لا يَنفَعُ الجِدُّ وَالتَشميرُ وَالحَذَرُ

لا يَنفَعُ الجِدُّ وَالتَشميرُ وَالحَذَرُ

خُطَّ الكِتابُ فَلا وِردٌ وَلا صَدَرُ

خُطَّ الكِتابُ فَلا وِردٌ وَلا صَدَرُ

Diligence, exertion, and caution are of no avail.

Effort and toil and care avail me naught,

The decree has been written: no going to water, nor returning from it.

The pen hath written what it hath writ.

تَستَعجِلُ النَفسُ آمالاً لِتَبلُغَها

تَستَعجِلُ النَفسُ آمالاً لِتَبلُغَها

كَأَنَّها لا تَرى ما يَصنَعُ القَدَرُ

كَأَنَّها لا تَرى ما يَصنَعُ القَدَرُ

The soul is impatient for hopes, seeking to attain them,

My soul is eager for the things it wants,

As though it does not see what fate brings about.

As though it knew not what Almighty Allah did decree.