بانَ الشَبابُ وَأَفنى ضِعفَهُ العُمُرُ

بانَ الشَبابُ وَأَفنى ضِعفَهُ العُمُرُ

لِلَهِ دَرُكَ أَيَّ العَيشِ تَنتَظِرُ

لِلَهِ دَرُكَ أَيَّ العَيشِ تَنتَظِرُ

Youth has gone, and age has consumed twice its span.

Youth has departed and old age has exhausted its weakness,

God bless you—what kind of life are you waiting for?

To God belong the happenings - which life do you await?

هَل أَنتَ طالِبُ وِترٍ لَستَ مُدرِكَهُ

هَل أَنتَ طالِبُ وِترٍ لَستَ مُدرِكَهُ

أَم هَل لِقَلبِكَ عَن أُلّافِهِ وَطَرُ

أَم هَل لِقَلبِكَ عَن أُلّافِهِ وَطَرُ

Are you seeking vengeance you will never attain?

Are you a seeker of things unattainable?

Or has your heart any wish to leave its intimates?

Or does your heart no longer care for its companions?

أَم كُنتَ تَعرِفُ آياتِ فَقَد جَعَلَت

أَم كُنتَ تَعرِفُ آياتِ فَقَد جَعَلَت

أَطلالُ إِلفِكَ بِالوَدكاءِ تَعتَذِرُ

أَطلالُ إِلفِكَ بِالوَدكاءِ تَعتَذِرُ

Or did you once recognize the landmarks? Now

Or did you used to know verses, so ruins of your friendship

your beloved's ruins at al-Wadka have begun to fade.

Now make excuses through desolation?

أَم لا تَزالُ تُرَجّي عيشَةً أُنُفاً

أَم لا تَزالُ تُرَجّي عيشَةً أُنُفاً

لَم تُرجَ قَبلُ وَلَم يُكتَب بِها زُبُرُ

لَم تُرجَ قَبلُ وَلَم يُكتَب بِها زُبُرُ

Or do you still hope for a fresh, untried life,

Or do you still hope for a dignified living

never hoped for before, about which no books have been written?

That has not been hoped for before, nor recorded in books?

يَلحى عَلى ذاكَ أَصحابي فَقُلتُ لَهُم

يَلحى عَلى ذاكَ أَصحابي فَقُلتُ لَهُم

ذاكُم زَمانٌ وَهَذا بَعدَهُ عُصُرُ

ذاكُم زَمانٌ وَهَذا بَعدَهُ عُصُرُ

My companions reproach me for that, and I told them:

My friends insist on the past, so I said to them:

That was a time; this is another age after it.

That was your time, and this is the era after it.

مَن لِنواعِجِ تَنزو في أَزِمَّتِها

مَن لِنواعِجِ تَنزو في أَزِمَّتِها

أَم لِتَنائي حُمولُ الحَيِّ قَد بَكَروا

أَم لِتَنائي حُمولُ الحَيِّ قَد بَكَروا

Who will tend the swift she-camels leaping in their halters,

Who laments the parting of loved ones during calamities,

or the tribe's departing camel-loads? They have already left at dawn.

Or the early arrival of living's burdensome loads?

كَأَنَّها بِنَقا العَزّافِ طاوِيَةٌ

كَأَنَّها بِنَقا العَزّافِ طاوِيَةٌ

لَمّا اِنطَوى بَطنُها وَاِخرَوَّطَ السَفَرُ

لَمّا اِنطَوى بَطنُها وَاِخرَوَّطَ السَفَرُ

As though, on al-Azzaf's dune, she were a lean creature,

As if folded by the basket-maker,

when her belly drew in and the journey stretched long:

When its belly is folded and the journey scrunched.

مارِيَّةٌ لُؤلُؤانُ اللَونِ أَوَّدَها

مارِيَّةٌ لُؤلُؤانُ اللَونِ أَوَّدَها

طَلٌّ وَبَنَّسَ عَنها فَرقَدٌ خَصِرُ

طَلٌّ وَبَنَّسَ عَنها فَرقَدٌ خَصِرُ

a pearl-colored wild cow, weighed down

A beautifully colored pearl, whose charm

by dew, while a chilled calf had strayed from her.

Has been removed by a necklace around her waist.

ظَلَّت تُماحِلُ عَنهُ عَسعَساً لِحَماً

ظَلَّت تُماحِلُ عَنهُ عَسعَساً لِحَماً

يَغشى الضَرّاءَ خَفِيّاً دونَهُ النَظَرُ

يَغشى الضَرّاءَ خَفِيّاً دونَهُ النَظَرُ

All day she strove to ward off from him a prowling, flesh-hungry wolf,

She continues to avert him disdainfully, her flesh

haunting the thickets, hidden beyond sight's reach.

Covering adversity secretly, sight cannot reach it.

تُربي لَهُ وَهوَ مَسرورٌ بِغَفلَتِها

تُربي لَهُ وَهوَ مَسرورٌ بِغَفلَتِها

طَوراً وَطَوراً تَسَنّاهُ فَتَعتَكِرُ

طَوراً وَطَوراً تَسَنّاهُ فَتَعتَكِرُ

She watches for him while he rejoices in her distraction,

She nurtures him bit by bit while he is unaware,

at one time; at another she approaches him and wheels to charge.

Molding him time and again as she gets vexed.

في يَومِ طَلٍّ وَأَشباهٍ وَضافِيَةٍ

في يَومِ طَلٍّ وَأَشباهٍ وَضافِيَةٍ

شَهبا وَثَلجٍ وَقَطرٍ وَقعُهث دِرَرُ

شَهبا وَثَلجٍ وَقَطرٍ وَقعُهث دِرَرُ

On a day of dew and the like, beneath a spreading

On a long night, with companions and a blazing fire,

gray cloud, with snow and rain falling in copious streams.

Of meteors, hail, drops, and scattered pearls.

حَتّى تَناهى بِهِ غَيثٌ وَلَجَّ بِها

حَتّى تَناهى بِهِ غَيثٌ وَلَجَّ بِها

بَهوٌ تَلاقَت بِهِ الآرامُ وَالبَقَرُ

بَهوٌ تَلاقَت بِهِ الآرامُ وَالبَقَرُ

Until a downpour reached its height there, and she was drawn into

Until copious rain reaches him and violent winds blow,

a broad hollow where gazelles and wild cattle met.

Where tranquility and open space meet.

طافَت وَسافَت قَليلاً حَولَ مَرتَعِهِ

طافَت وَسافَت قَليلاً حَولَ مَرتَعِهِ

حَتّى اِنقَضى مِن تَوالي إِلفِها الوَطَرُ

حَتّى اِنقَضى مِن تَوالي إِلفِها الوَطَرُ

She circled and sniffed awhile around his grazing place,

She circles and travels a short distance around his meadows

until her wish to stay close to her companion had run its course.

Until the succession of their friendship is severed.

فَلَم تَجِد في سَوادِ اللَيلِ رائِحَةً

فَلَم تَجِد في سَوادِ اللَيلِ رائِحَةً

إِلّا سَماحيقَ مِمّا أَحرَزَ العَفَرُ

إِلّا سَماحيقَ مِمّا أَحرَزَ العَفَرُ

In the darkness of night she found no scent

She finds no scent in the darkness of night

except thin scraps of what the dust had concealed.

Except remnants of what the dust has kept.

ثُمَّ اِرعَوَت في سَوادِ اللَيلِ وَاِدَّكَرَت

ثُمَّ اِرعَوَت في سَوادِ اللَيلِ وَاِدَّكَرَت

وَقَد تَمَزَّعَ صادٍ لَحمُهُ دَفِرُ

وَقَد تَمَزَّعَ صادٍ لَحمُهُ دَفِرُ

Then she checked herself in the darkness of night and remembered,

Then she returned in the dark of night, reminiscing,

while a thirsty creature lay torn apart, its flesh reeking.

While his body lay torn to pieces.

ثُمَّ اِستَمَرَّت كَضَوءِ البَرقِ وَاِنفَرَجَت

ثُمَّ اِستَمَرَّت كَضَوءِ البَرقِ وَاِنفَرَجَت

عَنها الشَقائِقُ مِن بَهنانَ وَالضَفِرُ

عَنها الشَقائِقُ مِن بَهنانَ وَالضَفِرُ

Then she sped on like lightning's flash, and parted

Then she continued like a flash of lightning and emerged

before her were Bahnan's sandy hollows and the sand-ridges.

From her the daisies of interruptions and blossoms.

تَطايَحَ الطَلُّ عَن أَردافِها صُعُدا

تَطايَحَ الطَلُّ عَن أَردافِها صُعُدا

كَما تَطايَحَ عَن ماموسَةَ الشَرَرُ

كَما تَطايَحَ عَن ماموسَةَ الشَرَرُ

Dew flew upward from her hindquarters,

The necklaces fell from her neck,

as sparks fly from a fire.

As sparks fall from striking the flint stone.

كَأَنَّما تِلكَ لَمّا أَن دَنَت أُصُلاً

كَأَنَّما تِلكَ لَمّا أَن دَنَت أُصُلاً

مِن رَحرَحانَ وَفي أَعطافِها زَوَرُ

مِن رَحرَحانَ وَفي أَعطافِها زَوَرُ

As though that one, when she drew near at evening

As if when she approached the origin

to Rahrahan, with a twist in her flanks,

Of basil, with bracelets on her arms,

حَتّى إِذا كَرَبَت وَاللَيلُ يَطلُبُها

حَتّى إِذا كَرَبَت وَاللَيلُ يَطلُبُها

أَيدي الرِكابِ مِنَ اللَغباءِ تَنحَدِرُ

أَيدي الرِكابِ مِنَ اللَغباءِ تَنحَدِرُ

until, when she came close and night pursued her,

Until when she grew old, and night seeks her,

the mounts' forelegs descending from al-Laghba,

The hands of riders flow down the smooth dunes.

حَطَّت وَلَو عَلِمَت عِلمي لَما عَزَفَت

حَطَّت وَلَو عَلِمَت عِلمي لَما عَزَفَت

حَتّى تَلَينَ واهٍ كَرُّها بَسَرُ

حَتّى تَلَينَ واهٍ كَرُّها بَسَرُ

she descended; had she known what I know, she would not have shied away,

She landed, and had she known my knowledge, she would not have hesitated

until she yielded, her turning feeble and forced [wording unclear].

Until the loved one's neck bent and sighed.

شَيخٌ شَموسٌ إِذا ما عَزَّ صاحِبُه

شَيخٌ شَموسٌ إِذا ما عَزَّ صاحِبُه

شَهمٌ وَاِسمَرُ مَحبوكٌ لَهُ عُذُرُ

شَهمٌ وَاِسمَرُ مَحبوكٌ لَهُ عُذُرُ

An unruly old one, when his companion overpowers him,

An old man, whose companions have abandoned him,

high-spirited; and a brown, tightly braided whip with thongs.

Valiant and dark-skinned, excuses can be found for him.

كَأَنَّ وَقعَتَهُ لَو ذانَ مِرفَقِها

كَأَنَّ وَقعَتَهُ لَو ذانَ مِرفَقِها

صَلقُ الصَفا بِأَديمِ وَقعُهُ تِيَرُ

صَلقُ الصَفا بِأَديمِ وَقعُهُ تِيَرُ

As though its blow, beside her elbow [phrase unclear],

As if his footsteps, if accompanied by the clanking of his gear,

were smooth stone striking hide, stroke after stroke.

Were like the echo of pebbles in dry valleys.

حَنَّت قَلوصي إِلى بابوسِها جَزعاً

حَنَّت قَلوصي إِلى بابوسِها جَزعاً

فَما حَنينُكَ أَم ما أَنتَ وَالذِكَرُ

فَما حَنينُكَ أَم ما أَنتَ وَالذِكَرُ

My young she-camel cried for her calf in distress.

My she-camel leaned her chest against her door in agony -

What is your yearning, then—or what have you to do with memories?

Is this your yearning, or are you but a mere reminder?

إِخالُها سَمِعَت عَزفاً فَتَحسَبُهُ

إِخالُها سَمِعَت عَزفاً فَتَحسَبُهُ

إِهابَةَ القَسرِ لَيلاً حينَ تَنتَشِرُ

إِهابَةَ القَسرِ لَيلاً حينَ تَنتَشِرُ

I think she heard a twanging sound and took it for

Her friend heard a tune and thought it

a coercive summons at night, when she wanders abroad.

Was the slapping of saddles at night spreading out.

خُبّي فَلَيسَ إِلى عُثمانَ مُرتَجَعٌ

خُبّي فَلَيسَ إِلى عُثمانَ مُرتَجَعٌ

إِلّا العَداءُ وَإِلّا مَكنَحٌ ضَرَرُ

إِلّا العَداءُ وَإِلّا مَكنَحٌ ضَرَرُ

Trot! There is no returning to Uthman

Hide, for only enmity and harmful deceit returns to Uthman,

except at a run, or through a cramped side-pass.

And flee, for I see people retreating.

وَاِنجي فَإِنّي إِخالُ الناسَ في نَكَصٍ

وَاِنجي فَإِنّي إِخالُ الناسَ في نَكَصٍ

وَأَنَّ يَحيى غِياثُ الناسِ وَالعُصُرُ

وَأَنَّ يَحيى غِياثُ الناسِ وَالعُصُرُ

And hasten away, for I think the people are in retreat,

And that Yahya is the savior of people and the time,

and Yahya is the people's succor and refuge.

O Yahya, son of the Imam of people, we are destroyed

يا يَحيى يا اِبنَ إِمامِ الناسِ أَهلَكَنا

يا يَحيى يا اِبنَ إِمامِ الناسِ أَهلَكَنا

ضَربُ الجُلودِ وَعُسرُ المالِ وَالحَسَرُ

ضَربُ الجُلودِ وَعُسرُ المالِ وَالحَسَرُ

O Yahya, son of the people's leader, we have been ruined

By the striking of whips, hardship of money and sadness.

by flogging, scarcity of money, and exhaustion.

If you do not pay heed, O son of Abi Al-Aasi, to our need,

إِن تَنبُ يا اِبنَ أَبي العاصي بِحاجَتِنا

إِن تَنبُ يا اِبنَ أَبي العاصي بِحاجَتِنا

فَما لِحاجَتِنا وِردٌ وَلا صَدَرُ

فَما لِحاجَتِنا وِردٌ وَلا صَدَرُ

If you turn away from our need, son of Abu al-Asi,

Then our need has no relief or consolation.

our need will have neither approach nor return.

What you accept we accept, and if you burden us with excess

ما تَرضَ نَرضَ وَإِن كَلَّفتَنا شَطَطاً

ما تَرضَ نَرضَ وَإِن كَلَّفتَنا شَطَطاً

وَما كَرِهتَ فَكُرهٌ عِندَنا قَذَرُ

وَما كَرِهتَ فَكُرهٌ عِندَنا قَذَرُ

What pleases you pleases us, even if you burden us beyond measure,

What you dislike is abhorred by us.

and whatever you dislike is hateful and foul to us.

We are those who, if you wish, listen

نَحنُ الَّذينَ إِذا ما شِئتَ أَسمَعَنا

نَحنُ الَّذينَ إِذا ما شِئتَ أَسمَعَنا

داعٍ فَجِئنا لِأَيِّ الأمرِ نَأتَمِرُ

داعٍ فَجِئنا لِأَيِّ الأمرِ نَأتَمِرُ

We are those who, whenever you wish, are summoned

To a caller - we come for whichever command you instruct.

by a caller, and come to obey whatever command.

I seek refuge in what the Prophet sought refuge

إِنّي أَعوذُ بِما عاذَ النَبِيُّ بِهِ

إِنّي أَعوذُ بِما عاذَ النَبِيُّ بِهِ

وَبِالخَليفَةِ أَن لا تُبَلُ العُذُرُ

وَبِالخَليفَةِ أَن لا تُبَلُ العُذُرُ

I seek refuge in that in which the Prophet sought refuge,

And in the Caliph - may excuses never run out.

and in the caliph, lest pleas go unaccepted,

From your overindulged ones and associates with whom

مِن مُترَفيكُم وَأَصحابٍ لَنا مَعَهُم

مِن مُترَفيكُم وَأَصحابٍ لَنا مَعَهُم

لا يَعدِلونَ وَلا نَأبى فَنَنتَصِرُ

لا يَعدِلونَ وَلا نَأبى فَنَنتَصِرُ

from your pampered men, and companions of ours who are with them,

We have no justice, yet we do not seek victory.

who do no justice; nor do we resist and win redress.

If you let the injustice of oppressors reign over us,

فَإِن تُقِرَّ عَلَينا جَورَ مَظلِمَةٍ

فَإِن تُقِرَّ عَلَينا جَورَ مَظلِمَةٍ

لَم تَبنِ بَيتاً عَلى أَمثالِها مُضَرُ

لَم تَبنِ بَيتاً عَلى أَمثالِها مُضَرُ

For if you uphold an unjust wrong against us,

The Mudar did not build the likes of it.

Mudar never built a house upon such wrongs.

Do not forget the day of Abi Dardaa` our scene

لا تَنسِ يَومَ أَبي الدَرداءِ مَشهَدَنا

لا تَنسِ يَومَ أَبي الدَرداءِ مَشهَدَنا

وَقَبلَ ذَلِكَ أَيّامٌ لَنا أُخَرُ

وَقَبلَ ذَلِكَ أَيّامٌ لَنا أُخَرُ

Do not forget our presence on Abu al-Darda's day,

And before that, other days that belong to us.

and other days that were ours before that.

Whoever touches the family of Yahya happily

مَن يُمسِ مِن آلِ يَحيى مُغتَبِطاً

مَن يُمسِ مِن آلِ يَحيى مُغتَبِطاً

في عِصمَةِ الأَمرِ ما لَم يَغلِبِ القَدَرُ

في عِصمَةِ الأَمرِ ما لَم يَغلِبِ القَدَرُ

Whoever passes the evening content among Yahya's household

In the protection of the matter - fate has not overcome him yet.

is sheltered by authority, unless fate prevails.

A banner on the day when death plants its banner,

وَرّادَةٌ يَومَ نَعبِ المَوتِ رايَتُهُم

وَرّادَةٌ يَومَ نَعبِ المَوتِ رايَتُهُم

حَتّى يَفيءَ إِلَيها النَصرُ وَالظَفَرُ

حَتّى يَفيءَ إِلَيها النَصرُ وَالظَفَرُ

Their banner presses forward when death croaks,

Until victory and triumph return to it.

until victory and triumph return to it.

They are from a house that belongs sincerely to God,

مِن أَهلِ بَيتٍ هُمُ لِلَهِ خالِصَةٌ

مِن أَهلِ بَيتٍ هُمُ لِلَهِ خالِصَةٌ

قَد صَعَدوا بِزِمامِ الأَمرِ وَاِنحَدَروا

قَد صَعَدوا بِزِمامِ الأَمرِ وَاِنحَدَروا

They are of a household wholly devoted to God,

They ascended with the reins of authority and descended.

who have risen and descended with the reins of command.

As if it were a morning in which their night flows,

كَأَنَّهُ صُبحَ يَسري القَومُ لَيلَهُمُ

كَأَنَّهُ صُبحَ يَسري القَومُ لَيلَهُمُ

ماضٍ مِنَ الهِندُوانِيّاتِ مُنسَدِرُ

ماضٍ مِنَ الهِندُوانِيّاتِ مُنسَدِرُ

He is as dawn while the people journey through their night,

Passing from Indian wares interwoven.

a keen Indian blade sweeping forth.

Rising above the horizon, with clouds watered by it,

يَعلو مَعَدّاً وَيُستَسقى الغَمامُ بِهِ

يَعلو مَعَدّاً وَيُستَسقى الغَمامُ بِهِ

بَدَّرٌ تَضاءَلَ فيهِ الشَمسُ وَالقَمَرُ

بَدَّرٌ تَضاءَلَ فيهِ الشَمسُ وَالقَمَرُ

He rises above Maadd, and through him the clouds are asked for rain:

In it the sun and moon gleamed weakly.

a full moon beside whom the sun and moon dwindle.

Is there any injustice in the ninety over the eight?

هَل في الثَماني مِنَ التِسعينَ مَظلمَةٌ

هَل في الثَماني مِنَ التِسعينَ مَظلمَةٌ

وَرَبُّها لِكِتابِ اللَهِ مُستَطِرُ

وَرَبُّها لِكِتابِ اللَهِ مُستَطِرُ

Is there injustice in the eight out of ninety,

By its Lord, it clings to the book of God.

while their owner transcribes God's Book?

They wear striped morning gowns,

يَكسونَهُم أَصبَحِيّاتٍ مُحَدرَجَةً

يَكسونَهُم أَصبَحِيّاتٍ مُحَدرَجَةً

إِنَّ الشُيوخَ إِذا ما أوجِعوا ضَجِروا

إِنَّ الشُيوخَ إِذا ما أوجِعوا ضَجِروا

They clothe them in tightly rounded Asbahi whips;

Indeed when elders are hurt, they become annoyed.

old men grow resentful when they are hurt.

Until openly they feel at ease,

حَتّى يَطيبوا لَهُم نَفساً عَلانِيَّةً

حَتّى يَطيبوا لَهُم نَفساً عَلانِيَّةً

عَنِ القِلاصِ الَّتي مِن دونِها مَكَروا

عَنِ القِلاصِ الَّتي مِن دونِها مَكَروا

Until, openly and willingly, they surrender to them

Away from the masks behind which they scheme.

the young she-camels they schemed to obtain.

We are not bodies of `Aad in our nature,

لَسنا بِأَجسادِ عادٍ في طَبائِعِنا

لَسنا بِأَجسادِ عادٍ في طَبائِعِنا

لا نَألَمُ الشَرَّ حَتّى يَألَمَ الحَجَرُ

لا نَألَمُ الشَرَّ حَتّى يَألَمَ الحَجَرُ

Our nature is not that of the bodies of Ad,

We feel not harm until even stone hurts.

feeling no harm until stone itself feels harm.

No humiliating jizyah is upon us, nor is there compulsion in religion,

وَلا نَصارى عَلَينا جِزيَةٌ نُسُكٌ

وَلا نَصارى عَلَينا جِزيَةٌ نُسُكٌ

وَلا يَهودُ طَغاماً دينُهُم هَدَرُ

وَلا يَهودُ طَغاماً دينُهُم هَدَرُ

Nor are we Christians, upon whom a poll tax is an observance,

Nor are Jews an arrogant people whose religion is nonsense.

nor Jewish rabble, whose faith counts for nothing.

We are only people of a she-camel that wandered off,

إِن نَحنُ إِلّا أُناسٌ أَهلُ سائِمَةٍ

إِن نَحنُ إِلّا أُناسٌ أَهلُ سائِمَةٍ

ما إِن لَنا دونَها حَرثٌ وَلا غُرَرُ

ما إِن لَنا دونَها حَرثٌ وَلا غُرَرُ

We are only people who own grazing livestock;

We have no tillage or wealth except her.

apart from them we have neither crops nor prized possessions.

They have filled the lands and it has filled them, and fire consumed them

مَلّوا البِلادَ وَمَلَّتهُم وَأَحرَقَهُم

مَلّوا البِلادَ وَمَلَّتهُم وَأَحرَقَهُم

ظُلمُ السَعادَةِ وَبادَ الماءُ وَالشَجَرُ

ظُلمُ السَعادَةِ وَبادَ الماءُ وَالشَجَرُ

They have wearied of the land, and it of them; they have been burned

The injustice of bliss and the water and trees have perished.

by prosperity's injustice [possibly 'the collectors'], while water and trees vanished.

If you do not save them, their homes will become

إِن لا تُدارِكهُمُ تُصبِح مَنازِلُهُم

إِن لا تُدارِكهُمُ تُصبِح مَنازِلُهُم

قَفراً تَبيضُ عَلى أَرجائِها الحُمرُ

قَفراً تَبيضُ عَلى أَرجائِها الحُمرُ

Unless you come to their aid, their dwellings will become

Barren plains on whose edges foxes whiten.

desolate, with red birds laying eggs around their margins.

Save women and elders who have no stability,

أَدرِك نِساءً وَشيباً لا قَرارَ لَهُم

أَدرِك نِساءً وَشيباً لا قَرارَ لَهُم

إِن لَم يَكُن لَكَ فيما قَد لَقَوا غِيَرُ

إِن لَم يَكُن لَكَ فيما قَد لَقَوا غِيَرُ

Rescue women and gray-haired men who have no settled home,

If you have no other excuse for what they have faced.

if you have made no change to what they have endured.

Indeed, the defects they hide are apparent,

إِنَّ العِيابَ الَّتي يُخفونَ مَشرَجَةٌ

إِنَّ العِيابَ الَّتي يُخفونَ مَشرَجَةٌ

فيها البَيانُ وَيُلوى دونَكَ الخَبَرُ

فيها البَيانُ وَيُلوى دونَكَ الخَبَرُ

The bags they conceal are tied shut;

In them is clarity, and news is twisted from you.

the proof is in them, while news is diverted from you.

So send to them and take them to account,

فَاِبعَث إِلَيهِم فَحاسِبهُم مَحاسَبَةً

فَاِبعَث إِلَيهِم فَحاسِبهُم مَحاسَبَةً

لا تَخَف عَينق عَلى عَينٍ وَلا أَثَرُ

لا تَخَف عَينق عَلى عَينٍ وَلا أَثَرُ

Send to them, then, and call them to an accounting

Without fear for an eye or trace.

in which no asset or trace escapes scrutiny [text uncertain].

And do not say arrogantly: you did not give me a choice,

وَلا تَقولَنَّ زَهواً ما تُخَيِّرُني

وَلا تَقولَنَّ زَهواً ما تُخَيِّرُني

لَم يَترُكِ الشَيبُ لي زَهواً وَلا العَوَرُ

لَم يَترُكِ الشَيبُ لي زَهواً وَلا العَوَرُ

And do not say arrogantly, 'What choice are you giving me?'

Old age did not leave any arrogance or affliction for me.

Neither gray hair nor blindness in one eye has left me any pride.

Ask them wherever God exposes their flaws -

سائِلهُمُ حَيثُ يُبدي اللَهُ عَورَتَهُم

سائِلهُمُ حَيثُ يُبدي اللَهُ عَورَتَهُم

هَل في صُدورِهِم مِن ظُلمِنا وَحَرُ

هَل في صُدورِهِم مِن ظُلمِنا وَحَرُ

Question them where God reveals their shame:

Is there any injustice from us in their chests?

Is there rancor in their breasts from wronging us?