إِنَّ الصَنيعَةَ لا تَكونُ صَنيعَةً

إِنَّ الصَنيعَةَ لا تَكونُ صَنيعَةً

حَتّى يُصابَ بِها طَريقُ المَصنَعِ

حَتّى يُصابَ بِها طَريقُ المَصنَعِ

Indeed, a kindness is not truly a kindness

A craft is not a craft until its maker finds the way,

until through it the path of beneficence is reached.

So if you've learned a craft, ply it - but leave your pride.

فَإِذا صَنَعتَ صَنيعَةً فَاِعمَل بِها

فَإِذا صَنَعتَ صَنيعَةً فَاِعمَل بِها

لِلَّهِ أَو لِذَوي القَرابَةِ أَو دَعِ

لِلَّهِ أَو لِذَوي القَرابَةِ أَو دَعِ

So when you do a kindness, do it

Do it for God, your kin, or not at all, my friend,

for God or for your kin—or leave it undone.

Lest skills intended to aid us in life bring misery instead.