وَمُدَّعٍ لِلفَهمِ مِن فَهمِه

وَمُدَّعٍ لِلفَهمِ مِن فَهمِه

لا يفرُقُ النشرَ من الطّيِّ

لا يفرُقُ النشرَ من الطّيِّ

And a claimant to understanding—such is his understanding

And one who pretends to understand from his understanding

That he cannot tell unfolding from folding;

Does not distinguish publishing from spreading rumors

من عِلمُهُ كانَ وَمن فَضلُهُ

من عِلمُهُ كانَ وَمن فَضلُهُ

لا يَعرِفُ الحيَّ مِنَ اللَّيِّ

لا يَعرِفُ الحيَّ مِنَ اللَّيِّ

Such were his learning and his excellence

He whose knowledge it was, it existed, and he whose merit it was

That he could not tell truth from falsehood.

Does not recognize the living from the dead