رَأَيتُ فُضَيلاً كانَ شَيئاً مُلَفَّفاً

فَكَشَّفَهُ التَمحيصُ حَتّى بَدا لِيا

I saw Fudayl, who was all wrapped up,

Unravelled by scrutiny, so he appeared to me naked.

فَأَنتَ أَخي ما لَم تَكُن لِيَ حاجَةٌ

فَإِن عَرَضَت أَيقَنتُ أَن لا أَخا لِيا

So you, my brother, as long as I had no need of you,

But if I was in need, I realised you were no brother to me.

فَلا زادَ ما بَيني وَبَينَكَ بَعدَما

بَلَوتُكَ في الحاجاتِ إِلّا تَمادِيا

After I tested you in times of need, nothing increased between us

Except for separation.

فَلَستُ بِراءٍ عَيبَ ذي الوُدِّ كُلَّهُ

وَلا بَعضَ ما فيهِ إِذا كُنتُ راضِيا

I am not overlooking the faults of a dear friend,

Nor some of the faults, if I was pleased.

فَعَينُ الرِضا عَن كُلِّ عَيبٍ كَليلَةٌ

وَلَكِنَّ عَينَ السُخطِ تُبدي المُساوِيا

The eye of contentment overlooks every fault,

But the eye of displeasure reveals the equals.

كِلانا غَنِيٌّ عَن أَخيهُ حَياتَهُ

وَنَحنُ إِذا مِتنا أَشَدُّ تَغانِيا

Each of us is independent of his brother during his lifetime,

And when we die, even more needless of each other.