إِنَّ عَجوزاً حُبِسَت بُرهَةً

إِنَّ عَجوزاً حُبِسَت بُرهَةً

ثُمَّ غَدا مِن حُكمِها القَتلُ

ثُمَّ غَدا مِن حُكمِها القَتلُ

Indeed, an old woman was confined for a time;

An old woman was imprisoned for a time

then killing became part of her rule.

Then her murder became the law's decree

خاتَلَ إِبليسُ بِها رَهطَهُ

خاتَلَ إِبليسُ بِها رَهطَهُ

فَتَمَّ في القَومِ بِها الخَتلُ

فَتَمَّ في القَومِ بِها الخَتلُ

Iblis deceived his band through her,

Iblis deceived his comrades with her

and through her, deceit among the people was complete.

And so discord spread amongst the folk

كَم قارِئٍ هَشَّ إِلى نارِها

كَم قارِئٍ هَشَّ إِلى نارِها

فَأَطفَأَت نورَ الَّذي يَتلو

فَأَطفَأَت نورَ الَّذي يَتلو

How many a reciter eagerly turned to her fire,

How many readers yearned for her fire

and she extinguished the light of what he recites.

And extinguished the light they used to follow