أقسمتI swore لوif ماتdied محمودMahmoud الضريرthe blind man ولمand did not
أقسمت لو مات محمود الضرير ولم
يغسلهwash him إلاexcept بماءwith water الوردof roses غاسلهhis washer
يغسله إلا بماء الورد غاسله
I swore—by God—if Muhammad the Blind should die,
I swear, if Mahmoud the blind were to die, and
his washer would wash him with nothing but rosewater.
His washer washed him with nothing but rosewater,
ومنكرand Munkar ونكيرand Nakir سائلانboth questioning لهto him
ومنكر ونكير سائلان له
عماabout what جنىhe committed وهوand he قبلbefore الموتdeath فاعلهits doer
عما جنى وهو قبل الموت فاعله
Munkar and Nakir would be his two questioners,
And Munkar and Nakir were questioning him
asking about the wrongs he had committed and done before death.
About the wrongs he had committed before death,
وأقعدهand sat him up وفاحتand spread ريحthe smell نكهتهof his breath
وأقعده وفاحت ريح نكهته
وكيفand how يبقىhe remains وذاكand that الداءaffliction قابلةconfronting him (apparently intended)
وكيف يبقى وذاك الداء قابلة
When he was made to sit up, the scent of his breath wafted forth;
And sat him up, and the stench of his breath spread—
how could anyone remain when confronted by such an affliction?
And how could one stay, with that affliction confronting him?—
عاذاthey both sought refuge إلىto اللهGod بلrather عاداthey both returned وقولهماand their words
عاذا إلى الله بل عادا وقولهما
ابعثsend إليهto him سواناother than us منsomeone who يسائلهquestions him
ابعث إليه سوانا من يسائله
The two sought refuge in God—no, rather, they turned back, saying:
They would seek refuge with God—nay, return—saying:
“Send him someone other than us to question him.”
“Send to him someone other than us to question him.”
