صَدِّق أَلِيَّتَهُ إِن قالَ مُجتَهِداً

صَدِّق أَلِيَّتَهُ إِن قالَ مُجتَهِداً

لا وَالرَغيفِ فَذاكَ البِرُّ مِن قَسَمِه

لا وَالرَغيفِ فَذاكَ البِرُّ مِن قَسَمِه

Believe his oath if he says earnestly,

Believe his claim if he says, striving,

“No, by the loaf!”—for that is truth in his swearing.

“No, by the loaf!” - that is righteousness from his allotment.

فَإِن هَمَمتَ بِهِ فَاِفتُك بِخُبرَتِهِ

فَإِن هَمَمتَ بِهِ فَاِفتُك بِخُبرَتِهِ

فَإِن مَوقِعَها مِن لَحمِهِ وَدَمِه

فَإِن مَوقِعَها مِن لَحمِهِ وَدَمِه

So if you mean to harm him, strike ruthlessly at his food,

If you mean to consult him, then ask of his experience,

For it holds the place of his flesh and blood.

For its source is his flesh and blood.

قَد كانَ يُعجِبُني لَو أَنَّ غيرَتَهُ

قَد كانَ يُعجِبُني لَو أَنَّ غيرَتَهُ

عَلى جَرادِقِهِ كانَت عَلى حُرُمِه

عَلى جَرادِقِهِ كانَت عَلى حُرُمِه

It would have pleased me if his jealous care

I would have liked it if his zeal

For his flat loaves had been for his womenfolk.

For his tents had been for his harem.