سَعيُ الفَتى في عَيشِهِ عِبادَه

وَقائِدٌ يَهديهِ لِلسَعادَه

A young man's pursuit of livelihood is worship,

With a guide leading him to happiness.

لِأَنَّ بِالسَعيِ يَقومُ الكَونُ

وَاللَهُ لِلساعينَ نِعمَ العَونُ

For it is through pursuit that the universe functions,

And God is the best helper for those who make effort.

فَإِن تَشَأ فَهَذِهِ حِكايَه

تُعَدُّ في هَذا المَقامِ غايَه

So if you wish, here is a tale

That in this context is considered an ultimate goal:

كانَت بِأَرضٍ نَملَةٌ تَنبالَه

لَم تَسلُ يَوماً لَذَّةَ البَطالَه

There was an ant in a land working hard,

That never indulged in the pleasure of idleness.

وَاِشتَهَرَت في النَملِ بِالتَقَشُّفِ

وَاِتَّصَفَت بِالزُهدِ وَالتَصَوُّفِ

She was well-known among ants for asceticism,

And was characterized by detachment and mysticism.

لَكِن يَقومُ اللَيلَ مَن يَقتاتُ

فَالبَطنُ لا تَملُؤهُ الصَلاةُ

But one who stays up at night suffering from hunger,

Cannot fill their stomach with prayer.

وَالنَملُ لا يَسعى إِلَيهِ الحَبُّ

وَنَملَتي شَقَّ عَلَيها الدَأبُ

And ants are not motivated by love for her,

And my ant found the work too difficult to bear.

فَخَرَجَت إِلى اِلتِماسِ القوتِ

وَجَعَلَت تَطوفُ بِالبُيوتِ

So she went out looking for sustenance,

And started wandering through homes.

تَقولُ هَل مِن نَملَةٍ تَقِيَّه

تُنعِمُ بِالقوتِ لِذي الوَلِيَّه

Saying “Is there an ant who can host

One who bestows kindness on the loyal.”

لَقَد عَيِيتُ بِالطَوى المُبَرِّحِ

وَمُنذُ لَيلَتَينِ لَم أسَبِّحِ

I grew tired from much traveling around,

And for two nights now I have not glorified.

فَصاحَتِ الجاراتُ يا لَلعارِ

لَم تتركِ النَملَةُ لِلصِرصارِ

So the neighbors shouted “Oh what shame!

That an ant would beg from a locust!”

مَتى رَضينا مِثلَ هَذي الحالِ

مَتى مَدَدنا الكَفَّ لِلسُؤالِ

When did we approve of behavior like this?

When did we extend a palm for begging?

وَنَحنُ في عَينِ الوُجودِ أُمَّه

ذاتُ اِشتِهارٍ بِعُلُوِّ الهِمَّه

For in the eyes of existence we are a nation

Renowned for the loftiness of our ambition.

نَحمِلُ ما يَصبِرُ الجِمالُ

عَن بَعضِهِ لَو أَنَّها نِمالُ

We endure what would try the patience

Of a camel if it were a small ant.

أَلَم يَقُل مَن قَولُهُ الصَوابُ

ما عِندَنا لِسائِلٍ جَوابُ

Did not the one whose words are right say:

“We have no answer for one who asks.”

فَاِمضي فَإِنّا يا عَجوزَ الشومِ

نَرى كَمالَ الزُهدِ أَن تَصومي

So go on! For we, old unfortunate one,

See the height of detachment that you fast.