أَعَلَيَّagainst me? دونكbarring access to you ياO عليُّAli حجابُa barrier
أَعَلَيَّ دونك يا عليُّ حجابُ
يُدنىis brought near البعيدُthe distant one وتحجبand are kept out الأصحابُthe friends
يُدنى البعيدُ وتحجب الأصحابُ
Is there a barrier keeping me from you, O Ali?
Above me, O Ali, there is a veil
The distant are brought near, while friends are kept out.
The distant comes near while friends are veiled
هذاthis باذنكwith your permission أمor برأيكby your judgment أمor رأىdecided
هذا باذنك أم برأيك أم رأى
هذاthis عليكfor you العبدthe slave والبَوابُand the doorkeeper
هذا عليك العبد والبَوابُ
Is this by your leave or your judgment, or did
Is this by your permission, your opinion or view
the slave and the doorkeeper decide this for you?
This slave and doorman are upon you
إنindeed الشريفَthe nobleman إذاwhen أمورُthe affairs عبيدِهِhis slaves
إن الشريفَ إذا أمورُ عبيدِهِ
غلبَتhave prevailed عليهover him فأمرهthen his standing مُرتابُin doubt
غلبَت عليه فأمره مُرتابُ
Indeed, when the affairs of a nobleman's slaves
When the noble's affairs are overcome
prevail over him, his standing is in doubt.
By his slaves, his command becomes doubtful