قُل لِلرُقاشِيِّ إِذا جِئتَهُ

لَو مُتَّ يا أَحمَقُ لَم أَهجُكا

Tell the slanderer when you see him,

Say to Al-Ruqashi, should you come to him:

If only you were dead, you fool, I would not satirize you,

"If you died, you fool, I would not satirize you,"

لِأَنَّني أُكرِمُ عِرضي وَلا

أَقرُنُهُ يَوماً إِلى عِرضِكا

Because I honor my dignity and never

"For I hold my honor in too high regard"

Link it to your dignity one day.

"To ever link it, for a day, to yours."

إِن تَهجُني تَهجُ فَتىً ماجِداً

لا يَرفَعُ الطَرفَ إِلى مِثلِكا

If you satirize me, you satirize a glorious man

"If you mock me, you mock a noble youth"

Who does not glance towards the likes of you.

"Who deigns not lift his eyes to one like you."

دونَكَ عِرضي فَاِهجُهُ راشِداً

لا تَدنُسُ الأَعراضُ مِن هَجوِكا

My dignity is beyond you, so satirize it wisely,

"Have at my honor then, revile it as you please,"

Dignities are not debased by your satire.

"No reputation is defiled by scorn from you."

وَاللَهِ لَو كُنتُ جَريراً لَما

كُنتُ بِأَهجى لَكُ مِن أَصلِكا

By God, if I were Jarir, I would not

"By God, were I Jarir, I could not be"

Be more satirical towards you than your origins.

"More mocking of you than your ancestry."