ياO رَشيدَRashid (rightly guided) الأَمرِaffairs أَرشِدنيguide me إِلىto
يا رَشيدَ الأَمرِ أَرشِدني إِلى
وَجهِthe path نُجحِsuccess لاmay ... not عَدِمتَyou lack الرَشَداright guidance
وَجهِ نُجحِ لا عَدِمتَ الرَشَدا
O Rashid, sound in judgment, guide me to
the path to success—may you never lack right guidance.
لاmay ... not أَراكَshow you اللَهُGod سوءًharm أَبَداًever
لا أَراكَ اللَهُ سوءً أَبَداً
ماnot رَأَتhas seen مِثلَكَlike you عَينٌan eye أَحَداanyone
ما رَأَت مِثلَكَ عَينٌ أَحَدا
May God never show you harm.
No eye has seen anyone like you.
أَعِنِhelp الخائِفَthe fearful one وَارحَمand have mercy on صَوتَهُhis voice
أَعِنِ الخائِفَ وَارحَم صَوتَهُ
رافِعاًraising نَحوَكَtoward you يَدعوكَhe calls upon you يَداa hand
رافِعاً نَحوَكَ يَدعوكَ يَدا
Help the fearful one, and have mercy on his voice,
as he raises a hand toward you, calling upon you.
وابَلائيalas, my affliction! مِنfrom دَعاوىclaims أَمَلٍhope
وابَلائي مِن دَعاوى أَمَلٍ
كُلَّماwhenever قُلتُI said تَدانىit drew near بَعُداit grew distant
كُلَّما قُلتُ تَدانى بَعُدا
Alas, my suffering from the promises of hope!
Whenever I say it has drawn near, it grows distant.
كَمhow often أُمَنّيI promise myself بِغَدٍwith tomorrow بَعدَafter غَدٍtomorrow
كَم أُمَنّي بِغَدٍ بَعدَ غَدٍ
يَنفَدُruns out العُمرُlife وَلَمand have not أَلقَI meet غَداtomorrow
يَنفَدُ العُمرُ وَلَم أَلقَ غَدا
How often I promise myself tomorrow after tomorrow!
Life runs out, and I have not met tomorrow.