عَجِّل أَبا مُحَمَّدِ

حاجَةَ غادٍ مِن غَدِ

Hasten, O Father of Muhammad,

the need of one who will leave tomorrow,

وَلا تَكُن مِثلَ السَرا

بِ إِذ غَدا لَم يوجَدِ

And be not like the mirage

when the morning comes, it is not found.

فَالجودُ مِن كَرَمِ الفَتى

وَالمَطلُ داءٌ في اليَدِ

For generosity is the mark of a noble youth,

while procrastination is a disease in the hand.

أَمضَيتُ حاجَةَ عِشرِقٍ

بَرِقَ الحَمامَةُ وَاِرعَدِ

I fulfilled the need of Ishriq

as soon as the pigeon glinted and lightning flickered.

وَصَبَرتُ لِاِبنِ الباهِلِي

يِ وَلَم أَخِس بِالمَوعِدِ

And I was patient for the son of al-Bahili

while I did not fail the appointment.

لا خَيرَ في مَطلِ الجَوا

دِ وَلا عَطاءٍ مُفسِدِ

There is no good in the procrastination of generosity,

Nor in a corrupting gift.