ياO نَفسُsoul مالَكwhat ails you تَهوَينَyou love الإِقامةdwelling فيin
يا نَفسُ مالَك تَهوَينَ الإِقامة في
أَرضٍa land تَعَذَّرَbecame unattainable كُلٌّevery one مِنof مناكِyour wishes بِهاin it
أَرضٍ تَعَذَّرَ كُلٌّ مِن مناكِ بِها
O soul, why do you yearn to remain in
O soul, why do you love to dwell in
a land where every wish of yours is beyond reach?
a land where every wish of yours is unattainable?
أَماhave you not تَلوتِyou recited وَعَجزُand the helplessness المَرءِof a person منقصةٌa failing
أَما تَلوتِ وَعَجزُ المَرءِ منقصةٌ
فيin محكمthe clear text of الوَحيrevelation فامشواso walk فيupon مَناكِبهاits shoulders (flanks)
في محكم الوَحي فامشوا في مَناكِبها
Have you not recited—and helplessness is a person's failing—
Have you not recited—and a person's helplessness is a failing—
in Revelation’s unambiguous text: “Then walk upon its shoulders”?
in the clear revelation: “So walk upon its shoulders”?
