أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ أَراكَ إِمّا

ذَكَرتُكَ عِندِ ذي حَسبٍ صَغا لي

O Commander of the Faithful, I see you as either

I mention you in the presence of a person of noble lineage, he lends me his ear,

وَإِن كَرَّرتُ ذِكرَكَ عِندَ نَغلٍ

تَكَدَّرَ سِترُهُ وَبَغى قِتالي

Or if I repeat mentioning you in the presence of a mean person,

His veil darkens and he seeks to fight me.

فَصِرتُ إِذا شَكَكتُ بِأَصلِ مَرءٍ

ذَكَرتُكَ بِالجَميلِ مِنَ المَقالِ

So I have become, whenever I doubt a person’s origin,

I mention you with kind words,

فَلَيسَ يُطيقُ سَمعَ ثَناكَ إِلّا

كَريمُ الأَصلِ مَحمودُ الحِلالِ

For none can bear to hear your praise

Except the noble of origin and praiseworthy in lawful gains.

فَها أَنا قَد خَبَرتُ بِكَ البَرايا

فَأَنتَ مَحَكُّ أَولادِ الحَلالِ

So here I am, I have traversed the wilds with your name,

For you are the touchstone of the children of lawful gains.