معاذيَmy refuge إنif عاذَsought refuge اللَّهيفُthe anguished one ولاذَاand sought shelter
معاذيَ إن عاذَ اللَّهيفُ ولاذَا
وغَوثيand my succor إذْwhen لاذَاneither this one يُغيثُgives aid ولاذاnor that one
وغَوثي إذْ لاذَا يُغيثُ ولاذا
My refuge when the anguished seek refuge and shelter,
My refuge, if God has granted refuge, and sanctuary,
And my succor when neither this one nor that one gives aid,
And my succor, when there is no one to give succor and sanctuary,
ويَاand O مَنْthe One إليهِto Him أشْتكيI complain of الضرَّharm والأَذَىand hurt
ويَا مَنْ إليهِ أشْتكي الضرَّ والأَذَى
إذاwhen ضرَّنيharms me صرفvicissitudes الزّمانof time وآذَىand hurts
إذا ضرَّني صرف الزّمان وآذَى
And O You to whom I complain of harm and hurt,
O You, to Whom I complain of harm and pain,
When time’s vicissitudes harm and hurt me:
When times betray and hurt me,
إذاif لمnot تُعذْنيYou shelter me ياO إلاهيmy God فَمَنْthen whom إذَاwhen
إذا لم تُعذْني يا إلاهي فَمَنْ إذَا
دَهَتْنيbeset me الَّلياليthe nights أرتجيهِI hope for him معاذَاas a refuge
دَهَتْني الَّليالي أرتجيهِ معاذَا
If You do not shelter me, O my God, then whom, when
If You do not grant me refuge, O my God, then who,
The nights beset me, can I look to for refuge?
When nights confuse me, shall I hope for as a refuge.