جالَستُ يَوماً أَباناً

لا دَرَّ دَرُّ أَبانِ

One day I sat awhile

I sat one day in the company of Aban,

When the cool morning breeze did gently flow

May Aban be bereft of all blessing!

وَنَحنُ حُضرُ رِواقِ ال

أَميرِ بِالنَهرَوانِ

In the courtyard of the prince by the river Nahrawan

While we were present within the portico

Until it was time for the first call to prayer

Of the Emir at al-Nahrawan.

حَتّى إِذا ما صَلاةُ ال

أُلى دَنَت لِأَوانِ

Then Munthir, my mentor in righteousness and kindness

Until, when the prayer of the

Stood up to pray

First hour drew near its time,

فَقامَ مُنذِرُ رَبّي

بِالبِرِّ وَالإِحسانِ

And with each utterance we responded

The herald of my Lord stood up

Until the call to prayer was complete

With righteousness and grace.

وَكُلَّما قالَ قُلنا

إِلى اِنقِضاءِ الأَذانِ

Then he said "How can you bear witness to this

And whatever he recited, we repeated,

Without seeing with your eyes?"

Until the Call to Prayer was complete.

فَقالَ كَيفَ شَهِدتُم

بِذا بِغَيرِ عِيانِ

"I do not testify to this life until

Then he asked: "How did you bear witness

My eyes see plainly"

To this, without the proof of sight?

لا أَشهَدُ الدَهرَ حَتّى

تُعايِنَ العَينانِ

So I said "Glory be to my Lord"

I shall never bear witness, ever,

And he said "Glory to the one who prevents me"

Until my own two eyes can see."

فَقُلتُ سُبحانَ رَبّي

فَقالَ سُبحانَ ماني

So I said "Jesus is a messenger"

So I said: "Glory be to my Lord!"

And he said "No, from Satan"

He replied: "Glory be to Mani!"

فَقُلتُ عيسى رَسولٌ

فَقالَ مِن شَيطانِ

So I said "Moses, deliverer

I said: "Jesus is a Messenger."

Of the protected and bountiful"

He said: "[He was sent] from a devil."

فَقُلتُ موسى نَجِيُّ ال

مُهَيمِنِ المَنّانِ

And he said "Your Lord has a body

I said: "Moses was the confidant of the

With ears and tongue, doesn't he?"

Dominant One, the Bestower."

فَقالَ رَبُّكَ ذو مُق

لَةٍ إِذَن وَلِسانِ

"Did He create Himself

He said: "Then does your Lord possess

Or did someone else?" Then I stood up and left

An eyeball and a tongue?

أَنَفسُهُ خَلَقَتهُ

أَم مَن فَقُمتُ مَكاني

Saying "My Lord is full of mercy and forgiveness"

Did His own self create Him,

And I got up to drag my robe

Or who?" At this, I rose from my place.

وَقُلتُ رَبِّيَ ذو رَح

مَةٍ وَذو غُفرانِ

Away from one mocking the Quran

And said: "My Lord is the Possessor of Mercy,

And the Possessor of Forgiveness."

وَقُمتُ أَسحَبُ ذَيلي

عَن هازِلٍ بِالقُرانِ

Then I departed, dragging my robes behind me,

Away from a mocker of the Quran.