تَذَكَّروا مَثَلَ الخَطّابِ حينَ جَرى

تَذَكَّروا مَثَلَ الخَطّابِ حينَ جَرى

ذاكَ الخَطّابُ عَساها تَنفَعُ الذِكرُ

ذاكَ الخَطّابُ عَساها تَنفَعُ الذِكرُ

Recall al-Khattab’s example, when he delivered

Remember the example of the hunchback when he ran

that address—may remembrance prove useful—

That hunchback, perhaps this story will benefit from the tale

إِذ اِرتَقى مِنبَراً يَدعو رَعِيَّتَهُ

إِذ اِرتَقى مِنبَراً يَدعو رَعِيَّتَهُ

إِذا تَرَونَ اِعوِجاجاً بي فَلا تَذروا

إِذا تَرَونَ اِعوِجاجاً بي فَلا تَذروا

as he ascended a pulpit, calling to his subjects:

When he climbed a platform calling his people

'If you see crookedness in me, do not leave it uncorrected.'

If you see any crookedness in me, do not hesitate

فَقيلَ وَاللَهِ لَو أَنّا نَرى عِوَجاً

فَقيلَ وَاللَهِ لَو أَنّا نَرى عِوَجاً

إِذاً أَقَمناهُ بِالأَسيافِ يا عَمرُ

إِذاً أَقَمناهُ بِالأَسيافِ يا عَمرُ

Then came the reply: 'By God, if we saw crookedness,

It was said, by God if we see any crookedness

we would straighten it with swords, O Umar.'

We would straighten it with swords, Omar

فَقالَ أَمَدُ رُبى إِذ عَلى يَدِكُم

فَقالَ أَمَدُ رُبى إِذ عَلى يَدِكُم

باتَت تَقومُ مِنّي البيضُ وَالسُمرُ

باتَت تَقومُ مِنّي البيضُ وَالسُمرُ

Then he said, '[Likely intended: I praise my Lord], since at your hands

He said, how far does the nurturing of my Lord extend

white swords and tawny spears have come to straighten me.'

While in your hands remain the white and the brown