أَبا جَعفَرٍ وَأُصولُ الفَتى

أَبا جَعفَرٍ وَأُصولُ الفَتى

تَدُلُّ عَلَيهِ بِأَغصانِهِ

تَدُلُّ عَلَيهِ بِأَغصانِهِ

O Abu Jaʿfar, a young man's roots

O Abu Ja'far, noble lineage

reveal him through his branches.

Shows in its branches,

أَفي الحَقِّ أَنَّ صَديقاً أَتاكَ

أَفي الحَقِّ أَنَّ صَديقاً أَتاكَ

لِتَكفِيَهُ بَعضَ أَشجانِهِ

لِتَكفِيَهُ بَعضَ أَشجانِهِ

Is it right that a friend came to you

Is it right that a friend came to you,

so you might relieve him of some of his sorrows,

To relieve him of some of his troubles,

فَتَأمُرُ أَنتَ بِإِعطائِهِ

فَتَأمُرُ أَنتَ بِإِعطائِهِ

وَيَأمُرُ سَعدٌ بِحِرمانِهِ

وَيَأمُرُ سَعدٌ بِحِرمانِهِ

and you yourself order a gift for him,

But you order to give him nothing,

while Saʿd orders that he be denied it?

While Sa'd orders to deny him,

وَلَستُ أَعيَبُ الشَريفَ الظَري

وَلَستُ أَعيَبُ الشَريفَ الظَري

فَ يَكونُ غُلاماً لِغِلمانِهِ

فَ يَكونُ غُلاماً لِغِلمانِهِ

And I do not blame the refined nobleman

I do not blame the noble Sa'd,

for being a slave to his slaves.

For he is but a boy among boys.