ومزنرٍ أضحى يقول ثلاثةً

ومزنرٍ أضحى يقول ثلاثةً

وأقول من وجهين لا بل واحدُ

وأقول من وجهين لا بل واحدُ

And a girdle-wearer began to say, “Three,”

With controversy he came to say but three

And I say, in two respects, “No—rather, one.”

Yet I with two faces, nay but one, agree

حتى إذا علِقَتْ بنا يدُ مُنكرٍ

حتى إذا علِقَتْ بنا يدُ مُنكرٍ

كانت لنا فيما يقولُ مقاصدُ

كانت لنا فيما يقولُ مقاصدُ

Until, when a reprover’s hand caught hold of us,

Until the hand of denial took us in its grip

We had our own aims in what he said.

Intent we were on meanings in all he would say

هذي مناظرةٌ نتيجةُ فقهِها

هذي مناظرةٌ نتيجةُ فقهِها

منّي ومنه راكعٌ أو ساجدُ

منّي ومنه راكعٌ أو ساجدُ

This is a debate; understanding it results

This dispute from jurisprudence took its root

In me and him bowing or prostrating.

Him and me, bowing down or prostrate in prayer

أستغفر الله العظيمَ فإنّني

أستغفر الله العظيمَ فإنّني

بالزورِ معترفٌ وقلبي جاحدُ

بالزورِ معترفٌ وقلبي جاحدُ

I seek forgiveness from God the Great, for I

I ask God's greatest forgiveness, for I

Profess falsehood, while my heart denies it.

Admit to falsehood while my heart denies