سَأَلتُ النَدى لا عَدِمتُ النَدى

سَأَلتُ النَدى لا عَدِمتُ النَدى

وَقَد كانَ مِنّا زَماناً عَزَب

وَقَد كانَ مِنّا زَماناً عَزَب

I questioned Bounty—may I never be bereft of bounty—

I asked Generosity—may I never lack Generosity!

For it had long been absent from among us.

He had been away from us for a time.

فَقُلتُ لَهُ طالَ عَهدُ اللِقا

فَقُلتُ لَهُ طالَ عَهدُ اللِقا

فَهَل غِبتَ بِاللَهِ أَم لَم تَغِب

فَهَل غِبتَ بِاللَهِ أَم لَم تَغِب

I said to it, “Long has it been since we met;

So I said to him, “It has been long since we met;

By God, have you been away, or have you not?”

have you been away, by God, or have you not?”

فَقالَ بَلى لَم أَزَل غائِباً

فَقالَ بَلى لَم أَزَل غائِباً

وَلَكِن قَدِمتُ مَعَ المُطَّلِب

وَلَكِن قَدِمتُ مَعَ المُطَّلِب

It answered, “Yes, I have remained away—

He said, “Yes, I have been absent all along,

But now I have come with al-Muttalib.”

but I have come with al-Muttalib.”