زَعموا بِأَن الواقِدي قَد اِشتَكى

زَعموا بِأَن الواقِدي قَد اِشتَكى

مِن فاقة فَأَغاثَهُ المَأمون

مِن فاقة فَأَغاثَهُ المَأمون

They claimed that al-Waqidi had complained

They claimed Al-Waqidi complained

of poverty, so al-Ma'mun came to his aid.

Of poverty, so Al-Ma'mun aided him

وَرَوى لَهُ مَعنى الحَديث بِأَنَّهُ

وَرَوى لَهُ مَعنى الحَديث بِأَنَّهُ

قَد قالَ خَير العالمين أَمين

قَد قالَ خَير العالمين أَمين

And he related to him the meaning of the tradition, saying that

And told him the meaning of the hadith that

the best of all beings had said: “There is a custodian

The best of creation, the Trustworthy, had said

بِازاءِ عَرش اللَهِ جَلَّ جَلالُهُ

بِازاءِ عَرش اللَهِ جَلَّ جَلالُهُ

رزق الوَرى بِخَزائن مَخزون

رزق الوَرى بِخَزائن مَخزون

before God's throne—exalted is His majesty—;

Before God's magnificent, majestic throne

creation's sustenance is stored in treasuries.

The sustenance of mankind in treasuries is stored

فَمكثر لمكثر وَمُقلل

فَمكثر لمكثر وَمُقلل

لِمُقلل لِلرزق وَهُوَ خَزين

لِمُقلل لِلرزق وَهُوَ خَزين

He gives abundantly to the generous, and sparingly

So for the lavish, increase, and for the frugal, decrease

to the sparing; he is the treasurer of sustenance.

For sustenance, and it is a treasury

فَأَبسط يَمينك بِالعَطاءِ وَلا تَخَف

فَأَبسط يَمينك بِالعَطاءِ وَلا تَخَف

فَاللَهُ رَبك كافل وَضَمين

فَاللَهُ رَبك كافل وَضَمين

So extend your right hand in giving, and do not fear,

So extend your hand in generosity and do not fear

for God, your Lord, is a provider and guarantor.”

For God, your Lord, is your guarantor and guardian

فَعمدت لَما أَن سَمعت مَقالَهُ

فَعمدت لَما أَن سَمعت مَقالَهُ

لِمطيتي وَمِن العُيون عُيون

لِمطيتي وَمِن العُيون عُيون

So, when I heard his words, I turned

So when I heard his words, I set out

to my mount, while springs flowed from my eyes.

With my walking stick and the best of my eyes

وَقَصَدت باب اللَهِ أَرجو فَضلَهُ

وَقَصَدت باب اللَهِ أَرجو فَضلَهُ

إِذ كُل فَضل دونَ ذَلِكَ دون

إِذ كُل فَضل دونَ ذَلِكَ دون

And I made for God's gate, hoping for His bounty,

And I headed for God's door, hoping for His grace

since every bounty apart from that is inferior.

For any grace less than that is too little

فَعَسى المَواهب أَن تَكون قَريبة

فَعَسى المَواهب أَن تَكون قَريبة

مِني وَيَسعد طالِعي وَيَعين

مِني وَيَسعد طالِعي وَيَعين

So may the gifts be near

Maybe the gifts will be close at hand

to me, and may my rising star be auspicious and lend its aid.

And bless my fortunes and aid me

وَأَقول هاتوا يا بُنيَّ رِحالَكُم

وَأَقول هاتوا يا بُنيَّ رِحالَكُم

وَتَمَتَعوا فَكَذا الهبات تَكون

وَتَمَتَعوا فَكَذا الهبات تَكون

And I shall say: “Bring your packs, O my dear son,

And I say come my sons, get your belongings

and enjoy yourselves—for such are gifts.”

And enjoy, for gifts may come