لَو كانَ بَطنُكَ شِبراً قَد شَبِعتَ وَقَد

لَو كانَ بَطنُكَ شِبراً قَد شَبِعتَ وَقَد

أَبقيتَ خُبزاً كَثيراً لِلمساكينِ

أَبقيتَ خُبزاً كَثيراً لِلمساكينِ

Had your belly been a handspan, you would have eaten your fill and

If your stomach was full by a hand's breadth, you'd be sated and have

left plenty of bread for the poor.

Much bread left for the destitute.

فَإِن تُصِبكَ مِن الأَيّامِ جائِحَةٌ

فَإِن تُصِبكَ مِن الأَيّامِ جائِحَةٌ

لَم نَبكِ مِنكَ عَلى دُنيا وَلا دينِ

لَم نَبكِ مِنكَ عَلى دُنيا وَلا دينِ

And if some calamity of the days should strike you,

Were hardship's torrents to assail you,

we would mourn no worldly or religious loss in you.

We'd not mourn you, neither worldly goods nor faith.

مازِلتَ في سورَة الأَعرافِ تَدرُسُها

مازِلتَ في سورَة الأَعرافِ تَدرُسُها

حَتّى فُؤادُك مِثلُ الخَزِّ في اللّينِ

حَتّى فُؤادُك مِثلُ الخَزِّ في اللّينِ

You have kept studying Surah al-A‘raf,

You've studied the Chapter of the Heights unceasingly

until your heart is as soft as silk.

Till your heart is soft as curds.

إِنَّ اِمرءاً كُنتُ مَولاهُ فَضَيَّعَني

إِنَّ اِمرءاً كُنتُ مَولاهُ فَضَيَّعَني

يَرجو الفَلاحَ لعندي حقُّ مَغبونِ

يَرجو الفَلاحَ لعندي حقُّ مَغبونِ

Surely a man whose ally I was, yet who neglected me,

I was once the patron of a man who forsook me,

hoping for success, is in my view a true dupe.

Yet hopes I'll help him prosper - what cheek from a wretch I disown!