تَبارَكَ مَن فَخري بِأَنّي لَهُ عَبدُ

وَسُبحانَهُ سُبحانَهُ وَلَهُ الحَمدُ

Blessed is He who boasts that I am His servant

Glory be to Him, Glory be to Him, to Him belongs all praise

وَلا مُلكَ إِلّا مُلكُهُ عَزَّ وَجهُهُ

هُوَ القَبلُ في سُلطانِهِ وَهُوَ البَعدُ

There is no sovereign but His sovereignty, Mighty is His face

He is the First in His dominion and He is the Last

فَيا نَفسُ خافي اللَهَ وَاجتَهِدي لَهُ

فَقَد فاتَتِ الأَيّامُ وَاقتَرَبَ الوَعدُ

So my soul, fear Allah and strive for Him

For days have passed and the promise has drawn near

فَخَيرَ المَماتِ قَتلَةٌ في سَبيلِهِ

وَخَيرُ المَعاشِ الخِفُّ وَالحِلُّ وَالقَصدُ

The best of deaths is to be killed in His cause

And the best of livelihoods is modesty, forbearance and moderation

تَشاغَلتُ عَمّا لَيسَ لي مِنهُ حيلَةٌ

وَلا بُدَّ مِمّا لَيسَ مِنهُ لَنا بُدُّ

I busied myself with that over which I have no control

When there is no avoiding what we cannot evade

عَجِبتُ لِخَوضِ الناسِ في الهَزلِ بَينَهُم

صَراحاً كَأَنَّ الهَزلَ بَينَهُمُ جِدُّ

I'm amazed at people joking foolishly among themselves

As if jesting among them is serious

نَسوا المَوتَ فَارتاحوا إِلى اللَهوِ وَالصِبا

كَأَنَّ المَنايا لا تَروحُ وَلا تَغدو

They forgot death and relaxed into frivolity and youth

As if death does not go and come