نَادَى المَشيبُ إلَى الحُسْنَى بِهِ وَدَعَا

نَادَى المَشيبُ إلَى الحُسْنَى بِهِ وَدَعَا

فَثَابَ يَشْعَب بِالإقْلاعِ ما صَدَعا

فَثَابَ يَشْعَب بِالإقْلاعِ ما صَدَعا

Gray age called him, through its very sign, to the noblest path, and summoned him;

Gray hair called him toward goodness and summoned him,

so he returned, mending through renunciation what he had broken.

so he turned back, mending by renunciation what he had broken.

وَباتَ يَخْلَع مَلْذوذَ الكَرَى ثِقَةً

وَباتَ يَخْلَع مَلْذوذَ الكَرَى ثِقَةً

بِأَنَّهُ لابِسٌ مِنْ سُنْدُسٍ خِلَعا

بِأَنَّهُ لابِسٌ مِنْ سُنْدُسٍ خِلَعا

He spent the night shaking off delightful sleep, keenly alert,

He spent the night casting off sweet slumber, confident

knowing that he would be clothed in fine silk—robes of honor—

that he would wear robes of honor made of fine silk.

مُسْتَبْصِراً في اتِّخَاذِ الزُّهْدِ مَفْزَعَةً

مُسْتَبْصِراً في اتِّخَاذِ الزُّهْدِ مَفْزَعَةً

لِيَأْمَنَ الرَّوْع يَوْمَ العَرْضِ والفَزَعا

لِيَأْمَنَ الرَّوْع يَوْمَ العَرْضِ والفَزَعا

clear-sightedly taking ascetic renunciation as a refuge,

Clear-sighted in taking asceticism as a refuge,

that he might be safe from terror and dread on the Day of Presentation,

he sought safety from terror and dread on the Day of Judgment.

يَسْعَى إِلَى صالِحِ الأَعمالِ مُبْتَدِراً

يَسْعَى إِلَى صالِحِ الأَعمالِ مُبْتَدِراً

ولَيْسَ لِلْمَرْءِ إِلا مَا إِلَيْهِ سَعى

ولَيْسَ لِلْمَرْءِ إِلا مَا إِلَيْهِ سَعى

striving toward righteous deeds and hastening to them;

He strives eagerly toward righteous deeds,

for a human being shall have only that for which he strives.

and a person has only what he has striven for.

يا خاشِياً خاشِعاً لا تَعْدُها شِيَماً

يا خاشِياً خاشِعاً لا تَعْدُها شِيَماً

فالأَمْنُ والعِزُّ في الأُخْرى لِمَنْ خَشَعا

فالأَمْنُ والعِزُّ في الأُخْرى لِمَنْ خَشَعا

O fearful, humble one, do not reckon those two as mere traits:

O you who fear and bow humbly, seek no traits beyond these;

safety and glory in the Hereafter belong to whoever humbles himself.

for safety and honor in the hereafter belong to those who bow humbly.

لَئِنْ تَمَلْمَلْتَ في جُنْحِ الدُّجَى أَرَقاً

لَئِنْ تَمَلْمَلْتَ في جُنْحِ الدُّجَى أَرَقاً

فَسَوْفَ تَنْعَمُ في الفِرْدَوْسِ مُتَّدِعا

فَسَوْفَ تَنْعَمُ في الفِرْدَوْسِ مُتَّدِعا

If indeed you toss sleeplessly in the depths of pitch-dark night,

If you toss sleepless beneath the wing of darkness,

then you shall enjoy Paradise at ease.

then you will enjoy bliss in Paradise, at ease.

أَرِقْتَ لِلْواحِدِ القَيُّومِ مُتَّصِلاً

أَرِقْتَ لِلْواحِدِ القَيُّومِ مُتَّصِلاً

بِهِ فَلَيْسَ رِضَاهُ عَنْكَ مُنْقَطِعا

بِهِ فَلَيْسَ رِضَاهُ عَنْكَ مُنْقَطِعا

You kept vigil for the One, the Self-Subsisting, ever joined

You kept vigil for the One, the Sustainer, joined

to Him; thus His favor toward you will never be cut off.

to Him; so His approval of you does not cease.

دارُ القَرَارِ لِمَنْ صَحَّتْ سِيَاحَتُهُ

دارُ القَرَارِ لِمَنْ صَحَّتْ سِيَاحَتُهُ

في الأَرْضِ واعْتَمَدَ الجَنَّاتِ مُنْتَجَعا

في الأَرْضِ واعْتَمَدَ الجَنَّاتِ مُنْتَجَعا

The Abode of Permanence is for one whose journey was sound

The abiding home is for him whose journey was righteous

upon the earth, and who made the Gardens his resort.

on earth, and who sought the Gardens as his pasture.

لا تَبْتَدِعْ غَيْرَ مَا تَبْغِي بِمَصْنَعِهِ

لا تَبْتَدِعْ غَيْرَ مَا تَبْغِي بِمَصْنَعِهِ

مَرْضاةَ مَنْ صَنَعَ الأَشْياء وابْتَدَعا

مَرْضاةَ مَنْ صَنَعَ الأَشْياء وابْتَدَعا

Undertake nothing save that through which you seek

Devise nothing unless, by making it, you seek

the pleasure of Him who made all things and brought them forth.

the pleasure of Him who fashioned all things and brought them into being.

ولا تُعَرِّجْ عَلى أعْراضِ فَانِيَةٍ

ولا تُعَرِّجْ عَلى أعْراضِ فَانِيَةٍ

تُولِّيكَ هَجْراً إِذا أوْلَيْتَهَا وَلَعا

تُولِّيكَ هَجْراً إِذا أوْلَيْتَهَا وَلَعا

Do not turn aside toward perishing worldly goods

Nor linger over perishable worldly goods,

that utterly forsake you when you devote yourself to them in passion.

which repay you with abandonment when you lavish passion on them.

إيَّاكَ والأَخْذَ فيما أنْتَ تارِكُهُ

إيَّاكَ والأَخْذَ فيما أنْتَ تارِكُهُ

من تُرَّهاتٍ تَجُرُّ الشَّيْنَ والطَّبَعا

من تُرَّهاتٍ تَجُرُّ الشَّيْنَ والطَّبَعا

Beware becoming entangled in what you must leave behind—

Beware of taking up what you will leave behind:

vanities that bring disgrace and greed.

trifles that bring disgrace and defilement.

دِنْ بِاطِّراحِكَ دُنْيا طالَما غَدَرَتْ

دِنْ بِاطِّراحِكَ دُنْيا طالَما غَدَرَتْ

وزُخْرُفاً مِنْ حُلاها شَدَّ ما خَدَعا

وزُخْرُفاً مِنْ حُلاها شَدَّ ما خَدَعا

Practice devotion by casting off a world that has long betrayed,

Be devout by casting off a world that has so often betrayed,

and its glitter; how mightily its adornments have deceived!

and finery from its adornments—how greatly it has deceived!

وادْأَبْ علَى البِرِّ والتَّقْوَى فَبابُهُما

وادْأَبْ علَى البِرِّ والتَّقْوَى فَبابُهُما

إلَى السَّعادَةِ مَفْتُوحٌ لِمَنْ قَرَعا

إلَى السَّعادَةِ مَفْتُوحٌ لِمَنْ قَرَعا

Persevere in righteousness and piety, for their gate

Persevere in righteousness and piety, for their gate

to happiness stands open to whoever knocks.

to happiness is open to whoever knocks.

وَلا تُفَارِق صَدىً فيها ومَخْمَصَةً

وَلا تُفَارِق صَدىً فيها ومَخْمَصَةً

تَنَلْ بِدارِ الخُلودِ الرِّيَّ والشّبَعا

تَنَلْ بِدارِ الخُلودِ الرِّيَّ والشّبَعا

Do not forsake thirst and hunger in this world,

Never part with thirst and hunger in this world;

and in the Abode of Eternity you shall attain quenching and fullness.

you will drink and eat your fill in the abode of eternity.

ساعِدْ مباعِدَها واحْذَرْ مَكَايِدَهَا

ساعِدْ مباعِدَها واحْذَرْ مَكَايِدَهَا

إنَّ الفِطامَ علَى آثارِ مَنْ رَضَعا

إنَّ الفِطامَ علَى آثارِ مَنْ رَضَعا

Support whoever keeps aloof from it, and beware its snares;

Support whoever shuns it, and beware its snares;

for weaning follows in the footsteps of whoever has suckled.

for weaning follows on the heels of whoever has suckled.

وَلْتَزْرَعِ الخَيْرَ تَحْصِدْ غِبْطَةً أَبَداً

وَلْتَزْرَعِ الخَيْرَ تَحْصِدْ غِبْطَةً أَبَداً

فإِنَّما يَحْصِدُ الإنْسَانُ مَا زَرَعا

فإِنَّما يَحْصِدُ الإنْسَانُ مَا زَرَعا

Sow goodness, and you shall harvest joy forever;

And sow goodness: you will reap joy forever,

for a human being harvests only what he has sown.

for a person reaps only what he has sown.

وَإنْ لَمَحْتَ فَصُنْعَ اللَّهِ مُعْتَبراً

وَإنْ لَمَحْتَ فَصُنْعَ اللَّهِ مُعْتَبراً

وإِنْ أصَخْتَ فَلِلْقُرْآنِ مُسْتَمِعا

وإِنْ أصَخْتَ فَلِلْقُرْآنِ مُسْتَمِعا

When you look, behold God’s handiwork and take heed;

And if you look, look at God's handiwork, taking heed;

and when you listen, hearken attentively to the Qur’an.

and if you lend your ear, listen to the Qur'an.

نِعْمَ الأَنِيسُ إذَا اللَّيْلُ البَهِيمُ سَجَا

نِعْمَ الأَنِيسُ إذَا اللَّيْلُ البَهِيمُ سَجَا

لأِهْلِهِ وإذا رَأْدُ الضُّحَى مَتَعا

لأِهْلِهِ وإذا رَأْدُ الضُّحَى مَتَعا

How fine a companion, when the pitch-black night lies still,

What a fine companion, when pitch-dark night falls still,

for its people—and when the rising forenoon climbs high!

for its devotees, and when early morning's light rises high!

لا تَنْقَضِي كُلَّما تُتْلَى عَجَائِبُهُ

لا تَنْقَضِي كُلَّما تُتْلَى عَجَائِبُهُ

ولَيْسَ يُمْحِلُ مَنْ في رَوْضِهِ رَتَعا

ولَيْسَ يُمْحِلُ مَنْ في رَوْضِهِ رَتَعا

Its wonders are never exhausted, however often they are recited;

Its wonders never cease, however often they are recited,

nor does one grazing in its meadow ever suffer drought.

and whoever has grazed in its meadow never suffers drought.

حَبْلٌ لِمُعْتَصِمٍ نُورٌ لِمُتَّبِعٍ

حَبْلٌ لِمُعْتَصِمٍ نُورٌ لِمُتَّبِعٍ

هُدىً لِذِي حَيْرَةٍ أَمْنٌ لِمَن فَزِعا

هُدىً لِذِي حَيْرَةٍ أَمْنٌ لِمَن فَزِعا

A rope for one who holds fast; a light for one who follows;

A rope for whoever holds fast, a light for whoever follows,

guidance for the bewildered; safety for the frightened.

guidance for the bewildered, safety for the fearful.

هُوَ الشَّفِيعُ لِتَالِيهِ وَحَاذِقِهِ

هُوَ الشَّفِيعُ لِتَالِيهِ وَحَاذِقِهِ

وَمِثْلُهُ غَيْرُ مَرْدُودٍ إِذا شَفَعا

وَمِثْلُهُ غَيْرُ مَرْدُودٍ إِذا شَفَعا

It is the intercessor for its reciter and one well-versed in it,

It is the intercessor for its reciter and one who masters it,

and one like him is not rebuffed when he intercedes.

and one like it is not refused when it intercedes.

يَا حَسْرَتِي خُلِقَ الإنْسَانُ مِنْ عَجَلٍ

يَا حَسْرَتِي خُلِقَ الإنْسَانُ مِنْ عَجَلٍ

فَغَازَلَ الأَمَل المَكْذوبَ والطَّمَعا

فَغَازَلَ الأَمَل المَكْذوبَ والطَّمَعا

Alas, my sorrow! The human being was created of haste,

Alas for me! Man was created of haste,

and false hope and greed beguiled him.

so he wooed false hope and greed,

وَعاشَ لِلْكَدِّ والأَوْصابِ مُحْتَقِباً

وَعاشَ لِلْكَدِّ والأَوْصابِ مُحْتَقِباً

بِما اسْتَراحَ إِلى مَيْنِ المُنَى هَلَعا

بِما اسْتَراحَ إِلى مَيْنِ المُنَى هَلَعا

He lived amid toil and afflictions, bearing their burden,

and lived for toil and afflictions, burdened

for, panic-stricken, he sought repose in Fate’s deceit.

with anxiety because he took comfort in the lies of wishes.

آهٍ لِعُمْرٍ مُعَارٍ لا بَقَاءَ لَه

آهٍ لِعُمْرٍ مُعَارٍ لا بَقَاءَ لَه

يُفَرّقُ الدَّهْر مِنْهُ كُلَّ مَا جَمَعا

يُفَرّقُ الدَّهْر مِنْهُ كُلَّ مَا جَمَعا

Ah, for a borrowed lifetime that cannot endure!

Ah, for a borrowed life that cannot last:

Time scatters from it everything it has gathered.

time scatters from it all that it has gathered.

كالمُزْنِ مَصْدَرُهُ في إِثْرِ مَوْرِدِهِ

كالمُزْنِ مَصْدَرُهُ في إِثْرِ مَوْرِدِهِ

بَيْنا تَرَاكَمَ في آفاقِهِ انْقَشَعا

بَيْنا تَرَاكَمَ في آفاقِهِ انْقَشَعا

It is like a rain cloud whose departure follows close upon its arrival:

Like rainclouds, whose departure follows close upon their arrival:

no sooner does it gather upon its horizons than it disperses.

no sooner have they massed across the horizons than they disperse.

فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ يَسيرُ المَرْءُ مَرْحَلَةً

فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ يَسيرُ المَرْءُ مَرْحَلَةً

وإنْ أقَامَ فَلَمْ يَظْعَنْ ولا شَسَعا

وإنْ أقَامَ فَلَمْ يَظْعَنْ ولا شَسَعا

Each day a person travels another stage,

Each day a person travels a stage,

even if he stays in place, neither departing nor journeying afar.

even if he stays put, neither setting out nor going far.

أُعِير يَا وَيْحَهُ عُمْراً إلى أَمَدٍ

أُعِير يَا وَيْحَهُ عُمْراً إلى أَمَدٍ

ثُمَّ اسْتُرِدّ بِكره مِنْهُ وارْتُجِعا

ثُمَّ اسْتُرِدّ بِكره مِنْهُ وارْتُجِعا

He was lent—woe to him—a lifetime until an appointed term;

He was lent—alas for him!—a life for a fixed term,

then, against his will, it was reclaimed from him and taken back.

then it was reclaimed from him against his will and taken back.

وَذُو الحِجَى غَيْر مُغْتَرٍّ بِبارِقَة

وَذُو الحِجَى غَيْر مُغْتَرٍّ بِبارِقَة

لا ماءَ فيها وإنْ لألاؤُها سَطَعا

لا ماءَ فيها وإنْ لألاؤُها سَطَعا

A person of understanding is not deceived by a lightning flash

And the man of reason is not beguiled by a lightning-lit cloud

that holds no water, though its radiance shines brightly.

with no rain in it, though its radiance shines.

كأَنَّهُ وَالسُّهَادُ البَرْحُ هِمَّتُهُ

كأَنَّهُ وَالسُّهَادُ البَرْحُ هِمَّتُهُ

يَخْشَى البَيَاتَ مِنَ الأحْدَاثِ إنْ هَجَعَا

يَخْشَى البَيَاتَ مِنَ الأحْدَاثِ إنْ هَجَعَا

It is as though grievous sleeplessness were his sole concern:

It is as though, preoccupied with grievous sleeplessness,

he fears a night assault by calamities, should he doze.

he fears a night attack by calamities if he sleeps.