قائِلٌ للنبيّ إنّي غريبٌ

جائعٌ قد أتيتُكم مُستجيرا

A stranger said to the Prophet, "I am a stranger,

Hungry, I have come to you seeking refuge."

فبكى المصطفى وقال غريبٌ

لا يكن للغريب عندي ذُكورا

The Chosen One wept and said, "A stranger!

Let there be no hardship for a stranger in my abode."

من يضيف الغريب قال عليّ

أنا للضيفِ انطلقْ مأجورا

Ali said, "I will host the stranger."

"Go rewarded," he told the guest.

ابنةَ العمّ عِندَنا شيءٌ من الزا

د فقالت أراه شيئاً يَسيرا

The Prophet's cousin said, "We have a little extra food."

He said, "That will be sufficient," though it was meager.

كفُّ بُرٍّ قال اصنعيه فإنّ

الله قد يجعلُ القليلَ كثيرا

"Prepare it, for God may make little into plenty,"

Then she blew out the lamp so he wouldn't see her

ثمّ اطفي المصباحَ كي لا يراني

فأخلّي طعامَه موفورا

And emptied her pantry to fill his dish.

The guest struggled to grasp morsels in the dark

جاهدٌ يلمظ الأصابعَ والضي

فُ يَراه إلى الطعام مُشيرا

As the host pointed him toward the feast.

The angels of God were amazed by you

عجبت منكم ملائكةُ الل

ه وأرضيتم اللطيفَ الخبيرا

And you pleased the All-Aware, the Subtle.

He told them, "They prefer others over themselves,"

ولهم قال يؤثرون على أن

فسِهمْ قال ذاك فضلاً كبيرا

And said, "That is tremendous virtue."