وَرَقِيعٍ يَأْبى السَّلامَ عَلَينا

وَرَقِيعٍ يَأْبى السَّلامَ عَلَينا

لا مُشِيراً بهِ ولا مُتكلِّمُ

لا مُشِيراً بهِ ولا مُتكلِّمُ

And a scoundrel refuses to greet us,

And a boor refuses to greet us,

neither signaling a greeting nor speaking one.

neither gesturing a greeting nor uttering one.

قُلْتُ سَلِّمْ إذا مَرَرْتَ بِقَومٍ

قُلْتُ سَلِّمْ إذا مَرَرْتَ بِقَومٍ

فَهُوَ الشَّرعُ قالَ لي لا أُسلِّمُ

فَهُوَ الشَّرعُ قالَ لي لا أُسلِّمُ

I said, “Offer greetings when you pass by a people—

I said, “Give greetings when you pass by people,

for that is the sacred law.” He told me, “I will not.”

for that is religious law.” He said to me, “I will not greet.”