تَرَكْتُمْ جَارَكُمْ لِبَنِي سُلَيْمٍ

تَرَكْتُمْ جَارَكُمْ لِبَنِي سُلَيْمٍ

مَخَافَةَ حَرْبِهِمْ عَجْزاً وَهُونَا

مَخَافَةَ حَرْبِهِمْ عَجْزاً وَهُونَا

You abandoned your neighbor to Banū Sulaym,

You left your neighbor to the sons of Sulaym

for fear of war with them, in weakness and humiliation.

Fearing their war, out of weakness and disgrace

فَلَوْ حَبْلاً تَنَاوَلَ من عُقيلٍ

فَلَوْ حَبْلاً تَنَاوَلَ من عُقيلٍ

لَمَدَّ بِحَبْلِهَا حَبْلاً مَتِينَا

لَمَدَّ بِحَبْلِهَا حَبْلاً مَتِينَا

So, had he taken hold of a rope from ʿUqayl,

If only a rope were extended from ‘Uqayl

he would have joined a sturdy rope to hers;

It would extend a strong rope

أوِ القُرَطاءِ ما إِنْ أَسْلَمُوهُ

أوِ القُرَطاءِ ما إِنْ أَسْلَمُوهُ

وقِدْماً ما وَفَوْا إذْ لا تَفُونَا

وقِدْماً ما وَفَوْا إذْ لا تَفُونَا

or from al-Quraṭāʾ—they would never have surrendered him.

The Qurtaa’ - they would not submit him

And long have they kept faith, whereas you do not.

Nor fulfill a promise, for they have no fidelity