أحلَّ العراقيُّ النبيذَ وشربَهُ

أحلَّ العراقيُّ النبيذَ وشربَهُ

وقال الحرامان المدامةُ والسُّكرُ

وقال الحرامان المدامةُ والسُّكرُ

The Iraqi declared nabidh and drinking it lawful,

The Iraqi made wine lawful and drank it

And said, “The two forbidden things are wine and drunkenness.”

And the puritans said drink and drunkenness are forbidden

وقال الحجازيُّ الشرابان واحدٌ

وقال الحجازيُّ الشرابان واحدٌ

فحلّتْ لنا بين اختلافهما الخمرُ

فحلّتْ لنا بين اختلافهما الخمرُ

And the Hijazi said, “The two drinks are one and the same.”

And the Hejazi said the two drinks are the same

So, amid their disagreement, wine became lawful for us.

So between their differing opinions wine became lawful for us

سآخذ من قوليهما طرفيهما

سآخذ من قوليهما طرفيهما

وأشربها لا فارقَ الوازر الوزرُ

وأشربها لا فارقَ الوازر الوزرُ

I shall take one side from each of their two opinions,

I will take both their opinions

And drink it—may sin never leave the sinner!

And drink it, for sin is equal to sin