أَبو دُلَفٍ إِن تَلقَهُ تَلقَ ماجِداً

أَبو دُلَفٍ إِن تَلقَهُ تَلقَ ماجِداً

جَواداً كَريماً راجِحَ الحِلمِ سَيِّدا

جَواداً كَريماً راجِحَ الحِلمِ سَيِّدا

Abu Dulaf—if you meet him, you meet a noble man,

Abu Dulaf, if you meet him, you meet one who is glorious,

Generous, gracious, great in forbearance, a lord.

Generous, noble, wise, a lord.

أَبو دُلَفِ الخَيراتِ أَنداهُم يَداً

أَبو دُلَفِ الخَيراتِ أَنداهُم يَداً

وَأَبسَطُ مَعروفاً وَأَكرَمُ مَحتِدا

وَأَبسَطُ مَعروفاً وَأَكرَمُ مَحتِدا

Abu Dulaf of good deeds is the most open-handed of them,

Abu Dulaf, most generous, his hand pours forth bounty,

And the most lavish in kindness, and the noblest in lineage.

Most openhanded, most hospitable when challenged.

تُراثُ أَبيهِ عَن أَبيهِ وَجَدِّهِ

تُراثُ أَبيهِ عَن أَبيهِ وَجَدِّهِ

وَكُلُّ اِمرِىءٍ يَجري عَلى ما تَعَوَّدا

وَكُلُّ اِمرِىءٍ يَجري عَلى ما تَعَوَّدا

His father's legacy, handed down from his father and grandfather;

His father's heritage from father and grandfather -

And every man follows the ways he has grown accustomed to.

Each man follows what he is accustomed to.

وَلَست بِشاكٍ غَيرَهُ لِنَقيصَةٍ

وَلَست بِشاكٍ غَيرَهُ لِنَقيصَةٍ

وَلكِنَّما المَمدوحُ مَن كانَ أَمجَدا

وَلكِنَّما المَمدوحُ مَن كانَ أَمجَدا

Nor do I complain of anyone else for a shortcoming,

I have no doubt of others for any defect,

But the one praised is he who is noblest.

But the one praised is he who is most glorious.