واللهِ لا هجوتُهُ

واللهِ لا هجوتُهُ

ولا التفتُّ نحوَهُ

ولا التفتُّ نحوَهُ

By God, I have not lampooned him,

I will not insult him

nor have I turned toward him.

Nor pay him any mind

مَنْ لستُ أرضى مدحَهُ

مَنْ لستُ أرضى مدحَهُ

فكيفَ أرضى هجوَهُ

فكيفَ أرضى هجوَهُ

One whom I am unwilling to praise—

Whose praise does not please me

how, then, could I be willing to lampoon him?

Why would I like his slights?