أَباO Abu جَعفَرٍJa‘far هَلّاwhy not اقتَطَعتَyou secured مَوَدَّتيmy affection
أَبا جَعفَرٍ هَلّا اقتَطَعتَ مَوَدَّتي
فَكُنتَand so you would be مُصيباًgaining فِيَّthrough me أَجراًa reward وَمَصنَعاand a kindness
فَكُنتَ مُصيباً فِيَّ أَجراً وَمَصنَعا
O Abu Jaʿfar, if only you had taken my friendship for your own—
O Abu Ja‘far, why not win my affection,
you would have gained through me both a reward and the merit of a kindness.
and so earn a reward and do me a kindness?
فَكَمfor many a صاحِبٍcompanion قَدindeed جَلَّstood high عَنabove قَدرِthe rank of صاحِبٍa companion
فَكَم صاحِبٍ قَد جَلَّ عَن قَدرِ صاحِبٍ
فَأَلقىthen he cast لَهُto him الأَسبابَthe ropes فَارتَفَعاso they both rose مَعاtogether
فَأَلقى لَهُ الأَسبابَ فَارتَفَعا مَعا
How many a companion has towered above his fellow’s station,
For many a companion has stood above another in rank,
then afforded him the means, so that both rose together.
then cast him the ropes, and both rose together.
