ما لَنا لانَتَفَكَّر

أَينَ كِسرى أَينَ قَيصَر

Why do we not contemplate,

Where is Chosroes, where is Caesar,

أَينَ مَن قَد جَمَعَ الما

لَ مَعَ المالِ فَأَكثَر

Where are those who amassed gold,

Along with wealth they accumulated more,

أَينَ مَن كانَ يُسامي

بِغِنى الدُنيا وَيَفخَر

Where are those who were competing,

With the riches of this world and took pride,

لَيتَ شِعري أَيُّ شَيءٍ

بَعدَ شَيءٍ أَتَنَظَّر

I wonder which thing,

After a thing I await,

قَد رَأَيتُ الدَهرَ يُفني

مَعشَراً مِن بَعدِ مَعشَر

I have seen time making perish,

One group of people after another,

لَيسَ يَبقى ذو يَسارٍ

لا وَلا مَن كانَ مُعسِر

There remains neither a wealthy one,

Nor one who was destitute.