1. لِدوا لِلمَوتِ وَاِبنوا لِلخَرابِ

    فَما فَوقَ التُرابِ إِلى التُرابِ

    Beget for death, and build for ruin.

    For all above the dust returns to dust.

  2. كَذَلِكَ قالَ خَيرُ الخَلقِ طُرّاً

    رَسولُ اللَهِ ذو الأَمرِ المُجابِ

    Thus spoke the best of all creation,

    God's Messenger, whose command is heeded.

  3. فَمَرجِعُ كُلِّ حَيٍ لِلمَنايا

    وَغايَةُ كُلِّ مُلكٍ لِلذَهابِ

    For every living being returns to death,

    And every kingdom's end is to pass away.

  4. بَنو الدُنيا فَرائِسُ لِلمَنايا

    وَنابُ المَوتِ عَنها غَيرُ نابِ

    The children of this world are prey to death,

    And death's fang never turns aside from them.

  5. وَمَن يَغتَرُّ في الدُنيا بِعَيشٍ

    فَقَدطَلَبَ الشَرابَ مِنَ السَرابِ

    And whoever is beguiled by life in this world

    Has indeed sought a drink from a mirage.

  6. دَعا اِبنَكَ لِلرَدى مَن لَيسَ يُعصى

    وَداعي المَوتِ مَمنوعُ الجَوابِ

    He whom none can disobey has summoned your son to death,

    And death's herald admits no reply.

  7. أَرانا فَقدُهُ الأَيّامَ سوداً

    وَنادي الأُنسِ مُغبَرَّ الجَنابِ

    His loss has made us see the days as black,

    And the gathering-place of fellowship, its precincts dust-covered.

  8. وَما طيبُ الحَياةِ بِغَيرِ بِشرٍ

    وَلا حُسنُ السَماءِ بِلا شِهابِ

    And life has no sweetness without cheer,

    Nor the sky beauty without a shooting star.

  9. فَلُذ بِالصَبرِ في اللَأئي وَأَحسِن

    عَزاءَكَ وَاِغتَنِم حُسنَ الثَوابِ

    So seek refuge in patience amid hardship, and show grace

    In your mourning, and reap a fine reward.

  10. فَإِنَّكَ مِن أُناسٍ لَيسَ يَخفى

    عَلى آرائِهِم وُجهُ الصَوابِ

    For you are of a people who never fail to discern

    In their judgments, the face of what is right.