كتبتَ لنا بذاك البُرِّ برا

كتبتَ لنا بذاك البُرِّ برا

وقَصداً في الثناء وفي الثوابِ

وقَصداً في الثناء وفي الثوابِ

You ordered that wheat for us out of kindness,

You wrote to us with that innocence and sincerity,

and in pursuit of praise and reward.

With purpose in praise and reward.

فكدَّر صَفوَةُ الكيَّالُ حتَّى

فكدَّر صَفوَةُ الكيَّالُ حتَّى

بَقينا منه في أمر عُجَاب

بَقينا منه في أمر عُجَاب

But Ṣafwa, the grain-measurer, spoiled it, until

So the purity of intention was troubled,

we were left by him in a most astonishing predicament.

Leaving us in a state of wonder.

وجدناه عَتِيقاً وارتضينا

وجدناه عَتِيقاً وارتضينا

به إذ عاد وهو أبو تُراب

به إذ عاد وهو أبو تُراب

We found it old, and were content

We found it genuine and were content

with it, since it had become Abu Turab—“Father of Dust.”

With it when it returned as dust and ashes.