سَجعُ أَبي العَيناءِ مِن رَجعِهِ

سَجعُ أَبي العَيناءِ مِن رَجعِهِ

فَلعنَةُ اللَهِ عَلى سَجعِهِ

فَلعنَةُ اللَهِ عَلى سَجعِهِ

Abū al-ʿAynāʾ’s rhymed prose comes from his excrement;

The rhyming of Abu al-Ayna when he returns

so may God’s curse be upon his rhymed prose.

So may the curse of God be upon his rhyming

كَأَنَّ مَن يَسمَعُ أَلفاظَهُ

كَأَنَّ مَن يَسمَعُ أَلفاظَهُ

يُقذَفُ صُمَّ الصَخرِ في سَمعِهِ

يُقذَفُ صُمَّ الصَخرِ في سَمعِهِ

It is as though whoever hears his words

It is as if one who hears his words

has solid rocks hurled into his ears.

Is pelted with deaf rocks upon his hearing

قَد طَبَعَ اللَهُ عَلى قَلبِهِ

قَد طَبَعَ اللَهُ عَلى قَلبِهِ

فَالكُفرُ مُستَولٍ عَلى طَبعِهِ

فَالكُفرُ مُستَولٍ عَلى طَبعِهِ

God has indeed set a seal upon his heart,

God has sealed his heart

so unbelief holds sway over his nature.

So disbelief has taken over his nature

لا تُكثِروا فيهِ فَلا بُدَّ لي

لا تُكثِروا فيهِ فَلا بُدَّ لي

أَساءَ أَو أَحسَنَ مَن صَفعِهِ

أَساءَ أَو أَحسَنَ مَن صَفعِهِ

Do not speak at length about him, for I must—

Do not dwell on him, I have no choice

whether he does ill or well—slap him.

Whether he did good or evil, to slap his face