ألا فاذكرا العهد الذي كان بيننا

ألا فاذكرا العهد الذي كان بيننا

فإنى وإنْ طالَ الزمانُ لذاكرُه

فإنى وإنْ طالَ الزمانُ لذاكرُه

Ah, you two, remember the pact that was between us,

Oh remember the covenant that was between us

For though time has grown long, I surely remember it.

For even if time is long, I will remember it

ولا تنكرَا ودّاً قديماً وذمةً

ولا تنكرَا ودّاً قديماً وذمةً

فلا أنَا ناسيه ولا أنَا ناكرُه

فلا أنَا ناسيه ولا أنَا ناكرُه

And do not, you two, disavow old affection and a pledge,

Do not deny a longstanding love and bond

For I neither forget it nor deny it.

For I neither forget it nor deny it

وفعلكما الخيرَ الجميلَ مقدماً

وفعلكما الخيرَ الجميلَ مقدماً

على حالِه منِّي وإنى لشاكرُه

على حالِه منِّي وإنى لشاكرُه

And the noble kindness you two showed before

And your good and beautiful deeds beforehand

Remains as it was with me, and I am indeed grateful for it.

Despite its condition from me, and I am grateful for it

فبعدكما مالِي صديقٌ مساعِدٌ

فبعدكما مالِي صديقٌ مساعِدٌ

أُرَاوِحه في حاجتي وأُبَا كِرُه

أُرَاوِحه في حاجتي وأُبَا كِرُه

With you two gone, I have no friend to help me,

For after you two, I have no friend to help

Whom I visit in my need, at evening and early morning.

Whom I take comfort with in my need, and discuss it

ومالِي عَلى جمعِ العُلوم وَدرْسِها

ومالِي عَلى جمعِ العُلوم وَدرْسِها

خليلٌ أُوَاخيه تقىً وأُذاكِرُه

خليلٌ أُوَاخيه تقىً وأُذاكِرُه

Nor have I, for gathering knowledge and studying it,

And I have regarding the collection of knowledge and its study

A close friend to take as a brother in piety and study with.

No friend to be familiar with, pious and discuss with

فمنْ لي إذا ريبُ الزمان أمَضَّنى

فمنْ لي إذا ريبُ الزمان أمَضَّنى

وَمَنْ لي إذا جاشَتْ علىَّ عَساكرُه

وَمَنْ لي إذا جاشَتْ علىَّ عَساكرُه

Who, then, is there for me when time's misfortunes torment me?

So who do I have when the days betray me

And who is there for me when its armies surge against me?

And who do I have when its troops come pouring over me

فأمسيتُ وحدي والحوادثُ جمةٌ

فأمسيتُ وحدي والحوادثُ جمةٌ

علىَّ سوى هَمٍّ وفكر أفاكرُه

علىَّ سوى هَمٍّ وفكر أفاكرُه

So I am left alone—with many calamities

So I spent it alone while tribulations abound

Upon me—save for worry and thought with which I commune.

Other than worries and thoughts I think about