وَقَفتُ وَقد ضاقَ بي

وَقَفتُ وَقد ضاقَ بي

سَبيلُ المُنى الساخِرة

سَبيلُ المُنى الساخِرة

I stood, already hemmed in by

I stood when my path of desires had narrowed,

The path of mocking hopes;

And nothing remained of my doctrine but the bitterness of the end.

ولم يبقَ من مَذهَبي

ولم يبقَ من مَذهَبي

سِوى كَدَر الآخرة

سِوى كَدَر الآخرة

And nothing remained of my creed

I stood alone, lost and weak,

But the gloom of the hereafter.

A friend of melancholy.

وَقَفتُ وحيداً ضَلولاً

وَقَفتُ وحيداً ضَلولاً

ضعيفاً حليفَ الشَجَن

ضعيفاً حليفَ الشَجَن

I stood alone, utterly astray,

I wanted a long prayer,

Weak, allied with sorrow.

For the one I almost forgot, for whom?

أُريدُ الصَلاةَ طَويلاً

أُريدُ الصَلاةَ طَويلاً

لِمَن كِدتُ أنسى لمن

لِمَن كِدتُ أنسى لمن

I wish to pray at length—

For whom does a young man pray,

To whom? I had almost forgotten to whom.

Who got used to other than prayers,

الى مَن يُصلِّي فتىً

الى مَن يُصلِّي فتىً

تعوَّد غيرَ الصَلاة

تعوَّد غيرَ الصَلاة

To whom does a young man pray,

And busied a tender heart,

Who has grown used to things other than prayer,

And went astray from God?

وأَشغَلَ قلباً عتا

وأَشغَلَ قلباً عتا

وضلَّ بغيرِ الإِله

وضلَّ بغيرِ الإِله

And occupied a heart that grew defiant

O He who was bountiful but is now hidden

And strayed without God?

Behind the limits of mankind.

أيا مَن سَناهُ اختفى

أيا مَن سَناهُ اختفى

وراءَ حُدود البَشر

وراءَ حُدود البَشر

O You whose radiance lies hidden

I forgot You in the days of purity,

Beyond the bounds of humankind,

So do not forget me in hardship.

نَسِيتُكَ يومَ الصَفا

نَسِيتُكَ يومَ الصَفا

فلا تَنسَني في الكَدَر

فلا تَنسَني في الكَدَر

I forgot You on the day of serenity;

O Most Forgiving, Most Merciful,

So do not forget me in gloom.

Who sees my humility yesterday and tomorrow.

أيا غافراً أَرحَما

أيا غافراً أَرحَما

يرى ذلَّ أمسي وَغَد

يرى ذلَّ أمسي وَغَد

O Forgiver, most merciful,

I seek refuge in You from vengeance,

Who sees the abasement of my yesterday and tomorrow,

And Your forbearance fills eternity.

مَعاذَكَ أن تَنقَما

مَعاذَكَ أن تَنقَما

وحِلمُكَ ملءُ الأبَد

وحِلمُكَ ملءُ الأبَد

I seek refuge in You, lest You take vengeance,

Your pastures are the bliss I yearn for, my Master.

And Your forbearance fills eternity.

And my body is worn out by suffering.

مَراعِيك خُضرُ المُنى

مَراعِيك خُضرُ المُنى

هي المُشتَهى سيّدي

هي المُشتَهى سيّدي

Your pastures are green with hopes;

Take me by the hand, with Your tenderness.

They are what I long for, my Lord.

وجِسمي دَهاهُ العَنا

وجِسمي دَهاهُ العَنا

حَنانَيكَ خُذ بيدي

حَنانَيكَ خُذ بيدي

And suffering has assailed my body;

I beg Your mercy—take my hand.