هَجَوتُ الفَضلَ دَهراً وَهوَ عِندي

رَقاشِيٌّ كَما زَعَمَ المَسولُ

I denigrated merit for a long time though it was with me

I mocked Al-Fadl for an age, deeming him in my view

A slanderer, as the questioner claimed

A descendant of Raqash, as the informant claimed.

فَلَمّا سوئِلَت عَنهُ رَقاشٌ

لِنَعلَمَ ما تَقولُ وَما يَقولُ

So when merit was asked about the slanderer

But when Raqash was questioned concerning him,

To know what she says and what he says

That we might ascertain what she says and what he says,

وَلَمّا أَن نَصَصناهُ إِلَيها

لِتَعلَمَ ما يُقالُ وَما نَقولُ

And when we referred her to him

And when we traced his lineage back to her,

So she knows what is said and what we say

So that she might understand what is rumored and what we state,

وَجَدنا الفَضلَ أَكرَمَ مِن رَقاشٍ

لِأَنَّ الفَضلَ مَولاهُ الرَسولُ

We found merit more generous than the slanderer

We found Al-Fadl to be of nobler standing than Raqash,

Because merit's master is the Messenger

Because Al-Fadl's patron is the Messenger.