لَعَمرُكَ ما إِن أَبو مالِكٍ

لَعَمرُكَ ما إِن أَبو مالِكٍ

بِوانٍ وَلا بِضَعيفٍ قُواه

بِوانٍ وَلا بِضَعيفٍ قُواه

By your life, Abu Malik is not

By your life, Abu Malik is no weakling,

Sluggish, nor weak in strength,

Nor one of frail strength to aid him,

وَلا بِأَلَدِّ لَهُ نازِعٌ

وَلا بِأَلَدِّ لَهُ نازِعٌ

يُغاري أَخاهُ إِذا ما نَهاه

يُغاري أَخاهُ إِذا ما نَهاه

Nor a stubborn disputant with an urge

Nor does he have a craven rival

To quarrel with his brother whenever he admonishes him.

Who would oppose his brother if he forbade him.

وَلكِنَّهُ هَيِّنٌ لَيِّنٌ

وَلكِنَّهُ هَيِّنٌ لَيِّنٌ

كَعالِيَةِ الرُمحِ عَردٌ نَساه

كَعالِيَةِ الرُمحِ عَردٌ نَساه

Rather, he is gentle and pliant,

Rather he is gentle and pliant

Like the spear’s upper shaft, tough of sinew.

Like the supple spearshaft if forgotten.

إِذا سُدتَهُ سُدتَ مِطواعَةً

إِذا سُدتَهُ سُدتَ مِطواعَةً

وَمَهما وَكَلتَ إِلَيهِ كَفاه

وَمَهما وَكَلتَ إِلَيهِ كَفاه

If you lead him, you lead one readily obedient;

If you rely on him, you rely on obedience,

And whatever you entrust to him, he handles it.

And whatever task you assign him, he fulfills.

أَلا مَن يُنادي أَبا مالِكٍ

أَلا مَن يُنادي أَبا مالِكٍ

أَفى أَمرِنا أَمرُهُ أَم سِواه

أَفى أَمرِنا أَمرُهُ أَم سِواه

Ah, who will call to Abu Malik?

Oh, who will call for Abu Malik?

Is his concern with our affairs, or with something else?

Does his affair further our own, or another's?

أَبو مالِكٍ قاصِرٌ فَقرَهُ

أَبو مالِكٍ قاصِرٌ فَقرَهُ

عَلى نَفسِهِ وَمِشيعٌ غِناه

عَلى نَفسِهِ وَمِشيعٌ غِناه

Abu Malik confines his poverty

Abu Malik, his poverty binds him

To himself, and shares his wealth.

To himself, though he provides plenty to others.