كَم جاهِلٍ ظَنَّ أَنَّ المالَ فَضَّلَه

كَم جاهِلٍ ظَنَّ أَنَّ المالَ فَضَّلَه

عَلى كَثيرٍ مِنَ العافينَ تَفضيلا

عَلى كَثيرٍ مِنَ العافينَ تَفضيلا

Many an ignorant man has thought that wealth raised him

How many a fool assumed wealth made him

Far above many who seek charity.

Superior to the content though lacking its pile

لَو كانَ في المالِ تَفضيلٌ لِجامِعِهِ

لَو كانَ في المالِ تَفضيلٌ لِجامِعِهِ

لَكانَ ذو الدَّينِ عِندَ الفَقر مفضولا

لَكانَ ذو الدَّينِ عِندَ الفَقر مفضولا

If wealth conferred superiority on its amasser,

If with wealth came virtue in plenty obtained

The man in debt, when poor, would then be inferior,

The debtor would suffer disgrace though his means were but frail

وَكان ذو المالِ يا ذا اللُّبِّ يفضلُهُ

وَكان ذو المالِ يا ذا اللُّبِّ يفضلُهُ

وَلَو غَدا كافِراً بِالكفرِ مَبهولا

وَلَو غَدا كافِراً بِالكفرِ مَبهولا

And the wealthy man, O man of understanding, would surpass him,

Yet the wealthy one, O wise soul, would he

Even if he became an unbeliever, accursed for disbelief.

Though an infidel blinded, excel and prevail

كَم كافِرٍ حازَ أَموالاً لَقَد كَثُرت

كَم كافِرٍ حازَ أَموالاً لَقَد كَثُرت

وَمُؤمِنٍ باتَ بِالفاقاتِ مَشمولا

وَمُؤمِنٍ باتَ بِالفاقاتِ مَشمولا

Many an unbeliever has amassed wealth, abundant indeed,

Many an infidel gathered a fortune, indeed it is rife

And many a believer has spent the night beset by privations.

While believers oft wanting and hardships assail