عارضني محتسب بارد

عارضني محتسب بارد

في كرخ بغداذ بإنكار

في كرخ بغداذ بإنكار

A dull muḥtasib accosted me

A dreary moral censor confronted me

in Baghdad’s Karkh, rebuking me.

In Baghdad's Karkh, with disapproval.

قال حرام وقبيح إذا

قال حرام وقبيح إذا

خاطبت نسوانا بأخبار

خاطبت نسوانا بأخبار

He said, “It is forbidden and vile when

He said, 'It is forbidden and shameful when

you converse with women and tell them tales.

You talk to women about news.

أما تخاف النار يوم الجزا

أما تخاف النار يوم الجزا

والعار والمقت من الباري

والعار والمقت من الباري

Do you not fear the Fire on the Day of Recompense,

Do you not fear the Fire on the Day of Recompense,

disgrace, and the Creator’s loathing?”

And disgrace and the Creator's loathing?'

فقلت ما كسبك أو ما الذي

فقلت ما كسبك أو ما الذي

تقتاته من نفل جاري

تقتاته من نفل جاري

I said, “What do you earn—or what is it

So I said, 'What do you earn, or what

you live on—from my neighbor’s largesse?”

Ongoing bounty do you subsist on?'

فقال أجبي الناس مسترفدا

فقال أجبي الناس مسترفدا

صلحا على ظلم وإضرار

صلحا على ظلم وإضرار

He said, “I collect from people, soliciting gratuities—

He said, 'I collect money from people, soliciting gifts,

for settlements in cases of wrongdoing and harm.”

Through settlements founded on oppression and harm.'

فقلت يا شيخ أما تستحي

فقلت يا شيخ أما تستحي

تنكر ما تأتي بمقار

تنكر ما تأتي بمقار

I said, “Old man, are you not ashamed?

So I said, 'O elder, are you not ashamed?

You condemn what you yourself do in equal measure:

You condemn what you yourself do [apparently while condoning it].

تأكل سحتا وحرما ولا

تأكل سحتا وحرما ولا

تريدني جارك في النار

تريدني جارك في النار

you consume illicit and forbidden gain, yet

You consume ill-gotten gains and forbidden wealth, yet do not

do not want me as your neighbor in the Fire!”

Want me as your neighbor in the Fire.'