1. Why are the swords silent, not stirring restlessly?
Why creep to those whose right is not just?

2. The clamor of Malik was condemned
When it roared wildly, had it not been for Allah.

3. The Khazraj set forth to aid their ally
While the well-armed Kuma came rushing to your aid.

4. When Sinan hurts you with a blow
He is more noble and friendlier than the one you love and befriend

5. The swords clash against swords and the spears
Are on the verge of colliding with spears.

6. And the Prophet walked saying: "O people, be calm."
Do mountains thus tremble and quake?

7. You loudly cry out the call of ignorance
Who then are the callers and who are the guided ones?

8. Are you not the people whose light
Shows the lost and straying the path?

9. Return the swords to the heads of a folk
Amongst whom are those who wield and turn away the swords

10. The men fell silent and the wronger of himself
Went on raving or thought and transgressed.

11. Hypocrisy crept in, so one who feels no shame
Says what he says while a listener feels no aversion.

12. What ails the one whom his passions have confused?
Does he still persist in misguidance?

13. Hurting the Messenger of God, he claims
He is the most honorable and noble among his people.

14. And he says: "Our appointment is Medina, where it will be seen
Which of the two hosts is most abject and weak."

15. "We will drive Muhammad out of it tomorrow
And the matter will be known at the moment of agony."

16. Ibn Arqam heard what he said and was seized
By a rage that distressed the God-fearing and gentle one.

17. He went and told the Prophet what he had said
And could barely speak from loathing of him.

18. He said: "Restrain yourself, for passions will be aroused in the lad
And hearing will slip away from him or be distorted."

19. So he left in sorrow, seeking refuge with his uncle,
And was blamed though not called a liar or reprimanded.

20. He said: "Be moderate, my uncle! I am not one
Who is angered when the Messenger is maligned by the vituperative."

21. "I am heavily burdened by the fool's talk,
Though it can move mountains and cause them to collapse."

22. "By God, if my father called down his thunderbolts
I would bear them and go, not lightening my load."

23. The story was reported, and 'Umar was enraged
By its hatefulness, as was the noble and perceptive one.

24. He incited the speaker of it to fear his rashness
Not knowing he had hurt him or realizing it.

25. He asked the Messenger's leave to act against him, hoping
To heal him of his blood, ennobled by what he shed.

26. But he refused, saying: "Is he not one of our Companions?
Leave him be! That is what I fear most."

27. And his son came and summoned Abū to be his adversary,
So summon him for me as I am charged with him.

28. Allow me, Messenger of God, to control his affair,
For I know you as merciful and gentle.

29. I love my father and know his due,
And you are more compassionate and kinder to me and him.

30. My sword has more right to him, but if another preempts me
The agony in it will be great and the situation dire.

31. I fear that I would see the blood of a believer spilled
By my hand, on my father's account, poured out and flowing.

32. The Prophet said: "Deal gently with your elder and protect him,
For undutifulness in children is pernicious."

33. The arrogant slanderer's heart was shaken
With fear cast at him, and terror thrown.

34. His paths grew narrow, so he came in surrender,
And the lowly suppliant is the brother of disgrace.

35. He denied the story and swore it did not happen;
The truthful informer spoke truthfully and the swearer lied.

36. Ibn Arqam's ears would not betray him
And guard what they pick up like an inscription

37. Carved into deaf rock, with letters
That when the tongue turns to dictating them

38. Falsehood is from their enemies, as is idle fancy.
I did not aim in describing Zayd's merit that he

39. Can be described with the scattered pearls of revelation.
God sent it down as a compelling proof.

40. They ruined affairs and altered them.
It uncovered hypocrisy in a chapter

41. That was revealed when its covering could not be removed.
A crime, when it hides fearing a censor,

42. The age proclaims it, and the Preserved Scripture declaims.