إِنَّ مَن ضَنَّ بِالكَنيفِ عَلى الضَي

إِنَّ مَن ضَنَّ بِالكَنيفِ عَلى الضَي

فِ بِغَيرِ الكَنيفِ كَيفَ يَجودُ

فِ بِغَيرِ الكَنيفِ كَيفَ يَجودُ

Indeed, one who begrudges a guest the privy—

Whoever is stingy with the little they have

How can he be generous with anything other than the privy?

How can they be generous with what they don't?

ما رَأَينا وَلا سَمِعنا بِحُشٍّ

ما رَأَينا وَلا سَمِعنا بِحُشٍّ

قَبلَ هَذا لِبابِهِ إِقليدُ

قَبلَ هَذا لِبابِهِ إِقليدُ

We have neither seen nor heard of a privy

We have never seen or heard of such meanness -

Before this, with a key to its door.

His door has a lock but no key.

إِن يَكُن في الكَنيفِ شَيءٌ تَخَبّا

إِن يَكُن في الكَنيفِ شَيءٌ تَخَبّا

هُ فَعِندي إِن شِئتَ فيهِ مَزيدُ

هُ فَعِندي إِن شِئتَ فيهِ مَزيدُ

If there is something in the privy you are hiding,

If there is anything hidden in this stinginess,

Then I have more of it, if you wish.

I have plenty more, if you want.