خَفُّوا يُلاقونَ النبيَّ بيثربٍ

من بعدِ ما كَرِهوا الخُروجَ فأحْجَموا

They hid themselves, met the Prophet in Yathrib

After they disliked going forth, so they hesitated

فَنَأى وأعرضَ لا يُريدُ لِقاءَهم

وتَكشَّفوا فَمُبَغَّضٌ ومُذَمَّمُ

So he turned away, refusing to meet them

Thus hated and blamed

وَتقطَّعتْ أسبابُهم فكأنّهم

سَرْحٌ يُبدَّدُ أو بِناءٌ يُهدَمُ

Their ties were cut, as though they were

A flock scattered or a building demolished

سُودُ الوجوهِ تَرى العُيونُ قَتامها

فَتظلُّ تُطْعَنُ باِللِّحاظِ وَتُرْجَمُ

Black-faced, their eyes appear dark

So they remain, stabbed by glances, accused

يَتلفَّتونَ إذا مَشَوْا وإخالُهم

لو يَقدِرونَ مِنَ الحياءِ تَلثَّموا

They glance around when walking, and their manner

If they could, they would wrap themselves out of shame

يَتقلَّبُ الآباءُ في حَسَرَاتِهم

وكأنّما الأبناءُ ليسوا مِنْهُمُ

The elders wander in sorrow

As if the youth were not theirs

هَجْرٌ وإعراضٌ وَطُولُ قَطيعةٍ

فالعيشُ سُمٌّ نَاقِعٌ أو عَلْقَمُ

Estrangement, refusal, and long severance of ties

So living becomes bitter poison or sticky grits

هُمْ أجْرَمُوا فَهُوَ الجزاءُ وَهكذا

يُجْفَى ويُجْتَنَبُ المُسِيءُ المجرِمُ

They sinned, so this is the punishment, and thus

The evildoer, the criminal is shunned and avoided

وَيْحَ الثلاثةِ إنّهم مما لَقُوا

لأَشدُّ خَطباً في الرجالِ وأعظمُ

Woe to those three! Of what they encountered

Is the worst fate among men, and the greatest

وَدُّوا لَو اَنَّ الأرضَ زالتْ فَانْطَوَتْ

ثُمَّ انْطَوَوْا فكأنّهم لم يأثَموا

They wish if only the earth would shake and fold up

Then they would fold up, as though they never sinned

ضاقتْ جَوانِبُها فلا مُتأخَّرٌ

فيها لأنفُسِهم ولا مُتقَدَّمُ

Its sides have narrowed, so none lingers

Behind for themselves, nor moves ahead

كلٌّ له في العالَمين جَزاؤُه

ومِنَ الجماعةِ حَاكِمٌ لا يَظْلِمُ

Each has in the two worlds his recompense

And from the community, a ruler who does not wrong

يَقْضُونَ إنْ عَقَلوا قَضاءً صالحاً

هُوَ للنّفوسِ مُهذِّبٌ ومُقَوِّمُ

If they judged with reason, an upright verdict

It disciplines the selves and makes them upright

فإذا هُمو جَهِلُوا فليس لدائِهم

طِبٌّ وليس لمثلِهم أن يَحْكُموا

But if they are ignorant, there is no cure for their affliction

Nor should the likes of them judge

سُبحانَ ربِّكَ ذي الجلالةِ إنّه

لم يُوجبِ الشُّورى لِمَنْ لا يَفْهَمُ

Glory be to your Lord, full of Majesty, He

Did not decree consultation for those who do not understand

الرَّأيُ رأيُ ذَوِي المعارِفِ والنُّهَى

ومِنَ الرجالِ بَهائِمٌ لا تَعْلَمُ

Opinion is the opinion of those with knowledge and guidance

While among men there are beasts who do not know