1. العبد يلهو ويغفلْ

    والربُّ أعلى وأسفلْ

    The servant amuses himself and is heedless;

    And the Lord is above and below,

  2. بكل شيء محيط

    ويح الذي عنه أجفل

    Encompassing everything.

    Alas for the one who fled from Him in fright!

  3. فانظر إليه تجده

    بكل شيء تكفَّل

    So look to Him; you will find Him

    Taking responsibility for everything.

  4. وفي الجهات البواقي

    تشيطنت أم زنفل

    And in the remaining directions,

    Umm Zanfal turned devilish;

  5. وساعدتها طباع

    على الجهول المغفل

    And natural inclinations aided her

    Against the utterly ignorant, heedless one.

  6. فكلما رام يرقى

    ألهته حتى تسفّل

    So whenever he sought to rise,

    She distracted him until he sank low.

  7. ما فاز بالقرب إلا

    لربه من تنفل

    None attained nearness except

    One who offered voluntary devotions to his Lord,

  8. حتى له صار سمعاً

    وناظراً ليس يغفل

    Until He became his hearing,

    And an eye that does not grow heedless.

  9. وقابل الباب فتحاً

    من بعد ما كان مقفل

    And he found the door open,

    After it had been locked.

  10. له من الحق جند

    يوليه نصراً وجحفل

    From the True One he has a host—

    Granting him victory—and a mighty army.