يا قَمَرَ اللَيلِ إِذا أَظلَما
هَل يَنقُصُ التَسليمُ مَن سَلَّما
O moon of the night when it darkens
O moon of the night when it grows dark,
Does greeting decrease for one who has greeted?
Does a greeting diminish the one who offers it?
قَد كُنتُ ذا وَصلٍ فَمَن ذا الَّذي
عَلَمَّكَ الهِجرانَ لا عَلَّما
I used to be one who connects so who is it
You were once joined with me, so who is the one
That taught you estrangement, not to greet?
That taught you estrangement? May he never teach!
إِن كُنتَ لي بَينَ الوَرى ظالِماً
رَضيتُ أَن تَبقى وَأَن تَظلِما
If you have wronged me among all people
If you must be an oppressor to me among all people,
I would be content for you to remain and do wrong
I am content that you remain, even if you oppress.
هَذا ابنُ إِسماعيلَ يَبني العُلى
وَيَصطَفي الأَكرَمَ فَالأَكرَما
This is the son of Ishmael who builds highnesses
This is the son of Ismail, constructing greatness,
And chooses the most honourable, so the most honourable
Selecting the noblest course, and the nobler still.
يَزيدُ ذا المالِ إِلى مالِهِ
وَيَخلُفُ المالَ لِمَن أَعدَما
He increases what he has of wealth
He adds to the wealth of those with means,
And leaves wealth for those who have nothing
And restores the fortune of those left with nothing.
يَرى انتِهازَ الحَمدِ أُكرومَةً
لَيسَ كَمَن إِن جِئتَهُ صَمَّما
He sees seizing praise as vulgarity
He sees the seizing of praise as a mark of honor,
Not like one who if you come to him, turns away
Unlike one who turns a deaf ear when you approach.
سَل حَسَناً تَسأَل بِهِ ماجِداً
يَرى الَّذي تَسأَلُهُ مَغنَما
Ask Hasan with what is beautiful so you ask a glorious one
Ask of Hasan—you are asking a glorious man,
He sees what you ask of him as a gain
Who views what you ask of him as his own gain.