لَناwe have إِمامٌan imam ثَقيلٌponderous
لَنا إِمامٌ ثَقيلٌ
خَفيفُlight روحِspirit of الصَلاةِprayer
خَفيفُ روحِ الصَلاةِ
We have an insufferable imam,
We have a ponderous imam,
who makes light of prayer’s very soul:
light on the spirit of prayer.
يَظَلُّhe keeps يَركُضُhe rushes فيهاthrough it
يَظَلُّ يَركُضُ فيها
نَقراًpecking بِغَيرِwithout قَراةِrecitation
نَقراً بِغَيرِ قَراةِ
he keeps racing through it,
He keeps rushing through it,
pecking away without recitation,
pecking, without recitation,
كَراكِبٍlike a rider وَتَراهُand you see him
كَراكِبٍ وَتَراهُ
مُستَعجِلاًhurrying بِبُزاةِwith hawks
مُستَعجِلاً بِبُزاةِ
like a rider—and you see him
like a rider—and you see him
hurrying along with falcons.
hurrying with hawks.
