أَبَيْتُ الرَّدَّ لِلسُّؤالِ عِلْمَاً

أَبَيْتُ الرَّدَّ لِلسُّؤالِ عِلْمَاً

بِمَا في ذَاكَ مِنْ بَسْطٍ وَقَبْضِ

بِمَا في ذَاكَ مِنْ بَسْطٍ وَقَبْضِ

I refuse to turn a petitioner away, knowing

I refused to turn beggars away, knowing

what giving or withholding in such a case entails:

the giving and withholding involved in that.

فَإِمَّا عَائِلٌ فَأَصُونُ مِنْهُ

فَإِمَّا عَائِلٌ فَأَصُونُ مِنْهُ

وَإِمَّا فَاجِرٌ فَأَصُونُ عِرْضِي

وَإِمَّا فَاجِرٌ فَأَصُونُ عِرْضِي

for either he is needy, and I spare him rejection,

If he is needy, I guard myself against him;

or he is unscrupulous, and I safeguard my honor.

and if he is wicked, I safeguard my honor.