1. لامني بعض رجال ال

    علم من آل مزاب

    I was reproached by some men of

    learning from the people of Mzab.

  2. قال لي إذ لم أزره

    لم لم تقرأ حسابي

    One said to me, since I had not visited him:

    “Why did you not take me into account?”

  3. وهو حق عند بعض ال

    قوم قاض بالعقاب

    And this is a right, in the eyes of some

    people, that calls for punishment.

  4. لكن العذر جلي

    غير داع لجواب

    But the excuse is plain,

    requiring no reply.

  5. لا تقل يا أيها الف

    اضل أغفلت منابي

    Do not say, O noble one,

    “You have overlooked my due.”

  6. انما زرت اماما

    قد دعاني بكتاب

    I only visited an imam

    who had invited me by letter.

  7. فأنا ضيف له حت

    ماً إلى يوم مآبي

    So I am his guest,

    certainly, until the day of my return.

  8. كلكم عندي اخوا

    ن أجلاء الجناب

    To me, you are all brothers,

    of noble standing.

  9. ورضاء الشيخ في الوا

    قع أولى بالصواب

    And pleasing the sheikh is, in fact,

    more in keeping with what is right.

  10. فاقبل العذر وسامح

    واتركن عنك عتابي

    So accept the excuse and forgive,

    and do set aside your reproach of me.

  11. واعلم ان اليوم والام

    س كطل وسراب

    And know that today and yesterday

    are like dew and a mirage.

  12. ثقل الكيس وسافر

    وتأنس بالركاب

    Fill your purse and travel,

    and enjoy the company of the caravan.

  13. تلق للانسان عادا

    ت كأرقام الحساب

    You will find that people have customs

    like the numbers in arithmetic.

  14. فتخير ما حلا من

    ها مراع للكتاب

    So choose what is pleasing among

    them, mindful of the Book.

  15. انما اليقظة في الس

    ير وفي هز الجراب

    Awareness comes only through travel

    and through shaking the pouch.

  16. كم نبيه زجه الاخ

    لاد في ربع الخراب

    How many a bright man has idleness thrust

    into the abode of ruin!

  17. لو رآى الناس وولى

    لأتاكم بالعجاب

    Had he seen people and gone forth,

    he would have brought you marvels.

  18. كم جبال جابها الرس

    ل وكم جاب الصحابي

    How many mountains the messengers crossed,

    and how many the Companion crossed!

  19. ما انتشار الدين الا

    برجال كالسحاب

    The faith spread only

    through men like clouds.

  20. قطعوا البر وخاضوا ال

    بحر حتى لمزاب

    They crossed the land and braved

    the sea, even to Mzab.

  21. جاوزوا الاندلس الخض

    را لتتميم النصاب

    They passed beyond verdant al-Andalus

    to make up the full measure.

  22. ثم لما ألفوا الرا

    حة في طي الزرابي

    Then, when they grew accustomed to ease

    in the folds of carpets,

  23. وادعى الزهد فريق

    بمنصات الروابي

    and a group claimed asceticism

    on the platforms of the hills,

  24. وفشى التدجيل فيهم

    واستظلوا بالقباب

    and charlatanry spread among them,

    and they sought shade beneath domes,

  25. عكس الامر عليهم

    فسقوا سم العذاب

    the course of things turned against them,

    so they were made to drink the poison of torment.

  26. وغدت دورهم في

    حكم اقليم الخراب

    And their homes became, in

    effect, a province of desolation.

  27. وبدا الدين غريب ال

    أهل مهضوم الجناب

    And the faith appeared a stranger among its

    people, its dignity slighted.

  28. ولذا صار شعار ال

    خلف عند الاضطراب

    And so the watchword of later

    generations, in times of turmoil, became:

  29. هل لنا وا أسفاه

    غير لا حول وما بي

    “Have we—alas!—

    anything but ‘No power’ and ‘What ails me’?”

  30. وهي لا تنفع ما لم

    يدرسوا فن الطوابي

    And it does no good unless

    they study the art of fortification.