لا تَأمَنِ المَوتَ في ظَرفٍ وَلا نَفَسٍ

لا تَأمَنِ المَوتَ في ظَرفٍ وَلا نَفَسٍ

وَلَو تَمَنَعتَ بِالحُجّابِ وَالحَرَسِ

وَلَو تَمَنَعتَ بِالحُجّابِ وَالحَرَسِ

Do not feel safe from death in any circumstance or for a single breath,

Do not feel secure from death at any time or state,

Do not feel secure from death for a moment, nor a single breath,

even if you fortify yourself with gatekeepers and guards.

Even if you fortify yourself with shields and guards.

Even if you fortified yourself with chamberlains and guards.

وَاعلَم بِأَنَّ سِهامَ المَوتِ نافِذَةٌ

وَاعلَم بِأَنَّ سِهامَ المَوتِ نافِذَةٌ

في كُلِ مُدَّرَعٍ مِنا وَمُتَّرِسِ

في كُلِ مُدَّرَعٍ مِنا وَمُتَّرِسِ

And know that death’s arrows penetrate

Know that the arrows of death permeate

And know that the arrows of death penetrate through

every armored person and shield-bearer among us.

Every armored soldier, shielded though he is.

Every armored warrior among us and every shield-bearer.

ما بالُ دُنياكَ تَرضى أَن تُدَنِّسَهُ

ما بالُ دُنياكَ تَرضى أَن تُدَنِّسَهُ

وَثَوبَكَ الدَهرُ مَغسولٌ مِنَ الدَنَسِ

وَثَوبَكَ الدَهرُ مَغسولٌ مِنَ الدَنَسِ

Why are you content to sully your worldly life,

Why do you allow your worldly life to be debased

Why are you content to let your honor be defiled,

while your garment is always washed clean of filth?

When your robe is washed clean of all impurity?

While your garments are forever washed clean of dirt?

تَرجو النَجاةَ وَلَم تَسلُك مَسالِكَها

تَرجو النَجاةَ وَلَم تَسلُك مَسالِكَها

إِن السَفينَةَ لا تَجري عَلى اليَبَسِ

إِن السَفينَةَ لا تَجري عَلى اليَبَسِ

You hope for salvation, yet have not followed its paths;

You hope for salvation, but do not tread its path;

You hope for salvation yet do not tread its paths;

indeed, a ship does not sail on dry land.

A ship cannot sail on dry land.

Indeed, the ship does not sail upon dry land.