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 veil barring me from reaching you, O Ali?
Is there a barrier keeping me from you, O Ali?
The distant man is ushered near, while companions are shut out.
The distant are brought near, while friends are kept out.
هذاthis باذنكwith your permission أمor برأيكby your judgment أمor رأىdecided
هذا باذنك أم برأيك أم رأى
هذاthis عليكupon you العبدthe slave والبَوابُand the doorkeeper
هذا عليك العبد والبَوابُ
Is this with your permission, or by your judgment—or did
Is this with your permission, or by your judgment, or did
the servant and gatekeeper decide this against you?
the slave and the doorkeeper decide this for you?
إنindeed الشريفَthe nobleman إذاwhen أمورُthe affairs عبيدِهِof his slaves
إن الشريفَ إذا أمورُ عبيدِهِ
غلبَتprevailed عليهover him فأمرهthen his situation مُرتابُis doubtful
غلبَت عليه فأمره مُرتابُ
Indeed, when a nobleman’s servants’ decisions
Indeed, when the affairs of a nobleman's slaves
prevail over him, his authority stands suspect.
prevail over him, his own standing is in doubt.
