أَيُّ نَهرٍ يَجري بِأَقذر وادٍ

هُوَ لِلخَلقِ أَجمَعين مدامُ

What river flows through the filthiest valley,

Yet it is lawful wine for all people.

وَهوَ عِندَ الجَميع خَمرٌ حلالٌ

وَلَدى المُسلِمين أَيضاً حَرام

For Muslims too it is forbidden,

It is the heart of a star if some of it appears.

وَهوَ قَلبٌ للنجم إِن بانَ مِنهُ ال

بعض فافهم إشارتي يا همام

Understand my hint, O wise one.

It is also, when spelled with damma, the noblest thing,

وَهوَ أَيضاً بِالضم أَنفس شَيء

تَتَحلى بِهِ صُدورٌ عظام

With which great souls are adorned.

If you change this with a letter,

فَإِذا ما قلبتَ هَذا بحرف

مِن حُروف بِها يَتم النظام

With which systems are completed.

And if you change that, it is something,

وَإِذا ما قلبت ذاكَ فشيءٌ

لا يُضاهيه في النضال حسام

Nothing equals it in struggle, like a sword.

If its heart is removed, it is a letter,

وَلئن زالَ قَلبُه فَهوَ حرف

فيهِ خلفٌ لَديهمُ وَخصام

In which they have dissent and conflict.

It is a verb, if its beginning appears,

وَهوَ فعلٌ إِن رَأسُهُ بانَ عَنه

وَنَبات بِهِ يَزول السقام

A plant with which disease disappears.

And if you rearrange it, it is something,

وَإِذا ما حرّفته فَهوَ شَيءٌ

مِنهُ أُنثى أَتَت لَنا وَغُلام

From which a female came to us and a boy.

Reflect on its solution, for it is difficult,

فَتأمّل في حلِّه فَهوَ صَعبٌ

وَتفطَّن فَالذكر فيهِ المَرام

And be perceptive, for the mention is the purpose.