إن أنتَ صادفت أخا لحيةٍ

إن أنتَ صادفت أخا لحيةٍ

قد جلّلتْ من كِبَرٍ صدرَهْ

قد جلّلتْ من كِبَرٍ صدرَهْ

If you encounter a man with a beard

If you meet a man with a long beard

So large that it has covered his chest,

That old age has whitened his chest,

فاقبض بيُسراك على أصلها

فاقبض بيُسراك على أصلها

وضع على حلقومه الشَّفرَه

وضع على حلقومه الشَّفرَه

Then grip its root with your left hand,

Grasp his beard with your left hand,

And lay the blade upon his throat.

And place a blade upon his throat.

فإن خشيت اللّه في قتله

فإن خشيت اللّه في قتله

وخفت منه سطوة مرَّه

وخفت منه سطوة مرَّه

But if you fear God over killing him,

If you fear God in killing him

And fear a bitter blow from Him,

And dread his awesome power,

فثِب إلى عُثنونه ناتفاً

فثِب إلى عُثنونه ناتفاً

فأْتِ عليه شعرة شعرَه

فأْتِ عليه شعرة شعرَه

Then pounce upon his chin-beard, plucking it,

Leap upon his beard and pluck it out,

And finish it off, hair by hair.

Tear his beard hair by hair.