عَجِبتُ مِن هارِبٍ يَخافُ مِنَ الن

عَجِبتُ مِن هارِبٍ يَخافُ مِنَ الن

نارِ وَمِن نَومِهِ عَلى هربِه

نارِ وَمِن نَومِهِ عَلى هربِه

I marvel at a fugitive who fears the

I'm astonished by one who flees from the fire

Fire, and at his sleeping while in flight.

Yet sleeps as he flees

وَالَّذي يَطلُبُ السَبيلَ إِلى الجَنَّة

وَالَّذي يَطلُبُ السَبيلَ إِلى الجَنَّة

أَنّى يَنامُ عَن طَلَبِهِ

أَنّى يَنامُ عَن طَلَبِهِ

And the one who seeks the path to Paradise—

And one who seeks the path to Paradise

How can he sleep, neglecting his quest?

How can he sleep from seeking it?

وَكَم جَهولٌ قَد نالَ بُغيَتَه

وَكَم جَهولٌ قَد نالَ بُغيَتَه

وَمِن أَديبٍ أَكدى عَلى أَدَبِه

وَمِن أَديبٍ أَكدى عَلى أَدَبِه

And many an ignorant man has attained his desire,

And how many fools have gained their want

And many a learned man has come away empty-handed despite his learning.

While the refined are worn out by their manners

وَرُبَّ باكٍ فَواتَ حاجَتِه

وَرُبَّ باكٍ فَواتَ حاجَتِه

وَفي الفَواتِ النَجاةُ مِن عَطَبِه

وَفي الفَواتِ النَجاةُ مِن عَطَبِه

And many a man weeps over the loss of what he seeks,

And many who weep have missed their need

Yet in that loss lies deliverance from his ruin.

Yet in missing there is deliverance from ruin