أما لِسَويدٍ لا تُشير ومالك

أما لِسَويدٍ لا تُشير ومالك

وأحنف ما بعد الثلاثة يذْهَبُ

وأحنف ما بعد الثلاثة يذْهَبُ

As for Suwayd, do you not point to him—and Malik,

For Soweid's sake do not point and reproach

and Ahnaf? He goes no farther than these three.

And the best after the three will be lost

ولو شهد الصهر المهلب أجمعوا

ولو شهد الصهر المهلب أجمعوا

عليه جموعاً ثم لو يَتَهيّبوا

عليه جموعاً ثم لو يَتَهيّبوا

Had al-Muhallab, the kinsman by marriage, been present, they would have united

Even if the son-in-law Al-Mahlab all agreed

around him in throngs; then, if they felt intimidated...

Upon him in multitudes, even if they were to cower

وكان الذي يثني الحُسام بإسمه

وكان الذي يثني الحُسام بإسمه

وأوّلهم بعد المهلب مطلبُ

وأوّلهم بعد المهلب مطلبُ

And the one whose name turned back the sword was

And the one who straightens the swords with his name was

Muttalib, their foremost after al-Muhallab.

The first after Al-Mahlab, Muttalib

فإن رجع الله المهلب لم نَخَفَ

فإن رجع الله المهلب لم نَخَفَ

عَدُوّاً له في الحرب نابٌ ومَخلَبُ

عَدُوّاً له في الحرب نابٌ ومَخلَبُ

So if God brings al-Muhallab back, we shall not fear

If Allah returns Al-Mahlab we will not fear

an enemy who has a fang and a claw in war.

An enemy against him in war, fang and claw