1. Like the story of the camel and the camel-calf
And a thing may be known through a parable

2. He brought it from Syria, a she-camel
So they met a raiding party on the way

3. He did not see it because of his heedlessness
Of its matter and his preoccupation with his thoughts

4. So the camel saw what he did not see
And said to the camel-calf, warning it

5. “I see the horses coming towards us
And I am too heavy to escape

6. “So unload this off my back and mount it
And flee, go if escape is dear

7. The calf said to it, remembering laziness
“I’m weary as you are heavy and honored

8. “You want me to unload the burden
Just for this, I’m tired of the weight already”

9. It said to it “Look at the dust cloud”
It said “It’s the mirage in the glance”

10. “That is the dust of a caravan or a regiment
Or a band fleeing from the enemy, speeding”

11. It said “And these are the forelocks of horses
Coming fast like a torrent”

12. It said “Maybe there are acquaintances among them
Or a Bedouin or allied youth”

13. The camel said “Stop the delusions
‘Maybe’ does not ward off calamity”

14. It said “Take your luggage off me
And leave your insolence”

15. The camel said, laughing
“This fool is destroyed by my plots”

16. And the horses caught up to it where it was
And it was tied up tightly from its armpits

17. And so is the nature of the hunter
He does not accept the truth for plotting

18. “If I wanted, I would have presented
A thousand witnesses, as one is not enough

19. “But he would kill me, so I have not
Guided him to the treasures of wealth”

20. The Shaykh said, confused
And startled by its invented words

21. “You have led me, so I do not care now
If you presented proof or not”

22. “So do not deceive me, I do not care
If you spoke truth or lies in your words

23. “The likes of me are not fooled by the absurd
For being fooled is the ugliest trait

24. “You are just a wicked charlatan
Walking with the beasts, going and coming

25. “How do you know what is in my home
Of treasures, in earlier times?

26. “If you knew the unseen or had knowledge
You would have prospered with it, not suffered”

27. “You were ignorant of your own miserable state
Until you became a hostage, pledged”

28. “And you claim to know what is in my house
None knows the hidden but the Creator”

29. It said “Your ignorance of secrets
Has brought you to the pits of destruction

30. “I know them with true knowledge
And the free man does not lie in advice

31. “So the description of its traits
Matched what the wicked one spoke of its features”

32. Then it hastily named and described it
And told every aspect of its affair and livelihood

33. Recklessly, and it matched good fortune
He said “You speak truth,” and he wanted more

34. It said “Now you see a man
Singing a poem, facing us while sitting

35. “He leads a small herd of its offspring
You'd think them weak and infirm from their look”

36. “And he follows a pockmarked stud donkey
Though it is near him, if he but realized”

37. “And before that he had seen
Those camel-calves wandering parentless”

38. “Remembering their owner's absence and loss
And their mother complaining of her heart's love”

39. So the Shaykh went with it a little
Then saw the singer and the small herd

40. And when the wicked one saw him
He verified what it had narrated

41. He found nothing in the burrow, so he came
To feast on his children out of greed

42. So he did not speak to them, but spent the night digging
And thus destroyed the house, that fool

43. And people blamed him and said he’d gone mad
“What treasure did the fool hope for?”

44. And he kept digging with great effort
But found nothing, and how could he?

45. “And so you want to trick me
With your sweet words, even if they slay me”

46. The Shaykh said “What do you want
From killing the likes of me? That's far-fetched

47. “I have nothing with me in my bags
Except these clothes, as you can see

48. “And they are, as you observe, rags
Killing is ugliest for their like”

49. “If you spare me from harm
I will give you the alms duty owed from my wealth

50. “And I told the company ‘This man
Is entitled to zakat, it's obligatory’

51. “And when I say this, they'll believe me
And you'll get much good from their charity”

52. “It would be better for you in both abodes
Than you see in slaying me at my time”

53. So the killer was fooled by the absurdity
And said “Will you swear to your words?”

54. And he swore to what he had said, so he swore
And the mighty Shaykh turned away and diverted

55. Until when he reached the caravan
He said “Tie him up tight, O companions

56. “For he is a wicked, vile thief
Who robs and plunders the Muslims”

57. So the killer was bound very tightly
And his adversary gained power over him

58. The holy man said, laughing
“You sought evil, and evil is deadly

59. “You have become a parable after your proverbs
And mention of the wicked one and the calf

60. It said “How can I escape
One whom I see has power over me to kill me?”

61. “He who feels safe from destiny is an idolator
Destiny is mightier over men”

62. “Do not rejoice, for talk goes on
I am tricked and you are treacherous

63. “Betrayal of covenant is very ugly
The worst of creation are those who do not keep covenant”

64. “You have power over me, so I plead
And overlook your ugly betrayal”

65. “I am a captive, I see no helper
The exalted does not kill prisoners

66. “Killing prisoners is the evilest of traits
The first martyr is called 'the patient'

67. “He was a rock, a companion of the Prophet
And he was with Ali in all conditions”

68. “I have gotten what I wanted from you
So favor me, for now is the time for favor”

69. It said “Repent sincerely,” and he repented
And gathered the companions and comrades

70. And related what had occurred of the affair
And said “Treachery is for the wretched”

71. “And now he has repented of corruption
And become a worshipper in religion”

72. So they collected some zakat
And were quick to give donations to him

73. And released him, so the next day he said
“I have outwitted you, O fool

74. “He who gets what he wants has won
We agreed and differed in the cause”