كُلُّ امرئٍ ساعٍ إليه مَنونُه

كُلُّ امرئٍ ساعٍ إليه مَنونُه

لاقٍ جَزَا ما قَدَّمَتْهُ يمينُه

لاقٍ جَزَا ما قَدَّمَتْهُ يمينُه

Every man's death hastens toward him;

Each man strives for what is dear to him,

he will meet the recompense for what his right hand has sent ahead.

And meets the reward for what his own hand has offered.

فارْجِعْ إلى مَرْضَاةِ ربّك قَبْلَ أَنْ

فارْجِعْ إلى مَرْضَاةِ ربّك قَبْلَ أَنْ

يبكي الْمُفَرِّطُ أن تخيَب ظنونُه

يبكي الْمُفَرِّطُ أن تخيَب ظنونُه

So return to what pleases your Lord before

So return to pleasing your Lord before

the negligent one weeps because his hopes fail.

The negligent weeps that his hopes have failed.

فالحزم في التّقوى فقط فَمَنِ اتَّقَى

فالحزم في التّقوى فقط فَمَنِ اتَّقَى

قَرَّتْ بغاية ما يرومُ عُيونُه

قَرَّتْ بغاية ما يرومُ عُيونُه

For prudence lies in piety alone; so whoever fears God,

Wisdom in piety alone, so one who is pious

his eyes are gladdened by the fulfillment of what he seeks.

Finds rest in attaining what his eyes envision.

واعْمَلْ كأَحْمَدَ سِيضَةَ العملَ الذي

واعْمَلْ كأَحْمَدَ سِيضَةَ العملَ الذي

يلقاكَ ساعةَ وحشةٍ ميمونُه

يلقاكَ ساعةَ وحشةٍ ميمونُه

And, like Aḥmad Sīḍa, do the deed whose

And act as Ahmad in earnestness of work which

blessed outcome meets you in an hour of loneliness.

Will meet you in a time of desolation as a comfort.

قد كان بَرّاً مَلْجَأً لِمُؤَمِّلٍ

قد كان بَرّاً مَلْجَأً لِمُؤَمِّلٍ

عفّاً تُقَضُّ من العَفَافِ جفونُه

عفّاً تُقَضُّ من العَفَافِ جفونُه

He was indeed benevolent, a refuge for the hopeful,

He was excellent refuge for one hopeful;

chaste, his eyelids troubled by chastity.

Gentle, so that sleep would be removed from his eyelids.

حِلْف التّلاوة للكتاب ونِعْمَ مَنْ

حِلْف التّلاوة للكتاب ونِعْمَ مَنْ

كان التّلاوةَ للكتاب قرينُه

كان التّلاوةَ للكتاب قرينُه

A sworn companion of reciting the Book—and excellent is he

Swearing allegiance to reciting the Book - and excellent is he

whose companion was the recitation of the Book!

Whose comrade is reciting the Book.

حَسَناً خلائقُهُ جَمِيلاً خَلْقُهُ

حَسَناً خلائقُهُ جَمِيلاً خَلْقُهُ

يُرْضيكَ منه حَرَاكُهُ وسُكُونُه

يُرْضيكَ منه حَرَاكُهُ وسُكُونُه

Fine in character, beautiful in form,

Beautiful are his morals, his form is beautiful -

his movement and his stillness alike please you.

You are pleased by his movements and his stillness.

ثم استجاب لربّه لمَّا دعا

ثم استجاب لربّه لمَّا دعا

لِيَنَالَهُ مِنْ خيره مخزونُه

لِيَنَالَهُ مِنْ خيره مخزونُه

Then he answered his Lord when He called,

Then he responded to his Lord when He called

so that His stored bounty might reach him.

To attain His bounty and what He has stored.

ولِلَمْحِ بَرْقِ الجود أبرق قُلْتُ في

ولِلَمْحِ بَرْقِ الجود أبرق قُلْتُ في

تاريخه جادت ثراه مُزُونُه

تاريخه جادت ثراه مُزُونُه

And, flashing forth to glimpse generosity's lightning, I said in

And by the flash of generosity I said in his

his chronogram: 'May his rainclouds water his grave.'

History - his wealth poured forth, adorned.