عَلِمَ الإِمامُ وَلا أَقولُ بِظَنِّهِ

عَلِمَ الإِمامُ وَلا أَقولُ بِظَنِّهِ

إِنَّ الدُعاةَ بِسَعيِها تَتَكَسَّبُ

إِنَّ الدُعاةَ بِسَعيِها تَتَكَسَّبُ

The Imam knew—I do not say he guessed—

The leader knew, and I do not say this in conjecture

that the preachers earn their living through their efforts.

That the candidates with their efforts gain these ambitions

هَذا الهَواءُ يَلوحُ فيهِ لِناظِرٍ

هَذا الهَواءُ يَلوحُ فيهِ لِناظِرٍ

صُوَرٌ وَلَكِن عَن قَريبٍ تَرسُبُ

صُوَرٌ وَلَكِن عَن قَريبٍ تَرسُبُ

In this air there appear to an observer

This mirage shows shapes to the onlooker

forms—but before long they sink.

But close by they will dissipate and be exhausted

وَالناسُ جِنسٌ ما تَمَيَّزَ واحِدٌ

وَالناسُ جِنسٌ ما تَمَيَّزَ واحِدٌ

كُلُّ الجُسومِ إِلى التُرابِ تَنَسَّبُ

كُلُّ الجُسومِ إِلى التُرابِ تَنَسَّبُ

And people are one kind; no one is distinct;

And mankind is a type that no one individual embodies

all bodies trace their lineage to dust.

All bodies are descended from dust through their ancestry

وَالأَريُ باطِنَهُ مَتى ماذُقتَهُ

وَالأَريُ باطِنَهُ مَتى ماذُقتَهُ

شَريٌ فَماذا لا أَبا لَكَ تَلسَبُ

شَريٌ فَماذا لا أَبا لَكَ تَلسَبُ

And honey, whenever you taste what lies within it,

And all that glistens with its hidden inside

is colocynth; what—may you have no father—are you licking?

If tasted, is savory, so what other than bitter sustenance do you gain?

وَسَيُقفَرُ المَصرُ الحَريجُ بِأَهلِهِ

وَسَيُقفَرُ المَصرُ الحَريجُ بِأَهلِهِ

وَيَغُصُّ بِالإِنسِ الفَضاءُ السَبسَبُ

وَيَغُصُّ بِالإِنسِ الفَضاءُ السَبسَبُ

And the city, crowded with its people, will lie deserted,

And Egypt, teeming with people, will become empty

and the open, barren plain will choke with humankind.

And space, once accommodating, will be too crowded to inhabit