زَعموا بِأَن الواقِدي قَد اِشتَكى

مِن فاقة فَأَغاثَهُ المَأمون

They claimed Al-Waqidi complained

Of poverty, so Al-Ma'mun aided him

وَرَوى لَهُ مَعنى الحَديث بِأَنَّهُ

قَد قالَ خَير العالمين أَمين

And told him the meaning of the hadith that

The best of creation, the Trustworthy, had said

بِازاءِ عَرش اللَهِ جَلَّ جَلالُهُ

رزق الوَرى بِخَزائن مَخزون

Before God's magnificent, majestic throne

The sustenance of mankind in treasuries is stored

فَمكثر لمكثر وَمُقلل

لِمُقلل لِلرزق وَهُوَ خَزين

So for the lavish, increase, and for the frugal, decrease

For sustenance, and it is a treasury

فَأَبسط يَمينك بِالعَطاءِ وَلا تَخَف

فَاللَهُ رَبك كافل وَضَمين

So extend your hand in generosity and do not fear

For God, your Lord, is your guarantor and guardian

فَعمدت لَما أَن سَمعت مَقالَهُ

لِمطيتي وَمِن العُيون عُيون

So when I heard his words, I set out

With my walking stick and the best of my eyes

وَقَصَدت باب اللَهِ أَرجو فَضلَهُ

إِذ كُل فَضل دونَ ذَلِكَ دون

And I headed for God's door, hoping for His grace

For any grace less than that is too little

فَعَسى المَواهب أَن تَكون قَريبة

مِني وَيَسعد طالِعي وَيَعين

Maybe the gifts will be close at hand

And bless my fortunes and aid me

وَأَقول هاتوا يا بُنيَّ رِحالَكُم

وَتَمَتَعوا فَكَذا الهبات تَكون

And I say come my sons, get your belongings

And enjoy, for gifts may come