سَأُلزِمُ نَفسي الصَفحَ عَن كُلِّ مُذنِب

سَأُلزِمُ نَفسي الصَفحَ عَن كُلِّ مُذنِب

وَإِن كَثُرَت مِنهُ عَلَيَّ الجَرائِمُ

وَإِن كَثُرَت مِنهُ عَلَيَّ الجَرائِمُ

I will compel myself to pardon every wrongdoer,

I will compel myself to forgive every sinner

even if his offenses against me grow numerous.

Though his crimes against me may be immense

وَما الناسُ إِلّا واحِدٌ مِن ثَلاثَة

وَما الناسُ إِلّا واحِدٌ مِن ثَلاثَة

شَريفٌ وَمَشروفٌ وَمِثلي مُقاوِمُ

شَريفٌ وَمَشروفٌ وَمِثلي مُقاوِمُ

Everyone is one of just three kinds:

For people are but one of three kinds

a superior, an inferior, or a peer like me.

Noble, ignoble, and like me holding on

فَأَمّا الَّذي فَوقي فَأَعرِفُ فَضلَهُ

فَأَمّا الَّذي فَوقي فَأَعرِفُ فَضلَهُ

وَألزمُ فيهِ الحَقَّ وَالحَقُّ لازِمُ

وَألزمُ فيهِ الحَقَّ وَالحَقُّ لازِمُ

As for the one above me, I acknowledge his merit,

As for the one above me, I acknowledge his merit

and uphold what is right toward him, for right is binding.

And in him truth and right prevail and stay

وَأَمّا الَّذي دوني فَإِن قالَ صُنتُ عَن

وَأَمّا الَّذي دوني فَإِن قالَ صُنتُ عَن

مَقالَتِهِ نَفسي وَإِن لامَ لائِمُ

مَقالَتِهِ نَفسي وَإِن لامَ لائِمُ

As for the one below me, if he speaks, I shield

And the one below, if he speaks, I shun his speech

myself from his words, even if someone reproaches me.

And if he chides, no challenger appears

وَأَمّا الَّذي مِثلي فَإِن زَلَّ أَو هَفا

وَأَمّا الَّذي مِثلي فَإِن زَلَّ أَو هَفا

تَفَصَّلتُ إِنَّ الفَضلَ لِلحُرِّ حاكِمُ

تَفَصَّلتُ إِنَّ الفَضلَ لِلحُرِّ حاكِمُ

As for my equal, if he slips or errs,

And the one my equal, if he errs or forgets

I act generously, for virtue governs the noble.

I pardon, for merit in the free is arbiter