قالوا فَلَمَّا يُجِبهُم

قالوا فَلَمَّا يُجِبهُم

باللهِ اكتُب رِسالَه

باللهِ اكتُب رِسالَه

They said—but he had not yet answered them—

They said: When he answers them

“By God, write a letter.”

In God's name, write a letter

قالوا قلما يجبهُم

قالوا قلما يجبهُم

اقرأ لنا في حواله

اقرأ لنا في حواله

They said—he seldom answered them—

They said: When he does not answer them

“Read to us from a money order.”

Read to us about the situation

وحينَ لم يدرِ قَالوا

وحينَ لم يدرِ قَالوا

تَبَّا له لا أبالَه

تَبَّا له لا أبالَه

And when he did not know, they said:

And when he did not know, they said

“Damn him—may he have no father!”

Shame on him, we do not care

وبعدَ ذا عَيَّنوهُ

وبعدَ ذا عَيَّنوهُ

أُستاذاً في الجَهاله

أُستاذاً في الجَهاله

And after that, they appointed him

And after that they appointed him

a professor of ignorance.

A professor of ignorance