ماnot مِنany (emphatic) صَديقٍfriend وَإِنand even if تَمَّتwas complete صَداقَتُهُhis friendship
ما مِن صَديقٍ وَإِن تَمَّت صَداقَتُهُ
يَوماًever بِأَنجَحَmore successful (emphatic) فيin الحاجاتِneeds مِنthan طَبَقِa platter
يَوماً بِأَنجَحَ في الحاجاتِ مِن طَبَقِ
No friend, however perfect his friendship,
No friend, though staunch his friendship be
Is ever more successful in meeting needs than a platter.
Successfully serves our needs as one
إِذاwhen تَعَمَّمَdonned a turban بِالمِنديلِwith the napkin مُنطلِقاًsetting out
إِذا تَعَمَّمَ بِالمِنديلِ مُنطلِقاً
لَمdid not يَخشَfear نَبوَةَrebuff بَوّابٍa doorkeeper وَلاnor غَلَقِa lock
لَم يَخشَ نَبوَةَ بَوّابٍ وَلا غَلَقِ
When it sets out wearing a napkin as a turban,
Who wraps his face in a kerchief, free
It fears neither a doorkeeper's rebuff nor a lock.
To brave the porter's wrath and run;
لاnot يَكذِبَنَّlet him lie (emphatic) فَإِنَّfor indeed الناسَpeople مُذsince خُلقواthey were created
لا يَكذِبَنَّ فَإِنَّ الناسَ مُذ خُلقوا
لِرَغبَةٍout of desire يُكرِمونَthey honor الناسَpeople أَوor فَرَقِfear
لِرَغبَةٍ يُكرِمونَ الناسَ أَو فَرَقِ
Let no one lie: people, ever since they were created,
For men were made, since first they drew breath,
Have honored people out of desire or fear.
To serve self-interest or fear of death.
Sol 6.1