أتاني مقالٌ من أخٍ فاغتفرتُهُ

أتاني مقالٌ من أخٍ فاغتفرتُهُ

وإن كان فيما دونَهُ وجهُ مَعْتَبِ

وإن كان فيما دونَهُ وجهُ مَعْتَبِ

A remark came to me from a brother, so I forgave it,

A message came to me from a brother, so I forgave him,

though even less than that would warrant reproach.

Even if there was something wrong in what he wrote,

وذكَّرتُ نفسي منه عند امتعاضها

وذكَّرتُ نفسي منه عند امتعاضها

محاسنَ تعفو الذنبَ عن كل مُذنبِ

محاسنَ تعفو الذنبَ عن كل مُذنبِ

And when my soul grew indignant, I reminded it of his

And I reminded myself when I was annoyed,

virtues, which wipe away the fault of every offender.

Of the virtues that forgive the sin of every sinner,

ومثلي رأى الحُسنى بعينٍ جَليَّةٍ

ومثلي رأى الحُسنى بعينٍ جَليَّةٍ

وأغضى عن العوراء غيرَ مُؤنِّبِ

وأغضى عن العوراء غيرَ مُؤنِّبِ

And one such as I sees goodness with a clear eye,

And one like me who sees good clearly,

and closes his eyes to the blemish, without reproach.

Overlooks blemishes without blaming,

فيا هارباً من سُخطنا مُتنصلاً

فيا هارباً من سُخطنا مُتنصلاً

هربتَ إلى أنجى مَفرٍّ ومَهربِ

هربتَ إلى أنجى مَفرٍّ ومَهربِ

So, O you fleeing our anger, seeking to excuse yourself,

So flee from our anger, escaping,

you have fled to the safest refuge and retreat.

You fled to the safest refuge,

فعذرُك مبسوطٌ لدينا مُقدَّمٌ

فعذرُك مبسوطٌ لدينا مُقدَّمٌ

ووُدُّك مقبولٌ بأهلٍ ومرحبِ

ووُدُّك مقبولٌ بأهلٍ ومرحبِ

For your excuse is laid out before us and given precedence,

Your excuse is outstretched before us, presented,

and your affection is received with a hearty welcome.

And your love is accepted, with family and welcome,

ولو بَلَّغْتني عنك أذْني أقمتُها

ولو بَلَّغْتني عنك أذْني أقمتُها

لديَّ مُقامَ الكاشح المُتكذّبِ

لديَّ مُقامَ الكاشح المُتكذّبِ

And even if my ear brought me word against you, I would give it

And if my ears conveyed you to me, I would stand them,

the standing, in my eyes, of a spiteful, lying foe.

Before me, like one accused but not lying,

ولستُ بتقليب اللسان مُصارماً

ولستُ بتقليب اللسان مُصارماً

خليلي إذا ما القلبُ لم يتقلبِ

خليلي إذا ما القلبُ لم يتقلبِ

Nor would I, for a turn of the tongue, break with

And I am not one to wag my tongue in hostility,

my dear friend, so long as the heart has not turned.

My friend, if the heart itself does not waver.