قَد كُنتَ مَيتاً فَصِرتَ حَيّاً

وَعَن قَليلٍ تَصيرُ مَيتاً

You were dead, then brought to life

You were dead, then you became alive,

And soon again you'll die

And in a little while, you shall become dead.

بَنَيتَ بِدارِ الفَناءِ بَيتاً

فَاِبنِ لِدارِ البَقاءِ بَيتاً

You built a house in this world

You built a house in the abode of transience,

So build instead for the next one high

So build a house for the abode of eternity.