من يُخبِرُك بِشَتمِ عَن أَخ

من يُخبِرُك بِشَتمِ عَن أَخ

فَهوَ الشاتِم لا من شَتَمَك

فَهوَ الشاتِم لا من شَتَمَك

Whoever tells you of an insult from a brother—

Whoever tells you of a brother's insults

he is the insulter, not the one who insulted you.

It is he who insults, not the one who insulted you

ذاكَ شَيءٌ لم يُواجِهك بِهِ

ذاكَ شَيءٌ لم يُواجِهك بِهِ

إِنَّما اللَومُ عَلى مَن أَعلَمَك

إِنَّما اللَومُ عَلى مَن أَعلَمَك

That was something he did not confront you with;

That is something he did not say to your face

blame falls only on the one who told you.

Rather, blame the one who informed you

إِن ذا اللُؤمِ اِذا أَكرَمتَهُ

إِن ذا اللُؤمِ اِذا أَكرَمتَهُ

حَسب الإِكرامِ حقاً لزمك

حَسب الإِكرامِ حقاً لزمك

Indeed, a base man, when you honor him,

If you honor that scoundrel

considers that honor a right you owe him.

Out of courtesy, it becomes your rightful duty

كَيفَ لَم يَنصُركَ إِن كانَ أَخاً

كَيفَ لَم يَنصُركَ إِن كانَ أَخاً

ذا حِفاظ عِندَ من ظَلَمَك

ذا حِفاظ عِندَ من ظَلَمَك

Why did he not defend you, if he was a brother

How could he not defend you, if he were really a brother

of steadfast loyalty, in the presence of the one who wronged you?

With loyalty, against those who wronged you

فَأَهنهُ إِنَّهُ من لُؤمِهِ

فَأَهنهُ إِنَّهُ من لُؤمِهِ

إِن تَرده بِهوانِ أَكرَمَك

إِن تَرده بِهوانِ أَكرَمَك

So humiliate him; for such is his baseness

Alas, it is from his villainy

that if you rebuff him with contempt, he will honor you.

That by disgracing you, he has honored you