طريقُ مصر ضيّق المسلكِ

طريقُ مصر ضيّق المسلكِ

سالكُهُ لا شكَّ في مهلكِ

سالكُهُ لا شكَّ في مهلكِ

The road to Egypt is narrow to traverse.

The road to Egypt is a narrow path

Its traveler is, without doubt, in mortal peril.

Whoever walks it, no doubt, walks to ruin

وحبُّ مصر صار جُبّاً لمن

وحبُّ مصر صار جُبّاً لمن

أَوقَعَهُ في شبكِ الشَّوْبَكِ

أَوقَعَهُ في شبكِ الشَّوْبَكِ

And love of Egypt has become a pit for the one

And love of Egypt has become a chasm for one

whom it cast into the net of al-Shawbak.

Whom it has dropped into the trap of yearning

لكنَّما منْ دُونها كعبةٌ

لكنَّما منْ دُونها كعبةٌ

محجوجةٌ مبرورةُ المنسكِ

محجوجةٌ مبرورةُ المنسكِ

Yet on this side of it stands a Kaaba,

Yet, without her, there is a Kaaba

visited by pilgrims, blessed in its rites.

Inaccessible, blessed of pilgrimage

بها صلاحُ الدِّين يُشكى الذي

بها صلاحُ الدِّين يُشكى الذي

إليه من أَيامهِ يشتكي

إليه من أَيامهِ يشتكي

Within it is Salah al-Din; relief is granted to the one

In it Salah al-Din is complained to

who complains to him of his days.

Since his days he has been complained of