أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ أَراكَ إِمّا

أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ أَراكَ إِمّا

ذَكَرتُكَ عِندِ ذي حَسبٍ صَغا لي

ذَكَرتُكَ عِندِ ذي حَسبٍ صَغا لي

O Commander of the Faithful, I find that whenever

O Commander of the Faithful, I see you as either

I mention you before one of noble lineage, he listens to me.

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

وَإِن كَرَّرتُ ذِكرَكَ عِندَ نَغلٍ

وَإِن كَرَّرتُ ذِكرَكَ عِندَ نَغلٍ

تَكَدَّرَ سِترُهُ وَبَغى قِتالي

تَكَدَّرَ سِترُهُ وَبَغى قِتالي

And if I repeatedly mention you before a bastard,

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

His veil grows clouded, and he seeks to fight me.

His veil darkens and he seeks to fight me.

فَصِرتُ إِذا شَكَكتُ بِأَصلِ مَرءٍ

فَصِرتُ إِذا شَكَكتُ بِأَصلِ مَرءٍ

ذَكَرتُكَ بِالجَميلِ مِنَ المَقالِ

ذَكَرتُكَ بِالجَميلِ مِنَ المَقالِ

So I have taken to this: whenever I doubt a man's lineage,

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

I mention you in words of praise.

I mention you with kind words,

فَلَيسَ يُطيقُ سَمعَ ثَناكَ إِلّا

فَلَيسَ يُطيقُ سَمعَ ثَناكَ إِلّا

كَريمُ الأَصلِ مَحمودُ الحِلالِ

كَريمُ الأَصلِ مَحمودُ الحِلالِ

For none can bear to hear your praise except

For none can bear to hear your praise

One of noble birth, whose abodes are praiseworthy.

Except the noble of origin and praiseworthy in lawful gains.

فَها أَنا قَد خَبَرتُ بِكَ البَرايا

فَها أَنا قَد خَبَرتُ بِكَ البَرايا

فَأَنتَ مَحَكُّ أَولادِ الحَلالِ

فَأَنتَ مَحَكُّ أَولادِ الحَلالِ

So here I am: I have tested mankind through you;

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

For you are the touchstone of children born in lawful wedlock.

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