علَينا له فاعلَمْ حُقوقٌ قضى بِها

علَينا له فاعلَمْ حُقوقٌ قضى بِها

تَناسُبُنا في الجِنس والنُّوعِ والفَضلِ

تَناسُبُنا في الجِنس والنُّوعِ والفَضلِ

We owe him—know this—rights established by

Rights decreed on us we owe to him, as we

our affinity in genus, species, and merit,

Are matched in species, kind, and eminence,

وشِركَتُنا في بَلدَةٍ وصِناعةٍ

وشِركَتُنا في بَلدَةٍ وصِناعةٍ

وهَبْها فُروعاً فالمَودَّةُ كالأَصلِ

وهَبْها فُروعاً فالمَودَّةُ كالأَصلِ

and our sharing a town and a craft.

Partners in one town and one calling too:

And suppose these are branches: affection is like the root.

Love’s boughs grow from their roots beneficence.

ففي أيِّ عَدْلٍ أن يُضَيِّعَ ذِمَّتي

ففي أيِّ عَدْلٍ أن يُضَيِّعَ ذِمَّتي

ويَجفُوَني هَيْهاتَ زِغْتَ عنِ العَدلِ

ويَجفُوَني هَيْهاتَ زِغْتَ عنِ العَدلِ

So what justice permits him to neglect his duty toward me

How can justice permit my rights to sleep

and shun me? Far from it—you have strayed from justice.

While they estrange me? Never! You err from right.