وَلَو أَنَّ دارَ الشَيبِ قَرَّت بِصاحِب

وَلَو أَنَّ دارَ الشَيبِ قَرَّت بِصاحِب

عَلى ضيقِها لَم نَبغِ داراً بِدارِهِ

عَلى ضيقِها لَم نَبغِ داراً بِدارِهِ

And if the abode of gray hair endured for its dweller,

And if old age's home settled next to its neighbor

despite its narrowness, we would seek no abode in place of his.

Despite its narrowness, we'd not seek a home but his home

وَلَكِنَّ هَذا الشَيبَ لِلمَوتِ رائِدٌ

وَلَكِنَّ هَذا الشَيبَ لِلمَوتِ رائِدٌ

يُخَبِّرُنا عَنهُ بِقُربِ مَزارِهِ

يُخَبِّرُنا عَنهُ بِقُربِ مَزارِهِ

But this gray hair is a scout for death,

But this grey hair is death's guide

telling us how near death’s visit is.

Informing us of its nearness by proximity to its burial place