted in giving.

Yes, he was passionate in building glory through generosity

Nay, in building glory, he found joy in giving.

فَلو كان يُفدى بِالنُفوسِ وَما غَلا

فَلو كان يُفدى بِالنُفوسِ وَما غَلا

لَطِبنا نُفوساً بِالذي كان َيَطلُبُ

لَطِبنا نُفوساً بِالذي كان َيَطلُبُ

Had he been ransomed with lives and whatever was precious,

If souls could be ransomed, no price too high,

If he could be ransomed with souls—and that would not be too high a price—

we would have been glad at heart to give whatever he asked.

We would ransom souls for what he sought

We would have gladly given our souls for what was asked.

وَلكِن إِذا تَمَّ المَدى نَفَذَ القَضا

وَلكِن إِذا تَمَّ المَدى نَفَذَ القَضا

وَما لامرىءٍ عَمّا قَضى اللَهُ مَهرَبُ

وَما لامرىءٍ عَمّا قَضى اللَهُ مَهرَبُ

But when the allotted span is complete, the decree takes effect,

But when the appointed time ends, fate's decree prevails

But when the span is complete, the decree is executed,

and no one can escape what God has decreed.

And none can escape what God has ordained

And for a man, from what God has decreed, there is no escape.

أخٌ كانَ لي نِعمَ المُعينُ على التُقى

أخٌ كانَ لي نِعمَ المُعينُ على التُقى

بهِ تَنجَلي عَنّي الهُمومُ وَتَذهَبُ

بهِ تَنجَلي عَنّي الهُمومُ وَتَذهَبُ

A brother to me, an excellent helper toward piety,

A brother he was, excellent in assisting me in piety

A brother he was to me, the finest helper in piety;

through him my cares would clear and pass away:

Through him worries would dissipate and depart

Through him, my worries would clear and vanish.

فَطَوراً بِأَخبارِ الرَسولِ وَصحبهِ

فَطَوراً بِأَخبارِ الرَسولِ وَصحبهِ

وَطَوراً بِآدابٍ تَلذُ وَتَعذُبُ

وَطَوراً بِآدابٍ تَلذُ وَتَعذُبُ

at times through accounts of the Messenger and his companions,

Sometimes with news of the Messenger and his companions

At times with accounts of the Messenger and his Companions,

and at times through literary lore, delightful and sweet.

And sometimes with refined manners that allure and wound

And at times with literature that delights and sweetens.

عَلى ذا مَضى عُمري كَذاكَ وَعُمرهُ

عَلى ذا مَضى عُمري كَذاكَ وَعُمرهُ

صَفِيَّينِ لا نَجفو وَلا نَتَعَتَّبُ

صَفِيَّينِ لا نَجفو وَلا نَتَعَتَّبُ

In this way my life passed, and his likewise,

My life passed like this, and his life too

Upon this my life passed, and in like manner his,

as two devoted friends, neither shunning nor reproaching each other.

Pure, we do not exaggerate or fabricate

Two pure friends, neither shunning nor casting blame.

وَما الحالُ إِلّا مِثلُ ما قالَ مَن مَضى

وَما الحالُ إِلّا مِثلُ ما قالَ مَن مَضى

وَبِالجُملَةِ الأَمثالُ لِلنّاسِ تُضرَبُ

وَبِالجُملَةِ الأَمثالُ لِلنّاسِ تُضرَبُ

Our condition is only as one before us said,

And the situation is just as one past said

The situation is naught but as the one who passed said,

and, in short, proverbs are coined for people:

Proverbs on people are coined

And in summary, proverbs are coined for mankind:

لِكُلِّ اجتِماع من خَليلَينِ فُرقَةٌ

لِكُلِّ اجتِماع من خَليلَينِ فُرقَةٌ

وَلَو بَينَهُم قَد طابَ عَيشٌ وَمَشرَبُ

وَلَو بَينَهُم قَد طابَ عَيشٌ وَمَشرَبُ

Every union of two close friends must end in parting,

For every gathering of two friends there is separation

"For every gathering of two close friends, there is a parting,

even if life and drink together have been sweet.

Even if between them life was pleasant and potable

Even if life and drink were sweet between them."

وَمن بعدِ ذا حَشرٌ وَنشرٌ وَمَوقِفٌ

وَمن بعدِ ذا حَشرٌ وَنشرٌ وَمَوقِفٌ

وَيَومٌ بهِ يُكسى المَذَلَّةَ مُذنِبُ

وَيَومٌ بهِ يُكسى المَذَلَّةَ مُذنِبُ

After this come the gathering, resurrection, and the standing for judgment,

And after this, there is mustering, dispersal and stopping

And after this is the Gathering, the Resurrection, and the Standing,

and a day on which a sinner is clothed in humiliation,

A day in which the sinner is clad in humiliation

And a Day wherein the sinner is clothed in humiliation.

إِذا فرَّ كلٌّ من أَبيهِ وَأُمِّهِ

إِذا فرَّ كلٌّ من أَبيهِ وَأُمِّهِ

كَذا الأُمُّ لم تَنظُر إِلَيهِ وَلا الأَبُ

كَذا الأُمُّ لم تَنظُر إِلَيهِ وَلا الأَبُ

when everyone flees from his father and mother;

When each flees from his father and mother

When everyone flees from his father and his mother;

likewise, the mother does not look toward him, nor the father.

Like this, not even the mother looks at him, nor the father

Likewise the mother will not glance at him, nor the father.

وَكم ظالمٍ يُندي من العَضِّ كَفَّهُ

وَكم ظالمٍ يُندي من العَضِّ كَفَّهُ

مَقالتَهُ يا وَيلَتَي أَينَ أَذهَبُ

مَقالتَهُ يا وَيلَتَي أَينَ أَذهَبُ

How many a wrongdoer moistens his palm by biting it,

And how many unjust, bite their hands in agony

How many a tyrant moistens his hand from biting it,

his words: 'Oh, woe is me! Where shall I go?'

"Oh my sorrow! Where can I go?"

Crying out: "Oh woe is me! Where shall I go?"

إِذا اِقتَسَموا أَعمالَهُ غُرَماؤهُ

إِذا اِقتَسَموا أَعمالَهُ غُرَماؤهُ

وَقيلَ لهُ هذا بما كنتَ تَكسِبُ

وَقيلَ لهُ هذا بما كنتَ تَكسِبُ

when his creditors divide his deeds among themselves,

When his creditors divide his deeds among themselves

When his creditors divide his good deeds among themselves,

and he is told, 'This is for what you used to earn,'

And it is said to him, "This is for what you used to earn"

And it is said to him: "This is for what you used to earn."

وَصُكَّ له صَكٌّ إِلى النارِ بعدَ ما

وَصُكَّ له صَكٌّ إِلى النارِ بعدَ ما

يُحَمَّلُ من أَوزارِهِم وَيُعَذَّبُ

يُحَمَّلُ من أَوزارِهِم وَيُعَذَّبُ

and a writ consigning him to the Fire is issued, after

And for him, after he is laden with their burdens and tormented

And a warrant is struck for him to the Fire, after

he is laden with some of their burdens of sin, and is tormented.

A scroll to hell is fastened

He is laden with their burdens and tormented.

وَكم قائِلٍ واحَسرَتا ليتَ أَنَّنا

وَكم قائِلٍ واحَسرَتا ليتَ أَنَّنا

نُرَدُّ إِلى الدُنيا نُنيبُ وَنَرهبُ

نُرَدُّ إِلى الدُنيا نُنيبُ وَنَرهبُ

How many will say, 'Alas, my sorrow! Would that we

And how many say, "Woe to us! If only we

How many say: "Alas! Would that we could be

were returned to the world, to repent and stand in fear!'

Could return to the world remorseful and reverent."

Returned to the world to turn back and fear God."

فَما نحنُ في دارِ المُنى غيرَ أَنَّنا

فَما نحنُ في دارِ المُنى غيرَ أَنَّنا

شُغِفنا بِدُنيا تَضمَحِلُّ وَتَذهَبُ

شُغِفنا بِدُنيا تَضمَحِلُّ وَتَذهَبُ

For we are not in the abode of wishes; yet we

While we are not in the abode of bliss but

We are not in the Abode of Wishes, save that we

are enthralled by a world that dwindles and passes away.

We were infatuated with a vanishing, fleeting world

Are infatuated with a world that withers and departs.

فَحُثّوا مَطايا الإِرتِحالِ وَشَمِّروا

فَحُثّوا مَطايا الإِرتِحالِ وَشَمِّروا

إِلى اللَهِ وَالدارِ التي لَيسَ تَخرَبُ

إِلى اللَهِ وَالدارِ التي لَيسَ تَخرَبُ

So urge on the mounts of departure and gird yourselves

So motivate the steeds of setting forth

So urge on the riding-mounts of departure and prepare yourselves

toward God and the abode that never falls to ruin.

To God and the home which will not ruin

For God and the Abode that never falls to ruin.

فَما أَقرَبَ الآتي وَأَبعدَ ما مَضى

فَما أَقرَبَ الآتي وَأَبعدَ ما مَضى

وَهذا غُرابُ البَينِ في الدارِ يَنعَبُ

وَهذا غُرابُ البَينِ في الدارِ يَنعَبُ

How near is what is coming, and how far what has passed!

For the coming is near and the past is distant

How near is what is coming, and how far is what has passed,

And here the raven of parting croaks within the dwelling.

And this is the cawing of separation in the lands

While the raven of separation croaks within the homestead.

وَصَلِّ إلهي ما هَمى الوَدقُ أَو شَدا

وَصَلِّ إلهي ما هَمى الوَدقُ أَو شَدا

عَلى الأَيكِ سَجّاعُ الحمامِ المُطَرِّبُ

عَلى الأَيكِ سَجّاعُ الحمامِ المُطَرِّبُ

And bless, my God, as long as rain pours down or sings

My God, bless whom the brush scribbled

And send blessings, my God, as long as the rain pours or

upon the thickets the melodious cooing dove,

Or the ardent lover cooed, the melodious pigeon

The melodious cooing dove sings upon the thicket,

عَلى سَيِّدِ الساداتِ وَالآلِ كُلِّهِم

عَلى سَيِّدِ الساداتِ وَالآلِ كُلِّهِم

وَأَصحابِهِ ما لاحَ في الأُفقِ كَوكَبُ

وَأَصحابِهِ ما لاحَ في الأُفقِ كَوكَبُ

the master of masters, and all his family,

Upon the master of masters and all his family

Upon the Master of Masters and all his Family,

and his companions, as long as a star shines on the horizon.

And his companions for as long as stars shine

And his Companions, as long as a star glimmers in the horizon.