أَيُّها المُغتَرُّ بِالزَمَن

في هَواه خالِعَ الرَسَنِ

O you who is deceived by time

O you who are deluded by time, casting off the halter in pursuit of its whims,

In its passions, having cast off restraint

Your love for the world and its adornment is a seduction that has engulfed you in trials,

حبُّك الدُنيا وَزينَتها

فتنَةٌ عَمَّتك بِالفِتَنِ

Your love of this world and its adornments

You persist—while circumstances bear witness—devoted to its disgraces,

Is a sedition that has engulfed you in trials

So abandon it, for truly its decoration is an ornament that disfigures rather than adorns,

ظَلتَ وَالحالاتُ شاهِدة

عاكِفاً مِنها عَلى وَشنِ

You remained, though circumstances bear witness

It has deceived you, for it is hideous within, despite a fair exterior,

Clinging to it insistently

So send forth deeds that will bring you joy, before the onset of prolonged anguish and sorrow,

فَاِهجرنها إِن زينتها

زينَةٌ شانَت وَلَم تَزِنِ

So abandon it, for its adornment

As though your Hereafter has always remained, and as though your worldly life never existed.

Is an adornment that has declined and lost value

خَدَعتك إِنَّها قَبُحَت

باطِناً في ظاهِرٍ حَسَنِ

It has deceived you, for it is ugly

Inwardly, though outwardly beautiful

وَلتُقَدِّم ما تُسَرُّ بِهِ

قَبلَ طُول البَثّ وَالحَزنِ

And put forth what you find joy in

Before the prolonged affliction and sorrow

فَكَأن أُخراك ما بَرِحَت

وَكَأن دُنياك لَم تَكُنِ

It is as if your delay never ceased

And as if your world never was