أَرىI see الخَلقَcreation فيin أَمرَينِtwo states ماضٍpast وَمُقبِلٍand what is to come
أَرى الخَلقَ في أَمرَينِ ماضٍ وَمُقبِلٍ
وَظَرفَينِand two settings ظَرفَيthe two settings of مُدَّةٍduration وَمَكانِand place
وَظَرفَينِ ظَرفَي مُدَّةٍ وَمَكانِ
I see creation in two states: past and future,
And in two settings: those of time and place.
إِذاwhen ماan emphatic particle سَأَلناwe ask عَنabout مُرادِthe intent of إِلَهِناour God
إِذا ما سَأَلنا عَن مُرادِ إِلَهِنا
كَنىspoke indirectly عَنinstead of بَيانٍclear explanation فيin الإِجابَةِthe answer كانيone who speaks in allusions
كَنى عَن بَيانٍ في الإِجابَةِ كاني
Whenever we ask about our God's intent,
An allusive speaker answers indirectly rather than plainly.