أَرى فِتنَةً قَد أَلهَتِ الناسَ عَنكُمُ

أَرى فِتنَةً قَد أَلهَتِ الناسَ عَنكُمُ

فَندَلاً زَريقَ المالِ نَدلَ الثَعالِبَ

فَندَلاً زَريقَ المالِ نَدلَ الثَعالِبَ

I see a turmoil that has distracted the people from you;

I see strife that has distracted the people from you.

So snatch the wealth, Zurayq—as foxes snatch their prey.

So snatch the wealth, Zariq, as foxes snatch.

فَإِنَّ ابنَ عَجلانَ الَّذي قَد عَلِمتُمُ

فَإِنَّ ابنَ عَجلانَ الَّذي قَد عَلِمتُمُ

يُبَدِّدُ مالَ اللَهِ فِعلَ المَناهِبِ

يُبَدِّدُ مالَ اللَهِ فِعلَ المَناهِبِ

For Ibn ʿAjlān—the man you know—

For Ibn Ajlan, whom you already know,

Squanders God’s wealth as though it were plunder.

squanders God's wealth as plunderers do.