أنا الأحنف الراضي بفقرٍ وعفة

أنا الأحنف الراضي بفقرٍ وعفة

وراحة قلب من جرائر من سلف

وراحة قلب من جرائر من سلف

I am al-Ahnaf, content with poverty and self-respect,

I am al-Ahnaf, content with poverty and self-restraint,

my heart at ease, unburdened by the offenses of those gone before.

and peace of heart, free from the misdeeds of those who came before.

دخلتُ دواوين الملوك فلم أجد

دخلتُ دواوين الملوك فلم أجد

يعذب فيها غير مثر ومسترف

يعذب فيها غير مثر ومسترف

I entered the chancelleries of kings, but found no one

I entered the kings’ offices, but found no one

for whom life there was sweet, save a rich man or a seeker of largesse.

tormented there except the wealthy and seekers of largesse.

ولم أرض بالفقر اختياراً وإنّما

ولم أرض بالفقر اختياراً وإنّما

بليتُ به بلوى عفيف بمقترف

بليتُ به بلوى عفيف بمقترف

Nor did I accept poverty by choice; rather,

And I did not accept poverty by choice; rather,

I was stricken with it as a blameless man is by a wrongdoer.

I was afflicted with it as an upright man is afflicted by a wrongdoer.