وَمُنتَظِرٍ لِلمَوتِ في كُلِّ ساعَةٍ

وَمُنتَظِرٍ لِلمَوتِ في كُلِّ ساعَةٍ

يَشيدُ وَيَبني دائِباً وَيُحَصِّنُ

يَشيدُ وَيَبني دائِباً وَيُحَصِّنُ

And many a man awaiting death at every hour

Awaiting death every hour

Raises buildings, builds tirelessly, and fortifies.

He builds and fortifies incessantly

لَهُ حينَ تَبلوهُ حَقيقَةُ موقِنٍ

لَهُ حينَ تَبلوهُ حَقيقَةُ موقِنٍ

وَأَفعالُهُ أَفعالُ مَن لَيسَ يوقِنُ

وَأَفعالُهُ أَفعالُ مَن لَيسَ يوقِنُ

When you test him, he has the conviction of one who is certain,

When the certainty visits him

Yet his deeds are those of one who lacks certainty.

His deeds are of one unconvinced

عِيانٌ كَإِنكارٍ وَكَالجَهلِ عِلمُهُ

عِيانٌ كَإِنكارٍ وَكَالجَهلِ عِلمُهُ

بِشَكٍّ بِهِ في كُلِّ ما يَتَيَقَّنُ

بِشَكٍّ بِهِ في كُلِّ ما يَتَيَقَّنُ

Direct sight is like denial, and his knowledge like ignorance,

His knowledge obvious as denial, as ignorance

Because of doubt within him about all he holds certain.

Doubting with certainty all he ascertains