مَضى الناسُ أَفواجاً وَنَحنُ وَراءَهُم

مَضى الناسُ أَفواجاً وَنَحنُ وَراءَهُم

وَكانوا وَكُنّا في الضَلالِ نَعومُ

وَكانوا وَكُنّا في الضَلالِ نَعومُ

People have passed on in throngs, and we are behind them;

The people passed by in groups while we trailed behind them

and they, and we, were swimming in error.

Though they and we were lost in ignorance and blind

فَيا أُذني هَل في الَّذي تَسمَعينَهُ

فَيا أُذني هَل في الَّذي تَسمَعينَهُ

مِنَ القَولِ إِلّا فِريَةٌ وَزُعومُ

مِنَ القَولِ إِلّا فِريَةٌ وَزُعومُ

So, my ear, is there in what you hear

So my ears, is there in what you hear

of speech anything but fabrication and claims?

Anything but lies and unfounded tales?

وَكَم يَتَجَنّى المَينَ أَحمَرُ ناطِقٌ

وَكَم يَتَجَنّى المَينَ أَحمَرُ ناطِقٌ

تُمازُ بِهِ عِندَ المَذاقِ طُعومُ

تُمازُ بِهِ عِندَ المَذاقِ طُعومُ

And how often a red, speaking tongue gathers falsehood,

And how much poison is proffered by the eloquent red-lipped speaker

by which flavors are distinguished when tasted.

Who makes it seem sweet to the taste

وَراحِلَتي نَفسٌ خَؤونٌ كَأَنَّها

وَراحِلَتي نَفسٌ خَؤونٌ كَأَنَّها

مِنَ الضَعفِ شاةٌ في السَوامِ رَغومُ

مِنَ الضَعفِ شاةٌ في السَوامِ رَغومُ

And my mount is a treacherous soul, as though it were

My mount is a negligent soul that is as though

in its weakness a runny-nosed ewe among grazing livestock.

Among the herd, a weak sheep stumbling in its walk

لَجونٌ إِذا بانَ الهُدى لاتَؤُمُّهُ

لَجونٌ إِذا بانَ الهُدى لاتَؤُمُّهُ

وَإِن لاحَ نَهجُ الغَيُّ فَهيَ سَعومُ

وَإِن لاحَ نَهجُ الغَيُّ فَهيَ سَعومُ

Balky when guidance becomes clear, it will not head toward it;

A horse too feeble to be led aright

yet if the path of error appears, it presses tirelessly on.

Though the true path shine clear, it still goes astray