كمhow many منof حقيرa lowly thing لهit has سرa secret تضمنهcontained it
كم من حقير له سر تضمنه
وآيةand a sign هيit عندin the sight of اللهGod معتبرَهْesteemed
وآية هي عند الله معتبرَهْ
How many a lowly thing holds a secret within it,
How many a humble one hides a secret
and a sign esteemed in God's sight.
A verse, though low it be, is prized by God
نايٌa reed flute تلقفتswallowed up الألبابthe minds نغمتهits melody
نايٌ تلقفت الألباب نغمته
معdespite أنهits being قصبa reed فيin هيئةa form حقرهlowly
مع أنه قصب في هيئة حقره
A reed flute—its melody has swallowed up minds,
A reed whose music wise men hearken to
though it is a reed of lowly form.
Despite its outward form and modest rod
كمثلlike موسىMoses عصاهhis staff حينwhen أرسلهاhe cast it forth
كمثل موسى عصاه حين أرسلها
تلقفتswallowed up كلall ماthat which جاءتcame بهwith it السحرهthe sorcerers
تلقفت كل ما جاءت به السحره
Like Moses' staff when he cast it forth:
Like Moses' rod when it was cast by him
it swallowed up all that the sorcerers brought.
It swallowed all the wizard rods that awed
Sol 6.1