لَعَمرُكَ ما إِن أَبو مالِكٍ

بِوانٍ وَلا بِضَعيفٍ قُواه

By your life, Abu Malik is no weakling,

Nor one of frail strength to aid him,

وَلا بِأَلَدِّ لَهُ نازِعٌ

يُغاري أَخاهُ إِذا ما نَهاه

Nor does he have a craven rival

Who would oppose his brother if he forbade him.

وَلكِنَّهُ هَيِّنٌ لَيِّنٌ

كَعالِيَةِ الرُمحِ عَردٌ نَساه

Rather he is gentle and pliant

Like the supple spearshaft if forgotten.

إِذا سُدتَهُ سُدتَ مِطواعَةً

وَمَهما وَكَلتَ إِلَيهِ كَفاه

If you rely on him, you rely on obedience,

And whatever task you assign him, he fulfills.

أَلا مَن يُنادي أَبا مالِكٍ

أَفى أَمرِنا أَمرُهُ أَم سِواه

Oh, who will call for Abu Malik?

Does his affair further our own, or another's?

أَبو مالِكٍ قاصِرٌ فَقرَهُ

عَلى نَفسِهِ وَمِشيعٌ غِناه

Abu Malik, his poverty binds him

To himself, though he provides plenty to others.