قالوا فلانٌ عالمٌ فاضلٌ

قالوا فلانٌ عالمٌ فاضلٌ

فأكرمُوهُ مثلما يَرْتضي

فأكرمُوهُ مثلما يَرْتضي

They said, “So-and-so is a virtuous scholar;

They said so-and-so is a virtuous scholar

so honor him as he wishes.”

So honor him as he would approve

فقلتَ لما لمْ يكنْ ذا تقىً

فقلتَ لما لمْ يكنْ ذا تقىً

تَعَارَضَ المانعُ و المقتضي

تَعَارَضَ المانعُ و المقتضي

So you said, since he was not a man of piety:

But I said, since he lacked piety

“The impediment and the warrant were at odds.”

Obstacles opposed what's required