كَمْ شِدَّةٍ جَاءَ في أَعقابِها فَرَجٌ

كَمْ شِدَّةٍ جَاءَ في أَعقابِها فَرَجٌ

عَن فَجْرِهِ انشَق لَيْلُ الحَادِثِ الجَلَلِ

عَن فَجْرِهِ انشَق لَيْلُ الحَادِثِ الجَلَلِ

Many a hardship has been followed by relief;

How much hardship whose relief follows after

The night of grievous calamity split open to reveal its dawn.

The night of great calamity ripped open at its dawn

وَكَمْ جَلا اللَّهُ مِن غَمَّاءَ أَدَركَها

وَكَمْ جَلا اللَّهُ مِن غَمَّاءَ أَدَركَها

بِلُطفهِ لا بِحَوْلِ المَرْءِ والحِيَلِ

بِلُطفهِ لا بِحَوْلِ المَرْءِ والحِيَلِ

And many a dire affliction God dispelled, reaching it

And how much gloom has Allah dispelled

By His kindness, not by human strength and stratagems.

With His grace, not man's might and schemes

وَهِمَّةٍ ليسَ يُثنيها رَفَاهِيَةٌ

وَهِمَّةٍ ليسَ يُثنيها رَفَاهِيَةٌ

عنِ المَعالي بِحُبِّ الأَيْنِ والكَسَلِ

عنِ المَعالي بِحُبِّ الأَيْنِ والكَسَلِ

And many a resolve that comfort cannot turn

And an ambition no luxury can deter

From lofty aims through love of languor and sloth.

From the heights, for love of ease and laziness

لا يُدْرِكُ المجدَ إلا كُلُّ مُدَّلِجٍ

لا يُدْرِكُ المجدَ إلا كُلُّ مُدَّلِجٍ

يَدْرِي ويَعْلَمُ أَنَّ العِزَّ في النَّقَلِ

يَدْرِي ويَعْلَمُ أَنَّ العِزَّ في النَّقَلِ

Only the traveler by night attains glory,

Glory is attained only by the dauntless

Who knows and understands that honor lies in travel.

Who knows and recognizes that honor lies in effort

سَمْحٌ متى بَلَغتْ بَرْقاً أَسِرَّتُهُ

سَمْحٌ متى بَلَغتْ بَرْقاً أَسِرَّتُهُ

جَاءَتْ يَداه مَجَرَّ العَارِضِ الهَطِلِ

جَاءَتْ يَداه مَجَرَّ العَارِضِ الهَطِلِ

Generous—whenever his brow flashes like lightning,

A generous soul, when it flashed like lightning

His two hands follow the course of a cloud pouring rain.

His hands poured heavy rain from passing clouds