أُبلُ الرِجالَ أَرَدتَ إِخاءَهُم

أُبلُ الرِجالَ أَرَدتَ إِخاءَهُم

وَتَوَسَّمَنَّ فَغالَهُم وَتَفَقَّدِ

وَتَوَسَّمَنَّ فَغالَهُم وَتَفَقَّدِ

Test the men whose brotherhood you desire.

You sought the friendship of the virtuous men,

And scrutinize their deeds and examine them.

And looked for their noble qualities and inspected them.

فَإِذا ظَفَرتَ بِذي اللَبابَةِ وَالتُقى

فَإِذا ظَفَرتَ بِذي اللَبابَةِ وَالتُقى

فيهِ اليَدَينِ قَريرَ عَيٍ فَاِشدُدِ

فيهِ اليَدَينِ قَريرَ عَيٍ فَاِشدُدِ

Then, if you find one possessed of wisdom and piety,

So when you find one with wisdom and piety,

Hold fast to him with both hands, content of eye.

Strengthen your relationship with him.

وَإِذا رَأَيتَ وَلا مَحالَةَ زَلَّة

وَإِذا رَأَيتَ وَلا مَحالَةَ زَلَّة

فَعَلى أَخيكَ بِفَضلِ حِلمِكِ فَاِردُدِ

فَعَلى أَخيكَ بِفَضلِ حِلمِكِ فَاِردُدِ

And if you see a lapse—as you inevitably will—

And when inevitably you see a flaw,

Then respond to your brother with your generous forbearance.

Overlook your brother’s lapse with your forbearance.

وَدَع التَذلُّلَ وَالتَخَشعَ تَبتَغي

وَدَع التَذلُّلَ وَالتَخَشعَ تَبتَغي

قربَ الَّذي إِن تدنُ مِنهُ يبعُد

قربَ الَّذي إِن تدنُ مِنهُ يبعُد

And abandon self-abasement and submissiveness in seeking

And leave behind flattery and groveling if you seek

Closeness to one who draws away if you approach him.

The nearness of one who distances himself when you draw near.