قَد كُنتُ أَبكي عَلى مَن فاتَ مِن سَلَفي

قَد كُنتُ أَبكي عَلى مَن فاتَ مِن سَلَفي

وَأَهلُ وُدِّي جَميعاً غَيرُ أَشتاتِ

وَأَهلُ وُدِّي جَميعاً غَيرُ أَشتاتِ

I used to weep for those of my forebears who had passed away,

I used to cry over those of my ancestors who passed away

while all my loved ones were together, not scattered.

And all my loved ones who are now scattered

فَاليَومَ إِذ فَرَّقَت بَيني وَبَينَهُم

فَاليَومَ إِذ فَرَّقَت بَيني وَبَينَهُم

نَوىً بَكيتُ عَلى أَهلِ الموَدَّاتِ

نَوىً بَكيتُ عَلى أَهلِ الموَدَّاتِ

So today, when I was parted from them

But today when we were separated from each other

by distance, I wept for those dear to me.

I cried for those of loving friendship

ماذا حَياةُ اِمرِئٍ أَضحَت مَنيتُهُ

ماذا حَياةُ اِمرِئٍ أَضحَت مَنيتُهُ

مَقسومَةٌ بَينَ أَحياءٍ وَأَمواتِ

مَقسومَةٌ بَينَ أَحياءٍ وَأَمواتِ

What is the life of a man whose death has become

What is the life of a man whose fate

divided between the living and the dead?

Is divided between the living and the dead