مَتىwhenever يَبدُappears فيin الداجيthe dark night البَهيمِpitch-black جَبينُهُhis forehead
مَتى يَبدُ في الداجي البَهيمِ جَبينُهُ
يَلُحshines مِثلَlike مِصباحِthe lamp الدُجىthe darkness المُتَوَقِّدِblazing
يَلُح مِثلَ مِصباحِ الدُجى المُتَوَقِّدِ
Whenever his forehead appears in the pitch-black night,
When might the dimwit's forehead glow,
It shines like the blazing lamp of darkness.
Like a lamp lit in the darkness of the night?
فَمَنso who كانَhas been أَوor مَنwho قَدmay يَكونَbe كَأَحمَدٍlike Ahmad
فَمَن كانَ أَو مَن قَد يَكونَ كَأَحمَدٍ
نِظامٌan upholder لِحَقٍّof truth أَوor نَكالٌa scourge لِمُلحِدِfor an unbeliever
نِظامٌ لِحَقٍّ أَو نَكالٌ لِمُلحِدِ
Who, then, has been, or may yet be, like Ahmad—
Who was or who might become like Ahmed,
An upholder of truth or a scourge for an unbeliever?
A pillar of truth or scourge of the infidel?
Sol 6.1