إذاwhen ماan emphatic particle بنوthe sons of النّوريal-Nuri خلتdeparted منfrom صفاقسSfax
إذا ما بنو النّوري خلت من صفاقس
فلمthen did not يهتدُواthey find their way يوماever إلىto دفعwarding off محذُورa feared danger
فلم يهتدُوا يوما إلى دفع محذُور
When the sons of al-Nuri departed from Sfax,
If the lights of an-Nuri were to depart from Sfax
they never found a way to ward off danger;
They would never find their way to avert the feared
وعنand from طُرُقاتthe paths of الحقّtruth ضلّتstrayed سراتُهمtheir leaders
وعن طُرُقات الحقّ ضلّت سراتُهم
وهلand can يهتديfind his way للطّرقto the roads سارa night traveler بلاwithout نُوريa Nuri (wordplay on 'my light')
وهل يهتدي للطّرق سار بلا نُوري
and their leaders strayed from the paths of truth.
And their paths would stray from the paths of truth
And can a night traveler find the roads without a Nuri?
Can one who travels without light be guided aright?