لَو كانَ ذا الآكِلُ أَزوادَنا

لَو كانَ ذا الآكِلُ أَزوادَنا

ضَيفاً لَأَوسَعناهُ إِحسانا

ضَيفاً لَأَوسَعناهُ إِحسانا

If this eater of our provisions were

Had this devourer of our provisions been

If this one who devours our provisions

a guest, we would shower him with kindness.

A guest, we would have welcomed him graciously.

Were a guest, we would have overwhelmed him with kindness;

لَكِنَّنا في العَينِ أَضيافُهُ

لَكِنَّنا في العَينِ أَضيافُهُ

يوسِعُنا زوراً وَبُهتانا

يوسِعُنا زوراً وَبُهتانا

But in al-ʿAyn, we are his guests;

Yet it is we who are guests in his domain -

But to the eye, it appears we are guests of him

he showers us with lies and slander.

He wrongs us and spreads lies unendingly.

Who heaps upon us falsehood and slander.

فَلَيتَهُ خَلّى لَنا سُبلَنا

فَلَيتَهُ خَلّى لَنا سُبلَنا

أَعانَهُ اللَهُ وَإِيّانا

أَعانَهُ اللَهُ وَإِيّانا

So, if only he would leave our paths open to us!

Would that he leave our paths clear,

If only he would clear our path and let us be—

May God help him and us.

And may God aid both him and us equally.

May God grant aid to him, and to us as well.