لِيَبكِ مُسِنٌّ ثُمَّ أَجَلَّهُ

مَعاشِرُ لَمّا قيلَ أَشيَبُ أَجلَهُ

Let an old man weep, then pride deferred him,

O people of my generation, when it was said he grew old, his term was shortened,

إِذا سَأَلوا عَن مَذهَبي فَهُوَ بَيِّنٌ

وَهَل أَنا إِلّا مِثلُ غَيري أَبلَهُ

When they ask about my faith, it is clear,

And am I not like others confused him?

خُلِقتُ مِنَ الدُنيا وَعِشتُ كَأَهلِها

أَجِدُّ كَما جَدّوا وَأَلهو كَما لَهوا

I was created from this world and lived like its people,

I strive as they strove and play as they played,

وَأَشهَدُ أَنّي بِالقَضاءِ حَلَلتُها

وَأَرحَلُ عَنها خائِفاً أَتَأَلَّهُ

And I testify that by fate I made it lawful,

And I move away from it, afraid, to disturb it,

وَما النَفسُ بِالفِعلِ الجَميلِ مُدِلَّةٌ

وَلَكِنَّ عَقلي مِن حِذارٍ مُدَلَّهُ

And the self is not inclined by good deeds,

But my reason is inclined by fear to disturb it.