يا خَلفي خَلَّفتَني

يا خَلفي خَلَّفتَني

أَشكو زَماناً لِبُكا

أَشكو زَماناً لِبُكا

O my heir, you have left me behind—

O my successor, you have left me

O my successor you have left me behind

O my successor, you have left me behind,

to complain of an age made for weeping.

Lamenting a troubled age.

I complain of a time for crying

I complain of a time destined for weeping,

شُغلُ بَني الدُنيا بِها

شُغلُ بَني الدُنيا بِها

وَإِنَّ شُغلي لَبُكا

وَإِنَّ شُغلي لَبُكا

The children of this world are absorbed in it,

The children of this world are occupied with it,

The occupation of the children of the world with it

The children of the world are preoccupied with the world,

but my own occupation is surely weeping.

And my occupation is indeed weeping.

And my occupation is indeed crying

While my only occupation is indeed to weep.