ما يُفيق الكتّابُ من ظلم إبرا

ما يُفيق الكتّابُ من ظلم إبرا

هيمَ يوماً ولا محاباةِ عمرِو

هيمَ يوماً ولا محاباةِ عمرِو

The scribes never cease wronging Ibrā—

What awakens the writers from the injustice of Ibra

—hīm, even for a day, nor favoring ʿAmr.

Him wanders a day, no favoritism of Amr

نَحلوا ذا واواً وبزوا أخاه

نَحلوا ذا واواً وبزوا أخاه

ألفاً منه بين رِدْفٍ وصدر

ألفاً منه بين رِدْفٍ وصدر

They bestowed a wāw on this one and robbed his brother

They gave that a Waw and clothed its brother

of an alif from between his rear and front.

With an Alif between its thigh and chest

وكذا يَظلم المسمّى بإبرا

وكذا يَظلم المسمّى بإبرا

هيم أهلُ الديوان في كل أمر

هيم أهلُ الديوان في كل أمر

Likewise, the one named Ibrā—

And thus wrongs the one named Ibra

—hīm is wronged by the bureau's clerks in every matter.

Him the people of Diwan in every matter

ويُحابون من يسمى بعمرو

ويُحابون من يسمى بعمرو

فتفقَّدْ ما قلتُ في كل عصر

فتفقَّدْ ما قلتُ في كل عصر

And they favor whoever is called ʿAmr;

And they favor whoever is named Amr

so examine what I have said in every age.

So examine what I said in every era