1. أرَى السَّجَّادَ إِن غَنَّى تَمنَّى

    مُغَرِّدُ كُلِّ قَومٍ أن يَجُنَّا

    I see that when al-Sajjad sings, a wish arises

    In the songster of every people: to go mad.

  2. تَغَنَّى بِالقَرِيضِ فَلَم يُغَير

    مَعَانِيَهُ أوَانَ بِهِ تَغَنَّى

    He sang poetry and did not alter

    Its meanings when he sang it.

  3. يَفُلُّ مُغَنِّياً بِغِنَاهُ عَنَّا

    شَبَاةَ الحُزنِ مَهمَا الحُزنُ عَنَّا

    Singing, he blunts for us with his song

    Grief's sharp edge, whenever grief arises.

  4. وَإِن عَقَد القُرُونَ مَعَ المُغني

    يُغَادِرهُ كَئِيباً مُستَجِنَا

    And if he locks horns with a singer,

    He leaves him dejected and in hiding.

  5. وإِن هُو في البَيَاضِ شَدَا تَرَاهُ

    يُفَرِّجُ شَدوُهُ كُربَ المُعَنَّى

    And if he sings in al-Bayad, you see how

    His song relieves the afflicted one's anguish.

  6. ولا مَفهُومَ فالأَهوالُ طُرًّا

    يُصَرِّفُهَا كَمَا فِيهَا تَمَنَّى

    And in La Mafhum—all the melodies

    He varies just as he wishes.

  7. بِهِ مَنَّ الإِلهُ على البَرَايَا

    ونَحمَدُ أنَّهُ فِينَا ومِنَّا

    Through him, God has favored humankind,

    And we give thanks that he is among us and one of us.