أَيا مَن خَلفَهُ الأَجَلُ

وَمَن قُدّامَهُ الأَمَلُ

O you who is followed by death

And in front of whom is hope

أَما وَاللَهِ لا يُنجي

كَ إِلّا الصِدقُ وَالعَمَلُ

By God, neither will save you

Except truthfulness and action

رَأَيتُ المَوتَ داءً لَي

سَ تَنفَعُ دونَهُ الحِيَلُ

I saw that death is an ailment

Against which tricks are of no use

وَأَنَّ المَوتَ أَمرٌ بَي

نَ خَلقِ اللَهِ مُعتَدِلُ

And that death is a matter

Balanced among God's creation

سَلِ الأَيّامَ عَن أَملا

كِنا الماضينَ ما فَعَلوا

Ask the days about our forefathers

And what they used to do