قالواthey said لناto us: حسنٌHasan ترقَّىwas promoted
قالوا لنا: حسنٌ ترقَّى
فأجبتُso I replied: فازhe won بماwith what استحقَّاhe deserved
فأجبتُ: فاز بما استحقَّا
They told us: “Hasan has been promoted.”
They said to us: good has progressed
So I replied: “He has won what he deserved.”
So I replied: he won what he deserved
لِمَwhy لاnot، ولمand did not أرَI see بينهbetween him
لِمَ لا، ولم أرَ بينه
أبدًاever وبينَand between الجحشthe donkey’s foal فرقاa difference؟
أبدًا وبينَ الجحش فرقا؟
Why not, when I have not seen between him
Why not, I never saw
and a donkey’s foal any difference, ever?
Any difference between him and a donkey
هذاthis زمانُthe age الجهلِof ignorance، فيهin it
هذا زمانُ الجهلِ، فيه
تَحرزُgains العَرجاءٌthe lame one (feminine) سبقًاa lead
تَحرزُ العَرجاءٌ سبقًا
This is the age of ignorance; in it
This is an age of ignorance, in it
the lame one takes the lead.
The lame gain precedence
لاO God (invocation’s first part) همَّO God (invocation’s second part)، هبgrant ليto me الجهلَignorance إنْif
لا همَّ، هب لي الجهلَ إنْ
الجهلَignorance خيرٌbetter ليfor me وأَبقىand more lasting
الجهلَ خيرٌ لي وأَبقى
O God, grant me ignorance, if
No worries, grant me ignorance if
ignorance is better for me and more lasting.
Ignorance is better for me and more enduring
Sol 6.1