إِذا الحُرّ أَعطى الحُرّ ما يَستَرِقُّهُ

إِذا الحُرّ أَعطى الحُرّ ما يَستَرِقُّهُ

فَاَنداهُما مَن كانَ مُعطِيَ رِقِّهِ

فَاَنداهُما مَن كانَ مُعطِيَ رِقِّهِ

If a free man gives another free man what enslaves him,

When the freeman gives the freeman that which enslaves him,

Then the more generous of the two is he who gives his own servitude.

Then how excellent are the giver and recipient!

حَديثٌ يَجودُ الرَوضُ مِنهُ بِعَبقِهِ

حَديثٌ يَجودُ الرَوضُ مِنهُ بِعَبقِهِ

وَرِقٌّ يَضِنُّ الحُرُّ مِنهُ بِعِتقِهِ

وَرِقٌّ يَضِنُّ الحُرُّ مِنهُ بِعِتقِهِ

A discourse from which the garden lavishly gives forth its fragrance,

A tradition that makes the garden fragrant with its scent,

And a bondage from which the free man is loath to be freed.

And a parchment that makes the freeman proud with his freedom.