1. إِيّاكَ وَالأَيمانَ تُلقي بِها

    فَإِنَّها مُحرِجَةٌ مُكفِرَه

    Beware of oaths you cast about,

    for they bring guilt and lead to unbelief.

  2. وَذِمَّةُ المُؤمِنِ مَخفورَةٌ

    بِالدينِ لا تَدنو لَها مُخفِرَه

    And the believer's pledge is guarded

    by faith; no betrayer draws near it.

  3. عيسٌ تُباري جُدلَها بِالفَتى

    فَجُد لَها يارَبُّ بِالمَغفِرَه

    Pale camels vie with their plaited reins, carrying the youth;

    so be generous to them, O Lord, with forgiveness.

  4. أَقفَرَ في المَطعَمِ رُكبانُها

    وَالقَومُ بِالدَوِّيَّةِ المُقفِرَه

    Their riders have gone short of food,

    while the company is in the desolate wilderness.

  5. ما حاوَلوا عَفوَكَ لا غَيرَهُ

    مِن وَلَدٍ تَمنَحُهُ أَو فِرَه

    So long as they seek Your pardon, and nothing else—

    neither offspring You grant nor wealth.

  6. كَم جاوَزوا مِن حِندِسٍ مُظلِمٍ

    لِيَبلُغوا رَحمَتَكَ المُسفِرَه

    How many a pitch-dark night they have crossed

    to reach Your radiant mercy.

  7. ما الغَفرُ في أَنجُمِهِ آمِنُ ال

    أَقدارِ بَلهُ الغُفرَ وَالمُغفِرَه

    Not even al-Ghafr, amid its stars, is safe from the

    decrees of fate—let alone the ibex kid and its mother.

  8. أَيُلحِدُ الشَيخُ وَمَلحودُهُ

    قَد آنَ للحافِرِ أَن يَحفِرَه

    Would the old man turn heretic, with his grave

    already due to be dug by the gravedigger?

  9. بَيني وَبَينَ البَعثِ طولُ البِلى

    وَمَن لِهَذي النَفسِ أَن تَطفِرَه

    Between me and resurrection lies long decay;

    and who will help this soul leap across it?