إِذا جَلَستُ عَلى أَقتادِ ناجِيَةٍ

إِذا جَلَستُ عَلى أَقتادِ ناجِيَةٍ

فَما أُبالي أَغارَ القَومُ أَم جَلَسوا

فَما أُبالي أَغارَ القَومُ أَم جَلَسوا

When I sit upon the saddle-frame of a swift she-camel,

When I sit by a companion beloved

then I care not whether the people go down to the lowlands or up to the highlands.

I care not if the people disapprove or sit still

أَنَسلُ اِبليسَ أَم حَوّاءَ وَيحَكُمُ

أَنَسلُ اِبليسَ أَم حَوّاءَ وَيحَكُمُ

هَذا الأَنامُ فَفي أَفعالِهِم دَلَسُ

هَذا الأَنامُ فَفي أَفعالِهِم دَلَسُ

Are they offspring of Iblis or Eve—woe to you—

Whether Satan or Eve led them astray

these mortals? For darkness lies in their deeds.

These people, in their deeds are deceitful

إِن يُؤَمَنوا لا يُؤَدّوا أَو يَكُن لَهُم

إِن يُؤَمَنوا لا يُؤَدّوا أَو يَكُن لَهُم

عِزٌّ يَضيموا وَإِن أَعياهُمُ اِختَلَسوا

عِزٌّ يَضيموا وَإِن أَعياهُمُ اِختَلَسوا

If trusted, they do not honor their trust; or if they have

If trusted they will not fulfill or if

power, they oppress; and if it eludes them, they pilfer.

Honored, they oppress, and if tired, they steal

ذادَ المَكارِمَ عَن كَرَمٍ وَذاتِ جِنىً

ذادَ المَكارِمَ عَن كَرَمٍ وَذاتِ جِنىً

في النَخلِ شِربٌ أَبى إِخراجَهُ البَلَسُ

في النَخلِ شِربٌ أَبى إِخراجَهُ البَلَسُ

Noble virtues were driven from the vine and a fruit-bearing tree

Protection of dignity from generosity and crime

among the date palms by a drink the fig refused to yield.

In the palm tree is drink it refused to yield from the miser

لا تَحفَظِ الشَربَ مِثلَ الطَيرِ وارِدَةً

لا تَحفَظِ الشَربَ مِثلَ الطَيرِ وارِدَةً

أَجناً إِذا ما أَصابوا رَيَّهُم قَلَسوا

أَجناً إِذا ما أَصابوا رَيَّهُم قَلَسوا

Do not care for drinkers, like birds coming

Do not guard drink like a visiting bird

to stagnant water: when they have drunk their fill, they regurgitate.

Who when finding water greedily gorging until filled

ياسِر أَخاكَ وَلا تَهجُم لَهُ حَرَماً

ياسِر أَخاكَ وَلا تَهجُم لَهُ حَرَماً

مِن قَبلُ زُكِّيَ في أَكمامِهِ العَلَسُ

مِن قَبلُ زُكِّيَ في أَكمامِهِ العَلَسُ

Deal gently with your brother, and do not invade his sanctuary.

Go easy on your brother and do not pounce on his sanctuary

Previously, emmer wheat was deemed pure within its husks.

Formerly commended in his unjust sleeves

قَد أَظلَمَ الدَهرُ وَالصُبحُ الجَليُّ نَأَت

قَد أَظلَمَ الدَهرُ وَالصُبحُ الجَليُّ نَأَت

عَنهُ المَطامِعُ فَلِيُرفَع لَنا الغَلَسُ

عَنهُ المَطامِعُ فَلِيُرفَع لَنا الغَلَسُ

The age has darkened, and from the clear dawn have receded

The time has darkened and dawn distinct draws near

all hopes; so let the predawn twilight rise for us.

From it hopes have turned so lift from us this veil of fear