أَيُّها الشَيخُ المُعَل

أَيُّها الشَيخُ المُعَل

لِلُ نَفسَهُ وَالشَيبُ شامِل

لِلُ نَفسَهُ وَالشَيبُ شامِل

O old man who deludes

O wise old man

himself, while gray hair covers him;

To whom self has been lost and greyness enveloping,

وَاللَيلُ يَطوي لا يُفَت

وَاللَيلُ يَطوي لا يُفَت

تَر وَالنَهارُ بِكَ المَنازِل

تَر وَالنَهارُ بِكَ المَنازِل

And night, never slowing, folds up—

And the night folds you in, it will not relent,

as does day—the stages of your journey.

You see, and the day drives you from one stage to the next.

اِعلَم بِأَنَّكَ نائِمٌ

اِعلَم بِأَنَّكَ نائِمٌ

فَوقَ الفِراشِ وَأَنتَ راحِل

فَوقَ الفِراشِ وَأَنتَ راحِل

Know that you are asleep

Know that you sleep

upon the bed, yet you are journeying onward.

Above the mattress yet departing,

يَتَعاقَبانِ بِكَ الرَدى

يَتَعاقَبانِ بِكَ الرَدى

لا يَغفَلانِ وَأَنتَ غافِل

لا يَغفَلانِ وَأَنتَ غافِل

The two take turns carrying you toward death;

Taking turns over you, the days and nights

they are never heedless, while you are heedless.

Sleep not, while you remain asleep.