كَأَنّي بِنَفسي وَهيَ في السَكَراتِ

كَأَنّي بِنَفسي وَهيَ في السَكَراتِ

تُعالِجُ أَن تَرقى إِلى اللَهَواتِ

تُعالِجُ أَن تَرقى إِلى اللَهَواتِ

I seem to see myself in death’s agonies,

It is as though I see my soul in the throes of death,

struggling to rise toward the throat,

Struggling to rise to the back of the throat.

وَقَد زُمَّ رَحلي وَاِستَقَلَّت رَكائِبي

وَقَد زُمَّ رَحلي وَاِستَقَلَّت رَكائِبي

وَقَد آذَنَتني بِالرَحيلِ حُداتي

وَقَد آذَنَتني بِالرَحيلِ حُداتي

my saddle already bound and my mounts setting out,

And my saddle is secured, and my riding camels have risen,

my drivers announcing that it is time to depart—

And my camel-drivers have told me of the departure,

إِلى مَنزِلٍ فيهِ عَذابٌ وَرَحمَةٌ

إِلى مَنزِلٍ فيهِ عَذابٌ وَرَحمَةٌ

وَكَم فيهِ مِن زَجرٍ لَنا وَعِظاتِ

وَكَم فيهِ مِن زَجرٍ لَنا وَعِظاتِ

toward an abode containing punishment and mercy,

To an abode with torment and mercy;

and how many rebukes and lessons it holds for us:

And how many warnings and admonitions it holds for us!

وَمِن أَعيُنٍ سالَت عَلى وَجَناتِها

وَمِن أَعيُنٍ سالَت عَلى وَجَناتِها

وَمِن أَوجُهٍ في التُربِ مُنعَفِراتِ

وَمِن أَوجُهٍ في التُربِ مُنعَفِراتِ

how many eyes whose tears streamed down their cheeks,

And eyes that have flowed down upon their cheeks,

how many faces cast down into the dust,

And faces besmeared with dust;

وَمِن وارِدٍ فيهِ عَلى ما يَسُرُّهُ

وَمِن وارِدٍ فيهِ عَلى ما يَسُرُّهُ

وَمِن وارِدٍ فيهِ عَلى الحَسَراتِ

وَمِن وارِدٍ فيهِ عَلى الحَسَراتِ

how many arriving there to find what delights them,

And one who enters it to meet what delights him,

and how many arriving there to find only regrets;

And one who enters it to face regrets;

وَمِن عاثِرٍ ما إِن يُقالُ لَهُ لَعاً

وَمِن عاثِرٍ ما إِن يُقالُ لَهُ لَعاً

عَلى ما عَهِدنا قَبلُ في العَثَراتِ

عَلى ما عَهِدنا قَبلُ في العَثَراتِ

how many a fallen man to whom no one says, “Rise!”—

And one who stumbles, to whom no 'May you recover!' is said,

unlike what we knew before when people stumbled;

As was our custom before when someone stumbled.

وَمِن مَلِكٍ كانَ السُرورُ مِهادَهُ

وَمِن مَلِكٍ كانَ السُرورُ مِهادَهُ

مَعَ الآنِساتِ الخُرَّدِ الخَفِراتِ

مَعَ الآنِساتِ الخُرَّدِ الخَفِراتِ

and how many a king whose bed was happiness,

And a king who once had joy for his bed,

amid sociable, sheltered, modest maidens—

Among charming, bashful virgins;

غَداً لا يَذودُ الدودَ عَن حُرِّ وَجهِهِ

غَداً لا يَذودُ الدودَ عَن حُرِّ وَجهِهِ

وَكانَ يَذودُ الأُسدَ في الأَجَماتِ

وَكانَ يَذودُ الأُسدَ في الأَجَماتِ

tomorrow he cannot ward worms from his noble face,

Tomorrow he cannot drive the worms from his noble face,

though once he drove lions from the thickets.

And he once drove off lions in the thickets.

وَعُوِّضَ أُنساً مِن ظِباءِ كِناسِهِ

وَعُوِّضَ أُنساً مِن ظِباءِ كِناسِهِ

وَأَرآمِهِ بِالرُقشِ وَالحَشَراتِ

وَأَرآمِهِ بِالرُقشِ وَالحَشَراتِ

In place of the companionship of the gazelles in his covert

And he was given for company, instead of his covert's gazelles

and its white antelopes, he is given speckled snakes and insects.

And his white gazelles, speckled snakes and insects.

وَصارَ بِبَطنِ الأَرضِ يَلتَحِفُ الثَرى

وَصارَ بِبَطنِ الأَرضِ يَلتَحِفُ الثَرى

وَكانَ يَجُرُّ الوَشيَ وَالحَبَراتِ

وَكانَ يَجُرُّ الوَشيَ وَالحَبَراتِ

Within the earth he comes to wrap himself in soil,

And in the earth's belly he came to wrap himself in soil,

though once he trailed brocade and striped robes.

And he once trailed brocades and striped robes.

وَلَم تُغنِهِ أَنصارُهُ وَجُنودُهُ

وَلَم تُغنِهِ أَنصارُهُ وَجُنودُهُ

وَلَم تَحمِهِ بِالبيضِ وَالأَسَلاتِ

وَلَم تَحمِهِ بِالبيضِ وَالأَسَلاتِ

His supporters and armies avail him nothing,

And his supporters and troops were of no help to him,

nor do their swords and supple spears protect him.

And did not shield him with bright swords and spearheads.

وَمِمّا شَجاني وَالشُجونُ كَثيرَةٌ

وَمِمّا شَجاني وَالشُجونُ كَثيرَةٌ

ذُنوبٌ عِظامٌ أَسبَلَت عَبَراتي

ذُنوبٌ عِظامٌ أَسبَلَت عَبَراتي

Among the things that grieve me—and my griefs are many—

And among what grieves me—and griefs are many—

are grave sins that have made my tears pour down.

Are grave sins that have made my tears flow.

وَأَقلَقَني أَنّي أَموتُ مُفَرِّطاً

وَأَقلَقَني أَنّي أَموتُ مُفَرِّطاً

عَلى أَنَّني خَلَّفتُ بَعدُ لِداتي

عَلى أَنَّني خَلَّفتُ بَعدُ لِداتي

I am troubled that I shall die having been remiss,

And it troubles me that I shall die remiss,

although I have now outlived my peers,

Though I have, until now, outlived my peers.

وَأَغفَلتُ أَمري بَعدَهُم مُتَثَبِّطاً

وَأَغفَلتُ أَمري بَعدَهُم مُتَثَبِّطاً

فَيا عَجَباً مِنّي وَمِن غَفَلاتي

فَيا عَجَباً مِنّي وَمِن غَفَلاتي

and after them neglected my own fate, held back by indolence.

And after them I neglected my own affairs, dragging my feet.

How astonishing I am, and how astonishing my heedlessness!

So, how astonishing I am—and my heedless lapses!

إِلى اللَهِ أَشكو جَهلَ نَفسي فَإِنَّها

إِلى اللَهِ أَشكو جَهلَ نَفسي فَإِنَّها

تَميلُ إِلى الراحاتِ وَالشَهَواتِ

تَميلُ إِلى الراحاتِ وَالشَهَواتِ

To God I complain of my soul’s folly, for it

To God I complain of my soul's ignorance, for it

inclines toward ease and appetites.

Inclines toward comforts and desires.

وَيا رُبَّ خِلٍّ كُنتُ ذا صِلَةٍ لَهُ

وَيا رُبَّ خِلٍّ كُنتُ ذا صِلَةٍ لَهُ

يَرى أَنَّ دَفني مِن أَجَلِّ صِلاتي

يَرى أَنَّ دَفني مِن أَجَلِّ صِلاتي

How many a dear friend to whom I was generous

And oh, many a friend to whom I showed kindness

will deem my burial the noblest kindness he can do me.

Considers burying me among the greatest kindnesses done me.

وَكُنتُ لَهُ أُنساً وَشَمساً مُنيرَةً

وَكُنتُ لَهُ أُنساً وَشَمساً مُنيرَةً

فَأَفرَدَني في وَحشَةِ الظُلُماتِ

فَأَفرَدَني في وَحشَةِ الظُلُماتِ

I was his companion and a radiant sun to him,

And I was his solace and a shining sun,

yet he will leave me alone in the desolation of darkness.

Then he left me alone in the desolation of darkness.

سَأَضرِبُ فُسطاطي عَلى عَسكَرِ البِلى

سَأَضرِبُ فُسطاطي عَلى عَسكَرِ البِلى

وَأَركُزُ فيهِ لِلنُزولِ قَناتي

وَأَركُزُ فيهِ لِلنُزولِ قَناتي

I shall pitch my pavilion in the camp of decay

I shall pitch my tent in decay's camp,

and plant my spear there as I dismount to stay.

And plant my lance there to make camp.

وَأَركَبُ ظَهراً لا يَؤوبُ بِراكِبٍ

وَأَركَبُ ظَهراً لا يَؤوبُ بِراكِبٍ

وَلا يُمتَطى إِلّا إِلى الهَلَكاتِ

وَلا يُمتَطى إِلّا إِلى الهَلَكاتِ

I shall mount a steed that never brings its rider back

And I shall mount a back that brings no rider home,

and is ridden nowhere but toward destruction.

And is ridden only toward destruction.

وَلَيسَ يُرى إِلّا بِساحَةِ ظاعِنٍ

وَلَيسَ يُرى إِلّا بِساحَةِ ظاعِنٍ

إِلى مَصرَعِ الفَرحاتِ وَالتَرَحاتِ

إِلى مَصرَعِ الفَرحاتِ وَالتَرَحاتِ

It is seen only in the courtyard of one departing

And is seen only in the courtyard of one departing

for the place where joys and sorrows alike lie slain.

For the place where joys and sorrows perish.

يُسَيِّرُ أَدنى الناسِ سَيراً كَسَيرِهِ

يُسَيِّرُ أَدنى الناسِ سَيراً كَسَيرِهِ

بِأَرفَعِ مَنعِيٍّ مِنَ السَرَواتِ

بِأَرفَعِ مَنعِيٍّ مِنَ السَرَواتِ

It takes the lowliest person on the same journey

It carries the lowliest of people just as it carries

as the most exalted man mourned among the nobles.

The loftiest of the mourned among the nobles.

فَطَوراً تَراهُ يَحمِلُ الشُمَّ وَالرُبا

فَطَوراً تَراهُ يَحمِلُ الشُمَّ وَالرُبا

وَطَوراً تَراهُ يَحمِلُ الحَصَياتِ

وَطَوراً تَراهُ يَحمِلُ الحَصَياتِ

At one time you see it bearing lofty peaks and hills,

So at times you see it carry lofty mountains and hills,

and at another you see it bearing little pebbles.

And at times you see it carry little pebbles.

وَرُبَّ حَصاةٍ قَدرُها فَوقَ يَذبُلٍ

وَرُبَّ حَصاةٍ قَدرُها فَوقَ يَذبُلٍ

كَمَقبولِ ما يُرمى مِنَ الجَمَراتِ

كَمَقبولِ ما يُرمى مِنَ الجَمَراتِ

Yet many a pebble is worth more than Mount Yadhbul—

And many a pebble has worth greater than Yadhbul,

like an accepted stone cast at the Pillars during the pilgrimage.

Like an accepted one among the ritual pebbles cast.

وَكُلُّ صَغيرٍ كانَ لِلّهِ خالِصاً

وَكُلُّ صَغيرٍ كانَ لِلّهِ خالِصاً

يُرَبّي عَلى ما جاءَ في الصَدَقاتِ

يُرَبّي عَلى ما جاءَ في الصَدَقاتِ

Every little deed done sincerely for God

And every small thing devoted purely to God

He makes grow, as tradition tells of acts of charity;

Grows in worth, as has been related concerning alms.

وَكُلُّ كَبيرٍ لا يَكونُ لِوَجهِهِ

وَكُلُّ كَبيرٍ لا يَكونُ لِوَجهِهِ

فَمِثلُ رَمادٍ طارَ في الهَبَواتِ

فَمِثلُ رَمادٍ طارَ في الهَبَواتِ

and every great deed not done for His sake

And every great thing not done for His sake

is like ashes scattered through motes of dust.

Is like ashes flying amid clouds of dust.

وَلَكِنَّهُ يُرجى لِمَن ماتَ مُحسِناً

وَلَكِنَّهُ يُرجى لِمَن ماتَ مُحسِناً

وَيُخشى عَلى مَن ماتَ في غَمَراتِ

وَيُخشى عَلى مَن ماتَ في غَمَراتِ

Yet there is hope for one who dies doing good,

Yet there is hope for one who dies doing good,

and fear for one who dies engulfed in sin.

And fear for one who dies in the depths of heedlessness.

وَما اليَومَ يُمتازُ التَفاضُلُ بَينَهُم

وَما اليَومَ يُمتازُ التَفاضُلُ بَينَهُم

وَلَكِن غَداً يُمتازُ في الدَرَجاتِ

وَلَكِن غَداً يُمتازُ في الدَرَجاتِ

Today the difference in merit among them is not discerned,

And today their differences in merit are not distinguished,

but tomorrow their ranks will be clearly distinguished,

But tomorrow they will be distinguished in their ranks.

إِذا رُوِّعَ الخاطي وَطارَ فُؤادُهُ

إِذا رُوِّعَ الخاطي وَطارَ فُؤادُهُ

وَأُفرِخَ رَوعُ البَرِّ في الغُرُفاتِ

وَأُفرِخَ رَوعُ البَرِّ في الغُرُفاتِ

when the sinner is terrified and his heart takes flight,

When the sinner is struck with terror and his heart takes flight,

while the righteous man’s fear is calmed in the lofty chambers.

And the righteous one's fear is dispelled in the lofty chambers.

وَما يَعرِفُ الإِنسانُ أَينَ وَفاتُهُ

وَما يَعرِفُ الإِنسانُ أَينَ وَفاتُهُ

أَفي البَرِّ أَم في البَحرِ أَم بِفَلاةِ

أَفي البَرِّ أَم في البَحرِ أَم بِفَلاةِ

No human being knows where death will find him:

And no person knows where his death will be:

on land, at sea, or in a wilderness.

On land, at sea, or in a wilderness?

فَيا إِخوَتي مَهما شَهِدتُم جَنازَتي

فَيا إِخوَتي مَهما شَهِدتُم جَنازَتي

فَقوموا لِرَبّي وَاِسأَلوهُ نَجاتي

فَقوموا لِرَبّي وَاِسأَلوهُ نَجاتي

So, my brothers, whenever you attend my funeral,

So, my brothers, whenever you attend my funeral,

stand before my Lord and ask Him to save me.

Then stand in prayer to my Lord and ask Him to save me.

وَجِدّوا اِبتِهالاً في الدُعاءِ وَأَخلِصوا

وَجِدّوا اِبتِهالاً في الدُعاءِ وَأَخلِصوا

لَعَلَّ إِلَهي يَقبَلُ الدَعَواتِ

لَعَلَّ إِلَهي يَقبَلُ الدَعَواتِ

Strive in earnest supplication, and pray sincerely,

And strive in fervent supplication, and be sincere,

that perhaps my God will accept your prayers.

Perhaps my God will accept the prayers.

وَقولوا جَميلاً إِن عَلِمتُم خِلافَهُ

وَقولوا جَميلاً إِن عَلِمتُم خِلافَهُ

وَأَغضوا عَلى ما كانَ مِن هَفَواتي

وَأَغضوا عَلى ما كانَ مِن هَفَواتي

Speak well of me, even if you know otherwise,

And speak well of me, even if you know the contrary,

and overlook whatever lapses I committed.

And overlook the lapses I have made.

وَلا تَصِفوني بِالَّذي أَنا أَهلُهُ

وَلا تَصِفوني بِالَّذي أَنا أَهلُهُ

فَأَشقى وَحَلّوني بِخَيرِ صِفاتِ

فَأَشقى وَحَلّوني بِخَيرِ صِفاتِ

Do not describe me as I truly deserve,

And do not describe me as I deserve,

lest I be damned; adorn me with the finest qualities.

Lest I be wretched; adorn me with the finest qualities.

وَلا تَتَناسَوني فَقِدماً ذَكَرتُكُم

وَلا تَتَناسَوني فَقِدماً ذَكَرتُكُم

وَواصَلتُكُم بِالبِرِّ طولَ حَياتي

وَواصَلتُكُم بِالبِرِّ طولَ حَياتي

Do not gradually forget me, for long have I remembered you

And do not willfully forget me, for in days past I remembered you,

and maintained bonds of kindness with you throughout my life.

And kept ties with you through kindness throughout my life.

وَبِالرَغمِ فارَقتُ الأَحِبَّةَ مِنكُمُ

وَبِالرَغمِ فارَقتُ الأَحِبَّةَ مِنكُمُ

وَلَمّا تُفارِقني بِكُم زَفَراتي

وَلَمّا تُفارِقني بِكُم زَفَراتي

Against my will I have left the loved ones among you,

And reluctantly I parted from the loved ones among you,

though my sighs of longing for you have not yet left me.

And my sighs for you have not yet left me.

وَإِن كُنتُ مَيتاً بَينَ أَيديكُمُ لَقىً

وَإِن كُنتُ مَيتاً بَينَ أَيديكُمُ لَقىً

فَروحِيَ حَيٌّ سامِعٌ لِنُعاتي

فَروحِيَ حَيٌّ سامِعٌ لِنُعاتي

Though I lie dead before you, a cast-off corpse,

And though I am dead before you, cast aside,

my spirit is alive, listening to those who mourn me.

Yet my spirit lives, listening to those who announce my death.

أُناجيكُمُ وَحياً وَإِن كُنتُ صامِتاً

أُناجيكُمُ وَحياً وَإِن كُنتُ صامِتاً

أَلا كُلُّكُم يَوماً إِلَيَّ سَياتي

أَلا كُلُّكُم يَوماً إِلَيَّ سَياتي

I commune with you by inspiration though I am silent.

I confide in you through signs, though I am silent:

Indeed, every one of you will come to me one day.

Behold, every one of you will one day come to me.

وَلَيسَ يَقومُ الجِسمُ إِلّا بِروحِهِ

وَلَيسَ يَقومُ الجِسمُ إِلّا بِروحِهِ

هُوَ القُطبُ وَالأَعضاءُ كَالأَدَواتِ

هُوَ القُطبُ وَالأَعضاءُ كَالأَدَواتِ

The body can exist only through its spirit:

And the body subsists only through its spirit;

the spirit is the axis, while the limbs are merely instruments.

It is the pivot, and the limbs are like tools.

وَلا بُدَّ يَوماً أَن يَحورَ بِعَينِهِ

وَلا بُدَّ يَوماً أَن يَحورَ بِعَينِهِ

لِيُجزى عَلى الطاعاتِ وَالتَبِعاتِ

لِيُجزى عَلى الطاعاتِ وَالتَبِعاتِ

Inevitably, one day the body itself must return

And one day it must return, the very same,

to be recompensed for acts of obedience and liabilities incurred.

To be requited for acts of obedience and sins.

وَإِلّا أَكُن أَهلاً لِفَضلٍ وَرَحمَةٍ

وَإِلّا أَكُن أَهلاً لِفَضلٍ وَرَحمَةٍ

فَرَبِّيَ أَهلُ الفَضلِ وَالرَحَماتِ

فَرَبِّيَ أَهلُ الفَضلِ وَالرَحَماتِ

Though I may be unworthy of bounty and mercy,

And if I am not worthy of grace and mercy,

my Lord is the Lord of bounty and mercies.

Then my Lord is the possessor of grace and mercies.

فَما زِلتُ أَرجو عَفوَهُ وَجِنانَهُ

فَما زِلتُ أَرجو عَفوَهُ وَجِنانَهُ

وَأَحمَدُهُ في اليُسرِ وَالأَزَماتِ

وَأَحمَدُهُ في اليُسرِ وَالأَزَماتِ

I have never ceased hoping for His pardon and His gardens,

For I have never ceased hoping for His pardon and His gardens,

and I praise Him in ease and in times of crisis.

And praise Him in ease and times of hardship,

وَأَسجُدُ تَعظيماً لَهُ وَتَذَلُّلاً

وَأَسجُدُ تَعظيماً لَهُ وَتَذَلُّلاً

وَأَعبُدُهُ في الجَهرِ وَالخَلَواتِ

وَأَعبُدُهُ في الجَهرِ وَالخَلَواتِ

I prostrate myself before Him in reverence and humility,

And prostrate myself before Him in reverence and humility,

and worship Him openly and in solitude.

And worship Him openly and in solitude.

وَلَستُ بِمُمتَنٍّ عَلَيهِ بِطاعَتي

وَلَستُ بِمُمتَنٍّ عَلَيهِ بِطاعَتي

لَهُ المَنُّ في التَيسيرِ لِلحَسَناتِ

لَهُ المَنُّ في التَيسيرِ لِلحَسَناتِ

I do not claim merit before Him for my obedience:

And I do not count my obedience as a favor to Him;

His alone is the favor of enabling every good deed.

His is the favor of making good deeds easy.