الناسpeople أشكالkinds فكلso every امرىءٍperson
الناس أشكال فكل امرىءٍ
يعرفهknow him الناسpeople بمنتابهِby his associates
يعرفه الناس بمنتابهِ
People are of like kinds, and every man
People are of different kinds; so every person
is known by people through the one who frequents him.
is known to others by the company he keeps.
لاdo not تسألنَّever ask المرءa person عنabout حالهhis condition
لا تسألنَّ المرء عن حاله
ماhow أشبهsimilar المرءa person بأصحابهِto his companions
ما أشبه المرء بأصحابهِ
Never ask a man about his condition—
Do not ever ask a person about his condition—
how like his companions a man is!
how closely a person resembles his companions!
