أبا سُليمانَكم أولَيْتَ من حَسَنٍ

أبا سُليمانَكم أولَيْتَ من حَسَنٍ

وكْم جَزَيْتَ وكم واليْتَ من مِنَنِ

وكْم جَزَيْتَ وكم واليْتَ من مِنَنِ

Abu Sulayman, how much kindness you have bestowed!

Oh Abu Sulaiman, how much goodness you have granted me,

And how often you rewarded, and how many favors you bestowed in succession!

And how much you have rewarded me, and how much kindness you have bestowed upon me,

وكم رعى بعضُنا بَعضاً وكانَ لهُ

وكم رعى بعضُنا بَعضاً وكانَ لهُ

مزاوِجاً كازدِواجِ الرُّوحِ والبَدَنِ

مزاوِجاً كازدِواجِ الرُّوحِ والبَدَنِ

And how often each of us cared for the other, and was to him

And how much we have tended to one another, and he was for me

A partner, like the union of soul and body.

Like the pairing of spirit and body,

وكم حُسِدْنا على وُدٍّ بهِ أنسِتْ

وكم حُسِدْنا على وُدٍّ بهِ أنسِتْ

نفوسُنا مثلَ أُنْسِ الطِّفْلِ باللَّبَنِ

نفوسُنا مثلَ أُنْسِ الطِّفْلِ باللَّبَنِ

And how often we were envied for a love that soothed

And how much we were envied for the affection through which

Our souls, as milk soothes a child.

Our souls were comforted like a child is soothed by milk.

فمالَنا قد تناكَرْنا بلاسببٍ

فمالَنا قد تناكَرْنا بلاسببٍ

ومالَنا أنَّنا زُعْنا عنِ السَّنَنِ

ومالَنا أنَّنا زُعْنا عنِ السَّنَنِ

So why have we become strangers to each other for no reason?

So why have we grown estranged without cause,

And why have we strayed from the proper path?

And why have we deviated from propriety?

ولمِْ نَسِينا حُقوقاً جَمَّمةً سلفَتْ

ولمِْ نَسِينا حُقوقاً جَمَّمةً سلفَتْ

لزَلَّةٍ إنْ جَرتْ هَذا منَ الغَبَنِ

لزَلَّةٍ إنْ جَرتْ هَذا منَ الغَبَنِ

And why have we forgotten so many past obligations,

And why have we forgotten binding rights

For a lapse, if one occurred? This is a losing bargain.

Due to a misstep - if it has occurred - out of neglect?

وهلْ يَرى عاقِلٌ باعَ الثَّمينَ مَنَ

وهلْ يَرى عاقِلٌ باعَ الثَّمينَ مَنَ

الأعلاقِ وهْوَ لهُ ذُخْرٌ بلا ثَمَنِ

الأعلاقِ وهْوَ لهُ ذُخْرٌ بلا ثَمَنِ

And is a sensible man ever seen selling a precious thing

Does a reasonable man sell the precious

From his valuables—a treasure laid up for him—for nothing?

For naught and yet have ample stores without price?

ما عذرُنا إنْ سُئِلنا أينَ وصلُكُما

ما عذرُنا إنْ سُئِلنا أينَ وصلُكُما

وأينَ عهدُكما في سالِفِ الزَّمَنِ

وأينَ عهدُكما في سالِفِ الزَّمَنِ

What excuse have we if asked, “Where is the bond between you two,

What is our excuse if we are asked where your relationship stood

And where is your pledge from bygone days?”

And where was your pact in eras past?

نَهلاً فليسَ لَنا في عُمرِنا مَهَلٌ

نَهلاً فليسَ لَنا في عُمرِنا مَهَلٌ

وليسَ يَحسُنُ أن نرضى سِوى الحَسَنِ

وليسَ يَحسُنُ أن نرضى سِوى الحَسَنِ

A first draught—for we have no time to spare in our lives;

An admonition - we have no time in our lives for delay

And it is not fitting that we be content with anything but goodness.

And it is not seemly that we accept anything but the best.

فعُدْ إلى الوَصلِ إنَّ الوصلَ أحمدُ إنْ

فعُدْ إلى الوَصلِ إنَّ الوصلَ أحمدُ إنْ

تابعْتَ رأيَ أولي الألبابِ والفِطَنِ

تابعْتَ رأيَ أولي الألبابِ والفِطَنِ

So return to friendship; friendship is more praiseworthy, if

So return to reunion - for reunion is most praiseworthy

You follow the counsel of those endowed with understanding and discernment.

If you heed the view of those wise and insightful.

وإنْ بخِلْتَ بوُدَّ أو مجاملَةٍ

وإنْ بخِلْتَ بوُدَّ أو مجاملَةٍ

فهُدْنَةٌ كيفَما كانَتْ على دَخَنِ

فهُدْنَةٌ كيفَما كانَتْ على دَخَنِ

And if you begrudge affection or courtesy,

But if you are stingy with affection or favor,

Then a truce, whatever its form, though clouded by ill will.

Then a truce, however it may be, over embers.

إنْ كانَ حقُّكَ فرْضاً ليس يدفَعُهُ

إنْ كانَ حقُّكَ فرْضاً ليس يدفَعُهُ

عُذْرٌ فلا تُخرِجَنَّ حَقِّي مَنَ السَّنَنِ

عُذْرٌ فلا تُخرِجَنَّ حَقِّي مَنَ السَّنَنِ

If your right is an obligation that cannot be set aside

If it is your right by ordainment, undeflected by

By any excuse, then do not exclude my right from the same rule.

Excuse, then do not deny my own right its course.