دُنْيَاكyour worldly life لِلأُخرَىto the next life سَبِيلٌa path سابِلُwell-trodden
دُنْيَاك لِلأُخرَى سَبِيلٌ سابِلُ
فاعْمَلْso work لَهَاfor it إنَّindeed المُوَفَّقَthe one granted success عَامِلُone who works
فاعْمَلْ لَهَا إنَّ المُوَفَّقَ عَامِلُ
Your worldly life is a well-trodden road to the next life.
Your life is fleeting, so make the most of it
So work for it: the one granted success is one who works.
The diligent will surely find success
وَاحْرِصْand be intent عَلىon نَيْلِattaining السَّعَادَةِhappiness جَاهِداًstriving earnestly
وَاحْرِصْ عَلى نَيْلِ السَّعَادَةِ جَاهِداً
بِالبِرِّthrough righteousness والتَّقْوَىand piety فَنِعْمَso how excellent النَّائِلُthe reward
بِالبِرِّ والتَّقْوَى فَنِعْمَ النَّائِلُ
And strive earnestly to attain happiness
Strive to attain happiness through righteousness
through righteousness and piety—what a splendid reward!
For that is the path of the worthy
وأَعِدَّand prepare زَاداًprovisions للرَّحِيلِfor departure فَإنَّمَاfor ... are only
وأَعِدَّ زَاداً للرَّحِيلِ فَإنَّمَا
أيَّامُthe days عُمْرِكَof your life لَوْif عَقَلْتَyou understood مَرَاحِلُstages
أيَّامُ عُمْرِكَ لَوْ عَقَلْتَ مَرَاحِلُ
And prepare provisions for departure, for
Prepare provisions for your eventual departure
the days of your life, if you understood, are only stages.
For the days of your life are but stages
إيَّاكَbeware والأَمَلَand [beware of] hope الكَذُوبَdeceitful فَرُبَّماfor often
إيَّاكَ والأَمَلَ الكَذُوبَ فَرُبَّما
أوْدَىhas brought ruin بِمَطْرُورِupon the deceived one الغُرورِof delusion الآمِلُthe hopeful one
أوْدَى بِمَطْرُورِ الغُرورِ الآمِلُ
Beware of lying hope, for often
Beware of false hopes that often mislead
the hopeful one has brought the dupe of delusion to ruin.
And cause the unaware dreamer to stumble
أعِرِlend التِفاتاًattention نَحْوَهُنَّtoward them مَرَاشِداًpaths of guidance
أعِرِ التِفاتاً نَحْوَهُنَّ مَرَاشِداً
فَفُؤَادكfor your heart المَفْؤُودheart-stricken عَنْهاof them غافِلُheedless
فَفُؤَادك المَفْؤُود عَنْها غافِلُ
Lend your attention to them, the paths of guidance,
Pay the maidens no heed as you pass them by
for your stricken heart is heedless of them.
Lest your susceptible heart be caught unaware
واسْبِقْand precede مَشِيبَكyour graying بِالمَتَابِwith repentance حِزَامَةًout of prudence
واسْبِقْ مَشِيبَك بِالمَتَابِ حِزَامَةً
فَلَهُfor it has حُلُولٌan arrival عَاجِلٌsoon أوْor آجِلُlater
فَلَهُ حُلُولٌ عَاجِلٌ أوْ آجِلُ
And prudently repent before your hair turns gray,
Repent before old age arrives suddenly
for that will come sooner or later.
Be it soon or late, it will come without fail
مَنْwho بِالنَّجاةِwith deliverance لِذَاهِلٍfor a heedless one نُصِبَتْwere set لَهfor him
مَنْ بِالنَّجاةِ لِذَاهِلٍ نُصِبَتْ لَه
مِنْfrom زَهْرَةِthe bloom الدُّنياof the world الخَؤُونِtreacherous حَبائِلُsnares
مِنْ زَهْرَةِ الدُّنيا الخَؤُونِ حَبائِلُ
Who can save a heedless man for whom have been set
How can the heedless hope to attain salvation
snares from the bloom of the treacherous world?
When entangled in this world’s flowering snares?
مَنْwho بالخَلاصٍwith rescue لِخَابِطٍfor one floundering مِنْthrough جَهْلِهِhis ignorance
مَنْ بالخَلاصٍ لِخَابِطٍ مِنْ جَهْلِهِ
فيin لُجَّةٍdeep waters رَحُبَتgrew vast وشَطَّand grew distant الساحِلُthe shore
في لُجَّةٍ رَحُبَت وشَطَّ الساحِلُ
Who can rescue one who, through ignorance, flounders
Who will save the floundering fool from his ignorance
in a vast, deep sea whose shore lies far away?
As he thrashes about in the turbulent tides?
بَسْلٌa bane عَلَىto المَرْءِa man امْتدَادُthe prolonging حياتِهِof his life
بَسْلٌ عَلَى المَرْءِ امْتدَادُ حياتِهِ
وإزَاءهُand facing him لِلْمَوْتِbelonging to death لَيْثٌa lion باسِلُfierce
وإزَاءهُ لِلْمَوْتِ لَيْثٌ باسِلُ
A man's prolonged life is a bane to him,
Man’s lifespan is but a brief reprieve
with death's fierce lion facing him.
While death awaits him like a prowling lion
يَاO فَوْزَthe triumph مَنْof one who هُوَhe is فيin العِبادةِworship جاهِدٌstriving
يَا فَوْزَ مَنْ هُوَ في العِبادةِ جاهِدٌ
وخَسارَand the loss مَنof one who هوhe is لِلزَّهَادَةِof asceticism جاهِلُignorant
وخَسارَ مَن هو لِلزَّهَادَةِ جاهِلُ
O the triumph of him who strives in worship,
Blessed is he who strives in worship
and the loss of him who knows nothing of renunciation!
And cursed is he who is ignorant of asceticism
تُلْهِيهِdistracts him عَنْfrom عَدْنٍEden وَعنand from أنْهارِهاits rivers
تُلْهِيهِ عَنْ عَدْنٍ وَعن أنْهارِها
بَعْدَafter الأَشُدِّfull maturity خَمائلٌgroves وجداوِلُand streams
بَعْدَ الأَشُدِّ خَمائلٌ وجداوِلُ
He is distracted from Eden and its rivers,
Distracted from Paradise by wantonness
even after reaching his prime, by groves and streams.
And enticed in old age by flashes of youth
ويَشوقُهُand makes him yearn كَهْلاًin middle age إلىfor عَهْدِthe days الصِّباof youth
ويَشوقُهُ كَهْلاً إلى عَهْدِ الصِّبا
بَرْقٌlightning لَمُوعٌflashing أوْor حَمَامٌdoves هادِلُcooing
بَرْقٌ لَمُوعٌ أوْ حَمَامٌ هادِلُ
And in middle age he is made to yearn for the days of youth
God has created him to reject desire
by flashing lightning or cooing doves.
And so turning away consumes him
للَّهِto God (in admiration) مَجْبولٌone formed by nature عَلَىto رَفْضِrejecting الهَوَىdesire
للَّهِ مَجْبولٌ عَلَى رَفْضِ الهَوَى
فَلَهُfor he has مِنَin الإقْلاعِrenunciation شُغْلٌan occupation شَاغِلُall-consuming
فَلَهُ مِنَ الإقْلاعِ شُغْلٌ شَاغِلُ
How admirable is the man whose nature is to reject desire!
Sincere and trusting in the Sustainer
For renunciation is his all-consuming concern.
For God alone is sufficient as Guardian
مُتَوَصِّلٌdrawing near بِخُلُوصِهِthrough his sincerity مُتَوكِّلٌtrusting in God
مُتَوَصِّلٌ بِخُلُوصِهِ مُتَوكِّلٌ
وكَفاهُand it suffices him أَنَّthat اللَّهَGod كَافٍsufficient كَافِلُa guardian
وكَفاهُ أَنَّ اللَّهَ كَافٍ كَافِلُ
Drawing near through his sincerity, trusting in God,
His reputation endures, spread far and wide
and it suffices him that God is sufficient and a guardian.
Through noble secrets and plaintive tears
قَدْindeed فَازَhas attained بالعَلْيَاءِthe heights ذِكْرٌrenown سَائِرٌspreading
قَدْ فَازَ بالعَلْيَاءِ ذِكْرٌ سَائِرٌ
بِسَرائِرِthrough the hidden qualities الحُسْنىof goodness وَدَمْعٌand tears سائِلُstreaming
بِسَرائِرِ الحُسْنى وَدَمْعٌ سائِلُ
Spreading renown has indeed attained the heights,
Distinguished by piety, his heart bound
through hidden virtues and streaming tears.
By awe of the Creator, his body lean
وامْتَازَand he stands apart بالتَّقْوىthrough piety فَقَلْبٌthus a heart واجِبٌthrobbing
وامْتَازَ بالتَّقْوى فَقَلْبٌ واجِبٌ
منfrom خَوْفِfear خَالِقِهِof his Creator وَجِسْمٌand a body نَاحِلُwasted
من خَوْفِ خَالِقِهِ وَجِسْمٌ نَاحِلُ
And piety sets him apart: a throbbing heart,
Say to the night worshipper, fasting in seclusion,
from fear of his Creator, and a wasted body.
Reciting God’s Book in his devotions
قُلْsay للمُناجِيto the one communing فيin الدَّياجِيthe dark nights رَبَّهُhis Lord
قُلْ للمُناجِي في الدَّياجِي رَبَّهُ
وعَليْهِand upon him منfrom غُلَلِburning thirsts الصِّيامِof fasting غَلائِلُrobes
وعَليْهِ من غُلَلِ الصِّيامِ غَلائِلُ
Say to him who communes with his Lord in the darkness of night,
Gladdened by it, though disconsolate and lonely
with robes of fasting's burning thirst upon him,
Your petitions have been granted, leading to salvation
يَتْلُوhe recites كِتَابَthe Book اللَّهِof God فيin أوْرَادِهِhis regular devotions
يَتْلُو كِتَابَ اللَّهِ في أوْرَادِهِ
فَرَحاًrejoicing بهِin it وهوَand he is الحَزينُsorrowful الثَّاكِلُbereaved
فَرَحاً بهِ وهوَ الحَزينُ الثَّاكِلُ
reciting God's Book in his regular devotions,
Since you have consistently done what is right
rejoicing in it, though he is sorrowful and bereaved:
And realized that life is but a fleeting shadow
يَهْنِيكَmay it gladden you أنْthat قُبلَتْwere accepted وَسائلُكَyour means of approach التيwhich
يَهْنِيكَ أنْ قُبلَتْ وَسائلُكَ التي
هِيَthey are لِلمُقيمfor the one who abides إلىto النعيمِbliss وسَائِلُmeans
هِيَ لِلمُقيم إلى النعيمِ وسَائِلُ
May you rejoice that your means of approach were accepted, which
Rejoice in Paradise, for it is prepared
are means to bliss for the one who abides;
As a dwelling place and home for the devout
وَأنand that اعْتَمَدْتَyou relied upon الصالِحاتِrighteous deeds مزَاوِداًprovision-bags
وَأن اعْتَمَدْتَ الصالِحاتِ مزَاوِداً
وعَلِمْتَand you knew أنthat العَيْشَlife ظِلٌّa shadow زائِلُpassing
وعَلِمْتَ أن العَيْشَ ظِلٌّ زائِلُ
and that you have made righteous deeds your provision-bags,
None can escape consequences but one who fears
and learned that life is a passing shadow.
And is warned by threats of intense punishment
أبْشِرْrejoice بِفرْدَوسِin Firdaws (Paradise) الجِنَانِof the gardens فإِنَّهاfor they are
أبْشِرْ بِفرْدَوسِ الجِنَانِ فإِنَّها
للنَّاسِكِينَfor the devout مَسَاكِنٌdwellings وَمَنازِلُand homes
للنَّاسِكِينَ مَسَاكِنٌ وَمَنازِلُ
Rejoice in the gardens' Firdaws, for they
O master reciter of the Qur’an, hoping for its reward,
are dwellings and homes for the devout.
And intercessor for his companions at the place of gathering
لاnot يَأمَنُis safe from التَّبِعَاتِthe consequences إلاexcept هائِبٌone who fears
لا يَأمَنُ التَّبِعَاتِ إلا هائِبٌ
عَرضاًpresentation for judgment تَقَدَّمَهُpreceded it وَعيدٌa threat هَائِلُdreadful
عَرضاً تَقَدَّمَهُ وَعيدٌ هَائِلُ
None is safe from the consequences except one who fears
You have been met by glad tidings of success
being presented for judgment, preceded by a dreadful threat.
And signs of righteousness have appeared upon you
يَاO حَاذِقَone adept in القُرْآنِthe Qur'an يَرْجُوhe hopes for أجْرَهُits reward
يَا حَاذِقَ القُرْآنِ يَرْجُو أجْرَهُ
وهوَand it is الشَّفيعُthe intercessor لصَحْبِهِfor its companions والمَاحِلُand the accuser
وهوَ الشَّفيعُ لصَحْبِهِ والمَاحِلُ
O master of the Qur'an who hopes for its reward—
Yours is a magnificent share of the reward
and it is the intercessor for its companions, and the accuser—
And repeating the Wise Reminder brings abundant returns
قَدalready قَابَلَتْكَhave met you مِنof النَّجاحِsuccess بَشائِرٌglad tidings
قَد قَابَلَتْكَ مِن النَّجاحِ بَشائِرٌ
وَبَدَتْand have appeared عَلَيْكَupon you مِنَof الصَّلاحِrighteousness دَلائِلُsigns
وَبَدَتْ عَلَيْكَ مِنَ الصَّلاحِ دَلائِلُ
glad tidings of success have already come to meet you,
The robe of reward envelops you completely
and signs of righteousness have appeared upon you.
And the fruits of Paradise are plentiful for you
أنْتَyou are الجَليلُthe great مِنof الجَزاءrecompense نَصِيبُهhis share
أنْتَ الجَليلُ مِن الجَزاء نَصِيبُه
ونَوافِلُand the bounties الذِّكْرِof the Reminder الحَكيمِwise جَلائِلُimmense
ونَوافِلُ الذِّكْرِ الحَكيمِ جَلائِلُ
You are one whose share of recompense is great,
So delight in it, for it is your link
and the bounties of the Wise Reminder are immense.
And rely on it, for it is your assured provision
ثَوْبُthe robe الثَّوابِof reward عَلَيْكupon you ضافٍflowing سَابِغٌample
ثَوْبُ الثَّوابِ عَلَيْك ضافٍ سَابِغٌ
وَجَنَىand the fruit الجِنَانِof the gardens لَدَيْكbefore you نَامٍflourishing كَامِلُcomplete
وَجَنَى الجِنَانِ لَدَيْك نَامٍ كَامِلُ
The robe of reward upon you is flowing and ample,
and the gardens' fruit before you is flourishing and perfect.
فَاهْنَأso rejoice بِهِin it فَهْوَfor it is الرِّشَاءُthe well-rope الوَاصِلُconnecting
فَاهْنَأ بِهِ فَهْوَ الرِّشَاءُ الوَاصِلُ
وَارْكُنْand rely لَهُon it فَهوَfor it is العِتَادُthe provision الحَاصِلُat hand
وَارْكُنْ لَهُ فَهوَ العِتَادُ الحَاصِلُ
So rejoice in it: it is the connecting well-rope,
and rely on it: it is the provision already in hand.
Partial English translation: 50 of 54 Arabic lines translated.