1. كَم أُناسٍ أَظهَروا الزُهدَ لَنا

    فَتَجافَوا عَن حَلالٍ وَحَرامِ

    How many people have made a show of asceticism before us,

    and so kept away from the lawful and the forbidden!

  2. قَلَّلوا الأَكلَ وَأَبدَوا وَرَعاً

    وَاِجتِهاداً في صِيامٍ وَقِيامِ

    They ate less and displayed scrupulous piety,

    and diligence in fasting and night prayer.

  3. ثُمَّ لَمّا أَمكَنَتهُم فُرصَةٌ

    أَكَلوا أَكلَ الحَزانى في الظَلامِ

    Then, when an opportunity presented itself to them,

    they ate as the grief-stricken eat in the dark.